"O, Cuddie, man, laith wad I be they suld hurt ye," said old Mause, divided grievously between the safety of her son's soul and that of his body; "but mind, my bonny bairn, ye hae battled for the faith, and dinna let the dread o' losing creaturecomforts withdraw ye frae the gude fight."

"Hout tout, mither," replied Cuddie, "I hae fought e'en ower muckle already, and, to speak plain, I'm wearied o' the trade. I hae swaggered wi' a' thae arms, and musquets, and pistols, buff-coats, and bandaliers, lang eneugh, and I like the pleugh-paidle a hantle better. I ken naething suld gar a man fight, (that's to say, when he's no angry,) by and out-taken the dread o' being hanged, or killed if he turns back."

"But, my dear Cuddie," continued the persevering Mause, " your bridal garment Oh, hinny, dinna sully the marriage garment !"

"Awa', awa', mither," replied Cuddie ; "dinna ye see the folks waiting for me?

Never fear me-I ken how to turn this far better than ye do-for ye're bleezing awa' about marriage, and the job is how we are to win by hanging."

So saying, he extricated himself out of his mother's embraces, and requested the soldiers who took him in charge to conduct him to the place of examination without delay. He had been already preceded by Claverhouse and Morton.

CHAPTER VII.

My native land, good night.

LORD BYRON...

THE Privy Council of Scotland, in whom the practice since the union of the crowns vested great judicial powers, as well as the general superintendance of the execu tive department, was met in the ancient, dark, Gothic room, adjoining to the House of Parliament in Edinburgh, when General Grahame entered and took his place amongst them at the council table.

"You have brought us a leash of game to-day, General," said a nobleman of high place amongst them. "Here is a craven to confess-a cock of the game to stand at bay-and what shall I call the third, General ?"

"Without further metaphor, I will en

treat your Grace to call him a person in whom I am specially interested," replied Claverhouse.

And a whig into the bargain," said the nobleman, lolling out a tongue which was at all times too big for his mouth, and accommodating his coarse features to a sneer, to which they seemed to be familiar.

"Yes, please your Grace, a whig, as your Grace was in 1641," replied Claverhouse, with his usual appearance of imper-. turbable civility.

"He has you there, I think, my Lord. Duke," "said one of the Privy Counsellors.

Ay, ay,” returned the Duke, laughing, "there's no speaking to him since Drumclog-but, come, bring in the prisonersand do you, Mr Clerk, read the record."

The clerk read forth a bond, in which General Grahame of Claverhouse and Lord Evandale entered themselves securities, that Henry Morton, younger, of Milnwood, should go abroad and remain in foreign

parts, until his Majesty's pleasure was further known, in respect of the said Henry Morton's accession to the late rebellion, and that under penalty of life and limb to the said Henry Morton, and of ten thousand marks to each of his securities.

"Do you accept of the King's mercy upon these terms, Mr Morton ?" said the Duke of Lauderdale, who presided in the council.

"I have no other choice, my Lord," replied Morton.

"Then subscribe your name in the record."

Morton did so without reply, conscious that, in the circumstances of his case, it was impossible for him to have escaped more easily. Macbriar, who was at the same instant brought to the foot of the council table, bound upon a chair, for his weakness prevented him from standing, beheld Morton in the act of what he accounted apostacy.

"He hath summed his defection by own