Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 4.djvu/124

104 disturbed; but the number of the garrison had now been raised to seven thousand—the choicest soldiers which England could supply; and Lord Hertford was in command, whose ability as a general was as remarkable as his weakness as a statesman. Waiting for a favourable tide, they stole across the water two hours before daybreak on the 6th of February, and flung themselves in the darkness on the French camp. The surprise was complete, and caused a panic, instant and irredeemable. Tents, stores, artillery, were left to their fate; the whole army thought only of saving their lives, and fled towards Mottreul, being chased as far as Hardelot sands by a reserve of English cavalry, who, returning at their leisure, swept the supplies of the country before them within the lines of Boulogne.

This brilliant exploit was a fair commencement of the year. The lustre of it was clouded by a disaster which followed shortly after in Scotland. The sack of Edinburgh and the havoc on the Borders had been intended for a punishment; but the effect, so far from being salutary, had only been to exasperate. The Government was strengthened everywhere by an effervescence of patriotism; the Earl of Lennox had been forced to take refuge with Henry, who rewarded his services with the hand of Lady Margaret Douglas.

Lord Evers continued through the winter his desolating inroads; and the numbers and condition of his