Ringan Gilhaize, or, The Covenanters
Page 94
CHAPTER XCIII
As I stood on the brow of the bank in front of Rinrorie-house, a gentlebreathing of the evening air turned the smoke like the travelling mistof the hills, and opening it here and there, I had glimpses of thefighting. Sometimes I saw the Highlanders driving the Covenanters downthe steep, and sometimes I beheld them in their turn on the groundendeavouring to protect their unbonneted heads with their targets, butto whom the victory was to be given I could discern no sign; and I saidto myself the prize at hazard is the liberty of the land and the Lord;surely it shall not be permitted to the champion of bondage to prevail.
A stronger breathing of the gale came rushing along, and the skirts ofthe smoke where the baggage stood were blown aside, and I beheld many ofthe Highlanders among the wagons plundering and tearing. Then I heard agreat shouting on the right, and looking that way, I saw the children ofthe Covenant fleeing in remnants across the lower plain, and makingtoward the river. Presently I also saw Mackay with two regiments, allthat kept the order of discipline, also in the plain. He had lost thebattle. Claverhouse had won; and the scattered firing, which wascontinued by a few, was to my ears as the riveting of the shackles onthe arms of poor Scotland for ever. My grief was unspeakable.
I ran to and fro on the brow of the hill--and I stampt with my feet--andI beat my breast--and I rubbed my hands with the frenzy of despair--andI threw myself on the ground--and all the sufferings of which I havewritten returned upon me--and I started up and I cried aloud theblasphemy of the fool, "There is no God."
But scarcely had the dreadful words escaped my profane lips, when Iheard, as it were, thunders in the heavens, and the voice of an oraclecrying in the ears of my soul, "The victory of this day is given intothy hands!" and strange wonder and awe fell upon me, and a mighty spiritentered into mine, and I felt as if I was in that moment clothed withthe armour of divine might.
I took up my carabine, which in these transports had fallen from myhand, and I went round the gable of the house into the garden--and I sawClaverhouse with several of his officers coming along the ground bywhich our hosts had marched to their position--and ever and anon turninground and exhorting his men to follow him. It was evident he was makingfor the Pass to intercept our scattered fugitives from escaping thatway.
The garden in which I then stood was surrounded by a low wall. A smallgoose-pool lay on the outside, between which and the garden I perceivedthat Claverhouse would pass.
I prepared my flint and examined my fire-lock, and I walked towards thetop of the garden with a firm step. The ground was buoyant to my tread,and the vigour of youth was renewed in my aged limbs: I thought thatthose for whom I had so mourned walked before me--that they smiled andbeckoned me to come on, and that a glorious light shone around me.
Claverhouse was coming forward--several officers were near him, but hismen were still a little behind, and seemed inclined to go down the hill,and he chided at their reluctance. I rested my carabine on thegarden-wall. I bent my knee and knelt upon the ground. I aimed andfired,--but when the smoke cleared away I beheld the oppressor stillproudly on his war-horse.
I loaded again, again I knelt, and again rested my carabine upon thewall, and fired a second time, and was again disappointed.
Then I remembered that I had not implored the help of Heaven, and Iprepared for the third time, and when all was ready, and Claverhouse wascoming forward, I took off my bonnet, and kneeling with the gun in myhand, cried, "Lord, remember David and all his afflictions;" and havingso prayed, I took aim as I knelt, and Claverhouse raising his arm incommand, I fired. In the same moment I looked up, and there was a visionin the air as if all the angels of brightness, and the martyrs in theirvestments of glory, were assembled on the walls and battlements ofHeaven to witness the event,--and I started up and cried, "I havedelivered my native land!" But in the same instant I remembered to whomthe glory was due, and falling again on my knees, I raised my hands andbowed my head as I said, "Not mine, O Lord, but thine is the victory!"
When the smoke rolled away I beheld Claverhouse in the arms of hisofficers, sinking from his horse, and the blood flowing from a woundbetween the breast-plate and the armpit. The same night he was summonedto the audit of his crimes.
It was not observed by the officers from what quarter the summoning boltof justice came, but thinking it was from the house, every window wasinstantly attacked, while I deliberately retired from the spot,--and,till the protection of the darkness enabled me to make my escape acrossthe Gary, and over the hills in the direction I saw Mackay and theremnants of the flock taking, I concealed myself among the bushes androcks that overhung the violent stream of the Girnaig.
Thus was my avenging vow fulfilled,--and thus was my native landdelivered from bondage. For a time yet there may be rumours andbloodshed, but they will prove as the wreck which the waves roll to theshore after a tempest. The fortunes of the papistical Stuarts arefoundered for ever. Never again in this land shall any king, of his owncaprice and prerogative, dare to violate the conscience of the people.
QUHARIST, _5th November 1696._