Page:Narrative of the Battles of Drumclog, and Bothwell Bridge (1).pdf/5

5 the edge of the bog. Sir Robert held a flag sae-red; had it been borne by Clavers himself, he had honoured it. He demand the purpose for which he came. 'I come,' said he, 'in the name of his sacred Majesty, and of Colonel Graham, to offer you a pardon, on condition that you lay down your arms, and deliver up your ringleaders.'— 'Tell your officer,' said Sir Robert, 'that we are fully aware of the deception he practises. He is not clothed with any powers to treat, nor was he sent out to treat with us, and attempt reconciliation. The Government against whom we have risen, refuses to redress our grievances, or to restore to us our liberties.' Had the tyrant wished to render us justice, he had not sent by the hand of such a ferocious assassin as Claver house. Let him, however, shew his powers, and we refuse not to treat; and we shall lay down our arms to treat, provided that he also lay down his. Thou hast my answer.'—'It is a perfectly hopless, case' said Burley, while he called after the flag-bearer—' Let me add one word, by your leave, General. Get thee up to that bloody dragoon, Clavers, and tell him, that we will spare his life, and the lives of his troops, on condition that he, your Clavers, lay down his arms, and the arms of these troops. We will do more, as we have no prisoners on these wild mountains, we will even let him go on his parole, on condition that he swear never to lift arms against the religion and the liberties of his country.' A loud burst of applause re-echoed from the ranks; and after a long pause in deep silence, the army sung the following verses of a psalm:—

'There, arrows of the bow he brake;

The shield, the sword, the war.

More glorious thou than hills of prey,

More excellent are ar.