William Wallace -1305

Annals of Six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet [1258-1328]. In the month of May of the same year [1297] the Scots, being stirred up by William Wallace, who, as it is said, had until then been a public outlaw, began to rebel. William de Ormesby, Justiciar of Scotland, carrying out the king’s command, condemned many who refused to do homage and fealty to the King of England to exile, and they, choosing the aforesaid William as their leader, and associating with him William Douglas, who had surrendered himself to the king on giving up the castle of Berwick, grew into a great host. The Earl of Surrey and the treasurer being then in England, they planned to overwhelm William the justiciar at Scone, nearly all his goods having been left to the plunder of the enemy, but he, though warned late, scarcely escaped their ambush. William Wallace, therefore, raging openly with his followers against the English, slew whomsoever he could find, and among them he forced religious men, their hands bound behind their backs, to leap into the river, turning their drowning into a spectacle. The king, having heard of this uprising, sent the Bishop of Durham to ascertain the truth, who, having discovered the facts, returned and informed the king of all. The king, having very much at heart his expedition into Flanders, entrusted the whole force beyond the river Trent to the Earl of Warenne, commanding him to suppress the boldness of the Scots as quickly as possible, and to punish the authors of the disturbance with due justice.

Mense Maio ejusdem anni cœperunt Scoti, instigante eos Willelimo Waleys, qui ut fertur hactenus latro publicus fuerat, rebellare. Justitiarius Scotiæ Willeimus de Ormesbi, præceptum regis exsequens, multos, qui regi Angliæ homagium et fidelitatem facere recusabant, exilio condemnavit; qui præfatum Willelmum in principem eligentes, associato sibi Willelmo Duglas, qui reddendo castrum Berewici se regi dederat, in magnam turmam creverunt. Comite autem Surreiæ et thesaurario in Anglia consistentibus, Willeimum justitiarium apud Scone, suis omnibus pæne ad hostium spolia relictis, opprimere cogitabant; sed ille, licet tarde præmunitus, eorum insidias vix evasit. Willelmus Waleys igitur, cum suis palam debacchando in Anglicos, quoscunque invenire potuit, trucidavit: de quibus viros religiosos, ligatis ad dorsum manibus, coegit saltare in fluvium, eorum submersionem in ludibrium convertendo. Rex, hac commotione audita, pro t veritate inquirenda misit Dunelmensem episcopum, qui veritate comperta rediens, regem de omnibus informavit. Rex iter in Flandriam admodum cordi habens, militlam totam ultra fluvium, qui Trenta dicitur, assignavit comiti de Warenna, præcipiens ut Scotorum audaciam celerius reprimeret, et auctores mali debita justitia castigaret.

Annals of Six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet [1258-1328]. He also wrote to John Comyn of Badenoch and to the Earl of Buchan, that, mindful of their fealty, they should return into Scotland and quiet the rising disturbance of their people, who, returning into Scotland in accordance with the command received, carried out the matters of peace sluggishly. The Earl of Warenne, assembling an army in the province of York, sent forward into Scotland his nephew Henry de Percy with the forces of the county of Carlisle, who, advancing as far as the town of Ayr, was preparing to admit the men of Galloway to the king’s peace. But when he heard that the army of the Scots was near Irvine, which was about four miles distant, he went thither and saw beyond a certain lake the army of the Scots encamped, in which the leaders were the Bishop of Glasgow, Andrew of Moray, Steward of Scotland, and William Wallace. A certain valiant knight, named Richard de Lundie, who had never done homage to the King of England, leaving the Scots and becoming a deserter, at once joined himself to the English. The rest, seeking peace, surrendered themselves, their lives and limbs, goods and lands being preserved, so that all things up to that day were simply forgiven. This peace, hostages having been promised and a written agreement drawn up, Henry accepted, provided that it should please the king, who, being consulted on this matter, lest his journey should be hindered, assented to the terms requested. But when the Earl of Warenne had now arrived, and the Scots, by evasion, from day to day delayed to deliver the hostages, and William Wallace in the meantime gathered the people together, the English, thinking themselves betrayed, prepared to attack the Scots, and the Bishop of Glasgow and William Douglas, lest they should incur the charge of treachery, at once surrendered themselves in their own defence, of whom the bishop was committed to custody in the castle of Roxburgh, and William in the castle of Berwick.

