by Jane Porter
Chapter XLIX.
Stanmore.
The gathering word was dispatched from chief to chief, to call theclans of the Highlands to meet their regent by a certain day inClydesdale. Wallace himself set forward to summon the strength of theLowlands; but at Kinclavin Castle, on the coast of Fife, he wassurprised with another embassy from Edward--a herald, accompanied bythat Sir Hugh le de Spencer who had conducted himself so insolently onhis first embrassage.
On his entering the chamber where the regent sat with the chiefs whohad accompanied him from Perthsire, the two English men walked forward;but before the herald could pay the customary respects, Le de Spenceradvanced to Wallace; and to the price of a little mind, elated at beingempowered to insult with impunity, he broke forth: "Sir WilliamWallace, the contumely with which the embassadors of Prince Edward weretreated, is so resented by the King of England, that he invests his ownmajesty in my person to tell you, that your treasons have filled uptheir measure! that now, in the plenitude of his continental victories,he descends upon Scotland, to annihilate this rebellious nation; and-"
"Stop, Sir Hugh le de Spencer," cried the herald, touching him with hisscepter; "whatever may be the denunciations with which our sovereignhas intrusted you, you must allow me to perform my duty before youdeclare them. And thus I utter the gracious message with which hisMajesty has honored my mouth."
He then addressed Wallace; and in the king's name, accusing him ofrebellion, and of unfair and cruel devastations made in Scotland and inEngland, promised him pardon for all if he would immediately disbandhis followers and acknowledge his offense.
Wallace motioned with his hand for his friends to keep silence (for heperceived that two or three of the most violent were ready to breakforth in fierce defiance of King Edward), and being obeyed, he calmlyreplied to the herald: "When we were desolate, your king came to us asa comforter, and he put us in chains! While he was absent, I invadedhis country as an open enemy. I rifled your barns, but it was to feeda people whom his robberies had left to perish! I marched through yourlands, I made your soldiers fly before me; but what spot in all yourshores have I made black with the smoke of ruin? I leave the people ofNorthumberland to judge between me and your monarch. And that he nevershall be mine or Scotland's, with God's blessing on the right, ourdeeds shall further prove!"
"Vain and ruinous determination!" exclaimed Le de Spencer; "King Edwardcomes against you, with an army that will reach from sea to sea.Wherever the hoofs of his war-horse strike, there grass never growsagain. The sword and the fire shall make a desert of this devotedland; and your arrogant head, proud Scot, shall bleed upon thescaffold!"
"He shall first see my fires, and meet my sword in his own fields,"returned Wallace; "and if God continues my life, I will keep my Easterin England, in despite of King Edward, and of all who bear armor in hiscountry!"
As he spoke he rose from his chair, and bowing his head to the herald,the Scottish marshals conducted the embassadors from his presence. Lede Spencer twice attempted to speak, but the marshals would not allowhim. They said that the business of the embassy was now over; andshould he presume further to insult their regent, the privilege of hisofficial character should not protect him from the wrath of the Scots.Intimidated by the frowning brows and nervous arms of all around, heheld his peace, and the doors were shut on him.
Wallace foresaw the heavy tempest to Scotland threatened by theserepeated embassies. He perceived that Edward, by sending overtureswhich he knew could not be accepted--by making a show of pacificintentions, meant to throw the blame of the continuation of hostilitiesupon the Scots, and so overcome the reluctance of his more equitablenobility, to further persecute a people whom he had made suffer sounjustly. The same insidious policy was likewise meant to change theaspect of the Scottish cause in the eyes of Philip of France, who hadlately sent congratulations to the regent, on the victory ofCambus-Kenneth; and by that means deprive him of a powerful ally andzealous negotiator for an honorable peace.
To prevent this last injury, Wallace dispatched a quick-sailing vesselwith Sir Alexander Ramsay, to inform King Philip of the particulars ofEdward's proposals, and of the consequent continued warfare.
