SCOTTISH ROYALTIES

Evening Star, Issue 19918, 14 July 1928, Page 18

SCOTTISH ROYALTIES

DISTRACTING EXPERIENCES FROM MACBETH 10 PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD The land of the mountain and the flood could, never guarantee its menarclis a long and peaceful reign. Uneasy lay the heads of most of .its kings and queens. From the time when Kenneth M'Alpine, in the ninth century, united Scotland into one kingdom its record until a very recent period was one of feud, competition for supremacy, murder, and other unhappy tilings. Grouch, who became Lady Maebcih, was a lineal descendant of Kenneth APAlpine, and had for cousin one Malcolm 11., who “waded through blond to seize the crown.” Duncan 1., the 84th King of Scots, was murdered by Macbeth, and Duncan’s son married Margaret, daughter of Edward Aiheling, and reigned as Malcolm 111., for five and thirty years. Queen Mnrg/irct. known as St., Margaret, mid ‘“The Glorious Queen of Scots,” figures in history as the first reforming personality in the history of the court. She taught the Scots to attire themselves “so that they looked like a new race of men.” Some say she introduced the tartan into Scotland. Her influence for good was great in many directions, and particularly in tho protection of brides from tho intolerable claims of the lord of the soil. Little wonder she was canonised. .

Miss E. Thornton Cook, in . her latest work, ‘ Their Majesties of Scotland,’ has given a history of Scottish kings and queens from Macbeth to Prince Charles Edward, a. record that is highly tempestuous, and full of “battle, murder, and sudden death,” yet relieved and brigh'ened will) that romance, which seems one ol Hr; rmh endowments of the north vn realm (says the Melbourne ‘Age’). It one wore to find any fault with the boote it would lie that the facts, are too many, and tho lack of a undying, historic principle is somewhat serious. This is, however, atoned for by quotations from ancient documents marked by ample vividness and realism. St. Margaret’s son, David ]., had a somewhat turbulent reign . of .twentynino years, but lie, gave lito in Scotland new security by a decree that no man should “ho hangitlor a cry me,” tho financial importance of which was less than the value of two sheep at sixteenpeueo each. His passion was for the founding of bishoprics and monasteries, and his famous descendant, James L, surveying the long, list of Davkl’s church benefactions, .grimly observed that “he was a sair saint lor Scotland.” King Robert the Bruce was a grandson of the Robert the Bruce who had competed for the crown against John Balliol. Edward L of England had decided against Bruce’s claim to. tho throne, and the snubbed candidate went to Palestine. His son, Ilobcrt, returned to England, met Martha, the fifteen-year-old widow of tho Earl of Garrick, and, as the ancient chronicle says, “-Kisses were given on each side, as is the wont of corn-tiers.” Martha appears to have loved him at first sight, for she besought him to stay and ride and walk with her, and when she. saw him unwilling she caught his rein, and brought him to her castle. Fifteen days later ho married her As she was a ward of Royally, the King confiscated her property Jor wedding

without his consent, but lie was appeased by a lino, and the son of this marriage was the saviour, champion, and king of the bruised Scottish people. Wallace fought nobly for his country, and ins execution roused Robert Bruco to action. Again there was a competition for the throne. Brueo slew his rival, the Red Coinyu, and was crowned at Scone with a borrowed coronet. Bannockburn was fought in 1314, and the independence of Scotland secured. Parliament established a defence force by ordering every Scot to hold himself in readiness for war. A person owning land to the value of BIG had to keep at hand “a buff jacket and steel head piece”; the owner of a single cow had to provide “ a bow, with a sheaf of twciity-iive arrows.” With the accession of Robert 11., a grandson of Robert Bruce, a new line of kings, the famous and infamous Stuarts, came to the throne, lie was the sou of Waller, the hereditary high steward of Scotland, and 1 Marjorie, daughter of tho Scottish hero—King Robert Bruec. Some eight Stuarts followed him, one Robert 111., six being Jameses up to James V. 1., and one the illustrious Mary Queen of Scots, daughter of James V. and mother of James VI. During part of this period, which began in 1730, and ran 11111003, there was much lighting; with the English, and no little internal strife. There were quarrels with Erance, disagreements about marriages, festivities, military expeditions, with hero and there a capture and a murder; a border raid, princesses in the marriage market, or as pawns in the_ political game; knights who leapt into the saddle without putting loot to the stirrup, and the glorious weddings oi kings, at many of which there was a reception where the now queen had to kiss all the guests, and “ the k'ng kissed her lor her labours.” When James V. sat on the Scottish throne, Henry ViII. of England »v as eager to get his nephew on bis hide in tho religious struggle thou raging, and pressed for some kind of matrimonial union between England and Seotlvn.l. James fancied Magdalene ol \ a.o’.s, daughter of tho King of France, .tourneyed over the :.ea to meet her, ana the two foil in love at lirst sight. i .mv were married, tho bride being hut sm teen years of age. Unhappily she died foriy'days after reaching Scotland. Jn the'following year James married Mai,v of Guise, who became the motner ol Mary Queen of Scots. _ .from this point the story of Scotland is fairly familiar. The religious question dominated tho field. Tho union of the Crowns under James VI. in 1603 brought the two kingdoms into a unity which can hardly he described as a success. The Stuart idea of the prerogatives of the Crown did not fit well with the convictions of either England or Scotland. The double-dealing of James 11. at last so roused tho people that they ended the dynasty. Bonnie Prince Charlie made a brave attempt to regain tho crown in 1745, but alter some successes had to go about in disguise in the highlands and escape to France. Before long, even Franco had refused him asylum, and for sixteen years he wandered from country to country. Ho sank lower and lower. It was rumoured that tho young Chevalier in disguise was present at tho coronation of George 111. Tie married a girl who said the blood of Bruce was in her veins, but “Charles HI.” proved a jealous husband, without self-control, and the young wife took refuge in a convent. jfo died in 17S8, and was buried in bt. Peter’s, Borne. „ . , Another Stuart, “Henry IX., had a medal struck proclaiming himself “ Kim r of Great Britain, Franco, and Ireland, Defender of tho Faith,” but on f lic reverse side wore tho ominous words; “Not by tho desire of mankind, hut bv tho will of God.” _ Until he died in 1807 he kept up his pretensions to tho country ho had never SC Tho romantic, diehard Jacobites issued placards in 1802 claiming the crown for the Archduchess of ModenaEslc, but no one paid any attention. It is well to make acquaintance with Majesties as they are limned in tho pa-ms of Miss Cook’s volume. These Kings ami Queens were very human, and took themselves right seriously. In davs like ours, ;whcn the whole conon') lion of kingcraft is changed, one is saved from uncharitableness only by seeking sanctuary in the historic per spedive.

Browne: “ Now that you are married 1 si-ppopo yon take out an injuranee policy?” Poison; “Oh. no. 1 clout think she’s going tohe dangerous. Passenger (offering his case):: “What kind of cigarettes do you nsnallv smoke? ” Casual Acquaintance:'“l dinna ken. I'm too polite to ask.” . “ What arc you children doing. J thought you wore playing together.” “Wo are playing at lathers and mothers.” “ But you need not make all that noise.” “ Yes, tve do —she lias just asked me for money for a new hat.” “Why didn’t yon try to keep out of gaol?” “I did, ma’am, and .1 pot two months extra for resisting an officer.’’