Page:Life and surprising adventures of that renowned hero, Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/17

 John Cummine of Badenoch and Robert Bruce earl of Carrick, both of the blood royal, and of aspiring dispositions, were afraid that he would at length usurp the sovereignty, and sieze upon the crown, to which they had a just and legal 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 over their enemies, securely cultivated the formerly neglected soil, and dispersed plenty over the land; while at the same time the more powerful nobles, inebriated with envy and jealousy, outwardly professed all the gratitude that was due to the admired at-chievements of their deliverer, but secretly conspired his ruin; in order to effect this, caused rumours to be spread abroad, intimating that he designed to usurp the crown: and that if an usurper must reign, a great and mighty monarch, though a foreigner, was preferable to an upstart of yesterday.

By this time, the formidable army which Edward had left at Flanders, was returned to England; and be to strengthen it by the addition of all the forces