1 82 RAMBLES OF A <DO MINIS 



some of which the sleeping room was entered by a ladder 

 from without, have given place to cottages of trim red 

 brick. On the tower of the church, in whose shadow lies 

 the dust of Roundhead captains who perished in the fight, 

 there stood in Carlyle's time, too, " a strange old ball ; a 

 hollow copper ball," which in 1544 was brought to 

 England among the plunder of Boulogne. But the old 

 tower has been rebuilt, and the trophy shines no longer 

 on its summit. 



On the eve of Naseby fight, at the time when their 

 cause was on the very brink of ruin, the hopes of the 

 Cavaliers were high. Never, as is well remarked by 

 Gardiner, had the triumph of the King seemed nearer 

 than at the hour when he was marching to his doom. 

 The great Montrose was in the full career of victory. 

 He had sent word from Scotland that having shortly, as 

 he hoped, reduced that country to obedience, he would 

 come to the assistance of his Royal Master " with a brave 

 army which, backed by the justice of your Majesty's 

 cause, will make the rebels in England as well as in 

 Scotland feel the just rewards of rebellion." He saw in 

 fancy Scotland at his feet. He had indeed scattered the 

 Covenanters at Tippermuir, and routed Burleigh by the 

 walls of Aberdeen. With his handful of Highlanders he 

 had broken at Inverlochy the power of the Clan Campbell. 

 Since then he had conducted from Dundee a retreat that 

 in the eyes of foreign captains was an achievement more 

 brilliant even than his victories, and now came news of 

 another splendid triumph at Auldearne. Charles himself, 

 after a three days' siege, had taken Leicester by a mid- 



