nell be
tolled at the Minster, and a requiem sung for my brother and all who fell
with him. We will be there ourselves, and the mayor must hold us excused
from his banquet; these men are too loyal not to grieve for their King.'

And, with his arm round the neck of his brother John, Henry left the
room; and before another word could be said, Sir Nigel was there, having
only retired on the King's entrance. The news was of course all over the
house, and with an old attendant's freedom he exclaimed, 'So, Sir, the
English have found tough cummers at last!'

'Not too honourably,' said James, sadly.

'Hout, would not the puir loons be glad enow of any gate of coming by a
clout at the man's brother that keeps you captive!'

'They have taken away one of those I loved best!' said James.

'I'm no speaking ill of the lad Clarence himself,' said Nigel; 'he was a
braw youth, leal and bold, and he has died in his helm and spurs, as a
good knight should. I'd wish none of these princes a waur ending.
Moreover, could Swinton have had the wit to keep him living, he'd have
been a bonnie barter for you, my Lord; but ony way the fight was a
gallant one, and the very squire that brought the tidings cannot deny
that our Scots fought like lions.'

'Would Douglas but so fight in any good quarrel!' sighed the King. 'But
what are you longing to ask, Malcolm? Is it for your kinsman Patrick? I
fear me that there is little chance of your hearing by name of him.'

'I wot not,' said Sir Nigel; 'I did but ask for that hare-brained young
cousin of mine, Davie Baird, that must needs be off on this journey to
France; and the squire tells me he was no herald, to be answerable for
the rogues that fought on the other side.'

'We shall soon see for ourselves,' said James; 'I am to make this
campaign.'

'You! you, my liege! Against your own ally, and under the standard of
England! Woe's me, how could ye be so lost!'

James argued on his own conviction that the true France was with poor
Charles VI., and that it was doing the country no service to prolong the
resistance of the Armagnacs and the Dauphin, who then appeared mere
partisans instead of patriots. As to fighting under the English banner,
no subjection was involved in an adventurer king so doing: had not the
King of Bohemia thus fought at Crecy? and was not the King of Sicily with
the French army? Moreover, James himself felt the necessity of gaining
some experience in the art of war.