On the twenty-eighth of February, Sir William Wallace joined LordAndrew Murray, on Bothwell Moor, where he had the happiness of seeinghis brave friend again lord of the domains he had so lately lost in theScottish cause. Wallace did not visit the castle. At such a crisis,he forbore to unnerve his mind, by awakening the griefs which layslumbering at the bottom of his heart. Halbert came from his conventonce more to look upon the face of his beloved master. The meetingcost Wallace many agonizing pangs, but he smiled on his faithfulservant. He pressed the venerable form in his manly arms, and promisedhim news of his life and safety. "May I die," cried the old man, "ereI hear it is otherwise! But youth is no warrant for life; the vigor ofthose arms cannot always assure themselves of victory; and should youfall, where would be our country?"
"With a better than I," returned the chief, "in the arms of God. Hewill fight for Scotland when Wallace is laid low." Halbert wept. Butthe trumpet sounded for the field. He blessed his lord, and theyparted forever.
A strong force from the Highlands joined the troops from Stirling; andWallace had the satisfaction of seeing before him thirty thousandwell-appointed men eager for the fight. With all Scotland pressing onhis heart, his eye lingered for a moment on the distant towers ofBothwell; but not delaying a moment, he placed himself at the head ofhis legions, and set forth through a country now budding with all thecharms of the cultivation he had spread over it. In the midst of afine glen of renovated corn fields, he was met by a courier from SirRoger Kirkpatrick, with information that the Northumbrians, beingapprised of King Edward's approach, were assembling in immense bodies;and having crossed the debatable land in the night, had driven SirEustace Maxwell, with great loss, into Carlaveroch; and though harassedby Kirkpatrick himself, were ravaging the country as far as Dumfries.The letter of the brave knight added, "These Southron thieves blow thename of Edward before them, and with its sound have spell-bound thecourage of every soul I meet. Come then, valiant Wallace, and conjureit down again, else I shall not be surprised if the men of Annandalebind me hand and foot, and deliver me up to Algernon Percy (the leaderof this inroad), to purchase mercy to their cowardice."
Wallace made no reply to this message, and proclaiming to his men thatthe enemy were in Dumfriesshire, every foot was put to the speed; andin a short time they arrived on the ridgy summits of the easternmountains of Clydesdale. His troops halted for rest near the villageof Biggar; and it being night, he ascended to the top of the highestcraig, and lighted a fire, whose far-streaming light he hoped wouldsend the news of his approach to Annandale. The air being calm andclear, the signal rose in such a long pyramid of flame, that distantshouts of rejoicing were heard breaking the deep silence of the hour.A moment after a hundred answering beacons burned along the horizon.Torthorald saw the propitious blaze; he showed it to his terrifiedfollowers. "Behold that hill of fire!" cried he, "and cease todespair." "Wallace comes!" was their response; "and we will do ordie!"**
**The mountain from which this beacon sent its rays has from that hourbeen called Tinto or Tintoc (which signifies the Hill of Fire), and isyet regarded by the country people with a devotion almost idolatrous.Its height is about 2,260 feet from the sea.
Day broke upon Wallace as he crossed the heights of Drumlaurig, andpouring his thousands over the almost deserted valleys of Annandale,like a torrent he swept the invaders back upon their steps. He tookyoung Percy prisoner, and leaving him shut up in Lochmaben, drove hisflying vassals far beyond the borders.
Annandale again free, he went into its various quarters, and summoningthe people (who now crept from their caves and woods, to shelter underhis shield), he reproved them for their cowardice; and showed them,that unless every man possesses a courage equal to his general, he mustexpect to fall under the yoke of the enemy. "Faith in a leader isgood,"
said he; "but not such a faith as leaves him to act, withoutyourselves rendering that assistance to your own preservation, whichHeaven itself commands. When absent from you in person, I left myspirit with you in the brave Knights of Carlaveroch and Torthorald, andyet you fled. Had I been here, and you done the same, the like musthave been the consequence. What think you is in my arm, that I shouldalone stem your enemies? The expectation is extravagant and false. Iam but the head of the battle, you are the aims; if you shrink, I fall,and the cause is ruined. You follow my call to the field, you fightvaliantly, and I win the day! Respect then yourselves; and believethat you are the sinews, the nerves, the strength of Sir WilliamWallace!"
