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The Battle of Corrichie (our battle pagent)

Shortly before Mary's Northern Progress, Sir John Gordon had attacked and severely wounded the Lord Ogilvy, in the streets of Edinburgh. John was captured and imprisoned but the eloquence of his mother saved him, and he was made to ward in the castle of Stirling. John had joined the progress to the north, but with sly repentance to his crimes he found his opportunity to escape. He escaped and immediately fled to his fathers estates, gathering men at arms as he went (1000 strong) When this news reached Huntley it gave him cause to reason. One, Mary was clearly not going to stand against the Reformers, and the Catholic faith was taking a beating; Two, the Earldom of Moray, a very rich and very strong estate was going to go one of the leaders of the Reformers; perhaps now was the time for revolution. Mary having suspected Huntley’s ambition refused his invitation to his estates in Strathbogie, but instead pressed on to Inverness. When arriving at Inverness, the Queen and her entourage found the gates barred to them. The captain of the guard claiming that only Lord Gordon the Earl of Huntley could command him to open the gate. Enraged at this open rebellion, Mary took the castle by force; hanging the captain after his surrender. Word had reached Mary that Huntley had watched the entire attack from the banks of the river Spey. Mary immediately rode to intercept him, but upon crossing the river found no enemy. She pressed on to Aberdeen, bringing the fight to Huntley himself. Arriving at Aberdeen, Mary granted the title of Earl of Moray to her stepbrother. Hearing this Huntley felt he had little to loose and gathering troops from Findlater, Achendown, and Strathbogie marched to Aberdeen with the hopes of seizing the Queen. Unfortunately for Huntley he over rated his chances of success. As Huntley marched his forces dwindled, and he met the newly made Earl of Moray, Earl of Morton, and Earl of Athole leading a force two thousand against his 500. The Earl of Huntley died in this battle, and his two sons taken prisoner.