the countrie in euill state, by reason that the good towns were not all
of one mind: for diuers of them misliked with the dooings of the earle,
in that he had alied himselfe with the French kings aduersaries. About
the beginning of September was Lisle yéelded vnto the French king, and
after that they of Doway, Curtray, and Bruges, did likewise submit
themselues to the same king. Then was Charles earle of Valois sent
to Bruges to fortifie that towne, and to take the English nauie that
laie at anchor in the hauen of Dam: but the Englishmen hauing warning
thereof, got foorth with their vessels into the sea, and so the earle
of Valois being disappointed of that preie, set in hand to fortifie
Bruges and Dam. But the earle of Austrich, & Robert de Neuers son to
earle Guy, being sent with a power of Englishmen, Flemings, and other
souldiors vnto Dam, fought with the Frenchmen, slue foure hundreth of
them, besides diuers that were taken, and recouered the towne. They
might also haue recouered Bruges, as was thought, if the Englishmen and
Flemings had not fallen at strife, & fought togither about diuiding of
the preie.
[Sidenote: The emperor Adulfe breaketh promise.]
Finallie, after this, the French king came to Bruges, and when the king
of England and the earle of Flanders had long looked and all in vaine
for the emperor Adulfe, who had promised to come to their aid with a
great armie; for the charges and wages wherof he had receiued great
summes of monie both of the king of England, and also of the earle of
Flanders: they concluded in the end (when they perceiued he would not
come) to make some agréement with the French king: and so first was a
truce taken, from the middest of October, vnto the calends of December,
and after by mediation of Charles (surnamed Claudius) king of Sicill,
the same truce was prolonged as hereafter ye shall heare.
In this meane while, to wit, about the end of August, the earle of
Surrey, when he saw that the Scotishmen would not performe promise
touching the deliuerie of the pledges, and that William Waleis still
mooued the people to rebellion, he assembled his armie, & with the
same entring Scotland, came vnto Striueling. Then the lord steward of
Scotland, and also the earle of Lenox came vnto him, requiring him
to staie till they might haue leasure to sée if they could bring the
people of Scotland vnto the kings peace. But when they could not doo
it, they returned on the tenth day of September, promising to bring to
the aid of the earle of Surrey on the morrow after fortie horssemen,
vpon the which day two friers of the order of preachers were sent vnto
William Waleis, and to the other Scotishmen lieng beyond the hill aboue
the monasterie of Scambeskin, to mooue them to the kings peace. But
their answer was, that they were not come to haue peace, but to trie
the matter by battell.
[Sidenote: The pride of Hugh Cressingham.]
[Sidenote: The Scots assaile the Englishmen.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The valiancie of sir Marmaduke Thweng.]
The English armie without good aduise, thorough the presumptuous pride
of the lord Hugh Cressingham, preased to the bridge, and hasting
to passe the same, the Scotishmen came vpon them yer the one halfe
could get ouer, and so fiercelie assailed them, that the Englishmen
were beaten backe and slaine downe. For the Scots, after they saw so
manie of the Englishmen to haue passed the bridge, as they thought
themselues able to distresse, they made downe to the bridge foot, and
with a number of their spearemen on foot, closed it vp, that no more
should come ouer to the aid of their fellowes, nor those that were
alreadie passed, should returne againe: yet one sir Marmaduke Thweng
a right valiant knight, which was one of the first among the men of
armes that came ouer, after that he and his companie had driuen downe
one wing of their aduersaries, & had followed them in a chase a good
waie, as purposing to haue gotten the conquest against them, at length
perceiuing the companie behind distressed by the Scots, he returned
with those few that were about him, and purposing to repasse the
bridge, rushed in among the Scots that stood before him with such
violence, that he passed thorough them, making waie for himselfe and
his folks by great manhood, sauing one of his nephues also which was
set on foot & wounded, after his horsse had béene killed vnder him.
[Sidenote: The Englishmen discomfited.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Surrey returneth in hast to Berwike.]
[Sidenote: The Scots enter Berwike.]
[Sidenote: The castell holdeth tacke against them.]
