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r two months in the strong castle on the Bass Rock。
The charge was termed treason and violence； and assuredly there had been perpetual acts of spoil and barbarous infractions of the law by men who deemed themselves above all law。 The only curiosity was； for which of these acts they were to be tried； and this affected many of their judges likewise； for there was hardly a man in that court who was not conscious of some deed that would not exactly bear to be set beside the code of Scotland； and who had not been in the habit of regarding those laws as all very well for burghers； but not meant for gentlemen。
There； on seats behind the throne； sat the twenty…one jurors； Earl Douglas among thema new earl； for the grim old Archibald had died in the battle of Verneuil some months before。 Angus； March； and Mar； and all the most powerful names in Scotland； were there； and upon his throne； in regal robes of crimson and ermine； the crown upon his brow； the sceptre in his hand； the sword of state held before him； sat King James； the most magnificent…looking king then reigning in Europe； but with the sternest； saddest； most resolute of countenances； as one unalterably fixed upon the terrible duty of not bearing the sword in vain。 Something of Henry's avenging…angel look seemed to have passed into his face； but with far more of melancholy weight。
Walter Stewart was led into the court。 He too was a man of lofty stature and princely bearing； and his grand Stewart features were set in an expression of easy nonchalance and scorn； aware as he was that of whatever he might be accused； there were few of his judges that did not share the guilt； and moreover persuaded that this was a mere ceremony； and that the King would never dare to go beyond this futile attempt to overawe him。 He stood alonehis father and the others were reserved for another trial； and as； richly arrayed； he stood opposite to the jury； gazing fixedly first at one； then at the other； as though challenging their right to sit in judgment on him； one eye after another fell beneath his gaze。
'Walter Stewart of Albany； Earl of Fife；' proclaimed the crier's voice。 'You stand here arraigned of murder and of robbery。'
'At whose suit？' demanded Walter； undaunted。
'At the suit of Malcolm and Lilias Stewart of Glenuskie； and of Patrick Drummond of the Braes；' returned the crier； an ecclesiastic； as were all lawyers； and at the same moment three figures came forward； namely； a tall knightly gentleman with gold chain and spurs； a lady whose veil disclosed a blushing dark…eyed face； and a slender youth of deep and earnest countenance。 'At the suit of these here present you stand arraigned； Sir Walter Stewart of Albany； for having feloniously； and of malice aforethought； on the Eve of the Annunciation of our Lady； of the year of grace 1421； set upon the said Malcolm and Lilias Stewart； Sir David Drummond of the Braes； Tutor of Glenuskie； and divers other persons； on the muir of Hetherfield； and having there cruelly and maliciously wounded the said David of the Braes to the death； and of having forcibly stolen and abducted the person of the said Lilias Stewart'
The crier was not permitted to proceed； for Walter Stewart broke forth； passionately addressing the jurors。 'So this is all that can be found to be laid against me。 This is the way that matters of five years back are raked up to vex the princes and nobles of Scotland。 I am sorry for you； lords and gentlemen； if this is the way that vexatious are to be stirred up against those who have defended their country so long。'
'This is no answer to the accusation； Sir Walter；' said the Earl of Mar。
'Accusation； forsooth！' said Walter Stewart scornfully。 'Who dares to bear witness； if I DID maintain my father's lawful authority over peevish runaway wards of the Crown？'
'Sir Walter；' said the King； 'you would have done better to have waited and heard the whole indictment ere answering one charge。 But since you demand who will dare to bear witness in this matter of the murder of Sir David Drummond of the Braes； and of the seizure of the Lady Lilias； here is one。'
So saying； and rising as he spoke； he held forth the reliquary that hung from a chain round his neck； keeping his gleaming tawny eyes fixed steadily straight upon Walter Stewart's face。
That face； as he first had stood up； expressed the utmost amazement； and this gradually； under the lion glance； became more and more of dismay； quailing； collapsing visibly under the passionless gravity of that look。 Even the tall form seemed to shrink； the eyes dilated； the brows drew closer together； and the chest seemed to pant； as the relic was held forth。 There was a dead silence throughout the court as the King ceased to speak； only he continued to bend that searching gaze upon his prisoner。
'Was it you？was it your own self； my lord？' he stammered forth at last； in the tone of one stricken。
'Yea； Walter Stewart。 To me it was； and on this holy relic； that you made oath to abstain from all further spoil and violence until the King should come again in peace。 How that oath has been kept the further indictments will show。'
'I deemed it was St。 Andrew；' faltered the prisoner。
'And therefore that the oath to a heavenly saint would better bear breaking than one to an earthly sinner；' replied James gravely。 'Read on； Clerk of the Court。'
The roll continueda long and terrible record of violence and cruelty； the private warfare of the lawless young prince； the crimes of reckless barbarity and of savage passiona deadly roll； in which indeed even the second abduction of Lilias was one of the least acts laid to his charge。
No lack of witnesses were there to prove deeds that had been done in the open face of day； in utter fearlessness of earthly justice； and defiance of Heaven。 The defence that the prisoner seemed to have been prepared to us？that those who sat to judge him had shared in his offences； and his daring power of brow…beating them； as he had so often done before； as son of the man who sat in the King's seathad utterly failed him now。 He was mute； and the forms of the trial were gone through as of one whose doom was already sealed； but who must receive his sentence according to the strictest form of law； lest the just reward of his deeds should partake of their own violence。 By the end of the day the jurors had found Walter Stewart guilty； and the doomster； a black…robed clerk； rising up； pronounced the sentence that condemned Walter Stewart of Albany to suffer death by beheading。
Even then no one believed that the doom would be inflicted。 Royal blood had never flowed beneath the headsman's axe； and it would have been infinitely more congenial to Scottish feelings if the King had sent a party of men…at…arms to fall on the Master in the high road； and cut him off； or had burnt him alive in his castle。 The verdict 'served him right' would have been universally returned； and rejoiced in； but a regular trial of a man of such birth was unheard of； and shocking to the feelings even of those whom that irresistible force of the King's had compelled to sit in judgment upon him。 No one could avow it face to face with the King； but every one felt