Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 1Scott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 1
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
A jolly dame who, not 'Sixty Years Since,' kept the principal
caravansary at Greenlaw, in Berwickshire, had the honour to
receive under her roof a very worthy clergyman, with three sons of
the same profession, each having a cure of souls; be it said in
passing, none of the reverend party were reckoned powerful in the
pulpit. After dinner was over, the worthy senior, in the pride of
his heart, asked Mrs. Buchan whether she ever had had such a party
in her house before. 'Here sit I,' he said, 'a placed minister of
the Kirk of Scotland, and here sit my three sons, each a placed
minister of the same kirk. Confess, Luckie Buchan, you never had
such a party in your house before.' The question was not premised
by any invitation to sit down and take a glass of wine or the
like, so Mrs. B. answered drily, 'Indeed, sir, I cannot just say
that ever I had such a party in my house before, except once in
the forty-five, when I had a Highland piper here, with his three
sons, all Highland pipers; and deil a spring they could play amang
them.'
NOTE 7
There is no particular mansion described under the name of Tully-
Veolan; but the peculiarities of the description occur in various
old Scottish seats. The House of Warrender upon Bruntsfield Links
and that of Old Ravelston, belonging, the former to Sir George
Warrender, the latter to Sir Alexander Keith, have both
contributed several hints to the description in the text. The
House of Dean, near Edinburgh, has also some points of resemblance
with Tully-Veolan. The author has, however, been informed that the
House of Grandtully resembles that of the Baron of Bradwardine
still more than any of the above.
NOTE 8
I am ignorant how long the ancient and established custom of
keeping fools has been disused in England. Swift writes an epitaph
on the Earl of Suffolk's fool--
Whose name was Dickie Pearce
In Scotland, the custom subsisted till late in the last century;
at Glamis Castle is preserved the dress of one of the jesters,
very handsome, and ornamented with many bells. It is not above
thirty years since such a character stood by the sideboard of a
nobleman of the first rank in Scotland, and occasionally mixed in
the conversation, till he carried the joke rather too far, in
making proposals to one of the young ladies of the family, and
publishing the bans betwixt her and himself in the public church.
NOTE 9
After the Revolution of 1688, and on some occasions when the
spirit of the Presbyterians had been unusually animated against
their opponents, the Episcopal clergymen, who were chiefly
nonjurors, were exposed to be mobbed, as we should now say, or
rabbled, as the phrase then went, to expiate their political
heresies. But notwithstanding that the Presbyterians had the
persecution in Charles II and his brother's time to exasperate
them, there was little mischief done beyond the kind of petty
violence mentioned in the text.
NOTE 10
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account