A Legend of Montrose Page 10

  CHAPTER VIII.

  Our plot is a good plot as ever was laid; our friends true and constant: a good plot, good friends, and full of expectation: an excellent plot, very good friends.--HENRY IV Part I.

  No sooner had the general acclamation of joyful surprise subsided, thansilence was eagerly demanded for reading the royal commission; and thebonnets, which hitherto each Chief had worn, probably because unwillingto be the first to uncover, were now at once vailed in honour ofthe royal warrant. It was couched in the most full and ample terms,authorizing the Earl of Montrose to assemble the subjects in arms,for the putting down the present rebellion, which divers traitorsand seditious persons had levied against the King, to the manifestforfaulture, as it stated, of their allegiance, and to the breach ofthe pacification between the two kingdoms. It enjoined all subordinateauthorities to be obedient and assisting to Montrose in his enterprise;gave him the power of making ordinances and proclamations, punishingmisdemeanours, pardoning criminals, placing and displacing governors andcommanders. In fine, it was as large and full a commission as any withwhich a prince could intrust a subject. As soon as it was finished,a shout burst from the assembled Chiefs, in testimony of their readysubmission to the will of their sovereign. Not contented with generallythanking them for a reception so favourable, Montrose hastened toaddress himself to individuals, The most important Chiefs had alreadybeen long personally known to him, but even to those of inferiorconsequence he now introduced himself and by the acquaintance hedisplayed with their peculiar designations, and the circumstances andhistory of their clans, he showed how long he must have studied thecharacter of the mountaineers, and prepared himself for such a situationas he now held.

  While he was engaged in these acts of courtesy, his graceful manner,expressive features, and dignity of deportment, made a singular contrastwith the coarseness and meanness of his dress. Montrose possessed thatsort of form and face, in which the beholder, at the first glance, seesnothing extraordinary, but of which the interest becomes more impressivethe longer we gaze upon them. His stature was very little above themiddle size, but in person he was uncommonly well-built, and capableboth of exerting great force, and enduring much fatigue. In fact,he enjoyed a constitution of iron, without which he could not havesustained the trials of his extraordinary campaigns, through all ofwhich he subjected himself to the hardships of the meanest soldier.He was perfect in all exercises, whether peaceful or martial, andpossessed, of course, that graceful ease of deportment proper to thoseto whom habit has rendered all postures easy.

  His long brown hair, according to the custom of men of quality among theRoyalists, was parted on the top of his head, and trained to hang downon each side in curled locks, one of which, descending two or threeinches lower than the others, intimated Montrose's compliance with thatfashion against which it pleased Mr. Prynne, the puritan, to write atreatise, entitled, THE UNLOVELINESS OF LOVE-LOCKS. The features whichthese tresses enclosed, were of that kind which derive their interestfrom the character of the man, rather than from the regularity of theirform. But a high nose, a full, decided, well-opened, quick grey eye, anda sanguine complexion, made amends for some coarseness and irregularityin the subordinate parts of the face; so that, altogether, Montrosemight be termed rather a handsome, than a hard-featured man. But thosewho saw him when his soul looked through those eyes with all the energyand fire of genius--those who heard him speak with the authority oftalent, and the eloquence of nature, were impressed with an opinioneven of his external form, more enthusiastically favourable than theportraits which still survive would entitle us to ascribe to it. Such,at least, was the impression he made upon the assembled Chiefs of themountaineers, over whom, as upon all persons in their state of society,personal appearance has no small influence.

  In the discussions which followed his discovering himself, Montroseexplained the various risks which he had run in his present undertaking.His first attempt had been to assemble a body of loyalists in the northof England, who, in obedience to the orders of the Marquis of Newcastle,he expected would have marched into Scotland; but the disinclination ofthe English to cross the Border, and the delay of the Earl of Antrim,who was to have landed in the Solway Frith with his Irish army,prevented his executing this design. Other plans having in like mannerfailed, he stated that he found himself under the necessity of assuminga disguise to render his passage secure through the Lowlands, in whichhe had been kindly assisted by his kinsman of Menteith. By what meansAllan M'Aulay had come to know him, he could not pretend to explain.Those who knew Allan's prophetic pretensions, smiled mysteriously;but he himself only replied, that "the Earl of Montrose need not besurprised if he was known to thousands, of whom he himself could retainno memory."

