those fiue shippes were by some stratagē deceaued by the said Andrew for howsoeuer afterwards hee was drawne from that side it was not vnknowne to the Englishmen that the Scottish King while hee liued reposed such trust in him as that he was made Generall ouer his nauie and consequentlie a pertaker of their owne fortunes beeing all come thyther to assist the Scottish king But bee it as it may bee I must needes commend the young Prince of Scotland for returning home Bull and his companions without ransome or rebuke who in the latter conflict with Wood contended more for glory then vpon hope of gaine to be gotten therby For the tearme of 7. yeares from the death of Iames the third while the truce betweene the two Nations continewed peace was embraced on both sides In the meane time it was deuised by the Ladie Margaret Duchesse of Burgoigne who greatly enuied the prosperity of king Henry onely because he was descended of the Lancastrian family an ancient enemy to her line that one Peter Marbecke borne at Tornay of base parentage but by her trained vp and instructed for that purpose should take vpon him the person of Richard Duke of Yorke second Sonne to her brother king Edward the fourth who togither with his brother were murthered in the Towre as before I haue showed This ioylie youth hauing first assaied what entertainment hee might finde in Ireland and France which fell not out to his liking transported himselfe at length into Scotland hoping there by reason of the want of experience in the young king Iames the fourth and the too great forwardnesse of his people to quarrell with England to finde that Nation more pliable to his designments which came to passe accordingly For hauing first priuatlie to the king and after that in a publique assemblie made knowne what person he pretended to be and with all the skill he had allured both Prince and people to a commiseration of his misfortunes whether it were that they were mooued by an ouer-light beliefe in pitie or a counterfeit credulity in policie his complaint so much preuailed with the greater number that it was held a matter of great reproche not to ioyne with him in the attaining of the Crowne of England where-vnto hee pretended so iust a title Forth-with king Iames caused him to bee called the Duke of Yorke And for a further fauour to giue him the more courage and his cause the more credit hee gaue him in mariage the Lady Katherine Gordon Daughter to Alexander Earle of Huntley his nigh kinsman whose beauty better beseemed her birth then such a Bride-groome King Iames hauing prepared all things fit for the enterprice entred into Northumberland causing proclamation to be made that he would fauor all those that would submit themselues to this new created Duke but finding none that would follow or acknowledge any such mā the Scots committed all to the furie of fire and sword Hereby hauing well neere wasted the whole countrey they returned home inriched with many good booties before an armie could be made ready to incounter them King Henry being not a little moued purposed the next spring to be reuenged but euen as the army was marching towards Scotland vnder the conduct of the Lord Daubiney it was sodenly called backe againe by occasion of a commotion begun by the Cornish-men so as for that time the intended iourney was preuented King Iames hauing his Armie also in readinesse ouer-slipped not the opportunitie but while king Henry was busied about the suppressing of this rebellion in the West parts hee inuaded his dominions on the North. For deuiding his Armie he himselfe with a part thereof besiedged the Castell of Norham while the rest forrayed the countrie there-about Richard Fox Bishop of Durham to whome the Castle appertained aduertising king Henry hereof the Earle of Surrie that was then in readinesse vpon any occasion offered to be imployed was commanded with all speed to relieue the same His whole armie was little lesse then twentie thousand men besides the preparation at Sea whereof the Lord Brooke was Admirall The Earle was accompanied with diuerse Lords and Gentlemen of the North amongst whom I finde these following appointed chiefe Leaders and Commanders namely Ralph earle of Westmerland Thomas Lord Dacres Ralph Lord Neuille George Lord Strange Richard Lord Latimer George Lord Lumley Iohn Lord Scroope Henry Lord Clifford George Lord Ogle William Lord Conniers Thomas Lord Darcie Thomas Baron of Hilton Sir William Percie Sir William Bulmere Sir William Gascoigne Sir Ralph Bigod Sir Ralph Bowes Sir Thomas Aparrie Sir Ralph Caldercarre Sir Iohn Constable Sir Iohn Ratcliffe Sir Iohn Sauille Sir Thom Stranguisse Thus was king Henry set on worke at home as well by his owne subiects on the one side as by the Scottes on the other But hee did so warily foresee all dangers that he easily preuented the malice of them both For the Cornishmen were defeited at the battaile of Black-heath-field and the Scottes at the approach of the Earle gaue ouer the siedge and returned home as lightly laden as when they came thence The Armie beeing come by this time within two dayes marche of the enimies made all the hast that could bee to haue ouer-taken them but seeing they would not abide the Englishmen made what spoile they could within Scotland where hauing taken their pleasures for the space of sixe or seauen dayes they returned to Berwicke with-out any shew of resistance although that at the taking of the Castell of Hayton it is said the Scottish Armie was within one mile of the Englishmen Thus was king Henrie sufficiently reuenged on the Scottes that were so ready to take part with Perkin the counterfeit Duke of Yorke who now had apparently enough shewed himselfe to the world as that which followed shortly after shewed For vpon a treatie of truce betweene the two Nations vndertaken and effected by Peter Hiolas an Ambassadour of Spaine king Iames was contented for the furtherance thereof to send the other Peter packing out of Scotland to seeke new intertainement some-where else where he was not so well knowne But this aduenturous Gallant once againe attempting to trie some maisteries here in England was vtterly forsaken of all his adherents where-vpon for his more safetie he committed his person first to Sanctuary and from thence submitted him-selfe to the Kings mercy who appointed a gard to attend him from whom escaping hee was recouered and committed to the Towre of London where practising an escape hee was finally for his seuerall offences executed at Tyburne as hee well deserued The poore Lady his vnfortunate wife being in the meane time taken and presented to the King his Maiestie tooke such compassion on her pitifull estate that hee gaue order shee should bee carefully conuayed to the Queene his wife of whome shee was courteouslie intertained and remained in the English Court a long time after in good estimation King Iames well foreseeing what benefit it would be
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
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
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
whole Countries of Mers and Tiuidale vnto the obedience of the King of England wherevnto they bound themselues by seuerall oth The lord Gouerner of Scotland and the Queene Mother made semblance also by message to be willing to haue come to a treaty with the English lords but whatsoeuer their meaning was all their faire showes turned to nothing And truely in the iudgement of man it was much to be admired considering the great good that was hoped might haue followed thereof to both Nations what should mooue the Scottish Nobility to bee so much bent against this marriage especially now that the Cardinall was dead who ouer-ruled the rest while he liued But he that seeth the state of all things and time at one instant knoweth what is fittest to bee admitted in euery season and disposeth of the successe of all that man purposeth to the best aduantage of such as serue him For if this marriage so much desired and inforced had then taken place who knoweth into what estate both this and that Realme also should haue beene therby brought after the death of King Edward the young Queene hauing togither with her title so many great friends both in France and Scotland and happily here also in England that would haue taken her part in that quarrell While the Duke of Sommerset was thus occupied on the East part of Scotland the Earle of Lennox and the Lord Wharton warden of the VVest Marches at his appointment entred into Scotland one that side also This army consisted of some eight hundred horse and fiue thousand foot-men First the Castell of Milke a fortresse of good strength was surrendred passing from thence further into the Country they ouerthrew the Church steeple at Annand fortified by the Scottes and then set the towne on fire Here-with that CouÌ„try was so affrighted that on the next day all the Kilpatrickes the 〈◊〉 the Leâ—rds of Kirke-michell Apple-garâ—â—â— â—â—sâ—â—â—â—â—râ—e â—â—â—â—endes Nubie and the Irâ—â—â—â—â—ngs the Bells the Rigges the Murreâ—s and all the â—laâ—nes and sur-names of the neiâ—â—â—â— pâ—â—â— of Annandâ—le came in and receiued an oâ—â— of obedience as subiects to the King of England giuing pledges for their assured loyaltie They that refused to follow their example had their houses spoiled and burned their goods cattell carried away by the English horse-men who were sent abroad into the Country for that purpose Thus was that Nation pitifully afflicted for their obstinacy which vndoubtedly proceeded from their blind zeale to popery which they sawe was then declining a pace in England fearing that by this marriage the same eâ—â—ectes would â—â—â—es fâ—llowed thereof amongst themselues Thus much was signified by an embleme borne at the last battaile in the banner of the Scottish Prelates which was a woman painted with her haire about her shoulders kneeling before a Crucifix with this word wrytten in golden letâ—ers Afflictâ— sponsae ne obliâ—iscaris The Lord Wharton with his company being returned with their prisoâ—â—râ— and spoiles to â—oxbrugh receiued there of â—he Duke many thankes and so were dismissed The Duke also hauing first taken order for â—ll things needfull for those gâ—â—â—sones hâ—◠〈◊〉 behind him in Scotland and committing the Liâ—utenancy ouer the borders 〈◊〉 the Lord Gray on Michelmasse day dissolued his army and returned into England In this iorney were made knights by the Duke and the Earle of Warwicke these whose names follow Sir Andrewe Dudley brother to the Earle of Warwicke Sir Ralfe Sadler of whome I haue spoken before Sir Francis Brian and Sir Raufe Vane were made Banneretes which is a degree aboue a knight bacheler beeing alwaies such before The Lord Gray of Wilton The Lord Edward Seymer Lord Thomas Howard Lord Wâ—ldike of Cleueland Sir Thomas Dacres Sir Edward Hastings Sir Thomas Bridges Sir Iohn Thin Sir Miles Partridge Sir Iohn Conway Sir Gyles Poole Sir Raufe Bagnell Sir Oliuer Lawrence Sir Henry Gates Sir Thomas Chaloner Sir Thomas Neuille Sir Iames Wilford Sir Raufe Coppinger Sir Thomas Wentworth Sir Iohn Meruin Sir Nicholas Strange Sir Charles Sturton Sir Francis Saluin Sir Hugh Ayscu of Comberland Sir Richard Towneley Sir Marmaduke Constable Sir George Audley Sir Iohn Holcroft Sir Iohn Southworthe Sir Thomas Danby Sir Iohn Talbote Sir â—â—â—â—â—is Flâ—â—â—â—â—g 〈◊〉 Iohn Gresâ—â—â—â— Sir William â—â—â—with Sir Iohn â—â—â—â—es Sir Gâ—â—â—ge â—lage â—ir William Francis Sâ—r Francis Knowles Sir WilliaÌ„ Thorowgood Sir George Howard Sir Andrew Corbet Sir Henry Hussie Sir Anthony Sterley Sir Walter Benham Sir Roland Clarke Sir Iohn Horsley Sir Iohn Foster Sir Christopher Dirs Sir Peter Negro Sir Alonso Deuille Sir Iames Granado These 3. strangers Sir Robert â—randling Sir Richard Verney Sir Arthure Manering Sir Iohn Bertiuille In December following the Earle of Lennox being incoraged therevnto by such as in show seemed to fauor him repaired into Scotland and comming to Dâ—â—frâ—â—â—â— hee there attended certaine fâ—â—â—es out of those partes which the Earle of Angus and his olde acquaintance the Earle of Glencorne had promised before to send vnto him But at the daie and place appointed of two thousand horse-men besides foot-men which he exspâ—â—â—ed he was barely furnished of three hundred and such as liued only vpon robery and spoile This manner of dealing but especialâ—â— the inconstancy of Iohn Maxwâ—ll made the Earle not without cause very iolious ouer 〈◊〉 VVherefore that hee might with the like â—â—â—ning deceiue them whâ— would haâ—e deceiued him keeping still in his companie the Earle of Glencorne Iohn Maxwell and some other of the principall Scottes who labored his reuolt to their faction hee secretlie gaue order that sixe hundred horsemen some-part English and some-part Scottish should at midnight set for-ward towards Drwm-lamrige Being come thither some foure hundred of them beganne in disordered manner to forrey the Countrie of purpose thereby to prouoke Iames Dowglas the Lord of that Castell to come forth and so to intrap him But he doubting the worst kept in till day-light Then seeing the coast cleere with some seauen hundred horse hee followed after them with speed hoping not onely to ouer throwe them but also to take the Earle of Lennox at Dunfrees Hauing with his hast entred the riuer of Nith hard at the Englishmens heeles Maister Henry Wharton second Sonne to the Lord Wharton Captaine ouer that Companie perceauing the behauiour of the Dowglas turned vpon him with some score horsemen for the Scottes their fellowes were latelie before departed home-wards with their booties and what thorough the aduantage of the ground and the difficultie of the enemies passage hee put them to flight Dowglasse escaped verie narowlie two Gentle men of his sur-name of especiall account with him were slaine euerie man had his prisoner amongst whom diuerse were of good regard â—â—â—se they carried with them to Dunfrees This ouerthrowâ— put them of Gallowaie into such feare that they did wholy submit themselues to the obedience of the King of England The Gouernor in the meane time hauing besiedged Broughty-Cragge with some eight thousand
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
all to the sword that made resistance where leauing a garrison for the defence thereof the army returned home And for the better restraint of further molestation on that side the King caused the City and Castell of Carleil which had beene ruinated by the Danes about 200. yeares before to be reedified and peopled againe granting many priuiledges to the inhabitants which they enioy to this day King Malcolme being not a little discontented with the losse of Anwicke shortly after gathered a new powre laide siege to the towne wherat both he himselfe and Prince Edward his eldest sonne by one misfortune or other for the writers agree not on that point lost their liues the whole army put to flight This came to passe in the 36. yeare of King Malcolme his raigne and in the sixt of King William Rufus 1093. Anno. 1093. Though this Malcome had in his time much disturbed the English nation by sundrie harmefull inuasions neuerthelesse by the meanes of his foresaid mariage with the sister of Edgar Atheling the realme of England became of an open and professed enemie an assured friend yea euen a very sanctuarie to his poore Orphaine children for their vncle Edgar a man of great sanctimonie and fidelitie wisely foreseeing and warily preuenting the danger wherein those babes stood vnder the vsurped gouernment of Donald their fathers brother sent presently for them into England The three sonnes Edgar Alexander and Dauid succeeded one the other in their Fathers kingdome Mawde the eldest Daughter surnamed the Good was afterwards maried to the first Henry King of England Mary the other daughter to Eustace Earle of Bulloine the base whose daughter named after her Mother was maried to Stephen King of England This happy progenie the more happy for the vertues of their deceased Mother and liuing Vncle were not onely educated at his charge and instructed in all good nurture beseeming their birth and linage but also when the young Prince Edgar was come to ripe age Edgar his Vncle obtained of king William Rufus a competent powre wherewith now the second time for once before hee had with the like helpe expulsed Donald and crowned Duncam king Malcomes base Sonne in his place hee vtterly expelled Donald and set Prince Edgar in full and peaceable possession of the Crowne of Scotland which hee enioyed during his life King William shortly after deceasing without issue his brother Henry the Conquerors yongest sonne was admitted king of England by the generall consent of the whole nation Anno 1100. King Edgar not onely renewed the league with him which before was continued with Rufus but for the more strengthning of the same he gaue the Lady Mawde his eldest sister vnto him in marriage as is aforesaid by whom he had issue that liued Mawde the Empresse Mother to Henry the second afterwards king of England The mutuall amitie that by this mariage was nourished betweene these two nations during the life of this Henry and the Queenes brothers Edgar and Alexander was confirmed by the mariage also of Dauid her yongest brother with an other Mawde the Daughter and heire of Waltheoff late Earle of Northumberland Huntingtō as before you haue heard by which mariage that Earldome with a great part of Northumberland and Westmerland were annexed to the Crowne of Scotland as afterwards shall better appeare Henry the first departing out of this life in the sixe and thirtith yeare of his raigne leaft to succeed him onely a Daughter for his sonnes were both drowned in their passage hither out of Normandie This Lady was first maried to the Emperor Henry the 4. who dying without issue she was maried againe to Geffery Plantagenet Earle of Aniou by whom she had issue while her father liued Henry the 2. afterwards king of England Notwithstanding that Stephen Earle of Boloigne nephew to the last deceased king for Adela his mother was one of the daughters of William the Conqueror had together with the rest of the nobility sworne vnto King Henry to admit his daughter the Empresse to succeed him as lawfull heire to the Crowne of England hee nothing regarding his oath made no scruple to intrude himselfe into the royall throne Immediatly whervpon he sent an Ambassage vnto K. Dauid of Scotland demanding homage as wel for that realme as for all other the lands signories which he held of him within England where-vnto K. Dauid answered that both Stephen he himselfe with all the nobility of England were all seuerally bound by oath to the obedience of the Empresse his neece as the only lawfull and liniall heire to King Henry her father whereof he for his part made that conscience as that during her life he would neuer acknowledge any other true inheritor to the crowne of Englād King Stephen not a little displeased with this his resolute answer inuaded the territories of Scotland where-vpon much trouble arose to both nations But after the warre had continued 2. or 3. yeares with equall losse on both sides in the end thorough the mediatiō especially of the Queene of England who was also Neece to K. Dauid by his other Sister Mary Countesse of Boloigne as hath beene afore-said a peace was concluded on these conditions That the Counties of Northmuberland and Huntington should remaine in the possession of Prince Henrie of Scotland as heire vnto them in the right of his Mother but Cumberland should bee thence-forth held and reputed the lawefull inheritance of king Dauid that both Father and Sonne should acknowledge and yeelde to king Stephen and his successours for the time being for these signories the accustomed seruices due for the same King Stephen was the more willing to yeelde herevnto by reason of his infinite trobles which daylie more and more increased by the plottes and practises of the friends of the Empresse neuer ceasing to worke him all the displeasure that possibly they could deuise the victory falling sometimes on the one side and sometimes on the other Such was the estate of this Land during his whole raigne for the space of eightene years In the meane season though king Dauid preferred the iust title of the Empresse before the colourable pretext of Stephen yet hee so much regarded the worde of a king that although hee was no doubt greatly solicited by the Empresse to breake of with her aduersary yet would hee not bee drawne at any time therevnto although that troublesome season offred him fit oportunity for his owne aduantage which commendable and Christian resolution well appeared in him when as afterward hee intertayned Prince Henry Sonne to the Empresse at Carliele who being come thither accompained with the Earles of Chester and Hereford and diuerse other noblemen and gentlemen of good account both of England and Normandie of purpose as it seemed to draw the king to their part whose assistance only wanted to the expelling of the vsurper hee would by no means breake his faith with England but resting quiet at home nothing was at
