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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39776-h.zip b/39776-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ab6ca8b --- /dev/null +++ b/39776-h.zip diff --git a/39776-h/39776-h.htm b/39776-h/39776-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..16b63d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/39776-h/39776-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10385 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Three Perils of Man; or War, Women, and Witchcraft (Vol. 1 of 3), by James Hogg. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + margin-top: 4em; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} + +small { font-size:80%; } +big { font-size:120%; } + +.sig { /* signature or citation moved right */ + margin-left: 50%; + } + +.titlesig { /* signature or citation moved right */ + margin-left: 50%; + } + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + right: 1%; + font-size: x-small; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: normal; + text-indent: 0em; + text-align: right; + color: #999999; + background-color: #ffffff; +} + +.halftitle { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + margin-top: 4em; + font-size: large; + font-weight: bold; +} + +.dedication { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + margin-top: 4em; + font-size: larger; + line-height:200%; +} + +p.contenttitle { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + margin-top: 4em; + font-size: 150%; + font-weight: bold; + line-height:200%; +} + +blockquote, .blkquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 5%; + font-size: 90%; + } + +p.citation { /* author citation at end of blockquote or poem */ + margin-left: 8em; + } + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: 0; margin-top:0.5em; clear:both;} +.footnotes ol { margin-left:0; margin-right:0; + padding:0; + width:100%; + list-style-type:none; } +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; width:80%; + margin-bottom:0.75em; + font-size: 0.9em; + position:relative;} +.footnote .label {position: absolute; + left:-3em; top:0; + text-align: left; } +.fnanchor {vertical-align:baseline; + position:relative; bottom:0.4em; + font-size: .8em; } + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin: auto; + width: 26em; /* or a width to suit--be a little generous to accommodate most default settings */ + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 0.5em 0em 0.5em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i8 { + display: block; + margin-left: 8em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i12 { + display: block; + margin-left: 12em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + </style> + +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Three Perils of Man, Vol. 1 (of 3), by James Hogg + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Three Perils of Man, Vol. 1 (of 3) + or, War, Women, and Witchcraft + +Author: James Hogg + +Release Date: May 23, 2012 [EBook #39776] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THREE PERILS OF MAN *** + + + + +Produced by Henry Flower, Carlo Traverso and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="halftitle"><small>THE</small><br /> +<big>THREE PERILS OF MAN:</big><br /> +<i>A BORDER ROMANCE</i>.</div> + + +<h1> +<small>THE</small><br /> +<big>THREE PERILS OF MAN;</big><br /> +<small>OR,</small><br /> +<b>War, Women, and Witchcraft.</b><br /> +<i>A BORDER ROMANCE.</i></h1> + +<p class="p2 center"><span class="smcap">By</span> JAMES HOGG,<br /> +<small> +AUTHOR OF "WINTER-EVENING TALES," "BROWNIE OF<br /> +BODSBECK," "QUEEN'S WAKE," <i>&c.</i> <i>&c.</i></small></p> + + +<p class="p2 center">IN THREE VOLUMES.</p> + +<p class="p2 center">VOL. I.</p> + +<p class="p2 center">Beshrew me if I dare open it.</p> + +<p class="titlesig"><span class="smcap">Fletcher.</span></p> + +<p class="p2 center"><big>LONDON:</big><br /> +<small>LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN,<br /> +PATERNOSTER-ROW.</small><br /> +1822.<br /> +</p> + + +<p class="p4 center"> +<span class="smcap">John Moir</span>, Printer, Edinburgh, 1822. +</p> + + +<p class="dedication"> +TO<br /> +<big>WILLIAM STEWART ROSE, ESQ.</big><br /> +AS A SMALL MEMORIAL<br /> +<small>OF</small><br /> +<i>YARROW</i>,<br /> +<small>AND</small><br /> +THE SHEPHERD'S HUMBLE SHEIL,<br /> +<big>THIS WORK</big><br /> +IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED<br /> +<small>BY</small><br /> +THE AUTHOR. +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<p class="contenttitle">THE<br /> +<big>THREE PERILS OF MAN.</big></p> + + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">There was a king, and a courteous king,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And he had a daughter sae bonnie;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he lo'ed that maiden aboon a' thing<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I' the bonnie, bonnie halls o' Binnorie.<br /></span> +</div> +<p> * * * * * * </p> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But wae be to thee, thou warlock wight,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My malison come o'er thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For thou hast undone the bravest knight,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That ever brak bread i' Binnorie!</span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Old Song.</i><br /></span> +</div> + + +<p>The days of the Stuarts, kings of Scotland, +were the days of chivalry and romance. +The long and bloody contest that +the nation maintained against the whole +power of England, for the recovery of its +independence,—of those rights which had +been most unwarrantably wrested from our +fathers by the greatest and most treacherous +sovereign of that age, with the successful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +and glorious issue of the war, laid +the foundation for this spirit of heroism, +which appears to have been at its zenith +about the time that the Stuarts first acquired +the sovereignty of the realm. The +deeds of the Douglasses, the Randolphs, +and other border barons of that day, are +not to be equalled by any recorded in our +annals; while the reprisals that they made +upon the English, in retaliation for former +injuries, enriched both them and their followers, +and rendered their appearance +splendid and imposing to a degree that +would scarcely now gain credit. It was +no uncommon thing for a Scottish earl then +to visit the Court at the head of a thousand +horsemen, all splendidly mounted in +their military accoutrements; and many +of these gentlemen of rank and family. In +court and camp, feats of arms were the +topic of conversation, and the only die that +stamped the character of a man of renown, +either with the fair, the monarch, or the +chiefs of the land. No gentleman of noble +blood would pay his addresses to his +mistress, until he had broken a spear with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +the knights of the rival nation, surprised a +strong-hold, or driven a prey from the +kinsmen of the Piercies, the Musgraves, or +the Howards. As in all other things that +run to a fashionable extremity, the fair sex +took the lead in encouraging these deeds +of chivalry, till it came to have the appearance +of a national mania. There were +tournaments at the castle of every feudal +baron and knight. The ploughmen and +drivers were often discovered, on returning +from the fields, hotly engaged in a +tilting bout with their goads and plough-staves; +and even the little boys and maidens +on the village green, each well mounted +on a crooked stick, were daily engaged +in the combat, and riding rank and file +against each other, breaking their tiny +weapons in the furious onset, while the +mimic fire flashed from their eyes. Then +was the play of <i>Scots and English</i> begun, +a favourite one on the school green to this +day. Such was the spirit of the age, not +only in Scotland, but over all the countries +of southern Europe, when the romantic +incidents occurred on which the following<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +tale is founded. It was taken down from +the manuscript of an old Curate, who had +spent the latter part of his life in the village +of Mireton, and was given to the present +Editor by one of those tenants who +now till the valley where stood the richest +city of this realm.</p> + +<p>There were once a noble king and queen +of Scotland, as many in that land have +been.—In this notable tell-tale manner, +does old Isaac, the curate, begin his narrative. +It will be seen in the sequel, that +this king and queen were Robert the Second +and his consort.—They were beloved +by all their subjects, (continues he,) and +loved and favoured them in return; and +the country enjoyed happiness and peace, +all save a part adjoining to the borders of +England. The strong castle of Roxburgh, +which was the key of that country, had +been five times taken by the English, and +three times by the Scots, in less than seventeen +months, and was then held by the +gallant Lord Musgrave for Richard king +of England.</p> + +<p>Our worthy king had one daughter, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +exquisite beauty and accomplishments; +the flower of all Scotland, and her name +was Margaret. This princess was courted +by many of the principal nobility of the +land, who all eagerly sought an alliance +with the royal family, not only for the +additional honour and power which it conferred +on them and their posterity, but +for the personal charms of the lady, which +were of that high eminence, that no man +could look on her without admiration. +This emulation of the lords kept the +court of King Robert full of bustle, homage, +and splendour. All were anxious +to frustrate the designs of their opponents, +and to forward their own; so that +high jealousies were often apparent in +the sharp retorts, stern looks, and nodding +plumes of the rival wooers; and as +the princess had never disclosed her partiality +for one above another, it was judged +that Robert scarcely dared openly to give +the preference to any of them. A circumstance, +however, soon occurred, which +brought the matter fairly to the test.</p> + +<p>It happened on a lovely summer day, at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +the end of July, that three and twenty +noble rivals for the hand of the beauteous +princess were all assembled at the palace +of Linlithgow; but the usual gaiety, +mirth, and repartee did not prevail; for the +king had received bad tidings that day, +and he sat gloomy and sad.</p> + +<p>Musgrave had issued from the castle of +Roxburgh, had surprised the castle of Jedburgh, +and taken prisoner William, brother +to the lord of Galloway; slain many +loyal Scottish subjects, and wasted Teviotdale +with fire and sword. The conversation +turned wholly on the state of affairs +on the border, and the misery to which +that country was exposed by the castle of +Roxburgh remaining in the hands of the +English; and at length the king enquired +impatiently, how it came that Sir Philip +Musgrave had surprised the castle this last +time, when his subjects were so well aware +of their danger.</p> + +<p>The earl of Hume made answer, that it +was wholly an affair of chivalry, and one +of the bravest and noblest acts that ever +was performed. Musgrave's mistress, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +lady Jane Howard, of the blood royal, and +the greatest heiress of the north of England, +had refused to see him, unless he +gained back his honour by the retaking of +that perilous castle, and keeping it against +all force, intercession, or guile, till the end +of the Christmas holidays. That he had +accomplished the former in the most gallant +stile; and, from the measures that he +had adopted, and the additional fortifications +that he had raised, there was every +possibility that he would achieve the latter.</p> + +<p>"What," said the king, "must the spirit +of chivalry then be confined to the country +of our enemies? Have our noble dames +of Scotland less heroism in their constitutions +than those of the south? Have they +fewer of the charms of beauty, or have +their lovers less spirit to fulfil their commands? +By this sceptre in my right hand, +I will give my daughter, the princess Margaret, +to the knight who shall take that +castle of Roxburgh out of the hands of the +English before the expiry of the Christmas +holidays."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>Every lord and knight was instantly on +his feet to accept the proposal, and every +one had his hand stretched towards the +royal chair for audience, when Margaret +arose herself, from the king's left hand, +where she was seated, and flinging her +left arm backward, on which swung a scarf +of gold, and stretching her right, that +gleamed with bracelets of rubies and diamonds, +along the festive board, "Hold, my +noble lords," said she; "I am too deeply +interested here not to have a word to say. +The grandchild of the great Bruce must +not be given away to every adventurer +without her own approval. Who among +you will venture his honour and his life +for me?" Every knight waved his right +hand aloft and dashed it on the hilt of his +sword, eyeing the graceful attitude and +dignified form of the princess with raptures +of delight. "It is well," continued +she, "the spirit of chivalry <i>has not</i> deserted +the Scottish nation—hear me then: +My father's vow shall stand; I will give +my hand in marriage to the knight who +shall take that castle for the king, my father,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +before the expiry of the Christmas +holidays, and rid our border of that nest +of reavers; but with this proviso only, +that, in case of his attempting and failing +in the undertaking, he shall forfeit all his +lands, castles, towns, and towers to me, +which shall form a part of my marriage-portion +to his rival. Is it fit that the +daughter of a king should be given up or +won as circumstances may suit, or that the +risk should all be on one side? Who +would be so unreasonable as expect it? +This, then, with the concurrence of my +lord and father, is my determination, and +by it will I stand."</p> + +<p>The conditions were grievously hard, +and had a damping and dismal effect on +the courtly circle. The light of every eye +deadened into a dim and sullen scowl. It +was a deed that promised glory and renown +to adventure their blood for such a dame,—to +win such a lady as the Princess of Scotland: +But, to give up their broad lands +and castles to enrich a hated rival, was +an obnoxious consideration, and what in +all likelihood was to be the issue. When<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +all the forces of the land had been unable +to take the castle by storm, where was the +probability that any of them was now to +succeed? None accepted the conditions. +Some remained silent; some shook their +heads, and muttered incoherent mumblings; +others strode about the room, as if +in private consultation.</p> + +<p>"My honoured liege," said Lady Margaret, +"none of the lords or knights of +your court have the spirit to accept of my +conditions. Be pleased then to grant me +a sufficient force. I shall choose the officers +for them myself, and I engage to take +the castle of Roxburgh before Christmas. +I will disappoint the bloody Musgrave of +his bride; and the world shall see whether +the charms of Lady Jane Howard or those of +Margaret Stuart shall rouse their admirers +to deeds of the most desperate valour. Before +the Christmas bells have tolled, that +shall be tried on the rocks, in the rivers, +in the air, and the bowels of the earth. In +the event of my enterprise proving succesful, +all the guerdon that I ask is, the full +and free liberty of giving my hand to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +whom I will. It shall be to no one that is +here." And so saying she struck it upon +the table, and again took her seat at the +king's left hand.</p> + +<p>Every foot rung on the floor with a furious +tramp, in unison with that stroke of +the princess's hand. The taunt was not to +be brooked. Nor was it. The haughty +blood of the Douglasses could bear it no +longer. James, the gallant earl of Douglas +and Mar, stepped forward from the +circle. "My honoured liege, and master," +said he, "I have not declined the princess's +offer,—beshrew my heart if ever it +embraced such a purpose. But the stake +is deep, and a moment's consideration excusable. +I have considered, and likewise +decided. I accept the lady's proposals. +With my own vassals alone, and at my +own sole charge, will I rescue the castle +from the hands of our enemies, or perish in +the attempt. The odds are high against +me. But it is now a Douglas or a Musgrave: +God prosper the bravest!"</p> + +<p>"Spoken like yourself, noble Douglas," +said the king, "The higher the stake the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +greater the honour. The task be yours, +and may the issue add another laurel to the +heroic name."</p> + +<p>"James of Douglas," said Lady Margaret, +"dost thou indeed accept of these +hard conditions for my sake? Then the +hand of thy royal mistress shall buckle on +the armour in which thou goest to the +field, but never shall unloose it, unless from +a victor or a corse!" And with that she +stretched forth her hand, which Douglas, +as he kneeled with one knee on the ground, +took and pressed to his lips.</p> + +<p>Every one of the nobles shook Douglas +by the hand, and wished him success. +Does any man believe that there was one +among them that indeed wished it? No, +there was not a chief present that would +not have rejoiced to have seen him led to +the gallows. His power was too high already, +and they dreaded that now it might +be higher than ever; and, moreover, they +saw themselves outdone by him in heroism, +and felt degraded by the contract thus +concluded.</p> + +<p>The standard of the Douglas was reared,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +and the bloody heart flew far over many a +lowland dale. The subordinate gentlemen +rose with their vassals, and followed the +banner of their chief; but the more powerful +kept aloof, or sent ambiguous answers. +They deemed the service undertaken little +better than the frenzy of a madman.</p> + +<p>There was at that time a powerful border +baron, nicknamed Sir Ringan Redhough, +by which name alone he was distinguished +all the rest of his life. He +was warden of the middle marches, and +head of the most warlike and adventurous +sept in all that country. The answer +which this hero gave to his own cousin, +Thomas Middlemas, who came to expostulate +with him from Douglas, is still preserved +verbatim: "What, man, are a' +my brave lads to lie in bloody claes that +the Douglas may lie i' snaw-white sheets +wi' a bonny bedfellow? Will that keep +the braid border for the king, my master? +Tell him to keep their hands fu', an' their +haunches toom, an' they'll soon be blythe +to leave the lass an' loup at the ladle; an' +the fient ae cloot shall cross the border to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +gar their pots play brown atween Dirdan-head +and Cocket-fell. Tell him this, an' +tell him that Redhough said it. If he +dinna work by wiles he'll never pouch +the profit. But if he canna do it, an' owns +that he canna do it, let him send word to +me, an' I'll tak' it for him."</p> + +<p>With these words he turned his back, +and abruptly left his cousin, who returned +to Douglas, ill satisfied with the success +of his message, but, nevertheless, delivered +it faithfully. "That curst carle," +said the Douglas, "is a thorn in my +thigh, as well as a buckler on my arm. +He's as cunning as a fox, as stubborn as an +oak, and as fierce as a lion. I must temporize +for the present, as I cannot do without +his support, but the time may come +that he may be humbled, and made to +know his betters; since one endeavour has +failed, we must try another, and, if that do +not succeed, another still."</p> + +<p>The day after that, as Sir Ringan was +walking out at his own gate, an old man, +with a cowl, and a long grey beard, accosted +him. "May the great spirit of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +elements shield thee, and be thy protector, +knight," said he.</p> + +<p>"An' wha may he be, carle, an it be +your will?" said Ringan; "An' wha may +ye be that gie me sic a sachless benediction? +As to my shield and protection, +look ye here!" and with that he touched +his two-handed sword, and a sheaf of arrows +that was swung at his shoulder; "an' +what are all your saints and lang nebbit +spirits to me?"</p> + +<p>"It was a random salutation, knight," +said the old man, seeing his mood and temper; +"I am not a priest but a prophet. +I come not to load you with blessings, curses, +nor homilies, all equally unavailing, +but to tell you what shall be in the times +that are to come. I have had visions of +futurity that have torn up the tendrils of +my spirit by the roots. Would you like +to know what is to befal you and your +house in the times that are to come?"</p> + +<p>"I never believe a word that you warlocks +say," replied the knight; "but I like +aye to hear what you <i>will</i> say about matters; +though it is merely to laugh at ye,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +for I dinna gie credit to ane o' your predictions. +Sin' the Rhymer's days, the +spirit o' true warlockry is gane. He +foretauld muckle that has turned out true; +an' something that I hope <i>will</i> turn out +true: But ye're a' bairns to him."</p> + +<p>"Knight," said the stranger, "I can +tell you more than ever the Rhymer conceived, +or thought upon; and, moreover, +I can explain the words of True Thomas, +which neither you nor those to whom they +relate in the smallest degree comprehend. +Knowest thou the prophecy of the Hart +and the Deer, as it is called?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Quhere the hearte heavit in het blude over hill and howe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There shall the dinke deire droule for the dowe:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Two fleite footyde maydenis shall tredde the greine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the mone and the starre shall flashe betweine.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Quhere the proude hiche halde and heveye hande beire<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ane frenauch shall feide on ane faderis frene feire,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In dinging at the starris the D shall doupe down,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the S shall be S quhane the heide S is gone.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"I hae heard the reide often and often," +said the knight, "but the man's unborn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +that can understand that. Though the +prophecies and the legends of the Rhymer +take the lead i' my lear, I hae always been +obliged to make that a passover."</p> + +<p>"There is not one of all his sayings +that relates as much to you and your house, +knight. It foretels that the arms of your +family shall supersede those of Douglas, +which you know are the bloody heart; and +that in endeavouring to exalt himself to +the stars, the D, that is the Douglas, shall +fall, but that your house and name shall +remain when the Stuarts are no more."</p> + +<p>"By the horned beasts of Old England, +my father's portion, and my son's undiminished +hope," exclaimed the knight,—"Thou +art a cunning man! I now see +the bearing o' the prophecy as plainly as I +see the hill of Mountcomyn before my +e'e; and, as I know Thomas never is wrong, +I believe it. Now is the time, auld warlock,—now +is the time; he's ettling at a +king's daughter, but his neck lies in wad, +and the forfeit will be his undoing."</p> + +<p>"The time is not yet come, valiant +knight; nevertheless the prophecy is true.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +Has thy horse's hoof ever trode, or thine +eye journeyed, over the Nine Glens of Niddisdale?"</p> + +<p>"I hae whiles gotten a glisk o' them."</p> + +<p>"They are extensive, rich, and beautiful."</p> + +<p>"They're nae less, auld carle; they're +nae less. They can send nine thousand +leel men an' stout to the field in a pinch."</p> + +<p>"It is recorded in the book of fate,—it +is written there—"</p> + +<p>"The devil it is, auld carle; that's mair +than I thought o'."</p> + +<p>"Hold thy peace: lay thine hand upon +thy mouth, and be silent till I explain: I +say I have seen it in the visions of the +night,—I have seen it in the stars of +heaven"—</p> + +<p>"What? the Nine Glens o' Niddisdale +amang the starns o' heaven! by hoof and +horn, it was rarely seen, warlock."</p> + +<p>"I say that I have seen it,—they are all +to belong to thy house."</p> + +<p>"Niddisdale a' to pertain to my house!"</p> + +<p>"All."</p> + +<p>"Carle, I gie nae credit to sic forbodings;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +but I have heard something like this +afore. Will ye stay till I bring my son +Robin, the young Master of Mountcomyn, +and let him hear it? For aince a man takes +a mark on his way, I wadna hae him to +tine sight o't. Mony a time has the tail o' +the king's elwand pointed me the way to +Cumberland; an' as often has the ee o' the +Charlie-wain blinkit me hame again. A +man's nae the waur o' a bit beacon o' some +kind,—a bit hope set afore him, auld carle; +an' the Nine Glens o' Niddisdale are nae +Willie-an-the-Wisp in a lad's ee."</p> + +<p>"From Roxburgh castle to the tower +of Sark,"—</p> + +<p>"What's the auld-warld birkie saying?"</p> + +<p>"From the Deadwater-fell to the Linns +of Cannoby,—from the Linns of Cannoby +to the heights of Manor and the Deuchar-swire,—shall +thy son, and the representatives +of thy house, ride on their own +lands."</p> + +<p>"May ane look at your foot, carle? +Take off that huge wooden sandal, an it +be your will."</p> + +<p>"Wherefore should I, knight?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Because I dread ye are either the +devil or Master Michael Scott."</p> + +<p>"Whoever I am, I am a friend to you +and to yours, and have told you the words +of truth. I have but one word more to +say:—Act always in concert with the +Douglasses, while they act in concert with +the king your master,—not a day, nor an +hour, nor a moment longer. It is thus, +and thus alone, that you must rise and the +Douglas fall. Remember the words of +True Thomas,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Quhane the wingit hors at his maistere sal wince,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Let wyse men cheat the chevysance.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"There is something mair about you +than other folk, auld man. If ye be my kinsman, +Michael Scott the warlock, I crave +your pardon, Master; but if you are that +dreadfu' carle—I mean that learned and +wonderfu' man, why you are welcome to +my castle. But you are not to turn my +auld wife into a hare, Master, an' hunt her +up an' down the hills wi' my ain grews; +nor my callants into naigs to scamper about +on i' the night-time when they hae ither<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +occupations to mind. There is naething +i' my tower that isna at your command; +for, troth, I wad rather brow a' the Ha's +and the Howard's afore I beardit you."</p> + +<p>"I set no foot in your halls, knight. +This night is a night among many to me; +and wo would be to me if any thing canopied +my head save the cope of heaven. +There are horoscopes to be read this night +for a thousand years to come. One cake +of your bread and one cup of your wine is +all that the old wizard requests of you, +and that he must have."</p> + +<p>The knight turned back and led the +seer into the inner-court, and fed him with +bread and wine, and every good thing; +but well he noted that he asked no holy +benediction on them like the palmers and +priors that wandered about the country; +and, therefore, he had some lurking dread +of the old man. He did not thank the +knight for his courtesy, but, wiping his +snowy beard, he turned abruptly away, +and strode out at the gate of the castle. +Sir Ringan kept an eye on him privately till +he saw him reach the top of Blake Law,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +a small dark hill immediately above the +castle. There he stopped and looked +around him, and taking two green sods, +he placed the one above the other, and +laid himself down on his back, resting his +head upon the two sods,—his body half +raised, and his eyes fixed on heaven. +The knight was almost frightened to look +at him; but sliding into the cleuch, he ran +secretly down to the tower to bring his +lady to see this wonderful old warlock. +When they came back he was gone, and +no trace of him to be seen, nor saw they +him any more at that time.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">This man's the devil's fellow commoner,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A verie cloake-bag of iniquitie.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His butteries and his craboun he deschargeth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Flasche, not by airt or reule. Is it meet<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A Ploydenist should be a <i>cedant arma togae</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mounted on a trapt palfrey; with a dishe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of velvatte on his heide, to keepe the brothe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of his wit warm? The devil, my maisteris,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There is no dame in Venice shall indure itt.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i8"><i>Old Play.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Whilst the knight and his lady were +looking about in amazement for their mysterious +guest, the tower-warder sounded +the great bugle, a tremendous horn that +lay on a shelf in the balcony where he +kept watch. "One—two—three," said +the knight, counting the three distinct +notes,—a signal of which he well knew +the language,—"What can that mean? I +am wanted, it would appear: another messenger +from the Douglas, I warrant."</p> + +<p>"Sir Ringan, keep by that is your own," +said the lady—"I say, mind your own concerns, +and let the Douglas mind his."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dame," said the chief, "I hae gotten +some mair insight into that affair than +you; an' we maun talk about it by an' +by. In the meantime let us haste home, +and see who is arrived."</p> + +<p>As they descended from the hill hand +in hand, (for none walked arm in arm in +those days,) they saw Richard Dodds, a +landward laird, coming to meet them. +"Oh," said Sir Ringan, "this is my officious +cousin, Dickie o' Dryhope; what business +can he be come upon? It will be something +that he deems of great importance."</p> + +<p>"I hate that old fawning, flattering +sycophant," said the lady; "and cannot +divine what is the cause of your partiality +for him."</p> + +<p>"It is his attachment to our house that +I admire, and his perfect devotion to my +service and interests," said the knight.</p> + +<p>"Mere sound," exclaimed the lady bitterly: +"Mere waste of superfluous breath! +I tell you, Sir Ringan, that, for all your +bravery, candour, and kindness, you are a +mere novice in the affairs of life, and know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +less of men and of things than ever knight +did."</p> + +<p>"It is a great fault in women," said the +knight, making his observation general, +"that they will aye be meddling wi' things +they ken nought about. They think they +ken every thing, an' wad gar ane trow that +they can see an inch into a fir deal.—Gude +help them! It is just as unfeasible to hear +a lady discussing the merits of warriors an' +yeomen, as it wad be to see me sitting nursing +a wench-bairn."</p> + +<p>"Foh, what an uncourtly term!" said +the lady; "What would King Robert +think if he heard you speaking in that uncouth +stile?"</p> + +<p>"I speak muckle better than him, wi' +his short clippit Highland tongue," said +the chief: "But hush, here comes the redoubted +Dickie o' Dryhope."</p> + +<p>No sooner were the knight and his lady's +eyes turned so as to meet Dickie's, than he +whipped off his bonnet with a graceful +swing, and made a low bow, his thin gray +locks waving as he bowed. Dickie was a +tall, lean, toothless, old bachelor, whose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +whole soul and body were devoted to the +fair sex and the house of his chief. These +two mighty concerns divided his attention, +and often mingled with one another; his +enthusiasm for the one, by any sudden +change of subjects or concatenation of ideas, +being frequently transferred to the other. +Dickie approached with his bonnet in his +hand, bowing every time the knight and +lady lifted their eyes. When they met, +Sir Ringan shook him heartily by the hand, +and welcomed him to the castle of Mountcomyn.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are so good and so kind, Sir +Ringan, bless you, bless you, bless you, +noble sir; how do you thrive, Sir Ringan? +bless you, bless you. And my excellent +and noble lady Mountcomyn, how is my +noble dame?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said the lady coldly.</p> + +<p>Dickie looked as if he would have shaken +hands with her, or embraced her, as +the custom then was, but she made no +proffer of either the one or the other, and +he was obliged to keep his distance; but +this had no effect in checking his adulations.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +"I am so glad that my excellent +lady is well, and the young squires and +maidens all brisk and whole I hope?"</p> + +<p>"All well, cousin," said the chief.</p> + +<p>"Eh! all well?" reiterated Dickie, "Oh +the dear, delightful, darling souls, O bless +them! If they be but as well as I wish +them, and as good as I wish—If the squires +be but half so brave as their father, and the +noble young sweet dames half so beautiful +as their lady mother—oh bless them, bless +them." "And half so independent and honest +as their cousin," said the lady, with a +rebuking sneer.</p> + +<p>"Very pleasant! very pleasant, indeed!" +simpered Dickie, without daring to take +his lips far asunder, lest his toothless gums +should be seen.</p> + +<p>"Such babyish flummery!" rejoined the +lady with great emphasis. Dickie was +somewhat abashed. His eyes, that were +kindled with a glow of filial rapture, appeared +as with flattened pupils; nevertheless +the benignant smile did not altogether +desert his features. The knight gave a short +look off at one side to his lady. "It is a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +great fault in ladies, cousin," said he, "that +they will always be breaking their jokes +on those that they like best, and always +pretending to keep at a distance from them. +My lady thinks to blind my een, as many +a dame has done to her husband afore this +time; but I ken, an' some mae ken too, +that if there's ane o' a' my kin that I durstna +trust my lady wi' when my back's turned, +that ane's Dickie o' Dryhope."</p> + +<p>"H'm, h'm, h'm," neighed Dickie, +laughing with his lips shut; "My lady's +so pleasant, and so kind, but—Oh—no, no—you +wrong her, knight; h'm, h'm, h'm! +But, all joking and gibing aside—my lady's +very pleasant. I came express to inform +you, Sir Ringan, that the Douglasses are +up."</p> + +<p>"I knew it."</p> + +<p>"And the Maxwells—and the Gordons—and +the hurkle-backed Hendersons."</p> + +<p>"Well."</p> + +<p>"And Sir Christopher Seton is up—and +the Elliots and the Laird of Tibbers is up."</p> + +<p>"Well, well."</p> + +<p>"I came expressly to inform you—"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Came with piper's news," said the lady, +"which the fiddler has told before you."</p> + +<p>"That <i>is very</i> good," said Dickie; "My +lady is so delightfully pleasant—I thought +Sir Ringan would be going to rise with +the rest, and came for directions as to raising +my men."</p> + +<p>"How many men can the powerful +Laird of Dryhope muster in support of the +warden?" said Lady Mountcomyn.</p> + +<p>"Mine are all at his command; my worthy +lady knows that," said Dickie, bowing: +"Every one at his command."</p> + +<p>"I think," said she, "that at the battle +of Blakehope you furnished only two, who +were so famished with hunger that they +could not bear arms, far less fight."</p> + +<p>"Very pleasant, in sooth; h'm, h'm! +I declare I am delighted with my lady's +good humour."</p> + +<p>"You may, however, keep your couple +of scare-crows at home for the present, and +give them something to eat," continued +she; "the warden has other matters to +mind than wasting his vassals that the +Douglas may wive."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very true, and excellent good sense," +said Dickie.</p> + +<p>"We'll talk of that anon," said Sir Ringan. +And with that they went into the +castle, and sat down to dinner. There were +twelve gentlemen and nine maidens present, +exclusive of the knight's own family, +and they took their places on each side +as the lady named them. When Sir Ringan +lifted up his eyes and saw the station +that Dickie occupied, he was dissatisfied, +but instantly found a remedy. "Davie's +Pate," said he to the lad that waited behind +him, "mak that bowiefu' o' cauld +plovers change places wi' yon saut-faut instantly, +before meat be put to mouth." +The order was no sooner given than obeyed, +and the new arrangement placed Dickie +fairly above the salt.</p> + +<p>The dining apparatus at the castle of +Mountcomyn was homely, but the fare was +abundant. A dozen yeomen stood behind +with long knives, and slashed down the +beef and venison into small pieces, which +they placed before the guests in wooden +plates, so that there was no knife used at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +the dining board. All ate heartily, but none +with more industry than Dickie, who took +not even time all the while to make the +complaisant observation, that "my lady +was so pleasant."</p> + +<p>Dinner being over, the younger branches +of the family retired, and all the kinsmen +not of the first rank, pretending some +business that called them away, likewise +disappeared; so that none were left with +the knight and his lady save six. The lady +tried the effect of several broad hints on +Dickie, but he took them all in good part, +and declared that he never saw his lady so +pleasant in his life. And now a serious consultation +ensued, on the propriety of lending +assistance to the Douglas. Sir Ringan +first put the question to his friends, without +any observation. The lady took up the +argument, and reasoned strongly against +the measure. Dickie was in raptures with +his lady's good sense, and declared her arguments +unanswerable. Most of the gentlemen +seemed to acquiesce in the same +measure, on the ground that, as matters +stood, they could not rise at the Douglas'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +call on that occasion, without being considered +as a subordinate family, which neither +the king nor the Douglas had any +right to suppose them; and so strongly +and warmly ran the argument on that side, +that it was likely to be decided on, without +the chief having said a word on the +subject. Simon of Gemelscleuch alone ventured +to dissent; "I have only to remark, +my gallant kinsmen," said he, "that our +decision in this matter is likely to prove +highly eventful. Without our aid the +force of the Douglas is incompetent to +the task, and the castle will then remain +in the hands of the English, than +which nothing can be more grievously +against our interest. If he be defeated, and +forfeit his lands, the power of the Border +will then remain with us; but should he +succeed without our assistance, and become +the king's son-in-law, it will be a hard +game with us to keep the footing that we +have. I conceive, therefore, that in withdrawing +our support we risk every thing,—in +lending it, we risk nothing but blows."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +All the kinsmen were silent. Dickie looked +at my Lady Mountcomyn.</p> + +<p>"It is well known that there is an old +prophecy existing," said she, "that a +Scot shall sit in the Douglas' chair, and be +lord of all his domains. Well would it be +for the country if that were so. But to support +the overgrown power of that house is +not the way to accomplish so desirable an +object."</p> + +<p>"That is true," said Dickie; "I'll defy +any man to go beyond what my lady says, +or indeed whatever she says."</p> + +<p>"Have we not had instances of their +jealousy already?" continued she.</p> + +<p>"We have had instances of their jealousy +already," said Dickie, interrupting +her.</p> + +<p>"And should we raise him to be the +king's son-in-law, he would kick us for our +pains," rejoined she.</p> + +<p>"Ay, he would kick us for our pains," +said Dickie; "think of that."</p> + +<p>"Either please to drop your responses, +Sir," said she, sternly, "or leave the hall. +I would rather hear a raven croak on my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +turret in the day of battle, than the tongue +of a flatterer or sycophant."</p> + +<p>"That is very good indeed," said Dickie; +"My lady is so pleasant; h'm, h'm, h'm! +Excellent! h'm, h'm, h'm!"</p> + +<p>Sir Ringan saw his lady drawing herself +up in high indignation; and dreading that +his poor kinsman would bring on himself +such a rebuke as would banish him the hall +for ever, he interposed. "Cousin," said he, +"it's a great fault in women that they +canna bide interruption, an' the mair they +stand in need o't they take it the waur. +But I have not told you all yet: a very +singular circumstance has happened to me +this day. Who do you think I found waylaying +me at my gate, but our kinsman, +the powerful old warlock, Master Michael +Scott."</p> + +<p>"Master Michael Scott!" exclaimed the +whole circle, every one holding up his +hands, "has he ventured to be seen by +man once more? Then there is something +uncommon to befal, or, perhaps, the world +is coming to an end."</p> + +<p>"God forbid!" said Redhough: "It is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +true that, for seven years, he has been pent +up in his enchanted tower at Aikwood, +without speaking to any one save his spirits; +but though I do not know him, this must +have been he, for he has told me such +things as will astonish you; and, moreover, +when he left me, he laid himself +down on the top of the Little Law on his +back, and the devils carried him away bodily +through the air, or down through the +earth, and I saw no more of him."</p> + +<p>All agreed that it had been the great +magician Master Michael Scott. Sir Ringan +then rehearsed the conversation that +had passed between the wizard and himself. +All the circle heard this with astonishment; +some with suspense, and others +with conviction, but Dickie with raptures +of delight. "He assured me," said Redhough, +"that my son should ride on his +own land from Roxburgh to the Deadwater-fell."</p> + +<p>"From Roxburgh to the Deadwater-fell!" +cried Dickie, "think of that! all the +links of the bonny Teviot and Slitterick, +ha, ha, lads, think of that!" and he clapped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +his hands aloud without daring to turn +his eyes to the head of the table.</p> + +<p>"And from the Deadwater-fell to the +tower o' Sark," rejoined the knight.</p> + +<p>"To the tower of Sark!" exclaimed +Dickie. "H— have a care of us! think +of that! All the dales of Liddel, and +Ewes, and the fertile fields of Cannobie! +Who will be king of the Border, then, my +lads? who will be king of the Border then? +ha, ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>"And from the fords of Sark to the +Deuchar-swire," added Sir Ringan.</p> + +<p>Dickie sprang to his feet, and seizing a +huge timber trencher, he waved it round +his head. The chief beckoned for silence; +but Dickie's eyes were glistening with raprures, +and it was with great difficulty he +repressed his vociferations.</p> + +<p>"And over the Nine Glens of Niddisdale +beside," said Sir Ringan.</p> + +<p>Dickie could be restrained no longer. +He brayed out, "Hurrah, hurrah!" and +waved his trencher round his head.</p> + +<p>"All the Esk, and the braid Forest, and +the Nine Glens o' Niddisdale! Hurrah!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +Hurrah! Mountcomyn for ever! The +warden for ever! hu, hu! hu!"</p> + +<p>The knight and his friends were obliged +to smile at Dickie's outrageous joy; but the +lady rose and went out in high dudgeon. +Dickie then gave full vent to his rapture +without any mitigation of voice, adding, +"My lady for ever!" to the former two; +and so shouting, he danced around, waving +his immense wooden plate.</p> + +<p>The frolic did not take, and Sir Ringan +was obliged to call him to order. "You do +not consider, cousin," said the warden, +"that what a woman accounts excellent +sport at one time is at another high offence. +See, now, you have driven my lady away +from our consultation, on whose advice I +have a strong reliance; and I am afraid +we will scarcely prevail on her to come +back."</p> + +<p>"Oh! there's no fear of my lady and +me," said Dickie; "we understand one +another. My lady is a kind, generous, +noble soul, and so pleasant!</p> + +<p>"For as pleasant and kind as she is, I +am deceived if she is easily reconciled to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +you. Ye dinna ken Kate Dunbar, cousin.—Boy, +tell your lady that we lack her counsel, +and expect that she will lend us it for +a short space."</p> + +<p>The boy did as he was ordered, but returned +with an answer, that unless Dickie +was dismissed she did not choose to be of +the party.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for it," said Sir Ringan; +"but you may tell her that she may then +remain where she is, for I can't spare my +cousin Dickie now, nor any day these five +months." And with that he began and discussed +the merits of the case <i>pro</i> and <i>con</i> +with his kinsmen, as if nothing had happened; +and in the end it was resolved, that, +with a thousand horsemen, they would +scour the east border to intercept all the +supplies that should be sent out of England, +and thus enrich themselves, while, at +at the same time, they would appear to +countenance the mad undertaking of Douglas.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<div class="blkquot"><p>"Come, come, my hearts of flint; modestly; decently; soberly; +and handsomely.—No man afore his leader.—Ding down the +enemy to-morrow,—ye shall not come into the field like beggars.—Lord +have mercy upon me, what a world this is!—Well, I'll give +an hundred pence for as many good feathers, and a hundred more +for as many scarts:—wounds, dogs, to set you out withal! Frost +and snow, a man cannot fight till he be brave! I say down with +the enemy to morrow!"</p> +<p class="citation"> +<i>Sir John Oldcastle.</i></p></div> + + +<p>The castle of Roxburgh was beleaguered +by seven thousand men in armour, but +never before had it been so well manned, +or rendered so formidable in its butresses; +and to endeavour to scale it, appeared as +vain an attempt as that of scaling the +moon.</p> + +<p>There was a great deal of parading, and +noise went on, as that of beating drums, +and sounding of trumpets and bugles, +every day; and scarcely did there one +pass on which there were not tilting +bouts between the parties, and in these the +English generally had the advantage. Never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +was there, perhaps, a more chivalrous +host than that which Musgrave had under +his command within the walls of Roxburgh; +the enthusiasm, the gallantry, and +the fire of the captain, were communicated +to all the train.</p> + +<p>Their horses were much superior to those +of the Scots; and, in place of the latter +being able to make any impression on the +besieged, they could not, with all the vigilance +they were able to use, prevent +their posts from being surprised by the +English, on which the most desperate encounters +sometimes took place. At first +the English generally prevailed, but the +Scots at length became inured to it, and +stood the shocks of the cavalry more firmly. +They took care always at the first onset to +cut the bridle reins with their broad-swords, +and by that means they disordered the +ranks of their enemies, and often drove +them in confusion back to their strong-hold.</p> + +<p>Thus months flew on in this dashing +sort of warfare, and no impression was +made on the fortress, nor did any appear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +practicable; and every one at court began +to calculate on the failure and utter ruin +of the Douglas. Piercy of Northumberland +proffered to raise the country, and +lead an army to the relief of the castle; +but this interference Musgrave would in +nowise admit, it being an infringement of +the task imposed on him by his mistress.</p> + +<p>Moreover, he said, he cared not if all +the men of Scotland lay around the castle, +for he would defy them to win it. He farther +bade the messenger charge Piercy +and Howard to have an army ready at the +expiry of the Christmas holidays, wherewith +to relieve him, and clear the Border, +but to take no care nor concern about him +till then.</p> + +<p>About this time an incident, right common +in that day, brought a number of +noble young adventurers to the camp of +Douglas. It chanced, in an encounter +between two small rival parties at the +back of the convent of Maisondieu, which +stood on the south side of the Teviot, that +Sir Thomas de Somerville of Carnwath +engaged hand to hand with an English<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +knight, named Sir Comes de Moubray, +who, after a desperate encounter, unhorsed +and wounded him. The affair was seen +from the walls of Roxburgh, as well as by +a part of the Scottish army which was encamped +on a rising ground to the south, +that overlooked the plain; and, of course, +like all other chivalrous feats, became the +subject of general conversation. Somerville +was greatly mortified; and, not finding +any other way to recover his honour, +he sent a challenge to Moubray to fight +him again before the gate of Roxburgh, in +sight of both armies. Moubray was too +gallant to refuse. There was not a knight in +the castle who would have declined such a +chance of earning fame, and recommending +himself to his mistress and the fair in +general. The challenge was joyfully accepted, +and the two knights met in the +midst of a circle of gentlemen appointed +by both armies, on the castle green, that +lay betwixt the moat and the river, immediately +under the walls of the castle. Never +was there a more gallant combat seen. +They rode nine times against each other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +with full force, twice with lances and seven +times with swords, yet always managed +with such dexterity that neither +were unhorsed, nor yet materially wounded. +But at the tenth charge, by a most +strenuous exertion, Sir Thomas disarmed +and threw his opponent out of his saddle, +with his sword-arm dislocated. Somerville +gained great renown, and his fame was +sounded in court and in camp. Other +challenges were soon sent from both sides, +and as readily accepted; and some of the +best blood both of Scotland and England +was shed in these mad chivalrous exploits. +The ambition of the young Scottish nobles +was roused, and many of them flocked as volunteers +to the standard of Douglas. Among +these were some of the retainers of Redhough, +who could not resist such an opportunity +of trying their swords with some rivals +with whom they had erst exchanged sharp +blows on the marches. Simon of Gemelscleuch, +his cousin John of Howpasley, and +the Laird of Yard-bire, all arrived in the +camp of Douglas in one night, in order to +distinguish themselves in these tilting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +bouts. Earl Douglas himself challenged +Musgrave, hoping thereby to gain his end, +and the prize for which he fought; but +the knight, true to his engagement, sent +him for answer, that he would first see the +beginning of a new year, and then he +should fight either him or any of his name, +but that till then he had undertaken a +charge to which all others must be subordinate.</p> + +<p>The Laird of Yardbire, the strongest +man of the Border, fought three combats +with English squires of the same +degree, two on horseback and one on foot, +and in all proved victorious. For one +whole month the siege presented nothing +new save these tiltings, which began at certain +hours every day, and always became +more obstinate, often proving fatal; and +the eagerness of the young gentry of both +parties to engage in them grew into a kind +of mania: But an event happened which +put an end to them at once.</p> + +<p>There was a combat one day between +two knights of the first degree, who were +surrounded as usual by twenty lancers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +from each army, all the rest of both parties +being kept at a distance, the English +on the tops of their walls, and the Scots +on the heights behind, both to the east +and west; for there was one division of +the army stationed on the hill of Barns +and at the head of the Sick-man's Path, and +another on the rising ground between the +city and castle. The two gentlemen were +equally matched, and the issue was doubtful, +when the attendant Scottish guards perceived, +or thought they perceived, in the +bearing of the English knight, some breach +of the rules of chivalry; on which with one +voice they called out "foul play." The +English answered, "No, no, none." The +two judges called to order, on which the +spearmen stood still and listened, and +hearing that the judges too were of different +opinions, they took up the matter +themselves, the Scots insisting that the +knight should be disarmed and turned +from the lists in disgrace, and the English +refusing to acquiesce. The judges, dreading +some fatal conclusion, gave their joint +orders that both parties should retire in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +peace, and let the matter be judged of afterwards; +on which the English prepared +to quit the ground with a kind of exultation, +for it appeared that they were not +certain with regard to the propriety of +their hero's conduct. Unluckily, it so happened +that the redoubted Charlie Scott of +Yard-bire headed the Scottish pikemen on +the lists that day, a very devil for blood +and battery, and of strength much beyond +that generally allotted to man. When he +saw that the insidious knight was going +to be conducted off in a sort of triumph, +and in a manner so different from what he +deemed to suit his demerits, he clenched +the handle of his sword with his right +hand, and screwed down his eyebrows till +they almost touched the top of his nose. +"What now, muckle Charlie?" said one +that stood by him. "What now!" repeated +Charlie, growling like a wolf-dog, +and confining the words almost within his +own breast, "The deil sal bake me into +a ker-cake to gust his gab wi', afore I see +that saucy tike ta'en off in sic a way." +And with that he dropt his pike, drew his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +sword, and rushing through the group he +seized the knight's horse by the bridle with +his left hand, thinking to lead both him +and his master away prisoners. The knight +struck at him with all his might, but for +this Charlie was prepared; he warded the +blow most dexterously, and in wrath, by +the help of a huge curb-bridle, he threw +the horse backward, first on his hams, and +then on his back, with his rider under +him. "Tak ye that, master, for whistling +o' Sundays," said the intrepid borderer, +and began to lay about him at the English, +who now attacked him on both sides.</p> + +<p>Charlie's first break at the English knight +was the watch-word for a general attack. +The Scots flew to the combat, in perfect +silence, and determined hatred, and they +were received by the other party in the +same manner. Not so the onlookers of +both hosts,—they rent the air with loud +and reiterated shouts. The English poured +forth in a small narrow column from +the east gate along the draw-bridge, but +the Scottish horsemen, who were all ready +mounted, the better to see the encounter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +from their stations, scoured down from the +heights like lightning, so that they prevailed +at first, before the English could +issue forth in numbers sufficient to oppose +them. The brave Sir Richard Musgrave, +the captain's younger brother, led the +English, he having rushed out at their +head on the first breaking out of the affray; +but, notwithstanding all his bravery, +he with his party were driven with their +backs to the moat, and hard pressed, Douglas, +with a strong body of horse, having +got betwixt them and the castle-gate. The +English were so anxious to relieve their +young hero that they rushed to the gate in +crowds. Douglas suffered a part to issue, +and then attacking them furiously with the +cavalry, he drove them back in such confusion, +that he got possession of the draw-bridge +for several minutes, and would in all +likelihood have entered with the crowd, had +it not been for the portcullis, the machinery +of which the Scots did not understand, +nor had they the means of counteracting +it; so that just when they were in the hottest +and most sanguine part of their enterprize,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +down it came with a clattering noise +louder than thunder, separating a few of the +most forward from their brethren, who were +soon every one cut down, as they refused +to yield.</p> + +<p>In the meantime it fared hard with Richard, +who was overpowered by numbers; +and though the English archers galled the +Scottish cavalry grievously from the walls, +he and all that were with him being forced +backward, they plunged into the moat, and +were every one of them either slain or taken +prisoners. The younger Musgrave was +among the latter, which grieved his brother +Sir Philip exceedingly, as it gave +Douglas an undue advantage over him, and +he knew that, in the desperate state of his +undertaking, he would go any lengths to +over-reach him. From that day forth, all +challenges or accepting of challenges was +prohibited by Musgrave, under pain of +death; and a proclamation was issued, stating, +that all who entered the castle should +be stripped naked, searched, and examined, +on what pretence soever they came, and if +any suspicious circumstances appeared against<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +them, they were to be hanged upon a +post erected for the purpose, on the top of +the wall, in sight of both armies. He was +determined to spare no vigilance, and constantly +said he would hold Douglas at defiance.</p> + +<p>There was only one thing that the besieged +had to dread, and it was haply, too, +the only thing in which the Scots placed +any degree of hope, and that was the total +failure of provisions within the castle. Musgrave's +plan, of getting small supplies at a +time from England by night, was discovered +by Sir Ringan Redhough, and completely +cut off: and as Douglas hanged every messenger +that fell into his hands, no new plan +could be established; and so closely were +the English beleaguered, that any attempt +at sending additional supplies to those they +had proved of no avail. The rival armies +always grew more and more inveterate +against each other, and the most sharp and +deadly measures were exercised by both. +Matters went on in this manner till near +the end of October, when the nights grew +cold, long, and dark. There was nothing but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +the perils of that castle on the Border talked +of over all Scotland and England. Every +one, man, maid, and child, became interested +in it. It may well be conceived +that the two sovereign beauties, the Lady +Jane Howard and Princess Margaret of Scotland, +were not the least so; and both of +them prepared, at the same time, in the true +spirit of the age, to take some active part +in the matter before it came to a final issue. +One of them seemed destined to lose +her hero, but both had put on the resolution +of performing something worthy of +the knights that were enduring so much for +their sakes.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And O that pegis weste is slymme,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And his ee wald garr the daye luke dymme;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His broue is brente, his brestis fayre,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the deemonde lurkis in hys revan hayre.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Alake for thilke bonnye boye sae leile<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That lyes withe oure Kynge in the hie-lande shiele!<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Old Rhyme.</i><br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I winna gang in, I darena gang in,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nor sleep i' your arms ava;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fu' laithly wad a fair may sleep<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Atween you an' the wa'.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">War I to lie wi' a belted knight,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In a land that's no my ain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fu' dear wad be my courtesye,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">An' dreich wad be my pain.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Old Ballad.</i><br /></span> +</div> + + +<p>One cold biting evening, at the beginning +of November, Patrick Chisholm of Castleweary, +an old yeoman in the upper part of +Teviotdale, sat conversing with his family +all in a merry and cheerful mood. They +were placed in a circle round a blazing +hearth fire, on which hung a huge caldron, +boiling and bubbling like the pool at the +foot of a cataract. The lid was suspended +by a rope to the iron crook on which this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +lordly machine was hung, to intercept +somewhat the showers of soot that now +and then descended from the rafters. These +appeared as if they had been covered with +pitch or black japanning; and so violently +was the kettle boiling, that it made the +roof of Pate Chisholm's bigging all to shiver. +Notwithstanding these showers of +soot, Pate and his four goodly sons eyed +the boiling caldron with looks of great satisfaction,—for +ever and anon the hough of +an immense leg of beef was to be seen cutting +its capers in the boil, or coming with +a graceful semicircular sweep from one lip +of the pot to the other.</p> + +<p>"Is it true, callants," said Pate, "that +Howard is gaun to make a diversion, as +they ca't, in the west border, to draw off +the warden frae the Cheviots?"</p> + +<p>"As muckle is said, an' as muckle expectit," +said Dan, his first born, a goodly +youth, who, with his three brethren, sat in +armour. They had come home to their +father's house that night with their share +of a rich prey that the warden had kidnapped +while just collecting to send to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +Roxburgh under a guard of five thousand +men. But Sir Ringan, getting intelligence +of it, took possession of the drove before it +was placed under the charge of those intended +to guard it.</p> + +<p>"As muckle is said, an' as muckle is +expectit," said Dan; "but the west border +will never turn out sae weel to us as the +east has done. It's o'er near the Johnstones, +and the Jardines, and the hurkle-backit +Hendersons."</p> + +<p>Pate looked from under his bonnet at +the hough of beef.—"The Cheviot hills hae +turned weel out for the warden," continued +Dan; "Redhough an' his lads hae been as +weel scrieving o'er law and dale as lying +getting hard pelts round the stane wa's o' +Roxburgh, an' muckle mair gude has he +done; for gin they dinna hunger them out +o' their hauddin, they'll keep it. Ye'll +draw an Englishman by the gab easier +than drive him wi' an airn gaud. I wad +ride fifty miles to see ony ane o' the bonny +dames that a' this pelting an' peching is +about."</p> + +<p>"Twa wanton glaikit gillies, I'll uphaud,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +said Pate, looking at the restless +hough; "o'er muckle marth i' the back, +an' meldar i' the brusket. Gin I had the +heffing o' them, I sude tak a staup out o' +their bickers.—Whisht, I thought I heard +the clanking o' horse heels.—Callant, clap +the lid down on the pat; what hae they't +hinging geaving up there for?"</p> + +<p>The clattering of the horses approached, +but apparently with caution; and at length +a voice called at the door in an English accent, +"Hollo, who holds here?" "Leel +men, an' for the Scots," answered Dan, +starting to his feet, and laying his hand on +his sword. "For the knight of Mountcomyn, +the Scottish warden?"—inquired the +horseman without. "For the same," was +the answer. "It is toward his castle that +we are bound. Can any of you direct us +the way?"</p> + +<p>"Troth, that I can," said old Pate, groping +to satisfy himself that the lid was close +down on the pot, and then running to the +door; "I can tell you every fit o' the road, +masters: You maun gang by the Fanesh, +you see; it lies yon way, you see; an' then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +up the Brown rig, as straight as a line +through Philhope-head, an' into Borthwick; +then up Aitas-burn,—round the +Crib-law,—an' wheel to the right; then +the burn that ye come to there, ye maun +cross that, and three miles farther on you +come to the castle of Mountcomyn.—Braw +cheer there lads!"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid, friend," said the English +trooper, "we will make nothing of this +direction. Is it far to this same castle of +the Scottish warden?"</p> + +<p>"O no, naething but a step, some three +Scots miles."</p> + +<p>"And how is the road?"</p> + +<p>"A prime road, man; no a step in't a' +wad tak your horse to the brusket; only +there's nae track; ye maun just take an +ettle. Keep an ee on the tail o' Charlie's +wain, an' ye'll no gang far wrang."</p> + +<p>"Our young lord and master is much +fatigued," said the trooper; "I am afraid +we shall scarcely make it out. Pray, sir, +could you spare us a guide?"</p> + +<p>Dan, who was listening behind, now +stepped forward, and addressed them:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +"My masters, as the night is o' darkness, +I could hardly ride to Mountcomyn mysel, +an', far or near, I couldna win there afore +day. Gin ye dought accept o' my father's +humble cheer the night—"</p> + +<p>"The callant's bewiddied, an' waur than +bewiddied," said Pate: "We haena cheer +for oursels, let abe for a byking o' English +lords an' squires!"</p> + +<p>"I would gladly accept of any accommodation," +said a sweet delicate voice, like +that of a boy; "for the path has been so +dreadful that I am almost dead, and unable +to proceed further. I have a safe-conduct +to the Scottish court, signed by all +the wardens of the marches, and every +knight, yeoman, and vassal is obliged to +give me furtherance."</p> + +<p>"I dinna ken muckle about conducks +an' signatures," said Pate, "but I trow +there winna be mony syllables in some o' +the names if a' the wardens hae signed +your libelt; for I ken weel there's ane o' +them whase edication brak aff at the letter +G, an' never gat farrer. But I'm no ca'ing +ye a leear, southron lord, ye may be a vera<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +honest man; an' as your errand may be +something unco express, ye had better post +on."</p> + +<p>"It sal never be casten up to me neither +in camp nor ha," said Dan, "that a +stranger was cawed frae my auld father's +door at this time o' the night. Light down, +light down, southron lord, ye are a privileged +man; an', as I like to see the meaning +o' things, I'll ride wi' ye mysel the +morn, fit for fit, to the castle o' Mountcomyn."</p> + +<p>The strangers were soon all on their +feet, and ushered into the family circle, for +there was no fire-place in the house but +that one. They consisted of five stout +troopers, well armed, a page, and a young +nobleman, having the appearance of a youth +about seventeen or eighteen years of age. +Every eye was instantly turned on him, +there was something so extraordinary in +his appearance. Instead of a steel helmet, +he wore a velvet cap, shaped like a crown, +striped with belts, bars, and crosses of gold +wire, and manifestly more for ornament +than use. His fair ringlets were peeping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +in curls out from below his cap, and his +face and bright blue eyes were lovely as +the dawn of a summer's morning.</p> + +<p>They were not well seated till a noise +of the tread of horses was again heard.</p> + +<p>"The warld be a-wastle us!" cried old +Pate, "wha's that now? I think fouk will +be eaten up wi' fouk, an' naething for +folk's pains but dry thanks;—thanks +winna feed the cat—"</p> + +<p>He was stopped in his regretful soliloquy +by a rough voice at the door: "Ho, +wha bauds the house?" The same answer +was given as to the former party, and in a +minute the strangers entered without law +or leave.</p> + +<p>"Ye travel unco late, maisters," said old +Pate: "How far may ye be for the +night?"</p> + +<p>"We meant to have reached the tower +of Gorranberry to-night," said one of the +strangers, "but we have been benighted, +and were drawn hither by the light in +your hole. I fear we must draw on your +hospitality till day."</p> + +<p>"Callant Peter, gang an' stap a wisp i'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +that bole," said Pate; "it seems to be the +beacon light to a' the clanjaumphry i' the +hale country. I tauld ye aye to big it up; +but no ane o' ye heeds what I say. I hae +seen houses that <i>some</i> fouk whiles gaed by. +But, my maisters, its nae gate ava to Gorranberry,—a +mere haut-stride-and-loup. +I'll send a guide to Bilhope-head wi' ye; +for troth we hae neither meat nor drink, +house-room nor stabling, mair about the +toun. We're but poor yeomen, an' haud +our mailin for hard service. We hae +tholed a foray the night already, an' a +double ane wad herrie us out o' house an' +hauld. The warld be a' wastle us! I think +a' the mosstroopers be abraid the night! +Bairns, swee that bouking o' claes aff the +fire; ye'll burn it i' the boiling."</p> + +<p>The new comers paid little attention to +this address of the old man; they saw that +he was superannuated, and had all the narrow +selfishness that too generally clings to +that last miserable stage of human exisence; +but drawing nigh they began to eye +the southron party with looks of dark suspicion, +if not of fierceness.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I see what maks ye sae frightet at our +entrance here," said the first Scots trooper, +ye hae some southron spies amang ye—Gudeman, +ye sal answer to the king for +this, an' to the Douglas too, whilk ye'll +find a waur job."</p> + +<p>"Ken where ye are, an' wha ye're speaking +to," said Dan, stepping forward and +browing the last speaker face to face: "If +either the ae party or the ither be spies, or +aught else but leel men, ye shall find, ere +ye gang far, whase land ye are on, an' +whase kipples ye are under. That auld +man's my father, an,' doitet as he is, the +man amang ye that says a saucy word to +him I'll gar sleep in his shoon a fit shorter +than he rase i' the morning. Wha are ye, +sir, or where do you travel by night on my +master the warden's bounds?"</p> + +<p>"Sir," answered another trooper, who +seemed to be rather a more polished man, +"I applaud your spirit, and will answer +your demand. We go with our lord and +master, Prince Alexander Stuart of Scotland, +on a mission to a noble English family. +Here is the king's seal as well as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +pass signed by the English warden. We +are leel men and true."</p> + +<p>"Where is the prince?" said Dan: "A +prince of Scotland i' my father's house? +Which is he?"</p> + +<p>A slender elegant stripling stept forward. +"Here he is, brave yeoman," said +the youth: "No ceremony—Regard me as +your fellow and companion for this night."</p> + +<p>Dan whipped off his bonnet and clapped +his foot upon it, and bowing low and awkwardly +to his prince he expressed his humble +respect as well as he could, and then +presented the prince to his father. The +title sounded high in the old man's ears, +he pulled off his bonnet and looked with +an unsteady gaze, as if uncertain on whom +to fix it—"A prince! Eh?—Is he a prince +o' Scotland? Ay, ay!" said he, "Then he'll +maybe hae some say wi' our head men—Dan—I +say, Dan"—and with that he pulled +Dan's sleeve, and said in a whisper loud +enough to be heard over all the house,—"I +say, Dan, man, gin he wad but speak +to the warden to let us hae a' the land +west the length o' the Frosty lair. O it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +wad lie weel into ours." "It wad, father, +and I daresay we may get it; but hush +just now." "Eh? do you think we may +get it?" enquired the old man eagerly in +the same whispering tremulous voice, "O +man, it wad lie weel in; an' sae wad Couter's-cleuch. +It's no perfect wanting that +too. An' we wad be a great deal the better +o' twa or three rigs aff Skelfhill for a +bit downfa' to the south—See if ye can +speak to the lad."</p> + +<p>Dan shook his father's hand, and nodded +to him by way of acquiescence. The +old man brightened up: "Whar is your +titty Bessy, Dan? Whar are a' the idle +hizzies? Gar them get something set down +to the princely lad: I'se warrant he's e'en +hungry. Ye'll no be used til siccan roads +as thir, Sir? Na, na. They're unco roads +for a prince.—Dan, I say, come this way; +I want to speak to you—I say," (whispering +very low aside) "I wadna let them ken o' +the beef, or they'll just gang wi't. Gie +them milk an' bread, an' cheese, an' a drap +o' the broo; it will do weel aneuch. Hunger's +good sauce. But, Dan,—I say, could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +ye no contrive to get quat o' thae English? +I doubt there will be little made of them:—They're +but a wheen gillie-gaupies at +the best, an nae freends to us.—Fouk sude +ay bow to the bush they get bield frae."</p> + +<p>"It's a' true that ye say, father; but we +surely needna grudge an Englishman a +piece o' an English cow's hip.—The beef +didna cost you dear, an' there's mair where +it cam frae."</p> + +<p>The old man would not give up his +point, but persisted in saying it was a +dangerous experiment, and an unprofitable +waste. However, in spite of his remonstrances, +the board was loaded with six +wooden bickers filled with beef broth, plenty +of bear-meal bannocks, and a full quarter +of English ox beef, to which the travellers +did all manner of justice. The +prince, as he called himself, was placed at +the head of the table, and the young English +nobleman by his side. Their eyes were +scarcely ever turned from one another's +faces, unless in a casual hasty glance to see +how others were regarding the same face. +The prince had dark raven hair that parted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +on a brow of snow, a black liquid eye, and +round lips, purer than the cherry about to fall +from the tree with ripeness. He was also +a degree taller than the English lord; but +both of them, as well as their two pages, +were lovelier than it became men to be. +The troopers who attended them seemed +disposed to contradict every thing that +came from the adverse party, and, if possible, +to broach a quarrel, had it not been +for the two knights, who were all suavity, +good breeding, and kindness to each other, +and seemed to have formed an attachment +at first sight. At length Prince Alexander +inquired of his new associate his name, +and business at the Scottish court, provided, +he said, that it did not require strict secrecy. +The other said, he would tell him +every thing truly, on condition that he +would do the same: which being agreed to, +the young English nobleman proceeded as +follows:</p> + +<p>"My name is Lord Jasper Tudor, second +son to the Earl of Pembroke. I am +nearly related to the throne of England, +and in high favour with the king. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +wars on the Borders have greatly harassed +the English dalesmen for these many years, +and matters being still getting worse between +the nations, the king, my cousin, +has proposed to me to marry the Princess +Margaret of Scotland, and obtain as her +dowry a confirmation of these border lands +and castles, so that a permanent peace may +be established between the nations, and this +bloody and desperate work cease. I am +on my way to the Scottish court to see the +princess, your sister; and if I find her to +be as lovely and accomplished as fame +speaks her, I intend to comply with the +king's request, and marry her forthwith."</p> + +<p>This speech affected the prince so much +that all the guests wondered. He started +to his feet, and smiling in astonishment +said, "What, you? you marry m—m—my +sister Margaret? She is very much +beholden to you, and on my word she will +see a becoming youth. But are you sure +that she will accept of you for a husband?" +"I have little to fear on that head," said +the Lord Jasper Tudor jeeringly; "Maids +are in general not much averse to marriage;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +and, if I am well informed, your lovely sister +is as little averse to it as any of her +contemporaries."</p> + +<p>The prince blushed deep at this character +of his sister, but had not a word to say.</p> + +<p>"Pray," continued Tudor, "is she like +you? If she is, I think I shall love her,—I +would not have her just like you neither."</p> + +<p>"I believe," said the prince, "there is a +strong family likeness; but tell me in what +features you would wish her to differ from +me, and I will describe her minutely to you."</p> + +<p>"In the first place," said the amorous +and blue-ey'd Tudor, "I should like her +to be a little stouter, and more manly of +frame than you, and, at least, to have some +appearance of a beard."</p> + +<p>All the circle stared. "The devil you +would, my lord," said Dan; "Wad ye +like your wife to hae a beard, in earnest? +Gude faith, an your ain war like mine, ye +wad think ye had eneuch o't foreby your +wife's." The prince held up his hands in +astonishment, and the young English lord +blushed deeper than it behoved a knight +to do; but at length he tried to laugh it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +by, pretending that he had unwittingly said +one thing when he meant the very contrary, +for he wished her to be more feminine, +and have less beard."—"I think that will +hardly be possible," said Dan; "but perhaps +there may be a hair here an' there on +my lord the prince's chin, when ane comes +near it. I wadna disparage ony man, far +less my king's son."</p> + +<p>"Well, my noble lord," said the prince, +"your tale has not a little surprised me, +as well it may. Our meeting here in like +circumstances is the most curious rencounter +I ever knew; for, to tell you the plain +truth, I am likewise on an errand of the +same import, being thus far on my way to +see and court the lady Jane Howard, in +order that all her wide domains may be +attached to my father's kingdom, and peace +and amity thereby established on the border."</p> + +<p>"Gracious heaven!" said young Lord +Tudor, "can this that I hear be true? +You? Are you on your way to my cousin, +the lady Jane Howard? Why, do you +not know that she is already affianced to +Lord Musgrave?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, it is certain I do; but that is one +of my principal inducements to gain her +from him; that is quite in the true spirit +of gallantry; but, save her great riches, I am +told she has little else to recommend her," +said the prince.</p> + +<p>"And, pray, how does fame report of my +cousin Jane?" said Tudor.</p> + +<p>"As of a shrew and a coquette," answered +the prince; "a wicked minx, that +is intemperate in all her passions."</p> + +<p>"It is a manifest falsehood," said Tudor, +his face glowing with resentment, "I +never knew a young lady so moderate and +chastened in every passion of the female +heart. Her most private thoughts are pure +as purity itself, and her—."</p> + +<p>"But, begging your pardon, my lord, +how can you possibly know all this?" said +the prince.</p> + +<p>"I do know it," said the other, "it is +no matter how: I cannot hear my fair +cousin wronged; and I know that she will +remain true to Musgrave, and have nothing +to do with you."</p> + +<p>"I will bet an earldom on that head,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +said the prince, "if I chuse to lay siege to +her."</p> + +<p>"Done!" said the other, and they joined +hands on the bargain; but they had no +sooner laid their hands into one another's +than they hastily withdrew them, with a +sort of trepidation, that none of the lookers +on, save the two pages, who kept close by +their masters, appeared to comprehend. +They, too, were both mistaken in the real +cause; but of that it does not behove to +speak at present.</p> + +<p>"I will let you see," said the prince, recovering +himself, "that this celebrated +cousin of yours shall not be so ill to win as +the castle of Roxburgh; and I'll let Musgrave +see for how much truth and virgin +fidelity he has put his life in his hand; and +when I have her I'll cage her, for I don't +like her. I would give that same earldom +to have her in my power to-night."</p> + +<p>The young Lord Tudor looked about as +if he meditated an escape to another part +of the table; but, after a touch that his +page gave him on the sleeve, he sat still, +and mustered up courage for a reply.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And pray, sir prince, what would you +do with her if you had her in your power +to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Something very different from what I +would do with you, my lord. But please +describe her to me, for my very heart is +yearning to behold her,—describe every +point of her form, and lineament of her +features."</p> + +<p>"She is esteemed as very beautiful; for +my part I think her but so so," said Tudor: +"She has fair hair, light full blue eyes, and +ruddy cheeks; and her brow, I believe, is +as fine and as white as any brow can be."</p> + +<p>"O frightful! what a description! what +an ugly minx it must be! Fair hair! red, +I suppose, or dirty dull yellow! Light +blue eyes! mostly white I fancy? Ah, what +a frightful immodest ape it must be! I +could spit upon the huzzy!"</p> + +<p>"Mary shield us!" exclaimed young +Tudor, moving farther away from the +prince, and striking lightly with his hand +on his doublet as if something unclean had +been squirted on it. "Mary shield us! +What does the saucy Scot mean?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>Every one of the troopers put his hand +to his sword, and watched the eye of his +master. The prince beckoned to the Scots +to be quiet; but Lord Tudor did no such +thing, for he was flustered and wroth.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, my lord," said the prince, +"I may perhaps suffer enough from the +beauty and perfections of your fair cousin +after I see her; you may surely allow me +to deride them now. I am trying to depreciate +the charms I dread. But I do not +like the description of her. Tell me seriously +do you not think her very intolerable?"</p> + +<p>"I tell you, prince, I think quite otherwise. +I believe Jane to be fifty times +more lovely than any dame in Scotland; +and a hundred times more beautiful than +your tawny virago of a sister, whom I +shall rejoice to tame like a spaniel. The +haughty, vain, conceited, swart venom, +that she should lay her commands on the +Douglas to conquer or die for her! A fine +presumption, forsooth! But the world +shall see whether the charms of my cousin, +Lady Jane Howard, or those of your grim +and tawdry princess, have most power."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, they shall, my lord," said the +prince: "In the mean time let us drop the +subject. I see I have given you offence, +not knowing that you were in love with +Lady Jane, which now I clearly see to be +the case. Nevertheless, go on with the +description, for I am anxious to hear all +about her, and I promise to approve if there +be a bare possibility of it."</p> + +<p>"Her manner is engaging, and her deportment +graceful and easy; her waist is +slim, and her limbs slender and elegant beyond +any thing you ever saw," said Lord +Tudor.</p> + +<p>"O shocking!" exclaimed the prince, +quite forgetting himself: "Worst of all! +I declare I have no patience with the creature. +After such a description, who can +doubt the truth of the reports about the +extreme levity of her conduct? Confess +now, my lord, that she is very free of her +favours, and that the reason why so many +young gentlemen visit her is now pretty +obvious."</p> + +<p>High offence was now manifest in Lord +Jasper Tudor's look. He rose from his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +seat, and said in great indignation, "I did +not ween I should be insulted in this guise +by the meanest peasant in Scotland, far less +by one of its courtiers, and least of all by a +prince of the blood royal. Yeomen, I will +not, I cannot suffer this degradation. These +ruffian Scots are intruders on us,—here I +desire that you will expel them the house."</p> + +<p>The Prince of Scotland was at the head +of the table, Tudor was at his right hand; +the rest of the English were all on that +side, the Scots on the other,—their numbers +were equal. Dan and his three brethren +sat at the bottom of the board around +the old man, who had been plying at the +beef with no ordinary degree of perseverance, +nor did he cease when the fray began. +Every one of the two adverse parties +was instantly on his feet, with his sword +gleaming in his hand; but finding that the +benches from which they had arisen hampered +them, they with one accord sprung +on the tops of these, and crossed their +swords. The pages screamed like women. +The two noble adventurers seemed scarcely +to know the use of their weapons, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +looked on with astonishment. At length +the prince, somewhat collecting himself, +drew out his shabby whanger, and brandished +it in a most unwarlike guise, on +which the blue-eyed Tudor retreated behind +his attendants, holding up his hands, +but still apparently intent on revenge for +the vile obloquy thrown on the character +of <i>his cousin</i>, Lady Jane Howard. "Tis +just pe te shance she vantit," said the Scot +next to the prince.</p> + +<p>"My certy, man, we'll get a paick at +the louns now," said the second.</p> + +<p>"Fat te teel's ta'en 'e bits o' vee laddies +to flee a' eet abeet 'er buts o' wheers? +I wudnae hae my feet i' their sheen for +three plucks an a beedle," said the third.</p> + +<p>"Thou's a' i' the wrang buox now, +chaps," said the fourth. These were all +said with one breath; and before the Englishmen +had time to reply, clash went the +swords across the table, and the third Scot, +the true Aberdonian, was wounded, as were +also two of the Englishmen, at the very first +pass.</p> + +<p>These matters are much sooner done<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +than described. All this was the work of +a few seconds, and done before advice could +either be given or attended to. Dan now +interfered with all the spirit and authority +that he was master of. He came dashing +along the middle of the board in his great +war boots, striking up their swords as he +came, and interposing his boardly frame +between the combatants. "D—n ye a' for +a wheen madcaps!" cried Dan as loud as +he could bawl: "What the muckle deil's +fa'en a bobbing at your midriffs now? +Ye're a' my father's guests an' mine; an', +by the shin-banes o' Sant Peter, the first +side that lifts a sword, or says a misbehadden +word, my three brethren and I will tak' +the tother side, an' smoor the transgressors +like as mony moor-poots."</p> + +<p>"Keep your feet aff the meat, fool," said +old Pate.</p> + +<p>"Gude sauff us!" continued Dan, "What +has been said to gie ony offence? What +though the young gentlewoman dis tak a +stown jink o' a' chap that's her ain sweet-heart +whiles? Where's the harm in that? +There's little doubt o' the thing. An' +for my part, gin she didna"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>Here Dan was interrupted in his elegant +harangue by a wrathful hysteric scream +from young Tudor, who pulled out his +whinyard, and ran at Dan, boring at him +in awkward but most angry sort, crying all +the while, "I will not bear this insult! +Will my followers hear me traduced to my +face?"</p> + +<p>"Deil's i' e' wee but steepid laddie," said +Buchan the Aberdonian; "it thinks 'at 'er +preeving it to be a wheer 'e sel o't!"</p> + +<p>Dan lifted up his heavy sword in high +choler to cleave the stripling, and he would +have cloven him to the belt, but curbing +his wrath, he only struck his sword, which +he made fly into pieces and jingle against the +rafters of the house; then seizing the young +adventurer by the shoulder, he snatched +him up to him on the board, where he still +stood, and, taking his head below his arm, +he held him fast with the one hand, making +signs with the other to his brethren to +join the Scots, and disarm the English, who +were the aggressors both times. In the +meantime, he was saying to Tudor, "Hout, +hout, young master, ye hae never been o'er<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +the Border afore; ye sude hae stayed at +hame, an' wantit a wife till ye gathered +mair rummelgumption."</p> + +<p>The five English squires, now seeing +themselves set upon by nine, yielded, and +suffered themselves to be disarmed.</p> + +<p>When Tudor came to himself, he appeared +to be exceedingly grieved at his imprudence, +and ready to make any acknowledgment, +while the prince treated him with +still more and more attention; yet these +attentions were ever and anon mixed with +a teazing curiosity, and a great many inquiries, +that the young nobleman could not +bear, and did not chuse to answer.</p> + +<p>It now became necessary to make some +arrangement for the parties passing the +night. Patrick Chisholm's house had but +one fire-place in an apartment which served +for kitchen and hall; but it had a kind of +<i>ben end</i>, as it was then, and is always to +this day, denominated in that part of the +country. There was scarcely room to move +a foot in it; for, besides two oaken beds with +rowan-tree bars, it contained five huge +chests belonging to the father and his sons,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +that held their clothes and warlike accoutrements. +The daughters of yeomen in +these days did not sit at table with the +men. They were the household servants. +Two of Pate's daughters, who had been +bustling about all the evening, conducted +the two noble youths into this apartment, +together with their two pages. The one +bed was neatly made down with clean +clothes, and the other in a more common +way. "Now," said one of the landward +lasses, "You twa masters are to sleep thegither +in here,—in o' this gude bed, ye see, +an' the twa lads in o' this ane." The two +young noblemen were standing close together, +as behoved in such a room. On the +girl addressing them thus, their eyes met +each other's, but were as instantly withdrawn +and fixed on the floor, while a blush +of the deepest tint suffused the cheeks of +both, spreading over the chin and neck of +each. The pages contemplated each other +in the same way, but not with the same +degree of timidity. The English stripling +seemed rather to approve of the arrangement, +or at least pretended to do so; for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +he frankly took the other by the hand, and +said in a sweet voice, but broad dialect, +"Weall, yuong Scuot, daghest thou lig +woth mey?" The young Caledonian withdrew +his hand, and held down his head: +"I always lie at my master's feet," said he.