Ask me not whence I am;
My vesture speaks mine office.
_Female Parliamenters, a MS. Com._
After the frightsome encounter at the mill, with "the masterless dog
and his bow-wow-wow," Dan and his companions spent a sleepless night,
not without several alarms and breathless listenings on the occurrence
of any noise without. Few were the nightly journies on the banks of
the Ettrick in those days, and few the midnight noises that occurred,
save from the wild beasts of the forest. There were no wooer lads
straying at that still and silent hour, to call up their sweethearts
for an hour's kind conversation. Save when the English marauders were
abroad, all was quietness by hamlet and steading. The land was the
abode of the genii of the woods, the rocks, and the rivers; and of
this the inhabitants were well aware, and kept within locked doors,
whose lintels were made of the mountain ash, and nightly sprinkled
with holy water. Cradle and bed were also fenced with cross, book, and
bead; for the inmates knew that in no other way could they be safe, or
rest in peace. They knew that their green and solitary glens were the
nightly haunts of the fairies, and that they held their sports and
amorous revels in the retiring dells by the light of the moon.
The mermaid sung her sweet and alluring strains by the shores of
the mountain lake, and the kelpie sat moping and dripping by his
frightsome pool, or the boiling caldron at the foot of the cataract.
The fleeting wraiths hovered round the dwellings of those who were
soon to die, and the stalking ghost perambulated the walks of him that
was lately living, or took up his nightly stand over the bones of the
unhouseholded or murdered dead. In such a country, and among such
sojourners, who durst walk by night?
But these were the natural residenters in the wilds of the woodland,
the aboriginal inhabitants of the country; and however inimical their
ways might be to the ways of men, the latter laid their account with
them. There were defences to be had against them from holy church,
which was a great comfort. But ever since Master Michael Scott came
from the colleges abroad to reside at the castle of Aikwood, the
nature of demonology in the forest glades was altogether changed, and
a full torrent of necromancy, or, as Charlie Scott better expressed
it, of _witchcraft_, deluged the country all over,--an art of the most
malignant and appalling kind, against which no fence yet discovered
could prevail. How different, indeed, became the situation of the
lonely hind. Formerly he only heard at a distance on moonlight eves
the bridle bells of the fairy troopers, which haply caused him to
haste homeward. But when the door was barred and fenced, he sat safe
in the middle of his family circle as they closed round the hearth,
and talked of the pranks of _the gude neyboris_. When the speats
descended, and floods roared and foamed from bank to brae, then would
they perceive the malevolent kelpie rolling and tumbling down the
torrent like a drowning cow, or mountain stag, to allure the hungry
peasant into certain destruction. But, aware of the danger, he only
kept the farther aloof, quaking at the tremendous experiment made by
the spirit of the waters. It was in vain that the mermaid sung the
sweetest strain s that ever breathed over the evening lake, or sunk
and rose again, spreading her hands for assistance, like a drowning
maiden, at the bottom of the abrupt cliff washed by the waves,--he
_would not_ be allured to her embraces.
But what could he do now? His daughters were turned into roes and
hares, to be hunted down for sport to the Master. The old wives of the
hamlet were saddled and bridled by night, and urged with whip and spur
over whole realms. The cows were deprived of their milk,--the hinds
cast their young, and no domestic cat in the whole district could be
kept alive for one year. That infernal system of witchcraft then
began, which the stake and the gibbet could scarcely eradicate in a
whole century. It had at this time begun to spread all around Aikwood;
but of these things our Border troopers were not altogether aware.
They dreaded the spirits of the old school, the devil in particular;
but of the new prevailing system of metamorphoses they had no
comprehension.
Dan and three chosen companions, mounting their horses by the break of
day, rode straight for the abbey of Melrose, to lodge their complaint
against the great enemy of mankind, and request assistance from the
holy fathers in rescuing their friends out of his hands. They reached
Darnick-burn before the rising of the sun; and just as they passed by
a small deep-wooded dell, they espied four horsemen approaching them,
who, from their robes and riding appurtenances, appeared to belong to
the abbey, and to rank high among its dignitaries. They were all
mounted on black steeds, clothed in dark flowing robes that were
fringed with costly fringes, and they had caps on their heads that
were horned like the new moon. The foremost, in particular, had a
formidable and majestic mitre on his head, that seemed all glancing
with gems, every one of which was either black, or a certain dazzling
red of the colour of flame.