  "By the honour of a cavalier," said Captain Dalgetty, finding at lengthan opportunity to thrust in his word, "I am proud and happy in having anopportunity of drawing a sword under your lordship's command; and I doforgive all grudge, malecontent, and malice of my heart, to Mr. AllanM'Aulay, for having thrust me down to the lowest seat of the boardyestreen. Certes, he hath this day spoken so like a man having fullcommand of his senses, that I had resolved in my secret purpose that hewas no way entitled to claim the privilege of insanity. But since Iwas only postponed to a noble earl, my future commander-in-chief, I do,before you all, recognise the justice of the preference, and heartilysalute Allan as one who is to be his BON-CAMARADO."

  Having made this speech, which was little understood or attended to,without putting off his military glove, he seized on Allan's hand,and began to shake it with violence, which Allan, with a gripe like asmith's vice, returned with such force, as to drive the iron splents ofthe gauntlet into the hand of the wearer.

  Captain Dalgetty might have construed this into a new affront, had nothis attention, as he stood blowing and shaking the injured member, beensuddenly called by Montrose himself.

  "Hear this news," he said, "Captain Dalgetty--I should say MajorDalgetty,--the Irish, who are to profit by your military experience, arenow within a few leagues of us."

  "Our deer-stalkers," said Angus M'Aulay, "who were abroad to bring invenison for this honourable party, have heard of a band of strangers,speaking neither Saxon nor pure Gaelic, and with difficulty makingthemselves understood by the people of the country, who are marchingthis way in arms, under the leading, it is said, of Alaster M'Donald,who is commonly called Young Colkitto."

  "These must be our men," said Montrose; "we must hasten to sendmessengers forward, both to act as guides and to relieve their wants."

  "The last," said Angus M'Aulay, "will be no easy matter; for I aminformed, that, excepting muskets and a very little ammunition, theywant everything that soldiers should have; and they are particularlydeficient in money, in shoes, and in raiment."

  "There is at least no use in saying so," said Montrose, "in so louda tone. The puritan weavers of Glasgow shall provide them plenty ofbroad-cloth, when we make a descent from the Highlands; and if theministers could formerly preach the old women of the Scottish boroughsout of their webs of napery, to make tents to the fellows on Dunse Law,[The Covenanters encamped on Dunse Law, during the troubles of 1639.] Iwill try whether I have not a little interest both to make these godlydames renew their patriotic gift, and the prick-eared knaves, theirhusbands, open their purses."

  "And respecting arms," said Captain Dalgetty, "if your lordship willpermit an old cavalier to speak his mind, so that the one-third havemuskets, my darling weapon would be the pike for the remainder, whetherfor resisting a charge of horse, or for breaking the infantry. A commonsmith will make a hundred pike-heads in a day; here is plenty of woodfor shafts; and I will uphold, that, according to the best usages ofwar, a strong battalion of pikes, drawn up in the fashion of the Lion ofthe North, the immortal Gustavus, would beat the Macedonian phalanx,of which I used to read in the Mareschal-College, when I studied in theancient town of Bon-accord; and further, I will venture to predicate--"

  The Captain's lecture upon tactics was
here suddenly interrupted byAllan M'Aulay, who said, hastily,--"Room for an unexpected and unwelcomeguest!"

  At the same moment, the door of the hall opened, and a grey-haired man,of a very stately appearance, presented himself to the assembly. Therewas much dignity, and even authority, in his manner. His stature wasabove the common size, and his looks such as were used to command. Hecast a severe, and almost stern glance upon the assembly of Chiefs.Those of the higher rank among them returned it with scornfulindifference; but some of the western gentlemen of inferior power,looked as if they wished themselves elsewhere.

