Stuart dynasty

120 THE STUART DYNASTY.
seems to connect these productions with Mary Stuart's
father.*
But King James sometimes displayed his hand-
some face and figure amongst society of a different
type ; and in the year 1533, he had the wisdom to
accede to the request of his kinsman, the Earl of
Athole, that he might entertain his sovereign during
a summer tour amongst the noble mountains around
Blair Athole. Those conversant with the plateau in
front of the castle, making an arena fit for any
Highland pastime, will realise what a beautiful and
romantic scene was presented, when a rural palace of
green timber appeared, a high tower crowning each
angle of the edifice, the windows of which were of
coloured glass, and its chambers daintily decorated
by tapestry of silk and gold. Here, James Y. learned
the delights of his Highland dominions, alternately
fishing, feasting, and hunting — the latter amusement
being especially to the King's fancy, so that he
constantly relieved the tedium of progresses through
the kingdom by the chase. On this occasion the
* Drummond of Hawthornden, the poet and historian, 1585-1649, spoke
of James V. as given to " poesie ; as many of his works yet extant testifie, "
but did not name the pieces upon which this reputation is founded.
Moreover Bellenden, Archdeacon of Moray, a friend of the King in his
childhood, speaks of James V. as singing
" With notes sweet and song melodious ; "
while Sir David Lyndsay, also a contemporary, concurs. But they say
nothing about either ' The Gaberlunzie Man,' or ' Christ's Kirk on the
Green,' which many attribute to James I. Sibbald, the poetical chro-
uologist, on the other hand, agrees with Chalmers in ascribing these
works to James V., on account of the style not being that of his great
ancestor, James I. — Chalmers's ' Poetical Remains of the Scottish Kings,'
pp. 126-7.