At length the discomfiture was such, that the Scots preassed so
earnestlie to win the bridge also of these Englishmen, which were not
yet passed, that at length the earle of Surrey commanded to breake
that end of the bridge, where they stood at defense to kéepe backe the
Scots, for else had there few of the Englishmen escaped. There were
slaine (as some haue written) to the number of six thousand men, and
amongst other was slaine sir Hugh Cressingham, whose skin (as hath
béene reported) the Scots stripped off his dead carcasse, for the
malice which they bare toward him. This discomfiture chanced on the
11 day of September. The earle of Surrey, leauing in the castell of
Striueling the said sir Marmaduke Thweng, promised him to come to his
aid at all times when néed should be, within ten wéekes space, and
herewith taking his horsse, rode in such hast to Berwike, that after
his comming thither, his stéed being set vp in the stable of the friers
minors, neuer after tasted meat, but died: after this, the said earle
making no long aboad in Berwike, rode vp to London vnto prince Edward,
and left the towne of Berwike as a preie to the Scotishmen: but those
yet that had the castell in kéeping, defended it manfullie against
the Scots, the which assembled togither in campe vnder the leading of
Alexander earle of Murrey: and their capteine William Waleis came to
Berwike, and finding the towne void of all defense, entred it, but they
could not win the castell by any meanes.
[Sidenote: The Scots inuade Northumberland, and spoile the countrie.]
The Northumberland men conueied their wiues, their children, their
cattell, & other goods, which might be remooued, out of the countrie
for feare of the enimies inuasion: but when the Scots lingered time,
and entred not within the English borders for a season, they brought
their goods againe, in hope that the Scots would not come foorth of
their owne marches at that time. But the Scots hauing aduertisement
thereof, about the feast of S. Luke entred the English borders, and
did much hurt within the countrie of Northumberland, so that to
auoid the danger, all the religious men fled out of the monasteries
situat betwixt Newcastell vpon Tine, and Carleill. The Scots spoiled,
harried, and burnt vp the countrie, till the feast of S. Martine, and
in the octaues of the same feast they drew togither, and went towards
Carleill, which towne they summoned, as you shall heare.
[Sidenote: The forest of Inglewood.]
[Sidenote: The towne of Riton burnt.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 26.]
[Sidenote: The Scots returne home.]
They sent a préest to them that kept it, commanding them to yéeld: but
receiuing a froward answer, they fell to and wasted all that countrie,
passing thorough the forrest of Inglewood, Cumberland, and Allerdale,
till they came vnto Derwent and Cokermouth, not sparing either church
nor chappell. Their meaning was to haue gone into the bishoprike of
Durham, but what through sore weather of haile, snow and frost, & what
through vain feare of wrong information giuen by their spials, that
the countrie was well prouided of men of warre for defense, they brake
off that iournie, and yet there were not past a hundred men of armes,
and thrée thousand footmen in that countrie, which were then also
dispersed thorough irksomenesse of long staieng for the enimies. The
Scots therefore drew vnto Hexham, and there lodged, not without vexing
the canons, although they had granted letters of protection vnto the
prior and couent of the same house, to indure for one whole yeare: and
likewise letters of safe conduct to passe and repasse for one canon,
one squire, and two seruants, when soeuer they should send to them
during that terme: which letters were giuen foorth vnder the name of
the said earle of Murrey, and William Waleis. From thence they went
towards Newcastell, and burnt the towne of Riton. Finallie, perceiuing
they could not preuaile in attempting to win the towne of Newcastell,
they diuided their spoiles and returned home.
[Sidenote: The lord Clifford inuadeth Annandale.]
[Sidenote: Annankirke. Scots slaine.]
[Sidenote: 1298.]
[Sidenote: Annankirke burnt.]
About the same time, to wit, a little before Christmasse, the lord
Robert Clifford, with the power of the citie of Carleill, entred
Annandale, committing all to the spoile of the footmen, of whome there
was a great number. The men of armes on horssebacke, being not past
an hundred in all, kept togither, and finding their enimies assembled
néere to Annankirke, gaue a charge vpon them, and chased them into a
marish, within the which they kept them, till the footmen came in, and
assailing them, slue 308 persons, and tooke diuerse of them prisoners,
and returning againe to their market, burnt ten villages, and on
Christmasse euen returned with their preie and booties vnto Carleill.
