Evening star., 1898-11-19

of the lists and actually shed tears. being
little more than a boy and none looking on
to see him.
Then he came back hastily and besought
James of Douglas 30 let him fight as his
squire, saying that he had never taken
up the knighthOod which had been bestow-
&c on him by the earl for his journey to
France, there could be nothing irregular in
his fighting once more as a simple esquire.
And thus after appeal to the earl him
self it was arranged much to Allan Laud-
er'S content
For his third knight the Douglas had
made choice of his third cousin Hugh.
younger brother of his two opponents, and
at that William and James of Avondale
shook their heads.
He pushes Il good tree, our Hughie."
said James, IF he comes at you, Will,
mind that trick of swerving that he hath.
Aim at right gauntlet and you will hit his
sEield,'
The conflict on the Boatcroft differed
much from the chiyalrous encounters Of an
earlier time and richer country.
1t ChanCed that on the borders of the
crowd which that day begirt the great in
closure of the lists. two burgesseS of bum
fries stood on tiptoe, to wit. Robert Sem
pie, merchant. dealing in cloth and wool
and Ninian Halliburton, the uncle of the
wife Of Mallse MaCkim, master armnrer
whose trade was only conditioned by the
amount Of capital he had to lay out and the
probability he had of dispOsing of his pur-
chase within a reasonable time.
1t would give an entirely erroneous i'm
preston of the state of Scotland if the say
ings and dOIngS Of the wise and shrcwd
burshers of the towns of Scotland were left
without a ChronicleT. The bUrghs of Scot
land Were at once the cradles and strong
holds OF liberty. They were not subject to
the great mobiles They looked with ieal-
Uusy on all encrOachments on their liber-
| ties and had sharp swords TO enforce their
objection. They had been endowed with
privileges by the wise and polite kings of
- nd in
James |, OF late worthy memory. For they
were the best bulwark of the central au-
thority against the power of the great
nCbles of the provinces.
Now Robert SefnBle and Ninian HaIIi-
burton were two worthy citizens of Dunn
tries. men of respectability, we'll provided
Tor by the success OF their trade and The
saving nature Of their wives. They had
come to the Thrieve for two purposes-to
deliver a large consignment of goods and
gear, foreign provision and fruit to the
controller of the earl's household and to
receive payment therefor, partly in money
and partly in the wool and cattle hides and
taiiOw, which had been the staple products
of Galloway throughout her generations.
Their further purposes and intents in
venturing SO far west of the safe precincts
of their burgh Of Dumfries may be gath
cred from their conversation hereinafter
reported.
Ninidn Halliburton was a rosy-faced
clean-shaven man. with a habit of con-
stantly pursuing out his lips and half closing
his eyes, as if he were sagely deciding on
the adviSahility of some bargain. His COM
panion. Robert Semple, had a similar look
| of shrewdness, but added to it his face bore
| also the imprint of shy and lurking hu-
! NOR, not unlike that of the master armorer
| himself. He had kept his terms also al the
| College of ST. Andrews, where YOU NAV find
/ on the list of graduates the name of Rob-
/ ertus Semple, written by the foundations
/ hand Of Bishop Henry Wardlaw himself
4 Arr. = ~ h IIF'y- H. l..;I
/ would often feelingly recall he bore, the
| memory, if not the marks, of the disciulin-
, ing of Henry Ogilvy. master in arts. a
! wholesome custom, too much neglected by
| the present regentS-as he would add.
This is excellent affair for US" said
| Ninian Halliburton, standing with his
| hands folded placidly over his ample stom-
| ach, only occasionally wandering in order
! to feel and approve the pile Of brown vel
! vet out of which the sober gown was con-
| structed. "A good thing for us. l say, that
| there are great lords like the Earl of Doug
! las TO keep up the expense of such days as
\ this
| 1T were still better" answered his COM
| panion, drily. IF the great mobiles would
| pay poor merchants according TO their
! promise instead Of treating them with the
| dule tree if they so much as venture to ask
| for their money. Neither you nor l. bailie
/ can buy in the lowiands of Holland without
! a goOdly provision of the broad gold pieces
! that are 50 hard to drag from the great
| mobiles of Scotland"
! The rosy-gilled bsilie of Dumfries looked
! up at his friend with quick expression OF
| mingled hope and anxiety.
| Does the Earl o. Douglas owe you any
| siller?" he asked, in a hushed whisper.
/ For If he does | am willing to take over
! the debtor consideration
| Nay" said Semple, Il only wish he did
| The DouglaseS of the Black We're never Ill
| payers. They had their hand in every
| mans meal ark, but they are easy in
[ tot incyF aIcA xfol-9
! "Siller in hand is the greatest virtue of a
| buyer, said the bailfe, with JUNCTION. But
| Robert Semple, though I willing to
J obliSe ye as a friend By taking over your