all to the sword that made resistance where leauing a garrison for the defence thereof the army returned home And for the better restraint of further molestation on that side the King caused the City and Castell of Carleil which had beene ruinated by the Danes about 200. yeares before to be reedified and peopled againe granting many priuiledges to the inhabitants which they enioy to this day King Malcolme being not a little discontented with the losse of Anwicke shortly after gathered a new powre laide siege to the towne wherat both he himselfe and Prince Edward his eldest sonne by one misfortune or other for the writers agree not on that point lost their liues the whole army put to flight This came to passe in the 36. yeare of King Malcolme his raigne and in the sixt of King William Rufus 1093. Anno. 1093. Though this Malcome had in his time much disturbed the English nation by sundrie harmefull inuasions neuerthelesse by the meanes of his foresaid mariage with the sister of Edgar Atheling the realme of England became of an open and professed enemie an assured friend yea euen a very sanctuarie to his poore Orphaine children for their vncle Edgar a man of great sanctimonie and fidelitie wisely foreseeing and warily preuenting the danger wherein those babes stood vnder the vsurped gouernment of Donald their fathers brother sent presently for them into England The three sonnes Edgar Alexander and Dauid succeeded one the other in their Fathers kingdome Mawde the eldest Daughter surnamed the Good was afterwards maried to the first Henry King of England Mary the other daughter to Eustace Earle of Bulloine the base whose daughter named after her Mother was maried to Stephen King of England This happy progenie the more happy for the vertues of their deceased Mother and liuing Vncle were not onely educated at his charge and instructed in all good nurture beseeming their birth and linage but also when the young Prince Edgar was come to ripe age Edgar his Vncle obtained of king William Rufus a competent powre wherewith now the second time for once before hee had with the like helpe expulsed Donald and crowned Duncam king Malcomes base Sonne in his place hee vtterly expelled Donald and set Prince Edgar in full and peaceable possession of the Crowne of Scotland which hee enioyed during his life King William shortly after deceasing without issue his brother Henry the Conquerors yongest sonne was admitted king of England by the generall consent of the whole nation Anno 1100. King Edgar not onely renewed the league with him which before was continued with Rufus but for the more strengthning of the same he gaue the Lady Mawde his eldest sister vnto him in marriage as is aforesaid by whom he had issue that liued Mawde the Empresse Mother to Henry the second afterwards king of England The mutuall amitie that by this mariage was nourished betweene these two nations during the life of this Henry and the Queenes brothers Edgar and Alexander was confirmed by the mariage also of Dauid her yongest brother with an other Mawde the Daughter and heire of Waltheoff late Earle of Northumberland Huntingtō as before you haue heard by which mariage that Earldome with a great part of Northumberland and Westmerland were annexed to the Crowne of Scotland as afterwards shall better appeare Henry the first departing out of this life in the sixe and thirtith yeare of his raigne leaft to succeed him onely a Daughter for his sonnes were both drowned in their passage hither out of Normandie This Lady was first maried to the Emperor Henry the 4. who dying without issue she was maried againe to Geffery Plantagenet Earle of Aniou by whom she had issue while her father liued Henry the 2. afterwards king of England Notwithstanding that Stephen Earle of Boloigne nephew to the last deceased king for Adela his mother was one of the daughters of William the Conqueror had together with the rest of the nobility sworne vnto King Henry to admit his daughter the Empresse to succeed him as lawfull heire to the Crowne of England hee nothing regarding his oath made no scruple to intrude himselfe into the royall throne Immediatly whervpon he sent an Ambassage vnto K. Dauid of Scotland demanding homage as wel for that realme as for all other the lands signories which he held of him within England where-vnto K. Dauid answered that both Stephen he himselfe with all the nobility of England were all seuerally bound by oath to the obedience of the Empresse his neece as the only lawfull and liniall heire to King Henry her father whereof he for his part made that conscience as that during her life he would neuer acknowledge any other true inheritor to the crowne of Englād King Stephen not a little displeased with this his resolute answer inuaded the territories of Scotland where-vpon much trouble arose to both nations But after the warre had continued 2. or 3. yeares with equall losse on both sides in the end thorough the mediatiō especially of the Queene of England who was also Neece to K. Dauid by his other Sister Mary Countesse of Boloigne as hath beene afore-said a peace was concluded on these conditions That the Counties of Northmuberland and Huntington should remaine in the possession of Prince Henrie of Scotland as heire vnto them in the right of his Mother but Cumberland should bee thence-forth held and reputed the lawefull inheritance of king Dauid that both Father and Sonne should acknowledge and yeelde to king Stephen and his successours for the time being for these signories the accustomed seruices due for the same King Stephen was the more willing to yeelde herevnto by reason of his infinite trobles which daylie more and more increased by the plottes and practises of the friends of the Empresse neuer ceasing to worke him all the displeasure that possibly they could deuise the victory falling sometimes on the one side and sometimes on the other Such was the estate of this Land during his whole raigne for the space of eightene years In the meane season though king Dauid preferred the iust title of the Empresse before the colourable pretext of Stephen yet hee so much regarded the worde of a king that although hee was no doubt greatly solicited by the Empresse to breake of with her aduersary yet would hee not bee drawne at any time therevnto although that troublesome season offred him fit oportunity for his owne aduantage which commendable and Christian resolution well appeared in him when as afterward hee intertayned Prince Henry Sonne to the Empresse at Carliele who being come thither accompained with the Earles of Chester and Hereford and diuerse other noblemen and gentlemen of good account both of England and Normandie of purpose as it seemed to draw the king to their part whose assistance only wanted to the expelling of the vsurper hee would by no means breake his faith with England but resting quiet at home nothing was at
habere debent de domino rege hominibus suis Pro ista verò conuentione fine firmiter obseruando domino regi Henrico filio suo haeredibus suis à rege Scotiae haeredibus suis liberauit rex Scotiae domino Regi castellum de Rockesburgh castellum Puellarum castellum de Striuelinge in manu domini Regis ad custodienda castella assignabit rex Scotiae de redditu suo mensurabiliter ad voluntatem domini Regis Praeteria pro praedicta conuentione fine exequendo liberabit rex Scotiae domino Regi Dauid fratrem suum in obsidem comitem Duncanum comitem Waldenum similiter alios comites Barones cum alijs viris potentibus quorum numerus octo-decem Et quando Castella reddita fuerint illis Rex Scotiae Dauid frater eius liberabuntur Comites quidem Barones praenominati vnusquisque postquam liberauerit obsidem suum scilicet filium legitimum qui habuerit alij nepotes suos vel propinquiores sibi haeredes castellis vt dictum est redditis liberabuntur Praetereà Rex Scotiae Barones sui praenominati assecurauerint quod ipsi bona fide sine malo ingenio sine occasione facient vt Episcopi Barones caeteri homines terrae suae qui non affuerunt quando rex Scotiae cum domino Rege finiuit eandem ligiantiam fidelitatem domino Regi Henrico filio suo quum ipsi fecerunt et vt Barones homines qui affuerunt obsides liberabunt domino Regi de quibus habere voluerit Praetereà Episcopi Comites Barones conuentionauerunt domino Regi et Henrico filio suo Quod si Rex Scotiae aliquo casu a fidelitate domini regis filij a conuentione praedicta recederit ipsicum Domino Rege tenebunt sicut cum ligio domino suo contrà regem Scotiae contrà omnes homines ei inimicantes Et episcopi sub interdicto ponent terram regis Scotiae donec ipse ad fidelitatem Domini Regis redeat Praedictā itaque conuentionem firmitèr obseruandum bone fide sine malo ingenio Domino Regi Henrico filio suo haeredibus suis à Wilhelmo Rege Scotiae Dauid fratre suo Baronibus suis praedictis haeredibus eorum assecurauit ipse Rex Scotiae Dauid frater eius omnes Barones sui praenominati sicut ligij homines domini Regis contrà omnem hominem Henrici filij Regis salua fidelitate patris sui hijs testibus Richardo episcopo Abrincensi Iohanne Salisburiae Decano Roberto Abbate Malmesburiae Radulpho Abbate Mundesburg nec non alijs abbatibus comittibus baronibus duobus filijs suis scilicet Richardo Galfrido ex Rog. Houeden Besides the deliuery of the three Castles expressed in the former Charter the Scotish King did absolutely depart with all and surrender vnto King Henry and to his Heire for euer the Towne and Castell of Berwicke which forthwith was committed to the custody of Sir Geffrey Neuille The Castles of Edenbrough and Rockesbrugh were likewise kept by the kings apointment by Sir Roger and Sir William de Stutuille This meeting at Yorke was in the yeare 1175. where this businesse beeing dispatched the two Kings departed in kindnesse the one into Scotland the other towardes London Not long after king William vpon his summons repayred to North-Hampton where King Henrie had called a Parliament Diuerse Bishops and Abbotes of Scotland attended their king thither to acknowledge their subiection to the Church of England according to the Articles comprised in the former Charter and their ancient custome in former times but by no meanes they would yeeld thereunto notwithstanding that the Archbishop of Yorke shewed sufficient proues and priuileges granted by sundrie Bishops of Rome iustifiyng the right he pretended to the primacie ouer all the Scotish Clergie But because the Archbishop of Canterburie hoped to bring them vnder his iurisdiction or else enuying that his inferior should be axalted so farre aboue him hee so wrought with the king his Maister as that for the present there was no subiection acknowledged eyther to the one or other These two kings liued together in all loue and kindnesse in so much as the king of England imployed king William in his absence in his more weighty affayres in Normandie Also hee gaue vnto him to wife his cousin the Ladie Ermengard Daughter to Richard Vicount Beaumonte that was sonne to a Daughter of king William the Conquerour The mariage was solemnized at Woodstocke at the charge of the King who withall resigned to the Bridegroome his whole interest in the Castell of Edenbrough which King William forth-with bestowed vpon his new Wife as a portion of her dowrie augmenting the same with an hundred pounds land by the yeare and fortie knights fees Not long before this marriage Dauid king Williams Brother had marryed also an English woman named Mawde one of the Daughters of Hugh Bohun Earle of Chester otherwise called Keuelocke by which marriage hee was strongly allyed with the Nobilitie of England for his wiues three Sisters Mabell Agnes and Hauise were married to Daubigne Earle of Arundell Ferrers Earle of Darbye and to Quincie Earle of Lincolne These mariages were meanes of good agreement betweene these two nations for a long time after Within two or three yeares after the marriage of king William king Henry deceased in the fiue and thirtith yeare of his raigne whome his two Sonnes Richard and Iohn succeeded one after the other During the raigne of the former no occasion of quarrell was offered on either side but the two kings liued together in all familiaritie and perfect friendshippe for immediatly after the coronation of king Richard the Scotish king beeing honourablie attended with the Archbishop of Yorke the kings base Brother and with diuerse Barons and others of England passed thorough the realme to Canterburie where king Richard had assembled in counsell his Lords spirituall and temporall At this meeting king William and Dauid his Brother together with the English Lords tooke an oathe to continue true to the king of England and to abide in due obedience vnder him and his lawes beeing now to leaue them for a season for hee was so farre passed on his iourney towards the Holy-land as it was then called And the more firmely to binde the Scotish king by his liberalitie to the obseruance of this othe hee there restored vnto him all the other three Castles at Berwicke Rockesbrough and Sterlinge and withall that parte of Northumberland which king Henrie his Father had taken from him when hee was his prisoner Further king Richard resigned vnto him the counties of Cumberland and Huntington but with this condition that all the Castels should still abide in the custodie of such as king Richard should place in them Lastly he released him of all further paiments and summes of money due for his ransome excepting tenne thousand
