Such was the reasoning of those times, held even by brave and humane men towards a vanquished enemy.  Let us devoutly hope that, in this respect at least, we shall never see the scenes or hold the sentiments that were general in Britain Sixty Years Since.

CHAPTER LXVIII

    To morrow?  O that’s sudden!—­Spare him, spare him’

    Shakspeare

Edward, attended by his former servant Alick Polwarth, who had reentered his service at Edinburgh, reached Carlisle while the commission of Oyer and Terminer on his unfortunate associates was yet sitting.  He had pushed forward in haste, not, alas! with the most distant hope of saving Fergus, but to see him for the last time.  I ought to have mentioned that he had furnished funds for the defence of the prisoners in the most liberal manner, as soon as he heard that the day of trial was fixed.  A solicitor and the first counsel accordingly attended; but it was upon the same footing on which the first physicians are usually summoned to the bedside of some dying man of rank—­the doctors to take the advantage of some incalculable chance of an exertion of nature, the lawyers to avail themselves of the barely possible occurrence of some legal flaw.  Edward pressed into the court, which was extremely crowded; but by his arriving from the north, and his extreme eagerness and agitation, it was supposed he was a relation of the prisoners, and people made way for him.  It was the third sitting of the court, and there were two men at the bar.  The verdict of guilty was already pronounced.  Edward just glanced at the bar during the momentous pause which ensued.  There was no mistaking the stately form and noble features of Fergus Mac-Ivor, although his dress was squalid and his countenance tinged with the sickly yellow hue of long and close imprisonment.  By his side was Evan Maccombich.  Edward felt sick and dizzy as he gazed on them; but he was recalled to himself as the Clerk of Arraigns pronounced the solemn words:  ’Fergus Mac-Ivor of Glennaquoich, otherwise called Vich Ian Vohr, and Evan Mac-Ivor, in the Dhu of Tarrascleugh, otherwise called Evan Dhu, otherwise called Evan Maccombich, or Evan Dhu MacCombich—­you, and each of you, stand attainted of high treason.  What have you to say for yourselves why the Court should not pronounce judgment against you, that you die according to law?’

Fergus, as the presiding Judge was putting on the fatal cap of judgment, placed his own bonnet upon his head, regarded him with a steadfast and stern look, and replied in a firm voice, ’I cannot let this numerous audience suppose that to such an appeal I have no answer to make.  But what I have to say you would not bear to hear, for my defence would be your condemnation.  Proceed, then, in the name of God, to do what is permitted to you.  Yesterday and the day before you have condemned loyal and honourable blood to be poured forth like water.  Spare not mine.  Were that of all my ancestors in my veins, I would have perilled it in this quarrel.’  He resumed his seat and refused again to rise.