on. Unto what
purport?"

But no one could resolve him as to the use of the stone, or the purport
of the writing. His worthy host protested that the wonder had never
before been observed. It was doubtless some miracle worked for the
occasion.

"But the _scriptum_ or writing will set forth the motive or argument
thereto. The letters be goodly and well-shapen."

Many voices recited the inscription, forming the following ill-spelled
line.

"_Torne me o're, an I'le tel thee plaine_."

The well-known childish curiosity of the monarch would not permit him to
go away unsatisfied. The day was hot, and the stone was heavy; but a
long and laborious toil brought to light the following satisfactory
intelligence,--

"_Hot porritch softens hard butter-cakes,
So torne me o'er again_"[31]

"And o' my saul," said the king, "ye shall gang roun' to yere place
again; for sa meikle as these country gowks mauna ken the riddle without
the labour."

So the "muckle stane" was replaced for the next comer who had strength
and curiosity enough to unriddle the sphinx.

But James did not relish fooleries wherein he was the butt. Whether it
was devised by some wicked rhymester and contemner of royalty in the
neighbourhood, or placed there by some of the wits of his own company,
was never ascertained, though he challenged them at random, and swore
lustily that he would know the originator of this piece of folly and
impertinence.

As the king drew nigh to the avenue, there presently issued forth a
goodly flourish of trumpets, which made the women caper and the horses
prance. Sir Richard Hoghton rode with the king; but his son Sir Gilbert
met his Majesty with a great retinue, clad mostly after the same
fashion; many of the neighbouring gentry, as we have before observed,
not disdaining to put on Sir Richard's gowns and liveries, to swell the
pomp and magnificence of that memorable occasion.

The javelin-bearers rode two and two: halting at his Majesty's approach,
they formed an avenue, through which Sir Gilbert, sumptuously attired,
went forth to salute the king. His cloak and hose were all glistening
and spangled with embroidery; his vest was cloth of gold, enriched with
rare and costly stones; his shirt-bands and ruffles were worked in
silver; and his gloves, Spanish, breathing out the choicest perfume; his
hat was of French murrey, the brims thick set with gold twist and
spangles; round it was a band of goldsmith's work, lo