**** Fuller. Heylin. Burnet.

The greater progress was made towards a reformation in England, the
farther did the protector find himself from all prospect of completing
the union with Scotland; and the queen dowager, as well as the clergy,
became the more averse to all alliance with a nation which had so far
departed from all ancient principles. Somerset, having taken the town
of Haddington, had ordered it to be strongly garrisoned and fortified by
Lord Grey: he also erected some fortifications at Lauder; and he
hoped that these two places, together with Broughty and some smaller
fortresses which were in the hands of the English, would serve as a curb
on Scotland, and would give him access into the heart of the country.

Arran, being disappointed in some attempts on Broughty, relied chiefly
on the succors expected from France for the recovery of these places;
and they arrived at last in the frith, to the number of six thousand
men; half of them Germans. They were commanded by Desse, and under him
by Andelot, Strozzi, Meilleraye, and Count Rhingrave. The Scots were at
that time so sunk by their misfortunes, that five hundred English horse
were able to ravage the whole country without resistance, and make
inroads to the gates of the capital:[*] but on the appearance of the
French succors, they collected more courage; and having joined Desse
with a considerable reenforcement, they laid siege to Haddington.[**]
This was an undertaking for which they were by themselves totally unfit;
and even with the assistance of the French, they placed their chief
hopes of success in starving the garrison. After some vain attempts
to take the place by a regular siege, the blockade was formed, and the
garrison was repulsed with loss in several sallies which they made upon
the besiegers.

* Beague, Hist. of the Campaigns, 1548 and 1549. p. 6.

** Holingshed, p. 993.

The hostile attempts which the late king and the protector had made
against Scotland, not being steady, regular, nor pushed to the last
extremity, had served only to imitate the nation, and to inspire them
with the strongest aversion to that union which was courted in so
violent a manner. Even those who were inclined to the English alliance
were displeased to have it imposed on them by force of arms; and the
earl of Huntley in particular said, pleasantly, that he disliked not the
match, but he hated the manner of wooing.[*] The queen dowager, finding
thes