"They are lodged upstairs, for you may be sure that they would come to me; and even if I kept them for six months, I should not have lost much when I reckon what they have spent here during their service.
I have no doubt they will jump at the offer; for they were mere lads when they came over--it was your father who sent for them--and I know that they reckon they will find none of the old folk when they return home.

And now what are your estates like, lad ?" "I know very little about them at present, beyond the fact that I am bound by my feudal obligations to put fifty men in the field when called upon to do so." "Then it must be a place of good size," the sergeant said.

"And you hold it direct from the crown ?" Hector nodded.
"That is good.

When you hold from one of the great lords, you never know whom you may be called upon to fight against--it may be the king, it may be his minister, it may be some other noble--while holding direct, you have only the king's enemies to fight against." "Or rather, MacIntosh, the chief minister's enemies; for, after all, when a king signs a proclamation, it is usually a minister's signature that ought to be attached to it." "Well, well, Master Hector, it makes little difference to us Scots who it is that we fight for, it is no quarrel of ours.

We have taken service under the King of France; but when there are two parties, and each claims to be in favour of the king, we have simply to fight for whoever happens to have the king's signature.