The Glencairn Uprising, 1653-54 Helen Baker Department of ...

Earl of Loudoun, late Lord Chancellor of Scotland – had stolen into his father’s
territory to seize cows.
Monck was clearly furious at Lorne’s activities. In his letter of 12 September, he
commented that: “I cannot finde but that the Marquesse of Argyll is rightous though
the Countrey more incline to his sonne then to him.’ By this time, the hostility
between Argyle and Lorne was to such extent that the former had applied to the
English authorities for protection. The well-known Resolutioner, Robert Baillie, wrote
of Argyle’s widespread unpopularity: “The people’s great hatred lyes on him above
any one man, and whatever befalls him, few does pitie it: at this very time his state is
very staggering.” 216
However, Monck was so suspicious of Argyle’s involvement with the Royalists that
he threatened to withdraw his orders for a garrison at Inveraray. Certainly members of
Monck’s entourage were convinced of Argyle’s guilt: John Baynes wrote to his
cousin on 9 September that the Argyle had ‘pretended’ the vessel would be safe and
that ‘his name is Archgyle’. It is unlikely that Argyle was guilty of double-dealing at
this point: after all, he had remained loyal to the English when it seemed less certain
that they would victor over the Royalists. The population of Argyllshire was also
more inclined to ensure their material well-being than Monck gave them credit.
Lorne’s cow-stealing activity led to much resentment and, at one stage, he was
wounded in the neck after his companions decided they had more to gain by capturing
him to present to the English. It is unsurprising that the Royalist disagreement that
had proved so disruptive in the early months of the revolt was increasing during a
time of defeat, hunger and the onset of winter. 217
Monck was aware that although the English had managed to suppress this rebellion, it
had increased the destitution and resentment already experienced by many Scottish
people. From August 1654, when he requested the continuation of the garrison at
Lochaber, Monck stressed the importance of securing against further revolt by
maintaining a strong military presence in Scotland. Many garrisons were established
216 Laing, D. (ed.) The Letters and Journals of Robert Baillie, p.288.
217 Willcock, J. A Scots Earl in Covenanting Times, pp.67-69; Dow, F.D. Cromwellian Scotland,
pp.133-134 and Akerman, J.Y (ed.) Letters from Roundhead Officers, p.97.