In Freedom's Cause : A Story of Wallace and Bruce Page 3

  Chapter III

  Sir William Wallace

  Archie's coming had been expected by Sir Robert Gordon, and he waswarmly welcomed. He had once or twice a year paid short visits tothe house, but his mother could not bring herself to part with himfor more than a few days at a time; and so long as he needed onlysuch rudiments of learning as were deemed useful at the time, sheherself was fully able to teach them; but now that the time had comewhen it was needful that he should be perfected in the exercisesof arms, she felt it necessary to relinquish him.

  Sir Robert Gordon had no children of his own, and regarded hisnephew as his heir, and had readily undertaken to provide him withthe best instruction which could be obtained in Lanark. There wasresident in the town a man who had served for many years in thearmy of the King of France, and had been master of arms in hisregiment. His skill with his sword was considered marvellous byhis countrymen at Lanark, for the scientific use of weapons was asyet but little known in Scotland, and he had also in several trialsof skill easily worsted the best swordsmen in the English garrison.

  Sir Robert Gordon at once engaged this man as instructor to Archie.As his residence was three miles from the town, and the lad urgedthat two or three hours a day of practice would by no means satisfyhim, a room was provided, and his instructor took up his abode inthe castle. Here, from early morning until night, Archie practised,with only such intervals for rest as were demanded by his masterhimself. The latter, pleased with so eager a pupil, astonished atfirst at the skill and strength which he already possessed, andseeing in him one who would do more than justice to all pains thathe could bestow upon him, grudged no labour in bringing him forwardand in teaching him all he knew.

  "He is already an excellent swordsman," he said at the end ofthe first week's work to Sir Robert Gordon; "he is well nigh asstrong as a man, with all the quickness and activity of a boy. Instraightforward fighting he needs but little teaching. Of the finerstrokes he as yet knows nothing; but such a pupil will learn asmuch in a week as the ordinary slow blooded learner will acquirein a year. In three months I warrant I will teach him all I know,and will engage that he shall be a match for any Englishman northof the Tweed, save in the matter of downright strength; that he willget in time, for he promises to grow out into a tall and stalwartman, and it will need a goodly champion to hold his own againsthim when he comes to his full growth."

  In the intervals of pike and sword play Sir Robert Gordon himselfinstructed him in equitation; but the lad did not take to this sokindly as he did to his other exercises, saying that he hoped heshould always have to fight on foot. Still, as his uncle pointedout that assuredly this would not be the case, since in battleknights and squires always fought on horseback, he strove hard toacquire a firm and steady seat. Of an evening Archie sat with hisuncle and aunt, the latter reading, the former relating stories ofScotch history and of the goings and genealogies of great families.Sometimes there were friends staying in the castle; for Sir RobertGordon, although by no means a wealthy knight, was greatly liked,and, being of an hospitable nature, was glad to have guests in thehouse.

  Their nearest neighbour was Mistress Marion Bradfute of Lamington,near Ellerslie. She was a young lady of great beauty. Her father hadbeen for some time dead, and she had but lately lost her mother,who had been a great friend of Lady Gordon. With her lived ascompanion and guardian an aunt, the sister of her mother.

  Mistress Bradfute, besides her estate of Lamington, possesseda house in Lanark; and she was frequently at Sir Robert's castle,he having been named one of her guardians under her father's will.Often in the evening the conversation turned upon the situationof Scotland, the cruelty and oppression of the English, and thechances of Scotland some day ridding herself of the domination.

  Sir Robert ever spoke guardedly, for he was one who loved not strife,and the enthusiasm of Archie caused him much anxiety; he often,therefore, pointed out to him the madness of efforts of isolatedparties like those of Wallace, which, he maintained, advanced inno way the freedom of the country, while they enraged the Englishand caused them to redouble the harshness and oppression of theirrule. Wallace's name was frequently mentioned, and Archie alwaysspoke with enthusiasm of his hero; and he could see that, althoughMistress Bradfute said but little, she fully shared his views. Itwas but natural that Wallace's name should come so often forward,for his deeds, his hairbreadth escapes, his marvellous personalstrength and courage, were the theme of talk in every Scotch home;but at Lanark at present it was specially prominent, for with hisband he had taken up his abode in a wild and broken country knownas Cart Lane Craigs, and more than once he had entered Lanark andhad had frays with the English soldiers there.

