by James Hogg
CHAPTER IX.
O I hae seen the gude auld day, The day o' pride and chieftain glory, When royal Stuarts bore the sway, And ne'er heard tell o' Whig nor Tory. Though lyart be my locks and gray, And eild has crook'd me down,--what matter? I'll dance and sing ae ither day, That day our King comes o'er the water.
_Jacobite Song._
From the time of the taking of the castle until the arrival of KingRobert, was an interval of high festivity. The Border chiefs andyeomen went home to their respective places of abode with abundantspoil, having been loaded with rich presents from the Douglas, as wellas their share of Sir Ringan's numberless booties, which he alwaysdivided among them with great liberality; and it was computed that, inthe course of that predatory warfare, he drove thirty thousanddomestic animals out of the English territory. The Scottish Borderdistricts were never so well stocked before. For a century previous tothat, they had lain waste, having been entirely depopulated, and leftno better than a hunting forest. That reign enriched them, and itshappy effects have never since been obliterated.
Among other things that happened in this joyful interval, old PeterChisholm received a message one day, informing him, that the strangerto whom he had betrothed his daughter would appear next day to claimthe fulfilment of his promise.
"They'll eat up every thing that's within the house," said Peter: "Ifhe will have her, it wad suit better for us to meet them at Hawick.The half o' the expences there wad lye to him at ony rate; and if hemade weel through wi' his hides, mayhap he wad pay the halewort. He'sa brave chield enough, it wad appear; but I wish he had fawn aff thetap o' his humphed ill-smelled hides, and broken the bane o' his neck;for it will be a wae sight to me to see the flower of a' the Chisholmsgang away wi' an English cadger. Oh, wae be to the day!"
"What is a man but his word, father?" said Dan. "I think the gallantway in which the stranger behaved entitles him well, not only to theflower o' the Chisholms, but to the best in the house beside."
"Ay, ay, that's aye the gate! fling away! fling away! till ye'll soonfling away every plack your auld father has gathered for ye. But, harkye, callant Dan: Gin ye will stand by me, I'll gainsay the fellow yet,and refuse to gie him my Bess."
"Hear what Bess says hersel," said Dan, "and then I'll gie my answer."
Bess was sent for, who declared not only her willingness, but herresolution to abide by her father's agreement; but, added, that if abetter came before him, and made her an offer, she would not wait aminute on her leather-merchant.
"Heard ever ony body the like o' that?' said Peter: "What trow ye isthe chance for that? How lang hae ye hung on the tree wi' a red cheekan' a ripe lip, and never man to streek out the hand to pu' ye? Therewas aince a neighbour I had some hopes o'; an' he has a good hearttoo, for a' his jibes, an ane durst but tell him!"
Peter said these last words to himself, as he was turning about toleave the apartment,--for he was at that time forming in his mind oneof those superlative schemes which strike dotage as plans of themightiest and most acute device, but which youth and energy laugh at.This was no other than to be early astir next morning, and, before anyof his family was aware, gallop over to Craik, a matter of sevenmiles, and beg of Will Laidlaw to come and run off with his daughterbefore she fell into the hands of an English skin-man. This grandscheme he actually put in practice, but met Laidlaw and his jovialparty by the way, who wondered not a little when they saw old Patecoming gallopping up the Fanesh ridge, having his great pike staffheaved over his shoulder, with which he was every now and thensaluting the far loin of his mare, and that with an energy that madeall his accoutrements wallop. He never perceived the bridal party tillclose on them, and till he was asked by half a score voices at once,"What's the great haste, Castleweary! Where are ye gawn at sic a ratesae early in the morning? Are your ha's burnt? Are your cattle driven?Have the Ha's and the Reids been o'er the fells aince mair?" And manyother such questions were put, before Peter got a word spoken or athought thought. He only bit his lip, and looked very angry, at beingcaught in such a plight. But seeing Will Laidlaw at the head of hiskinsmen, he took him aside, and imparted his grand secret. Will'ssides were like to burst with laughter. He, however, containedhimself, while Peter went on "But ye had better turn a' that clanagain, wha hae nought ado at a' wi' us but put things to waste. Theless din about the thing the better."
"But how are we to answer the skin-merchant when he comes then,Castleweary? That tremendous buyer of hides will hew us all topieces."
"Ay, ye maun just take a' the blame on yoursels, you and Bess. He'llno mak muckle at the Laidlaw's hands, or he'll do what never ony didafore him."
