heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

VALENCE. 333
This act was hailed with acclamation, but, as .Scott
renders it,
"His broken weapon's shaft surveyed
The King, and careless answer made :
'My loss may pay my folly's tax,
I've broke my trusty battle-axe.' "
Two large stones, at the north end of the village of Newhouse,
about a quarter of a mile from the south part of Stirling, still mark the
place of this memorable skirmish. Scott says :
" That skirmish closed the busy day,
And couched in battle's prompt array,
Each army on their weapons lay."
The night was passed very differently in the two camps. Stowe
records the testimony of one " Robert Paston, a Carmelite Friar, being
present and taken of the Scots. '
Ye might have seen the Englishmen
" '
bathing themselves in wine. There was crying, shouting, wassailing
" ' and drinking, with other rioting far above measure.' " On the other
side, ye might have seen the Scots quiet, still,
and close fasting, the even
of St. John the Baptist, labouring in love of the liberty of their country.
" In the morning, however," he says of the English host, " the army of
" the Englishmen coming out of the west, the sun rising casting his beams
" on their golden targets, bright helmets, and other armour, gave such a
" reflection as was both wonderful and terrible to behold."
Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, the King's nephew, who commanded
the left wing of the cavalry, irritated by some galling remarks
of the King the day before, rushed on the attack, and with his men was
immediately entangled amongst the concealed pits, and thrown into
disorder. He was slain, and Sir James Douglas, who commanded the
Scotch cavalry, giving them no time to rally, drove them from the field,
and pursued them in the sight of their own infantry.
After this the fight was commenced in earnest. Froissart says each
Scottish soldier had a little horn, on which, at the onset, they made such
a horrible noise as if all the devils in hell were among
seems to
indicate that pipes were actually played,
" Responsive from the Scottish host,
Pipe-clang and bugle-sound were toss'd."
them. Scott
And a note affirms that the well-known Scottish tune, " Hey, tutti, tutti,"
was Bruce's march at the battle of Bannockburn. For a time the fight
was hotly contested :
" Unflinching foot 'gainst foot was set,
T2
Unceasing blow by blow was met.
The groans of those who fell
Were drowned amid the shriller clang
That from the blades and harness rang,
And in the battle fell."