76 The Scalacronica. 



on the Marches by William de Pressen, and the Earl of Ulster 

 was murdered in Ireland by his own men. The King of England 

 dislodged from the city of St. John and went to Edynburgh, 

 where he fortified the Castle. Thither came for peace Robert 

 the Steward of Scotland, who was the son of Robert de Bruys's 

 daughter, and the head of all the Commons. The King placed 

 a large garrison there and then returned to England. In the fol- 

 lowing winter the Earl of Athelis was slain. He was sent to be 

 Guardian of Scotland beyond the sea on behalf of the King. 

 He fought with Andrew de Murref and the Earl of March, 

 William de Douglas, and other men connected with the party of 

 David de Bruys. Thomas Rossehii was also killed in another 

 skirmish the same season, as he was arriving from the sea near 

 Dunsore ; but his men gained the victory. In the next summer 

 the King of England, who had sent to the city of St. John in aid 

 of Edward de Balliol some of the chief men of his realm with his 

 brother John, Earl of Cornwall, who died there a natural death, 

 had heard that the Scots had assembled to fight with his men 

 near the city of St. John. He, therefore, came speedily to the 

 March of Scotland with hardly more than 50 men-at-arms, and 

 took some of the men of the Marches who had been sent home 

 to guard the country. He determined to go at once to the city 

 of St. John, though he had no more than five-score men-at-arms. 

 He arrived so quickly at the said city that all marvelled at his 

 coming, and that he had dared to act in that manner. Thence 

 he rode beyond the mountains and rescued the Countess of 

 Athelis, who was besieged in Loghindorm. Here for a time 

 there was great lack of victuals in his army. But he was soon 

 relieved by the foraging of Robert de Ogle and other marchers. 

 He then repaired to Strivelyn, and after fortifying the Castle he 

 marched to Botheville. He spent the winter in fortifying the 

 Castle there, and placed a good garrison in it. The Lord of 

 Berkeley escorted a convoy from Edinburgh to Botheville, and 

 one night defeated William de Douglas, who lay in wait for him. 

 The King soon lost all the Castles and towns in Scotland which 

 he had fortified from want of good management in the pursuit of 

 his conquests. He returned to his Parliament in London. Soon 

 after Andrew de Murref, the Guardian of Scotland on behalf of 

 King David, who died soon after, worked great destruction in the 

 county of Cardoille (Carlisle). Thence he went to besiege the 



