Otterbourne; a Story of the English Marches.
Author Details
Surname:?Atkinson (Charles L.) or Duros (Edward)
First Names:
Gender:Male
Anonymous:No
Publication Details
Publisher:Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street.
Place:London
Date:1832
Novel Details
Genre:Adventure; chivalric; courtship; historical
Setting:England; Scotland
Period:pre-1500 (set 1388)
Plot
This is a fictionalised account of the English Marches on Scotland during the reign of Richard II. It takes the actual Battle of Otterburn of 1388 as the central theme from which the fictionalised account proceeds. The names of the main protagonists are those of the actual historical figures who fought the border battle (Earl of Douglas, 'Hotspur' and so on), and the plot reconciles well with accounts of the battle. The minor and peripheral characters are, in all likelihood, entirely fictionalised, and provide a complex collection of parallel storylines, many of which coincide at points. The essence of the tale is the battle itself, but intrigue, chivalric romance, subterfuge and betrayal also characterise the narrative.
Overview of the Dialect
There is much archaism (recognising the historical setting), but also lots of Scots dialect. One character, an English-born widow of an innkeeper, seems to be represented as speaking with a north-eastern (perhaps Newcastle?) variety. '"Ewhow!" ejaculated the head, in tones of mingled anger and apprehension, "Wha ha' we here? Wist ye to be amang the southron cottars already, that ye make high road through quiet folks' kale and pot-yerbs? Let me warn ye, chield, I ha' well-wishers wi' the lords o'er bye, that 'ill no see me harried without right or reason." The speaker it must be stated, used an exaggerated Scottish accent, evidently affected; but neither in that, nor in his natural one, is it desirable to imitate him.'
Speaker #1:Narrator (third person) - Individual
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Narrator (third person)
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Metalanguage
Social Role
Social Role Description:
Social Role Category:
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:
Place of Origin Category:Unspecified
Extract #1 dialect features: Metalanguage
Speakers: All , Narrator (third person)
The speaker, it must be stated, used an exaggerated Scottish accent, evidently affected; but neither in that, nor in his natural one, is it desirable to imitate him.
(Vol. 1,p. 38)Extract #2 dialect features: Metalanguage
Speakers: All , Narrator (third person)
"hast thou ta'en counsel of such prudence, that thou hurriest to offer us the keys e'en ere we make demand or comest thou to market with us for appaticisement ?"* [to footnote: 'A term for a sort of town-ransom']
(Vol. 2,p. 61)Extract #3 dialect features: Metalanguage
Speakers: All , Narrator (third person)
On entering, the limited accommodations of the place were found to consist simply in the two apartments commonly denominated by the northern peasantry, an "outbye and inbye" (the Scottish "but and ben").
(Vol. 3,p. 69)Speaker #2:Leonard Tyzack - Leather jerkin-maker
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Linny the jerkin-maker
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Leather jerkin-maker
Social Role Category:Trade or craft
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Scottish
Place of Origin Category:Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Speakers: All , Leonard Tyzack
"Ewhow!" ejaculated the head, in tones of mingled anger and apprehension, "Wha ha' we here? Wist ye to be amang the southron cottars already, that ye make high road through quiet folks' kale and pot-yerbs ? Let me warn ye , chield , I ha' well-wishers wi' the lords o'er bye , that 'ill no see me harried without right or reason."
(Vol. 1,p. 38)Extract #2 dialect features: Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"It 's well for them that can pick up friends in fremd places!" continued Linny, grinning savagely; "I wish I knew the way on't!"
"Ou! ye should just whustle through your loof for them!" flouted she, instantly recovering her wonted effrontery. "If they do no' come, ye'll get your labour for your pains and be no loser."
" Ye could wise me of a better lure, an' ye chose," rejoined Tyzack, with bitter pertinancy.
" Deed no -- folk maun hae something to look at!" was the pert reply; given with a toss of the head, which, whilst it interpreted her meaning, also proclaimed her vulgar vanity.