country where it paâ—â—â— most hostile manner For the suppressing 〈◊〉 these insolencies certaine of the kings friends assembled theÌ„selues to the number of 400. horsemen vnder the leading of Robert de Stouteuille Ralph Glanuille William Vescie Barnard Balliol and Odonette de Humfreuille who coÌ„ming to Anwick from the siege wherof king William was departed the same day tooke consultation what was best to be done Very early the next morning they followed the Scots who little looking for any resistance then in readines left their king but slenderly attended and dispersed themselues abroad to wast and forrage the country This beeing made known to the Englishmen they pursued the aduaÌ„tage with so good successe that with the losse of very little bloud on eyther side they tooke king William prisoner in the midest of his strength but yet not so neere as thereby hee could be rescued This happened on the seuenth of Iuly in the yeare 1174. king Henry at the same time was newely returned out off Normandie to whom the Scotish king was shortly after presented at North-Hampton and Dauid his Brother was licensed forth-with to repaire into Scotland to containe the same in their due obedience whilst the Kings pleasure should bee further knowne concerning the deliuery of the King his prisoner In the meane season the French king beeing wearied with the charge of this Warre in the behalfe of his sonne in lawe King Henrie the younger for hee had nowe married the Lady Margeret his Daughter offered himselfe to become a meane to make an accord betweene the two Henries where-vpon the warre ceassed and after a meeting or two for that purpose in the end this vnnaturall dissention betweene king Henry and his Sonnes which had continued well neere two yeares to the great discomfort of the Father and vexation of the whole Realme was well appeased Here-vpon the Scotish king who remained prisoner at Faleise in Normandie amongst other of the same faction to the number well neere of a thousand persons of especiall qualitie that at one time or other during these warres were also taken prisoners were by king Henrie according to the Articles of agreement set at libertie in manner as were all they that by the aduerse part had beene likewise taken prisoners in the King of Englands seruice Now againe was amitie and concorde imbraced and cherished on all sides For the Scotish King hauing left behinde him sufficient pledge for the performance of couenants was permitted to returne into Scotland where hauing spent some sixe or seauen months he together with Dauid his Brother and a great number of the Nobility and Clergie of that Realme repayred to Yorke about the twenteth of August where they did homage to the King of England in S. Peters Church and in token thereof King William offered vp his Saddle and hat on the Alter of S. Peter which remained there along time after Finally it was concluded that the Scotish king should become and acknowledge himselfe to be the king of Englands Liegman against all men for the Realme of Scotland and his other Lands within England and for them should doe fealtie to the King of England as to his soueraign Lord in manner as other his liedge people accustomed to doe And further that hee should also do fealty to the Lord Henry the King of Englands son sauing alwayes the faith which hee ought to the King his Father Also that all the Prelates of Scotland and their successors should acknowledg their accustomed subiection to the Church of England and do fealty to the king of England so many of them as he should appoint And likewise that the Earles and Barons of Scotland and their heires for their part should do homage and fealtie vnto the King of England and to the Lord Henry his Sonne so many of them as thereto should bee called as in the Charter following then openly read in Saint Peters Church more at large appeareth Wilhelmus Rex Scotiae deuenit homo ligius Domini regis Angliae contra omnes homines de Scotia de alijs terris suis fidelitatem ei fecit vt ligio domino suo sicut alij homines sui ipsi facere solent Similiter fecit homagium Henrico filio regis salua fide Domini regis Patris sui omnes vero Episcopi Abbates Clerus terrae Scotiae successores sui facient Domino regi sicut ligio Domino fidelitatem de quibus habere voluerit sicut alij Episcopi sui ipsi facere solent Henrico filio suo heredibus eorum Concessit autem rex Scotiae Dauid frater eius Barones alij homines sui Domino Regi Quod Ecclesia Scotiae talem subiectionem amodò faciet Ecclesiae Angliae qualem facere debet solebat tempore regum Angliae praedecessorum suorum Similiter Richardus Episcopus Sancti Andreae Richardus Episcopus Dunkelden Gaufridus Abbas de Dunfermlyn Herbertus Prior de Coldingham concesseriunt vt ecclesia Anglicana illud habeat ius in ecclesia Scotiae quod de iure debet habere quod ipsi non erint contra ius Anglicanae ecclesiae Et de hac concessione sicut quando ligiam fidelitateÌ„ domino regi domino Henrico filio suo fecerint ita eos indè assecurauerint Hoc idem facient alij episcopi clerus Scotiae per conuentionem inter Dominum regem Scotiae Dauid fratrem suum barones suos factam Comites Barones alij homines de terra regis Scotiae de quibus dominus rex habere voluerit facient ei homagium contra omnem hominem fidelitatem vt ligio domino suo sicut alij homines sui facere ei solent Et Henrico filio suo haeredibus suis salua fide domini regis patris sui Similiter Heredes regis Scotiae Baronum hominum suorum homagium ligiantiam facient haeredibus Domini regis contra omneÌ„ hominem Praeteria rex Scotiae homines sui nullum amodò fugitiuum de terra domini regis pro felonia receptabunt vel in alia terra sua nisi voluerit venire ad rectum in curia domini regis stare iuditio Curiae Sed rex Scotiae et homines sui quam citius poterunt eum capient domino regi reddent vel Iusticiarijs suis aut balliuis suis in Anglia Si autem de terra regis Scotiae aliquis fugitiuus fuerit pro felonia in Anglia nisi voluerit venire ad rectum in curià domini regis Scotiae stare iudicio curiae non receptabitur in terra regis sed liberabitur hominibus regis Scotiae per balliuos domini regis vbi inuentus fuerit Praetereà homines domini regis habebunt terras suas quas habebant habere debent de domino rege hominibus suis de rege Scotiae hominibus suis Et homines regis Scotiae habebunt terras suas quas habebant
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
instrument being first signed and sealed by king Alexander himselfe and afterwards by his Nobilitie was sent to the King of England at Christmasse following by the Prior of Tinmouth who had trauelled diligently and faithfully in this businesse to the honor and good liking of both parties And for further confirmation thereof another writing was sent to Rome to the end that this agreement accord might receiue the more strength frō his Holines This solemne league was established in the yeare of our Lord 1244. Whereupon Berwick was restored to the king of Scotland Carliele which had bin taken by the Scots in the raigne of king Iohn was likewise restored to king Henry the antient limits of the two kingdomes were bounded out by the Kings crosse in Steanmore as before at the agreement made with the Conqueror The often intermariages of the one nation with the other which is the surest band of friendship caused this good agreement so long between them for when at any time occasion of vnkindnesse was offered by eyther of the two kings the Nobilitie of both sides were so lincked one with the other in such an indissoluble vnion that they would not suffer the same to breake out into any hostilitie But to consummate and perfect as it were this Gordian knot within two yeares after the death of king Alexander the father which happened in the yeare 1249. his sonne Alexander that succeeded about eight yeares old when his father deceased was within two yeares after brought to Yorke where King Henry on Christmas day honoured him with the order of Knighthood and the day following he gaue him in mariage his Daughter the Lady Margaret according to the former agreement At this meeting the young King did homage in maner as before his father had done and the League was renewed betweene the two Nations which continued without any tainte many yeares after In the meane time at sundry meetings of the two kings and their Queenes much kindnesse and friendly demeanour passed betweene them to the great reioycing of their subiects on both sides And as occasion required the one would ayde and assist the other For during the troubles betweene King Henry and his Barons king Alexander did send vnto his ayde fiue thousand Scots vnder the leading of Alexander Cumine and Robert Bruis of whom the greater number was slaine in the quarrell of the Father and Sonne against their rebellious subiects King Henrie deceasing in the seauen and fiftie yeare of his raigne Anno 1272. the Scotish king and Queene came into England to the Coronation of king Edward his brother in law where hauing passed the time in great iollitie and acknowledged his allegiance hee was honourably attended into Scotland Shortly after his returne thither Queene Margaret his wife deceased and not long after her death their two sonnes Dauid and Alexander dyed also the elder brother hauing lately maryed the daughter of the Earle of Flanders but left no issue behind them The heauie hand of the Lord ceassed not here but finally inflicted well nere an vtter ruine and desolation on that kingdome by taking out of this world about twelue yeares after the king himselfe and his whole progenie if it bee true that is reported in the History of Scotland this calamitie may seeme to be prefigured in a prodigious apparition at the second marriage of king Alexander for as he was leading the Queene his Bride in a dance according to the manner of such solemnities there appeared to the whole assembly the similitude of an humaine Anatomy following and closing vp the traine of the Lords Ladies that accompanied them The same yeare viz. Ann. 1285. king Alexander was throwne frō off his horse and in the fall brake his necke At his death none remained liuing of his line saue onely one infant the daughter of his daughter Margaret Queene of Norway King Edward vnderstanding what had hapned in Scotland began to thinke with himselfe how exceeding beneficial it would be to both nations if by any good meanes they might bee vnited and made one monarchie wherevpon forthwith hee dispatched Ambassadors thether to make offer of mariage betweene the yong Lady the heire of Scotland his sonne Prince Edward heire apparant to the Crowne of England This was no sooner moued to the lords but forth-with euery mā gaue free consent esteeming it so happy a thing for that kingdome as nothing could be wished more The mariage was therefore readily concluded vpon these conditions That the Scotishmen should be gouerned by their owne Lords and lawes vntill the issue proceeding of them should be of age to take the gouernment vpon them And if it hapned that no issue should thereof spring or should die before ripe age to gouerne then the kingdom of Scotlād should descend to the next in bloud to the King last deceased Herevpon certaine Noble-men of Scotland were presently sent into Norway for the safe conduct of the yong Lady but it pleased not God at that time to giue so great a blessing to this Islād for at their returne home they brought heauy newes of her death also The posteritie of king William of Scotland grand-father to the last King being now extinguished great dissention arose about the title claime to the crowne The realme by this occasion being diuided into sundry factions was in great danger of an vtter subuersion This controuersie hauing depended a long time it was thought fit sithence there was none amongst themselues of powre authority to decide a matter of so great importance to refer the same to the hearing and award of the king of England generally reputed of all the competitors a fit iudge to determine thereof according as law and equity should direct him K. Edward being willing to bestow his trauell to so good purpose and holding himselfe in a sort bound therevnto in regard of his right of superioritie ouer that nation easily consented to their petitions appointing time place for the performance of his best indeuore to effect their desire In the meane time to the end it might appeare to the world that he tooke not this office in hand vpon warrant onely of the competitors intreaty hee caused all the ancient Chronicles records that could be found either in England or Scotland to be perused that if any question therof should arise his pretended interest in this action might be sufficiently approued But although this was made so manifest out of Marianus the Scot William of Malmesbury Roger Houeden Henry Huntingtō Ralph de Diceto others as none then liuing could gainsay it neuerthelesse the Scotish writers haue since that time much depraued the credit thereof by their bare surmises And therefore it shall not be impertinent for the better cleering of this point before I proceed any further in declaratiō of the matter in hand to examine how truely one of the best learned amongst thē hath not long since peremptorilie affirmed that there is nothing to show
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
Lewarde lor. of Whitehall Nicholas de Seagraue lo. of Stowe Walter de Tey lor. of Stonegraue Iohn de Lisle lor. of Wodtō Eustace Lord Hacchie Gilbert de Peche Lord of Corby William Painell Lord Trachington Roger de Albo Monasterio Foulke le Strange Lord of Corsham Henrie de Pinckney Lord of Wedon Iohn de Hodelestone Lord of Aneys Iohn de Huntingfield Lord of Bradingham Hugh Fitz-Henry Lord of Rauēswath Iohn Daleton Lord of Sporle Nicholas de Carry Lord of Mulessord Thomas lord de la Roche Walter de Muncie Lord of Thorntone Iohn Fitz-Marmaduke lord of Horden Iohn lord of Kingston Robert Hastings the Father lord of Chebessey Raphe lord Grendon William lord Leiborne Iohn de Greslock lord of Morpeith Mathew fitz-Iohn lord of Stokenham Nic de Neuell lord of Wherlton and Iohn Paniell lord of Ateley foure score and foureteene Barons The truce expired the King passed with his armie into Scotland about Midsomer following where he remained all that summer and the next winter he kept his Christmasse at Lithcoe where he lost many of his great horses the season not seruing to make sufficient prouision for the keeping of them there The Scots in the meane time hauing laboured the French king to that end obteined another truce till Hallontide next whervpon the King returned into England Neither ceased they still to perswade the Pope to vndertake the defence of their country but hee vpon the receipt of the former letters out of England began to waxe colde in the matter and the rather because beeing now falne out with the French king he hoped to procure king Edward to make war vpon him offring to take his part in the quarel but neither his holines nor hipocrisie preuailed therein When this latter truce was come to an end the king sent the Lord Iohn Seagraue into Scotland accompanied with Ralfe Comfrey and a competent power to keepe the country quiet to recouer the Castle of Sterling The English Army entring into Lothian seuered it selfe into three companies foure miles distant one from the other to the end they might be the more plētifully serued of victualls The enemie taking the aduantage of this manner of marching sodenlie in the morning set vpon the foremost cōpanie lead by the Lord Seagraue and made such slaughter as fewe or none escaped with life When knowledge was brought backe to theyr fellowes that followed them next in order the Lord Neuell that had the leading thereof with certaine horse-men came vpon the spurres and rescued the Lord Seagraue who otherwise had bin taken or slaine Ralfe Comfrey after this misfortune not holding it conuenient to attempt any further interprise at that time beeing much ouermatched with number and strength returned with the residue into England This ouerthrow was giuen the Englishmen at Rosting within fiue miles of Edenborugh the 24. day of February in the yeare 1302. King Edward was not a little moued with the losse of these men and therefore hauing gathered a puissant armie about Midsomer following hee made his last iourney into Scotland purposing to bring the same wholy to his obedience At his approach the enemy being not able to make head against him gaue way on euery side flying to the Mountaines and other places vnaccessible so as the king in manner without any resistance passed thorow the land euen vnto Cathnesse the furthest part of Scotland Many of them perceiuing how farre vnable they were to with-stand his forces submitted them-selues on condition they might inioy againe their possessions which the King had giuen to his followers the Lords of England they redeeming the same of them at some reasonable rate where-vnto the King consented In his returne he caused the Castle of Sterling to be besiedged but he himselfe lay at Dumfermling the greater part of the next Winter whether the Queene his Wife hauing remained a long time at Tinmouthe came at length vnto him The siege hauing continued three moneths the Castell was surrendred the liues of them that kept it onely reserued Before his departure the King caused all the Scottish Nobilitie to repaire to Saint Andrewes Towne where they tooke a new oath of their allegiance vnto him Such as hee held suspected hee carried with him into England togeather with diuers monuments and antiquities amongst which the Marble Stone of Stone Abbay wherein the Kings of that realme accustomed to sitte at the time of their Coronation was of speciall account It remaineth at this day at Westminster not farre from the place where hee lyeth intombed This Stone hath such a fatall destinie following it as the Scottes then beleeued as that where-so-euer it should bee found ouer that Countrey should a Scotish man raigne in how short time this may come to passe no man knoweth The King at his departure committing the gouernment of Scotland to the Lord Iohn Sea-graue returned into England hoping that now hee had made an end of his warres there and brought the whole realme into a peaceable estate vnder his obedience but it did not so fall out For about this time dyed Robert Bruse Earle of Carrike who stood for the crowne of Scotland against Balliol the last King Wherevpon Robert Bruse his sonne began to cast about by what meanes hee might now attaine the fame But whether hee were set on worke by the Lord Cumin to the end hee might bee so much the neerer vnto it himselfe for hee was descended from Mary the other Daughter of Allaine Lord of Gallowaye and so after the extirpation of the two families of the Balliols and the Bruses was next to the Crowne or whether it proceeded from himselfe hauing so good title there-vnto without acquainting the other with his meaning he was no sooner entred into the plot but was discouered by the Lord Cumin which being made knowne vnto him he thought himselfe in no safety in England and therefore by secret flight passing into Scotland hee set vpon Cumin at vnawares who otherwise had beene ouer-strong for him and so dispatched him out of the way Then hee caused himselfe forthwith to bee crowned King of Scotland by the Countesse of Bougham in the absence of her brother the Earle of Fife then in England at his Mannor of Whitwicke in Leicestershire to whom that office by inheritance appertained This Lady was afterwardes for her punishment for this offence put into a Cage of wood which being placed on the walls of the Castell of Edenborough was for a while made a gazing stock to the passengers by it Immediatly vpon the newes of the coronation of Bruse the King sent an army into Scotland vnder the conduct of the Earle of Pembrooke his Lieutenant there the Lord Henry Percie and the Lord Robert Clifford here-with to resist the new attempts of the Scottes vnder their new King Bruse in the meane time knowing against whom hee was to contend sought by all meanes to make himselfe as strong as possibly he could therfore ranging the coasts vp downe he
