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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: 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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