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. 43
drawn bilbo, by way of afternoon service, sir preacher —Well for you I
came not up till the blades were done jingling, or I had rung even-song
upon your pate."
The Independent smiled grimly as he replied, "Nay, friend, it is well for
thyself, for never should sexton have been better paid for the knell he
tolled. Nevertheless, why should there be war betwixt us, or my hand be
against thine? Thou art but a poor knave, doing thy master's order, nor
have I any desire that my own blood or thine should be shed touching this
matter. -Thou art, I understand, to give me peaceful possession of the
Palace of Woodstock, so called-though there is now no palace in England,
no, nor shall be in the days that come after, until we shall enter the palace
of the New Jerusalem, and the reign of the Saints shall commence'on
earth."
"Pretty well begun already, friend Tomkins," said the keeper; "you
are little short of being kings already upon the matter as it now stands;
and for your Jerusalem I wot not, but Woodstock is a pretty nest-egg to
begin with.-Well, will you shog-will you on-will you take sasine and
livery?-You heard my orders."
"Umph -I know not," said Tomkins. "I must beware of ambuscades,
and I am alone here. Moreover, it is the High Thanksgiving appointed by
Parliament, and owned to by the army-also the old man and the young
woman may want to recover some of their clothes and personal property,
and I would not that they were baulked on my account. Wherefore, if
thou wilt deliver me possession to-morrow morning, it shall be done in personal presence of my own followers, and of the Presbyterian man the
Mayor, so that the transfer may be made before witnesses; whereas, were
there none with us but thou to deliver, and I to take possession, the men of
Belial might say, Go to, Trusty Tomkins hath been an Edomite — Honest
Joe hath been as an Ishmaelite, rising up early and dividing the spoil with
them that served the Man - yea, they that wore beards and green jerkins,
as in remembrance of the Man and of his government."
Joceline fixed his keen dark eyes upon the soldier as he spoke, as if in
design to discover whether there was fair play in his mind or not. He then
applied his five fingers to scratch a large shock head of hair, as if that operation was necessary to enable him to come to a conclusion. " This is all fair
sounding, brother," said he; " but I tell you plainly there are some silver
mugs, and platters, and flagons, and so forth, in yonder house, which have
survived the general sweep that sent all our plate to the smelting-pot, to
put our knight's troop on horseback. Now, if thou takest not these off my
hand, I may come to trouble, since it may be thought I have minished their
numbers.-Whereas, I being as honest a fellow""As ever stole venison," said Tomkins-" nay, I do owe thee an interruption."
" Go to, then," replied the keeper; "if a stag may have come to mischance in my walk, it was no way in the course of dishonesty, but merely
to keep my old dame's pan from rusting; but for silver porringers, tankards,
and such like, I would as soon have drunk the melted silver, as stolen the
vessel made out of it. So that I would not wish blame or suspicion fell on
me in this matter. And, therefore, if you will have the things rendered
even now,-why so-and if not, hold me blameless."
"Ay, truly," said Tomkins; "and who is to hold me blameless, if they
should see cause to think any thing mtbished? Not the right worshipful
Commissioners, to whom the property of the estate is as their own; therefore, as thou say'st, we must walk warily in the matter. To lock up the
house and leave it, were but the work of simple ones. What say'st thou to
spend the night there, and then nothing can be touched without the knowledge of us both?"
"Why, concerning that," answered the keeper, "I should be at my hut