Battle of Neville’s Cross

English victory over the Scots on 17 October 1346 at Neville’s Cross, about 1 km west of Durham. In the manuscripts of Froissart’s text the battle is sometimes referred to as ‘battle of Newcastle’, while some modern historians prefer the name ‘battle of Durham’. The battle resulted in the capture of the Scottish king, David II, and the death or capture of a significant number of Scotland’s feudal leaders. Froissart’s account of the battle is on the whole quite unreliable, despite his statement in the ‘Rome’ version of Book I that during his 1365 journey to Scotland he met several Scots who fought in the battle, including King David II himself, in whose household he travelled for 15 weeks and whom he claimed to have often heard talking about the battle to his household knights. The problem with Froissart’s account of the battle is that it was originally based on the Chronicle of Jean le Bel, whose version of events seems to have been largely made up. Le Bel was a participant in King Edward III’s earlier 1327 campaign against the Scots and he clearly felt that his first-hand knowledge of Scottish and English affairs allowed him to fill in the gaps in his factual knowledge about the battle of Neville’s Cross using his imagination. Le Bel’s version is certainly a good read, but several important aspects of the battle are misrepresented. Le Bel mistakenly states that Queen Philippa of Hainault was in charge of the defence of England against the threat of the Scots in October 1346, while in fact she was in Flanders on the day the battle took place. Like his source, Froissart claims that Philippa was in Newcastle, where she awaited news of the battle, although precise details about the queen’s movements and actions differ between the various versions of Book I. Both Le Bel and Froissart (in the ‘Amiens’ and ‘A-B-C’ versions of his Book I, the latter three of which are here identical) state that the queen conferred command of the army on the battlefield to four bishops and four noblemen. The bishops would have been the archbishop of York, the archbishop of Canterbury, the bishop of Durham and the bishop of Lincoln. In reality only the archbishop of York and the bishop of Durham fought at Neville’s Cross. The four barons mentioned by Le Bel as leaders of the army are Edward Balliol, claimant to the Scottish throne, Lord Mowbray, Ralph Neville and Henry Percy. While all four did take part in the battle, it was really Percy and Neville who were in charge of organising the defence of the realm, together with the archbishop of York and the bishop of Durham, and with Thomas Rokeby, who is mentioned by neither Le Bel nor Froissart. Like his source Froissart also states that there were four barons in command of the army, but of the four mentioned by Le Bel, he replaces Balliol by the Lord Lucy in the ‘Amiens’ version of Book I and by Baron Ros in the ‘A-B-C’ versions. According to Froissart’s ‘Rome’ version it was the earl of Huntingdon and Mowbray who were in command, respectively as constable and marshal of the army. Le Bel and Froissart are equally inaccurate in the information they give about the Scottish combatants. They both fail to mention the presence of Robert Stuart, who together with Patrick, earl of Mar, was in charge of the third Scottish division (probably the rearguard). Neither chronicler mentions the fact that both men fled the battefield when it became clear that the Scots were losing the battle. Froissart wrongly claims that earl Patrick was killed in the battle, mentioning him in fact twice, first as earl Patrick amongst those killed and then again as the earl of Mar amongst those taken prisonner. Another Scottish leader missing from both Le Bel’s and Froissart’s accounts is John Graham, earl of Menteith, who was taken prisonner and later moved to the Tower of London, where he was convicted of treason and executed on King Edward III’s orders. Also taken prisonner at the battle was the earl of Fife, who is absent from Le Bel’s account but whom Froissart mentions as having been killed. In both Le Bel’s and Froissart’s narratives it is instead the earl of Moray who is captured, while in reality the earl was killed. Le Bel further mentions several Scottish leaders as present at the battle, who actually did not take part. These include an unnamed earl of Orkney and an unnamed earl of Buchan. The latter was killed in the battle according to Le Bel and Froissart. However, in 1346 the title of earl of Buchan was vacant. As regards the earl of Orkney, it is possible that Le Bel was referring to the earl of Sutherland. Sutherland was indeed at the battle and Froissart mentions him, but incorrectly lists him amongst those killed (Sutherland was taken prisonner). Le Bel also mentions the earl of Ross at the battle, but Froissart does not. It is known that the earl appeared at the royal muster in late September but there he murdered a rival and then fled. Both Le Bel and Froissart furthermore mention the presence of two much less important characters, Simon Fraser and Robert Erskine. They do not appear in English or Scottish sources about the battle, although it is possible that they took part (Erskine was to become a major figure in Scottish politics after 1357, when King David returned from captivity, and he would have been important by the time Froissart met him in 1365, a meeting the chronicler refers to in the ‘Rome’ version of Book I). In the ‘A-B-C’ versions of Book I Froissart also mistakenly mentions the presence of two further Scottish noblemen: John MacDonald, lord of the Isles, and Archibald Douglas. The former did not take part in the 1346 campaign and the latter had already died in 1333 and therefore could not have been present at Neville’s Cross. Finally, both Froissart’s and Le Bel’s accounts are imprecise or incorrect regarding the date when the battle took place. Le Bel dates the battle vaguely but correctly as ‘on a Tuesday, [sometime] after Michaelmas (=29 September) 1346’. In the ‘Amiens’ version of Froissart’s Chronicles, the date is wrongly given as ‘Tuesday, the day after Michaelmas 1346’ (this would be 30 September 1346, but Michaelmas fell on a Friday in 1346, so the following day would have been a Saturday). In the ‘A-B-C’ versions of Book I Froissart changed this to ‘the Tuesday after Michaelmas’ (3 October); finally in the ‘Rome’ version of Book I he only mentioned the year 1346.

