Page:Prophecies of Thomas Rymer (3).pdf/16

( 16 ) ACCOUNT

of the

BATTLE BANNOCKBURN.

............

ING Edward II. of England having kept up the same claim upon Scotland, which his father had begun; after several unsuccessful attempts to establish it, he resolved to make a great effort, and with one blow reduce that turbulent nation, which had put so many signal affronts upon his father and himself.

In the spring 1314, he assembled the most numerous army that had ever crossed the borders, composed of different nations, and amounting to above 100,000 effective men, beside a huge multitude of attendants, who came along, in hopes of sharing in the plunder of a conquered enemy. At the head of these he marched northward with an uncommon parade, and in full confidence of victory.

Robert Bruce, the son of that Robert Bruce who held a conference with Wallace upon the banks of the Carron, and grandson to him who had been competitor with Baloil, had, in 1306, been crowned King of Scotland; and being informed of Edward's formidable preparations, he raised an army of 30,000 of his subjects,