In the beginning of Lent they made an other rode, in the which they
burnt the church of Annan.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The froward dealing of the erles of Hereford & Marshall.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: A subsidie granted.]
Whilest these things were in hand, prince Edward the kings eldest son,
and other, which had the rule of the realme in the kings absence,
sought meanes to pacifie the earles Marshall and Hereford: but they
would not agrée, but vpon such conditions as pleased themselues to
prescribe, which were, that the king should confirme the great charter,
and the charter of forrests, with certeine new articles to be included
in the same great charter, and that from thenceforth the king should
not charge his subiects so fréelie at his pleasure as before time he
had doone, without consent of the states of parlement, and that he
should pardon his displeasure and malice conceiued against them for
denieng to go with him into Flanders. Manie other articles they would
that the king should grant, confirme, pardon and establish. The which
were all sent ouer into Flanders to the king, that he might peruse
them, and declare whether he would agrée or disagrée to the same.
He as one being driuen to the wall, thought good to yéeld vnto the
malice and iniquitie of the time, to reconcile the offended minds of
the péeres and barons of his realme, and granted vnto all the said
articles, confirming the same with his charter vnder his great seale.
In consideration wherof, the nobles of the realme and commons granted
to the king the ninth penie of all their goods: the archbishop of
Canturburie, with the cleargie of his prouince, the tenth penie; and
the elect of Yorke and those of his prouince, granted the fift penie;
towards the maintenance of the war against the Scots, bicause they were
next vnto the danger.
[Sidenote: A parlement at Yorke.]
[Sidenote: Magna charta.]
The king also by his speciall letters required the nobles of the
realme, that if they continued in their due obedience to him, as they
promised at his departure out of the realme to doo, that then they
should resort and appeare at his parlement, to begin at Yorke the
morrow after the feast of saint Hilarie, without all excuse or delaie:
for otherwise he would accompt them as enimies to the commonwelth of
the realme. At which day appeared the earles of Warren and Glocester,
with the countesse of Glocester his wife daughter to the king, the
earles Marshall, Hereford, and Arundell, Guie sonne to the earle of
Warwike in his fathers roome: and of barons, the lord Henrie Percie,
the lord Iohn Wake, and the lord Iohn Segraue, with manie of the
nobilitie, the which being assembled togither, would that it should to
all men be notified, in what manner the king had confirmed the great
charter, and the charter of forrests; wherevpon the same being read
with the articles therevnto added, and put in, the bishop of Carleill,
adorned in pontificalibus, did pronounce all them accurssed, that went
about to violate and breake the same. And bicause the Scotish lords
appeared not, being summoned to be there, it was decréed that the armie
should come togither at Newcastell vpon Tine, in the octaues of the
feast of saint Hilarie next insuing, so that the generall musters might
then and there be taken.
[Sidenote: Debate betwixt ye kings men and the Gantners.]
The king laie the most part of this winter at Gant, in the which meane
time there chanced sedition betwéene th' Englishmen & the Gantners,
insomuch that the Welshmen had set fire on the towne, if the king had
not staied the matter. But the Flemish writers saie, the Englishmen
set fire in foure parts of the towne indéed, that they might the more
fréelie haue robbed in other parts thereof, whilest the townesmen had
gone about to quench the fire. But the townesmen bent on reuenge,
assembled togither in great numbers, and falling on the Englishmen slue
thirtie of their horssemen and of their footmen to the number of seuen
hundred, or thereabouts. They had also slaine the king, if a knight of
Flanders had not made shift to saue him. ¶ In déed (as should appeare
by the same writers) the English footmen had doone much hurt in the
countrie, and namelie one day they spoiled the towne of Dam, and slue
two hundred worthie personages, who had yéelded themselues to the king
at his first comming into the countrie.