"I certainly have the greatest respect for your daughter; but timesare hard and dangerous, and I have nae great opinion o' marriage."
"Come, now, I like to hear that; for ye ken fock maun ay read aLaidlaw backward; and if the times are hard, I shall be satisfied witha very small dowry. Perhaps the matter o' ten tup hogs aff theCrib-law, sax owsen aff Hosecot, and----
"Hold there, my old friend; and I will run all risks, and take awayyour daughter Elizabeth; let the skin-man look to himself."
"Weel, God bless ye wi' her. Ye'll get the flower of a' the Chisholms,and the best bairn o' the bike."
Bess was a winsome and a blithe bride that day, and though the woundsshe received in the engagement with the marauders were not quitewhole, she danced the best at the wedding, and was the first thatlighted on Craik-green. Dan entertained his fellow-soldiers nobly; butold Peter was terribly in the fidgets, not only at the huge waste ofmeat and drink that he now saw going on, but for fear of the arrivalof the outrageous and ill-used hide-merchant, and never till his dyingday could he be brought to identify his son-in-law with the strangerto whom he first promised his daughter. But for many a day, when thedogs barked, he hasted out in great agitation, lest the dealer inskins and his associates should come upon him unawares. Sandie Potthaving found a very kind, attentive, and, withal, a very indulgentnurse, in the younger daughter, May Chisholm, there chanced twoweddings at Castleweary on the same day.
Among other matters of that eventful period, Isaac the curate mentionsalso a petition of the friar to Sir Ringan, that he would use hisinterest to get the youthful bard, who had come an adventurer into hisarmy, replaced in his rights of the lordship of Ravensworth; andlikewise that he would grant him the captive maid, Delany, for hisbride. These important connections had never before come to theWarden's ears; and when he heard the extraordinary adventures, andearly misfortunes of the twain, he manifested the greatest concern fortheir welfare. But the maid, by the laws of those days, was the rightand property of Sir Charles Scott, who seemed unwilling to part withher, and she not less so to be divided from him, now that his latehonours became him so well. This was a distressing consideration tothe poet, and he would in nowise leave her, to lay claim to hispaternal estate, till he saw how matters would turn in his favour. Butthe friar still encouraged him, assuring him, "that he should berestored to the house and to the inheritance of his fathers; and thatthe fairest among the daughters of women, even the sole remaining stemof the house of Galli the scribe, should be unto him as a spouse and acomforter."
But among all the festivities at Roxburgh, and all the mightypreparations for the reception of royalty, and the spending of theChristmas holidays in such company, the countenance of Douglas wasmanifestly overcast. He affected mirth and gaiety, but a hideous andterrific gloom frequently settled on his dark manly countenance. Theprincess's shameful and untimely death hung heavy on his mind, and thesecret of it still heavier. His conscience upbraided him, not with anyblame in the matter, for he was alike ignorant of the rank and sex ofhis fantastical page: But her devotion to his cause and person; themanner in which she had exerted herself by putting her rival into hishands; the love-tokens slily given to him by her own dear self; heradmonitory letters; and all her whimsical and teazing inuendos, cameover his mind, and combined in rendering her memory ten times dearerto him th
an ever he conceived that of human being could have been. Andthen, how was all this requited? By bad humour, disrespect, and atotal disregard of her danger and sufferings. The most enthusiastic,affectionate, and accomplished lady of the age in which she lived, wassuffered to be put down as a common criminal, without one effortbeing made to save her; and that delicate and beautiful form thrustdown into a common charnel-house among the vulgar dead. Knowing allthese things as he did, how could he again behold her royal parents?and knowing all these things as he did, why had he not relatedthe lamentable facts as they had happened, and conducted himselfaccordingly? There was fixed the acme of his dilemma. The detail ofthat lady's love and fate rose before his mind's eye, like a darkunseemly arch, of which this was the key-stone; and there was a powerstood above it that held his soul in controul, and beyond that hecould not pass. Was it indeed true, that the spirit of his royal andbeloved mistress walked the earth, and from day to day laid her sternbehests upon him? And could it be that such a spirit attended upon himin his most secret retirements; and, though unseen, watched overall his motions, words, and actions? Or how else could the verythoughts and purposes of his heart, together with his most secrettransactions, be repeated to him by this holy monk? Nay, though he hadnever actually seen this apparition, he had heard his mistress's voiceone night speaking to him as from behind the hangings, and charginghim, as he respected his own and her soul's welfare, to keep her fateconcealed from all flesh.
