A FAMOUS TITLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1937, Page 4

A FAMOUS TITLE

“THE COCK O’ THE NORTH. The death was reported by cablegram of the eleventh Marquess of Huntly, the premier marquess of Scotland, and "the Cock o the r Noi th. Most people know of this title and of the tune made famous bytheSc tish pipers, but few know the origin of the phrase. The man who was accepted by the Gordon family as having acquired the title in the was the fourth Earl HunUy (the late Marquess was the sixteenth Earl). On the death of King Henry VIII. in 1547, and the appointment of Somerset as Protector for the young King Edward VI., steps were taken by Somerset for the invasion of Scotland in order to compel fulfilment of a treaty whereby the little Queen of Scots was to marry the boy King of England. The Scots were overwhelmed in battle, ana Huntly, who fought on foot, was taken prisoner and sent to England. At’tei a period of not unpleasant detention, in which he was able to use his greyhounds and hawks, the negotiations for his release came to a stop because of his refusal to sign a bond of allegiance to the English Throne. The question of what securities he should give for his release was then placed under discussion, and Huntly. was being sent north, when, with the help of George Kerr, of .Heton, who provided relays of fresh horses for him, he escaped to Scotland, where he ■was warmly welcomed. The Queen Dowager bestowed upon him the Earldom of Moray, procured for him the French Order of St. Michael, and confirmed him in all the offices he had .previously held. His escape caused a sensation in England, and several supposed accomplices were executed. Kerr was given a grant of land by the Queen Dowager for his assistance in the affair.

VISIT TO FRANCE. In 1550 Huntly accompanied the Queen Dowager to France, and was received with distinction. The Queen returned to Scotland by way of England, but the Earl thought that to take that route would be indiscreet, and did not set foot in England, despite the offer of a passport. Later, when the Queen and Regent Arran were on their way to Inverness, Huntly entertained them at the family castle at Strathbogie. The title "Cock 0’ the North” applied ever since to the head of the Gordon family, is held by the family itself to have come into general use after this visit of the Regent Arran and Mary of Guise, the Queen Mother, to Huntly Castle, where they were magnificently entertained. The number of friends and kinsmen who obeyed the summons to do honour to the guests was very large, and nothing was omitted which could add splendour to the reception. It is stated that the Queen Mother, in conversation with her Master of the Household, remarked that their host was known as “the Cock o’ the North.” “Ah, madame,” was the reply, “take care that you do not have to clip the wing of this ‘cock 0’ the north.’ ”