sea to Berwicke Of the Nobilitie of England were slaine Gilbert Earle of Glocester Robert Lord Clifford the Lord Giles Argentine whose death Bruse much lamented for the great loue that was betweene thē afore-time in England the Lord Panie Tiptost the Lord William Marshall the Lord Reginold Damiecourt the Lord Edmond de Manley the kings Steward with other to the number of forty two Of knights threescore and seuen The Earle of Hereford the Lord Iohn Seagraue and others to the number of two and twentie men of name were taken prisoners Of the Scots were slaine about foure thousand amongst whom Sir William Weapont and Sir Walter Ros were the principall men of account This was the most notable victorie that euer the Scots had ouer the Englishmen which came to passe only by the misguiding and want of experience in their leaders and captaines presuming ouer much of their aduantage in number furniture of weapons neither were they so circumspect as it behoued them to be in the discouery of aduātage or disaduantage which the plot of ground where the battel was fought might afford to the one side more then to the other For they might haue coniectured euen by Bruse his abiding in the field with so small a power against so great a puissance being of Englishmē more then two to one Scot that he relied more vpon the successe of his hidden deceipts then of his owne strength This battell was fought on Midsummer day in the yeare 1314. Here-upon Striueling Castle was rendred vp Bruse his wife was vpon exchange sent home hauing beene in England about eight yeares After Bruse had thus fortunatlie recouered his kingdome he was by generall consent of his subiects confirmed and established in the same The Crowne was intailed vpon the heyres Males of his bodie lawfully begotten and for want of such issue to remaine to his brother Edward Bruse and the Heyres Males of his bodie and for default thereof the same should descend vpon the Ladie Margery the Kings eldest daughter whome onelie hee begat on his first wife sister to the Earle of Mar. Which Lady by the aduice of his Noblemen was bestowed in marriage on Walter high Steward of Scotland on whose posteritie the Crowne shortlie after descended and in the same familie continueth till this day taking that surname of the office which theyr Ancestors bare and was first bestowed on Walter the sonne of Fleance by King Malcolme Cammore for his notable seruice against the Rebelles of Galloway What thorough the losse of so many mens liues and the domage which our Nation susteyned at this last battell and the great dearth and death of man and beast that thorough the vnseasonable state of those times continued for the space of three yeares after small resistance or none at all was made against the Scots who taking the benefit of this aduantage ceassed not exceedinglie to annoye and trouble the Realme by their continuall incursions Hereof Pope Iohn the 22. taking compassion at the Kings sute sent ouer two Cardinalles Gancellino his Chancellor and Lucas de Frisco to mediate a peace betweene the two Nations But king Robert held it yet out of season to hearken thereunto hauing as he tooke it not sufficiently beene satisfied for his former losses and displeasures Whereupon these iollie Chaplaines proceeded against him with all extremitie denouncing him and all his fautors accursed and putting his kingdome whereof they accounted him but a vsurper vnder interdiction But all these bumbaced skarre-crowes nothing abated king Roberts corage who still following his good hap while the time best serued for it held on his former course so eagerlie as that in short time hee recouered the Castles and townes of Harbottle Warke Medford and Berwicke which last it is said was betrayed by Peter Spalding the Gouernor hauing remained English one and twenty yeares together Neither would king Robert limit his kingdome by the ancient boundes but inlarged the same euen vnto New-castle vpon Tine At this time also the Scots obtained diuers victories in Ireland thorough the manhood of Edward Bruse their kings brother who neuerthelesse in the end was slaine in battell and aboue fiue thousand Scots with him His head was brought ouer and presented to king Edward by Iohn Birmingha◠for the which good seruice now and at 〈◊〉 other times in Ireland the king gaue him the Earledome of Lowth to him his heyres Males and the Baronie of Athird to him and his heires generally of his body begotten The realme of England now being somewhat recouered of the hard estate it stood in the last three yeares King Edward was desirous to make triall if happily he might rubbe out the blemish of the late blowe receiued of his enemies in Scotland Hauing therefore assembled his Armie at Yorke who for the more patt were handy-crafts men and Artificers passing from thence he layde siege to Berwicke The Scottes in the meane time vnder the conduct of Thomas Randolph entring England on the other side put all to fire and sword little resistance being made against them for those countries lay well neere desolate since their inuasion the yeare before The Archbishop of Yorke could not indure the enimies approach so neere him being now come within two or three dayes marche of the Citie and therefore assembling such people as for the present hee could get men that were readiest at his command hee aduentured like a bold Champion to encounter the Scots of whom ouer-late he learned this lesson Ne sutor vltra crepidam For the greater number of these gallants some two thousand were knockt downe before they saw their enimies who by setting certaine Haystackes on fire and taking the winde of them were vpon them ere they knew what it meant The Archbishop and the Bishop of Elye Lord Chancellor with the Abbot of Selby escaped by flight but Nicholas Fleming the Maire of Yorke that stucke better to it was slaine This hapned on the 12 of October 1319. at a place called Mitton vpon Swaile And because this armie consisted most of Surplisse men it was in derision called the white battaile but most of them found it a black daie King Edward feareing least the Scotts intended some further mischiefe brake vp his siege and returned to Yorke where vnderstanding that the enemy was with-drawne home-ward he likewise tooke his way towards London The next yeare passed ouer without any stirring on either side the rather because the two Kings were disquieted at home by their owne subiects In the meane time at the procurement of King Edward the Pope sent hyther his leaden bulles which aduantaged him their weight in gold for hee is the best alchimist in Europe to the Archbishops of Canterburie and Yorke commanding them that vnlesse the Scottish king would fourth-with make satisfaction for the wronges done to the realme as well concerning the state ecclesiasticall as temporall they should proceede to the denouncing of sentence against him and all his adherentes But the Scottes made
no reckning of the holie Fathers threates wherevpon the Bishoppes published his terrible execrations against them so as King Robert Iames Dowglasse and Thomas Randolfe with all their partakers were at euerie masse thorough out England solemlie accursed three times Neuerthelesse the next yeare the Scottes inuaded the land againe a fresh so that all this cost and coniuration little or nothing auailed One companie vnder the conduct of the Earle of Murry assailed the Bishopricke of Durham An other was leade by Iames Dowglasse and the Lord Steward of Scotland who also deuiding themselues the one companie wasted the Country towardes Hartlepoole and Cleueland the other intended as much to Richmonde where the townes-men to redeeme their peace departed with a good round some of mony payed vnto them as they had done also latelie before While the Scottes tooke their pleasure in this manner in the North partes for the space of fiueteene daies the gentlemen there about repayred to Pomfret to the Earle of Lancaster offring to ioyne with him against the enemie but the Earle was not disposed to aduenture his life in the quarell of him who as he tooke it had done him much wrong But howe true soeuer that was most certaine it is that he both wronged himselfe and highlie offended his Soueraigne in taking armes against him shortly after which cost him no lesse price then the losse of his life as it bee fell to diuerse others his partakers at the battaile at Borowgh-bridge the sixteene daie of March 1321. This Earle was the greatest in title and possessions that euer yet was in England for hee was together inuested with the Earldomes of Lancaster Lincolne Leicester Derbie and Salisburie So as if hee had continued faithfull to his Prince hee might haue beene a great ayde vnto him and the realme but contrarywise as it hath beene often since seene in this land his greatnesse made him an enemie both to King and country as appeared by diuerse letters out of Scotland intercepted in their carriage hither to the Lords of his confederacie which were openly read and published afterwards in London During these troubles the Scots and French-men ceased not to molest the realme on both sides for King Robert about Midsomer following entred by the West Marches as farre as Kendall and from thence thorow Lancashire to Prestone in Andernesse burning and wasting all that stood in their way foure-score miles within the land and hauing taken their pleasure for the space of three weekes returned home without battaile The King of England being thus molested by their continuall incursions hauing also sent his Brother Edmond Earle of Kent ouer into Gâ—yenne for the defence thereof against the French-men passed yet once againe into Scotland King Robert vnderstanding what great preparation was made and in readinesse for to come against him thought it not fitte to hazard his estate being now brought to the height of his desires vpon the tickle successe of a battaile or two and therefore hee caused all the Cattle and Sheepe in the countrie to bee driuen vp to the Mountaines and what-so-euer else might serue the Englishmen to any good vse was either bestowed in some place of strength or else made vnfitte for any purpose Hee with his horse-men with-drew them-selues further into the land then that it should stand with the safetie of his enimies to approach them Hereby it came to passe that when King Edward was come to Edenborough hee was forced for want of victuals and other necessaries which bred many diseases amongst his people within fifteene dayes after his entrie into Scotland to returne home-wardes hauing onely by assault taken Norham Castell King Robert vnderstanding how much the English Armie was weakned by the great mortalitie of the common souldiours ouer-passed not so fitte an opportunitie but with all speed pursued the Englishmen wasting and spoiling the land euen as farre as Yorke and hauing gotten knowledge that king Edward was then at the Abbey of Beighland hee so couertly conducted his Armie thither as that setting on his enimies at vnawares he put them all to flight the king himselfe hardly escaping their hands In this conflict for some small resistance was made such as their short warning would afford The Lord Iohn Britaine Earle of Richmonde was taken prisoner besides diuers other of the inferiour sort The kings treasure and furniture with all the prouision and preparation pertayning to the host was either spoyled or caried away This hapned about the twelft of October anno 1322. After this defeature the Scottes passed further into the land comming to Beuerley the towns-men gaue them a summe of money wherewith they bought their peace hauing now remained in England a month foure daies they returned from thence home-wards King Edward now despairing of any better successe in time to come and withall foreseeing what trouble was likely to arise within his owne realme as afterwards came to passe sought meanes to obtayne peace with Scotland which in the end was yeelded vnto and the same to endure for thirteene years about the tenth of Iuly in the yeare following it was proclamed in the chiefe citties townes of both Nations The Scottes were also now content to be reconciled to the Pope hauing first recouered obtayned in England whatsoeuer they well-nere desired At the same time the league was renewed with Charles the French King lately then come to his Crowne with an addition to the former articles viz that if at any time after controuersie should arise about the succession and right to the Crowne of Scotland the same should be heard and determined by the Nobility and peeres of those two Nations onely King Edward hauing obtained peace with Scotland the French King beganne to quarell with him for default of his personall apearance being summoned therevnto to acknowledge his homage for the duchie of Aquitaine and the country of Poytou vpon which occasion the Queene his wife and the Prince of Walles were sent into France to treate with the king her brother of an agreement betweene him her husband which she effected Neuerthelesse whether she was staied their against her will vpon some complaint made of her husband or that she could not happily indure the two Spencers who were then in greatest estimation with him it seemed she had no great desire to returne into England which being perceiued or rather plotted by diuers of the Nobility and others fauoring her part more then the kings they daylie passed ouer vnto her by whom beeing brought into England the greater number forsooke the King and ioyned themselues with the Queene and her Sonne into whose handes he was thereby forced in the ende to resigne his Crowne and Scepter and shortlie after to yeeld his bodie to the violence of his cruell tormentors who beereaued him of life as the others did of lybertie hauing raigned neere twentie yeares Such was the ende of this vnfortunate King by whose misgouernment the Realme was greatlie impouerished and weakned
in Holdernesse about the latter end of March who thinking it neither fit nor conuenient to suffer the same to passe any further without making the King acquainted there-with the yong Prince with his traine were forth-with conuaied to the Court then at Windesoure The Child beeing brought to the Kings presence presented vnto him a letter which the King his Father had giuen him to the end that if by chance he should be either taken at sea or forced by tempest to take land on the coast of England hee might thereby finde the more fauour with the King The tenure of which letter I haue here inserted as I finde it in the history of Scotland written by Hollinshead Robert King of Scottes to Henry King of England greeting Thy great magnificence humility and iustice are right present with vs by the gouernance of thy last armie in Scotland howbeit sic things had beene vncertaine to vs afore for though thou seemed as an enemie with most awefull incursions in our Realme Yet we found manie humilities and pleasires than damages by thy comming to our subdittes Speciallie to yame that receyuit thy Noblie Father the Duke of Longcastell in the time of his exile in Scotland Wee may not ceys yairfore while wee are in life but aye luys and loif the as maist Noble and Worthie Prince to ioys thy Realme For yocht Realmes and Nations contend amang themselues for conquestes of glorie and lands Èit na occasion is amang vs to inuade athir Realmes or lieges with iniuries bot euer to contend amang our selues quhay sall persew other with maist humanitie and kindnesse As to vs wee will meis all occasion of battell quhare any occurres at thy pleasure Forther bycause wee haue na lesse sollicitude in preseruing our Children fra certaine deidlie enemies than had sometime thy Noble Father wee ar constreined to seeke support at vncouth Princes hands Howbeit the inuasion of enemies is sa great that small defence occurres against yame without they bee preserued by amitie of Nobill men For the warld is sa full of peruersit malice that na crueltie nor offence may bee deuisit in erd bot the same may bee wrocht be motion of gold and siluer Herefore bycause wee knawe thy hienesse full of mony nobill vertues with sic pyssaunce and riches that na Prince in our daies may bee compard thairto wee desire thy humanitie and support at this time VVee traist it is not vnknowne to thy Maiestie how our eldest Sonne Dauid is slaine miserably inprison by our brother the Duke of Albaine quhome wee chesit to bee Gouernour quhan wee were fallen in decrepit age to our subditts and Realme beseek and thy hyenesse thairfore to bee sa fauorable that this bearer Iames our second and allnerly Sonne may haue targe to life vndâ—r thy faith and iustie to bee some memorie of our posterity knaw and the vnstable condition of mans life sa sodainly altered now flurisâ—â—d and sodenlie falling to vtter consumption for thir beliefe well quhan Kings and Princes hes na other beild bot in thair awin folkes thair Empire is caduke and fragil For the minde of common pepill ar euer flowaund and mair inconstant than wind Èœit quhen Princes ar roborate be amity of othir vncouth Kings thair brethir and Nieghbours na aduersity may occurre to eiect thaim fra thair dignity royall Forthire gif thy hienesse thinke nocht expedient as God forbeid to obtemper to thir our desiers Èœit wee request ane thing quhilk was ratifiet in our last trewes and condition of peace that the supplication made be ony of the two kings of England Scotland sall stand in manner of safe conduct to the bearer And thus we desire to be obseruit to this our allnerly Son And the gratious God conserue the maist Noble Prince The Scottish writers reporte that when King Robert had knowledge of the staie of his Sonne in England in the nature of a prisoner he tooke the matter so greeuously that being an aged sicklie man and of long time oppressed with malancholie hee died within three daies after There is some difference amongst the writers concerning the time when these things chaunced Harding placeth these occurreÌ„ts in the yeare 1408. Buchanan chargeth king Henrie to haue dealt iniuriouslie in detayning the young Prince not onely without respect had to the King his Fathers request but also while the truce yet continewed betweene the two Nations which as hee saith was lately taken for eight yeares But I do not see how that can be proued foâ— in the English Chronicles I finde no truce agreed vpon since the battaile of Homildon but once and that but for one yeare in the seauenth yeare of King Henries raigne Whereas it is manifest enough that aboue a yeare before this the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolfe after they had bin in Wales Flaunders and France to haue purchased aide against King Henry were returned into Scotland and now not aboue sixe or seauen weekes before the arriuall of the yong Prince in England were entred into the Realme with a power of Scottes and comming into Yorkshire were incountred and ouerthrowne by Sir Thomas Rooksbie then Sheriffe of the Shire on the nineteenth day of Februarie in the yeare 1407. The Earle himselfe was slaine in the field and the Lord Bardolfe sore wounded as beeing taken he died thereof shortlie after Hereby it appeareth that either there was no truce at al at this time or else the Scottes made small account thereof taking part with the enemies of the land against their natural King within his owne kingdome Howsoeuer the Sonnes captiuity did for the present trouble the sickly olde King his Father The Scottes haue had no cause sinne to bee much offended thereat For as it is confessed by themselues king Henrie tooke so great care for his education in all manner of discipline fit for his calling as that Realme had neuer before a Prince furnished with more excellent qualities No doubt king Henrie hereby sought in kindnesse to binde him and that Nation to a perpetuall acknowledgment of his singuler loue and fauor towards the one and the other But as the sequell showed the same was little or nothing regarded afterwards The death of king Robert made no alteration in the state of gouernment in Scotland with him died onely the title of king for the other Robert his brother the Duke of Albaine in manner as before so still he inioyed the soueraigne command ouer that Nation About this time or not long before Sir Robert Vnfreuille high admirall of England burnt the towne of Peples on the market day causing his men to make so good penie-worthes of the cloathes they got there as that therevpon the Scottes called him Robin mend market In the meane season the Castell of Iedworth which the Englishmen had held euer since the battaile at Durham was taken by Tyuidale men and throwne downe to the ground Shortly after the Earle of March who before at a Parliament was recommended