</p> + +<p>"And so shall you do to-night, Colin," +said the prince, "for I will share this bed +with you, and let my lord take the good +one." "I cannot go to bed to-night," said +Tudor, "I will rest me on this chest; I am +resolved I sha'n't go to bed, nor throw off +my clothes to-night."</p> + +<p>"Ye winna?" said May Chisholm, who +visibly wanted a romp with the young +blooming chief,—"Ye winna gang til nae +bed, will ye nae, and me has been at sic +pains making it up til ye? Bess, come +here an' help me, we sal soon see whether +he's gang til his bed or no, an' that no wi' +his braw claes on neither." So saying, the +two frolicsome queans seized the rosy stripling, +and in a moment had him stretched +on the bed, and, making his doublet +fly open all at one rude pull, they were +proceeding to undress him, giggling and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +laughing all the while. Prince Alexander, +from a momentary congenial feeling of delicacy, +put his hand hastily across to keep +the lapels of Tudor's vesture together, without +the motion having been perceived by +any one in the hurry, and that moment the +page flung himself across his master's breast, +and reproved the lasses so sharply that they +desisted, and left them to settle the matter +as they chose.</p> + +<p>The prince had, however, made a discovery +that astonished him exceedingly; +for a few minutes his head was almost turned,—but +the truth soon began to dawn on +his mind, and every reflection, every coincidence, +every word that had been said, and +offence that had been taken, tended to confirm +it: so he determined, not for farther +trial, but for the joke's sake, to press matters +a little further.</p> + +<p>When quietness was again restored, and +when the blush and the frown had several +times taken alternate sway of the young +lord's face, the prince said to him, "After +all, my lord, I believe we must take share +of the same bed together for this one night.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +It is more proper and becoming than to +sleep with our pages. Besides, I see the bed +is good and clean, and I have many things +to talk to you about our two countries, and +about our two intended brides, or sweet-hearts +let us call them in the meantime."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, no, prince," said Tudor, "indeed +I cannot, I may not, I would not sleep in +the same bed with another gentleman—No—I +never did—never."</p> + +<p>"Do not say so, my dear lord, for, on +my word, I am going to insist on it," said +the prince, coming close up to him, his eyes +beaming with joy at the discovery he had +made. "You shall sleep by my side to-night: +nay, I will even take you in my +bosom and caress you as if you were my +own sweet dear Lady Jane Howard." Tudor +was now totally confounded, and knew +neither what to say for himself, nor what +he did say when he spoke. He held out +both his hands, and cried, "Do not, prince, +do not—I beg—I implore do not; for I +cannot, cannot consent. I never slept even +in the same apartment with a man in all +my life."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What, have you always slept in a room +by yourself?" asked the teazing prince.</p> + +<p>"No, never, but always with ladies—yes, +always!" was the passionate and sincere +reply.</p> + +<p>Here the prince held up his hands, and +turned up his eyes. "What a young profligate!" +exclaimed he, "Mary shield us! +Have you no conscience with regard to the +fair sex that you have begun so wicked a +course, and that so early? Little did I know +why you took a joke on your cousin so heinously +amiss! I see it now, truth will out! +Ah, you are such a youth! I will not go a +foot further to see Lady Jane. What a +wicked degraded imp she must be! Do not +kindle into a passion again, my dear lord. +I can well excuse your feigned wrath, it +is highly honourable. I hate the knight +that blabs the favours he enjoys from the +fair. He is bound to defend the honour +that has stooped to him; even though (as +in the present instance I suppose) it have +stooped to half a dozen more besides."</p> + +<p>A great deal of taunting and ill humour +prevailed between these capricious and inexperienced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +striplings, and sorely was Tudor +pressed to take share of a bed with the +prince, but in vain—his feelings recoiled +from it; and the other, being in possession +of a secret of which the English lord was +not aware, took that advantage of teazing +and tormenting him almost beyond sufferance. +After all, it was decided that each +should sleep with his own page; a decision +that did not seem to go well down at all +with the Yorkshire boy, who once ventured +to expostulate with his lord, but was silenced +with a look of angry disdain.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He set her on his milk-white steed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Himself lap on behind her,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And they are o'er the Highland hills;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Her friends they cannot find her.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">As they rode over hill and dale<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This lady often fainted,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And cried, "Wo to my cursed moneye,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That this road to me invented."<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Ballad of Rob Roy.</i><br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O cam ye here to fight, young man,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or cam ye here to flee?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or cam ye out o' the wally west<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Our bonnie bride to see?<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Ballad called Foul Play.</i><br /></span> +</div> + +<p>It is by this time needless to inform my +readers, that these two young adventurers +were no other than the rival beauties of the +two nations, for whose charms all this bloody +coil was carried on at Roxburgh; and who, +without seeing, had hated each other as +cordially as any woman is capable of hating +her rival in beauty or favour. So much +had the siege and the perils of Roxburgh +become the subject of conversation, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +the ears of the two maidens had long listened +to nothing else, and each of them +deemed her honour embarked in the success +of her lover. Each of them had set +out with the intent of visiting the camp in +disguise; and having enough of interest to +secure protections for feigned names, each +determined to see her rival in the first place, +the journey not being far; and neither of +them it is supposed went with any kind +intent. Each of them had a maid dressed +in boy's clothes with her, and five stout +troopers, all of whom were utterly ignorant +of the secret. The princess had by +chance found out her rival's sex; but the +Scottish lady and her attendant being both +taller and of darker complexions than the +other two, no suspicions were entertained +against them detrimental to their enterprise. +The princess never closed an eye, +but lay meditating on the course she should +take. She was convinced that she had her +rival in her power, and she determined, not +over generously, to take advantage of her +good fortune. The time drew nigh that +Roxburgh must be lost or won, and well<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +she knew that, whichever side succeeded, +according to the romantic ideas of that age, +the charms of the lady would have all the +honour, while she whose hero lost would +be degraded,—considerations which no woman +laying claim to superior and all-powerful +charms could withstand.</p> + +<p>Next morning Dan was aroused at an +early hour by his supposed prince, who +said to him, "Brave yeoman, from a long +conversation that I have had last night with +these English strangers, I am convinced +that they are despatched on some traitorous +mission; and as the warden is in Northumberland, +I propose conveying them +straight to Douglas' camp, there to be tried +for their lives. If you will engage to take +charge of them, and deliver them safely +to the captain before night, you shall have +a high reward; but if you fail, and suffer +any of them to escape, your neck shall answer +for it. How many men can you raise +for this service?"</p> + +<p>"Our men are maistly up already," said +Dan; "but muckle Charlie o' Yardbire +gaed hame last night wi' twa or three kye,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +like oursels. Gin Charlie an' his lads come, +I sal answer for the English chaps, if +they war twa to ane. I hae mysel an' my +three billies, deil a shank mae; but an Charlie +come he's as gude as some three, an' +his backman's nae bean-swaup neither."</p> + +<p>"Then," said the counterfeit prince, "I +shall leave all my attendants to assist you +save my page,—we two must pursue our +journey with all expedition. All that is +required of you is to deliver the prisoners +safe to the Douglas. I will despatch a +message to him by the way, apprising him +of the circumstances."</p> + +<p>The Lady Margaret and her page then +mounted their palfreys and rode off without +delay; but, instead of taking the road +by Gorranberry, as they had proposed over +night, they scoured away at a light gallop +down the side of the Teviot. At the town +of Hawick she caused her page, who was +her chief waiting-maid and confidant, likewise +in boy's clothes, to cut out her beautiful +fleece of black hair, that glittered like +the wing of the raven, being determined +to attend in disguise the issue of the contest.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +She then procured a red curled wig, +and dressing herself in a Highland garb, +with a plumed bonnet, tartan jacket and +trowsers, and Highland hose and brogues, +her appearance was so completely altered, +that even no one who had seen her the day +before, in the character of the prince her +brother, could possibly have known her +to be the same person; and leaving her +page near the camp to await her private +orders, she rode straight up to head-quarters +by herself.</p> + +<p>Being examined as she passed the outposts, +she said she brought a message to +Douglas of the greatest importance, and +that it was from the court; and her address +being of such a superior cast, every one +furthered her progress till she came to the +captain's tent. Scarcely did she know +him,—care, anxiety, and watching had so +worn him down; and her heart was melted +when she saw his appearance. Never, +perhaps, could she have been said to have +loved him till that moment; but seeing +what he had suffered for her sake, the +great stake he had ventured, and the almost<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +hopeless uncertainty that appeared +in every line of his face, raised in her +heart a feeling unknown to her before; and +highly did that heart exult at the signal +advantage that her good fortune had given +him over his rival. Yet she determined on +trying the state of his affections and hopes. +Before leaving Hawick, she had written a +a letter to him, inclosing a lock of her hair +neatly plaited; but this letter she kept back +in order to sound her lover first without +its influence. He asked her name and her +business. She had much business, she said, +but not a word save for his private ear. +Douglas was struck with the youth's +courtly manner, and looked at him with a +dark searching eye,—"I have no secrets," +said he, "with these my kinsmen: I desire, +before them, to know your name and +business."</p> + +<p>"My name," said the princess pertly, +"is Colin Roy M'Alpin,—I care not who +knows my name; but no word further of +my message do I disclose save to yourself."</p> + +<p>"I must humour this pert stripling," +said he, turning to his friends; "if his errand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +turns out to be one of a trivial nature, +and that does not require all this ceremony, +I shall have him horse-whipped."</p> + +<p>With that the rest of the gentlemen +went away, and left the two by themselves. +Colin, as we must now, for brevity's sake, +term the princess, was at first somewhat +abashed before the dark eye of Douglas, +but soon displayed all the effrontery that +his assumed character warranted, if not +three times more.</p> + +<p>"Well now, my saucy little master, Colin +Roy M'Alpin, please condescend so far +as to tell me whence you are, and what is +your business here,—this secret business, +of such vast importance."</p> + +<p>"I am from court, my lor'; from the +Scottish court, an't please you, my lor'; +but not directly as a body may say,—my +lor'; not directly—here—there—south—west—precipitately, +incontrovertibly, ascertaining +the scope and bearing of the +progressive advance of the discomfiture and +gradual wreck of your most flagrant and +preposterous undertaking."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The devil confound the impertinent +puppy!"</p> + +<p>"Hold, hold, my lor', I mean your presumptuous +and foolhardy enterprise, first +in presuming to the hand of my mistress, +the king's daughter,—my lovely and +queenly mistress; and then in foolhardily +running your head against the walls of +Roxburgh to attain this, and your wit and +manhood against the superior generalship +of a Musgrave."</p> + +<p>"By the pock-net of St Peter, I will +cause every bone in your body to be basted +to powder, you incorrigible pedant and +puppy!" said the Douglas; and seizing +him by the collar of the coat, he was about +to drag him to the tent-door and throw +him into the air.</p> + +<p>"Hold, my lor'; please keep off your +rough uncourtly hands till I deliver the +credentials of my mistress."</p> + +<p>"Did you say that you were page to +the Princess Margaret? Yes, surely you +are, I have erst seen that face, and heard +that same flippant tongue. Pray, what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +word or token does my dear and sovereign +lady send me?"</p> + +<p>"She bade me say, that she does not approve +of you at all, my lor':—that, for her +sake, you ought to have taken this castle +many days ago. And she bade me ask you +why you don't enter the castle by the gate, +or over the wall, or under the hill, which +is only a sand one, and hang up all the +Englishmen by the necks, and send the +head of Philip Musgrave to his saucy +dame?—She bade me ask you why you +don't, my lor'?"</p> + +<p>"Women will always be women," said +Douglas surlily to himself: "I thought +the princess superior to her sex, but—"</p> + +<p>"But! but what, my lor'? Has she not +good occasion for displeasure? She bade +me tell you that you don't like her;—that +you don't like her half so well as Musgrave +does his mistress,—else why don't +you do as much for her? He took the +castle for the sake of his mistress, and for +her sake he keeps it in spite of you. +Therefore she bade me tell you, that you +must <i>go in</i> and beat the English, and take<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +the castle from them; for she will not suffer +it that Lady Jane Howard shall triumph +over her."</p> + +<p>"Tell her in return," said Douglas, +"that I will do what man can do; and +when that is done, she shall find that I neither +will be slack in requiring the fulfilment +of her engagement, nor in performing +my own. If that womanish tattling +be all that you have to say,—begone: the +rank of your employer protects you."</p> + +<p>"Hold, my lor', she bade me look well, +and tell her what you were like, and if I +thought you changed since I waited on +you at court. On my conscience you look +very ill. These are hard ungainly features +of yours. I'll tell her you look very shabby, +and very surly, and that you have lost +all heart. But oh, my lor', I forgot she +bade me tell you, that if you found you +were clearly beat, it would be as well to +draw off your men and abandon the siege; +and that she would, perhaps, in pity, give +you a moiety of your lands again."</p> + +<p>"I have no patience with the impertinence +of a puppy, even though the messenger<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +of her I love and esteem above all +the world. Get you hence."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my lor', I have not third done +yet. But, stay, here is a letter I had almost +forgot."</p> + +<p>Douglas opened the letter. Well he +knew the hand; there were but few in +Scotland who could write, and none could +write like the princess. It contained +a gold ring set with rubies, and a lock +of her hair. He kissed them both; and +tried the ring first on the one little finger, +and then on the other, but it would +scarcely go over the nail; so he kissed +them again, and put them in his bosom. +He then read to himself as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">My good Lord</span>,—I enclose you two +love-tokens of my troth; let them be as +beacons to your heart to guide it to deeds +of glory and renown. For my sake put +down these English. Margaret shall ever +pray for your success. Retain my page +Colin near your person. He is true-hearted, +and his flippancy affected. Whatever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +you communicate to him will be safely +transmitted to</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">Margaret</span>." +</p></blockquote> + +<p>It may well be supposed how Colin +watched the emotions of Douglas while +reading this heroic epistle; and, in the +true spirit of the age, they were abundantly +extravagant. He kissed the letter, hugged +it in his bosom, and vowed to six or +seven saints to do such deeds for his adored +and divine princess as never were heard or +read of.</p> + +<p>"Now, my good lor," said the page, "you +must inform me punctually what hopes +you have of success, and if there is any +thing wanting that the kingdom can afford +you."</p> + +<p>"My ranks are too thin," replied the +Douglas; "and I have engaged to take it +with my own vassals. The warden is too +proud to join his forces to mine on that +footing, but keeps scouring the borders, on +pretence of preventing supplies, and thus +assisting me, but in truth for enriching +himself and his followers. If I could have +induced him and his whole force to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +joined the camp, famine would have compelled +the enemy to yield a month agone. +But I have now the captain's brother prisoner; +and I have already given him to +know, that if he does not deliver up the +castle to me in four days, I will hang the +young knight up before his eyes,—I have +sworn to do it, and I swear again to keep +my oath."</p> + +<p>"I will convey all this to my mistress," +said Colin. "So then you have his only +brother in your hold? My lor', the victory +is your own, and the princess, my mistress, +beside. In a few hours will be placed in +your hands the primal cause and fomentor +of this cruel and bloody war, the Lady Jane +Howard."</p> + +<p>The Douglas started like one aroused +from slumber, or a state of lethargy, by a +sudden wound. "What did you say, +boy?" said he. "Either I heard amiss, or +you are dreaming. I have offered estates, +nay, I have offered an earldom, to any +hardy adventurer who would bring me that +imperious dame; but the project has been +abandoned as quite impracticable."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Rest content, said Colin: "I have +secured her, and she will be delivered into +your hands before night. She has safe +passports with her to the Scottish court, +but they are in favour of Jasper Tudor, son +to the Earl of Pembroke; so that the +discovery of her sex proves her an impostor, +and subjects her to martial law, +which I request, for my mistress' sake, you +will execute on her. My lady the princess, +with all her beauty, and high accomplishments, +is a very woman; and I know +there is nothing on earth she so much +dreads as the triumph of Lady Jane over +her. Besides, it is evident she was bound +to the Scottish court either to poison the +princess, or inveigle her into the hands of +her enemies. All her attendants are ignorant +of her sex, save her page, who is said +to be a blooming English country maiden. +The Prince Alexander bade me charge you +never to mention by what means she came +into your hands, but to give it out that she +was brought to you by a miracle, by witchcraft, +or by the power of a mighty magician." +"It is well thought of, boy," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +the Douglas, greatly elevated—"I have +been obliged to have recourse to such +means already—this will confirm all. The +princess your mistress desired that you +should remain with me. You shall be my +right hand page, I will love and favour +you; you shall be fed with the bread and +wine, and shall sleep in my tent, and I will +trust you with all my secrets for the welcome +tidings you have brought, and for the +sake of the angelic dame that recommends +you to me; for she is my beloved, my adored +mistress, and for her will I either conquer +or die! My sword is her's—my life is +her's—Nay, my very soul is the right of +my beloved!" Poor Colin dropped a tear +on hearing this passionate nonsense. Women +love extravagance in such matters, but +in those days it had no bounds.</p> + +<p>It was not long till the prisoners arrived, +under the care of muckle Charlie Scott of +Yardbire and Dan Chisholm, with their +troopers, guarded in a very original manner. +When Charlie arrived at old Chisholm's +house, and learned that a <i>prince</i> had +been there, and had given such charges<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +about the prisoners, he determined to make +sure work; and as he had always most trust +to put in himself, he took the charge of the +young English nobleman and his squire, as +he supposed them to be. The page he took +on his huge black horse behind him, lashing +him to his body with strong belts cut +from a cow's raw hide. His ancles were +moreover fastened to the straps at the tops +of Charlie's great war boots; so that the +English maiden must have had a very uncomfortable +ride. But the other he held +on before him, keeping her all the way in +his arms, exactly as a countryman holds up +a child in the church to be christened.</p> + +<p>The Lady Jane Howard had plenty of +the spirit of romance about her, but she +neither had the frame nor the energy of +mind requisite for carrying her wild dreams +of female heroism into effect. She was an +only child—a spoiled one; having been +bred up without perhaps ever being controlled, +till she fell into the hands of these +border mosstroopers. Her displeasure was +excessive.—She complained bitterly of her +detainment, and much more of being sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +a prisoner to the camp. When she found +herself in muckle Charlie Scott's arms, borne +away to be given up to the man whom of +all the world she had most reason to dread, +she even forgot herself so far as to burst into +tears. Charlie, with all his inordinate +strength and prowess, had a heart so soft, +that, as he said himself, "a laverock might +hae laired in't;" and he farther added, that +when he saw "the bit bonny English callan', +that was comed o' sic grand blude, +grow sae desperately wae, an' fa' a blirting +and greeting, the deil a bit but his heart +was like to come out at his mouth." This +was no lie, for his comrades beheld him two +or three times come across his eyes with +his mailed sleeve—a right uncouth handkerchief: +and then he tried to comfort the +youth with the following speech: "Troth, +man, but I'm unco wae for ye, ye're sae +young an' sae bonny, an' no' a fit man at a' +to send out i' thir crabbit times. But tak +good heart, an' dinna be dauntit, for it will +soon be over w' ye. Ye'll neither hae +muckle to thole nor lang time to dree't, +for our captain will hang ye directly. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +hangs a' spies an' messengers aff hand; sae +it's no worth naebody's while to greet. +Short wark's aye best i' sic cases."</p> + +<p>"He cannot, he dares not injure a hair +of my head," said Lady Jane passionately.</p> + +<p>"<i>Canna!</i>" said Charlie, "Gude faith, ye +ken that's nonsense. He can as easily hang +ye, or do ought else w' ye, as I can wipe +my beard. An' as for the thing that the +Douglas <i>darena</i> do, gude faith, ye ken, I +never saw it yet. But I'm sure I wish ye +<i>may</i> be safe, for it wad do little good to +me to see your bit pease-weep neck rackit."</p> + +<p>"It was most unfair, as well as most +ungenerous in your prince to detain me," +said she, "as my business required urgency. +I had regular signed warrandice, and +went on the kindest intent; besides, I have +a great aversion to be put into the hands +of Douglas. How many cows and ewes +would you take to set me at liberty?"</p> + +<p>"Whisht, whisht, Sir!" said Charlie; +"Gudesake haud your tongue! That's kittle +ground. Never speak o' sic a thing. +But how many could ye afford to gie, an +I <i>were</i> to set you at liberty?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In the first place, I will give you five +hundred head of good English nolt," said +Lady Jane.</p> + +<p>"Eh? What?" said Charlie, holding his +horse still, and turning his ear close round +to the lady's face, that he might hear +with perfect distinctness the extraordinary +proffer. It was repeated. Charlie was almost +electrified with astonishment. "Five +hunder head o' nout!" exclaimed he: "But +d'ye mean their heads by theirsels?—cuttit +aff, like?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; five hundred good live cattle."</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us! Gude faith, they wad +stock a' Yardbire—an' Raeburn," added +he, after a pause, putting his horse again +slowly in motion; "an' Watkerrick into +the bargain," added he, with a full drawn +sigh, putting the spurs to his beast, that +he might go quicker to carry him away +from the danger. "For troth, d' ye ken, +my lord, we're no that scarce o' grund in +Scotland; we can get plenty o' that for +little thing, gin we could get ought to lay +on't. But it's hard to get beasts, an' kittle +to keep them i' our country. Five hunder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +head o' black cattle! Hech! an Charlie +Scott had a' thae, how mony braw lads +could he tak at his back o'er Craikcorse to +join his master the warden! But come, +come, it canna be. War somebody a Scots +lord, as he's an English ane, an i' the same +danger, I wad risk muckle to set him free. +But come, Corby, my fine naig, ye hae carried +me into mony a scrape, ye maun carry +me out o' this ane, or, gude faith, your master's +gane. Ha, lad, ye never had sic a back-fu' +i' your life! Ye hae five hunder head o' +black cattle on't, ye dog, an' ye're carrying +them a' away frae your master an' Yardbire +wi' as little ceremony as he took you frae +Squire Weir o' Cockermouth. Ah, Corby, +ye're gayan like your master, ye hae a +lang free kind o' conscience, ye tike!"</p> + +<p>"But, my dear Sir," said Lady Jane, +"you have not heard the half of my proffer. +You seem to be a generous, sensible, +and good natured gentleman."</p> + +<p>"Do I?" said Charlie," Thanks t' ye, +my lord."</p> + +<p>"Now," continued she, "if you will either +set me and my page safely down on +English ground, or within the ports of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +Edinborough, I'll add five thousand sheep +to the proffer I have already made you."</p> + +<p>"Are ye no joking?" said Charlie, again +stopping his horse.</p> + +<p>"On my honour I am not," was the +answer.</p> + +<p>"They'll stock a' Blake-Esk-head an' +the Garald-Grains," said Charlie: "Hae ye +a free passport to the Scottish court?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have, and signed with the warden's +name."</p> + +<p>"Na, na, haud your tongue there; my +master has nae name," said Charlie: "He +has a good speaking name, an' ane he disna +think shame o', but nae name for black an' +white."</p> + +<p>"I'll show you it," said Lady Jane.</p> + +<p>"Na, ye needna fash," said Charlie; "I +fear it wad be unmannerly in me to doubt +a lord's word."</p> + +<p>"How soon could you carry us to Edinborough?" +inquired Lady Jane, anxious +to keep muckle Charlie in the humour of +taking her any where save into the hands +of Douglas.</p> + +<p>"That's rather a question to speer at +Corby than me," said Charlie; "but I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +think if we miss drowning i' Tweed, an' +breaking our necks o'er the Red-brae, an' +sinking out o' sight i' Soutra-flow, that I +could tak in hand to hae ye in Edinborough +afore twal o'clock at night.—Bad +things for you, Corby."</p> + +<p>"Never say another word about it then," +said Lady Jane; "the rest are quite gone +before us, and out of sight. Turn to the +left, and ride for Edinborough. Think of +the five hundred cows and five thousand +sheep."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that last beats a'!" said Charlie. +"Five thousand sheep! how mony is that? +Five score's a hunder—I'm sure o' that. +Every hunder's five score; then—and +how mony hunder maks a thousand?"—</p> + +<p>"Ten," said the page, who was forced +to laugh at Charlie's arithmetic.</p> + +<p>"Ten?" repeated Charlie. "Then ten +times five hunder that maks but ae thousand; +an' other ten times five hunder—D—n +me if I ken how mony is o' them +ava. What does it signify for a man to +hae mair gear than he can count? I fancy +we had better jogg on the gate we're gaun, +Corby."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am sure, friend, ye never had such a +chance of being rich," said Lady Jane, +"and may never, in all likelihood, have +such a chance again."</p> + +<p>"That is a' true ye're saying, my lord, +an' a sair heart it has gi'en me," said Charlie; +"but your offer's ower muckle, an' +that maks me dread there's something at +the bottom o't that I dinna comprehend. +Gude faith, an the warden war to suffer +danger or disgrace for my greed o' siller, +it wad be a bonny story! Corby, straight +on, ye dog: ding the brains out o' the +gutters, clear for the camp, ye hellicat of +an English hound. What are ye snoring +an' cocking your lugs at? Od an ye get +company like yoursel, ye carena what mischief +ye carry your master into. Get on, I +say, an' dinna gie me time to hear another +word or think about this business again."</p> + +<p>The young lady began here to lose heart, +seeing that Charlie had plucked up a determination. +But her companion attacked +him in her turn with all the flattery +and fair promises she could think of, till +Charlie found his heart again beginning to +waver and calculate; so that he had no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +other shift but to croon a border war-song, +that he might not hear this dangerous conversation. +Still the page persevered, till +Charlie, losing all patience, cried out as +loud and as bitterly as he could, "Haud +your tongue, ye slee-gabbit limb o' the +auld ane. D—n ye, d'ye think a man's +conscience is to be hadden abreed like the +mou' of a sack, an' crammed fu' o' beef +an' mutton whether he will or no? Corby, +another nicker an' another snore, lad, an' +we'll soon see you aff at the gallop."</p> + +<p>Thus ended the trying colloquy between +muckle Charlie Scott o' Yardbire and his +two prisoners; the rest of his conversation +was to Corby, whom he forthwith pushed +on by spur and flattery to the camp.</p> + +<p>When the truth came to be discovered, +many puzzled themselves endeavouring to +guess what Charlie would actually have +done had he known by the way what a +treasure he had in his arms,—the greatest +beauty, and the greatest heiress in England;—for +Charlie was as notable for kindness +and generosity as he was for bodily +strength; and, besides, he was poor, as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +frankly acknowledged; but then he only +wished for riches to be able to keep more +men for the service of his chief. Some +thought he would have turned his horse +round without further ceremony, and carried +her straight to Yardbire, on purpose to +keep her there for a wife; others thought +he would have risked his neck, honour, and +every thing, and restored her again to her +friends. But it was impossible for any of +them to guess what he would have done, +as it was proved afterwards that Charlie +could not guess himself. When the truth +came to be divulged, and was first told to +him, his mouth, besides becoming amazingly +extended in its dimensions, actually +grew four-square with astonishment; and +when asked what he would have done had +he known, he smacked his lips, and wiped +them with the back of his hand as if his +teeth had been watering—and, laughing to +himself with a chuckling sound, like a +moor-cock, he turned about his back to +conceal his looks, and only answered with +these emphatic words: "Gude faith, it +was as weel I didna ken."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Some write of preclair conquerouris,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some of vallyeant emperouris,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some of nobill mychtie kingis,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That royally did reull the ringis;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some of squyris douchty deidis,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That wonderis wrocht in weirly weidis;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sa I intand the best I can<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Descryve the deidis and the man.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><span class="smcap">Sir Dav. Lindsaye.</span><br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Wald God I war now in Pitcary!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Becass I haif bene se ill deidy.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Adew! I dar na langer tairy,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I dreid I waif intill ane widdy.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Ibid.</i><br /></span> +</div> + + +<p>In the same grotesque guise as formerly +described, Charlie at length came with +his two prisoners to the outposts of the +Scottish army. The rest of the train had +passed by before him, and warned their +friends who was coming, and in what stile; +for no one thought it worth his while to +tarry with Charlie and his overloaden horse. +When he came near the soldiers they hurra'd, +and waved their bonnets, and gathering +about Charlie in crowds, they would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +not let him onward. Besides, some fell a +loosing the prisoner behind him, and others +holding up their arms to release him of the +one he carried before; and, seeing how impatient +he was, and how determined to +keep his hold, they grew still more importunate +in frolic. But it had nearly cost some +of them dear; for Charlie, growing wroth, +squeezed the Lady Jane so strait with the +left arm, that she was forced to cry out; +and putting his right over his shoulder, he +drew out his tremendous two-hand sword, +"Now stand back, devils," cried Charlie, +"or, gude faith, I'll gar Corby ride ower +the taps o' the best o' ye. I hae had ower +sair a trial for heart o' flesh already; but +when I stood that, it sanna be the arm o' +flesh that takes them frae me now, till I +gie them into the Douglas's ain hands. +Stand back, ye devils; a Scott never gies +up his trust as lang as his arm can dimple +at the elbow."</p> + +<p>The soldiers flew away from around him +like a flight of geese, and with the same +kind of noise too,—every one being giggling +and laughing,—and up rode Charlie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +to the door of the Douglas' pavilion, where +he shouted aloud for the captain. Douglas, +impatient to see his illustrious prisoner, +left the others abruptly, and hasted out at +Charlie's call.</p> + +<p>"Gude faith, my lord," said Charlie, "I +beg your pardon for garring you come running +out that gate; but here's a bit English +lord for ye, an' his henchman,—sic +master, sic man, as the saying is. There +war terrible charges gi'en about them, sae +I thought I wad secure them, an' gie them +into your ain hands."</p> + +<p>"I am much beholden to you, gallant +Yardbire," said Douglas: "The care and +pains you have taken shall not be forgotten."</p> + +<p>This encouraging Charlie, he spoke to +the earl with great freedom, who was +mightily diverted with his manner, as well +as with his mode of securing the prisoners.</p> + +<p>"There's his lordship for ye," said Charlie, +holding him out like a small bale of +goods: "Mind ye hae gotten him safe off +my hand; an' here's another chap I hae +fastened to my back. An a' the English<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +nobles war like thir twa, I hae been thinking, +my lord, that they might tak' our +lasses frae us, but we wadna be ill pinched +to tak their kye frae them; an' it wad be +nae hard bargain for us neither." So saying, +he cut his belts and thongs of raw +hide, and let the attendant lady, in page's +clothes, free of his body. "He's a little, +fine, soft, cozey callan this," added Charlie, +"he has made my hinderlands as warm as +they had been in an oon."</p> + +<p>Douglas took Lady Jane off from before +the gallant yeoman in his arms. He observed +with what a look she regarded him; +and he was sure, from the first view he got +of her features, that the page Colin must +have been right with regard to the sex of +the prisoner. He likewise noted the holes +in her ears, from which it was apparent that +pendent jewels had lately been taken; and +he hoped the other part of the page's information +might likewise be correct, though +how to account for such an extraordinary +piece of good fortune he was wholly at a +loss. He led her into the inner pavilion, +and there, in presence of his secretary and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +two of his kinsmen, examined her papers +and passports. They were found all correct, +and signed by the public functionaries +of both nations, in favour of Jasper +Tudor, son to the Earl of Pembroke.</p> + +<p>"These are quite sufficient, my young +lord," said Douglas; "I see no cause for +detaining you further. You shall have a +sufficient guard till you are out of the range +of my army, and safe furtherance to the +Scottish court."</p> + +<p>The prisoner's countenance lighted up, +and she thanked Douglas in the most grateful +terms, blessing herself that she had fallen +into the hands of so courteous a knight, and +urged the necessity of their sudden departure. +Douglas assured her they should be +detained no longer than the necessity of +the times required; but that it was absolutely +requisite, for his own safety, the +safety of the realm, and the success of the +enterprise in which he was engaged, and +so deeply concerned, that they should submit +to a personal search from head to foot, +lest some traitorous correspondence might +be secretly conveyed by them.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>The countenance of the prisoner again altered +at this information. It became at first +pale as a lily, and immediately after blushed +as deeply as the damask rose, while the +tears started to her eyes. It was no wonder, +considering the predicament in which +she now stood; her delicate lady form to +be searched by the hands of rude warriors, +her sex discovered, and her mission to the +Scottish court found out to be a wild intrigue. +She fell instantly on her knees before +Douglas, and besought him in moving +accents to dispense with the useless formality +of searching her and her young +kinsman and companion, assuring him at +the same time that neither of them had a +single scrap of writing that he had not +seen, and adjuring him on his honour and +generosity as a knight to hearken to this +request.</p> + +<p>"The thing is impossible, my lord," said +Douglas;" and, moreover, the anxiety you +manifest about such a trifle argues a consciousness +of guilt. You must submit to +be searched on the instant. Chuse of us +whom you will to the office."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will never submit to it," said she passionately, +"there is not a knight in England +would have refused such a request to +you."</p> + +<p>"I would never have asked it, my lord," +said he; "and it is your utter inexperience +in the customs of war that makes you once +think of objecting to it. I am sorry we +must use force. Bring in two of the guards."</p> + +<p>"Hold, hold, my lord," said Lady Jane, +"since I must submit to such a degradation, +I will submit to yourself. I will be +searched by your own hands, and yours +alone."</p> + +<p>They were already in the inner tent. +Douglas desired his friends to go out, which +they complied with, and he himself began +to search the person of Lady Jane, with the +most careful minuteness, as he pretended, +well aware what was to be the issue of the +search. He examined all her courtly coat, +pockets, lining, and sleeves,—he came to +her gaudy doublet, stiff with gold embroidery, +and began to unloose it, but she laid +both her hands upon her breast, and looked +in his face with eyes so speaking, and so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +beseeching, that it was impossible for man +to mistake the import. Douglas did not +mistake it, but was bent upon having proof +positive.</p> + +<p>"What?" said he, "do you still resist? +What is here you would conceal?"</p> + +<p>"Oh my Lord," said she, "do you not +see?"</p> + +<p>"I see nothing," said he; and while she +feebly struggled he loosed the vest, when +the fair heaving bosom discovered the sex +of his prisoner, and at the same time, with +the struggle, the beautiful light locks had +escaped from their confinement, and hung +over her breast in waving ringlets. The +maid stood revealed; and, with the disclosure, +all the tender emotions and restrained +feelings of the female heart burst forth like +a river that has been dammed up from running +in its natural channel, and has just +got vent anew. She wept and sobbed till +her fair breast was like to rend. She even +seized on Douglas' hand, and wet it with +her tears. He, on his part, feigned great +amazement.</p> + +<p>"How is this?" said he, "A maid!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes indeed, my lord, you see before +you, and in your power, a hapless maid of +noble blood, who set out on a crazy expedition +of love, but, from inexperience, has +fallen into your hands."</p> + +<p>"Then the whole pretended mission to +our Scottish court is, it appears, a fraud, a +deep laid imposition of some most dangerous +intent, as the interest that has been +used to accomplish it fully demonstrates. +You have subjected yourself and all your +followers to military execution; and the +only method by which you can procure a +respite, either for yourself or them, is to +make a full confession of the whole plot."</p> + +<p>"Alas, my lord, I have no plot to confess. +Mine was merely a romantic expedition +of youthful love, and, as you are a +knight, and a lover yourself, I beg your +clemency, that you will pardon my followers +and me. They are innocent; and, save +my page, who is likewise a lady, and my +own kinswoman, all the rest are as ignorant +who I am, and what I am, as the child +that is unborn."</p> + +<p>"If you would entertain any hopes of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +reprieve, I say, madam, either for yourself +or them, declare here to me instantly your +name, lineage, and the whole of your business +in Scotland, and by whose powerful +interest you got this safe conduct made +out, for one who, it seems, knows nothing +of it, or who, perhaps, does not exist."</p> + +<p>"Surely you will not be so ungallant as +to insist upon a lady exposing herself and +all her relations? No, my lord, whatever +become of me, you must never attain to the +knowledge of my name, rank, or titles. I +entrust myself to your mercy: you can +have nothing to fear from the machinations +of a love-lorn damsel."</p> + +<p>"I am placed in peculiarly hard circumstances, +madam; I have enemies abroad +and at home, and have nothing but my +own energies to rely on to save my house +and name from utter oblivion, and my +dearest hopes from extinguishment. This +expedition of yours, folded as it is in deceit +and forgery, has an ominous and daring +appearance. The house of Douglas +must not fall for the tears of a deceitful +maiden, the daughter of my enemy. Without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +a full disclosure of all that I request, +every one of you shall suffer death in the +sight of both armies before the going down +of the sun. I will begin with the meanest +of your followers, in hopes, for the sake of +your youth and your sex, that you will relent +and make a full disclosure of your +name, and all your motives for such an extraordinary +adventure."</p> + +<p>Lady Jane continued positive and peremptory, +as did also her attendant, who +had been thoroughly schooled before-hand, +in case of their sex being discovered, never, +on any account, to acknowledge who she +was, lest it should put Musgrave wholly +in Douglas' power. The latter, therefore, +to keep up the same system of terror and +retribution first practised by his opponent, +caused sound the death knell, and hung +out the flag of blood, to apprise those within +the fortress that some of their friends +were shortly to be led to execution.</p> + +<p>The first that was brought out was a +thick-set swarthy yeoman, who said his +name was Edmund Heaton, and that he +had been a servant to Belsay, whom he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +had followed in the border wars. When +told that he was about to be hanged for a +spy and a traitor, he got very angry, even +into such a rage that they could not know +what he said, for he had a deep rough burr +in his throat, and spoke a coarse English +dialect. "Hang'd? I hang'd? and fogh +whot? Domn your abswoghdity! Hang +ane mon fogh deying whot his meastegh +beeds him?"—He was told that he had not +two minutes to live, unless he could discover +something of the plot in which his +employers were engaged; that it was found +he had been accompanying two ladies in +disguise, on some traitorous mission which +they would not reveal; and it was the law +of war that he should suffer for the vile +crime in which he was an accomplice.</p> + +<p>"Nobbit, I tell you that won't dey at +all;—n-n-nor it sha'n't dey neithegh. Do +you think you aghe to hang eveghy mon +that follows ane woeman? Domn them, I +nevegh knew them lead to oughts but eel! +If I had known they had been woemen—Domn +them!"—He was hauled up to the +scaffold, for he refused to walk a foot.—"Wh-wh-why,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +nobbit speak you now," +cried he in utter desperation; "why n-n-nobbit +you aghe not serious, aghe you?" +He was told he should soon find to his experience +that they were quite serious.—"Why, +cworse the whole geneghation of +you, the thing is nwot to be bwoghn. I +wont swoffegh it—that I woll not. It is +dwonright mworder. Oh, ho, ho!" and he +wept, crying as loud as he could, "Oh-oh! +ho: mworder! mworder! Domn eveghy +Scwot of you!"—In this mood, kicking, +crying, and swearing, was he turned off, +and hanged in sight of both hosts.</p> + +<p>The walls of Roxburgh were crowded +with spectators. They could not divine +who it was that was suffering; for all kind +of communication was forbid by Musgrave, +and it was now become exceedingly +difficult. Great was their wonder and +anxiety when they beheld one trooper after +another of their countrymen brought +out and hanged like dogs. But it was evident +to every beholder, from the unsettled +and perturbed motions of those on the +wall, that something within the fortress<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +was distressing the besieged. Some hurried +to and fro; others stood or moved +about in listless languor; and there were +a few that gazed without moving, or taking +their eyes from the spot where they +were fixed. Not one flight of arrows came +to disturb the execution, as usual; and it +was suspected that their whole stock of arrows +was exhausted. This would have +been good tidings for the Scots, could they +have been sure of it, as they might then +have brought their files closer to the walls, +and more effectually ensured a strict blockade.</p> + +<p>Lady Jane's followers were all executed, +and herself and companion sore threatened +in vain. Douglas, however, meant to +reserve them for another purpose than execution,—to +ensure to himself the surrender +of the fortress, namely; but of her +squires he was glad to be rid, for fear of a +discovery being made to the English that +the lady was in his hands, which might +have brought the whole puissance of the +realm upon him; whereas the generality +of the nation viewed the siege merely as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +an affair of Border chivalry, in which they +were little interested, and deemed Musgrave +free from any danger.</p> + +<p>It was on St Leonard's day that these +five Englishmen were executed; and as a +retaliation in part, a Scots fisherman was +hanged by the English from the wall of the +castle; one who indeed had been the mean +of doing them a great deal of mischief. +And thus stood matters at that period of +the siege; namely, the Earl of Douglas +and Mar lay before Roxburgh with eight +thousand hardy veterans, all his own vassals. +The Redhough kept a flying army +on the borders of Northumberland, chiefly +about the mountains of Cheviot and Cocket-dale, +interrupting all supplies and communications +from that quarter, and doing +excellent service to himself and followers, +and more to the Douglas than the latter +seemed to admit of. Whenever he found +the English gathering to any head, he did +not go and attack them, but, leaving a flying +party of horse to watch their motions, he +instantly made a diversion somewhere else, +which drew them off with all expedition.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +A numerous army, hastily raised, entered +Scotland on the west border, on purpose +to draw off the warden; but they were +surprised and defeated by the Laird of +Johnston, who raised the Annandale people, +and attacked the English by night. He +followed them into Cumberland, and fought +two sharp battles with them there, in both +of which he had the advantage, and he then +fell a spoiling the country. This brought +the Northumberland and Durham men into +these parts, who mustered under Sir +William Fetherstone to the amount of +fifteen thousand men. Johnston retired, +and the Earl of Galloway, to back him, +raised twenty thousand in the west, and +came towards the Sarke: So that the siege +of Roxburgh was viewed but as an item +in the general convulsion, though high was +the stake for those that played, and ruthless +the game while it lasted. Douglas +now looked upon the die as turned in his +favour, as he held pledges that would render +the keeping of it of no avail to his opponent. +The lady was in his power at +whose fiat Musgrave had taken and defended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +the perilous castle so bravely,—but +of this no man knew save the Douglas +himself. Sir Richard Musgrave was likewise +in his hand, the captain's youngest, +most beloved, and only surviving brother; +and Douglas had threatened, against a certain +day, if the keys of the castle were not +surrendered to him, to hang the young +hero publicly, in the view of both hosts; +and in all his threats he had never once +broke his word. We must now take a peep +within the walls of Roxburgh, and see how +matters are going on there.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I cast my net in Largo bay,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And fishes I caught nine;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There were three to roast, and three to boil,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And three to bait the line.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Old Song.</i><br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Saw never man so faynt a levand wycht,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And na ferlye, for ouir excelland lycht<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Corruptis the witt, and garris the blude awail,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Until the harte, thocht it na dainger aill,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Quhen it is smorit memberis wirk not rychte,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The dreadfulle terrour swa did him assaile.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Pal. of Hon.</i><br /></span> +</div> + + +<p>Berwick was then in the hands of the +English, and commanded by Sir Thomas +Musgrave, the captain of Roxburgh's cousin; +so also was Norham, and all the forts +between, on that side of the river. Notwithstanding +of this, the power of the Scots +predominated so much in the open field +during that reign, that this chain of forts +proved finally of no avail to Lord Musgrave, +(or Sir Philip Musgrave, as he is generally +denominated,) though he had depended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +on keeping the communication open, else +in victualling Roxburgh he had calculated +basely. The garrison were already reduced +to the greatest extremes; they were feeding +on their horses and on salted hides; and, +two or three days previous to this, their only +communication with their countrymen +had been cut off, they could not tell how. +It was at best only precarious, being carried +on in the following singular way.—The +besieged had two communications with the +river, by secret covered ways from the interior +of the fortress. In each of these they +had a small windlass, that winded on and +let off a line nearly a mile in length. The +lines were very small, being made of plaited +brass wire; and, putting a buoy on a +hook at the end of each one of these, they +let them down the water. Their friends +knowing the very spot where they stopped, +watched, and put dispatches on the hooks, +with fish, beef, venison, and every kind of +convenience, which they pulled up below +the water, sometimes for a whole night together; +and though this proved but a scanty +supply for a whole garrison, it was for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +a long time quite regular, and they depended +a good deal on it.</p> + +<p>But one night it so chanced that an old +fisherman, who fished for the monastery, +had gone out with his coble by night to +spear salmon in the river. He had a huge +blaze flaming in a grate that stood exalted +over the prow of his wherry; and with the +light of that he pricked the salmon out of +their deep recesses with great acuteness. +As he was plying his task he perceived a +fish of a very uncommon size and form +scouring up the river with no ordinary +swiftness. At first he started, thinking he +had seen the devil: but a fisher generally +strikes at every thing he sees in the water. +He struck it with his barbed spear, called +on Tweed a <i>leister</i>, and in a moment had +it into his boat. It was an excellent sirloin +of beef. The man was in utter amazement, +for it was dead, and lay without +moving, like other butcher meat; yet he was +sure he saw it running up the water at full +speed. He never observed the tiny line of +plaited wire, nor the hook, which indeed was +buried in the lire; and we may judge with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +what surprise he looked on this wonderful +fish,—this phenomenon of all aquatic productions. +However, as it seemed to lie +peaceably enough, and looked very well as +a piece of beef, he resolved to let it remain, +and betake himself again to his business. +Never was there an old man so bewildered +as he was, when he again looked into the +river,—never either on Tweed or any other +river on earth. Instead of being floating +<i>down</i> the river peaceably in his boat, as one +naturally expects to do, he discovered that +he was running straight against the stream. +He expected to have missed about fifty +yards of the river by his adventure with +the beef; but—no!—instead of that he was +about the same distance advanced in his +return up the stream. The windlass at the +castle, and the invisible wire line, of which +he had no conception, having been still +dragging him gradually up. "Saint Mary, +the mother of God, protect and defend +poor Sandy Yellowlees!" cried he; "What +can be the meaning of this? Is the world +turned upside down? Aha! our auld +friend, Michael Scott, has some hand i'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +this! He's no to cree legs wi': I's be quits +wi' him." With that he tumbled his beef +again into the water, which held on its +course with great rapidity straight up the +stream, while he and his boat returned +quietly in the contrary and natural direction.</p> + +<p>"Aye, there it goes," cried Sandy, +"straight on for Aikwood! I's warrant +that's for the warlock's an' the deil's dinner +the morn. God be praised I'm free +o't, or I should soon have been there too!"</p> + +<p>Old Sandy fished down the river, but he +could kill no more salmon that night,—for +his nerves had got a shock with this new +species of fishing that he could not overcome. +He missed one; wounded another +on the tail; and struck a third on the rig-back, +where no leister can pierce a fish, till +he made him spring above water. Sandy +grew chagrined at himself and the warlock, +Michael Scott, too—for this last was +what he called "a real prime fish," Sandy +gripped the leister a little firmer, clenched +his teeth, and drew his bonnet over his +eyes to shield them from the violence of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +his blaze. He then banned the wizard into +himself, and determined to kill the next +fish that made his appearance. But, just +as he was keeping watch in this guise, he +perceived another fish something like the +former, but differing in some degree, coming +swagging up the river full speed. "My +heart laup to my teeth," said Sandy, "when +I saw it coming, and I heaved the leister, +but durstna strike; but I lookit weel, an' +saw plainly that it was either a side o' mutton +or venison, I couldna tell whilk. But +I loot it gang, an' shook my head. 'Aha, +Michael, lad,' quo' I, 'ye hae countit afore +your host for aince! Auld Sandy has beguiled +ye. But ye weel expeckit to gie +him a canter to hell the night.' I rowed +my boat to the side, an' made a' the haste +hame I could, for I thought auld Michael +had taen the water to himsel that night."</p> + +<p>Sandy took home his few fish, and went +to sleep, for all was quiet about the abbey +and the cloisters of his friends, the monks; +and when he awoke next morning he could +scarcely believe the evidence of his own +senses, regarding what he had seen during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +the night. He arose and examined his +fishes, and could see nothing about them +that was not about other salmon. Still he +strongly suspected they too might be some +connections of Michael's,—something illusory, +if not worse; and took care to eat +none of them himself, delivering them all +to the cook of the monastery. The monks +ate them, and throve very well; and as +Sandy had come by no bodily harm, he determined +to try the fishing once again, and +if he met with any more such fish of passage +to examine them a little better. He +went out with his boat, light, and fish-spear +as usual; and scarcely had he taken his station, +when he perceived one of a very uncommon +nature approaching. He did not +strike at it, but only put his leister-grains +before it as if to stop its course, when he +found the pressure against the leister very +strong. On pulling the leister towards him, +one of the barbs laid hold of the line by +which the phenomenon was led; and not +being able to get rid of it, he was obliged +to pull it into the boat. It was a small +cask of Malmsey wine; and at once, owing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +to the way it was drawn out, he discovered +the hook and line fastened to the end +of it. These he disengaged with some difficulty, +the pull being so strong and constant; +and the mystery was thus found out. +In a few minutes afterwards he seized a +large sheaf of arrows; and some time after, +at considerable intervals, a number of excellent +sides of beef and venison.</p> + +<p>Sandy Yellowlees saw that he could now +fish to some purpose, and formed a resolution +of being the last man in the world to +tell his countrymen of this resource that +the enemy had. The thing of which he +was most afraid was a discovery. He knew +that the articles would soon be missed, and +that his light would betray him; and then +a flight of arrows, or even a single one, +from a lurking foe at the side of the river, +would put an end to his fishing for ever. +Such an opportunity was not to be given +up, notwithstanding of this danger; so, +after much prying, both by day and by +night, Sanders found that at an abrupt +crook in the water, whatever the line +brought up came close to the side, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +when the water was low it even trailed +them over a point of level sand-bed quite +dry. This was a joyous discovery for Sandy. +He had nothing ado but to sail down +in his boat when it grew dark, and lie +lurking at this crook in the water, and +make a prey of whatever came within his +reach. The very first night he filled his +boat half full of valuable stuff. There was +a necessity for disposing of a part of this, +and Sandy was obliged to aver that he had +discovered a hidden store belonging to +the English; and, moreover, he hinted +that he could supply the towns of Kelso +and Roxburgh, the abbey of the one +and the priory of the other, for some time +to come. Great was the search that was +made about the banks of the river, but no +one could find the store; yet Sanders Yellowlees +continued to supply the market +with luxuries, tho' no one knew how. Intelligence +was sent down the stream, with +the buoys, of the seizure of the provisions, +and of the place where they were taken +off, which they knew from the failure of +the weight they were pulling to be always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +at the same place. The news also spread +of Sandy's stores, and both reached the secret +friends of the English, from whom the +provisions were nightly sent to their besieged +friends and benefactors, with all the +caution and secrecy possible, it being given +them to understand that on that supply +alone depended the holding out of the +fortress.</p> + +<p>Many schemes were now tried to entrap +Sandy, but all without effect; for the +Scots had a strong post surrounding that +very point where Sandy caught all his +spoil. It was impossible to reach it but +by a boat; and no boat was allowed on the +river but that one that belonged to the +abbey. At length an English trooper +undertook to seize this old depredator. Accordingly, +in the dead of the night, when +the lines came down, he seized them both, +twisted them into one, and walked silently +up the side of the river until he came nigh +to the spot where the Scots lines on each +side joined the stream. He then put the +two hooks into his buff belt, and committing +himself to the water, was dragged in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +silence and perfect safety up the pool between +the outposts.</p> + +<p>The first turn above that was the point +where Sandy lay watching. He had only +seized one prey that night, and that was of +no great value,—for they had given over +sending up victuals to enrich an old Scots +rascal, as they termed honest Sanders. He +was glad when he saw the wake of a heavy +burden coming slowly towards him. "This +is a sack o' sweet-meats," said he to himself: +"It must be currans an' raisins, an' +sic fine things as are na injured by the fresh +water. I shall get a swinging price from +the abbey-men for them, to help wi' their +Christmas pies."</p> + +<p>No sooner did this huge load touch the +land, than Sandy seized it with all expedition; +but, to his inexpressible horror, +the sack of sweetmeats seized him in its +turn, and that with such potence that he +was instantaneously overpowered. He uttered +one piercing cry, and no more, before +the trooper gagged and pinioned him. The +Scottish lines were alarmed, and all in motion, +and the troops on both sides were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +crowding to the bank of the stream. A +party was approaching the spot where the +twain were engaged in the unequal struggle. +To return down the stream with his +prisoner, as he intended, was impracticable; +so the trooper had no alternative left +but that of throwing himself into Sandy's +boat, with its owner in his arms, shoving +her from the side into the deep, and trusting +himself to the strength of the wire-lines. +As the windlasses were made always +to exert the same force and no more, by +resisting that they could be stopped; so by +pushing the boat from the side in the direction +of the castle, the line being slackened, +that again set them agoing with +great velocity; and though they soon slackened +in swiftness, the trooper escaped with +his prisoner undiscovered, and, by degrees, +was dragged up to the mouth of the covered +way that led through or under the hill +on which the castle stood; and there was +poor Sanders Yellowlees delivered into the +hands of his incensed and half-famished +enemies. It was he that was hanged over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +the wall of the castle on the day that the +five English yeomen were executed.<a name="Anchor-1" id="Anchor-1"></a><a title="Go to footnote 1" href="#Footnote-1" class="fnanchor">1</a></p> + +<p>The English now conceived that their +secret was undiscovered, and that their sufferings +would forthwith be mitigated by +the supply drawn by their lines. They +commenced briskly and successfully; but, +alas! their success was of short duration. +Sanders' secret became known to the Scots +army. The night-watchers had often seen +the old man's boat leaning on the shore at +that point at all hours of the night; for he +was always free to go about plodding for +fish when he pleased. His cry was heard +at that spot, and the boat was now missing: +the place was watched, and in two +days the Englishmen's secret, on which +they so much relied, was discovered, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +quite cut off; and that powerful garrison +was now left with absolute famine staring +them in the face. +As in all cases of utter privation, the +men grew ungovernable. Their passions +were chafed, and foamed like the ocean before +the commencement of a tempest, foreboding +nothing but anarchy and commotion. +Parties were formed of the most +desperate opposition to one another, and +every one grew suspicious of his neighbour. +Amid all this tempest of passion a +mutiny broke out:—a strong party set +themselves to deliver up the fortress to the +Scots. But through such a medley of jarring +opinions what project could succeed? +The plot was soon discovered, the ring-leaders +secured, and Sir Stephen Vernon, +Musgrave's most tried and intimate friend, +found to be at the head of it. No pen can +do justice to the astonishment manifested +by Musgrave when the treachery of his +dear friend was fully proven. His whole +frame and mind received a shock as by +electricity, and he gazed around him in +moody madness, as not knowing whom to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +trust, and as if he deemed those around +him were going to be his assassins.</p> + +<p>"Wretch that I am!" cried he, "What +is there more to afflict and rend this heart? +Do I breathe the same air? Do I live +among the same men? Do I partake of +the same nature and feelings as I was wont? +My own friend and brother Vernon, has he +indeed lifted up his hand against me, and +become one with my enemies? Whom +now shall I trust? Must my dearest hopes—my +honour, and the honour of my country, +be sacrificed to disaffection and treachery? +Oh Vernon—my brother Vernon, +how art thou fallen!"</p> + +<p>"I confess my crime," said Vernon; +and I submit to my fate, since a crime it +must be deemed. But it was out of love +and affection to you, that your honour +might not stoop to our haughty enemies. +To hold out the fortress is impossible, and +to persevere in the attempt utter depravity. +Suppose you feed on one another, +before the termination of the Christmas +holidays, the remnant that will be left will +not be able to guard the sallying ports,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +even though the ramparts are left unmanned. +In a few days I shall see my brave +young friend and companion in arms, your +brother, disgracefully put down, and ere +long the triumphant Scots enter, treading +over the feeble remains of this yet gallant +army. I may bide a traitor's blame, and +be branded with a traitor's name, but it +was to save my friends that I strove; for +I tell you, and some of you will live to see +it, to hold out the castle is impossible."</p> + +<p>"It is false!" cried Musgrave. "It is +false! It is false!" cried every voice present +in the judgment-hall, with frantic +rage; and all the people, great and small, +flew on the culprit to tear him to pieces; +for their inveteracy against the Scots still +grew with their distress.</p> + +<p>"It is false! It is false!" shouted they. +"Down with the traitor! sooner shall we +eat the flesh from our own bones than deliver +up the fortress to the Scots! Down +with the false knave! down with the traitor!"—and, +in the midst of a tumult that +was quite irresistible, Vernon was borne +up on their shoulders, and hurried to execution,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +smiling with derision at their madness, +and repeating their frantic cries in +mockery. It was in vain that the commander +strove to save his friend,—as well +might he have attempted to have stemmed +the river in its irresistible course +single-handed. Vernon and his associates +were hanged like dogs, amid shouts of execration, +and their bodies flung into a pit. +When this was accomplished, the soldiers +waved their caps, and cried out, "So fare +it with all who take part with our hateful +enemies!"</p> + +<p>Musgrave shed tears at the fate of his +brave companion, and thenceforward was +seized with gloomy despondency; for he +saw that subordination hung by a thread +so brittle that the least concussion would +snap it asunder, and involve all in inextricable +confusion. His countenance and +manner underwent a visible change, and +he often started on the approach of any +one toward him, and laid his hand on his +sword. The day appointed by the Douglas +for the execution of Sir Richard, provided +the castle was not delivered up before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +that period, was fast approaching,—an +event that Musgrave could not look +forward to without distraction; and it +was too evident to his associates that his +brave mind was so torn by conflicting +passions, that it stood in great danger of +being rooted up for ever.</p> + +<p>It is probable that at this time he would +willingly have complied with the dictates +of nature, and saved the life of his brother; +but to have talked of yielding up the fortress +to the Scots at that period would +only have been the prelude to his being +torn in pieces. It was no more their +captain's affair of love and chivalry that +influenced them, but desperate animosity +against their besiegers; and every one +called aloud for succours. Communication +with their friends was impracticable, but +they hoped that their condition was known, +and that succours would soon appear.—Alas, +their friends in Northumberland had +enough ado to defend themselves, nor +could they do it so effectually but that +their lands were sometimes harried to their +very doors. The warden, with his hardy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +mountaineers, was indefatigable; and the +English garrison were now so closely beleaguered, +that all chance of driving a prey +from the country faded from their hopes. +Never was the portcullis drawn up, nor +the draw-bridge at either end let down, +that intelligence was not communicated by +blast of bugle to the whole Scottish army, +who were instantly on the alert. The +latter fared sumptuously, while those within +the walls were famishing; and at length +the day appointed for the execution of Sir +Richard drew so near that three days only +were to run.</p> + +<p>It had been customary for the English, +whenever the Scots sent out a herald, +bearing the flag of truce, to make any proposal +whatsoever, to salute him with a +flight of arrows; all communication or +listening to proposals being strictly forbidden +by the captain, on pain of death. +However, that day, when the Douglas' +herald appeared on the rising ground, +called the Hill of Barns, Musgrave caused +answer him by a corresponding flag, hoping +it might be some proposal of a ransom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +for the life of his beloved brother, on +which the heralds had an interchange of +words at the draw-bridge. The Scottish herald +made demand of the castle in his captain's +name, and added, that the Douglas +requested it might be done instantly, to +save the life of a brave and noble youth, +whom he would gladly spare, but could +not break his word and his oath that he +should suffer. He farther assured the +English captain, that it was in vain for +him to sacrifice his brother, for that he +had the means in his power to bring him +under subjection the day following, if he +chose.</p> + +<p>A council of the gentlemen in the castle +was called. Every one spoke in anger, and +treated the demand with derision. Musgrave +spoke not a word; but, with a look +of unstable attention on every one that +spoke, collected their verdicts, and in a few +minutes this answer was returned to the +requisition of the Scots.</p> + +<p>"If Sir Philip Musgrave himself, and +every English knight and gentleman in +the castle were now in the hands of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +Douglas, and doomed to the same fate of +their brave young friend, still the Douglas +should not gain his point,—the castle would +not be delivered up. The garrison scorn +his proposals, they despise his threats, and +they hold his power at defiance. Such +tender mercies as he bestows, such shall he +experience. He shall only take the castle +by treading over the breasts of the last six +men that remain alive in it."</p> + +<p>This was the general answer for the garrison—in +the meantime Musgrave requested, +as a personal favour of the Douglas, +that he might see and condole with his brother +one hour before his fatal exit. The +request was readily complied with, and +every assurance of safe conduct and protection +added. The Douglas' pavilion +stood on the rising ground, between the +castle and the then splendid city of Roxburgh, +a position from which he had a +view of both rivers, and all that passed +around the castle, and in the town; but, +since the commencement of winter he had +lodged over night in a tower that stood in +the middle of the High-town, called the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +King's House, that had prisons underneath, +and was strongly guarded; but during the +day he continued at the pavilion, in order +to keep an eye over the siege.</p> + +<p>To this pavilion, therefore, Musgrave +was suffered to pass, with only one knight +attendant; and all the way from the draw-bridge +to the tent they passed between two +files of armed soldiers, whose features, +forms, and armour exhibited a strange contrast. +The one rank was made up of Mar +Highlanders, men short of stature, with +red locks, high cheek bones, and looks that +indicated a ferocity of nature; the other +was composed of Lowlanders from the dales +of the south and the west; men clothed in +grey, with sedate looks, strong athletic +frames, and faces of blunt and honest bravery. +Musgrave weened himself passing +between the ranks of two different nations, +instead of the vassals of one Scottish nobleman. +At the pavilion, the state, splendour, +and number of attendant knights and +squires amazed him; but by them all he +was received with the most courteous respect.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sir Richard was brought up from the vaults +of the King's House to the tent, as the most +convenient place for the meeting with his +brother, and for the guards to be stationed +around them; and there, being placed in +one of the apartments of the pavilion, his +brother was ushered in to him. No one +was present at the meeting; but, from an +inner apartment, all that passed between +them was overheard. Musgrave clasped +his younger brother in his arms; the other +could not return the embrace, for his chains +were not taken off; but their meeting was +passionately affecting, as the last meeting +between two brothers must always be. +When the elder retired a step, that they +might gaze on each other, what a difference +in appearance!—what a contrast they +exhibited to each other! The man in chains, +doomed to instant death, had looks of +blooming health, and manly fortitude: +The free man, the renowned Lord Musgrave, +governor of the impregnable but +perilous castle of Roxburgh, and the affianced +lord and husband to the richest and +most beautiful lady in England, was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +picture of haggard despair and misfortune. +He appeared but the remnant, the skeleton +of the hero he had lately been; and a sullen +instability of mind flashed loweringly +in his dark eye. His brother was almost +terrified at his looks, for he regarded him +sometimes as with dark suspicion, and as +if he dreaded him to be an incendiary.</p> + +<p>"My dear brother," said Sir Richard, +"what is it that hangs upon your mind, +and discomposes you so much? You are +indeed an altered man since I had the misfortune +to be taken from you. Tell me, +how fares all within the castle?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well; quite well, brother. +All perfectly secure—quite well within +the castle." But as he said this he strode +rapidly backward and forward across the +small apartment, and eyed the canvass on +each side with a grin of rage, as if he suspected +that it concealed listeners; nor was +he wrong in his conjecture, though it was +only caused by the frenzy of habitual +distrust. "But, how can I be otherwise +than discomposed, brother," continued he, +"when I am in so short a time to see you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +sacrificed in the prime of youth and vigour, +to my own obstinacy and pride, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"I beg that you will not think of it, or +take it at all to heart," said the youth; "I +have made up my mind, and can look death +in the face without unbecoming dismay. +I should have preferred dying on the field +of honour, with my sword in my hand, rather +than being hanged up between the +hosts, like a spy, or common malefactor. +But let the tears that are shed for Richard +be other than salt brine from the eyes of +the Englishmen. Let them be the drops +of purple blood from the hearts of our enemies. +I charge you, by the spirits of our +fathers, whom I am so shortly to join, and +by the blessed Trinity, that you act in this +trying dilemma as the son of the house you +represent. Shed not a tear for me, but revenge +my death on the haughty house of +Douglas."</p> + +<p>"There is my hand! Here is my sword! +But the vital motion, or the light of reason, +who shall ensure to me till these things +are fulfilled. Nay, who shall ensure them +to this wasted frame for one moment? I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +am not the man I have been, brother: But +here I will swear to you, by all the host of +heaven, to revenge your death, or die in +the fulfilment of my vow. Yes, fully will +I revenge it! I will waste! waste! waste! +and the fire that is begun within shall be +quenched, and no tongue shall utter it! +Ha! ha, ha! shall it not be so, brother?"</p> + +<p>"This is mere raving, brother; I have +nothing from this."</p> + +<p>"No, it is not; for there is a fire that +you wot not of. But I will quench it, +though with my own blood. Brother, +there is one thing I wish to know, and for +that purpose did I come hither. Do you +think it behoves me to suffer you to perish +in this affair?"</p> + +<p>"That depends entirely upon your internal +means of defence," answered Richard. +"If there is a certainty, or even a +probability, that the castle can hold until +relieved by our friends, which will not likely +be previous to the time you have appointed +for them to attempt it; why, then, +I would put no account on the life of one +man. Were I in your place, I would retain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +my integrity in opposition to the views +of Douglas; but if it is apparent to you, +who know all your own resources, that the +castle must yield, it is needless to throw +away the life of your brother, sacrificing +it to the pride of opposition for a day or a +week."</p> + +<p>Musgrave seemed to be paying no regard +to this heroic and disinterested reasoning,—for +he was still pacing to and fro, +gnawing his lip; and if he was reasoning, +or thinking at all, was following out the +train of his own unstable mind.—"Because, +if I were sure," said he, "that you +felt that I was acting unkindly or unnaturally +by you, by the Rood, I would +carve the man into fragments that would +oppose my submission to save my brother. +I would teach them that Musgrave was +not to be thwarted in his command of the +castle that was taken by his own might +and device, and to the government of +which his sovereign appointed him. If a +dog should dare to bay at me in opposition +to my will, whatever it were, I would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +muzzle the hound, and make him repent +his audacity."</p> + +<p>"My noble brother," said Richard, +"what is the meaning of this frenzy? +No one is opposing your will, and I well +believe no one within the castle will attempt +it—"</p> + +<p>"Because they dare not!" said he, furiously, +interrupting his brother: "They +dare not, I tell you! But if they durst, +what do you think I would do? Ha, ha, +ha!"</p> + +<p>Douglas overheard all this, and judging +it a fit time to interfere, immediately a +knight opened the door of the apartment +where the two brothers conversed, and announced +the Lord Douglas. Musgrave +composed himself with wonderful alacrity; +and the greeting between the two great +chiefs, though dignified, was courteous and +apparently free of rancour or jealousy. +Douglas first addressed his rival as follows:</p> + +<p>"I crave pardon, knights, for thus interrupting +you. I will again leave you to +yourselves; but I judged it incumbent on +me, as a warrior and a knight of honour,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +to come, before you settled finally on your +mode of procedure, and conjure you, Lord +Philip Musgrave, to save the life of your +brother—"</p> + +<p>"Certainly you will not put down my +brave brother, Lord Douglas?" said Musgrave, +interrupting him.</p> + +<p>"As certainly," returned he, "as you +put down my two kinsmen, Cleland and +Douglas of Rowlaw, in mere spite and +wanton cruelty, because they were beloved +and respected by me. I am blameless, +as it was yourself who began this unwarrantable +system, and my word is passed. +Sir Richard must die, unless the keys of +the castle are delivered to me before Friday +at noon. But I shall be blameless in +any thing further. I conjure you to save +him; and as an inducement, assure you, +by the honour of knighthood, that your +resistance is not only unnatural, but totally +useless; for I have the means of commanding +your submission when I please."</p> + +<p>"Lord Douglas, I defy thee!" answered +Musgrave. "You hold the life in your +hand that I hold dearest on earth, save<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +one. For these two would I live or die: +but, since thy inveterate enmity will not +be satisfied with ought short of the life of +my only brother, take it; and may my +curse, and the curse of heaven, be your +guerdon. It shall only render the other +doubly dear to me; and, for her sake, will +I withstand your proud pretensions; and, +as she enjoined me, hold this castle, with +all its perils, till the expiry of the Christmas +holidays, in spite of you. I defy your +might and your ire. Let your cruel nature +have its full sway. Let it be gorged +with the blood of my kinsfolk; it shall +only serve to make my opposition the +stronger and more determined. For the +sake of her whom I serve, the mistress of +my heart and soul, I will hold my resolution.—Do +your worst!"</p> + +<p>"So be it!" said Douglas. "Remember +that I do not, like you, fight only in +the enthusiasm of love and chivalry, but for +the very being of my house. I will stick +at no means of retaliating the injuries you +have done to me and mine, however unjustifiable +these may appear to some,—no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +act of cruelty, to attain the prize for which +I contend. Little do you know what you +are doomed to suffer, and that in a short +space of time. I again conjure you to save +the life of your brother, by yielding up to +me your ill-got right, and your conditions +shall be as liberal as you can desire."</p> + +<p>"I will yield you my estate to save my +brother, but not the castle of Roxburgh. +Name any other ransom but that, and I +will treat with you. Ask what I can grant +with honour, and command it."</p> + +<p>"Would you give up the life of a brave +only brother to gratify the vanity and +whim of a romantic girl, who, if present +herself, would plead for the life of Sir Richard, +maugre all other considerations, else +she has not the feelings of woman? What +would you give, Lord Musgrave, to see +that lady, and hear her sentiments on the +subject."</p> + +<p>"I would give much to see her. But, +rather than see her in this place, I would +give all the world and my life's blood into +the bargain. But of that I need not have +any fear. You have conjurors among you,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +it is said, and witches that can raise up the +dead, but their power extends not to the +living, else who of my race would have +been left?"</p> + +<p>"I have more power than you divine; +and I will here give you a simple specimen +of it, to convince you how vain it is to +contend with me. You are waging war +with your own vain imagination, and suffer +all this wretchedness for a thing that +has neither being nor name."</p> + +<p>Douglas then lifted a small gilded bugle +that hung always at his sword belt, the +language of which was well known to all +the army; and on that he gave two blasts +not louder than a common whistle, when +instantly the door of the apartment opened, +and there entered Lady Jane Howard, +leaning on her female attendant, dressed +in attire of princely magnificence. "Lady +Jane Howard!" exclaimed Sir Richard, +starting up, and struggling with his fettered +arms to embrace her. But when the +vision met the eyes of Lord Musgrave, he +uttered a shuddering cry of horror, and +sprung with a convulsive leap back into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +the corner of the tent. There he stood, like +the statue of distraction, with his raised +hands pressed to each side of his helmet, +as if he had been strenuously holding his +head from splitting asunder.</p> + +<p>"So! Friend and foe have combined +against me!" cried he wildly. "Earth and +hell have joined their forces in opposition +to one impotent human thing! And what +his crime? He presumed on no more than +what he did, and could have done; but +who can stand against the powers of darkness, +and the unjust decrees of heaven? +Yes; unjust! I say unjust! Down with +all decrees to the centre! There's no truth +in heaven! I weened there was, but it is as +false as the rest! I say as false!—falser +than both!—I'll brave all the three! Ha, +ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>Douglas had brought Lady Jane the +apparel, and commanded her to dress in it; +and, perceiving the stern, authoritative nature +of the chief, she judged it meet to comply. +At first she entered with a languid +dejected look, for she had been given to +understand something of the rueful nature<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +of the meeting she was called on to attend. +But when she heard the above infuriated +rhapsody, and turned her eyes in terror to +look on the speaker, whose voice she well +knew, she uttered a scream and fainted. +Douglas supported her in his arms; and +Sir Richard, whose arms were in fetters, +stood and wept over her. But Musgrave +himself only strode to and fro over the +floor of the pavilion, and uttered now and +then a frantic laugh. "That is well!—That +is well!" exclaimed he; "Just as it +should be! I hope she will not recover. +Surely she will not?" and then bending +himself back, and clasping his hands together, +he cried fervently: "O mother of God, +take her to thyself while she is yet pure +and uncontaminated, or what heart of flesh +can endure the prospect? What a wreck +in nature that lovely form will soon be! +Oh-oh-oh!"</p> + +<p>The lady's swoon was temporary. She +soon began to revive, and cast unsettled +looks around in search of the object that +had so overpowered her; and, at the request +of Sir Richard, who perceived his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +brother's intemperate mood, she was removed. +She was so struck with the altered +features, looks, and deportment of the +knight, who in her imagination was every +thing that was courteous, comely, and noble, +and whom she had long considered as +destined to be her own, that her heart was +unable to stand the shock, and her removal +from his presence was an act of humanity.</p> + +<p>She was supported out of the tent by +Douglas and her female relation; but when +Musgrave saw them leading her away, he +stepped rapidly in before them and interposed; +and, with a twist of his body, put +his hand two or three times to the place +where the handle of his sword should have +been. The lady lifted her eyes to him, +but there was no conception in that look, +and her lovely face was as pale as if the +hand of death had passed over it.</p> + +<p>Any one would have thought that such +a look from the lady of his love, in such a +forlorn situation, and in the hands of his +mortal enemy, would have totally uprooted +the last fibres of his distempered mind.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +But who can calculate on the medicine +suited to a diseased spirit? The cures even +of some bodily diseases are those that would +poison a healthy frame. So did it prove +in this mental one. He lifted his hand +from his left side, where he had thrust it +convulsively in search of his sword, and +clapping it on his forehead, he seemed to +resume the command of himself at once, +and looked as calm and serene as in the +most collected moments of his life.</p> + +<p>When they were gone, he said to Sir +Richard, in the hearing of the guards: +"Brother, what is the meaning of this? +What English traitor has betrayed that angelic +maid into the hands of our enemy?"</p> + +<p>"To me it is incomprehensible," said +Sir Richard: "I was told of it by my +keeper last night, but paid no regard to the +information, judging it a piece of wanton +barbarity; but now my soul shudders at +the rest of the information that he added."</p> + +<p>"What more did the dog say?" said +Musgrave.</p> + +<p>"He said he had heard that it was resolved +by the Douglasses, that, if you did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +not yield up the fortress and citadel freely, +on or before the day of the conception of +the Blessed Virgin, on that day at noon +the lady of your heart should be exhibited +in a state not to be named on a stage erected +on the top of the Bush-law, that faces +the western tower, and is divided from it +only by the moat; and there before your +eyes, and in sight of both hosts, compelled +to yield to that disgrace which barbarians +only could have conceived; and then to +have her nose cut off, her eyes put out, and +her beauteous frame otherwise disfigured."