within their reach, without sparing even the sacred edifices, carrying off the statues of the blessed virgin, loading the monks with chains, and committing every kind of sacrilege. Edward had by this time marched as far as Haddington, but was obliged to receive provisions all the way from his fleet; for the Scots had desolated the country. During his march his army was harassed, and his foragers cut off, so that he was reduced to extreme distress; and at last, his fleet being totally destroyed by a storm, he was obliged to return to England. In the mean time the prince of Wales, who had been left by his father to carry on the war in France, defeated and took prisoner John king of France at the battle of Poictiers. In this battle were 3000 Scots, who had gone over as auxiliaries to the French monarch, and who suffered extremely. However the success of Edward, instead of rendering him haughty, seemed to have a contrary effect; and, by the mediation of pope Innocent V., a truce for two years was concluded with France, in which the Scots were comprehended. During this interval the ransom of the king of Scots was settled at 100,000 merks, to be paid in ten years; for which twenty hostages were to be given. In consequence of this treaty, David obtained his liberty in 1358, and Edward laid aside all hopes of ever subduing Scotland. As for Baliol, he was now sunk in oblivion; and it is not known what became of him, or when he died. David, though restored to liberty, found himself greatly embarassed with the payment of such a large sum for his ransom; the kingdom of Scotland being then in a most miserable and exhausted condition. After sending his queen, and going into England himself, he could obtain no greater favor than a respite of a few months for the payment of the second moiety; so that he was at last constrained to ask assistance from France. This could scarcely be expected in the distressed situation of that kingdom; however, it was at last agreed that 50,000 merks should be paid to Scotland, in case the Scots would consent to renew the war the following year. Neither party, however, kept their word; and David, being still greatly distressed about the remainder of his ransom, at last entered into a very extraordinary negociation with Edward, by which he consented that the king of England should be his successor to the throne of Scotland. But this negociation was defeated through the invincible hatred which the Scots bore to an English governor. David then, being entirely unable to discharge the remainder of his ransom, was obliged to enter into a new treaty; by which the kingdom of Scotland became indebted to Edward in the sum of £100,000 sterling, to be paid by equal proportions within twenty-five years, during which there should be a truce within the two nations. From this time we meet with little more of any moment in the reign of David. After the death of his queen Johanna, the sister of Edward, he married a Scottish woman of mean birth, named Margaret Logie; but by neither of his wives had he any children. Queen Margaret he divorced on what pretence is not known; but she left the kingdom, and complained personally to the pope, who treated her as David's lawful wife, and enjoined him to receive her as such under the most severe penalties; but Margaret never returned to Scotland, and, on the 22d of February, 1371, David himself died, leaving the kingdom to his nephew Robert Stewart, the first of that family who sat on the throne of Scotland. On the accession of Robert II. an assembly of the states was held, in which it was resolved that he should be crowned at Scone; and, to prevent all future disputes concerning the succession, a particular act was framed, by which the kingdom was secured to Robert and his heirs. Being thus established on the throne, he endea youred to renew the war with the English, to recover from them the town of Berwick, and some other places on the borders. In this, however, he failed; and, as £56,000 of David's ransom still remained unpaid, Robert bound himself to discharge it at the rate of 4000 marks every midsummer. He then proposed an alliance with France; but, the terms demanded by that kingdom being that Scotland should be obliged to make war with Eugland whenever France should require it, Robert would not consent to such a condition. A new treaty, therefore, was entered into, by which it was provided that neither Scotland nor France should be obliged to make war with England; and, by another clause, that the dispensation or authority even of the pope himself should never free the kings or kingdoms of France and Scotland from the obligations they lay under to assist one another as often as required, in opposition to the kingdom of England. In case of a competition for the crown of Scotland, the king of France and his heirs were to take care that no English influence was used; but should with all his power defend and assist the king established by the Scotch laws. Lastly, it was agreed that no Frenchman should ever serve for wages or otherwise against Scotland, nor any Scotsman against France. This last article occasioned a recal of all the Scots from the English armies, which Edward looked upon to be a prelude to invasion. He accordingly issued writs for assembling all the militia in the north of England. At this time