Page:History of Sir William Wallace the renowned Scottish champion (1).pdf/8

 candidate, he next demanded the temporary posses- sion of all the fortresses of the kingdom: which strange to say, were passively yielded into his hands, with the exception of the castles of Dun- dee and Forfar, then held by Gilbert de Um           fraville, who refused compliance with this un- looked-for mandate, unless a written indemnity should be given at the hand of the Scottish no- bles, freeing him from all share of blame. The claim of Baliol was at last, 17th December 1292 declared the preferable one, and that personage having again acknowledged the English king as           his liege lord, was placed by him on the Scottish throne. The insults and degradation to which he was subjected at last roused even the complying spirit of Baliol, and in the bitterness of his soul he           could not help communicating his feelings to the nobles of his court, who, at his instigation, now unanimously disclaimed their hasty allegiance to           the English monarch. “ The silly traitor," ex-           claimed Edward in derision, when Baliol's re-            fusal to attend his summons was communicated            to him, “if he will not come to us we will            him." Edward now entered Scotland with a large ar- my; one stronghold after another yielded to the conqueror; Edinburgh Castle surrendered after