"Ay," muttered Bothwell, "you can remember that in a moment like this." "I did not come to hear you preach," answered to need it very much.-Bothwell, thou art a cool and the officer, "but to know, in one word, if you will a daring fellow". disperse yourselves, on condition of a free pardon to all but the murderers of the late Archbishop of St. Andrews; or whether you will abide the attack of his majesty's forces, which will instantly advance upon you. "In one word, then," answered the spokesman, we are here with our swords on our thighs, as men that watch in the night. We will take one part and portion together, as brethren in righteousness, Whosoever assails us in our good cause, his blood! be on his own head. So return to them that sent thee, and God give them and thee a sight of the evil of your ways!" "Is not your name," said the Cornet, who began to recollect having seen the person whom he was now speaking with, "John Balfour of Burley?", And if it be," said the spokesman, "hast thou aught to say against it?" Only," said the Cornet, "that, as you are excluded from pardon in the name of the King and of my commanding officer, it is to these country people, and not to you, that I offer it; and it is not with you, or such as you, that I am sent to treat." "Thou art a young soldier, friend," said Burley, "and scant well learned in thy trade, or thou wouldst know that the bearer of a flag of truce cannot treat with the army but through their officers; and that if he presume to do otherwise, he forfeits his safe conduct." While speaking these words, Burley unslung his carabine, and held it in readiness. "I am not to be intimidated from the discharge of my duty by the menaces of a murderer," said Cornet Grahame.-"Hear me, good people; I proclaim, in the name of the King and of my commanding officer, full and free pardon to all, excepting' I give thee fair warning," said Burley, presenting his piece. A free pardon to all," continued the young officer, still addressing the body of the insurgents "to all but" "Then the Lord grant grace to thy soul-amen!" said Burley. "Lead ten file up the hollow to the right," continued his commanding officer, "and try every means to get through the bog; then form and charge the rebels in flank and rear, while they are engaged with us in front." Bothwell made a signal of intelligence and obedience, and moved off with his party at a rapid pace. Meantime, the disaster which Claverhouse had apprehended, did not fail to take place. The troopers, who, with Lord Evandale, had rushed down upon the enemy, soon found their disorderly career interrupted by the impracticable character of the ground. Some stuck fast in the morass as they attempted to struggle through, some recoiled from the attempt and remained on the brink, others dispersed to seek a more favourable place to pass the swamp. In the midst of this confusion, the first line of the enemy, of which the foremost rank knelt, the second stooped, and the third stood upright, poured in a close and destructive fire that emptied at least a score of saddles, and increased tenfold the disorder into which the horsemen had fallen. Lord, Evandale, in the meantime, at the head of a very few well-mounted men, had been able to clear the ditch, but was no sooner across than he was charged by the left body of the enemy's cavalry, who, encouraged by the small number of opponents that had made their way through the broken ground, set upon them with the utmost fury, crying, "Wo, wo to the uncircumcised Philistines! down with Dagon and all his adherents!" The young nobleman fought like a lion; but most of his followers were killed, and he himself could not have escaped the same fate but for a heavy fire of carabines, which Claverhouse, who had now advanced with the second line near to the ditch, poured so effectually upon the enemy, that both horse and foot for a moment began to shrink, and Lord Evandale, disengaged from his unequal combat, and finding himself nearly alone, took the opportunity to effect his retreat through the morass. But notwithstanding the loss they had sustained by Claverhouse's first fire, the insurgents became soon aware that the advantage of numbers and position were so decidedly theirs, that, if they could but persist in making a brief but resolute defence, the Life-Guards must necessarily be defeated. Their leaders flew through their ranks, exhorting them to stand firm, and pointing out how efficacious their fire must be where both men and horse were exposed to it; for the troopers, according to custom, fired without having dismounted. Claverhouse, more than once, when he perceived his best men dropping by a fire which they could not effecte "My duty," said Balfour, firmly. "Is it not writ-ally return, made desperate efforts to pass the bog at ten, Thou shalt be zealous even to slaying? Let those, who dare, now venture to speak of truce or pardon!"