instrument being first signed and sealed by king Alexander himselfe and afterwards by his Nobilitie was sent to the King of England at Christmasse following by the Prior of Tinmouth who had trauelled diligently and faithfully in this businesse to the honor and good liking of both parties And for further confirmation thereof another writing was sent to Rome to the end that this agreement accord might receiue the more strength frō his Holines This solemne league was established in the yeare of our Lord 1244. Whereupon Berwick was restored to the king of Scotland Carliele which had bin taken by the Scots in the raigne of king Iohn was likewise restored to king Henry the antient limits of the two kingdomes were bounded out by the Kings crosse in Steanmore as before at the agreement made with the Conqueror The often intermariages of the one nation with the other which is the surest band of friendship caused this good agreement so long between them for when at any time occasion of vnkindnesse was offered by eyther of the two kings the Nobilitie of both sides were so lincked one with the other in such an indissoluble vnion that they would not suffer the same to breake out into any hostilitie But to consummate and perfect as it were this Gordian knot within two yeares after the death of king Alexander the father which happened in the yeare 1249. his sonne Alexander that succeeded about eight yeares old when his father deceased was within two yeares after brought to Yorke where King Henry on Christmas day honoured him with the order of Knighthood and the day following he gaue him in mariage his Daughter the Lady Margaret according to the former agreement At this meeting the young King did homage in maner as before his father had done and the League was renewed betweene the two Nations which continued without any tainte many yeares after In the meane time at sundry meetings of the two kings and their Queenes much kindnesse and friendly demeanour passed betweene them to the great reioycing of their subiects on both sides And as occasion required the one would ayde and assist the other For during the troubles betweene King Henry and his Barons king Alexander did send vnto his ayde fiue thousand Scots vnder the leading of Alexander Cumine and Robert Bruis of whom the greater number was slaine in the quarrell of the Father and Sonne against their rebellious subiects King Henrie deceasing in the seauen and fiftie yeare of his raigne Anno 1272. the Scotish king and Queene came into England to the Coronation of king Edward his brother in law where hauing passed the time in great iollitie and acknowledged his allegiance hee was honourably attended into Scotland Shortly after his returne thither Queene Margaret his wife deceased and not long after her death their two sonnes Dauid and Alexander dyed also the elder brother hauing lately maryed the daughter of the Earle of Flanders but left no issue behind them The heauie hand of the Lord ceassed not here but finally inflicted well nere an vtter ruine and desolation on that kingdome by taking out of this world about twelue yeares after the king himselfe and his whole progenie if it bee true that is reported in the History of Scotland this calamitie may seeme to be prefigured in a prodigious apparition at the second marriage of king Alexander for as he was leading the Queene his Bride in a dance according to the manner of such solemnities there appeared to the whole assembly the similitude of an humaine Anatomy following and closing vp the traine of the Lords Ladies that accompanied them The same yeare viz. Ann. 1285. king Alexander was throwne frō off his horse and in the fall brake his necke At his death none remained liuing of his line saue onely one infant the daughter of his daughter Margaret Queene of Norway King Edward vnderstanding what had hapned in Scotland began to thinke with himselfe how exceeding beneficial it would be to both nations if by any good meanes they might bee vnited and made one monarchie wherevpon forthwith hee dispatched Ambassadors thether to make offer of mariage betweene the yong Lady the heire of Scotland his sonne Prince Edward heire apparant to the Crowne of England This was no sooner moued to the lords but forth-with euery mā gaue free consent esteeming it so happy a thing for that kingdome as nothing could be wished more The mariage was therefore readily concluded vpon these conditions That the Scotishmen should be gouerned by their owne Lords and lawes vntill the issue proceeding of them should be of age to take the gouernment vpon them And if it hapned that no issue should thereof spring or should die before ripe age to gouerne then the kingdom of Scotlād should descend to the next in bloud to the King last deceased Herevpon certaine Noble-men of Scotland were presently sent into Norway for the safe conduct of the yong Lady but it pleased not God at that time to giue so great a blessing to this Islād for at their returne home they brought heauy newes of her death also The posteritie of king William of Scotland grand-father to the last King being now extinguished great dissention arose about the title claime to the crowne The realme by this occasion being diuided into sundry factions was in great danger of an vtter subuersion This controuersie hauing depended a long time it was thought fit sithence there was none amongst themselues of powre authority to decide a matter of so great importance to refer the same to the hearing and award of the king of England generally reputed of all the competitors a fit iudge to determine thereof according as law and equity should direct him K. Edward being willing to bestow his trauell to so good purpose and holding himselfe in a sort bound therevnto in regard of his right of superioritie ouer that nation easily consented to their petitions appointing time place for the performance of his best indeuore to effect their desire In the meane time to the end it might appeare to the world that he tooke not this office in hand vpon warrant onely of the competitors intreaty hee caused all the ancient Chronicles records that could be found either in England or Scotland to be perused that if any question therof should arise his pretended interest in this action might be sufficiently approued But although this was made so manifest out of Marianus the Scot William of Malmesbury Roger Houeden Henry Huntingtō Ralph de Diceto others as none then liuing could gainsay it neuerthelesse the Scotish writers haue since that time much depraued the credit thereof by their bare surmises And therefore it shall not be impertinent for the better cleering of this point before I proceed any further in declaratiō of the matter in hand to examine how truely one of the best learned amongst thē hath not long since peremptorilie affirmed that there is nothing to show
assembled some fewe small forces where-with â—e approched the towne S. Iohns purposing there first to make trial of his fortunes but the Earle of Pembrooke by chance had first entred the towne with some 300. horse-men besides foote-men Bruse sent him word that he was come thither to fight with him and all his partakers if hee would come forth The Earle answered hee would rest that day being the Sabaoth but on the next morning he would accept of his chalenge Bruse herevpon with-drew his armie a mile backe againe from the towne meaning to be-take himselfe and his people that night to their rest but he was disquieted sooner then he looked for the Earle issuing out of the towne a little before night about the beginning of the Calends of August assailed them so sodenly as that he had slaine a great numbee before they could get armour and weapons for their defence so as after a little resistance the Scots with their new king were put to flight The Earle following the chase pursued them vnto Kenter and vnderstanding that Bruse was entred a Castle ther-about he besieged presently tooke the same wherin he found his wife his brother Nigell with some others but Bruse him-selfe was fled vnto the mountaines these he sent presently to Berwicke This Lady was the daughter of the Earle of Vlster in Ireland who had lately before sent ouer vnto K. Edward two of his sonnes to remaine in England for pledges of their fathers fidelity for whose sake she found great fauor Shortly after was the castle of Lachdore takeÌ„ by th' English-men in it Christopher Seton that had married the sister of Bruse by birth hee was an English-man and had before slaine a Knight of England in some bad manner for the which fact especially he was by the kings coÌ„mandement executed at Dunfries where the same was committed the like execution was also made at Berwicke vpon Nigell Bruse and the rest of his companions But the Earle of Atholl who was also taken about the same time was remoued to London where he was beheaded and his head set on a pole ouer London-bridge Though Bruse in the meane season was put to many hard shifts wandring in desert places like a forelorne man not-with-standing hee would not giue ouer so good a cause but after a little breathing began a fresh to bestur him so as what by entreaty threats he gathered some few troops of horsmen about him and whilest hee was thus occupied himselfe in one place he sent two of his brothers the one a Knight the other a priest into other parts of the country to procure what aide they could But as they were thus busied they were both taken condemned of treason and for the same executed These misfortunes stil following one in the necke of another little or nothing allaied the thirst of a kingdom for he knew his cause was iust and that howsoeuer his sinnes had deserued especially the murther he committed at the very entrance into this actioÌ„ yet should he die if it came to that in a good quarel Hauing therefore happily reconciled himselfe to God whom 〈◊〉 had therein greeuouslie offended with 〈…〉 courage hee fully resolued to pursue his 〈…〉 Beeing now some what better strengthned with the aide of the Ilanders hee incouâ—â—â—â— the Earle of Pembrooke and put him to 〈…〉 like hap shortly after hee had against the Earle of Glocester These small hartnings did incourage Bruse to attempt greater aduentures so as within short time he recouered diuers Castels but being not able to man them hee cast them downe to the ground King Edward hauing knowledge of these his proceedings in Scotland by his