assembled some fewe small forces where-with â—e approched the towne S. Iohns purposing there first to make trial of his fortunes but the Earle of Pembrooke by chance had first entred the towne with some 300. horse-men besides foote-men Bruse sent him word that he was come thither to fight with him and all his partakers if hee would come forth The Earle answered hee would rest that day being the Sabaoth but on the next morning he would accept of his chalenge Bruse herevpon with-drew his armie a mile backe againe from the towne meaning to be-take himselfe and his people that night to their rest but he was disquieted sooner then he looked for the Earle issuing out of the towne a little before night about the beginning of the Calends of August assailed them so sodenly as that he had slaine a great numbee before they could get armour and weapons for their defence so as after a little resistance the Scots with their new king were put to flight The Earle following the chase pursued them vnto Kenter and vnderstanding that Bruse was entred a Castle ther-about he besieged presently tooke the same wherin he found his wife his brother Nigell with some others but Bruse him-selfe was fled vnto the mountaines these he sent presently to Berwicke This Lady was the daughter of the Earle of Vlster in Ireland who had lately before sent ouer vnto K. Edward two of his sonnes to remaine in England for pledges of their fathers fidelity for whose sake she found great fauor Shortly after was the castle of Lachdore takeÌ„ by th' English-men in it Christopher Seton that had married the sister of Bruse by birth hee was an English-man and had before slaine a Knight of England in some bad manner for the which fact especially he was by the kings coÌ„mandement executed at Dunfries where the same was committed the like execution was also made at Berwicke vpon Nigell Bruse and the rest of his companions But the Earle of Atholl who was also taken about the same time was remoued to London where he was beheaded and his head set on a pole ouer London-bridge Though Bruse in the meane season was put to many hard shifts wandring in desert places like a forelorne man not-with-standing hee would not giue ouer so good a cause but after a little breathing began a fresh to bestur him so as what by entreaty threats he gathered some few troops of horsmen about him and whilest hee was thus occupied himselfe in one place he sent two of his brothers the one a Knight the other a priest into other parts of the country to procure what aide they could But as they were thus busied they were both taken condemned of treason and for the same executed These misfortunes stil following one in the necke of another little or nothing allaied the thirst of a kingdom for he knew his cause was iust and that howsoeuer his sinnes had deserued especially the murther he committed at the very entrance into this actioÌ„ yet should he die if it came to that in a good quarel Hauing therefore happily reconciled himselfe to God whom 〈◊〉 had therein greeuouslie offended with 〈…〉 courage hee fully resolued to pursue his 〈…〉 Beeing now some what better strengthned with the aide of the Ilanders hee incouâ—â—â—â— the Earle of Pembrooke and put him to 〈…〉 like hap shortly after hee had against the Earle of Glocester These small hartnings did incourage Bruse to attempt greater aduentures so as within short time he recouered diuers Castels but being not able to man them hee cast them downe to the ground King Edward hauing knowledge of these his proceedings in Scotland by his letters directed into certaine countries fittest for that seruice gaue commandement that as many as were able to vse a weapon should within three weekes after Midsomer attend him at Carliel But before the appointed time was come the king fell sicke there from whence being remoued to Brough on the sand he departed out of this life in the 35. yeare of his raigne An. 1307. By the death of King Edward the state of the affaires betweene these two Nations was much altered for his sonne and successour king Edward the second being now not about â—â—ree and twentie yeares olde was giuen after the manner of youth more to follow his plâ—â—sures then the cares and trauels of 〈…〉 And therefore neglecting his businesse 〈…〉 gaue fitte opportunitie to his 〈…〉 and little 〈◊〉 off the 〈…〉 which his father by his valiancie had brought them So as while this youthfull King sought nothing more then to spend his time in voluptuous pleasure riotous excesse making such his familiers and chiefe minions about him as best fitted his humor Bruse on the other side wholy indeuored by all possible meanes how to restore his country to her former liberty and quiet estate now wel nere brought to the brinke of an vnrecouerable downfal And by his good fore-sight and singuler manhood hee so much preuailed as that in the space of three or foure yeares he recouered his kingdom for hauing bin much inured with hardnesse trauel together with his long experience in managing the affaires of state as well in time of peace as of war he had no small aduantage thereby of the other The father dying not aboue a weeke before his intended iorney once againe into ScotlaÌ„d the king his sonne finding all things in so good readines was aduised to make triall with these forces that were then come to Carleil what intertainment hee should finde at the Scotishmens hands Being come to Dumfries hee summoned the Scotish Nobility to repaire thither vnto him where diuers of them acknowledged their allegiance homage But here he could not now tary being hasted homewards to make preparation for his iorney into France where shortly after he maried the Lady Isabell daughter to K. Philip surnamed the faire At his departure he committed the wardenship of Scotland to Iohn de Britaine whom withal he created Earle of Richmond Amongst all the Scotish Lordes that tooke part with England none was so great an enemy to Bruse as the Lord Iohn Cumin Earle of Buquhan for the murther committed vpon his Ancestor as before you haue heard now therefore to bee reuenged as also to show his forwardnesse to performe some acceptable seruice for the King of England hee gathered such forces English and Scotish as hee could make and there-with approched his enemie Bruse beeing yet barely recouered of a late sicknesse vpon a boun-courage incountred him at a straite and in the end discomfited his armie making great slaughter of his men This victorie did so reuiue Bruse his feeble and languishing spirits as that from thence forward hee still preuailed in all his interprises So as following his good fortune in short time he reduced the conntries of Anguile and Galloway vnder his obedience King Edward not well brooking these daily losses raised a mightie powre wherewith about the middest of August
sea to Berwicke Of the Nobilitie of England were slaine Gilbert Earle of Glocester Robert Lord Clifford the Lord Giles Argentine whose death Bruse much lamented for the great loue that was betweene thē afore-time in England the Lord Panie Tiptost the Lord William Marshall the Lord Reginold Damiecourt the Lord Edmond de Manley the kings Steward with other to the number of forty two Of knights threescore and seuen The Earle of Hereford the Lord Iohn Seagraue and others to the number of two and twentie men of name were taken prisoners Of the Scots were slaine about foure thousand amongst whom Sir William Weapont and Sir Walter Ros were the principall men of account This was the most notable victorie that euer the Scots had ouer the Englishmen which came to passe only by the misguiding and want of experience in their leaders and captaines presuming ouer much of their aduantage in number furniture of weapons neither were they so circumspect as it behoued them to be in the discouery of aduātage or disaduantage which the plot of ground where the battel was fought might afford to the one side more then to the other For they might haue coniectured euen by Bruse his abiding in the field with so small a power against so great a puissance being of Englishmē more then two to one Scot that he relied more vpon the successe of his hidden deceipts then of his owne strength This battell was fought on Midsummer day in the yeare 1314. Here-upon Striueling Castle was rendred vp Bruse his wife was vpon exchange sent home hauing beene in England about eight yeares After Bruse had thus fortunatlie recouered his kingdome he was by generall consent of his subiects confirmed and established in the same The Crowne was intailed vpon the heyres Males of his bodie lawfully begotten and for want of such issue to remaine to his brother Edward Bruse and the Heyres Males of his bodie and for default thereof the same should descend vpon the Ladie Margery the Kings eldest daughter whome onelie hee begat on his first wife sister to the Earle of Mar. Which Lady by the aduice of his Noblemen was bestowed in marriage on Walter high Steward of Scotland on whose posteritie the Crowne shortlie after descended and in the same familie continueth till this day taking that surname of the office which theyr Ancestors bare and was first bestowed on Walter the sonne of Fleance by King Malcolme Cammore for his notable seruice against the Rebelles of Galloway What thorough the losse of so many mens liues and the domage which our Nation susteyned at this last battell and the great dearth and death of man and beast that thorough the vnseasonable state of those times continued for the space of three yeares after small resistance or none at all was made against the Scots who taking the benefit of this aduantage ceassed not exceedinglie to annoye and trouble the Realme by their continuall incursions Hereof Pope Iohn the 22. taking compassion at the Kings sute sent ouer two Cardinalles Gancellino his Chancellor and Lucas de Frisco to mediate a peace betweene the two Nations But king Robert held it yet out of season to hearken thereunto hauing as he tooke it not sufficiently beene satisfied for his former losses and displeasures Whereupon these iollie Chaplaines proceeded against him with all extremitie denouncing him and all his fautors accursed and putting his kingdome whereof they accounted him but a vsurper vnder interdiction But all these bumbaced skarre-crowes nothing abated king Roberts corage who still following his good hap while the time best serued for it held on his former course so eagerlie as that in short time hee recouered the Castles and townes of Harbottle Warke Medford and Berwicke which last it is said was betrayed by Peter Spalding the Gouernor hauing remained English one and twenty yeares together Neither would king Robert limit his kingdome by the ancient boundes but inlarged the same euen vnto New-castle vpon Tine At this time also the Scots obtained diuers victories in Ireland thorough the manhood of Edward Bruse their kings brother who neuerthelesse in the end was slaine in battell and aboue fiue thousand Scots with him His head was brought ouer and presented to king Edward by Iohn Birmingha◠for the which good seruice now and at 〈◊〉 other times in Ireland the king gaue him the Earledome of Lowth to him his heyres Males and the Baronie of Athird to him and his heires generally of his body begotten The realme of England now being somewhat recouered of the hard estate it stood in the last three yeares King Edward was desirous to make triall if happily he might rubbe out the blemish of the late blowe receiued of his enemies in Scotland Hauing therefore assembled his Armie at Yorke who for the more patt were handy-crafts men and Artificers passing from thence he layde siege to Berwicke The Scottes in the meane time vnder the conduct of Thomas Randolph entring England on the other side put all to fire and sword little resistance being made against them for those countries lay well neere desolate since their inuasion the yeare before The Archbishop of Yorke could not indure the enimies approach so neere him being now come within two or three dayes marche of the Citie and therefore assembling such people as for the present hee could get men that were readiest at his command hee aduentured like a bold Champion to encounter the Scots of whom ouer-late he learned this lesson Ne sutor vltra crepidam For the greater number of these gallants some two thousand were knockt downe before they saw their enimies who by setting certaine Haystackes on fire and taking the winde of them were vpon them ere they knew what it meant The Archbishop and the Bishop of Elye Lord Chancellor with the Abbot of Selby escaped by flight but Nicholas Fleming the Maire of Yorke that stucke better to it was slaine This hapned on the 12 of October 1319. at a place called Mitton vpon Swaile And because this armie consisted most of Surplisse men it was in derision called the white battaile but most of them found it a black daie King Edward feareing least the Scotts intended some further mischiefe brake vp his siege and returned to Yorke where vnderstanding that the enemy was with-drawne home-ward he likewise tooke his way towards London The next yeare passed ouer without any stirring on either side the rather because the two Kings were disquieted at home by their owne subiects In the meane time at the procurement of King Edward the Pope sent hyther his leaden bulles which aduantaged him their weight in gold for hee is the best alchimist in Europe to the Archbishops of Canterburie and Yorke commanding them that vnlesse the Scottish king would fourth-with make satisfaction for the wronges done to the realme as well concerning the state ecclesiasticall as temporall they should proceede to the denouncing of sentence against him and all his adherentes But the Scottes made
no reckning of the holie Fathers threates wherevpon the Bishoppes published his terrible execrations against them so as King Robert Iames Dowglasse and Thomas Randolfe with all their partakers were at euerie masse thorough out England solemlie accursed three times Neuerthelesse the next yeare the Scottes inuaded the land againe a fresh so that all this cost and coniuration little or nothing auailed One companie vnder the conduct of the Earle of Murry assailed the Bishopricke of Durham An other was leade by Iames Dowglasse and the Lord Steward of Scotland who also deuiding themselues the one companie wasted the Country towardes Hartlepoole and Cleueland the other intended as much to Richmonde where the townes-men to redeeme their peace departed with a good round some of mony payed vnto them as they had done also latelie before While the Scottes tooke their pleasure in this manner in the North partes for the space of fiueteene daies the gentlemen there about repayred to Pomfret to the Earle of Lancaster offring to ioyne with him against the enemie but the Earle was not disposed to aduenture his life in the quarell of him who as he tooke it had done him much wrong But howe true soeuer that was most certaine it is that he both wronged himselfe and highlie offended his Soueraigne in taking armes against him shortly after which cost him no lesse price then the losse of his life as it bee fell to diuerse others his partakers at the battaile at Borowgh-bridge the sixteene daie of March 1321. This Earle was the greatest in title and possessions that euer yet was in England for hee was together inuested with the Earldomes of Lancaster Lincolne Leicester Derbie and Salisburie So as if hee had continued faithfull to his Prince hee might haue beene a great ayde vnto him and the realme but contrarywise as it hath beene often since seene in this land his greatnesse made him an enemie both to King and country as appeared by diuerse letters out of Scotland intercepted in their carriage hither to the Lords of his confederacie which were openly read and published afterwards in London During these troubles the Scots and French-men ceased not to molest the realme on both sides for King Robert about Midsomer following entred by the West Marches as farre as Kendall and from thence thorow Lancashire to Prestone in Andernesse burning and wasting all that stood in their way foure-score miles within the land and hauing taken their pleasure for the space of three weekes returned home without battaile The King of England being thus molested by their continuall incursions hauing also sent his Brother Edmond Earle of Kent ouer into Gâ—yenne for the defence thereof against the French-men passed yet once againe into Scotland King Robert vnderstanding what great preparation was made and in readinesse for to come against him thought it not fitte to hazard his estate being now brought to the height of his desires vpon the tickle successe of a battaile or two and therefore hee caused all the Cattle and Sheepe in the countrie to bee driuen vp to the Mountaines and what-so-euer else might serue the Englishmen to any good vse was either bestowed in some place of strength or else made vnfitte for any purpose Hee with his horse-men with-drew them-selues further into the land then that it should stand with the safetie of his enimies to approach them Hereby it came to passe that when King Edward was come to Edenborough hee was forced for want of victuals and other necessaries which bred many diseases amongst his people within fifteene dayes after his entrie into Scotland to returne home-wardes hauing onely by assault taken Norham Castell King Robert vnderstanding how much the English Armie was weakned by the great mortalitie of the common souldiours ouer-passed not so fitte an opportunitie but with all speed pursued the Englishmen wasting and spoiling the land euen as farre as Yorke and hauing gotten knowledge that king Edward was then at the Abbey of Beighland hee so