Letter from the
Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, with news of the defeat of the Scots at the
Battle of Falkirk, 22nd July, 1298
On Saturday the Feast of St. Peter’s Chains (August 1st),
there came a messenger from Sir Walter de Langestone, Bishop of Coventre and
Lychfeld, and Treasurer to our Lord the King of England, bringing a letter from
the said Bishop to the Mayor, and Alderman, and Barons, of London, in these
words:
“To his dear friends, the Mayor and the Barons of London,
Walter, by the grace of God, Bishop of Chester (1), greeting and true
friendship. Because we well know
that you willingly will hear good tidings of our Lord the King and of his
affairs in Scotland, we give you to understand that on the Monday next before
the Feast of Saint James (July 25th), there came tidings unto the
Lord the King where he was staying, six leagues beyond Edeneburg, that the Scots
were approaching directly towards him. As
soon as he had heard this, he moved with his host towards the parts where the
Scots were; and on the morrow the King arrived in good time, and found his
enemies prepared to give battle. And
so they engaged, and, by the grace of God, his enemies were soon discomfited,
and fled: but nevertheless, there were slain of the enemy in the day’s fight
200 men-at-arms, and 20,000 of their foot-soldiers; wherefore we do hope that
affairs yonder will go well from henceforth, by the aid of our Lord. Unto God (we commend you).
Written at Acun, on Sunday after the feast of St. James, in the 26th
year of our Lord, the King Edward.”
And so the said messenger was given by the hands of the Chamberlain the
sum of 26 shillings by order of the Mayor, John le Blunt, and of John de
Canterbury, Thomas Romeyn, Nicholas de Farndone, Nicholas Pyckot, William de
Betoine, and John de Donestaple, the then Chamberlain, Aldermen.
Notes:
1) The Bishop of Lichfield and Convetry often used this name.
Originally in Letter Book C, folio 23, in Norman French