the maine battaile on the left side being both flanked with 4000. Archers Irishmen well garded also with field peeces Their armor for the most part was a good skul or Iack short sword very broad and sharpe dagger buckler and a kerchiefe wreathed and wrapped twice or thrice about their collers In this aray they stood closly together holding their pikes in both hāds and with-all their bucklers on the left the point brest high and the other end resting against the right foot the fore-ranck bending their knees to giue their fellows behind leaue to couer thē with their pikes crossing one another in such forcible maner as if they stood fast neither man nor horse could breake in amongst them neither any strength with-stand them On the other side the Earle of Warwicke Lord Lieutenant of the armie conducted the fore-ward of three thousand footmen The Lord Dacres the rere-ward of like number and qualitie The middle-ward of foure thousand footmen was conducted by the Generall him-selfe The men of armes who were six thousand lead by the lord Gray lord Marshal and the light horsmen to the number of two thousand by Sir Francis Brian together with the Ordinance 200. Harquebusiers on horseback were bestowed in places most conuenient either for offence or defence as present occasion required There was betweene the two armies a deepe ditch which the Englishmen were to passe before they could come to the enimie many that could not leape ouer stuck fast therein with no small danger to them-selues and impediment to their fellowes that followed Besides that their course lay vntowardly ouer-thwart plowed lands with deep furrows for a stones cast after they had passed the slough Not-with-standing these incombrances in their course and the eminent perill of their enimes Pikes at the incounter the valiant lord Gray with his troopes of men of armes accompanied with the lord Fitz-Waters afterward Earle of Sussex and 2. Knights Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Thomas Darcy of whom the former was lieutenant of all the men of armes demilances the other Captaine of the Pensioners with their seuerall bands to the number of 3400. men of armes issuing out from both sides of the army so resolutly gaue the charge a front downe the hill vpon their enemies pikes that with the verie terrour thereof they were much amased Neuerthelesse the Scottes kept their order and stand so firmely that at this sharpe incounter sixe and twenty Gentlemen besides nere two hundred others were slaine out right amongst whome Edward Shelley Lieutenant vnto the Lord Graie of his band of Bulleners as he was the first that passed the ditch so in likelihood the first also that lost his life Few of them that were placed in the formost rancks returned without hurt on himselfe or his horse The Lord Gray was dangerously wounded in the mouth with a pike The Englishmen had so small incoragement to maintaine this their hot beginning that in stead of an orderlie retreat the greater number put their horses to that speed as thereby they showed a better will to leaue the field then to fight it out Hereby the next ward was much disordered But that worthy Earle of Warwike so cherefully incorraged his souldiours to stand to it manfully that what by his owne industry and the diligence of the Captaines vnder him the ranckes were reduced into good order both horsemen and foote-men so as by the small losse at the former incounter the whole armie attained their desired aduantage In the meane season the Scottes aduanced their bands with good corrage though by shot both from land and sea they were shrowdly galled But when they perceiued that the Englishmen both on foote and horse-backe were now readie to assaile them againe from the higher ground in such order as they seemed to incompasse them the Scottish vantgard to auoide the danger of the Spanish shot who serued on horse-backe on the one side and of being inuironed by the aduersarie on the other declined on that hand from their former direct course vp the hill whereat the Englishmen giuing a great shoute cried they flie they flie the Scottes supposing their fellowes behind them had fled indeede turned themselues about The middle battaile seeing their vantgard out of their course with their faces towardes them imagined that they had fledde and forth-with casting downe their weapons and else whatsoeuer would hinder their speed they be-tooke themselues euerie man to his heeles In this sort God gaue the victory to the Englishmen onelie by the working of his diuine power and not by either power or pollicie of man The chase was continued out-right VVest-ward about fiue miles vnto Lieth and wel-nere to the gates of Edenbrough distanced in breadth neere foure miles from the sandes vp toward Daketh South-ward The slaughter was so great that the riuer of Eske was stained with bloud which lay East-ward from the place of battaile and runneth North-ward into the Firth Not so few as ten thousand Scottes lost their liues all within the space of fiue houres from one of the clocke till sixe Of this number besides the Lord Flemming about two thousād were men of good quality Aboue fifteene hundred were taken prisoners amongst whome the Earle of Huntley the Lord of Yester Hobby Hamilton Captaine of Dumbar the Maister of Saintpoll the Lord Weames and a brother of the Earle of Cassels were of best account For to one Gentleman their were twenty of the common soldiours taken prisoners by reason they were all so meanly apparelled as that the better sort could