=42. Sanquhar Declaration.=--The straitest sect of the Covenanters now put forth a protest called the _Sanquhar Declaration_. Their leaders were _Donald Cargill_ and _Richard Cameron_, after whom they were called _Cameronians_. Their openly avowed intention was to free the country from the tyranny under which it was groaning. They held that _Charles_ had by his perjury forfeited the crown. They excommunicated both him and his brother _James, Duke of York_, who was the Commissioner, and surpassed both Middleton and Lauderdale in cruelty. To kill either the King or his brother, or both of them, the _Sanquhar_ men declared would be perfectly justifiable. They joined themselves together by one of the old bonds for mutual defence and support. _Hackston of Rathillet_, who had been present at the death of Sharp, was a chief man among them. With him as their leader they sought a refuge from the troopers who were out after them in _Airds Moss_, in Ayrshire. There they were attacked, and, though they fought bravely, were overcome by the soldiers. =43. Drumclog.=--The hill-country between _Lanark_ and _Ayr_ was the favourite haunt of the _Covenanters_. Here they held great conventicles, to which the men came armed. One of the largest of these meetings was gathered at _Drumclog_, near Loudon Hill, when they were attacked by a body of dragoons under _John Graham_, of _Claverhouse_. But Claverhouse was unaccustomed to this irregular way of fighting, and he was defeated. The Covenanters, wild with joy, thought that they saw the special hand of Providence in this success. They gathered in great numbers, and marched on Glasgow. But they did no harm to either the city or the citizens; they only took down from the gates the heads and limbs of their friends who had suffered for their faith, and buried them. =44. Bothwell Bridge.=--To put down this revolt, Charles sent his illegitimate son, _James_, Duke of _Buccleuch_ and _Monmouth_, with an army of fifteen thousand men. The zeal of the Covenanters was great, but their resources were few, and their leaders unskilful. It was therefore an easy matter for a well-trained army to defeat them, and at the _Bridge_ over the _Clyde_ at _Bothwell_ they were beaten with great slaughter. Twelve hundred fell into the hands of the victors. Seven of these were put to death, some were released on giving sureties for their future good conduct, and the rest were shipped off to the plantations. _Cameron_ fell in this fray. _Hackston_ and _Cargill_ were taken, and brought to trial at Edinburgh, found guilty, and put to death afterwards.