"And to fool with too, belike! " retorted he, "or thy chance had been o' the smallest."
"Hout, Linny! she returned, changing her tone into a propitiatory sort of whine; " ye make mouths before the porridge scalds! It's not for a poor lass that's sent across door in a brawly night to put affront on any civil-spoken carle that takes to mind her the road . In to the kitchen, wi' thee , man! there's stouth and routh for a' comers. Look to thy own share! I maun up to the Ladykin's bower."
(Vol. 2,p. 174-5)"Ou! ye should just whustle through your loof for them!" flouted she, instantly recovering her wonted effrontery. "If they do no' come, ye'll get your labour for your pains and be no loser."
" Ye could wise me of a better lure, an' ye chose," rejoined Tyzack, with bitter pertinancy.
" Deed no -- folk maun hae something to look at!" was the pert reply; given with a toss of the head, which, whilst it interpreted her meaning, also proclaimed her vulgar vanity.
"And to fool with too, belike! " retorted he, "or thy chance had been o' the smallest."
"Hout, Linny! she returned, changing her tone into a propitiatory sort of whine; " ye make mouths before the porridge scalds! It's not for a poor lass that's sent across door in a brawly night to put affront on any civil-spoken carle that takes to mind her the road . In to the kitchen, wi' thee , man! there's stouth and routh for a' comers. Look to thy own share! I maun up to the Ladykin's bower."
Speaker #3:Mabel Tyzack - Ladies' maid, wife of jerkin-maker / housewife / ladies' maid
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Wife of Linny
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Ladies' maid, wife of jerkin-maker / housewife / ladies' maid
Social Role Category:Servant
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Scottish
Place of Origin Category:Dunse, Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"It 's well for them that can pick up friends in fremd places!" continued Linny, grinning savagely; "I wish I knew the way on't!"
"Ou! ye should just whustle through your loof for them!" flouted she, instantly recovering her wonted effrontery. "If they do no' come, ye'll get your labour for your pains and be no loser."
" Ye could wise me of a better lure, an' ye chose," rejoined Tyzack, with bitter pertinancy.
" Deed no -- folk maun hae something to look at!" was the pert reply; given with a toss of the head, which, whilst it interpreted her meaning, also proclaimed her vulgar vanity.
"And to fool with too, belike! " retorted he, "or thy chance had been o' the smallest."
"Hout, Linny! she returned, changing her tone into a propitiatory sort of whine; " ye make mouths before the porridge scalds! It's not for a poor lass that's sent across door in a brawly night to put affront on any civil-spoken carle that takes to mind her the road . In to the kitchen, wi' thee , man! there's stouth and routh for a' comers. Look to thy own share! I maun up to the Ladykin's bower."
(Vol. 2,p. 174-5)"Ou! ye should just whustle through your loof for them!" flouted she, instantly recovering her wonted effrontery. "If they do no' come, ye'll get your labour for your pains and be no loser."
" Ye could wise me of a better lure, an' ye chose," rejoined Tyzack, with bitter pertinancy.
" Deed no -- folk maun hae something to look at!" was the pert reply; given with a toss of the head, which, whilst it interpreted her meaning, also proclaimed her vulgar vanity.
"And to fool with too, belike! " retorted he, "or thy chance had been o' the smallest."
"Hout, Linny! she returned, changing her tone into a propitiatory sort of whine; " ye make mouths before the porridge scalds! It's not for a poor lass that's sent across door in a brawly night to put affront on any civil-spoken carle that takes to mind her the road . In to the kitchen, wi' thee , man! there's stouth and routh for a' comers. Look to thy own share! I maun up to the Ladykin's bower."
Extract #2 dialect features: Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
" Certes thof , ladykins ," intruded Mabel, who had all the pert forwardness prescriptive to abigails, heightened by a rustic ignorance of respects. "Had ye seen dame Farneley's son riding, as I saw him this very morn, at the heels of the great Piercie, ye'd ha' sworn he was as proud as any march-lord o' them a' , and, to eyes judging, wi' as good reason. If what they say adown stair be sooth , he'll come home none the humblerwise ."
