Page:Narrative of the Battles of Drumclog, and Bothwell Bridge (1).pdf/15

15 the covenants to support religion, and the fundamental laws of the land. I have lived to see that Prince turn traitor to his country, and, with unblushing impiety, order these covenants to be burned by the hands of the executioner. I have seen him subvert the liberty of my country, both civil and religious—I have seen him erect a bloody inquisition. The priest imposed on us by tyranny. instead of wooing us over by the loveliness of religion, have thrown off the bowels of mercy. They occupy seats in the bloody Council. They stimulate the cruelties of Lauderdale, M'Kenzie and York. Their hands are dipt in blood to the wrests. This Council will not permit us to live in peace, Oour property they confiscate. Our houses they convert into barracks, They drag free men into chains. They bring no witnesses of our guilt.—They invent new tortures to convert us. They employ the thum-screws and bootkins. If we are silent they condemn us. If we confess our Christion creed, they doom us to the gibbet. Not only our sentance, but the manner of our execution, is fixed before our trial. Clavers is our judge; his dragoons are our executioners; and these savages do still continue to employ even the sagacity of blood hounds to hunt us down.—My soul turns away from these loathsome spectacles.'

At this moment his brother John entered, with looks which betrayed unusual anxiety. 'My brother,' said h e, a trooper advances at full speed, and he is followed by a dark column. We have not even time to fly'—The mind of the Laird like those of the rest of the wanderers, always brightened up at the approach of danger. 'Let nsus [sic] reconnoitre,' said he, 'What do I see, but one trooper. And that motley cloud is but a rabble—not a troop. That trooper is not of Clovers' band; nor does he belong to Douglas—nor to Ingles—nor to