The Confusion of King Agramant’s Camp explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Loyalty and Allegiance

  The Prince appeals to the shared cause and the need for unity, while clan loyalty drives Callum Beg's assassination attempt and Fergus's defense of his family's honor.

• Honor and Duty

  Both Waverley and Fergus feel their honor is at stake; the Prince emphasizes duty to the cause over personal quarrels.

• Romanticism vs. Reality

  Waverley's romantic notions of Highland honor clash with the reality of clan violence and political maneuvering.

Characters to notice

• Edward Waverley

  Rides apart to sketch a hall, is warned by Evan Dhu, then fired upon by Callum Beg; confronts Fergus and later submits to the Prince's arbitration.

• Fergus MacIvor

  Confronts Waverley over an alleged affront to his sister Flora; later reconciled by the Prince's mediation.

• Evan Dhu Maccombich

  Warns Waverley with a single word, 'Beware!' and then disappears.

• Alick Polwarth

  Waverley's servant; witnesses Callum Beg's shot and reports it; later confronts Callum.

• Callum Beg

  Fires at Waverley from a lurking-place; denies the act but is ordered into custody by the Prince, then left to Fergus's justice.

• Prince Charles Edward Stuart

  Acts as umpire between Waverley and Fergus; reveals the misunderstanding about Rose Bradwardine and restores order.

• Baron of Bradwardine

  Commands his regiment; his presence prevents discussion of his daughter's name; later assists Monsieur de Beaujeu.

• Bailie Macwheeble

  Appears as a commissary with a white cockade; is overturned by troopers and retreats amid laughter.

Key passages

• “It was Waverley’s custom sometimes to ride a little apart from the main body, to look at any object of curiosity which occurred on the march.”

  Waverley often rode away from the group to examine interesting sights along the way.

  Establishes Waverley's independent and curious nature, which leads to the assassination attempt.

• “The combat between the knights would certainly, as in the days of chivalry, have been preceded by an encounter between the squires...”

  In true medieval fashion, the knights' duel would have been preceded by a fight between their attendants.

  Narrator's ironic comparison to chivalric romance highlights the absurdity of the quarrel.

• “If I owed less to your disinterested friendship, I could be most seriously angry with both of you for this very extraordinary and causeless broil, at a moment when my father’s service so decidedly demands the most perfect unanimity.”

  If I didn't value your friendship so much, I would be furious at this pointless quarrel that threatens our cause.

  The Prince rebukes both men for endangering the Jacobite campaign with personal disputes.