vnto him if by any good meanes a firme peace and amitie with England might bee obteined tooke occasiō now in the time of truce to send for the Bishop of Durham who was shortly after admitted by king Henry to repaire into Scotland Beeing come to the kings presence after much friendly speach hee made knowne vnto him his great desire to confirme a perfect peace and vnitie with England by takeing to wife the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to the king his Maister The Bishop willingly promised his best indeuour to bring the matter to passe which about three yeares after was effected accordingly not-with-standing that in the meane season Prince Arthur the kings eldest sonne deceasing Prince Henry his brother remained onely a barre betweene her and the Crowne True it is that this Ladye was affianced and by proxie contracted to the Scottish king while Prince Arthur yet liued about sixe weekes after his marriage with the Lady Katherine of Spaine Neuer-the-lesse if king Henry had beene disposed vpon his sonnes death to haue broken and auoyded the same it had beene no difficult point for him to haue preuailed so much with the Pope who not long after dispenced in a matter of greater offence with the marriage I meane of king Henry the eight with the said Lady Katherine his brothers wife It is reported by Morgan that when the king of Englands Councell began to fore-cast some perill in this match with Scotland his Maiestie vpon good aduise answered that although that thing should come to passe hereby which they seemed to stand in doubt of namely the intitling of king Iames and his posteritie to the Crowne of England hee so little distrusted that any inconuenience should insue thereof vnto this realme as that for his part he thought nothing could happen more gratious to both nations which by that meane should be vnited and made one Monarchie And further that Scotland being much inferior in quantitie and qualitie vnto England should bee therefore reputed and held but a dependence on it as Normandie was at the time of the Conquest And lastlie when that should come to passe hee that by this mariage should be heire to both kingdomes would in his stile of regalitie preferre England before the other This was the ninth time that since the conquest the Scottish Kings haue married with the English Nation and for the more part with the bloud royall from all which some issue hath sprung two onely excepted For first Malcolme Cammoire king of Scotland married Margaret sister to Edgar Atheling whose sonne king Dauid married Mawde the Daughter and heire of Waltheolfe Earle of Northumberland whose sonne Prince Henry maried a Daughter of Earle Warham whose sonne king William married the Lady Ermangard the daughter of Richard Vicount Beaumont who was sonne to a Daughter of William the Conquerour Alexander the second their sonne married the Lady Iane Sister to King Henrie the second but had no issue by her Alexander the third his sonne married Margaret Daughter to King Henry the third whose posteritie ended in Margaret their grand-child the heire of Norway After this Dauid Bruse whose great Grand-mother was Daughter to Hugh Bohume Earle of Chester and wife to Dauid brother to King William of Scotland maried Iane Sister to King Edward the second but hee dyed with-out issue where-vpon the crowne of Scotland descended vnto the Noble and ancient familie of the Stewards the third king whereof Iames the first maried the Lady Iane Daughter of Iohn Earle of Somerset which Iames was great Grand-father to this Iames who now last of all maried the eldest Daughter of this King Henry from whom Iames the sixt now King is lineally descended in the third degree both by Father and Mother Though in the meane time none of our Kings haue maried with Scotland saue onely King Henrie the first whereby the Crowne returned to the Saxon bloud as hath beene declared yet diuers of our Nobilitie haue matched in the bloud royall of Scotland Hereby it appeareth how much that Nation hath alwayes sought to strengthen it selfe by alliance with England though France hath of late so much preuailed that therein it hath beene preferred before vs but with no very good successe as the sequell declareth During the life of King Henry which was within two months of sixe yeares after this marriage no occasion of quarrell was offered on either part but all loue and kindnesse that might bee desired passed betweene the two Kings Neither did king Henry the eight that succeeded his Father giue his brother in lawe king Iames anie iust occasion to breake friendshippe with him but it seemeth the same wholy proceeded from the subtile practise of France our ancient enemie as many times before that Nation had done the like for it hath beene euer their policie to sowe dissention betweene England and Scotland to the end they might set the king of England on worke at home fearing hee would otherwise be too busie with them This Henrie hauing with great felicity raigned neere foure and twenty yeares leaft behinde him vnto his Sonne king Henrie the eight so assured and setled a kingdome and withall such aboundance of treasure as neuer any of his predecessours did the like before him He died in the yeare of our redemption 1509. In the third yeare of this last king Henries raigne it fell out that Lewis the French king made sharpe warre on Pope Iulius in Ittalie wherevpon thorough the solicitation of Maximilian the Emperour and Ferdinand king of Spaine whose Daughter king Henrie had married by dispensation from that martiall Prelate hee was easilie drawne to ioyne with them in the Popes behalfe King Iames hauing not long before receiued manie fauoures of the French King and amongst the rest two shippes fraught with gunnes speares and all other kinde of munition for warre a good preparatiue to the practise following was thereby made more inclinable to the French faction And for a further spurre therevnto diuerse of his clergie who had likewise tasted of the liberality of king Lewis sought all occasiones where-by to prick him forward in that course This could not be compassed till such time as they had first alienated him wholie from his former affection towards England To which end the Bishoppe of Murrey a priuie man of that faction was sent to King Henrie now well-nere after nine yeares silence to demand a certaine pretious vestement and rich attire which as was pretended was giuen to the Scottish Queene by her brother Prince Arthur at his death King Henry distrusting some subtilty herein to the end hee would preuent all occasion of vnkindnesse answered that the king his brother should not onely haue at his hands that which was dewe but else whatsoeuer he desired of him The Bishoppe with this answere which was better happelie then he either wished or exspected returned home But howsoeuer King Iames regarded the message this Bishoppe was forth-with sent into France and after him certaine shippes well