all to the sword that made resistance where leauing a garrison for the defence thereof the army returned home And for the better restraint of further molestation on that side the King caused the City and Castell of Carleil which had beene ruinated by the Danes about 200. yeares before to be reedified and peopled againe granting many priuiledges to the inhabitants which they enioy to this day King Malcolme being not a little discontented with the losse of Anwicke shortly after gathered a new powre laide siege to the towne wherat both he himselfe and Prince Edward his eldest sonne by one misfortune or other for the writers agree not on that point lost their liues the whole army put to flight This came to passe in the 36. yeare of King Malcolme his raigne and in the sixt of King William Rufus 1093. Anno. 1093. Though this Malcome had in his time much disturbed the English nation by sundrie harmefull inuasions neuerthelesse by the meanes of his foresaid mariage with the sister of Edgar Atheling the realme of England became of an open and professed enemie an assured friend yea euen a very sanctuarie to his poore Orphaine children for their vncle Edgar a man of great sanctimonie and fidelitie wisely foreseeing and warily preuenting the danger wherein those babes stood vnder the vsurped gouernment of Donald their fathers brother sent presently for them into England The three sonnes Edgar Alexander and Dauid succeeded one the other in their Fathers kingdome Mawde the eldest Daughter surnamed the Good was afterwards maried to the first Henry King of England Mary the other daughter to Eustace Earle of Bulloine the base whose daughter named after her Mother was maried to Stephen King of England This happy progenie the more happy for the vertues of their deceased Mother and liuing Vncle were not onely educated at his charge and instructed in all good nurture beseeming their birth and linage but also when the young Prince Edgar was come to ripe age Edgar his Vncle obtained of king William Rufus a competent powre wherewith now the second time for once before hee had with the like helpe expulsed Donald and crowned Duncam king Malcomes base Sonne in his place hee vtterly expelled Donald and set Prince Edgar in full and peaceable possession of the Crowne of Scotland which hee enioyed during his life King William shortly after deceasing without issue his brother Henry the Conquerors yongest sonne was admitted king of England by the generall consent of the whole nation Anno 1100. King Edgar not onely renewed the league with him which before was continued with Rufus but for the more strengthning of the same he gaue the Lady Mawde his eldest sister vnto him in marriage as is aforesaid by whom he had issue that liued Mawde the Empresse Mother to Henry the second afterwards king of England The mutuall amitie that by this mariage was nourished betweene these two nations during the life of this Henry and the Queenes brothers Edgar and Alexander was confirmed by the mariage also of Dauid her yongest brother with an other Mawde the Daughter and heire of Waltheoff late Earle of Northumberland Huntingtō as before you haue heard by which mariage that Earldome with a great part of Northumberland and Westmerland were annexed to the Crowne of Scotland as afterwards shall better appeare Henry the first departing out of this life in the sixe and thirtith yeare of his raigne leaft to succeed him onely a Daughter for his sonnes were both drowned in their passage hither out of Normandie This Lady was first maried to the Emperor Henry the 4. who dying without issue she was maried againe to Geffery Plantagenet Earle of Aniou by whom she had issue while her father liued Henry the 2. afterwards king of England Notwithstanding that Stephen Earle of Boloigne nephew to the last deceased king for Adela his mother was one of the daughters of William the Conqueror had together with the rest of the nobility sworne vnto King Henry to admit his daughter the Empresse to succeed him as lawfull heire to the Crowne of England hee nothing regarding his oath made no scruple to intrude himselfe into the royall throne Immediatly whervpon he sent an Ambassage vnto K. Dauid of Scotland demanding homage as wel for that realme as for all other the lands signories which he held of him within England where-vnto K. Dauid answered that both Stephen he himselfe with all the nobility of England were all seuerally bound by oath to the obedience of the Empresse his neece as the only lawfull and liniall heire to King Henry her father whereof he for his part made that conscience as that during her life he would neuer acknowledge any other true inheritor to the crowne of Englād King Stephen not a little displeased with this his resolute answer inuaded the territories of Scotland where-vpon much trouble arose to both nations But after the warre had continued 2. or 3. yeares with equall losse on both sides in the end thorough the mediatiō especially of the Queene of England who was also Neece to K. Dauid by his other Sister Mary Countesse of Boloigne as hath beene afore-said a peace was concluded on these conditions That the Counties of Northmuberland and Huntington should remaine in the possession of Prince Henrie of Scotland as heire vnto them in the right of his Mother but Cumberland should bee thence-forth held and reputed the lawefull inheritance of king Dauid that both Father and Sonne should acknowledge and yeelde to king Stephen and his successours for the time being for these signories the accustomed seruices due for the same King Stephen was the more willing to yeelde herevnto by reason of his infinite trobles which daylie more and more increased by the plottes and practises of the friends of the Empresse neuer ceasing to worke him all the displeasure that possibly they could deuise the victory falling sometimes on the one side and sometimes on the other Such was the estate of this Land during his whole raigne for the space of eightene years In the meane season though king Dauid preferred the iust title of the Empresse before the colourable pretext of Stephen yet hee so much regarded the worde of a king that although hee was no doubt greatly solicited by the Empresse to breake of with her aduersary yet would hee not bee drawne at any time therevnto although that troublesome season offred him fit oportunity for his owne aduantage which commendable and Christian resolution well appeared in him when as afterward hee intertayned Prince Henry Sonne to the Empresse at Carliele who being come thither accompained with the Earles of Chester and Hereford and diuerse other noblemen and gentlemen of good account both of England and Normandie of purpose as it seemed to draw the king to their part whose assistance only wanted to the expelling of the vsurper hee would by no means breake his faith with England but resting quiet at home nothing was at
was surrendred vpon the like condition The Castle of Striueling at the kings approach beeing left desolate and hauing the gates set wide open offered it selfe vnto his entrance King Edward following his good fortune passed from hence ouer the forth and about Midsomer came to the Towne S. Iohn While hee remained there king Iohn now dispayring to recouer by force his manifold losses sought by intreaty to be reconciled and receiued into grace which at length was granted so as king Iohn and his Nobilitie acknowledging their error resigned the kingdome of Scotland into the hands of king Edward in māner following Iehan per le grace de Dieu c. Iohn by the grace of God king of Scotland To all those that these present Letters shall see or heare sendeth greeting Because that wee through euill counsell and our owne simplicitie haue grieuously offended our Soueraigne Lord Edward by the Grace of God king of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine in many things that is to say In that whereas wee being and abiding vnder his faith and homage haue bound our selues vnto the king of France which then was his enemy yet is procuring a marriage with the Daughter of his Brother Charles de valois And that wee might vex our sayd Lord and aide the king of France withall our powre by warre and other meanes we haue at length by aduise of peruerse counsell defied our sayd Lord the King of England and haue put our selues out of his allegiance and homage and sent our people into England to burne houses to take spoiles to commit murther with many other damages and also in fortifying the kindome of Scotland which is of his fee putting armed men into townes Castells and other places to keepe the Land against him defraud him of his fee. For the which transgressions our sayd soueraigne Lord the king entring into the realme of Scotland with his powre hath conquered and taken the same notwithstanding all that we could do against him as by right hee might do and as appertained to a Lord ouer his fee because that wee did render vnto him our homage and yet neuerthelesse made the foresaid rebellion Wee therefore it being yet in our powre free-wil do surrēder vnto him the realme of Scotland and al the people of the same with the homages In witnesse whereof wee haue caused these our letters patentes to be drawne Giuen at Brechin the tenth day of Iuly in the fourth yeare of our raigne sealed with the cōmon seale of the kingdome of Scotland This done king Edward hauing receiued the Son of Balliol in pleadge of his fathers fidelity passed on further to see the moūtaine Countries the Bishop of Durham euer keeping a daies iornay before him after hee had passed thorowe the land of Murrey and was come to Elghin perceiuing al the Country quiet he returned to Berwicke whether he sommoned all the Noblemen of Scotland of whom he receiued their seuerall homages confirming the same vnder their hands and seales in forme following Atouz ceux qui cestes lettres verrent c. To all those that these present letters shall see or heare We Iohn Cumin of Badenaw c. Do hereby vowe and promise for vs and our heires vpon paine of body and goods and of all that we haue that wee shall serue the most Noble Prince and our dearest Lord Edward by the grace of God king of England c. well and truly against all men which may liue and die at all times when we shal be required or warned by our said Lord the king of England or his heires And that we shall not know of any hurt to be done vnto them but the same wee shall let and impeach with all our power and giue them warning thereof And these things to hold and keepe we bind vs our heires all our goods And further do receiue an oth thereof vpon the holie Euangelists And after all wee and euery one of vs haue done homage vnto our soueraigne Lord the king of England in these words I become your liedge man of life members earthly honour against all men which may liue and die And our sayd soueraigne Lord the king receiued this homage vnder this forme of words We receiue it for the land of the which you bee now seased the right of vs or others saued except the lands which Iohn Balliol sometime king of Scotland graunted vnto vs after that we did deliuer vnto him the kingdome of Scotland if happily he hath giuen vnto you any of those landes Moreouer al we and euery one of vs by himselfe haue done fealty to our sayd soueraigne Lord the king in these words I as a faithfull and leidge man shall keepe faith and loyaltie vnto Edward king of England and to his heires of life member and earthly honour against all men which may liue and die And shall neuer for any person beare armoure or shal be of counsell or aide any person against him or his heires in any case that may chaunce but shall faithfully acknowledge and do the seruice that belongeth to the tenements I clame to hold of him as God mee helpe In witnesse wherof these letters pattents are made and signed with our seales Giuen at Warke the 24. of March in the yeare of the raigne of our sayd Lord the king of England fiue and twentieth King Edward hauing appointed Iohn Warren Earle of Surrey warden of Scotland Hugh Cressingham Treasurer and William Drusbie chiefe Iustice and sent a conuenient companie to attend and safe conduct Iohn Balliol and some of the principall Lords of that realme into England he followed soone after him selfe Balliol had liberty to take recreation within the circuite of twenty miles about London the rest were charged on paine of death not to passe out of England till the king had made an end of his warre with France which now he was to vndertake and to that end after his returne home about the latter ende of summer hauing prepared all things fit for that iorney hee passed ouer into Flanders where hee remained vntill the next spring and then returned backe againe by reason of a rebellion allreadie begun in Scotland a little before his going ouer and now by his absence was growne more dangerous then it was at the first thought it could proue The chiefe Captaine hereof was one Wallais a Scotishman whose meane estate had well neere worne out the memorie of his ancestry yet neuerthelesse showed himselfe euen in his greatest penury of courage not incident to a vulgar and base spirit This gallant wearied with his obscure and abiect condition of life hauing nothing to loose besides it neither valewing the same at anie great price beganne to pluck vp his benummed spirites and to be-thinke him-self how to make way vnto the atchieuement of some famous and valorous exploite fortune was so fauorable vnto him that he was sodenly aduanced beyond al mens exspectation for the extraordinary
Lewarde lor. of Whitehall Nicholas de Seagraue lo. of Stowe Walter de Tey lor. of Stonegraue Iohn de Lisle lor. of Wodtō Eustace Lord Hacchie Gilbert de Peche Lord of Corby William Painell Lord Trachington Roger de Albo Monasterio Foulke le Strange Lord of Corsham Henrie de Pinckney Lord of Wedon Iohn de Hodelestone Lord of Aneys Iohn de Huntingfield Lord of Bradingham Hugh Fitz-Henry Lord of Rauēswath Iohn Daleton Lord of Sporle Nicholas de Carry Lord of Mulessord Thomas lord de la Roche Walter de Muncie Lord of Thorntone Iohn Fitz-Marmaduke lord of Horden Iohn lord of Kingston Robert Hastings the Father lord of Chebessey Raphe lord Grendon William lord Leiborne Iohn de Greslock lord of Morpeith Mathew fitz-Iohn lord of Stokenham Nic de Neuell lord of Wherlton and Iohn Paniell lord of Ateley foure score and foureteene Barons The truce expired the King passed with his armie into Scotland about Midsomer following where he remained all that summer and the next winter he kept his Christmasse at Lithcoe where he lost many of his great horses the season not seruing to make sufficient prouision for the keeping of them there The Scots in the meane time hauing laboured the French king to that end obteined another truce till Hallontide next whervpon the King returned into England Neither ceased they still to perswade the Pope to vndertake the defence of their country but hee vpon the receipt of the former letters out of England began to waxe colde in the matter and the rather because beeing now falne out with the French king he hoped to procure king Edward to make war vpon him offring to take his part in the quarel but neither his holines nor hipocrisie preuailed therein When this latter truce was come to an end the king sent the Lord Iohn Seagraue into Scotland accompanied with Ralfe Comfrey and a competent power to keepe the country quiet to recouer the Castle of Sterling The English Army entring into Lothian seuered it selfe into three companies foure miles distant one from the other to the end they might be the more plētifully serued of victualls The enemie taking the aduantage of this manner of marching sodenlie in the morning set vpon the foremost cōpanie lead by the Lord Seagraue and made such slaughter as fewe or none escaped with life When knowledge was brought backe to theyr fellowes that followed them next in order the Lord Neuell that had the leading thereof with certaine horse-men came vpon the spurres and rescued the Lord Seagraue who otherwise had bin taken or slaine Ralfe Comfrey after this misfortune not holding it conuenient to attempt any further interprise at that time beeing much ouermatched with number and strength returned with the residue into England This ouerthrow was giuen the Englishmen at Rosting within fiue miles of Edenborugh the 24. day of February in the yeare 1302. King Edward was not a little moued with the losse of these men and therefore hauing gathered a puissant armie about Midsomer following hee made his last iourney into Scotland purposing to bring the same wholy to his obedience At his approach the enemy being not able to make head against him gaue way on euery side flying to the Mountaines and other places vnaccessible so as the king in manner without any resistance passed thorow the land euen vnto Cathnesse the furthest part of Scotland Many of them perceiuing how farre vnable they were to with-stand his forces submitted them-selues on condition they might inioy againe their possessions which the King had giuen to his followers the Lords of England they redeeming the same of them at some reasonable rate where-vnto the King consented In his returne he caused the Castle of Sterling to be besiedged but he himselfe lay at Dumfermling the greater part of the next Winter whether the Queene his Wife hauing remained a long time at Tinmouthe came at length vnto him The siege hauing continued three moneths the