From Belt and Spur, Stories of the Knights of the Middle Ages from the Old Chronicles, by E. L. S. (Emma L. Seeley), New York: Scribner and Welford, 1883; pp. 152-164.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE BOLD DEEDS OF THE KNIGHTS OF SCOTLAND.
When the young King, Edward III., had done justice on Sir Roger de Mortimer, and had shut up the Queen, his mother, in prison, he took new counsellors from among the wisest and best-trusted in all his land, and governed well and maintained his kingdom in peace through good counsel, and often held jousts, tournaments, and assemblies of ladies, and gained great favour in all his kingdom and great renown in all lands.
Thus he bore himself nobly while the truce lasted between him and the kingdom of Scotland. When the truce was at an end, and he was informed that the young King David had seized his city of Berwick, which belonged of right to his kingdom, and which the good King, Edward I., had always held quietly and in peace, and the young King’s own father after him a long time, and that the kingdom of Scotland was held from him in fief, and that King David, his sister’s husband, had not done him homage, he sent messengers to the young King David, and to his council, making request that he would desist from his 153 good city of Berwick, for that it was his rightful heritage and had always belonged to his predecessors, the Kings of England, and that he would come to do homage for the kingdom of Scotland. And about this time it fell out that Messire Robert d’Artois, who was hated by the King of France, and had been driven out of France, and even out of Flanders and Brabant, came to England secretly, in disguise of a merchant, and came to the King and made himself known to him, for he was near akin to him, and he showed him how he was hated by the King of France, so that he could not find any land, lord, or country that would or dared support him, and, therefore, he was fled to him, who was of his lineage, and who would help him. And the noble King Edward was moved with great pity when he heard his complaints and his sufferings, and said that, though all the world should fail him, he would never fail him. And he made him of his council, and assigned him the county of Richmond for his maintenance, which had belonged to his predecessors, but the King held it from default of homage. And the King of Scotland having answered by his messengers that he would hold the town of Berwick, and would not yield it up, nor do homage for his kingdom, King Edward summoned a Parliament, and they gave him counsel that he should make preparation to enter the kingdom of Scotland, and regain the good city of Berwick. And when he heard their counsel he rejoiced greatly, and prayed them to meet him on a day assigned, each one arrayed according to his estate, at the New Castle upon Tyne. The day 154 having come, the noble King Edward came to the New Castle, and waited for three days for the host to assemble. On the fourth day he departed, and went towards Scotland and towards Berwick. So he came into Scotland, and burnt and wasted all the plain country of Scotland, as far as Aberdeen, and took the largest towns, fortified with good ditches and palisades, and several castles, in which he put garrisons, for the young King David did not show himself in the plain. It is true that certain barons, lords, and other good men-at-arms, of which there were many in the country of Scotland, came often to skirmish with the army, and often there were great adventures and deeds of arms, with great prowess, on both sides, by which Walter de Manny acquired great fame and high favour with the King and all in the land, and was made knight by commandment of the King, being the one who most exposed himself. And the knights who came to skirmish with the English hid themselves in the wild country, and among marshes and great forests, where no one could follow them, but they followed the English so closely that almost every day there was fighting. And Sir Walter de Manny was always the most renowned, together with William de Montacute, who was a strong knight and brave, and he lost an eye at one of these jousts, and gained so great favour with the King that he made him Earl of Salisbury.
When this noble King Edward had thus wasted the plain country of Scotland at his pleasure, he returned to Berwick, which was well garrisoned and provided with valiant men-at-arms. Thus he could 155 not win it as soon as he would, but tarried there a long time with all his host before he could get it, for those within maintained themselves well and loyally, so that there was many a deed of prowess done on one side and on the other. Those valiant men-at-arms also who held the forests and marshes made many great and bold assaults on the army by day and night, when they thought themselves most at peace, so that there were much loss and gain on one side and the other; and often these valiant men of Scotland went to fight those who were coming to the army, and the news of their deeds ceased not day nor night, and they captured the provisions that were being brought to the King. The greatest of them was the Earl of Moray, and, next after him, Sir William Douglas, the nephew of that valiant man who was killed in Granada as he was bearing the heart of King Robert of Scotland to the Holy Sepulchre. Of the rest I know not the names.
While King Edward lay before Berwick the renown of him was carried into France, and many young knights and squires, who desired to bear arms and to adventure themselves, that they might come to honour, set out to go into those parts to serve the noble King of England, whose renown waxed greater from day to day. The young Count Jean de Namur, with Messire Guy and Messire Philippe, his two brothers, were thus desirous to go into those parts to see this young King of England and his state and that of the King of Scotland, and principally to see Messire Robert d’Artois, their uncle, for they knew that he 156 was in the company of this King Edward. So they arrayed a fine company of men-at-arms, according to that which appertained to their degree, to make the journey. When they were ordered, furnished, and ready, they departed, and came to England, and asked the way to the place where the King was. And they showed them the way to London, and from London to York, and from York to Durham, and from Durham to the New Castle on the river of Tyne.
