Having made these observations on the popular story of Queen Blearie, I leave it with my readers to form the conclusion.

No. II.

VOL. II. Page 147.

Journal of the Campaign of EDWARD III.

1327.

THE Old English historians are brief in their accounts of the mighty preparations made by Edward III. in 1327, for repelling and conquering the Scottish invaders, and of the unsuccessful events of that campaign.

Froissart has supplied this defect in English history. His account, although not altogether accurate, is particular and ample. Any one who reads it with attention must perceive, that Froissart procured his information from some officer of the cavalry of John de Hainault, who served under Edward III. in 1327. And it will be seen hereafter, that there is such an exactness in dates as could scarcely have occurred, unless a military journal had been kept at the time by the person from whom Froissart procured his information. It must be confessed, that the relater had an imperfect notion of the country through which the army marched; and there is reason to believe, that, in some circumstances, Froissart has misunderstood his meaning.

From Froissart's account, explained by two or three occasional passages in English historians, and from the dates of events ascertained in Foedera Angliae, a journal of this campaign may be drawn up with reasonable precision.'

10th July 1327, Edward III. marched from York with his army in three divisions, or battles, in the language of that age. The King led the first division, or van, and lay that night at Topcliff.* The auxiliaries, consisting of heavy armed cavalry, commanded by John de Hainault, were in the first division, and encamped near the King.t

11th and 12th, Halted at Topcliff until the second and third divisions came up.‡

13th, Decamped before day-break, and, by a forced march, arrived at Durham.§

* Froissart, vol. i. p. 16. says, " six lieues au dessus de la dite cité," (York). This nearly corresponds with the distance between York and Burrough-bridge. But, as it appears from Foedera, T. iv. p. 295, 296. that the King halted at Topcliff, it is more natural to suppose that he proceeded to Topcliff on the first day, than that he halted there, no more than six miles from Burrough-bridge, on the second day's march. We cannot expect great precision, as to distances, from Froissart, or any other foreigner on whom he relied. Besides, the next march was very long, even supposing the army my to have set out from Topcliff; and there is no occasion to make it longer.

+ Not so much to shew honour to them, as to keep them at a distance from the English archers, with whom they had had a fatal quarrel while the army was quartered at York.

‡ In Foedera, T. iv. p. 295, 296. there are three instruments by the King, all dated at Topcliff, 12th July 1327.

§ A march nearly of 50 miles. The King was at Northallerton on the 13th July; Foedera, T. iv. p. 296. But, if Froissart is not mistaken, he did not stop there. Were it not for the authority of Froissart, I would lay down the route thus: 10th

Froissart, i. 16. et seq.

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14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th, Remained at Durham, expecting intelligence of the motions of the enemy.*

18th, The English descried at a distance the smoke of the flames kindled by the Scots in the country which they wasted in their progress. The army marched from Durham in order of battle, the infantry ranged in three bodies, with the cavalry on the flanks. They proceeded towards that quarter from whence the smoke appeared to issue, came to their ground in the evening, and encamped at a wood near a little river.

19th, At break of day decamped, and continued to march until the afternoon, always in order of battle. The march of this day was exceedingly fatiguing, as they had to pass through woods, morasses, and wild deserts.t Encamped in a position like the former one, at a wood near a little river. The King lodged in a mean monastery.

It was resolved in a council of war to leave the baggage of the army at this camp, and, by a forced march towards the north-west, to gain the Tine, and to intercept the Scots, who were now supposed to be about to return home, probably because the smoke of their ravages had ceased. The army began to march at midnight.

July, Topcliff. 11th and 12th, halted. 13th, Northallerton. 14th, Durham. This last might still be called a forced march, being longer than either of the preceding marches.

* In Foedera, T. iv. p. 300. there is an order by the King and council, dated at Durham 17th July 1327. This is an important date, and must be remembered.

† Froissart, vol. i. p. 17. says, " deserts sauvages."

20th, This day's march was the most laborious of all, and through very difficult ground; the army kept no order; every man pressed forwards without regarding his companions; and the cavalry left the foot soldiers behind. At the close of day the cavalry reached the Tine, and crossed it at Haidon; * they lay on their arms that night, in want of all necessaries. It was reported that they had marched twenty-eight English miles that day.

21st, The infantry came up, but could not ford the river, which had become much swollen by violent rains during the night.

22d, The rains continued during this day (Thursday), and throughout the week. The army suffered much from want of shelter for themselves and their horses, and from the exceeding scarcity of provisions.

23d, Provisions and other necessaries arrived from Newcastle and the places in the neighbourhood, but in small quantities, and sold at exorbitant prices.

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24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th, The army remained on the same ground, without receiving any intelligence of the Scots. The troops now began to

* Froissart does not mention the place. The only notice that we have of it, is in Scala Chron. ap. Leland, T. i. p. 551. "The King after loggid at Eiden, (this must mean Haidon), when they had cumpasit the bakkes of the Scottes."

† Froissart says, " from Newcastle;" but it may be supposed that the different towns and villages on the banks of the Tine contributed in bringing provisions to the army. Froissart seems to say that the provisions arrived on the 22d; but this is inconsistent with what follows in his narrative, that the army was without necessaries for three nights.

murmur at their situation, and to charge some of their leaders as false traitors, who had brought the King and his army into a remote corner, where they were exposed to perish through fatigue and famine, without ever encountering an enemy. It was now resolved to march again towards the south. The King proclaimed a reward of lands to the value of one hundred pounds yearly, for life, to the person who should first discover the enemies " on dry ground where they might be attacked."*

Fifteen or sixteen Knights and Esquires swam the river, and set out upon this search.

28th, The army decamped; the cavalry went some miles up the river, where they crossed, although with much difficulty; many soldiers were drowned in the passage. The army thus reassem

* " Rex, &c. seiatis, quòd cum nuper, dum in partibus borealibus cum exercitu nostro fuimus, proclamari fecerimus, quòd ille, qui nos perduceret ad visum inimicorum nostrorum, ubi eos appropinquare possemus, super terra sicca, pro facto ab eis habendo, sibi faceremus habere centum libratas terrae per annum, ad terminum vitae suae ; et dilectus et fidelis noster Thomas de Rokesby nos perduxerit ad visum inimicorum nostrorum praedictorum in loco duro et sicco, juxta proclamationem praedictam; Noveritis igitur," &c. (at Lincoln 28th September 1327); Foedera, T. iv. p. 312. Froissart, v. i. p. 19. says, " cent livres de terre à heritage." This mistake, natural enough to be reported in the camp, has been carelessly adopted by later historians, who had an opportunity of reading the grant made to Rokesby.

† Froissart says seven leagues; but I presume esume that he meant miles. As Edward lay at Haidon, it is not probable that he would have marched twenty miles farther up the river. It seems that the English repassed the Tine somewhere about Beltingham, above the junction of Allan and Tine; and, if so, then the burnt village mentioned by Froissart, must have been Beltingham.