Page "Margaret Tudor" Paragraph 31

With no further interest in the matter she obtained permission to go to Linlithgow whence she escaped to the border.

She was received by Lord Dacre, Henry's Warden of the Marches, and taken to Harbottle Castle in Northumberland.

Here in early October she gave birth to Lady Margaret Douglas, the future Countess of Lennox and mother of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, cousin and second husband to Mary, Queen of Scots.

While still in the north of England, Queen Margaret learned of the death of her son, Alexander.

Dacre hinted that Albany — cast in the role of Richard III — was responsible, though Margaret, even in her vulnerable state, refused to accept this, saying that if he really aimed at securing the throne for himself the death of James would have suited his purpose better.

It was also at this time that she at last began to get the measure of Angus, who, with an eye on his own welfare, returned to Scotland to make peace with the Regent, " which much made Margaret to muse.

" When Henry learned that Angus would not be accompanying his sister to London he said, " Done like a Scot.

" However, all of Angus's power, wealth and influence was in Scotland ; to abandon the country would mean possible forfeiture for treason.

In this regard he would have had before him the example of his kinsman James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas, who fled to England the previous century, living out his life as a landless mercenary.