Redgauntlet: A Tale Of The Eighteenth Century
- -
- 100%
- +
‘There, you drunken vagabond,’ he said, ‘I give you your life – you are no bad fellow if you could keep from brawling among your friends. But we all know Nanty Ewart,’ he said to the crowd around, with a forgiving laugh, which, joined to the awe his prowess had inspired, entirely confirmed their wavering allegiance.
They shouted, ‘The laird for ever!’ while poor Nanty, rising from the earth, on whose lap he had been stretched so rudely, went in quest of his hanger, lifted it, wiped it, and, as he returned the weapon to the scabbard, muttered between his teeth, ‘It is true they say of him, and the devil will stand his friend till his hour come; I will cross him no more.’
So saying, he slunk from the crowd, cowed and disheartened by his defeat.
‘For you, Joshua Geddes,’ said Redgauntlet, approaching the Quaker, who, with lifted hands and eyes, had beheld the scene of violence, ‘l shall take the liberty to arrest thee for a breach of the peace, altogether unbecoming thy pretended principles; and I believe it will go hard with thee both in a court of justice and among thine own Society of Friends, as they call themselves, who will be but indifferently pleased to see the quiet tenor of their hypocrisy insulted by such violent proceedings.’
‘I violent!’ said Joshua; ‘I do aught unbecoming the principles of the Friends! I defy thee, man, and I charge thee, as a Christian, to forbear vexing my soul with such charges: it is grievous enough to me to have seen violences which I was unable to prevent.’
‘O Joshua, Joshua!’ said Redgauntlet, with a sardonic smile; ‘thou light of the faithful in the town of Dumfries and the places adjacent, wilt thou thus fall away from the truth? Hast thou not, before us all, attempted to rescue a man from the warrant of law? Didst thou not encourage that drunken fellow to draw his weapon – and didst thou not thyself flourish thy cudgel in the cause? Think’st thou that the oaths of the injured Peter Peebles, and the conscientious Cristal Nixon, besides those of such gentlemen as look on this strange scene, who not only put on swearing as a garment, but to whom, in Custom House matters, oaths are literally meat and drink, – dost thou not think, I say, that these men’s oaths will go further than thy Yea and Nay in this matter?’
‘I will swear to anything,’ said Peter. ‘All is fair when it comes to an oath AD LITEM.’
‘You do me foul wrong,’ said the Quaker, undismayed by the general laugh. ‘I encouraged no drawing of weapons, though I attempted to move an unjust man by some use of argument – I brandished no cudgel, although it may be that the ancient Adam struggled within me, and caused my hand to grasp mine oaken staff firmer than usual, when I saw innocence borne down with violence. But why talk I what is true and just to thee, who hast been a man of violence from thy youth upwards? Let me rather speak to thee such language as thou canst comprehend. Deliver these young men up to me,’ he said, when he had led Redgauntlet a little apart from the crowd, ‘and I will not only free thee from the heavy charge of damages which thou hast incurred by thine outrage upon my property, but I will add ransom for them and for myself. What would it profit thee to do the youths wrong, by detaining them in captivity?’
‘Mr. Geddes,’ said Redgauntlet, in a tone more respectful than he had hitherto used to the Quaker, ‘your language is disinterested, and I respect the fidelity of your friendship. Perhaps we have mistaken each other’s principles and motives; but if so, we have not at present time for explanation. Make yourself easy. I hope to raise your friend Darsie Latimer to a pitch of eminence which you will witness with pleasure; – nay, do not attempt to answer me. The other young man shall suffer restraint a few days, probably only a few hours, – it is not more than due for his pragmatical interference in what concerned him not. Do you, Mr. Geddes, be so prudent as to take your horse and leave this place, which is growing every moment more unfit for the abode of a man of peace. You may wait the event in safety at Mount Sharon.’
‘Friend,’ replied Joshua, ‘I cannot comply with thy advice; I will remain here, even as thy prisoner, as thou didst but now threaten, rather than leave the youth who hath suffered by and through me and my misfortunes, in his present state of doubtful safety. Wherefore I will not mount my steed Solomon; neither will I turn his head towards Mount Sharon, until I see an end of this matter.’
‘A prisoner, then, you must be,’ said Redgauntlet. ‘I have no time to dispute the matter further with you. But tell me for what you fix your eyes so attentively on yonder people of mine.’
‘To speak the truth,’ said the Quaker, ‘I admire to behold among them a little wretch of a boy called Benjie, to whom I think Satan has given the power of transporting himself wheresoever mischief is going forward; so that it may be truly said, there is no evil in this land wherein he hath not a finger, if not a whole hand.’
