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Now
Montrose was anxious only to disengage and be off. He had as much as
he was likely to get, at Strathbogie - and could lose it again all
to easily. But getting away from that strange establishment was not
easy, and Huntly's hospitality, once broached, was comprehensive,
even embarrassing. It looked as though they were automatically
expected to stay for days. It was only by insisting that it was
vital for him to be back in Aberdeen by noon next day that the
Graham managed to detach himself - and even so they were provided
with a large Gordon escort all the way back to the very city gates.

This
time it was the young Lord Gordon who led. And all the way he asked
questions, sought information, views, discussed points, a young
man of intelligence with a mind of his own, despite his unimpressive
appearance. Montrose took to him. He would make a very different
chief for Clan Gordon from his father.

10

The
Covenanters presently found compensation for
their
non-success in the North-East, in word from London that the King was
prepared to accede to their demand for the calling of a much-overdue
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland - a summons which
required the royal authority. This was splendid news, for whatever
reason Charles was granting it. But the satisfaction in Scotland was
somewhat allayed by the subsequent announcement that the

King
would not attend in person but was sending the deplorable
Hamilton again, as Lord High Commissioner. Nothing was said about
the Covenant itself.

While
there were the usual warnings that Charles was only playing for time
in granting this procedural concession although constitutionally he
had no reason to withhold it - and that he was in fact preparing to
outwit the Scots, Montrose at least preferred to believe that the
King could be responding to reason, and behaving in honest and
kingly fashion.

The
great gathering was set for Glasgow, at the end of November. There
had been no such General Assembly since 1619, although this was the
constitutional and democratic court and ruling body of the Kirk of
Scotland. Indeed, there had been only six in all, since King James
removed south to London in 1603. All had been unsatisfactory,
improperly constituted and conducted, each more dominated than the
last by royal-appointed bishops. This one was going to be different.
Much would hinge on it.

Montrose
himself was duly elected as lay commissioner for Auchterarder, in
which Strathearn parish stood Kincardine Castle. But when he
set out for Glasgow, he rode again with Graham troopers at his back
- at die Tables' request; for there were rumours that their enemies
would overturn the entire proceedings by main force if no other
means was open to them; and Glasgow was likely to resemble an armed
camp. That 20th day of November, 1638, all Scotland seemed to be on
the road to the little town between the Molendinar and the Clyde,
that huddled beneath its great High Kirk, formerly St Mungo's
Cathedral, wherein decision was to be taken.

In
the narrow streets and lanes of Glasgow, packed as never before in
its history, drama was foreshadowed. Black-clad ministers were
everywhere; but that was to be expected - although the number who
actually bore sword or dirk at their girdles came as a surprise to
Montrose at least. It was the enormous numbers of men-at-arms and
mail-clad supporters that most vehemently dominated the scene,
however. They swarmed like locusts, wearing every sort of livery and
colours. Every lord and laird in the land seemed to have descended
upon this town of 12,000 inhabitants, each with his 'tail' of armed
men. Or not quite every lord, perhaps for Huntly and the
Gordons, for instance, was not represented ; nor the Earl of
Erroll's Hays, the Maxwells and Herries or other near-Catholic
clans. But there were Hamiltons by the hundred, Border Kerrs of the
Earl of Roxburgh, Traquair's Stewarts, Douglases of Clydesdale and
Ogilvys of Airlie. It looked as though all the Glasgow decisions
would not be taken inside St Mungo's Kirk.

Nevertheless,
it was not so much all these that made the greatest impact on
Montrose; his tight-disciplined Graham troopers under Black Pate of
Inchbrakie would be a match for any of them. It was the sight of
such large numbers of kilted, plaided and bare-kneed Highlanders in
the streets that struck him most forcibly, and the answer to his
enquiries as to their identity, the information that they were
Campbells from Argyll, It was with a thoughtful mien that the
commissioner from Auchterarder, after settling in at the lodging he
was sharing with Archie Napier in the Drygatc, went in search of
fuller details.

Rothes,
commissioner for Kirkcaldy in Fife, told him. 'Our cause must be
prospering,' he declared, with his usual cynicism. 'The
Campbell elects to bestow his support upon it! At last, openly, and
for all to see. Man, is it no' great? Lorne, newly become
MacCailean
Mor a
nd
Earl o' Argyll by his fool father's death, celebrates the occasion!
He discovers the Covenant is like to win in Scotland, and honours
its Assembly with his presence. So now Charles Stewart can read the
writing on the wall!'

"You
are sure that it is
our
side
that he joins? Not the government's? Hamilton's? Why bring so many
men to Glasgow to join our cause ?'

'With
the Campbell you can never be certain-sure, I grant you. But - would
yon one choose to join the King's party at this stage? Hey? Wi' the
tide flowing our way? No' Archibald Campbell, I say! He wants a hand
in what is decided here.'

'That
could still be on the other side...'

