Page:Life and surprising adventures of that renowned hero, Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/20

 John Stewart fought bravely, and died honourably, as did all his dependants. And the guardian, who, in the beginning of the action, had just sufficient leisure to address this short speech to his men, “I have brought you to the king, fly if you can,” did all that could be expected from the greatest commander in the world.

Thus Wallace, by the means to which we have already adverted, was obliged to retreat; on which account, and because of the numerous forces he brought to the field, he was branded as the main author of all the losses which his country had sustained.

This line of conduct, however, he was soon after disposed to follow: for by Sir John Cummine’s conduct, both before and after the battle, and by the conversation which he afterwards had with Robert Bruce Earl of Carraik, he plainly under- stood that these great men were actuated by mere jealousy, a passion, of all others the least easily checked; and that both having a view to the crown, would always oppose, at least would never heartily concur with one, who, in their apprehension, had merit and ambition enough to set it on his own head.

After the glorious victory obtained in the beginning of the compaign 1302, by