Adam Hepburn's Vow: A Tale of Kirk and Covenant

  *CHAPTER XXII*

  *BOTHWELL BRIDGE.*

  The long, yellow rays of the June sunshine fell upon a strange, unwontedscene that Sabbath morning, on the banks of the flowing Clyde. Upon theBothwell side the king's forces, to the number of 15,000, weremarshalled in proud and glittering array. Well might the leaders of theCovenanters look upon them with sinking heart and foreboding eye, fortheir own little army, poorly armed, badly trained, and split up by manyinternal divisions, would, in all probability, be swept away as chaffbefore the wind. Their position was their chief, nay, almost their onlystrength. It was assailable only by the narrow bridge, which surelycould be held by the bravest among them long enough to give the enemy aserious check. The Covenanters were hastily called to form to resistthe attack, but there seemed a strange coldness, an indifference andlukewarmness in the ranks which contrasted sharply with the enthusiasticvalour on the day of Drumclog. A number of those who were leastuntainted by the spirit of jealous dissension voluntarily placedthemselves under the leadership of brave Kathillet, and advanced todefend the bridge. It was a terrible and heart-breaking sight to seethat dauntless little band, true to the last, marching on to meet thefoe, while the great body of their brethren, with sullen faces andindifferent mien, hung back and stood about listlessly, as if quiteprepared to see them cut to pieces.

  "Is it not enough, Adam Hepburn, to cause a judgment to fall fromHeaven, to see yon white-livered and obstinate crew?" exclaimed AndrewGray, as they were advancing to meet the enemy. "We can expect nothingbut defeat to-day. How can God's blessing go with us?"

  Adam Hepburn answered not, but the more firmly grasped his trusty blade,and gave a look to his pistols. It was sufficient for him thatopportunity was again given to measure swords with the foe, and thatto-day he might fulfil his vow to the very letter.

  But to Andrew Gray this bitter disunion among the followers of theCovenant was almost like a death-blow, for never once since he firstcast in his lot with its fortunes had he swerved from his allegiance tothe blue banner, or allowed personal feeling for one moment to interferewith his adherence to the common cause. Bigoted, narrow, prejudicedPresbyterian he might be, but he was at least single-hearted in his lovefor the Church of his fathers, and true as steel in his upholding of herprinciples and doctrine.

  "I know not why, Adam, but the prevision is strong within me that myhour is come, and that I shall fall this day," he said, in a grave butcalm voice. "If it be so you will convey my last messages to Susan andthe bairns."

  "Surely; but why are you filled with such gloomy forebodings to-day?"asked Adam. "You and I have fought together before now, and save forthat scratch you got at Rullion Green, have escaped unhurt."

  "Yes, because the time was not yet come," responded Hartrigge. "Youwill say to Susan, that in the hour of battle I was not unmindful ofher, and that through these many weary months of separation she and thebairns have been ever in my thoughts and prayers. She knows my wishesabout the upbringing of the bairns. Tell you them that their fatherdied bravely fighting for Christ's cause and Covenant, and that hethought the sacrifice of his life as nothing compared with that sweetcause for which he gave it."

  "Here they come!" exclaimed Adam Hepburn, setting his teeth; then theorder was given to fire upon the advancing foe, already making a boldeffort to cross the bridge. The volley was fired, but there was no timeto repeat it, for the enemy came pouring across the narrow defile, andnow it was only hand to hand combat, which could keep them back. BraveDavid Hackstoun, supported by Balfour and Adam Hepburn, were in the veryfore front, and many a soldier fell before the dauntless three. Nor wasAndrew Gray idle. At the very outset of the fray he received a woundthrust In the left thigh, but continued to fight, although nearlyfainting with the pain and loss of blood. It was a fearful sight; thewildest confusion seemed to prevail on the bridge, which speedily beganto be rendered almost impassable by the bodies of the fallen. Thesnorting and pawing of horses, the clashing of swords, the boom ofcannon, and the sharp report of musketry, the hoarse wild cries of thosemaddened with the excitement, mingling with the moans and shrieks of thewounded and dying, filled the air with a din of sound quiteindescribable. The clear summer air was obscured by the smoke of thecannon, and at times those sullenly watching the fray from the moorcould scarcely discern how went the battle, but they _could_ see thatthe Clyde ran red with blood.

  "The wildest confusion seemed to prevail on the bridge"]

  Seeing his brother-in-law engaged with a dragoon, and that he was liketo fall, Adam Hepburn stepped aside, and thrust the trooper through theheart, just as Hartrigge fell.

  "Mortal?" he inquired briefly, bending down over him, thus doublyrisking his own life by a moment's swerving from his post.

  "Yes, to-night I shall sup with my Lord Jesus, and see my son. Tell hismother," Andrew Gray gasped; then Adam had to see to himself, for he wasnearly surrounded. Step by step that brave band was driven from theirpost, one by one they fell, until but a remnant remained. These at lastwere finally driven from the last foot of the bridge, and Monmouthordered his entire battalion to mount the cannon and pass over. Theremnant turned to flee, but only those who were on horseback had achance to escape. Rathillet and Balfour, seeing all was lost, gave spurto their steeds and rode rapidly off the field. Adam Hepburn, withfaithful Watty McBean, who was wounded in the shoulder, fled on foot,but being pursued by a party of the Duke's army, were taken prisoners,with hundreds of their brethren fleeing across Hamilton Muir. Thesoldiery disarmed every man among their prisoners, divested them of halftheir clothing, and ordered them to lie flat down on the ground, warningthem that any movement would be followed by instant death.