letters directed into certaine countries fittest for that seruice gaue commandement that as many as were able to vse a weapon should within three weekes after Midsomer attend him at Carliel But before the appointed time was come the king fell sicke there from whence being remoued to Brough on the sand he departed out of this life in the 35. yeare of his raigne An. 1307. By the death of King Edward the state of the affaires betweene these two Nations was much altered for his sonne and successour king Edward the second being now not about â—â—ree and twentie yeares olde was giuen after the manner of youth more to follow his plâ—â—sures then the cares and trauels of 〈…〉 And therefore neglecting his businesse 〈…〉 gaue fitte opportunitie to his 〈…〉 and little 〈◊〉 off the 〈…〉 which his father by his valiancie had brought them So as while this youthfull King sought nothing more then to spend his time in voluptuous pleasure riotous excesse making such his familiers and chiefe minions about him as best fitted his humor Bruse on the other side wholy indeuored by all possible meanes how to restore his country to her former liberty and quiet estate now wel nere brought to the brinke of an vnrecouerable downfal And by his good fore-sight and singuler manhood hee so much preuailed as that in the space of three or foure yeares he recouered his kingdom for hauing bin much inured with hardnesse trauel together with his long experience in managing the affaires of state as well in time of peace as of war he had no small aduantage thereby of the other The father dying not aboue a weeke before his intended iorney once againe into ScotlaÌ„d the king his sonne finding all things in so good readines was aduised to make triall with these forces that were then come to Carleil what intertainment hee should finde at the Scotishmens hands Being come to Dumfries hee summoned the Scotish Nobility to repaire thither vnto him where diuers of them acknowledged their allegiance homage But here he could not now tary being hasted homewards to make preparation for his iorney into France where shortly after he maried the Lady Isabell daughter to K. Philip surnamed the faire At his departure he committed the wardenship of Scotland to Iohn de Britaine whom withal he created Earle of Richmond Amongst all the Scotish Lordes that tooke part with England none was so great an enemy to Bruse as the Lord Iohn Cumin Earle of Buquhan for the murther committed vpon his Ancestor as before you haue heard now therefore to bee reuenged as also to show his forwardnesse to performe some acceptable seruice for the King of England hee gathered such forces English and Scotish as hee could make and there-with approched his enemie Bruse beeing yet barely recouered of a late sicknesse vpon a boun-courage incountred him at a straite and in the end discomfited his armie making great slaughter of his men This victorie did so reuiue Bruse his feeble and languishing spirits as that from thence forward hee still preuailed in all his interprises So as following his good fortune in short time he reduced the conntries of Anguile and Galloway vnder his obedience King Edward not well brooking these daily losses raised a mightie powre wherewith about the middest of August
vnto him if by any good meanes a firme peace and amitie with England might bee obteined tooke occasiō now in the time of truce to send for the Bishop of Durham who was shortly after admitted by king Henry to repaire into Scotland Beeing come to the kings presence after much friendly speach hee made knowne vnto him his great desire to confirme a perfect peace and vnitie with England by takeing to wife the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to the king his Maister The Bishop willingly promised his best indeuour to bring the matter to passe which about three yeares after was effected accordingly not-with-standing that in the meane season Prince Arthur the kings eldest sonne deceasing Prince Henry his brother remained onely a barre betweene her and the Crowne True it is that this Ladye was affianced and by proxie contracted to the Scottish king while Prince Arthur yet liued about sixe weekes after his marriage with the Lady Katherine of Spaine Neuer-the-lesse if king Henry had beene disposed vpon his sonnes death to haue broken and auoyded the same it had beene no difficult point for him to haue preuailed so much with the Pope who not long after dispenced in a matter of greater offence with the marriage I meane of king Henry the eight with the said Lady Katherine his brothers wife It is reported by Morgan that when the king of Englands Councell began to fore-cast some perill in this match with Scotland his Maiestie vpon good aduise answered that although that thing should come to passe hereby which they seemed to stand in doubt of namely the intitling of king Iames and his posteritie to the Crowne of England hee so little distrusted that any inconuenience should insue thereof vnto this realme as that for his part he thought nothing could happen more gratious to both nations which by that meane should be vnited and made one Monarchie And further that Scotland being much inferior in quantitie and qualitie vnto England should bee therefore reputed and held but a dependence on it as Normandie was at the time of the Conquest And lastlie when that should come to passe hee that by this mariage should be heire to both kingdomes would in his stile of regalitie preferre England before the other This was the ninth time that since the conquest the Scottish Kings haue married with the English Nation and for the more part with the bloud royall from all which some issue hath sprung two onely excepted For first Malcolme Cammoire king of Scotland married Margaret sister to Edgar Atheling whose sonne king Dauid married Mawde the Daughter and heire of Waltheolfe Earle of Northumberland whose sonne Prince Henry maried a Daughter of Earle Warham whose sonne king William married the Lady Ermangard the daughter of Richard Vicount Beaumont who was sonne to a Daughter of William the Conquerour Alexander the second their sonne married the Lady Iane Sister to King Henrie the second but had no issue by her Alexander the third his sonne married Margaret Daughter to King Henry the third whose posteritie ended in Margaret their grand-child the heire of Norway After this Dauid Bruse whose great Grand-mother was Daughter to Hugh Bohume Earle of Chester and wife to Dauid brother to King William of Scotland maried Iane Sister to King Edward the second but hee dyed with-out issue where-vpon the crowne of Scotland descended vnto the Noble and ancient familie of the Stewards the third king whereof Iames the first maried the Lady Iane Daughter of Iohn Earle of Somerset which Iames was great Grand-father to this Iames who now last of all maried the eldest Daughter of this King Henry from whom Iames the sixt now King is lineally descended in the third degree both by Father and Mother Though in the meane time none of our Kings haue maried with Scotland saue onely King Henrie the first whereby the Crowne returned to the Saxon bloud as hath beene declared yet diuers of our Nobilitie haue matched in the bloud royall of Scotland Hereby it appeareth how much that Nation hath alwayes sought to strengthen it selfe by alliance with England though France hath of late so much preuailed that therein it hath beene preferred before vs but with no very good successe as the sequell declareth During the life of King Henry which was within two months of sixe yeares after this marriage no occasion of quarrell was offered on either part but all loue and kindnesse that might bee desired passed betweene the two Kings Neither did king Henry the eight that succeeded his Father giue his brother in lawe king Iames anie iust occasion to breake friendshippe with him but it seemeth the same wholy proceeded from the subtile practise of France our ancient enemie as many times before that Nation had done the like for it hath beene euer their policie to sowe dissention betweene England and Scotland to the end they might set the king of England on worke at home fearing hee would otherwise be too busie with them This Henrie hauing with great felicity raigned neere foure and twenty yeares leaft behinde him vnto his Sonne king Henrie the eight so assured and setled a kingdome and withall such aboundance of treasure as neuer any of his predecessours did the like before him He died in the yeare of our redemption 1509. In the third yeare of this last king Henries raigne it fell out that Lewis the French king made sharpe warre on Pope Iulius in Ittalie wherevpon thorough the solicitation of Maximilian the Emperour and Ferdinand king of Spaine whose Daughter king Henrie had married by dispensation from that martiall Prelate hee was easilie drawne to ioyne with them in the Popes behalfe King Iames hauing not long before receiued manie fauoures of the French King and amongst the rest two shippes fraught with gunnes speares and all other kinde of munition for warre a good preparatiue to the practise following was thereby made more inclinable to the French faction And for a further spurre therevnto diuerse of his clergie who had likewise tasted of the liberality of king Lewis sought all occasiones where-by to prick him forward in that course This could not be compassed till such time as they had first alienated him wholie from his former affection towards England To which end the Bishoppe of Murrey a priuie man of that faction was sent to King Henrie now well-nere after nine yeares silence to demand a certaine pretious vestement and rich attire which as was pretended was giuen to the Scottish Queene by her brother Prince Arthur at his death King Henry distrusting some subtilty herein to the end hee would preuent all occasion of vnkindnesse answered that the king his brother should not onely haue at his hands that which was dewe but else whatsoeuer he desired of him The Bishoppe with this answere which was better happelie then he either wished or exspected returned home But howsoeuer King Iames regarded the message this Bishoppe was forth-with sent into France and after him certaine shippes well
