Page:History of the Scottish patriot, Sir Wm. Wallace, Knight of Ellerslie.pdf/3

Rh who was afterwards his chaplain, and lived to record his daring and unparalleled adventures.— The unfortunate battle of Dunbar having led to the abdication of John Baliol, the reigning monarch, Edward filled every part of Scotland with English officers and soldiers, who insulted the inhabitants, and preyed upon the vitals of the humbled kingdom. Wallace beheld the oppressors of his countrymen with horror and indignation, sympathized with individual sufferers, and mourned the degradation of his native and beloved land. The base injustice, treachery, and cruelty of Edward’s governors became the subject of general conversation, and the numerous cruelties and indignities of his officers and men exasperated the nation to the highest pitch. Wallace was of an incredible strength of body, and had arrived at that period of life when the feelings are strong and ardent, and every pulse beats with a generous glow towards the objects of affection. These frequent conversations, and the outrages of the English at Dundee, where he resided at school, appears first to have roused his spirit in defence of his bleeding country. All places of power and wealth in the kingdom were given to Englishmen; and, among others, one Selby had been elevated to the dignity of constable of Dundee. Young Wallace was either insulted, or considered himself so, by his son, and not being of a temper to receive any insult with impunity, far less from an Englishman, he attacked, and, in presence of many of his companions, slew him with his own dagger, and made his escape to his uncle’s at Dunipace, in Stirlingshire. After remaining here a short time, he and his mother returned to Ellerslie; but, finding that his father and elder brother had been cruelly murdered by the English at Lochmaben, his great and noble mind was roused with indignation, and, panting with revenge, he meditated retaliations worthy of his country’s sufferings, and of the injuries which had