Page:History of Sir William Wallace (2).pdf/8

                               8 purpose of putting the Scottish gentlemen to death. The English soldiers had halters with running nooses ready prepared, and hung upon the beams which supported the roof, and as the Scottish gentlemen were admitted by two and two at a time, the nooses were thrown over their heads, and they were pulled up by the neck, and thus hanged or strangled to death. Among those who were slain in this base and treacherous manner was, it is said Sir Ronald Crawford Sheriff of the county of Ayr, and uncle to Sir William Wallace.

When Wallace heard of what had be- fallen, he was dreadfully enraged, and collect- ing his men in a wood near to the town of Ayr, he resolved to be revenged on the authors of this great crime. The English in the meanwhile, made much feasting, and when they had eaten and drank plentifully, they lay down to sleep in the same large barns in which they had murdered the Scottish gentlemen. But Wallace, learning