#OTD in 1503 Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII, married James IV of Scotland. Via her line, the royal house of Stuart eventually acceded to the throne of England (good word, 'acceded', never used that before) and Ireland as well as Scotland.
When Henry's advisers warned him against bringing the Stuarts into the line of English succession, he allegedly replied:
"What then? Should anything of the kind happen (and God avert the omen), I foresee that our realm would suffer no harm, since England would not be absorbed by Scotland, but rather Scotland by England, being the noblest head of the entire island, since there is always less glory and honour in being joined to that which is far the greater, just as Normandy once came under the rule and power of our ancestors the English."
Well. That's a fine sentiment coming from a Welshman.
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