The First and second part of the history of the famous Euordanus Prince of Denmark With the strange aduentures of Iago Prince of Saxonie: and of both theyr seuerall fortunes in loue.

CHAP. XIIII. How the Scottish King sent ouer into Denmarke, vnder the conduct of his Cosin the Earle of Douglasse, tenne thou∣sand Souldiers, and how the Arch-Bishop and the o∣ther Traytors, ioyned their forces with him.

YOu may remember how in the former part of this History, that the Arch-Bishop of Maiance, the Count Hermes, and others of the chiefe states of Denmarke, disliking the gouernment, whereof themselues were in a manner the chiefe and first beginners, had practised with the Scottish King, for the sending ouer forces, promising to deliuer the Kingdome of Denmarke into his hands, and farther, to that end had deliuered pledges for sure perfor∣mance thereof.

Now therefore the King of Scots, hauing mustred vp his forces, made choise of tenne thousand of his approoued and best men of Armes, and hauing fitted them of all things néedfull for that warre, gaue them in charge vnto his kins∣man the Earle of Douglasse: a man for his vallour and courage highly to bee commended, and for his wisdome and pollicie, to bee compared with most in Christendome: as hauing great experience, especially in matters of affaires, wherein he had spent the greatest part of his time, being now about the age of forty eight or fifty yeares: vn∣to him did the King deliuer this Armie, with frée commissi∣on to dispose thereof, & of the whole affaires of Denmarke. With this Armie he departed towards the Sea-coast, ac∣companied with many braue and hardy Knights who vol∣lentary went to beare him company, with hope in these warres to gaine same by their vallour: and being come to the towne of Helfue, they tooke shipping, and the winde seruing thē, they directed their course towards Denmarke, hauing before hand sent intelligence of their comming, vn∣to the traytors to their Country, their confedrats, who like∣wise

vpon this newes, vsed all the dilligence they could, for the leauying of their forces to ioyne with the forren power: causing Libels, and other meanes to be wrote, to seduce others likewise from their loyaltie towards their Gouer∣nors and Country, and to fall into the same treason with them. Of which sort there were a great many, who for di∣uers causes were soone drawne into the same, especially such as by any meanes had offended the lawes, and feared the penaltie thereof: which by the Gouernors was seuere∣ly executed.

Who now vpon this rumor and hurliburly, were not a little troubled, and perceauing such great men to be actors héerein, feared a generall reuolt, wherefore drawing themselues together into counsell, they deuised all the meanes they could, to preuent the same: and hauing sent vnto the Arch Bishop and his complices, by faire meanes to haue caused them to lay downe their weapons, and not like madmen as it were to rip their owne bowels, which they must néedes doe in stirring vp this ciuill contention, which is the greatest enemie that possible may happen to any common-wealth, and that in calling in forren powers, was not only to bring into bondage their Country, and natiue soyle, but also themselues and their whole posteri∣tie: for what Conquerer is there, that hauing brought into subiection any Kingdome or Prouince, will not cause his owne lawes & customes to be imbraced by the vanquished, which he cannot well doe, except first he not only roote out those, whom he thinkes may be any way a hindrance vnto his procéedings, then likewise must hee place as Gouer∣nors and Rulers ouer his people, such as he shall thinke readiest to obey and fulfill his commaundements, which can be no other but of his owne natiue Country: and then how grieuous it will bee vnto you to be commaunded by strangers, doe but consider. But peraduenture you will say, that the King of Scots hath promised, not only to con∣tinue you in your former estates, but also preferre you to higher dignities, and you will relie vppon his royall pro∣mise.

Consider wee beséech you, how that he, nor no man liuing whatsoeuer he be hath any terme or assurance of his life in this world, and that though hee kéepe his promise with you, yet your felicity is of no longer assurance then his life: but suppose he should liue a long time, knowe you not, that he that by ambition gaineth a Crowne, no sooner commeth to the possessions thereof, but he presently cutteth downe the prope, by which himselfe did clime thereunto, fearing by the same likewise to fall as he did rise.

This, or the like exhortation, the Gouernors at the first vsed towards the rebellious Traytors, which could no∣thing at all mooue them to giue ouer theyr pretended trea∣chery: and then séeing there was no way, but by force to withstand their fury, knowing also that the Scottish forces were on the coast, and daily expected to land, they tooke order forth-with for the leauying of forces, placing new and great supplies in their garrison Townes, furnishing them both with munition and vittailes, as well as the shortnes of the time would permit them. And now hauing gathe∣red togethers thirty thousand souldiers, the greatest part whereof were men taken from the Plow and Cart, fitter with the sharpe Colter to teare vp the ground, then with sword and speare to incounter with the enemy in the fielde, and their Leaders most of them as vnskilful as theyr soldi∣ers, knowing how better to daunce a galliard or a Pauine in a Ladies Chamber, then to marshall a band of men rea∣die to incounter theyr enemies: so much had the lacke of vse of Armes, since the losse of theyr King, altered that flo∣rishing kingdom, which in former time did greatly abound with many stout & hardy Knights, a great number where∣of were either dead or lost in the search of their King. The one halfe of which Armie béeing giuen in charge vnto the Lords of Opencade & Londen, marched towards the Arch∣bishop and his confederates, who with the number of 12 or 14. thousand souldiers, being on the other side the riuer of Estate, began to spoyle and sack the Country, putting to sword, all those that made any resistance against them, and

hauing taken Cargue and Londen, two Townes of great strength, placed therein garrisons, then marching towards Opencade, they heard of the comming of the Lords of O∣pencade & Londen, and fearing to be taken at aduantage, they altered theyr course towards Rensborge, where the Earle Dowglasse with his forces was landed, hoping to ioyne with him: which the Lords of Opencade & Londen vnderstanding, pursued him so eagerly, that béeing come within sight almost of the Scots, they set vpon their rere∣ward, putting a great number of them to the sword: and euen at the same instant, was the other Army, which which was ledde by the Lord Itsenho, and the County of Mildrop, likewise come in sight, which caused a great feare in the harts of the Traytors, so that had it not béene for a company of two thousand Scots, which came to their re∣scue vnder the conduct of Sir Iames Lewrence, Cosin ger∣man vnto the Earle, they had béen all eyther slaine, or put to flight: but the comming of this succor, so animated theyr almost fainting courages, that, where before they were in a manner ready to turne theyr backes, they now began to recouer theyr ground that they had lost, the fight growing very hote and bloody on both sides, there béeing slaine of the States aboue a thousand souldiers, and of the Rebels 800.

Longer had the fight continued, but that the Lord Har∣ding, and the Count Hermes, fearing the comming of the other power, which was hard at hand, caused the retraite to be sounded, and so with an easie pace marched to the Scottish Campe, not minding if they could chuse, to fight in two or thrée daies, because of the wearines of his souldiers, who comming newly from Sea, were many of them di∣stempered. The States likewise, hauing ioynd both theyr Armies, intrenched themselues: thus lay they by the space of seauen dayes, within view of each other, daily skyrmi∣shing together, in which the States alwaies had the worst, through theyr vnskilfulnesse in martiall discipline, where we will for a while leaue them, and returne to speake of o∣ther matters.