Scripsit etiam Joanni Comin de Badenau et comiti de Bowau, ut memores fidelitatis suæ,reverterentur in Scotiam, et populi sui suscitatum jam tumultum sedarent; qui juxta mandatum acceptum in Scotiam revertentes, quæ pacis erant segniter exsequuntur. Comes de Warenna, in provincia Eboraci coadunans exercitum, nepotem suum Henricum de Percy cum militia comitatus Carleoli præmisit in Scotiam; qui usque ad villam de Are profectus, Galwidienses ad pacem regis admittere disponebat. Audito autem quod Scotorum exercitus erat juxta Irwine, quod inde ad quatuor milliaria distabat, illuc profectus vidit ultra quemdam lacum Scotorum exercitum considentem; in quo capitanei erant episcopus Glascuensis, Andreas de Moravia senescallus Scotiæ, et Willelmus Walensis. Miles autem quidam strenuus, nomine Ricardus de Lundi, qui regi Angliæ nunquam homagium fecerat, relictis Scotis factus transfuga, se statim Anglicis sociavit. Reliqui, pacem petentes, dediderunt se, salvis eis vita et membris, catallis et terris, ita ut omnia usque in hunc diem essent simpliciter condonata. Quam pacem, promissis obsidibus, et scripto confecto, admisit Henricus, si tamen hoc regi placeret; qui super hoc consultus, ne a cœpto impediretur itinere, annuit postulata. Adveniente jam comite Warrennæ, cum Scoti tergiversando de die in diem differrent obsides reddere, et Willelmus Waleys interim populum adunaret, arbitrantes se Anglici proditos, dum Scotos invadere disponunt, episcopus Glascuensis et Willeimus Duglas, ne proditionis notam incurrerent, se in sui excusationem protinus dediderunt; de quibus episcopus in castro de Rokesburgia, Willelmus vero in castro Berewici, custodiæ mancipantur.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. Now there was a certain notorious outlaw named William Wallace, who for many years had lived as a fugitive. This man, being a wanderer and exile, gathered all other exiles to him and he became, as it were, their leader. Their numbers swelled to a significant force. Also joining him was Sir William Douglas, who had formerly surrendered to our king at the capture of Berwick Castle, on condition that his life and limbs would be spared, as has been stated above. Though the king restored him fully, he showed no gratitude for the favour. Instead, joining with that outlaw, he betrayed his liberator, at least in the persons of his subjects, and pursued them to death. When the aforementioned Earl and Treasurer had gone south to attend the king's parliament, held in London on the Feast of Saint Peter in Chains [1st August [1297]], suspecting no treachery from the Scots, these two Williams (Wallace and Douglas) came with their rebellious followers, hoping to find the king's justice, Lord William de Ormesby, at Scone, where he was holding court, and hurried to kill him. But forewarned, he barely escaped with difficulty, leaving behind a great quantity of goods, which the rebels seized. Now armed with such spoils, the rebels no longer acted in secret as before, but boldly and openly marched forth. They put to the sword all Englishmen they found across Scotland and began laying siege to castles. Meanwhile, as these events unfolded, the Bishop of Carlisle and others who were in the garrison of the city and castle [of Carlisle], fearing the disloyalty and fickleness of Lord Robert Bruce the younger, Earl of Carrick, summoned him to appear on a certain day to discuss the king's affairs, but only if he remained loyal to the king. Bruce, not daring to disobey, came on the appointed day with his followers from Galloway. There, swearing upon the sacred mysteries and on the sword of Saint Thomas [of Becket], he made an oath that he would faithfully aid the king and his men against the Scots and all their enemies, with both advice and support, and that he would hinder the damage they inflicted as far as his power allowed. After swearing this oath, he returned to his own territory and, to create a pretence of loyalty, invaded the lands of the aforementioned William Douglas, setting part of them on fire, and brought Douglas's wife and children with him to Annandale.

Eratque quidam latro publicus, Willelmus Walays nomine, qui mand of the multis temporibus exulaverat. Hic cum esset vagus et profugus omnes exulantes convocavit ad se, et factus est quasi princeps eorum, et creverunt in populum multum. Huic etiam associatus est ille miles Willelmus Duglas, qui in captione castri de Berewyk se cum suis regi nostro dederat, salva sibi vita et membris, ut supradictum est; quem cum rex ad omnia restituisset, factus est bonorum immemor, latro latroni sociatus, liberatorem suum, saltem in subditis, persecutus est in mortem. Cumque prædicti comes et thesaurarius ad partes perrexissent australes, ut parliamento regis interesse possent quod in festo sancti Petri ad Vincula Londoniis tenebatur, nihil mali suspicantes in Scotis, ecce prædicti duo Willelmi cum populo perverso venientes, credebant se invenire posse justitiarium regis nostri prædictum apud Scone, ubi placitaverat, et ut eum perimerent festinabant, ipse tamen præmunitus cum difficultate evasit, relinquens hostibus spolia multa. Quibus collectis, jam non in occulto, ut prius, sed palam processerunt, concludentes in ore gladii omnes Anglicos quos ultra mare Scotia invenire potuerunt, divertentes se postea ad obsidionem castrorum. Interim dum talia gererentur Carliolensis episcopus et cæteri viri qui cum eo erant in præsidio civitatis ejusdem et castri, timentes de infidelitate et inconstantia domini Roberti de Bruys junioris, comitis de Carrik, miserunt vocantes eum, ut certo die veniret tractaturus cum eis de negotiis regis, si tamen in fide ipsius regis perseverando maneret. Qui mandatis resistere non audens, venit ad ipsum diem cum ipso populo Galewaliæ, et super sacrosancta mysteria juravit, et super gladium sancti Thomæ juramentum præstitit, quod regi nostro et suis contra Scotos et omnes inimicos suos fideliter assisteret in consiliis et auxiliis, damnaque sua impediret in quantum se posset sua facultas extendere; factoque juramento, reversus est in locum suum, et congregato populo, ut colorem fingeret, processit in terras prædicti Willelmi Douglas, et partem earum combussit igni, et uxorem ejus et parvulos secum adduxit in Vallem Anandiæ.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. When the Earl of Warenne arrived at Berwick, he was informed in order of the matters mentioned above, and, having sent messengers to the king, sought his will. The king, being on the point of departure, as has been said, did not wish to be hindered, but for the sake of peace granted the requests. Having made a reply to that effect for a fixed day, the Scots were still deliberating in their hearts, delaying the hostages they had promised, and demanding all their rights and ancient customs, as they had been accustomed to hold from the king of Scots in former times. Although these matters had been, as it were, promised with some certain hope of being granted, the days were again and again prolonged, and ever new delays and trivial excuses were added, since that robber William Wallace was gathering the people in the meantime. At last, when our men proposed to ride against them, the magnates of Scotland feared for themselves, and laid the blame on the aforementioned Sir William Douglas and the Bishop of Glasgow, who, wishing to excuse themselves from the charge laid upon them, voluntarily surrendered: first William, and shortly afterward the bishop himself. The bishop was handed over into the custody of the constable of the castle of Roxburgh, in the name and by the authority of our king, while William was placed in the castle of Berwick, where he was kept safe and secure. When that robber William Wallace heard this, he was enraged, and went to the house of the bishop, taking with him all the bishop's furniture, arms, and horses, as well as his sons, called nephews in name, and carried them away. And the number of Scots with him grew enormously, since the common people of the land followed him as their leader and prince. The entire households of the nobles also adhered to him, and although those nobles were bodily present with our king, their hearts were far from him. Now our men, thus provoked and unwilling to endure such things further, marched armed to the town of Stirling. There, the steward of Scotland, the Earl of Lennox, and certain other Scottish magnates came and begged our men to wait a little longer, in case they might be able in some way to pacify their people and the Scots.

