á perfect hero; superior to the rest of mankind in bodily stature, strength, and activity; in bearing cold and heat, thirst and hunger, watching and fatigue; no less extraordinary in the quality of his mind, being equally valiant and prudent, magnanimous and disinterested, undaunted in adversity, modest in prosperity, and animated by the most ardent and unextinguishable love of his country. This extraordinary person, having his resentment against the enemies of his country sharpened by some personal affronts, neglected no opportunity of harassing the English; and becoming famous for his daring and successful adventures, he was soon joined by great numbers of his countrymen.

The first attempts of this chosen and determined band were crowned with success. Several of the nobility observing this, either secretly favoured, or openly joined them. But this first dawn of success was soon overcast. The Earl of Surry, governor of Scotland, collected an army of 40,000 men ; which entering Annandale, and marching through the south-west of Scotland, obliged all the barons of these parts to submit, and renew their oaths of fealty. Wallace, unable to encounter so great a force, retired northward. When the English army reached Stirling, they discovered the Scots on the opposite banks of the Forth. Cressingham, treasurer of Scotland, whose covetousness and tyranny had been one great cause of this revolt, earnestly pressed the Earl of Surry to pass his army over the bridge of Stirling, and attack the enemy: Wallace, who observed all their motions, allowed as many of the English to pass as he thought he could defeat, when, rushing upon them with an irresistible impetuosity, they were all either killed, drowned, or taken prisoners. In the heat of the action, the bridge, which was only of

by the ablest monarch of the age, and possessed of every resource for the support of the war. The answer of the Scottish champion was worthy of his genius; when Bruce insinuated that Wallace entertained views the upon 66 crown, I disclaim," said he," any such ambitious thoughts, for neither my birth nor fortune can entitle me to deserve it; and my mind never desired it. But you, by your negligence, to whom that ancient diadem of right belongs, made my fellow-countrymen, when they found themselves destitute of faithful governors, choose me to assist them to vindicate their rights, and I fulfilled the trust which they committed to me; the nobility, however, have used me unjustly. But for their envy, I should have this day had a hundred thousand bold and cheerful soldiers in the field. Their whole force did not exceed ten thousand. I am weary of life, and rather desire to die than see the misery of my native land. But why do you embrace this thraldom? why is servitude so esteemed by you? why do you prefer this baseness to honest liberty? For me, I would rather a thousand times die with freedom, in which I mean to spend my blood, than do as you have done. The love I bear my country shall not depart from my heart before the spirit of life has quitted his office in my bosom."

The nobleness of these sentiments struck the generous mind of Bruce, and he burst into tears, and opening his eyes to the honourable path pointed out to him by Wallace, secretly resolved to seize the first opportunity to espouse the cause of his distressed country.

wood, broke down, and many perished in the river; and the Earl of Surry, with the other part of his army, were melancholy spectators of the destruction of their countrymen, without being able to afford them any assistance.

This severe check which the English received on the 11th September, 1297, obliged them once more to evacuate Scotland. Wallace, who after this great victory was saluted deliverer and guardian of the kingdom by his followers, pursuing the tide of success, entered England with his army, recovered the town of Berwick, plundered the counties of Cumberland and Northumberland, and returned into his own country loaded with spoils and glory.

The news of these surprising events being carried to Edward in Flanders, accelerated his return. After his arrival, he issued orders to all the forces of England and Wales to march northward; and having held a parliament at York, about Whitsunday, 1298, and passed several gracious and popular acts, to secure the hearts of his own subjects, he hastened to join his troops at their general rendezvous near Roxburgh. Here he found himself at the head of an army consisting of 80,000 foot, and 7000 horse. A fleet of ships, laden with provisions, had orders to sail up the Firth of Forth.

