Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

HOW CALEB BALDERSTONE CATERED FOR WOLF'S CRAG.

losses-"a description of a dinner," as he said afterwards to Mysie, "that wad hae made a fu' man hungry, and them to sit there laughing at it!"

"But," said Miss Ashton, composing her countenance as well as she could, "are all these delicacies so totally destroyed that no scrap can be collected ?"

"Collected, my leddy! what wad ye collect out of the sute and the ass? Ye may gang down yoursell, and look into our kitchen-the cookmaid in the trembling exies--the gude vivers lying a' about-beef-capons and white broth-florentine and flams-bacon wi' reverence, and a' the sweet confections and whim-whams; ye'll see them a', my leddy—that is," said he, correcting himself, "ye'll no see ony of them now, for the cook has soopit them up, as was weel her part; but ye'll see the white broth where it was spilt. I pat my fingers in it, and it tastes as like sour milk as onything else; if that isna the effect of thunner, I kenna what is. This gentleman here couldna but hear the clash of our haill dishes, china and silver thegither ?"

The Lord Keeper's domestic, though a statesman's attendant, and of course trained to command his countenance upon all occasions, was somewhat discomposed by this appeal, to which he only answered by a bow.

"I think, Mr. Butler," said the Lord Keeper, who began to be afraid lest the prolongation of this scene should at length displease Ravenswood "I think, that were you to retire with my servant Lockhard—he has travelled, and is quite accustomed to accidents and contingencies of every kind, and I hope betwixt you you may find out some mode of supply at this emergency."

"His honour kens," said Caleb, who, however hopeless of himself of accomplishing what was desirable, would, like the high-spirited elephant, rather have died in the effort than brooked the aid of a brother in commission—“his honour kens weel I need nae counsellor, when the honour of the house is concerned."

"I should be unjust if I denied it, Caleb," said his master; "but your art lies chiefly in making apologies, upon which we can no more dine than upon the bill of fare of our thunder-blasted dinner. Now, possibly, Mr. Lockhard's talent may consist in finding some substitute for that, which certainly is not, and has in all probability never been."

395

ment, to save the honour of a ruined family. And here, Caleb, take my purse; I believe that will prove your best ally."

"Purse! purse, indeed ?" quoth Caleb, indig nantly flinging out of the room. "What suld I do wi' your honour's purse, on your ain grund? I trust we are no to pay for our ain?"

The servants left the hall; and the door was no sooner shut, than the Lord Keeper began to apologise for the rudeness of his mirth, and Lucy to hope she had given no pain or offence to the kind-hearted faithful old man.

Caleb and I must both learn, madam, to undergo with good humour, or at least with patience, the ridicule which everywhere attaches itself to poverty.”

"You do yourself injustice, Master of Ravenswood, on my word of honour," answered his elder guest. "I believe I know more of your affairs than you do yourself, and I hope to show to you that I am interested in them; and that—in short, that your prospects are better than you apprehend. In the meantime, I can conceive nothing so respectable as the spirit which rises above misfortune, and prefers honourable privation to debt or dependence."

Whether from fear of offending the delicacy or awakening the pride of the master, the Lord Keeper made these allusions with an appearance of fearful and hesitating reserve, and seemed to be afraid that he was intruding too far in venturing to touch, however lightly, upon such a topic, even when the master had led to it. It was no wonder the Master of Ravenswood, little acquainted as he then was with life, should have given the consummate courtier credit for more sincerity than was probably to be found in a score of his cast.

Lockhard had his master's orders to bring some venison from the inn, and Caleb was to trust to his wits for the honour of his family. The master, indeed, a second time held out his purse; but, as it was in sight of the strange servant, the butler thought himself obliged to decline what his fingers itched to clutch. "Couldna he hae slippit it gently into my hand?" said Caleb-“ but his honour will never learn how to bear himsell in siccan cases."

The village which they now approached had frequently afforded the distressed butler resources upon similar emergencies; but his relations with it had been of late much altered.

"Your honour is pleased to be facetious," said Caleb, "but I am sure, that for the warst, for a walk as far as Wolf's-hope, I could dine forty men; Willing to shake himself from his companion as no that the folk there deserve your honour's soon as possible, he directed Mr. Lockhard to custom. They hae been ill advised in the matter Lukie Sma'trash's change-house, where a din, of the duty-eggs and butter, I winna deny that." proceeding from the revels of Bucklaw, Craigen"Do go consult together," said the master; go gelt, and their party, sounded half-way down the down to the village, and do the best you can. We street, while the red glare from the window overmust not let our guests remain without refresh- | powered the grey twilight which was now settling

66

down, and glimmered against a parcel of old tubs, kegs, and barrels, piled up in the cooper's yard, on the other side of the way.

