Ill deeds must
sometimes be done; but we do not emblazon their perpetrators!"
De Valence having received his credentials, sent Haliburton (a Scottish
prisoner, who bought his liberty too dear by such an embassage) to
impart to Sir John Monteith the King of England's approval. Monteith
was then castellan of Newark, where he had immured himself for many
months, under a pretense of the reopening of old wounds; but the fact
was his treasons were connected with so many accomplices that he feared
some disgraceful disclosure, and therefore kept out of the way of
exciting public attention. Avarice was his master passion; and the
sudden idea that there might be treasure in the iron box, which,
unwitting of such a thought at the time, he had consigned to Wallace,
first bound him a sordid slave. His murmurs for having allowed the box
to leave his possession, gave the alarm which caused the disasters at
Ellerslie, and his own immediate arrest. He was then sent a prisoner
to Cressingham at Stirling; but in his way thither he made his escape,
though only to fall into the hands of Soulis. That inhuman chief
threatened to return him to his dungeons; and to avoid such a
misfortune, Monteith engaged in the conspiracy to bring Lady Helen from
the priory to the arms of this monster.
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