Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 40 on 15/08/2008.

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The Rough Wooing

James Irvine Robertson delves into the history of a rough royal courtship.

In his declining years, and having recently beheaded the fifth of his six wives, Henry VIII of England wanted glory, and glory was to be found in battle on continental Europe against France. But Scotland was locked into the Auld Alliance with his enemy and this needed to be broken for him to have any chance of success.

This strategy lay at the heart of what was the last attempt by England to invade and conquer its northern neighbour.

Subsequent conflicts were about the control of the government of Great Britain.

But this last campaign would prove to be the bloodiest of them all.

In 1542, Henry asked the Scottish king, his nephew James V, to repudiate the Alliance and turn Protestant. The Scots king declined.

Henry sent 3,000 troops north and James gathered an army of some 18,000 to meet them. The two forces met, or nearly met, at Solway Moss in the Borders. The Scots fled at the sight of the English. The latter lost some seven men, the Scots several hundred and 1,200 prisoners were taken. On hearing the news of the debacle, James turned his face to the wall and died, leaving his six day-old daughter Mary as his heir.

Henry VIII, like Edward I before him, thought his problems were over. He could marry his heir Edward to the infant queen; he would become her guardian, and the two kingdoms would be united under his control.

He released many of his noble captives on condition that they would help him achieve his objective. He had further support from the increasingly power.....

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By James Irvine Robertson

Section : Scotland History

Page number : 39