The Monastery. A Romance. By the author of
Author Details
Surname:Scott
First Names:Sir Walter
Gender:Male
Anonymous:No
Publication Details
Publisher:Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, London; and for Archibald Constable and Co., and John Ballantyne
Place:Edinburgh
Date:1820
Novel Details
Genre:Chivalric; courtship; historical; supernatural
Setting:Teviot-dale, Scotland
Period:1501-1650
Plot
This is a historical tale set in the Scottish borders with a strong supernatural element. There is a lengthy preface in the form of a letter from retired soldier turned antiquarian, Clutterbuck, relating how he came into possession of the papers on which the story is based from a Benedictine monk. Clutterbuck requests that the author of Waverly edit and publish the papers, which the author in a return letter agrees to do.The novel as a whole has a strongly antiquarian flavour. Etymologies and social practices are periodically explained to the reader in the footnotes.
The story starts with the fallout from the Battle of Pinkie Clough between Scotland and England. Dame Glendinning has lost her husband in the fighting, but is promised some protection for her and her two sons (Halbert and Edward) by an Englishman. Lady Avenel has also lost her husband, and she, her daughter (Mary) and two servants (Martin and Tibb) move in with Dame Glendinning. Mary Avenel's inheritance is usurped by her wild-living uncle Julian.
Lady Avenel can read and has a vulgar bible, from which she teaches her daughter. As Lady Avenel is dying, a monk arrives and takes the book away but he is attacked by the White Lady of Avenel, who has a mysterious connection with the Avenel family and with Mary in particular. The book is taken from the monk returned to the children. The local monks are very concerned by the possibilities of the bible, and so another monk tries to take it but is again foiled.
Halbert and Edward both fall in love with Mary. Halbert is strong but reckless, Edward is bookish and the Monks would very much like him to join the church. Halbert has various meetings with the 'Lady in White' which begin to alter the nature of his personality, making him more proud.
A courtier from England comes to take refuge, Sir Piercie Shafton. He makes very flowery speeches, and there is commentary on the fact that he is very impressed by Lyly and the Euphuistic tradition, which is currently popular at court. He and Halbert come to blows, and eventually fight a duel during which Shafton falls, apparently mortally wounded. Halbert flees the scene and goes first to Julian Avenel, and then on to service with the Earl of Moray. Under the rational guidance of the Earl, he converts to Protestantism.
Meanwhile, Piercie has made a miraculous recovery but finds himself accused of the missing Halbert's murder. He is saved by Mysie the Miller's daughter, who disguises herself as a boy to keep him company.
At a final battle, Julian is slain and his mistress and baby abandoned. It is revealed that Piercie is of less noble birth than he claimed and is now married to Mysie. Halbert and Mary (who has also converted to Protestantism) are married. Edward has become a monk, and summons the White Lady who prophecies that the union of Halbert and Mary will bring them disaster.
The story starts with the fallout from the Battle of Pinkie Clough between Scotland and England. Dame Glendinning has lost her husband in the fighting, but is promised some protection for her and her two sons (Halbert and Edward) by an Englishman. Lady Avenel has also lost her husband, and she, her daughter (Mary) and two servants (Martin and Tibb) move in with Dame Glendinning. Mary Avenel's inheritance is usurped by her wild-living uncle Julian.
Lady Avenel can read and has a vulgar bible, from which she teaches her daughter. As Lady Avenel is dying, a monk arrives and takes the book away but he is attacked by the White Lady of Avenel, who has a mysterious connection with the Avenel family and with Mary in particular. The book is taken from the monk returned to the children. The local monks are very concerned by the possibilities of the bible, and so another monk tries to take it but is again foiled.
Halbert and Edward both fall in love with Mary. Halbert is strong but reckless, Edward is bookish and the Monks would very much like him to join the church. Halbert has various meetings with the 'Lady in White' which begin to alter the nature of his personality, making him more proud.
A courtier from England comes to take refuge, Sir Piercie Shafton. He makes very flowery speeches, and there is commentary on the fact that he is very impressed by Lyly and the Euphuistic tradition, which is currently popular at court. He and Halbert come to blows, and eventually fight a duel during which Shafton falls, apparently mortally wounded. Halbert flees the scene and goes first to Julian Avenel, and then on to service with the Earl of Moray. Under the rational guidance of the Earl, he converts to Protestantism.
Meanwhile, Piercie has made a miraculous recovery but finds himself accused of the missing Halbert's murder. He is saved by Mysie the Miller's daughter, who disguises herself as a boy to keep him company.
At a final battle, Julian is slain and his mistress and baby abandoned. It is revealed that Piercie is of less noble birth than he claimed and is now married to Mysie. Halbert and Mary (who has also converted to Protestantism) are married. Edward has become a monk, and summons the White Lady who prophecies that the union of Halbert and Mary will bring them disaster.
Overview of the Dialect
There are some snippets of Scots English in the prefatory letter, then there is quite a lot of Scots English in the main novel, particularly in the speech of the servants Tibbie and Martin, and in the speech of Dame Glendinning. There is a lot of codeswitching, particularly by Dame Glendinning, although Scott does not explicitly draw attention to it or attempt to explain it. The household set up between Dame Glendinning, Lady Avenel and the servants is interesting from a sociolinguistic point of view because, despite the fact that they all live together, they nevertheless retain a strict sociolinguistic hierarchy.
Unexpectedly nondialectal characters: Note that it might be expected that the sons of Dame Glendinning might be expected to speak Scots English, but are in fact impeccably standard at all times.
Unexpectedly nondialectal characters: Note that it might be expected that the sons of Dame Glendinning might be expected to speak Scots English, but are in fact impeccably standard at all times.
Speaker #1:Mattocks - Sexton to ruined abbey
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Sexton
Gender:Mixed
Age:Adult - elderly
Narrative Voice:1st person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Sexton to ruined abbey
Social Role Category:Clergy
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Kennaquhair
Place of Origin Category:Kennaquhair, South Scotland, Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
The sexton also stipulated, that our researches should take place at night, being unwilling to excite observation, or give to scandal.
"To banes , and sculls, and hearts, if he can find ony , he shall be welcome," said this guardian of the ruined Monastery, " there's plenty a' about, an' he's curious of them; but if there be ony picts ( meaning perhaps pyx ) or chalishes , or the like of such Popish veshells of gold and silver, de'il hae me an I conneeve at their being removed."
(Vol. 1,p. 43)"To banes , and sculls, and hearts, if he can find ony , he shall be welcome," said this guardian of the ruined Monastery, " there's plenty a' about, an' he's curious of them; but if there be ony picts ( meaning perhaps pyx ) or chalishes , or the like of such Popish veshells of gold and silver, de'il hae me an I conneeve at their being removed."
