The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott
CHAPTER XIII.
To face the garment of rebellion With some fine colour, that may please the eye Of fickle changelings, and poor discontents, Which gape and rub the elbow at the news Of hurlyburly innovation.--HENRY THE FOURTH, PART II.
There had been great preparations made at Ellieslaw Castle for theentertainment on this important day, when not only the gentlemen of notein the neighbourhood, attached to the Jacobite interest, were expectedto rendezvous, but also many subordinate malecontents, whom difficultyof circumstances, love of change, resentment against England, or any ofthe numerous causes which inflamed men's passions at the time, renderedapt to join in perilous enterprise. The men of rank and substance werenot many in number; for almost all the large proprietors stood aloof,and most of the smaller gentry and yeomanry were of the Presbyterianpersuasion, and therefore, however displeased with the Union, unwillingto engage in a Jacobite conspiracy. But there were some gentlemen ofproperty, who, either from early principle, from religious motives, orsharing the ambitious views of Ellieslaw, had given countenance to hisscheme; and there were, also, some fiery young men, like Mareschal,desirous of signalizing themselves by engaging in a dangerousenterprise, by which they hoped to vindicate the independence of theircountry. The other members of the party were persons of inferior rankand desperate fortunes, who were now ready to rise in that part of thecountry, as they did afterwards in the year 1715, under Forster andDerwentwater, when a troop, commanded by a Border gentleman, namedDouglas, consisted almost entirely of freebooters, among whom thenotorious Luck-in-a-bag, as he was called, held a distinguished command.We think it necessary to mention these particulars, applicable solelyto the province in which our scene lies; because, unquestionably, theJacobite party, in the other parts of the kingdom, consisted of muchmore formidable, as well as much more respectable, materials.
One long table extended itself down the ample hall of Ellieslaw Castle,which was still left much in the state in which it had been one hundredyears before, stretching, that is, in gloomy length, along the wholeside of the castle, vaulted with ribbed arches of freestone, the groinsof which sprung from projecting figures, that, carved into all thewild forms which the fantastic imagination of a Gothic architect coulddevise, grinned, frowned, and gnashed their tusks at the assembly below.Long narrow windows lighted the banqueting room on both sides, filledup with stained glass, through which the sun emitted a dusky anddiscoloured light. A banner, which tradition averred to have been takenfrom the English at the battle of Sark, waved over the chair in whichEllieslaw presided, as if to inflame the courage of the guests, byreminding them of ancient victories over their neighbours. He himself,a portly figure, dressed on this occasion with uncommon care, and withfeatures, which, though of a stern and sinister expression, might wellbe termed handsome, looked the old feudal baron extremely well. SirFrederick Langley was placed on his right hand, and Mr. Mareschal ofMareschal-Wells on his left. Some gentlemen of consideration, with theirsons, brothers, and nephews, were seated at the upper end of the table,and among these Mr. Ratcliffe had his place. Beneath the salt-cellar (amassive piece of plate which occupied the midst of the table) sate theSINE NOMINE TURBA, men whose vanity was gratified by holding even thissubordinate space at the social board, while the distinction observed inranking them was a salve to the pride of their superiors. That the lowerhouse was not very select must be admitted, since Willie of Westburnflatwas one of the party. The unabashed audacity of this fellow, in daringto present himself in the house of a gentleman, to whom he had justoffered so flagrant an insult, can only be accounted for by supposinghim conscious that his share in carrying off Miss Vere was a secret,safe in her possession and that of her father.
Before this numerous and miscellaneous party was placed a dinner,consisting, not indeed of the delicacies of the season, as thenewspapers express it, but of viands, ample, solid, and sumptuous, underwhich the very board groaned. But the mirth was not in proportion to thegood cheer. The lower end of the table were, for some time, chilled byconstraint and respect on finding themselves members of so august anassembly; and those who were placed around it had those feelings of awewith which P. P., clerk of the parish, describes himself oppressed,when he first uplifted the psalm in presence of those persons of highworship, the wise Mr. Justice Freeman, the good Lady Jones, and thegreat Sir Thomas Truby. This ceremonious frost, however, soon gave waybefore the incentives to merriment, which were liberally supplied,and as liberally consumed by the guests of the lower description. Theybecame talkative, loud, and even clamorous in their mirth.
