habere debent de domino rege hominibus suis Pro ista verò conuentione fine firmiter obseruando domino regi Henrico filio suo haeredibus suis à rege Scotiae haeredibus suis liberauit rex Scotiae domino Regi castellum de Rockesburgh castellum Puellarum castellum de Striuelinge in manu domini Regis ad custodienda castella assignabit rex Scotiae de redditu suo mensurabiliter ad voluntatem domini Regis Praeteria pro praedicta conuentione fine exequendo liberabit rex Scotiae domino Regi Dauid fratrem suum in obsidem comitem Duncanum comitem Waldenum similiter alios comites Barones cum alijs viris potentibus quorum numerus octo-decem Et quando Castella reddita fuerint illis Rex Scotiae Dauid frater eius liberabuntur Comites quidem Barones praenominati vnusquisque postquam liberauerit obsidem suum scilicet filium legitimum qui habuerit alij nepotes suos vel propinquiores sibi haeredes castellis vt dictum est redditis liberabuntur Praetereà Rex Scotiae Barones sui praenominati assecurauerint quod ipsi bona fide sine malo ingenio sine occasione facient vt Episcopi Barones caeteri homines terrae suae qui non affuerunt quando rex Scotiae cum domino Rege finiuit eandem ligiantiam fidelitatem domino Regi Henrico filio suo quum ipsi fecerunt et vt Barones homines qui affuerunt obsides liberabunt domino Regi de quibus habere voluerit Praetereà Episcopi Comites Barones conuentionauerunt domino Regi et Henrico filio suo Quod si Rex Scotiae aliquo casu a fidelitate domini regis filij a conuentione praedicta recederit ipsicum Domino Rege tenebunt sicut cum ligio domino suo contrà regem Scotiae contrà omnes homines ei inimicantes Et episcopi sub interdicto ponent terram regis Scotiae donec ipse ad fidelitatem Domini Regis redeat Praedictā itaque conuentionem firmitèr obseruandum bone fide sine malo ingenio Domino Regi Henrico filio suo haeredibus suis à Wilhelmo Rege Scotiae Dauid fratre suo Baronibus suis praedictis haeredibus eorum assecurauit ipse Rex Scotiae Dauid frater eius omnes Barones sui praenominati sicut ligij homines domini Regis contrà omnem hominem Henrici filij Regis salua fidelitate patris sui hijs testibus Richardo episcopo Abrincensi Iohanne Salisburiae Decano Roberto Abbate Malmesburiae Radulpho Abbate Mundesburg nec non alijs abbatibus comittibus baronibus duobus filijs suis scilicet Richardo Galfrido ex Rog. Houeden Besides the deliuery of the three Castles expressed in the former Charter the Scotish King did absolutely depart with all and surrender vnto King Henry and to his Heire for euer the Towne and Castell of Berwicke which forthwith was committed to the custody of Sir Geffrey Neuille The Castles of Edenbrough and Rockesbrugh were likewise kept by the kings apointment by Sir Roger and Sir William de Stutuille This meeting at Yorke was in the yeare 1175. where this businesse beeing dispatched the two Kings departed in kindnesse the one into Scotland the other towardes London Not long after king William vpon his summons repayred to North-Hampton where King Henrie had called a Parliament Diuerse Bishops and Abbotes of Scotland attended their king thither to acknowledge their subiection to the Church of England according to the Articles comprised in the former Charter and their ancient custome in former times but by no meanes they would yeeld thereunto notwithstanding that the Archbishop of Yorke shewed sufficient proues and priuileges granted by sundrie Bishops of Rome iustifiyng the right he pretended to the primacie ouer all the Scotish Clergie But because the Archbishop of Canterburie hoped to bring them vnder his iurisdiction or else enuying that his inferior should be axalted so farre aboue him hee so wrought with the king his Maister as that for the present there was no subiection acknowledged eyther to the one or other These two kings liued together in all loue and kindnesse in so much as the king of England imployed king William in his absence in his more weighty affayres in Normandie Also hee gaue vnto him to wife his cousin the Ladie Ermengard Daughter to Richard Vicount Beaumonte that was sonne to a Daughter of king William the Conquerour The mariage was solemnized at Woodstocke at the charge of the King who withall resigned to the Bridegroome his whole interest in the Castell of Edenbrough which King William forth-with bestowed vpon his new Wife as a portion of her dowrie augmenting the same with an hundred pounds land by the yeare and fortie knights fees Not long before this marriage Dauid king Williams Brother had marryed also an English woman named Mawde one of the Daughters of Hugh Bohun Earle of Chester otherwise called Keuelocke by which marriage hee was strongly allyed with the Nobilitie of England for his wiues three Sisters Mabell Agnes and Hauise were married to Daubigne Earle of Arundell Ferrers Earle of Darbye and to Quincie Earle of Lincolne These mariages were meanes of good agreement betweene these two nations for a long time after Within two or three yeares after the marriage of king William king Henry deceased in the fiue and thirtith yeare of his raigne whome his two Sonnes Richard and Iohn succeeded one after the other During the raigne of the former no occasion of quarrell was offered on either side but the two kings liued together in all familiaritie and perfect friendshippe for immediatly after the coronation of king Richard the Scotish king beeing honourablie attended with the Archbishop of Yorke the kings base Brother and with diuerse Barons and others of England passed thorough the realme to Canterburie where king Richard had assembled in counsell his Lords spirituall and temporall At this meeting king William and Dauid his Brother together with the English Lords tooke an oathe to continue true to the king of England and to abide in due obedience vnder him and his lawes beeing now to leaue them for a season for hee was so farre passed on his iourney towards the Holy-land as it was then called And the more firmely to binde the Scotish king by his liberalitie to the obseruance of this othe hee there restored vnto him all the other three Castles at Berwicke Rockesbrough and Sterlinge and withall that parte of Northumberland which king Henrie his Father had taken from him when hee was his prisoner Further king Richard resigned vnto him the counties of Cumberland and Huntington but with this condition that all the Castels should still abide in the custodie of such as king Richard should place in them Lastly he released him of all further paiments and summes of money due for his ransome excepting tenne thousand
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
country where it paâ—â—â— most hostile manner For the suppressing 〈◊〉 these insolencies certaine of the kings friends assembled theÌ„selues to the number of 400. horsemen vnder the leading of Robert de Stouteuille Ralph Glanuille William Vescie Barnard Balliol and Odonette de Humfreuille who coÌ„ming to Anwick from the siege wherof king William was departed the same day tooke consultation what was best to be done Very early the next morning they followed the Scots who little looking for any resistance then in readines left their king but slenderly attended and dispersed themselues abroad to wast and forrage the country This beeing made known to the Englishmen they pursued the aduaÌ„tage with so good successe that with the losse of very little bloud on eyther side they tooke king William prisoner in the midest of his strength but yet not so neere as thereby hee could be rescued This happened on the seuenth of Iuly in the yeare 1174. king Henry at the same time was newely returned out off Normandie to whom the Scotish king was shortly after presented at North-Hampton and Dauid his Brother was licensed forth-with to repaire into Scotland to containe the same in their due obedience whilst the Kings pleasure should bee further knowne concerning the deliuery of the King his prisoner In the meane season the French king beeing wearied with the charge of this Warre in the behalfe of his sonne in lawe King Henrie the younger for hee had nowe married the Lady Margeret his Daughter offered himselfe to become a meane to make an accord betweene the two Henries where-vpon the warre ceassed and after a meeting or two for that purpose in the end this vnnaturall dissention betweene king Henry and his Sonnes which had continued well neere two yeares to the great discomfort of the Father and vexation of the whole Realme was well appeased Here-vpon the Scotish king who remained prisoner at Faleise in Normandie amongst other of the same faction to the number well neere of a thousand persons of especiall qualitie that at one time or other during these warres were also taken prisoners were by king Henrie according to the Articles of agreement set at libertie in manner as were all they that by the aduerse part had beene likewise taken prisoners in the King of Englands seruice Now againe was amitie and concorde imbraced and cherished on all sides For the Scotish King hauing left behinde him sufficient pledge for the performance of couenants was permitted to returne into Scotland where hauing spent some sixe or seauen months he together with Dauid his Brother and a great number of the Nobility and Clergie of that Realme repayred to Yorke about the twenteth of August where they did homage to the King of England in S. Peters Church and in token thereof King William offered vp his Saddle and hat on the Alter of S. Peter which remained there along time after Finally it was concluded that the Scotish king should become and acknowledge himselfe to be the king of Englands Liegman against all men for the Realme of Scotland and his other Lands within England and for them should doe fealtie to the King of England as to his soueraign Lord in manner as other his liedge people accustomed to doe And further that hee should also do fealty to the Lord Henry the King of Englands son sauing alwayes the faith