Page:Life and adventures of Sir William Wallace, General and Governor of Scotland (1).pdf/13

 SIR WILLIAM WALLACE. 13 from Edinburgh, expecting no refiftance, divided them- felves into three parties, that they might fpoil farther in- to the country. The Scots embracing the occafion, fet upon the firft divifion, and eafily difcomfited them; the fecond alfo, albeit ftronger by the joining of thofe who fled, was after a long conflict put to the rout. By this the third divifion, coming to the revenge, put the Scots to a great ftrait, as being forely wounded, wearied, and weakened, in the two former battles, and having to withftand a frefh enemy, of far greater number: hereupon they were forced to kill all the captives, left they fhould affift the enemy, and with their weapons to arm the baggage men : and fetting forward both with courage and neceffity, feeing no efcape, after a long and hard fight, they put the enemy to flight. This was Match 24th, 1302. King Edward, fore incenfed by this evil fuccefs, fent for Robert Bruce younger out of Calais, whom he perfuaded, that he had for a long time, againft Wallace, defended his father’s right to the crown of Scotland : that having put Wallace out of the way, he found the Cummings as great enemies : Notwithftand- ing, he intended yet once more to pot that enemy out of the way, and to fettle him in his kingdom. The young prince believing him, caufed all his friends and favourers in Scotland, to join with him, and entering the border, fpoiled the country, and took divers caftles as far as Douglas. Some report that the Lady Doug- las, named Ferras, an Englifh woman, betrayed that caftie to the Bruce, who took the lord William Doug- las captive, with all his children and goods. The lord himfelf was kept prifoner in Berwick, and thereafter in York, where he died. Meantime, king Edward had prepared a mighty army, both by land and fea, with which he entered Scotland, and fubdued all be- fore him while he came to Stirling, kept then by Sir William Oliphant, who after a long fiege, knowing of no relief, yielded the caftle upon condition, that him- felf and all that were with him, fhould pafs with their lives fafe: Notwithftanding king Edward kept ftill all the noblemen, together with the captain Sir William Oliphant; and fuch as would not fwear homage to