'How is our champion named ?' 'He is my captain, your Majesty,' Saxon answered, resheathing the sword which the King had handed to him; 'Micah Clarke, a man of Hampshire birth.' 'They breed a good old English stock in those parts,' said Monmouth; 'but how comes it that you are here, sir?
I summoned this meeting for my own immediate household, and for the colonels of the regiments.

If every captain is to be admitted into our councils, we must hold our meetings on the Castle Green, for no apartment could contain us.' 'I ventured to come here, your Majesty,' I replied, 'because on my way hither I received a commission, which was that I should deliver this small but weighty package into your hands.

I therefore thought it my duty to lose no time in fulfilling my errand.' 'What is in it ?' he asked.
'I know not,' I answered.
Doctor Ferguson whispered a few words into the King's ear, who laughed and held out his hand for the packet.
'Tut! tut!' said he.

'The days of the Borgias and the Medicis are over, Doctor.

Besides, the lad is no Italian conspirator, but hath honest blue eyes and flaxen hair as Nature's certificate to his character.