He believed him a
hypocrite, and as such despised and abhorred him.
While Athol marshaled his rebellious ranks, some to follow his broad
treason in the face of day, and others to lurk behind, and delude the
intrusted council left in Stirling; Wallace led forth his loyal chiefs
to take their stations at the heads of their different clans. Sir
Alexander Scrymgeour, with the proudest expectations for Scotland,
unfurled his golden standard to the sun. The Lords Loch-awe and
Bothwell, with others, rode on the right of the regent. Lord Andrew
Murray, with the brave Sir John Graham, and a bevy of young knights,
kept the ground on his left. Wallace looked around; Edwin was far
away, and he felt but half appointed when wanting his youthful
swordbearer. That faithful friend did not even know of the threatened
hostility; for to have intimated to Lord Ruthven a danger he could not
assist to repel, would have inflamed his disorder by anxiety, and
perhaps hurried him to dissolution.
As the regent moved forward with these private affections checkering
his public cares, his heralds blew the trumpets of his approach, and a
hundred embattled clans appeared in the midst of the plain, awaiting
their valiant leaders.
Pages:
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748