A.D. 1296. EDTfAED HAZES WAB WO N SCOTLAND. 517 the Scots faithful to him. But as the Scots refused to do this, the king, being now more certain of their treachery, marched with his army towards Scotland, and determined to subdue it by force, unless they desisted from the attempts which had been reported to him, and unless they could legitimately excuse themselves with reference to these designs, which were proved to be in progress. CH . XXIV.—FBOM A.D . 1296 το A .D . 1299. Edward makes war upon Scotland—Imprisons John Balliol— The count of Flanders is imprisoned by the king of France— KingEdward lands in Flanders—Returns to England, and again invades Scotland—Battle of Falkirk—Marries Margaret of France—The pope makes war upon the king of Sicily—Edward releases Balliol, at the intercession of the pope. The Scot prepares for trait?rous war, Grieving from powW to be so far. A.D . 1296. On the thirteenth of March, the town and castle of Berwick having been taken by the magnificent king Edward, the English slew all the men they found there with the sword ; except a few, who afterwards renounced that town. And the number of Scots of both sexes who were slam there, is said to have amounted to sixty thousand. On the sixth of April, John, king of Scotland, did due homage, by written form, to the king of England, for himself and for all the Scots who held any land whatever in England. While the king of England was staying at Berwick for the fortification of the ditches and walls of the aforesaid town, the Scots, namely, the lords the earls of Bos, of Menteith, and of Ailsa, and the lord Richard Siward, and William de Saint Clare, and John Comyn, son of the John Comyn who was slain, and William de Moncrief, and Radulph, his brother, all barons ; and many other knights, entered into England, and burnt the towns of Correbrigge and Helsham, slaying men, women, and children, without any regard to sex, age, or rank. Then returning into Scotland with the lord Robert de Ketingham, whom the king of France had invested that year with a knight's belt, they laid vigorous siege to the castle of Patrick, earl of Dunbar, the firm friend of the king of England, and who was at that time with him. But the garrison of the said Castle, though they perfidiously feigned to implore assistance