by Jane Porter
Chapter VII.
Bothwell Castle.
Meanwhile the Lady Helen had retired to her own apartments. Lord Mar'sbanner being brought to her from the armory, she sat down to weave intoits silken texture the amber locks of the Scottish chief. Admiringtheir softness and beauty, while her needle flew, she pictured toherself the fine countenance they had once adorned.
The duller extremities of the hair, which a sadder liquid than thatwhich now dropped from her eyes and rendered stiff and difficult toentwine with the warp of the silk, seemed to adhere to her fingers.Helen almost shrunk from the touch. "Unhappy lady!" she sighed toherself; "what a pang must have rent her heart, when the stroke of socruel a death tore her from such a husband! and how must he have lovedher, when for her sake he thus forswears all future joys but thosewhich camps and victories may yield! Ah! what would I give to be mycousin Murray, to bear this pennon at his side! What would I give toreconcile so admirable a being to happiness again--to weep his griefs,or smile him into comfort! To be that man's friend, would be a higherhonor than to be Edward's queen."
Her heart was thus discoursing with itself when a page opened the doorfor her cousin, who begged admittance. She had just fastened theflowing charge into its azure field, and while embroidering the motto,gladly assented.
"You know not, my good old man," said the gallant Murray to Halbert, ashe conducted him across the galleries, "what a noble mind is containedin that lovely young creature. I was brought up with her, and to thesweet contagion of her taste do I owe that love of true glory whichcarries me to the side of Sir William Wallace. The virtuous only canawaken any interest in her heart; and in these degenerate days longmight have been its sleep had not the history which my uncle recountedof your brave master aroused her attention, and filled her with anadmiration equal to my own. I know she rejoices in my presentdestination. And to prevent her hearing from your own lips all youhave now told me of the mild as well as heroic virtues of my intendedcommander--all you have said of the heroism of his wife--would bedepriving her of a mournful pleasure, only to be appreciated by a heartsuch as hers."
The gray-haired bard of Ellerslie, who had ever received the dearestreward of his songs in the smiles of its mistress, did not requirepersuasion to appear before the gentle lady of Mar, or to recite in herears the story of the departed loveliness, fairer than poet everfeigned.
Helen rose as he and her cousin appeared. Murray approved theexecution of her work; and Halbert, with a full heart, took the pennonin his hand. "Ah! little did my dear lady think," exclaimed he, "thatone of these loved locks would ever be suspended on a staff to lead mento battle! What changes have a few days made! She, the gentlest ofwomen, laid in a bloody grave; and he, the most benevolent of humanbeings, wielding an exterminating sword!
"You speak of her grave, venerable man," inquired Helen; "had you,then, an opportunity of performing the rites of sepulture to herremains?"
"No, madam," replied he; "after the worthy English soldier now in thiscastle, assisted me to place her precious body in my lord's oratory, Ihad no opportunity of returning to give her a more holy grave."
"Alas!" cried Helen; "then her sacred relics have been consumed in theburning house!"
"I hope not," rejoined Halbert; "the chapel I speak of is at somedistance from the main building. It was excavated in the rock by SirRonald Crawford, who gave the name of Ellerslie to this estate, incompliment to Sir William's place of birth in Renfrewshire, andbestowed it on the bridal pair. Since then, the Ellerslie ofClydesdale has been as dear to my master as that of the Carth; and wellit might be, for it was not only the home of all his wedded joys, butunder its roof his mother, the Lady Margaret Crawford, drew her firstbreath. Ah! woe is me! that happy house is now, like herself, reducedto cold, cold ashes! She married Sir Malcolm Wallace, and he is gonetoo! Both the parents of my honored master died in the bloom of theirlives; and a grievous task will it be to whoever is to tell the goodSir Ronald that the last sweet flower of Ellerslie is now cut down!that the noblest branch of his own stem is torn from the soil to whichhe had transplanted it, and cast far away into the waste wilderness!"**
**The Ellerslie in Renfrewshire here referred to, and which was thebirthplace of William Wallace, and the hereditary property of hisfather, Sir Malcolm Wallace, was situated in the abbey parish ofPaisley, three miles west of the won of Paisley, and nine from Glasgow.A large old oak, still called Wallace's Oak, stands close to the roadfrom Paisley to Leith, and within a short distance from it once stoodthe manor of Ellerslie. The venerable name is now corrupted intoElderslie, and the estate has become the property of Archibald Spiers,Esq., M. P. for Renfrewshire. For this topographical account, I amindebted to a Renfrewshire gentleman.-(1809.)
The tears of the venerable harper bore testimony to his inward resolve,that this messenger should not be himself. Lady Helen, who had falleninto a reverie during the latter part of his speech, now spoke, andwith something of eagerness.
"Then we shall hope," rejoined she, "that the oratory has not onlyescaped the flames, but perhaps the access of the English soldiers?Would it not comfort your lord to have that sweet victim entombedaccording to the rites of the church?"
"Surely my lady; but how can that be done? He thinks her remains werelost in the conflagration of Ellerslie; and for fear of precipitatinghim into the new dangers which might have menaced him had he sought tobring away her body, I did not disprove his mistake."
"But her body shall be brought away," rejoined Lady Helen; "it shallhave holy burial."
"To effect this, command my services," exclaimed Murray.
Helen thanked him for an assistance which would render the completionof her design easy. The English soldier as guide, and a troop fromBothwell, must accompany him.
"Alas! my young lord," interposed Halbert, "suppose you should meetsome of the English still loitering there?"
"And what of that, my honest Halbert? would not I and my trusty bandmake them clear the way? Is it not to give comfort to the deliverer ofmy uncle, that I seek the glen? and shall anything in mortal shape makeAndrew Murray turn his back? No, Halbert! I was not born on St.Andrew's day for naught; and by his bright cross I swear either to layLady Wallace in the tomb of my ancestors, or leave my bones to bleachon the grave of hers."
Helen loved the resolution of her cousin; and believing that the nowravaged Ellerslie had no attractions to hold marauders amongst itsruins, she dismissed Lord Andrew to make his preparations, and turnedherself to prefer her suit accordingly to her father.
Ere Halbert withdrew, he respectfully put her hand to his lips."Good-night," continued she, "ere you see me again, I trust the earthlypart of the angel now in paradise will be safe within these towers."He poured a thousand blessings on her head, and almost thought that hesaw in her beautiful form one of heaven's inhabitants sent to bear awayhis dear mistress to her divine abode.
On entering her father's apartment, Lady Helen found him alone. Sherepeated to him the substance of her conversation with Wallace'sfaithful servant; "and my wish is," continued she, "to have themurdered lady's remains entombed in the cemetery of this castle."
The earl approved her request, with expressions of satisfaction at thefilial affection which so lively a gratitude to his preserver evinced.
"May I, then, my dear father," returned she, "have your permission topay our debt of gratitude to Sir William Wallace to the utmost of ourpower?"
"You are at liberty, my noble child, to do as you please. My vassals,my coffers, are all at your command."
Helen kissed his hand. "May I have what I please from the Bothwellarmory?"
"Command even there," said the earl; "your uncle Bothwell is too true aScot to grudge a sword in so pious a cause."
Helen threw her arms about her father's neck, thanking him tenderly,and with a beating heart retired to prosecute her plans. Murray, whomet her in the anteroom, informed her that fifty men, the sturdiest inthe glen, awaited her orders; while she, telling he
r cousin of theearl's approval, took the sacred banner in her hand, and followed himto the gallery in the hall.
The moment she appeared, a shout of joy bade her welcome. Murray wavedhis hands in token of silence; while she, smiling with the benignitythat spoke her angel errand, spoke with agitation:
"My brave friends!" said she, "I thank you for the ardor with which, bythis night's enterprise, you assist me to pay, in part, the everlastingtribute due to the man who preserved to me the blessing of a father.
"With that spirit, then," returned she, "I address ye with greaterconfidence. Who amongst you will shrink from following this standardto the field for Scotland's honor? Who will refuse to make himself theespecial guardian of the life of Sir William Wallace? and who, in themoment of peril, will not stand by him to the last?
"None are her," cried a young man, advancing before his fellows, "whowould not gladly die in his defense."
"We swear it," burst from every lip at once.
She bowed her head, and said, "Return from Ellerslie to-morrow, withthe bier of its sainted mistress, I will then bestow upon every man inthis band a war-bonnet plumed with my colors; and this banner shallthen lead you to the side of Sir William Wallace. In the shock ofbattle look at its golden ensign, and remember that God not only armeththe patriot's hand, but shieldeth his heart. In this faith, be ye thebucklers which Heaven sends to guard the life of Wallace; and, sohonored, exult in your station, and expect the future gratitude ofScotland."
"Wallace and Lady Helen! to death or liberty!" was the animatedresponse to this exhortation; and smiling and crossing her hands overher bosom, in token of thanks of them and to Heaven, she retired in themidst of their acclamations. Murray, ready armed for his expedition,met her at the door. Restored to his usual vivacity by thespirit-moving emotions which the present scene awakened in his heart,he forgot the horror which had aroused his zeal, in the glory of someanticipated victory; and giving her a gay salutation, led her back toher apartments, where the English soldier awaited her commands. LadyHelen, with a gentle grace, commended his noble resentment ofHeselrigge's violence.
"Lands in Mar shall be yours," added she, "or a post of honor in thelittle army the earl is now going to raise. Speak but the word, andyou shall find, worthy Englishman, that neither a Scotsman, nor hisdaughter, know what it is to be ungrateful."
The blood mounted into the soldier's cheek. "I thank you, sweetestlady, for this generous offer; but, as I am an Englishman, I dare notaccept it. My arms are due to my own country; and whether I am tied toit by lands or possessions, or have naught but my English blood and myoath to my king to bind me, still I should be equally unwarranted inbreaking these bonds. I left Heselrigge because he dishonored mycountry; and for me to forswear her, would be to make myself infamous.Hence, all I ask is, that after I have this night obeyed your graciouscommands, in leading your men to Ellerslie, the Earl of Mar will allowme instantly to depart for the nearest port."
Lady Helen replied that she revered his sentiments too sincerely toinsult them by any persuasions to the contrary; and taking a diamondclasp from her bosom, she put it into his hand; "Wear it in remembranceof your virtue, and of Helen Mar's gratitude."
The man kissed it respectfully, and bowing, swore to preserve sodistinguishing a gift to the latest hour of his existence.
Helen retired to her chamber to finish her task; and Murray, biddingher good-night, repaired to the earl's apartments, to take his finalorders before he and his troop set out for the ruins of Ellerslie.