without remission. In the event of the King's death without male issue, the Parliament enacted, that the right of succession should descend to Robert Stewart, the King's grandson by his daughter Marjory. Randolph Earl of Murray, and James Lord Douglas, were nominated guardians of the kingdom and tutors of the heir, should he succeed when a minor. Many salutary laws were enacted in this Parliament. The liberties of the Scottish church were asserted, as well as a variety of regulations respecting the polity of the kingdom. The statute well known since by the general name of leasing-making, was at this time enacted: The object of it was to punish such as should invent rumours by which discord might be excited between the King and the people. Edward of England having secured domestic peace, determined to regain Berwick. He ordered an army to meet him at New. castle, with which he advanced. He drew lines of countervallation round the town, to prevent the approach of succours. The persevering bravery of the garrison repulsed the repeated and terrible attacks of the English, who were eager to regain their ancient reputation in arms.* As the Scots could not with any probability of success attack the English camp, they determined to make a powerful diversion in England, which they hoped would compel Edward to raise the siege. Randolph and Douglas entered England by the West Marches, with fifteen thousand men, and wasted Yorkshire. The Archbishop of York, attended by a rabble of peasants and ecclesiastics, encountered the Scots at Mitton. Their temerity was instantly punished with defeat and death. Three thousand were left on the field, and a multitude were drowned in the Swale. The Scots termed this rout "the Chapter of Mitton." The news of this * As fire-arms were unknown at this time, the juvenile reader may be desirous to learn what kind of machines were used by the assailants to gain possession of the walls. As the walls of Berwick were then of considerable height, the English proposed to bring a vessel close to them, and, by means of a draw-bridge let down from the mast, to enter the It was destroyed by the besieged. Another engine of attack was called a sow. It resembled a house, having stages within it, and in height surpassed the wall. It moved upon wheels, to conduct miners as well as armed men. The Scots destroyed it by means of a moveable crane, whereby stones of immense weight were thrown upon it, town. defeat induced the English to discontinue the siege of Berwick. Randolph and Douglas returned home; and Edward at last entertaining serious thoughts of peace with Scotland, commissioners for negotiating a treaty were appointed by both nations, who concluded a treaty for two years. During the negotiation, the Pope, the obsequious servant of Edward, commanded his legates to publish the general sentence of excommunication against Bruce and his adherents, as well as the bull of his predecessor against the King, for the slaughter of Co. myn. This unseasonable exertion of authority produced a spirited manifesto from the Scottish Parliament assembled at Aberbrothock: It asserted the absolute independence of Scotland, and declared, that while a hundred of its inhabitants survived, they would fight for their liberties. Alarmed at the boldness of the Scots, the Pontiff addressed a bull to Edward, recommending peace with Scotland; but he gave an equivocal answer to Robert's solicitation of a repeal of the sentence of excommunication. A.D. A conspiracy, of which little is known, was discovered 1320. S about this time. The traitors were capitally convicted and executed. The Parliament by which they were condemned was long remembered by the vulgar under the appellation of the Black Parliament. As it was understood that Edward had encouraged the malecontents, for the purpose of regaining possession of the kingdom, Randolph and Douglas secretly abetted the Earl of Lancaster and his associates in their designs against the English momarch; who, having crushed his rebellious subjects, prepared to invade Scotland. The Scots meanwhile penetrated into Lancashire, spoiled the country, and returned home loaded with extraordinary booty. } A.D. Upon the approach of the English, Robert ordered the 1322. § cattle and provisions, with all effects of value, to be removed from Merse and Lothian, and retired with his army to Culross. His orders were so exactly obeyed, that a lame bull was the only prey that fell into the hands of the English. "Is that all ye have got ?" said Warenne to the foragers: "I never saw so dear a beast." The English advanced as far as Edinburgh without seeing an enemy: Famine compelled them to retrace their steps. In their retreat, they plundered the abbeys of Holyrood and Melrose, burnt the abbey of Dryburgh, and slew many monks. Disease, occasioned by intemperance, proved fatal to multitudes that had been spared by famine; so that, of the mighty army which had invaded Scotland, scarcely one half survived. The Scots in their turn invaded the enemy's country, and nearly surprised Edward at the abbey of Biland, in Yorkshire; whence the escaped with difficulty, abandoning all his treasure and baggage to the enemy; who, by way of reprisals, murdered many ecclesiA.D. Į astics, and returned home unmolested. A treaty of peace 1323. Š for thirteen years suspended the calamities of war. Edward the Second was deposed by the English Parliament. His A.D. Į son Edward the Third, a youth in his fifteenth year, suc1326. ceeded him, and ratified the truce which his father had made. Hostilities recommenced before the expiry of the treaty. Either the Scots had detected the bad faith of the English, or the latter had provoked their resentment by seizing some Scottish ships bound for the Low Countries, slaying the crews, and refusing to make satisfaction. Whatever was the cause, Randolph and Douglas invaded England with