Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 4.djvu/293

1547.] from Leslie at the time of the King's decease. Henry had directed that the leaders should be pensioned, and a sum be set apart to maintain a garrison in the castle. The privy council accepted the obligation and discharged it. It would have been well, both for England and for Scotland also, if in this direction they had continued their watchfulness, and left the natural tendencies of interest, right, and good sense, to do their work.

But time was too slow an agent for the eager ambition of Somerset, and the fate of a single castle and a handful of men was insignificant in the schemes which he was contemplating. Henry VIII. in the height of his power had refused to call in question the feudal independence of Scotland. He had rights, he had said, which he might have advanced, had he desired;