A Guernsey Tradition. The Bailif’s * home was a lordly hall, And his land stretch’d far and wide, And many stout serving-men came at his call, And great were his pomp and pride. Near this mansion there stood a neat little cot, Nestling in bush and tree ; The owner, a peasant of humble lot, With one vergee † of land from his forefathers got, None happier seem’d than he. He loved his children, he loved his wife, Their words and their acts were right ; So they led in the cottage a peaceable life, Though they labour’d from morn till night. No spring there was on the peasant’s ground, But, whoe’er in the cot might dwell, (It was known to the country folks many milesround) Had a right to the rich man’s well. When his earthen pitcher the villager brought At the rich man’s well to fill ; How the Bailiff grudged, he little thought, His draughts from that limpid rill. And why was he vex’d when the man he saw ? Oh, why for the water care ? ’Twas because the man had a right to draw, That he hated to see him there. ’Twould not perchance have been e’er denied, Had he begg’d it eve and noon, But it sadly offended the Bailiff’s pride That he had not to ask the boon. “ Thy land and hut I desire to buy,” He said one day with a frown ; “ Name the sum you expect, be it ever so high, I will instantly pay it down.” Poor Massey bow’d as he humbly spake— “ My father first drew his breath In this cottage ; I prize it for his dear sake, And will never resign it till death. “ I lost my mother while yet a child, But once it was her abode ; Could I part with the home where my mothersmiled— Where she taught me the fear of God ? * The Bailiff, or chief judge, in the Royal Court ofGuernsey is, named, by.the English sovereign. Gualtier dela Salle, the first Bailiff, was appointed in 1284. † Vergee, about half an English acre. “ ’Tis here I’ve lived with my loving wife, And little ones, now in Heaven ; And those who survive me shall have it for life, To them by the law it is given.” On this fancied grievance the Bailiff dwelt, As Massey his pitcher fed ; Such hatred at length to the peasant he felt, That he wish’d the poor man dead ! But he knew the cottage would then by law Descend (and it vex’d him sore) To those who would come for the water, and draw As their father had done before. But if he perish’d with infamy, The land would never be theirs ; By the Sovereign claim’d, no relations could be Accounted a felon’s heirs. At length there came to the Bailiff’s heart A plan—“ and it must succeed,” So he said to himself, for he dared not impart To any the shameful deed. In the vraiking * season he went one day, And a rich silver cup he bore, When the peasant and family all were away, And he enter’d the unlock’d door. He approach’d the timeworn oaken chest, And lifted the unlock’d lid, And under the raiment, their holiday best, The bright silver tankard hid. He went away with a hurried pace, And closed the door with care ; But the eyes of the Lord are in every place, And they surely beheld him there. In the dead of night he went forth once more, To a corn-stack that stood hard by, And a heavy burthen of plate he bore, And conceal’d it from mortal eye. The morning dawn’d and the Bailiff rose, And summon’d his menials soon ; “ In order my costliest service dispose, For guests will be here at noon.” Each man has now his appointed task ; For the service of plate they go ; Then questions in whispers they fearfully ask, And are hurrying to and fro. The Bailiff listens—at length a page, In the tremulous voice of fear, Announces the loss ; and his well-feign’d rage, It was dreadful (they said) to hear. Like a savage man, of sense bereft, With oaths he reviled them all ; And threaten’d, if no one acknowledg’d the theft, His vengeance on each should fall : But promised pardon to every one Who by noon had the crime confess’d ;— They were innocent all, so ere setting of sun The constables came, and the search was begun In the presence of many a guest. The stately mansion below, above, And the arbours for pleasure round, Are sear’d, and the servants their innocence prove ; No plate can be anywhere found. * Vraik is sea-weed used as fuel and manure. And then ; pursuing his wicked plan, (And, oh, with what vile intent !) To the cottage of Massey, good peaceable man, The Bailiff his constables sent. The man’s surprise was, indeed, extreme, Though assured there could be no cause ; Their visit appear’d like a troublesome dream To him who ne’er broke the laws. “ My friend,” said one, in a kindly tone, “ Our errand I’ll briefly state ;— In this cottage it seems not as yet to be known That the Bailiff has lost his plate. “ Throughout his mansion and grounds we sought ; Not even a cup was seen ; And, though to search here we a warrant havebrought, We shall find nothing here, I ween.” He straightway went to the oaken chest, And lifted the unlock’d lid ; Then forward with wonder they every one press’d, For under some raiment, the countryman’s best, A rich silver cup was hid. ’Twas the great man’s tankard, beyond mistake ; His arms were engraven fair ; With a truthful look Massey solemnly spake, “ I pray that the Lord may my children forsake, If I know how the cup came there !” At the stately mansion the news they hear, That the tankard is found at last : The Bailiff and guests at the cottage appear,— And now the plot ripens fast. He orders Massey at once to jail, Right glad that he had the power ;— They who heard the poor wife and her little oneswail, Could never forget that hour. And joy was seen in his eyes to shine, As he saw the good man depart ;— “ The vergee of land shall surely be mine,” He said, in his wicked heart. In her lonely cottage the mother kneels, The little ones round her cry ; She speaks not a word, for too keenly she feels ; Her prayer is a deep-drawn sigh. The cell held not the captive long, The Bailiff brook’d no delay ; He felt like a tiger, so savage, so strong, Impatient to seize his prey. The Court is summon’d, they meet in haste, The Bailiff as Judge presides ; Accused as a thief at the bar there is placed The man who in God confides. The case is stated, and clear his guilt, So most in the Court believe,— “ Now prove thyself honest, or surely thou wilt Be hang’d—there is no rereprieve.” “ With the learned (said Massey) I argue not, To their skill I make no pretence ; But from childhood till now a good name I havegot, I cannot tell how the cup came in my cot ;— And that is my sole defence.” “ A poor defence !” was on many a tongue, “ If Massey can say no more ; And guilty or not the poor man will be hung, And the-sooner his pangs be o’er.” The Bailiff rises, to pass no doubt The sentence of shameful death, When proceedings are stopp’d by a cry without ; Men, women, and children, unite in the shout,— In rushes a man out of breath. He gasps awhile, he is faint and weak, And wondering they gather round ; His errand to learn they all eagerly seek, Then faintly he utters, scarce able to speak,— “ The plate of the Bailiff is found !” Up rose the Judge with an angry frown (Yet his terror was great to see), “ That was not the stack which I bade them take down— What man has done this to me !” On leaving home that important morn, He had given his men command To remove from the threshers a large stack of corn To which he then waved his hand. Which stack their master was pointing at, The men did not rightly know ;— In one was the plate, they began taking that ; It was God who had order’d it so. The Judge forgot that his words of ire Would surely himself condemn ; And no stronger proof did the Jurats* require, His guilt was quite clear to them. Poor Massey his eyes was seen to raise With a grateful look to heaven ; No word did he speak, but acceptable praise To God from his heart was given. “ And now, good man, you may go in peace, No longer detain’d you are.” The Jurats are happy to give him release, And the Bailiff is placed at the bar. That just and right in that ancient time Was the law of the Isle, we find : He was sentenced to die for his terrible crime ; The doom for Massey design’d.