Several soldiers were slain, the rest driven back over the morass and dispersed, and the victorious Burley, with his party, crossed it in their turn, to direct against Claverhouse the very manoeuvre which he had instructed Bothwell to execute.

He now put his troop in order, with the view of attacking the right wing of the royalists; and, sending news of his success to the main body, exhorted them, in the name of Heaven, to cross the marsh, and work out the glorious work of the Lord by a general attack upon the enemy.
Meanwhile, Claverhouse, who had in some degree remedied the confusion occasioned by the first irregular and unsuccessful attack, and reduced the combat in front to a distant skirmish with firearms, chiefly maintained by some dismounted troopers whom he had posted behind the cover of the shrub-by copses of alders, which in some places covered the edge of the morass, and whose close, cool, and well-aimed fire greatly annoyed the enemy, and concealed their own deficiency of numbers,--Claverhouse, while he maintained the contest in this manner, still expecting that a diversion by Bothwell and his party might facilitate a general attack, was accosted by one of the dragoons, whose bloody face and jaded horse bore witness he was come from hard service.
"What is the matter, Halliday ?" said Claverhouse, for he knew every man in his regiment by name--"Where is Bothwell ?" "Bothwell is down," replied Halliday, "and many a pretty fellow with him." "Then the king," said Claverhouse, with his usual composure, "has lost a stout soldier .-- The enemy have passed the marsh, I suppose ?" "With a strong body of horse, commanded by the devil incarnate that killed Bothwell," answered the terrified soldier.
"Hush! hush!" said Claverhouse, putting his finger on his lips, "not a word to any one but me .-- Lord Evandale, we must retreat.

The fates will have it so.

Draw together the men that are dispersed in the skirmishing work.

Let Allan form the regiment, and do you two retreat up the hill in two bodies, each halting alternately as the other falls back.