The Three Perils of Man; or, War, Women, and Witchcraft, Vol. 1 (of 3) — John Shaqi
The Three Perils of Man; or, War, Women, and Witchcraft, Vol. 1 (of 3)Hogg, James
History
The Three Perils of Man; or, War, Women, and Witchcraft, Vol. 1 (of 3)
Hogg, James
Historical fiction; Scotland -- History -- Robert II, 1371-1390 -- Fiction
"Nobbit, I tell you that won't dey at all;--n-n-nor it sha'n't dey
neithegh. Do you think you aghe to hang eveghy mon that follows ane
woeman? Domn them, I nevegh knew them lead to oughts but eel! If I had
known they had been woemen--Domn them!"--He was hauled up to the
scaffold, for he refused to walk a foot.--"Wh-wh-why, nobbit speak you
now," cried he in utter desperation; "why n-n-nobbit you aghe not
serious, aghe you?" He was told he should soon find to his experience
that they were quite serious.--"Why, cworse the whole geneghation of
you, the thing is nwot to be bwoghn. I wont swoffegh it--that I woll
not. It is dwonright mworder. Oh, ho, ho!" and he wept, crying as loud
as he could, "Oh-oh! ho: mworder! mworder! Domn eveghy Scwot of
you!"--In this mood, kicking, crying, and swearing, was he turned off,
and hanged in sight of both hosts.
The walls of Roxburgh were crowded with spectators. They could not
divine who it was that was suffering; for all kind of communication was
forbid by Musgrave, and it was now become exceedingly difficult. Great
was their wonder and anxiety when they beheld one trooper after another
of their countrymen brought out and hanged like dogs. But it was evident
to every beholder, from the unsettled and perturbed motions of those on
the wall, that something within the fortress was distressing the
besieged. Some hurried to and fro; others stood or moved about in
listless languor; and there were a few that gazed without moving, or
taking their eyes from the spot where they were fixed. Not one flight of
arrows came to disturb the execution, as usual; and it was suspected
that their whole stock of arrows was exhausted. This would have been
good tidings for the Scots, could they have been sure of it, as they
might then have brought their files closer to the walls, and more
effectually ensured a strict blockade.
Lady Jane's followers were all executed, and herself and companion sore
threatened in vain. Douglas, however, meant to reserve them for another
purpose than execution,--to ensure to himself the surrender of the
fortress, namely; but of her squires he was glad to be rid, for fear of
a discovery being made to the English that the lady was in his hands,
which might have brought the whole puissance of the realm upon him;
whereas the generality of the nation viewed the siege merely as an
affair of Border chivalry, in which they were little interested, and
deemed Musgrave free from any danger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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