CHAPTER XIX.
THE FORTUNATE SWORD-THRUST.
"Adew Edinburgh! that heich triumphant toun,
Within quhose bounds richt blytheful I have been;
Of trew merchants, the rout of this regioun,
Most ready to ressave court, king, and queen.
Thy policie and justice may be seen,
Were devotioun, wysedom, and honestie,
With credence tint, they micht be found in thee."
LINDESAY OF THE MOUNT.
In total and happy ignorance of the events of the past night, Roland awoke next morning. The dawn was struggling through an atmosphere of mist and fog. Though roused by the tramp of feet and the lumbering roll of artillery wheels, he would fain have slept a little longer, for the palace clock was only striking four; but he sprang out of bed with the resolution of a soldier, and found old Lintstock all accoutred in his sleeved habergeon, with gourgerin, salade, sword, dagger, and priming-horn, ready to dress and arm him, a process which use and wont made wonderfully short, when we consider that Roland was to be encased in a complete suit of plate armour. It was elaborately gilded and engraved with legends of the Scottish saints, for such was the superstition of the age, that such devices were deemed a protection greater even than a coat of tempered mail. His helmet was surmounted by the crest of the Viponts, a swan's head rising from a ducal coronet, all of frosted silver, and above it floated his plume. A belt of perfumed and embroidered leather sustained his sword and dagger, and in his hand he carried a gilt baton as captain or master of the ordnance. For breakfast, a slice of beef and a pot of wine from the relics of the supper sufficed both him and Lintstock, who said—
"Now that old bundle of roguery, who keeps the Cross and Gillstoup, will be ready to curse himsel' wi' bell, book, and candle, when he finds we're awa'; and he may whistle on the wind for payment."
"Till I return, say, I pray you."
"Of course; we'll pick up some braw things by way o' contribution. The king's soldiers, gentlemen of the sword, maun live, and live wi' honour."
"Is the earl here?"
"The earl!"
"Of course; he is going with us."