Page:History of the life and death, of the great warrior Robert Bruce.pdf/13

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expired. With his last breath he commanded his son to carry his body along with the army, and never to bring it back to England till he had achieved the full and complete conquest of Scotland. Though the young king, Edward the Second, did not think proper to comply with this part of his father's injunctions, he resolved to carry through the campaign. But, being of a much more indolent and less enterprising spirit, he had not proceeded far into Scotland when he became tired, and returned south. This inglorious retreat was highly gratifying to Bruce, who now advanced into Galloway. While he was here recruiting his ranks, he was opposed by the Earl of Pembroke, who had been appointed Guardian of Seotland in Edward's name. Being overawed by the superior numbers of the English general, Robert prudently retired to the north, where he possessed himself of the whole country without molestation. Returning again northwards, with a more efficient army, he encountered an English force under John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, who fled at Bruce's ap- proach. About this time Robert was attacked by a se- vere fit of illness, brought on no doubt by the unceasing hardships and toils to which he had been for so long a time exposed. While in this languid state, the Earl of Buchan assembled a