THE QUEEN'S SWOLLEN cavalcade reached "Windsor, in the Thames valley, on the last day of June, after a leisurely progress down through England. If King James's entourage had increased on his southwards journey to his alarm and disapproval-because of the cost-it was as nothing to Anne's enlarged company. Expanding at York, Worksop, Nottingham, Leicester, Althorp, Grafton and the rest, by the time Amersham was reached the party had become an army, a great sprawling host that covered the land for many miles, its progress inevitably slower and slower. Heriot counted no fewer than two hundred and fifty carriages now, following the Queen's, and assessed those on horseback to be not far off five thousand.
It was largely Anne's own doing. After the contretemps at Berwick, she had apparently decided to change her tune somewhat. Or, more probably, it was always her intention to present a gracious and amiable front to her husband's new subjects, and only James's appointments to her household upset her. At any rate, thereafter, all the long road southwards she was at her kindest and most friendly, delighting all who gathered to greet and entertain her, lavish with gifts, accessible, patient, charming -and obviously welcoming the popularity indicated by the ever-enlarging of her train. If she did not actually urge lords and ladies, knights and squires and their females to follow her to London, she certainly did not discourage them, nor would allow the apprehensive Lennox and Heriot to do so. The Duchess of Lennox declared that she was doing it deliberately to spite her husband, that the King might see how popular she was with the people-and that she might cost him as much as possible of the money he valued so highly. Admittedly she did not thaw much towards the illustrious group which had met her at Berwick, keeping them rather at arm's length-to their great offence; but that clearly was also more of a gesture to James, that her days of being a pawn for him to move at will, were over. A new start was being made, for her equally with himself. And that the English in general should not be offended, she made much of the Countess of Bedford, Lucy Russell, whom she picked up at Woburn, young, lively and of a ready wit, grand-niece of Sir Philip Sidney, with her protege Ben Jonson, a notable deviser of plays and masques.
At Amersham in Buckinghamshire, envoys from the King met the entourage, to change its course to Windsor. The hot summer weather was exacerbating the plague in London and people were dying like flies. King James would by no means set royal foot in his new capital in these circumstances and was having to postpone his coronation in consequence. Instead, as a sort of stop-gap, he was going to hold a great investiture of the Order of the Garter at Windsor Castle, the Order's seat. The Queen and her suite were commanded to hasten there with all speed-for His Majesty had expected her to have arrived long ere this-as the Prince Henry was necessary to the occasion, to be installed as one of the new knights.
Anne, nettled that it was apparently her son rather than herself whom the King was anxious to see, agreed to turn the column due southwards to Windsor but firmly refused to hurry; indeed she seemed to go even more slowly, spending more time over wayside receptions and the like-to the increasing concern of Lennox and others.
In this spirit the vast concourse descended upon the lovely and sylvan vale of Thames on an afternoon of scorching heat Unfortunately, at this stage, James sent to meet them, of all people, John Earl of Mar and young Sir John Ramsay, chief page- a move scarcely well received. Mar at least had the wit not to address the Queen personally, bowing distantly to her from the saddle-and receiving not so much as a flicker of an eyelid in response. Ramsay, one of the King's pretty boys-though a vicious one, who dirked to death the Ruthven brothers at Gowrie House three years before-was left to address flowery greetings to Anne, and got little better acknowledgment
Mar reined round beside Lennox. "God, man!" he said in his choleric way, "What's this? An invasion? James will take ill out o' it-he will so. Where did you get a' these? This host? Aye- and where have you been? You were expected days back. A week and mair."
Ludovick did not often play the duke, but he did not like Mar and conceived him a bad influence with the King. "I think you forget yourself, my lord," he said stiffly. "Her Grace does not have to account to you for her actions. Nor do I."
"Humph! Hoity-toity!" Mar growled. 'You'll no' bide that way long, Lennox. No, nor the Queen either! I warn you, James is right displeased. Hot, he is. You'll discover it"
"Then he ought not to be, sir. Unless someone has been poisoning his mind! He has his wife and son safely here-when she was at death's door, and the boy in danger of being taken and set up as King of Scots against him. James should be a thankful man -and I will tell him so. And small thanks to you!" "The laddie was held safe in my castle, was he no'?" 'The thing could be described otherwise!" The Earl of Mar removed himself to more congenial company.
George Heriot and Alison Primrose-who, despite twenty-five years discrepancy in age, had become close allies on the prolonged journey-watched this charade from behind.
"I fear our pleasant easeful dallying is over, Alison," the man said. 'Now for the reckoning."
"The reckoning may have its own amusements, Geordie," she pointed out. "The Queen has discovered her hardihood. Aye, and much more. She may hold her own. It will be as good as a playacting. I vow! Holy Matrimony and the Lord's Anointed!"
"You are an irreverent child!" he asserted. "Is nothing sacred to you?"
"Much," she conceded. "But hot this royal comedy of the Lion and the Unicorn!"
"Ha!" he said. "The Lion and the Unicom! That is an apt title, to be sure. England's lion and Scotland's unicorn-with the unicorn rampant! Yet-which is which, in fact? Which the noble beast and which the laughable creature that never was!"
"Ask His Grace himself, some time," that shrewd juvenile suggested lightly. "Our learned liege might be the only one who could tell you, I think."
