Faith, innocence, avail'd not him! he suffer'd for his line,
And fainting by the gate he sunk, but feebly call'd for wine!
The menials came, "wine? up! begone! we marvel who thou art!
Our monarch bids to France, Graysteil, his trusty friend depart!"
Blood to the Douglas' cheek uprush'd: proud blood! away he hied,
And soon afar, the "poor Graysteil," the broken hearted, DIED!
M.L.B.
Note—Graysteil (so called after the champion of a romance then popular) had returned from banishment in the hope, as he was perfectly innocuous, of renewing his ancient friendship with the Scottish king; and James declared that he would again have received him into his service, but for his oath, never more to countenance a Douglas. He blamed his servants for refusing refreshment to the veteran, but did not escape censure from our own Henry VIII. for his cruel conduct towards his "poor Graysteil," upon this occasion.