ad
totally subdued. John de Segrave, whom he had left guardian of Scotland,
led an army to oppose them; and lying at Roslin, near Edinburgh, sent
out his forces in three divisions, to provide themselves with forage and
subsistence from the neighborhood.

{1303.} One party was suddenly attacked by the regent and Sir Simon
Fraser; and being unprepared, was immediately routed and pursued with
great slaughter. The few that escaped, flying to the second division,
gave warning of the approach of the enemy: the soldiers ran to their
arms; and were immediately led on to take revenge for the death of their
countrymen. The Scots, elated with the advantage already obtained made
a vigorous impression upon them: the English, animated with a thirst of
vengeance, maintained a stout resistance: the victory was long undecided
between them; but at last declared itself entirely in favor of the
former, who broke the English, and chased them to the third division,
now advancing with a hasty march to support their distressed companions.
Many of the Scots had fallen in the two first actions; most of them were
wounded, and all of them extremely fatigued by the long continuance of
the combat: yet were they so transported with success and military rage,
that, having suddenly recovered their order, and arming the followers
of their camp with the spoils of the slaughtered enemy, they drove
with fury upon the ranks of the dismayed English. The favorable
moment decided the battle; which the Scots, had they met with a steady
resistance, were not long able to maintain: the English were chased
off the field: three victories were thus gained in one day;[*] and the
renown of these great exploits, seconded by the favorable dispositions
of the people, soon made the regent master of all the fortresses in the
south; and it became necessary for Edward to begin anew the conquest of
the kingdom.

The king prepared himself for this enterprise with his usual vigor
and abilities. He assembled both a great fleet and a great army; and
entering the frontiers of Scotland, appeared with a force which the
enemy could not think of resisting in the open field: the English
navy, which sailed along the coast, secured the army from any danger
of famine: Edward's vigilance preserved it from surprises: and by this
prudent disposition they marched victorious from one extremity of
the kingdom to the other, ravaging the open country, reducing all the
castles,[**] and receiving