"If you, Mr. Lockhard," said the old butler to his companion, "will be pleased to step to the change-house where that light comes from, and where, as I judge, they are now singing 'Cauld Kail in Aberdeen,' ye may do your master's errand about the venison, and I will do mine about Bucklaw's bed, as I return frae getting the rest of the vivers. It's no that the venison is actually needfu'," he added, detaining his colleague by the button, "to make up the dinner; but, as a compliment to the hunters, ye ken—and, Mr. Lockhard, if they offer ye a drink o' yill, or a cup o' wine, or a glass o' brandy, ye'll be a wise man to take it, in case the thunner should hae soured ours at the castle, whilk is ower muckle to be dreaded."

Turning at once upon his heel, Caleb walked hastily back to the cooper's house, lifted the latch without ceremony, and, in a moment, found himself behind the hallan, or partition, from which position he could, himself unseen, reconnoitre the interior of the but, or kitchen apartment, of the

mansion.

Reverse of the sad menage at the Castle of Wolf's Crag, a bickering fire roared up the cooper's chimney. His wife on the one side, in her pearlings and pudding sleeves, put the last finishing touch to her holiday's apparel, while she contemplated a very handsome and good-humoured face in a broken mirror, raised upon the bink (the shelves on which the plates are disposed) for her special accommodation. Her mother, old Luckie Loup-the-Dyke, "a canty carline" as was within twenty miles of her, according to the unanimous report of the gossips, sat in the full glory of a grogram gown, lammer beads, and a clean cockernony, whiffing a snug pipe of tobacco, and superintending the affairs of the kitchen. For-sight more interesting to the anxious heart and craving entrails of the desponding seneschal, than either buxom dame or canty cummer-there bubbled on the aforesaid bickering fire a huge pot, or rather cauldron, steaming with beef and brewis; while before it revolved two spits, turned each by one of the cooper's apprentices, seated in the opposite corners of the chimney; the one loaded with a quarter of mutton, while the other was graced with a fat goose and a brace of wild ducks. The sight and scent of such a land of plenty almost wholly overcame the drooping spirits of Caleb. He turned, for a moment's space, to reconnoitre the ben, or parlour end of the house, and there saw a sight scarce less affecting to his feelings: a large round table, covered for ten or twelve persons, decored (according to his own favourite term) with napery

as white as snow; grand flagons of pewter, intermixed with one or two silver cups, containing, as was probable, something worthy the brilliancy of their outward appearance; clean trenchers, cutty spoons, knives and forks, sharp, burnished, and prompt for action, which lay all displayed as for an especial festival.

"The deil's in the peddling tub-coopering carle!" muttered Caleb, in all the envy of astonishment; "it's a shame to see the like o' them gusting their gabs at sic a rate. But if some o' that gude cheer does not find its way to Wolf's Crag this night, my name is not Caleb Balderstone."

So resolving, he entered the apartment, and, in all courteous greeting, saluted both the mother and the daughter. Wolf's Crag was the court of the barony, Caleb prime minister at Wolf's Crag; and it has ever been remarked, that though the masculine subject who pays the taxes sometimes growls at the courtiers by whom they are imposed, the said courtiers continue, nevertheless, welcome to the fair sex, to whom they furnish the newest small-talk and the earliest fashions. Both the dames were, therefore, at once about old Caleb's neck, setting up their throats together by way of welcome.

"Ay, sirs, Mr. Balderstone, and is this you? A sight of you is gude for sair een. Sit down-sit down; the gudeman will be blithe to see you—ye nar saw him sae cadgy in your life; but we are to christen our bit wean the night, as ye will hae heard, and doubtless ye will stay and see the ordinance. We hae killed a wether, and ane o' our lads has been out wi' his gun at the moss-ye used to like wild-fowl."

"Na-na, gudewife," said Caleb; "I just keekit in to wish ye joy, and I wad be glad to hae spoken wi' the gudeman, but--" moving, as if to go away.

