"I cannot keep them out of the Court by all the proclamations that the
heralds roar themselves hoarse with. Yesterday, nae farther gane, just
as we were mounted, and about to ride forth, in rushed a thorough
Edinburgh gutterblood--a ragged rascal, every dud upon whose back was
bidding good-day to the other, with a coat and hat that would have
served a pease-bogle, and without havings or reverence, thrusts into
our hands, like a sturdy beggar, some Supplication about debts owing
by our gracious mother, and siclike trash; whereat the horse spangs on
end, and, but for our admirable sitting, wherein we have been thought
to excel maist sovereign princes, as well as subjects, in Europe, I
promise you we would have been laid endlang on the causeway."
"Your Majesty," said Heriot, "is their common father, and therefore
they are the bolder to press into your gracious presence."
"I ken I am _pater patriae_ well enough," said James; "but one would
think they had a mind to squeeze my puddings out, that they may divide
the inheritance, Ud's death, Geordie, there is not a loon among them
can deliver a Supplication, as it suld be done in the face of
majesty."
"I would I knew the most fitting and beseeming mode to do so," said
Heriot, "were it but to instruct our poor countrymen in better
fashions."
"By my halidome," said the king, "ye are a ceevileezed fellow,
Geordie, and I carena if I fling awa as much time as may teach ye.
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