And so fele bataills,' and so broad,
And too so great room as they rode,
That the maist host, and the stoutest
Of Christendom, and the greatest,
Should be abaysit for to see

2

Their foes into such quantity."

THE BRUCE, vol. II. p. 111.

The two Scottish commanders were cautious in the account which they brought back to their camp. To the king in private they told the formidable state of the enemy; but in public reported that the English were indeed a numerous host, but ill commanded and worse disciplined.

Note XII.

With these the valiant of the Isles

Beneath their chieftains rank'd their files.-St. XI. p. 235. The men of Argyle, the islanders, and the Highlanders in general, were ranked in the rear. They must have been numerous, for Bruce had reconciled himself with almost all their chieftains, excepting the obnoxious Mac-Dougals of Lorn. The following deed, containing the submission of the potent Earl of Ross to the king, was never before published. It is dated in the third year of Robert's reign, that is, 1309.

OBLIGACIO COMITIS ROSSENSIS PER HOMAGIUM FIDELITATEM ET SCRIPTUM.

Universis christi fidelibus ad quorum noticiam presentes litere peruenerint Willielmus Comes de Ross salutem in domino sempiternam. Quia magnificus princeps Dominus Robertus dei gracia Rex Scottorum Dominus meus ex innata sibi bonitate, inspirataque clemencia, et gracia speciali remisit michi pure rancorem animi sui, et relaxauit ac condonauit michi omnimodas transgressiones seu offensas contra ipsum et suos per me et meos vsque ad confeccionem literarum presencium perpetratas: Et terras meas et tenementa mea omnia graciose concessit. Et me nichilominus de terra de Dingwal et ferncroskry infra comitatum de Suthyrland de benigna liberalitate sua heriditarie infeodare curauit. Ego tantam principis beneuolenciam efficaciter attendens, et pro tot graciis michi factis, vicem sibi gratitudinis meis pro viribus de cetero digne - vite cupiens exhibere, subicio et obligo me et heredes meos et homines meos vniuersos dicto Domino meo Regi per omnia erga suam regiam dignitatem, quod erimus de cetero fideles sibi et heredibus suis et fidele sibi seruicium auxilium et concilium

contra omnes homines et feminas qui vivere poterint aut mori, et super h - Ego Willielmus pro me

hominibus meis vniuersis dicto domino meo Regi

manibus homagium sponte feci et super dei ewangelia sacra、

In

quorum

omnium testi

mentum prestiti monium sigillum meum, et sigilla Hugonis filii et heredis et Johannis filii mei vna cum sigillis venerabilium patrum Dominorum Dauid et Thome Moraviensis et Rossensis dei gracia episcoporum presentibus literis sunt appensa, Acta scripta et data apud Aldern in Morauia vltimo die mensis Octobris, Anno Regni dicti domini nostri Regis Roberti Tertio. Testibus venerabilibus patribus supradictis, Domino Bernardo Cancellario Regis, Dominis Willielmo de Haya, Johanne de Striuelyn, Willielmo Wysman, Johanne de Ffenton, Dauid de Berkeley, et Waltero de Berkeley militibus, magistro Waltero Heroc, Decano ecclesie Morauie, magistro Willielmo de Creswel eiusdem ecclesie precentore et multis aliis nobilibus clericis et laicis dictis die et loco congregatis.

The copy of this curious document was supplied by my friend, Mr Thomson, Deputy Register of Scotland, whose researches into our ancient records are daily throwing new and important light upon the history of the country.

Note XIII.

The Monarch rode along the van.-St. XIII. p. 238. The English vanguard, commanded by the Earls of Gloucester and Hereford, came in sight of the Scottish army upon the evening of the 23d of June. Bruce was then riding upon a little palfrey, in front of his foremost line, putting his host in order. It was then that the personal encounter took place

betwixt him and Sir Henry de Bohun, a gallant English knight, the issue of which had a great effect upon the spirits of both armies. It is thus recorded by Barbour :

"And when Glosyter and Herfurd were,
With their battle approaching near,
Before them all their come riding,
With helm on head, and spear in hand,
Sir Henry the Boune, the worthy,
That was a wight knight, and a hardy;
And to the Earl of Herfurd cousin ;
Armed in arms good and fine;
Come on a steed, a bow-shot nere,
Before all other that there were.
And knew the king, for that he saw
Him so range his men on row;
And by the crown, that was set
Also upon his bassenet,

And towards him he went on haste.

And the king so apertly

Saw him come, forth all his feres1
In hy2 till him the horse he steers.
And when Sir Henry saw the king
Come on, forouting abaysing,3
Till him he rode in full great hy.4
He thought that he should well lightly
Win him, and have him at his will,
Since he him horsed saw so ill.
Sprent they same intill a ling.6
Sir Henry mised the noble king.
And he, that in his stirrups stood,
With the axe, that was hard and good,

With so great mayn' reached him a dint,
That neither hat no helm might stynt,
The hewy 2 dusche,3 that he him gave,
That nere the head till the harness clave.
The hand-axe shaft fruschyt + în tow;
And he down to the yird gan go

All flatlynys,5 for hìm failled might.
This was the first stroke of the fight."

BARBOUR'S Bruce, vol. II. p. 122.

The Scottish leaders remonstrated with the king upon his temerity. He only answered, "I have broken my good battleaxe."-The English vanguard retreated after witnessing this single combat. Probably their generals did not think it advisable to hazard an attack, while its unfavourable issue remained upon their minds.

Note XIV.

What train of dust, with trumpet-sound
And glimmering spears, is wheeling round

Our leftward flunk ?- -St. XVIII. p. 245.

While the van of the English army advanced, a detached body attempted to relieve Stirling. Lord Hailes gives the following account of this manœuvre and the result, which is accompanied by circumstances highly characteristic of the

2

Moan.
↑ Broken!

Heavy. 5 Flat.

3 Clash,