Skip to main content

Full text of "Liber pluscardensis"

See other formats 


Google 



This is a digital copy of a book that was prcscrvod for gcncrations on library shclvcs bcforc it was carcfully scanncd by Googlc as part of a projcct 

to make the world's books discoverablc onlinc. 

It has survived long enough for the copyright to cxpirc and thc book to cntcr thc public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subjcct 

to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expircd. Whcthcr a book is in thc public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books 

are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, cultuie and knowledge that's often difficult to discovcr. 

Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this flle - a reminder of this book's long journcy from thc 

publishcr to a library and fmally to you. 

Usage guidelines 

Googlc is proud to partncr with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to thc 
public and wc arc mcrcly thcir custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken stcps to 
prcvcnt abusc by commcrcial partics, including placing lcchnical rcstrictions on automatcd qucrying. 
Wc also ask that you: 

+ Make non-commercial use ofthefiles Wc dcsigncd Googlc Book Scarch for usc by individuals, and wc rcqucst that you usc thcsc filcs for 
personal, non-commercial purposes. 

+ Refrainfivm automated querying Do nol send aulomatcd qucrics of any sort to Googlc's systcm: If you arc conducting rcscarch on machinc 
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a laige amount of tcxt is hclpful, plcasc contact us. Wc cncouragc thc 
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help. 

+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each flle is essential for informingpcoplcabout thisprojcct and hclping thcm lind 
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it. 

+ Keep it legal Whatcvcr your usc, rcmember that you are lesponsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just 
bccausc wc bclicvc a book is in thc public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other 
countrics. Whcthcr a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and wc can'l offer guidance on whether any speciflc usc of 
any speciflc book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearancc in Googlc Book Scarch mcans it can bc uscd in any manncr 
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe. 

About Google Book Search 

Googlc's mission is to organizc thc world's information and to makc it univcrsally acccssiblc and uscful. Googlc Book Scarch hclps rcadcrs 
discovcr thc world's books whilc hclping authors and publishcrs rcach ncw audicnccs. You can scarch through thc full icxi of ihis book on thc wcb 

at |http://books.qooqle.com/| 



THE 



HISTORIANS OF SCOTLAND. 



VA 



VOL X. 



THE 



HISTORIANS OF SCOTLAND 






VOL. X. 



%\^t 'Boolft of t^lu^cavtien 



EDINBUEGH 
WILLIAM PATERSON 

1880 



tlDfie Book 



ot 



^luscarben 



BDITED BY 



FELIX J. H. SKENK 



VOL. II. 



EDINBURGH 
WILLIAM PATERSON 

1880. 



BDINBtTROH : T. AND A. 00R8TABLS, 
PRnVTERS TO TBB QUEEN, AND TO THB UinTEBSITT. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

PAOB 

INTRODUCTION, xix 

THB BOOK OP PLUSOARDEN :— 

ThE WbITEB'S PBXFAOBy 1 

BOOK VL 

Ghafteb XV. — Saint Margarefs desoent, acoording to Baldred 
the abbot^ according to William the hiBtorian, and according 
to Bishop Turgot ; on the authority of these three and a 
great many historians that illustrioos lineal succession is 
Irought down from the kingdom of the Angles to the lawful 
heirs of Saint Margaret, .4 

Chafteb XVL — ^Alfred, son of Ethelwlf, .... 5 
Ghapteb XVII. — His brother Ethelred succeeds him, . 6 

Ghafteb XVIII. — Malcohn, King of Scots, and Henry of 

England, 7 

Ghapteb XIX.— King Malcolm, 9 

Ghaftxb XX. — Maloolm oonquers the petty king of Argadia, 10 
Ghaftbb XXI. — Death of Malcolm King of Scotiand, . .11 
Ghafteb XXIL— King William, brother of the said King 

Maloolm, 13 

Ghafteb XXIII. — King William sets out for Craul against the 

wish of his countrymen, 14 

Ghaftxb XXIV. — Henry, the father, out of hatred for Saint 

Thomas, has his son Henry crowned, . .15 

Ghaftsb XXV. — ^War between the father and son, [Kings] of 

England, 16 

Ghafteb XXVL— Capture of William King of Scotland, . 17 



w-^vjXoO 



vm TABLB OF CONTENTS. 

Chafteb XXVU. — Beoonciliation of the Father and Son, Kings 

of the Engliflh, 18 

Ohaptkr XXVIIL— liberation of King WiUiam, . .19 

Ohaptes XXIX. — Bebellion of Galloway and fickleness of the 

men thereof, ......... 20 

Ohafteb XXX. — The noble cleric Gilbert the Scot, . .21 

Ohafteb XXXI. — Oertain incidents connected with this matter, 24 
Obapteb XXXII. — Bestoration of the Earldom of Hontingdon 

to Eing William of Scotland, ...... 25 

Ohapteb XXXIII.— Flight and Death of Heniy Fit«-Empreas— 

King Richard, 26 

Ohapteb XXXIV., 27 

Ohapteb XXXV. — The harmony, peace, and happy tranquillitiy 

between William King of Scotland and Eichard, of England, . 29 
Ohapteb XXXVI. — ^The King of England does homage to the 

King of France, ........ 29 

Ohapteb XXXVIII. — Peace between the Kings of Franoe and 

England 30 

Ohapteb XXXIX. — Quarrel between the Kings of England and 

France, . . . . . . . .31 

Ohapteb XL. — Fickleness and faithlessness of the English, . 32 
Ohapteb XLI. — ^Terms of the Treaty of Peace, . . .33 
Ohapteb XLTI. — ^Agreement entered into over and aboye, . 35 

Ghapteb XLIII. — Peace between the Kings and Kingdoms estab- 

lished and swom again for the third time at Norham^ . .36 
Ohapteb XLIV.— King William's Death, . . .38 

Ohapteb XLV. — Oopy of Apostolic Bull sent to King William 

on the Privileges of the Ohorch of Scotland, . . .39 

Ohapteb XLVI. — like Privilege granted to King William, 40 

BooK vn. 

Ohapteb I — King Alexander, son of the aforesaid King William, 42 
Ohapteb rV. — David of Huntingdon and his death — ^But first 
certain acts of King Alexander against the King of England, . 43 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. ix 

PAO£ 

Chaptbb V. — ^David, Earl of Huntingdon, . . . .44 
Ohapteb VL — ^The Dauphin Louifl, the eldest son of the King of 

France, oomes to England, 45 

Ohafteb VIL — Return of Louis son of the King of France, 46 

Ohaptjsb VIIL — Interdict and Excommunication of the Eingdom 

ofScotland, 47 

Ohapteb IX. — Eing Alexander'8 nuptials, . . .49 

Ohaptsb X.— Death of Philip king of the French, . . .50 
Ohapteb XI. — ^Mutual love between the kings of Scotland and 

England after the marriage contracted with the siBter of the 

latter, 52 

Ohapteb XIL — Oertain events ; and death of Alexander il, .53 
Ohapteb XIII. — Tenor of the Oharter of Priyileges at the 

instance of Maud the Good Queen of England, daughter of the 

Sainted Queen Margaret, 54 

Ohapteb XIIIL — ^Beginning of Alexander m. king of Scots, . 54 
Ohapteb XY. — Remoyal of the ashes of the body of the most 

blesBed Queen Margaret, 56 

Oelapteb XVI. — Marriage of Eing Alexander to the daughter of 

Henry m. king of England, 57 

Ohapteb XVII. — ^The new king'8 counsellorB suspected, . . 58 
Ohapteb XVIIL — What manner of men a king'8 counsellors 

should be, 60 

Ohapteb XIX. — On what days the king ought to wear the 

crown, etc., 62 

Ohapteb yy- — Good characteristics and points in a king, . 64 

Ohaptbb XXI. — The counsellors of Eing Alexander, a youth of 

nine, are changed b^ the advice of the king of England, . 65 

Ohapteb XXII. — Eing Alexander is seized by his own liegemen, 66 
Ohapteb XXIII. — Battle of Largs, and victory through Saint 

Margaret, 67 

Ohapteb XXIin. — Mirade by the blessed Margaret, . • 70 
Ohapteb XXV. — The petty king of Man does homage to the 

king of Scotland, 72 

VOL. n. h 



X TABLE OF (X)NTENTS. 

PAOB 

Chapter XXVI. — ^Treaty between the kings of Scotland and 
Norway about the islands of Scotland — Battle foaght by the 
kiivg of England against Simon de Montfort, . . .73 

Chapteb XXVII. — Escape of Prince Edward, who was kept in 
close cuatody — Battle fought, 74 

Chaptee XXVIII. — Certain faots connected with the welfare 
and the history of the realm, . . . .76 

Chapter XXIX — Council of Lyons — Birth of Sir Robert de 
Bruss king of Scotland, . . .77 

Chapter XXX. — Breach between the kings of England and Scot- 
land — Alexander iv., son of the king of Scotland, . . .78 

Chapter XXXI. — Cruelty of Edward king of England towards 
the Welsh — ^Wailing and mouming of the inhabitants of Scot- 
land for the death of the king's firstbom^ and of the queen of 
Norway and her daughter, who were the heirs-apparent of the 
kingdom of Scotland, ....... 79 

Chapter XXXn. — This tyrant Edward hinders the expedition 
or passage to the Holy Land, by reason of his ravenous greed 
— ^Death of the most noble King Alexander m., . .80 

Ohafter XXXIII. — Good character and govemment of this king, 8 1 

Chapter XXXIV. — Lament for the king — Prophecy of the seer 
Thomas the Rhymer, . . . . .82 

BOOK VIIL 

Chapter I. — Election of six wardens to the govemment of the 
kingdom after the death of the most noble prince Alexander in., 84 

Chapter II. — Statement of the right of these parties — The king 
of England chosen supreme judge through confidence in his 
good faith, 85 

Chapter III. — Eing Edward treacherously has the nobles of 
ScQtland ^ummjoned to the Council in order to deceive them, . 87 

Chapter IV., 89 

Chapter V. — Decision of the Parisian docton leamed in the law, 
on thc dUcussion of the rights of the said litigants, . .89 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. ' XI 

PAGK 

Chafter VI. — ^The same contmued ; the king of England mia- 

stateB the case, 90 

Ghafteb VII. — ^The same continued — View taken by others, . 92 
Chaptsb VIII. — The same oontinued — Their opinions, . .93 
Chapter IX. — ^The same continued — Decision in favour of Eing 

Robert, 95 

Chafteb X. — ^The same continued, 97 

Chapteb XL — His subtlety and devices, . .98 

Chafteb XII. — Their arguments at the council of the king of 

England in favour of the vassalage of the throne of Scotland, . 100 
Chafteb XIIL — Brief statement of the genealogy of the kings 

of Scotland, beginning from Saint Margaret down to the 

daughter of the king of Norway, 101 

ChaftebXTV. — ^The same continued, 102 

Chafteb XV. — The seoond daughter of David of Huntingdon, . 103 
Chafteb XVI. — Saint Margaret*8 two daughters, . .104 

Chaftbb XVn. — Balliol and his mo8t~wretched goTemment, . 105 

Chaftbb XVIII. — Certain incidents, 106 

Chafteb XIX. — Terms of the alliance between the kings of 

France and Scotland, 108 

Chafteb XX. — The treaty continued — ^Terms of the principal 

dause, as inserted in the royal letter, .... 109 

Chafteb XXI. — King John withdraws the homage foolishly 

done by him to the king of England, contrary to the privileges 

ofthecrown, 111 

Chafteb XXII. — The whole of the beneficed English ousted firom 

the kingdom of Scotland by Fresale bishop of Saint Andrews, 112 
Chapteb XXIII. — Bobert Bruce and Balliol — ^Their partisans — 

Disunion in the country, 114 

Chafteb XXIV. — The castles of Scotland taken by Eing Edwaid 

— John Balliol taken, 114 

Chafteb XXV. — The magnates and the Estates of Scotland are 

foroed likewise to do homage to the king of England, . .116 
Chaptbr XXVI.— William Wallace, 117 



Xll 



TABLB OF CONTENTS. 



PAOS 



Chapteb XXVII. — He deBtroys Northumberland — Other events, 1 18 
Ohaptee XXVIIL— Battle of Varia CapeUa or Falkirk, . .121 
Chafteb XXIX. — ^Truce granted by Edward king of England to 

the kingdom of Scotland at the instanoe of the king of France, 122 
Ohafteb XXX. — Copy of the papal buU, . . .123 

Ohaptbe XXXI. — Copy of the pope^s letter sent to the king of 

England, ......... 124 

Chapteb XXXII. — The same continued, . . . .127 

Chapteb XXXIII. — Answer of the barons of England, contain- 

ing a great falsehood and froward disobedience, . . .129 
Ohapteb XXXIV. — ^Answer of the king of England to the papal 

buU, 130 

Chapteb XXXV. — These allegations continued, . . .132 

Chapteb XXXVI. — Same continued, 133 

Chapteb XXXVII. — Same continued, 135 

Chapteb XXXVIII. — The same continued — Copies of divers 

letters sent to our lord Boniface ym. by the said Xing 

Edward, to paUiate his proceedings against the Scots, . .137 
Chapteb XXXIX. — Copy of another letter, of Honorius m., 

sent by the king of England to Boniface yiii., against the king 

ofScotland, 139 

Chapteb XL. — Copy of another forged letter, . .139 

Ohapteb XLI. — How the Scots met the inventions of the tyrant 

Edward king of the EngUsh, 140 

Chapteb XTiTI. — Instructions sent to the Court of Rome by the 

prelates and barons of the kingdom of Scotland against Edward 

king of England, . 141 



Chaptbb XLIII. — Same continued, 

Chapteb XLIV. — Same continued, 

Chapteb XLV. — Same continued, 

Chapteb XLVI. — Same continued, 

Chapteb XLVII. — Same continued, 

Chapteb XLVIII. — Same continued, 

Ohapteb XLIX. — Rescripts of Pope Gregory, and answers, 



143 
144 
147 
149 
151 
152 
154 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. XIU 

PAGS 

Chafteb L. — Same contmued, 165 

Ohapter LI. — Same continued, . .156 

Ghafteb LII. — Same continued, . . .159 

Chafteb UIL — Same continued, . . .161 

Chapteb LIV. — Copy of a letter of wailing and complaint made 
by the barons and lords of Scotland to the Boman pontiJQT, fiist 
aetting forth and ahowing the antiquity of the noble ScottiBh 
nation, and their first origin; secondly, conceming their do- 
parture from Egypt and Greece, and the settlements they made 
in course of time while journeying towards Scotland, and the 
many and countless troubles and misfortunes they passed 
through j andy thirdly, conceming the extraordinary, tyrannous 
and cruel troubles, assaults and lawless.rayages inflicted upon 
the kingdom of Scotland by the present Eing Edward of 

England, 163 

Chapteb LY. to Chafteb LXII. — Case laid before the supreme 
pontiff, 166 

BOOK IX. 

Chafteb L — ^Engagement at Roslyn, 168 

Chafteb II. — The king of England scours the country and brings 

the people (communitas) of Scotland under his dominion, . 169 
Chafteb III. — ^The king besieges Stirling Castle — Robert Bruce, 171 
Chapteb IV. — League between Robert Bruce and John Cumyn 

— ^Accusation of Bmce, 172 

Chafteb V. — Accusation and escape of Robert Bmce, .174 

ChaftebYI.: — John Cumyn killed, 175 

Chafteb VII. — Coronation of Robert Bruce, . . .176 

Ohaftkb VIIL--Battle of Methven, 177 

Chapteb IX. — Rout at Slenach, 179 

Chapteb X. — ^Edward of Camarvon, 180 

Chapteb XI. — Successes of King Robert, . . .182 

Chafteb XII. — Giorious victoiy gained at Bannockburn, on Saint 

John the Baptisfs Day, by Qod's grace alone, . .183 



XIV TABLE OF CONTBNTS. 

FAOE 

Ohaptbb XIII. — Hereditary entail and Bucoesnon to the throne 

made by oonsent of the Three EstateB, .... 184 

Ohaptbb XIV. — Edward Bnice elected king of Ireland, . .186 
Ohaftbb XIX. — Taking of the town of Berwick by Thomas 

Bandolph, 187 

Ohafteb XX— The Black Parliament of ScoUand, . .188 

Ohafteb XXL — ^The king of Scotland goes acrosB to England, . 189 

OhaftebXXII. — King David Bruce, 190 

Ohaftbb XXm.— Death of King Bobert Bnice, .192 

Ohaftbb XXIV. — Oopy of an entaO formerly drawn up touching 

the hereditary right to the throne of Scotland, . 19S 

Ohafteb XXV. — The Earl of Murray ia elected guardian — Other 

events at this time, . . ^ 195 

Ohafteb XXVI. — James Douglas carries the king'8 heart to the 

H(dy Land, ^ . . . . 196 

Ohafteb XXVII.— Edward Balliol, 197 

Ohafteb XXVIIL — King David Bruce goes over to France, . 200 
Ohafteb XXIX. — Letter sent by the lord pope to the kings of 

France and of England for peaoe, 203 

Ohafteb XXX. — Siege of Lochleyen Oastle, .... 206 

Ohafteb XXXI. — Same continued, 206 

Ohafteb XXXII — Hifl sucoeBsea, and other events, . 208 

Ohafteb XXXIIL — Same oontinned, 210 

Ohafteb XXXIV.— Kilblein, 212 

Ohafteb XXXV. — Becoyery of the caatles by sir Andrew Murray, 214 
Ohafteb XXXVL — Same continued — Black AnncB, countess of 

the Marches, 216 

Ohafteb XXXVII. — ^Death of the most valiant and most noble 

Andrew Murray, the guardian, ...... 218 

Ohafteb XXXVin.— Siege of Stirling, .219 

Ohafteb XXXIX. — King Dayid'8 retum from France — His acts 

in the b^ginning of his rule, 221 

Ohaftbb XL. — Oreesy — Battle of Durham in ScoUand, . . 222 
Ohapteb XLI. — ^William Douglas slain, .... 226 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. XV 

PAOE 

Chafteb XLIL — The kiiig of England arrives in Scotland after 
the taking of Berwick — The BalliolB resign to the king of 

England their pretended right, 227 

Ohaptbe XLIIL— Battle of Poitiers, 229 

Chaiteb XLIV. — Eing David ransomed, .... 230 
Chapteb XLV. — Retum of the king of England into France, . 231 
Chapteb XLVL — Eing David, on being inBtracted to do so, 
urgQB upon the three eatates that Lionel, son of the king of 
En^^d, Bhonld succeed him on the throne of Scotland, . 232 

BOOK X. 

Chaptib I. — Coronation of Eobert Stewart, .... 235 
Chafter II. — Base flight of Henry Percy earl of Northumber- 

landy .......... 237 

Chafteb III. — ^Ambassadors of the king of France sent into 

Scotland, 239 

Chapteb IY. — Same continued, 241 

Chafteb V. — An English peasant attacks and filays nobles and 

magnates, 243 

Chapteb VI. — ^Arrival of Henry duke of Lancaster, uncle of the 

king of England, 244 

Chafteb YIL — ^Arriyal of the French into Scotland in aid of the 

Scots against the English, 246 

Chafteb VIII.— Acts of Robert Stewart earl of Fife, . 247 

Chafteb IX. — Battle of Otterbum, 248 

Chafteb X. — Eing Bobert of Scotland, being of great age, 

appoints his younger son, Robert duke of Albany, govemor 

ofScotland, 251 

Chafteb XI. — Coronation of Eing Bobert m. and Queen 

Anabella» 252 

Ohafteb XIV. — Coronation of Eing Henry iv., . 255 

Chafteb XV. — Maniage of the duke of Rothesay, . . 255 

Chapteb XVI.— Death of Black Aichibald Douglas, .256 

Chapteb XVII. — Betrayal and death of the duke of Rothesay, . 257 



XVI TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Chaptbe XVIIL— Fight of Niabet, 359 

Chaptkb XIX. — Siege of Cocklaw Castie, .260 

Chapter XX. — Battle of Shrewsbury, 261 

Chapteb XXI. — Death of King Robert in. and captore of his 

eldest son King James l, 261 

Chaftek XXII. — Certain events at this time, . 263 

Chapteb XXIII. — Outbreak of war between England and the 

kingdom of Scotland, through Henry v. king of England, . 264 
Chapteb XXV. — ^The earl of Buchan croflses into France, having 

been eent by the govemor to the assistanoe of the French, . 26b 
Chafteb XXYI. — Events leading up to the above-mentioned 

battle of Baug^, .266 

Chapteb XXVII ^Madness of King Henry v., and beginning 

of his mortal pain, ........ 268 

. 270 
. 271 
. 273 
. 275 



Chapteb XXVIIL— Battie of Vemeuil, 
Chapteb XXIX — ^Deflcription of the battle, 
Chapteb XXX. — Same continued, 
Chapteb XXXI. — Same continued, 
Chapteb XXXIL — Account of the wondeiful girl who was sent 
by God's providenoe to succour France — Her exploits, . .277 

BOOK XI. 

Chapteb I. — King James i., 278 

Chapteb IL — ^Arrest of lords for the crime of high treason, . 279 
Chapteb III. — Execution of the duke of Albany and his sons, . 280 
Chapteb IV. — Consummation of the marriage between the 

Dauphin and Maigaret, 282 

Chapteb Y. — Issue of the king and queen, .... 284 
Chapteb VI. — The English craftily wish to break the league 

between Franoe and Scotland, . . 285 

Ohapteb VII. — How King James i. besieged Roxburgh Castle, . 287 
Chapteb IX. — Death of King James i. — Measureless grief of all 

Christendom thereat, 288 

Chapteb X — Fearful penalty exacted for the king's death, . 290 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



XVll 



NOTES. 



Notes to Book vi., 
Notes to Book vn., 
Notes to Book Yin., 
Notes to Book ix., 
Notes to Book x., 
Notes to Book xi., 



INDEX, . 



PAOB 

293 
295 
297 
301 
303 
304 

307 



INTRODUCTION. 

The fifteenth century dawned in France npon a ecene of 
the most deplorable anarchy and wietchedness. The hundred 
yeais' war with England was fast drawing to its climax of 
disaster for France. The spirit of patriotism which such a war 
might have aroused had been crushed by the misrule of a line 
of incapable kings. The people, ground down by the constant 
exactions of the crown, and driven to desperation by the tyranny 
of the nobles, had repeatedly risen in revolts characterised by 
the most brutal atrocities^ and these again had been suppressed 
with relentless cruelty. During the brief intervals of truce 
companies of disbanded soldiers scoured the country, commit- 
ting the most frightful crimes^ and living upon the plunder of 
the defenceless peasantiy. To crown all, the madness of Eing 
Charles vl led to a struggle for the reins of government between 
the parties of Burgundy and Armagnac, which plunged the 
country into the horrors of a civil war stained with mutual 
treachery and assassination. 

The capture of Bouen by the English after a stubbom 
resistance seemed for a moment to rouse what national spiiit 
remained in France. The rival factions consented to forego 
their differences and make common cause against the foreign 
invader. But the treacherous murder of the duke of Burgundy 
at Montereau by the Armagnacs soon put an end to all hopes 
of such a result^ and threw the Burgundian paity openly 
into the arms of England. The only hope for France now lay 
in the Dauphin Charles, who had cast in his lot with the 
Armagnacs. The resources at his command within the country 



XX INTRODUCTION. 

were miserably inadequate to the task of making head against 
the formidable alliance of the English and Burgundians, who, 
between them, were in possession of a great part of France ; 
and his proscription for the murder of the duke of Burgundy 
deprived him of much of the support he might have counted 
upon from the remainder, impoverished and exhausted though it 
was. In his extremity, despairing of help at home, he sought 
it abroad. The attachment of Yalentine de Milan, duchess of 
Orleans, to his cause, procured him a contingent of Lombards, 
and the long-continued friendship between France and Scot- 
land, combined with their common hostility towards England, 
led him, as the champion of France, to hope for help from the 
Scots. Accordingly, in H20/ he sent the comte de Vendome 
on an embassy to Scotland, to beg assistance in terms of the 
ancient leagua^ 

The Dauphin could not have chosen a more fitting time 
for his request. For some years the duke of Albany, at 
the head of affairs in Scotland, had pursued a policy of peace 
and friendship with England. The English king, fully 
occupied with his war with France, was anxious to secure the 
neutrality of Scotland; and in King James i. and Murdach 
Stewart, Albany'8 son, who had been taken prisoner at 
Homildon, he held a twofold pledge of peace; for Albany, 
equally afraid of the king of England putting an end to his 
regency by releasing James i., and desirous of obtaining 
his own son's freedom, had a double reason for wishing 
to conciliate him. Thus, during a long interval of peace, 
a generation of young Scotsmen had grown up, fired with the 
traditions of their fathers' warlike deeds, yet lacking an oppor- 



^ Bower placea thia embassy in 1419. 

* George Bachanan^B Hiatory qf ScoUand. Javenal des UrsinB (NouveUe 
CoUeetion des M^moires' pour servir d rhiatoire de France^ etc,^ by M. M. 
Michaud et Ponjoiilat, Paris, 1836, vol. ii. p. 546) states tiiat Sir William 
Douglas and one whom he calls " mesaire Thomas QnelBatry " came to France 
in 1418 to serve the Danphin. 



INTRODUCTION. XXI 

tunity of emulating them. The opportunity now ofFeied itsell 
Albany, since his son*8 release four years before, was moie 
inclined to break with England. In case of war, Henry would 
see the advantage of keeping James in his power, and thus 
Albany's authority was secured. Moreover, he was glad to 
give employment to the restless spirits around him ; and, by 
shifting the battle-ground to France, he would avert the hbrrors 
of war from his own country. France indeed had long been 
the favourite resort of soldiers of fortune, and the free com- 
panies had made it the acknowledged field of those who sought 
gain or distinction by the sword. A body of 7000^ men was 
therefore readily voted by the Scottish Estates, and sent to 
France under the command of John earl of Buchan, Albany's 
secoud son, accompanied by Archibald Douglas, earl of Wig- 
town, eldest son of the earl of Douglas, Sir Thomas Seton 
and Sir John Stewart of Darnley. Their headquarters were 
fixed at Chatillon, and they soon gained many successes over 
the EnglisL 

The first serious encounter, however, was at Baug^, in Anjou, 
in the year 1421. The duke of Clarence, left in command of the 
English forces during Henry's temporary absence in England, 
proposed to lay siege to the castle of Baug^ with 10,000 men. 
Thereupon Buchan, with 7000 Scots and Frenchmen, marched 
to Le Lude, four miles off, to give him battle. As, however, 
it was Good Friday, they agreed to put off fighting until 
after Easter, and fixed upon a time and place for the battle.^ 
Notwithstanding this, Clarence attempted to surprise the Scots 
during the truce, but was gallantly repulsed and kiUed. The 
description of the battle given in the Book of Pluscarden agrees 
in the main with the other accounts^ of it Our Chronicle, how- 
ever, is the only authority for a statement conceming the death 

^ Onr anthor Bays 10,000. ' Juvenal des Urshu, p. 564. 

3 Ibid., Bower, Moiustrekt, Berry*8 Hiitory qf Charles VII, (Alain 
Cluirtier), C^eorge Buchanaii. 



XXU INTRODUOnON. 

of the duke of Glarence, who, according to Bower, foUowed by 
Buchanan, was wounded in the face by Sir William Swinton'8 
lance^ and despatched by the earl of Buchan with a mace. The 
Book of Pluscarden gives the following account : — ** The com- 
mon report was that a highland Scot named Alexander 
Makcaustelayn (Macausland), a native of Lennox, of the house- 
hold of the lord of Buchan (Buchanan), Mlled the said duke 
of Clarence ; for, in token thereof^ the aforesaid Macaualand 
brought with him to camp a golden coronet of the finest gold and 
adomed with precious stones, which was found on his hebnet 
upon his head in the field ; and he sold it for a thousand nobles 
to the lord Darnley, who afterwards left that coronet to Eobert 
Houston in pledge for five thousand nobles he owed him." ^ 

Buchanan of Auchmar^ states that the Macausland referred 
to here was Sir Alexander Buchanan^ eldest son of John, son 
of Sir Walter, eleventh laird of Buchanan ; and he adduces as 
evidence the fact that after the battle of Baug^ there was 
added to the arms of Buchanan " a second tressure round the 
field, flowered and counterflowered, with flower-de-luces of the 
second, and in a crest a hand coupee holding a duke's coronet, 
with two laurel branches wreathed round the same; which 
addition was retained by the family of Buchanan in all time 
thereafter."^ 



^ See page 268 of thia yoltune. Tliis ia the paasage quoted by George 
Bachanaii, which identifies oor Chronicle as the Book of Pluscarden. 
Bnchanan sayB :— "This which I have just statedia the more common report 
of the death of Olarence. Biit the Book of Ploscarden relates that he was 
kiUed by Alezander Macelselan, a knight of Lennox, • • . ; and it says that 
this was then the more oommon report." 

2 An Inqwry mto the Oenealogy and present state of Ancient Seottiah 
Sttmames, wUh the Origin and Deacent qf the Highiand Clans and FamUy qf 
Buchanan, by William Bnchanan of Anchmar. Glasgow, 1820. 

' Ib. p. 227. Probably the ezpreasion " de familia domini de Buchania»'' 
or ''Boachane," as it stands in the Glasgow ms., shonld be translated 
''of the family of the laird of Bachanan/' as the chronider always 
speaks of the earl of Bachan as "comes Bachanisa." Even in that case, 
however, the expression wookl be more applicable to *' a cadet of the family 
of the Lairds of Bachanan" (see Preface to voL i. p. xxii.) than to Sir Alex- 
ander Bachanan, eldest son of the laird. 



INTRODUCTION. XXIU 

The accoont Buchanan of Auchmar gives of Sir Alex- 
andei^s family is briefly as follows. In consequence of a 
general massacre of the Danes in Ireland in the beginning of 
the eleventh century, Anselan Buey (or Fair) Okyan, son to 
Okyan provincial king of the southem part of Ulster, being 
implicated therein, fled to Scotland. He came over in 1016, 
landed on the northem coast of Aigyll, near the Lennox, and 
served with distinction under King Malcolm n. against the 
Dane& In reward for his services he was given several estates, 
among which were Pitwhonidy and Strathyra He manied 
one of the Denniestouns, a family of consequence in the 
Lennox, and she brought him part of the estate of Buchanan. 
Malcolm granted him arms, which remained unchanged until 
the addition made to them after the battle of Baug^. 

The seventh from this first laird of Buchanan was Anselan, 
chamberlain to Malduin earl of Lennox, fix)m whom he 
obtained a charter of the island of Clareinch (Clarines) in 
Lochlomond in 1225.^ This island was the *" slugom/' or call 
of war, proper to the fSeunily. His son Gilbert was the first 
who assumed the name of Buchanan. 

The tenth laird, Sir Maurice, joined the earl of Lennox and 
the laird of Luss in their patriotic resistance to the English, 
and refused to sign the Bagman Boll " There is a traditional 
account that Eing Bobert Bmce, after his defeat at Dalree, near 
StrathfiUan, by Macdougal^ lord of Lom^ and his adherents, 
came aU alone^ on foot, along the north side of Lochlomond 
(being the most mgged way of any other of this kingdom), the 
day after that battle, to the castle of Buchanan^ where being 
joyfuUy received and for some days entertained, he was 

1 Auchmar mentiona thiB cbarter as the oldest he had himself aeen, the 
earlier part of hia acoount o£ the f amily being based on . hearsay. This is 
IJkewiBe the earliest of the Buohanan charters among the munimentB of the 
Duke of Montrose, reported upon by Mr. William Fraser in the appendix to 
the Third Report of the Historic^d Manuscripts CommiBsion, p. 386 ; and 
Auchmar*8 aocount is generaUy bome out by those authentic charten, which 
are numbered 4, 5, 22, 28, 29, and 30 in Mr. Fraser^s Beport. 



XXIV INTRODUCTION. 

secretly conveyed by the earl of Lennox and Buchanan to a 
place of safety. This report is the more probable in regard there 
is a cave near the shore of Lochlomond, in Buchanan parish^ 
termed the Eing^s Cave, it being reported that King Bobert lay 
over night in that cave in his joumey towards Buchanan."^ 

The grandson of this Sir Maurice was John, who never suc- 
ceeded to the Buchanan property, as he died before his father 
Sir Walter. John married the heiress of Lenny, and had three 
sons. The eldest, Sir Alexander, according to Auchmar, was 
the hero of Baug^, and was killed at YemeuiL He died 
unmarried. The second was Sir Walter, who succeeded to 
the Buchanan estate; and the third, John of Ballachondachy, 
succeeded to Lenny. 

Sir Walter^ the second son, mariied Isobel, daughter of 
Murdach duke of Albany and Lsobel heiress of Lennox,^ and 
had three sons, Patrick, his successor, Maurice and Thomas. 
The second son was the Maurice Buchanan who was treasurer 
to the Princess Margaret^ daughter of Eing James L and wife 
of the dauphin Louis, afberwards Louis XL, and who accom- 
panied her to France.' He had, however, already been in 
France with Sir John Stewart of Damley, the constable of the 
Scots in France, who is mentioned as his kinsman.^ 

^ TluB Manrice is spoken of aa Maurioe of Bouchaimane in a charter to him 
by King David n. (No. 28 in Mr. Fraser^B Beport), and is said by Anchmar 
to have witnessed a charter as " Maorioe Maoaualand, dominos, or laird, of 
Bachanan." 

' Anchmar says this ia attested by a charter of 1443 by laobel duoheBa of 
Albany, whioh is witnesaed by, amongst othen, Walter laird of Bnohanan, 
her Bon-in-law, knight. 

' Goodall'8 Bcwer, 1759, voL ii p. 485. . 

* See YoL i. Prefaoe, pp. zx, xxL Murdach married Isobel Lennox in 
1392, and their daughter Isobe], even if their eldoBt child, could hardly have 
married Sir Walter Buchanan before 1410. If Maurioe was her eecond son, 
he oould not have been bom before 1412 or 1413 at the earliest, and coold 
hardly have been spoken of aa MaUre Morioe de Boconan in 1427. Besides, 
laobel duchess of Albany is stated to have outlived all her children, who all 
died without issue. Therefore, if Sir Walter Buchauan did really marry 
laobel, daughter of the duchefls of Albany, hia three sodb must have been the 
fruit of a previous marriage, and Maurice must have been the stepson of 
Stewart of Damley^s nieoe by marriage. This oonnection would probably 
warrant his having been called the " parent dudit oonnetable." 



INTRODUCnON. XXV 

Nov the anonymous author of the Book of Pluscaiden tells 
ns in his Prologne ^ that the task he had nndertaken was to 
prepare an abridgment of Bowei^s Ghronicle, adding thereto 
such facts of contempoiaiy histoiy as he could ascertain, 
"together with some other wonderful things which I who 
wiite have known, seen and heaid out of this countiy;' as 
Biao, lastly^ about a certain marvellous maid who brought 
about the recoveiy of the kingdom of Eranoe out of the hands 
of the tyrant Heniy king of England, and whom I saw and 
knew, and in whose companj I was : I was present during her 
endeavours for the said recovery up to her life's end/' etc, 
Again, in speaking of the Dauphiness^ the Princess Maigaret 
of ScoUand,' who went to France in 1436 and died there in 
1446, he says, ** I who write this saw her every day alive^ 
playing with the king and queen of France^ and going on thus 
for nine years. But afterwards, at the time of the contracting 
of the marriage between Heniy of England and the daughter of 
the king of Sicily, brother of the queen of France, within eight 
days I saw her in good health and dead and embowelled/' etc. 

Thus the passages in the Book of Pluscarden for which the 
author seems to claim original authoiity, and in which he departs 
the most from Bowei^s account, are those relating the incidents 
connected with the Scottish expedition to France in 1420, 
down to the death of Joan of Arc in 1431, and with the life 
and death of the Princess Margaret there from 1436 to 1445. 
If, therefoie, as is assumed in this edition, the author was 
Maurice Buchanan^ the stepson of the niece of the Edrl of 
Buchan and Sir John Stewart of Damley, and the treasurer of 
the dauphiness, his position and opportunities for obtaining 
accurate infoimation give these portions of his work a high 
value as authentic histoiy.^ 

1 See thifl Tol. p. 3. ' Namely, in Franee. 

' 8ee p. 288 of this ▼olnme. 

* There are Btnae diffionhies, however, in the way of acoepting concnrrently 
Aaohnuur'8 acoonnt and the theory that the Book of Plnscarden was written 

VOL. 11. C 



XXVI INTRODUCTION. 

To retum, however, to the fortunes of the Scots in France. 
After the battle of Baag^, we next hear of the Scots as preparing 
to dispute the passage of the English over the river Loire in 
1422,^ an enterprise which the latter, however^ abandoned on 
hearing of the death of Henry v. Then Buchan, who had been 
xnade constable of France, took Gallardon, Avranches, and 
several other places in the north-west of France, and towards 
the end of the year went to Scotland for reinforcements. He 
retumed to France early in the following year, accompanied by 
Archibald earl of Donglas and his younger son James (William 
earl of Wigtown, the elder son, being left at home sick), and 
bringing a fresh contingent of ten thousand men.* Meanwhile 
Sir John Stewart of Damley, on his way to reinforce some 
French troops which had been driven into Mouson by Salisbury, 
tumed aside to attack Crevant ; but not being prepared for a 

by Maarice Bq.obazMkii. In the fint place, according to Aacfamar, Manrice 
Bachanan and his brothers were probably the stepeona of the daaghter o£ 
Mardach dnke of Albany and Isobel heiress of Lennoip, and the fact of this 
oonneotion is sapporied by the mention of Maarioe Bachanan as kinsman to 
Sir John Stewart of Damley, who had married Bliatbeth, the yoanger rister 
of Iflobei of Lei^noz. Bat it |b hard to reoon^ile it with the meagre terms in 
which Maarioe Buchanan, if indeed he be oar aathor, Bpeaks of the execation 
of Murdaeh dake of Albany and his sons ; for the Ghronicle was written 
in 1461, when there probably remained no politioal reaBons for reticence 
in an author Bpeaking of diBtingaiflhed men bo nearly related to him. 
Another point of difficalty ie the expreaBion whiQh the apthor oseB in 
describing the MacaaBlapd who killed the dake of Clarence at Baag^. If 
Auchmar ia right in Baying it was Sir Alexander Buchanan, and if Maorice 
ia ihfi authoir, then he iB Bpeaking of hie own unde itnd the eldeet Bon 
of the head of hiB own hooBe, when he sayB (yol. i p. 356), "quidam 
ScotoB montanuB, Alexander MakcauBtelayn nominataB, de Levenaz 
oriaodaB, 4p familia domini de Buchania*' (Bucbanan). The expresaion is 
Btrangely inappropriate to the BuppoBed factB of the caee, and pointe rather to 
the probability that either the author, whether Maarice the TreaBurer or 
not, WBB not the nephew of Sir Alexander, or the Macausland ref erred to was 
not Sir Alexander, but perhapB a oertain M*Beth, Baron M^AuBelan, whom 
Auchmar mentionB as " a pereon of uneommon atature and strength, who 
BeemB to have been a contemporary of Sir Alexander. " Auchmar stateB that 
the BaronB M'AuBelan were a younger branch of the family, deBcended from 
the Becond son of the first Anselan. 

^ Alain Ghartier (Berry), ed. 1594, p. 41. 

* Jean Chartier (Hist, de CharUa T//., 1661, p. 7) sayB four to fiye thoaBand, 
and George Bnchanan five thoaeand, though the latter placea this expedition 
before the death of Henr^ in 1422. 



INTRODUCTION. XXVII 

siege, and being refdsed the si^e train he had repeat^lj asked 
the king to supply him with, he was unable to take it Tbere- 
upon Salisbnry hastened up to relieve the town, and gave 
battle to the Scots under its walls.^ The two armies were 
separated by the river Yonne, the Scots occupying a hill 
near the river, with Crevant in the rear. The Scots and French, 
departing from the tactics that had proved so successful at 
Baug^, allowed the English to cross the river without opposi- 
tion^ The English attack in front was supported by a soitie 
from the town in the rear, and Darnley and Severac were totally 
defeated* The greater part of the Scots, who numbered about 
3000 and were in the front ranks» were either killed or taken, 
and several gentlemen of note, to the number of 400, were made 
prisoners, among them being Stewart of Damley.' 

The next great battle in which the Scots took part was that 
of Yemeuil in 1424. Iviy, in Perche, had been besieged by the 
duke of Bedford, and had agreed to surrender unless relieved 
by a certain day. The Scots under Douglas, who had been 
made duke of Touraine and lieutenant-general of the king of 
France, and the French imder d'Aumale and Narbonne, hurried 
up to relieve it> but arrived too late. They, however, occupied 
Yemeuil, and the French leaders pradetitly proposed to avoid 
a pitched battle with the English, but to leave a garrison 
there and employ their forces in less hazardous undertakings. 
The Scots, on the other hand, were bent upon fighting, and 
Bedford'8 approach soon put an end to the dispute.' Bedford 
despatched a herald to Douglas with a message that he was 
coming to drink with him, and begging him to stay that they 

^ Alaiii Chartier (Berry), pp. 47-9. 

' Monstrelet. Jean Chartier^s aooonnt is alightly dififerenL He saya the 
Engliah vere besieging Crevant, and Damley and Severao were defeiied in 
an attempt to Bueconr the town. It ia remArkable that the ohronioler of 
Plusoarden, if Damley^s kinaman, ahonld giye no aooonnt of the battle 
in which hia kinsman commanded and was taken priaoner. Bower (ii 601) 
atates that Damley loat an ^e, and was ransomed for 80,000 crowns. 

' Jean Chartier. 



XXVm INTRODUCnON. 

loight drink together. Douglas replied that he was most 
welcome, for he had come from Scotland to look for hmi 
in France, as he had not been able to find him in England ; 
and that he was to make haste and come. The dispute in the 
allied army, however, had led to ill-feeling. Contrary to the 
orders of Donglas, who wished to await the advance of the 
English, Narbonne rushed ont on foot to attack them, and 
Douglas, fearing the result of his rashness, was obliged to hurrj 
up to support him. Thus the Scots and French were out of 
breath when they reached the enemj, who had been quietly 
waiting for them ;^ and though victory hung in the balance 
for some time, the English finallj remained masters of the field. 
The battle is veiy fuUy described in the text, and all the 
authorities agree very nearly in the accounts they give of it* 
The allied army lost between three and four thousand men,' 
and Douglas, Buchan, James Douglas, Alexander lindsay, 
Kobert Stewart and Thomas Swinton were among the slain.^ 

The battle of Vemeuil may be said to have annihilated the 
Scots in France, though some few still remained under the 
command of Sir John Stewart of Damley ; and we hear of them 
at intervals during the next few years as taking part in the 
gradual liberation of the country from the yoke of England. 

The following year after this decisive battle Charles vn. sent 
Damley and the archbishop of Rheims to Scotland to ask the 
hand of the Princess Margaret fbr the Dauphin; and these 
ambassadors, after having successfully fulfilled their mission, 
retumed to France with a reinforcement of 4000 men.^ 

^ Alain Chartier (Beny), pp. 49-60. 

' Bower (ii. 463) states that, early in the battle, when fortiine wac 
deolaring against the English, they were only prerented £rom ■urrendering 
by having leamt that BoQglas had ordered hia men to gire no qnarter. 

' Jean Ohartier. George Buohanan aaya aboat 2000. 

^ George Bnchanan. Aachmar atates that Sir Alexander Baohanan was 
killed here. 

* Berry (Alain Chartier) aays that in 1424 Dooglaa and the Archbiahop of 
Rheinia broaght 4000 men from Sootland. He mentiona thia expedition 
before the battle of Yemeail, and evidently mixea np the embaasy of Damley 



INTRODUCnON. 

We next hear of ihe Scots in Fnnce as joining tlie French 
nnder the Siie d^Orval and Dnnois, the bastaid of Orleana, in 
raising tiie aiege of MontaigiB in 1426. The constable Damley 
was not with them on this occasion. He was at Jaigeau when 
the news reaohed him^ and was much incensed at his troops 
having acted without his order&^ 

The final catastrophe, however» in this iU-staired expedition 
was the death of Sir John Stewart of Darnley in 1429, at the 
Battle of the Henings. He had been sent with 20,000 men to 
inteicept a convoj of piovisions which loid Talbot was biing- 
ing firom Paiis to supply the Eng^h besiegeis of Oileana 
Damley^ fell in with the convoy at the village of Estrte Saint 
Denis in Beauce on the 12th of Febmaiy 1428-9. The Eoglish 
entrenched themselves behind their wagons, and the Erench, 
under the duc de Bourbon, proposed to suiioimd them and 
starve them into sunendei, Damley, howevei, disiiiounting, 
attacked them at once, and was killed in an attempt to rescue 
his biothei WiIIiam,.who also lost his life. The Erench mean- 
while stood aloof, stiU mounted, and gave the Scots no assist- 
ance ; and the English gained a complete victoiy. 

Thus ends this episode of Scottish histoiy. The Scots came 
over to the assistance of Fiance when hei foitunes weie at tbe 
lowest ebb, and on them foi many years lay the chief buiden 
of the task of achieving hei independence. Indeed it was only 
when a moie poweiful aim than theiis, that of the inspiied 
Maid of Oileans, was leady to take up the cause they had so 
long upheld, that the lif e of the last of this brave band was 
requiied of him. The family of Damley, as lords of Aubigny, 

still individually kept up their connection with Eiance foi 

-- - ■- 

and the Archbiahop in 1426 with the i)nt amvil of BoagUs with aome 
troope in 1423, a miftake nuide abo by G. Crawfard (HitL qfthe StaoarU), 
who says Banileyy Dimglas and the Arohbiahop were aent to Sootland on 
this embaasy, and that 4000 men were aent oat in 1426. 

* Berry. 

' Berry speakB ofhim as having Jost Tetnined from a pflgrimage to the 
Hdly Sepolchre. 



XXX INTRODUCnON. 

many generations, and rose to the highest distinction in her 
service ; but the record of the enterprise which had so largely 
enlisted the sympathies of the Scots as a nation was dosed by 
the death of the Gonstable in 1429. 

Tbe next passage of Scottish bistory with regard to which 
the chronicler of Pluscarden claims to be an original authority 
is the marriage of the Princess Margaret to the Dauphin Louis. 
As abeady stated, this marriage was arranged in 1425. The 
contract was signed at Perth on the 19th of July 1428, and was 
ratified at Chinon on the 30th of October following.^ The 
Dauphin was only five years old at that time, and the Princess 
a few months younger ; and for the next eight years the English 
did aU in their power to frustrate the alliance. They sent Lord 
Scroop over to Scotland to ask the hand of the Princess for 
Henry vi.;^ they offered to enter into a league of perpetual 
amity with the king of Scotland ; and they proposed to give 
up to him Boxburgh, Berwick, and several other places. 
These proposals were laid by King James before the Estate& 
The clergy indeed were divided in their opinions ; but the 
nobles decided against the Euglish offers, and their view 
was adopted by the king.' At length, in 1436, the Princess, 
then only thirteen^ years of age, embarked at Dumbarton, and 
set sail for France to join her future husband. She was 
escorted by the Bishop of Brechin, Sir Walter Ogilvy the king^s 
Treasurer, Sir Herbert Harris, Sir John Maxwell of Calder- 
wood, Sir John Campbell of Loudon, Sir Thomas Colville, Sir 
John Wishart and many other baronSy together vrith master 
John Stewart provost of Methven, and Maurice Buchanan, 
Treasurer to the Dauphiness, clerics, and 150 youthful squires 
and a guard of 1000 men-at-arms, in a fleet of three large shipa 

1 The dowry of the Dauphiness waa to be only 12,000 lims, bat 3000 
liyres were added when the oontract wac ratified by Charles vii. Dudoi, 
Bkt. qf Louia XL 

> G. Grawfard'8 Oenealogical Hitt. o/the SUwarUy Edin. 1710, p. 23. 

3 Duclos, Hi9t, qf Louie XI, ^The Book of Plusoarden says ten. 



INTKODUCnON. XXXI 

and six barges,^ imder the command of Henry Sinclair^ earl of 
Orkney. Some English ships came out to intercept her, bat 
went ofT in pnrsnit of a Flemish fleet of merchantmen laden 
with wine from Bochelle, which they captured, though they 
were affcerwards engaged and defeated by a Spanish fleet, and 
were forced to surrender their prizes. Meanwhile, however, the 
Scottish fleet sailed into Bochelle unmolested, and the Pnncess 
landed at Neville Prioiy, where she was received by Beginald 
de Chartres, Archbishop of Bheims, and the Bishop of P<»tiers 
and Xaintonge. 

Margaret then at once proceeded to Tours, where the mar- 
riage ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Bheims. 
Jean Chartier, the historiographer of Charles vu., gives a very 
minute and graphic account of her reception : — 

" In the same year, 1436, on Sunday, the 24th day of Jime, 
the day and feast of St John the Baptist, the Lady Margaret» 
daughter of James king of Scotland, entered the city of Tours 
as Dauphiness, with a brilliant and distinguished suite> and 
was received with great honour by the townsfolk She was 
mounted on a most richly caparisoned palfrey, and behind her 
came Madame de la Boche the elder on another palfrey, and 
likewise many other dames and damsels of Scotland. Then 
foUowed two chariots full of other ladies and damsels. 

''When the said Dauphiness was at the entrance of the 
town, the Sires de Maill^ and de Gramaches came on foot to 
meet her, and took the said lad/s palfrey by the bridle, one on 
one side and the other on the other, and thus escorted she 
reached the casUe, where she dismounted. Then my lord of 
Venddme on one side and an earl of Scotland on the other took 
her and brought her to the castle, within the hall, where were 
the queen of France, the queen of Sicily, my lady Badegonde, 
the king^s daughter, my lady of Venddme, and many other 

^ Bower, yoL ii p. 4S5. G. Orawfard says forty-Biz Bhips. The Book of 
Flascudeo sayi there were 3000 men-at-anna — ^vol. ii p. 282. 



XXZU IinXODUCTION. 

lords, ladies and dams6l& The qaeen of Sicily and mj lady 
Badegonde came to the end of the hall to meet her, and took 
her, one on one side and the other on the other, and led her 
thns before the qneeny who was seated in front of a laige draped 
bench, and who, when she saw her coming, roae and went 
forward fonr or five steps to meet her, and took and kissed her. 
Meanwhile my lord the Danphin, who was in his chamber 
below, came into this hall with a good foUowing of knights and 
squires ; and as soon as the said ladyx who had come to be his 
wife and bride, heard that he was coming into the hall, she 
went to meet him, and they kissed and embraced each other 
and came back to the queen. Afterwards they all went 
together to tbe qneen's chamber, whioh was handsomely draped 
and decorated, and there they amnsed themselves until supper 
time. The great hall was all most richly hung with tapestry 
from top to bottom, besides four chambers in like manner hung 
with doth of gold and tapestiy hangings. The day after the 
said feast of St John the Baptist the king arrived at Tours, and 
was present in person at the blessing of my lord the Dauphin 
and the said lady Maigaret of Scotland. The king that day 
had on no other dress than that he lode in ; but my lord the 
Dauphin was dad in royal apparel, as was also the said lady 
his bride ; and the queen was attired in the moming in a robe 
of dark grey (perse) yelvet» all covered with large sprigs of 
goldsmiths' work, which were veiy rich and beautifuL There 
was a great quantity of instruments of music. 

'' Kenaud de Chartres, archbishop of Bheims, chancellor of 
France, married the said lord and ladyi and these nuptials 
were held as a high holiday and festival in that city of Tours. 

'' Immediately after mass was celebrated by that archbishop, 
the king, accompanied by the queeUi the newly-married couple 
and many lords, squires, dames and damsels, came where dinner 
was to be served, and they sat down to dinner in the following 
order. First sat the said archbishop, who had celebrated the 



INTBODUCTION. XXXIU 

mass. The second was the king; then came my ladj the 
Daaphiness ; then the qaeen of Sicilj ; the qneen of France 
was fifth, and my lady of Yenddme sixth ; and thns this table 
was complete. I need not speak of the dinner. Theie was 
great store of all the viands it was possible to find^ with side 
dishes, and plenty of tnunpets, clarions, minstrelsy, lutes and 
pealteries. Heralds and pnrsuivants also were there in great 
numbers, and, truth to say, there was great good cheer made."^ 

We have veiy few notices of the Princess's short and un- 
happy maiTied life. She seems to have been much n^lected 
by her husband, who was engaged in the work of recovering 
iiis father's kingdom; though the chronicler of Pluscarden* 
speaks of the afifection in which she was held by the king and 
queen, and even by her husband, and of the influence she had 
acquired over them by her consummate tact and wisdom. She 
is mentioned by contemporary historians as having been pre- 
sent at Nanci in 1444, at tbe festivities on the occasion of 
Margaret of Anjou leaving for England to be married to 
Heniy vi. ; and she died the foUowing year, on the 16th of 
August, when only twenty-two. 

The circumstances of this pathetic event are given by 
Duclos in his History of Louis XI. : — * 

" Whilst the Court was at Nanci, Jametz du Tillay, bailiff 
of Vermandois, went one evening to the palace of the 
Dauphiness. She had with her the Sieur de Mainville, and 
another person who stood at some little distance. The chamber 
had no other light in it but the blaze of a laige fira Du TiUay 
said that it.was a shame (paUlardie) they should leave madame 
the Dauphiness so. This discourse was repeated and ill- 
construed, though Du TiUay afterwards excused himself by 

1 Jean Chwrtier, Hitt, de Churles VII,^ 1661, p. 91. 

s See this ▼olnme, p. 288. 

' It is renuurkable that Jean Chartier, who deaoribes Margarefs mamage 
in snch detail, saya not a word abont her death. It wac probably a sore 
subject at the French Court 

VOL. IL d 



XXXIV . INTRODUCnON. 

saying that he never meant to blame any other than the 
princess^s servants for their negligence in not lighting up her 
apartments. However, as he was a person of very little judg- 
ment, a great talker, and veiy indiscreet, a kind of men to be 
dieaded even by their fiiends, he cast several odious reflections 
upon the ladies who attended on the Dauphiness, and particu- 
larly on the demoiselles de Salignac, Pr^ente and Fillotte. 
What he began by indiscretion he fiirther carried on by 
treachery ; it is even said that he caused several anonymous 
letters fiUed with calumnies to be written to the king. The 
king showed by his silence that he despised them, and would 
have had them concealed &om the kno wledge of the Dauphiness. 
She was long the subject of discourse without knowing it^ but 
at last these reproachful speeches reached her ears, and gave 
her a great deal of trouble.^ However, instead of seeking to 
gratify her revenge, she lamented in secret, and sought for 
cousolation in religion. One hot day, waUdng from the castle 
of Sarry, near Chftlons, to the church of Notre Dame de TEpine, 
she was seized with a pleurisy which, being added to her 
former grief, carried her off in a few day& During her illness 
she made continual protestations of her innocenoe against the 
calumnies of ihai honed mc/iiy as she called Du Tillay. 

^' The confessor of this unhappy pxincess found a good deal 
of difficulty to prevail upon her to pardon her calumniator, and 
her last words were, ' Out upon life ! talk of it to me no more.'* 
She was interred in the cathedral church of Ch&lons, and four- 
and-thirty years after, by order of Louis XL, was tianslated to 
Tours, where she was deposited in a chapel which herself had 
founded* 

^ Thd words of Du TilUy, which killed her, are said to have been, ** Aves 
¥0118 point Tu cette dame ^k ? Elle a mieoz manite d^vne paillarde qne 
d'ane grande maitreete." — PiinLEBTOK. 

' The princess on her deathbed ooold hardly be persnaded to pardon him, 
saying, *' Now he haa gained hia pnrpoae." — Pinksrtoh. 

' She wa« transferrod, on ISth Deoember 1479, to a chapel in the abbey 
of S. Laon at Tours (Ducloe, vol. iL p. 272). The chronicler of Plnacarden, 



INTBODUCTION, XXXV 

i 

''This piincess was generallj regretted The clamours 
againflt Da Tillay were so great that the king was obliged by 
letters-patent (dated May 27, 1446) to appoint Tudert, master 
of the requests, and Thiboust, counsellor in parliament, to 
inform against him. The queen even suffered herself to be 
interrogated, the only difference between her interrogation and 
that of the other witnesses being that she was not examined 
upon oath, and was interrogated by the chancellor, Juvenal 
des Ursins, assisted by William Cousinot, master of the 
requests. Her Majesty^s deposition is still in being with the 
other informations, which charges Du Tillay, if not with 
downright calumny, at least with a great deal of indiscretion. 
B^inald du Dresnay, Louis de Laval, and several others, 
apprehending these procedures to be injurioi» to the memory 
of the Dauphiness, would have vindicated her honour by a 
duel, but Charles vn. would not admit of it; he even pro- 
hibited all those who had distinguished themselves too warmly 
upon this occasion from coming to court ; and thus the matter 
was stifled."^ 

Duclos places the character of this gentle princess' in a 
most amiable light He says, ^ Ingenuity and judgment, noble 
sentiments and great good-nature, were all united in this 
princess ; and these extraordinary endowments, which gained 
her universal admiration, were further set off with a graceful 
person, which rendered them amiable. To be virtuous was the 

from bis intimate oonneotion with the Danphinesa, would certainly have 
been aware of tbia event, and wonld have mentioned it in the version of his 
Chronicle written in 1489, if that had been by hiii own hand. As, however, 
BQch is not the caae, but, on the contrary, where the chronider speaka of her 
bnrial at Chftlons (toL ii. p. 288), he merely adda, '* and the king said that 
after a little while he wonld haye her taken up and plaoed in Saint Denis, 
among aU the kings and queena there," it ia most probable that he died 
before 1479 ; and if hii death ocourred while he waa engaged on hia Chronicle, 
the fint yersioo of which bears date 1461, that might aocount for the un- 
finiflhed state of the chapter on Joan of Arc, which hd may have left to the 
last. 

1 DnoloB, Hid. qfLome XL, London, 1746, voL L pp. 36, 37. 

' Monstrelet speaks of her as a *' bdle et bonne dame." 



XXXVl IlfTRODUCTION. 

proper means of making court to her ; whoever deserved her 
favour was sare to obtain it ; and it ofk sufficed to stand in 
need of it Being informed that a certain knight, who dis- 
tingoished himself in a toumament, wanted those assistances 
of fortune which are always needful to merit, she sent him a 
present of 300 crowns, a very large sum at' that time of day» 
and for a princess who ofben wanted necessaries. She was 
passionately fond of leaming.^ One day, seeing Alain Chartier 
asleep, she gave him a kiss, and observing the people about 
her to stand in amaze, she said it was not the man she had 
kissed, but the mouth that had uttered such fine discourses." 

It would thus appear that her easy affability and frank 
friendliness towards those who courted her favour, and a 
certain romantic disregard of conventionalities fostered by her 
assiduous devotion to poetry, left her an easy prey to ill-natured 
calumny, tmder which her sensitive constitution, enfeebled 
by excessive study, rendered her unable to bear up ; though 
all agree in paying a loyal tribute to the sterling worth and 
purity of her character. 

The only other point upon which our author seems to 
promise ub original matter is the episode of Joan of Arc. The 
chapter* conceming her, however, breaks ofif after a few lines, 
and it is probable that he never lived to finish it.' 

^ One of the remarks made upon her by Du TiUay was that her lUneBS 
arose from her sitting up aU night making rondeaux and baUads. 

* Vol. ii. p. 277. ' See p. xxiv., note 3. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEK 



THE WEITER'S PEEFACK 

In lecalling to mind the praiseworthy deeds of the gieat 

men of the paat, not only do we profit the men of onr day by 

rehearsing events of interest which have taken place ; nay, we 

alflo, by the lantem of truth, as it were, show wayfftrers the 

path of virtae throngh the example of able men of yore ; and, 

while we commemorate their merits, afiford the fortunate in 

time to Gome a noble opportnnity of following in the foot- 

steps of their revered ancestors. Aa, then, in all human actions 

and work a foundation of truth (which is Grod, without whom 

nothing is strong, nothing is holy) must first and before all be 

traced, and be preferred to all camal affections, we ought, with 

all caie and quenchless diligence, unweaiiedly to aspire after 

the same with our whole might. For, where truth itself is not 

the foundation, theie cannot the edifice of any good work be 

laised. Man's intellect, however, could not reach unto the 

acquisition of a clear knowledge of this tmth by the light of 

nature, without Qod's grace supematurally poured into it Let 

us, theiefore, ask it of the Father of lights, from whom cometh 

down every good giffc and perfect gifb from above, for He alone 

glveth wisdom, and out of His mouth is knowledge and under- 

standing; beseeching, with the holy Solomon, and saying, 

'^Loid, give me Wisdom, that aitteth by thy thione; that, 

being piesenti she may labour with me, that I may know what 

is pleasing in thy sight " at all times ; foi he piayed, and undei- 

standing was given him ; he called upon Qod, and the spiiit of 

A 



1 



2 THE BOOK OF PLUSCAEDEN. PROLOGUE. 

wisdom came unto him. To the obtaining of which grace let 
TTini deign to lead us, who liveth and reigneth without end. 
Amen. 

The same cantinued. 

Moreover, let os give gloiy to Ood in the highest, praise after 
death to those all-conquering and invincible Scotsmen that are 
no more, and magnify and honour those living ones who worthily 
and nobly hold, guard and occupy the illustiious throne of 
Scotland amid such changes in the world, such disasters and 
harassings, such defeats, batdes and warlike exploits^ such in- 
describable assaults by tyrants, likewise such infamous acts of 
deceit and treacheiy by traitors : notwithstanding all which, 
the royal house of Scotland has occupied it with honour and 
fireedom &om 330 years and more before Chiisfs Incamation to 
the present day, without change of nationality or subjection 
of the Tring^s majesty. With what praises, therefore, I may 
mention these men» I know not; but I set myseK to give 
thanks without ceasing to Almighty God for them. 



PROLOGUE. 

Although good Chronides and Gestes^ which unfold new 
facts in connected narrative, are much in favour and please the 
ears of their hearers, yet, as piinces and prelates and other men 
of note, engrossed as they are by the many and arduous affairs 
as well as unavoidable and inultifarious annoyances of worldly 
lif e, may not without serious trouble (which oftentimes brings 
weariness and quenches out of the hearers' hearts the desire 
to hear) lend their ears for any length of time to so bulky a 
volume as we see and have found in the Oreat Ghronicle»^ it is 
therefore the author^s intention, under correction of those whom 
it concems or may in any way soever concem in the future^ to 
touch briefly and succinctly, the giace of the Holy Ohost 
working with him, upon eveiy profitable and fruitfdl matter 
recorded in the Oreat Chronicle; and, as it is useless to do by 
moie what may be done by less, to pick out, extract and dis- 
entangle, like a honey-bee amo^ the flowers of the field, leaving 



THE BOOK OF PLUSOAKDEN. PROLOGXTR 3 

the flower uniDJured, whatever on each point seems to suffice 
for the effectufid showing forth of the truth of the matter, 
without long-drawn-out verbiage, which not unfrequently pro- 
duces perplexity and weanness ; and so to prepcure an abridg- 
ment of the Chronicle, at the desire, order and commission of 

the venerable fiather and lord in Christ D y by God's per- 

mission now reigning abbot of the monasteiy of Dunfermline, 
and governing the said' monastery; and to wind up ulti- 
mately by sifting and coUecting, as best I might, facts happen- 
ing in our own time, leaving out useless trifles and fruitless 
rubbish not pertinent to the subject, and by recording and 
introducing them together with some other wonderfiil doings 
which I who write have known, seen and heard out of this 
countiy ; as also, lastly, about a certain marvellous maid who 
bronght about the recovery of the kingdom of France out of 
the hands of the tyrant Henry king of England, and whom I 
saw and knew, and in whose company I was : I was present 
during her endeavours for the said recoveiy up to her life'8 
end, etc. 