* With these words he fired, and Cornet Richard Grahame dropped from his horse. The shot was mortal. The unfortunate young gentleman had only strength to turn himself on the ground and mutter forth, "My poor mother!" when life forsook him in the effort. His startled horse fled back to the regiment at the gallop, as did his scarce less affrighted attendant. What have you done?" said one of Balfour's brother officers. Claverhouse saw his nephew fall. He turned his eye on Evandale, while a transitory glance of indescribable emotion disturbed, for a second's space, the serenity of his features, and briefly said, "You see the event." "I will avenge him, or die!" exclaimed Evandale; and, putting his horse into motion, rode furiously down the hill, followed by his own troop, and that of the deceased Cornet, which broke down without orders; and, each striving to be the foremost to revenge their young officer, their ranks soon fell into confusion. These forces formed the first line of the royalists. It was in vain that Claverhouse exclaimed, "Halt! halt! this rashness will undo us." It was all that he could accomplish, by galloping along the second line, entreating, commanding, and even menacing the men with his sword, that he could restrain them from following an example so contagious "Allan," he said, as soon as he had rendered the men in some degree more steady, "lead them slowly down the hill to support Lord Evandale, who is about ⚫See Note, p. 49. various points, and renew the battle on firm ground and fiercer terms. But the close fire of the insurgents, joined to the natural difficulties of the pass, foiled his attempts in every point, We must retreat," he said to Evandale, "unless Bothwell can effect a diversion in our favour. In the meantime, draw the men out of fire, and leave skinmishers behind these patches of alder-bushes to kop the enemy in check." These directions being accomplished, the appear ance of Bothwell with his party was earnestly expected. But Bothwell had his own disadvantages to struggle with: His detour to the right had not escaped the penetrating observation of Burley, who made a corresponding movement with the left wing of the mounted insurgents, so that when Bothwel after riding a considerable way up the valley, found a place at which the bog could be passed, though with some difficulty, he perceived he was still in front of a superior enemy. His daring character was in degree checked by this unexpected opposition. "Follow me, my lads!" he called to his men; "never let it be said that we turned our backs before these canting roundheads!" With that, as if inspired by the spirit of his ances tors, he shouted, "Bothwell! Bothwell!" and throw ing himself into the morass, he struggled through it at the head of his party, and attacked that of Burley | the courage of which it had deprived its comrades, with such fury, that he drove them back above a pis- the issue of this partial contest did not remain long tol-shot, killing three men with his own hand. Bur- undecided. Several soldiers were slain, the rest ley, perceiving the consequences of a defeat on this driven back over the morass and dispersed, and the point, and that his men, though more numerous, victorious Burley, with his party, crossed it in their were unequal to the regulars in using their arms and turn, to direct against Claverhouse the very mancumanaging their horses, threw himself across Both-vre which he had instructed Bothwell to execute. well's way, and attacked him hand to hand. Each He now put his troop in order, with the view of of the combatants was considered as the champion attacking the right wing of the royalists; and, sendof his respective party, and a result ensued more ing news of his success to the main body, exhorted usual in romance than in real story. Their followers, them, in the name of Heaven, to cross the marsh, on either side, instantly paused, and looked on as if and work out the glorious work of the Lord by a the fate of the day were to be decided by the event of general attack upon the enemy. the combat between these two redoubted swordsmen. The combatants themselves seemed of the same opinion; for, after two or three eager cuts and pushes had been exchanged, they paused, as if by joint consent, to recover the breath which preceding exertions had exhausted, and to prepare for a duel in which each seemed conscious he had met his match. You are the murdering villain, Burley," said Bothwell, griping his sword firmly, and setting his teeth close you escaped me once, but"-(he swore an oath too tremendous to be written down)-"thy head is worth its weight of silver, and it shall go home at my saddle-bow, or my saddle shall go home empty for me. "Yes," replied Burley, with stern and gloomy deliberation, "I am that John Balfour, who promised to lay thy head where thou shouldst never lift it again; and God do so unto me, and more also, if I do not redeem my word!" "Then a bed of heather, or a thousand merks!" said Bothwell, striking at Burley with his full force. "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" answered Balfour, as he parried and returned the blow. There have seldom met two combatants more equally matched in strength of body, skill in the management of their weapons and