CHAPTER XVIL Transactions in Scotland, in 1317, during the absence of King : A. D. 1317 THE absence of the King of Scots in Ireland certainly afforded a favourable opportunity to the English for making a formidable invasion of Scotland, and even with great probability of success; more especially as an apparent reconciliation had taken place between Edward and the malcontent Lancastrian faction. Edward appears accordingly to have been fully inclined to take advantage of the combined favourable circumstances for this purpose, and issued orders for the assemblage of an army at Newcastle, about the end 20. Aug. A D. of September, in order to invade Scotland: 1317. But the earl of Lancaster, and the other great barons of the malcontent party, who formed the principal strength of the north of England, failed to appear at the appointed rendezvous; on which account the projected expedition was necessarily laid aside, and that part of the military array which had obeyed the orders of the sovereign was dismissed *. From this period likewise, as noticed in the foregoing chapter, the attention of Edward appears to have been almost entirely occupied in preparations for sending succours into Ireland to second the efforts of Mortimer: Yet, either his authority was so inadequate to the urgent emergency of the times, or such was the inefficiency of his finances for setting the feudal power of his kingdom in motion, that the whole energies of his government were engaged in these preparations from the month of November 1316, to near the end of March 1817. While the King of Scots was engaged in Ireland, Sir James Douglas was left in charge of the middle borders, and successfully repelled several attempts of the English to disturb Foed. Angl. III. 568. Walsingh. 107. A. D. 1317. their tranquillity. Though the writers of both nations have transmitted several interesting particulars of the transactions of these times, they have all omitted to mention any dates, so that we are under the necessity of relating them in an uncertain arrangement. The Earl of Arundel seems at this time to have commanded on the eastern and middle march of England, opposite to the district under the charge of Douglas, Arundel, collecting a considerable body of troops, made an inroad into the forest of Jedburgh, where he was drawn by Douglas into an ambushment, by which the English, being forced to fight at a great disadvantage, were completely defeated. This affair is mentioned in the following terms in one of the English writers. "King Edwarde sente the erle of Arundel as "Capitayne yn to the marches of Scotlande, "where he soferid reproche by James Duglas "at Lincelly yn the forest of Jedworth, and "ther was Thomas of Richemont slayne *." The particulars of this inroad, as related by Barbour, are as follow †. Douglas had just completed a splendid mansion for his own residence in the vale or haugh Scala. Chron. ap. Leland. Col.II. 547. † Barb. xvi. 331--439. of Lyntailé, probably Lint-haugh-lee or Lintalee near Jedburgh, and proposed to have given a feast to his military followers or feudal vassals, at the opening of his new dwelling. This circumstance had reached the knowledge of Arundel, the Warden of the opposite English marches, who was fully aware of the absence of the king of Scots, and hoped to surprise Douglas off his guard on occasion of the intended festivities. He therefore collected a considerable body of troops, said by Barbour to have amounted to ten thousand men; whom, besides their arms, he ordered to be provided with axes, as he proposed to have cut down the whole trees in the forest of Jedburgh, to deprive the Scots of that highly important defence. By means of spies, whom he constantly employed to watch the motions of the English, Douglas got timely notice of the intentions and approach of Arundel, and secretly collected, in all haste, a considerable body of archers and about fifty men-at-arms. With these he took post in an extensive thicket, in the intended line of march of the English. The road or opening through the wood at this place was wide at the southern extremity, but became gradually narrower as it advan 1317. eed; till at the narrowest part, where the am- A. D. bush was posted, it did not exceed a quoits pitch, or about twenty yards. He there placed the archers on one side of the pass, whom he secured by means of an entrenchiment or abatis of trees, so interlaced as to be impenetrable by cavalry; and he took post with his men-at-arms on the other side of the pass, waiting patiently for the approach of the enemy. Not dreading any ambuscade, the English with improvident confidence advanced intó the pass. From the narrowing of the glade or opening, their ranks became pressed together and confused; and, when entangled in the narrowest part, Douglas gave the signal for his archers to commence the engagement. By repeated vollies of arrows on their front ranks, and all along one flank, and by the rear continually pressing towards the narrow part of the pass, the English suffered considerable loss, and were thrown into great confusion. At this critical period Douglas left his concealment, with his small but select band of cavalry, and shouting out his enseigny or war cry, a Douglas! a Douglas! he made a desperate charge upon the surprised English. By repeated charges of the Scots cuirassiers, and by incessant vollies of arrows from the |