Laird of a small estate, Will Alexander of Menstrie, poet and tutor, wasa man of modest ambitions. But when James VI learned of his poeticgenius, the... > Lire la suite
Laird of a small estate, Will Alexander of Menstrie, poet and tutor, wasa man of modest ambitions. But when James VI learned of his poeticgenius, the king had other plans for him. In 1603, when James VI of Scotland became James I of England, hesummoned Will to London and commanded him to translate the Psalms forthe new royal version of the Bible in English - which remains thedefinitive edition to this day. At the English court, Will Alexander consorted with the most famouspoets of the age including Shakespeare and Jonson. By the time he died, the humble Scottish laird had become Earl of Stirling, Viscount ofCanada, Governor of Nova Scotia and Secretary of State for Scotland. Laced with intrigue and absorbing historical detail, Nigel Trantercharts the extraordinary rise of William Alexander of Menstrie.