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.

380 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
mrerar, dressed in full pontificals, in a sort of triumphal procession, accom-panied by Peveril of the Peak, Sir Jasper Cranbourne, and other Cavaliers
of distinction, entered at the other.
To prevent an actual struggle in the church, the parish officers were sent
to prevent the farther approach of the Presbyterian minister; which was
effected without farther damage than a broken head, inflicted by Roger
naine, the drunken innkeeper of the Peveril Arms, upon the Presbyterian
attorney of Chesterfield.
Unsubdued in spirit, though compelled to retreat by superior force, the
undaunted Mr. Solsgrace retired to the vicarage; where, under some legal
pretext which had been started by Mr. Win-the-Fight, (in that day unaptly
named,) he attempted to maintain himself-bolted gates-barred windows —
and, as report said, (though falsely,) made provision of fire-arms to resist
the officers. A scene of clamour and scandal accordingly took place, which
being reported to Sir Geoffrey, he came in person, with some of his attendants carrying arms-forced the outer-gate and inner-doors of the house;
and proceeding tothe study, found no other garrison save the Presbyterian
parson, with the attorney, who gave up possession of the premises, after
making protestation against the violence that had been used.
The rabble of the village being by this time all in motion, Sir Geoffrey,
both in prudence and good-nature, saw the propriety of escorting his
prisoners, for so they might be termed, safely through the tumult; and
accordingly conveyed them in person, through much noise and clamour, as
far as the avenue of Moultrassie-Ilall, which they chose for the place of
their retreat.
But the absence of Sir Geoffrey gave the rein to some disorders, which,
if present, he would assuredly have restrained. Some of the minister's
books were torn and flung about as treasonable and seditious trash, by the
sealous parish-officers or their assistants. A quantity of his ale was drunk
up in healths to the King, and Peveril of the Peak. And, finally, the boys,
who bore the ex-parson no good will for his tyrannical interference with
their games at skittles, foot-ball, and so forth, and, moreover, remembered
the unmerciful length of his sermons, dressed up an effigy with his Geneva
gown and band, and his steeple-crowned hat, which they paraded through
the village, and burnt on the spot whilom occupied by a stately Maypole,
which Solsgrace had formerly hewed down with his own reverend hands.
Sir Geoffrey was vexed at all this, and sent to Mr. Solsgrace, offering
satisfaction for the goods which he had lost; but the Calvinistical divine
replied, "From a thread to a shoe-latchet, I will not take any thing that is
thine. Let the shame of the work of thy hands abide with thee."
Considerable scandal, indeed, arose against Sir Geoffrey Peveril as having
proceeded with indecent severity and haste upon this occasion; and rumor
took care to make the usual additions to the reality. It was currently
reported, that the desperate Cavalier, Peveril of the Peak, had fallen on a
Presbyterian congregation, while engaged in the peaceable exercise of religion, with a band of armed men —had slain some, desperately wounded
many more, and finally pursued the preacher to his vicarage, which he
burnt to the ground. Some alleged the clergyman had perished in the
flames; and the most mitigated report bore, that he had only been able to
escape by disposing his gown, cap, and band, near a window, in such a
manner as to deceive them with the idea of his person being still surrounded
by flames, while he himself fled by the back part of the house. And
although few people believed in the extent of the atrocities thus imputed to
our honest Cavalier, yet still enough of obloquy attached to him to infer
very serious consequences, as the reader will learn at a future period of our
history.