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They
reacted towards the Graham as might have been expected, and quickly
the predictable took place. They worked upon the Queen and, old
friends of hers, were not long in convincing her that Montrose was
both unreliable and dangerous. They assured her that there was no
cause for alarm over Scotland, that her present leaders sincerely
desired only to mediate - indeed were here in England to that end -
and that no threat need be looked for from Leslie's army. They
suggested that the Graham mischief-maker be sent packing.

Since
this advice matched Henrietta Maria's own inclinations, she
took it. Montrose was told that his representations would be put
before the King, but that there was no need for him to proceed
farther south in person. It was not exactly a royal command not to
go to Oxford, but it was a dismissal. And what point was there in
going on, in defiance of the Queen? It would scarcely endear him to
the monarch, who positively doted on his Frenchwoman. Moreover,
Henderson,

Loudoun
and the others were already ahead of him, it seemed, and would deny
all that he had to say, even if he was permitted to say it-He wrote
a letter to his liege lord, then, far from optimistically, and
entrusted it to Ogilvy, who, with Aboyne, elected to go on
southwards. And grim-faced be turned back for Scotland, with Pate
and Kilpont, a man with all the talents but whom the fates did not
appear to love.

Argyll
saw to it that all Scotland soon was ringing with Montrose's
discomfiture. The Graham had thought to cozen and delude the King,
by working on the Queen; but she had snubbed him, and sent him home
- thanks largely to the Marquis of Hamilton's wise counsel. Their
Majesties were happy in having true and wise servants in Scotland,
to warn them against such as this trouble-maker, who would divide
the country in civil war for their own ends. And as though to
emphasise how right was the Marquis of Argyll, word came that on the
23rd of April King Charles had taken the almost unprecedented step
of raising his good servant Hamilton to the rank and status of duke.
There was no reply to Montrose's letter to the monarch. Everywhere,
that summer, recruiting was in progress in Scotland - the more so as
Charles's forces, under Rupert of the Rhine, the Earl of Newcastle
and Sir Ralph Hopton, were making headway almost everywhere. John
Hampden was slain, and Bristol, England's second largest port, about
to fall into the King's hands. A Scots parliament was demanded
- and although the King postponed a decision on this. Argyll
thereupon demonstrated his complete power by calling it
himself, for the 22nd of June. Lacking the royal authority, he had
to call it a Convention of the Estates -but the result was the same.
A General Assembly was to succeed it. The theme of both was to be
the same, the unification of a parliamentary commonwealth in a
Presbyterian United Kingdom, with all that this entailed.

Montrose
was not invited to either Convention or Assembly, not were many
other moderates and loyalists.

During
those bitter months, however, James Graham was by no means idle. He
accepted now that the King was unlikely to seek his services.
And to muster men on his own accord, on any large scale and lacking
the royal authority, would be technical treason - for in theory it
was still the

King's
government that ruled in Scotland, with the trappings of legality.
But he also accepted that his conscience would give him no rest if
he did nothing, and abandoned the royal cause - which he saw as
equally his country's. He therefore sought, quietly, to form a
coalition of powerful nobles, moderates, royalists, Episcopalians,
even Catholics - since Huntly was so important in man-power; but he
was less successful than he had hoped, lacking any commission;
indeed under a cloud of royal disapproval, according to general
rumour. The great lords could not be brought to agree amongst
themselves, so diverse a crew. Huntly would have nothing to do with
the Earl Marischal. Airlie said Kinghome had stolen lands of his.
The Lords Fraser and Forbes were at ancient and deadly feud.
Crichton, Viscount Frendraught declared that nothing would make him
associate with Papists. Montrose could have licked them into
shape had he possessed any sort of commission; but they were mainly
older men than he, and without it he was hamstrung.

Unexpectedly,
in June, two events proclaimed to him that perhaps he was less
ignored and ineffective than he assumed, however. He had a letter,
dated the 31st of May, from the Queen, of all correspondents,
declaring that she had heard a rumour that he, Montrose, was keeping
ill company, was in touch with the King's enemies, the men he had
warned her of, who were offering him high position, and money to pay
his debts. She hoped that this was untrue, and said that arms were
arriving from Denmark shortly, which might be diverted to Scotland
if he was in a position to use them effectively in the King's cause;
and ended by assuring him of her continuing confidence.

