Page:Life and surprising adventures of that renowned hero, Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/12

 regiments, and bad officers appointed over them. Having thus arranged all domestic affairs, and collected as many men as he thought necessary for his purpose, he, under himself, as commander, appointed Andrew Murray, surnamed the noble, son of Andrew Murray, who shortly before fell at the battle of Stirling, and entered England on the eighteenth of October. The inhabitants of Northumberland, alarmed at his approach, leaving the country defenceless, fled with their families and effects to Newcastle. Upon this Wallace and his army halted, or rather seemed to retreat. The country people observing their retrograde motion, returned to their houses, and were all unawares surprised by parties of the Scottish army, who ravaged the whole country between Tyne and Dervent, for the space of twenty-three days. A body of fresh troops advancing now to the borders, some of the former were sent home, and had the peculiar satisfaction of carrying back with them to their friends the welcome news of their various success, particularly the plenty of food they had procured in the land of their enemies. But Wallace did not think proper to attack them, or to push his successes farther: he had already done sufficient mischief to his enemies, and