all to the sword that made resistance where leauing a garrison for the defence thereof the army returned home And for the better restraint of further molestation on that side the King caused the City and Castell of Carleil which had beene ruinated by the Danes about 200. yeares before to be reedified and peopled againe granting many priuiledges to the inhabitants which they enioy to this day King Malcolme being not a little discontented with the losse of Anwicke shortly after gathered a new powre laide siege to the towne wherat both he himselfe and Prince Edward his eldest sonne by one misfortune or other for the writers agree not on that point lost their liues the whole army put to flight This came to passe in the 36. yeare of King Malcolme his raigne and in the sixt of King William Rufus 1093. Anno. 1093. Though this Malcome had in his time much disturbed the English nation by sundrie harmefull inuasions neuerthelesse by the meanes of his foresaid mariage with the sister of Edgar Atheling the realme of England became of an open and professed enemie an assured friend yea euen a very sanctuarie to his poore Orphaine children for their vncle Edgar a man of great sanctimonie and fidelitie wisely foreseeing and warily preuenting the danger wherein those babes stood vnder the vsurped gouernment of Donald their fathers brother sent presently for them into England The three sonnes Edgar Alexander and Dauid succeeded one the other in their Fathers kingdome Mawde the eldest Daughter surnamed the Good was afterwards maried to the first Henry King of England Mary the other daughter to Eustace Earle of Bulloine the base whose daughter named after her Mother was maried to Stephen King of England This happy progenie the more happy for the vertues of their deceased Mother and liuing Vncle were not onely educated at his charge and instructed in all good nurture beseeming their birth and linage but also when the young Prince Edgar was come to ripe age Edgar his Vncle obtained of king William Rufus a competent powre wherewith now the second time for once before hee had with the like helpe expulsed Donald and crowned Duncam king Malcomes base Sonne in his place hee vtterly expelled Donald and set Prince Edgar in full and peaceable possession of the Crowne of Scotland which hee enioyed during his life King William shortly after deceasing without issue his brother Henry the Conquerors yongest sonne was admitted king of England by the generall consent of the whole nation Anno 1100. King Edgar not onely renewed the league with him which before was continued with Rufus but for the more strengthning of the same he gaue the Lady Mawde his eldest sister vnto him in marriage as is aforesaid by whom he had issue that liued Mawde the Empresse Mother to Henry the second afterwards king of England The mutuall amitie that by this mariage was nourished betweene these two nations during the life of this Henry and the Queenes brothers Edgar and Alexander was confirmed by the mariage also of Dauid her yongest brother with an other Mawde the Daughter and heire of Waltheoff late Earle of Northumberland Huntingtō as before you haue heard by which mariage that Earldome with a great part of Northumberland and Westmerland were annexed to the Crowne of Scotland as afterwards shall better appeare Henry the first departing out of this life in the sixe and thirtith yeare of his raigne leaft to succeed him onely a Daughter for his sonnes were both drowned in their passage hither out of Normandie This Lady was first maried to the Emperor Henry the 4. who dying without issue she was maried againe to Geffery Plantagenet Earle of Aniou by whom she had issue while her father liued Henry the 2. afterwards king of England Notwithstanding that Stephen Earle of Boloigne nephew to the last deceased king for Adela his mother was one of the daughters of William the Conqueror had together with the rest of the nobility sworne vnto King Henry to admit his daughter the Empresse to succeed him as lawfull heire to the Crowne of England hee nothing regarding his oath made no scruple to intrude himselfe into the royall throne Immediatly whervpon he sent an Ambassage vnto K. Dauid of Scotland demanding homage as wel for that realme as for all other the lands signories which he held of him within England where-vnto K. Dauid answered that both Stephen he himselfe with all the nobility of England were all seuerally bound by oath to the obedience of the Empresse his neece as the only lawfull and liniall heire to King Henry her father whereof he for his part made that conscience as that during her life he would neuer acknowledge any other true inheritor to the crowne of Englād King Stephen not a little displeased with this his resolute answer inuaded the territories of Scotland where-vpon much trouble arose to both nations But after the warre had continued 2. or 3. yeares with equall losse on both sides in the end thorough the mediatiō especially of the Queene of England who was also Neece to K. Dauid by his other Sister Mary Countesse of Boloigne as hath beene afore-said a peace was concluded on these conditions That the Counties of Northmuberland and Huntington should remaine in the possession of Prince Henrie of Scotland as heire vnto them in the right of his Mother but Cumberland should bee thence-forth held and reputed the lawefull inheritance of king Dauid that both Father and Sonne should acknowledge and yeelde to king Stephen and his successours for the time being for these signories the accustomed seruices due for the same King Stephen was the more willing to yeelde herevnto by reason of his infinite trobles which daylie more and more increased by the plottes and practises of the friends of the Empresse neuer ceasing to worke him all the displeasure that possibly they could deuise the victory falling sometimes on the one side and sometimes on the other Such was the estate of this Land during his whole raigne for the space of eightene years In the meane season though king Dauid preferred the iust title of the Empresse before the colourable pretext of Stephen yet hee so much regarded the worde of a king that although hee was no doubt greatly solicited by the Empresse to breake of with her aduersary yet would hee not bee drawne at any time therevnto although that troublesome season offred him fit oportunity for his owne aduantage which commendable and Christian resolution well appeared in him when as afterward hee intertayned Prince Henry Sonne to the Empresse at Carliele who being come thither accompained with the Earles of Chester and Hereford and diuerse other noblemen and gentlemen of good account both of England and Normandie of purpose as it seemed to draw the king to their part whose assistance only wanted to the expelling of the vsurper hee would by no means breake his faith with England but resting quiet at home nothing was at
