Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/116

 ( 116 ) 1805, he was brought on horseback to West minster, accompanied by several knights the milyor, sherriff's, and aldermen of the city, with miny other persons of eminence and rank; in presence of all whom, lie was placed on the south bench of the great hall; and either be- cause they wished the people to believe that he Fund'pired to the Crown of Scotland, or because it was reported that he said he deserved to wear a crown there, they erowned him, in derision, with laurel, while Sir Peter Nialory, The Chief Fastice, impeached him of treasom. To this charge 'he boldly replied, " That 2 trdor he never as, nor could be, to the hind of Erland." Tire other erines for which he was stieteil, as burning of towns, storming of 'castles, Hilling the English, and others of a sinitar bater, he frankly acknowledsell: But denied that they were crtines, amees mistakon yalty ta kis natural sovereign, with demence to wiem, and in whose name he ever actel, together with meat for the just rights and fiber- dies of his native country by the community of which he was created a magistrate, and the resisting the encroachments of a foreign go- vernment and a tyrannical usurpation, could deserve to be branded with that odious name. BUT innocence becomes guilt at the bar of envy. These heroic virtues were declared capital crimes; and though the prisoner had never acknowledged, nor submitted to the laws of