[Five hooks and fonrUm Aapters of ihe Sixth Bock^ whieh are 
as in John, of ForduUy are omiited in ihis edition.] 

The f&wrteenth chapter ofBook VI, coneltuies asfollows: — 

Be it also remarked that all these for^ing incidents were 
coUected and compiled by the distinguished and discreet deric, 
sir John of Fordun; but the rest, here foUowing, — ^namely, 
down to the tune of King James, the second of that name, — 
by the venerable fiBtther, the lord abbot of Inchcolm, who in 
hLs time was caUed sir Walter Bowar, as we find it stated in 
the Great Chronicle. May their souls rest in peace ! Of the 
remainder, however^ it wiU be known at the end of this present 
book who is going to compile them ; for we cannot know pre- 
cisely what may happen in the fature. Wonder not, Beader, 
if, when the opinions and writings of divers authors and 
chroniders about this most iUustrious Une of kings are quoted 
in the present UtUe work, they be repeated twice or thiice ; 
for, according to law, a condusion is aU the stionger for being 
proved by the authority of a great many, even as, in the gospel 
of Jesus Chnst, one and the same history is proved by four 
EvangeUsts. 



BOOK VL 



CHAPTER XV. 

Saint Margarefs descerU, according to BcMred the ahbot, cuxard- 
ing to WUliam the historian^ and according to Bishop 
Turgot ; on the authority of these three and a great many 
hisiorians thai iUustriom linecd succession is hrougJU doum 
from the kingdom of the Angles to the lawful fieirs of 
Saint Margaret, 

Havikg said thus much of certain kiiigs of England, who 
incidentally belong to the subject-matter, we must next go on 
to the descent of the illustrious kings of the noble stock of 
the most. blessed Margaret queen of Scots, according to Tuigot 
bishop of St. Andrews ; and we find in the most trustwortiby 
and ancient histories and chronicles that they are lineally 
descended from Adam, to wit the father of all rational mortals. 
From Adam's son Seth, then, who was bom unto him in Abers 
stead, the genealogy of this sainted family is brought down to 
Enoch, who, together with the holy Elias, was in his lifetime 
translated by God, and awaits the coming of Antichrist' We 
then come down to Noah, who alone, with his sons and their 
wives, was found worthy to be saved when the woiid was 
perishing; whose firstbom, Sem, eamed a blessing from his father. 
From Sem the genealogy is brought down to Woden, who had 
so much authority among his people that the fourth day of the 
week, which the Homan Glentiles used to call Mercuiy's day, 
they dedicate to his name, and they call it Wodennisday in the 
English tongue to this day. Prom Woden we go on to Geta, 
who had so much wisdom and authority that he was commemo- 
rated as a god by the pagans. Then we come to the most 
Christian kmgs Tngels and Yne, of whom Yne, while he was 
sole monarch and the most powerful of the kings of England, 
left his kingdom and went on a pilgrimage to ^me, where he 
remained until his death. From Ingels we go on to Egbricht, 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VI. ^ 

who was adomed by so many virtues, and was of so great prowess, 
that he entirely subdued and united under his rule the whole 
territoiy and tract of England south of the river Humber, 
which was at that time broken up and subject to several kings ; 
and he was the first of all the Mngs of England to be styled 
" monarch." His son was Ethelwl^ that most bright fountain- 
head and source of his coming race, which precious root has 
yielded most noble and holy firuit. He, indeed, in his earthly 
kingdom, was ever mindful of the kingdom of heaven ; and, 
after a good life^ was gathered to his fathers, not losing but 
exchanging his kingdom, forsaking the temporal and gaining 
the etemal. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Alfredy son of Ethdwlf. 

The son of this Ethelwlf was that pride of the English, 
that gem of kings, that pattem of virtue, Alfred by name, less 
in age than the rest of his brothers, but greater in valour. 
When, afber the death of his brothers, with whom he reigned 
for some time, the whole kingdom devolved upon him, he did 
his best to seem to fall in with the character and disposition of 
all men, to make himself useful and necessary to all ; and, what 
is seldom now found upon earth and especially befits the 
dignity of king, to exercise no authority in Chrisfs Church. 
But, when he had reigned twenty-nine years and six months, 
he went up from his earthly kingdom to tiie Mngdom of heaven, 
and left his son Edwaid to inherit his kingdom and character. 
For this Edward was beneath his father in knowledge of letters, 
but not much his inferior in holiness, and far superior to him 
iu kingly power. He lived twenty-four years upon the throne, 
and b^t sons and daughters, namely Athelstan, his firstbom 
son, of a most noble woman, to wit Edwina; and, of Edith the 
queen, Edwin, Edmund and Ethehred. So King Edward slept 
with his fjEithers, and his son Athelstan reigned after him, 
walking in the ways of his fathers, and fiUed with all virtue. 
Against^ him did the remainder of the Danes lift up their 
in&mous head, after their wont, but he crushed them under 
foot When, however, he had lived sixteen years upon the 
throne, he died, and his brother Edmund reigned in his stead. 
This Edmund imitated his fjather Edward in aU things, was a 
simple and upiight man, fearing 6od, and abiding in his 
innocence unto the end; whereof the impious pagans took 



B ' THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VL 

advantage, refasing to snbmit themselyes nnto him and nnto 
the Chiistian rel^on which the king, beloyed of God, pro- 
fessed, and laying snaies for his death in some way or other. 
He, however, when^ their accnrsed pnrpoee conld in no wise be 
hid, ill brooking that the seemliness of his reign shonld be 
stained hj their worship of idols, forcibly wiested from their 
grasp and occnpation five most noble cities which they then 
inhabited, namdy Lincoln, Leicester, Stamford, Nottinghamand 
Dcrby, and, wiping ont all unbelief, illumined them with the 
light of the Christian faith. Whilst, therefore, the whole of 
England in these days flonrished in profound peace nnder so 
great a father rather than king, he met with an nntimely death 
after completing five years and seven months npon the throne, 
and expirod suddenly in nnlooked-for pain and agony. 



CHAPTEB XVIL 
His bratJier Eihdred meeeeds him* 

His brother Ethebed® succeeded him on the throne, and 
walked in the ways of his father Edward and his brethren, 
complying in all things with the advice and injunctions of the 
blessed Dunstan ; and a predous death closed his praiseworthy 
life. After biTn leigned Edwin, son of Eing Edmund» and he 
walked not in the ways of his fEtthers» but arose like another 
Herod amid all that race. 

But as so much conceming this line of Mngs of England, 
allied in blood to the kings of Scots through the blessed 
Maigaret, recapitulated as it is again and again in the accounts 
of the oft-mentioned historians Baldred, William^ and Tuigot, 
may suffice to show the leadBis the truth, it would now 
seem best to go on to what follows, leaving out fruitless 
trivialities. 

After Saint David, therefore, the son of King Malcolm and 
the blessed Maigaret, had gone the way of all flesh at Carlisle, 
and had been buried with due honour at Dunfermline, Malcolm, 
his nephew^ through his brother, came to the thione ; and in 
the first year of his reign the petty king of Argadia (Argyll), 
by name Sumerled, and his nephews, the sons of Malcohn 
Makheth, being joined by a gieat many otheis, lose against 
him and disturbed great part of Scotland. Now this 
Makheth^ said he was the son of Angus earl of Moray — ^though 
in truth he was not — ^who in the time of King David was slain» 
as he deserved to bOi by the Scots at Strucathioch (Strickathiow 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VI. 7 

in Foifar) ; and upon his death this Makheth rose against King 
David» as it were a son avenging his father^s death ; and, while 
biinging rapine and slaughter upon the neighbouring districts, 
he was at length captnred and thrust® into close imprisonment 
in Marchmont Oastle. In the time of King David, likewise, one 
of Makheth's sons, Dovenald by name, was captured at Quhitt- 
ham (Whithem) by some of the king^s fiiends/^ and imprisoned 
in that same castle of Marchmont, which is called Boxburgh, 
together with his father, who in the foUowing year made peace 
with King Malcolm, while Sumerled still went on in hiB vil- 
lainy. At Pans in these days flourished Peter Lombard» the 
Master of Sentences, the most eminent cleric in Theology ; and 
contemporaiy with him was Peter Gommestor, the Master of 
History. In the year 1164^^ Louis king of the French 
received the submission of Heniy Eitz-Empress» duke of Nor- 
mandy, who shortly afterwaids came to England on King 
Stephen's death, took possession of the whole of the kingdom, 
and restored tranquillity. The same year William Cumyn 
aichbishop of York^ after receiving the Eucharist at Mass, 
perished through the treacheiy of his clerics by a dose of deadly 
poison in the Ablutions. 



CHAPTEE XVIII. 

Mcdeolm, King of Scots, and Hewry of JSngland. 

On the death, therefore, of Stephen Mng of Jjigland, Henry 
Eitz-Empress, duke of Normandy, was made king, in the second 
year of Malcohn king of ScotlAnd. But, when he had been 
raised to the throne, he forgot his promise and oath which he 
had previously swom to David, the uncle of his mother the 
said empress, and laying claim to Northumberland and Cum- 
berland, though they had for countless years past yielded 
obedience to the kings of Scots, made great preparations to 
invade them ; and he also recognosced the earldom of Hunting- 
don into his own poesession. Now this Heniy was called " The 
lion," on account of his fierceness. So when he sawthat John 
bishop of Glasgow was discharging the duties of a bishop 
throughout Cumberland as usual, and would not on that account 
yield obedience to him as his feudal, or to the archbishop of 
York as his ecclesiastical, superior, he, at the instance of Trustin, 
the aforesaid archbishop, set up Edwald by main force as 
bishop in Cumberland in opposition to him ; for there was none 
who durst at that time withstand him. But wheu Bishop John 



8 THS BOOK 09 PLU80ABDSK. BOOK VI. 

heard that his bishopric was thas dismembered, and that he 
could in no wise be protected» either by right or by might, 
either by the law or by the sword, he cro^ed the sea and 
offered himself as a monk at the monasteiy of Tirou. Eing 
Malcohn of Scotland, however^ by authoritiy of the Pope, from 
a monk again restored him to the bishopric of Glasgow; and 
he presided over it for twenty-eight years more, and died, 
and lies bnried at Jedwort (Jedbuigh). From such causes, 
be it observed, namely alliances and rivabies, sprang up many 
evils between the princes, though, through the intervention 
of the magnates of the two kingdoms, a peace was entered 
into between them for a time; but, as that was a hollow 
peace, it did not last long. During this peace, however, Eing 
Malcohn, who was young and knew no guile,and, like an inno- 
cent, believed eveiy word, did homage to Eing Henry at Ohester 
— ^it is not known at whose instigation — ^in the same way as 
his uncle^ King David had been the liegeman of the old Henry 
king of England, called Beauclerk, the husband of Maud the 
good queen of England, sister to the said Eing David ; for by so 
doing Eing Malcolm hoped to be left in more free and peacefal 
possession of his property in England. This was without pre- 
judice, however, in any respect, to his dignities and rights as 
king. At that place» the same year, the Mng, led astray by 
dever trickery, by the advice of some who had hem bribed with 
money gave up Northumberland and Cumberland to the king 
of England, without taking the opinion of any of his lords save 
a few ; wheref ore this same king restored to him the earldom 
of HuntingdoiL On account of this, the whole commonalty 
of the whole lealm of Scotland murmured grievously against 
their king and his cormpt counsellors, and weie silently stirred 
to hatred. Meanwhile, the following year, the aforesaid kings 
met at Oarlisle to arrange their affairs, but did not come to any 
agreement. Afterwaids, however, in the seventh year of the said 
Eing Malcolm of Scotland, the said Eing Henry led a strong army 
into France against Toulouse ; but as Louis king of the Frencn 
protected the town, he was baffled in the chief aim he had in 
view^ and retumed; and thus out of the most profound peace 
sprang up a most bitter quarrel between them. Eing Malcolm, 
though against the will of most of the magnates of the realm, 
was at that time in Eing Henry^s army, and on the way back 
was begirt with the belt of kn^hthood by him in the city of 
Touis in France. 



^^"^^^^^^^&^^^^^^m^^m^^mmmtmm^mmmmm^mmtmmi^m&mmmtmmmummmm^mmmmimmmmm 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGABBEN. BOOK VI. 9 

CHAPTEE XIX. 

King McUeolm. 

The Scottisli chiefs, however, perceiving that their king was 
too intimate with the said English king, weie sore troubled, 
and with them all the lords and other folks of the reahn of 
Scotland ; for they feared lest his too great faniiliarily, which 
oftentimes breeds contempt^ shonld beget mischief and shame 
for them. So, trying in all eamestness to provide against this» 
they sent an embassy afber him, sajing, " We will not have 
this man to reign over us." Thereupon he retumed from the 
army at Toulouse, and came to Scotland; and by his royal 
authority he commanded the prelates and lords to assemble at 
Perth for divers pressing matters. Meanwhile the magnates of 
the countiy were roused, and six earls^ namely Ferchard earl 
of Strathem and five others, being stiired up against the king» 
not indeed for any sdfish advantage, or through treason, but for 
the good of the state and to gaard the privileges of the realm, 
sought to arrest and take him, and besieged hun in the keep of 
that town. They were, however, for the time foiled in tlieir 
undertaking; and many days had not gone by before, through 
the intervention of the clergy and other nobles of the realm, he 
was recondled ; and he marched thrice in the same year into 
(jalloway against certain rebels. These he overcame, conquered^ 
made his sdlies, and subdued, and at length he came back in 
peace, without any loss to his own men ; and he afterwards so 
beld them in subjection and curbed their mouths with bit and 
bridle, that their petty king, Fergus by name, gave his son and 
heir to the king to govem and control,^ and, renouncing the 
insignia of knighthood, became a canon in the monasteiy of 
Holyrood at E(£nbuigh. In these days, moreover, the king, by 
the advice of the magnates of his realm/^ gave his sisters 
Margaret and Ada in marriage» Margaret to Conan duke of 
Brittany, and Ada to Florence count of HoUand. At this 
period, also, peace was restored between the king of the French 
and the king of England ; and, as a pledge for the maintenance 
thereof, Louis king of the French gave his daughter, barely two 
years old, to wife to the English king's eldest son, not yet six 
years old. At this time such an earthquake occurred by night 
in Burgundy, that many buildings feU in ruins. In these days, 
likewise, a quarrel broke out among the cardinals after Pope 
Adrian's death, whereby a great schism sprang up in Christ^s 
Chuxch ; and Pope Alexander^ then canonically elected, by his 



10 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN.- BOOK VI. 

apostolic authority excommunicated and altogether expelled 
firom the Ohorch of God thiee schismatics who had been 
elected at the treacherous instigation of the deviL 



CHAPTER XX. 

Malcolm conquers the petty king of Argadia, 

About the same time, in consequence of the perfidy of the 
men of Moray, whose lord, namely Angus their earl, had, 
together with his family^ been formerly slain, the king with a 
large aimy removed all the Moravians, as well beyond the hills 
as this side thereof^^ and took them across out of the land of 
their birth, and depopulated it^ so that not a single native of 
that land remained there; and he placed in that countiy a 
peaceable people to inhabit the said laiid. Sommerled, however, 
the petty Mng of Argadia (Argyll), who had now f or twel ve y ears 
been impiously fighting against his lord the king, was at length, 
through Gk)d'8 vengeance, while on a plundering expedition 
with a strong army which repaired to him from Iieland by sea 
and firom among his own lieges by land, slain by the king^^ at 
Ben&ew, together with his son, Gillecolam by name, and a 
large number of his men. Now when this King Malcolm grew 
up to be a young man at the age of puberty, he refused to take 
a wife, although he had been besought by his councillors and 
the magnates of the realm and by the entreaties of the whole 
people, and even, as fisur as consistent with the king^s dignity, 
advised and exhorted to many; and, dedicating his maiden- 
hood to (xod, he abode all the days of his life in the full observ- 
ance of chastity and self-controUed modesty. Although he 
might, on the strength of his kingly rank, have lain even with 
married women, as is often the case^ yet he never would violate 
the chastity of maidenhood. He never harmed^ but kindly 
entreated, any who wished to live a good life ; but against the 
prince of this world, the enemy of mankind, he manfully 
warred, supported by God's help. He gave up camal for the 
sake of eternal joys, and his whole mind was bent on reigning 
with Ghrist for ever. For this cause he patiently endured 
many insulting speeches at the hands of his fidends and coun- 
trymen : for, according to the words of Solomon, Standing in 
righteousness, he made ready his soul to the trial; and he 
in his spirit firmly laid hold of the fervour of divine love, so 
that, rapt in the contemplation of Gk)d and despising earthly 
things, he almost entirely n^lected and overlooked the duty of 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABBEN. BOOE VI. 11 

goveming devolving upon the king^s majesty. Wherefore his 
people weie so dissatisfied and indignant with him, that his 
younger brother William — ^who, ever since the English had 
taken away his domain, the earldom of Northnmberland, had 
been very hostile to those English, and had become their 
implacable foe — ^was prodaimed and appointed warden of the 
whole kingdom^ against the king^s will, as it were, and even 
that of WiQiam hunself; his yoonger brother David being at 
that time earl of Hontingdon. In these days Pope Alexander 
held a general coimcil in the city of Toors in Fiance, and ex- 
communicated Octavian the Antipope. Cupar monasteiy was 
founded, and the city of Milan destroyed. 

Be it remarked that Conan, count of Brittany and of Biche- 
monty begat of the aforesaid Margaret one daughter named 
Constance, who was given in marriage to the English king 
Bichard's brother QeoStoj oount of Anjou, who of her begat a 
son named Arthur, count both of Anjou and of Biitooiyy 
throu^ his fiGither and mother^ and oount also of Poitou by 
giffc of Philip king of France. This Aithur, however, was, 
with many other nobles, drowned between France and England^ 
as already stated^^ Of the said Maigaret, moreover, this 
Conan b^t another daughter, who was named Alice, and who 
was married to Peter Mauclerk, and bore a son named John, 
afterwards duke of Brittany, of whose illustrious line have 
hitherto come the celebrated dukes of Brittany, whose posterity 
is in these days ''with the Scot allied/' to wit the daughter of 
King James L, Elizabeth by name, wedded to the duke of 
Brittany, Francis by name^ who was the nephew of the king 
of the French, Charles vn., and who of her begat a daughter 
whom he joined in wedlock with the firstbom of the count de 
Montfort, next heir to the said duchy of Brittany in lineal 
descent through his father.^^ This maniage revives the recol- 
lection of a certain prophecy in the following lines : — 

" The race of Brutus, with the Scot allied, 
Shall crush with sword and famine Anglia's pride." 

I find these stray passages in the Great Chronide, and have 
therefore thought it well to introduce them here incidentally. 



CHAPTEE XXI. 

Death of Mcdeolm King of Scotland. 

Now in these days King Malcolm, upon whom Gk)d showered 
the blessings of sw^tness» was all his life remarkable for spot- 



12 TH£ BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VI. 

less chastity, for the graces of lowliness and innocence, for 
puiity of conscience and holiness and staidness of behaviour, 
fervently following the promptings of the love of the Most 
High ; so that among laymen, with whom he had nothing in 
common but his dress, he seemed as it were a monk, and, among 
the men he ruled, an angeJ upon earth. But, when he had 
spent twelve years seven months and three days upon the 
throne, he was called away by Christ on Thursday the 9th of 
December; and he cast ofif the flesh for the fellowship of 
ai^^els, for the world was not worthy of him ; and, leaving this 
world in the flower of his age, he went to heaven, not losing, 
but exchanging, his kingdom^ and passed Hway to the Lord. 
After his decease, while a devout deric, a most intimate fiiend 
of the aforesaid lang while he lived, was watching and spend- 
ing his time in prayer at his tomb, for the love he bore him, 
while chanting the Psalms a sweet sleep crept over him, and 
he thought there appeared to him this same king, cheerful and 
glad, in white raiment, and bedecked most seemly in the 
insignia of royaltiy^ as was meet ; and he conversed with him, 
answering such questions as he asked. 

Here follows a metrical version of the questions put by the 
aforesaid cleric to the king : — 

Cleric A king thou wast, what art thou now ? 
King. A servant once, lo ! now I reign. 
C. "WTiy lingers still thy flesh below ? 

K, My spirit seeks the heavenly plain. 
C, Art thou in torment or content ? 

K Nay, not in pain. I rest in peace. 
C, Then what hath been thy punishment ? 

K A bitter lot ere my decease. 
C, Where art thou, friend ? Where dwells thy sprite ? 

K In paradise that knows not woe. 
C, Why does thy raiment gleam so white ? 

iT. I to my grave a maid did go. 
C, Why answerest so shortly, friend ? 

K, My life is eloquent for me. 
C. Thy days thou didst in sickness spend. 

K But now from sickness I am free. 
C Why lost we thee? Why did we part? 

K That I might find the saints on high. 
C What was it grieved thy gentle heart ? 

K This wicked world is all a lie. 
C, Tell me, when shalt thou come again ? 
K When the great Judge shall judge at last. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCilRDEN. BOOK VI. 13 

C. Will Scotda for thy loss complain ? 

K, Not now, but when this time is past. 
C. Wilt leave me now ? What dost thou fear ? 

K, The burden of the life I bore. 
C Hast thou no word thy Mends to cheer ? 

K. Bid them fareweU for evermore.^^ 

When he had said this, the ghost glided away ; and the cleric 
awoke and committed these lines to memory, and published to all 
men the king^s plight, such as he had seen it. This celebrated 
king was called The Maiden ; and he was also called Malcolm 
Keamoowrthy to distinguish him from his great-grandfather 
Malcolm Oanmor. So he died at Jedworth, and his body, 
escorted by all the magnates and prominent persons of the 
kingdom, was brought to Dunfermline in great state, and there 
obtained a place of burial in the middle of the choir, in front 
of the high altar, on the right of his grandfather the sainted 
King David The same year, in the month of August, before 
suniise in the moming, there appeared two comets, one in the 
south and another in the north. 



CHAPTER XXIL 

KiTig WiUiam, brother of the said King Maledm. 

The same year, on the fifbeenth day afber the said Eing 
MaIcolm's death, all the prelates and lords of the reabn met at 
Scone ; and, having come to an unanimous agreement^ adopted 
as king the said Elmg Malcolm's brother William, who was at 
that tmie earl of Northumberland, and was, on account of his 
admirable life and uprightness of conduct, (»Edled the Friend of 
GU)d, the lion of Justice^ the Paragon of Nobility. So on 
Christmas Eve he was, according to the royal custom, raised in 
state to the regal throne, the ceremony being performed by 
Bichard archbishop of Saint Andrews and other prelates and 
magnates. The foUowing year the king of England crossed 
the sea, and was shortly after followed by the said William 
king of Scotland, to treat of divers difficult matters; and as 
the said Henry Idng of England expected that war would be 
made against him, seeing that he had against him the Welsh 
and Matthew count of Boulogne, consort of King Stephen'8 
daughter, as well as the French nation, he thought he would 
secure the Scottish nation through his kinsman lUng William, 
and witb honeyed words attract it to himself by a few &ir 



U THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VL 

piomises. But Matthew assembled a fleet from all parts : he 
fltted out six hundred vessels, it was rumoured, which he was 
to man with Flemings and lead to the invasion of England 
the following year. Therefore there was a great stir made 
throughout England, and it was eagerly sought to secure fidends 
eveiywhere. For in these days, ever since Northumberland 
had been restored to Henry king of England, there reigned 
between the Idngdoms no settled peace, but rather some &ail 
truce, many a time broken and as often patched up again, 
whereby the contiguous borders of the kingdoms suffered 
severely. Wherefore, on these and other grounds, an agree* 
ment was drawn up by comndssioners from either coimtry and 
confirmed by the seal of each king and of all the lords, that, in 
order to recover Northumberland and establish an indissoluble 
bond of everlasting peace, William king of Scotland should go 
to his cousin King Heniy, then at Windsor, awaiting his 
coming thither. This was accordingly done ; and on his arrival 
there he was received with great rejoicings. But just as the 
kings were talking over their afiairs, all of a sudden untoward 
news from over the water burst upon King Hemys ears ; so 
when he had leamed the puiport thereof, he put aside all 
business and crossed the sea at £he head of a huge army. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

King William sds (mtfor &avi agavnst the wish ofhis 

eountrymen, 

EiNG William of Scotland, however, could by no contrivance 
of his own nobles who were there with him, or of any one else, 
be restrained from setting out with him against the wish of all, 
so that he might witness Uie encounter of brave warriors ; and in 
those parts he gained brilliant honours of chivahy, giving before 
all men promise of uncommon prowess. And thus^ having first 
ratified the truce, he retumed to his own kingdom with honour ; 
while the treaty of peace which was to have been arranged was 
put ofiT to an appointed time of fitting leisure. Afterwuds war 
broke out again between the Fiench and English kings about 
the city of Toulouse and foi sundiy othei leasons on eithei 
side, 80 that, besides many otber evils, the county of Anjou 
and the province of the Yexin were feaifully ravaged by fire 
and pillage, while the king of the French taiiied four days in 
the Yexin. The second year after this, however, peaoe was 
restoied between them, when both kingdoms had often been 



THS BOOK OF PLUSGABDEN. BOOK VI. 15 

reduced to great etraits ; and, in order to consolidate this peace, 
the Frencli king'8 other daughter, begotten of the daughter of 
the king of the Spaniards, was given to Sichard, son of the 
]dng of England. This Sichard, moreoyer^ got the duchy of 
Aquitaine from the king of the Erench, and did homage and 
swore fealty to him for the honour of the duchy. On this 
account also Henry, that Bichard's brother and I^g Henry's 
firstbom, then got from the king of the French the lordship of 
Brittany, together with the province of Anjou and the city of 
Cenoman (Le Mans), doing homage for these as he had alreieidy 
done for the duchy of Normandy. 

The year before> that is in 1166, Earl Gospatrick died, and 
was succeeded by his son Walter. The foUowing year died 
Baldred of happy memory, third abbot of Bivaulx, who com- 
posed the little book on the life of Saint David king of Scots ; 
and he was succeeded in the said abbacy of Bivaulx by Silvan 
abbot of Dimdranan. The same year also died the Empress 
Maud, daughter of the Qood Queen Maud of England, and 
mother of Henry n. king of the EngUsh ; and the Emperor 
Frederick L marched upon Bome, and thrust a certain schis- 
matic into the church of Saint Peter by force of arms. In the 
year 1169 died Gn^ory bishop of Dunkeld, and Humbald prior 
of Wenlock brought the brotherhood to the monastery of 
Paisley, which Wtdter, the son of Alan stewaid of the king of 
ScoUand, had founded shortly before. 



CHAPTEB XXIV. 

Jlenry, ihefather, (mt of JicUredfor Saint ITumuzs, hae fm 9091 

ffenry craumed, 

In this year Henry king of England came back to England 
from Normandy, and on the way back many of his men perished 
by shipwreck. Eing WiUiam, however, came to him at Windsor 
upon the samo business as before, to agree about arranging a 
peace, on Easter Eve, the day appointed by their agents, and 
was received by him with great honours. The interview b^gan 
after the Festival ; and wheu they came to talk over the condi- 
tions^ with regard, that is, to the earldom of Northumberland, 
upon which j^e king of Engknd had promised it him in the 
former negotiations, he asked that the earldom should be re- 
stored to him ; but what he had^ as abeady eaid, conceded to 
fear of thieatening wars, this he refused to give up now that 
they were somewhat aUayed and to some extent quieted and he 



1 6 THE BOOK OF PLUSGABDEK. BOOK YI. 

was as it weie safe from his enemies. WherefoTe Eing William 
of ScotJand went away imsatisfied, with none of the business 
settled ; and he letumed and amved safely in Scotland. In the 
year 1 1 69, Heniy king of England, having arranged for the con- 
secration and anointing of his eldest son Heniy, son-in-law to 
Louis king of France, by the archbishop of York, out of hatred 
to Saint Thomas archbiBhop of Canterbury, in violatioxi of the 
privileges of the said church of Canterbtuy, wickedly and arbi- 
trarily raised him to the throne, and drove the aforesaid holy 
man into exile in France. In these days a great quarrel and 
struggle broke out between Henry the father, the old king, and 
Heniy the son, the yoxmg king. On account of this rupture, 
Henry the son retired with his two brothers firom Engluid to 
France, to the king of the French, and enticed and won over to 
his cause King William of Scotland and many others, lords of 
France, who shared his views and promised him help. For it 
was hinted to the son that his father repented of having raised 
him to the throne^ and wished silently and secretly to teke his 
aforesaid son, the young king, and consign him to dose confine- 
ment in some stronff castle; and when the son heard this, he 
crossed the water and betook himself to his wife's father Louis 
king of the French. Trusting then in his help, he lost no time 
in hatching plots and wars against his father the king of the 
Enghsh ; but it was an evil thing to do^ for it is most wicked 
f or son to rise against father. Nevertheless it may be taken for 
granted that it came to pass by God's permission, on account 
of the atrocities erst wickedly inflicted upon the blessed Thomas 
the Martyr. 



CHAPTEE XXV. 

War betwem thefather and ean, [Kirige] of England. 

Ik the year 1173 the aforesaid Heniy^ the son, king of Eng- 
land, supported by the king of France and joined by Philip 
count of Flanders and many others from both England and 
France, led an army into Normandy against his &ther, and 
took the castle of Albemarle and imprisoned the count of 
Albemarle, whom his father Eing Henry had despatched to 
that place ; and, while taking and storming a great many other 
places, he slew many nobles of that counl^, together with the 
count of Boulogne. But William king of Scotland, listening 
to these promises of this new king, who proffered and promisea 
him Noiihumberland and Cumberland, and hoping tb repair 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VI. 17 

his former losses and wrongs by a fresh struggle, took the field 
with a laige army against the old King Heniy; and he first 
laid siege to Wark Castle, and encamped there, and then marched 
npon Northumberland with a great multitude of wild^ Scots, 
and, sparing no sex, made the place unrecognisable^ wasted and 
consnmed with fire and sword eyeiything this side of the liver 
Humber/and afberwards retreated to OarUsle and attacked ^ the 
city with all his forces. It so happened, however, that at this 
time Bobert earl of Leicester was put at the head of a great 
many knights by the young Eing Henry, and of a great multi- 
tude also of Flemish foot who embraced his cause, and was, 
together with his wife also in mail, aeBt into England to Eing 
William's support; but^ before he could reach him through 
England, he was captured by the adherents of the old king of 
England, and great part of his army was slain, while he was 
consigned to cruel imprisonment in. chains of iron in For- 
chester Castle. But when Eing William at Carlisle heard of 
this, he was so greatly grievedthereab that he raised the siege 
and went home agaiu. 



CHAPTEE XXVI. 

Captwe o/ WUliam King of Scotland, 

In the year 1174 Eing William led an army into England^ 
and besieged and took Appleby and subdned Westmoieland. 
Thereupon, for a sum of money, the Northumbrians obtained a 
peace until the eighth day after Whitsunday ; and thus he made 
a raid and went home again withoul^ loss. But, afber tanying 
there a little while, he- again got an army together and went 
back into England and took Borough-under-Moor ; so, after 
having wasted Cumberland, as he was going back ravaging 
tbrough Northumberland, he came before Alnwick ; and, when 
bivonacking there with a few knights, while the greater part of 
the army were scattered here and there over the country, the 
enemy suddenly and unexpectedly arrived and took him pri- 
soner, on the 13th of July, in the tenth year of his reign, and 
carried him ofiT with hardly any of his men being aware of it. 
Meanwhile Henry, the old king of England, came to England 
and proceeded** lirefoot, clad in sackcloth, wailing and weep- 
ing, and with a great multitude of bishops and lords, to the 
tomb of Saint Thomas, doing penance for ms sins and humbly 
beseeching peace. 

But in the moming William king of Scots, having been 

B 



1 8 THE BOOK OF PLnSGABBEN. BOOK VI. 

taken prisoner as aforesaid, and, by the ordering of GU>d'8 
loving-kindness, rescued from the shedding of man*s blood, 
not ovlj that his own fierceness and turbulence might be 
allayed, but also that peace might be restored to the French 
and to all parts over the water, was upon his capture at once 
taken to Eichemont in sorrow, where Saint Thomas was 
repeatedly implored to befriend him ; and he was there placed 
in custody and reverently kept for a time. But when the 
matter came to the ears of the old King Heniy of England, he 
was brought before him by his orders and straightway for- 
warded to Normandy and confined in the Tower of Falaisa 
David, therefore, his younger brother, hearing this^ at pnce left 
Leicester, to which he had laid siege,^ and quickly repaired 
to ScotLand with his men« At this time the Scots and the 
men of Galloway, on their king being thus seized, ruthlessly 
massacred their English neighbours and each other,^ with 
mutual slaughter, by frequent attacks and invasions ; and both 
English and Gallowidians were most wofally hunted down, so 
that no sex or age was spared, but all ransom was refused, 
and they were put to death without distinction. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Beconciliatim of the Father and Son, Kings of the English. 

Meanwhile Bouen.was besieged by the king of the French 
and by the young King Henry and Philip count of Flanders. 
But, when the old King Henry discovered this, seeing that the 
whole English people was now as tranquil as he could wish, 
and fast secured under his rule by a treaty of peace, he hurried 
to the sea, and lost no time in crossing over to support his 
men with the strong hand; and he drew WilUam king of 
Scots from confinement, and brought him with him. Upon 
leaming this, aU his foes were seized with f ear, so that those 
who weie the chief instigators of the quairel began to negotiate 
for peace ; and, at the instance of some good men, the father 
and son were set at one by a secure peace. Thus peace was 
once for all entirely restored on both sides of the water, and, 
at the intercession of the king of France, Kiog Henry released 
and liberated aU the prisoners but the king of Scotland, and 
gave them back their honours and goods. Lo, how they loved 
him, the king of Scots, to forsake him, all of them, and with 
one accord be reconciled in peace and honour ! Might he not 
say with the prophet, All his friends departed from him^ and 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK 71. 19 

there was none to comfort him of all his dear ones ? For his 

seeming Mends, who in the time of their need appeared to be 

his finnest allies, forsook him when it was romoured that he 

had been captured. Behold what it is to trost in the alliance 

of enemies surrounded hy troops of traitors, who, though feign- 

ing peace with their neighbour, yet have evil in their hearts 

and the poison of asps under their lips ! But deservedly^ 

by the judgment of God, did William king of Scots suflFer 

these things, for he unnaturally supported an impious son 

against his father, not in a just war, nor through zeal for 

justice, but rashly, through the worthless advice of young men, 

without being guided by the advice of the lords or prelates of 

his realm : in direct opposition to Solomon, who says, He that 

is wise hearkeneth unto counsel, for wisdom dwelleth in 

counsel and is concemed with witty inyentions. For he was 

ill advised to abandon and forego foUowiog up a most just 

cause of war of his own, and afford help in an unjust war to an 

unrighteous son who proved ungrateful to him : for it is acknow- 

ledged that WOliam himself notoriously had an undoubted 

hereditary right to the sovereignty and crown of the whole 

kingdom of England. But the young King Henry was un- 

grateful to him ; for when, by the intercession of his father-in- 

law the king of the French, he restored the other prisoners to 

freedom and honour, one word of his, if he had so wished, 

could have freed this same King William by the help of the 

said kin^ of the French. What one must, in greater matters 

and affairs, think of those who ungratefolly fa£ their Mends 

in smaller, I leave to more competent judges to decida More- 

over, how can one who is not afraid to be £Edse to his parents, 

who are dear to him, be trusted to be true to his word or Mend- 

ship with strangers he knows not ? 



CHAPTER XXVIIL 

Liberation ofKing WiUiam, 

Now when the other magnates had been released, the 
bishops of Saint Andrews and Dunkeld and a great many 
other lords and prelates, earls and barons of the kingdom of 
Scotland went across the sea to King Henry, then in Nor- 
mandy, about setting their king free. He was accordingly 
set free, and went home again about the Feast of Purification 
after he was captured ; and he straightway made over to the 
English king tiie castles of Berwick, Boxburgh and Edinbuigh, 



20 THE BOOK OF PLUSOARDEN. BOOK VL 

and wardens were appointed thereto under the dominion of the 
said English king ; while some English hostages were delivered 
to the Scots Eing WiUiam himself for the future maintenance of 
peace a^d the unsh^Jcen observance of other conventions drawn 
up bQtween .these kings. Afberwards, on the 1 5th of August, all 
the bishops aji^ prelates of Scotland were, at the command of 
their Eing William, boimd by virtue of an oath and a sacred 
promise to appear at York ia a body before the English King 
Henry ; their lord the king, even as then needs behoved him^ 
bidding them to do so, aa was their daty in right of homage, 
and as they were bound by the tenor of their fealty.^ I find,^ 
however, in various chronicles, that Stirling Oastle was likewise 
at tha^ time handed over to the aforeaaid wardens; whence 
Baldr^j in his Answers to the Inventions (rf ihe King ofEngland, 
says :— ".Apd four of the strongest castles of , the kingdom of 
Scotland were given to the king of England as security ; and 
the aforesaid lords and prelates assured the king of England by 
oath that they w^re not. to attack these castles, nor otherwise 
take them, until King William should be aet free." So King 
WilUanx came liome again in the year 1 1:75. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

RebeUionx)/ QaUoway, and fickleneas of iJu meTU tkereof 

In the year that William was set at liberty, and even during 
the tame he was kept in confinement, the Grallowidians, led by 
Gilbert son of Fergus, conspired together^ and, seceding from 
the kingdom of Scotknd, ravaged and disturbed all the lands 
on their frontiers. Othred, however^ a son of this very Fergus, 
being a true Scot, who could, moreover, in nowise be tumed 
against the king, was captured by his aforesaid brother Gilbert 
and imprisoned and loaded with.chains; but at length, as he 
would not acquiesce in their villainies, his tongue was cut out 
and his eyes were tom out and he was put to death. But 
when the king, on being released, leamt this, he made ready 
an army against them,. and, penetrating into Galloway, lay in 
ambush for them.. Whereupon the said Gilbert came with his 
men to meet him, humbly offering restitution and amendment 
for aU his misdeeds, and, by the mediation of lords and prelates, 
a complete reparation of wrongs was made by a money pay- 
ment and by giving hostages, and he retumed to his aUegiance. 
Later on, however, after the next winter season, the king of 
England held a general council at Northampton on the 29th of 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VI, 21 

January, where King William of Scotland and, at the command 
of both kings, all the bishops and prelates of the kingdom of 
Scotland were assembled ; and they were instructed, on one side, 
nnder a threat of banishment, and on the other it was insinu- 
ated to them by crooked persuasions under the pretence of 
advice, that they shoxdd submit to the archbishop of York as 
their metropolitan. Btit the pi*elates and all the Scots strove 
hard to avert the threatened danger; and, better counsels 
prevailing, the proposal was unanimously rejected by them, — 
by having, however, recourse to delay. Thereupon, through 
the tact of these prelates, the pristine dignity and ancient 
liberty of the Scottish Church were confirmed by apostolic 
authority and fortified by Pope Alexander with more important 
privileges.^ In the year 1176, befbre the aforesaid council, a 
certain cardinal priest named Yivian, titular of Saint Stephen 
in Mount Caelius, came as legate of the apostolic see, armed 
with great authority, and crushing everything in his way; 
and he thence proceeded to Ireland to discharge his duties as 
legate. In the same year there arose a dispute between Walter, 
abbot of Tirou, and John, of Kelso, on the subject of which of 
them would seem to be the greater ; and their suit is ssdd to be 
stiU under consideration. ^e aforesaid Vivian, however, after 
holding a council in Ireland, went back to Scotland, and sum- 
moned all the prelates of the kingdom of Scotland to the Castle 
of Maidens (Edinburgh), and held a solemn council on the 
Ist of August, where he revived a great many decrees of the 
ancients, and moreover enacted other new ones. The foUowing 
year, according to Vincent, Saint Thomas of Canterbury was can- 
onised by Pope Alexander. Inthese days also a certain cleric, 
a native of England, was elected to the bishopric of Saint 
Andrews ; but King William opposed him, and, by means of 
reports sent by him to the Pope, managed to get his own chap- 
lain consecrated bishop : whence there arose a serious dispute 
and dangerous quarrel. 



CHAPTEK XXX. 

The noble cleric GUbert the Scot. 

Now, in that aforesaid council held at Northampton by the 
English king in the presence of Bichard and Boger, arch- 
bishops of Canterbury and York, and the clergy of both king- 
doms, a certain Scottish cleric named Gilbert, perceiving their 
attempt to bring the Scottish Church under subjection, and 



22 THE BOOK OF PLUSGABDEN. BOOK VL 

having heord the humiliatmg words they had hurled at the 
Scots, was almost diiyen mad ; and, though against the wishes 
of all his own prelates and clergy, yet, as he was admomshed to 
speak out whatever he liked by the archbishops, who at first 
thought him a fool and said within themselves, *'The Scot 
hath pepper up his nose ; he is full of words, and the wind of 
his stomach is griping him ; his bellj i^ like new wine without 
a vent-hole, which bursteth asunder the new bottles/' he, 
glowing like red-hot iron, poured forth some such passionate 
words as these : — " Ye would, indeed," said he, " men of Eng- 
land, have been noble — yea^ nobler than the men of weUnigh 
any other country — ^had ye not craftilj changed the might of 
your nobleness and the strength of your dreaded courage into 
the inaolence of tyranny. and your enlightened ^om and 
knowledge into the wilj quibbles of sophistry. For ye trust 
not younselyes to order your actions aright as under tilie guid- 
ance ofreason; but, botJi puffed up by your teeming hosts of 
knights, and trusting in the delights of wealth and aU manner 
of Bubstance, ye through some wrongful lust or greed of mastery 
aim at subduing to your sway all the bordering provinces and 
nations, nations nobler and worthier than you — I will not say 
in numbers, or in might — ^but in blood and in antiquity; 
nations whom, if ye study the writings of old, ye ought rather 
humbly to obey, or at least, quenching the touchwood of all iU- 
wiU, henceforth maintain brotherly love with and reign with 
for aye. And now, above aU the wickedness which ye have 
wrought in yom* pride, ye are striving, without any plea of 
right, butby brute force and presumption, to crush the Scottish 
Church, your mother, catholic and £ree firom the beginning, 
which, whUe ye were straying through the pathless wflds of 
heathendom, set you upon the steed of faith and brought you 
back to the way of truth and Ufe, Christ, the home of everlast- 
ing rest ; washed your kings and princes and their peoples with 
the water of holy baptism ; taught you God's oommandments 
and instructed you in morals; and, most gladly welcoming 
many of your nobles and conmion foUc who took deUght in 
giving their mind to reading, took care to bestow upon them 
tibieir daUy food free of cost, as weU as books to read and 
masters for nothing. She Ukewise consecrated, appointed and 
ordained your bishops and priests ; and Bede, moreover, bears 
witness that for the space of thirty years or more she hdd the 
primacy and the summit of episcopal dignity north of the 
river Ihames. What retum, pray, are ye making to one who 
has lavished so many benefits upon you ? Is it not the subjec- 
tion of bondage, or such as Jewry gave to Christ, evil for good 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEK. BOOK VI. 23 

and haired for love ? I, indeed, cannot hope for anything else. 
How art thou tumed to bittemess, O alien vine ! We looked 
that thou shouldst bear grapes, and thou hast brought forth 
wild grapes ! We looked that thou shouldst do judgment and 
justice, and lo iniquity and injustice and a cry ! But if thy 
will should be followed by deeds, thou woxddst bring down to 
the utmost wretchedness of bondage her whom it beseems thee 
to treat with all worship and reverence. Fie, for shame! 
What could be worse ? 

Where benefits slide ofif, there wrongs will cling. 

The poison which snakes spit out to another^s hurt they hold 
without hurting themselves ; but not so the vice of ingratitude : 
for the ungrateful man tortures and frets himself, hates and 
decries boons he must retum, but exaggerates and makes the 
most of his wrongs. I feel the tmth of Seneca's saying, when 
he declares that the more some men owe the more they hate, 
and a small debt^ to another makes a great enemy of the 
debtor. But what sayest thou, David ? This, I trow — ' They 
have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.' It is 
unjust, says Gregory, to serve a lord whom no service can 
pleasa Iherefore thou, also, Anglican Church, 

Dost seek forbidden means to gain thine end ; 

nay, even to seize what is not granted. 

Wish what is just, if thou would have thy wisL 

So, not to pester my hearers with any forther words, I for 
my part, although not charged with this duty, yet for the sake 
of the freedom of my Scottish Church, even though the whole 
cleigy of Scotland should think otherwise, cannot agree to 
their being brought under subjection; and I here at once 
appeal to our apostolic lord, to whom the said Church is imme- 
diately subject ; and if I must needs die for her, I here bow my 
head to the sword. Nor do I think we need refer the matter 
to my lords the prelates of Scotland, — I should not even con- 
sent to this: because it is more straightforward bluntly to 
refttse a request than to delay and put off to some distant date ; 
for he who is quickly refused is the less deceived/' At these 
words some of the English, both prelates and magnates, joined 
in loud praises of the deric, in tiiat he had fearlessly vented 
the feelings of his heart for his country^s sake, -fiattering none, 
nor daunted by the stem looks of his hearers, — indeed, they 
also beyond measure dreaded the apostolic see, by reason of the 
severe censure it had shortly before meted out to those who 



24 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VL 

wexe disaffected towards the liberties of the Chuich and towaids 
Saint Thomas of Canterboiy. Others, again, because he had 
put forward what went against their wishes^ set him down as a 
vapouring Scot, and hasty bj nature. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

Certain incidents connected with this matter. 

BuT Eoger archbishop of York, who was the prime mover*^ 
in the plan to bring the Scottish Church under his own metro- 
politan jurisdiction, heaved a sigh out of the fubiess of his 
heart and broke up the council; and, rising with a forced smile 
on his lips, he patted the aforesaid Gilbert on Uie head with his 
right hand, and said laughing to the bystanders — 

"'Twas not from his own quiver came that shaft" 

Implying, as it were, "When ye stand before princes and 
bishops to uphold justice, ponder not beforehand what ye shall 
speak ; for it wiU be given you in that hour what to speak : for 
it is not ye who speak, but the Holy Ghost that speieJceth in 
you." Prom that time forward King William so loved the 
aforesaid cleric, that he held him in thegreatest intimacy in his 
most secret actions and projects. Some, indeed, say that this 
was the Gilbert whom the king afterw£u*ds appointed chamber- 
lain of the kingdom ; and, through the good offices of the king, 
our lord the Pope later on raised him to the bishopric of Caith- 
ness, and our Lord Jesus Christ signaiised him by many 
miracles after his life had run its course. 

In the year 1179 Louis krng of the French, then seventy 
and paralytic, had his son Philip crowned and consecrated in 
his own lifetime, the said Eing Philip being only fourteen 
years old ; and the English King Henry was present, &om the 
allegiance he owed for the duchy of Normandy. Philip reigned 
forty years and more of a praiseworthy Itfe. At this time 
King William vfeunded the monastery of Arbroath, and his 
brother David, then eaii of Huntingdon, the monastery of 
Lindores.® 

In these days King William, together with his brother 
David earl of Huntingdon, marched with a laige anny into 
Boss, against a certain rebel named Makwilliam and another, 
to wit Donald Sane ;^ and he there planted two castles, one 
that of Dunschath, and another named Edertoune. But, when 
the king had retumed to southern parts, these same tyrants 



THE BOOK OF PLUSOARDEN. BOOK VI. 25 

Teb§Ued, after seven years' tranquillity ; so he brought a fresh 
army thither and slew them, together with a great number of 
traitors who were likewise slain. Having thns speedily reduced 
the whole country and established it in perfect peace^ he lefb 
it; and, during a short stay at Invemess Castle, he ordered 
the said Donald Bane's head to be fixed there. 

In these days WiUiam and his brother David earl of Hunt- 
ingdon were with the old Eing -Henry in Kormandy, to 
transact some busiuess of theirs, and they lent their «ssist- 
ance*^ to the French king egainst the Flemings, who had 
xebelled agcdnst him. 



CHAPTEE XXXIL 

Sestordtion of the Earldom of Euntingdon to- Kvag WiUiam 

of ScoUand. 

In the year 1185 the patriarch of J^rusalem cameto Eng- 
land, and was honourably received by King Henry. In this 
year also Henry king of England restored the earldom of 
Huntingdon to King William -at Windsor, which earldom he 
had formerly extorted from him as his ransom, together with 
the earldoms of Korthumberland, Cumberland and Westmore- 
land and the earldom of Carlisle.^^ This earldom of Hunt- 
ingdon King William gave and granted to his brother David, 
to be holden of himself for ever. It should be observed that, 
during the whole time that King William was a pnsoner, 
until he regained his freedom, both in the southem and in the 
northem tracts of the kingdom of Scotland the inhabitants 
thereof were divided among themselves, and fought against 
each other with murderous hate ; and the cause of this wretched- 
ness and slaughter was Gilbert the son of Fergus, who had 
formerly mutilated and killed his own brother.** By the will of 
(xod he died ; and, after his death, Botholand son of the said 
mutilated Othred, being supported by the king^s help, fought a 
battle with a man of the name of Gilpatric and another named 
Kened and a third named Samuel, who were the chief arcb- 
tyrants of the GktUowidians, and defeated and slew them. 
This same Botholand also, at the king^s command, deprived 
aUke of life and property and exterminated a certain other 
tyrant named GiUecoIum, the chief of the freebooters of Lothian, 
together with his companions ; and he deared the country of 
tyrants and restored tranquillity. After this, however, Henry 
]Qng of the English^ who had formerly begun to support the 



26 THB BOOK OF FLUSCARDEN. BOOK VI. 

GaUowidianSy was greatly irritated against Botholand ; and, in 
consequence of the reports of certain persons who wished him 
ill, he mustered an army and marched against him, advancing 
as f ar as Carlisle. But Eotholand repaired to him bj order of 
his lord the king, and was honourably received on his arrival, 
and they were set at one and reconciled. But King William, 
in consideration of Sotholand's meritorious services while the 
king was a prisoner, and on account of ^ his father^s loyalty as 
well as his own fidelity^ gave him the whole land of his 
brother^ Gilbert, as also the laiid which he formerly owned 
by hereditary right, to hold in full and peaceful possession. 
He also brought about peace, love and** harmony between 
him and the son of the said Gilbert. Moreover, because the 
son of the said Gilbert obeyed the king and submissively gave 
up hia fathefs land to the said Eotholand, as already stated, 
King William granted to this same son of Gilbert the entire 
land of Carrick and its pertinents. 

In the year 1186 Geofl6x)y, the English King Henry's third 
son, who was duke or^ earl of Brittany, died at Paris. The 
same year Henry king of England gave William back the 
Castle of Maidens (Edinburgh), which he had kept ever since 
William was captured ; and he joined unto him in marriage 
his kinswoman Eymer^uxie, daughter of the earl of Beaumont, 
who was son of the son'^ of William the Bastard'8 eldest son 
named Bobert Cuitoiz. Some say, indeed, that he begat of his 
first wife a daughter named Margaret,^ united in marriage 
with the first Bobert de Bruce, and another daughter whom he 
gave in marriage to the earl of Leodulss.^ 



CHAPTEE XXXIIL 
Flight and Deafhof Hmry Fitz-Empress — King liicharcL 



MoREOVER Bichard, as soon as his coronation was over, in full 
parliament and with the consent of his councillors freed and 
released, by an unanimous resolution, all his friends and allies, 
both English and French, as well as the partisans of hiB pre- 
deceased brother Henry the younger king at the time of their 
wars against their father, from whom his father had extorted 
any taxes, bonds, or contracts whatsoever ; and he also of his 
own accord gave back with usury the lands, property and 
ransoms and all other goods whatsoever that had been taken 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK YI. 27 

fiom them. To William kiiig of Scots he freely restored his 
castles of Boxboigh and Berwick, — the Castle of Maidens 
(Edinburgh) having been formerly restored to him by the 
father, — and he proclaimed the king himself and his kingdom 
quitted of all claim of subjection and servitude for ever ; and 
he moreover released King William himself, the kingdom and 
inhabitants for ever from all engagements of fealty, swom 
promises and sacred covenants, by the tenor of which he was 
anciently or otherwise bound to his Cather, or to any other 
former kings of England whatsoever, for whatever cause, 
whether for the liberation of his body or otherwise howsoever 
and whatsoever;^ and he freed and sent him back to the 
kingdom of Scotland all the hostages given to his father on 
that account He also, on receiving from him ten thousand 
merks, publicly declared and pronounced the king and his 
successors» the kingdom and Inhabitants perpetually free, quit 
and exempt from all juiisdiction and subjection to dominion 
for ever; and aU the writs, charters, instruments and deeds 
wherein the old covenants and bonds or contracts formerly 
wrongfully extorted from him for any cause whatever were 
set out, were altogether annulled, destroyed and cancelled, 
and delivered up in full to the aforesaid Eing WiUiam. «He 
aiso had fresh writs, charters, proofs and instruments drawn 
up for him about the aforesaid liberties, exemptions^ quittances 
and declarations of privileges, under the seals of their lordships 
the prelates and lords both of France and of England as well as 
of Normandy present in his parliament, and his own Great Seal : 
and the tenor of the royal letter on the subject is as follows : — 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

BiCHABD, by the grace of (rod of England king, duke of 
Normandy and Aquitaine» count of Anjou and Poitou ; to the 
archbishops, bishops and abbots, priors, earls^ baronsjusticiaries, 
sherifrs and all his ministers and lieges of the whole realm of 
England, Greeting : Enow ye that We have given back to Our 
cousin William^ by the graoe of God king of Scots, his castles 
of Boxburgh and Berwick, with all their pertinents, as belonging 
to him by right of inheritance, to be held by him and hia heirs, 
successors in the said kingdom, for ever. Furthermore We acquit 
him of all customs and agreements and covenants which Our 
father of happy memory, Henry king of England, extorted by 
fresh escheats through his capture. Provided, that is to say, that 
Eing William himself do wholly and fully unto Us^ for his lands 



28 THE BOOK OF FLUSCABDEN. BOOK VI. 

which he holds of Us in England, what his brother Eing Malcolm 
did unto Our ancestors, and what it was his dutj by law to do. 
In like manner We also shall do unto him and his successors 
whatever it was and has been Our predecessors' duty by law to 
do unto them, namely in safe-conduct while coming to Our 
court and while retuming &om court and while tarrying there, 
in procurations and dignities and honours, and in all the liber- 
ties of the same due by law from old time (according as it shall 
be ascertained by four lords of Ours chosen by Eang William 
himself, and four lords of the kingdom of Scotland chosen by Us) 
since William the Bastard^ the conqueror of England, obtained 
the said kingdom. But if any of Our men, since William king 
of Scots was taken prisoner by Our father, has in any wise 
seized the borders of the marches, or the marches of the king- 
dom ofScotland, or unlawfully retained them without a judg- 
ment, We desire that they be entirely given back and restored to 
the former state in which they were before his capture. Further- 
more, touching his lands which he has in England, whether 
demesnes or fiiefs, either in the earldom of Huntingdon or in 
any other.plaee whatsoever, he and his heirs for ever may hold 
them as freely and fully as his brother Malcolm king of Scot- 
land held them, unless the aforesaid King Malcolm feued any of 
the said lands to any one : Frovided, however, that if any were 
feued afterwards, the services of these fiefs belong to him and 
his heirs. And whatever Our father bestowed on the aforesaid 
Malcohn or William, We hold it valid, and for Us and Our heirs 
confirm it for ever, and will hold it fast for ever. We also give 
back to the aforesaid William king of ScotiLand the all^giance of 
his vassals, and all the charters which Our father had of him by 
reason of his capture ; and if any other charters or letters are 
kept back through forgetfulness, or shall hereafber be found, We 
decree and command that the same be altogether without force. 
But WiUiam himself has become Our liegeman for all his lands 
in England, for which his ancestors were the liegemen of Our 
ancestors, and he has swom fealty unto Us. Witness myself. 

Now after this the prelates " of the whole kingdom of Scot- 
land gladly divided among themselves the aforesaid sum of ten 
thousand merks, and paid it off entirely, at no small cost, at 
the terms fixed by the king of England. In this year David 
earl of Huntingdon, King William'8 brother, took to wife the 
daughter of Hugh earl of Ghester. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK VI. 29 



CHAPTEE XXXV. 

The harmony, peaee and happy traiiquillUy between William 
King qf Scotland and Bichard o/ England. 

BuT King William, feeliiig for the disaster which had hefallen 
his cousin Bichard on his way back,^ sent him over to Eagland 
two thousand merks out othis own tieasury^ and there was 
such harmony^ peace, love and mutual intercourse of.tha in-i 
habitants between the kings and kingdoms, that the one was 
anxious to fiilfil the wishes of the other in all things ; and in 
like manner the two peoples wjere reckoned as one and the 
same; for the English throughout Scotland, and the Scots 
throughout Engtand> as , ofben... as. apd howeyer they.pleased, 
both beyond the highlands and on this side, whether on foot 
or on horseback, enjoyed steady peace and brotherly love. 

In these days "King William, being laid up with sickness at 
Glackmannan, made all the magnat^s of the realm take the 
oath of fealty.to his daughter Maigaiet as the troe heir to the 
crown of Scotland, at least in case that king had not afterwards 
a son and heit. This daughter of his, Margaret, he begat of the 
daughterof Adam de Hitusun. Afteiwards his daughter Isabel, 
who had foimerly been given in wedlock. to Bobert de Bruce, 
was by King William united in jaarriage.with. a cerl^dn Bobert 
de Boss at Haddington. 



CHAPTEB.XXXVL 

The King.of England does homage to ihe King of France. 

Ik these days> also, King William led an army into the earl- 
dom of Caithness against certain rebels, whom he slew ; and he 
restored peace and won back to his friendship the Earl Harrald, 
who, egged on by his wife, had wrought much mischief. The 
foUowing year, that is, in the year 1197, Harrald rose against 
the king^s fnends in Moray ; and Boderick, who had been left 
by the king to guard the country^^ and many others fell slain 
in battle. But the king led an army beyond the Highlands 
against Harrald, and pursued him through Moray^ Caithness 
and Sutherland ;^ and he at length took him and imprisoned 
him in Boxburgh Castle. There he remained until he had made 
fall amends and softened the king's wrath, and he left his son 
Torfin as a hostage in his stead ; but the latter had his genitals 



30 THE BOOK OF PLTJSCAKDEN. BOOK VL 

cut out and his eyes plucked out on account of his father^s bad 
faith, and died in prison. In the year 1198 was boni Alex- 
ander n., future king of Scotland, and son of the aboye-mentioned 
King William, amid the rejoicings of all the people of the land, 
while the whole clergy solenmly lifted up their voices in honour 
of the day and praised Grod. He was bom of Queen Emergarde 
at Haddington at the Feast of Saint Bartholomew; and the 
clergy, claa in stoles, went about at primes in processions in the 
ecclesiastical places throughout the whole kingdom, rejoicing 
with very great joy. 



CHAPTEE XXXVII. 
Deafh of the King of the English. 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

Peace ietween the Kings of France and EngUmd, 

Ik the year 1200 peace was restored between the two kings 
of France and England, and there were the nuptials of 
Louis,** only son of King Philip of Prance, with Blanche, 
daughter of the king of Castille and niece of the king of the 
English ; in honour of which marriage John king of England 
made over to the aforesaid Louis and his heirs all the forti^es, 
castles and towns and the whole of the land which the king of 
the French had taken from him, as well as the whole of the land 
which the said king of England had in French parts, namely 
Auvergne, Beny (as the French now call the duchy of Bituri- 
cum), and the county of Evreux into the bargain, in case 
he died without a true and lawful heir. On Ms retum to 
England he was met by King William, who did homage to him 
at lincoln expressly and only for his lands within the kingdom 
and tenitory of England, which John*s father had formerly 
restored to him in England, — ^for the lands, namely, which his 
predecessors held in England, — ^without prejudice to all and 
sundry his lands, dominions, dignities, liberties and royal 
privileges and honours, without any jot of subjection, or of 
jurisdiction, superiority, or dominion over the long, kingdom, 
or inhabitants of Scotland. 

At this time a certain earl of Orkney, Harald by name, was 
led by the reports of certain persons to believe that the bishop 
of Caithn&ss had charged him before the king with being the 



THE BOOK OF PLUSOARDEN. BOOK VI. 31 

king^s enemy ; wherefore the said earl attacked that bishop and 
put ont his eyes and cut out his tongue. But when he had placed 
himself of his own accord unconditionally at the disposal of 
the king and the prelates of the Church, and had been bj their 
sentence obliged to make full amends^ the king and clergy for- 
gave him, and the king gave him back his earldom of Gaith- 
ness, which he had for that cause invaded and withheld ; and, 
on paying the king two thousand m^rks,^ he &eely made his 
peace with him. In the year 1201 King William made all the 
magnates of the realm swear fealty at Musselburgh to his eldest 
son Alexander the Second, as yet but three years old. In the 
previous year John, legate of the Ohurch of Eome and cardinal 
of Saint Stephen's, had held a council of dergy at Perth, and 
had at that council adjudged by an ecclesiastical sentence that 
many who had received holy orders on Sunday were to be 
removed from ministration at the altar, and had deprived them. 
Then this cardinal legate retired hence to Ireland, taking with 
him the abbot of Melrose^ whom he appointed bishop of Dowil 



CHAPTEB XXXIX. 

Quarrd between tbe Kingsof E7igla,nd and France. 



Ukable to pour out his wrath upon Erance as matters then 
stood, King John, to vent his spleen, though most unjustly, 
laid a snare against King William of Scotland and, from a wish 
to recover Berwick, directed that the foundations of a castle 
should be firmly laid at Tweedmouth. But, when the masons 
and the other things needful for the building of the fortaUce 
he had planned had been brought there, King William of Scot- 
land, who would by no means allow that, twice ignominiously 
Touted the workmen, slew some of the guards, carried off others, 
and razed the new work to the ground. Wherefore King John 
was fired with rage, levied an army to try with all his might 
to avenge the overthrow of the new work, and set about making 
war upon the said King William ; and, when he had reached 
Norlumi^ near the river Tweed, with a strong force, he sent to 
King William, who was at Boxburgh, ambassadors to defy and 
ensnare him. King William, however, who was fully alive to 
all tUs, and was nobly supported, prepared on his side to 
defend himself, his pe/ple a^d his i^hta So a great many 
ambassadors were then sent backwards and forwards, and 
letters in writing despatched and received ; but King William, 



32 THS BOOE OF PLUSCilRDEN. BOOK VI. 

knowing he had a just quarrel^ stood fast in a spirited defence 
of his nght^ and would not give heed to anj idle words or 
cozening pleas. The Idng of England, however, through the 
mediiun. of some prelates/^ sent the said WiUiam many 
commands and exhortations of various kinds, which were 
neither.true nor accordiog to law, nor advantageous to the 
inhabitauts of- the lealm, but altogether contrary to the king^s 
majest^r and the freedom of the realm and the good of tibe 
inhabitants.^ Thase were aU brought to nought, disproved and 
disallowed^ and the king said he wouldj.bring forward others 
greater than tbose ; but, notwithstanding all these high-minded 
intentions,. a Mendly reconciliation was brought about, by the 
intervention* of the prelates ^^ and other peace-loving lords of 
both kingdoms^ between the king of the English^ who had more 
important. mntteis ta, attend to in French parts^ and the Scots 
king his £¥>usin; butit did not last lcmg. . 



