Stuart dynasty

122 THE STUAllT DYNASTY.
already contracted to the Elector Palatine, and that
James was not ignorant of the fact.*
Henceforth there remained no obstacle to the
alliance with France which the King had always
personally preferred.
It is worthy of remark that although James V.
never closely examined the controversy engendered hy
Luther, which was convulsing Scotland, he professed
himself at one time favourable to a reformation of
manners amongst the clergy ; f and yet, either per-
suaded by those in his Council who belonged to that
sacred order, or moved to such decision by the over-
bearing conduct of his uncle, the King was finally
led into the position of championing the ancient
faith, with all its accompaniments good and bad.
The first intimation of this which the world
received was owing to the King choosing a French
princess for his wife, Mary of Bourbon being recom-
mended by David Beaton, who had been despatched to
1 ranee for the purpose of advising with Francis I.
* Henry's ' History of Great Britain,' second edition, vol. xi. p. 506,
quoting Buchanan, who (edition 1821, vol. ii. p. 428) confirms this state-
ment generally, but does not name the Elector Palatine. A work has
appeared lately by Edmond Bapst, Secretary to the Embassy at Paris,
which tells of some curious, not to say tortuous, intrigues for the hand of
the youthful James V. during his captivity amongst the Douglases. The
Princess Louise, daughter of Francis I., was proposed in 1516, being
superseded in the matrimonial market a year later by her sister Charlotte,
while a third princess of the French royal family, Madeline by name,
was destined to meet with disappointment. In 1524 and 1525 a marriage
with a Danish princess was on the tapis, so James V. only reverted ten
years later to a former proposition, although we do not learn that the
Danish princess first mentioned was niece of Charles V. (See Athenssum,
Aug. 31, 1889, p. 285.)
t ' Life of John Knox,' vol. i. p. 50.