which hee ought to the King his Father Also that all the Prelates of Scotland and their successors should acknowledg their accustomed subiection to the Church of England and do fealty to the king of England so many of them as he should appoint And likewise that the Earles and Barons of Scotland and their heires for their part should do homage and fealtie vnto the King of England and to the Lord Henry his Sonne so many of them as thereto should bee called as in the Charter following then openly read in Saint Peters Church more at large appeareth Wilhelmus Rex Scotiae deuenit homo ligius Domini regis Angliae contra omnes homines de Scotia de alijs terris suis fidelitatem ei fecit vt ligio domino suo sicut alij homines sui ipsi facere solent Similiter fecit homagium Henrico filio regis salua fide Domini regis Patris sui omnes vero Episcopi Abbates Clerus terrae Scotiae successores sui facient Domino regi sicut ligio Domino fidelitatem de quibus habere voluerit sicut alij Episcopi sui ipsi facere solent Henrico filio suo heredibus eorum Concessit autem rex Scotiae Dauid frater eius Barones alij homines sui Domino Regi Quod Ecclesia Scotiae talem subiectionem amodò faciet Ecclesiae Angliae qualem facere debet solebat tempore regum Angliae praedecessorum suorum Similiter Richardus Episcopus Sancti Andreae Richardus Episcopus Dunkelden Gaufridus Abbas de Dunfermlyn Herbertus Prior de Coldingham concesseriunt vt ecclesia Anglicana illud habeat ius in ecclesia Scotiae quod de iure debet habere quod ipsi non erint contra ius Anglicanae ecclesiae Et de hac concessione sicut quando ligiam fidelitateÌ„ domino regi domino Henrico filio suo fecerint ita eos indè assecurauerint Hoc idem facient alij episcopi clerus Scotiae per conuentionem inter Dominum regem Scotiae Dauid fratrem suum barones suos factam Comites Barones alij homines de terra regis Scotiae de quibus dominus rex habere voluerit facient ei homagium contra omnem hominem fidelitatem vt ligio domino suo sicut alij homines sui facere ei solent Et Henrico filio suo haeredibus suis salua fide domini regis patris sui Similiter Heredes regis Scotiae Baronum hominum suorum homagium ligiantiam facient haeredibus Domini regis contra omneÌ„ hominem Praeteria rex Scotiae homines sui nullum amodò fugitiuum de terra domini regis pro felonia receptabunt vel in alia terra sua nisi voluerit venire ad rectum in curia domini regis stare iuditio Curiae Sed rex Scotiae et homines sui quam citius poterunt eum capient domino regi reddent vel Iusticiarijs suis aut balliuis suis in Anglia Si autem de terra regis Scotiae aliquis fugitiuus fuerit pro felonia in Anglia nisi voluerit venire ad rectum in curià domini regis Scotiae stare iudicio curiae non receptabitur in terra regis sed liberabitur hominibus regis Scotiae per balliuos domini regis vbi inuentus fuerit Praetereà homines domini regis habebunt terras suas quas habebant habere debent de domino rege hominibus suis de rege Scotiae hominibus suis Et homines regis Scotiae habebunt terras suas quas habebant
mediation of friends a finall peace was made betweene them and for the more assurance thereof the Scotish King deliuered his two Daughters Isabell and Margaret into the custodie of king Iohn to bee bestowed in marriage when they came to ripe age vpon his two Sonnes Buchanan saith that it was agreed vpon at this time that thence-forth the kings of Scotland should no more in their owne persons doe homage to the Kings of England but those seruices should only be performed by their eldest sons for no other then for those lands and possessions which they held within the Realme of England But hereof appeareth nothing amongst our own writers About foure or fiue yeares after this agreement king William departed out off this life whom Alexander his sonne by the Lady Ermengard aforesaid succeeded beeing sixteene yeares of age answerable to the terme that king Iohn had then raigned of whom in the meane season Prince Alexander receiued the Order of knight-hoode at London At the same time vpon complaint made by the yong Prince which title hee had newely receiued by creation of his Father that diuerse rebellious persons had presumed vpon the impotencie of the Father and Sonne by reason of the ouer old age of the one and vnripe age of the other to oppose themselues against their gouernement vnder the leading of one Gothred King Iohn eyther in person as some write or rather in powre as I take it accompanying the young Prince did not onely safe conduct him home but forthwith ioyning with certaine forces of Scotland they together incountred the enemies in a set battell gaue them the ouerthrow tooke their chiefe Captaine prisoner and according to his deserts made him shorter by the head Notwithstanding all this kindnesse yet so fresh in memory that it could not be forgotten immediatly vpon Prince Alexander his comming to the Crowne in the yeare of our Lord 1214 his youth easilie neglected the due regard he should haue had of king Iohn his deserts Thus it fell out amongst others then in fauour with this young king none was so much accounted of as a Nobleman of England yet by birth a Scotishman one Eustace de vescie that had married one of his sisters This Gentleman together with Robert Fitzwalter and Stephen Ridell had a little before conspired the death of King Iohn who hauing knowledge thereof sought vnderhand to apprehend them but they distrusting the matter were glad to flie the Realme Eustace into Scotland and the other two into France These men did afterwards so labour the two Kings of those Nations that King Alexander notwith-standing the Pope was then appeased was perswaded to take part with Lewis the Daulphin to whome the Barrons of England had disloyallye bound themselues by oath to receiue and serue him as their lawfullie elected Prince and Soueraigne reiecting their due allegiance to king Iohn their Liege and naturall king The Scotishmen hauing entred into England with a great Armie tooke the Castle of Norham wasted and harrowed the countrie with all extremitie King Iohn made hast with his army to repell the insolency of the Scots but they would not tarry his comming The king pursuing them to Dunbar wasted the country of Lothian without resistance and in his returne burned the Abbaye of Coldingham from whence passing along the Sea coast not without much damage to the Inhabitants at last hee tooke by force the towne and Castle of Berwicke committing it to the custodie of Hugh de Ballioll and Philip de Hulcootes together with all the Countrye bordering on Scotland beyond the Riuer of Theese King Iohn was hardly returned into the south parts of the Realme before the French king had sent ouer a strong army to the ayd of the Barrons against their king whō Lewis within fewe months after followed with a new supplie vnto whose obedience all the Castles Townes and Fortresses in the South-parts of the realme were subdued the Castels of Douer and Windsore onely excepted Neither was the North part of the realme free from these troubles for Robert de Rosse Peter de Brocis Richard Percie had brought the Citie of Yorke with all that Countie vnder subiection to the French-men in manner as Gilbert de Gaunt whome the Dolphine had lately made Earle of Lincolne had done there also where the Castell onely held out Thus was the passage prepared for the Scotish armie which aduancing it selfe forwards in August about two moneths after the arriuall of the Dolphine first seized vpon Northumberland wholy the Castels excepted which were so well defended by the Kings party that the Scotishmen thought it lost labour further to assaile them at that time but keeping their course Southward they came to London with-out any resistance or losse sauing that Eustace de Vescie a principall leader amongst them was slaine with an Arrowe as he roade in the Scotish Kings companie to view where to make an assault to the Castle of Barnard in the Countie of Haleewarkefolke which belonged to Balliol Lewis was lately departed from London before the Scotish armie came thither towards the siege of Douer Castell whither King Alexander with his whole power posted with all speed But that strong Castell was so manfully defended by Hugh de Borowgh and Gerrard de Scotegame the principall men therein that all the power and policie of those two Princes would not suffice to winne the same for that was a point of such importance as that the French king had a little before written to his Sonne that the taking of it was of more auaile vnto his Enterprise then all that hee had gotten in England besides which caused the yong Prince to re-enforce his whole endeauor for the accomplishment of his earnest desire Here king Alexander did homage to Lewis in manner as hee had done before to king Iohn acknowledging to hold of him as of the lawfull king of England which done he tooke his leaue of Lewis and departed homewards but not so quietlie as hee came thither For the true hearted Englishmen obseruing the behauiour of the Scots and watching euery fit oportunitie tooke them at such an aduantage as thereby King Alexander lost a great part of his Army hardly escaping an vtter ouerthrow had not king Iohn died at that instant which gaue them a more happy returne into Scotland then they looked for lately before This sodaine death of the king which happened in the yeare 1216 wrought as sodaine an alteration in the state of the present affayres For now the barons began better to consider of the matter hauing found out both by experience the fooles instructer and by secret intilligence what little good was to bee hoped for at the hands of their French Champion if he preuailed in his enterprise Wherfore diuerse of the English Nobilitie that before had followed that faction when they vnderstood that young Prince Henrie the kings sonne was proclaimed lawfull inheritor and heire aparent to the Crowne of England by William Marshall Earle of