horses, determined courage, and unrelenting hostility. After exchanging many desperate blows, each receiving and inflicting several wounds, though of no great consequence, they grappled together as if with the desperate impatience of mortal hate, and Bothwell seizing his enemy by the shoulder-belt, while the grasp of Balfour was upon his own collar, they came headlong to the ground. The companions of Burley hastened to his assistance, but were repelled by the dragoons, and the battle became again general. But nothing could withdraw the attention of the combatants from each other, or induce them to unclose the deadly clasp in which they rolled together on the ground, tearing, struggling, and foaming, with the inveteracy of thorough-bred bull-dogs. Meanwhile, Claverhouse, who had in some degree remedied the confusion occasioned by the first irregular and unsuccessful attack, and reduced the comEat in front to a distant skirmish with fire-arms, chiefly maintained by some dismounted troopers whom he had posted behind the cover of the shrubby copses of alders, which in some places covered the edge of the morass, and whose close, cool, and wellaimed fire greatly annoyed the enemy, and concealed their own deficiency of numbers, Claverhouse, while he maintained the contest in this manner, still expecting that a diversion by Bothwell and his party might facilitate a general attack, was accosted by one of the dragoons, whose bloody face and jaded horse bore witness he was come from hard service. "What is the matter, Halliday ?" said Claverhouse, for he knew every man in his regiment by name "Where is Bothwell?" "Bothwell is down," replied Halliday, "and many a pretty fellow with him." "Then the king," said Claverhouse, with his usual composure, "has lost a stout soldier.-The enemy have passed the marsh, I suppose?" "With a strong body of horse, commanded by the devil incarnate that killed Bothwell," answered the terrified soldier. "Hush! hush" said Claverhouse, putting his finger on his lips, "not a word to any one but me.Lord Evandale, we must retreat. The fates will have it so. Draw together the men that are dispersed in the skirmishing work. Let Allan form the regiment, and do you two retreat up the hill in two bodies, each halting alternately as the other falls back. I'll keep the rogues in check with the rearguard, making a stand and facing from time to time. They will be over the ditch presently, for I see their whole line in motion and preparing to cross; there fore lose no time." "Where is Bothwell with his party?" said Lord Evandale, astonished at the coolness of his com mander. Several horses passed over them in the melée with- "Fairly disposed of," said Claverhouse, in his ear out their quitting hold of each other, until the sword--"the king has lost a servant, and the devil has got arm of Bothwell was broken by the kick of a charger. one. But away to business, Evandale-ply your He then relinquished his grasp with a deep and sup- spurs and get the men together. Allan and you pressed groan, and both combatants started to their must keep them steady. This retreating is new feet. Pothwell's right hand dropped helpless by his work for us all; but our turn will come round anoside, but his left griped to the place where his dagger ther day." hung; it had escaped from the sheath in the struggle, -and, with a look of mingled rage and despair, he stood totally defenceless, as Balfour, with a laugh of savage joy, flourished his sword aloft, and then passed it through his adversary's body. Bothwell received the thrust without falling-it had only grazed on his ribs. He attempted no farther defence, but, looking at Purley with a grin of deadly hatred, he exclaimed "Ease peasant churl, thou hart spilt the blood of a line of kings!" "Die, wretch-die!" said Balfour redoubling the thrust with better aim; and, setting his foot on Bothwell's body as he fell, he a third time transfixed him with his sword.-" Die, bloodthirsty dog! die as thou hast lived!-die, like the beasts that perish-hoping nothing-believing nothing "And FEARING nothing!" said Bothwell, collecting the last effort of respiration to utter these desperate words, and expiring as soon as they were spoken. To catch a stray horse by the bridle, throw himself upon it, and rush to the assistance of his followers, was, with. Burley, the affair of a moment. And as the fall Bothwell had given to the insurgents all Evandale and Allan betook themselves to their task; but ere they had arranged the regiment for the purpose of retreating in two alternate bodies, a considerable number of the enemy had crossed the marsh, Claverhouse, who had retained immediately around his persen a few of his most active and tried men, charged those who had crossed in person, while they were yet disordered by the broken ground. Some they killed, others they repulsed into the morass, and checked the whole so as to enable the main body, now greatly diminished, as well as disheartened by the loss they had sustained, to commence their retreat up the hill. But the enemy's van being soon reinforced