The King’s Banquet Read online

  The top level then had an attic with another room that was small. It was his study, an oasis of calm away from the stresses of the Scottish Court and the demands of family life, although he was rarely here to use it. This would become a temporary bedroom for one guest.

  The rest of the Castle had places that the King would definitely not see. The Ground floor was primarily working areas. There was a Kitchen, which had modern features such as a fireplace, sink and drain. The cellar was next door, which also had a sink and drains to protect the stores from flooding. A larder and pantry would complete the Ground floor ensuring enough space for storage of the vast quantities of wine and other delicacies that would make their way to the Castle.

  “What a hive of activity it will be!” remarked Lord Sinclair to himself.

  In the basement, there was the buttery and another cellar, and the servant quarters. Servants slept on mattresses stuffed with straw on the floor so it was little more than a cold, slightly damp room resembling a cave with no natural daylight. It would get quite stuffy on the night given the number of servants and staff required to service such an occasion.

  Knockhall was therefore about to punch above its weight to host a grand event. It definitely wasn’t Holyroodhouse - but Lord Sinclair was determined to ensure it held its own. Compared to the rest of Scotland in the 16th century, it was an oasis of extravagance. The country was primarily wet land and peat bogs that made travelling slow going. It therefore meant that the highlands were agricultural and why castles like Knockhall had a dominating position on the landscape, the simple fact was to stay out of the marshes you had to be on higher ground.

  There were demands placed on Lord Sinclair for owning such vast amounts of land. He was obliged to plant trees and wasn’t allowed to chop any down. This had little to do with environmental concerns and was more down to basic economics. Given the wet landscape, it meant that there wasn’t an abundance of raw materials for building so a tree planting law was introduced. There was a three strike rule, the first time was a hefty fine if you were found guilty of cutting down a tree. A second time would result in a fine that even the richest Lord would have felt. A third time was a sign that you weren’t listening so you would be sentenced to death. King James had already banned imports of Danish timber to Scotland to appease his future bride, Anne of Denmark, but this exacerbated the problem.

  Scotland had a feudal land system. The King owned all the land but Lords had rental of parcels of land from the King. They then sublet it to freemen who were the merchants and workers that made the economy tick. The problem was that these freemen were mobile, travelling where there was money to be made so they never built permanent homes. They focused on temporary shelter and didn’t look after the insignificant parts of Scottish land that were reality inhospitable.

  It was therefore unsurprising that when visitors from England or France visited Scotland, they weren’t impressed with the country.

  “The villages look poor. They can’t even build solid foundations,” would remark one visitor.

  “A few stones jumbled together is someone’s home? This country has plenty of livestock and everyone appears well fed but it’s clear that the only thing scarce here is money,” said a visiting Doctor from abroad.

  It is therefore in this context that whilst Lord Sinclair’s home might not have been a grand palace that the King was used to. It was still very impressive when compared against the rest of Scotland. And for that he was proud of what he had achieved in his life, and of his family home.

  II

  The Banquet

  CHAPTER THREE

  THE DAY OF THE BANQUET

  9th July 1589

  Lord Sinclair awoke to a bright sunny day. An excellent omen that the day would be a successful one. It was only 8am, but there was already a lot of commotion. As he dressed and made his way downstairs, he could see that Lady Sinclair was already downstairs instructing the servants on where to place piles of fish and deliveries of flowers. Lady Sinclair was a family woman, she liked to take care of the children and was very loving to her husband. She was of average build and height with curly hair, which was unusual for the region. Her pale skin tone consistent with a life restricted to the Aberdeenshire winds.

  She came from a good upbringing being the daughter of the 7th Lord Forbes. Her father was no stranger to royalty, holding the title of “Gentleman of the Bedchamber”. A role that entailed being in proximity to the previous King whether that would include dressing him, waiting on him while he ate, guarding the bedchamber as well as providing general companionship.

  She had spent all her life in Aberdeenshire, settling in Newburgh with Lord Sinclair. She lived and breathed the area and wanted to play her part in ensuring King James felt that Aberdeenshire was the finest area in all of Scotland.

  Knockhall Castle continued to be a hive of activity with comings & goings. The poets had arrived late last night, so Lord Sinclair didn’t have a chance to greet them. They were in full voice outside the main door, so he went to welcome them to his Castle.

  “Greetings and welcome to Knockhall,” bellowed Lord Sinclair.

  “Why, thank-you. You have a most marvellous home. May I say even delicious? Lady Sinclair is very lucky indeed” said the first Poet slightly unusually, both in tone and content. Lord Sinclair took this to be a sign of creativity and artistry, as he did the clothing. The poet wore tight trousers and a dishevelled shirt with three different necklaces around his neck.

  “The name’s Mark Alexander Boyd,” said the first poet. “Je suis ici pour divertir tout le monde. Le divertissement est ce que je fais. Je vis pour divertir! I am just so full of life!”

