of all their efforts, fo that very few arrived at Newcaftle. On which account the army of the king of England, which cohfifted of fix thoufand cavalry and forty thoufand infantry, were in very great diftrefs, and provifions exceedingly fcarce. They could not advance farther, as the winter was fet in, and no forage or provifions to be had; for the Scots had fecured all the cattle and corn in their fortreffes. The Scottifli lords, who, after the conqueft of Stirling, had retired to the foreft of Jedworth, underftanding that the king of England was come to Newcaftle with a large force, to burn and deftroy their country, collefted together, to confider of the beft means to defend themfelves. They were not very numerous, and had carried on the war, night and day, for more than feven years, without a leader, very much to their own difcomfort : and, feeing there was not any expectation of receiving fuccour from their own king, they determined to fend to the king of England a biihop and an abbot, to folicit a truce. Thefe ambaffadors fet out, and came to Newcaftle-upon-Tyne, where they found the king furrounded by his barons ; to whom, having come with a fafe conduâ:, they explained fo handfomely their million, that a truce was granted them for four months, upon condition that the Scots fhould fend meffengers to king David ir\ France, and fignify to him, that if, in the month of May following, he did not return to his own country, with powers fuificient to 7 defend