The monastery; The abbot.

THE ABBOT. 273
melancholy and solitary a residence for its lady as could well be imagined.
Still it had the essential recommendation of great security. The reader is
already aware that the fortress was built upon an islet on a small lake, and
was only accessible by a causeway, intersected by a double ditch, defended
by two draw-bridges, so that without artillery, it might in those days be
considered as impregnable. It was only necessary, therefore, to secure
against surprise, and the service of six able men within the castle was sufficient for that purpose. If more serious danger threatened, an ample
garrison was supplied by the male inhabitants of a little hamlet, which,
under the auspices of Halbert Glendinning, had arisen on a small piece of
level ground, betwixt the lake and the hill, nearly adjoining to the spot
where the causeway joined the mainland. The Lord of Avenel had found
it an easy matter to procure inhabitants, as he was not only a kind and
beneficent overlord, but well qualified, both by his experience in arms, his
high character for wisdom and integrity, and his favour with the powerful
Earl of Murray, to protect and defend those who dwelt under his banner.
In leaving his castle for any length of time, he had, therefore, the consolation to reflect, that this village afforded, on the slightest notice, a band of
thirty stout men, which was more than sufficient for its defence; while the
families of the villagers, as was usual on such occasions, fled to the recesses
of the mountains, drove their cattle to the same places of shelter, and left
the enemy to work their will on their miserable cottages.
One guest only resided generally, if not constantly, at the Castle of Avenel.
This was Henry Warden, who now felt himself less able for the stormy task
imposed on the reforming clergy; and having by his zeal given personal
offence to many of the leading nobles and chiefs, did not consider himself as
perfectly safe, unless when within the walls of the strong mansion of some
assured friend. He ceased not, however, to serve his cause as eagerly with
his pen, as he had formerly done with his tongue, and had engaged in a
furious and acrimonious contest, concerning the sacrifice of the mass, as it
was termed, with the Abbot Eustatius, formerly the Sub-Prior of Kennaquhair. Answers, replies, duplies, triplies, quadruplies, followed thick upon
each other, and displayed, as is not unusual in controversy, fully as much
zeal as Christian charity. The disputation very soon became as celebrated
as that of John Knox and the Abbot of Crosraguel, raged nearly as fiercely,
and, for aught I know, the publications to which it gave rise may be as
recious in the eyes of bibliographers.* But the engrossing nature of his'cupation rendered the theologian not the most interesting companion for
a solitary female; and his grave, stern, and absorbed deportment, which
seldom showed any interest, except in that which concerned his religious
profession, made his presence rather add to than diminish the gloom which
hung over the Castle of Avenel. To superintend the tasks of numerous
female domestics, was the principal part of the Lady's daily employment;
her spindle and distaff, her Bible, and a solitary walk upon the battlements
of the castle, or upon the causeway, or occasionally, but more seldom, upon
the banks of the little lake, consumed the rest of the day. But so great
was the insecurity of the period, that when she ventured to extend her walk
beyond the hamlet, the warder on the watch-tower was directed to keep a
sharp look-out in every direction, and four or five men held themselves in
readiness to mount and sally forth from the castle on the slightest appearance of alarm.
Thus stood affairs at the castle, when, after an-absence of several weeks,
the Knight of Avenel, which was now the title most frequently given to Sir
Halbert Glendinning, was daily expected to return home. Day after day,
however, passed away, and he returned not. Letters in those days were
rarely written, and the Knight must have resorted to a secretary to express
The tracts which appeared in the Disputation between the Scottish Reformer and Quentin Jennedy
Abbot of Crosraguel, are among the scarcest in Scottish Bibliography. See M'Crie's Life of Knox, p. 268.
VOL. V.-18