Anniversary Address. 39 



forays, and to wear the red cross badge of England. That 

 they did not do so from any love of England was proved by 

 their conduct at the battle of Ancrum moor two years later 

 (February, 1535), where 600 Border lances tore off their red 

 crosses and passed over to their countrymen * But this 

 transient gleam of success produced little change in the 

 fortunes of the Border. Even after the death of Henry VIII. 

 the same policy was pursued by Somerset the Protector, who, 

 under his former title of earl of Hertford, had wrought such 

 skaith in previous years. His success in gaining over the 

 nobles opposed to Cardinal Beaton was proved by a list of 

 two hundred men of note, bound secretly to the service of 

 England, which was found in the castle of St. Andrew's, 

 when the murderers of that prelate were taken. Among 

 these the name of Bothwell held a prominent place. He 

 engaged to deliver up Hermitage and to renounce his alle- 

 giance to the earl of Arran, now governor of the kingdom, 

 during the queen's minority, in reward for which he was to 

 receive in marriage the duchess of Suffolk, aunt to the 

 English monarch. f He was immediately thrown into prison, 

 but was released the day after the battle of Pinkie, 10th 

 September, 1547. The first use he made of his liberty was 

 to join the Protector and openly espouse the English cause. 

 A pension of 3000 crowns to keep up 100 horsemen, with 

 whom to serve against his countrymen, was conferred on 

 him, and he was guaranteed against any loss of his Scottish 

 lands incurred thereby.^ His treason does not seem to have 

 prospered. The Protector's schemes were foiled by the French 

 auxiliaries sent to Scotland, and Bothwell, not daring to 

 return, died in exile in 1556.§ 



His son, James the fourth earl, attached himself to the 

 queen mother, now regent and head of the Roman Catholic 



* Tytler V. 317. The same thing happened to Wharton in February, 1547, 

 when checked by the earl of Angus in a raid on the Western Marches; ib. VI. 40. 



f Tytler, V. 16, quoting letter to the Protector Somerset, of 18 August, 1547, 

 in State Paper Office. 



X Rymer Faed. III. 173. 



§ Douglass peerage, I. 228. 