Whenever the Douglas got leisure to think at all, amid the hurry ofhis military duties, these cogitations preyed on his mind; and onenight when they had thrown him into a deep reverie, the monk Benjaminwas announced.
"I cannot see him to-night: Tell him to come and speak with meto-morrow," said Douglas.
"He craves only a few moments audience, Lord of Douglas; and he says,that, unless he is admitted, a visitor of another nature will wait onyou forthwith."
"What is the meaning of this?" said Douglas: "Must my privacy bebroken in upon, and my mind placed on the rack, at the pleasure ofevery fanatical devotee? Tell him that I will not be disturbedto-night. But--I think not what I am saying. Admit him. Well, reverendand holy father--madman rather! What is your important business withme?"
"That saintly vision has again been with me."
"Out upon thee, maniac and liar! There has been no such thing withthee; and thou hast trumped up a story in order to keep the power ofthe Douglas under thy ghostly and interested controul."
"If I am a visionary, Lord, it is for thyself to judge. I speaknothing as of myself, but the words of one that has sent me. If thoudarest say they are the visions of a maniac, in future I keep them tomyself, and do you abide by the consequences."
"Thinkest thou that I will not, or that I dare not abide by anyconsequences? Hence! Begone!"
"Rash precipitate man! thou shall repent this! What interest can Ipossibly have in whispering these truths in thine ear? Did I ever askor hint at a favour from thee? Or was aught ever, save thy ownwelfare, the purport of my messages? Adieu, my lord! There mustanother commissioner wait on you presently, and one who will elude themost vigilant of your sentinels."
"Stay, Benjamin: Thou art, indeed, blameless. If thou hast ought towarn me of, say it and have done, for I am not in a mood to be trifledwith."
"I have been bid to caution you to look to yourself, for that there istreason within the walls of this castle. Will you answer me one or twoqueries truly and seriously, that I may know whether the being thatcommissioned me be a true spirit or a false one?"
"I will."
"Have you got a private offer to a prodigious amount for the ransom ofLady Jane Howard?"
"Monk, thou hast had this from hell.--I have."
"Which thou hast rejected, with the secret intent of asking her inmarriage yourself, should circumstances concur to favour the device?"
"It is false!--false as the source whence thou hadst it."
"Ah! Then have I done! my informant is a false one."
"Or, if I had, it was some passing thought, which no man can gainsay,and for which none are accountable."
"Neither is it true that you visited her in disguise last night?"
The Douglas gazed upon the monk in silence, with an eye in which therewas an unnatural gleam of madness. He drew his breath three times, asif he would have spoken, but made no answer. The monk continued:"If these are truths, then list to the following behest,--if theyare false thou needest not regard it: There is a conspiracy amongthy people for the rescue of Lady Jane. They have been bribed byunheard-of rewards. Thy guards are of course to be cut down, otherwisethe rescue cannot be effected; and if thy own head is added to theconvoy, the guerdons are all to be doubled."
The Douglas started to his feet, and held up both his hands: "By theblessed Virgin it is true!" exclaimed he--"True every word of it!There have been petitions made to me for the use of certain keysalready. Ay, and I have granted some of them too. I see through a partof the conspiracy. But I'll sift the traitors! I'll make carrion ofthem."
"If I am rightly informed, it may yet be prevented without being mademanifest, which would be greatly preferable. Beware of Kinlossie. Andlist, for my time is expired: If you value your own name, see not theface of Lady Jane again, till you present her to your sovereign."
The monk retired with precipitation, and left the Douglas overwhelmedwith tumultuary and adverse passions. "Still the Lady Jane Howard!"said he to himself: "Nothing but the Lady Jane Howard! Is it possiblethis can be an agent of hers? But the inference contradicts the wholescope and tendency of his missions. I must investigate this matterwithout delay." He raised his small bugle to his mouth, for in thosedays that answered all the purposes of a house bell, and many more.Every officer in castle or camp knew, by the blast blown, whenhis personal attendance was required. Douglas lifted his to hismouth,--but before he sounded it, the knight in waiting announced "alady." No bolder heart than that of Douglas beat in a Scottish bosom.Nevertheless it quaked; for he thought of the threatening of the monk,that another commissioner should visit him, whom his guards should notbe able to repel. His agitation was now wrought up to the highestpitch, for he attempted to pronounce some words, of which the knightknew not the import,--probably it was a command to expel her, or tocall in some guards; but before the order could be understood orcomplied with, the lady herself entered. "There she is, my lord!" saidthe knight in a whisper; "and none of us know whence or how she camehither."
