The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Such as passed the water, and escaped that danger, not well acquainted with the ground, fell into the slimy moss; the entry thereof was pleasing enough, but as they proceeded, all that took that way, either lost their horse, or else themselves and horse both. To be short,¹ a greater fear and discomfiture without cause, hath seldom been seen; for it is said, That where the men were not sufficient to take the Bands of prisoners; Some ran to houses, and rendered themselves to ⟨p. 33⟩women. Stout Oliver was without stroke taken fleeing full manfully. And so was his glory (stinking and foolish proudness we should call it) suddenly turned to confusion and shame. In that discomfiture were taken the two Earls aforesaid, the Lords Fleming, Somerwell, and Oliphant, and many other Barons and Gentlemen, besides the great multitude of servants. Worldly men say, That all this come but by misorder and fortune, as they term it: But whosoever hath the least spark of the knowledge of God, may as evidently see the work of his hand in this discomfiture, as ever was seen in any of the Battles left to us in Register by the holy Ghost:² For what more evident Declaration have we that God fought against Benhadad, ³King of Aram, when he was discomfited at Samaria, than now we have, that God fought with his own Arm against Scotland in this former discomfiture? There did two hundred and thirty persons in the Skirmish,⁴ with seven thousand following them in the great Battle, put to flight the said Benhadad, with thirty Kings in his Company. But here there is in this shameful discomfiture of Scotland, very few more than three hundred men, without knowledge of any Back or Battle to follow, put to flight ten thousand men,⁵ without resistance made. There did every man recounter his marrow, till that the two hundred and thirty slew such as matched them: But here, without slaughter, the multitude fled. There had those of Samaria the Prophet of God to comfort, to instruct, and to promise Victory unto them: But England in that pursuit had nothing, but as God secretly wrought by his providence in the men that knew nothing of his working, neither yet of the cause thereof, more then the wall that fell upon the rest of Benhadad's Army knew what it did.