"
"See, then, that you give no one notice of our lodging," said the
young nobleman; "those with whom I have business I can meet at Paul's,
or in the Court of Requests."
"This is steeking the stable-door when the steed is stolen," thought
Richie to himself; "but I must put him on another pin."
So thinking, he asked the young lord what was in the Proclamation
which he still held folded in his hand; "for, having little time to
spell at it," said he, "your lordship well knows I ken nought about it
but the grand blazon at the tap--the lion has gotten a claught of our
auld Scottish shield now, but it was as weel upheld when it had a
unicorn on ilk side of it."
Lord Nigel read the Proclamation, and he coloured deep with shame and
indignation as he read; for the purport was, to his injured feelings,
like the pouring of ardent spirits upon a recent wound.
"What deil's in the paper, my lord?" said Richie, unable to suppress
his curiosity as he observed his master change colour; "I wadna ask
such a thing, only the Proclamation is not a private thing, but is
meant for a' men's hearing."
"It is indeed meant for all men's hearing," replied Lord Nigel, "and
it proclaims the shame of our country, and the ingratitude of our
Prince."
"Now the Lord preserve us! and to publish it in London, too!"
ejaculated Moniplies.
"Hark ye, Richard," said Nigel Olifaunt, "in this paper the Lords of
the Council set forth, that, 'in consideration of the resort of idle
persons of low condition forth from his Majesty's kingdom of Scotland
to his English Court--filling the same with their suits and
supplications, and dishonouring the royal presence with their base,
poor, and beggarly persons, to the disgrace of their country in the
estimation of the English; these are to prohibit the skippers, masters
of vessels and others, in every part of Scotland, from bringing such
miserable creatures up to Court under pain of fine and impisonment.
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