</p> + +<p>"He dares not for his soul's salvation +do such a deed!" said Musgrave: "No; +there's not a bloodhound that ever mouthed +the air of his cursed country durst do a +deed like that. And though every Douglas +is a hound confest, where is the mongrel +among them that durst but howl of +such an outrage in nature? Why, the +most absolute fiend would shrink from it: +Hell would disown it; and do you think +the earth would bear it?"</p> + +<p>"Brother, suspend your passion, and +listen to the voice of reason and of nature.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +Your cause is lost, but not your honour. +You took, and have kept that fortress, to +the astonishment of the world. But for +what do you now fight? or what can your +opposition avail? Let me beseech you +not to throw away the lives of those you +love most on earth thus wantonly, but capitulate +on honourable terms, and rescue +your betrothed bride and your only brother +from the irritated Scots. Trust not +that they will stick at any outrage to accomplish +their aim. Loth would I be to +know our name were dishonoured by any +pusillanimity on the part of my brother; +but desperate obstinacy is not bravery. I, +therefore, conjure you to save me, and her +in whom all your hopes of future felicity +are bound up."</p> + +<p>Musgrave was deeply affected; and, +at that instant, before he had time to reply, +Douglas re-entered.</p> + +<p>"Scots lord, you have overcome me," +said he, with a pathos that could not be exceeded: +"Yes you have conquered, but +not with your sword. Not on the field, +nor on the wall, have ye turned the glaive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +of Musgrave; but either by some infernal +power, or else by chicanery and guile, the +everlasting resources of your cursed nation. +It boots not me to know how you came +possessed of this last and only remaining +pledge of my submission. It is sufficient +you have it. I yield myself your prisoner; +let me live or die with those two already +in your power."</p> + +<p>"No, knight, that must not be," replied +Douglas. "You are here on safe conduct +and protection; my honour is pledged, and +must not be forfeited. You shall return +in safety to your kinsmen and soldiers, and +act by their counsel. It is not prisoners I +want, but the castle of Roxburgh, which +is the right of my sovereign and my nation,—clandestinely +taken, and wrongously +held by you. I am neither cruel nor +severe beyond the small range that points +to that attainment; but that fortress I will +have,—else wo be to you, and all who advise +withholding it, as well as all their connexions +to whom the power of Scotland +can extend. If the castle is not delivered +up before Friday at noon, your brother<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +shall suffer,—that you already know. But +at the same hour on the day of the Conception, +if it is still madly and wantonly detained, +there shall be such a scene transacted +before your eyes as shall blur the annals of +the Border for ever."</p> + +<p>"If you allude to any injury intended +to the lady who is your prisoner," said +Musgrave, "the cruellest fiend in hell could +not have the heart to hurt such angelic +purity and loveliness; and it would degrade +the honour of knighthood for ever +to suffer it. Cruel as you are, you dare +not injure a hair of her head."</p> + +<p>"Talk not of cruelty in me," said Douglas: +"If the knight who is her lover will +not save her, how should I? You have it +in your power, and certainly it is you that +behove to do it; even granting that the +stakes for which we fought were equal, +the task of redemption and the blame +would rest solely with you. And how +wide is the difference between the prizes +for which we contend? I for my love, +my honour, and the very existence of my +house and name; and you for you know +not what,—the miserable pride of opposition.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +Take your measures, my lord. I +will not be mocked."</p> + +<p>Douglas left the apartment. Musgrave +also arose and embraced his brother, and, +as he parted from him, he spoke these ominous +words: "Farewell, my dear Richard. +May the angels that watch over honour +be your guardians in the hour of trial. +You know not what I have to endure +from tormentors without and within. But +hence we meet not again in this state of +existence. The ties of love must be broken, +and the bands of brotherly love burst asunder,—nevertheless +I will save you—A long +farewell my brother."</p> + +<p>Musgrave was then conducted back to +the draw-bridge, between two long files of +soldiers as before, while all the musicians +that belonged either to the army or the +city were ranked up in a line behind them, +on the top of the great precipice that over-hangs +the Teviot, playing, on all manner of +instruments, "<i>Turn the Blue Bonnets wha +can, wha can</i>," with such a tremendous din +that one would have thought every stone +in the walls of Roxburgh was singing out +the bravado.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Qnhat weywerde elfin thynge is thaten boie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That hyngethe still upon myne gaire, as doeth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My synne of harte? And quhome rychte loth; I lofe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With not les hauckerynge. His locent eyne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And his tungis maiter comethe on myne sense<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lyke a remembourance; or lyke ane dreime<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That had delytis in it. Quhen I wolde say<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Begone;" lo then my tung mistakethe quyte,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or fanceyinge not the terme, it sayethe "Come hidder,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come hidder, crabbed boie, unto myne syde."<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Old Play.</i><br /></span> +</div> + +<p>That evening, after the departure of +the noble and distressed Musgrave, Douglas +was sitting all alone musing in a secret +apartment of the pavilion, when he heard +a gentle tap at the door. "Who's there?" +inquired he surlily: "It is I, my lor'," said +a petulant treble voice without. "Aha! +my excellent nondescript little fellow, Colin +Roy, is it you? Why, you may come +in." Colin entered dressed in a most elegant +and whimsical livery, and, forgetting +himself, made the Douglas two or three +graceful courtesies instead of bows.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Aye, hem," said he, "that's very well +for the page of a princess. I suppose you +have been studying the graces from your +accomplished mistress? But where have +you been all this while? I have felt the +loss of you from my hand grievously."</p> + +<p>"I have been waiting on my royal mistress, +my lor', informing her of all that is +going on at the siege, and of your good +fortune in the late captures you have made, +wherein she rejoices exceedingly, and +wishes you all good fortune and forward +success; and, in token of kind remembrance, +she sends you this heart of ruby set +in gold and diamonds,—a gem that befits +your lordship well to wear. And many +more matters she has given me in charge, +my lor'."</p> + +<p>Douglas kissed the locket, and put it +in his bosom, and then uttered abundance +of the extravagant bombast peculiar to +that age. He called her his guardian +angel, his altar of incense, and the saint +of his devotion, the buckler of his arm, +the sword in his hand, and the jewel of +his heart. "Do you think, Colin," added<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +he, "that ever there was a maiden born +like this royal lady of my love?"</p> + +<p>"Why, my lor', I am not much skilled +in these matters, but I believe the wench, +my mistress, is well enough;—that is, she +is well formed. And yet she is but so so."</p> + +<p>"How dare you, you piece of unparalleled +impudence, talk of your royal +mistress in that strain? Or where did you +ever see a form or features so elegant, and +so bewitchingly lovely?"</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?—Well, I'm glad of +it. I think she is coarse and masculine. +Where did I ever see such a form, indeed! +Yes I have seen a much finer limb, and +an arm, and a hand too! What think +you of that for a hand, my lor'?"—(and +with that the urchin clapped his hand on +the green table, first turning up the one +side of it and then the other.)—"I say if +that hand were as well kept, and that arm +as well loaden with bracelets, and the +fingers with diamond rings, it would be +as handsome as your princess's, of which +you boast so much,—aye, and handsomer +too."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are a privileged boy, Colin, otherwise +I would kick you heartily, and, moreover, +cause you to be whipped by the +hand of the common executioner. However, +you are a confidant,—all is well from +you; and, to say the truth, yours is a very +handsome hand for a boy's hand,—so is +your arm. But what are they to those of +my lovely and royal Margaret?—mere +deformity! the husk to the wheat!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, my lor', you have an excellent +taste, and a no less gifted discernment!"</p> + +<p>"I cannot conceive of any earthly being +equalling my beauteous princess, whether +in the qualifications of body or mind."</p> + +<p>"I rejoice to hear it. How blind love +is! Why, in sober reality, there is the +Lady Jane Howard. Is there any comparison +between the princess and that lady +in beauty?"</p> + +<p>"She is, I confess, a most exquisite +creature, Colin, even though rival to +my adorable lady; in justice it must +be acknowledged she is <i>almost</i> peerless +in beauty. I do not wonder at Musgrave's +valour when I see the object of it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +But why do you redden as with anger, +boy, to hear my commendations of that +hapless lady?"</p> + +<p>"I, my lord? How should I redden +with anger? On my honour, craving my +Lord Douglas' pardon, I am highly pleased. +I think she is much more beautiful +than you have said, and that, you should +have spoken of her in a more superlative +degree, and confessed frankly that you +would willingly exchange your betrothed +lady for her. I cannot chuse but think +her very beautiful; too beautiful, indeed, +with her blue eyes, white teeth, and ruddy +lips. I dont like such bright blue eyes. +I could almost find in my heart to scratch +them out, she is so like a wanton. So +you don't wonder at Lord Musgrave's +valour, after having seen his mistress? +Well, I advise your lordship, your captainship, +and your besiegership, that there +are some who wonder very much at your +want of valour. I tell you this in confidence. +My mistress thinks you hold her +charms only at a small avail, that you +have not <i>gone into</i> that castle long ago,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +and turned out these Englishmen, or hung +them up by the necks if they refused. +Musgrave went in and took it at once, for +the favour of his mistress; because, forsooth, +he deemed her worthy of the honour +of such a bold emprize. Why, +then, do not you do the same? My mistress, +to be sure, is a woman,—a very +woman; but she says this, that it is superabundantly +ungallant of you not to +have <i>gone in</i> and taken possession of the +castle long ago. Do you know that (poor +kind creature!) she has retired to a convent, +where she continues in a state of +sufferance, using daily invocations at the +shrines of saints for your success. And +she has, moreover, made a vow not to braid +her hair, nor dress herself in princely apparel +until the day of your final success. +Surely, my lor', you ought <i>to take that +castle</i>, and relieve my dear mistress from +this durance. I almost weep when I think +of her, and must say with her that she has +been shabbily used, and that she has reason +to envy Lady Jane Howard even in +her captivity."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Colin, you are abundantly impertinent: +but there is no stopping of your +tongue once it is set a-going. As to the +taking of castles, these things come not under +the cognizance of boys or women. But +indeed I knew not that my sovereign lady +the princess had absconded from the courtly +circle of her father's palace, and betaken +herself to a convent on my account. Every +thing that I hear of that jewel endears her +to me the more."</p> + +<p>"What? even her orders for you <i>to go +into the castle</i>, and put out the English? I +assure you, my lor', she insists upon it. +Whether it is her impatience to be your +bride, I know not, but she positively will +not be satisfied unless you very soon <i>go into +that castle</i>, and put the Englishmen all to +the outside of it, where you are now; or +hang them, and bury them out of sight before +she visits the place to congratulate +you."</p> + +<p>"Boy, I have no patience with you. +Cease your prating, and inform me where +my beloved mistress is, that I may instantly +visit her."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No; not for the Douglas' estate, which +is now in the fire, and may soon be brought +to the anvil, will I inform you of that. +But, my lor', you know I must execute my +commission. And I tell you again, unless +you take this castle very soon, you will not +only lose the favour of my mistress, but you +will absolutely break her heart. Nothing +less will satisfy her. I told her, there was +a great moat, more than a hundred feet +deep, and as many wide, that surrounded +the castle, and flowed up to the base of its +walls; that there was a large river on each +side of it, and that they were both dammed +and appeared like two standing seas—but +all availed nought. 'There is a moat,' +said I; 'But let him go over that,' said +she; 'let him swim it, or put a float on +it. What is it to cross a pool a hundred +feet wide? How did Lord Musgrave pass +over it?' 'There are strong walls on the +other side,' said I: 'But let him go over +these,' said she, 'or break a hole through +them and go in. Men built the walls, why +may not men pull them down? How did +Musgrave get over them?' 'There are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +armed men within,' said I: 'But they +are only Englishmen,' said she; 'Let +Douglas' men put their swords into them, +and make them stand back. How did Musgrave +get in when it was defended by gallant +Scots? Douglas is either no lover, or +else no warrior,' added she; 'or perhaps +he is neither the one nor the other.'"</p> + +<p>"Peace, sapling," said Douglas, frowning +and stamping with his foot, "Peace, +and leave the pavilion instantly." Colin +went away visibly repressing a laugh, which +irritated Douglas still the more; and as the +urchin went, he muttered in a crying whine, +"My mistress is very shabbily used!—very +shabbily! To have promised herself to a +knight if he will but take a castle for her, +and to have fasted, and prayed, and vowed +vows for him, and yet he dares not go in +and take it. And I am shabbily used too; +and that I'll tell her! Turned out before +I get half her message delivered! But I +must inform you, my lor', before I go, that +since you are making no better use of the +advantage given you, I demand the prisoners<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +back that I lodged in your hand in my +lady mistress' name, and by her orders."</p> + +<p>"I will do no such thing to the whim +of a teasing impertinent stripling, without +my lady princess's hand and seal for it," +said Douglas.</p> + +<p>"You shall not long want that," said +Colin; and pulling a letter out from below +his sash, he gave it to him. It was the +princess's hand and seal,—it being an easy +matter for Colin to get what letters he +listed. Douglas opened it, and read as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Lord Douglas</span>,—In token of my best +wishes for your success, I send you these, +with greeting. I hope you will take immediate +advantage of the high superiority afforded +you in this contest, by putting some +indelible mark, or public stain, on the lusty +dame I put into your hands. If Musgrave +be a knight of any gallantry he will never +permit it, but yield. As I cannot attend +personally, I request that the mode and +degree of punishment you inflict may be +left to my page Colin. That you have not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +been successful by such means already, hath +much surprised</p> + +<p class="sig"><span class="smcap">Margaret</span>."</p></blockquote> + + +<p>"This is not a requisition to give you +up the prisoners," said Douglas, "but +merely a request that the punishment inflicted +may be left to you, a request which +must not be denied to the lady of my +heart. Now, pray, Master Colin Roy MacAlpin, +what punishment do you decree for +the Lady Jane Howard? For my part, +though I intended to threaten the most +obnoxious treatment, to induce my opponent +to yield, I could not for my dearest +interests injure the person of that exquisite +lady."</p> + +<p>"You could not, in good troth? I suppose +my mistress has good reason to be +jealous of you two. But since the power +is left with me I shall prevent that; I shall +see her punished as she deserves: I'll have +no shameful exposures of a woman, even +were she the meanest plebeian, but I'll mar +her beauty that she thinks so much of, +and that <i>you</i> think so much of. I'll have +have her nose cut off; and two of her fore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +teeth drawn; and her cheeks and brow +scolloped. I'll spoil the indecent brightness +of her gloss! She shall not sparkle with +such brilliance again, nor shall the men +gloat, feasting their intolerable eyes on her, +as they do at present."</p> + +<p>"Saint Duthoe buckler me!" exclaimed +the Douglas,—"what an unnatural tyger +cat it is! I have heard that such feelings +were sometimes entertained by one +sovereign beauty toward another of the +same sex; but that a sprightly youth, +of an amorous complexion, with bright +blushing features and carroty locks, should +so depreciate female beauty, and thirst to +deface it, surpasses any thing I have witnessed +in the nature of man. Go to, you +are a perverse boy, but shall be humoured +as far as my honour and character as a captain +and warrior will admit."</p> + +<p>Colin paced lightly away, making a slight +and graceful courtesy to the Douglas as he +glided out. "What an extraordinary, +wayward, and accomplished youth that is!" +said the chief to himself. "Is it not +strange that I should converse so long with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +a page, as if he were my equal? There is +something in his manner and voice that +overcomes me; and though he teazes me +beyond endurance, there is a sort of enchantment +about him, that I cannot give +him the check. Ah me! all who submit +themselves to women, to be swayed by +them or their delegates, will find themselves +crossed in every action of importance. I +am resolved that no woman shall sway me. +I can love, but have not learned to submit."</p> + +<p>Colin retired to his little apartment in +the pavilion; it was close to the apartment +that Douglas occupied while he remained +there, and not much longer or broader than +the beautiful and romantic inhabitant. Yet +there he constantly abode when not employed +about his lord, and never mixed or +conversed with the other pages. Douglas +retired down to the tower, or King's House, +as it was called (from king Edward having +occupied it,) at even tide,—but Colin Roy +remained in his apartment at the pavilion. +Alas! that Douglas did not know the value<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +of the life he left exposed in such a +place!</p> + +<p>On the return of Musgrave into the +castle, a council of all the gentlemen in the +fortress was called, and with eager readiness +they attended in the hall of the great +western tower. The governor related to +them the heart-rending intelligence of his +mistress being in the hands of their enemies, +and of the horrid fate that awaited +her, as well as his only brother, provided +the garrison stood out. Every one present +perceived that Musgrave inclined to capitulate; +and, as they all admired him, they +pitied his woeful plight. But no one ventured +a remark. There they sat, a silent +circle, in bitter and obstinate rumination. +Their brows were plaited down, so as almost +to cover their eyes; their under lips +were bent upward, and every mouth shaped +like a curve, and their arms were crossed +on their breasts, while every man's +right hand instinctively rested on the hilt +of his sword.</p> + +<p>Musgrave had taken his measures, whichever +way the tide should run. In consequence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +of this he appeared more calm and +collected at this meeting than he had done +for many a day. "I do not, my friends, +and soldiers, propose any alternative," said +he,—"I merely state to you the circumstances +in which we are placed; and according +to your sentiments I mean to conduct +myself."</p> + +<p>"It is nobly said, brave captain," said +Collingwood: "Our case is indeed a hard +one, but not desperate. The Scots cannot +take the castle from us, and shall any one +life, or any fifty lives, induce us to yield +them the triumph, and all our skill, our +bravery, and our sufferings go for nought?"</p> + +<p>"We have nothing to eat," said Musgrave.</p> + +<p>"I'll eat the one arm, and defend the +draw-bridge with the other, before the Scots +shall set a foot in the castle," said a young +man, named Henry Clavering. "So will +I," said another. "So will I; so will we +all!" echoed through the hall, while a wild +gleam of ferocity fired every haggard countenance. +It was evident that the demon +of animosity and revenge was now conjured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +up, which to lay was not in the power +of man.</p> + +<p>"What then do you propose as our +mode of action in this grievous dilemma?" +said Musgrave.</p> + +<p>"I, for my part, would propose decision +and ample retaliation," said Clavering. +"Do you not perceive that there has been a +great storm in the uplands last night and +this morning, and that the Tweed and Teviot +are roaring like two whirlpools of the +ocean, so that neither man nor beast can +cross them? There is no communication +between the two great divisions of the Scottish +army to night, save by that narrow +passage betwixt the moat and the river. +Let us issue forth at the deepest hour of +midnight, secure that narrow neck of land +by a strong guard, while the rest proceed +sword in hand to the eastern camp, surround +the pavilion of Douglas, and take him and +all his associates prisoners, and then see +who is most forward in using the rope!"</p> + +<p>"It is gallantly proposed, my brave +young friend," said Musgrave; "I will +lead the onset myself. I do not only ween<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +the scheme practicable, but highly promising; +and if we can make good that narrow +neck of land against our enemies on the +first alarm, I see not why we may not cut +off every man in the eastern division of +their army; and haply, from the camp and +city, secure to ourselves a good supply of +provisions before the break of the day."</p> + +<p>These were inducements not to be withstood, +and there was not one dissenting +voice. A gloomy satisfaction rested on +every brow, and pervaded every look, taking +place of dark and hideous incertitude. +Like a winter day that has threatened a +tempest from the break of the morning, +but becomes at last no longer doubtful, as +the storm descends on the mountain tops, +so was the scene at the breaking up of that +meeting—and all was activity and preparation +within the castle during the remainder +of the day.</p> + +<p>The evening at last came; but it was no +ordinary evening. The storm had increased +in a tenfold degree. The north-west wind +roared like thunder. The sleet descended +in torrents, and was driven with an impetuosity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +that no living creature could +withstand. The rivers foamed from bank +to brae; and the darkness was such as if +the heavens had been sealed up. The +sound of the great abbey bell, that rung for +vespers, was borne away on the tempest; +so that nothing was heard, save once or +twice a solemn melancholy sound, apparently +at a great distance, as if a spirit had +been moaning in the eastern sky.</p> + +<p>Animal nature cowered beneath the +blast. The hind left not her den in the +wood, nor broke her fast, until the dawning. +The flocks crowded together for shelter +in the small hollows of the mountains, +and the cattle lowed and bellowed in the +shade. The Scottish soldiers dozed under +their plaids, or rested on their arms within +the shelter of their tents and trenches. +Even the outer sentinels, on whose vigilance +all depended, crept into some retreat +or other that was next to hand, to shield +them from the violence of the storm. The +army was quite secure,—for they had the +garrison so entirely cooped up within their +walls, that no attempt had been made to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +sally forth for a whole month. Indeed, +ever since the English were fairly dislodged +from the city, the Bush-law, and all the +other outworks, the attempt was no more +dreaded; for the heaving up of the portcullis, +and the letting down of the draw-bridge, +made such a noise as at once alarmed +the Scottish watchers, and all were instantly +on the alert. Besides, the gates and +draw-bridges (for there were two gates and +one draw-bridge at each end) were so narrow, +that it took a long time for an enemy +to pass in any force; and thus it proved +an easy matter to prevent them. But, +that night, the storm howling in such majesty, +and the constant jangling of chains +and pullies swinging to its force, with the +roaring of the two rivers over the dams, +formed altogether such a hellish concert, +that fifty portcullises might have been raised, +and as many draw-bridges let down, +and the prostrate shivering sentinels of the +Scottish army have distinguished no additional +chord or octave in the infernal +bravura.</p> + +<p>At midnight the English issued forth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +with all possible silence. Two hundred, +under the command of Grey and Collingwood, +were posted on the castle-green, that +is, the narrow valley between the moat and +the river Tweed, to prevent the junction +of the two armies on the first alarm being +given. The rest were parted into two divisions; +and, under the command of Musgrave +and Henry Clavering, went down +the side of each river so as to avoid the +strongest part of the Scottish lines, and +the ramparts raised on the height. Clavering +led his division down by the side of +the Teviot, along the bottom of the great +precipice, and, owing to the mingled din +of the flood and the storm, was never perceived +till fairly in the rear of the Scottish +lines. Musgrave was not so fortunate, as +the main trench ran close to the Tweed. +He was obliged to force it with his first +column, which he did with a rapidity which +nothing could equal. The Englishmen +threw themselves over the mound of the +great trench, hurling in above their enemies +sword in hand, and overpowering +them with great ease; then over one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +breastwork after another, spreading consternation +before them and carnage behind. +Clavering heard nothing of this +turmoil, so intemperate was the night. +He stood with impatience, his men drawn +up in order, within half a bow-shot of +Douglas's pavilion, waiting for the signal +agreed on; for their whole energy was to +be bent against the tent of the commander, +in hopes, not only to capture the Douglas +himself, and all his near kinsmen, but +likewise their own prisoners. At length, +among other sounds that began to swell +around, Clavering heard the welcome cry +of "<span class="smcap">Duddoe's away!</span>" which was as +readily answered with "<span class="smcap">Duddoe's here!</span>" +and at one moment the main camp was +attacked on both sides. The flyers from +the lines had spread the alarm. The +captain's tent was surrounded by a triple +circle of lesser tents, all full of armed men, +who instantly grasped their weapons, and +stood on the defensive. Many rough +blows were exchanged at the first onset, +and many of the first ranks of the assailants +met their death. But though those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +within fought with valour, they fought +without system; whereas the English had +arranged every thing previously; and each +of them had a white linen belt, of which +the Scots knew nothing; and in the hurry +and terror that ensued, some parties attacked +each other, and fell by the hands of +their brethren. Finding soon that the +battle raged before and behind them, they +fled with precipitation toward the city; +but there they were waylaid by a strong +party, and many of them captured and +slain. The English would have slain every +man that fell into their power, had it not +been for the hopes of taking Douglas, or +some of his near kinsmen, and by that +means redeeming the precious pledges that +the Scots held, so much to their detriment, +and by which all their motions were paralyzed. +Clavering, with a part of the troops +under his command, pursued the flyers +that escaped as far as the head of the Market-street, +and put the great Douglas himself +into no little dismay; for he found it +next to impossible to rally his men amid +the storm and darkness, such a panic had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +seized them by this forthbreaking of their +enemies. Clavering would, doubtless, have +rifled a part of the city, if not totally ruined +that division of the Scottish army, had +he not been suddenly called back to oppose +a more dangerous inroad behind.</p> + +<p>When Musgrave first broke through +the right wing of the Scottish lines, the +noise and uproar spread amain, as may +well be conceived. The warders on the +heights then sounded the alarm incessantly: +and a most incongrous thing it was to +hear them sounding the alarm with such +vigour at their posts, after the enemy had +passed quietly by them, and at that time +were working havoc in the middle of their +camp. They knew not what was astir, but +they made plenty of din with their cow-horns, +leaving those that they alarmed +to find out the cause the best way they +could.</p> + +<p>The Scottish army that beleaguered the +castle to the westward caught the alarm, +and rushed to the support of their brethren +and commander. The infantry being first +in readiness, were first put in motion, but,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +on the narrowest part of the castle green, +they fell in with the firm set phalanx of +the English, who received them on the +point of their lances, and, in a few seconds, +made them give way. The English could +not however pursue, their orders being to +keep by the spot where they were, and +stand firm; so that the Scots had nothing +ado but to rally at the head of the green, +and return to the charge. Still it was with +no better success than before. The English +stood their ground, and again made +them reel and retreat. But, by this time, +the horsemen were got ready, and descended +to the charge at a sharp trot. They +were clad in armour, and had heavy swords +by their sides, and long spears like halberds +in their hands. The English lines could +not withstand the shock given by these, +for the men were famishing with hunger +and benumbed with cold, the wind blowing +with all its fury straight in their faces. +They gave way; but they were neither +broken nor dispersed. Reduced as they +were, they were all veterans, and retreated +fighting till they came to the barriers before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +the draw-bridge; and there, having the +advantage of situation, they stood their +ground.</p> + +<p>The horsemen passed on to the scene of +confusion in the camp, and came upon the +rear of the English host, encumbered with +prisoners and spoil.</p> + +<p>When Clavering was called back, Douglas, +who had now rallied about one hundred +and forty men around him, wheeled +about, and followed Clavering in the rear; +so that the English found themselves in +the same predicament that the Scots were +in about an hour before,—beset before and +behind,—and that principally by horsemen, +which placed them under a manifest disadvantage.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to give any adequate +idea of the uproar and desperate affray that +now ensued. The English formed on both +sides to defend themselves; but the prisoners +being numerous detained a great +part of the men from the combat. A cry +arose to kill the prisoners; from whom it +first issued no one knew, but it no sooner +past than the men began to put it into execution.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +The order was easier to give than +perform: in half a minute every one of the +guards had a prisoner at his throat,—the +battle became general,—every one being +particularly engaged through all the interior +of the host, many of them struggling +in pairs on the earth, who to get uppermost, +and have the mastery. It was all +for life, and no exertion was withheld; +but, whenever these single combats ended +in close gripes, the Scots had the mastery, +their bodies being in so much better condition. +They made a great noise, both +individually and in their files, but the English +scarcely opened their mouths; like bred +mastiffs, when desperately engaged, they +only aimed at the vital parts of their opponents, +without letting their voices be +heard.</p> + +<p>It is vain at this period to attempt giving +a better description of the scenes of +that night, for the men that were present +in the affray could give no account of it +next day. But, after a hard encounter and +heavy loss, the English fought their way +up to their friends before the ramparts,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +who had all the while been engaged in +skirmishing with the foot of the western +division, whom they had kept at bay, and +thus preserved the entrance clear to themselves +and brethren; but ere the rear had +got over the half-moon before the bridge, +it was heaped full of slain.</p> + +<p>There were more of the Scots slain during +the conflict of that hideous night than +of the English; but by far the greater +number of prisoners remained with the +former, and several of them were men of +note; but such care was taken to conceal +rank and titles, after falling into the hands +of their enemies, that they could only be +guessed at. De Gray was slain, and Collingwood +was wounded and taken; so that +on taking a muster next day, the English +found themselves losers by their heroic +sally.</p> + +<p>They had, however, taken one prize, of +which, had they known the value, it would +have proved a counterbalance, for all their +losses, and all the distinguished prisoners +that formerly told against them. This was +no other than the pretended page, Colin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +Roy, of whose sex and quality the reader +has been formerly apprised, and whom they +found concealed among some baggage in +the Douglas' tent. Grievous was that +page's plight when he found himself thrust +into a vault below the castle of Roxburgh, +among forty rude soldiers, many of them +wounded, and others half-naked, and nothing +given them to subsist on. Concealment +of his true sex for any length of time +was now impossible, and to divulge the +secret certain ruin to himself and the cause +of Douglas.</p> + +<p>Next day he pleaded hard for an audience +of Musgrave, on pretence of giving +him some information that deeply concerned +himself; and he pleaded with such +eloquence that the guards listened to him, +and informed the commander, who ordered +the stripling to be brought before him. +The next day following was that appointed +for the execution of Sir Richard Musgrave. +Colin informed the governor that, +if he would give him his liberty, he would +procure a reprieve for his brother, at least +until the day of the Conception, during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +which period something might occur that +would save the life of so brave a youth; +that he was the only man on earth who +had the power to alter the purpose of +Douglas in that instance; and that he +would answer with his head for the success,—only +the charm required immediate +application.</p> + +<p>Musgrave said it was a coward's trick +to preserve his own life,—for how could +he answer to him for his success when he +was at liberty? But that no chance might +be lost for saving his brother's life, he +would cause him to be conducted to +Douglas under a strong guard, allow him +what time he required to proffer his suit, +and have him brought back to prison till +the day of the Conception was over, and if +he succeeded he should then have his liberty. +This was not exactly what Colin +wanted: However, he was obliged to accept +of the terms, and proceeded to the +gate under a guard of ten men. The Scots +officer of the advanced guard refused to +let any Englishman pass, but answered +with his honour to conduct the stripling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +in safety to his commander, and in two +hours return him back to the English at +the draw-bridge. No more was required; +and he was conducted accordingly to the +door of Douglas' tent, which, as he desired, +he was suffered to enter, the men +keeping guard at the door.</p> + +<p>In the confusion of that morning, Douglas +never had missed the page, nor knew +he that he was taken prisoner; and when +the boy entered from his own little apartment, +he judged him to be in attendance +as usual. He had a bundle below his arm +tied up in a lady's scarf, and a look that +manifested great hurry and alarm. The +Douglas, who was busily engaged with +two knights, could not help noting his +appearance, at which he smiled.</p> + +<p>"My lord," said the boy, "I have an +engagement of great importance to-day, +and the time is at hand. I cannot get +out at the door by reason of the crowd, +who must not see this. Will it please +you to let me pass by your own private +door into the city?"</p> + +<p>Douglas cursed him for a troublesome<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +imp, and forthwith opened the door into the +concealed way; and as all who came from +that door passed unquestioned, the page +quickly vanished in the suburbs of the city.</p> + +<p>The officer and his guard waited and +waited until the time was on the point of +expiring, and at last grew quite impatient, +wondering what the boy could be doing +so long with the commander. But at +length, to their mortal astonishment, they +beheld the stripling coming swaggering +up from the high street of the city behind +them, putting a number of new and ridiculous +airs in practice, and quite unlike +one going to be delivered up to enemies +to be thrown into a dungeon, or perhaps +hanged like a dog in a day or two.</p> + +<p>The officer knew nothing of the concealed +door and passage, and was lost in +amazement how the page should have escaped +from them all without being visible; +but he wondered still more how the elf, +being once at liberty, should have thought +of coming strutting back to deliver himself +up again.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where the devil have you been, master, +an it be your will?" said the officer.</p> + +<p>"Eh? What d'ye say, mun?" said the +unaccountable puppy. "What do I say +mun!" replied the officer, quite unable to +account either for the behaviour of the prisoner +or his address; "I say I trow ye hae +seen sic a man as Michael Scott some time +in your days? Ye hae gi'en me the glaiks +aince by turning invisible; but be ye deil, +be ye fairy, I sal secure ye now. Ye hae +nearly gart me brik my pledge o' honour, +whilk I wadna hae done for ten sic necks +as yours."</p> + +<p>"Your pledge o' honour? What's that, +mun? Is that your bit sword? Stand back +out o' my gate."</p> + +<p>"Shakel my knackers," said the officer +laughing, "if I do not crack thy fool's +pate! What does the green-kail-worm +mean? You, sir, I suppose are presuming +to transact a character? You are playing +a part in order to get off, but your silly +stratagem will fail you. Pray, my young +master, what character do you at present +appear in?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Character me no characters!" said the +page,—it is not with you that I transact—nor +such as you! Do not you see who +I am, and what commission I bear? Bide +a great way back out o' my gate an ye +please; and show me where I am to deliver +this."</p> + +<p>"And who is that bald epistle for, master +Quipes? Please to open your sweet +mouth, and read me the inscription."</p> + +<p>"Do you not see, saucy axe-man? Cannot +you spell it? 'To James, Earl of +Douglas and Mar, with greeting, These.' +Herald me to your commander, nadkin; +but keep your distance—due proportioned +distance, if you please."</p> + +<p>"No, no, my little crab cherry; you +cheated me by escaping from the tent invisible +before, but shall not do it again. +We'll get your message done for you; +your time is expired, and some more to +boot, I fear; come along with us."—And +forthwith one of their number waited on +the chief with the letter, while the rest +hauled off the unfortunate page, and delivered +him back to the English.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">His doublet was sae trim and neat,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wi' reid goud to the chin,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ye wad hae sworn, had ye been there,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That a maiden stood within.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The tears they trickled to his chin,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And fell down on his knee;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O had he wist before he kissed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That the boy was a fair ladye.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Song of May Marley.</i><br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who's she, this dame that comes in such a guise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Such lace of import, and unwonted speech?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tell me, Cornaro. For methinks I see<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Some traits of hell about her.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Trag. of The Prioress.</i><br /></span> +</div> + + +<p>In this perilous situation were placed +the two most beautiful ladies of England +and Scotland, at the close of that memorable +year; and in this situation stood the +two chiefs with relation to those they valued +dearest in life; the one quite unconscious +of the misery that awaited him, but +the other prepared to stand the severest +of trials. Success had for some time past +made a show of favouring the Scots, but +she had not yet declared herself, and matters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +with them soon began to look worse. +As a commencement of their misfortunes, +on that very night the battle took place, +the English received a supply of thirty +horse-loads of provisions, with assurances +that Sir Thomas Musgrave, the governor +of Berwick, was setting out with a strong +army to their succour.</p> + +<p>The supply was received in this way. +There was a bridge over the Teviot, which +communicated only with the castle, the +north end of it being within the draw-bridge, +and that bridge the English kept +possession of all the time of the siege. It +being of no avail to the Scots, they contented +themselves by keeping a guard at +the convent of Maisondieu, to prevent any +communication between the fortress and +the Border. But the English barons to +the eastward, whose castles lay contiguous +to the Tweed, taking advantage of the +great flood, came with a strong body of +men, and attacking this post by surprise, +they beat them, and, chasing them a considerable +way up the river, got the convoy +along the bridge into the castle.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>This temporary relief raised the spirits of +the English, or rather cheered their prospects, +for higher in inveterate opposition +their spirits could not be raised. On the +day following, likewise, a flying party of +Sir Thomas Musgrave's horse made their +appearance on the height above Hume +castle, and blew their horns, and tossed +their banners abroad on the wind, that the +besieged might see them, and understand +that their friends were astir to make a diversion +in their favour.</p> + +<p>On the same day a new gibbet was erected +on the top of the Bush-law, with a +shifting wooden battery, to protect the executioners; +and all within the castle feared +that the stern and unyielding Douglas was +going to put his threat respecting the life +of Sir Richard Musgrave into execution. +Therefore, to prevent their captain from +seeing the scene, and, if possible, his mind +from recurring to it, they contrived to get +a council of war called, at which they intentionally +argued and contended about +matters of importance, in order to detain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +him until the sufferings of his brother were +past.</p> + +<p>The Bush-law, on which the Scots had +a strong fortification, rises abruptly over +against the western tower of the castle of +Roxburgh; they were separated only by +the moat, and, though at a great height, +were so near each other, that men could +with ease converse across, and see distinctly +what was done. On the top of this battery +was the new gibbet erected, the more +to gall the English by witnessing the death +of their friends.</p> + +<p>At noon, the Scots, to the number of +two hundred, came in procession up from +the city, with their prisoner dressed in his +knightly robes; and, as they went by, they +flouted the English that looked on from +the walls,—but the latter answered them +not, either good or bad. By a circular +rout to the westward they reached the +height, where they exposed the prisoner +to the view of the garrison on a semicircular +platform, for a few minutes, until a herald +made proclamation, that unless the +keys of the castle were instantly delivered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +at the draw-bridge, the life of the noble +prisoner was forfeited, and the sentence +would momently be put in execution; +and then he concluded by calling, in a louder +voice, "Answer, Yes or no—once—twice." +He paused for the space of twenty +seconds, and then repeated slowly, and +apparently with reluctance, "Once—twice—<i>thrice</i>,"—and +the platform folding down, +the victim was launched into eternity.</p> + +<p>The English returned no answer to the +herald, as no command or order had been +given. In moody silence they stood till +they witnessed the fatal catastrophe, and +then a loud groan, or rather growl of abhorrence +and vengeance, burst from the +troops on the wall, which was answered +by the exulting shouts of the Scots. At +that fatal moment Musgrave stepped on the +battlement, to witness the last dying throes +of his loved brother. By some casualty, +the day of the week and month happening +to be mentioned in the council hall, in the +midst of his confused and abstracted ideas, +that brought to his remembrance the fate +with which his brother had been threatened.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +Still he had hopes that it would have +been postponed; for, as a drowning man +will catch violently at floating stubble, so +had he trusted to the page's mediation. +He had examined the stripling on his return +to the dungeon, but the imp proved +froward and incommunicative, attaching +to himself an importance of which the captain +could not perceive the propriety; yet, +though he had nothing to depend on the +tender mercies of Douglas, as indeed he +had no right, he nevertheless trusted to his +policy for the saving of his brother alive; +knowing that, in his life, he held a bond +round his heart which it was not his interest +to snap.</p> + +<p>As he left the hall of council, which +was in the great western tower, and in the +immediate vicinity of the scene then transacting, +the murmurs of the one host and +the shouts of the other drew him to the +battlement, whence his eye momently embraced +the heart-rending cause of the tumult. +He started, and contracted every +muscle of his whole frame, shrinking downward, +and looking madly on each hand of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +him. He seemed in act to make a spring +over the wall; and the soldiers around +him perceiving this, and haply misjudging +the intent of his motion, seized on him to +restrain him by main force. But scarcely +did he seem to feel that he was held; he +stretched out his hands toward his brother, +and uttered a loud cry of furious despair, and +then in a softer tone cried, "Oh! my brother! +my brother!—So you would not warn +me, you dog?—Nor you?—Nor you?—No, +you are all combined against me. That +was a sight to gratify you, was it not? My +curse on you, and all that have combined against +the life of that matchless youth!" and +with that he struggled to shake them from +him. "My lord! my lord!" was all that the +soldiers uttered, as they restrained him.</p> + +<p>At that instant Clavering rushed on the +battlement. "Unhand the captain!" cried +he: "Dare you, for the lives that are not +your own, presume to lay violent restraint +on him, and that in the full view of your +enemies?"</p> + +<p>"I will have vengeance, Clavering!" +cried Musgrave,—"ample and uncontrolled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +vengeance! Where is the deceitful +and impertinent stripling that promised so +solemnly to gain a reprieve for my brother, +and proffered the forfeit of his life if +he failed?"</p> + +<p>"In the dungeon, my lord, fast and secure."</p> + +<p>"He is a favourite parasite of the Douglas; +bring him forth that I may see vengeance +executed on him the first of them +all. I will hang every Scot in our custody; +but go and bring him the first. It is a +base deceitful cub, and shall dangle opposite +to that noble and now lifeless form. It +is a poor revenge indeed,—but I will sacrifice +every Scot of them. Why don't +you go and bring the gilded moth, you +kennel knaves? Know you to whom you +thus scruple obedience?"</p> + +<p>Clavering was silent, and the soldiers +durst not disobey, though they obeyed with +reluctance, knowing the advantages that +the Scots possessed over them, both in the +numbers and rank of their prisoners. They +went into the vaults, and, without ceremony +or intimation of their intent, lifted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +the gaudy page in their arms, and carried +him to the battlement of the western tower, +from whence, sans farther ceremony, he was +suspended from a beam's end.</p> + +<p>Douglas could not believe the testimony +of his own senses when he saw what had +occurred. Till that moment he never knew +that his page was a prisoner. Indeed, how +could he conceive he was, when he had +seen him in his tent the day after the night +engagement? His grief was of a cutting +and sharp kind, but went not to the heart; +for though the boy had maintained a sort +of influence over him, even more than he +could account to himself for, yet still he +was teasing and impertinent, and it was +not the sort of influence he desired.</p> + +<p>"I wish it been our blessed Lady's will +to have averted this," said he to himself: +"But the mischances of war often light +upon those least concerned in the event. +Poor Colin! thy beauty, playfulness, and +flippancy of speech deserved a better guerdon. +How shall I account to my royal +mistress for the cruel fate of her favourite?"</p> + +<p>With all this partial regret, Douglas felt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +that, by the loss of this officious page of +the princess, he would be freed from the +controul of petticoat-government. He perceived +that the princess lived in concealment +somewhere in the neighbourhood,—kept +an eye over all his actions and movements,—and, +by this her agent, checked +or upbraided him according to her whimsical +inexperience. Douglas was ambitious +of having the beautiful princess for his +spouse,—of being son-in-law to his sovereign,—and +the first man in the realm; +but he liked not to have his counsels impeded, +or his arms checked, by a froward +and romantic girl, however high her lineage +or her endowments might soar. So +that, upon the whole, though he regretted +the death of Colin Roy MacAlpin, he felt +like one released from a slight bondage. +Alas, noble chief! little didst thou know +of the pang that was awaiting thee!</p> + +<p>It will be recollected that, when the +Lady Margaret first arrived in the campin +the character of Colin her own page, she +lodged her maid in the city of Roxburgh, +disguised likewise as a boy. With her she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +communicated every day, and contrived to +forward such letters to the Court as satisfied +her royal mother with regard to the +motives of her absence,—though these letters +were, like many others of the sex, any +thing but the direct truth. The king was +at this period living in retirement at his +castle of Logie in Athol, on pretence of ill +health.</p> + +<p>The name of the maiden of honour thus +disguised was Mary Kirkmichael, the daughter +of a knight in the shire of Fife. She +was a lady of great beauty, and elegant +address,—shrewd, sly, and enterprising.</p> + +<p>Two days after the rueful catastrophe +above related, word was brought to Douglas, +while engaged in his pavilion, that a +lady at the door begged earnestly to see +him. "Some petitioner for the life of a +prisoner," said he: "What other lady can +have business with me? Tell her I have +neither leisure nor inclination at present +to listen to the complaints and petitions of +women."</p> + +<p>"I have told her so already," said the +knight in waiting; "but she refuses to go<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +away till she speak with you in private; +and says that she has something to communicate +that deeply concerns your welfare. +She is veiled; but seems a beautiful, +accomplished, and courtly dame."</p> + +<p>At these words the Douglas started to +his feet. He had no doubt that it was the +princess, emerged from her concealment in +the priory or convent, and come to make inquiries +after her favourite, and perhaps establish +some other mode of communication +with himself. He laid his account with +complaints and upbraidings, and, upon +the whole, boded no great good from this +domiciliary visit. However, he determined +to receive his royal mistress with some +appearance of form; and, in a few seconds, +at a given word, squires, yeomen, and +grooms, to the amount of seventy, were +arranged in due order, every one in his proper +place; and up a lane formed of these +was the lady conducted to the captain, who +received her standing and uncovered; but, +after exchanging courtesies with her, and +perceiving that it was not the princess, +jealous of his dignity, he put on his plumed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +bonnet, and waited with stately mien the +developement of her rank and errand.</p> + +<p>It was Mary Kirkmichael.</p> + +<p>"My noble lord," said she, "I have a +word for your private ear, and deeply doth +it concern you and all this realm."</p> + +<p>Douglas beckoned to his friends and attendants, +who withdrew and left him alone +with the dame, who began thus with great +earnestness of manner: "My lord of Douglas, +I have but one question to ask, and, +if satisfied with the answer, will not detain +you a moment. What is become of the +page Colin that attended your hand of +late?" Douglas hesitated, deeming the lady +to be some agent of the princess Margaret's. +"Where is he?" continued she, +raising her voice, and advancing a step +nearer to the captain. "Tell me, as you +would wish your soul to thrive. Is he +well? Is he safe?"</p> + +<p>"He is sped on a long journey, lady, +and you may not expect to meet him +again for a season."</p> + +<p>"Sped on a long journey! Not see him +again for a season! What does this answer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +mean? Captain, on that youth's well-being +hang the safety, the nobility, and the +honour of your house. Say but to me he +is well, and not exposed to any danger in +the message on which he is gone."</p> + +<p>"Of his well-being I have no doubt; +and the message on which he is gone is a +safe one. He is under protection from all +danger, commotion, or strife."</p> + +<p>"It is well you can say so, else wo would +have fallen to your lot, to mine, and to +that of our nation."</p> + +<p>"I know he was a page of court, and in +the confidence of my sovereign and adored +Lady Margaret. But how could any misfortune +attending a page prove of such +overwhelming import?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Was</i> a page of court, my lord? What +do you infer by that <i>was</i>? Pray what is +he now? I entreat of you to be more explicit."</p> + +<p>"The plain truth of the matter is shortly +this: The boy fell into the hands of our +enemies that night of the late fierce engagement."</p> + +<p>At this the lady uttered a scream; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +Douglas, dreading she would fall into hysterics, +stretched out his arms to support +her. "I pity you, gentle maiden," said +he, "for I perceive you two have been +lovers."</p> + +<p>She withdrew herself, shunning his profered +support, and, looking him wildly in +the face, said in a passionate voice, "In +the hands of the English? O Douglas, +haste to redeem him! Give up all the prisoners +you have for that page's ransom; +and if these will not suffice, give up all +the lands of Douglas and Mar; and if all +these are still judged inadequate, give up +yourself. But, by your fealty, your honour, +your nobility, I charge you, and, in +the name of the Blessed Virgin, I conjure +you to lose no time in redeeming that +youth."</p> + +<p>Douglas could scarcely contain his +gravity at this rhapsody, weening it the +frantic remonstrance of a love-sick maid; +but she, perceiving the bent and tenor of +his disposition, held up her hand as a check +to his ill-timed levity. "Unhappy chief!" +exclaimed she, "Little art thou aware<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +what a gulf of misery and despair thou art +suspended over, and that by a single thread +within reach of the flame, and liable every +moment to snap, and hurl thee into inevitable +ruin. Know, and to thyself alone be +it known, that that page was no other than +the princess of Scotland herself; who, impelled +by romantic affection, came in that +disguise to attend thee in all thy perils, +undertaken for her sake. It was she herself +who seized her rival, and placed her in +your hands, thus giving you an advantage +which force could not bestow. And from +time to time has she laid such injunctions +on you, written and delivered by her own +hand, as she judged conducive to your honour +or advantage. If you suffer that inestimable +lady to lye in durance, or one +hair of her head to fall to the ground, after +so many marks of affection and concern +for you, you are unworthy of lady's esteem, +of the titles you bear, or the honour +of knighthood."</p> + +<p>When the lady first came out with the +fatal secret, and mentioned the princess's +name, Douglas strode hastily across the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +floor of the pavilion, as if he would have +run out at the door, or rather fallen against +it; but the motion was involuntary; he +stopped short, and again turned round to +the speaker, gazing on her as if only half +comprehending what she said. The truth +of the assertion opened to him by degrees; +and, it may well be supposed, the intelligence +acted upon his mind and frame like +a shock of electricity. He would fain have +disbelieved it, had he been able to lay hold +of a plausible pretext to doubt it; but +every recollected circumstance coincided in +the establishment of the unwelcome fact. +All that he could say to the lady, as he +stood like a statue gazing her in the face, +was, "Who art thou?"</p> + +<p>"I am Mary Kirkmichael of Balmedie," +said she, "and I came with the princess, +disguised as her attendant. I am her +friend and confidant, and we held communication +every day, till of late that my +dear mistress discontinued her visits. O +captain, tell me if it is in your power to +save her!"</p> + +<p>Douglas flung himself on a form in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +corner of the tent, and hid his face with +his hand, and at the same time groaned as +if every throb would have burst his heart's +casement. He had seen his royal, his +affectionate, and adored mistress swung +from the enemy's battlements, without +one effort to save her, and without a tear +wetting his cheek; and his agony of mind +became so extreme that he paid no more +regard to the lady, who was still standing +over him, adding the bitterest censure to +lamentation. Yet he told her not of +her mistress's melancholy fate,—he could +not tell her; but the ejaculatory words +that he uttered from time to time too +plainly informed Mary Kirkmichael that +the life of her royal mistress was either in +jeopardy or irretrievably lost.</p> + +<p>The Douglas saw the lady no more, nor +regarded her. He rushed from the tent, +and gave such orders as quite confounded +his warriors, one part being quite incompatible +with another; and, in the confusion, +Mary glided quietly away from the +scene without farther notice. All the motions +of Douglas, for two days subsequent to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +this piece of information, were like those of +a drunken man; he was enraged without +cause, and acted without consistency; but +the only point towards which all these jarring +and discordant passions constantly turned +was revenge on the English—deadly and +insatiable revenge. When he looked towards +the ramparts of the castle, his dark +eye would change its colour, and sink +deeper under his brow, while his brown +cheeks would appear as if furrowed across, +and his teeth ground and jarred against +one another. His counsels, however, were +not, at this time, of a nature suited to accomplish +any thing material against his +rivals. He meditated the most deadly +retaliation, but was prevented before he +could put it in practice.</p> + +<p>On the following evening, when the +disturbance of his mind had somewhat +subsided, and appeared to be settling into +a sullen depression of spirit, or rather a +softened melancholy, he was accosted by +a monk, who had craved and obtained admittance—for +a deference to all that these +people said or did was a leading feature of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +that age. Douglas scarcely regarded him +on his first entrance, and to his address +only deigned to answer by a slight motion +of his head; for the monk's whole appearance +augured little beyond contempt. He +was of a diminutive stature, had a slight, +starved make, and a weak treble voice. +His conversation, nevertheless, proved of +that sort that soon drew the attention of +the chief.</p> + +<p>"May the blessed Virgin, the mother +of God, bless and shield you, captain!"</p> + +<p>"Humph!" returned the Douglas, noding +his head.</p> + +<p>"May Saint Withold be your helmet +and buckler in the day of battle—"</p> + +<p>"Amen!" said the Douglas, interrupting +him, and taking a searching look of +the tiny being that spoke, as if there were +something in the tones of his voice that +struck him with emotion.</p> + +<p>—"And withhold your weapon from +the blood of the good," added the monk, +"from the breast of the professor of our +holy religion, and dispose your heart to +peace and amity, that the land may have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +rest, and the humble servants of the Cross +protection. Why don't you say 'Amen' +to this, knight? Is your profession of +Christianity a mere form? and are the +blessed tenets which it enjoins, strangers to +thy turbulent bosom?"</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said Douglas: "With reverence +be it spoken, monk, but you holy +brethren have got a way of chattering +about things that you do not understand. +Adhere to your books and your beads. +I am a soldier, and must stick by my profession, +bearing arms for my king and +country."</p> + +<p>"I am a soldier too," rejoined the monk, +"and bear arms and suffer in a better +cause. But enough of this. I have a +strange message for you, captain. You +must know that, a few weeks ago, a beautiful +youth came to our monastery seeking +supply of writing materials, which he could +not otherwise procure. He was a kind +and ingenious youth. I supplied him, for +I loved him; and I have since seen him +sundry times in my cell. But last night, +as I was sitting alone, a little before midnight—I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +am afraid you will not believe +me, captain, for the matter of my message +is so strange—I had gone over my breviary, +and was sitting with the cross pressed +to my lips, when behold the youth entered. +I arose to receive him; but he +beckoned me to keep away from his person, +and glided backward. I then recollected +that he must be a spirit, else he could not +have got in; and, though I do not recollect +all that he said, the purport of his +message was to the following effect:</p> + +<p>"'Benjamin,' said he, 'arise and go to +the captain of the Scottish army, whom +you will find in great perplexity of mind, +and meditating schemes of cruelty and retaliation, +which would be disgraceful to +himself and to his country. But let him +beware; for there be some at his hand that +he does not see; and if he dare in the +slightest instance disobey the injunctions +which you shall from time to time lay on +him, his sight shall be withered by a visitant +from another world, whose face he +shall too well recognize ever again to find +rest under a consciousness of her presence.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +Monk Benjamin, I was not what I seemed. +A few days ago I was a lady in the prime +of youth and hope. I loved that captain, +and was betrothed to him. For his sake I +ventured my life, and lost it without a +single effort on his part to save me. But +his fate is in my hand, and I will use the +power. It is given to me to control or +further his efforts as I see meet,—to turn +his sword in the day of battle,—or to redouble +the strength of his and his warriors' +arms. My behests shall be made known +to him; and if he would avoid distraction +of mind, as well as utter ruin, let him tremble +to disobey. In the first place, then, +you will find him pondering on a scheme +for the recovery of my lifeless body,—a +scheme of madness which cannot and may +not succeed; therefore, charge him from +me to desist. You will find him farther +preparing an embassy to my father and +mother to inform them of the circumstances +of my death, and that not in the +words of truth. But let him take care to +keep that a secret, as he would take care +of his life and honour, for on that depends<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +his ultimate success. Tell him farther, +from me, to revenge my death, but not on +the helpless beings that are already in his +power; to pursue with steady aim his +primary object,—and his reward shall be +greater than he can conceive.'</p> + +<p>"Strange as this story may appear, captain, +it is strictly according to truth. You +yourself may judge whether it was a true +or lying spirit that spoke to me."</p> + +<p>"Are you not some demon or spirit +yourself," said the Douglas, "who know +such things as these? Tell me, are you a +thing of flesh and blood, that you can thus +tell me the thoughts and purposes of my +heart?"</p> + +<p>"I am a being such as yourself," said the +monk,—"a poor brother of the Cistertian +order, and of the cloister adjoining to this; +and I only speak what I was enjoined to +speak, without knowing whether it is +true or false. I was threatened with trouble +and dismay if I declined the commission; +and I advise you, captain, for your +own peace of mind, to attend to this warning."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> + +<p>Douglas promised that he would, at least +for a time; and the monk, taking his leave, +left the earl in the utmost consternation. +The monk's tale was so simple and unmasked, +there was no doubting the truth +of it,—for without such a communication +it was impossible he could have known the +things he uttered; and the assurance that +a disembodied being should have such a +power over him, though it somewhat staggered +the Douglas' faith, created an unwonted +sensation within his breast—a sensation +of wonder and awe; for none of that +age were exempt from the sway of an overpowering +superstition.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What a brave group we have! That fellow there,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He with the cushion, would outprate the cricket;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The babble of the brook is not more constant,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or syllabled with such monotony,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than the eternal tingle of his tongue.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>Cor.</i> I'll bid him silence, master;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or do him so, which likes you.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>The Prioress.</i><br /></span> +</div> + + +<p>We must now leave the two commanders +in plights more dismal than ever commanders +were before, and return to our warden, +the bold baron of Mountcomyn, whose +feats form a more pleasant and diverting +subject. His warfare all this while was of +a predatory nature,—for that his warriors +were peculiarly fitted, and at this time they +did not fail to avail themselves well of the +troubles on the border, and the prevailing +power of the Scots alongst its line. The +warden pretended still to be acting in concert +with Douglas, but his operations were +all according to the purposes of his own +heart. He cared nothing for the success<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +or the aggrandisement of Douglas; but he +had a particular eye to the advancement of +his own house, and the honour of his kinsmen. +It was therefore a matter of daily +consultation with him and his friends, how +they should act in conformity with this ruling +principle. The probability was against +Douglas, that he would ultimately fail in +his undertaking, and be stripped of all his +dominions. Viewing the matter in that +light, it was high time for the Redhough +to be providing for himself. On the other +hand, should Douglas succeed in his enterprize, +and become the king's son-in-law, +there was no other way by which the warden +could hold his own, save by a certain +species of subordination, a submission in +effect, though not by acknowledgment. +Such matters were perfectly understood by +the chiefs in these times, and all who proved +refractory were taught in silence to feel +the grounds on which they stood, This +was, therefore, a most critical period for +Sir Ringan. The future advancement of +his house depended on every turn of his +hand. During all the former part of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +siege he had conducted himself with an eye +to Douglas' failure, to which he was partly +incited by the prophecies of Thomas the +Rhymer, and those of his kinsman, Master +Michael Scott of Oakwood, whom he believed +the most powerful wizard, and the +greatest prophet, that ever had arisen since +the Rhymer's days.</p> + +<p>But, on the return of Charlie of Yardbire +and Dan Chisholm from the beleaguering +army, the warden got the extraordinary +intelligence, that the Lady Jane +Howard had fallen into the hands of the +Douglas, as well as Musgrave's only brother. +These things changed Sir Ringan's +prospects of the future in a very material +degree, and he pondered on changing his +mode of operations. Before doing so, however, +he called a council of his kinsmen, +and brought the matter again before them. +Most of them counselled the continuance +of the predatory warfare in which they had +been engaged; it had served to enrich +them, and had proved, as they reasoned, of +more service to the Douglas than if they +had joined his host. That it proved of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +more service to himself and his kinsmen +than if they had joined the host, the warden +was well aware; but he was not satisfied +that the Douglas viewed their mountain +warfare as of great consequence to +him; and he farther knew, that services +were always repaid, not according to the +toil and exertion undergone, but according +as they were estimated, while that estimation +was ever and anon modelled by the +apparent motives of the performer.</p> + +<p>After much slow and inanimate reasoning +on the matter, Sir Ringan chanced, +after a minute's deep thought, to say, +"What would I not give to know the +events that are to happen at Roxburgh +between this time and the end of the +Christmas holidays?"</p> + +<p>"Auld Michael Scott will ken brawly," +said Charlie of Yardbire.</p> + +<p>"Then, what for shoudna we ken too?" +said the knight.</p> + +<p>"Aye, what for shoudna we ken too?" +said Dickie o' Dryhope.</p> + +<p>"They might get a kittle cast that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +meddled wi' him, an' nae the wiser after +a'," said Robert of Howpasley.</p> + +<p>"When he was at pains to come a' the +way to the castle of Mountcomyn," said +Simon Longspeare, "a matter o' five Scots +miles ower the moor, to warn our captain, +the warden, how to row his bowls, he surely +winna refuse to tell him what's to be the +final issue o' this daft contest."</p> + +<p>"Ane wad think he wadna spare a cantrip +or twa," said Sir Ringan; "him that +has spirits at his ca', an' canna get them +hadden i' wark. It wad be an easy matter +for him; an' blood's aye thicker than +water."</p> + +<p>"Ay, that's a true tale," said Dickie o' +Dryhope; "It wad be an easy matter for +him, we a' ken that; an' blood's aye thicker +than water!"</p> + +<p>"If I were to gang wi' a gallant retinue," +said Sir Ringan, "he surely wadna refuse +to gie me some answer."</p> + +<p>"He wad refuse the king o' France," +said Robert of Howpasley, "if he warna i' +the key for human conversation, an' maybe +gar his familiar spirits carry you away,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +and thraw ye into the sea, or set you down +i' some faraway land, for a piece o' employment +to them, and amusement to himsel'. +He has served mony ane that gate afore +now."</p> + +<p>"Od I'll defy him," said muckle Charlie +of Yardbire. "If my master, the warden, +likes to tak me wi' him for his elbowman, +I'll answer for him against a' the monkey +spirits that auld Michael has."</p> + +<p>"Spoke like yourself, honest Charlie!" +said the baron; "and if it is judged meet +by my friends that I should go, you shall +be one that shall attend me. Certes, it +would be of incalculable benefit to me, for +all your sakes, to know even by a small +hint what is to be the upshot of this business—But +should I be taken away or detained—"</p> + +<p>"Ay, should he be taken away or detained, +gentlemen: think of that, gentlemen," +said Dickie o' Dryhope.</p> + +<p>"I approve highly of the mission," said +Simon Longspeare; "for I believe there is +nothing too hard for that old wizard to do, +and no event so closely sealed up in futurity,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +but that he can calculate with a good +deal of certainty on the issue. I see that +our all depends on our knowledge of the +event; but I disapprove of our chief attending +on the wizard in person—for in +his absence who is to be our commander? +And, should any sudden rising of our foes +take place, of which we are every hour uncertain, +we may lose more by the want of +him one hour than we could ever regain."</p> + +<p>"Ay, think of that, gentlemen," said +Dickie: "My cousin Longspeare speaks +good sense. What could we do wanting +Sir Ringan. We're all children to him, +and little better without him."</p> + +<p>"And old children are the worst of all +children," said the warden; "I would rather +be deaved with the teething yammer +than the toothless chatter. Prithee, peace, +and let us hear out our cousin Simon's proposal."</p> + +<p>The circle of the gallant kinsmen did not +like ill to hear this snub on old Dickie. +They could not account for the chief's partiality +to him; and they were even afraid +that, being the oldest man, he should be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +nominated to the command in the knight's +absence. It was however noted by all, that +Dickie was not half so great a man in field +or foray as he was at board in the castle of +Mountcomyn. Only a very few men of +experience discerned the bottom of this. +The truth was, that Sir Ringan did not +care a doit either for Dickie's counsels or +his arm, but he saw that his lady abhorred +him, and therefore he would not yield to +cast him off. His lady was of a high spirit +and proud unyielding temper, and the +knight could not stand his own with her +at all times and seasons; but before his kinsmen +warriors he was particularly jealous of +his dignity, and would not yield to the encroachment +on it of a single item. It was +by this kind of elemental opposition, if it +may be so termed, that Dickie maintained +his consequence at the warden's castle. In +the field he was nothing more than a foolish +vain old kinsman.</p> + +<p>"I propose," said Longspeare," that we +send a deputation of our <i>notable men</i> to the +warlock, of whom we have some of the +first that perhaps ever the world produced.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +As a bard, or minstrel, we can send Colley +Carol, a man that is fit to charm the spirits +out of the heart of the earth, or the bowels +of the cloud, without the aid of old Michael. +As a man of crabbed wit and endless absurdity, +we can send the Deil's Tam: As +a true natural and moral philosopher, the +Laird o' the Peatstacknowe: As one versed +in all the mysteries of religion, and many +mysteries beside, or some tell lies, we can +send the gospel friar. All these are men +of spirit, and can handle the sword and the +bow either less or more: And as a man of +unequalled strength and courage, and a +guard and captain over all the rest, we can +send Charlie o' Yardbire—and I will defy +all the kingdoms of Europe to send out sic +another quorum either to emperor, Turk, +wizard, or the devil himself."</p> + +<p>Every one applauded Simon Longspeare's +motion, and declared the deputation worthy +of being sent out, if it were for nothing +but its own unrivalled excellence. Never, +they said, since the mind of man was framed, +was there such a combination of rare +talent in so small a circle. There was none<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +of those nominated for the mission present +excepting muckle Charlie Scott. Charlie +scratched his head, and said:—"Gude +faith, callans, I hae a queer bike to gang +wi! he-he-he! I fear we'll get mae to +laugh at us than gie us ought: The Deil's +Tam an' the metre poet! the fat gospel +friar, and the laird o' the Peatstacknowe! +I never gaed out on sic a foray as this afore, +an' little do I wot how we'll come on. +He-he-he! A wheen queer chaps, faith!"</p> + +<p>The jocund kinsmen then shouted to +Gibby Jordan of the Peatstacknowe to +come into the circle, that they might hear +what he had to say about going on this celebrated +embassy. This gentleman's name +had erst been Gordon: By some mistake, +either in spelling, or falling into some foul +tub by night, for some grounded it both +ways, it had been changed on him to Jordan, +and, as he had no resource, he was obliged +to admit it as legitimate. He was a +man of education, and could read, write, +and cast up accounts. But his figure, features, +and the nasal twine with which he +pronounced every word that he spoke, rendered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +his discourse irresistibly ludicrous. +Every one was so ready to give Jordan the +information, that he was chosen as one to go +on a deputation to Master Michael Scott the +warlock, that the laird for a long time could +not get a word said; but stood and looked +about him, turning always round his long +nose to the speaker that was loudest, or him +that was poking him most forcibly to obtain +attention.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said Gibby Jordan, "you +mind me of a story that I have heard about +a paddock that was lying on the plowed +land, an' by comes the harrows, an' they +gangs out ower the tap o' the poor paddock, +an' every tooth gae her a tite an' a +turn ower. 'What's the matter wi' you +the day, Mrs Paddock?' says the goodman: +'Naething ava, but rather ower +mony masters this morning,' quo' the paddock; +'I wish I were safe i' my hole again, +an' let them ring on.' Sae master's, I'll tak +the paddock's hint, an' wish ye a' a good +morning."</p> + +<p>There was no such escape for the honest +laird; they surrounded him, and insisted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +on hearing his sentiments at full length, +teasing him till he began to lose his temper, +a thing in which they delighted, for +the more mischief the better sport for these +wild border moss-troopers. But muckle +Charlie perceiving this, came up to his side. +"Callants, I'm appointit Gibby's guard," +said he, "an' his guard I'll be. What the +deil has ony o' you to say to him?"</p> + +<p>"Only to hear what he thinks o' the +journey," was repeated on all sides.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said Gibby, "the hale +affair brings me a-mind of a story that I +hae heard about a wife that had a batch o' +chickens. But then, ye maun mind, gentlemen, +she had a very great deal o' chickens, +I daresay nae fewer than a hunner, for +she had sax great cleckings; an' she was +unco feared that the gled wad tak them +away; sae she wales out a wheen o' the fattest +an' the best, an' she sends them out to +the cock, that he might herd an' tak care +o' them. 'The cock will fleg away the +gleds,' quo she, 'an' gar them keep their +distance, an' I'll get my braw birds a' saved.' +But by comes the greedy gled; an'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +when the cock saw him he croups an' he +currs; an' blithe to keep his ain skin hale, +he staps his head in a hole, an' the gled +carried off the hale o' his bit charge. Weel, +the gled, he fand them sae fat an' sae gusty, +that he never linned till he had taen +away every chicken that the wife had."</p> + +<p>"Where is the moral of that story, +laird?" cried they: "We see no coincidence."</p> + +<p>"Because ye're blind," said Jordan: +"Dinna ye see that Michael's the cock, +the deil's the gled, an' ye're the birds. +He'll get us first; an' he'll find out that +we're sic a wheen rare chaps, that he'll never +blin' till he hae ye ilk ane, an' that will +be the end o' your daft embassy."</p> + +<p>All the rest of the nominated members +being sent for expressly from their different +posts, they soon arrived, but they +seemed every one to be averse to the mission, +except Colley the minstrel, who was +elevated with the idea of being introduced +to the celebrated Master, anticipating +something highly romantic, and precisely +in his own way. As for Thomas Craik,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +better known by the singular appellation +of the Deil's Tam, he cared not much about +any thing, provided he got plenty of +drink, mischief, and breaking of heads.</p> + +<p>They got all that day to prepare themselves, +while Sir Ringan and his friends +were considering what they should send +as a present to the illustrious necromancer. +They weened he despised riches, believing +that he could turn small slates to gold by +touching them; and, after much consultation, +it was resolved to send him a captive +maiden and boy, as they had two in the +camp, of exquisite loveliness. The maid +was the reputed daughter of Sir Anthony +Hall, an inveterate enemy to the baron of +Mountcomyn, who had burned his castles +and plundered his lands; but the warden +at length engaging with him hand to hand +at the battle of Blaikhope, slew him, and +having discomfited his army, he plundered +and harried all that pertained to him, at +which time he took this beautiful maiden +prisoner, whom he treated kindly, and +kept as an handmaiden. Her name was +Delany; and so lovely was she become in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +person, and so amiable in her manners, +that several of the knight's kinsmen had +asked her in marriage. These applications +he had uniformly put off, on pretence of +his friends degrading themselves by marrying +a captive Englishwoman, a term that +never sounded in a Scot's ear but with +disgust. But, in fact, the warden did not +choose that any of them should be so closely +connected with an old respectable Northumberland +family.</p> + +<p>The boy was called Elias, and was the +property of Jock o' Gilmanscleuch, having +been taken by him in a night foray at +Rothbury. When the warden applied to +Jock for him, bidding him name his ransom, +he answered, that if he wist "Michael +wad either mak a warlock o' him, or +tak out his harigalds to be a sacrifice to +the deil, he wadna gie him up for a' the +lands o' Newburgh an' Birkendely." Being +pacified on these points as well as matters +would bear, the two captives were +dressed in elegant robes, and delivered to +the embassy; Charlie was deputed their +captain and leader; the rest were all to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +equals, on the same footing, and to choose +their own speakers.</p> + +<p>After getting every direction regarding +the purport of their mission, the caution +and respect which they were to use toward +the Master, and the questions they +were to get answered, they departed; +every one well mounted on an English +horse, the friar on his own substantial +mule, and such provision with them as +they judged necessary. Carol, the bard, +had a lyre and a flute. Gibby Jordan, +ycleped of the Peatstacknowe, had nothing +beside a rusty sword; the friar had an immense +wallet below him, judged to be all +implements of enchantment; the others +had deer or goatskin wallets, stuffed with +such things as they deemed necessary; and +all of them wore arms, in case of meeting +with any unknown interruption. Several +of the gallant kinsmen shed tears on taking +leave of Delany; who, contrary to +what they all expected, seemed full of +gaiety, and rather fond of the change than +disheartened at it.</p> + +<p>Well, away they rode; and, as soon as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +they were fairly out of sight of the army, +every one began to attach himself to Delany +more closely than his neighbour. +The friar talked to her of penances, and +the sins of youth, and the unlimited confidence +due to the professors of religion. +The bard chanted his wildest and most +amorous ditties. Tam punned and quibbled +on the words of the rest; and Gibby +continued to narrate his long-winded parables, +sometimes to one, sometimes to another, +as he found them disposed to listen, +and sometimes to none at all. As for +Charlie, he contented himself with laughing +at them all alternately, and occasionally +exchanging a word or sentiment with +a valued friend of his.</p> + +<p>"Corby, what's a' this cocking o' your +lugs, an' casting up o' your head for, lad? +Ye're gaun the wrang road for a battle +e'en now. An let you but see the sword +an' pree the spur, ye dog, ye wad carry +your master to the deil: an' troth, for +ought he kens, ye may be carrying him +born-head to his honour just now, ye unconscionable +tike that ye are."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> + +<p>Corby first laid back one ear and then +the other, which Charlie took for a kind +answer; and, patting his mane, he continued: +"Na, na, Corby; I ken ye hae nae +ill designs; but only ye ken ye like a little +mischief, an' a bit splutter now an' than."</p> + +<p>"That minds me o' the story o' Janet +Sandilands an' her son Jock," said Gibby +Jordan the philosopher, "when he ruggit +her hair, an' raive her bussing. 'That callant +sude hae his hide threshed for lifting +his hand to his mother,' said one: 'Na, +na,' quo Janet, 'he maunna be threshed; +Jock has nae ill in his mind, only he likes +a tulzie.' She that wad hae a close cog +sude keep a hale laiggen, Yardbire; for as +the auld saying rins, 'Lippen to a Corby, +an' he'll pike out your een.'"</p> + +<p>"Shame fa' me gin I see the drift o' +your philosophy, Peatstacknowe; but as +I'm sure it is weel meant, it sanna be ill +ta'en. Corby an' me's twa auld friends, +an' we hae a great deal to lippen to ane +another. But I wish we had this unsonsy +job ower, laird—we're gaun on kittle +ground."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It minds me something o' the fisher that +ran away after the Willy-an'-the-wisp," +said Jordan: "It's a lang story, but it's +weel wordy the hearing."</p> + +<p>"If it be a <i>very</i> lang story, we might as +weel crack about something else," said +Charlie. "My heart's unco muckle turned +on this daft job o' prying into the time +that's to come, an' on what we're to say to +the warlock. Gude saif us, laird, wha's to +be the speaker? I wish that fleysome job +maunna light on you? For you see, gin +we set the deil's Tam to address him, he'll +put him mad at the very first. The poet +can bring out naething but rhames o' high +flown nonsense; an' for mysel, I'm an unco +plain matter-o'-fact man, an' better at +good straiks than good words. Sae that +the matter maun lie atween you an' the +friar. What say you to this, Peatstacknowe?"</p> + +<p>"Gude troth, Yardbire, an the task +light on either of us, it may weel bring me +in mind o' the laird o' Glencarthon, when +he stack i' the midden at Saint Johnston, +an' tint himsel i' the dark entry. The laird,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +you see, he comes to the door of a sow-house, +an' calls out, 'Good people within +there, can you tell me the way to the +Queen's hostlery?' 'Oogh?' cried the auld +sow. The laird repeated his question quite +distinctly, which disturbing some o' the +pigs, they came to the back o' the door an' +fell a murmuring an' squeaking. 'What +do you say?' said the laird in his turn: +'I'll thank you if you will not just speak +so vehemently.' The pigs went on. 'Oh, +I hear you speak Erse in this house,' said +the laird; 'but, no matter: thank you +for your information, I will try to work +my way.' Now you see, Yardbire, like +draws aye to like; an' for the friar, wi' his +auld warld says, or me, to address the great +Master, it wad be a reversing o' nature an' +the very order of things. I hae nae hope +o' our good success at a', an it warna for +that bonnie Delany. If he's a man, an' no +just an incarnate deil, he will be delightit +wi' her."</p> + +<p>"I wish we had her safely at him, +laird," said Charlie; "for, troth, do ye see,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +thae chaps hing about her, an' look at her +as gin they wadna care to eat her."