A few weeks after the memorable assassination of Archbishop Sharpe, Robert Hamilton, a fierce Cameronian, Burly, and a few others of the proscribed "Westlan' men" resolved to take up arms against the government. They began their demonstrations by entering the royal burgh of Rutherglen, on the 29th of May, 1679 (which, as the anniversary of the Restoration, was appointed by Parliament to be kept as a holyday) extinguishing the bonfires made in honor of the occasion, and burning at the cross certain acts in favor of Prelacy and for the suppression of Conventicles. After this exploit, and affixing to the cross a solemn protest against the obnoxious acts, they encamped at Loudon Hill, being by this time increased to the number of five or six hundred men. Claverhouse was in garrison at Glasgow, and immediately marched against the insurgents, with about a hundred and fifty cavalry. Hamilton, the commander of the Whigs, had skilfully posted his men in a boggy strait with a broad ditch in front, and the dragoons in attempting to charge were thrown into utter disorder. At this critical moment they were vigorously attacked by the rebels and easily routed. Claverhouse barely escaped being taken prisoner, and lost some twenty of his troopers, among them his cornet, Robert Graham, whose fate is alluded to in the ballad. Burly, though not the captain, was a prominent leader in this action. See SCOTT's _Minstrelsy_, vol. ii. 206, _et seq._ You'l marvel when I tell ye o' Our noble Burly and his train, When last he march'd up through the land, Wi' sax-and-twenty Westland men. Than they I ne'er o' braver heard, 5 For they had a' baith wit and skill; They proved right well, as I heard tell, As they cam up o'er Loudon Hill. Weel prosper a' the gospel lads, That are into the west countrie, 10 Aye wicked Claver'se to demean, And aye an ill deid may he die! For he's drawn up i' battle rank, An' that baith soon an' hastilie; But they wha live till simmer come, 15 Some bludie days for this will see. But up spak cruel Claver'se, then, Wi' hastie wit, an' wicked skill; "Gae fire on yon Westlan' men; I think it is my sov'reign's will." 20 But up bespake his Cornet, then, "It's be wi' nae consent o' me! I ken I'll ne'er come back again, An' mony mae as weel as me. "There is not ane of a' yon men, 25 But wha is worthy other three; There is na ane amang them a', That in his cause will stap to die. "An' as for Burly, him I knaw; He's a man of honour, birth, and fame; 30 Gie him a sword into his hand, He'll fight thysell an' other ten."