WALLACE RETURNS TO SCOTLAND.--- ENVIED BY THE NOBILITY.--EDWARD
LANDS IN ENGLAND.--WALLACE MEETS HIS ARMY AT STANMORE.--BATTLE OF
BLACKIRONSIDE.--LEGALITY OF WALLACE’S REGENCY.--EDWARD INVADES
SCOTLAND.--TREACHERY OF TWO SCOTTISH NOBLEMEN.
During the time that Wallace remained in England, his army was
occasionally renewed; for as soon as the quota of men belonging to one
clan or parish had collected a sufficient share of booty, they were
allowed to retire and secure it in the North, while their places were
supplied by fresh hordes of not less hungry adventurers. By such means
the spoil of England became pretty equally divided throughout the
several districts of Scotland, and the inhabitants began to experience
the benefits of returning plenty. Having, in this manner, enriched
his own country at the expense of her enemies, the intrepid Guardian
returned--poor it is true, in wealth, but rich in fame--to behold the
prosperity he had so gallantly achieved.[11] This expedition, however,
though it had increased his reputation among the common people,
failed not to awaken the envy of the nobles, who could ill brook the
popularity of one whose actions had thrown them so much into the shade;
and his praise, which they heard on all sides, sounded in their ears
like so many reproaches against themselves, who, possessing wealth
and power, either could not, or from treachery would not, do what he,
so much their inferior in wealth and influence, had taken in hand
and finished, with glory to himself and honour to the country. Hence
the private heart-burnings which arose among these noblemen, whose
consciences whispered that they had been either traitors or sluggards
when the liberty of their country was at stake.
1298. In the mean time, Edward having complied with the demands of
his subjects, the Barons of England collected an army, and advanced
towards the Border. On the 14th March, the King himself landed at
Sandwich, and instantly summoned the Scottish barons to a Parliament
at York. According to Abercrombie, he also addressed letters to the
Guardian, and in a strain more impassioned than courteous, upbraided
him for his audacity in disturbing the tranquillity of Scotland, and in
presuming afterwards to invade England,--a line of conduct which, he
observed, would not have been ventured upon, had he (Edward) been in
the country; and concluded, by commanding Wallace to redeem his errors
by an immediate submission to his authority. To these letters the
Guardian replied, that in availing himself of the absence of Edward, in
order to regain the liberty of his country, he had done no more than
his duty, and that the baseness lay with the English monarch in taking
advantage of the disunion of a free people to enslave them. As to
invading England, he had done so in order to indemnify Scotland for the
injuries she had so unjustly sustained; and in respect to submission,
as he intended soon to be in England again, he would then give him his
answer in person.
The active and undaunted Guardian was instantly at the heels of his
messenger, and on the 20th March came in sight of the English army at
Stanmore. Scottish historians say, that Edward’s force though much
superior to that of Wallace, was composed chiefly of raw militia
hastily raised, few or none of his veterans having been yet landed,
and that the English monarch, struck with the appearance and admirable
discipline of the Scots, and, unwilling to risk his fame in a conflict
so doubtful,--when about five hundred paces from the enemy, turned
his banners and marched off the field. Wallace, afraid of an ambush,
restrained his soldiers from the pursuit, and repressed their ardour
by telling them, that the victory they had already gained was the more
glorious, as it was got without blood and against the first captain
of the age, at the head of an army which, to all human appearance,
was able, from its numbers, to have swallowed them up; concluding
his address, by ordering thanksgivings to Heaven for so great an
interposition in their favour.
This account, however, is not corroborated by English historians. They
allege that the King was not present; and in this they are certainly in
the right. Edward, on his arrival in England, was detained by matters
of importance, in such a manner as to render his presence at Stanmore
on the 20th March utterly impossible. That the Scots may have come in
sight of the English army on the borders, is not at all unlikely; or
that the latter should decline risking a general engagement, after
their late reverses, without the presence of their King, who was daily
expected, is extremely probable. It may also be observed, that the
charters of their rights, though granted at Ghent, had not as yet been
confirmed in England. The conduct of the English leaders, under such
circumstances, may be considered as highly prudent and judicious.
