Old Mortality - Sir Walter Scott

Summary

"Old Mortality" by Sir Walter Scott is set in Scotland during the turbulent period of the late 17th century, specifically the Covenanter Uprisings (1679-1689). The story follows Henry Morton, a young, moderate Presbyterian caught between the oppressive Royalist forces of Charles II and the fervent, often fanatical, Covenanters fighting for religious freedom.

Morton, initially neutral, is reluctantly drawn into the conflict when he offers shelter to John Balfour of Burley, a prominent Covenanter rebel. This act leads to his capture by the ruthless Royalist commander, John Graham of Claverhouse. Forced to join the Covenanters to save his life, Morton quickly rises as a capable leader, advocating for more moderate policies within their ranks, often clashing with the extremist views of figures like Burley.

The narrative tracks the Covenanters' initial successes, such as the Battle of Drumclog, and their subsequent, crushing defeat at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, largely due to internal divisions between moderate and extremist factions. Morton, despite his efforts, is once again captured and exiled. During his exile, his beloved, Edith Bellenden, is pressured to marry the noble Royalist Lord Evandale, who had previously saved Morton's life.

Years later, Morton returns to Scotland under an assumed identity. He finds Scotland changed, but also confronts the lingering shadows of the past, including the fanatical Burley and the complicated affections of Edith. The novel explores themes of religious intolerance, political extremism, personal loyalty, and the devastating impact of civil conflict on individuals and society. It ultimately culminates in a resolution for Morton and Edith after further dramatic events and personal sacrifices.

Book Sections

Section 1

The story begins in 1679, introducing Henry Morton, a young man of good family but reduced circumstances, residing at Milnwood. He is in love with Edith Bellenden, the niece of the staunchly Royalist Lady Margaret Bellenden of Tillietudlem Castle. The political and religious tensions in Scotland are palpable, with the Royalist government enforcing Anglicanism and persecuting Presbyterians (Covenanters). A local "wappenschaw" (military muster) highlights the societal divisions. Morton attends, primarily to see Edith, and also interacts with Lord Evandale, a noble Royalist officer who also has affections for Edith. That evening, after the murder of Archbishop Sharp, Morton encounters John Balfour of Burley, a known Covenanter who is now a fugitive. Despite his own moderate views, Morton, out of a sense of hospitality and humanity, reluctantly shelters Burley for the night. This act of compassion places him directly in harm's way. The next morning, Royalist dragoons, led by the formidable John Graham of Claverhouse, arrive at Morton's home in search of Burley. Finding traces of the fugitive, and suspecting Morton's complicity, Claverhouse arrests Morton, condemning him for aiding a rebel.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Henry Morton	Intelligent, principled, moderate, somewhat melancholic, honorable, brave, initially seeks neutrality.	Love for Edith Bellenden, a sense of justice, a desire to avoid conflict but willing to act on principle, compassion.
Edith Bellenden	Beautiful, kind, spirited, loyal, noble, somewhat conventional in her loyalties but deeply compassionate.	Love for Henry Morton, family loyalty to Lady Margaret and the Royalist cause, a desire for peace and happiness.
Lady Margaret Bellenden	Proud, aristocratic, staunchly Royalist, devoted to her family's honour and the memory of Montrose.	Upholding family tradition and honour, maintaining social status, fierce loyalty to the King and the Established Church.
Lord Evandale	Noble, brave, chivalrous, honorable, a devout Royalist officer.	Loyalty to the King, duty, love for Edith Bellenden, personal integrity.
John Balfour of Burley	Fanatical, grim, determined, physically powerful, a zealous Covenanter, often ruthless and uncompromising.	Religious conviction (extreme Covenanter views), vengeance for perceived wrongs against God's cause, unwavering belief in the righteousness of his fight, desire for power within the Covenanter movement.
John Graham of Claverhouse	Charismatic, brilliant military tactician, ruthless, stern, deeply loyal to the Crown, elegant but unforgiving.	Loyalty to the King and the Crown, belief in strict enforcement of law and order, suppression of rebellion, a desire to uphold his reputation as an effective and uncompromising commander.
Major Bellenden	Lady Margaret's brother, a pragmatic, experienced soldier, less zealous than his sister but loyal.	Duty, loyalty to his family and the Crown, a soldier's adherence to command, practical concern for the safety of Tillietudlem.
Cuddie Headrigg	A simple, loyal tenant of Lady Margaret, somewhat cowardly but good-hearted.	Loyalty to his family and employers, desire for a simple life, fear of authority, but also a deep attachment to Jenny Dennison.
Jenny Dennison	Edith's spirited and somewhat gossipy maid, Cuddie's love interest.	Loyalty to Edith, a desire to improve her social standing, affection for Cuddie, a love for drama and gossip.

