WALLACE JOINED BY SIR JOHN GRAHAM.--PROCEEDINGS IN CLYDESDALE.--
WALLACE VISITS LANARK.--ADVENTURE WITH A PARTY OF THE ENGLISH.
It appears, that an oath similar to that which Sir Raynald Crawford
had been compelled to take, against holding correspondence with, or
affording assistance to Wallace, had also been forced upon his other
relatives, as we find the widow alluded to in the foregoing chapter
made the instrument of conveying to him the proofs of his uncle’s
affection.
Having, by her means, been supplied with a considerable sum of money,
as well as horses for himself and his companions, they set forward,
accompanied by two of her sons whom she devoted to the cause, toward
those districts where they had reason to expect a more cordial
co-operation, than what they had experienced in the neighbourhood of St
Johnstone.
At the suggestion of his uncle, Wallace visited Dundaff Castle, on
his way towards Clydesdale. This fortress, with the lands of Dundaff,
Strathblane and Strathcarron, belonged to Sir David, or according to
others, to Sir John Graham, an old warrior, who, in his early years,
had recommended himself by his gallantry to Alexander, Lord High
Steward of Scotland, by whom he is supposed to have been intrusted
with an important command at the battle of Largs. His son and heir,
Sir John, received, when but a stripling, the honour of knighthood at
Berwick, on account of his conduct in a border feud with the Percys
of Northumberland. During three days which Wallace passed at Dundaff,
he and his companions experienced the most unbounded hospitality; and
the old chieftain saw, with delight, those feelings of admiration and
friendship with which his son and their noble guest appeared to view
each other. Before the departure of the latter, Sir John, with the
consent of his father, devoted himself to the cause of his country’s
independence, by swearing fidelity to Wallace as his chief, and would
have instantly accompanied him, but it was deemed more prudent to
remain with his father, till he was apprised of the number of followers
Wallace could muster in Clydesdale. Meantime, he was to hold himself in
readiness to advance, with his father’s vassals, as soon as he should
receive intimation. After mutual expressions of friendship, Wallace
proceeded on his journey, and lodged the same night at Bothwell, in the
house of one Crawford, from whom he received information of the state
of the country and the strength of the enemy. The following night he
reached Gillbank, in the neighbourhood of Lanark, where he remained
with a near relation of his own; and from thence he despatched Stephen
and Kerle, one to the west, and the other to the north, to acquaint his
friends of his situation, and appoint a time and place to meet him.
It seems about this time a report had been circulated among the
English, that Wallace had been slain in a mutiny of his followers. This
rumour, no doubt occasioned by the circumstances attending the death of
Fawdon, had reached Percy, along with the accounts of the destruction
of Kincleven Castle, and the slaughter of Butler and the other English
officers; but though he did not give it implicit belief, there was a
degree of credit attached to it, particularly by the English in the
upper part of Clydesdale, that caused our hero to be less taken notice
of when he appeared among them. This was particularly serviceable to
him in the visits which he now made to Lanark. We have already alluded
to an attachment which Wallace entertained for a young gentlewoman of
that place. A degree of obscurity hangs over the history of this amour.
It is supposed, by those writers who have taken notice of the subject,
that the parties had been privately married shortly after the battle
of Beg, during the time that he remained in the forest of Clydesdale,
and that the ceremony was performed by John Blair, but whether in the
church, or under the “Greenwood Tree,” is no where stated. Be that as
it may, his situation was too precarious to allow him to remove her
from her present residence. His visits were, therefore, made with the
utmost secrecy, in such disguises, and at such hours, as would best
enable him to escape the notice of his enemies. Meanwhile his sword
was not allowed to rust. He and his companions were continually on the
watch for stragglers from the English quarters; and as they always
attacked them in situations where none could escape, their mysterious
disappearance excited the greatest alarm among their countrymen.
Various anecdotes are still in circulation among the peasantry of the
Upper Ward of Lanarkshire, regarding exploits performed by him about
this time. Among others, there is a story still handed down, of the
severe retaliation he inflicted on a party of Englishmen, who, having
come to the same inn at which he and his companions were refreshing
themselves, had played off a barbarous attempt at waggery, by cutting
the tails from the horses of the Scots. Blind Harry alludes to this
circumstance; and the following address, which Wallace is represented
as having made to their captain, before he cut him down, may be
considered as no unfavourable specimen of the humour of the man:
“Gud freynd, abid,
Seruice to tak for thi craft in this tyde.
Marschell, thou art with out commaund off me;
Reward agayne, me think, I suld pay the;
Sen I off laitt, now come owt off the west
In this cuntré, a barbour off the best
To cutt and schaiff, and that a wondyr gude;
Now thow sall feyll how I oyss to lat blude.”
