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 hee had no reason to yeeld there-vnto till such time as recompence was made for the harme his subiects had sustained on the borders In the meane season he had also prepared an army of some twenty thousand men and committed the same to the conduct of the Duke of Norfolke accoÌ„panied with the Earles of Shrewsbery Darby Cumberland Surrey Hertford Angus Rutland and diuerse other Lords and Gentlemen of the North. King Iames hauing knowledge of this preparation entreated to haue all differences and complaints on both sides put to order and so taken vp VVherevpon the King caused his army to stay about Yorke appointing the Duke the Lord priuy seale and others to enter into conference with the Scottish Ambassodours and if possiblie they could to end all controuersies wherby to auoide the effusion of much bloud But when the Commissioners for England perceiued that the Scottes sought onely to detract time whereby to put of the warre for that yeare winter now approaching they breake of the treaty and hauing assembled the whole armie there-with entred into Scotland the twentith day of October in the yeare 1542. During there abode there diuerse townes and villages were burned and spoiled and hauing continued that course as long as their victualls held out the armie returned to Berwicke the nine and twentith daie of the same month without resistance or show of enemie although King Iames had then in readinesse as it is sayd an armie of thirtie thousand men incamped at Fallamure but foureteene miles within Scotland But whether it was that they waited some aduantage or that the Scottish Nobility were not so forward which is pretended as their King would haue had them nothing was attempted against England vntill the foure and twentith day of Nouember following by which time the Duke was well on his way towards London For then king Iames went him selfe vnto the VVest marches of Scotland where he appointed the Lord Maxwell his warden togither with the Earles of Cassels and Glencorne and certaine other Lords there with him to inuade England on that side This army consisting of fifteene thousand men passed ouer the water of Eske and burnt certaine houses of the Greues on the verie border Herevpon Thomas bastard Dacres and Iacke of Musgraue with an hundred light horses made towards the enemie hauing a while before sent to Sir Thomas Wharton Lord warden of those Marches to make all the hast hee could after them By that time these two valiant Captaines had begun the skirmish the Lord Wharton with some three hundred horse more were come within viewe of the Scottish host who supposing that the Duke or some other of the English Lords was turned backe againe with the whole armie otherwise they imagined those few would neuer haue aduentured so desperatly to set vpon them were with the suddenesse of this vnexpected flight put into such a Panick feare that forth-with committing themselues to flight as fast as their legges could carrie them or their horses vnder them they were pursued and taken without any resistance Amongst whom these following were the principal men The Earles of Cassels and Glencorne the Lord Maxwel the Lord Flemming the Lo. Sommerwel the Lord Oliphant the Lord Gray Sir Oliuer Sinclere the kings minion Iohn Rosse of Gragie Robert Aesken Sonne to the Lord Aesken the Lord Maxwells two brothers and aboue two hundred men of name more Of the common souliers not so few as eight hundred so as some one Englishman had three or foure prisoners to his share The Scottes lost at this blowe without anie bloud-shed on either partie twentie peeces of Ordinance foure Cart-loades of speares and tenne pauilions Thus wee see that the King of Heauen and Earth can and will daunt the corrage of man when it seemeth good vnto him to the end we should acknowledge him to be the only giuer of all victory The Scottish writers attribute the bad successe of their armie at this meeting to the vnaduised course which King Iames tooke in appointing a meane Gentleman Sir Oliuer Sinclere his Lieutenant grnerall ouer the same For vpon the hearing of the Kings Commission openlie reade the whole armie was so â—â—ch ofâ—ended â—â—d â—roâ—led thereat that it â—â—â—oght 〈…〉 confusion amongst them which beeing obserued of the Englishmen though they were but a handfull in comparison of the enemies power yet they were there-with so much incoraged that they aduentured manfully vpon them and put them al thereby to flight This discomfeiture chaunced vnto the Scottes at Solloway Mosse in the latter end of Noueâ—ber following and was the most admirable â—ictory that euer was had ouer them to bee wholy referred to the immediat hand of God howsoeuer they would excuse it King Iames being now at Garlanâ—rocke vpon the borders was â—â—ruelously perplexed aâ— tâ—â—â—ewes herof in so much as being ouer-come with an extreame malâ—ncholy passion he neuer after held vp his head but still languished till death had fully seized vpon him on the twentith day of December following In the meane season one and twenty of the chiefe prisoners were conuaied to London committed to the Towre the 19. day of the same month where hauing â—omâ—ined two daies they were carried thorow the streets to Westminster two and two togither in a â—anck Eight of them being Noblemen were apparelled at the Kings charge with new gownes of black damask furd with black â—â—â—ie â—oâ—tes of black â—elâ—eâ— and dublets of satteâ— else whatsoâ—uer belonged therto Then they wâ—re brought before the Counsel sitting at the Star-chamber where the Lord Chancellour rebuked them openly for their misdemeanour towards the King and Realme declaring that his Maiesty had good cause to make warre vpon them First for their dissimulation in all their treaties of peace Then for keeping his subiects in durance without redemption contrary to the ancient lawes of the Marches And lastly for inuading his dominions without open defiance or iust cause giuen on his Maiesties part Neuerthelesse that his Maiestie more regarding his honour then his Royall power was contented to render good for euill and curtisie for vnkindnesse For whereas hee might by lawe of armes as they knewe well enough shut them vp in close prison hee was contented that they should bee committed to the custodie of the Nobles of his land that were thought meet to take that charge vpon them according to their owne seuerall estates and degrees Then beeing dismissed thence they were forth-with bestowed with one Noble man or other accordingly of whom they had such curtious intertainment as that they themselues confessed they neuer liued more pleasantly at any time before On the twentith of December newes was brought to the Court of the Scottish Kings death King Henry and his Counsell conceiuing herevpon that a good meane was offred whereby without warre the two Realmes might be vnited intimated their meaning to the Scottish Lords who seeming very willing therein to gratifie the King were brought to the Court in Christ-masse
for abrogating the ancient lawes and customes of the land hee established others such as either he had brought out of Normandie or that he thought more fitte for the present gouerment of the English nation And further taking from the Englishmen their lands and possessions hee bestowed them on his followers and partakers in his conquest at his owne will and pleasure Herevpon as also by manie other extremities dayly offered more and more to all degrees and estates the great men especially who thorow the greatnesse of their mindes could worst indure so many indignities conuaied them-selues out of the realme some into one country some into another hoping to finde such fauour with forraigne Princes as with their helpe they might happily one day finde meanes to bee restored againe to their former estates and dignities in their natiue Countrie Amongst these Edgar Atheling whom this businesse concerned more then any of the rest purposing to haue sailed into Germanie to his friends and alliance there together with his mother and two sisters was by contrary windes as the Lord would haue it driuen into Scotland where they were curteously intertained of Malcolme surnamed Cammore the King of that Countrie the rather because they were of the bloud and linage of King Edward the Confessor by whose especiall meanes he had beene established in his Kingdome Shortly after in respect no doubt of the possibilitie wherein shee stood to come by the Crowne of England after her brother King Malcolme tooke to wife the Lady Marguerit the elder sister This marriage was solemnized about Easter next following in the yeare 1067. King William hearing what had passed in Scotland and fearing lest this alliance might worke him some displeasure for Edgar had many well-willers in England forth-with sent an Harold of Armes to King Malcolme for the deliuery of him which if it would not be granted then he should denounce open warre against him Answer was here-unto made that hee held it a very vniust thing yea a very wicked part for him to deliuer Edgar into his hands that onely for feare of the losse of his life was forced to flie out off England beeing of that innocent carriage and demeanor towards the King his Maister that euen his greatest aduersaries could no way touche him with the least suspition of disloyaltie Further that he was now bound besides the respect of ordinary humanitie in this case by more straight bands of neere alliance to tender his estate So as King Malcome was no whit terrified with these threats still intertaining Edgar his friends that dayly repaired into Scotland by whom King Malcome being incouraged tooke the oportunitie that was offered For whilest King William was occupied in pursuing the English Rebels he with his armie entred into England wasting and spoiling the countries of Theisdale and Cleueland and the lands of Saint Cutbert with diuers other in those parts For the suppressing of whom King William sent Gospatrike whom he had lately before made Earle of Northumberland in the place of Syward that tooke part against him with the Scottes and Englishmen their adherents Entring into those parts he made the like spoile as was before made by the Scottes so as those countries were grieuouslie afflicted on both sides But yet their miseries had no end for Gospatricke was no sooner returned but the Scots entring those countries againe exceeding their former cruelty vpon the poore inhabitance King William to giue end to these extremities hauing assembled a mighty armie in his owne person entred into Scotland about the middest of August pursuing the English rebels and their partakers into Galloway but they being not disposed to abide his approach fled vnto the Mountaines wherefore giuing them ouer hee turned his forces into Lothiane where he vnderstood that king Malcome was incamped with all his whole powre purposing to make a conquest of Scotland also But when these two puissant armies were euen ready to assaile one the other the Scottish king distrusting his strength and fearing the fortune of the Conqueror sent an Harrald of Armes to enter into treatie of a firme peace betweene the two Nations wherevnto king William was drawne at the length on these conditions First that king Malcome should doe homage vnto the king of England for the realme of Scotland On the other side that king William should pardon all those Englishmē which then tooke part with Malcome against him Further to auoide all occasion of quarrell that happily might afterwards arise about the limits bounds of the two kingdoms it was agreed vpon that a crosse of stone should be erected in Steenmore which tooke that name of the nature of the soile which was very stonie bearing the Armes and Image of the king of England on the South-side thereof and on the contrary-side the armes and Image likewise of the king of Scotland which while it stood for many yeares after was called the crosse of the kings Thus were they accorded and thence-forth continued in friendship while they liued together King William in his returne tooke the Earledome of Northumberland from Gospatricke on whom he had lately bestowed the same and gaue it to Waltheof the sonne of Siward deceased that held it in the right of Alfred his wife the daughter heire of Aldread some-time Earle of that Prouince Waltheof was in that fauour with the king that shortly after he gaue him to wife the lady Iudith his neece daughter to Lambert Earle of Leux with all the lands belonging to the honor of Huntington whereby he became Earle of Northumberland Huntington Notwithstanding these especial fauours Waltheof not long after entred into a conspiracy against the king which although he disclosed before it brake out into open warre king William was so highly offended thereat that he caused him to be beheaded not without some note of cruelty hauing reuealed the whole practise and submitted himselfe to the kings mercy Edgar Atheling returning out of Scotland obteined the kings fauour was highly aduanced but to auoid further danger in which case a Prince cannot be too circumspect he was not admitted without leaue to depart the Court while he liued King William the Conqueror being deceased in the 20. 1087. yeare of his raigne about 14. yeares after the former conclusion of peace whether it was to reuenge the death of Earle Waltheof his cousine germaine executed as before you haue heard or whether he was drawn on by an ambitious humor to inlarge his dominions or as some haue rather thought prouoked therevnto by some vnkindnes offred by K. Williā Rufus who succeeded his father here whatsoeuer the cause was King Malcolme taking the oportunitie while the King and his elder brother Robert Duke of Normandie were at some variance about the Crowne entred with his Armie into Northumberland preying vpon the inhabitants as farre as Chester in the street The King of England sent such forces against him as that entring into Scotland they tooke the Castell of Anwicke putting
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
