It is not an obvious book title for a military historian, but this is the second in Nigel Tranter's Master of Gray trilogy. A brief reminder that Patrick, Master of Gray (1559–1612), was a Scottish nobleman and politician who played a notable, though often controversial, role during the reign of James VI of Scotland. The courtesan is his illegitimate offspring, Mary, a fictional character who, in this book, takes over from Patrick's brother David in telling the story.
At the conclusion of the last book, Patrick is banished from Scotland. However, he makes a comeback with intelligence about the Spanish Armada. Needless to say, the arch-plotter plays both outcomes, although we should remember that few thought England would survive the Spanish invasion.
He then engages in various plots, playing off the Catholic and Protestant factions. James marries Anne of Denmark and then indulges in an obsession with witchcraft in Scotland. This is historically correct, as James VI was personally involved in the witch trials in the 1590s, which were a result of his belief that he was the victim of witchcraft. He published a book about witch-hunting called Daemonologie. Around 2,500 people were executed during the witch trials. The execution rate in Scotland was five times the average European rate per capita.
Patrick's plots eventually become too much for his daughter Mary after he goes against the Duke of Lennox. She eventually becomes Lennox's lover, hence the title. She exposes his treasonous correspondence with Queen Elizabeth, and he is forced to flee. But as ever, he will return.
If you are looking for Bernard Cornwell-style action, this book is not for you. This was a rare period of peace between the two countries, as James was Elizabeth's apparent heir, even if she did not acknowledge him. There were internal revolts, so skirmishes were the order of the day. Border Wars is ideal. However, it is a fast-paced story with plenty of twists, even if largely fictional.
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