Lady Mar had
now no scrutinizing eye to fear; her nephew Murray was still on duty in
Clydesdale; the earl, her husband, trusted her too implicitly even to
turn on her a suspicious look; and Helen, she contrived, should be as
little in her presence as possible.
Busy, then, as this lady was, the enemies of the regent were not less
active in the prosecution of their plans. The Earl of March had
arrived at Dunbar; and having dispatched his treasonable proposals to
Edward, had received letters from that monarch by sea, accepting his
services, and promising every reward that could satisfy his ambition,
and the cupidity of those whom he could draw over to his cause. The
wary king then told the earl, that if he would send his wife and family
to London, as hostages for his faith, he was ready to bring a mighty
army to Dunbar; and, by that gate, once more enter Scotland. These
negotiations backward and forward from London to Dunbar, and from
Dunbar to the treacherous lords at Stirling, occupied much time; and
the more, as great precaution was necessary to escape the vigilant eyes
of Wallace, which seemed to be present in every part of the kingdom at
once.
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