The Life of Archibald Campbell, Marquis of Argyle.

(From a respectable periodical.)

Some nobles called.-His zeal for the Puritans and the Reformation.-Charles I.'s testimony. His zeal for Charles II., whom he crowns.-The cruelty of Charles II.-False witnesses.-He dies a martyr, May 27, 1661.

The apostle Paul informs us, that in his day, not many noble, or right honourable part of mankind, were brought to embrace the gospel; and this has been the case in all ages of the church down to the present. Yet, through the divine mercy, there have been a few of this description of men, who have condescended to accept of the salvation of God, and endeavoured to support his cause and interest in the world. The honourable Archibald Campbell, marquis of Argyle, stands distinguished amongst those of high rank, who in that century were remarkable for their zeal in espousing the cause of Christ. After having had a good classical education, he applied himself to the study of the holy scriptures, and became well acquainted with the most interesting points of religion, which he retained and cultivated amidst all his laborious and high employments both in church and state.

From his early years he stood well affected towards the Puritans, so called. When good Mr. Rutherford was brought before the High-commission-court, in 1638, for his non-conformity, the marquis greatly interested himself in his behalf. Mr. Rutherford takes notice of this in his letters, and says, "The Lord hath brought me a friend from the highlands of Argyleshire, who hath done as much in my behalf as was within the compass of his

power. God gave me favour in his eyes." And in a letter to the Lady Kenmure, Mr. Rutherford says, "Write thanks to your brother, for what he has done for me, a poor unknown stranger to him. I shall pray for him and his house while I live. It is an honour to him to open his mouth in the streets for his Lord and Master Jesus Christ." The marquis likewise prevailed with the bishop of Galloway to relax the sentence of banishment passed upon good Mr. Earlston; who was engaged in the same noble

cause.

No sooner did the reformation begin to dawn, in 1637, than the marquis engaged, in connexion with the ministers, to support that good work with this view he attended the famous general assembly held in Glasgow, and distinguished himself by his zeal for the Redeemer's glory, in which he continued, and was kept faithful therein till called to lay down his life for the sake of a good conscience. Mr. Henderson, the moderator in the assembly, expressed a wish that this noble peer had joined with them a little sooner; adding, "That he hoped the Lord had reserved him for the most important times, and that he would honour him both here and hereafter." To which his lordship replied, "You wish that I had joined you sooner; this was not for want of affection for true religion, or for want of love to my country, but a hope that by staying at court I might have been able to bring about a redress of grievances; but when I saw that I could stay there no longer without proving unfaithful to my God and my country, I thought it the best to do as I have done. I remember that I told some of you, That pride and avarice are too evils that have been attended with very bad consequences in the church of God, and as they are grievous faults in any man, so they are much more so in ministers. I hope every man here will walk by the rules now set before him. I hope that ministers will take care to perform their duty to their people, and that the people will have a proper regard to those who are set over them, to watch for their souls; and not to think that because we have no bishops therefore they may live as they please."

Charles I. disagreeing with his English parliament, made a second tour to Scotland in 1640. When the Scotch parliament was sitting, the king himself bore this testimony concerning the marquis, That he had dealt over honestly with him, and therefore he now created him marquis of Argyle, earl of Kintyre, &c. as a reward for his faithful services.

During the sitting of the parliament, a plot was laid to destroy this nobleman and the marquis of Hamilton. The earl of Crawford, and Colonel Cockran, were to have been the actors in the business. Hamilton and Argyle were to be called for in the dead of the night to speak with the king, and in the way they were to be arrested as traitors and delivered to Crawford, who was to wait for them with a considerable body of armed men. If any resistance was made, he was to stab them directly; but if not, he was to take them on board a ship of war then in Leith Road, where they were to be confined until they should take their trial for treason. But this broke out before it was quite ripe for execution, so that the two noblemen escaped.

In 1649, the marquis used all his interest in order to bring home Charles II. and to restore him to the possession of the crown, and the exercise of his royal authority. In this he succeeded as long as the king followed his advice. But afterwards the king would put wicked men into places of trust and power, and then all went to ruin, to the no small grief of this worthy and religious man. The king pretended a great deal of kindness for him, as appears from a letter under his own hand, dated Sept. 24, 1650, in which he says, "Having taken into consideration the faithful endeavours of the marquis of Argyle, for restoring me to my just rights, I am desirous to let the world see how sensible I am of his real respect to me, by some particular favour done to him. And particularly, I do promise, that I shall make him Duke of Argyle, a knight of the garter, and one of the gentlemen of my bed-chamber, and this to be performed when he shall think fit. I do further promise to hearken to his counsel, whenever it shall please God to restore me to my just rights in England. I shall then see him paid the £40,000 sterling which is due to him. All which I do promise to make good upon the word of a king." How these fair promises were fulfilled will afterwards appear. For this pious nobleman happening to reprove the king for some of his abominable immoralities, the faithful admonition, however well it seemed to be taken at the time, yet it appeared afterwards that it was never forgot, but was repaid with the highest

resentment.

On Jan. 1, 1651, the king was crowned at Scone, where, after an excellent sermon by Mr. Robert Douglas, from 2 Kings ii. 17, the king took the coronation oath: then sitting down in the chair of state, the crown was placed upon his head by the marquis of

Argyle, while Mr. Douglas prayed. After which the king ascended the stage, attended by the proper officers, and was installed in the royal throne by that nobleman, saying, "Stand fast, from henceforth, in the place whereof you are the lawful heir, by a long succession of your forefathers, which is now delivered to you by the authority of Almighty God." The solemnity was concluded by a pertinent exhortation both to the king and the people, wherein they were certified, that if they should conspire together against the kingdom of Jesus Christ, they would most assuredly fall together.

After this, the king's army being totally routed by Cromwell at Worcester, and the Common-wealth of England becoming complete masters of Scotland, all were obliged to submit. The marquis being taken sick at Inverary, was obliged to sign a paper much against his will, in order to preserve himself and his tenants from destruction; this was made a mighty handle of against him afterwards.

Soon after the king's return, the marquis was solicited to repair to the court, and being himself very desirous to see a prince upon whose head he had placed the crown, though many of his best friends used various arguments to persuade him not to venture, till matters came to be more fully settled, yet from the testimony of a good conscience, well knowing that he was able to vindicate himself from every aspersion if he was but once admitted into the king's presence. He therefore set out for London, where he arrived in July, and went directly to Whitehall to salute his majesty. No sooner did the king hear that he was come, but, (forgetting all his former promises), he ordered Sir William Fleming to apprehend him and take him to the Tower, where he continued till December; when he was sent down in a man of war, to take his trial before the parliament in Scotland, and was committed to the castle of Edinburgh until his trial came on.

On Feb. 13, 1661, his lordship was brought down from the castle in a coach, with three of the magistrates, attended by the town guard, and presented before the bar of the house. The king's advocate, Sir John Fletcher, accused him in the common form of high treason, and produced an indictment, desiring that it might be read. The marquis begged leave to speak before that was done; but the house refused his reasonable request, and ordered it to be read; and although the marquis entreated them to hear a petition he had to present, yet that was too great a favour