SIR WILLIAM WALLACE, 9 which having no fords at that place, was paffible only by a wooden bridge. This he on purpofe had caufed to be weakened, fo that the one half of the hoft being paft, led by Creffingham, the bridge broke with the great weight of their baggage. Thofe who were come lover, Wallace charged fuddenly, before they were put to order, and cut the moft part in pieces, with their leader Creffingham : the reft feeking to efcape were drowned in the water. The earl of Warren, and thofe that efcaped, were affailed by earl Malcom Lennox, captain of Stirling caftle, and being hotly purfued by Wallace, hardly efcaped, himfelf flying into Dunbar, caftle then belonging to the earl of March. In this battle, fought the 13th of September, 1297, there di- d no Scotsman of remark, but Andrew Murray of Bothwel. The Englifh garrifons hearing of this dif- promniture, fled (illegible text) all places, fo that before the laft of September, all the ftrengths of Scotland, were re- covered except Berwick and Roxburgh. After thofe viftories he held a parliament at St. Johnftoun, as warden of Scotland, and fettled the whole country, caufing the nobility to fwear to be faithful to the State, till fuch times as they might con- fefcend who fhould be King : Earl Patrick Dunbar refufing to acknowledge the authority of this parlia- ment, was chafed out of Scotland: and becaufe the earby-paft, the greund had not been manured, and great mine threatened the land, Wallace aflembled a great loff, and entered England, where he remained all the winter and the fpring following, living upon the ene- mies’ provifions, and enriching his foldiers by their fpoil ; During which time the Englifh durft never encounter him in open field : Only at the firft entry, King Ed- ward, with a great army of raw foldiers, came againift him in the plain of Stanmure; but perceiving the dif- cipline and hardy refolution of Wallace’s hoft, before They came nearer than half a mile, drew back his army and retired : Wallace for fear of ambufh, kept his foldiers in order, and purfued them not. Thus King Edward his country to the mercy of a provoked enemy ; and notwithftanding that he promifed battle, yet he kept himfelf clofe till a peace was concluded for five years,
Page:Life and adventures of Sir William Wallace, General and Governor of Scotland (1).pdf/9
