Page:History of King Robt. Bruce (1).pdf/5

KING ROBERT BRUCE. 5 undertakings was most disastrous. Two months after he was crowned, the Pope excommunicated him, which deprived him of all religious benefits, and authorized any one to kill him. On June 19, the new king was completely defeated at Methven, near Perth, by the English Earl of Pembroke. Bruce's horse was killed under him in the action, and he was for a moment made prisoner by a Scottish knight, who, though he served in the English army, did not wish any harm to Bruce, and allowed him to escape. The victorious English executed their prisoners with their usual cruelty.

After the defeat at Methven, Bruce, with a few adherents, retired to the highland mountains, where they were pursued from one place of refuge to another, placed in great danger, and endured many hardships. Bruee's wife, now Queen of the Scots, with several ladies, accompanied her consort and his little band during their wanderings. The only method they had of providing for them was by fishing and hunting. Douglas, who was afterwards called the Good Lord James, was the most active and successful in procuring for the unfortunate ladies such supplies as his dexterity in killing deer or in fishing could furnish to them. Bruce, driven from one place in the highlands to another, attempted to force his way into Lorn, but everywhere he found enemies. The McDougals, then called Lords of Lorn, were friendly to Edward, and, putting their men in arms, attacked Bruce and his wandering adherents as soon as they attempted to enter their country. John of Lorn, the chief of these M'Dougals, was closely connected by marriage with the family of the murdered Comyn, and therefore he hated Bruce. This chief, through force of numbers, again defeated Bruce at a place called Dalry, that is, the royal field; but, amidst all his misfortunes, he shewed the greatness of his strength and courage. Having directed his men to retreat through a narrow pass, he placed himself last of the party, and fought with and slew such of the enemy as pressed hard on them. Three followers of M'Dougal, a father and two sons, called M'Androper, all strong men, beholding Bruce protecting the retreat of his men, vowed that they would either kill or make him prisoner, and the whole three rushed on the king at once. He was on horseback in the strait pass already noticed, betwixt a steep hill and a deep lake. The first man that seized his reins Bruee struck such a blow with his sword as cut off his hand, and freed the bridle; the other brother, in the mean time, had seized him by the leg, and was attempting to unhorse him, when the king, setting spurs to his steed, made the animal suddenly spring forward, so that the Highlander foll under the horse's feet, and, as he was endeavouring to rise,