"Old Mortality" is one of the Waverley novels written by Walter Scott. The story takes place in southwest Scotland and is part of the first series of Scott's "Tales of My Landlord," published in 1816. The novel tells the story of the Covenanters, including their victory at Loudoun Hill, also called the Battle of Drumclog, and their defeat at Bothwell Bridge, both in June 1679. A final part of the novel is set in 1689 during the royalist defeat at Killiecrankie.

Scott originally titled the book "The Tale of Old Mortality," but most references use the shorter name.

Composition and sources

On April 30, 1816, Scott signed a contract with William Blackwood for a four-volume work of fiction. On August 22, James Ballantyne, Scott's printer and business partner, told Blackwood that the work would be called Tales of My Landlord. The plan was to include four stories about four regions of Scotland. However, the second story, Old Mortality, grew in length and took up the final three volumes. Only The Black Dwarf was completed exactly as originally planned. Scott finished The Black Dwarf in August and wrote Old Mortality over the next three months.

Scott was deeply interested in 17th-century literature. Among the printed sources he used for The Tale of Old Mortality, the following are especially notable:

• Memoirs of Captain John Creichton from The Works of Jonathan Swift D. D., which Scott edited in 1814
• The Secret and True History of the Church of Scotland by James Kirkton, edited by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe in 1817
• Some Remarkable Passages of the Life and Death of Mr. Alexander Peden by Patrick Walker (1724)
• The History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland by Robert Wodrow (1721–22).

Editions

"Old Mortality" was published as the second, third, and fourth books in Tales of My Landlord. These volumes were released by Blackwood's in Edinburgh on 2 December and by John Murray in London three days later. Before 1827, all Waverley novels were published anonymously. The title page of the books stated that the tales were "collected and arranged by Jedediah Cleishbotham," suggesting a new project separate from the first three novels, which were attributed to "the Author of Waverley." These earlier novels were published by Archibald Constable in Edinburgh and Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown in London. A total of 2000 copies were printed, and each book cost £1 8 shillings (£1.40). Two additional editions with small changes followed in the next two months. There is no clear evidence that the author, Sir Walter Scott, was involved in these changes or in later editions, except for the 18mo Novels and Tales (1823) and the "Magnum" edition. Some minor changes in the 1823 edition were made by Scott, but that version did not lead to further revisions. In October 1828, Scott added an introduction and notes, and revised the text for the "Magnum" edition. This edition included the novel in February to April 1830 as part of the ninth volume, the entire tenth volume, and part of the eleventh.

The standard modern edition, published by Douglas Mack in 1993, uses Scott's preferred title, "The Tale of Old Mortality," and appears as Volume 4b of the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels. This edition is based on the first printing, with corrections from the original manuscript and the editions published shortly after the initial release. The "Magnum" edition material is included in Volume 25a.

Plot summary

After an introduction to The Tales of My Landlord, believed to be written by the novel's imaginary editor, Jedediah Cleishbotham, the first chapter by the imaginary author, Peter Pattieson, describes Robert Paterson, known as "Old Mortality," a Scottish man from the 18th century. In his later years, Paterson traveled across Scotland to re-carve the tombstones of 17th-century Covenanter martyrs. Pattieson writes in detail about meeting Paterson, listening to his stories, and gathering other accounts to present a fair and balanced view of events.

The novel then describes a wapenshaw, a gathering held in 1679 by Lady Margaret Bellenden, who managed the barony of Tillietudlem. This event showed her support for the Royalist cause, but most of her tenants supported the opposing Covenanters, who wanted to restore Presbyterianism in Scotland. Lady Margaret had to persuade her unwilling servants to join the event. After her supporters gathered, the main activity was a game of shooting at a popinjay, where a Cavalier competitor narrowly lost to Henry Morton, the son of a Covenanter. Morton met Lady Margaret and her beautiful granddaughter, Edith Bellenden, and fell in love with her.

During celebrations of Morton's victory at the inn that evening, he defended John Balfour of Burley against bullying by Cavalier dragoons. That night, Burley sought shelter at Morton's home, and Morton agreed reluctantly. It was revealed that Burley had been one of the assassins of Archbishop James Sharp. The next morning, they had to flee from Cavalier patrols. As a result, Morton became an outlaw and joined Burley in the uprising at the Battle of Drumclog. At this battle, a small but well-organized group of Covenanters defeated a force of dragoons led by John Graham of Claverhouse. However, after this early success, the novel shows how disagreements among groups led to the Covenanters' defeat at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679, where forces led by the Duke of Monmouth and John Graham of Claverhouse fought against them.

