Page:History of the life and death, of the great warrior Robert Bruce.pdf/7

 an army for the invasion of Scotland, which he put under the eommandcommand [sic] of the Earl of Pembroke. As that nobleman proceeded into Scotland he was joined by many of Comyn's friends and adherents, who considered Bruee as a bloody assassin. Robert's army on this account was not so numerous, and his soldiers besides were raw and undisciplined. While the two armies lay in the neighbourhood of each other ready to engage, near Methven, in Perthshire, Robert sent a ehallengechallenge [sic] to the English general, which he accepted, saying he would fight Bruce on the morrow,. [sic] But, instead of waiting till next day, he stole upon the Scots during the night, who were wholly unprepared. BrueeBruce [sic] hastily arming himself, and commanding his leaders to follow his example, had scareelyscarcely [sic] time to mount his horse, when he found himself furiously attacked by a foreeforce [sic] which nearly tripled his own; he made, however, a desperate resistance, and the battle was maintained for a while with considerable obstinacy. The king was four times unhorsed, and as often rescued and remounted; but the SeotsScots [sic] were finally overpowered by numbers, and the rout became general. Robert, with a broken remnant, escaped into Athole.

Bruce and his party now led the life of outlaws among the hills, till the greater part of his followers were dispersed or broken down by