It was full time, for Edward was
moving against them. The English monarch was absent in Flanders when
these events took place, and, what was still more inconvenient, before
he could gain supplies from his parliament to suppress the Scottish
revolt, Edward found himself obliged to confirm Magna Charta, the
charter of the forest, and other stipulations in favor of the people;
the English being prudent, though somewhat selfishly disposed to
secure their own freedom before they would lend their swords to
destroy that of their neighbors.

Complying with these demands, Edward, on his return from the Low
Countries, found himself at the head of a gallant muster of all the
English chivalry, forming by far the most superb army that had ever
entered Scotland. Wallace acted with great sagacity, and, according to
a plan which often before and after proved successful in Scottish
warfare, laid waste the intermediate country between Stirling and the
frontiers, and withdrew toward the centre of the kingdom to receive
the English attack, when their army should be exhausted by privation.

Edward pressed on, with characteristic hardihood and resolution. Tower
and town fell before him; but his advance was not without such
inconvenience and danger as a less determined monarch would have
esteemed a good apology for retreat. His army suffered from want of
provisions, which were at length supplied in small quantities by some
of his ships. As the English King lay at Kirkliston, in West Lothian,
a tumult broke out between the Welsh and English in his army, which,
after costing some blood, was quelled with difficulty. While Edward
hesitated whether to advance or retreat, he learned, through the
treachery of two apostate Scottish nobles, the earls of Dunbar and
Angus, that Wallace, with the Scottish army, had approached so near as
Falkirk.

This advance was doubtless made with the purpose of annoying the
expected retreat of the English. Edward, thus apprised that the Scots
were in his vicinity, determined to compel them to action. He broke up
his camp, and, advancing with caution, slept the next night in the
fields along with the soldiers. But the casualties of the campaign
were not yet exhausted. His war-horse, which was picketed beside him,
like that of an ordinary man-at-arms, struck the King with his foot
and hurt him in the side. A tumult arose in the camp, but Edward,
regardless of pain, appeased it by mounting his horse, riding through
t