As the head of the cavalcade wound its way through the narrow streets of Windsor town, Anne chose to ride a saddle-horse between Lennox and his sister Hetty. Ahead, the huge mass of the castle dominated all, not in soaring aloofness like Stirling or Edinburgh on their rocks, but crowning a slight eminence in sheer, massive bulk and serried, towered masonry. The newcomers could not but be impressed.
At the great new gatehouse to the Lower Ward, built by the late King Henry Eighth, before a large and colourful concourse of fine folk, two thrones had been erected on a dais covered with cloth-of-gold. Higher, behind these on the sloping ramp, were grouped all the English great officers of state, from the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice to the Garter King of Arms and the principal Secretary of State, Sir Robert Cecil. But the King was not sitting enthroned amongst all this array of resplendent dignity; he was hobbling up and down and around, not on the dais at all, leaning on the shoulder of a long-haired, handsome young man, with the other hand wielding a long white stick, almost as tall as himself, beribboned and with a golden ferrule. James was very fond of this stick, despite its donor-the Master of Gray had in fact brought it to him from France-but in the present circumstances it was something of a menace to all concerned, even to its royal wielder, all but tripping him up time and again. But he found it convenient to poke with while he waited-for passive waiting was anathema to James Stewart So he hobbled about and poked, poked at dignified men's feet, at fine ladies' ankles, even higher on occasion-for he was a man of catholic interests-at the heralds' tabards and Yeomen of the Guard's halberds. He muttered panted pleasantries as he poked, panted because he was puffing and sweating profusely in the heat Everyone was hot, but James was hottest, his heavily-stuffed and padded clothing ensuring that. Always the King's clothes made him look twice the size he was, so filled were they with padding as protection against the thrusts of cold steel, the thought of which ever haunted him.
He had found an interesting thing to poke at, the loose silver shoe-buckle of a Yeoman of the Guard which made a pleasant clinking sound and delightfully embarrassed its wearer, when the Queen's procession turned into the wide forecourt from the street. At the arranged sign from the Garter King, the ranked trumpeters raised their gleaming instruments and blew a mighty fanfare. James, wholly preoccupied with what he was doing and unprepared, all but leapt out of his bejewelled, slashed and padded doublet at the sudden blast His high ostrich-feathered hat was knocked askew and the stick fell with a clatter-posing another agonising problem for the unfortunate Yeoman, whether to stoop and pick up the King's staff or to retain a suitably stiff and upright stance. The Earl of Southampton-on whom the King was leaning-it was who retrieved the stick, while in stammering choler James turned and shook his freed fist at the musicians. The waiting company stood spellbound.
The Queen, with Lennox and Lady Huntly, rode up-with Mar and Ramsay trying to edge in from behind. The trumpets ended with a flourish and fell silent, and for a moment there was no sound but the horses' scraping hooves.
'Yon was a right coarse noise!" the monarch snarled, into the hush. "We are displeased. Right displeased." He still had his trembling back to his newly-arrived royal consort He turned, making no move either forward to greet his wife or back to his throne. "Annie," he said, "you're late. Fell late."
She inclined her head slightly, with great dignity, and said nothing.
James looked up at her from under down-drawn brows. 'You should have been here days agone. We've been waiting on you," Southampton tried to back out from under the royal grip, but could not
Still the Queen stared straight ahead of her at the ranked notables.
Lennox hurriedly dismounted and bowed low. 'Your Majesty's impatience to see your royal consort is very understandable, Sire," he declared, "but Her Grace has been grievously ill. It would have been most unwise to travel more hastily."
"You speak when you're spoken to, Vicky Stewart!" the King said. "We have been kept waiting. It wasna suitable." The rebuke delivered, James was prepared to show generosity "You look well enough now, Annie. Aye, healthy. I've never see you look weller." "I thank Your Grace," she answered stiffly.
"Majesty, Annie-I'm Majesty now. Aye, and you too. Yon Grace is done wi'." He peered up at her. "So the bairn died?" "Miscarried," she corrected him. "It was I who almost died."
"Hh'mmm. Stravaiging about the country, I'm told, when you should ha' been biding still. To Stirling, heh? Blameworthy, aye blameworthy."
"The blame for my miscarriage lies with the Countess of Mar who refused to let me see my son. On your orders, she said!"
"Ooh, aye. Well, we'll no' go into that the now. But-get down, woman! I'm getting a right crick in my craig looking up at you. Down, I say."
There was a hasty dismounting all around, Lennox aiding the Queen to alight, the process drawing James's attention to something of the great size of her following.
"Guidsakes-what's a' this?" he demanded. "This, this multitude and numerosity! Who a God's name are they a'? These folk. What do they want?"
"To present their loyal duty to Your Majesty," Lennox put in hastily. "Your faithful and honest subjects. Er, English ones. Seeking the, h'm, sun of your royal presence. Her Majesty has been picking them up all the way through England…"
"Waesucks-then she shouldna! Mouths-mouths to feed! I'm Christ's Vice-Regent, yes-but if s no' for me to feed the five thousand!" James managed a complacent smirk at that example of his quick wit-but quickly reverted to a frown. "It isna right You'll hae to get rid o' them, Vicky Stewart A, a plague o' locusts, just."
