that hee had no reason to yeeld there-vnto till such time as recompence was made for the harme his subiects had sustained on the borders In the meane season he had also prepared an army of some twenty thousand men and committed the same to the conduct of the Duke of Norfolke accoÌ„panied with the Earles of Shrewsbery Darby Cumberland Surrey Hertford Angus Rutland and diuerse other Lords and Gentlemen of the North. King Iames hauing knowledge of this preparation entreated to haue all differences and complaints on both sides put to order and so taken vp VVherevpon the King caused his army to stay about Yorke appointing the Duke the Lord priuy seale and others to enter into conference with the Scottish Ambassodours and if possiblie they could to end all controuersies wherby to auoide the effusion of much bloud But when the Commissioners for England perceiued that the Scottes sought onely to detract time whereby to put of the warre for that yeare winter now approaching they breake of the treaty and hauing assembled the whole armie there-with entred into Scotland the twentith day of October in the yeare 1542. During there abode there diuerse townes and villages were burned and spoiled and hauing continued that course as long as their victualls held out the armie returned to Berwicke the nine and twentith daie of the same month without resistance or show of enemie although King Iames had then in readinesse as it is sayd an armie of thirtie thousand men incamped at Fallamure but foureteene miles within Scotland But whether it was that they waited some aduantage or that the Scottish Nobility were not so forward which is pretended as their King would haue had them nothing was attempted against England vntill the foure and twentith day of Nouember following by which time the Duke was well on his way towards London For then king Iames went him selfe vnto the VVest marches of Scotland where he appointed the Lord Maxwell his warden togither with the Earles of Cassels and Glencorne and certaine other Lords there with him to inuade England on that side This army consisting of fifteene thousand men passed ouer the water of Eske and burnt certaine houses of the Greues on the verie border Herevpon Thomas bastard Dacres and Iacke of Musgraue with an hundred light horses made towards the enemie hauing a while before sent to Sir Thomas Wharton Lord warden of those Marches to make all the hast hee could after them By that time these two valiant Captaines had begun the skirmish the Lord Wharton with some three hundred horse more were come within viewe of the Scottish host who supposing that the Duke or some other of the English Lords was turned backe againe with the whole armie otherwise they imagined those few would neuer haue aduentured so desperatly to set vpon them were with the suddenesse of this vnexpected flight put into such a Panick feare that forth-with committing themselues to flight as fast as their legges could carrie them or their horses vnder them they were pursued and taken without any resistance Amongst whom these following were the principal men The Earles of Cassels and Glencorne the Lord Maxwel the Lord Flemming the Lo. Sommerwel the Lord Oliphant the Lord Gray Sir Oliuer Sinclere the kings minion Iohn Rosse of Gragie Robert Aesken Sonne to the Lord Aesken the Lord Maxwells two brothers and aboue two hundred men of name more Of the common souliers not so few as eight hundred so as some one Englishman had three or foure prisoners to his share The Scottes lost at this blowe without anie bloud-shed on either partie twentie peeces of Ordinance foure Cart-loades of speares and tenne pauilions Thus wee see that the King of Heauen and Earth can and will daunt the corrage of man when it seemeth good vnto him to the end we should acknowledge him to be the only giuer of all victory The Scottish writers attribute the bad successe of their armie at this meeting to the vnaduised course which King Iames tooke in appointing a meane Gentleman Sir Oliuer Sinclere his Lieutenant grnerall ouer the same For vpon the hearing of the Kings Commission openlie reade the whole armie was so â—â—ch ofâ—ended â—â—d â—roâ—led thereat that it â—â—â—oght 〈…〉 confusion amongst them which beeing obserued of the Englishmen though they were but a handfull in comparison of the enemies power yet they were there-with so much incoraged that they aduentured manfully vpon them and put them al thereby to flight This discomfeiture chaunced vnto the Scottes at Solloway Mosse in the latter end of Noueâ—ber following and was the most admirable â—ictory that euer was had ouer them to bee wholy referred to the immediat hand of God howsoeuer they would excuse it King Iames being now at Garlanâ—rocke vpon the borders was â—â—ruelously perplexed aâ— tâ—â—â—ewes herof in so much as being ouer-come with an extreame malâ—ncholy passion he neuer after held vp his head but still languished till death had fully seized vpon him on the twentith day of December following In the meane season one and twenty of the chiefe prisoners were conuaied to London committed to the Towre the 19. day of the same month where hauing â—omâ—ined two daies they were carried