The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

148 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
not inconsiderable. " And, in respect of my friend being a Scotsman and
alien, as has been observed by the reverend divine and learned lawyer, you
are to consider," said Lowestoffe, "-for what he is pursued hither-swhy, for
giving the bastinado, not to an Englishman, but to one of his own country~
men. And for mIy own simple part," he continued, touching Lord Glenvarloch. at the same time, to make him understand he spoke but in jest, " if all
the Scots in London were to fight a Welch main, and kill each other to a
man, the survivor would, in my humble opinion, be entitled to our gratitude,
as having done a most acceptable service to poor Old England."
A shout of laughter and applause followed this ingenious apology for the
client's state of alienage; and the Templar followed up his plea with the
following pithy proposition: -"I know well," said he, "it is the custom of
the fathers of this old and honourable republic, ripely and well to consider
all their proceedings over a proper allowance of liquor; and far be it fronl
me to propose the breach of so laudable a custom, or to pretend that such
an affair as the present can be well and constitutionally considered during
the discussion of a pitiful gallon of sack. But, as it is the same thing to
this honourable conclave whether they drink first and determine afterwards,
or whether they determine first and drink afterwards, I propose your grace,
with the advice of your wise and potent senators, shall pass your edict,
granting to mine honourable friend the immunities of the place, and assigning him a lodging, according to your wise forms, to which he will presently
retire, being somewhat spent with this day's action; whereupon I will presently order you a rundlet of Rhenish, with a corresponding quantity of
neats' tongues and pickled herrings, to make you all as glorious as Georgea-Green."
This overture was received with a general shout of applause, which altogether drowned the voice of the dissidents, if any there were amongst the
Alsatian senate who could have resisted a proposal so popular. The words
of, " Kind heart!-noble gentleman! —generous gallant!" flew from mouth
to mouth; the inscription of the petitioner's name in the great book was
hastily completed, and the oath administered to him by the worthy Doge.
Like the Laws of the Twelve Tables, of the ancient Cambro-Britons, and
other primitive nations, it was couched in poetry, and ran as follows:"By spigot and barrel.
By bilboe and buff;'Thou art sworn to the quarlrel
Of the blades of the huff.
For Whitefiiars and its claims
To be champion or martyr,
Andt to fight for its dames
Like a Knight of the Garter."
Nigel felt, ancl indeed exhibited, some disgust at -this mummery; but, the
Templar remindinding him that he was too far advanced to draw back, he repeated the words, or rather assented as they were repeated by Duke Hildebrod, who concluded the ceremony by allowing him the privilege of sanctuary, in the following form of prescriptive doggerel:"From the touch of the tip, To stare and to stab,
From the blight of the warrant, And to brandish pour darger
From the watchmen who skip In the cause of your drab;
On tile Ialnlman Beck's errand; To walhk wool-ward in winter,
From the bailiff's cranmp speech, Drink brandy, and smole,
That matkes man a thrall, And go fr'esco in sumnlmer
I charm thee firon each, For wanit of a cloak;
Anid I charm thee friom all. To elce out your living'tiy freedomr's complete By the wNag of your elbow,
As a bloade of the Huiff. By filham sanld guord,
To be cheated andt cheat, And by i)aring iof 1il1)oe;'ro be cuff'dl and to cuaf; To live by your shifts,
To stride, swear, and swagger, And to swear by your honour,
To drink till you stagger, Are the fi-eedoil and gifts
Of which I aml the donlor'."
* Of the cant words used in this inauguratory loration, some are obvious in their meaning, others, as Harman
B1ecik I(cnstable), and the lilte, derive their source from that ancient piece of lexicography, the Slang De.),iotatry