succeed in this enterprise. The garrison made vigorous
sallies upon his army: the French forces assaulted him from without:
great rains fell: fatigue and bad weather threw the soldiers into
dysenteries: and Surrey was obliged to raise the siege, and put his
troops into winter quarters about the end of October. His rear guard was
attacked at Pas, in Artois, and five or six hundred men were cut off;
nor could all his efforts make him master of one place within the French
frontier.

The allies were more successful in Italy. Lautrec, who commanded the
French, lost a great battle at Bicocca, near Milan; and was obliged to
retire with the remains of his army. This misfortune, which proceeded
from Francis's negligence in not supplying Lautrec with money,[*]
was followed by the loss of Genoa. The castle of Cremona was the sole
fortress in Italy which remained in the hands of the French.

* Guicciard. lib. xiv.

Europe was now in such a situation, and so connected by different
alliances and interests, that it was almost impossible for war to be
kindled in one part, and not diffuse itself throughout the whole; but
of all the leagues among kingdoms the closest was that which had so long
subsisted between France and Scotland; and the English, while at war
with the former nation, could not hope to remain long unmolested on the
northern frontier. No sooner had Albany arrived in Scotland, than he
took measures for kindling a war with England; and he summoned the whole
force of the kingdom to meet in the fields of Rosline.[*] He thence
conducted the army southwards into Annandale, and prepared to pass the
borders at Solway Frith. But many of the nobility were disgusted with
the regent's administration; and observing that his connections with
Scotland were feeble in comparison of those which he maintained with
France, they murmured that for the sake of foreign interests, their
peace should so often be disturbed and war, during their king's
minority, be wantonly entered into with a neighboring nation, so much
superior in force and riches. The Gordons, in particular, refused to
advance any farther; and Albany, observing a general discontent to
prevail was obliged to conclude a truce with Lord Dacres, warden of the
English west marches. Soon after he departed for France; and lest the
opposite faction should gather force in his absence, he sent thither
before him the earl of Angus, husband to the queen dowager.

{1523.} Next year