This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ...of Argyllshire, and occupied almost the whole attention of the Covenanters throughout 1644-5. Argyll himself spent these years in vain efforts to defeat Montrose. He was no general, and proved himself quite unable to cope with the latter's brilliant strategy. Further, the proclivity which he displayed ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ...of Argyllshire, and occupied almost the whole attention of the Covenanters throughout 1644-5. Argyll himself spent these years in vain efforts to defeat Montrose. He was no general, and proved himself quite unable to cope with the latter's brilliant strategy. Further, the proclivity which he displayed at Inverlochy and Kilsyth for watching battles instead of taking a too active part in them, won for him a reputation for cowardice which he never lost. Indeed, so strong was this belief that his subsequent courage on the scaffold was generally attributed to supernatural agencies. When he had ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL 163 failed at Newcastle to prevail on Charles to accept the Covenant, he was willing to surrender him to the English Parliament, though he did not profit personally by the ' sale' of the King. True to his principle of co-operation between the two Parliaments, he opposed the engagement between Charles and the Covenanters (December 1647), and accordingly lost the control of affairs for a time. The defeat of the Scots at Preston again reinstated him, and he now practically directed Scottish affairs in alliance with Cromwell. This attitude robs him for ever of any claim to be considered a Scottish patriot. The execution of Charles was fatal to him. The wave of indignation which swept over Scotland was irresistible, and Argyll was not the man to withstand it. He lost his head, and decided to recall Charles II. Montrose's failure and execution without trial, for which Argyll Was primarily and personally responsible, put Charles in the hands of the Covenanters, but Dunbar and Worcester ruined the scheme, and left Argyll a fallen man, hated by all parties alike. He only saved his lands by engaging to live quietly under the Commonwealth. His...
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