CAMPBELL, Archibald, Earl of Argyll, son to the former, had from his youth distinguished himself by his loyalty and his attachment to the royal family. Though his fa-
ther was head of the covenanters, he himself refused to Campbell concur in any of their measures; and when a commission of colonel was given him by the convention of states, he forbore to act upon it till it should be ratified by the king. By his respectful behaviour, as well as by his services, he made himself acceptable to Charles when that prince was in Scotland; and even after the battle of Worcester, all the misfortunes which attended the royal cause could not engage him to desert it. Under Middleton he obstinately persevered to harass and infest the victorious English; and it was not till he had received orders from that general, that he would submit to accept of a capitulation. Such jealousy of his loyal attachments was entertained by the commonwealth and protector, that a pretence was soon after fallen upon to commit him to prison; and his confinement was rigorously continued till the restoration. The king, sensible of his services, had remitted to him his father's forfeiture, and created him Earl of Argyll; and when a most unjust sentence was passed upon him by the Scotch parliament, Charles anew remitted it. In the subsequent part of this reign Argyll behaved himself dutifully; and though he seemed not disposed to go all lengths with the court, he always appeared, even in his opposition, a man of mild disposition and peaceable deportment.
A parliament was summoned at Edinburgh in summer 1681, and the Duke of York appointed commissioner. Besides granting money to the king, and voting the indefeasible right of succession, this parliament enacted a test which all persons holding offices, civil, military, or ecclesiastical, were bound to take; in which test the king's supremacy was asserted, the covenant renounced, passive obedience assented to, and all obligations disclaimed of endeavouring any alteration in civil or ecclesiastical establishments. But in addition to the test as prepared by the courtiers, the country party proposed also a clause of adherence to the Protestant religion, which could not with decency be rejected. The whole was of an enormous length, considered as an oath; and, what was worse, being voted in a hurry, it was found on examination to be a medley of absurdity and contradiction. Though the courtiers could not reject the clause of adherence to the Protestant religion, they proposed that all princes of the blood should be exempted from taking the oath; an exception which was zealously opposed by Argyll, who observed that the sole danger to the Protestant religion must proceed from the quarter where it was thus proposed to grant an exemption. By insisting on this topic he drew on himself the secret indignation of the Duke of York, of which he soon felt the fatal consequences.
When Argyll took the test as a privy counsellor, he subjoined, in the duke's presence, an explanation which he had previously communicated to that prince, and which he believed to have been approved by him. It was in these words:—"I have considered the test, and am very desirous of giving obedience as far as I can. I am confident that the parliament never intended to impose contradictory oaths; therefore I think no man can explain it but for himself. Accordingly I take it as far as it is consistent with itself and the Protestant religion. And I do declare that I mean not to bind myself in my station, and in a lawful way, from wishing and endeavouring any alteration which I think to the advantage of church or state, and not repugnant to the Protestant religion and my loyalty; and this I understand as a part of my oath." The duke heard the qualification with tranquillity, and Argyll was admitted to sit that day in council; nor was it possible to imagine that a capital offence had been committed where occasion seemed not to have been given for so much as a frown or a reprimand. Argyll was therefore much surprised a few days afterwards to find that a warrant had
Campbell. been issued for committing him to prison; that he was indicted for high treason, leasing-making, and perjury; and that from the innocent words above mentioned an accusation had been extracted, by which he was to forfeit life, honours, and fortune. It is needless to enter into particulars where the iniquity of the whole is so apparent. Of five judges three did not scruple to find that the guilt of treason and leasing-making had been incurred by the prisoner; a jury of fifteen noblemen gave a verdict against him; and the king being consulted, ordered sentence to be pronounced, but the execution of it suspended till further orders. Argyll, however, saw no reason to trust to the justice or mercy of such enemies. He made his escape from prison, and, till he could find a ship for Holland, concealed himself during some time in London. All the parts of his sentence, however, as far as the government in Scotland had power, were rigorously executed; his estate was confiscated, and his arms were reversed and torn down. Having got over to Holland, he remained there during the remaining part of the reign of Charles II. But thinking himself at liberty, before the coronation of James II. to exert himself in order to recover the constitution by force of arms, he concerted measures with the Duke of Monmouth, and returned to Scotland to assemble his friends; but not meeting with the success which he expected, he was taken prisoner, and, being carried to Edinburgh, was beheaded upon his former unjust sentence, on the 30th June 1685. He showed great constancy and courage under his misfortunes. At the place of execution he made a short, grave, and religious speech; and, after solemnly declaring that he forgave all his enemies, submitted to death with heroic firmness.