The history of Scotland written in Latin by George Buchanan ; faithfully rendered into English.

Bruce, The Ninety Seventh King.

BRVCE stayed so long, till he had obtained Pardon from the Pope, for killing a Man in Holy Church, and then in April fol∣lowing, Anno Domini 1306. he went to Scone and was Crowned King.

The first thing he did, knowing, that he had to do with a Power∣ful Enemy, was, to levy all the Force he could make; but, in regard, the whole Family of the Cumins's (whose Greatness was never equal∣led by any in Scotland, either before, or since) was against him, and also the Minds of many were offended with him, for his former as∣sisting of the English; and moreover, most of the Scots were, out of Fear, willing to be quiet under the English Power; yet, he ad∣ventured with a small Army, to try his Fortune at Methven, where he was overthrown by Ailmer, Edwards General, but with little Slaughter, because his Men, seeing their own weakness, fled away entire, almost at the first Charge; this was done on the 13th of the Calends of August. And not long after, coming to Athol, and de∣signing for Argyle, his design was discovered by the Cumins's, and he was forced in his very march, at a place called Dalree, i. e. Kings-land, to try his Fortune in a Battel, where he was overthrown also, but lost few, in regard every one fled several ways, as they thought fit: After that time, he had but Two or Three in his Company, for he thought himself more secure with a few, and thus he wandred up and down in secret places, living mostly a Foresters Life, and in des∣pair of any Aid, if he had a mind again to try his Fortune. For the Vulgar, upon his double Discomfiture, drew thence discouraging Omens, and so they all left him, only Two of his old Friends Mal∣colm Earl of Lennox, and Gilbert Hay, never forsook him, but re∣mained constant to him, in all Misfortunes. The English, not yet sa∣tiated with his Miseries, send about through all Parts of the King∣dom, to apprehend his Allies and Kindred; and besides, they Com∣manded all the Wives and Children of those who were banished, to depart the Kingdom, at a time prefixed. The Wife of Robert him∣self, was taken by William Earl of Ross, and sent into England; and

Neile, his Brother, with his Wife and Children, came into the Hands and Power of the English; his Castle of Kildrummy being betrayed, by the Governor thereof, to them. Moreover, his Brethren, Thomas and Alexander, endeavouring to pass out of Galway to Carick, were taken at the Loch Ryan, (which Ptolemy calls, the Bay Rerigonius,) and sent into England. These Three were put to Death in several Places; the rest of the Brucian Party were diligently sought after, and put also to Death, and their Estates Confiscate. The King him∣self, with one or two, and sometimes alone, wandred up and down, through uncouth Places, daily; yea, hourly, changing his Recesses; and yet, even thus, not thinking himself safe enough, from the Cru∣elty of his Enemies, and the Perfidiousness of his Subjects, he passed over to another Friend of his, into the Aebudae; where he lurked for some Months: And, in regard, he did no where appear, he was thought to be Dead, and so they left searching for him. This Report, as it made for his Safety, so, if it had continued long, it would have ta∣ken away all Hopes from his Friends, of his ever obtaining and re∣covering the Kingdom. Whereupon, he judged it fit to attempt something, and receiving a small Force from his Friends, where he had hid himself, he sailed over into Carick; and, by Means of his sud∣den coming, he there surprized a Castle, which was his own Inheri∣tance, but Garisoned by a strong party of English, whom he put all to the Sword; and, lest his Passage might be stopped by the Enemy, he passed over by the Bay of Clyde, and came to the strong Castle of Ennerness, situate on a pretty high Hill, by the River Ness, which, as being in a remote Country, and negligently Guarded, he also happily took.

The Report hereof being divulged, occasioned great Thoughts of Heart all over Scotland. For, besides his Old Friends, who came to him, from all Places, out of their Lurking Holes, the Pride of the English had raised him up many New ones; for They, thinking that he had been dead, began to Lord it more imperiously, and cruelly, than ever they had done, before. So that his Forces being conside∣rably encreased, and that with very good Soldiers, whom either La∣bour had hardned, or Despair urged to the most desperate Attempts, he took all the Castles in the North of Scotland, and demolished them, as they were taken; partly, That he might not weaken his Forces by dividing them into Garisons; and partly, That the Enemy might have no Harbour there. Thus, overcoming all as he went, he came into the very Heart of the Kingdom: Iohn Cumins, Earl of Bachan, being informed thereof, gathered together a suddain Company of Scots and English, even as many as were able to bear Arms; when he was come to the Forest, through which the River Esk falls down in∣to the Plains of Mern, he overtook him at a Place, called Glenesk. Bruce, perceiving that the Narrowness of the Passages was advanta∣geous for his Men, stood ready to Fight, expecting his Enemy. Cu∣mins drew out his Army in length, imagining, that Bruce would be astonished at the sight of such a Multitude. But when he saw, that he stirred not from the Place, and being also Conscious of the Weak∣ness of his Men, he durst not draw them forth into a Place of greater Disadvantage. Hereupon, he first sent an Herald to Bruce for a Truce;

wherein, they might Treat of Terms of Peace: The Truce being obtained, Cumins made no more Mention of Peace, but encreas'd his Forces as much as ever he could; neither would he trust the Scots that were with him, (the Favour of many of them inclining to Ro∣bert,) but craved Aid from England. In the mean time, Bruce, to remove the Contemptible Opinion, which the English might conceive of him; and to encourage the Spirits of his Friends, was always nibbling at his Enemies Heels; here taking some, there others; and, surprizing their weakest Garisons, he never staid long in a Place, neither gave he Opportunity to the Enemy to fight him.

But about this time, Simon Frazer and Walter Longan, brave Sol∣diers Both, and Lovers of their Country, were taken by some of the Cuminian Faction, delivered over to the English, and put to Death at London. And almost about the same time, Iames Douglas joined him∣self with Bruce his Party. He was the Son of William, a young Man, passing well instructed in all the Liberal Arts; who, when he was studying at Paris, hearing that his Father was cast into Prison, by the English, where he soon after Died, returned home to receive the Advice of his Friends, how he might Order the Residue of his Life: But, being deprived of his Patrimony, and all his Friends variously dispersed, in great Want he repaired to William Lambert, Bishop of St. Andrews; by whom he was admitted, as one of his Family, and kindly entertained, until King Edward came to Besiege Sterlin, after he had Conquered almost all Scotland, besides. Lambert, going thi∣ther to Salute the King, carried Douglas along with him, and having gotten a fit Opportunity, he spake to the King to restore his Patrimony, to take him into his Protection, and to make Use of his Faithful Endea∣vours in his Service; some other things he also added, in Praise of the young Man; the King, hearing of his Name and Family, spake very roughly concerning the stubbornness of William his Father, withal adding, That he intended not to make any use of his Son, nor of any Assistance of his; and, as for his Paternal Estate, he could not re∣store it, if he would, because he had gratified his Friends with it, who had merited well of him. Iames, being thus dismissed by the King, stayed with Lambert, till Bruce came to Merne. And then, that might he omit no Occasion to prejudice Edward (whose Mind, he found was implacably bent against him) he took away Lamberts Horses, and some Money, not without his Privity, and came to Bruce; and his Service was of great use to him, in many sharp Storms, afterwards.

