The bitter hate of the two peoples blocked the way, and even Henry's ministers objected that the English crown might be made by the match the heritage of a Scottish king.

"Then," they said, "Scotland will annex England." "No," said the king with shrewd sense; "in such a case England would annex Scotland, for the greater always draws to it the less." His steady pressure at last won the day.

In 1502 the marriage-treaty with the Scot-king was formally concluded; and quiet, as Henry trusted, secured in the north.
[Sidenote: The Spanish Marriage] The marriage of Margaret was to bring the House of Stuart at an after time to the English throne.

But results as momentous and far more immediate followed on the marriage of Henry's sons.

From the outset of his reign Henry had been driven to seek the friendship and alliance of Spain.