My lord
the king having heard by letters from my brother-in-law, the Earl de
Warenne, of the honorable manner with which you treated the English
whom the fate of battle threw into your power, his majesty, instead of
sending over from Flanders a mighty army to overwhelm this rebellious
kingdom, has deputed me, even as an embassador, to reason with the
rashness he is ready to pardon. Also, with this diadem," continued the
earl, drawing a circlet of jewels from the casket, "which my brave
sovereign tore from the brows of a Saracen prince, on the ramparts of
Acre, he sends the assurance of his regard for the heroic virtues of
his enemy. And to these jewels, he will add a more efficient crown, if
Sir William Wallace will awake from this trance of false enthusiasm,
and acknowledge, as he is in duty bound to do, the supremacy of England
over this country. Speak but the word, noblest of Scots," added the
earl, "and the bishop of Durham has orders from the generous Edward
immediately to anoint you king of Scotland-that done, my royal master
will support you in your throne against every man who may dare in
dispute your authority."
At these words Wallace rose from his seat.
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