Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 22.djvu/198

 Gordon hereditary enemy Crichton of Frendraught by the hand, he declared that this last he would do on no condition whatever. Montrose then ingenuously asked him if he had any objection to accompany him to Edinburgh, and on Huntly confessing that he would rather not, expressed the opinion that it would be well for him to do it. Huntly then demanded back the bond he had signed at Inverurie before he gave an answer, and on receiving it asked whether he wished him to go south as a captive or as a volunteer. ‘Make your choice,’ said Montrose. ‘Then,’ said Huntly, ‘I will not go as a captive, but as a volunteer’ (, i. 170). Huntly, accordingly, with his two eldest sons accompanied Montrose to Edinburgh ‘under a guard, though not disarmed or a prisoner’ (, ii. 237). On his arrival in Edinburgh an attempt was made by the leaders of the covenanters to induce him to sign the covenant, ‘very honourable terms being offered him,’ but to their demand he gave a written refusal, dated 20 April, and afterwards published, which concluded with these words: ‘For my oune pairt, I am in your power, and resolved not to leave that foule title of traitor as ane inheritance upon my posteritye. Yow may tacke my heade from my shoulders, but not my heart from my soveraigne’ (The Marquess of Huntly's Reply to Certaine Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Ministers, Covenanters of Scotland, &c., the 20th of Aprill 1639. Now published because of a false copie thereof lately printed without authoritie or his own consent, London,1640,reprinted in, ii. 239-40, and , i. 179). In accordance with the first article of the treaty of Berwick, 20 June of the same year, he received his liberty, and immediately with his son proceeded southwards to the king's camp, where he remained till the king's departure for London on 29 July. Returning to Edinburgh, Huntly remained for some time with his three daughters in a lodging in the Canongate, and at the ensuing parliament he signed the covenant (, i. 229); but after the festivities connected with the marriage of two of his daughters were over, he gave up his house in the Canongate and joined the king in England. While Huntly was confined in the castle of Edinburgh, the Gordons, encouraged by the rumours of the king's advance towards Scotland, began to plunder the covenanters, and, having convened all the inhabitants of Turriff, compelled them to sign the king's covenant; but shortly afterwards the minister of Turriff convened the inhabitants, and, after causing them to crave public pardon for their breach of the covenant, absolved them from their oath and subscription of the covenant of the king (, ii. 259). After Huntly had gone to England, his second son, James, viscount Aboyne [see, second , d. 1649], endeavoured to uphold the cause of the king in his father's territories, but was routed by Montrose at the Bridge of Dee, 19 June 1639. In 1640 Huntly's lands were plundered, and his castle of Strathbogie taken by General Monro, who placed a garrison in it (, Annals, ii. 382;, iii. 212; i. 298). In 1641 Huntly accompanied Charles to Scotland, and in the procession to the parliament rode after the lord high commissioner, but as he refused to subscribe the covenant he was debarred from taking part in the deliberations (, ii. 65). He was nominated one of the king's privy councillors (, iii. 66), but his name was subsequently deleted by the estates (ib. p. 148). On the king's departure for London he attended him to Berwick (, ii. 87). On 1 Jan. 1642 he arrived at Aberdeen on his way to Strathbogie, having been absent from his own territory since April 1639 (ib. p. 89). He now found his affairs in so ruinous a condition that on the advice of his friends he renounced the estate to his son Lord Gordon, for the payment of his debts and provision of his children, reserving to himself the sum of 10,000 merks of yearly rent, with his castle of Strathbogie and his house in Old Aberdeen (ib. p. 91). In August 1643 he was summoned to appear before a convention of the estates at Edinburgh, and failing to do so he was denounced and registered at the horn (ib. p. 268). He therefore wrote, sending apologies for his non-appearance, but they were rejected, and when he offered to retire to France, a license was refused him (ib. p. 269). On 20 Dec. 1643 he was visited in the Bog of Gight by a deputation of ministers sent to require him to subscribe the covenant, but this he declined (ib. p. 302). In the following January the sheriff principal of Aberdeen was directed to secure his apprehension, but declined to do so on the plea that the Bog of Gight was outside his jurisdiction. The duty was then transferred to the sheriff of Banff, but on his appearing at the Bog of Gight Huntly refused to recognise his commission (ib. p. 320). Huntly was apparently inclined to peace, but the action of the government drove him to assume hostilities in self-defence. On 19 March 1643-4 a band of his followers ‘came galloping through the Old Town to New Aberdeen,’ and taking the provost and other magistrates prisoners, brought them to Strathbogie (ib. p. 324). On 16 March Huntly had published a declaration protesting that any acts of hostility he might commit were in self-defence,