The Hammer of the Scots Read Online Free PDF Page A

hundred feet above sea level – perfectly placed for defence. No wonder it was called the Key to England.
    Here his ancestors had lived. The Conqueror had taken possession of it immediately after the Battle of Hastings and Edward’s great-grandfather, Henry II, had rebuilt the keep. Oh yes, it was undoubtedly a great moment when he passed into the castle.
    The Queen was beside him but she had eyes only for her children, and was longing to discuss the state of Henry’s health with her mother-in-law.
    There was a chill in the castle in spite of the fact that it was August. She, who had spent so long in warmer climates, noticed it, and her first reaction was to wonder whether Henry suffered from this cold.
    In their apartments Edward turned to her.
    ‘Home at last, my love,’ he said. ‘I trust it will be long before we have to go on our travels again.’
    She nodded. A forlorn hope. When had any King of England been allowed to live peacefully in England?
    The Queen Mother came to them. Instinctively the Queen knew that her mother-in-law was eager to assert her power and to let them know that she was as important now as she had been when her husband was alive.
    ‘What joy it is to have you home,’ she cried. ‘The loyalty of the people was heart-warming.’
    Edward looked at his mother a little cynically. There had been no cheers for her and their absence had been rather noticeable at times.
    ‘They are so happy to have you home and so they should be.’ Her eyes glistened. She was proud of having produced such a kingly son. ‘Why, Edward,’ she went on, ‘had I not seen you before, I should have known that you were the King. You stand out among all men.’
    His wife nodded in agreement.
    ‘We must celebrate your return,’ went on the Queen Mother. ‘There must be a banquet in Westminster and then we shall have to prepare for the coronation.’
    ‘We will dispense with the banquet, my lady,’ said the King. ‘The coronation will be costly enough.’
    ‘Dear Edward, you must not forget you are now the King. You must act in a kingly fashion.’
    ‘That I intend to do. That is why I do not propose to squander the exchequer.’
    The Queen Mother laughed aloud. ‘Your father would have given a most splendid feast,’ she said reproachfully.
    ‘I have no doubt. But I must go my own way. The coronation will be grand. The people expect that, and will be ready to pay for it. But there is no need to involve them in more expense than is necessary.’
    The Queen Mother was sober. ‘Why, my son, what has happened to you during your travels? Your father …’
    ‘It distresses me to hear his name mentioned,’ said Edward. ‘I was never so unhappy as when I heard the news, but I tell you this, my lady: there will be no wasting of money on feasts. We shall concentrate at once on the coronation.’
    His wife was proud of him. He was indeed kingly. He could even subdue his formidable mother. The Queen Mother lifted her shoulders helplessly.
    ‘The London merchants are rich. The Jews still flourish. They could easily be taxed …’
    ‘New taxes so early in a reign could tend to make a king very unpopular,’ said Edward. ‘I want to keep the people with me.’
    He bowed to his wife and his mother and left the chamber.
    The Queen Mother smiled lightly at the Queen.
    ‘He is anxious to show us he is the King,’ was her comment.
    The Queen, who could be bold where her loved ones and her duty were concerned, retorted, ‘He is the King, Madam, and determined to rule well.’
    ‘His father never denied me anything. He always saw from my point of view.’
    ‘Edward will see from his own point of view.’
    ‘Of course he has been away so long. Perhaps it will be different when he has grown used to us all again.’
    The Queen was silent for a few moments and then she said, ‘I am concerned about Henry.’
    The Queen Mother’s face was immediately grave.
    ‘He is not strong,’ she admitted.
    ‘I was frightened when I