The Scottish Chiefs

by Jane Porter

  Chapter XLVI.

  Lammington.

  Day succeeded day in the execution of these beneficial designs. Whenfulfilled, the royal halls of Lochmaben did not long detain him whoknew no satisfaction but when going about doing good. While he wasthus employed, raising with the quickness of magic, by the hands of hissoldiers, the lately ruined hamlets into well-built villages--while thegray smoke curled from a thousand russet cottages which now spotted thesides of the snow-clad hills--while all the lowlands, whithersoever hedirected his steps, breathed of comfort and abundance--he felt like thefather of a large family, in the midst of a happy and vast home, whereevery eye turned on him with reverence, every lip with gratitude.

  He had hardly gone the circuit of these now cheerful valleys, when anembassy from England, which had first touched at Lochmaben, overtookhim at the Tower of Lammington. The ambassadors were Edmund, Earl ofArundel (a nobleman who had married the only sister of De Warenne), andAnthony Beck, Bishop of Durham.

  At the moment their splendid cavalcade, escorted by a party from SirEustace Maxwell, entered the gate of Lammington, Wallace was in thehourly expectation of Edwin, and hearing the trampling of horses, hehastened into the courtyard, attended by Gregory's grandchildren. Onewas in his arms, two others held by his plaid, and a third played withthe sword he had unbuckled from his side. It was a clear frosty day,and the keenness of the air brightened the complexion of Wallace, whileit deepened the roses of his infant companions. The leader of theScottish escort immediately proclaimed to the embassadors that this wasthe regent. At the sight of so uncourtly a scene the haughty prelateof Durham drew back.

  "This man will not understand his own interest," said he, in adisdainful whisper, to Lord Arundel.

  "I am inclined to think his estimation of it will be beyond ours." Asthe earl made this reply, the officer of Maxwell informed Wallace ofthe names and errand of the illustrious strangers. At the mention of aSouthron, the elder children ran screaming into the house, leaving theyoungest, who continued on the breast of Wallace.

  The bishop drew near.

  "We come, Sir William Wallace," cried the prelate, in a tone whoselordly pitch lowered when his surprised eye saw the princely dignitywhich shone over the countenance of the man whose domestic appearance,when descried at a distance, had excited his contempt; "we come fromthe King of England, with a message for your private ear."

  "And I hope, gallant chief," joined Lord Arundel, "what we have toimpart will give peace to both nations, and establish in honor the mostgenerous as well as the bravest of enemies."

  Wallace bowed to the earl's compliment (he knew by his title that hemust be the brother of De Warenne), and, resigning the child into thearms of Graham, with a graceful welcome he conducted the Southron lordsinto the hall.

  Lord Arundel, looking around, said, "Are we alone, Sir William?"

  "Perfectly," he replied, "and I am ready to receive any proposals forpeace which the rights of Scotland will allow her to accept."

  The earl drew from his bosom a gold casket, and laying it on a tablebefore him, addressed the regent:-"Sir William Wallace, I come to you,not with the denunciation of an implacable liege lord, whom a rashvassal has offended, but in the grace of the most generous of monarchs,anxious to convert a brave insurgent into the loyal friend. My lordthe king having heard by letters from my brother-in-law, the Earl deWarenne, of the honorable manner with which you treated the Englishwhom the fate of battle threw into your power, his majesty, instead ofsending over from Flanders a mighty army to overwhelm this rebelliouskingdom, has deputed me, even as an embassador, to reason with therashness he is ready to pardon. Also, with this diadem," continued theearl, drawing a circlet of jewels from the casket, "which my bravesovereign tore from the brows of a Saracen prince, on the ramparts ofAcre, he sends the assurance of his regard for the heroic virtues ofhis enemy. And to these jewels, he will add a more efficient crown, ifSir William Wallace will awake from this trance of false enthusiasm,and acknowledge, as he is in duty bound to do, the supremacy of Englandover this country. Speak but the word, noblest of Scots," added theearl, "and the bishop of Durham has orders from the generous Edwardimmediately to anoint you king of Scotland--that done, my royal masterwill support you in your throne against every man who may dare indispute your authority."

  At these words Wallace rose from his seat. "My lord," said he, "sinceI took up arms for injured Scotland, I have been used to look into thehearts of men; I therefore estimate with every due respect thecompliment which this message of your king pays to my virtues. Had hethought that I deserved the confidence of Scotland, he would not haveinsulted me with offering a price for my allegiance. To be even acrowned vassal of King Edward is far beneath my ambition. Take backthe Saracen's diadem; it shall never dishonor the brows of him who hassworn by the cross to maintain the independence of Scotland, or to laydown his life in the struggle!"