</p> + +<p>"She brings me amind o' a weelfaurd +dink gimmer that wench," said Jordan, +"that I aince saw gaun up Sowerhopeburn. +There was a tichel o' wallidraggle +tup hoggs rinning after her, an' plaguing +her, till I was just grieved for the poor +beast. At length down there comes a +wheel-horned ram, the king o' the flock, +an' he taks up his station by the side o' the +bonny thing, an' than a' the young ranigalds +slinkit away as their noses had been +blooding. Then the bonny she thing got +peace, for whenever ony o' the rascallions +began to jee up his lug, an' draw near her, +ae glent o' the auld fellow's ee stoppit him +short. Now, Yardbire, I trow it is a shame +to see a pretty maid jaumphed an' jur-mummled +in that gate: if you will just +ride close up to the tae side o' her, I'll tak +up the tither, an' we'll gar them keep a +due distance. There's nane o' them dares +shoulder you aside."</p> + +<p>"I doubt, laird, there is something selfish +in that plan o' yours," said Charlie;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +"ye hae a hankering yonder yourself, but +ye darena try to make your ain way without +ye get me to back ye. Fight dog, +fight bane, Peatstacknowe; gin I be to +tulzie for a bonny may, I tulzie for my ain +hand."</p> + +<p>"It wad be sae weel done to chap them +back," said Jordan: "See to the metre poet +how he's capering an' turning up his mou': +Yon fat hypocrite, the warlock friar, is +blinking out frae aneath his sanctified ee-brees +like a Barbary ape: An' there's the +deil's Tam; od I think he'll hae his lang +coulter nose stappit into her lug."</p> + +<p>"Ride up, neighbour," quoth Charlie, +"an' tell them that face to face. I like +nae yethering ahint backs. Ane may +ward a blow at the breast, but a prod at +the back's no fair. A man wears neither +ee nor armour there. Ride up, ride up, +neighbour, gin you winna tell them a' you +have said, I'll e'en tell them mysel."</p> + +<p>"Yardbire, I hope ye're no gaen gyte, +to breed despite amang the warden's ambassadors +to the deil. Stop till I tell you +a queer joke that's come into my mind by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +your speaking about armour ahint. Last +year, when the dalesmen were cried out in +sic a hurry for the Durham raide, there was +ane o' Fairniehirst's troopers got strong +breastplates o' steel made to defend his +heart. There was ane Brogg Paterson in +Hawick, a wag that I kenned weel, was +employed to fit the harnessing to the +clothes; and learning that the raide was to +be early in the morning, an' nae leisure for +shifting, an' seeing the trooper so intent +on protecting his heart, instead o' putting +the steel plates in the inside o' his doublet, +Paterson fastened them in the seat of his +trews. After passing the Tine, the Scots +encamped within a half moon of an impervious +brake, and sent out a party of foragers, +among whom was this trooper Turnbull. +The party were pursued by a body +of English horse, and several of them slain; +but Turnbull reaching the brake, plunged +into it, horse and man. The horse stuck +fast, and just as poor Turnbull was trying +to extricate himself, by scrambling over +the horse's head, an Englishman came riding +fiercely up, and struck him such a blow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +with his lance behind as would have spitted +him to the neck,—but hitting right on +the steel plate, he made him fly heels-o'er-head +over the brake, and into a place of +safety. A comrade perceiving, came to +assist him, and found Turnbull lying on the +ground, repeating to himself these words +with the utmost devotion:—"God bless +Brogg Paterson in Hawick! God bless +Brogg Paterson in Hawick!" "Wherefore +that?" said the other. "Because," said +Turnbull, "he kend better where my heart +lay than I did."</p> + +<p>Charlie laughed so heartily at this jocular +tale, that he did not expose Gibby Jordan +of the Peatstacknowe to his associates +at that time; but keeping behind with him +he held him in conversation, though he +saw that his teeth were watering to be near +the fair Delany.</p> + +<p>They came that night to a place called +Trows, on the English side of the +border, but adjoining to the very ridge of +the fells. The name of the hind who sojourned +there was Jock Robson. He had +a good stock both of cows and sheep, being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +so thoroughly a neutral man that both +sides spared him, and both sides trusted +him. He gave a night's grass to the driven +cattle and sheep from each side, and a +night's lodging to the drivers; and for this +he exacted kane sheep, or a small cow, which +none ever grudged him, because they found +themselves so much at home in his house. +He would assist either party in catching a +prey, and either party in recovering it +again, taking rewards from both; and, +though both the English and the Scots +knew of this, they never trusted him the +less, for they knew that what he undertook +he would fulfil, but no farther; out of your +sight, out of your pay and out of your +service with Jock Robson.</p> + +<p>At this yeoman's habitation our notable +embassy arrived at a late hour, for, though +scarcely five o'clock afternoon, it was pitch +dark. They called at the door, and out +came Jock with a light. The first man +that he beheld was the friar.</p> + +<p>"Saint Mary's jerkin be about us!" cried +Jock Robson, half in sport, half in earnest, +"and defend us from our auld black minny's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +delegates. What seeks Lucky Church +amang the hills o' Cheviot, wi' her creeds +an' her croons, her trumpery, an' her lang +tythes o' sheep an' kye, wild deer, and weathershaker, +barndoor an' blackhag fowls? +Nought for Minny Church an' her bike +here, Sir Monk—naething o' our ain breeding—a' +comers an' gangers, like John Nisbet's +fat sheep. Howsomever, honest bedesman, +I speir ye the auld question,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come ye as friend, or come ye as fae?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For sic as ye bring, sic sal ye hae!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"As thy friends do we come, uncourteous +hind," said the monk; "and ask only +a little of thy bread, and thy strong drink, +for the refreshment of our bodies, that are +like the grass on the tops of thy mountains, +fading ere it be full grown, and require as +thou knowest a supply of earthly refreshment +as these do the showers of heaven; +and also we ask of thee beds whereon we +may lie down and rest: and these things +thou must not refuse, for we would not +that thou shouldst be to us as the children +of Amalek and Moab, and those of Mount +Seir."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ye speak like a rational man, Sir Monk; +but wait till I tell ye the truth, that I lurde +see the cross on the handle of sword or +spear ony time afore that hanging at the +paunch of priest. There's mair honour +an' generosity ahint the tane than the +tither. But yet it shall never be said o' +John Robson o' the Trows that he refused +a friend quarters on a dark night. He +kens ower weel that the king may come +in the beggar's way. Gin ye be joking, he +can stand a joke wi' ony man; but gin ye +be really gaun to hand him as an Amalekite, +he wad like to ken what that is, an' +what lengths ye mean to gang."</p> + +<p>"Thinkest thou that we will come into +thy house to take of thy spoil for a prey, +and thy maid servants for bond-women, +and also thy little ones?" said the friar.</p> + +<p>"The deil be there then," cried Jock +Robson. "I wadna grudge ye meal an' +maut, but or ye lay a hand on ane o' my +lasses, or kidnap away my bits o' bairnies +frae me, ye sal gang ower my breast, an' +that wi' a braid arrow through ilk ane o'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +you. Be at your shift, bauld priest, here's +for ye."</p> + +<p>On saying so, he turned hastily about, +and the friar that moment clapping the +spurs to his mule, gallopped round the corner, +leaving the rest to make good their +quarters in the best way they could. The +mention of the broad arrow made him think +it was high time for him to change his +ground.</p> + +<p>"There rides gospel, guts an' a'," cried +Tam Craik, laughing aloud.</p> + +<p>The laugh was well known to Robson; +for the warden's troopers had been so often +there that year, that almost all of them +were John Robson's personal acquaintances.</p> + +<p>"What?" cried he, turning back his +head, "Isna that the deil's Tam that I +hear?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, what for shoudna it, lad? an' how +dare ye fright away our chaplain wi' your +bows an' your braid arrows? Gin we had +Jock's Marion, the sow-killer's wife o' +Jeddart, at ye, wha wad be crousest then, +trow ye?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tam, it is weel kend your tongue is +nae scandal; but dinna ye lippen ower +muckle to your privilege; gin ye be come +to quarter wi' me, dinna let me hear sic a +hard jibe as that the night again. Come +away, however, the warden's men are welcome, +as weel they may be this year. Mony +a fat mart they hae left i' my hire. I hope +ye hae brought a bonny kane the night."</p> + +<p>"Ay, by my certie, lad, an' that we hae; +here's nae less a kane than Jock's Marion +hersel."</p> + +<p>"Ye scawed like bog-stalker! skrinkit, +skraeshankit skebeld! dare ye to speak that +gate to me at my ain door stane? I shall +lend you a clout an ye were the king's cousin, +an' see if ye dare return the compliment. +Wife, bring the buet an' my piked +rung here."</p> + +<p>"Peace, in the king's name!" cried Charlie +Scott.</p> + +<p>"And in the name of St David!" cried +the friar, returning to the charge on hearing +Charlie's voice.</p> + +<p>"And in my name!" cried Tam Craik;" +an' Gibby Jordan o' the Peatstacknowe's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +name; and the name o' Jock's Marion, the +sow-sticker's wife o' Jeddart. I say unto +thee, look here. Here is the kane will +please a brave yeoman. Look if this be nae +Marion hersel"—and with that he led Delany's +palfrey up to the light.</p> + +<p>Robson lifted his eyes and saw her, and +was so much struck with her dazzling +beauty, that he had not power to address +even his beloved friend Charlie Scott, far +less any other of his guests, but lifting the +maiden down in his arms, he led her in to +his dame, and said to one of his lads, "Rin +out wi' a light, callant, an' help the troopers +to put up their horses."</p> + +<p>The horses were soon put up, for every +one seemed more anxious than another to +get first in to the cheek of Jock Robson's +ingle, and have his seat placed next to that +of Delany; but the poet being the most +agile, and not the least amorous of the +group, effected this greatly to his satisfaction.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The youngest turned him in a path,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And drew a buirdly brande,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And fifteen of the foremost slewe,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Till back the lave couthe stande.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then he spurred the grey unto the path,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Till baith her sides they bledde;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Now, grey, if thou carry nae me away<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My life it lies in wedde."<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i8"><i>Ballad of Auld Maitland.</i><br /></span> +</div> + + +<p>We must pass over a great part of the +conversation that evening, in order to get +forward to the more momentous part of +the history of our embassy. Suffice it to +say, that the poet was in high glory, and +not only delivered himself in pure iambics, +but sung several love ditties, and one song +of a foray, that pleased Charlie Scott mightily. +But Isaac, the curate, has only given +a fragment of it, which runs thus:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If you will meet me on the Dirdam waste,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Merry man mint to follow;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll start you the deer, and lead you the chace,<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +<span class="i2">With a whoop, and a whoo, and a hollo!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The deer that you'll see, has horns enow, &c.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Marked wi' red and merled wi' blue, &c.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And that deer he will not turn his tail<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the stoutest hinds that range the dale.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come then, driver, in gear bedight;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come bold yeoman, and squire, and knight;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wind soughs loud on craig and heuch,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the linn rowts loud in the Crookside cleuch;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor tramp of steed, nor jingle of spear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Will ever be heard by the southern deer:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The streamer is out, and the moon away,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the morning starn will rise or day.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then mount to the stirrup, and scour the fell,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Merry man mint to follow;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And over the muir, and the dean, and the dell,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With a whoop, and a whoo, and a hollo!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> * * * * * * * * * *<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>"Thy words and thy song, young man," +said the friar, "are like sounding brass +and a tinkling cymbal; if laid in the balance, +they are lighter than vanity."</p> + +<p>"Yours will not prove so," said the poet, +"provided you are laid in with them; for, +as the old song says,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'His wit is but weak, father;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">His gifts they are but sma';<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the bouk that's under his breast bane,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">It grieves me warst of a.'"<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>"If thou singest this nonsense of me," +said the friar, "lo, I will smite thee upon +the mouth; yea, upon the cheek-bone will +I smite thee, till thine eyes shall gush out +like two fountains of waters." And so saying, +he began to look about him for some +missile weapon to throw at the bard's face, +his breast burning with indignation,—for +he loved not the tenor of the poet's conversation +to the maid.</p> + +<p>Tam and Jordan encouraged the friar to +make the assault, in hopes that the poet +might be dislodged or affronted; but Yardbire +restrained the warmth of the friar, not +being aware of his real sentiments, and +ordered peace and good fellowship.</p> + +<p>Dame Robson covered the hearth with +a huge fire; and her husband bringing in +a leg of beef, set it upon the table, and +bade every one help himself.</p> + +<p>"The words of thy mouth are exceeding +good, and sweet unto the ear," said the +friar, "as doubtless thy food is to the +taste." With that he rose and helped himself +to three nice and extensive slices of +raw beef, and these he roasted on the tongs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +which he had just lifted to smite the poet +on the head.</p> + +<p>In good truth, though every one cooked +his own supper, as was the fashion of that +iron time, there was none did it half so +nicely as the friar, nor so bunglingly as +Jordan, whose supper, though long behind +the others in being ready, was so unshapely +a piece, and so raw on the one side, that +the friar observed, "it was like Ephraim +of old, as a cake unturned." Some roasted +their meat on old swords, some on spindles, +for their hosts took no heed how they +were fitted, or in what manner they shifted +in these respects; seemingly satisfied that +they had plenty for the cooking, and leaving +them to cook it or eat it raw, as they +chose. The poet made haste, and, first of +all, cooked two or three nice slices for the +maiden, giving her what she would take +before he would taste a morsel himself. +Some commended him for this, and others +jeered him; but the friar, in his grave +moral style, said the severest things of all. +From the very commencement of the journey, +a jealousy or misunderstanding began<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +to subsist between these two, which never +again subsided till they came to blows.</p> + +<p>The poet answered him again with a +song:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Keep ye to your books and your beads, goodman,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Your Ave Marias and creeds, goodman;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">For gin ye end as ye're begun,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There will be some crack of your deeds, goodman."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>At length the party retired to rest, all +save Jordan and their worthy host. The latter +never slept in the night; he had always +some watching, walking, or work in hand +that suited that season best: and as for +Gibby, he determined to sit up all night +to watch that the poet made no encroachments +on the place of Delany's repose. +Robson encouraged his purpose, joined +him heartily in conversation, listened to +his long-winded stories with apparent delight, +and, when all the rest were asleep, +wormed the whole business of the embassy +out of the shallow laird, who unfortunately +testified his fears that they were carrying +the lovely maiden and boy to the old +warlock to be a sacrifice to the devil.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +Robson appeared terribly confounded at +this peace of intelligence,—for from the +time that he heard it he conversed no more +with Jordan. About one in the morning +he began to put on his snow-boots, as if +preparing for a journey.</p> + +<p>"Where are ye going at this time of +night?" enquired the laird.</p> + +<p>"I maun gang out an' see how the +night wears," said Robson; "I hae sax +score o' Scots queys that are outlyers. If +I let the king's ellwand ower the hill, I'll +hae them to seek frae the kips o' Kale."</p> + +<p>Gibby accompanied him to the door, +hoping the king's ellwand would not be +over the hill, for he had no good will to part +with his companion. But as soon as Robson +turned his eye to the sky, "Ha, gude +faith, I maun post away!" said he, "Yonder's +the king's ellwand already begun to +bore the hill; ay, there's ane o' the goud +knobs out o' sight already, an' I hear the +queys rowting ower the waterfa' o' the +height. Gude morrow t'ye, laird, I'm ower +lang here."</p> + +<p>Gibby returned in to the blazing fire;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +and hearing so many persons all snoring +in sleep, he caught the infection, stretched +himself upon a divot seat, and joined the +chorus with as much zeal as any of them.</p> + +<p>Morning came, and our embassy made +ready for proceeding on their journey; +but Robson still was wanting, at which +both his dame and household lads seemed +to wonder, otherwise the rest would have +taken no notice of it. Gibby told her +about the queys that were outlyers, but +she only answered him with a hem! and +a slight shake of the head. Charlie, who +knew his man well, began to smell a rat; +and, calling Gibby to the door, he inquired +if he had hinted ought of their business +to their host. The laird at first denied; +but Charlie questioned him till he confessed +the whole, at which Charlie was +exceedingly angry; and hearing that he +had informed him all about the maiden, +and of what family she was sprung, he +called Gibby a worthless inconsiderate +being, and said he had ruined their expedition, +for that he knew Robson kept up +a correspondence with the Halls, who were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +broken men, and many of them skulking +about the border; that Delany had uncles, +cousins, and a brother living, if she was +the man's daughter she was supposed to +be, and that these would without fail waylay +them, and kill them every man, for the +sake of rescuing her. "Robson," said he, +"is altogether selfish, and has some end to +serve; perhaps to get the maid into his +own hands, for he seemed mightily taken +with her beauty; and I calculate widely +amiss if we are not watched from this +house, and whether we return or proceed +we shall be attacked in the first strait or +lonely place that we come at." Jordan +looked exceedingly out of countenance, +and every feature of his face altered. +"What had I ado to tell the rascal?" exclaimed +he, "or wha wad hae thought o' +him playing us sic a trick? Twa-faced +dog that he is! It wad be weel done to +let his liver pree the taste o' steel!"</p> + +<p>Charlie made him promise that he would +not mention the circumstance to one of +the party, as it was only a surmise, and +might impede their progress to no purpose;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +and forthwith they mounted, armed +with such armour as they had, and all, +save Gibby Jordan, as cheerful and as +jealous of one another as they were on the +preceding day. That worthy kept close +by the side of muckle Charlie, and looked +so sharp about him, that he perceived +every shepherd, traveller, and cairn that +appeared on the border fells, always testifying +his alarm to his friend that perhaps +yon was one of the Halls watching.</p> + +<p>Charlie had resolved to go by Jedburgh +straight for Oakwood castle; but his suspicions +of Robson made him resolve to +hold more to the eastward, in order to keep +the open road. He knew that if they were +watching him, it would be at the fords of +Kale or Oxnam, on the Jedburgh road; +and by taking the east path, he would not +only elude them, but, in case of a pursuit, +be near the outposts of the Scottish army.</p> + +<p>For a good way they saw nothing, and +began to think themselves in safety; but, +in coming down Sowerhope-Middle, a little +from the point of the debated land, +three horsemen appeared to the westward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +of them. "His presence be about us," said +Gibby,—"yonder <i>are</i> the Halls now!" +Charlie said nothing, but kept watch. One +of the yeomen vanished in a twinkling at +full speed, the other two came at a brisk +canter to our notable embassy.</p> + +<p>"What do they mean?" said Jordan: +"Do these two fellows propose to conquer +us all?"</p> + +<p>"It wad appear that they do," said +Charlie, "for they come on us without +halt or hesitation."</p> + +<p>"I hardly think they'll succeed," added +Gibby, "although they're twa dangerous +looking chaps. For Godsake, Yardbire, +tak care o' their back strokes; if they bring +you down, our chance will be the waur."</p> + +<p>Charlie then called to the rest of his +cavalcade, "Friends, here are some strangers +come to join us. Tell them nothing +either good or bad, but keep on at a round +trot. See, we are not far from the towers of +Roxburgh. Whatever these men may say +to you, make them nothing the wiser."</p> + +<p>"I will not so much as say unto them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +whence comest thou, or whither art thou +going?" said the friar.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I'll sing them a ditty of beauty and love,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of the wing of the raven, the eye of the dove,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And beings all purer than angels above."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>said the poet.</p> + +<p>"Sic a rhame o' nonsense is there!" said +Tam Craik: "If ony o' the dogs say an +impertinent thing to me I'll gar his teeth +gang down his throat like bristled beans."</p> + +<p>It was not long before the two moss-troopers +joined the party. They were tall +athletic men, armed at all points, and their +manner had a dash of insulting impertinence +in it.</p> + +<p>"A good morning, and fair grace to +you, noble and worthy gentlemen!" said +the foremost: "May we presume to be of +the party?"</p> + +<p>"You may <i>presume</i>," said the deil's +Tam, "for that is what befits you; if you +are willing to put up with the presumer's +reward."</p> + +<p>"You are witty, sir, I suppose," said +the trooper; "and pray what may that reward +be?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I am witty," said Tam; "and +my wit is sharp when it is not in its sheath. +Do you understand me? As for the reward +of presumption, it is in Scotland to +be crankit before and kicked behind."</p> + +<p>"The road is at least as free to us as it +is to you," said the mosstrooper; "and of +that we intend to avail ourselves for the +present. We go to join the army before +Roxburgh, whither are you bound?"</p> + +<p>"We follow our noses," said Tam; "but +they guide us not to the army before Roxburgh, +and into your rearward they caution +us not to enter. Raw hides and rank +bacon, keep your distance."</p> + +<p>While Tam Craik and the trooper were +thus jangling on before, Charlie said to +Jordan, "Laird, what do think o' yoursel' +now? Ye hae played us a fine pliskie wi' +your ill tackit tongue! It is my thought +that ere we ride a mile and a half we'll be +attacked by a hale troop o' horse. That +chap that disna speak is ane o' the wale o' +the Ha's: I ken him weel for a' his half +visor. The other horseman that left them +on the height is ower to the fords of Kale,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +and, if I guess right, he'll appear at yon +scroggy bush wi' sae mony at his back that +we wad hardly be a mouthfu' to them, an' +that in less time than ane wad gang a +mile."</p> + +<p>"It is an ill business this," said Gibby: +"It brings me in mind o'—o' mair than +I's name. But, gudesake, Yardbire, an ye +be sure he is ane o' the Halls, what for do +nae ye rin your sword in at the tae side o' +him an' out at the tither? The sooner a +knave like that is put down the better."</p> + +<p>"Fair occasion, an' face to face, Peatstacknowe, +an' ye sanna see Charlie Scott +slack; but ye wadna hae me stick a man, +or cleave him down ahint his back, an' that +without fair warning and fair arming?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, honour an' generosity are braw +things, but life's a brawer thing an' a better +thing than ony o' the twa. For my +part, I wad never stop. My very heart +flighters when I look at him, an' I amaist +think I find his steel quivering at my midriff. +I wish I had a drive at him, wi' a +chance o' a hale head."—And from that time +Gibby leaned himself forward on his saddle,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +and fixed his large grey eyes on the +mosstrooper like a pointer going to fly on +his game; and, in that attitude, he rode +several times close up to his side, or very +nearly opposite to him, laying his hand +now and then on his hilt; but Charlie observed +that he never looked his foe in the +face with threatening aspect, and, perplexed +as he was, could not help laughing at +Gibby.</p> + +<p>Yardbire now putting the spurs to Corby, +galloped aslant the brae to a rising +ground, whence he could see if any enemy +was approaching by the swire from +the fords of Kale, as he suspected. He had +not well gained the height before he saw +a dozen horsemen coming at the light gallop, +but one part of the cavalcade considerably +behind the others, owing to their being +either worse mounted or worse horsemen.</p> + +<p>By this time Charlie's own friends were +coming round the bottom of the hill below +him, quarrelling with the strangers so loudly, +that Charlie heard their voices ascending +on the gale in most discordant notes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +The deil's Tam and the English trooper +had never since their meeting ceased the +jibe and the keen retort; but Tam's words +were so provokingly severe, that the moss-man +was driven beyond all further forbearance. +Just when they were at the hottest, +the helmets of the front men of the Northumberland +cavalcade began to appear in +the swire; a circumstance that was well +noted by their offended kinsman, but of +which Tam was perfectly unconscious.</p> + +<p>"Well, now, thou jaundiced looking +thief," said the moss-trooper, turning his +horse's head towards Tam's left hand, and +making him amble and curvette with his +side foremost; "thou lean, nerveless, and +soul-less jabberer, all tongue and nothing +else—I say, what hast thou to say more?"</p> + +<p>The alteration in the man's key of voice +somewhat astounded Tam; but his perverse +nature would not let him soften his reply, +although he liked as well to see others fall +into a mischief as himself. "Eh? what +do I say?" said he; and with that he turned +his horse's head to that of the other, +making their two noses to meet; and caricaturing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +the Englishman's capers, he laughed +sneeringly and triumphantly in his face. +"What do I say? Eh? what do I say? +I say I thought I heard wind, and smelled +it a wee too. Hagg-hiding fox that thou +art! Wild tike of the moors, dost thou +think Tam Craik fears thy prancing and +thy carrion breath, or ony o' the bur-throated +litter of which thou art the outwale? +Nay, an capering and prancing show ought +of a spirit, I can caper and prance as well +as thou. Out on thee, thou bog-thumper, +thou base-born heather-blooter, what do +<i>you</i> say? Or what <i>dare</i> you say?"</p> + +<p>Tam had by this time drawn his sword +completely to cow the Englishman, and +put him to silence;—but he saw what Tam +did not see, and knew more than he.</p> + +<p>"I dare both say and do, and that thou +shalt find," said the trooper; and forthwith +he attacked Tam with all his prowess, +who, not quite expecting such a thing +gave way, and had very nearly been unhorsed; +he, however, fought stoutly, defending +himself, though manifestly at the +disadvantage. The brave friar, at the first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +clash of the swords, wheeled about his +mule, and drawing out a good sword from +under his frock, (for he wore the sword on +the one side and the cross on the other,) +he stretched it forth, pointing it as if to +thrust it between them. But, addressing +himself to the Englishman, he cried with +a loud voice, "Put up <i>thy</i> sword again into +its place, or verily I will smite thee +with the edge of <i>my</i> sword."</p> + +<p>The other Englishman, who had never +yet opened his mouth, and who had always +kept apart, as if anxious to conceal who he +was, now rode briskly up to the fray; and +perceiving the quick approach of his friends, +and judging his party quite secure of victory, +he struck up the friar's sword in apparent +derision. But the inveterate laird +of the Peatstacknowe had been watching +him all this time, as one colley dog watches +another of which he is afraid, in order to +take him at an advantage, and the moment +that his arm was stretched, so that his +sword came in contact with the friar's, Gibby +struck him behind, and that with such +violence that the sword ran through his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +body. The wounded trooper reined up +his steed furiously, in order to turn on his +adversary; Gibby reined his up as quickly +to make his escape, but the convulsive +force of the Englishman threw his horse +over, and in its fall it tumbled against the +legs of Gibby's horse with such force that +it struck them all four from under him, and +both he and his rider fell in a reverse direction, +rolling plump over the wounded +warrior and his forlorn encumbered steed, +that was pawing the air at a furious rate. +The two horses falling thus on different +sides, their iron-shod hoofs were inter-mixed, +and clashing and rattling away in +a tremendous manner, tremendous at least +to poor Gibby, whose leg and thigh being +below his charger, he was unable to extricate +himself. "Happ, Davie, happ!" cried +he to the steed: "Up you stupid, awkward +floundering thief! Happ, Davie, +happ!" Davie could neither happ nor +weynd, but there he lay groaning and +kicking above his master, who was in a +most deplorable plight.</p> + +<p>Charlie perceiving the commencement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +of the fray, was all this while galloping furiously +toward the combatants. But the +battle was of short duration; for the English +trooper, seeing his comrade fall he +wist not how, and the friar and Tam having +both their swords pointed at him, +broke furiously through between them and +fled towards his companions, Tam being +only enabled to inflict a deep wound on +the hinder part of the horse as he passed +by.</p> + +<p>"I have made him to pass away as the +stubble that is driven by the whirlwind," +said the friar; "yea, as the chaff before +the great wind, so is he fled from the arm +of the mighty. Brother, I say unto thee, +that thou hadst better arise!" continued +he, looking upon the disconsolate Jordan; +and passing by on the other side with great +<i>ang froid</i>, he rode up to Delany, the boy +Elias, and the poet, the latter of whom +had not been engaged, but, drawing his +sword manfully, had stood as a guard to +the other two.</p> + +<p>Tam Craik pursued his enemy, although +apparently not with a fixed design of overtaking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +him; and Gibby, being thus left +all alone with the two inverted horses and +the incensed moss-trooper, extended his +voice to an amazing pitch, for he knew +not what state of health and strength his +opponent retained. This was a horrid consideration; +for if he should disengage himself +and get up first, there was an end of +him of the Peatstacknowe. His nasal +twine was increased by his dread, and he +cried so vehemently, that his cries grew +like the cries of a peacock.</p> + +<p>Charlie Scott rode up to the main group, +who continued to advance at a quiet pace, +for they knew nothing as yet of the approaching +danger. He also called and +made signs to Tam Craik to return; and as +soon as he came up to them he pointed out +their pursuers, and charged them to ride for +their lives. "We are betrayed," said he; +but the horses of our enemies are jaded, +ours are fresh; therefore, brave lads, in +our master's name, spare neither spur, +nor horse-flesh. Haud on your way, an' +never look ower your shoulders: you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +will find Corby an' me twa gude back +friends."</p> + +<p>The friar bent himself forward over the +mane of his mule, and opening his eyes +wide abroad, he put the spurs to his steed, +and set off "with the swiftness of the roe-buck +or the hart," as he termed it.</p> + +<p>The boy pursued hard after him; and +the bard, taking hold of Delany's bridle +by both reins below the neck, for fear her +steed should stumble and throw his lovely +rider, bade her whip on and fear nothing, +and in this friendly guise they also made +good speed. Charlie then galloped back +to see if any life remained in his friend +Gibby,—for he only saw him at a distance +go down in the encounter, without being +exactly versed in the circumstances of his +overthrow; but he thought he heard one +loud squeak arise from the field after the +rest had left it, something like that sent +forth by the small drone of the bagpipe; +and, guessing that the laird was yet alive, +he galloped back to see. By the way he +met the deil's Tam, who returned with +him, and when they came in view of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +spot where the two prostrate heroes had +been left, they saw a very curious scene, +the more curious because it was transacted +by our worthy laird in the presiding belief +that he was not seen, for he was too +much concerned in his own affairs to perceive +the approach of his friends. The +Englishman's horse making an exertion, +by pressing his feet against the ribs of the +laird's Davie, by that means pushed himself +forward, and Gibby perceived plainly +that his enemy was to be first released. +The struggles that Gibby then made were +enormous. "Happ, Davie, happ!" cried +he: "O mother of God, what shall become +of me! Happ, Davie, happ, my man; +happ, happ, happ!" and, as a last resource, +he reared up his body and struck at the +Englishman's limb that was above his horse, +crying out to Davie to happ, in bitterness +of soul. Davie was not long; for the +next moment after the Englishman's horse +rose, he got up also, his feet then getting +to the ground; but the stirrup that had +been under him was crushed together, and +there his master's foot remained fixed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +Gibby was worse than ever. "Wo, Davie, +wo! Tproo, ye thief!" cried he. Davie, +finding the weight at his side, wheeled +about, and dragged the unfortunate laird +round across the breast of the trooper +Hall, who seized him by the neck. "Was +there ever a man guidit this gate!" cried +Gibby. "Honest man, an ye please, let +gae; it wasna me that hurt ye." The man +answered him not; but Davie being scared +by the struggle sprung aside, and the Englishman +keeping his hold, Gilbert's foot +was released by the loss of his boot. He +was not long in making a bold effort to +rise, and though Hall hung by his neck +a little, it had been in the last agony of +receding life that he had seized him, and +he dropped dead on the green, having +both fists clenched on his breast, in the act +of still holding his rival.</p> + +<p>When Gibby saw how matters stood, +he began to value himself on his courage. +"I's gar ye! I's gar ye!" cried he, lifting +up his sword, and giving the dead man +several desperate gashes, and always between +every stroke repeating, "H'm! I's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +gar ye!" His two friends being now hard +beside him, the sound of their horses' feet +made him start; but lifting his eye, and +perceiving who they were, he again repeated +his blows, and continued his threats +in a louder key.—"H'm! I's gar ye! I's +gar ye, billy! I's learn you to throttle +me!"</p> + +<p>"Fy, lay on, laird!" cried Tam; "dinna +ye see that the man's no half dead yet?"</p> + +<p>"I think I hae done for him;" said Gibby: +"He brings me a-mind o' a wife that +had to kill her cat thrice ower. I's learn +the best o' the haggies-headed Ha's to meddle +wi' me!"</p> + +<p>"I think he'll do that ane, however, +Gibby; if he had e'en the nine lives o' the +wife's cat," said Charlie: "therefore, an +ye please, put up your sword, an' mount +your horse. It's no a time now to examine +whether ye hae behaved in a sodger-like +manner wi' that bold trooper. If I wist +ye had not, it should be the last hour I +should ride in your company—but mount +quick an' ride; for see whar the rest o' the +Ha's are coming across us. Ilk horse an'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +man do what he can, or dear will be our +raide, an' yours, friend, the dearest of a'."</p> + +<p>One look filled Gilbert's eye. He mounted +Davie, with the one boot off and the +other on, and there was little occasion to +bid him ride. Before they turned the corner +of the hill, their pursuers came so close +on them, that they looked very like cutting +off their retreat; but a bog, around which +the English were forced to cast a wide circuit, +saved our three heroes, and gave them +the start, by fully a half mile, of their foes, +who still came in a straggling way as their +horses could keep up. After a hard chace +of two Scottish miles they came up with +the friar, whose mule being too heavy loaden +had begun to fag. When he saw them +gaining on him so hard, he judged that all +was over with him, and spurred on his +jaded beast in vain. "O that my flesh +were as my armour or my clothing," cried +he, "that I might put it off at will, and +escape from the face of mine enemies. Lo! +I shall be left all alone, and surrounded and +taken and slain." As he divined, so it fell +out; the others were soon by him, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +was left the hindermost. Then they heard +him lamenting to himself in his own sublime +eastern stile, that he had not the +wings of the eagle or the dove, that he +might bear away to the mountains and the +cliffs of the rocky hills, to elude the dreadful +weapons of death, so often reared over +his head, and so often warded by the arm +of heaven.</p> + +<p>"Poor devil!" said muckle Charlie, the +tear standing in his eye; "Od I canna +leave him after a'. Come what will, I for +ane shall stand or fa' wi' him. I whiles +think there's mair in that body than we +moorland men wot of,—I canna leave him +to be cut in pieces."</p> + +<p>"O fy, let him tak his chance," said +Tam; "let him bide his weird; he deserves +it a'. What signifies the creature? +He's just a thing made up o' hypocritical +rant, empty words, and stuffed paunches. +Let him bide the buffet that fa's to his +share."</p> + +<p>"Ay, what signifies sic a corpulation?" +said Jordan. "It will be lang or <i>he</i> bring +down man an' horse in an encounter. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +brings me in mind o' a capon that claps his +wings, but craws nane. Let him tak his +chance."</p> + +<p>"Na, but callans, troth my heart winna +let me," said Charlie: "For his good deeds, +or his ill anes he's answerable to heaven, +an' neither to you nor me. But he's a fellow +creature, an' has nane to look to for +help but us at this time. Life's sweet to +us a', an' it's unco hard to leave our master's +bedesman just to be sacrificed. Therefore, +come what will, I'll turn an' lend the +friar a hand. As for you twa, ride on; the +young couple that are committed to our +charge may escape." With that he wheeled +Corby's head about, and rode back to +meet the gospel friar.</p> + +<p>When he met him, the foremost of the +riders had advanced within a bow shot, and +was fast gaining ground. The friar still +continued to spur on, and though his mule +likewise continued the motion of one that +gallops, the progress that he made was +hardly discernible. He had a sort of up +and down hobble that was right laughable +to behold in one riding for his life. When<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +he saw the dauntless Yardbire return to meet +him, with his large seven feet sword drawn, +and heaved over his right shoulder, he lifted +up his voice and wept, and he said unto +him;—"Blessed be thou, my son! The +blessing of a man ready to perish light upon +thee! And now, lo, I will draw forth +my sword and return with thee to the +charge, and thou shalt see what a poor +bedesman can do."</p> + +<p>"It is brawly said, good friar,—but gin +ye wad save yoursel' an' me, ride. An we +could but mak the end o' the Thief-gate, +they should buy our twa lives dear. If +thou wilt but exert man an' beast, father, +you an' I shall fight, flee, or fa' thegither. +But see, we are already overtaken, and in +the enemy's hands."</p> + +<p>The foremost of the riders was now hard +behind them; but, perceiving Charlie, he +reined up his horse and looked back for +his comrades. The friar gave a glance +back, and he said, "Lo, thou art a mighty +man of valour, and behold there is but one; +do thou fall upon him and smite him; why +should one pursue two?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hae heard waur advices frae mair +warlike men," said Charlie; "Ride ye on, +father, an' lose nae time. Gude faith! I +sal gie this ane his breakfast."</p> + +<p>Charlie as he said this put the spurs to +Corby, and rode full speed against the pursuer. +The trooper set himself firm in his +stirrups and assumed his defence, for he saw +from the prowess of Corby that it was vain +to fly. Just as Charlie's mighty sword was +descending on his casque, a check that he +gave his horse in the hurry of the moment +made him rear on end, and Charlie's stroke +coming down between his ears, clove his +head almost into two halves. The horse +reeled and fell; but how it fared with his +rider, Charlie never knew; for before he +got his horse turned, there were other three +of the Halls close at hand. Charlie fled +amain. He was nothing afraid of himself, +for he knew Corby could outstrip them by +one half of the way; but his heart bled +for the poor friar, whom he saw he would +either be obliged to leave, or fight for him +against such odds as it would be madness +to withstand. The friar had, however<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +gained the height, and having now a +long sloping descent all the way to the +Thief-gate-end, he was posting on at an +improved pace. Charlie had one sole hope +remaining of saving the friar, and that was +the gaining the above-mentioned point +before they were overtaken. The warriors +carried no whips in those days, depending +altogether on the ample spur,—therefore +Charlie, as a last resource, pulled down a +large branch from a hazel tree, and attacked +the hinder parts of the father's mule +with such a torrent of high-sounding +strokes, that the animal, perhaps more sullen +than exhausted, seemed to recover +new life and vigour, and fled from the +assault like a deer, in the utmost terror +and dismay. Little wonder was it! He +heard the sound of every descending stroke +coming on like the gathering tempest; +and, clapping his tail close down between +his hips, pricking up his long ears, +and looking back first with the one eye +and then with the other, he went at such +a rate that Corby could do little more +than keep up with him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My swiftness is greater than I can +bear," cried the friar, pronouncing the +sentence all in syllables for want of breath; +"verily I shall fall among the cliffs of the +rocks by the side of the highway."</p> + +<p>His danger increased with his fears; for +the mule perceiving that exertion availed +not, and that there was no escaping from +the fierceness of his pursuer's wrath, began +to throw up his heels violently at every +stroke, nevertheless continuing to exert +himself between these evolutions. The +friar's riding-gear began to get into disorder, +and with great difficulty he retained +his seat; therefore he cried out with a +loud voice, "I pray of thee, my son, to +desist, for it is better for me to perish by +an enemy's hand than thine; seest thou +not my confusion and despair—verily I +shall be dashed in pieces against the +stones."</p> + +<p>The friar saw nought of Charlie's intent, +else he would not have besought him so earnestly +to desist. The Thief-gate-end was +now hard at hand. It is still well known as +a long narrow path alongst the verge of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +precipice, and all the bank above it was then +a thicket of brushwood and gorse, so close +that the wild beast of the desart could not +pass through it. It was, moreover, shagged +with rocks, and bedded with small +stones, and the path itself was so narrow, +that two horsemen could scarcely ride +abreast. By such a strenuous manœuvre +on the parts of Charlie and the mule, the +two flyers got into this path, without having +lost any ground of their pursuers. +When Charlie saw this, he began to +breathe more freely, and, flinging away +his hazel branch, he again seized his mighty +weapon in his right hand.</p> + +<p>"Let the chields come as close on us +now, an they dare," said he.</p> + +<p>The mule still continued to eye him +with a great deal of jealousy, and perceiving +the brandish that he gave his long +sword when he said this, he set off again +full speed; so that it was a good while before +the friar got time to reply. As soon +as he got leisure to speak, he opened his +mouth and said,—"My son, wilt thou lift +up thine arm against a multitude? or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +canst thou contend with the torrent of the +mighty waters?"</p> + +<p>"Well, well, they may perhaps lead +that winna drive," said Charlie; and he +went by the friar at a light gallop, leaving +him behind, who prayed to the other not +to leave him nor forsake him; but it was +a device of Yardbire's, and a well conceived +one. He saw that as long as he kept +the rear guard, and rode behind the friar, +the men that pursued them would not separate +on that long narrow path; therefore +he vanished among the bushes, keeping, +however, always within hearing of the +mule's feet. Accordingly, at the first turn +of the road, the foremost of the English +troopers, seeing the jolly bedesman posting +away by himself, put the spurs to his steed, +and made a furious dash at him. The friar +cried out with a loud voice; and, seeing +that he would be overtaken, he turned +round and drew his sword to stand on the +defensive; and actually not only bore the +first charge of his opponent with considerable +firmness, but had "very nigh smitten +him between the joints of the harness," as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +he termed it. It happened, moreover, very +singularly, from the perversity of the mule, +that in the charge the combatants changed +sides, at the imminent peril of the Englishman; +for the mule brushed by his horse +with such violence, and leaned so sore to +the one side, that both the horse and his +rider were within an inch of the verge of +the precipice.</p> + +<p>The friar had no sooner made his way +by, than he saw another rider coming like +lightning to meet him in the face; but at +the same time he heard the voice of Charlie +Scott behind him, and the rending crash of +his weapon. This cheered the drooping spirits +of the brave friar, who had been on the +very point of crying for quarter. "They +beset me before and behind," cried he, +"yet shall my hand be avenged. Come +on, thou froward and perverse one." So +saying he assumed his guard, and met his +foe face to face, seeing he had no alternative. +The Englishman drew a stroke, but +got not time to lay it on; for just as the +mule and his tall horse met, the former, in +the bitterness of his ire, rushed between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +his opponent and the upper bank, and +pressed against his fore counters with such +energy, that he made the leg next him to +slacken, and the horse reared from the +other. The intention of the irritated mule +was to crush his master's leg, or, if possible, +to rub him from off his back; and therefore, +in spite of the rein he closed with the +Englishman's tall steed in a moment, and +almost as swift as lightning. The English +moss-trooper had raised his arm to +strike, but seeing his horse shoved and +rearing in that perilous place, he seized +the rein with his sword hand. The mule +finding the substance to which he leaned +give way, pressed to it the harder. It was +all one to him whether it had been a tree, +a horse, or a rock; he shouldered against +it with his side foremost so strenuously, +that in spite of all the trooper could do, +the fore feet of his horse on rearing, alighted +within the verge of the precipice. The +noble animal made a spring from his hinder +legs, in order to leap by the obstreperous +mongrel; but the latter still coming +the closer, instead of springing by he leaped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +into the open void, aiming at the branches +of an oak that grew in a horizontal +direction from the cliff. It was an old and +stubborn tree, the child of a thousand +years; and when the horse and his rider +fell upon its hoary branches, it yielded far +to the weight. But its roots being entwined +in the rifted rock as far as the stomach +of the mountain, it sprung upward +again with a prodigious force to regain its +primitive position, and tossed the intruding +weight afar into the unfathomed +deep. Horse and rider went down in a +rolling motion till they lessened to the eye, +and fell on the rocks and water below with +such a shock, that the clash sounded among +the echoes of the linn like the first burst +of the artillery of heaven, or the roar of an +earthquake from the depths of the earth.</p> + +<p>Charlie Scott gazed on the scene with +horror; every feature of his countenance +was changed, and every hair on his great +burly head stood on end. He gave a look +to heaven, crossed himself, and said a short +prayer, if a prayer it may be called that +consisted only of four syllables. It consisted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +merely in the pronunciation of a +name, too sacred to be set down in an idle +tale; but he pronounced it with an emphasis +that made it doubly affecting. The +friar, on the contrary, astonished at his +own prowess, or rather at that of his mule, +beheld the scene with wonder, it is true, +but also with a shade of ostentation. "I +have overthrown the horse and his rider," +said he, "and they are sunk down as a +stone into the mighty waters." Corby +manifested the fright that he was in, by +loud and reiterated snortings; the mule +also was astonied, and, that he might witness +the horrific scene in more perfection, +he kept his tail close to the precipice, and +looked back.</p> + +<p>"Now, by my honour as a man and a +warrior, father," said Charlie, "you are a +man amang ten thousand. I never knew +of a bedesman who behaved so gallantly, +nor have I seen a knight behave better. +How durst you close so instantaneously +and furiously with both these valiant troopers?"</p> + +<p>"Thou hadst better put that question<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +to my mule," said the friar,—"for it is a +truth that he hath that in him that is the +ruin of many people, viz. obstinacy of heart. +When he smelleth the battle he disdaineth +all parley or courtesy, as thou beholdest, +but rusheth upon his adversary like +one of the bulls of Bashan."</p> + +<p>At that moment the friar's eye caught a +glance of several horsemen close upon +them, but as they could only come one +man rank, they paused at seeing their enemies +in quiet possession of the way, and +standing in peaceful colloquy, apparently +about something else.</p> + +<p>"By the life of Pharaoh," said the friar, +gazing all around, "I had forgot the man +whom I first engaged and smote as he +passed by."</p> + +<p>"You will see nae mair o' him, father," +said Charlie; "I gae him a deadly wound, +but the saddle was locked to the horse, +and the man to the saddle, and the furious +animal has escaped away to the forest with +the dead man on its back."</p> + +<p>"Thou art indeed a man of valour," said +the friar; "and here will we keep our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +ground. I will do more in our defence than +thou hast yet witnessed; therefore, be not +afraid, my son, for that sword of thine is a +good sword."</p> + +<p>"It is a good sword at a straik," returned +Charlie; "but it's no very handy +at making a defence. But an I get the first +yerk of a chield, I'm no unco feared for his +return. However, father, this sword, sic +as it is, shall be raised in your defence as +lang as my arm can wag it. I like the +man that will stand a brush when a pinch +comes,—see, thae chaps darena come on +us. But, ill luck to the coward! gin they +winna come to us, we'll gang to them."</p> + +<p>"I will certainly go with thee," said the +friar; "but I know the nature of the beast +that I bestride, and that it will at the first +onset bear me into the thickest of the battle; +therefore, be not thou far from me in +my need, for, though nothing afraid, yet I +know it will carry me into peril. Come, +let us go and smite these men with the +edge of the sword."</p> + +<p>"Gallant friar," said Charlie, "the Thief-road +is lang an' narrow, an' there's hardly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +a bit o't that they can come on us twa in +a breast; stand ye still; or be chopping on +your way, an' I'll let you see yon lads get +a surprise for aince."</p> + +<p>"Nay, I will certainly stand with thee +in battle," said the friar; "thinkest thou I +will stand and be a looker on, when my +preserver is in jeopardy? Lo, my heart is +as thy heart, my arm as thy arm, and—but +I cannot say my horse is as thy horse, +for the beast is indeed froward in his ways, +and perverse in all his doings."</p> + +<p>Charlie hardly smiled at the phrase of +the worthy friar,—for he meditated an attack +on their pursuers, and his eye kindled +with his heart toward the battle. He heaved +up his sword-arm twice at its full +stretch, to feel if it was nowise encumbered +in the armour, and putting Corby in +motion, he rode deliberately up to the face +of his enemies. The foremost man spoke +to him, demanding what he wanted; but +he only answered by heaving his sword a +little higher, and making his horse mend his +pace. In one second after that he was engaged +with the first man, and in two seconds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +the horse and his rider had fallen in +the middle of the path. Charlie listed not +coming to close quarter; his sword was so +long and heavy, that it was quite unhandy +in warding the blows of a short and light +weapon. His aim, therefore, was always +to get the first stroke, which was as apt +to light on the horse as the man, and thus +down both of them went. Springing by +the prostrate warrior, he attacked the second +and the third in the same manner, +and with the same success, always either +cutting down the trooper or cleaving the +head of his horse at the first stroke. The +path was now in the utmost confusion. +Owing to the pause that had taken place, +all the riders had come up and crowded +each other behind, some crying, "He is a +devil!" and others at a greater distance +shouting out, "Down with the Scot! +down with him!" Charlie regarded not +their cries, but laid about him with all his +might, till, after striking down three of the +foremost and one horse, those next to him +were glad to turn in order to effect their +escape; but the hindermost on the path refusing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +for a while to give way, many of +their friends fell a sacrifice to Charlie's +wrath. He pursued them for a space, and +might have cut them off every man, had +he been sure that all was safe behind,—but +he had rushed by some wounded men and +wounded horses, and knew not how matters +stood with the friar.</p> + +<p>As he dreaded, so it fell out. Two of +the Englishmen who had fallen perhaps +under their horses, had scrambled up the +bosky precipice, and, as he returned, assailed +him with large stones, a mode of attack +against which he was unable to make +the least resistance. Therefore, it was at +the utmost peril of his life that he made his +way back through the encumbered path to +his friend the friar. This latter worthy had +found it impossible to lend his friend any +assistance. The beast that he bestrode was +fonder of rubbing shoulders with a living +brute, than a mangled or dead one; so he +refused to come nearer the first that fell +than about twice his own length, where he +stood firm, turning his tail to the scene of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +battle, and looking back. Our two heroes +now set off at full speed after the rest of +their party, whom they expected to overtake +before reaching the outposts of the +beleaguering army.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Lord Duffus.</i>—I saw the appearance of a mounted warrior.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Whence did it come, or whither did it go?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Or whom did it seek here?<br /></span> +<span class="i8">Hush thee, my lord;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The apparition spoke not, but passed on.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">'Tis something dreadful; and, I fear me much,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Betokens evil to this fair array.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="i12"><i>Trag. of the Prioress.</i><br /></span> +</div> + + +<p>The rest of our cavalcade continued to +advance at a quick pace, not without +anxiety. They were not afraid of their +enemies coming behind them, for they had +strong faith in the prowess of their friend, +as well as his horse Corby. But when they +came to the end of the narrow path, called +the Thief-gate, there were two roads, and +they knew not which of these to follow. +As bad luck would have it, they took the +most easterly, which led towards Yetholm, +and left the Scottish army to the westward. +In that path they continued to jog +on, turning many a long look behind them +for the approach of Charlie; and, at one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> +time, they thought they got a view of him +coming at a furious pace all alone; but the +rider being at a great space behind them, +he was shortly hid from their view in an +intervening hollow, and it was long before +they saw him any more. They judged +that the friar was taken or slain, and began +to talk of his loss in a very indifferent +manner.</p> + +<p>"Alas, how frigid and ungenial must +be the hearts of you men in Scotland," +said Delany. "Now, of all the men I have +met with since I was brought from my +own country, there is only one whose death +I would more regret than that of the worthy +and kind friar. He may have his whims +and his peculiarities, but his manner is +pleasing, and his speech has a strain of +grandeur which I love. Where did he +acquire that speech?"</p> + +<p>"He gets it frae some auld-fashioned +beuk," said Tam, "that he has pored on a' +his days, an' translatit out o' other tongues, +till he was nearly hanged for it; and it's +weel kend that he is now in hiding wi' our +warden for fear o' his life, and has been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +these half dozen o' years; and though he +pretends to be only a friar, he was aince a +monk o' the first order of St Benedict, and +president of a grand college in France."</p> + +<p>"I would like to converse with him," +said Delany, "for I have always thought +that he feigned to be something a degree +lower than he is."</p> + +<p>"You said there was <i>but one</i> you would +lament the loss of more," said the poet: +"Pray, who may that <i>one</i> be?"</p> + +<p>"Could you not guess?" returned she.</p> + +<p>"How can I?" said he; "but this I +know, that to be the favoured one I would +dive into the depths of the ocean,—"</p> + +<p>"It wad be for fear then," said Tam.</p> + +<p>"Or traverse the regions of ice," continued +the bard, "or wander barefoot over +burning sands, or—"</p> + +<p>"O, alak for your poor feet!" said Delany, +interrupting him; "but rest satisfied +you shall not be put to the test: it is not +you."</p> + +<p>With such kind of chat did they beguile +the way, till Elias, looking back, exclaimed, +"Mercy! see what a guise Yardbire is +coming in!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span></p> + +<p>"St Mary protect us!" said the maid; +"he must be grievously wounded. See +how he rides!"</p> + +<p>Every one turned round his horse and +looked at the approaching warrior; but it +was wearing late, and they could not see +with distinctness. The horse was coming +rapidly, and with apparent impatience, but +Charlie appeared as if he were riding in +his sleep. When the horse came down +hill he bent forward, and on climbing an +ascent he bent back, riding with that sort +of motion as if his back or neck were out +of joint. The whole group showed manifest +signs of fear at the approach of such +a hideous apparition; and, quite in earnest, +though in a pretended frolic, they wheeled +about again, and gallopped away. The +ground being uneven, and the night-fall +coming on, they soon lost sight of him; +and, continuing their career as fast as the +road would permit, they seemed inclined +to escape from their friend altogether. +The maid had just begun to remonstrate +on their unfriendly procedure, when they +beheld the same unaccountable figure coming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +at the full gallop close behind them. +Seeing that he was determined to be of +the party, they suffered him to overtake +them quietly. He came driving furiously +up till he was in the middle of them, and +then paused. No one had the courage to +speak to him, for he looked not up, nor +regarded any of them. His helmed head +nodded on his breast, and his arms hung +loosely down by his side, the steel armlets +rattling on the cuishes. At one time his +horse came so near to that on which Delany +rode, that she weened she saw the +rider all covered with blood, and screamed +out; yet in the twilight she could not be +certain. The poet, who was never far +from her side, and on whom her voice always +acted like electricity, immediately +demanded the cause of her alarm.</p> + +<p>"O Carol!" said she, in an agitated whisper, +"we are haunted. That is a dead man +that rides in our company."</p> + +<p>If the maid was alarmed, the poet was +ten times more so. If she had said that a +lion or a bear was in the company, it could +not have struck such a chillness to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +poor bard's heart; and, after all, it was +no wonder, for there is something exceedingly +appalling in the idea of having a dead +man riding in one's company. The poet +felt this in its fullest measure. He held in +his horse and attempted a reply, but a dryness +pervaded his mouth so much that he +could not make himself intelligible. A +damp had fallen on the whole party, and a +breathless silence prevailed. Tam put the +question, so natural, to him as he passed, +"Charlie, is this you?"—but none answered +or regarded. They were riding up a +slanting hill when the bard was first apprised +of the nature of their guest, and +shortly after the figure coming between +him and the evening sky, its motions were +altogether so hideous, that he roared out +in perfect terror as loud as he could bray, +scarce letting one bellow await another. +This was still worse than the dumb appalling +uncertainty in which they were before +involved; till at last Tam, losing all patience, +let loose his rage against the poet, +calling him a bellowing beast, and many +other opprobrious names. This encouraging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +Gibbie, who had the bard at no good +will on account of the damsel, he said he +brought him "amind of a story that the +fo'k o' Annandale tauld about Andrew +Jardine's bull, that was better at booing +than breeding." The boy Elias now coming +in behind them, and having heard what +Delany said, cried softly, "Hush! yeomen! +hush! we are haunted; it is a ghost that +rides in our company."</p> + +<p>They all turned their eyes to the mysterious +figure, which they still thought resembled +their champion Yardbire, as well +as the horse did that which he rode, the redoubted +Corby. The horse had started a +little forward at the cries of the poet, but +when the rest paused the figure seemed to +wheel his horse around, and made a dead +pause also, standing still with his face toward +them, and straight on the path before. +Not one durst proceed. The figure +neither moved nor threatened, but stood +nodding its head on the height at every +motion of the steed; yet our party were +arrested on their way, nor knew they exactly +in what place they were: But from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +the length of the way they had come, they +were sure they were near the Scottish army +on one side or other, and free from any +danger of the foes they had left behind +them on the Border. None of them were +good guides in any case, and a man in fear +is neither a fit guide for himself nor others. +Fear had the sway, and fear gave the word +of command without being disputed. The +poet was the first to strike from the beaten +path, and it was at no easy pace that he +rode. He turned westward, and the rest +all followed with main speed. Their progress +was soon interrupted by a strong cattle +fence made of stakes and the branches +of trees interwoven, bespeaking the vicinity +of some village, or place of human habitation. +They soon broke through the fence, +but by bad luck did not take time to make +up the breach, which they left open, and +posting forward came to a large house amid +a number of smaller ones. The poet called +for admittance in a moving and earnest +stile, and at once resolved to take no denial. +Before ever he paused, he told them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +he and his party had lost their way, and +that they had seen a ghost.</p> + +<p>"Then you must be some murderers," +said the men of the house,—"and here you +remain not to-night."</p> + +<p>"We belong to the warden of the marches, +the brave baron of Mountcomyn," said +the poet, "and go on an errand of great +import to the army. In that case we might +demand what we only ask as a boon, namely, +such lodging as the house affords."</p> + +<p>"You had better keep that part to yourself," +said the men of the house: "Though +Sir Ringan is supreme in the middle marches, +he is no favourite here. Our master's +name is Ker. He is with the Douglas, but +may be home to-night. Calm sough and +kitchen fare, or ride on."</p> + +<p>"It brings me in mind o' an auld proverb," +said Gibbie, "that beggars should +nae be choisers; sae, honest lads, bring us +a light, for our horses are sair tired an' +maun be weel put up."</p> + +<p>The party, it will be remembered, consisted +only of five, exclusive of Charlie and +the friar. They had draw up their horses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +close to the hall door, and were still on +horseback when the men turned into the +house for a light. The poet, whose eager +eyes were still on the watch, chancing to +look at the heads of his associates between +him and the sky, thought he discovered +one too many.</p> + +<p>"Surely there are six of us,'said he in +a hurried tremulous voice. "Six of us!" +said Tam, as doubting the statement.</p> + +<p>"Six of us? No, surely?" said Delany.</p> + +<p>At that instant a lad came out with a +lanthorn, and held it up to look at the +party. The poet was nearest the door, and +the light shone full on him and the rider +that was next him. He cast his eyes on +that rider,—but one glance was enough to +bedim his eye-sight, if not to scare away +his reason. It had the appearance of a +warrior sheathed in steel, but all encrusted +in a sheet of blood. His mouth was wide +open, and his jaws hanging down upon his +breast, while his head seemed to be cleft +asunder. The poet uttered a loud yell of +horror, and, flinging himself from his horse +on the side opposite to that on which the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +phantom stood, he fell among the mud and +stones at the door, yet ceased not to reiterate +his loud cries like one in distraction. +Every one jumped from his horse, and hurried +in at the door; the man with the lanthorn +also fled, and with the noise and uproar +the horses galloped off, saddled and +bridled as they were. As the guests ran +into the hall, every one asked at all the +rest what it was? "What is it?" was all +that could be heard; all asking the question, +but none answering it. Even the +people of the house joined in the query, +and came all round the strangers, crying, +"What is it?—What is it?"—"I do +not know—I do not know, Sir—I do +not know upon my word."</p> + +<p>"The people are all delirious," said the +housekeeper:"—Can no one tell us what it +was that affrighted you?—St Magdalene +be with us! whom have we here?"</p> + +<p>This was no other than the poor bard +coming toward the light, creeping slowly +on all-four, and still groaning as he came.</p> + +<p>"Here's the chap that began the fray," +said Tam, "you may speer at him. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> +rather looks as he were at ane mae wi't. +For my part, I just did as the rest did,—ran +an' cried as loud as I could. When a +dust is fairly begun, I think aye the mair +stour that is raised the better. I'll try +wha will cry loudest again, an ye like,—or +rin round the fire wi' ony o' you, or out +through the mids o't either, at a pinch."</p> + +<p>Tam turned round his long nose to see +if his jest had taken, for he always fixed +his eyes stedfastly on one object when he +spoke; but he found that his jargon had +been ill-timed, for no one laughed at it but +himself. The rest were gathered round +the bard; some pitying, but more like to +burst with laughter at his forlorn state. +He fetched two or three long-drawn moans, +and then raising himself up on his knees, +with his eyes fixed on the light, he rolled +over, and fainted.</p> + +<p>Delany first stooped to support his head, +and was soon assisted by every female in +the house, while the men only stood and +looked on. By bathing his hands and temples +with cold water, they soon brought +him out of his faint, but not to his right<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +senses. His looks continued wild and unstable, +and ever and anon they were turned +to the door, as if he expected some other +guest to enter. A sober conference at last +ensued; and as no one had seen or heard any +thing at this last encounter, save the man +that was taken ill, who a few moments before +had been heard to say <i>there were six of +them</i>, all began to agree that he had been +seized with some sudden frenzy or delirium; +till the lad, who had carried out the +light, thrust in his pale face among the rest, +and said,—"Na, na, my masters, it is nae +for naething that the honest man's gane +away in a kink; for, when I held up the +bouet, I saw a dead man riding on a horse +close at his side. He was berkened wi' +blood off at the taes; and his mouth was +open, and I saw his tongue hinging out."</p> + +<p>It may well be conceived what an icy +chillness these words distilled round the +heart of every one present. The effect on +our travellers was particularly appalling, +from the idea that they were haunted by a +phantom from which they could not escape. +The whole group closed around the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> +fire, and the strangers recounted to the family +the singular occurrence of their having +lost two of their number by the way, +and been pursued and overtaken by a phantom +resembling one of them, and that the +hideous spectre was, as it seemed, haunting +them still. As they all agreed in the +same story, it was not of a nature to be disregarded +at a period when superstition +swayed the hearts of men with irresistible +power. The stoutest heart among them +was daunted, and no one durst go out to +the vaults to look after his master's cattle, +nor to take in our travellers' horses, that +were left to shift for themselves during the +long winter night.</p> + +<p>The next morning, between day-light +and the sun-rising, the men began to peep +abroad, and the first things they observed +were some of the horses of our travellers +going about in a careless, easy manner. +This they looked on as a good omen, +knowing that horses were terrified for spirits; +and the men joining in a body, they +sallied out to reconnoitre. The horses had +fared well, for they had fed at the laird's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +stacks of hay and corn all night; but as +the men were going round to see how +matters stood, they perceived a phenomenon, +that, if it had not been open day-light, +would have scared them from the +habitation. This was the identical phantom-warrior +still sitting unmoved on his +horse, that was helping itself full liberally +out of one of the laird's corn-ricks. The +eye of day expels the films of superstition +from the human eye. The men, after a +short consultation, ventured to surround +the phantom,—to seize his horse,—(who +had given full proof that he at least was +flesh and blood;)—and, after a good deal +of trembling astonishment, they found that +he was actually rode by a dead warrior, +whose head was cleft asunder, and his whole +body, both within and without the harness, +encrusted in blood.</p> + +<p>The mystery was soon cleared up; but +none then knew who he was. It had become +customary in that age for warriors, +who went to engage others, on horseback, +to lock themselves to the saddle, for fear of +being borne out of their seats by the spears<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +of their opponents in the encounter. This +was the individual trooper who had come +foremost in the pursuit of our party, he +whom the friar jostled, and whom Charlie, +encountering the moment after, had slain; +but his suit of armour having kept him +nearly upright in his saddle, his horse had +run off with him, and followed after those +of our travellers, as every horse will do +that is let go on a high-way and gets his +will.</p> + +<p>Glad were our travellers at an eclaircissement +so fairly within the bounds of +their comprehension; and when the poet +saw the gash made in the helmet, he shook +his head, and exclaimed, "Ha! well I +wot the mighty hand of Charlie has been +here!"</p> + +<p>Gibbie remarked that he himself had +"killed one very like him, only he was sure +his wad never mount horse again." But +seeing Tam's ill-set eye fixed on him, he was +afraid of something coming out relating to +that encounter which he did not wish to +hear blabbed; so he changed his tone, and, +looking wise, said, "The hale business<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +brings me a-mind of a very good story that +happened aince at Allergrain; an' if it be +nae true it is behadden to the maker, for +the sin o' the lie lyes nae at my door. The +story, you see, is this.—There was a man, +an' he had a wife; an' they had a son, an' +they ca'ed him Jock—"</p> + +<p>"Now, d—n your particularity!" said +Tam Craik: "think you we have nought +else to do but stand beside the bloody man +and listen to a long-winded tale like that?"</p> + +<p>The poet muttered over some old rhyme +in unison with what he heard. If one word +spoken chanced to occur in any old rhyme +or song that he knew, he went over the +sentence to himself, though it had no farther +connection with it, or resemblance to +it, than merely that word. This made his +conversation altogether incomprehensible +to those not acquainted with him, but it +was always delightful to himself; a chance +old rhyme brought to his remembrance, +would have pleased him almost in any circumstances, +while his words chimed naturally +into measure.</p> + +<p>Leaving the dead warrior at the house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +where they lodged for the people to bury +as they liked, they proceeded to the army, +in hopes of finding Charlie and the friar +there; for without them they did not know +how to accomplish their mission. These +two heroes finding, on asking at a hamlet, +that their friends had not passed on the +road to Roxburgh, suspected what way +they had gone, and turning to the south-east +they followed them on the track to +Yetholm, but misled them at the house +into which they had been chased by the +dead man, and rode searching for them +the greater part of the night. Next morning +they again went in search of them, +and came up behind them at the convent +of Maisondieu near to the Teviot, +where a detachment of the army was stationed; +and, after conversing two or three +hours on the state of the army and garrison, +they proceeded on their journey, and +reached the abbey of Melrose that night. +There they were welcomed by the brethren, +and lodged comfortably. There also they +got many strange stories told to them +about Master Michael Scott, which made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +the very hairs of their heads stand on end, +and the hearts of the boldest to palpitate. +When the friar heard them, he seemed +wrapt in deep thought; and he opened his +mouth, and said: "If the things that thou +hast spoken be according to the light that +is in thee, and the truth that is told among +men, then this man is not as other men, for +the spirit of the immortals is in him, and +he communeth with the prince of the power +of the air. Nevertheless, I will go unto +him, and I will speak to him face to face, as +a man speaketh to his friend. Peradventure +I shall tell him that which he knoweth +not."</p> + +<p>When it was told to the abbot Lawrence, +that the servants of the warden were +come, and that they were accompanied by +his chaplain and bedesman, a learned man +in all holy things, the father came to bestow +upon them his benediction,—for the +baron of Mountcomyn had conferred many +rich benefices on the abbey. At the first +sound of the friar's voice, the abbot started, +as if recollecting him; but on looking +at the man his hope seemed to die away.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +Every time, however, that he spoke in his +eastern style, the abbot fixed a look on him, +as if he would fain have claimed acquaintance, +which the friar perceiving, urged +their departure with all the interest he +had; and accordingly, about mid-day, they +set out for Aikwood-castle, the seat of the +renowned magician Master Michael Scott.</p> + +<p>Ever since the stern encounter with the +English moss-troopers on the Thief-road, +Charlie had attached himself close to the +friar, imagining that he saw his character in +a new light, and that he was one who might +either be roused to desperate courage, or +impressed with notorious dread; and when +he heard him say that he would speak to +the enchanter face to face, he admired him +still the more; for the business of addressing +the Master was that which stuck sorest +on the stomach of the doughty Yardbire. +As for the poet, he scarcely seemed himself +all that day. He looked at the mountains, +and the wild romantic rivers branching +among them in every direction, with looks +of which it was hard to say whether they +were looks of vacancy or affection, for he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +looked sometimes as at objects which he +was never to see again. His tongue muttered +long rhymes in which his heart had +little share; so that Delany was obliged to +detach herself from his society, and make +up to the friar, whom she now addressed +with much affection, and some degree of +coquetry:—</p> + +<p>"Dearest father, why have you neglected +me so much on our journey? Ever since +our first stage was got over, you have not +deigned to take any notice of me. What +have you seen in my conduct that you have +thus shunned me? It is in sincerity that I +assure you there is no man in whose conversation +I so much delight."</p> + +<p>"Fairest among maidens!" said the friar, +putting his arm gently around her neck, +as her palfrey came close up by his side, +"say not so, but come near me, I will kiss +thee with the kisses of my mouth, for thy +love is sweeter to me than the vintage. +Behold thou art even like a tower of alabaster +shining from among the cedars of +Lebanon. Thy bosom resembleth two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +young roes that are twins, and feed among +the lilies of the valley."</p> + +<p>"Hold, dear father!" said she, "and do +not let your gallantry run away with your +good common sense. Yet would I love to +hear that language spoken to another, for +though it be nonsense it is still beautiful. Tell +me, for I long to hear, where, or in what +country, you learned to speak in that stile."</p> + +<p>"Daughter of my people," said he, "I +have learned that language at home and in +a far country. In youth and in age hath +it been my delight. At noon-tide when +the sun shone in his strength, and in the +silent watches of the night hath it been my +meditation. In adversity hath it been my +comfort, and in prosperity my joy; so that +now it hath become unto me as my mother +tongue, and other language have I none."</p> + +<p>"Is it the language of the convent and +the priory alone?" said the maid.</p> + +<p>"No, thou rose of the desart," said the +friar;—"it is not the language indeed, but +the stile of language over one half of the +habitable world. It is the language of all +the kingdoms and countries of the east,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +from India even unto Ethiopia; and all +the way as thou goest down towards the +rising of the sun, yea from the river to the +ends of the earth it prevaileth. But, O +thou fairest among the daughters of women! +that language did I not learn in the +lands that are watered by the great river, +even the river Euphrates. In Ur of the +Chaldees have I not sojourned; nor on the +mountains of Palestine have I lifted up my +eyes. But I learned it from one little book; +a book that is of more value to the children +of men than all the gold of Ophir. O maiden, +could I but make known unto thee +the treasures of that book, the majesty of +its stile, and the excellency of its precepts, +it would make thine heart to sing for joy. +If all the writings of this world, yea, if the +world itself were to be laid in the balance +with that book, they would be found wanting. +The mountains may depart, and the +seas may pass away, the stars, and the heavens +in which they shine, may be removed, +but the words of that book shall remain +for ever and ever! And this language that +I now speak to thee resembleth the words<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> +written therein; and I speak them unto +thee that thou mayest hear and love them."</p> + +<p>"Dear friar, teach me to read and understand +that book, for my breast yearneth +to know more about it. I am, it is +true, not my own at present to give, but I +have some forebodings here that tell me I +soon shall; and, father, I will serve thee, +and be thy handmaid, if thou wilt teach me +the words and the mysteries of that little +book."</p> + +<p>"Alas! and wo is me, for the ignorance +of my people!" said he, with the tears +streaming over his grim cheek; "they are +troubled about that which availeth them +nothing, while the way of life is hid from +their eyes. Their leaders have caused them +to err; and I, even I, have been a dweller +in the tabernacles of sin! But the day-star +hath shone upon my soul and my spirit: +For that have I been persecuted, and hunted +as a partridge upon the mountains, chased +from the habitations of my brethren, and +forced to dwell among a strange and savage +people. Yet there are among them whom I +love; and could I be the mean of opening<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +thine eyes, and turning thee from darkness +unto light, then would I know for what purpose +the finger of heaven had pointed out my +way to this barren wilderness. Thou can'st +not be a servant or a handmaiden unto one +who is little better than an outcast and a +vagabond on the earth. But better days +may come to us both: I am not what I +seem; but, maiden, thou mayest trust me. +My love for thee surpasseth the love of +women, for it is with more than an earthly +love that I behold and delight in thee. +Come unto me this night, and I will tell +thee things that shall make thine ears tingle. +The book of wonders is here with +me, and thou mayest look thereon and be +glad."</p> + +<p>The poet and his associates listened to +this rhapsody apart.</p> + +<p>"What book does he mean?" said the +poet: "If it is not True Thomas's book, +or the book of Sir Gawin, he must be +speaking absolute nonsense. I could recite +these to lovely Delany, word for word; +and must this clumsy old friar wile her +from me by any better book than these?"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are clean mista'en, maister poeter," +said Tam; "I ken mair about auld +Roger than you do, or than ony that's +here. It is a book o' black art that he carries +about wi' him, and studies on it night +and day. He gat it at a place they ca' +Oxford, where they study nought else but +sic cantrips. They hae tried to hang him, +and they hae tried to cut off his head, and +they hae tried to burn him at the stake; +but tow wadna hang, water wadna drown, +steel wadna nick, and a' the fire o' the land +wadna singe ae hair o' the auld loun's head."</p> + +<p>"Gude forgie me!" said Charlie: "An +that be true, Corby, you and I had maybe +mair pith than our ain yon time. I wondered +that he rade sae furiously on the +drawn swords of men and armour, the auld +warlock. He-he-he! we'll aiblins try auld +Michael at his ain weapons, an that be the +gate."</p> + +<p>"Ye maunna lippen ower muckle to a' +this," said he of the Peatstacknowe; "else ye +may play like Marion's Jock, when he gaed +away to douk in Commonside loch. 'It +is a hard matter,' says Jock to himself,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> +'that a' the lave o' Commonside's men +can swatter and swim in the loch like sae +mony drakes but me. I am fain either to +poutter about the side, or down I gang. +I can neither sink nor swim; for when I +try to get to the bottom to creep, there I +stick like a woundit paddock, wagging my +arms and my legs, and can neither get to the +top nor the bottom. Just half way, there +stick I. But I's be even hands wi' them +an' mair, an' then I'll laugh at the leishest +o' them; for I'll stand, and wade, and gang +ower the waves afore them a', aye, and that +wi' my head boonmost.' Jock, after this +grand contrivance, coudna rest, but off he +sets to Hawick, and gets four big blawn +bladders; and the next day, when a' the +lave went to bathe, Jock he went to bathe +amang the rest; and he gangs slyly into a +bush by himsel', and ties twa o' the bladders +to every foot. 'Now,' thinks Jock, +'I'll let them see a trick.' Sae he slips into +the loch, and wades into the deep; but +the bladders they aye gart him hobble and +bob up and down, till, faith, he loses the +balance, and ower he coups. Nane o' them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +kend o' Jock's great plan, and they were a' +like to burst their sides wi' laughing when +they saw Jock diving. But when they +saw he wasna like to come up again, they +swattered away to the place, and there was +Jock swimming wi' his head straight to +the bottom, and his feet and the four bladders +walking a minuay aboon. Now, let +me tell ye, an ye lippen to the friar's +warlockry, and his enchantments, and divinations, +ye trust to as mony bladders fu' +o' wind, and down gae a' your heads, and +your heels uppermost. Na, na; nane maun +try to cope wi' auld Michael."</p> + +<p>"I hae heard, indeed, that he coudna +brook ony rivalry," said Charlie; "and I +hae heard waur instances, and waur stories +too, than that o' yours, laird. But let us +draw slyly near to the twasome, and make +lang lugs, to try if we can learn ony mair +about that same beuk. If the friar hae +ony power o' enchantment, it is my opinion +the first glamour he'll thraw will be +ower that bonny wench."</p> + +<p>"We ought to keep them asunder by +force," said the poet; "it would be a shame<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> +and a disgrace to us, if we were to let the +auld rogue seduce either her person or her +morals."</p> + +<p>"Morals?" said Charlie; "I dinna ken +about them, for I watna weel what they +are; but as to seducing hersel', I think I +could answer for auld Roger the friar. +I see there's nae man can help liking a +bonny lass; but the better a good man likes +ane he'll be the mair sweer to do her ony +skaith."</p> + +<p>"Aye; but then how can an enchanter +be a good man?" said the poet.</p> + +<p>"That's the thing that puzzles me," +said Charlie: "Let us hear what they are +on about sae briskly now."</p> + +<p>They then drew near, and heard the following +words, while the remarks that they +made were said aside among themselves.</p> + +<p>"My fate, you see, has been a strange +one, father. I was separated from my parents +so young that I scarcely remember +them. But the Scots have been kind to +me, and I have loved them. I have never +been unhappy, except when long confined +to a place, which I dislike exceedingly;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> +and as I have hopes that this change will +add somewhat to my freedom, I rejoice in +it, without weighing circumstances. If +those fond hopes should be realised, I promise +to you, father, that the first use I +will make of my liberty, shall be to sit at +your feet, and learn that wonderful and +mysterious book."</p> + +<p>"Do you hear that?" said the poet with +great emphasis, but in a half whisper; +"he has gotten her broken already to +learn the book of the black art. Then the +deil's bargain and witchcraft comes next; +then the harassing of the whole country +side, dancing in kirkyards, and riding on +the wind; and then, mayhap, the stake +and the faggot end the matter that is but +just beginning. Alak, and wo is me! +I say, in the king's name, and in the warden's, +let them be separated."