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After the departure of sir John de Hainault, king Edward and his mother governed the kingdom, by the counsels of good earl of Kent, and of sir Roger Mortimer, who possessed vast estates in England, to the amount of 700 £ sterling a-year. Both of them had been banished with the queen. They also took the advice of sir Thomas Wager, and of others, who were esteemed the wisest in the land.This, however, created much envy, which never dies in England, but reigns there as well as in other places. Thus passed the winter and Lent in perfect peace; when it happened that Robert, king of Scotland, who, although brave, had suffered much in his wars with England, having been often defeated by king Edward, grandfather of the young king, being at this time very old, and afflicted with leprosy, hearing that the king had been taken prisoner and deposed, and his counsellors put to death, though it a favourable opportunity to send a defiance to the present king, as yet a youth, whose barons were not on good terms with each other, and to attempt the conquest of some part of England. About Easter, 1327, he sent a defiance to king Edward and all the country, informing them that he would enter the kingdom, and burn it as far as he had before after the defeat of Stirling, in which the English had suffered so much.
When the young king and his council received this challenge, they published it throughout the kingdom, and ordered that all the nobles and others should come properly accoutred and accompanied, according to their different ranks, to York, the day of Ascension following. He also sent a considerable body of men-at-arms to guard the frontiers of Scotland, and messengers to sir John de Hainault, begging him very affectionately to assist and accompany him in this expedition, and to meet him at York on Ascension-day, with as many companions at arms as he could bring with him.
When the lord of Beaumont received this request, he dispatched letters and messengers into Flanders, Hainault and Brabant, or wherever he thought he could collect good companions, praying them to meet him, well equipped, at Wissan1 there to embark for England. Such as he sent to came, as well as others that had heard of it, in the expectation of gaining as large sums as those who had accompanied him in his former expedition to England.
When the lord of Beaumont came to Wissan, he found vessels ready to transport him and his company.They embarked their cavalry as expeditiously as possible, and crossed over to Dover, whence, without halting, they continued their march until they reached York. The king, his mother, and a number of other lords and barons were there assembled, to advise as to attend the king.They awaited at York the arrival of sir John, of the men at arms and archers, and of the common people from the different towns and cities. As they came in large bodies, they were quartered in the villages around York, at the distance of tow or three leagues, and thence marched towards the border.
Sir John and his company reached York by the appointed time, and were welcomed and magnificently entertained by the king, queen, and all the barons. The handsomest suburbs of the city were assigned to them for their quarters, and a monastery of white friars was allotted for him and his household. In company with the knight, came from Hainault, the lord of Anghien, called sir Walter, sir Henry, lord of Antoing, the lord of Seignoles, and the following knights: sir Fastres de Reu, sir Robert de Bailleul, sir William de Bailleul, his brother, the lord of Havereth castellan of Mons, sir Alart de Briseil, sir Michael de Ligne, sir John de Montigny the younger and his brother, sir Sause de Boussac, sir Percival de Severies, the lords of Gommegines, and de Folion. There also came from Flanders; first, sir Hector de Vilains, sir John de Rhodes, sir Vaufflat de Guistelle, sir James re Guistelle, his brother, sie Goussuin de Muelle, and the lord of Tarces. Many came from Brabant; the lord of Dusle, sir Thierry de Vaucourt, sir Rases de Gres, sir John de Cassebegne, sir John Pilestre, sir William de Courterelles, the three brothers de Harlebeque, sir Walter de Hautebergue, and several others. Of the Bohemians were, sir John de Libeaux, Henry his brother, sir Henry de la Chappelle, sir Hugh de Hay, sir John de Limies, sir Lambert de Prez, sir Gilbert de Hers. There came also other volunteer knights out of Cambresis and Artois; so that sir John had five hundred men in his company, well apparelled and richly mounted.
After the feast of Penetecost, sir William, who was afterwards duke of Juliers, by the death of his father, and sir Thierry de Hamberque, since earl of Los, arrived with a gallant company, to do honor to sir John de Hainault.
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