The Monastery Page 18

  Chapter the Eighteenth.

  I give thee eighteenpence a-day, And my bow shall thou bear, And over all the north country, I make thee the chief rydere. And I thirteenpence a-day, quoth the queen, By God and by my faye, Come fetch thy payment when thou wilt, No man shall say thee nay. WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEY.

  The manners of the age did not permit the inhabitants of Glendearg topartake of the collation which was placed in the spence of that ancienttower, before the Lord Abbot and his attendants, and Sir PiercieShafton. Dame Glendinning was excluded, both by inferiority of rank andby sex, for (though it was a rule often neglected) the Superior of SaintMary's was debarred from taking his meals in female society. To MaryAvenel the latter, and to Edward Glendinning the former, incapacityattached; but it pleased his lordship to require their presence inthe apartment, and to say sundry kind words to them upon the ready andhospitable reception which they had afforded him.

  The smoking haunch now stood upon the table; a napkin, white as snow,was, with due reverence, tucked under the chin of the Abbot by theRefectioner; and nought was wanting to commence the repast, save thepresence of Sir Piercie Shafton, who at length appeared, glitteringlike the sun, in a carnation-velvet doublet, slashed and puffed out withcloth of silver, his hat of the newest block, surrounded by a hatbandof goldsmith's work, while around his neck he wore a collar of gold, setwith rubies and topazes so rich, that it vindicated his anxiety for thesafety of his baggage from being founded upon his love of mere finery.This gorgeous collar or chain, resembling those worn by the knights ofthe highest orders of chivalry, fell down on his breast, and terminatedin a medallion.

  "We waited for Sir Piercie Shafton," said the Abbot, hastily assuminghis place in the great chair which the Kitchener advanced to the tablewith ready hand.

  "I pray your pardon, reverend father, and my good lord," replied thatpink of courtesy; "I did but wait to cast my riding slough, andto transmew myself into some civil form meeter for this worshipfulcompany."

  "I cannot but praise your gallantry, Sir Knight," said the Abbot,"and your prudence, also, for choosing the fitting time to appear thusadorned. Certes, had that goodly chain been visible in some part of yourlate progress, there was risk that the lawful owner might have partedcompany therewith."

  "This chain, said your reverence?" answered Sir Piercie; "surely it isbut a toy, a trifle, a slight thing which shows but poorly with thisdoublet--marry, when I wear that of the murrey-coloured double-piledGenoa velvet, puffed out with ciprus, the gems, being relieved and setoff by the darker and more grave ground of the stuff, show like starsgiving a lustre through dark clouds."

  "I nothing doubt it," said the Abbot, "but I pray you to sit down at theboard."

  But Sir Piercie had now got into his element, and was not easilyinterrupted--"I own," he continued, "that slight as the toy is, it mightperchance have had some captivation for Julian--Santa Maria!" saidhe, interrupting himself; "what was I about to say, and my fair andbeauteous Protection, or shall I rather term her my Discretion, herein presence!--Indiscreet hath it been in your Affability, O most lovelyDiscretion, to suffer a stray word to have broke out of the penfold ofhis mouth, that might overleap the fence of civility, and trespass onthe manor of decorum."

  "Marry!" said the Abbot, somewhat impatiently, "the greatest discretionthat I can see in the matter is, to eat our victuals being hot--FatherEustace, say the Benedicite, and cut up the haunch."

  The Sub-Prior readily obeyed the first part of the Abbot's injunction,but paused upon the second--"It is Friday, most reverend," he said inLatin, desirous that the hint should escape, if possible, the ears ofthe stranger.

  "We are travellers," said the Abbot, in reply, "and _viatoribus licitumest_--You know the canon--a traveller must eat what food his hard fatesets before him. I grant you all a dispensation to eat flesh this day,conditionally that you, brethren, say the Confiteor at curfew time, thatthe knight give alms to his ability, and that all and each of youfast from flesh on such day within the next month that shall seemmost convenient;--wherefore fall to and eat your food with cheerfulcountenances, and you, Father Refectioner, _da mixtus_."

  While the Abbot was thus stating the conditions on which his indulgencewas granted, he had already half finished a slice of the noble haunch,and now washed it down with a flagon of Rhenish, modestly tempered withwater.

  "Well is it said," he observed, as he required from the Refectioneranother slice, "that virtue is its own reward; for though this is buthumble fare, and hastily prepared, and eaten in a poor chamber, I do notremember me of having had such an appetite since I was a simple brotherin the Abbey of Dundrennan, and was wont to labour in the garden frommorning until nones, when our Abbot struck the _Cymbalum_. Then would Ienter keen with hunger, parched with thirst, (_da mihi vinum quaeso, etmerum sit_,) and partake with appetite of whatever was set before us,according to our rule; feast or fast day, _caritas_ or _penitentia_, wasthe same to me. I had no stomach complaints then, which now crave boththe aid of wine and choice cookery, to render my food acceptable to mypalate, and easy of digestion."

