| Page | |
| [CHAP. I.] | |
| Wallace appointed Guardian of the Kingdom.—Invades England.—Inroad of De Clifford on the South of Scotland | 9 |
| [CHAP. II.] | |
| Wallace returns to Scotland.—Envied by the Nobility.—Edward lands in England.—Wallace meets his Army at Stanmore.—Battle of Blackironside.—Legality of Wallace’s Regency.—Edward Invades Scotland.—Treachery of two Scottish Noblemen | 22 |
| [CHAP. III.] | |
| The English Army advance to Linlithgow.—Battle of Falkirk, from the Accounts given by English and Scottish Writers.—Miscellaneous Transactions | 36 |
| [CHAP. IV.] | |
| Notices respecting Sir John Graham and Sir John Stewart.—Conduct of Cumyn.—Wallace resigns the Guardianship.—Edward returns home.—Triumphant Procession of the Londoners in honour of his Victory at Falkirk.—Review of the Campaign | 61 |
| [CHAP. V.] | |
| State of Scotland after the Return of Edward.—Opinion of an English Spy on the Strength of that Fortress.—Various Exploits of Wallace.—Edward sends Supplies to the Garrison of Stirling.—List of Articles sent.—Baliol delivered over to the Pope.—The Scots besiege Stirling Castle.—Edward raises an Army for its Relief.—The English Barons Refuse to accompany him.—Surrender of Stirling Castle.—Conduct of Cumyn | 74 |
| [CHAP. VI.] | |
| Edward again invades Scotland.—Siege of Carlaverock.—Miscellaneous Occurrences during the Siege | 85 |
| [CHAP. VII.] | |
| Winchelsea, Archbishop of Canterbury, reads a Bull from the Pope, in the English Camp before Carlaverock.—Edward’s Answer.—Earl Warren advances to Irvine.—Cruelty of the English at Lesmahago.—Edward agrees to a Truce.—Wallace visits France.—Captures a French Pirate.—Notices of Longueville | 98 |
| [CHAP. VIII.] | |
| Edward again Invades Scotland.—Sir Simon Frazer deserts the English, and joins his Countrymen.—Wallace returns to Scotland.—Battle of Roslin | 112 |
| [CHAP. IX.] | |
| Second Visit of Wallace to the French Court.—Encounters an English Pirate.—The English again enter Scotland.—Submission to the Nobles.—Wallace returns.—Conflicts with the English.—Edward destroys and carries off the Records of the Monasteries.—Marches through the Country.—Wallace follows the Invaders | 116 |
| [CHAP. X.] | |
| Edward’s Policy respecting the Settlement of Scotland.—Endeavours to gain Wallace to his Interest.—Siege of Stirling.—It Surrenders.—Conduct of Edward towards the Prisoners.—Haliburton undertakes to betray Wallace | 132 |
| [CHAP. XI.] | |
| State of the Country.—Bruce invited to take the Crown—Conduct of Cumyn towards Bruce.—Notice of Cumyn.—Tradition respecting the Clan Cumyn.—Notice of Kerle.—Wallace betrayed by Menteith | 144 |
| [CHAP. XII.] | |
| Trial, Execution, and Character of Wallace | 156 |
| [CHAP. XIII.] | |
| Conclusion | 171 |
| [APPENDIX.] | |
| [A.] Original Letter from Sir William Wallace and Sir Andrew Murray | 191 |
| [B.] Memoir of Patrick Earl of Dunbar | 199 |
| [C.] Charter of Protection Granted to the Prior and Convent of Hexceldsham | 203 |
| [D.] On the intention of Edward to curtail the power of his Barons | 205 |
| [E.] The Setons | 206 |
| [F.] Memoir of Fitz-Marmaduke | 210 |
| [G.] Memoir of Brian Fitz-Alan | 213 |
| [H.] Memoir of Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke | 216 |
| [I.] Memoir of Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln | 227 |
| [K.] Memoirs of Richard Siward and Walter de Huntercombe | 235 |
| [L.] Memoir of Sir Simon Fraser | 242 |
| [M.] Extracts from the Wardrobe Accounts | 254 |
| [N.] Trial of Wallace | 258 |
| [O.] On the Martyrdom of Wallace | 259 |
| [P.] On the Personal Appearance of Wallace | 269 |
| [Q.] Reminiscence of Wallace | 272 |
| [R.] Wallace’s Descendants | 277 |
| [S.] On the Treachery of Menteith | 280 |
| [T.] Singular Legend | 292 |
| [U.] Verses on the Death of Wallace | 294 |
LIFE
OF
SIR WILLIAM WALLACE.
CHAPTER I.
WALLACE APPOINTED GUARDIAN OF THE KINGDOM.—INVADES ENGLAND.—INROAD OF DE CLIFFORD ON THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND.
