Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Chronicles of Scotland > Volume 2, 1941

LIBER DECIMUS QUINTUS
299
aduerteist of his earning, rasit twa grete armyis, and come
forthwart aganis him, nocM as pai had bene to fecht aganis
weirmen, bot alanerlie as J>ai war to pvneift certane thevis or
lymmaris of Ingland. At last pai concludit to convene baith
to giddir in StratMierne, and to invaid pair inymyis at anys.
The Ballioll, howbeit he knew his inymyis cumand aganis him
with mair powere pan he mycht resist, was na thing effrayitt,
becaus pe mater was safar proceditt pat na fere of deth nor
fleying mycht avale ; noc/ztpeles, belevitt, gif his army faucht
with perseuerand Constance, to haif victory be sum chance
of fortoun, and perior satt doun with his pal3eonis at Duplyne,
nocM far fra pe Watter of Erne. The samyn nycht pc Erie of
Mar come with huge multitude of pepill in pe sicht of Balliollis
army, bot pe Erie of Marche wes v mylis fra him. The Scottis,
becaus pair inymyis war in sa few novmer, held pame in
contempcioun, and pretermittit pair waiche, passing pe nycht
with syngyng, dansing, revelling & drynkyng, quhilkfs thingfs
succedit pe mair vnhappely to pame pat pai war done with
sa manifest contempcioun in pe faice of pair inymyis army.
Be contrair, pe Inglismen, richt circumspect and vigilant in
514 pair doyngis, tuke consultacioun of euery thing | pat mycht
eift or diseift pair army, and had sa deligent spyis within pe
army of Scottis pat euery thing done or sayid in pair army
wes manifest to pame. The Ballioll, reiosing of pis grete foly
amang Scottis, commanditt his army to be reddy but ony
maner of noyifS to invaid pe Scottis within nycht, quhen pai
war drownit in sleip and dronkywnes. Sone eftir pe Scottis
war gevin to pair rest and profound sleip, he come quietlie
with all his army on to pe furd of pe Watter of Erne, quhilk
was schewin to him be ane stayk affixitt be Andro Murray
of Tillibardin, throw quhilk he come but ony noyift to pe
Erie of Marris pal3eoun, quhair pai slew him in his bed,
(II. 416) incontinent with hug clamowr come apoun pe army of Scottis
and slew pame like scheip, but ony defence, drownit in pair
sleip & dronnkywnes, throw quhilkfs nocht was herd bot
rummysching and granys of deand pepill, and had nocht
bene Edward Ballioll gart ilk man in his army bynd ane quhite
cloute on his arm, na man mycht haif knawin for myrknes