Some looked manfully up at this exhortation; but most hung their headsin remembered shame, while he continued: "Dishonor not your fathers andyour trust in God by relying on any one human arm, or doubting thatfrom heaven. Be confident that while the standard of true liberty isbefore you, you fight under God's banner. See how I in that faithdrove these conquering Northumbrians before me like frighted roes. Youmight, and must do the same, or the sword of Wallace is drawn in vain.Partake my spirit, brethren of Annandale; fight as stoutly over mygrave as by my side, or before the year expires you will again be theslaves of Edward."
Such language, while it covered the fugitives with confusion of face,awoke emulation in all to efface with honorable deeds the memory oftheir disgrace. With augmented forces he therefore marched intoCumberland; and having drawn up his array between a river and a highground, which he covered with archers, he stood prepared to meet theapproach of King Edward.
But Edward did not appear till late in the next day; and then the Scotsdescried his legions advancing from the horizon to pitch their vanguardon the plain of Stanmore. Wallace knew that for the first time he wasnow going to pit his soldiership against that of the greatest generalin Christendom. But he did not shrink from measuring him arm to armand mind to mind, for the assurance of his cause was in both.
His present aim was to draw the English toward the Scottish lines,where, at certain distances, he had dug deep pits; and having coveredthem lightly with twigs and loose grass, left them as traps for theSouthron cavalry; for in cavalry, he was told by his spies, wouldconsist the chief strength of Edward's army. The waste in whichWallace had laid the adjoining counties, rendered the provisioning ofso large a host difficult; and besides, as it was composed of a mixedmultitude from every land on which the King of England had set hisinvading foot, harmony could not be expected to continue amongst itsleaders. Delay was therefore an advantage to the Scottish regent; andobserving that his enemy held back, as if he wished to draw him fromhis position, he determined not to stir, although he might seem to bestruck with awe of so great an adversary.
To this end he offered him peace, hoping either to obtain what he asked(which he did not deem probable), or, by filling Edward with an idea ofhis fear, urge him to precipitate himself forward, to avoid the dangerof a prolonged sojourn in so barren a country, and to take Wallace, ashe might think, in his panic. Instructing his heralds what to say, hesent them on to Roycross, near which the tent of the King of Englandwas pitched. Supposing that his enemy was now at his feet, and readyto beg the terms he had before objected, Edward admitted theembassadors, and bade them deliver their message. Without furtherparley the herald spoke.
"Thus saith Sir William Wallace. Were it not that the kings and noblesof the realm of Scotland have ever asked redress of injuries beforethey sought revenge, you King of England, and invader of our country,should not now behold orators in your camp, persuading concord, but anarmy in battle array, advancing to the onset. Our lord regent being ofthe ancient opinion of his renowned predecessors, that the greatestvictories are never of such advantage to a conqueror as an honorableand bloodless peace, sends to offer this peace to you at the price ofrestitution. The lives you have rifled from us you cannot restore, butthe noble Lord Douglas, whom you now unjustly detain a prisoner, wedemand; and that you retract those claims on our monarchy, which neverhad existence till ambition begot them on the basest treachery. Grantthese just requisitions, and we lay down our arms; but continue to denythem, and our nations is ready to rise to a man, and with heart andhand avenge the injuries we have sustained. You have wasted our lands,burned our towns, and imprisoned our nobility. Without considerationof age or condition, women, children, and feeble old men haveunresisting fallen by your sword. And why was all this? Did ourconfidence in your honor offend you, that you put our chieftains indurance, and deprived our yeomanry of their lives? Did thebenedictions with which our prelates hailed you as the arbitratorbetween our princes, raise your ire, that you burned their churches,and slew them on the altars? These, O king, were thy deeds, and forthese William Wallace is in arms. But yield us the peace weask--withdraw from our quarters--relinquish your unjust pretensions, andwe shall once more consider Edward of England as the kinsman ofAlexander the Third, and his subjects the friends and allies of ourrealm."
Not in the least moved by this address, Edward contemptuously answered,"Intoxicated by a transitory success, your leader is vain enough tosuppose that he can discomfort the King of England, as he has done hisunworthy officers, by fierce and insolent words; but we are not so weakas to be overthrown by a breath, nor so base as to bear argument from arebel. I come to claim my own, to assert my supremacy over Scotland;and it shall acknowledge its liege lord, or be left a desert, without aliving creature to say, 'This was a kingdom.' Depart, this is myanswer to you; your leader shall receive his at the point of my lance."
