A King Uncaged

by J. R. Tomlin

  "Aye, I had a victory of sorts at Harlaw against this one's father." Mar snorted. "But we were prepared for battle."

  "You've seen to ample guards for the great hall?" At Mar's assent, James raised his chin. "Today we are prepared for a parliament, then, so let us hie to it." He strode for the door.

  Since John Cameron could not act as Chancellor until he was consecrated as bishop, and their envoys were still in Rome, the Marischal took the roll call and James introduced the first subject for discussion: the compensation of churches when their lands were destroyed by feuding. The cathedral of Elgin was still being rebuilt from the destruction by the Wolf of Badenach, the present Earl of Mar's father.

  Columba de Dunbar, the Bishop of Elgin, was making a passionate plea that Mar had a duty to compensate further for his father's depredations. As Mar scowled at the bishop's comments, there was a commotion at the door, and it was thrown open with a crash. The bishop paused, open mouthed, at the interruption and turned to stare at the late arrivals.

  In the lead was a wiry, red-haired man, dressed as finely as any other noble in the room in silk doublet and hose girded at the waist by a heavy belt of solid gold and a sword at his hip. James nodded to Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross and high chief of Clan MacDonald. Alexander had been one of those who had voted for the death of the Albanys but since had consistently refused to attend parliament.

  "I understand your concern, Your Reverence," James said to the bishop, "but I suspect that his lordship the Earl of Mar may take another view. It was after all his father, not himself, who raided the cathedral, as reprehensible as that action was."

  The Earl of Mar jumped to his feet. "I do indeed, Sire. That act was not of my doing and occurred during a time of great lawlessness in the realm after the death of the late king's father. It is too late to bring up acts that occurred so long ago."

  "Have there been raids more recently?" James asked, knowing quite well that there had been. Other than his nod, he had refused to acknowledge the newcomers, and Alexander of Islay stood, red faced, while the score of lairds behind him glared angrily.

  Glancing uneasily toward the Earl of Ross, William de Blare, Abbot of Kinloss, rose to his feet. "Kinloss Abbey itself has suffered raids. As Your Grace knows, we have had the valuable salmon fishing rights on the River Findhorn since the time of the great King Robert the Bruce, which you confirmed. However, we have been so harried by raiders that the rights now go unclaimed."

  James almost laughed at the sight of everyone in the parliament trying to watch the Earl of Ross and his company where they had come to a stop in the middle of the great hall whilst trying not to be seen to be staring. Alexander seemed at a loss, thin lipped over his hawk nose.

  "So there is no doubt that even now, raids and lawlessness exist in the north of the realm," James said mildly. "Leaving aside the question of further recompense for Elgin Cathedral—" James paused to nod to the bishop, who had to know no such thing would happen "—the salient issue seems to be how best to quell the lawlessness and maintain the king's peace in the realm. Mayhap the clan chiefs of each area should have the responsibility for not only their own clans but that of anyone in their lands."

  James leaned back in his throne and allowed his gaze to rest on the Earl of Ross. "How say you, My Lord Earl? I bid you take your place and give me your advice on the matter. And mayhap the chiefs who accompany you would advise me as well."

  The earl crossed his arms. "I dinnae come here to sit like a tame dog and listen to speeches, James Stewart. I came to speak with you privily on important matters, as did these lairds who accompany me."

  "However, I summoned you to my parliament and my parliament you shall attend. I shall be pleased to speak with you privily later. Now take your seats." He turned his head to nod to Robert de Keith and said coolly, "Lord High Constable, you have your orders. No one shall enter or leave except by my express consent."

  "Men!" William Hay shouted. "Bar the doors."

  Men-at-arms in full armor stepped in front of the closed doors, eight-foot pikes in their hands.

  Alexander of Islay spun on his heel and stepped toward the doors. For a long second, James held his breath. The Highlanders were outnumbered five to one by the guards who lined the room, and fully another hundred guards were outside on the walls, but none of the nobles in the room had more than a dirk at his belt in the midst of parliament.

