human
Sir, he said,
gpt
Safe conduct to where? cried James angrily,
human
Sir, it says safe conduct for eleven men here present, under protection of your royal word.
gpt
You do not keep to the point, cobbler, shouted the king bringing his fist down on the table.
human
Safe conduct to where? I asked. The parchment does not say safe conduct back into Stirling again. Safe conduct to Heaven, or elsewhere, was what I guaranteed.
gpt
That is but an advocate's quibble, your majesty. Safe conduct is a phrase well understood by high and low alike. But we have placed our heads in the lion's mouth, as our leader said last Wednesday night, and we cannot complain if now his jaws are shut. Nevertheless I would respectfully submit to your majesty that I alone of those present doubted a Stuart's word, and am like to have my doubts practically confirmed. I would also point out to your majesty that my comrades would not have been here had I not trusted the Master of Ballengeich, and through him the king, therefore, I ask you to let me alone pay the penalty of my error, and allow my friends to go scatheless from the grim walls of Stirling.
human
There is reason in what you say, replied the king.
gpt
Are you all agreed to that?
human
No, by God, cried the leader springing to his feet and smiting the table with his fist as lustily as the king had done.
gpt
We stand together, or fall together. The mistake was ours as much as his, and we entered these gates with our eyes open.
human
Headsman, said the king,