of Scotland, the nine & twentith day of Ianuarie, slue the lord Iohn
Comin at Dunfrice, whilest the kings iustices were sitting in iudgement
within the castell there, and vpon the day of the Annunciation of our
ladie, caused himselfe to be crowned king of Scotland at Scone, where
the countesse of Boughan, that was secretlie departed from hir husband
the earle of Boughan, and had taken with hir all his great horsses, was
readie to set the crowne vpon R. Bruces head, in absence of hir brother
the earle of Fife, to whom (being in England) soiourning at his manor
of Whitwike in Leicestershire, that office of right apperteined. This
countesse being afterwards taken the same yeare by the Englishmen,
where other would haue had hir put to death, the king would not grant
thervnto, but commanded that she should be put in a cage made of wood,
which was set vpon the walles of the castell of Berwike, that all such
as passed by might behold hir; too slender a punishment for so great an
offense. But the king counted it no honour to be seuere against that
sex whom nature tendereth, though malefactors, and therfore was content
with a mild correction tending rather to some shame than smart, to
recompense hir offense, whereby she procured against hir selfe no lesse
reproch than she susteined, agréeable to the old saieng,
Sæpe suum proprium fecit puer ipse flagellum.
[Sidenote: An armie sent into Scotland.]
[Sidenote: Prince Edward made knight.]
[Sidenote: Thrée hundred saith _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: Prince Edward sent into Scotland.]
There were present at his coronation foure bishops, fiue earles, and
a great multitude of people of the land. Immediatlie vpon the newes
brought to the king of Bruces coronation, he sent foorth a power of
men, vnder the conduct of the earle of Penbroke, and of the lord
Henrie Percie, the lord Robert Clifford, and others, to resist the
attempts of the Scots, now readie to worke some mischéefe, through
the incouragement of the new king. Edward prince of Wales was made
knight this yeare at London vpon Witsundaie, & a great number of other
yoong bachelers with him (297 as Abington writeth) the which were sent
streightwaies with the said prince towards Scotland, to ioine with the
earle of Penbroke, to resist the attempts of the new king Robert le
Bruce and his complices. King Edward himselfe followed. The generall
assemblie of the armie was appointed at Carleill, fiftéene daies after
the Natiuitie of saint Iohn Baptist, from thence to march foorth vnder
the guiding of the prince into Scotland.
[Sidenote: Robert Bruce.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: It was the next sundaie after midsummer daie.]
[Sidenote: Rob. Bruce put to flight by the earle of Penbroke.]
In the meane time, Robert le Bruce went abroad in the countries of
Scotland, receiued the homages of manie Scotishmen, and got togither an
armie of men, with the which he approched néere to saint Iohns towne,
into the which the earle of Penbroke was a little before entred to
defend it, with thrée hundred men of armes, beside footmen. Then R.
Bruce sent to the earle to come out and giue battell, the earle sent
vnto him word againe, that he would not fight that daie being sundaie,
but vpon the next morow he would satisfie his request. Robert Bruce
herevpon withdrew a mile backe from the towne, determining to rest
himselfe and his people that night. About euening tide came the earle
foorth of the towne with his people in order of battell, and assailing
his enimies vpon a sudden, slue diuerse yer they could get their
armour on their backs. Robert Bruce and others that had some space to
arme themselues made some resistance for a while, but at length the
Englishmen put them to the worsse, so that they were constreined to
flée.
[Sidenote: Rob. Bruce fled into Kentire.]
[Sidenote: His wife and brother are taken.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Atholl taken.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
The earle following the chase, pursued them euen into Kentire, not
resting till he vnderstood that a great number of them were gotten
into a castell, which he besieged, in hope to haue found Robert Bruce
within it, but he was fled further into the countrie. Howbeit, his wife
and his brother Nigell or Neall, with diuerse other were taken in this
castell, and sent in safetie vnto Berwike. Also shortlie after, the
earle of Atholl was taken, being fled out of the same castell. ¶ But
some write, that this earle was taken in the battell last remembred,
after long fight and great slaughter of Scots, to the number of seuen
thousand, and also that in the chase, the lord Simon de Friseill was
taken, with the bishops of saint Andrews and Glasco, the abbat of
Scone, and the said earle of Atholl, named sir Iohn Chambres. The
bishops and abbat, king Edward sent vnto pope Innocent, with report of
their periurie: but others write, that the foresaid bishops and abbat
being taken indéed the same yeare, were brought into England, and there
kept as prisoners within sundrie castels.
