$0 ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 



confidence between the prince and the people. 

 Abroad, it no,w compofed a part of the political 



fyilem, 



is {till extant. The retinue confuted of the chief nobility, knights, 

 and gentry, in the kingdom, and they were attended by above 

 2000 followers, and the molt iplendid equipages that were made 

 ufe of in thofe times. Many of the company took their leave at 

 the borders ;; but thole who remained itill made a fplendid ap- 

 pearance, and arrived at Lamberton church, in the Merle, where 

 the bride was met by James, accompanied by a fuperb train of hia 

 nobility and officers of ftate. From Lamberton the proceiFion pro-^ 

 ceeded to Dalkeith, and next day to Edinburgh, where the mar- 

 riage was celebrated with great magnificence. From the bell 

 accounts, both published and in manulcript, it appears, that the 

 Scots outfhone tlieir gnefts in every article of luxury. Their ap- 

 pearance was more coilly, their chains of gold more mally, and 

 their furniture and equipages richer. This mult have been owing 

 to the great inteicourle and commerce which James and his fub- 

 jefts, at this time, entertained with foreign courts and countries ; 

 for even the moil ibber luxuries w r ere then unknown in thole of 

 Denmark, Sweden, and the other northern parts of Europe where 

 commerce had made Ids progrefs ; an indication of what Scotland 

 would have been at the preient day, had it remained the feat of 

 its fovcreigns, and its wealth been ipent, as of old, w ithin the 

 realm. 



Many foreigners were prefcnt during, this Scottifli jubilee, and 

 partook of the feftivities attending it, which, according to the- 

 inodes of that time, and the particular diipofition of James, 

 chiefly confuted in reats of arms. James, in fome of thoie exhU 

 bitions, aiTumed the character of a iavage knight, and it is i*aid 

 that he diilinguiihed himic-lf above all the company by his ftrcngth, 

 activity, and addreis in martial cxercites. That he might fupport 

 ' the character with the greater propriety, he had, for his retinue, 

 two bands of Highlanders, or perions in that dreis, who fkirmilhed 

 with each other, with targets and broad fwords, to the mufic of 

 their bagpipes ; but thofe feigned conflicts were far from being 

 harrnkls, for they produced real wounds and blocdfhed, as in a 

 true battle, which itruck the ipe&atcrs with the highelt altonim-, 

 ment, at the refolution of the combatants, who could thus fpoit 

 away their lives, the cuftom of the times not fuffering them to 

 hold the practice in deteitation. The exhibition of the day being 

 over, the night was fpent in entertainments, mafquerades, and 

 dancing. The king's politenefs was iiill more dillinguifhed than 

 his chivalry, fo noble was the entertainment, and fo elegant the 

 attendance paid to every giieft. 



The fame of thefe tournaments drew to the court many 

 foreigners, efpecially from France, to try their prowefs, who were 

 ail liberally entertained by the king, and as bountifully difmiffed. 



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