Jane had borne him a daughter who was known as the Lady Jean Douglas, and it seemed that her mother, and he too, would make this child’s position comparable with that of his daughter born in wedlock to the Queen, the Lady Margaret Douglas.
This was not to be tolerated.
Then she made up her mind what she would do.
Angus had been betrothed to Jane Stuart before his marriage to the Queen. Could this be grounds for divorce?
Very soon the news was out, as she intended it should be.
The Queen no longer lives with Angus; she is contemplating divorce.
Margaret and Albany
James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, was on his way to see the Queen. Arran was a proud man; through his mother, Princess Mary, the daughter of James II, he had royal blood in his veins and he never forgot it. It was for this reason that he had been so angered to see the rise of the Douglases through the Queen’s marriage with Angus. That he, Arran, who might become a claimant to the throne of Scotland, should have to take second place to that pretty boy was unendurable. There was one person in Scotland whom Arran hated above all others, and that was Angus.
Thus when he heard of the friction between the Queen and her husband he hastened to plead for an interview with Margaret, that he might place himself and his power at her disposal. He was ready to stake his future on this; and he was determined that if she wanted a divorce from Angus she should know that all the influence of the Hamiltons was behind her.
Margaret received the Earl who wasted no time in opening up the subject which was of such importance to them both.
“I come to commiserate with Your Grace,” he told her, “and to place myself at your service.”
“I thank you, my lord.”
She signed for him to be seated and she marveled that a man who was an enemy one day seemed to become a friend the next.
“It is a matter for rejoicing among those who are Your Grace’s friends that you should have decided to cast off the Douglas. Madam, we have long been aware of his unworthiness.
“I alas have remained blind too long,” answered Margaret; at which Arran bowed his head in assent.
“But now,” went on Margaret, “I see him for what he is and, believe me, my lord, I shall not rest until I can no longer call myself his wife.”
“A divorce should be arranged with all speed. The Douglases should be stripped of the power which came to them through this marriage.”
Margaret looked at him and smiled wryly, thinking: That it may be bestowed on the Hamiltons?
Hamiltons, Douglases, Hepburns, Homes — they were all ambitious men, all seeking favors which would strengthen their families and make their clans the strongest in the land. Still, she must try to look to her own advantage as they did to theirs. The Hamiltons were certainly one of the most powerful families in Scotland, and Arran stood at their head. She must use them as they would, if they had the opportunity, use her.
She, who could love fiercely, could hate with the same passion; and now, almost as great as her desire to have the care of her son, was that to rid herself of the husband who had put her in the difficult position she now occupied, and then had rewarded her with his infidelity.
“There is little opposition in the land against the suggested divorce?” she asked.
“There is great rejoicing, Your Grace.”
Yes, she thought, among the Douglases’ enemies. She could imagine the consternation the matter would have brought about in her husband’s family.
“Why, Your Grace,” went on Arran, “when you are free of the Douglases, I doubt not that your friends will wish to see you restored to that position which was yours before the unfortunate marriage. I have discussed the matter with the Earl of Lennox who is of my mind; and the Bishops of Galloway and Argyle are as eager to see the bond between you and Angus severed. Your Grace would find yourself supported by many powerful friends.”
“I find that reassuring,” answered Margaret.
“Have no fear, Your Grace. This is the best step you have taken since you entered into that marriage; and in truth I come on behalf of your friends to tell you of the pleasure this has given them.”
They talked awhile of the affairs of Scotland, and Arran asked after the health of the little Lady Margaret Douglas.
Margaret, who could never resist showing her pride in her children, sent for the child that Arran might see for himself what a bonny creature she was.
Arran confessed himself delighted and charmed; and when little Margaret had left them he began to talk of his son with deep affection — and Margaret sensed the implication behind his words. He was telling her that his James, who would one day be Earl of Arran, had the blood of Royal Stuart in his veins; and since one day it would be necessary to find a husband for the Lady Margaret Douglas, the son of Arran should not be considered unworthy.
Margaret allowed him to see that she had grasped his point and was not displeased by it.
When Arran left her Margaret congratulated herself that with the influential lords to back her she stood a very good chance of regaining the Regency, which would mean control of her son; as for Arran, he saw in this the downfall of his enemy Angus.
There were two factions in Scotland now, one under Arran, the other under Angus. The Douglases rallied to the support of the head of their House, and among them were men made influential by the honors Margaret herself had showered on them at the time of her infatuation with her husband.
It was believed by many that the return of Albany was imperative to restore order; and news was carried to him of the trouble between two of the most powerful families in the land and of the Queen’s determination to divorce her husband; moreover the suggestion of a betrothal of Margaret’s daughter and Arran’s son was alarming, for it could unite Douglases and Hamiltons against him.
But the political position had changed, because there was now a rapprochement between France and England. François and Henry had decided to meet and were making preparations for the Field of the Cloth of Gold; and Henry’s daughter, the Princess Mary, had been betrothed to the Dauphin. Although François wished Albany to return to Scotland in order to safeguard French interests, he knew that Henry was eager that the Duke should remain in France. It was not the moment to antagonize Henry.
Meanwhile the news of Margaret’s intentions to divorce Angus reached the English Court.
Henry grew scarlet when he read his sister’s letter.
He could not believe it. He went to his wife’s apartment, his eyes ablaze, and signed to her women to depart. Katharine, terrified at his appearance, hurried to him and begged him to tell her what ill news he brought.
“T-That a sister of mine,” he stuttered, “could so far forget her duty… her honor… to suggest such an action!”
“Your Grace, Mary… ”
“Nay, not Mary. Margaret. Listen to this: ‘I am sore troubled with my lord Angus, since my last coming into Scotland, and every day more and more so. We have not been together these last months… ’” Henry stopped; it was as though the words choked him.
Katharine said gently: “Alas, so she is not happy in her marriage. Poor Margaret! I am sorry for her.”
“Whether she be happy or not, it is not for her to talk of… divorce!”
“Divorce!” cried Katharine, and she began to tremble with horror.
“I said divorce. Angus does not please her so, look you, she plans to divorce him. She will dishonor her marriage vows. She will disgrace us all. A sister of mine to talk of divorce!”
“Oh, Henry, we must persuade her how wrong this is.”
“Persuade her! I shall forbid her. I shall make her see her duty to her family — if she has so far forgotten her duty to God and the Church. I’ll not have divorce in my family, I do assure you. No, Kate, you will sit down and write to her at once. And so shall I. You will tell her how she has wounded you, shocked you beyond belief. While I… I will remind her that I am the King of a great country, and not only that, the head of a great House. There shall be no divorce in my family. I’ll not stomach the disgrace.”