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.

WOODSTOCK. 273
oaths and curses of the cavaliers, had yet in them as much blasphemy, and
more determined malevolence. At other times he thought some unexpected
alarm, or perhaps some drunken cavalier revel, had caused the family of
Woodstock Lodge to make later hours than usual. To this conjecture,
which appeared the most probable of any, his mind often recurred; and it
was the hope that Tomkins would still appear at the rendezvous, which induced him to remain at the borough, anxious to receive communication
from his emissary, and afraid of endangering the success of the enterprise
by any premature exertion on his own part.
In the meantime, Cromwell, finding it no longer possible to conceal his
personal presence, disposed of every thing so as to be ready at a minute's
notice. Half his soldiers he caused to dismount, and had the horses put
into quarters; the other half were directed to keep their horses saddled,
and themselves ready to mount at a moment's notice. The men were brought
into the house by turns, and had some refreshment, leaving a sufficient
guard on the horses, which was changed from time to time.
Thus Cromwell waited with no little uncertainty, often casting an anxious
eve upon Colonel Everard, who, he suspected, could, if he chose it, well
supply the place of his absent confidant. Everard endured this calmly,
with unaltered countenance, and brow neither ruffled nor dejected.
Midnight at length tolled, and it became necessary to take some decisive
step. Tomkins might have been treacherous; or, a suspicion which approached more near to the reality, his intrigue might have been discovered,
and he himself murdered or kidnapped by the vengeful royalists. In a
word, if any use was to be made of the chance which fortune afforded of
securing the most formidable claimant of the supreme power, which he
already aimed at, no farther time was to be lost. He at length gave orders
to Pearson to get the men under arms; he directed him concerning the
mode of forming them, and that they should march with the utmost possible silence; or as it was given out in the orders, "Even as Gideon marched
in silence when he went down against the camp of the Midianites, with
only Phurah his servant. Peradventure," continued this strange document,
" we too may learn of what yonder Midianites have dreamed."
A single patrol, followed by a corporal and five steady, experienced soldiers, formed the advanced guard of the party; then followed the main
body. A rear-guard of ten men guarded Everard and the minister. Cromwell required the attendance of the former, as it might be necessary to examine him, or confront him with others; and he carried Master Holdenough
with him, because he might escape if left behind, and perhaps raise some
tumult in the village. The Presbyterians, though they not only concurred
with, but led the way in the civil war, were at its conclusion highly dissatisfied with the ascendency of the military sectaries, and not to be trusted
as cordial agents in anything where their interest was concerned. The
infantry being disposed of as we have noticed, marched off from the left of
their line, Cronwell and Pearson, both on foot, keeping at the head of the
centre, or main body of the detachment. They were all armed with petronels, short guns similar to the modern carabine, and, like them, used by
horsemen. They marched in the most profound silence and with the utmost
regularity, the whole body moving like one man.
About one hundred yards behind the rearmost of the dismounted party,
came the troopers who remained on horseback; and it seemed as if even
the irrational animals were sensible to Cromwell's orders, for the horses did
not neigh, and even appeared to place their feet on the earth cautiously,
and with less noise than usual.
Their leader, full of anxious thoughts, never spoke, save to enforce by
whispers his caution respecting silence, while the men, surprised and delighted to find themselves under the command of their renowned General,
VOL. X. — 18