Adveniente apud Berewikum comite de Warenna, ei per ordinem prædicta nunciantur, et missis ad regem nunciis, voluntatem ipsius expetiit; qui existens inprocinctu itineris, ut dictum est, noluit impediri, sed pro bono pacis postulata concessit, factoque ad diem certum hujusmodi responso, adhuc disserebant Scoti in cordibus suis, differentes obsides quos promiserant, et postulantes omnia jura sua et antiquas consuetudines, sicut a rege Scotorum antiquitus tenere consueverant. Quæ cum adhuc essent quasi sub certa spe concedenda promissa, iterum et iterum multiplicantur dies, et variantia semper et frivola jungebantur, eo quod ille latro Willelmus Walays interim populum adunabat. Ad ultimum vero, cum nostri proponerent equitare super eos, timebant sibi magnates Scotorum, et imposuerunt culpam prædicto domino Willelmo Duglas et episcopo Glasguensi, qui, notam criminis impositi excusare volentes, sponte dederunt se, primo ille Willelmus et paulo post ipse dominus episcopus; et traditus est episcopus sub custodia custodis castri de Rokesburgh vice et nomine regis nostri, ipse vero Willelmus in castro de Berewyk positus est, retentus, et salvo custoditus. Quod cum audisset ille latro Willelmus Walays, iratus animo perrexit ad domum episcopi, et omnem ejus supellectilem, arma, et equos, filios etiam episcopi nepotum nomine nuncupatos, secum adduxit; et auctus est immenso Scotorum numero, eo quod communitas terræ sequebatur eum tanquam ducem et principem. Tota etiam familia magnatum adhærebat ei, et licet ipsi magnates cum rege nostro essent corpore, cor tamen eorum longe erat ab eo. Nostri vero sic irritati, cum nollent talia ulterius sustinere, processerunt armati ad villam de Strivelyn; ubi senescallus Scotiæ, et comes de Leuenax, et quidam alii magnatum Scotia venientes rogaverunt nostros ut adhuc sustinerent per modicum, si forte suos et populum Scotorum pacificare possent quoquomodo.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. And when they delayed their answer until the next day, that same night they secretly fled, choosing rather to endure whatever great losses temporarily than to break the oath of fealty made to our king and suffer the stigma of infamy. He [Robert Bruce], however, aspiring to the crown, as was openly said, joined himself to the perverse people, and allied with the Bishop of Glasgow and the Steward of Scotland, who had been the chief architects of all this evil. From that time on, that perfidious generation and faithless Scots slaughtered all the English they could find. They even violently dragged English religious men from their monasteries, the very ones in which they had professed their vows, making a public spectacle of them. It was, in fact, a sort of entertainment for them, and they made a show of it: sitting at bridges over many rivers, they would select elderly English monks and women, especially reserved for this cruelty, bind their hands or feet so they could not escape by swimming, and throw them from the bridges or force them to jump, rejoicing at their deaths by drowning. Among those brought to such torment were two canons from the house of St. Andrews in Scotland. While they stood at the bridge of the town called St. John's [Perth], awaiting death before that brigand William Wallace, as though before a tribunal, God suddenly saved them. For messengers arrived in great haste on behalf of certain Scottish nobles. At their arrival, that bandit [Wallace] was interrupted and ordered the canons to be placed under safe guard. Later, they were redeemed by some friends, having given both a ransom and an oath that they would leave the kingdom immediately and never return. One of them stayed with us for a time, and recounted his danger with his own mouth. He also reported that three Englishmen who had taken lodging in the same town of St. Andrews had fled from the face of William Wallace and his followers, and sought refuge at the stone, that is, the stone or needle of St. Andrew, believing they would be protected by the sanctity of the stone, although Holy Mother Church had already lost its privileges there. But they were pursued by the Scots and killed upon that very stone.

Cumque differrent responsionem in crastinum, eadem nocte latenter recesserunt, potius eligentes damna quantumcunque magna ad tempus sustinere, quam fidelitatem regi nostro factam cum nota infamiæ infringere. Ipse vero aspirans ad regnum, sicut publice dicebatur, adjunctus est ad populum perversum, et cum episcopo Glasguensi et senescallo Scotia, qui totius mali fabricatores extiterant, confoederatus est. Extunc vero generatio illa perfida et infideles Scoti omnes Anglicos quos invenire poterant trucidabant. Religiosos etiam viros Anglicos a domibus suis in quibus professi fuerant violenter extraxerunt, ex ipsis spectaculum facientes. Erat enim ludus eorum, et ad spectaculum cum eis vacabant, ad pontes namque aquarum multarum sedentes senes Anglicos religiosos et fœminas quos specialiter reservabant ad hoc, ligatis manibus vel pedibus ne forte natando evaderent, ab ipsis pontibus vel salire vel præcipitari faciebant, in interitu eorum et submersione lætantes. Inter quos adducti sunt duo canonici de domo Sancti Andreæ in Scotia, qui cum ad pontem villæ nominata Sancti Johannis coram illo latrone Willelmo Walays starent quasi pro tribunali mortem expectantes, subito salvavit eos Deus sic. Venerunt enim nuncii cum festinatione maxima ex parte quorundam magnatum regni Scotia, in quorum adventu præpeditus ille latro, præcepit ut in salva custodia ponerentur; qui postea a custodibus suis per quosdam amicorum redempti sunt, dato pretio et præstito juramento quod a regno festinanter egressi nunquam illud iterum ingrederentur. Quorum unus mansit apud nos per tempus aliquod, et periculum suum ore proprio enarravit; retulit etiam nobis quod tres Anglici, qui in eadem villa Sancti Andreæ in Scotia mansionem susceperant, cum a facie illius Willelmi Walays et suorum fugissent in lapidem illum scilicet qui dicitur petra vel acus sancti Andreæ, credentes se posse lapidis immunitate muniri cum sancta mater ecclesia privilegium perdidisset, a Scotis insecuti sunt et in eodem lapide interfecti.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. In the morning [of 10th September 1297], more than five thousand of our foot soldiers and many Welsh crossed the bridge and then returned again because our earl, still overcome by sleep, had not yet come to the field. When he finally rose late in the day and found all armed in the field, he knighted some new men, some of whom fell in battle that very day. Meanwhile, our foot soldiers crossed again and returned once more because the Steward of Scotland and the Earl of Lennox came with only a few men, not with sixty armed horsemen as agreed. Our men believed they were bringing good news, but they instead excused themselves, both for the prior assault and for being unable to control their own people, saying they could not take away their arms or horses. At the same time, two Dominican friars were sent to the Scottish army, which was hiding on the other side of the mountain above the monastery of Cambuskenneth, along with the robber William Wallace, to see if they would accept peace. To this the robber replied: "Tell your men that we have not come for the sake of peace, but are ready for battle, to avenge ourselves and free our kingdom! Let them come up when they please, they will find us ready, even in their very beards." It was said that their force consisted of 180 cavalry and 40,000 foot soldiers.

