The Wisest Fool

by Nigel Tranter

  "You have him in, sir."

  The knight frowned, then went to the door, and beckoned a servant in from the Exchange. The man carried a large and obviously heavy bag. "You will understand, sir, that the circumstances are unusual. Very unusual. And that this entire proceeding is distasteful to me."

  "Ah. If I can lessen the distaste for you, I shall do so, Sir Asher. You wish to pawn something ? It can happen to any man."

  "Good God—pawn, sir? No ! I do not... pawn! I have come to sell you certain items of great value. A simple matter of sale. The items are no longer required by me. They might as. well be made use of, by others."

  "I see. A worthy attitude, sir. May I see... ?"

  Dewsbury, looking detached but pained, gestured to his man to open the bag, and then stalked over to investigate some jewellery on display as though with a view to purchase on some suitable occasion He kept bis beautifully-garbed back stiffly turned while Heriot examined the contents of the bag.

  "Very nice," his back was told, in due course. 'The silver of good quality, the plate fair, the jewellery excellent, if old-fashioned ..."

  "Old-fashioned, sir! What do you mean? These things have been in my family for generations."

  "Exactly. As I say, old-fashioned though of fine quality. Fashions change in jewellery as in other matters, Sir Asher. You desire me to buy these?"

  "I desire to dispose of them. If your price is sufficient."

  "I perceive the difference, sir. Let me see, then." Heriot examined the pieces more closely, took the jewellery over to the light, scratched the plate a little, and weighed all in his hands. "Shall we say seventy pounds, and one hundred pounds, and another seventy pounds? Two hundred and forty pounds Sterling in all. Or ... make it two hundred and fifty pounds as a comfortable figure."

  "But . . . 'fore God, man—this is ridiculous! Not half their worth. You are insulting, sir. I want six hundred pounds, at least."

  "Ah. Then I am sorry, Sir Asher. I fear that you must take them otherwhere."

  "I shall, sirrah—I shall. But—probably you are making a joke? Testing my wits ? I am no pigeon to be plucked, Master Heriot Come, sir—give me an honest price."

  "An honest price, sir, would be two hundred and forty pounds. But I will repeat my two hundred and fifty. If it is insufficient, go otherwhere, by all means. But I would advise you that you will not get ten pounds more in all London—and most like be offered less."

  "But—the quality, man ! You said yourself that the silver was good quality. In weight alone..."

  "Unfortunately, it has your arms engraved on all, sir. One of the disadvantages of your rank and status. Before I could sell it for use by others, I must remove that. Otherwise, merely melt all down."

  Dewsbury looked shaken. 'You swear on your word as a gentleman, Master Heriot, that I will get little more elsewhere?" "I am a tradesman and no gentleman, Sir Asher—so I cannot swear as one. But I will swear as the King's jeweller that it is so. If that will serve."

  "Ah. Yes—to be sure. But... I need six hundred pounds, sir. And quickly. I can spare no more such items." The knight took a turn up and down the shop. "Master Heriot—I believe that you also lend money upon usury ?"

  "Aye—I am a usurer, sir. I lend—where the credit is good."

  "I have two thousand, four hundred good acres in Dorset, sir. Two manors. Will you lend me the remainder of the six hundred pounds?"

  "I shall consider it, Sir Asher."

  "I require it at once. Today. I shall repay you, shortly."

  "How shortly? My interest is twelve per centum. For three months. For folk in a hurry!"

  "You shall have it back before three months."

  "Sir Asher—are you a wagering man? For I am chary of lending to such. Wagers can fail—and my repayment with them."

  "No. No such thing. Never fear, sir—your money will be safe enough. Entirely safe. I have an office of profit in the Queen's household."

  "Ah. Indeed. Now you interest me, Sir Asher."

  'Yes." The other seemed to recover something of his assurance. "I am to be one of Her Majesty's Almoners. Now—will you let me have the six hundred pounds, sir ? Today ?"

  "Is there such haste ? Will tomorrow not serve ?"

  "No. I must pay it tonight. To Sir Robert Carr."

  "Carr ? You have been borrowing from young Carr ?"

