their contradictory narratives, another of those innumerable instances of the uncertainty of all circumstantial accounts, especially in regard to numerical statements. All that can with certainty be said, is, that the slaughter of the Scots was dreadful, and Edward's victory complete. Improving his advantages, he recovered all the places of strength as rapidly as they had been lost; and may, on this occasion, be said to have a second time conquered Scotland. Wallace, with a few faithful followers, retired among the mountains and marshes, which nature had rendered inaccessible to armies; and, perceiving that his patriotic exertions inspired the nobles with jealousy, rather than emulation, he resigned the regency.

4. Comyn was, on his resignation, declared regent, an office at that time of little consequence, as it gave him authority over only a small part of the kingdom, and a few scattered troops, who had escaped from the late battle. Through the mediation of Philip, king of France, a truce for seven months was procured for such of the Scots as refused to submit to Edward's authority. This gave the new regent an opportunity of exciting the barons to shake off the English yoke. Roused by his exhortations, both the nobles and people immediately flew to arms. In a short time, all Scotland rose as one man, the whole mass of the inhabitants, in the towns, and in the country, taking arms the same day, and almost at the same hour. The English garrisons, being every where attacked at the same moment, in so furious a manner, that all resistance was ineffectual, had no other alternative than that of being put to the sword, or of surrendering on condition of immediately evacuating the kingdom.

5. This general revolt, which happened about the end of the year 1299, induced Edward to march early in the ensuing spring, and a third time to enter Scotland. The Scottish army, which consisted only of an ill-armed and undisciplined militia, not able to stand against Edward's veteran army, retired at his approach. The king, however, with his usual promptitude, pursued, overtook, and routed them, in a decisive engagement. The shattered remains of their forces

What induced Wallace to resign the regency of Scotland ?-Who was declared his successor ?-Through whose mediation was a truce between England and Scotland effected?-In what year did the revolt of the Scots under Comyn take place?

retreated into the marshes, which were known only to the natives, and amidst which the conquerors durst not continue their pursuit. Despairing of any good effects from further resistance, the Scots had now recourse to negotiation and entreaties; but the inexorable Edward, rejecting all offers of reconciliation, and insisting on unconditional submission, they put themselves and their country under the papal protection, and made Boniface VIII. an offer of the sove reignty.

The

6. This produced a brief from the pope to Edward, exhi biting his own claim to the crown of Scotland. The English monarch assembled a parliament at Lincoln, for the purpose of deliberating on the pretensions of the Roman see. papal brief was answered by a manifesto, asserting that England possessed, from time immemorial, the right of sovereignty over Scotland. This manifesto of the parliament, was followed by a memorial from the king, in justification of his measures; in which, if he could not equal the pope in sanctity, he resolved to outdo him in antiquity. Improving on that presented to the Scottish barons at Norham, in which he carried his claim no higher than Edward, the father of Athelstan, he now derived it from Brutus, the first fabulous king of Britain, and traced it through the reigns of all the fictitious monarchs, with whose names and exploits Geoffrey of Monmouth had embellished his historical romance.

7. This letter being written in the most respectful manner, without any expressions that could be offensive to his holi ness, the difference between Edward and the pope was ao commodated, and, at the solicitation of the French king, the truce with the revolted Scots was prolonged. At its expira tion, Edward sent Segrave, governor of Berwick, with a formidable force, to renew the war, and complete the reduotion of Scotland. This general, apprehending no danger from the Scots, whom he considered as unable to make any resistance, divided his army into three columns, in order more completely to ravage the country. Meeting, however, unexpectedly, with the Scotch army, under the command of Comyn and Frazer, all the three bodies were successively defeated.

When again subdued by Edward, under whose protection did the Boots place themselves?

8. In consequence of this disaster, Edward, the next year, 1303, entered the fourth time into Scotland, with so nume rous an army, that he penetrated to the extremities of the kingdom, and ravaged the country, without meeting with any considerable resistance, the Scots being unable to oppose so formidable a power. Wallace alone, with a body of troops, continually harassed him, and revenged the Scots on such of the English soldiers as happened to stray from the main body of the army. Stirling castle was besieged the whole winter, and was at last obliged to capitulate. By its surrender, Edward became master of all the fortified places, and, in this fourth expedition, completed his third conquest of Scotland.

