Page:Life and adventures of Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/21

                          (  21  ) in a strong place, waiting while Sir Aymer would in- vade: but took no heed to John of Lorn, who fetch- ing a compass, set upon his back with 800 highland- men, and had well nigh inclosed them about.

The king perceiving the danger divided his men in three : and appointing where they should meet at night, fled three sundry ways.

John of Lorn having a sloth hound pursued the king; who putting away all who were in his com- pany, save one man, flee, into the next wood and, with great difficulty escaped the sloth hound.

Sir Aymer, disappointed of his enterprise shortly thereafter with 1500 chosen men, very near surprised the king in Glentole wood ; hut the King with his men taking courage, resolutely defended the place which was very strong and killing divers of the first who assaulted them, the rest fled back

Therefore, with more courage, he went into the fields reduced Kyle and Cunningham to his obedience Sir James Douglas also, with 60 men lying in an am- bush at a strait place in Cunningham called the Neth~ erford : where Sir Phillip Moubray was passing, with 1000 men against the King being then in Kyle, killed many of them and put the rest to flight.

On May the 10th following, Sir Aymer with 3,000 men came against the king, then lying in Galston in Kyle : King Robert hearing of his coming, albiet he exceeded not 600 men, came forth again.-,t him at a place under Louden hill which he so fortified on e- very hand with dykes fouses, that the enemy could not inclose him-on both sides ; and so by the stout & resolute of a few. Sir Aymer was put to flight, which he took so sore to heart that he retired into England, and gave ever his office of warden, or viceroy, John of Britain earl of Richmond being sent into Scotland in ms place