Not long after, Both Kings, almost in the same Moment of time, fell grievously Sick; Edward, being busie in Preparations for War against Scotland, died within a few days at Lancaster, leaving his Second Son, Edward, for his Heir, who was called Edward of Carnar∣von, from the Place where he was Born; he, marching into his Ene∣mies Country, with the Army, which his Father had recruited, sent a Proclamation before to Dumfreiz, That all the Scots should meet him there, but there came in but a Few, and those out of the Neigh∣bouring Parts, and very heavily too. He being also informed, That his Matters beyond Sea went not well on, left a Force, such as he thought sufficient, to quell the Insurrection in Scotland, and settling things as soon as he could, he passed over into France. In the interim, Robert,

hearing of Edward's Death, was somewhat relieved, and began to hope better of his Affairs; and so the strength of his Mind, supported his weak Body. But, not being ignorant, how much the sole Conduct of a General might contribute to a Victory, he so prepared himself for the extreme Push of Fortune, that he expected his Enemy and a Battel. On the other side, the English King coming back more slowly than his Friends hoped; Iohn Cumins, being greedy of the Glory, That the War was ended by him, hoping also, that Robert was dead, by rea∣son of his sore Disease added to his other Hardships; or, at least, that his Sickness would hinder him from being present in the Army, ga∣thered together all the Forces he could make, and marched directly towards his Enemy. On the other side, Robert, to encourage his Men, caused himself to be set on Horseback. His very Sight, tho' he was supported by Two Men, and could not stay long, yet gave such Heart to his Men, that they never began any Fight more Cou∣rageously, than they did That. Cumins, who had placed the Hope of his Victory in the Sickness of his Enemy, being not able to keep his Men together, neither by Persuasions nor Punishments, was forced to fly away in their Company, many were taken in the pursuit, and all courteously used. This Victory gotten at Ennerury, as it reco∣vered the King from his Disease, so it was the Omen of his future prosperous Proceedings; for, from that day forward, he succeeded in All that he attempted. A while after, he marched into the Country of Argyle, which he pillaged, and forced Alexander, the Lord of it, to a Surrender, who, retiring into England, in a little time, there ended his miserable Life, in great Want. The same Year, the Day before the Calends of Iuly, Edward Bruce also had prosperous suc∣cess at a Battel fought at Die, a River of Galway; Rolland, a Noble Knight of Galway was slain in the Fight; Donald, the Islander, was taken Prisoner, as he was flying away; and the whole Country of Galway was wasted, far and near. These Tumults rouz'd up Edward (who was rather desirous to live in Peace) to a War, even against his Will; for, perceiving that his Affairs were ill-managed, he, the next Year, with a great Army of English, entred Scotland, and there joyned a numerous Body of Scots, who had not yet revolted from the English. With those Forces he pierced as far as Ran∣fro••, and then retreated, having performed no Memorable Act, in his Expedition; either, because he himself was of a dull and un∣active Nature; or else, because Robert (besides the scarcity which did then generally afflict all Scotland) had caused all the Provisions to be carried away from those Places, thrô which his Army was to march, and had laid them up, more out of the way. After his De∣parture, Robert spent the rest of the Year in recovering those Castles which the English yet held, of which Many surrendred before they were Besieged, as despairing of any help from England.

The next Year, which was 1310. Bruce, to cry quits with the English for the damage they had done in Scotland, marched twice in∣to England with his Army, and returned back, laden with spoils, without any Encounter at all. The Two next Years, he recovered almost all the strong Garisons, which yet remained in the hands of the English. He took Perth by Storm, and put all the Garison

Soldiers, both English and Scots, promiscuously to the Sword; and, that others might be deterred from the like Obstinacy by their Exam∣ple, he razed their Walls, and filled up their Trenches. The Terror of that Example caused Dumfriez, Lanerick, Air, and Bote, and many other weaker Forts to Surrender. At the beginning of the Spring, Roxburgh was taken by Iames Douglas, when the Garison was intent upon their Sports and Pastimes, in those Revels which were wont to be celebrated at the beginning of Lent. And not long after, Tho∣mas Randolph recovered the Strong Castle of Edinburgh; The Isle of Man was also surrendred, and the Castles thereof demolished, that they might not, again, be a Receptacle to the Enemy. In the mean time, Edward Bruce closely besieged the Castle of Sterlin, scituate on a Rock, steep every way but one, where the Passage to it lay. It was defended by Philip Mowbray, a vigilant Commander, who, per∣ceiving the Success of the Brucians in Scotland; and, foreseeing a Siege, had mightily stored and fortified it with Arms and Provisions, before hand. And therefore, when Edward had fruitlessly spent many days in besieging it, and had no hopes to carry it, by force, That he might not seem to be repulsed without doing any thing, he enters into Con∣ditions with Mowbray,

That, if he was not relieved in an Year, to commence from that very Day, by the English, then the Castle was to be surrendred, and the Garison should have Liberty, Bag and Baggage, to march whither they pleased.

These Conditions did much displease the King, yet, that he might not detract from his Brothers Credit, he resolved to observe them. Yet, in regard he did not doubt, but the English would come at the time appointed, he prepares, as much, as, in so great a scarcity of things, he was able, to manage his last Encounter with his potent Enemy. And indeed, Edward, considering, that he was not only dispossessed of Scotland, whose People his Father had left to him conquered and broken; but that England was also in danger, had a desire to root out so Rebelli∣ous, Disobedient and Unquiet a Nation. In order whereunto, he levied an Army, not only of English and such Scots who adhered to them, but he increased it by supplys from his Transmarine Domi∣nions, (which then were many, great, and opulent) so that his Army was bigger, than ever any King of England had, before. Yea, he received also an Accession of Force from his Allyes beyond the Seas, especially from Flanders and Holland, whom his Father had strenu∣ously assisted against Philip, King of France. They say, it consisted of above 100000 Fighting men. There followed also his Army, a Multi∣tude of Baggagers, Attendants, and Sutlers, who carries Provision both by Sea and Land, because they were to come into a Country not very fruitful of it self; and besides, which had, so many years before, been harassed with all the Miseries of War. Moreover, there was a Multitude of Such, as were to set out, or describe, Colonies, and to receive Dividends of Land, who brought their Wives and Chil∣dren along with them; so that the Force of so Rich, Powerful and Flourishing a Kingdom, as England was, being thus, as it were, a∣bridged and epitomized into one Army, the Consideration thereof produced such a Confidence in them all, That, now, all the Discourse was, not of Fighting, but rather of Dividing the Spoil. Bruce, hearing

of this great Preparation of the Enemy, prepares also his Forces, far inferiour in Number to so great a Multitude, as being Thirty Thou∣sand only, but such, as were inured to Hardships, and the Toyl of a Civil War; and who now carried the Hopes of their Lives, For∣tunes, and of all that is dear to Men, as it were, on the Point of their Swords. With this Army, he sate down on the left Bank of the Ri∣ver Bannock. This River hath steep Banks on Both sides, and it had but a few, and those too, narrow, Passages, or Fords; it is about Two Miles from Sterlin; Below the Hills, before it makes its influxe into the Forth, it passeth thrô a little leveller Ground, yet, here and there, it is Marshy. In the Winter it usually runs with a rapid Torrent; but, in that hot Time of the Year, the Water was but Low and Ford∣able, in many Places. Bruce, by how much the Weaker in Force, was so much the more Circumspect, and therefore he used Art and Policy to make the Passage over the River more difficult, to the English, who possessed the right-hand Bank thereof. In order where∣unto, he caused deep Trenches to be dug in level Places, wherein he fastened sharp Stakes, or Spikes, and covered them with some light Turffs a top, that so his Stratagem might not be discovered; and moreover, he caused Calthrops of Iron to be thrown up and down on the Ground, in Places most convenient.

Wherefore, when Camp was almost joyned to Camp, as be∣ing on different Hills, only a small River between them: Ed∣ward sent 800 Horse a little before to Sterlin, who marched a little off from the Camp; Robert, imagining, that they were sent to plunder in the Neighbourhood, gave command to Thomas Randolph to follow them, with 500 Horse, either to prevent the stragglers in wasting the Country, or, if a fit Occasion were of∣fered, to fight them. The English, seeing them, desisted from their intended March to Sterlin, and faced about. The Fight was sharp, and continued long, the Victory inclining, for a time, to neither Party, so that Iames Douglas, being concerned for the Scots, who were the fewer in Number, earnestly desired Bruce, That he might go and re∣lieve them. Bruce peremptorily denied him, whereupon, tho', at present, a Spectator only from an Hill, yet he resolved, if the Scots were further distressed, to succour them; but, perceiving the En∣glish to give back, and the Scots to get Ground, he stopped his March, that so he might detract nothing from another mans Praise. The English, having lost but those Few out of so numerous an Army, were not discouraged in their Spirits, and also the Scots prepared themselves for the Encounter, the next day, as if they had already received an Omen of a compleat Victory.

