especially of having slain the Red Comyn before the holy altar; and that, if he had lived, it was his intention, in expiation of this offence, to have gone to the Holy Land, and make war against the enemies of the Cross. But since he was about to die, he requested of his dearest friend, and braviest warrior, Good Lord James Douglas, that he should carry his heart to Jerusalem.
The Good Lord Douglas wept as he accepted this precious charge—the last token of his king's confidence and friendship.
The king soon afterwards died, at the age of fifty-four years. His heart was taken out from his body and embalmed;—that is, prepared with spices and perfumes, that it might remain long fresh and uncorrupted. The heart was then put into a silver case, by Lord Douglas, which he wore round his neck by a string of silk and gold; and he afterwards set forward for the Holy Land, accompanied by a gallant train of the bravest men in Scotland.
But Douglas never reached the end of his journey. On his road to Palestine he landed in Spain, while Osmyn, the Saracen King of Granada, was invading the realms of Alphonso, King of Castile.
King Alphonso received Douglas with great honour and distinction, and people came from all parts to see the great soldier, whose fame had filled every part of the Christian world.
Lord Douglas, thinking he would do good service to the Christian cause by assisting King Alphonso to drive back the Saracens of Grenada,
