ficent as
possible, "and I beseech you," he concluded, "keep out of the court, _deux
sortes de gens_, the imperialists, and the wits and mockers; the English
can endure neither of them."[379]

Through the tone of this language the contempt is easily visible with which
the affair was regarded in the French court. But for Francis to receive in
public the rival of Queen Catherine, to admit her into his family, and to
bring his sister from Paris to entertain her, was to declare in the face of
Europe, in a manner which would leave no doubt of his sincerity, that he
intended to countenance Henry. With this view only was the reception of
Anne desired by the King of England; with this view it was recommended by
the bishop, and assented to by the French court. Nor was this the only
proof which Francis was prepared to give, that he was in earnest. He had
promised to distribute forty thousand crowns at Rome, in bribing cardinals
to give their voices for Henry in the consistory, with other possible
benefactions.[380]

He had further volunteered his good offices with the court of Scotland,
where matters were growing serious, and where his influence could be used
to great advantage. The ability of James the Fifth to injure Henry happily
fell short of his inclination, but encouraged by secret promises from
Clement and from the emperor, he was waiting his opportunity to cross the
Border with an army; and in the meantime he was feeding with efficient
support a rebellion in Ireland. Of what was occurring at this time in that
perennially miserable country I shall speak in a separate chapter. It is
here sufficient to mention, that on the 23rd of August, Henry received
information that McConnell of the Isles, after receiving knighthood from
James, had been despatched into Ulster with four thousand men,[381] and was
followed by Mackane with seven thousand more on the 3rd of September.[382]
Peace with England nominally continued; but the Kers, the Humes, the Scotts
of Buccleugh, the advanced guard of the Marches, were nightly making forays
across the Border, and open hostilities appeared to be on the point of
explosion.[383] If war was to follow, Henry was prepared for it. He had a
powerful force at Berwick, and in Scotland itself a large party were
secretly attached to the English interests. The clan of Douglas, with their
adherents, were even prepared for open revolt, and open transfer of
allegiance.[384] But, although Scottish nobles might