"I told them, Majesty," the Earl of Mar declared, now well forward. "I said you'd no' be pleased…"
"James," Anne intervened coldly, "instead of miscalling your good subjects, who see fit to show their loyalty and affection for your Queen, ought not you to be greeting your own children, Frederick and Elizabeth, who have journeyed all this way to see their father?" Princess Elizabeth had recovered of her ailment and caught up with the rest in the North of England.
"Ummm," the King said. "Och, well. Aye, then-where are they, in a' this clamjamphrie? If you hadna brought sae many folk, I'd see them easier…"
Heriot and Alison Primrose brought forward the two children, bowing low.
"Och, is that yoursel’, Geordie. Aye, man-it's good to see you. Though mind you, I've a wheen bones to crack wi' you, just the same! But later. And who's this?"
"Your fine son and heir, Sire, the Duke of Rothesay. And his sister, the Princess Elizabeth."
"Sakes, man-d'you think I dinna ken my ain bairns! It's this bit lassie wi' the bold eye. Aye, right bold!"
"The Mistress Alison Primrose, one of Her Majesty's Maids-in-Waiting, daughter of the Clerk to the Privy Council…"
"Hech-that cock-sparrow! Jamie Primrose. Aye, and cock's the word, heh, wi' a' the brood he's faithered!" The King hooted. "So-this is one o' his gets? Cocky too, eh?" Then Majesty recollected. "But-where's the Kildare woman? I sent her to take charge o' the lassie, Elizabeth. Where is she? Aye, and where's Sussex and Lincoln. And Carey? I dinna see them in a' this stramash."
"The Countess of Kildare is somewhere in my royal train, James. I do not require her services," Anne announced thinly. "Nor that of the lords you mention. Now-I humbly suggest that Your Majesty recognises your own royal offspring, the Prince Frederick…"
"Och, I recognise them fine. They've grown much-the laddie in especial. Dinna stand gawking there, bairns-come and kiss your daddy's hand. It's the least you can do, in front o' a' these folic" James, in truth, did not greatly like children-unless slightly older boys-finding them embarrassing. However, after the pair had kissed his hand-and involuntarily recoiled at its ingrained dirt, for the King believed water on the skin to be unnatural and dangerous and only permitted an occasional wiping of his fingertips-he patted his son on the head and, having trouble with his stick, picked up the little girl in his arms-so that Southampton escaped at last. "Och, Bessie, eh? No' an ill-favoured wench. Heh -Harry! Harry Wriothesley-you there, man. What think you -she'll outshine her mother one o' these days, eh?"
Southampton coughed. "If she equals Her Majesty some years hence, it will be more, I make bold to say, than any other princess on earth will do I"
James looked at his current favourite pityingly, and turned back to his stiffly-standing wife, setting down the child and shooing her away. 'This o' Sussex and Lincoln. And the Kildare. I dinna like the sound o' this."
"Then it can be discussed later, I think, Sire," Anne declared. "Here is scarce the place." She nodded towards the serried ranks of berobed and glittering officers and dignitaries behind the thrones. "Perhaps I should be informed who are all these?"
"Eh?" James turned. He had rather forgotten the welcoming hierarchy, now looking distinctly limp and jaded in the hot sun. "Och, these are a' the English," he said. "Yon's Cecil, wi' the crooked back. And the wee fat man's Popham that they ca' the Lord Chief Justice-as though I wasna the Lord Chief Justice o' my realm! And him that's glowering there like a Hielant stot- that's Coke, the Attorney-General. A fell man, yon. Aye, and there's Egerton, the Lord Chancellor. And Suffolk, another o' thae Howards, that's Lord Chamberlain. And Nottingham, a Howard too, that's the Admiral. Och, and a wheen mair. A' wi' great swollen heads-aye and swollen noses too,, to talk through! Auld Elizabeth fair let them get above themsel's. I hae my hands full, wi' these critturs-but, guidsakes, I'll tame them! Think they're the salt o' the earth, stick their bit chins in the air-and havena' the rudiments o' wit and learning. They'd scarce muster a Latin paradigm between them! O' statecraft they've none, and the strategy o' nations no notion. Only of wars wi' Spain and France-war, the resort o' fools! Och, Cecil's got a sort o' cunning and manoeuvre mind and as smooth tongue-blandae mendacia linguae.! But I'll teach them. Jamie Stewart will be their dominie -ooh aye!" He paused, panting with all this eloquence in the heat, and glancing sidelong at the uncomfortable Southampton to see how he took it. Then, in case these disclosures might seem to imply a weakening of his displeasure with his wife, he frowned. "Och, well-we'd better awa' up to thae chairs. There'll be talking through long noses, and speeches where you ken every next word! Come on, Harry." And resuming Southampton's shoulder, he shambled up towards the twin thrones, leaving Anne to find her own way.
Hurriedly, Lennox moved up to offer his arm and escort the Queen. After a momentary hesitation, Heriot and Alison brought forward the children. Garter King gave the signal for another fanfare.
Belatedly the official welcome proceeded, with addresses, presentations, ceremonial, the Queen gracious, James looking impatient, tapping his shoe-toe and stick on the ground, and the children whispering behind the thrones. The sun beat down.
At last the King could stand it no longer. Abruptly he got to his feet, waving his stick. "Enough!" he cried. "It's ower hot. I'm right tired. Enough's plenty. Ha' done, in God's name!"
