Page:Life and surprising adventures of Sir William Wallace.pdf/17

 17 John Cumide of Badenoch, and Robert Bruce earl of Carrick, both of the blood royal, and both of aſpiring diſpoſitions, were afraid that he would at length uſurp the ſovereignity, and ſeize upon the crown, to which they had a juſt and le- gal title. Theſe conſiderations made the one join openly with the enemy, and the other to act but faintly againſt him. Thus did Scotland, by the wonderful conduct and vigilance of its guardian, enjoy peace in the midſt of war, and the people, guarded by repeated victories o- ver their enemies, ſecurely cultivated the formerly neglected foil, and diſperſed plenty over the land; while at the ſame time, the more powerful nobles, inebri- ated with envy and jealouſy, outwardly profeſſed all the gratitude that was due to the admired atchievements of their deliverer, but ſecretly conſpired his ruin, and in order to effect this, cauſed rum- ours to be ſpread abroad, intimating, that he deſigned to uſurp the crown: and that if an uſurper muſt reign, a great and mighty monarch, tho' a foreigner, was preferable to an upſtart of yeſterday. By this time, the formidable army which Edward had left in Flanders, was returned to England; and he to ſtrength en it by the addition of all the forces