Page:Life and surprising adventures of that renowned hero, Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/24

 which was executed with the utmost severity, or rather relentless barbarity.

It is doubtless if ever any country produced a hero similar to Wallace. Wallace, only a private gentleman, the second brother of a Scots laird, who—though he had martial England to contend with, and ambitious Edward, who had spread terror in other nations by the power of his arms —wrought the salvation of his country, and rescued its liberties, its ancient rights and privileges from the else certain destruction which brooded over them, with few of the nobility and commonalty to support him or support his cause, till by exploits incredible for their greatness he wrought them into belief, that under him they would prove invincible. No man ever attempted more than lie, yet none was more cautious, or better understood the arts of stratagem. Untutored himself, he taught the whole nation to be soldiers, and disciplined them so admirably, that had it been thought proper to have carried on his plan, Scotland could always afford at least thirty thousand men ready for any enterprise whatever, and that too without being chargeable to the government, or depopulating the country.