CHAPTER XIII.
How in the noon of night that pibroch thrills, Savage and shrill! But with the breath which fills Their mountain pipe, so fill the mountaineers With the fierce native daring which instils The stirring memory of a thousand years.
BYRON.
We must now leave the lower parties in our historical drama, to attendto the incidents which took place among those of a higher rank andgreater importance.
We pass from the hut of an armourer to the council room of a monarch,and resume our story just when, the tumult beneath being settled, theangry chieftains were summoned to the royal presence. They entered,displeased with and lowering upon each other, each so exclusively filledwith his own fancied injuries as to be equally unwilling and unableto attend to reason or argument. Albany alone, calm and crafty, seemedprepared to use their dissatisfaction for his own purposes, and turneach incident as it should occur to the furtherance of his own indirectends.
The King's irresolution, although it amounted even to timidity, did notprevent his assuming the exterior bearing becoming his situation. Itwas only when hard pressed, as in the preceding scene, that he lost hisapparent composure. In general, he might be driven from his purpose, butseldom from his dignity of manner. He received Albany, Douglas, March,and the prior, those ill assorted members of his motley council, with amixture of courtesy and loftiness, which reminded each haughty peer thathe stood in the presence of his sovereign, and compelled him to do thebeseeming reverence.
Having received their salutations, the King motioned them to be seated;and they were obeying his commands when Rothsay entered. He walkedgracefully up to his father, and, kneeling at his footstool, requestedhis blessing. Robert, with an aspect in which fondness and sorrow wereill disguised, made an attempt to assume a look of reproof, as he laidhis hand on the youth's head and said, with a sigh, "God bless thee, mythoughtless boy, and make thee a wiser man in thy future years!"
"Amen, my dearest father!" said Rothsay, in a tone of feeling such ashis happier moments often evinced. He then kissed the royal hand, withthe reverence of a son and a subject; and, instead of taking a place atthe council board, remained standing behind the King's chair, in such aposition that he might, when he chose, whisper into his father's ear.
The King next made a sign to the prior of St. Dominic to take his placeat the table, on which there were writing materials, which, of all thesubjects present, Albany excepted, the churchman was alone able to use.The King then opened the purpose of their meeting by saying, with muchdignity:
"Our business, my lords, respected these unhappy dissensions in theHighlands, which, we learn by our latest messengers, are about tooccasion the waste and destruction of the country, even within a fewmiles of this our own court. But, near as this trouble is, our ill fate,and the instigations of wicked men, have raised up one yet nearer, bythrowing strife and contention among the citizens of Perth and thoseattendants who follow your lordships and others our knights and nobles.I must first, therefore, apply to yourselves, my lords, to know why ourcourt is disturbed by such unseemly contendings, and by what means theyought to be repressed? Brother of Albany, do you tell us first yoursentiments on this matter."
"Sir, our royal sovereign and brother," said the Duke, "being inattendance on your Grace's person when the fray began, I am notacquainted with its origin."
"And for me," said the Prince, "I heard no worse war cry than a minstrelwench's ballad, and saw no more dangerous bolts flying than hazel nuts."
"And I," said the Earl of March, "could only perceive that the stoutcitizens of Perth had in chase some knaves who had assumed the BloodyHeart on their shoulders. They ran too fast to be actually the men ofthe Earl of Douglas."
Douglas understood the sneer, but only replied to it by one of thosewithering looks with which he was accustomed to intimate his mortalresentment. He spoke, however, with haughty composure.
"My liege," he said, "must of course know it is Douglas who mustanswer to this heavy charge, for when was there strife or bloodshedin Scotland, but there were foul tongues to asperse a Douglas ora Douglas's man as having given cause to them? We have here goodlywitnesses. I speak not of my Lord of Albany, who has only said that hewas, as well becomes him, by your Grace's side. And I say nothing of myLord of Rothsay, who, as befits his rank, years, and understanding, wascracking nuts with a strolling musician. He smiles. Here he may say hispleasure; I shall not forget a tie which he seems to have forgotten. Buthere is my Lord of March, who saw my followers flying before the clownsof Perth. I can tell that earl that the followers of the Bloody Heartadvance or retreat when their chieftain commands and the good ofScotland requires."
"And I can answer--" exclaimed the equally proud Earl of March, hisblood rushing into his face, when the King interrupted him.
"Peace! angry lords," said the King, "and remember in whose presence youstand. And you, my Lord of Douglas, tell us, if you can, the cause ofthis mutiny, and why your followers, whose general good services we aremost willing to acknowledge, were thus active in private brawl."
"I obey, my lord," said Douglas, slightly stooping a head that seldombent. "I was passing from my lodgings in the Carthusian convent, throughthe High Street of Perth, with a few of my ordinary retinue, when Ibeheld some of the baser sort of citizens crowding around the Cross,against which there was nailed this placard, and that which accompaniesit."
He took from a pocket in the bosom of his buff coat a human hand and apiece of parchment. The King was shocked and agitated.
"Read," he said, "good father prior, and let that ghastly spectacle beremoved."
The prior read a placard to the following purpose:
"Inasmuch as the house of a citizen of Perth was assaulted last night,being St. Valentine's Eve, by a sort of disorderly night walkers,belonging to some company of the strangers now resident in the FairCity; and whereas this hand was struck from one of the lawless limmersin the fray that ensued, the provost and magistrates have directed thatit should be nailed to the Cross, in scorn and contempt of those by whomsuch brawl was occasioned. And if any one of knightly degree shall saythat this our act is wrongfully done, I, Patrick Charteris of Kinfauns,knight, will justify this cartel in knightly weapons, within thebarrace; or, if any one of meaner birth shall deny what is here said, heshall be met with by a citizen of the Fair City of Perth, according tohis degree. And so God and St. John protect the Fair City!"
"You will not wonder, my lord," resumed Douglas, "that, when my almonerhad read to me the contents of so insolent a scroll, I caused one ofmy squires to pluck down a trophy so disgraceful to the chivalry andnobility of Scotland. Where upon, it seems some of these saucy burgherstook license to hoot and insult the hindmost of my train, who wheeledtheir horses on them, and would soon have settled the feud, but formy positive command that they should follow me in as much peace as therascally vulgar would permit. And thus they arrived here in the guiseof flying men, when, with my command to repel force by force, they mighthave set fire to the four corners of this wretched borough, and stifledthe insolent churls, like malicious fox cubs in a burning brake offurze."
There was a silence when Douglas had done speaking, until the Duke ofRothsay answered, addressing his father:
"Since the Earl of Douglas possesses the power of burning the town whereyour Grace holds your court, so soon as the provost and he differ abouta night riot, or the terms of a cartel, I am sure we ought all to bethankful that he has not the will to do so."
"The Duke of Rothsay," said Douglas, who seemed resolved to maintaincommand of his temper, "may have reason to thank Heaven in a moreserious tone than he now uses that the Douglas is as true as he ispowerful. This is a time when the subjects in all countries rise againstthe law: we have heard of the insurgents of the Jacquerie in France; andof Jack Straw, and Hob Miller, and Parson Ball, among the Southron;and we may be sure there is fuel enough to catch such a flame, were itspreading to our frontiers. When I see peasants challenging noblemen,and nail
ing the hands of the gentry to their city cross, I will not sayI fear mutiny--for that would be false--but I foresee, and will standwell prepared for, it."
"And why does my Lord Douglas say," answered the Earl of March, "thatthis cartel has been done by churls? I see Sir Patrick Charteris's namethere, and he, I ween, is of no churl's blood. The Douglas himself,since he takes the matter so warmly, might lift Sir Patrick's gauntletwithout soiling of his honour."
"My Lord of March," replied Douglas, "should speak but of what heunderstands. I do no injustice to the descendant of the Red Rover,when I say he is too slight to be weighed with the Douglas. The heir ofThomas Randolph might have a better claim to his answer."
"And, by my honour, it shall not miss for want of my asking the grace,"said the Earl of March, pulling his glove off.
"Stay, my lord," said the King. "Do us not so gross an injury as tobring your feud to mortal defiance here; but rather offer your unglovedhand in kindness to the noble earl, and embrace in token of your mutualfealty to the crown of Scotland."
"Not so, my liege," answered March; "your Majesty may command me toreturn my gauntlet, for that and all the armour it belongs to areat your command, while I continue to hold my earldom of the crown ofScotland; but when I clasp Douglas, it must be with a mailed hand.Farewell, my liege. My counsels here avail not, nay, are so unfavourablyreceived, that perhaps farther stay were unwholesome for my safety. MayGod keep your Highness from open enemies and treacherous friends! I amfor my castle of Dunbar, from whence I think you will soon hear news.Farewell to you, my Lords of Albany and Douglas; you are playing a highgame, look you play it fairly. Farewell, poor thoughtless prince, whoart sporting like a fawn within spring of a tiger! Farewell, all--Georgeof Dunbar sees the evil he cannot remedy. Adieu, all."
The King would have spoken, but the accents died on his tongue, as hereceived from Albany a look cautioning him to forbear. The Earl of Marchleft the apartment, receiving the mute salutations of the members of thecouncil whom he had severally addressed, excepting from Douglas alone,who returned to his farewell speech a glance of contemptuous defiance.
"The recreant goes to betray us to the Southron," he said; "his priderests on his possessing that sea worn hold which can admit the Englishinto Lothian [the castle of Dunbar]. Nay, look not alarmed, my liege, Iwill hold good what I say. Nevertheless, it is yet time. Speak but theword, my liege--say but 'Arrest him,' and March shall not yet cross theEarn on his traitorous journey."
"Nay, gallant earl," said Albany, who wished rather that the twopowerful lords should counterbalance each other than that one shouldobtain a decisive superiority, "that were too hasty counsel. The Earl ofMarch came hither on the King's warrant of safe conduct, and it maynot consist with my royal brother's honour to break it. Yet, if yourlordship can bring any detailed proof--"
Here they were interrupted by a flourish of trumpets.
"His Grace of Albany is unwontedly scrupulous today," said Douglas;"but it skills not wasting words--the time is past--these are March'strumpets, and I warrant me he rides at flight speed so soon as he passesthe South Port. We shall hear of him in time; and if it be as Ihave conjectured, he shall be met with though all England backed histreachery."
"Nay, let us hope better of the noble earl," said the King, no waydispleased that the quarrel betwixt March and Douglas had seemed toobliterate the traces of the disagreement betwixt Rothsay and his fatherin law; "he hath a fiery, but not a sullen, temper. In some things hehas been--I will not say wronged, but disappointed--and something is tobe allowed to the resentment of high blood armed with great power. Butthank Heaven, all of us who remain are of one sentiment, and, I may say,of one house; so that, at least, our councils cannot now be thwartedwith disunion. Father prior, I pray you take your writing materials,for you must as usual be our clerk of council. And now to business,my lords; and our first object of consideration must be this Highlandcumber."
"Between the Clan Chattan and the Clan Quhele," said the prior, "which,as our last advices from our brethren at Dunkeld inform us, is readyto break out into a more formidable warfare than has yet taken placebetween these sons of Belial, who speak of nothing else than of utterlydestroying one another. Their forces are assembling on each side, andnot a man claiming in the tenth degree of kindred but must repair to thebrattach of his tribe, or stand to the punishment of fire and sword.The fiery cross hath flitted about like a meteor in every direction, andawakened strange and unknown tribes beyond the distant Moray Firth--mayHeaven and St. Dominic be our protection! But if your lordships cannotfind remedy for evil, it will spread broad and wide, and the patrimonyof the church must in every direction be exposed to the fury of theseAmalekites, with whom there is as little devotion to Heaven as there ispity or love to their neighbour--may Our Lady be our guard! We hear someof them are yet utter heathens, and worship Mahound and Termagaunt."
"My lords and kinsmen," said Robert, "ye have heard the urgency of thiscase, and may desire to know my sentiments before you deliver what yourown wisdom shall suggest. And, in sooth, no better remedy occurs to methan to send two commissioners, with full power from us to settle suchdebates as be among them, and at the same time to charge them, as theyshall be answerable to the law, to lay down their arms, and forbear allpractices of violence against each other."
"I approve of your Grace's proposal," said Rothsay; "and I trust thegood prior will not refuse the venerable station of envoy uponthis peacemaking errand. And his reverend brother, the abbot of theCarthusian convent, must contend for an honour which will certainlyadd two most eminent recruits to the large army of martyrs, since theHighlanders little regard the distinction betwixt clerk and layman inthe ambassadors whom you send to them."
"My royal Lord of Rothsay," said the prior, "if I am destined to theblessed crown of martyrdom, I shall be doubtless directed to the pathby which I am to attain it. Meantime, if you speak in jest, may Heavenpardon you, and give you light to perceive that it were better buckleon your arms to guard the possessions of the church, so perilouslyendangered, than to employ your wit in taunting her ministers andservants."
"I taunt no one, father prior," said the youth, yawning; "Nor haveI much objection to taking arms, excepting that they are a somewhatcumbrous garb, and in February a furred mantle is more suiting to theweather than a steel corselet. And it irks me the more to put on coldharness in this nipping weather, that, would but the church send adetachment of their saints--and they have some Highland ones well knownin this district, and doubtless used to the climate--they might fighttheir own battles, like merry St. George of England. But I know not howit is, we hear of their miracles when they are propitiated, and of theirvengeance if any one trespasses on their patrimonies, and these areurged as reasons for extending their lands by large largesses; and yet,if there come down but a band of twenty Highlanders, bell, book, andcandle make no speed, and the belted baron must be fain to maintain thechurch in possession of the lands which he has given to her, as much asif he himself still enjoyed the fruits of them."
