124. Albany. The Regent of 108 above. He was the son of a younger
brother of James III., who had been driven into exile by his brother's
attempts on his life. He took refuge in France, where his son was made
Lord High Admiral. On the death of James IV. he was called home by the
Scottish nobles to assume the regency.
126. Mewed. Shut up. The word seems originally to have meant to moult,
or shed the feathers; and as a noun, "the place, whether it be abroad
or in the house, in which the hawk is put during the time she casts, or
doth change her feathers" (R. Holmes's Academy of Armory, etc.). Spenser
has both noun and verb; as in F. Q. i. 5. 20: "forth comming from her
darksome mew;" and Id. ii. 3. 34: "In which vaine Braggadocchio was
mewd." Milton uses the verb in the grand description of Liberty in Of
Unlicensed Printing: "Methinks I see her as an eagle mewing her mighty
youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam." In
England the noun is still used in the plural to denote a stable for
horses. Pennant says that the royal stables in London were called mews
from the fact that the buildings were formerly used for keeping the
king's falcons.
Scott says here: "There is scarcely a more disorderly period of Scottish
history than that which succeeded the battle of Flodden, and occupied
the minority of James V. Feuds of ancient standing broke out like old
wounds, and every quarrel among the independent nobility, which occurred
daily, and almost hourly, gave rise to fresh bloodshed. 'There arose,'
said Pitscottie, 'great trouble and deadly feuds in many parts of
Scotland, both in the north and west parts. The Master of Forbes, in the
north, slew the Laird of Meldrum, under tryst' (that is, at an agreed
and secure meeting). 'Likewise, the Laird of Drummelzier slew the Lord
Fleming at the hawking; and, likewise, there was slaughter among many
other great lords.' Nor was the matter much mended under the government
of the Earl of Angus; for though he caused the King to ride through all
Scotland, 'under the pretence and color of justice, to punish thief and
traitor, none were found greater than were in their own company. And
none at that time durst strive with a Douglas, nor yet a Douglas's man;
for if they would, they got the worst. Therefore none durst plainzie of
no extortion, theft, reiff, nor slaughter done to them by the Douglases
or their men; in that cause they were not heard so long as the Douglas
had the court in guiding."