"The ne'er a fit ye's gang," said the elder dame, laughing and holding him fast, with a freedom which belonged to their old acquaintance; “wha kens what ill it may bring to the bairn, if ye owerlook it in that gate ?"

"But I'm in a preceese hurry, gudewife," said the butler, suffering himself to be dragged to a seat without much resistance; "and as to eating" -for he observed the mistress of the dwelling bustling about to place a trencher for him-“ as for eating-lack-a-day, we are just killed up yonder wi' eating frae morning to night. It's shamefu' epicurism; but that's what we hae gotten frae the English pock-puddings."

"Hout! never mind the English pock-puddings," said Luckie Lightbody; "try our puddings, Mr. Balderstone-there is black pudding and whitehass-try whilk ye like best."

"Baith gude-baith excellent-canna be better:

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][graphic]

but the very smell is eneugh for me that hae | Gilbert, and then she was the bonniest lass in our dined sae lately (the faithful wretch had fasted parochine, and the neest till't. But gawsie cow, since daybreak). But I wadna afront your house- goodly calf." wifeskep, gudewife; and, with your permission, I'se e'en pit them in my napkin, and eat them to my supper at e'en, for I am wearied of Mysie's pastry and nonsense-ye ken landward dainties aye please me best, Marion-and landward lasses too (looking at the cooper's wife). Ne'er a bit but she looks far better than when she married

The women smiled at the compliment, each to herself, and they smiled again to each other as Caleb wrapped up the puddings in a towel which he had brought with him, as a dragoon carries his foraging bag to receive what may fall in his way. "Where's the gudeman ?" asked Caleb.

"Awa to fetch the minister," said Mrs. Girder,

"precious Mr. Peter Bide-the-Bent, frae the Mosshead. The honest man has the rheumatism wi' lying in the hills in the persecution."

"Ay!-a whig and a mountain-man-nae less?" said Caleb, with a peevishness he could not suppress; "I hae seen the day, Luckie, when worthy Mr. Cuffcushion and the service-book would hae served your turn (to the clder dame), or ony honest woman in like circumstances."

"And that's true too," said Mrs. Lightbody; “but what can a body do? Jean maun baith sing her psalms and busk her cockernony the gate the gudeman likes, and nae ither gate; for he's maister and mair at hame, I can tell ye, Mr. Balderstone."

"Ay, ay, and does he guide the gear too?" said Caleb, to whose projects musculine rule boded little good.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

“Aweel, gudewife," said Caleb, crest-fallen, but not beaten off, that wasna the way ye guided your gudeman; but ilka land has its ain lauch. I maun be ganging. I just wanted to round in the gudeman's lug, that I heard them say up by yonder, that Peter Puncheon, that was cooper to the Queen's stores at the Timmer Burse at Leith, is dead; sae I thought that maybe a word frae my lord to the Lord Keeper might hae served Gilbert; but since he's frae hame--"

"Oh, but ye maun stay his hame-coming," said the dame. "I aye telled the gudeman ye meant weel to him; but he taks the tout at every bit lippening word."

[blocks in formation]

for our young lord, with a face, and a hand, and a seat on his horse that might become a king's son. D'ye ken that he aye glowers up at my window, Mr. Balderstone, when he chaunces to ride thro' the town; sae I hae a right to ken what like he is, as weel as onybody.”

"I ken that brawly," said Caleb, "for I hae heard his lordship say the cooper's wife had the blackest ee in the barony; and I said, 'Weel may that be, my lord, for it was her mither's afore her,' as I ken to my cost-eh, Marion? Ha, ha, ha!— Ah! these were merry days!"

"Hout awa, auld carle," said the old dame, "to speak sic daffing to young folk. But, Jean-fie, woman, dinna ye hear the bairn greet? I'se warrant it's that dreary weid has come ower't again."

Up got mother and grandmother, and scoured away, jostling each other as they ran, into some remote corner of the tenement, where the young hero of the evening was deposited. When Caleb saw the coast fairly clear, he took an invigorating pinch of snuff, to sharpen and confirm his resolu tion.

"Cauld be my cast," thought he, "if either Bide-the-Bent or Girder taste that broche of wildfowl this evening;" and then, addressing the eldest turnspit, a boy of about eleven years old, and putting a penny into his hand, he said, "Here is twal pennies, my man; carry that ower to Mrs. Sma'trash, and bid her fill my mill wi' snishing, and I'll turn the broche for ye in the meantime, and she will gie ye a gingerbread snap for your pains."