Mane autem facto, transierunt pontem pedestres nostri plusquam quinque millia et Wallenses plures, iterumque revertebantur eo quod comes noster somno depressus in campum non exisset. Cumque post magnam horam surrexisset a somno, essentque omnes in campo armati, fecit ibidem novos milites, quorum quidam eadem die corruerunt. Interimque transierunt pedestres nostri, et iterato reversi sunt eo quod senescallus Scotia et comes de Levenax veniebant cum paucis quidem et non cum LX armatis ut convenerant, credebantque nostri ipsos fore bajulos boni nuncii, sed excusaverunt se et in facto prædicto et quod gentem propriam justificare non possent, dicentes se non posse ab eis eripere nec equos nec arma. Mittebantur etiam interim duo fratres Prædicatores ad exercitum Scotorum, qui in altera parte montis supra monasterium de Skambskynel cum illo latrone Willelmo Walays latitabat, si forte pacem amplecti vellent quam tendebant. Ad hæc ille latro, "Renunciate," inquit, "vestris quod pro bono pacis non venimus, sed parati sumus ad pugnam, ad vindicandum scilicet nos et liberandum regnum nostrum! Ascendant ergo cum voluerint, et nos paratos invenient etiam in barbas eorum." Erant autem, ut dicebatur, centum octoginta equestres, et quadraginta millia peditum.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. Andrew of Moray and William Wallace, commanders of the army of the Kingdom of Scotland, in the name of the renowned prince Lord John, by the grace of God illustrious King of Scotland, by the consent of the community of the same kingdom, to all men of the said kingdom to whom the present letters may come, greeting. Know that we, in the name of the said king, have lawfully received into the firm peace and protection of the same lord king and of ourselves the prior and convent of Hexham in Northumbria, their lands, their people, and all their possessions, both movable and immovable goods. Wherefore we strictly forbid anyone from presuming to do them harm, molestation, injury, or any grievance to their persons, lands, or goods, under full penalty of forfeiture to the said lord king, or to inflict death on them or any of them, under penalty of loss of life and limbs. Let it be known that these present letters shall no longer be valid after one year. Given at Hexham on the 7th day of November [1297], Thursday.

Andreas de Moravia et Willelmus Wallensis, duces exercitus regni Scotia, nomine præclari principis domini Johannis, Dei gratia regis Scotia illustris, de consensu communitatis regni ejusdem, omnibus hominibus dicti regni ad quos præsentes literæ pervenerint, salutem. Sciatis nos nomine dicti regis, priorem et conventum de Hexhildesham in Northumbria, terras suas, homines suos, et universas eorum possessiones, ac omnia bona sua mobilia et immobilia, sub firma pace et protectione ipsius domini regis et nostra juste suscepisse. Quare firmiter prohibemus ne quis eis in personis, terris seu rebus malum, molestiam, injuriam seu gravamen aliquod inferre præsumat, super plenaria forisfactura ipsius domini regis, aut mortem eis vel alicui eorum inferat, sub pœna amissionis vitæ et membrorum. Præsentibus post annum minime valituris. Datum apud Hexhildesham VII die Thursday, Novembris.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. So the Scots, returning from the aforementioned slaughter, came to Hexham [after 11th November 1297], where three canons of that house at Hexham, who had only recently returned, fearing not death, fled into their oratory which they had newly built, intending, if it were God's will, to become a sacrifice, an offering of sweet fragrance to Him. Soon, however, armed men entered, shaking their lances at them and saying, 'Show us the treasures of your church, or you shall immediately die.' To this, one of the canons replied, 'Not long ago, you and your people carried off nearly everything of ours into your land, and you know where you stored it. Since then we have gathered only a few things, as you now see before you.' In the meantime, their leader, William Wallace, entered and rebuked his men, commanding them to withdraw. He also requested that one of the canons celebrate Mass. One of them immediately did so. And when the elevation [of the Host] was performed, William went out to lay down his arms. But it happened that when the priest came to receive the most holy Body and Blood of Christ, many of the Scots surrounded him in an attempt to seize the chalice. And while the priest was washing his hands and returning from the sacristy to the altar, he found that the chalice, which he had placed upon the altar, had been taken away, along with the manuterge [hand towel] and the other ornaments of the altar. Nor did he have a missal in which to complete the Mass he had begun, since everything had been carried off. And as the priest hesitated, uncertain what should be done, William [Wallace] returned and, seeing what had happened, commanded that the sacrilegious thieves be sought out and punished with death. But they were not found, as the search was carried out with deliberate negligence. And he said to the canons: 'Do not leave my side, but remain with me so that you may be kept safe; for this people is malicious and cannot be justified or restrained.' He remained there for two days, and that wicked mob dispersed throughout the surrounding province, burning and laying waste to everything.

