Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/91

 ( 91 ) Returning from his northern route King Edward spent part of the winter at Dunfern- line, where is an abbey belonging to the Benedictines, one of the most spacious and venerable editices then in Scotland. While residing at this place either by the instigation of their royal master, or by accident, the sol- diers reduced it to ashes. In this august building the Scottish parliament had frequently assembled, to consult measures how to resist the arms and pretensions of Edward; and it is highly probable, that for this reason, it became an object of the destructive fury of the English. But for the accommodation of the monks, the church and some contiguous houses were spared. At an early period, Dunfermline became a royal residence; Malcolm Canmore usually resided in a tower or castle, built on a penin- sulated hill, in a valley near the town. A palace was afterwards built, not far from the town, in a most romantic situation; and the south- west wall has still escaped the wreck of time and the hand of accident, and exhibits what was once the magnificence of the structure. -- The abbey, which fell a sacrifice at this time, was very ancient, and very richly endowed, and derived its revenue from different parts of the kingdom Dunfermline has long been distinguished for its excellent table-linen and other cloths. In the chest of the incorporation of weavers,. is preserved a curious specimen of the weaving it, viz. a man's shirt, wrought in the loom, up.