His imprudent Treaty

Its governor, Philip de Mowbray, after a long and successful defence, had begun to dread the failure of provisions in the garrison, and made overtures for a treaty, in which he agreed to surrender the castle by the ensuing midsummer, if not relieved by an English army. This was evidently a truce involving conditions which ought on no account to have been accepted. Its necessary effect, if agreed to, was to check the ardour of the Scots in that career of success which was now rapidly leading to the complete deliverance of their country; it gave the King of England a whole year to assemble the strength of his dominions; and such were the chivalrous feelings of that age, as to agreements of this nature, that it compelled the King of Scotland to hazard the fortunes of his kingdom upon the issue of a battle, which he knew must be fought on his side with a great disparity of force. We need not wonder then, that Bruce was highly incensed, on hearing that, without consulting him, his brother had agreed to Mowbray's proposals. He disdained, however, to imitate the conduct of Edward, who, in a former year, and in circumstances precisely similar, had infringed the treaty of Dundee ; and keeping his word unbroken, he resolved, at all hazards, to meet the English on the appointed day.

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