couertly conducted his Armie thither as that setting on his enimies at vnawares he put them all to flight the king himselfe hardly escaping their hands In this conflict for some small resistance was made such as their short warning would afford The Lord Iohn Britaine Earle of Richmonde was taken prisoner besides diuers other of the inferiour sort The kings treasure and furniture with all the prouision and preparation pertayning to the host was either spoyled or caried away This hapned about the twelft of October anno 1322. After this defeature the Scottes passed further into the land comming to Beuerley the towns-men gaue them a summe of money wherewith they bought their peace hauing now remained in England a month foure daies they returned from thence home-wards King Edward now despairing of any better successe in time to come and withall foreseeing what trouble was likely to arise within his owne realme as afterwards came to passe sought meanes to obtayne peace with Scotland which in the end was yeelded vnto and the same to endure for thirteene years about the tenth of Iuly in the yeare following it was proclamed in the chiefe citties townes of both Nations The Scottes were also now content to be reconciled to the Pope hauing first recouered obtayned in England whatsoeuer they well-nere desired At the same time the league was renewed with Charles the French King lately then come to his Crowne with an addition to the former articles viz that if at any time after controuersie should arise about the succession and right to the Crowne of Scotland the same should be heard and determined by the Nobility and peeres of those two Nations onely King Edward hauing obtained peace with Scotland the French King beganne to quarell with him for default of his personall apearance being summoned therevnto to acknowledge his homage for the duchie of Aquitaine and the country of Poytou vpon which occasion the Queene his wife and the Prince of Walles were sent into France to treate with the king her brother of an agreement betweene him her husband which she effected Neuerthelesse whether she was staied their against her will vpon some complaint made of her husband or that she could not happily indure the two Spencers who were then in greatest estimation with him it seemed she had no great desire to returne into England which being perceiued or rather plotted by diuers of the Nobility and others fauoring her part more then the kings they daylie passed ouer vnto her by whom beeing brought into England the greater number forsooke the King and ioyned themselues with the Queene and her Sonne into whose handes he was thereby forced in the ende to resigne his Crowne and Scepter and shortlie after to yeeld his bodie to the violence of his cruell tormentors who beereaued him of life as the others did of lybertie hauing raigned neere twentie yeares Such was the ende of this vnfortunate King by whose misgouernment the Realme was greatlie impouerished and weakned
hauing beene the destruction of so many noble personages and others of good account For besides those that were slaine in the warres will 〈…〉 with neere thirtie Noblemen and Knights at one time or other were by order of law beheaded and executed This king Edward being thus vnnaturally deposed his Son of the same name about the age of fourteene yeares began his raigne in Ianuarie in the yeare 1326. The night following the Scots purposing to haue giuen the yong King a cooling card now in the beginning of his iolity attempted by treason to haue taken the Castle of Norham But Robert Mannors the Captaine thereof beeing made aforehand acquainted with the practise by 〈◊〉 one of his owne souldiers so handled the matter that when some 16. of them had mounted the walles he sodainely fell vpon them slew nine or ten and tooke the rest prisoners The Scots deemed this vâ—fortunate beginning a presagement of the like successe thorough his whole raigne which came to passe accordinglie For he was the greatest scourge to that nation of any king of England either before or after him as in the processe of the historie shall appeare Notwithstanding this hard beginning king Robert thought it not good to let this land coÌ„tinue quiet but rather while the king was yong vnfit to manage the affaires of war in his own person to get what aduantage he could thereby so to be still afore-hand And if that â—ourse should happeÌ„ not to fall out according to his expectation hee hoped by the helpe of his faithful ally the French king so to work with the kings mother who gouerned and disposed of al things at her pleasure during his minority that at any time hee might obtaine peace with England at his owne liking About the beginning therfore of Iuly following king Robert committed his armie being now not wel able thorough the infirmities of age to vndertake that charge himselfe to three Captaines of especiall trust approued valiancy namelie Thomas Randolfe Earle of Murrey Iames Lord Dowglasse the Earle of Mar his brother in law consisting of aboue twenty thousand horsemen well furnished at all points King Edward beeing aduertised hereof prepared to make resistance hauing assembled his forces at Yorke hee stayed there the longer by reason of a treaty of peace solicited by the Scotish Ambassadors but when the king perceiued hee lost time there to no purpose departing thence hee approched his enemies that were lodged in the Woodes in Stanop Parke so as it was thought hee had them at a great aduantage But thorough the Treacherie as it was said of the Lord Roger Mortimer after they had been pend vp and well neere famished they did not onely finde a way out but some two hundred of them vnder the leading of the Lord Dowglasse in the night season desperatelie assayled that part of the English campe where the king him selfe was â—udged missing not much of either taking or slaying of him but fearing least they should haue beene inclosed beeing now in the myddest of their enemies they made the more hast to be gonne hauing done as much harme as the time would suffer them For as it was sayd they slewe two or three hundred of the common souldiours The Earle of Lancaster and the Lord Iohn Beumont of Heynault who with twelue hundred men of his country serued the King in this iorney would willingly haue pursued the Scottes ouer the water of Wier but that thorough the frowardnesse of Mortimer pretending a right to the leading of the fore-ward and giuing the first onset though happilie hee had no such meaning they could not bee suffered to proceede Wheresoeuer the fault was nothing was further attempted at this time wherewith the King was much displeased The Scottes beeing glad they had escaped that daunger made as much hast home as they could The next winter they besiedged the Castells of Norham and Anwicke but to their losse for at the assault of Anwicke diuerse of them were slaine amongst whome William de Mounthault Iohn Clappam and Malicius de Dumbarre were of best account The next Sommer aboue Pentecoste King Edward at a Parliament held at Northampton thorough the working of Mortimer the Queene agreed to a dishonorable peace with the Scottes whereby the King of Scotland receiued into his handes all those ancient writings whereby his predecessors the kings of Scotland and the Nobility had aforetime vnder their hands seales acknowledged homage and fealty to the Kings of England amongst the rest one of principall account called Ragman togither with a blacke Crosier or Roode besides diuerse other iewells somtime belonging to the kings of Scotland caried from thence into England Further King Edward hereat resigned al his right title to the crowne of Scotland and that no Englishmen should from thence-forth hold and inioye any landes or possessions their except such as would remaine their altogither and become subiectes to the Kings of Scotland Finallie it was agreed that Northumberland should thence-forth bee reputed the Marches of Scotland on the East-side and Cumberland on the West-side In consideration of the premises as also for the great damage done to this Realme by the Scottes during the raigne of the late King King Robert couenanted to giue to the King of England thirtie thousand markes sterling For the more assurance and full ratification of this finall agreement of peace betweene the two nations a marriage was then concluded and afterward solemnized betweene the Lady Iane King Edwards Sister and Prince Dauid of Scotland When King Robert had thus politikelie brought to passe a firme peace with England euen to his owne liking and hearts desire hee betooke himselfe to a priuate life and by reason of his great age he committed the gouernment of his kingdome as before in some sort hee had done to the Earle of Murrey and the Lord Dowglasse and then hauing worne out one yeare more hee dyed in the yeare of our saluation 1329. leauing his kingdome to his sonne a child about eight yeares old by reason whereof both the one and the other by generall consent was committed to the protection and direction of the Earle of Murrey Here it is requisite I should answer a notorious vntrueth wherewith the Scotish writers doe most vniustly charge the King of England viz That he should sâ—â—d a Munke into Scotland vnder the colour of ministring phisick to poyson the Gouernor and because he had not dispatched his businesse in so short time as hee promised therefore King Edward caused him to be burned aliue All this should bee done they write in the yeare 1331. two yeares after the death of King Robert in which the gouernor also deceased on the 20. day of Iuly I would first know what should mooue the King of England to seeke the destruction of him more then of any man else in that Realme because forsooth hee alone was the confounder of all the hope which the king conceiued to be sometimes able to
atchieue any fortunate interprise against the Scots As though all that nation could not afford his fellowe That hee was the very Atlas and supporter of their happy estate True it is that the deceassed king had reason to commit more trust to him then to anie other of whose loyalty and sufficiencie he had not the like tryall But it followeth not thereof that if king Edward could dispatch him out off the waie there had beene none left to haue resisted his attempts against that nation But admit he was the man they make him it is well knowne that King Edward being then not much aboue eighteene yeares old was not only ouer yong to contriue such a practise but was then still directed by his Mother Queene Isabel so consequently by Mortimer Earle of March her chiefe Counsellor both so great fauourers and maintainers of the peace with Scotland as that hee lost his life shortlie after for the same It is further affirmed That this Monke stealing secretlie out off Scotland assured the King that the Gouernor could not possiblie liue beyond a prefixed day in which time the poyson was to worke his effect and that King Edward presuming thereof gathered a mightie and puissant armie wherewith comming to the borders hee purposed to inuade Scotland had he not knowne when he came thyther that the gouernour was not only lyuing but ready in armes to haue resisted his approach Now of all this preparation and iourney there is not one word to be found amongst all our Croniclers But to the contrarie it appeareth that besideÌ„s the coÌ„firmation of the former peace vpon the admittance of this Earle to the Regency the sommer next before his death was so vnseasonable as that it caused a great dearth in England all the yeare following so as it was impossible to make prouision for such an army neither could those more Northen partes afford it of their owne store For it is sayd that in some places of the realme especiallie North-wards by reason of the coldnesse of that climate wheate was not gathered into the barne till hallontide nor pease vntill the ende of Nouember Moreouer King Edward wâ—s in France well neere all the month of Aprill next before the gouernours death and after his returne thence hee had so little meaning to make preparation of warre as that hee held solemne iustes and turney at Dert-forde which exercises hee renewed againe at London in September following How can all this agree with the surmised preparation of warre with Scotland at that time Now to the last poynt touching the burning of this Monke whereof some of them for the vnlike-lihood-haue not spoken it is incredible that a religious man a deuout Monke as they were then accounted should bee either murthered or executed for not keeping promise in the performance of an vnlawfull and vnchristian act But where when on whome or by whome was this vnusuall execution made to no one of these interrogatories doth any man answere saue that hee was a Monke or begging Frier For they will not vouchsafe to giue him other name though hee had beene a long time verie familier in the gouernors house These bee therefore great slaunders farre vnbeseeming the reputation of him that not long sence hath made no conscience to report the most part of this fable for a truth This yeare Roger Mortimer Earle of March was attaynted of high treason and executed for the same on Saint Andrewes eauen Amongst other matters where-with hee was charged hee was found giltie of secrete practise with the Scottes at Stanhope-parke whereby they escaped as is aforesaid and that hee receiued there of the Lord Iames Dowglas a great summe of money for the good seruice done by him at that time and to bee still continewed towardes that Nation whilest his authoritie should stand them insteede Hereby also afterwardes hee brought to passe that vnaduised peace with the Scottes at Northampton as is before declared About this time Edward Balliol thorough the perswasion of Laurence Twine a Scotish fugitiue came ouer out off France where hee had alwayes liued before to intreat the King of England to assist him in the recouery of his right to the Crowne of Scotland which was giuen by a ward vnto Iohn Balliol by king Edward the first promising withall that if it were his good hap to attaine it he would acknowledge to hold the same in manner as his Grand-father held it of the others Grand-father But before this motion was made to the king of England Balliol sought the fauour of the Lord Henry Beumont a Frenchman borne that had maried the daughter and heyre of the Earle Buquhan and likewise of the Lord William Cumine the lord Dauid of Strabouee Earle of Atholl and the lord Geffrey de Mowbraie These and some others that were banished the Realme of Scotland by the late King Robert le Bruse now liued in England hauing in hope of preferment ioyned heartes handes with Balliol in this quarell obtained this fauour of king Edward that as many of his subiects as of themselues were willing to assist them in this enterprise should haue good leaue to follow them therein For though the young king of Scots had beene affianced vnto king Edwards sister who in respect of that alliance should not haue beene easilie drawne into this action neuerthelesse he held himselfe so mâ—ch disgraced and absued in his minority by the deceitful practise of Mortimer that nothing now pleased him that together with that mariage was then yeelded vnto at that dishonorable composition made with the Scottish king at Northampton as before you haue heard Neither was that contract of marriage so firme but if either partie misliked thereof when they should come to lawfull age of consent the same might safely bee dissolued Edward Balliol hauing now assembled by the helpe of the other two Scottish Lordes his confederates some foure hundred horse and about two thousand Archers and other footemen tooke shipping at Rauen-spurne in Holdernesse from thence directing his course North-ward hee entred into the Scottish fourth and arriued neere to the towne Kingorne on the first daie of August where being incountred by Alexander Seaton hee slew him in the field together with the greater number of his people and put the residewe to flight This good beeginning put such corage into these venterous companions in armes fighting for no lesse then a kingdome that with in some fewe daies after their forces beeing now increased to the number of about ten thousand one and other they attempted to assaile the Earle of Muerry then Regent of Scotland by night where hee laie incamped in the middest of his armie the same beeing ouer great otherwise to bee delt withall and tooke him on such a sodaine that they put him to flight making great slaughter vpon his people The next day the fight was renewed on both sides but in the ende the victory fell to Balliol This battaile was fought at Dueplin on the
thirteenth day of the same mōth wherein was slaine nowe and the night before besides the Regent himselfe Robert Bruse Earle of Carricke William Haie Constable and Robert Keithe Marshall of Scotland with diuerse other Lords and Leardes of good account in the whole to the number of aboue fiue thousand Hereupon diuerse of the Scottish Nobility submytting themselues to Balliol hee was forthwith proclamed and on the 25. day of this present month of August crowned King of Scotland in the yeare of our Lord GOD 1332. This his fortunate successe hauing within lesse then a month attayned a Kingdome greatlie daunted the aduerse partie who presently thereupon conuaied the young king together with his wife for their more safty into France hoping that by the helpe of Philip the French king his fathers especiall friend while he liued he should one day inioy his kingdome which for the present was thus vsurped by his aduersarie To which end his fauoreres in the meane time neuer ceased to oppose themselues against Balliol in so much as in December following they droue him out of Scotland forceing him to with-drawe himselfe into Westmerland where hee was honorablie entertayned of the Lord Clifford in requitall whereof hee promised that when hee was once established in his Kingdome hee would giue him Dowglasse-daile in as ample manner as his Ancestour had the same of the gift of King Edward the first which afterwardes hee performed accordinglie Balliol hauing renewed his forces in England about the beginning of the next yeare though King Edward would not openlie shewe himselfe a partie therein layed siedge to the towne of Berwike at which time the Brusian Scottes entred into Gelsland by the West Marches wasting the Countrie where they passed along The King of England being aduertised therof-thought himselfe sufficiently discharged there by of his promise passed aforetime to young Bruse but hee might better haue pleaded his nonage at the making thereof and therefore tooke it to bee nowe lawfull enough openlie to aide his Cousin Balliol in the recouerie of his pretended title to the Crowne of Scotland It is not to bee doubted but King Edward would not in this case haue preferred Balliol before Bruse who besides that hee had married his Sister was also in bloud nearer vnto him then the other had hee not hoped as it came to passe to take vp the controuersie betweene them to his owne aduantage Hauing therefore assembled a strong army hee came therewith to the siedge of Berwicke together with his brother Iohn of Eltham Earle of Cornewall and gaue assault to the same both by Land and sea The towne after it had beene besiedged about three monthes was not able longer to hold out which beeing well knowne to Archibald Dowglasse the new elected gouernour and head of the Brusian faction hee approched the assailants with all the power hee could make resoluing with himselfe against the aduice of the better experienced to try it out by dint of sword with out any more stay Being come