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

SIR WILLIAM WALLACE
55
rich liquor, or broth, that remained in the skins
was then mixed with oatmeal, till it became of a
consistency fit to be made into a kind of dough,
of which every man had a portion allowed him.
This, on a march, when cut down in slices, and
toasted on a thin iron plate, with which every
soldier was provided, formed a substantial and
not unsavoury repast. By this simple contriv¬
ance, the Scotish army were always saved the
trouble of carrying about with them those un¬
wieldy camp cauldrons, and other culinary ap¬
paratus, with which their more luxurious ene¬
mies were encumbered.
Sir Raynauld, after partaking of the sylvan
cheer and choice wines with which his nephew
had it now in his power to regale him, disclosed
the object of his visit, and stated the conse¬
quences that would ensue to himself and friends,
if refused the boon he came in quest of. Wal¬
lace, sensible of the advantages likely to be
gained if he continued to press the enemy in
their present state of alarm, refused to do any
thing farther than merely submit the proposal
to the other chieftains. Some of them, however,
took a different view of the matter, and conceiv¬
ed that any advantage that might be gained in
the interim by the English, would be more than
counterbalanced by the opportunity it would af-