an invincible hatred subsisted between the neighbouring people of both nations, which extended not only through the lower ranks, but the higher classes also. The inhabitants of the borders, indeed, paid very little regard to the orders of their respective sovereigns; so that hostilities were committed by them daily upon each other, even when there was peace between the nations. They had established with one another certain conventions, which have been since collected, by the name of Border laws: the families of Douglas and Percy, and their adherents in particular, whose estates lay contiguous to one another, were at perpetual variance. It had been common for the borderers of both kingdoms, during a truce, to frequent each other's fairs and a servant of the earl of March had been killed in a fray about this time time at Roxburgh, which was still in the hands of the English. Justice for this murder was demanded from lord Percy, but he slighted the complaint. On this the earl of March, with his brother the earl of Moray, assembling their followers, entered the next fair that was held in Roxburgh, plundered and burnt the town, and killed all the English who fell into their hands. The English borderers were ordered to lay waste the lands of the earl of March; but in their way thither destroyed the castle of Sir John Gordon, a man of great property in the south of Scotland. Sir John in his turn invaded England, whence he drove off a large booty in cattle, and a number of prisoners. In his retreat he was attacked by a body of fresh troops under Sir John Lishburn, at a place called Caram. An obstinate encounter followed. The Scots were five times repulsed; but at last they renewed the charge with such fury that they made Lishburn, his 'brother, and several other persons of distinction, prisoners, with all their surviving soldiers. On this lord Percy with 7000 men encamped at Dunse, in the south of Scotland, but was obliged to retire. In the mean time Musgrave, the governor of Berwick, who had been ordered to join Percy with a detachment from the garrison, was on his march intercepted, defeated, and taken prisoner by Sir John Gordon; after which the border war became general. The issue of these disturbances is but little known; however, in 1377, we find them raging with more violence than ever. The fair of Roxburgh was once more the scene of action, and the town was again burnt down by the Scots. Lord Percy, who was now earl of Northumberland, resolved to take signal vengeance. He ravaged the Scottish borders, particularly the earl of March's estate, for three days, at the head of 10,000 men. Some time after this the Scottish insurgents became powerful enough to surprise Berwick; which, however, was quickly retaken by the English, who soon after invaded Scotland. In this expedition, however, they succeeded so ill that Percy desisted from his expedition. The Scots then began hostilities by sea, under one Mercer, an experienced sailor; but he was taken prisoner by the English with all his fleet. In 1379 Eng land was afflicted with a dreadful plague, of which the Scots took advantage to invade the country, killing and plundering the defenceless inhabitants without mercy. This predatory war continued, generally to the disadvantage of the English, till the beginning of November 1380, when a truce was concluded for a year. This truce, like the others, was but indifferently observed; so that, in 1383, new negociations were set on foot; but, in 1384, the war was renewed with greater fury than ever. In spring the earls of March and Douglas took the castle of Lochmaben, and intercepted a rich convoy which the English were sending to Roxburgh; burnt to the ground the castle of Wark, and committed such devastations in the north of England that several gentlemen offered to resign their estates to Richard II. because they were not able to defend them against the Scots. The duke of Lancaster entered Scotland at the head of an army; but the inhabitants had removed every thing valuable, so that he marched on to Edinburgh without accomplishing any thing of consequence. On his return he was harassed by flying parties of Scots, who destroyed a considerable number of his men. This year, also, the French sent a body of auxiliaries into Scotland. The earls of Northumberland and Nottingham entered Scotland with an army of 10,000 horse and 6000 archers; but retired, after having committed devastations in the southern counties. The Scots revenged themselves by laying waste all the northern part of England to the gates of Newcastle. Berwick was taken by the Scots, and soon after surrendered for 2000 merks. A truce was then, as usual, concluded; but in the mean time king Robert was meditating a severe blow against the English. The duke of Burgundy, having come to the possession of the estate of his father-in-law the earl of Flanders, claimed the sovereignty of the town of Ghent; but the people refused to submit to him, and in this refusal were protected by king Richard II. of England. On this the duke of Burgundy proposed to the French court to invade England in concert with the Scots. A fleet was accordingly fitted out at Sluys; on board, of which John de Vienne, the French admiral, embarked, carrying along with him £50,000 in gold, which the duke of Burgundy advanced to be distributed