"Fondly he watched, with watery eye,
For answering glance of sympathy,
But no emotion made reply!
Indifferent as to unknown | wight,
Cold as to unknown yeoman |
The King gave forth the arrow bright."
630. To archer wight. That is, to any ordinary archer. Scott has the
following note here:
"The Douglas of the poem is an imaginary person, a supposed uncle of the
Earl of Angus. But the King's behavior during an unexpected interview
with the Laird of Kilspindie, one of the banished Douglases, under
circumstances similar to those in the text, is imitated from a real
story told by Hume of Godscroft. I would have availed myself more fully
of the simple and affecting circumstances of the old history, had they
not been already woven into a pathetic ballad by my friend Mr. Finlay.
[11]
'His [the King's] implacability [towards the family of Douglas] did also
appear in his carriage towards Archibald of Kilspinke, whom he, when he
was a child, loved singularly well for his ability of body, and was
wont to call him his Gray-Steill. [12] Archibald, being banished into
England, could not well comport with the humor of that nation, which
he thought to be too proud, and that they had too high a conceit
of themselves, joined with a contempt and despising of all others.
Wherefore, being wearied of that life, and remembering the King's favor
of old towards him, he determined to try the King's mercifulness and
clemency. So he comes into Scotland, and taking occasion of the King's
hunting in the park at Stirling he casts himself to be in his way, as he
was coming home to the Castle. So soon as the King saw him afar off, ere
he came near, he guessed it was he, and said to one of his courtiers,
"Yonder is my Gray-Steill, Archibald of Kilspindie, if he be alive." The
other answered that it could not be he, and that he durst not come into
the King's presence. The King approaching, he fell upon his knees and
craved pardon, and promised from thenceforward to abstain from meddling
in public affairs, and to lead a quiet and private life. The King went
by without giving him any answer, and trotted a good round pace up the
hill. Kilspindie followed, and though he wore on him a secret, or shirt
of mail, for his particular enemies, was as soon at the Castle gate as
the King. There he sat him down upon a stone without, and entreated some
of the King's servants for a cup of drink, being weary and thirsty; but
they, fearing the King's displeasure, durst gave him none. When the King
was set at his dinner, he asked what he had done, what he had said, and
whither he had gone? It was told him that he had desired a cup of drink,
and had gotten none. The King reproved them very sharply for their
discourtesy, and told them that if he had not taken an oath that no
Douglas should ever serve him, he would have received him into his
service, for he had seen him sometime a man of great ability. Then he
sent him word to go to Leith, and expect his further pleasure. Then some
kinsman of David Falconer, the cannonier, that was slain at Tantallon,
began to quarrel with Archibald about the matter, wherewith the King
showed himself not well pleased when he heard of it. Then he commanded
him to go to France for a certain space, till he heard further from him.
And so he did, and died shortly after. This gave occasion to the King of
England (Henry VIII.) to blame his nephew, alleging the old saying, That
a king's face should give grace. For this Archibald (whatsoever were
Angus's or Sir George's fault) had not been principal actor of anything,
nor no counsellor nor stirrer up, but only a follower of his friends,
and that noways cruelly disposed' (Hume of Godscroft, ii. 107)."
637. Larbert is a town about ten miles to the south of Stirling, and
Alloa another seven miles to the east on the north side of the Forth.
641. To Douglas gave a golden ring. Scott says: "The usual prize of a
wrestling was a ram and a ring, but the animal would have embarrassed my
story. Thus, in the Cokes Tale of Gamelyn, ascribed to Chaucer:
'There happed to be there beside
Tryed a wrestling;
And therefore there was y-setten
A ram and als a ring."
Again, the Litil Geste of Robin Hood:
'By a bridge was a wrestling,
And there taryed was he
And there was all the best yemen
Of all the west countrey.
A full fayre game there was set up,
A white bull up y-pight,
A great courser with saddle and brydle,
With gold burnished full bryght;
A payre of gloves, a red golde ringe,
A pipe of wine, good day;
What man bereth him best, I wis,
The prise shall bear away.'"