 testified his willingness to accompany the main body of the
army, which was destined to drive the regular troops from Glasgow. His
companions in command were named, and the whole received a strengthening
exhortation from the preachers who were present. Next morning, at break of day,
the insurgent army broke up from their encampment, and marched towards Glasgow.
    It is not our intention to detail at length incidents which may be found in
the history of the period. It is sufficient to say, that Claverhouse and Lord
Ross, learning the superior force which was directed against them, intrenched,
or rather barricadoed themselves, in the centre of the city, where the
town-house and old jail were situated, with the determination to stand the
assault of the insurgents rather than to abandon the capital of the West of
Scotland. The Presbyterians made their attack in two bodies, one of which
penetrated into the city in the line of the College and Cathedral Church, while
the other marched up the Gallowgate, or principal access from the south-east.
Both divisions were led by men of resolution, and behaved with great spirit. But
the advantages of military skill and situation were too great for their
undisciplined valour.
    Ross and Claverhouse had carefully disposed parties of their soldiers in
houses, at the heads of the streets, and in the entrances of closes, as they are
called, or lanes, besides those who were entrenched behind breastworks which
reached across the streets. The assailants found their ranks thinned by a fire
from invisible opponents, which they had no means of returning with effect. It
was in vain that Morton and other leaders exposed their persons with the utmost
gallantry, and endeavoured to bring their antagonists to a close action; their
followers shrunk from them in every direction. And yet, though Henry Morton was
one of the very last to retire, and exerted himself in bringing up the rear,
maintaining order in the retreat, and checking every attempt which the enemy
made to improve the advantage they had gained by the repulse, he had still the
mortification to hear many of those in his ranks muttering to each other, »that
this came of trusting to the latitudinarian boys; and that, had honest faithful
Burley led the attack, as he did that of the barricades of Tillietudlem, the
issue would have been as different as might be.«
    It was with burning resentment that Morton heard these reflections thrown
out by the very men who had soonest exhibited signs of discouragement. The
unjust reproach, however, had the effect of firing his emulation, and making him
sensible that, engaged as he was in a perilous
