SCOTLAND. 



men, plundered the town of Penrith during its fair, and re- 

 turned with an immenfe booty in merchandize, befides 

 40,000 head of cattle. 



The duke of Lancafter, about this time, was fent to re- 

 prefs the borderers, and alfo to obtain fome fatisfaftion from 

 the Scottifh king for the many nifraaions of the exillnig 

 truce, which had been committed by his fubjeds. Before 

 he entered upon hollihtics, liowever, he invited the Scots to 

 a treaty, and a truce was agreed to for ten months, which 

 was afterwards prolonged for feven months more. But this 

 convention feems to have related only to the borders, as the 

 Scottifh monarch does not appear as a party to it. This 

 pacific conduti of the duke created him many enemies in 

 England. Hence, when the people rebelled againlt his 

 nephew's government, he found it necelTary to feek fafety 

 for a fhort time in Scotland, where he was hofpitably re- 

 ceived. On his return, the Scots having affaulted the cadle 

 of Werk, he was again difpatched to demand reparation, 

 and to treat of a genera] peace. Conferences were accord- 

 ingly held with the earl of Carrick, but nothing definite 

 was agreed to. Indeed the continuance of peace appears 

 not to have been the wi(h of the Scottifh monarch, for he 

 foon after renewed the ancient league with l- ranee, and com- 

 menced hoftilities by taking the ca!lle of Lochmaben. On 

 this the duke advanced as far as Edinburgh, whence he was 

 obliged to return to Berwick, without having gained any ad- 

 vantage. The Scots again became the aggrcflbrs, and had 

 laid waile the country as far a=; Newcaftle, when the con- 

 clufion of a new truce put an end, for a time, to regular hof- 

 tilities. The border wars, however, Itill raged, and the town 

 of Berwick was taken by the Scots, but was given up again 

 on payment of 2000 marks. 



On the expiration of the truce, Robert, who had received 

 confiderable fupphes from France, prepared to invade Eng- 

 land, and create a diverfion in the north, while a French 

 army (hould land in the fouth. But in the interim the French 

 king was obliged to abandon the intended defcent upon Eng- 

 land, and hence Robert was left to contend, fingle-handed, 

 againft the undivided force of that powerful monarchy. 

 Richard marched into Scotland at the head of 6o,ooo men. 

 The Scottifh king wifely refufed to rifle a general action, 

 though ftrongly urged to do fo by the officer commanding 

 the French auxiliaries, contenting himfelf by haralTing the 

 enemy by frequent attacks, till they were forced to retreat 

 within their own territories. After this, the earl of Douglas 

 invaded Ireland and the Ifle of Man, whence he returned 

 with immenfe booty. Robert, elated by thefe fnccefles, re- 

 folved to attempt an invafion of England on a grand fcale. 

 Accordingly a powerful army entered Northumberland, and 

 laid fiege to NewcalUe, which was defended by Henry 

 Percy, furnamed Hotfpur. This nobleman challenged 

 Douglas, the Scottifh general, to meet him in fingle combat, 

 and the challenge having been accepted, aconteft took place 

 in fight of both armies, and terminated in the overthrow of 

 Hotfpur. Next day Douglas ordered'a general affaiilt, but 

 was unfuccefsful ; and-as tlie Enghfh had received reinforce- 

 ments during the night, he deemed it prudent to retire 

 towards Scotland. Percy, eager to wipe off the difgrace of 

 his perfonal defeat, purfued, and came up with the Scots at 

 Otterburn, where a battle was fought by the hght of the 

 moon, and is reprefented by hiHorians as the moll obftinately 

 contetted of any that occurred in that age. Earl Percy, and 

 above a hundred perfons of diftindfion, were made prifoners, 

 and contributed, by their ranfoms, to enrich their conquerors. 

 Scarcely was this battle finilhed, when another Engliih army 

 appeared in view, under the orders of the bifhop of Durham. 

