by guest author Margaret Skea Most of us only get married once
(to the same person). Things used to be different – for royalty
at least… Some of us may have written a poem to our beloved (not
guilty). That’s something that hasn’t changed. A poem written by
James VI to Anne of Denmark ~ 1589 What mortal man may live but
hart* As I do now, suche is my cace For now the whole is from
the part Devided eache in divers place. The seas are now the
barr Which makes us distance farr That we may soone win narr**
God graunte us grace… * without love became king at the age of
one, following the forced abdication of his mother Mary Queen of
Scots in 1567. In 1589, now 23, negotiations for a suitable
marriage, which had been a matter of primary concern to court
and country alike since his 16th birthday, were finally
concluded. His choice, Anne of Denmark, was one that pleased
himself – she was young and handsome. It pleased his subjects –
reinforcing the already important trade links with Denmark. And,
he said, it pleased G