Sir William Wallace is the popular hero of Scotland. We do not know much about his early life. He was born about 1270. It is said that in his boyhood, while living not far from Stirling, he slew a young Englishman who insulted him. This fact made him an outlaw and he took to the wilds of the country. He gathered around himself a body of lawless men, and they waged warfare on the English. Soon Wallace became such a noted leader that many nobles of Scotland joined him. Wallace now had a large army at his command. He seized most of the forts that the English had held north of the RIver Forth. Then the English sent a large army northward to capture the bold outlaw. It is said that the English had arrived at the Forth River when Wallace's army drew up at the foot of the hill on which his monument now stands. It was from the height of the hillside that Wallace directed his men. The Eng-

lish started across the bridge to attack the Scotch. Wallace allowed about half the army to cross over when he ordered his men to attack. The rush of the Scotch could not be overcome. All the English who had crossed were slaughtered or driven into the river to drown. Afterwards another army of the English was more successful. Wallace was defeated and fled again to the hills with a handful of men. Here he was betrayed by a friend, and was captured by the English. He was immediately sent to London where he was given the form a trial for treason. He was sentenced and put to death on the same day that he was tried. To show their love for William Wallace, the nation of Scotland has erected this monument on Wallace's hill. From its tower can still be seen the battlefield where Wallace overthrew the English force.