"
When Wallace and his weeping train separated, at the foot of Falkirk
Hill, he was met by his veterans of Lanark; who, having heard of what
had passed in the citadel, advanced to him with one voice, to declare
that they never would fight under any other commander. "Wherever you
are, my faithful friends," returned he, "you shall still obey my word."
When he entered the monastery, the opposition that was made to his
resignation of the regency, by the Bishop of Dunkeld, Lord Loch-awe,
and others, was so vehement, so persuasive, that had not Wallace been
steadily principled not to involve his country in domestic war, he must
have yielded to the affectionate eloquence of their pleading. But
showing to them the public danger attendant on his provoking the wild
ambition of the Cummins, and their multitudinous adherents, his
arguments, which the sober judgment of his friends saw conclusive, at
last ended the debate. He then rose, saying, "I have yet to perform my
vow to our lamented Mar. I shall seek his daughter; and then, my brave
companions, you shall hear of me, and, I trust, see me again!"
Chapter LVI.
The Monastery.
It being Lady Ruthven's wish that the remains of her brother should be
entombed with his ancestors, preparations were made for the mournful
cavalcade to set forth toward Braemar Castle.
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