</p> + +<p>"Gude sauf us!" exclaimed Charlie. +"There's nae man sure o' his life an a' +this be true! But a' fair play. Nae self +amang us. Hist, and let us hear what he +is saying in answer."</p> + +<p>"Daughter," said the friar, half crying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> +with joy, "doth not my heart yearn over +thee, even as a mother yearneth over the +child of her bosom? Lo, I will be unto +thee as a father, and thou shalt be unto +me as a daughter."</p> + +<p>"Hear what the old rascal is saying!" +said the poet.</p> + +<p>"And behold the fruits of our labours +shall spring up into life;"—</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is past all sufferance!" said +the poet.</p> + +<p>—"For, O thou fair one, whose beauty +is as the beauty of the morning, and whose +innocence surpasseth that of the kid, or +the lamb, or the young roe, when they +are playing upon the mountains,"—</p> + +<p>"Gude faith, Mr Carol," said Charlie +aside, "it's that auld chap that's the poet; +an' no you."</p> + +<p>"Humph! mere fustian!" said the poet.</p> + +<p>The friar still went on:—</p> + +<p>—"That beauty will decay, as the rose +fadeth on the brows of Shinar or Hermon; +and that innocence shall be perverted by +the sinful and regardless people among +whom thou sojournest, and shall become,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> +as it were, betrothed to sin and corruption; +yea, and that eye, that shineth like +the dews of the morning, shall be darkened. +But, O beloved maiden! there is that +in this little book, yea, I say unto thee, +even in this old, neglected, and despised +book, that, unto those who learn it, shall +prove the savour of life unto life; and if +thou dost learn and cherish the things +contained in this book thou shalt never +die!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, billy, that is a yanker!" said Tam +aside: "When ane is gaun to tell a lie, +there's naething like telling a plumper at +aince, and being done wi't."</p> + +<p>"Now, but hear to the deceitful old +rogue," said the poet: "All the books of +black art in the world cannot accomplish +that. In the name of Saint Barnabas, I +say let them be separated!"</p> + +<p>"It wad be weel done," said Tam, "if +ane durst;"—for he wanted to blow up the +poet's wrath, for the sake of a little sport.</p> + +<p>"Durst!" said the poet, "durst!—If +none other dare, I shall, in spite of all his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> +hellish arts. Durst! that is a good one,—to +be dursted with an old sackbut!"</p> + +<p>They did not hear what answer Delany +made to the extraordinary information, as +they took it, that, by learning the little +black book, she was to be redeemed from +death; for the fierce jealousy of the enamoured +bard prevented them. But when +they listened again so as to hear distinctly, +the friar was still increasing in fervency. +All that he said was in raptures +of divine ecstacy; while his associates, who +knew nothing, and cared as little about +these things, understood it in another way.</p> + +<p>"For I say unto thee, if thou wilt suffer +me to instil these truths into thee, thou +shalt both blossom and bring forth fruit +abundantly; yea, thou shalt shine as the +stars in the firmament of heaven. Seest +thou yon sun that walketh above the +clouds in majesty and brightness? Beyond +yon sun shall thine habitation be +fixed; and the blue arch that encircles the +regions of the air, which thou hast so often +seen studded over with diamonds, shall be +unto thee a pavement whereon thou shalt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> +tread. All this and more shalt thou possess, +if thou wilt learn and obey the things +that are written in this book, where it is +said by one that cannot err, 'Lo, I will be +always with you, and my arms shall be +underneath and around you, and when +you are faint and weary I will hide you +in my bosom.'"</p> + +<p>"For the blood that is in your body +dare to attempt such a thing!" cried the +enraged poet. "Down with hypocrisy +and sensuality together! Hurray for the +combat, and God defend the right!"</p> + +<p>So, crying as loud as he could yell, he +pulled out his sword, and rode furiously +up between Delany and the friar, shoving +the latter rudely as he passed. The maiden's +palfrey sprung away, but the friar's +mule only leaned with all his might to the +poet's steed as he pressed against him in +passing; and feeling his prop give way, he +leaned round in the same direction, till his +tail was exactly where his head was before; +and then, dreading some abhorred +exertion, he set his feet asunder, and stood +immovable. The poet drew up, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> +wheeled about, and seeing still the hinder +parts of the friar and his beast, he cried, +exultingly, "Ay, you are more ready to +seduce an innocent and lovely maiden, +than to answer for the crime! Vile lump +of sin and hypocrisy! turn round and meet +me face to face, that I may chastise thee +for thy graceless attempt!"</p> + +<p>The friar spurred most furiously, but the +mule only dashed his head downward and +his heels in a contrary direction, and kept +his position. All the rest were like to burst +with laughter, which still increasing the +bard's insolence, he fumed about enchantments +and the black art, and dared the +friar to turn and look him in the face.</p> + +<p>What with one provocation, what with +another, the friar's angry passions were +roused; and, not being able to make his +mule turn round, he drew out his sword, +saying at the same time in a voice of great +vehemence, "God do so to me and more +also, if I make not—"</p> + +<p>He got no farther with his speech, for +the mule interrupted him. Obstinate as +the brute was, the sight of the sword, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> +the sound of his master's angry voice operated +on him like magic. Perhaps he understood +that all further opposition was +vain,—for in one moment he wheeled around, +his eyes gleaming with rage; and +pricking up his ears to see where the +storm of his and his master's wrath was +to alight, he perceived the poet on his tall +steed, brandishing his dazzling sword, and +forthwith darted at them with the swiftness +of an arrow, and a fury not to be +checked. There were no more words nor +threatenings passed between the enraged +combatants; for more space of time there +was none before the mule had his shoulder +to that of the poet's steed, his teeth +fixed in his flank, and was pushing with +the fury of an enraged bull.</p> + +<p>On the closing of the two steeds the +riders likewise engaged, the poet coming +on with a downward stroke, which the +friar received with great indifference on +his sword crossed above his cowl. But +knowing well the nature of his beast, he +kept up the poet's sword and arm both, +until the sides of the two animals were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> +jammed together, as the rider of the mule +well knew they would be. By that time +the poet's arm was pressed up straight by +his ear, and his sword pointed to heaven; +and in endeavouring to free his elbow +from the hilt of the friar's sword, he lost his +balance. At the same instant their feet +encountering in the stirrups, and the friar's +being below that of his opponent, he gave +him such a ketch with his right foot and +sword-arm together, that he made him fly +from his horse to a great distance, in a sort +of arching direction; and the unfortunate +poet, falling on his shoulder and head, was +wofully bruised, and utterly discomfited.</p> + +<p>But the combat ended not here. The +mule still struggled with his adversary, +which not only kept his ground, but rather +began to force the mule to give way. +But the inveterate mongrel was not to be +vanquished in that way. He pressed, +struggled, and wrought himself round, till +he got his tail to the horse's shoulder, and +then he attacked him furiously with his +iron-heels. The horse being a horse of +spirit, and scorning to yield to his long-eared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span> +adversary, applied the same offensive +weapons with very little ceremony, +wincing and screaming all the while, and +sometimes making his feet to fly as high +as the friar's elbows. The mule fought with +desperate energy, but in profound silence. +Not so the rider; he spurred, struck with +his sword, and cried with a loud voice, +"Soh! tproo! thou beast of the pit! +sure the spirit of the evil one is in thee! +Lo, I shall be beaten to pieces, for the +heels of the horses are lifted up against +me. By the life of Pharaoh, I will smite +thee until thy blood shall be poured out +like water,—thou perverse and abominable +beast! I say unto thee go forward!"</p> + +<p>The voice of the friar, during this passionate +declamation, had arisen gradually +until the last sentence, which was pronounced +in his utmost stile of vehemence. +The mule heard this, and saw the uplifted +sword; and not awaiting its descent, he +sprang forward with main force, but no +man will guess the issue.</p> + +<p>It may well be conceived, that during +this desperate combat between the horse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> +and mule, the onlookers were convulsed +with laughter. Charlie Scott, in particular, +laughed with a "Ha-ha-ha!" so +loud that he made all the woods around +to ring, and at every breath exclaimed, +"Gude faith, I never saw ought half so +grand! Na, never!" Gibbie was advanced +a little before the rest, so as to be near +the scene of action, which, without doubt, +was bringing him in mind of some excellent +story, for his mouth was formed like a +seam from the one ear to the other. But it +is dangerous putting one's self too forward +in life, and that the poor laird of the Peatstacknowe +soon found. It is well known +that between parties so closely connected +as the horse and his rider, passion begets +passion. The mule, driven altogether furious +by the broil, and the rage and spurs +of his master, either wished to rub himself +rid of him, or deemed that it was to be a +battle general; for he no sooner rushed +from one fray than he flew to another, +quite open-mouthed on Gibbie, and, seizing +him by the thigh, he separated one +limb of his buffskin breeches and a mouthful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> +of the laird's own skin from their places, +in one moment, and the next had his teeth +fixed in the flank of the laird's horse. Gibbie +cried out against the friar, irritated by +pain, as well as the awkward and dangerous +situation in which he was thus momently +placed. His horse flung—the mule +returned the compliment with hearty good +will, and glad was Gibbie to escape, which +he did with great celerity as soon as he got +leisure to use the spurs. The mule ran +straight at the next horse, and then at the +next again, but all of them scampered off +at his approach, and left him master of the +field; on which he turned two or three +times sullenly round, throwing himself up +behind and down before. The friar's wrath +was somewhat diverted by the shouts of +laughter from his scattered compeers, and +he only smiled grimly as he said to his +contumacious beast,—"Thou art even a +perverse and an evil one; nevertheless thou +hast been to me a beast for these many +years, and hast borne me in distant pilgrimages, +through many perils and dangers; +and I will not act the part of the son of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> +Bosor: peradventure thou mayest amend +thy ways and do some credit to old age."</p> + +<p>The laird in his escape gallopped by the +forlorn poet; who, raising up his head, and +perceiving the plight of the dismayed and +unoffensive wight, scouring off with the +one thigh naked and bleeding, burst out +into a hysteric giggle between laughing +and crying, and repeated some scraps of +old rhyme no way connected with the incident. +The attention of the party was now +turned to him, and the friar's as much as +any, who enquired with great simplicity, +"My brother, why was thine arm lifted up +against me?"</p> + +<p>The bard was dreadfully abashed, and +out of countenance; and he only answered +in rhymes, of which none of them could +make any thing:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"His arm was strong, and his heart was stout,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he broke the tower and he got out;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then the king he was an angry man,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And an angry man was he,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he said, "Go, lock him in prison strong,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And hunger him till he dee.<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>"That was a hard weird, was it not? +Ha-ha! there be many such; for</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He had his wale of seven sisters,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of lith, and lire, and limb so fair;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the loathly dame of the Hazelrig,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She ruined his peace for evermair."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Lo, my son," answered the friar, "thy +thoughts are wandering in a wilderness. I +only ask thee wherein I have offended +thee. For as mine hand is, so is mine +heart; and, as my soul liveth, I know not +in what respect I have done thee wrong."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I have not done thee wrong, fair May,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I have not done thee wrong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the cup of death has passed my lips,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And my life will not be long.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"No, no; dame Delany, you need not +bathe my temples. I am not raving. I +am not even hurt. The mischievous beast +made my horse throw me, but I am nothing +the worse."</p> + +<p>The friar, not being able to make any +thing of the poet himself, applied to the +rest, and was soon informed by Tam, that +"he was overheard trying to gar the lassie +learn the black art, and courting her to nae<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span> +good; and the poet grew jealous, and was +for being revenged."</p> + +<p>The friar uttered a loud groan for the +ignorance of his associates; but, hopeless +of making any thing of them at such a period, +he only began to moralise in a general +manner. The poet was again gotten +to mount; and shortly after they reached +the ancient town of Selkirk, where they +halted and refreshed themselves at the monastery +of the Cistertians. There the laird +got his wound dressed, and his dilapidated +robes refitted; and that same evening the +party reached the castle of Aikwood, the +residence of the celebrated wizard Master +Michael Scott.</p> + +<p class="p4 center">END OF VOL. 1</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<h2 class="center">Footnote</h2> + +<ol> <li class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote-1" id="Footnote-1"></a>As there can be no doubt of the authenticity of +this part of the Curate's tale, these secret passages +must have been carried under ground all the way +from the castle to the junction of the two rivers; and +it is said that a tradition still exists on the spot, that +these vaulted paths have often been discovered by +former inhabitants. +<a title="Return to text" href="#Anchor-1" class="label">[1]</a></p></li> +</ol> + +</div> +<div class="transnote"> +<h2>Transcriber's Notes</h2> + + +<p>This text is a reproduction of the 1822 edition. It includes many dialect and archaic +words and spellings, as well as many typographical errors which have not been changed.</p> + +<p>On p. 324, the last three letters and comma in "says Jock to himself," are not clearly printed +and are conjectural.</p> + +<p>The spellings "M'Alpin" and "MacAlpin" are both used.</p> + +<p>The spellings "Gibby" and "Gibbie" are both used.</p> + +<p>The spellings "lor'" and "lor" are both used.</p> + +<p>Consonants are inconsistently doubled in words such as "galloped" or "galloped".</p> + +<p>The text includes many examples of inconsistent hyphenation. The following are inconsistently +hyphenated or printed as two words:</p> +<ul> +<li>a-going</li> + +<li>a-mind</li> + +<li>auld-warld</li> + +<li>bow-shot</li> + +<li>castle-green</li> + +<li>half-moon</li> + +<li>safe-conduct</li> + +<li>to-morrow</li> + +<li>to-night</li> + +<li>cheek-bone</li> + +</ul> + +<p>The following are inconsistently hyphenated or printed as one word:</p> + +<ul> +<li>moss-trooper (or moss-man)</li> + +<li>Yard-bire</li> + +<li>high-way</li> + +<li>sweet-meats</li> + +</ul> +<p>The following are inconsistently printed as one or two words:</p> + +<ul> +<li>d'ye</li> + +<li>meantime</li> +</ul> + +<p>The text contains the following apparent errors:</p> + +<ul> +<li>p. 10 mis-spelling "proving succesful"</li> + +<li>p. 36 mis-spelling "glistening with raprures"</li> + +<li>p. 38 duplicate word in "at at the same time"</li> + +<li>p. 61 missing quotation mark in "ye hae some southron spies"</li> + +<li>p. 68 extra quotation mark in "less beard.""</li> + +<li>p. 69 missing quotation mark in "earldom on that head,"</li> + +<li>p. 90 duplicate word in "written a a letter"</li> + +<li>p. 98 missing quotation mark in "content, said Colin:"</li> + +<li>p. 104 wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "Charlie," Thanks t' ye,"</li> + +<li>p. 115 wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "Douglas;" and,"</li> + +<li>p. 141 missing quotation mark in "and I submit to my fate"</li> + +<li>p. 168 mis-spelling "Qnhat"</li> + +<li>p. 172 missing apostrophe "I dont like such"</li> + +<li>p. 178 Missing first quotation mark in "MARGARET.""</li> + +<li>p. 178 Duplicate word in "I'll have have her nose cut off"</li> + +<li>p. 190 mis-spelling "most incongrous thing"</li> + +<li>p. 200 missing quotation mark in "--it is not with you"</li> + +<li>p. 210 missing space in "arrived in the campin"</li> + +<li>p. 215 mis-spelling "shunning his profered"</li> + +<li>p. 220 mis-spelling "returned the Douglas, noding"</li> + +<li>p. 227 comma in place of full stop in "which they stood, This"</li> + +<li>p. 233 wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "Longspeare," that"</li> + +<li>p. 249 missing quotation mark in "lay than I did.""</li> + +<li>p. 254 wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "Tam Craik;""</li> + +<li>p. 261 mis-spelling "this peace of intelligence"</li> + +<li>p. 274 mis-spelling "<i>ang froid</i>"</li> + +<li>p. 275 missing quotation mark in "but the horses of our enemies"</li> + +<li>p. 305 colon in place of full stop in "place they were: But from"</li> + +<li>p. 308 single, wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "there are six of us,'said"</li> + +<li>p. 309 wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "housekeeper:"--Can no"</li> + +<li>p. 339 missing quotation mark in "hunger him till he dee."</li> +</ul> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Three Perils of Man, Vol. 1 (of 3), by +James Hogg + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THREE PERILS OF MAN *** + +***** This file should be named 39776-h.htm or 39776-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/7/7/39776/ + +Produced by Henry Flower, Carlo Traverso and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Three Perils of Man, Vol. 1 (of 3) + or, War, Women, and Witchcraft + +Author: James Hogg + +Release Date: May 23, 2012 [EBook #39776] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THREE PERILS OF MAN *** + + + + +Produced by Henry Flower, Carlo Traverso and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + + + + THE + + THREE PERILS OF MAN: + + _A BORDER ROMANCE_. + + + + + THE + THREE PERILS OF MAN; + + OR, + War, Women, and Witchcraft. + + _A BORDER ROMANCE._ + + + BY JAMES HOGG, + AUTHOR OF "WINTER-EVENING TALES," "BROWNIE OF + BODSBECK," "QUEEN'S WAKE," _&c._ _&c._ + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + VOL. I. + + + Beshrew me if I dare open it. + FLETCHER. + + + LONDON: + LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, + PATERNOSTER-ROW. + + 1822. + + + + + JOHN MOIR, Printer, Edinburgh, 1822. + + + + + TO + WILLIAM STEWART ROSE, ESQ. + AS A SMALL MEMORIAL + OF + _YARROW_, + AND + THE SHEPHERD'S HUMBLE SHEIL, + THIS WORK + IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED + BY + THE AUTHOR. + + + + +THE + +THREE PERILS OF MAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + There was a king, and a courteous king, + And he had a daughter sae bonnie; + And he lo'ed that maiden aboon a' thing + I' the bonnie, bonnie halls o' Binnorie. + + * * * * * + + But wae be to thee, thou warlock wight, + My malison come o'er thee, + For thou hast undone the bravest knight, + That ever brak bread i' Binnorie! + + _Old Song._ + + +The days of the Stuarts, kings of Scotland, were the days of +chivalry and romance. The long and bloody contest that the nation +maintained against the whole power of England, for the recovery of its +independence,--of those rights which had been most unwarrantably wrested +from our fathers by the greatest and most treacherous sovereign of that +age, with the successful and glorious issue of the war, laid the +foundation for this spirit of heroism, which appears to have been at its +zenith about the time that the Stuarts first acquired the sovereignty of +the realm. The deeds of the Douglasses, the Randolphs, and other border +barons of that day, are not to be equalled by any recorded in our +annals; while the reprisals that they made upon the English, in +retaliation for former injuries, enriched both them and their followers, +and rendered their appearance splendid and imposing to a degree that +would scarcely now gain credit. It was no uncommon thing for a Scottish +earl then to visit the Court at the head of a thousand horsemen, all +splendidly mounted in their military accoutrements; and many of these +gentlemen of rank and family. In court and camp, feats of arms were the +topic of conversation, and the only die that stamped the character of a +man of renown, either with the fair, the monarch, or the chiefs of the +land. No gentleman of noble blood would pay his addresses to his +mistress, until he had broken a spear with the knights of the rival +nation, surprised a strong-hold, or driven a prey from the kinsmen of +the Piercies, the Musgraves, or the Howards. As in all other things that +run to a fashionable extremity, the fair sex took the lead in +encouraging these deeds of chivalry, till it came to have the appearance +of a national mania. There were tournaments at the castle of every +feudal baron and knight. The ploughmen and drivers were often +discovered, on returning from the fields, hotly engaged in a tilting +bout with their goads and plough-staves; and even the little boys and +maidens on the village green, each well mounted on a crooked stick, were +daily engaged in the combat, and riding rank and file against each +other, breaking their tiny weapons in the furious onset, while the mimic +fire flashed from their eyes. Then was the play of _Scots and English_ +begun, a favourite one on the school green to this day. Such was the +spirit of the age, not only in Scotland, but over all the countries of +southern Europe, when the romantic incidents occurred on which the +following tale is founded. It was taken down from the manuscript of an +old Curate, who had spent the latter part of his life in the village of +Mireton, and was given to the present Editor by one of those tenants who +now till the valley where stood the richest city of this realm. + +There were once a noble king and queen of Scotland, as many in that land +have been.--In this notable tell-tale manner, does old Isaac, the +curate, begin his narrative. It will be seen in the sequel, that this +king and queen were Robert the Second and his consort.--They were +beloved by all their subjects, (continues he,) and loved and favoured +them in return; and the country enjoyed happiness and peace, all save a +part adjoining to the borders of England. The strong castle of Roxburgh, +which was the key of that country, had been five times taken by the +English, and three times by the Scots, in less than seventeen months, +and was then held by the gallant Lord Musgrave for Richard king of +England. + +Our worthy king had one daughter, of exquisite beauty and +accomplishments; the flower of all Scotland, and her name was Margaret. +This princess was courted by many of the principal nobility of the land, +who all eagerly sought an alliance with the royal family, not only for +the additional honour and power which it conferred on them and their +posterity, but for the personal charms of the lady, which were of that +high eminence, that no man could look on her without admiration. This +emulation of the lords kept the court of King Robert full of bustle, +homage, and splendour. All were anxious to frustrate the designs of +their opponents, and to forward their own; so that high jealousies were +often apparent in the sharp retorts, stern looks, and nodding plumes of +the rival wooers; and as the princess had never disclosed her partiality +for one above another, it was judged that Robert scarcely dared openly +to give the preference to any of them. A circumstance, however, soon +occurred, which brought the matter fairly to the test. + +It happened on a lovely summer day, at the end of July, that three and +twenty noble rivals for the hand of the beauteous princess were all +assembled at the palace of Linlithgow; but the usual gaiety, mirth, and +repartee did not prevail; for the king had received bad tidings that +day, and he sat gloomy and sad. + +Musgrave had issued from the castle of Roxburgh, had surprised the +castle of Jedburgh, and taken prisoner William, brother to the lord of +Galloway; slain many loyal Scottish subjects, and wasted Teviotdale with +fire and sword. The conversation turned wholly on the state of affairs +on the border, and the misery to which that country was exposed by the +castle of Roxburgh remaining in the hands of the English; and at length +the king enquired impatiently, how it came that Sir Philip Musgrave had +surprised the castle this last time, when his subjects were so well +aware of their danger. + +The earl of Hume made answer, that it was wholly an affair of chivalry, +and one of the bravest and noblest acts that ever was performed. +Musgrave's mistress, the lady Jane Howard, of the blood royal, and the +greatest heiress of the north of England, had refused to see him, unless +he gained back his honour by the retaking of that perilous castle, and +keeping it against all force, intercession, or guile, till the end of +the Christmas holidays. That he had accomplished the former in the most +gallant stile; and, from the measures that he had adopted, and the +additional fortifications that he had raised, there was every +possibility that he would achieve the latter. + +"What," said the king, "must the spirit of chivalry then be confined to +the country of our enemies? Have our noble dames of Scotland less +heroism in their constitutions than those of the south? Have they fewer +of the charms of beauty, or have their lovers less spirit to fulfil +their commands? By this sceptre in my right hand, I will give my +daughter, the princess Margaret, to the knight who shall take that +castle of Roxburgh out of the hands of the English before the expiry of +the Christmas holidays." + +Every lord and knight was instantly on his feet to accept the proposal, +and every one had his hand stretched towards the royal chair for +audience, when Margaret arose herself, from the king's left hand, where +she was seated, and flinging her left arm backward, on which swung a +scarf of gold, and stretching her right, that gleamed with bracelets of +rubies and diamonds, along the festive board, "Hold, my noble lords," +said she; "I am too deeply interested here not to have a word to say. +The grandchild of the great Bruce must not be given away to every +adventurer without her own approval. Who among you will venture his +honour and his life for me?" Every knight waved his right hand aloft and +dashed it on the hilt of his sword, eyeing the graceful attitude and +dignified form of the princess with raptures of delight. "It is well," +continued she, "the spirit of chivalry _has not_ deserted the Scottish +nation--hear me then: My father's vow shall stand; I will give my hand +in marriage to the knight who shall take that castle for the king, my +father, before the expiry of the Christmas holidays, and rid our border +of that nest of reavers; but with this proviso only, that, in case of +his attempting and failing in the undertaking, he shall forfeit all his +lands, castles, towns, and towers to me, which shall form a part of my +marriage-portion to his rival. Is it fit that the daughter of a king +should be given up or won as circumstances may suit, or that the risk +should all be on one side? Who would be so unreasonable as expect it? +This, then, with the concurrence of my lord and father, is my +determination, and by it will I stand." + +The conditions were grievously hard, and had a damping and dismal effect +on the courtly circle. The light of every eye deadened into a dim and +sullen scowl. It was a deed that promised glory and renown to adventure +their blood for such a dame,--to win such a lady as the Princess of +Scotland: But, to give up their broad lands and castles to enrich a +hated rival, was an obnoxious consideration, and what in all likelihood +was to be the issue. When all the forces of the land had been unable to +take the castle by storm, where was the probability that any of them was +now to succeed? None accepted the conditions. Some remained silent; some +shook their heads, and muttered incoherent mumblings; others strode +about the room, as if in private consultation. + +"My honoured liege," said Lady Margaret, "none of the lords or knights +of your court have the spirit to accept of my conditions. Be pleased +then to grant me a sufficient force. I shall choose the officers for +them myself, and I engage to take the castle of Roxburgh before +Christmas. I will disappoint the bloody Musgrave of his bride; and the +world shall see whether the charms of Lady Jane Howard or those of +Margaret Stuart shall rouse their admirers to deeds of the most +desperate valour. Before the Christmas bells have tolled, that shall be +tried on the rocks, in the rivers, in the air, and the bowels of the +earth. In the event of my enterprise proving succesful, all the guerdon +that I ask is, the full and free liberty of giving my hand to whom I +will. It shall be to no one that is here." And so saying she struck it +upon the table, and again took her seat at the king's left hand. + +Every foot rung on the floor with a furious tramp, in unison with that +stroke of the princess's hand. The taunt was not to be brooked. Nor was +it. The haughty blood of the Douglasses could bear it no longer. James, +the gallant earl of Douglas and Mar, stepped forward from the circle. +"My honoured liege, and master," said he, "I have not declined the +princess's offer,--beshrew my heart if ever it embraced such a purpose. +But the stake is deep, and a moment's consideration excusable. I have +considered, and likewise decided. I accept the lady's proposals. With my +own vassals alone, and at my own sole charge, will I rescue the castle +from the hands of our enemies, or perish in the attempt. The odds are +high against me. But it is now a Douglas or a Musgrave: God prosper the +bravest!" + +"Spoken like yourself, noble Douglas," said the king, "The higher the +stake the greater the honour. The task be yours, and may the issue add +another laurel to the heroic name." + +"James of Douglas," said Lady Margaret, "dost thou indeed accept of +these hard conditions for my sake? Then the hand of thy royal mistress +shall buckle on the armour in which thou goest to the field, but never +shall unloose it, unless from a victor or a corse!" And with that she +stretched forth her hand, which Douglas, as he kneeled with one knee on +the ground, took and pressed to his lips. + +Every one of the nobles shook Douglas by the hand, and wished him +success. Does any man believe that there was one among them that indeed +wished it? No, there was not a chief present that would not have +rejoiced to have seen him led to the gallows. His power was too high +already, and they dreaded that now it might be higher than ever; and, +moreover, they saw themselves outdone by him in heroism, and felt +degraded by the contract thus concluded. + +The standard of the Douglas was reared, and the bloody heart flew far +over many a lowland dale. The subordinate gentlemen rose with their +vassals, and followed the banner of their chief; but the more powerful +kept aloof, or sent ambiguous answers. They deemed the service +undertaken little better than the frenzy of a madman. + +There was at that time a powerful border baron, nicknamed Sir Ringan +Redhough, by which name alone he was distinguished all the rest of his +life. He was warden of the middle marches, and head of the most warlike +and adventurous sept in all that country. The answer which this hero +gave to his own cousin, Thomas Middlemas, who came to expostulate with +him from Douglas, is still preserved verbatim: "What, man, are a' my +brave lads to lie in bloody claes that the Douglas may lie i' snaw-white +sheets wi' a bonny bedfellow? Will that keep the braid border for the +king, my master? Tell him to keep their hands fu', an' their haunches +toom, an' they'll soon be blythe to leave the lass an' loup at the +ladle; an' the fient ae cloot shall cross the border to gar their pots +play brown atween Dirdan-head and Cocket-fell. Tell him this, an' tell +him that Redhough said it. If he dinna work by wiles he'll never pouch +the profit. But if he canna do it, an' owns that he canna do it, let him +send word to me, an' I'll tak' it for him." + +With these words he turned his back, and abruptly left his cousin, who +returned to Douglas, ill satisfied with the success of his message, but, +nevertheless, delivered it faithfully. "That curst carle," said the +Douglas, "is a thorn in my thigh, as well as a buckler on my arm. He's +as cunning as a fox, as stubborn as an oak, and as fierce as a lion. I +must temporize for the present, as I cannot do without his support, but +the time may come that he may be humbled, and made to know his betters; +since one endeavour has failed, we must try another, and, if that do not +succeed, another still." + +The day after that, as Sir Ringan was walking out at his own gate, an +old man, with a cowl, and a long grey beard, accosted him. "May the +great spirit of the elements shield thee, and be thy protector, +knight," said he. + +"An' wha may he be, carle, an it be your will?" said Ringan; "An' wha +may ye be that gie me sic a sachless benediction? As to my shield and +protection, look ye here!" and with that he touched his two-handed +sword, and a sheaf of arrows that was swung at his shoulder; "an' what +are all your saints and lang nebbit spirits to me?" + +"It was a random salutation, knight," said the old man, seeing his mood +and temper; "I am not a priest but a prophet. I come not to load you +with blessings, curses, nor homilies, all equally unavailing, but to +tell you what shall be in the times that are to come. I have had visions +of futurity that have torn up the tendrils of my spirit by the roots. +Would you like to know what is to befal you and your house in the times +that are to come?" + +"I never believe a word that you warlocks say," replied the knight; +"but I like aye to hear what you _will_ say about matters; though +it is merely to laugh at ye, for I dinna gie credit to ane o' your +predictions. Sin' the Rhymer's days, the spirit o' true warlockry is +gane. He foretauld muckle that has turned out true; an' something that I +hope _will_ turn out true: But ye're a' bairns to him." + +"Knight," said the stranger, "I can tell you more than ever the Rhymer +conceived, or thought upon; and, moreover, I can explain the words of +True Thomas, which neither you nor those to whom they relate in the +smallest degree comprehend. Knowest thou the prophecy of the Hart and +the Deer, as it is called? + + 'Quhere the hearte heavit in het blude over hill and howe, + There shall the dinke deire droule for the dowe: + Two fleite footyde maydenis shall tredde the greine, + And the mone and the starre shall flashe betweine. + Quhere the proude hiche halde and heveye hande beire + Ane frenauch shall feide on ane faderis frene feire, + In dinging at the starris the D shall doupe down, + But the S shall be S quhane the heide S is gone.'" + +"I hae heard the reide often and often," said the knight, "but the man's +unborn that can understand that. Though the prophecies and the legends +of the Rhymer take the lead i' my lear, I hae always been obliged to +make that a passover." + +"There is not one of all his sayings that relates as much to you and +your house, knight. It foretels that the arms of your family shall +supersede those of Douglas, which you know are the bloody heart; and +that in endeavouring to exalt himself to the stars, the D, that is the +Douglas, shall fall, but that your house and name shall remain when the +Stuarts are no more." + +"By the horned beasts of Old England, my father's portion, and my son's +undiminished hope," exclaimed the knight,--"Thou art a cunning man! I +now see the bearing o' the prophecy as plainly as I see the hill of +Mountcomyn before my e'e; and, as I know Thomas never is wrong, I +believe it. Now is the time, auld warlock,--now is the time; he's +ettling at a king's daughter, but his neck lies in wad, and the forfeit +will be his undoing." + +"The time is not yet come, valiant knight; nevertheless the prophecy is +true. Has thy horse's hoof ever trode, or thine eye journeyed, over the +Nine Glens of Niddisdale?" + +"I hae whiles gotten a glisk o' them." + +"They are extensive, rich, and beautiful." + +"They're nae less, auld carle; they're nae less. They can send nine +thousand leel men an' stout to the field in a pinch." + +"It is recorded in the book of fate,--it is written there--" + +"The devil it is, auld carle; that's mair than I thought o'." + +"Hold thy peace: lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and be silent till I +explain: I say I have seen it in the visions of the night,--I have seen +it in the stars of heaven"-- + +"What? the Nine Glens o' Niddisdale amang the starns o' heaven! by hoof +and horn, it was rarely seen, warlock." + +"I say that I have seen it,--they are all to belong to thy house." + +"Niddisdale a' to pertain to my house!" + +"All." + +"Carle, I gie nae credit to sic forbodings; but I have heard something +like this afore. Will ye stay till I bring my son Robin, the young +Master of Mountcomyn, and let him hear it? For aince a man takes a mark +on his way, I wadna hae him to tine sight o't. Mony a time has the tail +o' the king's elwand pointed me the way to Cumberland; an' as often has +the ee o' the Charlie-wain blinkit me hame again. A man's nae the waur +o' a bit beacon o' some kind,--a bit hope set afore him, auld carle; an' +the Nine Glens o' Niddisdale are nae Willie-an-the-Wisp in a lad's ee." + +"From Roxburgh castle to the tower of Sark,"-- + +"What's the auld-warld birkie saying?" + +"From the Deadwater-fell to the Linns of Cannoby,--from the Linns of +Cannoby to the heights of Manor and the Deuchar-swire,--shall thy son, +and the representatives of thy house, ride on their own lands." + +"May ane look at your foot, carle? Take off that huge wooden sandal, an +it be your will." + +"Wherefore should I, knight?" + +"Because I dread ye are either the devil or Master Michael Scott." + +"Whoever I am, I am a friend to you and to yours, and have told you the +words of truth. I have but one word more to say:--Act always in concert +with the Douglasses, while they act in concert with the king your +master,--not a day, nor an hour, nor a moment longer. It is thus, and +thus alone, that you must rise and the Douglas fall. Remember the words +of True Thomas,-- + + 'Quhane the wingit hors at his maistere sal wince, + 'Let wyse men cheat the chevysance.'" + +"There is something mair about you than other folk, auld man. If ye be +my kinsman, Michael Scott the warlock, I crave your pardon, Master; but +if you are that dreadfu' carle--I mean that learned and wonderfu' man, +why you are welcome to my castle. But you are not to turn my auld wife +into a hare, Master, an' hunt her up an' down the hills wi' my ain +grews; nor my callants into naigs to scamper about on i' the night-time +when they hae ither occupations to mind. There is naething i' my tower +that isna at your command; for, troth, I wad rather brow a' the Ha's and +the Howard's afore I beardit you." + +"I set no foot in your halls, knight. This night is a night among many +to me; and wo would be to me if any thing canopied my head save the cope +of heaven. There are horoscopes to be read this night for a thousand +years to come. One cake of your bread and one cup of your wine is all +that the old wizard requests of you, and that he must have." + +The knight turned back and led the seer into the inner-court, and fed +him with bread and wine, and every good thing; but well he noted that he +asked no holy benediction on them like the palmers and priors that +wandered about the country; and, therefore, he had some lurking dread of +the old man. He did not thank the knight for his courtesy, but, wiping +his snowy beard, he turned abruptly away, and strode out at the gate of +the castle. Sir Ringan kept an eye on him privately till he saw him +reach the top of Blake Law, a small dark hill immediately above the +castle. There he stopped and looked around him, and taking two green +sods, he placed the one above the other, and laid himself down on his +back, resting his head upon the two sods,--his body half raised, and his +eyes fixed on heaven. The knight was almost frightened to look at him; +but sliding into the cleuch, he ran secretly down to the tower to bring +his lady to see this wonderful old warlock. When they came back he was +gone, and no trace of him to be seen, nor saw they him any more at that +time. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + This man's the devil's fellow commoner, + A verie cloake-bag of iniquitie. + His butteries and his craboun he deschargeth + Flasche, not by airt or reule. Is it meet + A Ploydenist should be a _cedant arma togae_, + Mounted on a trapt palfrey; with a dishe + Of velvatte on his heide, to keepe the brothe + Of his wit warm? The devil, my maisteris, + There is no dame in Venice shall indure itt. + + _Old Play._ + + +Whilst the knight and his lady were looking about in amazement for +their mysterious guest, the tower-warder sounded the great bugle, a +tremendous horn that lay on a shelf in the balcony where he kept watch. +"One--two--three," said the knight, counting the three distinct +notes,--a signal of which he well knew the language,--"What can that +mean? I am wanted, it would appear: another messenger from the Douglas, +I warrant." + +"Sir Ringan, keep by that is your own," said the lady--"I say, mind your +own concerns, and let the Douglas mind his." + +"Dame," said the chief, "I hae gotten some mair insight into that affair +than you; an' we maun talk about it by an' by. In the meantime let us +haste home, and see who is arrived." + +As they descended from the hill hand in hand, (for none walked arm in +arm in those days,) they saw Richard Dodds, a landward laird, coming to +meet them. "Oh," said Sir Ringan, "this is my officious cousin, Dickie +o' Dryhope; what business can he be come upon? It will be something that +he deems of great importance." + +"I hate that old fawning, flattering sycophant," said the lady; "and +cannot divine what is the cause of your partiality for him." + +"It is his attachment to our house that I admire, and his perfect +devotion to my service and interests," said the knight. + +"Mere sound," exclaimed the lady bitterly: "Mere waste of superfluous +breath! I tell you, Sir Ringan, that, for all your bravery, candour, and +kindness, you are a mere novice in the affairs of life, and know less +of men and of things than ever knight did." + +"It is a great fault in women," said the knight, making his observation +general, "that they will aye be meddling wi' things they ken nought +about. They think they ken every thing, an' wad gar ane trow that they +can see an inch into a fir deal.--Gude help them! It is just as +unfeasible to hear a lady discussing the merits of warriors an' yeomen, +as it wad be to see me sitting nursing a wench-bairn." + +"Foh, what an uncourtly term!" said the lady; "What would King Robert +think if he heard you speaking in that uncouth stile?" + +"I speak muckle better than him, wi' his short clippit Highland tongue," +said the chief: "But hush, here comes the redoubted Dickie o' Dryhope." + +No sooner were the knight and his lady's eyes turned so as to meet +Dickie's, than he whipped off his bonnet with a graceful swing, and made +a low bow, his thin gray locks waving as he bowed. Dickie was a tall, +lean, toothless, old bachelor, whose whole soul and body were +devoted to the fair sex and the house of his chief. These two mighty +concerns divided his attention, and often mingled with one another; +his enthusiasm for the one, by any sudden change of subjects or +concatenation of ideas, being frequently transferred to the other. +Dickie approached with his bonnet in his hand, bowing every time the +knight and lady lifted their eyes. When they met, Sir Ringan shook him +heartily by the hand, and welcomed him to the castle of Mountcomyn. + +"Oh, you are so good and so kind, Sir Ringan, bless you, bless you, +bless you, noble sir; how do you thrive, Sir Ringan? bless you, bless +you. And my excellent and noble lady Mountcomyn, how is my noble dame?" + +"Thank you," said the lady coldly. + +Dickie looked as if he would have shaken hands with her, or embraced +her, as the custom then was, but she made no proffer of either the one +or the other, and he was obliged to keep his distance; but this had no +effect in checking his adulations. "I am so glad that my excellent lady +is well, and the young squires and maidens all brisk and whole I hope?" + +"All well, cousin," said the chief. + +"Eh! all well?" reiterated Dickie, "Oh the dear, delightful, darling +souls, O bless them! If they be but as well as I wish them, and as good +as I wish--If the squires be but half so brave as their father, and the +noble young sweet dames half so beautiful as their lady mother--oh bless +them, bless them." "And half so independent and honest as their cousin," +said the lady, with a rebuking sneer. + +"Very pleasant! very pleasant, indeed!" simpered Dickie, without daring +to take his lips far asunder, lest his toothless gums should be seen. + +"Such babyish flummery!" rejoined the lady with great emphasis. Dickie +was somewhat abashed. His eyes, that were kindled with a glow of filial +rapture, appeared as with flattened pupils; nevertheless the benignant +smile did not altogether desert his features. The knight gave a short +look off at one side to his lady. "It is a great fault in ladies, +cousin," said he, "that they will always be breaking their jokes on +those that they like best, and always pretending to keep at a distance +from them. My lady thinks to blind my een, as many a dame has done to +her husband afore this time; but I ken, an' some mae ken too, that if +there's ane o' a' my kin that I durstna trust my lady wi' when my back's +turned, that ane's Dickie o' Dryhope." + +"H'm, h'm, h'm," neighed Dickie, laughing with his lips shut; "My lady's +so pleasant, and so kind, but--Oh--no, no--you wrong her, knight; h'm, +h'm, h'm! But, all joking and gibing aside--my lady's very pleasant. I +came express to inform you, Sir Ringan, that the Douglasses are up." + +"I knew it." + +"And the Maxwells--and the Gordons--and the hurkle-backed Hendersons." + +"Well." + +"And Sir Christopher Seton is up--and the Elliots and the Laird of +Tibbers is up." + +"Well, well." + +"I came expressly to inform you--" + +"Came with piper's news," said the lady, "which the fiddler has told +before you." + +"That _is very_ good," said Dickie; "My lady is so delightfully +pleasant--I thought Sir Ringan would be going to rise with the rest, and +came for directions as to raising my men." + +"How many men can the powerful Laird of Dryhope muster in support of the +warden?" said Lady Mountcomyn. + +"Mine are all at his command; my worthy lady knows that," said Dickie, +bowing: "Every one at his command." + +"I think," said she, "that at the battle of Blakehope you furnished only +two, who were so famished with hunger that they could not bear arms, far +less fight." + +"Very pleasant, in sooth; h'm, h'm! I declare I am delighted with my +lady's good humour." + +"You may, however, keep your couple of scare-crows at home for the +present, and give them something to eat," continued she; "the warden has +other matters to mind than wasting his vassals that the Douglas may +wive." + +"Very true, and excellent good sense," said Dickie. + +"We'll talk of that anon," said Sir Ringan. And with that they went into +the castle, and sat down to dinner. There were twelve gentlemen and nine +maidens present, exclusive of the knight's own family, and they took +their places on each side as the lady named them. When Sir Ringan +lifted up his eyes and saw the station that Dickie occupied, he was +dissatisfied, but instantly found a remedy. "Davie's Pate," said he to +the lad that waited behind him, "mak that bowiefu' o' cauld plovers +change places wi' yon saut-faut instantly, before meat be put to mouth." +The order was no sooner given than obeyed, and the new arrangement +placed Dickie fairly above the salt. + +The dining apparatus at the castle of Mountcomyn was homely, but the +fare was abundant. A dozen yeomen stood behind with long knives, and +slashed down the beef and venison into small pieces, which they placed +before the guests in wooden plates, so that there was no knife used at +the dining board. All ate heartily, but none with more industry than +Dickie, who took not even time all the while to make the complaisant +observation, that "my lady was so pleasant." + +Dinner being over, the younger branches of the family retired, and all +the kinsmen not of the first rank, pretending some business that called +them away, likewise disappeared; so that none were left with the knight +and his lady save six. The lady tried the effect of several broad hints +on Dickie, but he took them all in good part, and declared that he never +saw his lady so pleasant in his life. And now a serious consultation +ensued, on the propriety of lending assistance to the Douglas. Sir +Ringan first put the question to his friends, without any observation. +The lady took up the argument, and reasoned strongly against the +measure. Dickie was in raptures with his lady's good sense, and declared +her arguments unanswerable. Most of the gentlemen seemed to acquiesce in +the same measure, on the ground that, as matters stood, they could not +rise at the Douglas' call on that occasion, without being considered as +a subordinate family, which neither the king nor the Douglas had any +right to suppose them; and so strongly and warmly ran the argument on +that side, that it was likely to be decided on, without the chief having +said a word on the subject. Simon of Gemelscleuch alone ventured to +dissent; "I have only to remark, my gallant kinsmen," said he, "that our +decision in this matter is likely to prove highly eventful. Without our +aid the force of the Douglas is incompetent to the task, and the castle +will then remain in the hands of the English, than which nothing can be +more grievously against our interest. If he be defeated, and forfeit his +lands, the power of the Border will then remain with us; but should he +succeed without our assistance, and become the king's son-in-law, it +will be a hard game with us to keep the footing that we have. I +conceive, therefore, that in withdrawing our support we risk every +thing,--in lending it, we risk nothing but blows." All the kinsmen were +silent. Dickie looked at my Lady Mountcomyn. + +"It is well known that there is an old prophecy existing," said she, +"that a Scot shall sit in the Douglas' chair, and be lord of all his +domains. Well would it be for the country if that were so. But to +support the overgrown power of that house is not the way to accomplish +so desirable an object." + +"That is true," said Dickie; "I'll defy any man to go beyond what my +lady says, or indeed whatever she says." + +"Have we not had instances of their jealousy already?" continued she. + +"We have had instances of their jealousy already," said Dickie, +interrupting her. + +"And should we raise him to be the king's son-in-law, he would kick us +for our pains," rejoined she. + +"Ay, he would kick us for our pains," said Dickie; "think of that." + +"Either please to drop your responses, Sir," said she, sternly, "or +leave the hall. I would rather hear a raven croak on my turret in the +day of battle, than the tongue of a flatterer or sycophant." + +"That is very good indeed," said Dickie; "My lady is so pleasant; h'm, +h'm, h'm! Excellent! h'm, h'm, h'm!" + +Sir Ringan saw his lady drawing herself up in high indignation; and +dreading that his poor kinsman would bring on himself such a rebuke as +would banish him the hall for ever, he interposed. "Cousin," said he, +"it's a great fault in women that they canna bide interruption, an' the +mair they stand in need o't they take it the waur. But I have not told +you all yet: a very singular circumstance has happened to me this day. +Who do you think I found waylaying me at my gate, but our kinsman, the +powerful old warlock, Master Michael Scott." + +"Master Michael Scott!" exclaimed the whole circle, every one holding up +his hands, "has he ventured to be seen by man once more? Then there is +something uncommon to befal, or, perhaps, the world is coming to an +end." + +"God forbid!" said Redhough: "It is true that, for seven years, he has +been pent up in his enchanted tower at Aikwood, without speaking to any +one save his spirits; but though I do not know him, this must have been +he, for he has told me such things as will astonish you; and, moreover, +when he left me, he laid himself down on the top of the Little Law on +his back, and the devils carried him away bodily through the air, or +down through the earth, and I saw no more of him." + +All agreed that it had been the great magician Master Michael Scott. Sir +Ringan then rehearsed the conversation that had passed between the +wizard and himself. All the circle heard this with astonishment; some +with suspense, and others with conviction, but Dickie with raptures of +delight. "He assured me," said Redhough, "that my son should ride on his +own land from Roxburgh to the Deadwater-fell." + +"From Roxburgh to the Deadwater-fell!" cried Dickie, "think of that! all +the links of the bonny Teviot and Slitterick, ha, ha, lads, think of +that!" and he clapped his hands aloud without daring to turn his eyes +to the head of the table. + +"And from the Deadwater-fell to the tower o' Sark," rejoined the knight. + +"To the tower of Sark!" exclaimed Dickie. "H-- have a care of us! think +of that! All the dales of Liddel, and Ewes, and the fertile fields of +Cannobie! Who will be king of the Border, then, my lads? who will be +king of the Border then? ha, ha, ha!" + +"And from the fords of Sark to the Deuchar-swire," added Sir Ringan. + +Dickie sprang to his feet, and seizing a huge timber trencher, he waved +it round his head. The chief beckoned for silence; but Dickie's eyes +were glistening with raprures, and it was with great difficulty he +repressed his vociferations. + +"And over the Nine Glens of Niddisdale beside," said Sir Ringan. + +Dickie could be restrained no longer. He brayed out, "Hurrah, hurrah!" +and waved his trencher round his head. + +"All the Esk, and the braid Forest, and the Nine Glens o' Niddisdale! +Hurrah! Hurrah! Mountcomyn for ever! The warden for ever! hu, hu! hu!" + +The knight and his friends were obliged to smile at Dickie's outrageous +joy; but the lady rose and went out in high dudgeon. Dickie then gave +full vent to his rapture without any mitigation of voice, adding, "My +lady for ever!" to the former two; and so shouting, he danced around, +waving his immense wooden plate. + +The frolic did not take, and Sir Ringan was obliged to call him to +order. "You do not consider, cousin," said the warden, "that what a +woman accounts excellent sport at one time is at another high offence. +See, now, you have driven my lady away from our consultation, on whose +advice I have a strong reliance; and I am afraid we will scarcely +prevail on her to come back." + +"Oh! there's no fear of my lady and me," said Dickie; "we understand one +another. My lady is a kind, generous, noble soul, and so pleasant! + +"For as pleasant and kind as she is, I am deceived if she is easily +reconciled to you. Ye dinna ken Kate Dunbar, cousin.--Boy, tell your +lady that we lack her counsel, and expect that she will lend us it for a +short space." + +The boy did as he was ordered, but returned with an answer, that unless +Dickie was dismissed she did not choose to be of the party. + +"I am sorry for it," said Sir Ringan; "but you may tell her that she may +then remain where she is, for I can't spare my cousin Dickie now, nor +any day these five months." And with that he began and discussed the +merits of the case _pro_ and _con_ with his kinsmen, as if nothing had +happened; and in the end it was resolved, that, with a thousand +horsemen, they would scour the east border to intercept all the supplies +that should be sent out of England, and thus enrich themselves, while, +at at the same time, they would appear to countenance the mad +undertaking of Douglas. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + "Come, come, my hearts of flint; modestly; decently; soberly; and + handsomely.--No man afore his leader.--Ding down the enemy + to-morrow,--ye shall not come into the field like beggars.--Lord + have mercy upon me, what a world this is!--Well, I'll give an + hundred pence for as many good feathers, and a hundred more for as + many scarts:--wounds, dogs, to set you out withal! Frost and snow, + a man cannot fight till he be brave! I say down with the enemy to + morrow!" + + _Sir John Oldcastle._ + + +The castle of Roxburgh was beleaguered by seven thousand men in armour, +but never before had it been so well manned, or rendered so formidable +in its butresses; and to endeavour to scale it, appeared as vain an +attempt as that of scaling the moon. + +There was a great deal of parading, and noise went on, as that of +beating drums, and sounding of trumpets and bugles, every day; and +scarcely did there one pass on which there were not tilting bouts +between the parties, and in these the English generally had the +advantage. Never was there, perhaps, a more chivalrous host than that +which Musgrave had under his command within the walls of Roxburgh; the +enthusiasm, the gallantry, and the fire of the captain, were +communicated to all the train. + +Their horses were much superior to those of the Scots; and, in place of +the latter being able to make any impression on the besieged, they could +not, with all the vigilance they were able to use, prevent their posts +from being surprised by the English, on which the most desperate +encounters sometimes took place. At first the English generally +prevailed, but the Scots at length became inured to it, and stood the +shocks of the cavalry more firmly. They took care always at the first +onset to cut the bridle reins with their broad-swords, and by that means +they disordered the ranks of their enemies, and often drove them in +confusion back to their strong-hold. + +Thus months flew on in this dashing sort of warfare, and no impression +was made on the fortress, nor did any appear practicable; and every one +at court began to calculate on the failure and utter ruin of the +Douglas. Piercy of Northumberland proffered to raise the country, and +lead an army to the relief of the castle; but this interference Musgrave +would in nowise admit, it being an infringement of the task imposed on +him by his mistress. + +Moreover, he said, he cared not if all the men of Scotland lay around +the castle, for he would defy them to win it. He farther bade the +messenger charge Piercy and Howard to have an army ready at the expiry +of the Christmas holidays, wherewith to relieve him, and clear the +Border, but to take no care nor concern about him till then. + +About this time an incident, right common in that day, brought a number +of noble young adventurers to the camp of Douglas. It chanced, in an +encounter between two small rival parties at the back of the convent of +Maisondieu, which stood on the south side of the Teviot, that Sir Thomas +de Somerville of Carnwath engaged hand to hand with an English knight, +named Sir Comes de Moubray, who, after a desperate encounter, unhorsed +and wounded him. The affair was seen from the walls of Roxburgh, as well +as by a part of the Scottish army which was encamped on a rising ground +to the south, that overlooked the plain; and, of course, like all other +chivalrous feats, became the subject of general conversation. Somerville +was greatly mortified; and, not finding any other way to recover his +honour, he sent a challenge to Moubray to fight him again before the +gate of Roxburgh, in sight of both armies. Moubray was too gallant to +refuse. There was not a knight in the castle who would have declined +such a chance of earning fame, and recommending himself to his mistress +and the fair in general. The challenge was joyfully accepted, and the +two knights met in the midst of a circle of gentlemen appointed by both +armies, on the castle green, that lay betwixt the moat and the river, +immediately under the walls of the castle. Never was there a more +gallant combat seen. They rode nine times against each other with full +force, twice with lances and seven times with swords, yet always managed +with such dexterity that neither were unhorsed, nor yet materially +wounded. But at the tenth charge, by a most strenuous exertion, Sir +Thomas disarmed and threw his opponent out of his saddle, with his +sword-arm dislocated. Somerville gained great renown, and his fame was +sounded in court and in camp. Other challenges were soon sent from both +sides, and as readily accepted; and some of the best blood both of +Scotland and England was shed in these mad chivalrous exploits. The +ambition of the young Scottish nobles was roused, and many of them +flocked as volunteers to the standard of Douglas. Among these were some +of the retainers of Redhough, who could not resist such an opportunity +of trying their swords with some rivals with whom they had erst +exchanged sharp blows on the marches. Simon of Gemelscleuch, his cousin +John of Howpasley, and the Laird of Yard-bire, all arrived in the camp +of Douglas in one night, in order to distinguish themselves in these +tilting bouts. Earl Douglas himself challenged Musgrave, hoping thereby +to gain his end, and the prize for which he fought; but the knight, true +to his engagement, sent him for answer, that he would first see the +beginning of a new year, and then he should fight either him or any of +his name, but that till then he had undertaken a charge to which all +others must be subordinate. + +The Laird of Yardbire, the strongest man of the Border, fought three +combats with English squires of the same degree, two on horseback and +one on foot, and in all proved victorious. For one whole month the siege +presented nothing new save these tiltings, which began at certain hours +every day, and always became more obstinate, often proving fatal; and +the eagerness of the young gentry of both parties to engage in them grew +into a kind of mania: But an event happened which put an end to them at +once. + +There was a combat one day between two knights of the first degree, who +were surrounded as usual by twenty lancers from each army, all the rest +of both parties being kept at a distance, the English on the tops of +their walls, and the Scots on the heights behind, both to the east and +west; for there was one division of the army stationed on the hill of +Barns and at the head of the Sick-man's Path, and another on the rising +ground between the city and castle. The two gentlemen were equally +matched, and the issue was doubtful, when the attendant Scottish guards +perceived, or thought they perceived, in the bearing of the English +knight, some breach of the rules of chivalry; on which with one voice +they called out "foul play." The English answered, "No, no, none." The +two judges called to order, on which the spearmen stood still and +listened, and hearing that the judges too were of different opinions, +they took up the matter themselves, the Scots insisting that the knight +should be disarmed and turned from the lists in disgrace, and the +English refusing to acquiesce. The judges, dreading some fatal +conclusion, gave their joint orders that both parties should retire in +peace, and let the matter be judged of afterwards; on which the English +prepared to quit the ground with a kind of exultation, for it appeared +that they were not certain with regard to the propriety of their hero's +conduct. Unluckily, it so happened that the redoubted Charlie Scott of +Yard-bire headed the Scottish pikemen on the lists that day, a very +devil for blood and battery, and of strength much beyond that generally +allotted to man. When he saw that the insidious knight was going to be +conducted off in a sort of triumph, and in a manner so different from +what he deemed to suit his demerits, he clenched the handle of his sword +with his right hand, and screwed down his eyebrows till they almost +touched the top of his nose. "What now, muckle Charlie?" said one that +stood by him. "What now!" repeated Charlie, growling like a wolf-dog, +and confining the words almost within his own breast, "The deil sal bake +me into a ker-cake to gust his gab wi', afore I see that saucy tike +ta'en off in sic a way." And with that he dropt his pike, drew his +sword, and rushing through the group he seized the knight's horse by the +bridle with his left hand, thinking to lead both him and his master away +prisoners. The knight struck at him with all his might, but for this +Charlie was prepared; he warded the blow most dexterously, and in wrath, +by the help of a huge curb-bridle, he threw the horse backward, first on +his hams, and then on his back, with his rider under him. "Tak ye that, +master, for whistling o' Sundays," said the intrepid borderer, and began +to lay about him at the English, who now attacked him on both sides. + +Charlie's first break at the English knight was the watch-word for a +general attack. The Scots flew to the combat, in perfect silence, and +determined hatred, and they were received by the other party in the same +manner. Not so the onlookers of both hosts,--they rent the air with loud +and reiterated shouts. The English poured forth in a small narrow column +from the east gate along the draw-bridge, but the Scottish horsemen, who +were all ready mounted, the better to see the encounter from their +stations, scoured down from the heights like lightning, so that they +prevailed at first, before the English could issue forth in numbers +sufficient to oppose them. The brave Sir Richard Musgrave, the captain's +younger brother, led the English, he having rushed out at their head on +the first breaking out of the affray; but, notwithstanding all his +bravery, he with his party were driven with their backs to the moat, and +hard pressed, Douglas, with a strong body of horse, having got betwixt +them and the castle-gate. The English were so anxious to relieve their +young hero that they rushed to the gate in crowds. Douglas suffered a +part to issue, and then attacking them furiously with the cavalry, he +drove them back in such confusion, that he got possession of the +draw-bridge for several minutes, and would in all likelihood have +entered with the crowd, had it not been for the portcullis, the +machinery of which the Scots did not understand, nor had they the means +of counteracting it; so that just when they were in the hottest and most +sanguine part of their enterprize, down it came with a clattering noise +louder than thunder, separating a few of the most forward from their +brethren, who were soon every one cut down, as they refused to yield. + +In the meantime it fared hard with Richard, who was overpowered by +numbers; and though the English archers galled the Scottish cavalry +grievously from the walls, he and all that were with him being forced +backward, they plunged into the moat, and were every one of them either +slain or taken prisoners. The younger Musgrave was among the latter, +which grieved his brother Sir Philip exceedingly, as it gave Douglas an +undue advantage over him, and he knew that, in the desperate state of +his undertaking, he would go any lengths to over-reach him. From that +day forth, all challenges or accepting of challenges was prohibited by +Musgrave, under pain of death; and a proclamation was issued, stating, +that all who entered the castle should be stripped naked, searched, and +examined, on what pretence soever they came, and if any suspicious +circumstances appeared against them, they were to be hanged upon a post +erected for the purpose, on the top of the wall, in sight of both +armies. He was determined to spare no vigilance, and constantly said he +would hold Douglas at defiance. + +There was only one thing that the besieged had to dread, and it was +haply, too, the only thing in which the Scots placed any degree of hope, +and that was the total failure of provisions within the castle. +Musgrave's plan, of getting small supplies at a time from England by +night, was discovered by Sir Ringan Redhough, and completely cut off: +and as Douglas hanged every messenger that fell into his hands, no new +plan could be established; and so closely were the English beleaguered, +that any attempt at sending additional supplies to those they had proved +of no avail. The rival armies always grew more and more inveterate +against each other, and the most sharp and deadly measures were +exercised by both. Matters went on in this manner till near the end of +October, when the nights grew cold, long, and dark. There was nothing +but the perils of that castle on the Border talked of over all Scotland +and England. Every one, man, maid, and child, became interested in it. +It may well be conceived that the two sovereign beauties, the Lady Jane +Howard and Princess Margaret of Scotland, were not the least so; and +both of them prepared, at the same time, in the true spirit of the age, +to take some active part in the matter before it came to a final issue. +One of them seemed destined to lose her hero, but both had put on the +resolution of performing something worthy of the knights that were +enduring so much for their sakes. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + And O that pegis weste is slymme, + And his ee wald garr the daye luke dymme; + His broue is brente, his brestis fayre, + And the deemonde lurkis in hys revan hayre. + Alake for thilke bonnye boye sae leile + That lyes withe oure Kynge in the hie-lande shiele! + + _Old Rhyme._ + + I winna gang in, I darena gang in, + Nor sleep i' your arms ava; + Fu' laithly wad a fair may sleep + Atween you an' the wa'. + War I to lie wi' a belted knight, + In a land that's no my ain, + Fu' dear wad be my courtesye, + An' dreich wad be my pain. + + _Old Ballad._ + + +One cold biting evening, at the beginning of November, Patrick Chisholm +of Castleweary, an old yeoman in the upper part of Teviotdale, sat +conversing with his family all in a merry and cheerful mood. They were +placed in a circle round a blazing hearth fire, on which hung a huge +caldron, boiling and bubbling like the pool at the foot of a cataract. +The lid was suspended by a rope to the iron crook on which this lordly +machine was hung, to intercept somewhat the showers of soot that now and +then descended from the rafters. These appeared as if they had been +covered with pitch or black japanning; and so violently was the kettle +boiling, that it made the roof of Pate Chisholm's bigging all to shiver. +Notwithstanding these showers of soot, Pate and his four goodly sons +eyed the boiling caldron with looks of great satisfaction,--for ever and +anon the hough of an immense leg of beef was to be seen cutting its +capers in the boil, or coming with a graceful semicircular sweep from +one lip of the pot to the other. + +"Is it true, callants," said Pate, "that Howard is gaun to make a +diversion, as they ca't, in the west border, to draw off the warden frae +the Cheviots?" + +"As muckle is said, an' as muckle expectit," said Dan, his first born, a +goodly youth, who, with his three brethren, sat in armour. They had come +home to their father's house that night with their share of a rich prey +that the warden had kidnapped while just collecting to send to Roxburgh +under a guard of five thousand men. But Sir Ringan, getting intelligence +of it, took possession of the drove before it was placed under the +charge of those intended to guard it. + +"As muckle is said, an' as muckle is expectit," said Dan; "but the west +border will never turn out sae weel to us as the east has done. It's +o'er near the Johnstones, and the Jardines, and the hurkle-backit +Hendersons." + +Pate looked from under his bonnet at the hough of beef.--"The Cheviot +hills hae turned weel out for the warden," continued Dan; "Redhough an' +his lads hae been as weel scrieving o'er law and dale as lying getting +hard pelts round the stane wa's o' Roxburgh, an' muckle mair gude has he +done; for gin they dinna hunger them out o' their hauddin, they'll keep +it. Ye'll draw an Englishman by the gab easier than drive him wi' an +airn gaud. I wad ride fifty miles to see ony ane o' the bonny dames that +a' this pelting an' peching is about." + +"Twa wanton glaikit gillies, I'll uphaud," said Pate, looking at the +restless hough; "o'er muckle marth i' the back, an' meldar i' the +brusket. Gin I had the heffing o' them, I sude tak a staup out +o' their bickers.--Whisht, I thought I heard the clanking o' horse +heels.--Callant, clap the lid down on the pat; what hae they't hinging +geaving up there for?" + +The clattering of the horses approached, but apparently with caution; +and at length a voice called at the door in an English accent, "Hollo, +who holds here?" "Leel men, an' for the Scots," answered Dan, starting +to his feet, and laying his hand on his sword. "For the knight of +Mountcomyn, the Scottish warden?"--inquired the horseman without. "For +the same," was the answer. "It is toward his castle that we are bound. +Can any of you direct us the way?" + +"Troth, that I can," said old Pate, groping to satisfy himself that the +lid was close down on the pot, and then running to the door; "I can tell +you every fit o' the road, masters: You maun gang by the Fanesh, +you see; it lies yon way, you see; an' then up the Brown rig, as +straight as a line through Philhope-head, an' into Borthwick; then up +Aitas-burn,--round the Crib-law,--an' wheel to the right; then the burn +that ye come to there, ye maun cross that, and three miles farther on +you come to the castle of Mountcomyn.--Braw cheer there lads!" + +"I am afraid, friend," said the English trooper, "we will make nothing +of this direction. Is it far to this same castle of the Scottish +warden?" + +"O no, naething but a step, some three Scots miles." + +"And how is the road?" + +"A prime road, man; no a step in't a' wad tak your horse to the brusket; +only there's nae track; ye maun just take an ettle. Keep an ee on the +tail o' Charlie's wain, an' ye'll no gang far wrang." + +"Our young lord and master is much fatigued," said the trooper; "I am +afraid we shall scarcely make it out. Pray, sir, could you spare us a +guide?" + +Dan, who was listening behind, now stepped forward, and addressed them: +"My masters, as the night is o' darkness, I could hardly ride to +Mountcomyn mysel, an', far or near, I couldna win there afore day. Gin +ye dought accept o' my father's humble cheer the night--" + +"The callant's bewiddied, an' waur than bewiddied," said Pate: "We haena +cheer for oursels, let abe for a byking o' English lords an' squires!" + +"I would gladly accept of any accommodation," said a sweet delicate +voice, like that of a boy; "for the path has been so dreadful that I am +almost dead, and unable to proceed further. I have a safe-conduct to the +Scottish court, signed by all the wardens of the marches, and every +knight, yeoman, and vassal is obliged to give me furtherance." + +"I dinna ken muckle about conducks an' signatures," said Pate, "but I +trow there winna be mony syllables in some o' the names if a' the +wardens hae signed your libelt; for I ken weel there's ane o' them whase +edication brak aff at the letter G, an' never gat farrer. But I'm no +ca'ing ye a leear, southron lord, ye may be a vera honest man; an' as +your errand may be something unco express, ye had better post on." + +"It sal never be casten up to me neither in camp nor ha," said Dan, +"that a stranger was cawed frae my auld father's door at this time o' +the night. Light down, light down, southron lord, ye are a privileged +man; an', as I like to see the meaning o' things, I'll ride wi' ye mysel +the morn, fit for fit, to the castle o' Mountcomyn." + +The strangers were soon all on their feet, and ushered into the family +circle, for there was no fire-place in the house but that one. They +consisted of five stout troopers, well armed, a page, and a young +nobleman, having the appearance of a youth about seventeen or eighteen +years of age. Every eye was instantly turned on him, there was something +so extraordinary in his appearance. Instead of a steel helmet, he wore a +velvet cap, shaped like a crown, striped with belts, bars, and crosses +of gold wire, and manifestly more for ornament than use. His fair +ringlets were peeping in curls out from below his cap, and his face +and bright blue eyes were lovely as the dawn of a summer's morning. + +They were not well seated till a noise of the tread of horses was again +heard. + +"The warld be a-wastle us!" cried old Pate, "wha's that now? I think +fouk will be eaten up wi' fouk, an' naething for folk's pains but dry +thanks;--thanks winna feed the cat--" + +He was stopped in his regretful soliloquy by a rough voice at the door: +"Ho, wha bauds the house?" The same answer was given as to the former +party, and in a minute the strangers entered without law or leave. + +"Ye travel unco late, maisters," said old Pate: "How far may ye be for +the night?" + +"We meant to have reached the tower of Gorranberry to-night," said one +of the strangers, "but we have been benighted, and were drawn hither by +the light in your hole. I fear we must draw on your hospitality till +day." + +"Callant Peter, gang an' stap a wisp i' that bole," said Pate; "it +seems to be the beacon light to a' the clanjaumphry i' the hale country. +I tauld ye aye to big it up; but no ane o' ye heeds what I say. I hae +seen houses that _some_ fouk whiles gaed by. But, my maisters, its nae +gate ava to Gorranberry,--a mere haut-stride-and-loup. I'll send a guide +to Bilhope-head wi' ye; for troth we hae neither meat nor drink, +house-room nor stabling, mair about the toun. We're but poor yeomen, an' +haud our mailin for hard service. We hae tholed a foray the night +already, an' a double ane wad herrie us out o' house an' hauld. The +warld be a' wastle us! I think a' the mosstroopers be abraid the night! +Bairns, swee that bouking o' claes aff the fire; ye'll burn it i' the +boiling." + +The new comers paid little attention to this address of the old man; +they saw that he was superannuated, and had all the narrow selfishness +that too generally clings to that last miserable stage of human +exisence; but drawing nigh they began to eye the southron party with +looks of dark suspicion, if not of fierceness. + +"I see what maks ye sae frightet at our entrance here," said the first +Scots trooper, ye hae some southron spies amang ye--Gudeman, ye sal +answer to the king for this, an' to the Douglas too, whilk ye'll find a +waur job." + +"Ken where ye are, an' wha ye're speaking to," said Dan, stepping +forward and browing the last speaker face to face: "If either the ae +party or the ither be spies, or aught else but leel men, ye shall find, +ere ye gang far, whase land ye are on, an' whase kipples ye are under. +That auld man's my father, an,' doitet as he is, the man amang ye that +says a saucy word to him I'll gar sleep in his shoon a fit shorter than +he rase i' the morning. Wha are ye, sir, or where do you travel by night +on my master the warden's bounds?" + +"Sir," answered another trooper, who seemed to be rather a more polished +man, "I applaud your spirit, and will answer your demand. We go with our +lord and master, Prince Alexander Stuart of Scotland, on a mission to a +noble English family. Here is the king's seal as well as a pass signed +by the English warden. We are leel men and true." + +"Where is the prince?" said Dan: "A prince of Scotland i' my father's +house? Which is he?" + +A slender elegant stripling stept forward. "Here he is, brave yeoman," +said the youth: "No ceremony--Regard me as your fellow and companion for +this night." + +Dan whipped off his bonnet and clapped his foot upon it, and bowing low +and awkwardly to his prince he expressed his humble respect as well as +he could, and then presented the prince to his father. The title sounded +high in the old man's ears, he pulled off his bonnet and looked with an +unsteady gaze, as if uncertain on whom to fix it--"A prince! Eh?--Is he +a prince o' Scotland? Ay, ay!" said he, "Then he'll maybe hae some say +wi' our head men--Dan--I say, Dan"--and with that he pulled Dan's +sleeve, and said in a whisper loud enough to be heard over all the +house,--"I say, Dan, man, gin he wad but speak to the warden to let us +hae a' the land west the length o' the Frosty lair. O it wad lie weel +into ours." "It wad, father, and I daresay we may get it; but hush just +now." "Eh? do you think we may get it?" enquired the old man eagerly in +the same whispering tremulous voice, "O man, it wad lie weel in; an' sae +wad Couter's-cleuch. It's no perfect wanting that too. An' we wad be a +great deal the better o' twa or three rigs aff Skelfhill for a bit +downfa' to the south--See if ye can speak to the lad." + +Dan shook his father's hand, and nodded to him by way of acquiescence. +The old man brightened up: "Whar is your titty Bessy, Dan? Whar are a' +the idle hizzies? Gar them get something set down to the princely lad: +I'se warrant he's e'en hungry. Ye'll no be used til siccan roads as +thir, Sir? Na, na. They're unco roads for a prince.--Dan, I say, come +this way; I want to speak to you--I say," (whispering very low aside) "I +wadna let them ken o' the beef, or they'll just gang wi't. Gie them milk +an' bread, an' cheese, an' a drap o' the broo; it will do weel aneuch. +Hunger's good sauce. But, Dan,--I say, could ye no contrive to get quat +o' thae English? I doubt there will be little made of them:--They're but +a wheen gillie-gaupies at the best, an nae freends to us.--Fouk sude ay +bow to the bush they get bield frae." + +"It's a' true that ye say, father; but we surely needna grudge an +Englishman a piece o' an English cow's hip.--The beef didna cost you +dear, an' there's mair where it cam frae." + +The old man would not give up his point, but persisted in saying it was +a dangerous experiment, and an unprofitable waste. However, in spite of +his remonstrances, the board was loaded with six wooden bickers filled +with beef broth, plenty of bear-meal bannocks, and a full quarter of +English ox beef, to which the travellers did all manner of justice. The +prince, as he called himself, was placed at the head of the table, and +the young English nobleman by his side. Their eyes were scarcely ever +turned from one another's faces, unless in a casual hasty glance to see +how others were regarding the same face. The prince had dark raven hair +that parted on a brow of snow, a black liquid eye, and round lips, +purer than the cherry about to fall from the tree with ripeness. He was +also a degree taller than the English lord; but both of them, as well as +their two pages, were lovelier than it became men to be. The troopers +who attended them seemed disposed to contradict every thing that came +from the adverse party, and, if possible, to broach a quarrel, had it +not been for the two knights, who were all suavity, good breeding, and +kindness to each other, and seemed to have formed an attachment at first +sight. At length Prince Alexander inquired of his new associate his +name, and business at the Scottish court, provided, he said, that it did +not require strict secrecy. The other said, he would tell him every +thing truly, on condition that he would do the same: which being agreed +to, the young English nobleman proceeded as follows: + +"My name is Lord Jasper Tudor, second son to the Earl of Pembroke. I am +nearly related to the throne of England, and in high favour with the +king. The wars on the Borders have greatly harassed the English +dalesmen for these many years, and matters being still getting worse +between the nations, the king, my cousin, has proposed to me to +marry the Princess Margaret of Scotland, and obtain as her dowry a +confirmation of these border lands and castles, so that a permanent +peace may be established between the nations, and this bloody and +desperate work cease. I am on my way to the Scottish court to see +the princess, your sister; and if I find her to be as lovely and +accomplished as fame speaks her, I intend to comply with the king's +request, and marry her forthwith." + +This speech affected the prince so much that all the guests wondered. He +started to his feet, and smiling in astonishment said, "What, you? you +marry m--m--my sister Margaret? She is very much beholden to you, and on +my word she will see a becoming youth. But are you sure that she will +accept of you for a husband?" "I have little to fear on that head," said +the Lord Jasper Tudor jeeringly; "Maids are in general not much averse +to marriage; and, if I am well informed, your lovely sister is as +little averse to it as any of her contemporaries." + +The prince blushed deep at this character of his sister, but had not a +word to say. + +"Pray," continued Tudor, "is she like you? If she is, I think I shall +love her,--I would not have her just like you neither." + +"I believe," said the prince, "there is a strong family likeness; but +tell me in what features you would wish her to differ from me, and I +will describe her minutely to you." + +"In the first place," said the amorous and blue-ey'd Tudor, "I should +like her to be a little stouter, and more manly of frame than you, and, +at least, to have some appearance of a beard." + +All the circle stared. "The devil you would, my lord," said Dan; "Wad ye +like your wife to hae a beard, in earnest? Gude faith, an your ain war +like mine, ye wad think ye had eneuch o't foreby your wife's." The +prince held up his hands in astonishment, and the young English lord +blushed deeper than it behoved a knight to do; but at length he tried to +laugh it by, pretending that he had unwittingly said one thing when he +meant the very contrary, for he wished her to be more feminine, and have +less beard."