You have cost us well nigh a fortune, for not one of us but vowed offerings for your safety, which were, perchance, the more liberal, since we deemed the chances of paying them so small.

However, they shall be redeemed, for assuredly they have been well earned, and for my share I am bound, when I come to my own, to give a piece of land of the value of one hundred marks a year to the good monks of St.Killian's to be spent in masses for the souls of those drowned at sea." Some days later the king said to Archie, "I have a mission for you; `tis one of danger, but I know that that is no drawback in your eyes." "I am ready," Archie said modestly, "to carry out to the best of my power any errand with which your majesty may intrust me." "I have been thinking, Sir Archie, that I might well make some sort of alliance with the Irish chieftains.

Many of these are, like most of our Scotch nobles, on terms of friendship with England; still there are others who hold aloof from the conquerors.

It would be well to open negotiations with these, so that they by rising might distract Edward's attention from Scotland, while we, by our efforts, would hinder the English from sending all their force thither, and we might thus mutually be of aid to each other.

At present I am, certes, in no position to promise aid in men or money; but I will bind myself by an oath that if my affairs in Scotland prosper I will from my treasury furnish money to aid them in carrying on the struggle, and that if I clear Scotland of her oppressors I will either go myself or send one of my brothers with a strong force to aid the Irish to follow our example.