The only distinct evidence we have of him at this time is contained in
the aforesaid Orders of Council. From these it appears that he had been
charged by the Scottish Treasury with appropriating the public moneys to
his use. He had been appointed for his services trustee to the Crown of
the estate of one Macdowall of Freugh, an outlawed Galloway laird; and
of this estate it was alleged that he would render no accounts, nor of
the fines he had been commissioned to levy on the non-abjuring rebels.
With characteristic fearlessness Claverhouse went straight to London,
and in a personal interview satisfied Charles of his innocence, who
forthwith ordered him to be reinstated in his commission and all the
privileges belonging to it.[35] It is clear, however, that during the
greater part of the year 1680 Claverhouse was suspended from both his
civil and military employments, and this will account for the duty of
punishing the authors of the Sanquhar Declaration devolving not upon
him, but upon his lieutenant, Bruce of Earlshall.
The prime mover of the Sanquhar Declaration was Richard Cameron, who had
now become the head of the extreme party, henceforth to be known by his
name--a name which still survives as that of a distinguished regiment of
the British army. It was framed in much the same language and to much
the same purpose as its predecessor of Rutherglen, though it would not
be right to degrade Cameron to the level of Hamilton and his ruffianly
associates.
Pages:
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118