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
of keeping order they pursued them more egarlie then warily which the enemy perceauing taking the exspected aduantage vpon a sudden turned againe and redily reducing his troopes into good order set vpon them a fresh made a great slaughter of them Many were beaten downe while they were thinking whether it were better to fight or to flie But the greater number keeping their stand close togither on the heigth of a hill and incoraging one the other not to shrinke manfully fought it out a long time as though they had purposely chosen that place to giue the more honor vnto their deaths In the end Harold being shot into the head with an arrow togither with Githe his brother yeelded vp their fainting spirits Edwine and Morcar with some fewe moe escaping by flight gaue place to time the diuine prouidence after the fight had continewed froÌ„ the first appearance of daylight vnto the shutting vp of the same In this battaile were slaine of Normans fewe lesse then sixe thousand but of the Englishmen a farre greater number The Duke hauing obtained this notable victory had no small cause to reioyce thereat neuerthelesse hee attrbuted the honour and glory thereof to the giuer of all happinesse and by publique thankesgiuing acknowledged the same Hee lodged that night in the field his pauilion being set vp in the middest of the deade bodies The next day taking order for the buriall of the dead on both sides he returned to Hastings as well to consult in what sort to prosecute his late victory as also to giue some refreshing to his wearied army But when the wofull relation of this ouerthrow was brought to the Citie of London and to other parts further of the whole realme was greatly perplexed therewith as being then men vtterly forlorne Githe the mother of Harold after the manner of women gaue ouer her selfe wholie to greeuous lamentations and with most humble petition obtaining of the Duke the dead bodies of hir two sonnes she caused them to be buried in the monasterie of Waltham Earle Edwine sent Algithe the Queenes sister into the furthest partes of the realme aduising both the Noblemen and commons to awaken their heauie spirits and to consult betimes vpon some good course for the present reliefe of their distressed languishing estate The Archbishop of Yorke the Londoners and officers of the Nauie thought it best to make Edgar Atheling their King and to gather new forces out of hand to incounter the Duke The two Earles Edwine and Morcar secretly practised how to set the crowne vpon one of their heads But the Bishops and Prelates and such other as stood in feare of the Popes thunder-botls and damning exsecrations held it best to submit themselues to the Duke and no further to prouoke the Conquerors haughty minde by taking armes afresh against him the successe whereof was doubtfull Neither would it auaile them any thing to contend with the diuine prouidence which for their outragious sinnes had giuen them into the hands of their enimies the Normans The Duke in the meane time leauing a garrison behind him at Hastings determined to go to London but to strike the more terror into the Englishmens hearts and to make all safe at his backe he deuided his forces into seuerall companies who ranging thorow some part of Kent Sussex Surrie Hamshire and Barkshire wasted and burned all the townes and villages that stood in their way carrying with them whatsoeuer they found worth the taking Then passing ouer Theames at Wallingford they filled euery place with horror trembling The great men were so possessed with inward distrust and enuy one at another that they wholy neglected the care they should haue taken for the good of the common-weale For to auoide the ecclesiasticall censure threats of the Bishop of Rome who now began to tyrannize not onely ouer the vulgar and inferior sort but also ouer mightie Kings and kingdomes the realme being false into a most desperate estate they so firmely resolued to yeeld themselues that therevpon many prouiding in time for their best safetie left the Citie to all aduentures Alfread Archbishop of Yorke Wolstaine Bishop of Worcester diuers other great Prelats together with Edgar Atheling Edwine and Morcar mette the Duke at Barkhamsteed giuing pledges for the assurance of their fidelitie submitted themselues vnto him Then posting presently to London he was with great ioy and solemne acclamation intertained and saluted with Viue le Roy. The Duke forthwith prepared al things fit for his coronation which by his appointment was solemnized the Christmas following In the meane time he wholy busied himselfe how to order euery thing for the more firme establishment of his newly atchieued conquereâ— kingdome Here ended the gouerment of the Saxon Kings ouer this land hauing continued 600. yeares Some did attribuâ—e this notoriouâ— alteration and change â—o the corruption in the magistrates and the superstitious cowardlinesse of the Cleargie others to the influence of a Coâ—et others immediatly referred the cause thereof to the diuine prouidence that disposeth of Kingdomes by an vnknowne but neuer vniust sentence and decree But they that more strictly