Scotland as also for the better strengthning of his estate to whome the same kingdome should be by him adiudged wherevnto they all agreed by writing also vnder their seuerall hands and seales as followeth A toux iceulx c. To all those which this present writing shall see or heare Florence Earle of Holland Robert de Bruce Lord of Annandale Iohn de Balliol Lord of Galloway Iohn de Hastings Lord of Abergeuennie Iohn Cumin Lord of Badenawe Patricke de Dunbarre Earle of Marche Iohn de Vescie insteed of his Father Nicholas de Sules and William de Ros send greeting in our Lord. Because that of our owne willes and common consents without all constraint we doe consent and grant vnto the noble Prince the Lord Edward by the grace of God king of England that he as superior Lord of Scotland may heare examine define determine our claimes chalenges petitions which we intend to shew and proue for our right to be receiued before him as superior Lord of the land promising moreouer that we shall take his deed for firme and stable and that he shall inioy the kingdome of Scotland whose right by declaration shall best appeare before him whereas then the sayd king of England cannot in this maner take knowledge nor fulfill our meanings without iudgement nor iudgment ought to be without execution nor execution may in due forme bee done without possession and seisme of the said lands and castels of the same We do will consent and grant that he as Superior Lord to performe the premisses may haue the seisure of all the land and Castels of the same till they that pretend title to the crowne be satisfied in the sute so that before he be put into possession and seisure he find sufficient surety to vs that pretend title to the wardens and to all the cōmonaltie of the kingdome of Scotland that he shal restore the same kingdom with all the royaltie dignitie signorie liberties customes rights lawes vsages possessions and all and whatsoeuer the appurtinances in the same state wherein they were before the seisme to him deliuered vnto him to whom by right it is due according to the iudgemēt of his Maiesty sauing to him the homage of that person that shall bee king And this restitution to be made within two months after the day in which the right shall be discussed and established the issues of the same land in the meane time shall be receiued laid vp put in safe keeping in the hands of the Chamberlaine of Scotland that now is of him whom the King of England shall to him ioyne and assotiate and this vnder their seales reseruing and allowing the reasonable charges for the sustentatiō of the land the Castles and officers of the kingdome In witnesse of all the which premises wee haue vnto these set our seales giuen at Norham the wednesday next after the feast of the Ascensiō of our Lord in the yeare 1291. Besides these two former deeds from the competitors themselues he receiued the like assurance from all the principall officers and Magistrates of that realme So as by a free and generall consent he was acknowledged their supreame Lord and was accordingly intituled in sundry Proclamations and publique Edicts directed forth in his name King Edward hauing receiued at their hands these instruments of allegiance as their proper and voluntary deeds and also their seuerall homages either in his owne person or by his deputies according to the order giuen in that behalfe he was finally put in full possession of the realme of Scotland and hauing occasion to returne presently into England to solemnize the exequies of his Mother hee committed the gouernment and custodie of the realme in his absence to the Bishops of Saint Androwes and Glascoe and to the Lords Iohn Cumin and Iames Steward who before had giuen the King possession At his returne out of England at Midsomer following hee sent out sommons to all those that made claime to the Crowne of Scotland to repaire vnto him and hauing heard what each one could say for himselfe hee perceaued that the question rested onely betweene Iohn Balliol and Robert Bruce so as that all the rest were thenceforth vtterly excluded and barred from all further title or claime These two deriued their titles from Dauid Earle of Huntington brother to William late King of Scottes in this maner This Dauid had issue by Mawde his wife one of the daughters of Hugh Bohune Earle of Chester as is aforesaid three daughters Margaret the eldest was maried to Alaine Lord of Galloway who had issue together three daughters also of whom the eldest named Dernagil was maried to Iohn Balliol the parents of this Iohn Balliol one of the two competitors Isabell the second daughter of the foresaid Dauid was married to Robert Bruce betweene whom was begotten this Robert Bruce the other competitour He claimed the Crowne as next heire male the other made claime in the right of his mother who was the next heire in bloud and as wee say in England heire at the common-lawe Bruce alleadged that hee was to bee preferred before the Mother of Balliol because the heire male must carry away the inheritance of a kingdome from the heire female meeting in the selfe same degree of bloud as in this case it stood betweene him and Dernagill To this end he alleadged a late president in the like controuersie about the Duchie of Burgundie which the Earle of Neuers claimed in the right of his wife grand-child to the last Duke by his eldest sonne which notwithstanding the brothers inheritance was adiudged to the Dukes yonger sonne King Edward hauing heard the allegations and answeres of both parties caused then to be inrolled but because the matter was of the greatest importance life onely excepted and therefore required good deliberation hee referred the further proceeding therein till Michaelmasse following and returned into England In the meane time for his better instruction he acquainted the most learned Lawyers as well of France as of this nation with the whole state of the cause and receaued their generall resolution therein At the time prefixed he repaired againe into the North-parts and comming to Berwicke hee called thither the two competitours together with the greater number of the Lords of Scotland to receiue there a finall end of this controuersie Out of this great assembly of the most graue and best experienced personages of both Nations hee made choise of a certaine number as well English as Scottish to whom as to a Iurie royall sworne and admonished to deale vprightlie the King gaue full authoritie to name him that vnto them appeared vpon the examination of their seuerall titles and the resolution of the Lawyers therevpon which was deliuered vnto them to haue the better right vnto the crowne of Scotland These men being put a part by themselues and hauing examined considered and sufficiently debated the prooues allegations and whatsoeuer could be said on either
