The ability of James the Fifth to injure Henry happily fell short of his inclination, but encouraged by secret promises from Clement and from the Emperor, he was waiting his opportunity to cross the Border with an army; and in the mean time he was feeding with efficient support a rebellion in Ireland. Of what was occurring at this time in that perennially miserable country I shall speak in a separate chapter. It is here sufficient to mention, that on the 23rd of August, Henry received information that McConnell of the Isles, after receiving knighthood from James, had been despatched into Ulster with four thousand men,[1] and was followed by Mackane with seven thousand more on the 3rd of September.[2] Peace with England nominally continued; but the Kers, the Humes, the Scotts of Buccleugh, the advanced guard of the Marches, were nightly making forays across the Border, and open hostilities appeared to be on the point of explosion.[3] If war was to follow, Henry was prepared for it. He had a powerful force at Berwick, and in Scotland itself a large party were secretly attached to the English interests. The clan of Douglas, with their adherents, were even prepared for open revolt, and open transfer of allegiance.[4] But, al-
- ↑ State Papers, vol. iv. p. 612.
- ↑ Ibid. p. 616.
- ↑ The State Papers contain a piteous picture of this business, the hereditary feuds of centuries bursting out on the first symptoms of ill-will between the two Governments, with fire and devastation.—State Papers, vol. iv. p. 620-644.
- ↑ If the said Earl of Angus do make unto us oath of allegiance, and recognizes us as Supreme Lord of Scotland, and as his prince and sovereign, we then, the said Earl doing the premises, by these presents bind ourself to pay yearly to the said Earl the sum of one thousand pounds sterling.—Henry VIII. to the Earl