in Scotland, where the admiral arrived safe with 2000 auxiliaries, of whom 500 were men at arms. 400 suits of complete armour were brought along with them, to be distributed among the bravest of the Scots, who were for a short time elated with the great attention which had been paid them by the French king; but in the mean time, the Flemings having revolted, the French abandoned the Scots to sustain the whole weight of the English resentment, that they themselves might employ their arms in Flanders. King Richard took the field with a more numerous army than had ever been mustered in England before. Hostilities were begun by the Scots, who, according to custom, invaded the northern parts of England, and carried off a considerable booty; however, in their retreat, they were in danger of being cut off by the duke of Lancaster, who had been sent with an army to intercept them. The English army proceeded northwards, but could not accomplish any thing, the country being desolated, till they came to Edinburgh, which they laid in ashes. Being, however, incessantly harassed by parties of the enemy, they were obliged to retreat. In 1378, after a short truce, the war was renewed with fresh fury. Northumberland and Westmoreland were ravaged by the earls of Fife and Douglas, and lord Nithisdale defeated a body of 3000 English; after which he formed a plan of invading Ireland, the inhabitants of which had of late been very active against the Scots. In 1388 Douglas obtained permission to raise a body of forces for his invasion; and, having landed in safety, defeated the Irish, plundered the town of Carlingford, and loaded fifteen ships with the booty. Thence the Scots sailed to the Isle of Man, which, in like manner, was plundered and laid waste; after which they returned with their booty to Lock Rian in Scotland. Encouraged by their success Robert determined to proceed on a more enlarged plan. Having assembled a parliament at Aberdeen, a double invasion of England was resolved upon. Two armies were raised consisting of 25,000 men each, the one under the earls of Monteith and Fife, Douglas, lord of Galloway, and Alexander Lindesay; the other under the earls of Douglas, March, Craw ford, Moray, the lord high constable of Scotland, and other persons of rank. The former entered Cumberland, and the latter Northumberland, both which countries they laid waste, and both armies were to meet within ten miles of Newcastle. The English were thrown into the greatest consternation. Newcastle was defended by the earl of Northumberland, whose age and infirmities rendered him incapable of taking the field; but his place was abundantly supplied by his two sons Henry and Ralph, the former of whom is known in English history by the name of Hotspur. The town was garrisoned by the flower of the English nobility and geutry, as well as the inhabitants of the adjacent counties, who had fled thither for refuge. Douglas selected 2000 foot and 400 horsemen out of the two armies, and encamped on the north side of the town, with a view of storming it next day. In the meantime he was challenged by Hotspur to fight him hand to hand, with sharp ground spears, in sight of both armies. Douglas accepted the challenge, and Percy was unhorsed the first encounter, and obliged to take refuge within the portcullis of the town; whence Douglas brought off his antagonist's lance, with a pennon affixed to it, and swore in his hearing that he would carry it into Scotland. Next day Douglas attempted to storm the town; but, being repulsed in the attack, he decamped in the night. Percy, breathing furious revenge, pursued and overtook the Scots at Otterburn. His arrival was quite unexpected, so that the principal commanders of the Scottish army were sitting down to supper unarmed. The soldiers, however, were instantly prepared for battle; but, in the hurry necessarily attending a surprise of this kind, Douglas forgot to put on his cuirass. Both leaders encouraged their men by the most animating speeches; and both parties waited for the rise of the moon, which happened that night to be unusually bright. The battle being joined on the moon's first appearance, the Scots began to give ground, but, being rallied by Douglas, who fought with a battle-axe, the English, though greatly superior in numbers, were totally routed; 1200 were killed on the spot, and 100 persons of distinction, among whom were the two Percies, were made prisoners by Keith, marischal of Scotland. On the side of the Scots the greatest loss was that of the brave earl Douglas, who was killed in consequence of going to battle without his armour. This single combat between Douglas and Percy, and the subsequent battle, gave rise to the celebrated ballad of Chevy Chace. See OTTERBURN. In the mean time the bishop of Durham marched towards Newcastle with an army of 10,000 men; but was informed by the runaways of Percy's defeat, on the 21st of July 1388. In a council of war it was resolved to pursue the Scots, whom they hoped easily to vanquish, as being wearied with the battle of the preceding day, and laden with plunder. The earl of Moray, who commanded in chief, having called a consultation of his officers, resolved to venture a battle. The prisoners were almost as numerous as the whole Scottish army; however the generals required no more of them than