Page:Life of Sir William Wallace.pdf/21

 made of it, elegantly mounted with gold, was presented by the earl of Buchan to General Washington, accompanied by a very flattering letter. The box was returned to his Lordship on the General's decease.

After repairing the castle of Stirling, which the Scots had burned in their retreat, Edward marched west, and Bruce, at his approach, burnt the castle of Ayr; but his fleet not arriving with supplies, and the country ill affording the means necessary for subsisting such a numerous body of troops, he was obliged to retire from Scotland. This he did, after taking Bruce's castle at Lochmaben, by the western borders. Edward had no sooner left the country, than the Scots rallied again, and again endeavoured to retrieve their broken fortunes: for all the tract north of the Forth, as also Galloway, was still in their possession. By general consent, William Lamberton, bishop St Andrew's, Robert Bruce, earl of Carrick, and John Cumming, the younger, were chosen guardians of the kingdom, but Wallace was now lost to its cause. Borne down by the jealousy of rival nobles, having lost his personal friends, and disgusted with those who deserted him in the battle of Falkirk, he no longer retained any command in the armies, or influence in the councils of the nation he had freed. The guardians, however, continued the war with various success until the year 1304, when they and their followers having made peace with Edward the whole kingdom submitted to his authority.

By the conditions of the treaty entered into on this occasion, the following were accepted:— Wischeart, bishop of Glasgow, the Steward, Sir John Soulis, David de Graham, Alexander de Lindsay, Simon Fraser, Thomas Bois, and Wallace. The