Douglas book > Angus memoirs

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SIR GEORGE DOUGLAS OF PITTENDRIECH.
the king of the impracticability of his extreme projects and persuade him to abandon
them. But the constitutional rashness of Henry the Eighth speedily ruined the success
of the plans formed by Douglas.
As soon as the news of the birth of a daughter to the King of Scotland reached the
English Court, Henry resolved to use the circumstance for the advancement of his
aims. The infant "lass," as her father sorrowfully styled her on his deathbed, was
destined to inherit the crown of Scotland, and she became the object of intrigue almost
from the moment of her birth. Ere she was many weeks old the agents of King Henry
were directed to make inquiries as to the intention of the Scots regarding her marriage. 1
Sir Ealph Sadler was the ambassador sent by King Henry to the Scottish Court to
carry out his plans, and he was instructed to use the advice of Sir George Douglas.
Immediately on his arrival he was conveyed by Douglas to the apartments assigned him,
and he at once requested the latter sincerely to inform him on the position of affairs,
as the king regarded him as his trusty servant. The ambassador relates their interview
in a letter to his royal master, and as it shows, as from the lips of Douglas himself,
the work on which he had been engaged, his statements are here quoted at length.
" I have laboured," said Douglas, " with all my power to do the king's majesty
service, and will do while I live, wherein I have always pretended outwardly the
Commonwealth of Scotland, and spake not much of England, because I would not be
suspected. And I am sure that I have so bent my wits thereunto as I trust I have
deserved thanks of his majesty. I slept not three hours in one night thir six weeks.
For we have had much business with many noblemen, and of the greatest sort, as the
Earls of Huntley, Argyle, Bothwel, and Murray, which would have made a party
against us, if they could, with almost the whole clergy, and determined to have holden
another Parliament in St. Johnston, but I have prevented them, and got the town
before them, so that they could not settle there. And then the governour by mine
advice, sent them an express commandment, under pain of treason, to come to the
Parliament, and to attend on him at the same for the common weal of the realm,
which they (perceiving themselves not able to make a party) were fain to do, save the
Earl of Argyle, who sent his procurator, being himself very sick. And now, all is
well, and we have kept our parliament honourably, agreeing well together, and have
concluded, by open parliament, that the king's majesty shall have the marriage of our
young mistress, and that we shall be assured friends to England for ever, as I wrote to
my Lord William (Howard) lately. By the which, if he send my letters to the king's
majesty, as I hope he will, his highness shall perceive the whole plot of our doings here
1 State Papers, Henry viii., vol. v. p. 240.