men, he subsequently entered the English service,[1] arrived in the Tay on August 24th, with twelve well-found Scots ships of Flanders build, and instantly fell upon the English vessels, which were not prepared for the attack. The enemy boarded and carried Lord Beaumont's barge, and slaughtered the whole of her crew; but the remaining English ships were all so well defended that, after a hot fight, the Scots were completely defeated, Crabbe himself escaping with great difficulty, and regaining Berwick overland. The Scots vessels and their prize were burnt by the victors.[2]
In April, 1333, John Perbroun was again appointed admiral, and Henry Randolph, of Great Yarmouth, was associated with him in command of a fleet, or of fleets, for the operations against Scotland.[3] The western fleet[4] was entrusted to Sir William Clinton.[5] Ships were raised in the ports in the usual manner, all vessels of fifty tons and upwards being arrested.[6]
The northern fleet, or part of it, co-operated in the siege of Berwick, where, on shore, Edward commanded in person. Little or nothing is known of the part which the English ships played; but some deeds of gallantry afloat by the Scots have been recorded. One William Seton, while bravely attacking the English ships, was drowned in sight of his father, who was on the walls of the town;[7] and Sir William Diket, arriving with supplies, boarded some English vessels, killed sixteen men in a barge belonging to Hull, and then entered the town.[8] But after Edward's victory at Halidon Hill, the place surrendered.
These events did not end the war, but they materially relieved England. In August, ships which had been under arrest in the English ports were permitted to sail upon their own business, so that the interference with commerce was diminished.[9] In 1334, however,
- ↑ Hemingford, ii. 273.
- ↑ Knighton, cols. 2560, 2561.
- ↑ Scots Rolls, i. 226;
- ↑ Ib., i. 254.
- ↑ Sir William Clinton, first Earl of Huntingdon, was a younger son of John, Lord Clinton, and in 1330 was made Governor of Dover Castle and Warden of the Cinque Ports, and was summoned to Parliament as a baron. After his service as admiral, in 1333, he was present at the battle of Halidon Hill. In 1337, he was created Earl of Huntingdon. He was a private captain, as would be now said, at the battle of Sluis, and, after further service as admiral, in 1341, died in 1354.
- ↑ Scots Rolls, i. 24.
- ↑ Fordun, ii. 310.
- ↑ Chron. in Harl. MS. 4690, printed by Ritson.
- ↑ Scots Rolls, i. 258, 259.
