Fate and Fortune by Shirley McKay Page B

what became of Davidson?’
    ‘That is a sad story, and one that does no credit to your college. Davidson was called before the Privy Council. He appealed to the Kirk Assembly for support, who called to witness one John Rutherford, then provost of St Salvator’s, whose office you now hold. Now this man wrote a refutation of the poem in question, that later he retracted, saying that he had no quarrel with its substance, only that he had inferred, that Davidson called him a goose . This Davidson denied, and said he had imagined it.’
    ‘And was he called a goose?’ Giles inquired archly.
    ‘There was a cleric in the poem, and he was called a goose. No names were named. But you will understand, the substance of the charge, and the Crown’s complaint, was not whether Davidson called Rutherford a goose.’
    Giles chuckled. ‘Let us both be thankful we abjure such petty squabbling . The retraction, surely, was a help to Davidson. The University must have supported him?’
    ‘They might have done, had the Assembly had the courage to defy the Crown. But Davidson could not be sure of their support. And so he took advice, and fled to England, and we lost a good and worthy regent, and an honest man.’
    ‘Then I’m sorry for it. Was he your regent?’
    ‘Not ours, though we knew him well. In our first year as students, he was still a magistrand. And these events took place when I was gone to Paris. It was Nicholas that told me of them, in a letter. I doubt my father knew of it, for strange to say, he has a copy of Davidson’s poem in his library. Nicholas has put it in his catalogue.’
    ‘Your father had a keen eye for controversy,’ Giles smiled. ‘Aye, well, a cautionary tale. Let us hope that Matthew’s law book will not get you into trouble.’
    ‘I think it very likely,’ Hew said solemnly, ‘that this strange affair is doomed from start to end.’
    ‘Well, then, Christian Hall, you say?’ Giles peered at his shelves, ‘I do not know the name.’
    ‘The device is a crow in a tree, with an H and a cross,’ Hew replied. ‘You have not seen such on your books?’
    ‘Not that I recall. The corbie’s an odd enough choice,’ remarked Giles. ‘That signifies, I think, a false or tardy messenger. Or like the carrion crow, brings with it thoughts of death.’ He sang a brief snatch from the ballad, ‘The Twa Corbies’, ‘ over his white banes, where we lay bare, the wind shall blow forever mair . No, there’s nothing here … Now here’s a book to interest you, returning to our theme, that has been lately Englished from the Latin, directions for the health of magistrates and students. Tis pertinent on exercise. The author says of tennis, that all parts and members of the body may be moved – save that it may be harmful to the head, which must be held aloft, like so …’ Giles stuck out his neck and pitched a phantom caich ball to the roof. ‘Tell me, Hew, is this the stance?’
    ‘Aye, something like,’ Hew answered doubtfully.
    ‘Then it will prove more wholesome than the golf, and likewise beneficial. I look forward to beginning with our lessons. Meantime, for your printer, have you thought to try the fair? There are bookstalls there a plenty. Tis likely they have heard of him. In fact,’ he nodded, ‘since there is no time like the present, let us go together; you shall help to strike my bargain for the tennis things.’ He set down the book, and pleased with this plan, began to button up his coat.
    ‘Fair enough,’ Hew grinned. ‘Shall we take Meg?’
    Giles frowned at him. ‘The fair is most busy and noisome. It could do her no good. But we shall bring her gingerbreads, or ribbons for her hair.’
    ‘If you treat her like a child,’ objected Hew, ‘it is not like to please her.’
    ‘As her man of physic, I could not assuage my conscience, if I had encouraged her to walk among the thrang. It would precipitate a fit, you may be sure of it. Aye, you’re right, no gingerbers. The fair