Waverley; Or 'Tis Sixty Years Since — Complete

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER L

  RATHER UNIMPORTANT

  'I was turned back,' said Fergus to Edward, as they galloped fromPreston to Pinkie House, 'by a message from the Prince. But I supposeyou know the value of this most noble Colonel Talbot as a prisoner. Heis held one of the best officers among the red-coats, a special friendand favourite of the Elector himself, and of that dreadful hero, theDuke of Cumberland, who has been summoned from his triumphs at Fontenoyto come over and devour us poor Highlanders alive. Has he been tellingyou how the bells of St. James's ring? Not "turn again, Whittington,"like those of Bow, in the days of yore?'

  'Fergus!' said Waverley, with a reproachful look.

  'Nay, I cannot tell what to make of you,' answered the Chief ofMac-Ivor, 'you are blown about with every wind of doctrine. Here havewe gained a victory unparalleled in history, and your behaviour ispraised by every living mortal to the skies, and the Prince is eager tothank you in person, and all our beauties of the White Rose are pullingcaps for you;--and you, the preux chevalier of the day, are stooping onyour horse's neck like a butter-woman riding to market, and looking asblack as a funeral!'

  'I am sorry for poer Colonel Gardiner's death; he was once very kind tome.'

  'Why, then, be sorry for five minutes, and then be glad again; hischance to-day may be ours to-morrow; and what does it signify? The nextbest thing to victory is honourable death; but it is a PIS-ALLER, andone would rather a foe had it than one's self.'

  'But Colonel Talbot has informed me that my father and uncle are bothimprisoned by government on my account.'

  'We'll put in bail, my boy; old Andrew Ferrara [Footnote: See Note 10]shall lodge his security; and I should like to see him put to justifyit in Westminster Hall!'

  'Nay, they are already at liberty, upon bail of a more civicdisposition.'

  'Then why is thy noble spirit cast down, Edward? Dost think that theElector's ministers are such doves as to set their enemies at libertyat this critical moment if they could or durst confine and punish them?Assure thyself that either they have no charge against your relationson which they can continue their imprisonment, or else they are afraidof our friends, the jolly Cavaliers of old England. At any rate, youneed not be apprehensive upon their account; and we will find somemeans of conveying to them assurances of your safety.'

  Edward was silenced but not satisfied with these reasons. He had nowbeen more than once shocked at the small degree of sympathy whichFergus exhibited for the feelings even of those whom he loved, if theydid not correspond with his own mood at the time, and more especiallyif they thwarted him while earnest in a favourite pursuit. Fergussometimes indeed observed that he had offended Waverley, but, alwaysintent upon some favourite plan or project of his own, he was neversufficiently aware of the extent or duration of his displeasure, sothat the reiteration of these petty offences somewhat cooled thevolunteer's extreme attachment to his officer.

  The Chevalier received Waverley with his usual favour, and paid himmany compliments on his distinguished bravery. He then took him apart,made many inquiries concerning Colonel Talbot, and when he had receivedall the information which Edward was able to give concerning him andhis connexions, he proceeded--'I cannot but think, Mr. Waverley, thatsince this gentleman is so particularly connected with our worthy andexcellent friend, Sir Everard Waverley, and since his lady is of thehouse of Blandeville, whose devotion to the true and loyal principlesof the Church of England is so generally known, the Colonel's ownprivate sentiments cannot be unfavorable to us, whatever mask he mayhave assumed to accommodate himself to the times.'

  'If I am to judge from the language he this day held to me, I am underthe necessity of differing widely from your Royal Highness.'

  'Well, it is worth making a trial at least. I therefore entrust youwith the charge of Colonel Talbot, with power to act concerning him asyou think most advisable; and I hope you will find means ofascertaining what are his real dispositions towards our Royal Father'srestoration.'

  'I am convinced,' said Waverley, bowing,'that if Colonel Talbot choosesto grant his parole, it may be securely depended upon; but if herefuses it, I trust your Royal Highness will devolve on some otherperson than the nephew of his friend the task of laying him under thenecessary restraint.'

  'I will trust him with no person but you,' said the Prince, smiling,but peremptorily repeating his mandate; 'it is of importance to myservice that there should appear to be a good intelligence between you,even if you are unable to gain his confidence in earnest. You willtherefore receive him into your quarters, and in case he declinesgiving his parole, you must apply for a proper guard. I beg you will goabout this directly. We return to Edinburgh tomorrow.'

  Being thus remanded to the vicinity of Preston, Waverley lost the Baronof Bradwardine's solemn act of homage. So little, however, was he atthis time in love with vanity, that he had quite forgotten the ceremonyin which Fergus had laboured to engage his curiosity. But next day aformal 'Gazette' was circulated, containing a detailed account of thebattle of Gladsmuir, as the Highlanders chose to denominate theirvictory. It concluded with an account of the court afterwards held bythe Chevalier at Pinkie House, which contained this among otherhigh-flown descriptive paragraphs:--

  'Since that fatal treaty which annihilates Scotland as an independentnation, it has not been our happiness to see her princes receive, andher nobles discharge, those acts of feudal homage which, founded uponthe splendid actions of Scottish valour, recall the memory of her earlyhistory, with the manly and chivalrous simplicity of the ties whichunited to the Crown the homage of the warriors by whom it wasrepeatedly upheld and defended. But on the evening of the 20th ourmemories were refreshed with one of those ceremonies which belong tothe ancient days of Scotland's glory. After the circle was formed,Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine of that ilk, colonel in the service, etc.,etc., etc., came before the Prince, attended by Mr. D. Macwheeble, theBailie of his ancient barony of Bradwardine (who, we understand, hasbeen lately named a commissary), and, under form of instrument, claimedpermission to perform to the person of his Royal Highness, asrepresenting his father, the service used and wont, for which, under acharter of Robert Bruce (of which the original was produced andinspected by the Masters of his Royal Highness's Chancery for the timebeing), the claimant held the barony of Bradwardine and lands ofTully-Veolan. His claim being admitted and registered, his RoyalHighness having placed his foot upon a cushion, the Baron ofBradwardine, kneeling upon his right knee, proceeded to undo thelatchet of the brogue, or low-heeled Highland shoe, which our gallantyoung hero wears in compliment to his brave followers. When this wasperformed, his Royal Highness declared the ceremony completed; and,embracing the gallant veteran, protested that nothing but compliancewith an ordinance of Robert Bruce could have induced him to receiveeven the symbolical performance of a menial office from hands which hadfought so bravely to put the crown upon the head of his father. TheBaron of Bradwardine then took instruments in the hands of Mr.Commissary Macwheeble, bearing that all points and circumstances of theact of homage had been rite et solenniter acta et peracta; and acorresponding entry was made in the protocol of the Lord HighChamberlain and in the record of Chancery. We understand that it is incontemplation of his Royal Highness, when his Majesty's pleasure can beknown, to raise Colonel Bradwardine to the peerage, by the title ofViscount Bradwardine of Bradwardine and Tully-Veolan, and that, in themeanwhile, his Royal Highness, in his father's name and authority, hasbeen pleased to grant him an honourable augmentation to his paternalcoat of arms, being a budget or boot-jack, disposed saltier-wise with anaked broadsword, to be borne in the dexter cantle of the shield; and,as an additional motto, on a scroll beneath, the words, "Draw and drawoff."'

  'Were it not for the recollection of Fergus's raillery,' thoughtWaverley to himself, when he had perused this long and grave document,'how very tolerably would all this sound, and how little should I havethought of connecting it with any ludicrous idea! Well, after all,everything has its fair as well as its seamy side; and truly I
do notsee why the Baron's boot-jack may not stand as fair in heraldry as thewater-buckets, waggons, cart-wheels, plough-socks, shuttles,candlesticks, and other ordinaries, conveying ideas of anything savechivalry, which appear in the arms of some of our most ancient gentry.'

  This, however, is an episode in respect to the principal story.

  When Waverley returned to Preston and rejoined Colonel Talbot, he foundhim recovered from the strong and obvious emotions with which aconcurrence of unpleasing events had affected him. He had regained hisnatural manner, which was that of an English gentleman and soldier,manly, open and generous, but not unsusceptible of prejudice againstthose of a different country, or who opposed him in political tenets.When Waverley acquainted Colonel Talbot with the Chevalier's purpose tocommit him to his charge, 'I did not think to have owed so muchobligation to that young gentleman,' he said, 'as is implied in thisdestination. I can at least cheerfully join in the prayer of the honestPresbyterian clergyman, that, as he has come among us seeking anearthly crown, his labours may be speedily rewarded with a heavenlyone. [Footnote: The clergyman's name was Mac-Vicar. Protected by thecannon of the Castle, he preached every Sunday in the West Kirk whilethe Highlanders were in possession of Edinburgh, and it was in presenceof some of the Jacobites that he prayed for Prince Charles Edward inthe terms quoted in the text.] I shall willingly give my parole not toattempt an escape without your knowledge, since, in fact, it was tomeet you that I came to Scotland; and I am glad it has happened evenunder this predicament. But I suppose we shall be but a short timetogether. Your Chevalier (that is a name we may both give to him), withhis plaids and blue caps, will, I presume, be continuing his crusadesouthward?'

  'Not as I hear; I believe the army makes some stay in Edinburgh tocollect reinforcements.'

  'And to besiege the Castle?' said Talbot, smiling sarcastically. 'Well,unless my old commander, General Preston, turn false metal, or theCastle sink into the North Loch, events which I deem equally probable,I think we shall have some time to make up our acquaintance. I have aguess that this gallant Chevalier has a design that I should be yourproselyte; and, as I wish you to be mine, there cannot be a more fairproposal than to afford us fair conference together. But, as I spoketoday under the influence of feelings I rarely give way to, I hope youwill excuse my entering again upon controversy till we are somewhatbetter acquainted.'