He met them in the midst of the hall, with bare head and bonnet in hand, and some such salutation as the following: "Ha, my Master Eldest Bailie, and you, worthy Simon Glover, fathers of the Fair City, and you, my learned pottingar, and you, stout smith, and my slashing bonnet maker too, who cracks more skulls than he covers, how come I to have the pleasure of seeing so many friends so early?
I was thinking to see my hawks fly, and your company will make the sport more pleasant--( Aside, I trust in Our Lady they may break their necks!)--that is, always, unless the city have any commands to lay on me.

Butler Gilbert, despatch, thou knave.

But I hope you have no more grave errand than to try if the malvoisie holds its flavour ?" The city delegates answered to their provost's civilities by inclinations and congees, more or less characteristic, of which the pottingar's bow was the lowest and the smith's the least ceremonious.
Probably he knew his own value as a fighting man upon occasion.

To the general compliment the elder bailie replied.
"Sir Patrick Charteris, and our noble Lord Provost," said Craigdallie, gravely, "had our errand been to enjoy the hospitality with which we have been often regaled here, our manners would have taught us to tarry till your lordship had invited us, as on other occasions.

And as to hawking, we have had enough on't for one morning; since a wild fellow, who was flying a falcon hard by on the moor, unhorsed and cudgelled our worthy friend Oliver Bonnet Maker, or Proudfute, as some men call him, merely because he questioned him, in your honour's name, and the town of Perth's, who or what he was that took so much upon him." "And what account gave he of himself ?" said the provost.