Extract #2 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"My certes , no, Captain," said Mattocks; " ne'ertheless , it winna be amiss to keep an e'e on him. My father, rest his saul , was a horse-couper and used to say he never was cheated in a naig in his life, saving by a west-country whig frae Kilmarnock, that said a grace ower a dram o' whisky. But this gentleman will be a Roman, I'se warrant ."
"You are perfectly right in that Saunders," said I.
" Ay , I hae seen twa or three of their priests that were chaced ower here some score o' years syne . They just danced like mad when they looked on the friars' heads, and the nuns' heads, in the cloister yonder; they took to them like auld acquaintance like. Od , he is not stirring yet, mair than he were a through-stane !* . I never kenn'd a Roman, to say kenn'd him, but ane -- mair by token, he was the only ane in the town to ken , and that was auld Jock of Pend. It wad hae been lang ere ye fand Jock praying in the Abbey in a thick night, wi' his knees on a cauld stane . Jock liket a kirk wi' a chimley in't . Mony a merry ploy I hae had wi' him down at the inn yonder; and when he died decently, I wad hae earded him; but, or I got his grave weel howkit , some of the quality, that were o' his ain unhappy persuasion, had the corpse whirried away up the water, and buried him after their ain pleasure doubtless -- they kenn'd best. I wad hae made nae great charge. I wadna hae excised Johnie, dead or alive. -- Stay, see the strange gentleman is coming." * A tombstone.
(Vol. 1,p. 47-49)"You are perfectly right in that Saunders," said I.
" Ay , I hae seen twa or three of their priests that were chaced ower here some score o' years syne . They just danced like mad when they looked on the friars' heads, and the nuns' heads, in the cloister yonder; they took to them like auld acquaintance like. Od , he is not stirring yet, mair than he were a through-stane !* . I never kenn'd a Roman, to say kenn'd him, but ane -- mair by token, he was the only ane in the town to ken , and that was auld Jock of Pend. It wad hae been lang ere ye fand Jock praying in the Abbey in a thick night, wi' his knees on a cauld stane . Jock liket a kirk wi' a chimley in't . Mony a merry ploy I hae had wi' him down at the inn yonder; and when he died decently, I wad hae earded him; but, or I got his grave weel howkit , some of the quality, that were o' his ain unhappy persuasion, had the corpse whirried away up the water, and buried him after their ain pleasure doubtless -- they kenn'd best. I wad hae made nae great charge. I wadna hae excised Johnie, dead or alive. -- Stay, see the strange gentleman is coming." * A tombstone.
Speaker #2:Elspeth Brydone - Wife of dead yeoman
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Dame Glendinning
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Significant
Dialect Features:Codeswitch, Discourse Marker, Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Wife of dead yeoman
Social Role Category:Yeoman
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Scotland, Kennaquhair - ficitional place, probably in South East Scotland, on the borders
Place of Origin Category:Kennaquhair, South Scotland, Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"And what made you, ye misleard loons ," said Dame Elspeth to her two boys, "come yon gate into the ha' , roaring like bull-segs , to frighten the leddy , and her far frae strong?" The boys looked at each other in silence and confusion, and their mother proceeded with her lecture. "Could ye find nae night for daffin but Hallowe'en and nae time but when the leddy was reading to us about the holy Saints? May ne'er be in my fingers , if I dinna sort ye baith for it!" The eldest boy bent his eyes on the ground, the younger began to weep, but neither spoke; and their mother would have proceeded to extremities, but for the interposition of the little maiden.
"Dame Elspeth, it was my fault -- I did say to them, that I saw a man in the spence."
(Vol. 1,p. 140)"Dame Elspeth, it was my fault -- I did say to them, that I saw a man in the spence."
Extract #2 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
" Ye maun ken then, Tibb," said Dame Glendinning, "that when I was a hempie of nineteen or twenty, it wasna my fault if I wasna at a' the merry-makings time about."
"That was very natural," said Tibb; "but ye hae sobered since that, or ye wadna haud our braw gallants sae lightly."
"I have had that wad sober me or ony ane ," said the matron. "A weel , Tibb, a lass like me wasna to look wooers, for I wasna sae ill favoured that the tikes wad bark after me."
"How should that be," said Tibb, "and you sic a well-favoured woman to this day?"
" Fie, fie, cummer ," said the matron of Glendearg, hitching her seat of honour, in her turn, a little nearer to the cuttie-stool on which Tibb was seated; " weel -favoured is past my time of day; but I might pass then, for I wasna sae tocherless but what I had a bit land at my breast-lace . My father was a portioner at Littledearg."
" Ye hae tell'd me that before," said Tibb; "but anent the Hallowe'en."
(Vol. 1,p. 147-148)"That was very natural," said Tibb; "but ye hae sobered since that, or ye wadna haud our braw gallants sae lightly."
"I have had that wad sober me or ony ane ," said the matron. "A weel , Tibb, a lass like me wasna to look wooers, for I wasna sae ill favoured that the tikes wad bark after me."
"How should that be," said Tibb, "and you sic a well-favoured woman to this day?"
" Fie, fie, cummer ," said the matron of Glendearg, hitching her seat of honour, in her turn, a little nearer to the cuttie-stool on which Tibb was seated; " weel -favoured is past my time of day; but I might pass then, for I wasna sae tocherless but what I had a bit land at my breast-lace . My father was a portioner at Littledearg."
" Ye hae tell'd me that before," said Tibb; "but anent the Hallowe'en."
"Dame Glendinning," answered the Monk, somewhat abruptly, when the good woman had finished her narrative, "I pray you, do you know the miller's daughter?"
"Did I know Kate Happer?" replied the widow; " as weel as the beggar knows his dish -- a canty quean was Kate, and a special cummer of my ain may be twenty years syne . "
"She cannot be the wench I mean," said father Eustace; " she after whom I enquire is scarce fifteen, a black-eyed girl -- you may have see her at the kirk ."
" Your reverence must be in the right; she is my cummer's niece, doubtless, you are pleased to speak of: But I thank God I have always been too duteous in attention to the mass, to know whether young wenches have black eyes or green ones. "
(Vol. 1,p. 226-227)"Did I know Kate Happer?" replied the widow; " as weel as the beggar knows his dish -- a canty quean was Kate, and a special cummer of my ain may be twenty years syne . "
"She cannot be the wench I mean," said father Eustace; " she after whom I enquire is scarce fifteen, a black-eyed girl -- you may have see her at the kirk ."
