Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/134

 (134) an independent king tom. or subject to a fòreis yoke. Early in the morning all was in motion m both armies ; reli sentiments were mingled with the militar ardour of the Scots; a solemn mass, in the manner of these timeſ, was said by the Abbot of inchaffery, a monas- tery in Strathearn. who also admintistered the sacrament to the King and the principal officers. white inferior priests did the one to the rest of the army. After this they forse in order of battle on a track of ground called Nether Touchain which lies along the declivity of gently rising hill: This situation had been proviously chosen, because of its advantages. On the right they had a range of steep rock, no called Marray's Craig; and in their front wore the steep banks of the rivulet of Bannock- burn. Not far behind them was a wood, some vestiges of which still remain. Upon the left was a morass, now called Milton-boy, from itſ vicinity to a small village of that name: much of this bog is still undrained, and part of it is at present a mill-dam. As it was then the middle of summer; it was almost quite dry: But King Robert lad recourse to a stratagem, in order to prevent'any attack from that quarter. He had ordered many ditches and pits to be digged in the morasa, and stake, sharpened at both ends, to be driven into them, and the whole to be covered over again with green turf, ſo that the ground had still the appearance of Being firm. He also caused crow fect, or sharp peinted irers, to be zorttered oysr the morass;