They sent a préest to them that kept it, commanding them to yéeld: but receiuing a froward answer, they fell to and wasted all that countrie, passing thorough the forrest of Inglewood, Cumberland, and Allerdale, till they came vnto Derwent and Cokermouth, not sparing either church nor chappell. Their meaning was to haue gone into the bishoprike of Durham, but what through sore weather of haile, snow and frost, & what through vain feare of wrong information giuen by their spials, that the countrie was well prouided of men of warre for defense, they brake off that iournie, and yet there were not past a hundred men of armes, and thrée thousand footmen in that countrie, which were then also dispersed thorough irksomenesse of long staieng for the enimies. The Scots therefore drew vnto Hexham, and there lodged, not without vexing the canons, although they had granted letters of protection vnto the prior and couent of the same house, to indure for one whole yeare: and likewise letters of safe conduct to passe and repasse for one canon, one squire, and two seruants, when soeuer they should send to them during that terme: which letters were giuen foorth vnder the name of the said earle of Murrey, and William Waleis. From thence they went towards Newcastell, and burnt the towne of Riton. Finallie, perceiuing they could not preuaile in attempting to win the towne of Newcastell, they diuided their spoiles and returned home. [Sidenote: The lord Clifford inuadeth Annandale.] [Sidenote: Annankirke. Scots slaine.] [Sidenote: 1298.] [Sidenote: Annankirke burnt.] About the same time, to wit, a little before Christmasse, the lord Robert Clifford, with the power of the citie of Carleill, entred Annandale, committing all to the spoile of the footmen, of whome there was a great number. The men of armes on horssebacke, being not past an hundred in all, kept togither, and finding their enimies assembled néere to Annankirke, gaue a charge vpon them, and chased them into a marish, within the which they kept them, till the footmen came in, and assailing them, slue 308 persons, and tooke diuerse of them prisoners, and returning againe to their market, burnt ten villages, and on Christmasse euen returned with their preie and booties vnto Carleill. In the beginning of Lent they made an other rode, in the which they burnt the church of Annan. [Sidenote: _N. Triuet._] [Sidenote: The froward dealing of the erles of Hereford & Marshall.] [Sidenote: _Abington._] [Sidenote: A subsidie granted.]