A chronicle at large and meere history of the affayres of Englande and kinges of the same deduced from the Creation of the vvorlde, vnto the first habitation of thys islande: and so by contynuance vnto the first yere of the reigne of our most deere and souereigne Lady Queene Elizabeth: collected out of sundry aucthors, whose names are expressed in the next page of this leafe.

Edwarde the first.

EDward the first of that name, and sonne of king Henry the third, surnamed Long∣shanke, beyng of the age of .xxxv. yeres, began his reigne ouer Englande the .xvij. day of the moneth of Nouember, and in the yere of oure Lorde .M.CC.lxxij.

[unspec 1272/1] This Edward as before is shewed in the lv. yere of his fathers reigne, was in the holye land when his father dyed, and there did manye notable feates of warre as is aforesayd. And while he was so exercised, tidyngs was brought vnto him that his father was dead: Wherefore in all hast, he sped him into England, and came to London the seconde day of August, and was crowned at Westminster, with Alianor his wife sister vnto the king of Spaigne, the .xiiij. day of December folowyng of Robert Archebishop of Cauntorbury, which was in the beginnyng of the second yere of his reigne. At his Coronation were present the king of Scottes, and Iohn Erle of Britein, with theyr wyues the kinges sisters which liued short while after. Mathew of Westminster.

The next day after his Coronation, the Scottishe king aforesayde dyd homage vnto him for the realme of Scotland.

In the beginnyng of the reigne of this king Edward the first, the busie Citizens of London attempted to haue made a Maior as they woulde, but they were by the discreter number preuented: Notwithstandyng in the yere folowyng their purpose tooke more effect.

As before is sayde in the moneth of August, the King came to London, where he was ioyfully receyued of the Citizens, and with all honour con∣ueyed

to Westminster, where he kept great obseruaunces for his father a certeyne of tyme after.

Nowe the lewde purpose which the yere passed was in the light Citi∣zens, began to breake foorth: [unspec 1273/2] For where Philip le Taylor who before had beene chosen Maior of London, shoulde vpon the day of Simon and Iude haue bene placed in the Chayre of the Guyldhall as the maner is, dyuerse of the Citizens put him besyde the Chayre, and put therein Walter Henry, that was Maior the yere before. By reason whereof, great rumor and grudge arose among the Citizens: the matter whereof was after brought before the king, who heeryng the reasons of both partes, forsomuche as he could not agree them, he put both the sayd Sir Walter, and the sayd Philip asyde, and did choose Henry Frowike for Custos of the Citie, and so continued vntill Candelmasse next after. At which time by discrete & wise peaceable meanes, the aforenamed Sir Walter Haruie was set in aucthoritie as Maior, and so continued the whole yere.

At this time Lewlyn, or Lluellen Prince of Wales rebelled, and king Edward after the solempnitie of his Coronation gathered a great power to∣gether, and went toward Wales, and subdued the sayd Lewlyn.

The cause of this rebellion (saith Polidore) was for that the same Lluel∣lyn being desyrous to make a styrre and businesse in England, and ioynyng in amitie with the French king, sent messengers to king Philip of Fraunce to desyre his good will that he might mary Ladie Alianor the daughter of Si∣mon Mountfort Erle of Leycester, which then was a banished woman in Fraunce, as was her mother also, and Henry her brother. The which request of his the king graunted, and so sent the Damosell vnto him by her sayd bro∣ther Henry. The which Alianor with her brother were both taken by the English fleete, when they were approched nere vnto Wales about Bristow, and were brought vnto king Edward. Nowe when Prince Lluellen vnder∣stood this, he was so moued with the fact, that he streight wayes armed him∣selfe, and so makyng a roade into the marches of Englande, wasted and de∣stroyed the Countrie as he went, and slue all that he met with. For repression of the which his outrage and fury, and to relieue his distressed subiects there, the king reysed a puyssaunt armie, and at the length, when the Prince sawe what daunger he was in, and how lyke he was to be discomfited, he submit∣ted and yelded himselfe to his mercy, who vpon the sayd submission pardoned him, and with much ado deliuered him the sayd Ladie that was sent him (her virginitie remaynyng vnspotted) whome he shortly after maryed. But Ma∣thew of Westminster sayth, that he gaue the king afore hand in the name of a fine for his transgression fiftie thousande markes, and bound himselfe to pay yerely in the kinges Exchequer, a thousand markes more. And sone after he returned and ordeyned certeine newe lawes for the wealth of the Realme, which are to long here to reherse. Among the which one was that Bakers makyng bread lackyng the weight assigned, after the price of corne, should first be punished by losse of bread, and the second tyme by emprisonment, and lastly by the correction of the Pillory: And Milners for stealyng of corne, to be punished by the Tomberell: And for the execution hereof, he gaue auc∣thoritie, to all Maiors, Bailifes, and other officers through England, but specially to the Maior of London. He made a law also the same time against

the excessiue takyng of Vsurie by the Iewes, and that they should weare a certeine cognisaunce vpon their vppermost garment, whereby they should be knowne from Christians.

[unspec 1274/3] And this yere the king confirmed the liberties of the Citie of London, and graunted them some newe.

And at this time he helde his great Court of Parliament at Westmin∣ster, and summoned Lewlyn Prince of Wales to come to the same, the which presumptuously he denied. Wherefore then shortly after he entered againe into Wales, and so warred vpon the sayd Lewlyn, that he was constrayned to submit himselfe to the kinges graces mercie, and obteyned it with great difficultie, as is beforesayd.

After this king Edward builded the Castell of Flint, and strengthned the Castell of Rutland and other, with Englishe men, to kepe the Welshmen in due obedience, and so returned to London.

The aforenamed Walter Haruy who after long controuersie and strife by him made and continued against the Aldermen of London, and in the first yere of the king was at a folkemote holden at Paules crosse chosen Maior of London, and continued out that whole yere to the great trouble and hurt of the Citie, and he was this yere accused of dyuerse periuryes, and dedes done contrary to his othe. For the which, and for makyng of assemblyes of the Commons that fauoured him in his euill deedes, he was depriued of his Al∣dermanship and counsaile of the Citie for euer, and found suretie of .xij. honest persons that he should be of good abearyng for kepyng of the kinges peace within the Citie, for terme of his life.

[unspec 1275/4] And this yere was the statute of Mortmayn first enacted, which is that no man should geue vnto the Church any landes or rentes, without a speci∣all lycence first obteyned of the king: which acte sithen that tyme is set out more largely, and diuers things added therevnto.

[unspec 1276/5] In this tyme the king had in his court one Dauid brother vnto Lew∣lyn Prince of Wales, which Dauid did vnto the king suche pleasaunt seruice that the king bare him such loue and fauour that he gaue him the Lordship of Froddesham in Chesshire, but afterwarde, it did right well appere, that he was but a Trayterous spie to geue his brother Lewlin warning and know∣ledge, of all the kings will and minde.

[unspec 1277/6] And thys yere Mighelmas Terme was kept at Shrowesburie, but at Hillarie Terme following, it was agayne remoued to Westmynster. In the which by reason of caryage and of great raynes that then did fall, the records were sore blemished and defaced.

[unspec 1278/7] And in thys tyme a Parliament was holden at London, chiefely for the reformation of the kings coyne which then was sore clipped, by reason wher∣of, the same was much diminished and empayred.

And in the time of thys Parliament, manye of the Iewes in London, and other places of the Realme were taken and put in prison for clypping of Money, and in December following, dyuers enquestes were charged in London to enquire of the sayde Iewes and other that had so blemished the kings coyne. By the which enquestes the Iewes of the Citie, with dyuers Goldsmithes that kept exchange of Siluer were endicted. And shortly after Candlemas, the Maior and Iustices of the lande, sat at London, where be∣fore

them was cast CClxxxxvij. persons. Of the which were but three Englishemen, and all the reast were Iewes, and suche as came of Iewes borne in this Realme or else where, who were all at sundrie places & tymes put to execution.

And this yere beganne the foundation of the black Fryers beside Lud∣gate and of Baynardes Castell. And the same yere also was the Towne of Boston in Lincolneshire, greatly blemished with fyre.

And at thys tyme the king caused the halfpeny and farthing to be coyned of Siluer: where before, other coynes of mettall went among the people, [unspec 1279/8] to their great noyaunce. But the lack of the aforesayde coynes in these oure dayes are a great losse and hinderaunce to the pouertie of thys Realme. And in the Winter of thys yere, there fell so great snow, that thereof ensued much harme.

At thys tyme Dauid the brother of Lewlyn Prince of Wales (of whom before you haue heard) which dwelled in the kings court, [unspec 1280/9] to know the kings Counsayle, and thereof to informe hys brother: when he had that he wayted for, he secretly gate him into Wales to his brother, & prouoked him against the king in all that he might: and caused hym to victuall and man certaine Castelles within Wales, and specially the Castell of Swandon, wherein he much trusted, and gathered vnto him the Welshemen, by giftes and other meanes, so that he was verie strong.

Whereof, when the king was informed, he woulde therevnto geue no credite, vntill he had sent thether, and receyued from thence the certaintie. But for so much as winter was then toward, he might not as then go thether with any power, and therefore he prouyded to sende men and victualles to strengthen the Castels of Flynt and Rutlande, and other holdes which he there had, and made prouision to warre vppon them in the beginning of the next spring.

But the king yet hearing more and more of the vnstedfastnesse of the welshemen, and to keepe them from the anoyeng of his holdes, [unspec 1281/10] sent thether the Erles of Northumberlande and Surrey with a lustie Crewe of souldi∣ours, and with them went Sir Roger Clifforde, Sir Wylliam Lyndsey, Sir Richard Tanny, and many other knightes and Esquires. The which with great courage entered Wales, and made with the Welshmen manye skirmishes vntill at the last vpon Palme Sunday, Dauid with a great po∣wer of Welshmen, met with the sayde Lordes and knightes at a place neere to a Towne called Hauerden, where betwene them was a sore fight, but in the end the losse fell to the Englishmen, For there were slaine Sir Wylliam Lyndsey. Sir Richarde Tanny with manye other, and Sir Roger Clifford was taken.

After the which ouerthrowe of the Englishe men, the sayd Dauid layde siege vnto the Castelles of Flint and Rutland. And his brother in that tyme warred and occupyed the landes of Sir Edmond Mortimer, and wan the towne called Llan matreuer, and threwe the Walles thereof downe to the ground. This towne also is called Abriswith, or rather Oswistrey. It was not long after or the brute of the ouerthrowe of the Englishe men came vnto the towne, wherefore he sped him the faster thetherward.

Nowe, [unspec 1228/11] while king Edward was busyed in the rescuyng of his men that

were besieged of Dauid, Sir Roger Clifford with other, which entended to rayse men to set vpon the Welshemen, was drowned by follie vpon a bridge made of Barges & Plankes to haue passed a water betwene Snowdon and Anglesey. And the thirde day of December next folowyng, was Lewlyn Prince of Wales slaine by sir Edmond Mortimer and his companie, and his head was sent vnto the king then being at Rutland: The which he sent vnto London, chargyng that it should be set vpon the Tower of London.

About this tyme was Marton College in Oxford founded by Water Marton Bishop of Rochester, and Lord Chauncelor of England, who was drowned passyng ouer the water of Rochester, hauing at that tyme no bridge for people to passe ouer as it nowe hath.

[unspec 1283/12] The king continuyng still in Wales, prosecuted Dauid the brother of Lewlyn from towne to towne, so that at the last he was taken and brought to the king, about Midsommer, and there kept in warde, vntill the king had sped his businesse. And then had the king the whole countrie at his will, and gaue vnto Englishe Lordes, Townes in the middle of Wales, and deuyded the Countrie into shires, and ordeined there Shirifes & other officers in like maner as then was vsed in England, and as it is there now at this day. At Aberconow he made a strong Castell, where before there was a house of white Monkes: The which he remoued from thence, & prouided for them in another place called afterwardes Vale Royall. He also made then the Castel of Carnaruan, fast by Snowdon hill, and repayred againe the towne Llan Matreuer aforesayd, which Lewlyn had beaten downe. Also he garnished the Castelles and holdes standyng vpon the sea syde with Englishe men, and made the Englishemen Lordes of the groundes belongyng to the same. And when the king had put the Countrie in good order, and all thinges were quieted, then about Michaelmasse he returned to Shrewesbury, where he helde a Parliament. In the tyme whereof the aforesayde Dauyd, as chiefe styrrer & beginner of all this warre, was there demed to be drawen, hanged, and quartered, and so he was shortly after at the sayde towne of Shrewes∣bury, and his head sent to London, and set by the heade of his brother Lew∣lyn, or Lluellen.

