Page:King Robert Bruce's garland, an heroic ballad, or, A precise account of the famous battle of Bannockburn.pdf/6

6 led by the fam'd Bohun. The king afraid they should perceive his crafty trap too soon, Across the field in person rode on purpose to be known. Then Bohun on a courser bright, in furious rage came on; Seeing the king so poorly clad, and by himself alone, The king perceiving well his aim, and check’d his horse aside, O then improv'd his battle axe, his helmet could not bide, But clove him to the very teeth, the blood and brains out flew, Bohun fell gasping to the ground in both the armies’ view, With prayers and hymns and orisons. Scots camp that night did ring, While English oaths from side to side for sweet revenge did spring. Both armies long’d for break of day, although the night was short, The Scots took solemn sacrament, before this bloody sport: The first charge on the left began, with English horse on flight, Where hundreds tumbled in the ditch, to Scots a pleasant sight; Then Murray fiercely on them set, and did no mercy shew, While men and horse stuck in the mire, and could no further go.