126
NOTES.
lence expressed in such bad language. I select the following characteristic passage from his “Phanaticorum Descriptio:"
Tortula, longisono, proferunt qui verba boatu,
Quæ gravitatis erunt omina prima suæ,
Cum fera, tabisicum, conspirat prælia, pectus
Cum gemitu, fauces, sesquipedale sonant.
Quæ gravitatis erunt omina prima suæ,
Cum fera, tabisicum, conspirat prælia, pectus
Cum gemitu, fauces, sesquipedale sonant.
In an invective on David Williamson, he refers to a well-known adventure of that covenanter, which is supposed to have given origin to the popular Scotish song of “Dainty Davie:"
Num viduæ memor es, dominæ, cum forte cubili,
Militis, ut latitans, arma tremenda fugis?
Ut statim amplexus, dederis te, in virginis imos,
Uberaque ut natæ presseris alba, salax?
Militis, ut latitans, arma tremenda fugis?
Ut statim amplexus, dederis te, in virginis imos,
Uberaque ut natæ presseris alba, salax?
The arms and military array of the Covenanters who formed round the standard of Claverhouse, taken at the skirmish of Lowdon-hill, and advanced to Bothwell-bridge, are described in the following passage:
At Gremi ablato vexillo, velut omine fausto,
Undique collectis, coeunt in castra rebelles,
Viribus, aft armis minime concordibus instant.
Cingitur exeso, hic, scabra rubigine, ferro
Longurio aft alius, cestra, aut stridente bipenni;
Tertius at rigidam gestabat forte securim:
Maxima pars, furcas gestit crispare bisulcas,
Surreptisque armis, et equis quos flectere nescit,
Exultat pars magna virûm , flammasque vomentes
Undique collectis, coeunt in castra rebelles,
Viribus, aft armis minime concordibus instant.
Cingitur exeso, hic, scabra rubigine, ferro
Longurio aft alius, cestra, aut stridente bipenni;
Tertius at rigidam gestabat forte securim:
Maxima pars, furcas gestit crispare bisulcas,
Surreptisque armis, et equis quos flectere nescit,
Exultat pars magna virûm , flammasque vomentes
