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

SIR WILLIAM WALLACE.
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left the siege, and retired towards England, yet
not so quickly, but that Wallace, accompanied
by Sir John Graham, did overtake them, and
killed five hundred of their number before they
could pass Dalswinton. By these, and such like
means, Wallace, with his assistants, having beaten
the English from most part of their strengths in
Scotland, did commit the care and custody of
the whole country, from Drumlanrig to Ayr, to
the charge of the Lord Douglas. Now, however,
there be no mention of these things in our chro¬
nology, yet, seeing the book of Wallace (which
is more particular in many things) speaks of
them, and the charter of the house of Symington
—descended lineally of the said Thomas Dick¬
son—who, for this and his other like services
done to the Lord, and afterward to his good son.
Sir James, got the twenty merk land of Hesle-
side, which his posterity doth still enjoy, holding
of the Lords of Douglas and Angus; and there
is no doubt to be made, but he hath done much
more in his assistance he gave Wallace, than
is recorded or extant any where; there being
no likelihood that, in these so busy times, these
two valiant and brave warriors did lie idle,
although the particulars lie buried in deep
silence.”
Sir Robert Boyd, or Boyt. This bold and hardy