Scotland -- History -- War of Independence, 1285-1371 -- Fiction
**The arms of Hilton are, argent, two bars azure. The charge on those
of Blenkinsopp are three wheat-sheaves; crest, a lion rampant, grasping
a rose. The ruins of the patrimonial castles of these two ancient
barons are still to be seen in the north of England. The author's
revered mother was a descendant from the latter venerable name, united
with that of the brave and erudite race of Adamson, of further north.
Murray gladly obeyed, and now, accompanied by Edwin, with the standards
of Cressingham and De Warenne trailing in the dust, he arrived before
the castle, and summoned the lieutenant to the walls. But that
officer, well aware of what was going to happen, feared to appear.
From the battlements of the keep he had seen the dreadful conflict on
the banks of the Forth--he had seen the thousands of De Warenne pass
before the conqueror. To punish his treachery, in not only having
suffered Cressingham to steal out under the armistice, but upholding
also the breaking of his word to surrender at sunset, the terrified
officer believed that Wallace was now come to put the whole garrison to
the sword.
At the first sight of Murray's approaching squadron, the lieutenant
hurried to Lord Mar, to offer him immediate liberty if he would go
forth to Wallace and treat with him to spare the lives of the garrison.
Closed up in a solitary dungeon, the earl knew naught of what was
occurring without; and when the Southron entered, he expected it was to
lead him again to the death which had been twice averted. But the pale
and trembling lieutenant had no sooner spoken the first word than Mar
discerned it was a suppliant, not an executioner, he saw before him,
and he was even promising that clemency from Wallace, which he knew
dwelt in his heart, when Murray's trumpet sounded.
The lieutenant started, horror-struck. "It is now too late! We have
not made the first overture, and there sounds the death-bell of this
garrison! I saved your life, earl!" cried he, imploringly, to Lord
Mar; "when the enraged Cressingham commanded me to pull the cord which
would have launched you into eternity. I disobeyed him! For my sake,
then, preserve this garrison, and accompany me to the ramparts."
The chains were immediately knocked off the limbs of Lord Mar, and the
lieutenant presenting him with a sword, they appeared together on the
battlements. As the declining moon shone on their backs, Murray did
not discern that it was his uncle who mounted the walls; but calling to
him in a voice which declared there was no appeal, pointed to the
humbled colors of Edward, and demanded the instant surrender of the
citadel.
"Let it be, then with the pledge of Sir William Wallace's mercy?" cried
the venerable earl.
"With every pledge, Lord Mar," returned Murray, now joyfully
recognizing his uncle, "which you think safe to give."
"Then the keys of the citadel are yours," cried the lieutenant; "I only
ask the lives of my garrison."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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