The boy, who saw their eyes fixed on him as they spoke, seemed embarrassed, slid rather desirous of making his escape; but at a signal from Redgauntlet he advanced, assuming the sheepish look and rustic manner with which the jackanapes covered much acuteness and roguery.
‘How long have you been with the party, sirrah?’ said Redgauntlet.
‘Since the raid on the stake-nets,’ said Benjie, with his finger in his mouth.
‘And what made you follow us?’
‘I dauredna stay at hame for the constables,’ replied the boy.
‘And what have you been doing all this time?’
‘Doing, sir? I dinna ken what ye ca’ doing – I have been doing naething,’ said Benjie; then seeing something in Redgauntlet’s eye which was not to be trifled with, he added, ‘Naething but waiting on Maister Cristal Nixon.’
‘Hum! – aye – indeed?’ muttered Redgauntlet. ‘Must Master Nixon bring his own retinue into the field? This must be seen to.’
He was about to pursue his inquiry, when Nixon himself came to him with looks of anxious haste, ‘The Father is come,’ he whispered, ‘and the gentlemen are getting together in the largest room of the house, and they desire to see you. Yonder is your nephew, too, making a noise like a man in Bedlam.’
‘I will look to it all instantly,’ said Redgauntlet. ‘Is the Father lodged as I directed?’
Cristal nodded.
‘Now, then, for the final trial,’ said Redgauntlet. He folded his hands – looked upwards – crossed himself – and after this act of devotion (almost the first which any one had observed him make use of) he commanded Nixon to keep good watch – have his horses and men ready for every emergence – look after the safe custody of the prisoners – but treat them at the same time well and civilly. And, these orders given, he darted hastily into the house.
CHAPTER XXII
NARRATIVE CONTINUED
Redgauntlet’s first course was to the chamber of his nephew. He unlocked the door, entered the apartment, and asked what he wanted, that he made so much noise.
‘I want my liberty,’ said Darsie, who had wrought himself up to a pitch of passion in which his uncle’s wrath had lost its terrors. ‘I desire my liberty, and to be assured of the safety of my beloved friend, Alan Fairford, whose voice I heard but now.’
‘Your liberty shall be your own within half an hour from this period – your friend shall be also set at freedom in due time – and you yourself be permitted to have access to his place of confinement.’
‘This does not satisfy me,’ said Darsie; ‘I must see my friend instantly; he is here, and he is here endangered on my account only – I have heard violent exclamations – the clash of swords. You will gain no point with me unless I have ocular demonstration of his safety.’
‘Arthur – dearest nephew,’ answered Redgauntlet, ‘drive me not mad! Thine own fate – that of thy house – that of thousands – that of Britain herself, are at this moment in the scales; and you are only occupied about the safety of a poor insignificant pettifogger!’
‘He has sustained injury at your hands, then?’ said Darsie, fiercely. ‘I know he has; but if so, not even our relationship shall protect you.’
‘Peace, ungrateful and obstinate fool!’ said Redgauntlet. Yet stay – will you be satisfied if you see this Alan Fairford, the bundle of bombazine – this precious friend of yours – well and sound? Will you, I say, be satisfied with seeing him in perfect safety without attempting to speak to or converse with him?’ Darsie signified his assent. ‘Take hold of my arm, then,’ said Redgauntlet; ‘and do you, niece Lilias, take the other; and beware; Sir Arthur, how you bear yourself.’
Darsie was compelled to acquiesce, sufficiently aware that his uncle would permit him no interview with a friend whose influence would certainly be used against his present earnest wishes, and in some measure contented with the assurance of Fairford’s personal safety.
Redgauntlet led them through one or two passages (for the house, as we have before said, was very irregular, and built at different times) until they entered an apartment, where a man with shouldered carabine kept watch at the door, but readily turned the key for their reception. In this room they found Alan Fairford and the Quaker, apparently in deep conversation with each other. They looked up as Redgauntlet and his party entered; and Alan pulled off his hat and made a profound reverence, which the young lady, who recognized him, – though, masked as she was, he could not know her, – returned with some embarrassment, arising probably from the recollection of the bold step she had taken in visiting him.
Darsie longed to speak, but dared not. His uncle only said, ‘Gentlemen, I know you are as anxious on Mr. Darsie Latimer’s account as he is upon yours. I am commissioned by him to inform you, that he is as well as you are – I trust you will all meet soon. Meantime, although I cannot suffer you to be at large, you shall be as well treated as is possible under your temporary confinement.’