CHAPTEE XL. 

Fitklenes^ andfaitJUessness o/ the English. 

Afteb King.William, therefore, who was afkerwards for a 
long time grievously sick^ had recovered^ having a short breath- 
ing-time of peace with the king of the English, he held a 
general council at Stirling, and sent back some nobles as 
ambassadors in retum for an embassy sent to the aforesaid 
King William to make and safely establish peace. But when 
King John heard them and their instructions, he raged like a 
madman, and broke out in loud vows and threats against the 
king and kingdom of Scotland ; and the ambassadors retumed 
with their thankless answer, and finding Eing William at 
Forfeo*, brought him back unexpected and not very pleasant 
reports and news. Upon hearing these, Eing William straight- 
way took counsel and with great energy furmshed all the castles 
and strongest places of the kingdom both with troops of men- 
at-arms and with plenty of provisions and other things needful 
for the defence of the kingdom and inhabitants ; and he more- 
over cominanded a laige army of knights and men-at-arms to 
be got reisuly in all the borders of the kingdom to meet any 
hostile attempt on the part of the said king of England, when- 
ever it might be necessaiy and the case demanded it When 
all this had been thus accomplished, Eing William, wishing to 
regain peace^ if it could be done with honour, sent back again 
ambassadors of his own of more weight than the former, namely 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VI. 33 

the bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow,*^ together with the 
abbot of Melrose and some knights who loved peace, and wrote 
back offering eveiything lawful and reasonable. They did not, 
however, find the king of England, who had shordy before 
marched into Wales for reinforcements of men-at-arms; so 
tbey tarried awhile awaiting him. Meanwhile the earl of 
Winton and two knights named De Boss and De Quincy came 
to the king at Edinburgh on behalf of the king of England, and 
songht an audience with the view more of delaying the Scottish 
king^s army than of n^otiating for a treaty of peace ; but in 
the meantime, while the king and his councillors would have 
granted them an audience, the above-mentioned bishops,** with 
the abbot and the others, retumed and announced that the king 
of the English was making with aH haste for the borders of Scot- 
land, with a countless force of men-at-arms. Upon hearing this, 
EJng William soon mustered his forces and forthwith marched 
quickly against him to the borders of the Marches, equally with 
no mean force of men-at-arms, and prepared to give battle 
without delay to the aforesaid king thus on his way. Never- 
theless, he speedily sent back the aforesaid bishops and abbof^ 
to that king to retard his arrival in Scotland, on the faith of 
peace and concord, and delay it and put it off with words of 
peace until he should have fuUy got his army together. But 
when the king of England with his army had reached Bam- 
borough, and the king of Scotland was at Melrose with troops 
of men-at-arms pouring in to him from all parts and awaiting 
the coming of the enemy, lo, the king of the English, seeing 
him provided with so great a number of men-at-arms,*^ — ^through 
the mediation of some of either side who loved peace, the king 
of Scotland agreed to the said English king^s request, without 
prejudice to the rights of both kingdoms, and peace was 
restored. 



CHAPTEE XLI. 

Terms of the Treaiy of Peace. 

Throtjgh the intervention, therefore, of the chiefs and prelates 
of both kingdoms, the kings were at length committed to the 
following condition of peace, namely tlmt King WiUiam of 
Scotland should hand over his two daughters, Margaret and 
Isabel, into the hands of the king of t^e English to be 
manied, the eldest, Margaret, to Henry, the said King John's 
son, when they became of full age, and the other to his 

c 



34 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VI. 

yoanger broiher Bichaid^ or to some other noble loid, as might 
consist with her fathefs honour; provided, however, that, if 
either of Eing John's sons died before he took a wife, the sur- 
vivor shonld marry the aforesaid eldest daughter. In like 
manner it was detennined about the daughters that, if either of 
them died before she came to be married, the other should wed 
the English king's firstbom, that so they might make sure of one 
of them being espoused to that one of the sons to whom the 
inheritance of England might come. After this, the kings and 
their councillors came together at NorhEun to establish a secure 
and lasting peace, and it was agreed that the castle which Eing 
John endeavoured to construct at Tweedmouth should never 
thereaf ter be built ; and, f or the indignity which King William 
put upon the said King John by razing the said castle to the 
ground in spite of him, the said King William was to pay him 
four thousand pounds. Moreover, the traders of Scotland were, 
as usual, to have free and peaceful access to England to transact 
any business and trade of theiis whatsoever,— always without 
prejudice to the ancient privileges, liberties and honours of the 
kiug of ScoUand ; and, on account of the said mairiages, the 
king of Scotland was to pay to the aforesaid king of ij^igland 
ten thousand pounds witiiin two years, at four terms, besides 
the aforesaid sum of four thousand pounds, that all and sundry 
the above stated points might abide in force. Moreover» 
in order that all the aforesaid might remain the more secure 
and stable, two knights were chosen on behalf of the afore- 
said kings, namely William Cumyn, justiciary of Scotland, on 
behalf of Eing William, and Eobert de Yieupont on behalf of 
the king of England, and were chaiged with the duty of taking 
an oath on the agreement with their hands on (jod's holy Grospel, 
by the souls of the aforesaid kings ; and in like manner all the 
chiefs, prelates and men of quality of both kingdoms agreed in 
gladly taking a like oath to do their best to maintain peace ; 
and, that all suspicion to the contrary, so far as the king of 
Scotland was concemed, might be removed from their midst, 
the king, now well stricken in years, reflecting on the advan- 
tages of peace, for further security that peace would be main- 
tamed, gave the king of England thirteen hostages, whom he 
despatched, together with the aforesaid girls, to the aforesaid 
king of England at Garlisle^ and delivered into the hands of 
that king^s councillors. 



THE BOOK OF 1>LUSGARDEN. BOOK VI. 36 

CHAPTEE XLII. 

Agreement entered into over and dbove. 

In the year 1210 it was agreed between the kings that the 

king of Scotlaad should resign into the hands of the king 

of England, pxirely and simply, all his lands^ possessions and 

domains whatsoever, which he had from old time held within 

that kingdom^ freely, entirely and fully of the kings of England ; 

and that the said Mng of England shoxdd give back the said 

lands to the Scots king's eldest son, Alezander^ to be held of 

him and by doing homage. This was done at Alnwick, where 

the said Alexander did homage of fealty to the aforesaid kiDg 

of the English, without prejudice, however, to the rights of the 

kingdom of Scotland ; and he was to hold them as &eely, 

quietly, honourably and fnlly as any of his predecessors what- 

soever had formerly held the same of the said kings of the 

English. It was also added that the kings of Scotland shoxdd 

never thenceforth do homage for the said lands to the said kings 

of England or their successors on the throne, but that only he 

who was the heir to the throne for the time being should do 

homage for the said lands. Subsequently, two days after," 

the aforesaid .covenants, agreen^ents and conditions and treaties 

of peace were again bindingly swom at Korham, confirmed 

by the kings, and approved by their authority in the presence 

of the magnates of the kingdoms, prelates and lords ; and there, 

in presence of the queen of Scotland, the treaties of peace and 

the amicable agreement, which were to stand fast for ever, 

were renewed by charters and bonds drawn up on either part ; 

and, in order to knit doser the bond of affection, the aforesaid 

king of England girded the Scots king^s aforenamed eldest son 

Alexander, then in his fourteenth year, with the belt of knight- 

hood in London. It should be stated that, as I find in the 

Great Chronicle, this King John received, as sovereign lord, 

the principal and mediate homage of aU freeholders what- 

soever in the kingdom, from whatever baron, duke,*"* or earl 

they might hold &eir land, compeUiag aU the freeholders of 

both prdat^es and laymen to do this. 

At this time there was so great an overflow of rain-water at 
Perth, and elsewhere likewise, that it entirely knocked down and 
carried away the bridge and a chapel. In this year also Eing 
John of England brought the greater part of Ireland imder his 
yoke. The same year was founded the monastery of the Insula 
Missarum, otherwise however called Inchafifray, by Gilbert 



36 THE BOOK OF PLUSCAEDKN. BOOK VI. 

earl of Strathem, who divided his said earldom into three equal 
parts, gave two-thirds to the bishop of Dunblane and the afore- 
said abbot, and kept only the third part for himself. In these 
days also King John made an inhuman and tyrannous invasion 
of Ireland, and subdued the greater part thereof, and carried ofif 
with him the sons of the magnates of the countiy as hostages ; 
and about this time fresh hostilities broke out between King 
John and the Welsh. But the king of England made over to 
Alan of Galloway, constable of Scotland, many lands in Ireland 
to be held of him, for which the latter did homage to him by 
King William*s leave. King William, however, about this 
time led a large army against a certain Macwilliam^ who was 
tyrannising it in Moray, and he there built two strong castles ; 
and Macwilliam was taken, after he had perpetrated many 
atrocities, was dra^ed at a horse's tail, beheaded and hung. 
MeanwhUe King John brought Wales under his yoke, built 
there three very strong castles, and received the homage of the 
king thereof, retaining, however, the new castles in his own 
hands. 

CHAPTER XLIIL 

Peace hetween the Kings and Kingdoma estahlished and swom 
a/jainfor the thirdJime at Norham, 

At this time it was agreed between the kings of Scotland 

and England that they should have an interview at Norham, 

where it was decided that peace should be established for ever, 

and some persons of note were put forward to swear upon the 

kings' consciences that peace should be cemented afresh and 

maintained, and also that each should lend assistance to the 

other in a just cause and in his lawfiil quarrels ; and that 

whichever of them was the survivor should guard and defend 

the other's heir as he would his own, and afford him help and 

assistance. When all this had been thus concluded and rati- 

fied and made valid by oaths and seals, King William of Scot- 

land received a promise from the king of England that he, 

King John, would give in marriage to the Scottish king^s first- 

born Alexander a lady and heiress of such rank and power as 

fitly and honourably to uphold the honour of both kingdoms and 

of the king^s majesty, and this within the six years next and 

immediately ensuing. So King William, now infirm and ad- 

vanced in years, above measure desiring peace, justice and quiet- 

ness between the inhabitants of the two kii^oms, ceaselessly 

and eamesUy laboured for the boon of peace, and was engaged 



THB BOOK OF PLU8CAKDEN. BOOK VI. 37 

almost beyond his strength, making no sort of allowance for 
his age, in settling differences. But, notwithstanding divers 
treaties of peace repeatedly swom and given force to by many 
a seal, the king of England detemdned to bring the kingdom 
of Scotland imder his yoke by nnderhand means, and annex it 
to his crown, as he had formerly done with Ireland, and to 
subject it to the bonds of slavery for ever, as was afterwards 
most clearly apparent. For the king of England came a third 
time to Norham, of his own accord, for the sake of a more in- 
dissoluble treaty of peace, and sent word to the king of Scot- 
land, who had previously been laid up with a long Ulness at 
Newbottle, and who apologised for not being able to come 
further than Haddington to meet him. So the THng of Eng- 
land, who was then at Norham, seeing that King William 
excused himself on the score of ill-health, sent hini back word 
to send over to him his only son and heir Alexander, and pro- 
mised that he would give him a great many presents. King 
William, however, imderstood from the evidence of trustworthy 
persons that tbe aioresaid king of England was bent upon out- 
witting him as far as he could, under the cloak of confidence, 
as abready intimated ; and this was afberwards evident to him 
on the faith of his own eyes. So he would by no means con- 
sent that his said sou, the prince and heir to the throne, should 
be sent over to him, for more reasons than one ; first, because 
he was too yoimg and did not know how to answer weU enough 
the many questions the king might ask him ; secondly, because 
he feared his malice aforethought ; and, thirdly, because he was 
the coming king of the kingdom and his father^s heir, and the 
king himself in his old age was suffering &om illness, ready to 
die any day or hour, and was not sure of his son's retum in 
freedom. So the king of England, seeing himself foiled in his 
wishes, was greatly indignant, and immediately retumed to Eng- 
land ; and, disguising his resentment, he tarried there awhile. 
But though he durst not, for many re^ons, make an attempt 
upon Scouand, yet not the less was mischief in his thoughts. 
But he feared the boldness of the Scots, as well as the inroads of 
the Welsh, and moreover the itebellion and strife of the nobles 
of his kingdom ; and he also feared that the rebellion he had 
formerly been guilty of against the Apostolic See would injure 
him. In these days, at the command of the Apostolic See, 
and at the .instance of its le^ates, numberless nobles of Scot- 
land and England and likewise of other Idngdoms went on a 
orusade to the Holy Land in defence of the faith. 



38 THE BOOK OF PLUBCARDEN. BOOK VI. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

King WUUarrCs Death, 

In the year 1214 that most prosperous King WiUiam, after 
his recovery from the iUness he was laid up with at Newbattle 
and Haddington, set out for Moray, so as to leave nothing 
in his kingdom unsettled; and there he patched up a peace 
with the earl of Caithness, and brought away his daughter as 
a hostage. Then with great difiBiculty and in great bodily 
weakness he got to Stirling, where he purposed remaining on 
account of the healthiness of the air (it divides, or, as it was 
called of old, connects," Scotland and Greater Britain, as used 
of old to be clearly seen on the rim of theseal of the said rojal 
burgh of Stirling, which is called the Common Seal of the 
Burgh, in the following couplet : — 

Continet hoc in se pontem castrum Strivelense. 
Hsec armis Bruti stant, hic Scoti cruce tuti). 

Here the said most excellent prince lingered for some time in 
failing strength and departed this life, giving his body into the 
keeping of the mother of all, and sending back his soaring spirit 
to his Makef with all devoutness and thanksgiving. He slept 
in the Lord on a Thursday in December, afber a reign of forty- 
nine years, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, leaving King 
Alexander as his heir. Pope Lucius, however, hearing from the 
royal ambassadors who came to the court of Bome, as well as 
from the apostolic nuncios retuming from his coiirt, a most 
noble account of the deceased King William, that he had the 
zeal of God in him, as he understood it, and took great pains 
to uphold his kingdom's laws, sent over as it were to his 
orthodox catholic son, together with God's blessing, a marvel- 
lously-fashioned and very valuable golden rose to fix upon his 
sceptre or golden wand. Moreover King William, perceiving 
the fickleness of King John of England, took back one of his 
daughters from him, and gave her in marriage to the Count of 
Boulogne. The preceding year,** he gave one of his daughters 
to one Bobert de Bruce ; but I do not find it here stated who 
this Eobert de Bruce was. The following year he gave another 
daughter of his to Fatrick earl of Lothian. She also who mar- 
ried Bobert de Bruce was afterwards, on his death, mairied to 
one Bobert de Boss, as stated elsewhere.^^ 



THE BOOK OF FLUSCABDSN. BOOE VL 39 



CHAPTER XLV. 

Copy of Apostolic Bvll sent to King WiUiam on the Privileges of 

the Chwrch of Scotland. 

Innocknt, bishop, servant of the servants of (rod, to his well- 
beloved son in Ghrist, William, illustrious king of Scots, and 
to his successoTS for ever, Greeting and apostolic blessing : 
Thongh all Chrisfs faithfiil ought to find pakonage and favour 
with the Apostolic See, yet it is meet that the fostering shelter 
of its protection should more especially be extended to those who 
have given the most ample proof of faith and devotion, so that 
the more surely they know themselves to have sought after a 
token of its good-wiU and fEivour, the more they may be stirred 
to warmth of love and overmastered by a devout feeling of 
reverence towards it. Therefore, well-beloved son in Chiist, 
bearing in mind the reverence and devotion which We have for 
a long time back known thee to entertain for the Church of 
Bome, We, following the example of Pope Celestine of happy 
memory, Our predecessor, most strictly forbid, by the terms of 
this present writ, that any but the Boman Pontiff, or a legate 
despatched a latere, shoiud be allowed to proclaim an inter- 
dict or sentence of excommunication against the kingdom of 
Scotland ; and We pronounce it of none effect if so proclaimed, 
seeing that the Church of Scotland is immediately subject to 
the Apostolic See, whose daughter she especially is, — ^wherein 
it is well known there are these episcopal sees, namely the 
Churches of Saint Andrews, Olasgow, Dimkeld, Dunblane, 
Brechin, Abeideen, Moray, Boss and Caithness. And further- 
more We add that it shall not henceforth be lawful to any one 
not of the kingdom of Scotland, save one whom the Apostolic 
See shall have specially despatched therefor from itself person- 
ally, to perform the duties of the legateship in that kingdom. 
We also forbid that any disputes which may arise in that 
kingdom about property be brought imder the consideration of 
judges outside the kii^om, unless there is an appeal to the 
Church of Bome. So, if any writs shall be found to have been 
obtained contrary to the establishment of a libeity of tlus kind, 
or any shall heieafter happen to be obtained whereia no mention 
is made of tbis present regulation, neither thou nor thy succes- 
8018 nor the kmgdom itself shall in anywise be prejudiced 
with regard to the granting of this prerogative. Moreover, We 
confirm the liberties and immunities granted both to thee and 



40 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VI. 

to thy kingdom as an established law*^ by the Church of Bome^ 
and hitherto observed ; and We ordain that they remain unim- 
paired for all time to come, always saving Our Apostolic 
authority. Let no man therefore at all infringe these the 
terms of our grant, confirmation and prohibition, or in any- 
wise rashly dare to go against them ; and, if any take upon him 
to attempt this, he will know that he will fall under the indig- 
nation of Abnighty Qod and his blessed apostles Peter and PauL 
Given at Eome, etc. 



CHAPTEE XLVI. 
LiJce PrwUege granUd to Kmg WUliam. 

Celestine, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his 
well-beloved son in Ghrist, William, illustrious king of Scots, 
and to his successors, Greeting and apostolic blessing : Though 
all subjeet to Christ-s yoke ought to find patronage with the 
Apostolic See, and so forffi, as dbove, dovm to entertain for the 
Church of Bome, have thought it right to establish by the terms 
of this present writ that the Scottish Church ought to be imme- 
diately subject to the Apostolic See, whose daughter she espe- 
cially ifi — ^wherein it is well known, etc, down to So if any ; thm 
thvs : So, if any writs shall be found to have been obtained, 
or shaU happen hereafter to be obtained, contrary to the estab- 
lishment of a liberty of this kind, neither thou nor thy kingdom 
shall in anywise be prejudiced with regard to the grantmg of 
this prerogative, e^c. Let no man therefore, os dbote, Given 
at Eome, at the Lateran, March I3th, of our Pontificate, ete. 

About this time the general interdict was renewed in Eng- 
land and likewise in Wales over the whole universally; so 
that, save only the baptism of innocent little ones, which was 
performed outside the church, every order, eveiy religious 
brotherhood, every dignity, feU under the interdict, and no 
privileges could avail them aught Then indeed there lay 
imburied outside the cemeteries the corpses of Christians 
without number, both of bishops and abbots and of priests, 
clerics and laymen. At length ^e clergy obtaiaed as a special 
favour from the Pope that friars and conventual cloisterers 
might have a celebration onee a week without chanting or 
ringing of beUs, and with closed doors, shutting out the excom- 
mimicated and interdicted. During this interdict a good many 
EngUsh bishops came to Uve in Scotland ; and King WiUiam 
honourably suppUed them with the necessaries of life, and 



THE BOOE OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VI. 41 

reverenily received them in his kingdom. The same year Alan 
of Gralloway, son of Botholand, took to wife Margaret danghter 
of David earl of Huntingdon. 

At the above-mentioned time the Emperor Otho was raised 
to the imperial throne ; and some say that in his joumey to 
Eome for his coronation he took with him thirty thousand 
knights in his train. Believe it who can! Thus ends tbe 
Sizth Book of this work. 



E7id of Book VL 



BOOK VIL 

CHAPTER L 

King AUosander, son of the a/oresaid King WiLliam, 

Upon the death of that mighty prince, William king of 
Scots^ at Stirling, as before stated, he was buiied at Arbroath 
with great honour as well as wailing, accompanied by the pre- 
lates and lords of the realm and a very laige body of nobles ; 
and by common consent all the chiefB, prelates and lords of the 
realm at once unanimously raised his son Alexander to the 
throne, and crowned him with the kingly diadem at Scone, on 
the Feast of Saint Kicholas;^ and there he held a long and 
solemn royal feast in great stftte, as was meet. David earl of 
Huntingdon and the mother of the said King Alexander joined 
in the feast, and, though mouming for the late most noble 
king, yet rejoiced and gave thanks to God for the new king. 
It was indeed only just that King William should be buried at 
the said monastery of Arbroath, which he himself had bmlt 
&om its foundationSy founded and magnificently endowed with a 
great many revenues and omaments, so that he and his parents 
might be had in etemal remembrance in the prayers of the 
fnso» and the intercession of the saints. 

CHAPTEE IL 

KiTig PhUip o/France defeats the Emperor Otho and King John 

of England in haUle. 

CHAPTER IIL 

Kin/g John of England maJces the hingdornB of England and 
Ireland fevdatory to the Boman Pontiff. 



THB BOOK OF PLU8CARDEN. BOOK VH. 43 



CHAPTEE IV. 

David of Euntingdon and his death — Bid jMrst certain a/sts of 
King Alexander againet the King of EngUmd. 

In these days the barons and nobles of England, who 
would not brook the grievances and misapplied and wrongfully 
assessed customs which Eing John of England daily heaped 
upon them, bound themselves by a common oath with one 
accord to insist upon the king^s maintaining ' undamaged and 
intact the ancient liberties and priyileges of the reahn and its 
approved custqms, as was the case towards both church and 
resdm in the time of Heniy Beauclerk of happy memory ; which 
privileges and liberties that Eing Henry^ son of William the 
Bastard, granted at the instance of his queen Maud, the Good 
Queen of England, that is to say the daughter of Malcolm 
king of Scotland and the blessed Margaret ; and for love of her 
they were granted and confirmed to the aforesaid kingdom for 
ever, according to the tenor of the said King Henry^s charter 
drawn up thereupon, the tenor whereof is in eflfect as follows, 
etc. ; for that otherwise they would withdraw themselves firom 
his authority and dominion. But, when the king had put them 
off with repeated delays by fieJse promises, they were at length 
with one accord stirred up against him, refused him any delay, 
avoided an interview with him, and were minded to settle the 
matter by arms ; and they beset^ King Alexander of Scotland 
and Uewellyn king of Wales with prayers and promises, and 
bound them to the barons of England by the same ties of alli- 
ance, notwithstanding that the king of Wales had before this 
taken the said King John's daughter to wife. So King Alex- 
ander gathered his forces together and marched into England ; 
and he brought Northumberland under his yoke and received 
the homage of the vassals thereof. When King John heard this, 
he advanced into Scotland with a host of retainers ; and he 
burnt, destroyed and laid waste everythiog he oame across, to 
wit Dunbar and Haddington and many other places. King 
Alexander, however, got together a stronger force and encamped 
at Pentland, longing to have an encounter with the king of the 
English ; but King John, knowing his gaUantry, tumed aside 
and went back to his own country by another way ; but, in his 
rage against his own baxons from the cause stated above, he 
laid waste with sword and fire and rapine all their lands on his 
retum joumey, beginning at Wark and Alnwick ; and he bumt 
down Mitford and Morpeth and many other towns. At Box- 



44 THE BOOK OF PLUSCAm)£N. BOOK VIL 

burgh and Berwick he spared neither sex nor order nor age, 
but delivered over everything to fire and sword, crucifying the 
Scots by the feet and hands, and some by the fingers and 
toes; and, after plundering the.Abbey of Coldingham, King 
John bumt down the very house where he himself had lodged, 
setting fire to it with his own hands, in defiance of kingly 
majesty and seemliness. But when King Alexander heaid of 
his retreat, he went back again to Northumberland, desiring, 
it is said, to have an encounter with him ; and, while the king 
of England made the best of his way to the midland parts of 
England, Eing Alexander burnt and destroyed all the country 
as far as Garlisle. 



CHAPTEE V. 

Davidy Earl of Hmimgdon. 

{This chapter bUovld conie before the one imrrtediately preceding) 

On the death, as before stated, of that mighty prince Eing 
William, his brother David earl of Huntingdon, although neither 
active in mind nor vigorous in body, hastened to have his 
nephew Alexander crowned at Scone as quickly as he could, 
that the kingdom might have a ruler. Eing William had for- 
merly given the aforesaid David, his brother, the earldom of 
Huntingdon to hold of him, the earldom of Garioch together 
with Strabolgy (Strathbogie), and the town of Dundee, Inver- 
bervie, Lanforgonde and Inchmartin and lindores,^ together 
with many other broad lands and estates. EUs wife was the 
daughter of the earl of Chester in England ; and of her he begat 
three sons, one of whom got the earldom of Chester, and a 
second succeeded himin his other domains;^ but they died 
childless. Of the same wife also he begat three very beautifnl 
daughters: Margaret he married to Alan of Galloway; the 
second, Isabel, he gave to Eobert de Bruce to wife, and from 
her the present line of kings of Scotland is acknowledged to 
have issued f Ada, the third daughter, he wedded to Henry of 
Hastings. But Earl David, afber having founded the monastery 
of lindores, was overtaken by death at Jerdelay, in the year 
1219, bequeathing and intrusting his body to the mother of 
all and his spirit to the Lord who created him, and lies buried 
at the monasteiy of Sawtreia. Of the descent of the aforesaid 
daughters of the said David of Huntingdon we shall speak 
presently. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 45 



CHAPTER VL 

The Dauphin Loms, the eldest san of the King^ ofFrance^ 

comes to England, 

Meanwhile the noble barons of England, being subjected to 
the yoke of fell servitude by the tyrant king, wrote to Philip, 
the most Ghristian king of the French, to send them over his 
firstbom Louis the Dauphin of Vienne, whom they with one 
accord agreed to take as their king, discarding the tyrant who 
filled the throne. The king of France yielded to their wishes, 
especially to restore the liberty of the barons and the Church ; 
and, after receiving hostages from the barons of England, he 
despatched to England his son Louis, provided with arms and 
accompanied ^ by a countless armed soldiery, in a fleet properly 
equipped with all needful necessaries. Louis therefore, trusting 
that King Alexander would be there in person, owing to their 
time-honoured alliance, adopted a bold course and landed in 
England on an island called Thanet. The king of England, 
however, who with his army was at that time awaiting him at 
Sandwich, about the nearest harbour to the aforesaid island, 
durst not attack them, but betook himself to a safer spot. So 
Louis came to London on Whitsunday in the year 1216, the 
ninth year of King Alexander of Scotland, aud he and his 
foUowers were received by the barons with unspeakable joy. 
Eing Alexander of Scotland, on the other fiand, again assembled 
A fresh army and entered England on the ninth day of August,* 
injuring no one but the hangers-on of King John ; and he found 
Louis, the Dauphin of Frcmce, at Dover, and was honourably 
received by him with gladness ; and, after tarrying with him 
fifteen days at a stretch arranging their affairs, he set about 
retuming to Scotland. In the meantime King John had broken 
down the bridges, sunk the boats, and eveiywhere cut through 
the fords, and was striving to bar his progress at the river 
Trent; but just then, as he was devising this mischief, God 
ordained that he should end his life at Newark after a short 
illness. King Alexander of Scotland then broke up John's 
army, overthrew many castles and plundered his enemy^s lands, 
and retumed to his own country with much riches and great 
honour and glory, and without any loss. John was succeeded 
by his son Henry in., as appears in the Catalogue.^^ 

None for King John a mouming heart displays. 
He did no good, but evil all his days. 



46 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIL 

CHAPTER VII. 

JRetum ofZ(nti8 9on of the King of France. 

LOTJIS ihen landed in France and got back to his own country 
without loss. At this same time King Alexander of Scotland 
invaded England, and took and fortified Carlisle. Next we read 
that in these days the castle of lincoln was besieged by the 
barons of England and the partisans of Lonis ; but, upon the 
sudden airiviS of Gualo, the legate of the Church of Bome^ with 
the army of Henry the new king of England, the siege was 
raised, and in one moment of time, so to speak, all the barons 
and nobles who had before sided with the above-named Louis 
were taken, together with a certain French count deputed by 
Louis to command them:^ all the others were consigned to 
dose imprisonment. King Philip, however, seeing his son so 
played with^ and the nobles of England who cleaved to him so 
thrust into cruel impiisonment, and relying upon King Alex- 
ander of Scotland, again fitted out a fleet, and prepared to give 
battle to the English once more ;^ but, when the prelates of 
England and other lovers of peace heard this, f earing the arrival 
in England of the powerful king of Scots^ they negotiated a 
reconciliation, and made a peace between Louis and Henry the 
new king of England, after receiving a pledge that aU who had 
risen with Louis in England against the said Henry IHng of 
England or against &iB father would be restoied to the former 
state in whicn they were before the beginning of the quarrel. 
Thereupon Louis came back to England under a safe-conduct,^ 
and freed with honour all the captives, prisoners and those in 
bonds, and all their property and goods were restored to them ; 
and, having thus had a lesson of tibe perfidy of the English, he 
went back to France. Let therefore the Scots princes and lords 
of our day take waming by them, lest, having found out their 
deceit of old and their wicked treachery and dissimulation, 
they be rashly and guilelessly deceived, being led astray, like 
others, by a show of kindness. For their dregs are not yet 
drained so dry but that, while that people is strong, all who 
trust in them will drink thereof: for these may in their 
character be Ukened to the natuie of a most foul scorpion^ 
pricking with poisoned sting and killing those who are 
most neighbourly to them and shelter them in their bed. 
Let then the Scottish chiefs, both churchmen and lay, rejoice 
that the Lord hath humbled their enemies for naught, and that 
his hand is upon them that afflict them ; for He hath delivered 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK VH. 4T 

them into tlie hands of the enemy, and they that hate them 
have dominion over them. For such a thing has never from 
everlasting been seen as that the most mighty king of the 
English,^^ with his wife and firstbom, and many English chiefs 
in their utmost need, as it were exiled from the kingdom, 
shonld come to the kingdom of Scotland and ask help from 
the king and barons ; and moreover they met with so much 
kindness and advice and help and fetvour from them, that they 
could justly say^ *' Salvation from our enemies and from the 
hand of all that hate us.*' For, as often as an enemy comes 
into the power of a prince, mercy, favour and grace are due to 
him from the demency of the prince. For it is the lion'8 
noblest attribute to spare the fallei£ So also the Lord saith, 
Blessed are the merciAO, for they shall obtain mercy. 



CHAPTEE VIIL 

iTUerdiet and Excommvmieatim of Oie Kingdom of Seotland, 

In this year the king of Scotland besieged the castle of 
Mitford on his way towards Dover to Loms ; but, on hearing of 
his departure, he lefb the castle and retumed to Scotland. At 
this time Malcolm earl of Fife founded the monastery of 
Cuhross, and the foUowing year he founded the nunnery of 
North Berwick. But» because Eing Alexander had, for love of 
Louis the firstbom of the king of the French, played such havoc 
in England with his army, and done damage beyond measure, 
Gualo, the l^te of the Apostolic See in England, put the king- 
dom of Scotland under an interdict, and excommimicated the 
king and all the inhabitants generally who had been especiaUy 
his companions in the crimes committed in the said kingdom 
of England. But, to know the causes of this excommimication 
and interdicty we must observe that the first reason was because 
the said king of Scotland, with his army and other inhabitants, 
had had deaungs with John king of the English at the time of 
the interdict of the aforesaid Eling John and his kingdom ; and 
also aU the prelates of Scotland, after the king had faUen 
under the sentence of excommunication because of his dealings 
with the king of the EngUsh, the aforesaid l^te excommuni- 
cated them and pronounced them excommunicated by virtue 
of a sentence of excommunication passed at the Lateran 
CouncU, where, afiter the reconcUiation of John king of 
England, because he made himself and his realms feudatory to 
the Chuich of Bome, the Pope excommunicated aU who fought 



48 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VH. 

against him and his reahn. The second reason was on account 
of the favour and aid which he extended to Lonis, the son of 
the king of the French, against the aforesaid Eing John. The 
third reason was that the king of Scotland had, in contempt of 
the king of England, pulled do.wn the castle built by the king of 
England at Tweedmonth, opposite the castle of Berwick. The 
fourth reason was because the king of Scotland would not, when 
directed by the said legate, surrender the castle and town of 
Carlisle to the king of England^ as being his ; but the afore- 
said legate compelled the said Alezander king of Scotland to 
restore that town of Garlisle, together with other estimated 
damages^ before being absolved, after^ however^ a perpetual 
alliance of peacebetween^the kings and kingdoms had been 
first established and swom : for the said king was, together 
with those who were bound by that sentence, absolved at 
Tweedmouth by the bishops of York and Durham. After- 
wards, while the king of Scotland was at Northampton under 
the safe-conduct of the king of England, he did that king 
homage for the lands he held of him in England, and, afber he 
had done homage, personally surrendered him back Carlisle ; 
and, afber peace haii been again established at the instance 
of the legate, he went back to Scotland in kindness and love 
on either side, and with the legate's blessing. Nevertheless he 
could not obtain that the prelates and clergy should be included 
under the protection of this peace ; but shortly afterwards both 
a sentence of excommunication and a general interdict through- 
out the whole kingdom of Scotland were proclaimed by the 
said legate, through what motive I know not ; and the Scottish 
Church left ofif divine service, except those religious and monks 
who had special privileges. Thus the aforesaid legate pro- 
nounced all the clergy whatsoever, both religious and secular, 
excommunicated, suspended and interdicted, except» however, 
the bishop of Saint Andrews, who was out of the kingdom at 
the time of the ofifence. At length, however, a good while 
afberwards, the aforesaid legate by his conmiissaries, the bishops 
of York and Durham, granted the benefit of absolution to all 
the prelates, on the payment of some money and the giving of 
a pledge that they would abide by the mandates of the Church ; 
and such as had not the amoimt were despatched by them to 
the Court of Bome to get their absolution. Now the Scots 
prelates and clergy let the aforesaid extravagant and improper 
fines pass, to the detriment of the Scottish Church, and through 
slothfulness behaved lukewarmly ; for while they could, on the 
strength of their privileges which they carelessly ignored, have 
made a spirited appeal to the Soman pontiff, they with one 



THE BOOE OF PLUSCAKDBN. BOOE VII. 49 

accoid submitted to heavy expenses and disgrace to the Church, 
the dergy and prelates, as well as all the inhabitants of the 
kingdom; while they conld for a thousand pounds for the 
prosecution of the appeal have escaped the danger, they were 
unable with ten thousand pounds at all to satisfy the aforesaid 
golden legate and the commissaiies he despatched into Scot- 
land Hence it is quite clear that the clergy and prelates at 
that time were greatly found wanting towards the Church ; for 
they seem to have yielded obedience^ not to a judge of their 
own^ but to the legate of another and a hostile kingdom, when 
they could have lawfolly objected to him. When, therefore, 
some of the excommunicated came to the Ghurch of Bome and 
craved the benefit of absolution, a certain cardinal said, smiling, 
in the Pope's presence^ " It is natural to dutiful minds to beg 
forgiveness when there is nothing to forgive." Now, while 
some subdelegated commissaries were retuming from Aberdeen, 
they put up at lindores on their way ; and having set their 
room on fire during the night, they were so frightened that 
the Prior of Durham was overtaken by death, and expired at 
Coldingham. After this, envoys were sent by King Alexander 
to the Court of Bome, that the privileges and liberties of the 
kingdom of Scotland might be expressly renewed and confirmed 
by tiie Pope ; and the aforesaid privileges were restored to their 
former state. 



CHAPTER IX. 

King Alexander*8 nupticUs, 

In the year 1219, in which Corradin, son of Saladin aud 
Sultan of the Turks, destroyed Jerusalem, Eing Henry of 
England, in order to secure tbe peace more safely, united his 
very beautiful sister in marriage with Alexander king of 
Scots ; and to draw the peaceful alliance still closer, the said 
Ejng Alexander handed over his two sisters to the aforesaid 
king of England to marry to English princes of the highest rank, 
the king of Englaud promising, in the presence of a legate of 
England named Pandulph and a great many other lords of the 
realms who were present and bound themselves likewise thereto, 
to see that they made the most splendid marriages in the 
kingdom, with edl becoming honour, as if they were his own 
daughters. The same year and the next the king assembled an 
army, and marching into GaUoway, which was stiU in rebeUion, 
severely punished it ;^^ and he afterwards crossed into ArgyU, 

D 



50 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 

which was transgreasing in like manner, and Testored order 
and bestowed the confiscated lands and goods in plenty upon 
his deserving lieges who accompanied him. The natives, how- 
ever, forsook their estates and goods and fled the country. The 
foUowing year the bones of Saint Thomas the Martyr were trans- 
lated. In the year 1221 a certain canon of Paris came to Scot- 
land as l^te of the apostolic see, and held a general council at 
Perth. About the same time some menials, limbs of the devil, 
smote, wonnded, and cndgelled the bishop of Caithness, formerly 
abbot of Melrose, and bumt him with fire in his own house ; 
and they consumed with fire his house and all his goods, to« 
gether with a companion of his, a monk. This crime King Alex- 
ander punished most fiercely and cruelly^ and he put to death 
many of the evil-doers of that country ; and forasmuch as the 
earl of Caithness, although not privy to it, had pretended 
ignorance and not stopped those evil-doers, or done lus best to 
prevent their misdeeds, the king, after a long imprisonment,^® 
disgraced him, and dispossessed bim of half of his inheritance, 
the said earldom ; and he, moreover, exacted from him a large 
sum of money. And the Lord of all would not let the earFs 
negligence go unpunished ; for He shortly after gave his own 
men the power and means to slay him treacherously in his own 
house, and then bum him and hia house and fumiture with fire, 
as had been the case with the murdered bishop. A little whHe 
after, however, Isabel, Eing AIexander's sister, notwithstanding 
the aforesaid promises of the king of England, went back to 
Scotland to her brother unmarried; and herein observe the 
fickleness and perfidy of the English. 



CHAPTEE X. 

BecUh of Philip king qf the Freneh. 

Is the year 1224 King Alexander imposed upon the kingdom 
of Scotland a tax of a certain sum, namely, ten thousand pounds 
sterling, as a subsidy for the marriage of his sisters ; but no 
charities were charged with the payment of any part of the 
amount of this subsidy. In the year 1229 the blessed King. 
Edward's church of Bulmurinach (Balmerino) was founded by 
King Alexander and his mother, Ermergarde by name. The 
same year Malcolm earl of Eife died, and was buried at Culross, 
in Saint Servanus church, which he himself had founded. 
This King Alexander founded the priory of Pluscardjni and of 
Beauly.^^ In the year 1231 King Alexander made Walter, 



THE BOOK OF PLU8CARDEN. BOOK VIT. 51 

son of Alan of Gallo way (who was the first who was called 

Stewart in Scotland, for he was in fact the Steward thereof ) — he 

made him Grand Justiciary of Scotland. The brother of this 

Alan of Galloway, who was earl of Athol, died and was buried 

at Cnpar. The same year John earl of Caithness was slain and 

bumt in his own house by some menials, as aforesaid. The 

foUowing year the earl of the Maiches and lord of Dunbar 

assumed the cowl at Mebose, and departed this life not long 

after. The same year the churches of Arbroath, Cupar and 

Newbottle were dedicated. The same year Alan of Galloway 

gave his daughter to John de Balliol to wife, and his sister to 

Walter de Bisset; and William Cumyn earl of Buchan, who 

founded the church of Deer, died. Louis king of France wedded 

the daughter of the count of Provence. Saint Edmund was 

consecrated archbishop of Canterbury. Alan of Galloway, son 

of Botholand of Gralloway, died (this Alan was at that time 

Constable of Scotland), and lies buried at Dundrennan. He left 

three daughters as his heiresses, the first of whom was married 

to Boger de Quincy earl of Winchester, the second to John de 

Balliol, and the third to the earl of Albemarle ; and the land of 

the said Alan of Galloway was divided among them. This was 

very distasteful to the tenants of the said lands, who would rather 

have had his natuial son Thomas be his heir; so the natives 

rose and, together with that Thomas, attacked and wasted with 

fire and sword all the neighbouring lands of the king, because 

he would not consent to this. But the lord king afterwards 

peacefully awed them into submission. At this period the 

Gallwegians rebelled again, and the king made their leader, the 

illegitimate or bastard son of Alan of Gtdloway, fly the kingdom 

into Ireland ; and all the magnates of the 'country who were 

his abettors humbly, with hangman's ropes round their necks, 

crayed the king's pardon. So the mild and merciful king, 

willing that mercy should prevail over severity, granted them 

paidon and peace, following the prophet who saith, '' Mercy 

and judgment will I sing unto thee," etc. The foUowing year 

this Thomas, the bastarf of Alan the Great of Galloway, re- 

turned from Ireland accompanied by some nobles of the country, 

and sued the king for pardon and peace ; and when the king 

wished to punish and chastise him in the Castle of Maidens 

(Edinbui^h) for a time— observe this ! — ^lus comrades, together 

with the son of a petty king of Ireland, plundered Galloway, 

slew many, and mutilated and killed monks at Glenluce and 

Tongueland ; and afber having, on their way back through the 

countiy to their ships, plundered the burgesses of Glasgow and 

put many to death, they went back to Ireland. Two of their 



62 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VH. 

chiefs, however, were taken and biouglit to the king, and were 
dragged at horsee' heels, beheaded, and hiing on the gallows at» 
Edinbuigh. 

CHAPTER XI. 

Mutual love betwem the hings of Sooiland and England after the 
marriage contracted wUh the sister of the latter. 

In the year 1237, the kings of Scotland and England held a 
solemn feast for fifkeen days at York with their queens, and 
most lovingly and haimoniously treated of the more important 
affairs of the kingdoms ; and afterwards each of the kings went 
home again safely to his own country. But the queen of 
Scotland, who was also the sister of King Heniy of England 
and of the duke of ComwaU, set out with the queen of England 
on a pilgrimage to Saint Thomas of Canterbury ; and she departed 
this life during the said joumey, and is buried at Tharent. Else- 
where, however, it is said, and with more truth, that this queen 
of Scotland died at Cupar in Fife, and is buried at Dunfermline 
Monasteiy, near the sainted King David. In the year of grace 
1239, a certain cardinal legate a latere of the apostolic see 
came into Scotland and held a council at Edinburgh. The 
same year, also, Eing Alexander of Scotland, not having any 
offspring of his first wife, wedded another at Boxbuigh, the 
daughter of the lord de Coucy, Maiy by name, a native of 
France, and of her begat a son, named Alexander after his 
father, in the forty-fouith year of the said king^s age, and the 
twenty-seventh of his reign. In this year, fix)m the Suuday 
after Christmas t5 the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy 
Cross, no rain fell upon the earth in these paits ; and the wines 
were so strong that no one could easily drink them without 
water. likewise, about the same time, the earl of Athol, a 
most handsome youth, was, with his whole household and two 
noble companions with him, villainously and treacherously 
burnt by night in his lodging at Haddington, by some mffians 
not devoid of inveterate treachery and enmity ; and because 
one WiUiam Besat was suspected of this deed, the king, at the 
request of the friends of the aforesaid earl of Athol at Edin- 
burgh, that he should bring forward the said William Besat to 
answer to them, appointed a day. Accordingly, hosts of the 
friends of either side appearing, they proclaimed William Besat, 
as also his friends who were consenting and acting parties, con- 
demned to perpetual banishment out of the kingdoms of Scot- 
land, England, and France ; and aU their lands and their whole 



THB BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VH. 53 

substance were confiscated to the king. The king, however, being 
merciful and sparing in the shedding of Christian blood, lightened 
the pnnishment of the misdeed, and bound them fast by an oath 
to go to the Holy Land and stay there for life, fighting against 
Chrisfs enemies. About the year 1243 a certain Scottish 
traitor maliciously came forward at the court of the English 
king, flattering hun, and criminally accusing the king of Scot- 
land, with foul lies and fawning fabrications ; and he so pro- 
voked the said king of England and nea^ly all the chiefs of 
the country to vengeance, that the said king took up arms 
against King Alezander, assembled his forces, together with 
other magnates of the kingdom, at Newcastle, with the design 
of invading the kingdom of Scotland with the vast hosts of 
soldiery gathered together, and took counsel with his barons. 
For he lutd so exasperated the said king of England and the 
chiefs to vengeance, that the king wished to make every effort 
to bring the kingdom of Scotland absolutely under his yoke 
if he could. Upon hearing this, Eing Alexander straightway 
hastened to get himself ready to oppose him with no smalL 
number of men-at-cmns, and encamped at Pentland on his way 
towards him. But when King Henry of England heard this, 
having had no idea that the king of Scotland would so soon 
find 80 large a force of men-at-arms ready, he yielded to the 
prayers of the lovers of peace, and was guided by the opinion 
of the prelates and chiefs ; and so peace was restored between 
the parties, and each tumed his horse's head and sped back to 
his own coimtry. The following year many cities of Scotland 
were bumt down, to wit, Boxburgh, Haddington, Lanark, Stir- 
ling, Perth, Forfar, Montrose, Aberdeen, — they were by accident 
entirely consumed and reduced to ashes. 



CHAPTER XIL 

Certain events ; and death of Alexander II. 

Now a bastard son of the late Thomas of Athol, and late 
a natural brother of him who was bumt, committed many 
incredible atrocities in Ireland. The king of England, therefore, 
being angered at this, asked the reason thereof, and leamt that 
aU this was done to take revenge on one John Besat, an exile 
from the kingdom of Scotland, because he was privy to his 
brother^s death. So the king of England wrote to Eing 
Alexander to send that bastard to him to punish ; but King 
Alexander denied that he was his vassal, and stated by letter 



54 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VU. 

that he was a vagabond wandermg throughout the world, and 
iinder no law. In the year 1249, that most renowned king of 
Scotland, Alexander IL, who hated iniquity and loved righteous- 
ness, while marching into Argyll to allay the bickerings of 
animosity, was thei^e seized with grievous sickness and bome 
off to an island which is called Carbery (Kerrera) ; and, after 
duly receiving the sacraments of etemal salvation, he gave up 
his contrite and humbled spirit to the Lord, and passed away 
in happiness from this life to his eternal inheritance. He rests 
in happiness inhumed at Melrose, as he directed in his last 
will ; and may his soul abide with Ohrist in happiness. He 
died in the fifty-second year of his age, and the thirty-fifth of 
his reign, on a Thursday in July. He was very just, long- 
suffering, kindly, mild, and meroiful, and far-famed for every 
virtue. He left behind him his natural son Alexander m., 
who was at the early age of eight years set upon the royal 
stone at Scone by the chiefs and prelates of the country, and 
crowned, anointed^ and consecrated with great solemnity and 
magnificence in the presence of all the chief magnates and 
lords of the realm ; and he received the oath of fealty fix>m all 
his lieges. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

TmoT of the Charter of PtvMeges at the ingtance of Maud the 
Grood Queen of England, daughUr of the Sainted Qtieen 
Margaret, 

* • * • • 

Here endeth the copy of the charter of the privil^es of 
England, which privileges and liberties were, at the instance of 
Maud, daughter of the blessed Margaret and Malcolm king of 
Scotland, and called the Good Qiieen of England, granted by 
her husband, Henry king of the English, called Beiauclerk in 
his time, etc. Some have it that this good queen rode through 
the streets of the city of London with no covering but the hair 
of her head, to beg the above-mentioned privileges of the king ; 
and she was dubbed the Good Queen of England on account of 
her great goodness. 

CHAPTER XIIII. 

Begivming ofAlexander IIL hing ofScots, 

When therefore, as already said, all the magnates, prelates 
and chiefjB of the realm were gathered together at Scone, 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK YU. 55 

King Alexander iii. \92iS, after his father's death, imammously 
raised to the throne, at the age of only eight, by the common 
consent of all, and, as nsual, airayed in the insignia of royalty, 
anointed and crowned. Afterwards, however, as was the 
custom of old, they led the king in all his royal robes to a 
certain cross in the cemetery, on the east side, with the whole 
inultitude of the people, and there set him in great state on 
the royal chair of stone and marble which was brought over 
- from Egypt. It is of that stone that the gods of the I^ptians 
spake when they said that, wherever that chair should be 
brought^ there would the Scots reign, as we see from these 
lines : — 

" Unless the fiates are false, the Scots will reign 
Where'er thia fatal stone they find again." 

And, from the fact that the said chair has been brought over to 
England, it follows that they must reign there, as we see £rom 
the words of the venerable Bede in certain verses already 
noticed above.^® While, therefore, the king was, as already 
stated, arrayed in the insignia of royalty and seated on the 
aforesaid chair, there appeared before hun a certain man of 
some consequence from the upper parts of the kingdom, who 
greeted him and repeated to him his whole pedigree, all the 
kings one by one and by name since they started from the 
parts of Egypt and Greece — each one by his name, according 
to the list set out elsewhere. Hence we see that that most 
ancient nation, the Scots, sprang chiefiy &om the two most 
renowned countiies in the world, and abode without a break 
with its own natural kings, maintaining unswerving fidelity 
and allegiance, and continuing faithfully in its natural allegi- 
ance for nearly two thousand years, without the bondc^e 
of subjection to any emperor or Mng, which has seldom or 
never been the case in any other country. The aforesaid 
nation, then, took its rise on the male side from the most 
renowned province of the Greeks, to wit the Athenians, where 
the discovery of all natural science first and chiefly had and 
took its beginning, and Phoroneus Ifing of the Greeks first 
imparted human laws to the Bomans. In Egypt, on the other 
hand, pre-eminently before aU the other Mngdoms of the world, 
the science of astronomy iirst and chiefly flourished. The 
Lord God, also, and Almighty Father sent His beloved Son, 
Our Lord Jesus Chnst, with his mother Mary for safety into 
Egypt, because of the fary of the tyrant Herod ; which He 
would not have done had he not delighted in the country. 
Hence all the famous doctors, wise c£ax)niclers and authors 



56 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIL 

hold that Greece ib, as it were, the inistress of the other king- 
doms, the discoverer of sciences, the foontaiD-head and nurse 
of morals and virtue, the flower and guide of chivahy and 
arms, whose people are the most quick-witted, the most 
valiant in the art of warfare, endowed with the gifts of 
wisdom, most learned and most eloquent in speech, far-famed 
for their laws, law-abiding, merciful and kind to strangers, 
peacefiil towards fellow-coimtrymen, quiet at home, gracious 
to well-disposed neighbours, most warlike against the snares 
of their enemies : as we see first in the destruction of the 
city of Troy ; secondly, in the conqueror Alexander the 
Great; thirdly, in Constantine the Great, who spread the 
Christian religion ; fourthly, in Aristotle, the chief of philoso- 
phers and the flower of clerks ; fifbhly, in that most stalwart 
Hercules, who planted the brazen pillars in the sea of Gades, 
in the westem borders of the world, and in his wonderful 
strength, which, although mentioned last, should however, by 
reason of antiquity if not of importauce, have been mentioned 
first. 



CHAPTEE XV. 

JRemoval ofthe ashes ofthe hody ofthe nwst hlessed 

Qaeen Margwret. 

In the year following the coronation, namely in 1250, the 
king and the queen his mother, together with the bishops and 
abbots and other lords of the realm, met at Dunfermline, and 
there took up the bones and remains of the glorious Queen 
Margaret, his great-great-great-great-grandmother, from the 
stone monument wherein they had rested for years and years, 
and lifted them up with the utmost devoutness and honour in 
a sUver^ shrine set with gold and precious stones ; and &om 
her earlier tomb was given out a most sweet smell, so that one 
would have thought the whole place was strewed with flowers 
and spicy balms. Nor was there lacking a miracle of divine 
grace : for, afber that far-famed coffer had first been placed in 
the outer church, and finally easily lifted by the sacred hands 
of bishops and abbots, that it might be placed on the top of 
the high altar in the choir, as had been pre-arranged in order 
to do it honour, when it was brought in procession, with organs 
chanting and voices singing in chorus, up to the wicket in the 
chancel, near the tomb of her husband King Malcolm, who lay 
at the north side of the further nave of the church under an 



THB BOOK OF PLU8CARDBN. BOOK VU. 67 

arched canopy, on the opposite side, lo I suddenly the anns of 
the beareis became as it weie exhausted and powerless, so that, 
from the weight of the massy bnrden, they were unable to 
move the bier with the holy relics away from the spot any 
fdrther ; nay, they were obliged, whether they would or not, to 
come to a stop at that spot forthwith, and rest the heavy 
bier on the ground there. After this, however, they brought 
bearers stronger than the former, thinking there was a lack of 
bodily strength in the bearers ; but the more they strove to lift 
the bier, the less they could stir it. But at length, while the 
prelates and lords wondered much what this strange thing 
might mean, and thought they were unworthy to touch or 
meddle with the most holy burial of so glorious a body, lo ! 
stiaightway the inspired voice of the Lord, as is believed, 
thundered forth from one of the bystanders, announcing plainly 
that Gkxl neither wished nor would allow the remains of the 
blessed queen to be moved before the coffin of her husband 
King Malcolm were opened and his body moved with just such 
bonours, since they were one flesh whUe they were in the 
world ; and, as his speech pleased all the bystanders, it was 
done according to his word. So, after his tomb was opened 
and his bones were taken up, both biers were solemnly and 
in state brought to the appointed places without any trouble 
or effort because of their weight, on the 19th of June in the 
above year; and, because of her worthiness and merits, Almighty 
6od, who is marvellous in His saints and glorious in His 
niajesty, wrought many mirades in the said place. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Marriage of King Alexander to the daughter of Henry IIL 

ki/ng of England. 

In the year 1251 the magnates of the kingdom of Scotland, 
seeing that their king was in his minority, almost in his cradle, 
feared that the kingdom would suffer loss for want of good 
govemment : for the leading men of nearly the whole kingdom 
n^lected the state and were altogether bent on promoting 
their own private interests, each one minding his own business 
and leaving the common weal to itself. Therefore the prelates 
and lords who cared for the common weal, after exhorting them, 
came to a decision, upon mature deliberation, and despatched 
envoys to the king of England both for a renewal of the treaty 
of peace and also for the cementing of the bond of hearty love 
and fnendship by a marriage to be contracted between the said 



58 TH£ BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK YU. 

King Alexander and the daughter of Henry king of Englaiid. 
Theee envoys vfere received most graciouBly, and vfeve thanked 
and rewarded with many cofitly ^ffcs. Envoys were likewise 
sent back into Scotland to settle the maniage;^ and they 
arranged a day for the aforesaid kings to meet one another 
with their counsellors — ^at the city of York, on the foUowing 
Ghristmas-day. This was finally cairied out and fulfilled 
with the greatest solemnity, state, gloiy and honour, both as 
to the marriage and as to prolonging the treaty of peace ; and 
both kings and the prelates and barons of either kingdom swore 
solemnly, after laying their hands upon the holy Gospels, that 
it should last for ever and ever. This oath, moreover, both 
kings, with their chiefs, prelates and lords, kept so faithfully and 
inviolably to the end of their lives, that hardly ever in after 
times were any differences, quarrels, or dissensions which could 
distress the Mngdoms known to arise between them or their 
countrymen ; nor had it ever been known, in the days of any 
king whatever, that true peace and love and unbroken and 
spotless fidelity between the Scots and their adversaries should 
for so long a time have been unfalteringly kept by both sides. 
For the said King Heniy was always looked upon as a Mthful 
and fast friend, both in the time of the father of the said King 
Alexander, after Alexander n. married the sister of the said 
Henry, and also in the time of his son-in-law,^ the said Alex- 
ander in. ; a thing which had seldom if ever been known to 
happen before this, either in the time of the Britons, the Picts, 
the Norwegians, or the English, save in the few days of King 
Eichard, who maiDtained steady fidelity and a friendly alliance 
with King William, and abode unceasingly in true friendship 
and a trustful alliance with him unto his life's end. Further- 
more, the aforesaid King Henry, to show the greater love and 
intimate friendship, girded Eling Alexander, while only nine 
years old, with the belt of knighthood at the city of York, and 
thereafter brought about and conduded the marriage between 
the aforesaid King Alexander and his eldest daughter, named 
Margaret, on St Stephen's Day, the day afber Christmas, with 
the utmost ceremony, as abready remarked. And afber the 
wedding King Alexander straightway took his queen to Scot- 
land with him. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

T/ic new hing's counsellors stispected. 

BuT, when the king had come to his own kingdom, afber his 
marriage had been concluded, the prelates and baxons and 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VII. 59 

other magnates and lords of the lealm who cared for the 
common weal held a general meeting, and dismiBsed all the 
king^s connsellors, earls as well as aU others who were imder 
snspicion; and, by the choice of the Three Estates^ in con- 
sideration of the long^s tender age, they constituted and elected 
other prelates and barons, able, prudent and discreet men, to 
represent them; and these appointed new officers in place of 
those nnder suspicion.^ They weie dismissed because^^ these 
counsellors were so many kings or petty kings, who converted 
and disposed of the revenues of the kingdom and all the crown 
dues to their own private use, and thought only of their own 
selfish interests, leaving the common weal to itself, and ever 
enriching themselves and trampling others under foot. They 
did not prevent the poor being ground down ; and, with some 
whom they envied, they would even find some trumped-up 
reason for confiscation, and appropriate the confiscated lands to 
themselves by the king^s gift ; with others, they would seek 
occasion against them that they might sell some land of theirs 
they took a fancy to, and would force them to sell it to them ; 
they concealed robbers with whom they were partakers, sup- 
poited them, and got them pardons &om the king for their 
misdeeds, such as sacrilege and manslaughter ; and generally 
they countenanced and shielded all evil doers, so that it might 
not without cause be said : Woe to thee, land whose king is 
a boy ; f or nought is holier or more profitable or better in a 
kingdom than that the king should have good counsellors, 
whetiber he be young or old. For, as the poet says : — 

A worthy council makes a lasting realm. 

Now counsellors of unrighteousness are the king's and the 
kingdom^s foes, whom none ought to encourage by silence, 
but openly to chide, impeach and prosecute; for we all by 
nature have obligations towards the state, and especially 
towards our king. But, according to the prophet, those who 
fail in their duty shall the Lord number with the workers of 
iniquity. Nothing indeed better befits the dignity of king than 
to have good and able counsellors, and to eschew evil advisers : 
for unrighteous counsellors are the chief foes of the king and 
the kingdom, as already said; and, on the other hand, good 
counsellors are the pride of the king and the kingdom, and the 
safety of the people. Again, according to Solomon, In the 
multitude of counsellors there is safety : for there are as many 
different points of view as there are heads. According to 
Solomon, again, A multitude of wise men is the health of the 
earth, and a wise king is the stay of the people. Now by this 



60 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VU. 

is the kiiigfs wisdom known, that he has wise and pnident 
counsellois. For thiB canse weie a hundred senators estab- 
lished at Bome for the goyemment of the state ; and in like 
manner at Paris a hundred coimsellors were created for the 
govemment of the realm of France ; for a community, some 
say, cannot err. All the senators of Paris are clerics leamed in 
the law and doctors of law and canon law, and solemnly swom 
to do and administer judgment and tme justice ; and moreover 
they are so secure, prompt and resolute in doing right, that, 
though some of them, say two or three, should wie^ basely 
to pervert the law and tum aside from the way of tmth, the 
others, thus clearly perceiving their shufiBing and unfaimess, 
would not endure them, but would put them to a peipetual 
shame and bamsh them from the society of the others ; and, 
if the king were so ill-adyised, or rather led astray by self- 
interested advice, as in like manner to pervert judgment and 
justice and countenance such unrighteousness, so as himself to 
upset the sentence of parliament, all these senators with their 
followers would publicly proclaim that no more causes would 
be heard in parliament, and the bells would be mng, the doors 
of parliament locked, they would take off their robes, and each 
would go back to his own home, and finally — ^never to retum or 
give a hearing or deal with any cause wl^atever, until the king 
had pimished the shu£9ers, begged their pardon, and made full 
amends in parliament. For they would pervert or break 
through the law, or go beyond the lett-er of the law, neither f or 
king nor for queen, nor for any other lord, friend or kinsman» 
for neither prayer, nor love, nor money, nor fear, nor hate, nor 
even for a man's life. We find, moreover, in the Gestes of the 
French that in the days of Philip and Louis, kings of the 
French, the Saracens passed by their own judges and left 
their homes and came to Paris to submit their causes and com- 
plaints to the judgment of the senators of the parliament there ; 
and in the end both parties, satisfied with their sentences, 
rettimed in joy and harmony to their own country, and praised 
justice. 



CHAPTER XVIIL 

Whai TncmneT of men a king'8 counsellors shatUd be. 

Obskbve that a good and righteous king ought to have twelve 
characteristics. The first is that he ought not to keep with liim 
in his council counsellors who are miserly, ambitious, or double- 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. bl 

tongaed, or inclined to eviL The second, that he choose 
pradent men, loving Grod more than camal or worldly gain. 
The third, that they consider the poor and be merciful imto 
them^ compaasionate towards their neighbours' woes, truthful in 
judgment and in their other doings, not willing to tell a lie for 
anything in the world. The fourth, that the king himself love 
Qod above all things, and watch over himself imceasingly in 
leading a good life spiritually, observe God's precepts, maintain 
the law and not break it, direct and protect and love the good, 
and guard them in peace, and correct, punish and chastise the 
wicked. The fifbh, that he protect 6od's church and firmly 
believe and defend the catholic faith, uphold derics and phests 
in their suits, and save them harmless in body and substance, 
and withstand their enemies. The sixth, that he cherish all 
maids and widows and wretched folks and babes and oiphans, 
nouiish them, and enfold them in the bosom of his protection. 
The seventh, that he say the Hours of Our Lady daily, and 
hear three masses in the name of the Trinity, and chant the 
seven penitential psalms with the litany and Vigil of the Dead 
when he has leisure ; and if he said the canonical Hours — would 
that he did so I — it would always go well with him in this 
world. The eighth, that he do not make or plunge into war 
unless he needs must, but maintain^ seek and, so far as he might 
do so without dishonour, ensue friendship, peace and love with 
all his neighbours ; for Peace is good to those that love her, and 
not a stumbling-block unto them, seeing that blessed are the 
peacemakers, and they shall be called the children of Grod. 
The ninth, that he confess himself and consult his confessor 
daily, or at least once a week, and purify and purge himself 
from the vices and taints of mortality, and say the Hours to 
himself, not talring his ease dxiring mass, nor letting his eyes 
wander, nor looking back, nor bus}dng himself with or attending 
to affairs before divine service, beaxiug in mind the saying of 
the Lord, who says, No one who putteth his hand to the plough 
and looketh back is fit for the kingdom of heaven. The tenth, 
that he diligently sound, inquire into and subject to inspection 
the diligence of those who manage his property, as also the 
fidelity of all his officers, and acquaint himsiBlf with the character 
of each of them ; and that no wicked man come into his sight, 
and that the uniighteous remain not before his eyes ; that the 
bad heart that backbiteth his neighbour cleave not imto him ; 
that he have no dealings with the proud eye and greedy heart, 
but that his eyes be ever upon the faithful in the le^d, that they 
may sit with him and minister unto him, walking in a spotless 
way. The eleventh, that he make an able and discreet man his 



62 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vn. 