Wallace, who did not expect a more favorable reply, ere his embassadorsreturned had marshaled his lines for the onset. Lord Bothwell, withMurray, his valiant son, took the lead on the left wing; Sir EustaceMaxwell and Kirkpatrick commanded on the right. Graham (in whose quickobservation and promptitude to bring it to effect, Wallace placed thefirst confidence) held the reserve behind the woods; and the regenthimself, with Edwin and his brave standard-bearer, occupied the center.Having heard the report of his messengers, he repeated to his troopsthe lines, he exhorted them to remember that on that day the eyes ofall Scotland would be upon them. They were the first of their countrywho had gone forth to meet the tyrant in a pitched battle; and inproportion to the danger they confronted, would be their meed of glory."But it is not for renown merely that you are called upon to fightthis day," said he; "your rights, your homes are at stake. You have nohope of security for your lives but in an unswerving determination tokeep the field, and let the world see how much more might lies in thearms of a few contending for their country and herediatry liberties,than in hosts which seek for blood and spoil. Slavery and freedom liebefore you! Shrink but one backward step, and yourselves are inbondage, your wives become the prey of violence. Be firm--trust Him whoblesses the righteous cause, and victory will crown your arms!"
Though affecting to despise his young opponent, Edward was too good ageneral really to condemn an enemy who had so often proved himselfworthy of respect; and therefore, by declaring his determination to putall the Scottish chieftains to death, and to transfer their estates tohis conquering officers, he stimulated their avarice, as well as loveof fame, and with every passion in arms, they pushed to the combat.
Wallace stood unmoved. Not a bow was drawn till the impetuoussquadrons, in full charge toward the flanks of the Scots, fell into thepits; then it was that the Highland archers on the hill launched theirarrows; the plunging horses were instantly overwhelmed by others whocould not be checked in their career. New showers of darts rained uponthem, and, sticking into their flesh, made them rear and roll upontheir riders; while others, who were wounded, but had escaped the pits,flew back in rage of pain upon the advancing infantry. A confusionensued, so perilous, that the king thought it necessary to precipitatehimself forward, and in person attack the main body of his adversary,which yet stood inactive. Giving the spur to his charger, he orderedhis troops to press on over the struggling heaps before them; and beingobeyed, with much d
ifficulty and great loss, he passed the first rangeof pits; but a second and wider awaited him; and there, seeing his mensink into them by squadrons, he beheld the whole army of Wallace closein upon them. Terrific was now the havoc. The very numbers of theSouthrons, and the mixed discipline of their army, proved its bane. Inthe tumult they hardly understood the orders which were given; and somemistaking them, acted so contrary to the intended movements, thatEdward, galloping from one end of the field to the other, appeared likea frantic man, regardless of every personal danger, so that he couldbut fix others to front the same tempest of death with himself. Hisofficers trembled at every step he took, for fear that some of thesecret pits should ingulf him.
However, the unshrinking courage of their monarch rallied a part of thedistracted army, which, with all the force of desperation, he droveagainst the center of the Scots. But at this juncture, the reserveunder Graham, having turned the royal position, charged him in therear; and the archers redoubling their discharge of artillery, theFlanderkins, who were in the van of Edward, suddenly giving way withcries of terror, the amazed king found himself obliged to retreat, orrun the risk of being taken. He gave a signal--the first of the kind hehad ever sounded in his life-and drawing his English troops around him,after much hard fighting, fell back in tolerable order beyond theconfines of his camp.
The Scots were eager to pursue him, but Wallace checked the motion."Let us not hunt the lion till he stand at bay!" cried he. "He willretire far enough from the Scottish borders, without our leaving thisvantage ground to drive him."
What Wallace said came to pass. Soon no vestige of a Southron soldier,but the dead which strewed the road, was to be seen from side to sideof the wide horizon. The royal camp was immediately seized by thetriumphant Scots; and the tent of King Edward, with its costlyfurniture, was sent to Stirling as a trophy of the victory.