allegation, first for the chapter, conuincing him that Hector Boetius
diuided not his booke into chapters, and therefore, where is the second
chapter, sith the whole fourtéen booke is a continued discourse without
distinction by chapters? Secondlie the said Grafton hath the checke,
for setting a lie aflote, Buchanan flatlie affirming that Hector
Boetius hath no such matter once mentioned in his annales. Touching
the first fault, wherewith the Scot chargeth the Englishman, this is
note-worthie, that it should séeme to anie man of meane iudgement,
that Buchanan of a prepensed malice and purposed wilfulnesse hath
sharpened his stile in this nipping sort against Grafton. For sith it
was Graftons meaning to record the truth, so farre foorth as he was
warranted by the auerment of writers; why should he be cast in the
téeth with Effrænis maledicendi libido, or dishonestlie termed Indoctus
& impudenter mendax? Which opprobrious epithets, if they were deserued
by an vntrue report of the author; then should Buchanan haue sharpened
his toong against Belenden his countriman, the translator of Hector
Boetius into their mother toong, from whom Grafton hath deriued his
words; sense for sense vnmangled (as he found the same written.)
Now who knoweth not that Bellenden distinguished Hectors annales into
chapters, vpon whose authoritie Grafton relieng, and citing his
authoritie according to the quotation of his diuision, whie should
he rather than Bellenden be barked at, who is the principall in this
controuersie? Againe, it could not be hidden from Buchanan, that
Bellenden had distributed Boetius into chapters; considering that they
were ~synchronoi~, both liuing in the reigne of Iames the fift of that
name king of Scots: so that it might haue pleased him to haue tried
Grafton by the Scotish Boetius, and so to haue béene resolued for the
second chapter of the fouretéenth booke, according to the archdeacon of
Murries translation.
[Sidenote: _Hector Boetius, pag. 294, lib. impress. Parisijs à Iacobo
du Puys, 1574._]
Now for the matter itselfe, touching the effusion of bloud, wherewith a
mill might well haue béene driuen for two daies space; Hector Boetius
his owne words are these; Riui sanguinis toto oppido adeo fluxere, vt
cum æstu decurrente minor aqua quàm ad molendina circumagenda fuerit,
adiuuante aquam sanguine aliqua circumagi sponte coeperint. Which
place, Bellenden hath interpreted after this manner; So lamentabl'
slaughter wes throw all the parts of the toun, that ane mill might haif
gane two daies ithandlie be stremis of blude. Now examine Graftons
words by Bellenden, and Bellendens by Boetius (besides that, marke
what Grafton annexeth to the report of this slaughter, who saith that
he will not inforce the credit therof vpon any man, but counteth it a
Scotish lie rather than a matter of truth) and then conclude according
to equitie, that Grafton is altogither excusable and fautlesse, and
Buchanans curious & furious challenge reproueable. But admit Grafton
had fetcht his report from Boetius, as he had it from Bellenden;
séemeth it a lie or an vnlikelihood, that the bloud gushing out of
the bodies of 25000, or (as Hector Boetius saith) 7000, would not
increase to a streame sufficient & able to driue a mill or two about,
without any water intermingled therwithall. The Latine copie hath Riui
sanguinis, riuers of bloud, noting by the word the abundance and also
the streaming course of the same, which was able with the violent
current thereof to beare awaie the verie bodies of the slaine. To
conclude this matter, & to set our Englishman by the truth, and let the
Scot go with his lieng toong, which I would he had had the modestie to
haue tempered, & to haue proffered a practise of that which himselfe
paraphrasticallie preacheth and teacheth others to obserue, saieng;
[Sidenote: _In paraph. super psal. 39._]
(Linguæ obseraui claustra fræno, pertinax
Obmutui silentio,
Ac temerè ne quid os mali profunderet,
Verbis bonis clausi exitum.)
[Sidenote: K. Edward fortifieth Berwike.]
[Sidenote: A scotish frier sent to king Edward.]
[Sidenote: The Scotish king renounceth his homage and fealtie vnto the
king of England.]
