Chapter I: Summary (2)

Very curious cotemporary portraits of this royal pair are preserved in the historical gallery of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, at Hardwick Hall. They are represented in the same piece, seated side by side in the front of one of those open balconies of state in which personages of their rank were accustomed to look down upon the jousts and games that were performed for their amusement. The King rests his hand on a large tasseled cushion, checked with gold; the Queen hers on one of purple velvet. Their armorial bearings are impaled in front of the balcony. Beneath the King is the inscription--“Jacobus quintus Scotorum Rex, ætatis suæ 28;” under the Queen--“Maria de Lotharingæ, in secundis nuptiis uxor, anno ætatis suæ 24.” This date certifies that the portraits were painted while they were bride and bridegroom. They were dressed, according to the etiquette of royalty under such circumstances, in the same colors, and almost in the same fashion; for the front of the King’s dress is cut square on the breast, to show a finely-plaited shirt, which resembles the Queen’s chemisette, and is finished with a jeweled band. Moreover, his Majesty’s sleeves are slashed and purfled below the elbows, precisely to correspond with those of his Queen, and he wears pearl beads, though not in such profusion. Both are in regal mantles furred with miniver. Her golden hair is tucked up under a little round French cap or hood, formed of rows of white plaiting and coronal circlets of gems. Some of her pictures have been mistaken for those of her daughter, especially those where the shortness of the upper lip amounts even to a defect, being, as in this portrait, too close to the nose for the harmony of just proportion. The royal escutcheon of Scotland, surmounted with two banners charged with the lion of that realm, is emblazoned above in the center of the double portrait. James is, as usual, very handsome and graceful, bearing a strong resemblance to the effigies of his illustrious ancestor, Edward III. Lesley gives the following lively description of the person and characteristics of James: “He was a man of personage and stature convenient, albeit mighty and strong therewith. Of countenance amiable and lovely, specially in his communication [while speaking]; his eyes gray, and sharp of sight, that whomsoever he did once see and mark, he would perfectly know in all times thereafter. Of wit, in all things quick and prompt; of a princely stomach and high courage in great perils.”[644]

Among the dramatic representations which had been prepared by the courtly bard of the Reformation, Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, for the entertainment of the royal bride, were certain satirical comedies, castigating the abuses of that church of which the members of the house of Guise were the most bigoted champions. Mary of Lorraine and her illustrious consort, however, not only countenanced the pasquinades by their presence, but appeared to enjoy them.[645] Satires thus boldly pointed and publicly sanctioned, in a place which, for the last fourteen years, had blazed with the penal fires of persecution, denoted the spirit of the times; for neither royal favor nor the privileges attached to Sir David Lindsay’s office, as the Lord Lion of Scotland, would have protected him from ecclesiastical vengeance, if popular opinion had not been on his side. The spiritual despotism of the hierarchy of that period had exalted itself above the authority of the crown, in a manner peculiarly offensive to the monarch, as interfering with the exercise of his highest prerogative--mercy. On the memorable occasion when David Strahan, being condemned to the flames in the year 1534, asked the King’s grace, which James V., who was present at his condemnation, would willingly have granted, the bishop, insolently interfering, said, “that the King’s hands were bound in that case, and that he had no grace to give to such as by their law were condemned;” and the barbarous sentence was executed in despite of him.[646]

Though Mary of Lorraine was not James’s first love, he was passionately devoted to her. Her initials M. R., surmounted with the _Fleur-de-Lys_, are introduced among the architectural ornaments of all his royal residences, and her name “Marie,” at full length, remains embossed in surviving characters round the pilasters of his lovely little hunting palace at Falkland, as a testimonial of his regard for her. This gallant inscription was perhaps made by James’s order during their sojourn at that sylvan retreat, after they left St. Andrews on their progress.[647] From Falkland, James conducted his royal bride to Stirling, where her portraiture was long recognized among the basso-relievos with which he caused the ceiling of the banqueting-room to be decorated. After spending several days in public festivities at Stirling, the royal pair proceeded to Linlithgow, which had been prepared and beautified for the reception of the Queen at a cost of four hundred crowns.[648] Mary, who appears to have been a princess of good taste, expressed her admiration of the exquisite gem of architecture, declaring “she never saw a more princely palace.” There they remained two or three days, and then proceeded to Dundee, where the Queen made her public entrance, and was magnificently treated by the town. On the 5th of August, she and the King honored with their presence the marriage of the Earl of Errol with the sister of the Earl of Lennox. “At St. Johnston (Perth), every man of them,” continues Lindsay of Pitscottie, “according to their ability, received their Queen and mistress as it became them to do.”