[Sidenote: Bruces wife whose daughter she was.]
[Sidenote: The saieng of Robert Bruces wife.]
The wife of Robert le Bruce being daughter to the earle of Vlster, was
sent vnto the manour of Brustwike, and there honorablie vsed, hauing
a conuenient number of seruants appointed to wait on hir. The earle
of Vlster hir father, in the beginning of these last wars, sent vnto
king Edward two of his owne sonnes to remaine with him, in such wise
as he should thinke conuenient, to assure himselfe of him, that he
would attempt nothing against the English subjects. Also it was said,
that the ladie hirselfe, the same daie hir husband and she should be
crowned, said, that she feared they should proue but as a summer king
and quéene, such as in countrie townes the yoong folks choose for sport
to danse about maipoles. For these causes was she the more courteouslie
vsed at the kings hands, as reason no lesse required.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: Methfen.]
[Sidenote: The castell of Lochdore taken, and Christopher Seiton within
it.]
It should appeare by Robert Fabian, that the king was present himselfe
at this battell: but other affirme, that prince Edward was there
as generall and not his father, and that the battell was fought at
Dunchell vpon the riuer of Tay. But neither the Scotish chronicles nor
Nicholas Triuet (whom in the historie of this king Edward the first, we
haue most followed) make any mention, that either the king or prince
should be at the foresaid battell, but that the earle of Penbroke with
Robert lord Clifford, and Henrie lord Percie were sent before (as ye
haue alreadie heard) with an armie, by whome as appeareth this victorie
was obteined, at a place called Methfen. After this was the castell of
Lochdore taken, and within it Christopher Seiton, that had married the
sister of Robert le Bruce; and bicause he was no Scot but an Englishman
borne, the king commanded that he should be led vnto Dunfrise, where he
had killed one of the kings knights, and there to be hanged, drawen and
quartered.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: He is executed.]
[Sidenote: His lands giuen awaie by the king.]
[Sidenote: The lands of Rob. Bruce giuen awaie.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Hereford.]
[Sidenote: Lord Clifford.]
[Sidenote: The lord H[=e]rie Percie.]
[Sidenote: Rafe de M[=o]thermer.]
The wife of this Christopher Seiton, he appointed to be kept in the
monasterie of Thixell in Lindsey; and the daughter of Robert le Bruce,
which was also taken about the same time, was sent to the monasterie of
Waiton. Moreouer, the manour of Seiton in Whitebestroud he gaue vnto
the lord Edmund de Mauley, and those other lands that belonged vnto the
said Christopher Seiton in Northumberland he gaue vnto the lord William
Latimer. The lands that belonged to the new Scotish king he bestowed
in this wise, to Henrie Bohun earle of Hereford, which had married one
of king Edwards daughters, he gaue the lordships of Annandale; Hert &
Hertnes he gaue vnto the lord Robert Clifford, sauing alwaies the right
yet that belonged to the church of Durham, Totenham, and Totenhamshire;
and the maner of Wrothell in the south parts he gaue to other noble
men; and the earledome of Carrike which R. Bruce had holden, as by
inheritance from his mother, the king gaue to the lord Henrie Percie,
the earledome of Atholl he gaue to Rafe de Monthermer earle of
Glocester, who had also married (as before yée haue heard) an other of
the kings daughters, after the decesse of hir first husband Gilbert de
Clare earle of Glocester.
[Sidenote: The L. Percie put to flight by the Scotish king Bruce.]
[Sidenote: Nigell or Neall Bruce condemned and executed.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Atholl executed.]
About the feast of saint Michaell, the new Scotish king Robert le Bruce
returned foorth of the Iles (into the which he had fled) with manie
Irishmen and Scots in his companie, and remained a certeine time in
Kentire, he sent certeine of his officers, to leuie and gather vp the
rents of the fermes due at the feast of saint Martine for such lands
and possessions as they held in that countrie, wherof the lord Percie
being aduertised, hasted thither; but the new king comming vpon him,
slue certeine of his men, tooke his horsses and plate, with other
things, and droue him into a castell, within the which he besieged him,
till at length by a power sent from king Edward, Bruce was constreined
to depart. The king in this meane time was come to Lauercost néere
to Carleill, and there remained a long time. From thence he sent his
iustices vnto Berwike, where they sate in iudgement vpon Nigell Bruce,
and the other prisoners taken with him, which were condemned to die,
and so they were hanged, drawen and quartered. The earle of Atholl was
conueied to London, and although he sued for pardon in respect of that
he was of kin to the king, yet was he hanged vpon a gibbet higher than
all the residue, his bodie burned vnder the same gibbet, and his head
first cut off, was set vpon a pole ouer London bridge for example sake
that traitors should looke for no pardon.
