Although the crowd was kept at a good distance, their scornful laughter, jeers and shouts could be heard above the noise of beating drums.
Knowing how much this would upset His Majesty, the Earl was determined to find some way of raising his spirits.
He had to prevent him from realising that his unpopularity amongst the ordinary people was steadily increasing.
Determinedly he pressed even more persuasively for a visit to his own country.
He told the King that the people would welcome him even more enthusiastically than he had been welcomed in Ireland.
When the King would listen, he used to tell him stories of the battles that his own Clan had been involved in.
He would also recount the invasions of the Vikings and the damage that they had done in the far North.
The King was quick to
