Holyrood.? JAMES IV. 61
whose contract is still preserved in the city archives.
A minute account of her reception at Edinburgh
has been preserved by one of her attendants,
John Young, the Somerset Herald, who records in
a pleasing light the wealth, refinement, and chivalry
of the court of Scotland. The king met his fair
bride, who was then in her fourteenth year, at
Dalkeith, where she was entertained by John
Earl of Morton. She had scarcely taken possession
af her chamber when the tramp of horses was
heard in the quadrangle, and among the English
using a stirrup, and spurred on at full gallop, leaving
who might to follow ; but hearing that the Earl of
Surley-his future foe-and other nobles were be
hind, he returned and saluted them bareheaded.
At their next meeting Margaret played also on the
lute and clavichord, while the monarch listened
with bended knee and head uncovered. Who,
then, could have foreseen- the disastrous day of
Flodden !
When she left Newbattle to proceed to the capital,
James, attired in a splendid costume, met her on
t 6
ISOMETRIC PROJECTION CIF THE ROYAL PALACE OF HOLYROOD HOUSE.
(Fmnz am Engraaifig in Maitkwds ?Hntory of Edinburglr.?)
attendants the cry rang through the castle, (? The
,king ! The King of Scotland has arrived !?
The whole interview between the royal pair, as
rdescribed by the Somerset Herald, presents a
?curious picture of the times. (( James was dressed
.simply in a velvet jacket, with his hawking lure
.flung over his shoulder ; his hair and beard curled
naturally, and were rather long. . . . . . .
He took her hand and kissed her, and saluted all
her ladies by kissing them. Then the king took
the queen aside, and they communed together for
a long space.? He then returned to Holyrood.
Next night he visited her at Newbattle, when he
found her playing cards ; and James, who is said
to have composed the air of ?Here?s a health
to my true love,? entertained her by a performance
on the clavichord and lute ; add on taking leave he
sprang on his horse, ? a right fair courser,? without
a bay horse trapped with gold. Before him rode
Bothwell, bearing the sword of state, with the
leading nobles. He took the queen from ?her
litre,? and placing her behind him on a pillion,
they rode onward to the city. On the way they
were entertained by a scene of chivalry-a knight
errant in full armour rescuing a distressed lady
from a rival. The royal pair were met at their
entrance by the Grey Friars, whose monastery they
had to pass, bearing, in solemn procession, banner
and cross and their most valued relics, which were
presented to receive the kiss of Margaret and
James ; and thereafter they had to tarry at an embattled
barrier, at the windows of which were
(( angells syning joyously,? one of whom presented
to her the keys of the? city.
Descending the crowded streets, they were met
by the whole Chapter of St. Giles?s in their richest
