"Thou art unwise Henry Morton"

Walter Scott, Old Mortality: Reading Notes, Part Five

Henry reflects on how "our best and most praiseworthy feelings" become degraded: "the liberal principles of one man sink into cold and unfeeling indifference; the religious zeal of another hurries him into frantic and savage enthusiasm."

Balfour correctly guesses and highly disapproves Henry's motives for wanting to remain near the besieged castle -- to protect his beloved, Edith, and his mentor, Major Bellenden.

Balfour: "thou art unwise, Henry Morton, to sacrifice this holy cause to thy friendship for an uncircumcised Philistine, or thy lust for a Moabitist woman." Henry: "I neither understand your meaning, Mr. Balfour, nor relish your allusions."

Later, Henry remonstrates with Balfour on the zealot's plan to summarily execute Evandale: "we are in arms to put down such cruelties, not to imitate them."

Prevailing unworldliness at the front lines of the insurgent army does not inspire confidence : "their piquets and patrols were more interested and occupied in disputing the true occasion and causes of wrath, and defining the limits of Erastian herecy, than in looking out for and observing the motions of their enemies."

Sectarianism undermines insurgent army. When Henry seeks to save the bridge crossing from falling into the hands of Claverhouse, the Cameronian (zealot) dominated cavalry will not follow him as he has been condemned by the maniac Mucklewrath as an Erastian.

Fleeing from the royal troops, Henry and loyal Cuddie find themselves amid some of the most ardent Cameronians, including Macbriar and Mucklewrath.

Looking for a celestial cause for the defeat, they look threatenly at Henry, believing that God has delivered him into their hands. Cuddie: "they'll kill him, the murdering loons, and think they're doing a gude turn."

Having decided to murder Henry at the expiry of the Sabbath, the zealots begin a vigil to look for a sign of heavenly approbation for the slaughter.

Henry freed when Cuddie enlists Claverhouse to break-up the Cameronian nest.


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