When they were come to the New Castle they rested themselves, and provided themselves with all that they might want in the host. While they tarried there, there came knights and squires from England, going to the host; at which these young lords were much rejoiced, and companied with them, that they might go more securely. There were also a great company of merchants, taking great provision to the host, and waiting for the company of men-at-arms. So it fell out, that the first night these young lords of Namur, and the knights and squires of England, and these merchants, lodged all together in an ancient town, which was called in the time of the Round Table of King Arthur, the Maidens’ Castle. Very poorly were they lodged that night, and they passed it in great fear; for they found there none but poor women and little children who had nothing — for all the men of that country had lost all their goods, living in fear of the English, and the Scots also. So these lords, and their company, not being secure, that night they kept watch; and they sent out men to watch, that none might come to hurt them, and 157 passed all the night repairing and fortifying the walls, which were broken down and full of holes. But at break of day there came the young Earl of Moray, and Sir William Douglas, and many other knights and squires of Scotland, who, by their spies, knew well of the coming of these knights, and their doings. When those who were in the field heard the noise, they ran to the town, crying, ‘To arms! to arms! the enemy is coming!’ All came together at once, for they expected nothing else, and assembled where they could do most harm all together. When the day was come, they saw the Scots mounting the hill with a very great noise; and they defended themselves valiantly. But their defence would have availed them little, if the young Earl of Moray had not aided in saving the young lords of Namur; for the number of the Scots increased, and they assailed them behind and before, and on all sides; and they got them into their power. But when the Earl of Moray and Sir William Douglas saw the evil that would befall these young lords, they sprang to the front, and called upon them to render themselves up, for that if they waited till the foot-soldiers came upon them, they would not escape.
When these young lords heard that, and saw that their defence would not avail them, they listened to counsel, and yielded to these two lords; who took great pains to save their lives, and those of some of their companions. But few of the English could they save, for the footmen were already upon them and 158 hewed them down; so that they were all killed, or but few escaped.
Thus these young lords could not achieve their enterprise, nor see the King, nor his host, nor their uncle; but were led prisoners into wild Scotland. And these lords of Scotland carried away all the provision that the English were conducting to the host before Berwick; which angered the gentle King Edward and all his host much, when they heard of the adventure, but they could not then amend it. I have never been able to know whether these lords of Namur were kept in prison, nor how long, nor if they were delivered; so I will leave them, and return to King Edward.
The noble King Edward dwelt a long time before the fair city of Berwick, for he would not leave it; and he assailed it many times. But there were within such good men-at-arms, that these assaults hurt them little, and they would never have rendered up the town if they had had enough victuals; but when victuals are lacking, one cannot hold out long, and it is better to bend than to break. This noble king would never leave the siege until he had his will; and he held the field so long, that the victuals failed in the town, and they could devise no way by which any could come to them from any part. So they endured much distress, and at last, when they could do no more, they yielded to the noble king, after much parleying and treating, which would be too long to tell. And the King received them to mercy, their lives and goods being saved; and entered very nobly into the city with great feasting, and tarried 159 there as long as he would. When he had dismissed his men, and sent back into their own country those whom he could spare; he put great garrisons and provisions in those castles which he had captured from the King of Scotland, in order to guard what he had conquered, placing still larger within and about the city of Berwick, for all were to yield obedience to it. And then he departed and returned into England, and held great feasts and courts, where the barons and lords of the country assembled, and gave great feasts, tournaments, jousts, and assemblies of ladies, by which he gained great favour with all; for all said he was a second King Arthur. And the men-at-arms and the garrisons which were left in Berwick, and the other strong towns, and castles, and fortresses, did well his commands, so that nothing was lost for a long time. But they had often to do with those lords who maintained themselves in the wild parts of Scotland and in the other castles, so that there were often skirmishes and pursuits.
Now you have heard how this gentle King of England conquered all Scotland, as far as the great forest which they call Jedburgh, where the savage Scots maintained themselves, because the forest is so perplexing and so full of great marshes, that none dare enter it unless he knows well the roads. And the young King David and his wife came into France to the King Philip with but few followers, for they were poor. And the King received them, and entertained them well. And Sir William Douglas — sister’s son of 160 that other Sir William who died in Spain, — the young Earl of Moray, Earl Patrick, Simon Fraser, and Alexander Ramsay, were still captains of the wild Scots, and maintained themselves in these wild forests both summer and winter for the space of seven years and more, like very valiant warriors, and waged continual war on the fortresses held by the King Edward, meeting with many great adventures which it would be too long to recount.
Now it happened that at the time that King Edward was beyond the sea fighting in France, King Philip sent men into Scotland, who came to the city of St. John, and prayed those lords to bestir themselves and raise great war against the kingdom of England; for that he would undertake that King Edward should be away, and should leave them in peace. Also he would aid them with men-at-arms and money.