  It was near a year since the defeat of Dunbar; and although thefeats of Wallace in storming small fortalices and cutting off Englishconvoys had excited at once hope amongst the Scotch and anger in theEnglish, the hold of the latter on the conquered country appearedmore settled than ever. Wallace's adherents had indeed gained instrength; but they were still regarded as a mere band of outlawswho might be troublesome, but were in no degree formidable.

  Every great town and hold throughout Scotland was garrisoned byEnglish in force deemed amply sufficient to repress any troublewhich might arise, while behind them was the whole power of Englandready to march north in case it should be needed. It seemed, indeed,that Scotland was completely and for ever subjugated.

  One afternoon, when Archie had escorted Mistress Bradfute toLamington, she said to him as he bade her farewell:

  "I think you can keep a secret, Master Forbes."

  "I trust so," Archie replied.

  "I know how much you admire and reverence Sir William Wallace. Ifyou will come hither this evening, at eight o'clock, you shall seehim."

  Archie uttered an exclamation of delight and surprise.

  "Mind, Archie, I am telling you a secret which is known only toSir William himself and a few of his chosen followers; but I haveobtained his permission to divulge it to you, assuring him thatyou can be fully trusted."

  "I would lay down my life for him," the lad said.

  "I think you would, Archie; and so would I, for Sir William Wallaceis my husband!"

  Archie gave a gasp of astonishment and surprise.

  "Yes," she repeated, "he is my husband. And now ride back to youruncle's. I left the piece of embroidery upon which I was working onyour aunt's table. It will be a good excuse for you to ride overwith it this evening." So saying, she sprang lightly from thepillion on which she had been riding behind Archie. The lad rodeback in wild excitement at the thought that before night he wasto see his hero whose deeds had, for the last three years, excitedhis admiration and wonder.

  At eight o'clock exactly he drew rein again at Lamington. He wasat once admitted, and was conducted to a room where the mistressof the house was sitting, and where beside her stood a very talland powerfully built young man, with a singularly handsome faceand a courteous and gentle manner which seemed altogether out ofcharacter with the desperate adventures in which he was constantlyengaged.

  In Scotland the laws of chivalry, as they were strictly observedin the courts of England and France, did not prevail. Sir WilliamWallace had not received the order of knighthood; but in Scotchfamilies the prefix of Sir descended from father to eldest son, asit does in the present day with the title of Baronet. Thus WilliamWallace, when his father and elder brother were killed, succeededto the title. Knighthoods, or, as we should call them, baronetcies,were bestowed in Scotland, as in England, for bravery in the fieldand distinguished services. The English, with their stricter lawsof chivalry, did not recognize these hereditary titles; and SirWilliam Wallace and many of his adherents who bear the prefix ofSir in all Scotch histories, are spoken of without that title incontemporary English documents. Archie himself had inherited thetitle from his father; and the prefix was, indeed, applied to theheads of almost all families of gentle blood in Scotland.

  "This, Sir William," Marion said, "is Sir Archibald Forbes, of who
mI have often spoken to you as one of your most fervent admirers.He is a true Scotsman, and he yearns for the time when he may drawhis sword in the cause of his country."

  "He is over young yet," Sir William said smiling; "but time willcure that defect. It is upon the young blood of Scotland that ourhopes rest. The elders are for the most part but half Scotchmen, anddo not feel shame for their country lying at the feet of England;but from their sons I hope for better things. The example of mydear friend, Sir John Grahame, is being followed; and I trust thatmany young men of good family will soon join them."

  "I would that the time had come when I too could do so, sir," Archiesaid warmly. "I hope that it will not be long before you may thinkme capable of being admitted to the honour of fighting beside you.Do you not remember that you yourself were but eighteen when youslew young Selbye?"

  "I am a bad example to be followed," Sir William replied with asmile; "besides, nature made an exception in my case and broughtme to my full strength and stature full four years before the time.Mistress Marion tells me, however, that you too are strong beyondyour years."

