Page:Prophecies of Thomas Rymer (2).pdf/18

 of Stirling. It was fought with valour or both sides; and it was for some time doubtful where victory should turn. King Robert, attended by some of his offices, beheld this rencounter from rising ground, supposed to be the round hill immediately upon the west of St. Ninians, now called Cock-shot-hill. James Douglas perceiving the distress of Randolph, who was greatly inferior to the enemy in numbers, asked leave to go to his support. This King Robert at first refused, but afterwards consented. Douglas put his soldiers in motion: observing, however, as he was on the way, that the victory was upon the point of being won without his assistance, he stopped short, that his fiend might have the unrivalled glory of it.—The English were entirely defeated, and many of them slain: and Randolph returned to the camp amid acclamations of universal joy. To perpetuate the memory of this victory, two stones were reared up in the field, and are still to be seen there. They stand in a spot which has lately been enclosed for a garden, at the north end of the village of New-house, and about a quarter of a mile from the Borough-port of Stirling.