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Books: The Monastery

S >> Sir Walter Scott >> The Monastery




"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 him now.--What I
would know of ye, my brethren, is, whether I have, in your mind,
faithfully discharged the duties of mine office?"

"There has never been subject of complaint," answered the Sub-Prior.

The Sacristan, more diffuse, enumerated the various acts of indulgence
and kindness which the mild government of Abbot Boniface had conferred
on the brotherhood of Saint Mary's--the _indulgentiae_--the
_gratias_--the _biberes_-the weekly mess of boiled
almonds--the enlarged accommodation of the refectory--the better
arrangement of the cellarage--the improvement of the revenue of the
Monastery--the diminution of the privations of the brethren.

"You might have added, my brother," said the Abbot, listening with
melancholy acquiescence to the detail of his own merits, "that I
caused to be built that curious screen, which secureth the cloisters
from the north-east wind.--But all these things avail nothing--As we
read in holy Maccabee, _Capta est civitas per voluntatem Dei_. It
hath cost me no little thought, no common toil, to keep these weighty
matters in such order as you have seen them--there was both barn and
binn to be kept full--Infirmary, dormitory, guest-hall, and refectory,
to be looked to--processions to be made, confessions to be heard,
strangers to be entertained, _veniae_ to be granted or refused;
and I warrant me, when every one of you was asleep in your cell, the
Abbot hath lain awake for a full hour by the bell, thinking how these
matters might be ordered seemly and suitably."

"May we ask, reverend my lord," said the Sub-Prior, "what additional
care has now been thrown upon you, since your discourse seems to point
that way?"

"Marry, this it is," said the Abbot. "The talk is not now of _biberes_,

[Footnote: The _biberes, caritas_, and boiled almonds, of which
Abbot Boniface speaks, were special occasions for enjoying luxuries,
afforded to the monks by grants from different sovereigns, or from
other benefactors to the convent. There is one of these charters
called _De Pitancia Centum Librarum_ By this charter, which is
very curious, our Robert Bruce, on the 10th January, and in the
twelfth year of his reign, assigns, out of the customs of Berwick, and
failing them, out of the customs of Edinburgh or Haddington, the sum
of one hundred pounds, at the half-yearly terms of Pentecost and Saint
Martin's in winter, to the abbot and community of the monks of
Melrose. The precise purpose of this annuity is to furnish to each of
the monks of the said monastery, while placed at food in the
refectory, an extra mess of rice boiled with milk, or of almonds, or
peas, or other pulse of that kind which could be procured in the
country. This addition to their commons is to be entitled the King's
Mess. And it is declared, that although any monk should, from some
honest apology, want appetite or inclination to eat of the king's
mess, his share should, nevertheless, be placed on the table with
those of his brethren, and afterwards carried to the gate and given to
the poor. "Neither is it our pleasure," continues the bountiful
sovereign, "that the dinner, which is or ought to be served up to the
said monks according to their ancient rule, should be diminished in
quantity, or rendered inferior in quality, on account of this our
mess, so furnished as aforesaid." It is, moreover, provided, that the
abbot, with the consent of the most sage of his brethren, shall name a
prudent and decent monk for receiving, directing, and expending, all
matters concerning this annuity for the benefit of the community,
agreeably to the royal desire and intention, rendering a faithful
account thereof to the abbot and superiors of the same convent. And
the same charter declares the king's farther pleasure, that the said
men of religion should be bound yearly and for ever, in acknowledgment
of the above donation, to clothe fifteen poor men at the feast of
Saint Martin in winter, and to feed them on the same day, delivering
to each of them four ells of large or broad, or six ells of narrow
cloth, and to each also a new pair of shoes or sandals, according to
their order; and if the said monks shall fail in their engagements or
any of them, it is the king's will that the fault shall be redeemed by
a double performance of what has been omitted, to be executed at the
sight of the chief forester of Ettrick for the time being, and before
the return of Saint Martin's day succeeding that on which the omission
has taken place.

Of this charter, respecting the pittance of 100_l_ assigned to
furnish the monks of Melrose with a daily mess of boiled rice,
almonds, or other pulse, to mend their commons, the antiquarian reader
will be pleased, doubtless, to see the original.

CARTA REGIS ROBERTI I. ABBATI ET CONVENTUI DE MELROSS.

