death, I saw that through the anxiety, which drew
dark rings about them, they were joyful with a great joy!

And this is what my Maisie Lennox did for me.

FOLLOWETH

_The conclusion of the author to the reader._

But our perils were not yet wholly over. We were in fear that at any
hour the messenger might arrive, having gotten another horse, even in
that lonely place where Maisie left him. But having pardons in the
King's hand, our foes themselves were eager to be rid of us. They knew
that Roger McGhie had been busy on our behalfs, so that the Council
showed no surprise that he had prevailed, knowing how great he was with
John Graham, and also with the Duke of York. But they ordered us all,
Maisie Lennox, her father, and I, forth of the kingdom upon the instant.
So within an hour we went, right well content, along with the officers
on board a ship at Leith, that waited with anchor weighed and sails
backed in the Roads for the Council's permit to proceed. Which being
obtained by the same boat that brought us, they drew away with us on
board upon the instant. And it was as well, for, as our friends
afterwards advised us, the plundered messenger came in during the night;
and with the earliest break of morn there was a swift vessel on our
track. But by that time we were well-nigh half over, with a good ship
and a following wind. So that there was no vessel in Scotland that could
catch us.

In due time we landed at Rotterdam with great joy and rejoicing. Now,
there remains many a story that I might tell concerning our life
there--how I took service in the Scots regiments of the Prince, how poor
we were and how happy. Indeed, if I be spared and keep my wits, I may
write it one day. For, to my thinking, it is a good tale, and infinitely
more mirthful than this of the killing time, which presently it has been
my lot to tell, though Sandy had no part in it, seeing that he abode
until the coming of the Prince in the stony castle of Blackness, yet not
greatly ill-done to, being tended there by his wife.

Also in it there should be commemorated how my mother came to us, and
concerning Wat and Kate, and all that sped between them. Also, for a
greater theme, how we went back and helped Renwick and Cleland to raise
again the Seven Thousand, and how we stood in the breach when the
Stuarts were swept away. Especially I would joy to tell of the glorious
Leaguer of Dunkeld. That were a tale to attempt, indeed, with Maisie