Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/53

 (53) The politic Edward improved these discon- tents to his own advantage. By as emissaries he excited the leading men in Galloway to revolt in his favour, and two of his generals male a descent upon Fife. Informed of this, Wallace overtook them at the spacious and beautiful forest of Blackıronside, and killed, or took prisoners, fifteen hundred and eighty of their men. In this battle he lost'very few of his men and none of his officers; but the valiant Duncan Balfour, Sheriff of Fife, and the gallant Sir John Graham, were wounded.

This defeat did not. However, prevent tho English from harassing several other parts during that summer. Wallace routed them in three engagements at Perth; and to annoy them, was constrained to destroy the bridge. In one of these, Sir John Withrington, their commander, with many more, were drowned in the river. During the period that Wallace was thus employed in the dentre of the kingdom. the English, and the rebels in Galloway, had seized upon some places in the south and west.

Wallace and his army marched to repel tho English and punish the rebus; and having received intelligence that they were stationed sat Ayr, they advanced in the night, with a party of five hundred men, and set re to the barns where the soldiers were asleep, and such as escaped the flames, perished by the swords of the Scots. E3 Thus,