instrument being first signed and sealed by king Alexander himselfe and afterwards by his Nobilitie was sent to the King of England at Christmasse following by the Prior of Tinmouth who had trauelled diligently and faithfully in this businesse to the honor and good liking of both parties And for further confirmation thereof another writing was sent to Rome to the end that this agreement accord might receiue the more strength frō his Holines This solemne league was established in the yeare of our Lord 1244. Whereupon Berwick was restored to the king of Scotland Carliele which had bin taken by the Scots in the raigne of king Iohn was likewise restored to king Henry the antient limits of the two kingdomes were bounded out by the Kings crosse in Steanmore as before at the agreement made with the Conqueror The often intermariages of the one nation with the other which is the surest band of friendship caused this good agreement so long between them for when at any time occasion of vnkindnesse was offered by eyther of the two kings the Nobilitie of both sides were so lincked one with the other in such an indissoluble vnion that they would not suffer the same to breake out into any hostilitie But to consummate and perfect as it were this Gordian knot within two yeares after the death of king Alexander the father which happened in the yeare 1249. his sonne Alexander that succeeded about eight yeares old when his father deceased was within two yeares after brought to Yorke where King Henry on Christmas day honoured him with the order of Knighthood and the day following he gaue him in mariage his Daughter the Lady Margaret according to the former agreement At this meeting the young King did homage in maner as before his father had done and the League was renewed betweene the two Nations which continued without any tainte many yeares after In the meane time at sundry meetings of the two kings and their Queenes much kindnesse and friendly demeanour passed betweene them to the great reioycing of their subiects on both sides And as occasion required the one would ayde and assist the other For during the troubles betweene King Henry and his Barons king Alexander did send vnto his ayde fiue thousand Scots vnder the leading of Alexander Cumine and Robert Bruis of whom the greater number was slaine in the quarrell of the Father and Sonne against their rebellious subiects King Henrie deceasing in the seauen and fiftie yeare of his raigne Anno 1272. the Scotish king and Queene came into England to the Coronation of king Edward his brother in law where hauing passed the time in great iollitie and acknowledged his allegiance hee was honourably attended into Scotland Shortly after his returne thither Queene Margaret his wife deceased and not long after her death their two sonnes Dauid and Alexander dyed also the elder brother hauing lately maryed the daughter of the Earle of Flanders but left no issue behind them The heauie hand of the Lord ceassed not here but finally inflicted well nere an vtter ruine and desolation on that kingdome by taking out of this world about twelue yeares after the king himselfe and his whole progenie if it bee true that is reported in the History of Scotland this calamitie may seeme to be prefigured in a prodigious apparition at the second marriage of king Alexander for as he was leading the Queene his Bride in a dance according to the manner of such solemnities there appeared to the whole assembly the similitude of an humaine Anatomy following and closing vp the traine of the Lords Ladies that accompanied them The same yeare viz. Ann. 1285. king Alexander was throwne frō off his horse and in the fall brake his necke At his death none remained liuing of his line saue onely one infant the daughter of his daughter Margaret Queene of Norway King Edward vnderstanding what had hapned in Scotland began to thinke with himselfe how exceeding beneficial it would be to both nations if by any good meanes they might bee vnited and made one monarchie wherevpon forthwith hee dispatched Ambassadors thether to make offer of mariage betweene the yong Lady the heire of Scotland his sonne Prince Edward heire apparant to the Crowne of England This was no sooner moued to the lords but forth-with euery mā gaue free consent esteeming it so happy a thing for that kingdome as nothing could be wished more The mariage was therefore readily concluded vpon these conditions That the Scotishmen should be gouerned by their owne Lords and lawes vntill the issue proceeding of them should be of age to take the gouernment vpon them And if it hapned that no issue should thereof spring or should die before ripe age to gouerne then the kingdom of Scotlād should descend to the next in bloud to the King last deceased Herevpon certaine Noble-men of Scotland were presently sent into Norway for the safe conduct of the yong Lady but it pleased not God at that time to giue so great a