Charles I, King of England and of Scotland, had been forced to agree a truce with the Covenanters, to conclude the
Bishops' Wars of 1639–1640. In August 1641 he ratified the
Treaty of London, and travelled to
Edinburgh to finalise negotiations with the
Scottish Parliament. Charles hoped to make common cause with the
Earl of Argyll, the effective leader of the Presbyterian Covenanters, against the English
Long Parliament, and created him
Marquis of Argyll. The
Marquis of Hamilton, while remaining a Royalist, sought to develop a friendship with the Marquis of Argyll. It is not clear how much Charles I approved of this liaison, but many in the Scottish Royalist faction felt threatened by this development. On the evening of 29 September, Lord Henry Ker (the son of the
Earl of Roxburgh), rode into Edinburgh at the head of an armed retinue and challenged Hamilton to a duel, calling him a traitor. The episode ended without violence as Lord Ker backed down and apologised. However it set in motion murmurs and whispers amongst others Royalists which led to plotting. The plot was directed against the Marquis of Argyll, the Marquis of Hamilton, and the latter's brother, the
Earl of Lanark. It was hatched by the Royalist, and rival of Argyll, the
Earl of Montrose, who had already attempted to have Argyll charged with
high treason. The three were to be kidnapped and taken on board a ship at
Leith, but on 11 October,
General Leslie, the leader of the Covenanter army, was informed of the plot by Sir
John Hurry, a Scottish soldier who had been invited to join the conspiracy. Argyll, Hamilton and Lanark were forced to flee from Edinburgh to Hamilton's property at
Kinneil House, near
Bo'ness. The next day, Charles denied any involvement in the plot, and was soon forced to allow an investigation into the matter. Charles was left with no option but to submit to the Covenanters' demands. He assented to the abolition of
episcopal polity in Scotland, and appointed Covenanting nobles to the
Privy Council of Scotland and other positions, before returning to England in November to face the increasing threat of civil war. ==Notes==