Section 2

Morton is taken prisoner and faces summary execution by Claverhouse's dragoons. His execution is narrowly averted first by the intervention of Lord Evandale, who, despite being a rival for Edith's affections, respects Morton's character, and then by the arrival of a message from the Royalist Privy Council. Morton is then sent to stand trial with other Covenanter prisoners. During his ordeal, Morton's character is tested, solidifying his resolve not to yield to injustice. He experiences the brutal reality of the Royalist persecution firsthand. Meanwhile, the Covenanters, emboldened by the murder of Sharp and increasingly desperate, are gathering their forces. Burley escapes, and the Covenanter rising escalates. Morton, having been unjustly condemned and offered a stark choice between immediate execution or joining the rebels, reluctantly casts his lot with the Covenanters. His intelligence and strategic thinking quickly make him a respected figure among them, leading to his involvement in the Battle of Drumclog, where the Covenanters achieve a significant, though temporary, victory against Claverhouse's forces.

Section 3

Following their success at Drumclog, the Covenanters gather a larger army. Morton, now a leading figure, tries to bring discipline and order to their ranks. However, the Covenanter army is plagued by internal divisions. One faction, led by extremist preachers like Kettledrummle and Macbriar, and figures like Burley, advocates for an uncompromising, theocratic approach, demanding purification of the land through zealous violence. The other faction, represented by Morton, seeks a more moderate path, aiming for religious freedom and civil liberties rather than a full-blown religious autocracy. These ideological conflicts lead to fierce debates and undermine the Covenanters' unity and military effectiveness. Morton attempts to negotiate terms with the Royalist forces, hoping to avert further bloodshed and secure reasonable concessions, but his efforts are largely thwarted by the intransigence of the extremist Covenanter leaders, who view any compromise as a betrayal of God's will. The Covenanters consolidate their forces around Hamilton, preparing for a decisive confrontation.

Section 4

The climax of the Covenanter uprising occurs at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge. Despite Morton's pleas for tactical unity and more disciplined command, the Covenanter army remains fragmented by its internal religious and political squabbles. The Royalist forces, under the Duke of Monmouth and led by skilled commanders like Claverhouse, are well-organized and professional. The Covenanters are decisively routed. Morton fights bravely but sees his efforts undone by the disarray and fanaticism of his own side. In the chaos of the defeat, Morton, displaying his inherent nobility, helps Lord Evandale escape capture, despite their rivalry for Edith. Morton himself is eventually captured by the victorious Royalists. The aftermath of the battle sees the Covenanters brutally suppressed, with many prisoners executed or sold into slavery.

Section 5

Morton is condemned to death for his role in the rebellion. However, his life is once again spared, this time through the intervention of the Duke of Monmouth and Lord Evandale, in part due to Morton's earlier act of saving Evandale. Instead of execution, Morton is sentenced to perpetual exile from Scotland. He leaves, believing his love for Edith is now irrevocably lost, and that she will likely marry Evandale, who has proven his loyalty and dedication to her. During Morton's long absence, Scotland experiences further political upheaval, including the reign of James VII and II, followed by the Glorious Revolution and the ascension of William and Mary. These changes bring a degree of religious toleration and an end to the harsh persecution of the Covenanters, though the scars of the past remain. Edith, meanwhile, remains loyal to Morton in her heart but faces intense pressure from her family to marry Evandale, seeing it as a duty and a way to secure her future and restore her family's fortunes, which have suffered greatly.