Castell was surrendred the liues of them that kept it onely reserued Before his departure the King caused all the Scottish Nobilitie to repaire to Saint Andrewes Towne where they tooke a new oath of their allegiance vnto him Such as hee held suspected hee carried with him into England togeather with diuers monuments and antiquities amongst which the Marble Stone of Stone Abbay wherein the Kings of that realme accustomed to sitte at the time of their Coronation was of speciall account It remaineth at this day at Westminster not farre from the place where hee lyeth intombed This Stone hath such a fatall destinie following it as the Scottes then beleeued as that where-so-euer it should bee found ouer that Countrey should a Scotish man raigne in how short time this may come to passe no man knoweth The King at his departure committing the gouernment of Scotland to the Lord Iohn Sea-graue returned into England hoping that now hee had made an end of his warres there and brought the whole realme into a peaceable estate vnder his obedience but it did not so fall out For about this time dyed Robert Bruse Earle of Carrike who stood for the crowne of Scotland against Balliol the last King Wherevpon Robert Bruse his sonne began to cast about by what meanes hee might now attaine the fame But whether hee were set on worke by the Lord Cumin to the end hee might bee so much the neerer vnto it himselfe for hee was descended from Mary the other Daughter of Allaine Lord of Gallowaye and so after the extirpation of the two families of the Balliols and the Bruses was next to the Crowne or whether it proceeded from himselfe hauing so good title there-vnto without acquainting the other with his meaning he was no sooner entred into the plot but was discouered by the Lord Cumin which being made knowne vnto him he thought himselfe in no safety in England and therefore by secret flight passing into Scotland hee set vpon Cumin at vnawares who otherwise had beene ouer-strong for him and so dispatched him out of the way Then hee caused himselfe forthwith to bee crowned King of Scotland by the Countesse of Bougham in the absence of her brother the Earle of Fife then in England at his Mannor of Whitwicke in Leicestershire to whom that office by inheritance appertained This Lady was afterwardes for her punishment for this offence put into a Cage of wood which being placed on the walls of the Castell of Edenborough was for a while made a gazing stock to the passengers by it Immediatly vpon the newes of the coronation of Bruse the King sent an army into Scotland vnder the conduct of the Earle of Pembrooke his Lieutenant there the Lord Henry Percie and the Lord Robert Clifford here-with to resist the new attempts of the Scottes vnder their new King Bruse in the meane time knowing against whom hee was to contend sought by all meanes to make himselfe as strong as possibly he could therfore ranging the coasts vp downe he
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
attend the king their maister into France where there was more good to be done Scotland then affording nothing but hunger and blowes beare them of as they could About the middest of Iune in the yeare of our Lord 1338. the king of England together with the Queene the Prince of Walles a great number of the Nobility that did attend them passed ouer into Flanders and were ioyfullie entertayned of the Duke of Brabant and others the Lords of the Empire his confederates towards the attayning of the crowne of France which he claimed as the next heire therevnto by Queene Isabel his mother Daughter to Philip surnamed the faire This quarrell happned well for Bruse for no doubte if king Edward had a while longer pursued the conquest of Scotland hee had now easilie brought the same vnder his soueraigntie France would haue offred him such conditions of peace by reason of his title therevnto as that if he had beene disposed he might quietly haue enioyed the Realme of Scotland both from Bruse and Balliol and withall greater possessions with in the French dominions then the kings of England after him should haue happely beene able to haue held long as the experience of the times following plainly showed in respect of which difficulty I esteeme the realme of Scotland a more conuenient and fit member of the Crowne of England then the one halfe of France how farre soeuer exceeding the other in wealth and magnificence The French king now perceauing it was not king Edwards meaning to accept of peace vpon any reasonable conditions and how much it stood him vpon to hinder his attemptes thought it would bee no small aduantage vnto him to keepe his enemy occupied nearer home and therefore as soone as the King was arriued in Flanders hee sent fiue tall shippes into Scotland furnished with men munition and armour and conducted by as many experienced Captaines ouer them These stood that nation in great steede For by such aide as was at this time and shortly afterwards sent thyther out of France in the behalfe of Bruse his party they so much preuailed as that within the space of three yeares after though not without some difficulty they not onely chased Balliol together with all the Englishmen out of Scotland but also put King Bruse into peacable possession thereof againe nine yeares after he had beene driuen out of his kingdome by Balliol and his partakers the Englishmen So as King Edward in the meane time got not so much on the other side of the sea as hee lost euen at his owne dores at home King Dauid Bruse hauing thus beyond all hope recouered his kingdome slacked no time while oportunity serued to take reuenge on the Englishmen for all the wrongs sustayned by them To which end within the first three yeares after his returne hee made three iourneyes into the land doing what harme he could to the coūtries bordering vpon Scotland but all was of no great reckning The French King in the meane season hauing receiued many shrowd blowes of the Englishmen and his strong towne of Callice beeing now besiedged thought with himselfe that there was no better way either happilie to remoue them or at the least to lessen their number then by procureing the Scottish King who rested wholie at his deuotion with some mighty power to inuade England whereof hee sent Ambassadours into Scotland who easiely obtained that fauour of King Dauid VVhen all things were prepared for so great an exploite hee entred the Realme with the whole power of Scotland hoping assuredly now in the Kings absence to atchiue some notable victorie as well to the inriching of himselfe as to the aduantage of his confederate the French King At his first entry hee made manie knights whereby to encorage them the more to showe their valiancie but amongst the rest for his former good seruice he created William Dowglas an Earle whose Father was slaine at Halidone hill as is aforesayd The number of Noble men and Gentlemen assembled at this time by the confession of their owne writers were verie neere two thousand in the whole as some write threescore thousand Within ten daies after their entrie they approached Durham committing whatsoeuer stood in their way to the fury of fire and sword in most hostile manner The Queene of England being then returned home to represse the insolency of the enemy gathered togither such forces as the Realme could then redily afford to the number of twelue hundred men of armes three thousand Archers and some seauen thousand other of whome a great part were Preestes and Prelates but good talle trencher-men such as were not afraide of a crackt crowne though they had no haire to hide those hurtes withall This army was ordered in this manner The first battaile was lead by the Bishoppe of Durham Gilbert de Vmfree ville earle of Anegos Henry Lord Percy and the Lord Scroope The second by the Archbishoppe of Yorke and the Lord Ralphe Neuille The third by the Bishop of Lincolne Iohn Lord Moubraie and the Lord Thomas de Rooksbie The fourth and last was lead by Edward Balliol nowe of a king of Scotland become gouernour of Berwike the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Ross Besides this the Lord Deain-court Robert de Ogle and some other attended vpon the Queenes person On the the other side the first battaile of the Scottes was gouerned by Robert Steward the Sonne of Margery King Dauids Sister that succeeded him and Patrike Dumbar Earle of March The second by Iohn Earle of Murrey and William Earle Dowglas In the third the King himselfe and his Nobility were placed Before the battaile the Queene of England sent an Harald of armes to King Dauid requiring him to stay from further anoying the Realme till some reasonable order might be taken for the conclusion of a finall peace betweene the two nations but hee made light reckning of her request In the morning earlie before the fight Dowglas issued fourth with certaine troopes of horse-men to discouer the behauiour of the Englishmen and vpon good occasion offred to skirmish with them But the Englishmen so behaued themselues as that the Earle hardly escaped by flight with the losse of fiue hundred of his company The two armies being come within sight one of the other Dauid Graham with a wing of fiue hundred horse gaue a full charge vpon the skert of the English Archers hoping thereby to haue distressed them But he was so sharply repulsed as that loosing many of his troopes hee had much adoe to recouer the maine battaile againe Not-with-standing these two foule foyles they presumed so much vpon their aduantage in number that forth-with they fiercely rushed vpon the Englishmen The fight begun about nine of the clocke and continued till noone at what time God gaue the victory to the Englishmen The Scotish writers attribute the losse of this battaile to the vnaduised retraite of the Earle of March and Robert Steward but where-so-euer the fault was
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
Dowglas that was the great enimie to the Earle of March his Country-man who deceased the yeare before being much mooued with this ouer-throw made great preparation against the next Summer to lead an armie into England there-with to take reuenge for the death of so many his good friends and countrey-men But his successe was no better then theirs For when his armie had done all the harme it could within the realme as farre as Newcastle was returning homewards with an exceeding great prey Henry surnamed Hotespurre that was taken prisoner at the battaile of Otterburne pursuing them with a power of the Northern men and hauing ouertaken them saluted there maine battaile with such a forcible flight of arrowes that the same being much beaten and broken there-with gaue waie to the Englishmen rushing in vpon it and thereby gaue them an ouerthrowe with verie little losse on their owne partie Amongst the Scottes that were slaine Sir Iohn Swintone Sir Alexander Gordon Sir Iohn Leuestone Sir Alexander Ramsey and some twentie knights more were of speciall note Besides the Earle Dowglas generall of this army who in fight lost one of his eyes there were taken prisoners the Earle of Fife the gouernours Sonne Thomas and George Earles of Murrcy and Angius and fiue hundred more of meaner degree This battaile was fought at Homildon hil in Northumberland on the seauenth of May in the yeare 1402. Whereat the Scottes receiued such a blowe as for many yeares before the like had not hapned For hereat were slaine one and other not so fewe as ten thousand of them as our Cronicles report The Lord Percie following his good fortune forth-with entred into Tyuidale wasting the Country on euery side and hauing layed siedge to the Castell of Cocklaâ—is Sir Iohn Grenley the keeper thereof couenanted with him to surrender it within three monthes if the siedge were not remooued but by reason his men were in the meane time sent for to followe the King into Wales they could not tarie out the prefixed time But this Noble race of the Percies who in the beginning of this Kings raigne were his best friends became now his greatest aduersaries especially for two causes First they tooke it in euill part that the King demanded such prisoners as were latelie before taken at Nesbet and Homildon For they had deliuered none into his hands saue onelie Mordake Earle of Fife the Duke of Albaines Sonne accounting all the rest their peculiar prisoners The other cause and the more offensiue was the imprisonment of Edward Mortimer Earle of the English Marches their nearest Cousin whome as they reported Owen Glendar of Wailes kept in filthie prison laden with manie irons onelie because hee continewed faithfull to King Richard his Maister While King Henrie was therefore preparing an armie where-with to passe againe into Wales for hee had beene latelie there beefore Thomas Percie Earle of Worcester gaue secret intelligence thereof to his brother the Earle of Northumberland who togither with his Sonne the Lord Henrie and the Earle Dowglas his prisoner with such aide as by his meanes they could get out of Scotland gathered a power of some foureteene thousand chosen men of whome the greater number were Cheshire men and Welshmen that were conducted by the Earle of Worcester and the Lord Henry the Scotishmen by Dowglas The Earle of Northumberland with his retinue stayed in the North while the rest marched towards Shrewsburie purposing to haue taken that towne But the king by the continuall calling on of the Scottish Earle of March who tooke his part made such speed as that approaching the rebels sooner then they looked that enterprise was preuented When the two armies were mette and euery man prepared to fight the King offered them pardon vpon any reasonable conditions But by the perswasion of the Earle of Worcester who from the beginning was the chiefe worker of all this mischiefe there was no way but to trye it out by dint of sword The Scottes as some write had the leading of the fore-ward on the Percies side and intending to bee reuenged on the Englishmen by the helpe of Englishmen they so fiercely assailed the Kings partie as that disordering their ranckes they made them giue backe But amongst the rest the Earle Dowglas shewed himselfe that daye a most valiant man of Armes for still aiming at the fayrest marke hee strooke downe three that were apparrelled like the King because hee would not bee knowne from the rest but whether hee light on him at all or not hee bestowed on Sir Walter Blunt one of that coate such a deadly blow that hee neuer arose againe After the fight had continued three long houres with doubtfull victorie on eyther side in the end the rebels were vanquished and put to flight The Earle Dowglas falling vpon the cragge of a steepe mountaine brake one of his genitalls and was taken whom the King freely forgaue and set at liberty for his valiancie and notable courage This battaile was fought on Mary Magdalines euening in the yeare 1403. whereat was slaine of the Kings partie sixteene hundred of his enimies aboue fiue thousand Though the Earle of Northumberland found such fauour as that hee was pardoned and restored to all his possessions neuer-the-lesse within a yeare after hee entred into a new conspiracie but when hee heard the fame was discouered and some of his confederates executed hee together with the Lord Bardolfe fledde into Scotland where they were entertained of Dauid Lord Flemming in requitall of whose kindnesse hee gaue vp the towne of Berwicke which was then in his custodie vnto the vse of the Scottish King But when the Scots vnderstood that King Henry approched with his armie they fired the towne and so left it while these English Lords remained in ScotlaÌ„d the king of England practised with some of the Scottish Nobilitie to apprehend them But the Lord Flemming giuing them notice hereof they both fledde into Wales to Owiâ— Glendouer a great enimie to king Henrie Such of the Lords of Scotland as had plotted the deliuerie of those fugitiue Lords hauing gotten knowledge that they escaped their hands by meanes of the Lord Flemming were there-with so much displeased as that it cost him his life This fact sowed great discention amongst them-selues in such sort as one knew not how to trust another Wherefore to auoide further mischiefe that was like to haue followed thereof it was thought good to sue for a truce betweene the two Nations which was effected and the same to indure for one whole yeare King Robert of Scotland being taught before by his brothers disloyaltie that there was small trust to bee reposed in his owne subiects the rather because they were so distrustfull one of another tooke order for the conuoye of his other sonne beeing a childe not aboue nine yeares olde vnto King Charles of France to receiue good education there But it fortuned that in his passage the Shippe was mette with-all by certaine Englishmen at Flâ—mbrough-head