" Your reverence must be in the right; she is my cummer's niece, doubtless, you are pleased to speak of: But I thank God I have always been too duteous in attention to the mass, to know whether young wenches have black eyes or green ones. "
To all Elspeth's expostulations on the unkindness of his proposal to leave her dwelling, he answered composedly, " Nay , dame, what could I tell? ye might have had other grist to grind, for ye looked as if ye scarce saw us -- or what know I ? ye might bear in mind the words Martin and I had about the last barley ye sawed -- for I ken dry multures will sometimes stick in the throat. A man seeks but his awn , and yet folk shall hold him for both miller and miller's man, that is millar and knave, all the country over."
"Alas, that you will say so, neighbour Hob," said Dame Elspeth, "or that Martin should have had any words with you about the mill-dues! I will chide him roundly for it, I promise you, on the faith of a true widow. You know full well that a lone woman is sore put upon by her servants."
" Nay , dame," said the miller, unbuckling the broad belt which made fast his cloak, and served, at the same time, to suspend by his side a swinging Andrea Ferrara, "bear no grudge at Martin, for I bear none -- I take it on me as a thing of mine office, to maintain my right of multure , lock , and gowpen . And reason good, for as the old song says,
I live by my mill. God bless her,
She's parent, child, and wife.
The poor old slut, I am beholden to her for my living, and bound to stand by her, as I say to my mill knaves, in right and in wrong. And so should every honest fellow stand by his bread-winner. -- And so, Mysie, ye may doff your cloak since our neighbour is so kindly glad to see us -- why, I think, we are as blithe to see her -- not one in the Halidome pays their multures more duly, sequels, arriage, and carriage, and mill-services, used and wont."
* Dry multures were a fine, or compensation in money, for not grinding at the mill of the thirl. It was, and is, accounted a vexatious exaction.
* The under miller is, in the language of thirlage, called the knave, which, indeed, signified originally his lad. ( Knabe -- German,) but by degrees came to be taken in a worse sense. In the old translation of the Bible, Paul is made to term himself the knave of our Saviour. The allowance of meal taken by the miller's servant was called knave-ship.
* The multure was the regular exaction for grinding the meal. The lock , signifying a small quantity, and the gowpen, a handful, were additional perquisites demanded by the miller, and submitted to or resisted by the Suckener as circumstances permitted. These and other petty dues were called in general the Sequels.
(Vol. 2,p. 14-17)"Alas, that you will say so, neighbour Hob," said Dame Elspeth, "or that Martin should have had any words with you about the mill-dues! I will chide him roundly for it, I promise you, on the faith of a true widow. You know full well that a lone woman is sore put upon by her servants."
" Nay , dame," said the miller, unbuckling the broad belt which made fast his cloak, and served, at the same time, to suspend by his side a swinging Andrea Ferrara, "bear no grudge at Martin, for I bear none -- I take it on me as a thing of mine office, to maintain my right of multure , lock , and gowpen . And reason good, for as the old song says,
I live by my mill. God bless her,
She's parent, child, and wife.
The poor old slut, I am beholden to her for my living, and bound to stand by her, as I say to my mill knaves, in right and in wrong. And so should every honest fellow stand by his bread-winner. -- And so, Mysie, ye may doff your cloak since our neighbour is so kindly glad to see us -- why, I think, we are as blithe to see her -- not one in the Halidome pays their multures more duly, sequels, arriage, and carriage, and mill-services, used and wont."
* Dry multures were a fine, or compensation in money, for not grinding at the mill of the thirl. It was, and is, accounted a vexatious exaction.
* The under miller is, in the language of thirlage, called the knave, which, indeed, signified originally his lad. ( Knabe -- German,) but by degrees came to be taken in a worse sense. In the old translation of the Bible, Paul is made to term himself the knave of our Saviour. The allowance of meal taken by the miller's servant was called knave-ship.
* The multure was the regular exaction for grinding the meal. The lock , signifying a small quantity, and the gowpen, a handful, were additional perquisites demanded by the miller, and submitted to or resisted by the Suckener as circumstances permitted. These and other petty dues were called in general the Sequels.
Extract #5 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
" Now, in good time, here comes Mysie of the Mill. -- And where hae ye been, lass for a's gane wrang without you?" said Elspeth.
"I just gaed a blink up the burn ," said Mysie, "for the young lady has been down on her bed, and is no just that weel -- So I gaed a gliff up the burn ."
"To see the young lads come hame frae the sport, I will warrant you," said Elspeth. " Ay , ay , Tibb, that's the way the young folk guide us, Tibbie -- leave us to do the wark , and out to the play themsells ."
" Ne'er a bit of that, mistress," said the Maid of the Mill, stripping her round pretty arms, and looking actively and good-humouredly round for some duty that she could discharge, "but just -- I thought ye might like to ken if they were coming back, just to get the dinner forward."
"And saw ye ought of them then?" demanded Elspeth.
"Not the least tokening ," said Mysie, "though I got to the head of a knowe , and though the English knight's beautiful white feather could have been seen over all the bushes in the Shaw."
(Vol. 3,p. 5-6)"I just gaed a blink up the burn ," said Mysie, "for the young lady has been down on her bed, and is no just that weel -- So I gaed a gliff up the burn ."
"To see the young lads come hame frae the sport, I will warrant you," said Elspeth. " Ay , ay , Tibb, that's the way the young folk guide us, Tibbie -- leave us to do the wark , and out to the play themsells ."
" Ne'er a bit of that, mistress," said the Maid of the Mill, stripping her round pretty arms, and looking actively and good-humouredly round for some duty that she could discharge, "but just -- I thought ye might like to ken if they were coming back, just to get the dinner forward."
"And saw ye ought of them then?" demanded Elspeth.
"Not the least tokening ," said Mysie, "though I got to the head of a knowe , and though the English knight's beautiful white feather could have been seen over all the bushes in the Shaw."
" Marvellous fine words," at length said Dame Glendinning, who began to be tired of sitting so long silent, "marvellous fine words, neighbour Happer, are they not?"
"Brave words -- very brave words -- very exceeding pyet words," answered the Miller; "nevertheless, to speak my mind, a lippy of bran were worth a bushel of them."
"I think so too, under his worship's favour," answered Christie of the Clinthill. "I well remember that at the race of Morham, as we call it, near Berwick, I took a young Southern fellow out of saddle with my lance, and cast him, it might be, a gad's length from his nag ; and so, as he had some gold on his laced doublet, I deemed he might ha' the like on it in his pocket too, though that is a rule that does not aye hold good -- So I was speaking to him of ransom, and out he comes with a handful of such terms as his honour there hath gleaned up, and craved me for mercy, as I was a true son of Mars, and such like."
"And obtained no mercy at thy hand, I dare be sworn," said the knight, who deigned not to speak Euphuism excepting to the fair sex.
