A collection of ancient and modern Scottish ballads, etc

50
n support to her government, to rid her of him he Sup-
posed would be doing an acceptable service; and as he
imagined that were the Queen once in his power, this
act of treason would be pardoned for the favour he had
done her, he therefore waged war with less remorse ; be-
sides, the country around was either awed by his power,
or attached to him as vassals.
The Queen, with her attendants, returned to Aberdeen in
the beginning of October, 1562, after taking the castle of
Inverness from the rebels. Huntly, with a considerable
body of men, posted himself at a place called the Fair
Bank, orCorichie, near Aberdeen, where he determined to
abide the issue of a battle. The Earl of Murray had not
above an hundred horse in whom he could confide, and
was obliged therefore to summon the Forbeses and Leslies
to his assistance, who, although they favoured Huntly's
designs, yet their duty to their sovereign would not suffer
them to betray her. They accordingly took the field,
and, decorating their bonnets with heath, with apparent
cheerfulness marched to attack the enemy, but on ap-
proaching him they were suddenly seized with a panic,
and fled witliout striking a blow. Murray had drawn up
his small band of adherents on a rising ground which over-
looked the field of battle, and was astonished to see the
Forbeses flying in confusion towards the spot where he
was stationed, which he attributed to treachery rather
than to fear ; there was no time for delay or hesitation,
he therefore ordered his men to charge with their spears
their flying friends and pursuing foes, who had thrown
away their lances to enable them to follow. Huntly
meeting with so unexpected a resistance, and unable to
penetrate the firm phalanx of spears opposed to him, was
soon forced to retreat, which his first assailants perceiy*