Chapter 96: The Countdown Begins
February, 1563
“Your Royal Highness, we’ve seen the formations of the Earl of Lennox’s army, and I would recommend that we take the land to the right of the bridge as our main formation ground.” The Earl of Atholl said.
“I agree, we cannot simply sit here and wait for Lennox to come. We need to draw him to us and then attack.” Arran said.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. “Drawing him to us would be waiting for him to come to us.”
Arran shook his head. “Not at all, Your Royal Highness. If we waited for him to come we’d be sat doing nothing not even bothering to have defences. Here, we shall be placing defences and also ensuring he cannot do anything but attack.”
Arthur was not sure he understood what Arran was saying for it went against the military knowledge he’d been taught as a child. “Go on.” He commanded.
“Your Royal Highness, if we sit and do nothing, Lennox will come at his own pace and we shall be on the back foot. However, if we set up ground on the right of the bridge, we shall then be able to see the land for miles around. We can then send out parties to harass him, forcing him to act rashly.” Arran said.
“The Earl is right, Your Royal Highness, Lennox is not someone who thinks rationally before he acts. Furthermore, his commanders are not people used to conventional warfare.” Atholl said.
“What about Crawford, has there been any word on that man?” Arthur asked.
“Unfortunately not, Your Royal Highness.” Atholl said. “More than likely he will remain in his estates and not move until the battle is over.”
“Very well, I want a record of that put down so that the King knows what to do with him.” Arthur said.
“Yes Your Royal Highness.” Atholl said.
There was a brief pause, and then Arthur decided that he needed to settle battle formations and then he could perhaps rest and calm the restless beating in his chest. “How many men does Lennox have?”
“Four thousand men, Your Royal Highness.” Atholl said. “Drawn from Clans Sinclair, MacDonald and from various other minor clans. They’ve got two cannons with them as well, but are mainly infantry.”
“And we have twelve thousand men.” Arthur said. “Including twenty cannons.” Realistically they should be able to destroy Lennox’ host without sustaining too many casualties, but for some reason he kept thinking something would go wrong.
“Yes Your Royal Highness.” Atholl said.
Arthur still felt nervous, but he knew that showing that now would do him no good, so instead he said. “Atholl you shall command the left wing, Arran the right. I shall command the vanguard. We shall go in and hit them hard. Take Lennox as a prisoner, anyone else is to be killed.”
“Yes Your Royal Highness.” The two men said.
“Gentlemen, we meet at four this evening and then we shall attack.” Arthur said.
“Yes Your Royal Highness.” Both men responded. Arthur rose and walked out of the tent and back to his own. Once back there, he sat down, poured himself a glass of wine and tried to stop his hands from shaking.