But
Wallace's astonishment was only for a moment; he now saw with an eye
that pierced through the souls of the whole assembly, and, with
collected firmness, he replied; "My witnesses are in the bosom of every
Scotsman."
"I cannot find them in mine," interrupted Athol.
"Nor in mine!" was echoed from various parts of the hall.
"Invalidate the facts brought against you by legal evidence, not a mere
rhetorical appeal, Sir William Wallace," added the regent, "else the
sentence of the law must be passed on so tacit an acknowledgment of
guilt."
AAcknowledgment of guilt!" cried Wallace, with a flush of god-like
indignation suffusing his noble brow. "If any one of the chiefs who
have just spoken knew the beat of an honest heart, they would not have
declared that they heard no voice proclaim the integrity of William
Wallace. Let them look out on yon carse, where they saw me refuse that
crown, offered by themselves, which my accuser alleges I would yet
obtain by their blood. Let them remember the banks of the Clyde, where
I rejected the Scottish throne offered me by Edward! Let these facts
bear witness for me; and, if they be insufficient, look on Scotland,
now, for the third time, rescued by my arm from the grasp of a usurper!
That scroll locks the door of the kingdom upon her enemies.
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