by Jane Porter
Chapter XXXVI.
The Carse of Stirling.
The fame of these victories, the seizure of Stirling, the conquest ofabove sixty thousand men, and the lord warden with his late deputytaken prisoners, all spread through the country on the wings of thewind.
Messengers were dispatched by Wallace, not only to the nobles who hadalready declared for the cause by sending him their armed followers,but to the clans who yet stood irresolute. To the chiefs who had takenthe side of Edward, he sent no exhortation. And when Lord Ruthvenadvised him to do so, "No, my lord," said he, "we must not spread asnare under our country, and as they had the power to befriend her,they would not have colleagued with her enemies. They remember herhappiness under the rule of our Alexanders; they see her sufferingsbeneath the sway of a usurper; and if they can know these things, andrequire arguments to bring them to their duty, should they then come toit, it would not be to fulfill, but to betray. Ours, my dear LordRuthven, is a commission from Heaven. The truth of our cause is God'sown signet, and is so clear, that it need only be seen to beacknowledged. All honest minds will come to us of themselves; andthose who are not so, had better be avoided, than shown the way bywhich treachery may effect what open violence cannot accomplish."
This reasoning, drawn from the experience of nature, neither encumberedby the subtleties of policy nor the sophistry of the schools, wasevident to every honest understanding, and decided the question.
Lady Mar, unknown to any one, again applied to her fatal pen; but withother views than for the ruin of the cause, or the destruction ofWallace. It was to strengthen his hands with the power of all herkinsmen; and finally, by the crown which they should place on his head,exalt her to the dignity of a queen. She wrote first to John Cummin,Earl of Buchan, enforcing a thousand reasons why he should now leave asinking cause and join the rising fortunes of his country.
"You see," said she, "that the happy star of Edward is setting. TheKing of France not only maintains possession of that monarch'sterritory at Guienne, but he holds him in check on the shores ofFlanders. Baffled abroad, an insurrection awaits him at home; thepriesthood whom he has insulted, trample name with anathemas; thenobles whom he has insulted, trample on his prerogative; and thepeople, whose privileges he has invaded, call aloud for redress. Theproud barons of England are ready to revolt; and the Lords Hereford andNorfolk (those two earls whom, after madly threatening to hang,** hesought to bribe to their allegiance by leaving them in the full powersof Constable and Marshal of England), they are now conductingthemselves with such domineering consequence, that even the Prince ofWales submits to their directions, and the throne of the absent tyrantis shaken to its center.
**Edward intended to send out forces to Guienne, under the command ofHumphrey Earl of Hereford, the constable, and Roger Earl of Norfolk,the Marshal of England, when these two powerful nobles refused toexecute his commands. A violent altercation ensued; and the king, inthe height of his passion, exclaimed to the constable, "Sir Earl, byG-, you shall either go or hang." "By G-, Sir King," replied Hereford,"I will neither go nor hang." And he immediately departed with themarshal and their respective trains.
"Sir William Wallace has rescued Scotland from his yoke. The countrynow calls for her ancient lords--those who made her kings, and supportedthem. Come, then, my cousin! espouse the cause of right; the causethat is in power; the cause that may aggrandize the house of Cumminwith still higher dignities than any with which it has hitherto beenblazoned."
With these arguments, and with others more adapted to his Belial mind,she tried to bring him to her purpose; to awaken what ambition hepossessed; and to entice his baser passions, by offering security in arescued country to the indulgence of senses to which he had alreadysacrificed the best properties of man. She dispatched her letter by amessenger, whom she bribed to secrecy; and added in her postscript,"that the answer she should hope to receive would be an offer of hisservices to Sir William Wallace."
While the Countess of Mar was devising her plans (for the gaining ofLord Buchan was only a preliminary measure), the dispatches of Wallacehad taken effect. Their simple details, and the voice of fame, hadroused a general spirit throughout the land; and in the course of avery short time after the different messengers had left Stirling, theplain around the city was covered with a mixed multitude. All Scotlandseemed pressing to throw itself at the feet of its preserver. A largebody of men brought from Mar by Murray according to his uncle's orders,were amongst the first encamped on the Carse; and that part ofWallace's own particular band which he had left at Dumbarton, torecover their wounds, now, under the command of Stephen Ireland,rejoined their lord at Stirling.
