Page:King Robert Bruce's garland, an heroic ballad, or, A precise account of the famous battle of Bannockburn.pdf/7

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7

Then came the flow'r of English troops,
all mounted cap-a-pee,
Which joined a confused croud,
and fought promiscuously.
The doughty Scots were near undone,
they had too much ado,
Till Murray had his battle done,
and came to their rescue.
The battle now in general was,
and spreading o’er the land,
Fresh English troops still marching on,
by their fierce king's command,
When on the top of Gillies-craig,
appeared in their fight,
A crowd like twenty thousand men,
which were no men of might.
But wives and old decripped men,
some lasses and young boys,
With plaids and sheets waving on poles,
did make a warlike noise.
The English soon perceived this,
on all the terror fell,
And judg’d their safety was in flight,
so would no more repel.
Their king in Stirling would have staid,
but Moubray told him no,
For there in haste you’ll be inclos’d,
and find your overthrow;
Your safety's home to England flee,
and thro’ yon carse to ride,
Go, while the fighting still goes on,
I’ll with you send a guide.”
A little bewest the Saughen ford,