  "It may be, holy father," said the Sub-Prior, "an occasional ride to theextremity of Saint Mary's patrimony, may have the same happy effect onyour health as the air of the garden at Dundrennan."

  "Perchance, with our patroness's blessing, such progresses may advantageus," said the Abbot; "having an especial eye that our venison iscarefully killed by some woodsman that is master of his craft."

  "If the Lord Abbot will permit me," said the Kitchener, "I think thebest way to assure his lordship on that important point, would be toretain as a yeoman-pricker, or deputy-ranger, the eldest son of thisgood woman, Dame Glendinning, who is here to wait upon us. I shouldknow by mine office what belongs to killing of game, and I can safelypronounce, that never saw I, or any other _coquinarius_, a bolt sojustly shot. It has cloven the very heart of the buck."

  "What speak you to us of one good shot, father?" said Sir Piercie;"I would advise you that such no more maketh a shooter, than doth oneswallow make a summer--I have seen this springald of whom you speak, andif his hand can send forth his shafts as boldly as his tongue doth utterpresumptuous speeches, I will own him as good an archer as Robin Hood."

  "Marry," said the Abbot, "and it is fitting we know the truth of thismatter from the dame herself; for ill advised were we to give way toany rashness in this matter, whereby the bounties which Heaven and ourpatroness provide might be unskilfully mangled, and rendered unfit forworthy men's use.--Stand forth, therefore, dame Glendinning, and tell tous, as thy liege lord and spiritual Superior, using plainness and truth,without either fear or favour, as being a matter wherein we are deeplyinterested, Doth this son of thine use his bow as well as the FatherKitchener avers to us?"

  "So please your noble fatherhood," answered Dame Glendinning with adeep curtsy, "I should know somewhat of archery to my cost, seeing myhusband--God assoilzie him!--was slain in the field of Pinkie with anarrow-shot, while he was fighting under the Kirk's banner, as becamea liege vassal of the Halidome. He was a valiant man, please yourreverence, and an honest; and saving that he loved a bit of venison, andshifted for his living at a time as Border-men will sometimes do, I wotnot of sin that he did. And yet, though I have paid for mass after massto the matter of a forty shilling, besides a quarter of wheat and fourfirlocks of rye, I can have no assurance yet that he has been deliveredfrom purgatory."

  "Dame," said the Lord Abbot, "this shall be looked into heedfully; andsince thy husband fell, as thou sayest, in the Kirk's quarrel, andunder her banner, rely upon it that we will have him out of purgatoryforthwith--that is, always provided he be there.--But it is not ofthy husband whom we now devise to speak, but of thy son; not of a shotScotsman, but of a shot deer--Wherefore, I say, answer me to the point,is thy son a practised archer, ay or no?"

  "Alack! my reverend lord," replied the widow, "and my croft wouldbe better tilled, if I could answer your reverence that he isnot.--Practised archer!--marry,
holy sir, I would he would practisesomething else--cross-bow and long-bow, hand-gun and hack-but, falconetand saker, he can shoot with them all. And if it would please this righthonourable gentleman, our guest, to hold out his hat at the distance ofa hundred yards, our Halbert shall send shaft, bolt, or bullet throughit, (so that right honourable gentleman swerve not, but hold outsteady,) and I will forfeit a quarter of barley if he touch but a knotof his ribands. I have seen our old Martin do as much, and so has ourright reverend the Sub-Prior, if he be pleased to remember it."

  "I am not like to forget it, dame," said Father Eustace; "for I knewnot which most to admire, the composure of the young marksman, or thesteadiness of the old mark. Yet I presume not to advise Sir PiercieShafton to subject his valuable beaver, and yet more valuable person, tosuch a risk, unless it should be his own special pleasure."

  "Be assured it is not," said Sir Piercie Shafton, something hastily;"be well assured, holy father, that it is not. I dispute not the lad'squalities, for which your reverence vouches. But bows are but wood,strings are but flax, or the silk-worm excrement at best; archers arebut men, fingers may slip, eyes may dazzle, the blindest may hit thebutt, the best marker may shoot a bow's length beside. Therefore will wetry no perilous experiments."

  "Be that as you will, Sir Piercie," said the Abbot; "meantime we willname this youth bow-bearer in the forest granted to us by good KingDavid, that the chase might recreate our wearied spirits, the flesh ofthe dear improve our poor commons, and the hides cover the books of ourlibrary; thus tending at once to the sustenance of body and soul."

  "Kneel down, woman, kneel down," said the Refectioner and the Kitchener,with one voice, to Dame Glendinning, "and kiss his lordship's hand, forthe grace which he has granted to thy son."

  They then, as if they had been chanting the service and the responses,set off in a sort of duetto, enumerating the advantages of thesituation.

