The Scottish Chiefs | Page 6

palladium?
Scotland's history is in the memories of her sons; her palladium is in
their hearts; and Edward may one day find that she remembers the
victory of Largs,** and needs not talismans to give her freedom."
**This battle was fought by Alexander III, on the 1st of August, 1263,
against Acho, King of Norway. That monarch invaded Scotland with a
large army, and drew up his forces before Largs, a town in Ayrshire.
He met with a great defeat, and, covered with disgrace, retired to his
own country. Wallace's father signalized himself on that field.-(1809.)
"Alas! not in our time!" answered Monteith. "The spear is at our breasts,

and we must submit. You see this castle is full of Edward's soldiers.
Every house is a garrison for England-but more of this by and by; I
have yet to tell you the contents of the packet which the monk brought.
It contained two others. One directed to Sir James Douglas, at Paris,
and the other to me. I read as follows:
"'Athol has persuaded Baliol to his ruin, and betrayed me into the hands
of Edward. I shall see Scotland no more. Send the inclosed to my son at
Paris; it will inform him what is the last wish of William Douglas for
his country. The iron box I confided to you, guard as your life, until
you can deposit it with my son. But should he remain abroad, and you
ever be in extremity, commit the box in strict charge to the worthiest
Scot you know; and tell him that it will be at the peril of his soul, who
dares to open it, till Scotland be again free! When that hour comes, then
let the man by whose valor God restores her rights, receive the box as
his own; for by him only it is to be opened. Douglas.'"
Monteith finished reading the letter, and remained silent. Wallace, who
had listened to it with increasing indignation against the enemies of
Scotland, spoke first: "Tell me in what I can assist you: or how serve
these last wishes of the imprisoned Douglas."
Monteith replied by reading over again this sentence-"'Should my son
remain abroad, and you ever be in extremity, commit the box in strict
charge to the worthiest Scot you know.' I am in that extremity now.
Edward determined on desolation, when he placed English governors
throughout our towns; and the rapacious Heselrigge, his representative
in Lanark, not backward to execute the despot's will, has just issued an
order, for the houses of all the absent chiefs to be searched for records
and secret correspondence. Two or three, in the neighborhood have
already gone through this ordeal; but the even has proved that it was
not papers they sought, but plunder, and an excuse for dismantling the
castles, or occupying them with English officers.
"The soldiers you saw were sent, by daybreak this morning, to guard
this castle until Heselrigge could in person be present at the
examination. This ceremony is to take place to-morrow; and as Lord
Douglas is considered a traitor to Edward, I am told the place will be

sacked to its walls. In such an extremity, to you, noble Wallace, as to
the worthiest Scot I know, I apply to take charge of this box. Within the
remote cliffs of Ellerslie it must be safe; and when James Douglas
arrives from Paris, to him you will resign it. Meanwhile, as I cannot
resist the plunderers, after delivering the keys of the state apartments to
Heselrigge to-morrow, I shall submit to necessity, and beg his
permission to retire to my lodge on Ben Venu."
Wallace made no difficulty in granting Monteith's request; and, there
being two iron rings on each side of his charge, the young chief took
off his leathern belt, and putting it through them, swung the box easily
under his left arm, while covering it with his plaid.
Monteith's eyes now brightened-the paleness left his cheek-and with a
firmer step, as if suddenly relieved of a heavy load, he called a servant
to prepare Sir William Wallace's attendants.
While Wallace shook him by the hand, Monteith, in a low and solemn
voice, exhorted him to caution respecting the box. "Remember," added
he, "the penalty that hangs over him who looks into it."
"Be not afraid," answered Wallace; "even the outside shall never be
seen by other eyes than my own, unless the same circumstance which
now induces you, mortal extremity, should force me to confide it to
safer hands."
"Beware of that!" exclaimed Monteith; "for who is there that would
adhere to the prohibition as I have done-as you will do? and besides, as
I have no doubt it contains holy relics, who knows what new calamities
a sacrilegious look might bring upon our