Adam Hepburn's Vow: A Tale of Kirk and Covenant
*CHAPTER XXI.*
*DISUNION.*
A conference of the leaders of the victorious Covenanting army was heldthat same day, to decide the next steps to be taken. Balfour ofKinloch, and others of his fiery temperament, so strongly advocated animmediate march to Glasgow that they set aside the more prudent counselsof their moderate brethren, and accordingly next morning Sir RobertHamilton led the army towards Glasgow. They were joined on the way bymany others, encouraged by the news of the victory at Drumclog, and theyentered the town early in the day. Claverhouse, however, had alreadywarned out the garrison, who were ready to receive them, and after asharp tussle, in which seven or eight of the Covenanters were killed,they hastily beat a retreat, and fled to the town of Hamilton, wherethey pitched a camp.
The report of their success at Drumclog having already been largelypublished abroad, considerable numbers of those who had held aloof fromthe struggling handful who had defied the Government against fearfulodds, now came flocking to join them. The blue standard of the Covenantwas boldly unfurled on the banks of the noble Clyde, and for a timewaved proudly in the summer breeze.
Some of the ministers of the district, who, for the sake of theirfamilies and desolate parishes had accepted the indulgence, feelingtheir hearts stirred by the old enthusiasm, rose up with one accord, andquitting their homes, voluntarily joined their brethren in arms. Thesewere accompanied by numbers of their parishioners, who had previouslyfollowed the example of their ministers with regard to the indulgence.While the less narrow-minded among the Presbyterians rejoicedunfeignedly at the augmentation of their numbers, and gladly welcomedthese brethren to the camp, there was another party who bitterlyprotested against the admission of the renegades, as they termed them,to the ranks. Thus the days succeeding Drumclog were spent in uselesswrangling, while the Government was hastily organising the forcesintended to sweep the rebels off the face of the earth.
One evening, a few weeks after the battle of Drumclog, a number of theofficers and other leading men among the Presbyterians, were gatheredtogether for conference in the house of William Wylie, a well-knowngentleman, and honourable townsman in Hamilton. Among those presentwere Sir Robert Hamilton, John Balfour, David Hackstoun, WilliamCarmichael, Adam Hepburn, and Andrew Gray of Hartrigge; the last twomentioned being recognised as leaders among the Covenanters on accountof their faithfulness and undaunted valour, proved on many occasionssince the first rising in Kirkcudbrightshire.
There were also present a goodly number of that protesting party who hadaccepted the indulgence, and who were desirous that this struggle shouldbe based solely upon the questions affecting religious liberty, andthat, therefore, the king's authority in matters temporal should beacknowledged.
"I hold," said Sir Robert Hamilton, in his clear and decisive way, "thatthe king has forfeited all claim upon our consideration. I thereforeemphatically declare that he has no right nor interest to beacknowledged in our councils and actions. He is at war with the peopleof Scotland, whom we represent, and therefore we cannot acknowledge hisauthority in any matter whatsoever."
"Then you would that we should utterly and entirely condemn theindulgence of 1669?" asked Mr. Welch.
"Undoubtedly," replied Sir Robert, without a moment's hesitation.
"Then by doing so, a slur is cast upon those brethren who have latelyjoined us," said Mr. Welch. "Yet they were good and true men, who actedupon the promptings of their own conscience, deeming it better to acceptthe king's offer than to allow the deplorable desolation to continue intheir parishes."
"Mr. Welch, we are not met together to discuss the indulgence, and thosewho partook of its humiliating benefits," said Andrew Gray rising, andspeaking with gloomy energy. "This is a council of war, and the soonerwe make arrangements whereby our forces can be fairly united, the betterit will be for us in the day of battle, now rapidly approaching."
"But it is incumbent upon us first to publish to the world somedeclaration, showing our reasons for continuing in arms," protested Mr.Welch. "And I hold that we are bound by the spirit and letter of ourCovenants, as expressed in the third article thereof, to expressly ownthe authority of the king."
"It seems to me that we are wasting time in vain talking, sirs," saidDavid Hackstoun of Rathillet, in his mild, sweet manner. "The brethrenwho are so anxious that we should declare for the king must rememberthat we have never yet publicly disowned him, although we have publiclydisowned the edicts issued at his instigation. Though we may notapprove of a man's actions, brethren, we do not necessarily altogetherrepudiate the man himself."
"Mr. Hackstoun expresses himself very sweetly and kindly," said Mr.Welch. "But in these times we must use words and perform actions soclear that they cannot possibly be misconstrued. And I make bold tohold still that it is incumbent upon us, according to the wording of oursolemn league and Covenant, to acknowledge our loyalty to the king inmatters temporal, although we protest against the form of Churchgovernment and public worship he would forcibly thrust upon us."
"To my mind the temporal and spiritual interests of a people areinseparable one from the other," said Sir Robert Hamilton, and his facebetrayed his weariness of the unprofitable discussion. "And I make boldto hold and to move, that the king having set himself in graveopposition to our Lord Christ, and His Church, and having organised andcarried on fearful persecution against those people of God in hisScottish dominions, and having further crowned these many grave offencesagainst his kingly prerogative by publicly declaring war against us, wecannot declare ourselves in his favour. Gentlemen, we would be aworld's wonder were we first to own his supremacy and then to fight inbattle against him."