mediation of friends a finall peace was made betweene them and for the more assurance thereof the Scotish King deliuered his two Daughters Isabell and Margaret into the custodie of king Iohn to bee bestowed in marriage when they came to ripe age vpon his two Sonnes Buchanan saith that it was agreed vpon at this time that thence-forth the kings of Scotland should no more in their owne persons doe homage to the Kings of England but those seruices should only be performed by their eldest sons for no other then for those lands and possessions which they held within the Realme of England But hereof appeareth nothing amongst our own writers About foure or fiue yeares after this agreement king William departed out off this life whom Alexander his sonne by the Lady Ermengard aforesaid succeeded beeing sixteene yeares of age answerable to the terme that king Iohn had then raigned of whom in the meane season Prince Alexander receiued the Order of knight-hoode at London At the same time vpon complaint made by the yong Prince which title hee had newely receiued by creation of his Father that diuerse rebellious persons had presumed vpon the impotencie of the Father and Sonne by reason of the ouer old age of the one and vnripe age of the other to oppose themselues against their gouernement vnder the leading of one Gothred King Iohn eyther in person as some write or rather in powre as I take it accompanying the young Prince did not onely safe conduct him home but forthwith ioyning with certaine forces of Scotland they together incountred the enemies in a set battell gaue them the ouerthrow tooke their chiefe Captaine prisoner and according to his deserts made him shorter by the head Notwithstanding all this kindnesse yet so fresh in memory that it could not be forgotten immediatly vpon Prince Alexander his comming to the Crowne in the yeare of our Lord 1214 his youth easilie neglected the due regard he should haue had of king Iohn his deserts Thus it fell out amongst others then in fauour with this young king none was so much accounted of as a Nobleman of England yet by birth a Scotishman one Eustace de vescie that had married one of his sisters This Gentleman together with Robert Fitzwalter and Stephen Ridell had a little before conspired the death of King Iohn who hauing knowledge thereof sought vnderhand to apprehend them but they distrusting the matter were glad to flie the Realme Eustace into Scotland and the other two into France These men did afterwards so labour the two Kings of those Nations that King Alexander notwith-standing the Pope was then appeased was perswaded to take part with Lewis the Daulphin to whome the Barrons of England had disloyallye bound themselues by oath to receiue and serue him as their lawfullie elected Prince and Soueraigne reiecting their due allegiance to king Iohn their Liege and naturall king The Scotishmen hauing entred into England with a great Armie tooke the Castle of Norham wasted and harrowed the countrie with all extremitie King Iohn made hast with his army to repell the insolency of the Scots but they would not tarry his comming The king pursuing them to Dunbar wasted the country of Lothian without resistance and in his returne burned the Abbaye of Coldingham from whence passing along the Sea coast not without much damage to the Inhabitants at last hee tooke by force the towne and Castle of Berwicke committing it to the custodie of Hugh de Ballioll and Philip de Hulcootes together with all the Countrye bordering on Scotland beyond the Riuer of Theese King Iohn was hardly returned into the south parts of the Realme before the French king had sent ouer a strong army to the ayd of the Barrons against their king whō Lewis within fewe months after followed with a new supplie vnto whose obedience all the Castles Townes and Fortresses in the South-parts of the realme were subdued the Castels of Douer and Windsore onely excepted Neither was the North part of the realme free from these troubles for Robert de Rosse Peter de Brocis Richard Percie had brought the Citie of Yorke with all that Countie vnder subiection to the French-men in manner as Gilbert de Gaunt whome the Dolphine had lately made Earle of Lincolne had done there also where the Castell onely held out Thus was the passage prepared for the Scotish armie which aduancing it selfe forwards in August about two moneths after the arriuall of the Dolphine first seized vpon Northumberland wholy the Castels excepted which were so well defended by the Kings party that the Scotishmen thought it lost labour further to assaile them at that time but keeping their course Southward they came to London with-out any resistance or losse sauing that Eustace de Vescie a principall leader amongst them was slaine with an Arrowe as he roade in the Scotish Kings companie to view where to make an assault to the Castle of Barnard in the Countie of Haleewarkefolke which belonged to Balliol Lewis was lately departed from London before the Scotish armie came thither towards the siege of Douer Castell whither King Alexander with his whole power posted with all speed But that strong Castell was so manfully defended by Hugh de Borowgh and Gerrard de Scotegame the principall men therein that all the power and policie of those two Princes would not suffice to winne the same for that was a point of such importance as that the French king had a little before written to his Sonne that the taking of it was of more auaile vnto his Enterprise then all that hee had gotten in England besides which caused the yong Prince to re-enforce his whole endeauor for the accomplishment of his earnest desire Here king Alexander did homage to Lewis in manner as hee had done before to king Iohn acknowledging to hold of him as of the lawfull king of England which done he tooke his leaue of Lewis and departed homewards but not so quietlie as hee came thither For the true hearted Englishmen obseruing the behauiour of the Scots and watching euery fit oportunitie tooke them at such an aduantage as thereby King Alexander lost a great part of his Army hardly escaping an vtter ouerthrow had not king Iohn died at that instant which gaue them a more happy returne into Scotland then they looked for lately before This sodaine death of the king which happened in the yeare 1216 wrought as sodaine an alteration in the state of the present affayres For now the barons began better to consider of the matter hauing found out both by experience the fooles instructer and by secret intilligence what little good was to bee hoped for at the hands of their French Champion if he preuailed in his enterprise Wherfore diuerse of the English Nobilitie that before had followed that faction when they vnderstood that young Prince Henrie the kings sonne was proclaimed lawfull inheritor and heire aparent to the Crowne of England by William Marshall Earle of
Pembroke Ranulph Earle of Chester diuers other of the partakers of the deceassed King they beganne one after an other to reuolt from Lewis and to submit themselues to their yong King not aboue nine yeares old Whereupon after some fewe bickrings and incounters by land sea between the one partie and the other wherein the French came still by the worse Prince Lewis was willing to hearken to peace which being readilie concluded he bid farewell to all former his goodly hopes was honorablie conducted to his ships and transported into France about a yeare and a halfe from his first arriuall in England Thus in short time by the prouidence of God and the industry and loyaltie of some principall men of the Nobilitie this nation was deliuered from one of the greatest dangers that euer it was like to fall into The yong king hauing raigned vnder protection about foure yeares and euen then purposing with himselfe after hee should come to mans state whereunto his notable and rare towardnesse did hasten him on to recouer that which his Father had lost on the other side of the sea and withall knowing that the Scotish nation was of old too much affected to France that hee might therefore in time preuent all occasion of trouble on that side it was brought to passe at Yorke where the two kings met by appointment that king Alexander should take to wife the Ladie Ione sister to king Henrie and further that Margaret the Scotish kings sister should bee giuen in mariage to Hubert de Borowgh a man in exceeding great fauour for many worthy partes in him whereof both his Father and hee himselfe had good tryall and for those his deserts king Henrie afterwardes created him Earle of Kent The other sister returned againe into Scotland vnmaried these two Ladies as you haue heard before were committed by their Father to the custodie of king Iohn These mariages were solemnized at Yorke about Mid-summer Anno. 1219. Diuerse couenants were then signed and sealed by eyther partie for the more assurance of perfect amitie betweene the two Nations which continued accordingly during the liues of the two kings together though there were some that practised what they could for their owne aduantage to set debate betweene them amongst whom Dauid the pety king of Wales hauing receiued an ouerthrow of the English-men and there-vppon flying into Scotland did his best indeauor to moue king Alexander to rise in Armes against England and by such perswasions as hee vsed so much preuailed that forth-with hee made preparation to inuade the Realme This was the more easilie compassed by reason that king Alexander had then buried his wife the King of Englands sister and not hauing had any issue by her was againe married to the Lady Marie daughter to Iugelram Lord of Coucie a French-man so that his former loue and liking towardes England was now happilie abated and buried together with his late deceassed wife Queene Ione Yet had there then bin an other marriage concluded betweene the Lord Alexander the Scotish kings eldest Sonne and the Ladie Margeret daughter to king Henrie which tooke effect as after shall appeare The Scotish Writers report that king Henrie had then begunne to build a Castle ouer against Berwicke in the same place where his father had before laid the foundation But whatsoeuer was the true cause that mooued king Alexander to inuade the Realme although king Henrie was as ready to make resistance as the other was to offer iniury neuerthelesse by mediation of friendes of either part the quarrell was taken vp and the two kings reconciled one to the other and for testimonie thereof to all posteritie a publike writing was drawne signed and sealed by king Alexander and diuerse of the Nobility of Scotland acknowledging their allegiance to the King of England as their supeor Lord as followeth Alexander Dei gratia Rex Scotiae Omnibus Christi fidelibus hoc scriptum visuris vel audituris salutem Ad vestram volumus venire notitiam nos pro nobis haeredibus nostris concessisse fidelitèr promississe charissimo ligio Domino nostro Henrico tertio Dei gratia Regi Angliae illustri Domino Hiberniae Duci Normandiae Aquitaniae Comiti Andegauiae eius haeredibus quod in perpetuvm bonam fidem ei seruabimus paritèr amorem Et quod nuncquam aliquod faedus iniemus per nos vel per aliquos alios ex parte nostra cum inimicis Domini Regis Angliae vel Haeredum suorum ad bellum procurandum vel faciendum vnde damnum eis vel regnis suis Angliae Hiberniae aut caeteris terris suis eueniat vel possit alequatenùs euenire nisi no iniustè grauent Stantibus in suo robore conuentionibus inter nos dictum Dominum regem Angliae initis vltimò apud Eboracum in praesentia Domini Othonis tituli S. Nicholai in carcere Tulliano Diaconi Cardinalis tunc Apostolicae sedis Legati in Anglia Et saluis conuectionibus super matrimonio contrahendo inter filium nostrum filiam dicti Domini regis Angliae Et vt haec nostra concessio promissio pro nobis haeredibus nostris perpetuae firmitatis robur obteniunt fecimus iurare in animum nostrum Alanum Ostiarum Henricum de Baliol Dauid de Lindesey Wilhelmum Gifford quod omnia predicta bona fide firmitèr fidelitèr obseruabimus Et similitèr iurari fecimus venerabiles patres Dauid Wilhelmum Galfridum Clementem sancti Andreae Glasconiensem Dūkeldensem Dublinensem Episcopos Et praeteria Malcolmum comitē de Fif fideles nostros Patricium comitem de Dunbar Malisium comitē de Strathern Walterum Cumin comitē de Monteth Wilhelmū comitē de Mar Alexandrū comitē de Buchquhā Dauid de Hastings comitē de Athol Robertum de Bruis Alanum Ostiariū Henricum de Bailiol Rogerum de Mounbray Larentiū de Abirnetha Richardum Cumin Dauid de Lindesey Richardū Siward Wilhelmū de Lindesey Walterum de Morauia Wilhelmum Gifford Nicholaū de Sully Wilhelmū de veteri ponte Wilhelmū de Brewer Anselmū de Mesue Dauid de Graham Stephanū de Suningham Quod si nos vel haeredes nostri contra concessionē promissionē praedictū quod absit venerimus ipsi haeredes eorū nobis haeredibus nostris nullū contrà concessionē promissionē praedictā auxilium vel cōsilium impendent aut ab alijs proposse suo impendi permittent Imò bona fide laborabunt erga nos haeredes nostros ipsi et haeredes eorū quòd omnia praedicta a nobis et haeredibus nostris nec non ab ipsis et eorū haeredibus firmitèr et fidelitèr obseruētur in perpetuū In cuius rei testimontū tu nos quam praedicti Prelati Comites Barones nostri praesens scriptum sigillorū suorum appositione roborauimus Testibus Praelatis Comitibus Baronibus superius nominatis Ann. regni nostri c. This
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