"But, Sire!" Garter King, who acted master of ceremonies, protested. "The presentation. To the Prince of Wales, to be…" "Prince o' Wales? Who's that?" The herald choked. "Why, Sir-your son. The King of England's heir, if a son, is always Prince of Wales…" "No' till I make him so, man!"
"Of course, Sire. Lacking the official ceremony. But in courtesy…"
"See you-I've told you all. I'm no' King o' England. Leastways, I am, but that's no' my title and style. My throne is that o' the United Kingdom o' Great Britain and Ireland. Wi' France if you like-though yon's a nonsense. I'll hae no limiting me to this England, d'you hear?" "Yes, Majesty. To be sure."
"Aye. And the laddie's Prince o' Scotland, Duke o' Rothesay, Earl o' Carrick and Baron Renfrew. Is that no' plenty, at nine years?" "As Your Majesty wishes. And the Prince's presentation…?"
"Can wait. Harry Wriothesley-where are you? Your arm, man. My lords and gentles-I'll see you later. Aye, later. Or at the Investiture the morn. Annie-come you." And the audience very much over, the monarch stalked off, tap-tapping, uncertain as to footwork but very definite as to purpose, the illustrious, hierarchial ranks parting hastily to give him passage on his way into the castle proper. There was some competition amongst the highest nobles as to who was to be the Queen's escort, Lennox brushed aside.
"There goes the Coadjutor of the Almighty!" that young man observed, low-voiced to his friend Heriot. "By the Grace of God master of us all. Save, perhaps, his Annie!"
"But master of this England, too, I note! I said it would be the English who would have to change, not James. These haughty grandees of Elizabeth's Court will resist and struggle, but they but hatter their proud heads against our liege lord's stuffed doublet! They cannot win. For he is entirely sure of his divine right to be master, and so is unshakeably sustained, requiring to concede nothing-therefore conceding only when it pleases him to do so." "Yet he concedes more to you than to most men, Geordie!"
"Only because I require nothing from him. Not even the payment of his debts!"
"A strange position, yes. And Anne? Has she reached that good position also, think you? She is a changed woman, since her illness."
"It may be so. I think that she has chosen, now, to be queen indeed, but no longer wife. And she is a determined woman. James will have to come to some sort of terms with her-the only one he must. Anne is learning, I swear, that she is in a stronger position in England than ever she was in Scotland."
"You think deeply in that long Edinburgh head of yours, Geordie!" "I must needs sum up my customers, my lord Duke!"
The Garter Investiture the next day, 2nd July 1603, was a great success, at least as far as King James was concerned-though the Garter King and the Prelate, the Bishop of Winchester, on whom the ceremonial depended, tended to have their brows deep furrowed throughout. But that was a small matter. James had his own ideas, of course, as to how such affairs should be conducted, and if this was apt to clash with the traditional arrangements, that was unfortunate for the upholders of the latter. After all, this was a new dispensation. James enjoyed arranging things.
Garter-and not only he-was shaken from the start by the unexpected inclusion of the young Earl of Southampton in the knights to be invested, but the King insisted. James had only met Harry Wriothesley a few weeks before when, despite the plague in London, he had paid a fleeting visit to the Tower-by river, which he was assured was safer-to see and evaluate the Crown Jewels kept there, a matter much on his mind. While therein, he had received a pathetic plea from the young Southampton to let him glimpse the sun of his royal presence and lighten the gloomy cell to which he was confined on King James's behalf, even for a moment The Earl had, in fact, been involved in the late Essex's abortive rebellion against Elizabeth, when that disgraced favourite had proposed that James should enter England in 1601, at the head of an army, and insist from strength on being recognised as the Queen's successor-a plot for which Essex lost his head and Southampton went to the Tower. James, not ungrateful and always interested in young men, had acceded, and down in the grim cell was greatly struck, indeed his heart wrung, by the other's pale beauty, delicate air and sad state. On the spot he had ordered a special pardon, coupled with a command to appear forthwith at Court. Progress had been phenomenally rapid thereafter-to the distress of certain young Scots, notably Sir John Ramsay and Dand Kerr. Now the Garter was to compensate him for all his sufferings.
There were other reasons for the King's good humour, on his fine throne in the choir of the magnificent St George's Chapel. The Duke of Wurtemburg, a huge and coarse, red-faced German, was the first foreign royalty to visit the English Court on a tour of Europe since the accession, and James found his bibulous, bawdy company much to his taste. He also must have the Garter; King Christian of Denmark, Anne's brother, was to have it too, but in absentia. The Earl of Pembroke, who had also been imprisoned by Elizabeth-but for getting her Maid of Honour and favourite Mary Fitton with child, not rebellion-was the fourth knight Then there was Vicky Stewart, who certainly did not deserve the honour, but as the only duke in two kingdoms could hardly be denied it Finally, there was Henry himself, on the young side perhaps but as heir to the throne not to be outshone by his cousin Vicky.
The King, Wurtemburg and Lennox had been hunting in Windsor Great Park from 5.30 that morning-an hour far too early for Southampton who required his beauty-sleep-and had killed no fewer than seventeen fine bucks-a further source of congratulation. James and the German had been drinking steadily in consequence and celebration, since returning, and were now both in excellent trim for services of praise, thanksgiving and initiation, Wurtemburg indeed at the singing stage, joining in lustily with the Dean of Windsor's chants and intonations-and not only in the responses-while his host, eye-catching in stuffed cloth-of-gold, scarlet and purple, slapped his padded thigh and hooted, in sheer and hospitable delight The colourful but slightly stodgy ceremony had never gone so merrily before.
