I am sure, gentlemen, if I had kend ony servants of our gude king had stood at the door--But wad ye please to drink some ale--or some brandy--or a cup of canary sack, or claret wine ?" making a pause between each offer as long as a stingy bidder at an auction, who is loath to advance his offer for a favourite lot.
"Claret for me," said one fellow.
"I like ale better," said another, "provided it is right juice of John Barleycorn." "Better never was malted," said Milnwood; "I can hardly say sae muckle for the claret.

It's thin and cauld, gentlemen." "Brandy will cure that," said a third fellow; "a glass of brandy to three glasses of wine prevents the curmurring in the stomach." "Brandy, ale, sack, and claret ?--we'll try them all," said Bothwell, "and stick to that which is best.

There's good sense in that, if the damn'dest whig in Scotland had said it." Hastily, yet with a reluctant quiver of his muscles, Milnwood lugged out two ponderous keys, and delivered them to the governante.
"The housekeeper," said Bothwell, taking a seat, and throwing himself upon it, "is neither so young nor so handsome as to tempt a man to follow her to the gauntrees, and devil a one here is there worth sending in her place .-- What's this ?--meat ?" (searching with a fork among the broth, and fishing up a cutlet of mutton)--"I think I could eat a bit--why, it's as tough as if the devil's dam had hatched it." "If there is any thing better in the house, sir," said Milnwood, alarmed at these symptoms of disapprobation--"No, no," said Bothwell, "it's not worth while, I must proceed to business .-- You attend Poundtext, the presbyterian parson, I understand, Mr Morton ?" Mr Morton hastened to slide in a confession and apology.
"By the indulgence of his gracious majesty and the government, for I wad do nothing out of law--I hae nae objection whatever to the establishment of a moderate episcopacy, but only that I am a country-bred man, and the ministers are a hamelier kind of folk, and I can follow their doctrine better; and, with reverence, sir, it's a mair frugal establishment for the country." "Well, I care nothing about that," said Bothwell; "they are indulged, and there's an end of it; but, for my part, if I were to give the law, never a crop-ear'd cur of the whole pack should bark in a Scotch pulpit.
However, I am to obey commands .-- There comes the liquor; put it down, my good old lady." He decanted about one-half of a quart bottle of claret into a wooden quaigh or bicker, and took it off at a draught.
"You did your good wine injustice, my friend;--it's better than your brandy, though that's good too.

Will you pledge me to the king's health ?" "With pleasure," said Milnwood, "in ale,--but I never drink claret, and keep only a very little for some honoured friends." "Like me, I suppose," said Bothwell; and then, pushing the bottle to Henry, he said, "Here, young man, pledge you the king's health." Henry filled a moderate glass in silence, regardless of the hints and pushes of his uncle, which seemed to indicate that he ought to have followed his example, in preferring beer to wine.
"Well," said Bothwell, "have ye all drank the toast ?--What is that old wife about?
Give her a glass of brandy, she shall drink the king's health, by"-- "If your honour pleases," said Cuddie, with great stolidity of aspect, "this is my mither, stir; and she's as deaf as Corra-linn; we canna mak her hear day nor door; but if your honour pleases, I am ready to drink the king's health for her in as mony glasses of brandy as ye think neshessary." "I dare swear you are," answered Bothwell; "you look like a fellow that would stick to brandy--help thyself, man; all's free where'er I come .-- Tom, help the maid to a comfortable cup, though she's but a dirty jilt neither.

Fill round once more--Here's to our noble commander, Colonel Graham of Claverhouse!--What the devil is the old woman groaning for?
She looks as very a whig as ever sate on a hill-side--Do you renounce the Covenant, good woman ?" "Whilk Covenant is your honour meaning?
Is it the Covenant of Works, or the Covenant of Grace ?" said Cuddie, interposing.
"Any covenant; all covenants that ever were hatched," answered the trooper.
"Mither," cried Cuddie, affecting to speak as to a deaf person, "the gentleman wants to ken if ye will renunce the Covenant of Works ?" "With all my heart, Cuddie," said Mause, "and pray that my feet may be delivered from the snare thereof." "Come," said Bothwell, "the old dame has come more frankly off than I expected.