And this yere the king had his first sonne borne at the Castell of Car∣naruan, while he was in Wales, and he was named Edward of Carnaruan, and was borne vpon the .xxv. day of Aprill, and was king after him.

In this yere also, there was found one Lawrence Doket a Citizen of London, deade and hanged in Saint Mary Bow Church in Chepe. For the which, enquiries were made, and in the ende for that dede were attainted these .vij. persons folowyng, that is to say: Reignold of Lancaster, Robert Pynnot, Paule of Stepinhithe, Thomas Cordwayner, Iohn Talanson, Thomas Russell, & Robert Scot, the which were all for that deede drawne & hanged. And a woman also for the same deede was brent. And Raufe Cre∣pyn, Iourdan Goodchepe, Gilbert Clerke, and Geoffrey Clerke, were also attainted for the same cause: But they were repryed & sent vnto the Tower of London, where they remayned long after, but at the last were deliuered.

And in this yere the great Conduit in London, standing against the church called Acres in Chepe was first begon to be made. And in this yere began a strife or vnkindnes to kindle betwene the king, & the Erle of Leycester, or as

some write of Gloucester, which after turned to the great trouble of manye townes in Englande, but specially to the Citie of London, as after shall be shewed.

This yere the king seazed the liberties of the Citie, [unspec 1284/13] and discharged the Maior that then was, who was named Gregory Rokesley, and appoynted Stephen Sandwich to be Custos and Gardian of the Citie of London, and the same Sandwich continued in the office vntill Candlemas next folowing, and then was he discharged, and Sir Iohn Breton knight charged for the rest of the yere.

The cause of the displeasure that the king had against the Citie, as appe∣reth by Iohn Rastell, was that the sayd Gregory Rokesley tooke certaine bribes of the Bakers, and suffered them to sell bread that lacked sixe or seuen ounces in a penny loafe. But this appereth not to be a sufficient cause, for the offence of the Maior beyng but one man, to take away the liberties of the whole Citie who offended not: Wherefore I thinke there was some grea∣ter cause.

And in this yere was full finished and ended the newe worke of the Church of Westminster, to the ende of the Quire, begon as before is shewed in the thirde yere of the thirde Henry: By which accompt, it should appere that the sayd Church was .lxvj. yeres in buildyng. But of the buildyng of this Church are sundrie opinions, as ye may se more at large in Fabian.

This yere the king helde his Parliament at Westminster, [unspec 1285/14] wherin were made the statutes called Additamenta Glocestriae, that is to say, additions of sta∣tutes ioyned to them which before were made at Gloucester.

Also it happened aboute this tyme that a Citizen of London named Thomas Piwelsdon, which in the tyme of the Barons warre before men∣cioned, had bene a great styrrer vp of the Commons of the Citie for to main∣teine the Barons part against the king, was nowe newely accused, that he with other of euill disposition should make conuenticles and assemblies to the newe griefe and disturbaunce of the Citie. Whereof report was made vnto the king, who remitted the inquirie thereof vnto Sir Raufe Sandwiche then Custos of the Citie.

Then the sayd Thomas with other were put in sure and safe keping vn∣till the matter were duely enquired of. After whiche inquisition made and found, report thereof was made vnto the king. Then the king sent downe a writ, and commaunded it to be proclaymed shortly after within the boundes of the Citie, whereof the effect was thus: That the sayde Thomas Piwels∣don, William de Heywood, Richard de Coundrys, Richard le Cofferre, Ro∣bert de Darby, Albyn de Darby, William Mayo Mercer, and Iohn Ling Draper, with dyuerse other to the number of fiftie persons, should be bani∣shed out of the Citie for euer. And if any of the sayde fiftie persons were at that tyme of the Proclamation voyded the Citie for feare or otherwise, that they should remain & not returne vnto the Citie vpon paine of losyng his life.

And in this tyme also, where of long tyme before the Marchant straun∣gers comming with their Marchaundise were lodged within Citizens of the Citie of London, and solde all their wares by the procurement of hys hoste, for the which his sayde hoste had a certaine of euery pounde. But now the sayde Marchauntes had so brought it to passe, that they might hier for

themselues, houses to dwel in, and sellers for stewage of their wares, so that no Citizen had to doe with them: By meane wherof, they vsed many deceits, both in vtteraunce of false wares, and also in weightes which they vsed in their awne houses, to the great hurte of the whole Realme of Englande. Wherefore sodainely search was made, and their weightes founde and pro∣ued false. And besides that, all suche wares as they shoulde haue weyed at the kings Beame, they weighed much thereof at their awne houses, to the hinderaunce of the kinges Custome, for which offences against them pro∣ued, to the number of twentie of the sayde straungers were arrested, and sent to the Tower of London, and their weightes brent and consumed in West Cheape of London. But in the ende the sayde Marchauntes were deliuered by making of fine to the king of a thousande pounde, when of a long season they had suffred harde and vyle imprisonment.

[unspec 1286/15] Thys yere the commons of Englande offered vnto the king the fift part of their moueables to haue the Iewes cleerely banished the realme of Eng∣lande: But the Iewes perceauing the intent of the commons, dyd preuent them, and gaue to the king great summes of money, but within fewe yeres after they were all exyled.

And in this yere about the beginning of May, the king sayled into France where he was most honorably receyued of Philip the French king, where king Edward did to him homage for the Duchye of Guyan. And after king Edwarde had remayned there a while, he returned vnto Burdeaux, whether came vnto him certaine Ambassadours from the king of Spaine, with the which he helde long dalyaunce. Wherefore, of the French king he was sus∣pected that he shoulde alye himselfe with the king of Spayne agaynste the Frenche king.

And this yere (sayeth Fabian) the Sommer was so hote that men dyed with very heat. And yet Corne this yere was so plenteous that wheate was solde for three shyllings and foure pence a quarter. But sayeth Rastell in hys Chronicle, the next yere followyng, by reason of vnseasonable and intempe∣rate weather, there was a maruellous great dearth of Corne, for (sayth he) wheate was then worth .xviij. pence the Bushell, and afterward yere by yere it encreased vntill it came to .xl. shyllings a quarter, which was a great price, because as he sayth, at that time .xx. pence of siluer weighed a full ounce, and it so continued vntill the reigne of king Henry the sixt, and then .xxx. pence made an ounce of Siluer. And in the tyme of king Edward the fourth .xl. pence made an ounce of siluer, and in the tyme of kyng Henry the .viij. three shillinges and eight pence made an ounce of siluer, and nowe at this tyme be∣ing in the tenth yere of the reigne of our souereigne Lady Quene Elizabeth, fyue shillinges maketh an ounce of siluer, but the standard of the ounce was euer at one stynt, although the valuation of coynes altered, as more plainely may appere in the statute made in the .lj. yere of king Henry the thirde.

Aboute this time fell a great variaunce betweene Sir Paine Tiptoft Wardein of certein Castelles in Wales, [unspec 1287/16] and a Welshe knight called sir Rice ap Mordack, or Meridock, so that sundrie skirmishes were foughten be∣twene them, and men slaine on both sydes, to the great disturbance of all the Countrie.

But in the yere folowing the sayde Rice to be reuenged of the aboue na∣med

Tiptoft, reysed a great multitude of Welshemen, and brent and wasted diuerse townes in Wales, so that the king then beyng in Normandie sent vn∣to the Erle of Cornewall, then beyng the kings Lieutenant in England, that he should send thether an armie of knightes and good Souldiours to with∣stand the malice of the Welshe men. The which prepared shortly an armie, and went with them into the Borders of Northwales: where he with hys companie bare him so nobly and knightly, that in the ende the said Sir Rice was taken, and brought vnto Yorke, where he was after drawne, hanged, and quartered.

This yere and in the moneth of August, [unspec 1289/18] king Edward returned out of Fraunce, and came to the Citie of London, where he was honourably recey∣ued by the Citizens, and conueyed to Westminster, where shortly after were brought vnto him many grieuous complaintes of diuerse of his Iustices, as Sir Thomas Weyland, Adam Stretton, and other, whome the king caused to be streitly examined, and in the end they were found guiltie of such trespas∣ses and causes as they were accused of. Wherefore some of them were out∣lawed, and lost such goodes as they had, and the other punished by long im∣prisonment, and at the last deliuered by paiyng of great fines.

And in the ende of this yere, Alexander king of Scottes, as he was runnyng his horse, fell horse and man to the grounde and brake his necke, and died immediatly, by reason whereof there ensued great warre and trou∣ble for the enheritance of that land. And at the last by the consent of king Ed∣ward, the crowne was geuen to Iohn Bailioll, who afterward to gratifie the English nation, buylded a Colledge in Oxford nowe called Bailioll Col∣ledge. But of this Bailioll, ye shall reade more in the .xxiiij. yere of thys kinges reigne.

And in the .xix. yere of this king, [unspec 1290/19] the staple of woolles was kept at Sandwiche, which afterwarde was kept at Caleys as long as it was Eng∣lishe, but now it is holden at Bridges in Flaunders.

And this yere also, all the Iewes were banished this land, for the which the Commons gaue to the king a fiftene.

Also at this time, Sir Gilbert de Clare Erle of Gloucester maried dame Iohan daughter of king Edward. This was called Iohan of Acres or Acon, for she was borne at Acres or Acon a Citie in Iewry when king Edwarde was there, vpon his great iourney. And shortly after, the Duke of Brabandes sonne, maryed Margaret the Sister of the sayde Iohan.

This yere dyed Quene Alianor the kinges wife, [unspec 1291/20] & was buried at West∣minster. This Gentelwoman as before is touched in the .xxxviij. yere of king Henry y^e third, was sister vnto the king of Spaine: by whom king Edward had foure sonnes, that is to say, Iohn, Henry, Alphons, and Edward, which Edward succeded his father, for that the other three dyed before their father. Also he had by her fiue daughters. The first Alianor, who was maryed vnto William Barre. The seconde Iohan of Aeres, or of Acon, maryed vnto the Erle of Gloucester, the thirde Margaret, maryed to the Duke of Brabandes sonne, the fourth Mary, who was made a Nonne at Ambresbury, and the fift named Elizabeth, who was maryed vnto the Erle of Holland, and after his death she was maryed vnto Humfrey Boherum Erle of Herfort. And this yere also dyed olde Queene Alianor wife vnto king Henry the thirde, and

mother vnto this king Edward, whose heart was buried at the Gray Fryers Church in London, which nowe is called Christles parishe Church, and her bodie at Ambrisbury in the house of Nonnes.

Polidore sayth that the king hauing continuall warres as well in France as also in Wales & Scotland had greatly consumed his treasure, & one Lord Wylliam Marchian, being then highe treasorer of Englande perceyuing the great ryches that then were in churches & religious houses, so put the same into the kings head, y^t they were all brought into the kings treasury: but not without the great grudge and griefe of the people who thought much that the king would meddle with those holy things as they then called them. Howbeit the king being in neede, dissembled the matter, & yet not so content, did shortly after as shal appere obteyne of the spiritualtie the moytie of one yeres of their spirituall promocions and lyuings. Notwithstanding afterward the king considering their great burdens and entending somewhat to gratefie them againe, promised to graūt them something for to pleasure them if they would aske it at his hands. The bishops after consultation thereof had, did desyre to haue the law set at libertie, touching landes geuen in Mortmain to religious houses. But the king not minded that way, gaue them aunswere that it lay not in him to breake the lawe without the consent of the bodye of the realme by whome it was made, and so with fayre wordes put them off for that tyme.

[unspec 1292/21] And nowe againe the king helde his high Court of Parliament at Lon∣don, vnto the which came the king of Scottes and dyuers Lordes of that Prouynce. And after he had remayned there a certayne tyme, he was then conueyed by dyuers Lordes of thys Realme, a great way vpon his iourney toward his awne Countrie.

And here by the way for a note, it happened one called Richarde Eagle an officer of London to arest a man, and leadyng hys prisoner to the Comp∣ter, there came three men and rescued the sayde prisoner, and tooke him from the officer: The which were pursued and taken, and by iudgement & lawe then vsed, they were brought into west Cheape in London, and there had their right handes striken of by the wrestes.

[unspec 1293/22] About the midst of September following the Erle of Barre a French∣man maried Alianour the kinges daughter in the Towne of Bristowe.