And although the king caused certeine of those that had doone this
outrage to be hanged: yet the Flemings bare this & other iniuries in
their minds, & meant to be reuenged thereof, before the Englishmen
departed out of their countrie, and therefore there drew out of sundrie
parts into the citie of Gant by small companies, to the number of foure
thousand men of armes, besides a great multitude of footmen, and when
they perceiued themselues strong inough (as they tooke the matter) at
the day amongst them appointed, and considered in their minds, that
---- vnita potentior est vis
Quælibet, at partes in plures secta peribit,
[Sidenote: The Flemings set vpon the Englishmen in their lodgings.]
they clustered togither, and vnder the leading of the earles sonnes,
William and Robert, they did first set vpon the Englishmen that were
in their lodgings, of whom they slue diuerse, and after comming foorth
into the stréets, they ment to haue made slaughter of all the residue:
but by the noise that was raised, the king had warning in what state
the matter stood, and therewith getting him to armour, came foorth
of his lodging, and streightwaies his people flocked about him. And
furthermore, the footmen which were lodged in the suburbes, hearing of
this tumult, got them to armour, & approching the gates, found them
shut: but with fire which they kindled with straw, wood, butter and
tallow, and other such things, they burnt vp the same gates and so got
in, losing not past six persons that were slaine at the first entring.
[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders pacifieth his people.]
Herewith the earle of Flanders came to the king, and besought him to
staie his people from committing further outrage: but the king as he
had reason so to doo, blamed him for the outragious attempt of his
people, and bad him go to appease them, or he would take paine with
them himself to his owne suertie, though not greatlie to their ease.
The earle went, and preuailed so much, that at length he quieted them,
and then was order giuen for restitution of such things as had béen
taken from any man wrongfullie, according to the order and direction
prescribed by certeine discréet persons appointed as commissioners
in that behalfe. The king perceiuing himselfe in some danger, and
that without the fauour of the Flemings he might hardlie escape out
of their countrie, bare manie things, and spake courteouslie, making
partlie amends for the harms doone by his people, as well abroad in the
countries as in the towns. And finallie about Midlent he returned into
England, as after ye shall heare.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: An armie assembled at Yorke.]
[Sidenote: The Scots besiege Rockesborough.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Surrey entreth Scotland.]
In this meane time, by the kings appointment, the earle of Surrey lord
warden of Scotland, with other earles and noble men to him associat,
about the feast of saint Hilarie, had assembled an armie at Yorke,
hauing first summoned the lords of Scotland to appeare there at the
same day, who yet came not, but contrarilie had besieged the castell
of Rockesborough. Wherevpon the earle of Surrey hasted thitherwards,
so that William Waleis and other of the Scotishmen which laie there at
siege, raised the same, and departed from thence. The earle of Surrey
comming to Rockesborough, and relieuing them that kept it with such
things as they wanted, passed foorth to Kelsow, and came afterwards
to the towne of Berwike, which the Scotishmen had left void. Here
came letters vnto them from king Edward, signifieng that he had taken
truce with the French king, and that he meant shortlie to returne
into England, and therefore commanded them not to make any further
enterprise than the defending of the frontiers, and the recouerie of
Berwike till his comming ouer. Herevpon was a great part of the armie
discharged, and such onelie remained in Berwike as might suffice for
defense thereof.
[Sidenote: K. Edward returneth homewards.]
[Sidenote: The Scots summoned to the parlement at Yorke, refused to
come.]
King Edward hauing made an end of his businesse in Flanders, as before
ye haue heard, returned now towards England, and came to a towne called
Ardenburge, where the most part of such Scotishmen as he had brought
with him into Flanders slipped from him, and went vnto Paris. The king
being returned into England, remooued the barons of the excheker, and
the iustices of the bench vnto Yorke, calling a parlement thither,
and gaue summons vnto the lords of Scotland to come to the same: but
making default in their appearance, he sent foorth his commission and
letters to warne his subiects to be readie with horsse and harnesse at
Rockesborough in the feast of the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist next
insuing. They obeieng his commandement, assembled there at the day
appointed.
[Sidenote: An armie raised.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The number of men armed in this armie.]
[Sidenote: Welshmen and Irishmen. Gascoins.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The earles of Hereford and Marshall mistrust the king.]
There were in this armie now assembled at Rockesborough togither with
those of the bishoprike, about thrée thousand men of armes mounted on
barded horsses, besides foure thousand other armed men on horssebacke
without bards. There were also a great number of footmen, and yet none
but such as came vpon their owne good willes, the which were almost all
Welshmen or Irishmen. There came also afterwards fiue hundred men of
armes well apparelled, furnished and mounted out of Gascoine, of the
which a certeine number were sent to Berwike by the king: where after
the battell fought with the Scots, they remained in garison. The earle
of Hereford, and the earle Marshall were present with their retinues
amongst other in this armie here assembled at Rockesborough, the
which vpon suspicion conceiued of that they had heard, thought it not
sufficient to haue the kings letters patents touching the confirmation
of the two charters, and other the articles aboue mentioned, signed
by him, whilest he was out of the realme, and therefore required that
he would now within his owne land confirme the same againe. Here the
bishop of Durham, Iohn earle of Surrie, William earle of Warwike, and
Rafe erle of Glocester, vndertooke for the king, that after he had
subdued his enimies; and should be againe returned into the realme, he
should satisfie them in that behalfe, and confirme the same articles.
[Sidenote: Castels woon by the bishop of Durham.]
This doone, the king marching foorth with his armie, came to Temple
Histon, and sent foorth the bishop of Durham to take certeine castels
therabouts, as Orinton or (as some copies haue) Drilton, and other two,
which enterprise the bishop spéedilie accomplished. The English fléet
that should haue come from Berwike, and kept alongst the coast to haue
furnished the armie with victuals, was staied and holden backe with
contrarie winds, so that the armie began to be in great necessitie of
victuals. The Scotishmen were aduertised hereof, and supposing that
the Englishmen by reason of such want of victuals, had not béene able
through féeblenesse to make anie great resistance, assembled their
powers togither, and came towards the place where the king with his
armie was lodged.
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: A fraie betwixt the Welsh and Englishmen.]
[Sidenote: The Englishmen stand in doubt of the Welshmen.]
At the same time two of the English ships arriued there with victuals,
the which being bestowed amongst the souldiors, reléeued them greatlie
of their hunger. Amongest other the Welshmen had two tunnes of wine
deliuered to them for their share, the which they tasted so gréedilie,
that ouercome therewith they fell to quarrelling with the Englishmen,
and begun a fraie, in the which they slue eightéene, and hurt diuerse.
The English horssemen herewith being kindled with displeasure, got them
to armor, and setting vpon the Welshmen, slue of them to the number of
fourescore, and put the other to flight: wherevpon the next morning
it was said that the Welshmen vpon wrath conceiued hereof meant to
depart to the Scots: but yet when the campe remooued, they followed the
armie though a farre off, and apart by themselues, insomuch that manie
doubted least if the Englishmen had chanced to haue had the worsse at
the Scotishmens hands, they would haue ioined with them against the
Englishmen. This bloodie broile sprang of intemperancie, and surfeiting
drunkennesse, which is worthie to be thus disclaimed,
---- ---- imæ lethum, & vitiorum
Nutrix ac scelerum, quid non mortalia cogis
Pectora? Quid per te non audent? Iurgia, litès,
Prælia dira moues, & gaudes sanguine fuso,
Sordidior quæ res, quæ bellua vilior? &c.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The battell of Foukirke.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The order of the Scotish battels.]
The king now hearing that the Scots were comming towards him, raised
his field, and went foorth to méet them, lodging the next night in a
faire plaine. In the morning verie earlie, a great alarme was raised,
so that euerie man got him to armour, supposing the Scots to be at
hand. The horsse appointed for the kings saddle that day, as the king
should haue got vpon him, frighted with some noise, started aside,
and threw the king downe with such violence, that he brake two of his
ribbes, as the report went. Other write, that his horsse trod on him
in the night, as he and his people rested them, kéeping their horsses
still bridled, to be readie the sooner vpon occasion of any necessitie:
but howsoeuer he came by his hurt, he staied not to passe forward in
his purposed iournie, but mounting vpon an other horsse, went foorth
with his armie till he came to a place called Foukirke, where both the
armies of England and Scotland met and fought.
[Sidenote: The earles Marshall, Hereford, and Lincolne led the fore
ward.]
[Sidenote: The bishop of Durham led the second ward.]
[Sidenote: The lord Basset of Draitons words to the bishop of Durham.]