ing his respect and love for her; and she exercised a strong and
salutary influence over his turbulent and despotic spirit. When Henry
set out on his expedition to France, in 1513, he left Katherine regent
of the kingdom during his absence, with full powers to carry on the war
against the Scots; and the Earl of Surrey at the head of the army, as
her lieutenant-general. It is curious to find Katherine--the pacific,
domestic, and unpretending Katherine--describing herself as having "her
heart set to war," and "horrible busy" with making "standards, banners,
badges, scarfs, and the like."[97] Nor was this mere silken
preparation--mere dalliance with the pomp and circumstance of war; for
within a few weeks afterwards, her general defeated the Scots in the
famous battle of Floddenfield, where James IV. and most of his nobility
were slain.[98]

Katherine's letter to Henry, announcing this event, so strikingly
displays the piety and tenderness, the quiet simplicity, and real
magnanimity of her character, that there cannot be a more apt and
beautiful illustration of the exquisite truth and keeping of
Shakspeare's portrait.

SIR,

My Lord Howard hath sent me a letter, open to your Grace,
within one of mine, by the which ye shall see at length the
great victory that our Lord hath sent your subjects in your
absence: and for this cause, it is no need herein to trouble
your Grace with long writing; but to my thinking this battle
hath been to your Grace, and all your realm, the greatest
honor that could be, and more than ye should win all the
crown of France, thanked be God for it! And I am sure your
Grace forgetteth not to do this, which shall be cause to
send you many more such great victories, as I trust he shall
do. My husband, for haste, with Rougecross, I could not send
your Grace the piece of the king of Scots' coat, which John
Glyn now bringeth. In this your Grace shall see how I can
keep my promise, sending you for your banners a king's coat.
I thought to send himself unto you, but our Englishmen's
hearts would not suffer it. It should have been better for
him to have been in peace than have this reward, but all
that God sendeth is for the best. My Lord of Surrey, my
Henry, would fain know your pleasure in the burying of the
king of Scots' body, for he hath written to me so. With the
next messenger, your Grace