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Unperturbed,
the Moderator went on. 'Before we adjourn, some may wish to guide
the scrutineers in their task, having perhaps special knowledge of
misappointments and wrongous attendances. It is suitable that
His Grace's High Commissioner should so intimate first, if he
is a mind to.

Hamilton
was very much of a mind to. Spluttering a little he rose to his
feet, then recollecting his royal state, quickly sat down again. 'I
make objection, 'he said thickly, 'Many are here who should not be.
Any fool can see it! This Assembly has been packed. And sounds that
it may be
more
packed!'

'I
regret to hear it, my lord Marquis. This must be rectified.
Perhaps your lordship will be more explicit?'

'Explicit
? Man - look around you! This is an Assembly of the Church. Yet many
here, I swear, represent only themselves ! Or seditious parties
that would endanger both the Church and the King's realm.'

'Then
they must be rooted out. If you will name me names
...
?'

‘
Names
? What need for names, man ? Look ! There are more laymen here than
ministers, I do believe. And many carry arms, despite my express
proclamation forbidding it.'

'Arms
are unsuitable in the house of the Lord,' Henderson agreed. 'But I
would remind your lordship that this is a Presbyterian church, and
laymen, elders, have a full say in its rule and direction. I
respectfully suggest, however, that your High Commissionership is
mistaken. We have the numbers of all commissioners attending.
There are 142 ministers and 98 elders. The commissions of all shall
be scrutinised.'

Hamilton
huffed and puffed. 'I misdoubt the appointment of many here, sir.
How it has been contrived.'

'Then,
my lord, appoint your observers to the Scrutinising Committee, that
you may be satisfied. But, I pray, give me instances, names
...
?'

Hamilton
muttered, but otherwise remained silent

Henderson
turned to look out over the company. 'If His Grace's Commissioner
has no names to put before the committee, I believe that others
have. As indication how there have been wrongous appointments. I
call upon my lord of Montrose.'

Amidst
sudden tension, Montrose rose. 'Mr Moderator,' he said slowly, 'it
has been brought to my attention that there has been a mischance in
the election of one of the commissioners for Brechin, in which
Presbytery I am a heritor. I understand that John Erskine, Laird of
Dun, was duly elected. But the Lord Carnegie now sits in his place.'
He sat down.

There
was
a
gasp
and a thrill
of
excitement
went through the gathering. Few were unaware that Carnegie was the
speaker's brother-in-law.

Southesk
half-rose from his seat, glaring at his son-in-law — but
subsided as the Moderator
's
calm
voice resumed.

'Is
this confirmed by the Clerk?'

Warriston
rose, fumbling with his papers. 'Yes, sir. I... I have it here.
Appointment by Brechin Presbytery. John Erskine of Dun. Duly passed
by die Tables, with the following note...'

'Tables!
Passed by the Tables, 'fore God!' Hamilton roared, banging the arm
of his throne. 'Hear that! Passed by the Tables. What need for
further debate? Unless passed by these damned, unlawful and
treasonable Tables, no man is acceptable here! A packed Assembly!
Can you deny it?' He pointed directly at Montrose, not
at
Henderson.
'Deny it, I say!'

In
the throbbing silence, Montrose perceived that Henderson was
leaving it to him. He rose again. 'Is there fault in this?' he asked
quietly. 'Since the King's Grace has refused to call a parliament
these many years, the realm has had to be governed by some. This
Privy Council, with half its members bishops, rejected by
Church and people, has not done it. The Convention of Estates
appointed these
Tables,
therefore,
lacking other means. On the best legal advice! To call them unlawful
and treasonable, my lord
Marquis,
is
to betray lack of understanding. And it is right and proper that the
Tables
should
consider who was appointed to this Assembly. No felon, malefactor,
Armenian, unbeliever
or
Catholic
may attend, by law. If the Tables did not exercise watch,
who
would?
You, sir? Or my lords of the Privy Council?'

It
is safe to say that no Lord High Commissioner had been spoken to so
since the Kings of Scots had ceased to attend the Assemblies in
person.
Hamilton
gulped
and
swallowed, prominent
eyes
popping.

'This...
this is beyond all!' he got out "You asked for a denial, my
lord. You have it,' Montrose sat down.

'All
comments and remarks will be permitted only by and through the
Chair,' Henderson rebuked them both, mildly. 'Mr Clerk, you will
note this matter of the Lord Carnegie for the Scrutiny Committee.'

