ing to
above five thousand men: but the morning discovered where the advantage
lay. The English had lost only persons of small note; but the flower
of the Scottish nobility had fallen in battle, and their king himself,
after the most diligent inquiry, could nowhere be found. In searching
the field, the English met with a dead body which resembled him, and was
arrayed in a similar habit; and they put it in a leaden coffin, and sent
it to London. During some time it was kept unburied; because James died
under sentence of ex-communication, on account of his confederacy
with France, and his opposition to the holy see:[**] but upon Henry's
application, who pretended that this prince had, in the instant before
his death, discovered signs of repentance, absolution was given him, and
his body was interred.

* Buchanan, lib. xiii. Drummond. Herbert. Polyd. Virg. lib.
xxvii. Stowe, p. 493. Paulus Jovius.

** Buchanan, lib. xiii. Herbert.

The Scots, however, still asserted that it was not James's body which
was found on the field of battle, but that of one Elphinston, who had
been arrayed in arms resembling their king's, in order to divide the
attention of the English, and share the danger with his master. It was
believed that James had been seen crossing the Tweed at Kelso;* and some
imagined that he had been killed by the vassals of Lord Hume, whom that
nobleman had instigated to commit so enormous a crime. But the populace
entertained the opinion that he was still alive, and having secretly
gone in pilgrimage to the Holy Land, would soon return and take
possession of the throne. This fond conceit was long entertained among
the Scots.

The king of Scotland and most of his chief nobles being slain in the
field of Flouden, (so this battle was called,) an inviting opportunity
was offered to Henry of gaining advantages over that kingdom, perhaps
of reducing it to subjection. But he discovered on this occasion a mind
truly great and generous. When the queen of Scotland, Margaret, who
was created regent during the infancy of her son, applied for peace, he
readily granted it; and took compassion of the helpless condition of
his sister and nephew. The earl of Surrey, who had gained him so great
a victory, was restored to the title of duke of Norfolk, which had been
forfeited by his father for engaging on the side of Richard III.

{1514.} Lord Howard was honored with the title of earl of Surrey.
Sir Charles Brandon,