When the Earl of Huntinglen had presented Nigel to his sovereign, a
ceremony which the good peer took upon himself, the king received the
young lord very graciously, and observed to his introducer, that he
"was fain to see them twa stand side by side; for I trow, my Lord
Huntinglen," continued he, "your ancestors, ay, and e'en your
lordship's self and this lad's father, have stood front to front at
the sword's point, and that is a worse posture."
"Until your Majesty," said Lord Huntinglen, "made Lord Ochtred and me
cross palms, upon the memorable day when your Majesty feasted all the
nobles that were at feud together, and made them join hands in your
presence--"
"I mind it weel," said the king; "I mind it weel--it was a blessed
day, being the nineteen of September, of all days in the year--and it
was a blithe sport to see how some of the carles girned as they
clapped loofs together. By my saul, I thought some of them, mair
special the Hieland chiels, wad have broken out in our own presence;
but we caused them to march hand in hand to the Cross, ourselves
leading the way, and there drink a blithe cup of kindness with ilk
other, to the stanching of feud, and perpetuation of amity. Auld John
Anderson was Provost that year--the carle grat for joy, and the
bailies and councillors danced bare-headed in our presence like five-
year-auld colts, for very triumph.
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