Ayrshire > Volume 1

94 HISTORY OF AYRSHIRE
might induce the English to attack from that quarter.
De Valence came marching upon the scene, accompanied
by a brilliant staff, the troops gay in the full panoply of
war, their flags flying, their drums beating, and their
trumpets sounding shrill defiance. As compared with
the Scots, they were infinitely the stronger army, but
Bruce knew his own business, he had reckoned on
having to cope with the better organised, the stronger,
and the fully equipped force of the enemy, and, in
choosing his ground and in preparing it, he had
neutralised to a large extent the advantages of the
military superiority that he had to encounter.
The battle was fought on the 10th of May. According
to Barbour, Bruce addressed his army on the eve of the
struggle. He pointed out that the intention of the foe
was to reduce them to slavery, or else to slay them. It
was therefore their duty to meet them hardily. The
Southrons much outnumbered them, but the ground
on which they must advance was of such a character
that in the actual fighting it must be man for man, and
therefore the result must be to those who most heroically
should display their prowess. The King's words created
high enthusiasm, and they were responded to by
answering shouts of determination to stand for Scotland
and the good cause. " Then go we forth," returned
Bruce, " where He that made of nothing all things lead
us, and save us, and help us to our right !" De Valence
similarly exhorted his men to be steadfast and to quit
themselves valiantly. The preliminary speeches have
too obviously the stamp of careful authorship to be
accepted in their literal accuracy, though it is by no
means unlikely that the opposing commanders did indeed
endeavour to fire their men with enthusiasm for the
combat.
The battle was opened by de Valence, who advanced
his bowmen. These shot their shafts in clouds upon
the Scots ; but they were wholly ineffective against
men lying in trenches, and accordingly the English
cavalry were advanced to clear the trenches. This was