their words of honor that they should continue inactive during the battle, and remain prisoners still. This condition being complied with, the Scots drew out their army for battle. Their rear was secured by marshes, and their flanks by large trees which they had felled. In short their appearance was so formidable that the English, dreading to encounter a resolute enemy so strongly secured, retired to Newcastle, leaving the Scots at liberty to continue their march to their own country. Robert being now oppressed with age, so that he could no longer endure the fatigues of government, the administration of affairs devolved upon his second son the earl of Fife; for his eldest son was by nature indolent, and besides lame by an unlucky blow he had received from a horse. Early in the spring of 1389 he invaded England with success; but the same year a truce was concluded, to last from the 19th of June 1389 to the 16th of August 1392; in which the allies of both crowns were included. This truce was violently opposed by the nobility, who suspected their king of being too much under French influence. Upon this the court of France sent over ambassadors to persuade the nobility to comply; informing them that, in case of a refusal, they could expect no assistance either of men or money from the continent. With difficulty they prevailed, and peace between England and Scotland was once more restored. Scarcely, however, was this truce finished, when the peace of the nation was most scandalously violated by Robert's third son, Alexander, earl of Buchan. This prince, having a quarrel with the bishop of Murray, burnt down the fine cathedral of Elgin, which has been called by historians the ornament of the north of Scotland. The king for this crime caused his son to be imprisoned; and a civil war would have been the consequence had it not been for the veneration which the Scots retained for their old king. However they did not long enjoy their beloved monarch; for he died on the 19th of April 1390, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and the nineteenth of his reign. On the death of Robert II. the crown devolved upon his eldest son John; but the name being thought unpropitious, from the unfortunate reigns of the three Johns of Scotland, England, and France, he changed it for that of Robert, though he was still called by the commonalty Robert John Fernzier. He had been married to Annabella, the daughter of Sir John Drummond, an cestor to the noble family of Perth; and was crowned along with his consort at Scone, on the 13th of August, 1390. He confirmed the truce with England, and renewed the league with France; but the beginning of his reign was disturbed by the wars of the petty chieftains with each other. Duncan Stewart, son to Alexander, earl of Buchan, who had died in prison, assembling his followers under pretence of revenging his father's death, laid waste the county of Angus. Walter Ogilvy, the sheriff of Angus, attempting to repel the invaders, was killed, with his brother and sixty of their followers. The king then gave a commission to the earl of Crawford to suppress them, which he soon did, and mos of them were either killed or executed. The followers of the earl of Buchan were composed of the wildest Highlanders, distinguished by the title of Catterenes, which answers to that of banditti or robbers. They seem to have lived, like the Arabs, entirely by plunder; and they or their ancestors had emigrated from the Western Isles and from Ireland. The lands they inhabited were never cultivated till the middle of the seventeenth century. The earl of Crawford's success against the followers of Buchan encouraged Robert to intrust him with a commission for subduing other insurgents. The most remarkable of these were the Clan Chattan and Clan Kay. As both these tribes were numerous and brave, Crawford was afraid that they might unite against him as a common enemy. He proposed, therefore, that the two rival clans should each choose thirty men, to determine their differences by the sword without any other weapon. The king and his nobility were to be spectators of the combat; the conquered clan were to be pardoned for all their former offences, and the conquerors honored with the royal favor. This proposal was readily accepted, and the North Inch of Perth was to be the scene of action. But, upon mustering the combatants, it was found that one of the clan Chattan had absented himself. It was proposed to balance this difference by withdrawing one of the combatants from the clan Kay; but not one of them could be prevailed on to resign his place. At last one Henry Wynd, a saddler, though no way connected with either party, offered to supply the place of him that was absent, on condition of his receiving a French crown of gold (about 7s. 6d. of our money); which was immediately paid him. The combat then began with incredible fury; but at last, through the superior valor and skill of Henry Wynd, victory declared in favor of the clan Chattan. Only ten of the conquerors besides Wynd were left alive, and all of them desperately wounded. Of the clan Kay only one remained; and he having received no hurt escaped by swimming across the Tay. While these internal broils were going on, the truce which had lately been concluded with England was so ill observed that it became