The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-07-18
WILLIAM " ALLACF,
TIE HERO or SCOTLAND.

NeAe f, perhaps, was the fame al
any man more cherished by people.
than that OF William Wallace Is by
the Scottish nation. His exploits
have been for ages the darling theme
loF all ranks Of the people, aud in
those parts OF the country where his
adventures chiefly lay, there is
scarcely Il lofty rock, high Tall oil
water. lonely cave. or other remark
able object in nature, which is not
designated by a maine dear to every
romantic, youthful y patriotic mind.
! he recorded tcats in the life of Wal +
lace, rank him not only among the
first patriots Of his nation. but among
the first of all Who have deserved
that honorable appellation. lie made
bis appearance IN the theatre Of ac-
tive life at most interesting period.
a disputed succession to the Scottish
crown had been submitted to the de-
Cision Of Edward the First, OF Eng
land. The office Of umpire gave tho
English King fatal asccndancy o.
yer the Scottish mobiles, and especial
lYoyer the competitors for the crown.
Haliol was prefer ed, on condition
that he would acknowledge the de
pcndcnrc u' Scotland upon the En-
Slish crown; but at last, under the
modification of repeated insults, he
resigned the crown altogether into
the hands Of Edward, on the sd of
July, 1895. All scotland was nov
0yerrnn by an English army, and
the government placed in the hands
of English deputies, who made il o.
dious to the people by their eXactions
and operations. Atthis critical mo-
mcnt Was the standard Of freedom
first unlurlcd by William Wallace,
The younger son Of a private gentle
man, Wallace, of ftlicrslie. TO
great bodily strength ard activity,
and a courage which delighted in
dagger, he united an invcutiveness
of enterprise, y fertility ofresources,
and n generous gallantry of manner.
we'll calculated to gain hlm an autho-
rily over the rude aud nndjsciplincd
multitude " ho answered Iii, patriotic
call. In May. 1897. he began To in
fest the English qus ler8. and SOON
made his numbers appear formida-
Die. Tie first person OF note WHO
Joined h,m was Sir William Doug
lass. With their united forces, these
two allies attempted to surprise
Ormcsby, the English Justiciary,
while holding a court at SCoon. but
prccipitatc flight disappointed them
of their expected prey. After Ibis.
the patriotic baud roved over the
whole country, assaulted castles and
slew the English wherever they met
With them. Several men Of the high
est rank now joined the standard Of
freedom. Among others, Bruce, the
steward OF Scotland. and his brother,
Sir Alexander tic Lindsay; Sir An
drew Murray, Of Boutwell,, Richard
| Lnnden and Wishart, bishop of Glas-
gov. But unfortunately they bro't
more splendor than real strength To
the cause.
Wallace, though the master spirit
Of the whole enterprise, was Of too
humble a rank among the gentlemen
of Scotland, to be readily acknoW
lodged by them for their chief: and
where merit like his was not rccog-
liXed as the best title t. supreme
command, it is easy IN conceive thai
the conflict OF professions must hatt
! Teen endless. All the leaders claimed
90 be independent oil each othcr; and
to nothing, even Of the most 0bylou,
aid antagee, cooid their common con.
sent be obtained. While the Scot.
fish army, thus entecbled by disease
lay posted near Irvine, Il chosen ant
numerous body OF forces which hat
been sent FROM England by Edward
approached to give them battle. Al
tie mobiles and barons Nho had join.
ed the party Of Wallace, Sir Andrew
Murray, OF Boutwell,, alone except
cd, consented to treat with the Eng
Iish, and Tor themselves and their AZ
heicnts made submission to Edward
W allace and Murray refused to have
any concern with the ignoblc capitn'
lation; and collecting together teN
faithful conpanIoEs Of their fortunes
retired Indignantly towards TIT
north. Under tie conduct Of the
two able leaders, the patriot bano
soon recruited its numbers ant
when the English advanced to Stir
ling, Was prepared to dispute viii