"That I grant," said the uther; "but thairin I acknawledge no offence [done be me."
"No offence,">[[931] said he, "to convocat the Quenis liegis?"
"Not for sua just ane cause," said the uther; "for grytter thingis wer reput no offence within thir two yeiris."
"The time," said he, "is now uther; for than our Soverane wes absent, and now sche is present."
"It is neather the absence nor the presence of the Quene," said he, "that reulis my conscience, but God speiking plainlie in his word; quhat was lauchfull to me last yeir, is yit lauchfull, becaus my God is unchangeable."
"Weill," said the Maister, "I haif gevin you my counsell, do as ye list; but I think ye sall repent it, gif ye bow not unto the Quene."
"I understand not," said he, "Maister, quhat ye mene. I nevir maid my self ane adversarie pairtie unto the Quenis Majestie, except in to the heid of religioun, and thairintill I think ye will nocht desyre me to bow."
"Weill," said he, "ye are wise eneuch; but ye will find that men will nocht beir with you in times to cum, as thay haif done in tymes bypast."
"Gif God stand my freind," said the uther, "as I am assurit he of his mercie will, so lang as I depend upon his promeise, and prefer his glorie to my life and warldlie proffeit, I littill regaird how men behave thame selffis towardis me; nether yit knaw I quhairin till ony man hes borne with me in times past, unles it be, that of my mouth thay haif heard the word of God, quhilk in times to cum, gif thay refuise, my hairt wilbe persit, and for ane seasone will lament; but the incommoditie wilbe thair awne."
And efter thir wordis, quhairinto the Laird of Lochinvar[932] wes witness, thai departit. But unto this day, the 17th of December 1571,[933] thay met nocht in sick familiaritie as thay had befoir.