But it was not in the power of wine or brandy to elevate the spirits ofthose who held the higher places at the banquet. They experienced thechilling revulsion of spirits which often takes place, when menare called upon to take a desperate resolution, after having placedthemselves in circumstances where it is alike difficult to advance orto recede. The precipice looked deeper and more dangerous as theyapproached the brink, and each waited with an inward emotion of awe,expecting which of his confederates would set the example by plunginghimself down. This inward sensation of fear and reluctance acteddifferently, according to the various habits and characters of thecompany. One looked grave; another looked silly; a third gazed withapprehension on the empty seats at the higher end of the table, designedfor members of the conspiracy whose prudence had prevailed over theirpolitical zeal, and who had absented themselves from their consultationsat this critical period; and some seemed to be reckoning up in theirminds the comparative rank and prospects of those who were present andabsent. Sir Frederick Langley was reserved, moody, and discontented.Ellieslaw himself made such forced efforts to raise the spirits of thecompany, as plainly marked the flagging of his own. Ratcliffe watchedthe scene with the composure of a vigilant but uninterested spectator.Mareschal alone, true to the thoughtless vivacity of his character, ateand drank, laughed and jested, and seemed even to find amusement in theembarrassment of the company.
"What has damped our noble courage this morning?" he exclaimed. "We seemto be met at a funeral, where the chief mourners must not speak abovetheir breath, while the mutes and the saulies (looking to the lower endof the table) are carousing below. Ellieslaw, when will you LIFT?[To LIFT, meaning to lift the coffin, is the common expression forcommencing a funeral.] where sleeps your spirit, man? and what hasquelled the high hope of the Knight of Langley-dale?"
"You speak like a madman," said Ellieslaw; "do you not see how many areabsent?"
"And what of that?" said Mareschal. "Did you not know before, thatone-half of the world are better talkers than doers? For my part, I ammuch encouraged by seeing at least two-thirds of our friends true to therendezvous, though I suspect one-half of these came to secure the dinnerin case of the worst."
"There is no news from the coast which can amount to certainty of theKing's arrival," said another of the company, in that tone of subduedand tremulous whisper which implies a failure of resolution.
"Not a line from the Earl of D--, nor a single gentleman from thesouthern side of the Border," said a third.
"Who is he that wishes for more men from England," exclaimed Mareschal,in a theatrical tone of affected heroism,
"My cousin Ellieslaw? No, my fair cousin, If we are doom'd to die--"
"For God's sake," said Ellieslaw, "spare us your folly at present,Mareschal."
"Well, then," said his kinsman, "I'll bestow my wisdom upon you instead,such as it is. If we have gone forward like fools, do not let us go backlike cowards. We have done enough to draw upon us both the suspicion andvengeance of the government; do not let us give up before we have donesomething to deserve it.--What, will no one speak? Then I'll leap theditch the first." And, starting up, he filled a beer-glass to the brimwith claret, and waving his hand, commanded all to follow his example,and to rise up from their seats. All obeyed-the more qualified guests asif passively, the others with enthusiasm "Then, my friends, I give youthe pledge of the day--The independence of Scotland, and the health
He quaffed off the wine, and threw the glass over his head.
"It should never," he said, "be profaned by a meaner toast."
All followed his example, and, amid the crash of glasses and the shoutsof the company, pledged themselves to stand or fall with the principlesand political interest which their toast expressed.
"You have leaped the ditch with a witness," said Ellieslaw, apart toMareschal; "but I believe it is all for the best; at all events, wecannot now retreat from our undertaking. One man alone" (looking atRatcliffe) "has refused the pledge; but of that by and by."
Then, rising up, he addressed the company in a style of inflammatoryinvective against the government and its measures, but especially theUnion; a treaty, by means of which, he affirmed, Scotland had been atonce cheated of her independence, her commerce, and her honour, and laidas a fettered slave at the foot of the rival against whom, through sucha length of ages, through so many dangers, and by so much blood, she hadhonourably defended her rights. This was touching a theme which found aresponsive chord in the bosom of every man present.