[Sidenote: The summes of monie which the pope had of the archbish. of
Yorke.]
The elect archbishop of Yorke William Gréenefield was confirmed this
yeare by pope Clement the fift, at the citie of Lions in France, where
the same pope was crowned about the same time, and held his court
there, liuing chéeflie by the monie which he got of bishops that came
to him for their confirmations: he had of the said archbishop of Yorke
within one yeare, nine thousand and 500 markes, besides the expenses
which he was at whilest he laie there, and so when this archbishop was
returned into England, through pouertie he was driuen to gather monie
of the persons, préests, and religious men within his prouince at
two sundrie times in one yeare, as first, in name of a courtesie and
gratious beneuolence, and the second time by waie of an aid.
[Sidenote: The great reuenues of Anthonie B. of Durham.]
Moreouer, pope Clement ordeined Anthonie bishop of Durham, patriarch of
Ierusalem, dispensing with him, so as he held still the bishoprike of
Durham, notwithstanding his other promotion; and this was, bicause the
bishop was rich, and the pope poore. For this bishop might dispend in
yearelie reuenues by purchases & inheritances, besides that belonged
to his miter, aboue fiue thousand marks, and he gaue great rewards to
the pope, and to his cardinals, by means whereof he obteined in suit
against the prior of Durham, so that he had the charge and ouersight
of the monasterie of Durham, both the spirituall gouernement and
temporall, through informing the pope, that the prior was not able in
discretion to rule the house. At his returning home, he caused a crosse
of siluer and gilt, adorned with an image of the crucifix, to be borne
afore him.
[Sidenote: He is kept out of the abbeie at Durham.]
[Sidenote: He is summoned to appéere before the K. and refuseth.]
But where he appointed certeine persons as his deputies to enter into
the priorie of Durham, and to take charge thereof in place of the
prior, the moonks shut the gates against them, appealing to the pope,
and pretending the kings protection, which they had purchased. But
those that thus came in the bishops name, accursed the moonks, & so
departed. The king héerewith was highlie offended, so that he caused
them to answer the matter afore the iustices of his bench, and for
their presumption in pronouncing the cursse, without making the king
priuie to their dooings, they were put to their fines. And whereas the
bishop was summoned to appeare before the king in person at a certeine
daie, he made default, and departing out of the realme, got backe
againe to the pope, contrarie to the kings prohibition: wherevpon the
liberties of the sée of Durham were seized into the kings hands, and
the king placed his iustices and chancellor there, and in the yeare
next insuing, he exacted of the tenants of the archbishoprike, the
thirtéenth penie of their goods, and otherwise vexed them with sundrie
talages.
[Sidenote: The conclusion of the strife betwixt the bishop and moonks
of Durham.]
[Sidenote: Bernards castell giuen to the earle of Warwike.]
The conclusion of this matter was this, that the prior was cited by
the pope, to appeare at his consistorie, whither he went, hauing the
kings letters in his fauour directed to the pope; wherevpon, when the
pope had examined the matter, and heard the prior speake in his owne
person, he perceiued him to be otherwise than he was informed (a sober
and discréet man) and therefore restored him againe to the gouernment
of his house; but he remained in the popes court, till after the kings
death, and finallie died there himselfe in the yeare 1307. But now to
returne to other dooings of king Edward. We find, that whilest he lay
still at Lauercost, he gaue to the earle of Warwike Bernards castell,
the which he had by escheat, through forfeiture thereof made by Iohn
Balioll late king of Scotland. He also tooke and seized into his hands
Penreth with the appurtenances.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 35.]
[Sidenote: 1307.]
