Woodstock; or, the Cavalier

WOODSTOCK; OR, THE CAVALIER BY SIR WALTER SCOTT

APPENDIX TO INTRODUCTION.

APPENDIX NO. I.

THE WOODSTOCK SCUFFLE; or, Most dreadfull apparitions that were lately seene in the Mannor-house of Woodstock, neere Oxford, to the great terror and the wonderful amazement of all there that did behold them.

It were a wonder if one unites, 
And not of wonders and strange sights; 
For ev'ry where such things affrights 
Poore people,

That men are ev'n at their wits' end; 
God judgments ev'ry where doth send, 
And yet we don't our lives amend, 
But tipple,

And sweare, and lie, and cheat, and—, 
Because the world shall drown no more, 
As if no judgments were in store 
But water;

But by the stories which I tell, 
You'll heare of terrors come from hell, 
And fires, and shapes most terrible 
For matter.

It is not long since that a child 
Spake from the ground in a large field, 
And made the people almost wild 
That heard it,

Of which there is a printed book, 
Wherein each man the truth may look, 
If children speak, the matter's took 
For verdict.

But this is stranger than that voice, 
The wonder's greater, and the noyse; 
And things appeare to men, not boyes, 
At Woodstock;

Where Rosamond had once a bower, 
To keep her from Queen Elinour, 
And had escap'd her poys'nous power 
By good-luck,

But fate had otherwise decreed, 
And Woodstock Manner saw a deed, 
Which is in Hollinshed or Speed 
Chronicled;

But neither Hollinshed nor Stow, 
Nor no historians such things show, 
Though in them wonders we well know 
Are pickled;

For nothing else is history 

Which otherwise would have lain dead, 
As in oblivion buried, 
Which now you may call into head 
With thinking.

The dreadfull story, which is true, 
And now committed unto view, 
By better pen, had it its due, 
Should see light.

But I, contented, do indite, 
Not things of wit, but things of right; 
You can't expect that things that fright 
Should delight.

O hearken, therefore, hark and shake! 
My very pen and hand doth quake! 
While I the true relation make 
O' th' wonder,

Which hath long time, and still appeares 
Unto the State's Commissioners, 
And puts them in their beds to feares 
From under.

They come, good men, imploi'd by th' State 
To sell the lands of Charles the late. 
And there they lay, and long did waite 
For chapmen.

You may have easy pen'worths, woods, 
Lands, ven'son, householdstuf, and goods, 
They little thought of dogs that wou'd 
There snap-men.

But when they'd sup'd, and fully fed, 
They set up remnants and to bed. 
Where scarce they had laid down a head 
To slumber,

But that their beds were heav'd on high; 
They thought some dog under did lie, 
And meant i' th' chamber (fie, fie, fie) 
To scumber.

Some thought the cunning cur did mean 
To eat their mutton (which was lean) 
Reserv'd for breakfast, for the men 
Were thrifty.

And up one rises in his shirt, 
Intending the slie cur to hurt, 
And forty thrusts made at him for't, 
Or fifty.

But empty came his sword again. 
He found he thrust but all in vain; 
An the mutton safe, hee went amain 
To's fellow.

And now (assured all was well) 
The bed again began to swell, 
The men were frighted, and did smell 
O' th' yellow.

From heaving, now the cloaths it pluckt 
The men, for feare, together stuck, 
And in their sweat each other duck't. 
They wished

A thousand times that it were day; 
'Tis sure the divell! Let us pray. 
They pray'd amain; and, as they say, 
—— ——

Approach of day did cleere the doubt, 
For all devotions were run out, 
They now waxt strong and something stout, 
One peaked

Under the bed, but nought was there; 
He view'd the chamber ev'ry where, 
Nothing apear'd but what, for feare. 
They leaked.

Their stomachs then return'd apace, 
They found the mutton in the place, 
And fell unto it with a grace. 
They laughed

Each at the other's pannick feare, 
And each his bed-fellow did jeere, 
And having sent for ale and beere, 
They quaffed.

And then abroad the summons went, 
Who'll buy king's-land o' th' Parliament? 
A paper-book contein'd the rent, 
Which lay there;

That did contein the severall farmes, 
Quit-rents, knight services, and armes; 
But that they came not in by swarmes 
To pay there.

Night doth invite to bed again, 
The grand Commissioners were lain, 
But then the thing did heave amain, 
It busled,

And with great clamor fil'd their eares, 
The noyse was doubled, and their feares; 
Nothing was standing but their haires, 
They nuzled.

Oft were the blankets pul'd, the sheete 
Was closely twin'd betwixt their feete, 
It seems the spirit was discreete 
And civill.

Which makes the poore Commissioners 
Feare they shall get but small arreares, 
And that there's yet for cavaliers 
One divell.