The spectators here began to gaze on the bloody token with various
comments.

"If that is the case," said one, "Harry Smith had best show a
clean pair of heels for it, since the justiciar will scarce think
the protecting a burgess's house an excuse for cutting off a
gentleman's hand. There be hard laws against mutilation."

"Fie upon you, that you will say so, Michael Webster," answered
the bonnet maker; "are we not representatives and successors of
the stout old Romans, who built Perth as like to their own city as
they could? And have we not charters from all our noble kings and
progenitors, as being their loving liegemen? And would you have us
now yield up our rights, privileges, and immunities, our outfang
and infang, our handhaband, our back bearand, and our blood suits,
and amerciaments, escheats, and commodities, and suffer an honest
burgess's house to be assaulted without seeking for redress? No,
brave citizens, craftsmen, and burgesses, the Tay shall flow back
to Dunkeld before we submit to such injustice!"

"And how can we help it?" said a grave old man, who stood leaning
on a two handed sword. "What would you have us do?"

"Marry, Bailie Craigdallie, I wonder that you, of all men, ask the
question. I would have you pass like true men from this very place
to the King's Grace's presence, raise him from his royal rest, and
presenting to him the piteous case of our being called forth from
our beds at this season, with little better covering than these
shirts, I would show him this bloody token, and know from his Grace's
own royal lips whether it is just and honest that his loving lieges