Oxford As for the communalty they were well cased in their accustomed taxation paimēts And on those that liued in want he bestowed liberal maintenance To conclude his affability curtious speech his redinesse to heare others speake his indifferency and vpright carriage betweene party and party in matter of controuersie made him both beloued feared the best supporters of authority When the Duke of Normandy had inteligence of the death of the King what had followed thervpō in England he seemed not so much trobled with the losse of his Kinsman as to thinke that therewith he should loose a Kingdom wherof his cōfident hopes had already taken ful possessiō Wherfore he presently sent ouer some of his Counsell on ambassage to Harold to put him in minde of his former promise and accordingly to demand the Crowne as of right it appertained to him Wherevnto after some deliberation they receiued answer viz. First for the promise made by the late deceassed King it was of no force seeing it rested not in his powre alone to dispose of the Kingdome of England at his pleasure neyther though the King might haue done it was hee bound to yeeld therevnto because he came to the Crowne not by right of succession but by free election And as concerning his owne promise and oath hee was vnwillinglie in the time of captiuitie drawne therevnto by force fraud and feare of perpetuall imprisonment made to the preiudice or the Realme and the authotitie of the three estates of the same and therefore they were to bee reputed voide and of no validitie which hee neither ought to performe neither though he would had he any warrant thereto seeing the deceassed King was not acquainted therewith nor yet had his subiects consent vnto it Finally that the Duke had no reason to make claime to the Crowne of England considering he was a stranger to the Saxon bloud and linage he himselfe beeing now by generall consent and applause of the whole Nation lawfully established in that Throne The Duke was not a little displeased with this answer esteeming it a bare and badde excuse wherewith to colour his periurie Therfore hee forth-with sent ouer againe other Ambassadors more seriously to admonish him what conscience hee ought to make of an oath how odious the breach thereof was both to God and man not onely deseruing punishment in this life dishonor endlesse infamie but withall destruction of body and soule in the world to come Harold now vnderstanding that the Dukes daughter was dead who before was affianced vnto him vpon his former promise and oath and was the very foundation and ground-work for the same these men were entertained with lesse curtesy thē the former neither could they get other answer of him thē before he had made Now did al things tend to open war The Nauy was forth-with furnished of all complements pertaining there-to Souldiers were mustered watch and ward set alongst the sea-coast especially in places of most aduantage for the enemies landing and whatsoeuer else was thought commodious either for defence or offence was with all speede put in readines First of al Tosty the Kings brother besides al mens expectation gaue the on-set This Man being ambitiously minded sometimes gouerned in great authoritie ouer the Northumbrians but abusing his place by too much seuerity ouer his inferiors extreame arrogancie and pride towards his soueraigne and malice and enuie at the aduancement of his owne Brothers he was deseruedly banished by King Edward and liued afterwardes in France Tostie at the instigation of Baldwin Earle of Flanders and of the Duke of Normandie as it was thought both hauing married Baldwines daughters began nowe to pursue his Brother with open warre whom long before he had deadly hated in his heart His Nauie consisted of some threescore saile and loased from the Coast of Flanders wherewith arriuing at the Wight hee ouer-ran and wasted the Ile passing from thence he annoyed the Kentish Coast but being terrified with the approch of the Kings Nauie leauing those parts he directed his course to the Coast of Lincolne-shire where at his landing he was repulsed by Edwine and Morcar and forced to retire into Scotland there to repaire augment his forces Herevpon it was doubted that the Realme should bee assailed on that side from thence and on the other out off Normandy The terror hereof made the deeper impression by reason of a Comet which appearing in fearefull manner for the space of little lesse then a weeke together disposed mens mindes as in so troblesome a time it commeth often to passe to an opinion and expectation of some grieuous euent portended thereby But Harold hauing a vigilant eye to his busines on euery side strengthened the coasts all along the North parts with sufficient defence though not much doubting any inuasion that way because Malcolme King of Scotts had his hands full at home thorough the sedition of his owne subiects In the meane time the Duke of Normandie set all his wits on worke which way hee might best effect his indeauors Often he debated the matter with his best experienced Captaines whom he found alwayes verie forward in the enterprize for England The onely difficultie rested by what meanes money might be gotten sufficient for discharge of so costly a iourney For when at a publike assembly of the States called together for that purpose a subsidie was demanded answer was made that the countrie was so much inpouerished by the last warre with France that if a newe should arise it would bee hardly prouided to make defence for it selfe for the which it stood them vpon much more to make prouision then neglecting the same to hazard all for the getting of that which if they got at all they looked to come by at so deare a rate And though the quarell were iust yet the warre was not so necessary as dangerous Finally that the Normans were not bound to follow their Duke into any foraine seruice Thus by no meanes could they bee now perswaded to part with any thing although William Fitzosbert a man highly esteemed both of Prince and people labored the matter as much as possibly he could and thereby to drawe on others by his example hee franckly offred at his owne charge to furnish out forty ships towards this enterprice The Duke seeing hee could not preuaile this way tried what might be gotten by priuate intreaty for the richest men in all the coūtry being come before him he called ech one a part from the rest and so much preuailed by his faire words curtious behauiour that as if they had contended who should giue most euery one offred very liberally so that after the perticuler Items were cast vp accounted the totall summe far exceeded the Dukes expectatiō Hauing thus obtained so large a contribution of his own subiects he further attempted what aide might bee gotten of the Princes his allies neighbors the Earles of Aniou Poictou Le-Main and Bollogne to
