we may saie, round battels, in forme of a circle, in the which stood
their people that carried long staues or speares, which they crossed
iointlie togither one within another, betwixt which schiltrons or
round battels were certeine spaces left, the which were filled with
their archers and bowmen, and behind all these were their horssemen
placed. They had chosen a strong ground, somewhat sideling on the
side of a hill. The earles Marshall, Hereford, & Lincolne, which led
the fore ward of the Englishmen, at the first made directlie towards
the Scots, but they were staied, by reason they found a marish, or an
euill fauoured mosse betwixt their enimies and them, so that they were
constreined to fetch a compasse towards the west side of the field.
The bishop of Durham ruling in the second battell of the Englishmen,
consisting of six and thirtie standards or banners, knowing the let
of that mosse or marish toward the east side, hasted foorth to be the
first that should giue the onset: but yet when they approched néere to
the enimies, the bishop commanded his people to staie till the third
battell, which the king led, might approach. But that valiant knight
the lord Rafe Basset of Draiton said to him: "My lord bishop, you may
go and say masse, which better becommeth you, than to teach vs what
we haue to doo, for we will doo that which belongeth to the order and
custome of warre."
[Sidenote: The Scotish horssemen flée.]
[Sidenote: Their archers slaine.]
[Sidenote: These Scotish spearemen were of Gallowaie as _Euersden_
saith.]
Herewith they hasted foorth on that side to charge the first schiltron
of the Scots, and the earles with their battell on the otherside, and
euen vpon the first brunt the Scotish horssemen fled, a few onelie
excepted, which staied to kéepe the footmen in order. And amongst other
was the brother of the lord steward of Scotland, who as he was about
to set in order the bowmen of Selkirke, by chance was vnhorssed, and
slaine there amongst the same bowmen, and manie a tall mans bodie with
him. The Scotish archers thus being slaine, the Englishmen assailed
the spearemen; but kéeping themselues close togither, and standing
at defense with their speares like a thicke wood, they kept out the
English horssemen for a while, & fought manfullie, though they were
sore beaten with shot of arrowes by the English archers on foot: &
so at length galled with shot; and assailed by the horssemen on ech
side, they begun to disorder and shrinke from one side to another, and
herewith the horssemen brake in amongst them, and so they were slaine
and beaten downe in maner all the whole number of them.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith fourtie thousand.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The towne of S. Andrews.]
[Sidenote: The castell of Aire.]
Some saie there died of the Scots that daie (being the two & twentith
of Iulie, and the feast of Marie Magdalene) aboue twentie thousand.
Other write that there were slaine at the least to the number of 15
thousand. The Scotish writers alledge that this battell was lost by
treason of the Comins and other, as in the Scotish historie ye may more
plainlie perceiue, with more matter touching the same battell: after
this was the towne of saint Andrews destroied, no man being within
to make resistance. And from thence the English armie came through
Selkirke forrest vnto the castell of Aire, which they found void:
and after they came by the towne of Annan, and tooke the castell of
Lochmaben, and so returned into England by the west marches, and came
to Carleill.
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: Irish lords. The Ile of Araine.]
[Sidenote: Tomas Biset requireth the Ile of Araine.]
[Sidenote: The euill opinion of the earles Marshall & Hereford towards
the king.]
About the same time certeine Irish lords, and amongst other as chéefe,
one Thomas Biset landed in the Ile of Araine, the inhabitants whereof
yéelded themselues vnto the same Thomas, who (as was iudged) meant to
haue aided the Scots: but now hearing of the victorie which king Edward
had gotten in a pight field, he sent vnto him to giue him to vnderstand
that he was come in his aid, & had woon the said Ile of Araine, and
therfore besought him that it might please him to grant it vnto him and
his heires for euer. Which request the king granted: whereof when the
earles Marshall and Hereford were aduertised, they thought this a rash
part of the king, considering that he had promised to doo nothing anew
without their consents and counsell.
[Sidenote: The kings liberalitie towards his nobles.]
Therefore the king being (as ye haue heard) returned to Carleill, they
got licence to depart home with their people, leauing the king still
at Carleill, where he remained a time, and held a parlement there, in
the which he granted vnto manie of his nobles, the lands and liuings
of diuers noble men of the Scots, as to the earles earledomes, to the
barons baronies; but Gallowaie and Annandale, with certeine other
counties, he assigned to none, reseruing the same (as was thought) vnto
the foresaid two earles, least they should thinke themselues euill
dealt with, if they had no part bestowed on them amongst the residue.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 27.]
