Listening while they ate to the conversation going on around them, they found that the young Duke of Rothesay was, at present, staying at the castle.
"Men say that the disputes between him and his uncle, the Duke of Albany, have of late grown hotter." "That might well be," another said.

"Rothesay is a man, now.

He has shown himself a brave soldier, and it is not likely that he would support, with patience, the haughtiness and overbearing manner of Albany.

It was an evil day for Scotland when our good king, who was then but prince, lamed himself for life; and so was forced, on his accession, to leave the conduct of affairs to Albany, then Earl of Fife.

The king, as all men know, is just and good, and has at heart the welfare of his subjects; but his accident has rendered him unfit to take part in public affairs, and he loves peace and quiet as much as Albany loves intrigues, and dark and devious ways.