The letters
brought were eagerly opened by Badenoch and his chieftains, and they
found their contents to this effect. She announced to them her
marriage with the lord warden, who was returned into Scotland with
every power for the final subjugation of the country; and therefore she
besought the regent and his council, not to raise a hostile arm against
him if they would not merely escape the indignation of a great king,
but insure his favor. She cast out hints to Badenoch, as if Edward
meant to reward his acquiescence with the crown of Scotland; and with
similar baits, proportioned to the views of all her other kinsmen, she
smoothed their anger against that monarch's former insults persuading
them to at least remain inactive during the last struggle of their
country.
Meanwhile Wallace, taking his course along the banks of the Forth, when
the night drew near, encamped his little army at the base of the
craigs, east of Edinburgh Castle. His march having been long and
rapid, the men were much fatigued, and hardly were laid upon their
heather beds before they fell asleep.
Wallace had learned from his scouts that the main body of the Southrons
had approached within a few miles of Dalkeith.
Pages:
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096