and supported, compelled Claverhouse to follow his troops. Never did man, however, better maintain the character of a soldier than he did that day. Conspicuous by his black horse and white feather, he was first in the repeated charges which he made at every favour able opportunity, to arrest the progress of the pursuers, and to cover the retreat of his regiment. The object of aim to every one, he seemed as if he were impassive to their shot. The superstitious fanatics, who looked upon him as a man gifted by the Evil Spirit with supernatural means of defence, averred that they saw the bullets recoil from his jack-boots and buff-coat like hailstones from a rock of granite, as he galloped to and fro amid the storm of the battle. Many a whig that day loaded his musket with a dollar cut into slugs, in order that a silver bullet (such was their belief) might bring down the persecutor of the holy kirk, on whom lead had no power. So saying, and commanding about twenty sto men to follow him, he gave, with this small body, a charge so desperate and unexpected, that he drove the foremost of the pursuers back to some distance. In the confusion of the assault he singled out Burley, and, desirous to strike terror into his followers, le dealt him so severe a blow on the head, as cut through his steel head-piece, and threw him from his horse, stunned for the moment, though unwounded. wonderful thing it was afterwards thought, that one so powerful as Balfour should have sunk under the blow of a man, to appearance so slightly made as Claverhouse; and the vulgar, of course, set down to supernatural aid the effect of that energy, which a determined spirit can give to a feebler arm. Claverhouse had, in this last charge, however, involved himself too deeply among the insurgents, and was fairly surrounded. "Try him with the cold steel," was the cry at every renewed charge--"powder is wasted on him. Ye might as weel shoot at the Auld Enemy himsell."* But though this was loudly shouted, yet the awe on the insurgents' minds was such, that they gave way before Claverhouse as before a supernatural being, and few men ventured to cross swords with him. Still, however, he was fighting in retreat, and with all the disadvantages attending that movement. The soldiers behind him, as they beheld the increas- Lord Evandale saw the danger of his commander, ing number of enemies who poured over the morass, his body of dragoons being then halted, while that became unsteady; and, at every successive move- commanded by Allan was in the act of retreating. ment, Major Allan and Lord Evandale found it more Regardless of Claverhouse's disinterested command and more difficult to bring them to halt and form to the contrary, he ordered the party which he beaded line regularly, while, on the other hand, their mo-. to charge down hill and extricate their Colone tions in the act of retreating became, by degrees, Some advanced with him-most halted and stood much more rapid than was consistent with good uncertain-many ran away. With those who fol order. As the retiring soldiers approached nearer to lowed Evandale, he disengaged Claverhouse. Hs the top of the ridge, from which in so luckless an assistance just came in time, for a rustic had woundhour they had descended, the panic began to increase. ed his horse in a most ghastly manner by the blow Every one became impatient to place the brow of the of a scythe, and was about to repeat the stroke when hill between him and the continued fire of the pur-Lord Evandale cut him down. As they got out of suers; nor could any individual think it reasonable the press, they looked round them. Allan's division that he should be the last in the retreat, and thus had ridden clear over the hill, that officer's authority sacrifice his own safety for that of others. In this having proved altogether unequal to halt them. Evanmood, several troopers set spurs to their horses and dale's troop was scattered and in total confusion. fled outright, and the others became so unsteady in "What is to be done, Colonel?" said Lord Evantheir movements and formations, that their officers dale. every moment feared they would follow the same example. Amid this scene of blood and confusion, the trampling of the horses, the groans of the wounded, the continued fire of the enemy, which fell in a succession of unintermitted musketry, while loud shouts accompanied each bullet which the fall of a trooper showed to have been successfully aimed-amid all the terrors and disorders of such a scene, and when it was dubious how soon they might be totally deserted by their dispirited soldiery, Evandale could not forbear remarking the composure of his commanding officer. Not at Lady Margaret's breakfast-table that morning did his eye appear more lively, or his demeanour more composed. He had closed up to Evandale for the purpose of giving some orders, and picking out a few men to reinforce his rear-guard. "If this bout lasts five minutes longer," he said, in a whisper, "our rogues will leave you, my lord, old Allan, and myself, the honour of fighting this battle