thorow the streets to Westminster two and two togither in a â—anck Eight of them being Noblemen were apparelled at the Kings charge with new gownes of black damask furd with black â—â—â—ie â—oâ—tes of black â—elâ—eâ— and dublets of satteâ— else whatsoâ—uer belonged therto Then they wâ—re brought before the Counsel sitting at the Star-chamber where the Lord Chancellour rebuked them openly for their misdemeanour towards the King and Realme declaring that his Maiesty had good cause to make warre vpon them First for their dissimulation in all their treaties of peace Then for keeping his subiects in durance without redemption contrary to the ancient lawes of the Marches And lastly for inuading his dominions without open defiance or iust cause giuen on his Maiesties part Neuerthelesse that his Maiestie more regarding his honour then his Royall power was contented to render good for euill and curtisie for vnkindnesse For whereas hee might by lawe of armes as they knewe well enough shut them vp in close prison hee was contented that they should bee committed to the custodie of the Nobles of his land that were thought meet to take that charge vpon them according to their owne seuerall estates and degrees Then beeing dismissed thence they were forth-with bestowed with one Noble man or other accordingly of whom they had such curtious intertainment as that they themselues confessed they neuer liued more pleasantly at any time before On the twentith of December newes was brought to the Court of the Scottish Kings death King Henry and his Counsell conceiuing herevpon that a good meane was offred whereby without warre the two Realmes might be vnited intimated their meaning to the Scottish Lords who seeming very willing therein to gratifie the King were brought to the Court in Christ-masse
Scotland as also for the better strengthning of his estate to whome the same kingdome should be by him adiudged wherevnto they all agreed by writing also vnder their seuerall hands and seales as followeth A toux iceulx c. To all those which this present writing shall see or heare Florence Earle of Holland Robert de Bruce Lord of Annandale Iohn de Balliol Lord of Galloway Iohn de Hastings Lord of Abergeuennie Iohn Cumin Lord of Badenawe Patricke de Dunbarre Earle of Marche Iohn de Vescie insteed of his Father Nicholas de Sules and William de Ros send greeting in our Lord. Because that of our owne willes and common consents without all constraint we doe consent and grant vnto the noble Prince the Lord Edward by the grace of God king of England that he as superior Lord of Scotland may heare examine define determine our claimes chalenges petitions which we intend to shew and proue for our right to be receiued before him as superior Lord of the land promising moreouer that we shall take his deed for firme and stable and that he shall inioy the kingdome of Scotland whose right by declaration shall best appeare before him whereas then the sayd king of England cannot in this maner take knowledge nor fulfill our meanings without iudgement nor iudgment ought to be without execution nor execution may in due forme bee done without possession and seisme of the said lands and castels of the same We do will consent and grant that he as Superior Lord to performe the premisses may haue the seisure of all the land and Castels of the same till they that pretend title to the crowne be satisfied in the sute so that before he be put into possession and seisure he find sufficient surety to vs that pretend title to the wardens and to all the cōmonaltie of the kingdome of Scotland that he shal restore the same kingdom with all the royaltie dignitie signorie liberties customes rights lawes vsages possessions and all and whatsoeuer the appurtinances in the same state wherein they were before the seisme to him deliuered vnto him to whom by right it is due according to the iudgemēt of his Maiesty sauing to him the homage of that person that shall bee king And this restitution to be made within two months after the day in which the right shall be discussed and established the issues of the same land in the meane time shall be receiued laid vp put in safe keeping in the hands of the Chamberlaine of Scotland that now is of him whom the King of England shall to him ioyne and assotiate and this vnder their seales reseruing and allowing the reasonable charges for the sustentatiō of the land the Castles and officers of the kingdome In witnesse of all the which premises wee haue vnto these set our seales giuen at Norham the wednesday next after the feast of the Ascensiō of our Lord in the yeare 1291. Besides these two former deeds from the competitors themselues he receiued the like assurance from all the principall officers and Magistrates of that realme So as by a free and generall consent he was acknowledged their supreame Lord and was accordingly intituled in sundry Proclamations and publique Edicts directed forth in his name King Edward hauing receiued at their hands these instruments of allegiance as their proper and voluntary deeds and also their seuerall homages either in his owne person or by his deputies according to the order giuen in that behalfe