Utterly
at a loss to understand this strange communication - or to what
debts she referred - Montrose had still deferred any answer when he
had an unusual visitor. Sir James Rollo, elder son of the Laird of
Duncrub, was actually a brother-in-law, for he had been married to
the Lady Dorothea Graham; but on her death he had wed Argyll's
half-sister, the Lady Mary Campbell. He was now accepted to be in
the opposite camp - although his brother, Sir William Rollo,
remained faithful to Montrose. Duncrub was only a few miles from
Kincardine, but Sir James's visit was rare enough to be significant.
He came, confidentially, to invite the Graham to a secret meeting
with Master Alexander Henderson.

'Save
us - what next!' the other exclaimed. 'I saw Henderson seven months
past. Has aught changed? And why secret? He came here to Kincardine
before, openly enough. If he wishes to see me, why not again?'

'I
do not know, James. All I was told was that this time none must know
of it. And that it is important.'

'What
will it serve? What that is new can we say to each other?'

But,
because he still believed that Henderson was the best of the
churchmen and not yet wholly Argyll's man, in mid-month he saw the
Moderator and Dean of the Chapel Royal again. They met dramatically
in a meadow amongst the windings of the Forth, near Stirling,
Henderson's odd choice, between Highlands and Lowlands, North and
South. This time, lest there be any trap, Montrose brought Napier,
Ogilvy and George Stirling with him; but there was only Henderson
and Rollo waiting for them.

'Why
this strange meeting, Master Henderson?' he asked, without preamble.
'I gave you my sure answer last time. I chose the King, you will
recollect.'

'But
the King, it seems, has not chosen
you,
my
lord.'

'No
matter. Nothing is changed.'

'I
say that much is changed, my friend. The two realms are now agreed
to be done with bishops. This war in England is hateful and
unnecessary. There is no need for further conflict. Only the King's
obduracy. To encourage that obduracy is evil, against God's will and
purpose!'

'As
interpreted by Alexander Henderson and Archibald Campbell!'

'As
interpreted by all lovers of peace and religion,' the other insisted
patiently. 'You, my lord, do not
desire
war?'
'No.'

"Yet
you prepare for war. Seek to join with other lords. In a
confederation.' 'As do you.'

'We
act
in the name and on behalf of the realm.'

TJut
against the head of that realm. Against his express desires and
commands.'

'The
King acts the autocrat, beyond his due powers. And you encourage him
in it. You lead him to believe that much of Scotland will fight for
him, against its appointed representatives. This is to the
injury of peace, to make war more likely.'

‘
You
fight what you believe to be wrong, Master Henderson, calling
it sin. You do not knuckle to the Devil, for the sake of peace.
Should I ?'

'I
say that you should reconsider your position, my lord. If you showed
a true and fitting solidarity, now, with your fellow signatories of
the National Covenant, then undoubtedly the King would perceive
that Scotland is not to be divided. He will be forced to heed our
mediation, our mission for peace. At this Convention of the Estates
that is to be, and the General Assembly to follow, a new Covenant is
to be put forward. To include our English brethren. A noble document
ensuring freedom of worship hereafter, and the putting down of
idolatry and episcopacy in both realms. A testament of lasting peace
between England and Scotland. We think to name it the Solemn League
and Covenant. It is an affirmation of Christian unity and faith
which will ring down the centuries to come. It would give me the
greatest satisfaction, my lord, to see your name thereon. More
still, if it was the first name - as it was on the other!'

'Mine!
On my soul - you cannot mean it ? Have you and your like not been
calling me traitor, malignant, back-slider? You would have
my
name
first on your new paper?'

'I
would, joyfully. That is why I am here.'

'To
what end?'

'To
show that Scotland can unite for a worthy cause. Nothing could more
powerfully convince the King that he cannot use Scotland against
England. But must come to terms with both realms. For his own good.'

'For
his own downfall!'

"Not
so. His better state, and well-being. Only so will he regain
peaceful rule over his kingdoms. You must believe me that it is so,
my lord. I am as much a King's man as are you...'

'And
as Archibald Campbell?'

"You
are consumed with hate for that man. Can you not forget him ... ?'

'I
doubt if he will allow me to! For yourself, Master Henderson, I
advise that you cease to blind yourself as to that same man. You I
conceive to be honest. But working

with
him becomes you little. He is evil. And such as associate with him
cannot but become corrupted, I think.'

The
other said nothing for.a few moments, looking across the meadows of
Forth to the soaring rock of Stirling Castle.

At
length he spoke. 'Supposing that you are right, my lord, should it
not be your duty, as you love your country, to seek counter the
works of this man you believe so harmful? By any means in your
power? And will you not do this the better, more surely, within the
cause than without? You chose the King. But at this moment you are
rejected of King and Covenant both. You can do but little for
Scotland as one man, alone. Yet Sir Thomas Hope says that you only
in this realm can match the Marquis of Argyll. I accept that
Therefore I am here.'