[Sidenote: A parlement at Carleill. William Testa the popes chapleine
inhibited to leuie monie.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
In the octaues of S. Hilarie, the king held a parlement at Carleill,
in the which, by the péeres of the realme, great complaint was made of
the oppressions doone to churches, abbeies, and monasteries, by reason
of paiments latelie raised and taxed by one maister William or Guilelmo
Testa the popes chapleine. Commandement therefore was giuen to the
same chapleine, that from thencefoorth he should not leauie anie such
paiments; and for further remedie, messengers were made foorth vnto
the pope, to declare vnto him the inconuenience thereof. This Testa
was sent from pope Clement into England with bulles, in the contents
whereof it appeared, that the pope had reserued to himselfe the first
fruits of one yeares reuenues of euerie benefice that fell void by
anie manner of meanes within the realme of England, Scotland, Wales,
and Ireland, and likewise of all abbeies, priories, and monasteries;
so that it may well be said of him & his retinue, according to the
processe of all their actions, as it was said of old,
Curia Romana non quærit ouem sine lana.
But the king and lords of the land thought it against reason, that
the pope should take and receiue the profits of those abbeies and
monasteries, which had béene founded by their predecessors for
the seruice of God, and the maintenance of almesdéeds, and good
hospitalitie to be kept: and so the pope changed his purpose, touching
abbeies, but granting to the K. the tenth of the English churches
for two yéers, he obteined the first fruits of the same churches for
himselfe, as before he required. In the same parlement were statutes
made concerning religious men, which had their head and chéefest houses
in forren regions.
[Sidenote: A statute against the religious persons.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: Petrus Hispanus a cardinall sent fr[=o] the pope.]
[Sidenote: The cause of his comming.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: His demand of monie of religious houses.]
[Sidenote: The cardinall preacheth.]
[Sidenote: He accursed Rob. Bruce.]
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
There came also at the same time, a cardinall from the pope, named
Petrus Hispanus to procure the consummation of the mariage, betwixt
the prince of Wales, and the French kings daughter; for the same was
delaied, by reason that all couenants were not kept on the French kings
behalfe, touching the deliuerie of the townes in Gascoine. For whereas
in times past, the French king had giuen one of those townes that
were taken from the Englishmen, named Mauleon, vnto a French knight;
he kept the same still, and would not deliuer it now at the French
kings commandement, where-through (as was said) the marriage had béene
hitherto deferred. The same cardinall by vertue of his bull, would
haue had of euerie cathedrall church, colledge, abbeie, and priorie,
twelue marks of sterling monie; and of euerie person of parish churches
eight pence of euerie marke of his reuenues. But the English cleargie
appealed from this exaction, so that by the king and his councell it
was ordeined, that he should haue no more than in times past cardinall
Othobon did receiue, that is to saie, the halfe of his demand.
Moreouer, this cardinall being at Carleill, and hauing made a sermon in
praise of peace, vpon the conclusion of marriage betwixt the prince of
Wales and the French kings daughter, in the end he reuested himselfe
and the other bishops which were present, and then with candels light,
and causing the bels to be roong, they accursed in terrible wise Robert
Bruce the vsurper of the crowne of Scotland, with all his partakers,
aiders and mainteiners.
[Sidenote: Thomas Bruce and Alexander Bruce taken.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: Tho. Bruce executed. Alexander Bruce & Reginald Crawford
executed.]
Neuerthelesse, Robert Bruce in this meane while slept not his
businesse, but ranging abroad in the countrie, slue manie that would
not obeie him, and sent foorth his two brethren, Thomas that was a
knight, and Alexander that was a préest, with part of his armie into an
other quarter of the countrie, to allure the people vnto his obedience,
partlie with gentlenesse, and partlie with menaces. But the Englishmen
came vpon them in the night and tooke them both, so that being brought
before the iustices they were condemned, and therevpon hanged, drawen
and quartered. ¶ Some write, that Duncan Magdoill, a man of great
power in Galloway, tooke these two brethren prisoners, togither
with Reginald Crawford, (being the principall) on the ninth daie of
Februarie, as they with certeine other capteins and men of war came by
sea, and landed in his countrie, vpon whome being seuen hundred men,
he with thrée hundred or few aboue that number boldlie gaue the onset,
and not onelie tooke the said thrée persons prisoners, sore wounded
as they were, with diuerse other, but also slue Malcolme Makaile a
lord of Kentire, and two Irish lords, whose heads, and the foresaid
prisoners, he presented vnto king Edward, who caused Thomas Bruce to
be hanged, drawen and quartered, but the other two were onelie hanged
and quartered at Carleill, where their heads were set vp aloft on the
castell and gates of the citie.
