March 1830.
CONTENTS.
| Page | |
| [Preface] | v |
| [Introduction] | 13 |
| [CHAP. I.] | |
| State of Scotland in the Thirteenth Century | 33 |
| [CHAP. II.] | |
| On the Claim of England to the Feudal Homage of Scotland | 59 |
| [CHAP. III.] | |
| Birth, Parentage, and Early Years of Wallace | 85 |
| [CHAP. IV.] | |
| Accession of Baliol—Siege of Berwick—Battle of Dunbar | 103 |
| [CHAP. V.] | |
| Wallace again takes refuge in the Woods.—Organizes a System of Warfare.—Harasses the English in their Cantonments.—Conflict of Beg.—Biographical Notices of his early Companions.—His Dress and Armour.—Anecdote of the relative personal Prowess of Wallace and Bruce | 121 |
| [CHAP. VI.] | |
| Peel of Gargunnock taken by the Scots.—The Bradfutes of Lamington oppressed by the English.—The Orphan of Lamington.—Sir Raynald Crawford summoned to Glasgow.—Wallace Captures the Baggage of Percy.—Retires to Lennox.—Various Rencounters with the English | 149 |
| [CHAP. VII.] | |
| Singular Adventure of Wallace in Gask Castle.—Kills the English Leader.—Escapes to Torwood.—Interview with his Uncle | 173 |
| [CHAP. VIII.] | |
| Wallace joined by Sir John Graham.—Proceedings in Clydesdale.—Wallace visits Lanark.—Adventure with a Party of the English | 184 |
| [CHAP. IX.] | |
| Attack on Crawford Castle.—Return to Lanark.—Conflict with the English.—Murder of the Heiress of Lamington.—Her death Revenged.—The English driven out of Lanark.—Battle of Biggar.—Atrocious proceedings of the English at Ayr.—Severe retaliation by Wallace | 192 |
| [CHAP. X.] | |
| Affair of Glasgow.—Defeat and Flight of Bishop Bek.—Wallace joined by a Number of the Barons.—Expedition to the West Highlands.—Battle of Bradher, and Death of M’Fadyan | 202 |
| [CHAP. XI.] | |
| Robert Bruce joins the Standard of Wallace.—Percy and Clifford sent to suppress the Insurrection.—Night Skirmish in Annandale—Disaffection of the Scottish Nobles.—Wallace retires to the North.—Battle of Stirling Bridge | 217 |
| [APPENDIX.] | |
| [A.] Wallace’s Tree.—Torwood | 241 |
| [B.] The Crawfurds | 246 |
| [C.] The Burning of the Barns of Ayr | 253 |
| [D.] Memoir of Bishop Anthony Bek | 258 |
| [E.] Expedition to the West Highlands | 270 |
| [F.] Memoir of John Earl of Warren.—Lord Henry de Percy—And Lord Robert de Clifford | 293 |
| [G.] Hugh de Cressingham | 312 |
INTRODUCTION.
There is no portion of the history of Scotland more embarrassing to modern writers, than the period which relates to the life and achievements of Wallace.
Having been long since anticipated in all the leading details respecting him by Henry the Minstrel, our historians in general seem nervous in approaching the subject; and have either contented themselves with such materials as the old English writers and certain monastic chronicles have furnished, or have deliberately borrowed, without the grace of acknowledgment, the facts recorded by an author they affected to despise, as one whom the learned were not agreed to admit within the pale of respectable authority. This treatment, however, we conceive to be not only unfair, but rather discourteous in those who may have extended their suffrages to writers guilty of much greater aberrations from historical veracity than any which are chargeable against him. It is true, that the works of those writers are in Latin; but still, we do not see that a great falsehood, told in the classical language of ancient Rome, should be entitled to a larger portion of public faith than a lesser one set forth in the more modern patois of Scotland.