Revertentes ergo Scoti a cæde prædicta venerunt ad Hexcelsham, ubi tres canonici ejusdem Hexham domus qui paulo ante redierant, mortem non pillaged. timentes, cum vidissent venientem exercitum fugerunt in oratorium suum quod de novo construxerant, ut si sic esset divina voluntas sacrificium sibi fierent in odorem suavitatis. Moxque ingressi sunt ad eos viri lancearii vibrantes eis lanceas et dicentes, Ostendite nobis thesauros ecclesiæ vestræ, vel confestim moriemini. Ad hæc unus de canonicis, Non, inquit, diu est quod vos et populus vester omnia quasi nostra asportastis in terram vestram, et ubi reposuistis ea scitis, nos vero extunc pauca quæsivimus, sicut jam in præsenti videtis. Interim vero dux eorum ingressus est, scilicet Willelmus Walays, et comminabatur suis ut recederent, rogavitque ut eorum aliquis missam celebraret, et statim celebravit unus. Factaque elevatione, egressus est ille Willelmus ad deponendum arma sua, et factum est cum perveniret sacerdos ad perceptionem sacratissimi corporis et sanguinis Christi, circumsteterunt eum Scoti multi ut calicem abriperent.

Dumque manus ablueret, et a sacrario reverteretur altari, invenit calicem asportatum quem super altare reclinaverat, manutergiaque et cætera ornamenta ipsius altaris nec erat ei liber in quo finiret missam incœptam, eo quod asportaverant omnia. Et cum hæsitaret sacerdos quid esset faciendum, reversus est ille Willelmus, et vidit hæc, præcepitque ut quærerentur sacrilegi et capite plecterentur. Sed inventi non sunt, utpote cum dissimulatione quæsiti. Adjecitque ad canonicos, "Non," inquit, "a me recedatis quoquam, sed mecum maneatis ut salvemini; populus enim iste malitiosus est, nec justificari potest seu castigari." Mansitque ibidem per duos dies, et populus ille perversus dispersus est per circumadjacentem provinciam, comburens incendio et vastans universa.

Annals of Six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet [1258-1328]. After this, a rising was stirred up at Ghent by the sons of the Count of Flanders and the townsmen against the English, whose town would have been burned by the Welsh, had not the king, the count running to him, checked the attack. The Earl of Warenne, guardian of Scotland, and the other earls, assembling at York according to the king’s command, on the octave of Saint Hilary [21st January 1298], after the confirmation of the charters and the articles added had been published, proceeded towards Scotland. The leading men of Scotland, not coming to York according to the royal summons, kept themselves within the bounds of their own land. William Wallace had for many days been besieging the castle of Roxburgh, but, on hearing of the arrival of the English in great force, he fled. The earls, coming to Roxburgh, having strengthened the castle and comforted those who had been besieged, advanced as far as Kelso, and thence returned as far as Berwick, which they found already deserted by the Scots. While they were staying there, the king sent word to them of the truces accepted and of his speedy return, commanding them that, before his arrival, except for the occupation of Berwick, they should attempt nothing whereby they might be exposed to danger. Accordingly, the greater part of the army having been dismissed, and those retained who might suffice for holding the town, they awaited the king’s arrival. About the beginning of Lent, Robert de Clifford, with those who were in garrison at Carlisle, entered Scotland, burned the town of Annandale, and returned with much plunder. Then, when the King of England, about to return to his own realm, had come to the town called Ardres, almost all the Scots whom he had taken with him into Flanders on the expedition withdrew from him and went to Paris.

Suscitata est post hæc apud Gandavum seditio per filios comitis Flandriæ et villanos contra Anglicos; quorum villa per Wallenses incensa fuisset, nisi rex accurrente ad eum comite impetum impedisset. Comes Warennæ custos Scotiæ ac comites alii, juxta mandatum regium Eboracum convenientes, in octavis S. Hilarii, publicata confirmatione chartarum articulorumque adjectorum, versus Scotiam processerunt. Majores Scotorum Eboracum non venientes secundum vocationem regiam, se infra terræ suæ terminos tenuerunt. Willelmus Waleis castrum de Rokesburgia jam diebus multis obsederat, sed audito adventu Anglicoruam in multitudine magna diffugit. Comites venientes Rokesburgiam, munito castro ac consolatis obsessis, digressi sunt usque Kelston; et inde reversi sunt usque Berewicum, quam jam Scotis vacuam invenerunt. Dumque ibi morarentur, mandavit eis rex de treugis acceptis et reditu suo celeri, jubens ne ante adventum suum, excepta occupatione Berewici, aliquid quo paterent discrimini attentarent. Remissa igitur majori parte exercitus, et retentis qui ad detentionem villæ possent sufficere, adventum regium exspectabant. Circa principium Quadragesimæ Robertus de Clifford, cum his qui erant in præsidio Carleoli, Scotiam ingressus, villa Anandiæ combusta, rediit cum præda multa. Deinde cum rex Angliæ, reversurus ad propria, venisset ad villam quæ Ardeburgia dicitur, Scoti fere omnes, quos secum Flandriam duxerat in expeditionem, ab ipso rege discedentes, Parisios abierunt.

Documents Illustrative of the Life of William Wallace Chapter 28. Edward [aged 66], by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine, to his beloved and faithful subjects John de Segrave, Peter Maluree, Ralph de Sandwich, John de Bacuelle, and John le Blound, Mayor of his city of London, greetings.

Know that we have appointed you as our justices to deliver from our prison in our city of London the prisoner William Wallace, according to the ordinance that has been enjoined upon you by us. And therefore, we command you that on a certain day and at a certain place, which you, all four or three of you, shall determine, you deliver the aforesaid William from the said prison in the aforementioned manner. And you, the aforementioned John de Segrave, in whose custody the aforesaid William is held, by our special command shall cause the said William and his attachment to appear before you there on the said day and place. In witness whereof, we have caused these our letters to be made patent

Witness myself at Rotherhithe, on the 18th day of August [1305], in the 33rd year of our reign.

By writ of the privy seal.

Edwardus, Dei gratia rex Angliæ, dominus Hiberniæ, et dux Aquitaniæ, dilectis et fidelibus suis Johanni de Segrave, Petro Maluree, Radulfo de Sandwyco, Johanni de Bacuelle, et Johanni le Blound, majori civitatis suæ London, salutem.

Sciatis quod constituimus vos Justiciarios nostros ad prisonam nostram civitatis nostræ London de Willelmo le Waleis deliberandum, juxta ordinationem vobis per nos inde injunctam. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod ad certas diem^u et locum, quos vos omnes, quatuor vel tres vestrum ad hoc provideritis, prisonam prædictam de prædicto Willelmo deliberetis in forma prædicta. Et vos præfatus Johs de Segrave, in cujus custodia præfatus Willelmus existit, de mandato nostro speciali ad prædictos diem et locum præfatum Willelmum et ejus attachiamentum coram vobis ibidem venire faciatis. In cujus rei testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes.