9. A few determined patriots, however, retreating to places inaccessible to hostile approach, still held the conqueror's powers at defiance; but Wallace, the principal instigator and soul of revolt, being betrayed into the hands of the English, was tried, condemned, and executed, as guilty of treason. His head, was, by Edward's command, placed upon London bridge, and his four quarters hung up in the four principal. towns of Scotland. Here, as in many other cases, we have an opportunity of considering the difficulty of making a just estimate of actions from the echoes of common fame, and the ipse dixit of partial or inconsiderate writers. This extraordinary severity to the Scottish patriot is universally regarded as an indelible blemish on Edward's memory; but, if the cruelties imputed to Wallace had any foundation in fact, his punishment must be regarded as a just retribution.

10. Indeed, if the whole conduct of those conspicuous characters, who, in all ages and countries, have fallen by the hand of violence, could be minutely investigated, they would often be found, although less fortunate, little less criminal than their oppressors; and the distributive justice of Providence would appear more impartially dealt than superficial observers can perceive. But so often are we the dupes of misrepresentation, and so prone to hasty decision, that the illustrious victim of oppression and violence, who has himself sacrificed, at the shrine of his ambition, his avarice, or his resentment, thousands of inferior celebrity, appears in

In what year did Edward enter Scotland the fourth time ?-What became of Wallace?

our eyes arrayed in the spotless robes of innocence. In contemplating his sufferings, we forget those which he has inflicted on others. Historians deplore his fate, and blazon his virtues, and, in commemorating his misfortunes, endeavor to excite an ill-judged compassion.

THE EXILE.

NOT to Siberia's land of frost
Was this devoted exile sent;
Nor Java's pestilential coast-
Severer was his banishment.

Nought could the moral world afford
To give him comfort, joy, or rest;
The ban his vices had incurr'd
Conscience approv'd within his breast.

The victim of a tyrant's power,
Condemn'd in distant climes to roam,
May sometimes find a happy hour,
In hopes of pardon and of home.

But what bright hour on him shall beam,
Who, bearing an internal curse,

Is banish'd from his own esteem,
To burning regions of REMORSE.

ROBERT BRUCE.

1. THE Scots, so many times vanquished, as often rebelled; no disasters could extinguish their martial genius, nor bring their independent minds to submit to a foreign yoke. Bruce, the rival of Baliol, being dead, his son, the famous Robert I, resolved to assert, with his sword, his claim to the crown of his ancestors. He then resided at London, as a prisoner at large; and, finding that Edward had received intelligence of his design, immediately made his escape. Being arrived in Scotland, and suspecting the fidelity of Comyn, with whom he had concerted his plan, and maintained a con

stant correspondence, he met a messenger, charged with letters from that nobleman to the king.

2. Having seized the messenger, and examined his despatches, his suspicions were confirmed. In consequence of this discovery, he repaired to Dumfries; where, meeting with Comyn, he stabbed him with his own hand. Having thus drawn the sword, he had no other alternative than to throw away the scabbard, and, fully convinced that prompt and decisive measures could alone afford any hope of success or safety, he assumed the regal title, and was solemnly crowned at Scone. The new king of Scotland soon dispossessed the English of many of their fortified places; but the earl of Pembroke, having entered the kingdom, with a numerous army, defeated him in two successive engagements.

3. Bruce, being now reduced to the last extremity, was obliged to escape out of Scotland, and to take refuge in the Hebudes, while Edward, advancing with a powerful army, sent out detachments on all sides, to seize his adherents, to whom no mercy was shown. Three brothers of the new king fell on the scaffold. His queen being taken, and sent into England, was kept in close confinement. The bishops of Glasgow and St. Andrews would also have fallen a sacrifice to Edward's vengeance, had he not stood in awe of the pope. The countess of Buchan, sister of the earl of Fife, having assisted at Robert's coronation, was put in a wooden cage, and hung up on the walls of Berwick, as an object of ridicule to the people. Mary, the other sister, underwent the same fate at Roxburgh. The earl of Athol, allied to the royal families, both of Scotland and England, and consequently Edward's relative, was distinguished from the rest, by the fatal honor of being hanged on a gallows of an extraordinary height. Dreadful instances of Edward's inexorable severity, and of the ferocious spirit of the times.

4. Edward, having taken a severe vengeance on such of Robert's adherents as had been unfortunate enough to fall into his hands, retired to Carlisle, where he summoned the last parliament of his reign, in order to deliberate on the means of securing the possession of Scotland, by finally uniting it to England. Shortly after, supposing the Scots

What caused Bruce to kill Comyn?-What was the fate of the earl of Athol?