The Night, thô very short, (for the Battel was fought on the 9th of the Calends of Iuly) yet seemed long to both Parties, for the Eagerness they had to Fight. All the Scots were divided into Three Brigades, The King led the Middle, or Main Battel; His Brother Commanded the Right Wing; and Randolf, the Left. The English,

besides a multitude of Archers, which they placed on the outside of Both their Wings, had also Curiassiers, out of France. They speed∣ing towards Randolf, who stood on the Lower Ground, and endea∣vouring to fall obliquely on his Flank, fell suddainly into the Di••ches made by Bruce, where they tumbled one upon another, with great Slaughter, both of Man and Horse. They that first fell in, were Slain by the pressure of Those that fell upon them, and the last Ranks being discouraged at the loss of the First, retreated back. This Ter∣ror did also somewhat retard the Foot, for they were afraid of fal∣ling into the like Snares. There also did happen another Accident, which, thô little in itself, yet contributed very much (as such Nice∣ties are wont to do in War) to the main Chance. Robert rode up and down before his Army, to keep them in their Ranks, having a Batoon in his Hand, a certain Englishman knew him, and ran at him with his Spear. The King avoided the blow, and, as the Horse, in his Car∣rier, ran a little beyond him, struck his Rider dead with his Batoon, and down he tumbled from his Horse, to the ground. The Com∣mon Soldiers highly commended the perillous Audacity of the King; and were hardly kept in by their Commanders, but hand over head, would rush upon the Enemy, with such an eagerness of Mind, that they were likely to break their Enemies Ranks, unless the English Archers, who were placed in their Wings, had repulsed them with great Loss; and Bruce also sent in some Troops of Horse, who drove them back; Yet, in this Action, a Mistake did more prejudice to the English, than their Enemy did. The Rabble-Rout, which followed the Camp, caused the Baggage-men to mount their Draught horses and to hang out some Linen Cloth instead of Ensigns, thus they stood on an Hill, where they might easily be seen, and made an Appea∣rance of a new Army. The English, who stood nearest, were surpri∣zed with a double Fear, and betook themselves to their Heels. Their Fear disordered the rest of the Army. A Multitude of common Sol∣diers were slain the pursuit; some of our Writers say, Thi•• Fifty Thousand English fell at that Fight. Caxton, an Englishman, doth not set down the precise Number, but, he says, it was a mighty Over∣throw, an innumerable Multitude being slain; and he did well in not being positive in the Number, for it was hard to compute it, in regard the Flight was so scattered, wherein more perished than in the Bat∣tel. This is certain, the Slaughter was so great, that the English, thô they had many Provocations from the Scots, yet did not stir for Two or Three Years, after. Of the English Nobility, there fell about Two hundred, and almost an equal Number were taken Prisoners. The Prisoners related, That the King himself began to fly first, and if he had not been received into the Castle of Dunbar, by the Earl of March, and so sent in a Skiff by Water to Berwick, he had not escaped the hands of Douglass, who, with 400 Horse, pursued him Forty Miles. Amongst the Prisoners, there was taken a Monk, One of those who are called Carmelites, from Mount Carmel in Syria, he was accounted a good Poet for that Age, and was brought into the Army to celebrate the Victory of the English, in a Poem; but, they being beaten, he Sung their Overthrow in a Canto, (for which he had his Liberty.) His Verse was rude and barbarous, yet, it did not

altogether displease the Ears of the Men of that Age. Neither was the Victory unbloody to the Scots; they lost above Four thousand Men, amongst whom, there were but Two Knights: Hereupon, Sterlin Castle was surrendred, according to Compact, and the Ga∣rison sent away.

About these times there happened a Passage, not unworthy to be related, in regard of the variety of Providences, in a narrow compass of time. Iohn Menthet, who betrayed his Friend Wallis to the English, and was therefore worthily hated by the Scots, recei∣ved, amongst other Rewards, the Government of the Castle of Dum∣britton from the English. When other Forts were recovered, That only, or, but very few with it, held out for the English. And be∣cause it was naturally impregnable, the King dealt with the Gover∣nor, by his Friends and Kindred, to Surrender it. He demanded the Country, or Earldom of Lennox, as the Price of his Treachery, and Surrender. Neither would he ever so much as hear of any other Terms. In this Case, the King did waver and fluctuate in his Mind, what to do; on the One side, he earnestly desired to have the Castle; yet, on the Other, he did not so much prize it, as, for its sake, to dis∣oblige the Earl of Lennox, who had been his Fast, and almost his on∣ly, Friend, in all his Calamities. But the Earl of Lennox, hearing of it, and coming in, soon decided the Controversie, and persuaded the King, by all means, to accept the Condition. Hereupon, the Bargain was made, as Iohn Menteith would have it, and Solemnly confirmed; But when the King was going to take Possession of the Castle, a Carpenter, one Rolland, met him in the Wood of Cholcon, about a Mile from it, and having obtained Liberty to speak with the King, concerning a matter of great importance, he told him, what Treachery the Governor did intend against him; Yea, and had pre∣pared to execute it; It was This, In a Wine-Cellar, concealed, and under Ground, a sufficient number of Englishmen were hid, who, when the rest of the Castle was given up, and the King secure, were to issue forth upon him as he was at Dinner, and either to kill, or take him Prisoner. Hereupon, the King, upon the Surrender of the other Parts of the Castle by Iohn, being kindly invited to a Feast, refu∣sed to eat; till, as he had searched all other parts of the Castle, so he had viewed that Wine-Cellar, also. The Governor excused it, pretending, That the Smith, who had the Key, was out of the way; but that he would come again anon; the King, not satisfied there∣with, caused the Door to be broken open, and so the Plot was dis∣covered; The English were brought forth in their Armour, and be∣ing severally examined, confessed the whole Matter; and they ad∣ded also another discovery, viz. That a Ship rode ready in the next Bay to carry the King into England. The Complices in this wicked De∣sign were put to death; but Iohn was kept in Prison; because the King was loth to offend his Kindred, and especially his Sons in Law, in so dangerous a time. For he had many Daughters, all of them ve∣ry beautiful, and Married to Men, rich enough, but Factious. There∣fore, in a time of such imminent Danger, the Battel drawing near, wherein All was at stake, lest the Mind of any powerful Man might be rendred averse from him, and thereby inclined to practise against

him, Iohn was released out of Prison, upon this Condition, (for the performance whereof, his Sons in Law undertook) That he should be placed in the Front of the Battel, and there, by his Valour, should wait the Decision of Providence. And indeed, the Man, otherwise frau∣dulent, was, in this, as good as his Word, for he behaved himself so Valiantly, that that days Work procured him, not only Pardon for what was past, but large Rewards for the future.

The Fame of this Victory, being divulged over all Britain, did not only abate the Fierceness of the English, but raised up the Scots even from extream Desperation; supplying them not only with Mo∣ney, but with Glory, with Arms and other Furniture for War. Neither did they only release their own Men, who were made Pri∣soners, either in Fight, or upon Surrenders, but also they raised great Sums, by the Redemption of the English, they had taken. And, out of the Spoils, many recompensed and made up the Losses they had re∣ceived in former Times, yea, and got great Estates too, for the future. For the English came with all their Precious Things about them, not as to a War, but as to an assured Victory. The King, having thus prosperously succeeded in the War, spent the following Winter in settling the State of the Kingdom, which was much weakened by so long a War, and also in bestowing Rewards on the well-deserving. The next Spring, Berwick was taken from the English, after they had enjoyed it 20 Years. In the next place, he Convened an Assembly of the Estates at Air, a Town of Kyle.