A HISTORIE CONtayning the VVarres Treaties Marriages and other occurrents betweene England and Scotland from King William the Conqueror vntill the happy Vnion of them both in our gratious King IAMES With a briefe declaration of the first Inhabitants of this Island And what seuerall Nations haue sithence setled them-selues therein one after an other INNOCENTER SAPERE Imprinted at London by G. Eld. 1607. TO THE PRINCE MOST sweete Prince giue mee leaue to salute you Plinie in his Preface to his naturall historie reseruing the title of Great to your royall Father as Plinie the worlds Historifier saluted â—itus whome the Senate and People called Orbis amorem and Delicias humani generis This Booke at first intended to do you honour coÌ„meth now to beg some honour of you Intended to do you honour by reuiuing and bringing to fresh memorie the many leagues and happy mariages betweene the two kingdomes of this Iland to worke a better conceit of either to other then I found in most men for the more easie harty receiuing in the fulnesse of time of your excellent house the common bloud of both nations to raigne ouer vs but that we might readily and ioyfully imbrace that which many ages had sought none found Shame and confusion to the ingratis and now was gratis offered vnto vs. But while I vvas framing this vvorke to this end the vnexpected time preuented my designes and let me see hovv farre Gods vvisdome and goodnesse exceeds poore mens mistie cogitations and deuises filling our soules vvith comfort by the generall applause of all men for the most happy issue of so dangerous an alteration in our state Since which time my Booke hath lien neglected as needlesse to the world his end attained and date expired Yet for as much as some of my friends doe censure mee for suppressing that which may do some good seruice though not the great principally intended when it is now entring the view of men it commeth first to beg this honour of you to grace the frontispice with your most Gratious name and sheild it with your patronage And since by your Princely and powrefull aspect without deminution of his super-eminent Maiestie whence you deriue it you resemble the Sunne in the firmanent which receaueth light from none the Creator excepted but giueth light and life to all inferiour bodies vouchsafe the beames of your fauour vpon it to illustrate the obscuritie of the Author and the meanesse of the worke So shall my heart be more inflamed if yet that be possible with your loue and my booke more welcome to all mens reading I rest euer to be commanded by your Highnesse EDWARD AYSOV To the Reader I Haue here curteous reader vndertaken to set downe in a continued discourse whatsoeuer hath passed betweene England Scotland from the last Conquest vntill the decease of our late Soueraigne neuer to be forgotten the renowned Elizabeth My trauel consisteth wholy in this that I haue reduced into an entire History a true report of things passed which al other writers before me as farre as I know haue deliuered onely by partes and peece-meales whereby you may with more delight and facility conceiue and digest the coherence of the whole and withall carrie the matter the better in memory The chiefe principal reason which mooued mee to take this taske vpon me I shall not neede to speake of in this place hauing touched it before in my Epistle to the Prince and made it so apparent throughout my whole Booke as that the reader may decerne it running For though the right and title of King Iames was pregnant enough and euen palpable to euery valgar capacitie Neuerthelesse what reason the best affected to the same had to forecast some perill in his Maiesties accesse and passage vnto it the sequell hath declared But it pleased the Lord our good God the disposer of mens wills and affections so to worke in the heartes of our graue and most prudent Senate as by them he brought that to passe within the tearme of very few howers which if the aduersaries vnto our happinesse had had their wils would not in so many monthes nay happily yeares haue bin attained vnto For did they not by proclaiming his Maiesty in tempore oportuno without delay preuent the malice of those two raging Buls not of Bashan but of Typical BabiloÌ„ Reuel 18. that is to say Rome whose pestiferous breath might otherwise haue poisoned and infected we know not how many male-contents and seditious Romanistes Against the former King Dauid alone complained Psal 22. but of the latter how many Kings Emperors shal we read of that haue bin fronted and foyled many brought downe to their knees others laid groueling on their faces some thrust out of their KingdoÌ„es some gored euen vnto death Psal 28. But O Lord saue thy people giue thy blessing vnto thine inheritance c. An other reason ayming at the same end was this That wheras the Chronicles of both Nations containe matter of reproach and disgrace one against the other I haue had an especiall care to carry my selfe so indifferently betweene them as I hope neither of both shall haue iust cause to take offence therat So as in that respect if any at all may be admitted which none J thinke will oppugne then shall this of mine haue priueledge before all other that J know Since wee al now happily become Subiects vnto one most gratious Soueraigne let vs value one the others vertues at one and the same price and setting apart all partialitie detraction and vaine glory let vs deuide the true honour and glorie attayned on both sides indiffereÌ„tly betweene vs. Are we not all for the most part the broode and off-spring of the same parents the auntient English Saxons what preheminence then shall wee giue to the one Nation aboue the other Admit the Englishmen haue beene victorious in more battailes haue entred more often and passed further in Hostile manner into the others Countries and dominions and haue gotten greater booties both by Land and Sea what then is not this our Nation farre more populous and plentifull of all store of prouision and complements pertayning to warre Whereof then shall wee boast These vauntes are therefore full of vanitie Let vs now contende who shall giue more sincere and acceptable praise and thankes to the Almighty who in loue to both hath now at length made vs of two discording Nations one peaceable people vnder one Prince not by conquest the mother of confusion but by an happy seede and off-spring proceeding from the successe of marriage his holy ordinance Whereby the memory of all fore-passed displeasures and vnkindnesse is buried in perpetual obliuion Many haue longed laboured to worke this blessed Vnion How many lost their liues in the ouer vehement pursute of the intended marriage betweene King Edward the sixt and Mary the late Queene of Scottes the successe whereof if it had beene
Pembroke Ranulph Earle of Chester diuers other of the partakers of the deceassed King they beganne one after an other to reuolt from Lewis and to submit themselues to their yong King not aboue nine yeares old Whereupon after some fewe bickrings and incounters by land sea between the one partie and the other wherein the French came still by the worse Prince Lewis was willing to hearken to peace which being readilie concluded he bid farewell to all former his goodly hopes was honorablie conducted to his ships and transported into France about a yeare and a halfe from his first arriuall in England Thus in short time by the prouidence of God and the industry and loyaltie of some principall men of the Nobilitie this nation was deliuered from one of the greatest dangers that euer it was like to fall into The yong king hauing raigned vnder protection about foure yeares and euen then purposing with himselfe after hee should come to mans state whereunto his notable and rare towardnesse did hasten him on to recouer that which his Father had lost on the other side of the sea and withall knowing that the Scotish nation was of old too much affected to France that hee might therefore in time preuent all occasion of trouble on that side it was brought to passe at Yorke where the two kings met by appointment that king Alexander should take to wife the Ladie Ione sister to king Henrie and further that Margaret the Scotish kings sister should bee giuen in mariage to Hubert de Borowgh a man in exceeding great fauour for many worthy partes in him whereof both his Father and hee himselfe had good tryall and for those his deserts king Henrie afterwardes created him Earle of Kent The other sister returned againe into Scotland vnmaried these two Ladies as you haue heard before were committed by their Father to the custodie of king Iohn These mariages were solemnized at Yorke about Mid-summer Anno. 1219. Diuerse couenants were then signed and sealed by eyther partie for the more assurance of perfect amitie betweene the two Nations which continued accordingly during the liues of the two kings together though there were some that practised what they could for their owne aduantage to set debate betweene them amongst whom Dauid the pety king of Wales hauing receiued an ouerthrow of the English-men and there-vppon flying into Scotland did his best indeauor to moue king Alexander to rise in Armes against England and by such perswasions as hee vsed so much preuailed that forth-with hee made preparation to inuade the Realme This was the more easilie compassed by reason that king Alexander had then buried his wife the King of Englands sister and not hauing had any issue by her was againe married to the Lady Marie daughter to Iugelram Lord of Coucie a French-man so that his former loue and liking towardes England was now happilie abated and buried together with his late deceassed wife Queene Ione Yet had there then bin an other marriage concluded betweene the Lord Alexander the Scotish kings eldest Sonne and the Ladie Margeret daughter to king Henrie which tooke effect as after shall appeare The Scotish Writers report that king Henrie had then begunne to build a Castle