The Character of the Great Montrose
By W. James Nethery, FSA Scot
May 19, 2012 • Maryville College, Tennessee
Revised October 14, 2012 • Ventura, California
James Graham was the only son of John Graham, the 4th Earl of Montrose, who lost his wife Lady Margaret Ruthven when James was 6 years old. Young James had an early love of horses and riding, and the bills of the Aberruthven blacksmith bear testimony to this. James also enjoyed hunting and became proficient by hunting the wild goats and roebuck on the banks of Loch Lomond. At the age of 12 his father sent him to Glasgow with Master William Forrett to prepare for college.
James’s life changed dramatically upon the death of his father in 1626, he became the Chief of the Grahams but as a minor of 14 he was placed under the watchful eye of the subchiefs of the clan. He was enrolled at St. Salvator’s College, St. Andrews. His love of archery revealed itself when he won the silver medal for archery, St. Andrews highest award in archery, which he held until he left college when he was 17.
He enjoyed golf, hawking, riding and hunting during his years at St. Andrews. Little is known of his academic record except that he particularly enjoyed reading Sir Walter Raleigh’s “History of the World” as well as the classics of Greek and Roman literature.
At an early age his accounts show that Montrose was unfailingly generous, most notably with those who served him, the poor and the needy, as well as to the kirk. He donated the funds for building a new library for Glasgow University in 1631.
His early poetry written on the fly leaves of his textbooks shows that he realized that great things were expected of him. On the leaf of Caesar’s Commentaries he wrote:
“Though Caesar’s Paragon I cannot be,
Yet shall I soar in thoughts as high as he.”
This shows his respect for kings and rulers and an understanding that somehow he would eventually stand on the same world stage as they.
Some of Montrose’s finest poetry seems to have been inspired by his wife Magdalene.
“The golden laws of love shall be,
Upon this pillar hung, --
A simple heart, a single eye,
A true and constant tongue;
Let no man for more love pretend,
That he has hearts in store;
True love begun shall never end,
Love one and love no more.”
These words from “I’ll never love thee more” leave little doubt that they speak of his love for his wife and not his loyalty to his king.
Montrose was only 17 when he married Magdalene Carnegie and with long periods of separation due to travel, war, imprisonment and exile there was never any hint of extramarital relationships that was common among the aristocracy of that time. He never remarried after Magdalene’s death and there are no indications of any romantic attachments.
Charles I‘s cold reception of Montrose when he returned from the continent in 1636 had been a humiliation to Montrose.
He had no idea that his sponsor Hamilton had poisoned the king’s mind to protect his own interests and the result was that in spite of his love for the monarchy he returned home to side with the covenanting party in Scotland. The Scottish clergy were busy arousing their parishioners to the “Threat of Episcopacy.” At the same time, Argyll was using the public upheaval to extend his already considerable power over the civil government.
As the State and Kirk began to merge into a theocracy, Montrose realized the inherent danger of a dictatorship controlled by a Machiavellian Prince and a fanatical clergy. In the face of growing evidence Montrose served the Covenanters until they accused him of secretly corresponding with his kKing and held him prisoner in Edinburgh Castle.
His return to loyalty to his sovereign resulted in excommunication by the kirk but it never diminished his faith in the old Presbyterian Kirk of his youth or even the National Covenant of which he was an early signer. Montrose’s motto, “Nil Medium” (No Middle Ground), defines his loyalty to his Sovereign over that of the Covenanter government of Scotland. Unlike many in Scotland, Montrose never sought to placate one side while currying favor with the other.
In a letter to a friend, Montrose outlines his concept of government. He states that a civil society that is pleasing to God must have government. Government must have a sovereign to enforce laws and direct private endeavors to public ends. The power of the sovereign over the people Is above any power on earth and cannot be rescinded. It is instituted by God for His glory and the temporal and eternal happiness of man.
His following words express his concept of the difference between a sovereign and their subjects.
“Can Little Beasts with Lions roar,
And little Birds with Eagles soar;
Can shallow Streams command the Seas,
And little Ants the humming Bees?
No, no, no, no, it is not meet
The Head should stoup unto the Feet.”
These words were written in 1650 following his betrayal by Neil Macleod of Assynt and while his captors were parading him; wounded, astride a nag, dressed in ragged clothing on the way to Edinburgh. Those who came out to revile him fell silent when they saw how bravely and with what dignity he carried himself even as a prisoner. The fact that he could write poetry when he knew that his fate was sealed demonstrates Montrose’s conviction in his God-given rights and the just authority of his sovereign.
Montrose’s chaplain, the Reverend George Wishart, describes Montrose as “a most resolute and undaunted spirit”. Wishart’s second description involves Alasdair MacColla’s Irish “redshanks” that served under Montrose. He points out that they had no formal ties to Montrose, of country, language or religion but they endured misery, suffering and even death far from their hearth and home, without pay.
Their loyalty was to Alasdair MacColla, the son of Colkitto from the Glens of Antrim. Yet even when MacColla left Montrose following the Battle of Kilsyth, in early September of 1645, to continue his interclan war against the Campbells, many of his Irish remained with Montrose and indeed died for him at Philiphaugh on the 13th day of September. Montrose treated these Irish soldiers in a foreign land with kindness and consideration but with firmness that generated their respect. They recognized his dedication and bravery and saw that he led from the front taking the same risks that his foot soldiers took. The result was they would have followed him into the fires of hell if he commanded.
It is hard not to compare the last days of the Great Marquis to that of Jesus Christ.
Supposed friends betrayed both, for money.
Both were paraded before the throngs in an effort to disgrace them, which failed.
Both were tried on trumped up charges before church courts.
Both were calm and dignified in the face of impending death.
Both were put to death like a common criminal.
Sir John Skelton in 1883 described Montrose’s death this way: “Christendom bows humbly before the Cross. The crown of thorns has become a crown of light. No martyr ever met a meaner death more nobly than Montrose. He saw with wonderful clearness the dignity of the indignities that were heaped upon him. The halter, the scaffold, the dismembered limb, had each its noble side, on which, it represented honour, loyalty, and unspotted faith.”
Today we meet here to remember Montrose, 400 years have gone by, but his noble life gives us a reason to “Ne Oublie”—TO NEVER FORGET.