  "I have practised unceasingly, sir, with my weapons for the lasttwo years; and deem me not boastful when I say that my instructor,Duncan Macleod of Lanark, who is a famous swordsman, says thatI could hold my own and more against any English soldier in thegarrison."

  "I know Duncan by report," Sir William replied, "and that he is afamous swordsman, having learned the art in France, where they aremore skilled by far than we are in Scotland. As for myself, I mustown that it is my strength rather than my skill which gives me anadvantage in a conflict; for I put my trust in a downright blow,and find that the skill of an antagonist matters but little, seeingthat my blow will always cleave through sword as well as helm.Nevertheless I do not decry skill, seeing that between two whoare in any ways equally matched in strength and courage the mostskilful swordsman must assuredly conquer. Well, since that be thereport of you by Master Duncan, I should think you might even taketo arms at the age that I did myself and when that time comes,should your intentions hold the same, and the English not have madean end of me, I shall be right glad to have you by my side. Shouldyou, in any of your visits to Lanark--whither, Marion tells me, youride frequently with Sir Robert Gordon--hear ought of intendedmovements of English troops, or gather any news which it may concernme to know, I pray you to ride hither at once. Marion has alwaysmessengers whom she may despatch to me, seeing that I need greatcare in visiting her here, lest I might be surprised by the English,who are ever upon the lookout for me. And now farewell! Rememberthat you have always a friend in William Wallace."

  Winter was now at hand, and a week or two later Mistress Marionmoved into her house in Lanark, where Archie, when he rode in,often visited her. In one of her conversations she told him thatshe had been married to Sir William nigh upon two years, and thata daughter had been born to her who was at present kept by an oldnurse of her own in a cottage hard by Lamington. "I tell you this,Archie," she said, "for there is no saying at what time calamitymay fall upon us. Sir William is so daring and careless that Ilive in constant dread of his death or capture; and did it becomeknown that I am his wife, doubtless my estate would be forfeitedand myself taken prisoner; and in that case it were well that mylittle daughter should find friends."

  "I wonder that you do not stay at Lamington," Archie said; "forSir William's visits to you here may well be discovered, and bothhe and you be put in peril."

  "I would gladly do so," she said; "but as you may have heard, YoungHazelrig, the governor's son, persecutes me with his attentions;he is moved thereto methinks rather by a desire for my possessionsthan any love for myself. He frequently rode over to Lamingtonto see me, and as there are necessarily many there who suspect, ifthey do not know, my secret, my husband would be more likely to besurprised in a lonely house there, than he would be in the city,where he can always leave or enter our abode by the passage intoa back street unseen by any."

  A few days later Archie had ridden into Lanark bearing a messagefrom his uncle; he had put up his horse, and was walking along theprincipal street when he heard a tumult and the clashing of swords;he naturally hurried up to see what was the cause of the fray, andhe saw Sir William Wallace and a young companion defending themselveswith difficulty against a number of English soldiers led by youngHazelrig, the son of the governor, and Sir Robert Thorne, one ofhis officers. Archie stood for a few moments irresolute; but asthe number of the assailants increased, as fresh soldiers hearingthe sound of the fray came running down the street, and Sir Williamand his friend, although they had slain several, were greatlyovermatched, he hesitated no longer, but, drawing his sword, rushedthrough the soldiers, and placing himself by the side of Wallace,joined in the fray. Wallace recognized him with a nod.

  "It is sooner than I bargained for, Sir Archie; but you are verywelcome. Ah! that was well smitten, and Duncan did not overpraiseyour skill," he exclaimed, as Archie cut down one soldier, andwounded another who pressed upon him.

  "They are gathering in force, Sir William," the knight's companionsaid, "and if we do not cut our way through them we shall assuredlybe taken." Keeping near the wall they retreated down the street,Archie and Sir John Grahame, for it was he, clearing the way, andWallace defending the rear. So terrific were the blows he dealtthat the English soldiers shrank back from attacking him.