in Holdernesse about the latter end of March who thinking it neither fit nor conuenient to suffer the same to passe any further without making the King acquainted there-with the yong Prince with his traine were forth-with conuaied to the Court then at Windesoure The Child beeing brought to the Kings presence presented vnto him a letter which the King his Father had giuen him to the end that if by chance he should be either taken at sea or forced by tempest to take land on the coast of England hee might thereby finde the more fauour with the King The tenure of which letter I haue here inserted as I finde it in the history of Scotland written by Hollinshead Robert King of Scottes to Henry King of England greeting Thy great magnificence humility and iustice are right present with vs by the gouernance of thy last armie in Scotland howbeit sic things had beene vncertaine to vs afore for though thou seemed as an enemie with most awefull incursions in our Realme Yet we found manie humilities and pleasires than damages by thy comming to our subdittes Speciallie to yame that receyuit thy Noblie Father the Duke of Longcastell in the time of his exile in Scotland Wee may not ceys yairfore while wee are in life but aye luys and loif the as maist Noble and Worthie Prince to ioys thy Realme For yocht Realmes and Nations contend amang themselues for conquestes of glorie and lands Èit na occasion is amang vs to inuade athir Realmes or lieges with iniuries bot euer to contend amang our selues quhay sall persew other with maist humanitie and kindnesse As to vs wee will meis all occasion of battell quhare any occurres at thy pleasure Forther bycause wee haue na lesse sollicitude in preseruing our Children fra certaine deidlie enemies than had sometime thy Noble Father wee ar constreined to seeke support at vncouth Princes hands Howbeit the inuasion of enemies is sa great that small defence occurres against yame without they bee preserued by amitie of Nobill men For the warld is sa full of peruersit malice that na crueltie nor offence may bee deuisit in erd bot the same may bee wrocht be motion of gold and siluer Herefore bycause wee knawe thy hienesse full of mony nobill vertues with sic pyssaunce and riches that na Prince in our daies may bee compard thairto wee desire thy humanitie and support at this time VVee traist it is not vnknowne to thy Maiestie how our eldest Sonne Dauid is slaine miserably inprison by our brother the Duke of Albaine quhome wee chesit to bee Gouernour quhan wee were fallen in decrepit age to our subditts and Realme beseek and thy hyenesse thairfore to bee sa fauorable that this bearer Iames our second and allnerly Sonne may haue targe to life vndâ—r thy faith and iustie to bee some memorie of our posterity knaw and the vnstable condition of mans life sa sodainly altered now flurisâ—â—d and sodenlie falling to vtter consumption for thir beliefe well quhan Kings and Princes hes na other beild bot in thair awin folkes thair Empire is caduke and fragil For the minde of common pepill ar euer flowaund and mair inconstant than wind Èœit quhen Princes ar roborate be amity of othir vncouth Kings thair brethir and Nieghbours na aduersity may occurre to eiect thaim fra thair dignity royall Forthire gif thy hienesse thinke nocht expedient as God forbeid to obtemper to thir our desiers Èœit wee request ane thing quhilk was ratifiet in our last trewes and condition of peace that the supplication made be ony of the two kings of England Scotland sall stand in manner of safe conduct to the bearer And thus we desire to be obseruit to this our allnerly Son And the gratious God conserue the maist Noble Prince The Scottish writers reporte that when King Robert had knowledge of the staie of his Sonne in England in the nature of a prisoner he tooke the matter so greeuously that being an aged sicklie man and of long time oppressed with malancholie hee died within three daies after There is some difference amongst the writers concerning the time when these things chaunced Harding placeth these occurreÌ„ts in the yeare 1408. Buchanan chargeth king Henrie to haue dealt iniuriouslie in detayning the young Prince not onely without respect had to the King his Fathers request but also while the truce yet continewed betweene the two Nations which as hee saith was lately taken for eight yeares But I do not see how that can be proued foâ— in the English Chronicles I finde no truce agreed vpon since the battaile of Homildon but once and that but for one yeare in the seauenth yeare of King Henries raigne Whereas it is manifest enough that aboue a yeare before this the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolfe after they had bin in Wales Flaunders and France to haue purchased aide against King Henry were returned into Scotland and now not aboue sixe or seauen weekes before the arriuall of the yong Prince in England were entred into the Realme with a power of Scottes and comming into Yorkshire were incountred and ouerthrowne by Sir Thomas Rooksbie then Sheriffe of the Shire on the nineteenth day of Februarie in the yeare 1407. The Earle himselfe was slaine in the field and the Lord Bardolfe sore wounded as beeing taken he died thereof shortlie after Hereby it appeareth that either there was no truce at al at this time or else the Scottes made small account thereof taking part with the enemies of the land against their natural King within his owne kingdome Howsoeuer the Sonnes captiuity did for the present trouble the sickly olde King his Father The Scottes haue had no cause sinne to bee much offended thereat For as it is confessed by themselues king Henrie tooke so great care for his education in all manner of discipline fit for his calling as that Realme had neuer before a Prince furnished with more excellent qualities No doubt king Henrie hereby sought in kindnesse to binde him and that Nation to a perpetuall acknowledgment of his singuler loue and fauor towards the one and the other But as the sequell showed the same was little or nothing regarded afterwards The death of king Robert made no alteration in the state of gouernment in Scotland with him died onely the title of king for the other Robert his brother the Duke of Albaine in manner as before so still he inioyed the soueraigne command ouer that Nation About this time or not long before Sir Robert Vnfreuille high admirall of England burnt the towne of Peples on the market day causing his men to make so good penie-worthes of the cloathes they got there as that therevpon the Scottes called him Robin mend market In the meane season the Castell of Iedworth which the Englishmen had held euer since the battaile at Durham was taken by Tyuidale men and throwne downe to the ground Shortly after the Earle of March who before at a Parliament was recommended
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
left to succeed him his onely child Prince Henry about as many months old as his father had raigned yeares Whose infancie was neuerthelesse mightily supported by the notable valiancie and policie of his two Vncles Humfrey Duke of Glocester and Iohn Duke of Bedford to the one was committed the protectioÌ„ of his person and kingdome to the other the managing of the warre continued in France The death of the two kings comming together within two months one after the other caused much alteration in the state wherein that nation presently stood For thervpon a great number of the French nobility who before had taken part with the EnglishmeÌ„ began to reuolt to Charles the Dolphine The Scotts also became now more ready to assist him then before thorow the hope they had of present aduancement which thing within two yeares after cost many of their liues first at the siege of Crauant in the County of Auxerre and in the yere following at the bloudy battaile of Vernoile fought on the 20. of August in the yeare 1424. At the former conflict besides 1800. Gentlemen of the French nation there were slaine of the Scots their partakers the Lord of Saint Iohns towne Sir Iohn of Bulgary S. Iohn Turnbull S. Iohn Haliburton Sir Robert Lisley S. William Coningham Sir William Dowglas Sir Alexander Hume S. William Lisly Sir Iohn Rotherford S. William Crayford S. Thomas Seaton S. WilliaÌ„ Hamilton his son Iohn Pillot the Earle Buchquhan maister of the French chiualry who in the sight lost his eie was takeÌ„ prisoner But at the battaile of Vernoile of the Scottes were slaine Archibald Earle Dowglas lately created by the Dolphine Duke of Turaine Iames Dowglas his Sonne Earle of Wigton Iohn Earle of Bowghen who as it seemeth had either escaped before out of the Englishmens hands or else had râ—â—â—eemed his liberty besides men of speciall note aboue two thousand In the meane time thorough dissention that arose betweene Mordo then the gouernour of Scotland after the decease of the Duke of Albaine his Father and his vnrulie Sonnes certaine Ambassadours were sent from thence into England to treate for the deliuery of Prince Iames of Scotland This young Gentleman was then greatlie inamored ouer a beautifull Ladie Sister to Iohn Duke of Somerset Neece to the Cardinall of Winchester and to the Duke of Excester and neere cousine to the yong King himselfe it was hoped that thorowe the alliance hee should haue in England by this marriage and the manifold fauours following the same the Prince should haue beene wonne to a perpetuall amity with this Realme which had beene now vnto him for the tearme of fifteene yeares a verie Sanctuarie for the safety of his person and an Academie for the instruction of his minde and vnderstanding The Lord protector and the Nobilitie of the Land were heereby mooued not onely vpon verie reasonable conditions to set him at liberty but also to yeeld him the fruition of her loue which happily the Prince preferred or at the least equally ballanced with the same Before his departure into Scotland hee did homage to the young king of England at Windsor Castell in the presence of three Dukes the two Archbishops twelue Earles ten Bishops twenty Barons and two hundred Knights and Gentlemen in these words viz. I Iames Steward King of Scots shall be true and faithfull to you Lord Henry by the grace of God King of England and to you I make my fidelity for the same kingdome of Scotland which I hold and claime of you And I shall beare you my faith and fidelitie of life and limme and worldly honour against all men And faithfully I shall doe to you seruice for the kingdome of Scotland So God me helpe c. This done King Iames with his Queene were honorably attended and accompanied into Scotland in the yeare of grace 1423. But not-with-standing this his solemne oath his princely education here and all the fauours hee had receiued both at his departure and during his captiuitie if it may be so tearmed whether it proceeded from a bad disposition in himselfe or as I rather take it from the malice of his Nobilitie who for the more part were French in affection this Prince of all other shewed least thankfulnesse for hauing forgotten the former courtesies hee entred into matrimoniall alliance with France then at defiance with that his late affinitie with England being euen then as it were most nearlie naturalized by his issue in bloud and kindred there-vnto Buchanan doth greatly labour his wittes there-with to wash out this blemish in the middest of the splendor and brightnesse of his manifold graces But sithence hee faileth as I take it in the very foundation of that his Apologie the frame which hee would thereon build must of necessitie fall to the ground For hee taketh it already granted that the king of England did both violate his owne faith and the lawes of all Nations by detaining the Prince as his lawfull prisoner vpon his arriuall here on the coast But it is apparant enough as before I haue shewed that either there was no truce at all betweene the two nations at that instant or if there were the same was notoriouslie broken by the Scottes in ioyning those their so great forces with the knowne enimies of this realme against their lawfull Soueraigne so farre within his owne kingdome Admit all that was done without the priuitie of the King him-selfe But how-so-euer the good aged man might iustly pleade his innocencie herein bearing as then the bare title of King how can the State bee excused against whose knowledge an enterprice of that importance could not possibly haue beene attempted if there were any hard measure offered herein by king Henrie neuerthelesse the same was so fully acquited by the inestimable benefit of his pretious education for as Buchanan himselfe reporteth thereof Tanta ingenij celeritas vigor in eo fuisse dicitur vt nullam homine ingenuo dignum artem ignorabat that truly such a captiuitie should neuer haue moued him to haue falne out with England vpon the mariage of the Lady Margaret the Scottish kings Daughter with Lewis the Dolphine some sturres arose betweene the Englishmen and the Scottes with equall losse on both sides but not of much reckoning King Iames neuer-the-lesse being there-with prouoked assembled a great powre and besieged the Castle of Roxbrough from whence he was remoued by the repaire of the Queene his wife thither that informed him of a very dangerous conspiracie against his owne person how-be-it shortly after his returne into Scotland hee was wickedly murthered by his subiects in the yeare 1436. leauing behind him a neuer dying memory of many royall vertues The young Prince his sonne Iames the second about seauen yeares olde at his fathers death hauing raigned aboue twentie yeares was slaine by misfortune at the siege of the same Castle where the King his Father had knowledge first giuen him of the plotte of his finall destruction In
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
holie daies where they were lodged feasted and entertained most louingly There as of themselues they motioned a mariage betweene Prince Edward the Kings Sonne now little more then fiue yeares olde and their young Queene that was borne some fiue or sixe daies before the death of the King her Father promising withall to do there best to bring the same to passe King Henrie gaue them great thankes for their forwardnesse therein and was not onelie contented to set them freelie at libertie but also bestowed large presentes on euery man according to his degree On New-yeares daie they departed from London home-wardes and dined at Enfield where they sawe the young Prince of whome they seemed greatlie to reioyce both in speach and countinance From thence they kept on their iorney till they came into the North-partes where the Duke of Suffolke the Kings Lieutenant staied for their comming with whome they remained till such pledges were come out of Scotland as was before couenanted they should leaue behind them VVith them went also the Earle of Angus who togither with his brother Sir George Dowglas had allowance for their maintenance of King Henrie while they remained in England after their exile the space of fifeteene yeares The Scottish King while hee liued had labored the deliuerance of the Earle who now vpon his returne home was made one of the priuie Counsell amongst other of the Lordes that had beene lately prisoners here by the Earle of Araine Gouernour of the young Queene and of the Realme and next heire to the Crowne according to the custome of that Countrie Shortly after Sir Robert Bowes and some other English prisoners were deliuered by their bandes after the manner of the Marches In March following Sir Ralfe Sadler who died a graue CouÌ„sellor in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth being sent Ambassadour into Scotland came thither some-what before the Parliament His errand was to perswade the Gouernor to giue his consent with the other Lords to the mariage propounded lately by them and that withall a firme peace might be concluded vpon betweene the two Nations These pointes were long debated but in conclusion after that Dauid Beaton Cardinall and Archbishop of â—â—â—nt Andrewes the French factor was remoâ—â—ed from the assemblie generallie yeelded â—nto and confirmed And further pleadges were promised to be sent into England for the better assurance thereof The Ambassador staying still behind to see euerie thing performed according to promise on the behalfe of the Scottish Lordes the Earle of Glencorne Sir George Dowglas Sir William Hamiltone Sir Iames Leirmonth and the Secretarie were sent into England as well to confirme as to report what had beene established by act of Parliament concerning the marriage intended with England These men remained here from the ende of March till the ende of Iulie following in which time the marriage betweene Prince