Dan doffed his helmet to this dignified and commanding personage, but
he deigned not either to return our yeoman's low bow, that brought his
face in contact with the mane of his steed, or once to cross his hand
on his brow in token of accepting the submission proffered. He,
however, reined up his black steed, and sat upright on his saddle, as
if in the act of listening what this bold and blunt trooper had to
say.
"Begging pardon of your grand and sublime reverence," said Dan, "I
presume, from your lofty and priest-like demeanour, habiliments, and
goodly steed, and also from that twa-horned helmet on your head, that
you are the very chap I want. I beg your pardon I canna keep up my
style to suit your dignity. But are nae ye Father Lawrence, the great
primate, that acts as a kind o' king or captain ower a' the holy men
of Scotland, and has haudding in that abbey down by there?"
"Certes I am Father Lawrence. Dost thou doubt it?"
"No, no; what for should I doubt it when your worship has said it? An
we dinna find truth aneath the mitre and the gown, where are we to
look for it?"
The sublime abbot shook his head as if in scorn and derision of the
apothegm, and sat still upright on his steed, with his face turned
away. Dan looked round to his companions with a meaning look, as much
as to say, "What does the body mean?" But seeing that he sat still in
the act of listening, he proceeded.
"Worthy Sir Priest, ye ken our captain, Sir Ringan Redhough, warden of
the Border. He has helpit weel to feather your nest, ye ken."
"He has. There is no one can dispute it," said the abbot, nodding
assent.
"Then ye'll no be averse, surely, to the lending o' him and his a
helping hand in your ain way."
The priest nodded assent.
"Weel, ye see, Sir Priest, there is a kinsman of our master's lives up
by here at Aikwood, a rank warlock, and master o' the arts of
witchcraft and divination. He is in compact wi' the deil, and can do
things far ayont the power o' mortal man. What do ye think, Sir
Priest? he can actually turn a man into a dog, and an auld wife into a
hare; a mouse into a man, and a cat into a good glyde-aver. And mair
than that, Sir, he can raise storms and tempests in the air; can gar
the rivers rin upward, and the trees grow down. He can shake the solid
yird; and, look ye, Sir, he can cleave a great mountain into three,
and lift the divisions up like as mony gowpens o' sand."
The stern abbot gave a glance up to the three new hills of Eildon,
that towered majestically over their heads; but it seemed rather a
look of exultation than one either of wonder or regret.
"Weel, Sir, disna our captain send a few chosen friends, a wheen queer
devils to be sure, on a message of good friendship to this auld
warlock Master Michael Scott, merely with a request to read him some
trivial weird. And what does the auld knave, but pricks them a' up on
the top o' his castle, wi' a lockit iron-door aneath them, and there
has keepit them in confinement till they are famishing of hunger, and
I fear by this time they are feeding on ane another. And the warst o't
ava, Sir, is this, I wad break his bolts and his bars to atoms for
him, but has nae he the deil standing sentry on the stair, spuing fire
and brimstone on a' that come near him in sic torrents that it is like
the fa' o' the Grey-mare's-tail. Now, maist reverend and worthy Sir,
my errand and request to you is, that, for my master's sake, and for
his men's sake, that are a' good Christians, for ought that I ken to
the contrary, you will lend us a lift wi' book and bead, Ave Marias,
and other powerful things, to drive away this auld sneckdrawing thief,
the devil, and keep him away till I get my friends released; and I
promise you, in my master's name, high bounty and reward."
"Ha! is it so?" said the abbot, in a hollow, tremulous voice. "Are my
friend and fellow-soldier's men detained in that guise? Come, my
brethren, let us ride,--let us fly to their release, and we shall see
whose power can stand against our own. For Aikwood, ho!"
"For Aikwood, ho!" shouted Dan and his companions, as they took the
rear of the four sable dignitaries; and striking the spurs into their
steeds all at the same time, they went off at their horses' utmost
speed, but in a short time the four yeomen were distanced. The black
steeds and their riders went at such a pace as warrior had never
before witnessed. Up by the side of Hindly-burn they sped, with the
most rapid velocity,--over mire, over ditch, over ford, without stay
or stumble. Dan and his companions posted on behind, sparing neither
whip nor spur, for they were affronted that these gownsmen should
display more energy in their master's cause, and the cause of his
friends, than they should do themselves. But their horses floundered,
and blew, and snorted, and puffed, and whisked their tails with a
whistling sound, and still lagged farther and farther behind.
