“Siller in hand is the greatest virtue of a buyer,” said the Bailie, with unction.  “But, Robert Semple, though I was willing to oblige ye as a friend by taking over your debt, I’ll no deny that ye gied me a fricht.  For hae I no this day delivered to the bursar o’ the castle o’ Thrieve sax bales o’ pepper and three o’ the best spice, besides much cumin, alum, ginger, seat-well, almonds, rice, figs, raisins, and other sic thing.  Moreover, there is owing to me, for wine and vinegar, mair than twa hunder pound.  Was that no enough to gar me tak a ‘dwam’ when ye spoke o’ the great nobles no payin’!”

“I would that all our outlying monies were as safe,” said Semple; “but here come the knights and squires forth from their tents.  Tell me, Ninian, which o’ the lads are your sister’s sons.”

“There is but one o’ the esquires that is Barbara Halliburton’s son,” answered the Bailie; “the ither is her ain man—­and a great ram-stam, unbiddable, unhallowed deevil he is—­Guid forbid that I should say as muckle to his face!”

CHAPTER XXII

WAGER OF BATTLE

The knights had moved slowly out from their pavilions on either side, and now stood waiting the order to charge.  My Lord Maxwell sat by the side of the Lady Sybilla, and held the truncheon, the casting down of which was to part the combatants and end the fight.  The three knights on the southern or Earl’s side were a singular contrast to their opponents.  Two of them, the Earl William and his cousin Hugh, were no more than boys in years, though already old in military exercises; the third, Alan Fleming of Cumbernauld, was a strong horseman and excellent with his lance, though also slender of body and more distinguished for dexterity than for power of arm.  Yet he was destined to lay a good lance in rest that day, and to come forth unshamed.

The Avondale party were to the eye infinitely the stronger, that is when knights only were considered.  For James Douglas was little less than a giant.  His jolly person and frank manners seemed to fill all the field with good humour, and from his station he cried challenges to his cousin the Earl and defiances to his brother Hugh, with that broad rollicking wit which endeared him to the commons, to whom “Mickle Lord Jamie” had long been a popular hero.

“Bid our Hugh there rin hame for his hippen clouts lest he make of himself a shame,” he cried; “’tis not fair that we should have to fight with babes.”

“Mayhap he will be as David to your Goliath, thou great gomeril!” replied the Earl with equal good humour, seeing his cousin Hugh blush and fumble uncomfortably at his arms.

Then to the lad himself he said:  “Keep a light hand on your rein, a good grip at the knee, and after the first shock we will ride round them like swallows about so many bullocks.”

The other two Avondale knights, William Douglas and the Marshal de Retz, were also large men, and the latter especially, clothed in black armour and with the royal ermines of Brittany quartered on his shield, looked a stern and commanding figure.