not bee knowne from the rest who otherwise might haue escaped with their liues This victory fell to the Englishmen neere Mussel-brugh on Saterday being the tenth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 1547. Two of my Fathers men hauing lost him in the chase in their returne found one slaine so verie like him in all respectes and more especiallie by a circle about the finger whereon he vsed to weare a great ringe as that with much sorrowe and lamentation they buried him Hee was one of them that gaue the first on-set on the enemies pikes whereat his horse receiued his deathes wound but serued notwithstanding all that day after After this the Englishmen by sea entred the I le of Colme a place by scituation very stronge standing in the Firthe about foure miles from Lieth wherein was an Abbie but the Monkes had abandoned the same Here and at the Castell of Browghtie-Cragge which stood in the entrie into the Taie garisons of Englishmen were placed for the more anoyance of those that were to passe vp those riuers In the returne of the armie by land Hume Castell and Fast Castell after some resistance were surrendred and fortified by the English At their comming to Boxbrugh they also erected a fortification vpon the ruines of an olde Castell and placed a garison therein Here the Lord Protector receiued diuerse Scottish Leardes and Gentlemen of the best account thorow the
whom he promised vpon his good successe great preferments in England Also he solicited Philip the French king offring that if he would assist him in the conquest of this Land to bind himselfe by oth to hold the crowne of him as of his Soueraigne Lord maister But because it seemed nothing cōmodious to France that the Dukedom of Normandy which then stood but in slender awe of the king should be strengthed by the addition of England for the ouer great powre of a neighbour nation is held amongst Princes a dangerous point Philip was so farre off from yeelding him any aide therin as that he did what he could to disswade him from it Neuerthelesse the Duke would not by any means be remoued from that he had alreadie so farre forth vndertaken but was the more forward being now also backed incoraged by the enterposed authority of Alexander Bishop of Rome who now first began to vsurpe a Soueraignty and command ouer Princes For his Holinesse ratifying the Dukes interest presented him with a hallowed banner as an assured token of happy successe wherfore hauing gathered his whole powre in redinesse at S. Valeries a little towne scituat at the entry of the riuer Some the Nauie attended a faire winde which because they could not haue so sone as they would the Normans weried the poore Saint Patron of that place with the multitude of vowes and did ouerload him with their continuall offerings Harold who had all this while with his people waited in vaine on the enemies landing determined with himselfe to dismisse his army and to dissolue his nauy for that time as well because his prouision of corne fayled as also hauing receaued letters frō the Earle of Flanders signifying that the duke purposed to stir no further that yeare which hee the rather beleeued because winter approaching for the sun was returned to his latter equinoctiall period the season was vnfit for nauigation But his armie was no sooner dismissed but he was constrained by an vnexspected occasion to gather together his dispearsed forces For Harold Harfager King of Norway playing the Pirat alongst the Northen coasts had alredy seized on the iles of Orkney intised thereunto by Tosty who had put him in hope of attayning the Crowne and were together entred the riuer of Tine with some few lesse then fiue hundred smale vessels There forces thus vnited they tooke spoile of the Countries adioyning passing from thence alongst the coast of Yorkshire till they entred the Riuer of Humber making what spoyle they could on ether side In the meane time the two Erles Edwine and Morcar gathering vp certaine disordred troopes such as the Country vpon a suddaine could afford made head against them but being repulsed by the Noruegians many of them together with there captaines saued them selues by flight but the greater mumber vnaduisedly rushing into the Riuer of Ouse thereby hoping to haue escaped perished in the water After this blowe they prepared to besiedg Yorke whether being come sooner then was looked the Cittie was surrendred and hostages deliuered on both sides Within fewe dayes Harold of England hauing in his passage gathered what forces he could commeth to Yorke from whence pursuing the Noruegians he found them very strongly incamped hauing on their backes the maine Ocean on their leaft hand the riuer of Humber where their ships lay at Ancre and vpon the right hand and a front they were pretily defended by the riuer Derwine All this not-with-standing Harold assailed them very couragiously The fight began vpon the bridge whereon it is said that a Noruegian alone a long time kept back the whole armie of the Englishmen from passing ouer vntill he was stroken thorow with a Dart. The armies being ioyned the fight continued a good while with doubtfull victory on either side but in the end the Noruegian hoast was wholy defeated of whom the greater number together with their King and his partaker Tostie were slaine in the battaile This victory brought also with it a rich bootie for besides much treasure they left behind them all their ships sauing some twentie of the worst which were bestowed on Paul Earle of the Iles