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THE WARRENNES. 291
his measures. Warrenne ordered his infantry to cross the bridge, but
another delay arose owing to a fancied overture from Wallace for peace,
but none came; and two friars, sent to him to propose terms, brought
back a scornful refusal "
: Return to your friends and tell them we came
"here with no peaceful intent, but ready for battle, and determined to
" avenge our own wrongs, and set our country free Let !
your masters
" come and attack us, we are ready to meet them beard to beard."
Sir Richard Lundin a Scottish knight, who had with his followers
joined the army of Percy at Irvine, and was, therefore, well acquainted
with the country urged him tnot to try the bridge, but to send part of
his army by a ford which he offered to shew, while the rest occupied the
the war and
bridge in front. Warrenne hesitated. "Why do we protract
"spend the King's money?" cried Cressingham, in a taunting voice, "let
"us pass on as becomes us, and do our duty." Stung by this reproach,
Warrenne ordered the advance. Sir Marmaduke Twenge led half the army
over the bridge, and charged the Scots at the top of the hill but Wallace
;
seized the opportunity and despatched a portion of his
men, occupied the
foot of the bridge dividing the English force, while he himself charged
from the high ground, and thus assailing Twenge and Cressingham in
front and rear, threw them into confusion. Many were slain; many drowned
attempting to swim the river on their horses, to rejoin Warrenne. The
standard bearers, and a body of men who crossed the bridge to their
relief, were cut to pieces. Sir Marmaduke Twenge set spurs to his horse,
and driving him into the midst of the enemy, with his nephew and
armour-bearer, cut his way through the thickest of the Scottish columns
and rejoined the English. Lennox threw off the mask, and with his
followers attacked and plundered the flying English. Cressingham was
killed, his body mangled, his skin torn from his limbs, and made, it is
said, into garters for the soldiers, and a sword-belt for Wallace. Half the
English army was cut to pieces. Warrenne breaking down the bridge
left Twenge in command, and promising to return within ten weeks in
case of need, rode with such haste to Berwick that his horse died; and
putting that place in defence proceeded
to London to consult with Prince
Edward, the King being still abroad. As soon as the King could sign a
truce with the French, he returned to England, summoning all
to meet him with their forces at York, in
the nobility
the Octave of St. Hilary, 1298, to
help the Earl of Warrenne. On the day appointed there was a great
muster of the most powerful nobles. The Earl Marshall, the great Constable
of England, Earls of Gloucester and Arundel, Lord Henry Percy, John de
Wake, John de Segeair, and many others, bringing 2,000 heavy cavalry,
2,000 light horsemen, and 100,000 foot. With such a reinforcement Warrenne
relieved Roxburgh hardly pressed by the Scots and occupied Berwick.