Page:History of Sir William Wallace (2).pdf/17

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

17

to his usual gallantry, had advanced too far, and was surrounded and slain.

Notwithstanding these victories however, the King of England possessed so much wealth, and so many brave soldiers, that he sent army after army into Scotland, and obliged the nobles, one after the other, to submit to his power. Sir William Wallace, however, with a chosen band of his followers, disdain- ed to purchase his safety at the expense of his honour, and refused to ay down his arms. He continued to maintain his ground among the woods and mountains of his native coun- try for no less than seven years after the battle of Falkirk, in spite of many proclaim- ations and offers of reward for his apprehen- sion by the English,—for Edward did not think himself secure in his possession of Scotland while Wallace lived.

He was at length taken prisoner, and shame it is to tell, betrayed and delivered into the hands of the English by a Scotch- man ! Sir John Monteith was the person who