“List ye to knaw this building wha began— Laurence the Bruce he was that worthy man, Quha ernestlie his ayres and afspring prayis To help and not to hurt this wark alwayis.” The ambition which is the infirmity of the noble, sometimes gives boldness to the weak. To exchange the dependent and precarious Possession of the Islands for Sovereignty, and restore in his own family the ancient Jarldom, protected but not controlled by a nominal dependence on a weak and distant Suzerain, was a prospect which might almost have tempted a wiser, and excused a better man; and in 1572, Lord Robert had made some progress in treason. The chances of success warranted the risk. He was in possession of the field—besides a considerable force of soldiers, he was sure of the support of a crowd of followers and adventurers, dependent for their all on his favour and success, and might even win the Islanders themselves to a war with Scotland, by a pledge to restore those native laws and liberties, to the abrogation of which they traced every grievance. On the other hand, the Scottish King was an infant of five years old; the Government precarious; the nation weakened and distracted by civil feuds; the only power that could be sent against him, some one of the northern nobles, all of dubious loyalty; and only one generation had passed since Orkney had defied and defeated the whole available force of Scotland. Denmark was as willing to countenance as Scotland was weak to oppose his designs; and Lord Robert had every reason to hope that the revolution would be effected by pens and treaties, not by swords and battles, if his secret could be kept within his circle of stormy seas, prohibited firths and guarded ferries.