Revolution and Counter Revolution 1644–1651

By David Stevenson

In 1644 a massive army of Scottish Covenanters moved over the border into England, claiming they were not invading their neighbour but acting to save its liberties, by helping to ensure that the absolutist King Charles I did not win the civil war he was fighting with the English parliament. It was a daring move but the Covenanters believed it necessary for defensive reasons, for if Charles triumphed over parliament in England he would then attempt to overthrow the Covenanters’ regime.

The Covenanters proved over-ambitious and over-confident, driven by their conviction that God would lead them to triumph. They did play a decisive role in parliament’s victory, but not in the sensational way they had hoped, and the English were reluctant to give them credit – or to accept their vision of a Scottish-dominated, Presbyterian Britain. Moreover, invading England provoked a major royalist rebellion in Scotland, led by the Marquis of Montrose. Disillusioned by the English parliament, some sought a compromise with the king, but a new invasion of England in 1648 led to disaster. Extremist Covenanters then seized power in Scotland and sought to impose radical policies, but they were forced by a growing royalist revival to again fall back on monarchy, provoking English invasion led by Oliver Cromwell.

This book continues the story begun in The Scottish Revolution of the Covenanters’ sudden rise to power, and how their soaring ambitions and religious zeal in the end led Scotland to an unparalleled disaster.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Donald
• Release date: Nov 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781788853880

David Stevenson

David Stevenson is Professor Emeritus of Scottish History at the University of St Andrews and the author of numerous books, including the standard two-volume history of the Covenanters.