THe first breaking out of this the bellion was on the 29th. of May last past, upon which day about 80 persons well moun­ted came to Ruglau Market-Cross, and there as an affront to His Majesty and His Government burnt publickly several established Acts of Parliament, As that of Supremacy, and that for sup­pressing field Conventicles, as that for Establishing Prelacy, with the necessary order, and afterwards placed a scandalous Libel, or as they termed it a Declaration upon the Market-Cross, and would have done the same at Glasgou, but were prevented by His Majesties Soldi­ers in Garison.

This done, they gathered into a considerable body on Lansdown Hill on Sunday following, of which Cap. Graham of Cleaver house having notice, drew out what force he had, viz. His own Troop of Horse, and a Com­pany of Dragoones, and with an English resolution went to Charge them. Upon his approach be found the Rebels to be 1500 strong, who upon the discovery of his March towards them, sent out two parties to Skirmish with him, the which he charged with such bravery, that they presently retreated to their Main [Page 5] body, the which with like resolution he attaked, Char­ging through the Enemies main body, and killing a very considerable number, but after the loss of about 20 Dragooners, two Brigadiers, and eight of his own Troop, his own Horse being shot under him, and his Cornet slain, he finding himself overpowerd by odds of number, thought fit to retreat, the which he did with the like gallantry, but in his way to Glasgou, the Rusticks of Strewin were assembled to oppose him, whereupon he charged through them and left 11 or 12 of them dead upon the place.

The next day (the Rebels-taking heart at this first success) drew up their Forces against the City of Glas­gou, and assaulted it in two several places, but were beaten off with considerable loss, whereupon the Dra­gooners and Horse sallyed out and fell upon their Rear, taking some Prisoners, and killing ma [...]y, but they encreasing in number, and fortifying themselves oblieged his Majesties Forces at that time to Retreat, and again beseiged the City aforesaid, and after a sharp dispute, and brave defence, became Masters thereof, at their first entrance, Iohn Balfour of Kinlock (who is insti [...]u [...]ed by the Rebels as Major) holding up his hand, and with an impudent face proclaimed, This is the hand that murdered Sharp, meaning his Grace, the Lord Bishop of St. Andrews, whom he had barba­rously Massacred, and likewise Haxslone and some o­t [...]er of the Rebel made Proclamation that they fought against Supremacy and Prelacy: after which they pro­ceeded to farther Vill [...]nies.

First they robbed the Archbishop of Glasgoues house, tore down his Tapistry Hangings, brake open his Chests and Trunks, and set his Sellor afloat with Beer and Wine after some of the principal had drank their fills, and in fine made a miserable spoyl of all his Goods, no­thing being saved but a small parcel of books, the which his Servants had conveyed to some Neighbours houses, his Lordship, a Heaven doubtless had ordai­ned, was absent, or else unquestioned he had been mur­dered by their cruel hands, after this they proceeded to the great Cathedral, and pulled down all the Or­naments, defacing several Monuments, of note, and exported the Communion Vestments, the p [...]ate [...]aving been timely conveyed away.

The next barbarous exploit in that City by these in­humane Rebels was, they plundered the Bishop of Ar­giles house, and after a miserable Havock t [...]r [...], they went to his Chappel, and their diggi [...]g from their si­lent Graves two of his Lordships children that had lately been interr'd, took up the Coffins, broke them open, and run their Swords through them several times and left the bodies of the poor infants above ground, as Monuments of their inhumane Villany and Cruelty.

Thus far went these Rebels, and loth to stop here, Crown'd all their Villanies with one more, in a Mer­chants great Hall, they finding his Majesties Picture, [...]ore it down, and after in an hundred pieces, thereby manifesting their rebellious Pride, and vile esteem of Majesty that sacred Order that Omnipotence designd to be his Viceroy here below.

Having given you a full Narrative of their Cruel [Page 7] deeds, while in their Rendezvouze they held Rebellious and Lawless practises. Now I shall declare what good success his Majesties Army have had against them, some of the Rebels being got together in the Sheriff of Fife, began to ravage the Countrey, stealing and dri­ving away by force of Armes several hundred Horses to unite and reinforce their Rebellious Accomplices, upon notice of which, and the Lord Chancellors com­ing over to give Orders to the Militia and Heritors rai­sed for the King in those parts: they made to Sterling where being met by the Earl of Murray's Deputy Stew­ard for the Lordship of Down and the Lord Elfingstoun, near the narrow entrance or pass of the town aforesaid they were defeated and scattered, abundance of them being killed in pusuit, and about 100 of them taken Prisoner and brought into Sterling remaining there as yet Prisoners, And it is credibly reported that there is three or four of the twelve that murdered the Arch-Bishop) amo [...]st those that are taken, of the which we shall hereafter be better able to inform you.

After His Grace the Duke of Monmouth came over and Headed his Majesties Army, all peoples fears be­gan to vanish, and of Graces so undoubted courage and Conduct, inflamed them with happy expectations, the which accordingly succeeded: for his Grace on Sunday morning the 22th. of this instant Iune, drew up his Ma­jesties Force in Barralia, in view of the Enemy, the River of Clide only intercepting, whereupon the Re­bels send over a Petition, that they would lay down their Arm and disperse themselves, if they might have the Articles specified in their Declaration fulfil'd, to [Page 8] which his grace returnd answer, that it was contrary to the Laws of the Nation, and prejudicial to the Go­vernment, and that he neither could nor would grant their illegal demands, but if they would deposite their Arms and submit to the Kings mercy he would desist to attacke them. The which they refusing, His Grace Commanded the Cannon to ply against their Ranks, and Commanded a party party out [...]o attacque Bothwel-Bridge, the which the Rebels had well fortyfied, the Party charging with so fierce a Resolution, that at the first Or [...]er, the Rebels that were Posted there fled, up­on which his Majesties Forces passed over the Bridge, & Charged the Rebels who were drawn up in Battalia with the advantage of a rising Hill, whereupon the Rebels opening their Orders, discharged their Canon but to the little or no damage of his Majesties Force: This done his Grace commanded the Army to advance, the which was done with such bravery and Resolution that at first Charge the Enemies main body was broke, and their wings of Horse put to the rout, and in disor­der fled to Hammilton Park, and their shel [...]red from the English valour in a Wood, upon which defeat his Grace drew up his Troops of Horse, and inclosed the Wood and Park, and ordered his Lieutenant Duglass to en [...]er the wood aforesaid, and therein killd a num­ber of the Rebels, and it is reported that in the Ba [...]tel and pursuit there were one or two thousand of the Re­bels [...]ild, besides many taken Prisoners, and that they are utterly broken and dispersed. The loss of our side is very inconfiderable counting the advantage the Re­bels had.