Chapter the Twenty-Fifth.
And when love's torch hath set the heart in flame, Comes Seignor Reason, with his saws and cautions, Giving such aid as the old gray-beard Sexton, Who from the church-vault drags the crazy engine, To ply its dribbling ineffectual streamlet Against a conflagration. OLD PLAY.
In a musing mood, Roland Graeme upon the ensuing morning betook himselfto the battlements of the Castle, as a spot where he might indulge thecourse of his thick-coming fancies with least chance of interruption.But his place of retirement was in the present case ill chosen, for hewas presently joined by Mr. Elias Henderson.
"I sought you, young man," said the preacher, "having to speak ofsomething which concerns you nearly."
The page had no pretence for avoiding the conference which the chaplainthus offered, though he felt that it might prove an embarrassing one.
"In teaching thee, as far as my feeble knowledge hath permitted, thyduty towards God," said the chaplain, "there are particulars of yourduty towards man, upon which I was unwilling long or much to insist.You are here in the service of a lady, honourable as touching her birth,deserving of all compassion as respects her misfortunes, and garnishedwith even but too many of those outward qualities which win men's regardand affection. Have you ever considered your regard to this Lady Mary ofScotland, in its true light and bearing?"
"I trust, reverend sir," replied Roland Graeme, "that I am well awareof the duties a servant in my condition owes to his royal mistress,especially in her lowly and distressed condition."
"True," answered the preacher; "but it is even that honest feelingwhich may, in the Lady Mary's case, carry thee into great crime andtreachery."
"How so, reverend sir?" replied the page; "I profess I understand younot."
"I speak to you not of the crimes of this ill-advised lady," said thepreacher; "they are not subjects for the ears of her sworn servant. Butit is enough to say, that this unhappy person hath rejected more offersof grace, and more hopes of glory, than ever were held out toearthly princes; and that she is now, her day of favour being passed,sequestered in this lonely castle, for the common weal of the people ofScotland, and it may be for the benefit of her own soul."
"Reverend sir," said Roland, somewhat impatiently, "I am but too wellaware that my unfortunate mistress is imprisoned, since I have themisfortune to share in her restraint myself--of which, to speak sooth, Iam heartily weary."
"It is even of that which I am about to speak," said the chaplain,mildly; "but, first, my good Roland, look forth on the pleasant prospectof yonder cultivated plain. You see, where the smoke arises, yondervillage standing half hidden by the trees, and you know it to be thedwelling-place of peace and industry. From space to space, each by theside of its own stream, you see the gray towers of barons, with cottagesinterspersed; and you know that they also, with their household, are nowliving in unity; the lance hung upon the wall, and the sword restingin its sheath. You see, too, more than one fair church, where the purewaters of life are offered to the thirsty, and where the hungry arerefreshed with spiritual food.--What would he deserve, who should bringfire and slaughter into so fair and happy a scene--who should bare theswords of the gentry and turn them against each other--who should givetower and cottage to the flames, and slake the embers with the bloodof the indwellers?--What would he deserve who should lift up again thatancient Dagon of Superstition, whom the worthies of the time have beatendown, and who should once more make the churches of God the high placesof Baal?"
"You have limned a frightful picture, reverend sir," said Roland Graeme;"yet I guess not whom you would charge with the purpose of effecting achange so horrible."
"God forbid," replied the preacher, "that I should say to thee, Thou artthe man.--Yet beware, Roland Graeme, that thou, in serving thy mistress,hold fast the still higher service which thou owest to the peace of thycountry, and the prosperity of her inhabitants; else, Roland Graeme,thou mayest be the very man upon whose head will fall the curses andassured punishment due to such work. If thou art won by the song ofthese sirens to aid that unhappy lady's escape from this place ofpenitence and security, it is over with the peace of Scotland'scottages, and with the prosperity of her palaces--and the babe unbornshall curse the name of the man who gave inlet to the disorder whichwill follow the war betwixt the mother and the son."