Meantime it seems Mary’s privy purse ran so low that she was under the necessity of anticipating the first quarterly payment of her income as Queen of Scotland, by obtaining of the King’s treasurer three hundred crowns on her note of hand, which transaction is evidenced in the following entry in his Compotus,--“Item, delivered to the Queen’s Grace, upon her obligation to render it again betwixt this day and the last day of Sept., 300 crowns.” The same records develop various amusing little matters connected with the expenditure of this Queen, illustrative of the manners and customs of the court of Scotland, as well as the movements of the royal pair.

All the historians of the period agree that Mary of Lorraine spent the first year of her marriage with James V. at St. Andrews, yet the entries in the Compotus prove that she and the King were constantly changing their place of abode from one palace to another, and were seldom stationed long anywhere. Their tapestry, beds, plate, and other articles of furniture, were generally removed at the same time for their use, King James being possessed of more houses than goods, notwithstanding the rich plenishing his late Queen Magdalene brought with her from France. Mary of Lorraine brought little in comparison, and among those we notice hangings with the arms of Longueville, pertaining to her late husband.

At the King’s great hunting at Meggotland, several horse-loads of beds were brought from Peebles, also “the tapestry that lies under the King and Queen’s feet from Linlithgow to Stirling.”[649]

The Treasurer sent to Falkland Palace, Nov. 16, ten ells of green burge satin, to be ane gown to Senat the Queen’s fool. This functionary was a female; for the next article enumerates “14 ells of linen claith to be ‘her’ sarkis. Violet powder pokes (bags), to lay among the King’s claiths,” cost 6 shillings Scots. An ell and a quarter of purple velvet was provided to be “shoon” for the King’s Grace. “Ane ell of purple velvet to be covering to the King’s book, and ane poke to put it in.” Sewing gold, cords, fringes, knobs, and borders, are charged as ornaments to the said book and poke to put in; and for workmanship, £3 19_s._

The Queen was likewise provided with velvet-bound books and ornamental “pokes to put them in.” The King’s Compotus testifies of purple velvet delivered to Helen Ross, one of the Queen’s ladies, “to cover ane matin book for the Queen’s Grace, and to make a poke to put it in of the same; moreover, she had red damask to line the said poke. David Chapman was paid ten shillings for binding and laying about the said matin book with gold. Helen Ross was given eight single hanks of gold, to border the book, and the poke, and knobs thereto, and silk to string the poke with, besides costly workmanship to the amount of £3 10_s._[650]”--all which, excepting the actual binding, was done by the Queen’s lady.

The expenses of the carriage of the Queen’s wardrobe, and those of her gentlewomen, give the intelligence that they “went furth of Falkland to Kirkaldy, December 16, after the Queen’s marriage. A barn was hired at Kirkaldy to deposit them therein, and two men had wage to walk the same,”--to watch, or walk as sentries, at the barn of Kirkaldy. Boats were hired at Kinghorn to ferry the Queen’s wardrobe over the water, and finally the royal party settled at Stirling. The King ordered chains of gold, gold rings, tablets, and other goldsmith’s work, to make his Christmas presents. For this jewelry he paid Thomas Ryne, goldsmith, £239 19_s._; besides three chains and two hearts of gold for further New Year’s gifts, to the amount of £23. The court was at Linlithgow a month afterward, when the King sent to Edinburgh for a coffer of silver work, and other gear, to the Laird of _Dunnis_ marriage.

James V., at Easter, new-clothed his illegitimate son, James, the boy Prior of St. Andrews, afterward Regent of Scotland, with a costly gown of gray Venice satin. The following largesses were, by the royal command, dispensed--“To _Munsure_ Laffenze, the Francheman, the 9th day of March, quhilk came first in Scotland after Yule fra the King of Franche, in ane purse knobbed with gold, £400;” likewise to “_Munsare_ de Moranvelay, master of the household to the Duke of Guise, in ane other silk purse, £300. Item, for the twa purses, eight shillings; and to the pursevant that came furth of France, called De la Plume,” a gift of £40.[651]

The King’s juggler, James Atkinson, was presented, by royal warrant, with “ane coat of red and yellow; price of the red, _dymmegrane_, 23_s._ per ell, and of the yellow, 20_s._”

There are items of expenses disbursed, by royal charity, to “puir bedesmen at _Pasche_” (Easter). The succeeding March, the King and Queen were at Stirling, as there are charges for _trussing_ (packing) and sending the “puir bedesmen’s new blue gowns to Striveling;” and there the royal personages must have held a Maunday, similar to the charity practiced by our Queen, as there are charges for money, to the amount of £36 9_s._, “deliverit to the maister-almoner of Striveling Castle, and put in _litel_ purses, to be given to the said puir bedesmen, ilk man 27_s._”

