Page:Life of Sir William Wallace.pdf/18

 his column, fell furiously on this left flank at and while it made a gallant resistance Bigot assailed the fight wing. The Scots, cavalry fled panic struck at the appearance and number of their heavy-armed horse, and Wallace and his brave associates had now to sustain, the weight of the whole, English army, unsupported, which often attempted to break the Scottish circle, but were as often repulsed. "They could not penetrate into that wood of spears," said a contemporary historian. At last, however, the outmost ranks were broken, by repeated charges, and showers of stones and arrows. Macduff and Sir John Graham fell. Seeing resistance vain, with the wrecks that could be collected, Wallace retreated across the Forth by way of Stirling, while Edward made himself master of all the middle and southern districts of Scotland.

It is said that, on this occasion, Wallace took the body of his dead friend in his arms and kissed it, saying, "My best brother that ever I had in the world; my sincere friend in my greatest need; in thee was wit, freedom and kindness, manhood and nobleness." Sir John was buried at Falkirk, where a monument was erected to his memory, on which is the following inscription:——

"Graham is buried here, slain in battle by the English: he was strong in mind and body, and the faithful friend of Wallace."

The Scots historians, probably following Blind Harry, assign a different reason for the disastrous issue of this battle, than the strength and superiority of Edward's troops. They say that the Scottish army was commanded by three different leaders— Wallace, Cuming and Badenock, and John Stewart, brother to the Lord High Steward, and that each insisted on leading the van, Wallace in virtue of his office; Cuming, because allied