Notizen zu dieser Person
1 _UID 9555C7850AFE4851A7519AA3C9DC9E0A5931
1 _UID 4E0D6A5C8C3F4C48B58A83B2488D540C2955
... of Kilspindie, fourth and youngest sonofArchibaldBell-the-Cat,appears to have been one of the ablest andmostenergetic ofhis family.He was apopinted Provost of Edinburgh in 1520,andHighTreasurer ofScotland in 1526. He was remarkable for hisgreatstrengthand skill inwarlike exercises, and gained the affection ofJamesV in hisboyhood,who called himi his 'Grey Steill,' after arenownedchampion intheromance of 'Sir Egar and Sir Grime.' But after theKingmade hisescapefrom the custody of the Earl of Angus, Kilspindiewas,along withtherest of the Douglases, attained and forfeited bytheParliament,5hSeptember, 1528, and compelled to take refuge inEngland.Anaffectingstory is related by Godscroft respecting the treatmentwhichhereceivedfrom King James, on a visit paid by him to his nativeland.
' ' Archibald being banished into England, could not wellcomportwiththehomour of that nation, which he thought to be too proud,andthatthey hadtoo high a conceit of themselves, joined with acontemptanddespising ofall others. Wherefore, being wearied of thatlife,andremembering theKing's favour of old towards him, he determinedtotrythe King'smercifulness and clemency. So he comes intoScotland,andtaking occasionof the King's hunting in the park at Stirling,hecastshimself to be inhis way as he was coming home to the castle. Sosoonasthe King was himfar off, ere he came hear, he guessed it washe,andsaid to one of hiscourtiers, 'Yonder is my Grey Steill,ArchibaldofKilspindie, if he bealive.' The other answered that it couldnot be,andthat he durst notcome into the King's presence. The Kingapproaching,hefell upon hisknees and craved pardon, and promised fromtheceforwardtoabstain frommeddling in public affairs, and to lead a quietandprivatelife. The Kingwent by without giving him any answer, andtrotted agoodround pace upthe hill, Kilspindie following him; and thoughhe woreonhim a secret, orshirt of mail, for his particular enemies, wasassoonat the castle-gateas the King. There he sat him down uponastonewithout, and entreatedsome of the King's servants for a cupofdrink,being weary and thirsty.But they, fearing the King'sdispleasure,durstgive him none. When theKing was sat at his dinner heasked what hehaddone, what he had said,and whither he was gone. It wastold him thathehad desired a cup ofdrink and had gotten none. The Kingreprovedthemvery sharply for theirdiscourtesy, and told them that if hehadnottaken an oath that noDouglas should ever serve him, hewouldhavereceived him into hisservice, for he had seen him some time amanofgreat ability. Then hesent him word to go to Leith, andexpecthisfurther pleasure.'Subsequently the King commanded him to gotoFrance,and there he shortlyafter died, it is believed of a brokenheart.Jameswas greatly and justlyblamed for his unforgiving andpitilesstreatmentof a man who had neverpersonally injured him. It calledforththeindignation even of hisvindictive uncle Henry VIII, who onhearingofhit quoted the familiarproverb --
' A king's face ... should give grace.'
The Great Historic Families of Scotland, James Taylor
Thomas
Schäfer