for abrogating the ancient lawes and customes of the land hee established others such as either he had brought out of Normandie or that he thought more fitte for the present gouerment of the English nation And further taking from the Englishmen their lands and possessions hee bestowed them on his followers and partakers in his conquest at his owne will and pleasure Herevpon as also by manie other extremities dayly offered more and more to all degrees and estates the great men especially who thorow the greatnesse of their mindes could worst indure so many indignities conuaied them-selues out of the realme some into one country some into another hoping to finde such fauour with forraigne Princes as with their helpe they might happily one day finde meanes to bee restored againe to their former estates and dignities in their natiue Countrie Amongst these Edgar Atheling whom this businesse concerned more then any of the rest purposing to haue sailed into Germanie to his friends and alliance there together with his mother and two sisters was by contrary windes as the Lord would haue it driuen into Scotland where they were curteously intertained of Malcolme surnamed Cammore the King of that Countrie the rather because they were of the bloud and linage of King Edward the Confessor by whose especiall meanes he had beene established in his Kingdome Shortly after in respect no doubt of the possibilitie wherein shee stood to come by the Crowne of England after her brother King Malcolme tooke to wife the Lady Marguerit the elder sister This marriage was solemnized about Easter next following in the yeare 1067. King William hearing what had passed in Scotland and fearing lest this alliance might worke him some displeasure for Edgar had many well-willers in England forth-with sent an Harold of Armes to King Malcolme for the deliuery of him which if it would not be granted then he should denounce open warre against him Answer was here-unto made that hee held it a very vniust thing yea a very wicked part for him to deliuer Edgar into his hands that onely for feare of the losse of his life was forced to flie out off England beeing of that innocent carriage and demeanor towards the King his Maister that euen his greatest aduersaries could no way touche him with the least suspition of disloyaltie Further that he was now bound besides the respect of ordinary humanitie in this case by more straight bands of neere alliance to tender his estate So as King Malcome was no whit terrified with these threats still intertaining Edgar his friends that dayly repaired into Scotland by whom King Malcome being incouraged tooke the oportunitie that was offered For whilest King William was occupied in pursuing the English Rebels he with his armie entred into England wasting and spoiling the countries of Theisdale and Cleueland and the lands of Saint Cutbert with diuers other in those parts For the suppressing of whom King William sent Gospatrike whom he had lately before made Earle of Northumberland in the place of Syward that tooke part against him with the Scottes and Englishmen their adherents Entring into those parts he made the like spoile as was before made by the Scottes so as those countries were grieuouslie afflicted on both sides But yet their miseries had no end for Gospatricke was no sooner returned but the Scots entring those countries againe exceeding their former cruelty vpon the poore inhabitance King William to giue end to these extremities hauing assembled a mighty armie in his owne person entred into Scotland about the middest of August pursuing the English rebels and their partakers into Galloway but they being not disposed to abide his approach fled vnto the Mountaines wherefore giuing them ouer hee turned his forces into Lothiane where he vnderstood that king Malcome was incamped with all his whole powre purposing to make a conquest of Scotland also But when these two puissant armies were euen ready to assaile one the other the Scottish king distrusting his strength and fearing the fortune of the Conqueror sent an Harrald of Armes to enter into treatie of a firme peace betweene the two Nations wherevnto king William was drawne at the length on these conditions First that king Malcome should doe homage vnto the king of England for the realme of Scotland On the other side that king William should pardon all those Englishmē which then tooke part with Malcome against him Further to auoide all occasion of quarrell that happily might afterwards arise about the limits bounds of the two kingdoms it was agreed vpon that a crosse of stone should be erected in Steenmore which tooke that name of the nature of the soile which was very stonie bearing the Armes and Image of the king of England on the South-side thereof and on the contrary-side the armes and Image likewise of the king of Scotland which while it stood for many yeares after was called the crosse of the kings Thus were they accorded and thence-forth continued in friendship while they liued together King William in his returne tooke the Earledome of Northumberland from Gospatricke on whom he had lately bestowed the same and gaue it to Waltheof the sonne of Siward deceased that held it in the right of Alfred his wife the daughter heire of Aldread some-time Earle of that Prouince Waltheof was in that fauour with the king that shortly after he gaue him to wife the lady Iudith his neece daughter to Lambert Earle of Leux with all the lands belonging to the honor of Huntington whereby he became Earle of Northumberland Huntington Notwithstanding these especial fauours Waltheof not long after entred into a conspiracy against the king which although he disclosed before it brake out into open warre king William was so highly offended thereat that he caused him to be beheaded not without some note of cruelty hauing reuealed the whole practise and submitted himselfe to the kings mercy Edgar Atheling returning out of Scotland obteined the kings fauour was highly aduanced but to auoid further danger in which case a Prince cannot be too circumspect he was not admitted without leaue to depart the Court while he liued King William the Conqueror being deceased in the 20. 1087. yeare of his raigne about 14. yeares after the former conclusion of peace whether it was to reuenge the death of Earle Waltheof his cousine germaine executed as before you haue heard or whether he was drawn on by an ambitious humor to inlarge his dominions or as some haue rather thought prouoked therevnto by some vnkindnes offred by K. Williā Rufus who succeeded his father here whatsoeuer the cause was King Malcolme taking the oportunitie while the King and his elder brother Robert Duke of Normandie were at some variance about the Crowne entred with his Armie into Northumberland preying vpon the inhabitants as farre as Chester in the street The King of England sent such forces against him as that entring into Scotland they tooke the Castell of Anwicke putting