Now agayne the Welshemen beganne to sturre, by the prouocation of one Madock: [unspec 1294/23] wherof when the king was informed, he in all haste sped him vnto Westchester, and about the sixt day of December wanne from the sayde Madock the Isle called Anglesey, and buylded newe the Castle and Citie of Bew marise, and brought the vnstedfast welshmen to a better order and stay: and then he caused the woodes of the Countrie to be hewen downe, wherein before tyme they vsed to hyde them, as a Cony doth in his hole: and he so repayred the Castels and strong holdes, and buylded some newe, in such wise that he caused the welshmen to be quiet and to go about their awne thrift, against their willes, for by the strength of those Castelles, they were kept from their olde accustomed rauynes and stealings, and put so to execu∣tion by the Capitaines of the saide Castels that they fell vnto occupation, and to byeng and sellyng, and gathered treasure together, and began to lyue af∣ter the manner of Englishmen, so that more and more that Countrey grewe vnto restfulnesse and peace.

And this yere the Frenchmen with a certaine of Shippes landed at Do∣uer, and spoyled that Towne, and brent a parte of it. In which skirmishe was slaine one Thomas of Douer.

This yere also as sayeth the French Chronicle, Charles de valoys bro∣ther vnto king Philip of Fraunce, was sent by his sayde brother into Gas∣coyne, with a great hoste. The which Charles layde his siege vnto the Ca∣stell of Ryon, wherein were at that tyme, Sir Iohn Seynt Iohn, and Iohn of Briteyn, the which manfully and valiauntly defended the aforesayde Ca∣stell against the Frenchmen all that yere and more.

Now in the .xxiiij. yere of his reigne, for that he had great warres, [unspec 1295/24] as well with the French king as else where, he commaunded a newe subsedy to be leuyed vpon all Serplers of wolle goyng out of Englande, with all Felles and Hydes in lyke maner. And besides this he required also of the Clergie all the money which they had graunted towarde the defence of the holye lande, and the rather for that he hearde from the Court of Rome of the Popes maners, and therefore commaunded it to be brought into his treasu∣rie. And moreouer, by a conuocation of the sayde Clergie, he had graunted vnto him towardes his warres, halfe of their spirituall and temporall lands, beginning at twentie Marke benefice, and so ascending vpward, the which was not payde in one yere but by deuided porcions, it was payde in three yeres next ensuyng. And of the lay fee or Temporaltie of Englande, he had graunted vnto him the tenth penny of their moueables, the which was payde in two yeres next ensuyng.

This yere also was hanged drawne and quartered in London for trea∣son done in Fraunce a knight called Sir Thomas Turbeuyle.

Also about the time of Easter, when Charles de valoys as ye before haue heard, had lyen long at the Castell of Ryon, and had no hope to w••nne anye thing vpon the Englishmen but that daylie he lost the best of his knightes, he sent then for more ayde and succour. At which tyme came vnto hym Sir Raufe Nele Constable of Fraunce with a freshe company, and then assaulted it a newe. But when they had lyen there a season, and sawe they preuayled nothing against their enemies, they went vnto a holde thereby named Pou∣dency, and assaulted it, because the greatest parte of the souldiours there were Normans: and after viiij. dayes, by appointment or otherwise, they gate the sayde holde, so that all the Englishmen had their libertie and goodes, and the Normanes were taken as prisoners, the which they brought after vnte the Castell of Ryon, and there in sight of the Souldyours, hanged all or tho more parte of the sayde Normans. When the Gascoynes being within the Towne and Castell of Ryons, sawe their cosyns and Countreymen hanged before their eyen, they cast in their minde, that it was done by treason of Englishmen, and that they woulde at length deale with them in lyke maner. By reason whereof, strife and varyaunce arose, betweene the Englishmen and the Gascoynes, so that eyther of them feared the treason of the other. For the which cause, Sir Iohn Seynt Iohn, and Iohn of Briteyne, Sir Ro∣bert Typtoft, Sir Raufe Tanny, Sir Hugh Bardolph, and Sir Adam Cretyng, with dyuers other fled by Sea, & in that maner saued themselues: and soone after the sayde Towne and Castell of Ryons was wonne by the Frenchemen, and the inhabitaunts of the same sworne vnto the french king.

But here a little to returne back, ye haue before in the .xviij. yere of thys king heard, that after the death of Alexander king of Scottes, many questi∣ons fell among the same Scottes, who by right of inheritaunce shoulde be king of that lande, considering that the sayde Alexander, had left after hym three daughters the which in the lyfe of their father were maried. The first to Sir Iohn Bayliol, the second to Robert le Bruze, and the thirde to one named Hastynges. Many of the Lordes of Scotland woulde haue crowned Sir Iohn Bayliol, by reason that he maried the eldest daughter: But the friendes of Robert le Bruze withstoode it with all their power: And other there were, that helde with Hastings, so that after long strife and great va∣riaunce the matter was brought before king Edwarde, as chiefe Lorde and Souereigne of that lande, and all those that made clayme to the Crowne of Scotlande promised to abyde and stande vnto suche determination & iudge∣ment, as king Edward should set therein. Then king Edwarde, to the ende that the Scottes should knowe perfitely, that the king of Englande ought of right to be their chiefe head and souereigne, shewed vnto them suche olde wrytings, as he a little before had caused to be searched & founde out, in the which it was conteyned by the authoritie of olde Chroniclers and writers, as Marianus the Scot, Wylliam of Malmesburie, Roger of Huntyngdon and other, that in the yere of our Lorde nine hundred and twentie, king Edward the elder made subiect vnto hym the kings of Combrys and of Scottes. And in the nine hundred xxj. yere the aforesayde Scottes and Combrys, chose the sayde Edwarde the elder to be their chiefe Lorde and patrone. And in the yere of our Lorde nine hundred .xxvj. Athelstane then king of England sub∣dued Constantine then king of Scottes with the Northumbres, and recey∣ued of them againe othe and homage. And it is further founde in the sayde Chronicles, that Edgar ouercame Alphunius the sonne of Kynadus king of Scottes, and receyued of hym fealtie and homage, and helde him vnder his obeysaunce, as he had done his father Kinadus before tyme. Moreouer it is there further witnessed, that Canutus in the .xvj. yere of his reigne sub∣dued Malcolyn then king of Scottes, and receaued of him fealtie and ho∣mage. Furthermore, Wylliam Conquerour in the .vj. yere of his reigne sub∣dued Malcolyne king of Scotlande, the which before tyme had receyued the sayde kingdome of the gift of Edward king and confessor. And Wylliam Rufus or Wylliam the Red, did in likewise to the sayde Malcolyn, and vnto his two sonnes that reigned in Scotlande the one after the other. And al∣so Dauid king of Scottes did homage vnto Stephen then king of England. And Wylliam king of Scottes did homage vnto Henry the third at the time of his coronation, and after came vnto hys father Henry the seconde, when the aforenamed Henry was dead in Normandy and made his homage to him againe. This Henry that was sonne vnto Henry the second, is of many wri∣ters named Henry the thirde, bicause he was the thirde king that was crow∣ned of that name: But because he dyed before his father, his deedes be little spoken of, so that of some writers he is nothing minded. And it followeth in the storie, how that Alexander king of Scots in the .xxxv. yere of Henry the thirde or sonne of king Iohn, maryed at Yorke Margaret the daughter of the sayde Henry, and did vnto him homage for the Realme of Scotlande, and bounde him and hys heyres kings of Scotland by his letters patentz to

be true vnto the sayde Henry, and vnto his heyres kinges of Englande lyke as before Wylliam king of Scottes had bounde himselfe vnto the seconde Henry, as before in the .xxij. yere of his reigne is more manifestly shewed. And more, there was shewed vnto them the Popes Bulles, the which were sent before time into Scotlande, by aucthoritie whereof, the kinges of Scot∣lande were accurssed because they woulde not be obedient to their Lordes kinges of Englande.

¶ When all these presidentes were seene by the Scottes, a day was as∣signed of meetyng at Norham in the marches betweene England and Scot∣land, whether vnto the king came, & al the nobles and chiefe rulers of Scot∣land. And there and then also the king helde his high Court of Parliament, where openly in the presence of all the nobilitie of Scotland who were called specially thether, the king himselfe in the Churche of Norham declared that the right of the Dominion and superioritie of the realme of Scotlande doth iustly apperteigne and belong vnto the Crowne of England, and therefore required of them to acknowledge and confesse the same, protestyng and ma∣kyng his vowe that he would defende the same his right with the aduenture of the losse of his life, and further he required of them that they would enter into bond, not onely to acknowledge him their chiefe and supreme Lorde, but also to abyde his sentence, order and iudgement, in appoyntyng and placyng such a person to reigne ouer them, as their king, as should by his iudgement be thought to haue most right therevnto: But the Scottes not willyng to be bound, vsed many excuses, but at the last they consented: Wherevpon all the Nobilitie of Scotland, and namely all those that made claime to the crowne, entered into bond, the tenor whereof foloweth, beyng made letters patentes, wherevnto were fixed their seuerall seales.

TO all men that shall eyther see or heere these presentes, Florence Erle of Holland, Robert Bruze Lorde of Valley Androw, Iohn Baylioll Lorde of Galloway, Iohn Hastings Lorde of Aberganenny, Iohn Comynes Lord of Badenagh, Patrike of Dunbarre Erle of March, Iohn Vessy deputie for his father, Nicholas of Sules, William of Roos, sendeth gretyng in the Lord: Where as we beleue and thinke that we haue a right and title to the kingdome of Scotland, and our entent and meanyng is to declare, chalenge, and trie the same right and title before him which hath the superiour power, iurisdiction and aucthoritie to debate and examine the same: And the noble prince Lord Edward by the grace of God king of England hath informed vs by good and sufficient reasons, that the same belōgeth to him, & that he ought to haue the superiour dominion of the kingdome of Scotlande, and the auc∣thoritie to here, examine, and decyde our right and title. We of our awne pro∣per accorde, not beyng compelled or enforced therevnto, will, and graunt to receyue our ryght and title before him as superior Lorde of the land. More∣ouer we will and promise to obserue and holde his deede firme and stable: And that he shall haue and enioy the kingdome, to whome the better ryght and title shall before him be tryed and iudged. In witnesse whereof, we vnto these wrytynges haue put our Seales, dated at Norham the thirde day after the Ascention of our Lorde. 1291.

¶ Now after the Lordes of Scotland had acknowledged the superiority of Dominion of Scotland to apperteyne to the king of Englande, and had

submitted themselues to receyue and abyde his determination and iudge∣ment: Then the king demaunded of them the possession of their Castelles, and of the whole realme of Scotland, that he might be peaceably seased in his right of superioritie and dominion mencioned in their former letters, to the entent the same might clerely appere vnto the worlde. And forthwith, they graunted vnto the kinges peticion, and therevppon made their letters in French, and signed and sealed the same in maner and forme folowyng.

TO all men that shall see or heere these presents, Florence Erle of Holland, Robert Bruce Lorde of Vally Androw, Iohn Bailioll Lorde of Gallo∣way, Iohn Hastings Lorde of Aberganenny, Iohn Comynes Lorde of Ba∣denagh, Patrike of Dunbarre Erle of March, Iohn Vessy Deputie for his father, Nicholas Sules, and William of Roos sende gretyng in our Lorde: Forasmuch as we of our good will and common assent, without all compul∣sion haue yelded and graunted vnto the noble Prince Lorde Edwarde, by the grace of God king of England, that he as the superiour Lorde of the land of Scotlande hath power to heere, examine, and decyde our chalenges and sutes which we entende to declare and proue for the receyuyng of our ryght and title before him as the superiour Lord of the land: promisyng moreouer that we will obserue firme and stable whatsoeuer he iudgeth or determineth, and that he shall obteyne the kingdome of Scotland, whose title shall before him be proued and iudged to be most lawfull: But forasmuch as the said king can neyther make nor accomplishe his examination without iudgement, ney∣ther ought iudgement to be without execution, nor can he duely make execu∣tion without the possession and seisyn of the sayde lande and Castelles of the same: We therefore will, permit, and graunt, that he as the superior Lorde shall haue for the accomplishyng and perfourmance of the premisses, the sei∣syn of the whole land of Scotlande, and Castelles of the same, vntill suche tyme as the matter be determined betwene them, who make claime and cha∣lenge the right to be king of Scotland: But yet vpon this condicion, that be∣fore the sayde king Edward haue the seisyn, he make good and sufficient as∣suraunce vnto the sutors, wardeynes and communaltie of the kingdome of Scotland, for the restitutiō and redeliuerie to them of the kingdome, with all the royaltie, dignitie, and dominion, liberties, customes, rightes, lawes, vses, possessions, and all what soeuer therevnto apperteine, in the same state wherein they were at the time of seisyn deliuered to hym: And he shall de∣liuer it vnto him to whome by right it shall be due, according to his royall iudgement: Sauyng vnto the king of England the homage of him that shal be king. And this restitution shall be made within two monethes after the tyme that this title shall be discussed, ratefied and established: The reuenues of the aforesayd land in the meane tyme shall be receyued and layd vp in safe custodie, and shall be well kept by the handes of the treasurer of Scotlande that nowe is, and his whom herevnto the king of England shal assigne, & this to be done vnder their seales, sauyng a reasonable sustentation of the lande, Castelles, and ministers of the kingdome. In witnesse of all the premisses, we haue vnto these writynges put our seales, dated at Norham the Wednes∣day next ensuyng the Ascention of our Lorde. 1291.

