Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/79

 ( 79 ) daughter of Alexander III. These were females, and, according to the law of succession, could not reign. The time, therefore, that the Maid of Norway swayed the sceptre, she usurped, the right of Robert Bruce.. It will readily be granted, that by the present low, which restricts the succession to the oldest of the family, without excluding females, die right of Baliol was preferable to that of Bruce: but not as the law then existed; and by the Law alone con questions of right, which arbus · in that period, he tried. Bat though the right of Bruce was obvious and decided, yet the contest became violent, and the adherents of each: party nuucros- The crafty Edward, however, decided in favour of Baliol, both because he perceived that thro; his flexible character he was a proper instru- ment to effect his fraudulent purposes; and it cause, by giving the crown to him, whose right would certainly in future be disputed another opportunity might be afforded of fo- senting the nation, should he not succeed in subjecting her at present. This short sketch of the history' of his country, and this digression, will tend to exhibit the character of Sir William Wallace in a more conspicuous point of view, and will demonstrate to posterity the nature and quality of those political principles which actuated his conduct, during his long and vigorous struggles for the independence of his native country,