Chapter 30: Wandering Flower
October, 1546
“Lady Elizabeth is dead.” James said. “That means that the English do not have someone they wish to offer as a marriage candidate for our son.” He looked at Beaton and continued. “The Queen Regent continues to refuse any sort of proposal that her daughter marry our son, the Duke of Rothesay. She also refuses to accept any sort of proposal that our daughter Mary be betrothed to the King of England. Therefore, we are left to believe she does not consider this alliance seriously.” Truth be told that was a relief, he did not want to be tied down to the English.
“There is always the French alliance, Sire.” Matthew Stewart said. The man had proven accurate in his predictions that the moment Lady Elizabeth was dead that the English would go cold. “King Henry has proposed his daughter Princess Elisabeth, in a continuation of what his own father suggested.”
“Indeed, he has. And yet, we find ourselves wondering whether such a marriage is truly in our interests.” James said, giving voice to something he had long wondered.
“Sire?” Cardinal Beaton asked. “The French alliance has been at the centre of Scottish foreign policy for centuries.”
James bit back a vicious retort and instead said. “We are well aware, Cardinal, but we have seen little benefit. We are always used as a scapegoat for when the French wish to wage war on the English. Just think, one hundred years ago, our sons and fathers were dying for little more than French gain. We have had nothing from it. One Princess out of a two hundred year alliance. That is pitiful. We think the time has come for us to look elsewhere.”
“Where would you look, Sire?” the Cardinal asked. “Spain will not ally with us. Not as long as they think we are sided with the French.”
“Spain does not consist the only Habsburg family, Sire.” Matthew Stewart said. “There is also the Austrian Habsburgs, King Ferdinand and his family.”
“To what benefit would either of us get from such a marriage?” Cardinal Beaton asked. “We do not get protection from the English, and they do not get direct aid against the heretics and the Muslims.”
James looked at the Cardinal and then said. “Then we shall not look to the Habsburgs. We shall look instead elsewhere, there are plenty of German Princes who would know where their trade could come from. There is also Denmark, which has provided brides for our family before.”
“Sire, the risks of breaking the Auld Alliance would be something not worth thinking of. France, for all its faults has been a staunch ally.” The Cardinal said.
James looked at the man and then looked at Arran, the man usually spoke more during these meetings. “And what say you, cousin? Do you wish for us to remain tied to France?”
Arran said nothing for a moment and then. “Sire, I believe that France will face trouble during the reign of King Henry and therefore it is not worth our time or effort to get involved.”
“What troubles do you think the French will face?” James demanded.
“King Henry is more stubborn than his father. He will not simply allow the Spanish to keep their possessions, he will try and wage war, a war that he will not be able to win but one which he will try to fight anyway. That will mean the English will get involved with the Spanish, to expand their holdings and therefore, we shall be asked to get involved. I do not think it is worth it.” Arran said.
James thought about this and thought on what he had heard from his spies at the French court, and then nodded. “You are right, cousin. For the time being we shall accept that our son shall not have a betrothed. We shall wait and see how things progress.”
“A wise choice, Sire.” Arran and Lennox both said, whilst Beaton looked worried.
. So perhaps the Duke of Rothesay, or the Duke of Albany?