¶These two aforesaid letters, the king caused sundry copies of them to be made, & sent the same vnder his priuy seale to diuerse Abbeyes in the realme,

of England in the .xix. yere of his reigne, that they might there be recorded for perpetuall memory, & to be published by the Monkes in their Chronicles.

And foorthwith, by the common assent of the nobilitie of Scotlande, the king had the season and possession of the whole realme of Scotland, and helde the same vntill suche time as he had determined who of right was the next heire to the sayde Kingdome.

The same yere the King of Englande, after the feast of the natiuitie of Saint Iohn Baptist went into Scotland, and there receiued the allegacions of those that made clayme to the Kingdome of Scotlande, accordyng to the aucthority to him committed, and did cause to be elected and chosen .xl. persons that is to say, xx. of England, and .xx. of Scotland, which with good aduise∣ment should consider vpon their allegations, and to make report vnto him of their sentence and iudgement, before the feast of Saint Mighell then next folowyng. And when the sayde feast came, after great and long debatyng, by the consent of them all, king Edward adiudged the kingdome of Scotland of right to apperteyne to Iohn Bailioll, which came of the eldest daughter of Dauid king of Scottes. Robert de Bruce, betweene whome and the afore∣sayde Iohn the strife did chiefely consist, although he had some colour of title, yet he discended of the second daughter of Dauid, and so his clayme tooke no place: Wherefore the aforesayd Iohn Bailioll at the feast of Saint Androw next folowyng, was with much honour brought vnto the Regall seate, and in the same was placed, and afterward crowned with great solempnitie in a Church of a house of Chanons in Scotland.

After his coronation he came vnto the King of England, who then kept his feast of Christmasse at Newe Castell vpon Tyne, and there made his ho∣mage with these wordes.

I Iohn Bailioll King of Scottes do knowledge me to be your liege man for all the Kingdome of Scotland, and of all those thinges that in any wyse belong to the same, and that I holde the same Kingdome, and of right I ought and clayme to holde the same of you, and of your heyres kinges of England with the aduenture of my lyfe and members, and of all earthly ho∣nour against all men that can liue and die.

And the Kyng receyued his homage in forme aforesayde, addyng a sa∣uyng for his awne and others rightes. And assone as the King had receyued this homage of Iohn Bailioll aforesayd, he without any delay restored to the said Iohn the whole kingdome of Scotland with all the appurtenances. &c.

And this yere was taken the aforenamed Madock or Meridock, which as ye heard before in the .xxiij. yere of the reigne of this king caused y^e welsh men to rebell, and he was drawen and hanged at London.

The king shortly after caused a great quantitie of wheate to be gathered and taken vp in England to the number (as some write) of an hundreth thou∣sand quarters, and sent the same into Gascoyne and Guyan. [unspec 1296/25] And shortlye af∣ter he sent thether Sir Edmond hys brother Erle of Lancaster, Sir Hen∣ry Lacye Erle of Lyncoln and Sir Wylliam Veyseye Baren, with dyuers other Lordes and knightes, to strength such people as he there had readye while he prepared another armie against the Scottes.

Ye haue heard in the former yere howe Sir Iohn Baylioll king of Scottes made othe and homage vnto king Edwarde for the Kingdome of

Scotlande. Of the which he repented him shortly after by reason of the counsell of the Abbot of Menros, as sayeth Reynulph, although it shoulde seeme to be as well by the counsell of the French king, as maye appere by wordes that are written in the French Chronicle. But howsoeuer it was, full vntruely he forsooke his former othe and promise, and reysed warre a∣gainst the king. Wherfore king Edward sped him thether with a great host, minding to haue made a generall spoyle and destruction of that nation, but that he was partly perswaded and steyed by some that made excuses for Bai∣lioll, but chiefly for the people. Notwithstanding the king proceeding foorth on his purposed iourney came to Newe Castle vppon Tyne, at the which place he caused Iohn king of Scottes to be sommoned by a publique Edict that he should appeere and answere vnto such things as should be obiected a∣gainst him at a daye and place prefixed: But Bailioll appered not nor none for him, and therefore the king determyned to proceede in his pretended pur∣pose, and wyth good speede he passed to Berwick and layde siege vnto the Towne: But the Scottes defended it manfully, and bet the Englishmen backe, and brent some of the English Shippes. With the which victory, they were so inflamed with pride, that in derision of the king, they made certaine peeuishe and mocking rymes which I passe ouer.

When king Edward heard of the pride of the Scottes and vnderstoode of their foolishe rymes, he was somewhat moued, and therfore so encoura∣ged his knightes, that they gaue a newe onset on Barwick, and wanne the Diche of the towne, and after in processe with great labor & daunger wanne the Bulwarkes, so that they came vnto the Gates and made there so strong an assault that in the ende they wanne the towne, and slue of the Scottes (as sayth dyuers writers) aboue the number of .xxv. thousande, and as Hector Boethus the Scot wryteth in his Chronicle in the .xiiij. Booke and seconde Chapiter, the slaughter of people was so great that a Myll might haue bene well dryuen by the space of two dayes, with the streames of bloud that at that tyme ranne of the ground. If you thinke not this to be truth, I will not en∣force you, but remember it is the tale of a Scot, who as he is to be suspected in this, so is the truth of his storie to be doubted of in a great number of pla∣ces mo. And there were taken prisoners Sir Wylliam Douglas, Sir Sy∣mon de Frisell, the Erle Patrike and Sir Robert Bruze with diuers other. And in short time after, the wardeyn of the Castell of Berwike, perceyuing that to him was sent no succour, yeelded vp the sayde Castell by apointment. And when the king had possessiō of the Castell & Towne of Berwike he then strengthened them with Englishmen. And afterwarde wanne the holdes of Tyndall, of Exham, of Wyerbyrd and of Lamerstock, with diuers other.

And while that king Edward was thus busied about the wynnning of the aforesayde holdes, he sent Sir Hugh Spencer with Sir Hugh Percye and other noble men, with a parte of his hoste to laye siege vnto the Castell of Patrick of Dunbarre. Where when they had lyen a certaine tyme, an ar∣mie of the Scottes came thether to remoue the siege, with whome the Eng∣lishmen had a fierce and a cruell battayle, but in the ende, by the help of God, the Englishmen had the victorie, and slue of the Scottes aboue the number of twentie thousande, and lost of the English company a very small number, which as sayeth Carton, Cowper and other, were but .xviij. persons.

And after this victorie the towne and Castell of Dunbarre was wonne, in the which were taken prisoners three Erles, seauen Barons and .xxviij. Knightes with diuers men of the clergie. Then the king went to Edenbo∣rough, and shortly after wanne the Towne and Castell: In which were founde the Regalyes of Scotland, that is to saye, the crowne with the scep∣ter and the cloth of estate, the which after, were offered by king Edwarde at the Shrine of S. Edward in westmynster the xviij. day of Iune in the yere next following.

And at this time the king being at Berwike and fortifying the same, the king of Scotlande wryteth a letter vnto him and in the same resigneth hys homage and fealtie, the Copie of which letter followeth.

TO the renowmed prince and Lorde, Edwarde by the grace of God king of England:

Iohn by the same grace king of Scotland

sendeth greeting:

whereas you and they of your realme by violent power haue openly and very often inferred and done to vs and to the inhabitauntes of oure realme. greeuous, yea rather intollerable iniuries, contemptes, annoyaunces, and also innumerable losses and dammages, contrarie vnto the the liberties of oure realme, and also against God and all iustice, whereof you are not, nor ought not to be ignorant by cityng and sommonyng vs to appere out of our realme, and vulawfully vering vs, for euery small and light mocion of your minde and pleasure, by entring vpon the Castelles, lands and possessions of vs and our subiects which are within our realme, without our demerites or desarts interceptyng our Marchaunts as well by Sea as by lande, by fleying and murthering other the inhabitaunts of our realme, by violent takyng and ca∣riyng our people out of our dominion, and there with you deteyning and im∣prisonyng of them. For reformation whereof, we haue often times sent our Ambassadors: But they as yet not onely remaine vnreformed, but also from daye to day more greeuous iniuries are by you and on your subiects behalfe exaggerated and heaped vp. For you now in cruell maner haue entered our marches with an innumerable multitude of armed men, hauyng gathered together a generall hoste to the entent to dishenerite vs and the inhabitantes of our realme, and thencefoorth proceeding into our kingdome, haue both by Sea and also by lande committed dyuers tymes murthers and brenned our Townes, and also haue made assaultes and violent inuasions: we not being hable any lenger to susteyne the sayde iniuries, contempts, griefes, damma∣ges and fierce assaultes, (by reason of our Fealtie and homage to you done) to the doyng whereof we were enforced by violence and threatenings) we can neyther defende our selues nor oure kingdome, for the defence whereof we are bounde by othe: we therefore in our owne name, and in the names of all and singuler the inhabitaunts within our kingdome, doe by these pre∣sentes yeelde agayne vnto you and resygne all that our Fealtie and homage, as well of our selfe as of all other that inhabite within our kingdome, which are bounde to you eyther by force of their awne fealtie done for suche landes as they holde within our kingdome, or else generally for the homage which we haue done.

¶ The king when he had read thys letter did admit the resignation of the homage, and commaunded hys Chauncelour that the same should be en∣rolled and recorded for perpetuall memorie, and then passed on his iourney

and tooke and ouerthrewe dyuerse townes and Castels, and at the last passed the Scottish Sea, and came to a towne in Scotland called saint Iohns vp∣on the day and feast of Saint Iohn the Baptist, where he solempnly kept the same Feast certaine dayes.

And while these things were in doyng, Iohn Bailioll king of Scot∣lande sawe that he was forsaken of all men, and that he had no power hable to resist or withstande the power of the king of Englande: wherefore he sent his Ambassadors vnto him praiyng for peace and desiryng mercy. To whom the king being mooued with pittie sent a countermaund that the sayde king Iohn wyth his Nobles should come with his messenger vnto hys Castell of Bruthyn within .xv. dayes next following, and there to treate. And the king of England sent at that tyme as his Ambassador, Anthony Bishop of Dures∣me with a full power & aucthoritie, vnto the which place the king of Scots with his Nobles came at the day prefixed, who after much controuersie and debating of sundrie cases, did at the last simply and playnly submit himselfe vnto king Edward, and resigned vnto hym the kingdome of Scotlande to be ordered and gouerned according to his will and pleasure. And for the perfor∣mance of the sayd submission, the king of Scottes delyuered his sonne in ho∣stage, and caused his letters of submission to be made in Frenche in forme following.

The king of Scottes re∣signeth the crowne and kingdome of Scotland to King Ed∣ward.

IOhn by the grace of God king of Scotlande,

to all whosoeuer shall see or here these present letters:

knowe ye that for as much as we by euill & false counsaile, and by our foolishe simplicitie haue most greeuously offended and prouoked our Lorde Edward by the grace of God king of Englande, Lorde of Irelande and Duke of Aquitayn in many things, that is to saye, that in the time that we remayned in his fealtie and homage, we ioyned our selues vnto the French king, who was then his enemy and yet is, onely for the con∣clusion of a mariage to haue bene procured betwene the daughter of the sayde French king and our sonne. And for the further griefe and offence made vn∣to our sayde Lorde the king, we ioyned with the sayde French king in armor against the sayde king of Englande to the vttermost of oure power by order of warre and all other wayes of enemitie. And furthermore by our peruerse counsail we defyed our sayd Lord the king of England, and put our selfes out of his fealtie and homage, and sent our men of warre into his lande of Eng∣lande burnyng and spoylyng the same, & caryeng from thence sundrie prayes, and committed sundrie murthers and other dammages. And the lande of Scotlande which is of his Fee, we mainteyned against him, plaintyng and placyng men of warre in sundrie Castels and Townes for the defence of the sayde land against him, purposing to haue remuoed him from his sayde Fee, for the which trespace our sayd Lorde the king of England entred into Scot∣lande with his power, and the same conquered and possessed, notwithstan∣ding any thing that we were hable to doe against hym, as it was right law∣full for him to doe as the Lorde of the Fee, because we did resigne vnto hym our homage and rebelled agaynst him: We therefore being agayne restored to our full power, of our free wyll redelyuer vnto him the realme of Scot∣lande and all the people of the same with all the homages. And in wytnesse hereof, these our letters we haue made patentes,

dated at Bruthyn the .x. day of Iulij in the fourth yere of our reigne.