James was particularly pleased with young Henry Frederick's manly behaviour and appearance-even though his Garter robes and feathered bonnet were on the large side, there having been insufficient time for proper measurements and fittings. He made his bows to the high altar, under the enormous stained glass window which filled the entire eastern gable-end of St George's Chapel, with the greatest dignity-sufficiently for the King to cry out in ringing tones for all concerned to note the fact. At his side, Anne did not know whether to look proud of her son or ashamed of her husband.
The music played by the company of mixed musicians was the King's own addition to the programme, and he felt that it livened things up nicely. James was not really musical, but he could appreciate a well-going rhythm, something with a good beat to it, to which he could thump in time. Beating time here was difficult, the gold ferrule of his stick tending to slither on the tesselated marble flooring, and the skreik when that happened set the teeth on edge. The choir of singing boys' contribution was a poor second-and all the priestly yowlings were, of course, a bore.
The procession thereafter, with all the existing Garter knights leaving their splendid heraldic stalls to join their five new colleagues in parade after the hobbling Sovereign of the Order, was perhaps the best of it, with the musicians playing a lively tune, and Wiirtemburg all but dancing, with rousing hoch-hochs. Not all entered so enthusiastically into the spirit of the thing, but such as could do so declared it the most interesting Investiture they had ever attended.
Unfortunately a good day was spoiled for the King at the end of it when, after the great banquet in St George's Hall, James settled down to some hard dririking, with a selection of his entourage- nearly all Scots-with Wurtemburg already under the table and snoring. The Queen and her ladies retired-and not only her ladies. Quite a number of the men, who knew themselves to be unable or unwilling to keep up with their liege lord's thirst, elected to go with her, including two of the new Knights Garter, Lennox and Southampton. James had been disappointed when the latter asked to be excused, but the young man had clearly already more wine in him that he could comfortably carry; besides, there were plenty of young but hardened topers left available-it seemed to be a fact that the Scots were more seasoned to strong drink than were their southern fellow-subjects. John Ramsay was only too glad to take Southampton's place at the King's side, with James Hay eager to replace him should his capacity fail.
In the Queen's palatial withdrawing-room there was soft music, sweetmeats and dalliance for those not yet ready for bed. Here a suddenly and totally different atmosphere prevailed, feminine, lightsome, though far from innocent. Laughter tinkled instead of hooted, wit became delicate rather than ponderous-although no less spicy-and Anne proceeded to demonstrate that England might well be going to have an alternative Court to the King's.
Oddly enough, it was Anne herself who precipitated the trouble. Undoubtedly, although she pretended to ignore, or at least put up with her husband's fondness for good-looking young men, in fact she resented it fiercely. The latest addition to the string hardly commended himself to her. When she saw Harry Wriothesley, Lord Southampton, paying elaborate attentions to Alison Primrose, she rallied him shrewdly-to George Heriot's entire satisfaction. "Ha-spare my little Scots innocent, my lord," she called, above the liquid notes of a lute. "I vow you are mighty catholic in your affections! Have you not had sufficient for one night?"
"Could I ever have sufficient of so great beauty, wit and kindness, Majesty?" the other returned, nothing abashed if slightly thick in speech.
"With your capacity for, h'm, variety, sirrah, perhaps not. But I must needs watch for my poor lambs of Maids-in-Waiting, since I understand that you have an especial weakness for such!"
A titter of amusement went round the great chamber, at least from the English courtiers-for Southampton had got two of Elizabeth's Maids-of-Honour into trouble, and the old Queen had forced him to marry the second one. The man had the grace to deepen his flush.
"In Your Highness's presence, all other women are safe from Harry Wriothesley," he gave back boldly, nevertheless.
The Queen's eyes narrowed, since that might be interpreted in two ways, in the circumstances. "In that case, my lord, it behoves me to keep good watch on you, does it not? I shall ask my good friend Geordie Heriot, there, to maintain an eye on you. He is good at that-and moreover has an interest in the matter of Mistress Alison, I think!"
That retiring man gulped in surprise and some confusion-first at thus being unexpectedly singled out and brought into the discussion, and secondly at the Queen's casual linking of his name with that of the Primrose girl, and the roguish glance that went with it. He coughed, embarrassed, bowed briefly and said nothing. Alison laughed cheerfully.
The new Knight of the Garter did not so much as spare a glance for Heriot Goldsmiths and money-lenders only entered his world within very clearly defined limits. "You must take your due precautions, Madam," he said easily. "It will but make the chase the more to my taste!"
"Take care then, sir, lest my precautions follow those of Her late Majesty-who clapped you in the Tower, did she not?"
Southampton forbore to smile at that. "Such would require His Majesty's decision-and he has proved that he thinks better of me, has he not?" That was quick, almost sharp. "His Majesty knows his true friends." "And you are one of these, my lord?" "I proved it, with my lord of Essex. And others." "Ah, yes. But my lord of Essex is dead. And the others-where are they?"
"Not here, to be sure." Quite noticeably, suddenly, the atmosphere of idle banter had changed for something more serious. Southampton looked around the company, and his thin mouth turned down at the corners. "I see none here-or in the hall back there-who elected to aid King James then!"
