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and his subjects' love of war. The bond by which he was bound to Henry VII., great as it was, was not more than sufficient to make him keep the peace. He was bound also, by many alliances and compacts to France, to Gueldres, to petty Irish chieftains; and it required all Henry's moderation to prevent an outbreak, which naturally was not long delayed when Henry VIII. succeeded. Thus we find in the letters to and from the young O'Donnel, who succeeded his father in 1506, and claimed the title of Prince of Ulster, that he and his father had acknowledged themselves to be James's subjects. Indeed each in his time visited Scotland to pay James allegiance. The father went in 1495, and made a compact with him for mutual support. The son visited him in 1513, three months before the battle of Flodden, and engaged to serve him against the English. Yet the latter excused himself to Henry VIII. a year afterwards, and went so far as to declare that he had never given the king just cause of offence. As for

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the slanders that had arisen on his going into Scotland, he trusted Henry gave no credit to what was said! 1

Much more might be said of the contents of the Scottish correspondence, which indeed is important not only to Scottish and English history, but also to that of other countries, especially Denmark and the Northern States of Europe. For the ecclesiastical history of Scotland it is particularly valuable, and altogether it is one of the most remarkable series of letters for this particular period that any country possesses.

But it must suffice if we have indicated what is to be obtained from the study of the letters themselves; which has been our aim as regards not only the Scotch correspondence, but the whole of our materials. We have gone no further than we have been led by the documents before us, and there is much in the history that we have left untouched. But where our letters are silent the student must avail himself of other aids; and we may be permitted to indicate two, which in these places are of special value. The fifth volume of the Paston Letters supplies notices of the war in Britanny, and the Rolls of Parliament are a mine of information that no careful inquirer will neglect. To such sources we must refer the reader for further guidance, and here take leave of him.

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY.

A.D. 1483.

RICHARD III

Page

18 July. App. B. Proclamation touching the Irish coinage 286 I. Lord Dynham to the Lord Chancellor (Russell). Death of Lewis XI. Surrender of Utrecht to Maximilian. Shall safe-conducts be granted to Frenchmen? The king should have a fleet in the channel

1484. App. B. Proclamation against ships going to Iceland without licences.

23 Feb.

II. Embassy from the Archduke Maximilian. Richard has declared his willingness to accept the archduke's mediation between him and Britanny if the duke of Britanny would deliver up the English refugees. Causes of Maximilian's war in the Netherlands, the Flemings having taken possession of his children and seized the government. Offers for mutual support against the Flemings and against France. Escape of the earl of Richmond from Britanny. Complaints of piracy against the English 26 Sept. App. B. Proclamation against retainders

1

287

3

288

HENRY VII.

1486. App. B. Proclamation against false rumours 1487.

1 Jan.

288

Ib. Letter of Charles VIII. of France touching an attempt to betray St. Omer's to the English 289 8 Mar. I. Giles lord Daubeney to the ambassadors of Maximilian. The king approves the treaty negotiated by them at Calais

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A.D. 1487.

Page

8 Mar. II. The same to the same. Concerning outrages committed by the Flemings on the confines of Calais

1492. App. B. The peace with France

1493. 11 Feb.

1494. 10 Aug.

1495.

10 May.

III. Gerald, earl of Kildare, to the earl of Ormond.
The messengers sent by Kildare to the king
have been imprisoned. It is not true that he
supported "the French lad." Ormond's bastard
cousin calls himself earl
App. B. Instructions to Richmond, king-of-arms,
what he shall say to Charles VIII. of France
in answer to his offer to assist Henry in putting
down rebellions. Every one in England knows
the imposture of Perkin Warbeck. The king
is going to establish order in Ireland
App. B. Private instructions to Richmond to be
communicated to Charles VIII. in secret.
Maximilian only supports Warbeck out of spite,
perceiving the firm amity between France and
England

IV. Fox, bishop of Durham, to Darcy. Was too
ill lately to go to court. Has settled the matter
of the Borders

13 Oct. V. Henry VII. to the Archduke Philip. Although
the English have had just occasion to make
war on the Flemings, Henry has, at Philip's
request, forbidden them for the present

20 Dec. VI. Henry VII. to the earl of Shrewsbury, authorizing him to instal Sir Gilbert Talbot as Knight of the Garter

29 Dec. VII. Philip, archduke of Austria, to the Lord
Beures. Desires him to communicate his
charge to John de Tinteville, whom Philip has
ordered to repair to England

VIII. Financial measures for Ireland. To in-
quire how far the revenue falls short of its
amount in the best years of peace. To make
process against officers whose accounts are in
arrear. To see that true inquisitions be made
on the death of the king's tenants, &c.

1495-6. App. B. Extracts from the accounts of William
Hattecliff, under-treasurer of Ireland

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290

56

292

296