they insisted on his restoring all the places which he had
taken, the proposal came to nothing. The Scots recovered the fortresses
of Hume and Fastcastle by surprise, and put the garrisons to the sword:
they repulsed with loss the English, who, under the command of Lord
Seymour, made a descent, first in Fife, then at Montrose: in the former
action, James Stuart, natural brother to the queen, acquired honor; in
the latter, Ereskine of Dun. An attempt was made by Sir Robert Bowes and
Sir Thomas Palmer, at the head of a considerable body, to throw relief
into Haddington; but these troops, falling into an ambuscade, were
almost wholly cut in pieces.[*] And though a small body of two hundred
men escaped all the vigilance of the French, and arrived safely in
Haddington with some ammunition and provisions, the garrison was reduced
to such difficulties, that the protector found it necessary to provide
more effectually for their relief. He raised an army of eighteen
thousand men, and adding three thousand Germans, who, on the dissolution
of the Protestant alliance, had offered their service to England, he
gave the command of the whole to the earl of Shrewsbury.[**] Desse
raised the blockade on the approach of the English; and with great
difficulty made good his retreat to Edinburgh, where he posted himself
advantageously. Shrewsbury, who had lost the opportunity of attacking
him on his march, durst not give him battle in his present situation;
and contenting himself with the advantage already gained of supplying
Haddington, he retired into England.

* Stowe, p. 595. Holingshed, p, 994.

** Hayward, p. 291.

Though the protection of France was of great consequence to the Scots in
supporting them against the invasions of England, they reaped still more
benefit from the distractions and divisions which have crept into the
councils of this latter kingdom. Even the two brothers, the protector
and admiral, not content with the high stations which they severally
enjoyed, and the great eminence to which they had risen, had entertained
the most violent jealousy of each other; and they divided the whole
court and kingdom by their opposite cabals and pretensions. Lord Seymour
was a man of insatiable ambition; arrogant, assuming, implacable; and
though esteemed of superior capacity to the protector, he possessed
not to the same degree the confidence and regard of the people. By his
flattery and address, he had so insinuated hims