Next
morning, Wednesday the 21st of November, when the General Assembly,
the first for nineteen years, was ceremonially opened in the nave of
the vast church above the Molendinar Burn - which the Archbishop of
Glasgow called his Cathedral of St Mungo and Master William

Annan
its own minister called the High Kirk of Glasgow -the Earl of Argyll
still provided no clear indication as to his intentions. When
Montrose and Napier, having had to' battle their way through unruly
crowds to get in, took their seats in the body of the church as
ordinary commissioners, beside Rothes and Eglinton, there was no
sign of the Campbell.

There
was a blare of trumpets, as the vestry door was flung open, to
herald the entry of the Lord High Commissioner and his suite.
All rose to their feet for the King's representative. Argyll was
still not to be distinguished in the great throng. It was many years
since James Graham had seen him, but he did not think that he would
fail to recognise the man.

Once
again Lord Lyon Balfour and his heralds led in the procession.
Sundry officials came first. Then the Lords of the Privy Council -
who by decision of the previous packed and unrepresentative
Assemblies had been given leave to attend and vote. This, however,
proved to be a very reduced attendance for many members of that
august body had elected to either stay away or to sit elsewhere - as
had the Lord Napier; and, more significant, not one of the thirteen
Lords Spiritual, the bishops, all now members thereof, came in.

'Ha!
See that!' Rothes cried out - for the din was already loud as a
cattle-market. 'They too have seen the writing on thte wall! No' a
bishop to show his episcopal nose! Canny chiels - they ken what's
good for them.'

'Thank
God for that, at least,' Napier said. 'That gives us thirteen more
votes. They knew they would be out-voted, and made to look small.
Aye, out-talked and out-reasoned likewise. So they have chosen the
better part, for once ...'

But
Montrose was not joining in the surge of exclamation which rose from
all the vast company at this first hint of success for the Covenant
- for the mighty church was packed, its two hundred and fifty or so
commissioners only a very small proportion of the assemblage, and
every aisle, side-chapel, and gallery, even the clerestory walks,
crowded with far from silent spectators. He had drawn quick breath
at quite another aspect of the Privy Council entrance - for second
to come pacing
in
was
the burly, bushy-bearded figure of David, Earl of Southesk.

'Look
there,' he interrupted his other brother-in-law. 'Southesk has come.
Come out of his retirement. When did you last see him at a Council
meeting? That means he is here to take a strong line. And it will
not be for us. He conceives us enemies of the King. And his
son, Carnegie, will vote as his father wills, under his father's
eye. The old man dominates all his family.'

Glancing
sidelong at his friend, Napier nodded. 'Southesk could influence
many,' he agreed. 'Especially from Angus and the Mearns. I had not
thought to see him here ...'

But
Rothes was tugging at Montrose's arm on the other side, and
pointing. Modestly, last of the Privy Councillors to pace in, was a
slight stooping figure, limping a little, a soberly dressed,
unassuming-seeming man, with a pale long face, long narrow nose and
high brow beneath foxy-red, straight, thin hair. He might have been
a clerk to the Council, an unfrocked minister perhaps. He kept
his head lowered diffidently, the picture of a retiring nobody - but
Montrose at least did not require to see the pronounced squint in
the left eye, or the tight sour mouth beneath that drooping nose, to
know differently.

'Archibald
Campbell!' he breathed. 'By all the Powers — Argyll! Save us -
it is himself!
He
is . . . worse! Six, seven years it is, since I saw him. And he is .
. . worse!'

'Aye
-
MacCailean
Mor
himsel'!'
Rothes said. The tod emerges frae his earth!
How's
yon to be the greatest man in Scotland?'

'Poor
Scotland, then! But he is not that - yet! Praise God!'

It
was strange, James Graham's ingrained loathing of this man. He was
not one to hate readily; and the fact that the Campbells and Grahams
were hereditary foes did not weigh heavily with him. They had only
met once or twice, in their younger days, and even then they had not
actually come to verbal blows, whatever their eyes said. The
Campbell was only six years the elder - although he looked much more
-and because of his physical defects might have been expected to be
an object of sympathy and commiseration to the other's essentially
considerate and kindly temperament. But the antipathy seemed to be
born in him. From first sight he had abhorred and shrunk from this
man. And there had been little doubt that the feeling was mutual.

‘
You
will note,' Montrose said from between stiff lips, 'that my lord of
Argyll chooses to sit, not as a commissioner for Inveraray, but as
one of the King's Privy Council, at this Assembly! Are you so sure
now how he will vote?' Even Rothes looked thoughtful.

There
were ten members of the Privy Council taking their seats in a row on
the dais at the chancel steps, where once the rood-screens had been,
below the High Commissioner's throne but above the Moderator's chair
and the Clerk's table. But at die last moment a fantastically
curled, beribboned and painted exquisite came hurrying in alone,
with tap-tapping, shoulder-high, streamered staff and lace
handkerchief - no doubt scented - which he waved before his
nose to counter the smell of less rarefied humanity. A howl of mirth
went up, at the sight.