he was finally put in full possession of the realme of Scotland and hauing occasion to returne presently into England to solemnize the exequies of his Mother hee committed the gouernment and custodie of the realme in his absence to the Bishops of Saint Androwes and Glascoe and to the Lords Iohn Cumin and Iames Steward who before had giuen the King possession At his returne out of England at Midsomer following hee sent out sommons to all those that made claime to the Crowne of Scotland to repaire vnto him and hauing heard what each one could say for himselfe hee perceaued that the question rested onely betweene Iohn Balliol and Robert Bruce so as that all the rest were thenceforth vtterly excluded and barred from all further title or claime These two deriued their titles from Dauid Earle of Huntington brother to William late King of Scottes in this maner This Dauid had issue by Mawde his wife one of the daughters of Hugh Bohune Earle of Chester as is aforesaid three daughters Margaret the eldest was maried to Alaine Lord of Galloway who had issue together three daughters also of whom the eldest named Dernagil was maried to Iohn Balliol the parents of this Iohn Balliol one of the two competitors Isabell the second daughter of the foresaid Dauid was married to Robert Bruce betweene whom was begotten this Robert Bruce the other competitour He claimed the Crowne as next heire male the other made claime in the right of his mother who was the next heire in bloud and as wee say in England heire at the common-lawe Bruce alleadged that hee was to bee preferred before the Mother of Balliol because the heire male must carry away the inheritance of a kingdome from the heire female meeting in the selfe same degree of bloud as in this case it stood betweene him and Dernagill To this end he alleadged a late president in the like controuersie about the Duchie of Burgundie which the Earle of Neuers claimed in the right of his wife grand-child to the last Duke by his eldest sonne which notwithstanding the brothers inheritance was adiudged to the Dukes yonger sonne King Edward hauing heard the allegations and answeres of both parties caused then to be inrolled but because the matter was of the greatest importance life onely excepted and therefore required good deliberation hee referred the further proceeding therein till Michaelmasse following and returned into England In the meane time for his better instruction he acquainted the most learned Lawyers as well of France as of this nation with the whole state of the cause and receaued their generall resolution therein At the time prefixed he repaired againe into the North-parts and comming to Berwicke hee called thither the two competitours together with the greater number of the Lords of Scotland to receiue there a finall end of this controuersie Out of this great assembly of the most graue and best experienced personages of both Nations hee made choise of a certaine number as well English as Scottish to whom as to a Iurie royall sworne and admonished to deale vprightlie the King gaue full authoritie to name him that vnto them appeared vpon the examination of their seuerall titles and the resolution of the Lawyers therevpon which was deliuered vnto them to haue the better right vnto the crowne of Scotland These men being put a part by themselues and hauing examined considered and sufficiently debated the prooues allegations and whatsoeuer could be said on either
assembled some fewe small forces where-with â—e approched the towne S. Iohns purposing there first to make trial of his fortunes but the Earle of Pembrooke by chance had first entred the towne with some 300. horse-men besides foote-men Bruse sent him word that he was come thither to fight with him and all his partakers if hee would come forth The Earle answered hee would rest that day being the Sabaoth but on the next morning he would accept of his chalenge Bruse herevpon with-drew his armie a mile backe againe from the towne meaning to be-take himselfe and his people that night to their rest but he was disquieted sooner then he looked for the Earle issuing out of the towne a little before night about the beginning of the Calends of August assailed them so sodenly as that he had slaine a great numbee before they could get armour and weapons for their defence so as after a little resistance the Scots with their new king were put to flight The Earle following the chase pursued them vnto Kenter and vnderstanding that Bruse was entred a Castle ther-about he besieged presently tooke the same wherin he found his wife his brother Nigell with some others but Bruse him-selfe was fled vnto the mountaines these he sent presently to Berwicke This Lady was the daughter of the Earle of Vlster in Ireland who had lately before sent ouer vnto K. Edward two of his sonnes to remaine in England for pledges of their fathers fidelity for whose sake she found great fauor Shortly after was the castle of Lachdore takeÌ„ by th' English-men in it Christopher Seton that had married the sister of Bruse by birth hee was an English-man and had before slaine a Knight of England in some bad manner for the which fact especially he was