Orand Altnoner, and have all the almshouses of hia reahn re- 
formed and restored to their tnie original condition when they 
were first founded, and direct and aee that his charitable dona- 
tions and doles be distributed in his own presence ; and take pity 
on the poor, as saith the prophet, Blessed is he that considereth 
the poor and needy ; the Lord wiU. deliver him in time of trouble. 
The twelfth, that he introduce not new and evil customs into his 
realm, to the detriment and prejudice of his people and the 
state, but love the common weal above all things, and guard it^ 
else he will never be beloved by his subjects, nor by Grod ; for 
Grod is the soul of the state, and the more one leans to the 
public good the nearer one is to Gtod, and the more beloved by 
Him ; for the king is only the state'8 vicegerent in the name of 
the Lord his God, and unless he govems it well he is not worthy 
of the name of Idng. This is gathered chiefiy ftom three points 
which are touched upon by j&xistotle, the chief of philosophersy 
in his Ethics : namely that, firstly, he ought to govem his own 
self virtuously, as regards himself personedly ; secondly, that he 
ought to govern his house well, as regards his household ; thirdly, 
that he ought govem his province or countiy well, or his king- 
dom, if he be a king, as regaids the common weal and the state, 
and the whole people subject unto him. If he shall do these 
three things he shall deserve to be called king; and then shall 
his Lord say unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant ; 
because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set 
thee over many ; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

On what days the hing ought to wear the croivn, ete, 

It was the custom of old, as is stated in the Great Chronicle, 
that the king should wear the crown on his head at certain 
solemn festi^^nals, although it is not customaiy in modem times, 
and especiaUy in France.^ It is said here, however, that it is 
on these festivals, to wit Christmas, the Epiphany, Easter, 
Whitsunday, Ascension Day, the Assumption of Our Lady, the 
raising of the Holy Cross, All Saints ; also on all days on which 
he holds general judicial sittings in parliament, and on days 
on which he confers knighthood in state. 

Furthermore, ten counsels are given to kings by the Lord. 
The first is that the king ought never to sit alone at table, but 
accompanied by some distinguished men, wise and well-princi- 
pled, with whom he shall make merry and solace himself, con- 
versing about acts of wisdom, pmdence and justice, that he 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK VII. 63 

may be made wiser and pass the time well : for he who delights 
in hearing wisdom shall be wise, according to Solomon. The 
seeond counsel is that after dinner he should stand up and 
broach some good subject, and argue with the clerics in his 
presence, or discuss the relative merits of glorious deeds ; and 
then let him hear the opinions of others, whence he shall 
understand the govemment of his realm, so that he may be- 
come more prudent and careful. The third counsel is that in all 
his judicial acts he always temper his judgment with mercy, 
bearing in mind the saying of the prophet, who sajrs, Of mercy 
and judgment shall I sing unto thee, Lord ; for the king ought 
not suddenly in his wrath to sentence any one, lest he after- 
wards quickly repent, as Solomon says, The fool vents his wrath 
at once. FourtUy, that he ought not to be tumed aside from 
the path of right reason by any cause whatever ; for a wise man 
may be likened unto the sun, who is always shining, and has 
his rays direct ; while a fool, like the moon, changes daily . 
Fifthly, that the king beware of the counsel of such as are 
interested in those whose cause is being considered, for such 
make justice miscarry and pervert the law; and especially 
misers, for avarice is thraldom to idols and the root of all evil, 
and they are always ready to barter justice and poison a just 
king with the venom of avarice. Sixthly, that the king ought to 
give heed to the words of able men and to the advice of experi- 
enced men as to what handicraf ts he has need of in his kingdom, 
and send able youths over to foreign parts to be taught, at the 
expense of the paients and the boroughs which have need of 
such. Seventhly, that the king should make men of influence 
in the realm, both churchmen and laymen, fumish fleets of 
fishing>boat8, as they do in England and in other eastem and 
northem countries, which bring in much profit to the country. 
The eighth, that the king make a point of letting the lands of the 
inhabitants in f eu-farm for ever ; for it is easy f or an intelligent 
man to see that by such leases the country and the inhabi- 
tants could be indefinitely enriched; and. when the conntiy 
and inhabitants are enriched, in like manner also will the 
king be enriched. For, if the country and inhabitants are 
poor, the king will be poor; as it is impossible for the king 
of a poor country to be rich ; or, on the other hand, of a rich 
country to be poor. It is strange that the whole world is 
leased thus save only the kingdom of Scotland ; but, according 
to Aristotle, the chief of philosophers, Base is the part that does 
not harmonise with its whole. But, if they knew the unparalleled 
advantage ensuing therefrom, they would not leave off until 
they had accomplished it. Ninthly, that the king, by a decree 



I 

I 



/ 



I 



64 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 

of his parliament, have his laws examined and weighed and com- 
pared with the acts of parliament by wise men leamed in the 
law ; and^ if there be any things which contTadict each other, 
or are useless, unreasonable, or fmitless, that they be amended 
by certain men deputed thereto before the genersd council, and 
that bad customs, if there be any, be swept away. Tenthly, 
that the king, when he wakes in the middle of the night after 
his first lying down, should first render thanks to Almighty 
Gk)d and invoke the grace of the Holy Spirit, and then recall 
to mind all his pressing business, and ponder what, how, by 
whom, in what way and when, he ought to bringto due accom- 
plishment what he has to do. 



CHAPTER XX. 

OooA characteristics and points in a king. 

The best point in a prince is that he do wisely what- 
ever he may do, and that he look to the end. Another point 
is that he think well over all he does ; and thus he will not 
repent after the deed is done: for, according to Solomon, 
wisdom dwelleth in counsel, and mingles with witty inven- 
tions. Another point is that in administering justice he 
swerve not either to the right hand or to the left, nor take 
the person into account in giving judgment; for Grod is no 
respecter of persons. Another good point is that, if the king 
has made a mistake, when he finds out his mistake he be not 
ashamed to retract it : for the universal pope oftentimes makes 
mistakes, yet he says he is not ashamed to retract his mis- 
jbake. Aiiother poiut is that he do nothing rashly in hpt blood, 
but put ofiT yengeance until anger is past : for anger prevents 
the spirit being able to discem the tme, and man'8 anger 
works not Grod^s justice. Another point is that he do not 
lightly believe stories, flattery, or aduktion, against his better 
judgment, until he hear the other side ; and that he take into 
consideration the cause of the story, and the persons, and the 
circumstances, until he understands the foundation and the 
origin whence it proceeds. Another very good point is that 
the king recognise thoroughly his friends and foes, and take 
good heed to whom he unfolds the secrets of his heart ; for 
many feign friendship and have the poison of asps under their 
tongue ; and at first they come in fawningly, but in the end 
bite like a snake ; — and especially, according to Solomon, Let 
him guard the fastening of his mouth against her who sleepeth 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 65 

in his bosom. Another point is that a king ought not to be 
light in gesture, or overbearing, or too talkative, save at the 
right time, modestly, eloquently and with tact; and let his 
words be wisely placed, for when they have been uttered he 
cannot unsay them. Another point is that he be not theatri- 
cally or unbecomingly clad, or defiled with disreputable play ; 
yea let him be staid and sober in gesture, motion, look and 
appearance, and in dress looking such as he is. Another, that 
he be not too fiGimiliar or humble, for such things beget con- 
tempt and are put down to foolishness; for, where humility is 
too much kept to, authority in governing is broken down. 
Therefore let him so keep between the two extremes of arro- 
gance and hunulity, that he be feared and beloved ; but let him 
wish rather to be loved than to be feared, that is, that he be 
beloved by the good and feared by the bad. Moreover, another 
point i3 that he study to bring back to brotherly peace those 
who have fallen out. Also that he study to reform his cur- 
rency for the good of the state. Also to receive strangers with 
honour, and shield and keep them from all wrong and hind- 
rance, and with pleasure grant them the necessary papers. 
Liet him beware of having dealings with the excommunicated; 
of listening to play-actors and jugglers ; let him punish scoffers, 
check those who at play deny God and blaspheme the saints, 
love and cherish the virtuous, keep out the vicious, and in all 
things uphold righteousness and goodness. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Ths counsellors of King Alexander, a yovih of nine, are changed 

hy the advice of the king of Englavd. 

The same year Eling Henry of England, like a trusty father 
to King Alexander of Scotland, being asked to confer with the 
prelates and lords of Scotland upon the govemment of the 
realm, came as far as Wark Oastle ; and, after mature delibera- 
tion there, all the counsellors and great officers of state were 
dismissed from their offices and places. A certain chronicle, 
however, relates that the manner of their dismissal was as 
follows. At that time, while King Alexander was in his 
minority, Earl Patrick of Dunbar and Allan Durwart and their 
party, being fired with zeal for the state against Walter Comyn 
and the other magnates of the reahn who had the govemment 
of the king and kingdom at this period, because they governed 
the state improperly, and wishing to oust them from the 

K 



66 THE BOOE OF PLUSGABDEN. BOOK VU. 

government and council of the kingdom and king, with the 
concurrence of the king of England, as some say, came privately 
to the Castle of Maidens (Edinburgh), accompanied by some 
counsellors of the king of England, entered the castle unawares, 
drove out all king Alexander's suspected counsellors and 
attendants, and intrusted the said castle and the king and 
queen to the keeping of knights and serjeants of their own ; 
and a few days afterwards they brought the king and queen 
of Scotland and their own private attendants, with a iine army, 
to the king and queen of England, who had for this purpose 
come to Wark. There the said kings and the lords and coun- 
sellors of their two kingdoms held a lei^thened interview, 
and they enacted many statutes there which were far from 
palatable to the peopla Nevertheless they appointed the 
bishop of Dunkeld chancellor, David de lindsay de Crawfurd 
chamberlain and Alan de Durwart grand justiciaiy under the 
king of Scotland for seven years to come, and set them and 
some other able men to govern the king and kingdom. When 
these came back, however, the other former counsellors of the 
king of Scotland and governors of the realm had a serious 
difference with them about rendering an account of the king's 
goods for the peiiod of their government, and a great dispute 
arose because the former governors would not give an account 
of the king^s receipts and expenditure. 



CHAPTEE XXII. 

King Alemnder is seized by his ovm liegemen, 

In the year 1257, when the king^s new counsellors and 
governors had had Walter de Comyn earl of Menteith and his 
accomplices summoned before the king for certain offences, 
and repeatedly proclaimed and marked contumacious — for 
they wanted to bring various crimes and complaints against 
them, and the latter were afraid of a judgment and would not 
appear — ^the said earl of Menteith, Walter de Cumyn, and his 
underlings seized "King Alexander in bed at the dead of night, 
about midnight, at Ejnross, the day after the Feast of Saint 
Simon and Saint Jude, and brought him to Stirling Castle, 
together with the king^s Great Seal and others whom they 
wanted to bring with tbem. His accomplices were Alexander 
Comyn earl of Buchan, William earl of Mar, John Comyn, 
brother^ to the earl of Buchan, Hugh de Abimethy, David de 
Louchour, Hugh de Berclay, with their attendant retainers ; 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 67 

and tliej upset all the good goyeminent of the past counsellors 
and goyemors, plundered the churches, wasted the inhabitants, 
oppressed the poor and in a word perpetrated every misdeed, 
lavaged the whole kingdom and plundered the inhabitants in 
such a way as had never been known in the kingdom of Scotland 
for a long tima Not long after, however, the aforesaid Walter 
de Comyn earl of MenteiUi took a dose of poison administered 
to him by his wife, and died at once — and he deserved it, 
for he was the ringleader of those who brought the king cap- 
tive to Stirling, and that the word of God spoken by the 
prophet might be fulfilled, who says, The ungodly shall perish 
from the earth, and the workers of iniquity shall be taken from 
it. As for these Comyns, two or three earls of that name used 
to be the greatest and chiefest in the realm ; but now, lo ! I 
have sought^ and the place of them is not to be found, though 
there were at this period thirty-two knights of that name of 
Comyn alive at one and the same time. But this curse fell 
upon them through the vengeance of 6od, for they laid hands 
upon the lord king, in spite of the oath of allegiance and fealty. 
The countess his wife, however, to whom belonged the aforesaid 
earldom through her father, was dispossessed and sent into 
perpetual banishment in England with a certain man of low 
birth ; and the aforesaid earldom was made over to one Walter 
de Bullok, who claimed through his wife. In the year 1260 
Pope Urban instituted the solemn feast of Corpus Christi ; and 
by the grace of God's bounty such a measure of indulgence was 
granted to celebrating, hearing, or taking part in that solemnity 
both on the first day and on tiie days of the foUowing octaves, 
that it stretches well-nigh to fourteen thousand years. The 
following year a valuable cross was found at Peebles buried 
underground, which had been buried about a thousand years 
before ; and, with the consent of the bishop of Glasgow, the king 
built there the famous church of Peebles in its honour. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

BattU of Largs, wnd victory through SairU Margaret 

In the year 1263, about the feast of the blessed Peter ad 
Vincula (Lammas Day), the king of Norway, Haco by name, 
arrived at Ajnr Castle with a large fleet of men-at-arms, and 
with the view of invading the kingdom strove to subdue to 
his sway all the island districts : for he maintained that all the 
islands lying between Scotland and Ireland belonged to him by 



68 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 

nght of inlieritance. So he straightway took by force and occu- 
pied the royal castles of Bate and Arran, and invaded, plundered 
and sacked the neighbouring lands of Scotland along the sea- 
board ; nor would this inan, out of honour and reverence to 
Almightj Ood, respect the sacredness of the churches^ but he 
cruelly harried and wasted everything with iire and sword. 
But when he had come further in, into the district of Cunyng- 
ham, on the feast of the nativity of the blessed Virgin Mary, 
and had gained the land and pitched his tents at a place which 
is called Largs and brought his fleet to the sea-coast there, 
behold ! a most mighty battle-array of Scottish men-at-anns 
approaching, led on behalf of the king of Scotlandby that noble 
knight the Lord Alexander Stewart of Dundonald, great-grand- 
son of the first Walter Stewart This Alexander was the grand- 
father of the noble Walter Stewart of far-famed memory, who 
married the daughter of Bobert de Bruss. So this Alexander, 
being joined by other nobles of that country-side, came with 
such as he could get at a moment*s notice, set upon them 
manf ully, overthrew their army and humbled their pride ; and 
through God's vengeance he fought and overcame them and 
punished their wicked attempt. A great number of them were 
slain, the chief men of the rest were captured, and the remainder 
he forced to flee to the sea-shore, towards their fleet. Among 
these was kiUed a man of great valour, a noble knight, the 
nephew of the said king of Norway, who moumed greatly 
thereat and was wroth beyond measure. But when they 
whcf were on board ship saw this, they were sore troubled ; 
and when they would have come on shore, lol suddenly a 
strong wind burst forth from the west, split the sails, and 
owing to the fearful swell of the sea, tiie aforesaid ships 
dragged their anchors and were tossed by the dreadful storm, 
80 that some parted company, some again were dashed and 
tossed together, went to pieces and foundered; while others 
were cast ashore and dashed to pieces on« the rocks and 
strewn in small fragments along the sea-coast, together with 
their booty; and the men were drowned. Those, however, 
who escaped with their lives safe and sound engaged our men 
in a fresh battle ; and straightway aU but the king, who with a 
few men fled to the ships in the greatest haste, were overcome 
and bome down through the grace and miracle of the blessed 
Queen Maigaret of Dunfermline, and were either left slain on 
the field, or brought to the king of Scotland as captives with 
the Scottish chiefs ; and there was haidly any one left to tell 
the tale. But when the king, who had barely escaped and was 
on board ship sorrowing and mouming, beheld his disaster, he 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 69 

at once set sail for the Orkneys and, the foggy weather coming 
on, remained there awhile to rest, awaiting his revenge. He 
was indeed flaming with fury; and, in order to avenge his 
nephew's death and other wrongs and giievances, he wrote 
off to his kingdom and prepared to lead back again a very 
large army against the king of Scotland the following summer. 
While awaiting there the coming of a fresh fleet, however, 
he was seized with a short illness and departed this life ; and 
he was succeeded by his son named Magnus, a man of letters, 
peaceful and distinguished for kindness, and of great wisdom 
in the eyes of all. In the ancient Gestes of Scottish history 
it is written how the kings of the Scots and Picts gained a 
wonderful victory over the Norwegians at a place which is 
called Longcarty, between the rivers Tay and Almond. At this 
period the king of Norway so hanied and wasted the kingdoms 
of the Picts and Scots, that nearly the whole country had been 
occupied and subdued by them. So it happened that they came 
one day near the town of Perth, which was then called Bertha, 
and encamped at Longcardy. The kings of the Scots and Picts, 
however,' had recourse to a stratagem. They mixed two casks of 
wine with the juice of the black hellebore, which is commonly 
called micJdewort ; and, when they came to the town, they 
promised it them on the morrow, and sent them the casks, as of 
the king^s bounty, in token of their fiiture obedience. There- 
fore the Norwegian king and his whole soldiery rejojiced above 
measure. Afterwards, however, those who brought and pre- 
sented the aforesaid wine took the flrst draught of the wine 
before the Norwegian king, as the custom is, to taste it, and it 
did them no deadly harm; but, when the others afterwards 
tasted the wine, sweetened with the sweetness of the said helle- 
bore, they drank deeply, but did not serve it out to any but the 
king and the chiefs of the soldiery. Nevertheless friend gave 
fidend a draught of the same, secretly or openly, so that there 
were few of any mark who had not drunk their fill ; and before 
nightfall they were all drunk with this liquor and slumbered 
and slept. But before sunrise the Scots and Picts fell upon 
them, and the Lord delivered them all to the edge of the sword, 
and hardly one escaped. For both the king and the nobles, as 
well as all their men, perished utterly; and beholders may 
plainly see the marks thereof at the said spot to this day, in 
some mounds for the burial of the dead. Nor was this per- 
mitted by God without reason : for it is said that from old time 
the aforesaid Northmen had so invaded, destroyed and laid 
waste the kingdoms of the Picts and Scots, that nearly the whole 
country had been occupied by them ; and meanwhile there 



70 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 

occurred many disasters and countless most crael massacres of 
the people, which it would be wearisome to recount and put 
down in writing. 



CHAPTEE XXIIII. 

Miracle h/ the blessed Margaret, 

In the year 1263, as aforesaid, the king of Norway landed at 
Conyngham with a very great host of warriors ; and the Scots 
assembled their forces against him and, under the command of 
the aforesaid Alexander Stewart, made ready to battle to oppose 
their designs. But it came to pass at that time that a certain 
knight named John de Wemyss dreamt that he went into the 
church of the blessed Queen Margaret of Scotland at Dunferm- 
Une, and saw a queen coming clad in gorgeous apparel of gold, 
wearing a crown on her head; and with her a most comely 
king, likewise robed in kingly raiment, arrayed in bright 
armour, wearing a most costly crown on his helmet ; and three 
other kings, equally clad in royal robes and most gorgeously 
armed, accompanied the foregoing queen and king. The lady 
herself was leading the first king by the right hand, keeping 
step with him, while the others foUowed step by step one 
after the pther. So when the said knight beheld them, he 
marveUed and, kneeUng down with becoming reverence, said, 
" glorious lady, I beseech thee, deign to show me who thou 
art, and these who accompany thee, and whither thou art 
bound." She said to him with a cheerful countenance, '* I," 
said she, '' am Margaret queen of Scotland ; he whom I lead by 
the hand is my illustrious husband Eing MalcoUn ; the others 
who foUow are my sons, whUom kings of this reaUn ; and we are 
hastening with them to a place called Largs, to defend our 
country against the snares of the enemy ; and, God granting us 
grace, we shaU gain the victory over .that tyrant king who is 
striving wrongfully to invade our reaUn and subdue it unto 
him : for, as thou knowest, I have had this realm intrusted to 
me and my heirs for ever by God." Then said the knight unto 
her, "0 my glorious lady, give me a token whereby I may 
know this and that others may beUeve me." " Gro," said she, 
** to the church of my burial, and thou shalt straightway recover 
from thy sickness." So the knight, who had long been laid up 
and sufiTering from some incurable feverish sickness, at once 
awoke out of his sleep, made the necessary preparations, and 
faUed not to accompUsh on foot a pilgrimage to DunfermUne, 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIL 7 1 

thoQgh he could hardlj stir in bed the day before. But when 
he came to Dunfermline and gave the prior and the other 
religious a set account of the vision, he was brought to the 
blessed Margarefs bier, touched the relics and prayed; and 
straightway from that hour he was cured of all his sickness, 
and the fever left him. Now this was done that it might not 
be thought that the aforesaid vision was brought about by a 
trick of evil spirits ; but it was in very truth manifested from 
heaven, as the result of the affair most clearly showed; for 
ehortly afterwards the king's envoys came thither and brought 
word of the splendid victory of the said battle of Laigs. So 
thej rejoiced thereat with great gladness, and gave praises unto 
Grod and the blessed queen. 

Here follows conceming the wonderful victory against the 
Norwegians, both those who were on board the fleet of the king 
of Norway at the mouth of the Tay, near the place which is 
called Drumlay, and also those who escaped from the battle of 
Longcarty. 

Gonceming this it should be stated that when fearful 
slaughter had been made at the battle of Longcarty, as already 
said, in which victory gluttonous greed and the love of drink- 
ing wine were the cause of these aforesaid Northmen being put 
to the edge of the sword, for the Scots and Ficts slew without 
mercy the king of Norway and many nobles and a countless 
host of people, — after this, having gained the victoiy in the 
field, they pursued the runaways by night up to the ships at 
the mouth of the river Tay, and set fire to the fleet with lighted 
torches, lantems and wax tapers and other firebrands made up 
of flax, hemp, pitch and tar ; and they came ashore again in 
skiffs, boats and small vessels and divided the spoiL In a 
word, their ships were bodily sunk to the bottom of the sea, 
and, out of the whole host of the Norw^ans, no one was 
known to have escaped death save one only, a one-eyed man 
whom they had sent ofif to bring back news of the others. 
Because of this victory and fearfiil and merciless slaughter, no 
noble was thereafter girded with the belt of knighthood without 
fiist sweariDg the great oath to avenge the cmel battle of Long- 
carty when the time came and he was charged to do so by their 
king. And although their wrath is somewhat softened by 
time, yet it will never in this world be wholly uprooted and 
blotted out from their remembrance. By this sea-fight and 
the sinking of the ships the mouth of the river Tay from that 
day became almost impassable for ships, because of the number 
of ships which are sunk there, whence mounds of sand are 
thrown up in the harbour by the tossing of the waves, so that 



72 THE BOOK OV PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VU. 

sbips are often thereby in danger of sinking at the said spot ; 
and this indeed gave rise, in that harbonr or thereabouts, to 
that awful whirlpool which is called Drumlay, where ships are 
often in dajiger. 

CHAPTEE XXV. 

The peUy king of Man does hamcufe to the Jdng ofScotland. 

In the year 1264 there was bom unto King Alexander m. a 
son named Alexander after his father; and the whole world 
rejoiced thereat exceedingly with great gladness: for on the 
same day on which he was baptised news came to the kingdom 
that the king of Norway, who had been overcome and routed 
at Largs the year before, had died at the Orkney Isles ; so there 
was an end of the war which he was thinking of making against 
the Scots the foUowing year. Upon hearing this news, Kiog 
Alexander made preparations against the Isle of Man, and 
brought the said isiand under his yoke, receiving the homage 
of its petty king at Dumfries, while on his way towards tbe 
island : the said petty king met him there, and did perpetual 
homage to him, which was to endure for aU time, to hold his 
petty kingdom of him and his successors. The said king, on 
the other hand, promised the aforesaid petty king help and 
succour in his need, if any one should want to subdue him, and 
also that he and his shoidd find safe refuge, counsel, help and 
favour in ScoUand as often as they might wish, and especiaUy 
against the king of the Northmen and the king of England ; 
and, for his aforenamed service, the king of Man on his part 
was to furnish the king of Scotland with ten gaUeys as ofben 
as might be needed and he might be requested by the king of 
Scotland. It should be stated that five gaUeys were to be of 
eighteen*' oars, and the other five of twelve oars. These he 
brought with him then, as a beginning, and he went with his 
gaUeys and with the earls mentioned below^ to the islands to 
punish the aforesaid^ traitors. When these things were thus 
accompUshed, Alexander earl of Mar and WiUiam Cumyn earl 
of Buchan at TCing Alexander's command levied an army in 
the west country against certain traitors of his own kingdom of 
Scotland, through whose encouragement it was tbat the king 
of Norway came to Scotland ; and they took with them Alan 
Durwart, Grand Justiciary of Scotland. Some of these traitors 
they slew, some they hanged, some they beheaded, and some 
they thrust bound into perpetual impnsonment ; some again 
they forced to fly to the Westem Isles, and they pUlaged the 
Westera Isles and brought their plunder with them to the 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 73 

kingdom of ScotlanoL The same year Henry king of England 
and tbe queen and their son Edward crossed the sea to contract 
a marriage with the daughter of the king of the Spaniards; 
and the earl of Winchester, who was Constable of the kingdom 
of Scotland, died In this year, on Christmas day, Alexander 
invested David, earl of Athol, and Colban, son of Malcokn earl 
of Fife, together with many other lords' sons, with the insignia 
of knighthood at Scone. The foUowing year friars of the order 
of Carmelites first came. In that year a great quarrel broke 
out between the king of England, father of the queen of Scot- 
land, and his barons, on account of unjust and unusual taxes 
and customs newly provided and ordered in his parliament 
held at Oxford. 



CHAPTEE XXVI. 

Treaty between the kings of Scotland and Norway aiotU the 
islands of Scotland — BoMle fougJU by the Jdng of England 
against Simon de Montfort. 

In the year 1265 the king of the Northmen, Magnus by name, 
son of the King Acho who died at the Orkney Isles, sent his 
chancellor, Gilbert bishop of Hamer, to Alexander king of 
Scots at Ferth, and offered him the islands of Bute and Arran 
in peaceful possession for ever ; adding this condition, that he, 
the king of Norway, might in like manner be in peaceful pos- 
session of aU the other islands which his father Acho had 
claimed and demanded. The king of Scotland flatly refused 
this offer; so the bishop, seeing that he had laboured in 
vain, returned to his king and, after making his report, 
earnestly advised him to treat with the Scots for peace at any 
price and come to a final reconciliation. King Magnus, on 
his side, who was considered a man of good disposition, peace- 
ful and just, afber mature deUberation sent back his aforesaid 
chanceUor, with certain other magnates of the kingdom of 
Norway, to the aforesaid King Alexander, with fuU powers to 
treat for a perpetual peace. After they had been heard and 
honourably received, it was settled, as a final agreement, that 
aU the islands lying between Scotland and Ireland should 
remain in the possession of the king of Scotland for ever: 
namely aU and several the islands which Acho, father of this 
King Magnus, had formerly claimed or asserted to belong to 
him ; and he renounced and made over to the aforesaid King 
Alexander and his successors, kings of Scotland, for ever all 
right and claim which King Magnus himself, or his father 



74 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 

Acho, ever put forward to the said islands, or which any of his 
ancestors whatever might claim at anj time whatever, whether 
past or to come ; and he left it in perpetual demesne, and quit- 
claimed it for himself and his successors : provided that the 
king of Scotland should pay the aforesaid kii^ of Norway four 
thousand merks of silver within two years, and likewise a 
hundred merks ayear afterwards to him and his heirs. Never- 
theless this treaty displeased many of the magnates and lords 
and others of the kingdom of Scotland, seeing that, long before 
the Scots came to Britain, they had, under one Eugenius de 
Bothay, then their leader, come to the aforesaid islands, and 
had iiJiabited and held them peacefolly for ages until the time 
of the breach between the sons of Malcolm Canmore and their 
uncle Donald Bane : at which time the kingdom was wholly 
broken up and laid waste by their strife ; and the king of Nor- 
way, Magnus by name, son of Olave king thereof, perceiving 
this breach in the kingdom of Scotland, attacked the islands of 
Scotland in force, laid waste everything, and subdued them to 
his dominion, until the time when the Scots peacefully recovered 
the aforesaid islands, and held them without opposition. The 
following year there was a great struggle between Henry king 
of England and liis son Edward, on one side, and Simon de 
Montfort earl of Leicester, on the other, backed up by the 
barons of the kingdom of England; and by reason of this 
breach the said earl, with the consent of the barons, drove out 
of the borders of England, with shame and confusion, Eleanor 
queen of England and all the French who were in the kingdom 
of England. But the king of England and his son Edward 
assembled their forces and gave battle to these their adversaries 
at a place which is called Lewes ;^ and in this battle the said 
Henry and his son were vanquished, overcome and taken 
prisoners by the aforesaid lords of the reahn, and great slaughter 
was made on either side. Of the nobles of Alexander king of 
Scotland, whom he had sent over to reinforce the king of 
England, sir John Cumyn was captured, and many other 
nobles ; many nobles of Scotland were slain, and others were 
brought to London and consigned to prison. 

CHAPTER XXVIL 

Escape of Prmce Edward, who was Jc^t in close custody — 

Battle fougkt. 

In the year 1266 '^ a comet appeared in England and lasted 
fifteen days. They say it portends the death of a prince. The^ 



THE BOOK OP PLU8CARDEN. BOOK VII. 75 

same year Prince Edward of England, who was being kept in 
close custody, escaped from prison through the deyemess of 
the earl of Gloucester, who held out bribes and promises to his 
warders. He then mustered an armj and prepared to give 
battle to his adversaries ; and he overthrew in battle and slew 
the said earl and his eldest son, and many of the nobles of 
England who sided with them, and he bestowed their inherit- 
ance upon his own friends and partisans. This battle was 
fought at Lewisham^ on the Eye of the Blessed King Oswald. 
The king of Scotland, however, of his own accord sent an army 
over to England to reinforce the brother of the queen of Scot- 
land, his wife ; but, hearing of the fall of Simon earl of Leicester, 
Piince Edward sent them home again with many thanks. The 
same year a certain legate from the Court of Bome was sent 
into England to negotiate and restore peace between the king 
and his adversaries ; but the said legate, Ottobonus by name, 
seeing that he had utterly failed in his mission on this point, 
sent envoys to Scotland commanding the cleigy and prelates to 
impose and levy upon the several churches of Scotland a 
certain sum of money, and send it to him to meet his expenses, 
else, if they would not do so, they were to know that they 
would incur the penalty of excommunication and interdict. 
The clergy, however^ after mature consideration, as the law 
moreover expressly forbade this, refused to comply with his 
mandates in this matter, and appealed eamestly to the apostolic 
see ; but notwithstanding this appeal the clergy of Scotland, 
with the king's consent, gave his lordship the legate sixpence 
in the merk for his expenses ; and the excuses of the clergy 
were accepted at the Curia, and the kingdom was absolved 
from the legate's impeachment. Observe that in these days 
the bishop of Saint Andrews, Gamelin by name, on account of 
some offence committed against the rights and privileges of the 
church, excommunicated some knights of King Alexander's, 
and especially sir John de Dunmore ; and the king was very 
angry thereat. But because the said bishop Gamelin was a 
just and upright man, of a good life and praiseworthy con- 
science, and had a righteous quarrel, he bravely and manfully 
stood out against the gainsayers of the church, and publicly 
pronounced all the king^s counsellors, except himself in person 
and his children and queen, excommunicated until they should 
humbly come forward with full amends, and eam the benefit 
of absolution at his hands. King Alexander afterwards loved 
him exceedingly and made him lus most iatimate counsellor. 
Thus ought every wise man first to fortify himself against his 
adversaries : first, he should have a just quarrel ; secondly, he 



76 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 

shoiild have a sound conscience ; thiTdly, he should have a bold 
and brave spirit of resistance ; fourthly, he should be well pro- 
vided with what he needs requires ; fifthly, he should use good 
and due diligence; sixthly, he should not cease praying and 
asking the protection of Him from whom cometh down every 
good and every perfect gift from above ; and, if these things are 
brought into play, it is impossible for such an one to be van- 
quished. Moreover, in the same year as above, Louis king ot 
France and his firstbom and likewise two sons of tlie king of 
England and great numbers of nobles went on a crusade to the 
Holy Land ; and the Pope wrote to the king of Scotland to pay 
the king of the English for their expenses every tenth penny 
of the revenues of the churches in his kingdom. But the king 
and the clergy, in view of the position of the realm, utterly 
refused to do so, seeing that he likewise sent over with the 
aforesaid expedition against the infidels an adequate force of 
his own lords, according to the resources of the kingdom — 
namely, David earl of Athol, Adam earl of Carrick.^ The 
same year died the petty king of Man, and Malise earl of 
Strathem married his widow, the daughter of the lord of Argyll. 
David earl of Athol died at Garthage. The foUowing year the 
church of Elgin in Murray was bumt down. 

CHAPTEE XXVIH 

Certain facts eonnected with the welfare and the history of the 

realm. 

The following year, upon Adam earl of Carrick dying in the 
Holy Land, leaving his only daughter Martha as his heiress, 
this daughter, the countess of Carrick, was, of her own accord, 
without consulting the king'8 majesty, married to a noble 
man, Eobert de Bmss, second" of that name, the future lord 
of Annandale in Scotland and Cleveland in England. So King 
Alexander, being angry at this, recognosced into his own hands 
all her lands, castles and domains. By means, however, of the 
prayers of friends and by money, a reconciliation was effected 
and the king's favour won. Of this Martha countess of Carrick 
the said Eobert de Bruss begat another Eobert de Bruss, the 
third of that name, a noble, most stout and successful defender, 
protector, champion, propugner and most undaunted prince, 
inost peerless and illustrious king of Scotland, buried at Dun- 
fermline, in the middle of the choir, 

Whose praises by his deeds shown forth resound. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSOARDEN. BOOK VU. 77 

so that the remembTance of him shall not be blotted out for 
ever, but be renewed from generation to generation. His father 
was this Bobert de Bross, earl of Carrick on the wife's side. 
The father again of this Bobert de Bruss was that '^ Bobert de 
Bniss the second, and this second Bobert was the son of the 
first Bobert de Bruss, who married Isabel daughter of David 
earl of Huntingdon, who founded the monastery of lindores. 
This daughter was the second daughter of the aforesaid earl. 
This third ^ Bobert, the f uture king, was bom in the sign of 
the Bull, on the most glorious Feast of the Translation of Saint 
Benedict; and in a happy hour for the Scots was he bom, 
6od's clemencj so ordering it, for he deliyer^ us from immi- 
nent peril of subjection and perpetual bondage. In the jear 
1272 a great drought on land and unfruitfulness in the sea feU 
upon Scotland, England and France, and a murrain of man and 
beast, and stormj weather, so that bj reason of much wind 
houses fell in mins and smothered in their beds many who 
were asleep ; and in the height of this storm the lightning set 
divers places on fire, and esp^cially the church of Arbroath and 
many others. This drought was followed by a sore famine 
and dearth. 

They say also that the said countess took this Bobert de 
Bruss, a young knight, by force when he went out hunting, 
and brought him with her to her castle of Tunyberry (Turn- 
berry) ; and, being enamoured of him, she kept him thei-e fifteen 
days, and, before his departure,married him, without consulting 
the friends of either party. 



CHAPTEB XXIX. 

Cmncil of Lyom — Birih of Sir Bobert de Bruss king of ScoUand. 

In the year 1274 was bora the third** Bobert de Brass of 
illustrious memory, a most valiant king, future king of Scot- 
land. The same year was held a general council at Lyons in 
France, where almost aU the prelates of Christendom were 
gathered together, and where were nearly all the prelates of 
Scotland, before Pope Gregory x. There were there two patri- 
archs and fifby bishops, and many other prelates. The same 
year King Edward of England sent envoys to King Alexander 
of Scotland to ask that he himself and the queen his sister 
should, at an appointed time and place, be in London to do 
him honour at his coronation; and King Alexander, after 
making the accustomed protests, together with the queen took 



78 THS BOOK OF PLUSGARDBN. BOOK VII. 

part in ihe aforesaid coronation. In the same year also died 
the said queen of Scotland, sister of the king of England and 
daughter of King Henry the PeabefuL In the year^ 1275 
came Master Bagioiund, being sent by our lord the Pope 
to tax all the churches and raise a subsidy for the relief of the 
Holy Land, to wit one-tenth of the whole. For this subsidy 
the Cistertian Order granted our lord the Pope forty ^ thousand 
merks on behalf of the whole order. Bagimund, however, see- 
ing the poverty of the kifigdom, went back to the Boman Guria 
and eamestly entreated our lord the Pope not to go beyond the 
aDcient taxation of the churches. The following year, namely 
in 1276, King Al^xander did homage to the king of England at 
Saint Thomas's for the lands of Penrith and other lands which 
he had given him as a marriage portion with his sister the 
queen of Scotland, saving the whole rights, privileges and 
Uberties, as also saving the royal dignities of the crown of Scot- 
land ; and also for the other lands granted to him in England 
from old time, except the earldom of Huntingdon which he actu- 
ally, though not rightfully, kept {<Jt himsell In this year also 
a reconciliation was brought about between TCing Edward and 
Llewellyn king of Wales, who did homage and swore fealty to 
him. At the same time the king of Scotland sent envoys to 
the king of England for the earldom of Huntingdon ; but they 
were unsuccessfol, for he would not surrender it.*^ In this 
year likewise a great dispute arose between King Alexander of 
Scotland and King Edward of England, about the boundaiy 
of the Scottish marches, as will be seen later. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

Breach hetween the kings of England and ScoUand — 
Alexander IV., eon of the king of Scotland. 

In the year 1278 the prelates and nobles of either kingdom 
met at Berwick to settle the dispute between the kings. The 
king of England, however, was at Tweedmouth with his 
retinue.*^ But news came from Wales, and they departed 
without settling the matter. In this year King Alexander^s 
son, named David, died at Stirling and was buried at Dunferm- 
line. The foUowing year Grifl&n, brother of DeweUyn king of 
Wales, engaged in a murderous war against King Edward of 
England. In the foUowing year, a.d. 1279, Alexander, son of 
Alexander m., and son also of Margaret sister of Edward Long- 
shanks king of England, married the daughter. of the count 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. 600E TII. 79 

of Flanders at Boxburgh, where the solemn feast lasted 
fifteen days. But he did not live long ; for he died at lindores 
in theyear 1283, in the twentieth year of his age, and was 
buried with his brother at Dunfennline. In the yeax 1281 
Margaret, daughter of King Alexander m., was betrothed to 
King Hanigow of Norway — ^which is Henry in our tongue; 
and she was shortly afterwards married and crowned queen in 
great honour and glory. Of two ships which escorted the said 
queen and sailed over with her to Norwegian parts, one, with 
the abbot of Babnerino and other churchmen on board, sank 
on the way back, while the other, with the earl of Menteith 
and other nobles, escaped. Of the said queen Margaret the 
king of Norway begat one daughter, also named Margaret ; and 
the queen her mother did not Uve long after this, but departed 
tUs life a year and a half afterwards. She herself likewise 
paid the debt of nature before she had fuUy reached the years 
of puberty. 



CHAPTEE XXXI. 

Crwdty of Edward king ofEngland towarda the WeUh — Wail- 
ing and Tnouming of the inhubitants of Scotland for the death 
of the Mng^s Jirstborn, and of the queen of Norway and Iter 
daughter, who were the heirs-apparent of the kingdom ofScot- 
land. 

TJPON the death therefore of Alexander ni.'s son, Alex- 
ander iv,, as also of the said Alexander iy.'s sister, the queen 
of Norway, and of her daughter Margaret who died at the age of 
puberty, this was a source of grief throughout the whole king- 
dom of Scotland: and not for these only, but also for Eing 
Alexander^s second son, David by name, who died at lindores, 
as already stated, and was buried at Dunfermline. After the 
death of Alexander, the king*s firstbom, envoys were at once 
despatched by the count of Flanders to send him home his 
dai^r, the^ndow of the said late Alexander the Ws first- 
bom. Aiter taking counsel on the matter, they at length agreed 
that she should retum to her father without tendering fealty to 
the king of Scotland for her dower ; and this was accordingly 
done, and the envoys were lavishly rewarded and retumed home 
with the lady. In Uke manner the king of Norway, after the 
death of his wife the queen, but while his daughter Margaret 
was not yet dead, sent a solemn embassy to get the king 
to pay forthwith for the use of his niece, the daughter of the 



80 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDBN. BOOK VII. 

said king of Norwaj, the sam of seven hundred merks of silver 
due to her according to their bargain and agreement, as is more 
fully contained in their bonds bearing the seals of the said 
king of Scotland. These ambassadors were graciously, though 
sorrowfully, received, and kindly entreated ; and, by the advice 
of the prelates and lords, they were speeded and satisfied, and 
they retumed to their own countiy, rewarded with gifts beyond 
measure. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

Thia tyrant Edivard hinders the eocpedition ar passage to the Holy 
Zand, hy reason ofhis ravenovs greed — Deaih of the most nobU 
King Alexander IIL 

The following year, namely A.D. 1286, King Alexander of 
Scotland sent a solemn embassy over to France, and had 
Yolanda, the exceedingly beautiM daughter of the count de 
Dnuz (Dreux), brought over to Scotland in the greatest pomp, 
and married her with such honours, lustre and splendour as 
had seldom been seen in Scotland in times past But alas ! as 
Solomon hath it, The laughter of this world shall ever be mingled 
with grief, and mouming lurks at the bottom of the joy thereof. 
For that same year the king, wishing to cross over to Queens- 
ferry in Lothian, was prevented by an exceeding great storm 
until twilight on the night of the 19th of March; so he 
changed his mind and straightway flew on horseback to King- 
hom, where for the time he occupied a manor. On the sea- 
shore to the westward, however, on the sandy road, the king's 
horse by chance suddenly sank his forelegs in the sand in 
the darkness of night, and stumbled ; and, when pricked by the 
spur and striving to get up again, he fell more heavily and 
cmshed the king under him. So, for want of proper watch 
and ward on the part of his companions, this most noble king 
died of a broken neck, and lies entombed at Dunfermline, in 
front of the high altar. His sudden death and loss were so 
painful, so moumful, so disastrous to the noble realm of Scot- 
land, that the inhabitants lost all hope of a ruler, and nearly 
went out of their mind and senses. But let no good catholic 
despair of the salvation of the king^s soul because of the sud- 
denness of his death ; but let him cherish the hope of etemal 
salvation, beaiing in mind the following saying of the holy 
doctors : for it is the opinion of the wise and has often been 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 81 

shown and revealed to many most holy men that, after a sudden 
and unforeseen death, as it outwaidly seemed to men, eterna] 
salvation of the soul was attained. He who lives well cannot 
die ill^ and the converse is generally true, as is shown in the 
following lines : — 

A sudden death need not the just distress ; 
His dying thus makes not his merits less. 

This king reigned thirty-seven years^ and was most noblQ, 
righteous, godly, wise and kind^ mild and merciful, and did 
good service to the realm. 



CHAPTEE XXXIIL 

Good character and goverrment of this king, 

In all the early days of the life of the said king the catholic 
church of Ghrist flourished at its highest in the kingdom of 
Scotlandy justice reigned, yice was withered up^ virtue increased, 
and the state grew so much that prosperity and peace and 
abundance of wealth and the pounng in of money and fruitful 
plenty prevailed in Scotland during all his time. The king, 
moreover, was adomed by every virtue, beloved by all good men, 
hated by the wicked. A nUer is so called &om rvUng well ; 
for where there is no rule, there is no ruler. That king indeed 
80 behaved towards his enemies that they feared him with the 
utmost fear and loved him with hearty love; and in his 
country he maintained unshaken peace, law and unbroken pros- 
perity, so that the inhabitants thereof abode in the beauty of 
peace, in the t^ts of trustfulness and in plenteous ease ; and 
he quelled aU insolence, disturbances, rioting and rebeUion. 
Now he had this habit, that he was wont to taivel everv year 
thiough aU the distiict^ of his kingdom with a laige reti£ue, to 
become acquainted with his people, to reprove shortcomings, to 
administer justice, to punish rebels, to cherish and reward the 
good, and, with the officers of each district, thoroughly to reform 
all shortcomings. He would not allow within his kingdom 
any idlers without a trade or means of livelihood. When the 
knights and officers of one district went away from him, the 
shenff of another district, with a chosen train of knights, came 
to meet him. Moreover he made it a statute of the realm that 
every one should, in each working day, dig the length and 
breadth of his own body — ^that is, seven feet— considering 
that idleness is the foe of virtue. likewise he would not allow 



82 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VII. 

very many licenses for horses, save only those devoted to work, 
in the court of any lord, or the houses of the rich; for too 
great a number of horses destroys the snstenance of t^e poor ; 
for they were bred neither for necessary purposes nor for profit. 
The king also decreed that merchandise should not cross over 
by sea to any plttce without the kingdom ; for so many ships 
were distressed, others taken by foes and enemies, that the 
kingdom was much impoverished in this particular ; and there- 
fore he decreed that up to a certain time no ship should pass 
out of the realm on pain of loss of goods. Thus, notwithstand- 
ing it was with great difficulty that this was enforced, yet many 
ships laden with all manner of merchandise would come in 
abundance and readily to the country in these days without 
danger, and barter all their merchandise, goods for goods, with- 
out the medium of cash. This king also forbade any but firee 
burgesses to meddle in such trade at all. When these statutes 
had been in force for a time, the country within a few years 
so flourished in fruitfulness and abundance of all wealth, in 
handicrafts also, and in metals and moneys and all the other 
advantages of policy and good government, that numberless 
ships and merchants, hearing of the king^s justice and wisdom, 
poured in thither from all parts of the world, and said they 
saw in the country better and greater things than they had 
heard from afar. Accordingly the country became so wealthy 
that Lombards came from theborders of Italy, bringing into the 
country untold gold and silver and precious stones, and made 
the king an offer to build and construct a city in the country 
on their own account, on Queensferry hill or on an island near 
Cramond, if the king would see that they got the due and 
needful privileges and liberties. This would have been accorded 
to them had not death, which snatches all things away, so soon 
carried off the king from the world, leaving no lawful offspring 
from him to succeed to the throne. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Lavient for the king^Prophecy of the seer Thomas the JRhyTner, 

Oh how painful, how bitter, how unexpected and unhappy 
the day, how moumful and disastrous, how fuU of piteous 
calamity and woe, how foll of trouble, how bodeful of anguish 
and sorrow ! Rightly might it be said, Woe to the dwellers in 
Scotland ; for this is the beginning of all her woes. Now con- 
cerning this sorrow and unexpected misfortune a certain rustic 



THB BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VI 1. 83 

seer, named Thomas the Ehymer — it is not known by what 
spirit he was moved — the day before the king unfortunately 
fell, said to the earl of the Marches before certain English- 
men who were there, Woe worth to-morrow, for it will be a 
day of disaster and woe, a very great and bitter day in the 
kingdom of Scotland ; before the twelfth honr such a wind shall 
blow throughout the whole kingdom of Scotland as has never 
been heard of for a long time past ; and the blast thereof shall 
make the hearers stand aghast, shall humble the lofty hearts 
and level the high and rugged places of the mountains. But 
the earl of the Marches, who was at Dunbar, knew not what 
this could mean, and wondered exceedingly ; and on the morrow, 
when the time came, seeing no sign of wind in the air, he 
thought he was wrong and had told a lie. Nevertheless, while 
he was at dinner, lo suddenly a messenger arrived from the 
north in hot haste, and knocked at the door and asked to come 
in ; and when he had straightway formally related the king^s 
death the night before, they all wondered and were stupefied, as 
though fallen into atrance. Therefore let princes, prelates and 
magnates remember how little we can count upon this earthly 
life, how unstable it is, how piteous its end, how wretched its 
dissolution, how terrible is death ; for the hour thereof is most 
uncertain, and all the past is as nought, and like unto the wiud. 

End of Book VI L 



BOOK VIII. 



CHAPTEE I. 

EUetion ofsix wardens to the govemment of the JHngdom after 
the death of the most noble prince Alexander III, 

Afteb the death therefore of that mighty prince Alexander 
III. and of all the children procreated of his body, and also of 
all the lawful heirs and kinsfolk descending from King WiUiam, 
the common ancestor, lineally or in any other way laterally, 
except one little girl, named Margaret, daughter of the king 
of Norway and daughter of Margaret, the said queen of Nor- 
way and daughter of the said Alexander king of Scotland, the 
kingdom of Scotland was without the govemment of a king for 
six years and nine months-— as was erewhile foretold by a 
certain prophet in the foUowing lines : — 

" While twice three years roll by, and moons thrice three, 
Without a prince the widoVd land shall be." 

But after that prince, moumed by all, was interred, the pre- 
lates and magnates of the realm took counsel togeUier, and, 
by the consent of all, the kingdom was govemed by six war- 
dens, to wit by the venerable lord bishop of Saint Andrews, 
sir William Fraser, the lord Duncan earl of Fife and the 
lord John de Cumyn earl of Buchan, on the north side of the 
water of Forth ; and on the south side there were three others, 
to wit Bobert bishop of Glasgow, sir John Cumyn and James 
Steward of Scotland. But Duncan, the said earl of Fife, 
departed this life shortly afterwards, and another was appointed 
in his stead. ftWithin this period of six years, King Edward 
called Longshanks, having aacertained that the aforesaid Maid 
of Norway, Maigaret by name, his sister's daughter's daughter, 
and daughter likewise of the daughter of the lately deceased 
King Alexander m., was the true and lawful heiress of the king- 



4»l 



THB BOOK OF PLUSCAKDBN. BOOK VIIL 85 

dom of Scotland^ and eamestly seekiiig to unite and annex the 
aforesaid kingdom of Scotland to his own kingdom of England, 
in the year of graoe 1289 sent into Scotland six special envoys 
to the aforesaid six wardens for a maniage between his son and 
heir^ Edward of Garnarvon, and the said Maid of Norway, 
Maigaret^ the heiress of Scotland. This was granted him, and 
ambassadors for this purpose were sent by the barons and clergy 
of Scotland to the said kingdom of Norway to bring the said 
maid and contract the said marriage in efTect, saving, however, 
in all respects &om any claim of vassalage or service for ever 
the rights, privileges, prerogatives and Uberties of the king^s 
majesty and crown of Scotland, which were to be in as good, 
free, nnconditioned and honourable a position as at any past 
time. But, as the said maid departed this life while the 
arrangement was pending, the aforesaid ambassadors retumed 
to their own country without having finished the business, 
Now, when these ambassadors had^ told their tidings and the 
maid's death became known, straightway a dispute arose 
between John de Balliol and Bobert de Bruce as to which of 
them might seem to have precedence and to be the nearer in 
heredita^ right to the throne. Aa, however, there were three 
who were named Bobert de Bruce, we shall speak below of their 
right and of the difiference between tbem. 



CHAPTEE IL 

Statement of the right of tJiese parties — ITU kirhg of Bngiand 
chosen mpreme jiidge through eonfidence in his goodfaith 

The nobles of the realm aforesaid, therefore, and the prelates^ 
lords and wardens above mentioned again and again deliberated 
about the right to the throne^ and discussed it and had it under 
consideration. Nevertheless, for many reasons, they would not 
give out the well-digested opinions they had formed on this matter 
upon mature deliberationy first, because it was a very dif&cult 
and delicate matter ; secondly, because many were of different 
opinions as to the right of succession to the throne, and 
wavered on many points, some through favour, some through 
fear, and some through ignorance ; and also because they had 
no head or superior in the kingdom who durst uphold the truth, 
or would duly carry their sentence into execution and by force 
compel the parties to comply with the sentence. At length, 
aU things considered, they decided unanimously to send ambas- 
sadors for Edward king of England, as being the friend and ally 



86 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIIL 

of the kiDgdom, they having confidence in him on ax^count of 
the previous marriage, and most earnestly beseech him, as the 
sapreme judge chosen by the consent of all to pronoimce as to 
the right of each, that he should take upon him the burden of 
judging between the aforesaid parties as to the right of succes- 
sion to the throne of Scotland, and further that he should, with 
the help of the lords of the realm, by mjght and force of arms 
in case of refusal, coerce either party to comply with the sen- 
tence to be judicially passed and pronounced by him according 
to the requirements of justice. This was accordingly done. 
The aforesaid Edward, on being requested at their instance, 
came to Berwick, and summoned for a given day all who had 
to be summoned and who thought they had an interest in the 
said cause ; and all the estates of the reakn of Scotland met 
there, protesting in a body that this summous was not to pre- 
judice the kingdom of Scotland in any way, and that he was 
not thereby to presume in future to claim any overlordship, in 
any kind or shape, over the kingdom of Scotland, or believe or 
allege that any right or jurisdiction accrued to him ; and that 
he had been sent for, not as overlord or lawful judge, but as a 
friendly peacemaker and arbitrator and the most powerful 
friend in the neighbourhood, besought by the inhabitants to 
aUay and put an end to the threatening quarrel by his wisdom 
and power, and called in and chosen as a fnendly peacemaker by 
way of an alternative. All this he pledged himself to, before the 
day and the commencement of the suit, by a plain declaration 
and by his letters-patent delivered to the councillors and war- 
dens of Scotland. When therefore all the freeholders of the 
kingdom of Scotland whose duty it was to be present, or who 
could conveniently be so, had come together before him, the 
principal parties took an oath that they would unhesitatingly 
obey the decree and sentence he was to pronounce in determin- 
ing the right to the royal succession ; and likewise all the pre- 
lates, lords, barons and others, clergy and burgesses, with the 
other aforesaid wardens and representatives of communities, 
firmly bound themselves in like manner by their letters-patent 
sealed with their seals, and also by a public and authentic 
instrument, one and all to obey, as their king and overlord in 
law and in fact, of the two competitors before the king of Eng- 
land, that one whom he should declare to have the right of 
reigning over the kingdom of Scotland. So, when this had 
been thus settled, the said King Edward of England chose 
twenty-four^ men, distinguished by leaming, character, age 
and loyalty, the most discreet in any est^te or rank, to the 
number aforesaid, twelve of whom were from the kingdom of 



THB BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK VIII. 87 

Scotland and the other twelve from the kingdom of England ; 
and, afber these had taken the great oath to speak the truth, 
he charged them to leave oat all the others who claimed a 
right to the throne — ^for there were many — and, by virtue of 
the oath they had taken and at the penl of their souls, to 
faithfuUy examine and judge between the aforesaid John de 
Balliol and Eobert de Bruce the elder and, after judging, to 
make known their decision as to which of them was in law, 
according to the custom of the kingdom, the nearer to the suc- 
cession to the throne, after the death of the said king Alex- 
ander last deceased. 



CHAPTEE III. 

Kin-g EdAvard treachero^isly has the ndbles of Scotland mmmoned 

to the Council in order to deceive them. 

BuT in order to make the matter clear, and &ee it from 

the falsehood in which they had wrapped it up, it should be 

noted that in the year 1286 a parUament was proclaimed at 

Scone, where there was hot and keen litigation and argument 

before the Estates of the realm, between the elder Bobert de 

Bruce, the grandfather, that is to say, of the great king Bobert 

de Bruce, and the said John de Balliol, to determine the right 

of the aforesaid parties. For Johnde Balliol said he rather 

ought to be king, inasmuch as he was sprung from Dorvorgilla, 

the elder sister ^ of the daughter of David earl of Himtingdon ; 

and his mother, that is to say the eldest sister, was still alive. 

Bobert de Bruce, on the other hand, answered, No ; for, though 

he, Bobert de Bnice, proceeded from the second and yoimger 

sister, yet he was the first male of David's blood surviving, and 

his grandson, and nearer than Balliol by one degree of lineal 

consanguinity ; and he argued that one of the female line ought 

notto succeed so long as a male was to be found, nor ought a 

great-grandson to tdce precedence of a grandson. So when 

these allegations had been very strongly put forward on either 

side and Iistened to, there arose a great division in the country, 

among both cleigy and people, between the friends and support- 

ers of the parties ; for some said that the said John de Bsdliol, 

inasmuch as he proceeded from the elder sister, ought to be kingi 

because of the age of his ancestress ; while others said that the 

said Eobert de Bruce, though he proceeded from the second 

and younger sister, yet, forasmuch as he was the first male 

descended from the said family, ought to be king on the gi*ounds 



88 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vm. 

both of succession and of propinquity, because he "was one 
degree nearer to the parent stem, that is to say the said earl 
David of Huntingdon. So, on account of these divisions and 
disputes, in order to avoid a threatening danger, all the mag- 
nates of the kLngdom, the prelates, chiefs, lords and the wardens 
of the kingdom, and also with one accord all the communities 
of the Thrce E^tates, unanimously agreed on King Edward of 
England, as stated above, in manner and form aforesaid, for the 
deciding of the question about the right to the throne, as to which 
of them ought rightfully to be king. Thus botb parties referred 
the matter to the said king of England, and decided that he 
should determine the rights of the two parties in the said cause, 
and duly compel that party against whom he should pass and 
pronounce his sentence to comply with a good grace and abide 
by it firmly and steadfastly, according to the requirements of 
justice. So when this was settled, three nobles, namely the 
bishop of Brechin, the abbot of Jedburgh and G^ofiroy de 
Mowbray, were chosen as ambassadors to inform the king of 
England of what had passed, and to implore his advice and 
assistance in the matter, and also with regard to the state and 
govemance of the kingdom and the recovery of the lands of 
Penrith and other domains. This was accordingly done ; and, 
having got an answer from the king of England, they went back 
to Scotland and, on a council being held by the wardens of the 
kingdom at Clackmannan, they mformed them of the king^s 
answer that he would willingly comply with their request as 
soon as he conveniently could« The king of England mean- 
while quickly sent to the councillors, prelates and lords of his 
reahn, and informed them that he could easily brimr the king- 
dom of ScoUand and ite people uader his I^r^r^Sg 
their disunion. iN^evertheless he revealed his intention to them, 
asking their opinion upon it, namely to send ambassadors at 
once over to IVance, and request them to send him back the 
opinion of some of the most skilful lawyers of the country ; and 
this likewise was accordingly done. As, however, the case was, 
through an unfair and false suggestion, not put candidly before 
these lawyers, no good plea or advice of the least value could 
come of it ; for the iuconsistencies and misrepresentations in 
the case put before them, proceeding from a corrupt intent, 
could by no means form the ground of a correct opinion on a 
doubtful point of law. The substance of this false suggestion 
is given here below as follows. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VUI. 89 



CHAPTEE IV. 

The king of a kingdom, being not crowned nor anointed, but 
only set on the throne by the earls, prelates and lords^ in the 
usiud place of coronation, and holding that kingdom in fee by 
homage from another king as the direct overlord of that king- 
dom^ in course of time dies without children or heirs what- 
soever.being lineal descendants. But that king, who is the direct 
overlord of that Mngdom, on there compearing before him many, 
each of whom asserts himself to be the heir to the said kingdom, 
that superior takes that kingdom into his own hands until it 
shall have been discussed before him by process of law which 
of them has the better right^ and is the nearer to the succession 
to the said kingdom. Among these, however^ there appear two 
especially, who say they are descended from the brother of the 
grandfather of the said defunct king. One, say Cicius, sprung • 
from the daughter of the said brother of theking's grandfather, 
was great-grandson of the said brother ; and the other, Senus, 
was descended from the second daughter of the said brother, and 
was grandson of the said brother : and thus these two trace to the 
defunct king in the collateral line. But Cicius relies upon the 
right of primogeniture, while Senus is more nearly related by 
one step. So, supposing that kingdom to be indivisible, the 
question is, Which of these ought to come first in the succession 
to the said kingdom ? 



CHAPTEE V. 

Decisian o/ the Parisian doctors leamed in the law, on the discus- 

sion of the rights qfthe said litigants, 

Thb first lawyer was the bishop of Orleans, who draws a 
distinction and asks whether in the kingdom of Scotland, on 
the subject of the succession to the throne thereof, it can be 
laid down, upon the strength of settled and established custom, 
that in any line whatever, whether descending, ascending, or 
collateral, the eldest son, or the issue of the eldest son or 
daughter, ought to come first in the succession to the said 
throne ; and in that case the custom must be adhered to, setting 
aside all law or any other right whatever. Or there is in the 
said matter no settled and established custom : and then he says 
one must have recourse to the common or imperial law. This 



90 THB BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 

law lays it down that, when two claimants * to a given throne 
trace in the collateral line to the Idng last deceased, and are not 
brothers or sons of brothers, but reiQOved a step further, the 
one a step nearer stands first in the succession, notwithstanding 
primogeniture on the other side. The same view and the same 
kind of view was held by master Symon Matifas, bishop of 
Paris, by the lord Peter de Capella, bishop of Carcassonne, by 
the lord John de Feritate, by master John de Sylomonte, and 
by the provost of Marseilles : for they say that in such a case 
as that of these claimants to the throne of Scotland, both by the 
written law and by the general custom of the kingdom of France 
among high and low, the nearer in degree, even though he be a 
second son or the issue of a second son, comes before one a step 
f urther removed, even though he should be the elder or the issue 
of the elder. Now this takes place ^ in the case of the king of 
France and of the other peers of his court, namely if the eldest 
son has children surviving, and dies while his father is alive, 
and then his father dies, the second son succeeds the father, 
because he is nearer to him, and the eldest son's chHdren, who 
are further removed, though they have primogeniture on their 
side, are kept out. ThiB was the very decision which Louis, 
the last king of France, who went on the crusade to Tunis, ex- 
pressly gave before his baronage, in the case of the children of 
his eldest son Philip, namely that, if this Philip had died.during 
the lifetime of Ms father Louis, this Philip's children would not 
have succeeded King Louis on the throne as long as there were 
lef t any other sons of that Louis. These persons, however, say 
that, if it were a custom of the kingdom of Scotland that primo- 
geniture in whatever degree should give the preference in 
succession, that custom ought to be specially adhered to in 
preference to all other laws, whether written or customary. 



CHAPTEE VL 

The same corUinmd ; the king of ETigland misstates the case, 

On this subject^ moreover, these lawyers agedn were asked 
whether, if no custom has yet been established in such a case as 
that of these claimants to the oft-mentioned throne of Scotland — 
for the case, or one like it, never arose before this time as regards 
the succession to the crown of Scotland, though perhaps, as 
regards the subjects of that crown, as for instance earls, barons 
and others, such a case has repeatedly happened — whether the 



1 

^ 



THE BOOK OF PLU8CARDEN. BOOK VIII. 9 1 

succession to tlie said throne sball be adjudicated upon according 
to the custom established^with regard to earldoms, baronies^ and 
other successions in the said kingdom. No, say the said lawyers, 
because, as the case is put by the king of the English, the crown 
of Scotland is held in fee of the crown of England. This is 
perfectly false. But, if it were so, the claimants to the throne 
of Scotland claim it in the court of the king of England, and 
not in the court of the king of Scotland ; and thus it happens 
that this case ought to be adjudicated upon according to the 
custom of the court of the king of England, which would apply 
to the peers ^ of that court Observe in this connection the 
remarkable instance of the duke of Burgundy. The duke of 
Buigundy had an eldest son, who had begotten of his lawfal 
wife three daughters, the first of whom was married to the 
comte de iN^evers. This eldest son died while his father was alive, 
and at the latter^s death a younger son, who was afterwards the 
duke, claimed the dukedom in the court of France, as next heir 
to his father. On the other hand the comte de Nevers in like 
manner claimed the dukedom on behalf of his wife, on the plea 
that it was the general custom in the kingdom of France and 
throughout the whole duchy of Burgundy that, so long as there 
remain any more sprung from the eldest son, the second son 
shaU not succeed, though he be a step nearer the father. The 
opposite side owned that this was the general custom in that 
duchy and in the court of the said duke with regard to his 
subjects^ who have to sue out their right to any succession 
whatever in his court ; but this proves nothing as to the duke 
or dukedom of Burgondy, because the said duke sues out his 
right to the said di^edom of Burgundy not in his own court, 
but in the court of the king of France, as one of the peers of 
the reahn of France. Hence the judgment to be siven as to 
the duchy in the court of the king of France ought to be in 
accordance with the custom of the court of the kingdom of 
France, namely that which is observed even with the kings 
within the territory ^ of the crown of France. While, however, 
the aforesaid question was pending, the king of France gave his 
own sister to wife, in Paris, to the second son, who was after- 
wards the duke ; so the comte de Nevers, thinking the matter 
over, and firmly believing that the king of France would not 
have given his own sister to any one without property, felt 
satisfied that the final sentence would be a judgment given 
against him, and withdrew his claim, content with a moderate 
sum for costs. Thus, therefore, as r^ards the Scottish su&- 
cessiou, one must not follow the custom of the court of the 
king of Scotland, which is observed in the case of the subjects 



92 TUE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VUL 

of that crown, such as earls, barons and otheis ; but one must 
rather follow the custom which has beeu established in the 
court of the king of England with regard to the peers of that 
court. But if no custom dealing with the above case or a 
similar one is to be found even in that court, recourse must be 
had to the written law, whereby, without any doubt^ the nearer 
in degree of relationship would be preferred. 