  "A green gown and a pair of leathern galligaskins every Pentecost," saidthe Kitchener.

  "Four marks by the year at Candlemas," answered the Refectioner.

  "A hogshead of ale at Martlemas, of the double strike, and single ale atpleasure, as he shall agree with the Cellarer--"

  "Who is a reasonable man," said the Abbot, "and will encourage an activeservant of the convent."

  "A mess of broth and a dole of mutton or beef, at the Kitchener's, oneach high holiday," resumed the Kitchener.

  "The gang of two cows and a palfrey on our Lady's meadow." answered hisbrother officer.

  "An ox-hide to make buskins of yearly, because of the brambles," echoedthe Kitchener.

  "And various other perquisites, _quae nunc praescribere longum_," saidthe Abbot, summing, with his own lordly voice, the advantages attachedto the office of conventional bow-bearer.

  Dame Glendinning was all this while on her knees, her head mechanicallyturning from the one church officer to the other, which, as they stoodone on each side of her, had much the appearance of a figure moved byclock-work, and so soon as they were silent, most devotedly did shekiss the munificent hand of the Abbot. Conscious, however, of Halbert'sintractability in some points, she could not help qualifying hergrateful and reiterated thanks for the Abbot's bountiful proffer, with ahope that Halbert would see his wisdom, and accept of it.

  "How," said the Abbot, bending his brows, "accept of it?--Woman, is thyson in his right wits?"

  Elspeth, stunned by the tone in which this question was asked, wasaltogether unable to reply to it. Indeed, any answer she might have madecould hardly have been heard, as it pleased the two office-bearers ofthe Abbot's table again to recommence their alternate dialogue.

  "Refuse!" said the Kitchener.

  "Refuse!" answered the Refectioner, echoing the other's word in a toneof still louder astonishment.

  "Refuse four marks by the year!" said the one.

  "Ale and beer--broth and mutton--cow's grass and palfrey's!" shouted theKitchener.

  "Gown and galligaskins!" responded the Refectioner.

  "A moment's patience, my brethren," answered the Sub-Prior, "and let usnot be thus astonished before cause is afforded of our amazement. Thisgood dame best knoweth the temper and spirit of her son--this much I cansay, that it lieth not towards letters or learning, of which I have invain endeavoured to instil into him some tincture. Nevertheless, he isa youth of no common spirit, but much like those (in my weak judgment)whom God raises up among a people when he meaneth that their deliveranceshall be wrought out with strength of hand and valour of heart. Suchmen we have seen marked with a waywardness, and even an obstinacy ofcharacter, which hath appeared intractability and stupidity to thoseamong whom they walked and were conversant, until the very opportunityhath arrived in, which it was the will of Providence that they should bethe fitting instrument of great things."

  "Now, in good time hast thou spoken, Father Eustace," said the Abbot;"and we will see this swankie before we decide upon the means ofemploying him.--How say you, Sir Piercie Shafton, is it not the courtfashion to suit the man to the office, and not the office to the man?"

  "So please your reverence and lordship," answered the Northumbrianknight, "I do partly, that is, in some sort, subscribe to what yourwisdom hath delivered--Nevertheless, under reverence of the Sub-Prior,we do not look for gallant leaders and national deliverers in the hovelsof the mean common people. Credit me, that if there be some flashes ofmartial spirit about this young person, which I am not called upon todispute, (though I have seldom seen that presumption and arrogance weremade good upon the upshot by deed and action,) yet still these willprove insufficient to distinguish him, save in his own limited and lowlysphere--even as the glowworm, which makes a goodly show among the grassof the field, would be of little avail if deposited in a beacon-grate."

  "Now, in good time," said the Sub-Prior, "and here comes the younghuntsman to speak for himself;" for, being placed opposite to thewindow, he could observe Halbert as he ascended the little mound onwhich the tower was situated.

  "Summon him to our presence," said the Lord Abbot; and with an obedientstart the two attendant monks went off with emulous alertness. DameGlendinning sprung away at the same moment, partly to gain an instant torecommend obedience to her son, partly to prevail with him to change hisapparel before coming in presence of the Abbot. But the Kitchener andRefectioner, both speaking at once, had already seized each an arm, andwere leading Halbert in triumph into the apartment, so that she couldonly ejaculate, "His will be done; but an he had but had on him hisSunday's hose!"

  Limited and humble as this desire was, the fates did not grant it, forHalbert Glendinning was hurried into the presence of the Lord Abbot andhis party, without a word of explanation, and without a moment's timebeing allowed to assume his holiday hose, which, in the language of thetime, implied both breeches and stockings.

  Yet, though thus suddenly presented amid the centre of all eyes, therewas something in Halbert's appearance which commanded a certain degreeof respect from the company into which he was so unceremoniouslyintruded, and the greater part of whom were disposed to consider himwith hauteur if not with absolute contempt. But his appearance andreception we must devote to another chapter.

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