In the Leynhouss a quhill he maid repayr; Schyr Jhon Menteth that tym was captane thar.--B. VIII. 1595.
But even at this time there was something dubious in the conduct of Menteth. While he retained the castle, the English held the town under Edward.
In peess thai duelt, in trubyll that had beyn, And trewbut payit till Ingliss capdanis keyn. Schir Jhon Menteth the castell had in hand: Bot sum men said, thar was a prewa band Till Sotheroun maid, be menys off that knycht, In thar supple to be in all his mycht.--B. IX. 1393.
It is perfectly conceivable, that, although it was known to Wallace that Menteth had some secret understanding with the English, this artful man might persuade him that he only wished an opportunity of wreaking the national vengeance on them, or at least of more effectively serving the interest of Wallace when he saw the proper time. Although Wallace had been assured that Menteth had taken an oath of fealty to Edward, he would have had no more reason for distrusting him than for distrusting by far the greatest part of the nobility and landholders of Scotland, who, as they believed, from the necessity of despair had submitted to the usurper.
John de Menteth is designed by Arnold Blair _immanis proditor_; and the writer proceeds to curse him as if with bell, book, and candle. Relationes, p. 8.
Sir David aims another blow at this account in the following words: “That he had ever any intercourse of friendship or familiarity with Wallace, I have yet to learn.” But the truth is, the worthy judge does not seem disposed to _learn_ this. It is difficult to say what evidence will satisfy him. The incidental hints, in the preceding part of the poem, in regard to Wallace’s connection with Menteth, all perfectly agree with the mournful termination. Such confidence had he in him, according to the Minstrel, that he not only resided in Dunbarton castle for two months, while Menteth had the charge of it, but gave orders for building “a house of stone” there, apparently that he might enjoy his society.
Twa monethis still he duelt in Dunbertane; A houss he foundyt apon the roch off stayne; Men left he thar till bygg it to the hycht.--B. VIII. 1599.
But independently of the testimony of Blind Harry, Bower expressly asserts the co-operation of Menteth with Wallace, Graham, and Scrymgeour, in the suppression of the rebellious men of Galloway. In hoc ipso anno [1298], viz., xxviii die mensis Augusti, dominus Wallas Scotiæ custos, cum Johanne Grhame, et _Johanne de Menteith_, militibus, necnon Alexandro Scrimzeour constabulario villæ de Dundee, et vexillario Scotiæ, cum quinquagentis militibus armatis, rebelles Gallovidiensis punierunt, qui regis Angliæ et Cuminorum partibus sine aliquo jure steterunt. These words, which seem to be a quotation in the Relationes of Blair from the Scotichronicon, are not found in the MSS. from which Goodall gave his edition. They appear to have formed the commencement of the xxxii. chapter of the eleventh book, one of the two chapters here said to be wanting. Now this, whether it be the language of Bower, or of Blair, could not have been borrowed from the Minstrel, for the circumstance is overlooked by him. It seems to refer to that period of the history of Wallace, in which he is said to have made a circuit through Galloway and Carrick.