No sooner was the elder boy departed on this mission, than Caleb, looking the remaining turnspit gravely and steadily in the face, removed from the fire the spit bearing the wild-fowl of which he had undertaken the charge, clapped his hat on his head, and fairly marched off with it.

[blocks in formation]

BACON'S TRIAL.

399

BACON'S

TRIAL.*

[Lord MACAULAY. See Page 129.]

On the 19th of March the King sent a message to the Commons, expressing his deep regret that so eminent a person as the Chancellor should be suspected of misconduct. His Majesty declared that he had no wish to screen the guilty from justice, and proposed to appoint a new kind of tribunal, consisting of eighteen commissioners, who might be chosen from among the members of the two Houses, to investigate the matter. The Commons were not disposed to depart from their regular course of proceeding. On the same day they held a conference with the Lords, and delivered in the heads of the accusation against the Chancellor. At this conference Bacon was not present. Overwhelmed with shame and remorse, and abandoned by all those in whom he had weakly put his trust, he had shut himself up in his chamber from the eyes of men. The dejection of his mind soon disordered his body. Buckingham, who visited him by the king's order, "found his lordship very sick and heavy." It appears from a pathetic letter which the unhappy man addressed to the Peers on the day of the conference, that he neither expected nor wished to survive his disgrace. During several days he remained in his bed, refusing to see any human being. He passionately told his attendants to leave him, to forget him, never again to name his name, never to remember that there had been such a man in the world. In the meantime, fresh instances of corruption were every day brought to the knowledge of his accusers. The number of charges rapidly increased from two to twentythree. The Lords entered on the investigation of the case with laudable alacrity. Some witnesses were examined at the bar of the House. A select committee was appointed to take the depositions of others; and the inquiry was rapidly proceeding, when, on the 26th of March, the king adjourned the Parliament for three weeks.

and address were employed in vain. Indeed, whatever Mr. Montagu may say, we are firmly convinced that it was not in the king's power to save Bacon, without having recourse to measures which would have convulsed the realm. The Crown had not sufficient influence over the Parliament to procure an acquittal in so clear a case of guilt. And to dissolve a Parliament which is universally allowed to have been one of the best Parliaments that ever sat, which had acted liberally and respectfully towards the sovereign, and which enjoyed in the highest degree the favour of the people, only in order to stop a grave, temperate, and constitutional inquiry into the personal integrity of the first judge in the kingdom, would have been a measure more scandalous and absurd than any of those which were the ruin of the house of Stuart. Such a measure, while it would have been as fatal to the Chancellor's honour as a conviction, would have endangered the very existence of the monarchy. The king, acting by the advice of Williams, very properly refused to engage in a dangerous struggle with his people, for the purpose of saving from legal condemnation a minister whom it was impossible to save from dishonour. He advised Bacon to plead guilty, and promised to do all in his power to mitigate the punishment. Mr. Montagu is exceedingly angry with James on this account. But though we are, in general, very little inclined to admire that prince's conduct, we really think that this advice was, under all the circumstances, the best advice that could have been given.

On the 17th of April the Houses re-assembled, and the Lords resumed their inquiries into the abuses of the Court of Chancery. On the 22nd, Bacon addressed to the Peers a letter, which the Prince of Wales condescended to deliver. In this artful and pathetic composition, the This measure revived Bacon's hopes. He made Chancellor acknowledged his guilt in guarded the most of his short respite. He attempted to and general terms, and, while acknowledging, work on the feeble mind of the king. He endeavoured to palliate it. This, however, was appealed to all the strongest feelings of James, to not thought sufficient by his judges. They rehis fears, to his vanity, to his high notions of pre- quired a more particular confession, and sent rogative. Would the Solomon of the age commit him a copy of the charges. On the 30th, he so gross an error as to encourage the encroaching delivered a paper in which he admitted, with few spirit of Parliaments ? Would God's anointed, and unimportant reservations, the truth of the accountable to God alone, pay homage to the accusations brought against him, and threw himclamorous multitude? "Those," exclaimed Bacon, self entirely on the mercy of his peers. "Upon "who now strike at the Chancellor will soon advised consideration of the charges," said he, strike at the Crown. I am the first sacrifice. I descending into my own conscience, and calling wish I may be the last." But all his eloquence my memory to account so far as I am able, I do

66

By kind permission of Messrs. Longman and Co.

« AnteriorContinuar »