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.

PEVERIL OF THE PEAK. 327.
the other's vanity would have exacted, paid deference in a reasonable degree
to the representative of a family so much more ancient and important than
his own, without conceiving that he in any respect degraded himself by
doing so.
~ Mr. Bridgenorth did not, however, carry his complaisance so far as to
embrace Sir Geoffrey's side during the Civil War. On the contrary, as an,
active Justice of the Peace, he rendered much assistance in arraying the
militia in the cause of the Parliament, and for some time held a military
commission ini that service. This was partly owing to his religious principles, for he was a zealous Presbyterian, partly to his political ideas, which,
without being absolutely democratical, favoured the popular side of the
great national question. Besides, he was a moneyed man, and to a certain
extent had a shrewd eye to his worldly interest. He understood how to
improve the opportunities which civil war afforded, of advancing his fortune,
by a dexterous use of his capital; and he was not at a loss to perceive that
these were likely to be obtained in joining the Parliament; while the King's
cause, as it was managed, held out nothing to the wealthy but a course of
exaction and compulsory loans. For these reasons, Bridgenorth became a
decided Roundhead, and all friendly communication betwixt his neighbour
and him was abruptly broken asunder. This was done with the less acrimony, that during the Civil War, Sir Goeffrey was almost constantly in the
field, following the vacillating and unhappy fortunes of his master; while
Major Bridgenorth, who soon renounced active military service, resided
chiefly in London, and only occasionally visited the Hall.
Upon these visits, it was with great pleasure he received the intelligence,
that Lady Peveril had shown much kindness to Mrs. Bridgenorth, and had
actually given her and her family shelter in Martindale Castle, when Moultrassie Hall was threatened with pillage by a body of Prince Rupert's illdisciplined Cavaliers. This acquaintance had been matured by frequent
walks together, which the vicinity of their places of residence suffered the
Lady Peveril to have with Mrs. Bridgenorth, who deemed herself much
honoured in being thus admitted into the society of so distinguished a lady.
Major Bridgenorth heard of this growing intimacy with great pleasure, and
he determined to repay the obligation, as far as he could without much hurt
to himself, by interfering with all his influence, in behalf of her unfortunate
husband. It was chiefly owing to Major Bridgenorth's mediation, that Sir
Geoffrey's life was. saved after the battle of'Worcester. Hie obtained him
permission to compound for his estate on easier terms than many who had
been less obstinate in malignancy; and, finally, when, in order to raise the
money to the composition, the Knight was obliged to sell a considerable
portion of his patrimony, Major Bridgenorth became the purchaser, and
that at a larger price than had been paid to any Cavalier under such circumstances, by a member of the Committee for Sequestrations. It is true,
the prudent committeeman did not, by any means, lose sight of his own
interest in the transaction, for the price was, after all, very moderate, and
the property lay adjacent to Moultrassie Hall, the value of which was at
least trebled by the acquisition. But then it was also true, that the unfortunate owner must have submitted to much worse conditions, had the committeeman used, as others did, the full advantages which his situation gave
him; and Bridgenorth took credit to himself, and received it fiom others,
for having, on this occasion, fairly sacrificed his interest to his liberality.
Sir Geoffrey Peveril was of the same opinion, and the rather that Mr.
Bridgenorth seemed to bear his exaltation with great moderation, and was
disposed to show him personally the same defeience in his present sunshine
of prosperity, which he had exhibited formerly in their early acquaintance.
It is but justice to Major Bridgenorth to observe, that in this conduct he
paid respect as much to the misfortunes as to the pretensions of his fardescended neighbour, and that, with the frank generosity of a blunt