After the espousals of the Duke of Rothsay with the Earl of
March's daughter, Douglas, as if he had postponed his share in the
negotiation to show that it could not be concluded with any one but
himself, entered the lists to break off the contract. He tendered
a larger dower with his daughter Marjory than the Earl of March
had proffered; and, secured by his own cupidity and fear of the
Douglas, Albany exerted his influence with the timid monarch till
he was prevailed upon to break the contract with the Earl of March,
and wed his son to Marjory Douglas, a woman whom Rothsay could
not love. No apology was offered to the Earl of March, excepting
that the espousals betwixt the Prince and Elizabeth of Dunbar had
not been approved by the States of Parliament, and that till such
ratification the contract was liable to be broken off. The Earl
deeply resented the wrong done to himself and his daughter, and was
generally understood to study revenge, which his great influence
on the English frontier was likely to place within his power.

In the mean time, the Duke of Rothsay, incensed at the sacrifice of
his hand and his inclinations to this state intrigue, took his own
mode of venting his displeasure, by neglecting his wife, contemning
his formidable and dangerous father in law, and showing little
respect to the authority of the King himself, and none whatever
to the remonstrances of Albany, his uncle, whom he looked upon as
his confirmed enemy.

Amid these internal dissensions of his family, which extended
themselves through his councils and administration, introducing
everywhere the baneful effects of uncertainty and disunion, the
feeble monarch had for some time been supported by the counsels of