of Orkney and on Oliue sonne to the Noruegian King therein to carry home their maimed souldiers hauing first taken an oath that from thence forth they should neuer molest this land againe Fortune thus smiling on our Harold made him esteeme very highly of himselfe for thinking that the Normans would now stand in feare of his mightinesse hee began to make lesse account of his souldiers not respecting how slenderly hee rewarded them for their late good seruice but reseruing to himselfe and some fewe of his fauorites the whole wealth attained by this victory he became odious to his owne subiects The North parts being thus distempered by this inuasion from Norway he wholy applied himselfe to set all things there in good order and safetie againe In the meane time the Duke of Normandy taking the offered oportunity about the ende of September hoised vp his sailes and with a fauorable winde landed his whole army at * Pemsey Peuensie in Sussex causing his ships to be set on fier thereby taking from his souldiers all hope of sauing thēselues by flight Hauing builded here some fortifications he marched from thence alongst the sea coast to Hastings where also hee raysed an other fortresse and furnished them both with sufficient strength for their defence Here be published the causes mouing him to vndertake this enterprise namely to bee reuenged on the outrage committed vpon his Cousin Alfred whom togither with diuerse Normans Godwine Father to Harold had wickedly murthered To take reuenge on Harold himselfe as well for causing Robert the Archbishop of Canterburie to be banished the Realme in the daies of King Edward as also for vniustlie detayning from him the kingdome of England contrary to his faithfull promise and oth But in any case hee strictly forebadde his Souldiers to inflict anie outragious calamities vpon the countrie people knowledge heereof was presently brought to king Harold who therevpon without further deliberation to the end hee might the more speedily incounter the Normans dispatched his postes into all the partes of the Realme intreating his subiects to perseuer in their loyaltie and duetifull obedience vnto him and hauing gathered what powre by al possible means hee could by long iorneyes hee came in fewe daies to London Hither the Duke sent his ambassador who demanding resignation of the kingdom vnto his maister very hardly escaped with life so much was Harold inraged against him For by his late victory ouer the Norwegians he was so encoraged that nothing could now appall daunt him He returned the Duke answere that vnlesse he would forth-with draw homewards it should be worsse for him But the Duke in modesty replied and in curtious manner dismissed the messenger Harold in the meane season mustering his men at London found that since the late conflict with the
for the proofe of this pretended Superioritie ouer the Kings of Scotland praeter to vse his owne words veteres fabulas recentes iniurias besides old farlies late iniuries I will not stand vpon the testimonies fetched from beyond the Danish and some of the Saxon Kings because happilie they may seeme not much to the purpose beeing without the compasse of the last conquerors title vnder which the succeeding kings of England must make their claime but let vs see what interest they can deriue from and vnder him It is granted that all the kings of Scotland from the conquest till that time haue done homage one after other to the kings of England but not for the Realme of Scotland say they for what then forsooth for those landes and signories which they held of the kings of England with in England I would then gladly know when in the sixt yeare or there-about of the Conquerors raigne vpon the conclusion of peace betweene him and king Malcolme of Scotland for the auoiding of further controuersie in time to come the two kingdomes were seuered and diuided by markes and bounds in so memorable manner as is before declared what landes and possessions did king Malcolme then hold pertaining to the Crowne of England Cumberland saith Buchanane that part of Northumberland saith an other that lyeth betweene the riuer of Tweed Cumberland and Staenmore well but whatsoeuer they were were they not included and contained within those limits and bounds then erected If not to what purpose serued that notorious diuision of the two kingdomes either then haue the Sootish writers erred in the approbation of that most solemne particion or else must king Malcome then doe homage to the Conqueror for his kingdome of Scotland which being granted then let it bee showed how and when his heires after him were discharged of that seruice Againe how came it to passe that in the said sixt yeare of the raigne of the Conquerour Michael the elect Bishop of Glascoe receaued consecration at the hands of Thomas then the Atchbishop of Yorke as of the primate of Scotland binding himselfe by oath to the obedience of that Sea Tothade the Bishop of Saint Androwes did the like at the commandement of Malcome the third king of Scotland If then a Bishop of England had right to this supremacie ouer the cleargie of Scotland why should then the like preheminence bee denied to the kings of England at that time ouer the seculer state of the same kingdome Further what moued King William of Scotland together with Earle Dauid his brother and the Scotish Lords then present both temporall and spirituall to acknowledge and sweare fealtie to King Henry the second forsooth because his subiects loued him so well that for his