For now, whithersoever he moved, he
found his victories had preceded him; and all, from hall to hovel,
turned out to greet and offer him their services. Thus, heralded by
fame, the panic-struck Southron governors fled at the distant view of
his standards; the flames of Ayr seemed to menace them all, and castle
and fortalice, from Muirkirk to the walls of Berwick, opened their
gates before him.
Arrived under those blood-stained towers which had so often been the
objects of dispute between the powers of England and of Scotland, he
prepared for their immediate attack. Berwick being a valuable fortress
to the enemy, not only as a key to the invaded kingdom, but a point
whence by their ships they commanded the whole of the eastern coast of
Scotland, Wallace expected that a desperate stand would be made here to
stop the progress of his arms. But being aware that the most
expeditious mode of warfare was the best adapted to promote his cause,
he first took the town by assault; and then, having driven the garrison
into the citadel, assailed it by a vigorous seige.
After ten days hard duty before the walls, Wallace devised a plan to
obtain possession of the English ships which commanded the harbor.
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