the
Scots, engaged in single combat with Henry de Bohun, a gentleman of the
family of Hereford; and at one stroke cleft his adversary to the chin
with a battle-axe, in sight of the two armies. The English horse fled
with precipitation to their main body.

The Scots, encouraged by this favorable event, and glorying in the
valor of their prince, prognosticated a happy issue to the combat on the
ensuing day: the English, confident in their numbers, and elated with
former successes, longed for an opportunity of revenge; and the night,
though extremely short in that season and in that climate, appeared
tedious to the impatience of the several combatants. Early in the
morning, Edward drew out his army, and advanced towards the Scots.
The earl of Glocester, his nephew, who commanded the left wing of the
cavalry, impelled by the ardor of youth, rushed on to the attack without
precaution, and fell among the covered pits, which had been prepared
by Bruce for the reception of the enemy.[**] This body of horse was
disordered; Glocester himself was overthrown and slain: Sir James
Douglas, who commanded the Scottish cavalry, gave the enemy no leisure
to rally, but pushed them off the field with considerable loss, and
pursued them in sight of their whole line of infantry. While the English
army were alarmed with this unfortunate beginning of the action, which
commonly proves decisive, they observed an army on the heights towards
the left, which seemed to be marching leisurely in order to surround
them; and they were distracted by their multiplied fears. This was a
number of wagoners and sumpter boys, whom Robert had collected; and
having supplied them with military standards, gave them the appearance
at a distance of a formidable body.

* T. de la More, p. 594.

** T. de la More, p. 594.

The stratagem took effect: a panic seized the English: they threw down
their arms and fled: they were pursued with great slaughter for the
space of ninety miles, till they reached Berwick: and the Scots, besides
an inestimable booty, took many persons of quality prisoners, and above
four hundred gentlemen, whom Robert treated with great humanity,[*] and
whose ransom was a new accession of wealth to the victorious army. The
king himself narrowly escaped by taking shelter in Dunbar, whose gates
were opened to him by the earl of March; and he thence passed by sea to
Berwick.

* Ypod. Neust. p. 501.

Such was the great and decisiv