Jane Seton; or, The King's Advocate: A Scottish Historical Romance
His ruffian dependent, who to his public official duties limited the
private one of valet, had scarcely given the last finishing-touch to
his elaborate costume when the clatter of hoofs drew Redhall to the
window, and he saw the master of the ordnance, with his plumes
waving, his polished corselet, his embroidered dress, and rich gold
aiguilettes glittering in the sunshine, ride up the street. A tall,
stout serving-man, clad in a half suit of ribbed armour, wearing that
kind of close helmet which was then called a coursing-hat, and
carrying over his shoulder a mighty two-handed wall-sword, nearly as
long as himself, followed close at his heels, running as if for his
life.
(This armed valet was no other than the Earl of Ashkirk.)
Almost at the same moment, as if she had been watching for the sound
of the hoofs, Jane Seton appeared at an opposite window, which she
threw open. There was a radiant smile on her bright face as she
kissed her hand to the handsome cavalier, who uncovered and bowed to
his horse's mane; and there was a happy expression in his eyes, a
gallant and adventurous air about him, that, with the splendour of
his attire, failed not to impress even Redhall; for, as Vipont
saluted his charming mistress, the spirited animal he rode approached
her sideways, keeping his front to the windows, curveting, prancing,
and shaking his flowing mane and the silver ornaments of the embossed
bridle.
"St. Mary!" muttered the advocate, while he bit his thin lips, and a
fierce smile twinkled in his eyes, "how she welcomes him!--an empty
fool, who hath no thought beyond his ruffs and his aiguilettes, and
who, though he hath scarcely a cross in his pouch, is doubtless ready
to cut the throat of any man who doubts him rich as Croesus, and able
to purchase the three Lothians."
Charged with an invitation, secretly obtained from the queen, for the
ladies of Ashkirk, Roland was in high spirits, for he had procured it
through the influence of Madame de Montreuil, the governess of
Magdalene; and, with his face all smiles, he sprung from his horse
and entered the mansion.
Lady Jane disappeared from the window.
Then Redhall ground his teeth, and turned furiously away, for then he
knew the happy lovers had met, and were together.
He hurriedly left his house, and descending the Blackfriars Wynd to
the Archiepiscopal Palace, a fragment of which is still prominent by
its large octagon tower which overhangs the Cowgate, he was admitted
by the cardinal's armed vassals, or guards, at a low-browed doorway,
surmounted by the coat armorial of Bethune and Balfour, over which
was the broad-tasselled hat, which indicates a prince of the holy
Roman empire.
There, at dinner, Redhall heard from his friend, the Abbot of
Kinloss, the rumour which was then current in the city, that "the
master of the king's ordnance had been most malapertly beset upon the
Hiegait by a party of the Douglas traitors," from whom he had been
only saved by a miraculous exertion of valour; for (as Buchanan
relates) whatever happened in those days was invariably placed to the
score of the Douglases.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE QUEEN'S MASQUE.
"Old Holyrood rung merrily
That night with wassail, mirth, and glee:
King James, within her princely towers,
Feasted the chiefs of Scotland's powers."--_Marmion._
Attended by Ashkirk, who carried the tremendous sword before
mentioned, and was arrayed in clothes somewhat sad-coloured, but in
fashion between those of a valet and esquire, Roland, agitated by no
ordinary fear and exultation, approached the illuminated hall of the
palace--fear, because, despite every warning, the madcap noble
insisted on accompanying him--and exultation, because Jane Seton and
her companions were all to be there; though the haughty old countess
had coldly declined, on the plea of age and ill health, which, in
reality, was caused by dread of the risk so foolishly run by her son,
whom she had implored, with tears, to seek shelter among his own
vassals in Forfarshire, if he could not regain the court of England;
for the frontiers were said to be closely watched.
With his doublet of cloth-of-gold, all dotted with seed pearls, a
short purple velvet mantle, lined with yellow satin, dangling from
his left shoulder, his gold aiguilettes, ruff, and sword, Roland had
donned his best bravery, curled his dark locks, and pointed his
moustaches with particular care on this auspicious evening. He
carried his bonnet in his hand, as they traversed the crowded courts
of the palace; and every minute he turned to look anxiously at
Ashkirk; but his peculiar helmet, with its low peak, and the thick
beard, which he had permitted to grow long for disguise, together
with his bombastic doublet, completely transformed him, and he
marched behind, bearing his six-foot rapier with imperturbable
gravity.
The gloomy and antique courts, overlooked by grated windows and heavy
roofs of stone, the cloistered passages and vast stone stairs of this
ancient palace (which was burnt by the English), were lighted with
numerous coloured lamps. The king's guard, wearing their blue
bonnets, stockings and doublets of scarlet, slashed and faced with
black, and armed with pike, poniard, and arquebuse, formed two
glittering lines from the palace gate to the main entrance, and from
thence along the passages to the head of the grand staircase, where
stood their captain, Sir John Forrester of Corstorphine, a handsome
and reckless-looking young gallant, clad in the uniform colours of
the guard (a jerkin of scarlet velvet, richly lined with Venetian
gold), and having twelve short aiguilettes on each shoulder of his
trunk sleeves, which terminated in steel gauntlets, for he wore his
gorget, and, being on duty, had an esquire near him, who carried his
helmet.
