store that kingdom to
its native force, opened again the prospect of reducing Scotland, and
promised a happy conclusion to a war, in which both the interests and
passions of the nation were so deeply engaged.

{1314.} Edward assembled forces from all quarters, with a view of
finishing at one blow this important enterprise. He summoned the most
warlike of his vassals from Gascony; he enlisted troops from Flanders
and other foreign countries; he invited over great numbers of the
disorderly Irish as to a certain prey; he joined to them a body of the
Welsh, who were actuated by like motives; and, assembling the whole
military force of England, he marched to the frontiers with an army
which, according to the Scotch writers, amounted to a hundred thousand
men.

The army collected by Robert exceeded not thirty thousand combatants;
but being composed of men who had distinguished themselves by many acts
of valor, who were rendered desperate by their situation, and who were
inured to all the varieties of fortune, they might justly, under such
a leader, be deemed formidable to the most numerous and best appointed
armies. The Castle of Stirling, which, with Berwick, was the only
fortress in Scotland that remained in the hands of the English, had long
been besieged by Edward Bruce: Philip de Mowbray, the governor, after
an obstinate defence, was at last obliged to capitulate, and to promise,
that if, before a certain day, which was now approaching, he were not
relieved, he should open his gates to the enemy.[*]

* Rymer, vol. iii. p. 481.

Robert, therefore, sensible that here was the ground on which he must
expect the English, chose the field of battle with all the skill and
prudence imaginable, and made the necessary preparations for their
reception. He posted himself at Bannockburn, about two miles from
Stirling, where he had a hill on his right flank, and a morass on his
left; and not content with having taken these precautions to prevent his
being surrounded by the more numerous army of the English, he foresaw
the superior strength of the enemy in cavalry, and made provision
against it. Having a rivulet in front, he commanded deep pits to be dug
along its banks, and sharp stakes to be planted in them; and he ordered
the whole to be carefully covered over with turf.[*] The English arrived
in sight on the evening, and a bloody conflict immediately ensued
between two bodies of cavalry; where Robert, who was at the head of