"By my troggs," replied Christie, "I would have thrust my lance down his throat, but just then they flung open that accursed postern-gate, and forth pricked old Hunsdon, and Henry Carey, and as many fellows at their heels as turned the chase northward again. So I e'en pricked Bayard with the spur, and went off with the rest; for a man should ride when he may not wrestle, as they say in Tynedale."
(Vol. 2,p. 52-53)"Brave words -- very brave words -- very exceeding pyet words," answered the Miller; "nevertheless, to speak my mind, a lippy of bran were worth a bushel of them."
"I think so too, under his worship's favour," answered Christie of the Clinthill. "I well remember that at the race of Morham, as we call it, near Berwick, I took a young Southern fellow out of saddle with my lance, and cast him, it might be, a gad's length from his nag ; and so, as he had some gold on his laced doublet, I deemed he might ha' the like on it in his pocket too, though that is a rule that does not aye hold good -- So I was speaking to him of ransom, and out he comes with a handful of such terms as his honour there hath gleaned up, and craved me for mercy, as I was a true son of Mars, and such like."
"And obtained no mercy at thy hand, I dare be sworn," said the knight, who deigned not to speak Euphuism excepting to the fair sex.
"By my troggs," replied Christie, "I would have thrust my lance down his throat, but just then they flung open that accursed postern-gate, and forth pricked old Hunsdon, and Henry Carey, and as many fellows at their heels as turned the chase northward again. So I e'en pricked Bayard with the spur, and went off with the rest; for a man should ride when he may not wrestle, as they say in Tynedale."
Speaker #3:Tibbie Tacket - Shepherd's wife, servant
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Tibbie Tacket
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Significant
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Shepherd's wife, servant
Social Role Category:Servant
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Kennaquhair, a fictional place on the Scottish borders in South East Scotland
Place of Origin Category:Kennaquhair, South Scotland, Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
" Ye maun ken then, Tibb," said Dame Glendinning, "that when I was a hempie of nineteen or twenty, it wasna my fault if I wasna at a' the merry-makings time about."
"That was very natural," said Tibb; "but ye hae sobered since that, or ye wadna haud our braw gallants sae lightly."
"I have had that wad sober me or ony ane ," said the matron. "A weel , Tibb, a lass like me wasna to look wooers, for I wasna sae ill favoured that the tikes wad bark after me."
"How should that be," said Tibb, "and you sic a well-favoured woman to this day?"
" Fie, fie, cummer ," said the matron of Glendearg, hitching her seat of honour, in her turn, a little nearer to the cuttie-stool on which Tibb was seated; " weel -favoured is past my time of day; but I might pass then, for I wasna sae tocherless but what I had a bit land at my breast-lace . My father was a portioner at Littledearg."
" Ye hae tell'd me that before," said Tibb; "but anent the Hallowe'en."
(Vol. 1,p. 147-148)"That was very natural," said Tibb; "but ye hae sobered since that, or ye wadna haud our braw gallants sae lightly."
"I have had that wad sober me or ony ane ," said the matron. "A weel , Tibb, a lass like me wasna to look wooers, for I wasna sae ill favoured that the tikes wad bark after me."
"How should that be," said Tibb, "and you sic a well-favoured woman to this day?"
" Fie, fie, cummer ," said the matron of Glendearg, hitching her seat of honour, in her turn, a little nearer to the cuttie-stool on which Tibb was seated; " weel -favoured is past my time of day; but I might pass then, for I wasna sae tocherless but what I had a bit land at my breast-lace . My father was a portioner at Littledearg."
" Ye hae tell'd me that before," said Tibb; "but anent the Hallowe'en."
Extract #2 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"We are broken and beggared now, out and out," said old Martin the Shepherd -- and he wrung his hands in the bitterness of agony, "the thieves, the harrying thieves! not a cloot left of the hail hirsel !"
"And to see poor Grizzy and Crumbie," said his wife, "turning back their necks to the byre, and routing while the stony-hearted villains were brogging them on wi' their lances!"
"There were but four of them," said Martin, "and I have seen the day forty wad not have ventured this length. But our strength and manhood is gane with our puir maister ."
"For the sake of the holy-rood, whisht man," said the goodwife , "our leddy is half gane already, as ye may see by that fleightering of the ee-lid -- a word mair and she's dead outright."
"I could almost wish," said Martin, "we were a' gane , for what to do passes my puir wit. I care little for mysel , or you, Tibb, -- we can make a fend -- work or want -- we can do baith , but she can do neither."
They canvassed their situation thus openly before the lady, convinced by the paleness of her look, her quivering lip and dead-set eye, that she neither heard nor understood what they were saying.
"There is a way," said the shepherd, "but I kenna if she could bring her heart to it, -- there's Simon Glendinning's widow of the glen yonder , has had assurance from the southern loons , and nae soldier to steer them for one cause or other. Now if the leddie could bow her mind to take quarters with Elspeth Glendinning till better days cast up, nae doubt it wad be doing an honour to the like of her, but" --
"An honour?" answered Tibb, " ay , by my word, sic an honour as wad be pride to her kin mony a lang year after her banes were in the mould. Oh! gudeman , to hear ye even the Lady of Avenel, to seeking quarters wi' a Kirk-vassal's widow!"
(Vol. 1,p. 116-118)"And to see poor Grizzy and Crumbie," said his wife, "turning back their necks to the byre, and routing while the stony-hearted villains were brogging them on wi' their lances!"
"There were but four of them," said Martin, "and I have seen the day forty wad not have ventured this length. But our strength and manhood is gane with our puir maister ."
"For the sake of the holy-rood, whisht man," said the goodwife , "our leddy is half gane already, as ye may see by that fleightering of the ee-lid -- a word mair and she's dead outright."
"I could almost wish," said Martin, "we were a' gane , for what to do passes my puir wit. I care little for mysel , or you, Tibb, -- we can make a fend -- work or want -- we can do baith , but she can do neither."
They canvassed their situation thus openly before the lady, convinced by the paleness of her look, her quivering lip and dead-set eye, that she neither heard nor understood what they were saying.
"There is a way," said the shepherd, "but I kenna if she could bring her heart to it, -- there's Simon Glendinning's widow of the glen yonder , has had assurance from the southern loons , and nae soldier to steer them for one cause or other. Now if the leddie could bow her mind to take quarters with Elspeth Glendinning till better days cast up, nae doubt it wad be doing an honour to the like of her, but" --
"An honour?" answered Tibb, " ay , by my word, sic an honour as wad be pride to her kin mony a lang year after her banes were in the mould. Oh! gudeman , to hear ye even the Lady of Avenel, to seeking quarters wi' a Kirk-vassal's widow!"
