Nigel Tranter's newest novel is a well told and exciting story of a laird of a small estate, Will Alexander of Menstrie, poet and tutor. He was a man of modest ambitions. But when James VI learned of his poetic genius, the king had other plans for him.

In 1603, when James VI of Scotland became James I of England, he summoned Will to London and commanded him to translate the Psalms for the new royal version of the Bible in English - which remains the definitive edition to this day.

At the English court, Will Alexander consorted with the most famous poets of the age including Shakespeare and Jonson. By the time he died the humble Scottish laird had become Earl of Stirling, Viscount of Canada, Governor of Nova Scotia and Secretary of State for Scotland.

Laced with intrigue and absorbing historical detail, Nigel Tranter charts the extraordinary story of this astonishing situation. The following is a short scene from the book when James I gives Will his first translation assignment .

Will stared, sovereign-lord or none. 'But, but... that is... that is...' His voice trailed away as he wagged an incredulous head.

'Aye, it's a big task. Ooh, aye, I ken that fine. But I've set mysel' to dae it.'

'The whole Bible, Sire? All of it? The Old Testament and the New? From the Greek and the Latin? Hundreds and thousands of words, thousands of thousands! Is it, is it possible?'

'Aye, it is. I'm set on daeing it. Mind, I'm going to need a deal o' help. That's whaur you come in, Alexander man. It's no' poetry, forby there's much o' poesy in it. David's psalms and the like. And yon Solomon's proverbs. But you hae the gift o' words, like mysel'. And you hae the Latin. You taught Argyll, and noo young Henry. Sae here's a right new duty for you. You're to aid me in this great ploy.'

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