Section 6

Years later, after the Glorious Revolution has brought peace, Henry Morton returns to Scotland under an assumed name, 'Mr. Maxwell'. He finds a changed country and a greatly aged Lady Margaret Bellenden, who is still fierce in her Royalist sentiments. Crucially, he discovers that Edith is engaged to marry Lord Evandale. Evandale, ever noble, is still deeply in love with Edith, but she cannot fully reciprocate his feelings, her heart still tied to Morton. The lingering threat of the past surfaces with the reappearance of John Balfour of Burley, who is still a fugitive, clinging to his extreme Covenanter principles, now even more embittered and fanatical. Morton has a final, dramatic confrontation with Burley, which ends with Burley's death in a skirmish. Evandale, discovering Morton's return and Edith's true feelings, nobly offers to release her from their engagement. In a tragic turn, Evandale is ambushed and mortally wounded by a lingering band of Covenanter desperadoes led by one of Burley's associates (Kettledrummle or Macbriar's influence). His death clears the path for Morton and Edith to finally be together, their love having survived the long years of conflict and separation. They marry and live out their lives in peace, but the novel concludes with a sense of the profound costs of the historical conflicts they endured.

Literary Genre

Historical Novel, Romance, Adventure.

Author Facts

• Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) was a prolific Scottish novelist, poet, playwright, and historian.
• He is considered one of the inventors of the historical novel, popularizing the genre.
• Scott was trained as a lawyer and served as Clerk of Session and Sheriff-Depute of Selkirkshire.
• He was deeply interested in Scottish history, folklore, and ballads, which heavily influenced his work.
• His novels, often called the "Waverley Novels" after his first successful historical novel, were initially published anonymously.
• He built Abbotsford House, his magnificent country estate, on the banks of the River Tweed.
• Despite immense literary success, he faced severe financial ruin due to the collapse of his publishing firm, Ballantyne and Co., and spent the latter part of his life heroically working to pay off his debts.

Moral of the Story

The primary moral of "Old Mortality" is the destructive nature of extremism and fanaticism, whether political or religious. Scott vividly portrays how rigid adherence to ideology, on both the Royalist and Covenanter sides, leads to persecution, civil war, and immense human suffering, tearing apart families, communities, and individuals. The novel champions moderation, tolerance, and human compassion as superior virtues, embodied by Henry Morton, who tries to find a middle ground and apply reason amidst the chaos. It also reflects on the enduring power of personal loyalty and love in the face of overwhelming historical forces, and the profound, often tragic, cost of conflict on individual lives.

Curiosities

• Title Origin: "Old Mortality" refers to a real-life figure, Robert Paterson, an old man who, for many years, traveled around Scotland, maintaining and cleaning the gravestones of Covenanter martyrs. Scott learned of him and was inspired by his dedication to preserving the memory of the past. The novel begins with an introductory chapter where the narrator "discovers" the story through encounters with descendants of Covenanter families and the tales of "Old Mortality" himself.
• Part of a Series: The novel was published in 1816 as one of the "Tales of My Landlord," specifically the first series, alongside "The Black Dwarf." Scott published many of his novels anonymously under the pseudonym "The Author of Waverley," with the "Tales of My Landlord" supposedly collected by "Jedediah Cleishbotham."
• Historical Accuracy: While a work of fiction, "Old Mortality" is meticulously researched, drawing on historical documents, memoirs, and traditions of the Covenanter period. Scott aimed for historical verisimilitude, portraying real historical figures like Claverhouse and events like the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, albeit with fictionalized elements and characters.
• Sympathetic Portrayal of Both Sides: A hallmark of Scott's historical novels is his attempt to present a balanced view, showing the virtues and vices on both sides of a conflict. In "Old Mortality," he depicts the noble qualities of some Royalists (like Evandale) and the fanatical excesses of some Covenanters (like Burley), while also acknowledging the Covenanters' legitimate grievances.
• Controversy: The novel was controversial in its time, particularly among some Presbyterian Scots, who felt that Scott did not sufficiently glorify the Covenanter cause and may have even maligned it by emphasizing its more fanatical aspects. This sparked debates and critiques, notably from Dr. Thomas M'Crie, a Covenanter historian.