THE ISLES AND THE COVENANT. 331 



to the Roman Catholic religion ; and it would be a rash 

 and unfounded statement to assert that in those parts, the 

 Christian, social, or domestic virtues are less prominent 

 than in the localities where Presbyterianism is rampant. 

 It is curious to observe, that Presbyterianism of the most 

 aggressive, and, it is to be feared, the most uncharitable 

 type, is now found in remote districts of the Highlands, 

 which it entered at a period when the asperities of Low- 

 land Presbyterians had been softened, and their narrow 

 prejudices modified by the hand of Time. And a similar 

 modification will probably, in like manner, become apparent 

 at a later stage of religious development, in those places 

 which were the last to embrace Presbyterianism. 



George, Earl of Seaforth, was a member of the Table of 

 Nobility which, with the other three Tables of the kingdom, 

 produced the Covenant ; that famous document which 

 united Presbyterian Scotland in its opposition to the 

 innovations of Charles. To say that the Earl was influenced 

 chiefly by his religious convictions in joining the ranks of 

 the Covenanters, is an assumption which is hardly sup- 

 ported by his character, as displayed by his actions. It is 

 difficult to resist the conclusion, that with Lord Seaforth, 

 self-interest was the first consideration. Otherwise, it is 

 impossible to offer any satisfactory explanation of the turn- 

 coat principles with which contemporary historians have 

 charged him. 



In 1638, he entered into a bond of friendship with Argyll, 

 and in the following year, figured as the principal leader of 

 the Covenanters north of the Spey. In 1640, his fidelity to 

 the Covenant began to be doubted, and for four years 

 he lay under the ban of suspicion.* The compact with 

 Argyll was dissolved in 1640, and a quarrel took place 

 between the two men, which may have been either the 

 cause, or the result, of a commission given to Argyll by the 

 Committee of Estates to secure the West, together with 

 the Central Highlands. So well did Argyll perform his 



* Spalding, Vol. II., pp. 46, 55, and 420. 



