Page:Life and adventures of Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/2



HE history of Sir, with the other of the valiant King Robert Bruce, which followeth upon the end of it, and of which this is a abridgment, was written in Latin by Mr John Blai* chaplain to Wallace, and turned into Scots metre by one Blind Harry, in the days of King James IV and the history of Bruce was written by Mr. John Bar- bour, archdean of Aberdeen in the days of K. David Bruce and Robert Stewart both together contain arclation of the most famous war that ever fell on in the isle of Britain, fought most valiantly for the space of 40 years, between the two realms of Scotland and England ; the one unjustly pursuing; the other constantly defending the liberties cf their country.

In the year 1285, Alexander the IIId. King of Scotland, being suddenly taken away by a fall from his horse, at Kinghorn, without any issue of his body and in him.the whole posterity of his father Alexan- der the IId. and grandfather William the Lyon being extinct, the right of the crown fell to the heirs of Da- vid earl of Huntington & Garioch, youngest brother to William the Lyon, he had left three daughters the eldest Margaret, married to Allan Lord of Gallo- way, the second, Isabel, to Robert Bruce, (sirname the Noble,) Lord of Annandale and Cleveland; the youngest Ada, married Henry Hastings an Endlish- man; who having no just title to the crown the con tention rested betwixt the posterity of the two elde: