Old Mortality, Volume 2. by Sir Walter Scott
page 40 of 304 (13%)
page 40 of 304 (13%)
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"Are you the parties?" said the Laird of Langcale, in the same sharp, conceited, disrespectful tone of voice. "Even so, for fault of better," said the Major. "Then there is the public summons," said the envoy, putting a paper into Lord Evandale's hand, "and there is a private letter for Miles Bellenden from a godly youth, who is honoured with leading a part of our host. Read them quickly, and God give you grace to fructify by the contents, though it is muckle to be doubted." The summons ran thus: "We, the named and constituted leaders of the gentlemen, ministers, and others, presently in arms for the cause of liberty and true religion, do warn and summon William Lord Evandale and Miles Bellenden of Charnwood, and others presently in arms, and keeping garrison in the Tower of Tillietudlem, to surrender the said Tower upon fair conditions of quarter, and license to depart with bag and baggage, otherwise to suffer such extremity of fire and sword as belong by the laws of war to those who hold out an untenable post. And so may God defend his own good cause!" This summons was signed by John Balfour of Burley, as quarter-master general of the army of the Covenant, for himself, and in name of the other leaders. The letter to Major Bellenden was from Henry Morton. It was couched in the following language: "I have taken a step, my venerable friend, which, among many painful |
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