redemption they would haue yeelded to any conditions whatsoeuer As though king Henry was so vnreasonable that contrary to the custome of all nations he would not accept of any other submissioÌ„ but that he should be the first king of ScotlaÌ„d that became his vassaile when was it euer heard before that kings haue so dealt one with another as though an vsuall ransome yea a very small sum seeing he was taken with the losse of little bloud or none at all would haue bin refused for his liberty I doubt much whether the Lords of Scotland would euer haue yeelded to an exacted subiection for the loue onely of their king especially hauing then amongst them the Lord Dauid a man of so worthy parts as he was no way inferiour to his brother Lastly what mooued king Alexander the third and his Lords to acknowledge the like allegiance to King Henry the third the two kingdomes being seperated in manner as at the agreement betweene the Conqueror and Malcolm Cammoir Therefore these are friuolous shifts because they will not seeme altogether mute in a matter so much importing as they take it the glory of their Nation But howsoeuer some others amongst them haue beene ouer-come with ouer vehement an affection towards their natiue countrie whereby many times they haue suppressed the trueth when it sounded somewhat too harshe for their hearing yet I cannot but maruell at Buchanan a man well learned and iudicious how hee could be drawne into so peruerse a conceit of King Edwards demeanure in this action Where-vnto it is now time to returne hoping a time will come when as this difference shall not be offensiue any more The King of England about Easter next according to his appointment repaired inâ—o the North-parts and beeing come to Norham hee caused all the Prelates and Barons of Scotland to bee called before him to whom he declared his readinesse to vnder-take the deciding of this great controuersie concerning a title to a kingdome That in requiring his assistance and making offer to stand to his finall sentence therein they had done no more then by the duty of their allegiance they were bound vnto whereof if any amongst them doubted they might be thorowly satisfied by taking a view of such records and obseruations as hee caused faithfully to bee gathered out of the best Historiographers of both Nations which then were openly read amongst them which being so fresh in memory no man made further question thereof Wherevpon King Edâ—ard was acknowledged Superior Lord of Scotland of all the competitours and a writing was drawne subscribed and confirmed with their hands and feales testifying this their voluntarie recognition in these words A toux iceulx qui ceste presente lettre verrunt ou orrunt c. To all them that this present writing shall see or heare Florence Earle of Holland Robert le Bruce Lord of Auuandale Iohn Cumine Lord of Badenowe Patrike de Dunbarre Earle of Marche Iohn de Balliol Lord of Galloway Iohn Hastings Lord of Abergeuennie Iohn de Vescie insteed of his Father Nicholas de Sules and Walter Rosse send greeting in our Lord. Whereas all we pretend to haue right to the kingdome of Scotland and intend to declare chalenge and proue the fame before him that hath the best authoritie iurisdiction and reason to examine our right and that the noble Prince the Lord Edward by the grace of God King of England by good and sufficient reasons hath informed vs that the superior domination of Scotland belongeth to him and that hee ought to haue the knowledge hearing examining and defyning of our right we of our free-willes without all violence and constraint do will consent and grant to receiue our right before him as the superiour Lord of our land We will also and promise that we shall haue and hold his deed for firme and stable and that hee shall haue the kingdome vnto whom before him best right shall giue the same In witnesse whereof we haue to these letters put our seales Yeuen at Norham the Tuesday next after the feast of the Ascension of our Lord in the yeare 1291. for the more strong ratification hereof the King further demanded full possession and seisure of the realme of
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
Hungaria but by beeing brought in and entertayned for their aide and succour Did not the Gothes by like meanes get all Italie and the Lombardes one part thereof now called Lombardie VVhat better successe looke you for Needie souldiers hauing their weapons in their handes and knowing you cannot inioye your owne without them what will they not commaunde what will they not vsurpe and what will they thinke that you dare doe against them Such aide wil be your confusion the victorie so had your seruitude what is then to bee thought of the losse sustained at their hands The strangers and mercinarie souldiers will oppresse you within our power and forces without were it not then much better to auoide all these mischiefes by an happie mariage with our King to end all warre and contention by so honorableâ— peace Holdeth not the Emperor Spaine and Burgundy by right of mariage How hath the French King Britaine now lately annexed to that Crowne but by title of marriage How haue all the Princes of the world happily peaceablie made of two kingdomes one of seuerall signiories one of sundrie Nations euer before at warre one with the other or else in doubtfull peace one well gouerned kingdome rule and dominion but by that Godly most commendable and honorable composition of mariage There be only two means to worke good agreement where two