Page:Life and adventures of Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/8

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Warren, defeated by Wallace at Bigger, (holding an assembly at the Forest Kirk) chose Wallace to be warden of Scotland, and viceroy in Baliol’s place ; in which office he so valiantly behaved himself, that in 3 short space he recovered all the strength on the bor- der, and brought the south of Scotland to good quiet.

The English fearing the loss of all, subcilly took truce with Wallace tor one year, beginning in Fe- bruary.

In June following, they proclaimed a justice eyre to be held at Glasgow and Air the 18th of that month thinking to entrap Wallace and all his friends and un- der colour of law, to cut them off at the day appoint- ed.

All landed men according to the custom assembling to this court, the English condemned them for felo- ny, and hanged them presently ; amongst the rest, Sir Ronald Crawford, sheriff of Air, uncle to Wal- lace, Sir Bryce Blair, Sir Neil Montgomery, and ma- ny of the barons of Kyle, Cunningham, Carrick and Clydesdale.

Those who escaped advertised Wallace, who chanc- ed to come later than the rest.

He assembling such of the country, as detesting so horrible a fact extremely hated the authors there- of, in the beginning of the night, secretly entered in- to Air, set fire to the place where the Englishmen, after that fact were securely sleeping, and suffered none to escape.

The garrisons of the castle issued forth to quench the fire, and ambush laid for the purpose, entered the house and made it sure. The next moning Wal- lace came to Glasgow, where the Lord Henry Pier- cy had retired from Air the day before : him he ex- pulsed thence with great slaughter.

The victory he so hotly pursued, that immediately