  "I have not, sir. I have never borrowed aught in my life ! At least, h'm, until today. But I must pay Sir Robert six hundred pounds by tonight—or fail to gain the office of Queen's Almoner."

  Heriot drew a long breath. "I see. So . . . Sir Robert Carr is selling you the office? Is that it?"

  "In a fashion, yes. He uses his influence with the King to gain such appointments. And, and charges for his services."

  "Six hundred pounds is a large charge, Sir Asher 1 See you, I had heard rumours of this practice—but doubted the truth of it. There have been other such... arrangements ?"

  "To be sure. Carr can gain anyone a place, they say. But he is damned expensive"

  "Very well. I think that I may just be able to raise your six hundred pounds on the premises. Two hundred and fifty pounds to buy these items. And three hundred and fifty pounds at twelve per centum. I shall write the papers..."

  After Dewsbury had gone, George Heriot sat very thoughtful, for a while.

  * * *

  Two days later, on a grey November afternoon, he presented himself at Denmark House, a thing he had not done for two years, and sought audience of the Queen. He had not to wait for so long as he expected, before being conducted to a pleasant small boudoir where Anne and the Marchioness of Huntly sat before a fire of scented logs, stitching embroidery. His welcome was stiffly wary— but at least the Queen called him Master Geordie, not Master Heriot, and managed a hint of a smile as he bowed low.

  "You have not found occasion to call on us these many months," she declared, after the formal greetings. "In consequence, I have had to purchase my jewellery from Sir William Herrick." That was distinctly tart

  "An excellent gentleman," Heriot said. "I am sure that he will serve Your Majesty passing well."

  "No doubt," she answered, frowning a little. "His prices are fair. But he is mighty mean in the giving of credit."

  Heriot sought to look sympathetic, but did not comment.

  They eyed each other needfully.

  "What have you come for?" the Queen asked, at length.

  "I have been desirous of coming, for long," the man declared then, frankly. "Wishful to end this ... estrangement I still consider myself Your Majesty's servant. I have been much grieved that I no longer had your trust and confidence."

  "I have never refused you audience, sir. You have never come."

  "Because I did not believe my coming welcome, Madam."

  "And you do now ?"

  "Who knows? But now, at least, I have reason to come. A matter to speak of." "A favour to ask, perhaps?"

  "No. Or, perhaps, that too. But not firstly. My main concern, indeed my duty, is to inform Your Majesty of a matter which has come to my notice—and which I cannot believe you to be aware of. I believe that you ought to be aware of it I have learned that appointments are being made to your household—one appointment, at least—for payment of moneys. Payment to a person at Court. Large payment"

  "To my household? Not the King's? How dare they? Are you sure, Master Geordie? Have you proof?"

  "Yes. I think I have."

  "My new Master of Hawks ? Strickland ?"

  "No. Or, it may be so. But that is not the one I learned of. It is Sir Asher Dewsbury, Almoner."

  "But—he is not yet appointed, I have but heard his name mentioned."

  "He has already paid for the office, Madam. Whether or no you have appointed him. And paid sweetly." 'To whom?"

  "To Sir Robert Carr."

  'That . . . that insufferable youth! That insolent catamite! Great God—can this be true?"

  "I fear it is. For I lent Dewsbury money only two days ago. For the
payment."

  "Infamous! Shameful! Hetty—do you hear? How I am misused, mocked! By that puppy! Oh, it is beyond all bearing. Carr's minions in my household! How long has this been going on?"

  "I do not know, Madam. I heard only two days ago. Have you made many new appointments ?"

  "I do not make them, sir! I have scarce any say in the matter. It is James who appoints. Sweet Jesu—he who humiliates me, at every turn! But yes—there have been new appointments of late. Are they all... Carr's ?"

  "Who knows ? Perhaps not..."

  'They shall all be dismissed ! Every one! I will not be served by creatures of that depraved boy! And this Dewsbury shall never start. I will teach them!"

  'Your Majesty's wrath is just and understandable," Heriot observed. "But see you—that might not be the wisest course. After all, the fault lies not with these, so much. The men so appointed. They may be honest enough, in their way. They may even love and desire to serve you well—sufficiently so to pay hundreds of pounds for the privilege! Although I doubt the worth and results of such a system. The fault lies elsewhere..."