examined that point and looked into the next appearing cause cast the blame chiefely vpon King Edward who thorough a vaine glorious showe of religious chastitie tooke no more care to raise vp seede vnto himselfe for want whereof his Kingdome after his death was left a prey to the ambition of man These Normanes were a mixt people of Noruâ—gians Suevians and Danes who in the time of Charles the great exercised piracie vpon these Coasts At length by strong hand they seated themselues in that part of France which they hold till this day about the mouth of the Riuer of Sene. That prouince was theÌ„ called Neustria and now Normandie of the name Norman giuen vnto them because they came out off the North parts These people so much preuailed afterwards against Charles of France surnamed the Simple that he was constrained to make peace with them by giuing his Daughter in marriage to Rollo their Prince together with that whole Prouince for her Dowrie whereof hee created him Duke from whom this Duke William was the fift in lineall descent that succeeded after him Hauing thus farre proceeded and brought this our most noble and florishing Iland of Brittaine vnder the seuerall gouernements of the two absolute Kings of England and Scotland my purpose is as briefly as I can to prosecute the ioynct History of these two Nations onely so farre sorth as the matter shall concerne them both whether it tendeth to warre and variance or to peace and amitie William the Conquerour King of England DVke William hauing by force of armes in manner aforesaid obtained the Soueraigntie ouer this land 1066. was with much solemnitie crowned King of England on Christmas day in the yeare of our redemption 1066. who taking vpon him the part of a Conqueror performed the same in his right kind
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
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
your good call to remembrance that your last king a Prince of much excellencie had three children But did not the Lord God as if it were to shew that it was his will and pleasure the long continued warre betweene the two nations should take end and they become vnâ—ted and made one people take away the two male-babes placed a sunder both within the space of foure and twenty houres leauing but one maiden child your Princesse when the most wise and victorious Prince late our King Henry the eight in other of his marriages not very fortunate had by his most lawfull wife the vertuous Queene Iane his other two former wiues then being dead and neuer any question made of the lawfulnesse of that mariage nor after her death any motion of other wife though the King liued eight yeares after a Prince of so high expectation the true and vndoubted heire to the crowne of England and his Maiesties onely male issue left behind him to succeed him if nothing else had beene done what can any wise or any Christian man that thinketh the world is gouerned by Gods prouidence and not by fortune otherwise take it but that it was the Lords will it should be so to the end that these two realmes should bee ioyned in mariage and there-by to make a godly firme and most friendly vnitie betweene them if any man looke to bee confirmed herein by miracle obserue and marke all the possibilities of the natures of the two kings the children first had the doubtfull chance least both of them should haue had a sonne or both daughters or not of meete ages with other circumstances of the one partie or the other which hath not chanced in eight hundred yeares before it must of necessitie be reckoned an extraordinarie course if not a miracle But be it as it may bee what more certaintie can bee had of Gods working and will in this case then the consideration of the former recited occurrents doth minister call you them prouidences or meere chances if you shall be still afflicted May not the Lord say vnto you I of mine infinite mercie and loue to your Nation had prouided an vndoubted heire and a Prince to the one and a like heire and a Princesse to the other to bee ioyned together in my holy ordinance and by the law of Nature and Nations to haue made an vnitie and peace there-by betweene the one realme and the other but you refusing the offered oportunitie haue made choise of dissention rather then of vnitie of discord then of agreement of warre then peace of hatred and malice then of loue and charitie If you then smart for it whom can you blame but your owne bad choise But because some of you who oppose your selues here-vnto cannot but confesse Gods prouidence herein for the vniting of both realmes yet may neuer-the-lesse here-after obiect as before you haue done our fault herein is that we seeke not equality nor the mariage but a conquest that wee would not bee friends and fellowes but Lordes ouer you Although our proclamation and priuate letters at the last warres doe sufficiently declare the contrary yet here we protest to you and all Christian people that it is the Kings minde by our aduise and counsell not to winne and subdue by force but to conciliate by milde course not to spoile and kill but to saue keepe not to disseuer and diuorce but to ioyne in mariage both Prince and people to