CHAPTER VI.
Here away, there away, wandering Willie, Here away, there away, haud away hame.
_Old Song._
We have now performed the waggoner's difficult and tedious task withgreat patience, and scarcely less discretion, having brought all thevarious groups of our _dramatis personae_, up to the same period oftime. It now behoves us (that is, Isaac the curate and me,) to returnagain to the leading event, namely, the siege of Roxburgh.
The state of mind to which the two commanders were now reduced wastruly pitiable. Within the castle of Roxburgh, all was sullen gloomand discontent. In one thing, and that only, were they unanimous,which was in a frantic inveteracy against the Scots; and thoughMusgrave, with the feelings of a man, would gladly have saved thosedearest to him in life, yet he found that to have proposed such athing as yielding to the garrison, would have been but adding fuel toflame in order to extinguish it. Their small supply soon began againto wear short; and, moreover, the privations to which they weresubjected, had brought on an infectious distemper among them, of whichsome died every day; but every item added to their sufferings, fellinto the scale against the Scots, and all the cruelties exercised bythe latter, in order to break the spirits of their opponents, onlymilitated against themselves. Opposition to the last man was asentiment nursed in every English bosom within the garrison, with abrooding enthusiasm of delight. There can be no doubt that they feltintensely for their gallant captain, considering the dismal situationin which he stood with respect to their enemies, and the strong holdthey had been enabled to keep over his heart. It was probably theburning intensity of these feelings that was the great source of theirunhappiness, and gave rise to the fierce spirit of dissension thatdaily manifested itself. Although they detested the deed the Scotshad committed in executing Sir Richard, yet they felt his death a sortof relief, as by it one-half of the cord which their hated adversariesheld round the breast of their commander was broken, and there islittle doubt that they wished themselves free of Lady Jane Howard, byfair and gentle means if possible, but at all events to be rid of thatremaining tie, which almost maddened them to think of
There was one circumstance which of late was to all of them whollyunaccountable. As the day of the Conception of the blessed Virginapproached, the mind of Lord Musgrave, instead of becoming altogetherderanged as they had foreboded, became more and more steady andcollected. He watched over every part of the economy within that hugefortress, and gave his orders with punctuality and decision, althoughwith a degree of sternness that had not previously been observed.
The dreaded day of the Conception at length arrived; and, before noon,crowds of the citizens, and people from the surrounding country, beganto assemble around the Scottish camp. These were forcibly kept beyondthe line of circumvallation, while the regular troops were drawn up incolumns both to the east and west of the fortress, and particularlyround the gibbet on the Bush-Law. At eleven o'clock the Scottishtrumpets sounded; the English soldiers crowded to the battlementsaround the western tower of the citadel, and Lord Musgrave came upamong the rest, arrayed in a splendid suit of light armour, andgallantly attended.
These battlements and the new gibbet were, as before stated, rightopposite to one another, and separated only by the breadth of the moatand a very small slope on the western ascent; so that every objectcould be distinctly seen from the one place to the other, and, byraising the voice somewhat, a conversation could be carried on across.At the very time that Lord Musgrave thus appeared on the wall, theLady Jane Howard and Sir _Richard_ Musgrave were introduced on theboards of the gibbet. Yes,--read it over again. I say Sir RichardMusgrave, for it was truly he. The Douglas, seeing that he could notprevail, and that the gallant youth was given up by his brother andthe English to his fate, could not brook the idea of losing by hisdeath the one-half of the influence he held over Musgrave. But that hemight try it by stretching it to the very last, he clothed anotherculprit in Sir Richard's habiliments, tied a white cloth over hisface, let him stand a proclaimed space on the boards with the cordabout his neck, and, at the last moment of the given time, there beingno parley sounded for the delivering up of the keys of the fortress,the board sunk, and the man died; but Sir Richard was safe in hold.
He was again produced that day, being the eighth of December, alongwith Lady Jane. He was dressed in the suit of armour in which hefought on the day he was taken prisoner, and Lady Jane in puresnow-white robes, betokening her spotless virginity. Sir Richard's eyebeamed with manly courage, but the fresh hues of the rose on thecheeks of Lady Jane had blenched, and given place to the most deadlypaleness. Both hosts were deeply affected with the sight, and on thisoccasion both felt alike. There was not a heart amongst them that didnot overflow with pity at the unhappy fate of the two youthfulprisoners, whose dismal doom could now no longer be averted, unless bya sacrifice on the part of the English, with which even the mostsanguine of the beleaguering army doubted their compliance.
