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.

288 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
in that worthy cause. For surely he who hath been to our British Israel as
a shield of help, and a sword of excellency, making her enemies be found
liars unto her, will not give over the flock to those foolish shepherds of
Westminster, who shear the sheep and feed them not, and who are in very
deed hirelings, not shepherds."
" I trust to see your lordship quoit them all down stairs," answered Pearson. " But may I ask why we pursue this discourse even now, until we
have secured the common enemy?"
"I will tarry no jot of time," said the General; "fence the communication of Love's Ladder, as it is called, below, as I take it for almost certain,
that the party whom we have driven from fastness to fastness during the
night, has at length sprung to the top of yonder battlements from the place
where we now stand. Finding the turret is guarded below, the place he
has chosen for his security will prove a rat-trap, from whence there is no
returning."
" There is a cask of gunpowder in this cabinet," said Pearson; "were it
not better, my lord, to mine the tower, if he will not render himself, and
send the whole turret with its contents one hundred feet in the air?"
" Ah, silly man," said Cromwell, striking him familiarly on the shoulder;
"if thou hadst done this without telling me, it had been good service. But
we will first summon the turret, and then think whether the petard will
serve our turn - it is but mining at last. - Blow a summons there, down
below."
The trumpets rang at his bidding, till the old walls echoed from every
recess and vaulted archway. Cromwell, as if he cared not to look upon
the person whom he expected to appear, drew back, like a necromancer
afraid of the spectre which he has evoked.
"He has come to the battlement," said Pearson to his General.
"In what dress or appearance?" answered Cromwell, from within the
chamber.
" A grey riding-suit, passmented with silver, russet walking-boots, a cut
band, a grey hat and plume, black hair."
"It is he, it is he!" said Cromwell; "and another crowning mercy is
vouchsafed!"
Meantime, Pearson and young Lee exchanged defiance from their respective posts.
" Surrender," said the former, " or we blow you up in your fastness."
"I am come of too high a race to surrender to rebels," said Albert,
assuming the air with which, in such a condition, a king might have spoken.
" I bear you to witness," cried Cromwell, exultingly, "he hath refused quarter.
Of a surety, his blood be on his head. -One of you bring down the barrel
of powder. As he loves to soar high, we will add what can be taken from
the soldiers' bandoliers.-Come with me, Pearson; thou understandest this
gear. - Corporal Grace-be-here, stand thou fast on the platform of the window where Captain Pearson and I stood but even now, and bend the point
of thy partisan against any who shall attempt to pass. Thou art as strong
as a bull; and I will back thee against despair itself."
"But," said the corporal, mounting reluctantly, "the place is as the pinnacle of the Temple; and it is written, that Eutychus fell down from the
third loft and was taken up dead."
"Because he slept upon his post," answered Cromwell readily. "Beware thou of carelessness, and thus thy feet shall be kept from stumbling.You four soldiers, remain here to support the corporal, if it be necessary;
and you, as well as the corporal, will draw into the vaulted passage the
minute the trumpets sound a retreat. It is as strong as a casemate, and
you may lie there safe from the effects of the mine. Thou, Zerubbabel
Robins, I know wilt be their lance-prisade." *
* "Lance-prisade," or " lance-brisade," a private appointed to a small command -a sort of temporary
corporal.