Neil Campbell, the brave Lord of Loch-awe, and Lord Bothwell, thefather of Lord Andrew Murray, with a strong reinforcement, arrived fromArgyleshire. The chiefs of Ross, Dundas, Gordon, Lockhart, Logan,Elphinstone, Scott, Erskine, Lindsay, Cameron, and of almost everynoble family in Scotland, sent their sons at the heads of detachmentsfrom their clans, to swell the ranks of Sir William Wallace.
When this patriotic host assembled on the Carse of Stirling, everyinmate of the city, who had not duty to confine him within the walls,turned out to view the glorious sight. Mounted within the walls,turned out to view the glorious sight. Mounted on a rising ground,they saw each little army, and the emblazoned banners of all thechivalry of Scotland floating afar over the lengthened ranks.
At this moment, the lines which guarded the outworks of Stirling openedfrom right to left, and discovered Wallace advancing on a whitecharger. When the conqueror of Edward's hosts appeared--the delivererof Scotland--a mighty shout, from the thousands around, rent the skies,and shook the earth on which they stood.
Wallace raised his helmet from his brow, as by an instinctive motionevery hand bent the sword or banner it contained.
"He comes in the strength of David!" cried the venerable bishop ofDunkeld, who appeared at the head of his church's tenantry; "Scots,behold the Lord's anointed!"
The exclamation, which burst like inspiration from the lips of thebishop, struck to every heart. "Long live our William the Lion! ourScottish King!" was echoed with transport by every follower on theground; and while the reverberating heavens seemed to ratify the voiceof the people, the lords themselves (believing that he who won had thebest right to enjoy) joined in the glorious cry. Galloping up from thefront of their ranks, they threw themselves from their steeds, andbefore Wallace could recover from the surprise into which thisunexpected salutation had thrown him, Lord Bothwell and Lord Loch-awe,followed by the rest, had bent their knees, and acknowledged him to betheir sovereign. The Bishop of Dunkeld at the same moment drawing fromhis breast a silver dove of sacred oil, poured it upon the unbonnetedhead of Wallace. "Thus, O King!" cried he, "do I consecrate on earth,what has already received the unction of Heaven!"
Wallace, at this action, was awe-struck, and raising his eyes to thatHeaven, his soul in silence breathed its unutterable devotion. Thenlooking on the bishop: "Holy father," said he, "this unction may haveprepared my brows for a crown, but it is not of this world, and DivineMercy must bestow it. Rise, lords!" and as he spoke, he flung himselffrom his horse, and taking Lord Bothwell by the hand, as the eldest ofthe band, "kneel not to me," cried he; "I am to you what Gideon was tothe Israelites--your fellow-soldier. I cannot assume the scepter youwould bestow; for He who rules us all has yet preserved to you a lawfulmonarch. Bruce lives. And were he extinct, the blood royal flows intoo many noble veins in Scotland for me to usurp its rights."
"The rights of the crown lie with the only man in Scotland who knowshow to defend them! else reason is blind, or the nation abandons itsown prerogative. What we have this moment vowed, is not to beforsworn. Baliol has abdicated our throne; the Bruce deserted it; allour nobles slept till you awoke; and shall we bow to men who mayfollow, but will not lead? No, bravest Wallace, from the moment youdrew the first sword for Scotland, you made yourself her lawful king."
Wallace turned to the vet
eran Lord of Loch-awe, who uttered this with ablunt determination that meant to say, the election which had passedshould not be recalled. "I made myself her champion, to fight for herfreedom, not my own aggrandizement. Were I to accept the honor withwhich this too grateful nation would repay my service, I should notbring it that peace for which I contend. Struggling for liberty, thetoils of my brave countrymen would be redoubled; for they would have tomaintain the tights of an unallied king against a host of enemies. Thecircumstances of a man from the private stations of life being elevatedto such a dignity would be felt as an insult by every royal house, andfoes and friends would arm against us. On these grounds of policyalone, even were my heart not loyal to the vows of my ancestors, Ishould repel the mischief you would bring upon yourselves by making meyour king. As it is, my conscience, as well as my judgment, compels mereject it. As your general, I may serve you gloriously; as yourmonarch, in spite of myself, I should incur your ultimate destruction."
"From whom, noblest of Scots!" asked the Lord of Bothwell.