Extract #3 dialect features: Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"Blythely welcome, blythely welcome, my leddy ," answered Martin cheerily, "and we will deserve a welcome at her hand. Men are scarce now, my leddy , with these wars, and gie me a thought of time to it, I can do as gude a day's darg as ever I did in my life, and Tibb can sort cows with ony living woman."
"And muckle mair could I do," said Tibb, "were it in ony feasible house; but there will be neither pearlins to mend, nor pinners to busk up in Elspeth Glendinning's."
" Whisht wi' your pride, woman," said the shepherd; " eneugh ye can do, baith outside and inside, an ye set your mind to it; and hard it is if we twa canna work for threefolks' meat, forbye my dainty wee leddy there. Come awa , come awa , nae use in staying here langer ; we have five Scots miles over moss and muir , and that is nae easy walk for a leddy born and bred."
(Vol. 1,p. 119-120)"And muckle mair could I do," said Tibb, "were it in ony feasible house; but there will be neither pearlins to mend, nor pinners to busk up in Elspeth Glendinning's."
" Whisht wi' your pride, woman," said the shepherd; " eneugh ye can do, baith outside and inside, an ye set your mind to it; and hard it is if we twa canna work for threefolks' meat, forbye my dainty wee leddy there. Come awa , come awa , nae use in staying here langer ; we have five Scots miles over moss and muir , and that is nae easy walk for a leddy born and bred."
" Ay , Shagram," said the old man as he applied something to the wound, "must you rue the lang-bow as weel as all of us?"
"What corner in Scotland rues it not?" said the Lady of Avenel.
" Ay , ay , madam," said Martin, "God keep the kindly Scot from the cloth-yard shaft, and he will keep himself from the handy stroke. But let us go our way; the trash that is left I can come back for. There is nae ane to stir it but the good neighbours, and they --"
"For the love of God, goodman ," said his wife in a remonstrating tone, " haud your peace! Think what ye're saying, and we hae sae muckle wild land to go over before we win the girth gate."
The husband nodded acquiescence; for it was deemed highly imprudent to speak of the fairies either by their title of good neighbours or by any other, especially when about to pass the places which they were supposed to haunt.
(Vol. 1,p. 121)"What corner in Scotland rues it not?" said the Lady of Avenel.
" Ay , ay , madam," said Martin, "God keep the kindly Scot from the cloth-yard shaft, and he will keep himself from the handy stroke. But let us go our way; the trash that is left I can come back for. There is nae ane to stir it but the good neighbours, and they --"
"For the love of God, goodman ," said his wife in a remonstrating tone, " haud your peace! Think what ye're saying, and we hae sae muckle wild land to go over before we win the girth gate."
The husband nodded acquiescence; for it was deemed highly imprudent to speak of the fairies either by their title of good neighbours or by any other, especially when about to pass the places which they were supposed to haunt.
Speaker #4:Martin Tacket - Shepherd
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Martin
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Significant
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Shepherd
Social Role Category:Respectable poor
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Kennaquhair, borders of Scotland, South East
Place of Origin Category:Kennaquhair, South Scotland, Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"We are broken and beggared now, out and out," said old Martin the Shepherd -- and he wrung his hands in the bitterness of agony, "the thieves, the harrying thieves! not a cloot left of the hail hirsel !"
"And to see poor Grizzy and Crumbie," said his wife, "turning back their necks to the byre, and routing while the stony-hearted villains were brogging them on wi' their lances!"
"There were but four of them," said Martin, "and I have seen the day forty wad not have ventured this length. But our strength and manhood is gane with our puir maister ."
"For the sake of the holy-rood, whisht man," said the goodwife , "our leddy is half gane already, as ye may see by that fleightering of the ee-lid -- a word mair and she's dead outright."
"I could almost wish," said Martin, "we were a' gane , for what to do passes my puir wit. I care little for mysel , or you, Tibb, -- we can make a fend -- work or want -- we can do baith , but she can do neither."
They canvassed their situation thus openly before the lady, convinced by the paleness of her look, her quivering lip and dead-set eye, that she neither heard nor understood what they were saying.
"There is a way," said the shepherd, "but I kenna if she could bring her heart to it, -- there's Simon Glendinning's widow of the glen yonder , has had assurance from the southern loons , and nae soldier to steer them for one cause or other. Now if the leddie could bow her mind to take quarters with Elspeth Glendinning till better days cast up, nae doubt it wad be doing an honour to the like of her, but" --
"An honour?" answered Tibb, " ay , by my word, sic an honour as wad be pride to her kin mony a lang year after her banes were in the mould. Oh! gudeman , to hear ye even the Lady of Avenel, to seeking quarters wi' a Kirk-vassal's widow!"
(Vol. 1,p. 116-118)"And to see poor Grizzy and Crumbie," said his wife, "turning back their necks to the byre, and routing while the stony-hearted villains were brogging them on wi' their lances!"
"There were but four of them," said Martin, "and I have seen the day forty wad not have ventured this length. But our strength and manhood is gane with our puir maister ."
"For the sake of the holy-rood, whisht man," said the goodwife , "our leddy is half gane already, as ye may see by that fleightering of the ee-lid -- a word mair and she's dead outright."
"I could almost wish," said Martin, "we were a' gane , for what to do passes my puir wit. I care little for mysel , or you, Tibb, -- we can make a fend -- work or want -- we can do baith , but she can do neither."
They canvassed their situation thus openly before the lady, convinced by the paleness of her look, her quivering lip and dead-set eye, that she neither heard nor understood what they were saying.
"There is a way," said the shepherd, "but I kenna if she could bring her heart to it, -- there's Simon Glendinning's widow of the glen yonder , has had assurance from the southern loons , and nae soldier to steer them for one cause or other. Now if the leddie could bow her mind to take quarters with Elspeth Glendinning till better days cast up, nae doubt it wad be doing an honour to the like of her, but" --
"An honour?" answered Tibb, " ay , by my word, sic an honour as wad be pride to her kin mony a lang year after her banes were in the mould. Oh! gudeman , to hear ye even the Lady of Avenel, to seeking quarters wi' a Kirk-vassal's widow!"
Extract #2 dialect features: Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"Blythely welcome, blythely welcome, my leddy ," answered Martin cheerily, "and we will deserve a welcome at her hand. Men are scarce now, my leddy , with these wars, and gie me a thought of time to it, I can do as gude a day's darg as ever I did in my life, and Tibb can sort cows with ony living woman."
"And muckle mair could I do," said Tibb, "were it in ony feasible house; but there will be neither pearlins to mend, nor pinners to busk up in Elspeth Glendinning's."
