The Diary of Martha Bethune Baliol from 1753 to 1754

Chapter I. Written At The Request Of Her Beloved Grandmother, The Lady

BETHUNE OF LINCLUDEN : COMMENCED THE 1ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1753. The first day of September. — My beloved grand mother having left Mount Baliol at eight o'clock, a.m., to visit our good friends and cousins, the Græmes, of the Knowe, has requested me to note down all that may occur during her absence, and to acquaint her of the same on her return. At eight o'clock this morning our coach departed, carrying in it the lady of Lincluden — our pretty kins woman, Jean Cumyn, and a favourite gaze-hound, of the name of Speed ! her own woman also accompanied her; Roger drove the four black Flanders mares, and his son John, and a groom of my brother, Sir Richard, were the outriders ; my brother praised Roger for the sleek appearance of his horses, but whispered to me he B would have the coach newly painted for me ere we go to Edinburgh, where we are to pass the winter.

I assured him that the coach that did for my grandmother would suffice for me, whereat he laughed, and called me " a demure mouse." Truly, he is an excellent brother. Ere my dear grandmother departed, she gave me a beautiful piece of rose-coloured taffetas. She has also installed Alice Lambskin to be my woman, and to have the charge of my laces; and expressed a hope that she would prove as faithful as her mother, who served in our family upwards of forty years. Alice tells me that there is sufficient taffetas to make me a sacque and negligee, which, with my cap of Flanders lace that my brother gave me, will, I am told, be a very becoming dress to appear in on my birthday, the seventeenth. The henwife came to tell me that the tod had taken two fat hens and a green goose. I bid the keeper and ranger come to me, and told then} that I marvelled how this might be, if they attended to their master's interest; whereat the keeper muttered, " That if Tib would not go sae aften to the Clachan, the tod would not get her beasts;" but I sharply desired him not to prate, but to attend to his own affairs.

Memorandum. — To teU my grandmother this matter on her return, and also what Ringwood said about Tib. My brother went out hunting soon after the depar ture of my grandmother, and brought home two fine stags; one was a stag royal. I ordered Ringwood to preserve the horns of it for the hall; and my heart smiting me for having spoken somewhat sharply to him about Tib, I sent a fine haunch to his wife (my nurse), and told him to send my fosterer to fetch the same. He came, and brought me a young eaglet, which he had taken from its nest in the Devil's Chair. He had got sadly wounded by the mother's beak and claws ; but he said he did not care about it, he was so proud in having at length procured me an eaglet, which I have long desired. I dressed his wounds with some celebrated salve of my grandmother's, and desired him to get his dinner in the kitchen.

I gave him twelve shillings (Scots), and he departed in great glee. He is a brave lad. At dinner, my brother made merry with me ; and we being the only two at table, he several times addressed me as Lady Baliol, his wife! Alice Lambskin was sorry when I told her his jest, as she holds that it is not lucky ; so I laughed, and assured her that I had no fear : moreover, that I was too proud of my own name to mourn if I never had another. In the evening I sang a little to my lute, my brother joining with me. In jest he condoled with me for not having gone to the Knowe' with my grandmother, who considers me yet too young for company. At nine o'clock, we retired ; and I went, as is my custom, to visit the chamber of my dear grandmother, and felt a sore pang in seeing it empty, for never before, since I can remember, have we been separated.

Alice waited on me, and begged to leave open the door which separates her chamber from mine. I soon fell asleep, and dreamt that I was going to tread a measure with my fosterer, Ringwood ; and b2 that the viols were playing " Up in the mornin's no for me." I awoke {September 2) suddenly, and the music still ringing in my ears, I threw my robe-dc-chambre around me, and going to the window I saw my brother standing and giving directions to the ranger to sound a reveille ! He called me slug-a-bed, and warned me that already it was past six o'clock ; that he was going to visit the Deep-den-chase, and hoped that I would wait breakfast till he returned. When I went to the dairy I heard from Marjorie, the dairywoman, that she thought Old Peg had bewitched our cow Crummie, as she could get no milk from her.

I went to look at the poor beast, but could perceive no difference in her; but I ordered Marjorie to take her to the byre. Marjorie said that she thought that Peg had done it, out of spite for somewhat that she (Marjorie) had said of her pretty daughter Peggie ; but I, having heard from others that Marjorie is jealous of Peggie, did not altogether believe the story. I took care, however, not to say this to Marjorie, as she is a good and honest servant ; and I find that we have six cheeses more this half-year than formerly, and have reared two additional calves. I ordered a ewe milk kebbuck to be sent for the table ; also to send two pints of sweet milk to old Goody Gordon, at the Clachan, who has two sick grandchildren now with her. I met pretty Peggie, coming to the Mount for something for her mother, who had been ailing all the night.

