Page:Life of King Robert Bruce.pdf/21

Rh for peace, and ratified the treaty made by his father; but hearing that the Scots had resolved to invade England if peace was not immediately concluded, he summoned his barons to meet him in arms at Newcastle. On June 15, 1327, the Scots invaded England, with an army of 20,000 horsemen. Against them Edward led an army of at least 30,000 men, who assembled at Durham on the 13th of July. The Scots burnt everything as they went along. On the 18th of the same month, the English discovered them by the smoke and flames which marked their progress, and marched forward in order of battle towards the quarter where the smoke was perceived, but meeting no enemy for two days, they concluded that the Scots had retired. Disencumbering themselves of their baggage, they resolved, by forced marches, to reach the river Tyne, with the intention of posting themselves on the north bank of that river, to intercept the Scots on their return. On 20th July, the cavalry crossed the river at Halidon; but before the rest of the army came up, the river was so much swollen by heavy rains, that it could no longer be forded, so the English troops remained for several days without any accommodation, and in the greatest want of provisions. The soldiers beginning to murmur, it was resolved to proceed southwards; and the king offered a reward to the person who should first discover the enemy "on ground where they might be attacked." The army continued its march for three days, when they came in sight of the enemy. The Scots were posted on a rising ground in front of the river Wear, and their flanks were secured by rocks and precipices. The English hoped to allure the Scots from their strong post, but failed, on which Edward sent the following message to Randolph and Douglas: "Either," said