an army of twenty thousand cavalry. Young Edward put himself at the head of fifty thousand men, and advanced to meet the enemy. The Scottish commanders had resolved to pursue a desultory mode of warfare. Inured to hardships, fatigue, and danger, they were perfectly qualified, by their habits of life, for hazardous enterprises. Their army was mounted on small horses, that found subsistence everywhere, and carried their riders with safety and speed. Edward found the greatest difficulty in following an army so rapid in its motions. Though the smoke and flame of burning villages directed him to the place of their encampment, he found, upon hurrying thither, that they had removed to some distant quarter. After harassing his army for some time in this fruitless chase, Edward crossed the Tyne, with the design of intercepting their retreat; but he was compelled to return southwards,-as the country, already exhausted, could yield no subsistence to his troops. Finding at last that the enemy had encamped on the banks of the Were, he challenged them to meet him in an open field. The Scottish chiefs pertinently replied, that "they never took the counsel of an enemy in any of their operations." The gallant Douglas boldly attempted to surprise and capture the English Monarch in his tent. With a trusty band, he eluded the vigilance of the English sentinels, and penetrated unobserved to the royal tent. His followers raised the shout of " A Douglas, a Douglas! English thieves, you shall all die!" and furiously assaulted the King's tent. The King escaped with difficulty; his domestics were slain; and the Scots, disappointed of their prey, rushed through their enemies, and retired with inconsiderable loss. Next day, the young A D. King learned that the enemy had retreated towards their 1327. own country. An unsuccessful war, an exhausted treasury, and domestic dis cord among the great lords, induced the English Government to think seriously of peace. As the basis of a treaty, it was proposed that the Princess Joan of England should marry David, the young Prince of Scotland. Plenipotentiaries being appointed on both sides, they met at Newcastle, and drew up certain articles of pa- · A.D. cification; which were ratified by a Parliament assembled. 1328.}. at Northampton. In this memorable treaty, Edward renounced all claims of superiority over Scotland, acknowledged Bruce as the King of Scots, and promised to employ his good offices at the Papal court for obtaining a revocation of the spiritual censures issued against him. The fatal stone, which Edward the First had carried to Westminster, was to be restored to the Scots. - For these causes, and in order to make reparation for the ra vages committed in England by the Scots, Robert agreed to pay thirty thousand merks to the King of England. Robert had now attained the summit of his wishes: He had emancipated his coun try, and secured its independence; his government had been beneficial, his title was undisputed, and the right of succession confirmed in his family. A.D. } He died of a chronic disorder, in the fifty-fifth year of 1329. his age, and was buried at Dunfermline. He left one son, David the Second, and two daughters, by Elizabeth, daughter of the Earl of Ulster.. The following circumstance evinces the great value of money at this period. A cow was valued at five shillings, and an ox at six shillings and eightpence, Scots money. The iron-work of a plough cost two shillings. A.D. Fire-arms, then called “crakys of war," were first used 1327. by the English in their wars with Scotland. } CHAPTER V.. David the Second. Randolph Regent. Edward Baliol lands in Fife. Marr Regent is defeated. Baliol crowned-but is surprised and expelled the kingdom. Regency of Moray. Of Douglas.. The Scots defeated at Berwick-which is surrendered to the English. to Edward—who advances to Inverness. they recover the national fortresses. A.D. Baliol surrenders the kingdom Efforts of David's adherents DAVID the SECOND.-David was five years old when he 1329. S succeeded to the throne; and, agreeably to the act of settlement, Randolph assumed the authority of Regent. It was the misfortune of Scotland, during this prince's reign, that he was a minor or a fugitive, a captive or a tributary king. Randolph lived but three years after he assumed the reins of government. Integrity, prudence, and valour, were the prominent features of his character. Indefatigable in discharging the duties of his station, he secured the public tranquillity by wise ordinances, and distributed justice with impartiality. The following is a remarkable example. A layman, having slain a priest, fled to the Papal court, obtained absolution, and boldly returned to Scotland. Randolph ordered him to be tried, and, on conviction, to be executed; "because," said he, "although the Pope may grant absolution from the spiritual consequences of sin, he cannot screen offenders from civilpunishment." A.D. 1331. David and his consort were anointed and crowned at Scone. By the treaty of Northampton, it was provided that Lord Wake, Beaumont Earl of Buchan, and Henry de Percy,. should be restored to their lordships, lands, and estates, whereof the King of Scots, by reason of the wars between the two nations, had taken possession. Of these barons, Percy only obtained restitution. Randolph had reason to suspect that the others were enemies of his country; and that the restitution of their property and rights would enable them to form combinations subversive of the independence of the kingdom. Edward of England had, moreover, taken Edward Baliol, the son of the exiled king, under his protection; which had no friendly or pacific aspect. The event justified the prudence of Randolph.. Edward Baliol, supported by the Lords Wake and Beaumont, with others who had been disinherited by Robert Bruce, resolved to invade Scotland, vindicate their rights |