[Sidenote: Cotingham.]
[Sidenote: 1299.]
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The lords call vpon the king to performe promise.]
[Sidenote: His answer.]
[Sidenote: The addition put in the c[=o]clusion of the articles.]
The king after this went to Durham, and from thence thought to haue
returned streight towards London, but hearing that the Scots meant
to make some inuasion, he went to Tinmouth, and remained there till
towards Christmasse. Now when the king had laine a certeine time at
Tinmouth, he departed from thence, and drew southward, and comming to
Cotingham, a little from Beuerlie, held his Christmasse there, and
after drew towards London, where in the beginning of Lent, he held
a parlement, at the which he was required to kéepe promise for the
confirmation of the two charters and articles concluded with the earles
of Hereford and Marshall. The king was nothing contented that this
matter should be so earnestlie called vpon, for loth he was to grant
their full requests; and againe to denie them, he stood in doubt how
it might be taken: he therefore prolonged time, & would make no answer
either to or fro. But when the lords vrged him so sore to giue them
answer, he got him out of the citie, not making them priuie of his
departure, and when they followed him, and séemed not well contented
that he should so dissemble with them, he excused himselfe by blaming
the aire of the citie to be against his health, and therefore bare
them in hand, that he onelie sought to refresh himselfe in some better
aire in the countrie more agréeable to his nature: and as for answer
to their requests, he willed them to repaire againe to the citie, and
they should haue answer by his councell, so farre as should stand
with reason to content them. They returned as he willed them, and had
the charters confirmed according to their requests, sauing that this
addition was put in the latter end of the same, Saluo iure coronæ
nostræ. With which addition the lords were offended, and turned home to
their houses in as great displéeasure towards the king as before.
[Sidenote: The articles red in Paules churchyard.]
The councell doubting some seditious stir to arise hereof amongst the
people, deliuered the charters (so sealed and signed as they were) vnto
the shiriffes of London, that the same might be read openlie before the
people, which was doone in Paules churchyard in presence of a great
assemblie there, come togither and gathered for that purpose. The
people (than whom the sea in ebbing and flowing is not more inconstant,
nor in iudgment more rash, heddie, sudden, and vnaduised, as one saith
verie well, and to purpose,
Iudicium vulgi insulsum, imbecilláque mens est,
Quandoquidem inuisa est vulgo sapientia, &c.)
[Sidenote: The perambulations of forrests.]
at the first before they heard the addition, gaue manie blessings to
the king for those grants: but when they heard with what words he
concluded, they cursed as fast as before they had blessed. Before
this parlement was dissolued, the lords had warning to returne againe
shortlie after Easter, and then they had all things granted and
performed as they could wish or desire. The perambulations of forrestes
were appointed vnto thrée bishops, thrée earles, and thrée barons.
[Sidenote: A bishop sent from the pope.]
About the latter end of Iune there came ouer a bishop sent from pope
Boniface as his Nuncio, and diuerse other with him, to declare the
order which the pope as arbitrator indifferentlie chosen betwixt the
kings of England and France, for the deciding of all controuersies
depending betwixt them, had giuen foorth & decréed, which was in effect
as followeth.
[Sidenote: The popes decrée of peace betwixt the kings of England &
France.]
1 First that king Edward being then a widdower should marrie the
French kings sister named Margaret, notwithstanding the degrées of
consanguinitie, for the which the pope would dispense.
2 That the lord Edward the kings eldest sonne should at conuenient time
take to wife the ladie Isabell the French kings daughter.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The popes request for the releasing to libertie of Iohn
Balioll.]
3 That the king of England should make satisfaction for the French
ships which his men had taken at the beginning of the war, and that
sundrie townes in Gascoine should be put into the popes hands, till it
might be vnderstood vnto whome the right apperteined. But those two
last articles tooke small effect, the French king refusing to deliuer
any of those townes which he had gotten in possession. Moreouer, these
messengers in the popes behalfe required the king that he would set
Iohn Balioll, sometime king of Scotland at libertie, and restore those
lands vnto his sonne Edward Balioll, which he ought to hold within the
realme of England, promising and vndertaking in the popes behalfe to
preserue and saue the realme harmelesse from all hurt and damage that
might insue by the deliuerie of the said Iohn Balioll.
[Sidenote: Iohn Balioll deliuered out of prison at the popes suit.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: He departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The king marieth the Fr[=e]ch kings sister.]
[Sidenote: A parlement at Yorke.]
