"Have mercy, good Lord, have mercy on the land.
Have mercy on my son,--and guard him when he goes out and when he comes in.
Have mercy on the children I have toiled for, and teach me to judge and act for them aright in these sore straits; and above all, have mercy on our King, break his fetters, and send him home to be the healer of his land, the avenger of her cruel wrongs."
Have mercy on my son,--and guard him when he goes out and when he comes in.
Have mercy on the children I have toiled for, and teach me to judge and act for them aright in these sore straits; and above all, have mercy on our King, break his fetters, and send him home to be the healer of his land, the avenger of her cruel wrongs."
"How long, O Lord, how long?"
"Oh, Sir, let me but save my soul, and find peace in Coldingham!"
"My poor bairn, it must not be. It is true that the Regent and his sons would willingly see you in a cloister. Nay, that unmanly jeer of Walter Stewart's was, I verily believe, meant to drive you thither. But were you there, then would poor Lilias become a prize worth having, and the only question would be, whether Walter of Albany, or Robert of Athole, or any of the rest of them, should tear her away to be the lady of their fierce ungodly households."
"You could give her to Patrick, Uncle."
"No, Malcolm, that were not consistent with mine honour, or oaths to the King and State. You living, and Laird of Glenuskie, Lilias is a mere younger sister, whom you may give in marriage as you will; but were you dead to the world, under a cowl, then the Lady of Glenuskie, a king's grandchild, may not be disposed of, save by her royal kinsman, or by those who, woe worth the day! stand in his place. I were no better than yon Wolf of Badenoch or the Master of Albany, did I steal a march on the Regent, and give the poor lassie to my own son!"
"And so Lilias must pine, and Patrick wander off to the weary French war, sighed Malcolm; and I must be scorned by my cousins whenever the House of Stewart meets together; and must strive with these fierce cruel men, that will ever be too hard for me when Patie is gone. Ah! that fair chapel, with the sweet chant of the choir, the green smooth-shaven quadrangle, the calm cloister walk; there, there alone is rest. There, one ceases to be a prey and a laughing-stock; there, one sees no more bloodshed and spulzie; there, one need not be forced to treachery or violence. Oh, Uncle! my very soul is sick for Coldingham. How many years will it be ere I can myself bestow my sister on Patie, and hide my head in peace!"
"Nay, nay, Malcolm, these are no words for the oe of Bruce; you are born to dare as well as to suffer,"
"A knight--a knight in bright steel, and with three attendants,"
"Fear not, most prudent Malcolm; Father Ninian is with him: Father Ninian must have invited him."
"Strange, that Father Ninian should be picking up and bringing home stray wandering land-loupers;"
"Sir Patrick, let me present to you Sir James Stewart, a captive knight who is come to collect his ransom. I fell in with him on the road, and as his road lay with mine, I made bold to assure him of a welcome from your honoured father and Lord Malcolm."
"You are welcome, Sir; my father and my cousin will gladly further on his way a prisoner seeking freedom."
"A captive may well be welcome, for the sake of one prisoner; I am in the presence of the noble Tutor of Glenuskie."
"Even so, Sir; and you here see my wards, the Lord Malcolm and Lady Lilias. Your knighthood will make allowances for the lad, he is but home-bred."
"Ha! a new book--a romance? Well may that drive out other thoughts."
"Not a romance, Sir, but whatever the good fathers at Coldingham would lend me."
"The "Itinerarium"! methought I had heard of such a book. I have a friend in England who would give many a fair rose noble for a sight of it."
"The "Itinerarium" of the blessed Adamnanus,"
"Ha! never did I see such a likeness. Patie, you should be old enough to remember; do you not see it?"
"Who? Who is he like?"
"Who? do you not see it? to the unhappy lad, the Duke of Rothsay."
"So I have been told;"
"And is there not a man in Scotland left to strike for the right? cannot nobles, clergy, and burghers, band themselves in parliament to put down Albany and his bloody house, and recall their true head?"
"They love to have it so. United, they might be strong enough; but each knows that his fellow, Douglas, Lennox, March, or Mar, would be ready to play the same game as Albany; and to raise a rival none will stir."
"And so, the manhood of Scotland goes forth to waste itself in an empty foreign war, merely to keep France in as wretched a state of misrule as itself."