within the view both of his friends and foes he imbattayled his army in three companies on a hill directly ouer against the English host which had the like aduantage of ground also After some pause the armies on both sides descended one towards the other At the first incounter the Englishmen of purpose giuing ground the Scottes pursued them so egarlie as that by recouering their former aduantage they did beate them downe-right before them so that what in fight and slight the slaughter was very great For besides their generall three valiant Gentlemen the Sonnes of Walter Steward Vncles to him that succeeded the Brusian linage in Scotland the Earles of Rosse Southerland and Carrike Andrewe Iames and Simon Frasier all well neere of the better sort to the number of aboue foure hundred were slaine in the battaile but of the common souldiers not so fewe as fourteene thousand This bloudie battaile was fought at Halidon hill besides Berwike on Mary Magdalines day in the yeare of our Lord 1333. Immediatly vpon this ouerthrowe Alexander Seaton and Patrike Dumbar despayring of any succour yeelded vp the towne and Castle to king Edward life and goods only reserued and binding themselues by oth thence-forth to become his true subiects Patrike Dūbar was further inioyned to re-edifie the Castell of Dumbar at his owne charge hauing latelie before throwne it downe because hee was vnable to defend it against the Englishmen readie to assault the same VVhat credit is here to be giuen to Hector Boetius charging King Edward to haue vniustlie executed two Sonnes of Sir Alexander Seatons the one a pleadge the other a prisonner because hee would not yeelde vp the towne at the approach of the gouernour I leaue it to the consideration of the indifferent reader For mine owne part I cannot but hold him much suspected his report alone carrying so little showe of truth for as it seemeth by the Scottish Cronicle Patrike Dumbar had as great a commaunde in Berwike as the other whose consent alone could not haue effected King Edwards desire so as hee might haue laied the fault vpon his companion and fellowe Comissioner in the gouernment of the towne and thereby haue iustly excused himselfe neither surely would hee haue brooked so great an iniurie at the kings hands much lesse euer haue acknowledged and continewed his sworne allegiance vnto him if hee had had the least sparke of that spirit wherewith Buchanan feyneth his wife to be possessed vpon that occasion The King of England after this his first and fortunate battaile in Scotland leauing sufficient forces behinde him with the Lord Richard Tailbote wherwith to aide Balliol in the pursute of this warre returned home-wards Balliol being thus strengthned passed at his pleasure thorough Scotland placing Englishmen and others his partakers in garrison in the greater number of the Castells fortresses of that Realme and in a Parliament called at Perthe in September following hee was further confirmed King of Scotland diuerse of the Scottish Nobility there assembled binding themselues by othes to continew his loyall and faithfull subiects Hereat hee repealed all such actes and graunts which Robert Bruse late King of Scotland had ratified for the disposing of the Lands and possessions of sundry Scottish Lords at his pleasure which were now restored to their former possessors acknowledging their allegiance and homages vnto him for the same After the purification of the Virgine Mary King Edward repayred to Yorke where Balliol by appoyntment should haue met him to haue don homage and fealty vnto him but because he feared to be surprised in his passage by his aduersaries hee sent his excuse by the Lord Henry Beumont and the Lord William de Montaigne The king therefore passing further Northwards held his VVhitsontide at Newcastell vpon Tine with great royaltie whether the Scottish king repayred and there did homage vnto king Edward for the Realme of Scotland and also sweare fealtie vnto him as to the superior Lord ouer the same
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
Dauids daies For such was the curtisie and friendly behauiour of Edward towaâ—ds the two captiue Kings of France and Scotland while they remained togither in England as that thereby hee won their loue and fauor foreuer after as appeared by their repaire hither to visit the King and Queene and to recreate and solace themselues in their company And thus it came to passe that their captiuitie here turned more to their owne aduantage and the peaciable enioying of their estats afâ—er the same then if it had neuer hapned vnto them King Dauid beeing dead without issue of his bodie Robert Steward his Sisters Sonne by the Generall consent of all the estates was crowned King of Scotland in the yeare of our Lord. 1370. Here ended the posterity of Malcolm Cammore in the Masculine line which had continewed two hundred threescore and eighteene yeares and was transferred to an other ancient house of the Scottish Nation which in the beginning of the raigne of this King Malcolm tooke the surname Steward on them vpon the office which their auncestour their bare as before I haue touched and this family hath euer since borne the Crowne of Scotland euen vnto this day The league which was before made with his Vncle the deceased King was now renewed for foureteene yeares But immediatly vpon the Coronation of King Richard the second Sonne to that valiant Prince surnamed Blacke both the Father and grand-father beeing dead in the yeare of our Lord 1377. King Robert was so earnestly labored by Ambassadours out of France to make warre vpon England thereby to purchase vnto King Charles their Maister the more quietnesse at home that forth-with preparation was made to put his 〈◊〉 in execution And first vnâ—â—â—â— colour ascending reuenge on the English borderers for the death of a seruant of George Earle of Dumbarâ—â— that by occasion of some drunken fraye the yeare before was slaine at Roxbrugh faire the said Earle together with his broâ—her the Earle of Murrey gathering a powre came secretly to the towne the next Fayre-day slew all the Englishmen they found thereat carried away their goods and set the towne on fire 〈◊〉 his outragious demeanour of these Scotts Henry Percie Earle of Northumberland entred into Scotland with ten thousand men and tooke sufficient reuenge on the Earle of Marche and others the chiefe authors of the former fact Amongst the rest Sir Iohn Gordon tooke himselfe much iniured by this inuasion who therefore making a road into England got together a great bootie In his returne home-ward he was set vpon by the Englishmen but after a long fight they were finally discomfited and their Captaine Sir Iohn Lylborne with his brother and diuers other were taken prisonâ—â—s and carried into Scotland Sir Iohn Gordon was so incouraged here-with as that shortly after he together with Sir Alexander Ramsey and fortie other chosen men fittest to enterprise such a difficultie aâ—out the latter end of Nouember in the deaâ—â—â—â—â—e of the night being come to Berwicke â—â—d â—auing mounted the walles slew the watchmen while they were sleeping and thereby became Maisters of the Castell Sir Robert Boyntone Constable thereof and such as were with him being ouer-few vpon that disaduantage to repulse the enemie were all slaine in their owne defence Not-with-standing they permitted his wife children and some fewe of their seruants to depart on condition that within three weekes after they should eyther send for their ransome three thousand Markes or else yeeld their bodies againe The next morning the Scottes issuing out of the Castell before it was knowne what was hapned brought with them into it a droue of Cattle which were pasturing there-about The Earle of Northumberland being aduertised hereof hasted thither with foure hundred men well appointed by whome the Castell was againe recouered by force within two houres nine dayes after the taking of the same The Scottes were all slaine by the assailiants either in the defence of the Castle or of their persons after they were entred Alexander Ramsey onely excepted whom they reserued by his libertie to redeeme the ransome promised before to the Scottes for the wife and childreÌ„ of Captaine Boyntone These things thus passed in the yeare 1378. The pestilence so afflicted the North parts of England all the summer following as that a great part of those countries lay well neere desolate not-with-standing the Scotts ceased not daily to make roades into the land catching vp and carrying away what-so-euer 〈◊〉 into their greedy clawes so as the very heards of swine where-with before they would neuer deale were now accounted a good booty Further the Earle Dowglasse with some twentie thousand Scots entred into Penner on the Faire day sacked the towne and then set it on fire but the people saued them-selues by running away The Scots paide very deare for those commodities For there-with all they carried home with them an infection of the plague whereof in the two years next following so great a number died being spred well nere ouer the whole land as the like was neuer before knowne in Scotland In further reuenge of this out-rage committed at Penner the Englishmen shortly after entred into Scotland ouer Sufway putting all to the sword that made resistance and hauing gotten a great booty together in tâ—eir returne they lodged in a strait valley neere to the confines of England which aduantage being espied by the Scots that pursued them they suddenly in the night fell vpon them slew a great number and put the rest to flight and so recouered their goods againe while in the meane season the warre continued very hotely by land and sea betweene England and France Iohn Duke of Lancaster the kings Vncle laboured a peace with the Scots which was concluded to indure three yeâ—â—es The truce replied Archibald Dowlasse together with the Earles Dowglasse and Dunbar vnderstanding that the Castell of Lochemaben was vnprouided of men and victuals necessary for the defence thereof so sharplie assailed the same as that the Captaine thereof Sir William Featherstone hauing in the meane â—â—â—e receiued no ayde out of England as hee expected vpon knowledge giuen to the wardens of the English Marches in what state it stood at the end of eight daies according to composition he surrendred the Castle into their possessioÌ„ which incontinently was cast downe flatt to the ground Herevpon the Baron of Graystock with a new supply of men and victuals was appointed to releeue the Castle of Roxbrough least it should be taken vnprouided as the former But the Earle of March hauing gotten knowledge thereof lay priuily in waite for the Englishmen tooke the Baron prisoner and caried him with his charge to Dunbar The Scots about this time tooke also the Castle of Warke and set it on fire King Richard being not a little discontented with this their fortunate proceedings sent the Duke of Lancaster with a great powre into ScotlaÌ„d hauing now appeased his troubles at home raised by the seditious rebels of Northfolke other
places and also taken truce with France But the army staid so long where they were incamped within 3. miles of Edenbrugh that when they came thither they found nothing but bare walls wherat the coÌ„mon soldiors not a little repined The Scots had caried their goods to the woods mountaines such places of security while the Englishmen in the meane time were greeuouslie afflicted with vehement cold weather and raine that extraordinarily chanced at that season being about the tenth of Aprill and the more because before their comming to Edenbrough they had incamped themselues for their better safetie in a lowe marish ground which killed aboue 500. of their horses for seruice and bred diseases amongst the souldiours Neither had the English Nauie any better successe at this time for the Marriners thorough want of good gouernment ouer-boldly aduenturing to goe on land for the desire of pillage and spoile were in the end encountred by the Scottes and so hotely pursued as that a great number of them were slaine and the rest hardly escaped to their shippes The English Armie was no sooner out of Scotland but that the Earle Dowglasse by his industrie and courage presently recouered all the places of strength in Tiuidale out of the possession of the Englishmen which till then they had hold euer since the battaile besides Dutham All this summer season was spent with continuall roades by the one nation and the other to the small aduantage of either In the meane time messengers were sent to aduertise the Scottes of an abstinence of warre for a season betweene the three nations France England and Scotland which was obserued on all sides The truce ended the Scots tooke by force the castell of Burwicke But the Earle of Northumberland to whom the keepeing therof was committed was thereby so much touched in credit that presently gathering the power of those partes he so egarly assailed the â—â—â—ttes within it as that they were constrained to come to composition with the Earle and so for two thousand markes the Castell was surâ—endred they departed The yeare next following viz. 1385. Monsieur de vian Earle of Valentinois admiral of the fleet was sent by the French King into Scotland with two hundred and fortie ships furnished with men munition all things necessary pertayning to warre theâ— were some two thousand footemen an hundred launces two hundred crosbowes and pay for them for sixe monthes Amongst other presentes which the French king sent to the Noblemen of Scotland he bestowed on king Robert forty compleate aâ—moures to bee disposed at his pleasure The Scottes being thus strengthned prepared forth-with to inuade England The whole army consisted of fiftie thousand men ouer whom the Earle of Fife Sonne to king Robert was made Generall beeing accompained with the Earles Dowglas and Marche and diuerse other of the Scottish Nobility At their first entrie they tooke the Castells of Warke Fourd and Cornâ—â—ll and ouer ran the Country lieing betweene Berwike and 〈…〉 In the meane time king Râ—chard had sent before him the Duke of Lancaster with a conuenient power to restraine them from doing further harme who hearing of the approach of the Englishmen withdrow themselues homeward The King in the meane time making all the hast that possiblie hee could after the Duke entred together into Scotland passing thorow the countries of Mers and Lothian they burned and spoyled all the townes villages and buildings that stood in their way as well religious as other At his comming to Edenbrugh finding the towne empty hee soothe houses on fier which together with the Church of Saint Gyles were consumed to ashes But at the ernest request of the Duke of Lanâ—â—ster Holi-roode house was preserued for the great fauour the Duke had found there during the late commotion in England King Richard hauing remayned about Edenbrugh fiue dayes returned without proffer of battaile or any encounter to speake of Monsieur de vian was very ernest with the Scottish Lords to haue aduentured a battaile but being carried to the toppe of â—o hill fâ—om whence he might discouer the order and puissance of the English armie he changed his mind Herevpon they resolued to inuade England on an other quarter while the Englishmen â—â—oke there pleasure in the â—â—paâ—tes passing â—â—â—â—â—fore ouer the mountayns they entred into Cumberâ—â—â—d assaulted the Citty of Carliel but finding them-selues vnable to preuaile there they turned home-wardes feareing least they should haue beene encountred with the English armie which had falne out accordingly if the King would haue beene aduised by the Duke his vncle But the Earle of Oxford who stood more in the Kings grace had put such a ielosie into his head of the Dukes meaning therein towards him as that he was drawne from liking of that course and soe tooke his way home-ward The Scottes hauing on the other side donne what harme they could returned likewise into Scotland but because the same was not answerable to the domage they receaued King Robert was so much offended with the Frenchmen at whose hands he exspected greater matters as that he sent them home lighter laden then they came by the wayght of all that was worth the takeing from them in part of recompence for the losses sustayned in this iorney which was vnderâ—aken at their earnest sute and entrety Thus they parted not in soe good tearmes as they were entertayned with all at there arriuall into Scotland The Scottish wryters attibute the cause of these iarres and discontentments amongst them to the lasciuious and imperious demeanour of the Frenchmen according to their vsuall manner where-so-euer they serue out of their owne country whereof the common people especially complayned more then of any iniurie offered them by their professed enemies the Englishmen The Scottes within two yeares after vnderstanding what troubles were arising in England thought it a fitt time wherein to bee reuenged for the damages lately sustained Wherfore about the beginning of August there assembled at Iedworth to the number of betweene thirtie and forty thousand Heere they vnderstood by an English espyall whom they tooke that the Earle of Northumberland intended to inuade Scotland on the one side as they did the like here on the other Therfore hauing a sufficient number to make two armies they deuided thâ—â—selues The two yonger brothers the Scottish Kings sonnes with the one part directed their course by the West marches into Cumberland â—â—â—â—ing as farre as Durham At length both these armies hauing in the meane time done what harme they could mette together about ten miles from New-castell and passing thither they besiedged that towne But the Earle of Northumberland who then commanded all those countries hauing had knowledge before of their purpose had sent thither his two sonnes the Lord Nâ—â—â—â— surnamed Hotespurre for his egar manner of riding and his brother Ralphe two 〈◊〉 â—orward Gentlemen These with the forces they carried with them 〈◊〉 those they found there so manfully defended the towne as
