later that year, montrose, raised to a marquess and now opposed to the covenant, marched north to suppress opposition to the king's cause. leys clearly thought the covenanters had gone too far in open rebellion against their king, and summoned montrose to his castle at crathes to sup with him, whereupon he offered montrose arms, horses, and 5000 merks. montrose accepted the arms and horses but refused the money. sir thomas and his son were subsequently the only known covenanters who were protected by the marquess. in the meantime sir thomas armed and organised half of his retainers to protect his lands from robber bands now all too plentiful due to the state of the north. at the same time sir thomas petitioned the scottish parliament for an exemption from excise and other heavy taxation being raised for covenanting armies being sent to england, and for aid against marauding highlanders.