“Come，myfaithfulkinsmen！“criedLordArbroath，dashingforwardonhissidewiththesameobject；“come，mymen-at-arms！ForGodandthequeen！“
Thetwotroopsprecipitatedthemselvesimmediatelyindisorderandranagainstoneanotherinthenarrowway，where，aswehavesaid，twomencouldhardlypassabreast。Therewasaterriblecollisionthere，andtheconflictbeganamongfriendswhoshouldhavebeenunitedagainsttheenemy。Finally，thetwotroops，leavingbehindthemsomecorpsesstifledinthepress，orevenkilledbytheircompanions，passedthroughthedefilepell-mellandwerelostsightofintheravine。ButduringthisstruggleSeytonandArbroathhadlostprecioustime，andthedetachmentsentbyMurray，whichhadtakentheroadbyGlasgow，hadreachedthevillagebeforehand；itwasnownecessarynottotakeit，buttoretakeit。
Argyllsawthatthewholeday’sstrugglewouldbeconcentratedthere，and，understandingmoreandmoretheimportanceofthevillage，immediatelyputhimselfattheheadofthebodyofhisarmy，commandingarearguardoftwothousandmentoremainthereandawaitfurtherorderstotakepartinthefighting。Butwhetherthecaptainwhocommandedthemhadillunderstood，orwhetherhewaseagertodistinguishhimselfintheeyesofthequeen，scarcelyhadArgyllvanishedintotheravine，attheendofwhichthestrugglehadalreadycommencedbetweenKirkcaldyofGrangeandMortonontheoneside，andontheotherbetweenArbroathandSeyton，than，withoutregardingthecriesofMaryStuart，hesetoffinhisturnatagallop，leavingthequeenwithoutotherguardthanthelittleescortoftwentymenwhichDouglashadchosenforher。Douglassighed。
“Alas！“saidthequeen，hearinghim，“Iamnotasoldier，butthereitseemstomeisabattleverybadlybegun。“
“Whatistobedone？“repliedDouglas。“Weareeveryoneofusinfatuated，fromfirsttolast，andallthesemenarebehavingto-daylikemadmenorchildren。“