80 S&aUace'g afc. 



importance. They had earned with them that ancient stone, 

 on which, from the remotest period either of history or of 

 tradition, the Kings of Scotland received the rite of inaugu- 

 ration. They believed, on the faith of an ancient prophecy, 

 that wherever this stone was placed, their nation should 

 always govern ; it was also treasured up in the minds of men, 

 among their fondest traditions, that the day would come 

 when one of Scottish birth should rule over England. 

 Scone was no longer permitted to retain the true palladium 

 of their monarchy; it was proudly carried off, and placed in 

 the palace of Westminster. There was seeming tranquil- 

 lity throughout Scotland on the day of its removal from 

 the ancient church at Scone, but the hearts of all who saw 

 it pass, or who heard of its removal, burned within them. 

 The deed was spoken off throughout all Scotland. Men 

 heard of it in the remotest parts ; the chieftain in his 

 castle-hall, the peasant in his highland hut ; they were 

 constrained to smother the indignation that glowed within 

 them, yet they secretly awaited a favourable opportunity 

 to assert the independence of their country. Baliol, too, 

 was carried, a prisoner, to London ; his great seal was 

 broken, and when, after the lapse of two years' confine- 

 ment in the Tower, he was restored to liberty, it was 

 with the harsh condition that he should submit to a 

 voluntary banishment in France. Thither, accordingly, 

 he retired, and died in a private station. 



Scotland, meanwhile, was in a deplorable condi- 

 tion. Her king was powerless, and the administration 



