THE BAILIES OF DUMFRIES
The combat of the third day was, by the will of the Earl, to be of a
peculiar kind. It was the custom at that time for the _mêlée_ to be
fought between an equal number of knights in open lists, each being at
liberty to carry assistance to his friends as soon as he had disposed
of his own man. On this occasion, however, the fight was to be between
three knights with their several squires on the one side, and an equal
number of knights and squires on the other.
As the combat of the previous day had decided, young James Douglas of
Avondale was to lead one party, being the successful tilter of the day
of single combat, while the Earl himself was to head the other.
The chances of battle must be borne, and whatever happened in the
shock of fight was to be endured without complaint. But no blow was to
be struck at either knight or squire in any way disabled by wound.
To Sholto's great and manifest joy the Earl, his master, chose the new
captain of his guard to support him in the fray, and told him to make
choice of the best battle-axe and sword he could find, as well as to
provide himself with the shield which most suited the strength of his
left arm.
"By your permission I will ask my father," said Sholto.
"He also fights on our side as the squire of Alan Fleming," said the
Earl; "if Laurence had not been a monk, he might have made a third
MacKim."
Then was Sholto's heart high and uplifted within him, to think of the
victory he would achieve over his brother less than two days after
they had parted, and he hastened off to choose his arms under the
direction of his father.
The party of James of Avondale consisted of his brother William and
young John Lauder, called Lauder of the Bass. These three had already
entered their pavilion to accoutre themselves for the combat when a
trumpet announced the arrival from the castle of the ambassador of
France, who, being recovered from his sickness, had come in haste to
see the fighting of the last and greatest day of the tourney.
As soon as he heard the wager of battle the marshal cried: "I also
will strike a blow this day for the honour of France. My quinsy has
altogether left me, and my blood flows strong after the rest. I will
take part with James of Avondale."
And, without waiting to be asked, he went off followed by his servant
Poitou towards the pavilion of the Avondale trio.
Now as the Marshal de Retz was the chief guest, it was impossible for
James of Avondale to refuse his offer. But there was anger and
blasphemy in his heart, for he knew not what the Frenchman could do,
and though he had undoubtedly been a gallant knight in his day, yet in
these matters (as James Douglas whispered to his brother) a week's
steady practice is worth a lifetime of theory. Still there was nothing
for the brothers from Douglasdale but to make the best of their
bargain. The person most deserving of pity, however, was the young
laird of the Bass, who, being thus dispossessed, went out to the back
of the lists and actually shed tears, being little more than a boy,
and none looking on to see him.
Then he came back hastily, and besought James of Douglas to let him
fight as his squire, saying that as he had never taken up the
knighthood which had been bestowed on him by the Earl for his journey
to France, there could be nothing irregular in his fighting once more
as a simple esquire. And thus, after an appeal to the Earl himself, it
was arranged, much to John Lauder's content.
For his third knight the Douglas had made choice of his cousin Hugh,
younger brother of his two opponents, and at that William and James of
Avondale shook their heads.
"He pushes a good tree, our Hughie," said James. "If he comes at you,
Will, mind that trick of swerving that he hath. Aim at his right
gauntlet, and you will hit his shield."
The conflict on the Boat Croft differed much from the chivalrous
encounters of an earlier time and a richer country. And of this more
anon.
It chanced that on the borders of the crowd which that day begirt the
great enclosure of the lists two burgesses of Dumfries stood on
tiptoe,--to wit, Robert Semple, merchant dealing in cloth and wool,
and Ninian Halliburton, the brother of Barbara, wife of Malise MacKim,
master armourer, whose trade was only conditioned by the amount of
capital he could find to lay out and the probability he had of
disposing of his purchase within a reasonable time.
It would give an entirely erroneous impression of the state of
Scotland in 1440 if the sayings and doings of the wise and shrewd
burghers of the towns of Scotland were left wholly without a
chronicler. The burghs of Scotland were at once the cradles and
strongholds of liberty. They were not subject to the great nobles.