The archbishops of York and Canterbury and the bishops of Durham and Lincoln

This refers to William Zouche, archbishop of York, John Stratford, archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Hatfield, bishop of Durham, and Thomas Bek, bishop of Lincoln.

Lord Percy, baron Ros, Lord Neville and Lord Mowbray

This refers to Henry Percy, second Lord Percy, Baron William Ros, Ralph Neville, fourth Lord Neville, and John (II) Mowbray, third Lord Mowbray.

Philippa of Hainault, queen of England (d. 1369)

She was born as the daughter of count William I (III) of Hainault and Holland and countess Jeanne, either in 1310 or in 1315. Froissart’ statement in the ‘Rome’ redaction of Book I (SHF § 39) that she was thirteen years old when she married on 25 January 1328 supports the later of these two dates. Jean le Bel and Froissart state that negotiations for her marriage to king Edward III of England started in 1327, after the Scottish campaign of that year. In reality, there had already been plans for a wedding between the young Edward and a daughter of count William, possibly Philippa, from as early as 1319, and there were negotiations for a marriage between Edward and Philippa’ eldest sister, Margaret in 1320 and 1321. Edward and Philippa first met in 1325 in Paris and were engaged in August 1326, while Queen Isabella and her son Edward were staying in Hainault. On 27 August 1326 Edward signed a promise that he would marry Philippa within two years; Queen Isabella and her supporters, Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent and Roger Mortimer, stood sureties. Papal dispensation for the marriage was first refused but then granted on 30 August 1327. Philippa married Edward by procuration in Valenciennes, after which she travelled to England, where she married her husband on 24 January 1328 in York. She was crowned queen of England on 25 February 1330. She died shortly before 14 August 1369.

King David II of Scotland (d. 1371)

King David II of Scotland (d. 1371)

John de Coupland

Sir John de Coupland, sheriff of Northumberland. He took king David II of Scotland prisoner after the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, and was granted knighthood by Edward III for this feat.

