[Footnote 6: "The spiced wassail-bowl."--See Fletcher's "Faithful Shepherdess," act V. p. 108. Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, vol. IV. The efficacy of love philtres was credited from the days of Pliny even down to the seventeenth century! See Sir Walter Scott's "Sir Tristrem," p. 298; and also Beaumont and Fletcher, vol. III. p. 459.] [Footnote 7: Muscadel.--This species of wine was a common ingredient in the wassail-bowls, which were peculiarly in favour at Christmas.--_Note to "the Pilgrim," by Beaumont and Fletcher_, vol. V. p. 429. Muscadel is likewise noticed in the same volume in the play called "The Woman's Prize," p. 263. "Sweet gentleman with muscadel." Mr. Weber adds in a note, "This passage, perhaps, explains the reason why wine was offered immediately after the marriage ceremony to the bride and bridegroom generally before they left the church." The following passage occurs in Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew:" "After many ceremonies done, He calls for _wine_. 'A health,' quoth he, as if He had been abroad carousing to his mates After a storm.---- Quaffed off the _muscadel_, And threw the sops all in the sexton's face.] The song, the jest, and the cup, detained the company until the eleventh hour, a time in that primitive period which was considered late; when mutually pleasing and pleased, the noble guests arose to separate; and all retired to their respective chambers to repose, pleased and delighted with the hospitalities of this happy and most memorable day. CHAPTER IV. The bridegroom may forget the bride Was made his wedded wife yestreen. BURNS. It was on a serene autumnal morning succeeding the day of Lady Adelaide's nuptials, the sun had brilliantly arisen, dispelling the misty gloom and dews of night, and shed around his broad refracted rays; unruffled by a passing cloud, a clear and lofty sky spread forth its mighty canopy of mild aërial blue; the twittering swallows hovered around, and circled in mid-air, while clustering, they chattered their parting lullaby. The solitary redbreast too joined in nature's chorus, and thrilled forth his matin song. Every mountain lake shone forth a glassy mirror, and the waves of the mighty Atlantic hushed to repose, slumbered amid their coral caves; what time the minister of the gospel of peace, the Reverend Doctor M'Kenzie, returned to the castle of his noble and generous patron, after a long protracted absence of many years.