CHAPTER VII. 

7^ same continued. — Viev) taken hy others. 

Master EaiDnjs Lamberti, dean of Saint Martin's of Tours, 
being questioned upon this matter, says that in the kingdom of 
France primogeniture does not give any one precedence over 
others in succession, except when there are several of the same 
degree of relationship, such as several sons, several grandsons 
or great-grandsons, brothers or sisters, or several sons of 
brothers or sisters ; and so on in the more remote degrees, 
descending in the same line or collaterally. But when it is a 
question of several persons of vaiious d^rees, the nearer in 
degree of relationship straightway has precedence in the suc- 
cession, notwithstanding primogeniture, as we see in the case 
of a second son, who, in the succession to the father, has pre- 
cedence over the children of a firstbom brother deceased while 
the father was living. And this same course is followed in the 
more remote degrees in the same line^ as also in collateral lines. 
Nevertheless, if it should be the custom in the kingdom of 
Scotland that the eldest, or the issue of the eldest, though a 
step farther removed, must have precedence in the succession 
to the father, that established custom is to be complied with 
before all things. Furthermore, on being told that other great 
men are of opinion that, in this case of the succession to the 
throne of Scotland, not the custom of the kingdom of Scotland, 
but rather the custom of the court of England, which is in force 
among the peers ^ of that court, is to be foUowed^ he draws this 
distinction upon this point, saying : Either we are dealiug with 
the claim to this throne of Scotland, making an order upon the 
proceedings themselves, and following the course of the plead- 
ings, — and, so far as this goes, we are to comply with the 
custom of the court of the kmg of England, in which the claim 
to the throne of Scotland is made ; or we are dealing with the 
decision or settlement of the matter itself, in which case we 
must comply with the custom of the place where the thing in 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK VIII. 93 

question is situated : Hence, as the question is as to the throne 
of Scotland^ as regards the .settlement of the matter and the 
adjudication of the right to the throne itself, the custom of the 
kingdom of Scotland is to be foUowed. Such are the distinc- 
tions and definitions of the doctors of both kinds of law in 
that matter. Then he was yet forther asked whether, in ad- 
judging the kingdom of Scotland to one of the daimants, the 
custom of that kingdom ought to be foUowed, or whether the 
custom which has been estabUshed with regard to the kings of 
Scotland personaUy, as to the succession to that throne, shaU 
be foUowed. To this he answers that the custom estabUshed 
in the case of the kings of Scotland, and not in the case of their 
subjects, is to be foUowed. The custom with regard to the suc- 
cession in the case of the kings is different &om that in the 
case of their subjects. For we hold this as a rule and chief 
proposition, that custom descends, not ascends, which must be 
understood to mean that the lower ought to be judged by the 
custom of the higher, and not contrariwise. If, therefore, as 
regards the succession to this throne, no custom has yet been 
mtt with applylng to the kings pei^sonally, in snch a case as 
that of the said claimants, — ^for a custom is nought but what 
is often accustomed to happen, and this case seems never to 
have happened before, — stiU we must not^ have recourse to 
the custom estabUshed in the successions of the earls and 
barons of that kingdom; but in that case we must have re- 
course to the custom of the superior court, namely, to the 
custom of the court of England, in which, according to the 
opposing party, the succession to this throne has to be adjudi- 
cated upon. Now, this is altogether false and detestable, for 
he has not the sUghtest authority of superior lord or judge, nor 
any jurisdiction over the throne of Scotland; only, by his 
treacherous and false suggestion, such was his story in the case 
he put to the leamed lawyers of France, that they might 
beUeve so. 



CHAPTEE VIII. 

The same corUimted, — Their opinions. 

Masteb Salinus, master Tancretus, master Beverius de Senis, 
in Uke manner, in a conference on this subject, afber having 
weU studied the book Be UsHnia Fevdortm, found many 
very apposite answers to the questions put to them, and said 
that ascendants shaU not succeed in a fief, as is declared in the 



94 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 

said book, under the heading Be naiura mccessiorm feodiy 
chapter first. For by this is shut out the daim of the king of 
iN^orway, who was ascendant to the succession of his daughter 
Maigaret, who was at that time heir-apparent to the throne 
of Scothmd. They also afberwards found that a natural son, 
a bastard, though he shall have been afterwards legitimised, 
even in tempond matters, whether by a subsequent marriage or 
otherwise, shall not succeed to a fief, as may be seen in the said 
third book, in the last chapter, heading Si defeodo defuTuti, and 
in the chapter Natv/rales, And by this is shut out Sir William 
de Boss, though there is complete evidence of the legitimation 
of his ancestress Isabella. They then likewise found that a 
woman, or issue springing &om her, cannot aspire to the suc> 
cession to a fief, as is laid down in the said book, heading De 
gradu successionis infeodum, chapter first. By this are shut out the 
count of HoUand, Bobert de Broys emd John de Balliol, as these 
latter lay claim to the said throne by descent from two sisters, 
and the count of Holland by descent from another.^ They also 
found a case expressly excluding Bobert de Broys and likewise 
John de Balliol : For on the death of Titius without lawful heir- 
male, the succession to this fief does not belong to the patemal 
granduncle of this Titius nor to issue descending from him, as 
carefoUy stated under the said heading Successionis in feodvm, 
chapter first. But David earl of Huntingdon, the ancestor of 
the said Bobert and John, by descent from whom these claim 
the said throne, was the patemal granduncle of King Alex- 
ander last deceased, and was the brother of the illustrious Eing 
William, the grandfather of the said Alexander; and thus the 
succession to this fief ought not to belong to the issue descend- 
ing from the said earl David, but shall revert to the overlord 
of that fief. They also found that recourse is had to the 
common law in fidTs only when no custom of the country is to 
be found, as laid down in the same book, heading De cognvAone 
feodi, chapter first, at the end. They also foimd that in fiefs the 
custom which is in force in the greater ought also to be in force in 
the less ; but they foimd no injunction that the greater be bound 
by the custom of the less ; see under heading De naiwra feodi, 
chapter first, at the end. These^ however, say that if an umform 
custom have been established with reference to the succession to 
the throne of Scotland, in such a case as that now occurring, or 
a similar one, that custom is to be adhered to and aU laws set 
aside; but if not, recourse is to be had to the custom of 
neighbouring countries ; and if,^^ in such a case as this, it is 
not to be found, either recourse is to be had to the laws De 
VsHms Feodorum, whereby aU the claimants are barred, and 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VUI. 95 

the throne falls to the oyerlord, or recourse is to be had to the 
common and imperial laws, whereby a succession passing over 
to the collateral line, beyond brothers and sons of brothers, on- 
doubtedly comes to the nearer in degree of relationship, not- 
withstanding primogeniture is with another person. But the 
doctors master John de Forcalcaria, master Syrardns Pagii and 
master Eeverius of Florence in their decisions say that, both 
by canon and civil law, seeing that these claimants are con- 
nected with the king last deceased in the coUateral line, and 
also because they are further than brothers or sons of brothers, 
no heed must be paid to any primogeniture, but the nearer in 
degree has the preference. This is true unless the custom of 
the countiy in the place in question prescribes something else ; 
for established custom, in its own place, comes before all 
law. 



CHAPTEB IX. 

T?ie same continued, — Dedsum infavmr of King Bobert, 

The loed Willdlm Bonet, the highest authority in canon law^ 
says that, if either of Earl David^s daughters had outlived King 
Alexander last deceased, the succession to the said throne 
would have passed over to her and to her descendants ; but if 
neither of them had outlived the said king, then that one of the 
two daimants who was bom first, though he may have been 
descended from a second sister^ is yet to take precedence in 
the succession to the said throne, because he thus first became 
the Mnsman of the said king. There is almost expressed 
authority for this^ in a passage on the succession of kinsmen 
related collaterally. B^infud Barbon, bailiff of Normandy, 
leant towards the view of the dean of Tours in this, namely, 
that if a well-established custom is in force in the case of the 
kings of Scotland with reference to the succession in question, 
that must be strictly adhered to, and the custom in force in the 
successions of earls, barons and other subjects of that realm 
must not be foUowed. But, if no custom as to the succession 
to the said throne shall have been established with regard to 
the kings personally, in such a case as the foregoing or the 
like, then recourse must be had to the custom of the court of 
England, which, according to the false suggestion of the king 
of England, is the superior court in which the question of the 
kingship is dealt with. But if no custom is to be found in 
the English court with regard to the peers ^ thereof, applicable 



96 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOE VIU. 

to the foregoing case or the like, the king of Engknd can have 
recourse to the process of the written law, or, by the advice of 
the peers of his court, as well as the lords and magnates of his 
land, he may make ^ a new law to meet this case and other 
like cases which have not happened before. Sir Thomas de 
Wellandy however, says that, nnless some express law or 
cnstom, applicable to the foregoing case or the like, exist in 
the kisgdom of Scotland as to tiie succession to the throne, he 
considers this case altogether similar to a case of like natnre 
having reference to an earldom or barony in the kingdom 
of England, if such should arise : for the throne of Scotland, 
according to the adverse party, is held of the throne of 
England in fee for service, just like an earldom or barony in 
the kingdom of England. But, if an earldom or barony in the 
kingdom of England had fallen into this predicament, he who 
had sprung from the eldest sister would alone get the name 
and dj^nity, and would also get the chief property attached to 
the earldom, whether a castle or some other property ; while 
the others^ who had sprung from the other sisters, ought to 
have their share of the whole inheritance in question, for all 
the sisters, as many as there may have been, represent one heir 
of their father. And thus, though John de Balliol, by reason 
of his primogeniture, ought alone to have the name of the 
regal dignity, and also the chief place of the kingdom of Scot- 
land, whether it be town, castle, or palace, yet nevertheless, 
seeing that John de Balliol himself and Bobert de Broys 
and John de Hastings were sprung from the three daughters 
of Earl David, since they were all three representatives of but 
one heir of the said earl, who must be resorted to ^ for the 
right to the said throne, the said Hobert de Broys and John 
Hastings ought to have their share of all property in whatever 
way bdonging to the king of Scotland. ^Hiese shares they 
ought to hold of the king of England as their overlord, grant- 
ing him to be so, and of no one else, and as freely as the other 
one holds the chief property ; nor shall this John de Balliol 
perform any kingly function as regards their shares ; and this 
would be a great advantage and safegiiard to the overlord.. 
Also, when he was asked whether, if Sir Eobert de Broys 
should have an unfavourable judgment upon his claim, in 
which he claims the whole kingdom, as being the nearer in . 
degree, he could afterwards go back and claim his share, on the 
grounds stated above, namely, that his mother and the other 
two sLBters were one heir of the said Earl David, he answered 
that he could, and that he ought to get his share by a final 
judgment. 



THK BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK Vni. 97 

CHAPTER X. 

The same continued, 

The master-geneTal of the Minorites, by the deliberate 
advice of his whole commnnity in Paris, answered thus : — If 
any custom applicable to the case in hand shall have been 
established in the kingdom of England or Scotland, that is to 
be observed before everything; but, if not, the king must 
employ either the imperial law or the divine law. If the 
former, it is well enough known to lawyers what is to be done. 
If the divine law, the Bible text is plain enough ; to wit in 
favour of him who is the nearer in degree ; as it is written in the 
Book of Numbers, chapter xxvii., at the beginning, where it says : 
Then came the daughters of Salphat, and stood before Moses 
and Eleazar the priest and all the chiefs of the people, and said, 
Our father died in the wildemess. He had no male children. 
Why therefore is his name done away from among his family, 
because he had no son ? Give unto us these possessions among 
our father^s kinsmen. And Moses submitted their cause to 
the judgment of the Lord, who said unto him : The daughters 
of Salphat make a just demand ; give them possessions among 
their father^s kinsmen, and let them succeed their father in his 
inheritanca And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, 
saying, If a man die and have no son, the inheritance shall 
pass to his daughter ; and, if he have no daughter, he shall have 
his brethren as his successors ; and, if he have no brethren, the 
inheritance shall be given to his father's brethren ; (and, if he 
has no patemal uncles, the inheritance shall) ^ be given to those 
who are next of kin to him. And this shall be made a law for 
ever unto the chUdren of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses. 
Thus all the greatest and most skilful of the whole order said 
that the nearer in degree is by all means to take precedence, as 
is manifest from the Lord's judgment. Moreover, another said 
he saw in Hainault a case where he who was descended &om 
the eldest son was four d^ees removed ; and the other, who 
came from the second son, was only three degrees removed ; 
and the inheritance was given to him who was the nearer. So, 
after these consultations had been held and digested, as afore- 
said, Edward king of England came to Norham in the year 
1289, and had all the magnates and wardens of the kingdom 
of Scotland assembled, together with the prelates, and cajoled 
them with sweet words, urging them to agree unanimously 
upon a king, and make peace among themselves; that he 
would, as they saw, be most greatly rejoiced " that no stranger 

G 



98 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vm. 

should intermeddle among you. But if ye are unable to agree 
in one decision, come back hither on such a day, and we shall 
announce to you what God shall have given us to understand 
in this matter» and shall administer justice." But alas that 
ever the single-minded, faithful and truthful lords and prelates 
of the Scots should have so put faith in that false, deceitfol 
and mischief-making king of the English, who was like a 
wicked enchanter with his poisonous blandishments and flattery, 
or should have in any wise sought advice, help, or assistance 
from him, while the wretched people of this realm were bereft 
of a shepherd and, as it were, wounded by a serpent ! For, at 
the instigation of the devil, through greed and lust of power, 
and to subdue the kingdom of Scotkmd to his sway, he spread 
the snares of wickedness for the guiltless, and infamously 
sowed, as it were^ tares in the Lord's wheat, — ^the incurable and 
pestilential venom of asps, to poison the whole kingdom and 
its inhabitants with honeyed lies under the cloak of piety. 



CHAPTER XI. 

His svhtlety wnd devices, 

The foUowing year great dissension and strife was stirred up 
among the magnates of the kingdom of Scotland, among both 
clergy and people, between those who sided definitively with 
the ajforesaid parties, those, namely^ of Bruce and of BaUiol, to 
the exclusion of all other parties who claimed a right to the 
throne. Meanwhile, moreover, gestes and chronicles are 
searched in the kingdoms of Scotlaiid, England, Ireland and 
Fratice,^^ at the suggestion of certain adversaries of this kingdom 
and through insinuations breathed by wicked Englishmen into 
the ears of the king of England, not only for the sake of inquir- 
ing into the law and custom of the kingdoms, in order to 
decide the question between Bobert Bruce and John Balliol, 
but also rather for the sake of investigating and examin- 
ing the right of the king of England to the vassalage of the 
kingdom of Scotland. In this year aU the chiefs of the 
kingdom of Scotland met at Upsetlington in England, coming 
under the king's safe-conduct and at the said king^s request, and 
were gathered together at the parish church of Norham. Here 
the kmg of England, at first somewhat mysteriously and Ughtly, 
and as if not seriously, claimed the direct suzerainty over the 
kingdom of Scotland, which^ he asserted, belonged to him, in 
the same raanner as his predecessors had it, as^* he could 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Yin. 99 

openly show by the weighty evidence hiiherto brought forward 
on tlus point. He was briefly and at once answered by the 
bishop of Glasgow, who said that from the very first and at all 
times from of old the kingdom of Scotland had been free, in 
such wise as to owe no one any homage or tribute whatever, 
save only God and him who held his power on earth ; and the 
bishop further went on to add, saying, " king, I my own delf 
have gathered from the books and chronicles of the English, 
and particularly from the books of Gildas, that the kingdom of 
Scotland was noble, strong and powerful among all the king* 
doms of the earth ; and the nobles and people of this realm 
fought mightily and manfully against the foUowing nations, 
withstood them and their most wicked and cruel devices and 
attacks, and in the end drove them out of the said realm, con- 
quered and overcome ; hence the lines^ 

The Britons, Northmen, Picts and Danes repelled,^* 
Nobly the Scots their countiy^s right uphdd." 

The king, hearing this^ pretended to go on and not paymuch 
heed to the bishop'8 answer, giving all his attention to the 
restoiation of the Scottish throne; and, as tfaough no longer 
caring about his claim, he cunningly brought in other matter, 
and besought the prelates and lords of the kingdom of Scotland 
to meet together at Berwick on a certain given date, and there 
for certain, without further delay, get a fijaal deliverance upon 
the subject, namely the moot point as to the right to the 
throne. But the Searcher of hearts knew it was just the 
opposite, for he was making eveiy effort to create discord and 
not agreement, as his subisequent acts prova Nevertheless, 
the magnates of the reabn consented unto him and came to- 
gether with one accord at Berwick, and chose twenty-four of 
the most discreet and prominent and able men of the kingdoms 
of Scotland and England, namely, twelve of England and as 
many of Scotland, and, after swearing them by the great oath, 
appointed them to determine the above-mentioned point as to 
the right to the throne ; and these, after sifting the truth of 
the affair, foimd that Bobert Bruce had the better right to the 
government of the kingdom. The king, however, had the 
entiy to the elected committee as ofiLen as he liked, and 
pried into and leamt all their secrets, and none gainsaid him ; 
80, on pondeiing that Bobert Bruce thus had right on his 
side in the business, he repaired to his piivy council, and 
drawing some aside informed them that he was displeased at 
their agreeing, and wished they would by no means deliver 
judgment finidly upon the right to the throne without having 



100 THK BOOK OF PLUSCA.RDEN. BOOK VIII. 

first promised the vassalage of the throne of Scotland in every 
way to him and his successors.^^ 



CHAPTEE XII. 

Thdr argummU at the council of the king of England in favour 
of the vassa^kLge of the th/rone of Scotland. 

The questions of the king of Englaud were answered by an 
Englishman named Anthony Beck, who spoke as foUows : — 
" If Bobert Bruce, who is of the best stock in the kingdom 
of the English, were to be king of Scotland, where would 
Edward king of England be ? For this Sobert is also very 
powerful in Scotland, witness the many and numberless woful 
disasters inflicted in times past upon the kingdom of England 
by the kings of the aforesaid kingdom."^ The king was as it 
were struck by this, and patting him on the head answered in 
French, saying, '* Par le sang de Dieu, tu as bien chant^ !'' that 
is to say, By 6od's blood, thou hast weU sung ! " but I promise 
thee things shaU go otherwise than thou hast imagined, my 
friend." And so aU his counciUors, one afber another, now 
openly, now in secret, said that, if he deUvered a judgment 
without the vassalage of the throne of Scotland, he would be 
sowing the seeds of inconceivable injury to the kingdom oi the 
EngUsh, its kings and people : and such was the conclusion 
finally arrived at. Thereupon he sent for the elder Eobert 
Bruce, and asked him whether he would hold the said throne 
from him in ohief, as his overlord; and, if he did so, he 
would appoint him king of that kingdom. But Bobert Bruce 
answered him respectfuUy and quickly, saying, " If I can get 
the aforesaid kingdom by hereditary right, weU and good ; if 
not, I desire not to reign over that kingdom, even if I could do 
80 by might. But to bring under the yoke the aforesaid king- 
dom, which aU the kings, my predecessors, from the beginning 
have held in freedom, and have with such toU and trouble 
defended and kept untU now from aU thraldom or colour of 
vassalage, that I whoUy refuse." On hearing this, he cleverly 
had the aforesaid Bobert removed without any noise; and, 
caUing the said John BaUiol, he spoke to him as above 
described, and addressed him in simUar words, tempting him. 
The latter, after a short consultation upon the aforesaid king's 
request, speedUy compUed with it, and, so as to hold the afore- 
said kingdom of Scotland of him and his successors, he secretly 
promised to take the oath of aUegiance and fealty to him there- 






THE BOOK OF PLUSCAEDEN. BOOK VIII. 101 

tipon, as is cu^tomaiy. When this was over, the king, who 
had intimidated all the jurors, summoned the parties, and 
before all the great men of the kingdoms of England and 
Scotland procMmed John BalUol king,^^ as having foll right 
to the throne, and pronounced him the true heir to the throne. 
Sut, after the said judgment had been thus delivered, the earl 
of Grloucester said to the king of the English : '' king, think 
and ponder in thy mind what manner of judgment thou hast 
this day delivered in this matter ; for thou must know that, in 
the examination at the last judgment, it will behove thee to 
answer for this day's judgment before the Supreme Judge." 
On hearing this, Bobert Bruce, by the said ear^s advice, 
retired firom the court ; nor did he ever do homage or tender 
the oath of fealty to John BallioL 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Brief stcUement o/ the genealogy of the kings of Scotland, hegin- 
ningfrom Saint Margaret down to the daughter of the king 
of Norway, 

In order, however, that with reference to the right to the 
throne it might come out more clearly to whom it ought 
to belong, there is introduced here a brief consecutive state- 
ment of the succession of the kings of Scotland, beginning 
from King Malcolm and Saint Margaret, down to the queen of 
Norway, who was the daughter of King Alexander m., and 
afber whose death the whole succession, whether lineal or 
collateral, among the desceudants of King William, came to an 
end. On this subject, therefore, observe that Malcolm king of 
Scotland espoused the blessed Queen Maigaret in the year 
1067, and took her to wife, and of her begat six renowned sons, 
namely Edward, Edmund, Ethelred, Edgar, Alexander and 
Saint David, and also two daughters, MatUda, the good queen 
of England, and Mary, wedded to the count of Boulogne. Of 
these six sons three were crowned kings, namely Edgar, Alex- 
ander and David, who begat one son only, named Henry, 
buried at Kelso, who was earl of Huntingdon. This Henry 
begat three sons, Malcolm, who died a maiden, William and 
David. This Heniy died before his father ; and on the death 
of his father, the sainted King David, his grandson Malcolm 
came to the throne, and was crowned king at twelve years old 
only, and reigned only twelve years. He was succeeded by 
his brother King William, who reigned fifty-two*^ years, and 



102 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK Yin. 

diedy and was bniied at Arbroath, which be himself had 
founded. This Eing William begat Alexauder ii., who suc- 
ceeded him on the throne, and reigned thirty-six years, and 
died at Curlay (Eerrera), and was buried at Melrose. This 
* Alexander n. begat Alexander m., who succeeded his father, 
and likewise reigned thirty-six years, and died in the thirty- 
seyenth year of his reign at Einghorn, and was buried at Dun- 
fermline. This Alexander m. b^t, of the queen of Scotland, 
the sister of Edward i. Idng of England, two sons, Alexander 
and David, who both died childless before their father. He 
also begat of her one daughter, named Margaret, queen of 
Norway. Then this queen of Scotland died, and was entombed 
at Dunfermline. Of this Margaret queen of Norway, however, 
Eric'^ king of Norway begat one daughter, named Margaret, 
who died in girlhood, childless. And thus with her the whole 
family ia exhausted as far as David of Huntingdon, the said 
Eing William's younger brother, to whose line we must needs 
go back. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The same contirmed, 

DuRiKa the successive reigns of Eings Malcolm and William, 
kings and brothers-german, David their brother married the 
countess of Huntingdon, of whom he begat three daughters. 
The first of these, called Margaret, was married to Alan of 
Galloway, son of Sotholand, and of her this Alan of Gralloway 
begat two daughters, the first of whom, Dorvoigilla by name, 
married John Balliol, who of her begat one son, likewise bear- 
ing bis father^s name John; and this John was afterwards 
king for a time, though not rightfally, and was disgraced and 
degntded by reason of his unworthiness. This Eing John 
begat Edward Balliol, with whom the name of Balliol came 
to an end, for there was no further issue of either sex from 
these. But the said John Balliol begat of the said Dorvor- 
gilla, daughter of the said Alan of Galloway, one daughter, 
by name Marjoiy, who manied John Cumyn, and of her this 
John begat one son, likewise bearing his father^s name John, 
whom Bobert Bruce killed at Dumfries. This second John 
Cumyn, however, begat one daughter, who married David 
earl of Athol ; and of her he begat several sons, the eldest of 
whom, David by name, took the daughter of the lord Beau- 
mont to wife, and of her begat one son, named David. She 
indeed was one of the heirs of John Cumyn earl of Buchan. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vm. 103 

But the sister of the said DorvorgiUa, who was the danghter of 
the said Alan of Gralloway and Margaret, daughter of tiie said 
earl of Huntingdon, married Koger de Qoincy, and of her the 
said Boger begat three danghters, who were married to three 
nobles, namely one to sir John Ferrars, another to Alexander 
earl of Buchan, whose^ eldest daughter Henry Beaumont took 
to wife, and the third was married to the lord 2k)uche. Of 
these sprang an innumerable issue. 



CHAPTER XV. 

The second daugJUer of Damd of Huntingdon, 

Now as to the second daughter of the aforesaid Earl David, 
the younger brother of the said King William, namely Isabella, 
sir Bobert Bruce the elder, who took her to wife, begat of 
her one son named Bobert. This second Bobert Bruce begat 
a third Bobert Bruce, who was earl of Carrick ; and this third 
Bobert, the earl of Carrick, begat a fourth Bobert Bruce, the 
most Ulustrious king of Scotland, and Edward Bruce, and 
several other uterine brothers, who all, save King Bobert, died 
childlesa He also had several daughters, one of whom was 
married to Grartenay earl of Mar, who of her begat Donald earl 
of Mar, who was called Baan, and who was very successful 
in all his undertakings, and died at the battle of Dupplin ; 
and he was one of the wardens of the kingdom. This Donald 
begat Thomas earl of Mar, who married the heiress of Menteith, 
who was divorced from her husband without issue. Another 
daughter was joined in wedlock to Hugh earl of Boss, who 
begat of her William, likewise earl of Boss. But Bobert 
Bruce, while he was earl of Carrick, took to wife Isabella, 
the sister of the said Gartenay earl of Mar, and of her 
begat an only daughter named Marjory, who married Walter 
the steward of Scotland ; and of her this Walter begat a son 
named Bobert, who was afterwards king, the first, to wit, of 
this sumame, and the second of this name. This Bobert 
actually, though not lawfully, married one of the daughters of 
Adam de Mure, knight, of whom he begat sons and daughters 
out of wedlock ; and afterwards, through the apostolic dispen- 
sation, he joined her unto him in wedlock and legitimised his 
issue by the forms of the church in the year 1349. But on 
the death of the aforesaid daughter of the earl of Mar and 
sister of the said Gkui^nay earl of Mar, this Bobert Bruce 
took to wife the daughter of Haymer de Burgh earl of Ulster, 



104 THE BOOK OF PLUSGABDEN. BOOK VUI. 

and of her the said Robert Bruce, then king of Scotland, 
begat Matilda and Margaret The said Margaret mamed the 
earl of Sutherland, who begat of her an only son named John, 
who, with his father, was afberwards a hostage in England for 
the release of King David, son of the said Bobert Bmce. 
His mother departed this life immediately after his birth. Of 
the aforesaid Matilda I say nothing at all, for she did notiiing 
worthy of remembrance. King Robert Bruce also begat, in 
the seventeenth year of his reign, an only son, named David, 
who was afterwards king and succeeded him. Let wise and 
skilful men therefore thlnk which of them had a right to the 
throne, for this is the true and correct lineal course c^the pedigree 
of the whole of the aforesaid family. It should be observed also 
that John Balliol, the spouse of the aforesaid Dorvorgilla, 
died before the death ofKing Alexander m. ; but the mother^ 
survived him. The third daughter of the said Earl David of 
Huntingdon married Heniy of Hastings, and was named Ada ; 
and of their issue no mention is made in this chapter. 



CHAPTEE XVL 

Saint MargarePa two daughiers, 

Now the aforesaid Malcohoi begat of the aforesaid blessed 
Margaret two daughters, one of whom, Matilda by name, 
married Henry Beauclerk, son of William the Bastard, king 
and conqueror of England. This Henry Beauclerk king of 
England begat of the aforesaid MatUda one daughter, ccdled 
MatUda like her mother, and she married the emperor Heniy 
of Germany, who lived with her twenty years and died without 
issue. After his death the empress retumed to her parents, still 
alive in England, and by their advice afterwards married the 
count of Andegavia, in Erench Anjou, and of Pictavia, in French 
Poitou, Geofifiroy by name. The count of Anjou and Poitou 
begat of her one son, likewise named Henry, and this Henry, 
the son of the Empress, afterwards, upon the death of his 
grandfather, the king of the English, without children, suc- 
ceeded him in the Mngdom of Eqgland and duchy of Nor- 
mandy through his grandfather Henry Beauclerk king of the 
English; and he also succeeded his father Geoffrey in the 
counties of Anjou and Poitou. 

• * • • • • • 

Saint Margarefs second daughter, namely Mary, married the 
count of Boulogne, who of her begat Mlatilda, who was first 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vm. 105 

countess of Mans^ and afterwards queen of England, wife of 
King Stephen of England ; and she bare a son, Eustace by 
name, who would have been king, only he died before hu3 
father. This is the whole lineage of the said Mary, Eing 
Malcolni's second daughter. 

Now Saint Fiacre^^was the son of a certain king of Scot- 
land ; and when his church of Brie was plundered by the fol- 
lowers of the king of England, the latter refused to restore 
when requested to do so. Wherefore it is commonly held in 
France that it was for this reason, to avenge the unexpiated 
sacrilege, that he deservedly caught the taint of this malady 
through his own unworthiness — as he publicly confessed a 
little before his death, saying^ " See how bitter is the atrocious 
cruelty of the Scots^ which not only wreaks its vengeance on 
the EngUsh nation during life, but even after death attacks it 
with its accustomed severity." 



CHAPTEE XVII. 

Balliol and his mast wretched gammment. 

In the year 1292, on the last day of November, John 
Balliol was, with the help of the king of England, set up as 
king at Scone, and was placed on the royal seat of stone, as 
tlie custom is, and crowned;^ and, on Saint Stephen's day 
next foUowing, hb, without consulting the barons, prelates, or 
other inhabitants of the kingdom, shamefdlly and most fool- 
ishly did homage to King Edward the tyrant, at Newcastle, for 
the kingdom of Scotland which he was to hold of him. Such 
a thing had never been seen from the beginning of the world, 
and until the end of the world shall not the disgrace thereof 
be wiped out This John Balliol was crowned in the year 
1300 less eight. About the same time died Eleanor queen of 
England, and the king of England levied a great tax in 
England, from both the clergy and the laity, for the expulsion 
of the Jews from England. In these days also a strong wind 
did much damage to Scotland and England, bursting open, 
overthrowing and unroofing houses, buming up and withering 
the grass, uprooting and tearing up the trees of the forest, and 
doing a great deal of damage besides. In this year also the 
EngUsh engaged the French in a piratical sea-fight, where there 
was great slaughter made of the Normans, and a fearful war 
broke out between the kings of France and England. On 
account of this, therefore, Elmg Edward of England wrote to 



106 THB BOOK OF PLU8CABDEN. BOOK VUL 

that most mean kmg, John Balliol, that he should, under 
due penalties by virtue of his oath and his homage as liege- 
man, lend him succour with all his forces to attack the kmg 
of IVance. When he was summoned, however, it was found 
in parliament ^ that he was not in the least bound thereby, on 
account of the oath having been eztorted from him by force 
and intimidation, and of his having been compelled to this by 
coercion. And, even if he had done this of his own accord, 
yet, seeing that he did it without consulting the three estates 
of the reaJm, a private oath as to a public office is of no value : 
for the solemn oath taken at the king's coronation to rule the 
state duly and according to law^ as is meet, cancels and annuls 
all other carelessly taken and private oaths repugnant to the 
aforesaid oaths. Indeed the king, in his private acts, is only as 
a private person as regards careless vows and promises and oaths : 
for the shortcomins of a single person ought not to redound to 
the detriment of the whole community ; nor, in like manner, 
could the oath, promise, or vow of a prelate have any weight 
against the privileges of the church in matters affecting the 
ecclesiastical body or the privilQges of the hierarchy : for many 
systems of law agree as to thls. So neither does the oath 
tendered by the said John Balliol to the king of England, 
being contrary to the public and solenm oath of a king, prove 
anything at all against the independence of Scotland. More- 
over it is well loiown to all that long ago an alliance was 
solemnly entered into with King Charles of France, with the 
consent of the estates of the realm of Scotland, and confirmed 
by the apostolic see ; and that it has been renewed by all the 
longs, both of France and of Scotland, on the death of a king ; 
and it stands as an imperishable bond of love for ever. The 
king pf Scotland who first entered into this alliance with Eing 
Charlemagne in the year of grace 687 ^ was called Achay ; and 
it has lasted unbroken and \mshaken to the present time of the 
writing of this little work, to wit, the year of our Lord 1489.*^ 
Because of this, therefore, was help denied the said King 
Edward against the king of France. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Certain incidents. 

The same year, a little earlier, the earl of Fife, by name 
MacdufP,*^ was murdered ; and the mm*derers of the earl, with 
the view of depriving his brother of his fratemal inheritance of 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK YIII. 107 

Kilconqnhar, had bim summoned on this ground befoie the 
IHng of Scotland in his parliament, and sued him. As, how- 
ever, it seemed to the other party that the king showed more 
favour to his opponents, the said earFs murderers, who were 
called Abemethy, than to him, he appealed to the tribunal 
of the king of England, as being the paramount tribunal ; and, 
in prosecuting the aforesaid appeal, contrived to get TTing John 
summoned before the parliament of the Tring of England in 
London. When, therefore, King John appeared there, and would 
have answered before the kmg of Et^land by his procura- 
tors, the king of England would not let the king of Scotland 
answer thus by his procurators until he, Eing John, had first 
answered in person before him as he sat*^ on the bench; and 
afterwards he might, on asking leave, hand over the prosecution 
of his cause to his aforesaid procurators. So King John, to 
fulfil the commands of the king Of England, stood on his trial 
before him, and suffered much contumely and contempt and 
Gountless affronts. At length, handing over his cause to Us pro- 
curators, and taking his leave, he went home again utterly dis- 
graced, and was received by the magnates and lords of the realm 
with such reverence as was meet. Soon afber bis arrival in the 
countiy, however, he called the chief men together and held a 
parUament ; and, openly setting forth before all of them all the 
WTongs, affironts and contumely heaped upon him by the said 
king of England, he pubUcly requested their opinion how to 
set the matter right, and promised to give effect to it by all 
means in his power. At len^h it was settled there in parlia- 
ment that Eing John shouid altogether recall the homage 
tendered and fealty promised by him to the king of England, 
and should thenceforth refuse to peiform them, as having been 
extorted from him by force and intimidation ; and that he 
would no longer obey him or his commands on these and other 
points touchmg the vassalage or independence of the kingdom. 
Meanwhile, upon war breaking out between this king of the 
English and the Welsh^ on the one hand, and the king of 
France, on the other, this Edward king of England wrote to the 
aforesaid John kdng of Scotland to lend him assistance against 
them ; but this was briefly altogether refused him, and the king 
of England waa therefore very wroth, and loudly vowed re- 
venge. In the meantime the chief men of the kingdom of 
Scotland sent over in all haste ambassadors to the king of 
France, namely the bishop of Saint Andrews and the bishop of 
Dunkeld, together with two knights, the lord Soulis^' and 
Ingram Hum&aville, to arrange a marriage between a niece of 
that king of France and Edward Balliol, son of the said king 



108 THB BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 

of ScoUand, and also to renew the already existing alliance ; 
and they were to expUdn to him in set terms the affair with 
the king of England. These ambassadors were received with 
pleasure, and sent on their way rejoicing, and retumed with 
gladness to their own country. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Terms of tke alliance between the kmgs o/France and ScoUancL 

Philip, by the grace of Grod king of the French, to all who 
shall look on these presents. Among all those things whereby 
the aggrandisement of rulers and kingdoms is brought about, 
the delights of peace and tranquil quiet are gained and the 
happiness and prosperity of the subject are consulted, this 
seems, on attentive consideration, to be the chief, that a firmly 
cemented and loving union and a faithful and friendly alliance 
be nounshed between kings and kingdoms, so that kings and 
princes may, when the case demands, evince one towards 
another, especially through zeal for justice, a feeling of friendly 
aifection in repelUng the outrages and insolence of the froward 
and in beating back hostile attacks ; that each willingly help 
the other in weal, and not fail him in woe : so that, by means 
at least of a timely protection, the outrageous assaults of the 
haters of peace be wholesomely repressed and the sweetness of 
welcome peace be brought forth, — in the beauty whereof the 
devout sons of peace may the more devoutly, because the more 
calmly, serve the Author of peace. Accordingly, the renowned 
prince John, the illustrious king of Scots, Our particular Mend, 
having regard to the aforesaid benefits and advantages, has sent 
unto Us the venerable fathers William bishop of Saint Andrews 
and Matthew bishop of Dunkeld, and John de Soulis and 
Ingram de Humfraville, as his ambassadors and procurators, 
specially appointed therefor, as is more fiilly contained in 
certain letters procuratory drawn up thereanent and sealed 
with the said king^s seal, to arrange a treaty of aUiance and 
friendship. So We with hearty good-will concur in the said 
king's praiseworthy wishes on this point; and, in order that the 
closeness of the alliance and the bond of fruitful friendship may 
flourish the more vigorously and last the more steadfastly the 
more strongly the link is forged, it is covenanted and agreed 
between Us, with the assent and concurrence of our very dear 
and faithful brother Charles count of Yalois and Anjou, and the 
aforesaid procurators, as procurators on behalf of the aforesaid 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK Vin. 109 

king,that a maiTiage be arranged between Edward, the said king^s 
eldest son and the future kmg of Scotland, and the daughter 
of ouT aforesaid brother ; and we promise to give the said king 
of Scotland, in his said son^s name, as a marriage portion with 
the aforesaid daughter, twenty-five thousand livres Toumois in 
readj money ; and the said John king of Scotland aforesaid shall 
be bound to give and allot fifbeen hundred pounds sterling of 
yearly rent as a dower or portion on account of the said mar- 
riage, which shall be a charge on the foUowing places, namely, 
Bafiieul, Dampierre, Olincourt and Hornoy in the kingdom of 
France, and Lanark, Cadeouch, Oonynghame, Haddington and 
Doune Oastle in the kingdom of Scotland, with the pertinents 
of the said places, together with all manner of iudicial rights 
and jurisdictions not connected with the crown.^ 



OHAPTER XX. 

The trecUy coTUinued. — Terms of the prindpal dmmy 
as inserted in ih^ rayal Utter. 

l^B king, moreover, like a righteous prince, as well from his 
zeal for justice as from the warmth of the aifection which he ii 
confidently known to bear towards Us and the people of Our 
kingdom, taking in ill part the grievous wrongs, extraordinary 
outrages, hostUe attacks, and iniquitous agressions which the king 
of England, breaking the due of fealty whereto he was boimd unto 
Us, is known to have in many and sundry ways hitherto in- 
flicted, and is ever striving and endeavouring to inflict, upon 
Us and Our faithful subjects, and being prepared, with dis- 
interested friendliness, to give us efiectual and powerful help 
towards the wholesome repression of these outrages and the 
opposing of these attacks, so that a feeling of mutual love may 
bind Us and Our successors the more closely to him and his, has 
confided to the said procurators^ and the procurators themselves 
have, in the king^s name and on his behalf, expressly promised 
Us, that the said king of Scotland will, in the present war, fight 
against the said king of England, his abettors and allies^ the 
king of Germany as well as any others whatever, if need be, 
and will publicly and openly help Us and Our successors, if 
the war be prolonged to their time, with his forces and those of 
his kingdom both by land and sea, and will give Us timely 
advice and assistance. And, as the outrageous undertakings of 
the aforesaid king of England may the more easily be foiled, 
and the said king may the more quickly be forced to retreat 



\ 110 TH£ BOOK OF PLUSCABDEK. BOOK Yin. 



from his froward hostile inroads the more he is occupied else- 
where, the said king of Scotland will make it his business to 
levy and carry on war against the king of England at his own 
charges and expense, with hi3 whole force and that also of the 
people of his kingdom, as often as it shall be convenient ; while 
We carry on and keep up the war he has begun.^ Moreover, 
the aforesaid procnrators, as procurators on behalf of the said 
king of Scotland, promised that as well the prelates, so far as 
they are called upon by law so to do, as also the earls, barons 
and town communities of the kingdom of Scotland, shall 
equaUy, in the aforesaid war, bear themselyes towards Us and 
Our successors, in such manner in every respect as stated 
above; and they shall likewise make war upon the king of 
England with all their forces, as described above. . To insure 
this, therefore, the prelates, earls, barons and other nobles, as 
well as the whole of the foremost communities^ of the said 
kingdom, shall, as soon as may be, send Us their letters-patent 
on the subject, sealed with their seals. It was moreover agreed 
between Us and the aforesaid procurators on the same behalf, 
that, if it should haply come to pass that the before-mentioned 
king of England should assemble his forces and invade the king- 
dom of Scotland, personally or through another, after such war 
has been begun by tho said king of Scotland at Our request, or 
after the close alliance now entered into between Us and the 
said king and people of Scotland, under such circumstances, 
provided We are forewamed of it in proper time by the said 
king,^ We should help him by keeping the said king of England 
employed elsewhere, so that he might be diverted from the afore- 
said invasion he shall have undertaken, or by sending the said 
king of Scotland adequate reinforcements, at Our expense until 
they reach Scotland. Again, if perchance the king of England 
personally should leave the territory of England, or should per- 
chance, during a war between Ourselves and him, drain the said 
country of a considerable number of armed infantry, the afore- 
said procurators, as procurators on the said behalf, have promised 
that, especially in such a case, the said king of Scotland should 
not fail to penetrate into the land of England as widely and as 
far as he can, with his whole forces, and make war and do 
battle in the field, besieging, devastating and fighting against 
the king of England and his territory in all the aforesaid ways 
in his power, and at his expense, as already said. Furthermore» 
it is settled and expressly covenanted between Us and the afore- 
said procurators, on the said behalf, that We shall not come to 
terms, nor do we intend to do so, in a war which the aforesaid 
king of Scotland and his successors shall wage on Our behalf 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Yin. 111 

against the afoTesaid king of England, after they shall haye made 
such war at Our request ; or, in case the king of Scotland shall 
have abeady made such war, on account ofthe tie and alliance 
entered into, or the king of England against him, on account of 
the foregoing, neither in such a war shall we do so» or make peace 
or a truce with the aforesaid king, unless they are included in 
the said truce or treaty of peace ; nor, in like manner, shall they 
be empowered to do so without XJs, in all such wars as above 
described. For all and sundry which above-stated points to be 
kept firmly and faithfully fulfilled and inviolably observed We 
pledge Ourselves, for Ourselves and Our successors, to the said 
Ving of Scotland and his successors, and Our heirs and suc- 
cessorSy and all Our and their property, movable and immov- 
able, present and future, wherever and in whatever place it 
may be. And it is for the said king of Scotland to ratify and 
approve the treaties, covenants and agreements and all and 
sundry the above writings ; and he shall take care to send Us 
his letters-patent, sealed with his great seal, as soon as he can, 
upon the ratification, approval and renewal of the above. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Kifig John vnthdraws the homage foolisMy done hy him to the 
king of Bngland, corUrary to the privikges of the crovm, 

In the year 1296 ^ the unhappy King John, by the advice of 
some of his adherents, marshalled and sent aU the nobles and 
freeholders as well as the rest of the valiant men of the earldom 
of Fife, which was then without a head and bereft of a ruler, to 
garrison and defend the town of Berwick, where the danger was 
the most threatening at the time ; and there a strong fleet of the 
king of England arrivedy laden with a great multitude of men- 
at-arms, who delivered a grand assault &om the sea. The garri- 
son of the town, however, who were stout fighters, stalwart and 
strong and of fitfkx^ courage, by main f orce drove back their 
assailants, and eighteen shLps laden with men-at-arms; and 
these they burnt with fire, after having slain all on board. But, 
in the foUowing year after this, the long of England, who was 
strongly irritated by the aforesaid and other causes, marched in 
person, with a laige force of men-at-arms> to the said town of 
Berwick ; and although he could not take the town by force, 
yet he cast about to circumvent it by stratagem. So^ after he 
had encamped round the town and lingered there a while, he 
pretended he was going to withdraw thence altogether, struck 



112 THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK vni. 

his tents, and made a feint of going on. But on the 29th 
of March, at da¥m of day, hoisting in a wood near the town 
the conningly imitated and counterfeited banneis and other 
standards of the Scottish nation^he approached the gates of the 
town and sent messengers to those who were in the town 
announcing that reinforcements were coming &om the king. 
When the Scots saw this, they were glad, being, so to speak, 
simple-minded and free from guile ; so, seeing their true-seem- 
ing ensigns and tokens, and not dreaming of trickery, they 
opened their gates before them, and all who would came in. 
But alas! when, soon, they found out the trick and became 
aware of the truth and strove to withstand them, they were at 
once overwhelmed by a multitude of foes and perished in sudden 
onslaughts and charges. Then the king of England directed that 
neither age nor scx should be spared, and they all without excep- 
tion were put to the sword. So long indeed did the slaughter 
last in that most woful disaster, that streams of blood from the 
gore of the slain poured out and flowed for some days through 
the streets and squares of the town. The number of the bodies 
of the slain was seven thousand five hundred, in addition to 
others not found. The most powerfiil nobles of Fife utterly 
perished there. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Tht whole of the beneficed English oustedfrom the kingdom of 
Scotland by Fresale hishop of Saint ATidrem. 

The same year, owing to most unmistakable proofs of plotting 
against the kingdom, or the king, or the state, as well as on 
suspicion, all the beneficed persons of English birth were ex- 
pelled from the kingdom of Scotland and whoUy deprived of 
their benefices by William Fresale, bishop of Saint Andrews, 
and his vicars in spiritualities ; and moreover all of that nation- 
ality, both cleigy and laymen, of whatever condition in life, 
were, without exception, cast out of the kingdom. Nor is it to 
be bome that enemies should be allowed to nestle in the bosom 
of friends ; and, even though the pope should suffer this, the 
king ought not to allow it, to nurse fire in his bosom. Be it 
observed that, according to the chronicles, the bishop of Dun- 
blane has a just title to the domains of Appleby, of Congeres, 
of Troclingham and of Malemath, by a grant from the lord 
thereofy whose son Saint Blane raised from the dead. Observe 
also that the town of Berwick was given to the monastery of 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 113 

Durham, and Eing Edgar king of Scotland, son of Saint Mar- 
garet, took it back for the crime of high treason, and forfeited 
it and appropriated it again to the crown, because of the un- 
worthiness of the bishop of this place, Banulph by name. Now 
William Wallace was the man who carried into execution the 
sentence of the church against the deprived English, and he 
expelled them altogether from the country by force. Saint 
Gely Grange also and Spitalton were a domain of the monks of 
Holme; but, on the ground likewise of high treason, Eing 
David, son of Saint Margaret, deprived the said monks of those 
lands for plotting against the king'8 majesty. Other confis- 
cated lands,^ moreover, confiscated for the same reason, he gave 
to the lord of Siccarton, who still possesses them. On similar 
grounds also of ingratitude and the crime of high treason, the 
priory of Coldingham, which previously belonged to the monas- 
tery of Durham, was bestowed upon Dunfermline Abbey by 
King Bobert, as coidd be most fuUy proved by proofs pre- 
pared thereanent and shown to the said monastery. The king 
was prompted thereto chiefly by a prior of English birth, named 
Glaxston, having revealed certain royal secrets of the most 
secret council of the realm to the council of the king of England, 
in violation of the oath he had taken ; together with many 
other faiost infamous acts which prompted the king thereto, 
such as the bringing base coin, both gold and silver, into the 
country, in contravention of the royal edict of the parliament of 
Scotland. Drax and Hakles, too, monks of Durham, who 
thrust themselves into the said priory, were afterwards, for 
similar reasons, expelled by kings and govemors of Scotland. 
But after these things, on hearing of the taking of Berwick, the 
Scots who were mcur^alled by King John for the rescue of 
the said town encountered the English, on the 27th of April, at 
Dunbar, near a place called Spot ; and here fell many nobles of 
Scotland. Those, however, who escaped from the battle after it 
was decided^ hoping for succour and fleeing with the hope of 
saving their lives, though they were gladly welcomed, to the 
numl^r of seventy knights with the nobles in their train, 
among whom were the earl of Boss, Patrick Graham ^ and the 
earl of Menteith, yet an infamous traitor treacherously gave 
them over to the king of England^ like harmless sheep led to 
the slaughter. His namre was Bichard de Suard, the warden of 
the said castle of Dunbar. Therefore no one need wonder 
that the said castle and domain are confiscated in the king^s 
hands, for many evils have been wrought by this castle. 



H 



114 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 



CHAPTER XXIIL 

Rdbert Brrice arid Balliol^Their partisans—DisunioTi 

in the country. 

In the words of Christ in the Gospel it is said that every 
kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation ; and we 
see most clearly and truly that this took place in the kingdom 
of Scotland in these days. For there sided with sir Robert 
Bruce, in every way they could, the prelates of the realm, the 
nobles, and especisdly the bishop of Glasgow and his fnends, 
together with the earls of Athol and of Mar ; while the earl of 
Bu^han, with his followers the Comyngs, of which sumame 
there were many nobles in those days, sided with John Balliol. 
These parties and their partisans, with their foUowers, waged a 
deadly war against one another ; whence the poor people of the 
kingdom of Scotland suffered much, and were, by reason of this 
strife, devoured and ravaged by "the fangs of maddened wolves." 
But after the victory gained in the battle of Spot near Dunbar, 
as already stated, the elder Robert Bruce went up to the king 
of England, and besought him not to fail him, but to help him, 
as he had promised, in getting the kingdom of Scotland ; but 
that old serpent, that consummate framer of treachery and 
deceit, with no little indignation and with a savage countenance, 
ans wered him in French on this wise, " Non avons novs aiUre chose 
dfaire que A vous reavme gargnier i^ that is to say : " Have We 
nothing to do. but to win a kiugdom for thee ? " So the said 
Sobert, bearing this, and tuming over in his mind the crafti- 
ness of the adroit answer, without further remark departed from 
the king to his own place, namely his lands in England, and 
never afterwards showed himself in Scotland. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

The castles of Scotland taken by King Edward — John 

Balliol taJcen, 

The tyrant King Edward, then, marching on after the battle 
of Dunbar, and having taken that srame castle of Dunbar, 
came to Edinburgh, and the castle was in like manner sur- 
rendered into his hands, as also the castle of Stirling; and 
thence the king marched on after John Balliol as far as the 
castle of Forfar, and was met by John Cumyn, lord of Strath- 
bolgy, who made his submission to him and brought back John 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 116 

Balliol and his son from Aberdeen to Munross (Montrose) to 
meet bim. Here, at Munross castle^ the said John BaUioI, 
stripped of his loyal robes and holding a white wand in his 
hand, having been ciaftily won over to the king of England 
by the said John by f orce and intimidationy unconditionally re- 
signed into the hands of the said king of E^Iand all right and 
claim he himself had or in any wise might have to the thione 
of Scotland, and made it over by his letters-patent, which he 
producedy signed with his seal ; the terms whereof are in form 
and efiPect as follows : — 

John, by the grace of Ood king of Scots, to all who shall 
look on these presents, Greeting. As We, lately enticed and 
foolishly and deceitfully tricked by the promptings of certain 
firoward persons and by Our corrupt advisers, have grievously 
offendedy and have of our own motion provoked and stirred to 
anger Our renowned piince and lord, the lord Edward, by the 
grace of Ood king of England, etc., in various ways, and espe- 
cially, among other things, because We^ while abiding in fealty 
and homage and security with him, refusing to Uve in mere 
plenty and moderation, or rather not knowing how to persevere 
to the end, have unadvisedly entered into the yoke of mutual 
ties and a treaty and bond of alliance with the king of France, 
and have, as a fuither proof of this alliance, sought the daughter 
of the lord Charles, his brother, in marriage for Our son 
Edward, the heir to the throne of Scotland, thus joining the 
chiefest foe of Our said king of England, to his no sUght injury 
and grievance, and, to the hurt and detriment of his royal 
majesty, violently assailing him and his, to the best of Our 
power, by destroying his lands, plimdering his people and sub- 
jects, and by the fell inroads of war ; and, passing over the 
rest, these crooked intrigues of Ours have prevailed to such an 
extent, and so blinded the fierceness of Our spirit, that, throwing 
off with unbridled Ucense faith, fealty and aUegiance to Our 
said lord, and whoUy and altogether refusing and scoming 
them, without mentioning^ the extortions of evUdoeis and the 
plundeiing lavages of war^ We have unpardonably placed Our 
men and the subjects of Our land in the castles, towns, fortresses 
and boroughs freely belonging, or which ought duly to belong, 
in fee to Our said lord by right, within the territory of Scot- 
land, in order to break down Our said Iord's interests, Uberties 
and feudal authority ; so Our mischievous acts have got their 
deseits, and have wantonly roused Our said Iord's most bitter 
wrath and indignation, so that Our said lord has with a strong 
hand and with a mighty arm made a hostile advance into the 
territory of Scotland with a force of melh-at-annSy and has fought 



1 1 6 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEK. BOOE YIII. 

against it with his utmost might ; and he has brought it back 
under his sway and dominion, Our forces and power being of 
no avail whatever to withstand this ; We therefore, longing to 
repair this mischief to his satisfaction, voluntarily restore and 
gratuitously resign to Our said lord, purely of Our own free 
will and with free and full control, the whole aforesaid land of 
Scotland, and all and sundry its folk, people and inhabitants, 
together with the homage and allegiance of the whole. In wit- 
ness whereof We have caused these presents to be drawn up at 
Munros, on the lOth day of July, in the year of Our Lord 1296, 
and the fourth of Our reign. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

T}u magnaies and the Estaies of Scotland areforced likewise to 

do Jumage to the Jdng of England, 

After this the king of England had the said John Balliol, 
together with his son the said Edward, brought to London, and 
he kept them imprisoned there for a while. Afterwards, how- 
ever, still keeping the son, he released the father, who took an 
oath never to claim a right to the throne of the kingdom of 
Scotland; and his lands of Ballieul only were restored to 
him, and he ended his days in France. His son Edward was 
allowed to enjoy his patrimony in France, under the same oath 
dtdy administered to him; and he remained there after his 
father's death until his preparations for the campaign which he 
opened at Duplin. But Edward king of England, after the 
invalid resignation of the throne of Scotland, moved to Berwick, 
where he had all the lords and prelates of Scotland summoned 
before him. These for the most part came thither and did him 
homage, such as it was, after their wont, though compelled by 
force and intimidation, and surrendered unto him the castles 
and chief strongholds of the kingdom. He, however, did not 
change the captains or the other officers of justice; but, having 
administered an oath to them, he put each one of them in the 
position he had held. Nevertheless, the captains of the chief 
strongholds he did changc, and he commissioned other wardens 
in their stead, and appointed treasurers and other receivers of 
rents.** Thereupon, believing himself to be pretty sure of the 
humble obedience of the Scots, he set about making war upon 
the king of the French. But, straightway afker hia departure 
from England to France, all the magnates of Scotland, as well 
as other Scots of the English party, were gathered together at 



TH£ BOOK OF PLU8CABDEN. BOOK Vm* 117 

Scone, and opened their parliament there. Here they appointed 
twelve wardens of the Mngdom of Scotland, or peers of the 
realm, for the guardianship and protection of the realm and the 
defence of its liberty; and, in order that such appointment 
might be the more stable and strong, they all with one accord 
were swom together by the great oath to extend favour, advice 
and help one to another. Then they repair the ruined castles 
and put captains and wardens in the strongest and securest 
places, and set about in every possible way bravely to withstand 
King £dward's villainous cruelty and meet his violent attacks 
and encroachments. One of the chief wardens, moreover, John 
Cumyn earl of Buchan, was chosen leader and, marching into 
England with a laige army, wasted the northem districts of 
Eugland with fire and sword, bumt two monasteries, and 
besieged Carlisle ; but he retreated without accomplishing his 
purpose. In that year indeed, in 1297, the aforesaid Edward 
came back to England from France without having accom- 
plished his purpose ; for he was then unwilling to give battle to 
the king of f^nce, for there was an arrangement between 
them, and their troth was plighted, for a marriage between 
Edward king of England and Margaret sister of King Philip. 
So he assembled a strong army to make war upon the nobles of 
Scotland to the best of his power, as well by stratagem and 
crafb as by main force. 

CHAPTEE XXV. 

William WaUace. 

The same year that renowned champion William Wallace, the 
terror of the English, the son of a noble knight of the same name, 
rose in Scotland. He was very taU of stature, of great bodily 
strength, pleasant and merry of countenance, of kindly seeming to 
all his firiends but terrible to his foes, bounteous in gifts, most 
righteous in judgment Being a tme Scot, he loathed the English 
nation and their ways ; and, at the outset of his rebellion against 
the English nation, he slew the sherifT of Lanark and many others 
with him. From that time there were gathered unto him all 
who were bitter in spirit and weighed down by the burden of 
most wretched thraldom under the unbearable domination of 
the English nation. He became their leader and one of the 
wardens of Scotland ; for he was a man of wonderful courage 
and daring, of knightiy oririn. His brother, sir Andrew Wal- 
lace, was girded with the belt of knighthood, and was a very 
distinguished and gallant knight ; and his patrimony is still in 



118 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VUI. 

the possession of his descendonts.^ He himself, however, over- 
threw the English on all sides and was always successfol against 
them, so that by force and by dint of his prowess he in a short 
time brought all the magnates of Scotland under his control, 
whether they would or no ; and, when all had thus been gained 
over, he held out manfuliy, and devoted himself with cdl his 
might to storming the stronger castles and bringing under the 
sway and dominion of the Scots the strongholds where the Eng- 
lish were in power ; for his aim was ever skilfully to overthrow 
and undo the English, always sagaciously casting about to com- 
pass by tact and cunning aU he was unable to achieve by force 
Ld the strong hand. In aU his doings. and in the canyhig out 
of every undertaking, he would exhort his comrades always to 
have the cause of the fireedom of Scotland before their eyes in 
battle, and to charge in its name. He also told them off by 
fives, appointing one to have command and maintain discipline 
over four under him, and another over ten, and so with each of 
them ; and he gave instructions that whoever would not obey 
his superiors in the ordering of the battle should be summarily 
put to death; and so on up to tw;pnty-five and fifty and a 
hundred in their several ranks,^ according to the advice given 
to Moses by his kinsman Jethro, both in the administration 
of justice and in the ordering of the battle. Would that our 
princes now-a-days would take care to adhere to such an 
arrangement in matters of justice and war, for it is well known 
to be of the highest importance to a general in war, or to a king 
or govemor of a kingdom, — trom a hundred to five hundred, 
from five hundred to a thousand, to ten thousand and a hundred 
thousand. For thus said Jethro to Moses, who used to sit firom 
moming till night hearing causes in all matters : *" fool, thou 
wilt wear thyseU? out with over many cares, for thou art not able 
to master everything. Choose therefore out of the whole nation 
able meUy who fear God, hate covetousness, aud in whom is truthy 
and from among them appoint commanders of five hundred, 
commanders of hundreds and commanders of tens, to judge the 
people at all seasons ; and, if anything is too great f or them, let 
it be brought before thee." ^d thus he Imnself became the 
general and the leader of men. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 
He destroys NbHhvmberland — Other everUs. 

Axlength the renown of William WaIIace'8 name was so 
spread about, that the noise of the damage done by him to the 



TH£ BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VIII. 119 

natives of England reached the ears of the king of England, 
who sent into Scotland a laige force of men-at-anus, with 
his treasnreT Hugh Ciessingham, to cuib the daiing of this 
William Wallace. On hearing this, William Wallace, who was 
then engaged on the siege of Dundee Castle, intrusted it to 
the buigesses and, musteiing his foroes, set himself without 
much ado to oppose the afoiesaid tieasurer with all haste. He 
accordingly engaged him at Stirling bridgeon the 11 th of Sep- 
tember 1 297, and made great havoc among his train. Sir Hugh 
was killed there, and the remnant of his army who escaped were 
put to flight, and retumed to England, many being diowned in 
their flight. So the said William happily gained the victoiy ; 
and heie the noble Andiew Muiiay fell by the swoid,^ with 
a few otheis of Scottish birth. After this» however» WiUiam 
Wallace retumed to the si^e of Dundee Castle, and brought 
that place imder his sway ; and, finding there much treasure of 
. the king of England, he generously distributed it among his 
companions in arms.^ Thereupon so great fear and trembling 
fell upon the enemy, that some of the wardens of castles left 
their castles and fled from the fortified places, while others, 
after sacking the castle, demolished the strongest towers and 
withdrew to their own country. Now from lack of grain there 
was a great dearth before the autumn, on account of which the 
general gave orders that the aimy ^ould make its way into 
England and live there at the expense of the enemy, so as to 
save their own provisions and keep them for the winter. The 
aforesaid WiUifim Wallace likewise appointed that a gallows 
should be set up in every domaui, so that all under oMers to 
fight, if absent or flying from batfle at a critical time without 
leave or reasonable cause, might be hanged thereon without 
mercy. When these matters had thus been settled and com- 
pleted, he made his way towards England, and overran and 
ravaged the whole of Northumberland as far as Kewcastle ; and 
thus he wintered in England at the expense of the enemy, and 
saved his country^s substance ; and he got home again safely 
with much riches and honour. On hearing this, the king of 
En^and was enraged and his wrath was kindled, and he was 
beside himself with over much grief ; so he put off making 
war against the kin^ of France, as he had previously intended, 
and set about invadu^ the kingdom of Scotland with all his 
forces. Accordingly he retired ^m Gaul and, having addressed 
a threatening letter to William Wallace, assembled a laige army. 
But William WaUace, on the other hand, gathered together the 
Scottish loids and their followers, and pushed on into England ; 
and he ceased not to attack and destroy the enem/s countiy 



120 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIU. 

until he came to Stanmure. The king of England likewise 
amved at this place, and saw William Wallace, the Scottiah 
leader, with such a host of men-at-aims in admirable order of 
battle there manfully awaiting him that, thinking perchance his 
cause was not a righteous one, or that the territory was not his 
own property, or otherwise having a presentiment of evil, he 
turned aside from the straight peUii to the battle nobly and 
proudly arrayed against him, shifted his ground by the advice 
of certain lovers of peace, and abandoned his undertaking. 
When the noble champions of Scotland saw tUs, by the help a£ 
God's grace and St Andrew and St. Cuthbert, they glorified 
Grod, and asked their leader's instructions about routing them 
in the rear ; but with steadfast mind he answered and said unto 
them, " By no means, my lords and brethren ; for it is the most 
brilliant victory in the annals of the struggles of war that the 
most high and mighty king of England should, on ground he 
said was his, amid his stately army drawn up to his mind, with his 
satraps, and with his royal and most excellent equipments of 
war, have been panic-stricken and tumed and fied before Scottish 
countiymen, foes he scoms and holds cheap, while his foes 
never even drew the sword." The English, however, on the 
other hand, say that the king was not there in person, but 
another resembling him, clad like him in a coat of mail : and 
thus they tiy to shield the king, though the opposite is the 
truth. But after this, the envy of the devil, by whom death 
came into the world, and who has a spite against a good reputa- 
tion and is the foe of human happiness, was hard at work against 
the good luck and prosperity of the said warden William, through 
no fault or deserving of his, but by means of the magnates of the 
realm, among whom it had been lurking as yet undisplayed ; and 
this greatest of evils is constantly and inextinguishably at work 
in Scotland to this very day. Nevertheless, during the time of 
this warden's rule, the kingdom of Scotland prospered wonder- 
fully in happiness and in manifold ways ; and every one dwelt 
in safety with his own, and agriculture began to thrive every- 
where. In spite, iiowever, of all his good deeds and deserts in 
the interests of the state and the independence of the crown, 
certain sons of wickedness and imps of the devil conspired and 
devised mischief against him, framing lies and backbiting him 
behind his back while speaking him fair to his £Ace, and meditat- 
ing treachery, saying within their hearts, We wUl not have this 
man reign over us. But the lower orders and the populace 
were exceedingly fond of him, as were also a good many of the 
older and wiser of the great men of the kingdom. For Gk>d of 
his lovingkindness sent this leader to snatch them from the 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGARDEN. BOOK YUI. 121 

snare of the fowler; and, whereas the whole of Scotland was 
unable at that time to defend herself, he, supported by the help 
of Grod and aided by the assistance of Saint Andrew and Saint 
Guthbert, did his best to free her from the chain of peipetual 
slavery and strove to exalt her with uplifted arm. So the death 
of the guileless lamb was devised by those envious haters of the 
happiness of mankind ; and hard upon his death there followed 
struggles, the shipvrreck of the clergy of Scotland, the ruin of 
the people, the downfall of the kingdom and the destruction 
of the state. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

BatUe of Varia CapeUa ar Faikirk. 

