lay morals-第19章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
by James Kirkton； an outed minister of the period。
THE PENTLAND RISING CHAPTER IV … RULLION GREEN
'From Covenanters with uplifted hands； From Remonstrators with associate bands； Good Lord； deliver us！' ROYALIST RHYME； KIRKTON； p。 127。
LATE on the fourth night of November； exactly twenty…four days before Rullion Green； Richard and George Chaplain； merchants in Haddington； beheld four men； clad like West… country Whigamores； standing round some object on the ground。 It was at the two…mile cross； and within that distance from their homes。 At last； to their horror； they discovered that the recumbent figure was a livid corpse； swathed in a blood… stained winding…sheet。 （1） Many thought that this apparition was a portent of the deaths connected with the Pentland Rising。
On the morning of Wednesday； the 28th of November 1666； they left Colinton and marched to Rullion Green。 There they arrived about sunset。 The position was a strong one。 On the summit of a bare； heathery spur of the Pentlands are two hillocks； and between them lies a narrow band of flat marshy ground。 On the highest of the two mounds … that nearest the Pentlands； and on the left hand of the main body … was the greater part of the cavalry； under Major Learmont； on the other Barscob and the Galloway gentlemen； and in the centre Colonel Wallace and the weak； half…armed infantry。 Their position was further strengthened by the depth of the valley below； and the deep chasm…like course of the Rullion Burn。
The sun； going down behind the Pentlands； cast golden lights and blue shadows on their snow…clad summits； slanted obliquely into the rich plain before them； bathing with rosy splendour the leafless； snow…sprinkled trees； and fading gradually into shadow in the distance。 To the south； too； they beheld a deep…shaded amphitheatre of heather and bracken； the course of the Esk； near Penicuik； winding about at the foot of its gorge； the broad； brown expanse of Maw Moss； and； fading into blue indistinctness in the south； the wild heath…clad Peeblesshire hills。 In sooth； that scene was fair； and many a yearning glance was cast over that peaceful evening scene from the spot where the rebels awaited their defeat； and when the fight was over； many a noble fellow lifted his head from the blood…stained heather to strive with darkening eyeballs to behold that landscape； over which； as over his life and his cause； the shadows of night and of gloom were falling and thickening。
It was while waiting on this spot that the fear…inspiring cry was raised： 'The enemy！ Here come the enemy！'
Unwilling to believe their own doom … for our insurgents still hoped for success in some negotiations for peace which had been carried on at Colinton … they called out； 'They are some of our own。'
'They are too blacke ' （I。E。 numerous）； 'fie！ fie！ for ground to draw up on；' cried Wallace； fully realising the want of space for his men； and proving that it was not till after this time that his forces were finally arranged。 （2）
First of all the battle was commenced by fifty Royalist horse sent obliquely across the hill to attack the left wing of the rebels。 An equal number of Learmont's men met them； and； after a struggle； drove them back。 The course of the Rullion Burn prevented almost all pursuit； and Wallace； on perceiving it； dispatched a body of foot to occupy both the burn and some ruined sheep…walls on the farther side。
Dalzell changed his position； and drew up his army at the foot of the hill； on the top of which were his foes。 He then dispatched a mingled body of infantry and cavalry to attack Wallace's outpost； but they also were driven back。 A third charge produced a still more disastrous effect； for Dalzell had to check the pursuit of his men by a reinforcement。
These repeated checks bred a panic in the Lieutenant… General's ranks； for several of his men flung down their arms。 Urged by such fatal symptoms； and by the approaching night； he deployed his men； and closed in overwhelming numbers on the centre and right flank of the insurgent army。 In the increasing twilight the burning matches of the firelocks； shimmering on barrel； halbert； and cuirass； lent to the approaching army a picturesque effect； like a huge； many…armed giant breathing flame into the darkness。
Placed on an overhanging hill； Welch and Semple cried aloud； 'The God of Jacob！ The God of Jacob！' and prayed with uplifted hands for victory。 （3）
But still the Royalist troops closed in。
Captain John Paton was observed by Dalzell； who determined to capture him with his own hands。 Accordingly he charged forward； presenting his pistols。 Paton fired； but the balls hopped off Dalzell's buff coat and fell into his boot。 With the superstition peculiar to his age； the Nonconformist concluded that his adversary was rendered bullet…proof by enchantment； and； pulling some small silver coins from his pocket； charged his pistol therewith。 Dalzell； seeing this； and supposing； it is likely； that Paton was putting in larger balls； hid behind his servant； who was killed。 （4）
Meantime the outposts were forced； and the army of Wallace was enveloped in the embrace of a hideous boa…constrictor … tightening； closing； crushing every semblance of life from the victim enclosed in his toils。 The flanking parties of horse were forced in upon the centre； and though； as even Turner grants； they fought with desperation； a general flight was the result。
But when they fell there was none to sing their coronach or wail the death…wail over them。 Those who sacrificed themselves for the peace； the liberty； and the religion of their fellow…countrymen； lay bleaching in the field of death for long； and when at last they were buried by charity； the peasants dug up their bodies； desecrated their graves； and cast them once more upon the open heath for the sorry value of their winding…sheets！
INSCRIPTION ON STONE AT RULLION GREEN：
HERE AND NEAR TO THIS PLACE LYES THE REVEREND MR JOHN CROOKSHANK AND MR ANDREW MCCORMICK MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL AND ABOUT FIFTY OTHER TRUE COVENANTED PRESBYTERIANS WHO WERE KILLED IN THIS PLACE IN THEIR OWN INOCENT SELF DEFENCE AND DEFFENCE OF THE COVENANTED WORK OF REFORMATION BY THOMAS DALZEEL OF BINS UPON THE 28 OF NOVEMBER 1666。 REV。 12。 11。 ERECTED SEPT。 28 1738。
BACK OF STONE：
A Cloud of Witnesses lyes here； Who for Christ's Interest did appear； For to restore true Liberty； O'erturned then by tyranny。 And by proud Prelats who did Rage Against the Lord's Own heritage。 They sacrificed were for the laws Of Christ their king； his noble cause。 These heroes fought with great renown； By falling got the Martyr's crown。 （5）
（1） Kirkton； p。 244。 （2） Kirkton。 （3） Turner。 （4） Kirkton。 （5） Kirkton。
THE PENTLAND RISING CHAPTER V … A RECORD OF BLOOD
'They cut his hands ere he was dead； And after that struck of his head。 His blood under the altar cries For vengeance on Christ's enemies。' EPITAPH ON TOMB AT LONGCROSS OF CLERMONT。 （1）
MASTER ANDREW MURRAY； an outed minister； residing in the Potterrow； on the morning after the defeat； heard the sounds of cheering and the march of many feet beneath his window。 He gazed out。 With colours flying； and with music sounding； Dalzell； victorious； entered Edinburgh。 But his banners were dyed in blood； and a band of prisoners were marched within his ranks。 The old man knew it all。 That martial and triumphant strain was the death…knell of his friends and of their cause； the rust…hued spots upon the flags were the tokens of their courage and their death； and the prisoners were the miserable remnant spared from death in battle to die upon the scaffold。 Poor old man！ he had outlived all joy。 Had he lived longer he would have seen increasing torment and increasing woe； he would have seen the clouds； then but gathering in mist； cast a more than midnight darkness over his native hills； and have fallen a victim to those bloody persecutions which； later； sent their red memorials to the sea by many a burn。 By a merciful Providence all this was spared to him … he fell beneath the first blow； and ere four days h
