Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/64

 ( 64 ) to return to the history of Scotland in his days, and her connection with England and the neigh- bouring kingdoms. It has already been mentioned, that Alexander III. was the last of a succession of princes who had swayed the Scottish sceptre, during the long space of eight hundred years, and that he left his crown to bis grand-daughter Margaret of Norway. She being but an infant and at the time of her grandfather's death, in a foreign country, a convention of the Estates of Parlia- ment was convened at Scone, and the immedi- ate government of the kingdom committed to the administration of six regents; William Frazer, Bishop of St Andrew's, Duncan, Earl of Fife, Alexander, Earl of Buchan, Robert Wisheart, Bishop of Glasgow, John Cumming. Lord of Badenoch, and James the Stewart of Scotland. Scone was the ancient residence of the kings of Scotland; and here the coronation of their kings took place at that period upon a stone which was considered as the sacred palladium of liberty. The following curious history is given of this stone: It was said to have been the pillow of Jacob! and was afterwards trans- ported to Spain, where it was used as a scat of justice by Gathelus, a contemporary of Moses ! It afterwards found it. way to the palace of Dunstange, and continued there as the con tomation chair of the Pictish kings, until en Pe. Il removed it to Scene where it remained, and continued to be used as the coronation scat of every Scottish moarelt, till the year 1296.