In the year 1298 the king of England, taking in iU part the 
wrongs inflicted upon him by the Scots, for he suffered loss 
and was hard pressed on all sides, assembled a veiy large army 
and made a hostile invasion of Scotland, bringing with him also 
some nobles of Scotland to help him. Now the Mng of England 
never did anything without deceit ; so he secretly gained over 
certain magnates of the kingdom of Scotland who had a lurking 
grudge against the said WiUiam Wallace, and, when they en- 
coimtered one another at Falkirk, the greater part of those on 
whom the warden WiUiam WaUace rdied the most tumed and 
fled. Here many of the nobles and the populace of the kingdom 
were slain, and the said warden himself escaped with but few ; 
and he nearly went out of his mind thereat, wishing rather to 
throw away his life with honour than to Uve most wretchedly in 
bondage and slavery under his foes. And thus a severe battle 
was fought at the said place, Falkirk, on the 22d of July, 
and lost through the spite of that wicked fanuly caUed the 
CummynSy and other traitors to the state, their hangers-on, 
who left the field unhurt and retreated in a body, because they 
bore 80 much causeless iU-wiU towards the said WiUiam WaUace. 
So, as soon as he had perceived and was aware of their trick, the 
said WiUiam likewise escaped on the other side of the field and 
saved himself, seeing nothing else for it as matters stood. But 
Sobert Bruce, the future king, foUowed WiUiam WaUace and 
took him to task, saying, as some relate, and asking who oidered 
or advised him to maJce such an attempt andsofpoIhardUystruggle 
against the greatness and high-mightiness of the king of England, 
yea, and of the greater part of the kingdom of Scotland ? But 
the said WUUam answered him saying, " 0, Bobert» Bobert, thy 
slothfiilness and effeminate, sluggish idleness, and the establish- 



1 22 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VIIL 

ing of thy right, on the one hand, and the nobleness of themost 
noble kiiigdom of Scotland, which is ready to perish, on the 
other, spur me on to this ; but thou also, now but half a man, 
do thou awake from thy bed unto manhoody come foith from 
the shade into the open, and quit thee manfully» and let thy 
heart be strong ; give up the delicate and soft and delicious life 
thou art used to, and make haste to inure thyself to a rough 
life of warfare, to free thy kingdom." At these words Kobert 
Bruce, roused, as it were, from a heavy sleep, so pondeied 
and digested the force of his words, that after fleeing from 
imminent peril and betaking himself to safer paths, he felt 
encouraged ; and, laying up aU these words in his heart, he set 
himself to taste the bitter draught of warfare ;** and, as 

" No low pursuits should taint the lofty sovl,'* 

he thenceforth kept himself from all unmanly and contemptible 
pursmte. auning ^t higher things. and elevating his 8p4 ia 
every respect. Moreover he set himself and his fiiends and 
partisans the task of freeing the country from the enemy, with a 
tireless zeal that would not be denied, and such as drives away 
disaster from a country, sheltering himself in the mountains and 
hills and the hidden coverts of woods and rocks, with sorrv food 
and rough raiment. The death, however, of John Stewart and 
Macduff earl of Fife and their followers in the battle grieved the 
king greatly, for it was through foul play, ill-will and quarrels 
of the people of his own kingdom, and never otherwise, that 
disaster was wont to overtake us in battle. After this, William 
WaUace of his own accord and by his free wish ceased to be 
warden of Scotland^ and John Cummyn began to be warden in 
his stead. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Trtice grarUed hy Edvxird king of England to the kingdom qf 
Scotland ai the mstance of the king of France. 

In these days Philip king of France sent Peter de Monsy 
and John de Barris to the king of England, to get a truce for 
the kingdom of Scotland ; and it was granted for half a year 
only. The kingdom of England, however, at this time used to 
pay a tithe assessed upon the kingdom as a subsidy against the 
Scots ; and the king of England, before granting the truce, 
intimated to the ambassadors of the king of Erance and made 
them confess that he was not granting tibe truce by way of an 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGAfiDEN. BOOK VIU. 123 

allianoe ; for, notwithstanding the granting of the aaid tnice, 
he wiahed to levy the tax of chuich tithes which he wished to 
levy before in order to make war against the Scots. But the 
wardens of Scotland, hearing that the king of England, in levy- 
ing a tithe on the clergy of his kingdom, aimed at wholly sub- 
verting the kingdom of Scotland and bringing it under his 
sway, straightway despatched certain prominent clerics, namely 
master William archdeacon of Lothian, master Baldred Bisset 
and William Eglishame as procurators and special envoys 
to Boniface viil, then supreme pontiff, to inform that lord 
pontiff and lay before him the giievous wrongs and annoy- 
ances and villainous outrages inflicted and about to be inflicted 
on the kingdom of Scotland by that king of England» and to 
humbly beseech his Holiness that a fitting remedy might be pro- 
vided by him : as will more fully appear hereafber. These men, 
therefore, keptthemselves quiet, and forearmed themselves with 
the bulwark of their own powers and with reasons, pofaits of law 
and allegations on the subject, still waiting even until they 
should be placed under restraint or close confinement by the 
said king^s tjrranny, as they thought In the year 1304 many 
Scottish nobles and prelates, such as William Oliphant, knight, 
warden of Stirling Castle whHe it was in the hands of the 
Scots, which place the king of England had formerly taken 
after a long siege and had straightway come and occupied in 
defiance of his plighted word — observe that Edward Long- 
shanks, father of this tyrant Edward now living/^ came and 
shamefully, in defiance of his plighted word, took the castle of 
Stirling afber he had long besieged it — and some bishops, 
namely those of Olasgow and Sodor, as also some others, lay- 
men and cleigy, were arrested and ruthlessly sent and com- 
mitted to prison by the said tyrant Accordingly when this 
reached the ears of the pope by way of complaint, the supreme 
pontiff conferred with the cardinals and addressed to the arch- 
bishop of Canterbury his buUs executory against the aforesaid 
tyrant of England, and sent them to England by the af oresaid 
procurators,^ in the foUowing terms. 



CHAPTEB XXX. 
Copy of the papal buU. 

BiSHOP BoNiFACE, etc., to his venerable brother the arch- 
bishop of Canterbury, Greeting and his apostolic blessing. The 
repeated statements forced upon Our notice by trustworthy 



124 TUE BOOK OF FLUSCilRDEN. BOOK VIII. 

persons, as also the substance of reports going about, have made 
known to Our ears the outrages, hardships, troubles, losses and 
misfortunes sought to be inflicted by Our son in Christ, 
Edward, the illustrious king of England, and by his officers 
and people upon the king of Scotland and the prelates and 
clergy and ecclesiastics, religious and secular, as also the 
churches, monasteries and other religious places, together with 
the inmates thereof and the inhabitants of the aforesaid king- 
dom of Scotland and their property. We, therefore, being im- 
willing, as neither ought We, to pretend to take no notice of 
such things, most eamestly exhort that king, by another letter 
of Ours which thou wilt present to him, to have those clergy 
and ecclesiastics of the said kingdom of Scotland, whom he is 
said to be still keeping in confinement, restored to liberty as 
before, and also to recaQ the officers whom he is stated to have 
placed in the said kingdom; and that he also do send his 
procurators and ambassadors to appear before Us with all his 
pleas in law and title deeds, if he think he has any right to the 
aforesaid kingdom or to any part thereof. And nevertheless 
any suits, disputes or questions which have arisen, and which 
may in future, from any of the above causes, arise, between 
that king and the aforesaid Mngdom of Scotland and the pre- 
lates, clergy and laymen of that kingdom, and the whole matter 
We do, by Our aforesaid letter, bring and reserve for trial and 
determination by the apostolic see; and if any one should 
happen, knowingly or unknowingly, to attempt any diflferent 
action in this respect, We pronounce it void and of none effect 
Wherefore We do, by Our apostolic writ, strictly direct and 
command thee, Our brother, in virtue of thy holy allegiance 
and on pain of suspension from spiritual and temporal minis- 
tration, to present Our aforesaid letter to the said lang without 
delay, and effectually encourage and lead him to acquiesce in 
what We write in our exhortation ; and to contrive faithfuUy 
and effectually to let Us know, by thy letters-patent containing 
these particulars, the day on which thou shalt have laid this Our 
letter before him, and whatever else thou shalt have done, and 
what he shall have answered or done in this matter. Given 
at Avignon, the 28th of June, the fifth of Our pontificate. 



^CHAPTER XXXI. 

Copy of fhe pope^s letter sent to the hing of England, 

BiSHOP BoNiFACB, scrvant of the servants of (xod, to his very 
dear son in Christ, the iUustrious king of England, Greeting 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGARDEN. BOOK Vin. 125 

and his apostolic blessing. We know, son, for the teachings of 
experience over a long space of time have taught Us, how yonr 
reverent zeal had displayed your royal feelings of devotion 
towards the mother church of Rome, which bears you in the 
bowels of charity, and that you readily acquiesce in her good 
pleasure and comply with the wishes of the see thereof. 
Wherefore we cherish a firm hope and are in the full belief 
that your Eoyal Highness will take Our words kindly, take care 
to understand them and carry them out with good wilL It may 
indeed have reached your Boyal Highness, and We have not the 
least doubt it is contained in the tablets of your memoiy, 
that from old time the kingdom of Scotland has belonged in 
full right, and ib still well known to belong, to the aforesaid 
church of Bome, and that, as we have been given to under- 
standy it is not a fief of your ancestors/® the kings of the 
kingdom of England, or of yours ; also that your father Henry 
kiiig of England, of illustrious memory, at the time of the 
troubles of his war stirred up between hun and a certain Simon 
de Montfort and his partisans and accomplices, asked Alex- 
ander, of treasured memory, king of that same Scotland and 
son-in-Iaw of the said Henry, to affbrd him assistance ; and, lest 
such assistance might be said to have been asked or rendered 
in right of any vassalage or duty, the aforesaid Henry thought 
good to grant the said king of Scotland his letters-patent, 
whereby he unhesitatingly acknowledged that he had received 
or would receive the aforesaid help only as a particular favour. 
Furthermore when, in course of time, you would fain have had 
the aforesaid king of Scotland, your sister^s husband, then living, 
be present at the ceremony of your coronation, you took care 
to pledge yourself by your letters-patent that you proposed to 
have him present at that ceremony not as a duty, but only as 
a favour. And, when that king presented himself personally 
before you to swear you the customary fealty for the lands 
of Tyndale and Penrith, situated in the kingdom of England, 
that king, in tendering such fealty publicly, in the presence 
of many, declared by word of mouth that he was swearing the 
said fealty only for those lands situated in EngIand,not as king 
of ScoUand, nor for the kingdom of Scotland. Nay, he had 
openly protested that he ought not in any way to tender or 
swear fealty to you for that kingdom, as being in no wise 
.whatever subject imto you ; and you admitted this manner of 
fealty. It hais, moreover, probably escaped your memory that, 
when that king of Scotland was taken away from our midst, 
leaving as his heiress the late maid Maigaret, your niece, then 
under age, the guardianship of that kingdom did not come to 



1 26 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDBN. BOOK Vni. 

you as lord, bnt certain lords of that kingdom were elected to 
the guardianship of the same ; and afterwards, when the dis- 
pensation of the apostolic aee, for arranging a marriage between 
Our beloved son Edward, yonr child, and the aforesaid Mar- 
garet while she was living, had been asked and obtained if the 
consent of the lords of the said kingdom were got and given 
therenntOy you are known to have pledged yourself to those 
lords in writing, before they would consent to such a marriage, 
that the said kmgdom should ever remain altogether free, and 
subject to, or in any wise imder, no one ; and tihat it should be 
quite restored to its former condition or the like, if it should 
happen that no children were left of the marriage about to be 
arranged; and that they should retain the same name and 
position as before, in keeping their own laws for themselves and 
appointing the officers of the said kingdom, as well as in hold- 
ing parliaments and dealing with causes therein,^ and in no 
inhabitants of that kingdom being summoned for trial beyond 
its limits : all which is well known to be more fally contained 
in your letters-patent drawn up thereanent. Moreover, when 
the aforesaid Margaret was snatched away &om this life, and 
matter for dispute at length arose between certain parties as to 
the succession to ihis throne of Scotland, the lords of tMs king- 
dom, feaxing that under such circumstances they and the said 
kingdom might be prejudiced, would not come into your presence 
outside the limits of that kingdom tmless you pledged yourself 
openly in writing that it shoidd not be done as a duty, but as a 
particular favour, and that no curtailment of the liberties of 
the said kingdom could be threatened thereby. And even if, 
as it is said, some innovations, contrary to custom, have been 
introduced affecting the constitution of the said kingdom of 
Scotland, or the freedom it formerly enjoyed, while that king- 
dom lacked the protection of a defender, by the lords of that 
kingdom then, so to speak, without a head and not having the 
help of a leader or guide, or by him to whom you are said to have 
intrusted, though unduly, tibe govemment of the aforesaid 
kingdom; yet these, as having been brought about by force 
and fear such as may fall upon a steadfast man, and as being 
unlawfiil, ought by no means to stand in law, or redound to 
the prejudice of that kingdom. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK VIH. 1 27 



CHAPTEE XXXII. 

The mme corUirmed. 

Wb have no manner of doubt, however — ^nay rather We are 
8are — ^that when the paramonnt authorily of the apostolic see 
by letter intrasts anj one with the exercise of the office of 
legate in the Mngdoms of both England and Scotland, or 
enjoins the payment of a tithe for any canse it deems reason- 
able, such apostolic letter does not in any way extend to the 
aforesaid Mngdom of Scotland; becanse the special privilege 
granted to the Scots by the aforesaid apostolic see stands in the 
way, as dearly happened in the time of Pope Adrian of happy 
memory, Onr predecessor, then cardinal deacon of Saint Adrian, 
and at the same time, in virtue of the letter of the said see, 
legate in those kingdoms, with whom We were then on intimate 
terms. For that legate wason no account admitted to the afore- 
said kingdom of Scotland until the office of legate therein was 
conferred upon him by a special apostolic letter. Furthermore 
your Soyal Highness may know that the Ungdom of Scot- 
land was won and converted to the truth of the catholic faith 
by the honoured relics of the blessed apostle Andrew, not 
without a plentiful vouchsafing of protection from on high; 
and also that, in days of yore, the then archbishop of York 
raised, in opposition to the prelates of Scotland^ the question of 
metropolitui jurisdiction, in which he mentions that it was said 
of old, " Eemember that we are thy," etc, we pass over in silence 
what foUows thereafter — and was unable, nevertheless, to get a 
decision in his favour ; and though there are many and various 
aiguments which present themselves as reasonable propositions 
in this matter, whereby moreover We are induced to write to 
you, let us pass on, lest perchance We weaiy your overburdened 
royal mind. Indeed, dearest son, it behoves you to ponder 
eamestly and diligently give your mind to it within the portals 
of your breast. Hence no one can doubt that the said kingdom 
of Scotland belongs in fdll right to the aforesaid church of 
Some; and it is not lawfnl, nor has it ever been lawful, to 
subdue it by force and bring it imder your sway, to the pre- 
judice of that church and of many persons. Since, however, 
as trustworthy rumour has already repeatedly dinned even into 
our ears, and it is published by the voice of anticipating hear- 
say, you, not giving full weight to the premises, as you ought, 
nor discussing them with due consideration, vehemently aspire 
to occupy and subdue to your royal sway that kingdom, for the 



128 THK BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK VIII. 

time bereft of the help of a king, and at length, pntting forth the 
powers of your might thereunto, have taken and consigned to 
chains and imprisonment, it is said, Our venerable brothers 
Bishops Eobert of Glasgow and Maurice^^ of Sodor and some 
clergy and ecclesiastics of that kingdom, some of whom are 
asserted to have come to a violent end through the filth of their 
dungeons, and, afber having occupied their castles and, as is 
reportedy razed and destroyed a great many monasteries and 
other religious places, and inflicted other severe losses upon the 
inhabitants of the said kingdom, have placed in that kmgdom 
your royal officers, who do not shrink from troubling with 
manifold annoyances and harassing with sundry torments the 
prelates and other clergy and ecclesiastics and laymen of the 
said kingdom, to the offending of Grod's majesty, in contempt of 
the before-mentioned see, to the grievous impairing of your 
royal welfare and good name, to the outraging of the law 
and the exceeding scandal of a great many of the faithful; 
therefore We beseech your Boyal Highness and eamestly exhort 
you in the Lord and entreat you in Him who is the true salva- 
tion of all that you, sensibly^ving weight to the fact that it is 
the duty of the pastoral offi^ which rests upon Our shoulders 
and that We are bound carefully to preserve the propeity and 
rights of the church, and canuot and ought not to defer to man 
rather than to God, do kindly cause the aforesaid bishops and 
ecclesiastics, whom your royal prison still shamefolly holds in 
durance, to be restored to liberty as of old, out of reveience for 
God and the apostolic see and Ourselves, and, removing any diffi- 
culties or delays standing in the way, do recall the said officers 
from the said kingdom of Scotland. And We do hope and wish 
that you may behave with prompt and effectual zeal in this 
matter, that you may be not unworthy to be rendered the more 
acceptable and find the greater favour in the eyes of the 
heavenly King, who retumeth much for the very least, and, 
besides the commendation of the praise of men wluch will flow 
thence for you, you may the more richly eam the grace and 
favour of the apostolic see. If, however, you believe you have 
any right to that kingdom of Scotland or any part thereof, We 
desire that you fail not to send over into Our presence your 
procurators and ambassadors, specially appointed therefor, with 
all your titles and documents connected with this matter, within 
six months to be reckoned from the receipt of these presents ; 
for We are ready fully to do you, as our beloved son, complete 
justice in the premises, and, moreover, to keep intact any rights 
you may have. Therefore We do from this time by these 
presents bring and reserve for trial, judgment and detennina- 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 129 

tion by this see any suits, disputes and controversies which 
have arisen, or which may» for whatever cause in the past, 
hereafter arise between you and the said king^^ of Scotlaiid 
and the prelates and clergy and other ecclesiastics and laymen 
of that kingdomy as also the whole business connected with, or 
in any way affecting, the aforesaid points, or any of them ; and 
if anything difierent should, knowingly or unknowingly^ be 
attempted by any one in this matter, we do pronounce it null 
and void. Given at Avignon, the 27th of June. 



CHAPTEE XXXIIL 

Aimm of the harons qfHngland, ccmtaining a greai falsehood 

andfrovHird disobedience. 

• 

To the most holy father in Christ, etc. The holy Boman 
church, by whose ministry the catholic faith is govemed and 
ruled, in all its doings, as we firmly believe and hold, proceeds 
with deliberation, wishing to hurt no one, but to save harmless, 
as though by a catholic law, the rights of each, not less in 
others than in herself. Now, when a general parliament was 
called together by our most serene lord Edward, by the grace 
of God the illustrious king of England, and held at lincohi, our 
said lord caused a certain apostolic letter which he had received ^ 
fromyou, upon certain matters touching the condition and con- 
stitution of the kingdom of Scotland, to be produced in our 
midst and publicly read out at length to us all. But when we 
had heard and diligently mastered it, we perceived that there 
were contained therein statements astonishing to our minds 
and as yet unheard of. For we know, most holy father, and it 
is well known throughout England and not xmknown elsewhere, 
that, from the first establishment of the kingdom of England, in 
the days of both the British and the English kings thereof, 
these were the direct overlords of the kingdom of Scotland, and 
have been in like manner the direct overlords of this kingdom 
of Scotland in after times. Nor has the said kingdom in any 
wise in times past belonged, nor does it belong, to the church 
of Bome by any right ; for truly that same kingdom of Scotland 
has been &om of old a fief of the forefathers of our lord the 
said king of England, and of his ; nor also have the kings and 
kingdom of Scotland been xmder, or been wont to be in subjec- 
tion to, any other than the kings of England. And the kmgs 
of England, from the paramount independence of their royal 
rank and dignity and by a custom rehgiously observed in all 



1 30 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vin. 

times, have not been amenable, nor ouglit they to be amenable, 
to any judge, ecclesiastical or lay, about their rights over the 
aforesaid kingdom, or other their temporalties. Hence, after 
having diligently considered and deliberated upon the contents 
of your before-mentioned letter, it was, is and will steadfastly 
be the common, concurrent and unanimous agreement of aU 
and sundry that, God willing, our aforesaid lord the king be 
not in future in any wise amenable to your jurisdiction about 
his rights over his kingdom of Scotland, or other his temporal- 
ties, nor in any way undergo sentence or have his aforesaid 
rights called in question by y ou ; and that he do not send over his 
procurators or ambassadors to appear before you on this matter ; 
especially as this would manifestly tend to the abdication of 
the right to the crown of his kingdom and to the kingly office, 
as wdl as to the prejudice of the independence, customs and 
laws of the realm and to the overthrow of the constitution 
thereof. To the observance whereof we are bound and held by 
the obligations of an oath we have taken and firmly and 
solemnly entered into, and we are bent upon holding to it with 
all our might. Nor also do we allow,^ nor moreover shall we 
allow, even as neither could we lawfully nor ought we to allow 
80 unusual a step. Wherefore we reverently and humbly 
beseech your Holiness kindly to allow our said lord the king, 
who is conspicuous among the other princes of the earth for 
his catholicity and devotion to the church of Bome, to remain 
in peaceful possession of his righte and his royal independence, 
customs and laws, without diminution or molestation, and that 
these may continue unimpaired. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Ansiver of the hing of England to the papal bulL 

To the most holy father and lord in Christ, the lord Boniface, 
by the providence of God supreme pontiff of the holy and uni- 
versaJ Eoman church, Edward, by the grace of God king of 
England, lord of Ireland and duke of Aquitaine, devoutly kiss- 
ing his blessed feet. We send the imderwritten to be laid 
before you, not formally or judicially, but altogether extrajudi- 
cially, to relieve the mind of your Holiness, my father. The 
Searcher of hearts in the highest knows that it is indelibly en- 
graved in the tablets of your memory that our ancestors and 
forefathers the kings of England, in their right as direct over- 
lords, have, from the most remote ages past, had authority over 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 131 

the kingdom of Scotland and the kings thereof in the tempor- 
alitiea ti^ereof and what is eonnected with these; and they have 
received liege homage and oaths of fealty from the said kings 
and kingdom of Scotland whenever they wished it. We likewise, 
continuing in the possession of such right and lordship, have 
received the same in our own time both from the king of Scot- 
land and from the lords of his realm. Indeed, they exercised 
such a prerogative of right and lordship over the kingdom of 
Scotland and the kings thereof, that they conferred that king- 
dom to whomsoever of their lieges they pleased, and for just 
cause removed their kings and appointed in their stead other 
kings to reign under them. These rights and peculiar privi- 
l^es no doubt have from ancient times been and are well 
known, though perhaps some haters of peace and rebellious 
children liave instilled into your patemal ears and falsely given 
you to imderstand that it is otherwise ; but we beg that your 
wisdom may reject their fabricated and imaginary inventions. 

Here foUow the reasons in 8upx>ort of hia case. The first 
reason is : Because, in the days of the prophets Eli and Samuel, 
a certain brave and distinguished man, Brutus by name, of 
Trojan birth, arrived with a strong fleet in an island formerly 
inhabited by giants, which was called Albion. These giants 
were defeated and slain by the might of him and his, and he 
called this country Britain, afber himself, and his companions 
Britons ; and he built a great city which he called Trmovant, 
and which is now called London. Afterwards he left the said 
kingdom to his three sons, who were to reign after him, and 
divided it among them — that is, to Locrin, his firstbom^ he 
allotted that part of Britain now called England ; to Albanact, 
his second son, that part which was then named Albania after 
him, but is now called Sootland ; and to Camber, his youngest 
son, he surrendered that part which they called Cambria fiiter 
him, but now Wales ; but the dignity of king he reserved to his 
firstborn, Locrin ; — and thus he passed away to the Lord. Two 
years after the death of Brutus, there arrived a kjng of the Huns, 
named Humber^ who slew Albanact, brother of King Locnn ; 
and, on hearing this^ King Locrin pursued him and put him to 
flight, and he perished by drowning in a river which got its 
name from this same Humber. Thus Albion reverted to its 
overlord Locrin king of the Britons. Moreover Dunwallo 
king of the Britons slew Staterius king of Scotland, who had 
rebdled against him, and obtained his land by surrender. Then 
Belinus and Brenius, the sons of Dunwallo, dividexi between 
them their father^s kingdom, so that Belinus» the first son, had 
the crown of the whole island, both Britain and Loegria and 



132 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vlir. 

Cambria; whileBreniuswas to reign under him, and bad Scotland 
in possession : for the Trojan custom prescribed tbat the dignitj 
in an inheritance should go to tbe eldest son. Arthur too, 
the famous king of the Britons, subdued Scotland^ wbich had 
rebelled against him, and swept from o£F the face of the earth 
nearly the whole of the people of that countiy ; and he af terwards 
appointed a certain Anguselus king of Scotland. Afterwards, 
when that king Arthur held a high festival in Caerleon, there 
were present ti^ere all the kings under bis sway ; among whom 
Anguselus king of Scotland did due service for his kingdom, and 
bore in state l£e sword of King Artbur, in the sight of all 
present. And thus, according to the statement of the other 
side, all the kings of Scotland were successively vassals of all the 
kings of tbe Britons. But, wben tbe kings of England succeeded 
to the said island, Edward, called the Elder, the son of Alfred 
king of the English, bad as vassals under him tbe kings of the 
Scots, Welsb, and Cumbrians ; and Atbelstan king of England 
appointed Constantine king to reign under him. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

These allegatians caniirmed. 

MoREOVER tbe Scots, being defeated in battle, submitted to 
Edred king of tbe English, and swore fealty to him as overlord ; 
and that lang of England appointed one Henry ^ king to reign 
over tbem. Edgar, also, king of England, made subject unto him 
Kenneth king of Scotland and Malcohn king of the Cumbrians 
and tbe petty kings of a great many of the Isles, such as Donald, 
Friskyn, Jacob and Lu^ and Hubal. Edmund also, called 
Ironside, and Canute tbe Dane beld the kingdom of Scotland in 
undisturbed possession, as well as the king, Malcolm by name. 
Also, Saint Edward the king bestowed the kingdom of Scotland 
upon Malcolm, son of the kmg of the Cumbrians, to be held of 
him. William the Bastard, too, received bomage trom Malcolm 
king of Scots, as from his own liegeman, subject unto bim ; 
and this same Malcolm king of Scots did bomage to William 
Bufus king of the Englisb. Also, the said WiUiam king of 
England for just cause removed Donald king of Scotland &om 
tbe throne of Scotland, and made Duncan son of Malcobn king, 
and received tbe oath of fealty &om him ; and after the said 
Duncan was treacberously dain, he drove out the aforesaid 
Donald who had usurped tbe throne after him, and appointed 
as king the said Malcolm's son Edgar, who was succeeded by 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 133 

Us biother Alexander, the consent of the king of England having 
been obtained thereunto. Moreover David Mng of Scotland did 
homage to the empress ^ Mand, daughter and heiress of Henry 
the aforesaid king of England. Also, WiUiam king of Scots did 
homage to Henry son of the king of England, during the father's 
lifetime, on the morrow afber his coronation, for the kingdom of 
ScoUand, as did his brother Earl David and the barons of the 
kingdom of Scotland. Moreover, the lords of the county of 
York captured King William of Scotland by force, while he 
was making great havoc in the county of Northumberland, and 
brought him captive to King Henry of England. He accordingly, 
with the consent of the prelates and lords of his kingdom, did 
homage and tendered the oath of fealty ; and, in token of his vas- 
salage, this same King William brought a horse with spear and 
other knightly accoutrements as an oSering to Saint Peter in 
the church at York ; and these still remain in that church. 
The bishops, also, abbots and earls and barons of the said king- 
dom of Scotland tendered the oath of fealty to the said Henry 
king of England and to his son Heniy, who' also was crowned 
during the former's lifetime; and, even if the said William 
should wish to break the oath tendered by him, they would rise 
against him until he again respected the oath promised to the 
said king of the English. This condition, moreover, Pope 
Gregory DL, by divers letters of his despatched to the kings of 
En^and and Scotland, commanded to be strictly observed; 
and in these letters it is contained, among other things, that 
William and Alexander, kings of Scots, do unto John and 
Henry, kings of the English, the liege homage and swear the 
oath of fealty they are bound to render. Pope Clement, also, 
wrote to the king of England on behalf of a certain bishop of 
Saint Andrews, John, thrust out of his bishopric by the king, 
that he should move and force, if need be, the said king of 
Scotland to reinstate him securely in the bishopric, and at the 
same time dismiss iU feeling from his heart. 



CHAPTEE XXXVL 

Same continued, 

Again, after the aforesaid covenant ^^ in the church at York, 
before the aforesaid kings of England and Scotland and David 
earl of Huntingdon, brother of the king of Scotland, and the 
whole people, the bishops, earls and barons of Scotland in like 
manner swore the oath of fealty to the said king of the English 



134 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 

and his son, as their liege lords, against all men. Also the said 
William of Scotland, by command of the king of England, came 
to Northampton *® to his parliament, and bronght with him all 
the prelates of the kingdom of Scotland ; and again another 
time he came to Normandy by his command. Again, this same 
William king of Scotlana, after the decease of the aforesaid 
King Henry, came to Canterbiny, to Eichard king of England, 
son and heir of the said King Henry, and did homage to him. 
And, when Eichard went the way of all fiesh, the aforesaid 
William did homage to John king of the English, brother and 
heir of the said Eichard, outside the city of lincoln, upon a 
certain mountain, in the sight of all, and tendered the oath of 
fealty upon the episcopal cross of Eobert archbishop of Canter- 
bury ; and he conceded this by his charter patent, and that his 
8on Alexander, as being his U^eman, should man^ according to 
his wishes ; and, among other l&ngs, he promised faithfully that 
he and his said son Alexander would keep true and loyal to him 
and his son and heir ; and he made full amends to the king of Eng- 
land for the marriage of his daughter to the count de Boulogne 
without his consent. Again, Alexander king of Scotland, Our 
brother-in-law, did due homage both to Our father and to Us 
for the kingdom of Scotland. But afterwards, when the throne 
was vacant through the death of the said King Alexander, and 
later, after the death of Margaret, daughter of that king and 
heiress of Scotland and Our niece, all the prelates and lords and 
the communities of the Mngdom of Scotland flocked to Us of 
their own free will, as behoved them, — ^to their lawful lord and 
protector, their liege leader and guide, and the chief lord of that 
realm thus vacant, and unreservedly and unconditionally and 
absolutely acknowledged, to their certain knowledge, Our right 
and that of Our forefathers and ancestors to the ownership of the 
direct overlordship to their kingdom, and the vassalage of that 
kingdom. And, when the due and wonted oaths of fealty had 
been tendered by them to Us as the direct overlord, and the 
cities, burghs and castles and other fortresses of the kingdom 
had been surrendered into our hands, We, in the exercise of 
Our royal right, deputed certain** officers and ministers to take 
care of them and of the Mngdom ; and these lords of the realm, 
at the time it was vacant, were obedient unto these officers and 
diligently gave heed to Our instructions androyalrights. After 
this, divers persons who were contending for the succession to 
the said throne came to Us as the overlord of the kingdomy 
and begged Us to judge between them as to their right to the 
succession to the said throne, being willing and expressly ask- 
ing and agi'eeing to be tried before Us as their superior, as 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vin. 135 

already stated, and to abide by Our judgment. At length, when 
the pleas and allegations of these parties had been judicially 
laid before Us, as above stated, and heard as far as was neces- 
sary, and the witnesses had been swom and examined and 
diligently understood, in the presence of all the noble prelates 
and lords of that same kingdom of Scotland, and by the desire 
and consent of those parties craving judgment, We adjudged 
that one John de BalUol stood first for the throne; for We 
found he was the lawful heir to the throne, and had the 
best right thereto. This Our sentence all the prelates, 
barons and lords and the communities and inhabitants of the 
kingdom accepted, promulgated and expressly approved ; and, 
on the said John having first tendered to Us the oath of fealty 
and homage, they raised him to the throne and crowned him 
king. And this King John, also, was at Our parliament as Our 
subject, like Our other liegemen, and like Our other subjects 
obeyed Our commands, and was in all things obedient and sub- 
missive unto Us; untH this same King John and the other 
lords, prelates and communities of the aforesaid kingdom, of 
malice aforethought planned and plotted against Our majesty, 
conspired and were swom together to prejudice Our right and 
put Us and Our heirs out of our inheritance, in defiance of the 
oath of fealty that bound them, and wickedly fell into the crime 
of high treason. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 



Same continued. 



When therefore these matters had reached Our ears through 
a faithfnl report that was corroborated by common hearsay, 
wishing to guard against future perils to Us and to Our king- 
dom and to the people of Our Idiigdom which might in aU like- 
lihood arise from otjfiers, to secure Our kingdom We came to the 
borders of the two kingdoms, and commanded this John, who 
was then the king, and a good many others to come to Us at a 
certain place on the borders of the aforesaid kingdom, to hear 
what We and Our council had to say as to the state, peace and 
tranquillity of both kingdoms, and to stand his trial on matters 
afiecting the well-being of the kingdoms. King John, however^ 
disobeyed Our orders and, contumaciously persisting in his con- 
tumacy and treason, giixled up his loins and tumed to warlike 



136 THE BOOE OF FLUSGARDEN. BOOK YIII. 

preparations to make war upon XJs and the people of Onr realm, 
together with the bishops, barons and lords of the kingdom ; and, 
proceeding to hostile aggression and raids, he invaded and laid 
waste Our kingdom and Onr lands, plundered, bumt and sacked 
some towns and boroughs, slew Our men and set fire to Our 
ships ; and, having taken back from Us his fealty and homage, 
both for himself and for the inhabitants of his kingdom besides, 
in words of defiance, he himself and by his agents invaded Our 
counties of Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmoreland 
with a huge army and, as above stated, ravaged, bumed and plun- 
dered them, and slew a countless multitude of men, set fire to a 
great many churches and also monasteries^and committed abomin- 
able sacrilege; and they killed and barbarously massacred babes 
in their cradles and women with child and in labour; and, 
horrible and revolting as it is for man to hear, they cut off the 
breasts from the bosoms of some women, and moreover bumt 
to death the little choir-boys leaming grammar at school, to the 
number of nearly two hundred, after blocking up the doors and 
windows. We therefore, seeing all this damage, dishonour, mis- 
chief and outrageous scandal treasonably inflicted, to the ousting 
Us from Our inheritance and the destmction of Our people, and 
unwilling to bear it any longer, or toleave Our rights undefended, 
and because this King John and the men of Scotland, who are 
Our subjects, would on no account condescend to clear themselves 
by legal means,^ — for these and other reasons We prepared to 
make war against the said contumacious King John and others 
his accompUces and abettors ; and, as We rightfuUy may and 
ought, according to the laws and customs of the realm, by the 
advice of the lords and magnates of Our realm We put forth the 
power of Our might against them as traitors, contumacious and 
the public enemies of Our realm, and conquered them, and pun- 
ished them when conquered,and brought that kingdom under Our 
sway as belonging to Us, and in right of ownership. Accordingly 
the said Eing John himself, as a penalty for his contumacy and 
the crime of treason, of his own accord openly and absolutely sur- 
rendered and resigned entirely and imreservedly into Our hands 
the aforesaid kingdom, together with aU right and jurisdiction, 
so far as he actuaUy held it, and pubUcly, before the lords of 
Our realm, confessed and acknowledged his crimes so committed 
as already stated. So, after these things had taken place as 
aforesaid, the prelates, earls and barons and the other lords of 
the said kingdom of Scotland, as far as their rights went, ten- 
dered the oath of due homage and fealty unto Us as the imme- 
diate and proper lord of the said kingdom ; and, on the cities and 
castles and other strongholds and fortresses of the said kingdom 



THB BOOK OF PLUSCAKDBN. BOOK Vin. 137 

being straightway surrendered to Us, We installed new officers 
therein, as We nghtfully ought. But, as We are in possession 
of that kingdom in full sovereignty, We cannot omit, nor rightly 
ought We to do so without reasonable cause, to repress by the law, 
in virtue of Our royal sovereignty, as shall be just and We see 
most fitting, the insolence of Our rebellious subjects, if We find 
any. Because, therefore, it is clearly proved, by the foregoing 
and other evidence, and is well known that the af oresaid Mngdom 
of Scotland, on the grounds both of title and of possession, belongs 
to Us in full right, and We have uot done or pledged Ourselves 
to anything, in writing or by deed, as neither can We do so, 
which could or ought to in any wise impair the aforesaid 
right and possession, We therefore eamestly and humbly beseech 
your Holiness to weigh the foregoing with careful consideration, 
and deign to moidd the impressions of your^ mind thereupon, in 
no wise, if it so please you, putting faith in the contrary allega- 
tions made or to be made to you by Our opponents on this point ; 
but rather may it please you to deign to have Our state®^ and 
Our aforesaid royal rights commended to your fatherly sym- 
pathy ; and may the Most High preserve you, Our father, to 
rule over His holy church for many happy years. Given in the 
year of Our Lord 1301, and of Our reign, etc. 



CHAPTER XXXVIIL 

The same continued — Copies of divers letters sent to our lord 
Baniface VIII. hy die ea%d King Edward, to palliate his 
proceedings against the Scots. 

Tms was the letter, containing misrepresentation and perver- 
sion, which the king of England, the first Edward after the 
Gonquest, xalled the Tyrant, sent over to our lord Pope Boniface 
vra. by two knights, hls ambassadors, together with the copy of 
a letter inserted in the same book, at the twenty-fourth chapter, 
as to how John of Balliol, induced by force and fear, was driven 
to resign to him unconditionally and unreservedly all right and 
daim which he had or could have in the kingdom and to the 
Idngdom of Scotland ; which letter was drawn up by the said 
king of England to suit his purpose, and was therefore of no 
force or importance. 

Here foUow copies of some other letters of supreme pontififs, 
namely Honorius ni. and Gregory ix., which letters also were 
got by misrepresentation, and which these pontiffs sent to King 



138 THB BOOK OP PLUSOARDBN. BOOK VIIl. 

Alexander n. of Scotland on behalf of King Henry the Peaceful 
of England. 

Copy. 

Gregory, Pope, etc. If your Higlmess consider that We 
are boiind by special ties of affection to Our very dear son in 
Christ Henry, the illustrious king of the English, and lov^ and 
embrace you in sincere charity, you will consequently recognise 
that We, even though particularly requested, neither can nor 
ought to fail to take an interest in keeping the peace between 
you and him for ever, and to render efficient aid and assistance 
thereto, hoping and having a firm trust that there must accrue 
in both kingdoms much advantage to the state from such a good 
understandmg. That king, however, has lately had it recounted 
in Our presence that some tune ago there was a friendly arrange- 
ment between Henry of England, of illustrious memory, and 
John, his father, on the one hand, and your father William 
king of Scots, on the other, whereby William hunself did liege 
homage to his aforesaid grandfather and father and to the said 
king, and you to his father and to him, which your successors 
and the earls and barons of Scotland are likewise bound to 
render to him and his successors ; and the aforesaid earls and 
barons were to side with the said kings of England against 
the king of Scotland if he did not keep to this arrangement. 
And if the Kegemen of one fled to the other's Mngdom, through 
fear on account of a crime committed, he and his liegemen were 
not to harbour them in their territory ; and the liegemen of each 
king were to obtain the lands they had or had had by arrangement 
in the kingdom of the other. Hence that king humbly besought 
Us to deign to ratify the aforesaid arrangement with Our apo- 
stolic sanction. Wherefore We have thought right to ask and 
exhort you to tum your attention to the things of peace and 
wisely avoid such things as are well known to belong to strife 
and discord ; diligently studying to observe the arrangement 
which was then made and accepted and voluntarily embraced 
by both parties, and especially as it is said to be most expedient 
for the peace and tranquillity of both kingdoms. Given at 
Perugia, the fourth day of January in the year of our Lord 1234, 
and the eighth of Our pontificate. 



THE BOOK OP PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 139 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

Copy of amther letter, of HonoriUs III,, sent by tfie king of Eng- 
land to Boniface VIIL, against the hing of Scotland. 

HoNORius, etc.,® to Alexander, the illustrious king of Scots, 
and to his accomplices, the spirit of sounder counsel. It mars 
your royal good name^ and welfare that you have departed 
from your fealty to your natural lord and your devotion to 
your mother the Soman church, by treason such as that of 
conspirators, not blushing to forsake both at once, when you 
ought, if need were, to have defied imprisonment and banish- 
ment for the sake of maintaining either of them. We therefore 
wam your discretion, beseech and entreat you in the Lord, and 
strictly direct and command you by Our apostolic writ that, 
lookii]^ to the tender age*^ of Our very dear son in Christ 
Henry, the illustrious king of England, and having due regard 
for the Boman church itself, to whose injury this plot is de- 
vised, you do foisake the counsel of the ungodly and retum to 
your fealty to that king and your devotion to the apostolic see, 
notwithstanding the unlawful oaths tendered to Louis, the son 
of the most iUustrious king of the French, to the contrary. 
And, if you turn to the right hand and sensibly withdraw 
what you have senselessly attempted, We promise you Our 
special grace and favour, and that of the apostolic see. Never- 
theless We promise you Our apostolic help ^ to recover com- 
pletely the good-will of the said king and to obtain your 
rights. Given at the Lateran, on the 17th day of January, in 
the year of Christ 1216, and the first of Our pontificate. 



CHAPTER XL, 
Coptf of another forged letter, 

m 

The royal dignity requires that, the more it excels in honour, 
the more diligently it should keep pure in its dealings. We 
indeed understand from information We have received from 
Our very dear son in Christ Henry, the illustrious king of the 
English, that whereas you are his liegeman and have tendered 
to him an oath of fealty whereby you bound yourself chiefly 
not to make any attempt whatever to his detriment or to that of 



140 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VIIL 

the kingdom of England, you do not observe it, but endeavour 
in many ways to impair lus honour ; and We cannot help being 
astonished at this. As, however, We cherish the said king 
with the feelings of a father, as especially the son of the said 
apostolic see, and embrace thee in sincere charity, as being de- 
voted to Us and the Christian church, We therefore wish that 
there should be a bond of union between you, and the more 
ardently because a misunderstanding between the kingdoms 
would grieve Us greatly and deeply distress Us. Accordingly 
We have thought it right to ask and eamestly exhort your 
Excellency to endeavour to do your duty more thoroughly 
towards the aforesaid king, so that you may thereby the more 
richly eam that king^s affection and love and find Us the 
more favourable and well-disposed towards you in your time 
of need. Given at Viterbo the 27th day of April, in the year 
of Christ 1236, and the tenth year of Our pontificate. 

All these copies the procurators of Scotland at the court of 
Bome sent over to the kingdom of Scotland, to advise and con- 
sult upon, and to answer; and the councillors of Scotland, 
having weU consulted and advised thereupon, sent the follow- 
ing instructions to the Curia. 



CHAPTER XLL 

How the Scots met the inventions qf the tyrant Edvxird 

hing of the English. 

CoPiES of these letters and several others, which were laid 
before Pope Boniface and presented to him against the Scots, 
the supreme pontiff ordered to be set forth in an official 
document by his special notary, and he directed that they 
should be brought under the eyes of the Scots ambassadors, to 
be carefully examined, lest anything contained therein con- 
ceming the principal matter should happen to escape their 
notice, and that they might the rather be able, by previous 
deliberation, more easily and more maturely answer every objec- 
tion touching the right of the kingdom of Scotland to in- 
dependence. These were sent to Scotland and answered after 
mature deliberation ; and the prelates, barons and councillors 
of Scotland sent them back to the Curia with the following in- 
structions, in the form here following on this wise. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VIII. 141 



CHAPTER XLIL 

InstrucHons smt to the eourt ofliome by theprdates and barons 
of the Jdngdom ofScotland against Hdtvard king ofEngland. 

It is well known that the lord king of England, seizing a 
favourable opportunity, as one lying in wait from his lurking- 
place, to injure the neighbouring kingdom of Scotland, which 
was vacant and without a head and torn to pieces, widowed, so 
to speak, of a king of its own, and which, as the Boman church 
was then vacant, lacked the protection of any defender, and was 
nevertheless exposed to mamfest danger of twofold persecution 
and tribulation, to wit its own iutemal strife and the extemal 
encroachment of the above-mentioned king of England, so near a 
neighbour, — it is well known that then this king of England 
first of all attacked it and, of malice aforethought, unjustly 
disturbed it with regard to the peaceful state of independence it 
had been enjoying before ; and afterwards he not only harassed 
the people of that kingdom by many repeated hostile inroads, 
much damage and outrage and divers grievous hardships, but 
also, casting behind him the fear of God, with sacidlegious 
daring tyrannously defiled God's very church in that kingdom ; 
and as for the prelates, ecclesiastics and other reverend persons 
of that kingdom, some he banished and others he consigned to 
fearfdl dungeons, while of some of the churches of the aforesaid 
kingdom, of the stately cathedral churches, he made stables for 
his horses, afber the manner of the Saracens ; and, besides all 
this, he bumed down many churches in the said kingdom, and 
wrought and committed endless other barbarities, crimes and 
massacres, of which we say nothing. Accordingly he was 
summoned to appear, by a given time allowed him, before the 
apostolic see,by his procurators and ambassadors fumished with 
his pleas in law and title-deeds, in order to state his right to 
that kingdom of Scotland, if he claimed to have any to it, and 
submit to the law as laid down by the supreme pontiff, the 
ordinary and competent judge ; for the whole matter about that 
kingdom was solemnly called up by letters apostolic for ex- 
amination and determination by the apostolic see upon argu- 
ment, and there followed an apostolic decree that he should do 
nothing to the contrary. That king, however, did not trouble 
himself to appear at the Curia, as he ought to have done, by the 
aforesaid time so prescribed unto him, or to make any satisfac- 
tory statement as to his right, though further time was aUowed 
him for this ; nay, afber the lapse of four months from the time 



142 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VIII. 

prescribed unto him, -without the procuratorial mandate neces- 
sary or sufficient in the case, he sent only his bare letter to our 
lord the supreme ponti£f instead of proof and demonstration of 
his right, of every kind, which he asserted to belong to him in 
the aforesaid kingdom of Sootland. In this letter of his he 
cunningly ignored the most conclusive arguments and points of 
law previously brought forward by the apostolic writs, which 
clearly prove the independence enjoyed by Scotland, and, 
in order to palliate and even excuse the outrages com- 
mitted in these days by him in that kingdom of Scotland, 
he had recourse to giving a connected account, from the very 
beginning, of a story of some antiquity, because it is unknown 
and uncertain. Now this story, though it is given from remote 
times, from the twin egg, so to speak, seems at first plausible 
and smooth on the surface, and fair enough ; yet, when one goes 
thoroughly to the root of the matter and the truth of the affair 
lurking in the kemel, it is convicted of being sophistical and 
devoid of all trustworthiness, as will more plamly appear below. 
For, granting that these forgotten stories of long ago, touched 
upon by that king, about Brutus and the Britons and the 
Saxons, had any truth in them at the time, still they cannot 
claim to apply to modem times or relations of lord and vassal, 
as having been swept away by the alterations, changes and in- 
novations of later events and times ; nor is it just for that king 
to carry on any traditions of the Britons by these high-handed 
acts of his which have lately taken place in these days about 
the aforesaid constitution of the kingidom of Scotland. For no 
one can be himself at once witness, suitor and judge in his own 
cause, or by his own writings support and prove the justice of 
his own cause. No wonder, then, if one who has nothing true to 
advance fears the judgment of a righteous judge and the result 
of a sentence to be pronouuced against him, that he should be 
silent and contumacious, especiaUy if his proceedings would be 
sifted justly although he himself were absent At first, however, 
he strove, merely through his own statements, to avoid trial by 
the apostolic see, to escape judgment by a priest of the race of 
Levi and a judge who probes all things, the Boman pontiff^ 
doubtless provided by God as the one last refuge on earth for 
those crushed down by might and so wrongfidly dispoiled; 
and, by merely begging^ arguments, unproved, but frivolous 
and of a futile antiquity, and on his own bare assertion alone, 
he strove to paralyse the working of the reference of tMs matter 
to the Guria made by the see itself, to deprive the Scots of the 
remedy of the right of relief, and of the help of the said see, to 
which this kingdom of Scotland belongs ; and not without being 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 143 

in oontempt of the apostolic see itself, and to the no slight pre- 
jndice of its jurisdiction, and daring to narrow the wonted 
jurisdiction of the said Boman church, especially between kings 
and kingdoms, and the very large powers it had before ; and 
moreover not without the baneful result of a distinct evil, to 
wit the opening the door to forbidden subterfuges, and to the 
flagrant damaging of the law by showing that, without any pre- 
scription of court or other lawful cause put forward according 
to law by a procurator duly appointed for that purpose, the 
jurisdiction of the ordinary judge could be defied. 



CHAPTEE XLIIL 

Same continued. 

Now this kingdom of Scotland, which, as has been said, is 
known to belong directly to the Boman church, by common 
law, according to which an equal has no authority over his 
equal, and according to which one king is not under another 
king, nor one kingdom under another lungdom, nor one consul 
under another consul, nor one prs&tor under another praetor, 
has always been quite independent as regards this king of 
England, and, having been^ in enjoyment of this independence 
from time immemorial as well as now, is fortified against him on 
this point in a lawful prosecution. It is maintained also that it 
is not a fief of that king^s, or f eudatory to him ; and there is and 
can be no honest belief to the contrary. So no other fit judge 
in the said matter can be found, but the Boman church itself, 
to whom recourse could be had by the Scots and their Scottish 
church, so grossly iujured and oppressed by the said king, in 
order to obtain justice for the wrongs and damage inflicted 
upon them. Nor ought the aforesaid allegations, testimony, or 
statements of the said lord king, which he addressed to the 
supreme pontiff on his own behalf, he being a party and a 
sole witness, not sworn, to be believed in this cause of his own 
to the prejudice of another, however much higher that king 
may be in dignity ; and especially in the absence of the other 
party, by whose allegations and by the mutual conflict of the 
pleadings, and not by letters and libels, the merits of the case 
are brought out.^ Moreover that king could not be a fit judge 
in the aforesaid cause, for the aforesaid kingdom of Scotland 
is altogether not subject or feudatory unto him, as has been 
said. Therefore the paramount authority of the apostolic see, 
which sees that its subjects are dealt with, not by might, but 



144 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vm. 

by right, and has never been wont to be in any wise slow to 
right those, especially its own, who flee to it, ought not to be 
hindered or forbear, on the pretext of what was brought forward 
by that king in the absence of the party, from proceeding justly, 
as it began, in the aforesaid matter rightfully so referred to itself, 
and doing justice as to the said kingdom of Scotland ; especi- 
ally as the daring acts committed by the said king of England, 
as being a sacrilegious person, come under the censure even of 
a judge of the church, and his manifold wickedness,^® as being 
an aggressor, should be punished by the same ecclesiastical 
judge. And it is the duty of the church to do full justice 
against him, great though he is, to any injured persons who 
complain, and especially to churches and ecclesiastical persons 
so afflicted and oppressed by this king and his men ; and par- 
ticularly that the reference of this matter to the Curia so 
deliberately made some time ago by the see itself should not, 
instead of being a very acceptable benefit, become, through the 
said king's unproved inventions of an obsolete antiquity and the 
attacks carried on by him upon the said kingdom of Scoldand, 
a laughing-stock, illusory, of none effect and invalid, the cause 
not being heard in the presence of the parties; but should 
rather remain effectual, stable and lasting, enduring as a 
mighty benefit to each prince and to the said see. For it 
would clearly detract from the lustre, honour and authority of 
that see if an undue and forcible union of the kingdoms so 
begun should go on underhand, without the sanction of that 
see, through the might alone of the said king. Such an union 
of the kingdoms ought by no means to be brought about save 
by the see itself. Besides, that king's. aforesaid letter has 
notorious falsehoods annexed to it, and contains some even in 
its narrative; and these make his assertions and the whole 
contents of his letter, by reason of the admixture of these false- 
hoods, notoriously questionable, and justly dispose one to reject 
them, even as a little leaven leavens the whole mass. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

Same contimied. 

He also wrote in his said letter addressed to the supreme 
pontifif, in order to bring out more strongly his right to the 
aforesaid kingdom of Scotland, what the whole world knows to 
be false, that he was, at the date of his letter, in possession of 
that kingdom of Scotland in full sovereignty; whereas it is 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEK. BOOK VHL 145 

notoriouB that he had not^ in that kingdom a single city» or 
episcopal see, or town or a whole diocese out of the twcdve 
bishoprics there are there, that kingdom and people being in the 
almost entire enjoyment of their pristine independence. Now 
on accoont of the taint of this notorious falsehood annexed, the 
said king ought to have been debarred from the ezamination 
and proof of the remainder of his assertions ; bat more par- 
ticularly from the fact that he did not trouble himself to appear 
at the Boman Cuna by the time allowed him, or to adduce 
anything satisfactory as to the right which he claimed to have 
in that kingdom over the independence it has uninterruptedly 
enjoyed — ^that kingdom afberwards so defamed and disturbed by 
him. Now, although that king cannot establish his point from 
the aforesaid and, in view of the above-mentioned points of 
law and arguments, the writings he wrote ought not to do any 
harm to the kingdom of Scotlwd, yet, since that king, in order 
to suit his purpose,^ coloured and garbled history, and wrote on 
many pointe shortly and plainly, firat touching upon the original 
state of Brutus and the island of Britain and of the people and 
kings who succeeded Brutus in the island of Britain, — and how 
Brutus himself then first divided the island into three parts^ 
Cambria, Albania and Locria, among his three sons, Locrine, 
Camber and Albanact, — since, therefore, that king omitted to 
write the truth of the matter, dbouching only upon those things 
that seemed to suit his purpose, and suppressing the rest of the 
truth, it behoves us to tum our attention more fully to the 
full facts of the story, and to tell what he has as yet left un- 
written. First, how that island of Britain, or part thereof, 
Albania, lost the name and memory of its British race, and in 
place of it Albania got the new name of Scotia with the race of 
the Scots. Now» from a true and full account of this story it 
will be seen that what that king wrote upon this subject does not 
advance his views, but rather clearly makes against him, if we 
bring out the facts of the story that lie under the surface ; and, 
if the mists of antiquity, conjured up by the king, are dispelled, 
it will be seen that these mists cannot unduly arrogate to them- 
selves the place of light, as is alleged. After that most ancient 
people the Scots, then so called after a woman of the name 
of Scota, daughter of Pharaoh king of Egypt, had come out of 
Egypt, and after they had first settled in an island in the ocean 
named Hibernia, so called &om that river of Spain, the Hyber, 
and driven out the giants — Isidore calls it the island of the 
Scots — and after having, according to Bede, next settled in 
Argadia, a part of the aforesaid Britain adjoining Albania 
itself, which Argadia was then and even to this day called 

K 



146 THE BOOK OF PLU3CARDEN. BOOK VUI. 

Aigyll, from Erk, son of Scota, and Gael, this Scota'8 husband» 
by putting the two names together, later in after times this 
people, having cast out the Britons from Albania, occupied 
Albania^ namdy that af oresaid part Albania» which is the third 
division of Britain, whereof the kiug of England writes, by the 
same right and title as that whereby Brutus afterwards occu- 
pied Britain, the Scots themselves bestowing upon that part of 
the island, so occupied, the new name of Scotia» from that 
Scota, the daughter of Pharaoh and the mistress of the Scots. 
Hence the line — 

The Scots from Scota, Scotia from the Scots. 

After thts the Scots banished the Britons, with their king, 
their laws, their tongue and their manners, from that part of 
the island, wbich from that time forward changed its name of 
Albania and received a new name, Scotia, together with the 
nation, tongue, laws and manners of the Scots, as is notoriously 
evident even down to the present day, who hold complete 
dominion over it; and they and their king and the new 
domination of the Scots have nothing to do with the Britons. 
So this third division of Britain, at first called Albania from 
Albanact^ thenceforth changed its name and condition and was 
called Scotland, and for tlus rea^on it has always afberwards 
steadily and uninterruptedly retained this name. The king^ 
however, not without reason, omitted to put this down, believ- 
ing it would rather hinder than suit his purpose. Further- 
more the Scots, having thus become the enemies of the Britons, 
allied with themselves the stranger people of the Picts by 
sharing with them their land of Scotland so obtained, and they 
so hamed the descendants of the Britons, and so harassed 
and molested that otber part of Britain near them, which was 
then called Logiia and now England, with hostile inroads, that 
the Britons, the inhabitants of that part, were obliged to sub- 
mit to a fixed tribute to the Bomans, and to bespeak their help 
against the attacks of the Scots ^nd Picts. Accordingly, in 
the time of the Emperor Severus, certain legions of Bomans 
were sent to their assistance, to defend them against the Scots 
and Picts ; and these built that most ancient stone wall, 130 
nules in length, which stretches through the middle of Britain 
from sea to sea^ dividing Scotia from Loegria, with pitfalls 
in front of the wall, moats and towers, and gates shutting and 
dosed against the Scots and Picts ; and traces of these walls 
may dearly be seen even at the present day. Wbat we know 
of all this is proved clearly enough by histories above sus- 






XHE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vm. 147 

picion» as likeWise it will be plainly evident to those who look 
at the Boman lemains. 



CHAPTEE XLV. 

Safne contiwued, 

Hence it is plain that it is not likely that the Britons bnilt 
a wall 80 costly and otherwise nseless to them, save only for 
their own protection against the Scots ; and they would*by no 
means have called in the assistance of the Bomans from so far, 
espedally if the dii*ect overlordship of the whole of that island^ 
as is alleged and the aforesaid king asserts, or the sole dominion 
over the said ialand had remained with themselves, or the Scots 
had previonsly been subject to these Britons. Therefore these 
writings of the king's as to those early British times, so drawn 
up in oider to support or further the purpose he had in his 
royal view» and thereby to appropriate to himself the direct 
overlordship of Scotland and strengthen the foundations of his 
right to that throne, are of no use, and do not rest upon any 
adequate basis of truth.^^ Moreover it may be clearly gathered 
from the foregoing, first, that the right alleged to have been pos- 
sessed in the time of the Britons has not passed on continuously 
down to tlus king or his family, as he writes, but that naturally, 
as we see from the aforesaid and other facts, that possession 
was very often inteirupted, and that all the claim that the king, 
on the subject of his original right, alleges he has in that realm 
of Scotland, on the score of his having, as he says, succeeded 
the Britons in the kingdom of Loegria, whereas it springs from 
a defective source of dead works and rests upon those British 
times, so weak a foundation, and one shortly afterwards done 
away with, and later on interrupted in the middle, has been done 
away with and invalidated by time; and that the various and 
sundry consequences apparently based thereon, on the subject of 
the right of the said lord king to the said kingdom of Scotland, 
ought justly to crumble into dust when the truth of the matter 
is laid bare in the presence of the parties ; but that, inasmuch 
as the state of things in those days, as it then was, is not lasting 
any more than that of now-a-days, — as we see in the chronides 
of the Bomans, who sometime ruled over the whole world, and 
to whom the empire of the world, as it were, which at first 
belonged to the Assyrians, is well known to have finally come 
after passing firom nation to nation, and with whom it still 
remains, — ^theiefore, if at first by any right the kingdom of 
Loegria sometime obtained sole dominion over the whole British 



1 48 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK Ym. 

island of Britaih, ^ the king all^ges, though it is not true, 

when that original state of things in those days was altered 

and the Scots afberwards occupied a third part of the island 

of the Britons, namely Albania aforesaid, and signally swept 

awaj thence the name and memory of the Britons, the sole 

dominion over the island, if it ever belonged to the Britons, had 

notoriously, it is said, in course of time long ceased to be theirs, 

And it is inoreover known not to have remained with the king- 

dom of Loegria : nay, by God's providence as well as through 

the devoutness of the faithful in after times, it undoubtedly 

passed over to the church of Bome by a grant of Constantine 

the Great, and clearly is vested in her. Now the aforesaid 

church may well perceive how greatly this king of England 

would be encroaching on her right-s by unduly appropriating to 

himself the sole dominion over this island, which is not his, to 

another's prejudice, and also by appropriating to himself afresh, 

by force and fear, the often-mentioned acephalous kingdom of 

Scotland, while the apostolic see, the direct mistress of that 

domain, was vacant and not consulted, and may see how serious 

an injury might thereby be threatened to the church herself 

for the time, if one king reigned in this island of Britain, and 

the royal dignity, so obtained, and the name of king unduly 

came to an end in the kingdom of Scotland. The kingdom of 

Scotland, always from days of old a danger to the kingdom of 

England, is not known or proved to have been under any of the 

British or Saxon kings whatever, save so far as antiquity relates 

that, even as Arthur subdued Denmark and (Jaul and Norway 

by his might, so also did he subdue Scotland, during hia own 

time only; and, when this Arthur was slain in battle by 

Mordred son of Loth king of Scotland, Scotland was so far 

restored to her pristine independence thereby. Again, when 

the Britons were afterwards cast out of Logria by the Saxons, 

more by treachery than by might, power, or force of arms, and 

again when the Saxons themselves were cast out of the said 

kingdom of Logria by the Danes, and later, when the Danes 

were driven out thence by the Saxons and the former name of 

the kingdom of Logria was changed to Anglia, yet, while all 

these changes in name and inhabitahts went on in the kingdom 

of Logria, Scotland never changed its name, nor the Scottish 

people their name or state of independence ; but it stood fast 

and immoveable, and we read that it was not subject unto any 

other king of the Saxons, or of Logria, of Britain, or of Anglia, 

but unto Arthur alone, during his time only, as aJready stated, 

whatever the aforesaid king of England may presume to advance 

to the contrary. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDBN. BOOK Vin. 149 

CHAPTEE XLVL 

Same continued. 

