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 [Footnote: See Note
10] 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 unfavorable 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 tomorrow.'
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, etc.,
etc., etc., 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 tolerably 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. [Footnote: 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 today 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.'