Part 11
King Edward hauing made an end of his businesse in Flanders, as before ye haue heard, returned now towards England, and came to a towne called Ardenburge, where the most part of such Scotishmen as he had brought with him into Flanders slipped from him, and went vnto Paris. The king being returned into England, remooued the barons of the excheker, and the iustices of the bench vnto Yorke, calling a parlement thither, and gaue summons vnto the lords of Scotland to come to the same: but making default in their appearance, he sent foorth his commission and letters to warne his subiects to be readie with horsse and harnesse at Rockesborough in the feast of the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist next insuing. They obeieng his commandement, assembled there at the day appointed.
[Sidenote: An armie raised.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The number of men armed in this armie.]
[Sidenote: Welshmen and Irishmen. Gascoins.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The earles of Hereford and Marshall mistrust the king.]
There were in this armie now assembled at Rockesborough togither with those of the bishoprike, about thrée thousand men of armes mounted on barded horsses, besides foure thousand other armed men on horssebacke without bards. There were also a great number of footmen, and yet none but such as came vpon their owne good willes, the which were almost all Welshmen or Irishmen. There came also afterwards fiue hundred men of armes well apparelled, furnished and mounted out of Gascoine, of the which a certeine number were sent to Berwike by the king: where after the battell fought with the Scots, they remained in garison. The earle of Hereford, and the earle Marshall were present with their retinues amongst other in this armie here assembled at Rockesborough, the which vpon suspicion conceiued of that they had heard, thought it not sufficient to haue the kings letters patents touching the confirmation of the two charters, and other the articles aboue mentioned, signed by him, whilest he was out of the realme, and therefore required that he would now within his owne land confirme the same againe. Here the bishop of Durham, Iohn earle of Surrie, William earle of Warwike, and Rafe erle of Glocester, vndertooke for the king, that after he had subdued his enimies; and should be againe returned into the realme, he should satisfie them in that behalfe, and confirme the same articles.
[Sidenote: Castels woon by the bishop of Durham.]
This doone, the king marching foorth with his armie, came to Temple Histon, and sent foorth the bishop of Durham to take certeine castels therabouts, as Orinton or (as some copies haue) Drilton, and other two, which enterprise the bishop spéedilie accomplished. The English fléet that should haue come from Berwike, and kept alongst the coast to haue furnished the armie with victuals, was staied and holden backe with contrarie winds, so that the armie began to be in great necessitie of victuals. The Scotishmen were aduertised hereof, and supposing that the Englishmen by reason of such want of victuals, had not béene able through féeblenesse to make anie great resistance, assembled their powers togither, and came towards the place where the king with his armie was lodged.
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: A fraie betwixt the Welsh and Englishmen.]
[Sidenote: The Englishmen stand in doubt of the Welshmen.]
At the same time two of the English ships arriued there with victuals, the which being bestowed amongst the souldiors, reléeued them greatlie of their hunger. Amongest other the Welshmen had two tunnes of wine deliuered to them for their share, the which they tasted so gréedilie, that ouercome therewith they fell to quarrelling with the Englishmen, and begun a fraie, in the which they slue eightéene, and hurt diuerse. The English horssemen herewith being kindled with displeasure, got them to armor, and setting vpon the Welshmen, slue of them to the number of fourescore, and put the other to flight: wherevpon the next morning it was said that the Welshmen vpon wrath conceiued hereof meant to depart to the Scots: but yet when the campe remooued, they followed the armie though a farre off, and apart by themselues, insomuch that manie doubted least if the Englishmen had chanced to haue had the worsse at the Scotishmens hands, they would haue ioined with them against the Englishmen. This bloodie broile sprang of intemperancie, and surfeiting drunkennesse, which is worthie to be thus disclaimed,
---- ---- imæ lethum, & vitiorum Nutrix ac scelerum, quid non mortalia cogis Pectora? Quid per te non audent? Iurgia, litès, Prælia dira moues, & gaudes sanguine fuso, Sordidior quæ res, quæ bellua vilior? &c.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The battell of Foukirke.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The order of the Scotish battels.]
