In retaliation for the massive English raid into Scotland, James assigned Robert, Lord Maxwell, the Scottish Warden of West March, the task of raising an army.

[3][4] James wrote to Pope Paul III on 9 November 1542 about the English raid, and explained that he had defied Henry's attempts to convert him to the Protestant faith by waging war with his vast resources gained from the dissolution of the monasteries.

The note mentions their routes; from Dumfries to Hoddom and Kirkconnel tower in Ecclefechan; from Peebles to Moffat; from Selkirk to Eskdalemuir.

Musgrave stated that Maxwell was still in charge and fought with the rest of the Scottish nobles, who were forced to dismount on the bank of the River Esk.

[12] Gervase Phillips has estimated that only about seven Englishmen and 20 Scots were killed but 1,200 Scottish prisoners were taken,[2] including Sinclair, the Earls of Cassilis, Glencairn, and Maxwell.

[14] On 14 December 1542, Thomas Wharton's report of the battle was read to the Privy Council, and they ordered that Scottish prisoners entering London should wear a red St Andrew's cross.

Among the captured guns were four falconets with the cast cipher of 'JRS' for 'Jacobus Rex Scotorum' and the Scottish royal arms with an imperial crown.

[15] Eustace Chapuys reported that the Scottish prisoners attended Henry's court on Christmas Day wearing swords and dirks.

[16] Chapuys said the return of some prisoners was prevented at this time by the Scottish government, which claimed they were traitors for losing the battle, or suspected they were now being influenced by Henry.