by the commons of England to the kings gratious consideration ouer his due demerites for his good seruice done in the Realme returned into Scotland and was restored to his former dignitie and possessions there The Scottes thought themselues not sufficientlie reuenged for the markets that Sir Robert Vmfreuille lately made of their goods in England and therefore in the yeare following Patrike Dumbar second Sonne to the Earle of March with an hundred men well apoynted for the purpose came earelie one morning some-what before day to Fast Castell and entring into the same tooke the Captaine thereof prisoner who by daily out-roades greatlie indamaged the Countrie next adioyning About the same time Gawin Dumbar an other Sonne of the sayd Earle togither with William Dowglas brake downe the bridge of Roxbrughe and set the towne on fire but durst not attempt the taking of the Castell Sir Robert Vmfreuille hauing by this time vttered all his merchandice by the measure of his mens long-bowes for the worth of so manie yardes thought it now high time to make a new aduenture and therefore in the yeare 1410. Hee entred the Furth with tenne talle shippes of warre where lying for the space of a fort-night togither hee some-times landed on the one side and some-times on the other carying still with him manie good booties not-with-standing that the Gouernour and the Earle Dowglas were both readie to resist him Hee burned the Galliot of Scotland a Shippe of greatest account with manie other smaller vesselles lying then at the Blacknesse ouer against Leeth At his returne into England hee brought with him foureteene good shippes with many commodities as cloathes both wollen and linnen pitch tarre woad flowre meale wheate and rie making as good pennie-worthes thereof as hee did before as long as his store-house had anie thing leaft in it But not satisfied here-with hee togither with his Nephewe young Gilbert Vmfreuille Earle of Angius but more commonlie called Lord of Kinne entred the same yeare once againe into Scotland by land and spoiled the greater part of Tyuidale Thus it appeareth that at this time there was no peace betweene the two Nations or else it was little respected on both sides For manie yeares after there was little doeing beetweene them But now approached the ende of this Noble Prince who deceasing in the fourth-teenth yeare of his raigne in the yeare of our Lord 1412. leaft the Crowne vnto his Sonne Henry Prince of Wailles that was no lesse inheritour to his heroycall vertues then to the same In the second yeare of his raigne it was propounded in Parliament whether it were more meete to beginne with the conquest of France wherevnto hee pretended a iust title or first to reduce Scotland to their former obedience for it was resolued that the one or other should forth-with be taken in hand After long debate and consultation vpon this point it was concluded that the warre should be commenced against the mightier enimie for if France were once subdued the Scottes were easily tamed so that now they were at good leisure either to bee lookers on or actors on which side it pleased them Neuerthelesse whether it were that their Gouernour would not willingly incur King Henries displeasure fearing least if he had stirred hee would haue thrust him out of place by sending the young King home or whether that nation doubted that by that occasion the king would haue beene prouoked to set in foote for himselfe vnder colour of the defence of the your Prince his title or else whatsoeuer it was that moued them therevnto the Scottes made no great adoe during his raigne though they were yet once againe prouoked by Vmfreuille who being put in trust at the Kings passage ouer into France to gard the frontiers on that side fought with them at Gedering with three hundred Archers and seauen score men of armes where after long fight he slue aboue three score of them and tooke three hundred prisonere in chase which was continued twelue miles and then returned to Roxbrough Castle whereof hee was Captaine This conflict was on Mary Magdalines day in the yeare 1414. Three yeares after the Scottes made some show of a purpose they had to performe some great exploit but vpon the approach of the English armie they with-drew them-selues homeward without doing any great hurt But although they ceased from further annoyance here yet being entertained by the Dolphine in France they opposed themselues there against the Englishmen The Scottish writers report that seauen thousand of them passed ouer together vnder the conduct of Iohn Earle of Buchquhan sonne to their Gouernour accompanied with Archibald Dowglas and diuers other of good place Vnto these men they do attribute the victory ouer the Englishmen at the battaile of Baugie fought on Easter-euen in the yeare 1421. where the Duke of Clarence the Kings brother giuing too much credit to a Lumbard vnaduisedly set vpon the Frenchmen and Scottes and was slaine together with diuerse other Noblemen of England in the whole to the number of some two thousand Of the aduerse party were also slaine aboue twelue hundred the best men of warre amongst them So as they had no great cause to boast of the victorie how glorious so euer they make the same affirming that for their good seruice at this time the Dolphin bestowed great honours and offices vpon them The Scotts being thus animated against King Henry at his next iourney into France and the last he made he tooke with him the Prince of Scotland to trie if happily they would be therby wone either to his party or at least moued to returne home againe But they so little regarded the matter that being demanded why they would fight against their owne King they answered That they would not acknowledge any dutie to him who as yet liued vnder the obedience of an other Herewith saith Buchanan King Henry was so much displeased that at the taking of Meaux in Bury he caused 20. Scots to be executed whom hee found there because they had armed them-selues against their owne King But I see not how it can be so for the souldiours seeing themselues vnable to make resistance abandoned the towne and with-drawing their forces into the market place fortified the same which being afterwards surrendred vpon composition the liues of poore men onely were excepted namely bastard Vauren the Captaine of the towne the Baily two Burgesses all which vpon good consideration were immediatly executed and no other When this most victorious Prince had so wonderfully preuailed in his intended conquest of France as that within the terme of fiue or sixe yeares hee had brought the better part thereof vnder his obedience it pleased the almighty God the disposer of kingdoms to take him from those earthly honours to the fruition I hope of that endlesse and incomparable glory prepared for them that are his from the Prince to the Peasant He dyed in France in the 9. yeare of his raigne 1422. Hee
bring the next Sommer such a warlike crewe of Frenchmen and Germanes as that he should not stand in neede of such of his owne Country-men as were so backe-ward in his former enterprice vpon the borders In the meane season King Henry thought it no policy to ouerslip so fit oportunity because he well perceiued that whatsoeuer was outwardly pretended the Regent meant him no good So soone therefore as the truce was expired the warre was renewed to the exceeding great damage of that Nation For Thomas Earle of Surrey high Admirall of England the Marquesse Dorset and his brothers with a competent power entring into Scotland ouerthrewe the Castells of Wederburne West Nesgate and Black-acre burned neere fortie townes and villages in which manner wasting the Scottish Marches from one side to the other without any resistance they returned home with the losse of verie fewe or no men at all the Scottes onelie shewed them-selues in troopes a far of watching if they could haue espied any aduantage This seruice was thus performed the Sommer following in the yeare 1523. But the army was no sooner dissolued but the Scots waiting the opportunity made continewal roades into Northumberland to the great anoiance of the inhabitants Wherefore the Earle of Surrey was forth-with sent back againe who entring into Scotland with some six thousand men by the dry marches cast downe certaine Castells piles and small holdes til he came thorowe the dales to Iedworth wherein laie a great garrison of the Scottes who at the first entertained them with a hot skermish but in the end they were put to flight and the Town Castell and Abbaie were taken and spoiled After three daies abode there the Earle returned into England on the twentith day of September following About this time the Lord Dacres tooke also by force the Castell of Ferniherst The Duke of Albanie intending now to returne into Scotland had intelligence giuen him that all the portes on the Coast of France were watched by the Englishmen to intrappe him in his passage wherefore hee bestowed his shippes so couertly here and there in small companies to auoide all suspition of any purpose hee had to stirre that yeare as that therevpon the English fleete which had attended and waited his comming forth vntill the middest of August brake vp and bestowed themselues in conuenient portes against the next spring The Duke then watching the opportunity and readily gathering togither his dispersed shippes to the number of some fiftie saile imbarked his men of warre being three thousand pikes and an hundred launces and about the second equinoctiall arriued on the VVest part of Scotland about the same season that Iedworth was burned by the English as is a fore-sayd in whose companie was Richard de la Poole that had beene banished out of England Immediatlie after his returne hee assembled the Scottish Lordes at Edenbrugh declaring to them the great loue the French King bare to them and there Country that he esteemed their miseries his owne and would be alwaies readie to assist them against the Englishmen enemies to them both That for the present he had brought with him men money and munition to bee doing withall so as nothing now wanted but willing mindes and manly corages in themselues In the ende it was concluded that an army should forth-with be gathered and the eight and twentith day of October next was set downe for their meeting at Dowglas dale The Scottes being there assembled at the day prefixed the army marched frō thence to Caldestreame vpon Tweed where conuaying their artillary ouer the water on the last day of the same month they layed siedge to Warke Castell which was manfully defended by Sir William Lisle Captaine of the same The assayliants so well bestirred themselues that on the first daie they won the vttermost ward for two daies after they continewed the battery when hauing made the breach assaultable they entred by maine force the second ward The Captaine hauing already lost many of his men and perceauing it little auailed to defend the walles against the great ordinance vpon a present resolution issued out with his people that remained aliue and with such furie repulsed the enemy that beating them from the walles and pursuing them to the water he slewe a great number besides those that were drowned and died afterwards of their hurtes in the whole to the number of three hundred which for the most part were Frenchmen The Earle of Surrey comming with a great power to rescue this Castell found the enemie remooued to the further side of the riuer wherefore hauing no commission to passe the English marches he staied there In the meane time the Queene sent into England to entreat her brother the King to yeeld to an abstinence of warre hoping in that time to worke some good agreement betweene the two Nations wherevnto the King consenting the armie brake vp and the Earle returned to the Court. In the beginning of the next Sommer anno 1524. The Scottes beganne againe to bee busie both on the East and VVest marches so as for three monthes sundrie bickrings passed beetweene the one and other partie but still they came by the worse in so much that in the end they were willing enough to encline to peace wherevpon truce was taken againe till the feast of Saint Andrewes next In the meane season great cōsultation was had amongst the Lords of Scotland whether it were more fit to contineue the warre or to giue it ouer Many of them held it an vnreasonable thing that for the pleasure only of the French King the Realme should sustaine any more damage by contineuing so needlesse a warre and that the Duke was much to blame in yeelding so farre to the seditious humor of France Therefore they wished that the young King now growne past a Child might at the least beare some sway in the gouernment of the Realme The Duke perceiuing how the game went sawe it little auailed to striue against the streame and therefore in September following taking his leaue of the young King he passed ouer into France now the third time since he was made Regent It is sayd that at his departure hee did instantly intreate the Nobility to admit no peace with England till his returne againe which he promised should be not long after but in both his desire was vnsatisfied for he neuer came more into Scotland neither cōtinewed the war as he wished Shortly after the Earle Dowglas that had beene banished before by the Regent as I haue said and had hitherto remained in France obtained leaue of King Henrie to passe safely thorowe England into his owne Country This fauor was redily graunted being one that was alwaies opposite to the French faction Queene Margaret now bearing the greatest sway in Scotland sought by all meanes how to make firme friendship with her brother of England to breake the necke of the amity with France which had of late brought so many miseries vpon her Sonnes
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
I cannot see any warrant that this kinde of triall hath out of Gods word wherefore it were good some other more Christian course were taken in such cases The gouernor now perceauing that without the assistaÌ„ce of some other Prince hee should not be able to resist the Englishmen hauing gotten such foot-hold within the Realme of Scotland entreated the Queene Mother and Monsieur Doysel Lieger Ambassador for King Henry of France whose father king Francis was deceased some-what more then a yeare before about two monthes after the death of King Henry of England to procure the sayd King to send an armie into Scotland against the Englishmen enemies to both those Nations The Queene seeing a readie way now laied open to bring that to passe she most desired which was to haue that Realme ordered in all things at the French Kings appointment willingly vndertooke to accomplish his request conditionally that he togither with the States of the Realme would giue consent that the Princesse should bee conuaied ouer into France and bestowed in marriage as stood with the liking of King Henry The Gouernor consenting therevnto assembled the estates of Parliament who togither entred into couenantes to that effect and presently sent them in wryting into France The King accepting the offer made preparation for the transporting of an armie into Scotland with what expedition conueniently hee could For hee did well fore-see as his Father and other of his predecessors had done before him how inconuenient it was for that Nation to admit of a marriage whereby this Island should become one absolute monarchy This was well obserued at what time the Emperor Charles the fift and Francis this Kings Father visited King Henrie the eight at his campe besides Calice where they togither beholding ouer the entrance into the Kings Pauilion a deuise of an Archer imbrodeâ—ed thereon with this word Cui adhaereo praeest Meterane brake out into this kind of speach one vnto the other if the King of England esteeme so much of his owne powre and strength in this his present estate hauing yet Scotland a bad neighbour vnto him what would he doe if hee commanded the whole Iland The Lord Gray hauing fortified Hadington and furnished it of all things necessarie leauing therein a garison of two thousand footmen and fiue hundred horse on the xii of Iune returned into England While the Scottish nation was thus vexed by the English the French King made great preparation as well to ayde his friends there as to annoy the Englishmen in garison at Bullen-berge and other places on that side the sea But the Councell of England warilye fore-seeing and preuenting the danger thereof was not vnprouided to resist all such attempts as on either side might preiudice the wel-fare of the realme And further it was thought good to make triall once againe how much they might by entreatie and gentle perswaâ—ions preuaile with the Scottish Nobilitie in the matter of mariage betweene King Edward and the Princesse of Scotland that was now offered to the French King for his sonne the Dolphin And because they should bee well assured that the same proceeded not of any perticuler disposition in the Protector alone who before as I haue shewed had to that end earnestly solicited the Gouernor by his priuate letter he together with the Lords of the Counsell ioyntly in all their names signified by publike writing to the whole Scottish nation their continued hearty desire in this point in maner following Considering with our selues the present state of things and weying more deeply the maner and termes wherein you and we do stand it maketh vs to maruell what euill and fatall chance doth so disseuer your hearts and maketh them so blind and vnmindfull of your profit and so still to make and heape to your selues most extreame mischiefes the which wee whom you will needs haue your enimies goe about to take from you and perpetually to ease you thereof And also by all reason and order of necessitie it should be rather more conuenient for you to seeke and require moderate agreement of vs whom God hath hitherto according to our most iust true and godly meaning and intents prospered with your affliction then that wee being vanquishers in the field and maisters of a great part of your realme should seeke vnto you Yet to the intent that our charitable minds and brotherlie loue should not cease by all meanes possible to prouoke and call you to your owne good euen as one naturall brother to another or as the carefull Phisition doth to his carelesse patient Wee still call and crye vpon you to looke to your estate to auoide the calamities which ouer-whelme and oppresse you to haue vs rather brothers then enimies rather countrimen then strangers And if your Gouernour shall retaine and keepe from you this our exhortation as heretofore hee hath done our priuate Letters and publique proclamation tending to the same effect for his and his fauorites more aduantage not regarding though you bee still in miserie so as they haue gouernance and profit by you and shall still abuse you with fained and forged tales yet this shall bee a witnesse before GOD and all Christian people betweene you and vs that wee professing the Gospell of IESVS CHRIST according to the Doctrine thereof doe not cease to call and drawe you from the effusion of your owne bloud the destruction and ruine of your realme from perpetuall enmitie and from seruitude to forraine Nations to tranquilitie amitie libertie and equalitie with vs yea to that which your owne writers haue alwayes wished might come to passe Who that hath read the Stories of times passed and obserueth the incursions roades spoyles and the bloudie battailes betweene these two Nations your realme fiue times ouer-runne by one of our Kings your Kings some taken prisoners others slaine in battaile and with-all shall consider that as we bee confined by the Ocean and so made one Iland euen so agree wee and resemble one the other in language lookes manners and conditions shall he not thinke it a thing very vnmeete vnnaturall and vnchristian that there should bee betweene vs so mortall hatred and discord where ought to be loue and perfect amitie as betweene brethren of one Iland the great Britaine Though he were a stranger to both what could he thinke more fitte then if it were possible to make two such kingdomes one in all respects so conformable and suteable Now for as much as two successors cannot concurre and fall into one by any other meane then by mariage where-by is made of two one bloud one linage one parentage and so an indefencible right giuen on both sides to one without the destruction of either what could you wish more happy then that which now not by blind chance but of his infinite mercie as being carefull of your estate he hath done for you And to the end you should the better obserue the maner of his diuine working herein for