The Douglas then caused a herald to make proclamation in a stentorianvoice; first stating the cause why he had put off the execution of SirRichard Musgrave until that day, namely, his anxious desire tosave the life of the noble youth, on the ground that the purposedholding out of the garrison till the twenty-fourth was a chimera;and, secondly, declaring that, unless the keys of the castle werepreviously delivered up to him, precisely at the hour of noon, thenoble and gallant Sir Richard, the flower of English chivalry, shouldbe put down; and the beautiful and accomplished Lady Jane Howard, thebetrothed bride and devoted lover of Lord Musgrave, subjected to afate the most humiliating, and the most deplorable, that ever noblemaiden suffered, and that in full view of both armies. A loud murmurof detestation sounded from the walls of the castle, but the columnsof the Scottish army stood and looked on in mute and tender sorrow.Lord Musgrave placed himself right opposite the prisoners, turned hisface straight toward them, and gazed with an unmoved and undauntedair. Sir Richard addressed him in the same sentiments he had formerlyexpressed, the purport of which was, it will be remembered, themadness and folly of holding out the castle, now when the bright andunequalled prize for which he contended was lost. For his own life, hesaid, he accounted it as nothing in the scale; but the fate thatawaited the lady of his love, who had shewn such devotion to hisperson and interests, was not to be endured or permitted by any knightof honour. Lady Jane cried out to him to save her from a doom beforewhich her whole soul shrunk; adding, that she had done much, andsuffered much, for him, and would he not make one effort, onesacrifice, to save her?
"Lord Douglas," cried Musgrave, "Will not a formal consignment of allmy lands, titles, and privileges in the dominions of England, ransomthe lives of these two?"
"Not if they were ten times doubled," returned the Douglas: "Nor shallany earthly thing ransom them, save the full and free possession ofthe castle of Roxburgh. I have myself suffered a loss at your hands,of which you are not aware; and I long and thirst to revenge it on youand your house."
"Then my resolution is fixed!" cried Musgrave: "Though all Englandshould deprecate the deed, and though I know my brethren in armsdisapprove of it, I must and will redeem the lives of these two. Yes,I will save them, and that without abating one iota from the honour ofthe house of Musgrave. Not make one effort, Lady Jane? Not onesacrifice to save your honour and life? Effort, indeed, I will makenone. But, _without_ an effort, I will make a sacrifice of as highestimation for you as ever knight offered up for the lady of his love.Perhaps it may not be in my power to save you; but in the sightof these rival armies,--in yours my only brother and betrothedbride,--and in the sight of heaven,--I offer the last ransom that canbe offered by man." As he said these words, he flung himself headlongfrom the battlement of the western tower, struck on the mural parapetaround the lower platform, then on the rampart, from which he flewwith a rolling bound, and flashed with prodigious force into the amplemoat. There, by the weight of his armour, he sunk forthwith to rise nomore. The troops of the rival nations stood aghast, with upliftedhand
s, gazing on the scene; but no more was to be seen of the gallantMusgrave! A gurgling boil of bloody water arose above him as he sankto the bottom,--and that was the last movement caused in this world byone whose life had been spent in deeds of high chivalry and restlesscommotion.
Excepting one shriek uttered by Lady Jane, the Douglas was the firstto break the awful silence, which he did by these words: "There fella hero indeed! Noble and resolute Musgrave! I cannot but envy you sucha chivalrous fate as this!" Many such expressions of enthusiasticadmiration burst from both armies, not in shouts of applause, forthese were suppressed by sorrow, but in a low and melting pathos thatbespoke the soul's regret as well as approval.
When these first expressions of feeling were over, the dark andmanly countenance of Douglas sunk into more than usual gloom anddejection. All the advantages given him, and which he had deemedinsurmountable by his opponents, were by this desperate act ofMusgrave's extinguished. He had now no more power over the Englishgarrison than what he could make good with his sword and his bow. Tohave executed his threats on Sir Richard, and the lovely and romanticLady Jane, would only have been an act of poor and despicable revenge,which would have disgusted his own followers, and could in no degreehave furthered his cause; so he ordered them back to confinement,with directions that they should be attended according to their rank.