  "To which of this assembly," said the stranger, "am I to address myselfas leader? or have you not fixed upon the person who is to hold anoffice at least as perilous as it is honourable?"

  "Address yourself to me, Sir Duncan Campbell," said Montrose, steppingforward.

  "To you!" said Sir Duncan Campbell, with some scorn.

  "Yes,--to me," repeated Montrose,--"to the Earl of Montrose, if you haveforgot him."

  "I should now, at least," said Sir Duncan Campbell, "have had somedifficulty in recognising him in the disguise of a groom.--and yet Imight have guessed that no evil influence inferior to your lordship's,distinguished as one who troubles Israel, could have collected togetherthis rash assembly of misguided persons."

  "I will answer unto you," said Montrose, "in the manner of your ownPuritans. I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father's house.But let us leave an altercation, which is of little consequence butto ourselves, and hear the tidings you have brought from your Chief ofArgyle; for I must conclude that it is in his name that you have come tothis meeting."

  "It is in the name of the Marquis of Argyle," said Sir DuncanCampbell,--"in the name of the Scottish Convention of Estates, thatI demand to know the meaning of this singular convocation. If it isdesigned to disturb the peace of the country, it were but acting likeneighbours, and men of honour, to give us some intimation to stand uponour guard."

  "It is a singular, and new state of affairs in Scotland," said Montrose,turning from Sir Duncan Campbell to the assembly, "when Scottish men ofrank and family cannot meet in the house of a common friend without aninquisitorial visit and demand, on the part of our rulers, to know thesubject of our conference. Methinks our ancestors were accustomed tohold Highland huntings, or other purposes of meeting, without askingthe leave either of the great M'Callum More himself, or any of hisemissaries or dependents."

  "The times have been such in Scotland," answered one of the WesternChiefs, "and such they will again be, when the intruders on ourancient possessions are again reduced to be Lairds of Lochow instead ofoverspreading us like a band of devouring locusts."

  "Am I to understand, then," said Sir Duncan, "that it is against my namealone that these preparations are directed? or are the race of Diarmidonly to be sufferers in common with the whole of the peaceful andorderly inhabitants of Scotland?"

  "I would ask," said a wild-looking Chief, starting hastily up, "onequestion of the Knight of Ardenvohr, ere he proceeds farther in hisdaring catechism.--Has he brought more than one life to this castle,that he ventures to intrude among us for the purposes of insult?"

  "Gentlemen," said Montrose, "let me implore your patience; a messengerwho comes among us for the purpose of embassy, is entitled to freedom ofspeech and safe-conduct. And since Sir Duncan Campbell is so pressing, Icare not if I inform him, for his guidance, that he is in an assemblyof the King's loyal subjects, convoked by me, in his Majesty's name andauthority, and as empowered by his Majesty's royal commission."

  "We are to have, then, I presume," said Sir Duncan Campbell, "a civilwar in all its forms? I have been too long a soldier to view itsapproach with anxiety; but it would have been for my Lord of Montrose'shonour, if, in this matter, he had consulted his own ambition less, andthe peace of the country more."

  "Those consulted their own ambition and self-interest, Sir Duncan,"answered Montrose, "who brought the country to the pass in which itnow stands, and rendered necessary the sharp remedies which we are nowreluctantly about to use."

  "And what rank among these self-seekers," said Sir Duncan Campbell, "weshall assign to a noble Earl, so violently attached to the Covenant,that he was the first, in 1639, to cross the Tyne, wading middle deep atthe head of his regiment, to charge the royal forces? It was the same,I think, who imposed the Covenant upon the burgesses and colleges ofAberdeen, at the point of sword and pike."

