[1] [2] [3] In the octaues of the natiuitie of saint Iohn Bap|tist, Robert Bruce entring into England by Car|leill, kept on his waie through Cumberland, Rich. South. Rob. Bruc [...] inuadeth England. Coupe|land, Kendall, and so into Lancashire, till he came to Preston in Andernesse, which towne he burnt, as he had doone others in the countries through which he had passed. There were some of the Scots that for|raied the countrie fiue miles on this side Preston southwards,Sée more hereof in Scotland. and thus being fourescore long miles within England, they returned homewards, and en|tred againe into Scotland without incounter, after they had béene at this time within England the space of three wéeks and thrée daies. King Edward being thus beset with two mischiefes both at one time, thought good first to prouide remedie against the nee|rer danger, which by the Scots was still at hand, and therefore he meant to go against them himselfe, and to send his brother Edmund earle of Kent into Gui|en, to defend that countrie from the Frenchmen. Herevpon now in the sixteenth yeare of his reigne, Anno Reg. [...]. after that the Scots were returned home with a great bootie and rich spoile,The king goeth into Scotland with an ar [...] Ri. Southw. Merimou [...]h he got togither a wonder|full great armie of men, and entring into Scotland, passed far within the countrie, not finding any resi|stance at all (as the most part of our writers doo a|gree) but at length, through famine and diseases of the flix and other maladies that fell amongst the Eng|lishmen in the armie, he was constreined to come backe, and in his waie besieged the castell of Nor|ham, which fortresse he wan within ten daies after he had begun to assault it.