that they had no other way to saue them-selues but by running away And eyther at this time or at some other shortly after Monsieur de Etanges who with his company of Horsemen laye in garrison at Dundie was by them of Broughtie-Cragge taken prisoner in a skirmish that was betweene them this Gentleman was no small losse to the enemy being oâ— that approued valiancie as not many amongst them were marchable with him But ere it was long the want of him was requited by the taking of that worthy Knight Sir Iames Wilford the Gouernour of Hadington by the French garrison at Dumbarre as he passed by the towne in a conuoy his place was supplied by Sir Iames a Crofts The enemie perceiuing how vnlikelie it was to preuaile against the English at Hadington and Browghtie which were the places of greatest importance that they held so farre within Scotland brought his forces vnto the borders at least to defend those countries then shrewdly incombred by the continuall incursions of the Englishmen During the Frenchmens abode at Iedworth they tooke some strengths in those parts in the keeping of the English namely the Castels at Ferneherst Cornewall Fourd and also entring the English Marches burned diuerse villages carrying away many good booties not a little to the losse and annoyance of the inhabitants of those partes The English borderers here vpon assembled them-selues at Rox-brough purposing to haue assailed the Frenchmen in thâ—it Campe at Iedworth but they hauing knowledge thereof and finding them-selues ouer-weake to maâ—e resistance 〈◊〉 by this time many of them were dead through want of victuals and other necessaries which that hard country especially in winter could not affoord them would not abide the hazard of battaile but with all speed with-drew them-selues further into the countrie neither from this time forward did they performe any seruice worthy the remembrance The Scots in the meane time recouered Hume Castell out of the Englishmens hands by night through the treacherie of certaine of the assured Scots who at all times had free accesse there-vnto About the beginning of the next yeare viz. 1549. some fiue and twenâ—ie saile of men of warre were sent out of England who arriuing in the Firthe continuing their course vp the riuer seized vpon foure shippes which they found there Comming vp ouer-against Leith and saluting the Towne with their shott they laye at Anchor thirteene or twelue dayes in which time hauing landed their men on the Iland of Iuskith and begun to fortifie the Fleete they returned to the Sea in hope to encounter a new supply of Frenchmen dayly exspected in Scotland but before the worke could be brought to any perfection Le Desse taking vpon him this peece of seruice whereby to giue a plausible farewell to his former crosse-fortunes in these Scottish warres recouered the Iland after it had beene in the Englishmens possession sixeteene dayes All the Captaines well-neere were slaine and the residue taken prisoners The number left to attend the finishing of this Forte were foure Ensignes English and one of Italians This Monsieur hauing atchieued the glory of this enterprice gaue vp his charge to Monsieur de Thermes lately arriued at Dun-britaine and forth-with returned into France in the same galleys which brought the other into Scotland The generall conduct of all the French forces being now committed to de Thermes which with these he brought with him was well increased hee forth-with incamped at Aberladie where he began a foundatioÌ„ of a Fort therby to impeach the landing of any victuals for the reliefe of Hadington Though the Councell of England were now very busily occupied aswell about the suppression of a most dangerous commotion within the realme as also in making preparation against the French king that now inuaded Boullognoies neuer-the-lesse they neglected not as farre as the state of things at home and abroad would permit to releeue this their slippery foot-hold in Scotland For the Earle of Rutland Lord President then of the North and Generall of this armie accompanied with Sir Richard Manors Sir Francis Leake Sir Iohn Saunge Sir Thomas Helcroft Sir Oswald Wolstropp and others furnished with competent forces both forraigne and Natiue entred there with into Scotland and did not onely giue releefe to Hadington and the other garrisons but with all so distressed the Frenchmen by setting vpon them in their Trenches that if the aduantage had beene foreseene in time the enemie had been in great danger of an vtter ouer-throw The Almaignes that at this seruice tooke part with the Englishmen hauing in the meane time committed the custodie of their baggage to their women boies were disburthened by the Scottish prickers of so much as was worth the cariage But Iulian Romero with his band of Spaniards sped much worse For the enemies sodenly setting vpon them where they lay incamped neere the towne of Coldingham slew both their Captaine and well-neere the whole number of them About this time Fast Castell was recouered by stratagem out of the Englishmens hands For the gate being set open and their bridge let downe to receiue victuals brought thether by the assured Scottes at the Captaines appointment while the same was vnlading certaine other Scottes that were priuilie placed to attend the oportunitie sodenly entring the Castell surprised it The Earle of Rutland being called home more speedily then was purposed to the suppressing of a new commotion in Yorkeshire that brake out in his absence the state of the Scottish affaires began thence-forth to decline not onely by the tumults raised by the comminaltie in diuerse parts of this realme but also by the disagreement betweene the Lord Protector and the rest of the Nobilitie especially the Earle of Warwick Lord great Chamberlaine and afterwards created Duke of Northumberland By reason of which vnhappy iarres it was thought necessary to giue ouer the keeping of Hadington being a matter in deed of more charge then profit seeing it could not bee victualed but by the conuoy of an armie The Earle of Rutland was therefore sent thither againe to see the fortification rased and to conduct the men and munition safely into England which was performed accordinglye Monsieur Thermes and his associates being herewith not a little incouraged in February following besiedged Browghtie-Cragge which together with an other fortification neere vnto it were in short time recouered out of the Englishmens hands wanting meanes to make resistance against so strong an enimie neuer-the-lesse they would not yeeld so long as any man well-neere was able to stand in the defende of the charge they had vnder-taken While these things were in doing a treatie of peace was set on foote betweene England and France but the Commissioners proceeding slowly therein the Scottes and Frenchmen ceased not in the meane time to pursue the accomplishment of their ioynt desires which was vtterly to driue the Englishmen out of Scotland Therefore immediatly after the recouerie of the former houldes they besiedged Lowder where after some
dangerous practice of Thomas Lord Howard Duke of Norfolke in contriuing marriage with the Scottish Queene for the which hee was now againe the second time hauing before beene deliuered thence coÌ„mitted to the Towre of London where he remained prisoner from the seuenth of September till the thirteenth of Ianuary following on which day he was arraigned in VVestminster-hal before George Lord Talbote Earle of Shrewsbury high Steward of England for that day and there by his Peeres found gilty of high treason and according to the iudgment passed vpon him was beheaded on the Tower-hill betweene seauen and eight of the clock in the morning the secoÌ„d day of Iune in the yeare 1572. It was great pittie this good Duke was so bewitched by the Babilonian Circe that man of Rome and his agentes as that he could not foresee the danger whereinto he was falne by vndertaking that vnhappy enterprice who if hee had beene better aduised might long haue continewed a principall piller of our common weale On the 22. of August following Thomas Lord Percy Earle of Northumberland hauing before beene attainted of high treason by Parliament as being one of the principal conspirators in the late rebellion and now brought out of Scotland whether he was fled was likewise beheaded at Yorke about two of the clock in the after noone But Charles Neuil Earle of Westmerland his associate in the said rebellion finding no safety for him-selfe in Scotland got ouer into the low-countries where he liued a long time after While these things thus passed in England the aduerse faction of Scotland who were the fewell of this fire ceased not in their accustomed maner still to crosse the proceedings of the Lords of the Kings party for the Earle of Lennox enioyed not the Regencie hardly one yeare before he and the rest of his adherents were sodenly set vpon by their aduersaries at Striueling where before the Earle could bee rescued out of their hands he was so wounded by the shot of a Pistolet that hee died thereof the same night After whose death the Lords made choise of the earle of Marre to succeed him in that dignitie The Queene of England still laboured by all good meanes to accord these iarres in Scotland but it would not preuaile by reason the French king neuer ceased to animate and incourage the Scottish Queenes partie to stand out who from the death of the earle of Murrey was possessed of the Towne and Castell of Edenbrough the strongest hold and chiefe towne of that realme For the recouery hereof the Queene of England was entreated by the other party to assist them with some competent forces Here-vpon Sir William Drewry was once againe sent into ScotlaÌ„d accompanied with Sir Francis Russell Captaine Read Captaine Erington maister of the Ordinance and Prouost Marshall Captaine Pikeman Captaine Gamme Captaine Wood Captaine Case Captain Stâ—rrey and Thomas Bâ—rton to whose charge was committed one thousand Souldiers three hundred Pioners and certaine peeces of batterie viz sixe double Canons foureteene whole Culuerings two Sacres two mortuis peeces and two Bombards Certaine other Gentlemen accompanied the Generall as voluntary followers namely Sir George Carie Sir Henry Ley Maister Thomas Cecill now Lord Burghleigh Maister Michell Carie Henrie Carie William Knowles Thomas Sutton Cotton Kelloway Dyer Tilney William Killigrew William Selbie and others The Englishmen beeing come to Edenbrough some foure or fiue bands of the Scottishmen ioyned with them and brought three or foure peeces 〈◊〉 of Artillarie The footmen haâ—ing without râ—sistance entred the Towne the Canon from the Castell was sundry times discharged vpon them but did no harme saueing by beating vp the Stones in the streete 〈…〉 Brickman was thereby hurt in the face The same day the Castell was summoned by a Messenger of Armes in maner following Sir William Kerâ—andie some times of Grange Knight For as much as the Queenes Maiestie my Soueraigne Lady â—â— the earnest request of her deere Cousin the King of Scottes your Soueraigne Lord made to her Highnesse by his Râ—â—â—â— Nobilitie and 〈◊〉 of the realme after all good meanes vsed by â—reaty to haue reduced you to dutiful obedience of his authority which hitherto you haue not duly harkned vnto to the onely hinderance of the vniuersall peace in this realme by with-holding this his Highnesse Castell meaning as it seemeth to reserue the same for a receptacle of forraine forces to the manifest danger of this realme of my Soueraigne and therefore necessarily to be in time remoued for which consideration her Maiestie hath sent her aide and succours of Men Ordinance Munition vnder my charge and leading for the expugnation and recouerie of the said Castell to the said Kings vse and behoofe And therefore according to her Maiestes commandement and commission this shall be in due maner to warne require and summon you that you render deliuer the said Castell with all the Ordinance Artillary Munition Iewels houshold stuffe such other implements within the same to me to the vse and behoofe of the King your Soueraigne his Regent in his name immediatly after this my letter of SoÌ„mons or knowledge of the same shal come vnto you which if you obey as of dutie you ought then will I in her Maiesties name enterpose my selfe to trauell with the Regent Counsel Nobility here for the safety of your liues But otherwise if you continue in your former obstinacie abiding the Canon theÌ„ looke for no further grace But you the rest within that Castel shal be pursued to the vttermost holdeÌ„ as enimies to his maiesty your owne soueraigne and Country General Edâ—â—â—â—â—â—gh by me Williâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—y Knight General of her Maiesties forces now in Scotland this 25. day of April in the yeare 1573. Notwithstanding this Sommons the Captaine vtterly refused to yeeld vp the Castell wherevpon as well the defendants within as the assailants without prepared all things where-with on the one side to repulse on the other to expulse one the other But the Cannon was so well applied by the Englishmen that the enemy was forced to a parley wher-vpoÌ„ on the third day following being the 28. of May the Castell was surrendred into the hands of the Generall and his Ensigne was erected in sundry places thereof vntill he deliuered the same ouer againe to the vse of the King of Scottes togither with the prisoners taken therein namelie Sir William Kerkandy the Captaine the Lord 〈◊〉 the Lord of Ledington Secretary the 〈◊〉 of Peterro Constable of the Castell the Countesse of Arguile the Lady of Ledington and the Lady of Grange The priuate souldiers other their seruants were licenced to depart with bagge and baggage This Castell was neuer before taken by force the same beeing alwaies thought of such impregnable strength thorow the naturall scituation thereof as by no engine and deuice it could possible bee atchieued But what can now withstand the force of the Cannon if the same be subiect to battery Since that
in sound from the former How commeth it then to passe that this Island hath beene some-times called Albion and more lately Britaine which names can by no meanes be etimologed either from Gomerie Kumerie or the Gaules the first inhabitance thereof as hath beene prooued The name Albion no doubt was first giuen it by the Gretians whose maner it was as Maister Camden well obserueth to bestow names on all nations of their owne inuention As for example they called the Chusians who tooke that name of Chus their first parent Aethiopians of their blacknesse So it may well be that they called this Iland Albion of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth White whereof the Alpes take their name because vpon the Sea coasts many white Rocks appeare to such as passe by the same And the Welch-men doe at this day call this land in their language Iniswen Inis gwyn that is the White Iland Or else they called it Albion of Albion the sonne of Neptune in like maner as they vainely and vntruly call Italie Hesperia of Hesperus the sonne of Atlas as they called Gallia Gallatia of a daughter of Poliphemus of that name But vpon what occasion soeuer this name was first giuen most certaine it is that to distinguish this Iland from the rest lying about it the Graecians first called it Albion As for the other name Britania I preferre the opinion of Maister Camden who compoundeth the same of the word Brit or Brith which in the British tongue signifieth Painted and of Tania a Greeke word signifying Region or Country So as Britania is as much to say as the country of the painted men The Latines receiued the name Britaniae from the Graecians as they did these other Mauritenia that is the country of the Moores Lusitaniae the countrie of Lusus and Aquitania ad aquas regio that is a country bordering vpon the Sea in maner as the British name Armorica signifieth super mare that is vpon the Sea Of this word Brith a Briton is called in the British Histories Brithon And no doubt the Romaines afterwards called the Britons Picti of the custome they had to Painte themselues Nec falso nomine Pictos Edomuit saith Claudian the Poet He tamed the Pictes not vntruly so called of their custome to Painte their bodies And Isiodore Non abest genti Pictorum nomen à corpore c. The Pictes saith hee wanted not a denomination of a custome they had to paint them-selues For hauing with a Needle pricked some part of their bodies they infused there-into certaine colours of hearbes and flowers for an ornament to the better sort amongst them neither were these Picts any other then the naturall Britaines who refusing to become subiect to the Romaines abandoned themselues into the furthest parts of the land Northwards where liuing vnto them-selues they retained their ancient and barbarous customes from which the other Britaines were reclaimed by the ciuill behauiour of the Romaines who there-vpon for distinction sake gaue to those Northerne Britaines then become enimies to the other the name of Picts But by Dion Tacitus and Herodian they were neuer otherwise called then by the common name to the people of this nation viz. Britaines Ausonius calleth them the Caledian Britaines because they inhabited the more hard and barraine part of the Iland for Kaledon in the Brittish tongue signifieth as much Thus wee haue attained I take it the certaine knowledge what people first inhabited this our Iland and how it came by the former ancient names Now it followeth that I should declare what forraine nations haue from time to time come from other partes and sought habitation heere also It apeareth manifestlie by the search of all ancient recordes that vntill the comming of the Romaines this Iland was neuer attempted by inuasion neither is there any memory made of the Brittaines vntill that time But when Iulius Caesar that valiant and mightie Conqueror had subdewed the Gaules euen vnto the coast ouer against vs and there beholding a newe vnknowne worlde offring it selfe as it were a preie to his hautie minde hee had not the power to confine his Conquestes with the Ocean but to giue the more glorie vnto his name and his nation hee forth-with addressed him selfe for the conquest of the same and hauing prouided all things fit for so valerous an exploite with much difficultie and small aduantage hee ariued here in the foure and fiftith yeare before the incarnation of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ with which intertainement being much discontented he departed but returning the next spring better furnished he preuailed so much against Cassibelan and his Britaines that the king beeing vnwilling to hazard the losse of the whole land perswaded his compeers to become tributarie to the Romaine Monarchie Caesar here-with satisfied at the approch of winter departed home-wards hauing as Tacitus saieth only shewed Britaine to his nation for during the space of twentie years after as Dion his words import the Britaine 's were gouerned by their owne Kings and accustomed lawes without any Romaine Lieutenant amongst them Neuerthelesse it apeareth by Strabo that certaine British Princes procuring by Ambassage and duetifull demenour the amitie of the Emperor Augustus who purposed in person to haue come hither offred in the Capitol to the Romaine Gods presents and gifts and withal submitted themselues vnto his Soueraignty protection as vassales to the Empire After this Claudius and Vespatian subdewing the Brittains reduced those partes that lie vpon the coast of France to the obedience of the Romaines who in processe of time ouerran the best part of the Iland gouerning the same by Lieutenants so as after an hundred years from their first arriuall Iulius Agricola Domitian being Emperor conquered the whole with his nauy first compassed the same being before vnknown whether it were an Iland or part of the continēt firme land The Romaines reseruing to themselues and their subiects the more fertile and commodious part of Land left vnto the barbarous Brittaines which would not yeeld to their subiection the Northerne cold and lesse frutefull soile The Britaines continewed in their due obedience vntill the declining estate of the Empire vnder Theodosius and Valentinian about fiue hundred yeares from their first compact with Iulius Caesar at what time the Romaine legions beeing drawne hence for the defence of France the Brittish nation was leaft a preie to there bordering enemies the Pictes and Scottes who togither assailed them so furiouslie that they were in the ende driuen for their defence to call the Saxons ouer to their aide as hereafter in place more fit shal be declared During the Romaine Soueraigntie the Brittaines sundrie times opposed themselues against the same Amongst whome Caraticus was first but after many sharpe encounters hee was at length discomfited by Ostorius Scapula and sent Captiue to Rome for which victorie the Senate had determined at his returne to haue receaued him home with triumph The
