The Life and Heroick Actions of the Renoun'd Sir William Wallace,
General and Governour of Scotland
by William Hamilton of Gilbertfield
Synopsis (Continued)
Winter is over and summer is advancing. Wallace returns again to Lanark to visit Miranda; they marry.
During the time Wallace is courting and marrying Miranda the English have occupied and taken possession of all the castles and towns in Scotland. Wallace, preparing to do battle with the English again has a conversation with Miranda in Lanark, during which she begs him to take her with him. She weeps and pleads, reminding him that the English Sheriff of Lanark, Heselrig, killed her brother, and tells Wallace that, as his wife, she's doubly in danger from the man. He refuses to let her go with him.
As morning dawns, Wallace goes out to the fields, where he prays for success in the upcoming battle. He sees a meteor and "from the sight a happy omen drew;" he blows his horn to call his followers together. They all agree with Wallace's plans and make preparations to go to war. The English, under the command of Hesilrig and Thorn, attack; the Scots, vastly outnumbered retreat to Cartlane Crags.
As night falls, Hesilrig kills Wallace's wife. Wallace, grieving and enraged returns to Lanark and kills Thorn, Hesilrig and all the Englishmen in Lanark.
King Edward, having been informed of the incident in Lanark, gathers a large army and travels to Biggar. Wallace's army has regrouped and grown to numbers enough to fight and defeat the English. After the battle, Edward's spies report to him that Wallace's men have been drinking wine that was left in camp and are drunk. The English attack again, and are defeated again.
After this, Wallace takes a castle on a craggy hill, killing the English soldiers that defend it. The English, soundly defeated, call a meeting at Rutherglen Kirk, where an agreement for a year-long truce is agreed upon.
The ballad, The Life and Heroick Actions of the Renoun'd Sir William Wallace, General and Governour of Scotland, by William Hamilton of Gilbertfield, 1722, is in the public domain.
The Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland fought dozens of battles with each other. They fought typically over land, particularly Berwick-Upon-Tweed, and the Anglo-Scottish border frequently changed as a result. Read more at Wikipedia.
The First War of Scottish Independence was the initial chapter of engagements in a series of warring periods between English and Scottish forces lasting from the invasion by England in 1296 ... Read more at Wikipedia.