The Merchant's Daughter by Alexander Campbell
In September 1530, during a violent storm near the Torwood, David Henderson and his wife reluctantly give shelter to a richly dressed, exhausted young lady brought to their farm-house at Woodlands by a tall gentleman on a black horse. The gentleman promises to return for her the next day, but rides away at reckless speed and does not reappear. The lady pays generously for her stay, gives Mrs Henderson valuable jewels, refuses to disclose her history, and takes only cautious evening walks to a secluded elm grove. At the grove’s fountain, she is discovered by Sir James Crawford of Netherton, a young gentleman who has come to water himself and his horse. Struck by her beauty and gentleness, he falls in love at first sight. Though she will not tell him her name or home, he repeatedly returns to the fountain and eventually wins her acceptance of his suit. The lady is Jessie Craig, the beautiful and wealthy orphaned daughter of Glasgow merchant John Craig. Sir Robert Lindsay of Dunrod, Provost of Glasgow, had concealed her at Woodlands to protect her from King James V., who had seen her in Edinburgh and came privately to Glasgow hoping to pursue her. Sir Robert learns of the king’s intention and removes Jessie before James arrives, while publicly leading Glasgow’s citizens to welcome him. James sends his attendant, William Buchanan, to Jessie’s mansion in the Rottenrow with a ring and notice of the king’s intended visit. Buchanan discovers that she is absent. Trying to bribe and coax information from her old servant, he is driven away by her and her large dog Tiger, losing part of his coat and receiving a blow on the nose. James, amused by his servant’s appearance but disappointed by Jessie’s disappearance, waits in Glasgow for eight days and even prowls near her house. Sir Robert politely frustrates his inquiries, knowing exactly what has brought the king there. Unable to find Jessie, James leaves Glasgow for Stirling and accepts an invitation to dine at Netherton, Sir James Crawford’s home. Sir Robert, who has been included in the visit, arranges a jest with Sir James and Jessie. During the banquet, Sir Robert bets James a thousand merks that the king has never seen a woman more beautiful than Lady Crawford, while James names Jessie Craig as the standard of beauty. When Sir James presents his veiled wife, she reveals herself as Jessie Craig. Since Jessie and Lady Crawford are the same person, the assembled gentlemen declare that James has lost the wager. The king takes the joke good-humouredly, presents Lady Crawford with a gold chain, and departs for Stirling. Sir James had learned from Jessie why she was concealed and had quickly sought Sir Robert’s approval for their marriage. Sir Robert’s failure to return for Jessie as promised had resulted from the unexpected length of the king’s stay in Glasgow.
By Alexander Campbell · First published 1821 · Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Romance Fiction · 11,896 words
First lines
On the western skirts of the Torwood -- famous in Scottish story for its association with the names of Wallace and Bruce -- there stood, in the middle of the sixteenth century, a farm-house of rather superior appearance for the period.
This house was occupied at the time of which we speak by a person of the name of Henderson, who farmed a pretty extensive tract of land in the neighbourhood.
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Genres
- Historical Romance — The central plot concerns Jessie Craig's concealment from King James V and her rapid courtship and marriage to Sir James Crawford in sixteenth-century Scotland.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is firmly situated in Scotland in 1530, using King James V, Glasgow civic life, period dress, customs, locations, and social power structures as essential elements.
- Romance Fiction — Jessie and Sir James's meeting, mutual attraction, secret courtship, and successful marriage provide the story's emotional resolution.
- Scottish Historical Fiction — Scottish landscapes, Glasgow and Stirling settings, Scots dialogue, national history, and local social customs define the work's setting and atmosphere.
Tags
historical romance · sixteenth-century Scotland · 1530 · Glasgow · Torwood · Stirlingshire · King James V · Scottish monarchy · wealthy merchant's daughter · orphaned heiress · concealed identity · royal pursuit
What this Textopian page supports
The Merchant's Daughter is listed on Textopian as a novella by Alexander Campbell, dated 1821 CE.
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- Work type: Novella
- Author: Alexander Campbell
- Date: 1821 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Romance Fiction, Scottish Historical Fiction, Historical Adventure
- Length: 11,896 words
- Structure: 1 section, 229 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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