Page:Life and adventures of Sir William Wallace, General and Governor of Scotland (1).pdf/24

 24 AN ACCOUNT OF THE, &c. ed on horfeback carrying a battle ax in his hand, and up- on his helmet, he wore a high rurbin in the form of a crown, by way of diftinction. This, together with his activity, ren- dered him very confpicuous as he rode before the lines. An Englifh Knight, named Bohun, who was ranked among the braveft in King Edward’s army, came galloping furi- oufly up to him, in order to engage with him in fingle combat, expecting by fo eminent an act of chivalry, at once to put an end to the conteft, and gain immortal renown to himfelf: but the enterprizing champion, having miffed the firft blow, was immediately ftruck dead with the battle-ax which the King carried in his hand. This was a fort of a fignal for the charge. So bold an attack upon their King filled the Scots with fentiments of revenge; and the heroic atchievement performed by’him before their eyes, raifed their fpirits to the higheft pitch. They rufhed furioufly up- on the enemy, who, having by this time paffed the river in great numbers, gave them a warm reception. A fingular occurence, which fome accounts reprefent as an accidental fally of patriotic enthufiafm, others as a pre-meditated ftratagem of King Robert’s, fuddenly altered the face of affairs, and contributed greatly to the victory : All the fervants and attendants of the Scottifh army, who are faid to have amounted to 20,000, had been ordered before the battle, to retire behind Murray’s craig. But having, during the engagement, arranged themfelves in a martial form, they marched to the top of the hill, and dif- playing white fheets fixed upon poles, inftead of banners, moved towards the field of battle, with hideous fhouts. The Englifh, perceiving this motely crowd, and taking them for a frefh reinforcement, advancing to fupport the Scots, were feized with a great pannic, that they began to give way in confiufion. Buchanan fays, that the King of England was the firft who fled ; but in this he contradicts all other hiftorians, who affirm, that he was among the laft in the field. The Scots purfued, and great was the flaughter among the enemy, efpecially in paffing the ri- ver, where they could keep no order, becaufe of the ir- regularity of the ground. King Edward himfelf efcaped with much difficulty, being clofely purfued about forty miles by Sir James Douglas, with a party of light horfe; he was upon the point of being taken prifoner, when he was received into the caftle of Dunbar, by the Earl of March, who conveyed him to England by fea in a fifher’s boat; His immenfe army being entirely difcomfited. The Scots only left 4000 men, while the lofs of the Koglilb amounted to above 30,000.

Glasgow, Printed by J. & M. Robertfon, Saltwarket