ouer against Berwicke in the same place where his father had before laid the foundation But whatsoeuer was the true cause that mooued king Alexander to inuade the Realme although king Henrie was as ready to make resistance as the other was to offer iniury neuerthelesse by mediation of friendes of either part the quarrell was taken vp and the two kings reconciled one to the other and for testimonie thereof to all posteritie a publike writing was drawne signed and sealed by king Alexander and diuerse of the Nobility of Scotland acknowledging their allegiance to the King of England as their supeor Lord as followeth Alexander Dei gratia Rex Scotiae Omnibus Christi fidelibus hoc scriptum visuris vel audituris salutem Ad vestram volumus venire notitiam nos pro nobis haeredibus nostris concessisse fidelitèr promississe charissimo ligio Domino nostro Henrico tertio Dei gratia Regi Angliae illustri Domino Hiberniae Duci Normandiae Aquitaniae Comiti Andegauiae eius haeredibus quod in perpetuvm bonam fidem ei seruabimus paritèr amorem Et quod nuncquam aliquod faedus iniemus per nos vel per aliquos alios ex parte nostra cum inimicis Domini Regis Angliae vel Haeredum suorum ad bellum procurandum vel faciendum vnde damnum eis vel regnis suis Angliae Hiberniae aut caeteris terris suis eueniat vel possit alequatenùs euenire nisi no iniustè grauent Stantibus in suo robore conuentionibus inter nos dictum Dominum regem Angliae initis vltimò apud Eboracum in praesentia Domini Othonis tituli S. Nicholai in carcere Tulliano Diaconi Cardinalis tunc Apostolicae sedis Legati in Anglia Et saluis conuectionibus super matrimonio contrahendo inter filium nostrum filiam dicti Domini regis Angliae Et vt haec nostra concessio promissio pro nobis haeredibus nostris perpetuae firmitatis robur obteniunt fecimus iurare in animum nostrum Alanum Ostiarum Henricum de Baliol Dauid de Lindesey Wilhelmum Gifford quod omnia predicta bona fide firmitèr fidelitèr obseruabimus Et similitèr iurari fecimus venerabiles patres Dauid Wilhelmum Galfridum Clementem sancti Andreae Glasconiensem Dūkeldensem Dublinensem Episcopos Et praeteria Malcolmum comitē de Fif fideles nostros Patricium comitem de Dunbar Malisium comitē de Strathern Walterum Cumin comitē de Monteth Wilhelmū comitē de Mar Alexandrū comitē de Buchquhā Dauid de Hastings comitē de Athol Robertum de Bruis Alanum Ostiariū Henricum de Bailiol Rogerum de Mounbray Larentiū de Abirnetha Richardum Cumin Dauid de Lindesey Richardū Siward Wilhelmū de Lindesey Walterum de Morauia Wilhelmum Gifford Nicholaū de Sully Wilhelmū de veteri ponte Wilhelmū de Brewer Anselmū de Mesue Dauid de Graham Stephanū de Suningham Quod si nos vel haeredes nostri contra concessionē promissionē praedictū quod absit venerimus ipsi haeredes eorū nobis haeredibus nostris nullū contrà concessionē promissionē praedictā auxilium vel cōsilium impendent aut ab alijs proposse suo impendi permittent Imò bona fide laborabunt erga nos haeredes nostros ipsi et haeredes eorū quòd omnia praedicta a nobis et haeredibus nostris nec non ab ipsis et eorū haeredibus firmitèr et fidelitèr obseruētur in perpetuū In cuius rei testimontū tu nos quam praedicti Prelati Comites Barones nostri praesens scriptum sigillorū suorum appositione roborauimus Testibus Praelatis Comitibus Baronibus superius nominatis Ann. regni nostri c. This
side they all with one full consent and voyce pronounced Iohn Balioll the true and vndoubted heire to the Crowne of Scotland King Edward allowing their verdit gaue sentence accordingly Whervpon he was forthwith proclaimed king of Scotland on condition that if hee did not gouerne his kingdome with equitie iustice then vpon iust complaint thereof the king of England might put to his helping hand by some good meanes to procure reformation as he was bound therevnto by his right of Superioritie which in him was anciently inuested Further hee awarded out his writtes of deliuery of seisme at the sute of Balliol vnto the Bishops aforesaid and to Iohn Lord Cumin Iames Lord Steward and Brian Fitz-alline wardens of Scotland commanding them to deliuer vnto Iohn Balliol the full seisme and possession of that land sauing the relieues and other payments due to him of the issues and profits of the same vnto the day of the date of that writ being the xix of Nouember in the twentith yeare of the raigne of King Edward Anno Domi. 1291. also an other writte was likewise directed the same day to such as had the keeping of the Castels in forme following Edwardus dei gratia Rex Angliae c. Edward by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitaine and Superiour Lord of the realme of Scotland To his welbeloued and faithfull seruant Peter Burdet Constable of the Castell of Berwicke sendeth greeting Whereas Iohn Balliol in Parliament lately holden at Berwick vpon Tweede came before vs and demanded the sayd realme of Scotland to be adiudged to him by vs and seisme of the same to bee to him deliuered as next heire to Margaret Daughter to the King of Norway Lady of Scotland by right of succession wee hauing heard and vnderstood the same petitions and reasons beeing diligently weyed and examined wee finde the sayde Iohn Balliol to bee next heyre to the Crowne of Scotland Where-vpon wee haue deliuered vnto him seisme and possession thereof Wee therefore command you that you deliuer vp vnto the sayd Iohn Balliol or to his Atturneys that shall bring with them these our Letters the seisme of the sayd Castell of Berwicke with all the appurtenances together with all other things to you deliuered by Indenture in manner as you receaued the same with the custodie of the sayd Castell to you committed and this without delay Witnesse our selfe at Berwicke vpon Tweede the nineteenth day of Nouember in the 20. yeare of our raigne In the same forme were writtes directed to all the keepers of the other Castels and manors belonging to the crowne of Scotland and being then in their custodie to whom K. Edward had before granted the same Then also in the presence of the new king and the nobles of Scotland the new seale which had bin before committed by King Edward to the gouernors of the realme of ScotlaÌ„d during the time of vacancie was broken and put vp to be reserued in the treasurie of the King of England in token of his superiority and the trust committed vnto him for the ending of this controuersie The next day the Scotish king did fealtie in the Castle of Norham vnto king Edward for his kingdome in manner following This heare you my Lord Edward King of England Soueraigne Lord of the Realme of Scotland That I Iohn Balliol king of Scotland which I hold and claime to hold of you shall be faithful and loyall and owe faith and loyaltie vnto you I shall beare of life and member and of earthly honour against all people and lawfully I shall acknowledge and doe the seruices which I ought to doe to you for the Realme of Scotland aforesaid So God mee helpe And for more testimonie hereof hee caused letters patents to bee sealed deliuered to King Edward in the presence of the Bishoppes of S. Andrewes and Glasco and of diuers others of the Nobilitie of both Nations This done King Edward appointed the bishop of Durham and the Lord Iohn S Iohn to attend Balliol into Scotland and to put him into the corporall possession of the Land which was performed accordingly For on S. Andrewes day following he was crowned at Scone in the Marble chaire in the Abbey the solemnities ended he returned backe to New-castle vpon Tine where king Edward kept his Christmasse that yeare and there vpon Saint Stephens daye the Scotish king did homage to king Edward in manner following My Lord Lord Edward king of England Superior Lord of Scotland I Iohn de Balliol king of Scotland doe acknowledge mee to bee your Liegeman of the Realme of Scotland with all the apurtenances and whatsoeuer belongeth thereto The which kingdome I hold and ought of right to claime to hold by inheritance of you and your heyres kings of England And I shall beare faith and loyaltie to you and to your heyres kings of England of life of member and earthly honour against all men which may liue and die The two kings hauing spent some time there together with much ioy and reuell tooke their leaues one of the other and parted in great kindnes Thus was this controuersie decided and taken vp which had continued from the death of Alexander the last king before him vnto this mans coronation sixe yeares and eight monthes nowe within that tearme of months ended by king Edward to the exceeding great benefit of that nation had not their inconstancie immediatlie afterwards bereaued them thereof and turned the good which they might haue gained therby well nere to their vtter coÌ„fusion as in the History following shall appeare The next yeare afâ—er that king Balliol was thus established in his kingdome a controuersie arose concerning titlâ— of Land betweene Macduffe Earle of Fife who in the time of the interraigne was one of the sixe to whom the gouernment of the Realme was committed and the familie of the Abernethes men of good place also one of these kild the Earle whose brother making complaint thereof to his king was not only little regarded therein but vpon the hearing of the matter in controuersie hee gaue iudgement against him Macduffes brother hauing lost both his land and found the King ouer-slow in taking reuenge for the iniury offered his familie appealed to the king of England where-vpon king Balliol was called to London to answer to the others accusatioÌ„ The two kings sitting together in Parlament the Plaintife propounded his coÌ„plaint The Scotish king beeing the partie defendant was intreated to remoue according to the order obserued in such cases into an inferiour place to answer and to plead for himselfe for it is not the manner of that most honourable asseÌ„bly to admit counsell on either side This disgrace saith Buchanan first moued king Balliol to breake off friendship with England for the warre beeing euen then in that Parliament renewed with France he was thereby the more easily drawne to enter into league and alliance with that Nation King Edward hauing had secret