About midsummer, Edward marched from Roxburgh to Berwick, which he entered without opposition; and from thence advanced into the country, by easy marches, taking some castles, and destroying every thing as he proceeded. When he had reached Templeliston, now Kirkliston, his army began to be in such great distress for want of provisions, that he was on the point of marching back to Edinburgh. At this critical moment he received intelligence that the Scotch were encamped near Falkirk, at about eighteen miles distance. The English army then advanced to the fields near Linlithgow, where they lay on their arms all night. Very early in the morning, July 22, Edward though he had been much hurt in the night from a blow from his horse, put his army in motion, advanced towards the enemy, and found them drawn up in order near the village of Falkirk. Here a battle was fought; the Scots were defeated with great slaughter, and the English obtained a complete victory with little loss.

Edward, in order to remove the discontents of his barons, held a parliament at London, in the time of Lent, 1300; in which he confirmed the famous charters of their liberties, with some additions.

Edward being now disengaged from other enemies, set his whole heart on making a complete conquest of Scotland, which had long been the great object of his ambition. With this view he marched into that country, at the head of so great an army, as deprived that unhappy people of all hopes of success from resistance. To finish the conquest

of Scotland, he made great preparations for the siege of Stirling Castle, which he invested immediately after Easter. It was defended about three months against all his efforts, by Sir William Oliphant, and a small garrison, who were at length compelled to surrender at discretion. As all the strong places, as well as the chief men of Scotland, had now submitted to Edward, he appointed John de Segrave governor of that kingdom, and set out on his return to England about the end of August.

Though the renowned William Wallace had long been excluded, by the jealousy of the nobles, from commanding the armies, and influencing the councils of his country, he still continued to assert its independency, even after all the rest of his countrymen had submitted to superior force. This, together with the remembrance of the many mischiefs which he had done to his English subjects, and perhaps some apprehension that he might again rekindle the flames of war, made Edward employ various means to get possession of his person. In this he at last succeeded. Wallace was surprised, some say betrayed, in one of his lurking places near Glasgow, conducted to London, tried, condemned, and executed, August 23, 1305. Thus fell one of the bravest men, and most determined patriots, that Scotland ever produced; and with him the freedom and independence of his country seemed to fall.

But Robert Bruce, Earl of Annandale, son of Robert Bruce the competitor, died in his way from London, soon after Easter, 1304; and John Baliol, King of Scotland, died at his estate in France about a year after. These two events seem to have inspired Robert Bruce, the sixth of that name, and grandson of the competitor, with the design of asserting his claim to the crown of Scotland, and attempting to rescue his country from the English yoke.

John Comyn, Earl of Badenoch, was at the head of the most opulent and powerful family at this time in Scotland. He had been several years guardian of the kingdom; and was one of the last who submitted to Edward. Bruce, being sensible that the assistance of so potent a baron would be of the greatest advantage, and his opposition the greatest detriment to him, in his attempt upon the crown, desired and obtained an interview; but it is certain that they quarrelled,- from words they proceeded to blows,-that Bruce struck Comyn with his foot, and then wounded him with his dagger,- and that one of Bruce's friends, Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, rushing in, put him to death.

Bruce found himself at the head of a small army, with which he advanced, taking castles, and wasting the lands, of all who refused to submit to his authority. About the middle of March he had penetrated as far as Perth, the English every where endeavouring to save their lives by flying into their own country. Having assembled all the chief men of his party, he was crowned at Scone, on Friday, March 27, 1306. WORTHIES, No. 3.

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Nothing could exceed the surprise and indignation of Edward when he heard of this revolution in Scotland. He was then at Winchester, and immediately commanded Aymer de Valence, Henry de Percy, and Robert de Clifford, to raise all the military in the north of England, to join the forces of the family of Comyn, and all the Scots in the English interest, and to take vengeance on the traitor Bruce, as he called him, and all his followers.

