Ramorny, pale as death, yet with the same spirit of pride which had occasioned his ruin, pleaded his knighthood, and demanded the privilege of dying by decapitation by the sword, and not by the noose.
"The Douglas never alters his doom," said Balveny.

"But thou shalt have all thy rights.

Send the cook hither with a cleaver." The menial whom he called appeared at his summons.
"What shakest thou for, fellow ?" said Balveny; "here, strike me this man's gilt spurs from his heels with thy cleaver.

And now, John Ramorny, thou art no longer a knight, but a knave.

To the halter with him, provost marshal! hang him betwixt his companions, and higher than them if it may be." In a quarter of an hour afterwards, Balveny descended to tell the Douglas that the criminals were executed.
"Then there is no further use in the trial," said the Earl.