blessing to this Islād for at their returne home they brought heauy newes of her death also The posteritie of king William of Scotland grand-father to the last King being now extinguished great dissention arose about the title claime to the crowne The realme by this occasion being diuided into sundry factions was in great danger of an vtter subuersion This controuersie hauing depended a long time it was thought fit sithence there was none amongst themselues of powre authority to decide a matter of so great importance to refer the same to the hearing and award of the king of England generally reputed of all the competitors a fit iudge to determine thereof according as law and equity should direct him K. Edward being willing to bestow his trauell to so good purpose and holding himselfe in a sort bound therevnto in regard of his right of superioritie ouer that nation easily consented to their petitions appointing time place for the performance of his best indeuore to effect their desire In the meane time to the end it might appeare to the world that he tooke not this office in hand vpon warrant onely of the competitors intreaty hee caused all the ancient Chronicles records that could be found either in England or Scotland to be perused that if any question therof should arise his pretended interest in this action might be sufficiently approued But although this was made so manifest out of Marianus the Scot William of Malmesbury Roger Houeden Henry Huntingtō Ralph de Diceto others as none then liuing could gainsay it neuerthelesse the Scotish writers haue since that time much depraued the credit thereof by their bare surmises And therefore it shall not be impertinent for the better cleering of this point before I proceed any further in declaratiō of the matter in hand to examine how truely one of the best learned amongst thē hath not long since peremptorilie affirmed that there is nothing to show
attempt any further inuasion at that time they teturned home into Scotland The next summer was spent with continuall light incursions of the borderers on both sides with variable successe on either party The taking of Robert Maxwell a gallant young Gentleman eldest sonne to the Lord Maxwell was of greatest note At the approach of winter Montgomery hauing first by commission from the king his Maister inuested the gouernor and the Earles of Angus Huntley Arguile with the honorable order of the Michell wherof he was himselfe a companion returned into France Though these two nations sought to molest one the other yet in one thing in persecuting the true seruants of God they agreed ouer-well For albeit K. Henry had lately banished the vsurped Supremacie of the bishop of Rome also had published the New Testament in English a good preparatiue to the reformation that followed in his sonnes daies yet it pleased not the Lord to enlighten his vnderstanding so farr as by his Ministery to giue the Gospell free passage in all the principall points of the true Religion Hereof it came to passe that as well in the one as other nation the professors of the gospel were cruelly persecuted especially for denying the reall and carnall presence of our Sauiour Iesus Christ whom the father hath placed farre aboue the earth at his right hand in heauen to be in the holy Sacrament of his last supper For about this time George Wishart a Scottish Minister a man of speciall account for the purity of his life doctrine was conuented before the Câ—rdinall and by him conuicted of herisie as the truth was then called finally burned at S. Andrews ouer-against the Castel where he was imprisoned within ten weekes after on the 16. of Iuly 1546. Anne Ayscu one of the two daughters of Sir William Ayscu of Lincolnshire being not aboue 25. yeares old for the defence of the same truth was first most barbarously tormented on the rack then not preuailing thâ—t way burned with others in Smithfield at London These saints of God the two first of speciall marke he for the reputatioÌ„ of his life and learning and she for the respect of her birth and education that in this Iland gaue their liues for the truth left behind them a more notorious remeÌ„brance of their christian ends by the strang predictions that accompanied the same For wheÌ„ this man of God the flame now ready to incompasse him was comforted by the Captaine of the Castell his keeper and put in minde to call vpon GOD answered againe that though these fierie flames are greeuous to flesh bloud yet my spirit is nothing there-with dismaid but he that so proudly sitteth yonder ouer-against vs meaning the Cardinal that was placed in a window of the Castell to behold this spectacle shall within few dayes lye on the ground no lesse reprochfully then now he doth aduance himselfe arrogantly which within foure monthes after came to passe when as the Cardinall was murthered by certaine of his owne clientes and followers in the same place and his dead carcas showed