The king now hearing that the Scots were comming towards him, raised his field, and went foorth to méet them, lodging the next night in a faire plaine. In the morning verie earlie, a great alarme was raised, so that euerie man got him to armour, supposing the Scots to be at hand. The horsse appointed for the kings saddle that day, as the king should haue got vpon him, frighted with some noise, started aside, and threw the king downe with such violence, that he brake two of his ribbes, as the report went. Other write, that his horsse trod on him in the night, as he and his people rested them, kéeping their horsses still bridled, to be readie the sooner vpon occasion of any necessitie: but howsoeuer he came by his hurt, he staied not to passe forward in his purposed iournie, but mounting vpon an other horsse, went foorth with his armie till he came to a place called Foukirke, where both the armies of England and Scotland met and fought.
[Sidenote: The earles Marshall, Hereford, and Lincolne led the fore ward.]
[Sidenote: The bishop of Durham led the second ward.]
[Sidenote: The lord Basset of Draitons words to the bishop of Durham.]
The Scots were diuided in foure schiltrons, as they termed them, or as we may saie, round battels, in forme of a circle, in the which stood their people that carried long staues or speares, which they crossed iointlie togither one within another, betwixt which schiltrons or round battels were certeine spaces left, the which were filled with their archers and bowmen, and behind all these were their horssemen placed. They had chosen a strong ground, somewhat sideling on the side of a hill. The earles Marshall, Hereford, & Lincolne, which led the fore ward of the Englishmen, at the first made directlie towards the Scots, but they were staied, by reason they found a marish, or an euill fauoured mosse betwixt their enimies and them, so that they were constreined to fetch a compasse towards the west side of the field. The bishop of Durham ruling in the second battell of the Englishmen, consisting of six and thirtie standards or banners, knowing the let of that mosse or marish toward the east side, hasted foorth to be the first that should giue the onset: but yet when they approched néere to the enimies, the bishop commanded his people to staie till the third battell, which the king led, might approach. But that valiant knight the lord Rafe Basset of Draiton said to him: "My lord bishop, you may go and say masse, which better becommeth you, than to teach vs what we haue to doo, for we will doo that which belongeth to the order and custome of warre."
[Sidenote: The Scotish horssemen flée.]
[Sidenote: Their archers slaine.]
[Sidenote: These Scotish spearemen were of Gallowaie as _Euersden_ saith.]
Herewith they hasted foorth on that side to charge the first schiltron of the Scots, and the earles with their battell on the otherside, and euen vpon the first brunt the Scotish horssemen fled, a few onelie excepted, which staied to kéepe the footmen in order. And amongst other was the brother of the lord steward of Scotland, who as he was about to set in order the bowmen of Selkirke, by chance was vnhorssed, and slaine there amongst the same bowmen, and manie a tall mans bodie with him. The Scotish archers thus being slaine, the Englishmen assailed the spearemen; but kéeping themselues close togither, and standing at defense with their speares like a thicke wood, they kept out the English horssemen for a while, & fought manfullie, though they were sore beaten with shot of arrowes by the English archers on foot: & so at length galled with shot; and assailed by the horssemen on ech side, they begun to disorder and shrinke from one side to another, and herewith the horssemen brake in amongst them, and so they were slaine and beaten downe in maner all the whole number of them.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith fourtie thousand.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The towne of S. Andrews.]
[Sidenote: The castell of Aire.]
Some saie there died of the Scots that daie (being the two & twentith of Iulie, and the feast of Marie Magdalene) aboue twentie thousand. Other write that there were slaine at the least to the number of 15 thousand. The Scotish writers alledge that this battell was lost by treason of the Comins and other, as in the Scotish historie ye may more plainlie perceiue, with more matter touching the same battell: after this was the towne of saint Andrews destroied, no man being within to make resistance. And from thence the English armie came through Selkirke forrest vnto the castell of Aire, which they found void: and after they came by the towne of Annan, and tooke the castell of Lochmaben, and so returned into England by the west marches, and came to Carleill.