by the kings coÌ„mandement executed at Dunfries where the same was committed the like execution was also made at Berwicke vpon Nigell Bruse and the rest of his companions But the Earle of Atholl who was also taken about the same time was remoued to London where he was beheaded and his head set on a pole ouer London-bridge Though Bruse in the meane season was put to many hard shifts wandring in desert places like a forelorne man not-with-standing hee would not giue ouer so good a cause but after a little breathing began a fresh to bestur him so as what by entreaty threats he gathered some few troops of horsmen about him and whilest hee was thus occupied himselfe in one place he sent two of his brothers the one a Knight the other a priest into other parts of the country to procure what aide they could But as they were thus busied they were both taken condemned of treason and for the same executed These misfortunes stil following one in the necke of another little or nothing allaied the thirst of a kingdom for he knew his cause was iust and that howsoeuer his sinnes had deserued especially the murther he committed at the very entrance into this actioÌ„ yet should he die if it came to that in a good quarel Hauing therefore happily reconciled himselfe to God whom 〈◊〉 had therein greeuouslie offended with 〈…〉 courage hee fully resolued to pursue his 〈…〉 Beeing now some what better strengthned with the aide of the Ilanders hee incouâ—â—â—â— the Earle of Pembrooke and put him to 〈…〉 like hap shortly after hee had against the Earle of Glocester These small hartnings did incourage Bruse to attempt greater aduentures so as within short time he recouered diuers Castels but being not able to man them hee cast them downe to the ground King Edward hauing knowledge of these his proceedings in Scotland by his letters directed into certaine countries fittest for that seruice gaue commandement that as many as were able to vse a weapon should within three weekes after Midsomer attend him at Carliel But before the appointed time was come the king fell sicke there from whence being remoued to Brough on the sand he departed out of this life in the 35. yeare of his raigne An. 1307. By the death of King Edward the state of the affaires betweene these two Nations was much altered for his sonne and successour king Edward the second being now not about â—â—ree and twentie yeares olde was giuen after the manner of youth more to follow his plâ—â—sures then the cares and trauels of 〈…〉 And therefore neglecting his businesse 〈…〉 gaue fitte opportunitie to his 〈…〉 and little 〈◊〉 off the 〈…〉 which his father by his valiancie had brought them So as while this youthfull King sought nothing more then to spend his time in voluptuous pleasure riotous excesse making such his familiers and chiefe minions about him as best fitted his humor Bruse on the other side wholy indeuored by all possible meanes how to restore his country to her former liberty and quiet estate now wel nere brought to the brinke of an vnrecouerable downfal And by his good fore-sight and singuler manhood hee so much preuailed as that in the space of three or foure yeares he recouered his kingdom for hauing bin much inured with hardnesse trauel together with his long experience in managing the affaires of state as well in time of peace as of war he had no small aduantage thereby of the other The father dying not aboue a weeke before his intended iorney once againe into ScotlaÌ„d the king his sonne finding all things in so good readines was aduised to make triall with these forces that were then come to Carleil what intertainment hee should finde at the Scotishmens hands Being come to Dumfries hee summoned the Scotish Nobility to repaire thither vnto him where diuers of them acknowledged their allegiance homage But here he could not now tary being hasted homewards to make preparation for his iorney into France where shortly after he maried the Lady Isabell daughter to K. Philip surnamed the faire At his departure he committed the wardenship of Scotland to Iohn de Britaine whom withal he created Earle of Richmond Amongst all the Scotish Lordes that tooke part with England none was so great an enemy to Bruse as the Lord Iohn Cumin Earle of Buquhan for the murther committed vpon his Ancestor as before you haue heard now therefore to bee reuenged as also to show his forwardnesse to performe some acceptable seruice for the King of England hee gathered such forces English and Scotish as hee could make and there-with approched his enemie Bruse beeing yet barely recouered of a late sicknesse vpon a boun-courage incountred him at a straite and in the end discomfited his armie making great slaughter of his men This victorie did so reuiue Bruse his feeble and languishing spirits as that from thence forward hee still preuailed in all his interprises So as following his good fortune in short time he reduced the conntries of Anguile and Galloway vnder his obedience King Edward not well brooking these daily losses raised a mightie powre wherewith about the middest of August
