Unicorn Rampant (27 page)
Anne, in low spirits, acceded—but asserted that James would not be interested even if she lay at death's door. John would start off next morning, with the physicians' report.
9
Theobalds Park, which King James had acquired from his late and long-suffering minister, Robert Cecil, first Earl of Salisbury, in exchange for Hatfield, had been coveted by the monarch not because of any architectural or other excellence but because it bordered on and indeed included part of, Enfield Chase, with a ten-mile wall around it to ensure that its deer remained exclusive. This was the finest hunting area within reasonable reach of London. Here James could indulge to his heart's content in his favourite occupation, and even with advancing years and deteriorating health he could still spend long days in the saddle, from the crack of dawn until dusk, before hard-drinking sessions and then bed. To this programme all at court had to adjust as best they could, the King insisting that he could rule two kingdoms from the back of a horse.
John, arriving in mid-afternoon of a golden October day, discovered this. But his father, who was rather less keen on the chase, had excused himself that day, as so often he did, and to him John was able to unburden himself and to ask whether he could not, somehow, help him to get out of the Queen's service. He went to some lengths to describe the problems and restrictio
ns of life at Somerset House—al
though he did not feel it incumbent upon him to go into the amenities supplied by Margaret Hamilton. He indicated that he would not object to visiting Somerset House from time to time, but found immurement there trying indeed.
The Duke said that he would see what he could do.
However, when his son gave him some summary of his investigations into the monopolies situation, Ludovick, much impressed, thought that the King would not require great persuasion to enroll John permanently in his own employ, as much more useful than most of his Household.
John was not too happy about that either, especially the use of the word permanent. After all, his aim was to get back to Scotland and Methven.
He had to wait until late for his interview with James. He could not, of course, approach the monarch personally; and, at the meal after the hunt got back, he noticed that James had his eye on him more than once in his lowly seat, but did not summon him. It was far into the evening, and his thoughts turning towards bedding down in his father's room, before the command came. Sir John Stewart was to attend in the royal bedchamber.
He found James looking even more incongruous than usual, sitting up in bed, in a vast, shadowy room, in nightgown and bed-robe, but still wearing his high hat, beaker of wine in hand. Steenie was hanging about, looking sulky. But at John's appearance he was dismissed and bluntly told not to come back until sent for.
"So, Johnnie Stewart, you're here," the King observed. "You weary o' my Annie's service, eh? Is that it?"
"Not entirely, Sire," John answered carefully. "The Queen is very sick. That is why I could come to tell Your Majesty. She is grievously unwell."
"Annie's aye unwell—or says she is! All her days that has been the way o' it."
"This is true sickness, Sire. Constant vomiting. Much pain. Her Majesty's physicians are greatly troubled. They have sent a report
..."
"Aye, aye—that's no' new, either. Dinna tell me that's all you've come to tell me, man?"
"No, Sire. But this was the reason for me getting away."
"Excuse, you mean! Come on, laddie—out wi' it. You've been active, I hope? As I bade you. No' wasting your time on sickly women! What's in yon satchel you've got?"
"Papers, Sire. Certain papers I have put together. As you commanded me." He laid his bag on the royal bed and drew out a sheaf of close-written sheets. He held them out to the monarch.
One glance was enough for James. "You tell me, lad. My eyes are no'
just what they were. And it's gey dark in here, mind."
"There is much here, Highness. Too much just to recount
..."
"
I’ll
say what's too much—no' you, boy! Gie me the meat o' it. What have you uncovered, eh?"
John cleared his throat. "Majesty, the monopolies, I find, are rich and powerful and have all well in hand. Nor fear interference. They have parliament, both Lords and Commons, well sweetened, as they say—to vote in their favour. The great ones, Cockayne and his Merchant Venturers, and Mansell, have all the most profitable trade neatly parcelled out between them, with the East India Company coming third. Only the less profitable trades are left to the smaller men. But—they mislike and fear each other. That could be their weakness."
"Go on, man. Maist o' this I ken already."
"Yes, Sire. I learned that Lady Suffolk is perhaps more powerful in this matter than the Earl. You know of this man Bingley . . . ?"
"Ooh, aye—we a' ken Jack Bingley. Kate Howard's play-marrow!"
"More than plaything, Highness. As Treasurer-Depute he it is whom the monopolists work through. When I suggested a new monopoly, they assured that all could be arranged through this Bingley."
"So-o-o! Bingley, eh? And Kate Howard. Mair fly than Tom! Tom Suffolk will no' soil his lily-white hands—but he'll tak the siller! Ooh, aye—he'll tak the siller. That should be mine!"
"Yes, Sire. In these papers are lists of the monopolies. And, so far as I can find out, who holds them. The goods and trade. There must be a great many that I have not discovered, but these are the main ones."
"And the monies, man? The siller? How much? What did you discover there?"
"Figures, Highness, are not bandied about. But I learned that, with such new monopoly as I suggested, they would double the price at which they bought. Double! I gathered that this was normal."
"Double, eh? One hundred per centum. As much as that? That is a fair return, aye, fair."
"I would name it robbery, Sire!"
"Aye, maybe. But what
you'd
name it, Johnnie Stewart, isna just the vital issue! And what's this o' a
new
monopoly you speak of? What's this?"
John trod more carefully than ever. "I had to have excuse for my enquiries, Sire. So that they would talk. At St Paul's, as Your Majesty suggested. I have little knowledge of trade and manufacture but
you
had taught me something about paper. So I used this knowledge."
"Paper, eh? That was apt, man. Shrewd."