¶Shortly after this, king Edward called his Parliament at Berwick and thether came all the nobilitie of Scotlande, and there did vnto him feal∣tie and homage. And for a perpetuall remembrance thereof, they caused the same to be made by their letters patents sealed with their seuerall seales, the tenour whereof ensueth.

The king of England re∣ceyueth the homages of the Scottes.

TO all that shall here or see these letters,

Iohn Comynes Lorde of Bar∣denagh and so of euery one of the nobles and Lordes,

greetyng:

For as much as we are come to the fidelitie & pleasure of the most renoumed Prince and our dere Lorde Edwarde by the grace of God king of Englande, Lorde of Irelande and Duke of Aquyteyn, we doe promise for vs and our heyres, vnder paine of our bodies, Castels and all things which we may haue, that we will serue him well and truely against all people which may lyue and dye, and at all tymes when we shall be required and forewarned by our aforesayd Lorde the king of Englande or his heyres: And that we shall not know anye dammage or harme vnto them, but that we shall withstande the same with our whole might and force, and geue knowledge therof vnto them: And for the performaunce hereof, we bynde vs and our heyres and all oure goodes. Furthermore, we haue both sworne vpon the holy Euangelistes, and also af∣terwarde we all and euery of vs by hymselfe haue made homage vnto oure sayde Lorde the king of Englande in these wordes.

I become your liege man of lyfe and members & earthly honor against all men that may lyue and dye.

And the sayde Lorde our king receyued this homage in these wordes.

We receyue the same for the landes of which you are now seased, sauing our title or the title of other, and exceptyng the landes which Iohn Bailioll in tymes past king of Scotland gaue vnto vs after that we had delyuered to him the kingdome of Scotlande, if paraduenture he hath geuen any.

Moreouer, we all and euerye of vs by himselfe hath made fealtie and loyaltie vnto our Lorde the king aforesayde in these wordes.

I will be faithfull and loyall, and will obserue my fealtie and loyaltie to Edward king of Englande and his heyres, of lyfe and members and earth∣ly honour against all men which may liue and die, and neuer for any will I beare armour nor be in counsaile or ayde agaynst hym or his heyres in anye thing that may happen, but will faythfully acknowledge and doe those serui∣ces which doe apperteyne vnto the tenement that I clayme of hym, so God helpe me. &c.

In witnesse of these things, the letters patents are made and sealed with our Seales, dated at Berwick the .xxiiiij. yere of the reigne of of our Lorde king Edward of England. &c.

And at this time the king made Iohn Warreyn Erle of Surrey and Sussex keeper of the Realme of Scotlande, and Sir Hugh Cressyngham high treasorer of the same Realme. And he made Wylliam Ermesby chiefe Iustice of the same and commaunded him to call before him all such as helde landes of him, and to take of them homage and fealtie.

And these things done, he sent Iohn Bailioll king of Scotlande to the Tower of London, and assigned vnto him a conuenient famely, and graun∣ted him liberty to go .xx. Mile about in compasse. And shortly after he trans∣lated Iohn Comines Erle of Bardenagh, & Alein of Lawghan out of Scot∣lande and sent them into England beyond Trent, commaundyng them vpon

paine of their heds not to returne again into Scotland so long as he had war with Fraunce. And sone after he returned into Englād with many prisoners.

But while these trauayles were taken in hande in Scotland, the Eng∣lishe men susteyned many harde and sharpe showers in Gascoygne and Guy∣an. Among the which, one is remembred in the French Chronicle, saiyng, that Edmond Duke of Lancaster dyed at Bayon, after whose death, while the towne and other strong holdes prepared them to withstand the French men, Robert Erle of Arthoys, which a little before had encountered with sir Iohn Saint Iohn, and had bene of him ouerset, reassembled his companie, and made him another skirmishe. In which he slue vpon an hundreth Englishe men and Gascoynes, and tooke prisoners the aforenamed Sir Iohn Saint Iohn, Sir William Mortimer, and other to the number of .lxx. the which were sent into Fraunce into diuerse prisons.

[unspec 1297/26] And soone after the king with a puissaunt army, sayled into Flaundyrs in the moneth of August, to ayde and helpe Guye then Erle of Flaundyrs a∣gainst the French king, the which at that tyme was sore vexed by the French king, for he had wonne from him the towne of Marquet, and the Countrie thereabout. And for the more trouble and vexation of the sayde Guye, the French king caused Robert Erle of Arthoys to inuade the Countrie of Flaū∣dyrs towarde Picardie, and encountered with the same Guye nere vnto a towne called Furnes. Where betwene the sayde two Erles was foughten a sharpe battaile, so that many men were slaine vpon both partes. After which fight the Erle of Flaundyrs sped him toward Gaunt, where king Edward at that tyme was, and the Erle of Arthoys drewe him toward the French king, the whiche shortlye after was receyued into the towne of Bruges. In the which tyme and season, while the sayde two kinges lay thus at eyther towne, a meane of peace was treated of, and finally a peace was concluded betwene the two kinges, and betweene the French king and Guye Erle of Flaundyrs, vntill the feast of all Saintes then next ensuyng. And continued from that day vnto the feast of all Saintes then two yeres folowyng. After which peace so stablished, king Edward departed from the towne of Gaunt and went vnto Burdeaux: And the French king returned into Fraunce, and prisoners were delyuered on both parties.

[unspec 1298/27] Now while king Edward was thus occupyed in Flaundyrs, the Scots by the enticement of the French king, to the entent to make king Edwarde to kepe home, and that he should not ayde the Erle of Flaundyrs, began to make warre vpon the Kinges souldiours, which the King had left there in diuerse holdes. And also vpon the borders of Northumberlande, and made sharpe warre vpon the inhabiters of that Countrie. And for that Sir Iohn Baylioll their King, was at that tyme prisoner in the Tower of London: Therefore the sayde Scottes made them a Capitaine, whome they named William Walys, a man of vnknowen or low birth, to whom they obeyed as vnto their king. Anon as the king heard of the rebellion of the Scots, which to him was no great wonder, consideryng their great vnstedfastnesse, he wrote his letters vnto sir Henry Percy Erle of Northumberland, to sir Wil∣liam Latimer, and to sir Hugh Cressyngham then treasurer of England, and to other, that they in all goodly haste should make prouision to withstand the Scottes. The which persons after the receipt of the kings letters, sped them

all in spedy maner, so that they entered Scotland shortly after, and compel∣led the Scottes to returne backe vnto a towne named Streuelyn, where in a skirmishe foughten betwene the Englishe men and the Scottes, sir Hugh Cressyngham aforenamed and dyuerse other Englishe men were slaine. But yet the Scottes were holden so streight of the Englishe hoste, that after that skirmishe, they would not of a certeine time come in plaine fielde againe, but kept them within their Castelles and strong holdes.

And about this tyme certeine of London brake vp the Tonne in Corne∣hyll in London, and tooke out certeine prisoners from thence which sir Iohn Briteyn as custos of the Citie had committed thether. By the which it maye appere, that there hath bene a prison in the streete of Cornehyll before tyme, which then was called the Tonne, as nowe we call them the Coumpters. For the which ryot, the sayd persons, that is to say Thomas Romaine, and viij. other, were afterwarde grieuously punished, as first by imprisonment, and after by fynes.

This yere king Edward in the moneth of October returned into Eng∣land, and so to Winchester, where the Citizens of London made such labour vnto his grace, that shortly after they obteined graunt of their liberties, which had bene kept from them by the space of .xij. yeres and more, so that on saint Edwardes day next folowyng they chose them a Maior, where by all the tyme aforesayd their Custos or Gardian was put in by the king, or by such as the king would assigne: But it is to be thought that this was not redemed without summes of money, for as some write it cost the Citie three thou∣sande markes.

This yere also king Edward put out of his protection certeine Aliens that were richely beneficed in Englande: The cause was for that the sayde Aliens would not ayde the king with their goodes, as the other of his lande did, but purchased an inhibicion of Boniface the .viij. that they & their goodes should be free from all the kinges dismes and taskes. Therefore the king seised the temporalties, and suffered them with their spiritualties, vntill they had agreed with the king.

And about this tyme there were a certeine number of persons that fell to diggyng in London in the Church called saint Martynes le graund, for certeine treasure that should be there hidden. But they laboured in vaine, for there was nothing found.

And this yere the king prepared a strong power against Scotland, and went himselfe thether. And first appoynted his Lordes with three companies to mete with him at Yorke, whether came a great hoste, the which he himselfe led into Scotlande, and brent and spoyled the Countrie as he went, and tari∣ed a while at Berwike. And from thence he sped him in winnyng of Castels and townes as he went, vntill he came to a towne called Fankirke, or Fan∣kirke, where the .xxij. day of Iuly met him the power of Scotland, and gaue vnto him a sore battaile: But in the ende the victorie fell vnto the Englishe men, so that of the Scottes were slaine in the fielde as witnesseth sundrye Aucthours .xxxij. thousand, and of Englishe men but barely .xxviij. persons. After which discomfiture, the Scottes yelded vnto the king the greatest part of their strong holdes and Castelles, that they before had holden against him, and made vnto him a newe othe and promise, and yelded themselues vnto his

grace and mercy.

And when the king had set that Countrie in an order, he then returned into England, and so to London: Where by the aduice of certeine of his coū∣saile, he sodeinely condemned certein coynes of money called Pollards, Cro∣cardes, and Rosaryes, and caused them to be brought to newe coynage, to his great aduauntage.

The latter ende of this yere there were certeine Ambassadors sent from the Pope to the king of England, earnestly entreatyng the king for the deli∣uerie out of prison of Iohn Baylioll late Scottishe king, which now was in the Tower of London, and they promised the king in the Popes name, that he should be safe from troublyng eyther of the king or of his realme, and that no perill should come by his deliueraunce. And after that the king had con∣ferred with his counsayle, and considered of this the Popes request, he con∣discended there vnto, and made deliuery of the sayd Iohn Baylioll vnto the Popes messengers, and they conueyed him into Fraunce to his awne landes called Bayliolles landes, and there left him in safe keepyng, vnder the order and gouernement of certeine Prelates.

[unspec 1299/28] And yet againe the king heryng that the Scottes were not in quiet, but were as brag and as busie as before they had bene, therefore he made nowe his thirde voyage into Scotland, and did so Princely, and valiauntly, that within short time after his commyng thether, he subdued the greater part of the land. And forward he went to the Castell of Estriuelyn, wherein were many of the great Lordes of Scotland, and he compassed the Castell with a strong siege, but he lay there somewhat long without any great aduauntage or hurt done vnto the Scottes: Wherefore, of pollecie he caused to be made two payre of Gallowes in the sight of the Castell, and afterward commaun∣ded proclamation to be made, that if the Scots by a certeine day would yelde that Castell vnto the king, they should haue lyfe and limme: and if not, but that he wanne it by strength, as many as were within the sayd Castell should be hanged vpon those Galowes, no estate nor person to be excepted.

Nowe when the Scottes had aduised themselues well vpon this Pro∣clamation, and considered the strength of their enemies & their awne weake∣nesse and feblenesse, and lack of succour, they assented to yelde them and their Castell vnto the king, which shortly they did: Whereof when king Edward was possessed, he stuffed the same with Englishe knightes, and after tooke a newe othe of the Lordes and Capitaynes, the which he found closed within that Castell, of true and faythfull allegeaunce, and then suffered them to go where they lyked.

And when William Walys, which as before is sayde pretended the rule and gouernaunce of Scotland, heard tell that the strong Castell of Estriue∣lyn was yelded vnto king Edward, and that the Lordes and knightes therein founden (in whome he much trusted) were sworne to the kinges allegeance, he feared sore least the sayde company would betray him, and bring him vnto the king: Wherefore he with his adherentes, withdrewe them into the Ma∣resses, and other such places, where they thought them selues safe from pur∣suyng of the kinges host.

Then the poore Commons of the lande presented them selues by great companies, and put them wholy in the kinges grace and mercye, so that the

king then thought that he was in peaceable possession, or at the least in a great suretie of the land. Wherefore, after he had caused to be sworne vnto him the rulers of dyuers Boroughes, Cities and townes, with other officers of the lande, he returned vnto Barwike, and so into Englande, and lastly to Westminster.