seauen yeares after their returne out of Ireland in which time they had inlarged there kingdome South-ward vnto the Scottish sea now called the frith of Scotland About sixescore years after as may be gathered out of Beda the Northumbrian Saxons beeing at ciuile dissention amongst themselues and greatlie weakened by the often inuasion of the Danes the Scottes taking the aduantage entred further into the Land and inlarged their dominion ouer a great part of their Countrie which before was extended to the riuer of Cluide as by all antiquity is confessed Herevpon as Maister Camden well obserueth it commeth to passe that the Scottes who now inhabite the East coast called Low-land-men are descended from the English-Saxons and still speake the same language But the High-land-men Westward are naturall Scots and speake their ancient and peculiar Irish But for more manifest proofe that the Gothes which were sent hither by the foresaid Romaine Emperors were the very same people that were afterwards called Scottes it is not to bee omitted as Maister Camden also well obserueth that as the Lowe-land-men of Germanie call both Gothes and Scottes by one and the same name Scutten so the Britaine 's as appeareth out of their Histories called them both I-Scot King Alfread who translated Orosius aboue sixe hundred yeares agoe turned the Latine worde Scotos into Scittan And at this day our borderers call them Skitts and Sketts more often then Scots There are also certaine Islands beyond those of Orkney now called Scetlant which no doubt tooke that name of their inhabitants the Sketts Thus it appeareth plainely enough that the name Scott was first giuen them by the Pictes their next neighbours and confederates where-vpon the Saxons afterwards called their countrie Scotlandt in maner as they called the Isle from whence they came Gotlandt The Emperour Valentinian the younger being forced thorough want of oâ—her meanes to transport his bands from thence into Gaule for the defence thereof the wealth of this land was not only therby wasted but the strength also much abated by reason whereof the poore Britaines were left for a prey to their enemies the Pictes Scots against whom they were in the end compelled to call in the Saxons for their defence These strangers crossing the Easterne seas arriued here in great numbers and were friendly intertained of Vortigerne to whom the Brittaines had committed the soueraignty ouer them about the yeare of our Lord God 449. The enemy beeing repulsed and the Realme by their helpe reduced to a more quiet estate the Saxons became so farre in loue and liking with this Land that they had no good will to returne home againe Wherefore beeing growne to a mighty People for daylie they still flocked hither vnder some colourable pretence of quarrell they became friends for the time with the Pictes and Scots and bent all their force against the Brittaines Thus were they brought to a most miserable estate by them in whom they reposed greatest confidence not foreseeing how dangerous a thing it is for any nation to entertaine a forraine aide ouer-mighty to bee commanded at their pleasure For after some resistance made by those two Martiall British Princes Aurelius Ambrosius and King Arthur in the end they were expelled out off the more firtill parts into the Westerne corners of the Iland called thereupon by the Saxons Britwalsh and Cornwalsh now Wales and Cornwall where through the naturall strength by situation they might the better saue themselues from their enemies who neuer ceassed to pursue them The Saxon word Walsh signifieth Foraine accounting the Britaines aliens and strangers vnto theÌ„ Wales hath euen hitherto retained both the language and linage of the antient Brittaines but the Cornwalsh Brittaines being neither so many nor so well defended by the mountaines reliefe as the other were in short time forced to transport theÌ„selues to their Countrimen the Britaines on the other side of the Sea who not long before beeing caried ouer by Maximus the Vsurper as is aforesaid had by force planted themselues in that Prouince then called Armorica of the signification thereof as I haue already noted Of this transmigration of these first Brittaines Iulius Scaliger thus writeth Vicit Aremoricas animosa Britannia gentes Et dedit imposito nomina prisca iugo The Saxons being thus setled in this Iland deuided the same into seauen principalities or little Kingdomes which continued in that estate till Egbert the seuententh from Cerdicius the first King of the West Saxons subduing foure of the other Saxon Kings tooke vpon him the Soueraigntie ouer the whole ordaining that from thenceforth it shall be called Englandt about the yeare of our Lord God 810. After an hundred and fortye yeares from thence his successors brought vnder their subiection the two other Prouinces So that in the end the former Heptarchie was reduced to a Monarchie These Saxons were not all one people but consisted of three seuerall Nations viz. The Angles who as it appeareth by their possessions heere were the greatest number the Iutes the Saxons but they were all the Inhabitants of some part or other of Denmarke For proofe whereof besides the authoritie of Bede Maister Camden citeth an ancient Author Fabius Ethelwardus who writeth thus Anglia vetus sita est inter Saxones Giotos habens opidum capitale quod sermone Saxonico Sleswick secundum vero Danos Haithby that is The old England is situate between the Saxons and the Iutes whose chiefe Towne was cald by the Saxons Sleswick but by the Danes Hathbie And as Maister Camden well obserueth there is at this day a prouince in Denmarke thereabout called Angell from whence he supposeth that these Angells or Angles came hither These people were generally addicted to superstitious paganisme sacrificing humaine flesh to their Idolls among whom Wooden and Fria were of greatest account To him they dedicated the third day of the weeke to her the fift calling them after their names Woodensday Friday appropriated to the seruice of them through out the whole yeare Besides these they had an other Goddesse named Eoster in the honor of whoÌ„ they did yearely offer sacrifice in the month of Aprill wherupon the feast of the Pascall coÌ„ming alwaies in or nere that month was is still called Easter The word I take it commeth from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whoÌ„ the Latins called Aurora which is the first appearance of the Sun in the East which the Germaines call Oost whereupon I gather that their Eoster was the diuine worship which these Pagans gaue the Sun at his rising in that month reioysing at the approch of Sommer In imitation of whom the Christians haue since vsed in time of prayer to turne their faces towardes the East according to the manner of the standing of our Churches East West Hereby it appeareth that by the coÌ„ming of the Saxons the profession of Christ which before had taken some little roote was now exterpate plucked vp But after 150. years
successe of his interprices to the title and dignity of the viceroye of Scotland For hauing assembled a great number of his Countrimen of like qualitie vnto himselfe hee set vpon the English forces beating them to their holdes and recouering into his possession all the places of strength which they held on the further side of the frith of Edenborugh The report hereof being brought into England the Earle of Surrie was succored with newe supplie of Souldiours from thence with whome hee passed against the enemies then incamped on the further side of the frith The Earle together with the Lord Hugh Cressingham beeing come with their armie to Striueling bridge where they were to passe ouer vnto them after that the greater number conducted by the Lord Cressingham were on the further side the bridge beeing but of wood brake asonder so as the residue of the army could not follow their fellowes Walleis taking the aduantage set vpon the Englishmen on that side before they could bee brought into any good order of battaile by which meanes beeing ouerpressed also with multitude they were well-nere all to the number of sixe thousand men togeather with their Captaine slaine or drowned in the riuer This misfortune happened to the Englishmen about the middest of September in the yeare of our Lord God 1297. The Earle bestowing his companies there where was most need returned into England with all speed But Wallais following his good fortune left nothing vnattempted that might augment his glorie and renowne For immediatly there-vpon hee inuaded Northumberland from whence passing thorow the Forrest of Inglewood Cumberland and Alerdaile till hee came vnto Dewent at Cockermouth wasting and spoiling all in his walke but comming to New-castle the Towne was so well defended that giuing ouer the siege and hauing deuided the spoile amongst his peogle they returned home in the Calends of Februarie next following While the Scottes thus ranged at their pleasure in the East Marches the lord Clifford with the power of Carliele entred into Annandale committing all to the spoile of their foot-men The Horse-men being not aboue an hundred gaue a charge vpon the enimie neere to Annand Kirke droue them into a Marish wherein the English foot-men being not farre behinde assailing them slew about three hundred and tooke the rest prisoners with whome they returned home on Christmasse euen About the beginning of the next Spring the Earle of Surrey lord warden of Scotland desirous to bee reuenged on the rebellious Scots assembled his Armie at Yorke hauing first summoned the lords of Scotland to meete him there at an appointed day But they in the meane time ioyning with Wallais had besieged the Castell of Roxbrough The Earle hearing thereof hasted thither with all speede but Wallais with his adherents would not abide his approach Then hauing relieued that Castell with victuals and other necessaries he passed forth to Kelsay and from thence to Berwicke which the enimie had lately desolated the Castell onely excepted Hither came letters from the King shewing that he had taken truce with the French King and commanding the lord warden of Scotland to make no further attempt then to defend the frontiers of England vntill his comming ouer which should bee very shortly Here-vpon a great part of the armie was sent home such onely remained which might suffice for the re-manning of the towne and castell K. Edward at his returne home gaue summons to the lords of ScotlaÌ„d to attend him at Yorke where hee had appointed to hold a Parliament but because they made default of their appearaÌ„ce at the prefixed day he forthwith sent out his letters to warne all his subiects able to beare armor to be ready furnished at Roxburgh on Midsomer day following which being come thither repaired about 3000. men of Armes mounted on barbed horses besides 4000. light hors-men and a great number of footmen the better part Welchmen Irishmen The whole armie beeing come within Scotland to a place called Fonkerke about foure miles from Sterling where the Scots lay was deuided into three battailes The formost was leade by the Earles Marshall Hereford and Lincolne The second by the Bishop of Durham a martiall prelate The rereward was conducted by the king himself In like manner the Scotish army was deuided into three The first was lead by Iohn Cumine the second by Ioh. Steward And the third by the valiant Captaine William Wallais the whole consisted of some thirtie thousand men well and strongly apoynted At the first incounter the Scotish horsemen were put to flight some fewe only excepted that kept the footmen in order the second battaile being assailed by the Englishmen both before and behind after some small resistance was also wholy ouerâ—hrowne fewe or none escaping with life Wallais hauing manfully maintained the fight while hee was able to make resistance and now seeing himselfe ouercharged a front and Bruce at his backe who serued that day on the English part readie to intrap him hee thought it best to saue himselfe in as good sort as hee could and therefore retyring with those few that remayned to the further side of the riuer Carront he so escaped After this ouerthrowe hee neuer appeared any more in the field but greeuously complayning of the enuy and malice which the Scotish Nobility bare towards him hee renounced al the authority committed vnto him and withdrew himselfe to his accustomed solitarinesse About seauen years after this he was betraied by one of his most familier friendes sent into England arrained and condemned of treason and for the same executed his head was set on London bridge and his foure quarters bestowed vpon the gates of the chiefe Cities and townes of England and Scotland The Scotish writers do hieghly commend the notable courage and resolution of this man who alone would neuer be won by faire means or fowle to yeald him selfe to the enemies as he tooke it of his countries liberty but still to his power defended the same by all means that possibly hee could deuise This blouddy battaile was fought on Mary Magdelens day in the yeare of our redemption 1298. Whereat was slaine Iohn Steward brother to the Lord Steward Macduff Earle of fife the valiant knight Saint Iohn Graiham besids many other of good reckning in the whole to the number of 1500. at the least with very smal losse or none at all to speake of of the English party This victory thus atcheiued the English army marched forwards to the towne of S. Andrewes from thence thorow Selkerke forest to the Castel of Aire but no-where they found resistance then comming to the towne of Anuan they tooke the Castel of Lochmaben and so returned into England by the West marches In this iorney diuerse of the Scotish Nobilitie others vpon huÌ„ble submission were againe receiued into fauour While king Edward remained at Carliele he called a Parlament wherat he bestowed lands and possessions within Scotland on the Noblemen of England that attended on him vnto
Dauids daies For such was the curtisie and friendly behauiour of Edward towaâ—ds the two captiue Kings of France and Scotland while they remained togither in England as that thereby hee won their loue and fauor foreuer after as appeared by their repaire hither to visit the King and Queene and to recreate and solace themselues in their company And thus it came to passe that their captiuitie here turned more to their owne aduantage and the peaciable enioying of their estats afâ—er the same then if it had neuer hapned vnto them King Dauid beeing dead without issue of his bodie Robert Steward his Sisters Sonne by the Generall consent of all the estates was crowned King of Scotland in the yeare of our Lord. 1370. Here ended the posterity of Malcolm Cammore in the Masculine line which had continewed two hundred threescore and eighteene yeares and was transferred to an other ancient house of the Scottish Nation which in the beginning of the raigne of this King Malcolm tooke the surname Steward on them vpon the office which their auncestour their bare as before I haue touched and this family hath euer since borne the Crowne of Scotland euen vnto this day The league which was before made with his Vncle the deceased King was now renewed for foureteene yeares But immediatly vpon the Coronation of King Richard the second Sonne to that valiant Prince surnamed Blacke both the Father and grand-father beeing dead in the yeare of our Lord 1377. King Robert was so earnestly labored by Ambassadours out of France to make warre vpon England thereby to purchase vnto King Charles their Maister the more quietnesse at home that forth-with preparation was made to put his 〈◊〉 in execution And first vnâ—â—â—â— colour ascending reuenge on the English borderers for the death of a seruant of George Earle of Dumbarâ—â— that by occasion of some drunken fraye the yeare before was slaine at Roxbrugh faire the said Earle together with his broâ—her the Earle of Murrey gathering a powre came secretly to the towne the next Fayre-day slew all the Englishmen they found thereat carried away their goods and set the towne on fire 〈◊〉 his outragious demeanour of these Scotts Henry Percie Earle of Northumberland entred into Scotland with ten thousand men and tooke sufficient reuenge on the Earle of Marche and others the chiefe authors of the former fact Amongst the rest Sir Iohn Gordon tooke himselfe much iniured by this inuasion who therefore making a road into England got together a great bootie In his returne home-ward he was set vpon by the Englishmen but after a long fight they were finally discomfited and their Captaine Sir Iohn Lylborne with his brother and diuers other were taken prisonâ—â—s and carried into Scotland Sir Iohn Gordon was so incouraged here-with as that shortly after he together with Sir Alexander Ramsey and fortie other chosen men fittest to enterprise such a difficultie aâ—out the latter end of Nouember in the deaâ—â—â—â—â—e of the night being come to Berwicke â—â—d â—auing mounted the walles slew the watchmen while they were sleeping and thereby became Maisters of the Castell Sir Robert Boyntone Constable thereof and such as were with him being ouer-few vpon that disaduantage to repulse the enemie were all slaine in their owne defence Not-with-standing they permitted his wife children and some fewe of their seruants to depart on condition that within three weekes after they should eyther send for their ransome three thousand Markes or else yeeld their bodies againe The next morning the Scottes issuing out of the Castell before it was knowne what was hapned brought with them into it a droue of Cattle which were pasturing there-about The Earle of Northumberland being aduertised hereof hasted thither with foure hundred men