made them so commodious an acquisition to the respective
kingdoms, prevailed over all other considerations; and though they
were both finally disappointed in their hopes, their conduct was very
reconcilable to the principles of an interested policy. This was the
first specimen which the Scots had of the French alliance, and which was
exactly conformable to what a smaller power must always expect, when
it blindly attaches itself to the will and fortunes of a greater. That
unhappy people now engaged in a brave though unequal contest for their
liberties, were totally abandoned, by the ally in whom they reposed
their final confidence, to the will of an imperious conqueror.

Though England, as well as other European countries, was, in its ancient
state, very ill qualified for making, and still worse for maintaining
conquests, Scotland was so much inferior in its internal force, and
was so ill situated for receiving foreign succors, that it is no wonder
Edward, an ambitious monarch, should have cast his eye on so tempting
an acquisition, which brought both security and greatness to his native
country. But the instruments whom he employed to maintain his dominion
over the northern kingdom were not happily chosen, and acted not with
the requisite prudence and moderation, in reconciling the Scottish
nation to a yoke which they bore with such extreme reluctance. Warrenne,
retiring into England on account of his bad state of health, left the
administration entirely in the hands of Ormesby, who was appointed
justiciary of Scotland, and Cressingham, who bore the office of
treasurer; and a small military force remained, to secure the precarious
authority of those ministers. The latter had no other object than the
amassing of money by rapine and injustice: the former distinguished
himself by the rigor and severity of his temper: and both of them,
treating the Scots as a conquered people, made them sensible, too early,
of the grievous servitude into which they had fallen. As Edward required
that all the proprietors of land should swear fealty to him, every one
who refused or delayed giving this testimony of submission, was outlawed
and imprisoned, and punished without mercy; and the bravest and most
generous spirits of the nation were thus exasperated to the highest
degree against the English government.[*]

* Walsing. p. 70. Heming, vol. i. p. 118. Trivet, p. 299.

There was one William Wallace, of a small fortune, but descended