Therefore it happened that while Tournay was being besieged, these lords of Scotland prepared, at the request of King Philip, to make war on the English. When they had assembled men enough, they departed from the forest of Jedburgh and went through Scotland — reconquering the fortresses as many as they could — past the good city of Berwick and across the river of Tyne, and entered the country of Northumberland, which once was itself a kingdom. Here they found fat cattle in great numbers, and wasted all the land and burnt it as far as the city of Durham, and beyond; and them, turning to another road, they went burning and wasting the land, so that 161 the King’s country was greatly devastated by this inroad of four days. And then they returned into Scotland and reconquered their fortresses, except the city of Berwick and three other strong castles, of which one was called Roxburgh, another Stirling, and the third Edinburgh, which was the strongest, and was situated on a high rock which was seen in all the country round; and the ascent was so steep that a man could scarce climb it without resting two or three times, and a horse could only bear half a load. It was the castle which did most harm to the Scots, and the governor was a valiant knight named Sir Walter de Limousin. But this castle was taken daringly and with great subtilty, and all those in it put to death, as I will tell you
When King Edward heard that these lords of Scotland were in his kingdom he was much enraged, and leaving France, he came quickly to London and took counsel what he should do. And he sent through all his kingdom and summoned his men to meet him at York at the end of a month, to go to destroy the remnant of the kingdom of Scotland. This was in the year 1340, about All Saints’ Day.
Now while they were assembling at York, the good knight, Sir William Douglas, bethought him of a great and perilous deed, and he discovered it to some of his companions, — to Earl Patrick and to Simon Fraser (who had brought up the young Kind David), and to Alexander Ramsay, who all took part in this perilous deed. They took with them two hundred of the wild Scots to lay an ambush, as you shall hear. These 162 four lords, who were all rulers of the Scots and knew each other’s minds, went to sea with all their company, and with great provisions of oats, and white flour, and charcoal, and they came to a port about four leagues from that strong castle, called Edinburgh, which hurt them more than the others. When they had arrived, they issued forth by night and took with them fifteen or eighteen of their companions whom they could best trust. And they put on poor, ragged coats, like poor merchants, and laded twelve little horses with twelve sacks of oats, flour, and charcoal, and left the rest in a ruined abbey at the foot of the mountain. When day broke, these merchants, who were armed beneath their poor garments, took the road and climbed the mountain; and when they were half way, Sir William Douglas and Simon Fraser went before, making the others follow gently. And they came to the porter and told him that with great fear they had brought corn, oats, flour and charcoal, and that if there was any wanted in the castle they would sell it cheap. The porter answered that they needed it much, but that it was so early that he could not awake the lords, but that if they would bring up their provisions he would open the first gate of the barriers. They heard this gladly, and made the others come, and entered the first gate. And Sir William Douglas saw that the porter had the keys of the great gate of the castle, and asked him which of them opened the little gate of it Then they threw down their sacks in this first gate on the threshold, so that it could not be shut, and seized the porter and 163 killed him so quietly that not a word was said, and took the keys. And they opened the gate of the castle, and Sir William blew his horn, and he and his companions threw off their poor clothes and threw down the sacks of charcoal in the gateway so that it could not be shut. When the other companions who were in ambush near the castle heard the horn, they climbed the mountain as fast as they could. The watch, who was asleep, heard the sound of the horn and awoke, and saw armed men climbing the hill, then he began to blow his horn and to cry, ‘Treason! treason!’ Then the Governor and the others awoke and armed themselves, and came to the gate and thought to shut it, but they could not, for William and his fifteen companions defended it. Then began a great fight between them, for those in the castle sought to save their lives, and the others to achieve their bold enterprise. And when those in the castle saw the ambush coming, they were much dismayed, and with all their power they sought to defend their castle; but at last, though they killed and wounded many, Sir William Douglas gained the castle and killed all within without mercy. And they tarried there that day, and ordained castellans and all the officers to keep the castle, and put a great garrison in it, and then returned joyful and glad to their companions in the forest of Jedburgh.
Thus this strong castle was taken by force and subtilty. When Sir William and his companions were returned to their men in the forest, there came to them the news that the noble King Edward was 164 returned into England, and that he was assembling so many men that they could not stand against them. So they took counsel together what they should do, for they were but a few and badly arrayed, for they had warred long — for the space of seven years — and had rested and fed hardly, and they had no news of the King, their lord. So they were all wearied, and they agreed to send a bishop and an abbot to King Edward to pray for a truce. And the messengers found the King in the city of York, and he had with him six thousand men on horseback — knights and squires, and full sixty thousand on foot, to destroy all the remnant of Scotland. When the messengers saw that, they spoke and treated so that there was granted them a truce of a month on condition that they should send to King David of Scotland and require that within two months he should come to resist the power of England; and if he did not come, the said knights should give themselves up to King Edward. So the truce was granted, and messengers sent to France; and the Scots returned into Scotland.