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

LIFE OF
themselves for the night in the neighbourhood
of Dunbarton, and, on the morrow, proceeded
towards the wilds of the Lomond. Here Wal¬
lace was joyfully received by Malcolm, Earl of
Lennox, who, with a number of his trusty ten¬
antry, maintained amid the fastnesses of that ro¬
mantic district, a protracted and sometimes suc¬
cessful struggle for their independence. This
nobleman offered to place his followers under
the command of Sir William, provided he would
remain among them there for the defence of the
district. His mind, however, was too deeply
impressed with a desire for the general good of
his country to allow him to think of confining
his exertions within the limits proposed. On
explaining his plan of warfare to this worthy
chieftain, he found no difficulty in gaining him
over to his views, and inducing him to co-ope¬
rate in extending the spirit of insurrection, as
well as to create a more powerful diversion in
favour of them who were already embarked in
the cause. With this understanding, Wallace
took his departure, accompanied by a number
of his companions who had resorted to him on
discovering the place of his retreat.
At Gargunnock, in the neighbourhood of Stir¬
ling, the English had erected a small fortification
or peel, which they had abundantly supplied