necessary to enter into fresh negociations. These had little effect. The borderers on both sides had been so accustomed to ravage and plunder that they could not live in quiet. Robert also was thought to be too much attached to the king of England. He had introduced the new title of duke, which he bestowed first on the prince royal; but, making an offer of that honor to one of the heads of the Douglas family, it was rejected with disdain. That powerful family had never lost sight of an ancient claim they had upon the castle of Roxburgh, which was still in the possession of the English; and this year the son of the earl of Douglas, Sir William Stewart, and others, broke down the bridge of Roxburgh, plundered the town, and destroyed the forage and corn there . and in the adjacent country. The English applied for satisfaction; but obtained none, as the confusion which involved the kingdom by the deposition and murder of Richard II., and the accession of Henry IV., prevented them from having recourse to arms, the only argument to which the Scottish patriots in those days would listen. No sooner was the catastrophe of Richard known in Scotland than the Scots resolved to avail themselves of it; and invading the north parts of England, demolished the castle of Wark, and laid the neighbouring country under contribution. The situation of Henry's affairs did not admit of his resenting this insult. He contented himself with nominating his brother, the earl of Westmoreland, to treat with the Scots about a truce of peace; or, if that could not be obtained, to make a mutual agreement that the towns of Dumfries in Scotland, and Penrith in England, should be free from hostilities during the war. To this proposal the Scots paid no regard; and being now encouraged by the court of France, who resented the deposition of Richard, they renewed their ravages in England. In 1400 Henry called a parliament to consult on the best means of repelling the Scottish invasions; and in this he was greatly assisted by the divisions of the Scots among themselves. Prince David, duke of Rothesay, the heir-apparent of the crown, was now grown up to man's estate, and it was thought proper to provide a suitable consort for him. The king scandalously offered him to the lady whose father could give him the highest price. The earl of March was the highest bidder; and advanced a considerable sum in ready money, on condition that his daughter should become the royal bride. This sordid match was opposed by Douglas, who proposed his own daughter, the lady Margery. So degenerated was the court of Scotland, at this time, that neither the king nor the duke of Rothesay opposed this proposal of a new match, because it was to be purchased with a fresh sum; and they even refused to indemnify the earl of March for the money he had already advanced. As the duke of Albany sided with Douglas, a council of the nobility was privately assembled, which annulled the contract of the lady Elizabeth Dunbar, the earl of March's daughter, in favor of the lady Margery, daughter to the earl of Douglas; but without taking any measures for repaying the money to the earl of March. The continuator of Fordun informs us that the earl of Douglas paid a larger sum for his daughter's fortune than that which had been advanced by the earl of March, and that the earl of Douglas's daughter was married to the duke of Rothesay that, before the marriage was celebrated, March demanded that the money he had advanced should be reimbursed; but, receiving an unsatisfactory answer, he declared that, as the king had not fulfilled his bargain, he would bring unexpected calamities. upon the country. Accordingly he fled into England, leaving his castle of Dunbar to the custody of his nephew Robert Maitland, who soon after put it into the hands of the earl of Douglas, called in history Archibald the Grim, from the sternness of his visage. As soon as Robert heard of the revolt of the earl of March, he sent ambassadors demanding back his subject; but the request was disregarded. On the other hand, the earl of March demanded repossession of the castle of Dunbar, pleading that he had committed no act of treason, but had come to England under a safe conduct from king Henry, on purpose to nego ciate his private affairs; but this request was disregarded; upon which he sent for all his family and followers to England, where they joined him in great numbers. This produced a war between the two kingdoms. The earl of March, with Henry Percy, surnamed Hotspur, invaded Scotland, penetrating as far as Haddington, and carrying off great numbers of the inhabitants into captivity. Thence they went to Peebles, and then to Linton, ravaging the country all the way as they passed along. They next besieged the castle of Hales, and took several of the neighbouring forts; but Archibald the Grim, or his son, having raised an army against them, they were struck with terror, and fled to Berwick, to the gates of which they were pursued by the Scots. At this time the Scottish admiral, Sir Robert Logau, was at sea with a squadron; but miscarried in an attempt he made upon some English ships of war that protected their fleet, when fishing upon the coast of Scotland. After this the English plundered the Orkney Islands; which, though belonging to the crown of Norway, were at that