--"I think that will hardly be possible," said Dan; "but +perhaps there may be a hair here an' there on my lord the prince's chin, +when ane comes near it. I wadna disparage ony man, far less my king's +son." + +"Well, my noble lord," said the prince, "your tale has not a little +surprised me, as well it may. Our meeting here in like circumstances is +the most curious rencounter I ever knew; for, to tell you the plain +truth, I am likewise on an errand of the same import, being thus far on +my way to see and court the lady Jane Howard, in order that all her wide +domains may be attached to my father's kingdom, and peace and amity +thereby established on the border." + +"Gracious heaven!" said young Lord Tudor, "can this that I hear be true? +You? Are you on your way to my cousin, the lady Jane Howard? Why, do you +not know that she is already affianced to Lord Musgrave?" + +"Yes, it is certain I do; but that is one of my principal inducements to +gain her from him; that is quite in the true spirit of gallantry; but, +save her great riches, I am told she has little else to recommend her," +said the prince. + +"And, pray, how does fame report of my cousin Jane?" said Tudor. + +"As of a shrew and a coquette," answered the prince; "a wicked minx, +that is intemperate in all her passions." + +"It is a manifest falsehood," said Tudor, his face glowing with +resentment, "I never knew a young lady so moderate and chastened in +every passion of the female heart. Her most private thoughts are pure as +purity itself, and her--." + +"But, begging your pardon, my lord, how can you possibly know all this?" +said the prince. + +"I do know it," said the other, "it is no matter how: I cannot hear my +fair cousin wronged; and I know that she will remain true to Musgrave, +and have nothing to do with you." + +"I will bet an earldom on that head, said the prince, "if I chuse to +lay siege to her." + +"Done!" said the other, and they joined hands on the bargain; but they +had no sooner laid their hands into one another's than they hastily +withdrew them, with a sort of trepidation, that none of the lookers on, +save the two pages, who kept close by their masters, appeared to +comprehend. They, too, were both mistaken in the real cause; but of that +it does not behove to speak at present. + +"I will let you see," said the prince, recovering himself, "that this +celebrated cousin of yours shall not be so ill to win as the castle of +Roxburgh; and I'll let Musgrave see for how much truth and virgin +fidelity he has put his life in his hand; and when I have her I'll cage +her, for I don't like her. I would give that same earldom to have her in +my power to-night." + +The young Lord Tudor looked about as if he meditated an escape to +another part of the table; but, after a touch that his page gave him on +the sleeve, he sat still, and mustered up courage for a reply. + +"And pray, sir prince, what would you do with her if you had her in your +power to-night?" + +"Something very different from what I would do with you, my lord. But +please describe her to me, for my very heart is yearning to behold +her,--describe every point of her form, and lineament of her features." + +"She is esteemed as very beautiful; for my part I think her but so so," +said Tudor: "She has fair hair, light full blue eyes, and ruddy cheeks; +and her brow, I believe, is as fine and as white as any brow can be." + +"O frightful! what a description! what an ugly minx it must be! Fair +hair! red, I suppose, or dirty dull yellow! Light blue eyes! mostly +white I fancy? Ah, what a frightful immodest ape it must be! I could +spit upon the huzzy!" + +"Mary shield us!" exclaimed young Tudor, moving farther away from the +prince, and striking lightly with his hand on his doublet as if +something unclean had been squirted on it. "Mary shield us! What does +the saucy Scot mean?" + +Every one of the troopers put his hand to his sword, and watched the eye +of his master. The prince beckoned to the Scots to be quiet; but Lord +Tudor did no such thing, for he was flustered and wroth. + +"Pardon me, my lord," said the prince, "I may perhaps suffer enough from +the beauty and perfections of your fair cousin after I see her; you may +surely allow me to deride them now. I am trying to depreciate the charms +I dread. But I do not like the description of her. Tell me seriously do +you not think her very intolerable?" + +"I tell you, prince, I think quite otherwise. I believe Jane to be fifty +times more lovely than any dame in Scotland; and a hundred times more +beautiful than your tawny virago of a sister, whom I shall rejoice to +tame like a spaniel. The haughty, vain, conceited, swart venom, that she +should lay her commands on the Douglas to conquer or die for her! A fine +presumption, forsooth! But the world shall see whether the charms of my +cousin, Lady Jane Howard, or those of your grim and tawdry princess, +have most power." + +"Yes, they shall, my lord," said the prince: "In the mean time let us +drop the subject. I see I have given you offence, not knowing that you +were in love with Lady Jane, which now I clearly see to be the case. +Nevertheless, go on with the description, for I am anxious to hear all +about her, and I promise to approve if there be a bare possibility of +it." + +"Her manner is engaging, and her deportment graceful and easy; her waist +is slim, and her limbs slender and elegant beyond any thing you ever +saw," said Lord Tudor. + +"O shocking!" exclaimed the prince, quite forgetting himself: "Worst of +all! I declare I have no patience with the creature. After such a +description, who can doubt the truth of the reports about the extreme +levity of her conduct? Confess now, my lord, that she is very free of +her favours, and that the reason why so many young gentlemen visit her +is now pretty obvious." + +High offence was now manifest in Lord Jasper Tudor's look. He rose from +his seat, and said in great indignation, "I did not ween I should be +insulted in this guise by the meanest peasant in Scotland, far less by +one of its courtiers, and least of all by a prince of the blood royal. +Yeomen, I will not, I cannot suffer this degradation. These ruffian +Scots are intruders on us,--here I desire that you will expel them the +house." + +The Prince of Scotland was at the head of the table, Tudor was at his +right hand; the rest of the English were all on that side, the Scots on +the other,--their numbers were equal. Dan and his three brethren sat at +the bottom of the board around the old man, who had been plying at the +beef with no ordinary degree of perseverance, nor did he cease when the +fray began. Every one of the two adverse parties was instantly on his +feet, with his sword gleaming in his hand; but finding that the benches +from which they had arisen hampered them, they with one accord sprung on +the tops of these, and crossed their swords. The pages screamed like +women. The two noble adventurers seemed scarcely to know the use of +their weapons, but looked on with astonishment. At length the prince, +somewhat collecting himself, drew out his shabby whanger, and brandished +it in a most unwarlike guise, on which the blue-eyed Tudor retreated +behind his attendants, holding up his hands, but still apparently intent +on revenge for the vile obloquy thrown on the character of _his cousin_, +Lady Jane Howard. "Tis just pe te shance she vantit," said the Scot next +to the prince. + +"My certy, man, we'll get a paick at the louns now," said the second. + +"Fat te teel's ta'en 'e bits o' vee laddies to flee a' eet abeet 'er +buts o' wheers? I wudnae hae my feet i' their sheen for three plucks an +a beedle," said the third. + +"Thou's a' i' the wrang buox now, chaps," said the fourth. These were +all said with one breath; and before the Englishmen had time to reply, +clash went the swords across the table, and the third Scot, the true +Aberdonian, was wounded, as were also two of the Englishmen, at the very +first pass. + +These matters are much sooner done than described. All this was the +work of a few seconds, and done before advice could either be given or +attended to. Dan now interfered with all the spirit and authority that +he was master of. He came dashing along the middle of the board in his +great war boots, striking up their swords as he came, and interposing +his boardly frame between the combatants. "D--n ye a' for a wheen +madcaps!" cried Dan as loud as he could bawl: "What the muckle deil's +fa'en a bobbing at your midriffs now? Ye're a' my father's guests an' +mine; an', by the shin-banes o' Sant Peter, the first side that lifts a +sword, or says a misbehadden word, my three brethren and I will tak' the +tother side, an' smoor the transgressors like as mony moor-poots." + +"Keep your feet aff the meat, fool," said old Pate. + +"Gude sauff us!" continued Dan, "What has been said to gie ony offence? +What though the young gentlewoman dis tak a stown jink o' a' chap that's +her ain sweet-heart whiles? Where's the harm in that? There's little +doubt o' the thing. An' for my part, gin she didna"-- + +Here Dan was interrupted in his elegant harangue by a wrathful hysteric +scream from young Tudor, who pulled out his whinyard, and ran at Dan, +boring at him in awkward but most angry sort, crying all the while, "I +will not bear this insult! Will my followers hear me traduced to my +face?" + +"Deil's i' e' wee but steepid laddie," said Buchan the Aberdonian; "it +thinks 'at 'er preeving it to be a wheer 'e sel o't!" + +Dan lifted up his heavy sword in high choler to cleave the stripling, +and he would have cloven him to the belt, but curbing his wrath, he only +struck his sword, which he made fly into pieces and jingle against the +rafters of the house; then seizing the young adventurer by the shoulder, +he snatched him up to him on the board, where he still stood, and, +taking his head below his arm, he held him fast with the one hand, +making signs with the other to his brethren to join the Scots, and +disarm the English, who were the aggressors both times. In the meantime, +he was saying to Tudor, "Hout, hout, young master, ye hae never been +o'er the Border afore; ye sude hae stayed at hame, an' wantit a wife +till ye gathered mair rummelgumption." + +The five English squires, now seeing themselves set upon by nine, +yielded, and suffered themselves to be disarmed. + +When Tudor came to himself, he appeared to be exceedingly grieved at his +imprudence, and ready to make any acknowledgment, while the prince +treated him with still more and more attention; yet these attentions +were ever and anon mixed with a teazing curiosity, and a great many +inquiries, that the young nobleman could not bear, and did not chuse to +answer. + +It now became necessary to make some arrangement for the parties passing +the night. Patrick Chisholm's house had but one fire-place in an +apartment which served for kitchen and hall; but it had a kind of _ben +end_, as it was then, and is always to this day, denominated in that +part of the country. There was scarcely room to move a foot in it; for, +besides two oaken beds with rowan-tree bars, it contained five huge +chests belonging to the father and his sons, that held their clothes +and warlike accoutrements. The daughters of yeomen in these days did not +sit at table with the men. They were the household servants. Two of +Pate's daughters, who had been bustling about all the evening, conducted +the two noble youths into this apartment, together with their two pages. +The one bed was neatly made down with clean clothes, and the other in a +more common way. "Now," said one of the landward lasses, "You twa +masters are to sleep thegither in here,--in o' this gude bed, ye see, +an' the twa lads in o' this ane." The two young noblemen were standing +close together, as behoved in such a room. On the girl addressing them +thus, their eyes met each other's, but were as instantly withdrawn and +fixed on the floor, while a blush of the deepest tint suffused the +cheeks of both, spreading over the chin and neck of each. The pages +contemplated each other in the same way, but not with the same degree of +timidity. The English stripling seemed rather to approve of the +arrangement, or at least pretended to do so; for he frankly took the +other by the hand, and said in a sweet voice, but broad dialect, "Weall, +yuong Scuot, daghest thou lig woth mey?" The young Caledonian withdrew +his hand, and held down his head: "I always lie at my master's feet," +said he. + +"And so shall you do to-night, Colin," said the prince, "for I will +share this bed with you, and let my lord take the good one." "I cannot +go to bed to-night," said Tudor, "I will rest me on this chest; I am +resolved I sha'n't go to bed, nor throw off my clothes to-night." + +"Ye winna?" said May Chisholm, who visibly wanted a romp with the young +blooming chief,--"Ye winna gang til nae bed, will ye nae, and me has +been at sic pains making it up til ye? Bess, come here an' help me, we +sal soon see whether he's gang til his bed or no, an' that no wi' his +braw claes on neither." So saying, the two frolicsome queans seized the +rosy stripling, and in a moment had him stretched on the bed, and, +making his doublet fly open all at one rude pull, they were proceeding +to undress him, giggling and laughing all the while. Prince Alexander, +from a momentary congenial feeling of delicacy, put his hand hastily +across to keep the lapels of Tudor's vesture together, without the +motion having been perceived by any one in the hurry, and that moment +the page flung himself across his master's breast, and reproved the +lasses so sharply that they desisted, and left them to settle the matter +as they chose. + +The prince had, however, made a discovery that astonished him +exceedingly; for a few minutes his head was almost turned,--but the +truth soon began to dawn on his mind, and every reflection, every +coincidence, every word that had been said, and offence that had been +taken, tended to confirm it: so he determined, not for farther trial, +but for the joke's sake, to press matters a little further. + +When quietness was again restored, and when the blush and the frown had +several times taken alternate sway of the young lord's face, the prince +said to him, "After all, my lord, I believe we must take share of the +same bed together for this one night. It is more proper and becoming +than to sleep with our pages. Besides, I see the bed is good and clean, +and I have many things to talk to you about our two countries, and about +our two intended brides, or sweet-hearts let us call them in the +meantime." + +"Oh no, no, prince," said Tudor, "indeed I cannot, I may not, I would +not sleep in the same bed with another gentleman--No--I never +did--never." + +"Do not say so, my dear lord, for, on my word, I am going to insist on +it," said the prince, coming close up to him, his eyes beaming with joy +at the discovery he had made. "You shall sleep by my side to-night: nay, +I will even take you in my bosom and caress you as if you were my own +sweet dear Lady Jane Howard." Tudor was now totally confounded, and knew +neither what to say for himself, nor what he did say when he spoke. He +held out both his hands, and cried, "Do not, prince, do not--I beg--I +implore do not; for I cannot, cannot consent. I never slept even in the +same apartment with a man in all my life." + +"What, have you always slept in a room by yourself?" asked the teazing +prince. + +"No, never, but always with ladies--yes, always!" was the passionate and +sincere reply. + +Here the prince held up his hands, and turned up his eyes. "What a young +profligate!" exclaimed he, "Mary shield us! Have you no conscience with +regard to the fair sex that you have begun so wicked a course, and that +so early? Little did I know why you took a joke on your cousin so +heinously amiss! I see it now, truth will out! Ah, you are such a youth! +I will not go a foot further to see Lady Jane. What a wicked degraded +imp she must be! Do not kindle into a passion again, my dear lord. I can +well excuse your feigned wrath, it is highly honourable. I hate the +knight that blabs the favours he enjoys from the fair. He is bound to +defend the honour that has stooped to him; even though (as in the +present instance I suppose) it have stooped to half a dozen more +besides." + +A great deal of taunting and ill humour prevailed between these +capricious and inexperienced striplings, and sorely was Tudor pressed +to take share of a bed with the prince, but in vain--his feelings +recoiled from it; and the other, being in possession of a secret of +which the English lord was not aware, took that advantage of teazing and +tormenting him almost beyond sufferance. After all, it was decided that +each should sleep with his own page; a decision that did not seem to go +well down at all with the Yorkshire boy, who once ventured to +expostulate with his lord, but was silenced with a look of angry +disdain. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + He set her on his milk-white steed, + Himself lap on behind her, + And they are o'er the Highland hills; + Her friends they cannot find her. + + As they rode over hill and dale + This lady often fainted, + And cried, "Wo to my cursed moneye, + That this road to me invented." + + _Ballad of Rob Roy._ + + O cam ye here to fight, young man, + Or cam ye here to flee? + Or cam ye out o' the wally west + Our bonnie bride to see? + + _Ballad called Foul Play._ + + +It is by this time needless to inform my readers, that these two young +adventurers were no other than the rival beauties of the two nations, +for whose charms all this bloody coil was carried on at Roxburgh; and +who, without seeing, had hated each other as cordially as any woman is +capable of hating her rival in beauty or favour. So much had the siege +and the perils of Roxburgh become the subject of conversation, that the +ears of the two maidens had long listened to nothing else, and each of +them deemed her honour embarked in the success of her lover. Each of +them had set out with the intent of visiting the camp in disguise; and +having enough of interest to secure protections for feigned names, each +determined to see her rival in the first place, the journey not being +far; and neither of them it is supposed went with any kind intent. Each +of them had a maid dressed in boy's clothes with her, and five stout +troopers, all of whom were utterly ignorant of the secret. The princess +had by chance found out her rival's sex; but the Scottish lady and her +attendant being both taller and of darker complexions than the other +two, no suspicions were entertained against them detrimental to their +enterprise. The princess never closed an eye, but lay meditating on the +course she should take. She was convinced that she had her rival in her +power, and she determined, not over generously, to take advantage of her +good fortune. The time drew nigh that Roxburgh must be lost or won, and +well she knew that, whichever side succeeded, according to the romantic +ideas of that age, the charms of the lady would have all the honour, +while she whose hero lost would be degraded,--considerations which no +woman laying claim to superior and all-powerful charms could withstand. + +Next morning Dan was aroused at an early hour by his supposed prince, +who said to him, "Brave yeoman, from a long conversation that I have had +last night with these English strangers, I am convinced that they are +despatched on some traitorous mission; and as the warden is in +Northumberland, I propose conveying them straight to Douglas' camp, +there to be tried for their lives. If you will engage to take charge of +them, and deliver them safely to the captain before night, you shall +have a high reward; but if you fail, and suffer any of them to escape, +your neck shall answer for it. How many men can you raise for this +service?" + +"Our men are maistly up already," said Dan; "but muckle Charlie o' +Yardbire gaed hame last night wi' twa or three kye, like oursels. Gin +Charlie an' his lads come, I sal answer for the English chaps, if they +war twa to ane. I hae mysel an' my three billies, deil a shank mae; but +an Charlie come he's as gude as some three, an' his backman's nae +bean-swaup neither." + +"Then," said the counterfeit prince, "I shall leave all my attendants to +assist you save my page,--we two must pursue our journey with all +expedition. All that is required of you is to deliver the prisoners safe +to the Douglas. I will despatch a message to him by the way, apprising +him of the circumstances." + +The Lady Margaret and her page then mounted their palfreys and rode off +without delay; but, instead of taking the road by Gorranberry, as they +had proposed over night, they scoured away at a light gallop down the +side of the Teviot. At the town of Hawick she caused her page, who was +her chief waiting-maid and confidant, likewise in boy's clothes, to cut +out her beautiful fleece of black hair, that glittered like the wing of +the raven, being determined to attend in disguise the issue of the +contest. She then procured a red curled wig, and dressing herself in a +Highland garb, with a plumed bonnet, tartan jacket and trowsers, and +Highland hose and brogues, her appearance was so completely altered, +that even no one who had seen her the day before, in the character of +the prince her brother, could possibly have known her to be the same +person; and leaving her page near the camp to await her private orders, +she rode straight up to head-quarters by herself. + +Being examined as she passed the outposts, she said she brought a +message to Douglas of the greatest importance, and that it was from the +court; and her address being of such a superior cast, every one +furthered her progress till she came to the captain's tent. Scarcely did +she know him,--care, anxiety, and watching had so worn him down; and her +heart was melted when she saw his appearance. Never, perhaps, could she +have been said to have loved him till that moment; but seeing what he +had suffered for her sake, the great stake he had ventured, and the +almost hopeless uncertainty that appeared in every line of his face, +raised in her heart a feeling unknown to her before; and highly did that +heart exult at the signal advantage that her good fortune had given him +over his rival. Yet she determined on trying the state of his affections +and hopes. Before leaving Hawick, she had written a a letter to him, +inclosing a lock of her hair neatly plaited; but this letter she kept +back in order to sound her lover first without its influence. He asked +her name and her business. She had much business, she said, but not a +word save for his private ear. Douglas was struck with the youth's +courtly manner, and looked at him with a dark searching eye,--"I have no +secrets," said he, "with these my kinsmen: I desire, before them, to +know your name and business." + +"My name," said the princess pertly, "is Colin Roy M'Alpin,--I care not +who knows my name; but no word further of my message do I disclose save +to yourself." + +"I must humour this pert stripling," said he, turning to his friends; +"if his errand turns out to be one of a trivial nature, and that does +not require all this ceremony, I shall have him horse-whipped." + +With that the rest of the gentlemen went away, and left the two by +themselves. Colin, as we must now, for brevity's sake, term the +princess, was at first somewhat abashed before the dark eye of Douglas, +but soon displayed all the effrontery that his assumed character +warranted, if not three times more. + +"Well now, my saucy little master, Colin Roy M'Alpin, please condescend +so far as to tell me whence you are, and what is your business +here,--this secret business, of such vast importance." + +"I am from court, my lor'; from the Scottish court, an't please +you, my lor'; but not directly as a body may say,--my lor'; not +directly--here--there--south--west--precipitately, incontrovertibly, +ascertaining the scope and bearing of the progressive advance of the +discomfiture and gradual wreck of your most flagrant and preposterous +undertaking." + +"The devil confound the impertinent puppy!" + +"Hold, hold, my lor', I mean your presumptuous and foolhardy enterprise, +first in presuming to the hand of my mistress, the king's daughter,--my +lovely and queenly mistress; and then in foolhardily running your head +against the walls of Roxburgh to attain this, and your wit and manhood +against the superior generalship of a Musgrave." + +"By the pock-net of St Peter, I will cause every bone in your body to be +basted to powder, you incorrigible pedant and puppy!" said the Douglas; +and seizing him by the collar of the coat, he was about to drag him to +the tent-door and throw him into the air. + +"Hold, my lor'; please keep off your rough uncourtly hands till I +deliver the credentials of my mistress." + +"Did you say that you were page to the Princess Margaret? Yes, surely +you are, I have erst seen that face, and heard that same flippant +tongue. Pray, what word or token does my dear and sovereign lady send +me?" + +"She bade me say, that she does not approve of you at all, my +lor':--that, for her sake, you ought to have taken this castle many days +ago. And she bade me ask you why you don't enter the castle by the gate, +or over the wall, or under the hill, which is only a sand one, and hang +up all the Englishmen by the necks, and send the head of Philip Musgrave +to his saucy dame?--She bade me ask you why you don't, my lor'?" + +"Women will always be women," said Douglas surlily to himself: "I +thought the princess superior to her sex, but--" + +"But! but what, my lor'? Has she not good occasion for displeasure? She +bade me tell you that you don't like her;--that you don't like her half +so well as Musgrave does his mistress,--else why don't you do as much +for her? He took the castle for the sake of his mistress, and for her +sake he keeps it in spite of you. Therefore she bade me tell you, that +you must _go in_ and beat the English, and take the castle from them; +for she will not suffer it that Lady Jane Howard shall triumph over +her." + +"Tell her in return," said Douglas, "that I will do what man can do; and +when that is done, she shall find that I neither will be slack in +requiring the fulfilment of her engagement, nor in performing my own. If +that womanish tattling be all that you have to say,--begone: the rank of +your employer protects you." + +"Hold, my lor', she bade me look well, and tell her what you were like, +and if I thought you changed since I waited on you at court. On my +conscience you look very ill. These are hard ungainly features of yours. +I'll tell her you look very shabby, and very surly, and that you have +lost all heart. But oh, my lor', I forgot she bade me tell you, that if +you found you were clearly beat, it would be as well to draw off your +men and abandon the siege; and that she would, perhaps, in pity, give +you a moiety of your lands again." + +"I have no patience with the impertinence of a puppy, even though the +messenger of her I love and esteem above all the world. Get you hence." + +"Oh, my lor', I have not third done yet. But, stay, here is a letter I +had almost forgot." + +Douglas opened the letter. Well he knew the hand; there were but few in +Scotland who could write, and none could write like the princess. It +contained a gold ring set with rubies, and a lock of her hair. He kissed +them both; and tried the ring first on the one little finger, and then +on the other, but it would scarcely go over the nail; so he kissed them +again, and put them in his bosom. He then read to himself as follows: + + "MY GOOD LORD,--I enclose you two love-tokens of my troth; let them + be as beacons to your heart to guide it to deeds of glory and + renown. For my sake put down these English. Margaret shall ever + pray for your success. Retain my page Colin near your person. He is + true-hearted, and his flippancy affected. Whatever you communicate + to him will be safely transmitted to + + "MARGARET." + +It may well be supposed how Colin watched the emotions of Douglas while +reading this heroic epistle; and, in the true spirit of the age, they +were abundantly extravagant. He kissed the letter, hugged it in his +bosom, and vowed to six or seven saints to do such deeds for his adored +and divine princess as never were heard or read of. + +"Now, my good lor," said the page, "you must inform me punctually what +hopes you have of success, and if there is any thing wanting that the +kingdom can afford you." + +"My ranks are too thin," replied the Douglas; "and I have engaged to +take it with my own vassals. The warden is too proud to join his forces +to mine on that footing, but keeps scouring the borders, on pretence of +preventing supplies, and thus assisting me, but in truth for enriching +himself and his followers. If I could have induced him and his whole +force to have joined the camp, famine would have compelled the enemy to +yield a month agone. But I have now the captain's brother prisoner; and +I have already given him to know, that if he does not deliver up the +castle to me in four days, I will hang the young knight up before his +eyes,--I have sworn to do it, and I swear again to keep my oath." + +"I will convey all this to my mistress," said Colin. "So then you have +his only brother in your hold? My lor', the victory is your own, and the +princess, my mistress, beside. In a few hours will be placed in your +hands the primal cause and fomentor of this cruel and bloody war, the +Lady Jane Howard." + +The Douglas started like one aroused from slumber, or a state of +lethargy, by a sudden wound. "What did you say, boy?" said he. "Either I +heard amiss, or you are dreaming. I have offered estates, nay, I have +offered an earldom, to any hardy adventurer who would bring me that +imperious dame; but the project has been abandoned as quite +impracticable." + +"Rest content, said Colin: "I have secured her, and she will be +delivered into your hands before night. She has safe passports with her +to the Scottish court, but they are in favour of Jasper Tudor, son to +the Earl of Pembroke; so that the discovery of her sex proves her an +impostor, and subjects her to martial law, which I request, for my +mistress' sake, you will execute on her. My lady the princess, with all +her beauty, and high accomplishments, is a very woman; and I know there +is nothing on earth she so much dreads as the triumph of Lady Jane over +her. Besides, it is evident she was bound to the Scottish court either +to poison the princess, or inveigle her into the hands of her enemies. +All her attendants are ignorant of her sex, save her page, who is said +to be a blooming English country maiden. The Prince Alexander bade me +charge you never to mention by what means she came into your hands, but +to give it out that she was brought to you by a miracle, by witchcraft, +or by the power of a mighty magician." "It is well thought of, boy," +said the Douglas, greatly elevated--"I have been obliged to have +recourse to such means already--this will confirm all. The princess your +mistress desired that you should remain with me. You shall be my right +hand page, I will love and favour you; you shall be fed with the bread +and wine, and shall sleep in my tent, and I will trust you with all my +secrets for the welcome tidings you have brought, and for the sake of +the angelic dame that recommends you to me; for she is my beloved, my +adored mistress, and for her will I either conquer or die! My sword is +her's--my life is her's--Nay, my very soul is the right of my beloved!" +Poor Colin dropped a tear on hearing this passionate nonsense. Women +love extravagance in such matters, but in those days it had no bounds. + +It was not long till the prisoners arrived, under the care of muckle +Charlie Scott of Yardbire and Dan Chisholm, with their troopers, guarded +in a very original manner. When Charlie arrived at old Chisholm's house, +and learned that a _prince_ had been there, and had given such charges +about the prisoners, he determined to make sure work; and as he had +always most trust to put in himself, he took the charge of the young +English nobleman and his squire, as he supposed them to be. The page he +took on his huge black horse behind him, lashing him to his body with +strong belts cut from a cow's raw hide. His ancles were moreover +fastened to the straps at the tops of Charlie's great war boots; so that +the English maiden must have had a very uncomfortable ride. But the +other he held on before him, keeping her all the way in his arms, +exactly as a countryman holds up a child in the church to be christened. + +The Lady Jane Howard had plenty of the spirit of romance about her, but +she neither had the frame nor the energy of mind requisite for carrying +her wild dreams of female heroism into effect. She was an only child--a +spoiled one; having been bred up without perhaps ever being controlled, +till she fell into the hands of these border mosstroopers. Her +displeasure was excessive.--She complained bitterly of her detainment, +and much more of being sent a prisoner to the camp. When she found +herself in muckle Charlie Scott's arms, borne away to be given up to the +man whom of all the world she had most reason to dread, she even forgot +herself so far as to burst into tears. Charlie, with all his inordinate +strength and prowess, had a heart so soft, that, as he said himself, "a +laverock might hae laired in't;" and he farther added, that when he saw +"the bit bonny English callan', that was comed o' sic grand blude, grow +sae desperately wae, an' fa' a blirting and greeting, the deil a bit but +his heart was like to come out at his mouth." This was no lie, for his +comrades beheld him two or three times come across his eyes with his +mailed sleeve--a right uncouth handkerchief: and then he tried to +comfort the youth with the following speech: "Troth, man, but I'm unco +wae for ye, ye're sae young an' sae bonny, an' no' a fit man at a' to +send out i' thir crabbit times. But tak good heart, an' dinna be +dauntit, for it will soon be over w' ye. Ye'll neither hae muckle to +thole nor lang time to dree't, for our captain will hang ye directly. +He hangs a' spies an' messengers aff hand; sae it's no worth naebody's +while to greet. Short wark's aye best i' sic cases." + +"He cannot, he dares not injure a hair of my head," said Lady Jane +passionately. + +"_Canna!_" said Charlie, "Gude faith, ye ken that's nonsense. He can as +easily hang ye, or do ought else w' ye, as I can wipe my beard. An' as +for the thing that the Douglas _darena_ do, gude faith, ye ken, I never +saw it yet. But I'm sure I wish ye _may_ be safe, for it wad do little +good to me to see your bit pease-weep neck rackit." + +"It was most unfair, as well as most ungenerous in your prince to detain +me," said she, "as my business required urgency. I had regular signed +warrandice, and went on the kindest intent; besides, I have a great +aversion to be put into the hands of Douglas. How many cows and ewes +would you take to set me at liberty?" + +"Whisht, whisht, Sir!" said Charlie; "Gudesake haud your tongue! That's +kittle ground. Never speak o' sic a thing. But how many could ye afford +to gie, an I _were_ to set you at liberty?" + +"In the first place, I will give you five hundred head of good English +nolt," said Lady Jane. + +"Eh? What?" said Charlie, holding his horse still, and turning his ear +close round to the lady's face, that he might hear with perfect +distinctness the extraordinary proffer. It was repeated. Charlie was +almost electrified with astonishment. "Five hunder head o' nout!" +exclaimed he: "But d'ye mean their heads by theirsels?--cuttit aff, +like?" + +"No, no; five hundred good live cattle." + +"Mercy on us! Gude faith, they wad stock a' Yardbire--an' Raeburn," +added he, after a pause, putting his horse again slowly in motion; "an' +Watkerrick into the bargain," added he, with a full drawn sigh, putting +the spurs to his beast, that he might go quicker to carry him away from +the danger. "For troth, d' ye ken, my lord, we're no that scarce o' +grund in Scotland; we can get plenty o' that for little thing, gin we +could get ought to lay on't. But it's hard to get beasts, an' kittle to +keep them i' our country. Five hunder head o' black cattle! Hech! an +Charlie Scott had a' thae, how mony braw lads could he tak at his back +o'er Craikcorse to join his master the warden! But come, come, it canna +be. War somebody a Scots lord, as he's an English ane, an i' the same +danger, I wad risk muckle to set him free. But come, Corby, my fine +naig, ye hae carried me into mony a scrape, ye maun carry me out o' this +ane, or, gude faith, your master's gane. Ha, lad, ye never had sic a +back-fu' i' your life! Ye hae five hunder head o' black cattle on't, ye +dog, an' ye're carrying them a' away frae your master an' Yardbire wi' +as little ceremony as he took you frae Squire Weir o' Cockermouth. Ah, +Corby, ye're gayan like your master, ye hae a lang free kind o' +conscience, ye tike!" + +"But, my dear Sir," said Lady Jane, "you have not heard the half of my +proffer. You seem to be a generous, sensible, and good natured +gentleman." + +"Do I?" said Charlie," Thanks t' ye, my lord." + +"Now," continued she, "if you will either set me and my page safely down +on English ground, or within the ports of Edinborough, I'll add five +thousand sheep to the proffer I have already made you." + +"Are ye no joking?" said Charlie, again stopping his horse. + +"On my honour I am not," was the answer. + +"They'll stock a' Blake-Esk-head an' the Garald-Grains," said Charlie: +"Hae ye a free passport to the Scottish court?" + +"Yes, I have, and signed with the warden's name." + +"Na, na, haud your tongue there; my master has nae name," said Charlie: +"He has a good speaking name, an' ane he disna think shame o', but nae +name for black an' white." + +"I'll show you it," said Lady Jane. + +"Na, ye needna fash," said Charlie; "I fear it wad be unmannerly in me +to doubt a lord's word." + +"How soon could you carry us to Edinborough?" inquired Lady Jane, +anxious to keep muckle Charlie in the humour of taking her any where +save into the hands of Douglas. + +"That's rather a question to speer at Corby than me," said Charlie; "but +I think if we miss drowning i' Tweed, an' breaking our necks o'er the +Red-brae, an' sinking out o' sight i' Soutra-flow, that I could tak in +hand to hae ye in Edinborough afore twal o'clock at night.--Bad things +for you, Corby." + +"Never say another word about it then," said Lady Jane; "the rest are +quite gone before us, and out of sight. Turn to the left, and ride for +Edinborough. Think of the five hundred cows and five thousand sheep." + +"Oh, that last beats a'!" said Charlie. "Five thousand sheep! how mony +is that? Five score's a hunder--I'm sure o' that. Every hunder's five +score; then--and how mony hunder maks a thousand?"-- + +"Ten," said the page, who was forced to laugh at Charlie's arithmetic. + +"Ten?" repeated Charlie. "Then ten times five hunder that maks but ae +thousand; an' other ten times five hunder--D--n me if I ken how mony is +o' them ava. What does it signify for a man to hae mair gear than he can +count? I fancy we had better jogg on the gate we're gaun, Corby." + +"I am sure, friend, ye never had such a chance of being rich," said Lady +Jane, "and may never, in all likelihood, have such a chance again." + +"That is a' true ye're saying, my lord, an' a sair heart it has gi'en +me," said Charlie; "but your offer's ower muckle, an' that maks me dread +there's something at the bottom o't that I dinna comprehend. Gude faith, +an the warden war to suffer danger or disgrace for my greed o' siller, +it wad be a bonny story! Corby, straight on, ye dog: ding the brains out +o' the gutters, clear for the camp, ye hellicat of an English hound. +What are ye snoring an' cocking your lugs at? Od an ye get company like +yoursel, ye carena what mischief ye carry your master into. Get on, I +say, an' dinna gie me time to hear another word or think about this +business again." + +The young lady began here to lose heart, seeing that Charlie had plucked +up a determination. But her companion attacked him in her turn with all +the flattery and fair promises she could think of, till Charlie found +his heart again beginning to waver and calculate; so that he had no +other shift but to croon a border war-song, that he might not hear this +dangerous conversation. Still the page persevered, till Charlie, losing +all patience, cried out as loud and as bitterly as he could, "Haud your +tongue, ye slee-gabbit limb o' the auld ane. D--n ye, d'ye think a man's +conscience is to be hadden abreed like the mou' of a sack, an' crammed +fu' o' beef an' mutton whether he will or no? Corby, another nicker an' +another snore, lad, an' we'll soon see you aff at the gallop." + +Thus ended the trying colloquy between muckle Charlie Scott o' Yardbire +and his two prisoners; the rest of his conversation was to Corby, whom +he forthwith pushed on by spur and flattery to the camp. + +When the truth came to be discovered, many puzzled themselves +endeavouring to guess what Charlie would actually have done had he known +by the way what a treasure he had in his arms,--the greatest beauty, and +the greatest heiress in England;--for Charlie was as notable for +kindness and generosity as he was for bodily strength; and, besides, he +was poor, as he frankly acknowledged; but then he only wished for +riches to be able to keep more men for the service of his chief. Some +thought he would have turned his horse round without further ceremony, +and carried her straight to Yardbire, on purpose to keep her there for a +wife; others thought he would have risked his neck, honour, and every +thing, and restored her again to her friends. But it was impossible for +any of them to guess what he would have done, as it was proved +afterwards that Charlie could not guess himself. When the truth came to +be divulged, and was first told to him, his mouth, besides becoming +amazingly extended in its dimensions, actually grew four-square with +astonishment; and when asked what he would have done had he known, he +smacked his lips, and wiped them with the back of his hand as if his +teeth had been watering--and, laughing to himself with a chuckling +sound, like a moor-cock, he turned about his back to conceal his looks, +and only answered with these emphatic words: "Gude faith, it was as weel +I didna ken." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Some write of preclair conquerouris, + And some of vallyeant emperouris, + And some of nobill mychtie kingis, + That royally did reull the ringis; + And some of squyris douchty deidis, + That wonderis wrocht in weirly weidis; + Sa I intand the best I can + Descryve the deidis and the man. + + SIR DAV. LINDSAYE. + + Wald God I war now in Pitcary! + Becass I haif bene se ill deidy. + Adew! I dar na langer tairy, + I dreid I waif intill ane widdy. + + _Ibid._ + + +In the same grotesque guise as formerly described, Charlie at length +came with his two prisoners to the outposts of the Scottish army. The +rest of the train had passed by before him, and warned their friends who +was coming, and in what stile; for no one thought it worth his while to +tarry with Charlie and his overloaden horse. When he came near the +soldiers they hurra'd, and waved their bonnets, and gathering about +Charlie in crowds, they would not let him onward. Besides, some fell a +loosing the prisoner behind him, and others holding up their arms to +release him of the one he carried before; and, seeing how impatient he +was, and how determined to keep his hold, they grew still more +importunate in frolic. But it had nearly cost some of them dear; for +Charlie, growing wroth, squeezed the Lady Jane so strait with the left +arm, that she was forced to cry out; and putting his right over his +shoulder, he drew out his tremendous two-hand sword, "Now stand back, +devils," cried Charlie, "or, gude faith, I'll gar Corby ride ower the +taps o' the best o' ye. I hae had ower sair a trial for heart o' flesh +already; but when I stood that, it sanna be the arm o' flesh that takes +them frae me now, till I gie them into the Douglas's ain hands. Stand +back, ye devils; a Scott never gies up his trust as lang as his arm can +dimple at the elbow." + +The soldiers flew away from around him like a flight of geese, and with +the same kind of noise too,--every one being giggling and laughing,--and +up rode Charlie to the door of the Douglas' pavilion, where he shouted +aloud for the captain. Douglas, impatient to see his illustrious +prisoner, left the others abruptly, and hasted out at Charlie's call. + +"Gude faith, my lord," said Charlie, "I beg your pardon for garring you +come running out that gate; but here's a bit English lord for ye, an' +his henchman,--sic master, sic man, as the saying is. There war terrible +charges gi'en about them, sae I thought I wad secure them, an' gie them +into your ain hands." + +"I am much beholden to you, gallant Yardbire," said Douglas: "The care +and pains you have taken shall not be forgotten." + +This encouraging Charlie, he spoke to the earl with great freedom, who +was mightily diverted with his manner, as well as with his mode of +securing the prisoners. + +"There's his lordship for ye," said Charlie, holding him out like a +small bale of goods: "Mind ye hae gotten him safe off my hand; an' +here's another chap I hae fastened to my back. An a' the English nobles +war like thir twa, I hae been thinking, my lord, that they might tak' +our lasses frae us, but we wadna be ill pinched to tak their kye frae +them; an' it wad be nae hard bargain for us neither." So saying, he cut +his belts and thongs of raw hide, and let the attendant lady, in page's +clothes, free of his body. "He's a little, fine, soft, cozey callan +this," added Charlie, "he has made my hinderlands as warm as they had +been in an oon." + +Douglas took Lady Jane off from before the gallant yeoman in his arms. +He observed with what a look she regarded him; and he was sure, from the +first view he got of her features, that the page Colin must have been +right with regard to the sex of the prisoner. He likewise noted the +holes in her ears, from which it was apparent that pendent jewels +had lately been taken; and he hoped the other part of the page's +information might likewise be correct, though how to account for such an +extraordinary piece of good fortune he was wholly at a loss. He led her +into the inner pavilion, and there, in presence of his secretary and +two of his kinsmen, examined her papers and passports. They were found +all correct, and signed by the public functionaries of both nations, in +favour of Jasper Tudor, son to the Earl of Pembroke. + +"These are quite sufficient, my young lord," said Douglas; "I see no +cause for detaining you further. You shall have a sufficient guard till +you are out of the range of my army, and safe furtherance to the +Scottish court." + +The prisoner's countenance lighted up, and she thanked Douglas in the +most grateful terms, blessing herself that she had fallen into the hands +of so courteous a knight, and urged the necessity of their sudden +departure. Douglas assured her they should be detained no longer than +the necessity of the times required; but that it was absolutely +requisite, for his own safety, the safety of the realm, and the success +of the enterprise in which he was engaged, and so deeply concerned, that +they should submit to a personal search from head to foot, lest some +traitorous correspondence might be secretly conveyed by them. + +The countenance of the prisoner again altered at this information. It +became at first pale as a lily, and immediately after blushed as deeply +as the damask rose, while the tears started to her eyes. It was no +wonder, considering the predicament in which she now stood; her delicate +lady form to be searched by the hands of rude warriors, her sex +discovered, and her mission to the Scottish court found out to be a wild +intrigue. She fell instantly on her knees before Douglas, and besought +him in moving accents to dispense with the useless formality of +searching her and her young kinsman and companion, assuring him at the +same time that neither of them had a single scrap of writing that he had +not seen, and adjuring him on his honour and generosity as a knight to +hearken to this request. + +"The thing is impossible, my lord," said Douglas;" and, moreover, the +anxiety you manifest about such a trifle argues a consciousness of +guilt. You must submit to be searched on the instant. Chuse of us whom +you will to the office." + +"I will never submit to it," said she passionately, "there is not a +knight in England would have refused such a request to you." + +"I would never have asked it, my lord," said he; "and it is your utter +inexperience in the customs of war that makes you once think of +objecting to it. I am sorry we must use force. Bring in two of the +guards." + +"Hold, hold, my lord," said Lady Jane, "since I must submit to such a +degradation, I will submit to yourself. I will be searched by your own +hands, and yours alone." + +They were already in the inner tent. Douglas desired his friends to go +out, which they complied with, and he himself began to search the person +of Lady Jane, with the most careful minuteness, as he pretended, well +aware what was to be the issue of the search. He examined all her +courtly coat, pockets, lining, and sleeves,--he came to her gaudy +doublet, stiff with gold embroidery, and began to unloose it, but she +laid both her hands upon her breast, and looked in his face with eyes so +speaking, and so beseeching, that it was impossible for man to mistake +the import. Douglas did not mistake it, but was bent upon having proof +positive. + +"What?" said he, "do you still resist? What is here you would conceal?" + +"Oh my Lord," said she, "do you not see?" + +"I see nothing," said he; and while she feebly struggled he loosed the +vest, when the fair heaving bosom discovered the sex of his prisoner, +and at the same time, with the struggle, the beautiful light locks had +escaped from their confinement, and hung over her breast in waving +ringlets. The maid stood revealed; and, with the disclosure, all the +tender emotions and restrained feelings of the female heart burst forth +like a river that has been dammed up from running in its natural +channel, and has just got vent anew. She wept and sobbed till her fair +breast was like to rend. She even seized on Douglas' hand, and wet it +with her tears. He, on his part, feigned great amazement. + +"How is this?" said he, "A maid!" + +"Yes indeed, my lord, you see before you, and in your power, a hapless +maid of noble blood, who set out on a crazy expedition of love, but, +from inexperience, has fallen into your hands." + +"Then the whole pretended mission to our Scottish court is, it appears, +a fraud, a deep laid imposition of some most dangerous intent, as the +interest that has been used to accomplish it fully demonstrates. You +have subjected yourself and all your followers to military execution; +and the only method by which you can procure a respite, either for +yourself or them, is to make a full confession of the whole plot." + +"Alas, my lord, I have no plot to confess. Mine was merely a romantic +expedition of youthful love, and, as you are a knight, and a lover +yourself, I beg your clemency, that you will pardon my followers and me. +They are innocent; and, save my page, who is likewise a lady, and my own +kinswoman, all the rest are as ignorant who I am, and what I am, as the +child that is unborn." + +"If you would entertain any hopes of a reprieve, I say, madam, either +for yourself or them, declare here to me instantly your name, lineage, +and the whole of your business in Scotland, and by whose powerful +interest you got this safe conduct made out, for one who, it seems, +knows nothing of it, or who, perhaps, does not exist." + +"Surely you will not be so ungallant as to insist upon a lady exposing +herself and all her relations? No, my lord, whatever become of me, you +must never attain to the knowledge of my name, rank, or titles. I +entrust myself to your mercy: you can have nothing to fear from the +machinations of a love-lorn damsel." + +"I am placed in peculiarly hard circumstances, madam; I have enemies +abroad and at home, and have nothing but my own energies to rely on to +save my house and name from utter oblivion, and my dearest hopes from +extinguishment. This expedition of yours, folded as it is in deceit and +forgery, has an ominous and daring appearance. The house of Douglas must +not fall for the tears of a deceitful maiden, the daughter of my enemy. +Without a full disclosure of all that I request, every one of you shall +suffer death in the sight of both armies before the going down of the +sun. I will begin with the meanest of your followers, in hopes, for the +sake of your youth and your sex, that you will relent and make a full +disclosure of your name, and all your motives for such an extraordinary +adventure." + +Lady Jane continued positive and peremptory, as did also her attendant, +who had been thoroughly schooled before-hand, in case of their sex being +discovered, never, on any account, to acknowledge who she was, lest it +should put Musgrave wholly in Douglas' power. The latter, therefore, to +keep up the same system of terror and retribution first practised by his +opponent, caused sound the death knell, and hung out the flag of blood, +to apprise those within the fortress that some of their friends were +shortly to be led to execution. + +The first that was brought out was a thick-set swarthy yeoman, who said +his name was Edmund Heaton, and that he had been a servant to Belsay, +whom he had followed in the border wars. When told that he was about to +be hanged for a spy and a traitor, he got very angry, even into such a +rage that they could not know what he said, for he had a deep rough burr +in his throat, and spoke a coarse English dialect. "Hang'd? I hang'd? +and fogh whot? Domn your abswoghdity! Hang ane mon fogh deying whot his +meastegh beeds him?"--He was told that he had not two minutes to live, +unless he could discover something of the plot in which his employers +were engaged; that it was found he had been accompanying two ladies in +disguise, on some traitorous mission which they would not reveal; and it +was the law of war that he should suffer for the vile crime in which he +was an accomplice. + +"Nobbit, I tell you that won't dey at all;--n-n-nor it sha'n't dey +neithegh. Do you think you aghe to hang eveghy mon that follows ane +woeman? Domn them, I nevegh knew them lead to oughts but eel! If I had +known they had been woemen--Domn them!"--He was hauled up to the +scaffold, for he refused to walk a foot.--"Wh-wh-why, nobbit speak you +now," cried he in utter desperation; "why n-n-nobbit you aghe not +serious, aghe you?" He was told he should soon find to his experience +that they were quite serious.--"Why, cworse the whole geneghation of +you, the thing is nwot to be bwoghn. I wont swoffegh it--that I woll +not. It is dwonright mworder. Oh, ho, ho!" and he wept, crying as loud +as he could, "Oh-oh! ho: mworder! mworder! Domn eveghy Scwot of +you!"--In this mood, kicking, crying, and swearing, was he turned off, +and hanged in sight of both hosts. + +The walls of Roxburgh were crowded with spectators. They could not +divine who it was that was suffering; for all kind of communication was +forbid by Musgrave, and it was now become exceedingly difficult. Great +was their wonder and anxiety when they beheld one trooper after another +of their countrymen brought out and hanged like dogs. But it was evident +to every beholder, from the unsettled and perturbed motions of those on +the wall, that something within the fortress was distressing the +besieged. Some hurried to and fro; others stood or moved about in +listless languor; and there were a few that gazed without moving, or +taking their eyes from the spot where they were fixed. Not one flight of +arrows came to disturb the execution, as usual; and it was suspected +that their whole stock of arrows was exhausted. This would have been +good tidings for the Scots, could they have been sure of it, as they +might then have brought their files closer to the walls, and more +effectually ensured a strict blockade. + +Lady Jane's followers were all executed, and herself and companion sore +threatened in vain. Douglas, however, meant to reserve them for another +purpose than execution,--to ensure to himself the surrender of the +fortress, namely; but of her squires he was glad to be rid, for fear of +a discovery being made to the English that the lady was in his hands, +which might have brought the whole puissance of the realm upon him; +whereas the generality of the nation viewed the siege merely as an +affair of Border chivalry, in which they were little interested, and +deemed Musgrave free from any danger. + +It was on St Leonard's day that these five Englishmen were executed; and +as a retaliation in part, a Scots fisherman was hanged by the English +from the wall of the castle; one who indeed had been the mean of doing +them a great deal of mischief. And thus stood matters at that period of +the siege; namely, the Earl of Douglas and Mar lay before Roxburgh with +eight thousand hardy veterans, all his own vassals. The Redhough kept a +flying army on the borders of Northumberland, chiefly about the +mountains of Cheviot and Cocket-dale, interrupting all supplies and +communications from that quarter, and doing excellent service to himself +and followers, and more to the Douglas than the latter seemed to admit +of. Whenever he found the English gathering to any head, he did not go +and attack them, but, leaving a flying party of horse to watch their +motions, he instantly made a diversion somewhere else, which drew them +off with all expedition. A numerous army, hastily raised, entered +Scotland on the west border, on purpose to draw off the warden; but they +were surprised and defeated by the Laird of Johnston, who raised the +Annandale people, and attacked the English by night. He followed them +into Cumberland, and fought two sharp battles with them there, in both +of which he had the advantage, and he then fell a spoiling the country. +This brought the Northumberland and Durham men into these parts, who +mustered under Sir William Fetherstone to the amount of fifteen thousand +men. Johnston retired, and the Earl of Galloway, to back him, raised +twenty thousand in the west, and came towards the Sarke: So that the +siege of Roxburgh was viewed but as an item in the general convulsion, +though high was the stake for those that played, and ruthless the game +while it lasted. Douglas now looked upon the die as turned in his +favour, as he held pledges that would render the keeping of it of no +avail to his opponent. The lady was in his power at whose fiat Musgrave +had taken and defended the perilous castle so bravely,--but of this no +man knew save the Douglas himself. Sir Richard Musgrave was likewise in +his hand, the captain's youngest, most beloved, and only surviving +brother; and Douglas had threatened, against a certain day, if the keys +of the castle were not surrendered to him, to hang the young hero +publicly, in the view of both hosts; and in all his threats he had never +once broke his word. We must now take a peep within the walls of +Roxburgh, and see how matters are going on there. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + I cast my net in Largo bay, + And fishes I caught nine; + There were three to roast, and three to boil, + And three to bait the line. + + _Old Song._ + + Saw never man so faynt a levand wycht, + And na ferlye, for ouir excelland lycht + Corruptis the witt, and garris the blude awail, + Until the harte, thocht it na dainger aill, + Quhen it is smorit memberis wirk not rychte, + The dreadfulle terrour swa did him assaile. + + _Pal. of Hon._ + + +Berwick was then in the hands of the English, and commanded by Sir +Thomas Musgrave, the captain of Roxburgh's cousin; so also was Norham, +and all the forts between, on that side of the river. Notwithstanding of +this, the power of the Scots predominated so much in the open field +during that reign, that this chain of forts proved finally of no avail +to Lord Musgrave, (or Sir Philip Musgrave, as he is generally +denominated,) though he had depended on keeping the communication open, +else in victualling Roxburgh he had calculated basely. The garrison were +already reduced to the greatest extremes; they were feeding on their +horses and on salted hides; and, two or three days previous to this, +their only communication with their countrymen had been cut off, they +could not tell how. It was at best only precarious, being carried on in +the following singular way.--The besieged had two communications with +the river, by secret covered ways from the interior of the fortress. In +each of these they had a small windlass, that winded on and let off a +line nearly a mile in length. The lines were very small, being made of +plaited brass wire; and, putting a buoy on a hook at the end of each one +of these, they let them down the water. Their friends knowing the very +spot where they stopped, watched, and put dispatches on the hooks, with +fish, beef, venison, and every kind of convenience, which they pulled up +below the water, sometimes for a whole night together; and though this +proved but a scanty supply for a whole garrison, it was for a long time +quite regular, and they depended a good deal on it. + +But one night it so chanced that an old fisherman, who fished for the +monastery, had gone out with his coble by night to spear salmon in the +river. He had a huge blaze flaming in a grate that stood exalted over +the prow of his wherry; and with the light of that he pricked the salmon +out of their deep recesses with great acuteness. As he was plying his +task he perceived a fish of a very uncommon size and form scouring up +the river with no ordinary swiftness. At first he started, thinking he +had seen the devil: but a fisher generally strikes at every thing he +sees in the water. He struck it with his barbed spear, called on Tweed a +_leister_, and in a moment had it into his boat. It was an excellent +sirloin of beef. The man was in utter amazement, for it was dead, and +lay without moving, like other butcher meat; yet he was sure he saw it +running up the water at full speed. He never observed the tiny line of +plaited wire, nor the hook, which indeed was buried in the lire; and we +may judge with what surprise he looked on this wonderful fish,--this +phenomenon of all aquatic productions. However, as it seemed to lie +peaceably enough, and looked very well as a piece of beef, he resolved +to let it remain, and betake himself again to his business. Never was +there an old man so bewildered as he was, when he again looked into the +river,--never either on Tweed or any other river on earth. Instead of +being floating _down_ the river peaceably in his boat, as one naturally +expects to do, he discovered that he was running straight against the +stream. He expected to have missed about fifty yards of the river by his +adventure with the beef; but--no!--instead of that he was about the same +distance advanced in his return up the stream. The windlass at the +castle, and the invisible wire line, of which he had no conception, +having been still dragging him gradually up. "Saint Mary, the mother of +God, protect and defend poor Sandy Yellowlees!" cried he; "What can be +the meaning of this? Is the world turned upside down? Aha! our auld +friend, Michael Scott, has some hand i' this! He's no to cree legs wi': +I's be quits wi' him." With that he tumbled his beef again into the +water, which held on its course with great rapidity straight up the +stream, while he and his boat returned quietly in the contrary and +natural direction. + +"Aye, there it goes," cried Sandy, "straight on for Aikwood! I's warrant +that's for the warlock's an' the deil's dinner the morn. God be praised +I'm free o't, or I should soon have been there too!" + +Old Sandy fished down the river, but he could kill no more salmon that +night,--for his nerves had got a shock with this new species of fishing +that he could not overcome. He missed one; wounded another on the tail; +and struck a third on the rig-back, where no leister can pierce a fish, +till he made him spring above water. Sandy grew chagrined at himself and +the warlock, Michael Scott, too--for this last was what he called "a +real prime fish," Sandy gripped the leister a little firmer, clenched +his teeth, and drew his bonnet over his eyes to shield them from the +violence of his blaze. He then banned the wizard into himself, and +determined to kill the next fish that made his appearance. But, just as +he was keeping watch in this guise, he perceived another fish something +like the former, but differing in some degree, coming swagging up the +river full speed. "My heart laup to my teeth," said Sandy, "when I saw +it coming, and I heaved the leister, but durstna strike; but I lookit +weel, an' saw plainly that it was either a side o' mutton or venison, I +couldna tell whilk. But I loot it gang, an' shook my head. 'Aha, +Michael, lad,' quo' I, 'ye hae countit afore your host for aince! Auld +Sandy has beguiled ye. But ye weel expeckit to gie him a canter to hell +the night.' I rowed my boat to the side, an' made a' the haste hame I +could, for I thought auld Michael had taen the water to himsel that +night." + +Sandy took home his few fish, and went to sleep, for all was quiet about +the abbey and the cloisters of his friends, the monks; and when he awoke +next morning he could scarcely believe the evidence of his own senses, +regarding what he had seen during the night. He arose and examined his +fishes, and could see nothing about them that was not about other +salmon. Still he strongly suspected they too might be some connections +of Michael's,--something illusory, if not worse; and took care to eat +none of them himself, delivering them all to the cook of the monastery. +The monks ate them, and throve very well; and as Sandy had come by no +bodily harm, he determined to try the fishing once again, and if he met +with any more such fish of passage to examine them a little better. He +went out with his boat, light, and fish-spear as usual; and scarcely had +he taken his station, when he perceived one of a very uncommon nature +approaching. He did not strike at it, but only put his leister-grains +before it as if to stop its course, when he found the pressure against +the leister very strong. On pulling the leister towards him, one of the +barbs laid hold of the line by which the phenomenon was led; and not +being able to get rid of it, he was obliged to pull it into the boat. It +was a small cask of Malmsey wine; and at once, owing to the way it was +drawn out, he discovered the hook and line fastened to the end of it. +These he disengaged with some difficulty, the pull being so strong and +constant; and the mystery was thus found out. In a few minutes +afterwards he seized a large sheaf of arrows; and some time after, at +considerable intervals, a number of excellent sides of beef and venison. + +Sandy Yellowlees saw that he could now fish to some purpose, and formed +a resolution of being the last man in the world to tell his countrymen +of this resource that the enemy had. The thing of which he was most +afraid was a discovery. He knew that the articles would soon be missed, +and that his light would betray him; and then a flight of arrows, or +even a single one, from a lurking foe at the side of the river, would +put an end to his fishing for ever. Such an opportunity was not to be +given up, notwithstanding of this danger; so, after much prying, both by +day and by night, Sanders found that at an abrupt crook in the water, +whatever the line brought up came close to the side, and when the water +was low it even trailed them over a point of level sand-bed quite dry. +This was a joyous discovery for Sandy. He had nothing ado but to sail +down in his boat when it grew dark, and lie lurking at this crook in the +water, and make a prey of whatever came within his reach. The very first +night he filled his boat half full of valuable stuff. There was a +necessity for disposing of a part of this, and Sandy was obliged to aver +that he had discovered a hidden store belonging to the English; and, +moreover, he hinted that he could supply the towns of Kelso and +Roxburgh, the abbey of the one and the priory of the other, for some +time to come. Great was the search that was made about the banks of the +river, but no one could find the store; yet Sanders Yellowlees continued +to supply the market with luxuries, tho' no one knew how. Intelligence +was sent down the stream, with the buoys, of the seizure of the +provisions, and of the place where they were taken off, which they knew +from the failure of the weight they were pulling to be always at the +same place. The news also spread of Sandy's stores, and both reached the +secret friends of the English, from whom the provisions were nightly +sent to their besieged friends and benefactors, with all the caution and +secrecy possible, it being given them to understand that on that supply +alone depended the holding out of the fortress. + +Many schemes were now tried to entrap Sandy, but all without effect; for +the Scots had a strong post surrounding that very point where Sandy +caught all his spoil. It was impossible to reach it but by a boat; and +no boat was allowed on the river but that one that belonged to the +abbey. At length an English trooper undertook to seize this old +depredator. Accordingly, in the dead of the night, when the lines came +down, he seized them both, twisted them into one, and walked silently up +the side of the river until he came nigh to the spot where the Scots +lines on each side joined the stream. He then put the two hooks into his +buff belt, and committing himself to the water, was dragged in silence +and perfect safety up the pool between the outposts. + +The first turn above that was the point where Sandy lay watching. He had +only seized one prey that night, and that was of no great value,--for +they had given over sending up victuals to enrich an old Scots rascal, +as they termed honest Sanders. He was glad when he saw the wake of a +heavy burden coming slowly towards him. "This is a sack o' sweet-meats," +said he to himself: "It must be currans an' raisins, an' sic fine things +as are na injured by the fresh water. I shall get a swinging price from +the abbey-men for them, to help wi' their Christmas pies." + +No sooner did this huge load touch the land, than Sandy seized it with +all expedition; but, to his inexpressible horror, the sack of sweetmeats +seized him in its turn, and that with such potence that he was +instantaneously overpowered. He uttered one piercing cry, and no more, +before the trooper gagged and pinioned him. The Scottish lines were +alarmed, and all in motion, and the troops on both sides were crowding +to the bank of the stream. A party was approaching the spot where the +twain were engaged in the unequal struggle. To return down the stream +with his prisoner, as he intended, was impracticable; so the trooper had +no alternative left but that of throwing himself into Sandy's boat, with +its owner in his arms, shoving her from the side into the deep, and +trusting himself to the strength of the wire-lines. As the windlasses +were made always to exert the same force and no more, by resisting that +they could be stopped; so by pushing the boat from the side in the +direction of the castle, the line being slackened, that again set them +agoing with great velocity; and though they soon slackened in swiftness, +the trooper escaped with his prisoner undiscovered, and, by degrees, was +dragged up to the mouth of the covered way that led through or under the +hill on which the castle stood; and there was poor Sanders Yellowlees +delivered into the hands of his incensed and half-famished enemies. It +was he that was hanged over the wall of the castle on the day that the +five English yeomen were executed.[1] + +[1] As there can be no doubt of the authenticity of this part of the +Curate's tale, these secret passages must have been carried under ground +all the way from the castle to the junction of the two rivers; and it is +said that a tradition still exists on the spot, that these vaulted paths +have often been discovered by former inhabitants. + +The English now conceived that their secret was undiscovered, and that +their sufferings would forthwith be mitigated by the supply drawn by +their lines. They commenced briskly and successfully; but, alas! their +success was of short duration. Sanders' secret became known to the Scots +army. The night-watchers had often seen the old man's boat leaning on +the shore at that point at all hours of the night; for he was always +free to go about plodding for fish when he pleased. His cry was heard at +that spot, and the boat was now missing: the place was watched, and in +two days the Englishmen's secret, on which they so much relied, was +discovered, and quite cut off; and that powerful garrison was now left +with absolute famine staring them in the face. + +As in all cases of utter privation, the men grew ungovernable. Their +passions were chafed, and foamed like the ocean before the commencement +of a tempest, foreboding nothing but anarchy and commotion. Parties were +formed of the most desperate opposition to one another, and every one +grew suspicious of his neighbour. Amid all this tempest of passion a +mutiny broke out:--a strong party set themselves to deliver up the +fortress to the Scots. But through such a medley of jarring opinions +what project could succeed? The plot was soon discovered, the +ring-leaders secured, and Sir Stephen Vernon, Musgrave's most tried and +intimate friend, found to be at the head of it. No pen can do justice to +the astonishment manifested by Musgrave when the treachery of his dear +friend was fully proven. His whole frame and mind received a shock as by +electricity, and he gazed around him in moody madness, as not knowing +whom to trust, and as if he deemed those around him were going to be his +assassins. + +"Wretch that I am!" cried he, "What is there more to afflict and rend +this heart? Do I breathe the same air? Do I live among the same men? Do +I partake of the same nature and feelings as I was wont? My own friend +and brother Vernon, has he indeed lifted up his hand against me, and +become one with my enemies? Whom now shall I trust? Must my dearest +hopes--my honour, and the honour of my country, be sacrificed to +disaffection and treachery? Oh Vernon--my brother Vernon, how art thou +fallen!" + +"I confess my crime," said Vernon; and I submit to my fate, since a +crime it must be deemed. But it was out of love and affection to you, +that your honour might not stoop to our haughty enemies. To hold out the +fortress is impossible, and to persevere in the attempt utter depravity. +Suppose you feed on one another, before the termination of the Christmas +holidays, the remnant that will be left will not be able to guard the +sallying ports, even though the ramparts are left unmanned. In a few +days I shall see my brave young friend and companion in arms, your +brother, disgracefully put down, and ere long the triumphant Scots +enter, treading over the feeble remains of this yet gallant army. I may +bide a traitor's blame, and be branded with a traitor's name, but it was +to save my friends that I strove; for I tell you, and some of you will +live to see it, to hold out the castle is impossible." + +"It is false!" cried Musgrave. "It is false! It is false!" cried every +voice present in the judgment-hall, with frantic rage; and all the +people, great and small, flew on the culprit to tear him to pieces; for +their inveteracy against the Scots still grew with their distress. + +"It is false! It is false!" shouted they. "Down with the traitor! sooner +shall we eat the flesh from our own bones than deliver up the fortress +to the Scots! Down with the false knave! down with the traitor!"--and, +in the midst of a tumult that was quite irresistible, Vernon was borne +up on their shoulders, and hurried to execution, smiling with derision +at their madness, and repeating their frantic cries in mockery. It was +in vain that the commander strove to save his friend,--as well might he +have attempted to have stemmed the river in its irresistible course +single-handed. Vernon and his associates were hanged like dogs, amid +shouts of execration, and their bodies flung into a pit. When this was +accomplished, the soldiers waved their caps, and cried out, "So fare it +with all who take part with our hateful enemies!" + +Musgrave shed tears at the fate of his brave companion, and +thenceforward was seized with gloomy despondency; for he saw that +subordination hung by a thread so brittle that the least concussion +would snap it asunder, and involve all in inextricable confusion. His +countenance and manner underwent a visible change, and he often started +on the approach of any one toward him, and laid his hand on his sword. +The day appointed by the Douglas for the execution of Sir Richard, +provided the castle was not delivered up before that period, was fast +approaching,--an event that Musgrave could not look forward to without +distraction; and it was too evident to his associates that his brave +mind was so torn by conflicting passions, that it stood in great danger +of being rooted up for ever. + +It is probable that at this time he would willingly have complied with +the dictates of nature, and saved the life of his brother; but to have +talked of yielding up the fortress to the Scots at that period would +only have been the prelude to his being torn in pieces. It was no more +their captain's affair of love and chivalry that influenced them, but +desperate animosity against their besiegers; and every one called aloud +for succours. Communication with their friends was impracticable, but +they hoped that their condition was known, and that succours would soon +appear.--Alas, their friends in Northumberland had enough ado to defend +themselves, nor could they do it so effectually but that their lands +were sometimes harried to their very doors. The warden, with his hardy +mountaineers, was indefatigable; and the English garrison were now so +closely beleaguered, that all chance of driving a prey from the country +faded from their hopes. Never was the portcullis drawn up, nor the +draw-bridge at either end let down, that intelligence was not +communicated by blast of bugle to the whole Scottish army, who were +instantly on the alert. The latter fared sumptuously, while those within +the walls were famishing; and at length the day appointed for the +execution of Sir Richard drew so near that three days only were to run. + +It had been customary for the English, whenever the Scots sent out a +herald, bearing the flag of truce, to make any proposal whatsoever, to +salute him with a flight of arrows; all communication or listening to +proposals being strictly forbidden by the captain, on pain of death. +However, that day, when the Douglas' herald appeared on the rising +ground, called the Hill of Barns, Musgrave caused answer him by a +corresponding flag, hoping it might be some proposal of a ransom for the +life of his beloved brother, on which the heralds had an interchange of +words at the draw-bridge. The Scottish herald made demand of the castle +in his captain's name, and added, that the Douglas requested it might be +done instantly, to save the life of a brave and noble youth, whom he +would gladly spare, but could not break his word and his oath that he +should suffer. He farther assured the English captain, that it was in +vain for him to sacrifice his brother, for that he had the means in his +power to bring him under subjection the day following, if he chose. + +A council of the gentlemen in the castle was called. Every one spoke in +anger, and treated the demand with derision. Musgrave spoke not a word; +but, with a look of unstable attention on every one that spoke, +collected their verdicts, and in a few minutes this answer was returned +to the requisition of the Scots. + +"If Sir Philip Musgrave himself, and every English knight and gentleman +in the castle were now in the hands of the Douglas, and doomed to the +same fate of their brave young friend, still the Douglas should not +gain his point,--the castle would not be delivered up. The garrison +scorn his proposals, they despise his threats, and they hold his power +at defiance. Such tender mercies as he bestows, such shall he +experience. He shall only take the castle by treading over the breasts +of the last six men that remain alive in it." + +This was the general answer for the garrison--in the meantime Musgrave +requested, as a personal favour of the Douglas, that he might see and +condole with his brother one hour before his fatal exit. The request was +readily complied with, and every assurance of safe conduct and +protection added. The Douglas' pavilion stood on the rising ground, +between the castle and the then splendid city of Roxburgh, a position +from which he had a view of both rivers, and all that passed around the +castle, and in the town; but, since the commencement of winter he had +lodged over night in a tower that stood in the middle of the High-town, +called the King's House, that had prisons underneath, and was strongly +guarded; but during the day he continued at the pavilion, in order to +keep an eye over the siege. + +To this pavilion, therefore, Musgrave was suffered to pass, with only +one knight attendant; and all the way from the draw-bridge to the tent +they passed between two files of armed soldiers, whose features, forms, +and armour exhibited a strange contrast. The one rank was made up of Mar +Highlanders, men short of stature, with red locks, high cheek bones, and +looks that indicated a ferocity of nature; the other was composed of +Lowlanders from the dales of the south and the west; men clothed in +grey, with sedate looks, strong athletic frames, and faces of blunt and +honest bravery. Musgrave weened himself passing between the ranks of two +different nations, instead of the vassals of one Scottish nobleman. At +the pavilion, the state, splendour, and number of attendant knights and +squires amazed him; but by them all he was received with the most +courteous respect. + +Sir Richard was brought up from the vaults of the King's House to the +tent, as the most convenient place for the meeting with his brother, and +for the guards to be stationed around them; and there, being placed in +one of the apartments of the pavilion, his brother was ushered in to +him. No one was present at the meeting; but, from an inner apartment, +all that passed between them was overheard. Musgrave clasped his younger +brother in his arms; the other could not return the embrace, for his +chains were not taken off; but their meeting was passionately affecting, +as the last meeting between two brothers must always be. When the elder +retired a step, that they might gaze on each other, what a difference in +appearance!--what a contrast they exhibited to each other! The man in +chains, doomed to instant death, had looks of blooming health, and manly +fortitude: The free man, the renowned Lord Musgrave, governor of the +impregnable but perilous castle of Roxburgh, and the affianced lord and +husband to the richest and most beautiful lady in England, was the +picture of haggard despair and misfortune. He appeared but the remnant, +the skeleton of the hero he had lately been; and a sullen instability +of mind flashed loweringly in his dark eye. His brother was almost +terrified at his looks, for he regarded him sometimes as with dark +suspicion, and as if he dreaded him to be an incendiary. + +"My dear brother," said Sir Richard, "what is it that hangs upon your +mind, and discomposes you so much? You are indeed an altered man since I +had the misfortune to be taken from you. Tell me, how fares all within +the castle?" + +"Oh, very well; quite well, brother. All perfectly secure--quite well +within the castle." But as he said this he strode rapidly backward and +forward across the small apartment, and eyed the canvass on each side +with a grin of rage, as if he suspected that it concealed listeners; nor +was he wrong in his conjecture, though it was only caused by the frenzy +of habitual distrust. "But, how can I be otherwise than discomposed, +brother," continued he, "when I am in so short a time to see you +sacrificed in the prime of youth and vigour, to my own obstinacy and +pride, perhaps." + +"I beg that you will not think of it, or take it at all to heart," said +the youth; "I have made up my mind, and can look death in the face +without unbecoming dismay. I should have preferred dying on the field of +honour, with my sword in my hand, rather than being hanged up between +the hosts, like a spy, or common malefactor. But let the tears that are +shed for Richard be other than salt brine from the eyes of the +Englishmen. Let them be the drops of purple blood from the hearts of our +enemies. I charge you, by the spirits of our fathers, whom I am so +shortly to join, and by the blessed Trinity, that you act in this trying +dilemma as the son of the house you represent. Shed not a tear for me, +but revenge my death on the haughty house of Douglas." + +"There is my hand! Here is my sword! But the vital motion, or the light +of reason, who shall ensure to me till these things are fulfilled. Nay, +who shall ensure them to this wasted frame for one moment? I am not the +man I have been, brother: But here I will swear to you, by all the host +of heaven, to revenge your death, or die in the fulfilment of my vow. +Yes, fully will I revenge it! I will waste! waste! waste! and the fire +that is begun within shall be quenched, and no tongue shall utter it! +Ha! ha, ha! shall it not be so, brother?" + +"This is mere raving, brother; I have nothing from this." + +"No, it is not; for there is a fire that you wot not of. But I will +quench it, though with my own blood. Brother, there is one thing I wish +to know, and for that purpose did I come hither. Do you think it behoves +me to suffer you to perish in this affair?" + +"That depends entirely upon your internal means of defence," answered +Richard. "If there is a certainty, or even a probability, that the +castle can hold until relieved by our friends, which will not likely be +previous to the time you have appointed for them to attempt it; why, +then, I would put no account on the life of one man. Were I in your +place, I would retain my integrity in opposition to the views of +Douglas; but if it is apparent to you, who know all your own resources, +that the castle must yield, it is needless to throw away the life of +your brother, sacrificing it to the pride of opposition for a day or a +week." + +Musgrave seemed to be paying no regard to this heroic and disinterested +reasoning,--for he was still pacing to and fro, gnawing his lip; and if +he was reasoning, or thinking at all, was following out the train of his +own unstable mind.--"Because, if I were sure," said he, "that you felt +that I was acting unkindly or unnaturally by you, by the Rood, I would +carve the man into fragments that would oppose my submission to save my +brother. I would teach them that Musgrave was not to be thwarted in his +command of the castle that was taken by his own might and device, and to +the government of which his sovereign appointed him. If a dog should +dare to bay at me in opposition to my will, whatever it were, I would +muzzle the hound, and make him repent his audacity." + +"My noble brother," said Richard, "what is the meaning of this frenzy? +No one is opposing your will, and I well believe no one within the +castle will attempt it--" + +"Because they dare not!" said he, furiously, interrupting his brother: +"They dare not, I tell you! But if they durst, what do you think I would +do? Ha, ha, ha!" + +Douglas overheard all this, and judging it a fit time to interfere, +immediately a knight opened the door of the apartment where the two +brothers conversed, and announced the Lord Douglas. Musgrave composed +himself with wonderful alacrity; and the greeting between the two great +chiefs, though dignified, was courteous and apparently free of rancour +or jealousy. Douglas first addressed his rival as follows: + +"I crave pardon, knights, for thus interrupting you. I will again leave +you to yourselves; but I judged it incumbent on me, as a warrior and a +knight of honour, to come, before you settled finally on your mode of +procedure, and conjure you, Lord Philip Musgrave, to save the life of +your brother--" + +"Certainly you will not put down my brave brother, Lord Douglas?" said +Musgrave, interrupting him. + +"As certainly," returned he, "as you put down my two kinsmen, Cleland +and Douglas of Rowlaw, in mere spite and wanton cruelty, because they +were beloved and respected by me. I am blameless, as it was yourself who +began this unwarrantable system, and my word is passed. Sir Richard must +die, unless the keys of the castle are delivered to me before Friday at +noon. But I shall be blameless in any thing further. I conjure you to +save him; and as an inducement, assure you, by the honour of knighthood, +that your resistance is not only unnatural, but totally useless; for I +have the means of commanding your submission when I please." + +"Lord Douglas, I defy thee!" answered Musgrave. "You hold the life in +your hand that I hold dearest on earth, save one. For these two would I +live or die: but, since thy inveterate enmity will not be satisfied +with ought short of the life of my only brother, take it; and may my +curse, and the curse of heaven, be your guerdon. It shall only render +the other doubly dear to me; and, for her sake, will I withstand your +proud pretensions; and, as she enjoined me, hold this castle, with all +its perils, till the expiry of the Christmas holidays, in spite of you. +I defy your might and your ire. Let your cruel nature have its full +sway. Let it be gorged with the blood of my kinsfolk; it shall only +serve to make my opposition the stronger and more determined. For the +sake of her whom I serve, the mistress of my heart and soul, I will hold +my resolution.--Do your worst!" + +"So be it!" said Douglas. "Remember that I do not, like you, fight only +in the enthusiasm of love and chivalry, but for the very being of my +house. I will stick at no means of retaliating the injuries you have +done to me and mine, however unjustifiable these may appear to some,--no +act of cruelty, to attain the prize for which I contend. Little do you +know what you are doomed to suffer, and that in a short space of time. +I again conjure you to save the life of your brother, by yielding up to +me your ill-got right, and your conditions shall be as liberal as you +can desire." + +"I will yield you my estate to save my brother, but not the castle of +Roxburgh. Name any other ransom but that, and I will treat with you. Ask +what I can grant with honour, and command it." + +"Would you give up the life of a brave only brother to gratify the +vanity and whim of a romantic girl, who, if present herself, would plead +for the life of Sir Richard, maugre all other considerations, else she +has not the feelings of woman? What would you give, Lord Musgrave, to +see that lady, and hear her sentiments on the subject." + +"I would give much to see her. But, rather than see her in this place, I +would give all the world and my life's blood into the bargain. But of +that I need not have any fear. You have conjurors among you, it is said, +and witches that can raise up the dead, but their power extends not to +the living, else who of my race would have been left?" + +"I have more power than you divine; and I will here give you a simple +specimen of it, to convince you how vain it is to contend with me. You +are waging war with your own vain imagination, and suffer all this +wretchedness for a thing that has neither being nor name." + +Douglas then lifted a small gilded bugle that hung always at his sword +belt, the language of which was well known to all the army; and on that +he gave two blasts not louder than a common whistle, when instantly the +door of the apartment opened, and there entered Lady Jane Howard, +leaning on her female attendant, dressed in attire of princely +magnificence. "Lady Jane Howard!" exclaimed Sir Richard, starting up, +and struggling with his fettered arms to embrace her. But when the +vision met the eyes of Lord Musgrave, he uttered a shuddering cry of +horror, and sprung with a convulsive leap back into the corner of the +tent. There he stood, like the statue of distraction, with his raised +hands pressed to each side of his helmet, as if he had been strenuously +holding his head from splitting asunder. + +"So! Friend and foe have combined against me!" cried he wildly. "Earth +and hell have joined their forces in opposition to one impotent human +thing! And what his crime? He presumed on no more than what he did, and +could have done; but who can stand against the powers of darkness, and +the unjust decrees of heaven? Yes; unjust! I say unjust! Down with all +decrees to the centre! There's no truth in heaven! I weened there was, +but it is as false as the rest! I say as false!--falser than both!--I'll +brave all the three! Ha, ha, ha!" + +Douglas had brought Lady Jane the apparel, and commanded her to dress in +it; and, perceiving the stern, authoritative nature of the chief, she +judged it meet to comply. At first she entered with a languid dejected +look, for she had been given to understand something of the rueful +nature of the meeting she was called on to attend. But when she heard +the above infuriated rhapsody, and turned her eyes in terror to look on +the speaker, whose voice she well knew, she uttered a scream and +fainted. Douglas supported her in his arms; and Sir Richard, whose arms +were in fetters, stood and wept over her. But Musgrave himself only +strode to and fro over the floor of the pavilion, and uttered now and +then a frantic laugh. "That is well!