Wyseby

OF THE FIRST IKVIXGS. 59
Murray, ! should say Nay.' The king paused again.
An angry glance went round the assembly ; a mo-
ment, and he resumed. ' To the just of heart justice
is dear. To him who holds manor or hall by true
right, it recks not though his right be challenged ;
and he who holds it by other than true right, makes
our royal selves a party in his injustice, and is afoul
traitor.' The brows of the lords grew black as mid-
night. Undeterred, the Bruce proceeded : ' That
honest and true men may be saved from reproach,
and that traitors may have their treasons made ma-
nifest, have we in our good pleasure assembled you
here, that ye may shew, lords of Scotland, in our
royal presence, by what title ye hold your lands.'
A gloomy consternation darkened on eveiy brow ;
speechless, motionless, sat men whom armies of the
earth could not have awed.
'' Suddenly springing to his feet, * By this I hold
my lands!' cried Sir Esecal, waving his sword high
in the air.
" ' By this I hold my lands!' shouted Murray.
" ' By this I hold my lands T shouted Randolph.
" ' By this I hold my lands!' shouted Douglas ; 'ay,
by Saint Bride, and will hold them.'
"' By this we hold our lands !' shouted the whole
assembly, waving their swords simultaneously. It
was a strange spectacle that ! There stood the ex-
cited barons, waving their blue swords; there stood
the Bruce, calm — fearfully calm — unmoved, as if
witnessing some peaceful pageant!
"'Barons, we dissolve this convention,' said he
sternly. His cold piercing accents fell on many
hearts as the voice of doom. As Eseeal passed the
dais to leave the hall, a cloud darkened on the brow
of the king. Esecal saw danger was near, but his