"Our commerce is destroyed," hollowed old John Rewcastle, a Jedburghsmuggler, from the lower end of the table.
"Our agriculture is ruined," said the Laird of Broken-girth-flow, aterritory which, since the days of Adam, had borne nothing but ling andwhortle-berries.
"Our religion is cut up, root and branch," said the pimple-nosed pastorof the Episcopal meeting-house at Kirkwhistle.
"We shall shortly neither dare shoot a deer nor kiss a wench, withouta certificate from the presbytery and kirk-treasurer," saidMareschal-Wells.
"Or make a brandy jeroboam in a frosty morning, without license from acommissioner of excise," said the smuggler.
"Or ride over the fell in a moonless night," said Westburnflat, "withoutasking leave of young Earnscliff; or some Englified justice of thepeace: thae were gude days on the Border when there was neither peacenor justice heard of."
"Let us remember our wrongs at Darien and Glencoe," continued Ellieslaw,"and take arms for the protection of our rights, our fortunes, ourlives, and our families."
"Think upon genuine episcopal ordination, without which there can be nolawful clergy," said the divine.
"Think of the piracies committed on our East-Indian trade by Greenand the English thieves," said William Willieson, half-owner and soleskipper of a brig that made four voyages annually between Cockpool andWhitehaven.
"Remember your liberties," rejoined Mareschal, who seemed to take amischievous delight in precipitating the movements of the enthusiasmwhich he had excited, like a roguish boy, who, having lifted the sluiceof a mill-dam, enjoys the clatter of the wheels which he has putin motion, without thinking of the mischief he may have occasioned."Remember your liberties," he exclaimed; "confound cess, press, andpresbytery, and the memory of old Willie that first brought them uponus!"
"Damn the gauger!" echoed old John Rewcastle; "I'll cleave him wi' myain hand."
"And confound the country-keeper and the constable!" re-echoedWestburnflat; "I'll weize a brace of balls through them before morning."
"We are agreed, then," said Ellieslaw, when the shouts had somewhatsubsided, "to bear this state of things no longer?"
"We are agreed to a man," answered his guests.
"Not literally so," said Mr. Ratcliffe; "for though I cannot hope toassuage the violent symptoms which seem so suddenly to have seizedupon the company, yet I beg to observe, that so far as the opinion of asingle member goes, I do not entirely coincide in the list of grievanceswhich has been announced, and that I do utterly protest against thefrantic measures which you seem disposed to adopt for removing them. Ican easily suppose much of what has been spoken may have arisen out ofthe heat of the moment, or have been said perhaps in jest. But there aresome jests of a nature very apt to transpire; and you ought to remember,gentlemen, that stone-walls have ears."
"Stone-walls may have ears," returned Ellieslaw, eyeing him with a lookof triumphant malignity, "but domestic spies, Mr. Ratcliffe, will soonfind themselves without any, if any such dares to continue his abodein a family where his coming was an unauthorized intrusion, where hisconduct has been that of a presumptuous meddler, and from which hisexit shall be that of a baffled knave, if he does not know how to take ahint."
"Mr. Vere," returned Ratcliffe, with calm contempt, "I am fully aware,that as soon as my presence becomes useless to you, which it mustthrough the rash step you are about to adopt, it will immediately becomeunsafe to myself, as it has always been hateful to you. But I have oneprotection, and it is a strong one; for you would not willingly hear medetail before gentlemen, and men of honour, the singular circumstancesin which our connexion took its rise. As to the rest, I rejoice at itsconclusion; and as I think that Mr. Mareschal and some other gentlemenwill guarantee the safety of my ears and of my throat (for which last Ihave more reason to be apprehensive) during the course of the night, Ishall not leave your castle till to-morrow morning."
"Be it so, sir," replied Mr. Vere; "you are entirely safe from myresentment, because you are beneath it, and not because I am afraid ofyour disclosing my family secrets, although, for your own sake, I warnyou to beware how you do so. Your agency and intermediation can be oflittle consequence to one who will win or lose all, as lawful right orunjust usurpation shall succeed in the struggle that is about to ensue.Farewell, sir."
