The Court found that Sir John Dalrymple had
been guilty of employing rebels and of winking at treasonable practices:
of not exacting the proper fines by law ordained for such misdemeanours:
of stirring up the country-folk against the King's troops; and, finally,
of grossly misrepresenting Claverhouse to the Council. For these
offences he was sentenced to pay a fine of five hundred pounds and the
whole costs of the proceedings, and to be imprisoned in the Castle of
Edinburgh till the money should be paid. Claverhouse, on his side,
received not only a full and most complimentary acquittal from all his
adversary's charges, but also a signal proof of the royal favour in the
presentation to a regiment of cavalry raised especially for this
purpose. His commission was dated December 25th, 1682, and in the
following March he was sent into England with despatches from the
Council to the King and the Duke of York, who was still nominally
Commissioner for Scottish Affairs.[40]
Hitherto Claverhouse may be said to have stood conspicuous among the men
of his time for his persistent refusal to enrich himself at the public
cost. He had certainly had many opportunities, as had a still more
famous captain after him, of wondering at his own moderation, yet his
enemies had been unable to bring home to him a single instance of
malpractice.
Pages:
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125