SCOTLAND. 



585 



HiMory. f ( ,r the crown ; but, of these, ten renounced their pre- 

 v *"V~'-' . Tl),. competition w;i^ t lien-Ion- liinitiil to 



Baliol, Bruce, .-ml Hastings. Ruliol was sprung from 

 the eldest l>r.inel) ; Ilrticc was one degree nearer the 

 common stock ; Hastings alleged that the kingdom of 

 Sertland, like many other inheritance*, was divisible, 

 and that he had a title to a third. B.iliol ami Hruce 

 united against Hastings in maintaining that the king- 

 dom was indivisible. 



t )n the news of the queen's death, Bruce appeared at 

 Perth with a formidable retinue. Biliol resided in 

 England at this critical period, and Mdward was cho- 

 sen umpire. One hundred and four commissioners 

 were named, whom he commanded to examine the 

 cause deliberately, and make their report ; promising 

 that, by the ensuing spring, he would make known his 

 determination. 



Kd ward's conduct, however, became suddenly very 

 suspicious. He required that all the fortresses in Scot- 

 land should be delivered into his hands ; that he might 

 present the kingdom to the claimant whose right 

 should be recognised. This exorbitant demand was 

 granted. The earl of Angus alone refused to surren- 

 der the castles in his custody, without a formal and 

 particular acquittal from parliament, which he ob- 

 tained. 



A. D. 1291. An universal homage was now required ; and, re- 

 solved to regulate the succession to the crown of Scot- 

 land, and ultimately to revive his own claim of feudal 

 sovereignty, Edward desired the nobility and clergy 

 of Scotland to meet him at Xorham. The justiciary 

 of England required, their recognition of his title as 

 lord paramount. The assembly stood motionless and 

 silent. At length, some one had the courage to reply, 

 *' No answer can be made while the throne is vacant." 

 "By holy Edward, whose crown it is that I wear," 

 cried the king, " I will vindicate my just rights, or 

 perish in the attempt." 



At the adjourned conference, Bruce and Baliol, with 

 the other expectants of royalty, assented to the claim 

 of Edward as lord paramount of Scotland, and bound 

 themselves to submit to his award. The competition 

 was decided at Berwick, and Edward decreed that 

 Baliol should have^seisin of the kingdom of Scotland. 

 A.D. 1292. Baliol swore fealty to Edward in November; in ten 

 Baliol Kir.g days after, was crowned at Scone, and did homage for 

 of Scotland. tne kingdom of Scotland at Newcastle. But the lord 

 paramount soon threw off the mask, and commanded 

 that all appeals should be made to England. He even 

 required king John himself, by six different summonses 

 on trivial occasions to appear in London, but the Scot- 

 A.D. 129i. tish parliament advised him to dismiss his English at- 

 tendants, and with their approbation, he concluded a 

 treaty with Philip of France ; while, to strengthen the 

 alliance, Baiiol's son married the daughter of the Count 

 of Anjou, and the niece of Philip. 



A.D. 12%. I" consequence of this treaty, the Scots invatled 

 Cumberland, and assaulted Carlisle, but were repulsed. 

 Meanwhile Edward hastened to chastise his rebellious 

 vassals. An army of 40,000 foot, and 500 horse, 

 inarched to the borders to defend the provinces that 

 Edward was prepaiing to attack. 



The Scots had the precaution to throw a strong gar- 

 rison into Berwick, Edward assaulted it by sea and 

 land. His fleet was burnt or disabled ; but his army 

 took and sacked the town, and put the garrison to the 

 sword. Baliol had, by the advice of his parliament, 

 renounced the allegiance and fealty which he had 

 sworn to Edward. This renunciation was communi- 



VOL. XVII. PART II. 



. IX Iff*. 



cated to I'd ward after the capture of Berwick. II* II 

 received the instrument with contempt rather than 

 with anger, and dispatched Karl Warenne to recover 

 the caetle of Dunbar, which had been betrayed to the 

 Scots. On the third day, the whole forces of Scotland 

 appeared in order of battle, but they were broken and 

 dispersed, and 20,000 were slain or captured. 



The castles of Roxburgh, Edinburgh, and Stirling, 

 were successively surrendered to the 1 The 



unfortunate Baliol implored mercy. Divested of his 

 royal ornaments, and bearing a white rod iti his hand, 

 lie pei funned a humiliating feudal penance, acknow- 

 ledged the justice of the English invasion and con- 

 quest, and resigned Scotland to his liege lord. 



After the abdication of Baliol, Edward proceeded to 

 ;i, and returned home, carrying with him the 

 te fatal stone" which was conveyed to Westminster. 

 The great seal of Baliol was broken, and he was com* 

 mitted to the Tower ; but, in two years after, he was 

 restored to liberty and retired to France, where he 

 died. 



The first acts of Edward's administration were mo- 

 derate and politic. He held a parliament at Berwick, 

 and received the formal submission of the clergy and 

 laity of Scotland. Few of those who had held offices 

 under Baliol were displaced; and he suffered the nume- 

 rous jurisdictions throughout Scotland to remain with 

 their ancient possessors. To conciliate the favour of 

 the Scottish bishops, he granted them for ever the pri- 

 vilege of bequeathing their effects by will. The go- 

 vernment of the southern districts and castles was 

 committed to tire fidelity and vigilance of Englishmen. 

 But the internal police of the country became disor- 

 ganized, contempt of government prevailed, while 

 Edward, engrossed with other objects of ambition, 

 neglected that which the exigency of affairs required. 



At this crisis arose Sir William Wallace. He had 

 been outlawed, and having fled, offered himself as a fSirWil- 

 leader to a few companions whose desperate fortune, or li*m Wai- 

 hatred of the English government, had reduced them '< 

 to a similar necessity. With a resolute band, he in- A p 1297- 

 fested the English quarters. His success in these pre- 

 datory expeditions attracted multitudes to be hi* com- 

 panions in arms ; of this number was Sir William 

 Douglas. With their united forces, they attempted to 

 surprise the English justiciary at Scone. The viceroy 

 fled to England, and was followed by all the officers of 

 state. Imboldened by their success, the Scots assailed 

 the castles, surprised and put to the sword the English 

 who came within their power. Many persons of rank 

 openly declared for their cause. Robert Bruce the 

 younger, after some hesitation, joined the Scottish 

 army. 



Warenne dispatched a chosen body of troops against 

 the enemy, enfeebled by dissensions; the more prudent 

 snved themselves by humble submission to Edward. 

 Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell was the only baron 

 who adhered to Wallace, and they retired towards the 

 north. The English meantime advanced towards Stir- 

 ling. Wallace hastened to guard the passage of the 

 Forth, and encamped near Cambuskenneth. The 

 English general ordered his troops to cross the Forth 

 by a wooden bridge, but scarcely had a division passed 

 over, when Wallace attacked them, routed them, and 

 pushed them into the river. The Engli.-h burned the 

 bridge, abandoned their baggage, and fled to Berwick. 

 Thus Scotland was once more free ; and the castles 

 which the English had retained were immediately sur- 

 rendered. Wallace then marched his army into the 

 4 K 