places and also taken truce with France But the army staid so long where they were incamped within 3. miles of Edenbrugh that when they came thither they found nothing but bare walls wherat the coÌ„mon soldiors not a little repined The Scots had caried their goods to the woods mountaines such places of security while the Englishmen in the meane time were greeuouslie afflicted with vehement cold weather and raine that extraordinarily chanced at that season being about the tenth of Aprill and the more because before their comming to Edenbrough they had incamped themselues for their better safetie in a lowe marish ground which killed aboue 500. of their horses for seruice and bred diseases amongst the souldiours Neither had the English Nauie any better successe at this time for the Marriners thorough want of good gouernment ouer-boldly aduenturing to goe on land for the desire of pillage and spoile were in the end encountred by the Scottes and so hotely pursued as that a great number of them were slaine and the rest hardly escaped to their shippes The English Armie was no sooner out of Scotland but that the Earle Dowglasse by his industrie and courage presently recouered all the places of strength in Tiuidale out of the possession of the Englishmen which till then they had hold euer since the battaile besides Dutham All this summer season was spent with continuall roades by the one nation and the other to the small aduantage of either In the meane time messengers were sent to aduertise the Scottes of an abstinence of warre for a season betweene the three nations France England and Scotland which was obserued on all sides The truce ended the Scots tooke by force the castell of Burwicke But the Earle of Northumberland to whom the keepeing therof was committed was thereby so much touched in credit that presently gathering the power of those partes he so egarly assailed the â—â—â—ttes within it as that they were constrained to come to composition with the Earle and so for two thousand markes the Castell was surâ—endred they departed The yeare next following viz. 1385. Monsieur de vian Earle of Valentinois admiral of the fleet was sent by the French King into Scotland with two hundred and fortie ships furnished with men munition all things necessary pertayning to warre theâ— were some two thousand footemen an hundred launces two hundred crosbowes and pay for them for sixe monthes Amongst other presentes which the French king sent to the Noblemen of Scotland he bestowed on king Robert forty compleate aâ—moures to bee disposed at his pleasure The Scottes being thus strengthned prepared forth-with to inuade England The whole army consisted of fiftie thousand men ouer whom the Earle of Fife Sonne to king Robert was made Generall beeing accompained with the Earles Dowglas and Marche and diuerse other of the Scottish Nobility At their first entrie they tooke the Castells of Warke Fourd and Cornâ—â—ll and ouer ran the Country lieing betweene Berwike and 〈…〉 In the meane time king Râ—chard had sent before him the Duke of Lancaster with a conuenient power to restraine them from doing further harme who hearing of the approach of the Englishmen withdrow themselues homeward The King in the meane time making all the hast that possiblie hee could after the Duke entred together into Scotland passing thorow the countries of Mers and Lothian they burned and spoyled all the townes villages and buildings that stood in their way as well religious as other At his comming to Edenbrugh finding the towne empty hee soothe houses on fier which together with the Church of Saint Gyles were consumed to ashes But at the ernest request of the Duke of Lanâ—â—ster Holi-roode house was preserued for the great fauour the Duke had found there during the late commotion in England King Richard hauing remayned about Edenbrugh fiue dayes returned without proffer of battaile or any encounter to speake of Monsieur de vian was very ernest with the Scottish Lords to haue aduentured a battaile but being carried to the toppe of â—o hill fâ—om whence he might discouer the order and puissance of the English armie he changed his mind Herevpon they resolued to inuade England on an other quarter while the Englishmen â—â—oke there pleasure in the â—â—paâ—tes passing â—â—â—â—â—fore ouer the mountayns they entred into Cumberâ—â—â—d assaulted the Citty of Carliel but finding them-selues vnable to preuaile there they turned home-wardes feareing least they should haue beene encountred with the English armie which had falne out accordingly if the King would haue beene aduised by the Duke his vncle But the Earle of Oxford who stood more in the Kings grace had put such a ielosie into his head of the Dukes meaning therein towards him as that he was drawne from liking of that course and soe tooke his way home-ward The Scottes hauing on the other side donne what harme they could returned likewise into Scotland but because the same was not answerable to the domage they receaued King Robert was so much offended with the Frenchmen at whose hands he exspected greater matters as that he sent them home lighter laden then they came by the wayght of all that was worth the takeing from them in part of recompence for the losses sustayned in this iorney which was vnderâ—aken