"Come, come, callants," cried Dan to his companions, "let us rein up.
These bedesmen's horses are ower weel fed for our bog-trotting nags.
They fly like the wind. Od, we may as weel try to ride wi' the devil."
"Whisht, whisht," said Will Martin; "I dinna like to mak ower familiar
wi' that name now-a-days. We never ken wha's hearing us in this
country."
They were nigh to the heights when these words passed, and the four
black horsemen perceiving them to take it leisurely, they paused and
wheeled about, and the majestic primate taking off his cornuted
chaperon, waved it aloft, and called aloud, "For shame, sluggish
hinds! Why won't you speed, before the hour of prevention is lost? For
Aikwood, ho, I say!" As he said these words, his black courser plunged
and reared at a fearful rate; and, as our troopers thought, at one
bolt sprung six or seven yards from the ground. The marks of that
black horse's hoofs remain impressed in the sward to this day, and
the spot is still called _The Abbot's lee_. At least it had been so
called when Isaac the curate wrote this history.
To keep clear of the wood that was full of thickets, they turned a
little to the left, and pursued their course; and the ground becoming
somewhat firmer, our yeomen pursued hard after them. But on coming
over the steep brow of a little hill, the latter perceived a mountain
lake of considerable extent that interrupted their path, and, to their
utter astonishment, the four black horsemen going straight across it,
at about the same rate that the eagle traverses the firmament. "The
loch is frozen and bears over," said Dan: "Let us follow them across."
"The loch is frozen indeed," said Will Martin, "but, ony man may see,
that ice winna bear a cat."
"Haud your tongue, you gouk," said Dan: "Do ye think the thing that
bore them winna bear us?" And as he spurred foremost down the steep,
he took the lake at the broad side; but the ice offering no manner of
resistance, horse and man were in one moment out of sight. The sable
horsemen on the other side shouted with laughter, and called aloud to
the troopers, "to venture on, and haste forward, for the ice was
sufficiently strong."
The bold trooper and his horse were extricated with some difficulty,
and the monks testifying the utmost impatience he remounted, dripping
as he was, and not being able to find the passage across the lake on
the ice, he and his companions gallopped around the head of it. As he
rode, the morning being frosty, he chanced to utter these words:
"Heigh-ho, but I be a _cauld cheil_!" Which words, says Isaac, gave
the name to that lake and the hill about it to all future ages; and
from those perilous days of witchcraft and divination, and the
shocking incidents that befel to men, adds he, have a great many of
the names of places all over our country had their origin.
The dark horsemen always paused until the troopers were near them, as
if to encourage them on, but they never suffered them to join
company. When they came over a ridge above old Lindean they were hard
upon them, but lost sight of them for a short space on the height;
and, coming on full speed, they arrived on the brink of a deep wooded
dell, and to their utter astonishment saw the four gownsmen on the
other side, riding deliberately along, and beckoning them forward.
"I am sair mista'en," said Will Martin, "gin thae chaps hae nae gaen
ower the cleugh at ae bound. An it warna for their habits I wad take
them for something nouther good nor cannie."
"Haud your tongue, or else speak feasible things," said Dan; "Can the
worthy Father Lawrence, and his chief priors and functionaries ever be
suspected as warlocks, or men connected wi' the devil and his arts. If
sic were to be the case, we hae nae mair trust to put in aught on this
earth. The dell maun be but a step across. Here is a good passable
road; come, let us follow them.
Dan led the way, and they dived into the dell by a narrow track,
rather like a path for a wild goat than men and horses; however, by
leaping, sliding, and pushing one another's horses behind, they got to
the bottom of the precipice, and perceiving a path on the other side,
they expected to reach the western brink immediately. But in this they
were mistaken; abrupt rocks, and impenetrable thickets barred their
progress on every side, and they found it impossible to extricate
themselves without leaving their horses. They tried every quarter with
the same success, and at the last attempted to ascend by the way they
came; but that too they found impracticable, and all the while they
heard the voices of their fellow travellers chiding their stay from
above, and shaming them for their stupidity in taking the wrong path.