  "The greatest fault lies with James !"

  "H'm. If His Majesty knows."

  "You did not go to him? First? To tell him. You came to me. Why?"

  Heriot chose his words carefully. "Before I spoke with His Majesty, I believed that you should hear of it. In case there was aught I did not know. In which the King might be... concerned."

  "You mean . . . ? You do not suggest, sir, that James might himself be in this, this wickedness? Dear Christ—that the money goes to him ? Or part of it ? "

  That was exactly what the man did mean. But he could not admit to it. "Scarce that, Madam. But. . . His Majesty, I have learned, knows more of what goes on, in things great and small, than might be expected. It could be that he is aware of this of Carr—since there have been rumours—and has some purpose in permitting it meantime. I wished to discover this from Your Majesty."

  "How should I know ? James tells me nothing. You are his man-of-business, are you not? Have you been aware of him gaining large moneys, knowing not whence they came ?"

  "No. But I might never hear of it. I am not His Majesty's treasurer or purse-bearer. And I have not spoken with him these three weeks."

  They discussed the subject for some time, the Queen outraged, seeing the hands of all against her, Heriot seeking now to limit his involvement, to soothe and parry. He even made a plea on behalf of Sir Asher Dewsbury, indicating that as Almoner he should be watched, in the distribution of the Queen's charities but pointing out ruefully that, if the man was actually refused the appointment now, after paying for it, he, Heriot, might never get his loan back

  When he deemed the moment ripe, even more carefully the visitor introduced his second subject. "I have this other matter, Madam, on which to seek your good offices. The same sorry matter on which we disagreed heretofore." "Ha !" the Queen said, stiffening.

  "I am, I hope, a wiser man now that I was then," he went on, placatingly. "I have learned much of the constraint and difficulties under which Your Majesty laboured at that time—and could by no means tell me. In, h'm, the matter of the Earl of Orkney."

  Anne sat up straight, eyes widened, wary—but did not speak.

  "I regret my ... intransigence then," he went on. "Not understanding Your Highness's difficult position. With regard to the King, and his cousin Orkney. Now, I know better, seek your royal pardon, and make bold to suggest how an unfortunate situation could be improved."

  "The Letters, sir? You mean that you know how we might gain those evil Letters ?"

  "Not that, Madam, I fear. I do not know just where these Casket Letters may be now—although I think that my lord of Orkney no longer has them, and may have given them to the Master of Gray."

  "Which is worse, I say—for he is the cleverer man! That I knew, anyway."

  "Not necessarily worse, Majesty, I think. The Master is cleverer, yes—but has scruples which the other has not. But that is not what I would speak of. It is rather the consequences of that trouble. The case of Mistress Hartside."

  "That creature of Orkney's. She deserved all that she got, sir!"

  "Perhaps. Though I still believe her innocent of intent against Your Majesty, and used by others. But whatever the rights of it, the present situation is not good. Your Highness has always been held in love and esteem by the folk of Scotland. But your credit and fan name is being impaired by the holding of this unfortunate woman without trial for so long."

  "How can bring her to trial, without all that evil business of Orkney and the Letters and the blackmail being brought to light? Before all ?" Anne cried. "You must know very well my difficulty. That is why I sent her away, to Scotland. Where I have my own jurisdiction of Dunfermline."

  "I know it, yes, and understand. But I believe that now the girl can be brought to trial, and safely. The Earl of Orkney will no longer have reason to try to use her..."

  "But she will still deny all. Hartside will. And so it will all come out"

  "Not necessarily, Madam. That would depend on what was the accusation. If you, or the Crown, accuses her of theft, of stealing those jewels, then to be sure she will deny it. But if a lesser charge is brought it might be otherwise. She might well be brought not to deny such. Or only make token resistance. So that the court appearance is only brief and formal, and no unhappy disclosures necessary."

  "How could I make so small a charge ? When Hartside has been kept under ward all this time? Would not I seem harsh? My credit suffer as badly, sir ?"

  "The charge would have to be carefully considered. I am no lawyer, but I believe it could be arranged. Suppose the charge was not stealing but misappropriation—a lesser offence. Or depositing jewels in her care with the Queen's jeweller—myself—without your royal permission? With no intent to defraud. Might that not serve?"