Relieved, John went on. "It was Your Highness's own teaching—all I could speak of. I learned that here in England almost all paper is bought from the Hansa merchants in Germany and the Baltic coasts. At a price—for
they
have the monopoly. These London men knew nothing
of Scots paper-making. So I made so bold as to suggest that they might buy cheaper from Scotland. Hinted at a new monopoly for them, in paper from Scotland. They jumped like salmon to fly! These Merchant Venturers—they wanted to know qualities, quantities, prices. I could not tell them, to be sure, not knowing—but I took them some of Your Majesty's own papers, and my father's from Whitehall, as ensamples. They were much impressed. So they told me much that I could not have learned otherwise. Did I do rightly, Sire?"
"Aye, ooh, aye. Leastwise, maybe." It was James's turn to be careful. "A paper monopoly, eh? How much did they want?"
"I know nothing of quantities nor price. You did not inform me as to that. I had to
...
dissemble. But I understood them to be eager for as much as the Scots mills could supply. If the price was right. They would then double the price for their own market. I declared that the Scots paper-makers would expect to be given some share in the doubling of price."
"Assuredly! Maist right and proper. We'll hae to find out how much they want, lad. And how much the mills can gie them. Difficult."
"Is that necessary, Sire? In bringing this monopoly corruption to an end? I only used the paper suggestion to win information out of them."
"Tut, man—first things first! There could be siller in this, much siller. Paper, as I told you, is a right useful commodity. Its uses are aye growing. If we could stop the import o' this German paper and supply
these English frae Scotland in
stead—man, wi' a properly contrived monopoly, we could coin siller, just. Aye, coin it!"
John stared. "You mean . . . ? I thought that Your Majesty wished to end the misuse of these monopolies? And to stop the Howards' control of them. Not to, to operate one yourself!"
"Fegs, Johnnie Stewart—be no' sae mealy-mou'ed! You sound like any Kirk pulpiteer! To be sure I'll end a' this corruption. Aye, and put thae Howards in their place, forby— and that place is the Tower o' this London, I'm thinking! But that's nae reason for rejecting a bit honest trade—which will help Scotland, mind. Trade's right necessar. And if I put you in charge o' it—
if,
mind you—you'll no' do too badly out o' it your ainsel', lad!"
John was silenced.
"Aye, well—we'll hae to see about that. These folk at St Paul's—when do you see them again?"
"I left it open, Sire. Told them that I would have to make enquiries, as to quantities and price, before we could go further. I would guess that they think that I am going back to Scotland to do this
..."
"And they're right, Johnnie man—they're right in this. For that's what you are going to do. You're going back to Scotland to discover just that—quantities and prices. Back to yon Water o' Leith millers frae the Germanies. If thae Merchant Venturers need mair information, the mair so do we! You're to get it."
Head spinning, John swallowed. "My, my service with the Queen, Sire?"
"Och, leave you that to me, man. You've mair important affairs to be at. How soon can you leave? The morn? Aye, the morn—the sooner the better. This mustna run stale on us, mind."
"But. . ."
"Nae buts! There's just ae thing. We'd be best no' to be right out o' touch wi' these merchants at St Paul's meantime, see you. Keep them interested. How could we contrive that? If Geordie Heriot had been alive
..."
"I do not think that they will lose interest, Sire. But if you would wish someone to keep in touch with Cockayne and Woolcombe, there is Sir William Alexander of Menstrie. He accompanied me to St Paul's, on one occasion. I felt, at my age, that I needed credence, a man of some substance with me. They know him now."
"Alexander? Him? Is he to be trusted?"
"He is your Master of Requests, Sire."
"That's no'
to say he's honest! He was one o
' Johnnie Mar's recommends, coming frae Stirling. He writes poetry, forby! Is that in his favour, for the likes o' this?"
"So do you, Sire!" John said, greatly daring.
"Aye.
H
ph'mm. Well, I'll hae a word wi' him. Now, off wi' you. And nae dawdling in Scotland, nor on the way. I want you back wi' this information at the soonest. How much o' the different grades o' paper they can supply, and at what price? How much mair they could supply without new mills? How long to get new mills built and working on the Esk? A' that. You have it? Right—and if you spy yon Steenie Villiers lurking around outby, send him in. A guid night to you, Johnnie Stewart!"
"Thank you, Sire. And . . . you will tell Her Majesty?"
John hurried back to his father's room, for the most part delighted. He was going back to Scotland, even if only for a brief spell; and the problem of Somerset House was solved, meantime at least. Whether this paper monopoly involvement was good or bad remained to be seen, but it had gained him an unlooked-for advantage here and now.
What Margaret Hamilton would say when he went to Somerset House the next day, for his gear and horse, was open to question.
John arrived back in Edinburgh less than three months after leaving it, having made a reasonably speedy ride up through England, blessed by crisply golden autumn weather. He had never appreciated his own land and the northern capital so greatly, with its breezes and vistas, its hills and valleys, the city's soaring tenements and dominant castle.
As his father had suggested, he went to ask if he might lodge with his aunt, the Countess of Mar, in her fine town-house in the Cowgate, and was well received. Ludovick's sister Mary seldom accompanied her second husband to London, finding him trial enough when he was at home, as she explained frankly. But as the King's own cousin, sister of the realm's only duke and wife of the King's foster-brother, she was the uncrowned queen of Edinburgh society.
Despite all this, the Countess was agog to know of all that went on at London. And John, for his part, heard of much that had transpired in Scotland, that his mother was well, and also learned quite a lot about Sir William Alexander, whom his Aunt Mary knew well and obviously much admired.