Edward of England and the infant of Scotland was fullie confirmed by wrytings enterchangablie signed and sealed and a peace concluded for ten yeares These things thus passed in the yeare of Lord 1543. The Scottish Marchantes were not a little glad after their long restraint of their free libertie of trafique wherevpon they presently dispatched their shippes to the sea so as in short time neuer a port well-neere in England was without some of them to the exceeding great ioye of both Realmes But this calme lasted not long for now beganne France after their olde fashion to â—â—â—rre vp certaine seditious and dispightfull spâ—â—â—ts which like vnto the curssed spirits of thâ—â—yre breathed out tempestious and boisterous blastes where-with to darken and disturbe the former Sun-shine and quiet season For before the yeares ende thorough the practize of the Cardinall Iohn Hamiltone brother to the Gouernour and Dauid Paynter which two last men of most dissolute conuersation came lately out of France for that purpose the Scottes were so wonderfully wrought that both the Gouernour himselfe and all they that had so lately before vowed themselues and there seruice to King Henry were now againe become wholy French for these reasons First by this mariage it would come to passe as they obiectted that the Scottish Nobolity should grow into contempt being far inferiour in wealth and possessions to the Lords of England and further remoued by habitation from the Kings presence who no doubt would make the most firtill and commdious part of England Southwards the place of his residence ordinarily But that which more nearely touched them was the eminent daunger wherein to Religion would be thereby brought the preseruation whereof they were bound to prefer before either lands or liues that the state whereinto England was persently falne might be a sufficient warning vnto them who already were but ouer much inclined that way for about that time the Gouener had incoraged Frier Guillan openly to preach against Immages and foolish ceremonies giuing liberty that who would might reade the bible in English which about three yeares before was openly read in very Church in England and was the very bane and breake necke of Popery thorowe out the whole Iland As for their promisse made to King Henry they were persuaded ther was no cause why they should sticke at that seeing it was lately decreed in the Counsell of Constance that no couenant or promise how constantly soeuer made ought to bee kept with an heretike such as the Pope had already iudged him to bee The Earle of Casseles onely continued constant though he was attempted both by faire meanes and foule to the contrary for hee hauing two brothers his pleadges in England protested that he would neuer redeeme ether his liberty or life with the losse of them wherefore at his returne into England the King much commended the young gentlemans resolution and in acquitall therfore set both him his brothers at liberty King Henry could not brooke this manner of dealing but resoluing to be fully reuenged he first caused all the shippes of Scotland whereof there were good store to be presently staid till his pleasure was further knowne then proclaming open war he forthwith made preparation to inuade Scotland by land and sea The Queene Mother the regent and the Cardinall beeing all like affected solicited King Francis to minister aide against England But the monie that that was thereupon sent them and deliuered to the Earle of Lenox to bee imployed to that end was by him detayned by reason of some iarres then amongst them-selues which brought him out of fauour with the French King who before had vsed him as a speciall instrument on his side King Henry in the meane season hauing not beene slow in his businesse thought good neuer-the-lesse to make triall whether vpon better aduisements the Scottes would yeelde to some reasonable conditions wherefore he sent his letters to Edenbrough fraught with many iust complaints and bitter threats but all preuailed not wher-vpon proceeding in his former courfe and hauing furnished his Nauie with all things needfull he committed the charge therof to
If your Queenes title bee good wee will no way impaire the same And I call GOD to witnesse that for our part wee knowe none next my selfe whome I preferre therein before her or if the matter should come in question can exclude her Who bee the competitours you knowe sayd shee well enough But what are they poore soules to attempt a thing so farre aboue their strength After some speach more of the meane estate of those Ladies all being the issue of the Lady Mary second Daughter to King Henry the seauenth at length she concluded that this their request was a matter of a very great weight and that she had neuer yet entred into any due consideration thereof and therefore it was requisite shee should haue longer time to thinke better of it After some few dayes shee called the Ambassadour againe vnto her and told him shee could not finde out what the meaning of the Lords was to make this petition so presently after their Queenes returne home especially knowing that the occasion of the former greeuances was not yet taken away what other thing is it said she they require but that not-with-standing the manifest wrong offered vs we should without further satisfaction gratifie their Queene in yeelding to a point of that importance if they take this course said she let them know that we haue as good meanes as they both at home and abroad whereby to hold our right The Ambassadour answered that their desire herein proceeded from a care they had not onely to further the aduancement of their Queene but that which touched them nearer ouer their own estates which by any trouble arising hereafter there-about might happily fall into danger of an vtter ruine That the Lords were imboldned the more freely and plainly to impart their mindes vnto her by the experience they haue had of her Maiesties good affection towards them and of the care shee had alwayes shewed ouer the continuance of their present estates and therefore hee hoped shee would make the best constructions of their meanings towards her in this their petition proceeding vpon so necessary considerations If wee had said she attempted any thing hurtfull to your Queenes title then had they had good cause to haue mooued vs to take some other more moderate reuenge But to perswade me to haue as it were my winding sheete layde before me while I liue is such a petition as was neuer yet made to any Prince Neuer-the-lesse wee doe not mislike their honest meaning herein eyther in respect of the good towards their Queene or themselues For wee must confesse it would cost many men on both sides their liues if happily any aduerse partie amongst those competitours should oppose her selfe against your Queene But who should shee bee or what meanes can shee make Well letting this doubt passe wherein there is no doubt to bee made admit wee were inclinable vnto that they desire would wee thinke you be drawne vnto it thereby to gratifie those Noblemen rather then your Queene her selfe surely no. But there bee many moe reasons then yet I haue made to keepe vs from yeelding there-vnto After shee had in a long discourse declared what shee had obserued both particulerlie in the disposition of her owne subiects and more generally in the corrupt nature of man-kind and with-all had alledged sundrie examples in other Christian kings how iealous they haue beene euen ouer their owne children who by the lawes of God and Nature were to succeed them shee concluded that by them she was taught how dangerous a point it was to make their Queene her knowne heire to the Crowne of England the more in that she was alreadie a mighty Princesse of her selfe and therefore she should with the more difficultie vpon such a grounded hope containe her selfe with-in the due bondes of lawe and equitie Vpon further conference with her Maiestie at another time the Ambassadour at length obtained that the former treatie of Peace and the articles then set downe should bee retracted and inlarged in this maner That the Queene of Scots should no longer beare the armes of England nor vsurpe the title of Queene ouer the same during the life of the Queene of England or of her issue after her On the other-side that the Queene of England should promise and couenant for her selfe and her issue after her that neither shee nor they should make or do any act that might preiudice the claime and right of succession which the Queene of Scots hath to the Crowne of England In like maner when as after the broiles in Scotland which followed the detestable murthers of King Henry the Queene of Scottes her second husband Father to the King that now raigneth and of the Earle of Murrey their Regent they of her faction shee being then fled into England for her more safetie and remaining there in a fauourable kinde of captiuitie practised her deliuerance by stirring vp a dangerous rebellion in the North parts of England and that the principall conspirators the two Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland were fled into Scotland and harbored there the Queene of England being moued there-vnto as well in respect of her owne safety as of the tender and motherly care she had ouer the Infant King her neere kinsman whose life was brought thereby into no lesse danger then her owne her Maiestie was easilie drawne by the intreatie of the Scottish Nobilitie of that faction to take vpon her the defence and protection of them and that kingdome against the common enimies and disturbers of the peaceable and quiet estate of the one and other Nation who besides their priuie practises had also by open hostilitie and inuasion prouoked her Maiestie to take armes against them For euen the next night after the Regent was slaine Walter Scotte and Thomas Carre â—â— â—â—â—miherste at the instigation especially of the Archbishop of Saint Andrewes entred the English borders and in outragious manner with fire and sword wasted and spoyled the countrie adioyning Neither were the aduersaries satisfied with this and the like displeasures sundry times afterwards but they were not ashamed with most despightfull tearmes to reproach her Maiestie Of this faction the Hamiltons were the principall heads and leaders not so much as it was thought for any good meaning towards the Scottish Queene whose party they would seeme to take but rather by bringing her againe into Scotland they hoped to worke the destruction both of the Mother and Sonne and there-by to set the Crowne of Scotland vpon some of their owne heads pretending to bee next in bloud after them to the same The Queene of England being thus prouoked to reuenge by her aduersaries on the one side and on the other side intreated by her well-willers to ioyne with them against those who were enimies both to her and their owne King commanded the Earle of Sussex Lord Lieutenant then of the North parts to gather such forces there as he thought conuenient where-with-all to enter into
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
Earles he gaue Earledomes to Barons Baronies and to others according to their degrees About the beginning of the next yeare he returned to London He was no sooner out off Scotland with his army but presently there was a new Viceroy set vp one of the Cumines who began to raise new stirs there amongst some other they tooke the Castle of Striueling But vnderstanding that king Edward was gathering new forces wherewith to enter into Scotland againe they began to consult what was best to be done not only for the preuēting of his presēt approch but especially for the recouery of the kingdome which was now in great danger by cōquest to be annexed to the Crowne of Engl In the end they resolued with all speed to procure an abstinence from war to the intent that in the meane season the might labor Pope Boniface to take vpon him the protection of the realme of Scotland thereby to auoid shake off al maner of subiection to the king of England for the Pope had lately before so far preuailed alreadie with king Edward as that at his intreaty Iohn Balliol was committed to the custodie of the Bishop of Cambray who vndertooke in the Popes behalfe that his liberty should not preiudice the quiet estate of either nation Engl or Scotland According to this their resolution the lords of Scotl procured Philip de Valois the French king to effect this their desired truce which was granted for eleuen months to Whitsontide following beeing the more easilie cōpassed by him by reasō king Edward had lately before married his sister Hereupon for this time the army was dissolued being euen ready to haue entred into Scotlād In the meane time the Scotish lords sent Ambassadors to Rome presēting to the Pope a grieuous complaint of the proceedings of king Edward That hee was fully bent to make a conquest of their country vnlesse it would please his Holines by the vertue of his prerogatiue in such cases to cōpound order all differences as wel amongst thēselues as also betweene the king of Engl and them at his will and pleasure wherunto they would willingly submit themselues The Pope gaue eare to their petition hoping to gaine somthing by the bargaine for with him no peny no Pater noster And first he began to quarrel with king Edward because he would not at his intreatie restore vnto Edward Balliol those landes in England which descended vpon him by the death of Iohn Balliol his father now latelie deceassed Then he forbad him from thence-forth to make war with the Scots because they had submitted themselues to the protection of the Sea Apostolicall in whose power it now only rested to dispose of their kingdome as seemed best to the same And by way of preuention he further declared that al such homage fealtie as the kings of Scotland in former times had done to the kings of England was onely for Tiuidale Penreth and such other Lands as they held within England and not for the realme of Scotland as hee would haue it Lastly whereas the kings of Scotland had some-times serued the kings of England in their warres both at home and abroade and had bin sondry times present at their coronations al this proceeded of their voluntary accord and especial fauor towards them by reason of their neerenesse in bloud and not as he tooke it of any duty binding them thereto King Edward in his answere herevnto proued by euident reasons that the right of Superiority and command ouer the realme of Scotland did iustlie belong vnto him and that the allegations made to the contrarie were vaine and frivolous Besides the kings letters the Nobility also of the realme being now assēbled in Parliament at Lincolne ioyned in the framing of an other