Robert Barr

“ What are four and myself to say to the King's soldiers when they demand entrance to my house?"
"The King is but a boy, and when he sees death or compliance before him, he will accede to our demands."
"He is but a boy, it is true," said the Laird; "but he is a boy, as I pointed out to my friend Fleming, who escaped from the clutches of the Earl of Angus out of the stronghold of Falkland Palace, and who afterwards drove the Earl and many of the Douglas leaders into exile. That is the kind of boy you have to deal with. ”

“ You see, Ballengeich, in this matter I'm between the cart-wheel and the hard road. My head's off if this plot miscarries, as you've just told me, and my throat's cut if I withdraw from the secret conclave. It's but a choice between two bashings. There's a dead cobbler in any event."
"I see your difficulty," said the Laird; "do you want to be helped out of it." ”

“ It is a mad scheme. Supposing the King promised under compulsion, what would be his first action the moment he returned to Stirling Castle? He would scour the country for you, and your heads would come off, one by one, like buttons from an old coat."
"That's what I said. 'Trust the word of a Stuart,' says I. 'It's pure nonsense.'"
"Oh! I'm not sure that the word of a Stuart is not as good as the word of any other man," said Ballengeich, with a ring of anger in his voice at which the cobbler looked up surprised. ”

“ I stand by the document; read it—read it!"
"Sire, it says safe conduct for eleven men here present, under protection of your Royal word."
"You do not keep to the point, cobbler," shouted the King, bringing his fist down upon the table. "Safe conduct to where? I asked. The parchment does not say safe conduct back into Stirling again. Safe conduct to heaven, or elsewhere, is what I guaranteed."
"That is but an advocate's quibble, your Majesty. 'Safe conduct' is a phrase well understood by high and low alike. ”

“ Now, the drink we had at our meetings heretofore was vile, and no more fitted for a Christian's throat than is the headsman's axe; but if you ever tasted anything better than this, tell me where to get a hogshead of it."
The headsman having filled their horns, the leader raised the flagon above his head and said—
"I give you the toast of the King!"
"No, no," said the boyish monarch. "I want to drink this myself. I'll give you a toast. 'May there never come a time when a Scotchman is afraid to risk his head for what he thinks is right!'"
And this toast they drank together. ”

“ Between now and Wednesday night you might confer with your leaders, Fleming. Tell them you have a young man you can trust who owns just the kind of a house that James can be kept fast in, if he is captured. Say that I will take the oath, or anything else they like to give, and add, which is more to the purpose, that I have a plot of my own, which differs from theirs in giving at least as much chance of success and has the additional quality of being safe. ”

“ If peaceable means fail, then try violence, say I; but it is hardly fair to the young man to approach him at the beginning of his reign with a dirk in the hand. His answer would likely be a reference to his headsman—that is a favourite Stuart mode of argument. I have some friends about the Castle," continued the Laird; "I supply them with various necessities from the farm, and, if I do say it myself, I am well thought of by some in authority. I can guarantee you, I am sure, a safe conduct for your mission."
"But if safe conduct is refused?" said the leader. ”

“ I'll tell nobody, and mayhap, young as I am, I can give you some plain, useful advice from the green fields that will counteract the pernicious notions that rise in the stifling winds of the crowded town. ”

“ The house is well enough in its way; there's more room in it than I care to occupy. It's strongly built of stone and could stand a siege if necessary, as very likely it has done in days long past, for it's an old building. It's near enough to Stirling for me to come in and see my friend the cobbler in the evening and to sleep in my own bed that night, if I cared to do so. ”

“ Well, there are many things that might be mended in this country, as you well know, and the King can mend them if he likes, with a word. Now, rather than have his throat cut, our leader thinks he will agree to reasonable reform. ”

“ The conspirators looked at each other, but no one replied. At last the leader said—
"It will be time to consider that when we have him safely under bolt."
"Pardon me—not so. The time to consider all things is now. Everything must be cut and dried, or failure is certain. The moment the King is missing, the country will be scoured for him. There will be no possible place of refuge for miles around that will not be searched for the missing monarch. ”

“ What's on your mind, Fleming? Are you swithering whether you'll turn farmer or" not? Let me inform you that it's a poor occupation."
"I'll tell you what's on my mind, Ballengeich, if you'll swear piously to keep it a secret."
"Indeed, I'll do nothing of the sort," replied the young man decisively " An honest man's bare word is as good as his bond, and the strongest oath ever yet sworn never yet kept a rascal from divulging a secret intrusted to him."
"You're right in that—you're right in that," the cobbler hastened to add ”

“ The fact that he is a boy, or a very young man at least, argues that his mind will be more impressionable than that of an older person whose ideas are set. I propose, then, that a deputation wait upon his Majesty and place before him the evils that require remedying, being prepared to answer any question he may ask regarding the method of their amendment. ”