There, in a full Assembly, by the Suffrages of all the Orders, the Kingdom was confirmed to Bruce; and afterwards, because the King had but one only Daughter, left by his former Wife; The States, remembring what publick Mis∣chiefs had happened by the Dispute, which in former times had been managed concerning the Right of Succession, made a Decree, That if the King left no Issue Male, his Brother Edward should succeed him in the Kingdom, and his Sons, in order, after him. But, if he also should decease without Issue Male, then the Crown was to descend to Mary, the Daughter of Robert, and to her Posterity; yet so, that the Nobility were to provide her an Husband fit for her Royal Estate, and for the Succession in the Kingdom. For it was lookt upon, as far more just, That an Husband should be chosen for the young Lady, than that she should chuse an Husband for her self, and a King for the whole Land. It was also Decreed, That, in the Minority of the King, Thomas Randolfe, or, if he should miscarry, Iames Douglas, should be Tutors to the King, and Governors of the Kingdom.

The Fame of Robert's noble Exploits, both at home and abroad, excited the Irish to send Ambassadors to him, To put them∣selves, and their Kingdom, under his Protection. And, if his Do∣mestick Affairs should not suffer him to accept of the Kingdom, him∣self; yet, that he would permit his Brother Edward to do it, that so a Nation, allied to him, might no longer suffer under the cruel, insult∣ing, and intolerable Domination and Servitude of the English. The Irish wrote also to the Pope, to the same purpose; and he, by his Missives, desired the English to forbear wronging and oppressing the Irish; but in vain, so that Edward Bruce went thither with a great Army, and, by universal consent, was saluted, King. In the first

year of his Arrival he drove the Engl••sh out of all Vlster, and reduced it to his Obedience; yea, he passed over all the rest of the ••sland with his Victorious Army. The next year, a new Army was sent over from England; Robert, perceiving, that the War would grow hotter, levied new Forces, and made haste over to his Brother. He suffered much in that Expedition, by his want of Provision, and when he was but about one days March from him, he heard, That he, and all his Men were defeated, the Third of the Nones of October. The re∣port is, That Edward, edged on by too much desire of Glory, did precipitate the Fight, lest his Brother should share with him in the Glory of the Victory.

The King of England, being informed, that the Flower of the Mi∣litia of Scotland did attend Bruce in a Foreign Country, and think∣ing This a fit opportunity offered him to Revenge the Losses of former times, sent a great Army, under select Commanders, into Scotland. Douglas, Governor of the Borders, fought with them thrice in seve∣ral places, and slew almost all their Commanders, and a great part of the Souldiers. The English having sped ill with their Land Army, came into the Forth with a Naval Force, and infested all the Sea Coasts by their Excursions: The Earl of Fife sent 500 Horse to re∣strain the Plunderers; but they, not daring to encounter so great a Multitude, in their Retreat, met with William Sinclare, Bishop of the Caledonians, accompanied with about 60 Horse, who, perceiving the Cause of their Retreat, did most grievously reproach them for their Cowardize, and cried out, All you, that wish well to Scotland, follow me; and thereupon, catching up a Lance, they all cheerfully followed him, and he made so brisk an Assault on the scattered Plun∣derers, that they fled hastily to their Ships; and whilst they all en∣deavoured to get aboard, one Ship, overladen with Passengers, was sunk, and all, that were in it, drowned. This Attempt of Sinclare's was so grateful to the King, That, ever after, he called him, His Bishop. That Summer, when all the English Counties, bordering on the Scots, lay desolate and unmanured, by reason of want of Provision, (Dis∣eases also abounding amongst all sorts of tame Animals and Cattle) as also by frequent Invasions; To remedy this Inconvenience, Ed∣ward came to York, but there he was not able to compleat an Army, by reason of the Paucity of the Inhabitants; so that the Londoners, and the Parts adjoining were fain to supply him with Soldiers, thô many of them had their Passes and Discharges from all Military Services, before. At length he made up an Army, and marches to besiege Berwick, he was scarce arrived there, when Thomas Randolfe passed over the River Solway, and marched another way into England; where he wasted all with Fire and Sword, no Man resisting him; yea, in some Places, he could hardly meet with any Man, at all. For a Plague, which Reigned the former year, had made such a De∣vastation, that the Face of things seemed very piteous, even to their very Enemies. When the Scots had marched above 100 Miles, and had fired all, especially about York, the Archbishop thereof, more fo•• the Indignity of the Thing, than the Confidence in his Force, took Arms. He gathered together an Army numerous enough, but raw and undisciplined, consisting of a promiscuous Company of

Priests, Artificers, and Country-Labourers, whom he led, with more Boldness, than Conduct, against his Invaders; but, being overcome by them, he lost many of his Men, and He, with some few, saved themselves by Flight. There was so great a Slaughter of Priests made there, That the English, for a long time after, called that Battel, The White Battel.

Edward, hearing of this Overthrow, lest his Conquering Enemy should make further and greater Attempts, brake up his Siege, and retreats to York, (the Scots having withdrawn themselves) and from thence into the heart of his Kingdom. The English were busied with Domestick Tumults, so that a short Truce was made, rather because both Kings were tired with the War, than, otherwise, any whit de∣sirous of a Pacification. In this Calm, Robert Indicts a Convention of all the Estates and Nobility. And, because the Changes, happen∣ing in so long a War, had confounded the Right of Mens Possessions, he commanded every one to produce and shew, By what Title he held his Estate. This Matter was equally grievous to the Old Possessors, as well as the New. Valiant Men thought, they enjoyed That by a good Right, which they had taken from their Enemies; and they took it much amiss, That what they had got, as the Price of their Military Toil, yea, of their Blood too, should be rent from them, in Times of Peace. As for the old Owners of Estates, seeing there was no one House almost, but had suffered in the War, They had lost their Deeds, (by which, they held their Lands) as well as their other Goods. Whereupon, they all entred upon a Project, valiant in appearance, but bold and temerarious in the event. For when the King, in the Parliament, commanded them to produce their Titles, every one drew his Sword, and cried out, We carry our Titles in our Right Hands; The King, being amazed at this sudden and surprising Spectacle, though he took the Matter very heinously, yet he stifled his Indignation for the present, until a fit Time of Revenge. And it was not long, before an Occasion was offered him, to shew it; Di∣vers of the Nobles, being conscious to themselves of the Audacity of their late Attempt, and fearing to be punished for it, conspire toge∣ther to betray the Kingdom to the English. The Fact was discover∣ed to the King, and that so plainly, that the Letters, declaring the Manner, Time, and Place, were intercepted, and their Crime made evident. Whereupon they were all taken, and brought to the King, without any Tumult at all raised at their Apprehension. And be∣cause it was much feared, That William Souls, Governor of Berwick, would deliver up both Town and Castle to the English, before the Conspiracy was publickly divulged, he made a Journy thither, as it were, by she by. A Convention was made at Perth, to try the Pri∣soners, where the Letters were produced, and every ones Seal known; being convicted of High-Treason, by their own Confession, they were put to Death. The Chief were David Brechin, and William Lord Souls, of the Nobility; also Gilbert Mayler, Richard Brown, and Iohn Logie; besides, there were many others of all Orders accused, but there being only Suspicion against them, they were dismissed. The Death of David Brechin only, did diversly affect Mens minds; for, besides that he was the Son of the Kings Sister, he was accounted the

Prime young man of his Age, for all Arts both of Peace and War. He had given given evident Proofs of his Valour in Syria, in the Holy War. He, being summoned in by the Popular Conspirators, never gave his Consent to the Treason, only his Crime was, That, being made acquainted with so foul a Machination, he did not Discover it. The Body of Roger Mowbray, who dyed before Conviction, was Con∣demned to all kind of Ignominy, but the King remitted that Punish∣ment, and caused it to be buried.