letter answering in the name of the three estates vnto that poynt of the Popes pretended right to intermeddle in the cause betweene the king their maister and the Lords of Scotland that it was neuer before knowne that the kings of England had answered or of right ought to answere for any thing they clamed before any iudge ecclesiasticall or seculer yea though the king would therevnto yeald yet wold they neuer giue their consentes vnto it seeing it would so much preiudice his dignity royall and the ancient customes and priuileges of the realme This letter bare date the twelft of February in the yeare of grace 1301. and was signed vnder the hands and seales of these Noblemen whose names follow viz. Iohn Earle Warren Thomas Earle of Lancaster Ralfe de Monthermer Earle of Glocester Herford Humfrey de Bohum Earle of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England Roger Bigod Earle of Norfolke Marshall of England Guie Earle of Warwick Richard Earle of Arundel Audomar de valence lord of Monterney Henry de Lancaster Lord of Monmouth Iohn de Hastings Lord of Bergeuenny Henry de Percy Lord of Topeliffe Edmond de Mortimer Lord of Wigmor Robert fitzwater Lord of Woodham Iohn de Saint Iohn Lord of Hannake Hugh de veer Lord of Swanestampe William de Brewse Lord of Gower Robert de Mounthault Lord of Hewarden Robert de Tateshal Lord of Wokeham Reignald de Grey Lord of Ruthin Henry de Gray Lord of Codnore Hugh Bardalfe Lord of Wormegaie Robert de Clifforde Chatellaine of Appleby Peter de Malow Lord of Mulgreene Philip Lord of Kine Robert Fitz Roger Lord of Claueringes Ioh. de Mohun Lo. of Dunester Almerick de S. Amonde Lord of Widehay Williā de Ferrers Lo. of Groby Alaine de Zouche Lo. of Asby Theobalde de Vernon Lo. of Webbeley Tho. de Furniuall Lo. of Schefield Tho. de Moulton Lo. of Egremont William Latimer Lo. of Corbie Tho. Lord Berkeley Foulke Fitzwarren Lo. of Mitingham Iohn Lo. Seagraue Edmond de Enicourt Lo. of Thurgerton Peter Corbet Lord of Cans William de Cantelow Lord of Rauensthorpe Iohn de Beauchampe Lo. of Hacchie Roger de Mortimere Lo. of Penkethlin Iohn Fitz Reinald Lord of Blenleuenie Ralfe de Neuell Lord of Rabie Brian Fitz-Alaine Lo. of Bedale William Marshall Lord of Heugham Walter Lo. Huntercombe Williā Martin Lo. of Camies Henrie de Thies Lord of Chilton Roger de Ware Lo. of Isefield Iohn de Riuers Lo. of Augre Iohn de Lancaster Lo. of Grisedale Robert Fitz-Paine Lo of Lumnier Henry Tregoz Lord of Garings Robert Pipard Lo. of Lomford Walter Lord Faucomberg Roger le Strange Lord of Ellesmere Iohn le Strange Lo. of Cuokin Tho. de Chances Lo. of Norton Water de Beauchampe lor. of Alecester Rich. Talbot lor. of Eccleswell Iohn Butetourt lord of Mendesham Iohn Eugain lor. of Colum Hugh de Poynes lor. of Corneualet Adam lord of Welles Simond lord Montacute Iohn lord Sulle Iohn de Moells lord of Candeburie Edmond Baron Stafford Iohn Louell lord of Hackings Edmond lor. of Elchimhonocks Ralfe Fitz-William lo. of Grimthope Robert de Scales lor. of Neusells William Tuchet lo. of Lewenhales Iohn Abadan lor. of Deuerstone Iohn de Hatterings lor. of Graston Robert
in the beginning of the fift yeare of his raigne hee intered into Scotland accompanied with the greater number of his Nobilitie amongst whom Peter Gauestonne whom he now created Earle of Cornewall was in greatest fauour with him on whom also hee bestowed the signorie of the I le of Man which within three yeares after Bruse recouered from him King Edward raunging his people in battell aray passed thorough the country as farre as Reufren and then returned againe with little or no resistance For Bruse beeing not yet of sufficient power to incounter his huge Armie kept himselfe out of his walke knowing king Edward could not tary long there because he had taken such order before that nothing remained wherwith to relieue so great a number He was no sooner turned home-ward but the Scots were ready to follow him at his heeles so as entring into Lothian they did great hurt to the inhabitants and returned at their pleasure before they could be ouertaken by the Englishmen King Edward comming to Berwicke stayed there all the next winter and fortified the Towne with a strong wall and ditch somewhat hee caused to be done likewise at Roxbrugh and Norham which two Castells he committed to the custodie of the Earles of Cornewall and Glocester and so the next spring returned into England and ceassing any further at this time to prosecute his affayres in Scotland he turned all his malice and fury against his own subiects amonst whome the Earles of Lancaster Glocester and Warwicke being not able any longer to indure the outragious pride and insolencie of Gauestone supported against them by the vnmeasurable and doting affection of the king towards him sought meanes to haue him apprehended and once againe banished or if they fayled therof then to bee reuenged some other way The king hauing knowledge of their intent conueied him to the Castle of Scarbrugh not so closely but that it was made knowne to the Lordes his aduersaries who pursuing him presentlie thither they forced him to yeelde himselfe into their handes and in conclusion without further aduisement Guye Earle of Warwick caused his head to bee stroken off The King not without cause tooke this their vnlawfull act in such scorne as that euer after though for the present he dissembled his displeasure hee fought occasion how to bee reuenged By reason of this priuie hart-burne betweene the king and his Nobles the Scotish affayres were neglected on all parts so as in the meane season Bruse had brought vnder his obedience the better part of that kingdome Wherefore it was now high time to do somewhat if the king made any reckoning to hold that nation in such state as it was left by the late deceassed king his Father Heerevpon hee once againe assembled a puissant and gallant armie such as for multitude gorgious aray was neuer seene before in Scotland purposing not onlie to make a full conquest thereof but to leaue behind him such store of English people as should be sufficient to inhabite those Countries which thorough the long continuance of warre were left well neere desolate Bruse vnderstanding of this great preparation forslaked no time to make what resistance hee could And by how much hee was ouer weake in power to resist his aduersarie it behooued him to bee so much the more circumspect by art and policie to get what aduantage hee could against him Hauing therefore brought his armie which consisted of some thirty fiue thousand such men as reposed theyr whole confidence for life landes and else whatsoeuer onely in the force and courage of their handes and hearts to the further banke of the Riuer Bannock there hee stayed the comming of the Conqueror This Riuer runneth into the Furth hauing very high and steepe bankes on both sides and here and there certaine straite and narrow passages ouer it some-what also beneath the cliftes before his fall it lieth flat but the passage ouer there was hindered thorough certaine suncken marrish grounds and quagmires neuerthelesse at that time of the yeare passable enough in many places In these plots he caused deepe ditches to bee cast and sharpe pointed stakes of wood to bee strucken downe in them in such manner as hauing their toppes couered with light turues they might easilie deceiue those that fore-cast no such perill And where the passage was more firme hee caused Caltroppes to bee scattered for the annoyance of the horsemen When euery thing was thus disposed and framed to his best aduantage the King of England approching with his royall Armie set his people in battaile araye on this side the riuer ouer-against the Scots The first day was spent with certaine light skirmishes betweene the horse-men not much to the losse or gaine of either partie Though the night at that time of the yeare was there very short or none at all being the xxiii day of Iune yet such was the earnest desire on eyther side to ioyne in fight as that vnto them both it seemed ouer-long Bruse lead the middle battaile hauing his brother on his right hand and Randolph on the left The English Armie was marshalled in the same manner thoroughly interlined with good store of Archers The men of Armes gaue the first onset and rushing together vpon the hidden points of those stakes that were set for that purpose they were all ouer-throwne before they could come neere the Scots who watching the expected aduantage and falling vpon them readily made an exceeding bloudy slaughter of them They that escaped made so confused a retraite as the maine battaile of foot-men that followed them was not a little thereby disordered The Scottes therewith ioyned with them hand to hand and maintained the fight very valiantly but the English Archers fot a time were very troublesome vnto them vntill certaine light horse-men assailing them at their backes ouer-threw a great number and dispersed the rest But yet the enemies force preuailed not so much as did his ftaud here againe for the rascall sort men women and boyes that attended their cariages mounting vpon their Cart-iades and other Draught-cattle with their sherts aboue their other garments and banners and flagges made of their sheetes and aprons and such like stuffe fastned to the tops of long poles shewed themselues a farre off descending from the top of an high hill as if it had beene a new Armie hasting to the ayde of their fellowes This sight stroke such a terror in those of the English Army that were neerest vnto it as that forth-with they betooke them to their heeles The rest supposing the danger greater then it was and beeing therwith much disordered fled all for feare they knew not whereof their Captaine 's not beeing able by any meanes to keepe them in Exceeding great slaughter was made of the common souldiers in the chase King Edward with some fifteene Earles in his companie with much difficultie escaped by flight being receiued by the Earle of Marche into his Castle of Dunbar from whence they were conueied by
no reckning of the holie Fathers threates wherevpon the Bishoppes published his terrible execrations against them so as King Robert Iames Dowglasse and Thomas Randolfe with all their partakers were at euerie masse thorough out England solemlie accursed three times Neuerthelesse the next yeare the Scottes inuaded the land againe a fresh so that all this cost and coniuration little or nothing auailed One companie vnder the conduct of the Earle of Murry assailed the Bishopricke of Durham An other was leade by Iames Dowglasse and the Lord Steward of Scotland who also deuiding themselues the one companie wasted the Country towardes Hartlepoole and Cleueland the other intended as much to Richmonde where the townes-men to redeeme their peace departed with a good round some of mony payed vnto them as they had done also latelie before While the Scottes tooke their pleasure in this manner in the North partes for the space of fiueteene daies the gentlemen there about repayred to Pomfret to the Earle of Lancaster offring to ioyne with him against the enemie but the Earle was not disposed to aduenture his life in the quarell of him who as he tooke it had done him much wrong But howe true soeuer that was most certaine it is that he both wronged himselfe and highlie offended his Soueraigne in taking armes against him shortly after which cost him no lesse price then the losse of his life as it bee fell to diuerse others his partakers at the battaile at Borowgh-bridge the sixteene daie of March 1321. This Earle was the greatest in title and possessions that euer yet was in England for hee was together inuested with the Earldomes of Lancaster Lincolne Leicester Derbie and Salisburie So as if hee had continued faithfull to his Prince hee might haue beene a great ayde vnto him and the realme but contrarywise as it hath beene often since seene in this land his greatnesse made him an enemie both to King and country as appeared by diuerse letters out of Scotland intercepted in their carriage hither to the Lords of his confederacie which were openly read and published afterwards in London During these troubles the Scots and French-men ceased not to molest the realme on both sides for King Robert about Midsomer following entred by the West Marches as farre as Kendall and from thence thorow Lancashire to Prestone in Andernesse burning and wasting all that stood in their way foure-score miles within the land and hauing taken their pleasure for the space of three weekes returned home without battaile The King of England being thus molested by their continuall incursions hauing also sent his Brother Edmond Earle of Kent ouer into Gâ—yenne for the defence thereof against the French-men passed yet once againe into Scotland King Robert vnderstanding what great preparation was made and in readinesse for to come against him thought it not fitte to hazard his estate being now brought to the height of his desires vpon the tickle successe of a battaile or two and therefore hee caused all the Cattle and Sheepe in the countrie to bee driuen vp to the Mountaines and what-so-euer else might serue the Englishmen to any good vse was either bestowed in some place of strength or else made vnfitte for any purpose Hee with his horse-men with-drew them-selues further into the land then that it should stand with the safetie of his enimies to approach them Hereby it came to passe that when King Edward was come to Edenborough hee was forced for want of victuals and other necessaries which bred many diseases amongst his people within fifteene dayes after his entrie into Scotland to returne home-wardes hauing onely by assault taken Norham Castell King Robert vnderstanding how much the English Armie was weakned by the great mortalitie of the common souldiours ouer-passed not so fitte an opportunitie but with all speed pursued the Englishmen wasting and spoiling the land euen as farre as Yorke and hauing gotten knowledge that king Edward was then at the Abbey of Beighland hee so couertly conducted his Armie thither as that setting on his enimies at vnawares he put them all to flight the king himselfe hardly escaping their hands In this conflict for some small resistance was made such as their short warning would afford The Lord Iohn Britaine Earle of Richmonde was taken prisoner besides diuers other of the inferiour sort The kings treasure and furniture with all the prouision and preparation pertayning to the host was either spoyled or caried away This hapned about the twelft of October anno 1322. After this defeature the Scottes passed further into the land comming to Beuerley the towns-men gaue them a summe of money wherewith they bought their peace hauing now remained in England