I mentioned what had befallen Crummie ; she was grieved and amazed, but in no way took guilt to her. She accompanied me to the house, and I desired the cook to give her some soup and broken-meat for her mother. I also gave her a bottle of my grandmother's cordial. At our breakfast, my brother told me that, in the Deep-den-chase, he found a troup of gipsies, tinklers, and cairds, and that he had warned them off his ground ; and begged me to caution the maids that they must be doublv careful of all committed to their charge,. whilst we have such neighbours. I informed him of the loss of the fowls, and how Marjorie declared that Old Peg had bewitched Crummie. He laughed, and said he thought the gipsies knew the taste of the fowls better than the tod, and that most likely poor Crummie had been frighted by the sight of Marjorie's ugly face ; she being exceedingly homely in appearance, though a good servant.

I was seated at my wheel, and had well nigh finished my allotted task of a cut, when hearing the trampling of horses in the court, I went to the window to see whom it might be, and saw mine honoured uncle and a stranger gentleman alighting at the door. I desired Alice to follow me whilst I went to the door to bid them welcome. My uncle saluted me, and named the strano-er to me : it was Mr. Garden, from the North. My uncle said, he was uncertain what day my grandmother meant to go to the Knowe, and had ridden over to present his young friend to her. My brother now joined us, and pressed my uncle to remain, which he at once consented to do ; and, in truth, I believe he made this visit on purpose to inspect my housekeeping. At two o'clock, for my brother likes late hours the best, the dinner was served, and Sir Richard asked Mr. THE DIARis OF 6 Garden to lead me to the dining-room, I being the only lady present.

I observed that Mr. Garden seemed amused by the signal which we ever use to announce that dinner is served, the cook chappin with his rolling pin, and he told me that a bell is now rung to call people to their meals ; but I answered that it seemed to me that a bell was more suitable for calling folk to prayer and fasting, than to drinking and feasting. I wore my dames-plum coloured satin negligee, and my second best lace ruffles, but I felt very shy, and was, I fear, very awkward, for this was the first time I had ever sat at the head of the table, and in carving I could not for some time hit the joint, whereat my uncle ap peared distressed ; but my brother by his lively conversation attracted the attention of Mr. Garden, so that I think he perceived not my awkwardness. Memorandum. — To practise carving till I be more perfect at it.

My uncle expressed himself well pleased with my deportment, and gave me his blessing when I retired for the night ; but before going to my bed-chamber, I went to see that the maids had properly prepared the rooms which my uncle and Mr. Garden were to occupy, and also told Howison to serve them with some good posset when they retired. September 3. — Being resolved that my brother should not again call me slug-a-bed, I desired my woman Alice to call me at five o'clock, so that I might have everything in fitting order for the breakfast of my uncle and Mr. Garden. At arting, my dear uncle again commended me, and Mr. Garden expressed a hope that we might meet in Edinburgh, where he resides, and where we purpose, God willing, to spend this coming winter. My brother gave them a convoy, he was mounted on his favourite black horse, Soldan ; and, in my eyes, there is none that can compare with him.

When they had left us I went about my household duties. Marjorie told me that Crummie was now herself again. I reproved her anent the. matter of Old Peg, and I myself do blame the gipsies; but she maintained she had tied a bit of rowan tree to her tail, and had put a silver sixpence (she got from my brother to buy a fairing) into her drinking trough. I marvel if that could have done good. I then read the space of half an hour, and was doing so when Alice Lambskin came to me to consult me on the making of my rose-coloured taffetas. My brother returned in the midst thereof, and having good know ledge of what is suitable, and having moreover much observation in these matters, he advised that I should not have a sacque made of it, but instead a fardingale, or a hoop. I like not the notion of a hoop, so am de termined to have a fardingale, and my kind brother has himself written to Mrs. Ellis, the first mantua maker in Edinburgh, to send me a capuchin, and the newest modes in muffs and aprons.