'I
protest, sir!' That was the Earl of Southesk hotly. 'At this
disgraceful attack upon my son. He is here of right Erskine's was a
rigged election.
I
myself
had it amended.'

'The
matter will be closely considered by the Scrutiny Committee, my good
lord, never fear...'

'Fear,
man? Fear! Think you Carnegie fears what any pack of clerks and
preachers may decide !'

'My
lord, this, I would remind you, is an Assembly of the Church, where
the decisions of clerks and preachers, as you name them, has some
small relevance. I urge you, and all, to remember it Now...'

'And
you
remember
this. Any attempt to unseat my son will cost you dear. None yet
meddled with Carnegie and did not live to regret it!' It was at
Montrose that die old earl glared, however.

Rothes
rose. 'I move the adjournment, Mr Moderator,' he said.

There
was a score of seconders.

'It
seems a fitting moment,' Henderson acceded, calmly grave. 'But,
perhaps, before we leave, I should wish especially to welcome to our
deliberations my lord Earl of Argyll, whose renown is known to all.
His presence here, and his adherence to God's cause of freedom, true
religion and justice, is of the utmost value. All honest men will
rejoice, I am sure.'

The
applause was less vociferous than might have been. As an attempt to
edge the Campbell - who had sat silent, head bent, preoccupied,
throughout - into declaring himself, indeed to commit him to the
Covenant cause, it was laudable but less than successful.
MacCailean
Mor
raised
his reddish head for a moment, in briefest acknowledgment, and then
looked down again. That was as far as his commitment went, meantime.

Henderson
bowed towards the High Commissioner. 'With your agreement, sir, this
Assembly stands adjourned.'

On
the way out, Montrose found himself treated as something of a
hero - to his distaste and curt rejection. He knew well that his
heroics in the cause that day would cost him dear.

Next
forenoon, when the full gathering reassembled, after a long wait for
the High Commissioner, it was evident that Alexander Henderson's
tactics were proving only partially successful. Admittedly, there
were notable gaps amongst the commissioners, indications that the
Scrutiny Committee had not been slothful. But the Lord Carnegie was
still in his place as commissioner for Brechin, and Erskine of Dun
still in the spectators' gallery; Brechin Presbytery's changed
decision seemed to have been confirmed as genuine, and Montrose's
reluctant gesture gone for nothing. Moreover, sitting beside
Carnegie was now his uncle Sir John Carnegie of Ethie, newly arrived
in Glasgow but apparently authentic commissioner for Arbroath.
He was not known as having strong views - but it was unlikely that
he would vote against his brother's line.

However,
when the Privy Councillors trooped in, there were seen to be
significant gaps in that august body. The Earl of Southesk himself
was missing; it seemed that his anger at the previous day's
proceedings had necessitated bleeding by a chirurgeon, and he was
confined to his bed. More actually significant perhaps, the Earls of
Wigtown, Morton and Argyll were also missing. When Hamilton took his
seat, his features were dark with ill-suppressed rage. Not a few
hoped that he also might require the services of a chirurgeon.

Proof
of a change of balance in the proceedings was fairly quickly
forthcoming. The Covenant leadership put matters to the test by
moving the acceptance of the Scrutiny Committee's decisions.
After some undignified wrangling, in which the High Commissioner
himself took large part, the motion was passed by a fairly large
majority. It was notable that the two Carnegies voted against.

Encouraged,
Henderson moved on to establish the constitution and power of
the Assembly, a vital matter when there had been no proper precedent
since 1603. This was the supreme court of the Church of Scotland,
and its members had to know their authority and limitations. It was
quickly asked - if a court, could they,
must
they
not, try? Try not only causes, policies, matters of belief and
doctrine, but men? Men who introduced error and stumbling into the
Kirk?

This
set the gathering by the ears - especially when all over the great
church there were shouts of 'The bishops! The bishops!' The
Moderator sternly called all to order — but said nothing to
indicate that it might not come to a trial of die King's bishops.
Montrose stirred uncomfortably, and presently rose to declare that a
witch-hunt was unsuitable, and the last thing that was required in
this delicate situation. For once, he gathered no applause.
Henderson skilfully channelled the discussion into series of
procedural issues -and gained consistent majorities for each step in
a progress towards complete Assembly power, prerogative and
jurisdiction. The Lord High Commissioner and the Privy
Councillors remaining glared, protested, condemned, threatened
- but were consistently voted down. Hamilton even had a private
battle with the Moderator, claiming that he had the votes of six
assessors as well as his own - which Henderson ruled against,
declaring that in God's kingdom, King Charles was one man, not
seven!