Ratcliffe arose, and cast upon him a look, which Vere seemed to sustainwith difficulty, and, bowing to those around him, left the room.
This conversation made an impression on many of the company, whichEllieslaw hastened to dispel, by entering upon the business of the day.Their hasty deliberations went to organize an immediate insurrection.Ellieslaw, Mareschal, and Sir Frederick Langley were chosen leaders,with powers to direct their farther measures. A place of rendezvous wasappointed, at which all agreed to meet early on the ensuing day, withsuch followers and friends to the cause as each could collect aroundhim. Several of the guests retired to make the necessary preparations;and Ellieslaw made a formal apology to the others, who, withWestburnflat and the old smuggler, continued to ply the bottle stanchly,for leaving the head of the table, as he must necessarily hold aseparate and sober conference with the coadjutors whom they hadassociated with him in the command. The apology was the more readilyaccepted, as he prayed them, at the same time, to continue to amusethemselves with such refreshments as the cellars of the castle afforded.Shouts of applause followed their retreat; and the names of Vere,Langley, and, above all, of Mareschal, were thundered forth in chorus,and bathed with copious bumpers repeatedly, during the remainder of theevening.
When the principal conspirators had retired into a separate apartment,they gazed on each other for a minute with a sort of embarrassment,which, in Sir Frederick's dark features, amounted to an expression ofdiscontented sullenness. Mareschal was the first to break the pause,saying, with a loud burst of laughter,
--"Well! we are fairly embarked now, gentlemen--VOGUE LA GALERE!"
"We may thank you for the plunge," said Ellieslaw.
"Yes; but I don't know how far you will thank me," answered Mareschal,"when I show you this letter which I received just before we sat down.My servant told me it was delivered by a man he had never seen before,who went off at the gallop, after charging him to put it into my ownhand."
Ellieslaw impatiently opened the letter, and read aloud--
EDINBURGH,--
HOND. SIR, Having obligations to your family, which shall be nameless,and learning that you are one of the company of, adventurers doingbusiness for the house of James and Company, late merchants in London,now in Dunkirk, I think it right to send you this early and privateinformation, that the vessels you expected have been driven off thecoast, without having been able to break bulk, or to land any partof their cargo; and that the west-country partners have resolved towithdraw
FOR RALPH MARESCHAL, OF MARESCHAL-WELLS
--THESE WITH CARE AND SPEED.
Sir Frederick's jaw dropped, and his countenance blackened, as theletter was read, and Ellieslaw exclaimed,--"Why, this affects the verymainspring of our enterprise. If the French fleet, with the king onboard, has been chased off by the English, as this d--d scrawl seems tointimate, where are we?"
"Just where we were this morning, I think," said Mareschal, stilllaughing.
"Pardon me, and a truce to your ill-timed mirth, Mr. Mareschal; thismorning we were not committed publicly, as we now stand committed byyour own mad act, when you had a letter in your pocket apprizing youthat our undertaking was desperate."
"Ay, ay, I expected you would say so. But, in the first place, my friendNihil Nameless and his letter may be all a flam; and, moreover, I wouldhave you know that I am tired of a party that does nothing but formbold resolutions overnight, and sleep them away with their wine beforemorning. The government are now unprovided of men and ammunition; in afew weeks they will have enough of both: the country is now in a flameagainst them; in a few weeks, betwixt the effects of self-interest, offear, and of lukewarm indifference, which are already so visible, thisfirst fervour will be as cold as Christmas. So, as I was determined togo the vole, I have taken care you shall dip as deep as I; it signifiesnothing plunging. You are fairly in the bog, and must struggle through."
"You are mistaken with respect to one of us, Mr. Mareschal," said SirFrederick Langley; and, applying himself to the bell, he desired theperson who entered to order his servants and horses instantly.
"You must not leave us, Sir Frederick," said Ellieslaw; "if we have ourmusters to go over."
"I will go to-night, Mr. Vere," said Sir Frederick, "and write you myintentions in this matter when I am at home."
"Ay," said Mareschal, "and send them by a troop of horse from Carlisleto make us prisoners? Look ye, Sir Frederick, I for one will neither bedeserted nor betrayed; and if you leave Ellieslaw Castle to-night, itshall be by passing over my dead body."
