Page:Life and surprising adventures of Sir William Wallace.pdf/3

3 of private life is uncertain; but it is presumed to have been about the period of the battle of Dunbar, where the discipline of Edward's soldiers triumphed over the loose voilence of the Scottish army, as much as his politician finesse overcame the wisdom of the Scottish nobility in other spheres of contention.

After the humiliation of Scotland, Wallace returned to Dundee, (if in fact he had been engaged in the war), for the purpose of studying under the superintendance of his tutor, Blair. He beheld the oppression of his countrymen with horror and indignation, he sympathised in the sufferings of individuals, and he mourned the degradation of his native land. While these sentiments animated his bosom, he was, in an accidental rencounter, assaulted by a young Englishman, son of Selby the constable of Dunde [sic]. Though a stripling he possessed inconceivable bodily strength; he overcame young Selby in a scuffle which ensued, and killed him with his own dagger, in presence of a number of his companions. This action exposed him the rage of the English, compelled him to seek refuge in retirement from the punishment which would have followed. Having slain all Selby's attendants who