_Carta de Pitancia Centum Librarum._

Robertus Dei gracia Rex Scottorum omnibus probis hominibus tocius
terre sue Salutem. Sciatis nos pro salute anime nostre et pro salute
animarum antecessorum et suocessorum nostrorum Regum Scocie Dedisse
Concessisse et hac presenti Carta nostra confirmasse Deo et Beate
Marie virgini et Religiosis viris Abbati et Conventui de Melross et
eorum successoribus in perpetuum Centum Libras Sterlingorum Annui
Redditus singulis annis percipiendas de firmis nostris Burgi Berwici
super. Twedam ad terminos Pentecostis et Sancti Martini in hyeme pro
equali portione vel de nova Custuma nostra Burgi predicti si firme
nostre predicte ad dictam summam pecunie sufficere non poterunt vel de
nova Custuma nostra Burgorum nostrorum de Edenburg et de Hadington Si
firme nostre et Custuma nostra ville Berwici aliquo casu contingente
ad hoc forte non sufficiant. Ita quod dicta summa pecunie Centum
Librarum eis annuatim integre et absque contradictione aliqua plenarie
persolvatur pre cunctis aliis quibuscunque assignacionibus per nos
factis seu faciendis ad inveniendum in perpetunm singulis diebus
cuilibet monacho monasterii predicti comedenti in Refectorio unum
sufficiens ferculum risarum factarum cum lacte, amigdalarum vel
pisarum sive aliorum ciborum consimilis condicionis inventornm in
patria et illud ferculum ferculum Regis vocabitur in eternum. Et si
aliquis monachus ex aliqua causa honesta de dicto ferculo comedere
noluerit vel refici non poterit non minus attamen sibi de dicto
ferculo ministretur et ad portam pro pauperibus deportetur. Nec
volumus quod occasione ferculi nostri predicti prandium dicti
Conventus de quo antiquitus communiter eis deserviri sive ministrari
solebat in aliquo pejoretur seu diminuatur. Volum us insuper et
ordinamus quod Abbas ejusdem monasterii qui pro tempore fuerit de
cousensu saniorum de Conventu specialiter constituat unum monachum
providum et discretum ad recipiendum ordinandum et expendendum totam
summam pecunie memorate pro utilitate conventus secundum votum et
intencionem mentis nostre superius annotatum et ad reddendum fidele
compotum coram Abbate et Maioribus de Conventu singulis annis de
pecunia sic recepta. Et volumus quod dicti religiosi teneantur
annuatim in perpetuum pro predicta donacione nostra ad perpetuam
nostri memoriam vestire quindecim pauperes ad festum Sancti Martini in
hieme et eosdem cibare eodem die liberando eorum cuilibet quatuor
ulnas panni grossi et lati vel sex ulnas panni stricti et eorum
cuilibet unum novum par sotularium de ordine suo. Et si dicti
religiosi in premissis vel aliquo premissorum aliquo anno defecerint
volumus quod illud quod minus perimpletum fuerit dupplicetur diebus
magis necessariis per visum capitalis forestarii nostri de Selkirk,
qui pro tempore fuerit. Et quod dicta dupplicatio fiat ante natale
domini proximo sequens festum Sancti Martini predictum. In cujus rei
testimonium presenti Carte nostre sigillum nostrum precipimus apponi.
Testibus venerabilibus in Christo patribus Willielmo, Johanne,
Willielmo et David Sancti Andree, Glasguensis, Dunkeldensis et
Moraviensis ecclesiarum dei gracia episcopis Bernardo Abbate de
Abirbrothock Cancellario, Duncano, Malisio, et Hugone de Fyf de
Strathin et de Ross, Comitibus Waltero Senescallo Scocie, Jacobo
domini de Duglas et Alexandro Fraser Camerario nostro Socie militibus.
Apud Abirbrothock, decimo die Januarij. Anno Regni nostri vicesimo.]

or of _caritas_, or of boiled almonds, but of an English band
coming against us from Hexham, commanded by Sir John Foster; nor is it
of the screening us from the east wind, but how to escape Lord James
Stewart, who cometh to lay waste and destroy with his heretic
soldiers."

"I thought that purpose had been broken by the feud between Semple and
the Kennedies," said the Sub-Prior, hastily.

"They have accorded that matter at the expense of the church as
usual," said the Abbot; "the Earl of Cassilis is to have the
teind-sheaves of his lands, which were given to the house of
Crossraguel, and he has stricken hands with Stewart, who is now called
Murray.--_Principes convenerunt unum adversus Dominum._--There
are the letters."

The Sub-Prior took the letters, which had come by an express messenger
from the Primate of Scotland, who still laboured to uphold the
tottering fabric of the system under which he was at length buried,
and, stepping towards the lamp, read them with an air of deep and
settled attention--the Sacristan and Father Nicholas looked as
helplessly at each other, as the denizens of the poultry-yard when the
hawk soars over it. The Abbot seemed bowed down with the extremity of
sorrowful apprehension, but kept his eye timorously fixed on the
Sub-Prior, as if striving to catch some comfort from the expression of
his countenance. When at length he beheld that, after a second intent
perusal of the letters, he remained still silent and full of thought,
he asked him in an anxious tone, "What is to be done?"

"Our duty must be done," answered the Sub-Prior, "and the rest is in
the hands of God."

"Our duty--our duty?" answered the Abbot, impatiently; "doubtless we
are to do our duty; but what is that duty? or how will it serve
us?--Will bell, book, and candle, drive back the English heretics? or
will Murray care for psalms and antiphonars? or can I fight for the
Halidome, like Judas Maccabeus, against those profane Nicanors? or
send the Sacristan against this new Holofernes, to bring back his head
in a basket?"

