Bailie

“ Finding he was a foreigner, and understanding that strict injunctions were laid on the magistrates by the king and government anent the egressing of such persons, she thought, for the credit of her house, and the safety of the community at large, that it behoved her to send word to me, then provost, of this man’s visibility among us; but as I was not at home, Mrs Pawkie, my wife, directed the messenger to Bailie Booble’s. The bailie was, at all times, overly ready to claught at an alarm ”

“ I have been thus large and frank in my reflections anent the death of the bailie, because, poor man, he had outlived the times for which he was qualified; and, instead of the merriment and jocularity that his wily by-hand ways used to cause among his neighbours, the rising generation began to pick and dab at him, in such a manner, that, had he been much longer spared, it is to be feared he would not have been allowed to enjoy his earnings both with ease and honour. ”

“ SCENE I.—A Hall in the Castle: Enter Livia and the Baron, talking as they enter.
Liv. Yes, Baron; you and your friends have, by this plot of yours, taught me a severe lesson; and I thank you for it, though my own understanding ought to have made it unnecessary.
Bar. Dear Livia; why should, a young woman like you be so much affronted at finding her understanding—for you are mighty fond of that word understanding—not quite infallible? At the age of 63, an age I shall henceforth honestly own I have attained, one is not surprised at some small deficiencies even in one's own understanding. ”

“ I don't doubt of success; for my lady has lived a great part of her life in an old castle in the North, and has as good a notion of a ghost or a goblin as most folks.
Cook. He, he, he! Some folks will be warm enough to-night without frying cutlets. And bless you, man! if Mrs. Pry should come in your way, give her a claw for my sake.
Rob. O never doubt that, hussy—And here, in good time, comes Sharp to settle his part of the business; for you know we are to give his master a claw too, as well as Mrs. Pry. ”

“ It was only an hour's ride from the castle, the one good thing of that stay at Guildford. On a day as he made out of the forest to the old road he came upon a huge fellow who let his horse go as it would and chanted jovially a French hunting song. "God save you, brother fool," he called out.
"And bring you peace, Richard my son."
"Death of my life, it is old Bran!" He ranged alongside and threw a heavy arm round Bran's body and came near to hugging him out of the saddle. "And how goes my pretty brother, wise man?"
"The sun shines all day for him, child. And whence comes brother Richard? " ”

“ Murrain take thee and thy love too! thou hast no more spirit in thee than a worm.
Bar. Bravo, Boy! thou hast enough of it, I see; and I'll put a stand of colours into thy hand as soon as thou art strong enough to carry them. Thou art my boy now; I will protect thee.
Page. I thank you, Baron.—And my sister; will you protect her too?
Bar. Yes, Child; both of you.
Page. Refuse him then, Nina: hast thou no more pride about thee?
Nina. Alas! I should, have more pride: I know l should; but I have been sadly humbled.
Page. Thou'lt be still more so if thou art his wife, trust me! ”

“ Disappointed, sheriff! You do not mean, I hope, to reprieve that foul witch at the other stake: is not one execution enough for them? It makes me sick to see such blood-thirsting in a Christian land.
SHERIFF.
Ay, you say true; that poor wretch had gone out of my head.
BAILLIE.
Wretch enough, good sooth! the blackest witch in Renfrewshire, Grizeld Bane excepted.
SHERIFF.
But we need not burn her now: her evidence may he wanted to convict the other.
BAILLIE.
Not a whit! we have evidence at command to burn her twenty times over. A bird in hand is a wise proverb. ”

“ BAILLIE, WILLIAM (fl. 1648) , Scottish general, was the son of Sir William Baillie of Lamington, an adherent of Queen Mary of Scotland. His mother was a daughter of Sir Alexander Hume, lord provost of Edinburgh, and he was born during the lifetime of his father's first wife, Margaret Maxwell, countess of Angus. Sir William Baillie, on the death of the countess, married his mistress, but the son was not thereby legitimatised, and the estates were inherited by Margaret Baillie, the eldest daughter by the first marriage. ”

“ Home’s friendship for Baillie made him a suspected man, and the king’s troops occupied Redbraes Castle. He remained in hiding for some time in a churchyard, where his daughter kept him supplied with food, but on hearing of the execution of Baillie (1684) he fled to Holland, where his family soon after joined him. They returned to Scotland at the Revolution. ”