hauing beene the destruction of so many noble personages and others of good account For besides those that were slaine in the warres will 〈…〉 with neere thirtie Noblemen and Knights at one time or other were by order of law beheaded and executed This king Edward being thus vnnaturally deposed his Son of the same name about the age of fourteene yeares began his raigne in Ianuarie in the yeare 1326. The night following the Scots purposing to haue giuen the yong King a cooling card now in the beginning of his iolity attempted by treason to haue taken the Castle of Norham But Robert Mannors the Captaine thereof beeing made aforehand acquainted with the practise by 〈◊〉 one of his owne souldiers so handled the matter that when some 16. of them had mounted the walles he sodainely fell vpon them slew nine or ten and tooke the rest prisoners The Scots deemed this vâ—fortunate beginning a presagement of the like successe thorough his whole raigne which came to passe accordinglie For he was the greatest scourge to that nation of any king of England either before or after him as in the processe of the historie shall appeare Notwithstanding this hard beginning king Robert thought it not good to let this land coÌ„tinue quiet but rather while the king was yong vnfit to manage the affaires of war in his own person to get what aduantage he could thereby so to be still afore-hand And if that â—ourse should happeÌ„ not to fall out according to his expectation hee hoped by the helpe of his faithful ally the French king so to work with the kings mother who gouerned and disposed of al things at her pleasure during his minority that at any time hee might obtaine peace with England at his owne liking About the beginning therfore of Iuly following king Robert committed his armie being now not wel able thorough the infirmities of age to vndertake that charge himselfe to three Captaines of especiall trust approued valiancy namelie Thomas Randolfe Earle of Murrey Iames Lord Dowglasse the Earle of Mar his brother in law consisting of aboue twenty thousand horsemen well furnished at all points King Edward beeing aduertised hereof prepared to make resistance hauing assembled his forces at Yorke hee stayed there the longer by reason of a treaty of peace solicited by the Scotish Ambassadors but when the king perceiued hee lost time there to no purpose departing thence hee approched his enemies that were lodged in the Woodes in Stanop Parke so as it was thought hee had them at a great aduantage But thorough the Treacherie as it was said of the Lord Roger Mortimer after they had been pend vp and well neere famished they did not onely finde a way out but some two hundred of them vnder the leading of the Lord Dowglasse in the night season desperatelie assayled that part of the English campe where the king him selfe was â—udged missing not much of either taking or slaying of him but fearing least they should haue beene inclosed beeing now in the myddest of their enemies they made the more hast to be gonne hauing done as much harme as the time would suffer them For as it was sayd they slewe two or three hundred of the common souldiours The Earle of Lancaster and the Lord Iohn Beumont of Heynault who with twelue hundred men of his country serued the King in this iorney would willingly haue pursued the Scottes ouer the water of Wier but that thorough the frowardnesse of Mortimer pretending a right to the leading of the fore-ward and giuing the first onset though happilie hee had no such meaning they could not bee suffered to proceede Wheresoeuer the fault was nothing was further attempted at this time wherewith the King was much displeased The Scottes beeing glad they had escaped that daunger made as much hast home as they could The next winter they besiedged the Castells of Norham and Anwicke but to their losse for at the assault of Anwicke diuerse of them were slaine amongst whome William de Mounthault Iohn Clappam and Malicius de Dumbarre were of best account The next Sommer aboue Pentecoste King Edward at a Parliament held at Northampton thorough the working of Mortimer the Queene agreed to a dishonorable peace with the Scottes whereby the King of Scotland receiued into his handes all those ancient writings whereby his predecessors the kings of Scotland and the Nobility had aforetime vnder their hands seales acknowledged homage and fealty to the Kings of England amongst the rest one of principall account called Ragman togither with a blacke Crosier or Roode besides diuerse other iewells somtime belonging to the kings of Scotland caried from thence into England Further King Edward hereat resigned al his right title to the crowne of Scotland and that no Englishmen should from thence-forth hold and inioye any landes or possessions their except such as would remaine their altogither and become subiectes to the Kings of Scotland Finallie it was agreed that Northumberland should thence-forth bee reputed the Marches of Scotland on the East-side and Cumberland on the West-side In consideration of the premises as also for the great damage done to this Realme by the Scottes during the raigne of the late King King Robert couenanted to giue to the King of England thirtie thousand markes sterling For the more assurance and full ratification of this finall agreement of peace betweene the two nations a marriage was then concluded and afterward solemnized betweene the Lady Iane King Edwards Sister and Prince Dauid of Scotland When King Robert had thus politikelie brought to passe a firme peace with England euen to his owne liking and hearts desire hee betooke himselfe to a priuate life and by reason of his great age he committed the gouernment of his kingdome as before in some sort hee had done to the Earle of Murrey and the Lord Dowglasse and then hauing worne out one yeare more hee dyed in the yeare of our saluation 1329. leauing his kingdome to his sonne a child about eight yeares old by reason whereof both the one and the other by generall consent was committed to the protection and direction of the Earle of Murrey Here it is requisite I should answer a notorious vntrueth wherewith the Scotish writers doe most vniustly charge the King of England viz That he should sâ—â—d a Munke into Scotland vnder the colour of ministring phisick to poyson the Gouernor and because he had not dispatched his businesse in so short time as hee promised therefore King Edward caused him to be burned aliue All this should bee done they write in the yeare 1331. two yeares after the death of King Robert in which the gouernor also deceased on the 20. day of Iuly I would first know what should mooue the King of England to seeke the destruction of him more then of any man else in that Realme because forsooth hee alone was the confounder of all the hope which the king conceiued to be sometimes able to
atchieue any fortunate interprise against the Scots As though all that nation could not afford his fellowe That hee was the very Atlas and supporter of their happy estate True it is that the deceassed king had reason to commit more trust to him then to anie other of whose loyalty and sufficiencie he had not the like tryall But it followeth not thereof that if king Edward could dispatch him out off the waie there had beene none left to haue resisted his attempts against that nation But admit he was the man they make him it is well knowne that King Edward being then not much aboue eighteene yeares old was not only ouer yong to contriue such a practise but was then still directed by his Mother Queene Isabel so consequently by Mortimer Earle of March her chiefe Counsellor both so great fauourers and maintainers of the peace with Scotland as that hee lost his life shortlie after for the same It is further affirmed That this Monke stealing secretlie out off Scotland assured the King that the Gouernor could not possiblie liue beyond a prefixed day in which time the poyson was to worke his effect and that King Edward presuming thereof gathered a mightie and puissant armie wherewith comming to the borders hee purposed to inuade Scotland had he not knowne when he came thyther that the gouernour was not only lyuing but ready in armes to haue resisted his approach Now of all this preparation and iourney there is not one word to be found amongst all our Croniclers But to the contrarie it appeareth that besideÌ„s the coÌ„firmation of the former peace vpon the admittance of this Earle to the Regency the sommer next before his death was so vnseasonable as that it caused a great dearth in England all the yeare following so as it was impossible to make prouision for such an army neither could those more Northen partes afford it of their owne store For it is sayd that in some places of the realme especiallie North-wards by reason of the coldnesse of that climate wheate was not gathered into the barne till hallontide nor pease vntill the ende of Nouember Moreouer King Edward wâ—s in France well neere all the month of Aprill next before the gouernours death and after his returne thence hee had so little meaning to make preparation of warre as that hee held solemne iustes and turney at Dert-forde which exercises hee renewed againe at London in September following How can all this agree with the surmised preparation of warre with Scotland at that time Now to the last poynt touching the burning of this Monke whereof some of them for the vnlike-lihood-haue not spoken it is incredible that a religious man a deuout Monke as they were then accounted should bee either murthered or executed for not keeping promise in the performance of an vnlawfull and vnchristian act But where when on whome or by whome was this vnusuall execution made to no one of these interrogatories