out at the same windowe where lately before he was placed in great pompe at the martirdome of George Wishart Mine aunt Anne after many threats and great search made for her by the prelates her persecutors was by casual intercepting of her owne letter discouered and so vnwillingly deliuered into ther bloody hands by him that both loued her and the religion which she professed but was neuer the lesse ouer come with feare for hee had much to lose least happily by concealing what was knowne he knew he might so haue brought himself into trouble thus much flesh and blood preuailed with him which often hath such powre euen ouer the most regenerat that the Apostle Paule saith of himselfe what I would that I doe not but what I hate euen that I doe from the time he had leaft her with them till the houre wherein she suffered a flame of fier presented it selfe in the day time to vewe such as according to his owne comparison appeareth in a glasse windowe ouer against a great fier in the same roome doutlesse this signe was giuen him to some end and I doubt not but he made good vse thereof For the sequell thus much I haue since obferued that his Sonne and haire in few yeares wasted the better part of his patrimonie not to be redeemed at this day with 20. thousaÌ„d pounds by yeelding ouer-much to the vnbridled vanities of another Anne Aiscu his wife Thus it pleased the Lord in his wisdome to giue honour to our family by such a meane as the world then held reprochfull and contrariwise to impaire the state and reputation of the same by such a match as in the iudgment of maÌ„ for she was honorably descended should rather haue giuen more estimation vnto it But now to returne to the contention temporall The Earle of Hertford with a new armie of some twelue thousand horsmen footmen entring Scotland burned a great part of the Mers Tiuidale amongst the rest the towne and Abbay of Kelso and Melrosse Abbay the former was a while defended by 300. Scots but in the end the most of them were either slaine or taken prisoners The army hauing in this maner passed along the further side of Tweed but not far within the country returned home without incounter In Ianuary following this renowned Prince not inferiour to any other liuing in those dayes yet that age brought forth more excellent then for many yeares before Christendome had inioyed together departed out of this life who had so great desire to haue vnited these two nigh kingdoms as that it is said he gaue especiall charge to the lords of his couÌ„sell at his death to indeuor the effecting of the promised mariage with the yong Princesse of Scotland 5. years yonger then Prince Edward his onely sonne now about nine yeares old at the death of the king his father wherfore the Duke of Somerset the yong kings Vncle by his mother lately before Earle of Hertford but now with the accesse of that title made also lord Protector of the Realme togeather with other Lords of the Councell held it expedient no longer to detract time but once againe to assay if happily after so many victories ouer the Scots in the pursute of this cause they would yeeld now at length to that against which they too wilfully opposed themselues To which end the lord Protector being wel prouided both by land sea passed into Scotland the next yeare about the beginning of September causing proclamation to be made in 3. seueral quarters of his campe signifying that the cause of his comming was to make knowne to all that nation that his intent was onely to renue the treaty of the long intended mariage betweene the King of England and their Princesse offering all maner of courtesies to as many amongst them as would shew themselues fauorers therof The armie marching along by
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
the meane time there was nothing of any importance passed betweene the two nations what was gotten by either party at one time was lost againe at another after the manner of the mutabilitie of those aduentures happily there would haue beene more doings betweene them if the continuall troubles with their owne subiects had not giuen both the kings their hands full at home Besides that king Henry after the deaths of those two gallant warriers his Vncles was so busied with loosing that which his victorious father had lately gotten in France as that hee could not attend any dealings with Scotland though hee had beene more then he was therevnto prouoked But in the end king Iames taking the aduantange of time vnder colour to reuenge the death of Edmond Duke of Somerset his mothers brother who about fiue yeares before was slaine at Saint Albons by the faction of Yorke in the defence of the king was incouraged to vnder-take this his vnfortunate iourney against Roxbrugh Notwithstanding this mishap the Scotts would not giue ouer the siege but so manfully assailed the defendants that in the end they were forced vpon honorable conditions to yeeld vp the