What was next to be done? That was the great question. Douglas neveronce conceived the idea of giving up the enterprise; for though theprincess for whom he had undertaken it was now no more, his broaddomains were all engaged. The very existence of the house of Douglasdepended on his success; and, besides, the king had more daughters,though none like his beloved and accomplished Margaret. ThereforeDouglas had no hesitation regarding the necessity of taking thecastle. He was determined to have it. But what to do next, in order toaccomplish this determination, was the question. Circumstances weregrievously changed with him. The garrison had got a supply across theTeviot-bridge during the time of the flood and the tempest, but theScots could not ascertain to what amount. Sir Thomas Musgrave had beenjoined by some troops from the shores of Northumberland, and hadissued forth with these and the greater part of the garrison ofBerwick, to the amount of 5000 men, in order to make a diversion infavour of the garrison of Roxburgh. This movement by the governor ofBerwick disconcerted the Douglas most of all. A party of thesemarauders had shewed themselves on the height about Hume castle, withtrumpets sounding and colours waving in the air. From thence theymarched on, keeping the backs of the hills, until they came into thelower parts of Leaderdale, which they harried, burning in their waythe town and castle of Ercildon. They next made a movement towardsMelrose, meaning to establish themselves in the rear of Douglas, andeither to cut off his supplies, or force him to abandon the siege, inorder to preserve his own country behind him. But when they came tothe river Tweed they were opposed by the brave abbot Lawrence, not thefeigned and infernal abbot that our yeomen left at Aikwood, but thereal worthy and apostolic Lawrence himself. He had raised all theabbey vassals and retainers, and shewed fairly disposed to disputethe passage of the English over the river. In the meantime he postedmessage after message to Douglas, to come, or send to his assistance,before the abbey of the holy Virgin, with all its sacred stores,should fall into the hands of their ruthless enemies.
Douglas was hardly put to it. If he drew off from a close blockade,the English were sure to take advantage of his absence, make a sally,and procure plenty of more provisions; and, in that case, his onlyprobable hope of success was cut off. On the other hand, if hesuffered himself to be inclosed between two armies, his situationwould become every day more precarious, and perhaps in the issue quiteuntenable. He was, therefore, in a manner forced to the resolution ofmaking an effort to join father Lawrence, and of giving the captain ofBerwick battle before he attained possession of the rich monastry ofMelrose.
The time was now arrived when the support of Sir Ringan Redhoughand his borderers was become absolutely necessary. Without theirco-operation in a more close and decisive manner than that in whichthey had hitherto conducted themselves, he could not now proceed onefoot, and his great cause was ruined. He therefore dispatched apressing message to the chief, conjuring him as his friend andfellow-soldier, either to come and supply his place in the blockade ofRoxburgh, or march with all expedition to Melrose, and give battle tothe governor of Berwick. The dogged and unyielding Warden returned foranswer, that it had always been his chief and undivided aim to act inconcert with his noble and gallant friend, and lord superior, the Earlof Douglas and Mar. But that he had a peculiar charge from hisSovereign, of the English marches, which it was his bounden duty toattend to, prior to all other considerations. Whatever he could doconformable with this first duty, should not be wanting. Finally, hesent him word, as he had done formerly, "that if he coudna take thecastle, and confessed that he coudna take it, he might send word tohim, and he wad take it for him."
"What does the crabbed carle always mean by that answer?" said theDouglas, when it was reported to him: "Perhaps he has some means ofcommunication with those within the fortress, some secret friendin disguise among our enemies. Perhaps he knows of some weak oraccessible point among these extensive bulwarks, or perhaps he reckonson some plausible means of surmounting them; for the devil's head isnot more fruitful in expedients than his. This is a matter of suchimportance to me at present, that I must try to probe it to thebottom. Were I sure that he could accomplish his boasted feat, I hadbetter engage him to it with one-third of my dominions; and at allevents, I must procure the active assistance of his energetic force atpresent, whatever may be the equivalent required. Let my white steadBeaver be caparisoned, and my attendants in readiness; I must have aninterview with this man of the mountains before I sleep."
The Warden had drawn his force down to Wooller, with the intention ofco-operating more effectively with the Douglas. He had heard of theadvantages that lord held over his adversaries, but nothing of thelate catastrophe by which they were all removed. Deeming thereforethat the chances were mainly on the side of the Douglas, he judged ithis safest course to act in complete concert with him. Above all, thewords out of the black book of fate had been conveyed to him as readby the greatest magician in the world. From all that could be made outof that mystic rhyme, after long consultation, it appeared that itbehoved the Warden and his friends to go hand in hand with Douglas."Rise not against feudal union--No advance but in communion," werewords hardly to be misinterpreted. The words of the prophecy, and theludicrous metamorphosis were all taken into account, compared,computed, and over again computed,--and the sequel was a decisiveresolution to support the Douglas and join issues with him. But, inthe meantime, _still to make the most of a bad bargain_.
