Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-12-09

AZ TT. i, anu ~ ms Tying sag0nieS,
the Highlander writhed himself upwards
on the spear, and exerted his last strength
IN fetching sweeping blow at the armed
knight with his two-handed sword. The
stroke, made with all the last energies q
dying man, cut through Lindsay's stir.
fup and steel boot, and though it did not
sever his leg from his body, yet wounded
MN SO severely as to oblige him to quit
the held. 1t happened, fortunately per-
maps for the Lowlanders, that the wild
I1lghanders were asmuch addicted 10
quarrel with each other as with their
neighbours Two clans or rather two
leagues or confede4acies, composed each
OF several separate clans, fell into such
deadly feuds with esch other as filled the
whole neighbourhood with slaughter and
dlscord. When this isud or quarrel could
be no otherwise ended, it was resolved
the difference should be decided by com
Dat OF thirty men of the, Clan Chatter
against the same number of the Clan Kay
tnat the battle should take place on the
North Inch of Perth, beautiful and level
m IN part surrounded by the river
lay; and that it should be fought in pre-
sence OF the king and his mobiles. Now
there was cruel policy in this arrange
ment TOR it was to be supposed that all
the best and leading men of each clan
would desire TO be among the thirty which
were to fight for their honour; and it was
no less to be expected that the battle would
Foe very bloody and desperate. Thus, the
probable event would be, that both clans
having lost very many of their best and
bravest men, would be more easily manag-
ed in future. Such was probably the view
OF the king and his counsellors in permit
ting this desperate conflict, which, how
ever, was much in the spirit of the times.
The parties on each side were drawn out,
armed with sword and target, axe and
dagger, and stood looking on each other
with fierce and savage aspects, when, Just
as the signal for fight was expected, the
commander of the Clan Chattan perceived
that one of his men, whose heart had fail
ed him, had deserted his standard. There
was no time to seek another man from
the clan so the chieftain, as his only re-
source was obliged to offer reward to
any one who would fight in the room of
the fugitive. Perhaps you think it might
be difficult to get man who, for small
hire, would undergo the perils of battle
which was likely 10 be so obstinate and
deadly. But in that fighting age men val
'ted ihe;r G,tee l;sl-sly.- On0 ffoITTy wynn,
citizen of Perth, and a saddIer by trade,
little bandy-legged man, but of great
strength and activity, aud we'll accustom-
ed to use the broad sword, offered himself,
for half French crown, to serve on the
part of the Clan Chattan in the battle of
that day. The signal was then given by
the sound of the royal trumpets, of the
great war bagpipes of the Highlanders,
and the two parties fell on each other with
the utmost fury, their natural ferocity of
temper being excited by feudal hatred
against the hostile clan-zeal for the hon
our of their own, and consciousness that
they were fighting in presence of the
king and the mobiles of Scotland. AS they
fought with the two-handed sword and
axe, the wounds they inflicted on each
other were of ghastly size and character.
Heads were cloven asander, limbs were
Topped from the trunk. The meadow was
soon flooded with blood, and covered with
dead and wounded men. In the midst
Of this deadly conflict, the chieftain of the
Clan Chattan observed that Henry Wynd,
after he had slain one. of the Clan Kay,
drew aside, and did not seem willing to
fight more. How is this % said he
&c Art thou afraid :" "Not T. answered
Henry, but have done enough of work
for half crown" Forward and fight"
said the Highland chief; he that does
not grudge this days work I will not stint
him in his wages Thus encouraged,
Henry Wynd again plunged into the con-
hict, and, by his excellence as swords
man, contributed great deal to the victo-
nv, which at length fell to the Clan Chat
tan. Ten of the victors, with Henry
WIND, whom the Highlanders called Gow
Cirom, THAT is, the crooked or handy
legged smith, though he was a saddler,
for war saddles were then made of steel,
were left alive, but they were all wounded.
Only one of the Clan Kay survived, and
he was unhurt. But this single individu-
al dared not oppose himself to eleven men,
though all more or less hurt but throwing
himself into the Tay, he swan to the other
side and went off to carry to the Highlan-
ders the news of his clans defeat. 1t is
said, he was so i'll received by his kins-
men that he put himself to death. Some
mart Of the above story is matter of tradi-
ton but the general fact is certain. Hen
~ WIND was rewarded to the Highland
cb;efiain's best abilities. But it was re-
marked that, when the battle was over, he
III tho mi mo 0f the elan