  "Would she admit to that?"

  "She might well. With ... guidance! She could admit that the jewels were in her care. That she brought them to me. And I would testify that I restored them to Your Majesty."

  "And the money you paid her? What of that? She took it Was that not stealing ? "

  "Not, perhaps, if she intended to devote it to some good purpose in Your Majesty's service. In fact, she wanted it to give to her husband, so that they might settle in Orkney. You also, in fact, gave these jewels to the Earl of Orkney, and he gave some to his gentleman, Buchanan, Hartside's husband. So, it would be near enough the truth to say that she intended to give the money to one of the Earl's gentlemen, on your royal behalf, for services rendered to Your Highness."

  Anne clutched her head. "This is too deep for me, Master Geordie! Too complicated. You spin a veritable spider's web"

  "Only that I may lift Your Majesty off the horns of this dilemma. And restore this young woman to her liberty, at minimum cost to all. A trial there must be, now. And a verdict which is not a mockery. But... no disclosures of the true cause. Can you think of better?"

  "No. No, I cannot. You say that there must be a verdict. What would this verdict be ?"

  "It would be guilty, to preserve Your Majesty's credit But guilty of what would not too greatly hurt Margaret Hartside. With able counsel—such as Master Thomas Hope whom I have already retained, and discreet judges, the penalty would be no more than perhaps the repayment of the price of the jewels taken. With, say, perpetual banishment from Your Majesty's Court—to Orkney!"

  "Ha! But—would she, could she pay ?"

  "I would pay, Highness. In her name. It is little enough price to clear up so grievous a matter. A few hundred pounds Sterling."

  "I see. You are exceeding noble in all this, Geordie Heriot! Why, I wonder?"

  "For my love for Your Majesty. And the King. That is all..."

  "Aye—and your care for one, Mistress Alison Primrose ! That she might be invited back to my Court and household, I think!" the Queen said shrewdly. "I am not a fool, my friend!"

  A little put out—for it was near enough the mar
k; and a large part of the man's manoeuvring had been to ensure that Alison would not have to be implicated in the trial or called as witness, and so seem to oppose the Queen's interests—Heriot shook his head, perhaps too positively. "No, Madam—not that. Alison and I are to wed—as you will know. But it is the wish of neither of us that she should have any appointment at Court. Only, that as the wife of Your Majesty's jeweller, she should not be forever denied to come into your royal presence."

  "I see. Very well, Master Geordie—that I might permit. If you can so arrange all this complicate matter, then you have my agreement to it. And, indeed, my thanks. When will it be done, think you?"

  "It will all take some time to effect, I fear. Many letters to Scotland. Possibly a visit there again. And lawyers work but slowly. But, by the late spring, no doubt..."

  Reasonably satisfied, George Heriot took his leave thereafter— and with the royal assurance that he was now, once again, welcome at Denmark House, on both professional and personal business, or no business at all. "With this last, especially, he was genuinely pleased.

  His satisfaction, however, went for the moment into suspension when he got back to the Royal Exchange to find that during his absence no less a visitor than the monarch himself had called— and sounded not a little put out at finding his so-honoured tradesman from home. He had left commands with Heriot's foreman goldsmith that his master was to report at Whitehall Palace forthwith. Such summonses were by no means always productive of joy.

  * * *

  But at Whitehall, the urgency was not so apparent James was actually at table when Heriot arrived, not so much at a meal as at what might be described as an intellectual drinking exercise. It was held in the same gallery as that in which the judicial bewitchment-enquiry had taken place, but now the long table was littered with bottles and flagons instead of documents—although there were one or two dishes of cold meats and the like for those who felt that they required solids with their wine. And the company was very different, legal luminaries and litigants being equally and conspicuously absent Only courtiers were present, reinforced with a few selected divines of the rubicund and genial English sort, and no women. James, at the head of the table, was in full flood—although his preoccupation with the expounding and elaboration of his syllogisms and propositions did not prevent him from stroking, fondling and occasionally turning to kiss the gorgeous youth who sprawled at his side. He perceived Heriot's entrance, even so, and waved him to a chair near the foot of the table without pausing in his peroration.