In truth, I am not worthy of such a brother, yet I love him tenderly. He said he was going a shooting, and proposed that I should accompany him as far as the Spring-well muir. I hastened to get my hat and muff, and accompanied him. On the way he informed me that after the 17th, he purposed visiting his dear friend and comrade, Murray of Kilmaine. " Murray is one whom you will much esteem, Martha," said he ; " for he is as fond of the White Rose as you are :" and then he said he sometimes regretted that in the '45, instead of wielding his sword for his lawful king, he had shed his blood in the service of the elector at Fontenoy. I assured him that that matter had been well redd up to the prince by our grand mother ; and that he, in his own courtly manner, had assured her, that he knew that no Baliol or Bethune would have drawn his sword against his lawful king, or left it sheathed when his country required it.

He seemed pleased to hear this. On my return, assisted by Alice, and May Hetley, I preserved some pints of plums — and made some candied Angelica, whicli Alice assures me is a fine thing for O r O keeping off witches and infection. When my brother returned, he brought with him some fine black cocks, and rnuir game, which I saw put carefully into the larder, and then, wearied with my long walk, I retired before nine. September 4. — I rose early in order to see that everything might be well in call on the return of my dear grandmother, but the Knowe is at such a distance from this, that I expect her not till afternoon. I found all going well in the dairy, and remarked to Marjorie that Mr. Garden (but I mentioned no name to her, merely said a gentleman) had told me that buttermilk was one of the finest things for fattening pigs, and that she might take a young porker and try.

It can do no harm. I could not settle to my spinning, but broke my thread so often in rising hastily to look for the coach, that I put aside my wheel, and tried to read, but came no better speed. I went to look for my brother, but found he had gone out with two gaze-hounds which my uncle had brought him. I then went to see how Alice progressed with my fardingale, but just as she proceeded to let me see it, I heard the sound of wheels, and ran hastily to welcome ray dear grandmother. She had alighted ere I reached the door, and running towards her I flung my arms round her, and she embraced me tenderly. I then perceived that she was not alone, but was accompanied by a gentleman. I felt ashamed that he should have seen me running, but he appeared to be assisting my grandmother's woman Elspet to keep Speed quiet, and saw not my confusion.

" Come hither, Master Edwardes," said my grandmother, " this is a young maiden I hope to see you well acquainted with : this is my granddaughter, Martha Baliol." Mr. Edwardes bowed low, and expressed himself to the effect that he should be well pleased if I would rank him amongst my acquaintance. He then, my brother being absent, offered his arm to my grandmother to assist her up-stairs, whilst Elspet and I followed. On our way to the oak chamber, where my grandmother always sits, Elspet told me that she was both tired and hungry, Speed having eat all the luncheon that the lady of the Knowe had put into a basket for her. I ordered her, therefore, to hasten to the cook and get her dinner, whilst I went to attend my grandmother. On entering the oak chamber, Mr. Edwardes handed me a chair, but he remained standing till both my grandmother and myself entreated that he would be seated.

At her request I then informed her what had oc curred during her absence, and mentioned the visit of my uncle and Mr. Garden. "What Garden is he?" she inquired. "He is from the North, I believe," I replied, " but resides in Edinburgh." " Nay, then," quoth she, " it is just Francie Garden: but how comes Bernard to know him, still less to fancy that the sight of him would be a pleasure, the naming of him an honour to me?" When my,brother entered, my granddame led him aside, and conversed earnestly with him; whilst Master Edwardes narrated to me the manner in which they passed the time at the Knowe, and told me that my cousin, Lucy Græme, is of rare and exceeding beauty, and to his mind prettier than either of her sisters. My brother then advanced, and taking Mr. Edwardes by the hand, he greeted him kindly, and expressed the pleasure it gave him to see him (Mr. E.) at Mount Baliol, and hoped he would make it his home as long as it was con venient for him to do so, and more to the same effect; to all of which Mr. Edwardes replied in a suitable manner.

My granddame told us then of our cousins, and that she had invited them all to the ball which my kind brother gives me on the 17th, and also several of their neighbours; and had promised hunting to the young men, and a merry dance to the young maidens. She then retired to her own chamber, and I accompanied her. I brought her my diary, wherewith she was much amused, and advises me to continue it. She says that she will not ask to see it, unless it be my wish. At dinner we were, as Master Edwardes termed us, une partie quarree, to his thinking the pleasantest of all. He has been so much abroad, that he says he is a stranger to the ways and manners of this country, and has prayed me to instruct him in our customs; and in return, he promises to instruct me in the habits and head-dresses most in vogue, and to describe minutely the number of diamonds in the stomacher of the Pom padour worn at a ball at Versailles, which he was at very lately, and where he had the honour, of walking a minuet with the lovely Madame de Choiseul, a coun trywoman of his own.

