Scotland/Scots > Life of Sir William Wallace, Knight of Ellerslie, and Guardian of Scotland

SIR WILLIAM WALLACE.
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could no longer avert. Pinioned and conducted
to prison—the strongest cell, and the heaviest
fetters, were the only compliments paid to his
matchless gallantry—while salt herrings and
mater were the only comforts which the genero¬
sity of a Percy placed within the reach of a fal¬
len enemy. His friends offered largely for his
ransom, but their anxiety only tended to increase
the vigilance and cruelty of his keepers. The
slaughters which the bold outlaw had commit¬
ted, had been too aggravated, and his hatred of
the English too openly expressed, for them to
lose sight of so dangerous a character. The
grief of the Scots on hearing of his capture, is
thus expressed in the rude, but strong language
of Henry the Minstrel:—
** The woful wepyng that was for his takying.
The tormentyng of every creator !
‘ Alas !* thai said, ‘ how sold our lyff endur ?
Be fortoun armess has left him ia thrillage;
The flowr of youth in till his tendir age.
Lefand as now a chieftane had we nane
Durst tak on hand, hot yong Wallace alayne—
This land is lost, he caucht is in the swar
The Aperse* of Scotland left in cayr.* **
The English had now determined to make
their prisoner feel all the weight of their ven¬
geance; and they could think of no punishment
so likely to subdue the energies of his noble mind.