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.

76 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
ing a sacrifice, wished England a happy issue out of all her difficulties, and
greatly lauded his Excellency the Lord-General. Wildrake also remarked,
that his wine was better than it was wont to be, the Puritans having an
excellent gift at detecting every fallacy in that matter; and that his measures
were less and his charges larger - circumstances which he was induced to
attend to, by mine host talking a good deal about his conscience.
He. was told by this important personage, that the Lord-General received
frankly all sorts of persons; and that he might obtain access to him next
morning, at eight o'clock, for the trouble of presenting himself at the Castle-gate, and announcing himself as the bearer of despatches to his Excellency.
To the Castle the disguised cavalier repaired at the hour appointed.
Admittance was freely permitted to him by the red-coated soldier, who, with
austere looks, and his musket on his shoulder, mounted guard at the external
gate of that noble building. Wildrake passed through the underward or
court, gazing as he passed upon the beautiful Chapel, which had but lately
received, in darkness and silence, the unhonoured remains, of the slaughtered
King of England. Rough as Wildrake was, the recollection of this circumstance affected him so strongly, that he had nearly turned back in a sort of
horror, rather than face the dark and daring man, to whom, amongst all
the actors in that melancholy affair, its tragic conclusion was chiefly to be
imputed. But he felt the necessity of subduing all sentiments of this
nature, and compelled himself to proceed in a negotiation intrusted to his
conduct by one to whom he was so much obliged as Colonel Everard. At
the ascent, which passed by the Round Tower, he looked to the ensign-staff,
from which the banner of England was wont to float. It was gone, with
all its rich emblazonry, its gorgeous quarterings,.and splendid embroidery;
and in its room waved that of the Commonwealth, the cross of Saint George,
in its colours of blue and red, not yet intersected by the diagonal cross of
Scotland, which was soon after assumed, as if in evidence of England's
conquest over her ancient enemy. This change of ensigns increased the
train of his gloomy reflections, in which, although contrary to his wont, he
became so deeply wrapped, that the first thing which recalled him to himself, was the challenge from the sentinel, accompanied with a stroke of the
butt of his musket on the pavement, with an emphasis which made Wildrake
start.
"Whither away, and who are you?"
"The bearer of a packet," answered Wildrake, "to the worshipful the
Lord-General."
" Stand till I call the officer of the guard."
The corporal made his appearance, distinguished above those of his command by a double quantity of band round his neck, a double height of
steeple-crowned hat, a larger allowance of cloak, and a treble proportion
of sour gravity of aspect. It might be read on his countenance, that he
was one of those resolute enthusiasts to whom Oliver owed his conquests,
whose religious zeal made them even more than a match for the high-spirited
and high-born cavaliers, who exhausted their valour in vain defence of their
sovereign's person and crown. He looked with grave solemnity at Wildrake, as if he was making in his own mind an inventory of his features
and dress; and having fully perused them, he required "to know his
business."
"My business," said Wildrake, as firmly as he could-for the close
investigation of this man had given him some unpleasant nervous sensations -" my business is with your General."
"With his Excellency the Lord-General, thou wouldst say?" replied the
corporal. "Thy speech, my friend, savours too little of the reverence due
to his Excellency."
" I- -n his Excellency!" was at the lips of the cavalier; but prudence