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: Irish lords. The Ile of Araine.]
[Sidenote: Tomas Biset requireth the Ile of Araine.]
[Sidenote: The euill opinion of the earles Marshall & Hereford towards the king.]
About the same time certeine Irish lords, and amongst other as chéefe, one Thomas Biset landed in the Ile of Araine, the inhabitants whereof yéelded themselues vnto the same Thomas, who (as was iudged) meant to haue aided the Scots: but now hearing of the victorie which king Edward had gotten in a pight field, he sent vnto him to giue him to vnderstand that he was come in his aid, & had woon the said Ile of Araine, and therfore besought him that it might please him to grant it vnto him and his heires for euer. Which request the king granted: whereof when the earles Marshall and Hereford were aduertised, they thought this a rash part of the king, considering that he had promised to doo nothing anew without their consents and counsell.
[Sidenote: The kings liberalitie towards his nobles.]
Therefore the king being (as ye haue heard) returned to Carleill, they got licence to depart home with their people, leauing the king still at Carleill, where he remained a time, and held a parlement there, in the which he granted vnto manie of his nobles, the lands and liuings of diuers noble men of the Scots, as to the earles earledomes, to the barons baronies; but Gallowaie and Annandale, with certeine other counties, he assigned to none, reseruing the same (as was thought) vnto the foresaid two earles, least they should thinke themselues euill dealt with, if they had no part bestowed on them amongst the residue.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 27.]
[Sidenote: Cotingham.]
[Sidenote: 1299.]
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The lords call vpon the king to performe promise.]
[Sidenote: His answer.]
[Sidenote: The addition put in the c[=o]clusion of the articles.]
The king after this went to Durham, and from thence thought to haue returned streight towards London, but hearing that the Scots meant to make some inuasion, he went to Tinmouth, and remained there till towards Christmasse. Now when the king had laine a certeine time at Tinmouth, he departed from thence, and drew southward, and comming to Cotingham, a little from Beuerlie, held his Christmasse there, and after drew towards London, where in the beginning of Lent, he held a parlement, at the which he was required to kéepe promise for the confirmation of the two charters and articles concluded with the earles of Hereford and Marshall. The king was nothing contented that this matter should be so earnestlie called vpon, for loth he was to grant their full requests; and againe to denie them, he stood in doubt how it might be taken: he therefore prolonged time, & would make no answer either to or fro. But when the lords vrged him so sore to giue them answer, he got him out of the citie, not making them priuie of his departure, and when they followed him, and séemed not well contented that he should so dissemble with them, he excused himselfe by blaming the aire of the citie to be against his health, and therefore bare them in hand, that he onelie sought to refresh himselfe in some better aire in the countrie more agréeable to his nature: and as for answer to their requests, he willed them to repaire againe to the citie, and they should haue answer by his councell, so farre as should stand with reason to content them. They returned as he willed them, and had the charters confirmed according to their requests, sauing that this addition was put in the latter end of the same, Saluo iure coronæ nostræ. With which addition the lords were offended, and turned home to their houses in as great displéeasure towards the king as before.
[Sidenote: The articles red in Paules churchyard.]
The councell doubting some seditious stir to arise hereof amongst the people, deliuered the charters (so sealed and signed as they were) vnto the shiriffes of London, that the same might be read openlie before the people, which was doone in Paules churchyard in presence of a great assemblie there, come togither and gathered for that purpose. The people (than whom the sea in ebbing and flowing is not more inconstant, nor in iudgment more rash, heddie, sudden, and vnaduised, as one saith verie well, and to purpose,
Iudicium vulgi insulsum, imbecilláque mens est, Quandoquidem inuisa est vulgo sapientia, &c.)