a month foure daies they returned from thence home-wards King Edward now despairing of any better successe in time to come and withall foreseeing what trouble was likely to arise within his owne realme as afterwards came to passe sought meanes to obtayne peace with Scotland which in the end was yeelded vnto and the same to endure for thirteene years about the tenth of Iuly in the yeare following it was proclamed in the chiefe citties townes of both Nations The Scottes were also now content to be reconciled to the Pope hauing first recouered obtayned in England whatsoeuer they well-nere desired At the same time the league was renewed with Charles the French King lately then come to his Crowne with an addition to the former articles viz that if at any time after controuersie should arise about the succession and right to the Crowne of Scotland the same should be heard and determined by the Nobility and peeres of those two Nations onely King Edward hauing obtained peace with Scotland the French King beganne to quarell with him for default of his personall apearance being summoned therevnto to acknowledge his homage for the duchie of Aquitaine and the country of Poytou vpon which occasion the Queene his wife and the Prince of Walles were sent into France to treate with the king her brother of an agreement betweene him her husband which she effected Neuerthelesse whether she was staied their against her will vpon some complaint made of her husband or that she could not happily indure the two Spencers who were then in greatest estimation with him it seemed she had no great desire to returne into England which being perceiued or rather plotted by diuers of the Nobility and others fauoring her part more then the kings they daylie passed ouer vnto her by whom beeing brought into England the greater number forsooke the King and ioyned themselues with the Queene and her Sonne into whose handes he was thereby forced in the ende to resigne his Crowne and Scepter and shortlie after to yeeld his bodie to the violence of his cruell tormentors who beereaued him of life as the others did of lybertie hauing raigned neere twentie yeares Such was the ende of this vnfortunate King by whose misgouernment the Realme was greatlie impouerished and weakned
hauing beene the destruction of so many noble personages and others of good account For besides those that were slaine in the warres will 〈…〉 with neere thirtie Noblemen and Knights at one time or other were by order of law beheaded and executed This king Edward being thus vnnaturally deposed his Son of the same name about the age of fourteene yeares began his raigne in Ianuarie in the yeare 1326. The night following the Scots purposing to haue giuen the yong King a cooling card now in the beginning of his iolity attempted by treason to haue taken the Castle of Norham But Robert Mannors the Captaine thereof beeing made aforehand acquainted with the practise by 〈◊〉 one of his owne souldiers so handled the matter that when some 16. of them had mounted the walles he sodainely fell vpon them slew nine or ten and tooke the rest prisoners The Scots deemed this vâ—fortunate beginning a presagement of the like successe thorough his whole raigne which came to passe accordinglie For he was the greatest scourge to that nation of any king of England either before or after him as in the processe of the historie shall appeare Notwithstanding this hard beginning king Robert thought it not good to let this land coÌ„tinue quiet but rather while the king was yong vnfit to manage the affaires of war in his own person to get what aduantage he could thereby so to be still afore-hand And if that â—ourse should happeÌ„ not to fall out according to his expectation hee hoped by the helpe of his faithful ally the French king so to work with the kings mother who gouerned and disposed of al things at her pleasure during his minority that at any time hee might obtaine peace with England at his owne liking About the beginning therfore of Iuly following king Robert committed his armie being now not wel able thorough the infirmities of age to vndertake that charge himselfe to three Captaines of especiall trust approued valiancy namelie Thomas Randolfe Earle of Murrey Iames Lord Dowglasse the Earle of Mar his brother in law consisting of aboue twenty thousand horsemen well furnished at all points King Edward beeing aduertised hereof prepared to make resistance hauing assembled his forces at Yorke hee stayed there the longer by reason of a treaty of peace solicited by the Scotish Ambassadors but when the king perceiued hee lost time there to no purpose departing thence hee approched his enemies that were lodged in the Woodes in Stanop Parke so as it was thought hee had them at a great aduantage But thorough the Treacherie as it was said of the Lord Roger Mortimer after they had been pend vp and well neere famished they did not onely finde a way out but some two hundred of them vnder the leading of the Lord Dowglasse in the night season desperatelie assayled that part of the English campe where the king him selfe was â—udged missing not much of either taking or slaying of him but fearing least they should haue beene inclosed beeing now in the myddest of their enemies they made the more hast to be gonne hauing done as much harme as the time would suffer them For as it was sayd they slewe two or three hundred of the common souldiours The Earle of Lancaster and the Lord Iohn Beumont of Heynault who with twelue hundred men of his country serued the King in this iorney would willingly haue pursued the Scottes ouer the water of Wier but that thorough the frowardnesse of Mortimer pretending a right to the leading of the fore-ward and giuing the first onset though happilie hee had no such meaning they could not bee suffered to proceede Wheresoeuer the fault was nothing was further attempted at this time wherewith the King was much displeased The Scottes beeing glad they had escaped that daunger made as much hast home as they could The next winter they besiedged the Castells of Norham and Anwicke but to their losse for at the assault of Anwicke diuerse of them were slaine amongst whome William de Mounthault Iohn Clappam and Malicius de Dumbarre were of best account The next Sommer aboue Pentecoste King Edward at a Parliament held at Northampton thorough the working of Mortimer the Queene agreed to a dishonorable peace with the Scottes whereby the King of Scotland receiued into his handes all those ancient writings whereby his predecessors the kings of Scotland and the Nobility had aforetime vnder their hands seales acknowledged homage and fealty to the Kings of England amongst the rest one of principall account called Ragman togither with a blacke Crosier or Roode besides diuerse other iewells somtime belonging to the kings of Scotland caried from thence into England Further King Edward hereat resigned al his right title to the crowne of Scotland and that no Englishmen should from thence-forth hold and inioye any landes or possessions their except such as would remaine their altogither and become subiectes to the Kings of Scotland Finallie it was agreed that Northumberland should thence-forth bee reputed the Marches of Scotland on the East-side and Cumberland on the West-side In consideration of the premises as also for the great damage done to this Realme by the Scottes during the raigne of the late King King Robert couenanted to giue to the King of England thirtie thousand markes sterling For the more assurance and full ratification of this finall agreement of peace betweene the two nations a marriage was then concluded and afterward solemnized betweene the Lady Iane King Edwards Sister and Prince Dauid of Scotland When King Robert had thus politikelie brought to passe a firme peace with England euen to his owne liking and hearts desire hee betooke himselfe to a priuate life and by reason of his great age he committed the gouernment of his kingdome as before in some sort hee had done to the Earle of Murrey and the Lord Dowglasse and then hauing worne out one yeare more hee dyed in the yeare of our saluation 1329. leauing his kingdome to his sonne a child about eight yeares old by reason whereof both the one and the other by generall consent was committed to the protection and direction of the Earle of Murrey Here it is requisite I should answer a notorious vntrueth wherewith the Scotish writers doe most vniustly charge the King of England viz That he should sâ—â—d a Munke into Scotland vnder the colour of ministring phisick to poyson the Gouernor and because he had not dispatched his businesse in so short time as hee promised therefore King Edward caused him to be burned aliue All this should bee done they write in the yeare 1331. two yeares after the death of King Robert in which the gouernor also deceased on the 20. day of Iuly I would first know what should mooue the King of England to seeke the destruction of him more then of any man else in that Realme because forsooth hee alone was the confounder of all the hope which the king conceiued to be sometimes able to
an exceeding great number of them was slaine Of Noblemen the Earle of Murrey the Earle of Stratherne the Constable Marshall Chamberlaine and Chancellor of Scotland were the principall men Together with King Dauid who fighting most couragiouslie was sore wounded before he would yeeld himselfe were taken prisoners the Earles of Dowglas Fife Southerland Wigton and Menteith This battaile was fought neere Durham at a place called Neuils-crosse on the xvii day of October in the yeare 1346. The English armie following their good fortune forthwith passed into Scotland tooke the Castels of Roxbrough and Hermitage and without resistance ouer-ran the countries of Anuandale Galloway Mers Tiuidale and Ethrike forrest extending their Marches at that time to Cockburne Pethe and 〈◊〉 bâ—dge King Dauid was shortlie after 〈◊〉 to Calice and presented to the King of England then lying at the siedge thereof who bestowed on Maister Copland that tooke him prisoner with the losse of two of his teeth at a blowe that the King gaue him fiue hundred pounds land by the yeare of inheritance The yeare following Balliol with the Earle of Northumberland made a roade together into Lowthian and Clidsdaile carrying from thence into Galloway a great bootie where Balliol remained a long time after By reason of this great slaughter now of the Scottes as also thorow an out-ragious mortalitie that followed the same by a generall infection of the Pestilence amongst them they were not able of many yeares after to shew them-selues againe in the field Neuerthelesse they ceased not in the mâ—ane-time vpon priuate quarrels after their vnchristian manner to prosecute one another euen vnto death About this time King Iohn of France vpon the death of Philip his Father did inherite together with his Crowne those troubles which then accompanied the same who to the end hee might thereby keepe the King of England occupied at home for hee was his ouerthwart neighbour in France sent certaine hands of French-men into Scotland vnder the leading of an expert Captaine Sir Edgeny de Gâ—â—rntiers of whome the Scottish Nobilitie receiuâ—â— as a present from the King their Maister forty thousand Crownes of the Sunne to bee imployde about the leuying and furnishing of some preperation against England This Gentleman preuailed so much with his faire words and franke promises as that amongst other fauours hee obtained thus much at their hands that they would come to no agreement with England without the allowance of his Maister Immediatly here-vpon while the Englishmen were busily employed in France about the conquest thereof the Scottes together with the ayde of the French-men made some light incursions with-in the English Marches some-what to their aduantage The same yeare viz. 1355. on the sixt of Nouember in the night they priuilie approched the Towne of Berwicke and being come to the walles before they were discouered they raised vp Ladders in such silence as that before day they entred and tooke the Towne but not without the losse of diuerse principall men amongst them namely Thomas Vaus Andrew â—cotte Iohn Gordon William Sienelere Thomas Preston and Alexander Mowbraye Knights Of the English Armie were also slaine Alexander Ogle Captaine of the Towne Thomas â—â—rcie Brother to the Earle of Northumberland and Edward Graye But the Castell was so well defended by those with in it as that it did abide the 〈…〉 of â—ing Edward to the succour thâ—â—â—bt at whose approach the Scottes knowing themselues vnable to withstand his puissance 〈◊〉 the towne walles set the houses on fire and so bâ—ake vp the siege which had continued ten weekes making as much hast home as they could The King hauing taken order for the repaire of the towne passed on with his armie to Roubrugh whether Balliol repairing resigned ouer vnto him all his right title and interest vnto the crowne of Scotland for more assurance thereof an instrument was drawne in writing signed sealed and deliuered by him vnto king Edward hearing date the fiue and twentith day of Ianuary This businesse being dispatched the King marcheth forward with his Armie till hee came to Halington burning and spoiling the country as he passed while hee was thus busied by land daily expecting the arriuall of his Nauy such a cruell tempest arose out of the North that manie of his ships perished there-with and 〈…〉 were dispersed in such maner that they could not readily bee brought againe together By this occasion the King could not for want of victualls and other necessaries proceed any further â—â— this time in his intended iourney who had purposed how to haue quieted that countrie for many yeares after At his returne hee brought Balliol with him into England thinking that 〈…〉 â—â—uld haue beene better appeased thereby Hee was no sooner departed out of Scotland but immediatly some busie spirits began to raise vp new troubles chasing out such as king Edward had left behind him in Galloway and Annandale And yet more to despight him withall the two Dowglasses Earle William and the Lord Archibald carrying ouer with them some three thousand Scottes ioyned with the French King against the Englishmen on that side the sea but they had better haue tarryed at home for at the battaile of Poytiers the yeare following wherein the French King was taken prisoner by the most valiant champion Edward Prince of Wales Andrew Steward Robert Gordone Andrewe Haliburton and Andrew Vaus Knights with diuerse other their countrymen were slaine the Earle escaped but his cousine Archibald was taken prisoner The yeare next following viz. 1357. vpon the conclusion of peace betweene England and France at the earnest entreatie of the Scottish Queene King Edwards sister her husband was set at libertie and the kingdome of Scotland restored vnto him which now rested at the disposition of king Edward hauing good oportunitie vpon this aduantage to haue made himselfe if hee had listed absolute king ouer the whole Iland But I cannot tell what hee would haue done if the Queene his Sister had dyed during her husbands captiuity as she did within â— while after King Dauid gaue for his ransome an hundred thousand markes sterling and daies were appointed for the payment therof Also he couenanted to acomplish certaine Castells bordering vpon England that might proue bad Neighbours vnto it which was performed accordingly Moreouer it seemeth by that which followed that he had also promised King Edward to make him his heire to the Crowne of Scotland beeing now without hope of any issue of his body For about seauen years before his death he propounded such a questioÌ„ to his Nobility assembled for that purpose but the king found them so vnwilling to harkeÌ„ vnto it that he prosecuted the matter no further But I am perswaded if King Edward had not coÌ„ceiued some such hope he would not so lightly haue laied of his hands now hauing the prey as it were in his pawes Much kindnes passed betweene these two Kings while they liued togither for the space of twelue years after the remainder of King
