He knew not bow to act, but a letter from Lady
Strathearn decided him.
Though partly triumphant in her charges, yet the accusations of
Bothwell had disconcerted her; and though the restoration of Wallace to
his undisputed authority in the state; seemed to her next to
impossible, still she resolved to take another step, to confirm her
influence over the discontented of her country, and most likely to
insure the vengeance she panted to bring upon her victim's head. To
this end, on the very evening that she retreated in terror from the
council hall, she set forward to the borders; and, easily passing
thence to the English camp (then pitched at Alnwick), was soon admitted
to the castle, where De Warenne lodged. She was too well taught in the
school of vanity not to have remarked the admiration with which that
earl had regarded her while he was a prisoner in Stirling; and, hoping
that he might not be able to withstand the persuasion of her charms,
she opened her mission with no less art than effect. De Warren was
made to believe, that on the strength of a passion Wallace had
conceived for her, and which she treated with disdain, he had repented
of his former refusal of the crown of Scotland; and, misled by a hope
that she would not repeat her rejection of his hand could it present
her a scepter, he was now attempting to compass that dignity by the
most complicated intrigues.
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