with our own hands. I must do something to disperse the musketeers who annoy them so hard, or we shall be all shamed. Don't attempt to succour me if you see me go down, but keep at the head of your men; get off as you can, in God's name, and tell the king and the council I died in my duty!" The belief of the Covenanters that their principal enemies, and Claverhouse in particular, had obtained from the Devil a charm which rendered them proof against leaden bullets, led them to pervert even the circumstances of his death. Howie of Lochgoin, after giving some account of the battle of Killicrankie, adds: "The battle was very bloody, and by Mackay's third fire, Claverhouse fell, of whom historians give little account; but it has been said for certain, that his own waiting-servant, taking a resolution to rid the world of this truculent bloody monster, and knowing he had proof of lead, shot him with a silver button he had before taken off his own coat for that purpose. However, he fell, and with him Popery, and King James's interest in Scotland."-God's Judgment on Persecutors, p. xxxix. Original note-"Perhaps some may think this anent proof of a shot a paradox, and be ready to object here, as formerly, concerning Bishop Sharpe and Dalziel How can the Devil have or give a power to save life?' &c. Without entering upon the thing in its reality, I shall only observe, 1st, That it is nei ther in his power, or of his nature, to be a saviour of men's lives; he is cailed Apollyon the destroyer., 2d, That even in this case he is said only to give enchantment against one kind of metal, and this does not save life; for the lead would not take Sharpe or Claverhouse's lives, yet steel and silver would do it; and for Dalziel, though he died not on the field, he did not oscape the arrows of the Almighty."-Ibidem. "We are the last men in the field, I think," said Claverhouse; "and when men fight as long as they can, there is no shame in flying. Hector himself would say, 'Devil take the hindmost,' when there are but twenty against a thousand.-Save yourselves, my dads, and rally as soon as you can.—Come, my lord, we must e'en ride for it." So saying, he put spurs to his wounded horse; and the generous animal, as if conscious that the life of his rider depended on his exertions, pressed forward with speed, unabated either by pain or loss of blood.* * It appears, from the letter of Claverhouse afterwards quoted, that the horse on which he rode at Drumclog was not black. but sorrel. The author has been misled as to the colour by the many extraordinary traditions current in Scotland concerning Claverhouse's famous black charger, which was generally b lieved to have been a gift to its rider from the Author of Evil, who is said to have performed the Caesarean operation upon its dam. This horse was so fleet, and its rider so expert, that they the Bran-Law, near the head of Moffat Water, where the de are said to have outstripped and coted, or turned, a hare upon scent is so precipitous, that no merely earthly horse could keep its feet, or merely mortal rider could keep the saddle. of the suffering Presbyterians, in which the author, by describ There is a curious passage in the testimony of John Dick, one ing each of the persecutors, by their predominant qualities of passions, shows how little their best loved attributes would avail them in the great day of judgment. When he introduces Claverhouse, it is to reproach him with his passion for horses in general, and for that steed in particular, which was killed at Drumclog, in the manner described in the text: "As for that bloodthirsty wretch, Claverhouse, how thinks he to shelter himself that day? Is it possible the pitiful thing can be so mad as to think to secure himself by the fleetness of his horse, (a creature he has so much respect for, that be regarded more the loss of his horse at Drumclog, than all the men that fell there, and sure there fell prettier men on either side than himself? No, sure-could he fall upon a chymist that could extract the spirit out of all the horses in the world, and infuse them into bis one, though he were on that horse never so well mounted, he need not dream of escaping."-The Testimony to the Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government of the Church of Scotland, &-c. as it was left in write by that truly plous and eminently faithful, and now glorified Martyr, Mr. Joks Dick. To which is added, his last Speech and Behaviour on the Scaffold, on 5th March, 1684, which day he sealed this testimony. 