The lady came slowly by, and the knight retired with all speed. Shebore indeed the figure and form of the late princess, but the roses ofyouth and beauty were gone, and in their room a clayey palenesspervaded the features, which were even whiter than the cambric bywhich the face was surrounded. The figure held up its right hand as itadvanced, and fixed its eyes on the earl; but no man to this day everknew any thing farther of that conference. The knight in waiting,shortly after he had retired, heard a noise within as of a man chokingand endeavouring to cry out; and, bringing two more attendants withhim, they all three rushed into the apartment, and found the Douglasfallen back on the embroidered couch in a state of mental abstraction,or rather of total insensibility, and the lady was gone. Theyimmediately applied themselves to the restoration of their lord, whichthey effected in a short time. Animation soon returned, but reasonwavered in a state of insensibility for several hours. During thatperiod he had for a number of times inquired who admitted thatstranger, or who saw her depart? The men assuring him each time, thatno one saw her till she was observed standing in the anti-chamber; andthat none was either admitted into the citadel or seen depart, save thestarveling monk who attended him frequently as his confessor. "There hasbeen another lady," they added, begging admission to your presence for awhole day and night, which has always been refused here, in consequenceof your peremptory order. She has at the last resorted to the meansalways at a woman's command, tears and threatenings; and she vows, thatif she is not admitted to an audience, you shall dearly repent it."
"What, another still?"
said the Douglas: "No, I'll see no more womento-day, nor to-morrow, nor next day. Do you know, Eveldon, what Ithink of women?"
"No, Lord Douglas, but well what I think of them myself, which is,that they are nature's masterpieces."
"The pests of society, Eveldon. I deem them subordinate creatures,created solely for man's disquietude. The warrior is naturallysurrounded by dangers; but, till he engages with women, he risessuperior to them all; it is then that his troubles and perils begin.No, I'll see no more women to-night."
"Might I advise, my lord, it would be, that you should give heradmission. It appears so strange to see a lovely and most courtly damestanding weeping at your gate. The very commonest of the peoplesympathise with her, and blame your neglect. Beshrew me, if any knightin the realm would refuse such a suit; no, not the King himself."
"Do you think, Sir John of Eveldon, that I can submit to be ruled bywomen and their agents? I, who never held them as ought save as beingsformed for man's pleasures or his interests. My hands are free oftheir blood, Sir John,--my heart, if ever it was in bonds, is nowemancipated; and yet, by their means, has my life of late been held inthraldom."
"Say that I may admit this dame, my lord."
"Well, be it so, and let us be quit of her. In the mean time, let theguards be tripled, and stand to your arms. I have had strangeintelligence to-night; if true, there will be a dangerous commotion inless than an hour hence."
"The forces of the two kingdoms cannot disturb you here to-night, LordDouglas."
"See to it,--there is treason within our walls. Who are on guard?"
"The Gordons, and Lindsay of Kinlossie's men."
"The Gordons I can trust,--let the others be changed without delay,Sir John, and see them consorted to the camp.--Call up the Douglassesof the Dales, and let them look to themselves. Admit that petitionerin whom you are so much interested, and call me on the slightestappearance of insubordination."
Sir John did as he was commanded, and forthwith introduced MaryKirkmichael of Balmedie. The impatience and mortification that theDouglas manifested under this trial is not to be described, for hehad promised to give her information of her royal mistress as soon ashe had it in his power, and yet he neither had the heart nor theresolution, after the charges he had received of secrecy, to tell herof her mistress' woeful fate. At Mary's first entrance into hispresence, she rushed forward and kneeled at his feet, crying, in themost passionate manner, "O, my dear lord, tell me what has become ofmy mistress. This suspense is dreadful. The castle is now in yourhands, and all the prisoners, if such there were; but there areshocking insinuations whispered abroad. Her father and mother are ontheir way to visit you here; and what shall I say to them for the lossof my dear mistress? O, Lord Douglas, if you know of her, as know ofher you must, tell me where I can see her. Dead or alive, let me butsee her. Or tell me when I shall see her."
"Lady, that is more than I can tell you; but if it will give you anyheart's ease, as certainly as I speak to you I saw her in thisapartment to-night."