But
Montrose and those beside him did not laugh as this apparition
minced up, to take another of the Privy Council seats. It was die
Earl of Lanark, Hamilton's brother, whose appearances in Scotland
nowadays were a rarity indeed. That such as he should have come
north to attend a General Assembly of the Kirk was so unlikely as to
be scarcely credible; and could only mean that the opposition was in
fact scraping up votes wherever it could. Presumably the King had
made him a Privy Councillor specially for the occasion. If that
was so, then they must have at least a hope of out-voting the
Covenanters, or there was no point in the business. This had not
been seriously considered as a possibility, up till now, in the
Kirk's own Assembly. But the other side were experts in subversion.
The very fact that Carnegie and his father were also here, and both
with votes, struck a like note. Lanark, in the circumstances, was no
laughing matter.

Another
blast of trumpets, and Hamilton himself came stalking in, as
king-like as ever, resplendent in a long velvet royal-blue cloak
trimmed with ermine and held up by two pages, with a huge gemmed
star of the Garter on its shoulder, and below it a riot of
cloth-of-gold, satin, jewellery, bows, rosettes and contrasting
slashings. Even his curled, ringleted, long hair was tied with
coloured bows. He carried it off rather better than his brother,
because he was taller, and well-built; but even so the absurdity
shouted aloud — as did not a few of the Glasgow citizens in
the spectators' galleries, church or none.

Pacing
to his throne above the Privy Councillors, the Marquis after gazing
at the scene with unease and distaste in almost equal proportions,
proceeded to read his commission from the King, in a flat
monotone. It proved to be in unexpectedly conciliatory terms,
referring to Charles's well-beloved Scots lieges, his delight in his
ancient kingdom, his support for the true Reformed religion, the
concessions he had already made in that respect, and his deep
interest and concern in the debates and decisions of the good
fathers and brethren of his Church in Scotland, at which his trusted
and entirely loved cousin, the most noble James, Marquis of
Hamilton, Knight of the Garter, Lord of the Bedchamber, Master of
the Horse, Chief Steward of Hampton Court, and Privy Councillor of
both kingdoms, would most faithfully and ably convey his royal views
and guidance. He blessed them all, and commended their deliberations
to God.

Seldom
was blessing pronounced in a less beatific tone of voice.

The
procedure for General Assemblies was fixed and unalterable. It
was deemed suitable that a proper and pious attitude should be
engendered throughout, first of all, by an initial sermon. This also
had the advantage of allowing all concerned time to survey the
scene, size up the possibilities, and plan their campaigns -
discreetly, of course, and paying at least some small attention to
the preacher meantime.

The
preacher, with surprising energy for one of his years, thundered and
gesticulated on. Montrose got the notion that Argyll, not thirty
feet away, kept staring at him personally - although with his
squint, one could never tell. He stirred uncomfortably. Most of the
other Privy Councillors were now asleep.

At
length even the Reverend Mr John Bell ran out of strength and
breath, though never of material; and thankfully Hamilton
announced that the next business was the appointment of a Moderator
to chair the proceedings.

Promptly
David Dickson proposed their most revered and admired guide-in-God,
Alexander Henderson, Minister of the Parish of Leuchars in Fife,
than whom none could be more worthy and able.

Amidst
ringing applause Andrew Cant seconded. Since one or the other of
these two would have been the only obvious alternative nomination,
there was no other name put forward. Rather reluctantly the High
Commissioner declared Henderson to be the Moderator, the first for
nineteen years, and asked him to come forward and take the
chair. A great sigh of relief arose from the body of the church.
From now on the conduct of the Assembly at least was in sure hands.

Henderson,
after making a brief speech of thanks, expressing the gratitude
of all for the King's gracious message, and his concessions
intimated, and declaring that the Lord High Commissioner's
appointment was such as to ornament the proceedings - a shaft which
drew no lack of grinning appreciation - went on unchanged, assured
and businesslike fashion. He proposed that Archibald Johnston of
Warrison, advocate, should act as Principal Clerk to the Assembly.

It
was unthinkable that the Moderator's first move should be countered,
and Warriston, tense in scowling embarrassment, stumbled
forward to take his place at the table below the Moderator's chair.
A number of lesser clerks and assessors followed him, with papers.

Henderson
then welcomed all duly appointed commissioners to this great,
belated and historic Assembly, emphasising that 'duly
appointed' slightly. As was customary he went on, all commissions
must be scrutinised, that God's work be surely and honestly done, by
the due and proper representatives of Christ's Church and people.
This would take some considerable time, possibly the rest of the
day; and he proposed that the Assembly should adjourn until the
Scrutinising Committee's work was done. Did any say otherwise?

After
that sermon, none said otherwise, especially the Privy Councillors

Since
the Scrutinising Committee must be wise, experienced and
impartial, the Moderator then suggested that its convener should be
the Reverend David Dickson, of Irvine, whose knowledge of procedure
was unrivalled. Half a dozen delegates rose to second, but Henderson
pointed out mildly that this was not a proposal to vote upon, but
the Moderator's procedural appointment for the better forwarding of
the Assembly's business. Mr Dickson should select an impartial team
of assessors, and proceed with their task during the adjournment. It
might well take such time as to forbid reassembly until the morrow.

There
was a murmur at that, variously compounded.

Behind
Henderson the Lord High Commissioner cleared his throat ominously.