Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/137

 ( 137 ) Diely struck dead by a blow which the king gave him with his battle-ax. This was a sort of signal for the charge; so bold an attack u on their king, filled the Scots with sentiments of revenge; and the heroic atchievement per- formed by him before their eyes raised theis spirits to the lightest pitch. They rushed ſurl- ously upon the enemy, who, having by this time passed the river in great numbers, gave then a most intrepid and warm reception. A singular occurrence, which come accounts - Depresent as an accidental tally of patriotic. entiusurm, others as a pre-melitated strita- gem of King Robert suddenly altered the face O affairs, and contributed greatly to the victory'. All the servants and attendants of the Scottish army, who are said to have amounteil to 20,000, had been ordered, before the battle, retxe behind Murray's craig: and having during the engagement, &ranged themselves in a martial form. they morelied to the top of the hill, displaying white ulvets fixed upon poles, instead of banners, and thos marched towarda the Geld of battle with the most hideons shouts! The English perceiving this motely crowd and taking then for a fresh reinforcement advans cing to support the Scots, were seized with so great a panic, that they began to give way in confusion. BUCHANAN says, that the King of England was the first who fled; but in this he contra- dicts all other historians, who affirm that he 2 epoog the last in the field. M6 The