At one time they heard them calling on them to come this way, here was
an excellent out-gate; and when the toiled yeomen stuck fairly still
in that direction, they instantly heard other voices urging them to
ascend by some other quarter. At other times they thought they heard
restrained bursts of giggling laughter. After a great deal of
exertion to no manner of purpose, they grew they neither knew what to
do nor what they were doing, and at last were obliged to abandon their
horses, and climb the ascent by hanging by the bushes and roots of
trees. When they emerged from the deep hollow, they perceived
eight black horsemen awaiting them instead of four; but as the
country around Melrose and Dryburgh swarmed with members of the holy
brotherhood of every distinction and rank, the troopers took no notice
of it, thinking these were some of the head functionaries come to wait
on their abbot. The latter chided our yeomen in sharp and resentful
language for their utter stupidity in taking the wrong path, and
regretted exceedingly the long delay their mistake had occasioned, his
time he said being limited, as was also the time that his power
prevailed in a more particular way over the powers of darkness. "For
us to go alone," added he, "would signify nothing. The manual labour
of breaking through the iron gates we cannot perform; therefore,
unless you can keep up with us, we may return home by the way we
came."
"I am truly grieved," said Dan, "at our misfortune. We have certainly
been more forward than wise, and I fear have marred the fairest chance
we will ever have for the deliverance of our friends. But I have a few
fellow warriors at the mill who will accompany you for a word of your
mouth. I beg that you will not think of returning, for the case brooks
no delay. We have lost our horses, and can hardly reach the castle on
foot before it be evening. I wot not what we shall do."
"Brethren, I am afraid I must request of you to lend these brave
troopers your horses," said the abbot to the four last comers. "My
esteem for the doughty champion of my domains is such, that I would
gladly do him a favour." "O thank you, thank you, kind sir; we are
mair behadden to you than tongue can tell," said Dan. The four new
come brethren dismounted at their abbot's request; and, without taking
a moment to hesitate, the four yeomen mounted their horses. The abbot
Lawrence charged them to urge the steeds to their utmost speed. Away
went the abbot and his three sable attendants, and away went the four
troopers after them; but from the first moment that they started the
latter lost sight of the ground, unless it was, as they thought, about
a mile below their feet. The road seemed to be all one marble
pavement, or sheet of solid alabaster; there was neither height nor
hollow in it that they could distinguish; but the fire flew from the
heels of the horses, and sparkled across the firmament like thousands
of flying stars. The velocity at which they went was such, that the
borderers could not draw their breath save by small broken gulps; but
as they imagined they rode at such an immense distance from the
ground, they kept firm by their seats for bare life, leaning forward
with their eyes and their mouths wide open. Having never in all their
lives rode on such a path, they were soon convinced that they could
not be riding toward Aikwood, around which the roads were very
different. They often attempted to speak to one another, but could
not utter any thing farther than one short sound, for the swiftness
with which they clove the atmosphere cut their voices short. At length
Dan, perceiving his comrade, Will Martin, scouring close by his side,
forced out the following sentence piecemeal:
"Where--the--devil--are we--gaun--now?"
"Straight--to--hell.--What--need--ye--speer?"
"The--lord--for--for--for--bid--Will Martin," was the reply, which has
since grown to a proverb.
On they flew, over hill, over dale, over rock and river, over town,
tower, and steeple, as our yeomen deemed; but they might deem what
they pleased, for they saw nothing except now and then the tails of
the churchmen's gowns flapping in the air before them. However, they
came to their goal sooner than they expected, and that in a way as
singular as that by which they reached it.
The miller at Aikwood-mill had a whole hill of kiln-seeds, or
shealings of oats, thrown out in a heap adjoining to the mill. Ere
ever our yeomen knew what they were doing from the time they mounted,
they were all lying in this immense heap of kiln-seeds, perfectly
dizzy and dumfoundered, and setting up their heads from among them
with the same sort of staring stupid attempt at consideration as the
heads of so many frogs which may be seen newly popped up out of a
marsh. The bedesmen were a-head of them to the end of the course, and
drew up by wheeling their horses round the kiln as if it had been a
winning-post; but the yeomen's horses, in making the wheel, threw
their riders, one by one, with a jerk over head and ears among the
loose heap of seeds, and galloping off around the corner of the hill,
they never saw another hair of their tails.