"Blessed are the news to me, my lord! But why, then, won't you admitme to her? Send me instantly to her presence, Lord Douglas, for I knowshe cannot be in any state of concealment in which my company cannotbe welcome. I implore of you to send me forthwith to her presence."
"Send you to her presence? That would be a cruel act! Dame, you andyour sex have moved my spirit from its erect and heavenward position.It is like a tree bowed by the wind, and the branch of memory isstripped of its fruit. Did I say I saw the Princess Margaret in thisapartment?--You must not credit it. There's an incoherence in theprinciple, or nature has hasty productions not accounted for. You mustnot believe it, lady; for till the porter opens the great gate to you,your royal mistress you shall not see again."
"Are not all the gates opened or shut at your controul, my lord? Youspeak to me in paradoxes. I comprehend it all well enough, however. Iwill go in or out at any gate; only, in one word, conduct me to mymistress."
"Hell has no plague like this! No, there are no other fiends that cantorment a man in this manner." He blew his bugle.--"Eveldon, conductthis dame to her mistress. She in the great state prison, you know,the receptacle of royalty and thraldom, and let me not hear anotherword. I'll throw him over the battlements that next mentions the nameof a woman to me."
The lady curtsied, and thanked the Douglas; and Sir John, mistakinghis lord's frantic sarcasm for a serious command, hurried MaryKirkmichael up stairs to the topmost apartment of the great tower, andushered her in, without farther ceremony, to Lady Jane Howard and herattendant. Lady Jane rose and came running toward them; but, seeingwho approached, she started, and retreated to her place. As the twoascended the narrow staircase, there was a great commotion in thesquare below, therefore, Sir John turned the key and hastened downagain. The noise increased, and he heard there was a stern engagement,in which the name of Lady Jane was given as a rallying word on the oneside. At the bottom of the stair the conspirators met him, havingbroken through the ranks in that direction; for the Gordons flew toguard the apartments of the Douglas, not knowing what the object ofthe insurrection was. Sir John had just time to shut a double-barreddoor in front of them; and, retreating up one storey, he shouted fromthe balcony to apprize the Douglas, else the Lady Jane Howard wasgone. One from the ranks ran to apprize the captain, but losinghimself among the intricacies of the entrance, he shouted out, "LordDouglas! Lord Douglas!" with the utmost vociferation. The Douglas wassitting in a deep reverie; his drawn sword was lying on the tablebeside him. He heaved it above his shoulder, and running to the doorof the apartment, opened it, and asked the fellow, who was stillbawling in the dark, what it was? "'Tis the Lady Jane Howard!"answered he, in the same shouting voice. "Damnation on the tongue thatsays it!" exclaimed the Douglas in ire: "Am I never more to hear aughtrepeated but the names of women? Do you know the penalty of that word,recreant? I have sworn to throw you from the battlements, but thatshall not prevent me from cleaving you to the earth in the firstplace. Women! women! Nothing but one woman after another! I'll cutdown every man that dares name one to me in that manner!" As he saidthese words, he rushed toward the soldier with his heavy sword heaved,but the man, flying with all expedition, escaped into the court. TheDouglas followed him, and was soon in the midst of a confusedengagement; and hearing the conspirators shouting the same name, "LadyJane Howard!" he took it as in derision, and flew on their ranks withsuch fury, that every man at whom he struck fell to the ground. TheGordons followed him up, crying "A Douglas!" but the conspiratorswere the stronger party, and would ultimately have prevailed, had notthe Douglasses of the Dales arrived to change guard as formerlyordered; and then, Kinlossie having fallen in an attempt to slay theDouglas, his party surrendered. There was a strong troop of Englishhorsemen waiting on the other side of the Teviot with a raft, to whomshe was to have been let down from the wall. But the informationlodged by the monk not only frustrated the whole of this desperateexpedition of the Howards, but saved the life of Douglas. For theconspirators receiving the unexpected orders to depart to the camp,were driven to make the attempt prematurely; before their measuresformerly concocted were ripe for execution.
