Page:Life and surprising adventures of Sir William Wallace.pdf/24

 24 mitted to the laws of England, was tried by them, and condemned to be banged, drawn, and quartered, and, whilſt alive, to have his bowels cut out; all which was executed with the utmoſt ſeverity, or rather relentleſs barbarity. It is doubtleſs if ever any country pro- duced a hero ſimilar to Wallace. Wal- lace, only a private gentleman, the fee- ond brother of a Scots laird, who, tho' he had martial England to contend with, and ambitious Edward, who had ſpread terror in other nations bythe power of his arms--wrought the ſalvation of his coun- try, and reſcued its liberties, its ancient rights and privileges from the elſe certain deſtruction which brooded over them; with few of the nobility and commonalty to ſupport or eſpouſe his cauſe, till by ex- ploits incredible for their greatneſs he wrought them into a belief, that under him they would prove invincible. No man ever attempted more than he; yet none was more cautious, or better under- ſtood the arts of ſtratagem. Untutored himſelf, he taught the whole nation to be ſoldiers, and diſciplined them ſo ad- mirably, that, had it been thought pro- per to have carried on his plan, Scotland could always afford at -leaſt thirty thou- ſand men, ready for any enterpriſe what- ever, and that too without being charge able to the government, or depopulating the country, THE END.