If touch'd by Superstition's power, XI. Nor think to village swains alone Bertram had listed many a tale That in his secret soul retain'd The credence they in childhood gain'd: What gales are sold on Lapland's shore,' [The MS. has not the two following couplets.] * "Also I shall shew very briefly what force conjurers and witches have in constraining the elements enchanted by them or others, that they may exceed or fall short of their natural order: premising this, that the extream land of North Finland and Lapland was so taught witchcraft formerly in heathenish times, as if they had learned this cursed art from Zoroastres the Persian; though other inhabitants by the sea-coasts are reported to be bewitched with the same madness; for they exercise this divelish art, of all the arts of the world, to admiration; and in this, or other such like mischief, they commonly agree. The Finlanders were wont formerly, amongst their other errors of gentilisme, to sell winds to merchants that were stopt on their coasts by contrary weather; and when they had their price, they knit three magical knots, not like to the laws of Cassius, bound up with a thong, and they gave them unto the merchants; observing that rule, that when they unloosed the first, they should have a good gale of wind; when the second, a stronger wind; but How whistle rash bids tempests roar,' 3 XII. Then, too, were told, in stifled tone, Strange nightly sounds of woe and fear when they untied the third, they should have such cruel tempests, that they should not be able to look out of the forecastle to avoid the rocks, nor move a foot to pull down the sails, nor stand at the helm to govern the ship; and they made an unhappy trial of the truth of it who denied that there was any such power in those knots."-OLAUS MAGNUS'S History of the Goths, Swedes, and Vandals, Lond. 1658, fol. p. 47.-[See Note to The Pirate, "Sale of Winds," Waverley Novels, vol. xxiv. p. 136.] [See Appendix, Note D.] "This Ericus, King of Sweden, in his time was held second to none in the magical art; and he was so familiar with the evil spirits, which he exceedingly adored, that which way soever he turned his cap, the wind would presently blow that way. From this occasion he was called Windy Cap; and many men believed that Regnerus, King of Denmark, by the conduct of this Ericus, who was his nephew, did happily extend his piracy into the most remote parts of the earth, and conquered many countries and fenced cities by his cunning, and at last was his coadjutor; that by the consent of the nobles, he should be chosen King of Sweden, which continued a long time with him very happily, until he died of old age."-OLAUS, ut supra, p. 45. 3 [See Appendix, Note E.] 4 What contributed much to the security of the Bucaniers about the Windward Islands, was the great number of little islets, called in that country keys. These are small sandy patches, appearing just above the surface of the ocean, covered only with a few bushes and weeds, but sometimes affording springs of water, and, in general, much frequented by turtle. Such little uninhabited spots afforded the pirates good harbours, either for refitting or for the purpose of ambush; they were occasionally the hiding-place of their treasure, and often afforded a shelter to themselves. As many of the atrocities which they practised on their prisoners were committed in such spots, there are some of these keys which even now have an indifferent reputation among seamen, and where they are with difficulty prevailed on to remain ashore at night, on account of the visionary terrors incident to places which have been thus contaminated. Whose light-armed shallop anchor'd lay The groan of grief, the shriek of pain, XIII. Thus, as a man, a youth, a child, How think'st thou ? Is our path waylaid? Bertram sprung forward, shouting high, "Whate'er thou art, thou now shalt stand!". And forth he darted, sword in hand. Rock, wood, and stream, rang wildly out, Hath scaled the cliffs; his frantic chase Foot, hand, and knee, their aid must lend. Views, from beneath, his dreadful way; Now to the oak's warp'd roots he clings, Now trusts his weight to ivy strings; Now, like the wild goat, must he dare An unsupported leap in air; 2 Hid in the shrubby rain-course now, By heaven, his faithless footstool shakes! It sways, . . . it loosens, ́. . . it descends! Just on the very verge of fate, XVI. Wilfrid a safer path pursued; At intervals where, roughly hew'd, 1 [Opposite to this line the MS. has this note, meant to amuse Mr. Ballantyne :-"If my readers will not allow that I have climbed Parnassus, they must grant that I have turned the Kittle Nine Steps."-See note to Redgauntlet.-Waverley Novels, vol. xxxv. p. 6.] • The castle of Mortham, which Leland terms "Mr. Rokesby's Place, in ripa citer, scant a quarter of a mile from Greta Bridge, and not a quarter of a mile beneath into Tees," is a picturesque tower, surrounded by buildings of different ages, now converted into a farmhouse and offices. The battlements of the tower itself are singularly elegant, the architect having broken them at regular intervals into different heights; while those at the corners of the tower project into octangular turrets. They are also from space to space covered with stones laid across them, as in modern embrasures, the whole forming an uncommon and beautiful effect. The surrounding buildings are of less happy form, being pointed into high and steep roofs. A wall, with embrasures, encloses the southern front, where a low portal arch affords an entry to what was the castle-court. At some distance is most happily placed, between the stems of two magnificent elins, the monument alluded to in the text. It is said to have been brought from the ruins of Eglistone Priory, and, from the armoury with which it is richly carved, appears to have been a tomb of the Fitz-Hughs. The situation of Mortham is eminently beautiful, occupying a high bank, at the bottom of which the Greta winds out of the dark, narrow, and romantic dell, which the text has attempted to describe, and flows onward through a more open valley to meet the Tees about a quarter of a mile from the castle. Mortham is surrounded by old trees, happily and widely grouped with Mr. Morritt's new plantations. |