These, I fear, he could reject as offensive, in the present
circumstance.
And therefore claim that he could not read or accept the letter.
I had never thought to sign it, Bruce said.
Since it is from my subjects, not myself. But you? If you and the other senior bishops do not sign, it could be claimed that there was division amongst the clergy. That the most important might not be in favour of what was written.
True. I think, therefore, that no clergy should sign. Let it be a letter from the temporality of Scotland. It might have the more force.
Seem less of a disobedience to the Churchs supreme Pontiff. See you
the clergy have already sent a manifesto to the Vatican,on the subject of Your Graces right to the crown. From Dundee.
In 1309. Asserting Scots independence. This new declaration would come better from the laity. It could be couched in stronger terms than would be seemly for the clergy to use towards their Pontiff.
That is true …
Abbot Bernard came back with a great sheaf of paper.
I fear that there is overmuch writing here, Your Graces, he apologised A great plethora of words. But there is so much to be said. So many matters to cover. I have written and scored and written again. Many times. I cannot make it shorter, with all said. Your Grace, and my lord Bishop, may do better than my poor efforts…
He spread his papers out on the table, and lit a second lamp.
Here is the start:
To the most Holy Father in Christ our Lord, the Lord John, by Divine Providence, of the Holy Roman and Catholic Church Supreme Pontiff, his humble and devoted sons and servants, the earls, bishops, barons, abbots, priors, priests, freeholders and whole community of the Kingdom of Scotland, send all manner of filial reverence with devout kisses of your blessed feet…
Not servants, my friends-not servants, Bruce intervened.
Sons, perhaps. Sons in God. But I will not have my good Scots subjects servants to any. Not even to myself! And is it necessary to kiss the mans feet? If the Lord Christ Himself was content to wash others feet, I do not see why we should kiss the Popes.
In letters to the Pontiff it is the customary style, Lamberton
said.
No doubt it is fulsome, unsuitable. But this he expects. And it
costs us little-since the signatories will never have to do it!
And, as the King shrugged acceptance, But this of bishops and priests, my good Bernard. His Grace and I have come to decision that this letter should not seem to come from the clergy at all. Only the temporality. To avoid sundry pitfalls. It will lose nothing thereby, and be the less rebellious towards His Holiness. And after your devoted sons, I would leave space for the names of the signatories.
Rather than have all signed and sealed at the end only. It must needs be a long letter, as you say. Therefore, to ensure that His Holiness reads it, he should know from the start the quality of the signatories.
As you will, my lord …
The Queen spoke.
But, my friends-do you forget? If it is not the priests and clergy who sign, then most of the barons and lairds will not be able to sign, at all! Since they cannot write. Only make marks and append their seals.
Bruce smiled.
Trust a woman to see the thing clearly! he commended.
It is true. In the main it will not be signatures we send.
But names, written by clerks. With their seals. The more reason, then, to have the names at the start. But, proceed, my lord Chancellor.
Yes.
I then recite something of the history of our race, as recounted by the books and chronicles of ancient writers. How our nation came out of Scythia and through the Mediterranean Sea, by Spain, to Ireland. And thence 1,200 years after the outgoing of the people of Israel, acquired for themselves the land of the Picts and Britons in Dalriada, naming it Scotland, from their onetime princess.
And how, from then, we have had 113 kings …
Save us-have we indeed? So many?
De Linton coughed.
So the chroniclers and seannachies have it, Sire. And who am I to disprove it? Since it is our concern to convince His Holiness of the ancient establishment and continuing independence of our realm. Do you wish this altered?
No, no. By no means. The more the better. Save that most of them must have been heathens!
Aye, Sire-I have considered that. I put it thus:
… 113 of their own royal stock, no stranger intervening, have
reigned, whose nobility and merits, if they were not clear otherwise,
yet shine out plainly enough from this that the Kings of Kings even our
Lord Jesus Christ, after his passion and resurrection, called them,
though situated at the uttermost parts of the earth, almost the first
to His most holy faith, nor would have them confirmed in this faith by
any one less than His first Apostle, although in rank second or
third
The Abbot paused.
I walk warily herefor, of course, His Holiness occupies the throne of St. Peter …
Very wise, Bernard, Lamberton nodded, straight-faced.
Precedence is most important!
Yes, my lord. So I say:
… to wit, Andrew the most meek brother of St. Peter, whom He would
have always preside over them as their Patron. Moreover the most holy
fathers, your predecessors, considering these things with anxious mind,
endowed the said kingdom and people, with many favours and very many
privileges. So that our nation, under their protection, has hitherto
continued free and peaceful, until that prince, the mighty King of the English, Edward the father of him. who now is, under the semblance of a friend and ally, in most unfriendly wise harassed our kingdom, then without a head, and unaccustomed to wars and attacks…
I would put in there that we were guiltless of offence towards
Edward, the Primate said.
That it be clear that the English invasion was wholly one of
aggression by Edward.
To be sure. So:
The injuries, slaughters, and deeds of violence, plunderings, burnings, imprisonments of prelates, firing of monasteries, spoliations and murders of men of religion …
Abbot Bernard looked apologetic.
You understand, Sire, why I stress that Christs Church suffered so greatly? It must be made clear to His Holiness that the English are the enemies of the Church, not its friends.
The point does not escape me, friend. But-I think that we might leave all this of history to yourself. Let us on to the point of today.
I come to that now, Sire. To where Your Grace comes into it. I say:
From these evils innumerable, by the help of Him who, after wounding, heals and restores to health, we were freed by our most gallant Prince, King and Lord, our Lord Robert who, to rescue his people and heritage from the hands of their enemies, like another Maccabaeus or Joshua, endured toil and weariness, hunger and danger, with cheerful mind…
I swear we could dispense with that…!
No, Robert, Elizabeth declared.
That must go in. It is no more than the truth. My Maccabaeus! My Joshua!
Mmmm. Proceed then, my friend.
Him also the Divine Providence and, according to our laws and customs which we will maintain even to the death, the succession of right and the due consent and assent of us all, have made our Prince and King; to whom, we, for the defence of our liberty, art bound, and are determined in all things to adhere. But, if he well to desist from what he has begun …
The Ghantellors voice tailed away, as he swallowed, and looked up apprehensively.