'Ha!
So that is why it is so secret? At last you are having doubts as to
the Campbell?'

Henderson
glanced over at Rollo, Argyll's brother-in-law. 'Have I said so? You
it is who say it, my lord, not I. But - if so you believe, come back
into this noble cause and make it the nobler. Take on the
Lieutenant-Generalship of the army. Mediate, from that position,
with the King. Sign the Solemn League and Covenant And put Scotland
and England both in your debt. You will find both parliaments
not ungrateful, I warrant you. Restitution will be made for your
shameful imprisonment. Your debts will be paid in full
..'

'So-o-o!
Debts, eh?' Keenly James Graham searched the other's stem face.
'This of debts interests me. I heard tell of these from...
elsewhere. What debts, sir?'

The
minister raised his bushy brows. 'Why, my lord - I have no knowledge
of what they are. But the word is that you are much indebted. The
costs of raising and arming your Graham soldiery, perhaps? I know
not. . .'

"Nor
do I, Master Henderson. In moneys, I am not a rich man. But I am not
yet in debt. Even although it suits some man to say that I am! Some
man who much advertises the matter. Why?'

'I
am sorry if in this I offend. I but follow my instructions
..'

'Whose
instructions,
sir?'

'That
I am not at liberty to say.'

'I
think that you are. Must be. This meeting you would wish to keep
secret. I should know what is behind it. To know how much I trust I
may put in what you offer me.'

'Let
it suffice to say that you may have the fullest confidence in
it.'

'Does
the Committee of the Estates send you to me, then ?' Henderson did
not answer. Rollo it was who spoke, stepping closer.

'I
say that Master Henderson speaks with the full authority of the
Committee.'

'No,'
the minister declared. 'I cannot so say. What I do say is that the
Convention to open in a few days' time will undoubtedly confirm
what I offer.'

'Which
can only mean that Argyll himself sent you!'

‘
None
sent me, my lord. I came. Believing that nothing is more earnestly
to be desired, in this pass, than that you should join with your
peers, and the other Estates of the realm, and by your example bring
over the few, if any, who still respect merely the empty shadow of
royalty. To your profit, yes. But also, I do aver, to your honour. I
came, and will heartily thank God, if He but makes me the minister
and mediator of so great a good.' There was no doubting the
sincerity of the man. 'Will you accept, my lord?'

‘
No,'
Montrose said quietly, simply.

Obviously
Alexander Henderson was quite shattered by that reply. For long
moments he could find no words.

'I
am sorry,' the other went on. 'But it is not to be. I respect you,
Master Henderson, and accept that you mean me well. But I believe
you mistaken. Grievously so. And in the cunning hands of evil men. I
will not tamper with my conscience. My debts, such as they are, I
will pay myself!'

Scotland's
foremost divine, in his sixtieth year, looked an old man as he
stumbled away, head bowed. These two were never to see each other
again.

The
Convention of the Estates met at the end of the month, with the new
Duke of Hamilton acting as the King's unofficial
representative. It heard a declaration from Charles solemnly
assuring all of his acceptance, now and in the future, of the
liberties and freedoms in worship and government gained by his
Scottish subjects. These assurances, however, were not accepted
or believed in by the Convention, which proceeded to legislate for
war. It promised the English parliamentary delegation which attended
armed aid to the tune of 18,000 foot, 2000 light horse, and 1000
dragoons, on condition that their leaders signed the Solemn League
and Covenant. But not without payment. £30,000 per month was
the price decided upon for this support, the first monthly
instalment to be paid before a man or a horse or a cannon moved
across the Border. Argyll was not the man to give anything for
nothing. It was astounding that the Englishmen agreed to this
without a murmur - or none loud enough to affect the issue - and the
whole thing was signed and scaled, the King's new duke benignly
presiding. The Great Seal of Scotland could not be used on this
document, since this was not a true parliament; but the Royal Signet
was available, Lanark, Hamilton's brother, being its Keeper. He
appended it apparently without hesitation, the King's seal to
authorise the King's subjects to fight against the King.

