1542. CHAP. Perhaps the greater fimplicity and the more fpiXXXII. ritual abftract worship of the proteftants, gave lefs hold to ridicule, which is commonly founded on fenfible representations. It was, therefore, a very agreeable conceffion which the king made to the catholic party, to fupprefs entirely these religious comedies. THUS Henry laboured inceffantly, by arguments, creeds, and penal ftatutes, to bring his fubjects to an uniformity in their religious fentiments: But as he entered himself with the greatest earneftness into all thofe fcholaftic difputes, he encouraged the people, by his example, to apply themselves to the ftudy of theology; and it was in vain afterwards to expect, however prefent fear might restrain their tongues or pens, that they would cordially agree in any set of tenets or opinions prescribed to them. CHA P. XXXIII. War with Scotland -Victory at Solway Death of James V.Treaty with Scotland-New rupture Rupture with France—A parliament Affairs of Scotland-A parliament -Campaign in France-A parliamentPeace with France and ScotlandPerfecutions Execution of the earl of Surrey- -Attainder of the duke of Norfolk- Death of the kingHis character-Mifcellaneous tranfa&tions. H ENRY, being determined to avenge himself CHAP. on the king of Scots for flighting the advances XXXIII. which he had made him, would gladly have obtained 1542. a fupply from parliament, in order to profecute that War with enterprise; but as he did not think it prudent to dif- Scotland. cover his intentions, that affembly, conformably to their frugal maxims, would understand no hints; and the king was difappointed in his expectations. He continued, however, to make preparations for war; and as foon as he thought himself in a condition to invade Scotland, he published a manifefto, by which he endeavoured to justify hoftilities. He complained of James's breach of word, in declining the promifed interview; which was the real ground of the quarrel" But in order to give a more fpecious colouring to the enterprife, he mentioned other injuries; namely, that his nephew had granted protection to fome English rebels and fugitives, and had detained fome territory, which Henry pretended Buchanan, lib. 14. Drummond in James the Fifth. Q 2 belonged 1542. CHAP. belonged to England. He even revived the old XXXIII. claim to the vaffalage of Scotland, and he fummoned James to do homage to him as his liege lord and fuperior. He employed the duke of Norfolk, whom he called the fcourge of the Scots, to command in the war; and though James fent the bishop of Aberdeen and fir James Learmont of Darfay to appease his uncle, he would hearken to no terms of accommodation. While Norfolk was affembling his army at Newcastle, fir Robert Bowes, attended by fir Ralph Sadler, fir Ralph Evers, fir Brian Latoun, and others, made an incurfion into Scotland, and advanced towards Jedburgh, with an intention of pillaging and destroying that town. The earl of Angus, and George Douglas his brother, who had been many years banished their country, and had fubfifted by Henry's bounty, joined the English army in this incurfion; and the forces, commanded by Bowes, exceeded four thousand men. James had not been negligent in his preparations for defence, and had pofted a confiderable body, under the command of the earl of Huntley, for the protection of the borders. Lord Hume, at the head of his vaffals, was haftening to join Huntley when 24th Aug. he met with the English army; and an action immediately enfued. During the engagement the forces under Huntley began to appear; and the English, afraid of being furrounded and overpowered, took to flight, and were purfued by the enemy. Evers, Latoun, and fome other perfons of diftinction, were taken prisoners. A few only of fmall note fell in the fkirmish°. THE duke of Norfolk, meanwhile, began to move from his camp at Newcastle; and being attended by the earls of Shrewsbury, Derby, Cumberland, Surrey, Hertford, Rutland, with many others of the nobility, he advanced to the borders. His forces amounted • Buchanan, lib. 14. to XXXIII. to above twenty thousand men; and it required the CHAP. utmost efforts of Scotland to refift fuch a formidable armament. James had affembled his whole military 1542. force at Fala and Sautrey, and was ready to advance as foon as he fhould be informed of Norfolk's invading his kingdom. The English paffed the Tweed at Berwic, and marched along the banks of the river as far as Kelfo; but hearing that James had collected near thirty thousand men, they repaffed the river at that village, and retreated into their own country P. The king of Scots, inflamed with a defire of military glory, and of revenge on his invaders, gave the fignal for pursuing them, and carrying the war into England. He was surprised to find that his nobility, who were in general difaffected on account of the preference which he had given to the clergy, opposed this refolution, and refufed to attend him in his projected enterprise. Enraged at this mutiny, he reproached them with cowardice, and threatened vengeance; but ftill refolved, with the forces which adhered to him, to make an impreffion on the enemy. He fent ten thoufand men to the weftern borders, who entered England at Solway frith; and he himfelf followed them at a small diftance, ready to join them upon occafion. Difgufted, however, at the refractory difpofition of his nobles, he fent a meffage to the army, depriving lord Maxwel their general of his commiffion, and conferring the command on Oliver Sinclair, a private gentleman, who was his favourite. The army was extremely difgufted with this alteration, and was ready to difband; when a fmall body of English appeared, not exceeding 500 men, under the command of Dacres and Mufgrave. A panic feized the Scots, who immediately took to flight, and were purfued by the enemy. Few were 24th Nov. killed in this rout; for it was no action; but a great Victory at С НАР. XXXIII. 3542. 14th Dec. Death of James the Fifth. many were taken prifoners, and fome of the principal nobility: Among these the earls of Caffilis and Glencairn; the lords Maxwel, Fleming, Somerville, Oliphant, Grey, who were all fent to London, and given in cuftody to different noblemen. THE king of Scots, hearing of this disaster, was astonished; and being naturally of a melancholic difpofition, as well as endowed with a high spirit, he loft all command of his temper on this difmal occafion. Rage against his nobility, who he believed had betrayed him; fhame for a defeat by such unequal numbers; regret for the paft, fear of the future; all these paffions fo wrought upon him, that he would admit of no confolation, but abandoned himself wholly to defpair. His body was wafted by fyınpathy with his anxious mind; and even his life began to be thought in danger. He had no iffue living; and hearing that his queen was fafely delivered, he asked whether he had brought him a male or female child? Being told the latter; he turned himself in his bed: «The crown came with " a woman," said he, " and it will go with one: "Many miferies await this poor kingdom: Henry "will make it his own either by force of arms or by marriage." A few days after, he expired, in the flower of his age; a prince of confiderable virtues and talents; well fitted, by his vigilance and perfonal courage, for repreffing thofe diforders to which his kingdom during that age was fo much expofed. He executed juftice with impartiality and rigour; but as he fupported the commonalty and the church against the rapine of the nobility, he escaped not the hatred of that order. The proteftants alfo, whom he opposed, have endeavoured to throw many ftains on his memory; but have not been able to fix any confiderable imputation upon him. 4 See note [O] at the end of the volume. HENRY |