The miller came running out from his mill with his broad dusty bonnet;
the smoky half-roasted kiln-man out from his logie; the mill-maidens
came skipping from the meal-trough, as white as lilies; the rest of
the warden's men, and the four sable dignitaries of the church came
also, and all of them stood in a ring round our dismounted troops,
some asking one question, some another, but all in loud fits of
laughter. Their wits could not be rallied in an instant; and all that
they could do or say was to blow the seeds out of their mouths, with
which they were literally filled, and utter some indefinite sentences,
such as, "Rather briskish yauds these same!" "May the like o' mine
never be crossed by man again!" "Hech! but they are the gear for the
lang road!" "What's become o' them? I wad like to take a right look o'
them for aince." "Do ye want to look if they have mark o' mouth, Will?
You may look at some o' these that came foremost then. Yours are aff
wi' their tails on their rigging; there are some cheated if ever you
see mair o' them." Will Martin looked at the abbot's horse; but when
he saw the glance of his eye, he would not have taken him by the jaws
to have looked his mouth for all Christendom.
The four sable horsemen led the way, and all the yeomen followed on
foot, bearing with them such mattocks as they had been able to
procure about Selkirk that morning, and away they marched in a body to
Aikwood castle. That was a blyth sight to our forlorn and starving
prisoners; even Gibbie had some hopes of a release: but whenever
Master Michael Scott got a near view of the four sable equestrians, he
sunk into profound and gloomy silence, and every now and then his
whole frame was observed to give a certain convulsed shake, or
shudder, which cannot be described. The rest of the sufferers supposed
it to proceed from his rooted aversion to holy and devout men; but
they were so intent on regaining their own liberty that they paid
little attention to the manner in which he was affected. Father
Lawrence bade the men proceed to work, and he would retire into an
inner chamber and exercise himself so as to keep from them all sorts
of interruption from spirits of whatever denomination, and he pledged
himself for their protection. They thanked him, and hasted to execute
their design; nor were they long in accomplishing it. By the help of
huge scaling hammers they broke down a part of the narrow stair-case,
and actually set their friends at liberty. But the abbot enjoined them
in nowise to depart, or to do any thing contrary to the desire of the
mighty Master, while they remained in his premises, else he could not
answer for the consequences. This our yeomen readily assented to, and
undertook to prevail with their friends to acquiesce in the same
measure.
As soon as the iron-door was forced, the abbot Lawrence sent one of
his officers to desire Master Michael Scott to come and speak to him
privately in the secret chamber. The wizard looked at the messenger as
a sovereign does to a minister of whom he is afraid, or a master to a
slave, who, he knows, would assassinate him if he could; nevertheless
he rose and followed him to his superior. What passed between these
two dignified characters it is needless here to relate, as the
substance of the matter will appear in the sequel. But the Master
returned into the great hall, where the warden's men were by that time
all assembled, an altered man indeed. His countenance glanced with a
sublime but infernal exultation. His eye shone with ten times the
vigour of youthful animation. It was like a dying flame relumined,
that flashes with more than pristine brightness; and the tones of his
voice were like those of a conqueror on the field of battle. With this
voice, and with this mien, he ordered the friar and his ward Delany
instantly to quit the castle; and if an hour hence they were found on
his domains, he would cause them to be hewed into so many pieces as
there were hairs on their heads.
"Lo thy threats are unto me as the east wind," said the friar: "Yea as
the wind that cometh from the desert, and puffeth up the vapours on
the stagnant pools of water. If my companions in adversity go, then
will I also go along with them. But if they remain, by the life of
Pharaoh, so likewise will thy servant; and what hast thou more to say,
thou man of Belial?"
The Master shook his grey locks and his dark silvery beard in
derision; and Charlie Scott, whose confidence in his friend the friar
was now unbounded, stepped up to back what he had said, and to protest
against parting company. Dan, however, interfered hastily, and told
them he was bound by a promise to the holy father, who had wrought
their liberty, to do nothing adverse to the will of the Master, while
they remained in his castle and on his domains; and therefore he
begged they would comply without more words, and without delay. The
friar then consented, much against Charlie's inclination; and taking
Delany by the hand, he said: "Lo I will even depart; but I will remain
at the ford of Howden-burn until my friends arrive, for then am I from
off the territory of this blasphemer and worker of all manner of
iniquity. See that you tarry not at the wine, neither let your eyes
behold strange women, that it may be well with you." So the two went
away, and did as they had said. The friar found his mule in good
keeping, and he remained with the maid in a cottage at the fords of
Howden-burn, to await the issue of this singular and unfortunate
embassy.
