ABSTRACT
From 1603, when James VI of Scotland acceded to the throne of England as James I, each of the Stuart monarchs was married to a foreign consort. The Stuart consorts’ journeys from their natal to their marital territories provided a symbol of diplomatic partnership, and their marriage agreements helped to forge economic and political links between England and foreign powers. At the same time, each of the royal consorts brought new customs to their adoptive country, including different religious practices. In Basilikon Doron (1599), a conduct manual for his eldest son, James instructs his heir to choose a bride with care. ‘A King must tymouslie Marie for the weale of his people’, James writes:
The three accessories, which as I haue said, ought also to be respected, without derogating to the principall causes, are beautie, riches, and friendship by alliance, which are al blessings of God. For beautie increaseth your loue to your Wife, contenting you the better with her, without caring for others: and riches and great alliance, doe both make her the abler to be a helper vnto you […] disagreement in Religion bringeth euer with it, disagreement in maners; and the dissention betwixt your Preachers and hers, will breed and foster a dissention among your subjects, taking their example from your family.1
