[A1524/11/1]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
[King James, etc., to all who read the present letters, greeting. Wishing to honour God by avoiding the death brought about by war, and to foster his subjects in just and firm peace, the king proposes to conclude a marriage, the strongest form of alliance and friendship. Therefore he appoints his faithful counsellors Robert [Cockburn], bishop of Dunkeld, Gilbert [Kennedy], earl of Cassilis, lord Kennedy, and Alexander [Milne], abbot of Cambuskenneth, as ambassadors to agree a marriage alliance and peace in the presence of Henry VIII of England, with the consent of the three estates assembled in parliament, and with the counsel of [Queen Margaret Tudor], the king's mother, giving them power to make agreement with King Henry or his commissioners concerning a marriage between King James and the illustrious daughter the heir apparent of King Henry, and concerning the payment of the dowry by reason of the marriage, and for exacting sufficient caution until there is a final conclusion of the foregoing. Alternatively for a temporary peace for seven, five or three years, as the ambassadors see fit to conclude. Whatever they agree in the king's name will be held as authoritative and agreeable. Under the great seal at Edinburgh on 18 November 1524, twelfth year of the reign.]