The
issue was thereafter referred to the General Assembly of the Kirk
for divine blessing. More especially, the new Covenant fell to be
ratified, this being very much the Kirk's business. A resounding
declaration, it made it clear beyond all question that Presbyterian
ism was, and always had been God's own choice for the governance of
His Church and creation; and that English conformity in this divine
pattern was a prerequisite for any advancement in faith as in works.
Moreover it showed that religious uniformity alone would produce
political harmony such as all honest men desired, and peace between
the King's realms. All was done in the King's name, as was right and
proper.

If
one man saw fit to reject all this, in his obdurate blindness,
and that man happened to be the present occupant of the throne, it
was unfortunate, but invalidated nothing. No man born of woman
should, or could, hold up God's will and purpose. The Solemn League
and Covenant was ratified - and God save the King!

Before
this highly intricate and ingenious exercise in metaphysics - which
probably only Scots divines could have worked out to such
satisfactory conclusion - reached its happy finalisation, James
Graham had seen the writing on the wall. Despite the appeals of his
wife - although this time actually with the blessing of her father -
he had kissed her goodbye and shaken his sons gravely by the hand.
He was
on
his
way to join his unfortunate liege lord - and this time he did not
intend to come back until it was to place himself at the head of a
Scots army with which honest men could link the King's name without
blushing.

PART
THREE

19

I
t
was
O
xford
and not
L
ondon,
the
H
all
of
C
hrist
Church,
not the Palace of Whitehall; but otherwise there was an uncanny
similarity between this and that other occasion when Montrose
had waited amongst the courtiers for King Charles - an ominous
thought that did not fail to occur to him. There was the vast
chamber full of the same inane, high-pitched chatter, the same
exaggerated gestures and costume, the same hothouse atmosphere and
strident insincerity, many of the same people. There were
differences, to be sure. If anything, the women were even more
extravagantly dressed, there were more contrasting colours,
more ribbons and bows and jewellery, more bosoms displayed, more
paint and powder, more elaborate hair-styles - for that is the way
in wartime, especially well away from where the fighting takes
place. The men, too, were affected; swords were not permitted in the
royal presence, but military-style clothing was
de
rigueur,
thigh-length
riding-boots worn turned-down were all the rage, and some wore even
half-armour, breastplates - though admittedly richly chased or
gold-inlaid. Spurs clanked and rattled, and the general impression
was one of instant readiness for the battlefield - though few indeed
of the cavaliers present had ever heard a shot fired in anger.
Montrose, clad again in his accustomed black-and-silver best, looked
the more elegant by contrast -but most unfashionably, almost
treasonably, unwarlike.

Once
again only Kilpont was at his side, with most of the company eyeing
him even more doubtfully than on the last occasion, a man whose name
almost inevitably spelt trouble. As before, his toe was apt to tap
the floor, however serene and clear his brow and assured his
carriage.

The
usual fanfare of trumpets preceded the throwing open of the Hall
doors, and all began to dip and bow. It proved to herald the Queen
alone, come from her own Court at Merton College - or, at least,
without her husband, for she was by no means alone, a gallant bevy
in attendance, chiefest of whom was none other than the Duke of
Hamilton, gorgeous in orange and scarlet, become an inveterate
traveller between Scotland and the South.

Henrietta
Maria came forward into the great room at quite a pace, with little
of pause and chatter, seemingly more interested in the
brown-and-white spaniel in her arms than in the curtsyings and
genuflections. She did however incline her ringleted head here and
there - a head down to which Hamilton frequently bent to murmur.
Opposite Montrose, the Duke bent lower and spoke for longer.

'Ah,
yes - the Lord Montrose!' the Queen said into the hush, clearly.
'Still with us.' And she passed on, eyebrows raised.

Straigtening
up, James Graham bit his lip. It was not unexpected, but none
the more pleasant to endure. He had been weeks now, endeavouring to
see the King, unsuccessfully, and had gained no single
advantage with the Queen, or with any who might influence her.
Charles had been away, first at the Siege of Gloucester - where
Montrose had followed him, but failed to achieve contact - and
then making a tour of royalist strongholds in the West Country.
Henrietta Maria's coolness was no good augury - presumably she had
forgotten what she had written earlier about the Graham retaining
her confidence; but it was the King whom he had come to sec, and see
him he would. So he had not withdrawn from Oxford in despair.
Now, with Charles only arrived back the previous night, was his
opportunity. He had sent in a request for an audience, but received
no reply. This was his only way to achieve an interview.

Charles
was long in coming, and the Graham foot was tap-tapping again, the
more so as loud laughter rang out from up around the Queen's
chair-of-state at the head of the room, with Hamilton's bray
predominant. It was by no means necessarily concerned with himself,
but glances did tend to flicker in Montrose's direction.