make of one Iland one kingdome vnited in loue amitie concord peace and Christian charitie If you refuse and reiect this kindnesse therby compell vs to vse armes who shall bee giltie of the bloud-shed who causeth battailes burning of houses and other extremities and mischiefes that acompany warre can it bee denied but that we haue the great seale of Scotland granted by generall consent in your Parliament for a testimonie against you What was wanting tending to the assurance of the mariage saue onely yeares and so liking and consent betweene the parties them-selues what end can you looke for by still opposing your selues against our honest purpose and Christian indeuor but such successe as you haue already assaied we offer loue equallity amity we ouer-come in war and offer peace we win holds with-hold our hands from conquest we get still in your land and offer you our owne what can be more offred proffered then intercourse of marchandise interchange of mariages the abolishing of all such our lawes as might bee impediments to our mutuall amity Wee haue offred not onely to leaue and giue ouer the name title right or chalenge of Superioritie but also to relinquish the long continued name of our Nation and the glory of any victorie if â—ny we haue had or should haue of you and to take vp againe with you the ancient name of Britaines because nothing should be left on our partie vn-offered nothing of your party vn-refused whereby you might be inexcusable What face hath this of conquest we goe not about to disinherite your Queene but to giue her issue if she haue any a greater inheritance What better defence can you wish in her nonage then to haue England your patron and protector neither seeke we to abrogate or change your lawes and customes but rather to establish them and redresse your oppressions These vaine feares are put into your heads by them who in truth respect more their priuate aduantage and present estimation then the good of the whole land both present and future Now in this tumult of disorder while your realme is tossed vp and downe with the waues and surges of warre they thinke they cannot be espied but looke on them with the eies of sound iudgment and then you shall easilie perceiue their drift Consider in what state you stand to keepe your Queene vnmaried were very dishonorable to marrie her within your realme cannot extinguish the title wee pretend to the Crowne of Scotland and what dissention enuie grudge and malice that shall breed amongst you is easily perceiued But you will â—â—â—tow her out of the Realme to a mighty Prince Our title standeth where it was you become subiect to foraigne power to them of a strange land and differing language vs you haue your enemies euen at your elbowes your succors farre of not passable at all times Be not wee now in the heart of your Realme possesse we not a good part therof Do not many of your owne Nation take our part mooued therevnto by the equity of our demande But you will bring in a foraigne power to expulse vs and all our partakers Beware what you doe Learne to bee wise by other mens harmes Consider how dangerous a point it is to call to your aide a Nation of greater power then your selues VVere not our predecessors the Britaines expulsed by the Saxons vpon that aduantage How did the French thrust out the Gaules How came the Turke by all Grecia and now of late by
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—
conduct to passe thorowe her kingdome but will presently take order they shal be transported by her nauie into France If you make light reckning hereof wee call God and man to witnesse that wee haue not armed our selues vpon malice or stomacke but are vnwillinglie and of meere necessitie inforced to aduenture vpon extreame remidies least otherwise wee suffer the common-weale our selues and all our posteritie to bee cast downe headlong into an irrecouerable deapth of infinite calamities Neither yet shall anie daunger whatsoeuer though presentlie we sustaine much euill and more is like to fall on vs cause vs to depart from our dueties to our Queene or to resist the King her husband in anie thing which shall not manifestlie tend to the eminent daunger and destruction of our selues our posterities and ancient liberties But most gratious Prince wee doe humblie againe beseech you that weighing the equitie of our request and foreseeing what euill maie ensue of VVarre and howe necessary a thing Peace shall bee to the mis-affected estate of this your daughters kingdome it would not displease you to confirme your will to our iust petition which if you do you shall not onlie leaue to all Nations an acceptable memorie of the moderate carriage of your selfe in place of gouernment but thereby also giue tranquillitie and rest to the greatest part of Christendome Farewell At Dalkeith the fourth daie of Aprill Anno. 1560. These last wordes in the shutting vp of the letter were spoken I take it of the present estate of Scotland touching Religion For nowe had the better part of the Nobility taken vpon them the defence of the Preachers of the Gospell wherevpon they were named the Lords of the Congregation And this was the principall occasion of these