Sitting opposite of the Stuart Monarch, Colman stared at his liege. The man looked tired, almost bored. His utterance of "Censorship towards any works that are not drama, history or science" even sounded bored. Looking at the Young Poet, King James then said: "Colman, you should find another mentor, a better mentor, perhaps someone younger. William Gardiner is sixty-seven, who knows how long he has left? My predecessor only lived to be sixty-nine, what makes him think he will live to see seventy? I don't think I will. I don't even think any of my predecessors did."
"You may yet, Your Majesty." Commented Colman. "Constantine II of Scotland lived to be seventy-three did he not?"
"Did he?" asked King James, only barely intrigued by this answer. "I did not know that. Know you anymore of my predecessors who lived so long?"
"Your ancestor Malcolm II, grandfather of Duncan I and Macbeth, lived to be either seventy-nine or eighty." Colman answered. "Had he not died fighting bandits he could have lived longer!"
"Died fighting bandits at his age?" The Stuart Monarch asked with incredulity. "My word, to be fighting bandits at his age he must have been mad."
"Unfortunately, Duncan and Macbeth only lived to be thirty-nine and fifty-two respectively." Commented Colman. "And Macbeth's stepson Lulach only lived to be twenty-five and Malcolm III only lived to be sixty-two."
"Duncan and Macbeth died in battle." Stated King James, scratching his cheek. "Lulach was assassinated and Malcolm III was mortally wounded in an ambush. Scotland used to be a violent place, Colman. That Constantine and the Malcolm II managed to live so long is beyond me. What else do you know?"
"William the Lion lived to be seventy-two, Your Majesty." Answered Colman.
"Did he too die by fighting bandits at his age?"
"No, sir. He died of natural causes."
"Did Constantine II die by natural causes or by fighting?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Carry on then with your listing of my Scottish predecessors who lived to see seventy or past then." Said King James, looking out of his carriage as it passed by various sites.
"Your ancestor Robert II lived to be seventy-four, Your Majesty." Stated Colman, finding himself struggling to remember more Scottish monarchs who had lived so long.
"How did he die?"
"Natural causes I think."
"Carry on, Colman."
"I think that is all of your predecessors who lived so long, sire." Stated Colman.
"Four predecessors of mine who lived so long." Commented King James, sounding quite bored. "It sounds promise, but I still do not think I will live so long."
"Your Majesty, I was wondering if I might speak to you about something." Began Colman, hoping that the Stuart Monarch would listen to what he had to say.
"Speak it then." Said the King, both looking and sounding bored.
"In regards to Apollo Sidney, the Dublin's captain of the guard." Started Colman. "He has recently managed to get a lady friend of mine, the Minceiri girl Ruby, to meet him for a rendezvous this evening, by threatening my life."
Laughing, King James: "What do you want me to do? Strip him of his rank? Colman, my boy, this is not something I feel worth discussing. That jackanapes Apollo can bed any woman he wants, even if it is a lesser woman such as this Ruby. Let him have her and I may find you someone else. I have a daughter a few years younger than you, Colman, try courting her instead rather than seeking some… some… tinker's girl! True, my daughter is not for you, but she is much more worth your time than this Ruby. Whatever attraction you have will fade for this Ruby, but I can assure you the attraction you feel for my daughter will last much longer!"
"Your Majesty, I love Ruby. Like the King of the Underworld being struck by Cupid's arrow, I have seen my Prosperina and I will not trade her for some princess."
"There is no love, boy, there is only attraction!" exclaimed King James, a look of annoyance forming upon his countenance. "And spare me your poetic nonsense! All men lose interest in their wives, they grow unfaithful eventually."
"Your English predecessors Henry of Winchester and Edward Longshanks were faithful to their wives." Stated Colman, not the least bit scared of his sovereign. "For all their flaws, they were truly better men than you are in that respect."
For a moment a look of anger appeared in the eyes of the Stuart Monarch. He raised his fist to strike the Young Poet, only to then lower it, close his eyes and nod in agreement. "Aye, lad. What you say is true… Now, speak to me again about Apollo and Ruby. It was I who appointed him to his station, I should be responsible for him."