habere debent de domino rege hominibus suis Pro ista verò conuentione fine firmiter obseruando domino regi Henrico filio suo haeredibus suis à rege Scotiae haeredibus suis liberauit rex Scotiae domino Regi castellum de Rockesburgh castellum Puellarum castellum de Striuelinge in manu domini Regis ad custodienda castella assignabit rex Scotiae de redditu suo mensurabiliter ad voluntatem domini Regis Praeteria pro praedicta conuentione fine exequendo liberabit rex Scotiae domino Regi Dauid fratrem suum in obsidem comitem Duncanum comitem Waldenum similiter alios comites Barones cum alijs viris potentibus quorum numerus octo-decem Et quando Castella reddita fuerint illis Rex Scotiae Dauid frater eius liberabuntur Comites quidem Barones praenominati vnusquisque postquam liberauerit obsidem suum scilicet filium legitimum qui habuerit alij nepotes suos vel propinquiores sibi haeredes castellis vt dictum est redditis liberabuntur Praetereà Rex Scotiae Barones sui praenominati assecurauerint quod ipsi bona fide sine malo ingenio sine occasione facient vt Episcopi Barones caeteri homines terrae suae qui non affuerunt quando rex Scotiae cum domino Rege finiuit eandem ligiantiam fidelitatem domino Regi Henrico filio suo quum ipsi fecerunt et vt Barones homines qui affuerunt obsides liberabunt domino Regi de quibus habere voluerit Praetereà Episcopi Comites Barones conuentionauerunt domino Regi et Henrico filio suo Quod si Rex Scotiae aliquo casu a fidelitate domini regis filij a conuentione praedicta recederit ipsicum Domino Rege tenebunt sicut cum ligio domino suo contrà regem Scotiae contrà omnes homines ei inimicantes Et episcopi sub interdicto ponent terram regis Scotiae donec ipse ad fidelitatem Domini Regis redeat Praedictā itaque conuentionem firmitèr obseruandum bone fide sine malo ingenio Domino Regi Henrico filio suo haeredibus suis à Wilhelmo Rege Scotiae Dauid fratre suo Baronibus suis praedictis haeredibus eorum assecurauit ipse Rex Scotiae Dauid frater eius omnes Barones sui praenominati sicut ligij homines domini Regis contrà omnem hominem Henrici filij Regis salua fidelitate patris sui hijs testibus Richardo episcopo Abrincensi Iohanne Salisburiae Decano Roberto Abbate Malmesburiae Radulpho Abbate Mundesburg nec non alijs abbatibus comittibus baronibus duobus filijs suis scilicet Richardo Galfrido ex Rog. Houeden Besides the deliuery of the three Castles expressed in the former Charter the Scotish King did absolutely depart with all and surrender vnto King Henry and to his Heire for euer the Towne and Castell of Berwicke which forthwith was committed to the custody of Sir Geffrey Neuille The Castles of Edenbrough and Rockesbrugh were likewise kept by the kings apointment by Sir Roger and Sir William de Stutuille This meeting at Yorke was in the yeare 1175. where this businesse beeing dispatched the two Kings departed in kindnesse the one into Scotland the other towardes London Not long after king William vpon his summons repayred to North-Hampton where King Henrie had called a Parliament Diuerse Bishops and Abbotes of Scotland attended their king thither to acknowledge their subiection to the Church of England according to the Articles comprised in the former Charter and their ancient custome in former times but by no meanes they would yeeld thereunto notwithstanding that the Archbishop of Yorke shewed sufficient proues and priuileges granted by sundrie Bishops of Rome iustifiyng the right he pretended to the primacie ouer all the Scotish Clergie But because the Archbishop of Canterburie hoped to bring them vnder his iurisdiction or else enuying that his inferior should be axalted so farre aboue him hee so wrought with the king his Maister as that for the present there was no subiection acknowledged eyther to the one or other These two kings liued together in all loue and kindnesse in so much as the king of England imployed king William in his absence in his more weighty affayres in Normandie Also hee gaue vnto him to wife his cousin the Ladie Ermengard Daughter to Richard Vicount Beaumonte that was sonne to a Daughter of king William the Conquerour The mariage was solemnized at Woodstocke at the charge of the King who withall resigned to the Bridegroome his whole interest in the Castell of Edenbrough which King William forth-with bestowed vpon his new Wife as a portion of her dowrie augmenting the same with an hundred pounds land by the yeare and fortie knights fees Not long before this marriage Dauid king Williams Brother had marryed also an English woman named Mawde one of the Daughters of Hugh Bohun Earle of Chester otherwise called Keuelocke by which marriage hee was strongly allyed with the Nobilitie of England for his wiues three Sisters Mabell Agnes and Hauise were married to Daubigne Earle of Arundell Ferrers Earle of Darbye and to Quincie Earle of Lincolne These mariages were meanes of good agreement betweene these two nations for a long time after Within two or three yeares after the marriage of king William king Henry deceased in the fiue and thirtith yeare of his raigne whome his two Sonnes Richard and Iohn succeeded one after the other During the raigne of the former no occasion of quarrell was offered on either side but the two kings liued together in all familiaritie and perfect friendshippe for immediatly after the coronation of king Richard the Scotish king beeing honourablie attended with the Archbishop of Yorke the kings base Brother and with diuerse Barons and others of England passed thorough the realme to Canterburie where king Richard had assembled in counsell his Lords spirituall and temporall At this meeting king William and Dauid his Brother together with the English Lords tooke an oathe to continue true to the king of England and to abide in due obedience vnder him and his lawes beeing now to leaue them for a season for hee was so farre passed on his iourney towards the Holy-land as it was then called And the more firmely to binde the Scotish king by his liberalitie to the obseruance of this othe hee there restored vnto him all the other three Castles at Berwicke Rockesbrough and Sterlinge and withall that parte of Northumberland which king Henrie his Father had taken from him when hee was his prisoner Further king Richard resigned vnto him the counties of Cumberland and Huntington but with this condition that all the Castels should still abide in the custodie of such as king Richard should place in them Lastly he released him of all further paiments and summes of money due for his ransome excepting tenne thousand