"From yourselves, my friends," answered Wallace, with a gentle smile."Could I take advantage of the generous enthusiasm of a gratefulnation; could I forget the duty I owe to the blood of our Alexanders,and leap into the throne, there are many who would soon revolt againsttheir own election. You cannot be ignorant, that there are natures whowould endure no rule, did it not come by the right of inheritance; aright by dispute, lest they teach their inferiors the same refractorylesson. But to bend with voluntary subjection, to long obey a powerraised by themselves, would be a sacrifice abhorrent to their pride.After having displayed their efficiency in making a king, they wouldprove their independence by striving to pull him down the moment hemade them feel his specter.
"Such would be the fate of this election. Jealousies and rebellionswould mark my reign; till even my closest adherents, seeing themiseries of civil war, would fall from my side, and leave the countryagain open to the inroads of her enemies.
"These, my friends and countrymen, would be my reasons for rejectingthe crown did my ambition point that way. But as I have no joy intitles, no pleasure in any power that does not spring hourly from theheart, let my reign be in your bosoms; and with the appellation of yourfellow-soldier, your friend! I will fight for you, I will conquer foryou--I will live or die!"
"This man," whispered Lord Buchan, who having arrived in the rear ofthe troops on the appearance of Wallace, advanced within hearing ofwhat he said-"this man shows more cunning in repulsing a crown thanmost are capable of exerting to obtain one."
"Ay, but let us see," returned the Earl of March, who accompanied him,"whether it be not Caesar's coyness; he thrice refused the purple, andyet he died Emperor of the Romans!"
"He that offers me a crown," returned Buchan, "shall never catch meplaying the coquette with its charms. I warrant you, I would embracethe lovely mischief in the first presentation." A shout rent the air."What is that?" cried he, interrupting himself.
"He has followed your advice," answered March, with a satirical smile,"it is the preliminary trumpet to long live King William the Great!"
Lord Buchan spurred forward to Scrymgeour, whom he knew, and inquired,"where the new king was to be crowned? We have not yet to thank himfor the possession of Scone!"
"True," cried Sir Alexander, comprehending the sarcasm; "but did SirWilliam Wallace accept the prayers of Scotland, neither Scone nor anyother spot in the kingdom would refuse the place of his coronation."
"Not accept them!" replied Buchan; "then why the shout? Do thechangelings rejoice in being refused?"
"When we cannot gain the altitude of our desires," returned the knight,"it is yet subject for thankfulness when we reach a step toward it.Sir William Wallace has consented to be considered as the protector ofthe kingdom; to hold it for the rightful sovereign, under the name ofregent."
"Ay," cried March, "he has only taken a mistress instead of a wife;and, trust me, when once he has got her into his arms, it will not beall the gray beards in Scotland that can wrest her thence again. Imarvel to see how men can be cajoled and call the visor virtue."
Scrymgeour had not waited for this reply of the insolent earl, andBuchan answered him: "I care not," said he; "whoever keeps my castleover my head, and my cellars full, is welcome to reign over John ofBuchan. So onward, my gallant Cospatrick, to make our bow to royaltyin masquerade."
When these scorners approached, they found Wallace standing uncoveredin the midst of his happy nobles. There was not a man present to whomhe had not given proofs of his divine commission; each individual wassnatched from a state of oppression and disgrace, and placed insecurity and honor. With overflowing gratitude, they all throngedaround him; and the young, the isolated Wallace, found a nation waitingon his nod; the hearts of half a million of people offered to his handto turn and wind them as he pleased. No crown sat on his brows; butthe bright halo of true glory beamed from his godlike countenance. Iteven checked the arrogant smiles with which the haughty March and thevoluptuous Buchan came forward to mock him with their homage.
As the near relations of Lady Mar, he received them with courtesy; butone glance of his eye penetrated to the hollowness of both; and then,remounting his steed, the stirrups of which were held by Edwin and Ker,he touched the head of the former with his hand; "Follow me, my friend;I now go to pay my duty to your mother. For you, my lords," said he,turning to the nobles around, "I shall hope to meet you at noon in thecitadel, where we must consult together on further prompt movements.Nothing with us can be considered as won till all is gained."
The chieftains, with bows, acquiesced in his mandate, and fell backtoward their troops. But the foremost ranks of those brave fellows,having heard much of what had passed, were so inflamed with admirationof their regent, that they rushed forward, and collecting in crowdsaround his horse, and in his path, some pressed to kiss his hand, andothers his way, shouting and calling down blessings upon him, till hestopped at the gate of Snawdoun.