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1818.]
The Battle of Pentland Hills.
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confession, but to tell my tale again deliberately, and face to face,—to avow myself guilty of something approaching at once to cowardice and to murder,—I felt myself incapable of the resolution necessary to the disclosure. As a middle course I send you this narrative; my name will be unknown, for the event passed in a distant country from that in which I now live. I shall hear, perhaps, the unfortunate survivor censured, or excused; the wholesome effect may be produced in my mind which my friend expects from the narrative becoming the theme of public discussion; and to him who can best pity and apologise for my criminal weakness, I may perhaps find courage to whisper, "the unhappy object of your compassion is now before you."

Tweedside.


THE BATTLE OF PENTLAND HILLS.

[This account was written by George Wiseheart, Bishop of Edinburgh, so created upon the Restoration, chaplain and historiographer to the great Marquis of Montrose. It was addressed doubtless to John Cosins, Bishop of Durham, although the direction is torn off. The original is in the collection of that distinguished antiquary, Mr Surtees of Mainsforth. The letter may be considered as official, and, upon the whole, gives no very exaggerated account of the hasty and ill-concerted insurrection which was terminated by the skirmish at Pentland Hills. The number of the slain is extended from 50 or 60 to 300; but perhaps the Bishop included the wounded. Kirkton observes, that the royal horsemen who pursued, being most part gentlemen, pitied their countrymen, and made little slaughter. The battle was fought 28th November 1666, the day before the date of the letter.—Editor.]

Edr, 29° Novemb. 1666.

MY LORD,

Yor Lpps of ye 23. of this moneth I receaved last day in ye morning; the morning of a blessed day, for befoir night those rebells who had strucke such a terror in this land, and raised such a clamoure in yors, were totallie worsted, killed, taken prissoners or scattered.

My Lord, on Thursday the 15. of this moneth they entered Dumfreis, about the number of 200, most pairt horsemen, finding Sir James Turner, carred him away prisoner; and missing of ye minister of ye place, whome they enviouslie sought for, went a way, dooing no more hurt, from thence marched through Galloway into the sheriefdome of Air, their number still incresing, did little hurt to anie, except conformed ministers, whome they plundered, and wounded some of them. There numbers were reported to have beine increased to three or four thousand, and it was surmised, that they had intelligence and assurances, not onlie from other places of this kingdome, and yors of Ingland, but also from ye king's enemies beyond seas. The newes hereof, comeing hither upon Friday the 16th, instantlie, by the advice of the secrett councell, Lieutenant-General Dalzell, with the forces under his command, extending to seveine troupes of horses, and two regiments of foot, were sent to oppose them, and preserve ye citie of Glasgow, from ye wh place he marched straight towards Air; but befoir he came that lenth, the rebells had retired from thence, and taking strainge pathes and wayes, declined ye incovnter wt his Maities forces, yet the Leut-Generall followed them so vigorouslie, that though they had 24 houres march befoir him, yet he was wtin a few miles of ym befoir they could reach Edr; and they being wtn two miles of this place yesterday in the morning, he pressed them so hard, that they were forced to take to the Pictland hilles; and there, a little befoir sun-setting, ingadged them in fight, though they had taken great advantage of the ground. The dispute was hard and sharpe for halfe ane hourr or more, the royal cavillarie alone being ingadged against them, but how soone as the foot came up, the rebelles betooke themselses to flight; few were killed of ye king's partie, but divers wounded; of the rebels, as is conjectured, some three hundereth upon ye ground, and neirly als manie prisoners, the rest all scattered, wh, by the darkness of ye night, alone escaped the hands of the conquerors. We cannot learne of anie persons of considerable qualitie that were amongst them, but some soulders and commanders, of desperat minds and fortunis;[1] neither can I as yet give

  1. ↑ Among the Cameronian worthies, Colonel James Wallace, and one Captain Arnot, are renowed for their behaviour on this occasion. They were probably the persons alluded to by the Bishop.—Editor.
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