which Wallace had stationed his foot soldiers. But they were repeatedly driven off with loss, nor could they make their way through that wood of spears, as it is called by one of the English historians. King Edward then commanded his archers to advance; and these approaching within arrow-shot of the Scottish ranks, poured on them such close and dreadful volleys of arrows, that it was impossible to sustain the discharge. It happened at the same time, that Sir John Stewart was killed by a fall from his horse; and the archers of Ettrick Forest, whom he was bringing forward to oppose those of King Edward, were slain in great numbers around him. Their bodies were afterwards distinguished among the slain, as being the tallest and handsomest men of the army. Sir John Grahame, Wallace's great friend and companion, was slain, with many other brave soldiers; and the Scots, having lost a very great number of men, were at length obliged to take to flight.

This fatal battle was fought upon 22d of July 1298. Sir John the Grahame lies buried in the church-yard of Falkirk. A tombstone was laid over him, which has been three times renewed since his death. The inscription bears, "That Sir John the Grahame, equally remarkable for wisdom and courage, and the faithful friend of Wallace, being slain in battle by the English, lies buried in this place."

VIII.-Death of Wallace.

Fa'tal, destructive; deadly. | Pa'tri-ot, a lover of his De-tach'ment, part of an country.

Gar'land, a

[scorn. derision;

wreath of

flowers. Ac-cuse', to blame; to charge with a crime. Trai'tor, one who betrays

army separated from Mock'er-y, the main body. U-surp'er, one who seizes or possesses what he has no right to. Se-cure', free from danger. De-liv'er, to give up. Dis-grace', dishonour; ignominy.

trust.

Con-demn', to find guilty;

to censure.

Ob'sta-cle, hindrance; ob- Ex-e-cu'tion, death in

struction.

Proj'ect, scheme.

flicted by forms of law; performance.

After the fatal defeat of Falkirk, Sir William Wallace seems to have resigned his office of Governor of Scotland. The Scots, however, continued to make resistance to Edward; and near Roslin they defeated three armies, or detachments of English, in one day. Nevertheless, the King of England possessed so much wealth, and so many means of raising soldiers, that he sent army after army into the poor oppressed country of Scotland, and obliged all its nobles and great men, one after another, to submit themselves once more to his yoke. Sir William Wallace, alone, or with a very small band of followers, refused either to acknowledge the usurper Edward, or to lay down his arms. He continued to maintain himself among the woods

and mountains of his native country, for no less than seven years after his defeat at Falkirk, and for more than one year after all the other defenders of Scottish liberty had laid down their arms. Many proclamations were sent out against him by the English, and a great reward was set upon his head; for Edward did not think he could have any secure possession of his usurped kingdom of Scotland while Wallace lived. At length he was taken prisoner; and, shame it is to say, a Scotsman, called Sir John Menteith, was the person by whom he was seized and delivered to the English. For this the name and memory of Menteith have been long loaded with disgrace.

Edward, having thus obtained possession of the person whom he considered as the greatest obstacle to his complete conquest of Scotland, resolved to make Wallace an example to all Scottish patriots who should in future venture to oppose his ambitious projects. He caused this gallant defender of his country to be brought to trial in Westminster-hall, before the English judges, and produced him there crowned, in mockery, with a green garland, because they said he had been king of outlaws and robbers among the Scottish woods. Wallace was accused of having been a traitor to the English crown; to which he answered, "I could not be a

2 E

traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject." He was then charged with having taken and burnt towns and castles, with having killed many men, and done much violence. He replied, with the same calm resolution, "that it was true he had killed very many Englishmen, but it was because they had come to subdue and oppress his native country of Scotland; and far from repenting what he had done, he declared he was only sorry that he had not put to death many more of them."

On the 23d of August 1305, this brave patriot was dragged upon a sledge to the place of execution, where his head was struck off, and his body divided into four quarters, which, according to the cruel custom of the time, were exposed upon spikes of iron on London Bridge, and were termed the limbs of a traitor.

King Edward thought, by such severity, to terrify all the Scots into obedience; but his claim, being founded in injustice, and supported by cruelty, was not permitted by Providence to be established in security and peace. The great Champion of his country's independence was no sooner deprived of life, in the cruel and unjust manner we have related, than other patriots arose to assert the cause of Scottish liberty.

SECTION VI.

LESSONS IN VERSE.

I-MISCELLANEOUS.

I.-The Broom-Flower.

O THE Broom, the yellow Broom,
The ancient poet sung it,
And dear it is on summer days |
To lie at rest among it.

I know the realms | where people say I
The flowers have not their fellow;
I know where they shine out like suns,
The crimson and the yellow.

I know where ladies | live enchained |
In luxury's silken fetters,

And flowers as bright as glittering gems |
Are used for written letters.

But ne'er was flower | so fair as this |
In modern days or olden,
It groweth on its nodding stem |
Like to a garland golden.

And all about my mother's door |

Shine out its glittering bushes, And down the glen, where clear as light | The mountain-water gushes.