Philippa of Hainault, queen of England (d. 1369)

She was born as the daughter of count William I (III) of Hainault and Holland and countess Jeanne, either in 1310 or in 1315. Froissart’ statement in the ‘Rome’ redaction of Book I (SHF § 39) that she was thirteen years old when she married on 25 January 1328 supports the later of these two dates. Jean le Bel and Froissart state that negotiations for her marriage to king Edward III of England started in 1327, after the Scottish campaign of that year. In reality, there had already been plans for a wedding between the young Edward and a daughter of count William, possibly Philippa, from as early as 1319, and there were negotiations for a marriage between Edward and Philippa’ eldest sister, Margaret in 1320 and 1321. Edward and Philippa first met in 1325 in Paris and were engaged in August 1326, while Queen Isabella and her son Edward were staying in Hainault. On 27 August 1326 Edward signed a promise that he would marry Philippa within two years; Queen Isabella and her supporters, Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent and Roger Mortimer, stood sureties. Papal dispensation for the marriage was first refused but then granted on 30 August 1327. Philippa married Edward by procuration in Valenciennes, after which she travelled to England, where she married her husband on 24 January 1328 in York. She was crowned queen of England on 25 February 1330. She died shortly before 14 August 1369.

John de Coupland

Sir John de Coupland, sheriff of Northumberland. He took king David II of Scotland prisoner after the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, and was granted knighthood by Edward III for this feat.

King David II of Scotland (d. 1371)

Philippa of Hainault, queen of England (d. 1369)

She was born as the daughter of count William I (III) of Hainault and Holland and countess Jeanne, either in 1310 or in 1315. Froissart’ statement in the ‘Rome’ redaction of Book I (SHF § 39) that she was thirteen years old when she married on 25 January 1328 supports the later of these two dates. Jean le Bel and Froissart state that negotiations for her marriage to king Edward III of England started in 1327, after the Scottish campaign of that year. In reality, there had already been plans for a wedding between the young Edward and a daughter of count William, possibly Philippa, from as early as 1319, and there were negotiations for a marriage between Edward and Philippa’ eldest sister, Margaret in 1320 and 1321. Edward and Philippa first met in 1325 in Paris and were engaged in August 1326, while Queen Isabella and her son Edward were staying in Hainault. On 27 August 1326 Edward signed a promise that he would marry Philippa within two years; Queen Isabella and her supporters, Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent and Roger Mortimer, stood sureties. Papal dispensation for the marriage was first refused but then granted on 30 August 1327. Philippa married Edward by procuration in Valenciennes, after which she travelled to England, where she married her husband on 24 January 1328 in York. She was crowned queen of England on 25 February 1330. She died shortly before 14 August 1369.

English

The people of England; subjects of the English crown; English troops or populations, etc.

Philippa of Hainault, queen of England (d. 1369)

She was born as the daughter of count William I (III) of Hainault and Holland and countess Jeanne, either in 1310 or in 1315. Froissart’ statement in the ‘Rome’ redaction of Book I (SHF § 39) that she was thirteen years old when she married on 25 January 1328 supports the later of these two dates. Jean le Bel and Froissart state that negotiations for her marriage to king Edward III of England started in 1327, after the Scottish campaign of that year. In reality, there had already been plans for a wedding between the young Edward and a daughter of count William, possibly Philippa, from as early as 1319, and there were negotiations for a marriage between Edward and Philippa’ eldest sister, Margaret in 1320 and 1321. Edward and Philippa first met in 1325 in Paris and were engaged in August 1326, while Queen Isabella and her son Edward were staying in Hainault. On 27 August 1326 Edward signed a promise that he would marry Philippa within two years; Queen Isabella and her supporters, Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent and Roger Mortimer, stood sureties. Papal dispensation for the marriage was first refused but then granted on 30 August 1327. Philippa married Edward by procuration in Valenciennes, after which she travelled to England, where she married her husband on 24 January 1328 in York. She was crowned queen of England on 25 February 1330. She died shortly before 14 August 1369.

John Randolph, third earl of Moray (d. 1346)

Patrick Dunbar, earl of March (d. 1369)

Philippa of Hainault, queen of England (d. 1369)