As some quick breaths were indrawn, Heriot exchanged glances with Lennox, these two recognising all too clearly that this was now verging on dangerous politics, certainly not to be advised. The Duke took a step forward, seeking to catch the Queen's eye.
But Anne, amongst her many virtues, counted neither tact nor great forbearance, and once embarked on a course she was hard to stop.
"Who are these good friends, my lord?" she pressed. "And if they exist, indeed, why did they achieve so little. Essex's attempt came to nothing."
"There were not a few. And in high positions. But we were betrayed. The Cecils, Coke…"
Lennox interrupted. "My lord-let us have no talk of politics and statecraft here. In the Queen's drawing-room." "Her Majesty asked me, my lord Duke."
Anne bit her lip, annoyed at the implied rebuke. "I but wished to know why so many great men, as they say, did so little. At the time of the Essex rebellion."
"And I say that if Her late Majesty made a party against the friends of Essex, of course they were bound to submit Your Majesty may question their zeal. But I say, none of then private enemies durst have expressed themselves so!" That rather incoherent declaration came out in a rush, as the speaker glared round him defiantly.
At the gasps of offence by the Queen's ladies, and others, a new voice spoke up, and in no pacifying tone. "Did you look at me, my lord?"
It was the Lord Grey de Wilton, a somewhat older man, prominent in the Cecil-Hatton-Coke faction which had for so long dominated England in Elizabeth's name, violent opponents of Essex the fallen favourite. "If the cap fits, wear it, Grey!"
"You are saying that honest men dared not to accuse traitors? That we sheltered behind Her late and glorious Majesty?"
"If you so wish to interpret it" Southampton had some difficulty with that word interpret "But I warn you-watch your words, sirrah!" "I give you the he in your teeth, d'you hear!"
"Gentlemen! My lords!" Lennox cried. 'This is outrage! A shame-bickering in the Queen's presence. Have done. Seek Her Majesty's pardon."
"This time-server called me a traitor, in the Queen's presence!" Southampton shouted, pointing angrily. "Me-after two years in the Tower for King James!"
"Who do you name time-server, man? There were Greys de Wilton serving England when Wriothesleys were herding sheep for better men than they!"
"God damn you, Grey!" Southampton clapped his hand down to where his sword should have hung-but one of James's first commands to his Court was that, as in Scotland, no man went armed in the royal presence or establishments, save only the Captain of the Guard and the Duke of Lennox.
Grey's own hand groped for a weapon-for he, like his enemy, was somewhat under the influence of drink. Glaring, they approached each other like fighting-cocks. "My lords!" Anne protested. "Remember where you are." One of the ladies screamed, but only slightly.
The two protagonists heard nothing, saw nothing but each other and mutual hate. Gone was the veneer of the fine and imperturbable English gentlemen, masters of themselves and all else. Fists were clenched for want of better weapons.
Lennox, Heriot and other men rushed in to keep them apart, upsetting certain furniture in the process. Ladies twittered and cried out-though by no means all of them, the Primrose girl for instance watching in wide-eyed pleasurable anticipation.
Anne was suddenly very angry. Scenes she did not greatly mind and was quite used to; but to have her royal commands completely ignored thus was not to be tolerated. She clapped hands together.
"Vicky!" she ordered. "Send for the Guard. These men to be put in ward. The Guard, I say!" There was a shocked silence.
"Er… Your Grace! Scarce the Guard!" Lennox said, in some agitation. "These lords are greatly at fault. They are drink-taken. I will escort them to their quarters…" "I said the Guard, my lord Duke. At once."
Bowing, Ludovick went to the door, and brought in two of the scarlet-clad and halberded Yeomen on duty there. "Escort these lords to their quarters," he directed.
"Under ward!" the Queen snapped. And as two peers of the realm were marched off, one only that day appointed to the highest honour in the land, she turned her back on them and changed tone, expression and carriage. "Hetty, now we are quit of these unmannerly oafs, you and Lucy shall sing us a duet. The ballad Master Jonson taught us at Althorp. Primrose-you will accompany them on the virginal."
As held breaths were released and the illusion of normality returned to the withdrawing-room, Lennox moved over to Heriot's side. He sighed. "We could have done without that, Geordie, I think" he said quietly.
"All of it," the other nodded. "I fear the King will not be pleased."
"Aye. Anne has got the bit between her teeth! But… James can hobble her. This was folly."
They had not long to wait. The tuneful tinkling ballad was only half finished when the room's double doors were thrown abruptly open by two more of the Yeomen of the Guard, one of whom thumped loudly on the floor with his halberd-staff. "Silence for the King's gracious Majesty!" he cried.
James came stamping in with stick much in evidence, Mar, Ramsay, Pembroke and others at his back. He was glowering fiercely.
"Here's a fine pickle o' herrings!" he spluttered wetly, thickly, into the sudden hush. "A right stramash! What's this I hear- heh? Answer me-what's this, a God's name? What do I hear?"
"You Majesty perhaps did not hear my ladies singing!" the Queen said, head high. "Else I scarce believe you would interrupt so!"
The monarch ignored that. "You, Annie-I'll hae a word wi' you. Aye, I will. Clear the room."
A notable confusion followed, as men and women eddied to and fro, most only too anxious to get away but others reluctant. The Yeomen were in some doubts as to whom should be shepherded out of this illustrious throng, hesitant to press the loftiest James stamped up and down, poking at all and sundry impatiently.
