Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 4 - 1819.djvu/170

der by the fire of musketry, or deterred by a disaffection to the service said to have prevailed among the gentlemen, they made no impression whatever, and recoiled in disorder from ranks which had neither bayonets nor pikes to protect them. Montrose saw, and instantly availed himself of this advantage. He ordered his whole army to charge, which they performed with the wild and desperate valour peculiar to the Highlanders. One officer of the Covenanters alone, trained in the Italian wars, made a desperate defence upon the right wing. In every other point their line was penetrated at the first onset; and this advantage once obtained, the Lowlanders were utterly unable to contend at close quarters with their more agile and athletic enemies. Many were slain on the field, and such a number in the pursuit, that above one-third of the Covenanters were reported to have fallen, in which number, however, must be computed a great many