well appointed by whome the Castell was againe recouered by force within two houres nine dayes after the taking of the same The Scottes were all slaine by the assailiants either in the defence of the Castle or of their persons after they were entred Alexander Ramsey onely excepted whom they reserued by his libertie to redeeme the ransome promised before to the Scottes for the wife and childreÌ„ of Captaine Boyntone These things thus passed in the yeare 1378. The pestilence so afflicted the North parts of England all the summer following as that a great part of those countries lay well neere desolate not-with-standing the Scotts ceased not daily to make roades into the land catching vp and carrying away what-so-euer 〈◊〉 into their greedy clawes so as the very heards of swine where-with before they would neuer deale were now accounted a good booty Further the Earle Dowglasse with some twentie thousand Scots entred into Penner on the Faire day sacked the towne and then set it on fire but the people saued them-selues by running away The Scots paide very deare for those commodities For there-with all they carried home with them an infection of the plague whereof in the two years next following so great a number died being spred well nere ouer the whole land as the like was neuer before knowne in Scotland In further reuenge of this out-rage committed at Penner the Englishmen shortly after entred into Scotland ouer Sufway putting all to the sword that made resistance and hauing gotten a great booty together in tâ—eir returne they lodged in a strait valley neere to the confines of England which aduantage being espied by the Scots that pursued them they suddenly in the night fell vpon them slew a great number and put the rest to flight and so recouered their goods againe while in the meane season the warre continued very hotely by land and sea betweene England and France Iohn Duke of Lancaster the kings Vncle laboured a peace with the Scots which was concluded to indure three yeâ—â—es The truce replied Archibald Dowlasse together with the Earles Dowglasse and Dunbar vnderstanding that the Castell of Lochemaben was vnprouided of men and victuals necessary for the defence thereof so sharplie assailed the same as that the Captaine thereof Sir William Featherstone hauing in the meane â—â—â—e receiued no ayde out of England as hee expected vpon knowledge giuen to the wardens of the English Marches in what state it stood at the end of eight daies according to composition he surrendred the Castle into their possessioÌ„ which incontinently was cast downe flatt to the ground Herevpon the Baron of Graystock with a new supply of men and victuals was appointed to releeue the Castle of Roxbrough least it should be taken vnprouided as the former But the Earle of March hauing gotten knowledge thereof lay priuily in waite for the Englishmen tooke the Baron prisoner and caried him with his charge to Dunbar The Scots about this time tooke also the Castle of Warke and set it on fire King Richard being not a little discontented with this their fortunate proceedings sent the Duke of Lancaster with a great powre into ScotlaÌ„d hauing now appeased his troubles at home raised by the seditious rebels of Northfolke other
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
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
the sea coast was still attended by the fleet so as vpon euery occasion the one might relieue the others want Such Castles houlds as were in their walke some were rendred others taken by force and ruinated As the armie passed the Scotish light-horsemen prouoked the Englishmen to skirmish but commandement was giuen that none should stir against them The 9. of SepteÌ„ber the Nauie lodged at Preston within view of the Scottes who were incamped at the mouth of the riuer of Eske within little more then a mile one froÌ„ the other The Scotish prickers were now more busie then before shewing themselues on the top of an hill in their greatest brauery The Englishmen could not indure to be so bearded therfore the Lord Gray of Wilton Captaine ouer the horsemen obtained leaue at length to set on them with a band of light horsemen and certaine demilances to back them withall These hauing mounted the hill the Scots at first made shew to giue the charge but had no such meaning for some 500. of them comming forward vpon the spurs with a great shout after their maner within their staues length of the formost troope and then purposing to haue wheeled about be gon the Englishmen at an instant vnlooked for receiued them so roughly as that at the first incouÌ„ter and afterwards in the chase within three houres space aboue 800. of the Scots were slaine within sight of their own army The Lord Hume by a fall from his horse in the flight receiued such an hurt that he died thereof shortly after His sonne and heire six Gentlemen and two Priests were taken prisoners On the English party but one was hurt yet diuerse were taken prisoners by aduenturing ouer-farre in pursuite of the enemy amongst whom were Sir Ralphe Bulmere Thomas Gower Marshall of Barwicke and Captaine Crouch all three hauing charge ouer certaine compâ—â—ies of horsemen After this blow the Scottish horsemen performed no more seruice worth the remembrance The Protector knowing that the Scottes were not a little discouraged by this ouer-throw giuen the horsmen perceiuing no disposition in them to giue battaile vnlesse it were vpoÌ„ great aduantage thought it now a fit time to make trial whether yet they would harken vnto his reasonable demands which he signified to the Gouernor in writing to this effect as Buchanan reporteth First he earnestly intreated the Scots to remeÌ„ber that on both sides they were all Christians to whom if they would follow their profession nothing could be more acceptable then peace amity nor any thing more hatefull then war and bloud-shed That the warre now betweene them proceeded not of ambition malice or enuie but from an harty desire of an assured fiâ—â—â—e league and amity between the two nations which by no meanes else could be effected then by that mariage which by their free consents had bin already faithfully promised by publike writing generally approued ratified vpon such conditions as were more fauorable on their side theÌ„ of their owne such as brought them into no manner of bondage but into a friendly society of life and community of either fortune good or bad That this maâ—â—age would be much more aduantagable to theÌ„ then to the English by how much both the hope of good the feare of harme to the nation of lesse powre should be the greater That they could not deny but it was necessary their Queene should marry consequently that their greatest care would bee how to bestow her That if they would make choise of a husband fittest for her in regard both of his owne worth the good that should redound to their common-weale whom could they preferre before the King their next neighbor borne and bred vp in the same Iland of her own bloud trained vp after one maner of discipline vsing the same language and not onely in powre and riches but well nere in all things tending either to profit or pleasure farre before her and which shall bring with it a neuer fading amitie and an vtter burning in obliuion the memory of all former malice and dissention where-as if the Scots shall entertaine a stranger differing froÌ„ them in lawes language and maner of life what a number of inconueniences will follow thereof The mischiefe that by such occasion hath falne vpon other nations may be a sufficient warning better it were to be wise by other mens harms then by experience to buy witt at so deare a reckoning That for his part if he found them inclinable to the mariage he would remit some part of the former agreement and bee contented that their Queene should bee brought vp amongst them at home till shee were of age to make her choice that in the meane season peace should be kept betweene the two nations but with this condition that their Queene should not in the meane time bee transported out of Scotland and that no compact of marriage should bee made either with the French king or any other forraine Prince If they would faithfully promise thus much he would then in peaceable manner immediatly depart with his armie and what-so-euer damage they had sustained since his comming into their realme it should bee satisfied by the iudgement of indifferent Arbitrators chosen on both sides The Gouerner hauing receiued this letter imparted the same to very few about him fearing that if it had passed many mens hands the greater number would haue inclined to the offred conditions of peace being so reasonable which made him the rather conceaue that vnlesse the Duke had distrusted his strength hee would not haue made so faire wether with him And therefore purposing to giue him battaile he caused a rumor to be spred abroad that the EnglishmeÌ„ were come to cary away the Queene by force of armes which being receaued for truth great numbers out of all parts flocked vnto him The Duke perceiuing their meaning about 8. of the clock in the fore-noone caused the army to dislodge for their more aduantage to march directly towards an hill neere thereto called Pinck hill nigh to Vndrâ—â—â—'â— Church The Gouerner to preuent thâ— Eng 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of their purpose coÌ„manded euery man to attend his Captaine to the incounter who made so good speed that they were well nere come to it before the other were gone halfe the way Thus both contending who should first possesse this hill together with the aduantage of the winde Sunne the Englishmen were forced by the forwardnes of the enimy to aduenture vpon a very desperate peece of seruice The Scottish armie was marshalled in this maner The Earle of Angus lead the vant-gard consisting of 8000. footmen garded with fiue peeces of great Ordinance on the right hand about 400. horsmeÌ„ on the left The Gouernor was placed behind him with ten thousand Inland-men as they call them accounted the choisest soldiers the whole country affordeth The Earle of Huntley had the leading of the rere-ward of 8000. men well nigh euen with
the maine battaile on the left side being both flanked with 4000. Archers Irishmen well garded also with field peeces Their armor for the most part was a good skul or Iack short sword very broad and sharpe dagger buckler and a kerchiefe wreathed and wrapped twice or thrice about their collers In this aray they stood closly together holding their pikes in both hāds and with-all their bucklers on the left the point brest high and the other end resting against the right foot the fore-ranck bending their knees to giue their fellows behind leaue to couer thē with their pikes crossing one another in such forcible maner as if they stood fast neither man nor horse could breake in amongst them neither any strength with-stand them On the other side the Earle of Warwicke Lord Lieutenant of the armie conducted the fore-ward of three thousand footmen The Lord Dacres the rere-ward of like number and qualitie The middle-ward of foure thousand footmen was conducted by the Generall him-selfe The men of armes who were six thousand lead by the lord Gray lord Marshal and the light horsmen to the number of two thousand by Sir Francis Brian together with the Ordinance 200. Harquebusiers on horseback were bestowed in places most conuenient either for offence or defence as present occasion required There was betweene the two armies a deepe ditch which the Englishmen were to passe before they could come to the enimie many that could not leape ouer stuck fast therein with no small danger to them-selues and impediment to their fellowes that followed Besides that their course lay vntowardly ouer-thwart plowed lands with deep furrows for a stones cast after they had passed the slough Not-with-standing these incombrances in their course and the eminent perill of their enimes Pikes at the incounter the valiant lord Gray with his troopes of men of armes accompanied with the lord Fitz-Waters afterward Earle of Sussex and 2. Knights Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Thomas Darcy of whom the former was lieutenant of all the men of armes demilances the other Captaine of the Pensioners with their seuerall bands to the number of 3400. men of armes issuing out from both sides of the army so resolutly gaue the charge a front downe the hill vpon their enemies pikes that with the verie terrour thereof they were much amased Neuerthelesse the Scottes kept their order and stand so firmely that at this sharpe incounter sixe and twenty Gentlemen besides nere two hundred others were slaine out right amongst whome Edward Shelley Lieutenant vnto the Lord Graie of his band of Bulleners as he was the first that passed the ditch so in likelihood the first also that lost his life Few of them that were placed in the formost rancks returned without hurt on himselfe or his horse The Lord Gray was dangerously wounded in the mouth with a pike The Englishmen had so small incoragement to maintaine this their hot beginning that in stead of an orderlie retreat the greater number put their horses to that speed as thereby they showed a better will to leaue the field then to fight it out Hereby the next ward was much disordered But that worthy Earle of Warwike so cherefully incorraged his souldiours to stand to it manfully that what by his owne industry and the diligence of the Captaines vnder him the ranckes were reduced into good order both horsemen and foote-men so as by the small losse at the former incounter the whole armie attained their desired aduantage In the meane season the Scottes aduanced their bands with good corrage though by shot both from land and sea they were shrowdly galled But when they perceiued that the Englishmen both on foote and horse-backe were now readie to assaile them againe from the higher ground in such order as they seemed to incompasse them the Scottish vantgard to auoide the danger of the Spanish shot who serued on horse-backe on the one side and of being inuironed by the aduersarie on the other declined on that hand from their former direct course vp the hill whereat the Englishmen giuing a great shoute cried they flie they flie the Scottes supposing their fellowes behind them had fled indeede turned themselues about The middle battaile seeing their vantgard out of their course with their faces towardes them imagined that they had fledde and forth-with casting downe their weapons and else whatsoeuer would hinder their speed they be-tooke themselues euerie man to his heeles In this sort God gaue the victory to the Englishmen onelie by the working of his diuine power and not by either power or pollicie of man The chase was continued out-right VVest-ward about fiue miles vnto Lieth and wel-nere to the gates of Edenbrough distanced in breadth neere foure miles from the sandes vp toward Daketh South-ward The slaughter was so great that the riuer of Eske was stained with bloud which lay East-ward from the place of battaile and runneth North-ward into the Firth Not so few as ten thousand Scottes lost their liues all within the space of fiue houres from one of the clocke till sixe Of this number besides the Lord Flemming about two thousād were men of good quality Aboue fifteene hundred were taken prisoners amongst whome the Earle of Huntley the Lord of Yester Hobby Hamilton Captaine of Dumbar the Maister of Saintpoll the Lord Weames and a brother of the Earle of Cassels were of best account For to one Gentleman their were twenty of the common soldiours taken prisoners by reason they were all so meanly apparelled as that the better sort could not bee knowne from the rest who otherwise might haue escaped with their liues This victory fell to the Englishmen neere Mussel-brugh on Saterday being the tenth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 1547. Two of my Fathers men hauing lost him in the chase in their returne found one slaine so verie like him in all respectes and more especiallie by a circle about the finger whereon he vsed to weare a great ringe as that with much sorrowe and lamentation they buried him Hee was one of them that gaue the first on-set on the enemies pikes whereat his horse receiued his deathes wound but serued notwithstanding all that day after After this the Englishmen by sea entred the I le of Colme a place by scituation very stronge standing in the Firthe about foure miles from Lieth wherein was an Abbie but the Monkes had abandoned the same Here and at the Castell of Browghtie-Cragge which stood in the entrie into the Taie garisons of Englishmen were placed for the more anoyance of those that were to passe vp those riuers In the returne of the armie by land Hume Castell and Fast Castell after some resistance were surrendred and fortified by the English At their comming to Boxbrugh they also erected a fortification vpon the ruines of an olde Castell and placed a garison therein Here the Lord Protector receiued diuerse Scottish Leardes and Gentlemen of the best account thorow the
