Scotland/Scots > Life of Sir William Wallace, Knight of Ellerslie, and Guardian of Scotland

208
LIFE OF
prevent the disturbance that was on the eve of
breaking out in Scotland.
In the meantime, Wallace, who, as he con¬
ceived, among other friends, had secured the
co-operation of Sir John Monteith to the mea¬
sures then in agitation, had, for the purpose, it
is supposed, of giving as early notice as possible
of the arrival of Bruce, retained near his person
a young man, related to Monteith, who was to
have been despatched with the news to Dum¬
barton, as soon as their future monarch should
arrive; when that important fortress was to
have declared in his favour.
Confiding in the arrangements thus made,
Wallace, as the time appointed by Bruce drew
near, collected his followers round Glasgow, and
disposed them in such a manner, as he could
bring them together on the shortest notice. For
the better concealment of his design, he retired
to a small, lonely house at Robroyston, about
three miles northwest of Glasgow. Here he
waited with impatience for the night on which
Bruce had appointed to meet him; little dream¬
ing of the danger to which his intended sove¬
reign was exposed through the conduct of Co-
myn, nor of the treachery that was hatching
against himself.