[MR] Wikipedia: Death of James V of Scotland

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends, Especially fellow Scots,

On this date in 1542, King of Scots James V died at Falkland Palace. He was
just 30 years old.

Like most of the late Stewart monarchs (that is, the 6 Jameses and Mary
Queen of Scots), he was not particularly successful. James V spent a good
share of his time in vindictive crusades against powerful barons who got
out of line. His management of the 1542 war with England ended in the
Scots' humiliating defeat at Solway Moss, though he was not present during
that battle.

On the other hand, James cared greatly about the welfare of commoners. He
was thought to have frequently disguised himself in peasant clothes to meet
and hear the concerns of his poorer subjects. For this he was known as the "
*Gudeman* [farmer] *of Ballengeich*".

James was also a patron of the arts, and spent lavishly on building
projects, including remodeling Stirling Castle into a renaissance palace.
Much of what survives today at Stirling is his work.

James was already ailing, possibly from cholera or dysentery, when he heard
about the Solway Moss defeat. It is said to have driven him to a state of
melancholy from which he never recovered. Other stories say that when he
learned of the birth of his daughter Mary (as in "Queen of Scots"), he is
said to have exclaimed, "It cam wi' a lass, and it will gang wi' a lass"
(meaning "It began with a girl and it will end with a girl."). There are
various interpretations of this outburst, or prophecy, if indeed James
really did say this before he croaked. The claim is attributed to John
Knox, who was certainly no friend to his daughter Mary.

More about James V is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_V .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the real Merry Rose relevant and in business.