"Prithee peace, gossip" reprimanded Hester, "We want thy handywork, not thy cottage prate."
Mabel sulked aside.
"Nay," interposed Amisia, speaking in undertones to her cousin, "this is scarce called for. Consider she is but the makeshift of a day, it skills not to square observances so nicely. Tell me, wench (to Mabel) what hast thou heard of the esquire, and our other brave defenders? we may well take concern to know."
Thus encouraged, Mabel entered on a string of details too preposterously exaggerated, as well as too incoherent, for our repetition.
"And they e'en say," she concluded, "the wudspur Piercie and young Maister Raimond held the hail tote o' the bonny Scots at spears length for the best part o' twa hours. But, under favour, I'll no beleve that mysel ; I ken my kintra'men the better."
(Vol. 2,p. 91-3)"Prithee peace, gossip" reprimanded Hester, "We want thy handywork, not thy cottage prate."
Mabel sulked aside.
"Nay," interposed Amisia, speaking in undertones to her cousin, "this is scarce called for. Consider she is but the makeshift of a day, it skills not to square observances so nicely. Tell me, wench (to Mabel) what hast thou heard of the esquire, and our other brave defenders? we may well take concern to know."
Thus encouraged, Mabel entered on a string of details too preposterously exaggerated, as well as too incoherent, for our repetition.
"And they e'en say," she concluded, "the wudspur Piercie and young Maister Raimond held the hail tote o' the bonny Scots at spears length for the best part o' twa hours. But, under favour, I'll no beleve that mysel ; I ken my kintra'men the better."
"Canst thou then Get instant speech of the demoiselle Arnecliffe?" he asked.
"'Deed, I fear it 'ill no be easy," she replied, "the ladykin's among a brave company, and she'll be loath to leave it if she be like most of her sort. There's grand on-gauns in bye , and a feast ready for the down-sitting few would lose share of that could help't . Oh! judikins! what store of dainty vivers and --
"Ne'er mind them now, good wench, but bethink thee whether another gold piece be worth thy winning," interrupted Moray.
(Vol. 2,p. 206)"'Deed, I fear it 'ill no be easy," she replied, "the ladykin's among a brave company, and she'll be loath to leave it if she be like most of her sort. There's grand on-gauns in bye , and a feast ready for the down-sitting few would lose share of that could help't . Oh! judikins! what store of dainty vivers and --
"Ne'er mind them now, good wench, but bethink thee whether another gold piece be worth thy winning," interrupted Moray.
Speaker #4:Debby - Innkeeper
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Innkeeper / widow
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Innkeeper
Social Role Category:Trade or craft
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Scottish (borders)
Place of Origin Category:South Scotland, Scotland
"' Od rat it! Hughie!" was her preliminary address, "I could wish thou wert a long mile off for the sake o' gossipred . There's more o' these landloupers bound to the Dyke-nook, I hear, and old dad's luck may fail thee at another pinch."
[...]
"So I wist , and dreaded. But come, time's brief -- what's your will?"
[...]
"Tut! not at all. There are buirdly bullies among the Scots, and I thought thou hadst wot of old that womenkind 'ill ne'er be staid when they're fond and fain ; either by kith or kin. Twas the way wi' myself once -- I'll not scorn the wite on't."
[â¦]
"Wunters me! he'll thole this ill! Why he would cry wail-a-way! at her taking on wi' the best Scot that ever buckled belt. "
[â¦]
"I'll do't Hugh, never fear me," replied the dame; " forbye their being foes to the land, I've a cold side to customers that gi' me hungry hope of a pennyfee ."
(Vol. 3,p. 70-82)[...]
"So I wist , and dreaded. But come, time's brief -- what's your will?"
[...]