"With these finely turned phrases Sir Robert Hamilton may satisfy hisown conscience," said Mr. Welch, sourly, "but the arguments he advances,if held to, will, I prophesy, occasion many divisions in our ranks."
"It seems to me, gentlemen," said Adam Hepburn, jumping to his feet, andspeaking with passionate eagerness, "it seems to me that we resemble acouncil of madmen rather than grave and sober folk gathered together todiscuss the issues of war. With the king's forces almost within sightof us, were it not a fitter thing that we should be either practising inthe field or encouraging each other's hands for the immediate struggle,rather than sitting yelping at each other over trifles?"
"Well said, Adam Hepburn!" exclaimed Balfour, whose dark countenance hadworn an expression of open disgust and impatience during the discussion."I was just marvelling in my own mind how much longer this drivellingwas to continue. Let us end this idiotic and off-putting discussion,and go forth as one man to the field; else I warn you that woeful willbe the retribution which will follow upon the heels of our folly."
"Mr. Adam Hepburn and the Laird of Kinloch have expressed themselveswith a force and clearness which must commend their words to thebrethren," said Sir Robert Hamilton. "I would therefore move that thisdiscussion be laid aside, and that, burying all differences, which havesomewhat marred the harmony of our relationships one with the other, wego forth as one man, having only before us the spirit of these bravewords engraven on our standard--'For Christ's cause and Covenant.'"
"There is wide dissatisfaction in the ranks because of the manner inwhich the chief posts in the army are distributed," said Mr. Welch,persistently. "I would therefore move that all these posts be declaredvacant and new officers harmoniously chosen, in order that when the dayof battle comes we may not be split up by jealousies and divisions."
A dead silence followed upon this suggestion. It was broken at lengthby the tones of Sir Robert Hamilton's voice, which betrayed somesharpness and annoyance.
"I, with those present of my mind, am quite willing to agree to Mr.Welch's proposal upon condition that the origin and nature of ourdisputes and the cause of the changes be fairly and justly stated, inorder that the blame of them may rest upon the heads of those who havekindled the quarrel."
"It is not meet that all those worth
y men who, as was said before, forconscience' sake accepted the indulgence should be utterly kept in thebackground," said Mr. David Hume, who had not yet spoken. "I agree withMr. Welch."
"By the powers, I will listen to no more drivel about the indulgence!"cried Sir Robert Hamilton, starting to his feet. "Gentlemen, I wish yougood day, and an amicable settlement and arrangement of these weightyaffairs. I will take no further part in such unseemly and unprofitablediscussion."
So saying he stalked out of the place, followed by many of his way ofthinking, so that the indulgence party had it all to themselves. Thetrusty leader, feeling himself unjustly and ungenerously set aside,retired somewhat sorrowfully with his immediate friends to the camp onHamilton Muir. They heard there that the king's forces under the Dukeof Monmouth, who had come expressly from London to command thesuppression of the rebellion, were close upon the town of Bothwell.
A warning messenger was at once sent to those who had remained incouncil in the house of William Wylie, and, after some discussion, itwas agreed to send a deputation to wait upon the Duke, in order thattheir grievances might be laid before him.
Early on the Sabbath morning this deputation, which had been promisedsafe and patient hearing, crossed the bridge over the Clyde at Bothwelland entered the royal camp. The deputation consisted of Mr. David Hume,Mr. Welch, and the Laird of Kaitloch, and when they were shown into thepresence of the duke they were much struck by his noble and princelybearing, and by the mild, benevolent expression on his countenance.
He listened courteously to their supplications, which prayed not onlyfor freedom to meet both in general assembly and to worship as theywilled in the churches, but also craved indemnity for all who were nowor had been in arms against the king.
The duke gave them courteous hearing, but refused them an answer untilthey should lay down their arms and submit to the king's mercy.
"My Lord Duke," said Mr. Welch, "we cannot give up our liberty soeasily, nor so readily own ourselves in the wrong. If your Grace wouldbut give a little heed to the nature of these our supplications, I amsure your Grace would be speedily convinced of their justice andmoderation."
"It is impossible for me to give you the promise of satisfaction, saveupon the condition that you at once lay down your arms," replied theduke, calmly. "I am sent hither to stamp out this foolish rebellion, andwhile quite willing to give you every chance to submit ere it be toolate, still I cannot delay the performance of the unpleasant but bindingduty imposed upon me by my liege, the king. Therefore go back to yourfriends, and lay my conditions before them. If an answer be not returnedto me within half an hour from now I shall take up the gauntlet ofdefiance you have thrown down, and order my battalions to advance."
As the duke spoke, he looked, not without compassion, upon the littlearmy lying on the moor upon the opposite bank of the river, close to thebridge, which was the sole barrier betwixt it and the overwhelmingforces of the king.
The deputation thanked the duke, and withdrew with haste to their owncamp, before which they laid his conditions.
The half-hour of grace was speedily frittered away in a renewal of thebitter and unfruitful debates which had already so weakened their unity,and these were continuing when the alarm was given that the enemy wasmaking preparations for immediate battle by planting their cannon onBothwell bridge.