Ringan Gilhaize, or, The Covenanters

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Ringan Gilhaize, or, The Covenanters Page 28

by John Galt


  CHAPTER XXVII

  When my grandfather had, in the manner rehearsed, disposed of thosesisters of simplicity in the Kirkgate of Irvine, he returned back in theafternoon to the Earl of Glencairn at Eglinton Castle to report what hehad done; and his Lordship again, in a most laudatory manner, commendedhis prudence and singular mildness of nature, mentioning to the Earl andCountess of Eglinton, then present with him, divers of the missionswherein he had been employed, extolling his zeal, and above all hispiety. And the Lady Eglinton, who was a household character, striving,with great frugality, to augment the substance of her Lord, by keepingher maidens from morning to night eydent at work, some at theirbroidering drums, and some at their distaffs, managing all within thecastle that pertained to her feminine part in a way most exemplary tothe ladies of her time and degree, indeed to ladies of all times anddegrees, promised my grandfather that when he was married, she wouldgive his wife something to help the plenishing of their house, for themeek manner in which he had comported himself toward her friend, thesuperior of the nuns. Then the Earl of Glencairn said,--

  "Gilhaize, madam, is now his own master, and may choose a bride when itpleases himself; for I have covenanted with my friend, your Lord, to lethim have the mailing of Quharist, in excambio for certain of the landsof late pertaining to the abbacy of Kilwinning, the which lie morewithin the vicinage of this castle; and, Gilhaize, here is my warrant totake possession."

  With which words the Earl rose and presented him with a charter for thelands, signed by Eglinton and himself, and he shook him heartily by thehand, saying, that few in all the kingdom had better earned the guerdonof their service than he had done.

  Thus it was that our family came to be settled in the shire of Ayr; forafter my grandfather had taken possession of his fee, and mindful of thevow he had made in the street of Edinburgh on that blessed morning whenJohn Knox, the champion of the true church, arrived from Geneva, he wentinto the east country to espouse Elspa Ruet, if he found her thereuntoinclined, which happily he soon did. For their spirits were in unison;and from the time they first met, they had felt toward one another as ifthey had been acquaint in loving-kindness before, which made himsometimes say, that it was to him a proof and testimony that the soulsof mankind have, perhaps, a living knowledge of each other before theyare born into this world.

  At their marriage, it was agreed that they should take with them intothe west Agnes Kilspinnie, one of the misfortunate bailie's daughters.As for her mother, from the day of the overthrow and destruction of thepapistry at St Andrews, she had never been heard of; all the tidings hersister could gather concerning her were, that the same night she hadbeen conveyed away by some of the Archbishop's servants, but whither noone could tell. So they came with Agnes Kilspinnie to Edinburgh; and,for a ploy to their sober wedding, they resolved to abide there till thecoming of Queen Mary from France, that they might partake of the showsand pastimes then preparing for her reception. They, however, during theseason of their sojourn, feasted far better than on royal fare, in thegospel banquet of John Knox's sermons, of which they enjoyed theinexpressible beatitude three several Sabbath-days before the Queenarrived.

  Of the joyous preparations to greet Queen Mary withal neither mygrandfather nor grandmother were ever wont to discourse much at large,for they were holy-minded persons, little esteeming the pageantries ofthis world. But my aunt, for Agnes Kilspinnie being in progress of timemarried to my father's fourth brother, became sib to me in that degree,was wont to descant and enlarge on the theme with much wonderment andloquacity, describing the marvellous fabrics that were to have been hungwith tapestry to hold the ladies, and the fountains that were to havespouted wine, which nobody was to be allowed to taste, the same beingonly for an ostentation, in order that the fact thereof might berecorded in the chronicles for after-times. And great things have Ilikewise heard her tell of the paraphernalia which the magistrates andtown-council were getting ready. No sleep, in a sense, she used to say,did Maccalzean of Cliftonhall, who was then provost, get for more than afortnight. From night to morning the sagacious bailies sat in council,exercising their sagacity to contrive devices to pleasure the Queen, andto help the custom of their own and their neighbours' shops. Busy andproud men they were, and no smaller were the worshipful deacons of thecrafts. It was just a surprise and consternation to everybody, to thinkhow their weak backs could bear such a burden of cares. No time had theyfor their wonted jocosity. To those who would fain have speered thenews, they shook their heads in a Solomon-like manner, and hastened by.And such a battle and tribulation as they had with their vassals, themagistrates of Leith! who, in the most contumacious manner, insistedthat their chief bailie should be the first to welcome the Sovereign onthe shore. This pretence was thought little short of rebellion, and theprovost and the bailies, and all the wise men that sat in council withthem, together with the help of their learned assessors, continueddeliberating anent the same for hours together. It was a dreadfulbusiness that for the town of Edinburgh. And the opinions of the judgesof the land, and the lords of the council, were taken, and many a devicetried to overcome the upsetting, as it was called, of the Leithmagistrates; but all was of no avail. And it was thought there wouldhave been a fight between the bailies of Leith and the bailies ofEdinburgh, and that blood would have been shed before this weightyquestion, so important to the dearest interests of the commonweal ofScotland, could be determined. But, in the midst of their contention,and before their preparations were half finished, the Queen arrived inLeith Roads; and the news came upon them like the cry to the foolishvirgins of the bridegroom in the street. Then they were seen flying totheir respective places of abode to dress themselves in their coats ofblack velvet, their doublets of crimson satin, and their hose of thesame colour which they had prepared for the occasion. Anon they met inthe council-chamber--what confusion reigned there! Then how they flewdown the street! Provost Maccalzean, with the silver keys in his hand,and the eldest bailie with the crimson-velvet cod, whereon they were tobe delivered to her Majesty, following as fast as any member of a citycorporation could be reasonably expected to do. But how the provostfell, and how the bailies and town-council tumbled over him, and how thecrowd shouted at the sight, are things whereof to understand thegreatness it is needful that the courteous reader should have heard myaunty Agnes herself rehearse the extraordinary particularities.

  Meanwhile the Queen left her galley in a small boat, and the bailies ofLeith had scarcely time to reach the pier before she was on shore. Alas!it was an ill-omened landing. Few were spectators, and none cheered thesolitary lady, who, as she looked around and heard no loyal greeting,nor beheld any show of hospitable welcome, seemed to feel as if thespirit of the land was sullen at her approach, and grudged at her returnto the dark abodes of her fierce ancestors. In all the way from Leith toHolyrood she never spoke, but the tear was in her eye and the sigh inher bosom; and though her people gathered when it was known she hadlanded, and began at last to shout, it was owre late to prevent themournful forebodings, which taught her to expect but disappointments andsorrows from subjects so torn with their own factions, as to lack eventhe courtesies due to their sovereign, a stranger, and the fairest ladyof all her time.

 

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