Page:Prophecies of Thomas Rymer (1).pdf/19

19 Murray to look towards the place where they were. Randolph immediately set out after them with a party of 500 horse, and coming up with them in the plain, where the village of Newhouse now stands, a smart action ensued. King Robert, attended by some of his officers, beheld this encounter from a rising ground. The distress of Randolph being at length evident, Sir James Douglas asked leave of the king to go to his support. Robert assenting, Douglas put his soldiers in motion; observing, however, on the way, that the victory was nigh being won without his assistance, he stopped. The English were entirely defeated. Randolph returned to the camp, amidst acclamations of joy. To perpetuate the memory of the victory, two stones were reared up in the field, and are still to be seen.

This victory gave new spirits to the whole army, and made them so eager for the general engagement, that the night, though among the shortest of the year, seemed long to them. King Edward, too, was determined to bring on the battle on the morrow.