  Lord Sinclair knew of Mark Alexander Boyd. The King had a fondness for the arts and poetry in particular. Mark was 27 years old and dashingly handsome in a rugged kind of way. He was as thin as a match but he had a striking jawline that made the ladies swoon at his feet. He also had a way with words and had an exotic upbringing. He studied Civil Law in France - his intelligence and creativity becoming a very potent mix. He still lived in France and had even served in the French Army. He was as exotic as they came. He was sure to be a hit. The King, in particular, wanted to spread beyond these shores. Anything exotic always intrigued him, so it would be interesting to see what Mark had planned for the night.

  After Lord Sinclair and Mark exchanged pleasantries, the second poet piped up, “Je peux aussi parler français. Et moi aussi je peux faire des rimes et des poèmes de la beauté de la langue française!”

  Lord Sinclair didn’t speak French, so he just looked there puzzled and startled. The two poets laughed amongst themselves before the second poet spoke, “How are you Lord Sinclair?”

  “Very well, William. How is the Castalian band treating you?”

  “It has changed my life in more ways than you’ll ever know,” beamed William.

  The Castalian Band was a prestigious group of Poets and Makars (Royal Bards) who would travel and entertain the King’s court. They were named Castalian after a spring of inspiration for poets in ancient Greece. The King inspired by the Italian Renaissance era imported as many ideas from abroad as possible. He didn’t want to be a ruler of a country full of low lying wetlands, he wanted to rule a sophisticated, cosmopolitan, exotic, and cultured land - and he would do everything he could to turn Scotland into one.

  Membership was fluid, but William had been a permanent fixture there over the last couple of years ever since writing the Tarantula of Love which made King James swoon at his talent.

  William Fowler was 29 years old and, he too, was incredibly handsome. He wasn’t very tall, standing at only 5 foot 6, but he made up for that with his strength. He was well built and looked like he could lift a horse with those big biceps of his. He had a weathered look on his face. A sort of charming rogue who had seen adventures beyond his years. His outfit was more conventional than what Mark wore - opting for the normal robes you would see on a gentleman of the day.

  William knew
French, as he too had studied Civil Law in France. This is where he first met Mark and their paths crossed over the years. He and King James were close. Rumours were rife about the nature of their relationship and Lord Sinclair knew all about that, but he dismissed it as cheap gossip. King James had beamed about William frequently mentioning how he had taught him the art of memory and how he in return had taught William all about poetry and emblems. Yes, that’s correct, King James taught one of Scotland’s most famous poets how to successfully write poetry. The King published a book five years earlier all about the rules of poetry, which became the standard for all aspiring poets in Scotland. This was besides his role as head of the Castalian Band.

  Their friendship was strong and William’s membership of the Band meant that he had readily available access to the King. The King bringing William into the fold made political sense, as William was one of Scotland’s most famous poets of the time and he was vocally anti-Catholic criticising them frequently in his work. This played well with England and would be crucial to see James cement his place on the English throne.

  “How was the trip?” asked Lord Sinclair.

  “It was marvellous.” replied William. “Not too many people knew about it, but it was a splendid opportunity. As you know James and I have a very strong friendship, much like your relationship with James.”

  Lord Sinclair thought to himself that it wasn’t quite the same relationship as he had with King James. He also didn’t like the way William referred to the King as just James. Too informal, he thought. He was also disturbed that King James sent William Fowler to Denmark to arrange his marriage to Anne. It was too casual and just added fuel to the fire for the gossipers.

  Lord Sinclair returned inside to the Castle and saw that it was noon. There was still no sight of the principal Actor of the evening. He was nervous about this as he didn’t organise it. One message from William back to him was that Anne wanted to organise a minor surprise for the King and would arrange her own Actor to provide the evening’s major entertainment. It was unprofessional and unusual for this man not to be here by now. In fact, he should have been here late last night like the poets. It’s now midday with the banquet only hours away and he still wasn’t here. Lord Sinclair went back to ask William about this.

  “Do you know when the principal Actor will be here?”

  “Ahh... he is a genuine artist. Honestly, you will have seen nothing like him. You may view me as a poet. Maybe even a talented one given my rise to the Castalian Band, but let me assure you, everyone will open their mouths in shock at this man’s exceptional talents!”

  “OK - but do you think he will make it here on time?”

  “He will be here. Anne of Denmark is personally arranging it all.”

  Lord Sinclair shrugged and headed back inside. William’s response wound him up even more. Anne was ‘Anne of Denmark’ but King James, who would soon be the first ever King of both Scotland and England, was just James. It was infuriating.

  Anne was only 15 years old but had fallen madly in love. Dainty and fragile, as most inexperienced girls of that age, her presence led those around her to want to comfort her. Her early childhood was happy as she was raised by her grandparents in Gustrow. Gustrow was an idyllic place for a young girl. A small town in the German Republic with plenty of greenery for little Anne to run around and play in. The palace that she called home was built relatively recently in a German renaissance style. It dominated the skyline of the tiny settlement in which it was located. At five, Anne moved back to Denmark but continued her happy childhood uninterrupted until she blossomed into a woman attracting suitors from all over Europe.