"Nay, nay, Sir, it is to save an ancient ally from the tyranny of our foulest foe. It is the only place where a Scotsman can seek his fortune with honour, and without staining his soul with foul deeds. Bring our King home, and every sword shall be at his service."
"What, when they have all been lavished on the crazy Frenchman?"
"No, Sir, when they have been brightened there by honourable warfare, not tarnished by home barbarities."
"He speaks truly; and though it will go to my heart to part with the lad, yet may I not say a word to detain him in a land where the contagion of violence can scarce be escaped by a brave man."
"That may be; but what is to be the lot of a land whose honest men desert her cause as too evil for them, and seek out another, that when seen closer is scarce less evil?"
"How, Sir! you a prisoner of England, yet speaking against our noble French allies, so foully trampled on?"
"I have lived long enough in England, to think that land happiest where law is strong enough to enforce peace and order."
"The coward loons!"
"Many years, fair lady; I was taken when I was a mere lad, but I have had gentle captors, and no over harsh prison."
"And has no one ransomed you?"
"No one, lady. My uncle was but too willing that the heir should be kept aloof; and it is only now he is dead, that I have obtained leave from my friendly captor to come in search of my ransom."
"The Earl of Somerset,"
"Ah, Uncle, is not the King, too, in his charge?"
"Brook it! No indeed, lady. His heart burns within him at every cry that comes over the Border, and will well-nigh burst at what I have seen and heard! King Harry tells him that to send him home were but tossing him on the swords of the Albany. Better, better so, to die in one grapple for his country's sake, than lie bound, hearing her bitter wails, and unable to stir for her redress!"
"Your heart is in the right place, friend; I look on you as an honest man and brother in arms from this moment."
"'Tis a bargain. When the hour comes for the true rescue of Scotland, we will strike together."
"And you will tell the King, that here are true hearts, and I could find many more, only longing to fence him from the Albany swords, about which King Harry is so good as to fash himself."
"He and I are much of a height, lady. Maybe I may give you the justest notion of him by saying that I am said to be his very marrow."
"That explains your likeness to the poor Duke, and you too count kindred with our royal house, methinks?"
"I am sprung from Walter the Stewart, so much I know; my lands lie Carrick-wards, but I have been a prisoner so long, that the pedigree of my house was never taught me, and I can make no figure in describing my own descent."
"Ha! never did I see such a likeness. Patie, you should be old enough to remember; do you not see it?"
"Oh, Sir, let me but save my soul, and find peace in Coldingham!"
"My poor bairn, it must not be. It is true that the Regent and his sons would willingly see you in a cloister. Nay, that unmanly jeer of Walter Stewart's was, I verily believe, meant to drive you thither. But were you there, then would poor Lilias become a prize worth having, and the only question would be, whether Walter of Albany, or Robert of Athole, or any of the rest of them, should tear her away to be the lady of their fierce ungodly households."
"You could give her to Patrick, Uncle."
"No, Malcolm, that were not consistent with mine honour, or oaths to the King and State. You living, and Laird of Glenuskie, Lilias is a mere younger sister, whom you may give in marriage as you will; but were you dead to the world, under a cowl, then the Lady of Glenuskie, a king's grandchild, may not be disposed of, save by her royal kinsman, or by those who, woe worth the day! stand in his place. I were no better than yon Wolf of Badenoch or the Master of Albany, did I steal a march on the Regent, and give the poor lassie to my own son!"
"And so Lilias must pine, and Patrick wander off to the weary French war, sighed Malcolm; and I must be scorned by my cousins whenever the House of Stewart meets together; and must strive with these fierce cruel men, that will ever be too hard for me when Patie is gone. Ah! that fair chapel, with the sweet chant of the choir, the green smooth-shaven quadrangle, the calm cloister walk; there, there alone is rest. There, one ceases to be a prey and a laughing-stock; there, one sees no more bloodshed and spulzie; there, one need not be forced to treachery or violence. Oh, Uncle! my very soul is sick for Coldingham. How many years will it be ere I can myself bestow my sister on Patie, and hide my head in peace!"
"Nay, nay, Malcolm, these are no words for the oe of Bruce; you are born to dare as well as to suffer,"
"A knight--a knight in bright steel, and with three attendants,"
"Fear not, most prudent Malcolm; Father Ninian is with him: Father Ninian must have invited him."