Some some few Months before this Process was had, the Popes Legates, who, at the request of the English, came to compose the Dissensions betwixt the Kingdoms, not being able to do any thing therein, lest they might seem to have done nothing for the English in their Legation, Excommunicated the Scots, and forbad them the Use of Publick Divine Service, (the Popes Thunderbolts being terrible, in Those days.) Bruce, to shew how little he valued the Popes Curses in an unjust Cause, gathered an Army and invaded England, follow∣ing the Legate at his Departure, almost at his very heels. There he made a foul havock with Fire and Sword, and came as far as the Cross at Stanmore. The English, not to suffer so great Ignominy to pass unrevenged, levied so numerous an Army, that they promised themselves an easy Victory, even without Blood. Robert thought it dangerous to run the Hazard of All in a Battel against the mighty Army of so great a King, but rather he resolved to help out the mat∣ter with Policy, rather than by Force. He drave all the Cattle in∣to the Mountains, whither Armies could not, but with great Diffi∣culty, ascend; and all other things of use for an Army, he caused, either to be reposited in Fortify'd Places, or to be wholly spoiled.

The English, who came thither in hopes of a speedy Battel, and had not Provisions for a long March; when they perceived, what Devastation was made in their own Country, were inflamed with Anger, Hatred, and Desire of Revenge, and resolved to pierce into the middst of Scotland, and to ferret the King out of his boroughs; yea, and force him to a Fight, tho' against his Will. For the Great∣ness of his Forces did encourage him to hope, that, either he should blot out his former Ignominy by an Eminent Victory, or else, should recompense his Loss lately received, by an enlarged Depopulation; With this Resolution he came in all hast to Edinburgh; he spared Churches only in his March, but the further he was to go, the more scarcity he was like to find; So that, in five days time, he was forced to retreat. At his return, he spoiled all things, both Sacred and Pro∣phane. He burnt the Monasteries of Driburgh and Mulross, and killed those old Monks, whom either Weakness, or Confidence in their Old Age, had caused to stay there. As soon as Bruce was informed, that Edward was returned, for want of Provision, and that Diseases did rage in his Army, so that he had lost more Men than if he had been overcome in Battel, he almost trod upon his Heels, with an Army, noted more for the Goodness, than the Number, of Soldiers, and came as far as York, making grievous havock as he went. He had almost taken the King Himself by an unexpected Assault at the Monastery of Biland, where Edward, in a tumultuary Battel, was put to Flight, all his Household-stuff, Money, Bag and Baggage be∣ing

taken. To blot out the Ignominy of this Infamous Flight, An∣drew Berkley, Earl of Carlisle, was a while after accused, as if he had been bribed to betray the English, and so he lost his Life, in Punish∣ment for the Cowardize of another Man.

The next Year, a double Embassy was sent, One to the Pope, to reconcile him to the Scots, from whom he had been alienated by the Calumnies of the English; and Another to renew the Ancient League with the French. They Both easily obtained what they desired: For, when the Pope understood, That the Controversy arose by the Injury and Default of Edward the First, who affirmed,

That the King of Scots ought to obey, as a Feudatary, the King of England; and, That the English had nothing to defend their Claim by, but old Fables, and late Injuries; and besides, That, in Prosperity, being Summoned by the Pope, they always avoided an equal Decision of Things, tho, in their Adversity, they were always humble suiters to him for his Aid; and, on the other side, the Scots always were willing to have their Cause heard, and never shunned the Determination of an Equal Judge, nor the Arbitration of any Good men; and moreover, when they produced many Grants and Summons of For∣mer Popes, which made for them, and against their Enemies, the Scots were always present at the day, and the English, tho' they had Notice given, never came.

Hereupon, the Pope was easily re∣conciled to the Scots; and the French as easily induced to renew the Ancient League, only one Article was added to the old Conditions,

That if any Controversy did hereafter arise amongst the Scots, con∣cerning him who was to succeed in the Kingdom, the same should be decided by the Council of the States; and the French, if there were need, were to assist Him by his Authority, and with his Arms, who, by Lawful Suffrages, was by them declared King.

Our Wri∣ters cast the Rise of the Hamiltons, now a powerful Family in Scot∣land, upon these Times.

There was a certain Nobleman in the Court of England, who spake Honourably of the Fortune and Valour of Bruce; whereupon, one of the Spencers, Bed-Chamber Man to the King, either thinking, That his Speech was Reproachful to the English; or else, to curry Favour with the looser sort of the Nobility, drew forth his Faucheon, and, making at him, gave him a slight wound in the Body. The Man, being of a great Spirit, was more concerned at the Contumely, than at the Damage; and, being hindered by the coming in of many, to part the Fray, from taking present Revenge; the day after, finding his Enemy in a sit Posture, in the same place, he run him thorough: And fearing the Punishment of the Law, and the great Power of the Spencers at Court, he fled presently into Scotland, to King Robert, by whom he was courteously received, and some Lands, near the River Clyde, were bestowed upon him. His Posterity, not long af∣ter, were admitted to the Degree of Noblemen; and the Opulent Fa∣mily of the Hamiltons was Sirnamed from him, and also the Name of Hamilton was imposed on the Lands, which the King gave him.

Not long after, Edward had great Combustions at home, insomuch, that he put many of the Nobles to Death, and advanced the Spencers, the Authors of all Evil Counsel, higher than his own Kindred could

bear; so that, he was apprehended by his Son, and by his Wife, (who had received a small Force from beyond the Seas,) and kept close Prisoner; and not long after, he was slain by a course sort of Death, an hot Iron was thrust into his Fundament, through a Pipe of Horn, by which his Bowels were burnt up, and yet no Sign of so terrible a Fact appeared on the outside of his Body. His Wife and Son were thought Privy to the Parricide, either, because his Keepers would ne∣ver have dared to commit such a Deed, so openly, unless they had had Great Authors; or else, because they were never called in Question for so Immane a Butchery.

These Disturbances in England, which were followed by the Kings Death, Bruce also growing old and weak in Body, were the Occasi∣ons, that Peace for some Years did intercede between the Two Neigh∣bour Nations. For Bruce, being freed from the Fear of the English, and being also called upon by his Age, converted his Thoughts to settle his Domestick Affairs. And first, he made hast to confirm the Kingdom, (which was not yet quite recovered, nor fully setled, from the Commotions of former Times) to his only Son, yet but a Child, by the Consent and Decree of the Estates. And, if he died without Issue, then he appointed Robert Stuart, his Nephew by his Daughter, to be his Successor: He caused the Nobles to take an Oath, for the Per∣formance of this Decree. But afterwards, fearing. That, after his Death, Baliol would begin his old Dispute, about the Kingdom; es∣pecially seeing his Heirs, because of their Minority, might be liable to be injured by others; he sent Iames Douglas to Iohn Baliol, be∣ing in France, with large Gifts and Promises, That he would cease his Claim to the Kingdom: This he did, not so much to acquire a new Right, (because, according to the Scotish Custom, The King is made by the Decree of the Estates, who have the Supream Power in their Hands;) but, that he might cut off all Occasion from Wicked Men, to Calumniate his Posterity; and also, that he might Eradicate the ve∣ry Seeds of Sedition. Douglas found Baliol far more placable, than he, or others, thought, he would be; for he was now surrounded with the Miseries of Extream Old Age. He ingenuously Confessed,

That his Peccant Exorbitance was justly restrained, and that he was deservedly driven out of the Kingdom, as unworthy to Reign. And therefore, he was very willing, That his Kinsman Robert should enjoy the Crown, by whose high Valour, singular Felicity, and great Pains-taking, 'twas Vindicated into its Ancient Splendour: In one thing, he rejoyced, That they, by whom he was deceived, did not enjoy the Reward of their Perfidiousness.

