GLASGOW. (HISTORY.) 



457 



indebted for that regularity and elegance, which has 

 since characterized it. 



During the reign of Charles II. whose ministers 

 endeavoured to re-establish the episcopal form of 

 church government in Scotland, though contrary to 

 the inclinations of a great part of the nation, sacri- 

 fices of the lives and properties of those who opposed 

 the scheme, were everywhere common. In particu- 

 lar, the citizens of Glasgow were mostly covenanters, 

 and many of them were persecuted with unremitting 

 fury. Numbers were hanged in the streets, while 

 others, under the threatening of the like punishment, 

 were forbid attending the presbyterian preachers. At 

 one time the community of the city was fined in 100 

 sterling, for allowing a presbyterian minister to 

 preach within its limits. And at another time, 

 guards were set at the city gates to prevent the inhabi- 

 tants, on Sunday, from attending field preachings in 

 the country. 



In 1677, Glasgow was a second time almost de- 

 stroyed by a dreadful fire, a thousand families being 

 thereby left without a habitation, and one hundred 

 and thirty shops and houses consumed. As it 

 threatened the prison, in which were a great number 

 of people, confined principally for their religious 

 opinions, the citizens broke open the doors ana set 

 them at liberty. 



The measures used against the covenanters, how- 

 ever severe, were not found to answer the intended 

 purpose, and others, more rigorous if possible, were 

 thought necessary. A bond was made out by order 

 of government, which the inhabitants of Glasgow and 

 the western shires were ordered to subscribe. As 

 this deed contained a complete renunciation of pres- 

 bytery, and an abhorrence of all their former proceed- 

 ings, it was easy to foresee that few would relish it. 

 To enforce the subscription, an army of Highlanders, 

 to the amount of eight thousand, were assembled at 

 Stirling, from whence they issued out against this 

 district. On the 26th of January, 1678, they arrived 

 at Glasgow, where, after exercising for the space of 

 five days the most wanton acts of cruelty and oppres- 

 sion upon such as would not willingly comply with 

 the bond, they proceeded towards Ayrshire. There, 

 as in Glasgow, they made a prey of whatever came 

 within the reach of their hands, and if they suspected 

 any concealment, compelled by torture the unfortun- 

 ate objects of their suspicion to discover their hidden 

 wealth. Such acts of violence excited a general in- 

 dignation through the kingdom ; the Highlanders 

 were recalled, and the west was at once stripped of 

 her effects, and liberated from her oppressors. 



In 1679, -on the anniversary of the restoration, 

 about eighty covenanters having assembled at Ruther- 

 glen, they, after extinguishing the bonfires that had 

 been lighted for solemnization of the birth-day, pub- 

 lished a declaration and testimony expressive of their 

 motives, and burned at the cross the several acts of 

 parliament, and of the privy-council, that had passed 

 against them. Notice of these proceedings having 

 come to Edinburgh, C la verhouse was despatched with 

 a party to quell the insurgents, and at the same time 

 with orders to give them battle, in case any resist- 

 ance should be offered. He accordingly fell in with 

 the presbyterians, assembled near Loudon-hill, and 

 having to no purpose desired them to disperse and 

 deliver up the ringleaders, he began an attack. From 

 the superiority of the numbers of the covenanters, 

 Claverhouse and his party were defeated with a con- 

 siderable loss ; they immediately retreated to Glas- 

 gow, where, as they expected to be assaulted by the 

 country people, the streets were barricaded, and 

 other measures taken for their better defence. These 

 expectations were not ill-grounded ; the covenanters, 

 flushed with their success after a night's stay at 



Hamilton, marched to Glasgow. When near the 

 city, they divided their force into two battalions, 

 the one marching into the town by the Gallowgate, 

 and the other by the College Vennal. Immediately 

 thereafter, an engagement took place, which was 

 supported for a considerable time with great bravery 

 on both sides. At last the covenanters were obliged 

 to retreat, from the superior skill of the soldiery, as 

 well as from the fire kept up against them from the 

 windows and closes adjacent to the street. They 

 accordingly left the city in good order, after having 

 eight men killed in the engagement, and several 

 wounded. To this in a few days succeeded the bat- 

 tle of Bothwell Bridge, 



Immediately after that engagement, Claverhouse 

 requested permission to burn Glasgo^ and the other 

 towns in the west, on account of their containing a 

 great number who were well affected to the cause of 

 the covenanters. This was refused. It is, however, 

 said, that to shelter the town from plunder, the com- 

 munity were obliged to quit to Edinburgh a debt of 

 thirty thousand merks, which they held upon the 

 Canonmills. 



At the revolution of 1688, the citizens of Glasgow, 

 to testify their regard to the protestant persuasion, 

 levied and armed five hundred men, whom they sent 

 to Edinburgh, commanded by the earl of Argyle and 

 lord Newbottle, to assist in guarding the convention 

 of estates convened for making a tender of the crown 

 to William and Mary. That convention, regardful 

 of the general voice of the people of Scotland, which 

 had ever been averse to episcopacy, having consti- 

 tuted themselves into a parliament, abolished that 

 form of church government, and in its stead estab- 

 lished presbytery, for which Scotland had so firmly 

 contended, during the two preceding reigns. In 

 consequence of this act, John Paterson, who then 

 held possession of the see of Glasgow, resigned his 

 charge, and retired to Edinburgh, where, in ten years 

 afterwards, he died at the age of seventy-six. 



Shortly after, William and Mary had been raised 

 to the throne, they granted in favour of the com- 

 munity of Glasgow, and in consideration of their 

 loyalty, a new charter of confirmation, whereby they 

 " enact and ordain, that the city of Glasgow and 

 town council thereof, shall have power and privilege 

 to choose their own magistrates, provosts, bailies, 

 and other officers within the burgh, as fully and 

 freely, in all respects, as the city of Edinburgh, or 

 any other royal burgh within the kingdom." By 

 this charter, their right of election, which had been 

 challenged and infringed upon since the last charter 

 in the year 1633, was established, and continued no- 

 minally in use till the recent Scots burgh reform 

 bill. William, though he favoured the citizens by 

 thus confirming their liberties, yet he, or his minis- 

 ters, in another respect, hurt them much, as well 

 as many others, by discouraging the infant colony 

 then lately established at the isthmus of Darien. 

 In this scheme, Glasgow was deeply engaged, and 

 the most sanguine hopes were entertained of its 

 success for a considerable time ; till enemies too 

 powerful to be suppressed, arose and accomplished 

 its destruction, to the unspeakable chagrin of the 

 nation in general, as well as of many individuals who 

 were thereby involved in ruin. 



In 1694, in consequence of a dispute betwixt a 

 citizen and a soldier, the town clerk of Glasgow, 

 Robert Park, was stabbed to death in the city 

 chamber, by major James Menzies. The major im- 

 mediately fled, but was pursued, and in consequence 

 of resistance, shot in Renfield garden. The dispute 

 l)etwixt the citizen and the soldier had been referred 

 to the sitting magistrate. The town clerk embraced 

 the cause of the citizen, while the major s-upported 