[Sidenote: The earle of Penbroke put to flight. Bruce besiegeth the
earle of Glocester. He is chased fr[=o] that siege.]
After Easter their brother Robert Bruce, calling himselfe king of
Scotland, and hauing now augmented his armie with manie souldiers of
the out Iles, fought with the earle of Penbroke and put him to flight,
and slue some of his men though not manie. Within a few daies after,
he chased also the earle of Glocester, into the castell of Aire, and
besieged him within the same, till an armie was sent from king Edward
to the rescue: for then the said Robert was constreined to flée, and
the Englishmen followed, till he got into the woods and marishes, where
they might come néere him without manifest danger, to cast themselues
awaie. ¶ The king of England, minding to make a full conquest of the
Scots, and not to leaue off vntill he had wholie subdued them, sent his
commissions into England, commanding all those that owght him seruice,
to be redie at Careleill within thrée wéekes after Midsummer. He sent
his sonne Edward into England, that vpon knowledge had what the French
king did touching the agréement, he might accordinglie procéed in the
marriage to be made with his daughter.
[Sidenote: The death of K. Edward the first.]
[Sidenote: He is buried at Westminster. His issue.]
After the prince was departed from the campe, his father king Edward
was taken with sore sicknesse, yet he remooued from Carleill, where the
same sickness first tooke him, vnto Burrough vpon Sand, and there the
daie after being the seuenth daie of Iulie, he ended his life, after
he had reigned 34 yeares, six moneths and one and twentie daies. He
liued 68 yeares and twentie daies. His bodie was conueied to London,
and in the church of Westminster lieth buried. He had issue by his
first wife quéene Elianor, foure sons, Iohn, Henrie, Alfonse, & Edward
which succéeded him, the other died long before their father. Also
fiue daughters; Elianor, Ione, Margaret, and Elizabeth, were bestowed
in marriage as before in this booke is expressed: the fift named Marie
became a nunne. By his second wife quéene Margaret, he had two sonnes,
Thomas of Brotherton, and Edmund of Woodstoke, with one daughter named
Margaret after hir mother.
[Sidenote: His stature and forme of bodie.]
[Sidenote: His qualitie of mind.]
[Sidenote: He misliked the pride of prelats.]
He was tall of stature, somewhat blacke of colour, strong of bodie,
and leane, auoiding grosenesse, with continuall exercise, of comelie
fauour, and iettie eies, the which when he waxed angrie, would
suddenlie become reddish, and séeme as though they sparkled with fire.
The haire of his head was blacke and curled, he continued for the most
part in good health of bodie, and was of a stout stomach, which neuer
failed him in time of aduersitie. Moreouer, he had an excellent good
wit, for to whatsoeuer he applied his studie, he easilie atteined to
the vnderstanding thereof: wise he was and vertuous, an earnest enimie
of the high and presumptuous insolencie of préests, the which he iudged
to procéed chéeflie of too much wealth and riches: and therefore, he
deuised to establish the statute of Mortmaine, to be a bridle to their
inordinate lusts and riotous excesse. He built the abbeie of the vale
roiall in Cheshire, he was a constant fréend, but if he once tooke
displeasure or hatred against any person, he would not easilie receiue
him into fauour againe: whilest he had any vacant time from weightie
affaires, he spent lightlie the same in hunting.
[Sidenote: Siluer mines.]
[Sidenote: The same Wimondham also receiued 82 pounds, for 26 founders
of lead, out of the which the siluer was tried, as appeareth by his
accompts.]
Towards the maintenance of his warres and other charges, besides the
subsidies which he leuied of his people, and other reuenues comming
to his coffers, he had great helpe, by reason of the siluer mines
which in his daies were found in Deuonshire, and occupied greatlie to
his profit, as in the records remaining in the excheker, concerning
the accompts and allowances about the same it dooth and may appeare.
For in the accompts of master William de Wimondham, it is recorded,
that betwixt the twelfth daie of August, and the last of October, in
the 22 yeare of this king Edwards reigne, there was tried and fined
out at Martinestowe in Deuonshire by times, so much of fined siluer,
as amounted to the summe of 370 pounds weight, which being brought
to London, was there refined by certeine finers, that plate might be
forged thereof, for the ladie Elianor duches of Bar, and daughter to
the said king, married in the yeare then last past to the duke of Bar,
as before ye haue heard.
[Sidenote: Betwixt the 10 day of Iulie, and the 20 day of October the
same yeare.]