He passed on, without pausing to hear the answers which the lawyer and the Quaker were hastening to prefer; and only waving his hand by way of adieu, made his exit, with the real and the seeming lady whom he had under his charge, through a door at the upper end of the apartment, which was fastened and guarded like that by which they entered.
Redgauntlet next led the way into a very small room; adjoining which, but divided by a partition, was one of apparently larger dimensions; for they heard the trampling of the heavy boots of the period, as if several persons were walking to and fro and conversing in low and anxious whispers.
‘Here,’ said Redgauntlet to his nephew, as he disencumbered him from the riding-skirt and the mask, ‘I restore you to yourself, and trust you will lay aside all effeminate thoughts with this feminine dress. Do not blush at having worn a disguise to which kings and heroes have been reduced. It is when female craft or female cowardice find their way into a manly bosom, that he who entertains these sentiments should take eternal shame to himself for thus having resembled womankind. Follow me, while Lilias remains here. I will introduce you to those whom I hope to see associated with you in the most glorious cause that hand ever drew sword in.’
Darsie paused. ‘Uncle,’ he said, ‘my person is in your hands; but remember, my will is my own. I will not be hurried into any resolution of importance. Remember what I have already said – what I now repeat – that I will take no step of importance but upon conviction.’
‘But canst thou be convinced, thou foolish boy, without hearing and understanding the grounds on which we act?’
So saying he took Darsie by the arm, and walked with him to the next room – a large apartment, partly filled with miscellaneous articles of commerce, chiefly connected with contraband trade; where, among bales and barrels, sat, or walked to and fro, several gentlemen, whose manners and looks seemed superior to the plain riding dresses which they wore.
There was a grave and stern anxiety upon their countenances, when, on Redgauntlet’s entrance, they drew from their separate coteries into one group around him, and saluted him with a formality which had something in it of ominous melancholy. As Darsie looked around the circle, he thought he could discern in it few traces of that adventurous hope which urges men upon desperate enterprises; and began to believe that the conspiracy would dissolve of itself, without the necessity of his placing himself in direct opposition to so violent a character as his uncle, and incurring the hazard with which such opposition must be attended.
Mr. Redgauntlet, however, did not, or would not, see any such marks of depression of spirit amongst his coadjutors, but met them with cheerful countenance, and a warm greeting of welcome. ‘Happy to meet you here, my lord,’ he said, bowing low to a slender young man. ‘I trust you come with the pledges of your noble father, of B – , and all that loyal house. – Sir Richard, what news in the west? I am told you had two hundred men on foot to have joined when the fatal retreat from Derby was commenced. When the White Standard is again displayed, it shall not be turned back so easily, either by the force of its enemies, or the falsehood of its friends. – Doctor Grumball, I bow to the representative of Oxford, the mother of learning and loyalty. – Pengwinion, you Cornish chough, has this good wind blown you north? – Ah, my brave Cambro-Britons, when was Wales last in the race of honour?’
Such and such-like compliments he dealt around, which were in general answered by silent bows; but when he saluted one of his own countrymen by the name of MacKellar, and greeted Maxwell of Summertrees by that of Pate-in-Peril, the latter replied, ‘that if Pate were not a fool, he would be Pate-in-Safety;’ and the former, a thin old gentle-man, in tarnished embroidery, said bluntly, ‘Aye, troth, Redgauntlet, I am here just like yourself; I have little to lose – they that took my land the last time, may take my life this; and that is all I care about it.’
The English gentlemen, who were still in possession of their paternal estates, looked doubtfully on each other, and there was something whispered among them of the fox which had lost his tail.
Redgauntlet hastened to address them. ‘I think, my lords and gentlemen,’ he said, ‘that I can account for something like sadness which has crept upon an assembly gathered together for so noble a purpose. Our numbers seem, when thus assembled, too small and inconsiderable to shake the firm-seated usurpation of a half-century. But do not count us by what we are in thew and muscle, but by what our summons can do among our countrymen. In this small party are those who have power to raise battalions, and those who have wealth to pay them. And do not believe our friends who are absent are cold or indifferent to the cause. Let us once light the signal, and it will be hailed by all who retain love for the Stuart, and by all – a more numerous body – who hate the Elector. Here I have letters from’ —
Sir Richard Glendale interrupted the speaker. ‘We all confide, Redgauntlet, in your valour and skill – we admire your perseverance; and probably nothing short of your strenuous exertions, and the emulation awakened by your noble and disinterested conduct, could have brought so many of us, the scattered remnant of a disheartened party, to meet together once again in solemn consultation; for I take it, gentlemen,’ he said, looking round, ‘this is only a consultation.’