“ Vald. Notable virtues indeed, Madam; but where was I to learn them, pray? Did you ever before recommend them to me, by either precept or example? Prudence! Economy! What has befallen you? I'm sure there is something wrong when such words come from your lips.—Ha! in tears, too! Hovelberg has brought no money then?
Countess. No, no, barbarian! He has ruined me.
Vald. How so?
Countess. I cannot tell thee: it would suffocate me.
Jean. La, Count! My Lady may well call him barbarian. He brought the old Baron with him to purchase the jewels, disguised like an Armenian Jew ”

“ My lord let him pluck. “Sweet sir,” says he, “you ask the poor beast the impossible. Hark how he roars. Moreover, our friends in front are going straight for Tredethy bog, and though I vowed to follow you, bogs were not in the bond.”
The little Sheriff reined up. “Tredethy bog?” he gasped, for it was a bog of reputation; and he howled to the posse. And at his howl my lord Pentire let out of himself a fearsome yell—a yell of anguish, of torment, not apt to encourage any posse in a misty night on Bodmin moor. ”

“ CLAUDIEN.
My noble baron, you and I are rivals, and rest our pretensions here on very different foundations; you on being known to the lady, I on the reverse. But I am the wiser of the two.
HARTMAN.
How so, I pray?
CLAUDIEN.
Is it not a notorious fact, that strangers of any apparent likelihood always occupy the vantage ground in every woman's favour? Had the fair Rosella known me as long as she has known you, she might have discovered in me as many faults, perhaps, as would have excluded me from the very threshold of her vestibule. ”

“ Have you done? Pray contemplate the landscape once again. 'Tis your last chance.” The Sheriff screamed in an agony of fear—and behold, a shout from the night answered him. But my lord set his free hand on a boulder, and pushing on that rose to his knees and dragged the little man over the cliff edge, and snatching at him gathered him up and sat him down. Then my lord rose up, but the little Sheriff mopped the fear-sweat from his face and panted like a hunted beast.
Nearer and nearer through the gloom came the thud of horses. “Who the devil are you?” cried my Lord Pentire. ”

“ M. Bailly's speech to the King had equally wounded her pride and hurt her feelings. "Henri IV. conquered his people, and here are the people conquering their King." The word "conquest" offended her; she never forgave M. Bailly for this fine academical phrase.
Five days after the King's visit to Paris, the departure of the troops, and the removal of the Princes and some of the nobility whose influence seemed to alarm the people, a horrible deed committed by hired assassins proved that the King had descended the steps of his throne without having effected a reconciliation with his people. ”

“ My lord looked after him in the twilight. “I cannot love that person,” says he.
CHAPTER III.
OF AN EPISTLE ROYAL.
Master Sheriff and his tail of two vanished into the lane on the right. My lord Pentire observing, tapped with his fingers upon the wall, and permitted his Olympian brow to wrinkle. For that lane leads to Trelights, and in Trelights dwelt Betty Trevanger and Sir William her father. My lord ceased to tap. “Certainly they will not want me,” he remarked. My lord vaulted the wall. “That is why I will go,” said he—and struck across the meadow with his long moorland stride. ”

“ She laid her hand on the child's shoulder with a skilful caress, but the child was cold. “Come now, tell me the affair. I'm no fine lady to play you double, but just a plain wench of the people.”
The man stared at her fiercely. There was never doubt of the fearless, careless honesty of that gay face. “My Lord Lewknor goes about to rob me, ma'am. He hath the ear of these red judges, and I am undone. Sure, it's the King's part to give me aid.”
Mrs. Gwyn swore a hearty oath. “Lewknor, the corpse! ”

“ There was a rustle, like the sound of bees in a grove of limes on a summer's day, and the Welshmen were all round them—a mob of sturdy, small men, for the most part with no armour above their tunics and saffron cloaks, for the most part bare-legged and bare-foot; but some few with little coats of mail and battle-axe, and sword in place of spear. They all chattered together. One who seemed the leader, not much more than a lad, and beardless, thrust through the midst and laid his hand on the King's arm, crying, “Yield thee to me, Iestyn, son of David, son of Owen.” ”