57 pp. 4to. No year or place of publication. The reader may perhaps receive some farther information on the subject of Cornet Grahame's death and the flight of Claver house, from the following Latin lines, a part of a poem entitled, Bellum Bothuellianum, by Andrew Guild, which exists in mang script in the Advocates' Library: "Mons est occiduus, surgit qui celsus in oris, A few officers and soldiers followed him, but in a very irregular and tumultuary manner. The flight of Claverhouse was the signal for all the stragglers, who yet offered desultory resistance, to fly as fast as they could, and yield up the field of battle to the victorious insurgents. CHAPTER XVII. But see through the fast flashing lightnings of war, CAMPBELL DURING the severe skirmish of which we have given the details, Morton, together with Cuddie and his mother, and the Reverend Gabriel Kettledrummle, remained on the brow of the hill, near to the small cairn, or barrow, beside which Claverhouse had held his preliminary council of war, so that they had a commanding view of the action which took place in the bottom. They were guarded by Corporal Inglis and four soldiers, who, as may readily be supposed, were much more intent on watching the fluctuating fortunes of the battle, than in attending to what passed among their prisoners. "If yon lads stand to their tackle," said Cuddie, we'll hae some chance o' getting our necks out o' the brecham again; but I misdoubt them-they hae little skeel o' arms.' wherewith I wrestle.--But of a verity the shooting of the foemen doth begin to increase! peradventure. some pellet may attain unto us even here. Lo! I wil. ensconce me behind the cairn, as behind a strong wall of defence." "He's but a coward body after a'," said Cuddie, who was himself by no means deficient in that sort of courage which consists in insensibility to danger; "he's but a daidling coward body. He'll never fill Rumbleberry's bonnet.-Odd! Rumbleberry fought and flyted like a fleeing dragon. It was a great pity, puir man, he couldna cheat the woodie. But they say he gaed singing and rejoicing till't, just as I wad gang to a bicker o brose, supposing me hungry, as I stand a gude chance to be.-Eh, sirs! yon's an awfu' sight, and yet ane canna keep their een aff frae it!" Accordingly, strong curiosity on the part of Morton and Cuddie, together with the heated enthusiasm of old Mause, detained them on the spot from which they could best hear and see the issue of the action, leaving to Kettledrummle to occupy alone his place of security. The vicissitudes of combat, which we have already described, were witnessed by our spectators from the top of the eminence, but without their being able positively to determine to what they tended. That the presbyterians defended themselves stoutly was evident from the heavy smoke, which, illumined by frequent flashes of fire, now eddied along the valMuch is not necessary, Cuddie," answered Mor- ley, and hid the contending parties in its sulphureous ton; they have a strong position, and weapons in shade. On the other hand, the continued firing from their hands, and are more than three times the number the nearer side of the morass indicated that the enemy of their assailants. If they cannot fight for their free-persevered in their attack, that the affair was fiercely dom now, they and theirs deserve to lose it for ever. "O, sirs," exclaimed Mause, "here's a goodly spectacle indeed! My spirit is like that of the blessed Elihu, it burns within me-my bowels are as wine which lacketh vent-they are ready to burst like new At length horses, whose caparisons showed that bottles. O, that He may look after His ain people in they belonged to the Life-Guards, began to fly masthis day of judgment and deliverance! And now, terless out of the confusion. Dismounted soldiers what ailest thou, precious Mr. Gabriel Kettledrummle? next appeared, forsaking the conflict, and straggling I say, what ailest thou, that wert a Nazarite purer over the side of the hill, in order to escape from the than snow, whiter than milk, more ruddy than scene of action. As the numbers of these fugitives sulphur," (meaning, perhaps, sapphires.)-"I say, increased, the fate of the day seemed no longer doubtwhat ails thee now, that thou art blacker than a coal, ful. A large body was then seen emerging from the that thy beauty is departed, and thy loveliness wither-smoke, forming irregularly on the hill-side, and with ed like a dry potsherd? Surely it is time to be up and difficulty kept stationary by their officers, until Evanbe doing, to cry loudly and to spare not, and to wrestle dale's corps also appeared in full retreat. The result for the puir lads that are yonder testifying with their of the conflict was then apparent, and the joy of the ain blude and that of their enemies." prisoners was corresponding to their approaching disputed, and that every thing was to be apprehended from a continued contest in which undisciplined rustics had to repel the assaults of regular troops, so completely officered and armed. . "They hae dune the job for anes," said Cuddie, an they ne'er do't again." This expostulation implied a reproach on Mr. Ket-deliverance. tledrummle, who, though an absolute Boanerges, or son of thunder, in the pulpit, when the enemy were afar, and indeed sufficiently contumacious, as we have seen, when in their power, had been struck dumb by the firing, shouts, and shrieks, which now arose from the valley, and as many an honest man might have been, in a situation where he could neither fight nor fly-was too much dismayed to take so favourable an opportunity to preach the terrors of presbytery, as the Courageous Mause had expected at his hand, or even to pray for the successful event of the battle. His presence of mind was not, however, entirely lost, any more than his jealous respect for his reputation as a pure and powerful preacher of the word. 46 Hold your peace, woman!" he said, "and do not perturb my inward meditations and the wrestlings Turba ferox, matres, pueri, innuptæque puellæ, At numerosa cohors, campum dispersa per omnem, MS. Bellum Bothuellianum. "They flee!