Yes, yes," says he; "you shall hear her own it." So he calls again, "Rachel! Rachel!" -which it seems was her name-" did you take up the money?" "How much was it?" said he. "Four shillings and a groat," said she. "Well, well," says he, "the Lord keep you all;" and so he turned to go away. 21. As I could not refrain contributing tears to this man's story, so neither could I refrain my charity for his assistance; so I called him. "Hark thee, friend," said I; "come hither, for I believe thou art in health that I may venture thee;" so I pulled out my hand which was in my pocket before, "Here," says I, "go and call thy Rachel once more, and give her a little more comfort from me; God will never forsake a family that trust in Him as thou dost ;" so I gave him four other shillings, and bid him go, lay them on the stone, and call his wife. 22. I have not words to express the poor man's thankfulness, neither could he express it himself but by tears running down his face. He called his wife and told her God had moved the heart of a stranger, upon hearing their condition, to give them all that money; and a good deal more, such as that, he said to her. 23. The woman, too, made signs of the like thankfulness, as well to heaven as to me, and joyfully picked it up; and I parted with no money all that year that I thought better bestowed. or to lose his life on the field of battle. He desired that all those who did not propose to fight to the last should leave the field before the battle began, and that none should remain except those who were determined to take the issue of victory or death, as God should send it. 2. When the main body of his army was thus placed in order, the king posted Randolph, with a body of horse, near to the church of St. Ninian's, commanding him to use the utmost diligence to prevent any succours from being thrown into Stirling Castle. He then despatched James of Douglas and Sir Robert Keith, to survey the English force which was now approaching from Falkirk. 3. They returned with information that the approach of that vast host was one of the most beautiful and terrible sights which could be seen, that the whole country seemed covered with men-at-arms, on horse and foot,-that the number of standards, banners, and pennons made so gallant a show, that the bravest and most numerous host in Christendom might be alarmed to see King Edward moving against them. 4. It was upon the 23d of June (1314), the King of Scotland heard the news that the English army was approaching Stirling. He drew out his army, therefore, in the order which he had before resolved on. After a short time, Bruce, who was looking out anxiously for the enemy, saw a body of English R cavalry trying to get into Stirling from the eastward. This was Lord Clifford, who, with a chosen body of eight hundred horse, had been detached to relieve the castle. 5. "See, Randolph," said the king to his nephew, "there is a rose fallen from your chaplet." By this he meant that Randolph had lost some honour, by suffering the enemy to pass where he had been stationed to hinder them. 6. Randolph made no reply, but rushed against Clifford with little more than half his number. The English turned to charge them with their lances, and Randolph drew up his men in close order to receive the onset. He seemed to be in so much danger, that Douglas asked leave of the king to go to assist him. The king refused him permission. 7. "Let Randolph," he said, "redeem his own fault; I cannot break the order of battle for his sake." Still the danger appeared greater, and the English horse seemed entirely to encompass the small handful of Scottish infantry. "So please you," said Douglas to the king, "my heart will not suffer me to stand idle and see Randolph perish-I must go to his assistance." He rode off accordingly, but long before they had reached the place of combat, they saw the English horses galloping off, many with empty saddles. 8. The van of the English army now came in sight, and a number of their bravest knights drew near to see what the Scots were doing ८ |