his being sent from court
and deprived of his charge in Rothsay's household, and it would be
ungenerous to load a falling man. But here comes our secretary, the
prior, to tell us the hour of council approaches. Good morrow, my worthy
father."

"Benedicite, my royal liege," answered the abbot.

"Now, good father," continued the King, "without waiting for Rothsay,
whose accession to our counsels we will ourselves guarantee, proceed we
to the business of our kingdom. What advices have you from the Douglas?"

"He has arrived at his castle of Tantallon, my liege, and has sent a
post to say, that, though the Earl of March remains in sullen seclusion
in his fortress of Dunbar, his friends and followers are gathering and
forming an encampment near Coldingham, Where it is supposed they intend
to await the arrival of a large force of English, which Hotspur and Sir
Ralph Percy are assembling on the English frontier."

"That is cold news," said the King; "and may God forgive George of
Dunbar!"

The Prince entered as he spoke, and he continued: "Ha! thou art here at
length, Rothsay; I saw thee not at mass."

"I was an idler this morning," said the Prince, "having spent a restless
and feverish night."

"Ah, foolish boy!" answered the King; "hadst thou not been over restless
on Fastern's Eve, thou hadst not been feverish on the night of Ash
Wednesday."

"Let me not interrupt your praying, my liege," said the Prince,
lightly. "Your Grace Was invoking Heaven in behalf of some one--an enemy
doubtless, for these have the frequent advantage of your orisons."

"Sit down and be at peace, foolish youth!" said his father, his eye
resting at the same time on the handsome face and graceful figure of
his favourite son. Rothsay drew a cushion near to his father's feet, and
threw himself carelessly down upon it, while the King resumed.

"I was regretting that the Earl of March, having separated warm from
my hand with full assurance that he should receive compensation for
everything which he could complain of as injurious, should have been
capable of caballing with Northumberland against his own country. Is it
possible he could doubt our intentions to make good our word?"

"I will answer for him--no," said the Prince. "March never doubted your
Highness's word. Marry, he may well have made question whether your
learned counsellors would leave your Majesty the power of keeping it."

Robert the Third had adopted to a great extent the timi