When Robert had setled these Matters, according to his own de∣sire, the same Year, which was 1327. our Writers say, That Am∣bassadors were sent into Scotland, by Edward the Third, for a Pacifi∣cation; in which Matter, they seemed to act Treacherously, and in∣stead of Peace, they carried home War, but what the particular Fraud, was, is not expressed, and the English say, That the War was openly denounced by Robert, but they describe not the Cause of it; surely, it must needs be some great and mighty One; or else, a vale∣tudinary old Man, when Peace was scarce setled at home; and, who might have been sated with his former Victories, rather than with

War, would not so soon have been provoked to reassume his Arms. This is certain, That the King, by reason of his Age, could not ma∣nage the War himself in Person; so that Thomas Randolfe, and Iam••s Douglas, the Valiantest and Wisest of all that Age, were sent by him into England, with Twenty Thousand brave nimble Horse, but no Foot at all. The Reason was, That they might fly up and down swiftly, and not abide in one place; nor, be forced to Fight the English, unless they themselves pleased. For they knew, that the English would make Head against them in their first Expedition, with a far more numerous Army: Neither were they deceived in their Opinions, for the King of England, besides his Domestick Forces, had procured great Assistance of Horse, from Belgium; but, in regard they and the English fell out at York, some English Writers say, That they returned home again. But Frossard, a French Writer of the same Age, says, That they accompanied the English during the whole Expedition; and that, not only for Honours sake, but also for Fear of Sedition, they had the next Place to the Kings Regiment, always assigned to them, in the Camp. The King, having made a Conjunction of all his Forces, (which were clearly above Sixty Thousand Men) marched against the Scots, who had already passed over the Tine. Now, there were Two Fortified Towns on the Tine. One nearer Wales, which was Carlisle; and the other, about Fifty Miles lower, called Newcastle. The English had strongly Garisoned Both of them, to hinder the Enemies Passage over the River; but the Scots, knowing, where the River was fordable, passed over without any noise, and so deceived both the Garisons. When the English were come into the Bishoprick of Durham, from the Tops of the Hills, they might see Fires afar off, and then beginning to un∣derstand, how near their Enemy was, they tumultuously cryed, Arm, Arm, as if they were presently to fall to it.

They drew forth their Army into a Threefold Order of Battel, and marched directly to the Place, where they saw the Smoak of the Fire; the General denouncing a great Penalty on him, that with∣out his leave, should stir from his Colours. Thus they wearied them∣selves till the Evening, and then mark'd out a Place for their Camp, in a Wood, near a certain River, and there they placed their Bag∣gage and Carriages, which could not so swiftly follow the Flying Army.

The next day, they marched in the same Order, and towards Eve∣ning, they were forced to abide in their Tents, which they had pitched, as conveniently as the Place would afford, that so the Draught-Horses, and the Foot, might receive a little Refreshment. There the Nobles came to the King, and deliberated, How they should bring the Scots to a Battel. The most Part were of Opinion, That the English Foot were never able to overtake the flying Horse of the Scots, and if they did, yet they could not compel them to Fight, but in those Places, which they themselves judged most Convenient: But because there was such a general Devastation, that they could not stay long in an Enemies Country; they judged it best, to pass over the Tine, with all their Forces, and to intercept the Enemy in his Return home. And besides, the Country beyond the Tine was plainer

and fitter to draw up an Army in, that so the whole Body of the Army might be put upon Service. This Opinion was approved, and a Command given to refresh Themselves, and to do it as silently as ever they could, That they might more easily hear the word of Com∣mand, and the sound of the Trumpets; That so, leaving the Baggage behind, every one should carry a Loaf a piece; and, as if the next day they were to fight the Enemy, they were to await the Event of Fortune; so that their Bodies being refreshed from the weariness of the day before, a little after Midnight, they took up their Arms, and, in good order, begun their March; But the Marishes and Hills, by which they were to pass, quickly made them to break their Ranks, and he, that could, led the Van; the Rest followed their Steps, and their March was in such Disorder, that many Horse, and Carriage-Beasts, did either stick in the Mud, or else, did tumble down from steep Places, and oft times they cryed, To your Arms, and then all of them, in great Trepidation, ran to the Place from whence the Noise and Cry came, without any Order at all. But when they came to those that led the Van, they understood, That the Tumult was occasioned by a Multitude of Stags; who, being rouzed out of the Heath, by the Noise of Men, and afraid to see them, ran up and down in great Confusion, amongst the Brigades. At last, about Evening, the Horse, but without the Foot, came to the Fords of Tine, over which the Scots had passed, and by which, they would return (as they hoped) and, at Sun-set, they Forded over; the round and slippery Stones, which the River roles up and down, much in∣commoding their Horse. And besides, they were afflicted with ano∣ther Inconvenience, They had, few or none of them, any Iron Tools to cut down Wood with; so that, after they had marched Twenty Eight Miles, they were fain to lie in their Arms, that Night, on the bare Ground, holding their Horses Bridles, in one of their Hands; for, they could not cut down Wood to make Tents, (having brought none with them) nor Huts, nor so much as Stakes to tye their Hor∣ses to. Early in the Morning, assoon as it was light, there fell such mighty showres of Rain, that even small Brooks were hardly passa∣ble, by Man or Horse; and also, they were inform'd by some Coun∣try Men, which they took, That the Neighbouring Country was so Barren and Desolate, That no Provision was to be had, nearer than Newcastle and Carlisle; of which, one was Twenty Four, the other Thirty, Miles off. Thither they sent their Draught-Horses and Ser∣vants; in the mean time, they made use of their Swords, to cut down Stakes to tye their Horses to; and some Shrubs and small Trees to build them Huts, with the Leaves whereof they fed their Horses, and so, that Night, they were fain to Fast.

Three Days after, they, that were sent to the Towns, returned with some small Provisions, which they brought along with them; some Sutlers came also with them, with Bread and Wine, to make a Gain of; but it was but little, and also, not Good; yet, such as it was, the Soldiers were ready to fall out, Who should have it, first. Having thus passed Seven days, in great Want, and being also much molested with continual Showres, so that their Horse-Furniture was wet, and their Horses Backs did Ulcerate, and they themselves

stood (many of them) Armed, Day and Night, in their wet Cloaths; neither could they make any Fire, by reason, that the Wood was Green; and besides, it was wetted by the Rain water; The Eighth day, they resolved to repass the River at a more commodious Ford, Seven miles above the Place, where they were; but there also the River was swoln by reason of the Showres, so that they were much incommoded, and some were drowned, in their passage. As soon as they had landed their Army upon the other side, a great Reward was proposed to him, Who could bring the first certain Tidings, Where the Scots were. The Two next Days, their March lying thrô desolate places, and ruined by late Fires, they had Forage enough for their Horses, but little Provision for Themselves. On the Fourth Day, One of the Fifteen young Men, who scouted out to bring News where the Scots lay, returned back, and informed them, That the Scots Army was about Three Miles distance from Theirs; and that, for Eight Days last past, They had been as uncertain what became of the English, as the Engl••sh had been what became of Them. This he affirmed for Truth, as having been taken Prisoner by the Scots, and freed without Ransom, upon Condition, he would go tell his King, That, they would wait for his Coming in that Place; and, That they were as willing to Fight, as He.

