Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/132

 Other new and prosperous adventures of late against the Scots.

After the time that the Earl of HERTFORD, Lieutenant to the King's Majesty in the North parts of the realm, had dissolved the army, which lately had been within Scotland; and repaired to the King's Highness: the Lord EURE, with many other valiant wise gentlemen—abiding in the Marches of the North part—intending not by idleness to surcease in occasions convenient, but to prove whether the Scots had yet learned by their importable [unbearable] losses lately chanced to them, to tender their own weals by true and reasonable uniting and adjoining themselves to the King's Majesty's loving liege people—took consultation by the advice of Sir RALPH EURE his son, and other sage forward gentlemen; upon the 9th day of June [1544], at a place named Mylnefeld; from whence by common agreement, the said lord with a good number of men, made such haste into Scotland, that by four of the clock after the next midnight, he had marched within a half mile of the town whereunto they tended, named Jedworth [Jedburgh]."

After their coming, a messenger was sent unto the Provost of the said town, letting him to know "that the Lord EURE was come before the town to take it into the King's allegiance, by means of peace if thereunto the Scots would truly agree, or else by force of arms to sack the same if therein resistance were found." Whereunto the Provost—even like to prove himself a Scot—answered by way of request, "that they might be respected upon their answer until the noontide or else to maintain their town with defence:" having hope that in tracting [treating] and driving off time they might work some old cowardly subtilty. But upon his declaration made, the snake crawling under the flowers easily appeared to them, which had experience: knowledge also being had, that the