The Betrothed

owing series of the Novels, rather by the advice of the few friends who

to create than to satisfy, and that by the mention of so magnificent a subject each reader might be induced to call up to his imagination a sketch so extensive and so grand that it might not be in the power of

ing, that a taking-title, as it is called, best answers the purpose of the bookseller, since it often goes far to cover his risk, and sells an edition not unfrequently before the public have well seen it. But the author ought to seek more permanent fame, and wish that his work,

and the celebrated year of projects (eighteen hundred and twenty-five) being the ti

ies was not the least concomitant evil of the extraordinary preponderance of this superstition. It was no unusual thing for a Crusader, returning from his long toils of war and pilgrimage, to find his family augmented by some young off-shoot, of whom the deserted matron could give no very accurate account, or perhaps to find his marriage-bed filled, and that, instead of becoming nurse to an old man, his household dame had prefer

age correspond, according to the doctrine of civilians, with his own departure for Palestine. He applied to his wife, therefore, for the solution of this dilemma. The lady, after many floods of tears, which she had reserved for the occasion, informed the honest gentleman, that, walking one day alone by the banks of the infant river, a human form arose from a deep eddy, still known and termed Tweed-pool, who deigned to inform her that he was the tutelar genius of the stream, and, bongre malgre , became the father of the sturdy fellow, whose appearance had so much surprised her husband. This story, however suitable to Pagan times, would have met with full credence from few of the baron’s contemporaries, but the wife was young and beautiful, the husband old and in his dotage; her family (the Frazers, it is believed) were powerful and warlike, and the baro

en composed in the fifteenth century. The Noble Moringer, a powerful baron of Germany, about to set out on a pilgrimage to the land of St. Thomas, with the geography of which we are not made acquainted, resolves to commit his castle, dominions, and lady, to the vassal who should pledge him to keep watch over them till the seven years of his pilgrimage were accomplished. His chamberlain, an elderly and a cautious man, declines the trust, ob

Moringer, within

slumbering sense a

ed in his e

Sir Knigh

y heritage anot

banner knows, thy

nother’s will, thy

f thy love, so fait

father’s hall, she we

rring. St. Thomas, who must have felt the justice of the imputation, performs a miracle. The Moringer’s senses were drenched in oblivion, and when he waked he lay i

pilgrim’s staff, and

goodly form that no

iller said, ‘Good

in your land, what

ed him again —‘He

of the land did a n

distant land, such i

vy on our souls, h

little mill, which w

in his grave, he

tide comes round, and

for Moringer shall hav

with preparations for the marriage of the lady. The pilgrim prayed the porter for entrance, conjuring him by his

ced Moringer, his st

his heart, none seeme

ly bench, oppressed

ut ne’er to him seeme

nd feasting o’er, and

n new made brides ret

ride’s man said, ‘hath b

in our halls till he

disguised baron sung the

of frozen age,’ ’twas

r garment gay, unloc

bridegroom gay, at bo

ir a bride, with all

rows on my face, and

cheeks of youth, she l

palmer poor, I trea

r bridal mirth the

him a cup of wine. The palmer, having exhausted the goblet, returned it, and having fir

the lady’s eye, she vi

her shriek aloud, ‘T

start from seat, while

r joy or wo, the l

d thanks to Heaven, a

the Moringer befor

vow on vow, that ne

served her troth, or

e praise,’ she said, ‘

at they have plight, s

owe’er you will, so

a day are out when bell

hen rose up, his fal

he Moringer, and do

aith are broke,’ these

hy vassal’s sword, and

r, he smiled, and

at hath roamed seven

ifteen years, fame spe

ride you lose, and n

hath youthful bride, th

till term and tide s

e warder kind that

morrow tide, I cam

it, as the present author adopted his idea of the tale chiefly from the edition preserved in the mansion of Haighhall, of old the mansion-house of the family of Braidshaigh, now possessed by their descendants on the female side, the Earls of Balcarras. The

iam Brad

Sr Joh

ravelle

er and

daugh

eire o

de Hag

de and

8.

a story by trad

Sr William Brad

res away in t

sh kt. Sr Wil

ame in a Palmer

haghe. Who

at that he fav

for which the

liam went and

Tennants in wc

o Newton Parke Sr

ue him. Th

joyned by her

by going one

re legg’d to a

wilest she li

day; & ther

ch as you see

Dom:

an anecdote so curious is annexed, is now unfortunately ruinous. Time and whitewash, says Mr. Roby, have altogether defaced the effigies of the knight and lady on the tomb. The particulars are preserved in Mr. Roby’s Traditions of Lancashire, [Footnote: A very elegant work, 2 vols. 1829. By J. Roby, M.R.S.L.] to which the reader is referred for further particulars. It does not appear that Sir William Braidshaigh was irreparably offended against the too hasty Lady Mabel, although he certainly showed himself of a more fiery mould than the Scott

of the Marches was selected as a period when all freedoms might be taken with the strict truth of history without encountering any well known fact which might render the narrative improba

d come up with in their flight, entered triumphantly into Hereford, spoiled and fired the city, razed the walls to the ground, slaughtered some of the citizens, led many of them captive, and (to use the words of the Welsh Chronicle) left nothing in the town but blood and ashes. After this exploit they immediately returned into Wales, undoubtedly from a desire of securing their prisoners, and the rich plunder they had gained. The King of England hereupon commanded Earl Harold to collect a great army from all parts of the kingdom, and assembling them at Gloucester, advanced from thence to invade the dominions of Gryffyth in North Wales. He performed his orders, and penetrated into that country without resistance from the Welsh; Gryffyth and Algar returning into some parts of South Wales. What were their reasons for this conduct we are not well informed; nor why Harold did not pursue his advantage against them; but it appears that he thought it more advisable at this time to treat with, than subdue, them; for he left North Wales, and employed himself in rebuilding the walls of Hereford, while negotiations were carrying on with Gryffyth which soon after produced the restoration of Algar, and a peace with that king, not very honourable to England, as he made no satisfactio

r a general resemblance to the fi

D, 1_st J