The Scottish Chiefs
Chapter LXVI.
The Louvre.
These preliminaries of lasting friendship being arranged, and sworn toby Philip, Wallace dispatched a messenger to Scotland, to Lord Ruthven,at Huntingtower, informing him of the present happy dispositions withregard to Scotland. He made particular inquiries respecting the stateof the public mind; and declared his intention not to introduce Bruceamongst the cabals of his chieftains until he knew exactly how theywere all disposed. Some weeks passed before a reply to this letterarrived. During the time, the health of Helen, which had been muchimpaired by the sufferings inflicted on her by De Valence, graduallyrecovered, and her beauty became as much the admiration of the Frenchnobles as her meek dignity was of their respect. A new scene ofroyalty presented itself in this gay court to Wallace, for all waspageant and chivalric gallantry; but it had no other effect on him thanthat of exciting those benevolent affections which rejoiced in theinnocent gayeties of his fellow-beings. His gravity was not that of acynic. Though hilarity never awakened his mind to buoyant mirth, yethe loved to see it in others, and smiled when others laughed.
With a natural superiority, which looked over these court pastimes toobjects of greater moment, Bruce merely endured them; but it was withan urbanity congenial with his friend's, and while the princes ofFrance were treading the giddy mazes of the dance, or tilting at eachother in the mimic war of the tournament, the Prince of Scotland, whoexcelled in all these exercises, left the field of gallantryundisputed, and moved an uninterested spectator in the splendid scene,talking with Wallace or with Helen on events which yet lay in fate, andwhose theater would be the field of his native land. So accustomed hadthe friends now been to share their thoughts with Lady Helen, that theyimparted to her their plans, and listened with pleasure to her timidyet judicious remarks. Her soul was inspired with the same zeal forScotland which animated their own breasts; like Bruce's it was ardent;but, like Wallace's, it was tempered with a moderation which, givingher foresight, freed her opinion from the hazard of rashness. What hepossessed by the suggestions of genius, or had acquired by experience,she learned from love. It taught her to be careful for the safety ofWallace; and while she saw that his life must often be put in peril forScotland, her watchful spirit, with an eagle's ken, perceived and gavewarning where his exposure might incur danger without adequateadvantage.
The winds of this season of the year being violent and often adverse.Wallace's messenger did not arrive at his destined port in Scotlandtill the middle of November, and the January of 1299 had commencedbefore his returning bark entered the mouth of the Seine.
Wallace was alone, with Grimsby, opening the door, announced Sir EdwinRuthven. In a moment the friends were locked in each other's arms.Edwin, straining Wallace to his heart, reproached him in affectionateterms for having left him behind; but while he spoke, joy shone throughthe tears which hung on his eyelids, and with the smiles of fraternallove, again and again he kissed his friend's hand, and pressed it tohis bosom. Wallace answered his glad emotions with similardemonstrations of affection, and when the agitations of their meetingwere subdued, he learned from Edwin that he had left the messenger atsome distance on the road, so impatient was he to embrace his friendagain, and to congratulate his dear cousin on her escape.
Edwin answered the anxious inquiries of Wallace respecting his country,by informing him that Badenoch, having arrogated to himself the supremepower in Scotland, had determined to take every advantage of the lastvictory gained over King Edward. In this resolution he was supportedby the Lords Athol, Buchan, and Soulis, who were returned, full ofindignation from the Court of Durham. Edward removed to London; andBadenoch, soon hearing that he was preparing other armies for thesubjugation of Scotland, sent embassadors to the Vatican to solicit thePope's interference. Flattered by this appeal, Boniface wrote a letterto Edward, exhorting him to refrain from Further oppressing a countryover which he had no lawful power. Edward's answer was full ofartifice and falsehood, every good principle, and declaring hisdetermination to consolidate Great Britain into one kingdom, or to makethe northern part one universal grave.** Wallace sighed as he listened.
**Both these curious letters are extant in Hollingshed.
"Ah! my dear Edwin," said he, "how just is the observation, that thealmost total neglect of truth and justice, which the generality ofstatesmen discover in their transactions with each other, is anunaccountable to reason as it is dishonorable and ruinous! It is onesource of the misery of the human race--a misery in which millions areinvolved, without any compensation; for it seldom happens that thisdishonesty contributes ultimately even to the interests of the princeswho thus basely sacrifice their integrity to their ambition. Butproceed, my friend."
"The speedy consequence of this correspondence," Edwin continued, "wasa renewal of hostilities against Scotland. Badenoch took Sir SimonFraser as his colleague in military duty, and a stout resistance for alittle while was made on the borders; but Berwick soon became the preyof Lord Percy, and the brave Lord Dundaff was killed defending thecitadel. Many other places fell, and battles were fought, in which theEnglish were everywhere victorious; for," added Edwin, "none of yourgenerals would draw a sword under the command of Badenoch; and, alarmedat these disasters, the Bishop of Dunkeld is gone to Rome, to entreatthe Pope to order your return. The Southrons are advancing intoScotland in every direction. They have landed again on the easterncoast; they have possessed themselves of all the border counties; andwithout your Heaven-anointed arm to avert the blow, our country must beirretrievably lost."
Edwin had brought letters from Ruthven and the young Earl of Bothwell,which none particularly narrated these ruinous events, to enforce everyargument to Wallace for his return. They gave it as their opinion,however, that he must revisit Scotland under an assumed name. Did hecome openly, the jealousy of the Scottish lords would be reawakened,and the worst of them might put a finishing stroke to their country bytaking him off by assassination or poison. Ruthven and Bothwell,therefore, entreated that, as it was his wisdom as well as his valortheir country required, he would hasten to Scotland, and condescend toserve her unrecognized till Bruce should be established on the throne.