Castle vnto the yong king Iames the third then present being about the same age that his father was of when that Castle was besieged last before but dispairing to bee able to hold it long in their possession they cast it downe to the ground and returned home to solemnize the funerals of the father and the coronation of the Sonne in the yeare 1460. within sixe months after this the King of England was deposed and so together ended the raignes of these two kings the one by vntimely death the other by liuing longer then he knew how to raigne for hauing liued and raigned together about eight and thirtie yeares hee was then by his owne subiects deposed and depriued of all kinglie powre where-vpon both hee the Queene his wife and his sonne fled together into Scotland for succour from whence the Queene passed ouer into France and hauing gathered some ayde out of those countries they assayed the recouerie of their former estates but all in vaine for their aduersarie Edward Duke of Yorke the new elected King still defeated all their attempts tending there-vnto The desolate king hauing beene harbored in Scotland about three yeares aduentured to returne vnknowne into England I know not with what hope of good successe but being presently discouered he was apprehended and committed to the Towre of London from whence with-in seauen yeares after hee was deliuered King Edward being driuen out of the realme by the Earle of Warwike who before had been the chiefe meane of his aduancement to the Crowne But this was but a lightning before his last fall for within sixe months after king Edward returned againe into England where hee found such friends that forth-with without any resistance hee eâ—â—red into London tooke King Henrie who in the meane time was newly crowned and committed him to his former imprisonment where the same yeare hee ended his life not without suspition of violence By meanes of this ciuill dissention here in England Berwicke became Scottish for King Henry had bestowed the same on King Iames in requitall of the fauour hee had found in Scotland during his abode there Hereat King Edward for the present was not onely content to winke but also willing to accept of a truce with that nation for fifteene yeares King Iames hauing in the meane season through lewd counsell of certaine bad persons about him vniustly executed one of his brothers and imprisoned an other fell thereby into contempt and mislike with his subiects and therefore to make himselfe the stronger if happily they should rise in armes against him he sent into England the expiration of the former truce now approaching a solemne Ambassage to intreate that his Sonne Iames the young Prince of Scotland might haue to wife the Lady Cicelie second Daughter to King Edward This request was so well liked of by the King and his Counsell that the same was easilie yeelded vnto and for the better assurance thereof King Edward was also willing presently to disburse certaine summes of money with condition that iâ— afterwardes vpon any occasion the intended marriage should not hold that then the monie should within a certaine time limitted be repayed backe againe For the performance whereof the principall marchants of Edenbrough stood bound to the King of England This was thus concluded vpon in the yeare 1481. While King Iames now hoped that all was safe on his side by his alliance with England Alexander his second brother Duke of Albanie had the good hap to escape out of the Castell of Edenbrough where hee was imprisoned who hauing afterward spent some time in France and not preuailing so much with Lewis the eleuenth as that hee would bee intreated to ayde him towards the recouerie of his former estate in Scotland came ouer hither into England and earnestlie solicited king Edward to make warre vpon the king his brother thereby to take reuenge for the extreame iniuries done to him and his other brother Iohn Earle of Marre from whom he had taken his life as from him-selfe his lands and libertie The Duke was herein seconded by the Dowglas who long before had beene banished Scotland These two so much preuailed with King Edward and the rather because the Scottish King had euen then permitted his subiects at the perswasion of the French king to inuade the English marches to the great hurt and annoyance of the inhabitants that in the end king Edward caused preparation for to bee made for the inuasion of Scotland against the next spring The leading of this strong armie was committed to certaine Noble-men ouer whom Richard Duke of Glocester the Kings brother then newly come to mans estate was appointed Lieutenant Generall About the beginning of Iuly in the yeare following the English host incamped neere vnto Anwike and was marshalled after this manner The fore-ward was conducted by Henry Earle of Northumberland vnder whose Standard were the Lord Scroope of Bolton and diuers other to the number of sixe thousand and seauen