country where it paâ—â—â— most hostile manner For the suppressing 〈◊〉 these insolencies certaine of the kings friends assembled theÌ„selues to the number of 400. horsemen vnder the leading of Robert de Stouteuille Ralph Glanuille William Vescie Barnard Balliol and Odonette de Humfreuille who coÌ„ming to Anwick from the siege wherof king William was departed the same day tooke consultation what was best to be done Very early the next morning they followed the Scots who little looking for any resistance then in readines left their king but slenderly attended and dispersed themselues abroad to wast and forrage the country This beeing made known to the Englishmen they pursued the aduaÌ„tage with so good successe that with the losse of very little bloud on eyther side they tooke king William prisoner in the midest of his strength but yet not so neere as thereby hee could be rescued This happened on the seuenth of Iuly in the yeare 1174. king Henry at the same time was newely returned out off Normandie to whom the Scotish king was shortly after presented at North-Hampton and Dauid his Brother was licensed forth-with to repaire into Scotland to containe the same in their due obedience whilst the Kings pleasure should bee further knowne concerning the deliuery of the King his prisoner In the meane season the French king beeing wearied with the charge of this Warre in the behalfe of his sonne in lawe King Henrie the younger for hee had nowe married the Lady Margeret his Daughter offered himselfe to become a meane to make an accord betweene the two Henries where-vpon the warre ceassed and after a meeting or two for that purpose in the end this vnnaturall dissention betweene king Henry and his Sonnes which had continued well neere two yeares to the great discomfort of the Father and vexation of the whole Realme was well appeased Here-vpon the Scotish king who remained prisoner at Faleise in Normandie amongst other of the same faction to the number well neere of a thousand persons of especiall qualitie that at one time or other during these warres were also taken prisoners were by king Henrie according to the Articles of agreement set at libertie in manner as were all they that by the aduerse part had beene likewise taken prisoners in the King of Englands seruice Now againe was amitie and concorde imbraced and cherished on all sides For the Scotish King hauing left behinde him sufficient pledge for the performance of couenants was permitted to returne into Scotland where hauing spent some sixe or seauen months he together with Dauid his Brother and a great number of the Nobility and Clergie of that Realme repayred to Yorke about the twenteth of August where they did homage to the King of England in S. Peters Church and in token thereof King William offered vp his Saddle and hat on the Alter of S. Peter which remained there along time after Finally it was concluded that the Scotish king should become and acknowledge himselfe to be the king of Englands Liegman against all men for the Realme of Scotland and his other Lands within England and for them should doe fealtie to the King of England as to his soueraign Lord in manner as other his liedge people accustomed to doe And further that hee should also do fealty to the Lord Henry the King of Englands son sauing alwayes the faith which hee ought to the King his Father Also that all the Prelates of Scotland and their successors should acknowledg their accustomed subiection to the Church of England and do fealty to the king of England so many of them as he should appoint And likewise that the Earles and Barons of Scotland and their heires for their part should do homage and fealtie vnto the King of England and to the Lord Henry his Sonne so many of them as thereto should bee called as in the Charter following then openly read in Saint Peters Church more at large appeareth Wilhelmus Rex Scotiae deuenit homo ligius Domini regis Angliae contra omnes homines de Scotia de alijs terris suis fidelitatem ei fecit vt ligio domino suo sicut alij homines sui ipsi facere solent Similiter fecit homagium Henrico filio regis salua fide Domini regis Patris sui omnes vero Episcopi Abbates Clerus terrae Scotiae successores sui facient Domino regi sicut ligio Domino fidelitatem de quibus habere voluerit sicut alij Episcopi sui ipsi facere solent Henrico filio suo heredibus eorum Concessit autem rex Scotiae Dauid frater eius Barones alij homines sui Domino Regi Quod Ecclesia Scotiae talem subiectionem amodò faciet Ecclesiae Angliae qualem facere debet solebat tempore regum Angliae praedecessorum suorum Similiter Richardus Episcopus Sancti Andreae Richardus Episcopus Dunkelden Gaufridus Abbas de Dunfermlyn Herbertus Prior de Coldingham concesseriunt vt ecclesia Anglicana illud habeat ius in ecclesia Scotiae quod de iure debet habere quod ipsi non erint contra ius Anglicanae ecclesiae Et de hac concessione sicut quando ligiam fidelitateÌ„ domino regi domino Henrico filio suo fecerint ita eos indè assecurauerint Hoc idem facient alij episcopi clerus Scotiae per conuentionem inter Dominum regem Scotiae Dauid fratrem suum barones suos factam Comites Barones alij homines de terra regis Scotiae de quibus dominus rex habere voluerit facient ei homagium contra omnem hominem fidelitatem vt ligio domino suo sicut alij homines sui facere ei solent Et Henrico filio suo haeredibus suis salua fide domini regis patris sui Similiter Heredes regis Scotiae Baronum hominum suorum homagium ligiantiam facient haeredibus Domini regis contra omneÌ„ hominem Praeteria rex Scotiae homines sui nullum amodò fugitiuum de terra domini regis pro felonia receptabunt vel in alia terra sua nisi voluerit venire ad rectum in curia domini regis stare iuditio Curiae Sed rex Scotiae et homines sui quam citius poterunt eum capient domino regi reddent vel Iusticiarijs suis aut balliuis suis in Anglia Si autem de terra regis Scotiae aliquis fugitiuus fuerit pro felonia in Anglia nisi voluerit venire ad rectum in curià domini regis Scotiae stare iudicio curiae non receptabitur in terra regis sed liberabitur hominibus regis Scotiae per balliuos domini regis vbi inuentus fuerit Praetereà homines domini regis habebunt terras suas quas habebant habere debent de domino rege hominibus suis de rege Scotiae hominibus suis Et homines regis Scotiae habebunt terras suas quas habebant
continewed till king Ricâ—â—â—d was deposed by his vnkinde cousine Henrie Plantagenet Sonne to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in the yeare of our Lord 1399. But immediatlie after the coronation of king Henrie the fourth while Sir Thomas Gray Captaine of Warke Castell was at the Parliament certaine Scottes assaulted and tooke it by force but either dispayring to keepe it or not dareing to auowe what they had done the truce still continewing they leaft it defaced and ruinated Howsoeuer they excused this their rough beginning it seemed by that which followed that they had no great respect to the obseruance of peace which had hitherto continewed vnuiolated for the tearme of ten yeares but was shortlie after broken by them againe vpon this occasion George of Dumbar Earle of the Marches of Scotland had betrothed his Daughter to the King his Maisters Sonne and heire the Father not only consenting therevnto but also receauing a good part of the marriage monie This King was named Iohn but because the former two kings of England and France so called had such bad successe hee tooke vpon him the name of Robert The Earle Dowglas taking indignation that any other of that Nation should bee herein preferred before him and complayning that the consent of the States was to much neglected in not beeing made acquainted with a matter of that importance as appertayned therevnto offred a Daughter of his owne with a greater portion Hereof king Robert accepted and forth-with made vp the marriage Dumbar complayning of this wronge demaunded the monie his king had receiued but hee could not receiue so much as a kinde answere of him This double iniury done him by the Dowglas both the losse of his monie and which hee esteemed farre more of the kinges fauour did not a little trouble him Therefore hauing no other meanes to bee hereof reuenged hee leaft both Court and Country and repayring into England complayned himselfe vnto Henrie the Earle of Northumberland of whome he hoped to be relieued In the meane time the Earle Dowglas seized on the Castell of Dunbar in the King his Maisters name which was committed to the custodie of Robert Matland at the Earle of March his departure into England Northumberland aduised him to returne into Scotland and to make tryall if happily some other course might preuaile with his King for the saluing of these his discontentments But comming to Dunbar the Earle Dowglas hauing fortified the Castell would not admit him entrance answering that hee kept it to the vse of the King who had sent him thither to that end The other Earle seeing his greatest enemie so much to triumph ouer him could not brooke it but without making further meanes to the King at whose hands he ought especially to haue fought for remedy hee together with his wife children and allies returned againe into England informing the Earle of Northumberland of all the displeasures done vnto him by his aduersary the Dowglas and withall desired him seeing he could not otherwise preuaile to aide him in the recouerie of his possessions by force sithence by force they were kept against him Herevpon followed some stirres by the rising of the borderers on both sides who ioyning then forces together did the Dowglas all the mischiefe they could King Robert not a little moued here-with did write to king Henry that vnlesse he would deliuer into his hands the fugitiue Earle he would take it for a breach of the truce and proceed against him accordingly What answer soeuer king Henrie made here-vnto it deserued not so bitter a reprehension as wher-with Buchanan doth check him Impudency is a foule fault in a priuate man much more in a Prince I hold him of a very froward temper that in his writings cannot afford a King his good words although they show sometimes dislike of their actions King Robert vpon the returne of his messenger caused open warre to be proclaimed and Sir William Logon a Scottish Knight was forth-with sent to the Sea of purpose to sett on the English fleete that was then fishing on the coast of Scotland about Aberden But hee was incountred with certaine ships of Lin and by them taken prisoner The Fisher-men vnderstanding what was intended against them entring into some of the Iles of Orkney carried away with them whatsoeuer was worth their labour and set the rest on fire King Henry perceiuing what was to be looked for out of Scotland thought it good in the beginning either to draw the Scots to peace or to resist their malice before further mischiefe should insue therof And therfore hauing a great armie hee there-with entred into Scotland about the middest of August being the eleuenth month from his coronation From Hadington he passed to Leeth vsing much clemencie in all places where he came especially to the houses of religion Where-vpon diuers Castels Houlds willingly submitted themselues vnto him Comming to Edenbrough he besiedged the Castle Hither Robert Duke of Albanie gouernour of Scotland vnder the King his brother who by reason of his impotencie could not trauell in his person sent an Harald of Armes vnto king Henry promising to giue him battaile within sixe dayes at the furthest if hee would stay so long The King accepting the offer gaue the messenger for his good newes a chaine of gold and a Sattin gowne at his departure But neither at the end of sixe or sixteene dayes heard he any more of the Gouernours comming The Scottish writers attribute this dishonorable dealing to the Dukes ambition whom it would not haue troubled though the Castle had beene taken together with the young Prince of Scotland in the same that thereby hee might haue beene in so much the more hope of the crowne him-selfe after which it was thought he greatly thirsted But on the other side they highly extoll the singular moderation of King Henry who by this his gentle inuasion seemed rather desirous to allure them to peace then to afflict them with the calamities alwayes accompaning warre Winter approaching the King brake vp the siedge and returned home without any shew of resistance greatly to the Gouernours reproach neither shewing him-selfe desirous of warre nor willing to offer conditions of peace how apparent tokens soeuer was showed by king Henry of his readinesse to haue accepted thereof After some little harme done the next Summer by the borderers on both sides Patrike Hepburne with some greater powre entred further into England and hauing gotten a good bootie and therwithall returning home-wards hee was ouer-taken by the Englishmen at Nesbet in the Meirs where their Captaine together with the greater number of his people well neere the very flowre of all the Lothian youth were beaten downe and slaine in fight Amongst those that were taken prisoners Iohn and William Cockburne Robert Lawder Iohn and Thomas Haliburton were the men of best account This ouer-throw was giuen the Scottes on the xxii day of Iune in the yeare 1401. The Earle Archibald Dowglas sonne to the other
