Page:Life of King Robert Bruce.pdf/12

 12       LIFE OF KING ROBERT BRUCE.

who had come with 150 horsemen, they rejoiced ex- ceedingly. Bruce being informed by Douglas that there were 200 English in a village that he passed, who kept no watch, rode off at the head of his little army, and put the greater part of them to the sword that very night. Pembroke shortly afterwards re- tired with his whole forces towards England, and, after another disaster, similar to that just mentioned, retreated to Carlisle. Encouraged by success, Bruce ventured down up- on the low country, and reduced the districts of         Kyle, Carrick, and Cuninghame to his obedience. Pembroke determined again to take the field, and, putting himself at the head of a strong body of cav- alry, he advanced into Ayrshire, and came up with the army of Bruce, when encamped on Louden Hill. Although Bruce's army was greatly inferior, and consisted wholly of infantry, he gave Pembroke bat- tle; and so well did he conduct the conflict, that the loss of the Scots was extremely small, while Pembroke's whole forces were put to flight, a con- siderable number being slain, and many made pri- soners. Three days after this, Bruce encountered Monthermer, at the head of a considerable body of         English, whom he also defeated with great slaughter. These successes proved of the greatest consequence to the cause of Bruce, which was strengthened still further by the death of Edward I., who died, July 7, 1307, in sight of Scotland. With his last breath he commanded that his body should accompany the army, until Scotland was entirely subdued; but his son, disregarding his injunction, buried his remains in Westminster Abbey. Edward II. hearing of the success which attended Bruce's career, resolved to extirpate a nation so often rebellious, and for this purpose raised an army of