"
On Edwin's introduction, the stranger knight engaged himself in
conversation with Ramsay. But Lord Ruthven interrupted the discourse,
by asking Ramsay some questions relative to the military positions on
the banks of the Eske. Sir Alexander, being the grandson of the Lord
of Roslyn, and having passed his youth in its neighborhood, was well
qualified to answer these questions. In such discourses, the Scottish
leaders marched along, till, passing before the lofty ridge of the
Corstophine Hills, they were met by groups of flying peasantry. At
sight of the Scottish banners they stopped, and informed their armed
countrymen, that the new regent, John of Badenoch, having rashly
attacked the Southron army in its vantage ground, near Borthwick
Castle, had suffered defeat, and was in full and disordered retreat
toward Edinburgh, while the country people fled on all sides before the
victors. These reporters magnified the number of the enemy to an
incredible amount.
Wallace was at no loss in comprehending how much to believe in this
panic; but determining, whether great or small the power of his
adversary, to intercept him at Roslyn, he sent to Cummin and to Fraser,
the two commanders in the beaten and dispersed armies, to rendezvous on
the banks of the Eske.
Pages:
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013