As were Osweld, Edmond, Edward with paine fell.
Osauold must be Osuald, the King of Northumbria, who, having embraced Christianity, was slain by Penda the pagan king of Mercia. Bed. Hist. Eccl. III. 9. Eng. Martyrol. p. 213, 214. Edmunt is St Edmund, King of the East Angles, barbarously slain by the Danes of Northumbria for confessing Christ. Martyrol. p. 319. Eduuard seems to be St Edward, King of the West Saxons, slain at the instigation of his step-mother. Ibid. p. 72. Thomas is most probably the well-known Thomas a Becket.
Wyntown informs us that even in his day, long before that of the Minstrel, various works were written recording the deeds of Wallace; but he concludes that these fell short of the truth, as to their extent at least.
Of his gud dedis and manhad
Gret gestis, I hard say, ar made:
Bot sa mony, I trow, noucht
As he in-til hys dayis wroucht.
Quha all hys dedis of prys wald dyte,
Hym worthyd a gret buk to wryte;