"Son David," said the King, "you give an undue license to your tongue."
"Nay, Sir, I am mute," replied the Prince. "I had no purpose to disturbyour Highness, or displease the father prior, who, with so many miraclesat his disposal, will not face, as it seems, a handful of Highlandcaterans."
"We know," said the prior, with suppressed indignation, "from whatsource these vile doctrines are derived, which we hear with horror fromthe tongue that now utters them. When princes converse with heretics,their minds and manners are alike corrupted. They show themselves in thestreets as the companions of maskers and harlots, and in the council asthe scorners of the church and of holy things."
"Peace, good father!" said the King. "Rothsay shall make amends forwhat he has idly spoken. Alas! let us take counsel in friendly fashion,rather than resemble a mutinous crew of mariners in a sinking vessel,when each is more intent on quarrelling with his neighbours than inassisting the exertions of the forlorn master for the safety of theship
. My Lord of Douglas, your house has been seldom to lack when thecrown of Scotland desired either wise counsel or manly achievement; Itrust you will help us in this strait."
"I can only wonder that the strait should exist, my lord," answeredthe haughty Douglas. "When I was entrusted with the lieutenancy ofthe kingdom, there were some of these wild clans came down from theGrampians. I troubled not the council about the matter, but made thesheriff, Lord Ruthven, get to horse with the forces of the Carse--theHays, the Lindsays, the Ogilvies, and other gentlemen. By St. Bride!When it was steel coat to frieze mantle, the thieves knew what lanceswere good for, and whether swords had edges or no. There were somethree hundred of their best bonnets, besides that of their chief, DonaldCormac, left on the moor of Thorn and in Rochinroy Wood; and as manywere gibbeted at Houghmanstares, which has still the name from thehangman work that was done there. This is the way men deal with thievesin my country; and if gentler methods will succeed better with theseEarish knaves, do not blame Douglas for speaking his mind. You smile,my Lord of Rothsay. May I ask how I have a second time become your jest,before I have replied to the first which you passed on me?"
"Nay, be not wrathful, my good Lord of Douglas," answered the Prince; "Idid but smile to think how your princely retinue would dwindle if everythief were dealt with as the poor Highlanders at Houghmanstares."
The King again interfered, to prevent the Earl from giving an angryreply.
"Your lordship," said he to Douglas, "advises wisely that we shouldtrust to arms when these men come out against our subjects on the fairand level plan; but the difficulty is to put a stop to their disorderswhile they continue to lurk within their mountains. I need not tellyou that the Clan Chattan and the Clan Quhele are great confederacies,consisting each of various tribes, who are banded together, each tosupport their own separate league, and who of late have had dissensionswhich have drawn blood wherever they have met, whether individually orin bands. The whole country is torn to pieces by their restless feuds."
"I cannot see the evil of this," said the Douglas: "the ruffians willdestroy each other, and the deer of the Highlands will increase asthe men diminish. We shall gain as hunters the exercise we lose aswarriors."
"Rather say that the wolves will increase as the men diminish," repliedthe King.
"I am content," said Douglas: "better wild wolves than wild caterans.Let there be strong forces maintained along the Earish frontier, toseparate the quiet from the disturbed country. Confine the fire of civilwar within the Highlands; let it spend its uncontrolled fury, and itwill be soon burnt out for want of fuel. The survivors will be humbled,and will be more obedient to a whisper of your Grace's pleasurethan their fathers, or the knaves that now exist, have, been to yourstrictest commands."
"This is wise but ungodly counsel," said the prior, shaking his head; "Icannot take it upon my conscience to recommend it. It is wisdom, but itis the wisdom of Achitophel, crafty at once and cruel."
"My heart tells me so," said the King, laying his hand on hisbreast--"my heart tells me that it will be asked of me at the awful day,'Robert Stuart, where are the subjects I have given thee?' It tells methat I must account for them all, Saxon and Gael, Lowland, Highland, andBorder man; that I will not be required to answer for those alone whohave wealth and knowledge, but for those also who were robbers becausethey were poor, and rebels because they were ignorant."
"Your Highness speaks like a Christian king," said the prior; "but youbear the sword as well as the sceptre, and this present evil is of akind which the sword must cure."
