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'twas license to go a pilgrimage。'
'On pilgrimage！'
'Ay； Sir； to yon shrine at BreuilSt。 Fiacre's； as they call him。 Some of our rogues pillaged his shrine； as you know； Sir； and those that know these parts best； say he was a Scottish hermit； and bears malice like a Scot； saint though he be； and that your sickness； my lord； is all along of that。 So we two have vowed to go barefoot there for your healing； my liege； if so be we have your license。'
'And welcome； with my best thanks； good friends；' said Henry； exerting himself to lean forward and give his hand to their kiss。 Then； as they fell back into their places； with a few inarticulate blessings and assurances that they only wished they could go to Rome； or to Jerusalem； if it would restore their king； Henry said； smiling； as he looked at James； 'Scotsmen here； there； and everywherein Heaven as well as earth！ What was it last night about a Scot that moved thine ire； Jamie？ Didst not tender me thy sword？ By my faith； thou hast it not！ What was the rub？'
James now told the story in its fulness。 How he had met Sir Patrick Drummond at Glenuskie； how； afterwards； the knight had stood by him in the encounter at Meaux； and how it had been impossible to leave him senseless to the flames； and how he had trusted that a capture made thus； accidentally； of a helpless man； would not fall under Henry's strict rules against accepting Scottish prisoners。
'Hm！' said Henry； 'it must be as you will； only I trust to you not to let him loose on us； either here or on the Border。 Take back your sword； Jamie。 If I spoke over hotly last nighta man hardly knows what he says when he has a goad in the sideyou forgive it； Jamie。' And as the Scots king； with the dew in his eyes； wrung his hand； he added anxiously； 'Your sword！ What； not here！ Here's mine。 Which is it？' Then； as James handed it to him： 'Ay； I would fain you wore it！ 'Tis the sword of my knighthood； when poor King Richard dubbed me in Ireland； and many a brave scheme came with it！'
The soft movement of the barge upon the water had a soothing influence； and he was certainly in a less suffering state； though silent and dreamy； as he lay half raised on cushions under an awning； James anxiously watching over him； and Malcolm with a few other attendants near at hand； stout bargemen propelling the craft； and the guard keeping along the bank of the river。
His thoughts were perhaps with the battle； for presently he looked up； and murmured the verse：
'〃I had a dream； a weary dream； Ayont the Isle of Skye； I saw a dead man win a fight； And I think that man was I。'
That stave keeps ringing in my brain； nor can I tell where or when I have heard it。'
''Tis from the Scottish ballad that sings of the fight of Otterburn；' said James； 'I brought it with me from Scotland。'
'And got little thanks for your pains；' said Henry； smiling。 'But； methinks； since no Percy is in the way； I would hear it again； there was true knighthood in the Douglas that died there。'
James's harp was never far off； and again his mellow voice went through that gallant and plaintive strain； though in a far more subdued manner than the first time he had sung it； and Henry； weakened and softened； actually dropped a brave man's tear at the 'bracken bush upon the lily lea；' and the hero who lay there。
'That I should weep for a Douglas！' he said； half laughing； 'but the hearts of all honest men lie near together； on whatever side they draw their swords。 God have mercy on whosoever may fall to…morrow！ I trow； Jamie； thou couldst not sing that rough rhyme of Agincourt。 I was bashful and ungracious enough to loathe the very sound of it when I came home in my pride of youth； but I would lief hear it once more。 Or； stayYorkshiremen always have voices；' and raising his tone； he unspeakably gratified Trenton and Kitson by the request； and their voices； deep and powerful； and not uncultivated； poured forth the Lay of Agincourt to the waves of the French river； and to its mighty victor：
'Our King went forth to Normandye。'
Long and lengthily chanted was the triumphant song； with the Latin choruses； which were echoed back by the escort on the bank； while Henry lay； listening and musing； and Malcolm had time for many a thought and impulse。
Patrick's life was granted； although it had been promised too late to send the intelligence back to the tent at Corbeil。 So far； the purpose of his vow to St。 Andrew had been accomplished； but with the probability that he should soon again be associated with Patrick； came the sense of the failure in purpose and in promise。 Patrick would not reproach him； he well knewnay； would rejoice in the change； but even this certainty galled him； and made him dread his cousin's presence as likely to bring him a sense of shame。 What would Patrick think of his letting a lady be absolutely compelled to marry him？ Might he not say it was the part of Walter Stewart over again？ Indeed； Malcolm remembered how carefully King James was prevented from hearing the means by which the Countess intended to make the lady his own； and a sensation came over him； that it was profanation to call on St。 Andrew to bless what was to be brought about by such means。 Why was it that； as his eyes fell on the face of King Henry； the whole world and all his projects acquired so different a colouring？ and a sentence he had once heard Esclairmonde quote would come to him constantly： 'My son； think not to buy off God。 It is thyself that He requires； not thy gifts。'
But the long lay of victory was over； and King Henry had roused himself to thank the singers； then sighed； and said； 'How long ago that was！'
'Six years；' said James。
'The whole space from the hope and pride of youth to the care and toil of eld；' said Henry。 'Your Scots made an old man of me the day they slew Thomas。'
'Yet that has been your sole mishap；' said James。
'Yea； truly！ But thenceforth I have learnt that the road to Jerusalem is not so straight and plain as I deemed it when I stood victorious at Agincourt。 The Church one againthe Holy Sepulchre redeemed！ It seemed then before my eyes； and that I was the man called to do it。'
'So it may be yet；' said James。 'Sickness alters everything； and raises mountains before us。'
'It may be so；' said Henry； 'and yetJerusalem！ Jerusalem！ It was my father's cry； it was King Edward's cry； it was St。 Louis' cry； and yet they never got there。'
'St。 Louis was far on his way；' said James。
'Ay！ he never turned aside！' said Henry； sighing； and moving restlessly and wearily with something of returning fever。
〃'O bona patria； lumina sobria te speculantur〃
Boy； are you there？' as； in turning； his eye fell on Malcolm。 'Take warning： the straight road is the best。 You see； I have never come to Jerusalem。' Then again he murmured：
〃'Hic breve vivitur； hic breve plangitur； hic breve fletur； Non breve vivere； non breve plangere； retribuetur。〃
And James； seeing that nothing lulled him like song； offered to sing that mysteriously beautiful rhythm of Bernard of Morlaix。
'Ay； prithee do so；' said Henry。 'There's a rest there； when the Agincourt lay rings hollow。 Well； there is a Jerusa