"True, my Lord Abbot," said the Sub-Prior, "we cannot fight with
carnal weapons, it is alike contrary to our habit and vow; but we can
die for our Convent and for our Order. Besides, we can arm those who
will and can fight. The English are but few in number, trusting, as it
would seem, that they will be joined by Murray, whose march has been
interrupted. If Foster, with his Cumberland and Hexham bandits,
ventures to march into Scotland, to pillage and despoil our House, we
will levy our vassals, and, I trust, shall be found strong enough to
give him battle."

"In the blessed name of Our Lady," said the Abbot, "think you that I
am Petrus Eremita, to go forth the leader of an host?"

"Nay," said the Sub-Prior, "let some man skilled in war lead our
people--there is Julian Avenel, an approved soldier."

"But a scoffer, a debauched person, and, in brief, a man of Belial,"
quoth the Abbot.

"Still," said the monk, "we must use his ministry in that to which he
has been brought up. We can guerdon him richly, and indeed I already
know the price of his service. The English, it is expected, will
presently set forth, hoping here to seize upon Piercie Shafton, whose
refuge being taken with us, they make the pretext of this unheard-of
inroad."

"Is it even so?" said the Abbot; "I never judged that his body of satin
and his brain of feathers boded us much good."

"Yet we must have his assistance, if possible," said the Sub-Prior;
"he may interest in our behalf the great Piercie, of whose friendship
he boasts, and that good and faithful Lord may break Foster's purpose.
I will despatch the jackman after him with all speed.--Chiefly,
however, I trust to the military spirit of the land, which will not
suffer peace to be easily broken on the frontier. Credit me, my lord,
it will bring to our side the hands of many, whose hearts may have
gone astray after strange doctrines. The great chiefs and barons will
be ashamed to let the vassals of peaceful monks fight unaided against
the old enemies of Scotland."

"It may be," said the Abbot, "that Foster will wait for Murray, whose
purpose hitherward is but delayed for a short space."

"By the rood, he will not," said the Sub-Prior; "we know this Sir John
Foster--a pestilent heretic, he will long to destroy the church--born
a Borderer, he will thirst to plunder her of her wealth--a
Border-warden, he will be eager to ride in Scotland. There are too
many causes to urge him on. If he joins with Murray, he will have at
best but an auxiliary's share of the spoil--if he comes hither before
him, he will reckon on the whole harvest of depredation as his own.
Julian Avenel also has, as I have heard, some spite against Sir John
Foster; they will fight, when they meet, with double determination.--
Sacristan, send for our bailiff.--Where is the roll of fencible men
liable to do suit and service to the Halidome?--Send off to the Baron
of Meigallot; he can raise threescore horse and better--Say to him the
Monastery will compound with him for the customs of his bridge, which
have been in controversy, if he will show himself a friend at such a
point.--And now, my lord, let us compute our possible numbers, and
those of the enemy, that human blood be not spilled in vain--Let us
therefore calculate----"

"My brain is dizzied with the emergency," said the poor Abbot--"I am
not, I think, more a coward than others, so far as my own person is
concerned; but speak to me of marching and collecting soldiers, and
calculating forces, and you may as well tell of it to the youngest
novice of a nunnery. But my resolution is taken.--Brethren," he said,
rising up, and coming forward with that dignity which his comely
person enabled him to assume, "hear for the last time the voice of
your Abbot Boniface. I have done for you the best that I could; in
quieter times I had perhaps done better, for it was for quiet that I
sought the cloister, which has been to me a place of turmoil, as much
as if I had sate in the receipt of custom, or ridden forth as leader
of an armed host. But now matters turn worse and worse, and I, as I
grow old, am less able to struggle with them. Also, it becomes me not
to hold a place, whereof the duties, through my default or misfortune,
may be but imperfectly filled by me. Wherefore I have resolved to
demit this mine high office, so that the order of these matters may
presently devolve upon Father Eustatius here present, our well-beloved
Sub-Prior; and I now rejoice that he hath not been provided according
to his merits elsewhere, seeing that I well hope he will succeed to
the mitre and staff which it is my present purpose to lay down."

"In the name of Our Lady, do nothing hastily, my lord!" said Father
Nicholas--"I do remember that when the worthy Abbot Ingelram, being in
his ninetieth year--for I warrant you he could remember when Benedict
the Thirteenth was deposed--and being ill at ease and bed-rid, the
brethren rounded in his ear that he were better resign his office. And
what said he, being a pleasant man? marry, that while he could crook
his little finger he would keep hold of the crosier with it."

The Sacristan also strongly remonstrated against the resolution of his
Superior, and set down the insufficiency he pleaded to the native
modesty of his disposition. The Abbot listened in downcast silence;
even flattery could not win his ear.