men and 8. peeces of artilery the which was valiantly defended by Sir Andrewe Dudley when he had knowledge of the good successe the Earle of Lennox had after wel-nere three monthes siedge gaue it ouer leauing behind him Iames Haliburtone with an hundred horse to cut off such victualls as by land should bee sent thither and to a fort which the Englishmen had built on the toppe of an hill neere vnto the other The Earle of Lennox beeing desirous to bee better reuenged on his dissembling friendes his Father in Lawe and others obtayned leaue once againe togither with the Lord Wharton to enter into Scotland on the VVest-Marches Their forces were some seauen hundred horse-men and fiue hundred foot-men English besides some other Scottish horse-men About the latter end of this yeare they came to Loâ—h-maben and so to Dunfrees The Earle of Angus being then at the Castell of Drom-lanrigge solicited his Sonne in lawe by messaâ—e to repaire vnto him The Earle peâ—ceauing it was done vpon no good meaning towards him forth-with appointed certaine troopes of horse-men to foraye the Country whereby to draw him to the field About midnight Maister Henry Wharton set forwards with twelue hundred light horse-men The Maister of Maxwell afterwards Lord Herries whose aduice the Earle vsed in this plot and the residue of the assured Scottes amongst them kept the vantgard In the morning the Earle himselfe and the Lord Wharton marched forth with the foot-men till they came ten miles beyond Dunfrees Then they so disposed their companies that the Earle of Angus was wel-nere intrapped before he distrusted any such matter so as hee was forced to flie with fiue or sixe persones only in his companie The English horse-men being come to Dusdere set the towne on fire The Maister of Maxwell with the other Scottish Gentlemen and light horse-men of the borders to the number of foure hundred hauing now trained the Englishmen into the middest of their enemies for on euery hill toppe great numbers of Scottes were placed about them forth-with the Leard of Drom-lanrigge with certaine chosen horse-men aduanced forward in sight of the Englishmen wherevpon the assured Scottes sodenly rearing vp a blacke pensill vpon the point of a speare for a token ioyned themselues to their Countrie-men vnder Drom-lanrigge The Scottes being thus vnited and thrusting in betweene the English horsemen their foot-men not without great peril to the one and other they passed on towards the Earle of Lennox the Lord Wharton who by this time were approached neere the old Castell of Danswinton some-times the house of the Cumines bruting it abroad that the English horse-men were ouerthrowne The Earle of Lennox beholding the manner of his aduersaries approach alighted on foote from his horse willing the Lord Wharton to doe the like for this day sayd hee I will die a true Englishman By this time the English horse-men behinde the Scottes fetching a compasse in their retreat from Dusdere came fortunatly to the place where the Earle and his companie beeing ranked in order of battaile were readie to retire backe againe towardes Dunfrees thinking no lesse but that their horse-men had in deede as it was bruted beene ouerthrowne by the enemie But the horse-men now comming in and perceauing how the matter stood gaue a braue charge vpon the Scottes that stood facing the Earle and his people ready to take any aduantage that in their retreat should haue beene offred and ther-with disordered and put them to flight The Leard Drom-lanerigge was taken prisoner but by corrupting him that tooke him hee got away The Maister of Maxwell had many speares broken vpon him but escaped Besides those that were drowned in the riuer Nith foure hundred were taken prisoners amongst whom the Abbote of Newe-Abbey and Christie Errwing of Boushawe a brother of the Learde of Hempsfield were the chiefe At their returne the Earle to Dunfrees the towne was rifled from whence Maister Henry Wharton was sent withall speede to the Court to make relation of the good successe of this iorney into Scotland who both for his good seruice now and before as also for the counter-newes hee first brought to the false report that till his comming was intertained in England receiued the honor of Knight-hood as he well deserued Letters were returned from the Counsell to the Lord Wharton for the execution of certaine pledges one for the Maister of Maxwell of his nearest kindred the VVarden of the Graie-friers in Dunfrees the Vicare of Carlauerocke some others who were executed at Carliele accordingly In the end of Aprill the yeare following the Lord Graie Lieutenant of the North-partes with Sir Thomas Palmer and Sir Thomas Holcroft were sent into Scotland with competent forces for the fortifying of the towne of Hadington and some other places seruing best for the defence of those Countries against the enemie whome the Lord Protectour purposed thereby if it might be to bring to some reasonable conditions of peace During the Englishmens abode their at this time they tooke and burned diuerse Castells and Townes wasting that Country the most firtile soile in Scotland on euerie side Vpon the surrender of the Castell of Yester the Lord Gray was contented to pardon the defendantes only one excepted who during the siedge had vttered reproachfull words against the King of England A Scotte named Newton was charged here-with but he denying it accused one of the Hamiltons who likewise forswore it These two gentlemen one accusing the other without any pâ—â—ofe on either side required the combat which was granted vnto them At the appointed time they entred the listes at Hadington in the market place prepared for that purpose They were apparelled in doublets and hose and weaponned with sword buckler and dagger At the first entrie Hamilton kneeling downe made his feruent praier that it would please the Lord to giue victory to the truth with solemne protestation that he neuer vttered any such speech of the King of England as his aduersarie layed to his charge Newton being troubled as it seemed by his countenance with his false accusation argued vnto the beholders his gilty conscience The combat begunne Hamilton was so full of â—orage that he caused the other to giue backe wel-nere to the end of the listes But Newton perceauing the danger hee was in for if he had beene driuen to the end he should haue beene adiudged vanquished stept forwards and withal gaue Hamilton such a wound on the legge that there-with he fel downe to the ground and then falling vpon him slew him out-right with his dagger Diuerse Scottish Gentlemen present being fully perswaded that Newton was the offender notwithstanding this his purgation offred themselues to maintaine the vanquished mans quarrell but the victor chalenging the Lawes of armes my Lord Gray would not doe him that wronge but giuing him his gowne and chaine then about him hee so dismissed him This Newton was afterwards met withall vpon the borders and pittifully hewne and cut in peeces
with â—igâ—t thoâ—sand Sâ—ottes layed siedge to Hadington and in â—â—ort time â—o battered the walles with their great ordâ—â—ance that in diuerse places it was assâ—â—table Neuertheles the towne was so wâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—ded by Sir Iames Wilforâ— the Captaine thereof his people that the enemy had smal hope to take iâ— by force wherfore they indeuored to cut of al accesse whereby to famish the defendants keepe from them other necessaries which they wanted neuertheles by the policy of certaine English Captaines that found a way in the night with 200. horse-men thorowe the Scottish watch the towne was releeued in good time wherevpon within 4. daies after the Scots leaft the siedge fiue or sixe hundred light hors-men only excepted went euery man to his owne dwelling This made the Frenchmen more vigilant wary afterwards so as they that made the like interprice next had not so good successe for of thirty hundred hors-men wherof 700. were lances coÌ„mitted to the charge of Sir Robert Bowes Sir Thomas Palmer fewe or none escaped but was either slaine or taken prisoner This ouerthrow was imputed to the rashnes of Sir Thomas because that after his lances had before repulsed the enemies two seueral charges he would not be there-with satisfied but presuming vpoÌ„ his former fortune adueÌ„tured againe so far within their danger that being incoÌ„passed by them the English could find no way out to escape The Lord Protector in the meane time hauing prouided an army of 15000. men of whoÌ„ 3000. were Almains coÌ„mitted the conduct therof to the Earle of Shrewsbury accompanied with the L. Gray lieutenaÌ„t of the North-parts More-ouer the lord Clinton high admiral of EnglaÌ„d after created Earle of Lincoln by Q. Elizabeth with a 〈◊〉 â—â—sed kept 〈◊〉 with the â—â—â—y by land 〈◊〉 â—hey were 〈◊〉 fâ—â— a sonder but the ships that had brought the Frenchâ—â—n into Scotland which they hoped to haue met withal were before thiâ— time sent home-wards back againe At thâ—â—pproach of the English Monsieur â—essie raised the field retiring his army towards Edenbrugh incaÌ„ped beyond Musskelbrough in a plaâ— of grouÌ„d chosen for his best aduantage the English horse-mâ—â— coasting them al the way as they passed for the space of 7. or 8. miles The towne of Hadingâ—on being victualed and furnished of al necessary prouision the Englishmen showed themselues to the enemy who there-vpon offred skirmish but they seeming as the vnprouided to accept therof drâ—w backe themselues vntill the other were â—ome forward within danger of an ambushment laied purposely to intrap them The Englishmen 〈◊〉 â—â—king the exspected aduantage wheeling about gaue the enemy a charge inforcing him to make his cariere back with more speed then appertained thereto so as hauing him in chase diuers were slaine take prisoners namely Pierre Longâ—â— Luciuâ—â— two French Captains By this time 14. or 15. thousand Scots Irish were come to the enemies câ—mpe These new forces were â—â—â—â—ly lodged whâ— sodenly the Englishmen presented themselues in good order of battaile exspecting some profer of skirmish for the space of an houre but perceauing they had no list to leaue their strength they returned back to their owne Campe. The Nauie being now entred into the Firth was not idle for comming to the brent Iland the Englishmen set fire on foure ships and passing thence by Leeth they saluted that Towne with Cannon shot Monsieur de Villegaignon not long before this was departed from thence with foure Gallies where-with compassing all the Northerne Ilands of Scotland he arriued at Dunbritton where by appointment hee receiued into his charge the young Queene betwixt fiue and sixe yeares of age attended by the Prior of Saint Andrewes her bastard brother Iohn Aesken and William Leuistone with whom at length with much difficultie hee landed at Brest the Queene from thence was conueyed to the French Court The Lord Admirall after this attempting to burne Saint Minets was there repulsed by the Laird of Dune where-vpon the Nauie returned to attend the Armie hauing sustained some losse at that their last bickering The Earle hauing proceeded as farre as his Commission extended dissolued his armie and returned into England But the Lord Gray staying some time in the Northe parts according to the charge giuen him entred againe into Scotland with the Almaigne footmen and certaine English horsemen burning and wasting the countries of Tiuidale and Lidsdale twenty miles within the land and then returned without incounter The reason hereof was as it seemeth 〈◊〉 quarrell at that tâ—me in Edenbrâ—â—â—â— â—hen betweene the Scots the Frenchmen whâ—â— in Sir Iames Hamilton Larde of Sâ—enâ—â—house Captaine of the Castell and Prouost of the towne togâ—â—â—er with his sonâ—â— and diuerse townesmen â—â—aâ— tooke his part were slaine by the French that with-out leaue would haue entered the towne This broile no doubt bred great vnkindnesse no small iealousie in the one nation ouer the other so as some inconuenience had followed there-vpon had not the matter in time beene taken vp betweene them Monsieur Dessie to bring himselfe into credit againe with the Scots aduentured with his companies of Frenchmen Almaignes to giue a Camisadoe to Hadington for comming thither in the night about the middest of October some pretty while before day hee dispatched the watch before they were aware of any enemy and was entred into the base court ready to breake downe the towne gate before â—he alarme was raised crying out victory victory The Englishmen with the suddennesse hereof were much amased not knowing which way to turne them In this perplexitie a soldier amongst them vsing a desperate remedie for a present cure gaue 〈◊〉 with his match to a double CanoÌ„ that by good chance lay ready charged against the gate â—he which with his thunder-bolts made such a passage thorow the Frenchmen that were â—ow thronging thereat aâ— the terrour thereof made the residue to giue back The Englishmen in the meane time issuing out at a posterne gate vpon their backs â—o bestirred their Halberts and black-bils that many of their enimies were knocked downe and the residue driuen away as fast as their legges could carry them Notwithstanding Desse gathering them againe together gaue three assaults that morning to the towne but was still repelled to his great losse for they caryed away with them sixteen Carts and wagons laden with maimed soldiers and dead carcases besides nere two hundred that were found in the base court whom they left behind them Shortly after this blowe the enimie had the like successe at Dundie Forte being already possessed of the towne for the Frenchmen hauing also recouered the pile there and purposing to finish a peece of worke which the Englishmen had begun to their hands the Riengraue with his Almaignes and Monsieur De Etanges were forth-with sent thither to that end while they were about this businesse the Englishmen and their Almaignes issuing out of Broughtie-Cragge two miles distant from it came so sodenly vpon them
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
Scotland so as on the eighteenth day of Aprill in the yeare 1570. that realme was together inuaded from all the three English Marches The principall Armie was conducted by the Lord Lieutenant himself accompanied with the Lord Hunsden Gouernor of Barwick and Sir William Drewrie Marshall there The next was lead by Sir Iohn Foster warden of the middle Marches the third by the Lord Scroope warden of the West Marches The two former entring into Tiuidale wasted and destroyed what-so-euer stood in their way vntill they met at Crawling where they also rased the Castell FroÌ„ thence passing to Iedworth they were so well intertained that in requitall thereof they forbare to doe any harme there Departing thence the Armie sundry times deuided it selfe the more to afflict the countries where they passed Vpon the two and twentith of the same moneth they returned together to Barwick The Lord Scroope in the meane time with his people hauing ranged the enimies Countries as farre well neere as Domfries gaue them sundrie ouer-throwes tooke many prisoners burned diuers Townes and returned also in safetie In these iourneyes aboue fiftie Castells and places of strength and not so few as three hundred Townes Villages and dwellings were rased burned and spoiled so as none well neere in all those parts who had either receiued the English rebels or had by inuasion indamaged the borders of EnglaÌ„d had left vnto them dwellings for them-selues or their followers besides the great losse of their goods wasted consumed or caryed away by the Englishmen During these exploits the Marches of England were on euery side so garded by the Lord Euers Sir George Bowes and the Bishoprick-men as the enimie durst not once offer to carry so much as a Cowe out of England The Lord Generall hauing staied three dayes at Berwicke for the refreshing of his armie and making preparation for the siedge of Hume Castell hee then assailed the same so egerlie that within three dayes more it was surrendred This Castell was committed to the custodie of Captaine Wood and Captaine Pickman with whom leauing a garrison of two hundred souldiers hee returned againe to Berwicke At this siedge but foure were slaine on both sides two English and two Scottishmen The fourth of May the Lord Generall lying sicke at Berwicke sent Maister Drewrie with some two thousand men to take Fast Castell which vpon the first summons yeelded it selfe it was kept by halfe a score Scottes and committed to the custody of as many Englishmen who were thought able enough to hold it against all the powre of Scotland the same by scituation was naturally so strong The Generall at his returne made him Knight together with Sir Thomas Manners brother to the Earle of Rutland Sir George Cary now Lord Hunsdon and Sir Robert Constable While these things were in doing the Earle of Lennox being ther-vnto ernestly labored by the Lords of the Kings party his country-men obtained leaue of the Queene of England where hee then remained to ioyne with them in the King his grand-childs quarrell But because the aduerse partie had gotten such head whilest that Realme was without a head that with his safety he could not passe alone vnto theÌ„ it pleased her Maiesty such desire she had to aduance the good estate of that Nation not only to safe-conduct him thâ—ther but also to giue him such aide as hee should not stand in feare of the malice of his enemies For Sir William Drewrie Generall with the other three new made knights and certaine companies of horse and foote-men to the number of sixteene hundred in the whole setting forth of Berwicke togither with the Earle and his Scottish retinewe on the twelfth day of May made so good speede the foote-men beeing a daies iorney before them that on the next day they came to Edenbrough where they found there confederates the Scottish Lords amongst whom the Earles of Morton Mar and Glencarne were the principall In the meane while for the better assurance of such couenants as were agreed vnto by those Lords at whose intreaty also this aide was granted certaine hostages were sent into England The Duke of Chateau his adherents of the aduerse partie hearing of the approach of the Englishmen was latelie departed thence and had dismissed his armie hauing first attempted and failed of the taking of the Castell of Glascoe with some losse of his men but more of his honour The matter of greatest importaÌ„ce atcheeued by the Englishmen and Scots there associates at this iorney was the taking of Hamilton Castell which was preseÌ„tly raised The towne of Lithquo which had bin a great enemy to the Kings party at the ernest intreaty of the Earle of Morton was neuerthelesse spared the Dukes house only excepted Here was the Earle of Murrey late Regent of Scotland despightfully murthered by Iames Hamilton of Bedwell for the which it deserued the lesse fauor But such was the compassion of this worthy Gentleman ouer the penitent offenders both now and before that a Scottish writer hath brought him into some suspition of ouer much partiality towards the aduersaries although the same Author coÌ„fesseth that the Englishmen in all this iorney spared neither the goods lands nor houses of any of the Hamiltons or other that were either suspected of confederacy with the murtherer of the Regent or had receiued into their protection any of the English rebells especially all along the tract of the riuer of Cloid where for the most part their possessioÌ„s lay The beginning of the next month the Englishmen returned to Berwicke the Scots their confederates each man to his owne house Shortly after the Queene of England recoÌ„mending vnto the Scottish Nobility the fidelity and trust they might safely repose in the Earle of Lennox therevpon by generall consent where before hee was intituled Lord Gouernour or Lieutenant of Scotland they made him their Regent the rather as it seemeth because the Earle of Huntley had a little before taken vpon him the Lieutenantship of that Realme in the name and behalfe of the Scottish Queene had also summoned a Parliament to be holden at Lithquoe in September following In the meane time the Earle of Sussex the Lo. Scroope were sent again into Scotland with certaine bands of horsmen footmen to pursue the English rebells where hauing as before made great spoile at Dumfrees other places as far as the Castell of Carlauerock which they blew vp after sixe daies they returned to Carliele on the eight and twentith day of August where the Earle made these knights for their good seruice at this iorney Sir Edward Hastings brother to the Earle of Huntington Sir Francis Russell Sonne to the Earle of Bedford Sir Valentine Browne Sir William Halton Sir Robert Stapleton Sir Henrie Curwin and Sir Symond Musgraue For aboue two yeares after this no further aide was sent out of England by reason I take it her Maiesty and the counsell were wholie busied in the discouerie of the secret and