152 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



which intervened. The bishop of Durham, who led the other division of the 

 cavalry, was wheeling round on the east, but observing this misfortune, became 

 irresolute, and inclined to wait for support, when Ralph Basset, of Drayton, 

 tauntingly exclaimed, " To mass, bishop — to mass !" and charged with the whole 

 body. This was accomplished with such impetuosity, that the Scottish men-at- 

 arms left the ground without crossing a lance. The infantry met and sustained 

 the shock for a time with unflinching courage ; but in the struggle that followed. 

 Sir John Stewart was dismounted and slain among his faithful archers. Thus 

 discouraged and exposed to incessant showers of arrows, without the means of 

 defence or retaliation, and thrown into disorder by the fall of one of their 

 leaders, the Scottish troops gradually fell back, and at length betook themselves 

 to flight. The rout was complete ; and the few who survived, owed their 

 lives to the shelter of the neighbouring forest. The body of Stewart was found 

 among those of his Ettrick and Selkirk bowmen, who were distinguished from 

 all others with which the field was covered, by their manly stature and fair com- 

 plexions. Macduff", and Sir John the Graham, as already mentioned, perished 

 in the same disastrous field, which, according to popular report, was lost 

 by treachery and collusion between King Edward and the earls of Dunbar 

 and Angus.* 



The second battle of Falkirk, fought on the 17th of January, 1746, was 

 preceded and attended by very different circumstances. On arriving, General 

 Hawley encamped with a force of six thousand men near the very field rendered 

 so memorable by the disaster recorded. The Highland army in the mean 

 time not only kept their ground, but prepared to attack the general in his 

 camp ; and crossing the Carron at Dunipace, were within two miles of Falkirk 

 before their design was suspected. The English force, apprehending nothing 

 like a surprise, were busied throughout the camp preparing dinner ; while the 

 general himself had gone to dine with the countess of Kilmarnock — although, 

 from the fact of her husband holding at that time a command in the prince's 

 army, her attachment to the opposite cause might have been suspected. f At 



• This suspicion is strengthened by the disgraceful flight of tlie Scottish cavalry. But the defeat is suffi- 

 ciently accounted". for by the great superiority of the English archers, both as to nuntibers and expertness in 

 their art. The Scottish spear wasinvincible in close quarters ; but the well-feathered shaft of England carried 

 death into the distant ranks, and was superior to the arquebuse or musket of the present day, inasmuch as 

 the marksman's aim was unimpeded by that smoke which collects over a modern field of battle. 



t From the testimony of a person then in the house of Callander, it appears that the earl, as well as 

 the countess of Kilmarnock, entertained General Ilavvley on this occasion ; and that the earl, stepping 

 out of the dining room, had taken his'arms, mounted his horse, and leaving his lady to do the honours, 

 joined the prince's army. — Hisl. of the County, Append, p. 758. 



fCallander 



