your Highness's permission, I am purposed instantly to return, to
attend my charge, as Warden of the Eastern Marches."

"You will not deal so unkindly with us, cousin," replied the gentle
monarch. "Here are evil tidings on the wind. These unhappy Highland
clans are again breaking into general commotion, and the tranquillity
even of our own court requires the wisest of our council to advise,
and the bravest of our barons to execute, what may be resolved
upon. The descendant of Thomas Randolph will not surely abandon
the grandson of Robert Bruce at such a period as this?"

"I leave with him the descendant of the far famed James of Douglas,"
answered March. "It is his lordship's boast that he never puts
foot in stirrup but a thousand horse mount with him as his daily
lifeguard, and I believe the monks of Aberbrothock will swear to
the fact. Surely, with all the Douglas's chivalry, they are fitter
to restrain a disorderly swarm of Highland kerne than I can be to
withstand the archery of England and power of Henry Hotspur? And
then, here is his Grace of Albany, so jealous in his care of your
Highness's person, that he calls your Brandanes to take arms when a
dutiful subject like myself approaches the court with a poor half
score of horse, the retinue of the meanest of the petty barons
who own a tower and a thousand acres of barren heath. When such
precautions are taken where there is not the slightest chance of
peril--since I trust none was to be apprehended from me--your
royal person will surely be suitably guarded in real danger."

"My Lord of March," said the Duke of Albany, "the meanest of the
barons of whom you speak put their followers in arms even when they
receive their dearest and nearest friends within the iron gate of