doth any man answere saue that hee was a Monke or begging Frier For they will not vouchsafe to giue him other name though hee had beene a long time verie familier in the gouernors house These bee therefore great slaunders farre vnbeseeming the reputation of him that not long sence hath made no conscience to report the most part of this fable for a truth This yeare Roger Mortimer Earle of March was attaynted of high treason and executed for the same on Saint Andrewes eauen Amongst other matters where-with hee was charged hee was found giltie of secrete practise with the Scottes at Stanhope-parke whereby they escaped as is aforesaid and that hee receiued there of the Lord Iames Dowglas a great summe of money for the good seruice done by him at that time and to bee still continewed towardes that Nation whilest his authoritie should stand them insteede Hereby also afterwardes hee brought to passe that vnaduised peace with the Scottes at Northampton as is before declared About this time Edward Balliol thorough the perswasion of Laurence Twine a Scotish fugitiue came ouer out off France where hee had alwayes liued before to intreat the King of England to assist him in the recouery of his right to the Crowne of Scotland which was giuen by a ward vnto Iohn Balliol by king Edward the first promising withall that if it were his good hap to attaine it he would acknowledge to hold the same in manner as his Grand-father held it of the others Grand-father But before this motion was made to the king of England Balliol sought the fauour of the Lord Henry Beumont a Frenchman borne that had maried the daughter and heyre of the Earle Buquhan and likewise of the Lord William Cumine the lord Dauid of Strabouee Earle of Atholl and the lord Geffrey de Mowbraie These and some others that were banished the Realme of Scotland by the late King Robert le Bruse now liued in England hauing in hope of preferment ioyned heartes handes with Balliol in this quarell obtained this fauour of king Edward that as many of his subiects as of themselues were willing to assist them in this enterprise should haue good leaue to follow them therein For though the young king of Scots had beene affianced vnto king Edwards sister who in respect of that alliance should not haue beene easilie drawne into this action neuerthelesse he held himselfe so mâ—ch disgraced and absued in his minority by the deceitful practise of Mortimer that nothing now pleased him that together with that mariage was then yeelded vnto at that dishonorable composition made with the Scottish king at Northampton as before you haue heard Neither was that contract of marriage so firme but if either partie misliked thereof when they should come to lawfull age of consent the same might safely bee dissolued Edward Balliol hauing now assembled by the helpe of the other two Scottish Lordes his confederates some foure hundred horse and about two thousand Archers and other footemen tooke shipping at Rauen-spurne in Holdernesse from thence directing his course North-ward hee entred into the Scottish fourth and arriued neere to the towne Kingorne on the first daie of August where being incountred by Alexander Seaton hee slew him in the field together with the greater number of his people and put the residewe to flight This good beeginning put such corage into these venterous companions in armes fighting for no lesse then a kingdome that with in some fewe daies after their forces beeing now increased to the number of about ten thousand one and other they attempted to assaile the Earle of Muerry then Regent of Scotland by night where hee laie incamped in the middest of his armie the same beeing ouer great otherwise to bee delt withall and tooke him on such a sodaine that they put him to flight making great slaughter vpon his people The next day the fight was renewed on both sides but in the ende the victory fell to Balliol This battaile was fought at Dueplin on the
thirteenth day of the same mōth wherein was slaine nowe and the night before besides the Regent himselfe Robert Bruse Earle of Carricke William Haie Constable and Robert Keithe Marshall of Scotland with diuerse other Lords and Leardes of good account in the whole to the number of aboue fiue thousand Hereupon diuerse of the Scottish Nobility submytting themselues to Balliol hee was forthwith proclamed and on the 25. day of this present month of August crowned King of Scotland in the yeare of our Lord GOD 1332. This his fortunate successe hauing within lesse then a month attayned a Kingdome greatlie daunted the aduerse partie who presently thereupon conuaied the young king together with his wife for their more safty into France hoping that by the helpe of Philip the French king his fathers especiall friend while he liued he should one day inioy his kingdome which for the present was thus vsurped by his aduersarie To which end his fauoreres in the meane time neuer ceased to oppose themselues against Balliol in so much as in December following they droue him out of Scotland forceing him to with-drawe himselfe into Westmerland where hee was honorablie entertayned of the Lord Clifford in requitall whereof hee promised that when hee was once established in his Kingdome hee would giue him Dowglasse-daile in as ample manner as his Ancestour had the same of the gift of King Edward the first which afterwardes hee performed accordinglie Balliol hauing renewed his forces in England about the beginning of the next yeare though King Edward would not openlie shewe himselfe a partie therein layed siedge to the towne of Berwike at which time the Brusian Scottes entred into Gelsland by the West Marches wasting the Countrie where they passed along The King of England being aduertised therof-thought himselfe sufficiently discharged there by of his promise passed aforetime to young Bruse but hee might better haue pleaded his nonage at the making thereof and therefore tooke it to bee nowe lawfull enough openlie to aide his Cousin Balliol in the recouerie of his pretended title to the Crowne of Scotland It is not to bee doubted but King Edward would not in this case haue preferred Balliol before Bruse who besides that hee had married his Sister was also in bloud nearer vnto him then the other had hee not hoped as it came to passe to take vp the controuersie betweene them to his owne aduantage Hauing therefore assembled a strong army hee came therewith to the siedge of Berwicke together with his brother Iohn of Eltham Earle of Cornewall and gaue assault to the same both by Land and sea The towne after it had beene besiedged about three monthes was not able longer to hold out which beeing well knowne to Archibald Dowglasse the new elected gouernour and head of the Brusian faction hee approched the assailants with all the power hee could make resoluing with himselfe against the aduice of the better experienced to try it out by dint of sword with out any more stay Being come within the view both of his friends and foes he imbattayled his army in three companies on a hill directly ouer against the English host which had the like aduantage of ground also After some pause the armies on both sides descended one towards the other At the first incounter the Englishmen of purpose giuing ground the Scottes pursued them so egarlie as that by recouering their former aduantage they did beate them downe-right before them so that what in fight and slight the slaughter was very great For besides their generall three valiant Gentlemen the Sonnes of Walter Steward Vncles to him that succeeded the Brusian linage in Scotland the Earles of Rosse Southerland and Carrike Andrewe Iames and Simon Frasier all well neere of the better sort to the number of aboue foure hundred were slaine in the battaile but of the common souldiers not so fewe as fourteene thousand This bloudie battaile was fought at Halidon hill besides Berwike on Mary Magdalines day in the yeare of our Lord 1333. Immediatly vpon this ouerthrowe Alexander Seaton and Patrike Dumbar despayring of any succour yeelded vp the towne and Castle to king Edward life and goods only reserued and binding themselues by oth thence-forth to become his true subiects Patrike Dūbar was further inioyned to re-edifie the Castell of Dumbar at his owne charge hauing latelie before throwne it downe because hee was vnable to defend it against the Englishmen readie to assault the same VVhat credit is here to be giuen to Hector Boetius charging King Edward to haue vniustlie executed two Sonnes of Sir Alexander Seatons the one a pleadge the other a prisonner because hee would not yeelde vp the towne at the approach of the gouernour I leaue it to the consideration of the indifferent reader For mine owne part I cannot but hold him much suspected his report alone carrying so little showe of truth for as it seemeth by the Scottish Cronicle Patrike Dumbar had as great a commaunde in Berwike as the other whose consent alone could not haue effected King Edwards desire so as hee might haue laied the fault vpon his companion and fellowe Comissioner in the gouernment of the towne and thereby haue iustly excused himselfe neither surely would hee haue brooked so great an iniurie at the kings hands much lesse euer haue acknowledged and continewed his sworne allegiance vnto him if hee had had the least sparke of that spirit wherewith Buchanan feyneth his wife to be possessed vpon that occasion The King of England after this his first and fortunate battaile in Scotland leauing sufficient forces behinde him with the Lord Richard Tailbote wherwith to aide Balliol in the pursute of this warre returned home-wards Balliol being thus strengthned passed at his pleasure thorough Scotland placing Englishmen and others his partakers in garrison in the greater number of the Castells fortresses of that Realme and in a Parliament called at Perthe in September following hee was further confirmed King of Scotland diuerse of the Scottish Nobility there assembled binding themselues by othes to continew his loyall and faithfull subiects Hereat hee repealed all such actes and graunts which Robert Bruse late King of Scotland had ratified for the disposing of the Lands and possessions of sundry Scottish Lords at his pleasure which were now restored to their former possessors acknowledging their allegiance and homages vnto him for the same After the purification of the Virgine Mary King Edward repayred to Yorke where Balliol by appoyntment should haue met him to haue don homage and fealty vnto him but because he feared to be surprised in his passage by his aduersaries hee sent his excuse by the Lord Henry Beumont and the Lord William de Montaigne The king therefore passing further Northwards held his VVhitsontide at Newcastell vpon Tine with great royaltie whether the Scottish king repayred and there did homage vnto king Edward for the Realme of Scotland and also sweare fealtie vnto him as to the superior Lord ouer the same
