The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott, with memoir of the author.

354 APPENDIX TO THE
coming to an action, and moving on to the relief of
Stirling. And the Gillies' Hill, if this less probable
hypothesis be adopted, would be situated, not in the
rear, as allowed by all the historians, but upon the left
flank of Bruce's army. The only objection to the
hypothesis above laid down, is that the left flank of
Bruce's army was thereby exposed to a sally from the
garrison of Stirling. But, 1st, The garrison were
bound to neutrality by terms of Mowbray's treaty;
and Barbour even seems to censure, as a breach of
faith, some secret assistance which they rendered their
countrymen upon the eve of battle, in placing temporary bridges of doors and spars over the pools of
water in the carse, to enable them to advance to the
charge.1 2dly, Had this not been the case, the
strength of the garrison was probably not sufficient to
excite apprehension. 3dly, The adverse hypothesis
leaves the rear of the Scottish army as much exposed
to the Stirling garrison, as the left flank would be in
the case supposed.
It only remains to notice the nature of the ground
in front of Bruce's line of battle. Being part of a
park, or chase, it was considerably interrupted with
trees; and an extensive marsh, still visible, in some
places rendered it inaccessible, and in all of difficult
approach. More to the northward, where the natural
impediments were fewer, Bruce fortified his position
1 An assistance which (by the way) could not have been
rendered, had not the English approached from the southeast; since, had their march been due north, the whole
Scottish army must have been between them and the garrison.