HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 359 



rather exasperate him than satisfy him. Bishop Fox, 

 understanding from the king that the Scottish king 

 was still discontent and impatient, being troubled 

 that the occasion of breaking of the truce should 

 grow from his men, sent many humble and depre 

 catory letters to the Scottish king to appease him. 

 Whereupon King James, mollified by the bishop s 

 submissive and eloquent letters, wrote back unto 

 him, that though he were in part moved by his 

 letters, yet he should not be fully satisfied, except 

 he spake with him, as well about the compounding 

 of the present differences, as about other matters 

 that might concern the good of both kingdoms. The 

 bishop, advising first with the king, took his journey 

 for Scotland. The meeting was at Melross, an 

 abbey of the Cistercians, where the king then abode. 

 The king first roundly uttered unto the bishop his 

 offence conceived for the insolent breach of truce, by 

 his men of Norham castle ; whereunto Bishop Fox 

 made such humble and smooth answer, as it was like 

 oil into the wound, whereby it began to heal: and 

 this was done in the presence of the king and his 

 council. After, the king spake with the bishop apart, 

 and opened himself unto him, saying, that these 

 temporary truces and peaces were soon made, and 

 soon broken, but that he desired a straiter amity 

 with the King of England ; discovering his mind, 

 that if the king would give him in marriage the 

 Lady Margaret, his eldest daughter, that indeed 

 might be a knot indissoluble. That he knew well 

 what place and authority the bishop deservedly had 