broiles betwixt the Queene Regent who would haue maintained poperie and those of the Nobility How honorable and Christian a part was it then of the Queene of England to interpose her selfe into so iust a quarrell as is the defence of the most ancient apostolicall and vndoubted Religion and how much shall that Nation bee for euer bound vnto her Maiestie for so inestimable a benefit as thereby it hath hitherto happily enioyed What answere the Queene made to the Lords I find not but still one or other labored by all possible meanes to worke a reconciliation but al was in vaine for the Queene would not yeeld to the sending away of the French forces on which point the Lords stood stiflie At the approach of the army to Lieth on the sixt daie of Aprill the Frenchmen to the number of thirteene hundred issuing out of the towne tooke possession of a little Knole called the Halkes-hill thereby to preuent the Englishmen from incamping there but at length the enemy with the losse of some seauen score men was beaten backe to the very gates of the towne Diuerse Englishmen were also slaine and many more hurt but if it had beene knowne what aduantage was offred by the French their whole power it was thought might therby haue beene vtterly ouerthrowne VVhile the Lord Graie was at Muskelbrough on his way thitherward he sent Sir Iames Croft and Sir George Howard vnto the Queene to intreat an abstinence of warre for foure and twenty houres that in the meane time he might make knowne vnto her the cause of his comming in that manner and further that vpon some conditions hee would accept of peace The Queene consenting herevnto sent an Harauld to Lieth to giue knowledge thereof but whether the fault was in the messinger or in the Frenchmen the English armie was inforced to the fight after which hee refused any more parliance But proceeded to the siedge of Lieth which was no lesse valiantly assailed by the English then by the aduerse partie it was defended During which an accident happned in the towne that more indangered and damnified the enemie in one night then the assiliantes had done before in twentie For on the last day of Aprill about two hours before Sun-set a sodaine fire arose in the towne which beeing increased by an outragious winde then aloft continued till the next morning hauing consumed a great part of the buildings and amongst the rest certaine common Garners and Store-houses wherein was great prouision of corne and victualls Neither were the Englishmen slowe in pursuing the aduantage thereof For by remouing their great Ordinance on that side the towne they beat backe those which labored to quench the fire and entring the ditches tooke the height of the wall and so egarly assaulted the breaches that had not the Frenchmen fore-seene the danger they were falne into and continewally applied their businesse and stood to it manfully on euery quarter that nightes worke as it was thought would haue ended the warre for that time The siedge continued neere sixe weekes longer in which time many lost their liues on both sides At one assault which was the sharpest of all the rest an eight score Englishmen were slaine outright and not so few maymed and hurt But still thorow the especiall care and good fore-sight of the Duke of Northfolke then appointed to remaine in the North-partes for the direction of this seruice their wants whatsoeuer were from time to time supplied The French King vnderstanding into what distresse the towne was brought for the Frenchmen were now worne ouerweried with continuall watching warding sent two Ambassadors into England County Randon and Monluc Bishop of Valence to treat with the Queene for a peace with Scotland his wiues kingdome For hee held it an indgnity to seeke it at his subiects handes the Scottish Lords Her Maiesty being not vnwilling to accept of any reasonable conditions so as the French might be remoued was content to associate vnto them Maister Secretary Cecill afterwards Lord Burley and high Treasurer of England whilest he liued mine honorable good Lord and Maister and Doctor Wutton deane of Canterbury and Yorke These passing togither into Scotland after some three weekeâ— trauell concluded a peace on the eight day of Iuly following which was immediatly proclaimed at Lieth in these words The most mighty Princesse Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England France Ireland defender of the faith c. And the most Christian King Francis and Marie by the same grace of God King and Queene of France and Scotland haue accorded vpon a reconciliation peace and amity to be inuiolably kept betweene them their subiectes kingdomes and Countries And therefore in their names it is streitly commanded to all manner of persones borne vnder their obedience or being in their seruice to forbeare all hostility either by sea or land and to keepe good peace each with other from this time forwards as they wil answere there-vnto at their vttermost perills The most materiall articles were these that all the Frenchmen should depart the Realme with bagge and bagage within the tearme of twentie daies next following And because they wanted at that present shippes enough to receiue so great a