cer of
experience and capacity.

During these transactions, sir John Cope marched back from Inverness to
Aberdeen, where he embarked with his troops, and on the seventeenth day
of September landed at Dunbar, about twenty miles to the eastward of
Edinburgh. Here he was joined by two regiments of dragoons which had
retired with precipitation from the capital at the approach of the
highland army. With this reinforcement, his troops amounted to near
three thousand men; and he began his march to Edinburgh, in order to
give battle to the enemy. On the twentieth day of the month, he encamped
in the neighbourhood of Prestonpans, having the village of Tranent in
his front, and the sea in his rear. Early next morning he was attacked
by the young pretender, at the head of about two thousand four hundred
highlanders, half-armed, who-charged them sword in hand with such
impetuosity, that in less than ten minutes after the battle began, the
king's troops were broken and totally routed. The dragoons fled in the
utmost confusion at the first onset; the general officers having made
some unsuccessful efforts to rally them, thought proper to consult their
own safety by an expeditious retreat towards Coldstream on the
Tweed. All the infantry were either killed or taken; and the colours,
artillery, tents, baggage, and military chest, fell into the hands of
the victor, who returned in triumph to Edinburgh. Never was victory more
complete, or obtained at a smaller expense; for not above fifty of the
rebels lost their lives in the engagement. Five hundred of the king's
troops were killed on the field of battle; and among these colonel
Gardiner, a gallant officer, who disdained to save his life at the
expense of his honour. When abandoned by his own regiment of dragoons,
he alighted from his horse, joined the infantry, and fought on foot,
until he fell covered with wounds, in sight of his own threshold.
Prince Charles bore his good fortune with moderation; he prohibited all
rejoicings for the victory he had obtained; the wounded soldiers were
treated with humanity; and the officers were sent into Fife and Angus,
where they were left at liberty on their parole, which the greater part
of them shamefully broke in the sequel. From this victory the pretender
reaped manifold and important advantages. His followers were armed, his
party encouraged, and his enemies intimidated. He was supplied with
a train of field artillery, and a considerable sum of