Henry Morton's role in the rebellion caused a conflict because Edith Bellenden belonged to a Royalist family that opposed the uprising. Morton's beliefs were less extreme than those of Burley and other rebel leaders, which led him to take part in disputes among the groups. The novel also portrays Claverhouse and his forces as extreme in their actions. Comic relief comes from Cuddie Headrigg, a peasant who works as Morton's servant. Cuddie reluctantly joins the rebellion because of his loyalty to Morton and his own strong religious beliefs, influenced by his mother, Mause Headrigg.

After the defeat at Bothwell Bridge, Morton fled the battlefield. He was soon captured by some Covenanters who saw him as a traitor and prepared to execute him. He was saved by Claverhouse, who arrived at the scene with help from Cuddie Headrigg. Later, Morton witnessed the trial and suffering of other rebels before going into exile.

The novel ends with Morton returning to Scotland in 1689, after the overthrow of James VII, to find a changed political and religious situation. He is reunited with Edith Bellenden.

Characters

The names of the main characters are written in bold.

• Mr. Morton of Milnewood, a Presbyterian named Henry Morton, his nephew Alison Wilson, and his housekeeper
• Lady Margaret Bellenden of Tillietudlem, Edith, her granddaughter Major Bellenden, her brother-in-law Gudyill, her butler Goose Gibbie, and her servant with a mental disability
• Jenny Dennison, Edith's maid
• Mause Headrigg Cuddie, her son
• Lord Evandale, Lady Emily Hamilton, his sister
• Niel Blane, a publican, Jenny, his daughter
• John Grahame of Claverhouse, Francis Stuart (Bothwell), his sergeant Cornet Richard Grahame, his nephew
• Tam Halliday, Bothwell's comrade
• Gabriel Kettledrummle, Peter Poundtext, Ephraim Macbriar, and Habbakuk Mucklewraith, Covenanting preachers
• John Balfour or Burley, a Covenanter
• The Duke of Monmouth, General Dalzell, his aide-de-camp
• The Duke of Lauderdale
• Basil Olifant
• Bessie MacClure, Peggy, her granddaughter
• Wittenbold, a Dutch dragoon commander

Chapter summary

Ch. 1: An assistant schoolmaster at Gandercleugh, Peter Pattieson, describes meeting Old Mortality, who is repairing gravestones for Covenanters. Old Mortality shares stories that form the basis of what follows.

Ch. 2: Lady Margaret Bellenden struggles to find enough willing servants to meet her requirement of sending a set number to the wappen-schaw (muster).

Ch. 3: At the wappen-schaw, Henry Morton wins a contest by shooting at the popinjay (parrot), defeating Lord Evandale and a young plebeian [later identified as Cuddie Headrigg]. Lady Margaret’s half-witted servant, Goose Gibbie, falls down.

Ch. 4: At Niel Blane’s inn, John Balfour (or Burley) defeats Francis Stuart (Bothwell) in a wrestling match. After Burley leaves, Cornet Grahame arrives to announce that the Archbishop of St Andrews has been killed by a group under Burley’s command.

Ch. 5: Henry hides Burley in the stable at Milnewood and gets supplies for him, pretending the supplies are for his own use from the talkative housekeeper, Alison Wilson.

Ch. 6: The next morning, Henry sees Burley leaving and rejects his extreme ideas. He gives up his plan to pursue a career abroad after his uncle and Alison oppose it.

Ch. 7: Lady Bellenden forces Mause and Cuddie Headrigg to leave Tillietudlem for their support of a political group called the Whigs.

Ch. 8: Mause and Cuddie find shelter at Milnewood. Bothwell arrests Henry for helping Burley. Mause and Cuddie prepare to leave Milnewood after she expresses extreme Covenanting beliefs.

Ch. 9: Lady Bellenden welcomes Bothwell’s group at Tillietudlem.

