The Scalacronica. 69 



Edward de Balliol, the son of John de Balliol, formerly King of 

 Scotland, by tlie election of the two realms, who had been 

 excluded from Scotland more than 30 years. They embarked 

 at Ravenshere and arrived at Kinghorn, 'being few in number ; 

 for they Avere not more than 400 men-at-arms. On the first day 

 after their arrival thev fought with the Earl of Fyfe and defeated 

 him. Alexander de Setoun, the son, was killed there. They 

 ■then held on their road to Dunfermelyn, where they found and 

 •took possession of many iron pikes, which the Earl Thomas of 

 Murref had just made. The Earl 'had died recently, Avithin a 

 ■week of their arrival. They then advanced towards the city of 

 ■St. John (Perth), and at the water of Erne they found a large 

 •army of the enemy facing them. For at their arrival the Lords 

 of Scotland had assembled in order to elect a Guardian. They 

 chose the Earl of Marre, and he had gathered this large army 

 ■and occupied the great eminence upon the bank of the water of 

 •Erne, before these men arrived. Thev were in the vallev on 

 ■the other side of the water, being only a small number in com- 

 parison with the others. The men of the Earl of Marre's army 

 said that their opponents would run away like hares if thev 

 ■advanced. So on the morrow tJiey sent a large force round the 

 •water to assail them on all 'sides, for their numbers always 

 increased. The disinherited Lords were so terrified by the great 

 •multitude of the enemy that they began to reproach the Lord de 

 Beaumonde with great wrath, asserting tliat he had betraved 

 them by leading them to expect to have much support in Scot- 

 land. "Certainly, m\' Lords," said he, "there is none. But 

 since things are so desperate, for God's sake let us help each 

 other. For no one knows what God has ordained for us. Let 

 us think of our great rights and show that we are descended from 

 good knights. Let us think of the great honour and profit that 

 God has destined for us, and of the great shame that will come 

 •to us if in this great crisis Ave do not show ourselves worthv." 

 •It came to pass that in accordance Avith the good words of this 

 prudent man and b} the inspiration of God they decided to pass 

 ■through the ford in the night, outflank the enemy, mount the 

 ■eminence above them, and make an attack in the night. They 

 passed through the water, but Roger de Swenarton was drowned 

 ■in it. The enemy, perceiving them passing, descended to the 

 plain; but 'before thev could reach the ford the others had 