at their earnest sute and entrety Thus they parted not in soe good tearmes as they were entertayned with all at there arriuall into Scotland The Scottish wryters attibute the cause of these iarres and discontentments amongst them to the lasciuious and imperious demeanour of the Frenchmen according to their vsuall manner where-so-euer they serue out of their owne country whereof the common people especially complayned more then of any iniurie offered them by their professed enemies the Englishmen The Scottes within two yeares after vnderstanding what troubles were arising in England thought it a fitt time wherein to bee reuenged for the damages lately sustained Wherfore about the beginning of August there assembled at Iedworth to the number of betweene thirtie and forty thousand Heere they vnderstood by an English espyall whom they tooke that the Earle of Northumberland intended to inuade Scotland on the one side as they did the like here on the other Therfore hauing a sufficient number to make two armies they deuided thâ—â—selues The two yonger brothers the Scottish Kings sonnes with the one part directed their course by the West marches into Cumberland â—â—â—â—ing as farre as Durham At length both these armies hauing in the meane time done what harme they could mette together about ten miles from New-castell and passing thither they besiedged that towne But the Earle of Northumberland who then commanded all those countries hauing had knowledge before of their purpose had sent thither his two sonnes the Lord Nâ—â—â—â— surnamed Hotespurre for his egar manner of riding and his brother Ralphe two 〈◊〉 â—orward Gentlemen These with the forces they carried with them 〈◊〉 those they found there so manfully defended the towne as
Francis Hothome Sir Iohn Massie Sir Leonard Beckwith Sir Thomas Cokanie Sir Peter Freshwell Sir Richard Egerton Sir Anthonie Neuille Sir Iohn Neuille Sir William Radcliffe Sir George Bowes Sir Vrian Breretone Sir William Breretone Sir Roger Breretone Sir Edward Warren Sir Brian Leytone Sir Robert Worseley Sir Thomas Talbot Sir Hugh Caluerley Sir Iohn Clere. Sir Richard Holland Sir Thomas Venables Sir Iohn Connestable Sir Edmund Trafford Sir Iohn Athertone Sir Richard Cholmeley Sir Philip Egerton Sir Hugh Willobie Sir Thomas Connestable Sir William Woodhouse Sir Edmund Sauage Sir Thomas Gerard. 11. May. 1544. Mathew Earle of Lennox being now wrought out of fauour with the French king by the practise of the Queene Mother and the Cardinall thought Scotland no safe place for him therefore to make himselfe the more able to resist the malice of his enimies at home he made meanes to be entertained of the King of England Taking therfore the sea with some other Noblemen of his country he arriued at Westchester about Midsōmer folowing From thence hauing first made his way to the King he repaired to the Court where being well entertained he maried shortly after the Lady Margaret Dowglas daughter and heire to the Earle of Angus by Queene Margaret of Scotland king Henries sister who thervpon endowed his Neece with an estate of inheritāce of certaine lands to the yearly valewe of seauenteene hundred markes of rent of assisse which to this day are called Lennox Lands From this coople descended two sonnes Henry Steward Lord Dernley the eldest was Father to Iames the sixt that now reigneth Mathew the other Brother married Elizabeth Candish Daughter to the Countesse of Shrewsbury the most famous builder of a woman in the world by whom he had onely issue the Lady Arbella a beautifull plant trayned vp as I heare by the Countesse her grand-mother in all commendable qualities and exercises of vertue and piety King Iames in regard of his iust title and claime to these lands receiueth of the Queenes maiesty that now is an yearely pension The Earle of Lennox being desirous to show his good will to do the King some acceptable seruice obtayning certaine bands of Englishmen entred into Scotland but he found not that constancy in his Country-men that he expected and therefore was inforced to returne without atchieuing his principal purpose though his labour was not all-togither lost for he raised and tooke diuerse Castells as that in the I le of Arraine belonging to the Gouernor the Castell of Rossey in the I le of Bute from whence the royall family of the Stewards Kings of Scotland now for the space of two hūdred and thirty yeares tooke their beginning Though King Henry at this time also maintayned sharpe war with France neuerthelesse hee ceased not to take the oportunity offred him thorow the ciuill dissention amongst the Scotish Nobility making continual roads forreis into their Countries About the midst of February following Sir Ralph Eeuers Lord warden of the middle Marches entred Scotland with foure thousand English Irish assured Scots passing to Iedworth without any resistance He vnderstood there that the gouerner with the Earle of Angus were lately come to the Abbay Melrosse about 8. miles distant frō thence purposing therto attēd the repaire of their forces hastning thetherward Sir Ralph therefore about mid night marching from thence hoped vpon the sudden to take them at some great aduantage beeing