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THE HISTORY OF
sent ambassadors to treat of peace; but the Scots were too much elated with their good fortune to make coneessions, and the English were not yet sufficiently humbled to yield to all their demands. The ravages of war were renewed. The Scots eontinued their incursions into England, and levied contributions in different places. In 1315, the English affairs seemed to revive. The Scots, indeed, plundered Durham and Hartlepool, but they were repulsed from Carlisle, and failed in an attempt on Berwick.
The Irish of Ulster, oppressed by the English Government, implored the assistance of Robert, and offered to acknowledge his brother Edward as their sovereign, who, accordingly, landed at Carrickfergus, May 25, 1315, with 6000 men. This was an enterprise evidently beyond the power of Seotland to accomplish. However, there were motives which induced Robert to consent. The offer of a crown inflamed the ambition of Edward Bruce, whose impetuous valour made no account of difficulties however great. It might have been deemed ungenerous, and perhaps impolitic, to have rejected the proposals of the Irish for the advancenient of his brother, to whom the king owed more than he could repay. Besides, the invasion of Ireland scemed a proper expedient for dividing the English forces. But the issue proved unfortunate. The king himself had gone over into Ireland to assist his brother in attempting the subjection of that country, and, during his absence, the English had made several attempts to disturb the tranquillity of Seotland.
The Earl of Arundel invaded the forest of Jedburgh with a numerous army; but being drawn into an ambuscade by Douglas, he was defeated with great loss. Edmund de Cailland, a knight of Gascony and governor of Berwick, invaded and wasted Teviotdale; but whilo he was returning home, laden with spoil, he was attacked, defeated, and killed by Douglas. Soon after this, intelligence was conveyed to Douglas, that one Robert Neville bad boasted that he would encounter him whenever he saw his banner displayed. Douglas soon give him an opportunity. He advanecd towards Berwick, displayed his banner, and burnt some villages. Neville, provoked at these ravages, took the field, encountered Douglas, but was defeated and slain.
By sea the English invaded Scotland, and anchored off Inverkeithing, in the Frith of Forth, where they soon after landed: 500 men, under the Earl and Sheriff of Fife, attempted to oppose their landing, but were intimidated by the number of their enemies. William Sinclair, Bishop of Dunkeld, happened to meet the fugitives, and having, by his reproaches, obliged them to rally, he led them on again to the
