Unknown (32 page)

But
his distress was for the cause also, to which he had set his hand,
at cost. Both in the long and the short term. It was going awry,
falling into the wrong hands, becoming an oligarchy with menacing
potential. While' he was stranded up here in Aberdeenshire, far from
the centre of decision. And even here matters were in reverse, with
the entire Clan Gordon now raised to fury over the insult and
treachery to their chief. There were uprisings and outbreaks of
anarchy everywhere, even in Aberdeen city itself. Montrose found
himself spending much of his time hurrying about the county putting
down small conflagrations; acting the repressive policeman, in
fact - a role for which he had by no means entered the cause of
liberty and religious freedom.

So,
leaving Aberdeen and his command temporarily to the Earls Marischal
and Kinghome, he rode south, with Black Pate and a small escort.

On
the last day of April he arrived to find Edinburgh in a state of
much excitement. King Charles had issued a proclamation, declaring
his Scots subjects in treasonable rebellion and due to be punished
by his royal self in person. He was marching north with his large
force. Moreover, gallopers from Berwickshire had just brought word
that
a
great
fleet was beating slowly northwards along that coast, in the face of
north-westerly winds - no doubt the Marquis of Hamilton, at last.
Leslie had taken over the main Covenanting army, and was now
encamped, with it, on the links at Leith, the seaport of Edinburgh,
preparing to repel invasion by sea. Huntly and his son,
summoned before the Tables, had been told that he must sign another
and unendorsed Covenant, and make sundry other drastic
concessions ; and, having refused, with his heir was promptly
confined prisoner in Edinburgh Castle. To some extent, it seemed, he
had redeemed his Turriff-tarnished reputation, by making a
resounding valedictory speech, before incarceration, which
ended thus:
'.
. . I
am
in your power, and resolved not to leave the foul title of traitor
upon my posterity. You may take my head from my shoulders, but not
my heart from my sovereign!'

The
Gordon seemed to be a hero, at last.

Repairing
to Archie Napier at Merchiston Castle, Montrose learned all
this, and more, and communicated his own indignation, disappointment
and apprehensions for the future to his brother-in-law. The older
man was sympathetic, and had like doubts and fears; but he declared
that this was hardly an auspicious moment to seek remedial action
and changes in policy, with armed invasion and conflict imminent.
Edinburgh was in a fever of military preparedness, and all hopes
pinned on their renowned and experienced Field-Marshal. He would
scarcely find the Tables in a mood to listen heedfully or patiently.
Especially as, more and more, they were tending to come under the
sway of Archibald Campbell of Argyll.

Demanding
to know how Argyll had achieved this sudden pre-eminence in
a
cause
he had so long held aloof from, Montrose learned that the Campbell
could act swiftly and decisively enough, in all conscience, when he
saw fit. Given the wardenship of the West, as the Graham the
North-East, with the especial task of containing the threatened
invasions by Strafford in the Clyde area and Antrim's Irish on the
West Highland seaboard, he had swiftly mobilised much of his great
Campbell man-power, and garrisoned particularly all the
landing-places on the long Kintyre peninsula, where, if Antrim was
to try to link up with Strafford, he must make his short crossing
from Ulster. Then, with another force of Campbells, he had descended
upon the Isle of Arran in the Clyde estuary, taken the main
strength, Brodick Castle, by surprise, and won the entire island
without having to fight — a brilliant stroke, in more ways
than one. For with Loudoun, Eglinton and other Covenant lords
controlling the Ayrshire coast opposite, Arran was the key to the
Clyde approaches, and Argyll could now control any invasion attempt
therein; not only that, but Arran was the Marquis of Hamilton's
property — he was also Earl of Arran - and the Campbells had
long coveted that great island, with their lands all around. Now
they had gained it, and from a man whom none would stand up for, in
Scotland - a shrewd move indeed. Argyll, it appeared, would serve
the Covenant and himself equally well.

Thus,
Napier explained, the Campbell had made a great and swift
impression, at no cost but only gain to himself -for the twin
Western invasions never materialised. Vastly relieved, the Tables
and the Covenanters generally welcomed him back to Edinburgh with
open arms. But he was discreet, modest, on the surface, a humble,
self-effacing and pious man. He did not have to beat the big drum;
for the Earl of Loudoun was also a Campbell, and as Convener of the
Joint Tables' Standing Council, was in a position largely to control
all for his chief.

But
what about Alexander Henderson? And Rothes? And others, Montrose
demanded? Surely these were the true leaders of the cause, with
Loudoun a mere figure-head, something of a dolt indeed!

A
strategically placed dolt, now with a very shrewd and cunning brain
behind him, the other pointed out. As for Henderson, he was still
the true moral leader; but he had the whole uprising Kirk to manage
nowadays - and a difficult and unruly horse that was to ride, puffed
with its victory over the bishops. Clearly Henderson found Argyll a
useful ally; more useful than Montrose, it seemed! And Rothes was
less than well, a man sickening. Always he had eaten and drunk too
much; and the excitements and joumeyings of these days had been
taxing for a man of his habits. He appeared less and less at the
Tables, or in Edinburgh at all.

Depressed
by all this, Montrose nevertheless decided to tackle Henderson, Sir
Thomas Hope, and others, on the morrow.

On
the morrow, however, the 1st of May, Hamilton's fleet, with a change
of wind, sailed up the Forth, and city and port were agog. The
Marquis was said to have some 5000 men aboard - much less than
Leslie - but also much artillery, of which the Covenanters had
little or none. The great squadron of nineteen ships made an
impressive, a daunting sight, as it dropped anchor in Leith roads.
The port and the army of the Covenant prepared for a one-sided
bombardment, while glancing back over its shoulder towards die
Border and the King's main invasion.