But if the Scots were disappointed in _not_ coming to blows with their
enemies at Stanmore, it was not long before they had an opportunity
of trying the mettle of their swords. Aymer, or Aldomer de Vallance,
son of the Earl Pembroke, a youth at that time of eighteen years, had
raised himself high in the estimation of Edward, by the ready manner
in which he accompanied him to Flanders. The abilities and discretion,
which he soon displayed, obtained for him so much of the confidence of
his master, that he was employed in various important matters of state.
On the truce with France being concluded--for the furtherance of which
he was appointed a commissioner--Edward, it appears, had ordered him
to sail for Scotland with the force under his command, for the purpose
of co-operating in the invasion which he meditated on his arrival in
England. Various circumstances contributed to retard the projected
attempt; and it was not till midsummer that Aldomer and Sir John Siward
(a recreant Scot, son of the traitor of Dunbar) landed in Fife with a
considerable body of troops, and began to lay waste the country. Their
destructive operations, however, were soon interrupted by the arrival
of Wallace and his Scots, who fell upon them in the extensive forest
of Blackironside, and, after an obstinate conflict, the invaders were
defeated with the loss of 1580 men. This engagement, which is sometimes
called the Battle of Dillecarew, was fought on the 12th June. The loss
of the Scots was comparatively trifling; and, with the exception of Sir
Duncan Balfour, Sheriff of Fife, and according to some, Sir Christopher
Seton,[12] few, if any, of note, were killed,--Sir John Graham being
only wounded. Sir John Ramsay of Auchterhouse, with Squires Guthrie
and Bisset[13] are particularly mentioned as having distinguished
themselves in this brilliant rencounter.
On his return to Scotland, after the affair at Stanmore, Wallace
applied himself to rectify the abuses and disorders which had arisen
from the disorganized state of the country. For this purpose, he seems
to have made a tour through the kingdom, and on 29th March we find him
presiding in an assembly of the Barons at Torphichen. At this assembly,
which was most probably held in the preceptory of the Templars, various
meritorious individuals were rewarded for their patriotic exertions
in the cause of independence. Among those, Alexander Scrymgeour had
the constabulary of Dundee conferred upon him _and his heirs, for his
“faithful aid in bearing the Royal Banner of Scotland, which service
he actually performs_.” This document appears to have been made with
the consent and approbation of the Scottish nobility, and is dated 29th
March 1298.[14]
Some authors assert, that the election of Wallace to the Guardianship
took place after his return from the invasion of England. Lord Hailes
says, he _assumed_ the title of Guardian subsequent to that event.
This we consider extremely improbable; as the degree of popularity he
had attained among his countrymen would have certainly anticipated
any assumption on the part of their deliverer. Although Abercromby be
not a first-rate authority, we conceive that he is right in placing
the election before the advance of Wallace to the south. The immense
preparations necessary for an invasion of England, required the
sanction of something like legitimate authority to carry it into
effect; and the measures which he resorted to for the good of the
country, immediately posterior to the battle of Stirling, were not of
a less decisive character than those which marked his policy on his
return from England. Abercromby also states, that he held a commission
of Regency under the seal of Baliol,[15] which was privately executed
during the captivity of the latter in the Tower of London. To this
statement, tradition unites her testimony, and adds, that Wallace
likewise obtained a bond from the principal barons of Scotland,
authorizing any measures he might adopt for the recovery of the
kingdom. This bond, it is asserted, he held _in terrorem_ over the
heads of the aristocracy, for the purpose of compelling them to their
duty.
The authority of Wallace, however, whether _conferred_ or _assumed_,
unfortunately for his country, was not destined to be of long
duration. Soon after the defeat of the Earl of Pembroke, Edward, now
reconciled to his barons, entered Scotland by the eastern marches, with
a formidable army, consisting, according to English writers, of 3000
horsemen, armed at all points, 4000 of a lighter description, called
_hobelars_, and 80,000 foot. A further reinforcement overtook him on
his march, which swelled his forces to upwards of 100,000 fighting men,
a great proportion of whom were veterans, inured to arms in the French
wars. To oppose a power so overwhelming in the open field, the Guardian
well knew would be in vain; he, therefore, again resorted to those
measures which had already been found so effective: the population
retired with their cattle and provisions before the approaching enemy,
after destroying whatever they conceived might be useful to the
invaders. While the Scottish army kept far in the advance, a strict
_surveillance_ was exercised over the motions of their adversaries,
so that few of the English scouts were able to return with any
satisfactory account of the position or numbers of their opponents;
and though most of the fortified places made little or no resistance,
yet the supplies the conquerors found in the garrisons, did little to
relieve that scarcity which soon began to be severely felt among the
multitudes who followed the banner of England.