"Now shall I have my will, and do that which seems meet to me," said
the Master, as he strode the hall with unrestrained energy. "Did the
dolt imagine he could, with his tricks of legerdemain, outdo me in the
powers and mysteries of my art? No, that man is unborn! Let him go
with his crosiers and his breviaries; I am Michael Scott once again!"
"It is needless to say ought here," said Charlie Scott aside to his
companions: "Fock should ken weel what they say, and where they are
saying it. But the truth is, that the friar was the greatest man o'
the twa; and that auld birkie was right sair cowed in his presence. It
is sair against my will that we hae been obliged, by your promise,
Dan, to part wi' the gospel friar; for, d'ye ken, I feel amaist as the
buckler were ta'en aff my arm, to want him as lang as I am here. What
do you think the carl did, Dan? Come here, you and Will, and I'll tell
you. When we came here, ye see, the master had a steward, a perfect
hound o' hell, wha thought to guide us waur than dogs; and he crossed
the friar unco sair, till at length he lost a' patience wi' him, and,
lord sauf us! sent him up through the clouds in a flash o' fire; and
there has never been mair o' him seen, but some wee bits o' fragments.
I can tell you the loss o' sic a man as the friar, out o' sic a place
as this, is a loss no easily made up."
"Have a little patience, brave Yardbire," said Dan: "We have the great
and the grave abbot Lawrence in his place. He is our firm friend and
our captain's friend, and every thing will now be settled in the most
amicable manner."--"That holy father and his assistants are the only
hope I hae," returned Charlie: "An it warna for their presence, I
wadna stay another half hour in sic a place as this. Ye little ken
what scenes we ha'e witnessed during the days and nights that we ha'e
been here. However, as I had the charge of the embassage, I will gang
and speak to the auld billy. He seems to be in a high key. Master
Michael Scott; ye ken that yoursel' and our auld friar, by your
trials o' skill in your terrible arts o' witchcraft, brought about an
accident that has kept us ower lang here, to the great trouble and
inconveniency of our captain, your own brave kinsman. Now, since we
are a' at liberty again, we beseech you to give us our answer; and if
you canna read the weird that he desires of you, why tell us sae at
aince, and let us gang about our business."
"Gallant yeoman, your request shall be granted without loss of time,"
said the Master. "But it is the venerable father's request that I
should regale my kinsman's people before dismissing them, to make some
small return for the privations they have suffered. Be satisfied then
to remain for a few hours, till you taste of my cheer; and in the
meanwhile I will look into the book of fate, and not only tell you
what your captain, Sir Ringan, ought to do, but I will show you
demonstratively what he _must_ do, if he would succeed in raising his
name and his house above that of every Scottish baron." "Thank ye,
noble sir," said Charlie: "There shall never be another word about
it. If we gain our errand sae satisfactorily at last, I'll count a'
that we ha'e bidden weel wared."
"Noble and worthy Sir, you never yet have said who told the most
efficient tale, and unto whom the maiden should belong," said the
poet.
"'Twas he, your captain there, who said the tale I most approved, and
to him I award my right in the toy, the trifle you call maiden,"
returned the Master. "And it is well remembered, squire; amongst you,
you deprived me of my steward, a man that could have accomplished a
great deal,--I therefore claim this worthy in his stead, as agreed;
and glad may he be that he escapes so well."
"I fear I will be a bad cook, and an awkward valet," said Gibbie. "I
was never very handy at ought that way. Tam wad answer a great deal
better, an it were your will."
"We will have you taught practically, and to profit," said the Master:
"The three brethren, attendants on father Lawrence, shall take you to
task this instant. They will act as your assistants and masters
to-day, and to their hands I recommend you. Be expert, and spare no
cost." So saying, he gave three tramps with his heel, as he was wont
to do in time past, and instantly the three sable monks stood before
him. "Take that comely youth," said he, "and bestow on him a few
cogent lessons in the mysteries of the culinary art. You may teach him
a few _varieties_." As he said this, there was a malignant smile
rather darkened than lighted up his stern features, and on the instant
the three monks had Gibbie from the ground; and one holding by each
arm and another by both his feet, they rushed out of the hall with
him, in the same way that one drives a wheelbarrow. When the men of
the embassy heard the three tramps, and the words about the varieties,
they looked at one another with rather uneasy sensations. But the
presence of father Lawrence, and the other three holy brethren,
encouraged them still to acquiesce in the Master's request.
