d Robin, Scarlet,
and John." Scathelocke is a brother of Scarlet in Ben Jonson's Sad
Shepherd, which is a "Tale of Robin Hood," and Mutch is a bailiff in the
same play.

626. Stake. Prize.

627. Fondly he watched, etc. The MS. reads:

"Fondly he watched, with watery eye,
For answering glance of sympathy,
But no emotion made reply!
Indifferent as to unknown | wight,
Cold as to unknown yeoman |
The King gave forth the arrow bright."

630. To archer wight. That is, to any ordinary archer. Scott has the
following note here:

"The Douglas of the poem is an imaginary person, a supposed uncle of the
Earl of Angus. But the King's behavior during an unexpected interview
with the Laird of Kilspindie, one of the banished Douglases, under
circumstances similar to those in the text, is imitated from a real
story told by Hume of Godscroft. I would have availed myself more fully
of the simple and affecting circumstances of the old history, had they
not been already woven into a pathetic ballad by my friend Mr. Finlay.
[11]

'His [the King's] implacability [towards the family of Douglas] did also
appear in his carriage towards Archibald of Kilspinke, whom he, when he
was a child, loved singularly well for his ability of body, and was
wont to call him his Gray-Steill. [12] Archibald, being banished into
England, could not well comport with the humor of that nation, which
he thought to be too proud, and that they had too high a conceit
of themselves, joined with a contempt and despising of all others.
Wherefore, being wearied of that life, and remembering the King's favor
of old towards him, he determined to try the King's mercifulness and
clemency. So he comes into Scotland, and taking occasion of the King's
hunting in the park at Stirling he casts himself to be in his way, as he
was coming home to the Castle. So soon as the King saw him afar off, ere
he came near, he guessed it was he, and said to one of his courtiers,
"Yonder is my Gray-Steill, Archibald of Kilspindie, if he be alive." The
other answered that it could not be he, and that he durst not come into
the King's presence. The King approaching, he fell upon his knees and
craved pardon, and promised from thenceforward to abstain from meddling
in public affairs, and to lead a quiet and private life. The King went
by without giving him any answer, and trotted a good round pace up the
hill. Kilspindie followed, and though he wore on hi