Half an hour later the English had left Dumfries.
Bruce called a council of his companions.
"My friends," he said, "we have been hurried into a terrible strife, and deeply do I regret that by my own mad passion at the treachery of Comyn I have begun it by an evil deed; but when I tell you of the way in which that traitor sought to bring me to an English block, you will somewhat absolve me for the deed, and will grant that, unhappy and unfortunate as it was, my passion was in some degree justified." He then informed them of the bond into which he and Comyn had entered, and of its betrayal by Comyn to Edward.
"Thus it is," he said, "that the deed has taken place, and it is too late to mend it.

We have before us a desperate enterprise, and yet I hope that we may succeed in it.

At any rate, this time there can be no drawing back, and we must conquer or die.

It was certain in any case that Comyn and his party would oppose me, but now their hostility will go to all lengths, while Edward will never forgive the attack upon his justiciaries.

Still we shall have some breathing time.