As Master Edwardes practises the foreign fashion of accompanying the ladies to the withdrawing-room, we had time for a walk, and he and my brother pressed me much to accompany them. Getting my muff and capuchin I did so, and we walked to the Deep-den chase, where we found the gipsies encamped. My brother went to speak to Ringwood about this matter ; and an old gipsy no sooner saw him leave us than she came up, and said she would spae our fortunes. I was afraid, and drew back ; but Master Edwardes encou raged me, and said, the future could have no terrors forme, though I might make much woe to others: I was therefore persuaded, and held out my hand. The old woman, who was ugly and dirty, looked at my hand attentively, and then told me that I would travel far, and see many countries; but far as I would travel I would never overtake happiness and — but here, Master Edwardes seeing me turn pale from terror, for in sooth I liked not to hear her, interrupted her, and told her to try his hand: "And, remember, no tricks with me," said he; " for I had my fortune told by a celebrated necromancer in Paris ; so see that you say the same."

He then laughed, and said tome: "She gave you ill luck because you gave her no money. I learnt in Paris, that they see the future more clearly when the present is covered with silver. Is it not so ?" and he put some silver into her hand. She scowled on him, and said : " Ah ! French gold — little good has it brought to Scotland." " True, mother," said he, " and English less." " Aye, lad," she replied, "say ye so — then I'm thinking little o't has come your way." He answered, laughing: "Though I am an English man ; you are right there." " English, are ye ! then ye come o' an ill and a cruel kind. Little do me or mine owe them," she muttered. And then taking his hand, she said : " Aye, an English loos — fyled wi Scotch blude. There's blude on this hand, for as white as it looks — mony a bludie danger past, and monie mair to come."

" They'll be welcome," he said; " we shall meet as old friends." " Friends ! — aye, aye, ye say true ; it's frae your friens that ye hae maist to fear. Do you see that reid mark crossing the line o' life ? — sae young, and sae bonnie ! — but it's dim, and I canna see beyond it " and she stopped. " Well, mother, what now! I have faced most dangers — what is this one that scares you ? believe me, I shall be ready." " To die a bludie death," she said, solemnly. " Aye, to die a bloody death ! It has been the fate of those nearest and dearest to me ; why should it not be mine ? Only say, that success crowns my fall ; and then welcome death !" " Success! aye, truly ; ye're no the ane to fail in aught that a brave heart, a reddie han, or a winnin tongue can help on: but " " Nay," he said, interrupting her, " I'll hear no more.

To die in the arms of victory has ever been the lot I most envied ;" and at that moment my brother joined us. " Hola! Edwardes," he said, "are you getting a charm, or having your fortune spaed ? Is he to be a lord, and ride in a coach and six ? That, I think, is the general reward of merit accorded us here." " That at least — but this old lady has been trying to frighten me out of a little money by predicting battle, murder, and sudden death. Now in Paris, for half the sum I gave her, my diviner promised me every kind of pleasure, and so pleased was I, that I gave the poor wretch a louis for her pains." Master Edwardes seemed to treat the matter as a jest, and alluded to it no more: but I could not help thinking again and again on the words I had heard. I quoted them to my grandmother, but she assured me that the woman was probably angry with him for laughing at her craft, and, having some grudge against the English, had said it on purpose. In the evening Master Edwardes sang sweetly to us some French romances, and appeared to have quite for gotten the fate foretold him.

Chapter II

September 5. — The gentlemen were off to the hill early in the morning, so that we saw them not at break fast. I assisted my grandmother in making arrangements relative to the ball on the 17th, and the number of guests likely to be with us. She tells me that she hopes Master Edwardes will remain over that day, as she esteems him much. I put a leading question to try and hear who he was, but my grandmother merely said, he was the son of a gude frien, and he and all his kith and kin were well known to her, and she looked upon him as her own. I replied, I thought I must have seen him before, for his face was familiar to me. She said I had seen him before, many years ago, and then laughing, she added, " But it is scarce seemly in young maidens to stare and gaze, and gossip about those they meet ; therefore, dear Mattie, cumber not yourself as to who he is, or what he is, but know that he is a dear young friend of mine.

