Redgauntlet [122]
acuteness of their northern neighbours might overreach their own simplicity, turned to his clerk with a perplexed countenance.
'Eh--oh--Nick--d--n thee--Hast thou got nothing to say? This is more Scots law, I take it, and more Scotsmen.' (Here he cast a side-glance at the owner of the mansion, and winked to his clerk.) 'I would Solway were as deep as it is wide, and we had then some chance of keeping of them out.'
Nicholas conversed an instant aside with the supplicant, and then reported:--
'The man wants a border-warrant, I think; but they are only granted for debt--now he wants one to catch a lawyer.'
'And what for no?' answered Peter Peebles, doggedly; 'what for no, I would be glad to ken? If a day's labourer refuse to work, ye'll grant a warrant to gar him do out his daurg--if a wench quean rin away from her hairst, ye'll send her back to her heuck again--if sae mickle as a collier or a salter make a moonlight flitting, ye will cleek him by the back-spaul in a minute of time--and yet the damage canna amount to mair than a creelfu' of coals, and a forpit or twa of saut; and here is a chield taks leg from his engagement, and damages me to the tune of sax thousand punds sterling; that is, three thousand that I should win, and three thousand mair that I am like to lose; and you that ca' yourself a justice canna help a poor man to catch the rinaway? A bonny like justice I am like to get amang ye!'
'The fellow must be drunk,' said the clerk.
'Black fasting from all but sin,' replied the supplicant; 'I havena had mair than a mouthful of cauld water since I passed the Border, and deil a ane of ye is like to say to me, "Dog, will ye drink?"'
The Justice seemed moved by this appeal. 'Hem---tush, man,' replied he; 'thou speak'st to us as if thou wert in presence of one of thine own beggarly justices--get downstairs--get something to eat, man (with permission of my friend to make so free in his house), and a mouthful to drink, and I warrant we get ye such justice as will please ye.'
'I winna refuse your neighbourly offer,' said Poor Peter Peebles, making his bow; 'muckle grace be wi' your honour, and wisdom to guide you in this extraordinary cause.'
When I saw Peter Peebles about to retire from the room, I could not forbear an effort to obtain from him such evidence as might give me some credit with the Justice. I stepped forward, therefore, and, saluting him, asked him if he remembered me?
After a stare or two, and a long pinch of snuff, recollection seemed suddenly to dawn on Peter Peebles. 'Recollect ye!' he said; 'by my troth do I.---Haud him a grip, gentlemen!-- constables, keep him fast! where that ill-deedie hempy is, ye are sure that Alan Fairford is not far off. Haud him fast, Master Constable; I charge ye wi' him, for I am mista'en if he is not at the bottom of this rinaway business. He was aye getting the silly callant Alan awa wi' gigs, and horse, and the like of that, to Roslin, and Prestonpans, and a' the idle gates he could think of. He's a rinaway apprentice, that ane.'
'Mr. Peebles,' I said, 'do not do me wrong. I am sure you can say no harm of me justly, but can satisfy these gentlemen, if you will, that I am a student of law in Edinburgh--Darsie Latimer by name.'
'Me satisfy! how can I satisfy the gentlemen,' answered Peter, 'that am sae far from being satisfied mysell? I ken naething about your name, and can only testify, NIHIL NOVIT IN CAUSA.'
'A pretty witness you have brought forward in your favour,' said Mr. Foxley. 'But--ha--aye---I'll ask him a question or two. Pray, friend, will you take your oath to this youth being a runaway apprentice?'
'Sir,' said Peter, 'I will make oath to onything in reason; when a case comes to my oath it's a won cause: But I am in some haste to prie your worship's good cheer;' for Peter had become much more respectful in his demeanour towards the Justice since he had heard some intimation of dinner.
'You shall have--eh--hum--aye--a bellyful, if it be possible to fill it. First let me know if this young man be really
'Eh--oh--Nick--d--n thee--Hast thou got nothing to say? This is more Scots law, I take it, and more Scotsmen.' (Here he cast a side-glance at the owner of the mansion, and winked to his clerk.) 'I would Solway were as deep as it is wide, and we had then some chance of keeping of them out.'
Nicholas conversed an instant aside with the supplicant, and then reported:--
'The man wants a border-warrant, I think; but they are only granted for debt--now he wants one to catch a lawyer.'
'And what for no?' answered Peter Peebles, doggedly; 'what for no, I would be glad to ken? If a day's labourer refuse to work, ye'll grant a warrant to gar him do out his daurg--if a wench quean rin away from her hairst, ye'll send her back to her heuck again--if sae mickle as a collier or a salter make a moonlight flitting, ye will cleek him by the back-spaul in a minute of time--and yet the damage canna amount to mair than a creelfu' of coals, and a forpit or twa of saut; and here is a chield taks leg from his engagement, and damages me to the tune of sax thousand punds sterling; that is, three thousand that I should win, and three thousand mair that I am like to lose; and you that ca' yourself a justice canna help a poor man to catch the rinaway? A bonny like justice I am like to get amang ye!'
'The fellow must be drunk,' said the clerk.
'Black fasting from all but sin,' replied the supplicant; 'I havena had mair than a mouthful of cauld water since I passed the Border, and deil a ane of ye is like to say to me, "Dog, will ye drink?"'
The Justice seemed moved by this appeal. 'Hem---tush, man,' replied he; 'thou speak'st to us as if thou wert in presence of one of thine own beggarly justices--get downstairs--get something to eat, man (with permission of my friend to make so free in his house), and a mouthful to drink, and I warrant we get ye such justice as will please ye.'
'I winna refuse your neighbourly offer,' said Poor Peter Peebles, making his bow; 'muckle grace be wi' your honour, and wisdom to guide you in this extraordinary cause.'
When I saw Peter Peebles about to retire from the room, I could not forbear an effort to obtain from him such evidence as might give me some credit with the Justice. I stepped forward, therefore, and, saluting him, asked him if he remembered me?
After a stare or two, and a long pinch of snuff, recollection seemed suddenly to dawn on Peter Peebles. 'Recollect ye!' he said; 'by my troth do I.---Haud him a grip, gentlemen!-- constables, keep him fast! where that ill-deedie hempy is, ye are sure that Alan Fairford is not far off. Haud him fast, Master Constable; I charge ye wi' him, for I am mista'en if he is not at the bottom of this rinaway business. He was aye getting the silly callant Alan awa wi' gigs, and horse, and the like of that, to Roslin, and Prestonpans, and a' the idle gates he could think of. He's a rinaway apprentice, that ane.'
'Mr. Peebles,' I said, 'do not do me wrong. I am sure you can say no harm of me justly, but can satisfy these gentlemen, if you will, that I am a student of law in Edinburgh--Darsie Latimer by name.'
'Me satisfy! how can I satisfy the gentlemen,' answered Peter, 'that am sae far from being satisfied mysell? I ken naething about your name, and can only testify, NIHIL NOVIT IN CAUSA.'
'A pretty witness you have brought forward in your favour,' said Mr. Foxley. 'But--ha--aye---I'll ask him a question or two. Pray, friend, will you take your oath to this youth being a runaway apprentice?'
'Sir,' said Peter, 'I will make oath to onything in reason; when a case comes to my oath it's a won cause: But I am in some haste to prie your worship's good cheer;' for Peter had become much more respectful in his demeanour towards the Justice since he had heard some intimation of dinner.
'You shall have--eh--hum--aye--a bellyful, if it be possible to fill it. First let me know if this young man be really