CHAP. V - Dundee in the Scottish Highlands

Summary

It ought not by any means to be denied that a real feeling of loyalty to James II was at work. His hereditary right had certainly found powerful advocates even in the English Convention, which had owed its existence to the revolt against him. And many did not believe in the existence of the great danger to religion and to the laws which had been the ground of the revolt. They maintained that the nation had allowed itself to be persuaded of the reality of that danger by Pharisaical teachers, and disowned the Parliament's claim to dispose of the throne. In spite of the resolutions of that assembly they held James II to be the true king, and the Prince of Wales to be the rightful heir. In remains which have come down to us from these circles William III is described as the unnatural son-in-law, the nephew, and at the same time the enemy of the legitimate king; the Jacobites spoke of him with abhorrence, and counted it an honour to themselves not to bow the knee to Baal like others.

In Scotland legitimist feelings were aided by a peculiar religious and political motive. Episcopalianism had, as we know, been planted, and its interests advanced, by the crown: it had not been able to gain over the nation to itself, but, in spite of the efforts of the extreme Presbyterians, which always retained something of violence, it had nevertheless taken root in the country, and counted many even enthusiastic adherents.