RATHER UNIMPORTANT
'I was turned back,' said Fergus to Edward, as they galloped from
Preston to Pinkie-house, 'by a message from the Prince. But, I suppose,
you know the value of this most noble Colonel Talbot as a prisoner. He
is held one of the best officers among the red-coats; a special friend
and favourite of the Elector himself, and of that dreadful hero, the
Duke of Cumberland, who has been summoned from his triumphs at Fontenoy,
to come over and devour us poor Highlanders alive. Has he been telling
you 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 of
Mac-Ivor, 'you are blown about with every wind of doctrine. Here have we
gained a victory, unparalleled in history--and your behaviour is praised
by every living mortal to the skies--and the Prince is eager to thank
you in person--and all our beauties of the White Rose are pulling caps
for you,--and you, the PREUX CHEVALIER of the day, are stooping on your
horse's neck like a butter-woman riding to market, and looking as black
as a funeral!'
'I am sorry for poor Colonel Gardiner's death: he was once very kind to
me.'
'Why, then, be sorry for five minutes, and then be glad again; his
chance to-day may be ours to-morrow. And what does it signify?--the next
best thing to victory is honourable death; but it is a PIS-ALLER, and
one would rather a foe had it than one's self.'
'But Colonel Talbot has informed me that my father and uncle are both
imprisoned by government on my account.'
'We'll put in bail, my boy; old Andrew Ferrara [See Note 29.] shall
lodge his security; and I should like to see him put to justify it in
Westminster Hall!'
'Nay, they are already at liberty, upon bail of a more civic
disposition.'
'Then why is thy noble spirit cast down, Edward? Dost think that the
Elector's Ministers are such doves as to set their enemies at liberty
at this critical moment, if they could or durst confine and punish them?
Assure thyself that either they have no charge against your relations on
which they can continue their imprisonment, or else they are afraid of
our friends, the jolly cavaliers of old England. At any rate, you need
not be apprehensive upon their account; and we will find some means of
conveying to them assurances of your safety.'
Edward was silenced, but not satisfied, with these reasons. He had now
been more than once shocked at the small degree of sympathy which Fergus
exhibited for the feelings even of those whom he loved, if they did not
correspond with his own mood at the time, and more especially if they
thwarted him while earnest in a favourite pursuit. Fergus sometimes
indeed observed that he had offended Waverley, but, always intent upon
some favourite plan or project of his own, he was never sufficiently
aware of the extent or duration of his displeasure, so that the
reiteration of these petty offences somewhat cooled the volunteer's
extreme attachment to his officer.
The Chevalier received Waverley with his usual favour, and paid him many
compliments on his distinguished bravery. He then took him apart, made
many inquiries concerning Colonel Talbot, and when he had received all
the information which Edward was able to give concerning him and his
connexions, he proceeded,--'I cannot but think, Mr. Waverley, that
since this gentleman is so particularly connected with our worthy and
excellent friend, Sir Everard Waverley, and since his lady is of the
house of Blandeville, whose devotion to the true and loyal principles of
the Church of England is so generally known, the Colonel's own private
sentiments cannot be unfavourable to us, whatever mask he may have
assumed to accommodate himself to the times.'
'If I am to judge from the language he this day held to me, I am under
the necessity of differing widely from your Royal Highness.'
'Well, it is worth making a trial at least. I therefore entrust you with
the charge of Colonel Talbot, with power to act concerning him as you
think most advisable;--and I hope you will find means of ascertaining
what are his real dispositions towards our Royal Father's restoration.'
'I am convinced,' said Waverley, bowing, 'that if Colonel Talbot chooses
to grant his parole, it may be securely depended upon; but if he refuses
it, I trust your Royal Highness will devolve on some other person than
the nephew of his friend, the task of laying him under the necessary
restraint.'
'I will trust him with no person but you,' said the Prince, smiling, but
peremptorily repeating his mandate: 'it is of importance to my service
that there should appear to be a good intelligence between you, even
if you are unable to gain his confidence in earnest. You will therefore
receive him into your quarters, and in case he declines giving his
parole, you must apply for a proper guard. I beg you will go about this
directly. We return to Edinburgh to-morrow.'
