FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107  
108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   >>   >|  
cried the king with impatience, "am I to find myself involved in a Highland feud in my own hall? MacPherson, it seems this man does not require your interpreting, so perhaps it will further the peace of our realm if you withdraw quietly." MacPherson with a low obeisance, did so; then to MacNab the king spoke,-- "Sir, as it appears you are acquainted with our language, why did you not reply to the question I put to you?" "Because I would have you know it was not the proper kind of question to ask the like of me. I am a descendant of kings." "Well, as far as that goes, I am a descendant of kings myself, though sorry I should be to defend all their actions." "Your family only began with Robert the Bruce; mine was old ere he came to the throne." "That may well be, still you must admit that what Robert lacked in ancestry, he furnished forth in ability." "But the Clan MacNab defeated him at the battle of Del Rhi." "True, with some assistance, which you ignore, from Alexander of Argyll. However, if this discussion is to become a competition in history, for the benefit of our ignorant courtiers, I may be allowed to add that my good ancestor, Robert, did not forget the actions of the MacNabs at Del Rhi, and later overran their country, dismantled their fortresses, leaving the clan in a more sane and chastened condition than that in which he found it. But what has all this to do with your coming storming into a peaceable town like Stirling?" "In truth, your majesty," whispered Sir David Lyndsay, "I think they must have come to replenish their wardrobe, and in that they are not a moment too soon." "I came," said the chief, who had not heard this last remark, "because of the foray you have mentioned. I came because Robert the Bruce desolated our country." "By my good sword!" cried James, "speaking as one king to another, your revenge is somewhat belated, a lapse of two centuries should have outlawed the debt. Did you expect then to take Stirling with twenty men?" "I expected King James the Fifth to rectify the wrong done by King Robert the First." "Your expectation does honour to my reputation as a just man, but I have already disclaimed responsibility for the deeds of ancestors less remote than good King Robert." "You have made proclamation in the Highlands that the chieftains must bring you proof of their right to occupy their lands." "I have, and some have preferred to me their deeds of tenure
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107  
108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Robert

 

descendant

 

actions

 
Stirling
 
country
 

MacPherson

 
MacNab
 

question

 

speaking

 

remark


mentioned
 

desolated

 

replenish

 

Highland

 

peaceable

 
coming
 

storming

 

majesty

 

whispered

 
revenge

wardrobe

 
moment
 

involved

 

Lyndsay

 

centuries

 

ancestors

 

remote

 
responsibility
 

disclaimed

 

proclamation


occupy

 

preferred

 

tenure

 

Highlands

 

chieftains

 

reputation

 

honour

 

expect

 

outlawed

 

belated


twenty

 

expectation

 

rectify

 

expected

 

impatience

 

throne

 
withdraw
 

quietly

 

lacked

 

ancestry