Dining with General Claverhouse

Walter Scott, Old Mortality: Reading Notes, Part Six

Upon breaking-up nest of Cameronians and thus rescuing Henry, Claverhouse orders summary execution of armed rebels and, in tone that suggests it is a legal nuisance, interrogation of unarmed preacher (Macbriar).

Then, in a sentence that suggests Morton's status is now that of an indulged and favored beast, Claverhouse instructs his orderly "let Mr Morton be civilly used and see that the men look well after their horses; and let my groom wash Wildblood's shoulder with some vinegar, the saddle touched him a little."

Claverhouse dines as the insurgents are executed. Noting Henry's distress, he philosophises: "in the beginning of my military career I had as much aversion to blood spilt as ever man felt; it seemed to me to be wrung from my own heart; and yet, if you trust one of those whig fellows, he will tell you I drink a warm cup of it every morning before I breakfast."

Claverhouse continues: "Men die daily -- not a bell tolls the hour but it is the death-note of some one or another; and why hesitate to shorten the span of others, or take over anxious care to prolong our own? It is all a lottery."

In transit the next day, Claverhouse expounds on what he sees as the difference between those killed by Balfour of Burley and the blood he and his troops shed: "There is a difference, I trust, between the blood of learned and reverend prelates, of gallant soldiers and noble gentlemen, and the red puddle that stagnates in the veins of psalm-singing mechanics, crack-brained demagogues, and silly boors; some distinction, in short, between spilling a flask or generous wine, and dashing down a can full of base muddy ale."

Claverhouse mock-distraught at Henry's lack of knowledge of chilvaric literature: "Did you ever read Froissart?" No. "I have half a mind to contrive you should have six months' imprisonment in order to procure you that pleasure."

Claverhouse maintains a "Black Book" with information on individual citizens, whether insurgent or not, much of it gathered by "loyal" ministers. Henry remonstrates: "Does it not revolt a mind like yours to follow a system that is supported by such minute inquiries after obscure individuals?"

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