Quentin Durward

ngly, sae

tingly

spring and d

the gall

D

rew them under suspicion as sorcerers; the universal accusation that they augmented their horde by stealing children, subjected them to doubt and execration.... The pretension set up by these wanderers, of being pilgrims in the act of penance, although it... in many instances obtained them protection from the governments of the countries through which they travelled, was afterwards totally disbelieved, and they were considered as incorrigible rogues and vagrants.... A curious and accurate account of their arrival in France is quoted by Pasquier "On August 27th, 1427, came to Paris twelve penitents,... viz. a duke, an earl, and ten men, all on horseback, and calling themselves good Christians. They were of Lower Egypt, and gave out that, not long before, the Christians had subdued their country, and obliged them to embrace Christianity on pain of being put to death. Those who were baptized were great lords in their own country, and had a king and queen there. Soon after their conversion, the Saracens overran the country, and obliged them to renounce Christianity. When the Emperor of Germany, the King of Poland, and other Christian princes heard of this, they fell upon them, and obliged the whole of them, both great and small, to quit the country, and go to the Pope at Rome, who enjoined them seven years' penance to wander over the world, without lying in a bed. They had been wandering five years when they came to Paris first.... Nearly all of them had their ears bored, and wore two silver rings in each.... The men wer

enemies, by whom their race had been at last almost annihilated. And yet there mixed with these feuds a spirit of rude chivalry, and even courtesy, which softened their rigour; so that revenge, their only justice, was still prosecuted with some regard to humanity and generosity. The lessons of the worthy old monk, better attended to, perhaps, during a long illness and adversity, than they might

. Quentin's imagination had filled up the sketch in his own way, and assimilated his successful and adventurous uncle (whose exploits probably lost nothing in the telling) to some of the champions and knights errant of whom minstrels sung and who won crowns and kings' daughters by dint of sword and lance. He was now compelled to rank his kinsman greatly lower in the scale of chivalry; but, blinded by the high respect paid

ests had converted him into one of the most selfish animals in the world; so that he was seldom able, as the reader may have remarked, to proceed far in any subject without considering how it applied to himself, or, as it is called, making the case his own, though not upon feelings connected with the golden r

or. Had his genius been of a more extended character, he would probably have been promoted to some important command, for the King, who knew every soldier of his bodyguard personally, reposed much confidence in Balafre's courage and fidelity; and besides, the Scot had either wisdom or cunning eno

Not precisely needing money himself at that moment, it had not occurred to Balafre that his nephew might be in exigencies; otherwise, he held a near kinsman so much a part of himself, that he would have provided for the weal of the living nephew, as he endeavoured to do for that of his deceased sister and her husband. But whatever was the motive, the neglect was very unsatisfactory to young Durward, and he wished more than once he had taken service with the Duke of Burgundy before he quarrelled with his forester. "Wha

questions had followed fast on each other, and the summons of the great bell of Saint Martin of Tours had broken off their conference rather suddenly. That old man, he tho

on to choose such a device. It was left by him to my father. The weapon is now in my possession. S.] I will find out that man, which, methinks, should be no difficult task, since he is so wealthy as mine host

that, perchance, the lady of the turret, she of the veil and lute, might share that adventurous journey. As the Scottish youth made these reflections, he met two grave lo

my fair son?" said o

chant, who planted all the mulberry t

as nearest to him, "you have taken

d the farther one, still more gruffly. "The Syndic of Tours is not ac

and civil question, that he forgot to be angry at the rudeness of their reply, and stood staring after them as they wal

