In the meane time, Robert le Bruce went abroad in the countries of Scotland, receiued the homages of manie Scotishmen, and got togither an armie of men, with the which he approched néere to saint Iohns towne, into the which the earle of Penbroke was a little before entred to defend it, with thrée hundred men of armes, beside footmen. Then R. Bruce sent to the earle to come out and giue battell, the earle sent vnto him word againe, that he would not fight that daie being sundaie, but vpon the next morow he would satisfie his request. Robert Bruce herevpon withdrew a mile backe from the towne, determining to rest himselfe and his people that night. About euening tide came the earle foorth of the towne with his people in order of battell, and assailing his enimies vpon a sudden, slue diuerse yer they could get their armour on their backs. Robert Bruce and others that had some space to arme themselues made some resistance for a while, but at length the Englishmen put them to the worsse, so that they were constreined to flée.
Rob. Bruce fled into Kentire.
His wife and brother are taken.
The earle of Atholl taken.
Fabian.
Nic. Triuet.
Matth. West.
The earle following the chase, pursued them euen into Kentire, not resting till he vnderstood that a great number of them were gotten into a castell, which he besieged, in hope to haue found Robert Bruce within it, but he was fled further into the countrie. Howbeit, his wife and his brother Nigell or Neall, with diuerse other were taken in this castell, and sent in safetie vnto Berwike. Also shortlie after, the earle of Atholl was taken, being fled out of the same castell. ¶ But some write, that this earle was taken in the battell last remembred, after long fight and great slaughter of Scots, to the number of seuen thousand, and also that in the chase, the lord Simon de Friseill was taken, with the bishops of saint Andrews and Glasco, the abbat of Scone, and the said earle of Atholl, named sir Iohn Chambres. The bishops and abbat, king Edward sent vnto pope Innocent, with report of their periurie: but others write, that the foresaid bishops and abbat being taken indéed the same yeare, were brought into England, and there kept as prisoners within sundrie castels.
Bruces wife whose daughter she was.
The saieng of Robert Bruces wife.