that the Scottes being ten thousand choise men taken out of the whole army to giue the assault were beaten backe not without losse of many of their men Amongst other feats of â—rmes done at this assault for it deserued not the â—ime of a seidge it fell out that as the Englishmen defended the barriers without the gate the Dowglasse chaunced to be matched hand to hand with the Lord Henry and by force pulled his staffe from him where-vpon in his returne hoisting it vp on high hee cried out that hee would carrie the same for his glorie into Scotland with which conquest being as it seemed for the time satisfied the next day the whole armie departed home-wardes as farre as Otterbourne about eight myles from New-castle The two Percies the next morning with more courage then discretion being as yet ouer few to incounter the enemie issued out of the towne with such speed as that they were vpon the Scottes before they were departed from their lodgings neuerthelesse vpon some knowledge giuen them of the approach of the Englishmen they were ready to receaue theÌ„ at all assaies The fight continued very hote on both sides for the space of so much of the day as remayned after their meeting and for the most part of the night following by moone-shine The EnglishmeÌ„ caused the Scottes to giue ground and withall won their standard This being perceiued Patrike Hepbourne togither with his Sonne and such forces as were vnder his charge from out of the one side and the doughtie Dowglas from another quarter with his men so proudly assailed the Englishmen as beeing not able to make resistance they were forced in the end to yeelde or saue themselues by flight This battaile was fought in the yeare 1388. The number of the Englishmen slaine as Hector Boetius reporteth were fiue hundred not without some slaughter also of the Scottes amongst whome the Earle Dowglas was of principall account hauing receiued manie mortall wounds The two Percies were taken prisoners in fight with some other of good reckoning But manie more were taken in their flight for the Scottes pursued them so egarlie in the chase as that two hundred of themselues aduenturing ouer farre were taken prisoners by the Englishmen But Buchanan doth otherwise report this iorney Viz. That after the Scottes had diuided themselues into two companies they met not againe till after the battaile of Otterbourne also that the Earle Dowglas both at the same battaile and also before at the assault of New-castell had not in his armie aboue three thousand men of all sortes whereas the two Percies brought with them to Otterbourne ten thousand choise men But herein he doth not onely disagree from the other Scottish writers but also from himselfe For saith he when the two armies parted it was agreed vpon amongst them that neither of them should attempt to encounter the Englishmen vntill both the armies were met againe each of them consisting as some report of fifteene thousand men a peece And therfore it is most vnlikely that Dowglas contrary to his former appointment against al sence would aduenture to assault Newcastell with so few as hee speaketh of or willinglie abide the comming of the Percies against the liking of the greater number of his owne people as hee reporteth It is therefore more probable that when the two Scottish armies were met againe according to their appointment the Earle Dowglas to whose onelie direction the rest referred themselues making choise of the most able men amongst them sent the residewe home-wards with such spoyle as they had gotten in this iorney vnder the conduct of the Earle of Fife and his brother the rather because the King their Father was neither acquainted with this preparation into England as beeing more inclined to peace then to warre neither knewe hee that his Sonnes were amongst them Amongst others that had the Englishmen in chase after this last conflict it fell out that Iames Lindsey a Scot hauing the aduantage of weapon and armour tooke Mathew Redman the Gouernour of Berwike prisoner whoe was presentlie dismissed vppon his oath that within twenty daies after hee would yeeld him selfe prisoner againe vnto him Iames Lindsey immediatelie returned towardes his companie which as hee tooke it he had soone after in sight But when hee was come so neare that it auayled not to retire he found them to bee a band of Englishmen attending the Bishoppe of Durham For the Bishoppe beeing come to New-castle to ioyne with the Percies according to a former appointment vnderstanding that they were the same daie gone to seeke the enemie made but small hast after them supposing by reason of their weake attendance that they would attempt nothing before his comming to their succour the next morning but in their passage that night towardes Otterburne the Bishoppe vnderstood by those that had escaped by flight that the Englishmen had alreadie fought with the Scottes and were discomfeited wherevpon returning backe againe to the towne hee incountred Lindesey thus alone When Captaine Redman had espied his late acquaintance Iames Lindsey brought to New-castell as a captiue with all curtisie hee intertayned him and vpon euen hands the one redeemed the others lybertie In like manner vpon the returne of of the Scottes home-wards the younger brother of the Percies because by reason of his wounds hee was not able to take so great iorneyes obtayned libertie to returne to Newcastell for his speedier recouerie promising that when hee should bee better able to trauell hee would at any time beeing called thereto yeeld his bodie againe Vpon the same condition saith Buchanane were sixe hundred more at that time set at lybertie to go whether they would This custome hath beene still continewed amongst the borderers of either Nation wherein if any man brake his faithfull promise the party victorer at the next day of truce signifieth the others default which is reputed so great a disgrace vnto his Captaine as that his owne alliaunce and friends will for the same cast him off for euer The next yeare while the commissioners of the three Nations England France Scotland were busied about a treatie of a permanent peace the Scottes were so well fleshed with their booty gotten the last iorney as that they entred againe into Northumberland burning and spoileing that Countrie on euerie side Against thâ—se was the Lord Thomas Mowbraie Earle of Notingham sent with fiue hundred speares but hee preuailed little or nothing against them The Scottish Nobility tasted such sweetnesse in these two last roades into England as that they were vnwilling though their king was not against it to yeeld consent to any conclusion of peace wishing nothing more then the continewance of warre betweene England and France because they fared the better by it but the matter was so ernestly labored by the Frenchmen that with much adoe they accepted of peace which was againe renewed after the death of king Robert of Scotland the yeare following Viz. 1390. And
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
vnto him if by any good meanes a firme peace and amitie with England might bee obteined tooke occasiō now in the time of truce to send for the Bishop of Durham who was shortly after admitted by king Henry to repaire into Scotland Beeing come to the kings presence after much friendly speach hee made knowne vnto him his great desire to confirme a perfect peace and vnitie with England by takeing to wife the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to the king his Maister The Bishop willingly promised his best indeuour to bring the matter to passe which about three yeares after was effected accordingly not-with-standing that in the meane season Prince Arthur the kings eldest sonne deceasing Prince Henry his brother remained onely a barre betweene her and the Crowne True it is that this Ladye was affianced and by proxie contracted to the Scottish king while Prince Arthur yet liued about sixe weekes after his marriage with the Lady Katherine of Spaine Neuer-the-lesse if king Henry had beene disposed vpon his sonnes death to haue broken and auoyded the same it had beene no difficult point for him to haue preuailed so much with the Pope who not long after dispenced in a matter of greater offence with the marriage I meane of king Henry the eight with the said Lady Katherine his brothers wife It is reported by Morgan that when the king of Englands Councell began to fore-cast some perill in this match with Scotland his Maiestie vpon good aduise answered that although that thing should come to passe hereby which they seemed to stand in doubt of namely the intitling of king Iames and his posteritie to the Crowne of England hee so little distrusted that any inconuenience should insue thereof vnto this realme as that for his part he thought nothing could happen more gratious to both nations which by that meane should be vnited and made one Monarchie And further that Scotland being much inferior in quantitie and qualitie vnto England should bee therefore reputed and held but a dependence on it as Normandie was at the time of the Conquest And lastlie when that should come to passe hee that by this mariage should be heire to both kingdomes would in his stile of regalitie preferre England before the other This was the ninth time that since the conquest the Scottish Kings haue married with the English Nation and for the more part with the bloud royall from all which some issue hath sprung two onely excepted For first Malcolme Cammoire king of Scotland married Margaret sister to Edgar Atheling whose sonne king Dauid married Mawde the Daughter and heire of Waltheolfe Earle of Northumberland whose sonne Prince Henry maried a Daughter of Earle Warham whose sonne king William married the Lady Ermangard the daughter of Richard Vicount Beaumont who was sonne to a Daughter of William the Conquerour Alexander the second their sonne married the Lady Iane Sister to King Henrie the second but had no issue by her Alexander the third his sonne married Margaret Daughter to King Henry the third whose posteritie ended in Margaret their grand-child the heire of Norway After this Dauid Bruse whose great Grand-mother was Daughter to Hugh Bohume Earle of Chester and wife to Dauid brother to King William of Scotland maried Iane Sister to King Edward the second but hee dyed with-out issue where-vpon the crowne of Scotland descended vnto the Noble and ancient familie of the Stewards the third king whereof Iames the first maried the Lady Iane Daughter of Iohn Earle of Somerset which Iames was great Grand-father to this Iames who now last of all maried the eldest Daughter of this King Henry from whom Iames the sixt now King is lineally descended in the third degree both by Father and Mother Though in the meane time none of our Kings haue maried with Scotland saue onely King Henrie the first whereby the Crowne returned to the Saxon bloud as hath beene declared yet diuers of our Nobilitie haue matched in the bloud royall of Scotland Hereby it appeareth how much that Nation hath alwayes sought to strengthen it selfe by alliance with England though France hath of late so much preuailed that therein it hath beene preferred before vs but with no very good successe as the sequell declareth During the life of King Henry which was within two months of sixe yeares after this marriage no occasion of quarrell was offered on either part but all loue and kindnesse that might bee desired passed betweene the two Kings Neither did king Henry the eight that succeeded his Father giue his brother in lawe king Iames anie iust occasion to breake friendshippe with him but it seemeth the same wholy proceeded from the subtile practise of France our ancient enemie as many times before that Nation had done the like for it hath beene euer their policie to sowe dissention betweene England and Scotland to the end they might set the king of England on worke at home fearing hee would otherwise be too busie with them This Henrie hauing with great felicity raigned neere foure and twenty yeares leaft behinde him vnto his Sonne king Henrie the eight so assured and setled a kingdome and withall such aboundance of treasure as neuer any of his predecessours did the like before him He died in the yeare of our redemption 1509. In the third yeare of this last king Henries raigne it fell out that Lewis the French king made sharpe warre on Pope Iulius in Ittalie wherevpon thorough the solicitation of Maximilian the Emperour and Ferdinand king of Spaine whose Daughter king Henrie had married by dispensation from that martiall Prelate hee was easilie drawne to ioyne with them in the Popes behalfe King Iames hauing not long before receiued manie fauoures of the French King and amongst the rest two shippes fraught with gunnes speares and all other kinde of munition for warre a good preparatiue to the practise following was thereby made more inclinable to the French faction And for a further spurre therevnto diuerse of his clergie who had likewise tasted of the liberality of king Lewis sought all occasiones where-by to prick him forward in that course This could not be compassed till such time as they had first alienated him wholie from his former affection towards England To which end the Bishoppe of Murrey a priuie man of that faction was sent to King Henrie now well-nere after nine yeares silence to demand a certaine pretious vestement and rich attire which as was pretended was giuen to the Scottish Queene by her brother Prince Arthur at his death King Henry distrusting some subtilty herein to the end hee would preuent all occasion of vnkindnesse answered that the king his brother should not onely haue at his hands that which was dewe but else whatsoeuer he desired of him The Bishoppe with this answere which was better happelie then he either wished or exspected returned home But howsoeuer King Iames regarded the message this Bishoppe was forth-with sent into France and after him certaine shippes well
further charged to warne thee not to vse the acquaintance companie or counsell of women for if thou doe otherwise it will turne to thy losse and dishonour This being said hee with-drew him-selfe backe againe into the prease When seruice was ended the king inquired earnestly for him but hee could no where bee found neither could any of the standers by of whom diuerse did narowlie obserue him meaning afterwards to haue questioned further with him feele or perceiue how or when hee passed from them Queene Margaret after the death of her husband challenged the protection of the realme as the king by his last Will and Testament disposed the same so long as shee continued a widow Being therein established first of all she wrote to king Henry her brother intreating him not onely to cease from pursuing warre further vpon Scotland beeing euen then at warre with it selfe but also to bee a defence vnto her and the infant her sonne not much aboue a yeare old against all such as happily would oppose thēselues against her Here-vnto King Henry answered that with the peaceable hee would haue peace but to the froward seditious he would be an enemy Not long after Queene Margaret hauing maried Archibald Dowglas the prime and choise man amongst all the Scotish nobility the realme began to be deuided into two mighty factions They of the Dowglassian party would haue the gouernmēt continued in the Queene because thereby the realme should still haue peace with England which at that season was a point very necessarily to be respected The aduerse party of whom the Lord Hume was the principall man pretending an ancient custome in that case importuned the election of Iohn Duke of Albanie sonne to the former Duke Alexander This gentleman for the most part had liued before in France and was wholy deuoted to the seruice of King Francis who to bind him the faster vnto him had dealt very honorably with him at his departure into Scotland Immediatly vpon his arriuall great dissention arose betwixt him and others of the Scottish Nobility but especially the Lord Hume who as before I haue touched was the chiefe meane of his preferment to that place Queene Margaret much fearing the issue hereof together with her husband and some other of that faction for her more safely repaired into England During her abode there she was deliuered at Herbottle of a Daughter the Lady Margaret Dowglas grand-mother to King Iames the sixt now king by his father as her brother King Iames the fift was his grand-father by his mother So as his Father and Mother were the children of brother and sister namely of Iames the fift and this Lady Margret his halfe sister But the new Regent the Duke of Albanie so excused himselfe by Ambassage to the king of England in that point that within a yeare after the Queene returned into Scotland honorably attended and richly appointed of all things fit for her estate The Earle Dowglas her husband who in the meane season had obtained the Regents fauour receiued her at Berwicke and from thence did accompanie her home All quarrels in the meane time being well appeased in Scotland the Regent passed ouer into France committing the yong Prince together with the gouernment of the realme in his absence to certaine of the Nobilitie but aboue all the rest hee reposed most trust in a Frenchman named Anthonie Darcie Captaine of the Castell of Dunbarre whom he ioyned in commission with the Scottish Lords to the end he might giue him intelligence of all their proceedings in his absence It was this mans hap soone after to be slaine by the Scots for more despite to haue his head stroken off and set vpon Hume Castell to the view of all that passed by This outrage was cōmitted the twelfe of September in the yeare 1517. which gaue beginning to some new broiles amongst them During the absence of the Duke the Dowglassian faction bare greatest sway for the continuance whereof king Henry laboured the French King to keepe the Duke still with him neuer-the-lesse by reason of some trouble likely to arise betweene France England the Regent returned into Scotland about fiue yeares after his departure thence with a purpose to abate the ouer-great powre of the Dowglas Immediatly herevpō Gawen Dowglas Bishop of Dunkell a very reuerend man came into England informed the king how great an aduersary the Regent was to his whole family and that he alone had taken on him the custody of the yong king the sequell whereof hee much feared This Bishop died shortly after at London was buried in the Sauoy church King Henry vpon this complaint sent Clarentius king at Armes into Scotland to admonish the Duke to auoide the country according to the Articles agreed vpon the summer before in the last truce takē with the French king for the king held it very vnreasonable and inconuenient to admit him sole Gardian ouer the yong Prince that was next heire after him to the Crowne least happily by such opportunity he might be tempted to cōmit the like vnnatural cruelty which some haue done in the like case both in England Scotlād That therfore the king his maister said Clarentius had great reason to prouide for the safty of his nephew wherof hee could no way bee better assured then by keeping him from that place and authority in Scotland But of all these threats the Regent seemed to make light account Now began the French king to quarrell againe with king Henry before the truce was fully expired where-vpon all the Frenchmen and Scots that then inhabited in London and other places of the realme were put to their fines and a strong Nauie was forth-with sent to the Sea vnder the conduct of Sir William Fitz-Williams Vice-admirall and seauen other were at the same time sent also against Scotland the which entring into the Furth set fire on diuerse Scottish ships and so returned with their prisoners into England The same yeare the Lord Rosse and the Lord Dacres of the North who were appointed to keepe the borders entred also with their forces into Scotland and burnt the towne of Kelsoe besides many other villages ouer-threw sundry holdes and piles of stone and then returned home with their booties The Regent being here-with prouoked to reuenge raised a great powre where-with approaching the Marches he fully purposed to inuade England But whether it were that hee thought himselfe ouer-weake to incounter the English armie that was comming on apace vnder the conduct of the Earle of Shrewsburie or that hee stood not well assured of some of his owne company which was more likely he was well contented to harken vnto peace so that a truce was taken for some few monthes and then with no little staine to his reputation he turned back-againe In October following the Duke passed ouer againe into France promising his fauorites that if a peace were not in the meane time concluded with England hee would
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
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
