. The blue flag; or, The Covenanters who contended for "Christ's crown and covenant" . ue offer was declined; then the battle began inearnest, and the gallant three hundred defenders of thel)ridge, with their muskets and one lone cannon, re~ceived the charge of the Kings soldiers. They drovethe royalists back, but not being properlv supportedfrom the rear, they could not pursue the enemy. Sothey remained on the bridge, awaiting a second three hoiu*s they held the bridge against over-whelming numbers, and without reinforcements fromthe main body of their comrades. At length theirammu
. The blue flag; or, The Covenanters who contended for "Christ's crown and covenant" . ue offer was declined; then the battle began inearnest, and the gallant three hundred defenders of thel)ridge, with their muskets and one lone cannon, re~ceived the charge of the Kings soldiers. They drovethe royalists back, but not being properlv supportedfrom the rear, they could not pursue the enemy. Sothey remained on the bridge, awaiting a second three hoiu*s they held the bridge against over-whelming numbers, and without reinforcements fromthe main body of their comrades. At length theirammunition gave ottt and they had to retire. ]\b)n-mouths army slmvly passed over the bridge, andformed after they had reached the other side. At thisjuncture a cry was raised among the Covenanters thattheir leaders had iled, and, alas! it was true, exceptthat Hackston remained at the head of his troop ofhorsemen. But disorder prevailed, and there was no-thing for the Covenanters, who were ni>w withoutcommanders, Init Hackston acted \ery nobly, > r M o tx!O ?ffi ?5ow. 70 THE BLUE FLAG. and defended the retreating Covenanters as best hecould. The battle was lost, and the royal army, whichhad behaved with calmness heretofore, now burst forthupon the fugitive Covenanters and cut them to pieceseverywhere. Xo prisoners were taken, but all whowere overtaken were put to the sword. Twelve hun-dred Covenanters, however, seeing themselves sur-rounded and at the mercy of their foes, surrendered,and the subordinate officers and the soldiers wouldhave massacred every one of them if [Monmouth hadnot issued a command to stop killing. After ^lonmouth left the heitl, liowcver, the soldcrsreturned to their i-ari)arities. Tlie prisoners almost naked and ordered to lie tlat on theground, and if any man raised his head he was shc^t likea dog. The women who came tu help the woiuidedby bringing water had their pitchers broken, and weresubjected to every kind oi insult. When M
Size: 900px × 2777px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpubl, booksubjectcovenanters
