Old Mortality

Old Mortality, a novel by Sir W. Scott, published in 1816 in Tales of my Landlord, 1st series.

‘Old Mortality’ is the nickname of a certain Robert Paterson, who towards the end of the 18th cent. wandered about Scotland cleaning and repairing the tombs of the Cameronians. The novel tells the story of young Henry Morton of Milnwood, a moderate Presbyterian of courage and integrity, who, at the outset of the tale, is arrested by the dragoons of John Grahame of Claverhouse for having harboured an old friend of his father, the fanatical Covenanter, John Balfour of Burley. Morton narrowly escapes execution, and spurred by this injustice, joins the insurgent Covenanters. He accordingly becomes one of their leaders. This brings him into conflict with Lady Margaret Bellenden, the Royalist owner of Tillietudlem Castle, with whose granddaughter Edith he is in love. The final defeat of the Covenanters at Bothwell Bridge, and his own capture and banishment, sever him for years from Edith, who believes him dead; and she is on the point of yielding to the patient suit of Lord Evandale, when Morton, after the accession of William III, returns to England. Evandale is killed in a skirmish with a few fanatics, and Morton marries Edith.