200 Fretp MEETINGS. 
manner, he repaired to Alwyn, Abbot of the Monastery of Holy- 
rood, the King’s confessor and confidential secretary, for advice 
and assistance. The Abbot therefore, compassionating the afore- 
said penitent, Lord Fergus, prayed to God and obtained the 
Royal favour for him; and because he well knew in this case 
that the King’s determination for the execution of justice was 
inflexible, he was afraid incautiously to intercede in his behalf. 
At last, by the ingenuity of both Fergus and the Abbot, it was 
contrived that the said Lord Fergus should assume the cloister 
habit of a canon regular, and thus, God directing, should obtain, 
along with his brethren, the King’s favour, and at the same 
time the pardon of this offence, though supplication under a 
religious habit. Leaving to God their purpose, they wait for a 
convenient day and hour, with the intention of the Abbot speak- 
ing to the King on this matter. One day, as usual, when the 
King was visiting the builders of this monastery, the Abbot, at a 
seasonable moment, thus addressed him:—‘O, most gracious. 
Prince and founder, though unworthy petitioners and conventual 
chaplains, by reason of the wounds of our transgressions, to be 
cured only by a spiritual remedy, beg to have often the presence 
of your Highness in chapter.’ At this the merciful Prince, 
highly pleased, enters the Chapter House, in order at the hour 
of meeting, sits down in the middle, the brethren prostrating 
themselves to the ground at the entrance. The Abbot thus. 
speaks:—‘O, most gracious Prince, we, the petitioners of your 
Highness, confessing our faults that we are guilty and trans- 
gressors, most humbly beseech thee, in the bowels of Jesus 
Christ, that your most Benignant Highness would condescend to: 
pardon us, every fault and offence committed against your 
Majesty, with a single unfeigned heart, and at the same time 
bestow upon us your blessing, in order that, for the future, we 
may be deserving to meditate and pray for the safety of your 
kingdom more holily and devotedly, and that your most merciful 
Highness would be pleased, in token of this gracious pardon, to 
bestow upon everyone of us the kiss of peace.’ The King, 
with a most placid countenance, replied:—‘ Dearly beloved 
brethren, I forgive you all charges, and commend myself to 
your prayers ;’ and immediately rising from his seat, and taking 
the Abbot by the hand, kissed him saying— Peace be to thee, 
brother, with the Divine benediction.’ ”’ 
