Memoirs of John Napier of Merchiston

24 THE LIFE OF
Isabella Duchess of Albany and Countess of Lennox, the grandmother of the
chancellor. James Stewart, that son of the Duke of Albany who alone escap-
ed by flight from the scaffold where the Duke and his other sons perished,
left no legitimate offspring ; but the powerful talents of Andrew Stewart, his
natural son, raised the latter to that elevation which, under the title of Lord
Avandale or Evandale, he so long held in the kingdom. No one had more
opportunies of knowing, or could better appreciate the talents of Napier, than
the chancellor ; and that he was accompanied in this negotiation by his near
connection, a man who for so many years had divided his energies betwixt
foreign policy and domestic finance, may be assumed upon the authority quot-
ed.* " The negotiations" (says Mr Tytler, in his History of Scotland now
in progress of publication) " upon this occasion appear to have been conduct-
ed with singular prudence and discretion ;" and he adds this lively sketch of
the happy result : — " Having brought these matters to a conclusion, in a man-
ner honourable to themselves, and highly beneficial to the country, the Scot-
tish ambassadors, bearing with them their youthful bride — a princess of great
beauty and accomplishments — and attended by a brilliant train of Danish
nobles, set sail for Scotland, and landed at Leith in the month of July, amidst
the rejoicings of an immense assembly of her future subjects. She was now
in her sixteenth year ; and the youthful monarch, who had not yet complet-
ed his eighteenth, received her with that gallantry and ardour which was
incident to his age. Soon after her arrival, the marriage ceremony was com-
pleted, with much pomp and solemnity, in the Abbey Church of Holyrood ;
and was succeeded by a variety and splendour in the pageants and entertain-
ments, and a perseverance in the feasting and revelry, which were long after-
wards remembered with applause." f
Sir Alexander Napier must have been very wealthy. I have not been able
to trace the history of the lands of Philde, or to ascertain their extent ; but
the comptroller, before the death of his father, took his designation from those
lands, which probably were of considerable value. A crown charter, dated
» In the Parliament held 6th May and 2d August 1471, Sir Alexander is designed Secretary
— " Parliamentum inchoat. apud Edinr. 6th May," &c. " per prelatos, barones, ac commissarios
subscriptos ;" among others, the Chancellor Avandale, and " Dominum Alexandrum Naper, Secre-
tarium." — JRotuli Scotia.
f History of Scotland, iv. 221, 222.