Maitre Pierre, the beadle? or half a dozen of Maitre Pierres besides. When none of these corresponded with the description of the person after whom he inquired, the peasants accused him of jesting wit

h a one's paying a liard [a small copper coin worth a quarter of a cent, current in France in the fifteenth century.] to eat his bellyfull of grapes in a poor man's vineyard; and he ate as many as would have loaded a wain, and never undid a button of his jerkin-and so let him pass qui

to a distance, and having uttered a few cries and curses, finally gave them emphasis with a shower of stones, although at such a distance as to do little or no harm to the object of their displeasure. Quentin, as he pursued his walk, began to thin

upwards, and fixed, apparently, upon some object amongst the branches of the tree next to them. The meditations of youth are seldom so profound as not to yield to the slightest, impulse of curiosity, as easily as the lightest pebble, dropped casually from the hand, breaks the surface

whose hand was as ready to assist affliction, as t

officers, bear to a broad arrow. Neither understanding nor heeding the import of this symbol, young Durward sprung lightly as the ounce up into the tree, drew from his pouch that most necessary implement of a Highlander or woodsman, the trusty skene dhu [black knife; a species of knife w

rued into accession to his daring deed. The body, unsupported from beneath, fell heavily to earth in such a manner that Quentin, who presently afterwards jumped down, had the mortification to see that the last sparks of life were extinguished. He gave

and he had scarcely time to observe that he was surrounded by several men and women of a singular and foreign appearance

f of the fallen angels] said a man, in imperfect French, "are you r

were spoken, and the grim and distorted countenances which

"if that be your friend's body, I have just now cut him down, in pure charity, and you will do better

expressions of grief; the women making a piteous wailing, and tearing their long black hair, while the men seemed to rend their garments, and to sprinkle dust upon their heads. They gradually became so much engaged in their mourning rites, that they bestowed no longer any attention on

s, had some tawdry ornaments of silver about their necks and in their ears, and wore showy scarfs of yellow, or scarlet, or light green; but their legs and arms were bare, and the whole troop seemed wretched and squalid in appearance. There were no weapons among them that Durward saw, except the long knives

then hounds," who were the opponents of gentle knights and Christian monarchs in all the romances which he had heard or read, and was about to withdraw himself from a neighbourhood so perilous

d those who were around it showed the utmost and most dexterous activity in escaping under the bellies as it were of the horses, from the point of the la

nd made prisoners, one of whom was the young fellow with the sword, who had previously offered some resistance. Quentin, whom fortune seemed at this period to have chosen for the butt of her shafts, was at the same time se

Maitre Pierre. True, whatever crime these strangers might be accused of, this officer might know, from the history of the morning, that he, Durward, had no connection with them whatever; but it was a more dif

s band, "These same trees stand here quite convenient. I will teach these misbelieving, thieving sorcerers to interfere wi

formed a halter, with the fatal noose adjusted, ready for execution. The blood ran cold in Quentin's veins, when he saw three cords selected, and perceived that it was proposed to put one around his own neck. He called on the

claim he preferred to prior acquaintance. He barely turned to one or two of the peasants who were now come forward, either to vol

the clowns; "he was the very first blasphemously to cut down the rascal wh

o have seen him with their gang," said another,

ack, and this youth is fair; yonder one had sh

and this a gray jerkin. But his worship, the Provost, knows that they can change thei

of the King's justice, by attempting to recover an executed trait

eak-let me not die guiltlessly-my blood will be required of you by my cou

the executioners; then, with a smile of triumphant malice, touched with his forefinger his right arm,

hat action that private revenge was the sole motive of this man'

is Eschelles; thou art a comfortable man in such cases when a confessor is not to be had. Give him one min

ery effort of escape; but now, when secured and destined apparently to inevitable death, they awaited its arrival with the utmost composure. The scene of fate before them gave, perhaps, a more yellow tinge to their swarthy cheeks; but it neither agitated their features, nor quenched the stubborn haughtiness of their eye. They seemed like foxes, which, after all their wiles and artful attempts at escape are exhausted, die with a silent and sullen fortitude which wolves and bea

d manners. Louis used to call them Democritus and Heraclitus, and the

his propensity to laugh at the follies of men was called the "laughing philosopher;" the latter

ns,.. might with more accuracy have been called Petit Jean, than Petit Andre. This was actuall

he office of confessor to the jail in commendam with that of executioner. Petit Andre, on the contrary, was a joyous looking, round, active, little fellow, who rolled about in execution of his duty as if it were the most diverting occupation in the world. He seemed to have a sort of fond affection for his victims, and always spoke of them in kindly and affectionate terms. They were his poo