At length all were gone save one or two of the Queen's ladies, Lennox, Mar and Pembroke. George Heriot was just slipping through the door when a thick voice halted him.
"No' you, Geordie Heriot. You bide here. I've a flea for your lug, too! Aye and you too, Vicky Stewart The rest-begone!" "Hetty-you will stay with me I" the Queen declared clearly.
Recognising possible impasse, James side-stepped skilfully. "Aye, Cousin Hetty-you bide too. Your mistress maybe will need your services! Now-steik that door."
Mar was the last out, making a long face of it, and James was left with his wife, two cousins and his jeweller.
"Aye, well," hei said, pointing his stick at Anne. "Did you, or did you no' put Harry Wriothesley under arrest-like I'm told? Wi' yon Grey? And march them off under guard like, like a pair o' cut-purses I"
"I did. And would do so again. They had words, all but came to blows, in my presence."
"You'll no' do so again-d'you hear, woman? I'll no' have it. I dinna care if they piss themsel's in your presence-you'll no' do the likes o' yon! Here's me fair flogging mysel' to keep the peace between my Scots and English lords, and you put two peers o' England in ward on a woman's whim! Before all. One o' whom I've only this day made a Knight o' the Garter I"
'They were half drunk. Would you have your wife insulted in her own drawing-room by boors, English peers or none?"
"Guidsakes, you'll no' ca' Harry Wriothesley a drunken boor, woman! You will not He's a good laddie, and I like him fine." "He is a trouble-maker and a lecher and a, a…" She swallowed the fatal word. "You know, very well what else he is! But he will not run free with his ill manners in my presence-he or any other."
"What folk may or may not do at my Court is my concern, no' yours-and I'd hae you mind it! Aye, mind it well-frae now on. I've obsairved a right unruly and rebellious spirit in you, Annie, since you cam frae Scotland. Maist unsuitable. And for that I'm no' leaving you guiltless, Vicky. I am not. You've been right soft wi' her, I can see. Given in. No' minded my express wishes and instructions. I am right displeased wi' you."
"I am a subject, She, and cannot constrain the Queen-even if I would."
"You had my royal powers in Scotland as Viceroy. What d'you think I gave you them for? No' to run after Annie like a lap-dog, to let her spend my siller like burn-water, to parade hersel' shamelessly through the land like some Roman concubine!" "She…!"
"James, reserve you ill humours and ill tongue for me, in private, if you please! Spare Vicky your unworthy strictures. He is blameless of any guilt. He came to my aid when I was direly ill-as you, my husband, should have done! And, with Master Heriot’s help, saved me, and you, from a most evil plot…"
"Tush, woman-havers! There was no plot. Just that lassie Gray's imaginings. It was a' a nonsense. I dinna trust her faither, mind-but this ploy was just blethers frae the start. Yon Mary Gray should ha' had mah sense. Aye, and so should you. Though… maybe you were using this o' a plot for your ain bit ends, eh? Was that it? Mah plots than one? "
"I do not know what you mean, James. Can it be that you, She, are as drink-taken as your two friends?"
"Na, na-my heid's fine and clear, lassie. You'll hae to do better than that! I'm no' sae blate, mind, as maybe I seem-and I hear tell o' maist o' what goes on in Scotland, for a' I'm no' there."
"But inaccurately, it seems. Since you think there was no plot to make our son King of Scots in your room If the rest you hear is like…"
"Johnnie Mar told me the rights o' that As none should ken better, since he held the laddie."
"Mar! That snake in the grass! That red churl! You believe him before you own wife! Aye, and your cousin here…"
"Silence, woman If you canna open your silly mou' but to miscall my friends, then you'll no' open it at a'! D'you hear? You will remain silent. Until I gie you leave to speak. That's a command. I've had enough o' this-aye, plenties. None here shall speak unless I say so." The King was trembling with anger, slobbering notably and plucking at his cod-piece, as he did when agitated. The other two men at least bowed.
James sucked in saliva. "You have a' failed me, maist grievously. Aye-you too, Geordie Heriot. I'm coming to you! My trust you have abused. Abused and misused. Forby this havers o' a plot, you hae squandered my money, injured my friends, rejected and insulted Sussex and Carey and them I sent to serve you. When I was waiting here for you, you were daundering doon through this England, wasting time and playing the proud fool. Aye, and biding wi' folk who are my enemies. And now you misuse my friends here in my ain house! D'you ken what you do, woman? D'you ken what" you do?" He held up a shaking hand as Anne opened her lips.
"I'll tell you. This England I have to govern, under God. A great and powerful realm full o' proud and arrogant nobles, who hae neither love nor loyalty to me-aye, and conceive me a fool! If it suits me that they do so-guidsakes, they'll learn, the chiels, they'll learn! But meantime, I must play this against that, raise up here, bring doon there, balancing-aye balancing. I'm alone, see you-fell alone." He paused, blinking, licking. "I dinna trust the Cecils-aye, or any o' them. I should expect help frae my family-no' hindrance. I maum play the Cecils against the Howards, the Greys against both, the late Essex's friends against Hatton, that proud crittur Raleigh against a'. Yon Kildare woman you spurned-she's Prances Howard, Nottingham's daughter, the Lord Admiral and the late Norfolk's brother, who died for my mother Mary. He's the powerfulest man in England, and his daughter the apple o' his eye. In your household she could serve me right well. The Lady Scrope-she was Norfolk's sister. Another Howard. And the Lady Rich-Essex's sister, who died in my cause. Eh, Annie-do you ken what you do?"
