The Fair Maid of Perth; Or, St. Valentine's Day

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER XXV.

  The course of true love never did run smooth.

  SHAKSPEARE.

  The ominous anxiety of our armourer had not played him false. When thegood glover parted with his intended son in law, after the judicialcombat had been decided, he found what he indeed had expected, that hisfair daughter was in no favourable disposition towards her lover. Butalthough he perceived that Catharine was cold, restrained, collected,had cast away the appearance of mortal passion, and listened with areserve, implying contempt, to the most splendid description he couldgive her of the combat in the Skinners' Yards, he was determined notto take the least notice of her altered manner, but to speak of hermarriage with his son Henry as a thing which must of course take place.At length, when she began, as on a former occasion, to intimate that herattachment to the armourer did not exceed the bounds of friendship, thatshe was resolved never to marry, that the pretended judicial combatwas a mockery of the divine will, and of human laws, the glover notunnaturally grew angry.

  "I cannot read thy thoughts, wench; nor can I pretend to guess underwhat wicked delusion it is that you kiss a declared lover, suffer himto kiss you, run to his house when a report is spread of his death, andfling yourself into his arms when you find him alone [alive]. Allthis shows very well in a girl prepared to obey her parents in a matchsanctioned by her father; but such tokens of intimacy, bestowed on onewhom a young woman cannot esteem, and is determined not to marry, areuncomely and unmaidenly. You have already been more bounteous of yourfavours to Henry Smith than your mother, whom God assoilzie, ever was tome before I married her. I tell thee, Catharine, this trifling with thelove of an honest man is what I neither can, will, nor ought to endure.I have given my consent to the match, and I insist it shall take placewithout delay, and that you receive Henry Wynd tomorrow, as a man whosebride you are to be with all despatch."

  "A power more potent than yours, father, will say no," repliedCatharine.

  "I will risk it; my power is a lawful one, that of a father over achild, and an erring child," answered her father. "God and man allow ofmy influence."

  "Then, may Heaven help us," said Catharine; "for, if you are obstinatein your purpose, we are all lost."

  "We can expect no help from Heaven," said the glover, "when we actwith indiscretion. I am clerk enough myself to know that; and that yourcauseless resistance to my will is sinful, every priest will informyou. Ay, and more than that, you have spoken degradingly of the blessedappeal to God in the combat of ordeal. Take heed! for the Holy Churchis awakened to watch her sheepfold, and to extirpate heresy by fire andsteel; so much I warn thee of."

  Catharine uttered a suppressed exclamation; and, with difficultycompelling herself to assume an appearance of composure, promised herfather that, if he would spare her any farther discussion of the subjecttill tomorrow morning, she would then meet him, determined to make afull discovery of her sentiments.

  With this promise Simon Glover was obliged to remain contented, thoughextremely anxious for the postponed explanation. It could not be levityor fickleness of character which induced his daughter to act with somuch apparent inconsistency towards the man of his choice, and whom shehad so lately unequivocally owned to be also the man of her own. Whatexternal force there could exist, of a kind powerful enough to changethe resolutions she had so decidedly expressed within twenty-four hours,was a matter of complete mystery.

  "But I will be as obstinate as she can be," thought the glover, "and sheshall either marry Henry Smith without farther delay or old Simon Gloverwill know an excellent reason to the contrary."

  The subject was not renewed during the evening; but early on the nextmorning, just at sun rising, Catharine knelt before the bed in which herparent still slumbered. Her heart sobbed as if it would burst, and hertears fell thick upon her father's face. The good old man awoke, lookedup, crossed his child's forehead, and kissed her affectionately.

  "I understand thee, Kate," he said; "thou art come to confession, and, Itrust, art desirous to escape a heavy penance by being sincere."

  Catharine was silent for an instant.

  "I need not ask, my father, if you remember the Carthusian monk,Clement, and his preachings and lessons; at which indeed you assisted sooften, that you cannot be ignorant men called you one of his converts,and with greater justice termed me so likewise?"

  "I am aware of both," said the old man, raising himself on his elbow;"but I defy foul fame to show that I ever owned him in any hereticalproposition, though I loved to hear him talk of the corruptions of thechurch, the misgovernment of the nobles, and the wild ignorance ofthe poor, proving, as it seemed to me, that the sole virtue of ourcommonweal, its strength and its estimation, lay among the burghercraft of the better class, which I received as comfortable doctrine, andcreditable to the town. And if he preached other than right doctrine,wherefore did his superiors in the Carthusian convent permit it? If theshepherds turn a wolf in sheep's clothing into the flock, they shouldnot blame the sheep for being worried."

