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

CHAPTER XVII.
Edward holds a parliament at St. Andrew’s.—Endea¬
vours to gain Wallace over to his interest.—Takes
Stirling Castle.—Agreement between Cornyn and
Bruce.—Edward returns to England.—One Hali-
burton undertakes to betray Wallace.
Edward having returned with his army from
the bleak regions of the north, took up his
quarters in Dunfermline, judging that his pre¬
sence in the country during the winter, would
contribute much towards establishing his au¬
thority ; as he had formerly observed, that the
places he had conquered from the Scots in sum¬
mer, were generally retaken when the severe
weather set in. He had, therefore, on this occa¬
sion, taken every precaution for the comfort of his
troops, and large supplies of provisions were or¬
dered to be brought him both by sea and land, so
that his army should not be placed in such diffi¬
culties, as those which had formerly compelled
him to retreat into England.
In order, therefore, to secure his present con¬
quest, he began to assimilate the state of the
country as much as possible to that of his other