My Lord of Buckingham will give orders to that effect to the Clerk of the Court, and we will attach our sign manual to the warrants.

And now--have ye not done ?" he continued, observing that Buckingham still lingered.

"Have ye any mair requests to prefer ?" "I had some request to make on the part of the Prince, my Liege," replied the Marquis; "but his Highness, I perceive, is about to speak to you himself." As he said this, Prince Charles, who had occupied a seat among the Council, drew near, and stepping upon the elevation on which the chair of state was placed, so as to bring himself on a level with his royal father, made a long and apparently important communication to him in a very low tone.

James listened to what was said by his son with great attention, and seemed much surprised and indignant at the circumstances, whatever they were, related to him.

Ever and anon, he could not repress a great oath, and, but for the entreaties of Charles, would have given vent to an explosion of choler, which must have betrayed the secret reposed to his keeping.