He who disobeys,
sergeant-at-arms, take into custody!' A pause succeeded, and the
chieftain, with god-like majesty of truth, denied the possibility of
being a traitor where he never had owed allegiance. But with a
matchless fearlessness, he avowed the facts alleged against him, which
told the havoc he had made of the English on the Scottish plains, and
the devastations he had afterward wrought in the lands of England. 'It
was a son,' cried he, 'defending the orphans of his father from the
steel and rapine of a treacherous friend! It was the sword of
restitution gathering on that false friend's fields the harvests he had
ravaged from theirs!' He spoke more and nobly--too nobly for them who
heard him. They rose to a man to silence what they could not confute;
and the sentence of death was pronounced on him--the cruel death of a
traitor! The Earl of Gloucester turned pale on his seat, but the
countenance of Wallace was unmoved. As he was led forth, I followed,
and of Wallace was unmoved. As he was led forth, I followed, and saw
the young Le de Spencer, with several other reprobate gallants of our
court, ready to receive him. With shameful mockery they flew laurels
on his head, and with torrents of derision, told him, it was meet they
should so salute the champion of Scotland! Wallace glanced on them a
look which spoke pity rather than contempt, and, with a serene
countenance, he followed the warden toward the Tower.
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