He drew great gulping breaths. "And you snubbed yon great fat Wurtemburg. He's a drunken hog-but frae here he's going to Spain first, then to Rome. The Pope. He can carry my messages- if he will. Fell important messages that I canna risk in writing. No' yet. And nane o' these Englishry maun hear tell o'. Yet. For I'm going to hae peace wi' Spain. Aye, and the Vatican too. War's for fools, and I'll hae nane o' it The English-they canna see it Glory, they ca' it the silly limmers 1 It cost Elizabeth dear. There'll be nae wars while I reign here, God aiding me. I kept the peace in Scotland-I'll do the same here, some way. Alea bella incerta, aye!"
There was silence in the great room for a space, save for the King's heavy breathing and lip-licking. Under royal command of speechlessness, none could make comment.
James took his time, undoubtedly savouring the situation. "I will hae nae mair fools upset my plans," he went on, at length "Annie-you will hae your ain Court, and I'll hae mine. You can keep your ain women-but I'll appoint what gentlemen I choose. George Carey will be your Chamberlain, I say-and if yon Johnnie Kennedy tries to say otherwise, I'll break the staff o' his chamber-kinship ower his head for him! Tell him so 1" "May I speak?" the Queen asked, voice quivering a little.
"No, you may not! I'm no' finished yet." James swung round, pointing with his stick. "Now you, Geordie Heriot I'm disappointed in you. You're a man wi' a level head, and some wits to you. No' like these! You ken what's what. And yet you let yon Mary Gray cozen you. You let the Queen spend my siller-when I sent you up to see she didna. You even lent her mair money o' your ain, to waste. Encouraging her-aye, encouraging. You'll no' get that back frae me, I promise you! You trailed at her silly heels. Why, man-why?" "Are you seeking an answer, Sire? Giving me leave to speak?" "Of course I am. Dinna play the daft laddie wi' James Stewart!"
"Very well, Sire. What I did, I did with good cause, in my own judgment. I believed, and still believe, the Master of Gray's plot to be real. And dangerous. But for the Queen's great help and patient forbearance, and her ill, I believe that by now there would have been a Henry King of Scots proclaimed at the Cross of Edinburgh…" James looked away. "Blethers, man. Enough o' that."
"As Your Majesty wishes. For the rest, I did what seemed best, in the Queen's grave illness. And afterwards, I did not believe that Your Majesty would have your consort enter England in any but fitting style for the wife of a great monarch. Nor was it for me to chide and check Her Majesty-me, a humble tradesman." "Ooh, aye!"
"And now, Sire, since I have incurred your royal displeasure, I crave your permission to leave this your Court. To go to London to set up my business and trade there. As should have been done ere this. And if Your Highness does not approve of that, then I shall return to Scotland forthwith. And gladly, Sire."
"My, my-so that's the way o' it! Geordie Heriot climbs his high horse wi' Jamie Stewart 1 The humble tradesman, heh?" The King chuckled, and waggled his stick, mockingly threatening. "Na, na-you'll no' win-awa' yet, mannie. I've work for you to do. Plenty. And only you I'd trust to do it Come to me the morn, Geordie, and I'll gie you a list o' new knights made since I saw you last I've made a wheen-aye, a wheen. Nigh on two hundred, I'd say. You will ken what to do wi' that, eh? And Vicky can disapprove if he likes-but it will aye help to pay for some o' the debts he let my wife run up!"
James looked round at them all, glowering again. 'You've understood me? I've nae wish to speak o' this again. But if I do, you'll ken who's king in this realm! Geordie-to me after hunting, the morn. I've got another ploy to whisper in your lug. Now- a guid night to you-aye, a guid night!" And he swung about and hobbled for the door-which Heriot ran to open for him. The Lord's Anointed stamped back to his interrupted night's drinking.
The Queen collapsed to tears in Henrietta of Huntly's arms, and was led sobbing to the other door, and out. Lennox and Heriot eyed each other.
"That was… a right royal occasion, was it not!" the Duke said, his voice just a little unsteady. "Only James could have achieved it. I will not forget the day I was made Knight of the Garter." "We were not meant to forget it."
"True. What an astonishment he is! He had me feeling like a whipped child-and deservedly whipped. The royal buffoon-who is anything but 1"
"Alison Primrose has a better name for him-the Unicorn Rampant 1 A strange creature such as never was, which yet supports the crown! Tonight he taught us all a lesson."
"A lesson, yes. And not for the first time. All this of his balancing and playing the factions, Cecils, Howards, Greys and the rest. You think there is any fact in it, Geordie? Or do they play him!"
"I have told you. I'd liefer lend my money to James Stewart than to all the English lords and commons lumped together!"
"So-o-o 1 Perhaps you will do both, then! Since you are not to go back to Scotland, it seems. You believe that James will win, then, Geordie? With the English. But, with the Queen
"Of that I am less certain. But-I shall be a mite surprised if he does not" 'And you would aid him, in this? If you could?" "I serve them both. But he is my sovereign lord. And they are man and wife…"