"My
valiant friend," said he, "order your servants to take charge of yon
Scot," pointing to the messenger of Cummin; "and till I command his
release, let him be treated with the lenity which shall ever belong to
a prisoner of Robert Bruce!" As he spoke he threw up his visor; and
Kirkpatrick, who had heard that the supposed De Longueville was his
rightful prince, now recognized the well-known features of the brave
foreigner in the stranger before him. Not doubting the verity of his
words, he bent his knee with the homage due to his king; and in the
action was immediately followed by Sir Eustace Maxwell, Sir James
Lindsay, and Adam Fleming, who were the other knights present.
"I come," cried the prince, "in the spirit of my heart's sovereign and
friend, the now immortal Wallace, to live or to die with you in the
defense of my country's liberties. With such assistance as yours, his
invincible coadjutors, and with the blessing of Heaven on our arms, I
hope to redeem Scotland from the disgrace which her late horrible
submission to the tyrant has fastened on her name. The transgressions
of my house have been grievous; but that last deadly sin of my people
called for an expiation awful indeed! And it came in the moment of
guilt! in their crime they receive punishment.
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