Wallace, this day according to your
conscience!" Wallace bowed his head, and presented him the truncheon
around which his line of battle was wrapped. On opening it he found
that he was appointed to command the third division; Badenoch and
Bothwell to the first and second; and Wallace himself to the vanguard.
When the scouts arrived, they informed the regent that the English army
had advanced near to the boundary of Linlithgow, and from the rapidity
of their march, must be on the Carron the same evening. On this
intelligence, Wallace put his troops to their speed and before the sun
had declined far toward the west, he was within view of Falkirk. But
just as he had crossed the Carron, and the Southron banners appeared in
sight, Lord Athol, at the head of his rebellious colleagues, rode up to
him. Stewart kept his appointed station and Badenoch, doing the same,
ashamed of his brother's disorder, called after him to keep his line.
Regardless of all check, the obstinate chief galloped on, and extending
his bold accomplices across the path of the regent, demanded of him, on
the penalty of his life, "that moment to relinquish his pretensions to
the vanguard.
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