According to some accounts, the above transactions is said to have
occurred at Lochmaben, and that he was afterwards pursued by Sir Hew
of Moreland, who traced the Scots to the Knock-wood by the blood that
still continued to issue from their horses. Wallace being here joined
by sixteen of his followers who had been lurking in the wood, an
engagement commenced, in which, though greatly superior in numbers,
the English were defeated, and Sir Hew, with near twenty of his men,
were slain. This account is confirmed by a tradition still current in
the neighbourhood; and is thus mentioned in the Statistical Account
of the Parish of Kirkmichael. “There are several indistinct remains
of ancient fortifications, but no tradition about any other than a
small fort in the Knock-wood, called Wallace’s house, said to have
been thrown up by Sir William Wallace after he had slain Sir Hew of
Moreland and five of his men, at a place still named from that event,
the ‘_Sax Corses_,’ i. e. the six corpses, and where there are two or
three large stones which seem to have been set up in remembrance of
some great transaction.” Tradition may be generally relied on when it
marks the spot where any remarkable occurrence has taken place; yet
the circumstances connected with it are often mis-stated. The rude
defence alluded to, under the name of Wallace’s House, may have been
either hastily formed during the advance of Moreland and his party--as
they are said to have been seen for some time before they reached the
position occupied by the Scots--or possibly it may be the remains of
some strength used in former wars. Wallace only seems to have availed
himself of it to protect, for the moment, his little band from being
overpowered by their numerous assailants; for we find him immediately
after this victory obliged to quit Knock-wood. Those Englishmen who
escaped, having fled to Lochmaben Castle, a detachment of three
hundred horse were ordered to go in pursuit, under the command of one
Graystock, an officer who had lately arrived from England with a strong
reinforcement to fill up the deficiencies which Wallace had made in the
garrisons. Ignorant in a great measure of the talents and prowess of
the man he had to contend with, he upbraided his fugitive countrymen
with cowardice, when they recommended caution to him in operations
against so wary an adversary, and bent on chastising what he termed
the insolence of the freebooter, pressed forward with the greatest
expedition.
The Scots having supplied themselves with the horses of their slain
enemies, were preparing to advance into Clydesdale, near the confines
of which Wallace had appointed to meet his trusty associates, Kerle
and Stephen, with those friends who had promised to join him, when the
formidable array of Graystock came in sight, at full gallop. Wallace
now ordered his men to form, and retire with deliberation, taking
care to keep their horses in breath, while he remained in the rear to
repress any sudden attack that might be made. As the enemy advanced,
Wallace, mounted on the horse of Moreland, kept in front of them,
and rode, with so much _sang froid_, occasionally looking over his
shoulder, that an uninterested spectator might have supposed he was
rather leading the English party on, than watching for a favourable
opportunity of attacking them, while the terror of his name prevented
any of them from moving from their ranks. They had thus contrived to
follow the retreating Scots for some time, when Graystock ordered a
movement, by which he imagined he would be able to surround Wallace
and his little band. At this juncture Sir John Graham suddenly
appeared with about thirty horse, followed by Sir Roger Kilpatrick of
Torthorowald, a near relation of Wallace by the mother’s side, who,
in obedience to the message by the faithful Stephen, had taken the
field with twenty of his tenantry. Wallace received these worthy
confederates with three cheers, and instantly set them an example,
by charging through the centre of the enemy: his friends having put
themselves in array, pushed forward at their utmost speed, and soon
completed the confusion he had commenced. The left wing of the enemy
was thrown into disorder before the impetuous charge of the Scots;
and Sir John Graham was busily employed in pursuing and cutting down
the fugitives, when Wallace came up with him, and represented the
impropriety of killing the common soldiers while their leaders were
escaping; pointing out to him a body of one hundred of the enemy, which
Graystock was endeavouring to keep entire, and recommended, as his
horse were still in good condition, to charge and disperse them. Sir
John quickly arranged his little squadron, and prepared with alacrity
to execute the commands he had received. Wallace, who seldom gave
orders which he did not see executed, was soon in the fray. The charge
of Graham had been too impetuous to be withstood. Wallace found the
enemy in confusion, and Graystock engaged hand to hand with the young
knight of Dundaff. The conflict for a few moments remained doubtful,
but the superior strength and dexterity of Graham soon became apparent;
and the fall of the English leader was the signal of flight for his
followers, who sought refuge in the place whence the Scots had been
lately driven.
The victors were hastily recalled from the pursuit by the horn of their
chief. Having collected them around him, he complimented them on the
valour they had displayed, and proposed that they should instantly
attack the Castle of Lochmaben; representing to them, that as the
garrison had already been put to flight, if they could reach it before
the fugitives returned, the plunder they might find would amply reward
the labours they had undergone. The proposal was joyfully received; and
they instantly set out under the guidance of a person well acquainted
with the intricacies of the country.
As their chief expected, the fortress had been left to the care of the
porter and a few invalids, who were easily overpowered; and this place
they found well stored with abundance of every thing their situation
required. While enjoying themselves after the fatigues of the day, the
remains of their discomfited enemies were observed hastening towards
the castle. Orders being immediately given for their admission, on
reaching the castle-yard, they were surrounded by the Scots, and, after
a short conflict, indiscriminately put to the sword.
The fortress, which had thus unexpectedly fallen into their hands, was
deemed so important an acquisition, that Wallace thought it advisable
to leave a garrison in it. He then took his departure, accompanied by
Sir John Graham, Kerle, Stephen, and a few other worthies, for the
forest of Clydesdale.