[Sidenote: The deceasse of the archbishop of Yorke.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 28.]
[Sidenote: 1300.]
King Edward vnderstanding that there was great danger in setting him at
libertie, was contented to deliuer him vnto the pope, but he refused to
make restitution vnto Balioll of the lands which he demanded. The popes
ambassadours receiuing Iohn Balioll at king Edwards hands, tooke him
ouer with him into France, and there left him in the custodie of the
bishop of Cambrie, the popes deputie in that behalfe, where shortlie
after he died. After this, according to the couenants of agréement
made betwixt the two kings of England and France, the captiues vpon
either part were deliuered. In the feast of the natiuitie of our
Ladie, the king married the ladie Margaret sister to the French king
at Canturburie with great solemnitie. About the feast of S. Martine in
winter the king held a parlement at Yorke, meaning to haue gone from
thence into Scotland, to haue rescued the castell of Striueling, which
the Scotishmen had besieged, and had it surrendred vnto them, yer the
king could set forward to come to raise the siege. The same yeare died
Henrie Newarke archbishop of Yorke, and Thomas Corbridge a doctour in
diuinitie succéeded him.
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: A proclamation for monie.]
In the eight and twentith yeare of his reigne, in the Christmasse
season king Edward set foorth a proclamation, forbidding and
prohibiting all forren coins to be receiued and paid as sterling monie
within his dominion, commanding by the same proclamation, that two
péeces of them should go for one sterling, vntill the feast of Easter.
There were diuerse monies in those daies currant within this realme,
as pollards, crocards, staldings, eagles, leonines, sléepings, and all
these were white monies, artificiallie made of siluer, copper, and
sulphur, so that it was an ill time for base monies, & much chopping
and changing was vsed in buieng and selling of things.
[Sidenote: Forren monies forbidden to go as currant.]
At Easter following the king vtterlie forbad that any of those monies
should be currant at all, and held his exchange in sundrie places, and
to be rid of them, men gaue fiue or six of them for one sterling, not
caring for them, bicause of their basenesse, and yet within a yeare
after that men had learned the skill by proofe how to trie mettall
with melted lead in the fire, they found that two péeces of those
base monies were in value worth one sterling, and many became rich by
the exchange, which had bought good store of them, when they were so
smallie estéemed: but the king caused inquirie to be made of them that
vsed such exchange without his licence, and put them to their fines.
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The king goeth with an armie into Scotland.]
[Sidenote: Thomas of Brotherton borne the first of Iune.]
At a parlement holden at London in Lent this yeare, the king renewed
the confirmation of the charters, and made certeine new statutes
concerning fines and goale deliueries, verie profitable to the
commonwealth. About the feast of saint Iohn Baptist, king Edward went
with an armie into Scotland, and there granted a truce to the Scots
that inhabited the mounteine countries to indure for eleuen moneths,
that is to saie, till Whitsuntide next insuing. As the king was vpon
his iournie forewards in the north parts, his late married wife quéene
Margaret was deliuered of hir first sonne at Brotherton, a place in
Yorkeshire not farre from Pontfret; he was named Thomas, and tooke the
surname of Brotherton, of the place where he was borne.
Moreouer pope Boniface at the sute of the Scots wrote his letters
vnto king Edward, commanding him by the same and by the archbishop of
Canturburie, whome he appointed to deliuer the same letters by other
letters to him directed, that he should not onelie release and set at
libertie all such Scots as he had in prison, but also giue ouer his
warres which he made against the realme of Scotland: and if he meant
to make anie claime to the same, then to send his procurators vnto the
court of Rome, and there to shew what euidence he could for his right
thereto, where the mater (as he mainteined) was to be heard, decided,
and iudged; and not elsewhere. The archbishop, according to the popes
commandement, did the message, and presented the popes letters vnto
the king, who deferred the answer vnto the assemblie of the estates in
parlement, and hereof the archbishop aduertised the pope accordinglie,
as in the letters to him directed he was commanded; which he durst
not but satisfie, bicause he was persuaded the popes authoritie to
haue béene so ample and peremptorie, that there was no resisting or
gainesaieng of him, sith,
[Sidenote: _Antith. Christ. & Antichrist. pag. 24._]
Vt medijs ludunt in aquis immania coete,
Et patulo pisces quoslibet ore vorant:
Sic tenet imperium mortales inter, & omnes
Diripit, illicita subdit & arte duces,
Omnibus insultans, sic subijcit impius orbem,
Implicat atque suo regia colla iugo.
