The History of Scotland Volume 2; During the Reigns of Queen Mary and of King James VI. Till His Accession to the Crown of England - With a Review of the Scottish History Previous to That Period and an Appendix Containing Original Papers (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1791 Excerpt: ...for putting a stop to the negociation, until Mitch 14. the Regent should send ambassadors with more ample powers. Thus, after being amused for ten months with the hopes of liberty, the unhappy Queen of Scdts remained under stricter custody than ever, and without any prospect of escaping from it; while those subjects, who still adhered to her, were exposed, without ally or protector, to the rage of enemies, whom their success in this negociation rendered still more insolent." On the day after the expiration of the truce, which had been observed with little exactness on either side, Captain Crawford of Jordan-hill, a gallant and enterprising officer, performed a service of great importance to the Regent, by surprising the castle of Dunbarton. This was the only fortified place in the kingdom, of which the Queen had kept possession, ever since the commencement of the civil wars. Its situation on the top of a high and almost inaccessible rock, which rises in the middle of a plain, rendered it extremely strong, and, in the opinion of that age, impregnable; as it commanded the river Clyde, it was of great consequence, and was deemed the most proper place in the kingdom And. iii. 91, etc. BOOK for landing any foreign troops that might come to VI. Mary's aid. The strength of the place rendered mu Lord Fleming, the governor, more secure than he ought to have been, considering its importance. A soldier, who had served in the garrison, and had been disgusted by some ill ufage, proposed the scheme to the Regent, endeavoured to demonstrate that it was practicable, and offered himself to go the foremost man on the enterprise. It was thought prudent to risk any danger for so great a prize. Scaling-ladders, and whatever else might be necesfary, were prepared with the u...