I cannot see any warrant that this kinde of triall hath out of Gods word wherefore it were good some other more Christian course were taken in such cases The gouernor now perceauing that without the assistaÌ„ce of some other Prince hee should not be able to resist the Englishmen hauing gotten such foot-hold within the Realme of Scotland entreated the Queene Mother and Monsieur Doysel Lieger Ambassador for King Henry of France whose father king Francis was deceased some-what more then a yeare before about two monthes after the death of King Henry of England to procure the sayd King to send an armie into Scotland against the Englishmen enemies to both those Nations The Queene seeing a readie way now laied open to bring that to passe she most desired which was to haue that Realme ordered in all things at the French Kings appointment willingly vndertooke to accomplish his request conditionally that he togither with the States of the Realme would giue consent that the Princesse should bee conuaied ouer into France and bestowed in marriage as stood with the liking of King Henry The Gouernor consenting therevnto assembled the estates of Parliament who togither entred into couenantes to that effect and presently sent them in wryting into France The King accepting the offer made preparation for the transporting of an armie into Scotland with what expedition conueniently hee could For hee did well fore-see as his Father and other of his predecessors had done before him how inconuenient it was for that Nation to admit of a marriage whereby this Island should become one absolute monarchy This was well obserued at what time the Emperor Charles the fift and Francis this Kings Father visited King Henrie the eight at his campe besides Calice where they togither beholding ouer the entrance into the Kings Pauilion a deuise of an Archer imbrodeâ—ed thereon with this word Cui adhaereo praeest Meterane brake out into this kind of speach one vnto the other if the King of England esteeme so much of his owne powre and strength in this his present estate hauing yet Scotland a bad neighbour vnto him what would he doe if hee commanded the whole Iland The Lord Gray hauing fortified Hadington and furnished it of all things necessarie leauing therein a garison of two thousand footmen and fiue hundred horse on the xii of Iune returned into England While the Scottish nation was thus vexed by the English the French King made great preparation as well to ayde his friends there as to annoy the Englishmen in garison at Bullen-berge and other places on that side the sea But the Councell of England warilye fore-seeing and preuenting the danger thereof was not vnprouided to resist all such attempts as on either side might preiudice the wel-fare of the realme And further it was thought good to make triall once againe how much they might by entreatie and gentle perswaâ—ions preuaile with the Scottish Nobilitie in the matter of mariage betweene King Edward and the Princesse of Scotland that was now offered to the French King for his sonne the Dolphin And because they should bee well assured that the same proceeded not of any perticuler disposition in the Protector alone who before as I haue shewed had to that end earnestly solicited the Gouernor by his priuate letter he together with the Lords of the Counsell ioyntly in all their names signified by publike writing to the whole Scottish nation their continued hearty desire in this point in maner following Considering with our selues the present state of things and weying more deeply the maner and termes wherein you and we do stand it maketh vs to maruell what euill and fatall chance doth so disseuer your hearts and maketh them so blind and vnmindfull of your profit and so still to make and heape to your selues most extreame mischiefes the which wee whom you will needs haue your enimies goe about to take from you and perpetually to ease you thereof And also by all reason and order of necessitie it should be rather more conuenient for you to seeke and require moderate agreement of vs whom God hath hitherto according to our most iust true and godly meaning and intents prospered with your affliction then that wee being vanquishers in the field and maisters of a great part of your realme should seeke vnto you Yet to the intent that our charitable minds and brotherlie loue should not cease by all meanes possible to prouoke and call you to your owne good euen as one naturall brother to another or as the carefull Phisition doth to his carelesse patient Wee still call and crye vpon you to looke to your estate to auoide the calamities which ouer-whelme and oppresse you to haue vs rather brothers then enimies rather countrimen then strangers And if your Gouernour shall retaine and keepe from you this our exhortation as heretofore hee hath done our priuate Letters and publique proclamation tending to the same effect for his and his fauorites more aduantage not regarding though you bee still in miserie so as they haue gouernance and profit by you and shall still abuse you with fained and forged tales yet this shall bee a witnesse before GOD and all Christian people betweene you and vs that wee professing the Gospell of IESVS CHRIST according to the Doctrine thereof doe not cease to call and drawe you from the effusion of your owne bloud the destruction and ruine of your realme from perpetuall enmitie and from seruitude to forraine Nations to tranquilitie amitie libertie and equalitie with vs yea to that which your owne writers haue alwayes wished might come to passe Who that hath read the Stories of times passed and obserueth the incursions roades spoyles and the bloudie battailes betweene these two Nations your realme fiue times ouer-runne by one of our Kings your Kings some taken prisoners others slaine in battaile and with-all shall consider that as we bee confined by the Ocean and so made one Iland euen so agree wee and resemble one the other in language lookes manners and conditions shall he not thinke it a thing very vnmeete vnnaturall and vnchristian that there should bee betweene vs so mortall hatred and discord where ought to be loue and perfect amitie as betweene brethren of one Iland the great Britaine Though he were a stranger to both what could he thinke more fitte then if it were possible to make two such kingdomes one in all respects so conformable and suteable Now for as much as two successors cannot concurre and fall into one by any other meane then by mariage where-by is made of two one bloud one linage one parentage and so an indefencible right giuen on both sides to one without the destruction of either what could you wish more happy then that which now not by blind chance but of his infinite mercie as being carefull of your estate he hath done for you And to the end you should the better obserue the maner of his diuine working herein for
your good call to remembrance that your last king a Prince of much excellencie had three children But did not the Lord God as if it were to shew that it was his will and pleasure the long continued warre betweene the two nations should take end and they become vnâ—ted and made one people take away the two male-babes placed a sunder both within the space of foure and twenty houres leauing but one maiden child your Princesse when the most wise and victorious Prince late our King Henry the eight in other of his marriages not very fortunate had by his most lawfull wife the vertuous Queene Iane his other two former wiues then being dead and neuer any question made of the lawfulnesse of that mariage nor after her death any motion of other wife though the King liued eight yeares after a Prince of so high expectation the true and vndoubted heire to the crowne of England and his Maiesties onely male issue left behind him to succeed him if nothing else had beene done what can any wise or any Christian man that thinketh the world is gouerned by Gods prouidence and not by fortune otherwise take it but that it was the Lords will it should be so to the end that these two realmes should bee ioyned in mariage and there-by to make a godly firme and most friendly vnitie betweene them if any man looke to bee confirmed herein by miracle obserue and marke all the possibilities of the natures of the two kings the children first had the doubtfull chance least both of them should haue had a sonne or both daughters or not of meete ages with other circumstances of the one partie or the other which hath not chanced in eight hundred yeares before it must of necessitie be reckoned an extraordinarie course if not a miracle But be it as it may bee what more certaintie can bee had of Gods working and will in this case then the consideration of the former recited occurrents doth minister call you them prouidences or meere chances if you shall be still afflicted May not the Lord say vnto you I of mine infinite mercie and loue to your Nation had prouided an vndoubted heire and a Prince to the one and a like heire and a Princesse to the other to bee ioyned together in my holy ordinance and by the law of Nature and Nations to haue made an vnitie and peace there-by betweene the one realme and the other but you refusing the offered oportunitie haue made choise of dissention rather then of vnitie of discord then of agreement of warre then peace of hatred and malice then of loue and charitie If you then smart for it whom can you blame but your owne bad choise But because some of you who oppose your selues here-vnto cannot but confesse Gods prouidence herein for the vniting of both realmes yet may neuer-the-lesse here-after obiect as before you haue done our fault herein is that we seeke not equality nor the mariage but a conquest that wee would not bee friends and fellowes but Lordes ouer you Although our proclamation and priuate letters at the last warres doe sufficiently declare the contrary yet here we protest to you and all Christian people that it is the Kings minde by our aduise and counsell not to winne and subdue by force but to conciliate by milde course not to spoile and kill but to saue keepe not to disseuer and diuorce but to ioyne in mariage both Prince and people to make of one Iland one kingdome vnited in loue amitie concord peace and Christian charitie If you refuse and reiect this kindnesse therby compell vs to vse armes who shall bee giltie of the bloud-shed who causeth battailes burning of houses and other extremities and mischiefes that acompany warre can it bee denied but that we haue the great seale of Scotland granted by generall consent in your Parliament for a testimonie against you What was wanting tending to the assurance of the mariage saue onely yeares and so liking and consent betweene the parties them-selues what end can you looke for by still opposing your selues against our honest purpose and Christian indeuor but such successe as you haue already assaied we offer loue equallity amity we ouer-come in war and offer peace we win holds with-hold our hands from conquest we get still in your land and offer you our owne what can be more offred proffered then intercourse of marchandise interchange of mariages the abolishing of all such our lawes as might bee impediments to our mutuall amity Wee haue offred not onely to leaue and giue ouer the name title right or chalenge of Superioritie but also to relinquish the long continued name of our Nation and the glory of any victorie if â—ny we haue had or should haue of you and to take vp againe with you the ancient name of Britaines because nothing should be left on our partie vn-offered nothing of your party vn-refused whereby you might be inexcusable What face hath this of conquest we goe not about to disinherite your Queene but to giue her issue if she haue any a greater inheritance What better defence can you wish in her nonage then to haue England your patron and protector neither seeke we to abrogate or change your lawes and customes but rather to establish them and redresse your oppressions These vaine feares are put into your heads by them who in truth respect more their priuate aduantage and present estimation then the good of the whole land both present and future Now in this tumult of disorder while your realme is tossed vp and downe with the waues and surges of warre they thinke they cannot be espied but looke on them with the eies of sound iudgment and then you shall easilie perceiue their drift Consider in what state you stand to keepe your Queene vnmaried were very dishonorable to marrie her within your realme cannot extinguish the title wee pretend to the Crowne of Scotland and what dissention enuie grudge and malice that shall breed amongst you is easily perceiued But you will â—â—â—tow her out of the Realme to a mighty Prince Our title standeth where it was you become subiect to foraigne power to them of a strange land and differing language vs you haue your enemies euen at your elbowes your succors farre of not passable at all times Be not wee now in the heart of your Realme possesse we not a good part therof Do not many of your owne Nation take our part mooued therevnto by the equity of our demande But you will bring in a foraigne power to expulse vs and all our partakers Beware what you doe Learne to bee wise by other mens harmes Consider how dangerous a point it is to call to your aide a Nation of greater power then your selues VVere not our predecessors the Britaines expulsed by the Saxons vpon that aduantage How did the French thrust out the Gaules How came the Turke by all Grecia and now of late by
skirmishes passed betweene the one party and the other that Forte also was so strictly besâ—â— on all sides that if the peace had not beene the sooner concluded Sir Hugh Willoughby the Captaine thereof must of necessitie haue yeelded thorough the lacke of shot and other necessaries seruing for defence Amongst other articles comprised in this agreement one was that all such Castels Fortifications and strengths held by the Englishmen in any part of the Scottish dominions should be restored to the Scots and that the Forts of Dowglasse Roxbrough Aymoth which the Englishmen had erected in the time of these warres should forth-with be razed and throwne downe to auoide all occasion of new controuersie Mounsier de Mourret was sent into Scotland from the French King to publish this accord betweene the three Nations France England and Scotland which in the beginning of Aprill in the yeare that followed 1550. was in euery point executed accordingly The next month al the strangers made returne homewards two yeares well neere after their first arriuall into Scotland And thus ended for this time the whote war betweene these two neighbor nations which had continued now for the space of 7. yeares together to the exceeding great impouerishment of that kingdom effusion of bloud on both sides For aboue fiftie yeares after there was not any like hostility betweene them For all that passed betwixt the one and the other realme vntill the beginning of the 5. yeare of the raigne of Queene Mary of England who succeeded that pearelesse Prince of most famous memorie King Edward the 6. on the sixt day of Iuly in the yeare 1553 the same was rather to be accouÌ„ted a light breach of the peace then open warre on either side Neither were the broiles betweene them in those two last yeares of her raigne of any great reckoning which grew by occasion of the warre made by King Philip her husband of the French King for he therevpon solicited the Queene Regent of Scotland who about two yeares before obtained that dignity while the CoÌ„missioners of both these nations were busie at Carliel about the renuing of the league to inuade this realme She being willing to gratifie her confederate when the Commissioners had broken vp the treatie of Peace without any conclusion assembled a great Armie where-with comming to Kellsoe in the moneth of October 1557. shee together with Monsieur Doisell and other Frenchmen began to perswade the Scottes to inuade the realme The Scottish Nobility to the end they would seeme some-what to yeeld to her request passing with the army ouer the riuer of Tweed besieged Warke Castell whereat lying for the space of 2. or 3. daies and then hearing of the approach of the Earle of Westmerland Lieutenant of the North after some consultation vpon this point the Scottish lords concluded that for so much as the Englishmen had giuen them no iust cause of quarrell especially in so high a degree and measure of reuenge that the Queene Regent had drawne them thither for the pleasure onely of the French King and the reputation of Monsieur Doisell his agent who in the managing of this affaire had carryed himselfe very loftily therefore I say they concluded to breake vp the siedge and to returne homewards and so this much adoe produced nothing The Queene and her Monsieur tooke the matter very greeuouslie accounting themselues much disgraced here-with but because there was no remedy for the present time they resolued to beare it as paciently as they could hoping a time would come that should make them of more authority amongst them To this end they laboured to hasten the mariage of the yong Queene now come to ripe age for there-by all things should then passe without controulment at the will and appointment of France The Queene Regent returning home-wards left Monsieur Doisell with the French forces at Haymouth where lately before hee had raised a Fortification to counter-garrison the Englishmen in Berwicke Diuerse foot-bands also of Scottishmen were waged by the French King to lye at Kelso Roxbrough and other such places on the Scottish Marches for the defence of the country and the annoyance of the Englishmen as occasion serued Amongst many other roades and aduentures which passed this winter between the one nation the other with variable successe on both sides that between the Earle of Northumberland and Sir Andrew Carre was of most reckoning wherein after doubtfull victory a long time at length the English preuailed the Scottish Captaine and diuerse other being taken prisoners Sir Iohn Foster at this seruice bare himselfe very valiantly for besides that his horse was slaine vnder him hee receiued two dangerous wounds the one thorough his neck the other on his thigh On the foure and twentith day of Aprill the yeare next following viz. 1558. the mariage of Francis the Dolphine with Queene Mary of Scotland was solemnized at Paris with great triumphe and reioycing which afterward brought that flourishing kingdome into danger of an vtter subuersion for her Vncles especially Francis Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraigne his brother by reason of this marriage bare them-selues so loftily and so egerlie stroue thereby to aduance their house that they turned France vp downe ruling all things at their owne wils and pleasure The summer following sundry out-roads passed betweene the borderers on both sides but with more losse to the Scots then to EnglaÌ„d for besides 2. chiefe leaders of their footmen the Lord Keith sonne to the Earle Marshall and Patricke L. Gray were in those broiles taken prisoners but on the English party Captaine Edrington only Some seruice by sea also was performed by the EnglishmeÌ„ for Sir Iohn Clere being sent with certaine ships of warre to the coast of Scotland comming to the Iles of Orkney and hauing landed some part of his company such a tempest did sodenlie arise that perforce hee was driuen backe to the maine sea where striuing a long time in vaine to recouer the Iland againe hee was forced to leaue them behind him who were thereby all slaine and taken prisoners by the Ilanders But the Earle of Sussex ioyning with Sir Thomas Cotton and Sowthwick his Vice-admirall had better successe in Kniter the Iles of Arraigne and Cumber where they made great spoile and had done much more there-about if by out-ragious stormes and tempests they had not beene hindered Of all the English Gentlemen that serued these last two yeares with charge I know but one liuing at this day namely Thomas Marckham commonly called Blacke-Marckham who lead the band of foot-men of Sir Iohn Marckham his Father As for the warre maintained in Scotland since the happy raigne of our late Soueraigne Lady and Queene the most renowmed and famous Elizabeth who to the exceeding great comfort of all the true Christians of this whole Iland succeeded her deceased Sister on the seauenteenth day of Nouember in the yeare before named the same was from time to time alwayes vnder-taken