hundred of all sorts In the middle battaile the Duke himâ—eâ—â—e was placed and with him the Duke of Albanie the Lord Louell the Lord Greystocke Sir Edward Wooduille and others to the number of fiue hundred and foure-score The Lord Neuill was appointed to follow with three hundred To the Lord Standley was committed the lâ—â—t wing and the other to the Lord Fitz-â—â—gh consisting betweene them of six thousand men One thousand moe attended the great Ordinance In this manner they marched towards â—erwicke at whose approach the Scottes abandoned the towne The two Dukes without further â—â—ay leauing behind them forty thouâ—â—d to besiege the Câ—â—â—le which was kept by thâ— Earle â—othwell departed thence with the Aâ—â—â—â—â—owardes Edenbrough burning and spoiling the country as they passed Being come thither the Duke of Glocester entred the towne without resistance
that the Scottes being ten thousand choise men taken out of the whole army to giue the assault were beaten backe not without losse of many of their men Amongst other feats of â—rmes done at this assault for it deserued not the â—ime of a seidge it fell out that as the Englishmen defended the barriers without the gate the Dowglasse chaunced to be matched hand to hand with the Lord Henry and by force pulled his staffe from him where-vpon in his returne hoisting it vp on high hee cried out that hee would carrie the same for his glorie into Scotland with which conquest being as it seemed for the time satisfied the next day the whole armie departed home-wardes as farre as Otterbourne about eight myles from New-castle The two Percies the next morning with more courage then discretion being as yet ouer few to incounter the enemie issued out of the towne with such speed as that they were vpon the Scottes before they were departed from their lodgings neuerthelesse vpon some knowledge giuen them of the approach of the Englishmen they were ready to receaue theÌ„ at all assaies The fight continued very hote on both sides for the space of so much of the day as remayned after their meeting and for the most part of the night following by moone-shine The EnglishmeÌ„ caused the Scottes to giue ground and withall won their standard This being perceiued Patrike Hepbourne togither with his Sonne and such forces as were vnder his charge from out of the one side and the doughtie Dowglas from another quarter with his men so proudly assailed the Englishmen as beeing not able to make resistance they were forced in the end to yeelde or saue themselues by flight This battaile was fought in the yeare 1388. The number of the Englishmen slaine as Hector Boetius reporteth were fiue hundred not without some slaughter also of the Scottes amongst whome the Earle Dowglas was of principall account hauing receiued manie mortall wounds The two Percies were taken prisoners in fight with some other of good reckoning But manie more were taken in their flight for the Scottes pursued them so egarlie in the chase as that two hundred of themselues aduenturing ouer farre were taken prisoners by the Englishmen But Buchanan doth otherwise report this iorney Viz. That after the Scottes had diuided themselues into two companies they met not againe till after the battaile of Otterbourne also that the Earle Dowglas both at the same battaile and also before at the assault of New-castell had not in his armie aboue three thousand men of all sortes whereas the two Percies brought with them to Otterbourne ten thousand choise men But herein he doth not onely disagree from the other Scottish writers but also from himselfe For saith he when the two armies parted it was agreed vpon amongst them that neither of them should attempt to encounter the Englishmen vntill both the armies were met againe each of them consisting as some report of fifteene thousand men a peece And therfore it is most vnlikely that Dowglas contrary to his former appointment against al sence would aduenture to assault Newcastell with so few as hee speaketh of or willinglie abide the comming of the Percies against the liking of the greater number of his owne people as hee reporteth It is therefore more probable that when the two Scottish armies were met againe according to their appointment the Earle Dowglas to whose onelie direction the rest referred themselues making choise of the most able men amongst them sent the residewe home-wards with such spoyle as they had gotten in this iorney vnder the conduct of the Earle of Fife and his brother the rather because the King their Father was neither acquainted with this preparation into England as beeing more inclined to peace then to warre neither knewe hee that his Sonnes were amongst them Amongst others that had the Englishmen in chase after this last conflict it fell out that Iames Lindsey a Scot hauing the aduantage of weapon and armour tooke Mathew Redman the Gouernour of Berwike prisoner whoe was presentlie dismissed vppon his