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
Scotland as also for the better strengthning of his estate to whome the same kingdome should be by him adiudged wherevnto they all agreed by writing also vnder their seuerall hands and seales as followeth A toux iceulx c. To all those which this present writing shall see or heare Florence Earle of Holland Robert de Bruce Lord of Annandale Iohn de Balliol Lord of Galloway Iohn de Hastings Lord of Abergeuennie Iohn Cumin Lord of Badenawe Patricke de Dunbarre Earle of Marche Iohn de Vescie insteed of his Father Nicholas de Sules and William de Ros send greeting in our Lord. Because that of our owne willes and common consents without all constraint we doe consent and grant vnto the noble Prince the Lord Edward by the grace of God king of England that he as superior Lord of Scotland may heare examine define determine our claimes chalenges petitions which we intend to shew and proue for our right to be receiued before him as superior Lord of the land promising moreouer that we shall take his deed for firme and stable and that he shall inioy the kingdome of Scotland whose right by declaration shall best appeare before him whereas then the sayd king of England cannot in this maner take knowledge nor fulfill our meanings without iudgement nor iudgment ought to be without execution nor execution may in due forme bee done without possession and seisme of the said lands and castels of the same We do will consent and grant that he as Superior Lord to performe the premisses may haue the seisure of all the land and Castels of the same till they that pretend title to the crowne be satisfied in the sute so that before he be put into possession and seisure he find sufficient surety to vs that pretend title to the wardens and to all the cōmonaltie of the kingdome of Scotland that he shal restore the same kingdom with all the royaltie dignitie signorie liberties customes rights lawes vsages possessions and all and whatsoeuer the appurtinances in the same state wherein they were before the seisme to him deliuered vnto him to whom by right it is due according to the iudgemēt of his Maiesty sauing to him the homage of that person that shall bee king And this restitution to be made within two months after the day in which the right shall be discussed and established the issues of the same land in the meane time shall be receiued laid vp put in safe keeping in the hands of the Chamberlaine of Scotland that now is of him whom the King of England shall to him ioyne and assotiate and this vnder their seales reseruing and allowing the reasonable charges for the sustentatiō of the land the Castles and officers of the kingdome In witnesse of all the which premises wee haue vnto these set our seales giuen at Norham the wednesday next after the feast of the Ascensiō of our Lord in the yeare 1291. Besides these two former deeds from the competitors themselues he receiued the like assurance from all the principall officers and Magistrates of that realme So as by a free and generall consent he was acknowledged their supreame Lord and was accordingly intituled in sundry Proclamations and publique Edicts directed forth in his name King Edward hauing receiued at their hands these instruments of allegiance as their proper and voluntary deeds and also their seuerall homages either in his owne person or by his deputies according to the order giuen in that behalfe he was finally put in full possession of the realme of Scotland and hauing occasion to returne presently into England to solemnize the exequies of his Mother hee committed the gouernment and custodie of the realme in his absence to the Bishops of Saint Androwes and Glascoe and to the Lords Iohn Cumin and Iames Steward who before had giuen the King possession At his returne out of England at Midsomer following hee sent out sommons to all those that made claime to the Crowne of Scotland to repaire vnto him and hauing heard what each one could say for himselfe hee perceaued that the question rested onely betweene Iohn Balliol and Robert Bruce so as that all the rest were thenceforth vtterly excluded and barred from all further title or claime These two deriued their titles from Dauid Earle of Huntington brother to William late King of Scottes in this maner This Dauid had issue by Mawde his wife one of the daughters of Hugh Bohune Earle of Chester as is aforesaid three daughters Margaret the eldest was maried to Alaine Lord of Galloway who had issue together three daughters also of whom the eldest named Dernagil was maried to Iohn Balliol the parents of this Iohn Balliol one of the two competitors Isabell the second daughter of the foresaid Dauid was married to Robert Bruce betweene whom was begotten this Robert Bruce the other competitour He claimed the Crowne as next heire male the other made claime in the right of his mother who was the next heire in bloud and as wee say in England heire at the common-lawe Bruce alleadged that hee was to bee preferred before the Mother of Balliol because the heire male must carry away the inheritance of a kingdome from the heire female meeting in the selfe same degree of bloud as in this case it stood betweene him and Dernagill To this end he alleadged a late president in the like controuersie about the Duchie of Burgundie which the Earle of Neuers claimed in the right of his wife grand-child to the last Duke by his eldest sonne which notwithstanding the brothers inheritance was adiudged to the Dukes yonger sonne King Edward hauing heard the allegations and answeres of both parties caused then to be inrolled but because the matter was of the greatest importance life onely excepted and therefore required good deliberation hee referred the further proceeding therein till Michaelmasse following and returned into England In the meane time for his better instruction he acquainted the most learned Lawyers as well of France as of this nation with the whole state of the cause and receaued their generall resolution therein At the time prefixed he repaired againe into the North-parts and comming to Berwicke hee called thither the two competitours together with the greater number of the Lords of Scotland to receiue there a finall end of this controuersie Out of this great assembly of the most graue and best experienced personages of both Nations hee made choise of a certaine number as well English as Scottish to whom as to a Iurie royall sworne and admonished to deale vprightlie the King gaue full authoritie to name him that vnto them appeared vpon the examination of their seuerall titles and the resolution of the Lawyers therevpon which was deliuered vnto them to haue the better right vnto the crowne of Scotland These men being put a part by themselues and hauing examined considered and sufficiently debated the prooues allegations and whatsoeuer could be said on either
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
kingdome Neither did King Henry forget by kind letters and messages to diuerse of that nation to second therein his Sisters designements signifying vnto them that he desired nothing more then perpetuall loue and concord betweene the two Neighbor Nations which thing as he had euer before wished yet much more at this time to the end all men might see how much hee tendred the state of their Reamle for the young kings sake his Nephew That if they would be perswaded to break of friendship with France he could finde in his heart to bestow the Lady Mary his only Child in marriage vpon their King whereby the two kingdomes should bee in great possibility to be made one Monarchy and that by the accesse of England vnto Scotland which would be the more honor to their nation That the like emulatioÌ„ malice hath bin heretofore known betweene the like neighbor countries which neuerthelesse by mariage entercourse trafique mutual kindnes hath bin vtterly suppressed buried in obliuion These exceeding kind offers of King Henry moued much debate argument at an assembly of the Scottish Lords amongst theÌ„selues On the one side it was obiected that as France was farre remooued by scituation from them so the people differed much from the Scottes in the whole course and manner of life But the Englishmen and they were bred and brought vp vnder one and the same climate and were so like in there language lawes manners customes complexion constitution of bodie and disposition of minde wherein societie especially consisteth that it seemed God and Nature had from the beginning purposed to make them one peculier people as they hade made there seate one soile by it selfe seuered from the maine continent Further by reason of the distance and dangerous passage betweene France them the one cannot receiue froÌ„ the other either much good being friends or much hâ—rme beeing enemies whereas out of England either the one or other wil be alwaies ready at hand accordingly as the Englishmen ar friends or foes vnto them For there is no other waie to walke in betweene France and them but thorow a dangerous part of the Ocean which either by furie of tempests may be hindered or by the enemy fore-stawled and clogged VVhereof was made good proofe not much aboue a yeare ago when as the Duke of Albanie was so pend vp in France with the English nauie that of al one whole Sommer they could receiue no succors from thence to their exceeding losse and discontentment Thus much was then alledged in fauour of the league with England whervnto not a few amongst them were well inclined though many other that either liued vpon rapine and spoile which alwaies followeth war or that were fed afore-hand by the French king which course hath euer much preuailed with that Nation obstinatly opposed themselues against this profitable and sound aduise But being not able by any show of reason to maintaine their friuolous allegations against the truth they subtilly brake of this conference with this caution that this weighty point could not be resolued without the general consent and approbation of the Estates assembled to that end For they were well assured that the Duke to whom especially the deciding of this question pertained would neuer giue consent to shake hands with England notwithstanding Queene Margaret so labored this point for the benefit she knew would therof come to her Sonne and his kingdom that in December following shee sent the Lord Gilbert Earle of Cassels Robert Cockburne Bishop of Dunkeld and the Abbot of Combuskeneth Ambassadours into England who comming to the Court on Christmasse eue the King gaue them audience to whom the Bishop made an eloquent Oration in Latine declaring the benefits of peace and the manifold discommodities of warre How happy a thing it were if by the marriage of their young King with the Lady Mary his Maiesties Daughter a perpetuall league and alliance might bee established betweene them The King liked well of this motion so as hee might obtaine his desire in two points First and especially that the Scottish Nobility would renounce the league with France Secondly that the young king his Nephew would come and remaine with him in England till he were of perfect age to marry his Daughter But because the Ambassadors had not commission to proceede so farre the Earle returned into Scotland to acquaint the Queene and Councell there-with The two other remained at London till his returne thither againe Here-vpon a Parliament was presently holden at Edenbrough from whence the Earle of Cassels was presentlie sent againe to the King of England with a fauourable answer to his two former demands But because that in the meane season Charles the Emperour renewed his former sute for the obtaining of the sayd Lady to his wife the King tooke a pawse therein for the present time prolonging the truce with Scotland for three yeares and a halfe and then the Ambassadours were all with much courtesie dismissed about the beginning of the yeare 1525. From hence-forward for the terme of about seauenteene yeares the league was still renued from time to time betweene the two Nations though now and then the borderers on both sides thorow the instigation of the Earle Dowglasse forsaken then of the Queene his wife and banished the realme againe made some out-roades one into the others Marches But all was quietly put vp and the two kings continued good neighbours one to the other In the beginning of the yeare 1534. amongst other proffers of marriage propounded by Charles the Emperour vnto king Iames who was desirous to match in his bloud a motion was made of his cousine Germaine the Ladye Mary king Henryes Daughter and Heire who as before you haue heard had beene in question but now for the space well neere of ten yeares had lien dead and no further dealt in King Iames answered in such sort as there-by it seemed that hee had a good will to hearken vnto it This Lady that was afterward Queene of England was once in speach as is before declared to haue beene marryed to the Emperour himselfe after that to Francis the French king But these motions were rather made I take it in policie then proceeding of any such meaning in eyther of those Princes neyther happilye had the King her Father any such purpose thinking her a fitter matche for his Nephew of Scotland then for eyther of them For in the latter end of this yeare the King sent thither the Bishop of Saint Dauies and the Lord William Howard brother to the Duke of Norffolke to intreate king Iames to appoint some time when the King their Maister and hee might meete together to conferre of matters of great importance tending much to the benefit of both the Realmes Further to tell him that it might come to passe if all things else sorted to his liking hee should espouse the Lady Mary his eldest Daughter for his other Daughter the Lady Elizabeth after her
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
holie daies where they were lodged feasted and entertained most louingly There as of themselues they motioned a mariage betweene Prince Edward the Kings Sonne now little more then fiue yeares olde and their young Queene that was borne some fiue or sixe daies before the death of the King her Father promising withall to do there best to bring the same to passe King Henrie gaue them great thankes for their forwardnesse therein and was not onelie contented to set them freelie at libertie but also bestowed large presentes on euery man according to his degree On New-yeares daie they departed from London home-wardes and dined at Enfield where they sawe the young Prince of whome they seemed greatlie to reioyce both in speach and countinance From thence they kept on their iorney till they came into the North-partes where the Duke of Suffolke the Kings Lieutenant staied for their comming with whome they remained till such pledges were come out of Scotland as was before couenanted they should leaue behind them VVith them went also the Earle of Angus who togither with his brother Sir George Dowglas had allowance for their maintenance of King Henrie while they remained in England after their exile the space of fifeteene yeares The Scottish King while hee liued had labored the deliuerance of the Earle who now vpon his returne home was made one of the priuie Counsell amongst other of the Lordes that had beene lately prisoners here by the Earle of Araine Gouernour of the young Queene and of the Realme and next heire to the Crowne according to the custome of that Countrie Shortly after Sir Robert Bowes and some other English prisoners were deliuered by their bandes after the manner of the Marches In March following Sir Ralfe Sadler who died a graue CouÌ„sellor in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth being sent Ambassadour into Scotland came thither some-what before the Parliament His errand was to perswade the Gouernor to giue his consent with the other Lords to the mariage propounded lately by them and that withall a firme peace might be concluded vpon betweene the two Nations These pointes were long debated but in conclusion after that Dauid Beaton Cardinall and Archbishop of â—â—â—nt Andrewes the French factor was remoâ—â—ed from the assemblie generallie yeelded â—nto and confirmed And further pleadges were promised to be sent into England for the better assurance thereof The Ambassador staying still behind to see euerie thing performed according to promise on the behalfe of the Scottish Lordes the Earle of Glencorne Sir George Dowglas Sir William Hamiltone Sir Iames Leirmonth and the Secretarie were sent into England as well to confirme as to report what had beene established by act of Parliament concerning the marriage intended with England These men remained here from the ende of March till the ende of Iulie following in which time the marriage betweene Prince Edward of England and the infant of Scotland was fullie confirmed by wrytings enterchangablie signed and sealed and a peace concluded for ten yeares These things thus passed in the yeare of Lord 1543. The Scottish Marchantes were not a little glad after their long restraint of their free libertie of trafique wherevpon they presently dispatched their shippes to the sea so as in short time neuer a port well-neere in England was without some of them to the exceeding great ioye of both Realmes But this calme lasted not long for now beganne France after their olde fashion to â—â—â—rre vp certaine seditious and dispightfull spâ—â—â—ts which like vnto the curssed spirits of thâ—â—yre breathed out tempestious and boisterous blastes where-with to darken and disturbe the former Sun-shine and quiet season For before the yeares ende thorough the practize of the Cardinall Iohn Hamiltone brother to the Gouernour and Dauid Paynter which two last men of most dissolute conuersation came lately out of France for that purpose the Scottes were so wonderfully wrought that both the Gouernour himselfe and all they that had so lately before vowed themselues and there seruice to King Henry were now againe become wholy French for these reasons First by this mariage it would come to passe as they obiectted that the Scottish Nobolity should grow into contempt being far inferiour in wealth and possessions to the Lords of England and further remoued by habitation from the Kings presence who no doubt would make the most firtill and commdious part of England Southwards the place of his residence ordinarily But that which more nearely touched them was the eminent daunger wherein to Religion would be thereby brought the preseruation whereof they were bound to prefer before either lands or liues that the state whereinto England was persently falne might be a sufficient warning vnto them who already were but ouer much inclined that way for about that time the Gouener had incoraged Frier Guillan openly to preach against Immages and foolish ceremonies giuing liberty that who would might reade the bible in English which about three yeares before was openly read in very Church in England and was the very bane and breake necke of Popery thorowe out the whole Iland As for their promisse made to King Henry they were persuaded ther was no cause why they should sticke at that seeing it was lately decreed in the Counsell of Constance that no couenant or promise how constantly soeuer made ought to bee kept with an heretike such as the Pope had already iudged him to bee The Earle of Casseles onely continued constant though he was attempted both by faire meanes and foule to the contrary for hee hauing two brothers his pleadges in England protested that he would neuer redeeme ether his liberty or life with the losse of them wherefore at his returne into England the King much commended the young gentlemans resolution and in acquitall therfore set both him his brothers at liberty King Henry could not brooke this manner of dealing but resoluing to be fully reuenged he first caused all the shippes of Scotland whereof there were good store to be presently staid till his pleasure was further knowne then proclaming open war he forthwith made preparation to inuade Scotland by land and sea The Queene Mother the regent and the Cardinall beeing all like affected solicited King Francis to minister aide against England But the monie that that was thereupon sent them and deliuered to the Earle of Lenox to bee imployed to that end was by him detayned by reason of some iarres then amongst them-selues which brought him out of fauour with the French King who before had vsed him as a speciall instrument on his side King Henry in the meane season hauing not beene slow in his businesse thought good neuer-the-lesse to make triall whether vpon better aduisements the Scottes would yeelde to some reasonable conditions wherefore he sent his letters to Edenbrough fraught with many iust complaints and bitter threats but all preuailed not wher-vpon proceeding in his former courfe and hauing furnished his Nauie with all things needfull he committed the charge therof to
the Earle of Hertford Sir Iohn Dudley Lord Lisle high Admirall of England and the Earle of Shrewsbury accompanied with the Lord Cobham Clinton Coniers Sturton the Lord William Howard with many valiant Knights and Gentlemen The whole Nauy consisted of two hundred shippes and in them some ten thousand men of warre Loasing from New-Castell and entring the Scottish Sea betweene the two Ilands the Basse and the Maye The next day they passed vp the Firthe being the fourth of Maye landing the whole Armie at New-hauen two miles aboue Leith The Lord Admirall lead the fore-ward the Lord Lieutenant the maine battaile the Earle of Shrewesburie the rere-ward The Lord Gouernor being then at Edenbrough accompaned with the Cardinal the Earle of Huntley Arguile Bothwel and others with some sixe thousand horsemen and footemen purposed to inpeach their passage At the first they made showe to set vpoÌ„ the vantgard but being assayled by fiue hundred harquebutters and shroudly galled after a light skirmish they made a sodaine retraite but with such speed as they leaft their artillary behind them The Scottes returned to Edenbrugh and the Englishmen kept their course to Lieth entring the towne without any great resistance they lodged therein that night to their best aduantage The next day they landed their victuals and great artillary Hither the Lord Gouerner sent Adam Otterburne prouost of Edenbrugh with two of the baylifes to know of the Earle of Hertford the cause of his coming offering that what wrong soeuer the Engleshmen had receaued of them should be satisfied to their full contentment and that vpon those tearmes he would gladly receaue him into the towne The Earle answered that he had no commission to treat of peace but he was sent thither to take reuenge on those that had falsified their faith vnto the King his maister and therefore purposed to visit there towne in such manner as happily they would nor like of and soche bad him tel the Gouerner Vpon the returne of this answere the Gouernour taking order for the defence of the Castell departed immediately to Sterling The sixt of May the army marched towards Edenbrugh at the approch whereof the Prouost accompanied with one or two Burgesses and some officers of armes desired to speake with the lieutenant being brought to his presence he offered vnto him the keies of the towne on condition that the inhabitants might safely passe out with bag and bagage the buildings preserued from fire Answere was made that he was sent thither to take reueng as before and therfore vnlesse they would yeeld vp the towne simply without conditioÌ„ cause Men Women ChildreÌ„ to issue forth into the fields submit themselues to his will pleasure he would proceed against them with all extremity The Prouost replied that they would rather stand to their defence so departed The Englishmen comming to the Cow-gate beat it open with their great ordinance entred and slewe diuerse that made resistance forth-with the great ordinance was drawn vp the high street within reach of the shot from the Castell so as a culluering was dismounted and the English forced to retire not with out some losse of men night drawing on they departed to there camp at Leith for three dayes following they continewed firing the towne and consumed a great part there-of In the meane season foure thousand light horse-men were brought by land as was appointed from the Borders by the Lord Eeuers who ioyning with the armie at Leith did such exploits that well neere they left neither pile village nor house vnburned within seuen miles of Edenbrough besides the spoile pillage and droues of Cattell that was euery daye brought to the Campe. Hauing thus wrought their wills there-about they shipped their Artillarie and booties carried away such ships as they found in the Hauen of which the principall were the Salamander giuen by the French King at the mariage of his Daughter and the other called the Vnicorne made by the last king These two were ballanced with Cannon shot which was found in the towne to the number of foure-score thousand peeces the rest as well Scottish as English for the more part were loden with the spoile and booties belonging to the common souldiers and mariners On the fifteenth day of this month both the army by land and the fleet departed from Lieth in one houre leauing the towne on fire which was burned to the ground The armie returning home-wards encamped that night at Seaton seauen miles from Lieth where they burned the Castell and for more dispight destroyed the gardens and Orchards because the Lord Seaton owner of the same had beene the Cardinals best friend when hee was in prison The next night they incamped besides Dunbar where they had an alarme giuen them In the morning they burned the towne and marching forwards they were somewhat staied in the way by reason of a grose foggie mist and a report that the Lord Seaton and the Lord Hume had assembled a powre where-with to empeach their passage at a strait called the Pease But when the day cleared about two of the clocke in the after-noone the armie setting forward passed the straite without shew of enemie that would not abide their comming That night the armie lodged at Rantton 8. miles from the borders from whence the next day being the 28. of May they came to Berwick hauing lost in all this iorney not aboue forty persons for which happy successe they rendred thanks to almighty God the giuer of all victorie The names of the chiefe townes castels buildings burned and ouer-throwne in this voyage are as followeth Edenbrough the Abbay and the Kings housc Cragmiller and Castell Preston and the Castell Sengclers Castell Lawresson the Grange Markley Wester-grange Enderliegh Broughton Chester-field Craton-end Dudistone Skam house The Ficket Beuerton Tranent Shenstone Saint Minees Petinwames part Lieth the Hauen Pile New Bottle Abbay Musselbrough some part Hadington Frieries Dumbar Drilawe Trapren Kirkland hill Hatherwike Belton East Barnes Bowcland Butlerden Quickwood Blackburne Ranton Bildie All Knikorne The Queenes Ferrie The brent Iland The fiue lowest were burned by the fleet at sea for while the armie lay at Leethe the ships were not idle but scouring the riuer vp and downe on both sides well neere as high as Sterling aboue fiftie miles from the maine sea they made what spoile they could of what-so-euer fell in their way while the Earle lay at Leethe he made these knights whose names follow The Lord Clinton The Lord Coniers Sir William Wroughton Sir Thomas Holcroft Sir Edward Dorrell Sir Iohn Luttrell Sir Iohn Ienins Sir Thomas Waterton Sir Charles Howard Sir George Blant Sir Peter Mewtas Sir Edward Warner Sir Ralfe â—ulmer Sir Hugh Cholmeley Sir Thomas Lee. Sir Richard Leigh Sir Iohn Leigh Sir Lawrence Smith Sir William Vauasour Sir Richard Shirburne Sir Robert Stapleton Sir Thomas Holt. Sir William Dauenport Sir Ralphe Leycester Sir Humfrey Bradborne Sir Thomas Maliuerie Sir
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
by her at the earnest petition and request of the Nobilitie of Scotland to the common good and well-â—are of both nations For when that realme in the beginning of her raigne became ouer-burthened by the dayly repaire of the French forces sent thither to the aide of the Queene Regent and her pertakers in the defence of the Romish religion the better sort of the Scottish Nobility as the Duke of Chateaule reault who attained that dignity of thâ— French King for yeelding vp the gouernâ—◠〈◊〉 the Queene Mother the Lord Iames Prior of Saint Androwes the Earles of Arraine Arguile Glencarne Rothowse Southerland Monteith Huntley Catnesse Erolle Marshall Cassels Eglenton Montrosse the Lords Ruithen Boide Ogletree Ayskin Drommond Hume Rosse Chrieghton Leuenstone â—â—mmerwell the Maister of Lindesey and the Maister of Maxwell did all ioyne in request vnto the Queene of England that it would please her Maiestie to assist them against the iniurious demeanure of the Frenchmen who sought not onely to extirpate the profession of the Gospell which they had lately imbraced but also practised the vtter abolishment and ruine of their ancient lawes and liberties Their sute was the more willingly yeelded vnto because it was doubted that if the Frenchmen had once set good foot-hold in Scotland somâ— trouble might haue come thereof to this realme thorow the ambition of the Queenes vncles the Guises who abusing their authority vnder Francis the second the yong King had all things at their command in France The suspition hereof did first arise when immediatly after the death of Queene Mary the Scottish Mary pretending a title to the Crowne vsurped the armes and stile of England Herevpon in the latter end of February the Earle of Arguile the Prior of Saint Andrewes the Maister of Maxwell and the yong Lord of Ledingtone the Secretarie mette the Duke of Northfolke at Berwick who was sent thither for that purpose Here it was concluded that whatsoeuer stranger should inuade either England or Scotland that then the one nation should minister ayde to the other that what Scottishmen should serue her Maiestie in her owne realme or what Englishmen should serue in Scotland all should receiue pay onely of the Queene of England that what bootie or prey should bee gotten by the English seruing in Scotland the same should become their owne the Townes Castles excepted which should forth-with bee restored to whom by right they did appertaine For the better assurance hereof fiue young Gentlemen were shortly after sent into England as pledges in the behalfe of the Lords of Scotland namely the Lord Claudie Hamilton fourth sonne to the Duke Robert Dowglas halfe brother to the Lord Iames Steward Archibauld Cambell Lord of Lowghennell George Grayme second sonne to the Earle of Monteith and Iames Canningham sonne to the Earle of Glencarne All these were to remaine in England during the liues of the Scottish Queene and of the French King her husband together and one yeare more next after his decease if it first happened While this businesse was in hand the Frenchmen being then at the mouth of the water of Leuin in Fife making head to the Scottish Lords descryed eight ships ready to arriue which at the first sight they tooke to bee sent out of France to their succors But when they perceiued that they were English with all possible speed they posted to Leethe forth-with beginning to fortifie the towne The Englishmen hauing cast Ancre in the roade there the Queene Regent sent to Maister Winter the Vice-admirall to know for what cause hee was come thither who dissembling with her for the present answered that hauing beene at the Sea to pursue certaine Pirates and not finding them abroade hoped to haue heard of them there With-in fewe dayes after this the whole Nauie repaired thether vnto him where-with becomming commander ouer the Furthe the Frenchmen were penned vp both at Leethe and in the Iland of Iuskeith so as no victuals could bee brought them by Sea About the beginning of the yeare next following viz. 1560. The English armie consisting of two thousand horsmen and six hundred footmen ouer which the Lord Gray of Wilton was Generall comming to Hadington within Scotland was at the first saluted by the Earle of Arraine the Lord Iames Prior the Maister of Maxwell Sir William Kircawdie Leard of Graunge and diuerse other of the Scottish Nobility attended with three hundred horse After mutuall congratulations the Scottish Lords departed for that night The next day beeing the first of Aprill the Lord Lieutenant accompanied with Sir Iames Croft an assistant vnto him in that charge the Lord Scroope Lord Marshall Sir George Howard generall ouer the men of armes and demie-lances with diuerse Captaines rode to Muskelbrugh Church where the Scottish Duke after some stay intertained them beeing accompanied with his Sonne the Earle of Arraine the Earles of Arguile Glencorne Southerland Montieth and Rothes the Prior of Saint Andrewes the Lord Ruithuen the Lord Ogletree the Lord Boied the Maister of Maxwell the Leard of Ormestone the Master of Lindsey the Bishop of Galloway the Abbot of Saint Colmes-inch the Abbot of Culrose the Leards of Pettierowe Cunningham-head Grange and diuerse other to the number of two huÌ„dred horse After many curteous embracings and kinde salutations they spent two houres togither in Counsell then brake vp and parted for that night The army lay still at Preston from Munday till Satterday beeing the sixt of Aprill to the end that in the meane season the Scottish Lords might make triall once againe whether the Queene Regent who now for her more saftie remained in Edenbrugh Castell would bee drawne to any reasonable conditions of peace to which ende they did write vnto her in manner following VVe haue often heretofore earnestly intreated you both by worde and wryting that it would please you to remoue the French forces which now for the tearme of one yeare more haue many waies intollerablie oppressed the poore and put the whole Nation in feare of a most miserable bondage and thrawldome But when we perceiued that these our iust petitions did preuaile nothing with you wee were then inforced by way of complaint to lay open our pitiful estate vnto our next Neighbour Prince the Queene of England and with teares to craue aide of her to repulse by force of armes if otherwise it cannot bee those strangers that seeke to bring vs vnder their subiection But although shee being mooued with compassion ouer our calamities will vndertake the defence of our cause notwithstanding to the end wee may performe our duties towardes the Mother of our Queene and as much as wee may refraine from the effusion of Christian bloud and then onely to arme our selues when otherwise wee cannot obtaine our right wee held it our partes to beseech you againe and againe that forth-with you will command all the French forces to depart hence For whose more speedie passage the Queene of England will not onelie graunt them safe
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
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
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
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
that time further attempted whereof king Stephen was much afraid At this meeting the yong Prince together with some other of like age his companions in this iorney receiued the order of knight-hood at the hands of king Dauid within foure years after these two kings deceased nere togither the one hauing raigned ouer Scotland thirty yeares in great tranquillity the other hardly twenty ouer England with continuall vexation and infelicity and as they ended so their successors beganne to raigne togither Henry the Empresse her Sonne ouer this nation about the age of twenty yeares his Cousin Malcolme king Dauids grand-child for Prince Henry died before his Father ouer the other about 13. years old In the persō of this Henry the crowne of England was restored to the Saxon bloud by the Mother side hauing continewed in the Conqueror and his two Sonnes about 68. years now by marriage transferred to the house of Plantagenet an other family of France Herof had Lewis the French king no good liking being vnwilling that so mighty a Prince and so neare a neighbour should haue such foot-hold with in his dominions for in the right of his wife Queene Elioner who had beene before deuorsed from Lewis hee had attained the possession of the Duchy of Aquitane and the Earle-dome of Poitou by his mother the Empresse he inioyed the Duchy of Normandy in his Fathers right hee seized not without some hard measure towards his brother Geffrey vnto whom their Father by his last Testament had giuen the same vpon the Earledomes of Aniou Touraigne and Maine Neuerthelesse hee subtilely couered his malice vnder pretext of dissembled alliance least otherwise he should haue had lesse aduantage of him But King Henry perceiuing the deceite was too wise to be caught by such a Traine and therefore vpon the first occasion that was offered he opposed his open force against the others secret practises but first as well to keepe all safe at home on that side as also for the better trayning of the young Prince in feates of Armes and Martiall discipline vnder pretence of the performance of the seruices due for the Landes hee held of him within the Realme of England hee procured King Malcolme to accompanie him ouer into Normandie where hauing spent some time not a little to the losse of King Lewis and requited the curtesie of King Dauid by bestowing the like honour on him as before he had receiued they returned together hither againe and then taking his leaue of King Henrie hee was honourablie attended home into Scotland His Nobilitie repairing vnto the Court King Malcolme made relation of all that had happened in this his iourney whereat they seemed much discontented attributing vnto him want of discretion that hee would be induced or rather so much seduced as to beare Armes in the quarrell of an vndoubted enemy against the French King and his subiects their antient and assured friend and Allie that hee little considered the drift of King Henrie who sought nothing more then by some meanes to bring him into distrust and disgrace with King Lewis to the end hee might the more safelie offer him whatsoeuer hard measure hee did meane towardes him With these and such like speeches tending wholie to with-draw their Kings affection from King Henrie hee wanting yeares and thereby iudgement to sound the deapth of this deuise was too easily drawne into the French faction for by taking part with France against England their mainteinance hath beene alwayes much amended When King Henrie had knowledge hereof to the end he might in due time prouide a remedie for this growing on maladie hee caused King Malcolme to bee summoned to make his personall appearance at his high Court of Parliament holden at Yorke whether beeing come at the appointed time hee was charged to haue so grieuously offended that therevpon by authoritie of the same Court he was finally adiudged to haue forfeited all those lands and Seignories which he held within England but in the end by mediation no doubt of the Empresse the king her son was intreated to restore his cousin to his possessions in Cumberland the County of Huntingdon only reseruing Northumberland wholy on condition that doing homage vnto Prince Henry the kings son in manner as all the Nobilitie of England had also done he should further deliuer into his hands his yonger brother Dauid and certaine other the sonnes of the Lords of Scotland as pleadges for the assurance of an inuiolable peace betweene the two Nations All which were performed and peace a long time continued Within three yeares after king Malcolme deceassed hauing liued fiue and twenty yeares and raigned not much aboue twelue whom William his second brother succeeded in the yeare of our Redemption 1165. Shortly after his Coronatiō he repaired to London did homage to king Henry in manner as before his brother had done requesting the king to restore vnto him Northumberland which hee chalenged as his proper right The other answered that it rested not in his powre to dispose thereof without the consent of his subiects that as by Parliament the same was taken from his brother he would so farre yeelde vnto his demand as to the like assemblie should seeme reasonable which the King afterwards performed accordingly rendring so much of Northumberland as King Malcolme his great Grandfather was seised of at the time of the Cōposition made with the Conqueror for the space of eight or nine yeares following these two Kings liued peaceably together and one to the other shewed great kindnesse so as King William at one iourney accompanied the other into Normandy and sundry times afterwards repayred to the English Court where hee was euer ioyfully and royally intertained Dauid his brother was also louingly entreated during his aboad in England and at Windsor honored by King Henrie with the order of Knight-hood Thenceforth hee followed the King of England in his warres in France although he was sondry waies attempted to haue beene drawne to the aduerse parte But in processe of time which worketh alteration in all estates thorough the instigation especially of Lewis the French King who had now set the two Henries the Father and the sonne one against the other Amongst diuerse other as well of the Nobilitie of England as of forraine Princes King William was likewise won to take part with the young King for his Father had caused him to be crowned in that vnnaturall strife contention So as while king Henry the Father was set on worke on the other side of the Sea by his seditious sonnes for the rest tooke part with their eldest brother the realme much disquieted with in it selfe by the Earles of Lecester Chester Lincoln Norfolk and diuers other domesticall complices of this dangerous conspiracie the Scotish king hauing gathered a mightie armie entred therewith into the Marches of England tooke the Castels of Browgh Applebie with some other sent part of his Army into Kendale wasting the
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
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
markes which king Richard presently receiued towards the charge of his iourney King William to gratifie the king of Englands liberalitie furnished his brother Dauid on whome hee then bestowed the Earledome of Huntington with fiue hundred Scotishmen to attend and serue him in that enterprize against the Sarazines Thus parted these two Kings in most louing manner with so faithfull a farewell as that when Iohn the Kings brother hearing of his imprisonment in his returne would haue drawne the Scotish King to haue taken his part in the attaining of the Crowne in his brothers absence being set on worke by the French King he vtterly refused to ioyne therein with Iohn which was the break-neck of that vnnaturall attempt But when King William vnderstood of the King of England his returne home hee together with Earle Dauid his brother who a little before was returned into Scotland presentlie repayred to the English Court where being intertained with all kinde of courtesies in token of the ioye that hee had vnfainedly conceiued for the King of England his safe returne thorow so many great dangers hee presented him with two thousand markes towards the redeeming of his libertie To gratifie this his kindnesse King Richard granted to him by speciall Charter and to his heires kings of Scotland for euer that when-so-euer hee or any of them should by sommons repaire into England vnto the Court the Bishop of Durham and the shiriffe of Northumberland for the time beeing should receaue him at the water of Tweede and safely conduct him to the water of Theese where the Archbishop of Yorke and the Sheriffe of the Shire should receiue him of them and from thence to attend him to the border of the next shire and in this manner to be attended from shire to shire by Prelates and Sheriffes vntill hee came to the Court and an honourable allowance was made him wherewith to defray such expences as hee and his traine were put vnto during their abode in England While king William remained at the Court king Richard thereby to put away as it were the reproche of his late captiuitie caused himselfe to bee crowned againe whereat for the more honour of that solemnitie it pleased king William to carie one of the three Swords of estate before the King accompanied on his right hand with Hamling Earle of Warwicke and on the other with Ranulphe Earle of Chester in manner as his Brother Earle Dauid had done before at the Kings first Coronation saue that the first place was then giuen to Earle Iohn his Brother This feast was kept at Winchester on the seauenteenth day of Aprill Anno 1194. king William beeing now at the point to depart homewards offered the king fifteene thousand markes for the whole country of Northumberland in manner as Prince Henry his father who neuer came to the crowne held the same The king yeelded here vnto so as the Castles were excepted but still hee importuned him for them also The King answered that at his returne againe for now he was ready to passe into Normandie hee should finde him willing to satisfie him in any reasonable sort But it was king Richardes happe after many victories ouer the French Nation during his aboade on that side the Sea for the space of fowre yeares in the end to die of a wound which hee receiued at the siege of the Castle of Chalme by an inuenomed Dart as he was viewing where he might best vndermine the same Thus ended king Richard after hee had raigned nine yeares and as many months Where-vpon Iohn Earle of Mortaigne his Brother beeing then also on that side the Sea thorough the industrie of the Queene his Mother the Archbishop of Canterbury and other his fauourites in England was forth-with proclaimed king And to make all the more sure on their side for they were very iealous ouer his Nephew young Arthure Duke of Britaine whose right to the Crowne was by manie especially the Frenchmen preferred before the others they promised king William of Scotland to obtaine of king Iohn at his returne ouer whatsoeuer hee pretended title vnto within the English Dominions The Scotish king beeing thus put in hope to attaine vnto his desire in token of his good liking and allowance of their proceedings in the behalfe of king Iohn sent the Bishop of Saint Andrewes to his coronation with commission and instructions to moue and prosecute his demand of restitution of those Landes hee claymed promising withall to abstaine from all forcible inuasion for the space of fortie dayes so as within that tearme he might haue a resolute answer from the king concerning the same Here unto King Iohn made answer that if his cousin the king of Scots would come vnto him hee should haue at his handes whatsoeuer in reason hee could demand For the place of their meeting Notingham was first appoynted afterwardes Yorke but king William vpon some occasion fayling to come to eyther of these two places king Iohn passed ouer into Normandie where hauing appeased some broiles stirred vp by the French king in the behalfe of young Arthure at his returne hee sent an honourable Ambassage into Scotland to safe conduct king William into England The two kings mett at Lincolne on the one and twenteth daye of Nouember in the second yeare of the raigne of king Iohn to whome the Scotish king did there homage and fealtie which seruices beeing performed king William required restitution of Northumberland Cumberland and Westmerland which he claimed as his right and lawfull inheritance after much parlance there about king Iohn craued respite to consider further of the matter till the Feast of Penticost next following where-vnto the Scotish king consenting the Assemblie brak vp and king William was attended backe againe into Scotland by those that brought him thither But king Iohn eyther beeing not disposed or not at leisure to hold the appointed time sent Ambassadors into Scotland to intreat king William to giue him further daye to returne him answer touching his former demand Whervnto the other yeelding gaue him Michelmasse next according to his desire All this notwithstanding I doe not finde in the Historie of eyther Nation that king Iohn did at any time after inlarge his possessions within the Realme of England After this some vnkindnesse arose betweene them about the raising of a fortification which the king of England had built ouer against Berwicke vppon which occasion as also by reason that while the Realme stood in the damnable estate as the world then beleeued of the Popes terrible curse diuerse of the English Nobilitie and others forsooke their naturall king and for conscience sake fledd into Scotland such power had the Papacie ouer mens consciences in those dayes King Iohn not contented there-with hauing gathered an Armie and there-with approching the borders of Scotland hee was incountred at Norham with Ambassadors from King William who then being about the age of threescore ten yeares was vnfit to fight At this meeting by
intelligence of the Scotish kings inclination to reuolt being then returned into Scotland to the ende hee might sound out the truth hee required his ayde and assistance in his intended warre with France where-vnto hee receiued so doubtfull an answer as that hee was thereby brought into more distrust with the king of England and therefore sending againe into Scotland hee required to haue the custodie of the Castles of Berwicke Edenbrugh and Rockesbrugh deliuered vnto him for the better assurance of his loyaltie during the continuance of the warre with France Heere-vnto the Lords of Scotland tooke vpon them to answer for theyr king would not yet openlie oppose himselfe that they were Free-men borne and therefore would neuer yeeld to that seruitude where-vnto their king had vnaduisedly subiected himselfe that his priuate act how voluntary soeuer could not bind his subiects because without the generall consent of the States of the whole Realme nothing could bee established which concerned the whole bodie of the Common-weale That the League now renewed with France was of fiue hundred yeares continuance which for the conueniencie and necessitie thereof was to bee preferred before the late and lesse profitable amitie and alliance with England And to approue these wordes with their deedes the Townes-men of Berwicke made an assault vpon certaine English Marchants that were at Anchor in the Hauen of whome many were wounded some slaine and the residue forced to flie who at their returne home informed the king thereof He now perceiuing the affection of that Nation towards him purposed forth-with to inuade that realme But in the meane time thereby to conceale his resolution hee sent a solemne Ambassage thither sommoning king Iohn to make his appearance at New-castle within certaine dayes there to show cause why contrary to his faithfull promise hee had entred into league with his enemy the French King of whom he could not receaue so much good as hee was likely to sustaine harme thereby from him and further that it was not possible to serue two maisters of so contrary disposition without offence to the one or other But King Iohn holding himselfe much iniured by king Edward returned vnto him letters of complaint which was all the answer he would affoord him The Armie being assembled and king Edward there-with approching Warke Castell seauen Earles of Scotland namely Bouchan Menteth Stratherne Lennox Roâ— Atholl and Marre with Iohn Cumin the maister of Badenaw hauing gathered together fiue hundred horsemen and ten thousand foote-men in Amandale on Monday in Easter weeke entred into England on that side and passing towards Carleil put all to fire and sword that stood in their way but the towne was so well defended as that they gaue ouer the siege on Thurseday following and returned againe into Scotland The same day king Edward with his armie passed ouer the Riuer Tweede and summoned Berwick offering peace vpon certaine conditions which beeing refused he approched and lodged in the monastery of Caldestrenie his army consisting of foure thousand horse and thirtie thousand footemen He had appointed certaine ships to the number of foure and twenty to scoure the Coast thereabout to cut off accesse to the Towne by sea who vpon some signe giuen them from the army placed on a plaine in battell araie within their view entred the Hauen and offering to land were assayled by the Towns-men While the fraye continued not without some more losse on the English partie the king with his Armie hauing in the meane time passed ouer a ditch cast vppon purpose to haue hindred his approch on that side entred the towne without loosing any man of name saue onely Sir Richard Cornewall But the Scotish writers report otherwise of this exploite That the King dispayring to take the towne by force deuised what might be wrought by policie and therefore fayning to depart raysed the siege causing a rumor to bee spread by certaine Scots his adherents in heart that king Iohn was at hand withall his powre to relieue the Towne This newes beeing brought to Berwicke by such in whome they reposed trust forth-with the Gallants and they of the best account setting open the Gates issued out to meete theyr king King Edward watching the exspected aduantage got betweene them and home and so entred without anie great resistance Howsoeuer it was brought to passe it seemeth by the exceeding great number of Scots then slaine and the small losse or none at all of Englishmen that there was some cunning vsed in the taking of the Towne For at the least seauen thousand of them were thereat slaine beeing the verie choise men of all Lothian and Fife This happened on the thirteth of March in the yeare of our Lord 1296. The King remained there fifteene dayes in which time he fortified the Towne with a ditch cast about it fourescore foote deepe and as much ouer While he stayed here he receiued Letters from king Iohn wherein hee againe complayned of sundry wrongs offered vnto him in regard whereof he renounced all such homage and fealtie by him and his subiects to bee any more acknowledged due vnto him The King hauing heard the letter read commanded his Chancelor to inrole it In the meane time the Scotish Army whereof I haue spoken before diuiding it selfe into two seuerall companies the one part vnder the leading of the Earle of Buquhan entred by Cumberland the other by Riddesdaile burning the villages putting all to sword they met withall in most furious manner and hauing euen glutted themselues with bloud they returned home with all their pillage and bootie The Earle of Dunbar came to Berwicke and submitted himselfe withall hee had vnto the Kings pleasure but in the meane season his Castle by the practise of his wife was rendred vnto the Scottes for the recouery whereof the Earles of Warwicke and Warren with a great power were forthwith sent thither by the king The English-men hauing beseeged the Castle were set vpon by the Scots betweene whome was fought a most bloudie battell but in the end the Englishmen had the victory the number of Scots slaine in fight and flight the chase continuing eight miles were about ten thousand the Noblemen escaped by recouering the castle On the next morning being the eight and twenteeth day of Aprill at the king of Englands comming thither the Castle was forth-with surrendred vnto him wherein were taken prisoners the Earles of Monteith Cassills and Ros sixe Barons namely Iohn Cumin the younger William Sincler Richard Siward the elder Iohn Fitz-geffrey Alexander de Mortaigne Edmond Cumin of Kilbird besides thirty knights and aboue that number of Lairdes and chiefe Gentlemen All these were sent into England bestowed in places of safe keeping From hence the king marched vnto the Castle of Roxbrough which incontinentlie yeelded it selfe the liues saued of all within the same Amongst whom the Lord Steward of Scotland was the principall man After this the King beseeged the strong Castle of Edenbrugh which after fifteene dayes
Earles he gaue Earledomes to Barons Baronies and to others according to their degrees About the beginning of the next yeare he returned to London He was no sooner out off Scotland with his army but presently there was a new Viceroy set vp one of the Cumines who began to raise new stirs there amongst some other they tooke the Castle of Striueling But vnderstanding that king Edward was gathering new forces wherewith to enter into Scotland againe they began to consult what was best to be done not only for the preuēting of his presēt approch but especially for the recouery of the kingdome which was now in great danger by cōquest to be annexed to the Crowne of Engl In the end they resolued with all speed to procure an abstinence from war to the intent that in the meane season the might labor Pope Boniface to take vpon him the protection of the realme of Scotland thereby to auoid shake off al maner of subiection to the king of England for the Pope had lately before so far preuailed alreadie with king Edward as that at his intreaty Iohn Balliol was committed to the custodie of the Bishop of Cambray who vndertooke in the Popes behalfe that his liberty should not preiudice the quiet estate of either nation Engl or Scotland According to this their resolution the lords of Scotl procured Philip de Valois the French king to effect this their desired truce which was granted for eleuen months to Whitsontide following beeing the more easilie cōpassed by him by reasō king Edward had lately before married his sister Hereupon for this time the army was dissolued being euen ready to haue entred into Scotlād In the meane time the Scotish lords sent Ambassadors to Rome presēting to the Pope a grieuous complaint of the proceedings of king Edward That hee was fully bent to make a conquest of their country vnlesse it would please his Holines by the vertue of his prerogatiue in such cases to cōpound order all differences as wel amongst thēselues as also betweene the king of Engl and them at his will and pleasure wherunto they would willingly submit themselues The Pope gaue eare to their petition hoping to gaine somthing by the bargaine for with him no peny no Pater noster And first he began to quarrel with king Edward because he would not at his intreatie restore vnto Edward Balliol those landes in England which descended vpon him by the death of Iohn Balliol his father now latelie deceassed Then he forbad him from thence-forth to make war with the Scots because they had submitted themselues to the protection of the Sea Apostolicall in whose power it now only rested to dispose of their kingdome as seemed best to the same And by way of preuention he further declared that al such homage fealtie as the kings of Scotland in former times had done to the kings of England was onely for Tiuidale Penreth and such other Lands as they held within England and not for the realme of Scotland as hee would haue it Lastly whereas the kings of Scotland had some-times serued the kings of England in their warres both at home and abroade and had bin sondry times present at their coronations al this proceeded of their voluntary accord and especial fauor towards them by reason of their neerenesse in bloud and not as he tooke it of any duty binding them thereto King Edward in his answere herevnto proued by euident reasons that the right of Superiority and command ouer the realme of Scotland did iustlie belong vnto him and that the allegations made to the contrarie were vaine and frivolous Besides the kings letters the Nobility also of the realme being now assēbled in Parliament at Lincolne ioyned in the framing of an other letter answering in the name of the three estates vnto that poynt of the Popes pretended right to intermeddle in the cause betweene the king their maister and the Lords of Scotland that it was neuer before knowne that the kings of England had answered or of right ought to answere for any thing they clamed before any iudge ecclesiasticall or seculer yea though the king would therevnto yeald yet wold they neuer giue their consentes vnto it seeing it would so much preiudice his dignity royall and the ancient customes and priuileges of the realme This letter bare date the twelft of February in the yeare of grace 1301. and was signed vnder the hands and seales of these Noblemen whose names follow viz. Iohn Earle Warren Thomas Earle of Lancaster Ralfe de Monthermer Earle of Glocester Herford Humfrey de Bohum Earle of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England Roger Bigod Earle of Norfolke Marshall of England Guie Earle of Warwick Richard Earle of Arundel Audomar de valence lord of Monterney Henry de Lancaster Lord of Monmouth Iohn de Hastings Lord of Bergeuenny Henry de Percy Lord of Topeliffe Edmond de Mortimer Lord of Wigmor Robert fitzwater Lord of Woodham Iohn de Saint Iohn Lord of Hannake Hugh de veer Lord of Swanestampe William de Brewse Lord of Gower Robert de Mounthault Lord of Hewarden Robert de Tateshal Lord of Wokeham Reignald de Grey Lord of Ruthin Henry de Gray Lord of Codnore Hugh Bardalfe Lord of Wormegaie Robert de Clifforde Chatellaine of Appleby Peter de Malow Lord of Mulgreene Philip Lord of Kine Robert Fitz Roger Lord of Claueringes Ioh. de Mohun Lo. of Dunester Almerick de S. Amonde Lord of Widehay Williā de Ferrers Lo. of Groby Alaine de Zouche Lo. of Asby Theobalde de Vernon Lo. of Webbeley Tho. de Furniuall Lo. of Schefield Tho. de Moulton Lo. of Egremont William Latimer Lo. of Corbie Tho. Lord Berkeley Foulke Fitzwarren Lo. of Mitingham Iohn Lo. Seagraue Edmond de Enicourt Lo. of Thurgerton Peter Corbet Lord of Cans William de Cantelow Lord of Rauensthorpe Iohn de Beauchampe Lo. of Hacchie Roger de Mortimere Lo. of Penkethlin Iohn Fitz Reinald Lord of Blenleuenie Ralfe de Neuell Lord of Rabie Brian Fitz-Alaine Lo. of Bedale William Marshall Lord of Heugham Walter Lo. Huntercombe Williā Martin Lo. of Camies Henrie de Thies Lord of Chilton Roger de Ware Lo. of Isefield Iohn de Riuers Lo. of Augre Iohn de Lancaster Lo. of Grisedale Robert Fitz-Paine Lo of Lumnier Henry Tregoz Lord of Garings Robert Pipard Lo. of Lomford Walter Lord Faucomberg Roger le Strange Lord of Ellesmere Iohn le Strange Lo. of Cuokin Tho. de Chances Lo. of Norton Water de Beauchampe lor. of Alecester Rich. Talbot lor. of Eccleswell Iohn Butetourt lord of Mendesham Iohn Eugain lor. of Colum Hugh de Poynes lor. of Corneualet Adam lord of Welles Simond lord Montacute Iohn lord Sulle Iohn de Moells lord of Candeburie Edmond Baron Stafford Iohn Louell lord of Hackings Edmond lor. of Elchimhonocks Ralfe Fitz-William lo. of Grimthope Robert de Scales lor. of Neusells William Tuchet lo. of Lewenhales Iohn Abadan lor. of Deuerstone Iohn de Hatterings lor. of Graston Robert
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
in the beginning of the fift yeare of his raigne hee intered into Scotland accompanied with the greater number of his Nobilitie amongst whom Peter Gauestonne whom he now created Earle of Cornewall was in greatest fauour with him on whom also hee bestowed the signorie of the I le of Man which within three yeares after Bruse recouered from him King Edward raunging his people in battell aray passed thorough the country as farre as Reufren and then returned againe with little or no resistance For Bruse beeing not yet of sufficient power to incounter his huge Armie kept himselfe out of his walke knowing king Edward could not tary long there because he had taken such order before that nothing remained wherwith to relieue so great a number He was no sooner turned home-ward but the Scots were ready to follow him at his heeles so as entring into Lothian they did great hurt to the inhabitants and returned at their pleasure before they could be ouertaken by the Englishmen King Edward comming to Berwicke stayed there all the next winter and fortified the Towne with a strong wall and ditch somewhat hee caused to be done likewise at Roxbrugh and Norham which two Castells he committed to the custodie of the Earles of Cornewall and Glocester and so the next spring returned into England and ceassing any further at this time to prosecute his affayres in Scotland he turned all his malice and fury against his own subiects amonst whome the Earles of Lancaster Glocester and Warwicke being not able any longer to indure the outragious pride and insolencie of Gauestone supported against them by the vnmeasurable and doting affection of the king towards him sought meanes to haue him apprehended and once againe banished or if they fayled therof then to bee reuenged some other way The king hauing knowledge of their intent conueied him to the Castle of Scarbrugh not so closely but that it was made knowne to the Lordes his aduersaries who pursuing him presentlie thither they forced him to yeelde himselfe into their handes and in conclusion without further aduisement Guye Earle of Warwick caused his head to bee stroken off The King not without cause tooke this their vnlawfull act in such scorne as that euer after though for the present he dissembled his displeasure hee fought occasion how to bee reuenged By reason of this priuie hart-burne betweene the king and his Nobles the Scotish affayres were neglected on all parts so as in the meane season Bruse had brought vnder his obedience the better part of that kingdome Wherefore it was now high time to do somewhat if the king made any reckoning to hold that nation in such state as it was left by the late deceassed king his Father Heerevpon hee once againe assembled a puissant and gallant armie such as for multitude gorgious aray was neuer seene before in Scotland purposing not onlie to make a full conquest thereof but to leaue behind him such store of English people as should be sufficient to inhabite those Countries which thorough the long continuance of warre were left well neere desolate Bruse vnderstanding of this great preparation forslaked no time to make what resistance hee could And by how much hee was ouer weake in power to resist his aduersarie it behooued him to bee so much the more circumspect by art and policie to get what aduantage hee could against him Hauing therefore brought his armie which consisted of some thirty fiue thousand such men as reposed theyr whole confidence for life landes and else whatsoeuer onely in the force and courage of their handes and hearts to the further banke of the Riuer Bannock there hee stayed the comming of the Conqueror This Riuer runneth into the Furth hauing very high and steepe bankes on both sides and here and there certaine straite and narrow passages ouer it some-what also beneath the cliftes before his fall it lieth flat but the passage ouer there was hindered thorough certaine suncken marrish grounds and quagmires neuerthelesse at that time of the yeare passable enough in many places In these plots he caused deepe ditches to bee cast and sharpe pointed stakes of wood to bee strucken downe in them in such manner as hauing their toppes couered with light turues they might easilie deceiue those that fore-cast no such perill And where the passage was more firme hee caused Caltroppes to bee scattered for the annoyance of the horsemen When euery thing was thus disposed and framed to his best aduantage the King of England approching with his royall Armie set his people in battaile araye on this side the riuer ouer-against the Scots The first day was spent with certaine light skirmishes betweene the horse-men not much to the losse or gaine of either partie Though the night at that time of the yeare was there very short or none at all being the xxiii day of Iune yet such was the earnest desire on eyther side to ioyne in fight as that vnto them both it seemed ouer-long Bruse lead the middle battaile hauing his brother on his right hand and Randolph on the left The English Armie was marshalled in the same manner thoroughly interlined with good store of Archers The men of Armes gaue the first onset and rushing together vpon the hidden points of those stakes that were set for that purpose they were all ouer-throwne before they could come neere the Scots who watching the expected aduantage and falling vpon them readily made an exceeding bloudy slaughter of them They that escaped made so confused a retraite as the maine battaile of foot-men that followed them was not a little thereby disordered The Scottes therewith ioyned with them hand to hand and maintained the fight very valiantly but the English Archers fot a time were very troublesome vnto them vntill certaine light horse-men assailing them at their backes ouer-threw a great number and dispersed the rest But yet the enemies force preuailed not so much as did his ftaud here againe for the rascall sort men women and boyes that attended their cariages mounting vpon their Cart-iades and other Draught-cattle with their sherts aboue their other garments and banners and flagges made of their sheetes and aprons and such like stuffe fastned to the tops of long poles shewed themselues a farre off descending from the top of an high hill as if it had beene a new Armie hasting to the ayde of their fellowes This sight stroke such a terror in those of the English Army that were neerest vnto it as that forth-with they betooke them to their heeles The rest supposing the danger greater then it was and beeing therwith much disordered fled all for feare they knew not whereof their Captaine 's not beeing able by any meanes to keepe them in Exceeding great slaughter was made of the common souldiers in the chase King Edward with some fifteene Earles in his companie with much difficultie escaped by flight being receiued by the Earle of Marche into his Castle of Dunbar from whence they were conueied by
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
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
acknowleding to hold that Realme of him his heires and successors for euer At this meeting Balliol freelie gaue to king Edward the Castells and townes of Berwike Roxbrugh Peplies Dunfries Hadingtone and Gedworthe with the forestes of Silkerke and Etherike so as all the premises should bee thence-forth cleerelie seperated from the Crowne of Scotland and annexed to the Crowne of England all this was then firmely ratified and assured by oth writing and witnesse in the yeare 1334. King Edward being departed homewards Balliol was still set on worke by them of the Brusian faction in whose hands still remayned sundry strong Castells and fortifications as Dunbritanie Lochleuin Keldromie Vrquhart and the stronge pile of Lowdone so that as oportunitie serued one or other still reuolted from his obedience but at the approach of King Edward the next winter who was alwaies ready to relieue him in his extremities the country was well appeased and so committed to the keeping of Dauid Cumine Earle of Atholl while Balliol in the meane time accompanied the king into England This Earle was so egerly pursued shortly after their departure by the aduerse party that in the end hee was forced to reuolt from the English VVherevpon new sturres begā againe to arise especially thorough the prouocation of the Earle of Murrey and Robert Steward the principall men of the Brusian side For the suppressing hereof king Edward made his third voyage into Scotland the Summer following in the yeare 1335. His nauy at this time also for in his former iorneys thither hee was euer as well prouided by sea as by land consisted of some hundred and fifty saile well replenished with men munition and victualls By land he was accompanied with Balliol and his brother the Earle of Cornewall diuerse great Lords attending vpon them Being entred into Scotland they deuided themselues sometimes into two sometimes into three seuerall companies in which manner they passed at their pleasure without resistance aswell beyond the Scottish fourth as on this side the same In the meane time the Earle of Athol repaired to the king submitting himselfe againe to his obedience by whose example diuers other did the like but this Earle was shortly after slaine at the siedge of the Castell of Keldromie At the approach of winter king Edward with-drew himselfe to Newcastel where hee kept the feast of the Natiuity of our Lord. Immediatly after the Epiphany hee prepared to haue passed againe into Scotland especially to take reuenge for the death of the Earle of Atholl but in the meane time a truce was taken by mediation of the French king and the Pope which indured till the twenty seauenth of March 1336. In the meane season a Parliament was appointed to be held at London wherein a finall accord betweene the two nations should haue beene treated of and the kingdome of Scotland established Where the right which these two Scottish kings pretended should haue appeared most forcible VVhile this good course was intended and fully agreed vpon on all sides the Lord Maurice de Murrey slewe Sir Geffery de Ros a Scottish knight and Sheriffe of Aire and Leuarke one of Balliol his partakers because in time of warre hee had before slaine his brother By reason of this presumptious part and the frowardnesse of the Scottes on both sides still seeking reuenge one of the other this treatie tooke no effect The next Sommer about VVhitsontide the king sent an army into Scotland vnder the conduct of Balliol and diuers English Lords who finding the towne of Saint Iohns defaced by the enemies not able of themselues to hold it caused the same to be fortified at the charge of sixe of the next monasteries vnto it King Edward about this time was at a Parliament holden at Northamptone where leauing his Lordes and the rest to treate of such matters as were propounded amongst them hee posted into the North partes coming to Berwike from thence with a slender attendance hee arriued at Saint Iohns towne before any man there had heard of his intention Here hee found Balliol and the rest of his companie From hence the King passed forwards with some part of his army as farre as Elgen in Murrey-land thence to Inuernesse much further into Scotland then euer the King his grandfather had done before In the meane time the Earle of Cornewall with the power of Yorkeshire and Northumberland men and the Lord Anthony Lucie with those of Westmerland Comberland entred into Scotland wasted and spoyled the VVest partes as Carrick and others which obayed not Balliol The Lord Dowglasse by coasting the Englishmen did his best to hinder their course At length this armie hauing done what harme it could was sent home with great prey and bootie but the Earle of Cornewall with his owne people came thorow to Saint Iohns towne where he found the king returned from beyond the Mountaines Here some of the Scotish writers charge the King to haue slaine this Earle his brother for committing ouer great cruelty vpō the desolate Scottes in this his last iorney especially against the men of Religion it may be that the King was touched with a Christian compassion ouer the pore afflicted cōmonalty who cōmonly smart most for the obstinacy of the mightier mē But for any violence vsed by the king towards his brother it is so far from any colour of truth that euen the better sort of their own writers haue suppressed that report as a vaine and meere forgery For it wel appeareth by our own writers that this Earle died there of a natural disease his body was brought to England interred at Westminster with all solemnity therto belonging The king wholy spent these 2. last years in establishing of Balliol in the kingdō of Scotland because he was desirous to make all sure on that side whilest he followed his wars in France wheron now hee began to set al his thoughts At his departure out of Scotland some-what before the natiuity of our Lord Balliol withal his partakers bound themselues by an especial law that whensoeuer he his heires and successors kings of Eng. should make war either at home or abroad they their heires shold at their own charge for one whole yeare furnish him with 3. hundred horse-men one thousand foot-men wel apointed for seruice Shortly after the kings returne home war was proclaimed with France and all things forth-with were in preparing for that iorneye The next yeare the warre in Scotland proceeded with equall losse and disaduantage on both sides towards the end of the same yeare the king sent thyther an army of some twenty thousand men vnder the leading of the new created Earles of Salisbury Glocester and Derbie and of as many Barrones Percy Neuille and Stafford These besiedged the castell of Dumbar but to their small aduantage and lesse credit For hauing continewed the siedge about twenty weekes vnder the colour of a truce before it was distressed they gaue it ouer being more desirous to
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
an exceeding great number of them was slaine Of Noblemen the Earle of Murrey the Earle of Stratherne the Constable Marshall Chamberlaine and Chancellor of Scotland were the principall men Together with King Dauid who fighting most couragiouslie was sore wounded before he would yeeld himselfe were taken prisoners the Earles of Dowglas Fife Southerland Wigton and Menteith This battaile was fought neere Durham at a place called Neuils-crosse on the xvii day of October in the yeare 1346. The English armie following their good fortune forthwith passed into Scotland tooke the Castels of Roxbrough and Hermitage and without resistance ouer-ran the countries of Anuandale Galloway Mers Tiuidale and Ethrike forrest extending their Marches at that time to Cockburne Pethe and 〈◊〉 bâ—dge King Dauid was shortlie after 〈◊〉 to Calice and presented to the King of England then lying at the siedge thereof who bestowed on Maister Copland that tooke him prisoner with the losse of two of his teeth at a blowe that the King gaue him fiue hundred pounds land by the yeare of inheritance The yeare following Balliol with the Earle of Northumberland made a roade together into Lowthian and Clidsdaile carrying from thence into Galloway a great bootie where Balliol remained a long time after By reason of this great slaughter now of the Scottes as also thorow an out-ragious mortalitie that followed the same by a generall infection of the Pestilence amongst them they were not able of many yeares after to shew them-selues againe in the field Neuerthelesse they ceased not in the mâ—ane-time vpon priuate quarrels after their vnchristian manner to prosecute one another euen vnto death About this time King Iohn of France vpon the death of Philip his Father did inherite together with his Crowne those troubles which then accompanied the same who to the end hee might thereby keepe the King of England occupied at home for hee was his ouerthwart neighbour in France sent certaine hands of French-men into Scotland vnder the leading of an expert Captaine Sir Edgeny de Gâ—â—rntiers of whome the Scottish Nobilitie receiuâ—â— as a present from the King their Maister forty thousand Crownes of the Sunne to bee imployde about the leuying and furnishing of some preperation against England This Gentleman preuailed so much with his faire words and franke promises as that amongst other fauours hee obtained thus much at their hands that they would come to no agreement with England without the allowance of his Maister Immediatly here-vpon while the Englishmen were busily employed in France about the conquest thereof the Scottes together with the ayde of the French-men made some light incursions with-in the English Marches some-what to their aduantage The same yeare viz. 1355. on the sixt of Nouember in the night they priuilie approched the Towne of Berwicke and being come to the walles before they were discouered they raised vp Ladders in such silence as that before day they entred and tooke the Towne but not without the losse of diuerse principall men amongst them namely Thomas Vaus Andrew â—cotte Iohn Gordon William Sienelere Thomas Preston and Alexander Mowbraye Knights Of the English Armie were also slaine Alexander Ogle Captaine of the Towne Thomas â—â—rcie Brother to the Earle of Northumberland and Edward Graye But the Castell was so well defended by those with in it as that it did abide the 〈…〉 of â—ing Edward to the succour thâ—â—â—bt at whose approach the Scottes knowing themselues vnable to withstand his puissance 〈◊〉 the towne walles set the houses on fire and so bâ—ake vp the siege which had continued ten weekes making as much hast home as they could The King hauing taken order for the repaire of the towne passed on with his armie to Roubrugh whether Balliol repairing resigned ouer vnto him all his right title and interest vnto the crowne of Scotland for more assurance thereof an instrument was drawne in writing signed sealed and deliuered by him vnto king Edward hearing date the fiue and twentith day of Ianuary This businesse being dispatched the King marcheth forward with his Armie till hee came to Halington burning and spoiling the country as he passed while hee was thus busied by land daily expecting the arriuall of his Nauy such a cruell tempest arose out of the North that manie of his ships perished there-with and 〈…〉 were dispersed in such maner that they could not readily bee brought againe together By this occasion the King could not for want of victualls and other necessaries proceed any further â—â— this time in his intended iourney who had purposed how to haue quieted that countrie for many yeares after At his returne hee brought Balliol with him into England thinking that 〈…〉 â—â—uld haue beene better appeased thereby Hee was no sooner departed out of Scotland but immediatly some busie spirits began to raise vp new troubles chasing out such as king Edward had left behind him in Galloway and Annandale And yet more to despight him withall the two Dowglasses Earle William and the Lord Archibald carrying ouer with them some three thousand Scottes ioyned with the French King against the Englishmen on that side the sea but they had better haue tarryed at home for at the battaile of Poytiers the yeare following wherein the French King was taken prisoner by the most valiant champion Edward Prince of Wales Andrew Steward Robert Gordone Andrewe Haliburton and Andrew Vaus Knights with diuerse other their countrymen were slaine the Earle escaped but his cousine Archibald was taken prisoner The yeare next following viz. 1357. vpon the conclusion of peace betweene England and France at the earnest entreatie of the Scottish Queene King Edwards sister her husband was set at libertie and the kingdome of Scotland restored vnto him which now rested at the disposition of king Edward hauing good oportunitie vpon this aduantage to haue made himselfe if hee had listed absolute king ouer the whole Iland But I cannot tell what hee would haue done if the Queene his Sister had dyed during her husbands captiuity as she did within â— while after King Dauid gaue for his ransome an hundred thousand markes sterling and daies were appointed for the payment therof Also he couenanted to acomplish certaine Castells bordering vpon England that might proue bad Neighbours vnto it which was performed accordingly Moreouer it seemeth by that which followed that he had also promised King Edward to make him his heire to the Crowne of Scotland beeing now without hope of any issue of his body For about seauen years before his death he propounded such a questioÌ„ to his Nobility assembled for that purpose but the king found them so vnwilling to harkeÌ„ vnto it that he prosecuted the matter no further But I am perswaded if King Edward had not coÌ„ceiued some such hope he would not so lightly haue laied of his hands now hauing the prey as it were in his pawes Much kindnes passed betweene these two Kings while they liued togither for the space of twelue years after the remainder of King
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
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
the meane time there was nothing of any importance passed betweene the two nations what was gotten by either party at one time was lost againe at another after the manner of the mutabilitie of those aduentures happily there would haue beene more doings betweene them if the continuall troubles with their owne subiects had not giuen both the kings their hands full at home Besides that king Henry after the deaths of those two gallant warriers his Vncles was so busied with loosing that which his victorious father had lately gotten in France as that hee could not attend any dealings with Scotland though hee had beene more then he was therevnto prouoked But in the end king Iames taking the aduantange of time vnder colour to reuenge the death of Edmond Duke of Somerset his mothers brother who about fiue yeares before was slaine at Saint Albons by the faction of Yorke in the defence of the king was incouraged to vnder-take this his vnfortunate iourney against Roxbrugh Notwithstanding this mishap the Scotts would not giue ouer the siege but so manfully assailed the defendants that in the end they were forced vpon honorable conditions to yeeld vp the Castle vnto the yong king Iames the third then present being about the same age that his father was of when that Castle was besieged last before but dispairing to bee able to hold it long in their possession they cast it downe to the ground and returned home to solemnize the funerals of the father and the coronation of the Sonne in the yeare 1460. within sixe months after this the King of England was deposed and so together ended the raignes of these two kings the one by vntimely death the other by liuing longer then he knew how to raigne for hauing liued and raigned together about eight and thirtie yeares hee was then by his owne subiects deposed and depriued of all kinglie powre where-vpon both hee the Queene his wife and his sonne fled together into Scotland for succour from whence the Queene passed ouer into France and hauing gathered some ayde out of those countries they assayed the recouerie of their former estates but all in vaine for their aduersarie Edward Duke of Yorke the new elected King still defeated all their attempts tending there-vnto The desolate king hauing beene harbored in Scotland about three yeares aduentured to returne vnknowne into England I know not with what hope of good successe but being presently discouered he was apprehended and committed to the Towre of London from whence with-in seauen yeares after hee was deliuered King Edward being driuen out of the realme by the Earle of Warwike who before had been the chiefe meane of his aduancement to the Crowne But this was but a lightning before his last fall for within sixe months after king Edward returned againe into England where hee found such friends that forth-with without any resistance hee eâ—â—red into London tooke King Henrie who in the meane time was newly crowned and committed him to his former imprisonment where the same yeare hee ended his life not without suspition of violence By meanes of this ciuill dissention here in England Berwicke became Scottish for King Henry had bestowed the same on King Iames in requitall of the fauour hee had found in Scotland during his abode there Hereat King Edward for the present was not onely content to winke but also willing to accept of a truce with that nation for fifteene yeares King Iames hauing in the meane season through lewd counsell of certaine bad persons about him vniustly executed one of his brothers and imprisoned an other fell thereby into contempt and mislike with his subiects and therefore to make himselfe the stronger if happily they should rise in armes against him he sent into England the expiration of the former truce now approaching a solemne Ambassage to intreate that his Sonne Iames the young Prince of Scotland might haue to wife the Lady Cicelie second Daughter to King Edward This request was so well liked of by the King and his Counsell that the same was easilie yeelded vnto and for the better assurance thereof King Edward was also willing presently to disburse certaine summes of money with condition that iâ— afterwardes vpon any occasion the intended marriage should not hold that then the monie should within a certaine time limitted be repayed backe againe For the performance whereof the principall marchants of Edenbrough stood bound to the King of England This was thus concluded vpon in the yeare 1481. While King Iames now hoped that all was safe on his side by his alliance with England Alexander his second brother Duke of Albanie had the good hap to escape out of the Castell of Edenbrough where hee was imprisoned who hauing afterward spent some time in France and not preuailing so much with Lewis the eleuenth as that hee would bee intreated to ayde him towards the recouerie of his former estate in Scotland came ouer hither into England and earnestlie solicited king Edward to make warre vpon the king his brother thereby to take reuenge for the extreame iniuries done to him and his other brother Iohn Earle of Marre from whom he had taken his life as from him-selfe his lands and libertie The Duke was herein seconded by the Dowglas who long before had beene banished Scotland These two so much preuailed with King Edward and the rather because the Scottish King had euen then permitted his subiects at the perswasion of the French king to inuade the English marches to the great hurt and annoyance of the inhabitants that in the end king Edward caused preparation for to bee made for the inuasion of Scotland against the next spring The leading of this strong armie was committed to certaine Noble-men ouer whom Richard Duke of Glocester the Kings brother then newly come to mans estate was appointed Lieutenant Generall About the beginning of Iuly in the yeare following the English host incamped neere vnto Anwike and was marshalled after this manner The fore-ward was conducted by Henry Earle of Northumberland vnder whose Standard were the Lord Scroope of Bolton and diuers other to the number of sixe thousand and seauen hundred of all sorts In the middle battaile the Duke himâ—eâ—â—e was placed and with him the Duke of Albanie the Lord Louell the Lord Greystocke Sir Edward Wooduille and others to the number of fiue hundred and foure-score The Lord Neuill was appointed to follow with three hundred To the Lord Standley was committed the lâ—â—t wing and the other to the Lord Fitz-â—â—gh consisting betweene them of six thousand men One thousand moe attended the great Ordinance In this manner they marched towards â—erwicke at whose approach the Scottes abandoned the towne The two Dukes without further â—â—ay leauing behind them forty thouâ—â—d to besiege the Câ—â—â—le which was kept by thâ— Earle â—othwell departed thence with the Aâ—â—â—â—â—owardes Edenbrough burning and spoiling the country as they passed Being come thither the Duke of Glocester entred the towne without resistance
〈◊〉 assemble a power â—f some six twenty thousand men and comming to Anwicke the third of September taried there all the next day till the whole aâ—â—y was gathered togither which by reason of the foulenesse of the waies could not make such speed as was exspected The day following his Son the Lord Admirall which such men of war as had bin with him at the sea repaired to his father to whom he was very welcome because he could neuer haue come to any seruice wherin his helpe was more needeful then at this very time After some parlaunce by officers at armes and others by which means the Scottes were politikely drawne to a more indifferent place for battaile then otherwise they would willingly haue yeelded vnto at length both armies prepared themselues to encouÌ„ter each one the other King Iames yet keeping the higher ground diuided his whole armie into fiue battailes or after the new phrase battalions to the intent the same wherein he himselfe was placed might bee inclosed with two winges on either side The two on his right hand were conducted by the Earles of Huntley Câ—â—ford and Montrosse the two on his leaft by thâ— Earles of Lenox and Argile the Lord Hume â—ord Chamberlaine of Scotland aâ—â—â—â—erse other were also appoynâ—â—d ouer seuerall companies amongst â—â—ome were certaine â—â—â—nchmen whom King Lewis had sent ouer to traiâ—e the â—cottes in the feites of armes There great Ordinance was placed most conueniently for the annoiance of the aduerse party but by reason of the hight of thâ— ground their shot did small hurt to the Englishmen marching vp towards them The Englishmen diuided themselues into as many battailes as were most answerable to their enemies forces Ouer the vantgard the Lord Howard was the commander Sir Edmond his brother with his charge garded him 〈◊〉 winge oâ—â—iâ— right hand The Earle himselfe leâ—d the middle-ward and Sir Edmond Sâ—anley the reare-ward The Lord Dacres with a woope of horse-â—â—n was seâ— aparâ— by himselfe 〈◊〉 sucâ— or where 〈…〉 Thâ— Ordinance was 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 â—nd in places 〈…〉 one and another 〈◊〉 â—hought most expedient Boâ—â— the 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—ng hâ—s marshallâ—d Sir Eâ—â—â—â—d Hâ—â—â—â—◠〈…〉 his people 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 by the Lord Hâ—â—â—â— who wit◠〈◊〉 spâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—led the other so violâ—ntly that had not bastard â—â—ron come readily to his succour Sir Edmund had not escaped death being well neere left alone of his companie Hereat the other wing of the Scottes that was lead by the Earles of Lennox and Argile tooke such incouragement that leauing their ensignes behind them and rushing vpon the Englishmen without order they were thereby well neere all of them together with the two Earles beaten downe by that time the other Scottes were returned from pursuing the Englishmen whom they had in chase These men also being set vpon a fresh both before and behind were likewise well neere all slaine King Iames who a little before had encountred the Earle of Surrey perceiuing that the wings of his battaile were thus defeited and that the Englishmen were now ready to encompasse him about was nothing abashed at the sight but with a cheerefull countenance encouraging those that were about him and withall desperatly rushing into the thickest prease on foote maintained the fight along time in-so-much that piersing the Earles battaile the Scottes entred so farre within the same that they were at point to haue ouerthrowne his Standard But at length the Englishmen pressed so sore vpon them that they ouerthrew Sir Adam Forman the Scottish kings Standard-bearer which the king perceiuing thought sâ—â—ely then there was no way for him to escape Wâ—erefore to deliuer him-selfe from such reproach as happily he thought would haue beene â—reathed out vpon him he cast himselfe the more carelesly into the greatest heate of his enimies fury and so ended his life in the middest of them Such was the end of this vnfortunate Prince in nothing more vnfortunate then in that hee contended with his owne good fortune For if he had continued constant to king Henry he might haue liued many yeares in as great felicity as euer any of his predecessors did before him Round about him died with the like obstinacie many of his chiefe Prelates namely the Archbishop of Saint Andrewes and two other Bishops besides foure Abbots and of Lords and men of speciall note aboue six and thirtie The whole number of Scots slaine at this battaile could in all likelyhood bee no lesse then ten thousand considering the losse of so many leaders amongst them and the small number of them that were taken prisoners amongst whom there were but two of name Sir William Scotte Chancelour to the king and Sir Iohn Forman his Sergiant Porter Amongst other peeces of great ordinance taken at this time there were seauen Culuerings of like sise and making called the Seauen Sisters This famous ouerthrow was giuen the Scottes in September in the yeare 1513. and that within the space of little more then three houres which happily would haue prooued more bloudie on both sides had not the night taken vp the quarrell Of Englishmen were slaine as Hall reporteth about some fifteene hundred diuers were taken prisoners by following the Scottes ouer-egerly in the chase after day-light was done It was not well knowne on which side the victorie was falne vntill the next morning for then the Lord Dacres with his troopes of horsemen being sent abroad to view the behauiour of the Scottes found they had forsaken their artillarie and left the field The Kings body being found many deepe and deadly wounds appeared on the same which the Earle of Surrey caused to be imbowelled and seared wherewith hauing set all things in good order he returned to the Queene of England In memory of this notable victorie ouer that nation his family hath hitherto borne in their Scutchions the armes of Scotland for an addition of Honor thervnto but with what right I know not Amongst other prodigious signes immediatly fore-going this bloud-shed BuchanaÌ„ recordeth one very memorable receiued from the report of him that was an eye witnesse thereof a man of speciall credit with him This it was King Iames going to his armie now ready to set forward entred into a Chappell that was in his way to heare euen-song as then it was called while hee was at his deuotion an ancient man came in bare-headed his golden coloured locks hanging downe vpoÌ„ his shoulders his fore-head high and inclining to baldnesse his garments of Azure coulour some-what long girded about him with a Towell or table Napkin of a comelie and reuerend countenance Hauing inquired for the king hee intruded himselfe into the prease passing thorow till hee came to him then leaning vpon the Kings seate he thus spake after a good plaine and familier maner Sir King I am sent to admonish thee to proceed no further in this thy intended iourney which aduise if thou doost refuse to follow it will be worsse for thee and them that attend thee therein I am
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 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
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
Oxford As for the communalty they were well cased in their accustomed taxation paimēts And on those that liued in want he bestowed liberal maintenance To conclude his affability curtious speech his redinesse to heare others speake his indifferency and vpright carriage betweene party and party in matter of controuersie made him both beloued feared the best supporters of authority When the Duke of Normandy had inteligence of the death of the King what had followed thervpō in England he seemed not so much trobled with the losse of his Kinsman as to thinke that therewith he should loose a Kingdom wherof his cōfident hopes had already taken ful possessiō Wherfore he presently sent ouer some of his Counsell on ambassage to Harold to put him in minde of his former promise and accordingly to demand the Crowne as of right it appertained to him Wherevnto after some deliberation they receiued answer viz. First for the promise made by the late deceassed King it was of no force seeing it rested not in his powre alone to dispose of the Kingdome of England at his pleasure neyther though the King might haue done it was hee bound to yeeld therevnto because he came to the Crowne not by right of succession but by free election And as concerning his owne promise and oath hee was vnwillinglie in the time of captiuitie drawne therevnto by force fraud and feare of perpetuall imprisonment made to the preiudice or the Realme and the authotitie of the three estates of the same and therefore they were to bee reputed voide and of no validitie which hee neither ought to performe neither though he would had he any warrant thereto seeing the deceassed King was not acquainted therewith nor yet had his subiects consent vnto it Finally that the Duke had no reason to make claime to the Crowne of England considering he was a stranger to the Saxon bloud and linage he himselfe beeing now by generall consent and applause of the whole Nation lawfully established in that Throne The Duke was not a little displeased with this answer esteeming it a bare and badde excuse wherewith to colour his periurie Therfore hee forth-with sent ouer againe other Ambassadors more seriously to admonish him what conscience hee ought to make of an oath how odious the breach thereof was both to God and man not onely deseruing punishment in this life dishonor endlesse infamie but withall destruction of body and soule in the world to come Harold now vnderstanding that the Dukes daughter was dead who before was affianced vnto him vpon his former promise and oath and was the very foundation and ground-work for the same these men were entertained with lesse curtesy thē the former neither could they get other answer of him thē before he had made Now did al things tend to open war The Nauy was forth-with furnished of all complements pertaining there-to Souldiers were mustered watch and ward set alongst the sea-coast especially in places of most aduantage for the enemies landing and whatsoeuer else was thought commodious either for defence or offence was with all speede put in readines First of al Tosty the Kings brother besides al mens expectation gaue the on-set This Man being ambitiously minded sometimes gouerned in great authoritie ouer the Northumbrians but abusing his place by too much seuerity ouer his inferiors extreame arrogancie and pride towards his soueraigne and malice and enuie at the aduancement of his owne Brothers he was deseruedly banished by King Edward and liued afterwardes in France Tostie at the instigation of Baldwin Earle of Flanders and of the Duke of Normandie as it was thought both hauing married Baldwines daughters began nowe to pursue his Brother with open warre whom long before he had deadly hated in his heart His Nauie consisted of some threescore saile and loased from the Coast of Flanders wherewith arriuing at the Wight hee ouer-ran and wasted the Ile passing from thence he annoyed the Kentish Coast but being terrified with the approch of the Kings Nauie leauing those parts he directed his course to the Coast of Lincolne-shire where at his landing he was repulsed by Edwine and Morcar and forced to retire into Scotland there to repaire augment his forces Herevpon it was doubted that the Realme should bee assailed on that side from thence and on the other out off Normandy The terror hereof made the deeper impression by reason of a Comet which appearing in fearefull manner for the space of little lesse then a weeke together disposed mens mindes as in so troblesome a time it commeth often to passe to an opinion and expectation of some grieuous euent portended thereby But Harold hauing a vigilant eye to his busines on euery side strengthened the coasts all along the North parts with sufficient defence though not much doubting any inuasion that way because Malcolme King of Scotts had his hands full at home thorough the sedition of his owne subiects In the meane time the Duke of Normandie set all his wits on worke which way hee might best effect his indeauors Often he debated the matter with his best experienced Captaines whom he found alwayes verie forward in the enterprize for England The onely difficultie rested by what meanes money might be gotten sufficient for discharge of so costly a iourney For when at a publike assembly of the States called together for that purpose a subsidie was demanded answer was made that the countrie was so much inpouerished by the last warre with France that if a newe should arise it would bee hardly prouided to make defence for it selfe for the which it stood them vpon much more to make prouision then neglecting the same to hazard all for the getting of that which if they got at all they looked to come by at so deare a rate And though the quarell were iust yet the warre was not so necessary as dangerous Finally that the Normans were not bound to follow their Duke into any foraine seruice Thus by no meanes could they bee now perswaded to part with any thing although William Fitzosbert a man highly esteemed both of Prince and people labored the matter as much as possibly he could and thereby to drawe on others by his example hee franckly offred at his owne charge to furnish out forty ships towards this enterprice The Duke seeing hee could not preuaile this way tried what might be gotten by priuate intreaty for the richest men in all the coūtry being come before him he called ech one a part from the rest and so much preuailed by his faire words curtious behauiour that as if they had contended who should giue most euery one offred very liberally so that after the perticuler Items were cast vp accounted the totall summe far exceeded the Dukes expectatiō Hauing thus obtained so large a contribution of his own subiects he further attempted what aide might bee gotten of the Princes his allies neighbors the Earles of Aniou Poictou Le-Main and Bollogne to
whom he promised vpon his good successe great preferments in England Also he solicited Philip the French king offring that if he would assist him in the conquest of this Land to bind himselfe by oth to hold the crowne of him as of his Soueraigne Lord maister But because it seemed nothing cōmodious to France that the Dukedom of Normandy which then stood but in slender awe of the king should be strengthed by the addition of England for the ouer great powre of a neighbour nation is held amongst Princes a dangerous point Philip was so farre off from yeelding him any aide therin as that he did what he could to disswade him from it Neuerthelesse the Duke would not by any means be remoued from that he had alreadie so farre forth vndertaken but was the more forward being now also backed incoraged by the enterposed authority of Alexander Bishop of Rome who now first began to vsurpe a Soueraignty and command ouer Princes For his Holinesse ratifying the Dukes interest presented him with a hallowed banner as an assured token of happy successe wherfore hauing gathered his whole powre in redinesse at S. Valeries a little towne scituat at the entry of the riuer Some the Nauie attended a faire winde which because they could not haue so sone as they would the Normans weried the poore Saint Patron of that place with the multitude of vowes and did ouerload him with their continuall offerings Harold who had all this while with his people waited in vaine on the enemies landing determined with himselfe to dismisse his army and to dissolue his nauy for that time as well because his prouision of corne fayled as also hauing receaued letters frō the Earle of Flanders signifying that the duke purposed to stir no further that yeare which hee the rather beleeued because winter approaching for the sun was returned to his latter equinoctiall period the season was vnfit for nauigation But his armie was no sooner dismissed but he was constrained by an vnexspected occasion to gather together his dispearsed forces For Harold Harfager King of Norway playing the Pirat alongst the Northen coasts had alredy seized on the iles of Orkney intised thereunto by Tosty who had put him in hope of attayning the Crowne and were together entred the riuer of Tine with some few lesse then fiue hundred smale vessels There forces thus vnited they tooke spoile of the Countries adioyning passing from thence alongst the coast of Yorkshire till they entred the Riuer of Humber making what spoyle they could on ether side In the meane time the two Erles Edwine and Morcar gathering vp certaine disordred troopes such as the Country vpon a suddaine could afford made head against them but being repulsed by the Noruegians many of them together with there captaines saued them selues by flight but the greater mumber vnaduisedly rushing into the Riuer of Ouse thereby hoping to haue escaped perished in the water After this blowe they prepared to besiedg Yorke whether being come sooner then was looked the Cittie was surrendred and hostages deliuered on both sides Within fewe dayes Harold of England hauing in his passage gathered what forces he could commeth to Yorke from whence pursuing the Noruegians he found them very strongly incamped hauing on their backes the maine Ocean on their leaft hand the riuer of Humber where their ships lay at Ancre and vpon the right hand and a front they were pretily defended by the riuer Derwine All this not-with-standing Harold assailed them very couragiously The fight began vpon the bridge whereon it is said that a Noruegian alone a long time kept back the whole armie of the Englishmen from passing ouer vntill he was stroken thorow with a Dart. The armies being ioyned the fight continued a good while with doubtfull victory on either side but in the end the Noruegian hoast was wholy defeated of whom the greater number together with their King and his partaker Tostie were slaine in the battaile This victory brought also with it a rich bootie for besides much treasure they left behind them all their ships sauing some twentie of the worst which were bestowed on Paul Earle of the Iles of Orkney and on Oliue sonne to the Noruegian King therein to carry home their maimed souldiers hauing first taken an oath that from thence forth they should neuer molest this land againe Fortune thus smiling on our Harold made him esteeme very highly of himselfe for thinking that the Normans would now stand in feare of his mightinesse hee began to make lesse account of his souldiers not respecting how slenderly hee rewarded them for their late good seruice but reseruing to himselfe and some fewe of his fauorites the whole wealth attained by this victory he became odious to his owne subiects The North parts being thus distempered by this inuasion from Norway he wholy applied himselfe to set all things there in good order and safetie againe In the meane time the Duke of Normandy taking the offered oportunity about the ende of September hoised vp his sailes and with a fauorable winde landed his whole army at * Pemsey Peuensie in Sussex causing his ships to be set on fier thereby taking from his souldiers all hope of sauing thēselues by flight Hauing builded here some fortifications he marched from thence alongst the sea coast to Hastings where also hee raysed an other fortresse and furnished them both with sufficient strength for their defence Here be published the causes mouing him to vndertake this enterprise namely to bee reuenged on the outrage committed vpon his Cousin Alfred whom togither with diuerse Normans Godwine Father to Harold had wickedly murthered To take reuenge on Harold himselfe as well for causing Robert the Archbishop of Canterburie to be banished the Realme in the daies of King Edward as also for vniustlie detayning from him the kingdome of England contrary to his faithfull promise and oth But in any case hee strictly forebadde his Souldiers to inflict anie outragious calamities vpon the countrie people knowledge heereof was presently brought to king Harold who therevpon without further deliberation to the end hee might the more speedily incounter the Normans dispatched his postes into all the partes of the Realme intreating his subiects to perseuer in their loyaltie and duetifull obedience vnto him and hauing gathered what powre by al possible means hee could by long iorneyes hee came in fewe daies to London Hither the Duke sent his ambassador who demanding resignation of the kingdom vnto his maister very hardly escaped with life so much was Harold inraged against him For by his late victory ouer the Norwegians he was so encoraged that nothing could now appall daunt him He returned the Duke answere that vnlesse he would forth-with draw homewards it should be worsse for him But the Duke in modesty replied and in curtious manner dismissed the messenger Harold in the meane season mustering his men at London found that since the late conflict with the