He was obeyed; and, standing on an adjacent mound, in an awful
voice he proclaimed that "whoever had not been accomplices in the
horrible massacre of the Scottish chiefs, if they would ground their
arms, and take an oath never to serve again against Scotland, their
lives should be spared."
Hundreds of swords fell to the ground; and their late holders, kneeling
at his feet, took the oath perscribed. At the head of those who
surrendered appeared the captain who had commanded at the prison. He
was the only officer of all the late garrison who survived, all else
had fallen in the conflict or perished in the flames; and when he saw
that not one of his late numerous companions existed to go through the
same humiliating ceremony, with an aghast countenance he said to
Wallace, as he presented his sword, "Then I must believe that, with
this weapon, I am surrendering to Sir William Wallace the possession of
this castle and the government of Ayr. I see not one of my late
commanders-all must be slain; and for me to hold out longer would be to
sacrifice my men, not to redeem that which has been so completely
wrested from us. But I serve severe exactors, and I hope that your
testimony, my conqueror, will assure my king that I fought as became
his standard.
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