‘Nothing more,’ said the young lord.
‘Nothing more,’ said Doctor Grumball, shaking his large academical peruke.
And, ‘Only a consultation,’ was echoed by the others.
Redgauntlet bit his lip. ‘I had hopes,’ he said, ‘that the discourses I have held with most of you, from time to time, had ripened into more maturity than your words imply, and that we were here to execute as well as to deliberate; and for this we stand prepared. I can raise five hundred men with my whistle.’
‘Five hundred men!’ said one of the Welsh squires; ‘Cot bless us! and pray you, what cood could five hundred men do?’
‘All that the priming does for the cannon, Mr. Meredith,’ answered Redgauntlet; ‘it will enable us to seize Carlisle, and you know what our friends have engaged for in that case.’
‘Yes – but,’ said the young nobleman, ‘you must not hurry us on too fast, Mr. Redgauntlet; we are all, I believe, as sincere and truehearted in this business as you are, but we will not be driven forward blindfold. We owe caution to ourselves and our families, as well as to those whom we are empowered to represent on this occasion.’
‘Who hurries you, my lord? Who is it that would drive this meeting forward blindfold? I do not understand your lordship,’ said Redgauntlet.
‘Nay,’ said Sir Richard Glendale, ‘at least do not let us fall under our old reproach of disagreeing among ourselves. What my lord means, Redgauntlet, is, that we have this morning heard it is uncertain whether you could even bring that body of men whom you count upon; your countryman, Mr. MacKellar, seemed, just before you came in, to doubt whether your people would rise in any force, unless you could produce the authority of your nephew.’
‘I might ask,’ said Redgauntlet,’ what right MacKellar, or any one, has to doubt my being able to accomplish what I stand pledged for? But our hopes consist in our unity. Here stands my nephew. Gentlemen, I present to you my kinsman, Sir Arthur Darsie Redgauntlet of that Ilk.’
‘Gentlemen,’ said Darsie, with a throbbing bosom, for he felt the crisis a very painful one, ‘Allow me to say, that I suspend expressing my sentiments on the important subject under discussion until I have heard those of the present meeting.’
‘Proceed in your deliberations, gentlemen,’ said Redgauntlet; ‘I will show my nephew such reasons for acquiescing in the result, as will entirely remove any scruples which may hang around his mind.’
Dr. Grumball now coughed, ‘shook his ambrosial curls,’ and addressed the assembly.
‘The principles of Oxford,’ he said,’ are well understood, since she was the last to resign herself to the Arch-Usurper, – since she has condemned, by her sovereign authority, the blasphemous, atheistical, and anarchical tenets of Locke, and other deluders of the public mind. Oxford will give men, money and countenance, to the cause of the rightful monarch. But we have, been often deluded by foreign powers, who have availed themselves of our zeal to stir up civil dissensions, in Britain, not for the advantage of our blessed though banished monarch, but to stir up disturbances by which they might profit, while we, their tools, are sure to be ruined. Oxford, therefore, will not rise, unless our sovereign comes in person to claim our allegiance, in which case, God forbid we should refuse him our best obedience.’
‘It is a very cood advice,’ said Mr. Meredith.
‘In troth,’ said Sir Richard Glendale, ‘it is the very keystone of our enterprise, and the only condition upon which I myself and others could ever have dreamt of taking up arms. No insurrection which has not Charles Edward himself at its head, will, ever last longer than till a single foot company of redcoats march to disperse it.’
‘This is my own opinion, and that of all my family,’ said the young nobleman already mentioned; ‘and I own I am somewhat surprised at being summoned to attend a dangerous rendezvous such as this, before something certain could have been stated to us on this most important preliminary point.’
‘Pardon me, my lord,’ said Redgauntlet; ‘I have not been so unjust either to myself or my friends – I had no means of communicating to our distant confederates (without the greatest risk of discovery) what is known to some of my honourable friends. As courageous, and as resolved, as when, twenty years since, he threw himself into the wilds of Moidart, Charles Edward has instantly complied with the wishes of his faithful subjects. Charles Edward is in this country – Charles Edward is in this house! – Charles Edward waits but your present decision, to receive the homage of those who have ever called themselves his loyal liegemen. He that would now turn his coat, and change his note, must do so under the eye of his sovereign.’
