Stuart dynasty

THE Clint CI I AT HAY. 129
Fala Muir, a plain beneath the western limits of the
Lammermuir Hills, he halted and held a council of
war, whereat it transpired that the Duke of Norfolk,
commanding the English, had indulged in a Border
foray, and was in retreat. In this expedition, to
quote Mr. Froude's words, " the harvest (newly
gathered in) was reduced to ashes, and farms, vil-
lages, towns, abbeys, went down in blazing ruins." *
Finding, however, that the recpiisite commissariat
had not been lodged in Berwick, as had been ex-
pected, Norfolk left a garrison for the winter in each
available spot, and halted awhile, before retracing
his steps to York with the main body of his army.
James V., thinking the moment had arrived for
avenging his father's death at Flodden, called on
his lieges to cross the Border with him and advance
into England, but was met most unexpectedly with
sullen refusal. Some present doubtless had not for-
gotten Flodden Field, and some, being well affected
towards the reforming doctrines, did not care to
forward the Catholic cause ; while others, and they
not the least numerous, were dissatisfied with the
high-handed rule exercised over themselves ever
since the King escaped from the tutelage of Angus
and the Douglases, whose own kinsmen were doubtless
represented amongst the dissentients. " Deaf," says
Mr. Froude, " to entreaties and indifferent to taunts,"
they watched the English until they were across the
Tweed, and then dispersed to their homes. James
retired sadly to Edinburgh, where, after consultation
* Fronde's ' History of England,' edition 1858, vol. iv. p. 185.
K