Page:Prophecies of Thomas Rymer (3).pdf/24

(24) white sheets fixed upon poles, instead of banners, moved towards the field of battle with hideous shouts. The English perceiving this motely crowd, and taking them for a fresh reinforcement advancing to support the Scots, were seized with so great a panic, that they began to give way in confusion. Buchanan says, that the King of England was the first who fled; but in this he contradicts all other historians, who affirm that he was among the last in the field.

The Scots pursued, and great was the slaughter among the enemy, especially in passing the river, where they could keep no order because of the irregularity of the ground.

King Edward himself escaped with much difficulty, being closely pursued for above forty miles by Sir James Douglas, with a party of light horse. He was upon the point of being taken prisoner, when he was received into the Castle of Dunbar by the Earl of March, who conveyed him to England by sea in a fisher's boat, his immense army being entirely discomfited.

The Scots lost only four thousand men, while the loss of the English amounted to above thirty thousand.