Page:Life and adventures of Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/11

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Bruce, for the liberty of Scotland.

After Wallace landed in France he was employed in war against the English, who at that time possess- ed the duchy of Guienne and Bordeaux; them he. defeated in several skirmishes.

But in a few days he was called home by some of his friends in Scotland, for King Edward understand- ing his absence, and pretending he had broken the peace in Guienne, dealt with Robert Bruce earl of Carrick, and his friends, and with such noblemen of, Scotland as held lands in England, or envied Wal- lace’s glory, telling that it was a shame for them to suffer Wallace, a mean gentleman, to rule Scotland, while any of the blood royal did remain ; so promis- ing his assistance to Robert Bruce, he sent a great army into Scotland and by the help of the Brucian faction, and English noblemen, he easily obtained the greatest strengths of Scotland.

Wallace returned the next summer, and secretly amassing a number of his special followers, who had lurked till his back-coming, on a sudden surprized St Johnstoun by a stratagem, and pursuing his victo- ry hotly, chased the English out of Fife.

Upon the report hereof, all the rest of his follow- ers came from their lurking holes, by whose assis- tance he recovered divers strengths.

Lord Wm. Douglas took the castle of Sanquhar by a stratagem, and finding the English captains of the’ nearest garrisons coming to beseige him. he sent se- cretly to Wallace, who coming with his power, not only raised the siege, but chased all.'he English gar- risons out of these quarters ; from whence he went i to the north parts, .which he recovered with small difficulty, except the strong cattle of Dundee, to which he laid siege.