SCOTTISH GAEDENS 



corn in a barn hard by, heard the cries for succour 

 uttered by the counterfeit. This man hurried up, 

 flail in hand, and plied it to such good effect that 

 the robbers decamped. Then the peasant took the 

 King, in whom he beheld but one of his own class, 

 into his house, brought him water and a towel to 

 wash away traces of the fray, and escorted him part 

 of the way back to Edinburgh. As they walked, 

 the King asked for the name of his deliverer. 



"John Howieson is my name/' was the reply, 

 " and I am just a bondsman on the farm o' 

 Braehead, whilk belongs to the King o' Scots 

 himselV' 



"Is there anything in the world you would wish 

 more than another for yourself?" asked the King. 



"'Deed, if I was laird o' the bit land I labour 

 as a bondsman I'd be the blythest man in braid 

 Scotland. But what will your name and calling be, 

 neebour?" enquired the peasant in his turn. 



"Oh," replied the King, "I'm weel kent about 

 the Palace o' Holyrood as the Gudeman o' Ballen- 

 geich. I hae a small appointment in the palace, 

 ye ken ; and if ye hae a mind to see within, I'll 

 be proud to show ye round on Sabbath nixtocum, 

 and maybe ye'll get a bit guerdon for the gude 

 service ye hae dune me this day." 



"Faith! I'd like that fine," said John, and on 

 the following Sunday presented himself at the palace 

 gate to enquire for the Gudeman o' Ballengeich. 

 The King had arranged for his admission, and 



36 