Now 'while the Saxons were endeayouring to cnusli the 
kingdom of Scotland, a great victoiy over them was granted bv 
God to the allied Picts and Scots at Athelstanford, near Had* 
dington, throngh the honoured relics of the blessed apostle 
Andrew, which were miraculously brought over by sea from 
Greece to Scotland, where King Hungus was then reigning ; and 
it was on that account that the Scots first firmly received the 
faith, four hundred years and more before the Saxons or Angles 
received that faith. And, for obtaining so great a victory mira- 
culously granted by God, it is said that the kings of those days 
acknowledged that thenceforth the said kingdom of Scotland 
should be a fief of the church of Bome ; and the church of the 
kingdom of Scotland/far as it was, began, through a great 
mystery and by the grant of God, to be under the chief of the 
church alone, the blessed Peter and the blessed Andrew his 
brother and his successor the Boman pontiff, without any other 
metropolitan between ; and it never passed into another branch 
of the head metropolitan church. Afberwards, indeed, when the 
kingdom of England was made tributary to the Boman pontifiF 
and his church, as is well known, Scotland did not, like Eng- 
land, bear the burden of such tribute, it being inapplicable to 
h6r under any right of overlordship ; and we read that this 
kingdom of Scotland, as the peculiar and especial freehold of 
the church in full right, together with its church quite separate 
from England, was thencef orth defended by that church of Eome, 
with the whole might of the protection, benefits and privileges 
of the apostolic see, against the Saxons and their successors the 
English, always veiy hostile to the Scots, as unbelievers are 
wont to be to the faithful. In pther parts moreover the church 
of Bome sometimes made use of them, like Assur, to cow the 
neighbouring rebellious nations ; and it might yet perhaps in 
course of time need their use and help, as it has needed it. If 
therefore, as is alleged, the kingdom of Scotland were a depend- 
ency of the kingdom of England, it would not be more free 
than the latter as to the payment of taxes and other things, 
nor would it in this and in other things be taxed by a different 
system from it at alL For, as the kingdom of Scotland did 
not pay a certain tax, so neither did the counties of Cumber- 
land, Northumberland, or Westmoreland, although they fell 
under the sway of the English. This was so because the afore- 
said counties were altdgether subject to the Scots at thiB time 



150 TH£ BOOK OF PLUSGARDEN. BOOK VHL 

this tax was established, and thns they lemaiiied altogether 
&ee from the payment of this tax. And it was thiongh no 
one but the Scots, the first teachers of the faith in those parts, 
namely Saint Columba, Saint Aydan, Saint Colman and Saint 
Finian» together with others, their companions, that a notion of 
the faith and the knowledge of the name of Christ reached the 
people of those counties, long before the EngUsh; nor is it 
called in question that the Scots king Gregoiy, son of Dongall, 
sometime subdued the whole of England, as is clearly proved 
by their own chronicles in the Gestes of the English. Of the 
subjection of the Scots to the Saxons, however, which is alto- 
gether denied, there is no proof whatever but the mere and 
bare assertion of the aforesaid king of England and his foiged 
and suspicious private papers, which are by no means admis^ 
sible as evidence for himself. Nor 19 there authority for believ- 
ing that sainfs mirades or revelations which he alludes to; even 
if he were a martyr, what proof is there* that these revelations 
came from God ? The proof of them from the king's letter is 
not conclusive, nor even what is usual for judgments in our 
time, seeing that we read that Satan's angel transforms himself 
into an angel of light, and that the witch answered Saul in the 
likeness of SamueL Now no one has ever heaid that there has 
ever been talk in Scotland of any revelation made to that Saint 
John such as the king of England all^es on his own behalf 
from his own sources. However, even if the miracles alleged 
by that king, or the sundry events of that time, could then 
have been proved true, though in fact they were false, yet we 
know that we have altogether departed from that old state of 
things, and that tlus kingdom of Scotland has from time imme- 
monal enjoyed complete liberty, and secuied it by presciiption, 
being borne out by the common law in this ; so that the old 
facts alleged by the king, even if they had been true, as they 
afe false, would now have no weight whatever, nor could they 
in any way be insisted on, seeing that when the sovereignty of 
this part of the island, Albania, was transferred to the Scots, a 
change took place in the former law and title, and has lasted for 
ever after; and recent events and subsequent arrangements, 
which must be bome in mind, have modified these things 
which the king has written about, and whereof neither proof 
nor even remembrance exists. And it is certain that the king- 
dom of Scotland was lately proved to be independent, when 
Alexander in., the last king thereof, died; and thus, arguing 
from a short time ago to preceding times longer ago, as the law 
dictates, it is presumed to have been independent firom days 
of yore ; and subsequent events indicate that it really is ao. 



THE BOOK OF PLU8CARDEN. BOOK VIII. - 151 

CHAPTER XLVII. 

Same carUiimed. 

GoiNO on, then, with divers statements about the last period 
of the Norman Idngs of England, as of the preceding kings, 
namelj the Briton and the Saxon, and their times, the king of 
England pnt down much that suite his purpose but is entiielj 
devoid of truth ; and it can all be answered categorically and 
briefly. For, if King William of Scotland did fealty or homage 
to any king afber the arrival of the Normans in England^ as is 
alleged, it could be legally proved that such homage was not 
for the kingdom of Scotland, which was independent by common 
law and in fact, but for the lands situated in England, which 
the kings of Scotland were wont to have in England at that 
time. Nor is this traversed by the story of the reinstatement 
of Duncan and Edgar, kings of Scotland^ and the overthrow of 
Dovenald, touched upon by the king, if we tum our attention 
more fully to the truth of the matter as it is ; for while the 
kingdom of Scotland was some time ago in the hands of one 
Dovenald, after the lawful heirs, the sons of Eing Malcolm and 
the blessed Maigaret, had been driven from the throne — 
Matilda, the daughter of this Malcolm and Margaret had been 
married to Heniy L king of England, called Beauclerk— Duncan, 
the natural or bastard eldest son of this Malcolm, supported 
perhaps by the said Henry king of England, as being his 
sister^s husband, his kinsman, not his lord/^ is known to have 
lecovered the kingdom of Scotland, and^driven out thence the 
aforesaid Dovenald. When Duncan was afterwards slain and 
the throne was again a second time filled by the said Dovenald» 
Edgar, the eldest son of the said Malcolm and Margaret, drove 
him out and, likewise perhaps with the assistance of the said 
king of England, recovered the throne of Scotland. In like 
manner, when the throne of England was similarly unjustly 
fiUed by one King St^phen, it was, through David kmg of 
Scotland and by his help, recovered by Heniy n. king of 
England, the son of the Empress Maud — ^which Empress Maud 
was the daughter of Matilda the good queen^of England, the 
sister of the said Eling David of Scotland, and was then lawful 
heiress to the EngUsh throne, but had, together with her afore* 
said son Heniy u., called the Peaceful, been driven from the 
throne by the said Eing Stephen ; and it was recovered in like 
manner as stated. For this mutual support, however, such as 
is wont to be given among neighbours as well as kinsinen. 



152 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vin. 

who^ when the interests of either are involved and the case 
.requires it, aid and ahet each other mutually, — on acconnt of 
this it is nnjustly axgued, but by no means proved, that the 
kiugdom of Scotland was yassal to the kingdom of England, 
or in some measure dependent on that kingdom of England. 
The truth is that this King David of Scotland held at that time 
the counties of Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmore- 
land as his own and, as ia certain and plain, built several castles 
and founded seversd monasteries therein; and the aforesaid 
King David of Scotland is never known to have done any 
homage or given a token of any other dependence to the said 
king of England for the aforesaid kingdom of Scotland, but 
only for those lands which King David obtained in England, 
as may be clearly proved. For, while Henry, the son of this 
David king of Scotland, and deceased before his father, was 
earl of Huntingdon in England, he could not do homage for 
the kingdom of Scotland, as the king of England alleges he did, 
his father being yet alive, but only for the aforesaid earldom of 
Huntingdon, which was situated in England, and which he 
held of him ; for it has not been usual for a son to do homage 
for his father's fief while the father ia alive and holds the fief 
So it is proved that this is how we must understand what he 
introduces further on about the homage done by David and 
William, the sons of that Henry earl of Huntingdon, who, while 
their grandfather David king of Scotland was still alive, their 
father Henry, however, being dead, did due homage to the king 
of England for these lands of theirs situated in England on 
succeeding their father the said deceased Earl Henry ; for the 
said homage done by the aforesaid Henry, David and William 
cannot refer to the kingdom of Scotland, or have been on 
account of that kingdom, while the aforesaid David king of 
Scots was, as already stated, still alive. But, notwithstanding 
this, the king of England, unaware of the above fiact, tries to in- 
troduce his aforesaid sophistical statements to make one think 
otherwise. 

« 

CHAPTER XLVIIL 

Sa^ne cantimied. 

BuT, when this King David died at Carlisle, being then, so to 
speak, in peaceful possession of Korthumberland, Gumberland 
and Westmoreland, and the throne of Scotland was then vacant 
through his death, in the absence of the aforesaid King David^s 
grandson William, the then heir to the said throne and suc- 



THS BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vin. 153 

cessor to the said King David, this William being at that time 
at the wars for the fiedth, in the district of Toulouse, against the 
heretical Albigenses, the son of the Empress Maud, Heniy king 
of England, under whom suffered Saint Thomas of Ganterbury, 
and to whom this David had brought about the restoration of 
the throne of England, ungratefullj retuming evil for good 
invaded and occupied by force the aforesaid counties of Cum- 
berland, Northumberland and Westmoreland, and by his in- 
trigues erected a cathedral church in the city of Carlisle, ^7 
the authoritj of the supreme pontiff.^^ This church had before 
been in the diocese of Glasgow, and had been converted to the 
faith by Saint Kentigem, who was a Scot^and towhosememory 
and honour many churches were built and dedicated in that 
diocese. The above-mentioned William, however, after he was 
raised to the throne, being strongly desirous of recovering these 
counties, assembled an army ; and we read that he was taken 
prisoner in England and brought captive to Normandy, to 
Heniy the Elder, king of England. While a prisoner there, as 
the kmg now alleges in his paper, to gain his freedom he initiated 
many extraordinarily unse^mly measures against the constitu- 
tion of the kingdom of Scotland, promising while in prison 
things which he afterwards fulfilled, and giving the kmg of 
England four of the strongest castles in the Mngdom of Scotland 
as secuiity. But, by fultilling promises of this kind thus made 
to the prejudice of the kingdom of Scotland, he ought not 
thereby to damage his kingdom, or the independence of the 
kingdom of Scotland, seeing that he was kept in prison : first, 
because this King William, thus consigned to prison, was uot 
free or independent ; secondly, what he then promised in prison 
and is known to have afterwards performed was, however, after- 
wards done away with by hiter compacts, which were contraiy 
to the former compacts, whence they could not damage the 
kingdom of Scotland, as already stated, or the independence 
thereof ; thirdly, because that state of things and the compacts 
and agreements thus entered into were afterwards withdrawn 
firom, and the original and proper independence of the kingdom 
of Scotland was reverted to, in accordance with warranted law- 
ful prescription ; for afterwaids this King William, as already 
stated, or other kings of Scotland rendered invalid, null and 
void the several compacts, agreements and promises made by 
King William or other kings of Scotland, if such had been 
made previously, which the said king of England has brought 
forwaixL against the independence of the kingdom of Scotland ; 
and this is clearly proved by the fact that Bichard king of 
England^ son of the aboye-mentioned King Heniy, returiiing to 



154 THE BOOK OF PLUSCAROEK. BOOK YIII. 

a better state of mind, acknowledged that his father the afore- 
said HenTj had dealt anjastly with William loDg of Scotland 
and his realm ; for it is well known that, on receipt of a large 
sum of money from him, he restored to the said King William 
the castles which his father held in Scotland as secority afore- 
said, and also altogether released the said Eing William from 
all bonds, compacts and promises whatsoever which had arisen 
from the aforesaid captivity, as well as all other rights which 
he saw belonged to him over the kingdom of Scotland from 
this cause; and he altogether and aheolutely freed the said 
KiDg William from the same, on whatever grounds he had a 
hold on them, whether in law or in fact, by certain public deeds 
and instruments drawn up for the purpose. Moreoyer the 
vassals of Scotland have never at any time been known to do 
homage to any king of England whatever, except in case of 
imprisonment, such as the for^ing, or any other compulsion, 
violence or lawlessness; nay, the criminals of one kingdom 
escaping to the other kingdom have always found a refuge, 
which they would not have found if one of the kingdoms had 
been subject to the other. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

Bescripts of Pape Oregory, and afmoers. 

Hence it foUows that as for the rescripts of Gregory ix. and 
Honorius m., wherein, according to the representations made 
by the king of England on the point, the king of Scotland is 
styled the liegeman of the above-mentioned Mng of England, 
either this must be understood as applying to his lands which 
the king of Scotland held from him in England, and not to the 
kingdom of Scotland, ever and entirely independent ; or it may 
be understood for the period when the king of Scotland was a 
prisoner, as stated above; so that these rescripts, which are 
known to have been got by the representations of the king of 
England, ought not to prejudice the independence of the kmg- 
dom of Scotland in this, nor do they stand in the way of it, 
having been clearly abrogated, quashed and declared invalid 
by the latest compacts which followed them, and by subsequent 
releases by kings of England. As for these rescripts, they con- 
tain, according to the practice of that time, only the statement 
of the king of England to suit those circumstances, a condi- 
tional conclusion and the supreme pontiff^s answer; and no 
one can be pr^judiced thereby. Nay, it is clearly proved that 



THE BOOK OF PLUBCARDBN. BOOK VIU. 155 

what was stated in that rescript afberwarcLB lost its force, 
because there are no such agreements, approved or authorised 
by the aforesaid supreme pontiffs, — to wit, that any vassals of the 
reahn of Scotland should do homage, fealty or vassalage to any 
king save for lands situated within the kingdom of England, 
as ahready stated^ which the lords of Scothuid used to hold 
from the king of England For it is well known, and nobody 
doubts it, that these agreements and compacts were voided, and 
that fix>m time immemorial there has been a place of refuge, as 
said above, for all criminals escaping from the kingdom of 
England into Scotland» and contnuriwise ; and hence it is not 
likely that one kingdom was under the dominion of the other. 
So the agreements, if any, thus entered into in the time of 
King WiUiam were voided by deed or by usage, and the very 
opposite afterwards ensued and was in force for a very long 
time. Therefore, as the force of those statements of ancient 
facts brought forward by the king has been done away with, 
and their unproved errors exploded, it will be brought out in a 
clearer light, both by common law and by lawful prescription, 
as also by the latest apostolic privileges and rescripts of most 
complete independence, and equally so by the doings and acts 
of the kings themselves last reigning in England, who coun- 
tenanced and approved the independence of the kingdom of 
Scotland, of both the kingdom and the kings, that both the 
king and the kingdom of Scotland are entirely independent of 
the king of Enghmd and his kiugdom» as is shown by the fol- 
lowing modem proofis, whereby will be unanswerably shown 
where the truth lies. 

CHAPTER L. 

Same continued. 

KiNG Albxandbb, son of this King William, reigned six-and- 
thirty years in Scotland as king, and did no homage to any 
English king for the kingdom of Scotland ; nor has the king of 
England, nor have any other kings his predecessors time out of 
mind, ever made any mention at all of any homage done by him 
as by the king for the kingdom of Scotland. Alezander m., 
too, the son of the said Alexander n., and now late king of 
Scodand, who reigned thirty-five years in entire independence 
after his father, when doing homage to this Edward, the now 
king of England, only for the lands of Penrith and Tyndale, 
situated in England, wishing to act cautiously and to secure 
himself in the rights and independence he enjoyed, and to pre- 



156 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VUL 

aerve them foT the future if any doubt were raised on the point, 
publicly declared that he did him such homage in no way for 
the kingdom of Scotland, but for the aforesaid lands, therein 
named, and situated in England ; and this present King Edward 
admitted and received it when offered thus by him, and made 
then no mention nor raised the question of the vassalage of the 
throne of Scotland. Hence it is presumed and we aie given 
to understand that such homage and the like, if ever done to 
former kings of England by the kings of Scotland in those times 
whereof mention is made in the present letter of this king of 
England, was such as this homage last done for lands situated 
within the realm of England, as aforesaid, approved and ad- 
mitted by those same kings of England in those times ; for the 
subjects are such as the predicates admit of. And this state of 
independence of the kingdom of Scotland is plainly declared and 
pointed to by the latest chronicles of the kingdom ; and various 
acts and divers apostolic rescripts and privileges plainly prove 
this very same thing. For, in the first place, when Henry, the 
late king of England, besought Alexander king of Scotland, his 
son-in-law, to lend him assistance against Simon de Montfort and 
his accomplices, he acknowledged, as a security, by his letters^ 
patent thereupon given to the king of Scotland, that he did 
not wish to have his assistance aforesaid to the prejudice of his 
independence or that of his kingdom, out of any service in any 
way whatsoever due to him, but only as a particular favour and 
grace. This £ing Edward also, the son of that Eling Henry his 
father, walking in the footsteps of his pregenitor and giving his 
countenance to what had been done before, when he was minded 
to have Alexander king of Scotland, his sister's husband, pre- 
sent at the ceremony of his coronation, sent over to the said 
Eling Alexander, who refosed to go thither otherwise, his 
letters-patent that he was not doing so through any service he 
owed, but only granted him this as a favour and kindness. 



CHAPTER LI. 

SaTne continued. 

When, afterwards, the guardianship of the kingdom of Scot- 
land was vacant after the death of the aforesaid Eling Alex- 
ander, it did not devolve upon him as the direct overlord of the 
domain of the kingdom of Scotland, as usually happens with 
fiefs ; but, by that king^s advice/^ six guardians of the said 
kingdom were chosen by the lords of that kingdom. When that 



TH£ BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vllt 167 

Idng of England knew this^ he toleiated, approved and assented 

to the goverament of these guardians, and did not then claim 

that he had any right over the said kingdom, for it was not as yet 

tora in pieces, as it afterwards was ; and no obstacle was raised 

on this score by that king of England to the said six guardians 

for the space of six years or more during which they had the 

guardianship of the said kingdom, nntil and down to the time 

that there began to arise in the said kingdom of Scotland a sub- 

ject of dispute between certain parties about the right of succes- 

sion to the throne, after the death of Margaret, daughter of the 

king of Norway, grand-daughter of the said King Alexander, and 

trae heiress to the throne while she lived, though she died in 

girlhood ; for after her death a great quarrel broke out between 

some lords of the realm who were contending as to who had the 

better right. By reason of this the king of England, at first 

outwardly pretending that he wanted to set them at one and to 

negotiate for peace in Scotland between the opposing parties^ 

thus^ like a wolf in sheep's clothing, thrust himself unasked into 

the n^tiations of that kingdom, and cleverly drew to him one 

party of the contending lords of the kingdom ; and the other 

party^ seeing this, would not withstand him. So he actually, 

though not by right, but by oppression, force and fear, which 

might fall upon the most loyid man, usurped the guardian- 

ship of that kingdom lefb desolate without a shepherd. And, 

though the church of Some was then, on behalf of that kiugdom 

of Scotland^ named before him as the mistress of that kingdom, 

as she was, yet that king would not admit such a pretension, 

but is known to have said in the presence of many, so that he 

might not go back from his words, If any Eoman priest wanted 

to say anything for the independence of Scotland, so far as he 

was conceraed, he should come to London, and there lay before 

him what he wanted. Nor also did that king, on his own arrival 

then in the kingdom of Scotland, succeed in getting the lords of 

that kingdom to present themselves before him outside the 

borders of that kii^om, which he begged them as a favour to 

do, until he had first given security by letters-patent, as a pledge 

for the independence in force while these lords were still spUt 

up into parties, that this coming to him out of the kingdom 

would not redound to the prejudice of that kingdom, and that it 

was Dot to be a duty, but a favour. By a solemn embassy of 

his also, composed of bishops, earls and barons specially com-^ 

missioned therefor, the aforesaid king of England solemnly pro- 

mised, but some time before, while the throne of Scotland was 

vacant, that, if it so happened that no issue was left of the 

marriage spoken of above^ to be contracted between his eldest 



1 58 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIIL 

son Edward and Mai^iet, the heireas and mistress of the said 
kingdom of Scotland, then alive, he would fieely, without any 
daim of vassalaffe whatever, restore the aforesaid kingdom of 
Scotland to the Tords of the realm, and without any vassala^ 
whatever; and we could soon give satisfiGtctory proof of this. 
So it is not likely that this king would have beai by any means 
willing to promise this, if it could have been held with any 
show of reason that he had any right of vassalage or overlordship 
over the aforesaid king. Many other things besides^ indeed, 
which cannot be set down shordy, plainly prove the independ- 
ence of this kingdom of Scotland, wluch rests upon the strongest 
foundation of common law ; and it is proved to be supported 
by ancient and modem events, and by many other apostolic 
rescripts and privileges, which have been uninterruptedly in 
force down to the present day. Among these, Pope Honorius m., 
treading in the footsteps of his predecessors, is known to 
have granted to the kingdom of Scotland that no one of the 
kingdom of Scotland be brought for trial before judges abroad 
about lands and property situated in that kingdom; always, how- 
ever, without prejudice to the authority of the apostolic see, and 
that too when appeals to that see are interposed. And about such 
lands and property situated in Scotland there would by no means 
be an appeal to that see, if that kingdom were subject to another 
king, — for this would seem to be contraiy to common law and 
absurd ; and it would even not be known to be directly subject 
to the Eoman church in temporalities. But it is proved by a 
late example that this kingdom of Scotland is directly subject to 
the said Boman church in temporalities. For, in the cause of 
the earldom of Menteith, situated in Scotland, not a spiritual or 
ecclesiastical one, but rather a criminal one and falling under the 
state judicature, there was an appeal from a judgment which 
was given in the court of the king of Scotland, and which did 
not stand long, to the aforesaid apostolic see ; and the appeal is 
known to have been referred by that apostolic see to certain 
judges to decide. It is thus clear that the king of England, by 
not then opposing this in the least, but allowing that see to act 
and dispose of it freely, has thus prejudged what was before com- 
petent to him, and what he now alleges to be so. And it is not 
fikely that the apostolic see would have so referred the appeal, 
if the direct overlordship of the said kingdom of Scotland had 
been vested in that king of England and not in itself. More^ 
over God and the whole world know that, so long as Scotland 
was not without a king and a subject of dispute had not arisen 
in the kingdom of Scotland, the king of England did not claim 
any right of superiority over the kingdom of Scotland ; though 



THE BOOK OF PLU8CABDSN. BOOK VUL 159 

now^ when a quarrel has broken out, he has, without any legiti- 
mate reaaon, through lust of power, begun to harasa the aaid 
kingdom and strive to bring it under his yoke ; and it i& only 
from this quarrel that his weak case takes its origin. 

CHAPTEE LIL 

Same continued. 

Wwss, moreover, the aforesaid king of England asked for a 
tithe from the kingdom of Scotland^ Innocent refused to grant 
it, adding that he was not in the habit of granting to any king 
whatever a tithe from a foreign kingdom. It is plainly hinted 
thereby that the kingdom of Scotland was altogether alien, so 
far as that king of England was concemed, and in no degree 
vassal to that kmg of England. Moreover, when this Innocent 
then granted to the king of England a tithe out of his kingdom, 
out of all his subject-lands or those under his jurisdiction, as it 
clearly appears, he did not thereby grant a tithe of the king- 
dom of Scotland to him, but to quite another, indicating clearly, 
that, as a matter of right, this kingdom of Scotland was in 
no wise imder the aforesaid king of l^gland or his jurisdiction^ 
and that the king of Scotland is not liegeman to the king of 
England for his said kingdom. Again, it appears from the 
privileges granted by the apostolic see to the kingdom of Scot- 
huid, and it is well known to our lord the supreme pontiff, that 
the Scots are not bound to recognise the legate of ihe apostolic 
see upon letters apostolic wherein the legateship to the two 
kingdoms of England and Scotland together is intrusted to any 
one. Hence we see clearly that one kingdom is not dependent 
on the other. This king of England, however, wjien he had the 
guardianship of the kmgdom of ScoUand, took out of the 
treasury of the kingdom of Scotland public muniments existing 
in that treasury about all these and other defences, libertiea 
and nghts of the kingdom of Scotland, and carried them away 
with him into England by force and fear, together with many 
other buUs, charters and muniments about the independence 
of the kingdom of Scotland, whereby the ab<3ve-mentioned 
privileges and liberties of the kingdom of Scotland were con- 
firmed ; and together with that most aiicient royal seat or chair, 
of stone or marble, upon which the kings of Scotland were wont 
to be crowned, craftily filching it away by force and fear, 
and taking it also away with him to the said kingdom of 
England. All these and many other things by which he could 
most harm the kingdom, and e very ready means of proof whereby 



1 60 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK VUI. 

its riglit, independence and priyil^es could be shown against 
him and the supremacy of his kingdom, and the defence which 
the king of Scotland had against him, he took them all ont of 
the kingdom while he held the castles and strongholds of the 
kingdom in his hands, and destroyed them ; showing dearly 
thereby that he was bolstering up an unjust cause against the 
kingdom of Scotland and the inhabitants thereof. It is believed 
that this filching and loss of muniments can still perhaps be 
proved by legitimate witnesses by word of mouth. But, after 
this had been achieved by that king of England, not called in 
by the Scots, whatever he may write, nor acknowledged as lord 
of the Scots, save only through fear or force, at a time when 
that throne was vacant, after he got his first title, such as it was, 
and entered the kingdom and, as is well known, extorted the 
sovereignty solely by the intestine quarrels of parties, how, while 
the Scots kept always appealing to their former independence, 
the king of England, without a decision, took the law into his 
own hands as to a matter and a kingdom altogether foreign to 
him, by his sole might and intrigues and by force and fear, 
rashly thrusting his sickle into another's harvest, and then 
how this business went on, it is impossible to describe, or 
otherwise to shortly answer what he says, for the case is too 
long ; but the whole world knows how unjust is his case in the 
matter, on which he relies, if it is brought to trial before a just 
judge, and if his acts are rightly weighed one by one in the. 
scales of justice. If he had thought he could trust to it, he 
would by no means have declined, as he does, to be tried by a 
just judge, the Boman pontiff, that at least the truth of the 
xnatter itself, again stnd again examined in the light, might 
shine forth the more in favour of the Scots, and that the balefiil 
frowardness and craft which he alleges against the adverse 
party, being brought to judgment, may be sore chastened by 
penance or condemned. And, as he is not upright about the 
truth, no wonder he makes difficulties and flies to subterfuge, 
seeking, while absent, to render his unjust cause just by plausible 
statements. For nothing can be more certain than that this 
king, the author of all the crimes which afterwards ensued, was 
the first to sow discord between the kingdoms from day to day, 
and then was the first to fiy to arms, and the first to make hos- 
tUe inroads, to bum, slaughter and wrong, working all manner 
of evil in the kingdom of Scotland, as the taking and desolating 
of the town of Berwick, with the fearful massacre of innocent 
people there perpetrated, clearly show forth. And after his 
treacherous and most base capture of the said town of Berwick, 
and that most cruel and monstrous slaughter of eight thousand 



THE BOOK OF PLUaCARDEN. BOOK Vni. idl' 

personfl there made^ when womeny priests, <slergy and all the 
iittle ones and the wretched fled in a body to a fine chnich, the 
immnnity of the church was not respected when they sought 
refuge there, but the said church was bumt down, and neither 
age, order, nor sex was spared, but they were all ruthlessly put 
to death together in that church. Other churches, too, were 
robbed of their omaments, and defiled and polluted with the 
blood of the slain who had fled thither, and were made into 
stables for horses, alas, afber the manner of the Gentiles, by that 
king and his men. And if, on account of these wrongs and 
many other wrongs inflicted ieit the beginning, the Scots should 
have to some extent actually defended themselves, or, being 
overcome by grief, proceeded to take vengeance, they cannot be 
accused of the crime of high treason by the king, whose subjects 
they were not ; nor could a voluntary cession of that kingdom 
to him be proved, for such is not presumed by law to be made 
to any invader ; and it is publidy known that this kingdom of 
Scotland had been first i^vaged in many ways by that king of 
England. 



CHAPTER LIII. 

SaTne contimt^d. 

Now because^ fiom these and other causes and the circum- 
stances of the case^ it could not be satisfactorily 'settled save by 
the all^tions of parties who are present and by the proofs of 
the stories being given before a competent judge, as they ought 
to be, and not without due deliberation, the whole matter, difiS- 
cult as it is, was duly called up by the supreme pontiff for trial 
before the apostolic see, that tiie whole matter might there be 
dealt with according to law ; and the king of England cannot, 
without a clearer reason, in anywise dedine, as he is now en- 
deavouring to do, a trial by that see, fortified also by a judgment; 
and especially because, after he had notice of this cause being 
called up^ he has already twice levied an army and made a fresh 
hostile inioad into the said kingdom of Scotland, in contempt 
of the said apostolic see and in defiance of the law, and to the 
no small hurt and damage of the said kingdom and scandalising 
of a great many persons, thereby clearly incuiring the penalty 
of that statute and law, Si qvi$ in Umtvm etc., and Meminerbni 
euncti, whereby he no doubt must be deprived of all right, if at 
first he had any therein* Wherefore, as it is the intention of 
the Scots to found upon common law, and that kingdom is in- 

L 



162 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDSK. BOOK Vm. 

dependent of the king of England both by law and in fact, and 
has peaoefully enjoyed this independence time out of mind, and 
especially duiing the whole time of Alexander of illuBtrious 
niemoiy, the late king of Scotland, and, after his death also, 
during the time of the govemment of the waidens of the afore- 
said kingdom for the six years and more that the throne was 
vacant^ until there sprang up a cause of disturbance in the 
kingdom ; and these continuous periods make up a veiy long 
prescription; and it is also well known that this king of England 
by his own authority improperly burst into that kingdom of 
Scotland at the time of the vacancy, and by sheer might, force 
and fear occupied that kingdom, causing endless damage» 
ravages, massacres and bumings in that kingdom, as statod 
above, committing sacrilege against churches and ecclesiastical 
persons, and also inhumanly raging against the laymen and 
clergy thereof, irrespective of rank, age, or sex, and without 
caring for a just title, in order to get that kingdom by force ; 
wherefore, on account of these things, t}ie kingdom of Scotland 
and the inhabitants therepf could only have recourse to the 
Roman Ouria and the apostolic see thereof to obtain justice. 
Thus, as was right and proper, this matter was referred to the 
church of Bome^ to be tried by the see thereof. But, in con- 
tempt of that see, disregarding thecommands he received from 
it on this point, this lang of England presumed by repeated 
hostile ioroads, as is well known, to unjustly invade and disturb 
the aforesaid kingdom of Scotland. The Scots therefore beseech 
our lord the supreme pontiff, in view of the underhand plausible 
statements of this king of England, which are partly wom out 
with age and partly notoriously tainted by the admixture of 
shamefiil falsehood, as already said, to deign not to receive any 
part of that information save what it ia proper to receive, by 
ri9ason of the adverse party's suspicious papers and demolish^ 
and unproved statements of old facts ; and, since that see has 
seen fit justly to refer this matter to itself for trial, to deign to 
adhere to this reference, as it b^;an and ought to do, and hear 
this whole matter» cause and question between the aforesaid 
parties at that see, and settle it in their presence by its apostolic 
decision, as a perpetual reminder, also, to its subjects in time 
to come ; your fatherly regard meanwMle providing for this 
kingdom of Scotland and its church, thus afflicted and exposed 
to ruin by that king of England, the timely remedy of the law, 
to the end that the system of hostile inroads which he has pur- 
sued from the beginning may be restrained during the time of 
the discussion of this matter in the Eoman Guria, so that the 
Scots might safely and freely prosecute their cause in that court 



THS BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK Vni. 1 63 

Here end the instnictions sent by the gnardians and the 
conncil of the kingdom of Scotland to the procnratois of the 
kingdom^ for the information of the Eoman Gnria. 



CHAPTER LIV. 

Copy of a letter of toailing and eomplaint made ly ihe harom 
and lorda ofSeotland to ihe Iiomanpontiff,fir8t settingforth 
and showing ihe anMquity of the noble Scottish nation, and 
iheirfirst origin; secondly, conceming their departure from 
Egypt and Oreece, and the settlements they m^ade in course of 
tims while jowrMiying towarde Scotland, and the m^any and 
countless trotibles and misfortumss they passed through; and, 
thirdiy, conceming the extraordinury, tyrannous and cruel 
troubUSf assaults and lawless ravages inflicted upon the king' 
dom of ScoHand hy the present King Edward of Englamd. 

^is letter onght to haye come before all the Instructions.) 

This letter is Jieaded : The race of the Scots, of nMe prov^ess, to 
our mx>st holyfaiher Pope John XII., swpreme pontiff ofthe 
Bomansee.'^ 

To onr most holy father and lord in Christ, the lord John, 
by the grace of Qod supreme pontiff of the holy and nniyersal 
church of Itome, his devoted and humble sons Ihmcan earl of 
Fife, Thomas Bandolph earl of Murray lord of Man and Annan- 
dale, Patrick Dunbar, earl of the Marches of Scotland^ Malise 
earl of Stiathem, Malcolm earl of Lennox, William earl of 
Boss, Magnus earl of Caithness and Orkney, William earl of 
Sutherland, Walter Stewart, steward of Scotland, William 
Soulis, butler of Scotland, James Douglas,^ sir David Brechin, 
David Graham, Ingram Umfraville, John Menteith, guardian 
of the earldom thereof, Alexander Fresale» Gilbert de la Hay, 
constable of Scotland, Bobert Keith» marshal of Scotland, 
Henry Sinclair, pantler of Scotland, John Graham, David 
lindsay,^ Patrick Grahame, John Fenton, William Aber- 
nethy, David Wemis, William Montifex, Fergus Ardrossan, 
Eustace Maxwell, WiUiam Bamsay,^ Alan Murray, Donald 
Gampbell, John Cameron, Beginald Chein, Alezander Seton, 
Andrew Leslie, Alezander Straton, and all the other barons, 
lords and freeholders of the aforesaid kingdom of Scotland, 
and all the burgesses and the whole estates of the realm of 
Scotland^ all manner of worship and filial duty, kissing his 



164 THB BCMDK 0¥ PLUSCARDEN. BOOK VIII. 

blessed feet We know, most holy father and lord, and gather 
from the gestes and writings of the ancients that, among the 
other great nations, our Scottish nation has enjoyed great 
celebrity. Starting from the borders of Greece and Egypt, and 
passing through the Tyrrhenian sea and the pUlars of Hercules, 
it first settled in Spabi among some most sayage people ; and, 
abiding there for a long course of years, it could not in any degree 
be subjugated by any of the heathen barbarians anywhere 
about. Afterwards, however, one thousand two hundred years 
after the people of Israel crossed the Bed Sea, it obtained a 
settlement in the west, and peopled Ireland ; and this country 
which it now holds it gained by many victories and endless 
toil, after first driving out the Britons and altogether sweeping 
away the Picts, as they well deserved, though it was constantly 
attacked by the Norwegians, Danes stnd Angles ; and it has 
always kept it free from any slavish dependence, os th^ 
histories of the ancients publicly testify. In their kingdom 
one hundred and thirteen kings of their royal family have 
reigned down to the present day, without any stranger coming 
in between; and their noble and deserving quaUties, even 
though they were not clear from other things, wlU yet be quite 
clearly brought to light and will shine forth in what follows. 
For, firstly, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, 
after He suffered and rose again, brought these, who were 
settled in the uttermost borders of the earth, almost the first to 
His holy catholic faith, and would confirm them in His faith 
by no other but His most blessed apostle Andrew, brother of 
Peter, the chief of the apostles, although second or third in 
order, and wished him to be always over them as their 
shepherd and patron. Therefore the most holy fathers your 
predecessors, earnestly bearing this in mind, have endowed 
this kingdom and people, thus miraculously converted and con- 
firmed, with many privileges and favours and prerogatives, as 
being peculiar to the brother of the blessed Peter : so that our 
nation has indeed hitherto lived in quietness and independence 
under their protectiou, until that mischievous prince, Edward 
king of England, father of this present king, an enemy under 
the guise of a friend and ally, harried our kingless kingdom and 
our people who knew no giole nor evil, and who were then un- 
used to wars and the clash of arms. No one, unless taught by 
experience, could tell or describe, or even f ully understand, his 
lawlessness, massacres, annoyances, violence, ravages, bumings^ 
how he imprisoned prelates and clergy, bumt down monas- 
teries, plundered and kiUed the religious, and the many other 
enorroities and numberless cruelties he committed in the said 



• THE BOOK OF PLUSCAEDEN. BOOK VIII. 165 

kiDgdom, sparing neither ordeT, age nor sex. • From these 

countless woes we were, with the help of Him who cures and 

heals after wounds, delivered^ hj our most stalwart prince 

and lord» King Bobert Bruce, who, to deliver his people and 

inheritance from the hands of the enemy, like another 

Maccabaeus or Joshua^ went through toil and trouble, hunger 

and peril, which he bore with a joyful spirit ; and whom, God 

80 onlaining it, according to our laws and customs, which we are 

determined to uphold to the death, both the inheritance bf the 

right and the due consent and assent of us all have made our 

prince and king : and to him, as being he by whom salvation 

was wrought for our people, we are bound and desire in all 

things to adhere, both because of his right and because of his 

personal merits, in order to maintain our independence. But, 

if he gave up his undertaking and wished in anywise to put 

us or our kingdom under the English king, we should straight- 

way drive him out, as our enemy and the subverter of his own 

right and ours^ and should set up some one else as our king, 

who would be equal to defending us and the kingdom : for, as 

long as a hundred of us remain alive, we will in no wise be 

brought under the dominion of the English. We fight not for 

warlike glory, or for riches and honours, but only for our in- 

dependence and the laws of our fathers, which no wise man 

would be wiUing to give up, save with his life. Hence it is, 

most holy father and lord, that with hearts bowed down we 

beseech your holiness to recollect, in singleness of heart and 

godliness of mind, that, with Him whose vicar on earth you 

are, there is no w«ighing or distinction of Jew and Greek, 

Scot or Englishman, with Him who is no respecter of persons, 

and to look with your fatherly eyes upon the tribulation and 

anguish brought npon us and God's church by these English ; 

and deign to admonish and exhort the English king, who 

ought to be satisfied with what is his as his own property — for 

in days of old England used to be large enough for seven kings 

or more — ^to leave us in peace, who live in the small island of 

the Scots, beyond which there is no human habitation, and 

who covet no man's right, but only what is our own ; and we 

are willing — and will peiform it— to do for him whatever we 

can under the circumstances in which we are placed, for quiet- 

ness' sake. It is for you, holy father, td do this, for you behold 

the fierceness of the heathen raging against the Christians, as 

the Ghristians deserve for their sins, and the area of Christen- 

dom narrowing daily ; and you would see how much it would 

tamish the memory of your holiness if, which God forbid, the 

>church ^ould, in your time, suffer edipse or reproach in any 



166 TH£ BOOE OF PLUSGABDEN. BOOK VHL 

part thereo£ Let your holiness therefore stir up the Chiistiaii 
princes who put no-cause for cause and pretend they cannot go 
to the rescue of the Holy Land because of wars which they 
have with their neighbours. The truer cause of this hindrance 
is that it is de^ned that the advantage is more proximate and 
the resistance feebler in making war upon one's weaker 
neighbours. But the Searcher of hearts, from whom nothing 
is hid, knows well with how joyful a heart our said lord the 
king and we should go thither, if the king of the English lefb 
us in peace ; and this we declcure and testify to you, as Chrisfs 
vicar, and to all Christendom. So if your holiness should too 
credulously yield a sincere belief to these false and trumped-up 
stories of the English, and not leave off siding with them to our 
conf usion, the destruction of bodies and the ruin of souls and the 
other evils which would ensue> which they would do to us and we 
to them, would, we believe, be put down to you at the last judg- 
ment before the Most High. And now we are and will be, in tlus 
and other our bounden duty, as obedient sons ready to please 
you in all things, as being His vicar, and trusting our cause to 
the care of the Creator of all things, as the supreme judge, in 
Him hoping and casting our thoughts on Him, and making 
Him our strength who shall bring our enemies to noughi 
May the Most High keep your holiness in good health for 
many years. Given at the monastery of Arbroath in Scot- 
land, on the 6th day of the month of April, in the year of 
grace 1320^ and the fifteenth of the reign of Eing Bobert 

Here foUows the case brought in in the Soman Curia by the 
procnrators of the aforesaid kingdom of Scotland, and par- 
ticularly by onemaster Baldred Bisset, a well-known jurist and 
cleric, against the sophistical assumptions and fabrications of 
the king of England. 



CHAPTER LV. to CHAPTER LXII. 

Case laid hefore the supreme pontiff^ 

.... ... 

It should be noted that in the year 1300 the procurators of 
the kingdom of Scotland complained to our lord the pope of 
the unbearable hardships imposed upon the kingdom of Scoi- 
land and its inhabitants by Edward king of England, and, being 
summoned on that account before that same lord pope in the 
foUowing year, he did not appear either in person or by pro- 
curators, dsnSi indeed absented Mmself contumaciously. Baldred 



THS BOOK OF PLUSGARDSN. BOOK Vm. 167 

Bisset, however^ aDd the other prociirators for the kingdom of 
Scotland at the Boman Curia lucidly, in a short speech, de- 
molished his tramped-up arguments, and proved them altogether 
devoid of tnith^ and refuted and repelled all his fabrications by 
most clear and manifest proof, and silenced him. Wherefore 
the Scots were encouraged, and their guardians, being greatly 
overjoyed^ were inspired with some degree of daring, more 
than usual, against the king of England, on the strength of 
which they had that encounter at Soslyn in defence of the 
kingdom, where the English were defeated thrice in one day 
by tiie noble John Comyn and Simon Fresale. Also, at the 
same time or in the year foUowing, the king of England built 
the fort of linlithgow, which is cidled the PeeL 

EndofBooh VIII. 



BOOK IX. 

CHAPTER I. 

£nffagemefU at Bodyn. 

Afteb the battle he had lost at Falkirk, the king of England 
did not for the nonce personally come north of the Eirth of 
Forth ; but he sent a veiy large force, which lavaged the whole 
land of Fife and all the adjacent lauds of the town of Perth, and 
killed ereat numbers of the inhabitants of those lands ; and, 
when this force came back, the said Mng and his men went 
home again with immense booty. This, no doubt, was €k)d's 
doing : for, if then, or afber the engagement at Dnnbar and the 
capture of Eing John, he had tarried in the countiy, he would 
either have suMued to his sway the whole land of Scotland and 
its inhabitants, or have laid it waste, all but the water and the 
stones, as is believed. As, however, he was very busy else- 
where, he could not attend to eveiything at one and the same 
time. So he and his men went back, after appointing adminis- 
trators, officers and wardens of the castles in ScoUwd, in the 
parts, namely, beyond the Forth, which part of the country was 
then fully under his dominion, with the exception of a few out- 
laws of the nation of the true Scots, who lived in the woods and 
were lurking in caves in rocks and glejis, and who, on account 
of the slaughter and losses they had inflicted on both English 
and Anglicised Scots, durst not appear openly in the sight 
of the people. But at this time Jolm Cumyn, the chief warden 
of Scodand, and his son' and Simon Fraser, called Fresail, war- 
like men, stalwart and endowed with every virtue, together with 
their partisans and followers day and night lay in wait for the 
aforesaid officers, bailiffs and waidens of castles of the king of 
England, and greatly harassed the aforesaid English, as also the 
Anglicised Scots, as above stated ; and for four years or more 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOR IX. 169 

they kept hanying one another with mutual slaughter and 
divers scouiges and torments. When this therefore was reported 
to King Edwaid, he sent over a famous knight, stalwart in 
fight^ of the name of Balph Confrey, into Scotland with a con- 
siderable army ; and these pitched their tents at Boslyn, or 
thereabouts, and remained diyided into three lines of battle. 
But, when the wardens of Scotland, to wit the said John Cumyn 
and Simon Fresail, leamt this, they came with their followers 
to Biggar, a place about sixteen miles away from that place 
Boslyn ; and, choosing some of the best and best mounted and 
best armed of their men, these leaders suddenly and nimbly 
traversed the said sixteen miles bynight, straightway fell upon 
the foe unawares, defeated the first line of battle, many bemg 
slain, taken or cut down, and the rest they drove back upon the 
second line of battle. Thereupon, while they were dividing the 
spoil, lo and behold a second line> stronger than the former, of 
warlike men, very stalwart in fight, drawn up in battle array 
and coming to fight. On seeing this battle^ the Scots killed the 
prisoners and accoutred their unarmed servants in the spoils of 
the slain ; and, being boldly encouraged and cheered on by their 
leaders, they fearlessly prepare for the fray. They had hardly , by 
Grod's grace, at length defeated them, when a third line appekred, 
much stronger in numbers than the former ones ; and the Scots^ 
being no doubt dismayed and somewhat«dazed by this, yet trust- 
ing to their good cause and to the aid of the apostle Saint Andrew, 
and beseecmng 6od to help them, had a fearful encounter with 
them and, notwithstanding they were fatigued with travelling, 
half-starved and drowsy from sleeplessness, by 6od's grace gained 
a final victoiy over the third line. In these victories the braveiy 
and gallant exhortations of their leader stood them in good 
stead. Now the battle was fought on the Day of Saint Matthew 
the apostle, who is the patron of the parish church of that 
place. It should be noted that the English were ten thousand 
men-at-arms strong in each line, while the Scots were hardly 
ten thousand strong altogether ; and it should also be remarked 
that, on thoroushly weighing eveiy gallant feat of arms and 
dashing exploit m battle in former chronicles, we do not find 
that it ever happened that so many were defeated in detail 
by so few three times in one day, without any interval of 
lefreshment. 



1 70 TH£ BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK IX. 



CHAPTEE 11. 

Tfie hing of England scours the country and hrings thepeofle 
(communitas) of Scotland under his dominion, 

Ik the year 1 303 the kiiig of England entered Scotland with 
a veiy large foice, which he had brought with him from both 
England and Wales, Gascony, Ireland and Savoy — ^the count of 
which was there in person, as well as the prince of Wales, — 
both by land and by sea, in revenge for the foregoing disasters, 
and with the deliberate design of peacefuUy settling in that 
land of Scotland altogether and sabduing it for ever, or, on the 
other hand, entirely sweeping away its inhabitants and leaving 
the said land a waste. The said king, therefore, scouring the 
whole country over hill and dale as far as Lochindorb, received 
oaths of fealty and homage from all the inhabitants, and himself 
personaUy brought the northem parts under his dominion. 
Then, after appointing his royal officials and officers in the 
towns and castles, the king went about exploring the countiy» 
and brought it all under his allegiance and dominion ; and he 
remained at Dunfermline to spend the winter, and no one in all 
Scotland hindered him, or brought foice to bear against him ; 
but he rested in peaoe until Candlemas. In this year Edward 
of Camarvon, then Prince of Wales, spent some time in the 
town of Perth, and duiing the whole of this time food was so 
plentiful and abundant in Scotland, that a laggen of good beer 
sold commonly foi twopence, and a laggen, Scottish measure, 
of good wine for eightpence.* The same year, afber the whole 
people (coTnmunitad) ot Scotland had made its submission to the 
king of England, John Cumyn, then head waiden, and all the 
magnates of Scotland, except that noble leader, WiUiam Wallace, 
and his partisans and foUowers, were Uttle by Uttle brought by 
the aforesaid king to make their submission and swear aUegiance 
to hiin, giving up to him the towns, castles and aU the strong- 
holds but StirUng Castle and its garrison. Eor the aforesaid 
noble WiUiam WaUace greatly feared the treacheiy of his 
countrymen, some of whom were jealous of him because of his 
prowess ; whUe some, who had been won over by the promises 
of the English through greed of gain, and others who pUed 
him with many vague persuasions, strove to diaw him on to 
make his submission to the king of England, pronusing him 
many things on behalf of the king of England, broad landis and 
property both in England and in Scotland, which he was to 
choose at wiU. He spumed them all, however, like a tme 
champion and unbending propugner of the kingdom for the 



THX BOOK OF FLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 171 

independence of its people, and they bear witness that he thus 
answered those who spoke to him : ** nnhappy and desolate 
Scotland, too easily believing words of falsehood, weakly and 
wretchedly imprepared for the calamities in store for thee, if 
thou felt with me what I feel, thon wouldst not easOy put thy 
neck under a foreign yoke, and especially one steeped in ihe 
venom of inveterate hostility. One saying/' says he^ ** have I 
leamt in my youth must be put before all things : 

*' * Know truly, freedom is the best of boons/ 

** and it is a blessed one. And thus you may take as my final 
answer that» even though all the nobles of Scotland and the 
whole of the inhabitants should tender fealty and allegiance to 
the king of England, yet I, with my comrades to back me, ishall 
never to my dying day tender fealty or allegiance to any other 
than the true king of Scotland, or one fiUihg his place or stead ; 
but I shall unbendingly stand up for the independence of Scot- 
land." That same year the kiug of England held his parlia- 
ment at Saint Andrews, and remained there during Lent ; and> 
having called together tlie magnates of the kingdom, he regu- 
lated the constitution and govemment of the kingdom with the 
view of holding it permanently. 

CHAPTER III. 

The king hmeges Stirling Castle — Sobert Bruce. 

JasT after the East^r festival the said Eing Edward besieged 
Stirling Castle for three months without a break; and he 
ordered the whole of the lead of the monastery of Saint Andrews 
to be stripped off and carried to Stirling aforesaid for the con- 
struction of the engines for the siege. At length, hbwever, the 
warden of the said castle, William Oliphant by name, surren- 
dered the said castle to him under a certain condition in writing 
and under seaL But, notwithstanding his promise, the king, 
on taking the castle, belied his word and broke through the con- 
dition by taking the said William Oliphant^ the warden of 
the said castJe, in bonds with him to London and consigning 
him to a fearful dungeon. The same year also, when he had 
taken castles, towns and all the other strongholds, and the 
wbole of the leading lords of the realm had made their submis- 
sion to him and the whole of the castles and towns formerly 
destroyed had been rebuilt, and there was no one but William 
Wallace alone who remained faithful to the king of Scotland ; 
and after he had appointed wardens and officers of his own 



172 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK IX. 

there, and all and sundrj of the Scottish nation had taken the 
oaths of fealty and homage, the said king, together with the 
prince of Wales and their armies, went back to England, leav- 
ing, however, one chief warden as his lieutenant, to put down 
and chastise any outbreaks by any of the rest, both Scottish and 
English ; and he never afterwards showed his face in Scotland. 
After hk departure, the English nation lorded it in every part 
of Scotland, harassing the Scots in many and manifold ways, 
and ruthlessly doing them to death with wrongs, massacres and 
stripes, under the awful yoke of slavery. But the Almighty 
Lord, the pitying and merciful God, having compassion upon 
the never-ending miseries of the Scots and the cry of His 
church and people, and being, as usual, stirred by a feeling of 
fatherly pity, raised up a saviour unto them, a champion and 
propugner, one of their fellows from that same kingdom, of the 
nanie of Eobert Bruce, who , delivered them out of the lake 
of misery and the slough of despond, when they were entirely 
berefb of all hope of salvation and succour. For, being inwardly 
touched w^ith grief of heart at seeing the almost unbearable 
woes which the people of Scotland endured, he put forth his 
hand unto strength» like a second Maccabseus, and, in order to 
deliver his brethren» underwent without stint the unbearable 
burden and heat of tiie day, cold, hunger, on sea and land, and 
endured toils and snares and great weariness and starvation and 
perils, not only fix)m enemies but also from false brethren. 



CHAPTEE IV. 

Leagne between Robert Bruce and John Cumyn — 

Accusaiion of Bruce. 

Now in the year 1304 this Eobert Bruce earl of Carrick, 
while riding from Stirling one day accorapanied by John 
Cumyn, who was at the time one of the highest in the land, in 
order effectually to carry into execution what he had gladly 
undertaken on behalf of the state and the common weal — ^for 
he was indignant at the cruel bondage of the kingdom and the 
ceaseless ill-treatment of the people — ^imparted what had come 
into his pious head about remedying these evils to this John, 
his brother in arms, and, asking his advice and assistance, 
faithfully unfolded it while riding along. And, although in 
law, according to the laws and customs of the re^Im, the 
honour and iidieritance of the dignity of king and the govem- 
ment of the kingdom were acknowledged to belong to him 
before all others, yet, putting the common good before his right. 



THE BOOK OF PLU8CASDEN. BOOK IX. 173 

he privately, purely and sincerely of his own accord, offered this 
John that he shoidd choose one of two things : either to reign 
and take upon himself and his for ever the govemment of the 
kingdom altogethery with what pertoined thereto and with the 
honours and dignities of the kingship, granting to him, Sobert, 
the whole of his own lands and property; or that he, John, 
and his should have the whole of the said Boberfs lands and 
property in lawful possession for ever, leaving Eobert the afore- 
said kingdom, with the aforesaid dignities, prerogatives and 
honours of the kingship : that so, through their mutual advice 
and assistance, the deliverance of the Scottish nation &om the 
house of bondage and.most pitiable thraldom might, by the 
grace of God, be achieved, and that there might be between 
them a firm and lasting alliance of fast friendship and perpetual 
peace. The aforesaid John was highly pleased with the latter 
of the aforesaid altematives, as at first sight appeared, and 
thereupon a covenant was made and confirmed by their plight- 
ing their word to one another and by oaths and by their 
respective seals, and secured by their indentures. Neverthe- 
less, the aforesaid John Cumyn, disregarding his oath and 
breaking his word, kept accusing the ssdd Bobert to the king 
of England by his go-betweens and private letters, basely 
revealmg that Bobert Bmce'8 secret plotting, and sent that 
king his letters about the aforesaid covenant and league: 
thiiiJdng that thereby, when he was put out of the way, he 
John would, by means of the king of England, get and hpld 
in peace the govemment of the whole kmgdom of Scotland 
without any difficulty. However, though the aforesaid Bobert 
was repeatedly sounded thereupon by the aforesaid king, who 
showed him hia own letter about the said covenant and league, 
yet he, being inspired by Ood, would always retum such 
auswers as softened that king^s rage by meny s}>eeches and 
peaceful words full of tact. But the savage mind of that king, 
who was very wily and shrewd and always knew how to put on 
a show of friendship, mistrasted him much» because of this 
John's accusations ; and he was all the more had in suspicion 
by the aforesaid king because he was the tme heir to the 
kingdom of Scotland So, because of this suspicion, this 
Bobert was commanded to stay on at the court of the king of 
England; and, though the king did think of straightway 
making arrangements for his death or perpetual imprisonment, 
he yet put it off for this reason — till he could get all his 
brothers together back into his keeping, so that he might be 
able to punish them all with the extreme penalty of the law 
once and for all. 



174 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 

CHAPTER V. 

Accusation and escape of Rdbert Bruee, 

As the aforesaid John kept lepeating his accusations, at 
length one night, while the wine sparkled in the glass, or bowl, 
and the king of England with his most confidential bedcham- 
ber men was preparing to get into bed, they eamestly dis- 
cussed the death of this Bobert Bmce ; and, after weigfaing it 
briefly, he determined to take his life on the morrow. But 
when the earl of Oloucester, a tme friend of Boberfs and tried 
even in time of utmost need, heard of this, he hastily sent him 
secretly late at night, to his lodging, twelve pence and a pair 
of sharp spurs by one of his servants» telling him, " My lord 
sends you this with thanks, in retum for what he got firom 
you yesterday." But when Robert Bmce heard this, saga- 
ciously tuming it over in his mind, he at once made a shrewd 
guess from the tokens presented to him, and got an idea of the 
imminent danger in store for him. So he straightway thanked 
the messenger, rewarded him and sent him back to his lord; 
and, when twilight came on that night, he got ready with all 
haste to go to Scotland. No one, however, knew of this but 
his secretary and one servant whom he trusted most. Then he 
called his steward and directed him to make meiry with his 
household and give them plenty of wine to drink ; and he shut 
himself up in lus room as if to talk over some difBcult business 
with his secretary. He then had the horse's shoes fastened 
the reverse way, for fear of the snow which was £EJling that 
night, it is said, so that no one might see his horse^s tracks 
going towards Scotland, but rather retuming. So, taking only 
the secretary and a groom with him, they stealthily mounted 
their horses, and he took the road to Scotland day and night 
without stopping; nor did he leave off constantly plodding 
along on his journey towards that coimtry until he was back in 
his own countiy, beyond the leach of danger and safe from any 
foul play at the hands of the said king, under the guidance of 
Him of whom it is written : There is no wisdom, nor pmdence, 
nor counsel against the Lord, who knoweth how to snatch the 
godly in mind from temptation, and mercifully deliver from 
perils such as trust in Him. Some indeed say that Bobert 
Bruce was summoned before the king and questioned, and 
that he asked the king to give him time until the next mom- 
ing, together with his letter about the league, so that he might 
think it over that evening and give hun an answer in the 



THB BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK IX. 175 

moming; and, as security for his doing so, he pledged and 
pawned to King Edward all and sundiy his lands which he 
held of him in England. 



CHAPTER VL 

John Gvmyn kUled. 

Now when Bobert Bruce had come near the borders of the 
marches, he caught sight of a foot messenger coming from 
afar ; and on loolang at him he suspected, both from his gait 
and from his dress, that he was a Scot« So he questioned 
him as to whither he was going and whence he came; but, 
while the latter was pouring out evasive excuses for his offences, 
the said Bobert Bruce privily hinted to his attendant that he 
should search the messenger and see if he had any secret 
letter ; and, when there was found upon him a despatch from 
John Cumyn to the king of England about putting Bobert 
to death by treachery, the messenger had the letter taken froin 
him and was ordered to be slain. This was accordingly done, 
and the messenger was beheaded; and the Lord of all was 
praised for His guidance during the joumey. But, when he 
came to Lochmaben, he found there his brother Edward 
Bruce and imparted to him in full all as it had taken place, 
and how the said John Cumyn had sent by the messenger a 
letter sealed with his own seal about his death and betrayal ; 
and when he heard that the said John Cumyn was staying at 
Dumfhes, the said Bobert Bruce hastened on as fast as he 
could to reward him for his past kindneds. Having found him 
before the great altar in the friars church at Dumfries afore* 
said, the said Bobert Bruce questioned him on the subject, 
and showed him his letter sealed with his own seal ; and on 
Cumyn answering, ''You lie/' he straightway stabbed and 
mortally wounded him. He then lefb him, and the brethren of 
that chuich dragged him into the vestiy behind the altar. 
Hereupon up came James Lindsay of Eilpatiick' and asked 
what was the matter; and, finding that he was not quite 
dead, but only wounded, he pressed him to say if he could 
recover. Yes, he answered, if remedies were at once applied 
to him. So James Lindsay, being the cousin and very dear 
friend of the said Bobert, as he did not want him to come to 
life again, wounded him more severely than before and de- 
spatched him. This took place in the year 1305 on the lOth 
of February. About this time the noble William WaUace was^ 



1 76 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEX. BOOK IX. 

through deceit and treachery, taken prisoner by sir John Men- 
teith at Glasgow, purely out of the most foul jealousy— for 
he never hurt any but the English and never even suspected 
him of any harm — and handed over to the king of England ; 
and he was tom limb from limb in the city of London, and his 
limbs were hung up on lofty towers in various places in £ng- 
land and Scotland, as a reproach to the Scots. 



CHAPTEE VII. 

Coronation of Bobert Bruce. 

In the year 1306, a few days having elapsed firom the 
death of John Cumyn, the said Bobert Bruce, then earl of 
Carrick, took with him as many as he could get and hastened 
to Scone ; and, being set on the royal seat in the manner in 
which the kings of Scotland were formerly wont to be invested^ 
on the 27th of March^ he was crowned, undertaking a great 
task and taking an unbearable burden upon his shoulders. 
For he launched into a struggle against the power of the king 
of England and all his abettors and partakers with him in this 
matter, not only English but also Anglicised Scots, with only a 
very few friendjs of his, who counted for nothing in comparison 
with the others — as a drop in the ocean. His mishaps, escapes 
and dangers, hardships and toils, hunger and thirst, watchings 
and fastings, cold and nakedness, snares and outlawries, and 
the seizing and imprisoning, slaughter and ruin of those most 
near and dear to him, before which he had to succumb, routed 
and overcome, at the beginning of the war, no one now living 
nor any book of histoiy could adequately recall or recount 
Moreover, even if one knew and went over his own single 
combats and triumphs single-handed, amid aU the misfortunes 
and numberless straits he went through with a glad and 
dauntless heart — the unimportant victories and imrecorded 
duels whereby, God granting it, he by his own strength and 
human heroism overcame the malice of his enemies, the present 
chronicle would be deemed too lengthy: nor, I think, could 
one find under the sun any prince in these days who is his 
match in the art of war. I therefore leave it to abler men to 
relate all his fine achievements, and will not put them in here. 
He would not, however, on any account allow himself to be 
crowned on the coronation day until he had eamed the benefit 
pf absolution from his sacrilege. But, though we shall not be 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK IX. 177 

able to recount his unimportant exploits and deeds, we have no 
intention of omitting to put in his greater and more remark- 
able deeds. 



