Death of King Alexander
Narrator
Simone
Sir Edwin
King
Servant
David
Comyn
Wishart
Malcolm
Fife
Sir James
Narrator : This is a Play called ‘The Death of King Alexander III’
The date is Monday the 18th of March 1286.
Scene One takes place in the main hall of the King’s castle at Edinburgh. The King
enters with his loyal barons, John Comyn and Duncan, Earl of Fife.
King: That was one of the longest meetings I have ever known my Lords. I seem to
spend so much of my time worrying about the state of our country and trying to keep
the peace with our neighbours. Anyway now it is finished, I will have time to return to
my Queen Yolande.
Comyn: You are right, as always, Sire. It has been a tiring day. However, your
subjects are grateful for all that you have done to make this a Golden Age for us.
Fife: Look outside my Lord, there is a terrible storm. It has been raging all day.
King: Yes my Lord Fife. I could hear the wind battering against the castle walls all
during the council meeting.
Comyn: It has now grown very dark, Sire. The rain has turned to snow. It must be
very cold and icy outside. It is lucky we are indoors at this time.
Fife: This is not a night to be travelling in.
Servant enters
Servant: Dinner is now ready, Sire. Please follow me.
King: Come now my Lords, let’s forget about the weather and our problems. There is
plenty of food and drink and a great fire to keep us warm.
Everyone leaves the room
Narrator: The King and all of his Barons are at dinner. Robert Wishart, the Bishop of
Glasgow jumps up and proposes a toast.
Wishart: (jumps up). My Lords, a toast to the King!
ALL the Barons: A toast to the King! We wish you a long and happy reign, Sire.
King: Thank you my Lords. It is nice to know that there are so many loyal men and
women in Scotland. However, it is now time to go home to see my Wife Yolande. I
promised her I would return today.
Fife: Sire, the weather outside is getting worse. You cannot travel to Kinghorn in this
weather. It is far too dangerous to travel such a distance.
King: Do not worry so much my Lord Fife. I have journeyed across the Forth many
times. Anyway, I promised the Queen. She will be expecting me.
Comyn: You must think this over, my Lord. There is a gale blowing and the Forth
will be very dangerous. Why don’t you stay here tonight and travel tomorrow
morning?
Comyn: You must think this over, my Lord. There is a gale blowing and the Forth
will be very dangerous. Why don’t you stay here tonight and travel tomorrow
morning?
King: Thank you for your concern my Lords, but my mind is made up. (He turns to
the servant who is standing nearby) Servant get my cloak and my sword, and see that
my horse is ready.
Servant (bows): At once Sire. Shall I tell your guards you are about to leave?
King: Yes. Farewell my Lords. I will return at the end of the week.
Wishart: Farewell my Lord, I will pray for your safe passage to Kinghorn.
(As the King leaves the room, all the Barons stand up.)
Narrator: The King goes with his guards to get the ferry across the Firth. There he
meets Simone the Ferrywoman.
King: You are Simone the ferrywoman, aren’t you?
Simone: I am. What do you want?
King: I want to hire your boat to take me across the Firth. How soon can we leave? I
am in a hurry.
Simone: In a night like this? You must be mad if you think that I am going to cross
the Firth in this storm. Who are you anyway? Why are you in such a rush? You
should wait until morning.
King: You do not know me? I am your King.
Simone: Forgive me Sire, but are you sure that it is wise to make such a trip in this
weather?
King: I do not wish to discuss my business with you. Are you afraid to take me across
the Firth?
Simone: No Sire. Please forgive me. If you will step into the boat, I will leave at
once.
Narrator: The King is taken across the Firth by the Ferrywoman. Although the trip is
rough, they reach the other side safely. The King enters his castle where his Steward
Malcolm is waiting.
Malcolm: Welcome my Lord. It is a wild night for travelling. Can I offer you and
your servants a bed for the night?
King: It is indeed a wild night. I thank you for the offer of a bed, but I must reach
Kinghorn as soon as possible.
Malcolm; Sire, It would be madness to set off in such a night. It is dark and the wind
is at gale force. These cliffs on the road to Kinghorn are very dangerous. You are
risking your life if you travel tonight. It would be better to wait until morning.
King: I thank you for your concern, but I have had enough warnings. I promised My
Queen that I would return tonight, and that is what I intend to do. Farewell to you.
Come men, it is time to leave.
Narrator: The King sets off with his men along the rocky road to Kinghorn. It is dark
and stormy and his men fall behind. In the darkness they lose him.
Sir James: Hold up. I cannot see the King. He cannot have travelled so far in front of
us.
Sir Edwin: You are right. I am worried that something has happened. You, David,
ride on to Kinghorn for help. Bring torches. We will begin searching here.
David: I will be as quick as I can my Lord. I do hope that nothing has happened to our
great King!
Sir James: It will be a dark day for this country if anything has happened to the King.
Now go and bring help.
Narrator: Early the next morning, help arrives and they begin searching. The King’s
body is found at the bottom of the cliff. It appears that his horse stumbled and fell
over the cliff. The King left no children, and the new heir to the throne is his granddaughter Margaret who is only a child. The Golden age of Scotland is gone.