She was born as the daughter of count William I (III) of Hainault and Holland and countess Jeanne, either in 1310 or in 1315. Froissart’ statement in the ‘Rome’ redaction of Book I (SHF § 39) that she was thirteen years old when she married on 25 January 1328 supports the later of these two dates. Jean le Bel and Froissart state that negotiations for her marriage to king Edward III of England started in 1327, after the Scottish campaign of that year. In reality, there had already been plans for a wedding between the young Edward and a daughter of count William, possibly Philippa, from as early as 1319, and there were negotiations for a marriage between Edward and Philippa’ eldest sister, Margaret in 1320 and 1321. Edward and Philippa first met in 1325 in Paris and were engaged in August 1326, while Queen Isabella and her son Edward were staying in Hainault. On 27 August 1326 Edward signed a promise that he would marry Philippa within two years; Queen Isabella and her supporters, Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent and Roger Mortimer, stood sureties. Papal dispensation for the marriage was first refused but then granted on 30 August 1327. Philippa married Edward by procuration in Valenciennes, after which she travelled to England, where she married her husband on 24 January 1328 in York. She was crowned queen of England on 25 February 1330. She died shortly before 14 August 1369.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Tyne and Wear), England.

John de Coupland

Sir John de Coupland, sheriff of Northumberland. He took king David II of Scotland prisoner after the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, and was granted knighthood by Edward III for this feat.

Philippa of Hainault, queen of England (d. 1369)

She was born as the daughter of count William I (III) of Hainault and Holland and countess Jeanne, either in 1310 or in 1315. Froissart’ statement in the ‘Rome’ redaction of Book I (SHF § 39) that she was thirteen years old when she married on 25 January 1328 supports the later of these two dates. Jean le Bel and Froissart state that negotiations for her marriage to king Edward III of England started in 1327, after the Scottish campaign of that year. In reality, there had already been plans for a wedding between the young Edward and a daughter of count William, possibly Philippa, from as early as 1319, and there were negotiations for a marriage between Edward and Philippa’ eldest sister, Margaret in 1320 and 1321. Edward and Philippa first met in 1325 in Paris and were engaged in August 1326, while Queen Isabella and her son Edward were staying in Hainault. On 27 August 1326 Edward signed a promise that he would marry Philippa within two years; Queen Isabella and her supporters, Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent and Roger Mortimer, stood sureties. Papal dispensation for the marriage was first refused but then granted on 30 August 1327. Philippa married Edward by procuration in Valenciennes, after which she travelled to England, where she married her husband on 24 January 1328 in York. She was crowned queen of England on 25 February 1330. She died shortly before 14 August 1369.

King David II of Scotland (d. 1371)

King Edward III of England (d. 1377)

Edward III (1312 - 1377), king of England; son of king Edward II of England and Isabella of France.

Philippa of Hainault, queen of England (d. 1369)

She was born as the daughter of count William I (III) of Hainault and Holland and countess Jeanne, either in 1310 or in 1315. Froissart’ statement in the ‘Rome’ redaction of Book I (SHF § 39) that she was thirteen years old when she married on 25 January 1328 supports the later of these two dates. Jean le Bel and Froissart state that negotiations for her marriage to king Edward III of England started in 1327, after the Scottish campaign of that year. In reality, there had already been plans for a wedding between the young Edward and a daughter of count William, possibly Philippa, from as early as 1319, and there were negotiations for a marriage between Edward and Philippa’ eldest sister, Margaret in 1320 and 1321. Edward and Philippa first met in 1325 in Paris and were engaged in August 1326, while Queen Isabella and her son Edward were staying in Hainault. On 27 August 1326 Edward signed a promise that he would marry Philippa within two years; Queen Isabella and her supporters, Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent and Roger Mortimer, stood sureties. Papal dispensation for the marriage was first refused but then granted on 30 August 1327. Philippa married Edward by procuration in Valenciennes, after which she travelled to England, where she married her husband on 24 January 1328 in York. She was crowned queen of England on 25 February 1330. She died shortly before 14 August 1369.

John de Coupland

Sir John de Coupland, sheriff of Northumberland. He took king David II of Scotland prisoner after the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, and was granted knighthood by Edward III for this feat.

King Edward III of England (d. 1377)

Edward III (1312 - 1377), king of England; son of king Edward II of England and Isabella of France.

Calais

King Edward III of England (d. 1377)

Edward III (1312 - 1377), king of England; son of king Edward II of England and Isabella of France.