continewed till king Ricâ—â—â—d was deposed by his vnkinde cousine Henrie Plantagenet Sonne to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in the yeare of our Lord 1399. But immediatlie after the coronation of king Henrie the fourth while Sir Thomas Gray Captaine of Warke Castell was at the Parliament certaine Scottes assaulted and tooke it by force but either dispayring to keepe it or not dareing to auowe what they had done the truce still continewing they leaft it defaced and ruinated Howsoeuer they excused this their rough beginning it seemed by that which followed that they had no great respect to the obseruance of peace which had hitherto continewed vnuiolated for the tearme of ten yeares but was shortlie after broken by them againe vpon this occasion George of Dumbar Earle of the Marches of Scotland had betrothed his Daughter to the King his Maisters Sonne and heire the Father not only consenting therevnto but also receauing a good part of the marriage monie This King was named Iohn but because the former two kings of England and France so called had such bad successe hee tooke vpon him the name of Robert The Earle Dowglas taking indignation that any other of that Nation should bee herein preferred before him and complayning that the consent of the States was to much neglected in not beeing made acquainted with a matter of that importance as appertayned therevnto offred a Daughter of his owne with a greater portion Hereof king Robert accepted and forth-with made vp the marriage Dumbar complayning of this wronge demaunded the monie his king had receiued but hee could not receiue so much as a kinde answere of him This double iniury done him by the Dowglas both the losse of his monie and which hee esteemed farre more of the kinges fauour did not a little trouble him Therefore hauing no other meanes to bee hereof reuenged hee leaft both Court and Country and repayring into England complayned himselfe vnto Henrie the Earle of Northumberland of whome he hoped to be relieued In the meane time the Earle Dowglas seized on the Castell of Dunbar in the King his Maisters name which was committed to the custodie of Robert Matland at the Earle of March his departure into England Northumberland aduised him to returne into Scotland and to make tryall if happily some other course might preuaile with his King for the saluing of these his discontentments But comming to Dunbar the Earle Dowglas hauing fortified the Castell would not admit him entrance answering that hee kept it to the vse of the King who had sent him thither to that end The other Earle seeing his greatest enemie so much to triumph ouer him could not brooke it but without making further meanes to the King at whose hands he ought especially to haue fought for remedy hee together with his wife children and allies returned againe into England informing the Earle of Northumberland of all the displeasures done vnto him by his aduersary the Dowglas and withall desired him seeing he could not otherwise preuaile to aide him in the recouerie of his possessions by force sithence by force they were kept against him Herevpon followed some stirres by the rising of the borderers on both sides who ioyning then forces together did the Dowglas all the mischiefe they could King Robert not a little moued here-with did write to king Henry that vnlesse he would deliuer into his hands the fugitiue Earle he would take it for a breach of the truce and proceed against him accordingly What answer soeuer king Henrie made here-vnto it deserued not so bitter a reprehension as wher-with Buchanan doth check him Impudency is a foule fault in a priuate man much more in a Prince I hold him of a very froward temper that in his writings cannot afford a King his good words although they show sometimes dislike of their actions King Robert vpon the returne of his messenger caused open warre to be proclaimed and Sir William Logon a Scottish Knight was forth-with sent to the Sea of purpose to sett on the English fleete that was then fishing on the coast of Scotland about Aberden But hee was incountred with certaine ships of Lin and by them taken prisoner The Fisher-men vnderstanding what was intended against them entring into some of the Iles of Orkney carried away with them whatsoeuer was worth their labour and set the rest on fire King Henry perceiuing what was to be looked for out of Scotland thought it good in the beginning either to draw the Scots to peace or to resist their malice before further mischiefe should insue therof And therfore hauing a great armie hee there-with entred into Scotland about the middest of August being the eleuenth month from his coronation From Hadington he passed to Leeth vsing much clemencie in all places where he came especially to the houses of religion Where-vpon diuers Castels Houlds willingly submitted themselues vnto him Comming to Edenbrough he besiedged the Castle Hither Robert Duke of Albanie gouernour of Scotland vnder the King his brother who by reason of his impotencie could not trauell in his person sent an Harald of Armes vnto king Henry promising to giue him battaile within sixe dayes at the furthest if hee would stay so long The King accepting the offer gaue the messenger for his good newes a chaine of gold and a Sattin gowne at his departure But neither at the end of sixe or sixteene dayes heard he any more of the Gouernours comming The Scottish writers attribute this dishonorable dealing to the Dukes ambition whom it would not haue troubled though the Castle had beene taken together with the young Prince of Scotland in the same that thereby hee might haue beene in so much the more hope of the crowne him-selfe after which it was thought he greatly thirsted But on the other side they highly extoll the singular moderation of King Henry who by this his gentle inuasion seemed rather desirous to allure them to peace then to afflict them with the calamities alwayes accompaning warre Winter approaching the King brake vp the siedge and returned home without any shew of resistance greatly to the Gouernours reproach neither shewing him-selfe desirous of warre nor willing to offer conditions of peace how apparent tokens soeuer was showed by king Henry of his readinesse to haue accepted thereof After some little harme done the next Summer by the borderers on both sides Patrike Hepburne with some greater powre entred further into England and hauing gotten a good bootie and therwithall returning home-wards hee was ouer-taken by the Englishmen at Nesbet in the Meirs where their Captaine together with the greater number of his people well neere the very flowre of all the Lothian youth were beaten downe and slaine in fight Amongst those that were taken prisoners Iohn and William Cockburne Robert Lawder Iohn and Thomas Haliburton were the men of best account This ouer-throw was giuen the Scottes on the xxii day of Iune in the yeare 1401. The Earle Archibald Dowglas sonne to the other
