Page:Narrative of the Battles of Drumclog, and Bothwell Bridge (1).pdf/6

6 Those that were stout of heart are spoil'd,

They slept their sleep outright;

And none of those their hands did find,

That were the men of might.

When the report was made to Claverhouse, he gave the word with a savage ferocity, 'Their blood be on their own heads. Be—no quarter—the word this day.' His fierce dragoons raised a yell, and 'No quarter,' re-echoed from rank to rank, while they galloped down the mountain's side. It is stated that Burleigh was heard to say, 'Then be it so—even let there be 'no quarters---at least in my wing of the host. So God send me a meeting,' cried he aloud, 'with that chief under the white plumbe.---My country would bless my memory, could my sword give his villainous carcase to the crows.

Our raw troops beheld with firmness the approach of the foemen; and at'the moment when the enemy halted to fire, the whole of our foot dropped on the heath. Not a man was seen down when the order was given to rise, and return the fire. The first rank fired, then kneeling down while the second fired. They made each bullet tell. As often as the lazy rolling smoke was carried over the enemy's heads, a shower of bullets fell on his ranks. Many a gallant man tumbled on the heath. The fire was incessant. It resembled one blazing sheet of flame, for several minutes, along the line of the Covenanters. Clavers attempted to cross the morass, and broke our centre. 'Spearmen! to the front,'---I could hear the deep-toned voice of Hamilton say--'Kneel, and place your spears to receivrreceive [sic] the enemy's cavalry: and you, my gallant follows fire---God and our country is our word.'Our officers flew from rank to rank. Not a peasant give way that day. As the smoke rolled off, we could see Clavers urging on his men with the