" Whisht wi' your pride, woman," said the shepherd; " eneugh ye can do, baith outside and inside, an ye set your mind to it; and hard it is if we twa canna work for threefolks' meat, forbye my dainty wee leddy there. Come awa , come awa , nae use in staying here langer ; we have five Scots miles over moss and muir , and that is nae easy walk for a leddy born and bred."
(Vol. 1,p. 119-120)"And muckle mair could I do," said Tibb, "were it in ony feasible house; but there will be neither pearlins to mend, nor pinners to busk up in Elspeth Glendinning's."
" Whisht wi' your pride, woman," said the shepherd; " eneugh ye can do, baith outside and inside, an ye set your mind to it; and hard it is if we twa canna work for threefolks' meat, forbye my dainty wee leddy there. Come awa , come awa , nae use in staying here langer ; we have five Scots miles over moss and muir , and that is nae easy walk for a leddy born and bred."
" Ay , Shagram," said the old man as he applied something to the wound, "must you rue the lang-bow as weel as all of us?"
"What corner in Scotland rues it not?" said the Lady of Avenel.
" Ay , ay , madam," said Martin, "God keep the kindly Scot from the cloth-yard shaft, and he will keep himself from the handy stroke. But let us go our way; the trash that is left I can come back for. There is nae ane to stir it but the good neighbours, and they --"
"For the love of God, goodman ," said his wife in a remonstrating tone, " haud your peace! Think what ye're saying, and we hae sae muckle wild land to go over before we win the girth gate."
The husband nodded acquiescence; for it was deemed highly imprudent to speak of the fairies either by their title of good neighbours or by any other, especially when about to pass the places which they were supposed to haunt.
(Vol. 1,p. 121)"What corner in Scotland rues it not?" said the Lady of Avenel.
" Ay , ay , madam," said Martin, "God keep the kindly Scot from the cloth-yard shaft, and he will keep himself from the handy stroke. But let us go our way; the trash that is left I can come back for. There is nae ane to stir it but the good neighbours, and they --"
"For the love of God, goodman ," said his wife in a remonstrating tone, " haud your peace! Think what ye're saying, and we hae sae muckle wild land to go over before we win the girth gate."
The husband nodded acquiescence; for it was deemed highly imprudent to speak of the fairies either by their title of good neighbours or by any other, especially when about to pass the places which they were supposed to haunt.
Speaker #5:Miller - Miller
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Miller
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Miller
Social Role Category:Trade or craft
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Kennaquhair, fictional place on Scottish borders
Place of Origin Category:Kennaquhair, South Scotland, Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
The hoarse voice of the Miller at this moment recalled the dame from her reverie, and compelled her to remember that if she meant to realize her airy castle, she must begin by laying the foundation in civility to her guest and his daughter, whom she was at that moment most strangely neglecting, though her whole plan turned on conciliating their favour and good opinion, and that, in fact, while arranging matters for so intimate a union with her company, she was suffering them to sit unnoticed, and in their riding gear, as if about to resume their journey. "And so I say, dame," concluded the Miller, (for she had not marked the beginning of his speech,) " an ye be so busied with your housekep , or ought else, why, Mysie and I will trot our way down the glen again to Johnnie Broxmouth's, who pressed us right kindly to bide with him."
Starting at once from her dream of marriages and intermarriages, mills, mill-lands, and baronies, Dame Elspeth felt for a moment like the milk-maid in the fable, when she overset the pitcher, on the contents of which so many golden dreams were founded. But the foundation of Dame Glendinning's hopes was only tottering, not overthrown, and she hastened to restore its equilibrium. Instead of attempting to account for her absence of mind and want of attention to her guests, which she might have found something difficult, she assumed the offensive, like an able general when he finds it necessary, by a bold attack, to disguise his weakness.
A loud exclamation she made, and a passionate complaint she set up against the unkindness of her old friend, who could for an instant doubt the heartiness of her welcome to him and to his hopeful daughter; and then to think of his going back to Johnny Broxmouth's, when the auld tower stood where it did, and had room in it for a friend or two in the worst of timesâand he too a neighbour that his umquhile gossip Simon, blessed be his cast, used to think the best friend he had in the Halidome! And on she went, urging her complaint with so much seriousness, that she had well-nigh imposed on herself as well as upon Hob Miller, who had no mind to take any thing in dudgeon; and as it suited his plans to pass the night at Glendearg, would have been equally contented to do so even had his reception been less vehemently hospitable.
(Vol. 2,p. 12-14)Starting at once from her dream of marriages and intermarriages, mills, mill-lands, and baronies, Dame Elspeth felt for a moment like the milk-maid in the fable, when she overset the pitcher, on the contents of which so many golden dreams were founded. But the foundation of Dame Glendinning's hopes was only tottering, not overthrown, and she hastened to restore its equilibrium. Instead of attempting to account for her absence of mind and want of attention to her guests, which she might have found something difficult, she assumed the offensive, like an able general when he finds it necessary, by a bold attack, to disguise his weakness.
A loud exclamation she made, and a passionate complaint she set up against the unkindness of her old friend, who could for an instant doubt the heartiness of her welcome to him and to his hopeful daughter; and then to think of his going back to Johnny Broxmouth's, when the auld tower stood where it did, and had room in it for a friend or two in the worst of timesâand he too a neighbour that his umquhile gossip Simon, blessed be his cast, used to think the best friend he had in the Halidome! And on she went, urging her complaint with so much seriousness, that she had well-nigh imposed on herself as well as upon Hob Miller, who had no mind to take any thing in dudgeon; and as it suited his plans to pass the night at Glendearg, would have been equally contented to do so even had his reception been less vehemently hospitable.
To all Elspeth's expostulations on the unkindness of his proposal to leave her dwelling, he answered composedly, " Nay , dame, what could I tell? ye might have had other grist to grind, for ye looked as if ye scarce saw us -- or what know I ? ye might bear in mind the words Martin and I had about the last barley ye sawed -- for I ken dry multures will sometimes stick in the throat. A man seeks but his awn , and yet folk shall hold him for both miller and miller's man, that is millar and knave, all the country over."
"Alas, that you will say so, neighbour Hob," said Dame Elspeth, "or that Martin should have had any words with you about the mill-dues! I will chide him roundly for it, I promise you, on the faith of a true widow. You know full well that a lone woman is sore put upon by her servants."
" Nay , dame," said the miller, unbuckling the broad belt which made fast his cloak, and served, at the same time, to suspend by his side a swinging Andrea Ferrara, "bear no grudge at Martin, for I bear none -- I take it on me as a thing of mine office, to maintain my right of multure , lock , and gowpen . And reason good, for as the old song says,
I live by my mill. God bless her,
She's parent, child, and wife.