oath that within twenty daies after hee would yeeld him selfe prisoner againe vnto him Iames Lindsey immediatelie returned towardes his companie which as hee tooke it he had soone after in sight But when hee was come so neare that it auayled not to retire he found them to bee a band of Englishmen attending the Bishoppe of Durham For the Bishoppe beeing come to New-castle to ioyne with the Percies according to a former appointment vnderstanding that they were the same daie gone to seeke the enemie made but small hast after them supposing by reason of their weake attendance that they would attempt nothing before his comming to their succour the next morning but in their passage that night towardes Otterburne the Bishoppe vnderstood by those that had escaped by flight that the Englishmen had alreadie fought with the Scottes and were discomfeited wherevpon returning backe againe to the towne hee incountred Lindesey thus alone When Captaine Redman had espied his late acquaintance Iames Lindsey brought to New-castell as a captiue with all curtisie hee intertayned him and vpon euen hands the one redeemed the others lybertie In like manner vpon the returne of of the Scottes home-wards the younger brother of the Percies because by reason of his wounds hee was not able to take so great iorneyes obtayned libertie to returne to Newcastell for his speedier recouerie promising that when hee should bee better able to trauell hee would at any time beeing called thereto yeeld his bodie againe Vpon the same condition saith Buchanane were sixe hundred more at that time set at lybertie to go whether they would This custome hath beene still continewed amongst the borderers of either Nation wherein if any man brake his faithfull promise the party victorer at the next day of truce signifieth the others default which is reputed so great a disgrace vnto his Captaine as that his owne alliaunce and friends will for the same cast him off for euer The next yeare while the commissioners of the three Nations England France Scotland were busied about a treatie of a permanent peace the Scottes were so well fleshed with their booty gotten the last iorney as that they entred againe into Northumberland burning and spoileing that Countrie on euerie side Against thâ—se was the Lord Thomas Mowbraie Earle of Notingham sent with fiue hundred speares but hee preuailed little or nothing against them The Scottish Nobility tasted such sweetnesse in these two last roades into England as that they were vnwilling though their king was not against it to yeeld consent to any conclusion of peace wishing nothing more then the continewance of warre betweene England and France because they fared the better by it but the matter was so ernestly labored by the Frenchmen that with much adoe they accepted of peace which was againe renewed after the death of king Robert of Scotland the yeare following Viz. 1390. And
continewed till king Ricâ—â—â—d was deposed by his vnkinde cousine Henrie Plantagenet Sonne to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in the yeare of our Lord 1399. But immediatlie after the coronation of king Henrie the fourth while Sir Thomas Gray Captaine of Warke Castell was at the Parliament certaine Scottes assaulted and tooke it by force but either dispayring to keepe it or not dareing to auowe what they had done the truce still continewing they leaft it defaced and ruinated Howsoeuer they excused this their rough beginning it seemed by that which followed that they had no great respect to the obseruance of peace which had hitherto continewed vnuiolated for the tearme of ten yeares but was shortlie after broken by them againe vpon this occasion George of Dumbar Earle of the Marches of Scotland had betrothed his Daughter to the King his Maisters Sonne and heire the Father not only consenting therevnto but also receauing a good part of the marriage monie This King was named Iohn but because the former two kings of England and France so called had such bad successe hee tooke vpon him the name of Robert The Earle Dowglas taking indignation that any other of that Nation should bee herein preferred before him and complayning that the consent of the States was to much neglected in not beeing made acquainted with a matter of that importance as appertayned therevnto offred a Daughter of his owne with a greater portion Hereof king Robert accepted and forth-with made vp the marriage Dumbar complayning of this wronge demaunded the monie his king had receiued but hee could not receiue so much as a kinde answere of him This double iniury done him by the Dowglas both the losse of his monie and which hee esteemed farre more of the kinges fauour did not a little trouble him Therefore hauing no other meanes to bee hereof reuenged hee leaft both Court and Country and repayring into England complayned himselfe vnto Henrie the Earle of Northumberland of whome he hoped to be relieued In the meane