Teste meipso apud Raurethe, xviij. die Augusti, anno regni nostri xxxiij.

Per breve de sigillo privato.

Note u. Dies, MS.

Annals Londonienses. "Pleas at Westminster before John de Segrave, P. Maluree, R. de Sandwich, John de Bakewell, and J. le Blound, mayor of the king's City of London, on Monday, the vigil of St Bartholomew [23rd August 1305], in the thirty-third year of the reign of King Edward, son of Henry."

"William Wallace, a Scot born in Scotland, having been taken for sedition, homicides, robberies, burnings, and various other felonies, appeared. The same justices then recited how, after the aforesaid lord king had conquered the land of Scotland by force of arms from John Balliol, the prelates, earls, barons, and others of that land who were his enemies, through the forfeiture of the said John, and after, by that conquest, he had subjected and brought all the Scots under his lordship and royal power as their king, had publicly received the homage and fealty of the prelates, earls, barons, and very many others, had caused his peace to be proclaimed throughout the whole land of Scotland, and had ordained and appointed guardians of that land to hold his place, together with sheriffs, provosts, bailiffs, and his other ministers, to maintain his peace and to administer justice to everyone according to the laws and customs of that land, the aforesaid William le Wallace, unmindful of his fealty and allegiance, with every felony and sedition that he could devise having been premeditated, rose against the lord king, having gathered and confederated with himself an immense number of felons, and feloniously attacked and assaulted the king's guardians and ministers. He feloniously, and against the peace of the lord king, assaulted, wounded, and killed William de Heselrigg, Sheriff of Lanark, while he was holding the king's pleas in the full county court. Afterwards, in contempt of the king, he cut the sheriff, thus slain, limb from limb. From that time onwards, having gathered as great a multitude as he could of armed men adhering to him and to his felony, he attacked the towns, cities, and castles of that land. He caused his own writs to be issued and carried throughout Scotland as though they were the writs of the superior lord of that land. After all the guardians and ministers of the aforesaid lord king had been driven from the land of Scotland by the said William, he held and convened his own parliaments and assemblies. Nor was he willing to be restrained within such great wickedness and sedition, but counselled all the prelates, earls, and barons of that land who adhered to his party to subject themselves to the fealty and lordship of the king of France, and to devote themselves to assisting in the destruction of the realm of England. Taking with him certain of his accomplices, he also entered the realm of England, namely the counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland. All those whom he found there faithful to the king of England he feloniously killed by various forms of death. He feloniously and seditiously slaughtered, burned, and laid waste religious men, nuns dedicated to God, and churches built in honour of God and his saints, together with the bodies of saints and their other relics honourably placed within them. He spared no one who used the English tongue, but subjected all, old men together with young, wives together with widows and virgins, infants together with sucklings, to deaths more grievous than he had known how to devise. Thus, on every day and at every hour, he seditiously and feloniously persisted in plotting the death of the lord king and in the manifest annulment and weakening of his crown and royal majesty. And although, after such enormous and horrible deeds, the aforesaid lord king entered the land of Scotland with his great army, defeated the aforesaid William, who bore a banner against him in mortal battle, together with his other enemies, granted his firm peace to all the people of that land, and mercifully caused the aforesaid William le Wallace to be recalled to his peace, the same William, persisting seditiously, feloniously, resolutely, and wilfully in his aforesaid wickedness, disdained to submit himself to the peace of the aforesaid lord king or to come into it. Thus, in the court of the lord king, he was publicly outlawed as a seducer, robber, and felon, according to the laws and customs of England and Scotland. Since it is deemed and held unjust and contrary to the laws of England that anyone so outlawed and placed outside the law, and not afterwards restored to the king's peace, should be admitted to defend his condition or to make answer, it was adjudged that the aforesaid William, for the manifest sedition which he had committed against the lord king, feloniously plotting and striving to bring about his death, the annulment and weakening of his crown and royal dignity, and bearing a banner against his liege lord in mortal battle, should be drawn from the Palace of Westminster to the Tower of London, and from the Tower to Aldgate, and thence through the midst of the city to the Elms. For the robberies, homicides, and felonies which he committed in the realm of England and the land of Scotland, he shall there be hanged and afterwards cut down. Because he was outlawed and was not afterwards restored to the lord king's peace, he shall have his head cut off and be beheaded. Afterwards, for the immeasurable sacrilege which he committed against God and the Holy Church by burning churches, vessels, and shrines in which the body of Christ and the bodies and relics of the saints were placed, the heart, liver, lungs, and all the entrails of the said William, from which such perverse thoughts proceeded, shall be cast into the fire and burned. And because he committed the aforesaid sedition, robberies, burnings, homicides, and felonies not only against the lord king himself but against the whole people of England and Scotland, the body of the said William shall be cut and divided into four quarters. His head, thus severed, shall be set upon London Bridge, in the sight of those passing both by land and by water. One quarter shall be hung upon the gibbet at Newcastle upon Tyne, another quarter at Berwick, the third quarter at Stirling, and the fourth quarter at the town of St John [Perth], for the fear and chastisement of all who pass by and behold them, and so forth."

"Placita apud Westmonasterium coram Johanne de Segrave, P. Maluree, R. de Sandwyco, Johanne de Bacwelle et J.le Blound majore civitatis regis Londoniarum, die Lunæ in vigilia Sancti Bartholomei, anno regni regis Edwardi filii Henrici XXXIII."