“ I looked at him stupidly.
"But we win," I muttered; "curse it, we win!"
"Or you win for us. Come and tell us," said a calm, steady voice.
"Look after the horse," I cried.
"Yes, yes; I will see to the horse, sir," squeaked the burgomaster; and I limped in, leaning on some man's arm, back to that room with lights. The man put me into a chair, and filled a glass with wine. I drank it; and another, and another. Then I looked round. It was the Prince himself at my elbow.
"‘He is back!' she cried"
"Why, it was you, your Highness!" ”

“ The posse were riding huddled together, and so to encourage them my lord Pentire began a dolorous chant:—
When the wind whustles cold on the moor of a night
All along, down along, out along lee;
Tom Pearse's old mare doth appear—gashly white ...
his voice went up in a scream, and he stopped dramatically. The little Sheriff looked anxiously round, and the posse checked their horses nervously, and mutters came: “'Tis naught!” “It be!” “Mun hath the eye!” My lord lifted up his voice again, and the posse went on in a hurry ”

“ Thine aching head, like the poor wand'rer's wife,
Who, on his seat of turf, beneath heaven's roof,
Rests on his way.—The storm beats fiercely on us:
Our nature suits not with these worldly times,
To it most adverse. Fortune loves us not;
She hath for us no good: do we retain
Her fetters only? No, thou shalt not go!
(Twining her arms round him.)
By that which binds the peasant and the prince,
The warrior and the slave, all that do bear
The form and nature of a man, I stay thee!
Thou shalt not go.
CONSTANTINE.
Would'st thou degrade me thus? ”

“ Stay here, you cannot. It is not decent. The Queen's a corpse behind that door. Why, and if they take you in the palace, it's ruin for you and for us all. Oh, we shall not be spared if you are caught."
"Yes. I am a curse to my friends." The Pretender laughed drearily. "Well, my lord, you shall be delivered at least. Lead the way." Masham hurried out on the word. As they followed the Pretender took Harry's arm. "I wish you may be right, Mr. Boyce," he said. "But my heart bids me stay."
"Oh, sir, a king has no right to a heart," says Harry. ”

“ GRIZELD BANE (looking over the window) .
Ha, ha! what want ye, good Mr. Magistrate?
BAILLIE.
Some body has suffered violence in this house; open the door immediately.
GRIZELD BANE.
And what would you have from the house that ye are so impatient to enter? There be corses enow in the churchyard, I trow; ye need not come here for them.
SHERIFF.
She is a mad woman, and has murdered somebody.
FIRST OFFICER.
Mad, your honour! she's the witch we ha' been seeking in vain to apprehend, and the blackest, chiefest hag o' them a'. ”

“ Halt! We be all friends here. Who strikes, strikes the King.”
Then their captain rode up and saluted. “Orders, sir?” he asked, gruffly.
“Have this fellow in guard, Bertram,” quoth the King, thrusting at Eustace with his foot. He hauled the girl up again, and “Speak for me, mistress,” he said. “I charge you all come to me in Carnarvon on St. Mark's Day. Then shall you see this knave who hath wronged you judged before a Welsh prince. For I will give you a prince that was born in Wales, and can speak no word of English, and he shall rule you according to the ancient laws of Wales.” ”

“ Without the slightest hesitation or embarrassment, Bailey came down, and followed him out into an avenue of trees which led up to the house. The only question he asked was—"Is the man dead?"
"Come on, and I will tell you," answered the other; and when they had got some hundred yards from the house, he suddenly turned, and struck Bailey a violent blow on the face, exclaiming, "Villain and scoundrel! give me instant satisfaction for what you have done this night. There's a pistol.—No words; for by —— either you or I do not quit this ground alive!" ”

“ I command thee to do it; and thou knowest I have not often used this stern word.
HERMAN.
O no, sir! You have not indeed used it; and I shall never meet with another master like you,
RAYNER.
Thou wilt meet, I hope, my dear Herman, with a far better master than I have been to thee, though not with one for whom thou wilt do so much kindly service as thou hast done for me; and for this cause, perhaps, thou wilt not love him so much. God prosper thee for it, wherever thou goest!—Take this embrace and blessing for all thou hast done for me. Farewel! farewel! thou must be gone now ”