he necessity of a steady defence, the Scottish leaders
ordered all their cavalry to dismount, and they resolved to wait, on
some high grounds near Ancram, the assault of the English. The English,
whose past successes had taught them too much to despise the enemy,
thought, when they saw the Scottish horses led off the field, that the
whole army was retiring; and they hastened to attack them. The Scots
received them in good order; and being favored by the advantage of the
ground, as well as by the surprise of the English, who expected no
resistance, they soon put them to flight, and pursued them with
considerable slaughter. Evers and Latoun were both killed, and above a
thousand men were made prisoners. In order to support the Scots in this
war, Francis some time after sent over a body of auxiliaries, to the
number of three thousand five hundred men, under the command of
Montgomery, lord of Lorges.[*] Reenforced by these succors, the governor
assembled an army of fifteen thousand men at Haddington, and marched
thence to ravage the east borders of England. He laid all waste wherever
he came; and having met with no considerable resistance, he retired into
his own country, and disbanded his army. The earl of Hertford, in
revenge, committed ravages on the middle and west marches; and the war
on both sides was signalized rather by the ills inflicted on the enemy,
than by any considerable advantage gained by either party.

The war likewise between France and England was not distinguished this
year by any memorable event. Francis had equipped a fleet of above two
hundred sail, besides galleys; and having embarked some land forces on
board, he sent them to make a descent in England.[**] They sailed to the
Isle of Wight, where they found the English fleet lying at anchor in
St. Helen's. It consisted not of above a hundred sail; and the admiral
thought it most advisable to remain in that road, in hopes of drawing
the French into the narrow channels and the rocks, which were unknown to
them. The two fleets cannonaded each other for two days; and except the
sinking of the Mary Rose, one of the largest ships of the English fleet,
the damage on both sides was inconsiderable.

* Buchanan, lib. xv. Drummond.

** Beleair. Mem. du Bellai.

Francis's chief intention in equipping so great a fleet, was to prevent
the English from throwing succors into Boulogne, which he resolved to
besiege; and for that purpose he ordered a fort