They looked with jealousy on all encroachments on their liberties, and
had sharp swords wherewith to enforce their objection. They had been
endowed with privileges by the wise and politic kings of Scotland,
from William the Lion down to James the First, of late worthy memory.
For they were the best bulwark of the central authority against the
power of the great nobles of the provinces.
Now Robert Semple and Ninian Halliburton were two worthy citizens of
Dumfries, men of respectability, well provided for by the success of
their trade and the saving nature of their wives. They had come
westward to the Thrieve for two purposes: to deliver a large
consignment of goods and gear, foreign provisions and fruits, to the
controller of the Earl's household, and to receive payment therefor,
partly in money and partly in the wool and cattle; hides and tallow,
which have been the staple products of Galloway throughout her
generations.
Their further purposes and intents in venturing so far west of the
safe precincts of their burgh of Dumfries may be gathered from their
conversation hereinafter to be reported.
Ninian Halliburton was a rosy-faced, clean-shaven man, with a habit of
constantly pursing out his lips and half closing his eyes, as if he
were sagely deciding on the advisability of some doubtful bargain. His
companion, Robert Semple, had a similar look of shrewdness, but added
to it his face bore also the imprint of a sly and lurking humour not
unlike that of the master armourer himself. In time bygone he had kept
his terms at the college of Saint Andrews, where you may find on the
list of graduates the name of Robertus Semple, written by the
foundational hand of Bishop Henry Wardlaw himself. And upon his body,
as the Bailie of Dumfries would often feelingly recall, he bore the
memory, if not the marks, of the disciplining of Henry Ogilvy, Master
in Arts--a wholesome custom, too much neglected by the present regents
of the college, as he would add.
"This is an excellent affair for us," said Ninian Halliburton,
standing with his hands folded placidly over his ample stomach, only
occasionally allowing them to wander in order to feel and approve the
pile of the brown velvet out of which the sober gown was constructed.
"A good thing for us, I say, that there are great lords like the Earl
of Douglas to keep up the expense of such days as this."
"It were still better," answered his companion, dryly, "if the great
nobles would pay poor merchants according to their promises, instead
of threatening them with the dule tree if they so much as venture to
ask for their money. Neither you nor I, Bailie, can buy in the
lowlands of Holland without a goodly provision of the broad gold
pieces that are so hard to drag from the nobles of Scotland."
The rosy-gilled Bailie of Dumfries looked up at his friend with a
quick expression of mingled hope and anxiety.
"Does the Earl o' Douglas owe you ony siller?" he asked in a hushed
whisper, "for if he does, I am willing to take over the debt--for a
consideration."
"Nay," said Semple, "I only wish he did. The Douglases of the Black
were never ill debtors. They keep their hand in every man's meal ark,
but as they are easy in taking, they are also quick in paying."
"Siller in hand is the greatest virtue of a buyer," said the Bailie,
with unction. "But, Robert Semple, though I was willing to oblige ye
as a friend by taking over your debt, I'll no deny that ye gied me a
fricht. For hae I no this day delivered to the bursar o' the castle o'
Thrieve sax bales o' pepper and three o' the best spice, besides much
cumin, alum, ginger, seat-well, almonds, rice, figs, raisins, and
other sic thing. Moreover, there is owing to me, for wine and vinegar,
mair than twa hunder pound. Was that no enough to gar me tak a 'dwam'
when ye spoke o' the great nobles no payin'!"
"I would that all our outlying monies were as safe," said Semple; "but
here come the knights and squires forth from their tents. Tell me,
Ninian, which o' the lads are your sister's sons."
"There is but one o' the esquires that is Barbara Halliburton's son,"
answered the Bailie; "the ither is her ain man--and a great ram-stam,
unbiddable, unhallowed deevil he is--Guid forbid that I should say as
muckle to his face!"