They got to the postern gate before we could overtake them, and rang the sanctuary bell; the gate opened, and in went they.

So they are safe in girth and sanctuary, and we may go to our cold beds and warm us." "Ay," said one of the party, "the good Dominicans have always some devout brother of their convent sitting up to open the gate of the sanctuary to any poor soul that is in trouble, and desires shelter in the church." "Yes, if the poor hunted soul can pay for it," said another "but, truly, if he be poor in purse as well as in spirit, he may stand on the outside till the hounds come up with him." A third, who had been poring for a few minutes upon the ground by advantage of his torch, now looked upwards and spoke.

He was a brisk, forward, rather corpulent little man, called Oliver Proudfute, reasonably wealthy, and a leading man in his craft, which was that of bonnet makers; he, therefore, spoke as one in authority.
"Canst tell us, jolly smith"-- for they recognised each other by the lights which were brought into the streets--"what manner of fellows they were who raised up this fray within burgh ?" "The two that I first saw," answered the armourer, "seemed to me, as well as I could observe them, to have Highland plaids about them." "Like enough--like enough," answered another citizen, shaking his head.
"It's a shame the breaches in our walls are not repaired, and that these landlouping Highland scoundrels are left at liberty to take honest men and women out of their beds any night that is dark enough." "But look here, neighbours," said Oliver Proudfute, showing a bloody hand which he had picked up from the ground; "when did such a hand as this tie a Highlandman's brogues?
It is large, indeed, and bony, but as fine as a lady's, with a ring that sparkles like a gleaming candle.
Simon Glover has made gloves for this hand before now, if I am not much mistaken, for he works for all the courtiers." The spectators here began to gaze on the bloody token with various comments.
"If that is the case," said one, "Harry Smith had best show a clean pair of heels for it, since the justiciar will scarce think the protecting a burgess's house an excuse for cutting off a gentleman's hand.

There be hard laws against mutilation." "Fie upon you, that you will say so, Michael Webster," answered the bonnet maker; "are we not representatives and successors of the stout old Romans, who built Perth as like to their own city as they could?
And have we not charters from all our noble kings and progenitors, as being their loving liegemen?
And would you have us now yield up our rights, privileges, and immunities, our outfang and infang, our handhaband, our back bearand, and our blood suits, and amerciaments, escheats, and commodities, and suffer an honest burgess's house to be assaulted without seeking for redress?
No, brave citizens, craftsmen, and burgesses, the Tay shall flow back to Dunkeld before we submit to such injustice!" "And how can we help it ?" said a grave old man, who stood leaning on a two handed sword.

"What would you have us do ?" "Marry, Bailie Craigdallie, I wonder that you, of all men, ask the question.