[Sidenote: _Euersden._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 29.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: _Croxden._]
[Sidenote: 1301.]
This yeare also on saint Remigius daie, which is the first of October,
died Edmund earle of Cornewall, the sonne of earle Richard, that was
also king of Almaine; and bicause he left no issue behind him to
inherit that earledome, the same returned to the crowne. In the 29
yeare of king Edwards reigne, on saint Oswalds day, or (as some haue
written) the friday after the feast of Peter Ad Vincula, his wife
quéene Margaret was deliuered of hir second sonne that had to name
Edmund of Woodstoke, surnamed so of the place where he was borne. ¶ The
king also this yeare after Christmasse held a parlement at Lincolne, to
the which the earls and barons of the realme came in armour, to the end
(as it is said) that they might procure of the king the more spéedie
execution of the charter of forrests, which by him had hitherto béene
delaied, but now that he perceiued their earnestnesse and importunate
suit, he condescended to their willes in all things.
[Sidenote: Pope Boniface prohibiteth the king of England further to vex
the Scots.]
Pope Boniface being sollicited by the instant suit of the Scotishmen,
and offended also that the lands in England, which belonged vnto Edward
Balioll sonne of Iohn Balioll, were not to the same Edward restored, he
eftsoones wrote to king Edward; forbidding him from thence foorth any
further to vex the Scots by wars, bicause that the kingdome of Scotland
was surrendred alreadie into his hands by the generall consent of the
Scotishmen themselues, and therefore was it in his power to bestow and
take away the same to whom or from whom soeuer it should please him.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
¶ There were reasons alledged why the king of England séemed to do
wrong in challenging as then the kingdome of Scotland: and amongst
other, one was, that such homage as had béene done of ancient time
to the kings of England, by the kings of the Scots, was onelie meant
for Tindale, Penreth, and such other lands as the Scotish kings held
within England, and not for the realme of Scotland. And whereas the
kings of Scotland had aided the kings of England in their warres
against the rebels of the realme of England, and béene present at
their coronation, the same was doone of speciall fauour, and not
of dutie. K. Edward hauing receiued the popes prescript, and well
considered the whole contents therof, sent in writing his answer at
large, proouing by euident reasons that the right of proprietie in the
kingdome of Scotland, did most iustlie apperteine vnto him, and that
the allegations were not true, but forged, which had béene by surmised
information presented against him.
Beside the kings letters, which he wrote in his owne behalfe, there was
an other letter deuised and written by all the lords temporall of the
land, assembled in parlement at Lincolne, in which letter they answered
in name of all the estates there gathered, vnto that point wherein
the pope pretended a right to be iudge for the title of the realme of
Scotland, protesting flatlie, that they would not consent that their
king should doo any thing that might tend to the disheriting of the
right of the crowne of England, and plaine ouerthrow of the state of
the same realme, and also hurt of the liberties, customs, and lawes of
their fathers, sith it was neuer knowne, that the kings of this land
had answered or ought to answer for their rights in the same realme,
afore any iudge ecclesiasticall or secular.
The tenour of the foresaid letter indited and directed to pope Boniface.
[Sidenote: Hastings I take it.]
[Sidenote: Whiteminster I thinke.]
[Sidenote: Thus far out of M. Parkins of the inner temple.]