There was a deep pause. Those among the conspirators whom mere habit, or a desire of preserving consistency, had engaged in the affair, now saw with terror their retreat cut off; and others, who at a distance had regarded the proposed enterprise as hopeful, trembled when the moment of actually embarking in it was thus unexpectedly and almost inevitably precipitated.
‘How now, my lords and gentlemen!’ said Redgauntlet; is it delight and rapture that keep you thus silent? where are the eager welcomes that should be paid to your rightful king, who a second time confides his person to the care of his subjects, undeterred by the hairbreadth escapes and severe privations of his former expedition? I hope there is no gentleman here that is not ready to redeem, in his prince’s presence, the pledge of fidelity which he offered in his absence.’
‘I, at least,’ said the young nobleman resolutely, and laying his hand on his sword, ‘will not be that coward. If Charles is come to these shores, I will be the first to give him welcome, and to devote my life and fortune to his service.’
‘Before Cot,’ said Mr. Meredith, ‘I do not see that Mr. Redgauntlet has left us anything else to do.’
‘Stay,’ said Summertrees, ‘there is yet one other question. Has he brought any of those Irish rapparees with him, who broke the neck of our last glorious affair?’
‘Not a man of them,’ said Redgauntlet.
‘I trust,’ said Dr. Grumball, ‘that there are no Catholic priests in his company. I would not intrude on the private conscience of my sovereign, but, as an unworthy son of the Church of England, it is my duty to consider her security.’
‘Not a Popish dog or cat is there, to bark or mew about his Majesty,’ said Redgauntlet. ‘Old Shaftesbury himself could not wish a prince’s person more secure from Popery – which may not be the worst religion in the world, notwithstanding. Any more doubts, gentlemen? can no more plausible reasons be discovered for postponing the payment of our duty, and discharge of our oaths and engagements? Meantime your king waits your declaration – by my faith he hath but a frozen reception!’
‘Redgauntlet,’ said Sir Richard Glendale, calmly, ‘your reproaches shall not goad me into anything of which my reason disapproves. That I respect my engagement as much as you do, is evident, since I am here, ready to support it with the best blood in my veins. But has the king really come hither entirely unattended?’
‘He has no man with him but young – , as aide de camp, and a single valet de chambre.’
‘No MAN – but, Redgauntlet, as you are a gentleman, has he no woman with him?’
Redgauntlet cast his eyes on the ground and replied, ‘I am sorry to say – he has.’
The company looked at each other, and remained silent for a moment. At length Sir Richard proceeded. ‘I need not repeat to you, Mr. Redgauntlet, what is the well-grounded opinion of his Majesty’s friends concerning that most unhappy connexion there is but one sense and feeling amongst us upon the subject. I must conclude that our humble remonstrances were communicated by you, sir, to the king?’
‘In the same strong terms in which they were couched,’ replied Redgauntlet. ‘I love his Majesty’s cause more than I fear his displeasure.’
‘But, apparently, our humble expostulation has produced no effect. This lady, who has crept into his bosom, has a sister in the Elector of Hanover’s court, and yet we are well assured that our most private communication is placed in her keeping.’
‘VARIUM ET MUTABILE SEMPER FEMINA,’ said Dr. Grumball.
‘She puts his secrets into her work-bag,’ said Maxwell; ‘and out they fly whenever she opens it. If I must hang, I would wish it to be in somewhat a better rope than the string of a lady’s hussey.’
‘Are you, too, turning dastard, Maxwell?’ said Redgauntlet, in a whisper.
‘Not I,’ said Maxwell; ‘let us fight for it, and let them win and wear us; but to be betrayed by a brimstone like that’ —
‘Be temperate, gentlemen,’ said Redgauntlet; ‘the foible of which you complain so heavily has always been that of kings and heroes; which I feel strongly confident the king will surmount, upon the humble entreaty of his best servants, and when he sees them ready to peril their all in his cause, upon the slight condition of his resigning the society of a female favourite, of whom I have seen reason to think he hath been himself for some time wearied. But let us not press upon him rashly with our well-meant zeal. He has a princely will as becomes his princely birth, and we, gentlemen, who are royalists, should be the last to take advantage of circumstances to limit its exercise. I am as much surprised and hurt as you can be, to find that he has made her the companion of this journey, increasing every chance of treachery and detection. But do not let us insist upon a sacrifice so humiliating, while he has scarce placed a foot upon the beach of his kingdom. Let us act generously by our sovereign; and when we have shown what we will do for him, we shall be able, with better face, to state what it is we expect him to concede.’