  Several of the clan chiefs around Ross turned in a slow circle as they surveyed the numbers of the guards. Several others dropped their hands to their hilts. There were grunts and curses until Ross said, "I want no bloodshed. I came to talk, nae to fight."

  "Wise words, my lord. Now if you will take your places, I would hear your advice on this matter. My lords, give way so the newcomers may sit together if they so please."

  Ross bowed to James with something of a flourish, giving way with some good grace. As there was shuffling and moving about on the benches, James motioned to the High Marischal. When Keith bent, James whispered for him to carry out the orders he already had. Keith slipped out by a side door and James turned back to the parliament.

  James smiled slightly as he said, "This concerns you in particular my lords, which is why I chose to come north to hold the parliament. It seems to me that the powers of the clan chiefs in some respects are equal to that of the barons of the realm and in some respects lesser. I shall propose to parliament that they be made equal to establish better peace in the realm. What say you?"

  Douglas jumped to his feet. "Your Grace, such a thing is unheard of! The privileges of the barons have come down from our fathers and their fathers and their fathers before them. Such privileges should not be lightly given to…to…" At Ross's narrow-eyed glare, Douglas seemed to rethink his words. "…to others."

  "Not lightly, my lord," James said. "This is a serious matter that should be given due consideration. Do any of you have anything to add to the discussion?"

  A beefy clan chief with reddish gold hair down to his shoulders stood and said, "The power I hae in my own lands…"

  James held up a hand with a raised eyebrow. "And you are, my lord?"

  The man glowered as he said, "I am Alexander of Clanranald. Son of Godfrey, son of Donald."

  James nodded affably. "You may continue."

  "My rights as chief of Clanranald are nae business of any Lowlander, nae you, nor any other. My powers—" He flung a hand out. "All of our powers were handed down from our ancestors, and it’s a matter for no one but myself."

  James steepled his hands below his chin and nodded thoughtfully. He turned his gaze to Alexander. "And you, my lord, do you concur with Alexander of Clanranald that the crown has no right to increase your powers?"

  Snorts of laughter came from the Lowlanders, some of whom slapped their knees in delight as Ross stood and looked around in frustration at the hubbub. With a pained look he said, "I have a' the powers I need in my own lands."

  "I'll have order in the parliament," James said raising his voice to be heard. "This is no laughing matter, my lords. Now I want reasoned advice on the powers which the clan chiefs have to govern in their own lands and whether those powers should be increased for better governance."

  Young MacKenneth of Kintail, a lanky boy of no more seventeen as James judged, stood and said that he thought more powers were a good idea, and he would welcome them. That garnered some glares from the older clan chiefs but began something that resembled a debate that went back and forth. The Highlanders were at first in the uncomfortable position of arguing against having greater powers since they would come from the crown, but in the face of seeming to agree with the disliked Lowland lords, they began to come over to agreeing with James.

  After a time, Keith returned, whispered for several minutes in the king's ear, and took his place behind the throne.

  James raised both hands to call for silence.

  "My lords, I believe we have taken this as far as we may in one sitting. It is a difficult matter, so I bid you t
ake time to think on it, and we shall return to the matter at a later parliament. However, another matter has been brought to my attention by the Lord High Marischal which, sadly, I cannot ignore. He has reported to me that certain members of parliament have brought with them large numbers of men, far more than were allowed by act of the first parliament of my reign. The numbers any man is allowed in his train are quite clearly laid out as being no more than twenty for an earl or a dozen for a lord or bishop. Yet I am informed that the numbers brought to Inverness number in the hundreds. This is a violation so great I cannae ignore it."

  Alexander of Ross jumped to his feet. "You expect me to travel with no more than twenty men? That is madness!"