And while the king was thus occupyed in Scotland, the Queene be∣fore mencioned, that is to say, the Lady Margaret sister to the French king, was conueyed from Cauntorbury to London, and by the way there met her sixe hundreth Citizens in one Lyuery of red and white, with the cognisaunce of dyuerse misteries brodered vpon their sleues, and receyued hir foure miles without the Citie, and so conueyed her through the Citie, which then was richely hanged, vnto Westminster, and there she lodged.

When the king was returned out of Scotlande, he caused shortly after an inquisition to be made through his lande, which afterwarde was called Troylebastone. This was made vpon all officers, as Maiors, Shirifes, Baylifes, Excheters, and other officers that misbehaued themselues in their offices, or had vsed any extorcion or euill dealyng with the kinges people, otherwise then they might lawfully do by vertue of their offices. By reason of which inquisition, many were accused, and redemed their offices by grie∣uous fynes to the kinges great profite and aduauntage. Other offences and forfeytures were sought out also, as forfeytures agaynst the Crowne, the which brought great summes of money into the kinges Coffers, toward the great charges of his warres that he susteyned in Wales, Fraunce, and Scotland, as before is shewed.

And as sayth Polydore, when king Edward returned out of Scotland into England, because he would not leaue any monument or remembraunce of the former estate of their Kinges, he caused therefore to be brought from thence a stone Chayre, in the which their kinges were wont to be crowned, and the same nowe remayneth in Westminster Church.

And the sayde tyme also the Lorde Chauncelor and Iudges came from Yorke, where they had remayned and kept their termes by the space of seuen yeres, and now came to London by the kinges commaundement.

It chaunced at this time that maister Langton then Bishop of Chester, made a grieuous complaint to the king of Sir Edward his eldest sonne, for that he with Piers of Gauestone and other wanton and wilde persons, had broken the Parke of the sayde bishop, and riotously destroyed the game with∣in it. With the which complaint the king was sore agreued against his sonne, and commaunded him to Prison and the other his complices. And afterward when the king was fully and truely informed of the lewde and wanton dis∣positions of the sayd Piers Gauestone, he therefore banished the sayde Piers out of England for euer. But after the death of king Edward, this banishe∣ment continued not, for he was againe restored by his sonne, where of en∣sued much harme and trouble, aswell to the king, as also to the Nobles and whole Realme.

And thys yere dyed Edmond Erle of Cornewall the sonne of Richarde sometime Erle of that Countrie and king of Almayn without Issue, [unspec 1300/39] where∣fore that Erledome returned againe to the crowne of Englande.

And also about thys tyme the king gaue vnto Sir Edwarde his sonne

the principality of Wales, & ioyned thervnto the said Erledome of Cornewal.

[unspec 1301/30] The writer of the Scottishe Chronicle, namely Hector Boethus setteth foorth a great ouerthrowe that the Scottes gaue vnto the Englishmen in this yere, at Roslyng, where sayth he, there was not one Englishe man that escaped alyue, and he sayeth further, that the Englishmen came vpon them with the number of .xxx. thousand men deuyded into three seuerall battailes, and that the Scottes were in number but eyght thousand men, and yet they gaue the ouerthrow to all the three battailes, beginning with the first whom they vanquished, and then came the seconde and set freshe vpon them, whom also they ouerthrewe, and lastly came the thirde battayle lykewise freshe vp∣on them, and although the Scottes beyng so small a number, and were sore weried with the fight and ouerthrow of the two former armies, yet espyeng the thirde to approche, they tooke their stomakes so couragiously vnto them and gaue them so fierce and sharpe an onset, that they ouerthrew them man and mothers sonne. But as sayeth the aforesayde Scot, this victorie lasted not long, for after king Edward heard of thys losse, he returned to Scotland and went thorough the land brennyng and spoylyng the same from the North to the South, and compelled all to sweare to him homage and fealtie and herein ye may beleue the Scot as ye thinke good. But this conquest seemeth to be the same that we spake of in the .xxvij. yere of thys kinges reigne. And thys yere the king helde his Parliament at Cauntorbury.

[unspec 1304/33] In the .xxxiij. yere of his reigne Wylliam Walys was taken in Scot∣lande at the Towne of S. Dominick, and sent vnto London, and there ar∣reigned and the .xxiiij. of August he was drawen, hanged, hedded and quar∣tered, and his hed set vpon London bridge, and his foure quarters sent into Scotland, and there hanged vpon the gates of certayne townes of the land.

And within .xiiij. dayes after, a peace was taken betweene Scotlande and Englande vnto the conclusion whereof, at Mighelmas next followyng, the king then holdyng hys Parliament at Westmynster, thether came out of Scotlande, the Bishop of S. Androwes Robert Bruze, Sir Symond de Frysell Erle of Dunbarre, Sir Iohn of Cambrees Erle of Atleys, and Sir Iohn Comyn with other, the which voluntarily were sworne, in the pre∣sence of the king and his Lordes, that they should be true vnto the king of Englande, and keepe the lande of Scotlande to hys vse, agaynst all other persons. And if any rebell or other malicious person disturbed the lande, or brake the kinges peace, they should cause him to be taken and sent vnto the king, with sundry other articles of their allegeaunce which they falsely brake and conspired to the contrarie and that foorthwith.

[unspec 1305/34] Robert le Bruze aboue mencioned returning into Scotlande, did con∣trary to his othe assemble the Lordes of that realme, and by the consell of the Abbot of stone and other that fauored his vntruth, he sent vnto Clement the fift then Bishop of Rome for a dispensation of hys othe before made vnto king Edward, and surmised to him that king Edward vexed and greeued the Realme of Scotlande wrongfully: wherevpon the Pope wrote vnto king Edward his Letter, the summe and effect whereof ensueth.

THat Pope Boniface being informed and procured by the Scottes, sent his letters vnto the king of England, & therein did first alledge that the king∣dome of Scotlande did belong vnto the right of the Church of Rome: And

that the king of Englande did chalenge the subiection thereof against God and right, and to the preiudice and harme of the Sea apostolike, & for proofe thereof, he allegeth these reasons following.

1 First, that whereas Henry the father of the king that nowe is, obteyned of Alexander king of Scots an ayde and assistence in his warre against Sy∣mon Mountfort. To the entent that the same ayde should not be thought to be required or geuen by the right of any subiection or duetie: the same Henry by his letters patents did confesse and acknowledge that he receyued it not of duetie, but of speciall fauour.

2 Also where as he being called vnto the coronation of the king that nowe is, by his letters that he as his friend might in so great solempnities exhibite and geue vnto him his friendly presence. And so he came not of duetie, but of speciall fauour.

3 Furthermore, where as the king of Scotlande came personally vnto the king of Englande to make fealtie vnto him for the landes of Tindale and Pembreth liyng within the realme of Englande, he made that fealtie onely for those landes which lye in Englande, and not as king of Scottes, nor for the kingdome of Scotland: For he openly protested in the presence of all the people that he ought not to make any fealtie vnto the king of England for the kingdome of Scotland.

4 Also that the aforesaide king Alexander left behinde him a young mayde his heyre called Margaret nece vnto the king of England, the supreme domi∣nion of which kingdome came not vnto her, but vnto certaine peeres of the kingdome of Scotlande elected therefore, and therefore she ought not to doe homage vnto him.

5 Also the Pope reprooued the king, for as much as he after the deceasse of the sayde king Alexander subdued vnto him by force, the Scottes being then without a gouernour, and not hauing the helpe of any guyde to the preiudice and no small greeuance of the Church of Rome.

6 Also he affirmed that when the sea of Rome doth commit the office of a Legate to anye man to be executed within the Realme of Englande for the payment of Tithes or for any other lawfull cause, and this Legacy doth not by speciall letters and priuileges of the sea apostolike extend vnto the king∣dome of Scotlande, that they shoulde resist and withstande the same, as it chaunced euidently in the time of Adrian: For the Legate was not by anye meanes admitted vnto the sayde king of Scotlande, vntill the office of a Le∣gate there was by speciall letters apostolike committed vnto him.

7 Also that the same realme of Scotlande was conuerted vnto the vnitie of the Catholique fayth, by the reuerend reliques of Saint Peter the Apo∣stle not without the giftes of heauenly grace.

8 Also that in auncient time the Archebishop of Yorke, when a question was moued concerning the right of the Metropolitane against the prelates of Scotlande, coulde not obteyne sentence with him.

¶These things thus alleged, the Pope admonished the king by his let∣ters to permit and suffer the Bishops, Abbots, Clerkes and all other of the kingdome of Scotlande which he deteyned prisoners, freely to departe, and that he should call home out of the sayde kingdome of Scotlande his officers which he had appointed and set to the preiudice, iniurie and greeuous offence

of the faythfull people and for the oppression of the iust, whereby he should be the more acceptable and beloued with God, and the better obteyne the fauour o the sea apostolike. And if the king of Englande woulde allege that he had right or title to the kingdome of Scotland or to anye parte thereof, that then he shoulde sende his procurators vnto the sea apostolique and Ambassadors specially appointed with the right lawes and miniments concerning that bu∣sinesse, and there he should receyue a full performaunce of Iustice.

When the king had read and well considered the aforesayde letter, he then called together his parliament at Lyncolne, and shewed the same letter vnto his Lords, and after long conference had with them, it was agreed that the king shoulde write againe to the Pope in his awne name, concerning the right of his superioritie of Scotlande: But for the latter parte of the same letter, that where the Pope would that the matter should be brought in iudg∣ment before him, that they desyred that they might answere by their letter in their owne names: And soone after the king wrote his letter vnto the Pope as followeth.

The kinges Letter to the Pope.

THe most highe God knoweth it to be regestred in oure recordes, the style whereof may neuer be blotted out, that our predecessours and progeni∣tors being kings of Englande haue reigned ouer the kingdome of Scot∣lande and all the kinges therof, and ouer their temporalties and other things therevnto annexed of long and auncient tyme heretofore, by the title of the superiority and direct dominion, of the same: And haue receyued of the same kinges for the kingdome of Scotlande and of other the Nobles of whome them pleased loyall homage, and due othes of fidelitie. We continuyng the possession of our sayde title and dominion, haue likewise taken the same, as well of the king of Scotlande as of the Nobles of the same Realme. And oure progenitors haue had suche prerogatiue of right and dominion ouer the realme of Scotlande and the kinges of the same, that they bestowed the same vpon their faythfull subiectes, remouing thence for iust causes suche as were their kinges. And so ordeyned and set in their place others to reigne: which things are without doubt to be well knowne and apparaunt to all. Al∣thoughe peraduenture it hath by false insinuation otherwise beene certefied thorough the children of rebellion and enuiours of peace vnto your cares, from whose craftie and imagined faynings, that your holynesse would turne your eares we humbly doe beseeche and craue with deuout affection your fa∣therly clemencie and excellencie. And for breuities sake, passing ouer actes done in former tyme, that we may touche some for example. In the time of Hely the high Priest and of Samuell the prophet, there was a certaine no∣ble man named Brute of the Troyan stocke, who possessed thys whole Realme, and named it after his awne name Briteyne, wherein were con∣teyned that parte which now is called Scotland and one other part that was called Camber, but now it is called Wales. &c. he proceedeth in his sayde let∣ter and proueth that England and Scotland is but one Monarchy, and so discendeth in hys proues from Prince to Prince vntill he come to king Ed∣ward named the elder, who was the sonne of king Alured and so successiuely vnto Edward the confessor and Wylliam the conquerour, and last vnto king Henry the thirde this kings father. And at the length hauing declared that the title of the superiour dominion of Scotland was due vnto his father king

Henry the third & so consequently to hym, he concludeth thus, sayeng. Where therfore we doe know our selues in full possession of the same Realme by the title of a full dominion, we neyther can nor ought but represse the insolencie of our subiectes and rebels, and if we finde any, and that in such maner as it shall seeme good by our kingly preheminence. And because by the premisses and other it doth euidently appere and is manifestly knowne, that the sayde kingdome of Scotland, as well by reason of possession as of propertie doth appertaine vnto vs by full right, nor that we haue done nor prouyded anye thing by worde or deede (as we could not) by which anye thing ought to be withdrawne of the same right and possession aforesayde: we humbly beseech your holynesse, the premisses being with good meditation considered, that you wyll vouchsafe to withdrawe your motion of minde, and not to geue cre∣dite in thys behalfe vnto the euill wyllers of the contrarie side, but also that you would if it please you with meere affection commend and set foorth oure state together with our kingly rightes aforesayde, and thus. &c.

And immediately the Lordes also did vvrite theyr letter vnto the Pope, the tenor vvhereof ensueth.

OVr holy mother the Church of Rome, by whose ministerie the Catholike fayth doth with such perfection in her actes proceede (as we do firmely beleue and holde) that she will be preiudiciall to none: But will mainteyne and preserue the right and title of euery man inuiolate. In a generall Par∣liament sommoned at Lincolne by our most excellent and souereigne Lorde Edward, by the grace of God king of England, he our sayd souereigne Lord caused certeine letters Apostolike to be brought foorth, and seriously to be ex∣pounded to vs, which he had receyued from your fatherhood concernyng cer∣tein businesse and affayres touchyng the state & condicion of this our realme. The which letters beyng heard, and diligently considered, we perceiued ther∣in to be conteyned thinges both merueylous and straunge vnto vs, which be∣fore this time was neuer heard of. For we are certeine (most holy father) and in our parties it is well knowen, as also to many others it remayneth not ob∣scure, that euer sithence the first institution of the kingdome of England, the kinges thereof, aswell in the tyme of Britons, as of the English men, haue had in their possession the right, title, and dominion of Scotland, or else haue bene the chiefe Lordes in the superioritie both of the right and direct domini∣on of the sayde Kingdome of Scotland at all tymes continually, and that the sayd kingdome in temporal matters hath not at any time perteyned, or by any right now doth apperteyne vnto the Church abouesayde. And moreouer the same Kingdome of Scotland hath vnto the progenitors of our sayde king be∣yng Kynges of Englande, and vnto him also of auncient tyme remayned feo∣darie: Neither hath the king of Scottes and kingdome of Scotlande beene subiect to any other then to the kings of England. Neyther haue the kinges of England concernyng the right and title to the Kingdome aforesayd, or o∣ther the percelles thereof, aunswered, or were bound to aunswere before any iudge spirituall or temporall by reason of the preheminence of their estate or kingly dignitie at al times inuiolately serued and kept. Wherfore hauing trea∣ted and diligently deliberated vpon the contents of your letters, the vniuersal assent and consent of all and euery of vs, hath bene, is, and Godwillyng here∣after most firmely shall be, that our foresaid souereigne Lorde the King shall

in no wise aunswere in iudgement before you, concernyng the right and title to the Kingdome of Scotland or other the percelles thereof, nor shall by any meanes submit himselfe to iudgement, nor shall bring his foresayde right and title in doubt, neither shal he send any procurators or Ambassadors vnto your presence in this behalfe, especially forasmuch as the premisses would mani∣festly tend vnto the disherison of the title & right of the crowne of this realme of Englande, and kingly dignity, and to the notorious subuersion of the state therof, and also to the preiudice of the liberties, customes & lawes of our fore∣fathers: vnto the obseruation and defence wherof, we are obliged and bound by our othe, the which also we will defende and mainteyne with our whole might and power, God Willyng. Neither do we permit, or in any wise will permit (as neyther we may nor ought) our foresayde souereigne Lorde the King, yea, although he were willyng to do, or by any meanes to attempt the premisses, beyng thinges vnaccustomed, vnlawfull, preiudiciall and at no time before euer heard of. Wherefore we do reuerently and humbly beseech your holinesse, that you will more benignly suffer and permit our foresayde soue∣reigne Lord the king (who among other princes of the worlde doth shewe himselfe most Catholyke and deuoute vnto the Church of Rome) quietly to enioy and possesse his aforesayde right, title, liberties, customes and lawes inuiolably without diminucion or disquiet.

And vnto this letter, were fixed of the Nobles and Lordes of the Realme (as sayth my recorde) more than an hundreth of the seuerall seales of their armes.

¶ And in the ende of this yere, she king kepyng his feast of Christmasse in the North partes, did so sone as the feast was ended prepare an armye a∣gainst the Scottes: and his sonne Edward Prince of Wales likewise folo∣wyng him with a great host of warlike men, and entered Scotland, and pas∣sed through a great part of the same, but found not one Scot that resisted.

At this time also the French king, whose sister beyng called the Ladie Margaret, which the king of England did shortly after mary as shal appere, sent the Abbot of Compeyn and certeine other Ambassadors vnto the king of England, desyryng him to haue peace with the Scottes callyng them hys friendes, which notwithstandyng receyued a short aunswere and so returned in vayne.

King Edward callyng to his remembraunce that the tyme of the truce lately taken betwene him and the French king was almost expired, called his preuy Counsaile vnto him at Westminster sone after the feast of Christmasse, and agreed and sent very noble and honorable Ambassadors vnto the French king, praiyng him to declare and shewe his minde whether he had aduisedly determined to haue, truce, warre, or peace: To the which the French King aunswered, that without the presence of the .xij. peeres he could not deale in so weightie a matter, and also that the same Peeres were then occupyed in the prouision of newe warre: But he sayd that within .xv. dayes he loked for their commyng. Which tyme beyng come, and they meetyng together, sayde that they would not meddle in the matter without the aduice of the Scottes. And so soone as the Englishe Ambassadours heard this, they returned into England.

And shortly after king Edward called his Parliament at Westminster, and there declared the delayes and craftie dealyngs of the French king: But

in the meane time the French king sent his Ambassadors to the king of Eng∣land. And after a litle conference, it was agreed that both the kinges should mete together in a place conuenient betweene Flaundyrs and Picardie, and that then they would intreat and conclude of a friendly and continuall peace: Which meetyng was done with speede, and the sayde peace concluded vpon sondrie conditions, and among other this was one, that king Edward should take vnto wife Margaret, the sister of Philip le Beawe the Frenche King, and with her was deliuered in peaceable maner the Countie of Gascoyne with all rightes and liberties, in as large maner as the King helde the same in the begynnyng of his warres: The which Margaret while the king was in Scotland was brought vnto Douer, and so vnto Cauntorbury, where the king maried her in the Month of September, & had by her in proces of tyme two sonnes, named Thomas and Edmond, and a daughter named Marga∣ret. The first of the sonnes was named Thomas of Brotherton, and the se∣cond Edmond of Wodstocke.

And in the meane while that this matter was thus complayned vpō to the Pope, the sayd Robert le Bruze made all the labor he might vnto the Lordes of Scotland to be admitted for king of that Region, so y^t vpon the .viij. day of December, a great assembly of the Lords was made at the Abbey of Stone. And the next day folowyng, by the meanes of the Abbot of that place, many of the sayde Lords assented vnto the will of the sayde Robert, except Sir Iohn Comyn onely. The which in defence of his truth and othe before sworne vn∣to king Edwarde made many reasons and excuses, but finally sayde that he would not falsefie his othe for no man. And for this cause Robert le Bruce bare vnto Sir Iohn Comyn a great stomacke, and so did many other of the Nobles. But he helde his opinion so firmely and stoutly, that other began to take his part, so that in the counsayle arose such varietie of opinions, that the sayd counsayle was dissolued, and anewe assembled at the Gray Friers of Dunfrise, at Candlemasse next folowyng. At which day of assembly, when the cause of their meetyng was by Robert Bruce published and declared, and many of the great Lordes had graunted vnto him their ayde and assistance: But the aforenamed Sir Iohn Comyn and other sate still and sayd nothing. Which Robert le Bruze marked well, and to him sayde: And you Sir Iohn I trust for the defence and weale of this realme, will not be behinde. Where∣vnto he aunswered: Sir I would that you and all my Lordes here present knewe well, that for the weale, defence, and in the right of this land, I will stand with it to the vttermost of my power: But for that I see, ye rather en∣tend the subuersion then the weale thereof, I geue you therefore knowledge I will neyther ayde you with counsaile, nor yet with strength: And some o∣ther also were present which allowed very well the graue saiyng and aun∣swere of Sir Iohn Comyn. But Robert le Bruze was so amoued there∣withall, that when Sir Iohn Comyn, and Sir Roger his brother was de∣parted from the counsaile, and was come into the Church of the Friers, Ro∣bert le Bruze folowed him, and wounded him to death with his sworde, and when his brother would haue defended him, he slue him also. After which murder little or no resistaunce was made against the vntrue meanyng and dedes of the sayde Robert le Bruze, so that he at Saint Iohns towne was crowned king shortly after.

Assoone as king Edward was admonished of the murther of sir Iohn Comyn, and that he had also well considered the continuall vntrouth of the Scottes, he forthwith made prouision and gathered a great power together to enter into Scotland. And hauyng, and holdyng at that time beyng Whit∣sontide a great feast of his Baronnie at Westminster, and duryng the time of the same feast, he made aboue two hundreth knightes. And assoone as his feast was ended, he sent with a goodly company of knightes and furniture of Warlike men, Sir Aymer de valaunce Erlé of Pembrooke and Sir Henry Percy Erle of Northumberlande into Scotland, and shortly after the king himselfe folowed with his host.

And it was not long after that the Erle of Pembrooke was arryued with his power in Scotlande, but that Robert le Bruse with a great power of the Scottes were gathered together in a place called Methfen, euerye of them hauing vpon his harnesse a whyte shyrte, and there they bade the Erle battayle. And the Erle with his power set manfully and courageously vpon them, so that there perished with the sworde that daye a great number of the Scottes that came with the false king. And the sayde false king was that day three times beaten downe, but was euer releued by Sir Symon Frisell that valyaunt warryour, and by the craft and help of his whyte shyrte, he fled and escaped out of the battayle. The names of the chiefe prisoners that were taken at this skirmish of the Scottes were these, Thomas the sonne of Rai∣nulph, Dauid of Inkmartyn, Iohn of Someruile knightes, Nicholas Hut∣tynges Marshall, and Hugh the false kinges Chapleyn who that daye was standard bearer and many other whose names were here to long to reherse. And the aforesayd Hugh the priest with dyuers other were shortly after con∣demned, but the priest was first hanged because he had sayd, that I the priest will beare your banner and lead you this iourney.

Sone after the flyeng of Robert Bruse, the king of Englande with his sonne the prince of Wales, being then about the .x. daye of August entered Scotlande being accompanied wyth a great number of the Nobles of the realme and a puyssaunt armie. And of manye of the Scottes the king was honorably receyued, and many fled from him and hid themselues in woodes and marishes. The king going foorth in Scotland with his armie, raunged ouer all the lande and tooke many of the fugitiue Scottes, and many he put to death, and also manye he pardoned. But among other that were taken, there were two Bishops and an Abbot which crowned Robert le Bruse the false king, the which were hardly and streightly kept in strong prison so long as the king lyued. There was also taken the aforenamed Symon Frisell in whome rested all the Scottes hope and trust. And there was taken Here∣bert of Morham, a man of excellent bewtie and stature, farre exceeding all the other Scottes. The aforesayde Symon was shortly after hanged: But Herebert with his Squyre Thomas de boys were behedded. And the head of Symon Frisell for the manifold treasons by him committed was set vpon London bridge nexte vnto the head of Wylliam Walleys who was placed there before.

And shortlye after the king of Englande caused an inquirie to be made thorough the realme of Scotland by the others of honest and good men, who and how many they were that murdered and consented to the murther of the

noble man Iohn Comyn before named, and also to the coronation of the a∣foresayde Robert Bruse. And in a maner he tooke them all and put them to death. And suche as submitted themselues vnto the kings will and pleasure, he kept in streight and hard prison. And Iohn Seyton and Christofer hys brother which were the Esquiers of Robert Bruse, and consented vnto the shamefull murder of the sayde worthy and noble Iohn Comyn were also ta∣ken. Of the which Iohn Seyton at New Castell vpon Tyne, and Christo∣pher at Domfrise were hanged, drawen, and quartered.

And during the time that this iustice was executed vpon the wicked and wretched Scottes, the lewde and vnworthye crowned king Robert Bruse fled into the Mountaynes, hyding hymselfe in suche places as he might best lurck in. And lykewise Sir Iohn of Cambres Erle of Athles practised to flye and escape, but by the prouydence of God he was taken: which when the king heard, although he was then troubled with greeuous sickenesse, yet he bare the same the better, as one much comforted with these newes.

The aforenamed Sir Iohn of Cambres, Erle of Atles, as I finde in an auncient recorde, after he was apprehended, and among other prisoners committed to warde: There were certaine that resorted vnto the king, and shewed him that this Erle was of the bloud royall, and therfore they thought it vnseemely that he should be committed among the other cōmon offendors. To whome the king not respecting his bloud and progeny sayde: The high∣er that he is of degree, the more greeuous is his fall: if he among the other murderers did excel in bloud, then is it meete that he for his mischiefe should hang higher then any of the other: Take him, saith he, and carie him to Lon∣don and there let him haue iustice. And shortly after, that is to say the .vij. day of Nouember, next followyng he was arreigned in Westminster Hall and found giltie of treason, and of the murder of Sir Iohn Comyn, and had iudgement of death. And because he came of the bloud royall as aforesayde, he was not drawne, but was set vpon an horse, and so brought to the place of execution, and there hanged vpon a payre of Galowes that were fiftie foote high, hauing before his eyes a great fyre burnyng, and before he was halfe dead, he was cut downe and behedded, and his bodye cast into the burnyng fyre, where it consumed vnto Ashes, & his head was set vpon London bridge among the other Traytours and murderers heads, but a great deale higher then the other.