So now go and look if May Hetley has fitly prepared the blue room for him." " The blue room ! dear granddame !" I said in amazement ; for the blue room was the one my honoured father had used, and was now our state apartment. " Yes, burdalane, the blue room ;" and then, with a smile, she added, " see that the pictures are weel dusted, and a nosegay in the beau-pots, and I need not charge you, dear child, to let a white rose be in the posie." I proceeded to the blue room, but found all there ready prepared. The blue room being the one occupied by my honoured father, has been little used since. My mother liked it not after he had left her ; and, though heretofore this room has ever been appropriated by the head of the house, my brother affects it not, but has chosen for his own the east turret.

We have therefore made it our state-chamber, and it being hung with blue velvet from Genoa, we ever now term it the blue room. I looked that the pictures were well dusted, and in especial that the portrait of my hero of romance, the brave, the chivalrous, though ill-starred Earl of Der wentwater, which hangs on one side of the large fire place, was free from spec or stain. Amazement ! when I raised my eyes to the picture, 'it was the likeness of Master Edwardes I gazed upon : the same gallant and graceful bearing, the same dark falcon eye and noble brow ; the black hair worn in the same style, unpow dered, and hanging in long curls at the back; the small dark mustache shading a mouth of great beauty, but expressing firmness and decision. The picture had a peaked beard, whicli Master Edwardes lacked, but save for that, and the difference of dress, it was the picture of Master Edwardes.

Who then could he be ; this stranger whom my granddame prized so much and honoured so highly? I quitted the blue room hastily, and ran to tell her of my notable discovery, but I found her occupied with Elspet and May Hetley, and not choosing to interrupt her, I hurried away to my own little oriel room, where my brother and I spend great part of our time ; and, I blush to write it, instead of occupying myself in some useful or improving employ ment, I looked not at my wheel, my spinnet was un heeded, and I forgot all about Master Edwardes and the picture, in the perusal of Sir Charles Grandison, a book my dear brother has presented to me, and which I find to be of powerful interest and exceeding'beauty, though I like not the heroine so much. Unlike any Harriet that ever I knew, she is perfect, too much so to be interesting.

My brother says, that frequently in the character as in the opal stone, the beauty consists in a flaw ; I will not say the same, but I do allow I feel more interest in Clementina than in Harriet. At length the turret clock warned me that the hour when I accompany my grandmother to walk, was long since past ; and ashamed of my negligence, I made a vow not to open my book again for a week ; and, hastily closing it, I ran to get my capuchin, and then hurried to the oak parlour, where my grandmother generally sits, and where I found that the gentlemen had returned from the moors, and were deeply engaged in earnest conversation with her. As I opened the door, Master Ed wardes said, " No, Sir Richard, the risk is mine only, I stand or fall alone." I fear my temper is bad, and my disposition haughty, for when my grandmother saw C me enter, she evidently showed that she wished not for my company, for she said to me hastily, " Go, Martha, see the game just brought home put into the larder ; and do you choose a good bird and make o'it a spatchcock, I warrant our young friend has na tasted one for monie a day."

I felt that this was a hint, and a broad one, that I was not wished for ; and, mortified at being thus treated as a child before a stranger, I hastily shut the door to conceal the tears of mortifica= tion, and I fear of anger, that rose to my eyes. I ran quickly down the grand staircase, but ere I had time to cross the court-yard — for in my evd humour I resolved not to go near the cook, but to show that I felt that it was a mere pretence to get rid of me — I say I had not time to cross the court-yard, when a kind voice said at my ear, "Your kind grandmother has permitted me to visit the cuisine with you ; nay, more, promises that you will instruct me in the proper method of making a spatchcock." It was Master Edwardes that spoke to me ; and I quickly divined that he wished to spare me the mortification of fancying myself treated as a chdd, and had made this pretence to join me, but my evil humour had not yet vanished, so I repUed drily, that I had no doubt but the cook would instruct him equaUy well as I could have done ; that I was not going to the kitchen, but to the garden instead.

He observed that this pleased him stdl more, as he hoped to obtain my permission to accompany me. I bowed, and we went together, and very soon my evil humour disappeared, and I felt sadly ashamed of having given way to it, especially when I saw the pains Master Edwardes took to make me feel that he had not wished to dispense with my company, At length I said, suddenly: " Now that I have recovered my equanimity, which was so sadly deranged, and feel ashamed of my petu lance, I am satisfied that my dear granddame judged well, that I might hear something which, though it might interest, might neither concern nor edify me ; and thought it better to give me some employment to occupy my thoughts. I shall therefore hasten and Ho her bidding, and regret the ill opinion you must form of my temper and culture ;" and I turned to go away.