His lieutenant, Louis Leslie of Balquhan, in the Garioch, was
similarly arrayed; and both were remarkably elegant and
military-looking young men.
"Holy mass!" said Forrester, looking down the long staircase, "here
cometh Vipont, and his new valet with the outrageous sword!"
"'Fore God! he looks like one of the twelve peers of Charlemagne,"
said Leslie, with a loud laugh.
"Ho! Vipont, where the devil didst steal that ancient paladine?"
"'Tis the excalibur of King Arthur he carries," said Leslie.
"'Tis the lance of Urganda the Unknown!"
And the young men laughed aloud as their friend ascended the stair
with his tall valet three paces behind. When he drew near, Forrester
playfully made a pass with his sword at Roland's face, a second at
his breast, and a third at his ruff, keeping him down the stair. The
cannonier immediately unsheathed his rapier, and simply saying--
"Guard!" attacked his assailant in the same playful manner; and they
fenced for more than a minute, while Louis Leslie held his sides, and
laughed boisterously on seeing that Vipont found the impossibility of
ascending, and was beginning to lose his temper.
The approach of Cardinal Beaton, who was surrounded by a large body
of vassals wearing his own livery, put an end to this dangerous
frolic; and though openly saluted by the king's soldiers, the
cardinal's guards were secretly greeted with haughty and supercilious
glances as they marched between the double ranks that led to the foot
of the grand staircase, jostling as they ascended the train of Sir
Thomas Clifford, the ambassador of England--a country which the
cardinal abhorred, politically and religiously.
"Harkee, Forrester," said Roland, as he passed; "have the ladies of
Ashkirk arrived yet?"
"Yes, some ten minutes ago. I was thunderstruck to see them!"
"Wherefore?"
"Hast thou not heard the rumour?"
"Of what?"
"That the Earl of Ashkirk is among us here, in the good town of
Edinburgh."
"Twenty devils! dost thou say so?"
"'Tis a fact--on some treasonable mission from English Henry--at
least, so sayeth my lord advocate."
Roland's blood ran alternately hot and cold.
"This demon advocate hears of everything!" said he to the earl, as
they passed along the corridor. "My God! lord earl, if
discovered----"
"Thou canst save me, perhaps," said the earl, who was himself a
little alarmed.
"If not?"
"I can die then, with my sword in my hand," replied the earl, through
his teeth. "But art thou not rich in the favour of this holiday
king?"
"In that alone; otherwise I am poor enough, God wot."
"Thy father left thee----"
"His sword, his arms, and motto--nothing more. The first is here at
my side--the second, I know by heart, having nought else whereon to
grave them--_gules_, six annulets _or_."
"Tush! thou wilt build thee a castle some day, and put the crest
above the gate."
"A swan'shead winged, rising from a ducal coronet--ha! ha! my father
was a soldier, and poor, as we soldiers always are."
"'Tis a madcap adventure, this, I know right well," said the earl;
"but I have armed me (sans leave) with your best corslet; and as I
have a strong affection for my poor head (which is, in fact, of no
use to any one save myself), they shall never possess it if my hands
can keep it. If I am beset to-night--fiends! I would mow them all
down with this long blade, like death with his scythe."
"St. Mary! use it warily," said Roland, laughing; "thou wilt punch a
hole in the roof else."
"Thou lovest this King James well?"
"Love him--yes. I am ready to be cut in pieces for him to-morrow."
"Still thou art poor!"
"I have quite made up my mind to be rich at some future day, but when
that day shall come, the Lord alone knows," replied Roland, without
perceiving that the earl was covertly ridiculing his loyalty to James.
Notwithstanding his disguise, the whole air and bearing of Ashkirk
were eminently noble. Though brave and passionate, he veiled a
promptitude to anger under an outwardly impassible equanimity of
temper; thus, while he could be at one time rash to excess, at
another he could affect to be doggedly cool. He had innumerable
excellent qualities of head and heart, which would have rendered him
of inestimable value to such a prince as James V.; but his blind
devotion to the faction of Angus (a faction of which we will treat
more at large elsewhere) rendered them nugatory. Though considerably
above the middle height, he was strong, elegant, and graceful. His
nose was almost aquiline; his eyes were dark and piercing; his mouth
was like that of a Cæsar; and his well-defined chin was indicative of
that obstinacy of purpose, which is a leading feature of the Scottish
character; and, like every gentleman of his time, he rode, fenced,
and danced to perfection.
Roland sighed when he thought on all these lost good qualities, and
bestowing a parting glance on the earl, who, as his valet, was
obliged to leave him at the large gothic door of the hall, he passed
through with the guests, who were ushered between a double line of
pages and liverymen. The chamberlain of the household waved his
wand, and announced--
"Sir Roland Vipont of that ilk, master of the king's ordnance."
In one little heart only, amid all the gay throng in that magnificent
hall, did the name of the king's first favourite find an echo.
Two hundred wax-lights, in branching chandeliers, illuminated the
high arched roof and lofty walls of the vast apartment, which was
decorated with all that florid ornament and grandeur which we find in
the palaces of James V. It was one of his new additions to the regal
mansion which his uncle Albany, and his father, James IV., had first
engrafted on the old monastic edifice of the Holy Cross. In honour
of the queen, the walls were hung with arras composed of resplendent
cloth-of-gold and silver, impaled with velvet, and the floors were
covered with Persian carpets, which were among the gifts received by