The poor old slut, I am beholden to her for my living, and bound to stand by her, as I say to my mill knaves, in right and in wrong. And so should every honest fellow stand by his bread-winner. -- And so, Mysie, ye may doff your cloak since our neighbour is so kindly glad to see us -- why, I think, we are as blithe to see her -- not one in the Halidome pays their multures more duly, sequels, arriage, and carriage, and mill-services, used and wont."
* Dry multures were a fine, or compensation in money, for not grinding at the mill of the thirl. It was, and is, accounted a vexatious exaction.
* The under miller is, in the language of thirlage, called the knave, which, indeed, signified originally his lad. ( Knabe -- German,) but by degrees came to be taken in a worse sense. In the old translation of the Bible, Paul is made to term himself the knave of our Saviour. The allowance of meal taken by the miller's servant was called knave-ship.
* The multure was the regular exaction for grinding the meal. The lock , signifying a small quantity, and the gowpen, a handful, were additional perquisites demanded by the miller, and submitted to or resisted by the Suckener as circumstances permitted. These and other petty dues were called in general the Sequels.
(Vol. 2,p. 14-17)"Alas, that you will say so, neighbour Hob," said Dame Elspeth, "or that Martin should have had any words with you about the mill-dues! I will chide him roundly for it, I promise you, on the faith of a true widow. You know full well that a lone woman is sore put upon by her servants."
" Nay , dame," said the miller, unbuckling the broad belt which made fast his cloak, and served, at the same time, to suspend by his side a swinging Andrea Ferrara, "bear no grudge at Martin, for I bear none -- I take it on me as a thing of mine office, to maintain my right of multure , lock , and gowpen . And reason good, for as the old song says,
I live by my mill. God bless her,
She's parent, child, and wife.
The poor old slut, I am beholden to her for my living, and bound to stand by her, as I say to my mill knaves, in right and in wrong. And so should every honest fellow stand by his bread-winner. -- And so, Mysie, ye may doff your cloak since our neighbour is so kindly glad to see us -- why, I think, we are as blithe to see her -- not one in the Halidome pays their multures more duly, sequels, arriage, and carriage, and mill-services, used and wont."
* Dry multures were a fine, or compensation in money, for not grinding at the mill of the thirl. It was, and is, accounted a vexatious exaction.
* The under miller is, in the language of thirlage, called the knave, which, indeed, signified originally his lad. ( Knabe -- German,) but by degrees came to be taken in a worse sense. In the old translation of the Bible, Paul is made to term himself the knave of our Saviour. The allowance of meal taken by the miller's servant was called knave-ship.
* The multure was the regular exaction for grinding the meal. The lock , signifying a small quantity, and the gowpen, a handful, were additional perquisites demanded by the miller, and submitted to or resisted by the Suckener as circumstances permitted. These and other petty dues were called in general the Sequels.
" Marvellous fine words," at length said Dame Glendinning, who began to be tired of sitting so long silent, "marvellous fine words, neighbour Happer, are they not?"
"Brave words -- very brave words -- very exceeding pyet words," answered the Miller; "nevertheless, to speak my mind, a lippy of bran were worth a bushel of them."
"I think so too, under his worship's favour," answered Christie of the Clinthill. "I well remember that at the race of Morham, as we call it, near Berwick, I took a young Southern fellow out of saddle with my lance, and cast him, it might be, a gad's length from his nag ; and so, as he had some gold on his laced doublet, I deemed he might ha' the like on it in his pocket too, though that is a rule that does not aye hold good -- So I was speaking to him of ransom, and out he comes with a handful of such terms as his honour there hath gleaned up, and craved me for mercy, as I was a true son of Mars, and such like."
"And obtained no mercy at thy hand, I dare be sworn," said the knight, who deigned not to speak Euphuism excepting to the fair sex.
"By my troggs," replied Christie, "I would have thrust my lance down his throat, but just then they flung open that accursed postern-gate, and forth pricked old Hunsdon, and Henry Carey, and as many fellows at their heels as turned the chase northward again. So I e'en pricked Bayard with the spur, and went off with the rest; for a man should ride when he may not wrestle, as they say in Tynedale."
(Vol. 2,p. 52-53)"Brave words -- very brave words -- very exceeding pyet words," answered the Miller; "nevertheless, to speak my mind, a lippy of bran were worth a bushel of them."
"I think so too, under his worship's favour," answered Christie of the Clinthill. "I well remember that at the race of Morham, as we call it, near Berwick, I took a young Southern fellow out of saddle with my lance, and cast him, it might be, a gad's length from his nag ; and so, as he had some gold on his laced doublet, I deemed he might ha' the like on it in his pocket too, though that is a rule that does not aye hold good -- So I was speaking to him of ransom, and out he comes with a handful of such terms as his honour there hath gleaned up, and craved me for mercy, as I was a true son of Mars, and such like."
"And obtained no mercy at thy hand, I dare be sworn," said the knight, who deigned not to speak Euphuism excepting to the fair sex.
"By my troggs," replied Christie, "I would have thrust my lance down his throat, but just then they flung open that accursed postern-gate, and forth pricked old Hunsdon, and Henry Carey, and as many fellows at their heels as turned the chase northward again. So I e'en pricked Bayard with the spur, and went off with the rest; for a man should ride when he may not wrestle, as they say in Tynedale."
Speaker #6:Mysie Miller - Miller's daughter
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Mysie Miller
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - young
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Significant
Dialect Features:Codeswitch, Discourse Marker, Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Miller's daughter
Social Role Category:Trade or craft
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Kennaquhair, fictional place on Scottish borders
Place of Origin Category:Kennaquhair, South Scotland, Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
" Now, in good time, here comes Mysie of the Mill. -- And where hae ye been, lass for a's gane wrang without you?" said Elspeth.
"I just gaed a blink up the burn ," said Mysie, "for the young lady has been down on her bed, and is no just that weel -- So I gaed a gliff up the burn ."
"To see the young lads come hame frae the sport, I will warrant you," said Elspeth. " Ay , ay , Tibb, that's the way the young folk guide us, Tibbie -- leave us to do the wark , and out to the play themsells ."
" Ne'er a bit of that, mistress," said the Maid of the Mill, stripping her round pretty arms, and looking actively and good-humouredly round for some duty that she could discharge, "but just -- I thought ye might like to ken if they were coming back, just to get the dinner forward."
"And saw ye ought of them then?" demanded Elspeth.
"Not the least tokening ," said Mysie, "though I got to the head of a knowe , and though the English knight's beautiful white feather could have been seen over all the bushes in the Shaw."
(Vol. 3,p. 5-6)"I just gaed a blink up the burn ," said Mysie, "for the young lady has been down on her bed, and is no just that weel -- So I gaed a gliff up the burn ."
