girl must also be recovered.
If she hath suffered in reputation by this unhappy mistake, I will not
hold myself innocent of the disgrace. Yet how to find them out I know
not."

"So please you," said Christie of the Clinthill, "I am willing to take
the chase, and bring them back by fair means or foul; for though you
have always looked as black as night at me, whenever we have
forgathered, yet I have not forgotten that had it not been for you, my
neck would have kend the weight of my four quarters. If any man can
track the tread of them, I will say in the face of both Merse and
Teviotdale, and take the Forest to boot, I am that man. But first I
have matters to treat of on my master's score, if you will permit me
to ride down the glen with you."

"Nay, but my friend," said the Sub-Prior, "thou shouldst remember I
have but slender cause to trust thee for a companion through a place
so solitary."

"Tush! tush!" said the Jackman, "fear me not; I had the worst too
surely to begin that sport again. Besides, have I not said a dozen of
times, I owe you a life? and when I owe a man either a good turn or a
bad, I never fail to pay it sooner or later. Moreover, beshrew me if I
care to go alone down the glen, or even with my troopers, who are,
every loon of them, as much devil's bairns as myself; whereas, if your
reverence, since that is the word, take beads and psalter, and I come
along with jack and spear, you will make the devils take the air, and
I will make all human enemies take the earth."

Edward here entered, and told his reverence that his horse was
prepared. At this instant his eye caught his mother's, and the
resolution which he had so strongly formed was staggered when he
recollected the necessity of bidding her farewell. The Sub-Prior saw
his embarrassment, and came to his relief.

"Dame," said he, "I forgot to mention that your son Edward goes with
me to Saint Mary's, and will not return for two or three days."

"You'll be wishing to help him to recover his brother? May the saints
reward your kindness!"

The Sub-Prior returned the benediction which, in this instance, he had
not very well deserved, and he and Edward set forth on their route.
They were presently followed by Christie, who came up with his
followers at such a speedy pace, as intimated sufficiently that his
wish to obtain spiritual convoy through the glen, was extremely
sincere. He had, however, other matters to stimulate his speed, for he
was desirous to communicate to the Sub-Prior a message from his master
Julian, connected with the delivery of the prisoner Warden; and having
requested the Sub-Prior to ride with him a few yards before Edward,
and the troopers of his own party, he thus addressed him, sometimes
interrupting his discourse in a manner testifying that his fear of
supernatural beings was not altogether lulled to rest by his
confidence in the sanctity of his fellow-traveller.

"My master," said the rider, "deemed he had sent you an acceptable
gift in that old heretic preacher; but it seems, from the slight care
you have taken of him, that you make small account of the boon."

"Nay," said the Sub-Prior, "do not thus judge of it. The Community
must account highly of the service, and will reward it to thy master in
goodly fashion. But this man and I are old friends, and I trust to bring
him back from the paths of perdition."

"Nay," said the moss-trooper, "when I saw you shake hands at the
beginning I counted that you would fight it all out in love and
honour, and that there would be no extreme dealings betwixt ye--
however it is all one to my master--Saint Mary! what call you yon, Sir
Monk?"

"The branch of a willow streaming across the path betwixt us and the
sky."

"Beshrew me," said Christie, "if it looked not like a man's hand
holding a sword.--But touching my master, he, like a prudent man, hath
kept himself aloof in these broken times, until he could see with
precision what footing he was to stand upon. Right tempting offers he
hath had from the Lords of Congregation, whom you call heretics; and
at one time he was minded, to be plain with you, to have taken their
way--for he was assured that the Lord James [Footnote: Lord James
Stewart, afterwards the Regent Murray.] was coming this road at the
head of a round body of cavalry. And accordingly Lord James did so far
reckon upon him, that he sent this man Warden, or whatsoever be his
name, to my master's protection, as an assured friend; and, moreover,
with tidings that he himself was marching hitherward at the head of a
strong body of horse."

"Now, Our Lady forfend!" said the Sub-Prior.

"Amen!" answered Christie, in some trepidation, "did your reverence
see aught?"

"Nothing whatever," replied the monk; "it was thy tale which wrested
from me that exclamation."

