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 m in ſingle combat, expecting, by ſo eminent act of chivalry, at once to put an end to the conteſt, a gain immortal renown to himſelf; but the enterprizi champion, having milled the firft blow, was immediate ſtruck dead with the battle-ax which the King carried his hand. This was a ſort of a ſignal for the charge. S bold an attack upon their King filled the Scots with ſentiments of revenge; and the heroic achievement performed by him before their eyes, raiſed their ſpirits to the higheſt pitch. They ruſhed ſuriouſly upon the enemy, who having by this time paſſed the river in great numbers gave them a warm reception.

A ſingular occurence, which ſome accounts repreſent as an accidental fally of patriotic enthuſiaſm, others as pre-meditated ſtratagem of King Robert, ſuddenly alter the face of affairs, and contributed greatly to the victory All the ſervants and attended the Scottish , are ſaid to have amounted to 20,000, had been order before the battle, to retire behind Murray's craig. But having, during the engagements arranged themſelves in a martial form, they marched to the top of the hill, and diſplaying white ſheets fixed upon pales, instead of banners, moved towards the field of battle, with hideous ſhouts, The Engliſh, perceiving this motely crowd, and taking them for a freſh reinforcement, advancing to ſupport the Scots, were ſeized with a great pannic, that they began to give way in confuſion. Bachanan ſays, that the King of England was the firſt who fled; but in this he contradict all other hiſtorians, who affirm, that he was among the laſt in the field. The Scots purſued, and great was the ſlaughter among the enemy, eſpecially in paſſing the river, where they could keep no order, becauſe of the irregularity of the ground. King Edward himſelf eſcaped with much difficulty, being cloſely purſued above forty miles by Sir James Douglas, with a party of light horſe; he was upon the point of being taken priſoner, when he was received into the caſtle of Dunbar by the Earl of March, who conveyed him to England by ſea in a fiſher's boat: His immenſe army being entirely diſcomfited. The Scots only loſt 4000 men, while the loſs of the Engliſh amounted to above 30,000.

FINIS.