At your command I'll lead them on, But yet wi' nae consent o' me; For weel I ken I'll ne'er return, And mony mae as weel as me.' Then up he drew in battle rank; Then back he came the way he gaed, And sent them back, and bade them flee. Then up came Burly, bauld an' stout, They hae been up to London sent, An' yet they're a' come safely down; Sax troop o' horsemen they hae beat, And chased them into Glasgow town. THE BATTLE OF BOTHWELL BRIDGE. THIS is a Covenanting ballad, of much higher poetical merit than is usually found in the compositions of that party. According to Sir Walter Scott, there were two Gordons of Earlstoun, father and son. The former was not actually at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, but was coming up to join the insurgents, after the retreat had commenced, and was shot by the dragoons. The son made his escape to Holland; but returning to Scotland, was tried, and convicted; possibly on account of participation in Argyle's rebellion. His life, however, was spared, but he suffered a long confinement, and was not set at liberty until after the Revolution. He was one of the unfortunate persons who were put to the torture, and afterwards imprisoned on the Bass. The Battle of Bothwell Bridge, where the Covenanters were routed by the royal forces under the command of the Duke of Monmouth, was fought on 22d June 1679. The details of the action are so well known, that I do not think it necessary to enlarge this note. Assuming that this ballad was composed shortly after the execution of Monmouth, it is curious to remark the historical perversions. "O BILLIE, billie, bonny billie, Will ye go to the wood wi' me? "O no, O no!" says Earlstoun, "For that's the thing that maunna be For I am sworn to Bothwell Hill, Where I maun either gae or die." So Earlstoun rose in the morning, e; "Now, fareweel father, and fareweel mother, An' fare ye weel my sisters three ; An' fare ye weel my Earlstoun, For thee again I'll never see!" So they're awa' to Bothwell Hill, An' waly they rode bonnilie! When the duke o' Monmouth saw them comin', He went to view their companie. "Ye're welcome, lads," then Monmouth said, 66 "Ye're welcome, brave Scots lads, to me; And sae are ye, brave Earlstoun, The foremost o' your companie! "But yield your weapons ane an' a'; O yield your weapons, lads, to me; For gin ye'll yield your weapons up, Ye'se a' gae hame to your countrie." Out up then spak a Lennox lad, And waly but he spak bonnilie! "I winna yield my weapons up To you nor nae man that I see.” Then he set up the flag o' red, A' set about wi' bonny blue; "Since ye'll no cease, and be at peace, See that ye stand by ither true." They stell'd their cannons on the height, As e'er you saw the rain down fa', "O hold your hand," then Monmouth cry'd, "Gie quarters to yon men for me!” But wicked Claver'se swore an oath, His cornet's death revenged should be. "O hold your hand," then Monmouth cry'd, "If ony thing you'll do for me; Hold up your hand, you cursed Græme, Else a rebel to our king ye'll be." Then wicked Claver'se turn'd about, And he has lifted up his hat, And cry'd, "God bless his majesty!" Then he's awa to London town, Ay e'en as fast as he can dree; |