"And it was some cause," replied he of the Clinthill, "for if Lord
James should come hither, your Halidome would smoke for it. But be of
good cheer--that expedition is ended before it was begun. The Baron of
Avenel had sure news that Lord James has been fain to march westward
with his merry-men, to protect Lord Semple against Cassilis and the
Kennedies. By my faith, it will cost him a brush; for wot ye what
they say of that name,--

"Twixt Wigton and the town of Ayr,
Portpatrick and the cruives of Cree,
No man need think for to bide there,
Unless he court Saint Kennedie.'"

"Then," said the Sub-Prior, "the Lord James's purpose of coming
southwards being broken, cost this person, Henry Warden, a cold
reception at Avenel Castle."

"It would not have been altogether so rough a one," said the
mosstrooper; "for my master was in heavy thought what to do in these
unsettled times, and would scarce have hazarded misusing a man sent to
him by so terrible a leader as the Lord James. But, to speak the
truth, some busy devil tempted the old man to meddle with my master's
Christian liberty of hand-fasting with Catherine of Newport. So that
broke the wand of peace between them, and now ye may have my master,
and all the force he can make, at your devotion, for Lord James never
forgave wrong done to him; and if he come by the upper hand, he will
have Julian's head if there were never another of the name, as it is
like there is not, excepting the bit slip of a lassie yonder. And now
I have told you more of my master's affairs than he would thank me
for; but you have done me a frank turn once, and I may need one at
your hands again."

"Thy frankness," said the Sub-Prior, "shall surely advantage thee; for
much it concerns the Church in these broken times to know the purposes
and motives of those around us. But what is it that thy master expects
from us in reward of good service? for I esteem him one of those who are
not willing to work without their hire."

"Nay, that I can tell you flatly; for Lord James had promised him, in
case he would be of his faction in these parts, an easy tack of the
teindsheaves of his own Barony of Avenel, together with the lands of
Cranberry-moor, which lie intersected with his own. And he will look
for no less at your hand."

"But there is old Gilbert of Cranberry-moor," said the Sub-Prior;
"what are we to make of him? The heretic Lord James may take on him to
dispone upon the goods and lands of the Halidome at his pleasure,
because, doubtless, but for the protection of God, and the baronage
which yet remain faithful to their creed, he may despoil us of them by
force; but while they are the property of the Community, we may not
take steadings from ancient and faithful vassals, to gratify the
covetousness of those who serve God only from the lucre of gain."

"By the mass," said Christie, "it is well talking, Sir Priest; but
when ye consider that Gilbert has but two half-starved cowardly
peasants to follow him, and only an auld jaded aver to ride upon,
fitter for the plough than for manly service; and that the Baron of
Avenel never rides with fewer than. ten jackmen at his back, and
oftener with fifty, bodin in all that effeirs to war as if they were
to do battle for a kingdom, and mounted on nags that nicker at the
clash of the sword as if it were the clank of the lid of a
corn-chest--I say, when ye have computed all this, ye may guess what
course will best serve your Monastery."

"Friend," said the monk, "I would willingly purchase thy master's
assistance on his own terms, since times leave us no better means of
defence against sacrilegious spoliation of heresy; but to take from a
poor man his patrimony--"

"For that matter," said the rider, "his seat would scarce be a soft
one, if my master thought that Gilbert's interest stood betwixt him
and what he wishes. The Halidome has land enough, and Gilbert may be
quartered elsewhere."

"We will consider the possibility of so disposing the matter," said
the monk, "and will expect in consequence your master's most active
assistance, with all the followers he can make, to join in the defence
of the Halidome, against any force by which it may be threatened."

"A man's hand and a mailed glove on that," said the jackman. "They

[Footnote: As some atonement for their laxity of morals on most
occasions, the Borderers were severe observers of the faith which they
had pledged, even to an enemy. If any person broke his word so
plighted, the individual to whom faith had not been observed, used to
bring to the next Border-meeting a glove hung on the point of a spear,
and proclaim to Scots and English the name of the defaulter. This was
accounted so great a disgrace to all connected with him, that his own
clansmen sometimes destroyed him, to escape the infamy he had brought
on them.