"I know of no such plan, reverend sir," answered the page, "andtherefore can aid none such.--My duty towards the Queen has beensimply that of an attendant; it is a task, of which, at times, I wouldwillingly have been freed; nevertheless--"
"It is to prepare thee for the enjoyment of something more of liberty,"said the preacher, "that I have endeavoured to impress upon you thedeep responsibility under which your office must be discharged. GeorgeDouglas hath told the Lady Lochleven that you are weary of this service,and my intercession hath partly determined her good ladyship, that, asyour discharge cannot be granted, you shall, instead, be employed incertain commissions on the mainland, which have hitherto been dischargedby other persons of confidence. Wherefore, come with me to the lady, foreven to-day such duty will be imposed on you."
"I trust you will hold me excused, reverend sir," said the page, whofelt that an increase of confidence on the part of the Lady of theCastle and her family would render his situation in a moral view doublyembarrassing, "one cannot serve two masters--and I much fear that mymistress will not hold me excused for taking employment under another."
"Fear not that," said the preacher; "her consent shall be asked andobtained. I fear she will yield it but too easily, as hoping to availherself of your agency to maintain correspondence with her friends, asthose falsely call themselves, who would make her name the watchword forcivil war."
"And thus," said the page, "I shall be exposed to suspicion on allsides; for my mistress will consider me as a spy placed on her by herenemies, seeing me so far trusted by them; and the Lady Lochleven willnever cease to suspect the possibility of my betraying her, becausecircumstances put it into my power to do so--I would rather remain as Iam."
There followed a pause of one or two minutes, during which Hendersonlooked steadily in Roland's countenance, as if desirous to ascertainwhether there was not more in the answer than the precise words seemedto imply. He failed in this point, however; for Roland, bred a page fromchildhood, knew how to assume a sullen pettish cast of countenance, wellenough calculated to hide all internal emotions.
"I understand thee not, Roland," said the preacher, "or rather thouthinkest on this matter more deeply than I apprehended to be in thynature. Methought, the delight of going on shore with thy bow, or thygun, or thy angling-rod, would have borne away all other feelings."
"And so it would," replied Roland, who perceived the danger of sufferingHenderson's half-raised suspicions to become fully awake,--"I would havethought of nothing but the gun and the oar, and the wild water-fowl thattempt me by sailing among the sedges yonder so far out of flight-shot,had you not spoken of my going on shore as what was to occasion burningof town and tower, the downfall of the evangele, and the upsetting ofthe mass."
"Follow me, then," said Henderson, "and we will seek the LadyLochleven."
They found her at breakfast with her grandson George Douglas.--"Peace bewith your ladyship!" said the preacher, bowing to his patroness; "RolandGraeme awaits your order."
"Young man," said the lady, "our chaplain hath warranted for thyfidelity, and we are determined to give you certain errands to do for usin our town of Kinross."
"Not by my advice," said Douglas, coldly.
"I said not that it was," answered the lady, something sharply. "Themother of thy father may, I should think, be old enough to judge forherself in a matter so simple.--Thou wilt take the skiff, Roland, andtwo of my people, whom Dryfesdale or Randal will order out, and fetchoff certain stuff of plate and hangings, which should last night belodged at Kinross by the wains from Edinburgh."
"And give this packet," said George Douglas, "to a ser
vant of ours,whom you will find in waiting there.--It is the report to my father,"he added, looking towards his grandmother, who acquiesced by bending herhead.
"I have already mentioned to Master Henderson," said Roland Graeme,"that as my duty requires my attendance on the Queen, her Grace'spermission for my journey ought to be obtained before I can undertakeyour commission."
"Look to it, my son," said the old lady, "the scruple of the youth ishonourable."
"Craving your pardon, madam, I have no wish to force myself on herpresence thus early," said. Douglas, in an indifferent tone; "it mightdisplease her, and were no way agreeable to me."
"And I," said the Lady Lochleven, "although her temper hath been moregentle of late, have no will to undergo, without necessity, the rancourof her wit."
