William Wallace

William Wallace was the second son of Sir Malcolm Wallace of
Elderslie a little known knight. As was common for second sons
Wallace entered university in Dundee to prepare for a life in
the church.

After the defeat at the Battle of Dunbar Wallace's father was
murdered by the English at Louden Hill. With the English exerting
their control all over the country Wallace along with a small band
of common folk, including his friend the priest Master John Blair, they
attacked and defeated an English convoy on their way to Ayr.

Wallace was now classed as an outlaw and without the support
of the ruling classes he carried on his guerilla war with great success.
He recieved news that his brother in law Hugh Braidfoot had
been hanged on a charge of treason although he had no part in the uprisings.
Wallace rushed to Lanark in order to be with his wife but he
discovered that the English had set a trap for him. he only just managed
to escape after being helped by Marion. Hazelrigg the English sheriff of
Lanark took Wallace's wife and murdered her. Wallace decided to
take revenge.A few nights later he slipped back into
Lanark with a small number of men. Wallace sneeked into the building
where Hazelrigg was stayingand killed him. He then decided his small band
of men would take the town of Ayr.

The English had built a large timber barracks known
as the barns of Ayr. Wallace and his men secretly piled brush
and branches at every opening and set fire to it. When the soldiers
from the castle came out to investige wallace's band ambushed
them and took the castle. He hung the Deputy Sheriff of Ayr,
the castle captain and his lieutenant from the rafters of the
castle hall before setting fire to it.

By late August 1297 Edward the first of England sent a large
army to capture Wallace, whose small band of men was now an army
several thousand strong. Wallace took up a defensive postition on
the north side of Stirling Bridge and waited for the advancing
English army. The English reached Stirling Bridge on 11th September 1297
and began to cross the bridge and causway. For several hours
the scots watched as the English cavalry slowly made their way
across the River Forth. Then Wallace gave the signal for the Scots
infantry to make their charge down into the marshland by the river.
What few archers the Scots had kept the head of the English Column
from advancing. Then another group of Scots infantry stormed the
causway and swept aside a large proportion of the English infantry
which was tightly packed and unable to fight effectivly. They then
turned on the cavalry using their pikes to skewrer to horse from
under their riders. Those who fell from the bridge were killed by the
Scots in the marshland. With the English in disarray Wallace himself
entered the battle and sought out Cressingham one of the most hated
men in Scotland killed him.

Wallace was a national heroand after being knighted by Robert the Bruce
was named as Guardian of the Realm. He set about preparing for
the expected return of the English army. In June 1298 the English
returned with King Edward at the head of the largest army eve
r assembled against the Scots. Wallace again tried to bring the English
army to battle at Stirling but they only managed to reach
Falkirk where disaster struck.

The Scots formed their infantry into four schiltroms (hedgehog
formations with pikes thrust outwards for protection) but the English
allowed their archers to slaughter the Scots in their thousands.
Wallace was rescued from the battle by Robert the Bruce
whose cavalry charged in on the battle to effect the rescue of
the surviving Scots leadership. Dismayed and taking blame for the
entire defeat Wallace resigned the Guardianship leaving
Bruce and John Comyn the Lord of Badenoch as joint guardians.

With Scotland becoming to dangerous a place for Wallace he was
sent to France as an ambassador in the hope of recieving French
aid against the English. Wallace was to remain in France for several
years fighting against the English for the French king. While Wallace
was in France the Scots nobility was once again forced into accepting
English rule. Wallace could take no more and returned to Scotland
to continue his guerilla war with only limited success.

In 1305 Wallace was betrayed by an esquire named Jack Short
who was a recent addition to his band and sent to London for trial.
In London he was accused of treason to which he replied " How can
I be guilty of treason to a country that is not my own ?" But it was no use
the trial was a fate acompli and he was sentenced to death.

He was dragged to the Smithfield in London behind a pair of horses.
Then he was placed in a noose and left to hang slowly. just before
the point of death his entrails were cut out and burned before his eyes.
His body was dimembered and his head was set on a spike on London Bridge.
The remaining parts of his body were sent to various parts of the country.
Some reports suggest that they were sent to Stirling and Perth others
suggest Dumfries and Aberdeen. But Wallace was not to die in vain.
There was another in Scotland who would challenge the English
invaders. He was Robert the Bruce Earl of Carrick and
rightfull King of Scots.

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