strange courage of the Ladie Voadicia the widowe of Prasatugus exceeded all other of that sexe For hauing in reueng of manie iniuries done vnto her by the Romaines assembled an huge armie she there-with preuailed so mightily that had not Paulinus the Romaine Lieutenant by aduantage of place in a battaile subdewed her she had well neere restored the Britaines to their ancient libertie Calgagus likewise made good triall of his valor in a desperate conflict or two against Agricola Prince Aruiragus was held verie renowned with the Romains themselues of whome Iuvenal wryteth to Domitian Iuvenal Sat. 4. Omen habes inquit magni clarique triumphi Regem aliquem capies aut de temone Britanno excidet Aruiragus It is not be doubted but there were many other Brittaines who beeing both at home and abroad continuallie inured and trained vp in martial discipline by the Romaines atcheeued as great estimation in those daies as any other people of the world Though this subiection to the Romaine Monarchie was manie times offensiue to the Brittaines by reason of the insolencie of such vnto whome the administration of Iustice was sometimes committed by the Emperours neuerthelesse the people were nurtured and framed to a more ciuile carriage of themselues in there ordinarie behauiour and also were disciplinated by them in the practize of warre and good letters whereof it came to passe that this nation receaued in this time in some measure the knowledge of God in the profession of the name and diuine nature of the God and man Iesus Christ the eternall Sonne of God in whome alone the Father is manifested vnto the world For though as yet the Romaine Emperors theÌ„selues had not embraced Christianitie yet no doubt manie of those Romaines that liued heere and married with the Brittaines were professors of Christ thorough the preaching and good example of life of those their true pastors and Bishops who for the space of three hundred yeares togither liued continuallie in persecution sealing the certaintie and truth of their doctrine with mâ—st horrible tortures and torments euen vnto death The Brittish King that first together with his people receiued the badge of Christian profession was named therevpon Lucius which commeth of the Latine word Lux alluding as I take it to that place of Esay cap. 60. vers 3. where it is said of Christ And the Gentiles shall walke in the light and Kings at the brightnesse of thy rising vp and herewith agreeth Nennius Lucius rex agnomine Leuer Maur id est magni splendoris propter fidem quae in eius tempore venit Last of all it is to be obserued that during the gouernment of the Romaines here there was no absolute King ouer the whole Island or any kinglie succession ouer any part thereof as Galfred and his followers would make vs beleeue who haue vainely registred them in order But diuerse Noble-men of good desert amongst the Britaines such as Edgidunus of whom Tacitus writeth and those other which I haue before named were admitted by especiall fauour of the Romaine Emperours to bee sometimes intituled Kings ouer some part of the Realme so long as they acknowledged to hold their places vnder them as of their head and soueraigne Lord wherein they graced and gaue the more glory to their Emperiall Maiestie Now it followeth that I should declare what people the Scots were who ioyning themselues with the Picts the Caledonian Britaines inuaded with such violence those other Britaines that were subiect to the Romaine Empire First it is held most certaine that before the time of Constantine the great there was no mention made of them in any writer whereby it seemeth that till then their name was vnknowne to the world Giraldus Cambrensis in his Booke of the Institution of a Prince writeth That at what time Maximus who vsurped the gouernment ouer the Britaines passed ouer into Gaule with a mighty Armie euen the strength of the whole Island to possesse himselfe of the Emperiall Diadem the two brothers and partners in the gouernment thereof Gratian and Valentinian sent hither by Sea certaine bands of Gothes and Scithians to inuade the land to the end thereby to procure his returne for the defence thereof and so to preuent his malice intended against them by that his ambitâ—ous enterprice These Barbarians being ariued tooke the aduantage of the time seized vpon the North parts of the Island and expulsing the inhabitants possessed themselues of that country But as Amianus writeth in his nine and twentith Booke Maximus at his returne subdued those Scithians whom he calleth Scots and slew Eugenius their Captaine These being thus expelled transported themselues into Ireland where they remained vntill the raigne of the great Oneale for so writeth the foresaid Girald in his description of Brittaine Nello magno Hiberniae monarchiam obtinente sex filij Muredi regis Vltoniae boreales Britannae partes occuparunt vndè ab his gens propagata et specificato vocabulo Scotia vocata vsque in hodiernum angulum illum inhabitant Neale the great saith hee hauing obtained the absolute Soueraigntie ouer Ireland sixe sonnes of Murede King of Vlster possessed the North partes of Brittaine of whome afterwards sprong a Nation called by a peculier name Scotland which vnto this day inhabiteth that corner Thus it appeareth that the name Scotland was then first giuen vnto that angle of Brittaine to make a difference as it seemeth betweene the same and that part of Ireland from whence these people came thither whervpon it came to passe afterwards that their former habitation and Country was called the greater Scotland and the latter the lesse Scotland which alone at this daie retayneth that name But to come more neere to the knowledgâ— of the time of this transmigration of these Sonnes of Murede wee finde that while Laigerius the Sonne of this great Neale succeded him in Ireland Pope Celestine sent Patrick thither Palladius into Scotland and Germanus to the Brittaines to roote out the Pelagian heresie This Caelestine became Bishoppe of Rome not aboue two yeares before Valentinian the third was admitted by Theodosius the second into fellowship with him in the gouernment of the Empire and continewed bishoppe not fullie ten yeares hereby it should seeme that these Irish Scottes first setled themselues in this Island about the beginning of the raigne of the Emperour Honorius wherewith agreeth Iohannes Maior according to the computation of Functius The Scots saith he returned into Brittaine hauing beene banished from thence three and fortie yeares but hee faileth in that his account of the number of yeares as Functius well obserueth who maketh the ouerthrowe that Maximus gaue Eugenius to come to passe about the tenth yeare of Valentinian brother to Gratian but some twentie yeares before The Scotts hauing then laied a sure foundation in a corner of this Island committed the Soueraigntie ouer them vnto Fergusius Nephew to the fore-said Eugenius in the yeare of our Lord God after Functius foure hundred and foure about
mediation of friends a finall peace was made betweene them and for the more assurance thereof the Scotish King deliuered his two Daughters Isabell and Margaret into the custodie of king Iohn to bee bestowed in marriage when they came to ripe age vpon his two Sonnes Buchanan saith that it was agreed vpon at this time that thence-forth the kings of Scotland should no more in their owne persons doe homage to the Kings of England but those seruices should only be performed by their eldest sons for no other then for those lands and possessions which they held within the Realme of England But hereof appeareth nothing amongst our own writers About foure or fiue yeares after this agreement king William departed out off this life whom Alexander his sonne by the Lady Ermengard aforesaid succeeded beeing sixteene yeares of age answerable to the terme that king Iohn had then raigned of whom in the meane season Prince Alexander receiued the Order of knight-hoode at London At the same time vpon complaint made by the yong Prince which title hee had newely receiued by creation of his Father that diuerse rebellious persons had presumed vpon the impotencie of the Father and Sonne by reason of the ouer old age of the one and vnripe age of the other to oppose themselues against their gouernement vnder the leading of one Gothred King Iohn eyther in person as some write or rather in powre as I take it accompanying the young Prince did not onely safe conduct him home but forthwith ioyning with certaine forces of Scotland they together incountred the enemies in a set battell gaue them the ouerthrow tooke their chiefe Captaine prisoner and according to his deserts made him shorter by the head Notwithstanding all this kindnesse yet so fresh in memory that it could not be forgotten immediatly vpon Prince Alexander his comming to the Crowne in the yeare of our Lord 1214 his youth easilie neglected the due regard he should haue had of king Iohn his deserts Thus it fell out amongst others then in fauour with this young king none was so much accounted of as a Nobleman of England yet by birth a Scotishman one Eustace de vescie that had married one of his sisters This Gentleman together with Robert Fitzwalter and Stephen Ridell had a little before conspired the death of King Iohn who hauing knowledge thereof sought vnderhand to apprehend them but they distrusting the matter were glad to flie the Realme Eustace into Scotland and the other two into France These men did afterwards so labour the two Kings of those Nations that King Alexander notwith-standing the Pope was then appeased was perswaded to take part with Lewis the Daulphin to whome the Barrons of England had disloyallye bound themselues by oath to receiue and serue him as their lawfullie elected Prince and Soueraigne reiecting their due allegiance to king Iohn their Liege and naturall king The Scotishmen hauing entred into England with a great Armie tooke the Castle of Norham wasted and harrowed the countrie with all extremitie King Iohn made hast with his army to repell the insolency of the Scots but they would not tarry his comming The king pursuing them to Dunbar wasted the country of Lothian without resistance and in his returne burned the Abbaye of Coldingham from whence passing along the Sea coast not without much damage to the Inhabitants at last hee tooke by force the towne and Castle of Berwicke committing it to the custodie of Hugh de Ballioll and Philip de Hulcootes together with all the Countrye bordering on Scotland beyond the Riuer of Theese King Iohn was hardly returned into the south parts of the Realme before the French king had sent ouer a strong army to the ayd of the Barrons against their king whō Lewis within fewe months after followed with a new supplie vnto whose obedience all the Castles Townes and Fortresses in the South-parts of the realme were subdued the Castels of Douer and Windsore onely excepted Neither was the North part of the realme free from these troubles for Robert de Rosse Peter de Brocis Richard Percie had brought the Citie of Yorke with all that Countie vnder subiection to the French-men in manner as Gilbert de Gaunt whome the Dolphine had lately made Earle of Lincolne had done there also where the Castell onely held out Thus was the passage prepared for the Scotish armie which aduancing it selfe forwards in August about two moneths after the arriuall of the Dolphine first seized vpon Northumberland wholy the Castels excepted which were so well defended by the Kings party that the Scotishmen thought it lost labour further to assaile them at that time but keeping their course Southward they came to London with-out any resistance or losse sauing that Eustace de Vescie a principall leader amongst them was slaine with an Arrowe as he roade in the Scotish Kings companie to view where to make an assault to the Castle of Barnard in the Countie of Haleewarkefolke which belonged to Balliol Lewis was lately departed from London before the Scotish armie came thither towards the siege of Douer Castell whither King Alexander with his whole power posted with all speed But that strong Castell was so manfully defended by Hugh de Borowgh and Gerrard de Scotegame the principall men therein that all the power and policie of those two Princes would not suffice to winne the same for that was a point of such importance as that the French king had a little before written to his Sonne that the taking of it was of more auaile vnto his Enterprise then all that hee had gotten in England besides which caused the yong Prince to re-enforce his whole endeauor for the accomplishment of his earnest desire Here king Alexander did homage to Lewis in manner as hee had done before to king Iohn acknowledging to hold of him as of the lawfull king of England which done he tooke his leaue of Lewis and departed homewards but not so quietlie as hee came thither For the true hearted Englishmen obseruing the behauiour of the Scots and watching euery fit oportunitie tooke them at such an aduantage as thereby King Alexander lost a great part of his Army hardly escaping an vtter ouerthrow had not king Iohn died at that instant which gaue them a more happy returne into Scotland then they looked for lately before This sodaine death of the king which happened in the yeare 1216 wrought as sodaine an alteration in the state of the present affayres For now the barons began better to consider of the matter hauing found out both by experience the fooles instructer and by secret intilligence what little good was to bee hoped for at the hands of their French Champion if he preuailed in his enterprise Wherfore diuerse of the English Nobilitie that before had followed that faction when they vnderstood that young Prince Henrie the kings sonne was proclaimed lawfull inheritor and heire aparent to the Crowne of England by William Marshall Earle of