  At this moment two horsemen rode up and reined in their horses towitness the fray. They were father and son, and the instant theeyes of the elder fell upon Archie he exclaimed to his son:

  "This is good fortune. That is young Forbes fighting by the sideof the outlaw Wallace. I will finish our dispute at once."

  So saying he drew his sword, and urged his horse through thesoldiers towards Archie; the latter equally recognized the enemy ofhis family. Sir John aimed a sweeping blow at him. The lad parriedit, and, leaping back, struck at the horse's leg. The animal fellinstantly, and as he did so Archie struck full on the helm of SirJohn Kerr, stretching him on the ground beside his horse.

  By this time the little party had retreated down the street untilthey were passing the house of Marion Bradfute. The door opened,and Marion herself cried to them to enter. So hemmed in were they,indeed, that further retreat was now impossible, and there beingno time for hesitation, Wallace and his companions sprang in beforetheir assailants could hinder them, and shut the door behind them.

  "Marion," Wallace exclaimed, "why did you do this? It matterednot were I killed or taken; but now you have brought danger uponyourself."

  "But it mattered much to me. What would life be worth were youkilled? Think not of danger to me. Angry as they may be, they willhardly touch a woman. But waste no time in talking, for the doorwill soon yield to their blows. Fly by the back entrance, whilethere is time."

  So saying, she hurried them to the back of the house, and withoutallowing them to pause for another word almost pushed them out, andclosed the door behind them. The lane was deserted; but the shoutsand clamour of the English soldiers beyond the houses rose loud inthe air. "Quick, Sir William," Sir John Grahame said, "or we shallbe cut off! They will bethink them of the back way, and sendsoldiers down to intercept us."

  Such, indeed, was the case, for as they ran they heard shouts behind,and saw some English soldiers entering the other end of the lane.In front, however, all was clear, and running on they turned intoanother street, and then down to the gate. The guard, hearing thetumult, had turned out, and seeing them running, strove to bartheir way. Wallace, however, cleared a path by sweeping blows withhis sword, and dashing through the gates into the open countrythey were safe. For some distance they ran without checking theirspeed, and then as they neared a wood, where they no longer fearedpursuit, they broke into a walk.

  "My best thanks to you," Wallace said to Archie. "You have indeedproved yourself a staunch and skilful swordsman, and Duncan's opinionis well founded. Indeed I could wish for no stouter sword besideme in a fight; but what will you do now? If you think that you wereno
t recognized you can return to your uncle; but if any there knewyou, you must even then take to the woods with me."

  "I was recognized," Archie said in a tone of satisfaction. "Thearmed knight whom you saw attack me was Sir John Kerr, the slayerof my father and the enemy of my house. Assuredly he will bringthe news of my share in the fray to the ears of the governor."

  "I do not think that he will carry any news for some time," SirWilliam replied; "for that blow you gave him on the head must havewell nigh brought your quarrel to an end. It is a pity your armhad not a little more weight, for then, assuredly you would haveslain him."

  "But the one with him was his son," Archie said, "and would knowme too; so that I shall not be safe for an hour at my uncle's."

  "In that case, Sir Archie, you must needs go with me, there beingno other way for it, and truly, now that it is proved a matter ofnecessity, I am glad that it has so chanced, since I see that youryouth is indeed no drawback; and Sir John Grahame will agree withme that there is no better sword in my company."

  "Yes, indeed," the young knight said. "I could scarce believe myeyes when I saw one so young bear himself so stoutly. Without hisaid I could assuredly have made no way through the soldiers whobarred our retreat; and truly his sword did more execution thanmine, although I fought my best. If you will accept my friendship,young sir, henceforth we will be brothers in arms." Colouring withpleasure, Archie grasped the hand which the young knight held outto him.

  "That is well said, Sir John," Wallace assented. "Hitherto you andI have been like brothers; henceforth there will be three of us,and I foresee that the only difficulty we shall have with thisour youngest relation will be to curb his courage and ardour. Whoknows," he went on sadly, "but that save you two I am now alone inthe world! My heart misgives me sorely as to the fate of Marion; andwere it not for the sake of Scotland, to whom my life is sworn, Iwould that I had stopped and died outside her door before I enteredand brought danger upon her head. Had I had time to reflect, methinksI would have done so; but I heard her call, I saw the open door,and without time for thought or reflection I leapt in."

