" As he
spoke he threw the capitulation of Berwick on the table. It struck a
pause into the minds of the lords; they gazed with pallid countenances,
and without a word, on the parchment where it lay, while he proceeded:
"If my actions that you see, do not convince you of my integrity, then
believe the unsupported evidence of words, the tale of a woman, whose
mystery, were it not for the memory of the honorable man whose name she
once bore, I would publicly unravel--believe her! and leave Wallace
naught of his country to remember, but that he has served it, and that
it is unjust!"
"Noblest of Scots!" cried Loch-awe, coming toward him, "did your
accuser come in the shape of an angel of light, still we believe your
life in preference to her testimony, for God himself speaks on your
side. 'My servants,' he declares, 'shall be known by their fruits!'
And have not yours been peace to Scotland and good-will to men?"
"They are the serpent-folds of his hypocrisy!" cried-Athol, alarmed at
the awe-struck looks of the assembly.
"They are the baits by which he cheats fools!" re-echoed Soulis.
"They are snares, which shall catch us no more!" was now the general
acclamation; and in proportion to the transitory respect which had made
them bow, but for a moment, to virtue, they now vociferated their
center both of Wallace and this his last achievement.
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