The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part B.: From Henry III. to Richard III. — David Hume — John Shaqi
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part B.: From Henry III. to Richard III.
David Hume · en
The whole army fled in confusion, and the English, but much more the
Irish, gave little quarter in the pursuit: all the nobles of chief
distinction were either slain or taken prisoners: near thirty thousand
of the Scots fell in the action; while the loss of the English amounted
only to one knight, one esquire, and thirteen private soldiers; an
inequality almost incredible.[***]
* Cotton’s Abridg.
** Rymer, vol. iv. p. 564, 565, 566
*** Heming. p. 275, 276, 277. Knyghton, p. 2559. Otterborne,
p 115.
After this fatal blow, the Scottish nobles had no other resource than
instant submission; and Edward, leaving a considerable body with Baliol
to complete the conquest of the kingdom, returned with the remainder
of his army to England. Baliol was acknowledged king by a parliament
assembled at Edinburgh;[*] the superiority of England was again
recognized; many of the Scottish nobility swore fealty to Edward; and to
complete the misfortunes of that nation, Baliol ceded Berwick, Dunbar,
Roxburgh, Edinburgh, and all the south-east counties of Scotland, which
were declared to be forever annexed to the English monarchy.[**]
* Rymer vol. v. p. 590.
** Rymer, vol. iv. p. 614.
{1334.} If Baliol on his first appearance was dreaded by the Scots, as
an instrument employed by England for the subjection of the kingdom,
this deed confirmed all their suspicions, and rendered him the object
of universal hatred. Whatever submissions they might be obliged to
make, they considered him not as their prince, but as the delegate and
confederate of their determined enemy: and neither the manners of the
age, nor the state of Edward’s revenue, permitting him to maintain a
standing army in Scotland, the English forces were no sooner withdrawn,
than the Scots revolted from Baliol, and returned to their former
allegiance under Bruce. Sir Andrew Murray, appointed regent by the party
of this latter prince, employed with success his valor and activity in
many small but decisive actions against Baliol; and in a short time had
almost wholly expelled him the kingdom.
{1335.} Edward was obliged again to assemble an army, and to march into
Scotland: the Scots, taught by experience, withdrew into their hills
and fastnesses: he destroyed the houses and ravaged the estates of those
whom he called rebels: but this confirmed them still further in their
obstinate antipathy to England and to Baliol; and being now rendered
desperate, they were ready to take advantage, on the first opportunity,
of the retreat of their enemy, and they soon reconquered their country
from the English.