Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-12-09
GREAT LOVE STORIES
- OF HISTORY
BY ALBERT PAYsoN TERHUNE
King James and Joan Beaufort
'(COpyright by The Author.)
BY ALBERT PAYSON TERE1UNE

An 11-year-old Scotch boy was cap.
tured in 1405 by English officials as
he was on his way to France to be
educated. The boy was James, only
living son Of King Robert III. Of Scot
land. England and Scotland were for
ever Quarreling with each other. So
the capture of the latter country's
little crown prince was looked on as
q master stroke Of diplomacy. Robert
III. died the next year, after trying in
vain to persuade the English king to
set his son free. The lad at IL became
James /. Of Scotland, and remained 18
years longer as q prisoner in Eng.
land.
The English treated the boy kindly.
The best tutors were provided for
him. He was also taught the warlike
accomplishments without which no
thirteenth century youths education
was complete. The prisoner king as
he grew to manhood won fame as an
athlete and as poet. Once as he
stood looking down from the window
Of his castle prison he saw tall, beau.
49,, tiful girl wander.
% ing among the
0' roses and lilies in
the garden below. At first sight the
lonely man was attracted by her love-
Illness, and he became henceforth her
devoted slave. So eloquently did he
plead his suit that the maiden soon
returned his love.
She was Lady Joan Beaufort, daugh-
ter Of the earl OF Somerset and kins-
woman to the English King Henry w.
In her honor James wrote a poem
entitued "Ye Kings Quhair" ("The
Kings Rsolllet"), and he consecrated
his life to her service. Now a match
between these two was just what Eng.
land most desired. It would form a
bond between the two rival countries
and would, perhaps, make English in
auence strong in Scotland. So James
and Joan were permitted to marry.
Their wedding was celebrated in Feb
ruary, 1924. Then England allowed
the Scotch to ransom their captive
king for 100000, and the young cou.
pie, rejoicing in their freedom, jour-
neyed north to reign over Scotland.
Their descendant, James vi. Of Scot
land. was destined to become James /.
of England, and thus unite the two
kingdoms.
The newly released monarch found
his kingdom in terrible condition.
The country was ruder and more law
less than England. It was overrun
with corrupt politics. The powerful
mobiles oppressed the poor and took to
themselves almost royal privileges.
Laws were ill.enfOrced. Everywhere
the hand Of master was urgently
needed. James had a tremendously
difficult task before him. Those who
looked on him only.as dreamy, love-
sick poet thought he would be content
to let matters rest as they were.
But they were mistaken. With an
buDuuCu ShO hNh6hNy
mobiles, crushed misrule, put traitors
to death, made wise laws and in count
less ways built up the country and re-
formed its government. For twelve
years he and Joan reigned. Under
their rule the land prospered. But the
mobiles hated the king who had de-
prived them of their power. A num-
Der of these noblemen at last con-
spired against him. The leader OF the
conspiracy was Sir Robert Graham.
With a band Of assassins Graham
planned to seize and murder the king
at the first safe opportunity.
James and Joan with their children
and a small party Of attendants rode
to Perth to spend Christmas at the
monastery there. On the road thither
4 wild-eyed old Highland woman who
had the name Of being a prophecies
.~>>N~e~~~.N~~~s~~N~~N Nr~e~N~N~~~~~~~~~~~~~"