with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns

153
Then Laurie the traytor.
Who betray'd his master,
His king and his countrie and a*, man,
Pretending Mar might
Give order to fight,
To the right of the army awa', man.*
And we rarij and they ran, S^c.
* " There was at this time a report prevail'd that one Drum-
tnond went to Perth under the notion of a deserter from the duke
Argyle, but in reahty acted the part of a spy, and gave his
grace intelligence of all the motions of the enemy. This man
was employed the day of the action, as aid, de camp to the lord
Drummondj and in that quality attended the earl of Mar to re-
ceive his orders ; the earl, when he found his right was like to
break the duke's left, sent this Drummond with orders to gene-
ral Hammilton, who commanded on the rebels' left, to attack
the enemy briskly, for that he was like to get the better on the
right. But Drummond, as they pretend, gave contrary orders,
and intelligence to general Hammilton, acquainting him that the
earl's right was broke, and desiring the general to retire with all
the expedition possible, and in the best order he could. Upon
which general Hammilton gave orders to slacken the attack,
which was obey'd. Then the duke's right approaching, the most
of them gave way without striking a stroke, and those who
stood were mostly gentlemen and officers, who were severely
gall'd by the duke ; and they pretend that Drummond, after
performing this treacherous part, went over to the duke."
Campbell's Life of John Duke of Argyle, p. 204.