The actions of General Alexander Leslie (c.1580–1661), 1st Earl of Leven, also helped shape Scottish history. General Leslie made a mark as a military commander on the continent, enlisting in the Swedish army in 1608. He was knighted by King Gustavus Adolphus II of Sweden in 1627 and, after a string of military successes in Germany, he returned to Scotland sometime after 1630. Leslie’s loyalty to the Protestant cause inspired him to join the Covenanters, a Scottish Presbyterian movement opposed to the new liturgy imposed on the Scots, against King Charles I in 1639. In  1641, Leslie’s army took Newcastle, enabling him to force Charles to come to a treaty with the Scottish Covenanters.

The actions of General Alexander Leslie (c.1580–1661), 1st Earl of Leven, also helped shape Scottish history. General Leslie made a mark as a military commander on the continent, enlisting in the Swedish army in 1608. He was knighted by King Gustavus Adolphus II of Sweden in 1627 and after a string of military successes in Germany, he returned to Scotland sometime after 1630. Leslie’s loyalty to the Protestant cause inspired him to join the Covenanters, a Scottish Presbyterian movement opposed to the new liturgy imposed on the Scots, against King Charles I in 1639. In  1641, Leslie’s army took Newcastle, enabling him to force Charles to come to a treaty with the Scottish Covenanters.

The Scottish Studies Collection in Archival & Special Collections in McLaughlin Library has several pamphlets that mention General Leslie’s letters on his decision to support Charles I’s kingship.