Of all the circumstances that had hitherto occurred, the reflectionupon this bewildered the mind of Douglas the most. The manner inwhich these secret combinations had been revealed to him filled hisheart both with gratitude and amazement; and as all endeavours atreconciling them with nature or reason only increased the mystery, heresolved to shake the load from his spirits and think no more of them.That he might effect this with greater promptitude, he kept his noblekinsmen constantly about him by night as well as by day. The Redhoughalso returned from his visit to Mountcomyn, as did all the knights andgentlemen commoners of his party from their respective homes, mountedin their most splendid accoutrements, to greet their Sovereign, renderhim an account of their services, and proffer him due homage. But,among all these Border chiefs, there was none whose appearanceattracted so much admiration as that of Sir Charles Scott of Rae
burnand Yardbire. Before that time, the only attention he had ever paid tohis habiliments, was that of procuring the best suits of armour thatcould possibly be obtained. As the leader of the Warden's vanguardcolumn, and his right-hand files in line, he knew it behoved him to bewell armed, and in that article he was never deficient. But now thathe had to appear before his Sovereign in full pride of array, as theknight of Raeburn and the Warden's right-hand man, he deemed itrequisite to have an equipment becoming his rank; so he rummaged theold oaken wardrobe and armour-chest at Yardbire, and from the knightlyspoils of ages got himself fitted out, by a skilful hand, in a stylethat amazed all his former compeers. Both himself and his horse Corbiewere literally covered with burnished gold; while the playfulrestiveness of the one, and the manly and almost colossal figure ofthe other, rendered the appearance of our warrior a sight truly worthyof admiration. The activity and elasticity of all his motions,combined with his invincible muscular strength, and urbanity ofcountenance and manners, rendered Charlie at all times an interestingobject; but till once he appeared in his plumes and light armourstudded with gold, no one could have believed that he was so comelyand graceful a personage. At the same time the very consciousness ofhis appearance, and the rank that he was obliged to support, raisedhis personal carriage and address many degrees, as by a charm; sothat whenever the Warden and his train presented themselves, strangersalways appeared disposed to move their bonnets to Sir Charles, whomthey took for a king, or an earl at the very least.
The arrival of these heroes added a great deal to the hilarity,tilting, and other military amusements at Roxburgh; until at last the24th of December arrived, and with it the word that the King and Queenwere on their way to Roxburgh, and approaching by the wild path ofSoutra-edge. There was no bustle at the castle or city of Roxburgh,save by the city dames and maidens, for whom the approaching festivalappeared a glorious epocha; for since the days of Edward Longshanks,who kept his court there for some weeks, there had not been a crownedhead within the precincts of that illustrious city. Consequently, withthese fair denizens, and with the merchants who attended that martonce a year from many of the towns on the Continent, it was a time ofhurry and preparation; but with the warriors it was far otherwise.They were ready before; every one being alike anxious to fulfil thepart entrusted to him,--so that they had nothing ado but to mount andride in the order assigned to them.
First of all rode Sir Ringan Redhough, supported by all the gentlemen ofthe middle and west marches--the Scotts, the Elliots, the Armstrongs,and the Olivers, were the most powerful of these: And next in order camethe Laidlaws, the Brydens, the Glendenyngs, and the Potts. After themrode the copper-nosed Kers, the towzy Turnbulls, and the red-wuddRidderfords; for in those days every sept had some additionalappellative or by-name. These were also mixed with a number of smallersepts, such as the Robsons, the Dicksons, the hurkle-backed Hendersons,and the rough-riding Riddels; and they were all headed by the doughtySir Andrew Ker of Aultonburn. Next in order rode Old Willie Wiliecoat,named also _Willie wi' the white doublet_, the ancestor of the Earls ofHome,--a brave and dauntless character, who for the space of fortyyears had been a sight of terror to the English, with his white jacket.With him rode the gentlemen of his own name, the hard-rackle Homes, thedorty Dunbars, the strait-laced Somervilles, and the Baillies. Then camethe proud Pringles, a powerful sept, mixed with a countless number ofdependent families, headed by Pringle of Galashiels; and after them theGordons, led by Sir John of that ilk.
All these held lands of the Douglas, on conditions of certainservices; they were nevertheless all independent chiefs, theseservices performed; but at this time they attended personally, withtheir kinsmen, to pay their dutiful respects to their Sovereign. Lastof all came the Douglasses, in five separate bodies, every one headedby a lord or knight of the name; and these made up one-third of thewhole cavalcade, the Earl himself being with the last party of all,and most gallantly attended.