  "I understand your sneer, Sir Duncan," said Montrose, temperately; "andI can only add, that if sincere repentance can make amends for youthfulerror, and for yielding to the artful representation of ambitioushypocrites, I shall be pardoned for the crimes with which you taunt me.I will at least endeavour to deserve forgiveness, for I am here, withmy sword in my hand, willing to spend the best blood of my body to makeamends for my error; and mortal man can do no more."

  "Well, my lord," said Sir Duncan, "I shall be sorry to carry back thislanguage to the Marquis of Argyle. I had it in farther charge from theMarquis, that, to prevent the bloody feuds which must necessarily followa Highland war, his lordship will be contented if terms of truce couldbe arranged to the north of the Highland line, as there is ground enoughin Scotland to fight upon, without neighbours destroying each other'sfamilies and inheritances."

  "It is a peaceful proposal," said Montrose, smiling, "such as itshould be, coming from one whose personal actions have always been morepeaceful than his measures. Yet, if the terms of such a truce could beequally fixed, and if we can obtain security, for that, Sir Duncan, isindispensable,--that your Marquis will observe these terms with strictfidelity, I, for my part, should be content to leave peace behind us,since we must needs carry war before us. But, Sir Duncan, you are tooold and experienced a soldier for us to permit you to remain in ourleaguer, and witness our proceedings; we shall therefore, when you haverefreshed yourself, recommend your speedy return to Inverary, and weshall send with you a gentleman on our part to adjust the terms ofthe Highland armistice, in case the Marquis shall be found serious inproposing such a measure." Sir Duncan Campbell assented by a bow.

  "My Lord of Menteith," continued Montrose, "will you have the goodnessto attend Sir Duncan Campbell of Ardenvohr, while we determine who shallreturn with him to his Chief? M'Aulay will permit us to request that hebe entertained with suitable hospitality."

  "I will give orders for that," said Allan M'Aulay, rising and comingforward. "I love Sir Duncan Campbell; we have been joint sufferers informer days, and I do not forget it now."

  "My Lord of Menteith," said Sir Duncan Campbell, "I am grieved tosee you, at your early age, engaged in such desperate and rebelliouscourses."

  "I am young," answered Menteith, "yet old enough to distinguish betweenright and wrong, between loyalty and rebellion; and the sooner a goodcourse is begun, the longer and the better have I a chance of runningit."

  "And you too, my friend, Allan M'Aulay," said Sir Duncan, taking hishand, "must we also call each other enemies, that have been so oftenallied against a common foe?" Then turning round to the meeting, hesaid, "Farewell, gentlemen; there are so many of you to whom I wishwell, that your rejection of all terms of mediation gives me deepaffliction. May Heaven," he said, looking upwards, "judge between ourmotives, and those of the movers of this civil commotion!"

  "Amen," said Montrose; "to that tribunal we all submit us."

  Sir Duncan Campbell left the hall, accompanied by Allan M'Aulay and LordMenteith. "There goes a true-bred Campbell," said Montrose, as the envoydeparted, "for they are ever fair and false."

  "Pardon me, my lord," said Evan Dhu; "hereditary enemy as I am to theirname, I have ever found the Knight of Ardenvohr brave in war, honest inpeace, and true in council."

  "Of his own disposition," said Montrose, "such he is undoubtedly; buthe now acts as the organ or mouth-piece of his Chief, the Marquis, thefalsest man that ever drew breath. And, M'Aulay," he continued in awhisper to his host, "lest he should make some impression upon theinexperience of Menteith, or t
he singular disposition of your brother,you had better send music into their chamber, to prevent his inveiglingthem into any private conference."

  "The devil a musician have I," answered M'Aulay, "excepting the piper,who has nearly broke his wind by an ambitious contention for superioritywith three of his own craft; but I can send Annot Lyle and her harp."And he left the apartment to give orders accordingly.

