Crown in Darkness

in their country again, while I will conceal your activities from His Grace. After all,' and Burnell smiled sourly, 'I have as much to lose as you, that is why I took such care to intercept any letters Benstede sent south for the King.'
    Burnell stood up to ease the cramp from his body and walked slowly to and fro while Corbett sat and watched him. 'I sent you to Scotland,' Burnell began, 'without the King's authority and under my own commission because I do not want a war between England and Scotland. Both countries are at peace, both enjoy and profit from the calm. Edward our King has always thought different. He is a conqueror, Corbett; he has smashed the Welsh, killed their chieftains and turned their kingdoms into English shires dominated by his grey, heavy castles. He has always wanted to do the same with Scotland. First, he married his sister, Margaret, to Alexander III with the prospect that one of his nephews would sit on the Scottish throne,' Burnell paused before going on. 'Then, Margaret and the two boys died. Our King accepted that, though he tried unsuccessfully to wrest homage for Scotland from Alexander III. He wished to establish the principle of English supremacy over Scotland for that would come in useful if a nephew succeeded to the Scottish throne or if there was an uncertain succession. Anyway,' the Bishop continued wearily, 'Alexander, heirless, becomes the amorous bachelor. Our sovereign lord is quite content with that but then matters change. A new French King, Philip IV, ascends the throne with dreams grander than Edward's. Have you ever heard any of his lawyers speak or read their memoranda?' Corbett shook his head. 'They make fascinating reading,' the Bishop said meditatively and rejoined Corbett in the window-seat before continuing. 'They see Philip as a new Charlemagne and this alarms Edward. More so when Philip opens secret negotiations with Alexander and produces the beautiful Yolande for a wife. Now, it could be Philip's kinsman on the Scottish throne, so Edward sends the humble Benstede as his envoy to Scotland, not with precise orders, may I hasten to add, to kill Alexander. Oh no! Just verbal instructions "to do all within his power to block and impede the French alliance".' 'And Alexander is killed?' 'Yes,' Burnell replied. 'Then I became suspicious. If Alexander's death was an accident or a murder by someone else then so it is, but,' Burnell's voice rose, 'if it could be laid at Benstede's door then I know, whatever he may say, Edward's real long-term plans for Scotland!' 'But King Edward,' interrupted Corbett, 'has been most quiet in this matter!' 'Publicly,' Burnell replied, 'yes. Privately, no. I do think Edward's detachment from what is happening in Scotland is a mask. He did not murder Alexander but must be pleased that the Scottish King lies dead for it fulfils his own secret plans to annex the kingdom.
    Burnell paused and looked hard at Corbett. 'I now know, because of your visit to Scotland, that Edward sent Benstede there as part of his grand design to annex that kingdom by peaceful means if necessary, but, if that fails, then by war.' 'But Edward has been in France?' queried Corbett, 'deeply involved in Gascony affairs.' 'He is,' Burnell smiled, 'but I do know from my spies in the Exchequer that the royal treasury clerks have despatched an interest-free loan of two hundred pounds sterling to Eric, King of Norway.' 'You mean?' Corbett exclaimed. 'Oh! There is more,' continued Burnell. 'Edward has also sent secret envoys to Rome asking for a papal dispensation for his two-year-old son to marry within the forbidden degrees of consanguinity. The bride has already been chosen for there are English envoys now in Norway attempting to secure the hand of the Princess Margaret in marriage for Edward's own son. So, you see, Master Corbett, the King has been most active in this Scottish matter. By fair means or foul, he intends to get his son on the Scottish throne!' 'Yet,' Corbett replied, 'if the Prince Edward does marry Margaret, it would mean a peaceful conclusion to the affair.' Burnell almost snorted in derision. 'For the love of the Sweet God and all his sons!' the Chancellor exclaimed. 'You have been in Scotland, Hugh. You have seen Wishart, the Bruce, the Scottish lords. Do you really think they will allow an English prince to wear the Scottish crown? Do you think Bruce will give it up like some nun who enters the convent and renounces all wealth? There is more. The