Upon the Receipt of this Message, the King Commanded the Ar∣my to make an Halt, that Man and Horse might take some Refresh∣ment, and so be ready for the last Encounter; and thus, in Three Brigades, he marched slowly towards the Enemy. Assoon as they came in fight one of another, the Scots had so divided their Men in∣to Three Batailions upon an Hill, that the Rocks and Precipices there∣of secured them on the Right and Left, from whence, they might cast down Stones on the Enemy, if they endeavoured to come up to them. At the Foot of the Hill, the English had a rapid Torrent to pass, so full of Great and Round Stones, that they could not Ford over to their Enemy; or, if they had so done, they could not Retreat without certain Ruin. The English, perceiving that they could not come at the Enemy, but with great disadvantage, pitched their Tents; and sent an Herald at Arms to the Scots, advising them to come down into the Champion Country, to Fight for Glory and Empire by true Valour, in an open Plain: The Scots answered, That they would Fight for no bodies pleasure, but their own; That they marched into England, to revenge the Injuries they had received; if they had done any thing which did offend them, they had free Liberty to take their own Revenge. As for Themselves, they resolved to abide There, as long as they pleased; and if their Enemy did attaque them, at his Peril be it. The next Three Days, their Camps being near, and Parties placed at the Fords, some slight Skirmishes passed betwixt them; the Fourth Day, assoon as it was Light, the Watch brought Word, That the Scots had forsaken the Hill, on which they were; whereupon, Scouts were sent out to bring certain News, and to follow them, if they had Retreated; who brought word, That the Scots had pitched their Tents on another Hill by the same River, much more convenient for them than the First, where they had a Wood which secured their In∣gress and Egress. The English, who hoped that they should Famish

the Scots, (who avoided Fighting) in a Foreign Soil, being fru∣strated of their Expectation, followed them, and pitched their Tents on an opposite Hill. After they had abode there some Days, it was observed, That they grew more Negligent than formerly in their Night-watches; either, because they undervalued the Scots, because of their Paucity, or else, because they meditated nothing, but Flight. Douglas took hold of the Opportunity, to attempt something, and passing over the River with 200 Select Horse, he entred the Enemies Camp, where, he saw, it was but slenderly Guarded. He had al∣most pierced to the King's own Tent, where, cutting off the Cords, the Alarm being taken, he killed near 300 English in his Re∣treat, and brought his Men safely off; After this, no Memorable Action happened, save, that the English, instructed by their own Loss, placed more careful Watches, in convenient Places. At last, it was told them by a Scot, whom they had taken Prisoner, That there was a Proclamation in that Camp, That, at the Third Watch, all should be ready to follow Douglas, whither-soever he should lead them. This Relation struck such a Terror into the Engl••sh, That, dividing their Army into Three Batailions, at a moderate Distance one from another, they stood all that Night in their Arms; and their Servants held their Horses, Bridled, Sadled, and ready prepared, for whatever should happen in their Camp. And moreover, they placed strong Guards at all the Fords of the River. At last, towards Day, Two Scots Trumpeters were brought to the King, who told him, That the Scots were Commanded to returned home; and if the English had a mind to revenge the Loss they had sustained, they must Follow them. Hereupon, the English called a Council of War, where it was resolved, That it was better to march back with the Army at present, than to follow such flying Stragglers, to the great vexati∣on both of Horse and Man; considering, they had lost more Men in this Expedition by Famine and Sickness, than might have fallen in a Set-Battel. When their Retreat was resolved upon, many of the English, either in hopes of Prey, which might be left behind in their hasty Retreat; or else, desirous to understand something of their Enemies Affairs, went into their Camp, where they found about Five Hundred Deer, and especially Stags, already killed, (of which sort, the English keep many, not only their Kings, but even many private Persons also,) and also great Budgets, made of raw Skins, in which they boiled their Meat, and about Ten Thousand Snapsacks. Moreover, there were Two English Men, whose Legs were broken, but they were yet alive. All these things being Evidences of great Hardiness and Poverty, did confirm the goodness of their Advice, who were for marching the Army back.

This Year, Walter Stuart, and Queen Elizabeth, died, one the Son in Law, the other, Wife to the King: Besides, the Castles of Alnewick and Norham were besieged by the Scots, but▪ without Suc∣cess: Preys were also driven out of Northumberland. In March, Am∣bassadors came from England, to treat of a perpetual Peace, and a Truce was made for Three Years. The next Year, which was 1328. the English held a Parliament at Northampton, the Eighth of the Ca∣lends of Iuly, wherein all the Orders of Estates agreed to a Peace

with the Scots upon these Terms;

That the English should renounce all Right, which they, or their Ancestors, pretended to have to the Crown of Scotland; and, That they should leave That Kingdom as Free, as it was at the Death of Alexander the Third; and, That they should be Subject to no External Yoke of Servitude; and, on the other side, the Scots were to surrender up all the Lands, they sometimes held in England, as Feudataries; That Cumberland and Northumberland, as far as Stanmore, should be Boundaries to the Scots; That David, the Son of Robert, should take to Wife Ioan, the Sister of Henry; That the English should faithfully return all Pacts, Bonds, and Writings, or any other Monuments of Subjection, into the Hands of the Scots, and should disanul them, for the fu∣ture; That the Scots, for the Damage which they had lately done the English King, and for the Lands which his Father and Grand∣father had given to his Favourites in Scotland, should pay him Thirty thousand Marks of Silver.

Both Kings had their proper Reasons, why they consented, so ea∣sily, to these Conditions. The English King, having wasted his Trea∣sure, and having been put to an Ignominious Flight, and thereby lessened in the Eyes of his own Subjects, as well as of his Enemies, thereupon was afraid, That some Domestick Sedition would arise, and then a Warlike Enemy, pufft up with his late Success, should come on his Flank, and thereby mightily endamage his Kingdom. And Robert, being broken with Old Age, Toil, and Diseases, (for, a little before his death, he fell into a Leprosy) having also been long exercised with the events of both Fortunes, good and bad, resolved, if he could, to give up himself to his Ease; and not only so, but to provide for the Tranquillity of his Heirs, in regard of their infirm and tender Age. And therefore, having settled Peace abroad, he turned himself wholly to settle Matters at home. When the Marri∣age of his Son was magnificently celebrated, he, perceiving the end of his Life to be near at hand, composed himself almost into the Ha∣bit of a private Man, (for some years before, all the Grand Affairs of State had been managed by Thomas Randolph, and Iames Douglas) and lived in a small House at Cardross, (a place divided from Dum∣britton by the River Levin) and kept himself, but in case of great Necessity, from the Concourse of People. Thither he called some of his Friends, a little before his Death, and made his Will. He confirmed those to be his Heirs, which were so declared by the Con∣vention of Estates. First, David his Son, being eight year old; next, Robert his Nephew by his Daughter; he commended them to his Nobles, and especially to Thoma•• Randolph, his Sisters Son, and Iames Douglas. Afterward, he settled his Houshold Affairs, and exhorted them all to Concord amongst themselves, and to observance of Alle∣giance to their King; if they did so, he would assure them to be un∣conquerable by a Foreign Power. Moreover, he is reported to have added Three Commands, or, if you will, Counsels; First, That they should never make any one Man, Lord of the Aebudae Islands; Next, That they should never fight the English, with all their Force, at one time; and Thirdly, That they should never make with them a Perpetual League. In Explicating his First Advice, he discoursed much con∣cerning