betweene them and to that end hee presently sent â—arter King of armes accompanied with an other Harald to signifie the same These men comming to Edenbrugh eight daies before the prefixed time receiued answere of the Prouost and burgesses that stood bound to the King of England that now vpon notice giuen them of the King their Maisters pleasure they would â—ake prouision for the repayment of the mony aâ— a day appointed for the same which was performed accordingly The messengers beeing curteously entertayned and from thence conuaied back againe to Barwicke they repaired to New-castel where they made relation to the Duke of Glocester of all their proceedings in Scotland who therevpon with all speed remooued to Shriue-hutton and there abode When King Edward had thus ended his businesse with Scotland and was now preparing the like iorney into France to bee reuenged on the double dealing bee found in King Lewis the eleuenth about the like tâ—eatie of a marriage with the Dolphine that contention was presently taken vp by the messinger of God For shortly after they both died in one and the same yeare from the incarnation of our Sauiour 1483. In the meane time the Duke of Albanie found so little saftie in his owne Countrie as that to auoide the mischiefe which was intended towards him by the King his brother hee was forced to repaire againe into England and to make him the more well-come to King Edward hee deliuered into his hands the Castell of Dumbar King Edward being deceased he was certuously entertayned of his late acquaintance the Duke of Glocester who first had made himselfe Lord Protector of the Realme but not satisfied therewith because he aymed at an higher dignitie within two monthes after hee vsurped the Crowne and title of King and forth-with for his more security caused the two young Princes his Nephewes to be wickedlie murthered in the Towre of London whither hee had committed them for that purpose The Duke of Albanie togither with the Earle Dowglas who had remained here as a banished man neere thirty yeares with such aide as they could get made sundrie roades into Scotland but still with more losse then aduantage Dowglas in the end was taken and lead into Scotland where he died in the Abbey of Landoris But the Duke seeing hee could obtaine no better reliefe at King Richards hands secretly passed ouer into France where he dyed shortly after of an hurt which hee receiued of the Duke of Orliance as they ranne together at the tilt King Iames being now falne into no lesse contempt of his subiects thorow his dissolute life and ouer small regard of his nobilitie then king Richard was with the Englishmen for his outragious crueltie both the one and the other were vehemently distracted with continuall feare of their vtter falls In this perplexitie they both mette with one and the same conceipt which was by a league of friendship betweene them-selues to strengthen and confirme one the others desperate estate so as King Richard had no sooner propounded an offer of peace but the other most willingly entertained the same Tiâ—e and place was forth-with appointed when where Commissioners on both sides should meete about this businesse which within three weekes was brought to this issue A truce was taken to endure from the end of September which was in the yeare 1484. for the terme of three yeares More-ouer for the better strengthening thereof king Richard entred into a treatie also of a â—â—w alliance by marriage betweene the Duke of Rothesay the young Prince of Scotland and the Lady â—â—â—e â—e â—a Pâ—â—le Daughter to Iohn Duke of Suffolke by his sister whom he so much fauored that after the decease of his owne Son he caused her Sonne Iohn Earle of Lincolne to bee proclamed heire apparent to the Crowne disinherityng all the daughters of his brother the late deceased king For the effecting of this intended marriage both the kings did send their Commissioners againe to Notingham where the former peace was also concluded which was likewise there agreed vpon and the assurance ingrossed and ratified by hand and seale and affiances made and taken by deputies on both sides The sayd Lady was thence-forth called and reputed Princesse of Rothsay But by occasion of the death of king Richard that was shortly after slaine at Bosworth field she inioyed that title but a while During the time of truce some question did arise for the restitution of the Castell of Dumbar which the Duke of Albaine had bestowed on king Edward as is afore-said but king Richard gaue so good words that while hee liued he held the same Neuerthelesse before king Henrie the seauenth was fullie setled the Scottish king layed siedge against it with such egernesse as that the defendantes dispayring of anie aide in conuenient time out of England in so turbulent a season gaue it vp not without suspition it is sayd of treason This Henry hauing fortunatly subdewed the tirant in the field and thereby attained the Crowne in the yeare 1485. fought principallie to establish his estate by alliance and lawes at home and then by league and amity with his neighbour the Scottish King By his marriage with the Ladie Elizabeth the eldest Daughter of king Edward the fourth the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke which had for many yeares before contended for the Soueraignty were gratiously vnited in the issue that did spring from them two vpon whom for the auoyding of all titles and claimes peramount in time to come the Crowne of England by generall consent in Parliament of the three estates was limited and intayled as in that statute at large may appeare As for the renewing of the league with Scotland king Iames was as readie to imbrace peace as the other was to offer it hoping thereby more safely to prosecute his long desired reuenge vpon diuerse of the Nobilitie that had highlie but I knowe not how worthilie incurred his displeasure which thing shortlie after turned to his owne destruction For hauing vnaduisedlie ioyned battaile with his aduersaries at Bannocksburne with in two miles of Sterling hee was finallie put to flight and pursued vnto death This came to passe in the yeare 1488. King Henrie at his intreatie had sent to his aide fiue tall shippes of warre which with the rest of his expected succours thorough his owne ouer much hast came all too late to do him anie seruice These Shippes saieth Buchanan lying against Dumbar were set vpon by two Scottish Shippes conducted by Andrewe Woode and by force were taken and brought to Leith But I doubt much of the truth hereof for neither is it likely that the Englishmen would yeelde without some losse of bloud whereof there is no mention or that two Scottish shippes could bee able so easilie to subdewe fiue such English as no doubte were especiallie chosen for that seruice when as not long after as hee himselfe confesseth three other indured so long a fight against them Wherefore I rather thinke that