The Patriot Read Online Free PDF Page B

his troopers has occupied many of my properties and townships. It is not to be borne!"
    "If your lordships will sustain Westland Whiggamores, you'll need to abide the consequences!" the Chancellor said. "This is but self-seeking. No valid motion to put to the convention."
    Greatly daring, Andrew Fletcher stood up. "May I speak, my lord Chancellor?" he asked, his voice strong er probably than he intended. "I am no Westland Whig and there are no conventicles where I come from. Yet dragoons have been quartered in my house at Saltoun, without cause. This as threat and warning. I say that if we are to have military government it must be sanctioned by this house - not otherwise. To sanction more military first is out-of-order. I support the motion."
    All turned to stare - and none more pointedly, deliberately and offensively than the Lord Chancellor.
    "Who is this young man ?" he demanded. "Who presumes to tell me what is in order and what is not?"
    "I am Fletcher of Saltoun, my lord. A commissioner for the sheriffdom of Haddingtonshire. With as much right to speak as any here!"
    "On my acceptance and under my ruling, sirrah - only so! Mind it. You may sit down."
    "I have not finished, my lord Chancellor - with respect. I appeal to His Grace — who has already advised me on the matter of standing for this Convention of Parliament!"
    There were breaths indrawn all around. Everywhere men sat forward in their seats. This was almost an unheard of challenge from a new commissioner. Even Bruce of Broomhall laid a warning hand on his nephew's arm.
    Lauderdale leaned forward, not back, in his throne. "I advised this young man to let a few mair years pass before tangling wi' his elders," he observed, almost genially. "Let him have his say, or we'll suffer the mair, I vow!"
    Andrew frowned at this avuncular reaction, which brought a titter from the assembly. For a moment he hesitated. Then he bowed. "I thank Your Grace. My concern is to draw attention, before a vote is taken on this matter, to the dangers of letting loose the military on any countryside and the troubles and uprising this can provoke amongst otherwise law-abiding folk. I am reliably informed that a force, a horde rather, of high landers, my lord of Argyll's men in the main, I understand, have been brought down to occupy the districts of Carrick, Kyle, Cunninghame and Renfrew. Eight thousand of them, no less, billeted on the folk without payment, despoiling, looting, and encourag ed to do so by their leaders - I will not call them officers! As a result there is unrest, violence, near rebellion -which many claim to be the object of the Argyll invasion! Rebellion - so that there should be excuse for this military government we now hear of!"
    There was uproar in the hall, with, amongst the din, shouts of "Aye! Aye! The truth!" from West Country members.
    Rothes beat with his fist for order. When he could make himself heard, he strongly declared that he could not allow such seditious amd shameless talk. It was no speech of support for a motion but a disgraceful attack upon a noble and distinguished lord who was most generously providing of his manpower and substance to aid in the maintenance of the King's peace. That his lordship's Argyll militia were necessary in this situation was clear proof of the urgent need for the provision of regular forces of the Crown, for which this convention must make supply. He called upon the Earl of Argyll to reply, and refute this young man's unfounded allegation.
    MacCailean Mor, Chief of Clan Campbell and 9th Earl of Argyll, was a somewhat nondescript individual, little more prepossessing than had been his executed father, the great Montrose's deadly foe, but lacking his snake-like and dangerous character. Not eloquent, he rose reluctantly, muttered briefly that his people were in the South-West for training in aid of the civil power and were entirely well-behaved. He sat down.
    That was scarcely well-received by the West Country members. As