Would not this woman have persuaded you to disgrace the name
of Mar? When my uncle died, did she not urge you to intrigue for that
crown which she knew you had so loyally declined?"
"My errand here," answered Wallace, "is to defend myself, not to accuse
others. I have shown that I am innocent, and my judges will not look
on the proofs. They obey not the laws in their judgment, and whatever
may be the decree, I shall not acknowledge its authority."
As he spoke he turned away, and walked with a firm step out of the hall.
His disappearance gave the signal for a tumult more threatening to the
welfare of the state, than if the armies of Edward had been in the
midst of them. It was brother against brother, friend against friend.
The Lords Lennox, Bothwell, and Loch-awe, were vehement against the
unfairness with which Sir William Wallace bad been treated; Kirkpatrick
declared that no arguments could be used with men so devoid of reason,
and words of reproach and reviling passing on all sides, swords were
fiercely drawn. The Countess of Strathearn seeing herself neglected by
even her friends in the strife, and fearful that the party of Wallace
might at last gain the ascendancy, and that herself, then without her
traitor corslet on her breast, might meet their hasty vengeance, rose
abruptly, and giving her hand to a herald, hurried out of the assembly.
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