Sir William Wallace a Fisherman. 3 



took place about a century and a half 

 before Blind Harry's time, so that his 

 account may be looked upon as made up 

 from the traditions current among the 

 Scotch people about their national hero. 

 From an angler's point of view, it is 

 pleasant to think of the great warrior 

 Wallace turning to fishing for recreation, 

 as did Washington and our hero Nelson. 



Wallace, near the commencement of his 

 career, is living in hiding with his uncle, 

 Sir Ranald Wallace, of Riccarton, near 

 Kilmarnock. To amuse himself, he goes 

 to fish in the river Irvine, when this 

 fishing adventure takes place. 



" So on a time he desired to play 

 In Aperil the three-and-twenty day, 

 Till Irvine Water fish to tak he went ; 

 Sic fantasy fell into his intent." 



Wallace had good sport. " Happy he 

 was, took fish abundantly " ; but presently, 

 some of the retinue of Lord Percy, who 

 was then captain of Ayr, seeing Wallace's 

 success, demanded his fish of him. Wallace 

 meekly replied, 



" It were reason, methink, ye should have part ; 

 Waith should be dealt, in all place, with free 

 heart." 



But they are not satisfied with part of the 

 waith (spoil taken in sport), but take all, 