"Hark ye, my lords," said the Prince, looking up as if a gay thoughthad suddenly struck him. "Suppose we teach these savage mountaineersa strain of chivalry? It were no hard matter to bring these two greatcommanders, the captain of the Clan Chattan and the chief of the no lessdoughty race of the Clan Quhele, to defy each other to mortal combat.They might fight here in Perth--we would lend them horse and armour;thus their feud would be stanched by the death of one, or probably both,of the villains, for I think both would break their necks in the firstcharge; my father's godly desire of saving blood would be attained; andwe should have the pleasure of seeing such a combat between two savageknights, for the first time in their lives wearing breeches and mountedon horses, as has not been heard of since the days of King Arthur."
"Shame upon you, David!" said the King. "Do you make the distress ofyour native country, and the perplexity of our councils, a subject forbuffoonery?"
"If you will pardon me, royal brother," said Albany, "I think that,though my princely nephew hath started this thought in a jocular manner,there may be something wrought out of it, which might greatly remedythis pressing evil."
"Good brother," replied the King, "it is unkind to expose Rothsay'sfolly by pressing further his ill timed jest. We know the Highland clanshave not our customs of chivalry, nor the habit or mode of doing battlewhich these require."
"True, your Grace," answered Albany; "yet I speak not in scorn, but inserious earnest. True, the mountaineers have not our forms and mode ofdoing battle in the lists, but they have those which are as effectualto the destruction of human life, and so that the mortal game is played,and the stake won and lost, what signifies it whether these Gael fightwith sword and lance, as becomes belted knights, or with sandbags, likethe crestless churls of England, or butcher each other with knives andskenes, in their own barbarous fashion? Their habits, like our own,refer all disputed rights and claims to the decision of battle. Theyare as vain, too, as they are fierce; and the idea that these two clanswould be admitted to combat in presence of your Grace and of yourcourt will readily induce them to refer their difference to the fate ofbattle, even were such rough arbitrement less familiar to their customs,and that in any such numbers as shall be thought most convenient. Wemust take care that they approach not the court, save in such a fashionand number that they shall not be able to surprise us; and that pointbeing provided against, the more that shall be admitted to combat uponeither side, the greater will be the slaughter among their bravest andmost stirring men, and the more the chance of the Highlands being quietfor some time to come."
"This were a bloody policy, brother," said the King; "and again I say,that I cannot bring my conscience to countenance the slaughter of theserude men, that are so little better than so many benighted heathens."
"And are their lives more precious," asked Albany, "than those of noblesand gentlemen who by your Grace's license are so frequently admitted tofight in barrace, either for the satisfying of disputes at law or simplyto acquire honour?"
The King, thus hard pressed, had little to say against a custom soengrafted upon the laws of the realm and the usages of chivalry as thetrial by combat; and he only replied: "God knows, I have never grantedsuch license as you urge me with unless with the greatest repugnance;and that I never saw men have strife together to the effusion of blood,but I could have wished to appease it with the shedding of my own."
"But, my gracious lord," said the prior, "it seems that, if we follownot some such policy as this of my Lord of Albany, we must have recourseto that of the Douglas; and, at the risk of the dubious event of battle,and with the certainty of losing many excellent subjects, do, by meansof the Lowland swords, that which these wild mountaineers will otherwiseperform with their own hand. What says my Lord of Douglas to the policyof his Grace of Albany?"
"Douglas," said the haughty lord, "never counselled that to be done bypolicy which might be attained by open force. He remains by his opinion,and is willing to march at the head of his own followers, with thoseof the barons of Perth shire and the Carse, and either bring theseHighlanders to reason or subjection, or leave the body of a Douglasamong their savage wildernesses."
"It is nobly spoken, my Lord of Douglas," said Albany; "and well mightthe King rely upon thy undaunted heart and the courage of thy resolutefollowers. But see you not how soon you may be called elsewhere, whereyour presence and services are altogether indispensable to Scotland andher monarch? Marked you not the gloom
y tone in which the fiery Marchlimited his allegiance and faith to our sovereign here present to thatspace for which he was to remain King Robert's vassal? And did not youyourself suspect that he was plotting a transference of his allegianceto England? Other chiefs, of subordinate power and inferior fame, may dobattle with the Highlanders; but if Dunbar admit the Percies and theirEnglishmen into our frontiers, who will drive them back if the Douglasbe elsewhere?"
"My sword," answered Douglas, "is equally at the service of his Majestyon the frontier or in the deepest recesses of the Highlands. I have seenthe backs of the proud Percy and George of Dunbar ere now, and I maysee them again. And, if it is the King's pleasure I should take measuresagainst this probable conjunction of stranger and traitor, I admit that,rather than trust to an inferior or feebler hand the important task ofsettling the Highlands, I would be disposed to give my opinion in favourof the policy of my Lord of Albany, and suffer those savages to carveeach other's limbs, without giving barons and knights the trouble ofhunting them down."
