Meanwhile, Cressingham perceiving that all would be lost
should he suffer the enemy to gain this wall also, sent such numbers
upon the brave Scots who had followed the cousins, that, overcoming
some, and repelling others, they threw Murray, with a sudden shock,
over the ramparts. Edwin was surrounded; and his successful
adversaries were bearing him off, struggling and bleeding, when
Wallace, springing like a lioness on hunters carrying away her young,
rushed in singly amongst them. He seized Edwin; and while his falchion
flashed terrible threatenings in their eyes, with a backward step he
fought his passage to one of the wooden towers he had fastened to the
wall.
Cressingham, being wounded in the head, commanded a parley to be
sounded.
"We have already taken Lord de Valence and his host prisoners,"
returned Wallace; "and we grant you no cessation of hostilities till
you deliver up the Earl of Mar and his family, and surrender the castle
into our hands."
"Think not, proud boaster!" cried the herald of Cressingham, "that we
ask a parley to conciliate. It was to tell you that if you do not draw
off directly, not only the Earl of Mar and his family, but every
Scottish prisoner within these walls, shall perish in your sight.
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