A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans

346
HISTOUY OF THK HIGHLANDS.
plan, by mixiug among them a select body of tbtjt, and renewing tlie
charge a third time, with redoubled energy. But this scheme, which might
have proved fatal to Montrose, if tried, was frustrated by a resolution he
eame to, of making an instant and simultaneous attack upon the enemy.
Perceiving their horse still in great confusion, and a considerable way
apart from their main body, he determined upon attacking them with
his foot before they should get time to rally ; and, galloping up to his
men, who had been greatly galled by the enemies' cannon, he told them
that there was uo good to be expected by the two armies keeping at
such a distance—that in this way there was no means of distinguishing
the strong from the weak, nor the coward from the brave man, but that
if they would once make a home charge upon these timorous and effem-
inate striplings, as he called Burleigh's horse, they would never stand their
attack. " Come on, then," said he, " my brave fellow-soldiers, fall down upou
them with your swords and muskets, drive them before you, and make
tliem suffer the punishment due to their perfidy and rebellion."* These
words were no sooner uttered, than, on the word of command being given,
Montrose's men rushed forward at a quick pace and fell upon the enemy,
sword in hand. The covenanters were paralyzed by the suddenness and
impetuosity of the attack, and, turning their backs, they fled in the utmost
trepidation and confusion, towards Aberdeen. The slaughter was tremen-
dous, as the victors spared no man. The road leading from the field
of battle to Aberdeen was strewed with the dead and the dying ; the
streets of Aberdeen were covered with the bodies, and stained with the
blood of its inhabitants." " There was,'' says Spalding, " little slaughter
in the fight, but horrible was the slaughter in the flight, fleeing back to
the town, which was our townsmen's destruction ; whereas, if they had
fled, and not came near the town, they might have been in better se-
cui-ity ; but, being commanded by Patrick Leslie, the provost, to take
the town, they were undone ; yet, himself and the prime covenanters
being on hoi-seback, wan safely themselves away. The lieutenant fol-
lows the chaee into Aberdeen, his men hewing and cutting do\vn all
manner of men they could overtake, within the town, upon the streets,
or in their houses, and round about the town, as our men were fleeing,
with broad swords, but (without) mercy or remeid. Their cruel Irish,
seeing a man well clad, would first tyr (strip) him, and save his clothes
unspoiled, syne kill the man." f In fine, according to this writf^r, who
was an eye witness, the town of Aberdeen, which, but a few years be-
fore, had suffered for its loyality, was now, by the same general who had
then oppressed it, delivered up by him to be indiscriminately plundered by
his Irish forces, for having espoused the same cause which he himself
had supported. For four days did these men indulge in the most dread-
ful excesses, " and nothing," continues Spalding, was " heard but pitiful
howling, crying, weeping, mourning, through all the streets." Yet Guth-
, Wishart, p. SO. \ SiuiUlhig, vol. ii. p. 264.