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
which at the entreatie of the Scottish Duke he forbare to spoile contenting himselfe with those presents which the Marchants offered vnto him and his Captaines Here hee caused Garter King at armes by open proclamation to admonish King Iames who keeping himselfe within the Castell world not be spoken with-all to obserue and performe all such couenants promises and agreements as hee had formerly subscribed vnto and by his seale confirmed to the vse and behoofe of king Edward And also to make sufficient recompence to his subiects for all the domage they had sustained by the sundry inuasions of the Scottes whilest the league yet continued betweene the two nations and this to be done before the first day of August next following And further to restore his brother the Duke of Albanie to his former estate within the realme of Scotland not detracting or diminishing any part of his possessions offices and authoritie which at any time before hee held and inioyed within the same Otherwise if hee refused to satisfie the King of England in all and euery of those demands then hee the sayde Duke his Lieutenant generall would forth-with with fire and sworde pursue the destructioâ—â—â—â—d vtter spoile of him and his kingdome Here-vnto King Iames not knowing presently what answer to make was altogether silent But the nobilitie of Scotland who now were not in any great trust and fauour with their King hauing assembled their forces at Hadington and finding themselues vnable therewith to encounter the puissance of the English armie thought it best to offer a treatie of peace hopeing in the meane time by faire promises to allure the Duke of Albanie from his amitie with England Here-vpon by their Letters dated the second of August they signified to the Generall that it was all their desires that the former contract of mariage betweene the Prince of Scotland and the King of Englands Daughter should take place according to the couenants agreed vpon concerning the same And also that a firme peace betweene the two Nations might thence-forth bee duely obserued on both sides and that nothing had beene done by them tending to the breach thereof Here-vnto Duke Riâ—hâ—rd answered That for the matter of mariage hee was not acquainted with the King his â—â—others pleasure therein and therefore could say nothing to that point but hee had commission to demand such summes of money as their King had before receiued sithence hee no more respeâ—â—ed the obseruance of the couenants agreed vnto at the treatie of that marriage and that the bâ—each of one principall Article frustrated all the rest As for peace he answered flatly that hee would yeeld to none vnlesse the Castell of Berwike might immediatly be deliuered vp vnto him or at the least vnlesse they would binde them-selues by oath neither to remooue the siege nor to relieue the same till it were surrendred or taken by force The Scottish Lords vpon these demands sent vnto the Generall the Bishop of Murrey and the Lord Dernley with these instructions First as touching the repaiment of those summes of money which were by him demanded the same was not due the time being not yet come wherein it was to bee restored againe according to the agreement at the treatie of mariage for as yet both the parties were vnder age But if the Duke thought the former assurance insufficient they would do any thing as farre as reason required to satisfie him to his full contentment Secondlie as concerning the yeelding vp of Berwicke Castell the same was scituate within the antient confines of the realme of Scotland and properlie appertained there-vnto and therefore it could not with-out open wrong bee taken and kept from them The Duke not-with-standing this their plea would not harken to any motion of peace vnlesse that Castell were forth-with deliuered to the vse of the King his Brother The same daye beeing the third of August Coline Earle of Aâ—gile Andrewe Steward Lord Chancelor of Scotland and the two Bishoppes of Saint Andrewes and Dunkell sent to the Duke of Albaine vnto the English Campe then at Leuingtone besides Hadington an instrument in writing vnder their hands and seales contayning such offers of kindnesse towards the recouery of the king his brothers fauour and his former estate that hauing acquainted the Duke of Glocester therewithall and faithfullie assured him of his loyaltie in that behalfe he was presently withall kindnesse dismissed and so repayred to the Lords his countriemen who immediatlie assembling a Counsell he was by generall consent not onelie restored to his former dignities and possessions but withall was aduanced to the highest place of gouerment vnder the king and by open proclamation intituled Lord Leutenant of Scotland In this assemblie the question was propounded what was best to be done touching the dâ—â—â—nd of the Castell of Berwike It seemed good to the best aduised Lords and others amongst them in that dangerous time wherein the Realme was so greatlie preplexed by domâ—sticall dissentions rather to incline to peace though it were with some losse then otherwaies to prouoke so mightie an aduersarie as the king of England would bee vnto them That a good Neighbour according to the French prouerbe would bee a good moâ—â—oâ—â— It was therefoâ—e in the end resolued vpon without further delay to proceede to a conclusion of peace for the present time how deare soeuer they payed for it Herevpon a deed indented bearing date the foure and tweenteth day of the same month of August was presented vnto the Duke of Glocester contayning a contract betweene him Lieutenant generall for the king of England on the one part and the other Duke Lieutenant generall in like manner for the king of Scotland on the other part couenanting on the behalfe both of the one and other that an absteinance of warre should bee obserued by sea and land from the eight daie of September till the fourth of Nouember next following In which time the Scottish Duke did couenant to yeelde vp the towne and Castell of Berwike into the hands and possession of such as by the king of England or his deputie should bee therevnto appoynted According to which agreement the said Castell was deliuered to the custodie of Lord Standlie on the sixe and tweentith daie of the foresaid month hauing then beene in the possession of the Scottes neere one and tweentie yeares but hath euer since continewed English And it was further couenanted on the behalfe of the Scottish Duke that vpon knowledge giuen whether it was the king of England his pleasure to haue the intended marriage betweene his Daughter and the young Prince to take place or otherwise to be brokeâ— off that then he would proceede accordingly either to prepare the mony paiable vnto him or else to the present solemnization of the same But King Edward foreseeing what vnquietnesse was likely to arise in Scotland betweene the two brothers and happely fauoring the Duke more then the King resolued with himselfe to breake of the marriage in speech
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
that they had no other way to saue them-selues but by running away And eyther at this time or at some other shortly after Monsieur de Etanges who with his company of Horsemen laye in garrison at Dundie was by them of Broughtie-Cragge taken prisoner in a skirmish that was betweene them this Gentleman was no small losse to the enemy being oâ— that approued valiancie as not many amongst them were marchable with him But ere it was long the want of him was requited by the taking of that worthy Knight Sir Iames Wilford the Gouernour of Hadington by the French garrison at Dumbarre as he passed by the towne in a conuoy his place was supplied by Sir Iames a Crofts The enemie perceiuing how vnlikelie it was to preuaile against the English at Hadington and Browghtie which were the places of greatest importance that they held so farre within Scotland brought his forces vnto the borders at least to defend those countries then shrewdly incombred by the continuall incursions of the Englishmen During the Frenchmens abode at Iedworth they tooke some strengths in those parts in the keeping of the English namely the Castels at Ferneherst Cornewall Fourd and also entring the English Marches burned diuerse villages carrying away many good booties not a little to the losse and annoyance of the inhabitants of those partes The English borderers here vpon assembled them-selues at Rox-brough purposing to haue assailed the Frenchmen in thâ—it Campe at Iedworth but they hauing knowledge thereof and finding them-selues ouer-weake to maâ—e resistance 〈◊〉 by this time many of them were dead through want of victuals and other necessaries which that hard country especially in winter could not affoord them would not abide the hazard of battaile but with all speed with-drew them-selues further into the countrie neither from this time forward did they performe any seruice worthy the remembrance The Scots in the meane time recouered Hume Castell out of the Englishmens hands by night through the treacherie of certaine of the assured Scots who at all times had free accesse there-vnto About the beginning of the next yeare viz. 1549. some fiue and twenâ—ie saile of men of warre were sent out of England who arriuing in the Firthe continuing their course vp the riuer seized vpon foure shippes which they found there Comming vp ouer-against Leith and saluting the Towne with their shott they laye at Anchor thirteene or twelue dayes in which time hauing landed their men on the Iland of Iuskith and begun to fortifie the Fleete they returned to the Sea in hope to encounter a new supply of Frenchmen dayly exspected in Scotland but before the worke could be brought to any perfection Le Desse taking vpon him this peece of seruice whereby to giue a plausible farewell to his former crosse-fortunes in these Scottish warres recouered the Iland after it had beene in the Englishmens possession sixeteene dayes All the Captaines well-neere were slaine and the residue taken prisoners The number left to attend the finishing of this Forte were foure Ensignes English and one of Italians This Monsieur hauing atchieued the glory of this enterprice gaue vp his charge to Monsieur de Thermes lately arriued at Dun-britaine and forth-with returned into France in the same galleys which brought the other into Scotland The generall conduct of all the French forces being now committed to de Thermes which with these he brought with him was well increased hee forth-with incamped at Aberladie where he began a foundatioÌ„ of a Fort therby to impeach the landing of any victuals for the reliefe of Hadington Though the Councell of England were now very busily occupied aswell about the suppression of a most dangerous commotion within the realme as also in making preparation against the French king that now inuaded Boullognoies neuer-the-lesse they neglected not as farre as the state of things at home and abroad would permit to releeue this their slippery foot-hold in Scotland For the Earle of Rutland Lord President then of the North and Generall of this armie accompanied with Sir Richard Manors Sir Francis Leake Sir Iohn Saunge Sir Thomas Helcroft Sir Oswald Wolstropp and others furnished with competent forces both forraigne and Natiue entred there with into Scotland and did not onely giue releefe to Hadington and the other garrisons but with all so distressed the Frenchmen by setting vpon them in their Trenches that if the aduantage had beene foreseene in time the enemie had been in great danger of an vtter ouer-throw The Almaignes that at this seruice tooke part with the Englishmen hauing in the meane time committed the custodie of their baggage to their women boies were disburthened by the Scottish prickers of so much as was worth the cariage But Iulian Romero with his band of Spaniards sped much worse For the enemies sodenly setting vpon them where they lay incamped neere the towne of Coldingham slew both their Captaine and well-neere the whole number of them About this time Fast Castell was recouered by stratagem out of the Englishmens hands For the gate being set open and their bridge let downe to receiue victuals brought thether by the assured Scottes at the Captaines appointment while the same was vnlading certaine other Scottes that were priuilie placed to attend the oportunitie sodenly entring the Castell surprised it The Earle of Rutland being called home more speedily then was purposed to the suppressing of a new commotion in Yorkeshire that brake out in his absence the state of the Scottish affaires began thence-forth to decline not onely by the tumults raised by the comminaltie in diuerse parts of this realme but also by the disagreement betweene the Lord Protector and the rest of the Nobilitie especially the Earle of Warwick Lord great Chamberlaine and afterwards created Duke of Northumberland By reason of which vnhappy iarres it was thought necessary to giue ouer the keeping of Hadington being a matter in deed of more charge then profit seeing it could not bee victualed but by the conuoy of an armie The Earle of Rutland was therefore sent thither againe to see the fortification rased and to conduct the men and munition safely into England which was performed accordinglye Monsieur Thermes and his associates being herewith not a little incouraged in February following besiedged Browghtie-Cragge which together with an other fortification neere vnto it were in short time recouered out of the Englishmens hands wanting meanes to make resistance against so strong an enimie neuer-the-lesse they would not yeeld so long as any man well-neere was able to stand in the defende of the charge they had vnder-taken While these things were in doing a treatie of peace was set on foote betweene England and France but the Commissioners proceeding slowly therein the Scottes and Frenchmen ceased not in the meane time to pursue the accomplishment of their ioynt desires which was vtterly to driue the Englishmen out of Scotland Therefore immediatly after the recouerie of the former houldes they besiedged Lowder where after some
