But there yet
lives a prince, a descendant of the royal heroes of Scotland, whom
Providence may conduct to be your preserver. Reject the proposals of
Edward, dare to defend the freedom you now possess, and that prince
will soon appear to crown your patriotism with glory and happiness!"
"We acknowledge no prince but King Edward of England!" cried Buchan.
"His countenance our glory, his presence our happiness!"
The exclamation was reiterated by a most disgraceful majority on the
ground. Wallace was transfixed.
"Then," cried Le de Spencer in the first pause of the tumult, "to every
man, woman, and child throughout the realm of Scotland, excepting Sir
William Wallace, I proclaim, in the name of King Edward, pardon and
peace."
At these words several hundred Scottish chieftains dropped on their
knees before Le de Spencer, and murmured their vows of fealty.
Indignant, grieved, Wallace took his helmet from his head, and throwing
his sword into the hand of Bothwell, "That weapon," cried he, "which I
wrested from this very King Edward, and with which I twice drove him
from our borders, I give it to you. In your hands it may again serve
Scotland, I relinquish a soldier's name, on the spot where I humbled
England three times in one day, where I now see my victorious country
deliver herself, bound, into the grasp of the vanquished! I go without
sword or buckler from this dishonored field, and what Scot, my public
or private enemy, will dare to strike the unguarded head of William
Wallace?" As he spoke, he threw his shield and helmet to the ground,
and leaping from the war-carriage, took his course, with a fearless and
dignified step, through the parting ranks of his enemies, who,
awe-struck, or kept in check by a suspicion that others might not
second the attack they would have made on him, durst not lift an arm or
breathe a word as he passed.
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