Unknown (29 page)

None
having considered defensive positions, Montrose decided that the
ancient parish church of St Congans, with its kirkyard, crowning a
green rise to the south-east of the village, was the only place. The
minister would approve. Everyone to move in there, with the horses
in the manse walled-garden adjoining. Meanwhile, local Forbes scouts
out, in pairs, to give warning of any enemy approach.

The
newcomers thereafter lay down amongst the tombstones, and slept
the sleep of the exhausted.

Montrose
was awakened a couple of hours later, with the word that scouts
reported the approach of a great host from the south-west, hidden in
the deep valley of the Deveron - thousands, it was declared, mostly
foot. Only Huntly could produce that sort of host in this country.

Grimly
the Graham shook the sleep from heavy eyes. Even allowing for
exaggeration by the scouts, it looked as though his military career
was likely to be a short one; yet he was not going to start it by
any ignominious flight, without striking a blow. That was not for
An
Greumach Mor
.
It
seemed improbable that they could repel any major attack, for long -
yet what other honourable course was open to them?

He
placed his people to man the kirkyard walls to best advantage, using
the little belfry-tower of the church for his command-post. But he
did not waste his Graham troopers thus, sending them over to the
manse garden, under Pate, from which they might make a suitable
cavalry diversion if the occasion offered. Then they could only
wait.

And
so, with bagpipes playing and horns ululating, a vast and straggling
host presently began to come flooding out of the dip of the Deveron
valley. It gave no least impression of being an army, being more
like a huge fair on the move, carefree, undisciplined, in holiday
spirit. Admittedly there were groups of mounted men amongst it all,
and innumerable banners, with the glint of arms everywhere; but
there was no sort of military formation, nothing of wariness or
tension, no hint of any unified control - or indeed
any
control.
As more and more came into sight, there seemed to be many in excess
of the originally estimated 2000; but somehow there was little
impression of menace in the multitude. Whether or not Huntly was
with it, in person, was not apparent.

As
some of his colleagues exclaimed at it all, Montrose, pointing out
that the Gordon presumably had expected to disrupt a meeting and
arrest its members rather than fight a battle, nevertheless could
not explain why such numbers should be mobilised for this; unless
Huntly merely desired to make a demonstration of strength in the
area.

Presently
at least some sort of elementary planning was evinced, as the host
began to spread itself out in a great semi-circle to south and east
of the village, presumably to prevent any dash for freedom in that
direction : the River Deveron would effectively cut off flight at
the other side, with its only bridge almost certainly held.

At
what stage the Gordons realised that their approach was to be
opposed by armed and alerted force was hard to say. It was not even
clear just where the leadership was, for banners were
wide-scattered.

A
part of the great throng had come very close, almost to the foot of
the kirk-brae, before seeming to realise that the frieze of figures
lining the kirkyard wall above had, in fact, hagbuts levelled and
pointing directly at them; and that the group up on the belfry-tower
had drawn swords in their hands. The consternation, almost
indignation, developing below thereupon, was quite dramatic

But,
through a kind of residual impetus and lack of any overall command
to halt, die advance - if that it could be called - continued.

From
the church-tower, Montrose rapped out an order. A volley of hagbut
shots cracked out

It
was a distinctly ragged volley, not to say piecemeal, for the
marksmen were less than expert. But its effect on the opposition was
as great as though it had been fired by a crack regiment - and
moreover,
at
them
instead of well above their heads. All advance halted, some men fell
on their faces, more turned back in haste, and confusion reigned
everywhere.

'So
that is the vaunted Gordon power!' the Earl of King-home exclaimed.
'That pack of fools and cravens!'

'Do
not judge too swiftly,' Montrose advised. 'They could be formidable
enough, I swear, sufficiently bold, if well led. If indeed they were
in fighting trim. Do not underestimate the Gordons, John. This but
finds them unprepared. They would have served very well to capture
your meeting - which was what they set out to do!'

Presently,
when the noise abated, a voice could be heard shouting, 'Who dares
to fire on Gordon? Who, I say!'

'James
Graham of Montrose, Lieutenant-General of the Estates !' was thrown
back. 'What rabble is this?'

There
was a pause, as of sheer disbelief. Then an incredulous voice
called. 'JamesGraham? In person? The Earl... ?'

'In
person. Bearing the authority of the Estates of this realm. Who are
you?' Obviously this was not Huntly himself.

'Straloch.
Gordon of Straloch. Chamberlain to Huntly. To my lord Marquis.'

