That she was seriously anxious to be agreeable to the duke is seen by the instructions which she delivered to John Cantely, who was to tell the regent of her goodwill towards him and the kingdom of France.  And lest he should interpret unfavourably the circumstance of her having sent ambassadors to England, she assured him that she would do nothing without including France.  Finally, she wished to know his intentions towards her and what he would give her.  In the event of her taking his part against England, which she will certainly do if Henry continues to help Angus, Albany must secure for her the protection of the French king.  If this king desires to have her and her son on his side, he must support them.

But Albany must keep the matter secret, and not allow her letters to be sent into England, as has been done formerly, and she will take his part against everyone except her son.*

* Double de la credence de la Royne et memoire de Mr. John Cantely; R.O.

This was written on the 22nd February 1525, but on the 31st March following, Margaret, in a stormy interview with Angus, angrily denied having negotiated with Albany at all.  She swore that she had always sought to please Henry, and complained of his letters being “sore and sharp.”  She had taken a great matter on hand at his request, and had had much trouble with the duke for his sake, yet now that she had plainly told the regent that she followed Henry’s pleasure, Henry would have no more to do with her.  If he will not be kind to her, she hopes at least that he will not cause Angus to trouble her in her living.  She has a plea against Angus before the Pope, and he cannot interfere with her by law.*

* Calig.  B 7, 3.

It was clearly to Henry’s interest to persuade Margaret to take her husband back, for Angus belonged with the whole Douglas family to Albany’s bitterest enemies.  The reconciliation between him and the regent had been but a short interlude brought about solely from self-interest on the part of Angus, and followed by a deep and lasting feud.  Added to this claim on Henry’s friendship was the fact that he possessed a powerful influence over the young King James.  But with the page of Henry’s own domestic history open before us, it is not possible to repress a smile at the arguments against her divorce which Henry put before Margaret, at the very moment when he was trying to force the Pope’s hand, in order to obtain from him a sentence against his own marriage.  The following substance of a letter, written it is true by Wolsey, but dictated by his master, applies in every detail as well to Henry’s own case as to Margaret’s.  If we change the pronoun, substitute London for Rome, king for queen, Katharine for Angus, all that he causes Wolsey to say becomes as applicable to himself as to his sister.