, 1864-04-02

4
to Coldingham. The sun shone out brightly
the birds carolled forth their sweetest
notes--and the whole aspect Of nature ac-
corded with the joyous state Of the specta-
tors minds. 1t was holiday sight which
few then living had ever before seen. Most
Of the later priors had intruded themselves
into the monastery by force, and conse-
quently had readily dispensed with the cerc-
mony Of formal installation. About mid
day. the sound Of the hagpipe, and Aamhour,
now and then broken in upon by the martial
blasts Of the bugle, announced to the anxi-
GUS multitude that the procession was ap-
prOaching nearer and nearer. With one
accord they all rose from their seats upon
the heath, and We'd with each other who
should catch the first glimpse of the ap-
preaching cavalcade. At length it came so
near as to be distinctly visible to all, and
was greeted with loud and long continued
cheering. First of all was f0ur.wheeled
vehicle, covered with Tuscan cloth, and
decorated with rich figures Of the saints,
wrought in gold and silver, and drawn by
four mik-white steeds, finely harnessed. In
itwere two monks, clad in loose white robes,
kneeling at the foot Of an dr5or ritG crucifix,
to which was affixed an illuminated figure
of the Savior. Behind followed eighty
black-clad monks Of the order of st. Ben
edict, each holding in his hand an ivory
cruciiix. Then came a superbly mounted
cavalcade. consisting Of upwards Of five
hundred horse, in front of which rode the
celebrated Abbot Forman, Archbishop of
st. Andrews, the official Of Lothian; the
Dean Of the Merse; and the new Prior--all
Of their horses adorned with costly cloth
Of crimson, the corners Of which were sup
ported by fur pages who strutted by the
side of each. The greater part Of the
horsemen were well armed, as precaution-
ary measure against any interruption from
the Homes, whose strongholds Of Fast Castle
and Dunglass were but little removed from
the road they had to pursue. .f
A few days antecedent to the celebration
Of the ceremony, the grand aisle of the
church was splendidly decorated with fig
ures Of the saints, around whose necks were
entwined long and snowy wreaths of flow
ers; and instead Of some antiquated full
length portraits of the Homes who had held
Office in that fame, were substituted those
Of some Of the priors of older date, which,
for more than century, had been laid aside
in an obscure corner of the building. On
the portals being thrown open for the entry
! of the procession, the latter were found TO
have been remoyed-the portraitures Of the
more recent priors to have been replaced
the wreaths stripped from the bodiesof the
images--aud the whole interior of the
church restored nearly to its usual condition.
This disarrangement, however, which after
wards proved fatal to the individual to whom
the keys Of the sanctuary had been assigned,
was insufficient TO prevent the commence
ment Of the ceremony. After the celebra-
tion Of mass, at the high altar, by the Arch
bishop Of St. Andrews, the usual oaths
were administered to, and papers signed by
the now dignitary, in presence Of the whole
assembly. Nothing occurred to break in
upon the order Of the ritual, till that part
Of it intervened wherein it was declared
by the bailie or sub-prior that the election
had taken place without one dissenting
voice. At that instant, harsh-toned voice
replied, from the upper part Of the build
ing" \ Home objects, aud Home still
iNSS " puuIshJ anu, Ou lOuhluk upWuu
in the direction whence this ominous decla-
ration seemed to proceed, the reflected shad-
Ow Of man in arinor Was seen emerging
from behind one of the buttresses. The as
tonished bailie stood aghast-the parch-
ment dropped from his hand upon the pave
ment, while tremulous "Save US, Holy
Cuthbert!" escaped from his lips. The
rest Of the congregation remained for min
ute in mute astonishment. At length, ST.
lence was broken by Hepburn Of Hailes
demanding, in stern voice, who he was
that dared thus arrogantly to interrupt the
ceremony; ut the same time ordering the
gates to be locked, and the whole monas-
terry searched for the apprehension Of the
intruder. Encouraged by his example, a
hundred subordinates were quickly set in
motion, every corner Of the building secured
for the apprehension Of the intruder; but
no traces of the mysterious visitant were
apparent, if we except the impression Of
recent footsteps, visible in the garden sur
rounding the monastery, and traceable from
the bottom of winding stair that commu-
nicated with the upper part Of the build
ing by neglected postern. After this
fruitless search, the parties returned to the
church, and the remainder Of the ceremo-
ny was gone through; but the spirits Of
all present had received such "damper"
as resisted the effects of Aagons Of Mistress
Turnpenny's best liquor, which was after
wards dispensed free to all (and they were
not few who chose to partake of the new
Prior's bounty. Various were the con-
lectures thrown out by the people as to the
manner in which Priorship SO inauspici-
ously begun would terminate. ..
On the following morning, the Prior; ac-
companied by part Of the retinue which
had attended at the installation, in accor.
dance with the usual custom, proceeded on
diet Of visitation to the various cells and
chapelries within his jurisdiction. Having
visited the cell at Ayton, the cavalcade ad-
vanced towards Lamberon, the eastern
boundary Of the diocese. On visitations Of
such nature, it was customary for all whom
they met upon their way to retire to q lit
tie distance from the road, aud to remain
uncovered till the company who formed the
procession passed by. The latter had only
traversed about half Of the ground between
the places just mentioned, wheR tfoop Of
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