Scottish Poetry of the Seventeenth Century

teem, as much for his poetic taste as for his courtly connection, and his sonnets remain typical examples of the poetic vein fashionable among the court gallants of his time. A younger son of Robert Murray of Abercairney by a daughter of the house of Tullibardine, his circumstances were those of the Scotsman so familiar in the English epigram of the period?the youth of good family but slender purse, who looked to a place at court as his natural provision for life. Unlike many of his less fortunate fellows, however, he not only attained his desire in this respect, but gained the trust and affection of his royal master to an uncommon degree. He was at first attached to the person of Prince Henry in the capacity of First Gentleman of the Bedchamber; and when in 1610 the prince's household was definitely fixed, Murraybecame Groom of the Stole and Gentleman of the Robes. According to a contemporary he was regarded by the heir to the throne as the most reliable of his attendants?"the onely man in whom he put choise trust." He appears to have been in equal favour with the king, for when, probably like most other court gallants, he found his affairs in difficulties, he received from James a free gift, first of 2000 and then of 5200, expressly stated to be for the payment of his debts. These gifts occurred in 1613 and 1615 respectively, and in 1630 they were capped by a grant from King Charles of the estate of Gorthy. He seems, however, to have remained unmarried, and he die...