"Under your permission, madam," said the chaplain, "I will myself renderyour request to the Queen. During my long residence in this house shehath not deigned to see me in private, or to hear my doctrine; yet somay Heaven prosper my labours, as love for her soul, and desire to bringher into the right path, was my chief desire for coming hither."
"Take care, Master Henderson," said Douglas, in a tone which seemedalmost sarcastic, "lest you rush hastily on an adventure to which youhave no vocation--you are learned, and know the adage, _Ne accesseris inconsilium nisi vocatus_.--Who hath required this at your hand?"
"The Master to whose service I am called," answered the preacher,looking upward,--"He who hath commanded me to be earnest in season andout of season."
"Your acquaintance hath not been much, I think, with courts or princes,"continued the young Esquire.
"No, sir," replied Henderson, "but like my Master Knox, I see nothingfrightful in the fair face of a pretty lady."
"My son," said the Lady of Lochleven, "quench not the good man'szeal--let him do the errand to this unhappy Princess."
"With more willingness than I would do it myself," said George Douglas.Yet something in his manner appeared to contradict his words.
The minister went accordingly, followed by Roland Graeme, and, demandingan audience of the imprisoned Princess, was admitted. He found her withher ladies engaged in the daily task of embroidery. The Queen receivedhim with that courtesy, which, in ordinary cases, she used towards allwho approached her, and the clergyman, in opening his commission, wasobviously somewhat more embarrassed than he had expected to be.--"Thegood Lady of Lochleven--may it please your Grace--"
He made a short pause, during which Mary said, with a smile, "My Gracewould, in truth, be well pleased, were the Lady Lochleven our _good_lady--But go on--what is the will of the good Lady of Lochleven?"
"She desires, madam," said the chaplain, "that your Grace will permitthis young gentleman, your page, Roland Graeme, to pass to Kinross, tolook after some household stuff and hangings, sent hither for the betterfurnishing your Grace's apartments."
"The Lady of Lochleven," said the Queen, "uses needless ceremony, inrequesting our permission for that which stands within her own pleasure.We well know that this young gentleman's attendance on us had not beenso long permitted, were he not thought to be more at the command of thatgood lady than at ours.--But we cheerfully yield consent that he shallgo on her errand--with our will we would doom no living creature to thecaptivity which we ourselves must suffer."
"Ay, madam," answered the preacher, "and it is doubtless natural forhumanity to quarrel with its prison-house. Yet there have been those,who have found, that time spent in the house of temporal captivity maybe so employed as to redeem us from spiritual slavery."
"I apprehend your meaning, sir," replied the Queen, "but I have heardyour apostle--I have heard Master John Knox; and were I to be perverted,I would willingly resign to the ablest and most powerful of heresiarchs,the poor honour he might acquire by overcoming my faith and my hope."
"Madam," said the preacher, "it is not to the talents or skill of thehusbandman that God gives the increase--the words which were offeredin vain by him whom you justly call our apostle, during the bustle andgaiety of a court, may yet find better acceptance during the leisure forreflection which this place affords. God knows, lady, that I speak insingleness of heart, as one who would as soon compare himself to theimmortal angels, as to the holy man whom you have named. Yet would youbut condescend to apply to their noblest use, those talents and thatlearning which all allow you to be possessed of--would you afford usbut the slightest hope that you would hear and regard what can be urgedagainst the blinded superstition and idolatry in which you are broughtup, sure am I, that the most powerfully-gifted of my brethren, that evenJohn Knox himself, would hasten hither, and account the rescue of yoursingle soul from the nets of Romish error--"
"I am obliged to you and to them for their charity," said Mary; "but asI have at present but one presence-chamber, I would reluctantly see itconverted into a Huguenot synod."
"At least, madam, be not thus obstinately blinded in your errors! Hearone who has hungered and thirsted, watched and prayed, to undertakethe good work of your conversion, and who would be content to die theinstant that a work so advantageous for yourself and so beneficial toScotland were accomplished--Yes, lady, could I but shake the remainingpillar of the heathen temple in this land--and that permit me toterm your faith in the delusions of Rome--I could be content to dieoverwhelmed in the ruins!"
