Page:Life and adventures of Sir William Wallace, General and Governor of Scotland (2).pdf/5

SIR WILLIAM WALLACE in Scotland, and to have intercepted ſome ſtrengths) at the meeting of Norham, king Edward dealt ſecretly, and by fit agents, with the ſtates of Scotland, for ſhanning imminent dangers, to become his ſubjects; he, being deſcended of King David's ſiſter, and ſo but two degrees further from the crown of Scotland than Bruce or Baliol were. This being flatly refuſed by all, he betook him to his other deſign. And first dealt ſecretly with Robert Bruce, promiſing to diſcern in his favours, if he would take the crown of Scotland holden of him, and do him homage for it. But he ſtoutly refuſed to ſubject a free nation to any overt lord; whereupon king Edward called for John Baliol, who, knowing that he was not ſo much favoured of the States of Scotland, eaſily condeſcended to king Edward's deſire, and was by him declared King of Scotland; the States, deſirous of peace, conveyed him to Scoon, where he was crowned, anno 1291, and all, except Bruce, ſwore obedience to him. Thereafter Duncan Macduff, earl of Fife, was killed by lord Abernethy, (a man of great power in thoſe times, allied both with the Cummings and Baliol;) the earl's brother, finding the King partial in the adminiſtration of juſtice, ſummoned him to compear before the King of England in parliament; where being preſent, and ſitting beſide King Edward, (after he had done him homage) when he was called upon, thought to answer by a procurator; but he was forced to riſe, and ſtand at the bar. This indignity grieved him greatly, he reſolved to free himſelf of this bondage. At the ſame time war breaking out between England and France, king Edward ſent ambaſſadors to the parliament of Scotland to ſend aid to him, as now being their over-lord. There came alſo other ambaſſadors from France, deſiring the ancient league to be renewed. The King and the States of Scotland renewed the league with France, which had remained, inviolably kept, for the ſpace of 500 years before. The king of England's ſuit was rejected, becauſe the pretended ſurrender and homage, was made by John Baliol privately, without the conſent of the parliament. A marriage was alſo concluded betwixt prince Edward Baliol, and a daughter of Charles, earl of Valois, brother to the French king Philip. Edward having foreſeen all theſe things, had drawn Robert Bruce, earl of Carrick, with his friends, (enemies to Baliol) and divers, noblemen of Scotland, who held lands