, 1864-04-02

the Regent readily agreed to appoint his
klnsman, Robert Blackadder, to the vacant
Priorship; and, accordingly, the Archbish.
op Of st. Andrews, within whose diocese
the Abbey stood, appointed the fifth day Of
October following for the performance of the
ceremony of instalment. No sooner was it
known that the Office had been conferred
upon their kinsman. than the Blackadders
Of the Merse, the Hepburns, and their other
allies, were conducted to Edinburgh BY their
respective chieftains, to pay their obeisance
to the new Prior, and escort him thence to
the Priory over which he was called to
preside.
In the present instance, the ceremony was
expected to be one Of the most splendid and
imposing that had ever been performed
within the hallowed walls Of Coldingham.
No expense was to be spared, it being the
first time that a Blackadder had reached
the dignified Office of Prior. For several
weeks preceding the entrance of young
Blackadder into his new domains, the good
people of Coldngham were all busily en-.
gagged in making preparations for the cere-
mony. Almost every individual in that
then far from inconsiderable township found
business moving on more briskly than usual
in consequence of the anticipated ceremony.
Watty Geddes, the tailor, found trade in-
crease SO fast upon his hands-being en-
plOyed to fit out the monks with q new as
sortment of cowls and scapulars-that he
required to enlist into his services, pro tenn
pore--that is to say, till the completion Of
the eowl and scapular job--some five OF
six knights Of the needle from the neigh
boring villages of Auldcambus, Eyemouth,
and Auchencraw. And, while the wrights,
blacksmiths, and other artisans, were busily
occupied in making repairs upon the mon
astery itself, il was with no small exultation
that Mistress Grizzel Turnpenpy was ena-
bled, one evening, to declare to "weel-
slowed roOmfu' of her neighbors, when
the briskness Of trade had induced to
squandcr an extraordinary merk or two
upon her liquor, that her fingers were clean
blistcred wi turnin' the spigot.'
Scarce week had elapsed after the mur.
der of the Prior, when Father Benedict, the
monk to whom we have already introduced
our readers, stole forth from his cell. about
midnight, to the stables, where, saddling a
pony, he led it softly to the court-gate of the
Abbey. 1t was, Of course, at the time, shut,
which prevented ingress or egress to horse
man, though foot passengers could at all
times gain adnlittance into the Abbey yards
by what was called the Kirk-Stylc.
Who goes there, and what do'st want ~
bawled out Robin Steinson, the porter,
who was aroused from his slunbers by few
smart applications Of the Fathers staff to
the door of his lodge.
al am Father Benedict, who hath been
sent for to minister the last Offices of the
church unto dying layman: / pray thee,
Robin, arouse thyself quickly, otherwise
the poor fellow will be let die in his sins,
and thou be made responsible"
Hercupon the drowsy porter, whose
brain was still reeliug from the effects Of
the preceding evenings pOtation in Lucky
Turnpenny's, arose from his couch and
opened the gate; for which service he re-
ceived the monks blessing, under the com
forting influence Of which he once more
rolled his drunken carcase under the bed
clothes. ......
The monk, however, went to visit no dy-
ing layman, us he had told the porter, but
upon quite different errand. Ere two
hours had elapsed, he found himself in
front Of the proud towers Of Wedderburn
Castle. As he approached, the moon shone
out and displayed to him the figures of the
sentinels moving to and fro upon the sum-
mits Of its battlemcnts. 1t was noble
pile, and one of the strongest upon the
borders, though il owed its strength more to
the assistance Of art than of nature. A
deep moat, forty feet wide, swept round a
septangular wall, fortified with numerous
turrets, far above the tops Of which fut-
tered in the noonbeam the banner Of its re-
bellious lord.
After some alteration with the wardcrs,
and undergoing a strict scrutiny, the draw
bridge was let down, and Father Benedict
admitted into the courtyard. Here he was
left to his medtations for some time, till a
servant appeared and conducted him into
the chieftain's presence. lie was sitting
by the window in an apartment at the top
Of the tower, brooding over the melancholy
fate which had lately befallen so many OF
his kinsmen, and revolving how he could
most amply revenge it, when the monk en-
tered. Ills feelings were those Of the bit
terest chagrin when he heard Of the sump-
tuous arrangements in progress for the in
auguration of his kinsman's successor.
His pride, too, was mortally hurt when he
thought Of the joy which prevailed among
the Inhabitants Of COldingham, who, at
any rate, had been no sufferers during the
rule of his family-though, perhaps, their
rejoicing was rather produced by the sup
posed advantage that would result from the
present increase of trade than from any
pleasure felt at the downfall Of their old
superiors. In this gloomy mood, he had
passed the preceding part of the night, and
had resolyed-and when did Home re.
solve in vain THAT Blackadder should fall
by his sword. :,
"Knight of Wedderburn,' said the
monk, " hath the spirit of the Homes per.
ished with those whom the proud foreigner
and his minion have slain! Is there nc
one still left to tell him that Scotland may
not be turned into slaughter-hOuse for thy
race! Two days more and Blackadder
thine enemy, will be Prior Of Coldingham,,
"And in two days more his head shall
be reared upon the highest pinnacle Of it
I l. IA