Pembroke Ranulph Earle of Chester diuers other of the partakers of the deceassed King they beganne one after an other to reuolt from Lewis and to submit themselues to their yong King not aboue nine yeares old Whereupon after some fewe bickrings and incounters by land sea between the one partie and the other wherein the French came still by the worse Prince Lewis was willing to hearken to peace which being readilie concluded he bid farewell to all former his goodly hopes was honorablie conducted to his ships and transported into France about a yeare and a halfe from his first arriuall in England Thus in short time by the prouidence of God and the industry and loyaltie of some principall men of the Nobilitie this nation was deliuered from one of the greatest dangers that euer it was like to fall into The yong king hauing raigned vnder protection about foure yeares and euen then purposing with himselfe after hee should come to mans state whereunto his notable and rare towardnesse did hasten him on to recouer that which his Father had lost on the other side of the sea and withall knowing that the Scotish nation was of old too much affected to France that hee might therefore in time preuent all occasion of trouble on that side it was brought to passe at Yorke where the two kings met by appointment that king Alexander should take to wife the Ladie Ione sister to king Henrie and further that Margaret the Scotish kings sister should bee giuen in mariage to Hubert de Borowgh a man in exceeding great fauour for many worthy partes in him whereof both his Father and hee himselfe had good tryall and for those his deserts king Henrie afterwardes created him Earle of Kent The other sister returned againe into Scotland vnmaried these two Ladies as you haue heard before were committed by their Father to the custodie of king Iohn These mariages were solemnized at Yorke about Mid-summer Anno. 1219. Diuerse couenants were then signed and sealed by eyther partie for the more assurance of perfect amitie betweene the two Nations which continued accordingly during the liues of the two kings together though there were some that practised what they could for their owne aduantage to set debate betweene them amongst whom Dauid the pety king of Wales hauing receiued an ouerthrow of the English-men and there-vppon flying into Scotland did his best indeauor to moue king Alexander to rise in Armes against England and by such perswasions as hee vsed so much preuailed that forth-with hee made preparation to inuade the Realme This was the more easilie compassed by reason that king Alexander had then buried his wife the King of Englands sister and not hauing had any issue by her was againe married to the Lady Marie daughter to Iugelram Lord of Coucie a French-man so that his former loue and liking towardes England was now happilie abated and buried together with his late deceassed wife Queene Ione Yet had there then bin an other marriage concluded betweene the Lord Alexander the Scotish kings eldest Sonne and the Ladie Margeret daughter to king Henrie which tooke effect as after shall appeare The Scotish Writers report that king Henrie had then begunne to build a Castle ouer against Berwicke in the same place where his father had before laid the foundation But whatsoeuer was the true cause that mooued king Alexander to inuade the Realme although king Henrie was as ready to make resistance as the other was to offer iniury neuerthelesse by mediation of friendes of either part the quarrell was taken vp and the two kings reconciled one to the other and for testimonie thereof to all posteritie a publike writing was drawne signed and sealed by king Alexander and diuerse of the Nobility of Scotland acknowledging their allegiance to the King of England as their supeor Lord as followeth Alexander Dei gratia Rex Scotiae Omnibus Christi fidelibus hoc scriptum visuris vel audituris salutem Ad vestram volumus venire notitiam nos pro nobis haeredibus nostris concessisse fidelitèr promississe charissimo ligio Domino nostro Henrico tertio Dei gratia Regi Angliae illustri Domino Hiberniae Duci Normandiae Aquitaniae Comiti Andegauiae eius haeredibus quod in perpetuvm bonam fidem ei seruabimus paritèr amorem Et quod nuncquam aliquod faedus iniemus per nos vel per aliquos alios ex parte nostra cum inimicis Domini Regis Angliae vel Haeredum suorum ad bellum procurandum vel faciendum vnde damnum eis vel regnis suis Angliae Hiberniae aut caeteris terris suis eueniat vel possit alequatenùs euenire nisi no iniustè grauent Stantibus in suo robore conuentionibus inter nos dictum Dominum regem Angliae initis vltimò apud Eboracum in praesentia Domini Othonis tituli S. Nicholai in carcere Tulliano Diaconi Cardinalis tunc Apostolicae sedis Legati in Anglia Et saluis conuectionibus super matrimonio contrahendo inter filium nostrum filiam dicti Domini regis Angliae Et vt haec nostra concessio promissio pro nobis haeredibus nostris perpetuae firmitatis robur obteniunt fecimus iurare in animum nostrum Alanum Ostiarum Henricum de Baliol Dauid de Lindesey Wilhelmum Gifford quod omnia predicta bona fide firmitèr fidelitèr obseruabimus Et similitèr iurari fecimus venerabiles patres Dauid Wilhelmum Galfridum Clementem sancti Andreae Glasconiensem Dūkeldensem Dublinensem Episcopos Et praeteria Malcolmum comitē de Fif fideles nostros Patricium comitem de Dunbar Malisium comitē de Strathern Walterum Cumin comitē de Monteth Wilhelmū comitē de Mar Alexandrū comitē de Buchquhā Dauid de Hastings comitē de Athol Robertum de Bruis Alanum Ostiariū Henricum de Bailiol Rogerum de Mounbray Larentiū de Abirnetha Richardum Cumin Dauid de Lindesey Richardū Siward Wilhelmū de Lindesey Walterum de Morauia Wilhelmum Gifford Nicholaū de Sully Wilhelmū de veteri ponte Wilhelmū de Brewer Anselmū de Mesue Dauid de Graham Stephanū de Suningham Quod si nos vel haeredes nostri contra concessionē promissionē praedictū quod absit venerimus ipsi haeredes eorū nobis haeredibus nostris nullū contrà concessionē promissionē praedictā auxilium vel cōsilium impendent aut ab alijs proposse suo impendi permittent Imò bona fide laborabunt erga nos haeredes nostros ipsi et haeredes eorū quòd omnia praedicta a nobis et haeredibus nostris nec non ab ipsis et eorū haeredibus firmitèr et fidelitèr obseruētur in perpetuū In cuius rei testimontū tu nos quam praedicti Prelati Comites Barones nostri praesens scriptum sigillorū suorum appositione roborauimus Testibus Praelatis Comitibus Baronibus superius nominatis Ann. regni nostri c. This
betweene them and to that end hee presently sent â—arter King of armes accompanied with an other Harald to signifie the same These men comming to Edenbrugh eight daies before the prefixed time receiued answere of the Prouost and burgesses that stood bound to the King of England that now vpon notice giuen them of the King their Maisters pleasure they would â—ake prouision for the repayment of the mony aâ— a day appointed for the same which was performed accordingly The messengers beeing curteously entertayned and from thence conuaied back againe to Barwicke they repaired to New-castel where they made relation to the Duke of Glocester of all their proceedings in Scotland who therevpon with all speed remooued to Shriue-hutton and there abode When King Edward had thus ended his businesse with Scotland and was now preparing the like iorney into France to bee reuenged on the double dealing bee found in King Lewis the eleuenth about the like tâ—eatie of a marriage with the Dolphine that contention was presently taken vp by the messinger of God For shortly after they both died in one and the same yeare from the incarnation of our Sauiour 1483. In the meane time the Duke of Albanie found so little saftie in his owne Countrie as that to auoide the mischiefe which was intended towards him by the King his brother hee was forced to repaire againe into England and to make him the more well-come to King Edward hee deliuered into his hands the Castell of Dumbar King Edward being deceased he was certuously entertayned of his late acquaintance the Duke of Glocester who first had made himselfe Lord Protector of the Realme but not satisfied therewith because he aymed at an higher dignitie within two monthes after hee vsurped the Crowne and title of King and forth-with for his more security caused the two young Princes his Nephewes to be wickedlie murthered in the Towre of London whither hee had committed them for that purpose The Duke of Albanie togither with the Earle Dowglas who had remained here as a banished man neere thirty yeares with such aide as they could get made sundrie roades into Scotland but still with more losse then aduantage Dowglas in the end was taken and lead into Scotland where he died in the Abbey of Landoris But the Duke seeing hee could obtaine no better reliefe at King Richards hands secretly passed ouer into France where he dyed shortly after of an hurt which hee receiued of the Duke of Orliance as they ranne together at the tilt King Iames being now falne into no lesse contempt of his subiects thorow his dissolute life and ouer small regard of his nobilitie then king Richard was with the Englishmen for his outragious crueltie both the one and the other were vehemently distracted with continuall feare of their vtter falls In this perplexitie they both mette with one and the same conceipt which was by a league of friendship betweene them-selues to strengthen and confirme one the others desperate estate so as King Richard had no sooner propounded an offer of peace but the other most willingly entertained the same Tiâ—e and place was forth-with appointed when where Commissioners on both sides should meete about this businesse which within three weekes was brought to this issue A truce was taken to endure from the end of September which was in the yeare 1484. for the terme of three yeares More-ouer for the better strengthening thereof king Richard entred into a treatie also of a â—â—w alliance by marriage betweene the Duke of Rothesay the young Prince of Scotland and the Lady â—â—â—e â—e â—a Pâ—â—le Daughter to Iohn Duke of Suffolke by his sister whom he so much fauored that after the decease of his owne Son he caused her Sonne Iohn Earle of Lincolne to bee proclamed heire apparent to the Crowne disinherityng all the daughters of his brother the