But
no bombardment eventuated. And, oddly enough, after two days lying
off Leith, the fleet up-anchored and sailed off to the other side of
the Forth. There were many more harbours on that side than on the
south, although all smaller than Leith; but Fife was Leslie and
Lindsay country, and neither the Field-Marshal nor Rothes his chief
had neglected to have these defended. Easily seen from the south
shore, at most times, the invasion fleet sailed up and down the
north, found no unguarded landing-places, and seemingly decided
against doing anything rash. For, presently, with the easterly wind
rising somewhat, the fleet split up, groups of ships seeking shelter
in the lee of the undefended Forth islets - Inchkeith, Inchcolm and
Inchmickery - and there remained.

Although
a descent by open boats on open beaches, by night, was anticipated
thereafter, and forces sent out to keep watch on a long coastline,
gravely weakening the main Covenant strength, nothing such
developed. Hamilton appeared to be no more successful as warrior
than he was as statesman or ambassador. Perhaps it was his old
mother who worried him, a dragon if ever there was one, Ann of
Glencairn, Countess-Dowager and strong Presbyterian, who turned up
at Leith pier, from Lanarkshire, with two drawn and loaded pistols,
declaring that one was for her son Hamilton and the other for
her son Lanark, if they dared to set foot on honest Scots soil.

At
all events, invasion by sea remained only a threat. And King
Charles's 40,000 moved but slowly, being -still somewhere
between Newcastle and Berwick.

Meanwhile
Montrose made many calls and saw many people - although he avoided
any actual confrontation with Leslie, whose authority as
Commander-in-Chief might well have been turned to awkward account.
This was no time for a trial of strength. He learned that not a few,
especially amongst the nobility, were almost as anxious as he was
about the way matters were trending in the Covenant leadership.
There was much agreement that something must be done -but not at
this difficult moment. Even Alexander Henderson admitted privately,
guardedly, that a deal that went on was not to his liking, and would
fall to be rectified. But certainly not just yet. Many in the
ministry were proving over-zealous, yes. The Earl of Argyll was
working himself into a position of great power, yes. But he was an
able as well as an influential man, and now wholly committed to
the Covenant cause. General Leslie could be harsh, difficult; but he
was absolutely essential to Scotland in this pass. They must be
patient, and await more convenient time for reform. Especially, he
added, would patience become the Earl of Montrose! Had he not
deserted his army, against the authority of the Tables who appointed
him? Entered into private arrangement with Huntly, the enemy
commander? Rejected the advice of his own Military Committee, with
contumely? And spoken hard words publicly against the Covenant's
friends and for the Covenant's enemies? Henderson was at his upright
sternest, in making these charges, however quietly.

James
Graham sought to be as calmly objective. He refuted the charges,
explained - and added some of his own - ending by demanding Hun
try's and his son's release. The other declared this to be
impossible, save on the orders of the Tables who had commanded the
imprisonment And it was not practicable to summon the members
thereof from their respective commands and duties, in this crisis,
just to debate again on such matter. Moreover, the Tables once in
session, might well take a serious view of one of their generals
absenting himself from his post at such time, to come south on this
mission. Henderson strongly advised his lordship to return to his
northern army forthwith, and make any representations by letter
from there.

On
that note they parted, civil but strained.

By
first light next morning, Montrose was indeed on his way north
again. But not wholly on account of Henderson's advice. Late the
night before, a messenger came from the Earl Marischal. The Master
of Forbes had been surprised and driven out of Turriff with his
small garrison, by a combined force of anti-Covenant Ogilvies,
Setons and Urquharts. This little victory had heartened the
leaderless Gordons, who had now joined these others in force, and
together they had marched on Aberdeen, gathering numbers all the
way. The city had risen to welcome them - even the women were tying
blue Covenant ribbons round their dogs' necks, as insult and
provocation - and he and Kinghorne had had no option but to retire
on Stonehaven, Dunnottar and the Keith country. He urged Montrose's
return, and sought guidance, instructions.

The
Earl of Marischal was aged nineteen, the Earl of Kinghorne
twenty-two.

Their
twenty-six year-old general cursed them, the whole Covenant
leadership, the folly of men - but, above all, himself - as he
raced northwards.

Even
by Queen Margaret's Ferry over Forth, Glen Farg, Perth, Cowrie and
Strathmore, it was 130 miles to Stonehaven. Montrose rode at
his vehement hardest, but it was still two days before, with Pate
and his faithful Grahams, he pounded up the steep defensive way to
the gun-looped gatehouse of Dunnottar Castle, on its great
thrusting rock promontory, amongst the sea-spray and the screaming,
wheeling gulls. It was, however, to find the situation less bad than
he had feared. The Gordons, many of them from the upland glens, had,
after the fashion of hillmen, discovered the city to be a place meet
for pillage rather than rescue, and Aberdeen had endured what
amounted to a rape, with no single strong hand to command. As a
result there had been battles between the indignant citizenry and
their saviours, and more looting. Thereafter, well laden with their
spoil, most of the Gordons had headed back for their glens. So the
Marischal and Kinghorne had, the day previously, marched back, and
retaken the town with only sporadic opposition, the Gordon, Ogilvie,
Seton and Urquhart lairds and cavalry retiring before them in some
confusion. The dogs of Aberdeen were now minus their blue bows
again - not a few minus their lives.