"Strange, that Father Ninian should be picking up and bringing home stray wandering land-loupers;"
"Sir Patrick, let me present to you Sir James Stewart, a captive knight who is come to collect his ransom. I fell in with him on the road, and as his road lay with mine, I made bold to assure him of a welcome from your honoured father and Lord Malcolm."
"You are welcome, Sir; my father and my cousin will gladly further on his way a prisoner seeking freedom."
"A captive may well be welcome, for the sake of one prisoner; I am in the presence of the noble Tutor of Glenuskie."
"Even so, Sir; and you here see my wards, the Lord Malcolm and Lady Lilias. Your knighthood will make allowances for the lad, he is but home-bred."
"Ha! a new book--a romance? Well may that drive out other thoughts."
"Not a romance, Sir, but whatever the good fathers at Coldingham would lend me."
"The "Itinerarium"! methought I had heard of such a book. I have a friend in England who would give many a fair rose noble for a sight of it."
"The "Itinerarium" of the blessed Adamnanus,"
"Ha! never did I see such a likeness. Patie, you should be old enough to remember; do you not see it?"
"Who? Who is he like?"
"Who? do you not see it? to the unhappy lad, the Duke of Rothsay."
"So I have been told;"
"And is there not a man in Scotland left to strike for the right? cannot nobles, clergy, and burghers, band themselves in parliament to put down Albany and his bloody house, and recall their true head?"
"They love to have it so. United, they might be strong enough; but each knows that his fellow, Douglas, Lennox, March, or Mar, would be ready to play the same game as Albany; and to raise a rival none will stir."
"And so, the manhood of Scotland goes forth to waste itself in an empty foreign war, merely to keep France in as wretched a state of misrule as itself."
"Nay, nay, Sir, it is to save an ancient ally from the tyranny of our foulest foe. It is the only place where a Scotsman can seek his fortune with honour, and without staining his soul with foul deeds. Bring our King home, and every sword shall be at his service."
"What, when they have all been lavished on the crazy Frenchman?"
"No, Sir, when they have been brightened there by honourable warfare, not tarnished by home barbarities."
"He speaks truly; and though it will go to my heart to part with the lad, yet may I not say a word to detain him in a land where the contagion of violence can scarce be escaped by a brave man."
"That may be; but what is to be the lot of a land whose honest men desert her cause as too evil for them, and seek out another, that when seen closer is scarce less evil?"
"How, Sir! you a prisoner of England, yet speaking against our noble French allies, so foully trampled on?"
"I have lived long enough in England, to think that land happiest where law is strong enough to enforce peace and order."
"The coward loons!"
"Many years, fair lady; I was taken when I was a mere lad, but I have had gentle captors, and no over harsh prison."
"And has no one ransomed you?"
"No one, lady. My uncle was but too willing that the heir should be kept aloof; and it is only now he is dead, that I have obtained leave from my friendly captor to come in search of my ransom."
"The Earl of Somerset,"
"Ah, Uncle, is not the King, too, in his charge?"
"Brook it! No indeed, lady. His heart burns within him at every cry that comes over the Border, and will well-nigh burst at what I have seen and heard! King Harry tells him that to send him home were but tossing him on the swords of the Albany. Better, better so, to die in one grapple for his country's sake, than lie bound, hearing her bitter wails, and unable to stir for her redress!"
"Your heart is in the right place, friend; I look on you as an honest man and brother in arms from this moment."
"'Tis a bargain. When the hour comes for the true rescue of Scotland, we will strike together."
"And you will tell the King, that here are true hearts, and I could find many more, only longing to fence him from the Albany swords, about which King Harry is so good as to fash himself."
"He and I are much of a height, lady. Maybe I may give you the justest notion of him by saying that I am said to be his very marrow."
"That explains your likeness to the poor Duke, and you too count kindred with our royal house, methinks?"
"I am sprung from Walter the Stewart, so much I know; my lands lie Carrick-wards, but I have been a prisoner so long, that the pedigree of my house was never taught me, and I can make no figure in describing my own descent."
"Ha! never did I see such a likeness. Patie, you should be old enough to remember; do you not see it?"
"Verily there had been, said the knight; and on a little solicitation, so soon as supper was over, he recited to the eager and delighted auditors the tale of patient Grisel, as render"