Page:Life of King Robert Bruce.pdf/19

Rh and continued till the close of the day, when the English commanders withdrew their troops. Notwithstanding this brave defence, it was evident that the town could not hold out long without a speedy relief; and Bruce could not, with any probability of success, attack the fortified camp of the English. He, therefore, determined to make such a diversion in England as would oblige Edward to abandon the undertaking; and ordered 15,000 men to enter England by the western marches, and lay Yorkshire waste. The Archbishop of York hastily collected a numerous body of commons and ecclesiastics, with whom he encountered the Scots at Mitton, near Boroughbridge. The English were routed, 3000 having been left dead on the field, and a great part of those who fled perished in the Swale. In this action 300 ecclesiastics lost their lives.

The news of this successful inroad alarmed the besiegers of Berwick. The barons, whose estates lay to the southward, were anxious to continue the siege; but they were opposed by those of the north, who were eager to abandon the enterprise, and return to the defence of their own country. Upon this, Edward drew off the remainder of his army, and attempted to intercept Randolph and Douglas, but they eluded him, and returned in safety to Scotland. The failure of this attempt induced Edward to think of peace; and a truce was concluded, December 31, 1319. The Scots made use of this interval of tranquility to address a manifesto to the Pope in justification of their cause, which was drawn up in a spirited manner, and made a considerable alteration in the councils of Rome. The Pope, seeing that Bruce would not be terrified into submission, ordered Edward to make peace with him in the best possible manner. A negotiation was ac-