Page:Life and surprising adventures of Sir William Wallace.pdf/6

6 live during the most inclement seasons of the year, entirely in the open fields the woods, and mountains, where he often wandered, subjected to all hardships that is possible for human nature to sustain; but animated by a spirit that enabled him to bid defiance to the direst calamities that assailed him.

The exploits of Wallace, were soon generally known, and attracted the notice of many, who, dreading the stratagems of Edward to subvert their independence, had courage to hazard their lives for the liberty of their country. At the head of such men as these, Wallace performed such exploits as posterity has surveyed with astonishment. He would frequently sally out of his lurking places, and with an handful of men, defeat whole multitudes. His personal strength was extroardinary [sic], and had often been tried; but to this he did not so much trust as to stratagem. Expeditious and indefatigable, cautious though undaunted, he eluded the pursuits of his enemies, and never exposed himself to numbers, but when certain to frustrate their endeavours, it not to triumph in their destruction. The English having proclaimed a justice-aire to be held at the town of Ayr, 12th June 1296, many of the neighbouring landed gentry attended,