[111] Wyntown, vol. ii, p. 97, and Fordun, Lib. xi. cap. xxix.
[112] This system of warfare, from the following effusion, appears also to have met the approbation of the immortal Bruce:—
“Scotica sit guerra pedites, mons, mossica terra:
Silvæ pro muris sint, arcus, et hasta securis.
Per loca stricta greges munientur. Plana perignes
Sic inflammentur, ut ab hostibus evacuentur.
Insidiæ vigiles sint, noctu vociferantes.
Sic male turbati redient velut[F] ense fugati
Hostes pro certo, sic regæ docente Roberto.”
Scottish version, ex edit. Hearn.
On fut suld be all Scottis weire,
Be hyll and mosse thaim self to weire.
Lat wod for wallis be bow and speire,
That innymeis do thaim na dreire.
In strait placis gar keip all stoire,
And byrnen the planen land thaim before:
Thanen sall thai pass away in haist,
Quhen that they find nathing bot waist.
With wyllis and wakenen of the nicht,
And mekill noyes maid on hycht.
Thanen sall they turnen with gret affrai,
As thai were chasit with several away.
This is the counsall and intent.
Of gud King Robert’s testament.
[F] Famis ense MSS. Cupr. and Perth.—See Fordun, vol. ii. p. 232. [Edin. Ed. 1775.]
[113] The grettast Lordis of oure land
Til hym he gert thame be bowand:
Ild thai, wald thai, all gert he
Bowsum til hys Byddyng be:
And til hys Byddyng qwhay war noucht bown
He tuk, and put thame in Presown.
Wyntown, vol. ii. p. 96.
[114] See [Appendix G].
[115] Langtoft partly attributes the loss of this battle to the indolence of the English general. The return of so considerable a body of troops, on account of their not being supported by the rest of the army, would no doubt encourage the Scots, and perhaps suggested to their leader the admirable manœuvre which he afterwards put in practice.