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

40
LIFE OF
of a trooper, fell with sufficient force to strike
him from the saddle. Falling on the opposite
side of the horse, Wallace had not the satisfac¬
tion of giving the death-blow : this was an ho¬
nour reserved for Robert Boyd, one of his most
intimate companions. Although Fenwick was
thus slain, yet the conflict continued with great
obstinacy. The English, under one Bow-
mond, who wras second in command made great
efforts to retrieve the losses they had sus¬
tained. The Scots, however, maintained their
ground with inflexible resolution, while the
sword of their chief was rapidly increasing the
gaps in the ranks of their enemies. Adam Wal¬
lace, the promising heir of Ricardtown, had the
good fortune to come in contact with the leader
of the English, and, after an obstinate engage¬
ment, the intrepid Bowmond fell beneath the
sword of the youthful Scot. Deprived of their
leaders, the English now fled in the utmost con¬
fusion, leaving one hundred of their companions
dead on the field. The Scots only pursued them
so far as to make their victory certain, and, re¬
turning to the spoil, found their labours amply
rewarded. A numerous train of waggons, load¬
ed with flour, wine, and all sorts of provisions,
with warlike stores in abundance, and two hun¬
dred draught horses, besides money and other