  "My lord, it is the law of the realm. If you had objections, the time to make them was in the first parliament." James gave the man a sharp look since he had not attended that parliament. "All who offend in this matter are to be arrested and held until such time as it is the king's pleasure to release them. Hence, all here who have exceeded the number laid down are under arrest for the term of the parliament. At the cessation…"

  Shouts drowned out the rest, so James leaned back in his throne and watched the chaos. Let them work out their rage, he thought, and they did, waving their arms and cursing. Several pushed their way to the center aisle, only to stand staring at the crossed pikes held by guards at the doors.

  James doubted there was a clan chief in the room who had fewer than fifty men in his train.

  After giving them time to vent their fury, James motioned for Lord Lyon to have the trumpets blown. Even that took several blares to quiet the pandemonium.

  James stood and looked gravely down on the parliament. "For shame! This is a solemn parliament of the realm, and you treat is as though it were not better than a town market to shout and curse. Be seated and keep silent.

  "I repeat. This arrest is merely token and for the length of the parliament. All are confined to the castle, but within it you are free men. Once the parliament is dismissed, your arrest will be ended. I can do no other without bringing my laws and parliament into disrepute. But do not mistake me, my lords. Any man whatsoever, however great he may be, who breaks the king's ward commits treason." He gave them a very long, silent look. "And the penalty for treason is death."

  Chapter Nineteen

  In the morning, James deemed it wise to make the remaining day of the parliament as boring as possible, so he brought up the dates of the close season for salmon fishing. However important the salmon were, the exact dates of the season were not likely to evoke high passion. He put to Alexander of Ross and the abbot of Kinloss whether the current dates were best suited for giving a high yield. It wasn't long before a servant came to whisper in the ear of the High Marischal. James flinched at William Keith's grim look as he came to bend to whisper, "One of the guards found a rope to the ground from the west wall."

  James scanned the benches of the parliament. There were so many seated that he hadn't noticed a missing few. Now he saw that James Campbell of Lorne was not in their number. The number of Highland chiefs looked short by several more, but it was impossible for him to be sure who was missed, so he motioned to Cameron, who agreed that some were missing, and pointed out that Alexander Macruri and John MacArthur were both missing from the hall, but all else were present as far as he could tell.

  "Search the castle. Be sure that those three are missing. Report back as soon as you are certain."

  The debate had stalled as the members noticed the quiet discussion taking place on the dais, so James asked if they were agreed-upon dates for the close season. By the time further debate took place, since of course they did not agree, Keith returned to report that there was no sign of the three anywhere within the castle walls.

  James took a very deep breath. Perhaps this was inevitable, but he had hoped to avoid it. He raised a hand to interrupt the abbot of Kinloss, who was arguing for a shorter close.

  "My lords," he said gruffly. "The High Marischal has brought me serious news. Three clan chiefs, members of this parliament, held under arrest, have left my ward and fled this castle. They did this in full knowledge of the penalty proscribed. These men are Alexander Macruri of Clanranald, John MacArthur of Dunstaffnage, and James Campbell of Lorne. All three have flouted the law and my lawful royal command. This is high treason. The penalty for high treason is death. Has anyone any word to say in their defense? I would hear the advice of my parliament. Is there any reason to spare these miscreants the due penalty of their crime?"

  Alexander, Earl of Ross, shuffled in his place. There was a cough, but no one said a word.

  "So be it." James turned to William Keith. "My lord, you are to join Robert Lauder and take as many of our men as you think meet to pursue these malefactors. They are to be apprehended and returned to me for execution—forthwith."

  As Keith bowed and withdrew, James said in a carefully even tone, " Sir Abbot, I was forced to interrupt the point you were making. My apologies. Now we may continue. You were about to say…?"

  When the abbot gaped at him for a moment and stuttered out that he did not recall, James called for a vote. He was thankful he had never planned for this to be a truly productive parliament, because it was obvious that most were thinking of the fugitives and wondering if they would be caught.

