Jane Seton; or, The King's Advocate: A Scottish Historical RomanceGrant, James
History
Jane Seton; or, The King's Advocate: A Scottish Historical Romance
Grant, James
Scotland -- History -- James V, 1513-1542 -- Fiction
On the anniversary of a Scottish victory this one-eyed patriot
invariably got himself uproariously drunk, and broke the windows of
the English ambassador: on the anniversary of any of our defeats he
was invariably ditto from vexation; and as these alternate sources of
joy and grief occurred pretty often, the ancient warrior was seldom
long sober.
Neither Roland's auger at the king, nor his intended combat with
Kincavil, prevented him from making an excellent breakfast on broiled
fish, cold meat, and bright brown ale. Before setting down he
selected the strongest and longest of some half-dozen swords that
hung in a corner. It was a large double-edged weapon, with an ample
hilt of steel; the blade, being inlaid, was one of those called
damasquinêe, from the Asiatic art just then introduced into Europe by
the famous Benvenuto Cellini. It was a beautiful rapier, which he
had taken in battle from an Italian cavalier when serving under John
Stuart Duke of Albany, when, at the head of ten thousand French
men-at-arms, that gallant prince invaded the kingdom of Naples.
Roland never used it save on important and desperate occasions, and
remembering that Kincavil was an able swordsman, he took it down and
handed it to Lintstock to polish; a duty which he performed in silent
precision, with the aid of an old buff belt. Thereafter, with true
military coolness, he tore a shirt into bandages, and prepared some
lint against his master's return.
"How many pots hast thou of that rubbish Lady Ashkirk sent me?--the
salve, I mean," asked Roland, with his moustaches whitened over by
ale froth.
"Three, sir."
"Dost thou know the laird of Kincavil's lodging?"
"Aboon the Tron--yes."
"Then leave the pots there to-day, with my best commendations; for,
by my faith, he will need them all."
Lintstock continued to rub, and watched the polish of the sword.
"Thou knowest I expect two friends to supper, and must trust to thy
ingenuity, for, 'fore God! I have not a testoon in the world."
"Be easy, Sir Roland, I'll provide supper for the king himself, if he
come, and plenty Bordeaux to boot, forbye and attour the Rochelle,"
replied Lintstock, with a nod and a knowing wink of his solitary eye.
The moment breakfast was over, Roland crossed himself and wiped his
moustaches. Receiving his sword, he placed it in his belt on the
left side, hung a long armpit dagger on the right, stuck his bonnet
rather over the right eye, clasped his doublet carefully to the
throat, and giving his curls a last adjust, for he was somewhat of a
beau, whistled the "March to Harlaw," as he issued forth, with the
fullest intention of perforating the laird of Kincavil like a
pepperbox.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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