As an art form, diplomacy has always been shrouded in secrecy, very little, save the names of treaties, being known by the general public. Yet, as the early modern period progressed, the diplomatic activities developed a more stable and largely honourable set of precepts and traditions, though its practice remained only as sound as the men who employed it. At the court of James VI and I during the early years of the seventeenth century, foreign ambassadors of varying talents navigated a landscape where tact, subtlety and political nerve were essential. This study follows these envoys as they forged alliances, arranged dynastic marriages, and defended the prestige of their rulers. Rather than focusing solely on individuals, their countries, or isolated negotiations, it reveals the evolving diplomatic machinery that shaped an emerging international order.