A short time after this, as they were sauntering about the castle,
they heard some loud giggling laughter, intermixed with squeaking
cries of despair; which last they could well distinguish as proceeding
from the lungs of poor Gibbie Jordan; and immediately after that there
came among them a huge red capon, fluttering and screaming in a most
desperate and deplorable manner, and all the three monks pursuing him
with shouts of delight. The feathers were half plucked off him, and
his breath quite spent, so that they easily laid hold of him, and
carried him away by the neck to have him spitted living, as they said.
Our yeomen saw nothing but an overgrown bird, but they heard well that
the voice was the voice of Jordan. "These monks are trifling and
amusing themselves," said Tam; "we shall get no dinner before night."
The words were hardly well said when the castle bell rung, and in they
all rushed to the great hall where stood a plentiful dinner smoking
along the board, and the abbot and the Master both seated at the upper
end, side by side. Our yeomen thought it extraordinary to see the
great warlock and the reverend father in such close compact, but they
held their peace. The abbot rose and pronounced a blessing on the
food, but it was in an unknown tongue, and little did they wot of its
purport. There was great variety on the table of every kind of food,
yet there was not one of our yeomen knew of what the greater part of
the dishes consisted. But the huge capon stood at the head of the
table, and though he had been killed and cooked in a few minutes, the
bird looked exceedingly well. The abbot and the Master devoured him
with so much zest, that no one liked to call for a piece of him, save
Tam Craik, who eat a wing of him; but there was no broad bone in his
shoulder, yet Tam declared him the first meat he had ever tasted, save
once, in his life. Charlie was placed next the Master, and Dan next
the abbot Lawrence. The three monks, attendants on the latter, served
the table, but nothing of the new steward made his appearance. The
wine and other strong liquors were served round in great abundance,
and the quality was so excellent, that, notwithstanding of the friar's
charge, every one drank liberally, and soon got into high glee.
Whenever the supreme and haughty abbot swallowed a cup of wine, Dan,
who sat next him, heard always a hissing sound within his breast, as
if one had been pouring water on red hot iron. This startled the
trooper terribly for two or three times at first, but his surprise
lessened and wore off by degrees as the liquor continued to exalt his
spirits. The feast went on, and the wine flowed; but, as on a former
occasion, the men ate without being satisfied. The wines and liquor
were all however real, and had their due effect, so that the spirit of
hilarity rose to a great height.
It was observed that father Lawrence conversed with no one but the
Master, and the dialogue they held was all in an unknown tongue, in
which tongue also, they sometimes conferred with the servitors. The
Master left the table three several times, for he had a charm going
on in another part of the castle, and at the third time returned with
the black book of fate, the book of the dynasties of men below his
arm, and laid it closed on the table before him.
"Now, my brave and warlike guests," said he. "Before I open this awful
book, it is meet that every one of you be blind-folded. I ask this for
your own sakes. If any one of you were to look but on one character of
this book, his brain would be seared to a cinder, his eyes would fly
out of their sockets, and perhaps his whole frame might be changed
into something unspeakable and monstrous."
"Gude faith, sir Master, I'll haud my een as close as they were sewed
up wi' an elshin and a lingel," said Charlie. So said they all, but
they were not trusted; the monks were ordered to go round the table
and tie every one's eyes closely up; and when this was done, they were
desired to lay all their heads down upon their hands on the board, and
to sit without moving, whatever they might hear. He then proceeded to
open the massy iron clasps, and as soon as they were unloosed, three
spirits burst from the book with loud shrieks, and escaped through the
barbican. The yells were so piercing that some of our yeomen started
from their seats, but dared not lift their heads. "Ah! They are gone,"
said the Master: "This weird will cost me dear!"
"Fear nothing, but proceed," said father Lawrence.
He opened the book, and three peals of thunder ensued that shook the
castle to its foundations, every one of them louder than the last; and
though our yeomen sat trembling in utter darkness, they heard voices
around them as if the hall had been crowded full of people; among
others, they deemed that they could distinguish the voices of the
warden and his lady. They, however, sat still as if chained to their
places, awaiting the issue; and, after much noise and apparent
interruptions, the great Master read out as follows:
"He for whom this weird is read,
Be he son of battle bred,
Be he baron born to peril,
Be he lord, or be he earl,
Let him trust his gallant kin,
And the sword below the skin.
