Bothwell entered with
ardor into these designs, and regretted that the difficulty he found in
persuading the veterans of Lanark to follow him to any field where they
did not expect to find their beloved Wallace, had deprived him of the
participation of the late danger and new glory of his friend.
"To compensate for that privation," replied Wallace, "while our prince
is disabled from pursuing victory in his own person, we must not allow
our present advantages to lose their expected effects. You shall
accompany me through the Lowlands, where we must recover the places
which the ill-fortune of James Cummin has lost."
Murray gladly embraced this opportunity of again sharing the field with
Wallace, and the chiefs joined Bruce. Bothwell was presented to his
young sovereign, and Douglas entering, the discourse turned on their
different posts of duty. Wallace suggested to his royal friend, that
as his restoration to health could not be so speedy as the cause
required, it would be necessary not to await that event, but begin the
recovery of the border counties before Edward could reinforce their
garrisons. Bruce sighed; but with a generous glow suffusing his pale
face, said:
"Go, my friend! Bless Scotland which way you will, and let my ready
acquiescence convince future ages, that I love my country beyond my own
fame; for her sake I relinquish to you the whole glory of delivering
her out of the hands of the tyrant who has so long usurped my rights.
Pages:
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029