And now to the storie. K. Edward remaind at Berwike 15 daies, & caused
a ditch to be cast about the towne of 80 foot in breadth, & of the
like in depth. In the meane time, about the beginning of Aprill, the
warden and reader of the frier minors of Rockesborough called Adam
Blunt, came vnto him with letters of complaint from king Iohn, for the
wrongs doone and offered vnto him and his realme, as well in claiming
an vniust superioritie, and constreining him to doo homage by vndue and
wrongfull meanes, as also by inuading his townes, slaieng and robbing
his subiects: for the which causes he testified by the same letters,
that he renounced all such homage and fealtie for him and his subiects,
as he, or any of them owght for any lands holden within England. The
king hearing the letters red receiued the resignation of the homage,
and commanded his chancellor, that the letter might be registred in
perpetuall memorie of the thing.
[Sidenote: The Scots inuade the English borders.]
[Sidenote: Harbotell.]
[Sidenote: _Rich. South._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Boghan. The crueltie of the Scots.]
The earles of Scotland before remembred, being assembled togither with
their powers at the castell of Iedworth, entred into England the eighth
of Aprill, and with fire and sword did much hurt in the countries as
they passed. In Riddesdale they besieged the castell of Harbotell by
the space of two daies, but when they could not preuaile, they remoued,
and passing foorth by the east part of the riuer of Tine, thorough
Cokesdale, Riddesdale, and Northumberland, vnto Hexham, they did much
mischéefe by burning and harrieng the countries. At Hexham they spoiled
the abbeie church, and got a great number of the cleargie, as well
moonks, priests, as scholers, and others, whom they thrust into the
schoolehouse there, and closing vp the dores, set fire on the schoole,
and burned all them to ashes that were within it. It is wonderfull to
read, what beastlie crueltie the Scots vsed in that road which they
made at that time in two seuerall parts. For the earle of Boghan, with
them of Galloway, entred by Cumberland in like manner as the other did
in Riddesdale, burning and murthering all that came in their waie.
For whereas all those that were of able age and lustie to get awaie,
fled, & escaped their hands; the aged & impotent creatures, women in
childbed, and yoong children that could not shift for themselues, were
vnmercifullie slaine, and thrust vpon speares, and shaken vp in the
aire, where they yéelded vp their innocent ghosts in most pitifull wise.
[Sidenote: The nunrie of Lamelaie burnt.]
Churches were burned, women were forced without respect of order,
condition or qualitie, as well the maids, widowes and wiues, as nunnes
that were reputed in those daies consecrated to God, and when they had
béene so abused, manie of them were after also murthered, and cruellie
dispatched out of life. At length, they came to the nunrie of Lamelaie,
& burned all the buildings there, sauing the church, and then returned
backe into Scotland with all their pillage and booties by Lauercost,
an house of moonks, which they likewise spoiled. So that the cruell
& bloudie desolation whereof Lucan speaketh in his second booke of
ciuill warres, may aptlie be inferred here, as fitlie describing the
mercilesse murther of all states and sexes without parcialitie vnder
the hand of the enimie: for saith he,
[Sidenote: _Luc. lib. 2._]
Nobilitas cum plebe perit, latéque vagatur
Ensis, & à nullo reuocatum est pectore ferrum,
Stat cruor in templis, multáque rubentia cæde
Lubrica saxa madent, nulli sua profuit ætas,
Non senis extremum piguit vergentibus annis
Præcipitasse diem, non primo in limine vitæ
Infantis miseri nascentia rumpere fata.
[Sidenote: The castel of Dunbar rendred to the Scots.]
[Sidenote: Beside 2000 barded horsses they had in that armie 10000
footmen.]
[Sidenote: _N. Trivet._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: A sore battell fought at Dunbar. The number slaine.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
Patrike earle of Dunbar came to the king of England, and submitted
himselfe, with all that he had into his hands; but the castell of
Dunbar vpon saint Markes day, being assieged of the Scots was rendered
vnto them, by treason of some that were within it, of whome, the
countesse (wife to the same erle) was the chéefest; for recouerie
whereof king Edward sent Iohn earle of Warren, Surrey and Sussex, &
William earle of Warwike with a great power, the which laieng siege to
that castell, a great host of Scotishmen came vpon them to the rescue
of them within, so that there was foughten a verie sore and terrible
battell. At length, the victorie abode with the Englishmen, and the
Scotishmen were put to flight, the Englishmen following them in chase
eight mile of that countrie, almost to the forrest of Selkirke: the
slaughter was great, so that (as was estéemed) there died of the
Scotishmen that day, to the number of ten thousand.
[Sidenote: Rockesborough yéelded.]