England

Island kingdom bounded to the west by the Marcher lordships and the (still contested) principality of Wales conquered by Edward I; English lordships included parts of modern south Wales (from southern Pembrokeshire through Swansea, Cardiff and on towards Gloucester in England); bounded to the north by the kingdom of Scotland, to the east by the North Sea and to the south by the Channel; included Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to the south-west. Population up to the Black Death of 1348-9 approximately 4 million souls.

King David II of Scotland (d. 1371)

King Edward III of England (d. 1377)

Edward III (1312 - 1377), king of England; son of king Edward II of England and Isabella of France.

John de Coupland

Sir John de Coupland, sheriff of Northumberland. He took king David II of Scotland prisoner after the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, and was granted knighthood by Edward III for this feat.

Calais

John de Coupland

Sir John de Coupland, sheriff of Northumberland. He took king David II of Scotland prisoner after the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, and was granted knighthood by Edward III for this feat.

King Edward III of England (d. 1377)

Edward III (1312 - 1377), king of England; son of king Edward II of England and Isabella of France.

King David II of Scotland (d. 1371)

John Copeland’s House

England

Island kingdom bounded to the west by the Marcher lordships and the (still contested) principality of Wales conquered by Edward I; English lordships included parts of modern south Wales (from southern Pembrokeshire through Swansea, Cardiff and on towards Gloucester in England); bounded to the north by the kingdom of Scotland, to the east by the North Sea and to the south by the Channel; included Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to the south-west. Population up to the Black Death of 1348-9 approximately 4 million souls.

Dover

Dover (Kent), England.

Calais

King Edward III of England (d. 1377)

Edward III (1312 - 1377), king of England; son of king Edward II of England and Isabella of France.

King Edward III of England (d. 1377)

Edward III (1312 - 1377), king of England; son of king Edward II of England and Isabella of France.

John de Coupland

Sir John de Coupland, sheriff of Northumberland. He took king David II of Scotland prisoner after the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, and was granted knighthood by Edward III for this feat.

John de Coupland

Sir John de Coupland, sheriff of Northumberland. He took king David II of Scotland prisoner after the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, and was granted knighthood by Edward III for this feat.

John de Coupland

Sir John de Coupland, sheriff of Northumberland. He took king David II of Scotland prisoner after the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, and was granted knighthood by Edward III for this feat.

King David II of Scotland (d. 1371)

King Edward III of England (d. 1377)

Edward III (1312 - 1377), king of England; son of king Edward II of England and Isabella of France.

John de Coupland

Sir John de Coupland, sheriff of Northumberland. He took king David II of Scotland prisoner after the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346, and was granted knighthood by Edward III for this feat.

King David II of Scotland (d. 1371)

King David II of Scotland (d. 1371)

King Edward III of England (d. 1377)

Edward III (1312 - 1377), king of England; son of king Edward II of England and Isabella of France.

Philippa of Hainault, queen of England (d. 1369)

She was born as the daughter of count William I (III) of Hainault and Holland and countess Jeanne, either in 1310 or in 1315. Froissart’ statement in the ‘Rome’ redaction of Book I (SHF § 39) that she was thirteen years old when she married on 25 January 1328 supports the later of these two dates. Jean le Bel and Froissart state that negotiations for her marriage to king Edward III of England started in 1327, after the Scottish campaign of that year. In reality, there had already been plans for a wedding between the young Edward and a daughter of count William, possibly Philippa, from as early as 1319, and there were negotiations for a marriage between Edward and Philippa’ eldest sister, Margaret in 1320 and 1321. Edward and Philippa first met in 1325 in Paris and were engaged in August 1326, while Queen Isabella and her son Edward were staying in Hainault. On 27 August 1326 Edward signed a promise that he would marry Philippa within two years; Queen Isabella and her supporters, Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent and Roger Mortimer, stood sureties. Papal dispensation for the marriage was first refused but then granted on 30 August 1327. Philippa married Edward by procuration in Valenciennes, after which she travelled to England, where she married her husband on 24 January 1328 in York. She was crowned queen of England on 25 February 1330. She died shortly before 14 August 1369.

Manuscript reading: rois d’Escoce

Emended reading: roine dou rois d’Escoce

Manuscript reading: vaillanment

Emended reading: vaillanment avoient