‘Arthur Fitzherbert,’ said the Baron, ’that stroke has deferred thy knighthood for one year; never must that squire wear the spurs whose unbridled impetuosity can draw unbidden his sword in the presence of his master.  Go hence and think on what I have said.’

The squire left the chamber abashed.

‘It were vain,’ continued Lord Lacy, ’to expect that courtesy from a mountain churl which even my own followers can forget.  Yet, before thou drawest thy brand (for the intruder laid his hand upon the hilt of his sword), thou wilt do well to reflect that I came with a safe-conduct from thy king, and have no time to waste in brawls with such as thou.’

‘From my king—­from my king!’ re-echoed the mountaineer.  ’I care not that rotten truncheon (striking the shattered spear furiously on the ground) for the King of Fife and Lothian.  But Habby of Cessford will be here belive; and we shall soon know if he will permit an English churl to occupy his hostelrie.’

Having uttered these words, accompanied with a lowering glance from under his shaggy black eyebrows, he turned on his heel and left the house with his two followers.  They mounted their horses, which they had tied to an outer fence, and vanished in an instant.

‘Who is this discourteous ruffian?’ said Lord Lacy to the Franklin, who had stood in the most violent agitation during this whole scene.

’His name, noble lord, is Adam Kerr of the Moat, but he is commonly called by his companions the Black Rider of Cheviot.  I fear, I fear, he comes hither for no good; but if the Lord of Cessford be near, he will not dare offer any unprovoked outrage.’

‘I have heard of that chief,’ said the Baron.  ’Let me know when he approaches, and do thou, Rodulph (to the eldest yeoman), keep a strict watch.  Adelbert (to the page), attend to arm me.’  The page bowed, and the Baron withdrew to the chamber of the Lady Isabella to explain the cause of the disturbance.

No more of the proposed tale was ever written; but the Author’s purpose was that it should turn upon a fine legend of superstition which is current in the part of the Borders where he had his residence, where, in the reign of Alexander III of Scotland, that renowned person Thomas of Hersildoune, called the Rhymer, actually flourished.  This personage, the Merlin of Scotland, and to whom some of the adventures which the British bards assigned to Merlin Caledonius, or the Wild, have been transferred by tradition, was, as is well known, a magician, as well as a poet and prophet.  He is alleged still to live in the land of Faery, and is expected to return at some great convulsion of society, in which he is to act a distinguished part, a tradition common to all nations, as the belief of the Mahomedans respecting their twelfth Imaum demonstrates.