To our most holie father in Christ, Boniface by Gods prouidence high
bishop of the Holie Romane and vniuersall church, his deuout sonnes
Iohn earle Warren, Thomas erle of Lancaster, Rafe de Monthermer
earle of Glocester and Hereford, Humfrey de Bohun earle of Hertford
and Essex and constable of England, Roger Bigod earle of Norfolke,
and mareschall of England, Guie earle of Warwike, Richard earle of
Arundell, Adomare de Valence lord of Monterney, Henrie de Lancaster
lord of Monmouth, Iohn de Hastings lord of Bergeuennie, Henrie de
Percie lord of Topclife, Edmund de Mortimer lord of Wigmor, Robert
Fitz Walter lord of Wodham, Iohn de S. Iohn lord of Hannake, Hugh de
Véer lord of Swanestampe, William de Breuse lord of Gower, Robert
de Monthault lord of Hawarden, Robert de Tateshall lord of Wokeham,
Reignold de Grey lord of Ruthin, Henrie de Grey lord of Coduore, Hugh
Bardolfe lord of Wormegaie, Robert de Clifford chatellaine of Appelbie,
Peter de Malowe lord of Mulgréene, Philip lord of Kime, Robert Fitz
Roger lord of Clauerings, Iohn de Mohun lord of Dunester, Almerike de
S. Amound lord of Widehaie, William de Ferrers lord of Grobie, Alane
de Zouche lord of Ashbie, Theobald de Verdon lord of Webbeley, Thomas
de Furniuall lord of Schefield, Thomas de Multon lord of Egremont,
William Latimer lord of Torbie, Thomas lord Berkley, Foulke Fitz
Warren lord of Mitingham, Iohn lord Segraue, Edmund de Eincourt lord
of Thurgerton, Peter Corbet lord of Caus, William de Cantelowe lord of
Rauensthorpe, Iohn de Beauchampe lord of Hacche, Roger de Mortimer lord
of Penkethlin, Iohn Fitz Reignold lord of Blenleueny, Rafe de Neuill
lord of Rabie, Brian Fitz Alane lord of Bedale, William Marshall lord
of Hengham, Walter lord Huntercombe, William Martin lord of Cameis,
Henrie de Thies lord of Chilton, Roger le Ware lord of Isefield, Iohn
de Riuers lord of Augre, Iohn de Lancaster lord of Grisedale, Robert
Fitz Paine lord of Lainnier, Henrie Tregoz lord of Garinges, Robert
Hipard lord of Lomford, Walter lord Fancomberge, Roger le Strange lord
of Ellesmer, Iohn le Strange lord of Cnokin, Thomas de Chances lord of
Norton, Walter de Beauchampe lord of Alecester, Richard Talbot lord
of Eccleswell, Iohn Butetourt lord of Mendesham, Iohn Engain lord of
Colum, Hugh de Poinz lord of Corneualet, Adam L. of Wels, Simon L.
Montacute, Iohn L. Sulle, Iohn de Melles or Moelles L. of Candeburie,
Edmund baron Stafford, Iohn Louell lord of Hackings, Edmund de N.
lord of Elchunhonokes, Rafe Fitz William L. of Grimthorpe, Robert de
Scales lord of Neusels, William Tuchet lord of Lewenhales, Iohn Abadan
lord of Deuerston, Iohn de Hauerings lord of Grafton, Robert la Ward
lord of Whitehall, Nicholas de Segraue lord of Stow, Walter de Tey
L. of Stongraue, Iohn de Lisle lord of Wodton, Eustace lord Hacche,
Gilbert Peche L. of Corbie, William Painell lord Trachington, Rog de
Albo monasterio, Foulke le Strange lord of Corsham, Henrie de Pinkenie
lord of Wedon, Iohn de Hodeleston lord of Aneis, Iohn de Huntingfield
lord of Bradenham, Hugh Fitz Henrie lord of Raueneswath, Iohn le
Breton lord of Sporle, Nicholas de Carrie lord of Mulesford, Thomas
lord de la Roche, Wal. de Muncie lord of Thornton, Iohn Fitz Marmaduke
lord of Horden, Iohn lord of Kingston, Robert Hastings the father
lord of Chebessey, Rafe lord Grendon, William lord of Leiborne, Iohn
de Greistocke lord of Morpath, Matthew Fitz Iohn lord of Stokenham,
Nicholas de Neuell lord of Wherlton and Iohn Painell lord of Ateli,
with all humble submission.
[Sidenote: Out of maister Fox, pag. 427.]
The holie mother church, by whose ministerie the catholike sée is
gouerned, in hir déeds (as we throughlie beléeue and hold) procéedeth
with that ripenesse in iudgement, that she will be hurtfull to none,
but like a mother would euerie mans right be kept vnbroken, aswell in
another, as in hir selfe. Whereas therfore in a generall parlement
called at Lincolne of late, by our most dread lord Edward by the grace
of God the noble king of England; the same our lord caused certeine
letters receiued from you to be read openlie, and to be declared
seriouslie afore vs, about certeine businesse touching the condition
and state of the realme of Scotland; we did not a little muse and
maruell with our selues, hearing the meanings concerning the same, so
wondrous and strange as the like we haue not heard at any time before.
For we know most holie father, and it is well knowne aswell within this
realme of England (as also not vnknowne to other persons besides) that
from the first beginning of the realme of England, the certeine and
direct gouernment of the realme of Scotland in all temporall causes
from time to time belonged to the kings of the same relme of England
and relme of Scotland, aswell in the times both of the Britains as also
Englishmen, yea rather the same realme of Scotland of old time was in
fée to the ancestours of our foresaid lords kings of England, yea and
to himselfe.