Adam Hepburn's Vow: A Tale of Kirk and CovenantSwan, Annie S.
History
Adam Hepburn's Vow: A Tale of Kirk and Covenant
Swan, Annie S.
Covenanters -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 17th century -- Fiction
"Yes, to-night I shall sup with my Lord Jesus, and see my son. Tell his
mother," Andrew Gray gasped; then Adam had to see to himself, for he was
nearly surrounded. Step by step that brave band was driven from their
post, one by one they fell, until but a remnant remained. These at last
were finally driven from the last foot of the bridge, and Monmouth
ordered his entire battalion to mount the cannon and pass over. The
remnant turned to flee, but only those who were on horseback had a
chance to escape. Rathillet and Balfour, seeing all was lost, gave spur
to their steeds and rode rapidly off the field. Adam Hepburn, with
faithful 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. The
soldiery disarmed every man among their prisoners, divested them of half
their clothing, and ordered them to lie flat down on the ground, warning
them that any movement would be followed by instant death.
"I say, Adam Hepburn, whaur will the minister o’ Broomhill be, think
ye?" queried Watty, who was lying beside Adam, and groaning grievously
with the pain of his wound.
"I have not set eyes on him since before we went into action," said
Adam. "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 was
aye a peaceable man, an’ to think I should come to this beats a’. I
maun 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 Watty
was not to be repressed, and accordingly raised his head. No sooner had
he 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 he
rolled over on his side. In a few minutes all was over, and poor Watty
had gone where he would inherit that peace which had been so dear to his
soul on earth. Adam Hepburn groaned also, in the bitterness of his
soul. Of all his kindred and friends was he alone left upon the face of
the earth, a desolate outcast, for whom the prison tortures were in
reserve? With his own hand he had cut down seven troopers on Bothwell
Bridge; only one more well-aimed stroke, and he had been released from
his 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 been
instantly 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 craven
fear of death the thought of it was not so pleasant as it was to many of
the suffering remnant, whose daily prayer had been that they might be
taken from these weary troubles into the rest prepared for those who
endure for the Master’s sake.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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