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

Macleod to turn against Middleton. Macleod initially refused but in March when his
own people refused to support his stance, he had little choice but to surrender.
Negotiations with Macleod were prolonged and the articles of agreement were not
signed until 29 May. Macleod’s submission was the final straw for Middleton who,
demonstrating admirable concern for his colleagues, advised Lord Reay and Lorne to
begin negotiations. 225 An agreement was concluded with Reay on 18 May and with
Lorne, McNaughton and Cameron on 17 May. 226 Two days later the Earl of Selkirk
signed a treaty. Macdonald of Glengarry did not agree to terms until the end of the
same month and was granted an unofficial pardon for all hostilities committed after
1644. 227
Middleton himself refused to surrender and in April escaped to the Continent where
he renewed his efforts to bring about a royal Restoration. However, the English
Parliament was more concerned with the continuation of violence and general unrest
in the Highlands than with Middleton’s political machinations. On 8 May Monck
referred to the stubborn disobedience of the Highland clans. He regarded Cromwell’s
and the Council’s orders of July and August concerning the reduction of the army
establishment with concern. On 7 September he wrote to President Lawrence:
Wee have already quitted as many guarrisons as possibly wee may with
safety; the rest that are now kept must necessarily bee repaired and
provided for; otherwise wee shall leave some part of the Country without
any forces, and by that meanes loose people willbee apt to get together
againe, seing those Country men are still forward to waite for an
opportunity to doe the same, and want not advice or incurragement from
Charles Stewart to doe it. 228
225 Relations between Middleton and Lorne were exceedingly friendly at the end of the uprising. In a
letter dated 31 March 1655, Middleton praised Lorne’s conduct during the campaign. On 17 April,
from his Parisian hide-out, Middleton wrote to Lorne to express regret at not being able to meet with
him before his departure. See Willcock, J. A Scots Earl in Covenanting Times, p.73.
226 Lorne returned to his family home but it appears that relations between him and his father remained
strained at the very least. A kinsman of the family, Alexander Brodie of Brodie, visited Rosneath at his
time and commented on “the incurable wounds that were in the family by difference, implacableness,
unsubmissiveness, humour, asperitie, etc., and by other burdens.” He rather tactlessly complained to his
hostess of her husband’s unwillingness to forgive and forget, and of her son’s continuing defiance.
However, when Argyle was arrested after the restoration of the King, Lorne did attempt to obtain his
father’s release. See Willcock, J. The Great Marquess, pp.297-8, 314.
227 Dow, F.D. Cromwellian Scotland, pp.139-140.