Joseph Bain was born in Tranent, East Lothian, in 1826. He was educated at the University of Glasgow, where he was a student in 1842. After completing his studies, he worked as a writer in Glasgow for a number of years but later returned to study, attending the University of Edinburgh where he studied Law. He married and lived in Edinburgh till 1871, when he moved to Devon and then to London in 1881. Joseph, now in his 50s. was working in the Public Record Office there, where he became acknowledged as an Authority on Scottish History as a result of writing or editing a number of books that summarised the public records of Scotland. By 1901, Joseph had retired and was living in St David's, Pembrokeshire, Wales. He died in 1911 at the age of 85.

The extracts below, in which Sir William Wallace is mentioned, are taken from the 'Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland - Volume 2', transcribed by Joseph Bain and published in 1884, and a couple more from the Supplementary Volume published between 1964 and 1970. They are of historical interest to Wallace devotees, and show just how much attention that Edward I paid to Wallace, despite all the later down-playing of the man and his deeds.

Entries are, in the main, from Volume 2, except where indicated.

November 3rd, 1292
645. Pleas before Hugh de Cressingham, William de Ormesby, John Wogan, Master John Lovel, and William de Mortimer, justices itinerant at Carlisle, on the morrow of All Souls in the King's 20th year.
William le Waleys who had a writ of novel disseisin against Adam son of Alan of Ulvesby and John son of Adam le Waleys as to a tenement in Ulvesby, asked leave and was allowed to withdraw.
Amerced. No pledges as it was by oath. [m. 1.]

I am not sure that this is specifically relevant but included anyway.... Ulvesby is the village of Ousby in Cumberland. From legal terms - If the land held by a disseisor was claimed by an heir of the original owner in seisin, the heir could bring a similar legal action known as the assize of mort d’ancestor. I don't think that this refers to our William, although the names Adam and Alan de Waleys do appear in records of Ayrshire during the period in question. It is not known if they tenanted lands in Cumbria at any time.

August 8th, 1296
822. Gaol delivery at St John of Perth, on Wednesday next before St Laurence (8th August).
Matthew of York, accused by Cristiana of St John, of robbery, viz. on Thursday next before St Botulph's day, he came to her house at Perth in company of a thief one William le Waleys, and there by force took her goods and chattels, viz., beer, to the value of 35., replies that he is a clerk and not bound to answer. The jury find the charge proved, and he is adjudged to penitence. [in. 6, d.]

July 23rd, 1297
916. Letter from Sir Hugh de Cressingham(?), to the K. relating his doings at Berwick and elsewhere, and the submission of the Scots to Percy and Clifford ; but that Wallace still holds out in Selkirk Forest. Berwick. [Tower Miscellaneous Rolls, No. 474.]
Mutilated — upper right hand corner gone.

August 20, 1299
1978. Letter by Robert Hastangis to the K. He reports the late inroad by the Scots under Sir Ingram de Umfraville, Sir William de Balliol and others, on Selkirk forest, in Sir Simon Fraser's custody – the meeting there of the Bishop of St Andrews, the Earls of Carrick, Buchan, ......, and Menteth, Sir John Comyn 'le fiz,' and the Steward of Scotland — their intention to have attacked Roxburgh — his spy's account of the dissensions among them caused by Sir David de Graham's demand for Sir William Wallace's lands and goods, as he was going abroad without leave — and his brother Sir Malcolm Wallace's objections, when these two knights gave each other the lie, and drew their knives — Sir John Comyn's taking the Earl of Carrick by the throat, and the Earl of Buchan seizing the Bishop of St Andrews - their final agreement that the Bishop of St Andrews, the Earl of Carrick, and Sir John Comyn should be Guardians of the realm, the first having custody of the castles as principal. That on same day [Wednesday previous] they all left Pebbles, the Earl of Carrick and Sir David de Brechin going to Annandale and Galloway, the Earl of Buchan and Comyn to the north of Forth, the Steward and the Earl of Menteth to Clydesdale. The Bishop of St Andrews remains at Stubbowe, Umfraville is made sheriff of Roxburgh, and Sir Robert de Keth warden of Selkirk forest, with 100 barbed horse and 1500 foot besides the foresters, to make raids on the English March ; for which object each lord has left part of his men with Umfraville. Sunday [last] the Morrow of the Assumption of our Lady, the prisoners of Scotland came to Roxburgh; but this day he learned from the enemy that those of England would not arrive at the March till the Decollation of St John [29th August]. Roxburgh, Thursday next after the Assumption of our Lady. Norman French. [Defaced at top.]
[Scots Documents, Public Record Office]

Further information, and a copy of the Letter itself, with full translation, can be found at: