Page:Prophecies of Thomas the Rhymer, the ancient Scotch prophet (2).pdf/13

 numerous army that had ever crossed the borders, composed of different nations and amounting to above a hundred thousand 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 Baliol, had, in 1306, been crowned King of Scotland; and being informed of Edward’s formidable preparations, he raised an army of thirty thousand of his subjects, to oppose him. This armament bore but a small proportion to that of Edward’s; but it was composed of soldiers, who were hardened by long practice of war, and who now carried upon the point of their sword, liberty and honour, and every thing that was dear to them. With these Robert took up his station in the neighbourhood of Stirling, and waited for Edward’s arrival.

The two armies came in sight of each other, in the month of June; and soon after, a bloody battle was fought, in which the Scots obtained a victory, the most celebrated of any in the annals of that kingdom. The procedure of this memorable event, was as follows:—

The English having marched from Edinburgh to Falkirk in one day, and upon the morrow, setting out thence towards Stirling, encamped to the northward of Torwood. About Upper Bannockburn, and backward upon the muir of Plesn, in the neighbourhood of the Roman Causeway,