In the merry month of May, the Queen was brought to bed, at St. Andrews, of a prince, to the great joy of the people of Scotland. King James triumphantly announced this auspicious event to Henry VIII. in the following letter:--

“Right excellent, right high and mighty Prince, our dearest
Brother and Uncle--We commend us unto you in our most hearty and
effectuous manner, signifying unto the same, that since it has
liked God, of his great goodness, to have sent unto us, this
22d day of May instant, ane son and prince, fair and life-like,
to succeed us and this our realm, we think it accords us well
to make you participant with us of sic joyous good novellis,
and that we have of our blood to this our realm, which may
hereafter do pleasure to you and yours. Right excellent, right
high and mighty prince, our dearest brother and uncle, we pray
the blessed Trinity to conserve you in long life and prosperous
state. Given under our signet, at our Abbey of Sanct Androis,
the 22d day of May, the 27th year of our regime.”[652]

The hills of Scotland, by the joyful blaze of their beacons, sent far and wide over England the tidings that an heir was born to the northern kingdom. Many a bold Borderer on the English side was startled into warlike preparation. But the Duke of Norfolk explained to the English Council, “that the Queen of Scots bore a prince on the Friday last past, and that bonfires were made on all the hills on the Scottish border, which burnt in sign of rejoicing through Trinity Sunday.”[653]

The royal Compotus bears the charge of £40 given to George Elphinstone “for needful expenses when sent by the King to his royal uncle, Henry VIII. of England, with news of the birth of my lord prince.”[654] George was evidently the bearer of the foregoing epistle.

The christening of the infant heir of Scotland was celebrated with great triumph. He was named James. David Lindsay, Lord Lion, and Janet Douglas his spouse, “by ane precept,” received on the occasion the large donation of £667,[655]--Sir David certainly for proclamations connected with his high office at the ceremonial and ensuing tournament; but the services of Janet, his spouse, are not so easily to be recognized. John Bog brought to St. Andrews fifteen ells of white taffety to be _serviettes_ (towels) to hold the torches at the baptism of my lord prince.[656] Thomas Cragie, chaplain, was paid £12 6_s._ 8_d._ for painting the armorial bearings of my lord prince at his baptism.

How far the birth of that new and proudly welcomed claimant of her love, the fair young Prince of Scotland, consoled Mary of Lorraine for the continual separation from her first-born, which her marriage with King James had imposed, it is not for her biographers to decide, since none of her surviving letters unvail the state of her feelings on that subject.

The rending asunder the sweetest ties of nature are among the pains and penalties to which queens are frequently subjected, and such bereavements are no less terrible to them than to mothers of low degree; for although the stern restraints with which royalty is surrounded may compel queens to do violence to the tender clinging affections of woman’s heart, they can not extinguish the divine instinct which pervades the feminine portion of the creation, from the lowest link of insect life in which maternal solicitude is discernible--the ant--up to the last and most perfect of God’s works in the Garden of Eden, the sensitive creature whom His wisdom called into existence as a help meet for man.

The King proclaimed a tournament in May, in which he personally assisted, for notations occur in the royal Compotus that “the children of his stables” (horse-boys) received a gratuity of forty shillings, the day “the King’s grace ran at the lists.” The royal Stuart more worthily celebrated the birth of his heir by some judicious charities: _twa kye_, costing forty shillings, were given to _twa_ puir women of _Cowpar_, whose husbands had been killed by accident.

The Queen paid John Tennant, her goldsmith, for making “sindrie chaffrons” and chains of gold, to the amount of £63, to give away among the ladies of her household at the end of May, evidently on occasion of the birth and baptism of the prince. James V. made a tour of inspection of his coasts, sending a precept at the end of May to Dumbarton, that boats and ships, well-victualed, might be sent to the isles to meet him there. He ordered his working goldsmith, Mossman, to convert four ounces and a half of “gold of the mine into ane quhissel,” which whistle was at that time the emblem of supreme command in naval affairs; it was to have ane dragon enameled thereon, and weigh the weight he ordered, “unicorn weight.”