"My Lord of Douglas," said the Prince, who seemed determined to omit noopportunity to gall his haughty father in law, "does not choose to leaveto us Lowlanders even the poor crumbs of honour which might be gatheredat the expense of the Highland kerne, while he, with his Borderchivalry, reaps the full harvest of victory over the English. But Percyhath seen men's backs as well as Douglas; and I have known as greatwonders as that he who goes forth to seek such wool should come backshorn."
"A phrase," said Douglas, "well becoming a prince who speaks of honourwith a wandering harlot's scrip in his bonnet, by way of favor."
"Excuse it, my lord," said Rothsay: "men who have matched unfittinglybecome careless in the choice of those whom they love par amours. Thechained dog must snatch at the nearest bone."
"Rothsay, my unhappy son!" exclaimed the King, "art thou mad? orwouldst thou draw down on thee the full storm of a king and father'sdispleasure?"
"I am dumb," returned the Prince, "at your Grace's command."
"Well, then, my Lord of Albany," said the King, "since such is youradvice, and since Scottish blood must flow, how, I pray you, are we toprevail on these fierce men to refer their quarrel to such a combat asyou propose?"
"That, my liege," said Albany, "must be the result of more maturedeliberation. But the task will not be difficult. Gold will be needfulto bribe some of the bards and principal counsellors and spokesmen. Thechiefs, moreover, of both these leagues must be made to understand that,unless they agree to this amicable settlement--"
"Amicable, brother!" said the King, with emphasis.
"Ay, amicable, my liege," replied his brother, "since it is better thecountry were placed in peace, at the expense of losing a score or two ofHighland kernes, than remain at war till as many thousands are destroyedby sword, fire, famine, and all the extremities of mountain battle.To return to the purpose: I think that the first party to whom theaccommodation is proposed will snatch at it eagerly; that the other willbe ashamed to reject an offer to rest the cause on the swords of theirbravest men; that the national vanity, and factious hate to each other,will prevent them from seeing our purpose in adopting such a rule ofdecision; and that they will be more eager to cut each other to piecesthan we can be to halloo them on. And now, as our counsels are finished,so far as I can aid, I will withdraw."
"Stay yet a moment," said the prior, "for I also have a grief todisclose, of a nature so black and horrible, that your Grace's piousheart will hardly credit its existence, and I state it mournfully,because, as certain as that I am an unworthy servant of St. Dominic, itis the cause of the displeasure of Heaven against this poor country, bywhich our victories are turned into defeat, our gladness into mourning,our councils distracted with disunion, and our country devoured by civilwar."
"Speak, reverend prior," said the King; "assuredly, if the cause ofsuch evils be in me or in my house, I will take instant care to theirremoval."
He uttered these words with a faltering voice, and eagerly waited forthe prior's reply, in the dread, no doubt, that it might implicateRothsay in some new charge of folly or vice. His apprehensions perhapsdeceived him, when he thought he saw the churchman's eye rest for amoment on the Prince, before he said, in a solemn tone, "Heresy, mynoble and gracious liege--heresy is among us. She snatches soul aftersoul from the congregation, as wolves steal lambs from the sheep fold."
"There are enough of shepherds to watch the fold," answered the Duke ofRothsay. "Here are four convents of regular monks alone around this poorhamlet of Perth, and all the secular clergy besides. Methinks a town sowell garrisoned should be fit to keep out an enemy."
"One traitor in a garrison, my lord," answered the prior, "can do muchto destroy the security of a city which is guarded by legions; and ifthat one traitor is, either from levity, or love of novelty, or whateverother motive, protected and fostered by those who should be most eagerto expel him from the fortress, his opportunities of working mischiefwill be incalculably increased."
"Your words seem to aim at some one in this presence, father prior,"said the Douglas; "if at me, they do me foul wrong. I am well aware thatthe abbot of Aberbrothock hath made some ill advised complaints, thatI suffered not his beeves to become too many for his pastures, or hisstock of grain to burst the girnels of the monastery, while my followerslacked beef and their horses corn. But bethink you, the pastures andcornfields which produced that plenty were bestowed by my ancestorson the house of Aberbrothock, surely not with the purpose that theirdescendant should starve in the midst of it; and neither will he, by St.Bride! But for heresy and false doctrine," he added, striking his largehand heavily on the council table, "who is it that dare tax the Douglas?I would not have poor men burned for silly thoughts; but my hand andsword are ever ready to maintain the Christian faith."
