FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134  
135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   >>   >|  
r lives on the scaffold in the persecuting time. And my father was honoured to gie his testimony baith in the cage and in the pillory, as is specially mentioned in the books of Peter Walker the packman, that your honour, I dare say, kens, for he uses maist partly the westland of Scotland. And, sir, there's ane that takes concern in me, that wished me to gang to your Grace's presence, for his gudesire had done your gracious gudesire some good turn, as ye will see frae these papers." With these words, she delivered to the Duke the little parcel which she had received from Butler. He opened it, and, in the envelope, read with some surprise, "'Musterroll of the men serving in the troop of that godly gentleman, Captain Salathiel Bangtext.--Obadiah Muggleton, Sin-Despise Double-knock, Stand-fast-in-faith Gipps, Turn-to-the-right Thwack-away'-- What the deuce is this? A list of Praise-God Barebone's Parliament I think, or of old Noll's evangelical army--that last fellow should understand his wheelings, to judge by his name.--But what does all this mean, my girl?" "It was the other paper, sir," said Jeanie, somewhat abashed at the mistake. "O, this is my unfortunate grandfather's hand sure enough--'To all who may have friendship for the house of Argyle, these are to certify, that Benjamin Butler, of Monk's regiment of dragoons, having been, under God, the means of saving my life from four English troopers who were about, to slay me, I, having no other present means of recompense in my power, do give him this acknowledgment, hoping that it may be useful to him or his during these troublesome times; and do conjure my friends, tenants, kinsmen, and whoever will do aught for me, either in the Highlands or Lowlands, to protect and assist the said Benjamin Butler, and his friends or family, on their lawful occasions, giving them such countenance, maintenance, and supply, as may correspond with the benefit he hath bestowed on me; witness my hand--Lorne.' "This is a strong injunction--This Benjamin Butler was your grandfather, I suppose?--You seem too young to have been his daughter." "He was nae akin to me, sir--he was grandfather to ane--to a neighbour's son--to a sincere weel-wisher of mine, sir," dropping her little courtesy as she spoke. "O, I understand," said the Duke--"a true-love affair. He was the grandsire of one you are engaged to?" "One I _was_ engaged to, sir," said Jeanie, sighing; "but this unhappy busin
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134  
135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Butler
 

Benjamin

 

grandfather

 
gudesire
 
Jeanie
 
understand
 

friends

 

engaged

 

dropping

 

English


saving
 
courtesy
 

troopers

 

present

 

recompense

 

wisher

 

sighing

 

unfortunate

 

unhappy

 

affair


regiment
 

certify

 

grandsire

 
friendship
 

Argyle

 
dragoons
 
hoping
 

countenance

 

daughter

 

lawful


occasions

 

giving

 
maintenance
 
supply
 

suppose

 
witness
 

injunction

 

bestowed

 

correspond

 

benefit


conjure

 

sincere

 
tenants
 

kinsmen

 
troublesome
 
strong
 

assist

 

family

 
neighbour
 

protect