About the ende of Februarie a certaine Scot of Galoway named Don∣galdus came with three hundreth men and withstood a great Nauie of Pi∣rates replenished with .vij.C. men of warre that woulde haue landed vpon his ground: But he set so fiercely vpon them, that what with the fight and by drowning in the Sea and hauen, and followyng such as had recouered land and fled, they in a maner all perished. And among the principall of these theeues that were slaine in thys skirmish, the sayde Dongallus brought vnto the king of England the head of Malcolyn the Lorde of Kentyr, and two heads of two rulers of Irelande. And he brought with him as prisoners Thomas Bruse knight, and Alexander his brother Dean of Glaskowe, both brethren Germaynes of Robert Bruse the false King of Scotland. And also they presented Reynold of Craunford knight which was sore wounded, and halfe dead. Of which number Thomas Bruse knight was drawen, hanged

and hedded. And the rest were onely hanged and headed at Carlisle.

And the aforesayde yere there came from the Pope vnto the king of Englande a Cardinall and Mayster Peter a Spanyard as Ambassadors, to conclude a mariage betwene Edward the king of Englands sonne Prince of Wales, and the Lady Isabell the daughter of the French king, the which in the yere followyng was fully fynished.

Robert le Bruze, after this discomfiture and losse of his chiefe friends, and fearing least the Scottes with suche Englishmen as king Edward lefte there, would arise against hym: did therefore all comfortlesse flie vnto the king of Norwaye, and there abode during the lyfe of king Edward.

When this noble and valiaunt Prince had thus subdued the Scottes, he yeelded thankes vnto almightie God for this victorie. And when he was truely asserteyned of the flyeng and departing of Robert le Bruse, and also that he had set the lande in a good and quiet order, he returned into England.

And in this meane while, the aforesayde Lordes of Scotland were ar∣reigned at London, and there condempned and put to death, and their heads set vpon London bridge. And shortlye after was Iohn Waleys brother to Wylliam Waleys (which for lyke treason was put to death the yere nexte before) taken, hanged and quartered, and some of the Scottes that were taken as prisoners, remayned there a long time before they were hable to pay their fines.

[unspec 1306/35] And shortly after the king for diuers causes returned againe into Scot∣lande, but some say he remayned at Barwike and kept hys Christmas and Easter there, and did not returne to London vntill the Sommer followyng. And that then in the time of his returne, a sicknesse tooke hym so feruently, that he knewe well he should die. Wherefore he being at Bourgh vpon the sandes beyond Carlyle, called to him Sir Aymer de Valaunce Erle of Pen∣brooke, Sir Henry Percye Erle of Northumberlande, Sir Henry Lacye Erle of Lyncoln, and Sir Robert Clyfford Baron, and caused them to be sworne before him, that they should crowne Edward his sonne in as conue∣nient time after his death as they might, and to keepe the lande to his vse vn∣till he were crowned.

And after his Barons had taken the sayde othe, he then called vnto him his sonne Edward, and charged him with dyuers pointes vpon his blessing: among the which one especiall was, that he should neuer after that daye suf∣fer Piers of Gaueston to returne into Englande, and so shortly after ended his lyfe vppon the .vij. daye of Iulie, when he had reigned .xxxiiij. yeres .vij. Moneths and odde dayes. And after with great solempnity was coueyghed vnto Westmynster, and there buried in the Chapell of S. Edward vpon the south side, in a plaine Tombe of Marble at the head of his father. This no∣ble prince had two wyfes, and had issue by them as may appere before in the twentie yere, and in the .xxvij. yere of this kings reigne, where it is at large set out.

This king was of stature talle, somewhat swarte or black of colour, strong of body, and nothing fat, for by much exercise he did eschewe fatnesse: he was amiable of countenaunce, hauing black eyes, which when he waxed angry, would seeme to be fyrse: his heare was black and curled, he was very healthy and of a stoute courage, that neuer fayled in any daunger, or aduersi∣tie,

he was verie pregnant and had an excellent wyt, and commonly atchee∣ued any enterprise he tooke in hande. He was a great louer and fauourer of religion, but yet a great enemie to the pride and insolencie of Priestes which in his dayes exceeded, and he iudged the same onely to spring of their wealth and riches. And therfore to bridle their wantonnesse he established the lawe for graunting landes in Mortmayn. Of friendship he was constaunt, and not easie to be reconciled where he conceyued a displeasure. And in vacant times he gaue himself much to huntyng. Thus much Polidore.

Notes

• King Ed∣ward the first.
• Busie heades beget trouble
• Lluellen Prince of Wales re∣belled.
• Lewlyn sub∣dued.
• New lawes.
• A parliamēt.
• Lewlyn Prince of Wales again re••elled and was subdued
• Walter Har∣uy chosen Maior.
• A folkemote.
• Walter Har∣uy depriued.
• Statute of Mortmain.
• Dauid bro∣ther of Lew∣lyn Prince of Wales a spie.
• The coyne fore clipped.
• A great exe∣cution of Iewes.
• Boston brent
• Halfe pence & farthings lack in Eng∣lande.
• Dauid bro∣ther of Lew∣lyn fled into Wales.
• The king sendeth a po∣wer into Wales to tame the Welshemen.
• The Eng∣lishmen o∣uerthrowne.
• Sir Roger Clifforde drowned
• Lewlyn prince of Wa∣les slaine.
• Wales deui∣ded into shires.
• A parliamēt at Shrewes∣bury.
• Dauid the brother of Lewlyn han∣ged, drawen & quartered.
• Edward of Carnaruan the kinges first sonne.
• Lawrence Doket han∣ged in Bowe Church.
• Execution.
• Variance be∣twene y^e king and the Erle of Leycester.
• Liberties of London a∣gaine seazed.
• Additamēta Glocestriae,
• Citizens ba∣nished for euer.
• Straungers punished for hauing of false weights
• Great sūmes of money was offered to the king to banish all the Iewes out of England.
• King Ed∣ward did ho∣mage for the Duchie of Guyan.
• Corne plenty
• This was a great dearth, if ye conferre the value of theyr money vnto our mo∣ney that we now present∣ly haue. Thē after the rate of .xl. s a quar¦ter, they of our money payd .vj. poūd that is .xv. s. for a bushell, & thē no mar∣uel though y^e pore cried out
• 1288/1••
• Rice ap Me∣ridock taken, drawne, han∣ged and quartered.
• Alexander king of Scors brake his neck.
• Bailioll col∣ledge in Ox∣forde.
• The Iewes banished.
• Gilbert de Clare Erle of Gloucester
• Queene Ali∣anour the kinges wife deceased.
• Quene Alia∣nor wife to king Henry the third de∣ceassed.
• Richarde Bagle an officer of London.
• A rescue pu∣nish••d.
• Rebellion in wales.
• The welsh∣men tamed & reformed.
• Douer brent by y^e French∣men.
• Ryon Castell besieged.
• A subsedie leuyed vpon Serplers of Wolie.
• A great sub∣sedie graun∣ted of the Clergie.
• Sir Tho∣mas Turbe∣uyle executed
• Ryon Castel newly assaul∣ted.
• Poudency is taken.
• Ryon Castel is wonne.
• A briefe col∣lection of the homages done by the Scottishe kinges vnto the kinges of England.
• The subiec∣tion and ho∣mage of the kinge of Scottes.
• Constantine Kinge of Scottes.
• Alphunius Kinge of S o ••••s.
• Malcolme ••inge of Scottes.
• Dauid king •••• Scottes.
• William king 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Scottes.
• Alexander Kinge of Scottes.
• A Parliamēt holden at Norham.
• The confessi∣on of the No∣blemen of Scotland, and their bond made to the king of Englande.
• The letters of Seisyn made by the Lordes of Scotlande vnto king Edward.
• King Ed¦ward is sea¦sed of all Scotland
• King Ed∣ward iud∣geth y^e king∣dom of Scot∣land to Iohn Baylioll
• Iohn Bay∣lioll doth ho∣mage to king Edward for the kingdom of Scotland.
• Madock or Meridock taken and hanged.
• Edmond erle of Lancaster.
• The Sco••s ••••bes••.
• A great slaughter of Scottes.
• Hector Boe∣thus a great lyer.
• Prisoners.
• Barwike wonne.
• Dunbarre besieged.
• Victory vpō the Scottes.
• Dunbarre wonne.
• Edenbo∣rough wonne
• The Rega∣lyes of Scot∣land taken.
• A letter sent from y^e king of Scottes to the king of England, wherein the sayde king of Scottes resigneth his homage and fealtie.
• The resigna∣tiō of homage and fealtie.
• King Ed∣ward admit∣teth the re∣signation of Scottishe Kinges ho∣mage.
• The Scot∣tishe king prayeth for peace and mercie.
• The submis∣sion of y^e king of Scots to the king of England.
• A parliamēt holden at Barwike.
• Homage.
• Fealtie.
• King Ed∣ward appoin∣teth a keeper of the realme of Scotland.
• The king of Scottes is sent to the Tower of London.
• Edmond Duke of Lancaster dead.
• The king sayleth into Flaundyrs.
• The battaile of Furnes in Flaundyrs.
• A peace con∣cluded.
• The Scots againe rebell.
• Wylliam Walys made Captaine of Scotlande.
• Barrell of Streuelyn.
• The Scots put the Eng∣lish men to the worse.
• This prison was kept in the place that nowe the con∣duit in Corne hyll stande••h, for that was called the Tonne.
• The liberties of London a∣gain restored.
• Certein Ali∣ens that were beneficed mē are put out of the kinges protection.
• King Ed∣ward yet a∣gaine made cruell warre vpon the Scottes.
• The battaile of Fankirke.
• A great slaughter of Scott••s.
• The Scots once againe make their homage.
• Coynes of money con∣demned.
• Ambassa∣dors sent from the Pope to king Edward for the deliuery of Iohn Bailioll late king of Scottes.
• The Scots againe rebell and are sub∣dued.
• Estriuelyn besieged.
• Estriuelyn Castell in yeelded to the king.
• Wylliam Walys flyeth from king Edward.
• The Scots s••bmit them∣s••lues vnto y^e kings mercy.
• The com∣ming of Queene Margaret into Englād.
• A straunge liuerie.
• Troylebastō.
• Langton bi∣shop of Che∣ster, complai∣ned to the King vpon Prince Ed∣warde.
• The king commaūdeth his eldest son to prison for offending of a subiect.
• A scottishe historie in defacyng of Englishmen and aduaun∣cing them∣selues.
• A scottishe report of the losse that Englishmen had in Scot∣lande.
• A parliamēt holden at Caūtorbury.
• Wylliam Waleys han∣ged drawne & quartered.
• The Scots againe swere allegeaunce to king Ed∣warde.
• The Scots againe rebell.
• The Popes Letter writ∣ten to king Edward.
• A parliamēt holden at Lyncoln.
• The letters of the nobles of England written to the Pope.
• King Ed∣ward againe entreth into Scotland with a great armie.
• A parliament holden at westminster.
• A peace con∣cluded with the French king.
• Robert le Bruze labo∣reth y^e lordes to make him Kinge of Scotland.
• Sir Iohn Comyn a worthie knight.
• Sir Iohn Comyn is murdered.
• Robert le Bruze crow∣ned king of Scottes.
• King Ed∣warde once agayne goeth with a great power to sub∣due y^e Scots.
• Battayle of Methfen.
• Robert le Bruse flyeth.
• King Ed∣warde ente∣reth Scot∣lande with a great power.
• Symon Fri∣sell taken.
• King Ed∣warde cau∣seth an inqui∣sition to be made in Scotlande for the mur∣der of Sir Iohn Co∣myn.
• Robert le Bruze esca∣ped by flyeng.
• Robert le Bruze esca∣ped by flyeng.
• The Scot∣tishe Lordes beheaded.
• King Ed∣warde taken with a gree∣uous disease.
• King Ed∣ward giueth a great charge to his sonne.
• The issue of this King is set out in the xx. and .xxvij. yere of his reigne.
• The descrip∣tion of king Edward the first.