the Number, Bigness, and Power of the Islands, and con∣cerning the Multitude, Fierceness, and Hardiness of their Inhabi∣tants; They, with Ships, Such as they were, yet not inconvenient for those Coasts, coping with Men unskill'd in Marine Affairs, might do a great deal of Mischief to others, but receive little Da∣mage, themselves: And therefore, Governors were Yearly to be sent thither, to administer Justice amongst them, by Officers, who should not be continued long in their Places, neither. His Second Advice concerning the English, stood upon this Foot, Because the English, as inhabiting a better Country, did exceed the Scots in Number of Men, Money, and all other Warlike Preparations; and by reason of these Conveniencies, they were more accustomed to their Ease, and not so patient of Labour or Hardship: On the other side, the Scots were bred in an hardier Soil, and were, by reason of their Parsimony and continual Exercise, of a more healthy Constitution of Body; and, by the very manner of their Education, made more capable to endure all Military Toil; and therefore, That they were fitter for suddain and occasional Assaults, so to weaken and weary out their Enemy, by degrees, than to venture all at once in a pitch'd Battel. His Third Advice was grounded upon this Reason, Because, if the Scots should have a long Peace with the English, (having no other Enemy besides them to exercise their Arms upon) they would grow Lazy, Luxurious, and so easily become Slothful, Voluptuous, Effe∣minate, and Weak. As for the English, though they had Peace with the Scots, yet France was near them, which kept their Arms in ure; If then, those who are skilful in Warlike Affairs should cope with the Scots, thus grown unskilful and sluggish, they might promise to themselves an assured Victory. Moreover, he commended to Iames Douglas the Performance of the Vow, which he had made, which was, to go over into Syria, and to undertake the Cause of Christendom in the Holy War, against the Common Enemy thereof. And, because he himself, by reason of his Home-bred Seditions; or else, being broken with Age and Diseases, could not perform the Vow himself, he earnestly desired, That Douglas would carry his Heart, after he was deceased, to Jerusalem, that it might be buried there. Douglas looked upon This as an Honourable Imployment, and as an eminent Testi∣mony of the Kings Favour towards him; and, therefore, the next Year, after the Kings Death, with a good Brigade of Noble young Men, he prepared for his Voyage. But, being upon the Coasts of Spain, he heard, That the King of Arragon managed a fierce War against the same Enemy, with which he was to fight in Syria; and, thinking with himself, that it mattered not in what Place he assisted in the Cause of Christianity, he Landed his Men, and joined himself with the Spaniard; where, after many prosperous Fights, at last, de∣spising the Enemy as a weak and fugitive one, he thought to attempt something against him with his own Men, and so rushing unadvisedly on the Army of the Sarazens, he was, by them, drawn into an Am∣bush, wherein he and most part of his Men were slain. His chief Friends that perished with him, were, William Sinclare, and Robert Logan. This happened the next year after the Kings Death, which was 1330.

To be short, Robert Bruce, was, certainly, a most Illustrious Per∣son, every way, and he can hardly be parallelled for his Virtues and Valour, even in the most Heroick Times; for, as he was very Va∣liant in War, so, he was most Just and Temperate, in Peace; and, though his unhoped for Successes, and (after that Fortune was once satiated, or rather wearied, with his Miseries) a continual course of perpetuated Victory did highly Ennoble him; yet, to me, he seemed to have been more Glorious in his Adversities. For, What a strong Heart was That, which was not broken, no, nor yet weakened, by so many Miseries as brake in upon him, all at once? Whose Con∣stancy would it not have tried, to have his Wife a Prisoner, and to have his Four Valiant Brothers, cruelly put to Death? And his Friends, at the same time, vexed with all kind of Calamities; and they, which escaped with their Lives, were Exiled, and lost all their Estates: As for himself, he was outed not only of a large Patrimony, but of a Kingdom too, by the powerfullest King of those Times, and one, who was most ready, both for Advice and Action. Though he were beset with all these Evils, at one time; yea, and brought into the extreamest Want; yet, he never doubted of recovering the King∣dom. Neither did he ever do, or say, any thing, which was unbe∣coming a Royal Spirit. He did not do, as Cato the Younger, and Marcus Brutus, who laid violent Hands on themselves; neither did he, as Marius, incensed by his Sufferings, let loose the Reins of Ha∣tred and Passion, against his Enemies; but when he had recovered his Ancient State and Kingdom, he so carried it towards them, who had put him to so much Hardship and Trouble, That he seemed rather to Remember, that he was now their King, than that he had been sometimes their Enemy. And even, a little before his Death, though a great Disease made an addition to the Trouble of his Old Age; yet, he was so much Himself, as to confirm the Present State of the Kingdom; yea, and to consult the quiet of his Posterity. So that, when he died, all Men bewailed him, as being deprived, not only of a Just King, but of a Loving Father, too. He departed this Life, the Seventh of the Ides of Iuly, in the Year of Christ 1329. and of his Reign the Twenty Fourth.

Notes

• Lying upon the River A••∣mon near Perth.
• Iuly the 2••.
• Bruce over∣thrown, and retires in a disguise, to save his Life.
• Bruce, thought to be Dead, starts out from his Retirement, and takes some Castles.
• In the Braes of ••••gus, on the Head of the North-Water Esk.
• Cumins of B••chan 〈◊〉〈◊〉 again••t Bru••e. But dares not fight him.
• Iames Doug∣las joyns with Bruce.
• Bruce causes himself to be carried, sick, in∣to his Army, and overthrows Iohn Cumins.
• A Town in Garioch.
• Iune 30th. Bruce conquers all Galway.
• Edward enters Scotland a∣gainst B••uce, but retreats again.
• Bruce invades England.
• He takes Perth, Dumfreiz, &c. with E••inbur••h and the Isle of Man, from the English.
• Sterlin-Castle capitulates with Edward Bruce.
• Edward of England enters Scotland with a vast Army.
• Bruce his Po∣licy in a Fight.
• Small Engins, ordinarily round, with sharp Iron Spikes, standing out on each side of Them, so that, throw them which way soever you will upon the Ground, one Spike or other turns upward, and wounds, or pierces, the Horses Foot, that treads upon it, and thus makes him Lame and unfit for Service.
• Iune ••3.
• The English receive a great overthrow at Banno••k, near Sterling.
• Or Menteith
• Or Calhound in the Coun∣try of Lennox.
• The Trea∣chery of Men∣teith, who be∣fore betrayed Wallace, a∣gainst the King, disco∣vered.
• Menthet Re∣warded for his Valour in Bannock Fight.
• Berwick take•• by Bruce.
• The Kingdom confirmed to Bruce.
• Bruce desired, to accept the Crown of Ire∣land:
• He drives the English out of Vlster.
• Edward Bruce overthrown in Ireland by the English. October 5.
• An English Army worsted in Scotland.
• Bishop Sin∣clar's Valour against the English.
• Edward be∣sieges Ber∣wick.

  Randolfe in∣vades England, and over∣throws the Arch-Bishop of York.
• The W••it•• Battel, 〈◊〉〈◊〉?
• Edward re∣treats upon a Truce with the Scots.
• Robert calls for the Deeds of Mens Lands.
• Whereupon he receives an Affront.
• A Conspiracy against Bruce discovered, and the Acto•••• put to dea••••.
• The Scots Ex∣communicated
• Bruce invades England.
• Edward enter•• Scotland, but soon retreats.
• In Teviotdale.
• Bruce follows him and had almost taken him in a Skir∣mish.
• Not ••ar from Malto•• in Yorkshire.
• And••ew B••r••ly put to Death.
• The Scots ab∣solved by the Pope.
• And make a League with the French.
• The Rise of the Family of the Hamiltons, with the Oc∣casion thereof.
• Edw••rd of England slain by a strange kind of Death, not without the P••ivity of his Relations.
• Bruce settles the Succession in hi•• Family.
• And agrees with Baliol then in France, who consents the••eto.
• B••uce's Army 〈…〉〈…〉
• Edward makes Head against them.
• The Scots fly∣ing Army of Horse weary the Eng••ish to follow them.
• Stags, suddenly rouzed, affright the English.
• The English Army highly incommoded in their march.
• Reparties be∣tween both Armies.
• Douglas breaks in upon the English Camp, and does Ex∣ecution.
• The English Army Re∣treats.
• Cruelty to Prisoners.
• Iune, 24.
• A Peace con∣cluded be∣tween the Scots and English, with the Conditions thereof.
• B••••ce's last Will and Te∣stament.
• His Three Ad∣vices to his Successors, w••th the Rea∣sons upon which they were ground∣ed 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Robert Bruce's Vow to assist in the Holy War recom∣mended to Douglas to perform.
• Bruce would have his Heart buried at Ie∣rusalem.
• Douglas in his Voyage to Ie∣rusalem assists the Spaniards against the Moors, and was there slain.
• Bruce his high Encomi••ms.
• Iuly 9th.