  "They endured his preaching, nay, they encouraged it," said Catharine,"while the vices of the laity, the contentions of the nobles, andthe oppression of the poor were the subject of his censure, and theyrejoiced in the crowds who, attracted to the Carthusian church,forsook those of the other convents. But the hypocrites--for such theyare--joined with the other fraternities in accusing their preacherClement, when, passing from censuring the crimes of the state, hebegan to display the pride, ignorance, and luxury of the churchmenthemselves--their thirst of power, their usurpation over men'sconsciences, and their desire to augment their worldly wealth."

  "For God's sake, Catharine," said her father, "speak within doors: yourvoice rises in tone and your speech in bitterness, your eyes sparkle.It is owing to this zeal in what concerns you no more than othersthat malicious persons fix upon you the odious and dangerous name of aheretic."

  "You know I speak no more than what is truth," said Catharine, "andwhich you yourself have avouched often."

  "By needle and buckskin, no!" answered the glover, hastily. "Wouldstthou have me avouch what might cost me life and limb, land and goods?For a full commission hath been granted for taking and trying heretics,upon whom is laid the cause of all late tumults and miscarriages;wherefore, few words are best, wench. I am ever of mind with the oldmaker:

  "Since word is thrall and thought is free, Keep well thy tongue, Icounsel thee."

  "The counsel comes too late, father," answered Catharine, sinking downon a chair by her father's bedside. "The words have been spoken andheard; and it is indited against Simon Glover, burgess in Perth, that hehath spoken irreverent discourses of the doctrines of Holy Church."

  "As I live by knife and needle," interrupted Simon, "it is a lie! Inever was so silly as to speak of what I understood not."

  "And hath slandered the anointed of the church, both regular andsecular," continued Catharine.

  "Nay, I will never deny the truth," said the glover: "an idle word I mayhave spoken at the ale bench, or over a pottle pot of wine, or in rightsure company; but else, my tongue is not one to run my head into peril."

  "So you think, my dearest father; but your slightest language has beenespied, your best meaning phrases have been perverted, and you are indittay as a gross railer against church and churchmen, and for holdingdiscourse against them with loose and profligate persons, such as thedeceased Oliver Proudfute, the smith Henry of the Wynd, and others, setforth as commending the doctrines of Father Clement, whom they chargewith seven rank heresies, and seek for with staff and spear, to try himto the death. But that," said Catharine, kneeling, and looking upwardswith the aspect of one of those beauteous saints whom the Catholics havegiven to the fine arts--"that they shall never do. He hath escaped fromthe net of the fowler; and, I thank Heaven, it was by my means."

  "Thy means, girl--art thou mad?" said the amazed glover.

  "I will not deny what I glory in," answered Catharine: "it was by mymeans that Conachar was led to come hither
with a party of men and carryoff the old man, who is now far beyond the Highland line."

  "Thou my rash--my unlucky child!" said the glover, "hast dared to aidthe escape of one accused of heresy, and to invite Highlanders in armsto interfere with the administration of justice within burgh? Alas!thou hast offended both against the laws of the church and those of therealm. What--what would become of us, were this known?"

  "It is known, my dear father," said the maiden, firmly--"known even tothose who will be the most willing avengers of the deed."

  "This must be some idle notion, Catharine, or some trick of thosecogging priests and nuns; it accords not with thy late cheerfulwillingness to wed Henry Smith."

  "Alas! dearest father, remember the dismal surprise occasioned by hisreported death, and the joyful amazement at finding him alive; and deemit not wonder if I permitted myself, under your protection, to say morethan my reflection justified. But then I knew not the worst, and thoughtthe danger exaggerated. Alas I was yesterday fearfully undeceived, whenthe abbess herself came hither, and with her the Dominican. They showedme the commission, under the broad seal of Scotland, for inquiring intoand punishing heresy; they showed me your name and my own in a list ofsuspected persons; and it was with tears--real tears, that the abbessconjured me to avert a dreadful fate by a speedy retreat into thecloister, and that the monk pledged his word that you should not bemolested if I complied."

