England. For that very
reason the Reformation had come later to Scotland than to almost any
other nation in Christendom; but when it did come it had been more
basic, comprehensive, drastic. Now their religion was not only being
interfered with, but actually changed, by dictate from London, made
to conform with that of England. It was not to be borne.
All
this was bad enough. But there was another aspect of the situation
which was worrying - especially for one placed in Montrose's
position, straddling as it were the Highland Line, both in the
location of his estates and the background of his blood and race. The
Reformation had never really penetrated to the true Highlands
effectively, certainly not to the remoter areas - except for the
Campbells' Argyll. Therefore, these London edicts were of little
or no interest in the Highlands. But, unfortunately, the Gordon
chief, the Marquis of Huntly, not actually a Highlander himself but a strong
Catholic and having great influence in all the North, was declaring
himself wholly and vigorously in favour of the King in all this - and
seeing that others did likewise. So that there was a serious division
forming in Scotland, to the country's hurt, Highland versus Lowland,
North versus the rest, Catholic versus Protestant. It was ominous and
dangerous as it was grievously disappointing for all who had the
unity of the realm at heart
With
the days shortening, Montrose took his little family and entourage to
settle down at Kincardine Castle, on the southern verges of
Strathearn. Magdalen was uneasy about this, still under her father's
spell and afraid that it would cause offence. Moreover, all her life
she had never lived anywhere else but at Kinnaird. But James Graham
was determined on it, that they were not going back to Kinnaird,
declaring that it was not suitable that the Earl of Montrose should
roost always in another's house as though he had no place of his own.
Kincardine was his favourite property, as it had been his father's
before him.
So
the old grey castle, on the rocky bluff above the wooded ravine of
the Ruthven Water, was opened up and refurbished, and again
young voices rang within its ancient walls, to challenge the singing
of tree-top birds and the rush of falling water. The headlong Ruthven
came boiling out of Glen Eagles, in the Ochils foothills of south
Perthshire, to swing eastwards in its deep sylvan hanging glen above
the Strathearn head-town of Auchterarder, before falling into the
Earn at Aberuthven. In this winding sheltered valley, with the
magnificent prospects of the Highland mountains across the wide
strath, the Graham castle soared high on a rocky promontory, an
eagle's nest of a hold, of lofty, mellow stone walls, crowstepped
gables, steep roofs and pepper-pot turrets. Small compared with
Kinnaird, or even Montrose's own Mugdock, Dundaff or Fintry, towering
upwards instead of sideways, within its cramped and oddly shaped
courtyard, it was a modest seat for so great a lord; but it was
strong enough, and most pleasing in character as in surroundings. And
it was central, not only for the various Graham lands, but for
Stirling, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and St Andrews, places where
things were apt to happen in ScoUand.
It
was one golden day of belated autumn, in mid-November, with all
Strathearn aglow with colour, that Montrose, returning to
Kincardine with the sinking sun from hunting hinds in the Ochils,
found company awaiting him. He rode over the drawbridge into the
little courtyard above the dizzy drop, with Kilpont, whose home at
Airth was only a score of miles to the south, and Black Pate Graham,
Younger of Inchbrakie near by, who had taken over from Young Morphie
as personal esquire, to find the place crowded with a dozen and more
horses, their grooms and armed attendants hanging around them,
indicating that it was no unimportant company.
In
his hall, James Graham found Magdalen entertaining, in some evident
embarrassment, two very oddly paired
reason the Reformation had come later to Scotland than to almost any
other nation in Christendom; but when it did come it had been more
basic, comprehensive, drastic. Now their religion was not only being
interfered with, but actually changed, by dictate from London, made
to conform with that of England. It was not to be borne.
All
this was bad enough. But there was another aspect of the situation
which was worrying - especially for one placed in Montrose's
position, straddling as it were the Highland Line, both in the
location of his estates and the background of his blood and race. The
Reformation had never really penetrated to the true Highlands
effectively, certainly not to the remoter areas - except for the
Campbells' Argyll. Therefore, these London edicts were of little
or no interest in the Highlands. But, unfortunately, the Gordon
chief, the Marquis of Huntly, not actually a Highlander himself but a strong
Catholic and having great influence in all the North, was declaring
himself wholly and vigorously in favour of the King in all this - and
seeing that others did likewise. So that there was a serious division
forming in Scotland, to the country's hurt, Highland versus Lowland,
North versus the rest, Catholic versus Protestant. It was ominous and
dangerous as it was grievously disappointing for all who had the
unity of the realm at heart
With
the days shortening, Montrose took his little family and entourage to
settle down at Kincardine Castle, on the southern verges of
Strathearn. Magdalen was uneasy about this, still under her father's
spell and afraid that it would cause offence. Moreover, all her life
she had never lived anywhere else but at Kinnaird. But James Graham
was determined on it, that they were not going back to Kinnaird,
declaring that it was not suitable that the Earl of Montrose should
roost always in another's house as though he had no place of his own.
Kincardine was his favourite property, as it had been his father's
before him.
So
the old grey castle, on the rocky bluff above the wooded ravine of
the Ruthven Water, was opened up and refurbished, and again
young voices rang within its ancient walls, to challenge the singing
of tree-top birds and the rush of falling water. The headlong Ruthven
came boiling out of Glen Eagles, in the Ochils foothills of south
Perthshire, to swing eastwards in its deep sylvan hanging glen above
the Strathearn head-town of Auchterarder, before falling into the
Earn at Aberuthven. In this winding sheltered valley, with the
magnificent prospects of the Highland mountains across the wide
strath, the Graham castle soared high on a rocky promontory, an
eagle's nest of a hold, of lofty, mellow stone walls, crowstepped
gables, steep roofs and pepper-pot turrets. Small compared with
Kinnaird, or even Montrose's own Mugdock, Dundaff or Fintry, towering
upwards instead of sideways, within its cramped and oddly shaped
courtyard, it was a modest seat for so great a lord; but it was
strong enough, and most pleasing in character as in surroundings. And
it was central, not only for the various Graham lands, but for
Stirling, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and St Andrews, places where
things were apt to happen in ScoUand.
It
was one golden day of belated autumn, in mid-November, with all
Strathearn aglow with colour, that Montrose, returning to
Kincardine with the sinking sun from hunting hinds in the Ochils,
found company awaiting him. He rode over the drawbridge into the
little courtyard above the dizzy drop, with Kilpont, whose home at
Airth was only a score of miles to the south, and Black Pate Graham,
Younger of Inchbrakie near by, who had taken over from Young Morphie
as personal esquire, to find the place crowded with a dozen and more
horses, their grooms and armed attendants hanging around them,
indicating that it was no unimportant company.
In
his hall, James Graham found Magdalen entertaining, in some evident
embarrassment, two very oddly paired
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