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
time now for these thirty yeares wel-nere nothing of importance hath bin atteÌ„pted by the one or other Nation to the breach of the most happy peace and concord betweene them Though it may bee some turbulent and vnquiet spirits did what they could vpon the execution of the Scottish Queene in the yeare 1587. to incite and stir vp the King her Son to take offence thereat not for any good meaning towards his Maiesty but rather therby to bring him into disgrace at the least if not into a further mischiefe with the Queene of England But the Lord God did giue his Maiesty grace to carry himselfe more warily For though good nature might worke in his Maiesty a due commiseration ouer the Queene his mother her lameÌ„table end yet wel weighing the quality measure of her offence the lawful orderly proceeding against her hauing receiued an honorable trial by sixe thirty of the greatest and grauest personages of this realme and considering how much her life afterwards would preiudice not only the safety of the two royall persons but withal the quiet estate of the whole Island the most prudent King wel ore-saw what wrong he might haue wrought vnto himselfe by entring into any violent course It was apparent enough to the whole world how the King of Spaine by his subtile agents the Iesuits neuer ceased while the Queene his Mother liued vnder pretence to set her at liberty for the aduaÌ„cement of Popery to 〈◊〉 â—p sondry wickedly disposed persons to â—y murthering handes vpon Queene Elizabeth â—â— by treachery to bereaue vs of her This if by any meâ—nes hee could haue brought to passe from which the Lord God did euer deliuer her his ambition was such that hee would vndoubtedly haue done his best to haue set the Crowne of England on his owne head or else haue bestowed it on his Daughter the Infant of Spaine whome a principall member of that seditious fraternity hath since by publique â—â—iting intituled vnto it Parsons This was so well knowne to King Iames as that not long after his Maiesty gaue commandemeâ—â— by open Proclamation to all his subiects oâ— Scotland to repute and hold King Philippe of Spaine as great an enemie to him and his estate both present and in exspectance as to the Queene of England when in the yeare next following that his inuincible Nauie as it was tearmed attempted the conquest of this Land But what successe the same had his Maiesty hath committed to eternall memorie in this his elegant poesie The Nations banded gainst the Lord of might Prepared a force and for them to the way Mars drest himselfe in sâ—â—â—â—â—awfull plight The like whereof was neuer 〈◊〉 they say They forward 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 way 〈◊〉 Sea and Land beset vs eâ—â—rywhere Brags threatned vs a ruinous decay What came of that the issue did declare The windes began to tosse them here and there The seas begun in foming waues to swell The number that escap'd it fell them faire The rest were swallowed vp in gulfes of hell But how were all these things miraculous done God lookes at them out of his Heauenly Throne How truely and Christanly these two most worthy Princes loued one the other while they lyued togither well appeareth not onely by the continuance of an assured peace and concord betweene these their two kingdomes but also by the manifold blessings that haue beene thereby heaped vpon vs their subiects For when did these two Nations euer before inioye the like felicity as they haue done vnder their Kinglie Soueraignty This may appeare the more admirable if we consider the sexe of the one and the longe and dangerous mimority and nonage of the other But it hath pleased the eternall God according to the saying of the Apostle by the weake things of the world to confound and bring to naught the mighty and powerfull malice of his enemies and ours For how often haue they both but especially her Maiesty miraculously escaped the treacherous attempts of their bloudy aduersary that Antichristian Romish Sinagoge Queene Elizabeth hauing liued well neere threescore and ten yeares and happily raigned aboue forty foure exchanged I doubt not this her earthly and transitory Crowne for an immortall and heauenly Diadem on the foure and twentith day of March in the yeare 1602. Here-vpon King Iames not many houres after her death was proclaimed in London and else where ouer the whole realme with as much speed as possible might be the onely lawfull lineall and rightfull King of England France and Ireland with as great ioy and generall applause of all estates as the fresh remembrance of the late losse of such a gracious Princesse would in true loue and loyaltie admit tollerate in a subiect God grant his Maiestie may haue a long and prosperous raigne and maintaine amongst vs the profession of that vndoubted Christian faith and true Religion wherein both his Maiestie himselfe and the young Prince of Scotland his sonne eight yeares old the nineteenth day of February last haue beene baptized by and in the name of Queene Elizabeth eight and twentie yeares one after the other FINIS
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
sister Queene of England also was borne aboue a yeare before and with-all to make him thereby the Monarch ouer the whole Island if hee dyed with-out issue male And to the end hee should giue the more trust and credit to these his promises hee said more-ouer that hee would forth-with intitle him Duke of Yorke and his Vicar Generall ouer the whole realme of England King Iames as he had great reason so to do intertained these offers with great thankfulnesse appointing a time when he would meete the King his Vncle and so with many courtisies dismissed the Ambassadors All this notwithstanding he was so exceedingly laboured by his Prelates that they drew him quite from that resolution vpon this occasion A little before this Ambassage King Henry had sent the foresaid Bishop into Scotland with certaine English pamphlets concerning reformation of religion which being presented vnto his nephew with request that he would aduisedly read them ouer hee gaue them presently to some about him to keepe that were especiall fauorers of the Clergie and the religion of those times who had scantly turned ouer the first leafe but with open mouth they condemned those bookes for most impious hereticall libels telling the king they were glad from their hearts that he had not stained his eies with the very view of such pestiferous and damnable doctrine And for an infallible proofe of this their censure vpon those bookes it fell out about the same time that the Pope had sent a messenger into Scotland requiring king Iames to ioyne with him against the king of England whom hee had already adiudged an Heretike a Scismaticke and a wedlock-breaker for hee and Queene Katherine some-times his Brothers wife for the vnlawfulnesse thereof were then lawfully parted And further this Nuncio declared that for these heynous offences the Pope had depriued him of his kingdome which he bestowed for in such cases hee hath beene alwaies very liberall vnto Iames and other popish Princes his obedient sonnes Thus by the subtile practise of the Priests who to vphold their reputation in the world still buzzed in their kings eares that his Vncle sought nothing more by this his desired conference with him but to withdraw him from the profession of that ancient and Catholique religion wherein their Fathers and fore-elders had liued so many hundred yeares together in great happinesse and felicitie and withall being of him-selfe religiously giuen according to the knowledge of those ignorant times hee was the more easilie disswaded from this promised meeting Though King Henry had cause to take this part vnkindly at the others hands neuer-the-lesse hee was contented to put it vp imputing the fault to them especially that eyther of ignorance or vpon respect of their perticuler good neglected the benefit that might haue followed heereof vnto the weale publique of the whole Iland King Henry to shew how little hee was mooued with this manner of dealing bestowed on his Nephew the yeare following the Garter and according to the ceremonies thereto belonging he was installed at Windsor by his procurator the Lord Erskin Within the compasse of the other seauen yeares remaining of my former account king Iames had marryed two wiues out of France The former was the Lady Magdaline eldest Daughter to king Francis with whom hauing beene maried halfe a yeare shee deceased within little more then a moneth after her arriuall in Scotland The second was Daughter to the Duke of Guise and widdow to the Duke of Longeuille lately deceased Within a yeare after this latter mariage Queene Margaret his mother departed this life hauing first seene a young Prince her grand-child borne into the world but neither hee nor a second sonne liued to succeed their father in the kingdome King Henry knowing how much his Nephew was continually wrought to breake off friendship with him or at the least to vse the same for his owne aduantage onely was much affraide that happily hee might at length bee seduced and therefore was very desirous to haue conference with him and to establish the league that hitherto had continued betweene them To this end he once againe sent into Scotland to entreate him to meete him at Yorke where hee would communicate such matter with him as tended greatly to the good of both realmes This message thus deliuered by the Lord Thomas Howard King Iames and diuerse of his Nobilitie seemed willing enough to yeeld their consents to this iourney But contrariwise the Prelates mightily opposed them-selues against it Amongst other things they alleadged that King Henry went about which touched their free hold to perswade their King to take that course in Scotland which hee had done at home in his owne kingdome namely to expell the Pope to vsurpe his authoritie ouer the Church to dissolue religious houses and to seize vpon their lands and reuenues But rather then hee should bee drawne to vse any such vnlawfull meanes where-with to supplye his present wants they freely offered to giue him yearely out of their owne reuenues thirtie thousand Crownes and if that would not serue his turne they would vnder-take to aduantage him an hundred thousand more yearely out of the lands and possessions of them that were already falne from their due obedience to the sea of Rome These faire promises preuailed so much with King Iames that this meeting was also auoyded But with-all an Ambassadour was immediatly sent into England as well to excuse the King as to require that Commissioners might bee appointed of either partie to meete for the ordering of some controuersies then depending betweene the two Nations which was granted and performed accordingly on King Henries part Neuer-the-lesse when after sundry iniuries still offered by the Scottes the King of England had once or twice yeelded to all reasonable conditions and yet not-with-standing perceiued how little from time to time they were regarded at the length being not able to indure so many indignities he resolued to end all controuersies by open warre But first to the end it might appeare to the world how vnwillingly he was prouoked vnto it before hee would take armes against his neere kinsman hee caused a pamphlet to bee published in Print declaring what mooued or rather compelled him therevnto wherein hee charged King Iames especially with deepe dissimulation his words tasting of Honey but his deeds of Worme-wood After a serious complaint whereof he descendeth or rather ascendeth to a supposed title of Superioritie continued in a lineall succession of the Kings of England ouer that nation from Edward the first sonne to Alured king of England for aboue sixe hundred yeares together but hereof I haue spoken enough before This done a Nauie was sent to the Sea to take all such Scottish ships as fell into their walke of which they brought into the Portes of England eight and twentie fraught with many good commodities The Scottish King here-vpon sent into England to demand restitution seeing no warre was as yet proclaimed But king Henry answered
conduct to passe thorowe her kingdome but will presently take order they shal be transported by her nauie into France If you make light reckning hereof wee call God and man to witnesse that wee haue not armed our selues vpon malice or stomacke but are vnwillinglie and of meere necessitie inforced to aduenture vpon extreame remidies least otherwise wee suffer the common-weale our selues and all our posteritie to bee cast downe headlong into an irrecouerable deapth of infinite calamities Neither yet shall anie daunger whatsoeuer though presentlie we sustaine much euill and more is like to fall on vs cause vs to depart from our dueties to our Queene or to resist the King her husband in anie thing which shall not manifestlie tend to the eminent daunger and destruction of our selues our posterities and ancient liberties But most gratious Prince wee doe humblie againe beseech you that weighing the equitie of our request and foreseeing what euill maie ensue of VVarre and howe necessary a thing Peace shall bee to the mis-affected estate of this your daughters kingdome it would not displease you to confirme your will to our iust petition which if you do you shall not onlie leaue to all Nations an acceptable memorie of the moderate carriage of your selfe in place of gouernment but thereby also giue tranquillitie and rest to the greatest part of Christendome Farewell At Dalkeith the fourth daie of Aprill Anno. 1560. These last wordes in the shutting vp of the letter were spoken I take it of the present estate of Scotland touching Religion For nowe had the better part of the Nobility taken vpon them the defence of the Preachers of the Gospell wherevpon they were named the Lords of the Congregation And this was the principall occasion of these broiles betwixt the Queene Regent who would haue maintained poperie and those of the Nobility How honorable and Christian a part was it then of the Queene of England to interpose her selfe into so iust a quarrell as is the defence of the most ancient apostolicall and vndoubted Religion and how much shall that Nation bee for euer bound vnto her Maiestie for so inestimable a benefit as thereby it hath hitherto happily enioyed What answere the Queene made to the Lords I find not but still one or other labored by all possible meanes to worke a reconciliation but al was in vaine for the Queene would not yeeld to the sending away of the French forces on which point the Lords stood stiflie At the approach of the army to Lieth on the sixt daie of Aprill the Frenchmen to the number of thirteene hundred issuing out of the towne tooke possession of a little Knole called the Halkes-hill thereby to preuent the Englishmen from incamping there but at length the enemy with the losse of some seauen score men was beaten backe to the very gates of the towne Diuerse Englishmen were also slaine and many more hurt but if it had beene knowne what aduantage was offred by the French their whole power it was thought might therby haue beene vtterly ouerthrowne VVhile the Lord Graie was at Muskelbrough on his way thitherward he sent Sir Iames Croft and Sir George Howard vnto the Queene to intreat an abstinence of warre for foure and twenty houres that in the meane time he might make knowne vnto her the cause of his comming in that manner and further that vpon some conditions hee would accept of peace The Queene consenting herevnto sent an Harauld to Lieth to giue knowledge thereof but whether the fault was in the messinger or in the Frenchmen the English armie was inforced to the fight after which hee refused any more parliance But proceeded to the siedge of Lieth which was no lesse valiantly assailed by the English then by the aduerse partie it was defended During which an accident happned in the towne that more indangered and damnified the enemie in one night then the assiliantes had done before in twentie For on the last day of Aprill about two hours before Sun-set a sodaine fire arose in the towne which beeing increased by an outragious winde then aloft continued till the next morning hauing consumed a great part of the buildings and amongst the rest certaine common Garners and Store-houses wherein was great prouision of corne and victualls Neither were the Englishmen slowe in pursuing the aduantage thereof For by remouing their great Ordinance on that side the towne they beat backe those which labored to quench the fire and entring the ditches tooke the height of the wall and so egarly assaulted the breaches that had not the Frenchmen fore-seene the danger they were falne into and continewally applied their businesse and stood to it manfully on euery quarter that nightes worke as it was thought would haue ended the warre for that time The siedge continued neere sixe weekes longer in which time many lost their liues on both sides At one assault which was the sharpest of all the rest an eight score Englishmen were slaine outright and not so few maymed and hurt But still thorow the especiall care and good fore-sight of the Duke of Northfolke then appointed to remaine in the North-partes for the direction of this seruice their wants whatsoeuer were from time to time supplied The French King vnderstanding into what distresse the towne was brought for the Frenchmen were now worne ouerweried with continuall watching warding sent two Ambassadors into England County Randon and Monluc Bishop of Valence to treat with the Queene for a peace with Scotland his wiues kingdome For hee held it an indgnity to seeke it at his subiects handes the Scottish Lords Her Maiesty being not vnwilling to accept of any reasonable conditions so as the French might be remoued was content to associate vnto them Maister Secretary Cecill afterwards Lord Burley and high Treasurer of England whilest he liued mine honorable good Lord and Maister and Doctor Wutton deane of Canterbury and Yorke These passing togither into Scotland after some three weekeâ— trauell concluded a peace on the eight day of Iuly following which was immediatly proclaimed at Lieth in these words The most mighty Princesse Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France Ireland defender of the faith c. And the most Christian King Francis and Marie by the same grace of God King and Queene of France and Scotland haue accorded vpon a reconciliation peace and amity to be inuiolably kept betweene them their subiectes kingdomes and Countries And therefore in their names it is streitly commanded to all manner of persones borne vnder their obedience or being in their seruice to forbeare all hostility either by sea or land and to keepe good peace each with other from this time forwards as they wil answere there-vnto at their vttermost perills The most materiall articles were these that all the Frenchmen should depart the Realme with bagge and bagage within the tearme of twentie daies next following And because they wanted at that present shippes enough to receiue so great a
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