Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/69

 ( 69 ) however, prevailed. The Scots insisted upon the pres necessities of their government: Edward, upon the sallmn dispensation of the Pope, to whom all the princes in Christendon were boued to yield submission. The must powerful motive to obtain the young queen was, accommodating her father with a large loan, and grauifying the avarice of the principal Norwegian courtiers. Accordingly, the King no way entrusted his daughter to the care of the Scottish and the English ambassadors, Iohad come to convey he home. But the fond hopes of the Scots, and the ambitious projects of Edward, w.re alike frust- rated. Naturally veak and tender, the child sickened at sea; was carried on shore on the Orkneys, and there languished and died.-- Alarming, and distressing beyond measure, were the tidings of her death to all the inhabi- tants of Scotland. The prospect was now dark and gloomy; and they perceived in full view, a disputed succession, intestine discord, and unavoidable war with England. The death of their infant queen bereft them of the surest pledge of tranquility and peace. It will be difficult to find in history, the death of any one person attended with more fatal consequences, than hat of this infant queen. The extinction of the royal line in favour of Alexander, left the throne exposed to the claims of so any heirs. that the varying and undefined nature of feudal laws, could er in an easy inaner define to whom the right be- longed