HIS Grace the Duke of Monmouth came up to the Kings Army on Thursday the 19th day of June, which then lay at Moorhead beyond Blackhorne; and having sent for some Pro­visions from Edenburgh, which he found wanting, as soon as they arrived, He resolved to march against the Rebels, who lay encamped beyond Both­well-Bridge, up towards Hamilton, about Nine miles distance from our Camp. And accordingly on Saturday the 21 of June, in the Evening, his Grace began his March; Major Oglethorp was ordered to Lead the Van with five Troops of the English Dragoons, and One hundred Horse, commanded by the Lord Hume. His Grace followed with the rest of the Horse and Dragoons, and Three hundred Commanded Foot; The Earl of Linlithgow, Major-General, led the Foot. About break of day the Van came in sight of the Rebels, who were all ready Drawn up in two Bodies, though they had no other notice of our March than what they had from our lighted Matches. Major Oglethorp with his Party was com­manded to march directly towards the Bridge, and draw up [Page 4]before it, which they did within Pistol-shot of it, ap­proaching so much the nearer, because they found the Rebels had Barricadoed the Bridge with Stones and Tim­ber, that endred it very difficult to Pass; the Rebels had posted themselves very advantageously, for there was no coming to them but over that Bridge, the River Clyd running between the two Armies. His Grace drew up the Army in Battle up­on the heighth parallel to the River, in full view of the Re­bels; which being done, He went to visit the Dragoons Post about a Mile distant; He was met on the way by an Officer, who acquainted him that a Parly was Beat, and delivered him a Petition sent from them, and Signed by Robert Hamilton in the name of himself and the Covenanted Army in Scotland now in Arms; The Purport whereof was, That they had lay'n under great Oppressions in their Estates and Consciences, which had Obliged them to have recourse to Arms for their own Preservati­on, which they would keep no longer, when the Things set forth in their Declaration were granted them. His Grace admitting of the Parley, there came out to him, Mr. David Hume, one of their Ministers, with another Gentleman; and being asked what they came for, Mr Hume answered, They were informed that his Grace was a Mercifull Man, that took no delight to shed Blood, and one that had Power to do them Good. His Grace told them, He should be very glad that they would prevent the effusion of Blood, and to that end he was willing to Hear what it was they desired. Mr. Hume answered, That all their Desires were contained in their Declaration. And being asked whether he meant the Declaration that passed under their name, as Proclaimed at Rugland. He answered, God forbid we should own that; But the Declaration he spoke of, was one they had lately Printed, a Copy whereof he had with him, and desired liberty to Read it; and having read it, His Grace told them, He supposed they would take this as a Proof of his Clemency and Forbearance towards them, that he had Patience to hear such a LIBEL against the Kings Person and Government read through­out; But that he saw no Article in it he could possibly agree to; and therefore would make them a much shorter Proposal: Which was, That if they would immediately lay down thei Arms, and submit themselves to His Majesty's Mercy, the Kings Forces should not fall upon them. Mr Hume said it was impossible to agree to [Page 5]that, for that it would be to lay their Heads upon the Block; his Grace advised them to consider well what they had to do, and to reflect a little (if that number of Men (shewing them the Army as it was Drawn up) were not sufficient to oblige them to new Resolutions; He returned it very briskly, Desi­ring his Grace would take a View of the Covenanted Army, assuring him, That every Man he saw there, would Die in the place where he stood, in Defence of the Covenant. His Grace said no more to him, But that a few minutes would shew the truth of that, if they refused his Offer.

The other Gentleman, who appeared the more moderate, desired a Cessation of Arms for one day, but being told it was not to be expected that the Kings Troops should grant that to Rebels, he pressed it for a quarter of an hour onely. His Grace told them if they would go and consider what he had said, and send him their Proposal in writing, he would at any time, when he heard their Drum, stop to re­ceive their Paper, though the fight should be begun, and so dismist them and immediately Ordered the Cannon to advance, which was brought to the heighth opposite to the Bridge, and whilst preparation was making to Fire upon them, they beat a second Parley; and Major Maine was sent to know what they would have, who brought back a Letter to this effect, That they had considered what had been said; but could agree to nothing less than what was in their Declaration; and that they understood His Grace had brought with him from England, some Terms of Accommodation; If he would please to communicate them he should have their Answer, if they were such as they could accept. Major Maine was sent back to acquaint them, that a more satisfactory Answer was expected, therefore they would now do well to look to themselves, and their Officers might, if they thought fit, retire from the Bridge (who were come thither upon the account of the Parley) for they should hear from his Grace in another manner. As soon as they were retired, Orders were given for the Cannon to Fire, which they return­ed with so great a Volly of shot from the Bridge, that our Gunners quitted their Guns, but soon returned to them again: Major Oglethorp was ordered to make a Trench on the edge of the Hill to cover his men, but before it was finished, upon the Firing of the Cannon against the Bridge, rhe Rebels be­gan [Page 6]to run from it. Whereupon His Grace ore-rod Major Oglethorp to possess himself of the Bridge, and advance no farther; but his men finding the Enemy to retire before them, could not be hindred from passing the Bridge, and going up some part of the rising ground after them. But the Rebels perceiving their small number, advanced upon them, and forced them to retire to the houses at the foot of the Bridge. His Grace sent Three hundred Foot to second them, commanded by the Lord Leviston, Son to the Earl of Linlithgow, who be­haved themselves so well, and made so great Fire, that they and the Dragoons forced the Rebels up the hill again. They were immediately seconded by the Regiment of Guards, and by the Troop of Guards led by His Grace. Upon these Troops passing the Bridge, the Rebels fell to running, but rallied a­gain upon Hamilton Heath, at a quarter of a miles distance, and His Grace advanced, with the Troops that were already passed, to the top of the hill, and there made a Halt to give time to so ma­ny of the rest of the Forces to come over, as would make the first Line. In the mean while the Rebels were drawing up in Battle opposite to us, and his Grace observing that they strengthned their left Wing with a design to take the advantage of a hol­low Ground, he ordered his right to be strengthned and commanded 100 Highlanders of the Marquis of Athols Regi­ment to post themselves in that hollow, and the five Troops of English Dragoons were to second them; this was no sooner done but, they advanced upon us at the same time that His Grace was forming the second Line. Our Highland­ers and their Foot began the Fight in the hollow ground, but the Highlanders advancing too far were forced to retreat back to the Dragoons. At the same time the Cannon Fi­red upon their left, where their strength lay, and had not fired twice round when their Horse began to run; where­upon, His Grace ordered Major Oglethorp with the Dragoons, Major Maine and Captain Claveres with their Troops of Horse, and the Earl of Eglinton with his Troop of Vo­lunteers to pursue whilst he followed himself with the rest of the Army so fast as not to be put in disorder: And the Army followed no farther then to the end of the Heath which was about a Mile. But the others pursued them so close, that there were taken above 1200 Prisoners, and between 7 or 800 killed. The Heat of the Business was over by One of the [Page 7]Clock, after which time there were none killed. Many of the Prisoners were sorely wounded, and those his Grace orde­red to be dressed by his own Chirurgeon. The Prisoners of Note that were taken are John Kid, one of their Ministers, and of the most Factious, who was taken by the Dragoons; and John King a Minister, who was taken some days after the Fight near Glasgow, Mr. David Carthcart; a Captain of Foot was taken with Kid, and old Gordon, Laird of Earleston was killed.

It was said by the Prisoners, that they had no account from David Hume of what his Grace offered them, which they believe would have been accepted of by the Generality, so care­ful are their Ministers that those poor Misguided People should rather be Destroyed than Undeceived.