1

THE

HISTORY

OF

SCOTLAND,

FROM

THE UNION OF THE CROWNS ON THE ACCESSION
OF JAMES VI. TO THE THRONE OF ENGLAND,

TO THE

UNION OF THE KINGDOMS IN THE REIGN
OF QUEEN ANNE.

By MALCOLM LAING, Efq.

WITH TWO DISSERTATIONS, HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL,
ON THE GOWRIE CONSPIRACY, AND

ON THE SUPPOSED AUTHENTICITY OF OSSIAN'S POEMS.

NEW-YORK

LONDON:

Printed by A. Strahan, Printers Strect,

FOR T. CADELL JUN. AND W. DAVIES, IN THE STRAND; AND

MANNERS AND MILLER, EDINBURGH.

1800.

BOOK VII.

New Government and Parliament.-Execution of Argyle, Guthry, Warifton. Prelacy restored, Prefbyterian Clergy ejected.-Middleton's rapacity, exceffes, and difgrace.-Ecclefiaftical commiffion, military perfecution, and infurrection in the Weft.-Government mitigated and the prefbyterians indulged.-Lauderdale's tyrannical adminiftration. Perfecution of conventicles.-Mitchel's trial.

VII.

ROM the civil and religious wars of the two BOOK kingdoms, in which it is feldom poffible to separate the intereft, or the share of either, we return to the domeftic transactions of Scotland, whofe history, from the restoration to the union, continues unmixed and almost unconnected with English affairs. Many years of undisturbed tranquillity

VOL. II.

B

were

1660.

Public ex

pectations and joy at

the restora

tion.

BOOK
VII.

1660.

New miniftry.

were expected from the fincere, and univerfal joy
which the restoration diffufed. The affectionate
loyalty which the people expreffed, was confirmed
by the gracious and popular deportment of the
king. The faireft hopes were entertained of the
profperity of the new reign; which nothing could
have disappointed but the misconduct or rather the
crimes of government; the predilection of Charles
for a foreign intereft; his fecret attachment to the
Romish faith; and above all his perfeverance in the
arbitrary measures which his father had purfued.
It was from these and other causes, that the govern-
ment of Scotland became hoftile and gradually odi-
ous to the people, till it degenerated at length into
a fanguinary, and cruel defpotifm, for which there
was no cure but the expulfion of the Stewarts.

The government ftill remained in the hands of
the English, while the nobility and principal gentry
hurried to court, to prefer their allegiance or advice
for the fettlement of the kingdom. The royalists
were preceded and led by Glencairn and Middle-
ton; but their diligence was outstript by the earl
of Lauderdale, who had accompanied the Eng-
Jish commiffioners to the Hague, on his release from
the tower. In return for his fervices and fufferings
during ten years imprisonment, he obtained the.
office of fecretary, the more desirable as it required
his attendance at court, and of the numerous
minifters who rofe and funk during the course of
the reign, his afcendancy fubfifted the longest over
the mind of the king. The earl of Crawford,
who had fuffered the fame imprisonment, was re-
ftored