thereby wringing the bread of life out of the mouth of hungry, poor creatures, and forcibly cramming their throats with the lifeless, saltless, foisonless, lukewarm drammock of the fourteen false prelates, and their sycophantic, formal, carnal, scandal-* ous creature-curates."

"I did not come to hear you preach,” answered the officer, "but to know in one word, if you will disperse yourselves, on condition of a free pardon to all but the murderers of the late Archbishop of St Andrews; or whether you will abide the attack of his majesty's forces, which will instantly advance upon you."

"In one word, then," answered the spokesman, we are here with our swords on our thighs, as men that watch in the night. We will take one part and portion together, as brethren in righteousness. Whosoever assails us in our good cause, his blood be on his own head. So return to them that sent thee, and God give

them and thee a sight of the evil of ways !"

your

"Is not your name," said the Cornet, who began to recollect having seen the person whom he was now speaking with, "John Balfour of Burley ?"

"And if it be," said the spokesman, "hast thou aught to say against it ?"

"Only," said the Cornet, "that, as you are excluded from pardon in the name of the King and of my commanding officer, it is to these country people, and not to you, that I offer it; and it is not with you, or such as you, that I am sent to treat."

"Thou art a young soldier, friend,” said Burley, "and scant well-learned in thy trade, or thou wouldst know that the bearer of a flag of truce cannot treat with the army but through their officers; and that if he presume to do otherwise, he forfeits his safe-conduct."

While speaking these words, Burley unslung his carabine, and held it in readi

ness.

"I am not to be intimidated from the discharge of my duty by the menaces of a murderer," said Cornet Grahame." Hear me, good people; I proclaim, in the name of the King and of my commanding officer, full and free pardon to all, excepting"

"I give thee fair warning," said Burley, presenting his piece.

"A free pardon to all," continued the young officer, still addressing the body of the insurgents to all but"

"Then the Lord grant grace to thy soul-amen," said Burley.

With these words he fired, and Cornet Richard Grahame dropped from his horse. The shot was mortal. The unfortunate young gentleman had only strength to turn himself on the ground and mutter forth," My poor mother!" when life forsook him in the effort. His startled horse fled back to the regiment at the gallop, as did his scarce less affrighted attendant.

"What have you done?" said one of Balfour's brother-officers.

"My duty," said Balfour firmly.

« Is

it not written, Thou shalt be zealous even to slaying? Let those, who dare, Now venture to speak of truce or pardon !"

Claverhouse saw his nephew fall. He turned his eye on Evandale, while a transitory glance of indescribable emotion disturbed, for a second's space, the sere nity of his features, and briefly said, "You see the event."

"I will avenge him or die " exclaimed Evandale; and, putting his horse into mo, tion, rode furiously down the hill, followed by his own troop, and that of the deceased Cornet, which broke down without orders; and, each striving to be the foremost to revenge their young officer, their ranks soon fell into confusion. These forces formed the first line of the royalists. It was in vain that Claverhouse exclaimed, 66 Halt, balt! this rashness will undo us." It was all that, he could accomplish, by gallopping along the second line, entreat

ing, commanding, and even menacing the men with his sword, that he could restrain them from following an example so contagious.

"Allan," he said, as soon as he had rendered the men in some degree more steady, "lead them slowly down the hill to support Lord Evandale, who is about to need it very much.-Bothwell, thou art a cool and a daring fellow"

"Ay," muttered Bothwell, "you can remember that in a moment like this."

“Lead ten file up the hollow to the right," continued his commanding officer, and try every means to get through the bog; then form and charge the rebels in flank and rear, while they are engaged with us in front.

Bothwell made a signal of intelligence and obedience, and moved off with his party at a rapid pace.

Mean time, the disaster which Claverhouse had apprehended did not fail to take place. The troopers, who, with Lord Evan