Being thus remanded to the vicinity of Preston, Waverley lost the Baron
of Bradwardine's solemn act of homage. So little, however, was he at
this time in love with vanity, that he had quite forgotten the ceremony
in which Fergus had laboured to engage his curiosity. But next day a
formal GAZETTE was circulated, containing a detailed account of the
battle of Gladsmuir, as the Highlanders chose to denominate their
victory. It concluded with an account of the Court afterwards held
by the Chevalier at Pinkie-house, which contained this among other
high-flown descriptive paragraphs:
'Since that fatal treaty which annihilates Scotland as an independent
nation, it has not been our happiness to see her princes receive, and
her nobles discharge, those acts of feudal homage, which, founded upon
the splendid actions of Scottish valour, recall the memory of her early
history, with the manly and chivalrous simplicity of the ties which
united to the Crown the homage of the warriors by whom it was repeatedly
upheld and defended. But on the evening of the 20th, our memories were
refreshed with one of those ceremonies which belong to the ancient
days of Scotland's glory. After the circle was formed, Cosmo Comyne
Bradwardine, of that ilk, colonel in the service, &c. &c. &c., came
before the Prince, attended by Mr. D. Macwheeble, the Bailie of his
ancient barony of Bradwardine (who, we understand, has been-lately named
a commissary), and, under form of instrument, claimed permission to
perform, to the person of his Royal Highness, as representing his
father, the service used and wont, for which, under a charter of Robert
Bruce (of which the original was produced and inspected by the Masters
of his Royal Highness's Chancery, for the time being), the claimant held
the barony of Bradwardine, and lands of Tully-Veolan. His claim being
admitted and registered, his Royal Highness having placed his foot
upon a cushion, the Baron of Bradwardine, kneeling upon his right knee,
proceeded to undo the latchet of the brogue, or low-heeled Highland
shoe, which our gallant young hero wears in compliment to his brave
followers. When this was performed, his Royal Highness declared the
ceremony completed; and embracing the gallant veteran, protested that
nothing but compliance with an ordinance of Robert Bruce could have
induced him to receive even the symbolical performance of a menial
office from hands which had fought so bravely to put the crown upon the
head of his father. The Baron of Bradwardine then took instruments in
the hands of Mr. Commissary Macwheeble, bearing, that all points and
circumstances of the act of homage had been RITE ET SOLENNITER ACTA ET
PERACTA; and a corresponding entry was made in the protocol of the Lord
High Chamberlain, and in the record of Chancery. We understand that it
is in contemplation of his Royal Highness, when his Majesty's pleasure
can be known, to raise Colonel Bradwardine to the peerage, by the title
of Viscount Bradwardine, of Bradwardine and Tully-Veolan, and that, in
the meanwhile, his Royal Highness, in his father's name and authority,
has been pleased to grant him an honourable augmentation to his paternal
coat of arms, being a budget or boot-jack, disposed saltier-wise with a
naked broadsword, to be borne in the dexter cantle of the shield; and,
as an additional motto, on a scroll beneath, the words, "DRAW AND DRAW
OFF".'
'Were it not for the recollection of Fergus's raillery,' thought
Waverley to himself, when he had perused this long and grave document,
'how very tolerable would all this sound, and how little should I have
thought of connecting it with any ludicrous idea! Well, after all,
everything has its fair, as well as its seamy side; and truly I do not
see why the Baron's boot-jack may not stand as fair in heraldry as
the water-Buckets, waggons, cart-wheels, plough-socks, shuttles,
candlesticks, and other ordinaries, conveying ideas of anything
save chivalry, 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
found him recovered from the strong and obvious emotions with which a
concurrence of unpleasing events had affected him. He had regained his
natural manner, which was that of an English gentleman and soldier,
manly, open, and generous, but not unsusceptible of prejudice against
those of a different country, or who opposed him in political tenets.
When Waverley acquainted Colonel Talbot with the Chevalier's purpose
to commit him to his charge, 'I did not think to have owed so much
obligation to that young gentleman,' he said, 'as is implied in this
destination. I can at least cheerfully join in the prayer of the honest
Presbyterian clergyman, that, as he has come among us seeking an earthly
crown, his labours may be speedily rewarded with a heavenly one. [The
clergyman's name was Mac-Vicar. Protected by the cannon of the Castle,
he preached every Sunday in the West Kirk, while the Highlanders were in
possession of Edinburgh; and it was in presence of some of the Jacobites
that he prayed for Prince Charles Edward in the terms quoted in the
text.] I shall willingly give my parole not to attempt an escape without
your knowledge, since, in fact, it was to meet you that I came to
Scotland; and I am glad it has happened even under this predicament. But
I suppose we shall be 'but a short time together. Your Chevalier (that
is a name we may both give to him), with his plaids and blue-caps, will,
I presume, be continuing his crusade southward?'
'Not as I hear; I believe the army makes some stay, in Edinburgh, to
collect reinforcements.'
'And to besiege the Castle?' said Talbot, smiling sarcastically. 'Well,
unless my old commander, General Preston, turn false metal, or the
Castle 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 a
guess that this gallant Chevalier has a design that I should be your
proselyte; and, as I wish you to be mine, there cannot be a more fair
proposal than to afford us fair conference together. But as I spoke
to-day under the influence of feelings I rarely give way to, I hope
you will excuse my entering again upon controversy till we are somewhat
better acquainted.'