Rutherfurds of that Ilk, and their cadets

xlvi
Master John Ruthirfurd, Sheriff-Depute, and was
reputed heir to the title of his kinsman Robert, Lord
Ruthirfurd. He married Jean, daughter of Robert
Pringle, a merchant burgess, also of Dunbar. Their
marriage, on 6th April 1680, was witnessed by
Henry and William Ker, brothers-german to John,
Lord Bellenden, who signed the documents. Like
to share in the honour gained on this occasion by the companies
he had led so often. The episode which made him so well known
to friends and foes at Rosas is thus described in the said Memoirs
of Dundee: — "On the 27th May 1692 the company of officers
and the other Scotch companies were joined by two companies of
Irish to make up a battalion in order to mount the trenches, and
the major part of the officers listed themselves in the company of
grenadiers under the command of the brave Major Ruthirfurd,
who on his way to the trenches, in sight of the Marshall de
Noailles and his court, marched with his company on the side of
the trench, which exposed him to the fire of the bastion, where
there were two culverins and several other guns planted, likewise
the fire of two curtins lined with small shot. Colonel Brown,
following with the battalion, was obliged in honour to march the
same way Major Ruthirfurd had done; the danger whereof the
Marshall immediately perceiving, ordered one of his aides-de-
camp to command Ruthirfurd to march under cover of the
trenches, which he did ; and if he had delayed but six minutes,
the grenadiers and the battalion had been cut to pieces. Ruthir-
furd with his grenadiers marched to a trench near the town, and
the battalion to a trench on the rear and flank of the grenadiers.
. . . . Then firing began on both sides to be very hot, and
they in the town, seeing how the grenadiers lay, killed eight of
them. When the Governor surrendered the town, he inquired
of the Marshall what countrymen these grenadiers were, and
assured him 'twas on their account he delivered up the town,
because they fired so hotly, and he believed they were resolved to
attack the breach. He answered, smiling, " Ce sont mes enfants ;"
and again, they are the King of Great Britain's Scotch officers,
who, to show their willingness to share his miseries, have reduced
themselves to the carrying of arms, and chosen to serve under my
command."