--That is well!" exclaimed he; "Just +as it should be! I hope she will not recover. Surely she will not?" and +then bending himself back, and clasping his hands together, he cried +fervently: "O mother of God, take her to thyself while she is yet pure +and uncontaminated, or what heart of flesh can endure the prospect? What +a wreck in nature that lovely form will soon be! Oh-oh-oh!" + +The lady's swoon was temporary. She soon began to revive, and cast +unsettled looks around in search of the object that had so overpowered +her; and, at the request of Sir Richard, who perceived his brother's +intemperate mood, she was removed. She was so struck with the altered +features, looks, and deportment of the knight, who in her imagination +was every thing that was courteous, comely, and noble, and whom she had +long considered as destined to be her own, that her heart was unable to +stand the shock, and her removal from his presence was an act of +humanity. + +She was supported out of the tent by Douglas and her female relation; +but when Musgrave saw them leading her away, he stepped rapidly in +before them and interposed; and, with a twist of his body, put his hand +two or three times to the place where the handle of his sword should +have been. The lady lifted her eyes to him, but there was no conception +in that look, and her lovely face was as pale as if the hand of death +had passed over it. + +Any one would have thought that such a look from the lady of his love, +in such a forlorn situation, and in the hands of his mortal enemy, would +have totally uprooted the last fibres of his distempered mind. But who +can calculate on the medicine suited to a diseased spirit? The cures +even of some bodily diseases are those that would poison a healthy +frame. So did it prove in this mental one. He lifted his hand from his +left side, where he had thrust it convulsively in search of his sword, +and clapping it on his forehead, he seemed to resume the command of +himself at once, and looked as calm and serene as in the most collected +moments of his life. + +When they were gone, he said to Sir Richard, in the hearing of the +guards: "Brother, what is the meaning of this? What English traitor has +betrayed that angelic maid into the hands of our enemy?" + +"To me it is incomprehensible," said Sir Richard: "I was told of it by +my keeper last night, but paid no regard to the information, judging it +a piece of wanton barbarity; but now my soul shudders at the rest of the +information that he added." + +"What more did the dog say?" said Musgrave. + +"He said he had heard that it was resolved by the Douglasses, that, if +you did not yield up the fortress and citadel freely, on or before the +day of the conception of the Blessed Virgin, on that day at noon the +lady of your heart should be exhibited in a state not to be named on a +stage erected on the top of the Bush-law, that faces the western tower, +and is divided from it only by the moat; and there before your eyes, and +in sight of both hosts, compelled to yield to that disgrace which +barbarians only could have conceived; and then to have her nose cut off, +her eyes put out, and her beauteous frame otherwise disfigured." + +"He dares not for his soul's salvation do such a deed!" said Musgrave: +"No; there's not a bloodhound that ever mouthed the air of his cursed +country durst do a deed like that. And though every Douglas is a hound +confest, where is the mongrel among them that durst but howl of such an +outrage in nature? Why, the most absolute fiend would shrink from it: +Hell would disown it; and do you think the earth would bear it?" + +"Brother, suspend your passion, and listen to the voice of reason and of +nature. Your cause is lost, but not your honour. You took, and have kept +that fortress, to the astonishment of the world. But for what do you +now fight? or what can your opposition avail? Let me beseech you not to +throw away the lives of those you love most on earth thus wantonly, but +capitulate on honourable terms, and rescue your betrothed bride and your +only brother from the irritated Scots. Trust not that they will stick at +any outrage to accomplish their aim. Loth would I be to know our name +were dishonoured by any pusillanimity on the part of my brother; but +desperate obstinacy is not bravery. I, therefore, conjure you to save +me, and her in whom all your hopes of future felicity are bound up." + +Musgrave was deeply affected; and, at that instant, before he had time +to reply, Douglas re-entered. + +"Scots lord, you have overcome me," said he, with a pathos that could +not be exceeded: "Yes you have conquered, but not with your sword. Not +on the field, nor on the wall, have ye turned the glaive of Musgrave; +but either by some infernal power, or else by chicanery and guile, the +everlasting resources of your cursed nation. It boots not me to know how +you came possessed of this last and only remaining pledge of my +submission. It is sufficient you have it. I yield myself your prisoner; +let me live or die with those two already in your power." + +"No, knight, that must not be," replied Douglas. "You are here on safe +conduct and protection; my honour is pledged, and must not be forfeited. +You shall return in safety to your kinsmen and soldiers, and act by +their counsel. It is not prisoners I want, but the castle of Roxburgh, +which is the right of my sovereign and my nation,--clandestinely taken, +and wrongously held by you. I am neither cruel nor severe beyond the +small range that points to that attainment; but that fortress I will +have,--else wo be to you, and all who advise withholding it, as well as +all their connexions to whom the power of Scotland can extend. If the +castle is not delivered up before Friday at noon, your brother shall +suffer,--that you already know. But at the same hour on the day of the +Conception, if it is still madly and wantonly detained, there shall be +such a scene transacted before your eyes as shall blur the annals of the +Border for ever." + +"If you allude to any injury intended to the lady who is your prisoner," +said Musgrave, "the cruellest fiend in hell could not have the heart to +hurt such angelic purity and loveliness; and it would degrade the honour +of knighthood for ever to suffer it. Cruel as you are, you dare not +injure a hair of her head." + +"Talk not of cruelty in me," said Douglas: "If the knight who is her +lover will not save her, how should I? You have it in your power, and +certainly it is you that behove to do it; even granting that the stakes +for which we fought were equal, the task of redemption and the blame +would rest solely with you. And how wide is the difference between the +prizes for which we contend? I for my love, my honour, and the very +existence of my house and name; and you for you know not what,--the +miserable pride of opposition. Take your measures, my lord. I will not +be mocked." + +Douglas left the apartment. Musgrave also arose and embraced his +brother, and, as he parted from him, he spoke these ominous words: +"Farewell, my dear Richard. May the angels that watch over honour be +your guardians in the hour of trial. You know not what I have to endure +from tormentors without and within. But hence we meet not again in this +state of existence. The ties of love must be broken, and the bands of +brotherly love burst asunder,--nevertheless I will save you--A long +farewell my brother." + +Musgrave was then conducted back to the draw-bridge, between two long +files of soldiers as before, while all the musicians that belonged +either to the army or the city were ranked up in a line behind them, on +the top of the great precipice that over-hangs the Teviot, playing, on +all manner of instruments, "_Turn the Blue Bonnets wha can, wha can_," +with such a tremendous din that one would have thought every stone in +the walls of Roxburgh was singing out the bravado. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Qnhat weywerde elfin thynge is thaten boie, + That hyngethe still upon myne gaire, as doeth + My synne of harte? And quhome rychte loth; I lofe + With not les hauckerynge. His locent eyne, + And his tungis maiter comethe on myne sense + Lyke a remembourance; or lyke ane dreime + That had delytis in it. Quhen I wolde say + "Begone;" lo then my tung mistakethe quyte, + Or fanceyinge not the terme, it sayethe "Come hidder, + Come hidder, crabbed boie, unto myne syde." + + _Old Play._ + + +That evening, after the departure of the noble and distressed Musgrave, +Douglas was sitting all alone musing in a secret apartment of the +pavilion, when he heard a gentle tap at the door. "Who's there?" +inquired he surlily: "It is I, my lor'," said a petulant treble voice +without. "Aha! my excellent nondescript little fellow, Colin Roy, is it +you? Why, you may come in." Colin entered dressed in a most elegant and +whimsical livery, and, forgetting himself, made the Douglas two or three +graceful courtesies instead of bows. + +"Aye, hem," said he, "that's very well for the page of a princess. I +suppose you have been studying the graces from your accomplished +mistress? But where have you been all this while? I have felt the loss +of you from my hand grievously." + +"I have been waiting on my royal mistress, my lor', informing her of all +that is going on at the siege, and of your good fortune in the late +captures you have made, wherein she rejoices exceedingly, and wishes you +all good fortune and forward success; and, in token of kind remembrance, +she sends you this heart of ruby set in gold and diamonds,--a gem that +befits your lordship well to wear. And many more matters she has given +me in charge, my lor'." + +Douglas kissed the locket, and put it in his bosom, and then uttered +abundance of the extravagant bombast peculiar to that age. He called her +his guardian angel, his altar of incense, and the saint of his devotion, +the buckler of his arm, the sword in his hand, and the jewel of his +heart. "Do you think, Colin," added he, "that ever there was a maiden +born like this royal lady of my love?" + +"Why, my lor', I am not much skilled in these matters, but I believe the +wench, my mistress, is well enough;--that is, she is well formed. And +yet she is but so so." + +"How dare you, you piece of unparalleled impudence, talk of your royal +mistress in that strain? Or where did you ever see a form or features so +elegant, and so bewitchingly lovely?" + +"Do you think so?--Well, I'm glad of it. I think she is coarse and +masculine. Where did I ever see such a form, indeed! Yes I have seen a +much finer limb, and an arm, and a hand too! What think you of that for +a hand, my lor'?"--(and with that the urchin clapped his hand on the +green table, first turning up the one side of it and then the +other.)--"I say if that hand were as well kept, and that arm as well +loaden with bracelets, and the fingers with diamond rings, it would be +as handsome as your princess's, of which you boast so much,--aye, and +handsomer too." + +"You are a privileged boy, Colin, otherwise I would kick you heartily, +and, moreover, cause you to be whipped by the hand of the common +executioner. However, you are a confidant,--all is well from you; and, +to say the truth, yours is a very handsome hand for a boy's hand,--so is +your arm. But what are they to those of my lovely and royal +Margaret?--mere deformity! the husk to the wheat!" + +"Indeed, my lor', you have an excellent taste, and a no less gifted +discernment!" + +"I cannot conceive of any earthly being equalling my beauteous princess, +whether in the qualifications of body or mind." + +"I rejoice to hear it. How blind love is! Why, in sober reality, there +is the Lady Jane Howard. Is there any comparison between the princess +and that lady in beauty?" + +"She is, I confess, a most exquisite creature, Colin, even though rival +to my adorable lady; in justice it must be acknowledged she is _almost_ +peerless in beauty. I do not wonder at Musgrave's valour when I see the +object of it. But why do you redden as with anger, boy, to hear my +commendations of that hapless lady?" + +"I, my lord? How should I redden with anger? On my honour, craving my +Lord Douglas' pardon, I am highly pleased. I think she is much more +beautiful than you have said, and that, you should have spoken of her in +a more superlative degree, and confessed frankly that you would +willingly exchange your betrothed lady for her. I cannot chuse but think +her very beautiful; too beautiful, indeed, with her blue eyes, white +teeth, and ruddy lips. I dont like such bright blue eyes. I could almost +find in my heart to scratch them out, she is so like a wanton. So you +don't wonder at Lord Musgrave's valour, after having seen his mistress? +Well, I advise your lordship, your captainship, and your besiegership, +that there are some who wonder very much at your want of valour. I tell +you this in confidence. My mistress thinks you hold her charms only at a +small avail, that you have not _gone into_ that castle long ago, and +turned out these Englishmen, or hung them up by the necks if they +refused. Musgrave went in and took it at once, for the favour of his +mistress; because, forsooth, he deemed her worthy of the honour of such +a bold emprize. Why, then, do not you do the same? My mistress, to be +sure, is a woman,--a very woman; but she says this, that it is +superabundantly ungallant of you not to have _gone in_ and taken +possession of the castle long ago. Do you know that (poor kind +creature!) she has retired to a convent, where she continues in a state +of sufferance, using daily invocations at the shrines of saints for your +success. And she has, moreover, made a vow not to braid her hair, nor +dress herself in princely apparel until the day of your final success. +Surely, my lor', you ought _to take that castle_, and relieve my dear +mistress from this durance. I almost weep when I think of her, and must +say with her that she has been shabbily used, and that she has reason to +envy Lady Jane Howard even in her captivity." + +"Colin, you are abundantly impertinent: but there is no stopping of +your tongue once it is set a-going. As to the taking of castles, these +things come not under the cognizance of boys or women. But indeed I knew +not that my sovereign lady the princess had absconded from the courtly +circle of her father's palace, and betaken herself to a convent on my +account. Every thing that I hear of that jewel endears her to me the +more." + +"What? even her orders for you _to go into the castle_, and put out the +English? I assure you, my lor', she insists upon it. Whether it is her +impatience to be your bride, I know not, but she positively will not be +satisfied unless you very soon _go into that castle_, and put the +Englishmen all to the outside of it, where you are now; or hang them, +and bury them out of sight before she visits the place to congratulate +you." + +"Boy, I have no patience with you. Cease your prating, and inform me +where my beloved mistress is, that I may instantly visit her." + +"No; not for the Douglas' estate, which is now in the fire, and may +soon be brought to the anvil, will I inform you of that. But, my lor', +you know I must execute my commission. And I tell you again, unless you +take this castle very soon, you will not only lose the favour of my +mistress, but you will absolutely break her heart. Nothing less will +satisfy her. I told her, there was a great moat, more than a hundred +feet deep, and as many wide, that surrounded the castle, and flowed up +to the base of its walls; that there was a large river on each side of +it, and that they were both dammed and appeared like two standing +seas--but all availed nought. 'There is a moat,' said I; 'But let him go +over that,' said she; 'let him swim it, or put a float on it. What is it +to cross a pool a hundred feet wide? How did Lord Musgrave pass over +it?' 'There are strong walls on the other side,' said I: 'But let him go +over these,' said she, 'or break a hole through them and go in. Men +built the walls, why may not men pull them down? How did Musgrave get +over them?' 'There are armed men within,' said I: 'But they are only +Englishmen,' said she; 'Let Douglas' men put their swords into them, +and make them stand back. How did Musgrave get in when it was defended +by gallant Scots? Douglas is either no lover, or else no warrior,' added +she; 'or perhaps he is neither the one nor the other.'" + +"Peace, sapling," said Douglas, frowning and stamping with his foot, +"Peace, and leave the pavilion instantly." Colin went away visibly +repressing a laugh, which irritated Douglas still the more; and as the +urchin went, he muttered in a crying whine, "My mistress is very +shabbily used!--very shabbily! To have promised herself to a knight if +he will but take a castle for her, and to have fasted, and prayed, and +vowed vows for him, and yet he dares not go in and take it. And I am +shabbily used too; and that I'll tell her! Turned out before I get half +her message delivered! But I must inform you, my lor', before I go, that +since you are making no better use of the advantage given you, I demand +the prisoners back that I lodged in your hand in my lady mistress' name, +and by her orders." + +"I will do no such thing to the whim of a teasing impertinent stripling, +without my lady princess's hand and seal for it," said Douglas. + +"You shall not long want that," said Colin; and pulling a letter out +from below his sash, he gave it to him. It was the princess's hand and +seal,--it being an easy matter for Colin to get what letters he listed. +Douglas opened it, and read as follows: + + "LORD DOUGLAS,--In token of my best wishes for your success, I send + you these, with greeting. I hope you will take immediate advantage + of the high superiority afforded you in this contest, by putting + some indelible mark, or public stain, on the lusty dame I put into + your hands. If Musgrave be a knight of any gallantry he will never + permit it, but yield. As I cannot attend personally, I request that + the mode and degree of punishment you inflict may be left to my + page Colin. That you have not been successful by such means + already, hath much surprised + + MARGARET." + +"This is not a requisition to give you up the prisoners," said Douglas, +"but merely a request that the punishment inflicted may be left to you, +a request which must not be denied to the lady of my heart. Now, pray, +Master Colin Roy MacAlpin, what punishment do you decree for the Lady +Jane Howard? For my part, though I intended to threaten the most +obnoxious treatment, to induce my opponent to yield, I could not for my +dearest interests injure the person of that exquisite lady." + +"You could not, in good troth? I suppose my mistress has good reason to +be jealous of you two. But since the power is left with me I shall +prevent that; I shall see her punished as she deserves: I'll have no +shameful exposures of a woman, even were she the meanest plebeian, but +I'll mar her beauty that she thinks so much of, and that _you_ think so +much of. I'll have have her nose cut off; and two of her fore teeth +drawn; and her cheeks and brow scolloped. I'll spoil the indecent +brightness of her gloss! She shall not sparkle with such brilliance +again, nor shall the men gloat, feasting their intolerable eyes on her, +as they do at present." + +"Saint Duthoe buckler me!" exclaimed the Douglas,--"what an unnatural +tyger cat it is! I have heard that such feelings were sometimes +entertained by one sovereign beauty toward another of the same sex; but +that a sprightly youth, of an amorous complexion, with bright blushing +features and carroty locks, should so depreciate female beauty, and +thirst to deface it, surpasses any thing I have witnessed in the nature +of man. Go to, you are a perverse boy, but shall be humoured as far as +my honour and character as a captain and warrior will admit." + +Colin paced lightly away, making a slight and graceful courtesy to the +Douglas as he glided out. "What an extraordinary, wayward, and +accomplished youth that is!" said the chief to himself. "Is it not +strange that I should converse so long with a page, as if he were my +equal? There is something in his manner and voice that overcomes me; +and though he teazes me beyond endurance, there is a sort of enchantment +about him, that I cannot give him the check. Ah me! all who submit +themselves to women, to be swayed by them or their delegates, will find +themselves crossed in every action of importance. I am resolved that no +woman shall sway me. I can love, but have not learned to submit." + +Colin retired to his little apartment in the pavilion; it was close to +the apartment that Douglas occupied while he remained there, and not +much longer or broader than the beautiful and romantic inhabitant. Yet +there he constantly abode when not employed about his lord, and never +mixed or conversed with the other pages. Douglas retired down to the +tower, or King's House, as it was called (from king Edward having +occupied it,) at even tide,--but Colin Roy remained in his apartment at +the pavilion. Alas! that Douglas did not know the value of the life he +left exposed in such a place! + +On the return of Musgrave into the castle, a council of all the +gentlemen in the fortress was called, and with eager readiness they +attended in the hall of the great western tower. The governor related to +them the heart-rending intelligence of his mistress being in the hands +of their enemies, and of the horrid fate that awaited her, as well as +his only brother, provided the garrison stood out. Every one present +perceived that Musgrave inclined to capitulate; and, as they all admired +him, they pitied his woeful plight. But no one ventured a remark. There +they sat, a silent circle, in bitter and obstinate rumination. Their +brows were plaited down, so as almost to cover their eyes; their under +lips were bent upward, and every mouth shaped like a curve, and their +arms were crossed on their breasts, while every man's right hand +instinctively rested on the hilt of his sword. + +Musgrave had taken his measures, whichever way the tide should run. In +consequence of this he appeared more calm and collected at this meeting +than he had done for many a day. "I do not, my friends, and soldiers, +propose any alternative," said he,--"I merely state to you the +circumstances in which we are placed; and according to your sentiments I +mean to conduct myself." + +"It is nobly said, brave captain," said Collingwood: "Our case is indeed +a hard one, but not desperate. The Scots cannot take the castle from us, +and shall any one life, or any fifty lives, induce us to yield them the +triumph, and all our skill, our bravery, and our sufferings go for +nought?" + +"We have nothing to eat," said Musgrave. + +"I'll eat the one arm, and defend the draw-bridge with the other, before +the Scots shall set a foot in the castle," said a young man, named Henry +Clavering. "So will I," said another. "So will I; so will we all!" +echoed through the hall, while a wild gleam of ferocity fired every +haggard countenance. It was evident that the demon of animosity and +revenge was now conjured up, which to lay was not in the power of man. + +"What then do you propose as our mode of action in this grievous +dilemma?" said Musgrave. + +"I, for my part, would propose decision and ample retaliation," said +Clavering. "Do you not perceive that there has been a great storm in the +uplands last night and this morning, and that the Tweed and Teviot are +roaring like two whirlpools of the ocean, so that neither man nor beast +can cross them? There is no communication between the two great +divisions of the Scottish army to night, save by that narrow passage +betwixt the moat and the river. Let us issue forth at the deepest hour +of midnight, secure that narrow neck of land by a strong guard, while +the rest proceed sword in hand to the eastern camp, surround the +pavilion of Douglas, and take him and all his associates prisoners, and +then see who is most forward in using the rope!" + +"It is gallantly proposed, my brave young friend," said Musgrave; "I +will lead the onset myself. I do not only ween the scheme practicable, +but highly promising; and if we can make good that narrow neck of land +against our enemies on the first alarm, I see not why we may not cut off +every man in the eastern division of their army; and haply, from the +camp and city, secure to ourselves a good supply of provisions before +the break of the day." + +These were inducements not to be withstood, and there was not one +dissenting voice. A gloomy satisfaction rested on every brow, and +pervaded every look, taking place of dark and hideous incertitude. Like +a winter day that has threatened a tempest from the break of the +morning, but becomes at last no longer doubtful, as the storm descends +on the mountain tops, so was the scene at the breaking up of that +meeting--and all was activity and preparation within the castle during +the remainder of the day. + +The evening at last came; but it was no ordinary evening. The storm had +increased in a tenfold degree. The north-west wind roared like thunder. +The sleet descended in torrents, and was driven with an impetuosity that +no living creature could withstand. The rivers foamed from bank to +brae; and the darkness was such as if the heavens had been sealed up. +The sound of the great abbey bell, that rung for vespers, was borne away +on the tempest; so that nothing was heard, save once or twice a solemn +melancholy sound, apparently at a great distance, as if a spirit had +been moaning in the eastern sky. + +Animal nature cowered beneath the blast. The hind left not her den in +the wood, nor broke her fast, until the dawning. The flocks crowded +together for shelter in the small hollows of the mountains, and the +cattle lowed and bellowed in the shade. The Scottish soldiers dozed +under their plaids, or rested on their arms within the shelter of their +tents and trenches. Even the outer sentinels, on whose vigilance all +depended, crept into some retreat or other that was next to hand, to +shield them from the violence of the storm. The army was quite +secure,--for they had the garrison so entirely cooped up within their +walls, that no attempt had been made to sally forth for a whole month. +Indeed, ever since the English were fairly dislodged from the city, the +Bush-law, and all the other outworks, the attempt was no more dreaded; +for the heaving up of the portcullis, and the letting down of the +draw-bridge, made such a noise as at once alarmed the Scottish watchers, +and all were instantly on the alert. Besides, the gates and draw-bridges +(for there were two gates and one draw-bridge at each end) were so +narrow, that it took a long time for an enemy to pass in any force; and +thus it proved an easy matter to prevent them. But, that night, the +storm howling in such majesty, and the constant jangling of chains and +pullies swinging to its force, with the roaring of the two rivers over +the dams, formed altogether such a hellish concert, that fifty +portcullises might have been raised, and as many draw-bridges let down, +and the prostrate shivering sentinels of the Scottish army have +distinguished no additional chord or octave in the infernal bravura. + +At midnight the English issued forth with all possible silence. Two +hundred, under the command of Grey and Collingwood, were posted on the +castle-green, that is, the narrow valley between the moat and the river +Tweed, to prevent the junction of the two armies on the first alarm +being given. The rest were parted into two divisions; and, under the +command of Musgrave and Henry Clavering, went down the side of each +river so as to avoid the strongest part of the Scottish lines, and the +ramparts raised on the height. Clavering led his division down by the +side of the Teviot, along the bottom of the great precipice, and, owing +to the mingled din of the flood and the storm, was never perceived till +fairly in the rear of the Scottish lines. Musgrave was not so fortunate, +as the main trench ran close to the Tweed. He was obliged to force it +with his first column, which he did with a rapidity which nothing could +equal. The Englishmen threw themselves over the mound of the great +trench, hurling in above their enemies sword in hand, and overpowering +them with great ease; then over one breastwork after another, spreading +consternation before them and carnage behind. Clavering heard nothing +of this turmoil, so intemperate was the night. He stood with impatience, +his men drawn up in order, within half a bow-shot of Douglas's pavilion, +waiting for the signal agreed on; for their whole energy was to be bent +against the tent of the commander, in hopes, not only to capture the +Douglas himself, and all his near kinsmen, but likewise their own +prisoners. At length, among other sounds that began to swell around, +Clavering heard the welcome cry of "DUDDOE'S AWAY!" which was as readily +answered with "DUDDOE'S HERE!" and at one moment the main camp was +attacked on both sides. The flyers from the lines had spread the alarm. +The captain's tent was surrounded by a triple circle of lesser tents, +all full of armed men, who instantly grasped their weapons, and stood on +the defensive. Many rough blows were exchanged at the first onset, and +many of the first ranks of the assailants met their death. But though +those within fought with valour, they fought without system; whereas the +English had arranged every thing previously; and each of them had a +white linen belt, of which the Scots knew nothing; and in the hurry and +terror that ensued, some parties attacked each other, and fell by the +hands of their brethren. Finding soon that the battle raged before and +behind them, they fled with precipitation toward the city; but there +they were waylaid by a strong party, and many of them captured and +slain. The English would have slain every man that fell into their +power, had it not been for the hopes of taking Douglas, or some of his +near kinsmen, and by that means redeeming the precious pledges that the +Scots held, so much to their detriment, and by which all their motions +were paralyzed. Clavering, with a part of the troops under his command, +pursued the flyers that escaped as far as the head of the Market-street, +and put the great Douglas himself into no little dismay; for he found it +next to impossible to rally his men amid the storm and darkness, such a +panic had seized them by this forthbreaking of their enemies. Clavering +would, doubtless, have rifled a part of the city, if not totally ruined +that division of the Scottish army, had he not been suddenly called back +to oppose a more dangerous inroad behind. + +When Musgrave first broke through the right wing of the Scottish lines, +the noise and uproar spread amain, as may well be conceived. The warders +on the heights then sounded the alarm incessantly: and a most incongrous +thing it was to hear them sounding the alarm with such vigour at their +posts, after the enemy had passed quietly by them, and at that time were +working havoc in the middle of their camp. They knew not what was astir, +but they made plenty of din with their cow-horns, leaving those that +they alarmed to find out the cause the best way they could. + +The Scottish army that beleaguered the castle to the westward caught the +alarm, and rushed to the support of their brethren and commander. The +infantry being first in readiness, were first put in motion, but, on the +narrowest part of the castle green, they fell in with the firm set +phalanx of the English, who received them on the point of their lances, +and, in a few seconds, made them give way. The English could not however +pursue, their orders being to keep by the spot where they were, and +stand firm; so that the Scots had nothing ado but to rally at the head +of the green, and return to the charge. Still it was with no better +success than before. The English stood their ground, and again made them +reel and retreat. But, by this time, the horsemen were got ready, and +descended to the charge at a sharp trot. They were clad in armour, and +had heavy swords by their sides, and long spears like halberds in their +hands. The English lines could not withstand the shock given by these, +for the men were famishing with hunger and benumbed with cold, the wind +blowing with all its fury straight in their faces. They gave way; but +they were neither broken nor dispersed. Reduced as they were, they were +all veterans, and retreated fighting till they came to the barriers +before the draw-bridge; and there, having the advantage of situation, +they stood their ground. + +The horsemen passed on to the scene of confusion in the camp, and came +upon the rear of the English host, encumbered with prisoners and spoil. + +When Clavering was called back, Douglas, who had now rallied about one +hundred and forty men around him, wheeled about, and followed Clavering +in the rear; so that the English found themselves in the same +predicament that the Scots were in about an hour before,--beset before +and behind,--and that principally by horsemen, which placed them under a +manifest disadvantage. + +It is impossible to give any adequate idea of the uproar and desperate +affray that now ensued. The English formed on both sides to defend +themselves; but the prisoners being numerous detained a great part of +the men from the combat. A cry arose to kill the prisoners; from whom it +first issued no one knew, but it no sooner past than the men began to +put it into execution. The order was easier to give than perform: +in half a minute every one of the guards had a prisoner at his +throat,--the battle became general,--every one being particularly +engaged through all the interior of the host, many of them struggling in +pairs on the earth, who to get uppermost, and have the mastery. It was +all for life, and no exertion was withheld; but, whenever these single +combats ended in close gripes, the Scots had the mastery, their bodies +being in so much better condition. They made a great noise, both +individually and in their files, but the English scarcely opened their +mouths; like bred mastiffs, when desperately engaged, they only aimed at +the vital parts of their opponents, without letting their voices be +heard. + +It is vain at this period to attempt giving a better description of the +scenes of that night, for the men that were present in the affray could +give no account of it next day. But, after a hard encounter and heavy +loss, the English fought their way up to their friends before the +ramparts, who had all the while been engaged in skirmishing with the +foot of the western division, whom they had kept at bay, and thus +preserved the entrance clear to themselves and brethren; but ere the +rear had got over the half-moon before the bridge, it was heaped full of +slain. + +There were more of the Scots slain during the conflict of that hideous +night than of the English; but by far the greater number of prisoners +remained with the former, and several of them were men of note; but such +care was taken to conceal rank and titles, after falling into the hands +of their enemies, that they could only be guessed at. De Gray was slain, +and Collingwood was wounded and taken; so that on taking a muster next +day, the English found themselves losers by their heroic sally. + +They had, however, taken one prize, of which, had they known the value, +it would have proved a counterbalance, for all their losses, and all the +distinguished prisoners that formerly told against them. This was no +other than the pretended page, Colin Roy, of whose sex and quality the +reader has been formerly apprised, and whom they found concealed among +some baggage in the Douglas' tent. Grievous was that page's plight when +he found himself thrust into a vault below the castle of Roxburgh, among +forty rude soldiers, many of them wounded, and others half-naked, and +nothing given them to subsist on. Concealment of his true sex for any +length of time was now impossible, and to divulge the secret certain +ruin to himself and the cause of Douglas. + +Next day he pleaded hard for an audience of Musgrave, on pretence of +giving him some information that deeply concerned himself; and he +pleaded with such eloquence that the guards listened to him, and +informed the commander, who ordered the stripling to be brought before +him. The next day following was that appointed for the execution of Sir +Richard Musgrave. Colin informed the governor that, if he would give him +his liberty, he would procure a reprieve for his brother, at least until +the day of the Conception, during which period something might occur +that would save the life of so brave a youth; that he was the only man +on earth who had the power to alter the purpose of Douglas in that +instance; and that he would answer with his head for the success,--only +the charm required immediate application. + +Musgrave said it was a coward's trick to preserve his own life,--for how +could he answer to him for his success when he was at liberty? But that +no chance might be lost for saving his brother's life, he would cause +him to be conducted to Douglas under a strong guard, allow him what time +he required to proffer his suit, and have him brought back to prison +till the day of the Conception was over, and if he succeeded he should +then have his liberty. This was not exactly what Colin wanted: However, +he was obliged to accept of the terms, and proceeded to the gate under a +guard of ten men. The Scots officer of the advanced guard refused to let +any Englishman pass, but answered with his honour to conduct the +stripling in safety to his commander, and in two hours return him back +to the English at the draw-bridge. No more was required; and he was +conducted accordingly to the door of Douglas' tent, which, as he +desired, he was suffered to enter, the men keeping guard at the door. + +In the confusion of that morning, Douglas never had missed the page, nor +knew he that he was taken prisoner; and when the boy entered from his +own little apartment, he judged him to be in attendance as usual. He had +a bundle below his arm tied up in a lady's scarf, and a look that +manifested great hurry and alarm. The Douglas, who was busily engaged +with two knights, could not help noting his appearance, at which he +smiled. + +"My lord," said the boy, "I have an engagement of great importance +to-day, and the time is at hand. I cannot get out at the door by reason +of the crowd, who must not see this. Will it please you to let me pass +by your own private door into the city?" + +Douglas cursed him for a troublesome imp, and forthwith opened the door +into the concealed way; and as all who came from that door passed +unquestioned, the page quickly vanished in the suburbs of the city. + +The officer and his guard waited and waited until the time was on the +point of expiring, and at last grew quite impatient, wondering what the +boy could be doing so long with the commander. But at length, to their +mortal astonishment, they beheld the stripling coming swaggering up from +the high street of the city behind them, putting a number of new and +ridiculous airs in practice, and quite unlike one going to be delivered +up to enemies to be thrown into a dungeon, or perhaps hanged like a dog +in a day or two. + +The officer knew nothing of the concealed door and passage, and was lost +in amazement how the page should have escaped from them all without +being visible; but he wondered still more how the elf, being once at +liberty, should have thought of coming strutting back to deliver himself +up again. + +"Where the devil have you been, master, an it be your will?" said the +officer. + +"Eh? What d'ye say, mun?" said the unaccountable puppy. "What do I say +mun!" replied the officer, quite unable to account either for the +behaviour of the prisoner or his address; "I say I trow ye hae seen sic +a man as Michael Scott some time in your days? Ye hae gi'en me the +glaiks aince by turning invisible; but be ye deil, be ye fairy, I sal +secure ye now. Ye hae nearly gart me brik my pledge o' honour, whilk I +wadna hae done for ten sic necks as yours." + +"Your pledge o' honour? What's that, mun? Is that your bit sword? Stand +back out o' my gate." + +"Shakel my knackers," said the officer laughing, "if I do not crack thy +fool's pate! What does the green-kail-worm mean? You, sir, I suppose are +presuming to transact a character? You are playing a part in order to +get off, but your silly stratagem will fail you. Pray, my young master, +what character do you at present appear in?" + +"Character me no characters!" said the page,--it is not with you that I +transact--nor such as you! Do not you see who I am, and what commission +I bear? Bide a great way back out o' my gate an ye please; and show me +where I am to deliver this." + +"And who is that bald epistle for, master Quipes? Please to open your +sweet mouth, and read me the inscription." + +"Do you not see, saucy axe-man? Cannot you spell it? 'To James, Earl of +Douglas and Mar, with greeting, These.' Herald me to your commander, +nadkin; but keep your distance--due proportioned distance, if you +please." + +"No, no, my little crab cherry; you cheated me by escaping from the tent +invisible before, but shall not do it again. We'll get your message done +for you; your time is expired, and some more to boot, I fear; come along +with us."--And forthwith one of their number waited on the chief with +the letter, while the rest hauled off the unfortunate page, and +delivered him back to the English. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + His doublet was sae trim and neat, + Wi' reid goud to the chin, + Ye wad hae sworn, had ye been there, + That a maiden stood within. + The tears they trickled to his chin, + And fell down on his knee; + O had he wist before he kissed, + That the boy was a fair ladye. + + _Song of May Marley._ + + Who's she, this dame that comes in such a guise, + Such lace of import, and unwonted speech? + Tell me, Cornaro. For methinks I see + Some traits of hell about her. + + _Trag. of The Prioress._ + + +In this perilous situation were placed the two most beautiful ladies of +England and Scotland, at the close of that memorable year; and in this +situation stood the two chiefs with relation to those they valued +dearest in life; the one quite unconscious of the misery that awaited +him, but the other prepared to stand the severest of trials. Success had +for some time past made a show of favouring the Scots, but she had not +yet declared herself, and matters with them soon began to look worse. As +a commencement of their misfortunes, on that very night the battle took +place, the English received a supply of thirty horse-loads of +provisions, with assurances that Sir Thomas Musgrave, the governor of +Berwick, was setting out with a strong army to their succour. + +The supply was received in this way. There was a bridge over the Teviot, +which communicated only with the castle, the north end of it being +within the draw-bridge, and that bridge the English kept possession of +all the time of the siege. It being of no avail to the Scots, they +contented themselves by keeping a guard at the convent of Maisondieu, to +prevent any communication between the fortress and the Border. But the +English barons to the eastward, whose castles lay contiguous to the +Tweed, taking advantage of the great flood, came with a strong body of +men, and attacking this post by surprise, they beat them, and, chasing +them a considerable way up the river, got the convoy along the bridge +into the castle. + +This temporary relief raised the spirits of the English, or rather +cheered their prospects, for higher in inveterate opposition their +spirits could not be raised. On the day following, likewise, a flying +party of Sir Thomas Musgrave's horse made their appearance on the height +above Hume castle, and blew their horns, and tossed their banners abroad +on the wind, that the besieged might see them, and understand that their +friends were astir to make a diversion in their favour. + +On the same day a new gibbet was erected on the top of the Bush-law, +with a shifting wooden battery, to protect the executioners; and all +within the castle feared that the stern and unyielding Douglas was going +to put his threat respecting the life of Sir Richard Musgrave into +execution. Therefore, to prevent their captain from seeing the scene, +and, if possible, his mind from recurring to it, they contrived to get a +council of war called, at which they intentionally argued and contended +about matters of importance, in order to detain him until the sufferings +of his brother were past. + +The Bush-law, on which the Scots had a strong fortification, rises +abruptly over against the western tower of the castle of Roxburgh; they +were separated only by the moat, and, though at a great height, were so +near each other, that men could with ease converse across, and see +distinctly what was done. On the top of this battery was the new gibbet +erected, the more to gall the English by witnessing the death of their +friends. + +At noon, the Scots, to the number of two hundred, came in procession up +from the city, with their prisoner dressed in his knightly robes; and, +as they went by, they flouted the English that looked on from the +walls,--but the latter answered them not, either good or bad. By a +circular rout to the westward they reached the height, where they +exposed the prisoner to the view of the garrison on a semicircular +platform, for a few minutes, until a herald made proclamation, that +unless the keys of the castle were instantly delivered at the +draw-bridge, the life of the noble prisoner was forfeited, and the +sentence would momently be put in execution; and then he concluded by +calling, in a louder voice, "Answer, Yes or no--once--twice." He paused +for the space of twenty seconds, and then repeated slowly, and +apparently with reluctance, "Once--twice--_thrice_,"--and the platform +folding down, the victim was launched into eternity. + +The English returned no answer to the herald, as no command or order had +been given. In moody silence they stood till they witnessed the fatal +catastrophe, and then a loud groan, or rather growl of abhorrence and +vengeance, burst from the troops on the wall, which was answered by the +exulting shouts of the Scots. At that fatal moment Musgrave stepped on +the battlement, to witness the last dying throes of his loved brother. +By some casualty, the day of the week and month happening to be +mentioned in the council hall, in the midst of his confused and +abstracted ideas, that brought to his remembrance the fate with which +his brother had been threatened. Still he had hopes that it would have +been postponed; for, as a drowning man will catch violently at floating +stubble, so had he trusted to the page's mediation. He had examined the +stripling on his return to the dungeon, but the imp proved froward and +incommunicative, attaching to himself an importance of which the captain +could not perceive the propriety; yet, though he had nothing to depend +on the tender mercies of Douglas, as indeed he had no right, he +nevertheless trusted to his policy for the saving of his brother alive; +knowing that, in his life, he held a bond round his heart which it was +not his interest to snap. + +As he left the hall of council, which was in the great western tower, +and in the immediate vicinity of the scene then transacting, the murmurs +of the one host and the shouts of the other drew him to the battlement, +whence his eye momently embraced the heart-rending cause of the tumult. +He started, and contracted every muscle of his whole frame, shrinking +downward, and looking madly on each hand of him. He seemed in act to +make a spring over the wall; and the soldiers around him perceiving +this, and haply misjudging the intent of his motion, seized on him to +restrain him by main force. But scarcely did he seem to feel that he was +held; he stretched out his hands toward his brother, and uttered a loud +cry of furious despair, and then in a softer tone cried, "Oh! my +brother! my brother!--So you would not warn me, you dog?--Nor you?--Nor +you?--No, you are all combined against me. That was a sight to gratify +you, was it not? My curse on you, and all that have combined against the +life of that matchless youth!" and with that he struggled to shake them +from him. "My lord! my lord!" was all that the soldiers uttered, as they +restrained him. + +At that instant Clavering rushed on the battlement. "Unhand the +captain!" cried he: "Dare you, for the lives that are not your own, +presume to lay violent restraint on him, and that in the full view of +your enemies?" + +"I will have vengeance, Clavering!" cried Musgrave,--"ample and +uncontrolled vengeance! Where is the deceitful and impertinent stripling +that promised so solemnly to gain a reprieve for my brother, and +proffered the forfeit of his life if he failed?" + +"In the dungeon, my lord, fast and secure." + +"He is a favourite parasite of the Douglas; bring him forth that I may +see vengeance executed on him the first of them all. I will hang every +Scot in our custody; but go and bring him the first. It is a base +deceitful cub, and shall dangle opposite to that noble and now lifeless +form. It is a poor revenge indeed,--but I will sacrifice every Scot of +them. Why don't you go and bring the gilded moth, you kennel knaves? +Know you to whom you thus scruple obedience?" + +Clavering was silent, and the soldiers durst not disobey, though they +obeyed with reluctance, knowing the advantages that the Scots possessed +over them, both in the numbers and rank of their prisoners. They went +into the vaults, and, without ceremony or intimation of their intent, +lifted the gaudy page in their arms, and carried him to the battlement +of the western tower, from whence, sans farther ceremony, he was +suspended from a beam's end. + +Douglas could not believe the testimony of his own senses when he saw +what had occurred. Till that moment he never knew that his page was a +prisoner. Indeed, how could he conceive he was, when he had seen him in +his tent the day after the night engagement? His grief was of a cutting +and sharp kind, but went not to the heart; for though the boy had +maintained a sort of influence over him, even more than he could account +to himself for, yet still he was teasing and impertinent, and it was not +the sort of influence he desired. + +"I wish it been our blessed Lady's will to have averted this," said he +to himself: "But the mischances of war often light upon those least +concerned in the event. Poor Colin! thy beauty, playfulness, and +flippancy of speech deserved a better guerdon. How shall I account to my +royal mistress for the cruel fate of her favourite?" + +With all this partial regret, Douglas felt that, by the loss of this +officious page of the princess, he would be freed from the controul of +petticoat-government. He perceived that the princess lived in +concealment somewhere in the neighbourhood,--kept an eye over all his +actions and movements,--and, by this her agent, checked or upbraided him +according to her whimsical inexperience. Douglas was ambitious of having +the beautiful princess for his spouse,--of being son-in-law to his +sovereign,--and the first man in the realm; but he liked not to have his +counsels impeded, or his arms checked, by a froward and romantic girl, +however high her lineage or her endowments might soar. So that, upon the +whole, though he regretted the death of Colin Roy MacAlpin, he felt like +one released from a slight bondage. Alas, noble chief! little didst thou +know of the pang that was awaiting thee! + +It will be recollected that, when the Lady Margaret first arrived in +the campin the character of Colin her own page, she lodged her maid +in the city of Roxburgh, disguised likewise as a boy. With her she +communicated every day, and contrived to forward such letters to the +Court as satisfied her royal mother with regard to the motives of her +absence,--though these letters were, like many others of the sex, any +thing but the direct truth. The king was at this period living in +retirement at his castle of Logie in Athol, on pretence of ill health. + +The name of the maiden of honour thus disguised was Mary Kirkmichael, +the daughter of a knight in the shire of Fife. She was a lady of great +beauty, and elegant address,--shrewd, sly, and enterprising. + +Two days after the rueful catastrophe above related, word was brought to +Douglas, while engaged in his pavilion, that a lady at the door begged +earnestly to see him. "Some petitioner for the life of a prisoner," said +he: "What other lady can have business with me? Tell her I have neither +leisure nor inclination at present to listen to the complaints and +petitions of women." + +"I have told her so already," said the knight in waiting; "but she +refuses to go away till she speak with you in private; and says that she +has something to communicate that deeply concerns your welfare. She is +veiled; but seems a beautiful, accomplished, and courtly dame." + +At these words the Douglas started to his feet. He had no doubt that it +was the princess, emerged from her concealment in the priory or convent, +and come to make inquiries after her favourite, and perhaps establish +some other mode of communication with himself. He laid his account with +complaints and upbraidings, and, upon the whole, boded no great good +from this domiciliary visit. However, he determined to receive his royal +mistress with some appearance of form; and, in a few seconds, at a given +word, squires, yeomen, and grooms, to the amount of seventy, were +arranged in due order, every one in his proper place; and up a lane +formed of these was the lady conducted to the captain, who received her +standing and uncovered; but, after exchanging courtesies with her, and +perceiving that it was not the princess, jealous of his dignity, he put +on his plumed bonnet, and waited with stately mien the developement of +her rank and errand. + +It was Mary Kirkmichael. + +"My noble lord," said she, "I have a word for your private ear, and +deeply doth it concern you and all this realm." + +Douglas beckoned to his friends and attendants, who withdrew and left +him alone with the dame, who began thus with great earnestness of +manner: "My lord of Douglas, I have but one question to ask, and, if +satisfied with the answer, will not detain you a moment. What is become +of the page Colin that attended your hand of late?" Douglas hesitated, +deeming the lady to be some agent of the princess Margaret's. "Where is +he?" continued she, raising her voice, and advancing a step nearer to +the captain. "Tell me, as you would wish your soul to thrive. Is he +well? Is he safe?" + +"He is sped on a long journey, lady, and you may not expect to meet him +again for a season." + +"Sped on a long journey! Not see him again for a season! What does this +answer mean? Captain, on that youth's well-being hang the safety, the +nobility, and the honour of your house. Say but to me he is well, and +not exposed to any danger in the message on which he is gone." + +"Of his well-being I have no doubt; and the message on which he is gone +is a safe one. He is under protection from all danger, commotion, or +strife." + +"It is well you can say so, else wo would have fallen to your lot, to +mine, and to that of our nation." + +"I know he was a page of court, and in the confidence of my sovereign +and adored Lady Margaret. But how could any misfortune attending a page +prove of such overwhelming import?" + +"_Was_ a page of court, my lord? What do you infer by that _was_? Pray +what is he now? I entreat of you to be more explicit." + +"The plain truth of the matter is shortly this: The boy fell into the +hands of our enemies that night of the late fierce engagement." + +At this the lady uttered a scream; and Douglas, dreading she would fall +into hysterics, stretched out his arms to support her. "I pity you, +gentle maiden," said he, "for I perceive you two have been lovers." + +She withdrew herself, shunning his profered support, and, looking him +wildly in the face, said in a passionate voice, "In the hands of the +English? O Douglas, haste to redeem him! Give up all the prisoners you +have for that page's ransom; and if these will not suffice, give up all +the lands of Douglas and Mar; and if all these are still judged +inadequate, give up yourself. But, by your fealty, your honour, your +nobility, I charge you, and, in the name of the Blessed Virgin, I +conjure you to lose no time in redeeming that youth." + +Douglas could scarcely contain his gravity at this rhapsody, weening it +the frantic remonstrance of a love-sick maid; but she, perceiving the +bent and tenor of his disposition, held up her hand as a check to his +ill-timed levity. "Unhappy chief!" exclaimed she, "Little art thou aware +what a gulf of misery and despair thou art suspended over, and that by a +single thread within reach of the flame, and liable every moment to +snap, and hurl thee into inevitable ruin. Know, and to thyself alone be +it known, that that page was no other than the princess of Scotland +herself; who, impelled by romantic affection, came in that disguise to +attend thee in all thy perils, undertaken for her sake. It was she +herself who seized her rival, and placed her in your hands, thus giving +you an advantage which force could not bestow. And from time to time has +she laid such injunctions on you, written and delivered by her own hand, +as she judged conducive to your honour or advantage. If you suffer that +inestimable lady to lye in durance, or one hair of her head to fall to +the ground, after so many marks of affection and concern for you, you +are unworthy of lady's esteem, of the titles you bear, or the honour of +knighthood." + +When the lady first came out with the fatal secret, and mentioned the +princess's name, Douglas strode hastily across the floor of the +pavilion, as if he would have run out at the door, or rather fallen +against it; but the motion was involuntary; he stopped short, and again +turned round to the speaker, gazing on her as if only half comprehending +what she said. The truth of the assertion opened to him by degrees; and, +it may well be supposed, the intelligence acted upon his mind and frame +like a shock of electricity. He would fain have disbelieved it, had he +been able to lay hold of a plausible pretext to doubt it; but every +recollected circumstance coincided in the establishment of the unwelcome +fact. All that he could say to the lady, as he stood like a statue +gazing her in the face, was, "Who art thou?" + +"I am Mary Kirkmichael of Balmedie," said she, "and I came with the +princess, disguised as her attendant. I am her friend and confidant, and +we held communication every day, till of late that my dear mistress +discontinued her visits. O captain, tell me if it is in your power to +save her!" + +Douglas flung himself on a form in the corner of the tent, and hid his +face with his hand, and at the same time groaned as if every throb +would have burst his heart's casement. He had seen his royal, his +affectionate, and adored mistress swung from the enemy's battlements, +without one effort to save her, and without a tear wetting his cheek; +and his agony of mind became so extreme that he paid no more regard to +the lady, who was still standing over him, adding the bitterest censure +to lamentation. Yet he told her not of her mistress's melancholy +fate,--he could not tell her; but the ejaculatory words that he uttered +from time to time too plainly informed Mary Kirkmichael that the life of +her royal mistress was either in jeopardy or irretrievably lost. + +The Douglas saw the lady no more, nor regarded her. He rushed from +the tent, and gave such orders as quite confounded his warriors, +one part being quite incompatible with another; and, in the confusion, +Mary glided quietly away from the scene without farther notice. All +the motions of Douglas, for two days subsequent to this piece of +information, were like those of a drunken man; he was enraged without +cause, and acted without consistency; but the only point towards which +all these jarring and discordant passions constantly turned was revenge +on the English--deadly and insatiable revenge. When he looked towards +the ramparts of the castle, his dark eye would change its colour, and +sink deeper under his brow, while his brown cheeks would appear as if +furrowed across, and his teeth ground and jarred against one another. +His counsels, however, were not, at this time, of a nature suited to +accomplish any thing material against his rivals. He meditated the most +deadly retaliation, but was prevented before he could put it in +practice. + +On the following evening, when the disturbance of his mind had somewhat +subsided, and appeared to be settling into a sullen depression of +spirit, or rather a softened melancholy, he was accosted by a monk, who +had craved and obtained admittance--for a deference to all that these +people said or did was a leading feature of that age. Douglas scarcely +regarded him on his first entrance, and to his address only deigned to +answer by a slight motion of his head; for the monk's whole appearance +augured little beyond contempt. He was of a diminutive stature, had a +slight, starved make, and a weak treble voice. His conversation, +nevertheless, proved of that sort that soon drew the attention of the +chief. + +"May the blessed Virgin, the mother of God, bless and shield you, +captain!" + +"Humph!" returned the Douglas, noding his head. + +"May Saint Withold be your helmet and buckler in the day of battle--" + +"Amen!" said the Douglas, interrupting him, and taking a searching look +of the tiny being that spoke, as if there were something in the tones of +his voice that struck him with emotion. + +--"And withhold your weapon from the blood of the good," added the monk, +"from the breast of the professor of our holy religion, and dispose your +heart to peace and amity, that the land may have rest, and the humble +servants of the Cross protection. Why don't you say 'Amen' to this, +knight? Is your profession of Christianity a mere form? and are the +blessed tenets which it enjoins, strangers to thy turbulent bosom?" + +"Humph!" said Douglas: "With reverence be it spoken, monk, but you holy +brethren have got a way of chattering about things that you do not +understand. Adhere to your books and your beads. I am a soldier, and +must stick by my profession, bearing arms for my king and country." + +"I am a soldier too," rejoined the monk, "and bear arms and suffer in a +better cause. But enough of this. I have a strange message for you, +captain. You must know that, a few weeks ago, a beautiful youth came to +our monastery seeking supply of writing materials, which he could not +otherwise procure. He was a kind and ingenious youth. I supplied him, +for I loved him; and I have since seen him sundry times in my cell. But +last night, as I was sitting alone, a little before midnight--I am +afraid you will not believe me, captain, for the matter of my message +is so strange--I had gone over my breviary, and was sitting with the +cross pressed to my lips, when behold the youth entered. I arose to +receive him; but he beckoned me to keep away from his person, and glided +backward. I then recollected that he must be a spirit, else he could not +have got in; and, though I do not recollect all that he said, the +purport of his message was to the following effect: + +"'Benjamin,' said he, 'arise and go to the captain of the Scottish army, +whom you will find in great perplexity of mind, and meditating schemes +of cruelty and retaliation, which would be disgraceful to himself and to +his country. But let him beware; for there be some at his hand that he +does not see; and if he dare in the slightest instance disobey the +injunctions which you shall from time to time lay on him, his sight +shall be withered by a visitant from another world, whose face he shall +too well recognize ever again to find rest under a consciousness of her +presence. Monk Benjamin, I was not what I seemed. A few days ago I was a +lady in the prime of youth and hope. I loved that captain, and was +betrothed to him. For his sake I ventured my life, and lost it without a +single effort on his part to save me. But his fate is in my hand, and I +will use the power. It is given to me to control or further his efforts +as I see meet,--to turn his sword in the day of battle,--or to redouble +the strength of his and his warriors' arms. My behests shall be made +known to him; and if he would avoid distraction of mind, as well as +utter ruin, let him tremble to disobey. In the first place, then, you +will find him pondering on a scheme for the recovery of my lifeless +body,--a scheme of madness which cannot and may not succeed; therefore, +charge him from me to desist. You will find him farther preparing an +embassy to my father and mother to inform them of the circumstances of +my death, and that not in the words of truth. But let him take care to +keep that a secret, as he would take care of his life and honour, for on +that depends his ultimate success. Tell him farther, from me, to revenge +my death, but not on the helpless beings that are already in his power; +to pursue with steady aim his primary object,--and his reward shall be +greater than he can conceive.' + +"Strange as this story may appear, captain, it is strictly according to +truth. You yourself may judge whether it was a true or lying spirit that +spoke to me." + +"Are you not some demon or spirit yourself," said the Douglas, "who know +such things as these? Tell me, are you a thing of flesh and blood, that +you can thus tell me the thoughts and purposes of my heart?" + +"I am a being such as yourself," said the monk,--"a poor brother of the +Cistertian order, and of the cloister adjoining to this; and I only +speak what I was enjoined to speak, without knowing whether it is true +or false. I was threatened with trouble and dismay if I declined the +commission; and I advise you, captain, for your own peace of mind, to +attend to this warning." + +Douglas promised that he would, at least for a time; and the monk, +taking his leave, left the earl in the utmost consternation. The monk's +tale was so simple and unmasked, there was no doubting the truth of +it,--for without such a communication it was impossible he could have +known the things he uttered; and the assurance that a disembodied being +should have such a power over him, though it somewhat staggered the +Douglas' faith, created an unwonted sensation within his breast--a +sensation of wonder and awe; for none of that age were exempt from the +sway of an overpowering superstition. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + What a brave group we have! That fellow there, + He with the cushion, would outprate the cricket; + The babble of the brook is not more constant, + Or syllabled with such monotony, + Than the eternal tingle of his tongue. + + _Cor._ I'll bid him silence, master; + Or do him so, which likes you. + + _The Prioress._ + + +We must now leave the two commanders in plights more dismal than ever +commanders were before, and return to our warden, the bold baron of +Mountcomyn, whose feats form a more pleasant and diverting subject. His +warfare all this while was of a predatory nature,--for that his warriors +were peculiarly fitted, and at this time they did not fail to avail +themselves well of the troubles on the border, and the prevailing power +of the Scots alongst its line. The warden pretended still to be acting +in concert with Douglas, but his operations were all according to the +purposes of his own heart. He cared nothing for the success or the +aggrandisement of Douglas; but he had a particular eye to the +advancement of his own house, and the honour of his kinsmen. It was +therefore a matter of daily consultation with him and his friends, how +they should act in conformity with this ruling principle. The +probability was against Douglas, that he would ultimately fail in his +undertaking, and be stripped of all his dominions. Viewing the matter in +that light, it was high time for the Redhough to be providing for +himself. On the other hand, should Douglas succeed in his enterprize, +and become the king's son-in-law, there was no other way by which the +warden could hold his own, save by a certain species of subordination, a +submission in effect, though not by acknowledgment. Such matters were +perfectly understood by the chiefs in these times, and all who proved +refractory were taught in silence to feel the grounds on which they +stood, This was, therefore, a most critical period for Sir Ringan. The +future advancement of his house depended on every turn of his hand. +During all the former part of the siege he had conducted himself with an +eye to Douglas' failure, to which he was partly incited by the +prophecies of Thomas the Rhymer, and those of his kinsman, Master +Michael Scott of Oakwood, whom he believed the most powerful wizard, and +the greatest prophet, that ever had arisen since the Rhymer's days. + +But, on the return of Charlie of Yardbire and Dan Chisholm from the +beleaguering army, the warden got the extraordinary intelligence, that +the Lady Jane Howard had fallen into the hands of the Douglas, as well +as Musgrave's only brother. These things changed Sir Ringan's prospects +of the future in a very material degree, and he pondered on changing his +mode of operations. Before doing so, however, he called a council of his +kinsmen, and brought the matter again before them. Most of them +counselled the continuance of the predatory warfare in which they had +been engaged; it had served to enrich them, and had proved, as they +reasoned, of more service to the Douglas than if they had joined his +host. That it proved of more service to himself and his kinsmen than if +they had joined the host, the warden was well aware; but he was not +satisfied that the Douglas viewed their mountain warfare as of great +consequence to him; and he farther knew, that services were always +repaid, not according to the toil and exertion undergone, but according +as they were estimated, while that estimation was ever and anon modelled +by the apparent motives of the performer. + +After much slow and inanimate reasoning on the matter, Sir Ringan +chanced, after a minute's deep thought, to say, "What would I not give +to know the events that are to happen at Roxburgh between this time and +the end of the Christmas holidays?" + +"Auld Michael Scott will ken brawly," said Charlie of Yardbire. + +"Then, what for shoudna we ken too?" said the knight. + +"Aye, what for shoudna we ken too?" said Dickie o' Dryhope. + +"They might get a kittle cast that meddled wi' him, an' nae the wiser +after a'," said Robert of Howpasley. + +"When he was at pains to come a' the way to the castle of Mountcomyn," +said Simon Longspeare, "a matter o' five Scots miles ower the moor, to +warn our captain, the warden, how to row his bowls, he surely winna +refuse to tell him what's to be the final issue o' this daft contest." + +"Ane wad think he wadna spare a cantrip or twa," said Sir Ringan; "him +that has spirits at his ca', an' canna get them hadden i' wark. It wad +be an easy matter for him; an' blood's aye thicker than water." + +"Ay, that's a true tale," said Dickie o' Dryhope; "It wad be an easy +matter for him, we a' ken that; an' blood's aye thicker than water!" + +"If I were to gang wi' a gallant retinue," said Sir Ringan, "he surely +wadna refuse to gie me some answer." + +"He wad refuse the king o' France," said Robert of Howpasley, "if he +warna i' the key for human conversation, an' maybe gar his familiar +spirits carry you away, and thraw ye into the sea, or set you down i' +some faraway land, for a piece o' employment to them, and amusement to +himsel'. He has served mony ane that gate afore now." + +"Od I'll defy him," said muckle Charlie of Yardbire. "If my master, the +warden, likes to tak me wi' him for his elbowman, I'll answer for him +against a' the monkey spirits that auld Michael has." + +"Spoke like yourself, honest Charlie!" said the baron; "and if it is +judged meet by my friends that I should go, you shall be one that shall +attend me. Certes, it would be of incalculable benefit to me, for all +your sakes, to know even by a small hint what is to be the upshot of +this business--But should I be taken away or detained--" + +"Ay, should he be taken away or detained, gentlemen: think of that, +gentlemen," said Dickie o' Dryhope. + +"I approve highly of the mission," said Simon Longspeare; "for I believe +there is nothing too hard for that old wizard to do, and no event so +closely sealed up in futurity, but that he can calculate with a good +deal of certainty on the issue. I see that our all depends on our +knowledge of the event; but I disapprove of our chief attending on the +wizard in person--for in his absence who is to be our commander? And, +should any sudden rising of our foes take place, of which we are every +hour uncertain, we may lose more by the want of him one hour than we +could ever regain." + +"Ay, think of that, gentlemen," said Dickie: "My cousin Longspeare +speaks good sense. What could we do wanting Sir Ringan. We're all +children to him, and little better without him." + +"And old children are the worst of all children," said the warden; "I +would rather be deaved with the teething yammer than the toothless +chatter. Prithee, peace, and let us hear out our cousin Simon's +proposal." + +The circle of the gallant kinsmen did not like ill to hear this snub on +old Dickie. They could not account for the chief's partiality to him; +and they were even afraid that, being the oldest man, he should be +nominated to the command in the knight's absence. It was however noted +by all, that Dickie was not half so great a man in field or foray as he +was at board in the castle of Mountcomyn. Only a very few men of +experience discerned the bottom of this. The truth was, that Sir Ringan +did not care a doit either for Dickie's counsels or his arm, but he saw +that his lady abhorred him, and therefore he would not yield to cast him +off. His lady was of a high spirit and proud unyielding temper, and the +knight could not stand his own with her at all times and seasons; but +before his kinsmen warriors he was particularly jealous of his dignity, +and would not yield to the encroachment on it of a single item. It was +by this kind of elemental opposition, if it may be so termed, that +Dickie maintained his consequence at the warden's castle. In the field +he was nothing more than a foolish vain old kinsman. + +"I propose," said Longspeare," that we send a deputation of our _notable +men_ to the warlock, of whom we have some of the first that perhaps ever +the world produced. As a bard, or minstrel, we can send Colley Carol, a +man that is fit to charm the spirits out of the heart of the earth, or +the bowels of the cloud, without the aid of old Michael. As a man of +crabbed wit and endless absurdity, we can send the Deil's Tam: As a true +natural and moral philosopher, the Laird o' the Peatstacknowe: As one +versed in all the mysteries of religion, and many mysteries beside, or +some tell lies, we can send the gospel friar. All these are men of +spirit, and can handle the sword and the bow either less or more: And as +a man of unequalled strength and courage, and a guard and captain over +all the rest, we can send Charlie o' Yardbire--and I will defy all the +kingdoms of Europe to send out sic another quorum either to emperor, +Turk, wizard, or the devil himself." + +Every one applauded Simon Longspeare's motion, and declared the +deputation worthy of being sent out, if it were for nothing but its own +unrivalled excellence. Never, they said, since the mind of man was +framed, was there such a combination of rare talent in so small a +circle. There was none of those nominated for the mission present +excepting muckle Charlie Scott. Charlie scratched his head, and +said:--"Gude faith, callans, I hae a queer bike to gang wi! he-he-he! I +fear we'll get mae to laugh at us than gie us ought: The Deil's +Tam an' the metre poet! the fat gospel friar, and the laird o' the +Peatstacknowe! I never gaed out on sic a foray as this afore, an' little +do I wot how we'll come on. He-he-he! A wheen queer chaps, faith!" + +The jocund kinsmen then shouted to Gibby Jordan of the Peatstacknowe to +come into the circle, that they might hear what he had to say about +going on this celebrated embassy. This gentleman's name had erst been +Gordon: By some mistake, either in spelling, or falling into some foul +tub by night, for some grounded it both ways, it had been changed on him +to Jordan, and, as he had no resource, he was obliged to admit it as +legitimate. He was a man of education, and could read, write, and cast +up accounts. But his figure, features, and the nasal twine with which he +pronounced every word that he spoke, rendered his discourse irresistibly +ludicrous. Every one was so ready to give Jordan the information, that +he was chosen as one to go on a deputation to Master Michael Scott the +warlock, that the laird for a long time could not get a word said; but +stood and looked about him, turning always round his long nose to the +speaker that was loudest, or him that was poking him most forcibly to +obtain attention. + +"Gentlemen," said Gibby Jordan, "you mind me of a story that I have +heard about a paddock that was lying on the plowed land, an' by comes +the harrows, an' they gangs out ower the tap o' the poor paddock, an' +every tooth gae her a tite an' a turn ower. 'What's the matter wi' you +the day, Mrs Paddock?' says the goodman: 'Naething ava, but rather ower +mony masters this morning,' quo' the paddock; 'I wish I were safe i' my +hole again, an' let them ring on.' Sae master's, I'll tak the paddock's +hint, an' wish ye a' a good morning." + +There was no such escape for the honest laird; they surrounded him, and +insisted on hearing his sentiments at full length, teasing him till he +began to lose his temper, a thing in which they delighted, for the more +mischief the better sport for these wild border moss-troopers. But +muckle Charlie perceiving this, came up to his side. "Callants, I'm +appointit Gibby's guard," said he, "an' his guard I'll be. What the deil +has ony o' you to say to him?" + +"Only to hear what he thinks o' the journey," was repeated on all sides. + +"Gentlemen," said Gibby, "the hale affair brings me a-mind of a story +that I hae heard about a wife that had a batch o' chickens. But then, ye +maun mind, gentlemen, she had a very great deal o' chickens, I daresay +nae fewer than a hunner, for she had sax great cleckings; an' she was +unco feared that the gled wad tak them away; sae she wales out a wheen +o' the fattest an' the best, an' she sends them out to the cock, that he +might herd an' tak care o' them. 'The cock will fleg away the gleds,' +quo she, 'an' gar them keep their distance, an' I'll get my braw birds +a' saved.' But by comes the greedy gled; an' when the cock saw him he +croups an' he currs; an' blithe to keep his ain skin hale, he staps his +head in a hole, an' the gled carried off the hale o' his bit charge. +Weel, the gled, he fand them sae fat an' sae gusty, that he never linned +till he had taen away every chicken that the wife had." + +"Where is the moral of that story, laird?" cried they: "We see no +coincidence." + +"Because ye're blind," said Jordan: "Dinna ye see that Michael's the +cock, the deil's the gled, an' ye're the birds. He'll get us first; an' +he'll find out that we're sic a wheen rare chaps, that he'll never blin' +till he hae ye ilk ane, an' that will be the end o' your daft embassy." + +All the rest of the nominated members being sent for expressly from +their different posts, they soon arrived, but they seemed every one to +be averse to the mission, except Colley the minstrel, who was elevated +with the idea of being introduced to the celebrated Master, anticipating +something highly romantic, and precisely in his own way. As for Thomas +Craik, better known by the singular appellation of the Deil's Tam, he +cared not much about any thing, provided he got plenty of drink, +mischief, and breaking of heads. + +They got all that day to prepare themselves, while Sir Ringan and his +friends were considering what they should send as a present to the +illustrious necromancer. They weened he despised riches, believing that +he could turn small slates to gold by touching them; and, after much +consultation, it was resolved to send him a captive maiden and boy, as +they had two in the camp, of exquisite loveliness. The maid was the +reputed daughter of Sir Anthony Hall, an inveterate enemy to the baron +of Mountcomyn, who had burned his castles and plundered his lands; but +the warden at length engaging with him hand to hand at the battle of +Blaikhope, slew him, and having discomfited his army, he plundered and +harried all that pertained to him, at which time he took this beautiful +maiden prisoner, whom he treated kindly, and kept as an handmaiden. Her +name was Delany; and so lovely was she become in person, and so amiable +in her manners, that several of the knight's kinsmen had asked her in +marriage. These applications he had uniformly put off, on pretence of +his friends degrading themselves by marrying a captive Englishwoman, a +term that never sounded in a Scot's ear but with disgust. But, in fact, +the warden did not choose that any of them should be so closely +connected with an old respectable Northumberland family. + +The boy was called Elias, and was the property of Jock o' Gilmanscleuch, +having been taken by him in a night foray at Rothbury. When the warden +applied to Jock for him, bidding him name his ransom, he answered, that +if he wist "Michael wad either mak a warlock o' him, or tak out his +harigalds to be a sacrifice to the deil, he wadna gie him up for a' the +lands o' Newburgh an' Birkendely." Being pacified on these points as +well as matters would bear, the two captives were dressed in elegant +robes, and delivered to the embassy; Charlie was deputed their captain +and leader; the rest were all to be equals, on the same footing, and to +choose their own speakers. + +After getting every direction regarding the purport of their mission, +the caution and respect which they were to use toward the Master, and +the questions they were to get answered, they departed; every one well +mounted on an English horse, the friar on his own substantial mule, and +such provision with them as they judged necessary. Carol, the bard, had +a lyre and a flute. Gibby Jordan, ycleped of the Peatstacknowe, had +nothing beside a rusty sword; the friar had an immense wallet below him, +judged to be all implements of enchantment; the others had deer or +goatskin wallets, stuffed with such things as they deemed necessary; and +all of them wore arms, in case of meeting with any unknown interruption. +Several of the gallant kinsmen shed tears on taking leave of Delany; +who, contrary to what they all expected, seemed full of gaiety, and +rather fond of the change than disheartened at it. + +Well, away they rode; and, as soon as they were fairly out of sight of +the army, every one began to attach himself to Delany more closely than +his neighbour. The friar talked to her of penances, and the sins of +youth, and the unlimited confidence due to the professors of religion. +The bard chanted his wildest and most amorous ditties. Tam punned and +quibbled on the words of the rest; and Gibby continued to narrate his +long-winded parables, sometimes to one, sometimes to another, as he +found them disposed to listen, and sometimes to none at all. As for +Charlie, he contented himself with laughing at them all alternately, and +occasionally exchanging a word or sentiment with a valued friend of his. + +"Corby, what's a' this cocking o' your lugs, an' casting up o' your head +for, lad? Ye're gaun the wrang road for a battle e'en now. An let you +but see the sword an' pree the spur, ye dog, ye wad carry your master to +the deil: an' troth, for ought he kens, ye may be carrying him born-head +to his honour just now, ye unconscionable tike that ye are." + +Corby first laid back one ear and then the other, which Charlie took +for a kind answer; and, patting his mane, he continued: "Na, na, Corby; +I ken ye hae nae ill designs; but only ye ken ye like a little mischief, +an' a bit splutter now an' than." + +"That minds me o' the story o' Janet Sandilands an' her son Jock," said +Gibby Jordan the philosopher, "when he ruggit her hair, an' raive her +bussing. 'That callant sude hae his hide threshed for lifting his hand +to his mother,' said one: 'Na, na,' quo Janet, 'he maunna be threshed; +Jock has nae ill in his mind, only he likes a tulzie.' She that wad hae +a close cog sude keep a hale laiggen, Yardbire; for as the auld saying +rins, 'Lippen to a Corby, an' he'll pike out your een.'" + +"Shame fa' me gin I see the drift o' your philosophy, Peatstacknowe; but +as I'm sure it is weel meant, it sanna be ill ta'en. Corby an' me's twa +auld friends, an' we hae a great deal to lippen to ane another. But I +wish we had this unsonsy job ower, laird--we're gaun on kittle ground." + +"It minds me something o' the fisher that ran away after the +Willy-an'-the-wisp," said Jordan: "It's a lang story, but it's weel +wordy the hearing." + +"If it be a _very_ lang story, we might as weel crack about something +else," said Charlie. "My heart's unco muckle turned on this daft job o' +prying into the time that's to come, an' on what we're to say to the +warlock. Gude saif us, laird, wha's to be the speaker? I wish that +fleysome job maunna light on you? For you see, gin we set the deil's Tam +to address him, he'll put him mad at the very first. The poet can bring +out naething but rhames o' high flown nonsense; an' for mysel, I'm an +unco plain matter-o'-fact man, an' better at good straiks than good +words. Sae that the matter maun lie atween you an' the friar. What say +you to this, Peatstacknowe?" + +"Gude troth, Yardbire, an the task light on either of us, it may weel +bring me in mind o' the laird o' Glencarthon, when he stack i' the +midden at Saint Johnston, an' tint himsel i' the dark entry. The laird, +you see, he comes to the door of a sow-house, an' calls out, 'Good +people within there, can you tell me the way to the Queen's hostlery?' +'Oogh?' cried the auld sow. The laird repeated his question quite +distinctly, which disturbing some o' the pigs, they came to the back o' +the door an' fell a murmuring an' squeaking. 'What do you say?' said the +laird in his turn: 'I'll thank you if you will not just speak so +vehemently.' The pigs went on. 'Oh, I hear you speak Erse in this +house,' said the laird; 'but, no matter: thank you for your information, +I will try to work my way.' Now you see, Yardbire, like draws aye to +like; an' for the friar, wi' his auld warld says, or me, to address the +great Master, it wad be a reversing o' nature an' the very order of +things. I hae nae hope o' our good success at a', an it warna for that +bonnie Delany. If he's a man, an' no just an incarnate deil, he will be +delightit wi' her." + +"I wish we had her safely at him, laird," said Charlie; "for, troth, do +ye see, thae chaps hing about her, an' look at her as gin they wadna +care to eat her." + +"She brings me amind o' a weelfaurd dink gimmer that wench," said +Jordan, "that I aince saw gaun up Sowerhopeburn. There was a tichel o' +wallidraggle tup hoggs rinning after her, an' plaguing her, till I was +just grieved for the poor beast. At length down there comes a +wheel-horned ram, the king o' the flock, an' he taks up his station by +the side o' the bonny thing, an' than a' the young ranigalds slinkit +away as their noses had been blooding. Then the bonny she thing got +peace, for whenever ony o' the rascallions began to jee up his lug, an' +draw near her, ae glent o' the auld fellow's ee stoppit him short. Now, +Yardbire, I trow it is a shame to see a pretty maid jaumphed an' +jur-mummled in that gate: if you will just ride close up to the tae side +o' her, I'll tak up the tither, an' we'll gar them keep a due distance. +There's nane o' them dares shoulder you aside." + +"I doubt, laird, there is something selfish in that plan o' yours," said +Charlie; "ye hae a hankering yonder yourself, but ye darena try to make +your ain way without ye get me to back ye. Fight dog, fight bane, +Peatstacknowe; gin I be to tulzie for a bonny may, I tulzie for my ain +hand." + +"It wad be sae weel done to chap them back," said Jordan: "See to the +metre poet how he's capering an' turning up his mou': Yon fat hypocrite, +the warlock friar, is blinking out frae aneath his sanctified ee-brees +like a Barbary ape: An' there's the deil's Tam; od I think he'll hae his +lang coulter nose stappit into her lug." + +"Ride up, neighbour," quoth Charlie, "an' tell them that face to face. I +like nae yethering ahint backs. Ane may ward a blow at the breast, but a +prod at the back's no fair. A man wears neither ee nor armour there. +Ride up, ride up, neighbour, gin you winna tell them a' you have said, +I'll e'en tell them mysel." + +"Yardbire, I hope ye're no gaen gyte, to breed despite amang the +warden's ambassadors to the deil. Stop till I tell you a queer joke +that's come into my mind by your speaking about armour ahint. Last year, +when the dalesmen were cried out in sic a hurry for the Durham raide, +there was ane o' Fairniehirst's troopers got strong breastplates o' +steel made to defend his heart. There was ane Brogg Paterson in Hawick, +a wag that I kenned weel, was employed to fit the harnessing to the +clothes; and learning that the raide was to be early in the morning, an' +nae leisure for shifting, an' seeing the trooper so intent on protecting +his heart, instead o' putting the steel plates in the inside o' his +doublet, Paterson fastened them in the seat of his trews. After passing +the Tine, the Scots encamped within a half moon of an impervious brake, +and sent out a party of foragers, among whom was this trooper Turnbull. +The party were pursued by a body of English horse, and several of them +slain; but Turnbull reaching the brake, plunged into it, horse and man. +The horse stuck fast, and just as poor Turnbull was trying to extricate +himself, by scrambling over the horse's head, an Englishman came riding +fiercely up, and struck him such a blow with his lance behind as would +have spitted him to the neck,--but hitting right on the steel plate, he +made him fly heels-o'er-head over the brake, and into a place of safety. +A comrade perceiving, came to assist him, and found Turnbull lying +on the ground, repeating to himself these words with the utmost +devotion:--"God bless Brogg Paterson in Hawick! God bless Brogg Paterson +in Hawick!" "Wherefore that?" said the other. "Because," said Turnbull, +"he kend better where my heart lay than I did." + +Charlie laughed so heartily at this jocular tale, that he did not expose +Gibby Jordan of the Peatstacknowe to his associates at that time; but +keeping behind with him he held him in conversation, though he saw that +his teeth were watering to be near the fair Delany. + +They came that night to a place called Trows, on the English side of the +border, but adjoining to the very ridge of the fells. The name of the +hind who sojourned there was Jock Robson. He had a good stock both of +cows and sheep, being so thoroughly a neutral man that both sides spared +him, and both sides trusted him. He gave a night's grass to the driven +cattle and sheep from each side, and a night's lodging to the drivers; +and for this he exacted kane sheep, or a small cow, which none ever +grudged him, because they found themselves so much at home in his house. +He would assist either party in catching a prey, and either party in +recovering it again, taking rewards from both; and, though both the +English and the Scots knew of this, they never trusted him the less, for +they knew that what he undertook he would fulfil, but no farther; out of +your sight, out of your pay and out of your service with Jock Robson. + +At this yeoman's habitation our notable embassy arrived at a late hour, +for, though scarcely five o'clock afternoon, it was pitch dark. They +called at the door, and out came Jock with a light. The first man that +he beheld was the friar. + +"Saint Mary's jerkin be about us!" cried Jock Robson, half in sport, +half in earnest, "and defend us from our auld black minny's delegates. +What seeks Lucky Church amang the hills o' Cheviot, wi' her creeds an' +her croons, her trumpery, an' her lang tythes o' sheep an' kye, wild +deer, and weathershaker, barndoor an' blackhag fowls? Nought for Minny +Church an' her bike here, Sir Monk--naething o' our ain breeding--a' +comers an' gangers, like John Nisbet's fat sheep. Howsomever, honest +bedesman, I speir ye the auld question, + + "Come ye as friend, or come ye as fae? + For sic as ye bring, sic sal ye hae!" + +"As thy friends do we come, uncourteous hind," said the monk; "and ask +only a little of thy bread, and thy strong drink, for the refreshment of +our bodies, that are like the grass on the tops of thy mountains, fading +ere it be full grown, and require as thou knowest a supply of earthly +refreshment as these do the showers of heaven; and also we ask of thee +beds whereon we may lie down and rest: and these things thou must not +refuse, for we would not that thou shouldst be to us as the children of +Amalek and Moab, and those of Mount Seir." + +"Ye speak like a rational man, Sir Monk; but wait till I tell ye the +truth, that I lurde see the cross on the handle of sword or spear ony +time afore that hanging at the paunch of priest. There's mair honour an' +generosity ahint the tane than the tither. But yet it shall never be +said o' John Robson o' the Trows that he refused a friend quarters on a +dark night. He kens ower weel that the king may come in the beggar's +way. Gin ye be joking, he can stand a joke wi' ony man; but gin ye be +really gaun to hand him as an Amalekite, he wad like to ken what that +is, an' what lengths ye mean to gang." + +"Thinkest thou that we will come into thy house to take of thy spoil for +a prey, and thy maid servants for bond-women, and also thy little ones?" +said the friar. + +"The deil be there then," cried Jock Robson. "I wadna grudge ye meal an' +maut, but or ye lay a hand on ane o' my lasses, or kidnap away my bits +o' bairnies frae me, ye sal gang ower my breast, an' that wi' a braid +arrow through ilk ane o' you. Be at your shift, bauld priest, here's for +ye." + +On saying so, he turned hastily about, and the friar that moment +clapping the spurs to his mule, gallopped round the corner, leaving the +rest to make good their quarters in the best way they could. The mention +of the broad arrow made him think it was high time for him to change his +ground. + +"There rides gospel, guts an' a'," cried Tam Craik, laughing aloud. + +The laugh was well known to Robson; for the warden's troopers had been +so often there that year, that almost all of them were John Robson's +personal acquaintances. + +"What?" cried he, turning back his head, "Isna that the deil's Tam that +I hear?" + +"Ay, what for shoudna it, lad? an' how dare ye fright away our chaplain +wi' your bows an' your braid arrows? Gin we had Jock's Marion, the +sow-killer's wife o' Jeddart, at ye, wha wad be crousest then, trow ye?" + +"Tam, it is weel kend your tongue is nae scandal; but dinna ye lippen +ower muckle to your privilege; gin ye be come to quarter wi' me, dinna +let me hear sic a hard jibe as that the night again. Come away, however, +the warden's men are welcome, as weel they may be this year. Mony a fat +mart they hae left i' my hire. I hope ye hae brought a bonny kane the +night." + +"Ay, by my certie, lad, an' that we hae; here's nae less a kane than +Jock's Marion hersel." + +"Ye scawed like bog-stalker! skrinkit, skraeshankit skebeld! dare ye to +speak that gate to me at my ain door stane? I shall lend you a clout an +ye were the king's cousin, an' see if ye dare return the compliment. +Wife, bring the buet an' my piked rung here." + +"Peace, in the king's name!" cried Charlie Scott. + +"And in the name of St David!" cried the friar, returning to the charge +on hearing Charlie's voice. + +"And in my name!" cried Tam Craik;" an' Gibby Jordan o' the +Peatstacknowe's name; and the name o' Jock's Marion, the sow-sticker's +wife o' Jeddart. I say unto thee, look here. Here is the kane will +please a brave yeoman. Look if this be nae Marion hersel"--and with that +he led Delany's palfrey up to the light. + +Robson lifted his eyes and saw her, and was so much struck with her +dazzling beauty, that he had not power to address even his beloved +friend Charlie Scott, far less any other of his guests, but lifting the +maiden down in his arms, he led her in to his dame, and said to one of +his lads, "Rin out wi' a light, callant, an' help the troopers to put up +their horses." + +The horses were soon put up, for every one seemed more anxious than +another to get first in to the cheek of Jock Robson's ingle, and have +his seat placed next to that of Delany; but the poet being the most +agile, and not the least amorous of the group, effected this greatly to +his satisfaction. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + The youngest turned him in a path, + And drew a buirdly brande, + And fifteen of the foremost slewe, + Till back the lave couthe stande. + + Then he spurred the grey unto the path, + Till baith her sides they bledde; + "Now, grey, if thou carry nae me away + My life it lies in wedde." + + _Ballad of Auld Maitland._ + + +We must pass over a great part of the conversation that evening, in +order to get forward to the more momentous part of the history of our +embassy. Suffice it to say, that the poet was in high glory, and not +only delivered himself in pure iambics, but sung several love ditties, +and one song of a foray, that pleased Charlie Scott mightily. But Isaac, +the curate, has only given a fragment of it, which runs thus: + + If you will meet me on the Dirdam waste, + Merry man mint to follow; + I'll start you the deer, and lead you the chace, + With a whoop, and a whoo, and a hollo! + The deer that you'll see, has horns enow, &c. + Marked wi' red and merled wi' blue, &c. + And that deer he will not turn his tail + For the stoutest hinds that range the dale. + Come then, driver, in gear bedight; + Come bold yeoman, and squire, and knight; + The wind soughs loud on craig and heuch, + And the linn rowts loud in the Crookside cleuch; + Nor tramp of steed, nor jingle of spear, + Will ever be heard by the southern deer: + The streamer is out, and the moon away, + And the morning starn will rise or day. + Then mount to the stirrup, and scour the fell, + Merry man mint to follow; + And over the muir, and the dean, and the dell, + With a whoop, and a whoo, and a hollo! + + * * * * * * * * * * + + +"Thy words and thy song, young man," said the friar, "are like sounding +brass and a tinkling cymbal; if laid in the balance, they are lighter +than vanity." + +"Yours will not prove so," said the poet, "provided you are laid in with +them; for, as the old song says,-- + + 'His wit is but weak, father; + His gifts they are but sma'; + But the bouk that's under his breast bane, + It grieves me warst of a.'" + +"If thou singest this nonsense of me," said the friar, "lo, I will +smite thee upon the mouth; yea, upon the cheek-bone will I smite thee, +till thine eyes shall gush out like two fountains of waters." And so +saying, he began to look about him for some missile weapon to throw at +the bard's face, his breast burning with indignation,--for he loved not +the tenor of the poet's conversation to the maid. + +Tam and Jordan encouraged the friar to make the assault, in hopes that +the poet might be dislodged or affronted; but Yardbire restrained the +warmth of the friar, not being aware of his real sentiments, and ordered +peace and good fellowship. + +Dame Robson covered the hearth with a huge fire; and her husband +bringing in a leg of beef, set it upon the table, and bade every one +help himself. + +"The words of thy mouth are exceeding good, and sweet unto the ear," +said the friar, "as doubtless thy food is to the taste." With that he +rose and helped himself to three nice and extensive slices of raw beef, +and these he roasted on the tongs which he had just lifted to smite the +poet on the head. + +In good truth, though every one cooked his own supper, as was the +fashion of that iron time, there was none did it half so nicely as the +friar, nor so bunglingly as Jordan, whose supper, though long behind the +others in being ready, was so unshapely a piece, and so raw on the one +side, that the friar observed, "it was like Ephraim of old, as a cake +unturned." Some roasted their meat on old swords, some on spindles, for +their hosts took no heed how they were fitted, or in what manner they +shifted in these respects; seemingly satisfied that they had plenty for +the cooking, and leaving them to cook it or eat it raw, as they chose. +The poet made haste, and, first of all, cooked two or three nice slices +for the maiden, giving her what she would take before he would taste a +morsel himself. Some commended him for this, and others jeered him; +but the friar, in his grave moral style, said the severest things +of all. From the very commencement of the journey, a jealousy or +misunderstanding began to subsist between these two, which never again +subsided till they came to blows. + +The poet answered him again with a song: + + "Keep ye to your books and your beads, goodman, + Your Ave Marias and creeds, goodman; + For gin ye end as ye're begun, + There will be some crack of your deeds, goodman." + +At length the party retired to rest, all save Jordan and their worthy +host. The latter never slept in the night; he had always some watching, +walking, or work in hand that suited that season best: and as for Gibby, +he determined to sit up all night to watch that the poet made no +encroachments on the place of Delany's repose. Robson encouraged his +purpose, joined him heartily in conversation, listened to his +long-winded stories with apparent delight, and, when all the rest were +asleep, wormed the whole business of the embassy out of the shallow +laird, who unfortunately testified his fears that they were carrying the +lovely maiden and boy to the old warlock to be a sacrifice to the devil. +Robson appeared terribly confounded at this peace of intelligence,--for +from the time that he heard it he conversed no more with Jordan. About +one in the morning he began to put on his snow-boots, as if preparing +for a journey. + +"Where are ye going at this time of night?" enquired the laird. + +"I maun gang out an' see how the night wears," said Robson; "I hae sax +score o' Scots queys that are outlyers. If I let the king's ellwand ower +the hill, I'll hae them to seek frae the kips o' Kale." + +Gibby accompanied him to the door, hoping the king's ellwand would not +be over the hill, for he had no good will to part with his companion. +But as soon as Robson turned his eye to the sky, "Ha, gude faith, I maun +post away!" said he, "Yonder's the king's ellwand already begun to bore +the hill; ay, there's ane o' the goud knobs out o' sight already, an' I +hear the queys rowting ower the waterfa' o' the height. Gude morrow +t'ye, laird, I'm ower lang here." + +Gibby returned in to the blazing fire; and hearing so many persons all +snoring in sleep, he caught the infection, stretched himself upon a +divot seat, and joined the chorus with as much zeal as any of them. + +Morning came, and our embassy made ready for proceeding on their +journey; but Robson still was wanting, at which both his dame and +household lads seemed to wonder, otherwise the rest would have taken no +notice of it. Gibby told her about the queys that were outlyers, but she +only answered him with a hem! and a slight shake of the head. Charlie, +who knew his man well, began to smell a rat; and, calling Gibby to the +door, he inquired if he had hinted ought of their business to their +host. The laird at first denied; but Charlie questioned him till he +confessed the whole, at which Charlie was exceedingly angry; and hearing +that he had informed him all about the maiden, and of what family she +was sprung, he called Gibby a worthless inconsiderate being, and said he +had ruined their expedition, for that he knew Robson kept up a +correspondence with the Halls, who were broken men, and many of them +skulking about the border; that Delany had uncles, cousins, and a +brother living, if she was the man's daughter she was supposed to be, +and that these would without fail waylay them, and kill them every man, +for the sake of rescuing her. "Robson," said he, "is altogether selfish, +and has some end to serve; perhaps to get the maid into his own hands, +for he seemed mightily taken with her beauty; and I calculate widely +amiss if we are not watched from this house, and whether we return or +proceed we shall be attacked in the first strait or lonely place that we +come at." Jordan looked exceedingly out of countenance, and every +feature of his face altered. "What had I ado to tell the rascal?" +exclaimed he, "or wha wad hae thought o' him playing us sic a trick? +Twa-faced dog that he is! It wad be weel done to let his liver pree the +taste o' steel!" + +Charlie made him promise that he would not mention the circumstance to +one of the party, as it was only a surmise, and might impede their +progress to no purpose; and forthwith they mounted, armed with such +armour as they had, and all, save Gibby Jordan, as cheerful and as +jealous of one another as they were on the preceding day. That worthy +kept close by the side of muckle Charlie, and looked so sharp about him, +that he perceived every shepherd, traveller, and cairn that appeared on +the border fells, always testifying his alarm to his friend that perhaps +yon was one of the Halls watching. + +Charlie had resolved to go by Jedburgh straight for Oakwood castle; but +his suspicions of Robson made him resolve to hold more to the eastward, +in order to keep the open road. He knew that if they were watching him, +it would be at the fords of Kale or Oxnam, on the Jedburgh road; and by +taking the east path, he would not only elude them, but, in case of a +pursuit, be near the outposts of the Scottish army. + +For a good way they saw nothing, and began to think themselves in +safety; but, in coming down Sowerhope-Middle, a little from the point of +the debated land, three horsemen appeared to the westward of them. "His +presence be about us," said Gibby,--"yonder _are_ the Halls now!" +Charlie said nothing, but kept watch. One of the yeomen vanished in a +twinkling at full speed, the other two came at a brisk canter to our +notable embassy. + +"What do they mean?" said Jordan: "Do these two fellows propose to +conquer us all?" + +"It wad appear that they do," said Charlie, "for they come on us without +halt or hesitation." + +"I hardly think they'll succeed," added Gibby, "although they're twa +dangerous looking chaps. For Godsake, Yardbire, tak care o' their back +strokes; if they bring you down, our chance will be the waur." + +Charlie then called to the rest of his cavalcade, "Friends, here are +some strangers come to join us. Tell them nothing either good or bad, +but keep on at a round trot. See, we are not far from the towers of +Roxburgh. Whatever these men may say to you, make them nothing the +wiser." + +"I will not so much as say unto them, whence comest thou, or whither art +thou going?" said the friar. + + "I'll sing them a ditty of beauty and love, + Of the wing of the raven, the eye of the dove, + And beings all purer than angels above." + +said the poet. + +"Sic a rhame o' nonsense is there!" said Tam Craik: "If ony o' the dogs +say an impertinent thing to me I'll gar his teeth gang down his throat +like bristled beans." + +It was not long before the two moss-troopers joined the party. They were +tall athletic men, armed at all points, and their manner had a dash of +insulting impertinence in it. + +"A good morning, and fair grace to you, noble and worthy gentlemen!" +said the foremost: "May we presume to be of the party?" + +"You may _presume_," said the deil's Tam, "for that is what befits you; +if you are willing to put up with the presumer's reward." + +"You are witty, sir, I suppose," said the trooper; "and pray what may +that reward be?" + +"Yes, I am witty," said Tam; "and my wit is sharp when it is not in its +sheath. Do you understand me? As for the reward of presumption, it is in +Scotland to be crankit before and kicked behind." + +"The road is at least as free to us as it is to you," said the +mosstrooper; "and of that we intend to avail ourselves for the present. +We go to join the army before Roxburgh, whither are you bound?" + +"We follow our noses," said Tam; "but they guide us not to the army +before Roxburgh, and into your rearward they caution us not to enter. +Raw hides and rank bacon, keep your distance." + +While Tam Craik and the trooper were thus jangling on before, Charlie +said to Jordan, "Laird, what do think o' yoursel' now? Ye hae played us +a fine pliskie wi' your ill tackit tongue! It is my thought that ere we +ride a mile and a half we'll be attacked by a hale troop o' horse. That +chap that disna speak is ane o' the wale o' the Ha's: I ken him weel for +a' his half visor. The other horseman that left them on the height is +ower to the fords of Kale, and, if I guess right, he'll appear at yon +scroggy bush wi' sae mony at his back that we wad hardly be a mouthfu' +to them, an' that in less time than ane wad gang a mile." + +"It is an ill business this," said Gibby: "It brings me in mind o'--o' +mair than I's name. But, gudesake, Yardbire, an ye be sure he is ane o' +the Halls, what for do nae ye rin your sword in at the tae side o' him +an' out at the tither? The sooner a knave like that is put down the +better." + +"Fair occasion, an' face to face, Peatstacknowe, an' ye sanna see +Charlie Scott slack; but ye wadna hae me stick a man, or cleave him down +ahint his back, an' that without fair warning and fair arming?" + +"Ay, honour an' generosity are braw things, but life's a brawer thing +an' a better thing than ony o' the twa. For my part, I wad never stop. +My very heart flighters when I look at him, an' I amaist think I find +his steel quivering at my midriff. I wish I had a drive at him, wi' a +chance o' a hale head."--And from that time Gibby leaned himself forward +on his saddle, and fixed his large grey eyes on the mosstrooper like a +pointer going to fly on his game; and, in that attitude, he rode +several times close up to his side, or very nearly opposite to him, +laying his hand now and then on his hilt; but Charlie observed that he +never looked his foe in the face with threatening aspect, and, perplexed +as he was, could not help laughing at Gibby. + +Yardbire now putting the spurs to Corby, galloped aslant the brae to a +rising ground, whence he could see if any enemy was approaching by the +swire from the fords of Kale, as he suspected. He had not well gained +the height before he saw a dozen horsemen coming at the light gallop, +but one part of the cavalcade considerably behind the others, owing to +their being either worse mounted or worse horsemen. + +By this time Charlie's own friends were coming round the bottom of the +hill below him, quarrelling with the strangers so loudly, that Charlie +heard their voices ascending on the gale in most discordant notes. The +deil's Tam and the English trooper had never since their meeting ceased +the jibe and the keen retort; but Tam's words were so provokingly +severe, that the moss-man was driven beyond all further forbearance. +Just when they were at the hottest, the helmets of the front men of the +Northumberland cavalcade began to appear in the swire; a circumstance +that was well noted by their offended kinsman, but of which Tam was +perfectly unconscious. + +"Well, now, thou jaundiced looking thief," said the moss-trooper, +turning his horse's head towards Tam's left hand, and making him amble +and curvette with his side foremost; "thou lean, nerveless, and +soul-less jabberer, all tongue and nothing else--I say, what hast thou +to say more?" + +The alteration in the man's key of voice somewhat astounded Tam; but his +perverse nature would not let him soften his reply, although he liked as +well to see others fall into a mischief as himself. "Eh? what do I say?" +said he; and with that he turned his horse's head to that of the other, +making their two noses to meet; and caricaturing the Englishman's +capers, he laughed sneeringly and triumphantly in his face. "What do I +say? Eh? what do I say? I say I thought I heard wind, and smelled it a +wee too. Hagg-hiding fox that thou art! Wild tike of the moors, dost +thou think Tam Craik fears thy prancing and thy carrion breath, or ony +o' the bur-throated litter of which thou art the outwale? Nay, an +capering and prancing show ought of a spirit, I can caper and prance +as well as thou. Out on thee, thou bog-thumper, thou base-born +heather-blooter, what do _you_ say? Or what _dare_ you say?" + +Tam had by this time drawn his sword completely to cow the Englishman, +and put him to silence;--but he saw what Tam did not see, and knew more +than he. + +"I dare both say and do, and that thou shalt find," said the trooper; +and forthwith he attacked Tam with all his prowess, who, not quite +expecting such a thing gave way, and had very nearly been unhorsed; he, +however, fought stoutly, defending himself, though manifestly at the +disadvantage. The brave friar, at the first clash of the swords, wheeled +about his mule, and drawing out a good sword from under his frock, (for +he wore the sword on the one side and the cross on the other,) he +stretched it forth, pointing it as if to thrust it between them. But, +addressing himself to the Englishman, he cried with a loud voice, "Put +up _thy_ sword again into its place, or verily I will smite thee with +the edge of _my_ sword." + +The other Englishman, who had never yet opened his mouth, and who had +always kept apart, as if anxious to conceal who he was, now rode briskly +up to the fray; and perceiving the quick approach of his friends, +and judging his party quite secure of victory, he struck up the +friar's sword in apparent derision. But the inveterate laird of the +Peatstacknowe had been watching him all this time, as one colley dog +watches another of which he is afraid, in order to take him at an +advantage, and the moment that his arm was stretched, so that his sword +came in contact with the friar's, Gibby struck him behind, and that with +such violence that the sword ran through his body. The wounded trooper +reined up his steed furiously, in order to turn on his adversary; Gibby +reined his up as quickly to make his escape, but the convulsive force of +the Englishman threw his horse over, and in its fall it tumbled against +the legs of Gibby's horse with such force that it struck them all four +from under him, and both he and his rider fell in a reverse direction, +rolling plump over the wounded warrior and his forlorn encumbered steed, +that was pawing the air at a furious rate. The two horses falling thus +on different sides, their iron-shod hoofs were inter-mixed, and clashing +and rattling away in a tremendous manner, tremendous at least to poor +Gibby, whose leg and thigh being below his charger, he was unable to +extricate himself. "Happ, Davie, happ!" cried he to the steed: "Up you +stupid, awkward floundering thief! Happ, Davie, happ!" Davie could +neither happ nor weynd, but there he lay groaning and kicking above his +master, who was in a most deplorable plight. + +Charlie perceiving the commencement of the fray, was all this while +galloping furiously toward the combatants. But the battle was of short +duration; for the English trooper, seeing his comrade fall he wist not +how, and the friar and Tam having both their swords pointed at him, +broke furiously through between them and fled towards his companions, +Tam being only enabled to inflict a deep wound on the hinder part of the +horse as he passed by. + +"I have made him to pass away as the stubble that is driven by the +whirlwind," said the friar; "yea, as the chaff before the great wind, so +is he fled from the arm of the mighty. Brother, I say unto thee, that +thou hadst better arise!" continued he, looking upon the disconsolate +Jordan; and passing by on the other side with great _ang froid_, he rode +up to Delany, the boy Elias, and the poet, the latter of whom had not +been engaged, but, drawing his sword manfully, had stood as a guard to +the other two. + +Tam Craik pursued his enemy, although apparently not with a fixed design +of overtaking him; and Gibby, being thus left all alone with the two +inverted horses and the incensed moss-trooper, extended his voice to an +amazing pitch, for he knew not what state of health and strength his +opponent retained. This was a horrid consideration; for if he should +disengage himself and get up first, there was an end of him of the +Peatstacknowe. His nasal twine was increased by his dread, and he cried +so vehemently, that his cries grew like the cries of a peacock. + +Charlie Scott rode up to the main group, who continued to advance at a +quiet pace, for they knew nothing as yet of the approaching danger. He +also called and made signs to Tam Craik to return; and as soon as he +came up to them he pointed out their pursuers, and charged them to ride +for their lives. "We are betrayed," said he; but the horses of our +enemies are jaded, ours are fresh; therefore, brave lads, in our +master's name, spare neither spur, nor horse-flesh. Haud on your way, +an' never look ower your shoulders: you will find Corby an' me twa gude +back friends." + +The friar bent himself forward over the mane of his mule, and opening +his eyes wide abroad, he put the spurs to his steed, and set off "with +the swiftness of the roe-buck or the hart," as he termed it. + +The boy pursued hard after him; and the bard, taking hold of Delany's +bridle by both reins below the neck, for fear her steed should stumble +and throw his lovely rider, bade her whip on and fear nothing, and in +this friendly guise they also made good speed. Charlie then galloped +back to see if any life remained in his friend Gibby,--for he only saw +him at a distance go down in the encounter, without being exactly versed +in the circumstances of his overthrow; but he thought he heard one loud +squeak arise from the field after the rest had left it, something like +that sent forth by the small drone of the bagpipe; and, guessing that +the laird was yet alive, he galloped back to see. By the way he met the +deil's Tam, who returned with him, and when they came in view of the +spot where the two prostrate heroes had been left, they saw a very +curious scene, the more curious because it was transacted by our worthy +laird in the presiding belief that he was not seen, for he was too much +concerned in his own affairs to perceive the approach of his friends. +The Englishman's horse making an exertion, by pressing his feet against +the ribs of the laird's Davie, by that means pushed himself forward, and +Gibby perceived plainly that his enemy was to be first released. The +struggles that Gibby then made were enormous. "Happ, Davie, happ!" cried +he: "O mother of God, what shall become of me! Happ, Davie, happ, my +man; happ, happ, happ!" and, as a last resource, he reared up his body +and struck at the Englishman's limb that was above his horse, crying out +to Davie to happ, in bitterness of soul. Davie was not long; for the +next moment after the Englishman's horse rose, he got up also, his feet +then getting to the ground; but the stirrup that had been under him was +crushed together, and there his master's foot remained fixed. Gibby was +worse than ever. "Wo, Davie, wo! Tproo, ye thief!" cried he. Davie, +finding the weight at his side, wheeled about, and dragged the +unfortunate laird round across the breast of the trooper Hall, who +seized him by the neck. "Was there ever a man guidit this gate!" cried +Gibby. "Honest man, an ye please, let gae; it wasna me that hurt ye." +The man answered him not; but Davie being scared by the struggle sprung +aside, and the Englishman keeping his hold, Gilbert's foot was released +by the loss of his boot. He was not long in making a bold effort to +rise, and though Hall hung by his neck a little, it had been in the last +agony of receding life that he had seized him, and he dropped dead on +the green, having both fists clenched on his breast, in the act of still +holding his rival. + +When Gibby saw how matters stood, he began to value himself on his +courage. "I's gar ye! I's gar ye!" cried he, lifting up his sword, and +giving the dead man several desperate gashes, and always between every +stroke repeating, "H'm! I's gar ye!" His two friends being now hard +beside him, the sound of their horses' feet made him start; but lifting +his eye, and perceiving who they were, he again repeated his blows, and +continued his threats in a louder key.--"H'm! I's gar ye! I's gar ye, +billy! I's learn you to throttle me!" + +"Fy, lay on, laird!" cried Tam; "dinna ye see that the man's no half +dead yet?" + +"I think I hae done for him;" said Gibby: "He brings me a-mind o' a wife +that had to kill her cat thrice ower. I's learn the best o' the +haggies-headed Ha's to meddle wi' me!" + +"I think he'll do that ane, however, Gibby; if he had e'en the nine +lives o' the wife's cat," said Charlie: "therefore, an ye please, put up +your sword, an' mount your horse. It's no a time now to examine whether +ye hae behaved in a sodger-like manner wi' that bold trooper. If I +wist ye had not, it should be the last hour I should ride in your +company--but mount quick an' ride; for see whar the rest o' the Ha's are +coming across us. Ilk horse an' man do what he can, or dear will be our +raide, an' yours, friend, the dearest of a'." + +One look filled Gilbert's eye. He mounted Davie, with the one boot off +and the other on, and there was little occasion to bid him ride. Before +they turned the corner of the hill, their pursuers came so close on +them, that they looked very like cutting off their retreat; but a bog, +around which the English were forced to cast a wide circuit, saved our +three heroes, and gave them the start, by fully a half mile, of their +foes, who still came in a straggling way as their horses could keep up. +After a hard chace of two Scottish miles they came up with the friar, +whose mule being too heavy loaden had begun to fag. When he saw them +gaining on him so hard, he judged that all was over with him, and +spurred on his jaded beast in vain. "O that my flesh were as my armour +or my clothing," cried he, "that I might put it off at will, and escape +from the face of mine enemies. Lo! I shall be left all alone, and +surrounded and taken and slain." As he divined, so it fell out; the +others were soon by him, and he was left the hindermost. Then they heard +him lamenting to himself in his own sublime eastern stile, that he had +not the wings of the eagle or the dove, that he might bear away to the +mountains and the cliffs of the rocky hills, to elude the dreadful +weapons of death, so often reared over his head, and so often warded by +the arm of heaven. + +"Poor devil!" said muckle Charlie, the tear standing in his eye; "Od I +canna leave him after a'. Come what will, I for ane shall stand or fa' +wi' him. I whiles think there's mair in that body than we moorland men +wot of,--I canna leave him to be cut in pieces." + +"O fy, let him tak his chance," said Tam; "let him bide his weird; he +deserves it a'. What signifies the creature? He's just a thing made up +o' hypocritical rant, empty words, and stuffed paunches. Let him bide +the buffet that fa's to his share." + +"Ay, what signifies sic a corpulation?" said Jordan. "It will be lang or +_he_ bring down man an' horse in an encounter. He brings me in mind o' a +capon that claps his wings, but craws nane. Let him tak his chance." + +"Na, but callans, troth my heart winna let me," said Charlie: "For his +good deeds, or his ill anes he's answerable to heaven, an' neither to +you nor me. But he's a fellow creature, an' has nane to look to for help +but us at this time. Life's sweet to us a', an' it's unco hard to leave +our master's bedesman just to be sacrificed. Therefore, come what will, +I'll turn an' lend the friar a hand. As for you twa, ride on; the young +couple that are committed to our charge may escape." With that he +wheeled Corby's head about, and rode back to meet the gospel friar. + +When he met him, the foremost of the riders had advanced within a bow +shot, and was fast gaining ground. The friar still continued to spur on, +and though his mule likewise continued the motion of one that gallops, +the progress that he made was hardly discernible. He had a sort of up +and down hobble that was right laughable to behold in one riding for his +life. When he saw the dauntless Yardbire return to meet him, with his +large seven feet sword drawn, and heaved over his right shoulder, he +lifted up his voice and wept, and he said unto him;--"Blessed be thou, +my son! The blessing of a man ready to perish light upon thee! And now, +lo, I will draw forth my sword and return with thee to the charge, and +thou shalt see what a poor bedesman can do." + +"It is brawly said, good friar,--but gin ye wad save yoursel' an' me, +ride. An we could but mak the end o' the Thief-gate, they should buy our +twa lives dear. If thou wilt but exert man an' beast, father, you an' I +shall fight, flee, or fa' thegither. But see, we are already overtaken, +and in the enemy's hands." + +The foremost of the riders was now hard behind them; but, perceiving +Charlie, he reined up his horse and looked back for his comrades. The +friar gave a glance back, and he said, "Lo, thou art a mighty man of +valour, and behold there is but one; do thou fall upon him and smite +him; why should one pursue two?" + +"I hae heard waur advices frae mair warlike men," said Charlie; "Ride +ye on, father, an' lose nae time. Gude faith! I sal gie this ane his +breakfast." + +Charlie as he said this put the spurs to Corby, and rode full speed +against the pursuer. The trooper set himself firm in his stirrups and +assumed his defence, for he saw from the prowess of Corby that it was +vain to fly. Just as Charlie's mighty sword was descending on his +casque, a check that he gave his horse in the hurry of the moment made +him rear on end, and Charlie's stroke coming down between his ears, +clove his head almost into two halves. The horse reeled and fell; but +how it fared with his rider, Charlie never knew; for before he got his +horse turned, there were other three of the Halls close at hand. Charlie +fled amain. He was nothing afraid of himself, for he knew Corby could +outstrip them by one half of the way; but his heart bled for the poor +friar, whom he saw he would either be obliged to leave, or fight for him +against such odds as it would be madness to withstand. The friar had, +however gained the height, and having now a long sloping descent all the +way to the Thief-gate-end, he was posting on at an improved pace. +Charlie had one sole hope remaining of saving the friar, and that was +the gaining the above-mentioned point before they were overtaken. The +warriors carried no whips in those days, depending altogether on the +ample spur,--therefore Charlie, as a last resource, pulled down a large +branch from a hazel tree, and attacked the hinder parts of the father's +mule with such a torrent of high-sounding strokes, that the animal, +perhaps more sullen than exhausted, seemed to recover new life and +vigour, and fled from the assault like a deer, in the utmost terror and +dismay. Little wonder was it! He heard the sound of every descending +stroke coming on like the gathering tempest; and, clapping his tail +close down between his hips, pricking up his long ears, and looking back +first with the one eye and then with the other, he went at such a rate +that Corby could do little more than keep up with him. + +"My swiftness is greater than I can bear," cried the friar, pronouncing +the sentence all in syllables for want of breath; "verily I shall fall +among the cliffs of the rocks by the side of the highway." + +His danger increased with his fears; for the mule perceiving that +exertion availed not, and that there was no escaping from the fierceness +of his pursuer's wrath, began to throw up his heels violently at every +stroke, nevertheless continuing to exert himself between these +evolutions. The friar's riding-gear began to get into disorder, and with +great difficulty he retained his seat; therefore he cried out with a +loud voice, "I pray of thee, my son, to desist, for it is better for me +to perish by an enemy's hand than thine; seest thou not my confusion and +despair--verily I shall be dashed in pieces against the stones." + +The friar saw nought of Charlie's intent, else he would not have +besought him so earnestly to desist. The Thief-gate-end was now hard at +hand. It is still well known as a long narrow path alongst the verge of +a precipice, and all the bank above it was then a thicket of brushwood +and gorse, so close that the wild beast of the desart could not pass +through it. It was, moreover, shagged with rocks, and bedded with small +stones, and the path itself was so narrow, that two horsemen could +scarcely ride abreast. By such a strenuous manoeuvre on the parts of +Charlie and the mule, the two flyers got into this path, without having +lost any ground of their pursuers. When Charlie saw this, he began to +breathe more freely, and, flinging away his hazel branch, he again +seized his mighty weapon in his right hand. + +"Let the chields come as close on us now, an they dare," said he. + +The mule still continued to eye him with a great deal of jealousy, and +perceiving the brandish that he gave his long sword when he said this, +he set off again full speed; so that it was a good while before the +friar got time to reply. As soon as he got leisure to speak, he opened +his mouth and said,--"My son, wilt thou lift up thine arm against a +multitude? or canst thou contend with the torrent of the mighty +waters?" + +"Well, well, they may perhaps lead that winna drive," said Charlie; and +he went by the friar at a light gallop, leaving him behind, who prayed +to the other not to leave him nor forsake him; but it was a device of +Yardbire's, and a well conceived one. He saw that as long as he kept the +rear guard, and rode behind the friar, the men that pursued them would +not separate on that long narrow path; therefore he vanished among the +bushes, keeping, however, always within hearing of the mule's feet. +Accordingly, at the first turn of the road, the foremost of the English +troopers, seeing the jolly bedesman posting away by himself, put the +spurs to his steed, and made a furious dash at him. The friar cried out +with a loud voice; and, seeing that he would be overtaken, he turned +round and drew his sword to stand on the defensive; and actually not +only bore the first charge of his opponent with considerable firmness, +but had "very nigh smitten him between the joints of the harness," as he +termed it. It happened, moreover, very singularly, from the perversity +of the mule, that in the charge the combatants changed sides, at the +imminent peril of the Englishman; for the mule brushed by his horse with +such violence, and leaned so sore to the one side, that both the horse +and his rider were within an inch of the verge of the precipice. + +The friar had no sooner made his way by, than he saw another rider +coming like lightning to meet him in the face; but at the same time he +heard the voice of Charlie Scott behind him, and the rending crash of +his weapon. This cheered the drooping spirits of the brave friar, who +had been on the very point of crying for quarter. "They beset me before +and behind," cried he, "yet shall my hand be avenged. Come on, thou +froward and perverse one." So saying he assumed his guard, and met his +foe face to face, seeing he had no alternative. The Englishman drew a +stroke, but got not time to lay it on; for just as the mule and his tall +horse met, the former, in the bitterness of his ire, rushed between his +opponent and the upper bank, and pressed against his fore counters with +such energy, that he made the leg next him to slacken, and the horse +reared from the other. The intention of the irritated mule was to crush +his master's leg, or, if possible, to rub him from off his back; and +therefore, in spite of the rein he closed with the Englishman's tall +steed in a moment, and almost as swift as lightning. The English +moss-trooper had raised his arm to strike, but seeing his horse shoved +and rearing in that perilous place, he seized the rein with his sword +hand. The mule finding the substance to which he leaned give way, +pressed to it the harder. It was all one to him whether it had been a +tree, a horse, or a rock; he shouldered against it with his side +foremost so strenuously, that in spite of all the trooper could do, the +fore feet of his horse on rearing, alighted within the verge of the +precipice. The noble animal made a spring from his hinder legs, in order +to leap by the obstreperous mongrel; but the latter still coming the +closer, instead of springing by he leaped into the open void, aiming at +the branches of an oak that grew in a horizontal direction from the +cliff. It was an old and stubborn tree, the child of a thousand years; +and when the horse and his rider fell upon its hoary branches, it +yielded far to the weight. But its roots being entwined in the rifted +rock as far as the stomach of the mountain, it sprung upward again with +a prodigious force to regain its primitive position, and tossed the +intruding weight afar into the unfathomed deep. Horse and rider went +down in a rolling motion till they lessened to the eye, and fell on the +rocks and water below with such a shock, that the clash sounded among +the echoes of the linn like the first burst of the artillery of heaven, +or the roar of an earthquake from the depths of the earth. + +Charlie Scott gazed on the scene with horror; every feature of his +countenance was changed, and every hair on his great burly head stood on +end. He gave a look to heaven, crossed himself, and said a short prayer, +if a prayer it may be called that consisted only of four syllables. It +consisted merely in the pronunciation of a name, too sacred to be set +down in an idle tale; but he pronounced it with an emphasis that made +it doubly affecting. The friar, on the contrary, astonished at his own +prowess, or rather at that of his mule, beheld the scene with wonder, it +is true, but also with a shade of ostentation. "I have overthrown the +horse and his rider," said he, "and they are sunk down as a stone into +the mighty waters." Corby manifested the fright that he was in, by loud +and reiterated snortings; the mule also was astonied, and, that he might +witness the horrific scene in more perfection, he kept his tail close to +the precipice, and looked back. + +"Now, by my honour as a man and a warrior, father," said Charlie, "you +are a man amang ten thousand. I never knew of a bedesman who behaved so +gallantly, nor have I seen a knight behave better. How durst you close +so instantaneously and furiously with both these valiant troopers?" + +"Thou hadst better put that question to my mule," said the friar,--"for +it is a truth that he hath that in him that is the ruin of many people, +viz. obstinacy of heart. When he smelleth the battle he disdaineth all +parley or courtesy, as thou beholdest, but rusheth upon his adversary +like one of the bulls of Bashan." + +At that moment the friar's eye caught a glance of several horsemen close +upon them, but as they could only come one man rank, they paused at +seeing their enemies in quiet possession of the way, and standing in +peaceful colloquy, apparently about something else. + +"By the life of Pharaoh," said the friar, gazing all around, "I had +forgot the man whom I first engaged and smote as he passed by." + +"You will see nae mair o' him, father," said Charlie; "I gae him a +deadly wound, but the saddle was locked to the horse, and the man to the +saddle, and the furious animal has escaped away to the forest with the +dead man on its back." + +"Thou art indeed a man of valour," said the friar; "and here will we +keep our ground. I will do more in our defence than thou hast yet +witnessed; therefore, be not afraid, my son, for that sword of thine is +a good sword." + +"It is a good sword at a straik," returned Charlie; "but it's no very +handy at making a defence. But an I get the first yerk of a chield, I'm +no unco feared for his return. However, father, this sword, sic as it +is, shall be raised in your defence as lang as my arm can wag it. I like +the man that will stand a brush when a pinch comes,--see, thae chaps +darena come on us. But, ill luck to the coward! gin they winna come to +us, we'll gang to them." + +"I will certainly go with thee," said the friar; "but I know the nature +of the beast that I bestride, and that it will at the first onset bear +me into the thickest of the battle; therefore, be not thou far from me +in my need, for, though nothing afraid, yet I know it will carry me into +peril. Come, let us go and smite these men with the edge of the sword." + +"Gallant friar," said Charlie, "the Thief-road is lang an' narrow, an' +there's hardly a bit o't that they can come on us twa in a breast; stand +ye still; or be chopping on your way, an' I'll let you see yon lads get +a surprise for aince." + +"Nay, I will certainly stand with thee in battle," said the friar; +"thinkest thou I will stand and be a looker on, when my preserver is in +jeopardy? Lo, my heart is as thy heart, my arm as thy arm, and--but I +cannot say my horse is as thy horse, for the beast is indeed froward in +his ways, and perverse in all his doings." + +Charlie hardly smiled at the phrase of the worthy friar,--for he +meditated an attack on their pursuers, and his eye kindled with his +heart toward the battle. He heaved up his sword-arm twice at its full +stretch, to feel if it was nowise encumbered in the armour, and putting +Corby in motion, he rode deliberately up to the face of his enemies. The +foremost man spoke to him, demanding what he wanted; but he only +answered by heaving his sword a little higher, and making his horse mend +his pace. In one second after that he was engaged with the first man, +and in two seconds the horse and his rider had fallen in the middle of +the path. Charlie listed not coming to close quarter; his sword was so +long and heavy, that it was quite unhandy in warding the blows of a +short and light weapon. His aim, therefore, was always to get the first +stroke, which was as apt to light on the horse as the man, and thus down +both of them went. Springing by the prostrate warrior, he attacked the +second and the third in the same manner, and with the same success, +always either cutting down the trooper or cleaving the head of his horse +at the first stroke. The path was now in the utmost confusion. Owing to +the pause that had taken place, all the riders had come up and crowded +each other behind, some crying, "He is a devil!" and others at a greater +distance shouting out, "Down with the Scot! down with him!" Charlie +regarded not their cries, but laid about him with all his might, till, +after striking down three of the foremost and one horse, those next to +him were glad to turn in order to effect their escape; but the +hindermost on the path refusing for a while to give way, many of their +friends fell a sacrifice to Charlie's wrath. He pursued them for a +space, and might have cut them off every man, had he been sure that all +was safe behind,--but he had rushed by some wounded men and wounded +horses, and knew not how matters stood with the friar. + +As he dreaded, so it fell out. Two of the Englishmen who had fallen +perhaps under their horses, had scrambled up the bosky precipice, and, +as he returned, assailed him with large stones, a mode of attack against +which he was unable to make the least resistance. Therefore, it was at +the utmost peril of his life that he made his way back through the +encumbered path to his friend the friar. This latter worthy had found it +impossible to lend his friend any assistance. The beast that he bestrode +was fonder of rubbing shoulders with a living brute, than a mangled or +dead one; so he refused to come nearer the first that fell than about +twice his own length, where he stood firm, turning his tail to the scene +of battle, and looking back. Our two heroes now set off at full speed +after the rest of their party, whom they expected to overtake before +reaching the outposts of the beleaguering army. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + _Lord Duffus._--I saw the appearance of a mounted warrior. + Whence did it come, or whither did it go? + Or whom did it seek here? + Hush thee, my lord; + The apparition spoke not, but passed on. + 'Tis something dreadful; and, I fear me much, + Betokens evil to this fair array. + + _Trag. of the Prioress._ + + +The rest of our cavalcade continued to advance at a quick pace, not +without anxiety. They were not afraid of their enemies coming behind +them, for they had strong faith in the prowess of their friend, as well +as his horse Corby. But when they came to the end of the narrow path, +called the Thief-gate, there were two roads, and they knew not which of +these to follow. As bad luck would have it, they took the most easterly, +which led towards Yetholm, and left the Scottish army to the westward. +In that path they continued to jog on, turning many a long look behind +them for the approach of Charlie; and, at one time, they thought they +got a view of him coming at a furious pace all alone; but the rider +being at a great space behind them, he was shortly hid from their view +in an intervening hollow, and it was long before they saw him any more. +They judged that the friar was taken or slain, and began to talk of his +loss in a very indifferent manner. + +"Alas, how frigid and ungenial must be the hearts of you men in +Scotland," said Delany. "Now, of all the men I have met with since I was +brought from my own country, there is only one whose death I would more +regret than that of the worthy and kind friar. He may have his whims and +his peculiarities, but his manner is pleasing, and his speech has a +strain of grandeur which I love. Where did he acquire that speech?" + +"He gets it frae some auld-fashioned beuk," said Tam, "that he has pored +on a' his days, an' translatit out o' other tongues, till he was nearly +hanged for it; and it's weel kend that he is now in hiding wi' our +warden for fear o' his life, and has been these half dozen o' years; and +though he pretends to be only a friar, he was aince a monk o' the first +order of St Benedict, and president of a grand college in France." + +"I would like to converse with him," said Delany, "for I have always +thought that he feigned to be something a degree lower than he is." + +"You said there was _but one_ you would lament the loss of more," said +the poet: "Pray, who may that _one_ be?" + +"Could you not guess?" returned she. + +"How can I?" said he; "but this I know, that to be the favoured one I +would dive into the depths of the ocean,--" + +"It wad be for fear then," said Tam. + +"Or traverse the regions of ice," continued the bard, "or wander +barefoot over burning sands, or--" + +"O, alak for your poor feet!" said Delany, interrupting him; "but rest +satisfied you shall not be put to the test: it is not you." + +With such kind of chat did they beguile the way, till Elias, looking +back, exclaimed, "Mercy! see what a guise Yardbire is coming in!" + +"St Mary protect us!" said the maid; "he must be grievously wounded. +See how he rides!" + +Every one turned round his horse and looked at the approaching warrior; +but it was wearing late, and they could not see with distinctness. The +horse was coming rapidly, and with apparent impatience, but Charlie +appeared as if he were riding in his sleep. When the horse came down +hill he bent forward, and on climbing an ascent he bent back, riding +with that sort of motion as if his back or neck were out of joint. The +whole group showed manifest signs of fear at the approach of such a +hideous apparition; and, quite in earnest, though in a pretended frolic, +they wheeled about again, and gallopped away. The ground being uneven, +and the night-fall coming on, they soon lost sight of him; and, +continuing their career as fast as the road would permit, they seemed +inclined to escape from their friend altogether. The maid had just begun +to remonstrate on their unfriendly procedure, when they beheld the same +unaccountable figure coming at the full gallop close behind them. Seeing +that he was determined to be of the party, they suffered him to +overtake them quietly. He came driving furiously up till he was in the +middle of them, and then paused. No one had the courage to speak to him, +for he looked not up, nor regarded any of them. His helmed head nodded +on his breast, and his arms hung loosely down by his side, the steel +armlets rattling on the cuishes. At one time his horse came so near to +that on which Delany rode, that she weened she saw the rider all covered +with blood, and screamed out; yet in the twilight she could not be +certain. The poet, who was never far from her side, and on whom her +voice always acted like electricity, immediately demanded the cause of +her alarm. + +"O Carol!" said she, in an agitated whisper, "we are haunted. That is a +dead man that rides in our company." + +If the maid was alarmed, the poet was ten times more so. If she had said +that a lion or a bear was in the company, it could not have struck such +a chillness to the poor bard's heart; and, after all, it was no wonder, +for there is something exceedingly appalling in the idea of having a +dead man riding in one's company. The poet felt this in its fullest +measure. He held in his horse and attempted a reply, but a dryness +pervaded his mouth so much that he could not make himself intelligible. +A damp had fallen on the whole party, and a breathless silence +prevailed. Tam put the question, so natural, to him as he passed, +"Charlie, is this you?"--but none answered or regarded. They were riding +up a slanting hill when the bard was first apprised of the nature of +their guest, and shortly after the figure coming between him and the +evening sky, its motions were altogether so hideous, that he roared out +in perfect terror as loud as he could bray, scarce letting one bellow +await another. This was still worse than the dumb appalling uncertainty +in which they were before involved; till at last Tam, losing all +patience, let loose his rage against the poet, calling him a bellowing +beast, and many other opprobrious names. This encouraging Gibbie, who +had the bard at no good will on account of the damsel, he said he +brought him "amind of a story that the fo'k o' Annandale tauld about +Andrew Jardine's bull, that was better at booing than breeding." The boy +Elias now coming in behind them, and having heard what Delany said, +cried softly, "Hush! yeomen! hush! we are haunted; it is a ghost that +rides in our company." + +They all turned their eyes to the mysterious figure, which they still +thought resembled their champion Yardbire, as well as the horse did that +which he rode, the redoubted Corby. The horse had started a little +forward at the cries of the poet, but when the rest paused the figure +seemed to wheel his horse around, and made a dead pause also, standing +still with his face toward them, and straight on the path before. Not +one durst proceed. The figure neither moved nor threatened, but stood +nodding its head on the height at every motion of the steed; yet our +party were arrested on their way, nor knew they exactly in what place +they were: But from the length of the way they had come, they were sure +they were near the Scottish army on one side or other, and free from +any danger of the foes they had left behind them on the Border. None of +them were good guides in any case, and a man in fear is neither a fit +guide for himself nor others. Fear had the sway, and fear gave the word +of command without being disputed. The poet was the first to strike from +the beaten path, and it was at no easy pace that he rode. He turned +westward, and the rest all followed with main speed. Their progress was +soon interrupted by a strong cattle fence made of stakes and the +branches of trees interwoven, bespeaking the vicinity of some village, +or place of human habitation. They soon broke through the fence, but by +bad luck did not take time to make up the breach, which they left open, +and posting forward came to a large house amid a number of smaller ones. +The poet called for admittance in a moving and earnest stile, and at +once resolved to take no denial. Before ever he paused, he told them he +and his party had lost their way, and that they had seen a ghost. + +"Then you must be some murderers," said the men of the house,--"and here +you remain not to-night." + +"We belong to the warden of the marches, the brave baron of Mountcomyn," +said the poet, "and go on an errand of great import to the army. In that +case we might demand what we only ask as a boon, namely, such lodging as +the house affords." + +"You had better keep that part to yourself," said the men of the house: +"Though Sir Ringan is supreme in the middle marches, he is no favourite +here. Our master's name is Ker. He is with the Douglas, but may be home +to-night. Calm sough and kitchen fare, or ride on." + +"It brings me in mind o' an auld proverb," said Gibbie, "that beggars +should nae be choisers; sae, honest lads, bring us a light, for our +horses are sair tired an' maun be weel put up." + +The party, it will be remembered, consisted only of five, exclusive of +Charlie and the friar. They had draw up their horses close to the hall +door, and were still on horseback when the men turned into the house +for a light. The poet, whose eager eyes were still on the watch, +chancing to look at the heads of his associates between him and the sky, +thought he discovered one too many. + +"Surely there are six of us,'said he in a hurried tremulous voice. "Six +of us!" said Tam, as doubting the statement. + +"Six of us? No, surely?" said Delany. + +At that instant a lad came out with a lanthorn, and held it up to look +at the party. The poet was nearest the door, and the light shone full on +him and the rider that was next him. He cast his eyes on that +rider,--but one glance was enough to bedim his eye-sight, if not to +scare away his reason. It had the appearance of a warrior sheathed in +steel, but all encrusted in a sheet of blood. His mouth was wide open, +and his jaws hanging down upon his breast, while his head seemed to be +cleft asunder. The poet uttered a loud yell of horror, and, flinging +himself from his horse on the side opposite to that on which the phantom +stood, he fell among the mud and stones at the door, yet ceased not to +reiterate his loud cries like one in distraction. Every one jumped from +his horse, and hurried in at the door; the man with the lanthorn also +fled, and with the noise and uproar the horses galloped off, saddled and +bridled as they were. As the guests ran into the hall, every one asked +at all the rest what it was? "What is it?" was all that could be heard; +all asking the question, but none answering it. Even the people of the +house joined in the query, and came all round the strangers, crying, +"What is it?--What is it?"--"I do not know--I do not know, Sir--I do not +know upon my word." + +"The people are all delirious," said the housekeeper:"--Can no one tell +us what it was that affrighted you?--St Magdalene be with us! whom have +we here?" + +This was no other than the poor bard coming toward the light, creeping +slowly on all-four, and still groaning as he came. + +"Here's the chap that began the fray," said Tam, "you may speer at him. +He rather looks as he were at ane mae wi't. For my part, I just did as +the rest did,--ran an' cried as loud as I could. When a dust is fairly +begun, I think aye the mair stour that is raised the better. I'll try +wha will cry loudest again, an ye like,--or rin round the fire wi' ony +o' you, or out through the mids o't either, at a pinch." + +Tam turned round his long nose to see if his jest had taken, for he +always fixed his eyes stedfastly on one object when he spoke; but he +found that his jargon had been ill-timed, for no one laughed at it but +himself. The rest were gathered round the bard; some pitying, but more +like to burst with laughter at his forlorn state. He fetched two or +three long-drawn moans, and then raising himself up on his knees, with +his eyes fixed on the light, he rolled over, and fainted. + +Delany first stooped to support his head, and was soon assisted by every +female in the house, while the men only stood and looked on. By bathing +his hands and temples with cold water, they soon brought him out of his +faint, but not to his right senses. His looks continued wild and +unstable, and ever and anon they were turned to the door, as if he +expected some other guest to enter. A sober conference at last ensued; +and as no one had seen or heard any thing at this last encounter, save +the man that was taken ill, who a few moments before had been heard to +say _there were six of them_, all began to agree that he had been seized +with some sudden frenzy or delirium; till the lad, who had carried out +the light, thrust in his pale face among the rest, and said,--"Na, na, +my masters, it is nae for naething that the honest man's gane away in a +kink; for, when I held up the bouet, I saw a dead man riding on a horse +close at his side. He was berkened wi' blood off at the taes; and his +mouth was open, and I saw his tongue hinging out." + +It may well be conceived what an icy chillness these words distilled +round the heart of every one present. The effect on our travellers was +particularly appalling, from the idea that they were haunted by a +phantom from which they could not escape. The whole group closed around +the fire, and the strangers recounted to the family the singular +occurrence of their having lost two of their number by the way, and +been pursued and overtaken by a phantom resembling one of them, and that +the hideous spectre was, as it seemed, haunting them still. As they all +agreed in the same story, it was not of a nature to be disregarded at a +period when superstition swayed the hearts of men with irresistible +power. The stoutest heart among them was daunted, and no one durst go +out to the vaults to look after his master's cattle, nor to take in our +travellers' horses, that were left to shift for themselves during the +long winter night. + +The next morning, between day-light and the sun-rising, the men began to +peep abroad, and the first things they observed were some of the horses +of our travellers going about in a careless, easy manner. This they +looked on as a good omen, knowing that horses were terrified for +spirits; and the men joining in a body, they sallied out to reconnoitre. +The horses had fared well, for they had fed at the laird's stacks of hay +and corn all night; but as the men were going round to see how matters +stood, they perceived a phenomenon, that, if it had not been open +day-light, would have scared them from the habitation. This was the +identical phantom-warrior still sitting unmoved on his horse, that was +helping itself full liberally out of one of the laird's corn-ricks. The +eye of day expels the films of superstition from the human eye. The men, +after a short consultation, ventured to surround the phantom,--to seize +his horse,--(who had given full proof that he at least was flesh and +blood;)--and, after a good deal of trembling astonishment, they found +that he was actually rode by a dead warrior, whose head was cleft +asunder, and his whole body, both within and without the harness, +encrusted in blood. + +The mystery was soon cleared up; but none then knew who he was. It had +become customary in that age for warriors, who went to engage others, on +horseback, to lock themselves to the saddle, for fear of being borne out +of their seats by the spears of their opponents in the encounter. This +was the individual trooper who had come foremost in the pursuit of our +party, he whom the friar jostled, and whom Charlie, encountering the +moment after, had slain; but his suit of armour having kept him nearly +upright in his saddle, his horse had run off with him, and followed +after those of our travellers, as every horse will do that is let go on +a high-way and gets his will. + +Glad were our travellers at an eclaircissement so fairly within the +bounds of their comprehension; and when the poet saw the gash made in +the helmet, he shook his head, and exclaimed, "Ha! well I wot the mighty +hand of Charlie has been here!" + +Gibbie remarked that he himself had "killed one very like him, only he +was sure his wad never mount horse again." But seeing Tam's ill-set eye +fixed on him, he was afraid of something coming out relating to that +encounter which he did not wish to hear blabbed; so he changed his tone, +and, looking wise, said, "The hale business brings me a-mind of a very +good story that happened aince at Allergrain; an' if it be nae true it +is behadden to the maker, for the sin o' the lie lyes nae at my door. +The story, you see, is this.--There was a man, an' he had a wife; an' +they had a son, an' they ca'ed him Jock--" + +"Now, d--n your particularity!" said Tam Craik: "think you we have +nought else to do but stand beside the bloody man and listen to a +long-winded tale like that?" + +The poet muttered over some old rhyme in unison with what he heard. If +one word spoken chanced to occur in any old rhyme or song that he knew, +he went over the sentence to himself, though it had no farther +connection with it, or resemblance to it, than merely that word. This +made his conversation altogether incomprehensible to those not +acquainted with him, but it was always delightful to himself; a chance +old rhyme brought to his remembrance, would have pleased him almost in +any circumstances, while his words chimed naturally into measure. + +Leaving the dead warrior at the house where they lodged for the people +to bury as they liked, they proceeded to the army, in hopes of finding +Charlie and the friar there; for without them they did not know how to +accomplish their mission. These two heroes finding, on asking at a +hamlet, that their friends had not passed on the road to Roxburgh, +suspected what way they had gone, and turning to the south-east they +followed them on the track to Yetholm, but misled them at the house into +which they had been chased by the dead man, and rode searching for them +the greater part of the night. Next morning they again went in search of +them, and came up behind them at the convent of Maisondieu near to the +Teviot, where a detachment of the army was stationed; and, after +conversing two or three hours on the state of the army and garrison, +they proceeded on their journey, and reached the abbey of Melrose that +night. There they were welcomed by the brethren, and lodged comfortably. +There also they got many strange stories told to them about Master +Michael Scott, which made the very hairs of their heads stand on end, +and the hearts of the boldest to palpitate. When the friar heard them, +he seemed wrapt in deep thought; and he opened his mouth, and said: "If +the things that thou hast spoken be according to the light that is in +thee, and the truth that is told among men, then this man is not as +other men, for the spirit of the immortals is in him, and he communeth +with the prince of the power of the air. Nevertheless, I will go unto +him, and I will speak to him face to face, as a man speaketh to his +friend. Peradventure I shall tell him that which he knoweth not." + +When it was told to the abbot Lawrence, that the servants of the warden +were come, and that they were accompanied by his chaplain and bedesman, +a learned man in all holy things, the father came to bestow upon them +his benediction,--for the baron of Mountcomyn had conferred many rich +benefices on the abbey. At the first sound of the friar's voice, the +abbot started, as if recollecting him; but on looking at the man his +hope seemed to die away. Every time, however, that he spoke in his +eastern style, the abbot fixed a look on him, as if he would fain have +claimed acquaintance, which the friar perceiving, urged their departure +with all the interest he had; and accordingly, about mid-day, they set +out for Aikwood-castle, the seat of the renowned magician Master Michael +Scott. + +Ever since the stern encounter with the English moss-troopers on the +Thief-road, Charlie had attached himself close to the friar, imagining +that he saw his character in a new light, and that he was one who might +either be roused to desperate courage, or impressed with notorious +dread; and when he heard him say that he would speak to the enchanter +face to face, he admired him still the more; for the business of +addressing the Master was that which stuck sorest on the stomach of the +doughty Yardbire. As for the poet, he scarcely seemed himself all that +day. He looked at the mountains, and the wild romantic rivers branching +among them in every direction, with looks of which it was hard to say +whether they were looks of vacancy or affection, for he looked sometimes +as at objects which he was never to see again. His tongue muttered long +rhymes in which his heart had little share; so that Delany was obliged +to detach herself from his society, and make up to the friar, whom she +now addressed with much affection, and some degree of coquetry:-- + +"Dearest father, why have you neglected me so much on our journey? Ever +since our first stage was got over, you have not deigned to take any +notice of me. What have you seen in my conduct that you have thus +shunned me? It is in sincerity that I assure you there is no man in +whose conversation I so much delight." + +"Fairest among maidens!" said the friar, putting his arm gently around +her neck, as her palfrey came close up by his side, "say not so, but +come near me, I will kiss thee with the kisses of my mouth, for thy love +is sweeter to me than the vintage. Behold thou art even like a tower of +alabaster shining from among the cedars of Lebanon. Thy bosom resembleth +two young roes that are twins, and feed among the lilies of the +valley." + +"Hold, dear father!" said she, "and do not let your gallantry run away +with your good common sense. Yet would I love to hear that language +spoken to another, for though it be nonsense it is still beautiful. Tell +me, for I long to hear, where, or in what country, you learned to speak +in that stile." + +"Daughter of my people," said he, "I have learned that language at home +and in a far country. In youth and in age hath it been my delight. At +noon-tide when the sun shone in his strength, and in the silent watches +of the night hath it been my meditation. In adversity hath it been my +comfort, and in prosperity my joy; so that now it hath become unto me as +my mother tongue, and other language have I none." + +"Is it the language of the convent and the priory alone?" said the maid. + +"No, thou rose of the desart," said the friar;--"it is not the language +indeed, but the stile of language over one half of the habitable world. +It is the language of all the kingdoms and countries of the east, from +India even unto Ethiopia; and all the way as thou goest down towards +the rising of the sun, yea from the river to the ends of the earth it +prevaileth. But, O thou fairest among the daughters of women! that +language did I not learn in the lands that are watered by the great +river, even the river Euphrates. In Ur of the Chaldees have I not +sojourned; nor on the mountains of Palestine have I lifted up my eyes. +But I learned it from one little book; a book that is of more value to +the children of men than all the gold of Ophir. O maiden, could I but +make known unto thee the treasures of that book, the majesty of its +stile, and the excellency of its precepts, it would make thine heart to +sing for joy. If all the writings of this world, yea, if the world +itself were to be laid in the balance with that book, they would be +found wanting. The mountains may depart, and the seas may pass away, the +stars, and the heavens in which they shine, may be removed, but the +words of that book shall remain for ever and ever! And this language +that I now speak to thee resembleth the words written therein; and I +speak them unto thee that thou mayest hear and love them." + +"Dear friar, teach me to read and understand that book, for my breast +yearneth to know more about it. I am, it is true, not my own at present +to give, but I have some forebodings here that tell me I soon shall; +and, father, I will serve thee, and be thy handmaid, if thou wilt teach +me the words and the mysteries of that little book." + +"Alas! and wo is me, for the ignorance of my people!" said he, with the +tears streaming over his grim cheek; "they are troubled about that which +availeth them nothing, while the way of life is hid from their eyes. +Their leaders have caused them to err; and I, even I, have been a +dweller in the tabernacles of sin! But the day-star hath shone upon my +soul and my spirit: For that have I been persecuted, and hunted as a +partridge upon the mountains, chased from the habitations of my +brethren, and forced to dwell among a strange and savage people. Yet +there are among them whom I love; and could I be the mean of opening +thine eyes, and turning thee from darkness unto light, then would I know +for what purpose the finger of heaven had pointed out my way to this +barren wilderness. Thou can'st not be a servant or a handmaiden unto one +who is little better than an outcast and a vagabond on the earth. But +better days may come to us both: I am not what I seem; but, maiden, thou +mayest trust me. My love for thee surpasseth the love of women, for it +is with more than an earthly love that I behold and delight in thee. +Come unto me this night, and I will tell thee things that shall make +thine ears tingle. The book of wonders is here with me, and thou mayest +look thereon and be glad." + +The poet and his associates listened to this rhapsody apart. + +"What book does he mean?" said the poet: "If it is not True Thomas's +book, or the book of Sir Gawin, he must be speaking absolute nonsense. I +could recite these to lovely Delany, word for word; and must this clumsy +old friar wile her from me by any better book than these?" + +"You are clean mista'en, maister poeter," said Tam; "I ken mair about +auld Roger than you do, or than ony that's here. It is a book o' black +art that he carries about wi' him, and studies on it night and day. He +gat it at a place they ca' Oxford, where they study nought else but sic +cantrips. They hae tried to hang him, and they hae tried to cut off his +head, and they hae tried to burn him at the stake; but tow wadna hang, +water wadna drown, steel wadna nick, and a' the fire o' the land wadna +singe ae hair o' the auld loun's head." + +"Gude forgie me!" said Charlie: "An that be true, Corby, you and I had +maybe mair pith than our ain yon time. I wondered that he rade sae +furiously on the drawn swords of men and armour, the auld warlock. +He-he-he! we'll aiblins try auld Michael at his ain weapons, an that be +the gate." + +"Ye maunna lippen ower muckle to a' this," said he of the Peatstacknowe; +"else ye may play like Marion's Jock, when he gaed away to douk in +Commonside loch. 'It is a hard matter,' says Jock to himself, 'that a' +the lave o' Commonside's men can swatter and swim in the loch like sae +mony drakes but me. I am fain either to poutter about the side, or down +I gang. I can neither sink nor swim; for when I try to get to the bottom +to creep, there I stick like a woundit paddock, wagging my arms and my +legs, and can neither get to the top nor the bottom. Just half way, +there stick I. But I's be even hands wi' them an' mair, an' then I'll +laugh at the leishest o' them; for I'll stand, and wade, and gang ower +the waves afore them a', aye, and that wi' my head boonmost.' Jock, +after this grand contrivance, coudna rest, but off he sets to Hawick, +and gets four big blawn bladders; and the next day, when a' the lave +went to bathe, Jock he went to bathe amang the rest; and he gangs slyly +into a bush by himsel', and ties twa o' the bladders to every foot. +'Now,' thinks Jock, 'I'll let them see a trick.' Sae he slips into the +loch, and wades into the deep; but the bladders they aye gart him hobble +and bob up and down, till, faith, he loses the balance, and ower he +coups. Nane o' them kend o' Jock's great plan, and they were a' like to +burst their sides wi' laughing when they saw Jock diving. But when they +saw he wasna like to come up again, they swattered away to the place, +and there was Jock swimming wi' his head straight to the bottom, and his +feet and the four bladders walking a minuay aboon. Now, let me tell ye, +an ye lippen to the friar's warlockry, and his enchantments, and +divinations, ye trust to as mony bladders fu' o' wind, and down gae a' +your heads, and your heels uppermost. Na, na; nane maun try to cope wi' +auld Michael." + +"I hae heard, indeed, that he coudna brook ony rivalry," said Charlie; +"and I hae heard waur instances, and waur stories too, than that o' +yours, laird. But let us draw slyly near to the twasome, and make lang +lugs, to try if we can learn ony mair about that same beuk. If the friar +hae ony power o' enchantment, it is my opinion the first glamour he'll +thraw will be ower that bonny wench." + +"We ought to keep them asunder by force," said the poet; "it would be a +shame and a disgrace to us, if we were to let the auld rogue seduce +either her person or her morals." + +"Morals?" said Charlie; "I dinna ken about them, for I watna weel what +they are; but as to seducing hersel', I think I could answer for auld +Roger the friar. I see there's nae man can help liking a bonny lass; but +the better a good man likes ane he'll be the mair sweer to do her ony +skaith." + +"Aye; but then how can an enchanter be a good man?" said the poet. + +"That's the thing that puzzles me," said Charlie: "Let us hear what they +are on about sae briskly now." + +They then drew near, and heard the following words, while the remarks +that they made were said aside among themselves. + +"My fate, you see, has been a strange one, father. I was separated from +my parents so young that I scarcely remember them. But the Scots have +been kind to me, and I have loved them. I have never been unhappy, +except when long confined to a place, which I dislike exceedingly; and +as I have hopes that this change will add somewhat to my freedom, I +rejoice in it, without weighing circumstances. If those fond hopes +should be realised, I promise to you, father, that the first use I will +make of my liberty, shall be to sit at your feet, and learn that +wonderful and mysterious book." + +"Do you hear that?" said the poet with great emphasis, but in a half +whisper; "he has gotten her broken already to learn the book of the +black art. Then the deil's bargain and witchcraft comes next; then the +harassing of the whole country side, dancing in kirkyards, and riding on +the wind; and then, mayhap, the stake and the faggot end the matter that +is but just beginning. Alak, and wo is me! I say, in the king's name, +and in the warden's, let them be separated." + +"Gude sauf us!" exclaimed Charlie. "There's nae man sure o' his life an +a' this be true! But a' fair play. Nae self amang us. Hist, and let us +hear what he is saying in answer." + +"Daughter," said the friar, half crying with joy, "doth not my heart +yearn over thee, even as a mother yearneth over the child of her bosom? +Lo, I will be unto thee as a father, and thou shalt be unto me as a +daughter." + +"Hear what the old rascal is saying!" said the poet. + +"And behold the fruits of our labours shall spring up into life;"-- + +"Oh, this is past all sufferance!" said the poet. + +--"For, O thou fair one, whose beauty is as the beauty of the morning, +and whose innocence surpasseth that of the kid, or the lamb, or the +young roe, when they are playing upon the mountains,"-- + +"Gude faith, Mr Carol," said Charlie aside, "it's that auld chap that's +the poet; an' no you." + +"Humph! mere fustian!" said the poet. + +The friar still went on:-- + +--"That beauty will decay, as the rose fadeth on the brows of Shinar +or Hermon; and that innocence shall be perverted by the sinful and +regardless people among whom thou sojournest, and shall become, as it +were, betrothed to sin and corruption; yea, and that eye, that shineth +like the dews of the morning, shall be darkened. But, O beloved maiden! +there is that in this little book, yea, I say unto thee, even in this +old, neglected, and despised book, that, unto those who learn it, shall +prove the savour of life unto life; and if thou dost learn and cherish +the things contained in this book thou shalt never die!" + +"Ay, billy, that is a yanker!" said Tam aside: "When ane is gaun to tell +a lie, there's naething like telling a plumper at aince, and being done +wi't." + +"Now, but hear to the deceitful old rogue," said the poet: "All the +books of black art in the world cannot accomplish that. In the name of +Saint Barnabas, I say let them be separated!" + +"It wad be weel done," said Tam, "if ane durst;"--for he wanted to blow +up the poet's wrath, for the sake of a little sport. + +"Durst!" said the poet, "durst!--If none other dare, I shall, in spite +of all his hellish arts. Durst! that is a good one,--to be dursted with +an old sackbut!" + +They did not hear what answer Delany made to the extraordinary +information, as they took it, that, by learning the little black book, +she was to be redeemed from death; for the fierce jealousy of the +enamoured bard prevented them. But when they listened again so as to +hear distinctly, the friar was still increasing in fervency. All that he +said was in raptures of divine ecstacy; while his associates, who knew +nothing, and cared as little about these things, understood it in +another way. + +"For I say unto thee, if thou wilt suffer me to instil these truths into +thee, thou shalt both blossom and bring forth fruit abundantly; yea, +thou shalt shine as the stars in the firmament of heaven. Seest thou yon +sun that walketh above the clouds in majesty and brightness? Beyond yon +sun shall thine habitation be fixed; and the blue arch that encircles +the regions of the air, which thou hast so often seen studded over with +diamonds, shall be unto thee a pavement whereon thou shalt tread. All +this and more shalt thou possess, if thou wilt learn and obey the +things that are written in this book, where it is said by one that +cannot err, 'Lo, I will be always with you, and my arms shall be +underneath and around you, and when you are faint and weary I will hide +you in my bosom.'" + +"For the blood that is in your body dare to attempt such a thing!" cried +the enraged poet. "Down with hypocrisy and sensuality together! Hurray +for the combat, and God defend the right!" + +So, crying as loud as he could yell, he pulled out his sword, and rode +furiously up between Delany and the friar, shoving the latter rudely as +he passed. The maiden's palfrey sprung away, but the friar's mule only +leaned with all his might to the poet's steed as he pressed against him +in passing; and feeling his prop give way, he leaned round in the same +direction, till his tail was exactly where his head was before; and +then, dreading some abhorred exertion, he set his feet asunder, and +stood immovable. The poet drew up, and wheeled about, and seeing still +the hinder parts of the friar and his beast, he cried, exultingly, "Ay, +you are more ready to seduce an innocent and lovely maiden, than to +answer for the crime! Vile lump of sin and hypocrisy! turn round and +meet me face to face, that I may chastise thee for thy graceless +attempt!" + +The friar spurred most furiously, but the mule only dashed his head +downward and his heels in a contrary direction, and kept his position. +All the rest were like to burst with laughter, which still increasing +the bard's insolence, he fumed about enchantments and the black art, and +dared the friar to turn and look him in the face. + +What with one provocation, what with another, the friar's angry passions +were roused; and, not being able to make his mule turn round, he drew +out his sword, saying at the same time in a voice of great vehemence, +"God do so to me and more also, if I make not--" + +He got no farther with his speech, for the mule interrupted him. +Obstinate as the brute was, the sight of the sword, and the sound of his +master's angry voice operated on him like magic. Perhaps he understood +that all further opposition was vain,--for in one moment he wheeled +around, his eyes gleaming with rage; and pricking up his ears to see +where the storm of his and his master's wrath was to alight, he +perceived the poet on his tall steed, brandishing his dazzling sword, +and forthwith darted at them with the swiftness of an arrow, and a fury +not to be checked. There were no more words nor threatenings passed +between the enraged combatants; for more space of time there was none +before the mule had his shoulder to that of the poet's steed, his teeth +fixed in his flank, and was pushing with the fury of an enraged bull. + +On the closing of the two steeds the riders likewise engaged, the poet +coming on with a downward stroke, which the friar received with great +indifference on his sword crossed above his cowl. But knowing well the +nature of his beast, he kept up the poet's sword and arm both, until the +sides of the two animals were jammed together, as the rider of the +mule well knew they would be. By that time the poet's arm was pressed +up straight by his ear, and his sword pointed to heaven; and in +endeavouring to free his elbow from the hilt of the friar's sword, he +lost his balance. At the same instant their feet encountering in the +stirrups, and the friar's being below that of his opponent, he gave him +such a ketch with his right foot and sword-arm together, that he made +him fly from his horse to a great distance, in a sort of arching +direction; and the unfortunate poet, falling on his shoulder and head, +was wofully bruised, and utterly discomfited. + +But the combat ended not here. The mule still struggled with his +adversary, which not only kept his ground, but rather began to force the +mule to give way. But the inveterate mongrel was not to be vanquished in +that way. He pressed, struggled, and wrought himself round, till he got +his tail to the horse's shoulder, and then he attacked him furiously +with his iron-heels. The horse being a horse of spirit, and scorning to +yield to his long-eared adversary, applied the same offensive weapons +with very little ceremony, wincing and screaming all the while, and +sometimes making his feet to fly as high as the friar's elbows. The mule +fought with desperate energy, but in profound silence. Not so the rider; +he spurred, struck with his sword, and cried with a loud voice, "Soh! +tproo! thou beast of the pit! sure the spirit of the evil one is in +thee! Lo, I shall be beaten to pieces, for the heels of the horses are +lifted up against me. By the life of Pharaoh, I will smite thee until +thy blood shall be poured out like water,--thou perverse and abominable +beast! I say unto thee go forward!" + +The voice of the friar, during this passionate declamation, had arisen +gradually until the last sentence, which was pronounced in his utmost +stile of vehemence. The mule heard this, and saw the uplifted sword; and +not awaiting its descent, he sprang forward with main force, but no man +will guess the issue. + +It may well be conceived, that during this desperate combat between the +horse and mule, the onlookers were convulsed with laughter. Charlie +Scott, in particular, laughed with a "Ha-ha-ha!" so loud that he made +all the woods around to ring, and at every breath exclaimed, "Gude +faith, I never saw ought half so grand! Na, never!" Gibbie was advanced +a little before the rest, so as to be near the scene of action, which, +without doubt, was bringing him in mind of some excellent story, for his +mouth was formed like a seam from the one ear to the other. But it is +dangerous putting one's self too forward in life, and that the poor +laird of the Peatstacknowe soon found. It is well known that between +parties so closely connected as the horse and his rider, passion begets +passion. The mule, driven altogether furious by the broil, and the rage +and spurs of his master, either wished to rub himself rid of him, or +deemed that it was to be a battle general; for he no sooner rushed from +one fray than he flew to another, quite open-mouthed on Gibbie, and, +seizing him by the thigh, he separated one limb of his buffskin breeches +and a mouthful of the laird's own skin from their places, in one moment, +and the next had his teeth fixed in the flank of the laird's horse. +Gibbie cried out against the friar, irritated by pain, as well as the +awkward and dangerous situation in which he was thus momently placed. +His horse flung--the mule returned the compliment with hearty good will, +and glad was Gibbie to escape, which he did with great celerity as soon +as he got leisure to use the spurs. The mule ran straight at the next +horse, and then at the next again, but all of them scampered off at his +approach, and left him master of the field; on which he turned two or +three times sullenly round, throwing himself up behind and down before. +The friar's wrath was somewhat diverted by the shouts of laughter from +his scattered compeers, and he only smiled grimly as he said to his +contumacious beast,--"Thou art even a perverse and an evil one; +nevertheless thou hast been to me a beast for these many years, and hast +borne me in distant pilgrimages, through many perils and dangers; and I +will not act the part of the son of Bosor: peradventure thou mayest +amend thy ways and do some credit to old age." + +The laird in his escape gallopped by the forlorn poet; who, raising up +his head, and perceiving the plight of the dismayed and unoffensive +wight, scouring off with the one thigh naked and bleeding, burst out +into a hysteric giggle between laughing and crying, and repeated some +scraps of old rhyme no way connected with the incident. The attention of +the party was now turned to him, and the friar's as much as any, who +enquired with great simplicity, "My brother, why was thine arm lifted up +against me?" + +The bard was dreadfully abashed, and out of countenance; and he only +answered in rhymes, of which none of them could make any thing: + + "His arm was strong, and his heart was stout, + And he broke the tower and he got out; + Then the king he was an angry man, + And an angry man was he, + And he said, "Go, lock him in prison strong, + And hunger him till he dee. + +"That was a hard weird, was it not? Ha-ha! there be many such; for + + "He had his wale of seven sisters, + Of lith, and lire, and limb so fair; + But the loathly dame of the Hazelrig, + She ruined his peace for evermair." + +"Lo, my son," answered the friar, "thy thoughts are wandering in a +wilderness. I only ask thee wherein I have offended thee. For as mine +hand is, so is mine heart; and, as my soul liveth, I know not in what +respect I have done thee wrong." + + "I have not done thee wrong, fair May, + I have not done thee wrong, + But the cup of death has passed my lips, + And my life will not be long. + +"No, no; dame Delany, you need not bathe my temples. I am not raving. I +am not even hurt. The mischievous beast made my horse throw me, but I am +nothing the worse." + +The friar, not being able to make any thing of the poet himself, applied +to the rest, and was soon informed by Tam, that "he was overheard trying +to gar the lassie learn the black art, and courting her to nae good; and +the poet grew jealous, and was for being revenged." + +The friar uttered a loud groan for the ignorance of his associates; but, +hopeless of making any thing of them at such a period, he only began to +moralise in a general manner. The poet was again gotten to mount; and +shortly after they reached the ancient town of Selkirk, where they +halted and refreshed themselves at the monastery of the Cistertians. +There the laird got his wound dressed, and his dilapidated robes +refitted; and that same evening the party reached the castle of Aikwood, +the residence of the celebrated wizard Master Michael Scott. + +END OF VOL. 1. + + + * * * * * + + +Transcriber's Notes + + +This text is a reproduction of the 1822 edition. It includes many +dialect and archaic words and spellings, as well as many typographical +errors which have not been changed. + +On p. 324, the last three letters and comma in "says Jock to himself," +are not clearly printed and are conjectural. + +On p. 328, the comma in "the king's name, and in" is unclear. + +The spellings "M'Alpin" and "MacAlpin" are both used. + +The spellings "Gibby" and "Gibbie" are both used. + +The spellings "lor'" and "lor" are both used. + +Consonants are inconsistently doubled in words such as "galloped" or +"galloped". + + +The text includes many examples of inconsistent hyphenation. The +following are inconsistently hyphenated or printed as two words: + +a-going + +a-mind + +auld-warld + +bow-shot + +castle-green + +half-moon + +safe-conduct + +to-morrow + +to-night + +cheek-bone + + +The following are inconsistently hyphenated or printed as one word: + +moss-trooper (or moss-man) + +Yard-bire + +high-way + +sweet-meats + + +The following are inconsistently printed as one or two words: + +d'ye + +meantime + + +The text contains the following apparent errors: + +p. 10 mis-spelling "proving succesful" + +p. 36 mis-spelling "glistening with raprures" + +p. 38 duplicate word in "at at the same time" + +p. 61 missing quotation mark in "ye hae some southron spies" + +p. 68 extra quotation mark in "less beard."" + +p. 69 missing quotation mark in "earldom on that head," + +p. 90 duplicate word in "written a a letter" + +p. 98 missing quotation mark in "content, said Colin:" + +p. 104 wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "Charlie," Thanks t' ye," + +p. 115 wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "Douglas;" and," + +p. 141 missing quotation mark in "and I submit to my fate" + +p. 168 mis-spelling "Qnhat" + +p. 172 missing apostrophe "I dont like such" + +p. 178 Missing first quotation mark in "MARGARET."" + +p. 178 Duplicate word in "I'll have have her nose cut off" + +p. 190 mis-spelling "most incongrous thing" + +p. 200 missing quotation mark in "--it is not with you" + +p. 210 missing space in "arrived in the campin" + +p. 215 mis-spelling "shunning his profered" + +p. 220 mis-spelling "returned the Douglas, noding" + +p. 227 comma in place of full stop in "which they stood, This" + +p. 233 wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "Longspeare," that" + +p. 249 missing quotation mark in "lay than I did."" + +p. 254 wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "Tam Craik;"" + +p. 261 mis-spelling "this peace of intelligence" + +p. 274 mis-spelling "_ang froid_" + +p. 275 missing quotation mark in "but the horses of our enemies" + +p. 305 colon in place of full stop in "place they were: But from" + +p. 308 single, wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "there are six of + us,'said" + +p. 309 wrongly-spaced quotation mark in "housekeeper:"--Can no" + +p. 339 missing quotation mark in "hunger him till he dee." + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Three Perils of Man, Vol. 1 (of 3), by +James Hogg + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THREE PERILS OF MAN *** + +***** This file should be named 39776.txt or 39776.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/7/7/39776/ + +Produced by Henry Flower, Carlo Traverso and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from scanned images of public domain +material from the Google Print project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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