  "You must not blame yourself, Sir William," Grahame said, "for,indeed, there was no time for thought; nor will I that it shouldhave been otherwise, even should harm, which I cannot believe,befall Mistress Marion. It is on you that the hopes of Scotlandnow rest. You have awakened her spirit and taught the lesson ofresistance. Soon I hope that the fire now smouldering in the breastof every true Scotsman will burst into flame, and that Scotlandwill make a great effort for freedom; but were you to fall now,despair would seize on all and all hope of a general rising be atan end."

  Wallace made no reply, but strode silently forward. A short distancefarther they came to the spot where three of Wallace's followerswere holding horses, for he had on his entry into Lanark, beenaccompanied by another of his party, who had been slain at thecommencement of the fray. Wallace bade Archie mount the spare horse,and they then rode to Cart Lane Craigs, scarce a word being spokenon their journey.

  Wallace's headquarters were upon a narrow shelf of rock on the faceof a steep and craggy hill. It was well chosen against surprise,and could be held against sudden attack even by a large force,since both behind and in front the face of the hill was too steepto be climbed, and the only approach was by a steep and windingpath which two men could hold against a host. The ledge was some50 feet long by 12 wide. At the back a natural depression in thecrags had been deepened so as to form a shallow cave just deepenough to afford a defense against the weather; here a pile ofheather served as a bed for Wallace, Grahame, and one or two othersof the leaders of his company, and here Wallace told Archie thathis place was to be. On the ledge without were some low arbours ofheather in which lay ten of Wallace's bravest companions; the restof his band were scattered among the surrounding hills, or in thewoods, and a bugle note repeated from place to place would callall together in a short space of time.

  Of stores and provisions there was no lack, these having beenobtained in very large quantities from the convoys of supplies andthe castles that had been captured. Money, too, was not wanting,considerable amounts having fallen into their hands, and thepeasantry through all the country round were glad in every way toassist the band, whom they regarded as their champions.

  Archie sat down by Sir John Grahame, who gave him particularsregarding the strength of the various bands, their position, therules which had been laid down by Wallace for their order, the systemof signals and other particulars; while Wallace paced restlessly upand down the narrow shelf, a prey to the keenest anxiety. Towardsnightfall two of the men were despatched towards Lanark to endeavourto find out what had taken place there; but in an hour they returnedwith a woman, whom both Sir William and Archie recognized as one ofthe female attendants of Marion. A single glance sufficed to tellher tale. Her face was swollen with crying, and wore a look ofhorror as well as of grief.

  "She is dead!" Wallace exclaimed in a low voice.

  "Alas!" the woman sobbed, "that I should have to tell it. Yes, mydear mistress is dead; she was slain by the orders of the governorhimself, for having aided your escape."

  A groan burst from Wallace, a cry of horror and indignation fromhis followers. The former turned, and without a word strode awayand threw himself upon the heather. The others, heart struck atthe cruel blow which had befallen their chief, and burning withindignation and rage, could only utter oaths of vengeance and curseson the English tyrants.

  After a time Grahame went to the cave, and putting his hand onWallace's shoulder strove to address a few words of consolation tohim.

  Sir William rose: "I have done with weeping, Grahame, or rather Iwill put off my weeping until I have time for it. The first thingto think of is vengeance, and vengeance I swear that I will have.This night I will strike the first blow in earnest towards freeingScotland. It may be that God has willed it that this cruel blow,which has been struck at me, shall be the means of bringing thisabout. Hitherto, although I have hated the English and have foughtagainst them, it has been but fitfully and without order or method,seeing that other things were in my heart. Henceforth I will livebut for vengeance and Scotland. Hitherto the English have regardedme as an outlaw and a brigand. Henceforth they shall view me as anenemy to be dreaded. Sound the signal of assembly at once. Signifythat as many as are within reach shall gather below in two hours.There will be but few, for, not dreaming of this, the bands buttwo days since dispersed. But even were there none but ourselvesit would suffice. Tonight we will take Lanark."