The morrow after being saturdaie, which was the eight and twentith day
of Aprill, at the kings comming thither the castell was surrendred
vnto him. There were taken in the same castell thrée earles, Menteth,
Cassels, and Ros; six barons, Iohn Comin the yoonger, William Sanclere,
Richard Siward the elder, Iohn Fitz Geffrey, Alexander de Morteigne,
Edmund Comin of Kilbird, with thirtie knights, two clearks, Iohn de
Someruile, and William de Sanclere, and thrée and thirtie esquires,
the which were sent vnto diuerse castels in England, to be kept as
prisoners. After the winning of Dunbar the king went to the castell of
Rockesborough, which incontinentlie was yéelded by the lord Steward of
Scotland, the liues and members of all such as were within it at the
time of the surrender.
[Sidenote: _Rich. Southw._]
Then went king Edward vnto Edinburgh, where he planted his siege about
the castell, and raised engines, which cast stones against and ouer
the walles, sore beating and brusing the buildings within. But as it
chanced, the king writing letters, to aduertise his councell at home
of his procéedings, and concerning other businesse, deliuered that
packet vnto a Welshman named Lewin, commanding him to go with the same
to London in all hast possible, for he knew him to be a verie spéedie
messenger and a trustie also (as he tooke it.) But hauing the letter
thus deliuered him, togither with monie to beare his charges, he got
him to a tauerne, where riotouslie c[=o]suming the monie (which he had
so receiued) in plaie, & making good chéere, in the morning he caused
one of his companions to take a target, and beare it afore him in
approching the castell, for that he meant (as he colourablie pretended)
not to depart, vntill he had wrought some displeasure to them within
with his crossebow, which he tooke with him for that purpose, so that
comming vnto the castell gates, he called to the wardens on the walles
to cast downe to him a cord, that they might plucke him vp to them
therewith, for that he had somwhat to say to their capteine touching
the secrets of the king of England.
They fulfilling his desire, when he came in, and was brought afore the
captein sitting then at breakfast, he said vnto him: "Behold sir, here
ye may peruse the king of Englands secrets," and withall raught to
him a box, wherein the packet of the kings letters were inclosed, and
"appoint me (saith he) to some corner of the wall, and trie whether I
can handle a crossebow or not, to defend it against your aduersaries."
Héere when others would haue opened the box, and haue read the letters,
the capteine would in no wise consent thereto, but going into a turret,
called to the Englishmen béelow, and willed them to signifie to the
king, that one of his seruants being fled to him, sought to bewraie
his secrets, wherevnto he would by no means agrée, and therefore meant
to restore both the traitor and the letters. Herevpon, the lord Iohn
Spenser, comming to heare what the matter might meane, the capteine
caused Lewin to be let downe to him, togither with the letters safe,
and not touched by him at all.
[Sidenote: A Welshman hanged.]
When the king vnderstood this, he much commended the honest respect of
the capteine, and whereas he had caused engins to be raised to annoie
them within (as yée haue heard) he commanded the same to ceasse, and
withall, vpon their capteins suit, he granted them libertie to send
vnto their king Iohn Balioll, to giue him to vnderstand in what sort
they stood. As touching the Welshman, he was drawne and hanged on a
pair of high galowes, prepared for him of purpose, as he had well
deserued. A notable example of a traitorous villaine, so to offer the
secrets of his souereigne to be known to his enimies: and no lesse
excellent a president of an honest and faithfull harted foe, that
would not himselfe nor let anie other haue a sight of the contents
therein written; a rare point of good meaning and vpright dealing in a
souldier, and speciallie in an enimie; but
---- multo optimus ille
Militiæ cui postremum est primúmq; tueri
Inter bella fidem.
[Sidenote: Striueling castel left void.]
[Sidenote: Edenburgh castell deliuered to the king of England.]
Now while the messengers were on their waie to Forfair, where the
Scotish king then laie, king Edward with a part of his armie went vnto
Striueling, where he found the castell gates set open, and the keies
hanging on a naile, so that he entred there without any resistance, for
they that had this castle in gard, were fled out of it for feare before
his comming. The messengers that were sent from them within Edenburgh
castell, comming to their king, declared to him in what case they stood
that were besieged. King Iohn, for that he was not able to succor them
by any manner of means at that present, sent them word, to take the
best waie they could for their owne safetie; with which answer the
messengers returning, the castell was immediatlie deliuered vnto the
lord Iohn Spenser, that was left in charge with the siege, at the kings
departure towards Striueling, with the like conditions as the castell
of Rockesborough had yéelded a little before.
