Studies from Court and Cloister | Page 8

any other foreign enemy to come and take
possession of the realm; for although her object was merely to regain
the powers she had lost by her own acts, she could estimate the ruin
which would have resulted to Scotland, if Henry had really been in a
position to invade the country. His answer to her appeal was to send the

most urgent instructions to his sister to prevent Albany's landing by
every means at her disposal. In the meanwhile she waited impatiently,
but in vain, for both troops and money from Henry, who did not think it
necessary to inform her that the French king had agreed to detain
Albany in France, on condition that his dear cousin should send his
sister no help, but leave the various parties in Scotland to fight out their
quarrels alone.
* Queen Margaret to Henry VI II., 23rd November 1514; MS. Cott.,
Calig. B 1, 164; Brit. Mus.
As a result of this policy, Margaret at last began to find her position
intolerable, and she, no less than her enemies looked forward to the
duke's arrival as a means of extricating herself from a labyrinth of
difficulties. This was perhaps what Francis I. had foreseen;
notwithstanding his promise to Henry, he had no intention of
permanently preventing Albany, who was more than half a Frenchman,
from assuming a dignity that would result in a strong bond of union
between Scotland and France. Albany was therefore quietly allowed to
escape at a given moment; and when, after running the gauntlet of
Henry's ships, which were watching for him, he landed in Scotland,
Margaret resolved, for once wisely, to be friends with him.*
* Seb. Giustinian to the Doge, London, 5th August 1515; Venetian
Archives.
But Henry instructed Lord Dacre, the formidable chief of the Marches,
to stir up all the strife possible between his sister, the new regent, and
the Scottish lords, and accordingly, whenever there was a sign of a
better understanding between the three parties, Dacre was always
careful to insinuate to the queen that her brother was her best friend.
Finding that Albany had escaped the vigilance of his fleet, Henry wrote
a high-handed letter to the Scottish Council requesting that he might be
sent back to France forthwith. Their reply was as dignified as Albany's
own conduct throughout, and in strong contrast to Margaret's attitude.
They have, they say, received Henry's letter, dated 1st July 1516,
desiring them to remove John, Duke of Albany, the regent from the
person of their king, in order to promote the amity of the two realms.
The duke was chosen Protector by the unanimous voice of the Three
Estates, and was sent for by them from France; he left his master, his
lady, his living; he has taken great pains in the king's service; he has

given, and proposes to give, no cause for dissatisfaction, and if he
would leave, they would not let him. Moreover, it is in exact
conformity with their laws that the nearest in succession should have
the governance; security has been taken by the queen and others to
remove all cause of suspicion, and they will spend their lives if any
attempt be made against his Highness.* This document was signed and
sealed by twenty-eight spiritual and temporal lords, whose names are
still legible. Ten other names are mutilated beyond recognition,
although their seals remain.
* Scottish lords to Henry VIII., 4th July 1516; Record Office.
Albany had meanwhile written to Lord Dacre, denying that he had
usurped the king's authority, and declaring that he had done nothing but
by order of the Estates of the realm. But Henry was bent on picking a
quarrel with him, and Dacre's letter to the King of England's Council
shows the part which Dacre was instructed to play in the troubles of
Scotland, fomenting feuds between Albany and every member of his
government, in the hope of driving him out of the country.* Difficult,
however, as Henry's policy made it, the regent was bent on maintaining
peace, and would probably have succeeded but for Margaret.**
* Cotton MS., Calig. B 2, 341; Brit. Mus.
** Albany to Dacre,10th August 1515; R.O.
The good understanding between the regent and the queen was first
broken by his summons to her to deliver up the royal children into his
custody, a cruel but necessary proceeding, since the regency was
inseparable from the governorship of the king and the next heir.
A true and tender chord is struck at last, when Margaret, appealing to
Henry, exclaims, "God send I were such a woman as might go with my
bairns in mine arms. I trow I should not be long fra you!" Nor is it
possible to feel aught but sympathy for her, when she allows herself to