-they flee!" exclaimed Mause, in ecstasy. "O, the truculent tyrants! they are riding now as they never rode before. O, the false Egyp tians-the proud Assyrians-the Philistines-the Moabites-the Edomites-the Ishmaelites--Tne Lord has brought sharp swords upon them, to make them food for the fowls of heaven and the beasts of the field. See how the clouds roll, and the fire flashes ahint them, and goes forth before the chosen of the Covenant, e'en like the pillar o' cloud and the pillar o' flame that led the people of Israel out o' the land of Egypt! This is indeed a day of deliverance to the righteous, a day of pouring out of wrath to the persecutors and the ungodly!" "Lord save us, mither," said Cuddie, "haud the clavering tongue o' ye, and lie down alint the cairn, like Kettledrummle, honest man! The whigamore bullets ken unco little discretion, and will just as sune knock out the harns o' a psalm-singing auld wife as a swearing dragoon." "Fear naething for me, Cuddie," said the old dame. transported to ecstasy by the success of her party; fear naething for me! I will stand, like Deborah, on the tap o' the cairn, and tak up my sang o' reproach against these men of Harosheth of the Gentiles, whose horse-hoofs are broken by their prancing." The enthusiastic old woman would, in fact, have accomplished her purpose, of mounting on the cairn, and becoming, as she said, a sign and a banner to the people, had not Cuddie, with more filial tenderness than respect, detained her by such force as his shackled arms would permit him to exert. "Eh, sirs!" he said, having accomplished this task, | he shall die the death! We must smite them hip and "look out yonder, Milnwood; saw ye ever mortal fight like the deevil Claver'se?-Yonder he's been thrice doun amang them, and thrice cam free affBut I think we'll soon be free oursells, Milnwood. Inglis and his troopers look ower their shouthers very aften, as if they liked the road ahint them better than the road afore." Cuddie was not mistaken; for, when the main tide of fugitives passed at a little distance from the spot where they were stationed, the corporal and his party fired their carabines at random upon the advancing insurgents, and, abandoning all charge of their prisoners, joined the retreat of their comrades. Morton and the old woman, whose hands were at liberty, lost no time in undoing the bonds of Cuddie and of the clergyman, both of whom had been secured by a cord tied round their arms above the elbows. By the time this was accomplished, the rear-guard of the dragoons, which still preserved some order, passed beneath the hillock or rising ground which was surmounted by the cairn already repeatedly mentioned. They exhibited all the hurry and confusion incident to a forced retreat, but still continued in a body. Claverhouse led the van, his naked sword deeply dyed with blood, as were his face and clothes. His horse was all covered with gore, and now reeled with weakness. Lord Evandale, in not much better plight, brought up the rear, still exhorting the soldiers to keep together and fear nothing. Several of the men were wounded, and one or two dropped from their horses as they surmounted the hill. thigh, even from the rising to the going down of the sun. It is our commission to slay them like Amalek, and utterly destroy all they have, and spare neither man nor woman, infant nor suckling; therefore, hinder me not," he continued, endeavouring again to cut down Lord Evandale, "for this work must not be wrought negligently." "You must not, and you shall not, slay him, more especially while incapable of defence," said Morton planting himself before Lord Evandale so as to intercept any blow that should be aimed at him; "I owed my life to him this morning my life, which was endangered solely by my having sheltered you; and to shed his blood when he can offer no effectual resistance, were not only a cruelty abhorrent to God and man, but detestable ingratitude both to him and to me. utterly consumed from the face of the land, even from Havilah unto Shur." Burley pansed."Thou art yet," he said, "in the court of the Gentiles, and I compassionate thy human blindness and frailty. Strong meat is not fit for babes, nor the mighty and grinding dispensation under which I draw my sword, for those whose hearts are yet dwelling in huts of clay, whose footsteps are tangled in the mesh of mortal sympathies, and who clothe themselves in the righteousness that is as filthy rags. But to gain a soul to the truth is better than to send one to Tophet; therefore, I give quarter to this youth, providing the grant is confirmed by the general council of God's army, whom he hath this day blessed with so signal a deliverance.