MacGregor

by Peter John Lawrie

Chapter 23

  Doune - Saturday October 26th, 1745

  Glengyle and Rob walked into the ancient castle of Doune followed by a tail of twenty Gregarach. They stood in the centre of the courtyard and looked around at the massive curtain wall surrounding the courtyard. "By God,” Glengyle said, "they look grimmer even, from inside than from without. I remember ploys from my younger days, but I never cracked a place like this."

  The half dozen men of the garrison left here since Rob had captured the place six weeks earlier were paraded along with the newcomers. Glengyle commanded their attention. Glengyle turned to the secretary from the Prince’s staff who had ridden with them from Edinburgh, for the formality of reading his commission. "Well, master clerk, let me parade my garrison and you can fulfil your duty."

  The secretary read the commission aloud. “Charles, Prince of Wales and Regent of Scotland, England, France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging, to our Trusty and well beloved Gregor MacGregor Esq. We reposing especial trust and Confidence in your Loyal­ty, Ability, Courage and good Conduct do hereby constitute and appoint you to be Colonel and Commandant of the Fortress of Doune, Cardross, and Balinton, and to take your rank as Colonel in the army from the date hereof, you are careful­ly & diligently to discharge the duty and trust hereby committed to your care and to perform everything which belongs thereto in as full and ample a manner as any commandant of any Fort or Castle in Scotland is vested with, and you are to follow such orders, directions and commands as you shall from time to time receive from us, our Commander in Chief or any of our Generals, or any such Orders as you shall receive from our Secretary's Office. Given at our Palace of Holyrood House the 15th day of October 1745. By his Highnesses command. John Murray"

  Most of the men looked blank, not having comprehended much of the formality of the commission. Glengyle quickly gave them a summary in Gaelic and then dismissed his garrison from parade.

  One of the gate-wards approached Glengyle, "There are despatches delivered for you, this one from two days ago, and this in the last hour,” so saying he handed over two documents.

  Glengyle and Rob made their way up the balustraded stone outer-stair that led into the kitchen tower and, from there, up the spiral stair to the chamber with its view over the river Teith and the great flood plain of the Forth and Flan­ders Moss beyond. Furniture had been installed here in preparation for occupation. Glengyle looked about. It was plain but comfortable. This would be adequate.

  Rob opened the first despatch, handing it to his father.

  "From Viscount Strathallan to the Laird of Glengyll, written at Perth Oct 23 1745."

  "Sir - I received your letter of this date and am glad that His Royal Highness has made choice of you for the Government of Down. It will be abun­dantly necessary to have a constant eye on Stirling Castle that no parties or strollers come abroad unobserved, and to be on your guard against people dis­guised in the Highland dress and White Cockade, if you hear of any such having past you by stolen marches, it will be proper to send immediately intelligence. I have nothing further to recommend, but that you would endeavour to reinforce your garrison as much as possible, as you command a post of great consequence, our close correspondence will be absolutely necessary, and I am sir &c. Strathallan."

  Glengyle grunted and took the second despatch from Rob.

  "From Colonel Henry Kerr to the Laird of Glengyll at Alloaye, Oct 26 1745."

  "Sir - His Royal Highness sent me here to secure the pass for his Grace the Duke of Atholl and his convoy and if his Grace should be obliged to pass this way it's desired that in case you cannot get boats sufficient to transport them, that you will cause build a bridge to facilitate their passage and it is apprehended the Men-of-War and armed boats in the Firth will endea­vour to interrupt the passage here, It is not to be doubted but that there will be an attempt from Stirling Castle to cover their designs, for which you will use your best endeavour to keep them in, by drawing some of your troops that way to make a diversion. If anything happens here, you shall be acquainted with it and its hoped that you will communicate anything worth notice too Sir, &c. Hn. Kerr."

  Glengyle put down the letter on the desk that had been installed for him. "Hmmm,” he muttered to Rob. "With all of these duties, there will be recruits aplenty needed here."