He joined them; then marshaling his men in a
wide tract of land at the head of that vast body of water, placed
himself with the two supposed De Longuevilles in the van; and in this
array marched through the valleys of Strathmore and Strathallen, into
Stirlingshire. The young Earl of Fife held the government of the
castle and town of Stirling; and as he had been a zealous supporter of
the rebellious Lord Badenoch, Bruce negatized Ruthven's proposal to
send in a messenger for the earl's division of the troops.
"No, my lord," said he, "like my friend Wallace, I will have no divided
spirits near me; all must be earnest in my cause, or entirely out of
the contest. I am content with the brave men around me."
After rapid marchings and short haltings, they arrived safe at
Linlithgow, where Wallace proposed staying a night to refresh the
troops, who were now joined by Sir Alexander Ramsay, at the head of a
thousand of his clan. While the men took rest, the chiefs waked to
think for them. And Wallace, with Bruce and Ruthven, and the brave
Ramsay (to whom Wallace had revealed himself, but still kept Bruce
unknown), were in deep consultation when Grimsby entered to inform his
master that a young knight desired to speak with Sir Guy de Longueville.
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