Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/84

 ( 84 ) Pat, to his astonishment, while he was thus Ahrestening, and hesitating in his measures a message from his Holiness arrived, command- ing him to d part immedintely from Scotlarid; because this kingdom, instead of belonging to the crown of England, was a fief belonging to the papa! see. This chim, though not al- mitted by Edward, produced a truce between the contrading parmes, which appears to liave been suiticiently sea unable to ull concerned. The Faciish parilument having acceded to La truce with the Scots, began seriously to route the clainis sahe Pope, and of the Seytish lation. These labours ware buih tedious and severe; but they were absolutely necessary, if not to convince the Holy Father of the grondless pature of his claim, yet to satisfy the English clergy, and the rest of Duward's subjects, that he was not impiously rising in Yebellion against the father of the Christian world; or sacriligiousiy violating the rights of the church. Aided by his parliament, Edward made answer to the claims of Rome, and to the assertions and reasonings upon which these were founded, by assertions not less hold than fallacious, and by reasonings equaliy weak and inconclusive. This important work being finished, he waited with great impatience for the expiring of the truce, but with the deter- mined resolution to invade Scotland, and not to retur until he had completed his conquest of that kingdom..!!e entered Lothian about the