He sendeth all loving and knightly greeting unto him known until now as Robert Earl of Carrick, and bids him, an he would proclaim and prove the rights he hath assumed, come forth from the narrow precincts of a palace and town, which ill befit a warrior of such high renown, and give him battle in the Park of Methven, near at hand.

He challenges him to meet him there, with nobles, knights, and yeomen, who proclaiming Robert Bruce their sovereign, cast down the gauntlet of defiance and rebellion against their rightful king and mine, his grace of England; he challenges thee, sir knight, or earl, or king, whichever name thou bearest, and dares thee to the field." "And what if we accept not his daring challenge ?" demanded King Robert, sternly, without permitting the expression of his countenance to satisfy in any way the many anxious glances fixed upon it.
"He will proclaim thee coward knight and traitor slave," boldly answered Sir Henry.

"In camp or in hall, in lady's bower or tented field, he will proclaim thee recreant; one that took upon himself the state and pomp of royalty without the spirit to defend and prove it." "Had he done so by our predecessor, Baliol, he had done well," returned the king, calmly.

"Nobles, and knights, and gentlemen," he added, the lion spirit of his race kindling in his eye and cheek, "what say ye in accepting the bold challenge of this courtly earl?
Do we not read your hearts as well as our own?
Ye have chafed and fretted that we have retained ye so long inactive: in very truth your monarch's spirit chafed and fretted too.

We will do battle with this knightly foe, and give him, in all chivalric and honorable courtesy, the meeting he desires." One startling and energetic shout burst simultaneously from the warriors around, forming a wild and thrilling response to their sovereign's words.