"Willelmus Waleys, Scotus et de Scotia ortus, captus pro seditione, homicidiis, deprædationibus, incendiis et aliis diversis feloniis, venit, et, recitato per eosdem justitiarios, qualiter, postquam prædictus dominus rex terram Scotiæ super Johannem Baillol, prælatos, comites, barones, et alios ejusdem terræ inimicos suos, per forisfacturam ipsius Johannis hostiliter conquisivisseet, et conquestu illius omnes Scotos dominio et regiæ potestati suæ ut eorum regi submisisset et subjugasset, homagia et fidelitates prælatorum, comitum, baronum et aliorum plurimorum publice recepisset, pacemque suam per totam terram Scotiæ proclamari fecisset, custodes terræ illius locum suum tenentes, vicecomites, præpositos, ballivos et alios ministros suos, ad pacem suam manutenendam et justitiam quibuscumque secundum leges et consuetudines terræ illius faciendam, ordinasset et statuisset, prædictus Willelmus lo Waleys, fidelitatis et liganciæ suæ inmoemor, omni qua poterat felonin ac seditione præcogitata, in ipsum dominum regem, adunato sibi et confœderato inmenso numero felonum, surrexit, et custodes et ministros ipsius regis felonice invasit et inpugnavit; et Willelmum de Hesebregg, vicecomitem de Lanarke, qui placita ipsius regis [tenuit] in pleno comitatu, felonice et contra pacem ipsius domini regis, insultavit, vulueravit et interfecit; et postes in contemptum ipsius regis, ipsum vicecomitem sic interfectum frustatim dimicavit. Et ex tunc, omni qua poterat multitudine armatorum sibi et feloniæ suæ adhærentium adunats, villas, civitates et castra terræ illius invasit, et brevia sua per totam Scotiam, tanquam brevis superioris illius terræ emanare fecit et demandavit, parlismenta et congregationces suns, omnibus custodibus et ministris predicti domini regis de terra Scotiæ per ipsum Willelmum dejectis, tenuit et assedit, neo tanta noquitia et seditione volens contineri, consulnit omnibus prælatis, comitibus et baronibus terræ suæ, parti euæ adhærentibus, quod fidelitati et dominio regis Franciæ se subjugarent; et ed destructionem regni Angliæ in auxilium insisterent. Quosdam otiam de complicibus suis secum assumens, regnum Angliæ, ut in oomitatibus Northumberland, Comberland et Westmerland, ingrediebatur, et omnes quos ibidem de fidelitate rogis Angliæ invenit, diversis mortis goneribus felonice interfecit, viros religiosos et moniales Deo dicatas, eb ecclesias ad honorem Dei et guorum sanctorum constructas, una cum corporibus sanctorum et aliis reliquiis eorum in eis honorifice collocatis, felonice et geditiose mactavit, combussit et devastavit, nemini qui lingnn Anglicans utebatur peporcit, sed omnes senes cam juvenibus, aponsas cum viduis et virginibus, infantes cum lactantibus, graviore morto quam excogitare sciverat afficiebat: sicque singalis diebus et horis, in machinationem mortis ipsius domini regis, et in coronæ et regiæ majestatis suæ annallntionem et enervationem manifestam, seditiose et felonice perseverabat. Et licet post tam enormia et horribilin facta prædictus dominus rex, cum magno suo exercitu, terram Scotiæ invasisset, et prædictum Willelmum, vexillum contra eum in bello mortali deferentem, et alios inimicos suos devicisset, firmamque pacem suam omnibus de terra illa concessisset, et prædictun Willelmum le Waleis ad pacem suom misericorditer revocari fecisset; idem Willelmus, in sta prænotata nequitia seditiose et felonice concorditer et animose perseverans, paci prædicti domini regis se submittere et ad eam evenire contempsit; et sic in ouria ipsius domini regis ut seductor, prædo et feld, secundum leges et consuetudines Angliæ et Scotiæ, publice fait utlagatus; et injustum et legibus Anglicanis dissonum existat, et creditur, aliquem sic utlagatum et extra leges positum, nec postes ad pacem ipsius restitutum, ad defensionem status sui seu responsionem admitti; consideratum est quod prædictus Willelmus pro manifesta seditione quam ipsi domino regi fecerat, felonice machinando, in mortem ejus perpetrando, annullationem et enervationem coronæ et regiæ dignitatis suæ, vexillum contra dominum suum liginm in bello mortali deferendo, detrahatur & palatio Westmonasterii usque Turrim Londoniarum, et & Turri usque Allegate, et sic per medium civitatis usque Elmes, et pro roberiis et homicidiis et feloniis quas in regno Angliæ et terra Scotiæ fecit ibidem suspendatur et postes devaletur. Et quias utlagatus fuit, nec postoa ad pacem domini regis restitutus, decolletur et decapitetur. Et postea, pro immensa vilitate quam Deo et sacrosanctæ ecclesiæ fecit comburendo ecclesias, vasa et feretra, in quibus corpus Christi et corpora sanctorum et reliquiæ eorundem collocabantur; cor, hepar et pulmo et omnia interiora ipsius Willelmi, a quibus tam perverse cogitationes processerunt, in ignem mittantur et comburentur. Et etiam quis non solum ipsi domino regi, sed toti plebi Angliæ et Scotiæ, prædicta seditionem, deprædationes, incendia et homicidis et felonias fecerat, corpus illius Willelmi in quatuor quarteria scindatur et dividatur, et caput sic abscissum sasedatur super pontem Londoniensem, in conspectu tam per terram — quam per aquam transeuntium; et unum quarterium suspendatur in gibetto apud Novam Castram super Tynam, aliud quarterium apud Berewyk; tertium quarterium apud Stryvelyn; et quartam quarterium apud villam Sancti Johannis, in metum et castigationem omnium prætereuntium et ea conspicientium, etc."

Documents Illustrative of the Life of William Wallace Chapter 28. 23rd August 1305. Pleas at Westminster before John de Segrave, Peter Maluree, Ralph de Sandwich, John de Bacwelle, and John le Blound, Mayor of the King's city of London, on Monday, on the eve of Saint Bartholomew, in the 33rd year of the reign of King Edward, son of Henry.

