Was it thy master, Sir John Ramorny, that stirred thee to so foul a deed ?" "No," answered the prostrate villain, "it was a greater than he." And at the same time he pointed with his finger to the Prince.
"Wretch!" said the astonished Duke of Rothsay; "do you dare to hint that I was your instigator ?" "You yourself, my lord," answered the unblushing ruffian.
"Die in thy falsehood, accursed slave!" said the Prince; and, drawing his sword, he would have pierced his calumniator, had not the Lord High Constable interposed with word and action.
"Your Grace must forgive my discharging mine office: this caitiff must be delivered into the hands of the executioner.

He is unfit to be dealt with by any other, much less by your Highness." "What! noble earl," said Albany aloud, and with much real or affected emotion, "would you let the dog pass alive from hence, to poison the people's ears with false accusations against the Prince of Scotland?
I say, cut him to mammocks upon the spot!" "Your Highness will pardon me," said the Earl of Errol; "I must protect him till his doom is executed." "Then let him be gagged instantly," said Albany.

"And you, my royal nephew, why stand you there fixed in astonishment?
Call your resolution up--speak to the prisoner--swear--protest by all that is sacred that you knew not of this felon deed.

See how the people look on each other and whisper apart! My life on't that this lie spreads faster than any Gospel truth.

Speak to them, royal kinsman, no matter what you say, so you be constant in denial." "What, sir," said Rothsay, starting from his pause of surprise and mortification, and turning haughtily towards his uncle; "would you have me gage my royal word against that of an abject recreant?
Let those who can believe the son of their sovereign, the descendant of Bruce, capable of laying ambush for the life of a poor mechanic, enjoy the pleasure of thinking the villain's tale true." "That will not I for one," said the smith, bluntly.