  "Weigh well, brave sir," resumed the earl, "the consequences of thisanswer. Edward will soon be in England; he will march hither himself;not at the head of such armies as you have discomfited, but withcountless legions; and when he falls upon any country in indignation,the places of its cities are known no more."

  "Better for a brave people so to perish," replied Wallace, "than toexist in dishonor."

  "What dishonor, noble Scot, can accrue from acknowledging the supremacyof your liege lord; or to what can the proudest ambition in Scotlandextend beyond that of possessing its throne?"

  "I am not such a slave," cried Wallace, "as to prefer what men mightcall aggrandizement before the higher destiny of preserving to mycountry its birthright, independence. To be the guardian of her laws,and of the individual right of every man born on Scottish ground, is myambition. Ill should I perform the one duty, were I to wrong theposterity of Alexander by invading their throne; and horrible would bemy treason against the other, could I sell my confiding country for aname and a bauble into the grasp of a usurper."

  "Brand not with so unjust an epithet the munificent Edward!"interrupted Lord Arundel; "let your own noble nature be a witness ofhis. Put from you all the prejudice which the ill conduct of hisofficers have excited, and you must perceive that in accepting histerms you will best repay your country's confidence by giving it peace."

  "So great would be my damning sin in such an acceptance," criedWallace, "that I should be abhorred by God and man. You talk of nobleminds, earl; look into your own, and will it not tell you that in themoment a people bring themselves to put the command of their actions,and with that, their consciences, into the hands of a usurper (and thatEdward is one in Scotland our annals and his tyrannies declare), theysell their birthright and become unworthy the name of men? In thatdeed they abjure the gift with which God had intrusted them; andjustly, the angels of his host depart from them. You know the sacredaxiom, Virtue is better than life! By that we are commanded topreserve the one at the expense of the other; and we are ready to obey.Neither the threats nor the blandishments of Edward have power toshake the resolves of those who draw the sword of the Lord and ofGideon!"

  "Rebellious man!" exclaimed Beck, who had listened impatiently; andwhose haughty spirit could ill brook such towering language beingdirected to his sovereign; "since you dare quote Scripture to sanctioncrime, hear my embassage. To meet the possibility of this flagitiousobstinacy, I came armed with the thunder of the church, and theindignation of a justly incensed monarch. Accept his most graciousoffers, delivered to you by the Earl of Arundel. Here is the cross, toreceive your oath of fealty," cried he, stretching it forth, as if hethought his commands were irrestible; "but beware! keep it with a truerfaith than did the traitor Baliol, or expect the malediction of Heaven,the exterminating vengeance of your liege lord!"

  Wallace was not discomposed by this attack from the stormy prelate."My Lord of Durham," replied he with his usual tranquil air, "had yoursovereign sent me such proposals as became a just king, and werepossible for an honest Scot to admit, he should have found me ready to
have treated him with the respect due to his rank and honor; but whenhe demands the sacrifice of my integrity; when he asks me to sign adeed that would again spread this renovated land with devastation, wereI to consider the glozing language of his embassy as grace andnobleness. I should belie my own truth, which tramples alike on hismenaces and his pretended claims. And I ask you, priest of Heaven! ishe a god greater than Jehovah, that I should fear him?"

  "And durst thou presume, audacious rebel!" exclaimed Beck "that thelight of Israel deign, to shine on a barbarian nation in arms against ahero of the cross? Reprobate that thou art, answer to thine owncondemnation? Does not the church declare the claims of Edward to bejust! and who dare gainsay her decrees?"

  "The voice of Him you pretend to serve! He is no respecter of persons;he raises the poor from the dust; and by his arm the tyrant and hishost are plunged into the whelming waves! Bishop, I know in whom Itrust. Is the minister greater than his lord, that I should believethe word of a synod against the declared will of God? Neither anathemanor armed thousands shall make me acknowledge the supremacy of Edward.He may conquer the body, but the soul of a patriot he can never subdue."

  "Then," cried Beck, suddenly rising, black with choler, and stretchinghis crosier over the head of Wallace, "as the rod of Moses shedplagues, miseries, and death over the land of Egypt, I invoke the likejudgments to fall on this rebellious land, on its blasphemous leader!And thus I leave it my curse."

  Wallace smiled as the terrific words fell from the lips of this demonin sacred guise. Lord Arundel observed him. "You despise thismalediction, Sir William Wallace! I thought more piety had dwelt withso much military nobleness!"

  "I should not regard the curses of a congregated world," repliedWallace, "when my conscience as loudly proclaims that God is on myside. And is he not omniscient, that he should be swayed by theprejudices of men? Does he not read the heart? Is he not master ofall causes? And shall I shrink when I know that I hold his commission?Shall I not regard those anathemas even as the artillery with whichthe adversary would drive me from my post? But did the clouds rainfire, and the earth open beneath me, I would not stir; for I know whoplanted me here; and as long as he wills me to stand, neither men nordevils can move me hence."

