Page:Life and adventures of Sir William Wallace, General and Governor of Scotland (1).pdf/22

22 let. Randolph, considering this as a reproach, because he had the charge of that part, thro' which the English had marched, immediately set out after them with a party of 500 horse, and coming up with them, in the plain when the small village of New-house now stands, a sharp action ensued, in sight of both armies, and of the garrison on Stirling. It was fought with valour on both sides: and it was some time doubtful where victory would turn. King Robert attended by some of his officers, beheld the encounter from a rising ground, supposed to be the round hill immediately upon the west of St. Ninians, now called Cockshot-hill, Sir James Douglas, perceiving the distress of Randolph, who was greatly inferior to the enemy in numbers asked leave to go to his support. This King Robert at first refused, but afterwards consenting, Douglas put his soldiers in motion; observing, however, as he was on the way, that the victory was upon the point of being won without his assistance, he stopped short, that his friend might have the unrivalled glory of it. The English were entirely defeated, and many of them slain; and Randolph returned to the camp amidst acclamations of universal joy. To perpetuate the memory of this victory, two stones were reared up in the field, and are still to be seen there. They stand in a spot which has lately been enclosed for a garden at the north end of the village of New-house, and about a quarter of a mile, from the Borough-port of Stirling.

This victory gave new spirits to the whole army, and made them so eager for the general engagement, that the night, tho' among the shortest of the year, seemed long to them. Edward too, exasperated at the defeat of his detachment, was determined to bring on the battle on the morrow. At length appeared the dawn of that important day, which was to decide, whether Scotland was henceforth to be an independent kingdom, or subject to a foreign yoke. Early all was in motion in both armies; religious sentiments were mingled with the military ardour of the Scots; a Solemn Mass, in the manner of these times, was said by the Abbot of Inchaffery, a monastary in Strathern, who also administred the Sacrament to the King and the great officers about him, while inferior priests did the same to the rest of the army. After this they formed in order of battle, in a track of ground called Nether-Touchadant, which lies along the declivity of a gentle rising hill. This situation had been previously chosen because of its advantages. Upon the right they had a range of steep rocks, now called Murray's Craig, and in their front, were steep banks of the rivulet or Bannockburn. Not far behind them was a wood; some vestiges of which still remain. Upon the left was a morass, now called Milton-bog, from