This resolution had been taken, and so far acted upon, that trustyagents had been despatched all over the country in disguise, toexecute a portion of the great concerted plan, when the Douglas, at alate hour in the evening, arrived in the Warden's camp. He then hadproofs experimentally of the Warden's caution and vigilance. He cameupon his outposts at a great distance from the main body of his army.These withstood his passage, but seeing his retinue so small, for hewas attended only by two knights, a squire, and a guide, theyconducted him from one post to another, till at length they broughthim completely guarded to the Warden's head-quarters; which wasnothing more than a lowly cottage at Wooller haugh-head.
The doughty chief and his kinsmen were still sitting in earnestconversation round a rustic table, with a tremendous torch in themiddle of it. This was nothing less than a huge broken jar full ofrefined ox's tallow, and a flow peat stuck to the head in the middle,which being kindled emitted a blaze like a fish light. The gallantkinsmen were in deep consultation anent their grand plan of warlikeoperations, and the more they conversed about it the more eligibledid it still appear to them, and the more deeply did they getinterested in it; so that when the knight in waiting announced astranger who requested an interview with Sir Ringan, every one seemeddisposed to refuse him admiss
ion.
"Tell him I am engaged," said the Warden.
"O yes. By all means. Tell him we are engaged," said Dickie o'Dryhope.
"If it is another message from the Douglas, I have had enough of him,"said the Warden.
"Ay, faith, we have had enough of him," said Dickie.
"It is perhaps from Master Michael Scott'" said Yardbire: "Or maybehimsel, wha kens. Lord sauff us!" "D'ye think sae?" said the Warden,starting to his feet: "That would indeed alter the case!"
"Ay, that would alter the case indeed!" said Dickie, starting to his.
"Who is he? or what is he like?" enquired the Warden.
"Ay, that is the principal thing to be attended to," said Dickie;"What is he like?"
"He is delivered as a knight of most noble bearing and courtlydeportment," answered the knight in waiting. "I suppose we must admithim, and hear what he has to say," said the Warden, again taking hisseat.
"O yes. By all means. Let us hear what he has to say," said Dickie,sitting down likewise.
As the courtly and athletic form of the Lord Douglas came up thehovel, the Border gentlemen stood all up to receive him, save SirRingan, who throwing himself back on his seat, leaned his chin on hishand, and in that indifferent posture awaited till the quality of hisguest was made manifest. But no sooner did the voice of Douglas reachhis ear, than he rose up to salute and receive him with as much easeas if he had been his daily visitor.
"You are hard of admission, noble Sir Ringan," said he, "thus to letyour friends wait at the door of your pavilion, after riding so far inthe dark to see you."
"I am chafed with visitors from both countries every hour of the day,Lord Douglas; many of them coming with complaints which it is out ofmy power to rectify. I have therefore a sly inquisition establishedaround me, that might haply give your Lordship some interruption. Butit was your own blame. Had you announced the name of Douglas, thatwould have opened a lane for you from my farthest outpost to thischair, which I request you to occupy, while I take my place here atyour right hand. You are welcome, noble Earl of Douglas and Mar, toour rude habitation. There is no man more so, beneath our sovereignlord the King. I give you and your attendants all kind welcome andgreeting."
"You are become as much an accomplished courtier among these wildwastes as you were before an accomplished warrior, Sir Ringan," saidDouglas.
"I always make points of speaking as I am spoken to, drinking as I amdrunk to, and going to a battle when sent for," said the Warden. "H'mh'm h'm," neighed Dickie o' Dryhope, screwing up his mouth on oneside like a shrew: "It is all true our Captain tells you, LordDouglas. That's his rule. Mh? mh? Mh? H'm h'm h'm." The Douglas castat Dickie a curious searching glance from his dark eye that was halfhid by a shaggy eyebrow; and then turning to Sir Ringan, replied, "Iam heartily glad of it, noble Baron of Mountcomyn, it having been forthat very purpose I sought this interview with you. Sir RinganRedhough, you must to battle with me to-morrow."
"With all my heart, my lord," was the reply.
"Come, that is as it should be. We'll no more of it. We _can_ have nomore of it," said Douglas: "Let us have a flaggon of your best wine todrink success to our arms."