  "The foul fiend take them both for weeping crocodiles!" said the glover.

  "Alas!" replied Catharine, "complaint or anger will little help us; butyou see I have had real cause for this present alarm."

  "Alarm! call it utter ruin. Alas! my reckless child, where was yourprudence when you ran headlong into such a snare?"

  "Hear me, father," said Catharine; "there is still one mode of safetyheld out: it is one which I have often proposed, and for which I have invain supplicated your permission."

  "I understand you--the convent," said her father. "But, Catharine, whatabbess or prioress would dare--"

  "That I will explain to you, father, and it will also show thecircumstances which have made me seem unsteady of resolution to adegree which has brought censure upon me from yourself and others. Ourconfessor, old Father Francis, whom I chose from the Dominican conventat your command--"

  "Ay, truly," interrupted the glover; "and I so counselled and commandedthee, in order to take off the report that thy conscience was altogetherunder the direction of Father Clement."

  "Well, this Father Francis has at different times urged and provoked meto converse on such matters as he judged I was likely to learn somethingof from the Carthusian preacher. Heaven forgive me my blindness! I fellinto the snare, spoke freely, and, as he argued gently, as one who wouldfain be convinced, I even spoke warmly in defence of what I believeddevoutly. The confessor assumed not his real aspect and betrayed not hissecret purpose until he had learned all that I had to tell him. It wasthen that he threatened me with temporal punishment and with eternalcondemnation. Had his threats reached me alone, I could have stood firm;for their cruelty on earth I could have endured, and their power beyondthis life I have no belief in."

  "For Heaven's sake!" said the glover, who was well nigh beside himselfat perceiving at every new word the increasing extremity of hisdaughter's danger, "beware of blaspheming the Holy Church, whose armsare as prompt to strike as her ears are sharp to hear."

  "To me," said the Maid of Perth, again looking up, "the terrors of thethreatened denunciations would have been of little avail; but when theyspoke of involving thee, my father, in the charge against me, I ownI trembled, and desired to compromise. The Abbess Martha, of Elchonunnery, being my mother's kinswoman, I told her my distresses, andobtained her promise that she would receive me, if, renouncing worldlylove and thoughts of wedlock, I would take the veil in her sisterhood.She had conversation on the topic, I doubt not, with the DominicanFrancis, and both joined in singing the same song.

  "'Remain in the world,' said they, 'and thy father and thou shall bebrought to trial as heretics; assume the veil, and the errors of bothshall be forgiven and cancelled.' They spoke not even of recantationof errors of doctrine: all should be peace if I would but enter theconvent."

  "I doubt not--I doubt not," said Simon: "the old glover is thought rich,and his wealth would follow his daughter to the convent of Elcho, unlesswhat the Dominicans might claim as their own share. So this was thy callto the veil, these thy objections to Henry Wynd?"

  "Indeed, father, the course was urged on all hands, nor did my ownmind recoil from it. Sir John Ramorny threatened me with the powerfulvengeance of the young Prince, if I continued to repel his wicked suit;and as for poor Henry, it is but of late that I have discovered, tomy own surprise--that--that I love his virtues more than I dislike hisfaults. Alas! the discovery has only been made to render my quitting theworld more difficult than when I thought I had thee only to regret."

  She rested her head on her hand and wept bitterly.

  "All this is folly," said the glover. "Never was there an extremity sopinching, but what a wise man might find counsel if he was daring enoughto act upon it. This has never been the land or the people over whompriests could rule in the name of Rome, without their usurpation beingcontrolled. If they are to punish each honest burgher who says themonks love gold, and that the lives of some of them cry shame upon thedoctrines they teach, why, truly, Stephen Smotherwell will not lackemployment; and if all foolish maidens are to be secluded from the worldbecause they follow the erring doctrines of a popular preaching friar,they must enlarge the nunneries and receive their inmates on slightercomposition. Our privileges have been often defended against the Popehimself by our good monarchs of yore, and when he pretended to interferewith the temporal government of the kingdom, there wanted not a ScottishParliament who told him his duty in a letter that should have beenwritten in letters of gold. I have seen the epistle myself, and thoughI could not read it, the very sight of the seals of the right reverendprelates and noble and true barons which hung at it made my heart leapfor joy. Thou shouldst not have kept this secret, my child--but it is notime to tax thee with thy fault. Go down, get me some food. I will mountinstantly, and go to our Lord Provost and have his advice, and, as Itrust, his protection and that of other true hearted Scottish nobles,who will not see a true man trodden down for an idle word."

