*]
By these supplies, joined to the treasure which had been left by his
father, and which was not yet entirely dissipated, he was enabled to
levy a great army, and render himself formidable to his enemy. The
English are said to have been much encouraged, in this enterprise, by
the arrival of a vessel in the Thames under the papal banner. It carried
presents of wine and hams to the king and the more eminent courtiers;
and such fond devotion was at that time entertained towards the court
of Rome, that these trivial presents were every where received with the
greatest triumph and exultation.

* Father Paul, lib. i.

** November 4, 1512.

*** Stowe.

In order to prevent all disturbances from Scotland while Henry's arms
should be employed on the continent, Dr. West, dean of Windsor, was
despatched on an embassy to James, the king's brother-in-law; and
instructions were given him to accommodate all differences between
the kingdoms, as well as to discover the intentions of the court of
Scotland.[*] Some complaints had already been made on both sides. One
Barton, a Scotchman, having suffered injuries from the Portuguese, for
which he could obtain no redress, had procured letters of marque against
that nation; but he had no sooner put to sea than he was guilty of
the grossest abuses, committed depredations upon the English, and
much infested the narrow seas.[**] Lord Howard and Sir Edward Howard,
admirals, and sons of the earl of Surrey, sailing out against him,
fought him in a desperate action, where the pirate was killed; and they
brought his ships into the Thames. As Henry refused all satisfaction for
this act of justice, some of the borderers, who wanted but a pretence
for depredations, entered England under the command of Lord Hume,
warden of the marches, and committed great ravages on that kingdom.
Notwithstanding these mutual grounds of dissatisfaction, matters might
easily have been accommodated, had it not been for Henry's intended
invasion of France, which roused the jealousy of the Scottish
nation.[***]

* Polyd. Virg. lib. xxvii.

** Stowe, p. 489. Holingshed, p. 811.

*** Buchanan, lib. xii. Drummond in the Life of James IV.

The ancient league which subsisted between France and Scotland was
conceived to be the strongest band of connection; and the Scots
universally believed, that were it not for the countenance which they
received from this foreign alliance, they had never b