William Wallace, a Scot by birth and origin, captured for sedition, murders, plunderings, arsons, and various other felonies, came forth, and it was recited by the justices how, after the said lord king had conquered the land of Scotland from John Balliol, prelates, earls, barons, and other enemies of his land by the forfeiture of John, and had subdued all Scots to his dominion and royal power as their king, and had publicly received the homages and fealties of the prelates, earls, barons, and many others, and had caused his peace to be proclaimed throughout the land of Scotland, and had appointed and established custodians of that land in his place, sheriffs, provosts, bailiffs, and other officials to maintain his peace and to administer justice to all according to the laws and customs of that land, the aforesaid William Wallace, unmindful of his loyalty and allegiance, rose up in all the felony and premeditated sedition he could muster against the said lord king, gathering to himself and conspiring with a vast number of felons, and feloniously attacked and assaulted the custodians and officials of the said king, and feloniously, and against the peace of the said lord king, assaulted, wounded, and killed William de Heselrig, sheriff of Lanark, who was holding the king's pleas in full county court, and afterward, in contempt of the said king, had the sheriff thus killed dismembered. And from that time onward, gathering to himself all the armed multitudes he could, and adhering to his felony, he invaded towns, cities, and castles of that land, issued his own writs throughout all Scotland as if they were the writs of a sovereign of that land, and held and convened his own parliaments and assemblies, having deposed all the custodians and officials of the said lord king in the land of Scotland through himself. Not content with such wickedness and sedition, he advised all the prelates, earls, and barons of his land who adhered to his party to submit to the fealty and dominion of the King of France and to seek aid for the destruction of the kingdom of England.

Placita apud Westmonasterium coram Johanne de Segrave, P. Maluree, R. de Sandwyco, Johanne de Bacwelle et J. le Blound Majore civitatis regis London, die lunæ in vigilia Sancti Bartholomæi, anno regni regis Edwardi, filii Henrici, xxxiij.

Willelmus Waleis Scotus et de Scotia ortus, captus pro seditione, micidiis, deprædacionibus, incendiis, et aliis diversis feloniis, venit, et recitato per eosdem justiciarios qualiter, postquam prædictus dominus rex terram Scotia super Johannem Baillol, prælatos, comites, barones et alios ejusdem terræ inimicos suos, per forissacturam ipsius Johannis, hostiliter conquisivisset, et conquæstu illius omnes Scotos dominio et regiæ potestati suæ, ut eorum regi, submisisset et subjugasset, homagia et fidelitates prælatorum, comitum, baronum, et aliorum plurimorum publice recepisset, pacemque suam per totam terram Scotia proclamari secisset, Custodes terræ illius, locum suum tenentes, vicecomites, præpositos, ballivos et alios ministros suos ad pacem suam manutenendam et justitiam quibuscunque secundum leges et consuetudines terræ illius faciendam, ordinassset et statuisset, prædictus Willelmum le Waleys, fidelitatis et ligancia fuæ immemor, omnia quæ^v poterat felonia ac seditione præcogitata in ipsum dominum regem, adunato fibi et confœderato immenso numero felonum, surrexit, et custodes et ministros ipsius regis felonice invafit et impugnavit, et Willelmum de Hesebregg^w, vicecomitem de Lanarke, qui placita ipsius regis in pleno^x comitatu [ ], felonice et contra pacem ipsius domini regis insultavit, vulneravit et interfecit, et postea, in contemptum ipsius regis, ipsum vicecomitem sic interfectum, frustratim dimicavit. Et ex sunc omni qua poterat multitudine armatorum sibi et feloniæ suæ adhærentium adunata, villas, civitates, et castra terræ illius invasit, et brevia sua per totam Scotiam, tanquam brevia superioris illius terræ, emanare fecit et demandavit, parliamenta et congregationes suas, omnibus custodibus et ministris prædicti domini regis de terra Scotia per ipsum Willelmum dejectis, tenuit et assedit; nec tanta nequitia et seditione volens contineri, consuluit omnibus prælatis, comitibus et baronibus terræ suæ parti suæ adhærentibus, quod fidelitati et dominio regis Franciæ se subjugarent, et ad destructionem regni Angliæ in auxilium insisterent.

Note v. Omni qua (?)

Note w. Such is the reading of the MS., but there is reason for believing that it is an error for " Heselregg. " See, however, the extract from Fordun.

Note x. The MS. reads "plano."

Account of the Battle of Falkirk. MS. Digby 168, folio 197^b. Bodleian Library, Oxford.¹

In the year of our Lord 1297, when the said King Edward had crossed over into Flanders, around the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, once again the Scots rebelled under a certain rogue leader named William Wallace, who had frequently been outlawed even by his own people for his crimes, and whom the king, because of his wickedness, had not received into his peace. The Scots, acting under his command with excessive cruelty, invaded Northumberland and Westmorland, devastating everything, sparing neither age nor sex ... King Edward returned to England, as did also the army that had been in Gascony. The king, having gathered a large army, went into Scotland to fight against those rebels and oath-breakers. Finding them assembled against him in great numbers, he engaged them in battle; and, with God's favor, he gained the victory. And this was the manner of that battle.

Anno vero Domini M. CC. 97, cum dictus Rex Edwardus transfretasset in Flandriam circa videlicet fesftum Decollacionis sancti Johannis Baptiste,² iterum rebellaverunt Scoti duce quodam riballo dicto Willelmo Waleys, frequenter eciam a fuis propter scelere sua forbannito, quem Rex propter illius maliciam ad pacem suam non admiserat. Scoti igitur ipsius ducatu nimia crudelitate sevientes Nothahumbr. et Westmoriam invadentes omnia devastant ac succedunt etati non parcentes nec sexui .... Rediit Rex Edwardus in Angliam et eciam exercitus illius qui fuerat in Wasconia. Rex, congregato exercitu copioso, adivit Scociam, contra rebelles sibi ac perjuros pugnaturus, quos in multitudine gravi contra se coadunatos reperiens aggreditur et commisso prelio, annuente Deo, victoria potitur. Et fuit hujus modi bellum.

Note 1. This is a Chronicle of England from Brute to the year 1305. It has been ascribed to Peter de Ickham. The author, whoever he was, was present at the funeral of William de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, in the church of the Minorites at Worcester, 1298.

Note 2. The king embarked on Thursday, 22 August, 1297, at Winchelsea. Patent Rolls, 16 Edw. I., part 2, m. 7.