"To see the young lads come hame frae the sport, I will warrant you," said Elspeth. " Ay , ay , Tibb, that's the way the young folk guide us, Tibbie -- leave us to do the wark , and out to the play themsells ."
" Ne'er a bit of that, mistress," said the Maid of the Mill, stripping her round pretty arms, and looking actively and good-humouredly round for some duty that she could discharge, "but just -- I thought ye might like to ken if they were coming back, just to get the dinner forward."
"And saw ye ought of them then?" demanded Elspeth.
"Not the least tokening ," said Mysie, "though I got to the head of a knowe , and though the English knight's beautiful white feather could have been seen over all the bushes in the Shaw."
Extract #2 dialect features: Metalanguage
Speakers: All , Mysie Miller
"There are two hostelries in this Kirk-town," said Mysie, "but the worst is best for our purpose; for it stands apart from the other houses, and I ken the man weel, for he has dealt with my father for malt."
This causa scientiae , to use a lawyer's phrase, was ill chosen for Mysie's purpose; for Sir Piercie Shafton had, by dint of his own loquacity, been talking himself all this while into a high esteem for his fellow-traveller, and, pleased with the gracious reception which she afforded to his powers of conversation, had well nigh forgotten that she was not herself one of those high-born beauties of whom he was recounting so many stories, when this unlucky speech at once placed the most disadvantageous circumstances attending her lineage under his immediate recollection.
(Vol. 3,p. 101-2)This causa scientiae , to use a lawyer's phrase, was ill chosen for Mysie's purpose; for Sir Piercie Shafton had, by dint of his own loquacity, been talking himself all this while into a high esteem for his fellow-traveller, and, pleased with the gracious reception which she afforded to his powers of conversation, had well nigh forgotten that she was not herself one of those high-born beauties of whom he was recounting so many stories, when this unlucky speech at once placed the most disadvantageous circumstances attending her lineage under his immediate recollection.
Speakers: All , Mysie Miller
"There are two hostelries in this Kirk-town," said Mysie, "but the worst is best for our purpose; for it stands apart from the other houses, and I ken the man weel , for he has dealt with my father for malt. "
This causa scientiae , to use a lawyer's phrase, was ill chosen for Mysie's purpose; for Sir Piercie Shafton had, by dint of his own loquacity, been talking himself all this while into a high esteem for his fellow-traveller, and, pleased with the gracious reception which she afforded to his powers of conversation, had well nigh forgotten that she was not herself one of those high-born beauties of whom he was recounting so many stories, when this unlucky speech at once placed the most disadvantageous circumstances attending her lineage under his immediate recollection.
(Vol. 3,p. 100-101)This causa scientiae , to use a lawyer's phrase, was ill chosen for Mysie's purpose; for Sir Piercie Shafton had, by dint of his own loquacity, been talking himself all this while into a high esteem for his fellow-traveller, and, pleased with the gracious reception which she afforded to his powers of conversation, had well nigh forgotten that she was not herself one of those high-born beauties of whom he was recounting so many stories, when this unlucky speech at once placed the most disadvantageous circumstances attending her lineage under his immediate recollection.
Speaker #7:Christie of the Clinthill - Knight working for local lord, rather penniless and disreputable
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Christie of the Clinthill
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Significant
Dialect Features:Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Knight working for local lord, rather penniless and disreputable
Social Role Category:Aristocracy or gentry
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Near to Kennaquhair, Scottish borders
Place of Origin Category:Kennaquhair, South Scotland, Scotland
Speakers: All , Christie of the Clinthill
"So, our lady is dead, Dame Glendinning," said the jack-man, "My master sent you even now a fat bullock for her mart -- it may serve for her funeral. I have left him in the upper cleuch , as he is somewhat ken-speckle ,* and is marked both with cut and birn -- the sooner the skin is off, and he is saultfat , the less like you are to have trouble, you understand me. Let me have a peck of corn for my horse, and beef and beer for myself, for I must go on to the Monastery -- though I think this Monk here might do mine errand."
* Ken-speckle â- that which is easily recognised by the eye.
(Vol. 1,p. 242-243)* Ken-speckle â- that which is easily recognised by the eye.
" Marvellous fine words," at length said Dame Glendinning, who began to be tired of sitting so long silent, "marvellous fine words, neighbour Happer, are they not?"
"Brave words -- very brave words -- very exceeding pyet words," answered the Miller; "nevertheless, to speak my mind, a lippy of bran were worth a bushel of them."
"I think so too, under his worship's favour," answered Christie of the Clinthill. "I well remember that at the race of Morham, as we call it, near Berwick, I took a young Southern fellow out of saddle with my lance, and cast him, it might be, a gad's length from his nag ; and so, as he had some gold on his laced doublet, I deemed he might ha' the like on it in his pocket too, though that is a rule that does not aye hold good -- So I was speaking to him of ransom, and out he comes with a handful of such terms as his honour there hath gleaned up, and craved me for mercy, as I was a true son of Mars, and such like."
"And obtained no mercy at thy hand, I dare be sworn," said the knight, who deigned not to speak Euphuism excepting to the fair sex.
"By my troggs," replied Christie, "I would have thrust my lance down his throat, but just then they flung open that accursed postern-gate, and forth pricked old Hunsdon, and Henry Carey, and as many fellows at their heels as turned the chase northward again. So I e'en pricked Bayard with the spur, and went off with the rest; for a man should ride when he may not wrestle, as they say in Tynedale."
(Vol. 2,p. 52-53)"Brave words -- very brave words -- very exceeding pyet words," answered the Miller; "nevertheless, to speak my mind, a lippy of bran were worth a bushel of them."
"I think so too, under his worship's favour," answered Christie of the Clinthill. "I well remember that at the race of Morham, as we call it, near Berwick, I took a young Southern fellow out of saddle with my lance, and cast him, it might be, a gad's length from his nag ; and so, as he had some gold on his laced doublet, I deemed he might ha' the like on it in his pocket too, though that is a rule that does not aye hold good -- So I was speaking to him of ransom, and out he comes with a handful of such terms as his honour there hath gleaned up, and craved me for mercy, as I was a true son of Mars, and such like."
"And obtained no mercy at thy hand, I dare be sworn," said the knight, who deigned not to speak Euphuism excepting to the fair sex.
"By my troggs," replied Christie, "I would have thrust my lance down his throat, but just then they flung open that accursed postern-gate, and forth pricked old Hunsdon, and Henry Carey, and as many fellows at their heels as turned the chase northward again. So I e'en pricked Bayard with the spur, and went off with the rest; for a man should ride when he may not wrestle, as they say in Tynedale."