time the Earle Dowglas seized on the Castell of Dunbar in the King his Maisters name which was committed to the custodie of Robert Matland at the Earle of March his departure into England Northumberland aduised him to returne into Scotland and to make tryall if happily some other course might preuaile with his King for the saluing of these his discontentments But comming to Dunbar the Earle Dowglas hauing fortified the Castell would not admit him entrance answering that hee kept it to the vse of the King who had sent him thither to that end The other Earle seeing his greatest enemie so much to triumph ouer him could not brooke it but without making further meanes to the King at whose hands he ought especially to haue fought for remedy hee together with his wife children and allies returned againe into England informing the Earle of Northumberland of all the displeasures done vnto him by his aduersary the Dowglas and withall desired him seeing he could not otherwise preuaile to aide him in the recouerie of his possessions by force sithence by force they were kept against him Herevpon followed some stirres by the rising of the borderers on both sides who ioyning then forces together did the Dowglas all the mischiefe they could King Robert not a little moued here-with did write to king Henry that vnlesse he would deliuer into his hands the fugitiue Earle he would take it for a breach of the truce and proceed against him accordingly What answer soeuer king Henrie made here-vnto it deserued not so bitter a reprehension as wher-with Buchanan doth check him Impudency is a foule fault in a priuate man much more in a Prince I hold him of a very froward temper that in his writings cannot afford a King his good words although they show sometimes dislike of their actions King Robert vpon the returne of his messenger caused open warre to be proclaimed and Sir William Logon a Scottish Knight was forth-with sent to the Sea of purpose to sett on the English fleete that was then fishing on the coast of Scotland about Aberden But hee was incountred with certaine ships of Lin and by them taken prisoner The Fisher-men vnderstanding what was intended against them entring into some of the Iles of Orkney carried away with them whatsoeuer was worth their labour and set the rest on fire King Henry perceiuing what was to be looked for out of Scotland thought it good in the beginning either to draw the Scots to peace or to resist their malice before further mischiefe should insue therof And therfore hauing a great armie hee there-with entred into Scotland about the middest of August being the eleuenth month from his coronation From Hadington he passed to Leeth vsing much clemencie in all places where he came especially to the houses of religion Where-vpon diuers Castels Houlds willingly submitted themselues vnto him Comming to Edenbrough he besiedged the Castle Hither Robert Duke of Albanie gouernour of Scotland vnder the King his brother who by reason of his impotencie could not trauell in his person sent an Harald of Armes vnto king Henry promising to giue him battaile within sixe dayes at the furthest if hee would stay so long The King accepting the offer gaue the messenger for his good newes a chaine of gold and a Sattin gowne at his departure But neither at the end of sixe or sixteene dayes heard he any more of the Gouernours comming The Scottish writers attribute this dishonorable dealing to the Dukes ambition whom it would not haue troubled though the Castle had beene taken together with the young Prince of Scotland in the same that thereby hee might haue beene in so much the more hope of the crowne him-selfe after which it was thought he greatly thirsted But on the other side they highly extoll the singular moderation of King Henry who by this his gentle inuasion seemed rather desirous to allure them to peace then to afflict them with the calamities alwayes accompaning warre Winter approaching the King brake vp the siedge and returned home without any shew of resistance greatly to the Gouernours reproach neither shewing him-selfe desirous of warre nor willing to offer conditions of peace how apparent tokens soeuer was showed by king Henry of his readinesse to haue accepted thereof After some little harme done the next Summer by the borderers on both sides Patrike Hepburne with some greater powre entred further into England and hauing gotten a good bootie and therwithall returning home-wards hee was ouer-taken by the Englishmen at Nesbet in the Meirs where their Captaine together with the greater number of his people well neere the very flowre of all the Lothian youth were beaten downe and slaine in fight Amongst those that were taken prisoners Iohn and William Cockburne Robert Lawder Iohn and Thomas Haliburton were the men of best account This ouer-throw was giuen the Scottes on the xxii day of Iune in the yeare 1401. The Earle Archibald Dowglas sonne to the other