Page:Life of the celebrated Scottish patriot Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/15

Rh This river has no passable fords at this place, and the only passage was by a wooden bridge. The English sent two Dominican friars to Wallace, to offer a pardon to him and his men if they would lay down their arms. Their terms were, however, degrading and insulting to the honour and independence of the Scottish nation, and therefore rejected with becoming disdain. "Go, tell your officers," said Wallace, that we came not here to treat for peace, but prepared for battle, and are determined to avenge our wrongs, and set our country free from the iron yoke of Edward. Let them but advance, and to their faces we will tell so much." Incensed at this determined reply, the English exclaimed, " They are all our own; let us instantly charge them." Cressingham, with the greater part of his army, had crossed the bridge, which, either by the contrivaneecontrivance [sic] of workmen, who, a little before, had loosened the joints of the beams; or, by the pressure of so many horse, foot, and earriagescarriages [sic], gave way, and interrupted the march of the English army. Before their ranks were formed, the Scots attacked those who had passed, and having slain their leader, drove the rest back into the river. After this battle, Wallace returned to the besieging of castles, and in a short time so changed the fortune of war, that there remained no Englishmen in Scotland, except as prisoners. This vietoryvictory [sic] was so important in its consequences, that the Scots who had deserted to the English submitted to Wallace, and hailed him as the deliverer of his country. Berwick and Roxburgh alone resisted, but being deserted by their garrison, they soon threw open their gates. Thus, in the short space of fourteen months after King John had been deposed, and his kingdom subdued, did Wallace, with a few brave men, restore the nation to her ancient liberty and independence.

The fields lying uncultivated, a famine and a plague followed, whence a greater number of deaths, it was