was beyond suspicion, and the king was not in apprehension that he would violate the tenour of the treaty, by which he was bound to remain in passive expectation of his fate.  The direct approach to the Scottish front was protected in a great measure by a morass called the New-miln Bog.  A brook, called Bannockburn, running to the eastward, between rocky and precipitous banks, effectually covered the Scottish right wing, which rested upon it, and was totally inaccessible.  Their left flank was apparently bare, but was, in fact, formidably protected in front by a peculiar kind of field-works.  As the ground in that part of the field was adapted for the manoeuvres of cavalry Bruce caused many rows of pits, three feet deep, to be dug in it, so close together, as to suggest the appearance of a honeycomb, with its ranges of cells.  In these pits sharp stakes were strongly pitched, and the apertures covered with sod so carefully, as that the condition of the ground might escape observation.  Calthrops, or spikes contrived to lame the horses, were also scattered in different directions.

“Having led his troops into the field of combat, on the tidings of the English approach, the 23d of June, 1314, the King of Scotland ordered his soldiers to arm themselves, and making proclamation that those who were not prepared to conquer or die with their sovereign were at liberty to depart, he was answered by a cheerful and general expression of their determination to take their fate with him.  The King proceeded to draw up the army in the following order:  Three oblong columns or masses of infantry, armed with lances, arranged on the same front, with intervals betwixt them formed his first line.  Of these Edward Bruce had the guidance of the right wing, James Douglas and Walter, the Steward of Scotland, of the left, and Thomas Randolph of the central division.  These three commanders had their orders to permit no English troops to pass their front, in order to gain Stirling.  The second line, forming one column or mass, consisted of the men of the isles, under Bruce’s faithful friend and ally, the insular prince Angus, his own men of Carrick, and those of Argyle and Cantire.  With these the king posted himself in order to carry support and assistance wherever it might be required.  With himself also he kept in the rear a select body of horse, the greater part of whom he designed for executing a particular service.  The followers of the camp were dismissed with the baggage, to station themselves behind an eminence to the rear of the Scottish army, still called the Gillies’ (that is, the servants’) hill....