‘The king laughed at John’s fancy; and, that the good yeoman might have occasion for mirth also, he made him a present of the farm of Braehead, which he had wished so much to possess, on condition that John Howison, and his successors, should be ready to present an ewer and basin, for the king to wash his hands, when his Majesty should come to Holyrood Palace, or should pass the bridge of Cramond. Accordingly, in the year 1822, when George Fourth came to Scotland, the descendant of John Howison, who still possesses the estate which was given to his ancestor, appeared at a solemn festival, and offered his Majesty water from a silver ewer, that he might perform the service by which he held his lands.’ _Tales of a Grandfather—Notes to Lady of the Lake._ Another of James’ frolics is thus related, by Mr Campbell, from the statistical account. ‘Being benighted when out a-hunting, and separated from his attendants, he happened to enter a cottage in the midst of a moor, at the foot of the Ochil Hills, near Alloa, where, unknown, he was kindly received. In order to regale their unexpected guest, the goodman desired the goodwife to fetch the hen that roosted nearest the cock, which is always the plumpest, for the stranger’s supper. The king, highly pleased with his night’s lodgings and hospitable entertainment, told mine host, at parting, that he should be glad to return his civility, and requested that, the first time he came to Stirling, he would call at the castle, and enquire for the Gudeman of Ballangeigh. Donaldson, the landlord, did not fail to call on the Gudeman of Ballangeigh, when his astonishment, at finding that the king had been his guest, afforded no small amusement to the merry monarch and his courtiers. To carry on the pleasantry, he was henceforth designated by James with the title of the King of the Moors, which name and designation have descended from father to son ever since, and they have continued in possession of the identical spot, the property of the Earl of Mar, till very lately, when this nobleman, with reluctance, turned out the descendant and representative of the King of the Moors, on account of his Majesty’s invincible indolence, and great dislike to reform or innovation of any kind; although, from the spirited example of his neighbour tenants on the same estate, he was convinced that similar exertion would promote his advantage.’