"My lord, I doubt it not," said the prior; "so hath it ever been withyour most noble house. For the abbot's complaints, they may pass to asecond day. But what we now desire is a commission to some noble lord ofstate, joined to others of Holy Church, to support by strength of hand,if necessary, the inquiries which the reverend official of the bounds,and other grave prelates, my unworthy self being one, are about to makeinto the cause of the new doctrines, which are now deluding the simple,and depraving the pure and precious faith, approved by the Holy Fatherand his reverend predecessors."
"Let the Earl of Douglas have a royal commission to this effect," saidAlbany; "and let there be no exception whatever from his jurisdiction,saving the royal person. For my own part, although conscious that I haveneither in act nor thought received or encouraged a doctrine which HolyChurch hath not sanctioned, yet I should blush to claim an immunityunder the blood royal of Scotland, lest I should seem to be seekingrefuge against a crime so horrible."
"I will have nought to do with it," said Douglas: "to march againstthe English, and the Southron traitor March, is task enough for me.Moreover, I am a true Scotsman, and will not give way to aught that mayput the Church of Scotland's head farther into the Roman yoke, or makethe baron's coronet stoop to the mitre and cowl. Do you, therefore, mostnoble Duke of Albany, place your own name in the commission; and I prayyour Grace so to mitigate the zeal of the men of Holy Church who maybe associated with you, that there be no over zealous dealings; for thesmell of a fagot on the Tay would bring back the Douglas from the wallsof York."
The Duke hastened to give the Earl assurance that the commission shouldbe exercised with lenity and moderation.
"Without a question," said King Robert, "the commission must be ample;and did it consist with the dignity of our crown, we would not ourselvesdecline its jurisdiction. But we trust that, while the thunders ofthe church are directed against the vile authors of these detestableheresies, there shall be measures of mildness and compassion taken withthe unfortunate victims of their delusions."
"Such is ever the course of Holy Church, my lord," said the prior of St.Dominic's.
"Why, then, let the commission be expedited with due care, in name ofour brother Alban
y, and such others as shall be deemed convenient," saidthe King. "And now once again let us break up our council; and, Rothsay,come thou with me, and lend me thine arm; I have matter for thy privateear."
"Ho, la!" here exclaimed the Prince, in the tone in which he would haveaddressed a managed horse.
"What means this rudeness, boy?" said the King; "wilt thou never learnreason and courtesy?"
"Let me not be thought to offend, my liege," said the Prince; "but weare parting without learning what is to be done in the passing strangeadventure of the dead hand, which the Douglas hath so gallantly takenup. We shall sit but uncomfortably here at Perth, if we are at variancewith the citizens."
"Leave that to me," said Albany. "With some little grant of lands andmoney, and plenty of fair words, the burghers may be satisfied for thistime; but it were well that the barons and their followers, who are inattendance on the court, were warned to respect the peace within burgh."
"Surely, we would have it so," said the King; "let strict orders begiven accordingly."
"It is doing the churls but too much grace," said the Douglas; "but beit at your Highness's pleasure. I take leave to retire."
"Not before you taste a flagon of Gascon wine, my lord?" said the King.
"Pardon," replied the Earl, "I am not athirst, and I drink not forfashion, but either for need or for friendship." So saying, he departed.
The King, as if relieved by his absence, turned to Albany, and said:"And now, my lord, we should chide this truant Rothsay of ours; yet hehath served us so well at council, that we must receive his merits assome atonement for his follies."
"I am happy to hear it," answered Albany, with a countenance of pity andincredulity, as if he knew nothing of the supposed services.
"Nay, brother, you are dull," said the King, "for I will not think youenvious. Did you not note that Rothsay was the first to suggest the modeof settling the Highlands, which your experience brought indeed intobetter shape, and which was generally approved of; and even now we hadbroken up, leaving a main matter unconsidered, but that he put us inmind of the affray with the citizens?"
"I nothing doubt, my liege," said the Duke of Albany, with theacquiescence which he saw was expected, "that my royal nephew will soonemulate his father's wisdom."
"Or," said the Duke of Rothsay, "I may find it easier to borrowfrom another member of my family that happy and comfortable cloak ofhypocrisy which covers all vices, and then it signifies little whetherthey exist or not."
"My lord prior," said the Duke, addressing the Dominican, "we will for amoment pray your reverence's absence. The King and I have that to say tothe Prince which must have no further audience, not even yours."
The Dominican bowed and withdrew.
