Page:History of Sir William Wallace (2).pdf/13

                        13 The Bishop of Durham, who led the second line, inclined to the right, turned the morass, and advanced towards the left flank of the Scottish army. He proposed to halt till the reserve should advance. “To mass, Bishop! cried Sir Ralph Basset, and instantly charged. The shock of the Eng- lish cavalry on each side was violent, but was most gallantly withstood by the cottish infantry. The Scottish cavalry, on the contrary dismayed at the vast superiority in numbers of the English men-at-arms, immediately quitted the field. Stewart while giving orders to his archers, was thrown from his horse and slain ; his archers crowded round his body, till all perished with him, continuing the conflic to the last with the greatest bravery, and amply reveng- ing the loss of their beloved chieftain. Often did the English strive to force the Scottish circle. “ They could not penetrate into that wood of spears,” as one of their historians speaks. By repeated charges,