Late in the 1400's, Scotland was ruled by King James the Fourth of That Name, a young and vibrant King. The great Scholar Erasmus observed of the King, "he has wonderful powers of mind, an astonishing knowledge of everything, an unconquerable magnanimity and the most abundant generosity." James IV was also known for his very active sense of humour. His practical jokes were legendary, and many was the member of his court who had been the target of the King's biting humour. One of the most famous tales of the King's Humour however, does not involve a courtier. Our story today centers instead on a young shepherd that the King happened across one day while hunting. But before we get to that meeting, there are a few things you need to know. First of all, Scotland of this time, like many other European nations, had a real problem with Highwaymen; desperate men that skulked up and down the roads and byways looking for hapless travelers to prey upon. And secondly, King James, on the day in question, was not dressed in courtly finery, but rather in plain, well worn hunting clothes that he had borrowed from his huntsman. Now the King had been chasing an extremely active stag, and become separated from the rest of the hunting party, and was summarily lost... this is where our story picks up.

Spying our young shepherd, one William Murray by name, on the hill above the road, the King decided to ask directions to Peebles and headed up the slope. On his approach, the young man was at first puzzled, then frightened as he gathered from the demeanor, dress, and large sword that the stranger carried that he must be a highwayman. Determined not to loose his purse to the brigand, William raised his staff and bellowed a challenge:

"Get back, or you'll feel the weight of my staff!"

And the King replied:

"Hold young man, we only wish to..."

The King's use of the royal "we" was enough to convince William that an entire host of brigands were about to spring upon him, and his fear got the best of him. Not waiting to hear the highwayman's threats, he struck. The King quickly recovered his surprise from the attack, drew his sword and parried the blows. William struck the King a glancing blow, and James decided he'd had enough. Two strong thrusts of his sword were all it took to disarm the boy, and James promptly took control of the situation.

"Hold boy! We have come to ask for directions to Peebles, but should you show fight again, We would be only too happy to repay you for the blow you dared lay upon our brow! Now rise and lead us on to Peebles."

William warily got to his feet and led off towards Peebles. When the feared hoard of Highwaymen failed to appear, he began to relax, and before long he was chattering merrily on one of his favorite subjects, politics.

Have you been long in this region, good sir? (Not pausing) We are poor here, but I am sure you have already noticed that, by the slim pickings you must find in your line of work. Why I'd wager to say that you had gathered nary a crown even if you have spent the whole of spring upon our roads."

And on William talked, describing to the King, whom he had not yet recognized, all the cares and woes of his homeland. The troubles he attributed to the nobles, the triumphs to the strength of the people. And then, as eventually happens to all people who talk too much, William began to talk himself into a hole.

"Now the King himself is a nice enough fellow, but he surrounds himself with idiots, thieves, and wastrels. King James is a bonny braw fighter for all that, and I would follow him into battle in a heartbeat, but he is too often looking to foreign matters, and is neglectful of his own. Why it is even rumored that he neglects his own dear wife, whom we honor as our Queen, for some tart of a lady in the court. If you ask me, the King would be wiser to pay more attention to the matters of hearth and home!

On William talked, and soon his words turned from insulting to treasonous, as he described every wrongful act committed by the King, and what must be done to right the ills of Scotland. Through the entire diatribe, James lay silent and listened, and before the boy had run out of words, they had arrived in Peebles.

Now, although Peebles was a wee village far from the bustle of Court, there were people there who were none so naive as young William, and recognized the King at once. The King! The King!, the cries rang out, and from every cottage, shop and hut people burst forth to see the king. Realizing his mistake, and knowing that he had committed the gravest treason by virtue of his unbridled tongue, William attempted to escape.

"Seize that boy! Have him thrown into the gaol and brought before my magistrate on Friday next. The charge is Treason."

For almost a fortnight, William languished in gaol. He spent hours contemplating his crime. And after many days of thought, he came to the conclusion that even had he known he was speaking to the King he would have been just as forthright. And so he became resigned to his fate.

"Truth is truth, King or Commoner."

Like all traitors of the time, William was sentenced to hang. On the morning of his execution, a large crowd gathered, but the King was nowhere to be seen. While William awaited the hangman's pleasure on the gallows, a cry went up in the crowd. "Make way for the King, Make way! And suddenly the king was beside William on the gallows.

"Stand ye back, Good Executioner, for We believe We shall dispatch this one Ourselves."

And that said, James drew forth his broad sword, placing young William Murray on his knees, raised the sword high over his head and....

"We Knight you Sir William of Murray, for your honesty and your insight. And We do command you to remember always that it is your honest council that We seek. Let all the subjects of Scotland be so with their King, and know ye that We prize honesty above all fair things. Rise William of Murray, for today We ride to court, I have much to learn from you."

And so William the shepherd became Sir William of Murray, and the King had an honest advisor, and all of Scotland learned the value of honesty!