While Edwin was conducted to the apartments of Lady Helen, Wallace tookthese letters to his prince. On Bruce being informed of thecircumstances in which his country lay, and of the wishes of its mostvirtuous chiefs for his accession to the crown, he assented to theprudence of their advice with regard to Wallace. "But," added he, "ourfortunes must be in every respect, as far as we can mold them, thesame. While you are to serve Scotland under a cloud, so will I. Atthe moment Bruce is proclaimed King of Scotland, Wallace shall bedeclared its bravest friend. We will go together--as brothers, if youwill!" continued he. "I am already considered by the French nobilityas Thomas de Longueville; you may personate the Red Reaver; Scotlanddoes not yet know that he was slain; and the reputation of his valorand a certain nobleness in his wild warfare having placed him, in theestimation of our shores, rather in the light of one of their ownisland sea-kings than in that of his real character--a gallant, thoughfierce pirate--the aid of his name would bring no evil odor to ourjoint appearance. But were you to wear the title you bear here, aquarrel might ensue between Philip and Edward, which I perceive theformer is not willing should occur openly. Edward must deem it abreach of their amity did his brother-in-law permit a French prince toappear in arms against him in Scotland; but the Reaver being consideredin England as outlawed by France, no surprise can be excited that heand his brother should fight against Philip's ally. We will, then,assume their characters; and I shall have the satisfaction of servingfor Scotland before I claim her as my own. When we again drive Edwardover the boarders, on that day we will throw off our visors, and SirWilliam Wallace shall place the crown on my head."
Wallace could not but approve the dignity of mind which thesesentiments displayed. In the same situation they would have been hisown; and he sought not, from any motive of policy, to dissuade Brucefrom
a delicacy of conduct which drew him closer to his heart.Sympathy of tastes is a pleasant attraction; but congeniality ofprinciples is the cement of souls. This Wallace felt in his new-bornfriendship with Bruce; and though his regard for him had none of thatfostering tenderness with which he loved to contemplate the bloomingvirtues of the youthful Edwin, yet it breathed every endearment arisingfrom a perfect equality in heart and mind. It was the true fraternaltie; and while he talked with him on the fulfillment of theirenterprise, he inwardly thanked Heaven for blessing him so abundantly.He had found a son in Edwin; a brother, and a tender sister in thenoble Bruce and lovely Helen.
Bruce received Edwin with a welcome which convinced the before anxiousyouth that he met a friend, rather than a rival, in the heart ofWallace. And every preliminary being settled by the three friendsrespecting their immediate return to Scotland, they repaired to Philip,to inform him of Lord Ruthven's dispatches and their consequentresolutions.
The king liked all they said, excepting their request to be permittedto take an early leave of his court. He urged them to wait the returnof a second embassador he had sent to England. Immediately onWallace's arrival, Philip had dispatched a request to the English king,that he would grant the Scots the peace which was their right. Notreceiving any answer, he sent another messenger with a more categoricaldemand. The persevered hostilities of Edward against Scotlandexplained the delay; but the king yet hoped for a favorable reply, andmade such entreaties to Bruce and his friend to remain in Paris till itshould arrive, that they at last granted a reluctant consent.
At the end of a week, the embassador returned with a conciliatoryletter to Philip; but, affirming Edward's right to Scotland, declaredhis determination never to lay down his arms till he had again broughtthe whole realm under his scepter.
Wallace and his royal friend now saw no reason for lingering in France;and having visited the young De Longueville at Chartres, they apprisedhim of their intention to still further borrow his name. "We will notdisgrace it," cried Bruce; "I promised to return it to you, a theme foryour country's minstrels." When the friends rose to depart, the braveand youthful penitent grasped their hands: "You go, valiant Scots, tocover with a double glory, in the field of honor, a name which myunhappy brother Guy dyed deep in his own country's blood! The tears Iweep before this cross for his and my transgressions have obtained memercy; and your design is an earnest to me from Him who hung on thissacred tree, that my brother also is forgiven."
At an early hour next day, Wallace and Bruce took leave of the Frenchking. The queen kissed Helen affectionately, and whispered, while shetied a jeweled collar round her neck, that when she returned, she hopedto add to it the coronet of Gascony. Helen's only reply was a sigh,and her eyes turned unconsciously on Wallace. He was clad in a plainsuit of black armor, with a red plume in his helmet--the ensign of theReaver, whose name he had assumed. All of his former habit that he nowwore about him, was the sword which he had taken from Edward. At themoment Helen looked toward Wallace, Prince Louis was placing across-hilted dagger in his girdle. "My deliverer," said he, "wear thisfor the sake of the descendant of St. Louis. It accompanied that holyking through all his wars in Palestine. It twice saved him from theassassin's steel; and I pray Heaven it may prove as faithful to you."**
**The author was shown the dagger of Wallace by a friend. It was ofvery strong but simple workmanship, and could be used as a knife aswell as a weapon.
Soon after this, Douglas and Cummin entered, to pay their partingrespects to the king; and that over, Wallace taking Helen by the hand,led her forth, followed by Bruce and his friends.
At Havre, they embarked for the Frith of Tay; and a favorable gatedriving them through the straits of Calais, they launched out into thewide ocean.