In the meantime, the fleet which Edward had ordered to attend him with
provisions being detained by contrary winds, he was compelled to wait
their arrival; and, for this purpose, he fixed his head-quarters in the
preceptory of the Knights Templars at Torphichen;[16] while part of
his army occupied Temple-liston, thus keeping open his communication
with the sea.
Edward, in his march, had met with little annoyance, except from
the stronghold of Dirleton, and two other castles in his rear, the
garrisons of which made frequent sorties, and cut off several of
his foraging parties. The Bishop of Durham was therefore ordered
to lay siege to these fortresses. His efforts, however, were at
first unsuccessful; he was driven from the walls of Dirleton with
considerable loss; and as the force under his command was in want of
provisions, as well as of a sufficient battering train, he sent Sir
John Fitz-Marmaduke to represent his situation at head-quarters. “Go
back,” said Edward, “and tell Antony that he is right to be pacific
when he is acting the Bishop, but that in his present business he
must forget his calling: and as for you, Marmaduke,” addressing the
messenger, “You are a relentless soldier; I have often had to reprove
you for too cruel exultation over the death of your enemies; but return
now whence you came, and be as relentless as you choose, you will
deserve my thanks, not my censure;--but look you do not see my face
again till these three castles are razed to the ground.”[17]
While lying inactive in the preceptory of the Templars, Edward appears
to have amused himself, by raising a number of young squires to the
rank of knighthood; and--a few ships, affording a temporary supply,
having very opportunely arrived--a donation of wine was distributed
on the occasion among the soldiers, the effects of which liberality
soon became apparent. Intoxicated with their allowance, the national
animosity of the English and Welsh troops broke out in a dangerous
mutiny. The latter, inflamed by wine, and irritated by the privations
they had already suffered, attacked the English in their quarters
during the night, and murdered eighteen ecclesiastics; whereupon
the English cavalry, in revenge, rode in upon the assailants, and
slew eighty of their number. The Welsh, who amounted to 40,000, now
withdrew from the English in high displeasure at the slaughter of their
countrymen; and Edward, having at first made light of the affair,
afterwards found it necessary to exert himself, in order to effect
a reconciliation. Meantime, the scarcity continued to increase in
his camp to such an extent, as induced him to issue his orders for a
retreat.
The Scottish army, by the prudence of its leader, had hitherto been
kept as it were invisible from the enemy, who were only aware of its
existence, by the desolation with which it surrounded them; and the
excellent generalship of Wallace was now to all appearance about to be
crowned with its usual success, when his plans were rendered abortive
by the treachery of his pretended adherents. Two Scottish noblemen[18]
found means to communicate to the Bishop of Durham the position of
the Scottish army, and their intention to surprise the English by a
night attack, and afterwards to hang upon their rear, and harass them
in their retreat. Edward received this news with ecstasy. “Thanks be to
God!” he exclaimed, “who hath hitherto extricated me from every danger.
They shall not need to follow me, since I shall forthwith go and meet
them;” and, instantly countermanding the orders for a retreat, he
prepared to go in search of the Scottish army.
Though the utmost diligence was used by Edward and his officers,
morning was pretty far advanced before the immense concourse of
warriors could be put in motion. The distant stations which an army so
numerous must necessarily have occupied, rendered an instant removal
altogether impossible; and a whole summer’s day was therefore consumed,
in enabling them to reach an extensive heath to the east of Linlithgow;
where, for that night, they rested in their armour. In the mid-watch,
however, an alarm spread, that the enemy were at hand, and considerable
confusion ensued. It originated in an uproar, occasioned by an accident
which happened to the King:--His war-horse, which stood beside him, had
it seems become restive, and trampled on him as he lay on the heath;
and his domestics having raised the cry, that the King was wounded,
every man grasped his weapon, and stood on his defence. Philip de
Belvey, the King’s surgeon, however, soon quieted their apprehensions,
and they again betook themselves to rest.