The two parties met at Earlston, but the royal party was nothing inpoint of bearing and splendour to that of the Douglasses. The King andQueen travelled each in a litter borne by two gallant steeds. Thesecarriages were very splendid in their decorations, and constructed inthe same way as a sedan chair, and it was truly wonderful with whatvelocity they were borne along. They were contrived for the King'suse, who had a halt, and could not travel on horseback; and theysuited the state of the roads in Scotland at that period exceedingly.Two heralds rode before his Majesty, who introduced the various chiefsto him as he passed, and those others of whose names he enquired,among whom Sir Charles Scott was the first. The Queen and her Mariesalso saluted him along with the Warden. The whole procession then drewup in files until their Majesties passed, after which they fell allinto their places, the order of precedency being then reversed, andthe Douglasses next to the Sovereign. There was no time for delay,considering the season, the darkness of the night, and the shortnessof the day; so they posted on with all manner of expedition, and yetit was dark before they reached the abbey of Kelso. But all the way,by the cloisters, the bridge, and up the High-street of the city ofRoxburgh, there were tiers of torches raised above one another thatmade it lighter than the noon-day. Never was there such a scene ofsplendour witnessed in that ancient and noble city; to which thedarkness of the canopy above, and the glare of torch-light below,added inconceivable grandeur. It seemed as if all the light and beautyof the universe had been confined within that narrow space, forwithout all was blackness impervious to the eye, but within there wasnothing but brilliancy, activity, and joy. Seven score musicalinstruments, and as many trilling but discordant voices, yelled forth,from the one end of the street to the other, that old song beginning,
"The King came to our town; Ca' Cuddie, ca' Cuddie! The King came to our town, Low on the Border."
The trumpets sounded before, and the bugles behind; and the Borderyouths and maidens were filled with enthusiastic delight at thenovelty of the spectacle. They followed with shouts to the castlegate, and then returned to talk of what they had seen, and what theyshould see on the morrow.
The royal party was conducted to the citadel, where every thing was inreadiness for a grand entertainment; and there the Douglas deliveredinto the King's hands the keys of the castle of Roxburgh. His Majestyreceived them most graciously, and thanked him for all the cost,pains, and trouble that he had taken for the good of the realm;and added, that he came prepared in heart and mind to fulfil hisengagements to him in return. There was now a manifest embarrassmenton the part of the Douglas; his countenance changed, and he looked ashe would have asked for the Princess, or, at least, as if some onewere wanting that ought to have been there; but after an agitatedpause, he could only stammer out, that "he was much beholden to hisMajesty, who might at all times command his utmost services withoutbounty or reward."
"I trust that is not as much as to say that you now decline thestipulated reward for this high service," said the King.
"Sire, I see none either for your Majesty to give, or your servant toreceive," said the Douglas; and at the same time he cast a hasty andperturbed glance at the courtiers and warriors ranged around the hall.The king nodded by way of assent to his hint; and at the same timesaid to him, aside, "I understand you, Lord Douglas. You will explainthis gallantry of yours, in keeping your sovereign's daughter inconcealment from her natural guardians, in private to-morrow. But,pray, can we not see our darling to-night?"
"Alas, my liege lord and sovereign," said Douglas, passionately, "sureyou jest with your servant, thus to tax him with that of which he isinnocent."
The King smiled, and waving his hand jocularly, by way of intimatingthat he thought his affected secrecy prudence at that time, left him,and forthwith went halting up among the Borderers, to converse withthem about the affairs of the English marches. The stately andcommanding figure of Charlie Scott, who was like Saul among thepeople, again attracted the King's eyes, and he went familiarlyup to him, and said at once, "Well, gallant knight, how haveaccounts balanced between
you and your southern neighbours sincelast Lammas-tide?"
"Gude faith, my liege lord and king, I can hardly tell you," said SirCharles, without hesitation: "There hae been some hard yerks gaun; butthe last quarter stands rather aboon an average wi' us. It is a kittlebauk that hings o'er the Border, my liege; it is often nae sooner downto the yird than it is up to the starns again."
"Well said, knight! I like your fair wit and free humour," said theKing. "So, upon the whole, you judge that the balance preponderates onour side just now?"
"I should think sae, Sire, when sic a clod as this castle of Roxburghis thrown into the bucket. It is nae witherweight this for the end ofa weigh-bauk. A' the kye o' the Seven Dales winna carry the swee tothe south side again."
The Queen, hearing her lord conversing so freely and jocularly withthis goodly personage, came also up with two of her ladies of honour,in order to put in a word; "for (says Isaac, with great simplicity)women always like to be striking kemps with a handsome and proper man;and the bigger of bone, and the stronger of muscle, the more is he theobject of their admiration."
When Sir Charles had finished the last remark, therefore, the Queensmiled complacently in his face, and said, "You must certainlyacknowledge, gallant knight, that you have been much indebted toheaven for your singular success in this instance?"
Sir Charles nodded his head. "Its a' that ye ken about it, my ladyqueen. But saft be the sough that says it. I trow we were mairindebted to some other place in the first instance."
The Queen held up her hands: "Uh! what does the knight mean? Say, mylord, What? What place?" Then turning to Sir Ringan, who was terriblyin the fidgets about what had dropped from his kinsman, she added, "Itrust our right traist warden and loving cousin did not practise anyof the diabolical arts, so prevalent of late, to accomplish his hardtask?" And then, with a woman's natural volubility, when once hertongue is set a-going, she added, turning to Charlie, without waitingthe Warden's reply, "What place does Sir Charles mean? I hope youwould not insinuate that you had any dealings with the spirits ofdarkness?"
"Not with hell directly, madam," answered Charlie, (for Isaac cannever help calling him occasionally by his old title,) "but I cannasay that we didna get a strong hint frae ane or twa of its principalagents. No offence, my lady queen. I ken by report, that your Majestytakes supreme delight in religious devotions; and, to tell the truth,I have always had a strong hankering that gate mysel', and hope I willhae till the day of my death. But there is ae thing in the whilk I amgreatly altered. Pray, may I take the liberty to ask what is yourMajesty's opinion about the deil?"
"Uh! gracious St Mary be with us! What a question, knight! Why, whatcan I think but that he is the great enemy of God and man, and theauthor of universal evil?"
"There I think differently," said Charlie, bowing very low: "Alwaysbegging my lady queen's gracious pardon, that's the only tenet o' mybelief that is altered;--at least an it be nae fairly altered, it isconsiderably jumbled, and nought like sae steadfast as it was. Alwaysbegging your pardon though, madam."
"I am quite confounded," said the Queen. "Pray, warrior, what do youmean?"
"Plainly this, my lady queen; that I think the old gentleman has beensair abused; and that there are some na meikle better than him whahave been a great deal better ca'd. It may sound a little odd in yourears, but I hae now seen him. I hae sat wi' him; I hae eaten, I haedrunken wi' him; and gin it hadna been for the interference of women,we wad hae partit civilly. But whenever they get a finger in a pye,there will be some ane burnt in the opening o't. Always begging yourMajesty's pardon, though."
"The Queen crossed herself, and counted her beads; but at the sametime bestowed a smile and look of admiration on this extraordinaryhero who had accomplished such singular adventures. These encouragingSir Charles to finish his sentence, he added: "They hae frightit mewi' him lang; and sair has my neb been hauden at the grindstane wi'the fear o' him. I durst hardly say or think that ane of a' themembers of my body was my ain wi' perfect terror. But thae days are a'o'er. An' the bedesmen be gaun to fright me ony langer wi' a deil,they maun get a new ane; for the auld ane winna stand his ground toany extent wi' me on that score. He has doubtless some bad qualities;some wicked vagaries about him; but, upon the whole, I have met wi'waur fellows."
This introduction, in spite of Sir Ringan's endeavours to waive thesubject, led to the whole narrative of the transactions at Aikwood, ofwhich the Queen and her maidens of honour were never wearied,although at the same time many an Ave Maria and Paternoster thesubject cost them. When obliged, from the lateness of the hour, todesist listening to the agitating theme, the Queen was never at restuntil it was renewed next day; nor even then till she had gone andvisited the great hill of Eildon thus miraculously cleft asunder anddivided into three; and even after quaking at the scene, she grewstill more importunate in her inquiries, so that there was nosatisfying her curiosity on the subject of the enchantments of MasterMichael Scott all the time she remained in Roxburgh.
When she retired to her chamber that first night she inquiredfor a confessor, and the knight in waiting introduced the monkBenjamin; intimating, that since the capture of the castle he had beenconfessor-general to all within its walls. The Queen's devotions thatnight were prolonged until an early hour next morning; nevertheless shearose from her sleep greatly refreshed, and in high spirits, and at thebreakfast-table was more than usually gay. Not so with Douglas, overwhose countenance, in spite of all exertions to the contrary, hung aheavy gloom, as well as a manifest abstraction of thought. The King, whowas a person of strong discernment, observed this, and, from someindefinite dread of the cause, involuntarily partook of the sensation.