74 S&allau'g afe. 



Baliol was sprung from the elder branch, Bruce was one 

 degree nearer the common stock; if the principle of 

 representation was regarded, the former had the better 

 claim ; if consanguinity was considered, the latter was en- 

 titled to the preference. The sentiments of men were 

 divided, all the nobility took part with one or other of 

 the claimants, and the people implicitly followed their 

 leaders. The different claimants themselves had great 

 power and numerous retainers in Scotland, and each thought 

 himself secure of gaining the Scottish throne. The 

 danger which threatened the country was therefore 

 iminent. The most thoughtless saw that a furious 

 civil war would infallibly occur, unless some plan 

 could be devised for adverting so terrible a calamity ; 

 and men, high in power, of all parties, and themselves 

 secretly inclining either to Baliol, or Bruce, or Hastings, 

 resolved, if possible, to lay aside their mutual differences, 

 and to agree upon some measure for preserving the 

 public peace. 



Many and lengthened were the discussions which they 

 held. The best and most obvious method of averting 

 the threatened calamity, was to prevail upon two of the 

 contending parties to lay aside their mutual claims. 

 But this they would not do ; each saw, or fancied that he 

 saw, the crown of Scotland within his grasp, and he 

 cared not if it was gained at the cost of a civil war. 

 Another expedient then occurred to those who sat in 

 council for the public good. This was the submitting 