Ch. 10: With Jenny Dennison’s help, Edith Bellenden persuades the guard, Tam Halliday, to let her see Henry. She writes a letter, to be delivered by Goose Gibbie, suggesting her uncle, Major Miles Bellenden, should speak in Henry’s favor to Claverhouse.

Ch. 11: Major Bellenden arrives at Tillietudlem in response to Edith’s letter, followed shortly by Claverhouse.

Ch. 12: After breakfast, Claverhouse refuses to spare Henry at the Major’s request. He confirms his decision when Lord Evandale arrives to report that Covenanting forces expect to be joined by a large group led by Henry. Evandale agrees to help Henry at Edith’s request.

Ch. 13: Henry’s old jealousy of Edith is rekindled when he misunderstands her relationship with Evandale. Claverhouse agrees to spare Henry from immediate execution at Evandale’s request.

Ch. 1 (14): Henry discusses current events with Cuddie during the march under Bothwell’s guard. Mause and Gabriel Kettledrummle give free expression to their beliefs.

Ch. 2 (15): The group arrives at Loudon Hill, where the royalist army is preparing to fight the Covenanters.

Ch. 3 (16): The Covenanters win the battle. Cornet Grahame is shot before the battle begins, and Burley kills Bothwell during the conflict.

Ch. 4 (17): Henry, who has watched the battle, saves Evandale from Burley, allowing Evandale to avoid capture.

Ch. 5 (18): Kettledrummle and Ephraim Macbriar preach after the battle.

Ch. 6 (19): Major Bellenden prepares Tillietudlem for a siege by the Covenanters.

Ch. 7 (20): Claverhouse sends a group of dragoons to defend Tillietudlem as the surrounding area prepares for war.

Ch. 8 (21): Burley persuades Henry to join the Covenanting forces, though Henry is unsure.

Ch. 9 (22): Henry is shocked by the extreme ideas shared at a meeting of the Covenanters.

Ch. 10 (23): Henry accepts Cuddie’s offer to work for him and receives Bothwell’s pocket-book. He joins a group of six to plan the capture of Tillietudlem.

Ch. 11 (24): Evandale arrives at Tillietudlem. Edith is upset to learn from Jenny Dennison that Henry has joined the Covenanters.

Ch. 12 (25): After Major Bellenden refuses a letter from Henry offering to surrender, there is a brief, uncertain fight.

Ch. 13 (26): Henry leaves the siege of Tilliet

Historical background

In an introduction written by Scott in 1830, he wrote about meeting "Old Mortality" at Dunottar, which he said happened about 30 years before he wrote the introduction. The novel focuses on real events from a Covenanter uprising in 1679, including the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge. The character Henry Morton and the location Tillietudlem Castle are made up, but readers connected them to Craignethan Castle, which Scott had visited. This castle soon became a popular place for literary visitors, and a nearby railway stop was named Tillietudlem, becoming a small village.

Reception

Most reviewers gave "Old Mortality" a much higher rating than "The Black Dwarf," especially praising the characters and descriptions. However, some critics pointed out that the main character, Henry Morton, was not strong enough. Four critics, including Francis Jeffrey in The Edinburgh Review, said the book fairly showed the Covenanters and royalists. But others claimed the Covenanters were portrayed in a negative light and the royalists were shown in a better light. This was especially mentioned in a long article by Rev. Thomas McCrie the elder in The Edinburgh Christian Instructor, which was mostly positive. Scott indirectly answered McCrie's criticisms in an anonymous review for The Quarterly Review. The Eclectic Review said Scott changed history to make it more entertaining, though it admitted he did this well. Henry Duncan, who started the first savings bank, wrote three novels to challenge the negative image of the Covenanters shown in Old Mortality.

Adaptations and cultural references

Some websites claim that the play Têtes rondes et Cavaliers (1833) by Jacques-François Ancelot and Joseph Xavier Saintine, and the opera I puritani (1835) by Vincenzo Bellini, are connected to Sir Walter Scott’s novel. However, these works are not related to Scott’s novel and do not share any plot elements with it.

Letitia Elizabeth Landon’s poem Black Linn of Linklater, which accompanies a painting by Alexander Chisholm, serves as a tribute to Sir Walter Scott after his death. It also describes Scott’s visit to Italy. The painting’s title refers to a place mentioned in Scott’s novel Old Mortality.