left to succeed him his onely child Prince Henry about as many months old as his father had raigned yeares Whose infancie was neuerthelesse mightily supported by the notable valiancie and policie of his two Vncles Humfrey Duke of Glocester and Iohn Duke of Bedford to the one was committed the protectioÌ„ of his person and kingdome to the other the managing of the warre continued in France The death of the two kings comming together within two months one after the other caused much alteration in the state wherein that nation presently stood For thervpon a great number of the French nobility who before had taken part with the EnglishmeÌ„ began to reuolt to Charles the Dolphine The Scotts also became now more ready to assist him then before thorow the hope they had of present aduancement which thing within two yeares after cost many of their liues first at the siege of Crauant in the County of Auxerre and in the yere following at the bloudy battaile of Vernoile fought on the 20. of August in the yeare 1424. At the former conflict besides 1800. Gentlemen of the French nation there were slaine of the Scots their partakers the Lord of Saint Iohns towne Sir Iohn of Bulgary S. Iohn Turnbull S. Iohn Haliburton Sir Robert Lisley S. William Coningham Sir William Dowglas Sir Alexander Hume S. William Lisly Sir Iohn Rotherford S. William Crayford S. Thomas Seaton S. WilliaÌ„ Hamilton his son Iohn Pillot the Earle Buchquhan maister of the French chiualry who in the sight lost his eie was takeÌ„ prisoner But at the battaile of Vernoile of the Scottes were slaine Archibald Earle Dowglas lately created by the Dolphine Duke of Turaine Iames Dowglas his Sonne Earle of Wigton Iohn Earle of Bowghen who as it seemeth had either escaped before out of the Englishmens hands or else had râ—â—â—eemed his liberty besides men of speciall note aboue two thousand In the meane time thorough dissention that arose betweene Mordo then the gouernour of Scotland after the decease of the Duke of Albaine his Father and his vnrulie Sonnes certaine Ambassadours were sent from thence into England to treate for the deliuery of Prince Iames of Scotland This young Gentleman was then greatlie inamored ouer a beautifull Ladie Sister to Iohn Duke of Somerset Neece to the Cardinall of Winchester and to the Duke of Excester and neere cousine to the yong King himselfe it was hoped that thorowe the alliance hee should haue in England by this marriage and the manifold fauours following the same the Prince should haue beene wonne to a perpetuall amity with this Realme which had beene now vnto him for the tearme of fifteene yeares a verie Sanctuarie for the safety of his person and an Academie for the instruction of his minde and vnderstanding The Lord protector and the Nobilitie of the Land were heereby mooued not onely vpon verie reasonable conditions to set him at liberty but also to yeeld him the fruition of her loue which happily the Prince preferred or at the least equally ballanced with the same Before his departure into Scotland hee did homage to the young king of England at Windsor Castell in the presence of three Dukes the two Archbishops twelue Earles ten Bishops twenty Barons and two hundred Knights and Gentlemen in these words viz. I Iames Steward King of Scots shall be true and faithfull to you Lord Henry by the grace of God King of England and to you I make my fidelity for the same kingdome of Scotland which I hold and claime of you And I shall beare you my faith and fidelitie of life and limme and worldly honour against all men And faithfully I shall doe to you seruice for the kingdome of Scotland So God me helpe c. This done King Iames with his Queene were honorably attended and accompanied into Scotland in the yeare of grace 1423. But not-with-standing this his solemne oath his princely education here and all the fauours hee had receiued both at his departure and during his captiuitie if it may be so tearmed whether it proceeded from a bad disposition in himselfe or as I rather take it from the malice of his Nobilitie who for the more part were French in affection this Prince of all other shewed least thankfulnesse for hauing forgotten the former courtesies hee entred into matrimoniall alliance with France then at defiance with that his late affinitie with England being euen then as it were most nearlie naturalized by his issue in bloud and kindred there-vnto Buchanan doth greatly labour his wittes there-with to wash out this blemish in the middest of the splendor and brightnesse of his manifold graces But sithence hee faileth as I take it in the very foundation of that his Apologie the frame which hee would thereon build must of necessitie fall to the ground For hee taketh it already granted that the king of England did both violate his owne faith and the lawes of all Nations by detaining the Prince as his lawfull prisoner vpon his arriuall here on the coast But it is apparant enough as before I haue shewed that either there was no truce at all betweene the two nations at that instant or if there were the same was notoriouslie broken by the Scottes in ioyning those their so great forces with the knowne enimies of this realme against their lawfull Soueraigne so farre within his owne kingdome Admit all that was done without the priuitie of the King him-selfe But how-so-euer the good aged man might iustly pleade his innocencie herein bearing as then the bare title of King how can the State bee excused against whose knowledge an enterprice of that importance could not possibly haue beene attempted if there were any hard measure offered herein by king Henrie neuerthelesse the same was so fully acquited by the inestimable benefit of his pretious education for as Buchanan himselfe reporteth thereof Tanta ingenij celeritas vigor in eo fuisse dicitur vt nullam homine ingenuo dignum artem ignorabat that truly such a captiuitie should neuer haue moued him to haue falne out with England vpon the mariage of the Lady Margaret the Scottish kings Daughter with Lewis the Dolphine some sturres arose betweene the Englishmen and the Scottes with equall losse on both sides but not of much reckoning King Iames neuer-the-lesse being there-with prouoked assembled a great powre and besieged the Castle of Roxbrough from whence he was remoued by the repaire of the Queene his wife thither that informed him of a very dangerous conspiracie against his owne person how-be-it shortly after his returne into Scotland hee was wickedly murthered by his subiects in the yeare 1436. leauing behind him a neuer dying memory of many royall vertues The young Prince his sonne Iames the second about seauen yeares olde at his fathers death hauing raigned aboue twentie yeares was slaine by misfortune at the siege of the same Castle where the King his Father had knowledge first giuen him of the plotte of his finall destruction In
number the Queene of England should furnish them there-with leauing behinde them pleadges for their safe returne That Lieth should bee deliuered vp to the Scottes the walles and fortifications about it raised and throwne downe That the fortification erected by the Frenchmen before the Castell of Dumbar should be also cast downe Thus much beeing performed on the French partie the Englishmen should forth-with breake vp the siedge and depart That Mary Queene of Scottes with the consent of her husband should by an act made to that end bury in obliuion all attempts and actions done or interprised by the Scottish Lordes against their authoritie from the tenth day of Marche in the yeare 1558 to the first of August this present yeare 1560. which acte should bee ratified in Parliament then immediatlie to bee holden by the estates of Scotland with the approbation and allowance of the said King and Queene of France and Scotland That three-score French-men should still abide in the I le of Iuskeith and as many in the Castell of Dunbarre least otherwise the Queene might seeme to bee dispossessed of the whole Kingdome Lastlie that the King and Queene of France and Scotland should not from thenceforth vsurpe the title or beare the Armes of England sithence the same onely belonged of right to the Queene of England Whilest these Ambassadours were passing into Scotland the Queene Regent deceased at Edenbrough which happily gaue readier dispatch to this businesse Thus was that Nation disburthened of this seruitude to the Frenchmen amongst whome Monsieur la Brosse one of the chiefe Commanders vnder the Queene Regent aduised his maister the French King as by intercepting of his Letters was discouered to haue brought the Nobilitie of Scotland to vtter destruction and of their liuings and yearely reuenewes to maintaine a thousand men of Armes to keepe the commons in perpetuall bondage At the Parliament holden in August following the Acte of Obliuion according to the former articles was ratified and the question of Religion debated and there-vpon a