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practice; you know your duty; self-defence is always lawful. But the enemy approaches," He raised his ⟨eyes⟩ to heaven and uttered a prayer-brief and emphatic-like the prayer of Richard Camcron, "Lord, spare ⟨the⟩ green, and take the ripe.".
The officers collected their men, and placed themselves each at the head of those of his own district. ⟨Sir⟩ Robert Hamilton placed the foot in the centre, in ⟨three⟩ ranks. A company of horse, well armed and ⟨mounted⟩ was placed on the left; and a small squadron also on ⟨the⟩ left. These were drawn back, and they occupied ⟨the⟩ more solid ground; as well with a view to have a ⟨more⟩ solid footing, as to arrest any flanking party that ⟨might⟩ take them on the wings. A deep morass lay ⟨between⟩ us and the ground of the enemy. Our aged men, ⟨or⟩ females and children retired; but they retired slowly. They had the hearts and the courage of the female ⟨and⟩ children in those days of intense religious feeling and ⟨of⟩ suffcring. They manefested more concern for the ⟨fate⟩ of relatives, for the fate of the church than for their ⟨own⟩ personal safety. As Claverhouse descended the ⟨opposite⟩ mountain, they retired to the rising ground in the ⟨rear⟩ of our host. The aged men walked with their ⟨bonnets⟩ in hand. Their long grey hairs waving to the breeze. They sang a chcering psalm. The music was that ⟨of⟩ the wcll-known tune of "The Martyrs;" and the sentiment breathed defianee.-The music floated down ⟨on⟩ the wind,-our men gave them three cheers as ⟨they⟩ fell into their ranks. Never did I witness such animation in the looks of men. For me, my spouse and ⟨my⟩ little children were in the rear. My native plains, and the halls of my father, far below, in the deal of Aven(illegible text) were in full view from the heights which we occupied. My country seemed to raise her voice--the bleeding church seemed to wail aloud. 'And these,' I said, ⟨as⟩ Clavers and his troops winded slowly down the dark mountain's side, 'these are the unworthy slaves, and bloody executioners, by which the tyrant completes our miseries.'