Thus was that strong castell of Edenburgh surrendred by force of siege,
to the king of Englands vse, on the 15 daie, after he had first laid
his siege about it. A place of such strength by the heigth of the
ground whereon it stood, that it was thought impregnable, and had not
béene woone by force at any time, since the first building therof,
before that present, so farre as anie remembrance either by writing or
otherwise could be had thereof.
[Sidenote: Saint Iohns towne.]
[Sidenote: The king of Scots sueth for peace.]
[Sidenote: The bishop of Durham.]
[Sidenote: The king of Scots submitteth himselfe to the K. of England.]
Here at Edenburgh, or rather at Rockesborough (as Abington saith) a
great number of Welshmen came vnto the king, who sent home the like
number of English footmen, of those that séemed most wearie. Moreouer,
at Striueling, there came to the king the earle of Ulster, with a
great number of Irishmen. Then passing ouer the riuer of Forth, the
king came vnto saint Iohns towne about Midsummer, and there tarried
certeine daies. Whilest these things were a dooing, Iohn king of
Scotland, perceiuing that he was not of power to resist king Edward,
sent ambassadors vnto him to sue for peace: king Edward was content
to heare them, and therevpon appointed, that king Iohn should resort
vnto the castell of Brechin, there to commen with such of his councell
as he would send thither within fiftéene daies next ensuing, to treat
of an agréement. King Edward sent thither Anthonie bishop of Durham,
with full commission to conclude all things in his name. And within the
appointed time came king Iohn, and diuers of his nobles vnto him, the
which after many & sundrie treaties holden betwixt them and the said
bishop, at length they submitted themselues and the realme of Scotland,
simplie and purelie into the hands of the king of England, for the
which submission to be firmelie kept and obserued, king Iohn deliuered
his son in hostage, and made letters thereof, written in French as
followeth.
The instrument of the said submission.
Iehan per la grace de Dieu, roy de Escoce, à tous ceulx quæ cestes
præsentes letres verront ou orront, saluz, &c. Iohn by the grace of
GOD king of Scotland, to all those that these present letters shall
sée or heare, sendeth gréeting. Bicause that we through euill counsell
and our owne simplicitie, haue gréeuouslie offended our souereigne
lord, Edward by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, and
duke of Aquitane, in many things; that is to saie, in that, whereas we
béeing and abiding vnder his faith and homage, haue bound our selues
vnto the king of France which then was his enimie and yet is, procuring
a mariage with the daughter of his brother Charles du Valois, and that
we might gréeue our said lord, and aid the king of France with all our
power by warre and other means, we haue at length by aduise of our
peruerse counsell defied our said lord the K. of England, and haue put
our selues out of his allegiance and homage, & sent our people into
England, to burne houses, to take spoiles, to commit murther, with many
other damages, and also in fortifieng the kingdome of Scotland, which
is of his fée, putting and establishing armed men in townes, castels,
and other places, to defend the land against him, to deforce him of his
fée, for the which transgressions our said souereigne lord the king,
entring into the realm of Scotland with his power, hath conquered and
taken the same, notwithstanding al that we could do against him, as by
right he may do, as a lord of his fée, bicause that we did render vnto
him our homage, and made the foresaid rebellion. We therfore as yet
being in our full power and frée will, doo render vnto him the land
of Scotland, and all the people therof with the homages. In witnesse
whereof, we haue caused these letters patents to be made. Yeuen at
Brechin the tenth day of Iulie, in the fourth yeare of our reigne,
sealed with the common seale of the kingdome of Scotland.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: K. Edward passeth forward through Scotland.]
[Sidenote: K. Edward bringeth the marble stone out of Scotland.]
[Sidenote: The nobilitie of Scotland submit themselues to the king.]
After this, king Edward went forward to sée the mounteine countries
of Scotland, the bishop of Durham euer kéeping a daies iournie afore
him. At length, when he had passed through Murrey land, and was come
to Elghin, perceiuing all things to be in quiet, he returned towards
Berwike, and comming to the abbeie of Scone, he tooke from thence the
marble stone, wherevpon the kings of Scotland were accustomed to sit as
in a chaire, at the time of their coronation, which king Edward caused
now to be transferred to Westminster and there placed, to serue for
a chaire for the priest to sit in at the altar. The king comming to
Berwike, called thither vnto a parlement all the nobles of Scotland,
and there receiued of them their homages, the which in perpetuall
witnesse of the thing, made letters patents thereof, written in French,
and sealed with their seales, as the tenor here followeth.