  Meanwhile a warm discussion took place, who should undertake theperilous task of returning with Sir Duncan to Inverary. To the higherdignitaries, accustomed to consider themselves upon an equality evenwith M'Callum More, this was an office not to be proposed; unto otherswho could not plead the same excuse, it was altogether unacceptable. Onewould have thought Inverary had been the Valley of the Shadow of Death,the inferior chiefs showed such reluctance to approach it. After aconsiderable hesitation, the plain reason was at length spokenout, namely, that whatever Highlander should undertake an office sodistasteful to M'Callum More, he would be sure to treasure the offencein his remembrance, and one day or other to make him bitterly repent ofit.

  In this dilemma, Montrose, who considered the proposed armistice asa mere stratagem on the part of Argyle, although he had not venturedbluntly to reject it in presence of those whom it concerned so nearly,resolved to impose the danger and dignity upon Captain Dalgetty, who hadneither clan nor estate in the Highlands upon which the wrath of Argylecould wreak itself.

  "But I have a neck though," said Dalgetty, bluntly; "and what if hechooses to avenge himself upon that? I have known a case where anhonourable ambassador has been hanged as a spy before now. Neither didthe Romans use ambassadors much more mercifully at the siege of Capua,although I read that they only cut off their hands and noses, put outtheir eyes, and suffered them to depart in peace."

  "By my honour Captain Dalgetty," said Montrose, "should the Marquis,contrary to the rules of war, dare to practise any atrocity against you,you may depend upon my taking such signal vengeance that all Scotlandshall ring of it."

  "That will do but little for Dalgetty," returned the Captain; "butcorragio! as the Spaniard says. With the Land of Promise full inview, the Moor of Drumthwacket, MEA PAUPERA REGNA, as we said atMareschal-College, I will not refuse your Excellency's commission,being conscious it becomes a cavalier of honour to obey his commander'sorders, in defiance both of gibbet and sword."

  "Gallantly resolved," said Montrose; "and if you will come apart withme, I will furnish you with the conditions to be laid before M'CallumMore, upon which we are willing to grant him a truce for his Highlanddominions."

  With these we need not trouble our readers. They were of an evasivenature, calculated to meet a proposal which Montrose considered to havebeen made only for the purpose of gaining time. When he had put CaptainDalgetty in complete possession of his instructions, and when thatworthy, making his military obeisance, was near the door of hisapartment, Montrose made him a sign to return.

  "I presume," said he, "I need not remind an officer who has served underthe great Gustavus, that a little more is required of a person sent witha flag of truce than mere discharge of his instructions, and that hisgeneral will expect from him, on his return, some account of the stateof the enemy's affairs, as far as they come under his observation. Inshort, Captain Dalgetty, you must be UN PEU CLAIR-VOYANT."

  "Ah ha! your Excellency," said the Captain, twisting his hard featuresinto an inimitable expression of cunning and intelligence, "if they donot put my head in a poke, which I have known practised upon honourablesoldados who have been suspected to come upon such errands as thepresent, your Excellency may rely on a preceese narration of whateverDugald Dalgetty shall hear or see, were it even how many turns of tunethere are in M'Callum More's pibroch, or how many checks in the sett ofhis plaid and trews."

  "Enough," answered Montrose; "farewell, Captain Dalgetty: and as theysay that a lady's mind is always expressed in her postscript, so I wouldhave you think that the most important part of your commission lies inwhat I have last said to you."

  Dalgetty once more grinned intelligence, and withdrew to victual hischarger and himself, for the fatigues of his approaching mission.

  At the door of the stable, for Gustavus always claimed his firstcare,--he met Angus M'Aulay and Sir Miles Musgrave, who had been lookingat his horse; and, after praising his points and carriage, both unitedin strongly dissuading the Captain from taking an animal of such valuewith him upon his present very fatiguing journey.