Stirling Castle capitulated immediately after the battle, and Sir Marmaduke Twenge,[1] who had taken shelter in it, was sent prisoner to Dumbarton. The surrender of the castle of Dundee followed; and, with the exception of the garrisons remaining in Roxburgh, Berwick, and Dunbar, Scotland was once more completely cleared of her invaders. These places, with the exception of the last, were also given up, as soon as they were summoned by the leaders of the Scottish army; and about this time, at a meeting held in the Forest-kirk, Selkirkshire, Wallace was elected, or declared Regent of Scotland, in the name of King John; the appointment being sanctioned by the presence of the Earl of Lennox, Sir William Douglas, and a number of the most powerful among the nobility.
Thus armed with legitimate authority, the newly appointed Guardian began to exercise it in the manner that he conceived would be most conducive to the general interest and welfare of the country. He had often experienced the difficulties which feudal vassalage presented to his efforts in behalf of the national independence. The numerous serfs who were retained in bondage by the more powerful barons, could be either restrained from taking up arms, or withdrawn at the caprice of their masters, even when their services were of the greatest importance. A power so dangerous in the hands of a party comparatively small, had been productive of the most ruinous consequences. To reform a system pregnant with mischief, and one at the same time so much in favour with the prejudices of the age, required wisdom and energy, such as he possessed. Aware of the opposition which an open and declared attempt to emancipate the adscripti glebæ would create,—he attacked the system in the only part where it appeared to be vulnerable. Having divided the country into districts, he caused a muster-roll to be made out, containing the names of all who were capable of bearing arms between the age of sixteen and sixty. These he divided and subdivided in a manner peculiarly his own. Over every four men he appointed a fifth; over every nine, a tenth; over every nineteen, a twentieth; and thus continued the gradation of rank till it reached the chiliarch, or commander of a thousand.[2] In the different parishes, gibbets were also erected to enforce obedience to these regulations; and whoever refused to appear for the defence of his country when summoned, was hung up as an example to others. Those barons who interposed their authority to prevent their vassals from joining the ranks of the patriots, were either punished with imprisonment, or confiscation of property.
Though the active and restless mind of Wallace may now seem to have had full employment in the various duties of his office,—yet, amidst the multiplicity of objects of internal policy which occupied his time, the resuscitation of the foreign trade of the kingdom appears to have had its proper share of his attention. The advantage which Scotland derived from her foreign commercial intercourse, as has been already stated, was too important to be soon forgotten; and the heroic and faithful conduct of the Flemings at the siege of Berwick, was too recent not to be dwelt on with grateful remembrance. In order, therefore, to renew the connection with those useful strangers, accredited persons appear to have been despatched with letters to the free towns of Hamburg and Lubeck.[3]
Having provided for the necessary supplies of men, the Guardian determined on retaliating the injuries Scotland had sustained at the hands of her late oppressors. Meanwhile a famine,—the natural consequence of the neglect of agriculture during the unsettled state of the country, had begun to make its appearance; and was soon followed by a pestilence,—occasioned, doubtless, by the multitude of putrid carcasses which remained, partially at least, if not altogether, exposed after the recent carnage. To alleviate, as far as possible, the misery consequent on those dreaded calamities, he commanded all the standing crops to be carefully gathered in, and stored up in barns and yards under proper regulations, to meet the exigencies of the country during winter. In order, at the same time, to concentrate the strength and resources of the country, and establish that unanimity so necessary for its defence, he summoned all the vassals of the Scottish crown to meet him at Perth. From this parliament, which was pretty numerously attended, Patrick, Earl of Dunbar, thought proper to absent himself. The great power and military experience of this baron, joined to the circumstance of his occupying a fortress which was considered as the key of the eastern part of the kingdom, made it an object of some importance that his allegiance should be unquestionable. An early partisan of Edward, he had as yet shown no disposition to relinquish his unnatural connection with the enemy. When the subject of his absence came, therefore, to be discussed before the Scottish Nobles, they unanimously resolved on proceeding against him without delay. Wallace, however, proposed the more gentle expedient of remonstrance, before having recourse to extremities; and a deputation was accordingly sent, to request his attendance as a Scottish Peer, in order to take part in the government of the country, and to aid, with his counsel and his arms, in the establishment of the national independence. Possessed of large dominions in England, as well as an extensive inheritance in Scotland, this Earl felt little inclination to incur the displeasure of his Lord Paramount in the South, by a too ready accession to the cause of liberty in the North; and he accordingly returned a haughty and scornful answer, no way calculated to allay the prejudice which his former contemptuous behaviour had excited against him. As soon, therefore, as the various objects which had engaged the attention of the parliament were disposed of, Wallace proceeded, with a select body of four hundred men, to reduce the turbulent chieftain. A little to the east of Dunbar, the Guardian found the Earl awaiting his approach at the head of nine hundred followers; and a desperate conflict immediately commenced, which ended in the flight of Patrick, who escaped to England.[4] The castle of Dunbar was in consequence surrendered to the victor, who gave it in charge to Sir Christopher Seton, with a competent garrison for its defence.