"Tut! not at all. There are buirdly bullies among the Scots, and I thought thou hadst wot of old that womenkind 'ill ne'er be staid when they're fond and fain ; either by kith or kin. Twas the way wi' myself once -- I'll not scorn the wite on't."
[â¦]
"Wunters me! he'll thole this ill! Why he would cry wail-a-way! at her taking on wi' the best Scot that ever buckled belt. "
[â¦]
"I'll do't Hugh, never fear me," replied the dame; " forbye their being foes to the land, I've a cold side to customers that gi' me hungry hope of a pennyfee ."
"Is there aught ," said she, with a mixture of leering familiarity, and awkward respect, "wherein I can pleasure your la'ship before taking to rest? it's waxing on to bed-hours. "
"Nothing, dame," answered Hester, coldly, "save it be to preserve me as much as may be from the noise of thy wild company, and to order thy hostler, if thou dost entertain one, to have my palfrey ready to my call at early morning."
"Entertain an hostler!" iterated the hostess, somewhat affronted. "I ha' the good need, I wot . I've enough to do wi' two-legged beasts, without running after them that go on four -- no offence to your la'yship : but as to your la'ship' s bit nag, yon Scot loons -- no offence again -- ha' ta'en the looking to't ."
For a communication to this effect Hester was prepared, but it was a part of her determination not overtly to suppose any restraint upon her will, until the fact should be forced upon her.
"If Master Ormiston be still here, acquaint him with my wish, and say further, that I absolve him from the trouble of taking any charge on my behoof."
" Him they call henchman you mean, I wist -- oh! he's still here, and a round de'il's batch o' jackmen to boot. Foul fa' the chance that brought them to the Dyke-nook! (saving for your la'ship ), they bid fair to eat me out o' house and harbour, and all I'll get in return for't , I may put in the corner o' my eye, and see ne'er the worse."
[â¦]
"Why, the card o't is not pinned to your sleeve, that's all. When the hind runs with the hounds, the hart may well be mazed and bide aloof . But what signifies mincing ? Deb Croudace was called a freespoken wench when a lassock , and keeping open door by the roadside hasn't cheated her of the trick. A bachelor is a bachelor whether he be Hab Scot or John Englishman, so before I make or mell with this gear, I would just like to know whether ye're bound to Scotland, o' your will and pleasure, or what else?"
(Vol. 3,p. 117-19)"Nothing, dame," answered Hester, coldly, "save it be to preserve me as much as may be from the noise of thy wild company, and to order thy hostler, if thou dost entertain one, to have my palfrey ready to my call at early morning."
"Entertain an hostler!" iterated the hostess, somewhat affronted. "I ha' the good need, I wot . I've enough to do wi' two-legged beasts, without running after them that go on four -- no offence to your la'yship : but as to your la'ship' s bit nag, yon Scot loons -- no offence again -- ha' ta'en the looking to't ."
For a communication to this effect Hester was prepared, but it was a part of her determination not overtly to suppose any restraint upon her will, until the fact should be forced upon her.
"If Master Ormiston be still here, acquaint him with my wish, and say further, that I absolve him from the trouble of taking any charge on my behoof."
" Him they call henchman you mean, I wist -- oh! he's still here, and a round de'il's batch o' jackmen to boot. Foul fa' the chance that brought them to the Dyke-nook! (saving for your la'ship ), they bid fair to eat me out o' house and harbour, and all I'll get in return for't , I may put in the corner o' my eye, and see ne'er the worse."
[â¦]
"Why, the card o't is not pinned to your sleeve, that's all. When the hind runs with the hounds, the hart may well be mazed and bide aloof . But what signifies mincing ? Deb Croudace was called a freespoken wench when a lassock , and keeping open door by the roadside hasn't cheated her of the trick. A bachelor is a bachelor whether he be Hab Scot or John Englishman, so before I make or mell with this gear, I would just like to know whether ye're bound to Scotland, o' your will and pleasure, or what else?"