Foreign Policy 1540-47

Foreign Policy 1540-47

[Header]

Scotland — The Rough Wooing

[Header]

What happened when England invaded Scotland in 1542?

England met with immediate military success — the Scots were forced into military action by impossible demands and were heavily defeated at the Battle of Solway Moss

What made the Scottish situation worse after Solway Moss?

James V died shortly after the defeat, leaving his one week old daughter Mary as heir

KEY POINT — Why did Henry not press his advantage over Scotland?

His main interest was an invasion of France, not Scotland, which the Scots would not have been able to repel — Scotland was not the main objective so Henry used diplomatic pressure rather than military force

What was the rough wooing?

Henry's Scottish policy — he sought to marry the young Prince Edward to the even younger Mary Queen of Scots

What appeared to be helping Henry's Scottish policy for a time?

The support of the Scottish noble the Earl of Arran

What undermined Henry's Scottish policy?

The English ambassador Sir Ralph Sadler reported there was awareness of English intentions, and the Scots refused to allow Henry's request for Queen Mary to be brought up in England

What happened with the Treaty of Greenwich in 1543?

The children were formerly betrothed according to its terms, but Arran abandoned the English cause and the Scottish Parliament refused to ratify the treaty

What did the angry Henry do after the Treaty of Greenwich failed?

He ordered the Earl of Hartford to carry out raids on Edinburgh, Leith and Saint Andrews

KEY POINT — Why was Henry responsible for the Scottish failure?

In 1542 he neglected the opportunity to secure his policy by military force, failed to heed warnings about Scottish hostility, and his ordering of Hartford into Scotland was simply retaliation with no thought to strategic opportunities

France 1540-47

[Header]

What was Henry's main concern regarding France in 1544?

France's military, which was assembled in 1544 — Henry was desperate for military glory

How did Henry's desperation for military glory manifest itself?

He set off at the head of his army despite his health problems and councillors' efforts to persuade him not to

What did the English army do in France in 1544?

It confined itself to the vicinity of Calais, besieging Montreuil unsuccessfully but capturing Boulogne — Henry gave little thought to strategic objectives though he did realise a march on Paris would likely be unsuccessful

What had the emperor done by the time England captured Boulogne?

He had made a separate peace with Francis I

What happened by 1545 that worsened Henry's position?

Francis I sent troops to Scotland to reinforce a possible invasion of England, the English were defeated at the Battle of Ancrum Moor, a separate French force landed on the Isle of Wight, and Henry's flagship the Mary Rose sank in the Solent

KEY POINT — Why did neither side press their advantage in 1545?

The French failed to capture Boulogne and the invasion of northern England never materialised — both sides were happy to settle for peace as neither could afford to continue fighting

What was the high price Henry paid for his final pursuit of glory by 1546?

He was unable to fund the war from extraordinary revenue, so he sold much of the Crown Estate, borrowed large sums and debased the coinage, significantly increasing the rate of inflation