his brow the deep
impression of early thought and premature passion. This was that
celebrated Lindsay, Earl of Crawford, who, in his after days, was known
by the epithet of the Tiger Earl, and who ruled the great and rich
valley of Strathmore with the absolute power and unrelenting cruelty of
a feudal tyrant. Two or three gentlemen, friends of the Earl, or of his
own, countenanced Sir John Ramorny by their presence on this occasion.
The charge was again stated, and met by a broad denial on the part
of the accused; and in reply, the challengers offered to prove their
assertion by an appeal to the ordeal of bier right.

"I am not bound," answered Sir John Ramorny, "to submit to this ordeal,
since I can prove, by the evidence of my late royal master, that I was
in my own lodgings, lying on my bed, ill at ease, while this provost and
these bailies pretend I was committing a crime to which I had neither
will nor temptation. I can therefore be no just object of suspicion."

"I can aver," said the Prince, "that I saw and conversed with Sir John
Ramorny about some matters concerning my own household on the very night
when this murder was a-doing. I therefore know that he was ill at ease,
and could not in person commit the deed in question. But I know nothing
of the employment of his attendants, and will not take it upon me to say
that some one of them may not have been guilty of the crime now charged
on them."

Sir John Ramorny had, during the beginning of this speech, looked
round with an air of defiance, which was somewhat disconcerted by the
concluding sentence of Rothsay's speech.

"I thank your Highness," he said, with a smile, "for your cautious and
limited testimony in my behalf. He was wise who wrote, 'Put not your
faith in princes.'"

"If you have no other evidence of your innocence, Sir John Ramorny,"
said the King, "we may not, in respect to your followers, refuse to
the injured widow and orphans, the complainers, the grant of a proof by
ordeal of bier right, unless any of them should prefer that of combat.
For yourself, you are, by the Prince's evidence, freed from the
attaint."

"My liege," answered Sir John, "I can take warrant upon myself for the
innocence of my household and followers."

"Why, so a monk or a woman might speak," said Sir Patrick Charteris. "In
knightly language, wilt thou, Sir John de Ramorny, do battle with me in
the behalf of thy followers?"

"The provost of Perth had not obtained ti