The instrument of the homages of the lords of Scotland to K. Edward.
[Sidenote: The forme of their homage.]
[Sidenote: The words of K. Edward accepting it.]
A tous ceux que cestes lettres verront ou orront, &c. To all those that
these present letters shall sée or heare, we Iohn Comin of Badenaw,
&c. Bicause that we at the faith and will of the most noble prince,
and our dearest lord, Edward by the grace of God king of England, lord
of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine, doo vow and promise for vs and our
heires, vpon paine of bodie and goods, and of all that we may haue,
that we shall serue him well and trulie against all men which may liue
and die, at all times when we shall be required or warned by our said
lord the king of England or his heires, and that we shall not know of
any hurt to be doone to them, but the same we shall let and impeach
with all our power, and giue them warning thereof: and those things to
hold and kéepe, we bind vs, our heires, and all our goods, and further,
receiue an oth thereof vpon the holie euangelists: and after all, we
and euerie of vs haue done homage vnto our souereigne lord the king of
England in words as followeth; I become your liegeman of life, members,
and earthlie honour, against all men which may liue and die. And the
same our souereigne lord the king receiued this homage vnder this forme
of words; We receiue it for the land of the which you be now seized,
the right of vs, or other saued, and except the lands which Iohn
Balioll sometime king of Scotland granted vnto vs, after that we did
deliuer vnto him the kingdome of Scotland, if happilie he hath giuen to
you any such lands.
Moreouer, all we, and euerie of vs by himselfe haue done fealtie to
our said souereigne lord the king in these words; I as a faithfull &
liege man, shall kéepe faith and loialtie vnto Edward king of England,
and to his heires, of life, member and earthlie honor, against all men
which may liue and die, and shall neuer for any person beare armour,
nor shall be of counsell nor in aid with any person against him, or his
heires in any case that may chance, but shall faithfullie acknowledge,
and doo the seruice that belongeth to the tenements the which I claime
to hold of him, as God me helpe and all his saints. In witnesse wherof,
these letters patents are made and signed with our seales. Yeuen at
Warke the foure and twentith of March, in the 24 yeare of the reigne of
our said lord the king of England.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: Officers appointed in Scotland by king Iohn.]
[Sidenote: Iohn Balioll sent to London.]
[Sidenote: A parlement at saint Edmundsburie.]
[Sidenote: A subsidie granted.]
Then was Iohn Warren earle of Surrey and Sussex made by king Edward
warden of Scotland, Hugh Cressingham treasurer, and William Ormesbie
high iustice, whome the king commanded, that he should call all those
before him which held any lands of the crowne, and to receiue of them
in his name their homages and fealties. Iohn Balioll the late king of
Scotland was sent to London, and had a conuenient companie of seruants
appointed to attend him, hauing licence to go any whither abroad, so
that he kept himselfe within the circuit of twentie miles néere to
London. Iohn Comin of Badenaw, and Iohn Comin of Lowan, and diuerse
nobles of Scotland were brought into England on the south side of
Trent, being warned vpon paine of death not to returne into Scotland,
till the king had made an end of his wars with France. After this,
at his returne into England, king Edward held a parlement at saint
Edmundsburie, which began the morrow after the feast of All saints,
in which the citizens & burgesses of good townes granted vnto him an
eighth part of their goods, and of the residue of the people a twelfth
part.
[Sidenote: The pretended excuse of the cleargie.]
The cleargie by reason of a constitution ordeined and constituted the
same yeare by pope Boniface, prohibiting vpon paine of excommunication,
that no talages nor other exactions should be leuied or exacted of the
cleargie in any manner of wise by secular princes or to be paid to
them of things that perteined to the church, vtterlie refused to grant
any manner of aid to the king, towards the maintenance of his wars.
Wherevpon the king, to the intent they should haue time to studie for a
better answer, deferred the matter to an other parlement to be holden
on the morrow after the feast of saint Hilarie.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 25.]
[Sidenote: 1297.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Holland marrieth Elizabeth the kings daughter.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The archbishop his words.]