[Sidenote: The perambulations of forrests.]
at the first before they heard the addition, gaue manie blessings to the king for those grants: but when they heard with what words he concluded, they cursed as fast as before they had blessed. Before this parlement was dissolued, the lords had warning to returne againe shortlie after Easter, and then they had all things granted and performed as they could wish or desire. The perambulations of forrestes were appointed vnto thrée bishops, thrée earles, and thrée barons.
[Sidenote: A bishop sent from the pope.]
About the latter end of Iune there came ouer a bishop sent from pope Boniface as his Nuncio, and diuerse other with him, to declare the order which the pope as arbitrator indifferentlie chosen betwixt the kings of England and France, for the deciding of all controuersies depending betwixt them, had giuen foorth & decréed, which was in effect as followeth.
[Sidenote: The popes decrée of peace betwixt the kings of England & France.]
1 First that king Edward being then a widdower should marrie the French kings sister named Margaret, notwithstanding the degrées of consanguinitie, for the which the pope would dispense.
2 That the lord Edward the kings eldest sonne should at conuenient time take to wife the ladie Isabell the French kings daughter.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The popes request for the releasing to libertie of Iohn Balioll.]
3 That the king of England should make satisfaction for the French ships which his men had taken at the beginning of the war, and that sundrie townes in Gascoine should be put into the popes hands, till it might be vnderstood vnto whome the right apperteined. But those two last articles tooke small effect, the French king refusing to deliuer any of those townes which he had gotten in possession. Moreouer, these messengers in the popes behalfe required the king that he would set Iohn Balioll, sometime king of Scotland at libertie, and restore those lands vnto his sonne Edward Balioll, which he ought to hold within the realme of England, promising and vndertaking in the popes behalfe to preserue and saue the realme harmelesse from all hurt and damage that might insue by the deliuerie of the said Iohn Balioll.
[Sidenote: Iohn Balioll deliuered out of prison at the popes suit.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: He departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The king marieth the Fr[=e]ch kings sister.]
[Sidenote: A parlement at Yorke.]
[Sidenote: The deceasse of the archbishop of Yorke.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 28.]
[Sidenote: 1300.]
King Edward vnderstanding that there was great danger in setting him at libertie, was contented to deliuer him vnto the pope, but he refused to make restitution vnto Balioll of the lands which he demanded. The popes ambassadours receiuing Iohn Balioll at king Edwards hands, tooke him ouer with him into France, and there left him in the custodie of the bishop of Cambrie, the popes deputie in that behalfe, where shortlie after he died. After this, according to the couenants of agréement made betwixt the two kings of England and France, the captiues vpon either part were deliuered. In the feast of the natiuitie of our Ladie, the king married the ladie Margaret sister to the French king at Canturburie with great solemnitie. About the feast of S. Martine in winter the king held a parlement at Yorke, meaning to haue gone from thence into Scotland, to haue rescued the castell of Striueling, which the Scotishmen had besieged, and had it surrendred vnto them, yer the king could set forward to come to raise the siege. The same yeare died Henrie Newarke archbishop of Yorke, and Thomas Corbridge a doctour in diuinitie succéeded him.
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: A proclamation for monie.]
In the eight and twentith yeare of his reigne, in the Christmasse season king Edward set foorth a proclamation, forbidding and prohibiting all forren coins to be receiued and paid as sterling monie within his dominion, commanding by the same proclamation, that two péeces of them should go for one sterling, vntill the feast of Easter. There were diuerse monies in those daies currant within this realme, as pollards, crocards, staldings, eagles, leonines, sléepings, and all these were white monies, artificiallie made of siluer, copper, and sulphur, so that it was an ill time for base monies, & much chopping and changing was vsed in buieng and selling of things.
[Sidenote: Forren monies forbidden to go as currant.]
