Cumbernauld Bond
Encyclopedia
Cumbernauld Bond was a pledge between eighteen Scottish noblemen who met at Cumbernauld in August 1640 to defend Scotland against extreme Presbyterians and to defend the National Covenant for the public good against those who used it predominantly for private gain. At political level it was an agreement to oppose the policies of Earl of Argyll
who controlled the dominant political faction in Scotland. The most prominent pledger was the Earl of Montrose
, others included Lord Fleming, the Earl of Marischal
, and Lord Almond
.
The Earl of Argyll learnt of the Bonds existence from Lord Almond and on 13 April 1641 it was discussed by the Scottish Committee of Estates
. Although many members of the Committee were eager to press treason charges against the pledgers, after Montrose and others appeared before them and testified to the bonds existence and tried to justify it, no action, beyond having the bond burnt an a written statement extracted from the pledgers that no evil had been intended, was taken. Lord Almond, who had been appointed lieutenant-general of the Scottish army before the Committee's meeting, retained his position as the Covenanters did not want to emphasize division in their ranks.
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, was the de facto head of government in Scotland during most of the conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, also known as the British Civil War...
who controlled the dominant political faction in Scotland. The most prominent pledger was the Earl of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
, others included Lord Fleming, the Earl of Marischal
William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal
William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal was a Scottish nobleman and Covenanter. He was the eldest son of William Keith, 6th Earl Marischal...
, and Lord Almond
James Livingston, 1st Earl of Callendar
James Livingston, 1st Earl of Callendar , army officer who fought on the Royalist side in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms....
.
The Earl of Argyll learnt of the Bonds existence from Lord Almond and on 13 April 1641 it was discussed by the Scottish Committee of Estates
Committee of Estates
The Committee of Estates governed Scotland during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms when the Parliament of Scotland was not sitting. It was dominated by Covenanters of which the most influential faction was that of the Earl of Argyll....
. Although many members of the Committee were eager to press treason charges against the pledgers, after Montrose and others appeared before them and testified to the bonds existence and tried to justify it, no action, beyond having the bond burnt an a written statement extracted from the pledgers that no evil had been intended, was taken. Lord Almond, who had been appointed lieutenant-general of the Scottish army before the Committee's meeting, retained his position as the Covenanters did not want to emphasize division in their ranks.