He
then craved his majesty's pardon for having been betrayed into a union
with such conspirators; and repeating his hope that the restitution he
now made, in thus showing the royal hand where to find its last
opponent, would give full conviction of his penitence and duty. He
closed his letter by urging the king to take instant and effectual
measures to disable Bruce from disturbing the quiet of Scotland, or
ever again disputing his regal claims!
Gloucester happened to be in the presence when this epistle was
delivered in and read by his majesty. On the suit of his daughter,
Edwin had been reconciled to his son-in-law; but when he showed him the
contents of Cummin's letter, with a suspicious smile he said in a loud
voice, "In case you should know this new rebel's lurking-place, presume
not to leave this room till he is brought before me. See to your
obedience, Ralph, or your head shall follow Wallace's."
The king instantly withdrew, and the earl, aware that search would be
made through all his houses, sought in his own mind for some expedient
to apprise Bruce of his danger. To write in the presence=chamber was
impossible; to deliver a message in a whisper would be hazardous--for
most of the surrounding courtiers, seeing the frown with which the king
had left the apartment, marked the commands he gave the marshal: "Be
sure that the Earl of Gloucester quits not this room till I return.
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