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142 THE nor TRAVELLERS IN cnmyr BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
“They used to make forays into the inhabited regions and help
themselves to whatever they could find. Cattle were their favorite
plunder, and these men are often referred topin history as cattle-thieves.
The herds were taken from their pastures, or wherever else they hap-
pened to be, and driven to the retreats of the robbers. They were more
acceptable than any other kind of plunder, as they supplied their own
transportation. Corn or wheat would require to be carried, but the
cattle carried themselves, and only needed to be directed and driven the
way they should go. 4
“The great lVilliam WVallace, about whom you were talking at Ayr,
was known as a cattle-stealer in the early days of his career. The story
U is that while attending
school at Dundee he was
insulted by the son of
the governor of Dundee
Castle. A light follow-
ed, and in it Wallace
killed his adversary. Of
course he was obliged to
flee to save his life. He
went to the mountains,
where he gathered a
body of insurgents, and
for years kept up the
existence of a bandit.
He stole cattle onwhich
to support his followers, and every attemptto capture him or disperse
his band was unsuccessful.” s
“I have just been reading up the history of Sir lVilliam‘lVallace,”
said Frank, as Doctor Bronson paused, “and find that he was the son
of Sir Malcolm Wallace, of Ellerslie, in Renfrewshire. From a bandit
in the mountains he became a warrior of great renown, and is one of
the men whose memory is revered by the Scotch people on account of
his services to the country. . The oppression of the people by their Eng-
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OIIATORY OF ST. BENAN.
lish rulers was so severe that the forces of VVallace increased steadily,‘
and he was able'to meet the English armies on the battle-lield. He
defeated them at Stirling, and so complete was the defeat that the-
English were driven from Scotland, and the country was under the
rule of NVallace. He invaded the north of England without opposi-
tion, but was compelled to retire before an army led by King Edward