ED W ARD I
expense of the great barons, and finally the Statute of Winchester, which reorganized the national militia. So great a reputation as a legislator did Edward soon enjoy that in 1292 he was asked to arbitrate in a dispute between two rival claimants to the throne of Scotland. His decision was just, and generally accepted, but was to prove productive of much trouble in the next few years. In 1294. Edward became involved in a bitter quarrel with the King of France who, by a piece of barefaced treachery, had got possession of several important border castles in Edward's French possessions and both monarchs were preparing for war. At this juncture, Balliol, King of Scotland, who owed his throne to Edward's good offices, took the opportunity of stabbing his benefactor in the back and threw in his lot with the French. Edward at once abandoned for the moment his proposed campaign on the continent and marched north to deal with the treacherous Scots, whom he experienced no difficulty in defeating. Having captured all their principal strongholds he deposed the wretched Balliol, put the kingdom in charge of one of his own lieutenants and returned to England with all the Scottish Crown Jewels, including the historic stone of Scone, in his baggage. He now proposed to resume his interrupted conflict with France, but almost at once encountered considerable opposition from his own barons, who were not overeager for the fray and maintained that their feudal obligations did not compel them to serve save under the immediate command of the King himself. Thus Edward's plan for dividing his forces into two separate armies acting simultaneously
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