-Thou art unarmedAbide my return here. I must yet pursue these sinMause's zeal broke forth once more at this specta-ners, the Amalekites, and destroy them till they be cle, while she stood on the heath with her head uncovered, and her gray hairs streaming in the wind, no bad representation of a superannuated bacchante, or Thessalian witch in the agonies of incantation. She soon discovered Claverhouse at the head of the fugi- Cuddie," said Morton, "for God's sake catch a tive party, and exclaimed with bitter irony, "Tarry, horse as quickly as you can. I will not trust Lord tarry, ye wha were aye sae blithe to be at the meet- Evandale's life with these obdurate men.-You are ings of the saints, and wad ride every muir in Scot-wounded, my lord.-Are you able to continue your land to find a conventicle! Wilt thou not tarry, now retreat?" he continued, addressing himself to his thou hast found ane? Wilt thou not stay for one prisoner, who, half-stunned by the fall, was but beword mair? Wilt thou na bide the afternoon preach-ginning to recover himself. ing ?-Wae betide ye!" she said, suddenly changing her tone, "and cut the houghs of the creature whase. fleetness ye trust in !-Sheugh-sheugh!-awa wi' ye, that hae spilled sae muckle blude, and now wad save your ain-awa wi' ye for a railing Rabshakeh, a cursing Shimei, a bloodthirsty Doeg!-The sword's drawn now that winna be lang o' o'ertaking ye, ride as fast as ye will." Claverhouse, it may be easily supposed, was too busy to attend to her reproaches, but hastened over the hill, anxious to get the remnant of his men out of gun-shot, in hopes of again collecting the fugitives round his standard. But as the rear of his followers rode over the ridge, a shot struck Lord Evandale's horse, which instantly sunk down dead beneath him. Two of the whig horsemen, who were the foremost in the pursuit, hastened up with the purpose of killing him, for hitherto there had been no quarter, given. Morton, on the other hand, rushed forward to save his life, if possible, in order at once to indulge his natural generosity, and to requite the obligation which Lord Evandale had conferred on him that morning, and under which circumstances had made him wince so acutely. Just as he had assisted Evandale, who was much wounded, to extricate himself from his dying horse, and to gain his feet, the two horsemen came up, and one of them exclaiming, "Have at the red-coated tyrant!" made a blow at the young nobleman, which Morton parried with difficulty, exclaiming to the rider, who was no other than Burley himself, "Give quarter to this gentleman, for my sake for the sake," he added, observing that Burley did not immediately recognise him, "of Henry Morton, who so lately sheltered you." "Henry Morton?" replied Burley, wiping his bloody brow with his bloodier hand; "did I not say that the son of Silas Morton would come forth out of the land of bondage, nor be long an indweller in the tents of Ham? Thou art a brand snatched out the burning-But for this booted apostle of prelacy, So saying, he set spurs to his horse, and continued to pursue the chase. "I think so," replied Lord Evandale. "But is it possible?-Do I owe my life to Mr. Morton ?" My interference would have been the same from common humanity," replied Morton;, "to your lordship it was a sacred debt of gratitude." Cuddie at this instant returned with a horse. "God-sake, munt-munt, and ride like a fleeing hawk, my lord," said the good-natured fellow, "for ne'er be in me, if they arena killing every ane o' the wounded and prisoners!" Lord Evandale mounted the horse, while Cuddie officiously held the stirrup. "Stand off, good fellow, thy courtesy may cost thy life.-Mr. Morton," he continued, addressing Henry this makes us more than even-rely on it, I will never forget your generosity-Farewell." He turned his horse, and rode swiftly away in the direction which seemed least exposed to pursuit. Lord Evandale had just rode off, when several of the insurgents, who were in the front of the purs came up, denouncing vengeance on Henry Moron and Cuddie for having aided the escape of a Phar tine, as they called the young nobleman. "What wad ye hae had us to do?" cried Cuddie. "Had we aught to stop a man wi' that had twa pistols and a sword? Sudna ye hae come faster up yoursells, instead of flyting at huz?” This excuse would hardly have passed current; but Kettledrummle, who now awoke from his trance of terror, and was known to, and reverenced by, most of the wanderers, together with Mause, who possessed their appropriate language as well as the preacher himself, proved active and effectual intercessors. "Touch them not, harm them not," exclaimed | Kettledrummle, in his very best double-bass tones: "this is the son of the famous Silas Morton, by when the Lord wrought great things in this land at the breaking forth of the reformation from prelacy, wh there was a plentiful pouring fourth of the Word and | a renewing of the Covenant; a hero and champoot |