The king replied, f Be affured, I myfelf will do juftice, and punifh the crime more severely than the barons would venture to do ; and never for any brother will I act otherwife.' 4 • • • The earl of Stafford and his relations anfwered, C-Sir, fou have well fpoken, and we thank you/ Thus were the relations of lord Ralph Stafford appeafed. He performed the expedition to Scot-land, as I fhall relate to you ; and, during that whole time; the earl of Stafford feemed to have forgotten the death of his fon, in which conduct all the barons thought he fhewed great wifdom- CHAP. XIV. THE KING OF ENGLAND DESTROYS THE ABBEY OF MELROSE IN SCOTLAND.—THE BARONS OF FRANCE AND SCOTLAND INVADE CUM-BERLAND. THE army of the king of England, which coefifted of feven thoufand men at arms and fixty thoufand archers, kept advancing: none had remained behind, for k had been confidently re-ported through England that fir John de Vienne would give them battle. Indeed, fuch were his intentions, and he had in a manner told this to the barons of Scotland, when he faid,^—* My lords, make your army as confiderable as you can; for, if the Englifh come as far as Scotland, I will offer them combat.' The Scots replied, 'God af-fifl us V but they afterwards changed their mind. The 64