The Unblessed Hand

Follow the adventures of four young men caught up in the extreme politics of late 16th century Scotland, when King James VI (and later to be James I of England, the so-called ‘wisest fool in Christendom’) played out a masterly solo game of chess, using the Riding Names of the West March as pieces, in preparation for his final solution to the problems of the Anglo-Scottish Border.

Cecil Johnson served as a secondary school teacher for forty years, twenty-five of which as headmaster of a comprehensive school. After taking early retirement, he now lives on his farm in County Durham. His main leisure-time interests include classical music and landscape painting. He also devotes much of his time to promoting the interests of the Clan Johnston/Johnstone Association (U.K.), holding the office of U.K. Commissioner to the Clan Chief.