A HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND 



they might be able to subdue. 1 He is said to have occasionally resided 

 at Carlisle Castle, where there is a tower, bearing his name, on the 

 southern face of which is sculptured the figure of a boar, which was his 

 badge. 



Cumberland enjoyed a period of comparative rest during the closing 

 years of Henry VII., but with the advent of the strong will and quick 

 temper of Henry VIII. matters soon assumed a different aspect. His 

 foreign policy, directed as it was at first against France, the old ally of 

 Scotland, brought him into dangerous collision with his brother-in-law, 

 James IV. Lord Dacre was employed as an intermediary to compose 

 the points of difference and to confirm the existing peace. Nothing 

 however would satisfy James short of Henry's desisting from his designs 

 on France and his active participation in the league against that country. 

 In 1513, while Henry was still abroad, he crossed the Border at the 

 head of a large army and took Norham Castle, but was subsequently 

 encountered by the Earl of Surrey at Flodden and defeated and slain 

 with many of his greatest nobles. On the English side Lord Dacre 

 commanded the levies of Gillesland, and his intervention at a critical 

 moment was a powerful factor in the victory that was won. 2 The 

 battle of Flodden was the prelude to a fresh outbreak of sanguinary 

 feuds in which Dacre played a principal part. His letters to the 

 privy council respecting his work as warden of the March are little 

 more than reiterated accounts of the destruction he was engaged to 

 carry out. One of these, dated 17 May 1514, in which he defends 

 the vigilance and success of his administration, may be selected as an 

 indication of what was taking place at this period. ' For oone cattell 

 taken by the Scotts,' he reported, ' we haue takyn, won and brought 

 awey out of Scotland c th : and for oone shepe, cc th of a surity. And 

 has for the townships and housis burnt in any of the said Est, Mid- 

 dill and West Marches within my reull, fro the begynnyng of this 

 warr unto this daye, as well when as the late King of Scotts laye in 

 the same Est Marches as at all other times, I assure your lordships for 

 truthe that I haue and hes caused to be burnt and distroyed sex tymes 

 moo townys and howsys within the West and Middill Marches of Scot- 

 land in the same season then is done to us, as I may be trusted and as 



1 Rot. Parl. (Rec. Com.), vi. 204-5. In the preamble of the Act it is stated ' that the seid Due, 

 beyng Wardeyn of the seid Westmarches, late by his manyfold and diligent labours and devoirs, hath 

 subdued grete part of the Westbordures of Scotlande, adjoynyng to Englond, by the space of xxx miles 

 and more, therby at this tyme not enhabite with Scotts, and hath gete and acheved diverse pa rcelles 

 therof to be under the obeissaunce of oure said Soverayne Lorde, not oonly to the grete rest and ease of 

 th' enhabitauntes of the seid Westmerches, but also to the grete suerty and ease of the North parties of 

 Englond, and moche more therof he entendith, and with Goddis grace is like to gete and subdue herafter : 

 and the seid Westmerches the more suerly to be defended and kept ayenst the Scotts, if the seid appoynte- 

 ments and agrements be perfourmed and accomplished.' 



a In the official account of the battle it is said that the Scots charged ' in good order after the 

 Almayns manner without speking a word.' Edmund Howard was on the right wing of Lord Howard 

 with 1,000 Cheshire and 500 Lancashire men, who were defeated by Alexander Lord Hume, lord chamber- 

 lain of Scotland. Mr. Gray and Sir Humphrey Lyle were taken prisoners ; Sir Wynchard Harbottle and 

 Maurice Barkley were slain ; Edmund Howard was thrice ' feled,' when Dacre came to his relief and 

 routed the Scots (L. tf P. of Henry Vlll. i. 4441). 



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