The wine was soon produced, with plenty of other good cheer, withwhich the Warden's camp was then abundantly stored; and the two chiefsconversed together with as much freedom, and as little apparentjealousy with regard to rank or fame, as if they had been twobrothers. The Douglas delineated his affairs as in that posture inwhich success could not fail him; at the same time he admitted theticklish situation in which he stood, owing to the diversion made bythe captain of Berwick, and that without an instant effort he would beinclosed between two fires. Sir Ringan answered, that he had heard ofthe incursion, and therefore he had drawn his troops down from thedales of Northumberland to support his friend and firm ally in anycase of necessity; and he concluded by boldly proffering either tosupply the Douglas's place in the blockade, or march to the west, andhold Sir Thomas Musgrave in check. Douglas was delighted to find thecrabbed, cross-grained Warden, as he was wont to call him, in such acomplaisant humour; and testified that delight by many well-turnedcompliments and encomiums on his vigilance and gallant support. He gotintroduced to all the gentlemen of the party, with whom he exchangedcivilities, desiring them all to regard him as their friend, and oneready to do them a kindness whenever it lay in his power. "And now,Sir Ringan, since you hold the taking of the castle of Roxburgh solight," said he, "I think it is meet that my men and I should marchand give battle to Musgrave. Probably you may have taken possession ofthat troublesome garrison before we return."
"If I do, my Lord of Douglas, I take it for myself," replied SirRingan; "and claim all the privileges, rights, and immunities thatwere to devolve on you as the reducer of it. Now, if I should take thecastle of Roxburgh before your return, I suspect you would find it ashard work to expel me, and these Border warriors of mine, as thehalf-starved English that you have there already. I have all thesebrave fellows to hold in beef and malt, my Lord of Douglas; and fortheir sakes I have laid down a golden rule to walk by, which is, _Todo nothing for nothing_. If I take the castle of Roxburgh, I take itfor myself and them."
Douglas, who knew nothing of the prophecy and injunctions from thebook of the destinies of men, became more convinced than ever, thatthe Warden knew of some flaw or some tangible point in the garrison;and if there existed a knowledge of such a thing, he resolved to availhimself of it by any means. He knew Sir Ringan too well to suppose hewould confide his secret to him, without a certainty of reaping dueadvantage; and that, therefore, it behoved to give him a prevailinginterest in it. With this view, he answered him, jocularly: "Thoughyou were to receive all that was promised to me, in the event of mysuccess, you would probably find yourself only a loser by theguerdon."
"Why, are you not to be made the king's son-in-law," replied SirRingan? "and thereby the first subject, or rather the first man of therealm; for, by the indolence and retired habits of our sovereign, youwould have the whole kingdom at your beck. Call you this nothing, myLord? Or would it be fair and reasonable,--supposing the thingpossible, which I do not pretend to say it is,--that if my warriorsand I should put you in possessession of all this power, riches, andhonours, would it be fair, I say, that we should be again turned outto these Border wastes, to live by our shifts, without reaping anything of the benefit?"
"Should you take the castle for me, in my absence, noble Sir Ringan,your reward shall be of your own naming."
"Would it not be better, Lord Douglas, that the reward were settledbefore-hand; and, then, I lose or gain at my own risk and peril. If Ideliver you no produce, I ask no pay."
"And what is the reward Sir Ringan would ask for such a piece ofincalculable service?"
"My choice of seven baronies on the West Border, to divide amongstthese gentlemen commoners, to whose support I owe every thing."
"You are a master worth serving, brave Sir Ringan. But such a grantwould break my power on the Border for ever."
"It is that your power on the Border _may not_ be broken for ever,Lord Douglas, that I make the proffer. I am safer without theventure. But you are a day's march nearer to the English army,--drawoff your men silently before the break of day, and march against it. Ishall supply your place at the blockade, to the west of the castle,without loss of time, and answer to you at your return for all ingressor egress that takes place in that division. If Sir Thomas proves hardfor you, you have only to keep your men together, and fall back towardthe entrenchments. You shall find you have some good back-friendsthere."
Douglas had determined on no account to let this proffer of theWarden's ingenious head and powerful arm in the taking of the fortresspass without trial; so, without more ado, he called for the friar'stablets, and made out a grant to Sir Ringan, in free present, of thebarony and lands of Gilterscleuch, and his choice of seven of the bestbaronies belonging to the house of Douglas in the districts adjoiningto the West Border, in the event of his putting James, Lord of Douglasand M
ar, in full possession of the castle of Roxburgh. This grantsigned and sealed, the Douglas departed, after pledging the Warden andhis friends in a hearty stirrup cup, both chiefs being alike wellpleased with the agreement they had entered into. The Douglas postedback to Roxburgh, and reached it just in time to put the westerndivision of his army in motion at break of day; while Sir Ringan madehis musters by the light of the moon, and marched off to the siege ofRoxburgh.