  "I say, Adam Hepburn, whaur will the minister o' Broomhill be, thinkye?" queried Watty, who was lying beside Adam, and groaning grievouslywith the pain of his wound.

  "I have not set eyes on him since before we went into action," saidAdam. "Oh, for a horse, Watty, to get clean off this fatal field!"

  "Ye may say it. I dinna believe this is mysel'," replied Watty. "I wasaye a peaceable man, an' to think I should come to this beats a'. Imaun just ease mysel' up a wee an' look roond for the minister."

  "Watty, if you do, it will be your death," Adam warned him; but Wattywas not to be repressed, and accordingly raised his head. No sooner hadhe done so, than a bullet came whizzing past his ears, and then another,which did not miss its mark. A deep groan escaped Watty's lips, and herolled over on his side. In a few minutes all was over, and poor Wattyhad gone where he would inherit that peace which had been so dear to hissoul on earth. Adam Hepburn groaned also, in the bitterness of hissoul. Of all his kindred and friends was he alone left upon the face ofthe earth, a desolate outcast, for whom the prison tortures were inreserve? With his own hand he had cut down seven troopers on BothwellBridge; only one more well-aimed stroke, and he had been released fromhis vow!

  Oh, if he had but shot or stabbed the trooper who had disarmed him,instead of tamely submitting, although his own life would have beeninstantly forfeited, it would have but been an end of all his troubles!But Adam Hepburn had still a desire to live. Although he had no cravenfear of death the thought of it was not so pleasant as it was to many ofthe suffering remnant, whose daily prayer had been that they might betaken from these weary troubles into the rest prepared for those whoendure for the Master's sake.

  The captain commanding the battalion which made all these captive wasabout to give orders for a general slaughter, when an aide-de-camp fromthe Duke brought the command that as many prisoners as possible shouldbe spared alive. But there was a body of cavalry pursuing the fugitiveswho had escaped on foot, and all they overtook were instantly cut down.

  The thirst for blood and vengeance being awakened in the breasts of manyof the royal officers and men, the most horrible suggestions were made,such as that all the country, including the towns in the west, should beburned, and a general slaughter made of the
people; but the Duke ofMonmouth very firmly and indignantly set all these infamous proposalsaside, and gave peremptory orders for the exercise of due mercy towardsthe defeated rebels. He thus showed himself a generous andnoble-hearted man, and gave evidence in his actions that it had beenagainst his own desire that he had been compelled to suppress theCovenanters in such a summary fashion. But he could not altogetherinfluence those under him, neither could he see everything with his owneye, and the poor prisoners, at the hands of his subordinate officers,met with but little mercy.

  It was decided that the prisoners be conveyed to Edinburgh. They wereaccordingly tied two and two together, and driven before the soldiery,who treated them with the greatest barbarity.

  Adam Hepburn had for his companion the godly Mr. John Kid, one of themost devoted sufferers for the cause.

  "This is a grievous day for the name and cause of our sweet Lord,friend," said Mr. Kid, when, after the march was begun, he could get aword spoken.

  "It has been a bloody day, indeed!" answered Adam Hepburn. "It had beenotherwise had there been fewer vile wranglings in our midst. Saw younot how many stood aloof, and left a handful to defend the bridge?"

  "Aye, truly my heart was riven by these sad dissensions among thebrethren," said Mr. Kid. "You were not, then, of that protesting partywhich stood back because certain brethren who had accepted theindulgence were in the ranks?"

  "No, truly," replied Adam Hepburn, with a slightly bitter smile. "Itwas all one to me, who or what fought beside me, so long as I got ingrips with the enemy."

  "Is it so sweet to you to shed blood, my brother?" inquired Mr. Kid, ina mild tone of surprise. But just then a dragoon rode past, andobserving that they talked, gave Mr. Kid a blow across the cheek withthe flag of his sword, which caused the blood to flow from his nostrilsin a copious stream. Being in bonds, he could not endeavour to staunchit, and was therefore in a pitiable plight, seeing which the soldier,with a loud and brutal laugh, bade him hold his blasphemous tongue,unless he desired another blow to keep it company.

  "Oh, that I had my good blade!" exclaimed Adam Hepburn under his breath,and at the same time flashing a glance of intense hatred after thetrooper.

  "Let him be, poor man. He is like those Jews of old that buffeted ourdear Lord, who compassionately prayed, 'Father, forgive them; they knownot what they do,'" said Mr. Kid, in a quiet voice. "Shall this poorworm, professing to be His servant, not strive to follow that sweetexample?"

  Adam Hepburn was silent, for what was there in his stormy and rebellioussoul in unison with his companion's sweet forgiveness and mercifulcompassion?

  "Know this, friend, that not many days from now I shall be beyond thereach or power of those who can hurt or kill the body," whispered Mr.Kid, after a brief interval. "In a dream my Lord bade me be of goodcheer, for these sufferings should not long continue, but shouldpresently have an ending in His Paradise. Oh, to be there even now!But I would not that my Lord should call me until I have fulfilled mytestimony, and borne whatsoever may be required of me for His cause andkingdom here."

  Adam Hepburn spoke no word, and his companion, thinking him too muchoccupied with his own thoughts to be disturbed, presently desisted fromhis remarks, but comforted himself on the weary way by repeating in alow voice many sweet and precious passages of Scripture calculated toencourage the heart in these present trying circumstances.

  Although night fell, the prisoners were not allowed to halt in theirmarch, but were mercilessly kept on foot and driven before the cavalrytowards Edinburgh.

  In the grey dawning of the sweet summer morning they came within sightof the grey towers and turrets of the city.