The Chronicles of Sir Jean Froissart

When king David and his council saw that their stay before Newcastle was dangerous, and that they could neither gain profit nor honour, they departed, and entered the bishoprick of Durham, burning and destroying as they marched. They came before the city of Durham, which they laid siege to, and made many attacks upon it, like men distracted in revenge for the loss of the earl of Moray; and they also knew that very great wealth was carried into it by all the inhabitants of the country who had fled thither. They, therefore, were every day more earnest in their attacks; and the king of Scotland ordered some engines to be made, that they might aproach to assault them nearer the walls. When the Scots had marched from before Newcastle, the governor, lord John Neville, mounted a fleet courser, passed by them, for he was as well acquainted with all the by-roads and passes as a native¹, and made such haste, that in five days he came to Chertsey, where the king of England then was, and related to him all that the Scots were doing. The king sent out immediately his messengers, ordering all knights, squires, and others, that were able to assist him, above the age of fifteen and under sixty years, without fail, upon hearing these orders, to set out directly towards the marches of the north, to succour and defend the kingdom against the Scots, who were destroying it. Upon this earls, barons, knights, and the commonalties from the provincial towns, made themselves ready, and hastened most cheerfully to obey the summons, and advance towards Berwick. The king himself set off directly, such was his impatience, without waiting for any one; and he was followed by his subjects, as fast as they could, from all parts. During this time, the king of Scotland made so many violent attacks with the engines he had constructed upon the city of Durham, that those who were within could not prevent it from being taken, pillaged, and burnt. All were put to death without mercy, and without distinction of persons or ranks, men, women, children, monks, canons, and priests; no one was spared, neither was there house or church left standing. It was a pity thus to destroy, in Christendom, the churches wherein God was served and honoured.²

Notes:

1: “Car il savoit bien les adresses et les refuges du pays, comme celui qui en estoit,” are the words used by Froissart, and they should probably be rendered “for he had a native's knowledge of the bye-roads and passes.” Sir John Nevill here spoken of was the eldest son and heir of Ralph lord de Nevill, and father of the first earl of Westmoreland, and the estates of the family lay in the north. — ED.

2: Lord Berners translates this passage rather more correctly, as Froissart did not mean to say that the burning of churches in a pagan country would not be equally a pity as in Christendom. “The city was won by force, and robbed and clene brent: and all maner of people put to deth without mercy, men, women, and chyldren, monkes, preestes, and chanons; so that ther abode alyue no maner of person, house nor church, but it was destroyed; the whiche was great pytte so to dystroy christenblode, and the churches of God wherin that God was honoured and serued.”

This passage is remarkable as an illustration of the superstitious feelings of these chivalric times. We have before had many accounts of burnings and massacres, nay even of the violation of nuns, but all were passed by as mere matters of course. “I am now reading Mr. Johnes's Froissart,” says Mrs. Barbauld in one of her elegant letters, “and I think I never was never more struck with the horrors of war, — simply because he seems not at all struck with them.” — It is only when the churches are included in the destruction that the compassion of the canon is excited. — ED.

The Chronicles of Sir John Froissart

Chapter LXXV

King David of Scotland takes and destroys the city of Durham