to gain for himself some advantage, rode strait to the queen dowager, and under show of diligence, with fair speech informed her that Queen Constance had brought forth a son. 'And this letter, madam, contains the intelligence which I am to convey to Scotland; if your Highness have any commands to His Majesty your son, I am your slave both night and day.' Donegild commanded him to remain all night, and that in the morning he should receive her despatches.
The messenger passed his time in eating and drinking till his wits were gone; so that, while he was snoring like a swine, his letters were secretly conveyed from his box, and another letter wickedly indited, to the following purport, was substituted for them. It described the queen to have been delivered of so horrible and fiend-like a creature, that no one in the castle was hardy enough to remain with it: moreover, that the mother had by her magic and sorcery betrayed herself to be a witch, and that the whole court avoided her company. The receipt of this letter was a bitter stroke to the King, yet he made no one acquainted with his
