It was true that the party required the money, but he,
George Heriot, would advance it on his Majesty's account, if such were
his pleasure, and wait his royal conveniency for payment, for that and
other matters; the money, meanwhile, lying at the ordinary usage.
"By my honour," said James, "and that is speaking like an honest and
reasonable tradesman. We maun get another subsidy frae the Commons,
and that will make ae compting of it. Awa wi' it, Maxwell--awa wi' it,
and let it be set where Steenie and Babie Charles shall see it as they
return from Richmond.--And now that we are secret, my good auld friend
Geordie, I do truly opine, that speaking of Solomon and ourselves, the
haill wisdom in the country left Scotland, when we took our travels to
the Southland here."
George Heriot was courtier enough to say, that "the wise naturally
follow the wisest, as stags follow their leader." "Troth, I think
there is something in what thou sayest," said James; "for we
ourselves, and those of our Court and household, as thou thyself, for
example, are allowed by the English, for as self-opinioned as they
are, to pass for reasonable good wits; but the brains of those we have
left behind are all astir, and run clean hirdie-girdie, like sae mony
warlocks and witches on the Devil's Sabbath e'en."
"I am sorry to hear this, my liege," said Heriot. "May it please your
Grace to say what our countrymen have done to deserve such a
character?"
"They are become frantic, man--clean brain-crazed," answered the king.
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