Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/54

 ( 54 ) " Thus, says Fordun, did Scotland, by the wonderful conduct and vigilance of its guardian, enjoy peace in the midst of war, and the people, guarded by repeated victories over their ene- mies, securely cultivated the formerly neglected soil, and dispersed- pienty over the land; while, at the same time, the more powerful nobles, inebriated with envy and jealousy, outwardly professed all the gratitude that was due to the admired achievements of their deliverer, but secretly conspired his ruin; and in order to effect this caused rumours to be spread abroad, intimating that he designed to usurp the crown: and that is an ustper must reign, a great and might naarch though a foreigner, was pre- ferable to an art of yesterday," The fatal acts of these envious contentions upon the general good, oh easily be perceived The veteran ara which Edward had in Fian- ders, we returned; and strengthened by all the forces that England, Ireland, and Wales could produce. To render himself the more formidable.' Edward bad amply gratified the wishes of his nobles, so that they marched with him against the Scots both with alacrity and courage. When his army was mustered at Roxburgb, it'amounted to three thousand select horsemen, and about eighty thousand. foot. To oppose this mighty force, Wallace Had not above thirty thousand, both horses and foot; but in such a high state of discipline, and animated with such patriotic ardour, that they would certainly have withstood the enemy. If