as yet ouer fewe to make resistance But the Scottes hauing knowledge by their Espialls of his approach though some-what to late forsooke their lodgings before they had good wills to arise leauing bag baggage behind thē in all hast they withdrew thēselues to the next mountaines frō thence to obserue the behauior of the English who finding the place abandoned tooke the spoile of al they foūd in the towne Abbay vtterly defacing the Monumēts of th' Douglasses greatly to the displeasure of the Earle of Angus his linage and so returned back towards Iedworth by this time the nūber of the Scots was wel increased by the repaire of Norman Lisle Sonne to the Earle of Rothsey a young Gentleman of good expectation and of Walter Scot with such troopes as accompanied thē thither in so much as the Gouerner was encoraged to giue the Englishmen battaile before they should reach Iedworth but because they trusted not altogither to their strength it was deuised that the maine battaile of the Scottes should lie closely in a vallie to receiue the Englishmen at vnawares which tooke effect accordingly For the Scottes sending all their horses with their keepers and those that might best be spared to the top of the hil vnder which they were embattailed the Englishmen were trained within their danger which beeing perceiued by these Scots that came on their side who were some 7. or 8. hundred they presently fel of and ioyned with the enemy The Englishmen neuerthelesse stuck to it till a great number of thē were slaine the rest beeing ouerweried with that daies and the last nights trauell betooke themselues to flight The middle battaile seeing their fellowes thus discomfeited they also turned and brake into the reereward in such confused manner as thereby the whole army was put out of order no man knowing whom to follow for his Captaine The Scottes in the meane time taking the aduantage of the winde and the Sunne were vpon them before they could well discerne what they were In this confusion euery man sought to saue himselfe whereof insued a great slaughter with very small losse on the other side Besids Sir Rafe Euers the Lord of Ogle and Sir Brian Layton who were chiefe Commanders diuers other gentlemen were slaine in the whole number of two hundred a thousand were taken prisoners well nere of whom some foure score were men of qualitie and speciall note Though the benefit of this victory fell to the Gouernor the glory thereof redownded to the Dowglasses King Henry was much greeued for the gentleman Sir Rafe Euers whose seruice had bene such in these late warrs with the Scottes that he had brought the more part of all those that inhabited within twenty miles of the borders of Eng. vnto the obedience of King Henry who now were the chiefe cause of his destruction in maner as you haue heard This yeare the French King sent Mongomery into Scotland with foure thousand Frenchmen of whome fiue hundred were lances these ioyning with the Scottes to the number of fifteene thousand in the whole came to the borders encamping ouer against Warke Castle from whence passing ouer the riuer euery other day they entred into the English marches and returned backe againe at night with such booties as they got In this manner hauing praied vpon the inhabetants fiue or sixe miles compasse for the space of a weeke to gether vnderstanding that the Earle of Hertford lieutenant ouer the North parts had taken such order for the defence of those countries that it auailed not to
If your Queenes title bee good wee will no way impaire the same And I call GOD to witnesse that for our part wee knowe none next my selfe whome I preferre therein before her or if the matter should come in question can exclude her Who bee the competitours you knowe sayd shee well enough But what are they poore soules to attempt a thing so farre aboue their strength After some speach more of the meane estate of those Ladies all being the issue of the Lady Mary second Daughter to King Henry the seauenth at length she concluded that this their request was a matter of a very great weight and that she had neuer yet entred into any due consideration thereof and therefore it was requisite shee should haue longer time to thinke better of it After some few dayes shee called the Ambassadour againe vnto her and told him shee could not finde out what the meaning of the Lords was to make this petition so presently after their Queenes returne home especially knowing that the occasion of the former greeuances was not yet taken away what other thing is it said she they require but that not-with-standing the manifest wrong offered vs we should without further satisfaction gratifie their Queene in yeelding to a point of that importance if they take this course said she let them know that we haue as good meanes as they both at home and abroad whereby to hold our right The Ambassadour answered that their desire herein proceeded from a care they had not onely to further the aduancement of their Queene but that which touched them nearer ouer their own estates which by any trouble arising hereafter there-about might happily fall into danger of an vtter ruine That the Lords were imboldned the more