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

8 Wallace was, by the majority of the kingdom, elected guardian of Scotland, and viceroy in the absence of Baliol. The castle of Dundee was the only place that withstood the arms of Wallace in the north. While besieging this fort, he got intelligence of the approach of the English army, commanded by John earl of Surrey, and Sir Hugh Cressingham, and joined by many disaffected Scots, to the number altogether of about forty thousand men. Wallace commanded the burghers upon pain of death to prosecute with vigour the siege he had begun. And he himself, with ten thousand faithful adherents, marched towards Stirling, and encamped in an advantageous situation on a hill above the monastery of Cumbuskenneth, on the north side of the forth; which, having no fords at that place, was passable only by a wooden bridge. The English army lay on the south of the Forth; and their generals being desirous of bringing matters to an accommodation, sent two Dominican friars with overtures of peace to Wallace. These terms, insulting in the last degree to the honor and independance of Scotland, were rejected with disdain.

"Tell your officers, (said Wallace), that we have not come to this place to sue for peace, that now we ready to