Battle Of Drumclog, pp.105-106.

[Scottish National Memorials Contents]

   LARGE DRUM; ANDREA FERRARA SWORD; CLAYMORE; and CAPTAIN’S SWORD, captured at Drumclog. Preserved by the Whytes of Neuk, Lesmahagow. 

(384, 385, 386, 387) Lent by MRS. NAPIER. 

   ANDREA FERRARA BROADSWORD, from Drumclog, and the COVENANTER M^cKERROW’S SWORD, also used there. 

(396, 446) Lent by A. C. M^cINTYRE. 

   ANDREA FERRARA BROADSWORD, used at Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge. 

(400) Lent by MISS JULIA J. STRUTHERS. 

   ANDREA FERRARA RAPIER, believed to have been used by a Covenanter at Drumclog. 

(403) Lent by HUGH THOMSON. 

   SWORD, used by Andrew Craig at Drumclog. 

(404) Lent by MISS BROWN. 

   SWORD, used at Drumclog, and since preserved in the family of Flemings, natives of Strathaven. 

(407) Lent by JAMES FLEMING. 

   SWORD of James Thomson, Tanhill, Lesmahagow. the blade, which is barely 34 inches in length, is double-edged, bears traces of lettering, has a broad groove on each side, and is 1 ½ inches in breadth at the junction. The grip is 3 ½ inches in length; the mounting is gone. It has a basket-hilt and semi-globular pommel and nut. 

(424) Lent by J. B. DALZELL. 

   SWORD of the Covenanter Muir of Darvel, used at Drumclog. The double-edged blade is 32 ½ inches long, and 1 ¼ broad at the junction. On each side it bears the name: ‘Andreia Farara,’ and the motto: ‘Soli Deo Gloria.’ It has a light basket-hilt, and the grip is 3 ½ inches long. 

(426) Lent by J. B. DALZELL. 

   BRASS-BARRELLED BLUNDERBUSS, used at Drumclog by Alexander Hetterick, and still the property of his descendant in Irvine. 

(438) Lent by JAMES DICKIE. 

   The daring publication of their testimony and the burning of the obnoxious Acts of Parliament, by a small party of Covenanters, on the 29^th of May 1679. at the market-cross of Rutherglen, being magnified, ‘made a mighty noise both at Glasgow and Edinburgh.’ Perhaps the Action was not altogether unwelcome to the rulers, who, there is reason to suspect, were anxious to get something which could be branded as rebellion, as an excuse for extreme measures. With alacrity, Claverhouse undertook the congenial task of apprehending the offenders, some of whom, after going to bed on Saturday night, near Newmills, were informed that ‘Clavers was rindging all the country for them,’ but in the morning they resolved, nevertheless, to attend the conventicle which had been arranged for that day near Loudon Hill. With some others they were at the meeting-place before the appointed time, and having learned that their common enemy had already seized a minister – John King – and several others, they determined if possible to rescue them. When two parties are searching for one another they are seldom long in meeting. Claverhouse was not content with the prisoners he had got, but thought that, before conveying them to Glasgow, he ‘might make a little tour to see if we could fall upon a conventicle’; and he naïvely adds, in his account of the matter, ‘which we did, little to our advantage.’ The result is well 
known. The royal troops were thoroughly defeated, and leaving nearly forty of their number
 dead on the field, they fled to Glasgow; while the ill-armed victors seem only to have lost six 
men, including those mortally wounded, among these being Thomas Fleming of Loudon Hill, and
 James Thomson. Claverhouse had given the order, ‘No quarter.’ Hamilton on the other side 
gave the same command, and was prepared to carry it out, although his subordinates were not. 
Returning from the pursuit and finding a discussion going on as to whether a prisoner should
 receive quarter or not, he speedily settled the matter; but others, to whom quarter had been
 promised without his knowledge, he spared. This memorable encounter took place on Sabbath
 the 1^st of June 1679.¹ Curiously enough, Hill Burton has given the date incorrectly in both 
editions of his History, saying in the one the 11^th of January, and in the other the 11^th of June.

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¹  Nimmo, in his interesting Narrative (Scottish History Society, 1889), says, in reference to this occasion, that
 ‘Clavers with his troupe came against a feild meitting of the oprest presbeterians on a saboth day, the peopl being 
still in feares, severals went to the meeting in their armes in caise of atacks reather to defend themselves then be 
taken and aither hangd or banished as slaves.’ – P. 12.