Nations pretend title one to the other either by force of armes or by marriage of these you hate the one namelie conquest and neuerthelesse refuse the other You will not haue peace you reiect alliance what then remaineth but violence and happily conquest whether you will or no which we feare wil be lesse damage and dishonour vnto you then the entertainment of a foraigne power ouer-mighty to bee remoued by you when you are wearie of their companie To conclude wee declare and protest that although we are compelled for the time for the furtherance of our honest and Christian purpose and for the defence of such amongst you as fauor the same to keepe houlds and to build fortifications in the Realme Neuerthelesse his Maiesties minde and pleasure is with our aduice and Counsell that if faire meanes may preuaile not to vse extremities if you will imbrace amitie to leaue armes for wee desire loue vnitie concord peace and equalitie Let neither your Gouernor nor your Church-men nor any other feede you with faire words and thereby bring you into the snare from whence they cannot deliuer you againe They will happilie prouide for themselues some pensions out of an other Realme but who shall prouide pensions for the rest They will send you souldiers to keepe your houlds but who shall force them to restore them againe You shal be well prouided of munition armor and weapons but there-with they wil be readie to cut your owne throates Now on the other side if we two being made by this mariage one People one Nation and one Monarchie hauing the sea for a wall mutuall loue for a garrison and God for our defense what should we be affraide of who can hurt vs whie are you not as willing as wee bee to knit this fast knot of amitie with vs. If the honour of so Noble a Monarchy doth not mooue you herevnto let the remembrance of your former losses feare you to attempt that thing which shall displease almighty GOD increase your trouble wast your goodes and desolate your Country VVe craue but your promised Queene your offred vnity the coniunctioÌ„ of both nations which God himselfe of his infinite clemency and tender loue towards both hath offred vnto vs both and in a manner prouoked vs both vnto it whose calling wee acknowledge and will pursue the effecting of the same by all good means VVhere-with if wee shall not preuaile then must wee bee inforced to chastice the obstinate and froward amongst you with the angry Angels of God fire and sword VVherfore we once againe require and exhort you al who loue your Country and beare true hearts to your Queene and Mistresse regard your honours hold your faith and promise with vs which shall bring so great a benefit vnto you As many of you as shal fauor and further this our interprice bee hee Lord or Leard Gentleman or other wee will friendly intertaine him on our party reward his seruice to his best contentment And for a more sure proofe of our good meaning herein knowe you that the King by our aduice and Counsell hath granted and by these presents doth grant that from hence-forth all manner of Marchantes and other of your Nation who shall enter their names with one of the Wardens of our marches and there professe to take part with vs in this our iust and Godly intention may to his owne pofit and all such as bee of the same affection with vs without any let enter into any port creeke and hauen of England and there vse their traffique buie and sell bring in the commodities of Scotland and carrie forth the commodities of England as freelie and with the same and none other custome or paiments then the Kings naturall subiects do vsually now pay purposing also vpon the good successe of this our offer further to gratifie the fauorers of our enterprise according to the measure of euery mans merit All this the Kings highnesse by our aduice and Counsell hath willed to be declared in wryting vnto you giuen in commandement vnto vs and his Lieutenants VVardens Rulers other head Officers Ministers and subiects to see done and executed according to the true purport effect and meaning thereof Fare you well Diuers of the Scottish Nobility mooued hereby to a due consideration of the present Estate of their Country notwithstanding that the French succors were already ariued did not feare in a publique assembly wherin the cause was solemnly debated amongst them to declare what reasons moued them to hold it more profitable honorable to accept of the alliance league offred them by the Counsell of England then to 〈…〉 of thâ— hands of the FrenchmeÌ„ But the aâ—uerse partâ—y being the stronger for besides that aâ— the Papists wel-nere were of that faction thâ— French king had promised great rewards and preferments â—o the principal men amongst theÌ„ on the gouernoâ— himself he had bestowed a yearly pention of 12000. crownes and a charge of an hundred lances the rest were ouer-ruled and this point firmely concluded that the young Queene shold be forth-with sent into France to be affianced vnto the Dolphine which was afterwards effected accordingly The French army arriued on the 19. day of this present month of Iune câ—â—sisting of some 6000. in the whole Viz. 3000. footmen Germaines conducted by the Râ—â—â—graue 2000. French and 1000. others of sundry Nations hors-men ouer whom Monsieur Dâ—ssâ— was appointed general accompanied with oâ—heâ—â—xpert Captaines namely Dandelâ—â— â—alleâ— â—n Daâ—seâ— â—â—â—tâ—o Stroâ—â—y an Italian Nicholas Villegaignon Captaine of the Gallies and Monsieur Dâ—â—d Commissary ouer the artilery These togitheâ—