Page:History of Sir William Wallace, the renowned Scottish champion.pdf/17

17 Many wonderful facts are told of Wallace's exploits he defeated the English in several combats chased them almost entirely out of Scotland, regained the towns and castles of which they hađ possessed themselves, and recovered the complete freedom of the country. He even marched into England, and laid Cumberland and Northumberland waste, and humbled the English. In the north of Scotland, the English had placed a garrison in the strong castle of Dunnotar which, built on a large and precipitous rock, overhangs the raging sea. Though the place is almost inaccessible, Wallace and his followers found their way into the castle, while the garrison in great terror fled into the church or chapel, which was built on the very verge of the precipice This did not save them, for Wallace caused the church to be set on fire. A number of the terrified garrison, involved in the flames, ran upon the points of the Scottish swords, while others threw themselves from the precipice into the sea, and swam along to the cliffs, where they hung like sea-fowl, screaming in vain for mercy and assistance. The followers of Wallace falling on their knees before the priests who chanced to be in the army, they asked forgiveness for having committed so much slaughter within the limits of a church de