The Queen was terribly alarmed by prevalent reports that the King, who had sailed from Dumbarton on one of his famous surveying voyages in the middle of June, had been lost in one of the violent tempests which prevailed throughout July. Just as alarm was at its height, the royal mariner made safely the haven of a village near St. Andrews. Hearing of the anguish of the Queen, he flung himself on horseback without resting, and rode at fiery speed to St. Andrews, where he embraced her and his heir. His mother mentions the alarm in one of her letters to her brother, Henry VIII.[657]

Mossman, the goldsmith, had prepared for the royal James the gold whistle he had commissioned him to make, which he delivered to him “the penult day of July:” the workmanship cost £10 4_s._ This artist, likewise, converted six ounces and a half of fine silver into the elegant form of a clamshell, used by the King’s grace to keep his hawk’s meat in.[658]

Falcons from Scotland were considered in those days as acceptable presents to the proudest princes in Europe, and accordingly James sent presents of hawks to his Queen’s father, the Duke of Guise, to the King of France, and to the Dauphin. The hawks were carried in panniers on a hackney. Charges occur for the carriage of the falcons through France to Lorraine, and for canvas and rope with which their panniers, or, as the Compotus terms it, “mangers” were made and tied on the hackney steed.

James V.’s poem of _Christ’s Kirk on the Green_ is supposed to have been written in the first happy year of his wedlock with Mary of Lorraine, during the occasional retirement of the royal pair at their favorite hunting Palace of Falkland. The genius of the royal James has procured him among the reading public, even in England, some celebrity as an author, but how few persons in the south can do any justice to the naïve and racy delineation of character in his oft-named poem. Few, indeed, have any correct idea of its subject, the majority guessing from its title that it is a religious poem of monastic tendency.

The poetry of James V., or at least that which has survived the forgetfulness of time, is of an exclusively comic description, the fruits of his keen and clever observation when he roved his land in disguise, like Haroun-al-Rashid, for the ostensible motive of witnessing whether “his justice” was duly administered to his people. Many a well-known adventure, especially that commemorated in his comic ballad of _The Gaberlunzie Man_, proves that his Scottish majesty did not himself keep very rigidly the laws of morality. None of these incidents seem to have occurred during his married life, therefore their recital may be excused in the biographies of his Queens.

His poem of _Christ’s Kirk_, on the contrary, contains traits of the customs and amusements his French marriages had introduced in Scotland. It is a spirited delineation of the humors of a fair, or rather of a wake, held on a green near his own favorite Palace of Falkland.[659] The wake commenced the night of May-eve, on the vigil of St. Philip and St. James. It is still one of the fairs of Scotland, and the ruins of Christ’s Church, in the neighborhood, attest its locality. James V., the monarch of the poor, used the vernacular idioms of his people, in which he described the freakish fancies of a fray he witnessed at the wake on the green at Christ’s Kirk.

The King commences his poem by mentioning the sports of the people at Peebles, celebrated in a sprightly lay by his royal ancestor, James I., entitled _Peeblis at the Ploy_, or _Play_. James V. likewise alludes to his own chivalric games performed at the lists on Falkland Palace green; and in his assumed character of minstrel at the neighboring kirk fair, of course prefers the latter to every other kind of recreation. With the intention of making a specimen of the royal James’s style intelligible to the general reader throughout Great Britain, here is his commencing stanza in readable orthography,--

“Was ne’er in Scotland heard or seen
Sic dancing or deray,
Neither at Falkland on the Green
Or Peeblis at the Play,
As was of wooers as I ween,
At Christ’s Kirk on that e’en.
There came ‘our Kitty,’ washen clean,
In her new kirtle gray,
Full gay,
At Christ Kirk on the Green
That day.”

Whether “our Kitty” was some Cinderella pertaining to the royal household of Falkland, who thought it needful to be “washen clean” for the May-eve festival, we will not pause to question, for she is not the heroine of her royal master’s poem, but a maiden named Gillian, whose genuine Scottish style of beauty is thus depicted,--

“Of all these maidens, mild as mead,
Was none so _gimp_[660] as Gillie,[661]
As any rose her rude was red,
Her skin was like the lily;
Full yellow yellow was her hair,
But she in love was silly,
Though all her kin had sworn her dead,
She would have her sweet Willie.”

The jealousy occasioned by the disdain of this yellow-haired lassie for all her wooers at the wake, excepting “her own sweet Willie,” occasioned a general skirmish, in which the Scottish peasants took to their bows and axes. The “town souter with his glittering hair,” and “the miller of manly make,” whom it would be no joke to meet in a fray, are evident portraits drawn with infinite fire and spirit: the whole is a valuable picture of the costume and manners of a semi-barbarous, but free and prosperous people.

The poem is supposed to have been written in the exuberance of the King’s joy at his happy wedlock with Mary of Lorraine.[662] His good-humored satire on the peasants at the Christ’s Green wake choosing to imitate French dances, and their assumption of fashion, discarding the old tunes by the demand, “Minstrel, blaw up a brawl of France,”[663] are traits considered confirmatory of that tradition.