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The Patriot
The Patriot Tranter, Nigel
379 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 2, 2022
Alexander Fletcher is laird of Saltoun and because of corruption amongst King Charles' II representatives in Scotland he decides to stand for commissioner of the Haddington district in hopes correcting governmental abuses. Needless to say this displeases John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, Secretary of State, and Lord High Commissioner of the Scots Parliment. When Andrew returns to Saltoun Hall it's to find soldiers billeted upon his family, a favorite method of intimidation used by Lauderdale and Charles II that could also bankrupt anti-Unionists.
Andrew also questions James, Duke of York, as to whether he'll protect the right to worship using the Protestant faith in Scotland since James is Catholic and the Scots lowlands are Protestant. He also suggests if James isn't going to protest those rights then maybe it's time to separate the Crowns. This goes over like a lead balloon and the Privy Council brings charges against him and he has to flee Scotland for six years.
He would later return, helping put William of Orange and his wife Mary Stuart on the joint thrones, but irked William and so remained landless and outlawed for a long time. When he was restored to his lairdship he wound up disgusted by the government's engineering of the Massacre of Glencoe wherein a troop of Campbells asked for and received hospitality from the MacDonalds of Glencoe for a week and then rose up and slaughtered them in their sleep. The rest of Scotland still hasn't forgotten this. He also helped organize the Darien expedition in order for Scotland to establish a colony around the Isthmus of Panama that could supply ships and help portage shipments from one ocean to another. It failed due to poor supplies, the reluctance of young lairdly adventurers to work, and sickness.
Andrew also questions James, Duke of York, as to whether he'll protect the right to worship using the Protestant faith in Scotland since James is Catholic and the Scots lowlands are Protestant. He also suggests if James isn't going to protest those rights then maybe it's time to separate the Crowns. This goes over like a lead balloon and the Privy Council brings charges against him and he has to flee Scotland for six years.
He would later return, helping put William of Orange and his wife Mary Stuart on the joint thrones, but irked William and so remained landless and outlawed for a long time. When he was restored to his lairdship he wound up disgusted by the government's engineering of the Massacre of Glencoe wherein a troop of Campbells asked for and received hospitality from the MacDonalds of Glencoe for a week and then rose up and slaughtered them in their sleep. The rest of Scotland still hasn't forgotten this. He also helped organize the Darien expedition in order for Scotland to establish a colony around the Isthmus of Panama that could supply ships and help portage shipments from one ocean to another. It failed due to poor supplies, the reluctance of young lairdly adventurers to work, and sickness.
March 17, 2024
Andrew Fletcher
Brilliant telling of the fight to remain an independent Scotland. A much underrated historical figure. I will read this one again.
Brilliant telling of the fight to remain an independent Scotland. A much underrated historical figure. I will read this one again.
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August 23, 2008isbn,original
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews