Page images
PDF
EPUB

is the very reverse of amber, which, itself a valuable kirge and sombre library, with no other light than substance, usually includes flies, straws, and other was afforded by the decaying brands on its ponderous trifles; whereas these studies, being themselves very and ample hearth, he would exercise for hours that insignificant and trifling, do nevertheless serve to per- internal sorcery, by which past or imaginary events petuate a great deal of what is rare and valuable in Lare presented in action, as it were, to the eye of the ancient manners, and to record many curious and muser. Then arose in long and fair array, the splen minute facts which could have been preserved and dour of the bridal feast at Waverley-Castle; the tall conveyed through no other medium. If, therefore, and emaciated, form of its real lord, as he stood in his. Edward Waverley yawned at times over the dry de- pilgrim's weeds, an unnoticed spectator of the festividuction of his line of ancestors, with their various in- ties of bis supposed heir and intended bride; the dire termarriages, and inwardly deprecated the remorse-trical shock occasioned by the discovery; the springless and protracted accuracy with which the worthy ing of the vassals to arms; the astonishment of the Sir Everard rehearsed the various degrees of propin- bridegroom; the terror and confusion of the bride; quity between the house of Waverley-Honour and the the agony with which Wilibert observed, that her doughty barons, knights, and squires, to whom they heart as well as consent was in these nuptials; the stood allied; if (notwithstanding his obligations to air of dignity, yet of deep feeling, with which he flung the three ermines passant) he sometimes cursed in down the half-drawn sword, and turned away for his heart the jargon of heraldry, its griffins, its mold-ever from the house of his ancestor Then would warps, its wyverns, and its dragons, with all the bit- he change the scene, and fancy would at his wish terness of Hotspur himself, there were moments represent Aunt Rachel's tragedy. He saw the Lady when these communications interested his fancy and Waverley seated in her bower, her ear strained to rewarded his attention. every sound, her heart throbbing with double agony, The deeds of Wilibert of Waverley in the Holy now listening to the decaying echo of the hoofs of the Land, his long absence and perilous adventures, his king's horse, and when that had died away, learing supposed death, and his return on the evening when in every breeze that shook the trees of the park, the the betrothed of his heart had wedded the hero who noise of the remote skirmish. A distant sound is had protected her from insult and oppression during heard like the rushing of a swoln stream; it comes his absence; the generosity with which the Crusader nearer, and Edward can plainly distinguish the gal relinquished his claims, and sought in a neighbour-loping of horses, the cries and shouts of men, with ing cloister that peace which passeth not away;-to straggling pistol-shots between, rolling forwards to these and similar tales he would hearken till his heart the hall. The lady starts up-a terrified menial rushes glowed and his eye glistened. Nor was he less af-in-but why pursue such a description! fected, when his aunt, Mrs. Rachel, narrated the suf- As living in this ideal world became daily more deferings and fortitude of Lady Alice Waverley during lectable to our here, interruption was disagreeable in the Great Civil War. The benevolent features of the proportion. The extensive domain that surrounded venerable spinster kindled into more majestic expres- the Hall, which, far exceeding the dimensions of a sion, as she told how Charles had, after the field of park, was usually termed Waverley-Chase, had oriWorcester, found a day's refuge at Waverley-Honour, ginally been forest ground, and still, though broken and how, when a troop of cavalry were approaching by extensivs glades, in which the young deer were to search the mansion, Lady Alice dismissed her sporting, retained its pristine and savage character. youngest son with a handful of domestics, charging It was traversed by broad avenues, in many places them to make good with their lives an hour's diver- half grown up with brush-wood, where the beauties sion, that the king might have that space for escape. of former days used to take their stand to see, the stag And, God help her," would Mrs., Rachel continue, coursed with greyhounds, or to gain an aim at him fixing her eyes upon the heroine's portrait as she with the cross-bow. In one spot, distinguished by a spoke, "full dearly did she purchase the safety of her moss-grown Gothic monument, which retained the prince with the life of her darling child. They brought name of Queen's Standing, Elizabeth herself was him here a prisoner, mortally wounded; and you may said to have pierced seven bucks with her own ar trace the drops of his blood from the great hall door rows. This was a very favourite haunt of Waverley. along the little gallery, and up to the saloon, where At other times, with his gun and his spaniel, which they laid him down to die at his mother's feet. But served as an apology to others, and with a book in his there was comfort exchanged between them; for he pocket, which perhaps served as an apology to him knew, from the glance of his mother's eye, that the self, he used to pursue one of these long avenues, purpose of his desperate defence was attained. Ah! I which, after an ascending sweep of four miles, graduremember," she continued, "I remember well to have ally narrowed into a rude and contracted path through seen one that knew and loved him. Miss Lucy St. the cliffy and woody pass called Mirkwood Dingle, Aubin lived and died a maid for his sake, though one and opened suddenly upon a deep, dark, and small of the most beautiful and wealthy matches in this lake, named, from the same cause, Mirkwood-Mere. country; all the world ran after her, but she wore There stood, in former times, a solitary tower upon a widow's mourning all her life for poor William, for rock almost surrounded by the water, which had acthey were betrothed though not married, and died in quired the name of the Strength of Waverley, because, -I cannot think of the date; but I remember, in in perilous times, it had often been the refuge of the the November of that very year, when she found her- family. There, in the wars of York and Lancaster, self sinking, she desired to be, brought to Waverley- the last adherents of the Red Rose who dared to Honour once more, and visited all the places where maintain her cause, carried on a harassing and predashe had been with my grand-uncle, and caused the tory warfare, till the strong-hold was reduced by the carpets to be raised that she might trace the impres-celebrated Richard of Gloucester. Here, too, a party sion of his blood, and if tears could have washed it of cavaliers long maintained themselves under Nigel out, it had not been there now; for there was not a Waverley, elder brother of that William whose fate dry eye in the house. You would have thought, Ed- Aunt Rachel commemorated. Through these scenes ward, that the very trees mourned for her, for their it was that Edward loved to "chew the cud of sweet eaves dropt around her without a gust of wind; and, mdeed, she looked like one that would never see them green again."

[ocr errors]

From such legends our hero would steal away to indulge the fancies they excited. In the corner of the

and bitter fancy," and, like a child among his toys, culled and arranged, from the splendid yet useless imagery and emblems with which his imagination wa stored, visions as brilliant and as fading as those an evening sky. The effect of this indulgence upon his temper and character will appear in the next chapter

CHAPTER V.

There is a family legend to this purpose, belonging to the knightly family of Bradshaigh, the proprietors of Haigh-hall. ir Lancashire, where, I have been told, the event is recorded on a painted glass window. The German ballad of the Noble) Moringer turns upon a similar topic. But undoubtedly many snch incidents may have taken place, where, the distance being great, and the intercourse infrequent, false reports concerning the fate of the absent Crusaders must have been commonly cir FROM the minuteness with which I have traced culated and son.etimes perhaps rather hastily credited at home. Waverley's pursuits, and the bias which these un

CHOICE OF A PROFESSION.

sodably communicated to his imagination, the Aunt Rachel's anxiety, however, lent her address reader may perhaps anticipate, in the following tale, to carry her point. Every representative of their an imitation of the romance of Corvantes. But he house had visited foreign parts, or served his country will do my prudence injustice in the supposition. My in the army, before he settled for life at Waverley intention is not to follow the steps of that inimitable Honour, and she appealed for the truth of her asserauthor, in describing such total perversion of intellect tio. to the genealogical pedigree; an authority which 48 misconstrues the objects actually presented to the Sir Everard was never known to contradict. In short, enses, but that more common aberration from sound a proposal was made to Mr. Richard Waverley, that udgment, which apprehends occurrences indeed in his son should travel, under the direction of his prehr reality, but communicates to them a tincture of sent tutor, Mr. Pembroke, with a suitable allowance own romantic tone and colouring. So far was from the Baronet's liberality. The father himself saw Tilward Waverley from expecting general sympathy no objection to this overture; but upon mentioning it at his own feelings, or concluding that the present casually at the table of the minister, the great man state of things was calculated to exhibit the reality of looked grave. The reason was explained in private. those visions in which he loved to indulge, that he The unhappy turn of Sir Everard's politics, the mireaded nothing more than the detection of such sen-nister observed, was such as would render it highly iments as were dictated by his musings. He neither improper that a young gentleman of such hopeful prosand nor wished to have a confidant, with whom to pects should travel on the Continent with a tutor municate his reveries; and so sensible was he of doubtless of his unele's choosing, and directing his the ridicule attached to them, that, had he been to course by his instructions. What might Mr. Edward choose between any punishment short of ignominy, Waverley's society be at Paris, what at Rome, where and the necessity of giving a cold and composed ac-all manner of snares were spread by the Pretender count of the ideal world in which he lived the better and his sons these were points for Mr. Waverley to part of his days, I think he would not have hesitated consider. This he could himself say, that he knew prefer the foriner infliction. This secrecy became his Majesty had such a just sense of Mr. Richard WaJably precious, as he f lt in advancing life the influ-verley's merits, that if his son adopted the army for a ence of the awakening passions. Female forms of few years, a troop, he believed, might be reckoned exquisite grace and beauty began to mingle in his men- upon in one of the dragoon regiments lately returned if adventures; nor was he long without looking from Flanders. abroad to compare the creatures of his own imagina- A hint thus conveyed and enforced was not to be ten with the females of actual life. neglected with impunity; and Richard Waverley, The list of the beauties who displayed their hebdo- though with great dread of shocking his brother's premadal finery at the parish church of Waverley was judices, deemed he could not avoid accepting the comnenher numerous nor select. By far the most passa- mission thus offered him for his son. The truth is, he ble was Miss Sissly, or, as she rather chose to be calculated much, and justly, upon Sir Everard's fondcalled, Miss Cecilia Stubbs, daughter of Squire Stubbs ness for Edward, which made him unlikely to resent ut the Grange. I know not whether it was by the any step that he might take in due submission to pamerest accident in the world," a phrase which, from rental authority. Two letters announced this deterfemale lips, does not always exclude malice prepense, mination to the Baronet and his nephew. The latter or whether it was from a conformity of taste, that barely communicated the fact, and pointed out the Miss Cecilia more than once crossed Edward in his necessary preparations for joining his regiment. To favourite walks through Waverley-Chase. He had his brother, Richard was more diffuse and circuitous. not as yet assumed courage to accost her on these de-He coincided with him, in the most flattering mancasions; but the meeting was not without its effect. ner, in the propriety of his son's seeing a little more A romantic lover is a strange idolater, who some-of the world, and was even humble in expressions of hues cares not out of what log he frames the object gratitude for his proposed assistance; was, however, of his adoration; at least, if nature has given that ob- deeply concerned that it was now, unfortunately, not *ct any passable proportion of personal charms, he in Edward's power exactly to comply with the plan can easily play the Jeweller and Dervise in the Ori- which had been chalked out by his best friend and ental tale, and supply her richly, out of the stores of benefactor. He himself had thought with pain on his own imagination, with supernatural beauty, and the boy's inactivity, at an age when all his ancestors all the properties of intellectual wealth. had borne arms; even Royalty itself had deigned to But ere the charms of Miss Cecilia Stubbs had inquire whether young Waverley was not now in erected her into a positive goddess, or elevated her at Flanders, at an age when his grandfather was already least to a level with the saint her namesake, Mrs, bleeding for his king in the Great Civil War. This Rachel Waverley gained some intimation which de- was accompanied by an offer of a troop of horse. urmamed her to prevent the approaching apotheosis. What could he do? There was no time to consult Even the most simple and unsuspicious of the female his brother's inclinations, even if he could have coney have (God bless them!) an instinctive sharpness ceived there might be objections on his part to his of perception in such matters, which sometimes goes nephew's following the glorious career of his predethe length of observing partialities that never existed, cessors. And, in short, that Edward was now (the but rarely misses to detect such as pass actually under intermediate steps of cornet and lieutenant being overtheir observation. Mrs. Rachel applied herself with leapt with great agility) Captain Waverley, of Gardigreat prudence, not to combat, but to elude, the apner's regiment of dragoons, which he must join in proaching danger, and suggested to her brother the their quarters at Dundee in Scotland, in the course of necessity that the heir of his house should see some-a month.

thing more of the world than was consistent with Sir Everard Waverley received this intimation with constant residence at Waverley-Honour. a mixture of feelings. At the period of the Hanove

Sir Everard would not at first listen to a proposal rian succession he had withdrawn from Parliament, which went to separate his nephew from him. Ed- and his conduct, in the memorable year 1715, had not ward was a little bookish, he admitted; but youth, he been altogether unsuspected. There were reports of had always heard, was the season for learning, and, no private musters of tenants and horses in Waverley dacht, when his rage for letters was abated, and his Chase by moonlight, and of cases of carbines and head fully stocked with knowledge, his nephew would pistols purchased in Holland, and addressed to the take to field-sports, and country business. He had Baronet, but intercepted by the vigilance of a riding often, he said, himself regretted that he had not spent officer of the excise, who was afterwards tossed in a some time in study during his youth: he would nei-blanket on a moonless night, by an association of ther havy shot nor hunted with less skill, and he might stout yeomen, for his officiousness. Nay, it was even have made the roof of St. Stephen's echo to longer said, that at the arrest of Sir William Wyndham, the orations than were comprised in those zealous Noes, leader of the Tory party, a letter from Sir Everard with which, when a member of the House during Go-was found in the pocket of his night-gown. But there dolphin's administration, he encountered every mea- was no overt act which an attainder could be founded sure of government.

• See Hoppner's tale of the Seven Lovers.
VOL IL-D

on, and government, contented with suppressing the insurrection of 1715, felt it neither prudent nor safe to

push their vengeance farther than against those unfortunate gentlemen who actually took up arms.

So true, so soft, the mirror gavē,
As if there lay beneath the wave,
Secure from trouble, toil, and care,
A world than earthly world more fair.
But distant winds began to wake,
And rous'd the Genius of the Lake!
He heard the groaning of the oak,
And donn'd at once his sable cloak,
As warrior, at the battle-cry,
Invests him with his panoply:
Then as the whirlwind nearer press'd,
He 'gan to shake his foamy crest
O'er furrow'd brow and blacken'd 'cheek,
And bade his surge in thunder speak,
In wild and broken eddies whirl'd
Flitted that fond ideal w rid,
And to the shore in tumult tost,
The realms of fairy bliss were lost.

Yet, with a stem delight and strange,
I saw the spirit-stirring change,
As warr'd the wind with wave and wood,
Upon the ruin'd tower I stood,
And felt my heart more strongly bound,
Responsive to the lofty sound,
While, joying in the mighty roar,
1 mourn'd that tranquil scene no more.
So, on the idle dreams of youth,
Breaks the loud trumpet-call of truth,
Bids each fair vision pass away,
Like landscape on the lake that lay,
As fair, as fitting, and as frail,

As that which fied the autumn gale-
For ever dead to fancy's ge

Nor did Sir Everard's apprehensions of personal: consequences seem to correspond with the reports spread among his Whig neighbours. It was well known that he had supplied with money several of the distressed Northumbrians and Scotchmen, who, after being made prisoners at Preston in Lancashire, were imprisoned in Newgate and the Marshalsea, and it was his solicitor and ordinary counsel who conducted the defence of some of these unfortunate gentlemen at their trial. It was generally supposed, however, that, had ministers possessed any real proof of Sir Everard's accession to the rebellion, he either would not have ventured thus to brave the existing government, or at least would not have done so with impunity. The feelings which then dictated his proceedings, were those of a young man, and at an agitating period. Since that time, Sir Everard's jacobitism had been gradually decaying, like a fire which burns out for want of fuel. His Tory and Highchurch principles were kept up by some occasional exercise at elections and quarter-sessions; but those respecting hereditary right were fallen into a sort of abeyance. Yet it jarred severely upon his feelings, that his nephew should go into the army under the Brunswick dynasty; and the more so, as, independent of his high and conscientious ideas of paternal authority, it was impossible, or at least highly imprudent, to interfere authoritatively to prevent it. This suppressed vexation gave rise to many poohs and pshaws, which were placed to the account of an incipient fit of gout, until, having sent for the Army List, the worthy Baronet consoled himself with reckoning the descendants of the houses of genuine loyalty, Mordaunts, Granvilles, and Stanleys, whose names were to be found in that military record; and, calling up all his feelings of family grandeur and warlike glory, he concluded, with logic something like Falstaff's, that when war was at hand, although it were shame There is no better antidote against entertaining too to be on any side but one, it were worse shame to be high an opinion of others, than having an excellent xdle than to be on the worst side, though blacker than one of ourselves at the very same time. Miss Stubbe usurpation could make it. As for Aunt Rachel, her had indeed summoned up every assistance which art scheine had not exactly terminated according to her could afford to beauty; but, alas! hoop, patches, friz wishes, but she was under the necessity of submit-zled locks, and a new mantua of genuine French silk. ting to circumstances; and her mortification was di- were lost upon a young officer of dragoons, who wore, verted by the employment she found in fitting out her for the first time, his gold-laced hat, jack-boots, and nephew for the campaign, and greatly consoled by the broadsword. I know not whether, like the champion prospect of beholding him blaze in complete uniform, of an old ballad,

Be each gay form that glided by,

While dreams of love and lady's charms
Give place to honour and to arms!

In sober prose, as perhaps these verses intimate less decidedly, the transient idea of Miss Cecilia Stubbs passed from Captain Waverley's heart amid the turmoil which his new destinies excited. She appeared, indeed, in full splendour in her father's pew upon the Sunday when he attended service for the last time at the old parish church, upon which occasion, at the request of his uncle and Aunt Rachel, he was induced (nothing loth, if the truth must be told), to present himself in full uniform.

[ocr errors]

His heart was all on honour bent,
He could not stoop to love;
No lady in the Jand had power
His frozen heart to move;

Yet did I mark where Cupid's shaft did light;
It lighted not on little western flower,

Edward Waverley himself received with animated and undefined surprise this most unexpected intelligence. It was, as a fine old poem expresses it, "like a fire to heather set," that covers a solitary hill with smoke, and illumines it at the same time with dusky or whether the deep and flaming bars of embroidered fire. His tutor, or, I should say, Mr. Pembroke, for gold, which now fenced his breast, defied the artillery he scarce assumed the name of tutor, picked up about of Cecilia's eyes; but every arrow was launched at Edward's 's room some fragments of irregular verse, him in vain. which he appeared to have composed under the influence of the agitating feelings occasioned by this sudden page being turned up to him in the book of life. But os bold yeoman, flower of all the west, The doctor, who was a believer in all poetry which Hight Jónas Culbertheld, the steward's son. was composed by his friends, and written out in fair Craving pardon for my heroics, (which I am unable straight lines, with a capital at the beginning of cach, in certain cases to resist giving way to,) it is a melancommunicated this treasure to Aunt Rachel, who, choly fact, that my history must here take leave of the with her spectacles dimmed with tears, transferred fair Cecilia, who, like many a daughter of Eve, after them to her cominion-place book, among choice re- the departure of Edward, and the dissipation of serceipts for cookery and medicine, favourite texts, and tain idle visions which she had adopted, quietly conportions from High-church divines, and a few songs, tented herself with a pis-aller, and gave her hand, ar amatory and Jacobitical, which she had carolled in her the distance of six months, to the aforesaid Jonas, son younger days, from whence her nephew's poetical ten- of the Baronet's steward, and heir (no unfertile prostamina were extracted when the volume itself, with peet) to a steward's fortune; besides the snug probaother authentic records of the Waverley family, were exposed to the inspection of the unworthy editor of this memorable history. If they afford the render no higher amusement, they will serve, at least, better than narrative of any kind, to acquaint him with the wild and irregular spiri. of our hero :-

Late, when the Autumn evening fell
On Mirkwood-Mere's romantic dell,
The lake return'd, in chasten'd cleam,
The purple cloud, the golden beam:
Reflected in the crystal pool,
Hoadland and bank lay fair and cool;
The weather-tinted rock and tower,
Each drooping tree, cach fairy flower,

bility of succeeding to his father's office. All these advantages moved Squire Stubbs, as much as the ruddy brow and manly form of the suitor influenced his daughter, to abate somewhat in the article of the gentry; and so the match was concluded. Non seemned more gratified than Aunt Rachel, who had hitherto looked rather askance upon the presumptuous damsel, (as much so, peradventure, as her nature would permit,) but who, on the first appearance of the new-married pair at church, honoured the bride with a smile and a profound courtesy, in presence of the rector, the curate, the clerk, and the whole congregation of the united parishes of Waverley cum Beverley

mss

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

I beg pardon, once and for all, of those readers who jditional groom, if necessary, might be picked up in
take up novels merely for amusement, for plaguing Scotland.

them so long with old-fashioned politics, and Whig "You will depart with but a small retinue," quoth
and Tory, and Hanoverians and Jacobites. The the Baronet, "compared to Sir Hildebrand, when he
truth is, I cannot promise them that this story shall mustered before the gate of the Hall a larger body of
be intelligible, not to say probable, without it My horse than your whole regiment consists of. I could
plan requires that I should explain the motives on have wished that these twenty young fellows from
which its action proceeded; and these motives reces-my estate, who have enlisted in your troop, had been
sarily arose from the feelings, prejudices, and pirties, to march with you on your journey to Scotland. It
of the times. I do not invite my fair readers, whose would have been something, at least; but I am told
sex and impatience give them the greatest right to their attendance would be thought unusual in these
complain of these circumstances, into a flying cha- days, when every new and foolish fashion is intro-
riot drawn by hippogriffs, or moved by enchantment. duced to break the natural dependence of the people
Mine is an humble English post-chaise, drawn upon upon their landlords."
four wheels, and keeping his majesty's highway. Sir Everard had done his best to correct this unna-
Such as dislike the vehicle may leave it at the next tural disposition of the times; for he had brightened
halt, and wait for the conveyance of Prince Hussein's the chain of attachment between the recruits and
tapestry, or Malek the Weaver's flying sentry-box. their young captain, not only by a copious repast of
Those who are contented to remain with me will be beef and ale, by way of parting feast, but by such a
ccasionally exposed to the dulness inseparable from pecuniary donation to each individual, as tended ra-
heavy roads, steep hills, sloughs, and other terrestrial ther to improve the conviviality than the discipline of
retardations; but, with tolerable horses and a civil their march. After inspecting the cavalry, Sir Eve-
driver, (as the advertisements have it,) I engage to rard again conducted his nephew to the library, where
get as soon as possible into a more picturesque and he produced a letter, carefully folded, surrounded by
romantic country, if my passengers incline to have a little stripe of flox-silk, according to ancient form,
some patience with me during my first stages.*

CHAPTER VI.

THE ADIEUS OF WAVERLEY.

and sealed with an accurate impression of the Waverley coat-of-arms. It was addressed, with great formality, "To Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine, Esq. of Bradwardine, at his principal mansion of TullyVeolan, in Perthshire, North Britain. These-By the ha; ds of Captain, Edward Waverley, nephew of Sir Everard Waverley, of Waverley-Honour, Bart." It was upon the evening of this memorable Sunday! The gentleman to whom this enormous greeting that Sir Everard entered the library, where he nar- was addressed, of whom we shall have more to say rowly missed surprising our young hero as he went in the sequel, had been in arms for the exiled family through the guards of the broadsword with the an- of Stewart in the year 1715, and was made prisoner cient weapon of old Sir Hildebrand, which, being at Preston in Lancashire. He was of a very ancient preserved as an heir-loom, usually hung over the family, and somewhat embarrassed fortune; a schochimney in the library, beneath a picture of the lar, according to the scholarship of Scotchmen, that knight and his horse, where the features were almost is, his learning was more diffuse than accurate, and in entirely hidden by the knight's profusion of cured he was rather a reader than a grammarian. Of his hair, and the Bucephalus which he bestrode concealed zeal for the classic authors he is said to have given by the voluminous robes of the Bath with which he an uncommon instance. On the road between Preswas decorated. Sir Everard entered, and after a ton and London he made his escape from his guards; glance at the picture and another at his nephew, be- but being afterwards found loitering near the place gan a Fitle speech, which, however, soon dropt into where they had lodged the former night, he was rethe natural simplicity of his cominon manner, agi-cognised, and again arrested. His companions, and tated upon the present occasion by no common feel-even his escort, were surprised at his infatuation, ing. "Nephew," he said; and then, as mending his and could not help inquiring, why, being once at liphrase, "My dear Edward, it is God's will, and also berty, he had not made the best of his way to a place the will of your father, whom, under God, it is your of safety; to which he replied, that he had intended duty to obey, that you should leave us to take up the to do so, but, in good faith, he had returned to seek profession of arms, in which so many of your ances- his Titus Livius, which he had forgot in the hurry tors have been distinguished. I have made such ar- of his escape, The simplicity of this anecdote rangements as will enable you to take the field as struck the gentleman, who, as we before observed, their descendant, and as the probable heir of the house had managed the defence of some of those unfortunate of Waverley; and, sir, in the field of battle you will persons, at the expense of Sir Everard, and perhaps remember what name you bear. And, Edward, my some others of the party. He was, besides, himself dear boy, remember also that you are the last of that a special admirer of the old Patavinian, and though race, and the only hope of its revival depends upon probably his own zeal might not have rried him yon; therefore, as far as duty and honour will per; such extravagant lengths, even to recover the edition mit, avoid danger-I mean unnecessary danger and of Sweynheim and Pannartz, (supposed to be the keep no company with rakes, gamblers, and Whigs, princeps,) he did not the less estimate the devotion of whom, it is to be feared, there are but too many in of the North Briton, and in consequence exerted himthe service into which you are going. Your colonel, self to so much purpose to remove and soften evias I an informed, is an excellent man-for a Presby-dence, detect legal flaws, et cetera, that he accomterian; but you will remember your duty to God, the plished the final discharge and deliverance of Cosmo by Church of England, and the" (this breach ought, Comyne Bradwardine from certain very awkward to have been supplied, according to the rubrick, with consequences of a plea before our sovereign lord the the word king; but as, unfortunately, that word con- king in Westminster.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

e of L

of a

[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

veyed a double and embarrassing scuse, one meaning The Baron of Bradwardine, for he was generally
de facto, and the other de jure, the knight filled up so called in Scotland, (although his intimates, from
the blank otherwise)-"the Church of England, and his place of residence, used to denominate him Tully-
all constituted authorities." Then, not trusting him- Veolan, or, more familiarly, Tully,) no sooner stood
self with any further oratory, he carried his phew rectus in curia, than he posted down to pay his re-
to his stables to see the horses destined for his cam-
paign. Two were black, (the regimental colour;) su-
perb chargers both; the other three were stout active
hacks, designed for the road, or for his domestics, of
whoni two were to attend him from the Hall; an ad-
These Introductory Chapters have been a good deal cen-
sured as tedious and unnecessary. Yet there are circumstances
recorded in them, which the author has not been able to per-
suade himself to retract or cancel.

+ The attachment to this classic was, it, is said, actually disJacobite in that unhappy period. He escaped from the jail in played, in the manner mentioned in the text, by an unfortunate which he was confined for a hasty trial and certain condemna tion, and was retaken as he hovered around the place in wuch he had been imprisoned, for which he could give no better rea son than the hope of recovering his favourite Titus Livius. am sorry to add, that the simplicity of such a character was found to form no apology for his guilt as a rebel, and that ae was condemned and execute'

spects and make his acknowledgments at Waverley-shoull be his duty to fortify his dear pupil to resist Honour. A congenial passion for field-sports, and a such unhallowed and pernicious doctrines in church general coincidence in political opinions, cemented and sate, as must necessarily be forced at times upon his friendship with Sir Everard, notwithstanding the his ur willing cars.

eems, passed at that time current, among d Jacobites. The moment Mr. Pembroke I the Shibboleth, with the appropriate ges ibliopolist greeted him, notwithstanding samation, by the title of doctor, and convey

difference of their habits and studies in other parti- Heo be produced two immense folded packets, culars; and, having spent several weeks at Waverley-which appeared each to contain a whole ream of Honour, the Baron departed with 1aany expressions closely written manuscript. They had been the laof regard, warmly pressing the Baronet to return his bour if the worthy man's whole life; and never were visit, and partake of the diversion of grouse-shooting labour and zeal more absurdly wasted. He had at upon his moors in Perthshire next season. Shortly one time gone to London, with the intention of giving after, Mr. Bradwardine remitted from Scotland a them o the world, by the medium of a bookseller in sum in reimbursement of expense curred in the Little Britain, well known to deal in such commo King's High Court of Westminster, which, although tics, aad to whom he was instructed to address himnot quite so formidable when reduced to the English self in a particular phrase, and with a certain sign, denomination, had, in its original form of Scotch pounds, shillings, and pence, such a formidable effec upon the frame of Duncan Macwheeble, the laird': confidential factor, baron-bailie, and man of resource tha: he had a fit of the cholic which lasted for five days, occasioned, he said, solely and utterly by be couring the unhappy instrument of conveying such t serious sum of money out of his native country int the hands of the false English. But patriotism, as i is the fairest, so it is often the most suspicious mask of other feelings; and many who knew Bailie Mac wheeble, concluded that his professions of regret were not altogether disinterested, and that he would have grudged the moneys paid to the loons at Westminster much less had they not come from Bradwardine estate, a fund which he considered as more particularly his own. But the Bailie protested he was absolutely disinterested

"Wo, wo, for Scotland, not a whit for me!"

"

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

to his back shop, after inspecting every id impossible place of concealment, he 1: "Eh, doctor!-Well-all under the rose teep no holes here even for a Hanoverian n. And, what-eh! any good news from over the water?--and how does the worf France? Or perhaps you are more latete it must be. Rome will do it at lastmust light its candle at the old lamp.-Eh itious? I like you the better; but no fear." Pembroke with some difficulty stopt a nterrogations, eked out with signs, nods,

[ocr errors]

and having at length convinced the hat he did him too much honour in supan emissary of exiled royalty, he exactual business.

of books with a much more composed d to examine the manuscripts. The title was, "A Dissent from Dissenters, or the sion confuted; showing the Impossibility aposition between the Church and Puriterians, or Sectaries of any Description; rom the Scriptures, the Fathers of the d the soundest Controversial Divines." rk the bookseller positively demurred it," he said, "and learned, doubtless; but gone by. Printed on small-pica it would thundred pages, and could never pay, efore to be excused-Loved and honoured urch from his soul, and, had it been a the martyrdom, or any twelve-penny

The laird was only rejoiced that his worthy friend, Sir Everard Waverley of Waverley-Honour, was reimbursed of the expenditure which he had outlaid on account of the house of Bradwardine. It concerned, he said, the credit of his own family, and of the kingdom of Scotland at large, that these disbursements 1 1 should be repaid forthwith, and, if delayed, it would be a matter of national reproach. Sir Everard, arcustomed to treat much larger sums with indiffer ence, received the remittance of 2941. 13s. 6d., without being aware that the payment was an international concern, and, indeed, would probably have forgot the circumstance altogether, if Bailie Macwheeble had thought of comforting his cholic by intercepting the subsidy. A yearly intercourse took place, of a short letter, and a hamper or a cask or two, between Waverley-Honour and Tully-Veolan, the English exports I would venture something for the consisting of mighty cheeses and mightier ale, pheas he cloth-But come, let's see the other. ants, and venison, and the Scottish returns being ditary righted!'-Ah! there's some sense vested in grouse, white hares, pickled salmon, and m-hum-hum-pages so many, paper so usquebaugh. All which were meant, sent, and repress- -Ah-I'll tell you, though, doctor, ceived, as pledges of constant friendship and amity nock out some of the Latin and Greek; between two important houses. It followed as a dann'd heavy-(beg your pardon)-and matter of course, that the heir-apparent of Waverleyin a few grains more pepper--I am he Honour could not with propriety visit Scotland witheached my author-I have published for out being rnished with credentials to the Baron of Drake and Charlwood Lawton, and poor Amhurst*-Bradwardine. Ah, Caleb Caleb! Well, it was a shame to let poor When this matter was explained and settled, Mr. Caleb starve, and so many fat rectors and squires Pembroke expressed his wish to take a private and among us. I gave him a dinner once a-week; but particular leave of his dear pupil. The good man's Lord love you, what's once a-week, when a man does exhortations to Edward to preserve an unblemished not know where to go the other six days ?-Well, but life and morals, to hold fast the principles of the I must show the manuscript to little Tom Alibi the Christian religion, and to eschew the profane com- solicitor, who manages all my law affairs-must keep pany of scoffers and latitudinarians, too much abound-on the windy side-the mob were very uncivil the ing in the army, were not unmingled with his politi-last time I mounted in Old Palace Yard-all Whigs cal prejudices. It had pleased Heaven, he said, to and Roundheads, every man of them, Williamites and place Scotland (doubtless for the sins of their ances-Hanover rats."

tors in 1642) in a more deplorable state of darkness

than even this unhappy kingdom of England. Here, *Nicholas Amhurst, a noted political writer, who conducted at least, although the candlestick of the Church of for many years a pu, er called the Craftsman, under the assumed England had been in some degree removed from its name of Caleb D'Anvers, He was devoted to the Tory interest, and seed, with much ability, the attacks of Pulteney on place, it yet afforded a glimmering light; there was a Sir Robert Walpole. He died in 1742. neglected by his great hierarch houzh schismatical, and fallen from the patrons, and in the most miserable circumstances. principles maintained by those great fathers of the "Amhurst survived the downfall of Walpole's power, and church, Sancroft and his brethren; there was a li-had reason to expect a reward for his labours. If we excush Bolingbroke, who had only saved the shipwreck of bis fortunes, turgy, though wofully perverted in some of the prin-we shall be at a loss to justify Pulteney, who could with ease eipal petitions. But in Scotland it was utter darkness; have given this man a considerable income. The utmost of his and, excepting a sorrowful, scattered, and persecuted generosity to Amhurst, that I ever heard of, was a hogshead of claret He died, it is supposed, of a broken heart and was remnant, the pulpits were abandoned to Presbyterians, buried at the charge of his honest printer, Richard Franklin and he feared, to sectaries of every description. It (Lord Chesterfield's Characters Reviewed, p. 42.)

« PreviousContinue »