  "Thou art incorrigible!" cried Beck.

  "I would say, firm," rejoined Arundel, overawed by the majesty ofvirtue, "could I regard, as he does, the cause he has espoused. But,as it is, noble Wallace," continued he, "I must regret yourinfatuation; and instead of the peace I thought to leave with you, hurlwar, never-ending, extirpating war, upon the head of this devotednation!" As he spoke, he threw his lance** against the opposite wall,in which it stuck and stood shivering; then taking up the casket, withits splendid contents, he replaced it in his bosom.

  **To throw a spear was an ancient mode of denouncing war.

  Beck had turned away in wrath from the table, and advancing with amagisterial step to the door, he threw it open; as if he thought, thatlonger to breathe the same air with the person he had excommunicated,would infect him with his own curses. On opening the door, a group ofScots, who waited in the antechamber, hastened forward. At the sightof the prelate they raised their bonnets, and hesitated to pass. Hestood on the threshold, proudly neglectful of their respect. In thenext minute, Wallace appeared with Lord Arundel.

  "Brave knight," said the earl, "the adieus of a man, as sensible ofyour private worth as he regrets the errors of your public opinion,abide with you."

  "Were Edward sensible to virtue, like his brave subjects," replied thechief, "I should not fear that another drop of blood need be shed inScotland to convince him of his present injustice. Farewell, nobleearl; the generous candor of yourself and of your brother-in-law willever live in the remembrance of William Wallace."

  While he yet spoke, a youth broke from the group before them, andrushing toward the regent, threw himself with a cry of joy at his feet."My Edwin, my brother!" exclaimed Wallace; and immediately raisinghim, clasped him in his arms. The throng of Scots who had accompaniedtheir young leader from Stirling, now crowded about the chief; somekneeling and kissing his garments; others ejaculating, with upliftinghands, their thanks at seeing their protector in safety, and withredoubled glory.

  "You forgive me, my master and friend?" cried Edwin, forgetting, in thehappy agitation of his mind, the presence of the English embassadors.

  "It was only as a master I condemned you, my brother," returnedWallace; "every proof of your affection must render you dearer to me;and had it been exerted against an offender not so totally in my power,you would not have met my reprimand. But ever remember that thepersons of prisoners are inviolable, for they lie on the bosom ofmercy; and who that has honor would take them thence?"

  Lord Arundel, who had lingered to observe this short but animatedscene, now ventured to interrupt it: "May I ask, noble Wallace," saidhe, "if this interesting youth be the brave young Ruthven, whodistinguished himself at Dumbarton, and who, De Warenne told me,incurred a severe though just sentence from you, in consequence of hisattack upon one whom, as a soldier, I blush to name?"

  "It is the same," replied Wallace; "the valor and fidelity of such ashe are as sinews to my arms, and bring a more grateful empire to myheart than all the crowns which may be in the power of Edward tobestow."

  "I have often seen the homage of the body," said the earl; "but here Isee that of the soul; and were I a king, I should envy Sir WilliamWallace!"

  "This speech is that of a courtier or a traitor!" suddenly exclaimedBeck, turning with a threatening brow on Lord Arundel. "Beware, earl!for what has now been said must be repeated to the royal Edward; and hewill judge whether flattery to this proud rebel be consistent with yourallegiance."

  "Every word that has been uttered in this conference** I will myselfdeliver to King Edward," replied Lord Arundel; "he shall know the manon whom he may be forced by justice to denounce the sentence ofrebellion; and when the pruissance of his royal arm lays this kingdomat his feet, the virtues of Sir William Wallace may then find theclemency he now contemns!"

  Beck did not condescend to listen to the latter part of thisexplanation; but proceeding to the court-yard, had mounted his horsebefore his worthier colleague appeared from the hall. Taking agracious leave of Sir John Graham, who attended him to the door, theearl exclaimed, "What miracle is before me? Not the mighty mover onlyof this wide insurrection is in the bloom of manhood, but all hisgeneral that I have seen appear in the very morning of youth! And youconquer our veterans; by long experience, and hairs grown gray in campsand battles!"

  "Then by our morning judge what our day may be," replied Graham; "andshow your monarch that as surely as the night of death will in somehour close upon prince and peasant, this land shall never again beovershadowed by his darkness."

  "Listen not to their bold treasons!" cried Beck; and setting spurs tohis horse, in no very clerical style he galloped out of the gates.Arundel made some courteous reply to Graham; then, bowing to the restof the Scottish officers who stood around, turned his steed, andfollowed by his escort, pursued the steps of the bishop along thesnow-covered banks of the Clyde.