have twice met the enemy, with the effect that we have armed
ourselves with their muskets and field-pieces. From first to last there
hath been nothing which has not prospered with us. We must look to it
that the future be as successful as the past. To insure this I have
called ye together, and I now ask ye to give me your opinions of our
situation, leaving me after I have listened to your views to form our
plan of action. There are statesmen among ye, and there are soldiers
among ye, and there are godly men among ye who may chance to get a flash
of light when statesman and soldier are in the dark. Speak fearlessly,
then, and let me know what is in your minds.'

From my central post by the door I could see the lines of faces on
either side of the board, the solemn close-shaven Puritans, sunburned
soldiers, and white-wigged moustachioed courtiers. My eyes rested
particularly upon Ferguson's scorbutic features, Saxon's hard aquiline
profile, the German's burly face, and the peaky thoughtful countenance
of the Lord of Wark.

'If naebody else will gie an opeenion,' cried the fanatical Doctor,
'I'll een speak mysel' as led by the inward voice. For have I no worked
in the cause and slaved in it, much enduring and suffering mony things
at the honds o' the froward, whereby my ain speerit hath plentifully
fructified? Have I no been bruised as in a wine-press, and cast oot wi'
hissing and scorning into waste places?'

'We know your merits and your sufferings, Doctor,' said the King. 'The
question before us is as to our course of action.'

'Was there no a voice heard in the East?' cried the old Whig. 'Was there
no a soond as o' a great crying, the crying for a broken covenant and a
sinful generation? Whence came the cry? Wha's was the voice? Was it no
that o' the man Robert Ferguson, wha raised himsel' up against the great
ones in the land, and wouldna be appeased?'

'Aye, aye, Doctor,' said Monmouth impatiently. 'Speak to the point, or
give place to another.'

'I shall mak' mysel' clear, your Majesty. Have we no heard that Argyle
is cutten off? And why was he cutten off? Because he hadna due faith
in the workings o' the Almighty, and must needs reject the help o' the
children o' light in favour o' the bare-legged spawn o' Prelacy, wha are
half Pagan, half Popish. Had he walked in the path o' the Lord he wudna
be lying in the Tolbooth o' Edinburgh wi' the tow or the axe before
him. Why did he no gird up his loins and march st