274

HISTORY OR ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XIII.

168 !!.

and it was believed that his exhortations had induced the gar-rison to hold out. His old soldiers were known to be gatheringround him; and it might well be apprehended that he wouldmake some desperate attempt. He, on the other hand, hadbeen informed that the Western Covenanters who filled thecellars of the city had vowed vengeance on him: and, in truth,when we consider that their temper was singularly savage andimplacable; that they had been taught to regard the slaying ofa persecutor as a duty; that no examples furnished by HolyWrit had been more frequently held up to their admiration thanEhud stabbing Eglon, and Samuel hewing Agag limb fromlimb; that they had never heard any achievement in the historyof their own country more warmly praised by their favouriteteachers than the butchery of Cardinal Beatoun and of Arch-bishop Sharpe; we may well wonder that a man who had shedthe blood of the saints like water should have been able to walls,the High Street in safety during a single day. The enemy whomDundee had most reason to fear was a youth of distinguishedcourage and abilities named William Cleland. Cleland had,when little more than sixteen years old, borne arms in that in-surrection which had been put down at Bothwell Bridge. Hehad since disgusted some virulent fanatics by his humanity andmoderation. But with the great body of Presbyterians his namestood high. For with the strict morality and ardent zeal of aPuritan he united some accomplishments of which few Puritanscould boast. His manners were polished, and his literary andscientific attainments respectable. He was a linguist, a mathe-matician, andapoet. It is true that his hymns, odes, ballads,and Hudibrastic satires are of very little intrinsic value; but,when it is considered that he was a mere boy when most of themwere written, it must be admitted that they show considerablevigour of mind. He was now at Edinburgh: his influence amongthe West Country Whigs assembled there was great: he hated