"I will not insult your zeal, sir," replied Mary, "by saying youare more likely to make sport for the Philistines than to overwhelmthem--your charity claims my thanks, for it is warmly expressed and maybe truly purposed--But believe as well of me as I am willing to do ofyou, and think that I may be as anxious to recall you to the ancient andonly road, as you are to teach me your new by-ways to paradise."
"Then, madam, if such be your generous purpose," said Henderson,eagerly, "--what hinders that we should dedicate some part of that time,unhappily now too much at your Grace's disposal, to discuss a questionso weighty? You, by report of all men, are both learned and witty; andI, though without such advantages, am strong in my cause as in a towerof defence. Why should we not spend some space in endeavouring todiscover which of us hath the wrong side in this important matter?"
"Nay," said Queen Mary, "I never alleged my force was strong enoughto accept of a combat _en champ clos_, with a scholar and a polemic.Besides, the match is not equal. You, sir, might retire when you feltthe battle go against you, while I am tied to the stake, and have nopermission to say the debate wearies me.--I would be alone."
She curtsied low to him as she uttered these words; and Henderson, whosezeal was indeed ardent, but did not extend to the neglect of delicacy,bowed in return, and prepared to withdraw.
"I would," he said, "that my earnest wish, my most zealous prayer, couldprocure to your Grace any blessing or comfort, but especially thatin which alone blessing or comfort is, as easily as the slightestintimation of your wish will remove me from your presence."
He was in the act of departing, when Mary said to him with muchcourtesy, "Do me no injury in your thoughts, good sir; it may be, thatif my time here be protracted longer--as surely I hope it will not,trusting that either my rebel subjects will repent of their disloyalty,or that my faithful lieges will obtain the upper hand--but if my timebe here protracted, it may be I shall have no displeasure in hearing onewho seems so reasonable and compassionate as yourself, and I may hazardyour contempt by endeavouring to recollect and repeat the reasons whichschoolmen and councils give for the faith that is in me,--althoughI fear that, God help me! my Latin has deserted me with my otherpossessions. This must, however, be for another day. Meanwhile, sir,let the Lady of Lochleven employ my page as she lists--I will not affordsuspicion by speaking a word to him before he goes.--Roland Graeme, myfriend, lose not an opportunity of amusing thyself--dance, sing, run,and leap--all may be done merrily on the mainland; but he must have morethan quicksilver in his veins who would frolic here."
"Alas! madam," said the preacher, "to what is it you exhort the youth,while time passes, and eternity summons? Can our salvation
be insured byidle mirth, or our good work wrought out without fear and trembling?"
"I cannot fear or tremble," replied the Queen; "to Mary Stewart suchemotions are unknown. But if weeping and sorrow on my part will atonefor the boy's enjoying an hour of boyish pleasure, be assured thepenance shall be duly paid."
"Nay, but, gracious lady," said the preacher, "in this you greatlyerr;--our tears and our sorrows are all too little for our own faultsand follies, nor can we transfer them, as your church falsely teaches,to the benefit of others."
"May I pray you, sir," answered the Queen, "with as little offence assuch a prayer may import, to transfer yourself elsewhere? We are sick atheart, and may not now be disposed with farther controversy--and thou,Roland, take this little purse;" (then, turning to the divine, she said,showing its contents,) "Look, reverend sir,--it contains only thesetwo or three gold testoons, a coin which, though bearing my own poorfeatures, I have ever found more active against me than on my side, justas my subjects take arms against me, with my own name for theirsummons and signal.--Take this purse, that thou mayest want no means ofamusement. Fail not--fail not to bring met back news from Kinross; onlylet it be such as, without suspicion or offence, may be told in thepresence of this reverend gentleman, or of the good Lady Lochlevenherself."
