287 



Edwardley. Communicated by Mr George Watson, 

 Curator of Jedburgh Museum. 



In the year 1098 Malcolm III., king of Scotland, greatly 

 incensed against king Rufus, entered England at the head 

 of a large army. With him went two of his sons, the 

 Princes Edward and Edgar. Commencing to lay waste 

 Northumberland, he besieged Alnwick Castle, the garrison 

 of which was reduced to extremity. But we need not here 

 repeat the story of the treacherous act — so familiar to every 

 reader of Scottish history — which deprived the besieging 

 army of its leader, and Scotland of its king. His son 

 Edward, *' bayth plesand and preclair,"* strove vainly to 

 avert the inevitable defeat, but he was severely wounded 

 in the rout which ensued. Forced to leave the field of 

 battle, Scotland's uncrowned king, probably accompanied by 

 a few faithful followers, held his course due north-west, 

 and on November 15th, the third day from the disaster on 

 the banks of the Alne, reached Jedburgh Forest, in the 

 shades of which he succumbed to the effects of his wounds. 

 " He died," sa3's Fordun, " at Edwardisle, in the forest 

 of Jedwart."t 



* Metrical Chronicle of Scotland. 



t " Qui XVII. Kalendas Decemhris prwnotata tertia die post patrem 

 apud Edwardisle foresta de Jedvuart fatis cessit," — Skene's Fordun. 



