Page:Life and adventures of Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/7

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faction and the Englished Scots nobleman, took the town of Berwick with great slaughter, and shortly thereafter, Dunbar, Edinburgh and Stirling.

In, and about these castles he had killed and taken captives the greatest p art of the Scots noblemen ; so that crossing Forth, the blow being sudden, he found no preparation for resistence, Baliol surrendered him- self to King Edward at Montrose, and was sent by him into England, where he remained captive till such time as by intercession of the Pope, he was set at liberty swearing and giving hostages never to re- turn to Scotland, King Edward came to Scoon, and took upon him the crown of Scotland, as forfeited bp the rebellion of his homager Baliol.

He sent for the nobles of Scotland who remained, that they wish such as were his captives might swear homage tb him as their leige Lord and King, those who refused, were detained prisoners.

But while men of power neglected the public cause of the liberty of Scotland. William Wallace a youth of honourable birth, being son to Malcom Wallace of Elderslie, but of mean powers, having first in private killed many Englishmen of the garri- sons as he could overtake them, bv these exploits, being so encouraged, (being a man of ins invincible hardi- ness, incredible strength of body, and withal very wise and circumspect) that he gathered his friends and neighbours, and by jeopardies and stratagems, divers times cut off great numbers of the enemy ; the report thereof drew to him such as affected the liber- ty and tire welfare of their country, and had courage to hazard themselves for vindicating thereof, with their friends and Servants ; who after some valiant, exploits happily atchieved, and an army of 10,000 men led by Thomas earl of Lancaster to the earl of