"But the bond," said the king; "the bond, my lord!" "As for that league of mutual friendship, formed by certain nobles and myself, I can assure your majesty, that, for any purpose which pleased us, we should adhere together quite well _without_ its existence." "Did friendship alone produce the bond?" asked James with an eagle glance in his keen hazel eyes. "No--we were driven to seal and sign it,--not with intent to attack our enemies, but to defend ourselves against them." "Lord Earl," said the king, gravely, "deeds, not words, evince the affection and submission of a subject; and there can be no greater security for him, than the justly administered laws of the realm. Such men as you, my lord of Douglas, have ever raised those factions which have subverted the authority of your kings and the laws of your country; and now I am resolved to tolerate no subjects of any rank or condition who dare to form leagues, offensive and defensive, against all persons." "My ancestors----" began the earl furiously. "Oh, my lord," said James; "what is all your mad pride of ancestry, when compared----" "With yours, your majesty would say!" "No," replied the king, with a bitter smile, while growing pale with rage. "What then?"----"With _personal worth_." The daring Douglas gave his young monarch a glance of profound disdain; and during this species of altercation, it was with difficulty that Crichton, Gray, Glammis, and Sir Simon Glendinning restrained the desire for falling on the earl sword in hand. "Proceed," said the latter with a sigh of mock resignation. "The objects of your bond are to disclaim all rule, to do what you please, to commit treason, and by your own swords to justify your ultimate views, until you rush upon the throne itself. So I, as a king, whose power comes direct from God and the people, demand that this most dangerous league, with Ross, with Crawford, Ormond, and Balvenie, be instantly broken!" "The bond was formed with the mutual consent of many; and unless they meet for consultation, which they may do on _a day's notice_, it cannot be renounced without dishonour by any one of us." James, who knew their boast, that "on a day's notice" they could array forty thousand men in their helmets against him, gave the crafty peer a withering glance as he replied, "My lord, the first example of renunciation shall be set by _you_. No man--not even though earl of Douglas and lord of Galloway--dare disclaim my authority, and you shall not stir a single pace from this chamber until, in presence of these loyal lords and gentlemen, you retract your adherence to this treason." "Your grace must remember that I came hither upon the public assurance and letters of safe conduct." "No public letter can protect a man from the punishment due to private treason!"