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

LIFE OF
before an opportunity offered, favourable as his
heart could desire; intelligence being brought
him that Fenwick, the person most deeply im¬
plicated in the death of his brother and some of
his other relatives, was on his way from Carlisle,
accompanied by two hundred horse, as convoy
to a supply of provisions and other necessaries
for the garrison at Ayr. An opportunity of this
kind was not to be lost sight of; and Wallace,
having consulted with his friends, selected fifty
of those on whose strength and courage he could
most rely. With these he set forward to occupy
a position on the way the enemy behooved to
pass. It was night when the little band of
patriots reached the post from whence they meant
to make their attack: hearing nothing of the
advance of Fenwick, he ordered his men to take
shelter for the night in a neighbouring wood.
The morning was pretty far advanced, when
two scouts, whom Wallace had sent forward at
day-break, returned with the intelligence that
the enemy was at hand. Having arranged his
men for the onset, his friend, John Blair, offered
up prayers for their success; which were scarcely
over before the English came in sight. Fen¬
wick, on observing the small body of Scots that
awaited his approach, felt perfectly assured of
taking them, and their far-famed chieftain, whom