Nigel Tranter: The Wisest Fool

"And the King is right He is a rogue. I, his daughter, admit it. But a clever rogue, with a great ability. Not the man to make an enemy of!"

"The King was ill-advised, yes. But no doubt he believes that, in England, on that greater throne, the Master can no longer hurt him."

"And that is where the King is wrong " She swallowed. "I believe that he, Patrick, intends no other than to unseat James as King of Scots!"

At the man's incredulous stare, she shook her lovely head. "Hear.me, before you scoff. The King's eldest child, the Prince Henry, is kept in Stirling Castle under the care of the Earl of Mar, and away from his mother the Queen. You know this-has been these six years. The cause of much bad blood between King and Queen. James does not trust his wife with the children, believes her weak and silly-as, in some truth, she is. He remembers how ill he was served by his mother, Mary. Patrick's plan is, now that James has shaken off the dust of Scotland from his shoes, to get Mar, the Prince's keeper and guardian, to proclaim the boy Henry as King of Scots in place of his father and declare no union of the kingdoms." "God in Heaven!"

"Before you cry impossible, consider. There are many in Scotland who would welcome something such. Many who see the King's departure for England as a blow, a betrayal. Who believe that Scotland will become no more than a mere dependency of England, little better than a great county. That all which has been fought for over the centuries will be wasted, independence gone. Others mislike King James himself and would prefer a child-king who could be swayed to their purposes. Then there are the Catholics-Huntly, Erroll, Angus and the rest-still mighty strong, who had hopes of drawing James back to the old religion -but now, on the throne of Protestant England, they know that to be impossible. They could turn a seven-year-old boy Catholic easily enough!"

"Yes, yes-I see that. I see that it could succeed. In the hands of unscrupulous men."

"My father, you will agree, is sufficiently unscrupulous, sir? And remember, but newly on his English throne, James would scarce be in a position to mount any armed invasion of Scotland, to assert his rights. He has left behind in Scotland all the lords he does not like. He should not have spurned the Master of Gray!"

For moments George Heriot stared, fingering his small beard. 'The Queen?" he asked. "She is not in this? What of Her Grace? She would never lend herself to such treachery?"

"As to that, I do not know. She is a strange woman and has long held a grudge against her husband over Prince Henry. And the other two children, both of whom he has taken away from her. She sees none of them, her motherhood soured. And now she is pregnant again, and in that state a woman can do strange things. She might prefer her three children, wholly her own, to a husband who shows more interest in pretty young men!"

"Yes-it could conceivably be so. But-Mar? The Earl of Mar is with the King. In England. How could he be in this? He has always been the King's trusted friend. They were as good as foster-brothers."

"Patrick may have some hold over him. I know not. But the Countess of Mar, his mother, has the Prince in Stirling Castle and is refusing to allow the Queen to see him. Whether on the King's orders, her son's, or on Patrick's, I know not But Patrick was at Stirling only three days back. He was not kept out!"

Heriot shook his head. "This is beyond all. If it is indeed so. Could it be but conjecture? Would the Master throw over all he has worked for, overturn his policy over England, merely for revenge?"

"I do not know. But Patrick loves power. Power for its own sake. And now, suddenly, he sees his power plucked from him. I think he might do this, to regain it. For of course it would be he, not Mar, who would control the boy-King, and Scotland with him. He might believe that he could then strike some bargain with England, to gain the advantages of the union, but himself still holding the balance, the power. Father and son on the two thrones, and himself in a position to call the tune! It could be…" "It could be. But is it? You cannot prove it?"

"No, I cannot prove it, to be sure. The Master of Gray does not leave his plots open for proof or disproof. But his wife, the Lady Marie Stewart, believes he has some deep plan in hand. We… we work together, where we may. To undo some of the evil of his ploys." She wagged her head, almost helplessly for that capable young woman. "And these great entertainments here in the Palace-these are not just to squander the King's money. I am sure that they are arranged so that Patrick can assemble important men here, confer with them. Important men for his plot, and for afterwards. None will suspect anything of huge intrigue amongst all these masques and junketings." "You make it convincing, Mistress Gray."

"I could wish that I could not 1 You saw how Patrick was concerned with your coming. How he came hastening. Seeking to hear why the King had sent you. He might well be wondering whether, somehow, word of the plot had reached James. And you were sent to spy it out."

"The King is only afraid lest the Queen gets into some foolishness. Spends over-much of his money. Or mine. He has had a fright about the English Treasury-which he esteemed inexhaustible. Also he considers that she behaves indiscreetly with young men. That is all. But this-this is a nightmare, beyond all his fears."

'Yes. A nightmare, in truth. Which I have had to hug to myself for days. Not knowing to whom to turn. Wishing Vicky were here-the Duke. I had no one to turn to, save the Lady Marie. No one who could act…"

'The Chancellor-the Lord Fyvie? As head of the King's government here, surely he is the one to tell? "

"My Lord Fyvie is a friend of my father's. Otherwise I think he would not be where he is. He may be honest-but he is new to the task. Not a strong man, as old Maitland was strong. More interested in building castles and palaces, writing poetry, than in statecraft He is at Dunfermline, building as ever. Would he listen to me, even if I could get to him? As I could not-for I am watched always. My father loves me, in his fashion, I am sure- but trusts me no further than I trust him" "So-o-o! What would you have me do?"

"See the Queen. Discover, if you can, whether she is in the plot If not, warn her. And somehow contrive to get Prince Henry into her hands, and safe away from Stirling. Into England, to his father. Little Prince Charles too, if that is possible. He is at Dunfermline with the Chancellor…" "Save us-here's no light task, Mistress I How can I do this?"

"Somebody must And quickly. You have authority. A good head, all say. And, money-which might be important 1 And the Queen heeds you."

"I have no authority in matters of state. Only in private affairs. I am only His Grace's jeweller. I could send an urgent message to the King…"

'There is no time, sir. That would take days. Patrick may strike at any moment. What is to be done must be done at once. Do you understand, Master Heriot? At once. Even tomorrow may be too late. My father does not daunder either, when he sets his hand to a venture " "I shall ride to Linlithgow tomorrow…"

"Tonight, sir, I beg you. I know you are weary. But the Master of Gray will have you watched-nothing more sure. If the Queen is in this, he may well seek to prevent you seeing her. Or at least, have her warned against you. He knows that we have been together, knows how I hate his plots. He is not stupid. He will see you as dangerous, I am sure. Ride tonight, Master Heriot-before he has time to make plans for you 1"

"This is all too much I So much beyond me, Mistress Gray- this sort of intrigue and plot and treason. For that it is."

"You are the King's loyal subject, servant and friend, are you not? So men say. And he needs such, in this case. Does he not, sir?"