As the enterprise in which Robert Bruce had engaged was one of the boldest and most desperate that ever was undertaken, so it was, for some time, one of the most unprosperous. Many of his bravest friends were killed or taken, June 24, at the fatal battle of Methven, near Perth, where he was surprised and defeated, and from whence he made his escape with great difficulty. Nor was Bruce less unfortunate in his family and friends than in his forces. His three brothers, Neil, Thomas, and Alexander, with Christopher Seton, an English baron, his brotherin-law, being taken in different places, were tried, condemned, and executed as traitors. His brave and faithful friends, the Earl of Athol, Simon Fraser, and several others, shared the same fate. His queen, his only daughter, Marjory, his two sisters, Mary and Christina, with the Countess of Buchan, the heroine who had placed the crown upon his head, were all taken and committed to different prisons.

Edward, who was now in a declining state of health, spent the last months of the former, and the first months of this year, in Cumberland, and held a parliament at Carlisle, which met January 20, 1307. While this parliament was sitting, on February 22, Peter d'Espaign, cardinallegate from the pope, attended by the king, bishops, and barons, in their robes, with candles lighted and bells ringing, solemnly excommunicated Robert Bruce, and all who favoured him, as perjured traitors, and enemies of the peace. When Edward was thus moving heaven and earth against Bruce and his adherents, that prince was not idle in his retreat. About the beginning of April, he descended from the mountains, at the head of a body of men, which, increasing as he advanced, at last amounted to ten thousand. With this army he defeated Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, at Cumnock, and a few days after, Ralph de Monthermer, Earl of Gloucester; who flying to the Castle of Ayr was there besieged.

Edward, exasperated beyond measure at this intelligence, issued his commands to all the forces of his dominions, to come to him at Carlisle, three weeks after Midsummer. But, before that time, the dysentery, with which he had been long afflicted, had rendered him so weak, that he was confined to his chamber; and a report prevailed that he was dead. To disprove this report, he set out for Carlisle, July 3; but was so feeble, that he could travel only three miles; and having rested one day,

he reached Burgh on the Sands, about five miles from Carlisle, July 5, and there expired in his tent, July 7, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, and thirty-fifth of his reign.

When he took leave of the Prince of Wales, he gave him (as is usual on such occasions) much good advice. In particular, he charged him, under the pain of incurring his paternal malediction,-never to recal the banished Gavaston,-to send his heart into the Holy Land,-to carry his body with the army into Scotland, and not to bury it till he had made a complete conquest of that country.

Edward I. from the length and smallness of his legs, commonly called Long-Shanks, had, in other respects, a very advantageous person, being remarkably tall, strong, and graceful. He had fine hair, yellow in his youth, darker as he advanced in life, and grey in his old age. His forehead was large, all his features regular, and his complexion fair when he was young, but browner in his manhood. He greatly excelled in riding, tilting, and in every martial and manly exercise. Hunting and hawking were his favourite amusements. His excellent understanding and good sense rendered him one of the best legislators, and greatest politicians, that ever filled the throne of England.

The ambition of extending his authority over all the isle of Britain, was, in truth, the great blemish of this prince's character, which betrayed him into many crimes and errors, and brought many calamities on both the British kingdoms. His schemes for the reduction of Wales were successful, but the cruelty and iniquity of them can never be forgotten. But his attempts on Scotland, having been more unfortunate, have been more criminal; and his greatest admirers cannot deny, that he took an ungenerous advantage of the unhappy circumstances of the Scottish nation; that he abused the confidence which they reposed in him; and that he committed many acts of injustice and cruelty in endeavouring to establish his dominion over them.

Edward I. was illustrious as a general, but more illustrious as a legislator. In the former capacity he had many equals, and some superiors; in the latter, he was equalled by few, and excelled by none of the kings of England. The most important changes that were made in this period, were, 1st, In the constitution of the parliament; 2dly, In the magistrates and courts of justice; 3dly, In the statute-law; 4thly, In the common-law; 5thly, In the prerogatives of the crown; 6thly, In the royal revenues.

Edward having completed the conquest of Wales, called a parliament to meet at Shrewsbury, September 30, 1283, for the trial of the captive prince and the settlement of the conquered country, and this parliament appears to have been constituted according to the plan of that which