Page:History of Sir William Wallace the renowned Scottish champion (1).pdf/14



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which divides the Ochil from the Grampian Hills, so that the English forces, when ready to pass the Forth by the bridge at Stirling, were aston- ished to see the Scottish army drawn up on a ris- ing ground near the Abbey of Cambuskenneth, and prepared to oppose their passage. Edward’s governor, here attempted to practise the same arts which had heed so successful while at Irvine. The men which Wallace now had, were of a very different stamp from those dastardly and perfid- ious barons with whom it was his misfortune on         that occasion to be allied. All terms of com- promise were promptly and sternly rejected “Return,” said Wallace to the two friars sent by Warrene to propose an accommodation; “We came not here to treat but to assert our rights and set Scotland free. Let them advance, they will find us prepared” Thus the English commanders were thrown into perplexity as to what plan of operations they should follow. To attempt to force a passage along the bridge, in the face of an enemy so ad- vantageously posted and so full of zeal and high hopes, would be a step fraught with manifest danger, On the other hand, to decline the con- test with an enemy inferior in many respects would be held disgraceful. While engaged in these deliberations, the danger of assaulting