Page:Tales of my landlord (Volume 3).djvu/190

 rant,—"I opine, that we should take in and raze that strong-hold of the woman Lady Margaret Bellenden, even though we should build a fort and raise a mount against it; for the race is a rebellious and a bloody race, and their hand has been heavy on the children of the Covenant, both in the former and the latter times. Their hook hath been in our noses, and their bridle betwixt our jaws."

"What is their means and men of defence?" said Burley. "The place is strong; but I conceive that two women cannot make it good against a host."

"There is also," said Poundtext, "John Gudyill, even the lady's chief butler, who boasteth himself a man of war from his youth upward, and who spread the banner against the good cause with that man of Belial, James Grahame of Montrose."

"Pshaw!" returned Balfour, scornfully, a butler!"

Also, there is that ancient malignant," replied Poundtext, "Miles Bellenden of