Montrose
sighed. He had rather liked Straloch at their previous meeting.
'Then, sir,' he answered, 'why come against me with this great host?
I mislike it'

There
was a pause again, as the spokesman consulted his fellows. 'My lord
Marquis of Huntly,' was shouted back, at length, 'is appointed the
King's Lieutenant of the North. No gathering may be held lacking my
lord's permission.'

'Who
says so? To the Earl of Montrose, Lieutenant-General of the realm?'

That
was in the nature of stalemate. All perceived it There was another
interval.

'Montrose
ended it. 'Come up higher, sir,' he commanded. ‘I also mislike
shouting, like fishwives at a market!' And when Straloch and a group
of Gordon lairds had part-climbed the hillock obediently, 'That will
serve. Where is my lord of Huntly?'

'He
is at the Ford of Towie, my lord. Two miles ...'

"Why
is he not here? I do not deal with intermediaries!'

"He
did not know, my lord. That you were here. We believed you... in
Angus. We did not conceive it..

Then
go and fetch your master, Straloch. Tell him that I await his
explanation for this display of force against an assembly under the
authority of the Estates of Scotland. Go tell him, sir.'

Strangely,
this arrogant assumption of authority, so contrary to
Montrose's courteous habit, well served its turn. Returning to the
main body, after a little delay Straloch and his group of lairds,
leaving the multitude to its own devices, turned and rode away
south-westwards.

It
was an hour before they were back - with the Gordon host meantime
settling down to wait, variously but scarcely warlikely employed,
more like a fair than ever. Montrose improved the impression of
disciplined strength on the higher ground by having Black Pate and
his troopers move out from the manse garden, mount, and station
themselves in two long lines of a hundred, on either side of the
kirkyard, sitting their horses motionless and looking threatening.

A
great blowing of bulls' horns heralded Huntly's arrival on the scene
- what he had been doing at Ford of Towie unexplained. With his
colourful entourage, and a loping pack of deer-hounds, and to the
cheers of his multitude he came riding up the brae, dressed as for
the hunt, but with tall eagles' feathers sprouting from his bonnet.

Montrose
let him come close - although the hagbuts remained levelled and
swords drawn. 'My lord Marquis,' he called, 'do you come in peace or
war? This great company would seem to offer me threat - me,
Lieutenant-General of the Estates! I have bome with them, in your
absence, with such patience as I might. I trust that you will now
remove them.'

Huntly
puffed, frowning. 'In this land, my lord, none speaks Gordon so.
Even you! You are holding an unlawful assembly, it seems, so
that...'

'By
what laws, sir? Not the laws of Scotland !'

‘
I
administer
and declare the laws here, my lord of Montrose - I, Gordon! I am
Justiciar of the North. And now King's Lieutenant of the North
likewise. From Esk to Caithness. Perhaps you had not heard?'

'And
does the King command you to interfere with the Earl of Montrose,
contrary to the law of Scotland?'

'No-o-o.
But meetings, assemblies of
...
of the King's enemies are forbidden.'

'You
dare to name
me,
Montrose,
the King's enemy, sir? He has no more loyal subject. All here are
the King's loyal subjects. I urge that you remember it!'

Huntly
changed his stance a little. 'This meeting? What is its purpose?'

'Its
purpose is the lawful conferring together of the King's lieges.
Under my authority. If you deny that authority, my lord, and that of
the Convention of Estates, then
you
are
an enemy of this realm, and must abide the consequences. Do you?'

The
Gordon took time to consider that.

Recognising
hesitation, and gauging the other's character, Montrose pressed his
point. 'If you do, sir, I have many armed and trained men here, to
argue that authority, as Lieutenant-General, if you so desire. If
you desire a decision by arms, declare it now. Or leave us to our
lawful occasions.'

While
not a few deep breaths were drawn around him, at this over-bold
challenge, Huntly took it seriously. He bent in his saddle, to
confer with Straloch.

Encouraged,
the Graham added, 'We have wasted much time over this, my lord.
Hours. We grow impatient. My haqbutters. My cavalry in especial.' He
waved his sword right and left. 'Do I order attack? Or is it peace?'

Huntly
cleared his throat. 'I cculd, should, punish your insolence,
Montrose - here in my Gordon country. But I am the King's
Lieutenant. And I have His Grace's express command to engage in
no armed warfare until
...
until my lord Hamilton comes. Or until King Charles crosses the
Border. His Grace is merciful. I do not conceive you to deserve it.
But I do not controvert my lord the King. These orders - I must
abide by them.'