Treaty of Norham
The English and Scottish ambassadors are signing the Treaty of Norham, formally ending the Rough Wooing—a series of conflicts between England and Scotland over dynastic marriage and sovereignty. The s
Setting
The Great Hall of Norham Castle, a formidable stone fortress near the Scottish border. The hall is lined with tapestries depicting English victories, and large arched windows allow summer light to filter in. A heavy oak table dominates the center, covered with documents and surrounded by high-backed chairs.
Characters
English Ambassador
primary
A tall, lean man in his late 40s with sharp features, a neatly trimmed auburn beard streaked with gray, and piercing hazel eyes that miss little. His hands are long-fingered and well-manicured, accustomed to handling documents of state.
Scottish Ambassador
primary
A tall, broad-shouldered man in his late 40s with a weathered face marked by deep lines around his piercing blue eyes. His auburn beard is neatly trimmed but streaked with grey, and his hands bear the calluses of a man who has ridden hard and fought when necessary.
Scribe
secondary
A thin, middle-aged man with a slightly hunched posture from years spent bent over documents. His sharp nose and ink-stained fingers suggest his profession. Pale complexion from indoor work, with keen eyes that dart between speakers and parchment.
Guard Captain
secondary
A broad-shouldered, middle-aged man with a weathered face and a thick, well-groomed beard streaked with gray. His piercing blue eyes scan the room with vigilance, and his stance exudes authority. A scar runs from his left temple to his jawline, a testament to years of service.
Scottish Herald
background
A wiry man in his late twenties with sun-weathered skin and close-cropped auburn hair. His sharp blue eyes dart attentively between the negotiators, missing no detail. A faint scar runs diagonally across his left cheekbone, marking him as a veteran of border skirmishes.
Dialog
English Ambassador
The terms are clear, my lord: England shall withdraw her forces from Scottish soil ipso facto upon ratification of these articles. Yet we must insist upon the betrothal clause being writ plain as the noon sun.
Scottish Ambassador
As sure as the salmon return to the Tay, my lord, but does this not stand to reason? A child queen cannot be bound by terms made in her minority without consent of the Estates.
English Ambassador
We speak not of some Highland handfasting, but of a treaty between sovereign crowns. The third article specifies - Scribe, read it back verbatim.
Scribe
As my lord says... 'Item the third: The said Princess Mary shall be contracted in marriage to His Majesty King Edward VI upon reaching her twelfth year, unless by mutual consent...'
Scottish Ambassador
Unless by mutual consent - there's the rub, my lord. Consent cannot be compelled like cattle to market, nor treaties signed under threat of English cannon.
English Ambassador
We find your comparison most unseemly. These negotiations proceed under terms of honorable surrender, not... market haggling.
Scribe
My lords, the ink requires sanding before the seals may be affixed. By your leave...