  It was near midnight when William Keith sent word that the three and a hundred of their followers had been tracked down. The fight had been hot for a few minutes, but all three were now captive. They had been heading for Lorne, where the Campbell could raise his spears by the thousand. James commanded that the three men were to be within the walls before daybreak to prevent any attempt to break them free.

  It was a grim night in which he slept in snatches before waking to worry about the outcome of executions in a part of the realm where his writ ran so thin. But it had to be done, or he and the law would be held only in scorn.

  As Catherine Douglas combed out the queen's long hair, he went to put a hand on her shoulder. "I hoped if I brought you, it would show that I wanted peace. And all I've succeeded in doing is putting you in danger." He took her hand. "Forgive me?"

  Joan motioned Catherine away and squeezed James’ hand. "Of course." She stood and brushed his lips with hers. "There is nothing to forgive. I'm Queen Consort and my place is with you."

  "I'll not take such risks with you again. That I promise you."

  She twined her arm through his and walked with him to the door. "I do not think I am in so much danger. I believe Ross would not be eager to kill a woman, and he brought his mother with him. The two of you were not so far apart as it might seem."

  James had had an announcement proclaimed that the parliament would meet in the bailey yard of the castle. The three prisoners were led out, and William Keith read out the decision of the king in parliament and the sentence. One had tears streaming down his face, but the other two stared straight ahead, silent.

  The keep's main door creaked as it opened. James flinched when he heard Joan's voice. "My lord king," she said in a soft, even voice. "I ask you to show mercy to these men. I do not question the rightness of their sentence, but mercy and clemency are right as well. By your love of me, I ask Your Grace to spare them."

  James gripped is hands into fists, digging his nails into his palms, and drew a deep breath. He faced straight ahead because he could not stand to see the look on Joan's face. A moment stretched out unbearably in utter silence before he said, "No, it cannae be. I think of a certain verse I wrote:

  To the tower perchance let us take this band,

  For by Christ's Fate they earned their death."

  There was a gasp from the crowd, so James could not tell if Joan made a sound. "To remit their sentences would destroy the authority of parliament and of the law. The authority of the very realm is at stake. I shall not grant Her Grace's request, however much I would want to. Proceed, My Lord Marischal."

  James heard her footsteps as she walked away and the door to the keep close.
/>   Keith continued, "The Court of Justiciary some years past convicted James Campbell of Lorne of the foul murder of Lord John of Islay, a relation of the present Lord of Islay. He has therefore forfeited his right to an honorable death and shall suffer a felon's death by hanging. Alexander Macruri and John MacArthur are hereby sentenced to death by beheading. God save the king!"

  James Campbell struggled as he was dragged to a beam that projected from the parapet. He kicked and writhed as the noose was put about his neck and he was hoisted. Bile washed into James’ mouth. He hadn't thought of the Scots King Henry had hanged in a very long time, but he made himself watch without flinching. Campbell continued to kick, his body shuddering for a full minute before he was still. Macruri prayed softly as he went to the block. John MacArthur glared for a moment at James and said, "I go to Heaven now, James Stewart. Will you be able to say the same?" A man-at-arms shoved him chest down onto the block.

  Later, James slowly climbed the stairs to their chamber. Joan stood alone at the window, looking out at the distant mountains. "Your words were harsh," she said.

  "Aye. My words and my actions. Forgive me. They were meant for the others, nae for you."

  "I wish… I wish you could have granted my request. Mercy, just once, would seem to me to be a good thing." She turned, and her face was wet with tears.

  "I could nae do it, love. If these Highlanders thought me weak, there would be no chance of governing the realm. I swore as solemn an oath as a man can take that I would never be too weak to govern. As my father was. It is…" He sighed. "It is more important to me than I can tell you."

  She wiped her cheeks with the heel of her hand and nodded. "I did not truly think you could spare them. But I had to ask. And I hoped."

  James went to her and pulled her gently against his chest. "If there is a next time, then I'll grant it. Whatever it may cost me." She leaned against him, and he rested his cheek against the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her rose water.