  "Alas! my father," said Catharine, "it was even this impetuosity which Idreaded. I knew if I made my plaint to you there would soon be fire andfeud, as if religion, though sent to us by the Father of peace, were fitonly to be the mother of discord; and hence I could now--even now--giveup the world, and retire with my sorrow among the sisters of Elcho,would you but let me be the sacrifice. Only, father--comfort poor Henrywhen we are parted for ever; and do not--do not let him think of me tooharshly. Say Catharine will never vex him more by her remonstrances, butthat she will never forget him in her prayers."

  "The girl hath a tongue that would make a Saracen weep," said herfather, his own eyes sympathising with those of his daughter. "But Iwill not yield way to this combination between the nun and the priest torob me of my only child. Away with you, girl, and let me don my clothes;and prepare yourself to obey me in what I may have to recommend for yoursafety. Get a few clothes together, and what valuables thou hast; also,take the keys of my iron box, which poor Henry Smith gave me, and dividewhat gold you find into two portions; put the one into a purse forthyself, and the other into the quilted girdle which I made on purposeto wear on journeys. Thus both shall be provided, in case fate shouldsunder us; in which event, God send the whirlwind may take the witheredleaf and spare the green one! Let them make ready my horse instantly,and the white jennet that I bought for thee but a day since, hoping tosee thee ride to St. John's Kirk with maids and matrons, as blythe abride as ever crossed the holy threshold. But it skills not talking.Away, and remember that the saints help those who are willing to helpthemselves. Not a word in answer; begone, I say--no wilfullness now. Thepilot in calm weather will let a
sea boy trifle with the rudder; but, bymy soul, when winds howl and waves arise, he stands by the helm himself.Away--no reply."

  Catharine left the room to execute, as well as she might, the commandsof her father, who, gentle in disposition and devotedly attached to hischild, suffered her often, as it seemed, to guide and rule both herselfand him; yet who, as she knew, was wont to claim filial obedience andexercise parental authority with sufficient strictness when the occasionseemed to require an enforcement of domestic discipline.

  While the fair Catharine was engaged in executing her father's behests,and the good old glover was hastily attiring himself, as one who wasabout to take a journey, a horse's tramp was heard in the narrow street.The horseman was wrapped in his riding cloak, having the cape of itdrawn up, as if to hide the under part of his face, while his bonnet waspulled over his brows, and a broad plume obscured his upper features.He sprung from the saddle, and Dorothy had scarce time to reply tohis inquiries that the glover was in his bedroom, ere the stranger hadascended the stair and entered the sleeping apartment. Simon, astonishedand alarmed, and disposed to see in this early visitant an apparitor orsumner come to attach him and his daughter, was much relieved when, asthe stranger doffed the bonnet and threw the skirt of the mantle fromhis face, he recognised the knightly provost of the Fair City, a visitfrom whom at any time was a favour of no ordinary degree, but, beingmade at such an hour, had something marvellous, and, connected with thecircumstances of the times, even alarming.

  "Sir Patrick Charteris!" said the glover. "This high honour done to yourpoor beadsman--"

  "Hush!" said the knight, "there is no time for idle civilities. I camehither because a man is, in trying occasions, his own safest page, andI can remain no longer than to bid thee fly, good glover, since warrantsare to be granted this day in council for the arrest of thy daughter andthee, under charge of heresy; and delay will cost you both your libertyfor certain, and perhaps your lives."

  "I have heard something of such a matter," said the glover, "and wasthis instant setting forth to Kinfauns to plead my innocence of thisscandalous charge, to ask your lordship's counsel, and to implore yourprotection."