late deceased king For the effecting of this intended marriage both the kings did send their Commissioners againe to Notingham where the former peace was also concluded which was likewise there agreed vpon and the assurance ingrossed and ratified by hand and seale and affiances made and taken by deputies on both sides The sayd Lady was thence-forth called and reputed Princesse of Rothsay But by occasion of the death of king Richard that was shortly after slaine at Bosworth field she inioyed that title but a while During the time of truce some question did arise for the restitution of the Castell of Dumbar which the Duke of Albaine had bestowed on king Edward as is afore-said but king Richard gaue so good words that while hee liued he held the same Neuerthelesse before king Henrie the seauenth was fullie setled the Scottish king layed siedge against it with such egernesse as that the defendantes dispayring of anie aide in conuenient time out of England in so turbulent a season gaue it vp not without suspition it is sayd of treason This Henry hauing fortunatly subdewed the tirant in the field and thereby attained the Crowne in the yeare 1485. fought principallie to establish his estate by alliance and lawes at home and then by league and amity with his neighbour the Scottish King By his marriage with the Ladie Elizabeth the eldest Daughter of king Edward the fourth the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke which had for many yeares before contended for the Soueraignty were gratiously vnited in the issue that did spring from them two vpon whom for the auoyding of all titles and claimes peramount in time to come the Crowne of England by generall consent in Parliament of the three estates was limited and intayled as in that statute at large may appeare As for the renewing of the league with Scotland king Iames was as readie to imbrace peace as the other was to offer it hoping thereby more safely to prosecute his long desired reuenge vpon diuerse of the Nobilitie that had highlie but I knowe not how worthilie incurred his displeasure which thing shortlie after turned to his owne destruction For hauing vnaduisedlie ioyned battaile with his aduersaries at Bannocksburne with in two miles of Sterling hee was finallie put to flight and pursued vnto death This came to passe in the yeare 1488. King Henrie at his intreatie had sent to his aide fiue tall shippes of warre which with the rest of his expected succours thorough his owne ouer much hast came all too late to do him anie seruice These Shippes saieth Buchanan lying against Dumbar were set vpon by two Scottish Shippes conducted by Andrewe Woode and by force were taken and brought to Leith But I doubt much of the truth hereof for neither is it likely that the Englishmen would yeelde without some losse of bloud whereof there is no mention or that two Scottish shippes could bee able so easilie to subdewe fiue such English as no doubte were especiallie chosen for that seruice when as not long after as hee himselfe confesseth three other indured so long a fight against them Wherefore I rather thinke that
further charged to warne thee not to vse the acquaintance companie or counsell of women for if thou doe otherwise it will turne to thy losse and dishonour This being said hee with-drew him-selfe backe againe into the prease When seruice was ended the king inquired earnestly for him but hee could no where bee found neither could any of the standers by of whom diuerse did narowlie obserue him meaning afterwards to haue questioned further with him feele or perceiue how or when hee passed from them Queene Margaret after the death of her husband challenged the protection of the realme as the king by his last Will and Testament disposed the same so long as shee continued a widow Being therein established first of all she wrote to king Henry her brother intreating him not onely to cease from pursuing warre further vpon Scotland beeing euen then at warre with it selfe but also to bee a defence vnto her and the infant her sonne not much aboue a yeare old against all such as happily would oppose thēselues against her Here-vnto King Henry answered that with the peaceable hee would haue peace but to the froward seditious he would be an enemy Not long after Queene Margaret hauing maried Archibald Dowglas the prime and choise man amongst all the Scotish nobility the realme began to be deuided into two mighty factions They of the Dowglassian party would haue the gouernmēt continued in the Queene because thereby the realme should still haue peace with England which at that season was a point very necessarily to be respected The aduerse party of whom the Lord Hume was the principall man pretending an ancient custome in that case importuned the election of Iohn Duke of Albanie sonne to the former Duke Alexander This gentleman for the most part had liued before in France and was wholy deuoted to the seruice of King Francis who to bind him the faster vnto him had dealt very honorably with him at his departure into Scotland Immediatly vpon his arriuall great dissention arose betwixt him and others of the Scottish Nobility but especially the Lord Hume who as before I haue touched was the chiefe meane of his preferment to that place Queene Margaret much fearing the issue hereof together with her husband and some other of that faction for her more safely repaired into England During her abode there she was deliuered at Herbottle of a Daughter the Lady Margaret Dowglas grand-mother to King Iames the sixt now king by his father as her brother King Iames the fift was his grand-father by his mother So as his Father and Mother were the children of brother and sister namely of Iames the fift and this Lady Margret his halfe sister But the new Regent the Duke of Albanie so excused himselfe by Ambassage to the king of England in that point that within a yeare after the Queene returned into Scotland honorably attended and richly appointed of all things fit for her estate The Earle Dowglas her husband who in the meane season had obtained the Regents fauour receiued her at Berwicke and from thence did accompanie her home All quarrels in the meane time being well appeased in Scotland the Regent passed ouer into France committing the yong Prince together with the gouernment of the realme in his absence to certaine of the Nobilitie but aboue all the rest hee reposed most trust in a Frenchman named Anthonie Darcie Captaine of the Castell of Dunbarre whom he ioyned in commission with the Scottish Lords to the end he might giue him intelligence of all their proceedings in his absence It was this mans hap soone after to be slaine by the Scots for more despite to haue his head stroken off and set vpon Hume Castell to the view of all that passed by This outrage was cōmitted the twelfe of September in the yeare 1517. which gaue beginning to some new broiles amongst them During the absence of the Duke the Dowglassian faction bare greatest sway for the continuance whereof king Henry laboured the French King to keepe the Duke still with him neuer-the-lesse by reason of some trouble likely to arise betweene France England the Regent returned into Scotland about fiue yeares after his departure thence with a purpose to abate the ouer-great powre of the Dowglas Immediatly herevpō Gawen Dowglas Bishop of Dunkell a very reuerend man came into England informed the king how great an aduersary the Regent was to his whole family and that he alone had taken on him the custody of the yong king the sequell whereof hee much feared This Bishop died shortly after at London was buried in the Sauoy church King Henry vpon this complaint sent Clarentius king at Armes into Scotland to admonish the Duke to auoide the country according to the Articles agreed vpon the summer before in the last truce takē with the French king for the king held it very vnreasonable and inconuenient to admit him sole Gardian ouer the yong Prince that was next heire after him to the Crowne least happily by such opportunity he might be tempted to cōmit the like vnnatural cruelty which some haue done in the like case both in England Scotlād That therfore the king his maister said Clarentius had great reason to prouide for the safty of his nephew wherof hee could no way bee better assured then by keeping him from that place and authority in Scotland But of all these threats the Regent seemed to make light account Now began the French king to quarrell againe with king Henry before the truce was fully expired where-vpon all the Frenchmen and Scots that then inhabited in London and other places of the realme were put to their fines and a strong Nauie was forth-with sent to the Sea vnder the conduct of Sir William Fitz-Williams Vice-admirall and seauen other were at the same time sent also against Scotland the which entring into the Furth set fire on diuerse Scottish ships and so returned with their prisoners into England The same yeare the Lord Rosse and the Lord Dacres of the North who were appointed to keepe the borders entred also with their forces into Scotland and burnt the towne of Kelsoe besides many other villages ouer-threw sundry holdes and piles of stone and then returned home with their booties The Regent being here-with prouoked to reuenge raised a great powre where-with approaching the Marches he fully purposed to inuade England But whether it were that hee thought himselfe ouer-weake to incounter the English armie that was comming on apace vnder the conduct of the Earle of Shrewsburie or that hee stood not well assured of some of his owne company which was more likely he was well contented to harken vnto peace so that a truce was taken for some few monthes and then with no little staine to his reputation he turned back-againe In October following the Duke passed ouer againe into France promising his fauorites that if a peace were not in the meane time concluded with England hee would
sister Queene of England also was borne aboue a yeare before and with-all to make him thereby the Monarch ouer the whole Island if hee dyed with-out issue male And to the end hee should giue the more trust and credit to these his promises hee said more-ouer that hee would forth-with intitle him Duke of Yorke and his Vicar Generall ouer the whole realme of England King Iames as he had great reason so to do intertained these offers with great thankfulnesse appointing a time when he would meete the King his Vncle and so with many courtisies dismissed the Ambassadors All this notwithstanding he was so exceedingly laboured by his Prelates that they drew him quite from that resolution vpon this occasion A little before this Ambassage King Henry had sent the foresaid Bishop into Scotland with certaine English pamphlets concerning reformation of religion which being presented vnto his nephew with request that he would aduisedly read them ouer hee gaue them presently to some about him to keepe that were especiall fauorers of the Clergie and the religion of those times who had scantly turned ouer the first leafe but with open mouth they condemned those bookes for most impious hereticall libels telling the king they were glad from their hearts that he had not stained his eies with the very view of such pestiferous and damnable doctrine And for an infallible proofe of this their censure vpon those bookes it fell out about the same time that the Pope had sent a messenger into Scotland requiring king Iames to ioyne with him against the king of England whom hee had already adiudged an Heretike a Scismaticke and a wedlock-breaker for hee and Queene Katherine some-times his Brothers wife for the vnlawfulnesse thereof were then lawfully parted And further this Nuncio declared that for these heynous offences the Pope had depriued him of his kingdome which he bestowed for in such cases hee hath beene alwaies very liberall vnto Iames and other popish Princes his obedient sonnes Thus by