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 ( 61 ) acknowledged, that in: so critical a conjunc- ture, Sir William stood too much upon tho pre-eminence of his post. Although his right, as guardian of the kingdom. was undoubted, yet this was not the time to contend about leading the van, when the whole, army was about to be attacked; his conduct would hare been more commendable, had he at once yielded to the ambition of his rivals, when he found them willing to act like noblenten, fighting in defence of a liberties and their country. After this git'eat victory, King Edward treated his prisoners, and all Scotsmen who came in his way with the utmost severity: and his army crossing the river Forth, ravaged in: desolated the country as far as the town of Perth, and took the homage and fealty of all Scottish gentlemen who submitted to him. He designed to have marched farther into the country, but was prevented fro n its being laid waste; and his fleet not arriving from England, occasioned such a scarcity of provisions in his camp, as to deter him from farther operations, and oblige him to retire, through the ferest of Salmirk, to England, reducing the castles of Ayr and Lochnaben in his march The Scottish nobility who submitted to King Edward, and swore fealty to him, hall articles drawn up between the King and them, wherein those in arms against him were excited among them was Sir William, who would us degrade himself by submission, on any tunas F