  Her mother, Sophie, brokered her marriage to King James. Sophie was around Anne’s age herself when she married the 38 year old King Frederick II of Denmark. Sadly, last year was a tough one as the King passed away leaving Sophie to pick up the pieces after a 16 year marriage. A power struggle ensued with her brother to become ruler of Denmark. Ultimately, she lost out to her brother so Sophie had then dedicated herself into finding Anne the perfect husband.

  King James was a big catch, especially after the Treaty of Berwick made news all over Europe with his impending rise to the English throne. Anne fell madly in love with him, embroidering shirts for him while awaiting their marriage many miles away in Denmark. She also had 300 tailors working on her wedding dress.

  “Before I forget,” mused Lord Sinclair. “How did the negotiations end with Denmark?”

  “All resolved. We got what we wanted,” confirmed William.

  Royal marriages were difficult negotiations. The Dano-Norwegian Realm was a union comprising primarily Denmark and Norway who had finished a bloody and expensive war with Sweden several years earlier. The war was caused by Sweden splitting from the union decades earlier. The ramifications were still being felt, especially financially, with farmers fed up with the tax burden that they were being placed under.

  It was therefore not an easy negotiation. King James was entitled to a dowry by marrying into the Danish Royal household, and Denmark believed they were entitled to regain the island of Orkney based on another dowry from 200 years ago. In the end, King James dropped his claim to a dowry from the Danish Royals, and Denmark dropped their claim to the island of Orkney. There were no longer any barriers to the marriage going ahead.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THE GUESTS START ARRIVING

  9th July 1589

  It was now mid-afternoon with the banquet due to start in two hours. The King would arrive last, so guests were expected to arrive shortly. The Castle was now an oasis of calm, and all the hustle and bustle of the morning had dissipated. Even the Lord & Lady had settled down and seemed quiet. Although that might have been partially because of the dram of whisky that he had just sampled, although there was no need to sample the whisky given, it was the finest that money could buy. However, he didn’t want to appear as if he was drinking to calm his nerves so went through the rouse of sampling in case any of the servants were to catch a glimpse.

  The Castle was now beautiful. Bouquets of flowers lined the corridor leading up to the banqueting hall. The floors had been cleaned spotless, and the musicians were already in place in the banqueting hall, waiting for it to begin. It was therefore time to start the pre-banquet arrival drinks and the obligatory small talk. Lord Sinclair didn’t like this, as it usually involved some gossiping about the latest rumours about King James. Most of the time, these were scandalous and just absurd. The most recent one that Lord Sinclair had heard was that King James was learning French and was planning to give up the throne and move to France to become a painter! It was unbelievable stuff!

  The first carriage to pull up was that of Andrew Melville of Garvock. It was a round top carriage which was standard of the day; it had one horse pulling it along with a carriage at the back with a wooden frame that created a round top. The enormous challenge on journeys such as this was the exposure to the elements. It wasn’t a pleasant journey, but luckily Andrew didn’t have to travel too far.

  Andrew was a medium build man in his 40s with an unremarkable look and an unremarkable choice of outfit. He didn’t come across as one of the power brokers or a mover and shaker. He was lucky to be here, if truth be told. Andrew was a loyal Master of Queen Mary’s household, managing all of the different staff that would work around the clock to keep her Royal household ticking over. He really was trusted by Queen Mary, and accompanying her body to the cemetery was one of the most difficult, and saddest, moments of his life. He didn’t have to worry financially because several years earlier Queen Mary bequeathed him a pension of 200 Merks per year, but it wasn’t about the money. It was natural to feel her loss after spending over 20 years with her. And truth be told, he did a lot more than just look after the household.

  In 1571, he was sent to meet Queen Elizabeth’s envoys to see whether peace could be brokered between England and Scotland. That failed, and the civil war continued for another 15 years until the Treaty of Berwick wa
s signed - which tragically sealed Queen Mary’s fate. He also fought alongside his brother in the Queen’s forces. For example, he was in the final garrison defending Edinburgh Castle and was prepared to die for Scotland until the order was given to surrender.

  When Queen Mary was in the latter stages of her life and exiled to England, he accompanied her and was in a position of immense trust, once being tasked with transporting £200 as a wedding gift. It would have taken a skilled workman six years to have earnt that sum.

  In the weeks before her execution, Andrew was kept away as it would have led to them both being too emotional. He returned on the fateful day of her execution, where they shared some tears and final thoughts together. It was Queen Mary’s wish that Andrew go back to Scotland and share her desire for a union between Scotland and England - she didn’t want her death to put that in jeopardy. He did eventually return to Scotland, after being held captive for a short while to see whether he was actually a spy, and was snapped up by King James getting a further pension of 400 Merks per year. And so Andrew was now in the King’s household. Even though King James had played a part in the downfall of his mother. Andrew believed that the King had little choice, and it was Mary’s dying wish to see her Son rise to the throne of both Scotland and England. It was therefore a little unusual that someone in the King’s employment would be invited to such a banquet but he had become one of the family and keeping him close reflected well on the King. The last thing King James wanted was for Andrew to become a spokesman for the rebels who supported Queen Mary. However, Andrew would never be viewed as upper class or an equal of the fellow banquet guests, and he knew it. It was therefore no surprise he opted to arrive first to the banquet as a sign of respect for the other guests.