Crown in Darkness

the realm of Scotland, claiming he held that direct of God. Our Master the King has, in the last fourteen years, developed the vision of his rule, the like of which has never been seen in this country since the days of the Roman Empire. He lays claim to vast lands in France. He has conquered Wales, crushed opposition at home, has designs on Ireland and, as he proved at his coronation, has similar plans for the kingdom of Scotland. I am not saying,' Corbett added hastily, 'that our Sovereign Lord was involved in, or even ordered, the death of King Alexander, but you, Master Benstede, are his faithful servant. You know his mind, his secret desires and wishes,' Corbett said. 'You are very similar to the knights who murdered Thomas а Becket at Canterbury. They did that of their own accord. Henry Angevin did not order them but Becket's death was the secret desire of his sou!.' Corbett paused to gulp some wine before continuing. 'I believe Edward sent you to Scotland to see what you could accomplish in advancing his claims. After all, Alexander's heirs were all dead, his English wife was ten years in her grave and the King himself was advancing in years. If Alexander died without an heir then it would certainly give our King the necessary room to manoeuvre. However, Alexander changed all this. He began secret negotiations with the French and then compounded his sin by marrying a young French princess. For Edward this was serious: Alexander was married. He could well live a good score years and beget healthy sons to succeed him. Moreover, these sons would be half French and for the first time ever the Capetian monarchy would have client kings on Edward's own doorstep. I suspect that Alexander hoped for closer ties with France and these were the subject of his long detailed and secret discussions with de Craon. So you decided to act. Alexander was notorious for the complete disregard he had of his own life and limb, charging around Scotland in all weathers and despite all hazards. It would be easy for an accident to befall such a monarch, especially as he was a king who, after a long and successful reign, had little reason to fear enemies and so his escort was often no more than two men. Then, I suppose, you were given an opportunity. The Princess Yolande would not agree to consummating her marriage to Alexander. For what reason, neither you nor I really know, but the young princess's refusal provided you with a plan. You probably asked Seton to persuade the King to convoke the Council late in the afternoon of March 18th. The reason for the Council was petty enough, the imprisonment of a Scottish baron in England. Alexander was probably bored and only too willing to hold a meeting which might free one of his subjects, especially as the discussion was suggested by no less a person than Edward's envoy in Scotland. At the Council meeting you took Alexander aside with the important news that Queen Yolande urgently wanted to see him that night, sent her excuses for her recent bad behaviour and urged the king to join her the same day at Kinghorn.' Benstede snorted with laughter. 'But that is ridiculous,' he interjected. 'I would be the last person Queen Yolande would confide in.' 'Yes, I agree,' answered Corbett. 'But you did visit her the day before the Council meeting. You probably extended diplomatic courtesies. The Queen would say something which you later enhanced into a loving, intimate invitation. If your plan went awry you could always claim that it was the Queen who had misinformed you and so exacerbate Alexander's rage and frustration against her. You see, I know from the King's own confessor, Father John, that Alexander was so tired of his Queen's petulant protests and refusals that he was considering sending this confessor to Rome to ask the Pope for an annulment of his marriage on the grounds of non-consummation and permission to marry again, this time another French princess who might be more accommodating. You may have even known of this. I suspect you did and so time was of the essence. You gave the invitation to the King, asked him to keep the matter private and urged him to leave the Council as soon as possible for Kinghorn Ness. Meanwhile you had already left, accompanied by that misbegotten servant of yours. You travelled to Queensferry but did not ask the ferryman to take you across the Forth. You asked the other man, the one you had deceived into believing you were French. He rowed you across in the storm,