History of the life and death of John, Earl of Gowrie

JOHtf, EARL Of GOWRIE. 177
at the other end of the table, pensive and dejected*
He could only reply to the King's incessant talk*
and coarse pleasantry, by " half words, and imper-
fect sentences *."
The Earl, it should seem, through ignorance*
acted contrary to what was the court fashion.
When the King and his retinue were at any time
invited to a dinner, it was customary for the en-
tertainer, as soon as the first course was served up
to the King, to desire the retinue to dine in ano-
ther chamber, and to sit with them himself at din-
ner. This the Earl neglected to do. The nobles
were kept standing round the table till the King
had ate the greatest part of his dinner. His Ma-
jesty noticed the Earl's neglect, and interpreted it
to be a marked sign of the dislike which he had to
his guests. The servants, however, who were ta-
ken by a surprise, may not have found it possible
to prepare the dinner for the nobles so early as
they had prepared the King's dinner. The Earl
at last asked the nobles to dine in the neighbour-
ing hall, and conducted them thither. But he did
not sit down to table with them, but returned to
* King's Narrative, page 14.
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