The Monastery

le his early y

y then - th

o often waked

brook joins the

thern bog, the

h its first and

pl

wnships. This was not, however, universally the case. A lonely tower, to which t

ed strength. Two or three miserable huts, at the foot of the fortalice, held the bondsmen and tenants of the feuar. The site was a beautiful green knoll, which started up sudde

dred yards the opposition of a rock or precipitous bank on the one side, which altered its course, and caused it to shoot off in an oblique direction to the other. The hills which ascend on each side of this glen are very steep, and rise boldly over the stream, which is thus imprisoned within their b

; and it was garnished with an embroidery of daisies and wild flowers, which the scythes would certainly have destroyed. The little brook, now confined betwixt closer limits, now left at large to choose its course through the narrow valley, danced carelessly on from stream to pool, lig

f the cattle and the sheep of the feuars, and which, feathering naturally up the beds of empty torrents, or occupying the concave recesses of the bank, gave at once beauty and variety to the landscape. Above these scattered woods rose the hill, in barren, but purple majesty; the dark rich h

ng, or in what so wild a path was to terminate, which, at times, strikes more on the imagination than the grand features of a show-scene, when you know the exact distance of the inn where your dinner is bespoke, and at the moment preparing.

with which the upper part of the rising banks was profusely clothed, but also from the dark red colour of the rocks, and of the precipitous earthen banks, which in that country a

ly distinguished. The Scottish fairies, too, a whimsical, irritable, and mischievous tribe, who, though at times capriciously benevolent, were more frequently adverse to mortals, were also supposed to have formed a residence in a particularly wild recess of the glen, of which the real name was, in allusion to that circumstance, Corrie nan Shian, which, in corrupted Celtic, signifies the Hollow of the Fairies. But the neighbours we

hills grew more steep, and narrowed on the slender brook, so as scarce to leave a footpath; and there the glen terminated in a wild waterfall, where a slender thread of water dashed in a precipitous line of foam over two or three precipices. Yet farther in the same

r - asked and received hospitality - but still with a sort of reserve on the part of its more peaceful inhabitants, who entertained them as a party of North-American Indi

glas at Otterbourne. On these occasions Simon usually held upon his knee an ancient broadsword, which had belonged to his ancestors before any of the family had consented to accept a fief under the peaceful dominion of the monks of St. Mary's. In modern days, Simon might have lived at ease on his own estate, and quietly murmured against the fate that had doomed him to dwell th

of the heretical Henry VIII. The Monks had called out their vassals, under an experienced leader. Many of themselves had taken arms, and marched to the field, under

rush into action without duly weighing either their own situation, or that of their enemies, and the inevitable consequence was frequent defeat. With the dolorous slaughter of Pinkie we have nothing to do,

were driven from their Abbey by the English forces, who now overran the country, and enforced at least an appearance of submission on the part of the inhabitants. The Protector, Somerset, formed a strong camp among the ruins of the ancient Castle of Roxburgh, and compelled the neighbouring country to come in, pay tribute, and take assurance from him, as the phrase then went. Indeed, there was no power of resistance remaining; and the few barons, whose high spir

n she descried a dozen of horsemen threading their way up the glen, with a man at their head, whose scarlet cloak, bright armour, and dancing plume, proclaimed him a leader, saw no better protection for herself than to issue from the iron grate, covered with a long mourning vei

lied the Englishman. "To be satisfied of your peaceful intentions is a

re of what our spence and our garners afford. Yo

her husband. - Comrades, face about. - Yet stay," he added, checking his war-horse, "my parties are out in every direction; they must have some token that your fam

nay pshaw, and such sarsenet chidings as tender mothers give to spoiled children, at

d from any importunity on the part of our forayers." 23 He placed it on the boy's head; but it was no sooner there, than the little fellow, his veins swelling, and his eyes shooting fire through tears, snatched the bonnet from his head, and, ere his mother could inter

orge's red cross?" said he to the elder

. -"And what did you mean by taking it out of the brook again, my little fellow?" he demanded of

ier. "I protest unto you, mistress, I e

ned, though it could not be termed swarthy, and an air of activity, frankness, and determination, far beyond his age. On the other hand, Edward, the younger brother, was light-haired, blue-eyed, and of fairer complexion, in countenance rather pale,

the one, and then at the other, ere she answered the

mean no offence; I would have asked the same question at any of my gossips in merry Lincoln. - Well, dame, you have two fair boys; I

both answered the stranger. "I will not go with you," said Halbert, boldly, "for you are a false-hearted South

will never go down in thy day, I presume. - And you, my fine white-head, will you not

would but quarrel which of the knaves we should like best; for I should wish for the black-eyed rogue - and she, I warrant me, for that blue-eyed, fair-haired darling. Natheless, we must brook our solitary wedlock, and wish joy to those that are more fortunate. Sergeant Britt

ly carrying off one or other of the little darlings whom he appeared to covet so much. She kept hold of their hands, therefore, as if her feeble strength could have been of service, had any violence been intended, and saw with joy she could not disguise, the little party of horse countermarch, in order to descend the glen. Her feelings did not escape Bolton: "I forgive you

earing, spurring on his good horse to regain the head of his party, whose plumage and armou

oy, "I will not say amen t

more reverentially, "is it r

thousand of her best and bravest, and me a husband, and you a father; and, whether blessing or banning, I never wish to hear them mor