freely and plainly to impart their mindes vnto her by the experience they haue had of her Maiesties good affection towards them and of the care shee had alwayes shewed ouer the continuance of their present estates and therefore hee hoped shee would make the best constructions of their meanings towards her in this their petition proceeding vpon so necessary considerations If wee had said she attempted any thing hurtfull to your Queenes title then had they had good cause to haue mooued vs to take some other more moderate reuenge But to perswade me to haue as it were my winding sheete layde before me while I liue is such a petition as was neuer yet made to any Prince Neuer-the-lesse wee doe not mislike their honest meaning herein eyther in respect of the good towards their Queene or themselues For wee must confesse it would cost many men on both sides their liues if happily any aduerse partie amongst those competitours should oppose her selfe against your Queene But who should shee bee or what meanes can shee make Well letting this doubt passe wherein there is no doubt to bee made admit wee were inclinable vnto that they desire would wee thinke you be drawne vnto it thereby to gratifie those Noblemen rather then your Queene her selfe surely no. But there bee many moe reasons then yet I haue made to keepe vs from yeelding there-vnto After shee had in a long discourse declared what shee had obserued both particulerlie in the disposition of her owne subiects and more generally in the corrupt nature of man-kind and with-all had alledged sundrie examples in other Christian kings how iealous they haue beene euen ouer their owne children who by the lawes of God and Nature were to succeed them shee concluded that by them she was taught how dangerous a point it was to make their Queene her knowne heire to the Crowne of England the more in that she was alreadie a mighty Princesse of her selfe and therefore she should with the more difficultie vpon such a grounded hope containe her selfe with-in the due bondes of lawe and equitie Vpon further conference with her Maiestie at another time the Ambassadour at length obtained that the former treatie of Peace and the articles then set downe should bee retracted and inlarged in this maner That the Queene of Scots should no longer beare the armes of England nor vsurpe the title of Queene ouer the same during the life of the Queene of England or of her issue after her On the other-side that the Queene of England should promise and couenant for her selfe and her issue after her that neither shee nor they should make or do any act that might preiudice the claime and right of succession which the Queene of Scots hath to the Crowne of England In like maner when as after the broiles in Scotland which followed the detestable murthers of King Henry the Queene of Scottes her second husband Father to the King that now raigneth and of the Earle of Murrey their Regent they of her faction shee being then fled into England for her more safetie and remaining there in a fauourable kinde of captiuitie practised her deliuerance by stirring vp a dangerous rebellion in the North parts of England and that the principall conspirators the two Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland were fled into Scotland and harbored there the Queene of England being moued there-vnto as well in respect of her owne safety as of the tender and motherly care she had ouer the Infant King her neere kinsman whose life was brought thereby into no lesse danger then her owne her Maiestie was easilie drawne by the intreatie of the Scottish Nobilitie of that faction to take vpon her the defence and protection of them and that kingdome against the common enimies and disturbers of the peaceable and quiet estate of the one and other Nation who besides their priuie practises had also by open hostilitie and inuasion prouoked her Maiestie to take armes against them For euen the next night after the Regent was slaine Walter Scotte and Thomas Carre â—â— â—â—â—miherste at the instigation especially of the Archbishop of Saint Andrewes entred the English borders and in outragious manner with fire and sword wasted and spoyled the countrie adioyning Neither were the aduersaries satisfied with this and the like displeasures sundry times afterwards but they were not ashamed with most despightfull tearmes to reproach her Maiestie Of this faction the Hamiltons were the principall heads and leaders not so much as it was thought for any good meaning towards the Scottish Queene whose party they would seeme to take but rather by bringing her againe into Scotland they hoped to worke the destruction both of the Mother and Sonne and there-by to set the Crowne of Scotland vpon some of their owne heads pretending to bee next in bloud after them to the same The Queene of England being thus prouoked to reuenge by her aduersaries on the one side and on the other side intreated by her well-willers to ioyne with them against those who were enimies both to her and their owne King commanded the Earle of Sussex Lord Lieutenant then of the North parts to gather such forces there as he thought conuenient where-with-all to enter into