Constable, a spy engaged by Sir Ralph Sadler, talks of two Border
thieves, whom he used as his guides:--"That they would not care to
steal, and yet that they would not betray any man that trusts in them,
for all the gold in Scotland or in France. They are my guides and
outlaws. If they would betray me they might get their pardons, and
cause me to be hanged; but I have tried them ere this."--_Sadler's
letters during the Northern Insurrection._]

call us marauders, thieves, and what not; but the side we take we hold
by.--And I will be blithe when my Baron comes to a point which side he
will take, for the castle is a kind of hell, (Our Lady forgive me for
naming such a word in this place!) while he is in his mood, studying
how he may best advantage himself. And now, Heaven be praised, we are
in the open valley, and I may swear a round oath, should aught happen
to provoke it."

"My friend," said the Sub-Prior, "thou hast little merit in abstaining
from oaths or blasphemy, if it be only out of fear of evil spirits."

"Nay, I am not quite a Church vassal yet," said the jackman, "and if
you link the curb too tight on a young horse, I promise you he will
rear--Why, it is much for me to forbear old customs on any account
whatever."

The night being fine, they forded the river at the spot where the
Sacristan met with his unhappy encounter with the spirit. As soon as
they arrived at the gate of the Monastery, the porter in waiting
eagerly exclaimed, "Reverend father, the Lord Abbot is most anxious
for your presence."

"Let these strangers be carried to the great hall," said the Sub-Prior,
"and be treated with the best by the cellarer; reminding them, however,
of that modesty and decency of conduct which becometh guests in a house
like this."

"But the Lord Abbot demands you instantly, my venerable brother," said
Father Philip, arriving in great haste. "I have not seen him more
discouraged or desolate of counsel since the field of Pinkie-cleugh
was stricken,"

"I come, my good brother, I come," said Father Eustace. "I pray thee,
good brother, let this youth, Edward Glendinning, be conveyed to the
Chamber of the Novices, and placed under their instructor. God hath
touched his heart, and he proposeth laying aside the vanities of the
world, to become a brother of our holy order; which, if his good parts
be matched with fitting docility and humility, he may one day live to
adorn."

"My very venerable brother," exclaimed old Father Nicholas, who came
hobbling with a third summons to the Sub-Prior, "I pray thee to hasten
to our worshipful Lord Abbot. The holy patroness be with us! never saw
I Abbot of the House of St. Mary's in such consternation; and yet I
remember me well when Father Ingelram had the news of Flodden-field."

"I come, I come, venerable brother," said Father Eustace--And having
repeatedly ejaculated "I come!" he at last went to the Abbot in good
earnest.




Chapter the Thirty-Fourth.


It is not texts will do it--Church artillery
Are silenced soon by real ordnance,
And canons are but vain opposed to cannon.
Go, coin your crosier, melt your church plate down
Bid the starved soldier banquet in your halls,
And quaff your long-saved hogsheads--Turn them out
Thus primed with your good cheer, to guard your wall,
And they will venture for't.--
OLD PLAY.

The Abbot received his counsellor with a tremulous eagerness of
welcome, which announced to the Sub-Prior an extreme agitation of
spirits, and the utmost need of good counsel. There was neither
mazer-dish nor standing-cup upon the little table, at the elbow of his
huge chair of state; his beads alone lay there, and it seemed as if he
had been telling them in his extremity of distress. Beside the beads
was placed the mitre of the Abbot, of an antique form, and blazing
with precious stones, and the rich and highly-embossed crosier rested
against the same table.

The Sacristan and old Father Nicholas had followed the Sub-Prior into
the Abbot's apartment, perhaps with the hope of learning something of
the important matter which seemed to be in hand.--They were not
mistaken; for, after having ushered in the Sub-Prior, and being
themselves in the act of retiring, the Abbot made them a signal to
remain.

"My brethren," he said, "it is well known to you with what painful
zeal we have overseen the weighty affairs of this house committed to
our unworthy hand--your bread hath been given to you, and your water
hath been sure--I have not wasted the revenues of the Convent on vain
pleasures, as hunting or hawking, or in change of rich cope or alb, or
in feasting idle bards and jesters, saving those who, according to old
wont, were received in time of Christmas and Easter. Neither have I
enriched either mine own relations nor strange women, at the expense
of the Patrimony."

"There hath not been such a Lord Abbot," said Father Nicholas, "to
my knowledge, since the days of Abbot Ingelram, who----"

At that portentous word, which always preluded a long story, the Abbot
broke in.

"May God have mercy on his soul!--we talk not of