The last hint was too irresistible to be withstood; and Hendersonwithdrew, half mortified, half pleased, with his reception; for Mary,from long habit, and the address which was natural to her, had learned,in an extraordinary degree, the art of evading discourse which wasdisagreeable to her feelings or prejudices, without affronting those bywhom it was proffered.
Roland Graeme retired with the chaplain, at a signal from his lady; butit did not escape him, that as he left the room, stepping backwards, andmaking the deep obeisance due to royalty, Catherine Seyton held up herslender forefinger, with a gesture which he alone could witness, andwhich seemed to say, "Remember what has passed betwixt us."
The young page had now his last charge from the Lady of Lochleven."There are revels," she said, "this day at the village--my son'sauthority is, as yet, unable to prevent these continued workings of theancient leaven of folly which the Romish priests have kneaded into thevery souls of the Scottish peasantry. I do not command thee to abstainfrom them--that would be only to lay a snare for thy folly, or to teachthee falsehood; but enjoy these vanities with moderation, and markthem as something thou must soon learn to renounce and contemn. Ourchamberlain at Kinross, Luke Lundin,--Doctor, as he foolishly callethhimself,--will acquaint thee what is to be done in the matter aboutwhich thou goest. Remember thou art trusted--show thyself, therefore,worthy of trust."
When we recollect that Roland Graeme was not yet nineteen, and that hehad spent his whole life in the solitary Castle of Avenel, exceptingthe few hours he had passed in Edinburgh, and his late residence atLochleven, (the latter period having very little served to enlarge hisacquaintance with the gay world.) we cannot wonder that his heart beat,high with hope and curiosity, at the prospect of partaking the sporteven of a country wake. He hastened to his little cabin, and turned overthe wardrobe with which (in every respect becoming his station) he hadbeen supplied from Edinburgh, probably by order of the Earl of Murray.By the Queen's command he had hitherto waited upon her in mourning, orat least in sad-coloured raiment. Her condition, she said, admittedof nothing more gay. But now he selected the gayest dress his wardrobeafforded; composed of scarlet slashed with black satin, the royalcolours of Scotland--combed his long curled hair--disposed his chain andmedal round a beaver hat of the newest block; and with the gay falchionwhich had reached him in so mysterious a manner, hung by his side inan embroidered belt, his apparel, added to his natural frank mien andhandsome figure, formed a most commendable and pleasing specimen of theyoung gallant of the period. He sought to make his parting reverence tothe Queen and her ladies, but old Dryfesdale hurried him to the boat.
"We will have no private audiences," he said, "my master; since you areto be trusted with somewhat, we will try at least to save thee fromthe temptation of opportunity. God help thee, child," he added, with aglance of contempt at his gay clothes, "an the bear-ward be yonder fromSaint Andrews, have a care thou go not near him."
"And wherefore, I pray you?" said Roland.
"Lest he take thee for one of his runaway jackanapes," answered thesteward, smiling sourly.
"I wear not my clothes at thy cost," said Roland indignantly.
"Nor at thine own either, my son" replied the steward, "else would thygarb more nearly resemble thy merit and thy station."
Roland Graeme suppressed with difficulty the repartee which arose to hislips, and, wrapping his scarlet mantle around him, threw himself intothe boat, which two rowers, themselves urged by curiosity to see therevels, pulled stoutly towards the west end of the lake. As they putoff, Roland thought he could discover the face of Catherine Seyton,though carefully withdrawn from observation, peeping from a loopholeto view his departure. He pulled off his hat, and held it up as a tokenthat he saw and wished her adieu. A white kerchief waved for a secondacross the window, and for the rest of the little voyage, the thoughtsof Catherine Seyton disputed ground in his breast with the expectationsexcited by the approaching revel. As they drew nearer and nearer theshore, the sounds of mirth and music, the laugh, the halloo, and theshout, came thicker upon the ear, and in a trice the boat was moored,and Roland Graeme hastened in quest of the chamberlain, that, beinginformed what time he had at his own disposal, he might lay it out tothe best advantage.