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You can read this book here in pdf - Electric Scotland

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FROM ENGLISH CHRONICLERS 377<br />

1259<br />

MATTHEW PARIS, CHRONICA MAJORA, VOL. V, PP. 739-740,<br />

S.A. 1259. 1<br />

How master William de Horton conducted k<strong>in</strong>g [Henry's]<br />

affairs <strong>in</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong>.<br />

And <strong>in</strong> the same year about the Kalends of March 2 master<br />

William de Horton, monk and treasurer of the church of St.<br />

Albans, returned from the remotest parts of <strong>Scotland</strong>. He<br />

had long before undertaken the laborious journey thither,<br />

<strong>in</strong> the same year about the festival of St. Cather<strong>in</strong>e, 3<br />

by<br />

command of the lord k<strong>in</strong>g and by provision of his counsellors,<br />

moreover also by the benevolence of his abbot. For difficult<br />

but secret affairs had been <strong>in</strong>trusted to him on behalf of the<br />

k<strong>in</strong>g and queen and magnates of England, to announce to<br />

the k<strong>in</strong>g and queen and magnates of <strong>Scotland</strong>.<br />

And when he came thither he found, as he wished, the<br />

k<strong>in</strong>g and queen and magnates of the realm t<strong>here</strong> assembled<br />

for parliament. And expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the cause of his journey<br />

he asked submissively, show<strong>in</strong>g letters of credence and favour,<br />

on behalf of the lord k<strong>in</strong>g of the English and the queen and<br />

the barons, that the lord k<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>Scotland</strong> and the queen<br />

should not omit to come <strong>in</strong>to England to listen and discuss<br />

concern<strong>in</strong>g these th<strong>in</strong>gs which they urged emphatically were<br />

a difficult and private matter.<br />

And after [the Scots] had put <strong>in</strong> the way much opposition<br />

and obstruction of difficulties he at last, after various disputes,<br />

by persist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> diligent petition persuaded them prudently<br />

to <strong>this</strong>, so that he obta<strong>in</strong>ed their consent accord<strong>in</strong>g to his desire.<br />

For they wrote for him their letters patent, sealed <strong>in</strong> common<br />

both with the k<strong>in</strong>g's seal and with that of all the magnates<br />

of <strong>Scotland</strong>, to the k<strong>in</strong>g of England and the whole community,<br />

and gladly agreed to do their will, provided only that the<br />

k<strong>in</strong>g of England and his magnates would assure them of the<br />

document which had before been faithfully promised to them.<br />

And they wrote moreover to the lord k<strong>in</strong>g of England, and<br />

to the queen and the nobles of the land, their letters of high<br />

commendation of the said William's prudent and unwearied<br />

diligence <strong>in</strong> the matter laid upon him ; and, immediately<br />

after his return, sent to England their messengers of state,<br />

to wit the earl of Buchan, 4 master William the chancellor 5<br />

1 Cf. Fl. His., ii, 422. 2 1st March.<br />

3 25th November, 1258.<br />

4 Alexander Cum<strong>in</strong>. ,<br />

5 William Wishart, afterwards bishop of St. Andrews.

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