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proceeded thus far, they received orders from Edward to halt, till he himself, having now settled his affairs abroad, should come home, and put an end to the disturbances in Scotland.
Edward having arrived in England on the 21st of March, immediately sent letters to Wallace, replete with insult and abuse. He told him that he durst not have attempted to revolt in Scotland, far less an invasion on England, had he himself been in the island. Sir William received Edward’s messenger with that dignity which became his present situation, and replied, that he had more reason to take the advantage of Edward’s absence to deliver his country from servitude, than he of the divisions of a free and independent people to enslave them: he added, that he had invaded England to repay the injuries done to Scotland; that he meant to keep his Easter in the same country, and that he invited his highness to that feast. He punctually did what he promised. Edward had a great army to oppose him, but Sir William’s courage, which had been conspicuous all along, did not fail him here; with his usual intrepidity, he collected his chosen troops, rallied, and came in view of the mighty monarch near Stanmore.
Edward’s army appeared to the Scots to
