70 The Scalacronica. 



passed through it and gone round the eminence, and had fallen 

 suddenly upon the varlets and horses of the enemy and routed 

 them, thinking that they were the main body of the enemy's 

 army. They chased them hither and thither, so that at the dawn 

 there were not forty of them together. But through the illumi- 

 nation of a fire, caused by a house which began to burn, they 

 rallied like partridges, and when the day began to brighten they 

 perceived the enemy in two large battalions coming to the plain 

 near them. These had been together all the night. With 

 great difficulty they were able to put themselves in array as the 

 enemy came to meet them. Their vanguard was checked a 

 little, when they felt the points of the lances. But their rear- 

 guard came on in such disorder that in their haste to advance 

 they bore to the earth all their advance-guard between them and 

 the enemy, who came so roughly upon them that the others 

 recoiled one upon another. Therefore, in a short time, as those 

 who arrived went round them, they saw a mound of men's 

 bodies growing up. So 'by God's miracle they were routed in 

 this way; and the Earl of Marre, Alexander Frisel, Robert de 

 Bruse, the bastard son of King Robert, and all the barons, 

 knights, and esquires were killed. They were all stifled, as 

 each lay under another; and they died in the manner described, 

 without any blow of weapon. This battle being won, they held 

 on their road to the city of St. John, which they found well fur- 

 nished with all kinds of supply. They strengthened the city by 

 repairing the old ditches, and each man refitted his yard with a 

 palisade. Within a week of the battle such a multitude of men 

 from all parts of Scotland came in front of them that, after 

 having stayed before them a week, they swore that for lack of 

 victuals they must lodge each man in his own country. The 

 siege being thus raised, the Lords who had arrived crowned 

 Edward de Balliol King at Scone, and departed from the city of 

 St. John, going through Coil and Conyngham to Galloway, 

 where those on the water of Cree rose on their side. Thence 

 they took their way by Crawford Moor towards Roxburgh. Near 

 Jedworth Archibald de Douglas was in ambush ; but he was 

 discovered and routed, and Robert de Lowedre, the son, was 

 captured, with others. King Edward de Balliol was lodged at 

 Kelsow and his army at Roxburgh ; but through fear of the 

 rising of the water he removed his lodging to Roxburgh. 



