"
Mareschal rushed out, and immediately re-entered the chapel.
"By Heaven! it is true, Sir Frederick; the house is filled with armed
men, and our drunken beasts are all disarmed. Draw, and let us fight our
way."
"Binna rash--binna rash," exclaimed Hobbie; "hear me a bit, hear me a
bit. We mean ye nae harm; but, as ye are in arms for King James, as
ye ca' him, and the prelates, we thought it right to keep up the auld
neighbour war, and stand up for the t'other ane and the Kirk; but we'll
no hurt a hair o' your heads, if ye like to gang hame quietly. And it
will be your best way, for there's sure news come frae Loudoun, that him
they ca' Bang, or Byng, or what is't, has bang'd the French ships and
the new king aff the coast however; sae ye had best bide content wi'
auld Nanse for want of a better Queen."
Ratcliffe, who at this moment entered, confirmed these accounts so
unfavourable to the Jacobite interest. Sir Frederick, almost instantly,
and without taking leave of any one, left the castle, with such of his
attendants as were able to follow him.
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