Page:Life of Sir William Wallace.pdf/22

 Bishop of Glasgow, the Steward, and Soulis, were banished two years: Graham and Lindsay six months Fraser and Bois three, from the territories of Edward; but with regard to Wallace it was stipulated "That he shall render himself up at the will and mercy of our sovereign lord, the king, if it shall seem good to him."

Of all his countrymen Wallace alone remained unreduced by the promises and unsubdued by the power of the English king. After the fatal defeat at Falkirk, he retired to a place of security, where he lived for a considerable time undiscovered; but Edward, who looked on his tenure of Scotland as insecure, so long as this brave man was free, held out great rewards for his discovery. These induced one Ralph de Hallburton, a Scottish prisoner, to offer himself for this base undertaking; but what he did now is utterly unknown, although Wallace was seized a short time after, by the English, and conveyed to London, where on the 23rd August 1305, he was formally tried as a traitor. He was crowned with laurel, during the time of his trial, by way of insult, but suffered all the indignities they heaped on him with a malicious cruelty, with an unconquerable fortitude. Sentence was at last executed; his head was fixed upon upon Westminster Bridge, and his legs and arms sent to the principal towns of Scotland.

Popular tradition says, that Wallace was betrayed by his friend Sir John Menteith, but for this there is no authority except Blind Harry. Sir John at this time held the important fortress of Dumbarton in charge for Edward, and it is most improbable that Wallace should put himself in the power of one, whom he knew to be in an office of such distinguished trust.

The people in the northern counties of England