SCOTTISH POLICY

Thirdly^ ye shall say that whereas the said Earl hath said
that for declaration of his affection towards us, he hath forborn
to practise the marriage of the Princess of Scotland with his son,
and procured the same to be agreed unto by the parliament there
to be concluded with our son—albeit the appearance thereof is
not great, for that it is to be thought that they would not so dis-
parage their Queen as to marry her to an Earl's son in her own
realm—yet you may show unto him that we have in such wise
accepted his demeanour hitherto in all the affairs of Scotland,
that we have in our own breast devised such ways and means for
the advancement of the reputation of his blood as he may have
cause to rejoice and take comfort in his conformity to our
proceedings. For ye may say that whereas we have a daughter
called the Lady Elizabeth, endowed with virtues and qualities
agreeable with her estate, whom we esteem and regard, as natural
inclination, with respect of her place and state, doth of congru-
ence require: we have determined in our heart, if we shall see
him sincerely to go through with us in all things, to condescend
to a marriage to be celebrate between his son and our said
daughter, if he shall think it for his honour and advancement to
desire the same, and thereby to take his son so conjoined with
our daughter as our son-in-law, being content according to that
estate to bring up and nourish him in our court with us. By
reason whereof, all other commodities not counted, the governor
may perceive that by means thereof he shall with the estimation
of our authority be able to retain and keep the place he now
occupieth quiedy and peaceably without interruption; which else
percase might be very dangerous, for doubtless if he make a secret
and due search what was minded by their lords and inshops that
would not come in to him at the first, we think he shall perceive
a combination to his destruction, with the Earl of Angus and all
that party, and the putting of the Cardinal to liberty, and the
taking of the young. Queen into their hands, and mayhap not with-
out the consent of the Dowager. Which thing, though they now
could not bring to pass, yet be they sworn one to another to prove
it and not to desist at some one time or other to bring it to pass;
which if they by their own policy cannot find the means
to bring to light, we doubt not, they proceeding with us