 The Scots, notwithllanding their fatigued ilate, refolved to 



venture a fecond contelt, and nobly difdaining the cuftomarr 

 barbarity of putting their prifoners to death, (though nearly 

 as numerous as their whole army,) drew up in martial array, 

 having fimply required them to give their word of honour 

 that they would not interfere in the action. The bifhop, 

 who imagined the Scots would fly at his approach, perceiving 

 their bold attitude, thought it moreadvifeable to retreat than 

 to hazard the deflrudtion of his army. The Scots hence- 

 forth continued their march unmolelled ; and, in teftimony 

 of the honourable conduit of their prifoners, they difmilled 

 all thofe of inferior rank without ranfoin, and accepted 

 obligations from their fuperiors, all of which were punctually 

 fulfilled ; examples of honour and gencrolity worthy of the 

 molt enlightened period of iociety. 



In the year 1389 a treaty was concluded between the kings 

 of England and France, to which the Scots were invited to 

 accede ; but as the earl of March and the lord of the Ifles 

 were admitted as parties, great oppofition was manifelled to 

 it by the nobles, who confidered both thefe noblemen as 

 fubjefts of the Scottifh monarchy, and therefore not en- 

 titled to treat as independent perfons. The king, however, 

 inclined to peace, and after fome explanations on the part of 

 the Frencli and Engliih ambaffadors, the nobles were induced 

 to give a reluctant confent to the termination of hoftilities for 

 three years. Robert died foon afterwards, opprefFed with 

 grief and age, April 19th, 1 390, and was fucceeded by 

 his eldelt fon, John, earl of Carrick, who affunied the title 

 of Robert III. In earlier life he had commanded armies, 

 and negociated treaties, with ability and fuccefs, but he had 

 lived for fome time in retirement. Now that he was called 

 to the throne, he committed the direftion of public affairs to 

 his brother, the earl of Fife, by whofe advice he confirmed 

 the late truce, and renewed the ancient league with France. 

 In this reign a violent feud broke out between the clans 

 Chattan and Kay, which raged for nearly three years with 

 the mofl rutlilefs fury. The earl of Crawford was fent to 

 rellore peace ; but fearing that the employment of force 

 might caufe an union againlt the government, he had re- 

 courfe to the following expedient, which ferves to illuflrate 

 the character of the Highlanders, and the general ftate of 

 fociety in that age. He propofed that their quarrel fliould 

 be decided by thirty champions from each clan, who (hould 

 fight with the fword only, in prefence of the king and his 

 court. The propofal, being perfectly agreeable to the fpirit 

 of the feudal laws, was fandtioncd by both parties. A level 

 fpot near Perth was fixed upon for the fcene of action, but 

 when the combatants were mullered, it was found that one 

 of them, belonging to clan Chattan, had failed to appear. 

 In this difficulty it was fuggelled that one of clan Kay 

 fliould be withdrawn, but all of them refufed to relinquifh 

 the honour and danger of the combat. Various other ex- 

 pedients were ftarted with no better fuccefs. At length 

 Henry Wynd, a fmith, no ways connected with either clan, 

 offered to fnpply the place of the abfentee, and his offer 

 was accepted. The champions on both fides now joined 

 battle, and after a conteit probably unjiaralleled for its fury, 

 victory declared for clan Chattan, principally owing to the 

 fuperior heroifm of Wynd, who, with ten of his comrades, 

 all defperately wounded, alone furvived the conteft. Of 

 clan Kay one only was left alive, who, being unhurt, threw 

 himfelf into the Tay and eicaped. This fingular combat 

 happened in the year 1396; and in 1398, as the truce with 

 England had nearly expired, it was prolonged, and feveral 

 regulations were made tending to preferve the peace of the 

 borders. In the fame year the title of duke was firit intro- 

 duced into Scotland, by the elevation of the king's eldeft 

 fon David to the dukedom of Rothfay ; and of his own 



brother. 