At Easter following the king vtterlie forbad that any of those monies should be currant at all, and held his exchange in sundrie places, and to be rid of them, men gaue fiue or six of them for one sterling, not caring for them, bicause of their basenesse, and yet within a yeare after that men had learned the skill by proofe how to trie mettall with melted lead in the fire, they found that two péeces of those base monies were in value worth one sterling, and many became rich by the exchange, which had bought good store of them, when they were so smallie estéemed: but the king caused inquirie to be made of them that vsed such exchange without his licence, and put them to their fines.
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The king goeth with an armie into Scotland.]
[Sidenote: Thomas of Brotherton borne the first of Iune.]
At a parlement holden at London in Lent this yeare, the king renewed the confirmation of the charters, and made certeine new statutes concerning fines and goale deliueries, verie profitable to the commonwealth. About the feast of saint Iohn Baptist, king Edward went with an armie into Scotland, and there granted a truce to the Scots that inhabited the mounteine countries to indure for eleuen moneths, that is to saie, till Whitsuntide next insuing. As the king was vpon his iournie forewards in the north parts, his late married wife quéene Margaret was deliuered of hir first sonne at Brotherton, a place in Yorkeshire not farre from Pontfret; he was named Thomas, and tooke the surname of Brotherton, of the place where he was borne.
Moreouer pope Boniface at the sute of the Scots wrote his letters vnto king Edward, commanding him by the same and by the archbishop of Canturburie, whome he appointed to deliuer the same letters by other letters to him directed, that he should not onelie release and set at libertie all such Scots as he had in prison, but also giue ouer his warres which he made against the realme of Scotland: and if he meant to make anie claime to the same, then to send his procurators vnto the court of Rome, and there to shew what euidence he could for his right thereto, where the mater (as he mainteined) was to be heard, decided, and iudged; and not elsewhere. The archbishop, according to the popes commandement, did the message, and presented the popes letters vnto the king, who deferred the answer vnto the assemblie of the estates in parlement, and hereof the archbishop aduertised the pope accordinglie, as in the letters to him directed he was commanded; which he durst not but satisfie, bicause he was persuaded the popes authoritie to haue béene so ample and peremptorie, that there was no resisting or gainesaieng of him, sith,
[Sidenote: _Antith. Christ. & Antichrist. pag. 24._]
Vt medijs ludunt in aquis immania coete, Et patulo pisces quoslibet ore vorant: Sic tenet imperium mortales inter, & omnes Diripit, illicita subdit & arte duces, Omnibus insultans, sic subijcit impius orbem, Implicat atque suo regia colla iugo.
[Sidenote: _Euersden._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 29.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: _Croxden._]
[Sidenote: 1301.]
This yeare also on saint Remigius daie, which is the first of October, died Edmund earle of Cornewall, the sonne of earle Richard, that was also king of Almaine; and bicause he left no issue behind him to inherit that earledome, the same returned to the crowne. In the 29 yeare of king Edwards reigne, on saint Oswalds day, or (as some haue written) the friday after the feast of Peter Ad Vincula, his wife quéene Margaret was deliuered of hir second sonne that had to name Edmund of Woodstoke, surnamed so of the place where he was borne. ¶ The king also this yeare after Christmasse held a parlement at Lincolne, to the which the earls and barons of the realme came in armour, to the end (as it is said) that they might procure of the king the more spéedie execution of the charter of forrests, which by him had hitherto béene delaied, but now that he perceiued their earnestnesse and importunate suit, he condescended to their willes in all things.
[Sidenote: Pope Boniface prohibiteth the king of England further to vex the Scots.]
Pope Boniface being sollicited by the instant suit of the Scotishmen, and offended also that the lands in England, which belonged vnto Edward Balioll sonne of Iohn Balioll, were not to the same Edward restored, he eftsoones wrote to king Edward; forbidding him from thence foorth any further to vex the Scots by wars, bicause that the kingdome of Scotland was surrendred alreadie into his hands by the generall consent of the Scotishmen themselues, and therefore was it in his power to bestow and take away the same to whom or from whom soeuer it should please him.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]