5
The king by chance looking about,
With wonder did espy
Eight hundred mounted cap-a-pee,
Who did on horseback fly;
Below St Ninians, cross the burn,
They made for Stirling town.
He called Earl Murray with speed,
Who was charg'd to keep that ground.
A rose is from your chaplet fallen,
On yonder ground doth lie;
Redeem your honour now with grace;
See how the English fly.
The Earl, abash'd at this rebuke,
In rage he rode away,
With two hundred warriors, horsemen all,
The bold Clifford to stay.
He got between them and the town;
Be-west from Livilands,
Where two stones, as a memorial,
Unto this day there stands.
Now Clifford, with an art in war,
Enclos’d the Scots about,
While Murray order'd back to back,
His horse were not so stout.
The king beheld them from a hill,
And thought brave Murray gone:
Douglas implored him to aid,
But the king said let alone.
But yet at length he gave consent,
But e'er he got half through,
The English horse in scores came off,
Toom saddles, not a few.
Then Douglas stopt and gave a cheer,
When Murray, turn’d again,