  Angus painted in the most alarming colours the roads, or ratherwild tracks, by which it would be necessary for him to travel intoArgyleshire, and the wretched huts or bothies where he would becondemned to pass the night, and where no forage could be procured forhis horse, unless he could eat the stumps of old heather. In short,he pronounced it absolutely impossible, that, after undertaking such apilgrimage, the animal could be in any case for military service. TheEnglishman strongly confirmed all that Angus had said, and gave himself,body and soul, to the devil, if he thought it was not an act littleshort of absolute murder to carry a horse worth a farthing into such awaste and inhospitable desert. Captain Dalgetty for an instant lookedsteadily, first at one of the gentlemen and next at the other, and thenasked them, as if in a state of indecision, what they would advise himto do with Gustavus under such circumstances.

  "By the hand of my father, my dear friend," answered M'Aulay, "if youleave the beast in my keeping, you may rely on his being fed and sortedaccording to his worth and quality, and that upon your happy return, youwill find him as sleek as an onion boiled in butter."

  "Or," said Sir Miles Musgrave, "if this worthy cavalier chooses to partwith his charger for a reasonable sum, I have some part of the silvercandlesticks still dancing the heys in my purse, which I shall be verywilling to transfer to his."

  "In brief, mine honourable friends," said Captain Dalgetty, again eyeingthem both with an air of comic penetration, "I find it would not bealtogether unacceptable to either of you, to have some token to rememberthe old soldier by, in case it shall please M'Callum More to hang himup at the gate of his own castle. And doubtless it would be no smallsatisfaction to me, in such an event, that a noble and loyal cavalierlike Sir Miles Musgrave, or a worthy and hospitable chieftain like ourexcellent landlord, should act as my executor."

  Both hastened to protest that they had no such object, and insistedagain upon the impassable character of the Highland paths. AngusM'Aulay mumbled over a number of hard Gaellic names, descriptive of thedifficult passes, precipices, corries, and beals, through which hesaid the road lay to Inverary, when old Donald, who had now entered,sanctioned his master's account of these difficulties, by holding up hishands, and elevating his eyes, and shaking his head, at every grutturalwhich M'Aulay pronounced. But all this did not move the inflexibleCaptain.

  "My worthy friends," said he, "Gustavus is not new to the dangers oftravelling, and the mountains of Bohemia; and (no disparagement to thebeals and corries Mr. Angus is pleased to mention, and of which SirMiles, who never saw them, confirms the horrors,) these mountains maycompete with the vilest roads in Europe. In fact, my horse hath a mostexcellent and social quality; for although he cannot pledge in my cup,yet we share our loaf between us, and it will be hard if he suffersfamine where cakes or bannocks are to be found. And, to cut this mattershort, I beseech you, my good friends, to observe the state of SirDuncan Campbell's palfrey, which stands in that stall before us, fatand fair; and, in return for your anxiety an my account, I give youmy honest asseveration, that while we travel the same road, both thatpalfrey and his rider shall lack for food before either Gustavus or I."

  Having said this he filled a large measure with corn, and walked up withit to his charger, who, by his low whinnying neigh, his pricked ears,and his pawing, showed how close the alliance was betwixt him and hisrider. Nor did he taste his corn until he had returned his master'scaresses, by licking his hands and face. After this interchange ofgreeting, the steed began to his provender with an eager dispatch, whichshowed old military habits;
and the master, after looking on the animalwith great complacency for about five minutes, said,--"Much good may itdo your honest heart, Gustavus;--now must I go and lay in provant myselffor the campaign."

  He then departed, having first saluted the Englishman and Angus M'Aulay,who remained looking at each other for some time in silence, and thenburst out into a fit of laughter.

  "That fellow," said Sir Miles Musgrave, "is formed to go through theworld."

  "I shall think so too," said M'Aulay, "if he can slip through M'CallumMore's fingers as easily as he has done through ours."

  "Do you think," said the Englishman, "that the Marquis will not respect,in Captain Dalgetty's person, the laws of civilized war?"

  "No more than I would respect a Lowland proclamation," said AngusM'Aulay.--"But come along, it is time I were returning to my guests."