s any creatures of their kind, whether before or since; and the only doubt of those who knew aught of them was, whether the grave and pathetic Trois Eschelles or the frisky, comic, alert Petit Andre was the object of the greates

g and overwhelming prospect, from which human nature recoiled in its weakness, though human pride would fain have borne up. He addressed himself to the

land," he thought, "but I must feed the ravens and k

e soul was happy that left the body while the tear was in the eye. Petit Andre, slapping the other shoulder, called out, "Courage, my fair son! since you must begin the dance, let the ball open gaily, for all the rebecs are in tune," twitching the halter at the

of the Scottish Guard, called in this country Le Balafre, that his nephew is here basely murdered?" The words were spoken in good time, for an Archer of

tioners, "if this young man be of Scottish bi

our orders," drawing Durward forward by one arm. "The shortest play i

with his arms still bound, ran to the Scottish Archer. "Stand by me, countryman," he said, in his own language, "for the lov

e at you through me!" said the A

" said Quentin, "and I wil

ve, springing suddenly on one of the Provost's guard, wrested from him a h

ig

cers whisper

schelles, "and I will detain them here, if I can. S

haps they were not very anxious to detain them; for they had of late been sated with the blood of such wretches, and, like other ferocious animals, were, through long slaughter, become tired of carnage. But the pretext was, that they thought

ts twice over, if it be your pleasure," sai

me to interfere with the course of the King's justice, duly and lawfully committed to his charge; and it is no act of justice to me, who am in lawful possession of my criminal. Neither is it a well me

be of opinion I have done him an injury, I will ret

rather you swept my head off with your long sword-it would bette

our best resolutions pass away!-he was in a blessed frame for departur

d the Archer, "what ha

to take down the dead body of a criminal, when the fleur de lys

the Archer; "how came you to

a man struggling on the tree, and I went to cut him down out of mere humanity. I thought neither of fleur de

ugh to do in this country if you go a-gleaning after the hangman. However, I will not quit a countryman's cause if I can help it.-Hark ye, Master Marshals man, you see this is enti

oment. "Stand fast, Trois Eschelles, for here comes the Provost Marshal; we shall presen

d the Archer, "here com

e little bill which was the scene of the altercation, four or five Scottish A

for he no sooner saw his comrade and Durward standing upon their defence, than he exclaimed, "Cunningham, I thank thee.-Ge

ance of victory. But the Provost Marshal, either doubting the issue of the conflict, or aware that it would be disagreeable to the King, made a sign to his followers to forbear from violen

, and of penitent drunkards. He was greatly honoured in the Middle Ages.] there is, I thi

er," said the Provost Marshal; "and every stran

we Scottish Archers," said Bal

Long live King Louis-long live the bold Balafre-long live the S

cavaliers," said the Provost Ma

cers shall do us reason. We will be judged by the King's grace, or by

id Lindesay, "but Sandie Wilson, th

ied noose upon hemp, did we give way to any other proceeding," said the Bala

this young fellow belongs not to you, and

ges, all shall admit to b

uestioned!" was the univ

l'Hermite. "No one disputes your privil

said the Balafre, w

Guard, I think," retor

d on each other i

hispered Cunningham to Balafr

raising his voice, swore that he had that day enrolled his kinsman

. "You know, as you say, your privileges, and it is not my duty to have brawls with the King's Guards, if it is to be avoided. But I will report

a hasty consultation what was next to be done. "We must report the matter to Lord Craw

," said Quentin, with some hesitation, "I have not ye

se to do so, or be hanged-for I promise you, that, nephew of mine

rwise considered as no very agreeable proposal; but the recent escape from the halter, which had been

unningham; "there is no safety for him out of ou

asted, fair uncle?" said the youth-thinking, perhaps, like many a n

haps out of a loop of the Loire, knit up in a sack for the greater convenience of swimming-for that is like to be the end on't. The

er's name, or nickname, was Le Diable, which was bestowed on him by public hatred, in exchange for Le Daim, or Le Dain. He was originally the King's barber, but afterw

ll going to Oliver empty handed, and I

s for once. We will make up something handsome among us against the next payday; and

s by the way how he brought the Provost Marshal on his shoulders, th