“This failèd fra he died suddenly; This sang was made of him forthi: When Alexander our king was dead, That Scotland led in love and lea, Away wes söns of ale and bread, Of wine and wax, of gaming and glee; Our gold was changèd into lead. Christ, born into virginity, Succor Scotland and remede That stad is in perplexity.”
Kinghorn, the birthplace of William Nelson’s mother, and the scene of many of the happiest days of his own childhood and youth, was the place historically associated with the national disaster. When he carried off his sisters to revisit the old scenes, it will be remembered that one of the special spots pointed out to them was “The King’s Crag,” as the point is called which tradition assigns as the actual cliff over which, when his horse stumbled, Alexander III. was precipitated. The event was thus associated with many of William Nelson’s earliest recollections; and the proposal to mark it with a suitable monument was responded to by him with hearty enthusiasm. From its initiation his zeal never flagged. First came his subscription, the most liberal of all; then correspondence and deliberations as to the design, the inscription, the most durable and best material. He writes to the Rev. Charles Shaw from Glenfeochan in October 1886, in reference to the appeal for subscriptions:--“Let me know as soon as you can what is the result, and I will then see what I can do to make up the sum.” In December he discusses the details of the design and material. He fears, from its exposed site on the highroad from Burntisland to Kinghorn, that the monument will be liable to injury; has “called the architect Mr. Blanc’s attention some time ago to this circumstance, and that he ought not to forget it in making his finished drawings.” Again he writes in the following February:--“Mr. Blanc says that the memorial cross ought decidedly to be of Peterhead granite; and you will please hold me responsible for whatever shortcoming there may be in consequence.” Then comes an equally characteristic passage: “I don’t think there is any occasion for you or Dr. Rogers telling the committee of what you call my handsome offer. If this were done, the matter would, I have no doubt, be blazoned forth in the newspapers, and I would not like that at all.” The next proposition was that he should unveil the monument, in the erection of which he had manifested so practical an interest. But that he would not hear of, and suggested the Earl of Elgin as Lord Lieutenant of the county, and a good man to boot. “Failing him, you should apply to Lord Napier and Ettrick, or Lord Rosebery.”