As Scotland was under obligation to give hostages to England as security for the execution of the treaties, the cardinal set himself strenuously against the measure, not only with those of his own faction, but also with those of the other side. He was prodigal of promises to the relations and the friends of the intended hostages, in the hope of inducing them to oppose their delivery to England. The same influences were brought to bear on the regent. On the day fixed for giving up the lords to the English ambassador, the latter went to the regent, and after making complaint of the insults to which he was exposed, demanded the hostages. The regent promised that the perpetrators of the outrages of which Sadler complained should be punished. ‘As for the hostages,’ he added, ‘the authority with which I am invested is of such a nature that, while I have rights as against the queen’s subjects, they also have their rights as against me. You are yourself a witness of the immense agitation stirred up by the cardinal.[300] All my plans are upset, and, carried away by the force of popular passion, I can no longer answer for anything.’[301] Arran was indeed wanting in the strength to stand against such a storm as was conjured up by the cardinal. Weakminded himself, he bent before the violence of those who had powerful convictions. Sadler, indignant at his refusal, called upon the Scots who had been captives in England to return to their confinement, as they had pledged themselves to do in case the treaty should be violated. Kennedy, earl of Cassilis, was the only one who kept his word. He set out for London, in spite of the pressing entreaties of his own circle.[302] Henry, touched by this act of good faith, generously sent him back to Scotland with his two brothers who had remained as hostages. The clerical reaction was steadily gathering fresh force. In pursuance of the colloquy of July 6, the nobles hostile to the regent assembled some troops; and on July 21 they arrived, at the head of ten thousand men, at Leith, the port of Edinburgh. At the same moment Arran, the earl of Angus, Lord Maxwell, and their friends were at Edinburgh, at the head of their armed force. There was equal animation on both sides. They might have been likened to two electric clouds, whose lightning was ready to burst forth with violence. However, the two opposed bodies of troops remained motionless for five or six days. ‘What will be the end of this,’ wrote Sadler to Lord Parr, ‘I cannot tell; but my opinion is that they will not fight for all their bragges.’[303] In fact, they did not fight. [Sidenote: IRRESOLUTION OF ARRAN.]