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
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
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
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
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
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