Page:Life of King Robert Bruce.pdf/17

Rh he gave orders to Douglas and Randolph to repair at the same hour, each with a body of troops under his command. The forces thus assembled, marched cautiously to Berwick, and, assisted by Spalding, scaled the walls, making themselves masters of the town in a few hours. The garrison of the castle perceiving that the number of Scots was but small, made a desperate sally with the men who had fled into the castle from the town; but, after an obstinate engagement, they were defeated and driven back, chiefly by the extraordinary valour of a young knight, named Sir William Keith, of Galston. When Bruce heard of the success of his forces against the town, he hastened to lay siege to the castle of Berwick, which was soon obliged to capitulate; after which the Scots entered Northumberland, and took possession of the castles of Wark, Harbottle, and Mitford.

In May, 1318, they again invaded England, and penetrated into Yorkshire. In their progress, they burnt several towns, forcing the inhabitants to redeem themselves by paying 1000 merks; after which they returned to Scotland with much booty, driving their prisoners before them.

In 1319, Edward made similar attempts, with other powers, to the prejudice of the Scottish nation. He requested the Earl of Flanders to prohibit the Scotch from entering his country; but he received the following remarkable reply to his letter: "Flanders is the common country of all men; I cannot prohibit any merchants from trafficking thither, for such prohibition would prove the ruin of my people." On receipt of this communication, Edward once more determined to have recourse to war; and with this view commanded his army to assemble at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Everything having been pre-