  "Thy innocence, friend Simon, will avail thee but little beforeprejudiced judges; my advice is, in one word, to fly, and wait forhappier times. As for my protection, we must tarry till the tide turnsere it will in any sort avail thee. But if thou canst lie concealed fora few days or weeks, I have little doubt that the churchmen, who, bysiding with the Duke of Albany in court intrigue, and by allegingthe decay of the purity of Catholic doctrine as the sole cause of thepresent national misfortunes, have, at least for the present hour, anirresistible authority over the King, will receive a check. In the meanwhile, however, know that King Robert hath not only given way to thisgeneral warrant for inquisition after heresy, but hath confirmed thePope's nomination of Henry Wardlaw to be Archbishop of St. Andrews andPrimate of Scotland; thus yielding to Rome those freedoms and immunitiesof the Scottish Church which his ancestors, from the time of MalcolmCanmore, have so boldly defended. His brave fathers would have rathersubscribed a covenant with the devil than yielded in such a matter tothe pretensions of Rome."

  "Alas, and what remedy?"

  "None, old man, save in some sudden court change," said Sir Patrick."The King is but like a mirror, which, having no light itself, reflectsback with equal readiness any which is placed near to it for thetime. Now, although the Douglas is banded with Albany, yet the Earl isunfavourable to the high claims of those domineering priests, havingquarrelled with them about the exactions which his retinue hath raisedon the Abbot of Arbroath. He will come back again with a high hand, forreport says the Earl of March hath fled before him. When he returnswe shall have a changed world, for his presence will control Albany;especially as many nobles, and I myself, as I tell you in confidence,are resolved to league with him to defend the general right. Thy exile,therefore, will end with his return to our court. Thou hast but to seekthee some temporary hiding place."

  "For that, my lord," said the glover, "I can be at no loss, since Ihave just title to the protection of the high Highland chief, GilchristMacIan, chief of the Clan Quhele."

  "Nay, if thou canst take hold of his mantle thou needs no help of anyone else: neither Lowland churchman nor layman finds a free course ofjustice beyond the Highland frontier."

  "But then my child, noble sir--my Catharine?" said the glover.

  "Let her go with thee, man. The graddan cake will keep her white teethin order, the goat's whey will make the blood spring to her cheek again,which these alarms have banished and even the Fair Maiden of Perth maysleep soft enough on a bed of Highland breckan."

  "It is not from such idle respects, my lord, that I hesitate," said theglover. "Catharine is the daughter of a plain burgher, and knows notnicety of food or lodging. But the son of MacIan hath been for manyyears a guest in my house, and I am obliged to say that I have observedhim looking at my daughter, who is as good as a betrothed bride, in amanner that, though I cared not for it in this lodging in Curfew Street,would give me some fear of consequences in a Highland glen, where I haveno friend and Conachar many."

  The knightly provost replied by a long whistle. "Whew! whew! Nay, inthat case, I advise thee to send her to the nunnery at Elcho, where theabbess, if I forget not, is some relation of yours. Indeed, she said soherself, adding, that she loved her kinswoman well, together with allthat belongs to thee, Simon."

  "Truly, my lord, I do believe that the abbess hath so much regard forme, that she would willingly receive the trust of my daughter, andmy whole goods and gear, into her sisterhood. Marry, her affection issomething of a tenacious character, and would be loth to unloose itshold, either upon the wench or her tocher."

  "Whew--whew!" again whistled the Knight of Kinfauns; "by the Thane'sCross, man, but this is an ill favoured pirn to wind: Yet it shall neverbe said the fairest maid in the Fair City was cooped up in a convent,like a kain hen in a cavey, and she about to be married to the boldburgess Henry Wynd. That tale shall not be told while I wear belt andspurs, and am called Provost of Perth."

  "But what remede, my lord?" asked the glover.

  "We must all take our share of the risk. Come, get you and your daughterpresently to horse. You shall ride with me, and we'll see who daregloom at you. The summons is not yet served on thee, and if they sendan apparitor to Kinfauns without a warrant under the King's own hand,I make mine avow, by the Red Rover's soul! that he shall eat hiswrit, both wax and wether skin. To horse--to horse! and," addressingCatharine, as she entered at the moment, "you too, my pretty maid--

  "To horse, and fear not for your quarters; They thrive in law that trustin Charters."

  In a minute or two the father and daughter were on horseback, bothkeeping an arrow's flight before the provost, by his direction, thatthey might not seem to be of the same company. They passed the easterngate in some haste, and rode forward roundly until they were out ofsight. Sir Patrick followed leisurely; but, when he was lost to the viewof the warders, he spurred his mettled horse, and soon came up with theglover and Catharine, when a conversation ensued which throws light uponsome previous passages of this history.