The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part C.: From Henry VII. to Mary
David Hume · en
If any inquietude remained with the English court, it was solely
occasioned by the state of affairs in Scotland. James, hearing of the
dangerous situation of his ally Francis, generously levied some forces;
and embarking them on board vessels which he had hired for that purpose,
landed them safely in France. He even went over in person; and making
haste to join the camp of the French king, which then lay in Provence,
and to partake of his danger, he met that prince at Lyons, who, having
repulsed the emperor, was now returning to his capital. Recommended by
so agreeable and seasonable an instance of friendship, the king of Scots
paid his addresses to Magdalen, daughter of the French monarch; and
this prince had no other objection to the match than what arose from the
infirm state of his daughter’s health, which seemed to threaten her
with an approaching end. But James having gained the affections of the
princess, and obtained her consent, the father would no longer oppose
the united desires of his daughter and his friend: they were accordingly
married, and soon after set sail for Scotland, where the young queen, as
was foreseen, died in a little time after her arrival. Francis, however,
was afraid lest his ally Henry, whom he likewise looked on as his
friend, and who lived with him on a more cordial footing than is usual
among great princes, should be displeased that this close confederacy
between France and Scotland was concluded without his participation. He
therefore despatched Pommeraye to London, in order to apologize for this
measure; but Henry, with his usual openness and freedom, expressed such
displeasure, that he refused even to confer with the ambassador; and
Francis was apprehensive of a rupture with a prince who regulated
his measures more by humor and passion than by the rules of political
prudence. But the king was so fettered by the opposition in which he
was engaged against the pope and the emperor, that he pursued no further
this disgust against Francis; and in the end, every thing remained in
tranquillity both on the side of France and of Scotland.