When the red buck quits the cover,
When the midnight watch is over,
Then, whatever may betide,
Trust the horn, and trust the hide,
He that drives shall feel the gin,
But he that's driven shall get in.
All for whom this weird is read,
For the living, for the dead,
From the chief with corslet shorn,
To the babe that is unborn,
Let them to the sceptre lean,
Till the place where they have been
See their sway expand untroubled,
Doubled, doubled, nine times doubled;
First to rise and rule the rings,
Mixed with blood of mighty kings.
This is read for princes, peers,
And children of a thousand years;
Now begins their puissant story;
Strike the blow and gain the glory.
Rise not against feudal union,
No advance but in communion,
Though through battle, broil, and murther.--
Shut the book, and read no further."
The book was closed, and loud shouts of applause, as from a great
multitude, were heard at a distance; as that died away, a peal of
thunder burst forth over their heads, which rolled away with an
undulating sound, till lost in the regions of the western heavens.
Our yeomen's eyes were then unbound, and when they looked up the book
of fate was removed, and the Master was fallen back on his seat, with
his countenance mightily distorted; but the abbot and his attendants
would not suffer any to touch him till he recovered of himself. He
again rose into high and unwonted spirits; but his elevation was
rather like the delirium of a man driven to desperation, than that
flow of delightful hilarity, the offspring of a temperate and well
regulated mind. The borderers persevered in their libations, and the
mirth and noise increased till near the fall of the evening, when
Charlie again proposed to go; but the Master protested against it for
a short space, adding, that he had to give them a practical lesson how
their captain ought to proceed, if he would be the greatest man in
Scotland. This was quite sufficient to prevail on Yardbire, and none
of the rest appeared much disposed to move.
About this time some of our yeomen, sitting with their faces toward
the casement, beheld a novel scene, which they called up the rest to
witness. This was the Master's new steward, the late laird of the
Peatstacknowe, making his escape from the castle with all possible
speed. He was stripped half naked, and bareheaded; had thrown himself
over the outer wall, lest he should be seen going by the gate, and
was running up the hollow of Aikwood burn, among the trees, to
elude discovery. Presently afterwards they beheld two of the monks
stretching after him with a swiftness not to be outrun. Poor Gibbie
was soon overhied and brought back, not in the most gentle manner;
and, instead of carrying him round by the gate, which, having been
broken up, stood wide open, they took him by the heels, and threw him
over the wall, at the place he had leaped before. Gibbie gave a loud
squeak in the air, as he came over the wall with a wheeling motion;
and falling on the other side, every one believed that there would not
be a whole bone left in his body. Instead of that he sprung to his
feet, and ran across the court, saying to himself, "I'll tell you
what--It minds me o' hell this place,--if ever there was ane upon
earth." He got not time to finish the sentence till he was again
seized, and hauled into the castle.
"Master Michael Scott, I protest in my master's name against this
usage of a leal vassal and tiend laird," said Charlie.
"The comely youth is mine by your own agreement," said the Master:
"He shall be well seen to. Perhaps I shall only keep him for a
season, until better supplied. Be content; the matter is now beyond
disputation. In the meantime I will proceed to give you a specimen of
my profound art, of which you have now seen many instances; and also
of my esteem for your captain, to whom you will be so good as repeat
this."
He then went away to his arcana, and brought a bason of liquor,
resembling wine, which he sprinkled on all his guests in small
proportions, and taking his seat beside the supercilious abbot, the
two sat apparently waiting for some grand metamorphosis. The spell,
powerful as it was, had not the effect that was surmised. These rude
warriors of a former age had principles of virtue and honour in their
natures that withstood the charms of necromancy,--those charms before
which noble dames, cruel laymen, and selfish clergy sunk down
confounded and overpowered. The countenances of a few of the troopers
were somewhat changed by the spell, assuming thereby a sort of
resemblance to beasts, but this their associates only laughed at,
deeming it occasioned by the drunkenness of the individuals affected.
The two great personages at the head of the table viewed the matter in
a different light, and that with evident symptoms of disappointment.
They comprehended the reason, for they knew there was but one against
which the powers of darkness could not prevail; and, after holding a
conversation about it in their own mysterious language, they set about
the accomplishment of their desires, for, though a matter of no great
avail, the Master could not brook to be baulked in any of his works
of divination. The purport of this conversation was, what the Master
had once proposed before, that the men must be made accessory to their
own transformation; and in this project he forthwith engaged with all
manner of earnestness.