by her at the earnest petition and request of the Nobilitie of Scotland to the common good and well-â—are of both nations For when that realme in the beginning of her raigne became ouer-burthened by the dayly repaire of the French forces sent thither to the aide of the Queene Regent and her pertakers in the defence of the Romish religion the better sort of the Scottish Nobility as the Duke of Chateaule reault who attained that dignity of thâ— French King for yeelding vp the gouernâ—◠〈◊〉 the Queene Mother the Lord Iames Prior of Saint Androwes the Earles of Arraine Arguile Glencarne Rothowse Southerland Monteith Huntley Catnesse Erolle Marshall Cassels Eglenton Montrosse the Lords Ruithen Boide Ogletree Ayskin Drommond Hume Rosse Chrieghton Leuenstone â—â—mmerwell the Maister of Lindesey and the Maister of Maxwell did all ioyne in request vnto the Queene of England that it would please her Maiestie to assist them against the iniurious demeanure of the Frenchmen who sought not onely to extirpate the profession of the Gospell which they had lately imbraced but also practised the vtter abolishment and ruine of their ancient lawes and liberties Their sute was the more willingly yeelded vnto because it was doubted that if the Frenchmen had once set good foot-hold in Scotland somâ— trouble might haue come thereof to this realme thorow the ambition of the Queenes vncles the Guises who abusing their authority vnder Francis the second the yong King had all things at their command in France The suspition hereof did first arise when immediatly after the death of Queene Mary the Scottish Mary pretending a title to the Crowne vsurped the armes and stile of England Herevpon in the latter end of February the Earle of Arguile the Prior of Saint Andrewes the Maister of Maxwell and the yong Lord of Ledingtone the Secretarie mette the Duke of Northfolke at Berwick who was sent thither for that purpose Here it was concluded that whatsoeuer stranger should inuade either England or Scotland that then the one nation should minister ayde to the other that what Scottishmen should serue her Maiestie in her owne realme or what Englishmen should serue in Scotland all should receiue pay onely of the Queene of England that what bootie or prey should bee gotten by the English seruing in Scotland the same should become their owne the Townes Castles excepted which should forth-with bee restored to whom by right they did appertaine For the better assurance hereof fiue young Gentlemen were shortly after sent into England as pledges in the behalfe of the Lords of Scotland namely the Lord Claudie Hamilton fourth sonne to the Duke Robert Dowglas halfe brother to the Lord Iames Steward Archibauld Cambell Lord of Lowghennell George Grayme second sonne to the Earle of Monteith and Iames Canningham sonne to the Earle of Glencarne All these were to remaine in England during the liues of the Scottish Queene and of the French King her husband together and one yeare more next after his decease if it first happened While this businesse was in hand the Frenchmen being then at the mouth of the water of Leuin in Fife making head to the Scottish Lords descryed eight ships ready to arriue which at the first sight they tooke to bee sent out of France to their succors But when they perceiued that they were English with all possible speed they posted to Leethe forth-with beginning to fortifie the towne The Englishmen hauing cast Ancre in the roade there the Queene Regent sent to Maister Winter the Vice-admirall to know for what cause hee was come thither who dissembling with her for the present answered that hauing beene at the Sea to pursue certaine Pirates and not finding them abroade hoped to haue heard of them there With-in fewe dayes after this the whole Nauie repaired thether vnto him where-with becomming commander ouer the Furthe the Frenchmen were penned vp both at Leethe and in the Iland of Iuskeith so as no victuals could bee brought them by Sea About the beginning of the yeare next following viz. 1560. The English armie consisting of two thousand horsmen and six hundred footmen ouer which the Lord Gray of Wilton was Generall comming to Hadington within Scotland was at the first saluted by the Earle of Arraine the Lord Iames Prior the Maister of Maxwell Sir William Kircawdie Leard of Graunge and diuerse other of the Scottish Nobility attended with three hundred horse After mutuall congratulations the Scottish Lords departed for that night The next day beeing the first of Aprill the Lord Lieutenant accompanied with Sir Iames Croft an assistant vnto him in that charge the Lord Scroope Lord Marshall Sir George Howard generall ouer the men of armes and demie-lances with diuerse Captaines rode to Muskelbrugh Church where the Scottish Duke after some stay intertained them beeing accompanied with his Sonne the Earle of Arraine the Earles of Arguile Glencorne Southerland Montieth and Rothes the Prior of Saint Andrewes the Lord Ruithuen the Lord Ogletree the Lord Boied the Maister of Maxwell the Leard of Ormestone the Master of Lindsey the Bishop of Galloway the Abbot of Saint Colmes-inch the Abbot of Culrose the Leards of Pettierowe Cunningham-head Grange and diuerse other to the number of two huÌ„dred horse After many curteous embracings and kinde salutations they spent two houres togither in Counsell then brake vp and parted for that night The army lay still at Preston from Munday till Satterday beeing the sixt of Aprill to the end that in the meane season the Scottish Lords might make triall once againe whether the Queene Regent who now for her more saftie remained in Edenbrugh Castell would bee drawne to any reasonable conditions of peace to which ende they did write vnto her in manner following VVe haue often heretofore earnestly intreated you both by worde and wryting that it would please you to remoue the French forces which now for the tearme of one yeare more haue many waies intollerablie oppressed the poore and put the whole Nation in feare of a most miserable bondage and thrawldome But when we perceiued that these our iust petitions did preuaile nothing with you wee were then inforced by way of complaint to lay open our pitiful estate vnto our next Neighbour Prince the Queene of England and with teares to craue aide of her to repulse by force of armes if otherwise it cannot bee those strangers that seeke to bring vs vnder their subiection But although shee being mooued with compassion ouer our calamities will vndertake the defence of our cause notwithstanding to the end wee may performe our duties towardes the Mother of our Queene and as much as wee may refraine from the effusion of Christian bloud and then onely to arme our selues when otherwise wee cannot obtaine our right wee held it our partes to beseech you againe and againe that forth-with you will command all the French forces to depart hence For whose more speedie passage the Queene of England will not onelie graunt them safe
number the Queene of England should furnish them there-with leauing behinde them pleadges for their safe returne That Lieth should bee deliuered vp to the Scottes the walles and fortifications about it raised and throwne downe That the fortification erected by the Frenchmen before the Castell of Dumbar should be also cast downe Thus much beeing performed on the French partie the Englishmen should forth-with breake vp the siedge and depart That Mary Queene of Scottes with the consent of her husband should by an act made to that end bury in obliuion all attempts and actions done or interprised by the Scottish Lordes against their authoritie from the tenth day of Marche in the yeare 1558 to the first of August this present yeare 1560. which acte should bee ratified in Parliament then immediatlie to bee holden by the estates of Scotland with the approbation and allowance of the said King and Queene of France and Scotland That three-score French-men should still abide in the I le of Iuskeith and as many in the Castell of Dunbarre least otherwise the Queene might seeme to bee dispossessed of the whole Kingdome Lastlie that the King and Queene of France and Scotland should not from thenceforth vsurpe the title or beare the Armes of England sithence the same onely belonged of right to the Queene of England Whilest these Ambassadours were passing into Scotland the Queene Regent deceased at Edenbrough which happily gaue readier dispatch to this businesse Thus was that Nation disburthened of this seruitude to the Frenchmen amongst whome Monsieur la Brosse one of the chiefe Commanders vnder the Queene Regent aduised his maister the French King as by intercepting of his Letters was discouered to haue brought the Nobilitie of Scotland to vtter destruction and of their liuings and yearely reuenewes to maintaine a thousand men of Armes to keepe the commons in perpetuall bondage At the Parliament holden in August following the Acte of Obliuion according to the former articles was ratified and the question of Religion debated and there-vpon a confession of the faith established and published Shortly after the Earle of Morton the Earle of Glencarne and the young Leird of Ledington repayred to the English Court in the behalfe of the other Lords to render thankes to the Queene of England for the great fauour her Maiestie had done them in reducing their distressed countrie to a peaceable estate for the which they acknowledged them-selues bound vnto her for euer In December next Francis the French King deceased where-vpon Queene Mary returned into Scotland the twentith of August the Summer following in the yeare 1561. Presentlie after William Metlaine was sent into England to make knowne her safe arriuall and to recommend vnto her Maiestie most kinde salutations from the Queene his Mistresse and her great desire to continue amitie and concorde betweene their kingdomes Then hee presented to her letters from the Lords wherein after a due remembrance of thankefulnesse for the late receiued fauours they humbly intreated her Maiestie not onely to carry her selfe in such sort towards their Queene that shee might there-by bee mooued to continue amitie with her but that it would please her by as straight bands as possiblie might bee still to binde her more and more vnto her promising that for their parts they would let slippe no occasion as farre as it rested in their powers where-by to perpetuate the late league betweene the two nations Further that the most assured meane where-by to bury in perpetuall obliuion the memorie of all former dissention and clearlie to take away all occasion of future quarrell rested herein that it would please her by acte of Parliament to establish the succession of the crowne of England for want of issue of her owne body vpon the Queene their Mistresse who in bloud was next vnto it Hauing prooued by sundry arguments and examples that this their request was both iust and agreeable to the practise of the Kings ouer both these nations in former times hee concluded that their Queene expected that fauour at her hands Here-vnto the Queene of England answered I looked for another kinde of Ambassage from your Queene I maruell shee hath forgotten what at length shee promised before her departure out of France which was to ratifie the peace made at Leeth and that immediatly after her returne into Scotland I should bee certified thereof I haue now long enough said her Maiestie beene fed with faire words it is high time if your Queene regard her credit with vs that her deeds be answerable ther-vnto The Ambassador in her excuse answered that he was sent out of Scotland within few dayes after their Queenes returne that she had not then entred into the handling of any matter of State but was wholie busied in giuing intertainement to the Noblemen for the more part vnknowne vnto her neither were they all come at his departure whose aduice it was fitte shee should vse in a matter of that importance especially touching the establishing of Religion which how difficult a point it was shee her selfe knew by experience and without whose consents shee neither could nor ought to conclude of any thing The Queene of England beeing heere-with more mooued replyed What needeth I pray you any further consultation to effect that where-vnto your Queene hath already bound her selfe by her hand and seale what answere I should make here-vnto sayd hee for the present I know not hauing receiued no warrant here-in from our Queene who looked not that this point should haue beene so farre vrged now This is all I can say vnto it Your Maiestie may easilye see what iust occasion shee now hath to deferre that businesse vntill a more conuenient time when as I doubt not but you shall bee better satisfied After some further speech her Maiestie comming to the most materiall point of this ambassage I well remember saith shee what you haue deliuered vnto vs in your Oration from the Nobilitie of Scotland in the behalfe of your Queene First that shee is the next vnto vs in bloud and therefore I should shew greatest affection and loue towards her which wee neither will nor can denie For the whole world can witnesse with vs that in all our actions we neuer attempted any thing against the good and safetie of her selfe or of her kingdome that when she claimed and chalenged our kingdome and vsurped the armes of the same yet neuer-the-lesse wee could not bee perswaded but that it proceeded rather from some bad counsell about her then from her selfe But how-so-euer it was wee hope shee shall not bee able to take our Crowne from vs or from my issue if I leaue any such to succeed vs. If I dye with-out children shee shall not finde any thing done by vs that may preiudice her right to the Crowne of England What that is wee neuer yet thought it needfull to examine neither purpose wee heere-after to trouble our selfe there-with-all but wee leaue it to them to whom it pertaineth to looke vnto it