time governed, or rather farmed, by Sinclair the Scottish earl of Orkney and Caithness. All this time the earl of March continued under the protection of the king of England. He had received repeated invitations to return to his allegiance: but, all of them being rejected, he was proclaimed a traitor; and the Scottish governor made a formal demand of him from king Henry. With this the latter not only refused to comply, but renewed his league with the lord of the isles. On the 25th of July, 1400, the earl of March renounced his homage, fealty, and service, to the king of Scotland, and transferred them to Henry by a formal indenture. For this he was rewarded with a pension of 500 merks sterling, and the manor of Clipestone in Sherwood forest. Henry now began to revive the claim of homage from the kings of Scotland, and even to meditate the conquest of the kingdom. He had indeed many reasons to hope for success; from the weakness of the Scottish government, the divided state of the royal family, and the dissensions among the chief nobility. Before he set out on his journey he received a letter from the duke of Rothesay, full of reproaches on account of the presumptuous letters which Henry had addressed to Robert and his nobility. The letter was addressed by the duke, To his adversary of England,' as the Scots had not yet recognised the title of Henry IV. to the crown of England. Towards the end of it the duke desired Henry, to avoid the effusion of Christian blood, to fight him in person with two, three, or 100 noblemen on a side. But this challenge produced no other answer from Henry than that he was surprised that the duke of Rothesay should consider noble blood as not being Christian, since he desired the effusion of the one, and not of the other.' Henry arrived at Leith on the very day on which he had appointed the Scottish nobility to meet him and pay their homage, and conclude a peace between the two crowns. He flattered the English with a promise of raising the power and glory of their country to a higher pitch than it had ever reached. Under this pretext he seized upon the sum of £350,000 in ready money, beside: as much in plate and jewels, which had been left by Richard II. in the royal treasury. He raised also vast contributions on the clergy and nobility, and likewise on the principal towns and cities. At last, finding that neither his vast preparations, nor the interest of the earl of March, had brought any of the Scots to his standard, he formed the siege of Edinburgh castle, which was defended by the duke of Rothesay. The duke of Albany, brother to king Robert, was then in the field with an army, and sent a letter to king Henry, promising that, if he would remain where he was for six days, he would give him battle, and force him to raise the siege, or lose his life. When this was written the duke was at Calder-muir; and Henry was so much pleased with the letter that he presented the herald who delivered it with his upper garment, and a chain of gold; promising, on his royal word, that he would remain where he was until the day appointed. On this occasion, however, the duke forfeited his honor (if indeed the villain had any to forfeit); for he suffered six days to elapse without making any attempt on the English army. Henry in the mean time, pushed on the siege of Edinburgh castle; but met with a most vigorous resistance from the duke of Rothesay. At the same time he was informed that the Welsh were on the point of rebellion under their famous chieftain Owen Glendower. He knew also that many of the English were highly dissatisfied with his title to the crown; and that he owed his peaceable possession of it to the moderation of the earl of March, who was the real heir to the unfortunate Richard, but a nobleman of no ambition. For these reasons he raised the siege of Edinburgh castle, and returned to England. He then agreed to a truce for six weeks, but which was afterterwards prolonged for a year, by commissioners of the two crowns, who met at Kelso. In 1401 Scotland suffered a great loss by the death of Trail, archbishop of St. Andrew's, a most exemplary patriot, and a person of great influence. Archibald Douglas the Grim had died some time before, and his loss also was now severely felt; for the king himself, naturally feeble, and quite disabled by his age and infirmities, lived sequestered from the world. This year also queen Annaoella died, so that none remained who might be able to heal those divisions which prevailed among the royal family. Robert duke of Albany, a man of great ambition, was an enemy to the duke of Rothesay, the heir-apparent; and endeavoured to impress his father with a bad opinion of him. This prince, however, appears to have been chargeable with no misdemeanor of consequence. One Ramorgny, a man of the vilest principles, but an attendant on the duke of Rothesay, had won his confidence; and, perceiving how much he resented the conduct of his uncle the duke of Albany, had the villany to suggest to the prince the despatching him by assassination. This infamous proposal the prince rejected with such horror and displeasure, that the villain, being afraid he would disclose it to the duke of Albany, informed the latter, under the seal of the most inviolable secrecy, that the prince intended to murder him; upon which the 4 |