the subtile practise of the Priests who to vphold their reputation in the world still buzzed in their kings eares that his Vncle sought nothing more by this his desired conference with him but to withdraw him from the profession of that ancient and Catholique religion wherein their Fathers and fore-elders had liued so many hundred yeares together in great happinesse and felicitie and withall being of him-selfe religiously giuen according to the knowledge of those ignorant times hee was the more easilie disswaded from this promised meeting Though King Henry had cause to take this part vnkindly at the others hands neuer-the-lesse hee was contented to put it vp imputing the fault to them especially that eyther of ignorance or vpon respect of their perticuler good neglected the benefit that might haue followed heereof vnto the weale publique of the whole Iland King Henry to shew how little hee was mooued with this manner of dealing bestowed on his Nephew the yeare following the Garter and according to the ceremonies thereto belonging he was installed at Windsor by his procurator the Lord Erskin Within the compasse of the other seauen yeares remaining of my former account king Iames had marryed two wiues out of France The former was the Lady Magdaline eldest Daughter to king Francis with whom hauing beene maried halfe a yeare shee deceased within little more then a moneth after her arriuall in Scotland The second was Daughter to the Duke of Guise and widdow to the Duke of Longeuille lately deceased Within a yeare after this latter mariage Queene Margaret his mother departed this life hauing first seene a young Prince her grand-child borne into the world but neither hee nor a second sonne liued to succeed their father in the kingdome King Henry knowing how much his Nephew was continually wrought to breake off friendship with him or at the least to vse the same for his owne aduantage onely was much affraide that happily hee might at length bee seduced and therefore was very desirous to haue conference with him and to establish the league that hitherto had continued betweene them To this end he once againe sent into Scotland to entreate him to meete him at Yorke where hee would communicate such matter with him as tended greatly to the good of both realmes This message thus deliuered by the Lord Thomas Howard King Iames and diuerse of his Nobilitie seemed willing enough to yeeld their consents to this iourney But contrariwise the Prelates mightily opposed them-selues against it Amongst other things they alleadged that King Henry went about which touched their free hold to perswade their King to take that course in Scotland which hee had done at home in his owne kingdome namely to expell the Pope to vsurpe his authoritie ouer the Church to dissolue religious houses and to seize vpon their lands and reuenues But rather then hee should bee drawne to vse any such vnlawfull meanes where-with to supplye his present wants they freely offered to giue him yearely out of their owne reuenues thirtie thousand Crownes and if that would not serue his turne they would vnder-take to aduantage him an hundred thousand more yearely out of the lands and possessions of them that were already falne from their due obedience to the sea of Rome These faire promises preuailed so much with King Iames that this meeting was also auoyded But with-all an Ambassadour was immediatly sent into England as well to excuse the King as to require that Commissioners might bee appointed of either partie to meete for the ordering of some controuersies then depending betweene the two Nations which was granted and performed accordingly on King Henries part Neuer-the-lesse when after sundry iniuries still offered by the Scottes the King of England had once or twice yeelded to all reasonable conditions and yet not-with-standing perceiued how little from time to time they were regarded at the length being not able to indure so many indignities he resolued to end all controuersies by open warre But first to the end it might appeare to the world how vnwillingly he was prouoked vnto it before hee would take armes against his neere kinsman hee caused a pamphlet to bee published in Print declaring what mooued or rather compelled him therevnto wherein hee charged King Iames especially with deepe dissimulation his words tasting of Honey but his deeds of Worme-wood After a serious complaint whereof he descendeth or rather ascendeth to a supposed title of Superioritie continued in a lineall succession of the Kings of England ouer that nation from Edward the first sonne to Alured king of England for aboue sixe hundred yeares together but hereof I haue spoken enough before This done a Nauie was sent to the Sea to take all such Scottish ships as fell into their walke of which they brought into the Portes of England eight and twentie fraught with many good commodities The Scottish King here-vpon sent into England to demand restitution seeing no warre was as yet proclaimed But king Henry answered
Francis Hothome Sir Iohn Massie Sir Leonard Beckwith Sir Thomas Cokanie Sir Peter Freshwell Sir Richard Egerton Sir Anthonie Neuille Sir Iohn Neuille Sir William Radcliffe Sir George Bowes Sir Vrian Breretone Sir William Breretone Sir Roger Breretone Sir Edward Warren Sir Brian Leytone Sir Robert Worseley Sir Thomas Talbot Sir Hugh Caluerley Sir Iohn Clere. Sir Richard Holland Sir Thomas Venables Sir Iohn Connestable Sir Edmund Trafford Sir Iohn Athertone Sir Richard Cholmeley Sir Philip Egerton Sir Hugh Willobie Sir Thomas Connestable Sir William Woodhouse Sir Edmund Sauage Sir Thomas Gerard. 11. May. 1544. Mathew Earle of Lennox being now wrought out of fauour with the French king by the practise of the Queene Mother and the Cardinall thought Scotland no safe place for him therefore to make himselfe the more able to resist the malice of his enimies at home he made meanes to be entertained of the King of England Taking therfore the sea with some other Noblemen of his country he arriued at Westchester about Midsōmer folowing From thence hauing first made his way to the King he repaired to the Court where being well entertained he maried shortly after the Lady Margaret Dowglas daughter and heire to the Earle of Angus by Queene Margaret of Scotland king Henries sister who thervpon endowed his Neece with an estate of inheritāce of certaine lands to the yearly valewe of seauenteene hundred markes of rent of assisse which to this day are called Lennox Lands From this coople descended two sonnes Henry Steward Lord Dernley the eldest was Father to Iames the sixt that now reigneth Mathew the other Brother married Elizabeth Candish Daughter to the Countesse of Shrewsbury the most famous builder of a woman in the world by whom he had onely issue the Lady Arbella a beautifull plant trayned vp as I heare by the Countesse her grand-mother in all commendable qualities and exercises of vertue and piety King Iames in regard of his iust title and claime to these lands receiueth of the Queenes maiesty that now is an yearely pension The Earle of Lennox being desirous to show his good will to do the King some acceptable seruice obtayning certaine bands of Englishmen entred into Scotland but he found not that constancy in his Country-men that he expected and therefore was inforced to returne without atchieuing his principal purpose though his labour was not all-togither lost for he raised and tooke diuerse Castells as that in the I le of Arraine belonging to the Gouernor the Castell of Rossey in the I le of Bute from whence the royall family of the Stewards Kings of Scotland now for the space of two hūdred and thirty yeares tooke their beginning Though King Henry at this time also maintayned sharpe war with France neuerthelesse hee ceased not to take the oportunity offred him thorow the ciuill dissention amongst the Scotish Nobility making continual roads forreis into their Countries About the midst of February following Sir Ralph Eeuers Lord warden of the middle Marches entred Scotland with foure thousand English Irish assured Scots passing to Iedworth without any resistance He vnderstood there that the gouerner with the Earle of Angus were lately come to the Abbay Melrosse about 8. miles distant frō thence purposing therto attēd the repaire of their forces hastning thetherward Sir Ralph therefore about mid night marching from thence hoped vpon the sudden to take them at some great aduantage beeing as yet ouer fewe to make resistance But the Scottes hauing knowledge by their Espialls of his approach though some-what to late forsooke their lodgings before they had good wills to arise leauing bag baggage behind thē in all hast they withdrew thēselues to the next mountaines frō thence to obserue the behauior of the English who finding the place abandoned tooke the spoile of al they foūd in the towne Abbay vtterly defacing the Monumēts of th' Douglasses greatly to the displeasure of the Earle of Angus his linage and so returned back towards Iedworth by this time the nūber of the Scots was wel increased by the repaire of Norman Lisle Sonne to the Earle of Rothsey a young Gentleman of good expectation and of Walter Scot with such troopes as accompanied thē thither in so much as the Gouerner was encoraged to giue the Englishmen battaile before they should reach Iedworth but because they trusted not altogither to their strength it was deuised that the maine battaile of the Scottes should lie closely in a vallie to receiue the Englishmen at vnawares which tooke effect accordingly For the Scottes sending all their horses with their keepers and those that might best be spared to the top of the hil vnder which they were embattailed the Englishmen were trained within their danger which beeing perceiued by these Scots that came on their side who were some 7. or 8. hundred they presently fel of and ioyned with the enemy The Englishmen neuerthelesse stuck to it till a great number of thē were slaine the rest beeing ouerweried with that daies and the last nights trauell betooke themselues to flight The middle battaile seeing their fellowes thus discomfeited they also turned and brake into the reereward in such confused manner as thereby the whole army was put out of order no man knowing whom to follow for his Captaine The Scottes in the meane time taking the aduantage of the winde and the Sunne were vpon them before they could well discerne what they were In this confusion euery man sought to saue himselfe whereof insued a great slaughter with very small losse on the other side Besids Sir Rafe Euers the Lord of Ogle and Sir Brian Layton who were chiefe Commanders diuers other gentlemen were slaine in the whole number of two hundred a thousand were taken prisoners well nere of whom some foure score were men of qualitie and speciall note Though the benefit of this victory fell to the Gouernor the glory thereof redownded to the Dowglasses King Henry was much greeued for the gentleman Sir Rafe Euers whose seruice had bene such in these late warrs with the Scottes that he had brought the more part of all those that inhabited within twenty miles of the borders of Eng. vnto the obedience of King Henry who now were the chiefe cause of his destruction in maner as you haue heard This yeare the French King sent Mongomery into Scotland with foure thousand Frenchmen of whome fiue hundred were lances these ioyning with the Scottes to the number of fifteene thousand in the whole came to the borders encamping ouer against Warke Castle from whence passing ouer the riuer euery other day they entred into the English marches and returned backe againe at night with such booties as they got In this manner hauing praied vpon the inhabetants fiue or sixe miles compasse for the space of a weeke to gether vnderstanding that the Earle of Hertford lieutenant ouer the North parts had taken such order for the defence of those countries that it auailed not to