"Thou shall be zealous even to slaying"

Walter Scott, Old Mortality: Reading Notes, Part Three

Claverhouse, the military commander and scourge of the Dissenters, rides a horse without a single white hair -- said by those he pursues to be "a gift from the Prince of Darkness" himself.

Lady Bellenden's breakfast for the visiting military host of the archaic variety: "the priestly ham, the knightly sirloin, the noble baron of beef" and flagons of beer, wine, and mead.

Lady Bellenden so seduced by rank that she cannot see Bothwell's degradation. In her own way, she is as single-mindedly deluded as her bible-quoting former servant Mause.

Claverhouse has a soft and courtly exterior that hides "a spirit unbounded in daring and ambition." He is "careless in facing death and ruthless in inflicting it on others."

Claverhouse's regiment has, as ornaments, black trumpeters: "six negroes in white dresses, richly laced, and having massive silver collars and armlets."

Claverhouse leads his troops against body of insurgents led by Balfour.

Balfour kills officer sent to treat for peace, horrifying his companions. To which Balfour replies: "is it not written, Thou shall be zealous even to slaying?"

Balfour fights with and kills Bothwell. Bothwell says: "Base peasant churl, thou hast spilt the blood of a line of kings"

Balfour replies: "Die bloodthirsty dog! Die as thou hast lived! Die like the beasts that perish -- hoping nothing -- believing nothing!"

And Claverhouse's whispered aside to the news of Bothwell's death: "the King has lost a servant and the Devil has gained one."

Claverhouse moves through melee untouched: "the awe on the insurgents' minds was such that they gave way to Claverhouse as before a Supernatural being."

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