Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 001.djvu/166

164 upon the place. This the king acceptes, and commands him to ryde up and discover what they wer, and the intent of ther being ther; and, according as he found occasione, to returne or give a signe for his retireing.

In the meantyme, his majestic, with his traine, being about twentieth horse, placed themselves upon the hight of the muir, to marke the Lord SomervuTs goeing, and the carriage of the horsemen they beheld, who now made ane halt, when they first observed the king's company, not knowing what they wer; but seeing them draw togither, they apprehended they wer noe friends; thairfore they resolved to advance noe further, seeing a horseman comeing up to them with all the speed he could make, until they knew for what intent he came. The Lord Somervill was yet at some distance, when he was presently knoune by severall of the company to be ther lord and master; whereupon the laird of Cleilland, and William Chancellor of Quathquan, galloped out to meet him. He was not a litle surprized when he saw them, and demanded the occasione that had brought them togither in that posture and number. To which they answeared, It was by his lordsliip's directione and his ladye's command: that they wer comeing to Edinburgh to waitt upon him, fearing he had fallen at variance and feed with some one or other about the court He desyred to see the letter. They told him the Baillzie had it. By this tyme they wer joyned to the company, where, calling for the letter, he made the same to be read, where ther was no such directione nor orders given as they pretended. He enquired who read the letter to his lady; they answered, his new Stewart; who being present, was commanded to read it again, which he did; and comeing to the postscript, reads Spears and Jacks, instead of Speates and Raxes; and herein lay the mistake, that the Lord Somervill knew not whether to laugh or be angry at the fellow. But mynding the fear he left the king in, and what apprehensiones and jealousies his majestic might intertaine upon his long communing with them, he commanded that they should depart every man to their respective dwellings: and he himself, with the laird of Cleilland and severall other gentlemen, returned to the king, who remained still upon the same place where he had parted from him; unto whom being come he relates the wholl story, whereat the king laughed heartily, calles for a sight of the letter, and reades it himself, swearing it was noe great mistake, for he might have been guiltie of that error himself. His majestic having given back the letter, it went from hand to hand amongst these few courtiers that was there, as they proceeded on their journey, the letter itself containing noe matter of any consequence but a naked compliment the Lord Somervill had written to his lady. This is that story of the Speates and Raxes so much discoursed of then, as it is to this day amongst persons of qualitie; for of late the Duke of Lauderdale, when he was commissioner, at a full table of the greatest part of the nobilitie in Scotland, then dyneing with him, related the wholl story almost in the same termes that I have set it doune. The king being come to Cowthally, he had his entertainement great, and his welcome heartie, albeit ray lady Somervill was somewhat out of contenance, all the discourse being anent the Speares and Jackes, which the king could not forget, thinking it both a good sport and ane easy mistake, because of the neer spelling and sounding of the words; and, withall his majestic was pleased highly to commend the Lady Somervill's love and respect to her husband, in being so active and diligent to conveen soe quickly her husband's friends and followers, in case ther had been any necessitie for them, telling my lady that he hoped she would use the same care and diligence to conveen her lord's followers when he should call him and them to his service."

In the next passage we have a curious view of the interior of the same baronial residence during a visit of James V.

"The divertisement his majestic had without doores was balking; being now in the midle of Jully, the poutes wer for flight whereof they killed many: these fields, not being soe much laboured then as now, yielded great store, which was the cause the king resorted thither afterward when he mynded his sport; but the recreatione he received in the fields gave him no such content as what he had within doores with the ladyes, who, seeing the young king amorously inclyned, allowed him all the liberty that in honour he could requyre, or ther modesty permitt.

"Amongst all the ladyes that was there, he fancyed non soe much as Katherine Carmichaell, the captain of Craufuird's daughter, a young lady much about sexteinth years ol age, admired for her beautie, handsomenes of persone, and vivacity of spirit, whereby she attracted all eyes that beheld her, but soe strongly the king's, that most of his discourse was with her, and he took it ill when he was interrupted, soe that all the ladyes and noblemen that was present took notice thereof, and gave way to his majestie's courting. I know ther was some malitious tongues then, as there is not a few to this day, affirmes that it was at this tyme, and in Cowthally-house, that the king first procured this ladye's private favoures; but, by ther leave, it is a great mistake, and a most malitious calumnie; for, albeit it be true it was at this wedding he first saw this young lady, and did affect her extremely, beginning then his intrigues of love, yet had he noe opportunity allowed him to obtaine that which he aftirward receaved att the castle of Crawfuird, her father's house. The Lady Somervill being