Page:Prophecies of Thomas the Rhymer, the ancient Scotch prophet (2).pdf/15

 These having marched through somes hollow grounds, upon the edge of the Carse, had passed the Scots army before there were observed. The King himself was the first that perceived them, and desiring Thomas Randolph Earl of Murray, to look towards the place where they were, told him, that a rose had fallen from his chaplet. Randolph considering this as a reproach, because he had the charge of that part through which the English had marched, immediately set out after them with a party of five-hundred horse, and coming up with them in the plain where the small village of New-House now stands, a sharp action ensued; in sight of both armies, and of the garrison of Stirling. It was fought with valour on both sides; and it was for some time doubtful where victory should turn. King Robert, attended by some of his officers, beheld this reencounter from a 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 number, 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 friend might have the unrivalled glory of it.—The English were entirely defeated, and many of them slain; and Randolph returned to the camp amidst acclamations of unaversal joy. To perpetuate the memory of the victory, two stones were reared up in the field, and are still to be seen there. They stand in a