When the two royal brothers and the Prince were left together, the Kingseemed in the highest degree embarrassed and distressed, Albany sullenand thoughtful, while Rothsay himself endeavoured to cover some anxietyunder his usual appearance of levity. There was a silence of a minute.At length Albany spoke.
"Royal brother," he said, "my princely nephew entertains with so muchsuspicion any admonition coming from my mouth, that I must pray yourGrace yourself to take the trouble of telling him what it is mostfitting he should know."
"It must be some unpleasing communication indeed, which my Lord ofAlbany cannot wrap up in honied words," said the Prince.
"Peace with thine effrontery, boy," answered the King, passionately."You asked but now of the quarrel with the citizens. Who caused thatquarrel, David? What men were those who scaled the window of a peacefulcitizen and liege man, alarmed the night with torch and outcry, andsubjected our subjects to danger and affright?"
"More fear than danger, I fancy," answered the Prince; "but how can I ofall men tell who made this nocturnal disturbance?"
"There was a follower of thine own there," continued the King--"a man ofBelial, whom I will have brought to condign punishment."
"I have no follower, to my knowledge, capable of deserving yourHighness's displeasure," answered the Prince.
"I will have no evasions, boy. Where wert thou on St. Valentine's Eve?"
"It is to be hoped that I was serving the good saint, as a man of mouldmight," answered the young man, carelessly.
"Will my royal nephew tell us how his master of the horse was employedupon that holy eve?" said the Duke of Albany.
"Speak, David; I command thee to speak," said the King.
"Ramorny was employed in my service, I think that answer may satisfy myuncle."
"But it will not satisfy me," said the angry father. "God knows, I nevercoveted man's blood, but that Ramorny's head I will have, if law cangive it. He has been the encourager and partaker of all thy numerousvices and follies. I will take care he shall be so no more. CallMacLouis, with a guard."
"Do not injure an innocent man," interposed the Prince, desirous atevery sacrifice to preserve his favourite from the menaced danger: "Ipledge my word that Ramorny was employed in business of mine, thereforecould not be engaged in this brawl."
"False equivocator that thou art!" said the King, presenting to thePrince a ring, "behold the signet of Ramorny, lost in the infamousaffray! It fell into the hands of a follower of the Douglas, and wasgiven by the Earl to my brother. Speak not for Ramorny, for he dies; andgo thou from my presence, and repent the flagitious counsels which couldmake thee stand before me with a falsehood in thy mouth. Oh, shame,David--shame! as a son thou hast lied to thy father, as a knight to thehead of thy order."
The Prince stood mute, conscience struck, and self convicted. He thengave way to the honourable feelings which at bottom he really possessed,and threw himself at his father's feet.
"The false knight," he said, "deserves degradation, the disloyal subjectdeath; but, oh! let the son crave from the father pardon for the servantwho did not lead him into guilt, but who reluctantly plunged himselfinto it at his command. Let me bear the weight of my own folly, butspare those who have been my tools rather than my accomplices. Remember,Ramorny was preferred to my service by my sainted mother."
"Name her not, David, I charge thee," said the King; "she is happy thatshe never saw the child of her love stand before her doubly dishonouredby guilt and by falsehood."
"I am indeed unworthy to name her," said the Prince; "and yet, my dearfather, in her name I must petition for Ramorny's life."
"If I might offer my counsel," said the Duke of Albany, who saw thata reconciliation would soon take place betwixt the father and son, "Iwould advise that Ramorny be dismissed from the Prince's household andsociety, with such further penalty as his imprudence may seem to merit.The public will be contented with his disgrace, and the matter will beeasily accommodated or stifled, so that his Highness do not attempt toscreen his servant."
"Wilt thou, for my sake, David," said the King, with a faltering voiceand the tear in his eye, "dismiss this dangerous man?--for my sake, whocould not refuse thee the heart out of my bosom?"
"It shall be done, my father--done instantly," the Prince replied; andseizing the pen, he wrote a hasty dismissal of Ramorny from his service,and put it into Albany's hands. "I would I could fulfil all your wishesas easily, my royal father," he added, again throwing himself at theKing's feet, who raised him up and fondly folded him in his arms.
Albany scowled, but was silent; and it was not till after the space of aminute or two that he said: "This matter being so happily accommodated,let me ask if your Majesty is pleased to attend the evensong service inthe chapel?"
"Surely," said the King. "Have I not thanks to pay to God, who hasrestored union to my family? You will go with us, brother?"
"So please your Grace to give me leave of absence--no," said the Duke."I must concert with the Douglas and others the manner in which we maybring these Highland vultures to our lure."
Albany retired to think over his ambitious projects, while thefather and son attended divine service, to thank God for their happyreconciliation.