Editing Lady Arbella Stuart (section)

==Marriage negotiations==
Owing to Arbella's status as a possible heir to the throne, there were discussions of appropriate marriages for her throughout her childhood.

In 1588, it was proposed to James VI of Scotland that [[Ludovic Stuart, 2nd Duke of Lennox]], should be married to Arbella, but nothing seems to have come of this suggestion.<ref>Gristwood, p.109</ref> James VI was interested in this match but the Countess of Lennox's servant [[Thomas Fowler (courtier)|Thomas Fowler]] discouraged him.<ref>''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', vol. 10 (Edinburgh, 1936), p. 17.</ref> Other potential matches were the sons of [[Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma]], who could claim the English throne as descendants of [[John of Gaunt]]. The idea was to secure toleration for English Catholics or even win Arbella for the Catholic faith. However, the eldest son, [[Ranuccio I Farnese|Ranuccio]], was already married, and the younger son, [[Odoardo Farnese (cardinal)|Odoardo]], was a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] sworn to priestly celibacy. The Pope was reportedly prepared to absolve Odoardo from his obligations but the resistance of Queen Elizabeth I to such a marriage stopped the plan probably even before Arbella could be approached.<ref name=AS />

In 1599, an English Catholic, [[Edmund Ashfield (Catholic agent)|Edmund Ashfield]], wrote to James VI on the subject of the [[Succession to Elizabeth I|succession to the throne of England]]. He considered the possibility that Elizabeth might allow Arbella Stuart to marry an English husband, and thus "assisted by some domestical match", she might become queen and continue the "sweet pleasing government" of England by a female ruler.<ref>[[John Duncan Mackie]], ''Calendar State Papers Scotland'', 13:2 (London, 1969), pp. 1128-30.</ref>

In the closing months of Elizabeth's reign, Arbella fell into trouble through reports that she intended to marry [[Edward Seymour, Lord Beauchamp#Marriage and children|Edward Seymour]], a member of the prominent Seymour family. This was reported to the Queen by the supposed groom's father, [[Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford]]. Arbella denied having any intention of marrying without the Queen's permission. In 1604, [[Sigismund III Vasa]], [[List of Polish monarchs|King of Poland]], sent an ambassador to England to ask for Arbella to be his wife. This offer was rejected.<ref>Gristwood, p. 301–302</ref>