confession of the faith established and published Shortly after the Earle of Morton the Earle of Glencarne and the young Leird of Ledington repayred to the English Court in the behalfe of the other Lords to render thankes to the Queene of England for the great fauour her Maiestie had done them in reducing their distressed countrie to a peaceable estate for the which they acknowledged them-selues bound vnto her for euer In December next Francis the French King deceased where-vpon Queene Mary returned into Scotland the twentith of August the Summer following in the yeare 1561. Presentlie after William Metlaine was sent into England to make knowne her safe arriuall and to recommend vnto her Maiestie most kinde salutations from the Queene his Mistresse and her great desire to continue amitie and concorde betweene their kingdomes Then hee presented to her letters from the Lords wherein after a due remembrance of thankefulnesse for the late receiued fauours they humbly intreated her Maiestie not onely to carry her selfe in such sort towards their Queene that shee might there-by bee mooued to continue amitie with her but that it would please her by as straight bands as possiblie might bee still to binde her more and more vnto her promising that for their parts they would let slippe no occasion as farre as it rested in their powers where-by to perpetuate the late league betweene the two nations Further that the most assured meane where-by to bury in perpetuall obliuion the memorie of all former dissention and clearlie to take away all occasion of future quarrell rested herein that it would please her by acte of Parliament to establish the succession of the crowne of England for want of issue of her owne body vpon the Queene their Mistresse who in bloud was next vnto it Hauing prooued by sundry arguments and examples that this their request was both iust and agreeable to the practise of the Kings ouer both these nations in former times hee concluded that their Queene expected that fauour at her hands Here-vnto the Queene of England answered I looked for another kinde of Ambassage from your Queene I maruell shee hath forgotten what at length shee promised before her departure out of France which was to ratifie the peace made at Leeth and that immediatly after her returne into Scotland I should bee certified thereof I haue now long enough said her Maiestie beene fed with faire words it is high time if your Queene regard her credit with vs that her deeds be answerable ther-vnto The Ambassador in her excuse answered that he was sent out of Scotland within few dayes after their Queenes returne that she had not then entred into the handling of any matter of State but was wholie busied in giuing intertainement to the Noblemen for the more part vnknowne vnto her neither were they all come at his departure whose aduice it was fitte shee should vse in a matter of that importance especially touching the establishing of Religion which how difficult a point it was shee her selfe knew by experience and without whose consents shee neither could nor ought to conclude of any thing The Queene of England beeing heere-with more mooued replyed What needeth I pray you any further consultation to effect that where-vnto your Queene hath already bound her selfe by her hand and seale what answere I should make here-vnto sayd hee for the present I know not hauing receiued no warrant here-in from our Queene who looked not that this point should haue beene so farre vrged now This is all I can say vnto it Your Maiestie may easilye see what iust occasion shee now hath to deferre that businesse vntill a more conuenient time when as I doubt not but you shall bee better satisfied After some further speech her Maiestie comming to the most materiall point of this ambassage I well remember saith shee what you haue deliuered vnto vs in your Oration from the Nobilitie of Scotland in the behalfe of your Queene First that shee is the next vnto vs in bloud and therefore I should shew greatest affection and loue towards her which wee neither will nor can denie For the whole world can witnesse with vs that in all our actions we neuer attempted any thing against the good and safetie of her selfe or of her kingdome that when she claimed and chalenged our kingdome and vsurped the armes of the same yet neuer-the-lesse wee could not bee perswaded but that it proceeded rather from some bad counsell about her then from her selfe But how-so-euer it was wee hope shee shall not bee able to take our Crowne from vs or from my issue if I leaue any such to succeed vs. If I dye with-out children shee shall not finde any thing done by vs that may preiudice her right to the Crowne of England What that is wee neuer yet thought it needfull to examine neither purpose wee heere-after to trouble our selfe there-with-all but wee leaue it to them to whom it pertaineth to looke vnto it
time now for these thirty yeares wel-nere nothing of importance hath bin atteÌ„pted by the one or other Nation to the breach of the most happy peace and concord betweene them Though it may bee some turbulent and vnquiet spirits did what they could vpon the execution of the Scottish Queene in the yeare 1587. to incite and stir vp the King her Son to take offence thereat not for any good meaning towards his Maiesty but rather therby to bring him into disgrace at the least if not into a further mischiefe with the Queene of England But the Lord God did giue his Maiesty grace to carry himselfe more warily For though good nature might worke in his Maiesty a due commiseration ouer the Queene his mother her lameÌ„table end yet wel weighing the quality measure of her offence the lawful orderly proceeding against her hauing receiued an honorable trial by sixe thirty of the greatest and grauest personages of this realme and considering how much her life afterwards would preiudice not only the safety of the two royall persons but withal the quiet estate of the whole Island the most prudent King wel ore-saw what wrong he might haue wrought vnto himselfe by entring into any violent course It was apparent enough to the whole world how the King of Spaine by his subtile agents the Iesuits neuer ceased while the Queene his Mother liued vnder pretence to set her at liberty for the aduaÌ„cement of Popery to 〈◊〉 â—p sondry wickedly disposed persons to â—y murthering handes vpon Queene Elizabeth â—â— by treachery to bereaue vs of her This if by any meâ—nes hee could haue brought to passe from which the Lord God did euer deliuer her his ambition was such that hee would vndoubtedly haue done his best to haue set the Crowne of England on his owne head or else haue bestowed it on his Daughter the Infant of Spaine whome a principall member of that seditious fraternity hath since by publique â—â—iting intituled vnto it Parsons This was so well knowne to King Iames as that not long after his Maiesty gaue commandemeâ—â— by open Proclamation to all his subiects oâ— Scotland to repute and hold King Philippe of Spaine as great an enemie to him and his estate both present and in exspectance as to the Queene of England when in the yeare next following that his inuincible Nauie as it was tearmed attempted the conquest of this Land But what successe the same had his Maiesty hath committed to eternall memorie in this his elegant poesie The Nations banded gainst the Lord of might Prepared a force and for them to the way Mars drest himselfe in sâ—â—â—â—â—awfull plight The like whereof was neuer 〈◊〉 they say They forward 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 way 〈◊〉 Sea and Land beset vs eâ—â—rywhere Brags threatned vs a ruinous decay What came of that the issue did declare The windes began to tosse them here and there The seas begun in foming waues to swell The number that escap'd it fell them faire The rest were swallowed vp in gulfes of hell But how were all these things miraculous done God lookes at them out of his Heauenly Throne How truely and Christanly these two most worthy Princes loued one the other while they lyued togither well appeareth not onely by the continuance of an assured peace and concord betweene these their two kingdomes but also by the manifold blessings that haue beene thereby heaped vpon vs their subiects For when did these two Nations euer before inioye the like felicity as they haue done vnder their Kinglie Soueraignty This may appeare the more admirable if we consider the sexe of the one and the longe and dangerous mimority and nonage of the other But it hath pleased the eternall God according to the saying of the Apostle by the weake things of the world to confound and bring to naught the mighty and powerfull malice of his enemies and ours For how often haue they both but especially her Maiesty miraculously escaped the treacherous attempts of their bloudy aduersary that Antichristian Romish Sinagoge Queene Elizabeth hauing liued well neere threescore and ten yeares and happily raigned aboue forty foure exchanged I doubt not this her earthly and transitory Crowne for an immortall and heauenly Diadem on the foure and twentith day of March in the yeare 1602. Here-vpon King Iames not many houres after her death was proclaimed in London and else where ouer the whole realme with as much speed as possible might be the onely lawfull lineall and rightfull King of England France and Ireland with as great ioy and generall applause of all estates as the fresh remembrance of the late losse of such a gracious Princesse would in true loue and loyaltie admit tollerate in a subiect God grant his Maiestie may haue a long and prosperous raigne and maintaine amongst vs the profession of that vndoubted Christian faith and true Religion wherein both his Maiestie himselfe and the young Prince of Scotland his sonne eight yeares old the nineteenth day of February last haue beene baptized by and in the name of Queene Elizabeth eight and twentie yeares one after the other FINIS