kind of language seldom failed to make an impression, "you surely
argue over rigidly in this matter. It was during my last indisposition,
while the Earl of Douglas held, as lieutenant general, the regal
authority in Scotland, that the obstruction to the reception of
the Primate unhappily arose. Do not, therefore, tax me with what
happened when I was unable to conduct the affairs of the kingdom,
and compelled to delegate my power to another."

"To your subject, sire, you have said enough," replied the prior.
"But, if the impediment arose during the lieutenancy of the Earl
of Douglas, the legate of his Holiness will demand wherefore it
has not been instantly removed, when the King resumed in his royal
hands the reins of authority? The Black Douglas can do much--
more perhaps than a subject should have power to do in the kingdom
of his sovereign; but he cannot stand betwixt your Grace and your
own conscience, or release you from the duties to the Holy Church
which your situation as a king imposes upon you."

"Father," said Robert, somewhat impatiently, "you are over peremptory
in this matter, and ought at least to wait a reasonable season,
until we have time to consider of some remedy. Such disputes have
happened repeatedly in the reigns of our predecessors; and our royal
and blessed ancestor, St. David, did not resign his privileges as
a monarch without making a stand in their defence, even though he
was involved in arguments with the Holy Father himself."

"And therein was that great and good king neither holy nor saintly,"
said the prior "and therefore was he given to be a rout and a spoil
to his enemies, when he raised his sword against the banners of
St. Peter, and St. Paul, and St. John of Beverley, in the war, as