“Had he done so by our predecessor, Baliol, he had done well,” returned the king, calmly.  “Nobles, and knights, and gentlemen,” he added, the lion spirit of his race kindling in his eye and cheek, “what say ye in accepting the bold challenge of this courtly earl?  Do we not read your hearts as well as our own?  Ye have chafed and fretted that we have retained ye so long inactive:  in very truth your monarch’s spirit chafed and fretted too.  We will do battle with this knightly foe, and give him, in all chivalric and honorable courtesy, the meeting he desires.”

One startling and energetic shout burst simultaneously from the warriors around, forming a wild and thrilling response to their sovereign’s words.  In vain they sought to restrain that outbreak of rejoicing, in respect to the royal presence; they had pined, they had yearned for action, and Sir Henry was too good a knight himself not to understand to the full the patriotic fervor and chivalrous spirit from which that shout had sprung.  Proudly and joyfully the Bruce looked on his devoted adherents, and then addressed the English knight.

“Thou hast our answer, good Sir Henry,” he said; “more thou couldst scarcely need.  Commend us to your master, and take heed thou sayest all that thou hast heard and seen in answer to his challenge.  In the Park of Methven, three days hence, he may expect the King of Scotland and his patriot troops with him, to do battle unto death.  Edward, good brother, thou, Seaton, and the Lord of Douglas, conduct this worthy knight in all honor from the hall.  Thou hast our answer.”

The knight bowed low, but ere he retreated he spoke again.  “I am charged with yet another matter, an it so please you,” he said, evidently studying to avoid all royal titles, although the bearing of the king rendered his task rather more difficult than he could have imagined; “a matter of small import, truly, yet must it be spoken.  ’Tis rumored that you have amid your household a child, a boy, whose father was a favored servant of my gracious liege and yours, King Edward.  The Earl of Pembroke, in the name of his sovereign and of the child’s father, bids me demand him of thee, as having, from his tender years and inexperience, no will nor voice in this matter, he having been brought here by his mother, who, saving your presence, had done better to have remembered her duty to her husband than encourage rebellion against her king.”

“Keep to the import of thy message, nor give thy tongue such license, sir,” interrupted the Bruce, sternly; and many an eye flashed, and many a hand sought his sword.  “Sir Alan of Buchan, stand forth and give thine own answer to this imperative demand; ’tis to thee, methinks, its import would refer.  Thou hast wisdom and experience, if not years enough, to answer for thyself.

“Tell Aymer de Valence, would he seek me, he will find me by the side of my sovereign King Robert, in Methven Park, three days hence,” boldly and quickly answered the young soldier, stepping forward from his post in the circle, and fronting the knight.  “Tell him I am here of my own free will, to acknowledge Robert the Bruce as mine and Scotland’s king; to defy the tyrant Edward, even to the death; tell him ’tis no child he seeks, but a knight and soldier, who will meet him on the field.”