"For shame! Mareschal," said Mr. Vere, "how can you so hastilymisinterpret our friend's intentions? I am sure Sir Frederick canonly be jesting with us; for, were he not too honourable to dream ofdeserting the cause, he cannot but remember the full proofs we have ofhis accession to it, and his eager activity in advancing it. He cannotbut be conscious, besides, that the first information will be readilyreceived by government, and that if the question be, which can firstlodge intelligence of the affair, we can easily save a few hours onhim."
"You should say you, and not we, when you talk of priorities in sucha race of treachery; for my part, I won't enter my horse for such aplate," said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth, "A pretty pair offellows to trust a man's neck with!"
"I am not to be intimidated from doing what I think proper," said SirFrederick Langley; "and my first step shall be to leave Ellieslaw. Ihave no reason to keep faith with one" (looking at Vere) "who has keptnone with me."
"In what respect," said Ellieslaw, silencing, with a motion of his hand,his impetuous kinsman--"how have I disappointed you, Sir Frederick?"
"In the nearest and most tender point--you have trifled with meconcerning our proposed alliance, which you well knew was the gage ofour political undertaking. This carrying off and this bringing back ofMiss Vere,--the cold reception I have met with from her, and the excuseswith which you cover it, I believe to be mere evasions, that you mayyourself retain possession of the estates which are hers by right,and make me, in the meanwhile, a tool in your desperate enterprise,by holding out hopes and expectations which you are resolved never torealize."
"Sir Frederick, I protest, by all that is sacred--"
"I will listen to no protestations; I have been cheated with them toolong," answered Sir Frederick.
"If you leave us," said Ellieslaw, "you cannot but know both your ruinand ours is certain; all depends on our adhering together."
"Leave me to take care of myself," returned the knight; "but were whatyou say true, I would rather perish than be fooled any farther."
"Can nothing--no surety convince you of my sincerity?" said Ellieslaw,anxiously; "this morning I should have repelled your unjust suspicionsas an insult; but situated as we now are--"
"You feel yourself compelled to be sincere?" retorted Sir Frederick."If you would have me think so, there is but one way to convince me ofit--let your daughter bestow her hand on me this evening."
"So soon?--impossible," answered Vere; "think of her late alarm--of ourpresent undertaking."
"I will listen to nothing but to her consent, plighted at the altar.You have a chapel in the castle--Doctor Hobbler is present among thecompany-this proof of your good faith to-night, and we are againjoined in heart and hand. If you refuse me when it is so much for youradvantage to consent, how shall I trust you to-morrow, when I shallstand committed in your undertaking, and unable to retract?"
"And I am to understand, that, if you can be made my son-in-lawto-night, our friendship is renewed?" said Ellieslaw.
"Most infallibly, and most inviolably," replied Sir Frederick.
"Then," said Vere, "though what you ask is premature, indelicate, andunjust towards my character, yet, Sir Frederick, give me your hand--mydaughter shall be your wife."
"This night?"
"This very night," replied Ellieslaw, "before the clock strikes twelve."
"With her own consent, I trust," said Mareschal; "for I promise youboth, gentlemen, I will not stand tamely by, and see any violence put onthe will of my pretty kinswoman."
"Another pest in this hot-headed fellow," muttered Ellieslaw; and thenaloud, "With her own consent? For what do you take me, Mareschal, thatyou should suppose your interference necessary to protect my daughteragainst her father? Depend upon it, she has no repugnance to SirFrederick Langley."
"Or rather to be called Lady Langley? faith, like enough--there aremany women might be of her mind; and I beg your pardon, but these suddendemands and concessions alarmed me a little on her account."
"It is only the suddenness of the proposal that embarrasses me," saidEllieslaw; "but perhaps if she is found intractable, Sir Frederick willconsider--"
"I will consider nothing, Mr. Vere--your daughter's hand to-night, or Idepart, were it at midnight--there is my ultimatum."
"I embrace it," said Ellieslaw; "and I will leave you to talk upon ourmilitary preparations, while I go to prepare my daughter for so sudden achange of condition."
So saying, he left the company.