CHAPTER VIIL 

BcUUe of Methven, 

Th£ same jear, on the 19th day of the month of June, King 
Sobert was defeated and put to flight at Methven by Odomar, 
then warden of Scotland on behalf of the king of England. He 
was called Odomar of Valence, and was at that time staying in 
the well-walled town of Perth with a great force of both £ng- 
lish and disloyal Scots. Now, though he did not lose many of 
his men in this encounter, yet because of the unsuccessful 
beginning, which is often crowned by an unhappy ending, his 
friends b^n to be sore disheartened and the other side much 
emboldened. Thereupon all the wives of those who foUowed 
the king were ordered to be proclaimed oudaws by the crier^ 
and to be sent into exile on pain of death, in order that they 
might foUow their husbands ; by reason whereof many women, 
both married and single, foUowed the king, and took up their 
abode permanently under shelter of the woods and coverts 
with the army, on whom they lavished many Uttle comforts. 
In the same year, on the llth of August foUowing, while the 
king was lurking with his men on the borders of AthoU and 
AigyU to escape his enemies, he was again defeated and put to 
flight at Dalry. But, though heie also he did not lose a great 
many of his men, nevertheless the greatest panic seized them 
aU, and aU his men were dispersed and scattered through 
various places. The queen fled to Saint Duthac in Eoss, and 
was taken by William, earl thereof, and sent over to the king 
of England ; and she was kept in close custody until the battle 
of Bwnockbum. Nigel Bruce, again, the lang's brother, to- 
gether with a great many gallant men and ladies and damsels, 
took refuge at Ejldrummie Castle, and was there made welcome 
with his train ; but that same year the castle was treacherously 
betrayed into the hand of the English by the Scots, and Nigel 
and aU his people were brought prisoners to Berwick and 
suffered capital punishment. But Thomas and Alexander 
Bruce, other brothers of the king^s, were hurrying by another 
way tb Carrick when they were taken at LochrijBm, in that same 
year, and brought to Carlisle and beheaded ; and aU who thus 
parted from the king were either put to death or thrown into 
prison. The earl of Lennox and GUbert de la Hay alone among 

M 



178 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 

tbe nobles foUowed the king, and became his inseparable com- 
panions in all his troubles ; and though sometimes, when hard 
pressed by the enemy^s pursuit, they were unwillingly parted 
from him in body, yet they never departed from their good 
faith, affection and loyalty towards him under any pressuie of 
necessity. It should be noted that, on account of these services 
incessantly rendered with pleasure to the king by the said 
Gilbert de la Hay, the king, not unmindful of this good tum, 
bestowed upon him and his for ever the hereditary office of 
constable of Scotland, together with some lands besides of John 
Cumyn's in the earldom of Buchan. But, soon after this, it 
came to pass that the aforesaid king was cut off from his men, 
and underwent endless and well-nigh unbearable hardships, 
and laboured and was tossed in countless dangers» left some- 
times with three men, sometimes with two, sometimes alone, 
almost entirely bereft of the help of man. He sometimes went 
a whole fortnight without taking any food but raw herbs, water 
and milk, dnd lived a most wretched life in the wildemess ; 
now walking barefoot when his shoes were wom out with age ; 
now left alone in the islands; now alone, unknown, fleeing from 
his enemies ; now slighted and despised by his own servants, 
he remained utterly deserted, an outcast from all his acquaint- 
ance. The Euglish had him cried in the churches, like a thing 
lost and swallowed up without hope of recovery, or purloined 
by stealth. And thus they all made a laughing-stock of him, 
80 that he is said by some to have at times, in his after pros- 
perity, thus spoken, saying that if the independence of Scodand 
had not moved him to go through such things, he would not 
for the whole world go through those things or the like again. 
And for all these misfortunes yet was he not at all vanquished 
in heart, or overcome ; but he was ever in hopes of regaining 
the Mngdom and delivering it &om all thraldom of vassalage 
and leading back his faithful people with joy to peace and 
prosperity. While therefore he was thus made a byword and 
a laughing-stock for all, both far and near, to hiss at, yet the 
Almighty Lord, the merciful and compassionate, who looks 
upon the lowly and knows the lofty from afar, aided him 
through the power, advice and help of a noble woman, Christiana 
of the Isles, a weU-wiBher of his ; and, af ter many and sundry 
toils, wanderings and hardships, he got back to his earldonLof 
Carrick and straightway recovered one of his castles ; and, after 
putting to death all whom he found there, he pulled down his 
aforesaid castle, razed it to the ground and divided the spoil 
among his followers. Then, being greatly cheered by such a 
beginning after his long course of ill-luck, the king got his 



THE BOOK OF PLUSOARDEN. BOOK IX. 179 

friends together, who had been scattered far and wide, crossed 
the hills with them in a body, reached Invemess, took the 
castle thereof with the strong hand; slew those he found in 
it and levelled it with the ground. And he dealt in the same 
manner with the other castles he succeeded in taking, situated 
in the northem districts, until he reached a place called Slenach, 
where he abode awhile. 



CHAPTEE IX. 

Baui at SUnach, 

In the year 1307 John Cumyn earl of Buchan, with many 
nobles both 6f England and of Scotland, hearing that King 
Bobert was at Slenach with his army, advanced to meet him 
in order of battle. But, when they saw the king and his men 
drawn up in order of battle over against them, they halted ; 
and thus, on Christmas Day, overwhelmed with shame and 
confusion, they went back again, asking for a tmce, which 
the king kindly granted them ; and, after he had granted the 
truce, he abode there eight days, and rested without fear. 
Here, however, after his many and long-continued privations, 
he fell into a sickness so severe that he was carried in a horse- 
litter with his army day by day whithersoever he had occasion 
to be moved in shifting his quarters. That same year '7 died 
King Edward the tyrant, on the 5th of April, at Burgh-upon- 
Sands. This king, as soon as he had become a knight, stirred 
up war, scourged the English with dreadful stripes, and cruelly 
threw the whole world into confusion with his villainy. In 
his day he kept back an expedition to the Holy Land by his 
intrigues; he harried Wales without mercy and foully and 
cmelly destroyed and subdued it; he subjected Scotland to 
fearful calamities without a cause, and cmeUy and barbarously 
slaughtered the inhabitants ; and he overcame John, its king, 
by force and fear, and imjustly threw him and his son 
Edward into a dismal dungeon ; he desecrated churches, tum- 
ing them into stables for horses, pulled them down, or else 
bumt them down ; a great many prelates he loaded with chains 
without a cause, and some he put to death in loathsome dun- 
geons ; he took the lives of common people without number, 
sparing neither sex, age, nor class, and committed and per- 
petrated other misdeeds without end. On his death he was 
Bucceeded by his son Edward, who married Elizabeth, daughter 
of Philip king of France. At that time sir John Cumyn earl 



180 THE BOOK OF PLU8CABDEK. BOOK IX. 

of Buchan, William CuniTn and Jolin Mowbray, knights, were 
in a great measure the most powerful of the nobles of Scotland 
of the party of the king of England ; and these, being joined 
by both Scots and Englishmen, afterwards fought hard against 
King Bobert, and more than once, down to King Edward's 
death, placed him in the utmost danger. Now this Edward, 
while on an expedition to Scotland for the purpose of invading 
and finally destroying it, was, through God's vengeance, taken 
ill on Saint John'e Eve ; and when he came, lyi^g down in a 
carriage, to Buigh-upon-Sands, he expired miserably without a 
sign of repentance. In this same expedition an English knight 
of the name of William Banlister was seized with a grievous 
illness and fell into a trance ; and, while he was rapt in the 
spirit, he saw, as it seemed to him, the said King Edward 
snatched away by a great multitude of fiends and taken to the 
lower regions with chaunting; and he was so exceedingly 
frightened that he afterwards renounced the world. 



CHAPTEE X. 

EiwarA of Carmrvm, 

Aftsb the burial of Edward Longshanks, his son Edward of 
Camarvon succeeded him, and was set over the kingdom of 
England and crowned ; and he fell into the tjnranny and errors 
of his father and, putting every other care aside, made all 
haste to invade Scotland. In the first place he had all the 
magnates and dergy and people of Scotland summoned before 
him at Dumfries, to tender hun homage and the oath of alle- 
giance. Of these, some did so, but others drew back and feU 
away from him. On the arrival, however, of ambassadors from 
France about the marriage of the daughter of the king of France^ 
who had been previously promised to him by a betrothal, he 
lefb wardens and govemors both in England and in Scotlandy 
and hastened to Erance without delay, and married the daugh- 
ter of the king of France at Boulogne-sur-Mer. Then they 
came back to England the same year, and were both crowned 
in London. King Boberty however, gathering strength from 
day to day, kept besieging ahd destroying castles and fortresses, 
and in the space of six years he levell^ with the ground as 
many as on^ hundred and thirty, from a counted list. At 
this time John and William^ Cumyn and John Mowbray 
gathered together a large army and followed after King Bobert 
as far as Inverury, where they deployed in order of battle^ and 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK IX. 181 

were much stionger than the said king, who was still carried 
day bj day on a horse-litter as on a bier; but, though he could 
not get along on horseback alone by himself, yet, in order to 
encourage his people, he of his own accord made two men hold 
him up on his horse with their hands, and rode on to the field 
of battle with a bold countenance, as it seemed; though it 
was not without bodily danger that he rose and ordered his 
men to arm themselves and set him on horseback. So when 
this was done, and the opposite pafty saw him in person pre- 
pared for the fray, they were panic-stricken at the very sight of 
him, and all tumed and fled and were pursued as f ar as Fivy 
without stopping, about twelve leagues. But when the pursuit 
was over, he consumed the whole earldom of Buchan with fire, 
and some he took prisoners, and received the submission of 
others, and whom he would he put to death. It should be 
noted that, just as he was beyond measure unfortunate from 
the time of his departure from England until the taking of the 
castle of Carrick, so a more fortunate man could hardly be 
found than he was from the time of this rout at Inverury until 
his life*s end. For thenceforth he kept gathering strength in 
aU prosperity, while his enemies dwindled away and vanished 
like smoke. The same year Donald of the Isles, with a 
great multitude of Islanders, Oalloway men and Englishmen, 
advanced as f ar as the river Dee, a brave show, thmking to 
utterly overwhelm the king's forces; and he was there defeated 
by Sir Edward Bruce, the king's brother; and many were 
slain, and the rest put to flight. In this battle fell one Botho- 
land of (ralloway, together with many of the nobles of that 
countiy, and Englishmen and Islanders in great numbers; 
and he also seized the said Donald while attempting to escape, 
and thrust him into prison ; and he invaded and destroyed his 
conntry with fire. Then it came to pass that in the same year, 
at the Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, within the Octave 
of the Assumption of the Blessed Yirgin, this king vanquished 
the men of Argyll and subdued the whole country ; and he 
besieged their leader, Alexander of Argyll, who fled to his castle 
of Dunstofifnage, and who surrendered the castle to him. As, 
however, he reftised to do him homage, a safe-conduct was 
given to him and to all whom he wished to take with him, and 
he withdrew to England, where he paid the debt of nature. At 
this time, about the year 1310, there was so severe a famine 
and dearth of victuals in the kingdom of Scotland, by reason 
of these events, that men fed on the flesh of horses and other 
nnclean beasts. In the year 1310 the king of England pre- 
pared to invade and conquer Scotland with a large force ; but| 



182 THE BOOK OF PLUSGABDEK. BOOK IX. 

as his men were.lukewarm in their support of him, when they 
came as f ar as Benfrew he took the advice of certain persons 
and went home again. 



CHAPTEE XI. 

Succesm of King Sobert 

In the year 1311, after having routed and vanquished all his 
foes eveiywhere he went and, for the most part, taken and 
levelled to the ground the castles and forts which offered him 
resi^tance, Eing Bobert twice invaded and ravaged England, 
making great havoc with fire and sword and bringing untold 
plunder back to Scotland. And thus, by the power of God, 
that faithless English nation, which had again and again un- 
justly tortured many a man, was now by God'8 righteous judg- 
ment made to undergo scourgings ; and, whereas it had once 
been victorious over other kingdoms, it now sank vanquished 
and groaning, and became a gazing-stock to others. The follow- 
ing year, in 1312, the then very strong walled town of Perth 
was taken, and all in it were put to the sword, some drawn, 
some beheaded, some slain in the fight, and the rest hanged ou 
the gallows. But the king was moved to compassion for the 
guiltless rabble, and foigave them and received their submission. 
And thus — 

" Did England drink the gall itself had brewed." 

Thereupon he destroyed the walls and moats and consumed the 
buildings with fire. The same year the castles of Bute, Dum- 
f ries and Dalswinton and many other castles and fortalices were 
taken with the strong hand, sacked and levelled to the ground. 
The same year, also, the town of Durham was for the most part 
burnt down by the Scots, and Piers Gamerston (Gaveston), the 
great adviser of King Edward the Tyrant, was slain by the earl 
of Lancaster. And the same year Edward, called of Windsor, the 
eldest son of the king of England, was born at Windsor, of the 
daughter of Philip king of France ; and he was the source of 
many woes. For never is good fruit brought forth f rom a tainted 
root. Through this Edward that most cruel and most heinous 
war with Frcmce broke out. Again, on Fasten's Even in the 
year 1313, Boxburgh Castle was taken by James Douglas under 
cover of night ; and the same year, on the Hth day of tbe 
month of March, Edinbuigh Castle was taken by sir Thomas 



THE BOOK OF FLUSGARDEN. BOOK IX. 1 83 

Randolph earl of Murray, afber defeating, taldng and slaying his 
foes. The same year, too, the king entered the Isle of Man^ 
took all the castles, and brought the island under his sway. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Olarwus victory gained at Bannocklmrn, on Saint John the 
BapHsfs Bay, hy Ood*B grace alone. 

Edward, the new king of England, buming with rage on 
seeing the countless evils brought upon him and his by King 
Kobert, and brooding over his glorious deeds and achievements, 
roused himself to revenge them ; and, having got his whole forces 
together, hastened to levy war afresh against Scotland. He 
collected troops from aU sides, from England, Wales, Ireland, 
Comwall, Normandy, Picardy, Flanders, Alma^me, Grascony, 
Guelders, Brabant and HoUand and from among the rest of 
those who favoured his cause and, together with his AngUcised 
Scots, effected a hostile entrance into the countiy, a brave 
show, with every appUance for settUng in the country for ever, 
and tUUng it with his husbandmen. His army numbered three 
hundred thousand men-at-arms, besides all the unarmed fol- 
lowers and traders and husbandmen and sutlers on foot; and thus, 
with these men of his, who were aU skiUed in warcraft, he scoured 
the country i^nd laid it aUwaste. Acoordingly,surrounded by this 
proud host and trusting in the glory of man's might, he got as 
far as a place caUed Baimockbum, and pitched his tents. But, 
trusting in the I/)rd and making Gk)d his strength, and asking 
the blessed apostle Andrew aud Saint John the Baptist to help 
him to deUver the wretched people of Scotland from undue 
bondage, King Bobert, with an army smaU in comparison with 
the multitude of the said king of England, fought a deadly 
battle with him and, by the help of the Most High, to whom it 
belongeth to give the victory and in whose hand are aU the 
ends of the earth, put him to flight with aU his pomp and 
countless forces. Here the earl of Gloucester and many nobles 
of England feU slain ; some were kiUed in the pitfaUs which the 
Scots had made ; some again, thinkin^ to save themselves, were 
drowned in the Firth of Forth ; some lost their Uves in the con- 
fusion of the crowd whfle escaping, some fled, some were taken, 
some were slaughtered, overtakeu by simdry kinds of death, and 
were destroyed without number with the edge of the sword. The 
earl of Gloucester also feU there. In exchange for the prisoners 
not only were the queen and her retinue restored to freedom^ 



184 THE BOOE OF FLUSCARDEN. BOOE IX. 

but all the oiher Scots who had been thrown into prison were 
released without ransom ; and all the others also who were at 
the said battle were enriched beyond measure. Among these 
was captured that very wealthy John of Brittany, for whom 
the captive queen of Scotland was exchanged^ for it would have 
been absurd to hear of a queen being a prisoner. For him, too, 
was exchanged the bishop of Glasgow, a venerable man of 
great age, who had been in like manner kept in prison in 
London by the Tyrant. Note that this war began between 
Edward Bruce, the king's brother, and Philip Mowbray, com- 
mander at Stirling on behalf of the king of England, whom 
the said Edward besieged, the former promising that, if that 
castle were not relieved by the king of England in one year's 
time from then, he would without further delay surrender it 
into his hand for behoof of the king of Scotland. But the 
king rebuked • his brother for this, telling him he had be- 
haved most foolishly in having trysted that most powerful 
king of England to fight at the aforesaid temi of a year and 
a day. And so, like a true Catholic trusting in the Lord, he 
made all his men, before marching into battle, be admonished 
by the ecclesiastics that they should each one be shrived and 
contrite and take the sacrament of the Eucharist ; that they 
might thus march into battle armed with the armour of 6od, 
after they had all heard mass, all devoutly kneeling before the 
Lord and meekly beseeching grace and praying God for the 
freedom of the kingdom. But, when the English saw them, they 
smiled and said : '' Lo, the Scots have surrendered and are ask- 
ing ouM forgiveness." Whereupon an old knight, of sounder 
understanding, answered and said : " It is true they are sur- 
rendering — not to you, but to God Abnighty, in whom they hope 
and put their trust ; " — who also gave them the victory. 



CHAPTEE XIIL 

ffereditary entaU and mccession to the throne made hy consent 

of ihe Three Edates. 

In the year 1315 a permanent settlement was made in the 
king^s general council to the efPect that, in case Eing Bobert 
departed this life without male childien, his brother, Edward 
Bruce, a gallant man, should aspire to the crown. Failing 
him and issue male from him, the crown was to go to Mar- 
jory, the king^s daughter ; and, failing her, to the next heir 
proceeding and lineally descending &om the body of the 



THE BOOE OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK IX. 185 

said King Robert, nnconditionally : provided, however, that 
she were married with the approval of the Three Estates, or of 
the greater and more sensible part thereof. And, if the king 
died, leaving a male heir onder age, his brother-german Edward 
was to have the goveming of the kingdom until he came of 
age ; failing whom, his nephew Thomas Eandolph was in like 
manner to have the goveming of the kingdom and of the 
king while under age, until the latter should, in the opinion of 
the Three Estates, be equal to goveming the kingdom. Again, 
if the said Marjory died a widow and left an heir under age, 
that said earl ^ was to have chai^e of that heir and of the king- 
dom, in like manner as was declared with regard to the heirs of 
the king and his brother-german, in case the earl himself gave 
his consent thereto. But, if the said Marjory died without 
leaving any heir of her body, no heir of the body of the said 
lord king in like manner being left alive, which 6od forbid, 
the aforesaid earl was to have the wardenship of the kingdom 
until, by provision of the Three Estates of the Bealm, they could 
discuss who had a claim of lineal succession to the throne and 
should govem. And this they all promised, and they bound 
themselves thereunto. This entail was renewed after £dward's 
death, as appears from documents drawn up thereanent. 

Then comes how Edward de Bmce was elected king of Ireland 
by the unanimous consent of all the inhabitants ; — but first we 
must make an important observation on the ILneal issue of 
King Bobert from different wives. 

The said lord king, when he was earl of Carrick, married 
Isabel or Elizabeth, daughter of an earl of Mar ; and of her he 
begat Marjory, wife of Walter Stewart. On her death he 
wedded Elizabeth, daughter of sir Haymer de Burgh, earl of 
Ulster ; and of her he begat King David ii. She was buried in 
the choir in the convent of Dunfermline, together with King 
Robert, who reigned twenty-four years, and defeated the king of 
England and his power eight times,^ at Bannockbum, Biland 
and elsewhere. Note also that after the expulsion of John 
Balliol, the kingdom of Scotland was for ten years in a very 
unsettled state. Queen Elizabeth, however, also begat one 
daughter who was married to one Thomas Isaac; another, 
married to the lord of Lom ; and another, married to the earl of 
Sutherland, who of her begat John, earl of that ilk, who died in 
England when a hostage for his uncle King David, and who, 
if he had lived, would have succeeded the aforesaid King 
David on the throne, according to the entaiL 



1 86 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK IX. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Edvxird Bruoe dected king of Irdand. 

In the year 1316 Edward Bruce^ the king^s brother, entered 
Ireland with the strong hand, and was elected king by unani- 
mouB consent of the iahabitants of the whole of Ireland; 
and he there wasted the whole of the land occupied by the 
Englishy and all the English were slain, taken prisoners, or 
driven into banishment out of the countiy. His acts are to be 
found more ixily in the book On the exploits of Eing Eobert, 
written about them. The foUowing year his brother Eing 
Bobert came to meet him in Ireland, to help him ; but many 
perished through confusion and scarcity of provisions ; for such 
dearth prevailed there that many fed on horse-flesh. The king 
of England, however^ on hearing that the king of Scotland was 
sojouming with his brother in Ireland, assembled his forces 
and entered Scotland with all haste. But, while he was thus 
entering column by column, he was driven back most inglori- 
ously by James Douglas, then warden of the marches, and 
they were all defeated, slain, captured^ or put to flight; and 
that noble knight killed with his own hands three chief cap- 
tains in the three lines of battle. Thus the enemy was hurled 
backy and the kingdom suffered little or no harm. After 
this, however, they got together a fleet of ships and^ entering 
the Firth of Forth in great force, landed unperceived at Doni- 
bristle near Inverkeithing ; but they were there defeated by 
the noble bishop of Dunkeld and the sheriff of Fife and other 
lords^ and routed, many being slain and several out of their 
fleet being lost The same year, after the arrival of King 
Bobert Bruce from Ireland, was bom fiobert Stewart, the 
future second king of Scotland of that name, to wit the son 
of the daughter of the said Bobert Bmce. In the following 
year Edward Bmce met his death at the hands of the English 
through being over-hasty and headlong in rashly attacking the 
enemy. In the year 1318 certain cardinals, legates apostolic 
in England, were robbed by one Robert Middleton, knight ; and ' 
for this he was brought to London, drawn by horses limb from 
limb, and his limbs were hung up on the most commanding posi- 
tions in the town. By reason of this King Bdward put off besieg- 
ing the town of Berwick as he had intended doing.* In the year 
1318 Thomas Bandolph earl of Murray invaded and ravaged 
and made cmel havoc of the northem parts of England; and he 
brought back much booty and divided it among his followers. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK IX. 187 

In the year 1318 the town of Berwick was taken by the Scots, 
after having been for twenty years previonsly in the hands of 
the English. The same year, on the 14th of October, was fonght 
the battle of Dundalk in Ireland; and there fell sir Edward 
Bruce, king of Ireland, with a great many nobles of Scotland. 
This is how it came about This Edward was a mettle- 
some and high-spirited man, and would not live with his 
brother unless he had half the kingdom of Scotland to himself ; 
80 he left Scotland and levied war in Ireland, where he came 
by his death. In the year 1319 Edward of Windsor besieged 
the town of Berwick ; but, seeing he was unsuccessful there, he 
soon ingloriously went back again. The same year Thomas 
Bandolph earl of Moray again wasted the northem parts of 
England as f ar as Wetherby, and encamped at Boroughbridge 
at the end of the month of August. 



CHAPTEK XV. 
Papcd Bvll sent to the hing of Enghmd about Irdand, 

CHAPTER XVI. TO CHAPTER XVIII. 

Copy of letter sent by the kings and nobles and hishops and pre- 
lates and dergy of Irdand with one aceord to the svpreme 
poniiffin answer to the aJbove. 

CHAPTEE XIX. 

Taking of the tovm of Berwick hy Thornas Bandolph. 

In the year 1318 Thomas Sandolph earl of Murray wasted 
the northem parts of England ; and the same year, on the 28th 
of March, the town of Berwick was taken by the Scots, after 
having been for twenty years previously in the hands of the 
English. The same year, on the 14th of October, was fought 
the battle of Dundalk in^ Ireland, where fell Edward Bmce, 
brother of King Bobert Bruce and king of Ireland, and many 
nobles of both Ireland and Scotland with him. He was a high- 
spirited man, and would not live with his brother in Scotland, 
because he thought it was not big enough for two. He was 
indeed a bold and warlike man, and veiy successful against the 
English; and therefore aU the kings of Ii-eland elect^ him 



188 THE BOOK OF PLUSdARDEN. BOOK IX. 

monarch of Ireland, on account of his singalar yalonr against the 
devices of the English. But alas 1 he was too precipitate and 
rash, as was shown on that day of his death. If he had waited 
until the next day, his brother the king of Scotland would have 
come to his rescue with a large army. All the wise men say 
that no dominion, or power, or courage, or surpassing superi- 
ority could last or prosper without the understanding of the wise; 
for a ruler without discreetness and understandmg is like a 
great fire kindled in a house, which soon consumes eveiTthing. 
The same year the new church of Saint Andrews was dedicated, 
when Kobert Bruce king of ScoUand was present in person ; 
and, out of reverence for the blessed apostle Saint Andrew, he 
bestowed the church of Foigoimde^® upon the said monasteiy 
of Saint Andrews in augmentation thereof, in perpetual memoiy 
of the great favour aud victory lately granted to him in the 
encounter at Bannockburn. Again, for the same reason and 
cause, WiUiam Lamberton, bishop of Saint Andrews, gifted the 
churches of Dervesy and Abercrombie and the church of Eil- 
gour, near Falkland, to the said monastery. The year before, 
however, died Marjory Bruce, daughter of King Eobert Bruce 
and mother of the elder Eing Robeit. In the year 1319 
Eang Edward of England besieged the town of Berwick ; but 
he was seized with fear when none pursued, and of his own 
accord went home again in shame. Thereafter^ Thomas 
Sandolph earl of Murray ravaged with fire and wasted the 
nortthem parts of England as far as Wetherby. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Tfie Black Parliammt of ScoUand. 

Ik the year 1320, at the beginning of the month of August, 
Eing Bobert of Scotland held his parliament at Scone, where 
the countess of Strathern and the lord of Soulis were found guilty 
of the crime of high treason, having confessed conspiring against 
the king, and had sentence of perpetual imprisonment passed 
upon them. But the lord of Brechin, who, in the warlike 
expeditions against the unbelievers,,used to be called the most 
valiant flower of chivalry, only because he held his peace 
about the conspiracy, neither revealing ndt agreeing to the 
treason, was, together with a certain traitor Gilbert Malar^^ and 
John Logie, knights, and Bichard Broun, esquire, drawn at a 
horse's tail and beheaded with the others. Eustace Maxwell, 
Walter B^lay» sheriff of Aberdeen, and Patrick Giaham, 



THB BOOE OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOE IX. 1 89 

knights, and Hamelin Troup and Eufitace Ruthirwyne (Rattray), 
esquires^ were found not guilty of this crime. After the death 
of Soger Mowbray^ his dead body was brought thither; and, 
conspiracy having been proved against the said Boger while he 
was in the flesh, after his death his dead body was ordered to 
be drawn by horses, beheaded and hanged on a gallows. The 
king in his clemency, however, left hiin to the judgment of 
God, mitigated the sentence, and sent back the body for 
Christian buriaL At this period, on the 17th day of March, 
legates apostolic were sent to the king at the town of Berwick 
to exhort him to deal more mildly with the English and^ for 
the love of the pope, keep from destroying them even until 
the pope should be acquainted with the cause of their quarrel ; 
and the king received these ambassadors kindly. But, when 
the magnates of Scotland heard about these ambassadors, they 
assembled at Arbroath and wrote to the lord pope with aU 
haste, in order to be beforehand with the legates; and this 
letter is entituled as follows : — ^^ 



CHAPTER XXL 

Tht hing ofScotiand goes across to England, 

Ik the year 1321 the earl of Murray destroyed the northem 
parts of England as fSEv as Durham with fire and sword ; and 
the following year King Bobert of Scotland made his way into 
England with the strong hand, on the Ist day of July, and 
destroyed the northern parts of England aforesaid as f ar as 
Stanemore, together with the county of Lancaster. After he 
had marched back into Scotland, Edward king of England 
made his way into Scotland on the 12th day of August with a 
large army, both horse and foot, and with a naval force and 
strong body of soldiery, and came as far as the town of 
Edinburgh with the object of engaging the king of Scotland. 
His army was reckoned at a htmdbed tiiousand men-at-arms.^^ 
The kingy however, very wisely declined an engagement for the 
nonce, and commanded all cattle and goods whatever to be 
swept away out of their path and hastUy driven ofT; so that 
they found little to eat beyond what they brought with them» 
and almost died of hunger. For the foraging parties brought 
in nothing at all for the armies to eat but one lame bull which, 
by reason of its infirmity, could not be driven off with the herd 
and was left alone in a field. Therefore it was told the king 



190 THE BOOK OP PLUSCAEDEN. BOOK IX, 

of England that meat had never sold so dear ; for the earl of 
Warenne and many English nobles fell in battle in this cam- 
paign." On the way, however, the monastery of Holyrood was 
sacked, as also the monasteiy of Melrose, two blind monks of 
this place being killed and many monks mortally wonnded. 
Moreover the monasteiy of Dryburgh was entirely burnt down 
and consumed, as were also a great many sacred places. The 
same year King Bobert penetrated into England as far as the 
city of York, laying everything waste, both monasteries and 
towns and castles, and consumed it with fire and sword. But 
King Edward met him with a very large army of English and 
French and Normans and other mercenaries, and was forced to 
retreat and routed, many of the mightiest of his host being 
taken and imprisoned, and ransomed for large sums of money. 
And thus he went home again safe and sound with the palm 
of victory in the war. In the year 1323 the alliance between 
the kings of France and Scotland was renewed by a solemn 
embassy ; and also at the court of Rome, by the foregoing letter 
sent by the barons of Scotland to our lord the pope to bring 
about unity aud concord with the church of Bome and oppose 
the iniquitous representations of the English, whereby it had 
been sometime wickedly interrupted. When all this had been 
happily settled and arranged, unto us a child was bom and 
unto us a son was given — David, the future king, at Dunferm- 
line ; and his birth brought joy to the whole kingdom. 

Then follows how a queen of England, at the head of hired 
soldiers, imprisoned her husband, caused many nobles to be 
condemned to a most ignominious death, and ordered a bishop 
of England to be hanged. In the same year in which Edward 
II. was imprisoned, Edward m. was crowned king. 



CHAPTEB XXII. 

King Dwmd Bruce. 

Ik the year 1326 the whole clergy and the barons of Scotland 
met at Cambuskenneth and did homage and swore fealty to 
King David, King Boberfs son, as the future king, and also to 
Bobert Stewart, the son of the daughter of the sedd King Bobert 
Bruce, in case the said King David died without children of 
his body; and there also sir Andrew Murray married the 
lady Christina Bruce, the king^s sister. The following year 
messengers of peace were sent by the king of England to the 
king of Scotland under a false show of peace, pretending peace 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGARDBN. BOOK IX. 191 

and feigning to treab for concoid; but, though they met re- 
peatedly^ nothing came of it. At length their falseness was found 
out, and the Scots entered the northem parts of England iu the 
month of July^ and devastated the whole district with fire and 
sword. Again the same year, in the month of October, the earl 
of Muiray and James Douglas entered England with a strong 
army and inflicted much damage on the enemy. They afber- 
wards encamped in a certain narrow place which is called Wear- 
dale ; and lo ! the whole force of men-at-arms of England made 
their appearance over against them in their path^ but did not 
approach them ; and they posted themselves around them and 
hemmed them in, being in number about 100,000. There they 
stayed for eight days. ever in sight of each other, and sorely 
harassed one another with mutual attacks and slaughter. At 
lengthy however, the Scots, like wary warriorsy seized an oppor- 
tunity at night and, having struck down, captured and slauia 
great many of the enemy, got home again safe and sound. The 
same year, a few days afterwards, the king besieged the castles 
of Norham and Alnwick. • After these things ambassadors were 
again sent by the king of England to the king of Scotland at 
]&iinburgh to conclude a lasting peace; and here, after the 
many hazards of war» they treated for a permanent peace and 
came to an arrangement which was to endure for all time and 
was ratified by all the barons, clergy and lords and all others 
whom it concemed; and further, fdr the damage and injuiy 
done' to the king of En^and, the king of Scotland paid the said 
king of England 30,000 merks. Moreover, to the end that this 
peace might continue in so much the more friendliness and 
graciousness, the king of England handed over his sister Joan 
to the aforesaid king of Scotland for his eldest son Prince David 
to marry ; and she was actually married to him in the year 
1328 at Berwick, the girFs mother being present Her father 
Edward of Camarvon had died previously, and thegirFs brother 
Edward of Windsor, though alive, was not present Oh, how 
much pride and exultation there were then in Scotland, after so 
much hardship, tongue cannot utter nor pen describe. That 
country for the time revelled in manifold delights : for, by the 
aforesaid treaty of peace, the aforesaid Edward king of England, 
for himself and his successors for ever, quitclairaed to the afore- 
said King Sobert and his successors, and freely, fully, peacefully 
and quietly resigned for ever all right and claim, pretended or 
tme, which he or his predecessors in time past had, or claimed 
to have, to the throne of Scotland, whether justly or uigustly. 
In token whereof he handed over to the aforesaid Eing 
Sobert many instruments and proofs sealed with his seal and 



192 THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK IX. 

approved and ratified in fuU parliament of England. It was in 
consideration of the resignation and surrender of this right, and 
as satisfaction for the damage done, that the aforesaid 30,000 
marks in cash were paid. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
Deaih of Kmg Bcbert Bruce. 

In the year 1329^ on the 7th of June, died that most noble 
King Bobert Brucey that most invincible prince, at Cardross, 
in the twenty-fourth year of his reign. The same year^* died 
Walter Stewart, son-in-law of Xing Bobert Bruce, and father 
of Bobert Stewart, the future king. In the year 1327 died 
Elizabeth queen of Scotland, mother of Kiag David and wife 
of the said Bobert Bruce ; and they are both buried at Dun- 
fermline. 

Here follows a copy of the letter of renunciation, resignation 
and surrender of the claim put forward by the king of England, 
in the following form : — 

To aU who shall inspect these presents Edward, by the grace 
of God king of England, lord of Ireland, duke of Aquitaine, 
health everlasting in the Lord Whereas We and some of Our 
predecessors, kings of England^ have endeavoured to possess 
Ourselves of the right of govemment, lordship, or supremacy 
over the kingdom of Scotland, and the kingdoms of England 
and Scotland have been very long afflicted by fearful and 
hazardous wars made on that account^ We therefore, having 
regard to this havoc and slaughter and the numberless atroci- 
ties and destructions of churches which in various ways mutu- 
aUy befell the inhabitants of either kingdom by reason of these 
wars, and the wealth wherewith both kingdoms would abound, 
from their mutual profit, if allied in a permanent and stable 
peace, and thereby more firmly secure against hurtful attempts 
to rebel or make war against them either intemaUy or exter- 
nally, do desire and grant by these presents, for Ourselves and 
Our heirs and successors whatsoever, by the common consent 
and advice of the prelates and lords and communities and 
barons and earls of the said kingdom in Our parUament, that 
the kingdom of Scotland, according to its true marches and 
boundaries, such as they were and were maintained in the days 
of Alexander of happy memory, the last deceased king of 
Scotland, should remain for ever whoUy, freely and unburdened 
in the hands of that great prince sir Bobert Bruce, by the grace 
of God the iUustrious king of Scots, Our very dear fiiend and 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGABDEK. BOOK IX. 193 

ally, and to his heirs and successors, separate from the kingdom 
of England in all things, and without any vassalage, servitude^ 
claim, or liability. And whatever right We or Our ancestors 
in times past have claimed or shall in any wise claim to the 
said Mngdom of Scotland, We hereby renounce in favour of the 
aforesaid king of Scotland, his heirs and 8ucce6sq;rs, and forego 
it in his favour for ever by these presents. Moreover We, for 
Ourselves, Our heirs and successors, altogether and utterly cancel 
all bonds, covenants and agreements howsoever or whatsoever 
and at whatsoever time entered into with Our predecessors by 
any king, inhabitant, cleric, or layman of that kingdom of Scot- 
land, as to the vassaJage of the said kingdom or its inhabitants. 
And whatever letters, or charters, or deeds be hereafter found, 
in whatever place, drawn up as to contracts, bonds or covenants 
and agreements of this kind, We desire that they be held quashed, 
invalid, null and void and of no force or moment. In witness 
whereof Our seal is appended to these presents at London/^ in 
Our full parliament. 

CHAPTER XXIV, 

Copy of an eTUailformerly dravm up touching tKe hereditaty rigkt 

to the throne of ScotUmd. 

In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity, the Father, 
the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen. In the parliament held at 
Scone, in the year of Our Lord 1318, on the Sunday next after 
St. Andrew's Day, by Eing Bobert, our most illustrious king, 
where, among other business of the kingdom, the common weal 
and the safety of the realm were publicly deliberated upon, it was 
settled, agreed and ordained as foUows by all the whole of the 
inhabitants of the realm : namely that, if the king died childless, 
Bobert Stewart, son of Marjoiy the said king^s daughter, and 
begotten of Walter Stewart, should succeed him ; and this was 
unanimously f^reed to by all. Also it was unanimously agreed 
and ordained that, if the heir should be under age at the Mng^s 
death, Thomas earl of Murray should have the care of the said 
heir and the leins of govemment and the charge of the kingdom 
and the people, with the consent of all and sundry, until 
the king came of age ; failing whom, that sir James Douglas 
should have the direction and govemment of the aforesaid heir 
and kingdom, with the consent of the king and all and sundry 
others, even until it appeared to the three estates of the 
realm that the f uture heir ought to be duly equal to the govem- 
ment of the realm. This charge, govemance and direction the 

N 



1 94 THS BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK IX. 

aforesaid persons named there undertook upon oath, when the 
time should come ; and on this point they took the great oath, 
laying their hands on the gospels^ faithfully to do, arrange and 
sacredly observe all this and each article severally, for the good 
of the king, kingdom and people, as is the custom for kin^ and 
rulers to do. ^Furthermore, wnereas on some past occasions a 
question had been raised, though without sufficient groimds, 
by certain persons as to the law by which the succession to the 
throne of Scotland, if perchance it were not dear, ought to be 
decided and judicially settled, it was therefore declared and 
laid down in that same parliament by the clergy and people 
that the said succession ought by no means to be settled or to 
have been settled by the custom in force in inferior fiefs or 
heredities in the kingdom, if no custom have yet been intro- 
duced as to the succession to the throne ; but that the next 
male descending in direct line at the time of the last king'8 
death, or even, failing a male, the next female in the same line, 
or, failing such line altogether, the next male in the collateral 
line ought, without let or hindrance whatever, r^ard being had 
to the right in blood whereby the right to the throne was com- 
petent to the deceased king himself, to succeed on the throne 
the king the succession to whom might happen to be in question : 
and this is deemed to be quite in accordance with imperial law. 
And for the f aithful observance of all and sundry the premises 
in time to come, without falsehood, fraud, f abrication or deceit, 
the bishops, abbots and priors and the rest of the dergy, 
in the form of oath by law appointed for them, and the earls, 
barons, knights, and freeholders and the rest of the community, 
lajdng their hands on theholy gospels and the relics of saints, 
took the great oath of the sacrament ; and in testimony of the 
foregoing they directed their seals to be put to these presents. 

Note that a herald of the king of England, at a solemn festivaly 
before everybody, was publidy asked by King Edward who, 
according to his verdict, was the most honourable, the most 
admiiable in knightly gallantry and in warlike deeds and in 
goveming a kingdom and also in perseverance in battling with 
his foes, both in his poverty and in the excellence of his might, 
and in the end irresistibly overcoming the enemy with a force 
small by the side of the incomparably larger force of the enemy 
— who of all living that he knew of in the chivaliy of Christen- 
dom could truly and reasonably be called the mightiest while 
he lived So this herald, repeating the remarks of some present 
who said the Emperor Henry, while others said sir Giles 
Dargent, a Frenchman, was the most gallant and mightiest 
and most approved, this herald said openly before eveiybody 



TH£ BOOE OF PLUSCAKDEN. fiOOK IX. 195 

that the most peerless and gallant^ the most daring and 
mightiest in warlike deeds, was that invincible prince^ ^i^g 
Bobert Bmce ; and this he openly supported and made good by 
many arguments, and he offered to defend his opinion with his 
body. Hence he incurred the great displeasure of the English ; 
but he earned the respect and good wonl of the strangers who 
loved the truth. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

r 

The earl of Murray is elected gv/trdian — Other events at 

this time. 

On the death, as already stated, of that peerless prince Eing 
Eobert, Thomas Bandolph^ to whom had formerly been entrusted 
by parliament the care of goveming the kingdom during Eing 
David^s minority, mled the kingdom and administered justice 
so remarkably, justly, assiduously and creditably during the 
time of his govemment and guardmnship, that hia like is not to 
be found in the chronicles of the Mngdom. He introduced into 
the kingdom many most wholesome practices well adapted for 
the wel&re of the state^ such as that, if a highway robbery were 
committed, the sherifif of the district was to pay the purchase 
money if he did not pursue the robber. Accordingly at thi» 
time it happened that a nuserly husbandman, for the sake of 
gain, hid his own ploughshare and complained to the sheriff of 
having been robbed. The sheriff made it good to him in money ; 
but the trick was afberwards found out and he was hung. So 
this guardian gave many remarkable judgments and mled the 
kingdom most nobly in his time. He was at length poisoned, 
through envy it is said, and became swollen, and was at death's 
door^ when a traitor hastened to curry favour with the king of 
England by bringing him tidings of this ; whereupon the king 
assembled a mighty army and endeavoured to make hia way 
into Scotlandy sending, however, his standard-bearer to the 
guardian, on the feigned pretence of business, to spy out his 
doings and plight. Meanwhile tidings reached the aforesaid 
guardian that the king of England was trying to make his way 
into Scotland with a numerous army ; so he at once sent off 
messengers in every direction^ gathered together the forces of the 
kingdom, and prepared to march against him ; and he advanced 
to Colbranspeth, where he encamped and awaited the king of 
England, with his wonted prowess, ready for battle. Now, 
though he was carried to the placeon a litter, yet he bore him- 



1 96 THE BOOK OF FLnSCABDEN. BOOE IX. 

self bravely, arrayed in golden robes, while above him was 
stretched a golden tent, as is usaal with royalty ; whereat the 
enemy was mnch astonished, more than would be believed. 
Wherefore ambassadors and heralds were sent to gain knowledge 
of the truth^ as aforesaid ; and, when they saw the guardian 
arrayed in golden robes and sitting in the tent on a chair in 
roysd apparel — and^ though stricken with illness, yet, with a 
cheerful countenance and with a good colour in his face, and 
surrounded by the nuumates, he heard these ambassadors and 
had an aniJted confeisati^n with them, with anawers vety 
much to the point ; and^when the aforesaid heralds withdrew, 
he gave them theee same robes of gold and silk wherewith 
he was arrayed; and for this he was greatly praised and 
glorified When the heralds were withdrawing, he said to 
them, '' I thought you came hither to hurry on our affair, for 
we quite expected the arrival of your lorii the king here. 
Kevertheless, retom to your lord and tell him that, though we 
arrived here suddenly and without preparation, and he set 
about invading us after long and mature deliberation and previ- 
ous thought, tell him that to-morrow, at the hour of hearing 
causes, we will not await his coming, but will meet him half- 
way, Gk)d and Saint Andrew granting it." Thereupon he gave 
the said herald the whole of the array in which he sat aud tiie 
golden robes hanging about him, and sent him off to his lord, 
directing that he should be escorted safely. But when the king 
heard this, he was greatly troubled, and penetrated no further 
into Scotland for the time ; but he tumed about and marched 
home aintin most ingloriously. Meanwhile the aforesaid 
guardia^ hearing thitTand behig lacked beyond measnre by 
disease, had himself brought over to Musselburgh, where he 
took the saving sacraments and shortly went the way of all 
flesh in great devoutness and happiness. 



CHAPTEE XXVI. 

i/ames Douglas carries ihe king^s heart to ihe Holy Land. 

While Eing Sobert was on his deathbed, he desired that his 
heart should be taken and carried by James Douglas to the 
Lord's Sepulchre ; and this was accordingly done. This noble 
knight, with many others, ended his days among the enemies of 
the holy cross. However, after Thomas earl of Murray, of 
cherished memory, had ended his days, the said James Douglas 
took upon him the govemment of the kingdom, as had l^n 



THE BOOE OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 197 

ordained by a resolution in parliament. WMle he was in 
power a certain traitor of the nanie of Twynam Laurison was 
prosecuted as his wickedness deserved, and withdrew to Eng- 
land ; and from England^ on account of the seriousness of lus 
crime^ he went on to France and, passing over to Edward 
Balliol, said to him, '* Behold, my lord Idng of Scotland, the 
time has come for thee to reign ; but, if thou do not fall in with 
me, thou shalt be proclaimed by all as the most unhappy of 
men. For Bobert Bruce, that strong usiumer of thy throne, 
is dead, and his son is a youth under age and could not put any 
obstacle in thy way : for the earl of Murray is dead and James 
Douglas, who had been allowed to assume the govemment of 
the kingdom, has set out for the Holy Land with the king^s 
heart. If therefore thou would fall in with my plan, thou 
wouldst easily be able to regain the djadem of thy kingdom, 
which is thy due. Thou knowest about the death of many 
nobles put to death at the Black Parliament : their kinsfolk 
will readily flock to thee and lend thee aid. The king of Eng- 
land will willingly rise and help thee. Tberefore lift up thy 
heart and be strong in thy right and act manfuUy, and caU 
upon thy friends to help thee, and reign long and happily." 
And thus the unhappy man, who would never have inclined 
his heart to such a scheme had he not been egged on by the 
above-mentioned traitor Twynam Laurison — and thus, proceed- 
ing to the king of England, he craved his assistance -in the 
aforesaid matter and stayed with him a little while. Mean- 
while the king of Spain proceeded to the Holy Land, taking 
over the noble James Douglas with him ; and that invincible 
king gained many victories and retumed home safely. But 
James Douglas lost his life there. He who wishes. to know 
more about this matter, let him tum to the legend of the said 
peerless prince composed in our vemacular, where he will 
find it at length. The said Thomas Bandolph died on the 
20th of July 1332 ; and after his death Donald earl of Mar 
was, by the common consent of the kingdom> elected guardian 
of the kingdom, and undertook the charge. The said Thomas 
Bandolph was buried at Dunfermline, in Saint Mary's chapeL 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

Edvnrd BallioU 

BuT, after Edward Balliol had thus come to England, he 
found in England many nobles of both Scotland and England 
who said they had been wrongfuUy despoiled of their inherit- 



1 98 THE BOOE OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOE IX. 

ance at the Black Farliament and at other tinies; and the 
chief of these were David earl of Athol, the Ciimyns, the 
Talbots and the Mowbrays, as-also Heniy Beaiunont, a man 
of a haughty spirit and great wisdom. At their instauce 
they made a compact between them, before the death of the 
said Sandolph, the goardian; but throngh fear of him they 
delayed setting to work. For the said Henry used veiy often 
to say to them that it would be strange if the Almighty 
Lord, who is just and loves justice and whose countenance 
beholds equity, let so just a judge, who followed equity, 
be worsted in battle or vanquished in war. Therefore, 
meditating iniquity in their hearts, they had him poisoned by 
a corrupted English friar, his intimate friend and chaplain. 
But David was a youth under age when the said earl of Mar 
was elected guardian of Scotland ; and new§ reached him that 
Edward Balliol had arrived in the Firth of .Forth on the 
31st of July, with his armed fleet; and on the 8th day " of 
that month he landed at Kinghorn with his force of men-at- 
arms, who were not above 500 in number, or thereabouts. He 
was met by Alexander Seton who led on a few men and 
who, wishing to ofier as brave a resistance as possible, was 
there slain together with four or five nobles. Then he 
advanced on Dtmfermline and, after visiting the monasteiy, 
retired to Duplin Muir. Here an important battle was fought 
with the connivance of some nobles of the countiy, who 
pointed out the ford to the enemy by night, and many Scottish 
nobles fell slain, the said Edward remaining the victor. They 
began in the morning and went on fighting until the ninth hour. 
This is how it came about. When the rumour reached the 
ears of the guardians of Scotland, namely the earl of Mar on one 
side of the kingdom, to wit the northem, and the earl of the 
Marches, guardian on the other, to wit the southem, side of the 
Firth of Forth, they assembled the forces of the nobles of the 
whole kingdom, and the earl of Mar was at Ferth with 30,000 
men-at-arms, and the said earl of the Marches at Auchterarder, 
on one side of the Stratheam water, while the said Edward was 
encamped in the miller^s acre of Forteviot The latter, it is 
said, was bound by a vow to force the said town of Pertb by a 
siege to surrender, and intended afterwards to be crowned at 
Scone ; and he ordered his fleet to enter the mouth of the river 
Tay. But the said earl of the Marches had about the same 
number of the most powerful nobles of the kingdom as the 
other army which was waiting at Perth, namely 30,000 men-at- 
arms ; and, seeing the said Edward had so few in his army, 
those in both parties foolishly began boasting of their numbers, 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK I3C 199 

saying they would drag the tailed English by the tail and hang 
them. And thus, sneering at the smallness of their numbers» 
when night came on they out of ignorant recklessness posted 
no night sentries, but gleefuUy made themselves merry with 
wine and brag^ed that they would without any difficulty 
devour the whole English force on the morrow^ holding them 
cheap because of the smallness of their numbers. Thus, being 
without prudence and foresight, their disdainful pride was 
brought low by the small number of their adversaries, and 
thus, thinking they were wise, they were made fools of. For 
the WLse say it is better to be humble and anzious and to 
use foresight and care than presumptuously and proudly to 
trust in one's own numbers or courage and break down: as 
Solomon says, Before destruction the heart is haughty, and be- 
foi^ honour is humility. At length, however, the said Edward, 
being shown the way by some of the natives — ^the lord of 
Gask, it is said^® — crossed the ford in the silence of night. 
Crossing the ford at Gask, he fell upon the army at Duplin at 
break of da;^ while some were asleep, some uaarmed, enjoying 
themselves and playing and drinking and making merry, and 
slew many nobles. He was opposed by Thomas Sandolph the 
younger, earl of Murray, Muidoch earl of Menteith, Eobert. 
Bruce, son of the great king deceased, Alexander Fresale (Fraser) 
and many others. But, because the said guardian, the earl of 
Mar, who had just come up buming with eagemess for the fray, 
made too headlong an attack on the army and his ranks were 
broken, more died by being smothered than by the sword, falling 
one upon another in such numbers that so sad a catastrophe is 
not recorded to have happened for a long time past Here the 
said guardian and two other earls lost their lives through their 
own precipitateness, together with mAny noble knights both of 
the house of the lord of Errol, constable of Scotland, and of that 
of the lord of Graham and of many other nobles ;^ and Duncan 
earl of Fife was taken prisoner, together with many nobles and 
others, to the number of three hundred mailed knights, besides 
barons and earls ; and those who fell in the battle were over 
three thousand in number all told^ They then straightway 
marched to the town of Perth without any difficulty or opposi- 
tion, and Edward Balliol came to Scone and was crowned 
king in the usual manner by Duncan earl of Fife and the 
bishop of Dunkeld and others their abettors. At the same 
time he assembled there the abbots and priors and prelates 
of the kingdom who sided with them, from Fife and Fothryk 
(Forres), from Stratherae and Gowiy, and they made their 
submission to him, through fear rather than love* 



200 TH£ BOOE OF PLUSCAJU)EN. BOOK IX. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

King Damd Bruce goes over to Franu, 

The names of the magnatee who came from England to Scot- 
land with this Edward were Henry Beaumont^ the earl of 
Atboll, Henry Feners and his two brothers, Alexafider d% Mow- 
bray, Bichard Talbot, Walter Cumyn, Ealph Baroune and 
WiUiam of Stafiford : ^ and all who came from England were 
not over a thousand^ persons. Thereupon, however^ the 
same year, the friends of King David^ who was in his minority 
and not able to take his revrage, made him leave the kingdom 
to the rule and governance of sir Andrew Murray le Biche 
and retire to France, to the Idng of Erance^ where he was re- 
ceived with honour. ' He abode in that country eight years or 
more> and retumed to the kingdom of Scotland with his wife, 
the sister of King Edward of England, in the year 1341, when 
he was eighteen. It should also be noted that, immediately 
after the battle of Duplin, James Bane, bishop of Saint 
Andrews, betook himself across the sea through excessive 
grief. Subsequently, a short time after this, the town of Perth 
was taken by James and Simon Frisale (Fraser), and Duncan 
earl of Fife, the warden of the said town in the interest of 
Edward Balliol, was taken prisoner there, together with the 
said earFs wife and daughter. Among others they took 
Andrew Murray of Tulibardine, and doomed him to a traitor's 
most ignominious death. The said James and Simon Fresale 
afterwards levelled to the ground the walls of the said town 
of Perth. The year after the taking of Perth Thomas Ean- 
dolph,** the younger earl of Murray, and Archibald Douglas, 
brother of the noble James Douglas, with a thousand chosen 
men, assembled secretly in the town of Moffat; and, while 
Edward Balliol, who had brought tinder his allegiance sir 
Alexander Bruce, earl of Carrick, with many of the nobles 
of the country, both Galloway ^ and elsewhere, was spending 
the night in the town of Annand, they went to reconnoitre 
him, and the said Edward, being pressed by night by the 
hostile pursuit of the aforesoid earls and their retainers, and 
many of his men having been slain, took to flight with one 
leg booted and the other naked, on a horse without saddle 
or bridle, with only a halter on. Here Henry Beaumont, 
John Mowbray and WiUiam Cumyn^ were put to death, 
together with many other nobles of both Scotland and Eng- 
land; and here also the said earl of Carrick was taken and 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK IX. 201 

put to death*^ by the earl of Murray. But Edward Balliol, 
straightway after his escape, went to Edward king of England 
for help and succour; and the latter, like a base, faithless 
peijurer, breaking through the ties of the treaty of alliance 
and peace, and like a palterer with his oath and a breaker 
of his word, unmindful of his salyation and regardless of his 
own promise ratified by his seal and his oath, and against 
his own sister, promised him speedy succour, and quickly got 
together a large army, being joined by the Scottish partisans 
of the said Edward Balliol. So in the year 1333 the 
Scots, fearing the falseness of the English and hearing of the 
muster of £ing Edward, appointed sir Patrick earl of the 
Marches and sir Alexander Seton to guard the town of Ber- 
wick; and at the same time the guardian of the kingdom 
of Scotland was sir Andrew Murray le Eiche, in the absence 
of the king who was still in France. Now the said guardian, 
hearing that Edward Balliol had approached the borders of 
Scotland, himself went in haste to Boxburgh Gastle and, while 
pursuing the EngHsh too precipitately, as before, on the bridge of 
that place, was taken prisoner by the English and brought and 
presented to the English king Edward, who was himself in 
person hastening to besiege the town of Berwick with a large 
force of men-at-arms. At the same time William Douglas 
of liddesdale was taken prisoner at Lochmaben. But on the 
2d of April® the king of England settled down to the siege 
of the said town of Berwick with a very large force of men-at- 
arms, and besieged that town of Berwick from the beginning of 
April until the 14th of August;^ and on Saint Mary Magdalen's 
Day*^ was fought the woful battle of Halidon Hill, where a 
very great part of the nobles of Scotland were almost swept 
away, especiaUy of those who sided with King David. For, 
when the king of England had laid the siege both by land 
and by sea, and the Scotsmen had manfuUy defended themselvcs 
inside, setting fire to great part of his fleet and sinking it, the 
noble William Seton being drowned with the buming ships 
before the eyes of his father who was on the wall of the 
town, at length, fearing the king's maUce, the Scots inside 
offered to make terms on the understanding that, if no rein- 
forcements came to them from Scotland by a time Umited, 
they should surrender the aforesaid town to him the king of 
Englwd ; and Thomas Seton, son of the captain of the said 
town, was given by his father as security for tnis. Meanwhile, 
however, Archibald Douglas, caUed the Tineman, had been 
made guardian of Scotland immediately after the capture of sir 
Andrew Murray on Roxburgh bridge; and, being very war- 



202 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEl^. BOOK IX. 

like and high-spirited, he straightway assembled the whcde 
foTce of the men-at-anDs of Scotland who sided with King 
David, to the ntimber of sixty thousand, with whom he pnr- 
posed invading England, according to the decision of the 
councn, and laying it waste and consuming with fire and 
sword everything he could see, that thereby they might force 
the king to raise the siege in order to'^ give them battle. So, 
when they came in sight of the said town, they showed them- 
selves and their banners and standards to their countrymen on 
the walls of the said town ; and then, tuming aside without 
sending messengers to the besieged govemors of the said town 
to unfold their purpose, they were minded to enter England. 
The besieged, however, being in doubt, secretly sent messengers 
to them from Berwick and urged them to fight with the Eng- 
lish force, deeming them to be the stronger force. So, yield- 
ing to their advice, they unfortunately altered their mind and 
hsdted that night in a certain park of Donamis. But the king 
of England, hearing of this, came up to the gates before the day 
appointed in the said agreement for the town to be given up 
and surrendered, and demanded that the aforesaid town should 
be given up to him; and, because this was refused him, he 
straightway set up a gaUows before the gates of the town and 
hanged the aforesaid Thomas Seton before the eyes of his 
father and mother and of all the others who were in the town. 
Next moming, which was the Day of the blessed vifgin Mar- 
garet, they** marched towards the town with great display, in 
order of battle, and recklessly, stupidly and unadvisedly chose 
a battle-ground at Halidon Hill, where there was a marshy 
hollow between the two armies, and where a great downwaid 
slope, with some precipices, and then again a rise lay in front 
of the Scots before they could reach the field where the English 
were posted, with their troops skilfully and pmdently distri- 
buted and the vantage-ground well studied beforehand ; for in 
that place one champion was enough to overcome three. So, 
though they labour in vain, yet they attacked manfully and 
slew many on either side. At length the Scots, out of breath 
with climbing the above-mentioned hill, were forced to give way 
and scattered in flight, cut down and pitifiilly massacred, killed 
and taken prisoners and led off to the army of the king of 
England. Kext moming the king of England ordered them to 
kill all the prisoners ; and this was accordingly done, save only 
with such as were kept in concealment. Now the names of 
the chief nobles who were slain on the side of David Brace 
were these : Jame^, John and Alan Stewart, sons of the noble 
Walter Stewart and brpthers of Robert, afterwards king after 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 203 

Dayid; ATchibald Douglas, the afoiesaid guardian of Scot- 
land ; Hugh earl of Soss ; Kenneth earl of Sutherland ; Alex- 
ander Bruce earl of Carrick; Andrew, Simon and James 
Fresale, brothers ; and countless other nobles, whom it would 
be tedious to enumerate, and more pitiful than usefuL The 
number of the slain in this battle was, by the estimate of 
heralds worthy of belief, over ten thousand men. Immediatelj 
after the battle was fought, as aforesaid, the lord earl of the 
Marches and the lord Seton, being without hope of rescue, 
surrendered to the said king the aforesaid town of Berwick, 
together with the castle, the inhabitants being saved harmless 
in life, limb and property; and they tendered the oath of 
allegiance to him as their lord paramount. That earl was 
compelled^ by the said king of England to rebuild at his own 
expense the castle of Dunbar, which had been previously bat- 
tered to pieces. But within a few days afterwards Edward 
Balliol overran the whole kingdom with the forces of the king 
of England, subduing it and unsettling it and distributing 
ofiices and keeping in the hands of the EngUsh and of the Scots 
who embraced his cause all the castles and strongholds but 
four, namdy Dumbarton Castle, the warden whereof was sir 
Malcolm Fleming; Lochleven, the warden whereof was Alan 
de Vypont ; Kildrummie, the wardenship whereof remained in 
the hands of Christina Bruce; and Urquhart Castle, of which 
Thomas Lauder, who was called the 6ood, had the warden- 
ship; and there was also the stronghold of Lochdoun, the 
warden whereof was the venerable John Thomson. 



CHAPTER XXIX 

Leiter smt bt/ the lardpope to the hinga of France^ and of 

England for peace. 

In the year 1334 there came ambassadors from the king of 
France to Perth, to negotiate a peace between the kings of 
England and Scotland by command of the supreme pontiff 
Pope Benedict xn., with his letters-patent to the two kings, 
namely of England and of Scotland ; but the king of England 
would not deign to hear them, or even to see them. Aiter 
this, when other ambassadors of King Philip of France were 
again sent over to the kings of England and of Scotland, he 
would not hear of peace and concord between himself and the 
said king of Scotland. The same year, about the end of 
August, a misunderstanding arose at Perth between Edward 



204 THE BOOK OF PLUSOAHDEN. BOOK IX. 

Balliol, who took the part of sir Alexander Mowbray, and 
Henry Beaumont, David earl of Athol and Eichard Talbot, 
who were striving to thrudt the aforesaid Alexander out of his 
inheritance and bring in before him his brother's daughters, 
the true heiresses by the law of succession. By reason of 
this misunderstanding they parted and went their several 
ways, Edward to Berwick, Henry Beaumont to Dundarg 
in Buchan, the castle of which he repaired strongly, and he 
lorded it over the whole of Bachan; and the earl of Athol 
went to Lochindorb. Eichard Talbot, however, made for 
England; and, when on his way through I/)thian, he was there 
taken prisoner by the Scots of the party of King David on 
the 8th of September. But Edward Balliol, observing these 
things and wishing to be on the safe side, cast ofiT the said sir 
Alexander Mowbray; and, even as it is often said, "One 
man going out makes room for another coming in," the said 
Henry Beaumont and earl of Athol were restored to his 
good graces, and he infefted the said earl of Athol in all the 
lands of the Steward of Scotland for ever. The said Alexander 
Mowbray, however, fearing the power and fierceness of the 
opposite party, became a hearty supporter of sir Andrew 
Murray, who had shortly before been released from prison 
altogether on payment of a ransom. These, then, with their 
forces jointly besieged Henry Beaumont in Dundarg Castle 
for a time ; but the said Henry, seeing that, for want of prd- 
visions, he could not long hold the said place, on a safe-conduct 
being granted him, gave up the castle and retired to England 
with his wife and property, promising moreover to do his 
1>est to bring about peace and concord. Meanwhile Edward 
Balliol went about through the meadows and plains of Scot- 
land, wherever he pleased, bestowing the lands and domains on 
his supporters, and securely roamed hither and thither at wilL 
At length he came to Eenfrew, and in royal fashion distributed 
domains, lands and o&ces to such of his supporters as he 
pleased, and received homage from many freeholders who took 
the oaths to liim. Here were brought to him the keys of 
Kothesay and Dunoon, whereto he appointed as his lieutenants 
and wardens Thomas Wallor and the lord Lile, sheriffs^ 
of Bute and Cowell. But sir William BuUock he appointed 
as his chamberlain, a man of great wisdom, cleverness and 
prudence, a priest ; and he intrusted to him the charge of the 
castles of Saint Andrews and Cupar and many other strong- 
liolds. About the same time the young Kobert Stewart, the 
designated heir to the throne in the case already specified by 
the entail, who was fifteen years old, was stiU, for fear of the 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGABDE19. BOOK IX. 205 

enemy, larking in concealment in Bothsay Castle aforesaid and 
was deriving great comfort from/and having frequent conversa- 
tions with, two lovers of peace, friends of King David, namely 
John Gibson and William Heriot, then sojouming in the 
barony ; and they foond means to take him over to Dumbarton 
Castle, bringing with them the charters of Stewartland. The 
commandant of that castle was sir Malcolm Fleming, and he 
received Bobert with pleasure and gladness, and entertained 
him until he should hear better news. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

Siege of Lochleven Castle, 

In the year 1335, at the season of Lent, sir John Stirling, 
an Englishman, besieged the castle of Lochleven with a great 
host of men-at-arms, among whom were Michael Amot, David 
Wemys and Bichard Melville, knights, and many others who 
had been forced to submit to the king of England. They 
tiook up a position at Kinross, in the sacred cemetery whereof 
they fortified a position and strengthened it by walling it 
in with sods of earth and surrounding it with a stockade; 
and thus, not having 6od before their eyes, sacrilegiously 
despising and making light of the judgment of 6od, they 
lay there as in a robbei^s cave and laid waste the whole 
country round. At that time Alan de Yypont and James 
Lamkyn,^ a citizen of Saint Andrews, with a strong force of 
good and trusty men, garrisoned the castle. Accordingly the 
English dammed up the outlet of the water, with the view of 
fiooding the castle by an overfiow of water, and took up their 
quarters in the bay at the outlet of the waters, building their 
d wellings and pitching their tents there ; and they impressed all 
the inhabitants in the neighbourhood to bring ecurthen sods in 
order to block up the whole valley where the water fiowed out, 
80 that the water should rise to the top of the castle and drown 
all who were in the castle. But the righteous Lord, who bows 
down the neck of the sinful, deliyered them out of the snare 
t)f the fowler ; and they themselves fell into the pit which they 
had digged, and were drowned in the rush of water. For, 
as was said of old, like the covetous miser who too greedily 
piles up his stores of wealth, so water which has a narrow 
outlet, when it begins to gush out, widens the channel as it 
escapes ; and so it was in this case. The garrison, devoutly 
trusting in the blessed Servanus, plied him with prayers and 
besought his help against the devices of the enemy; and it 



206 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 

came to pass about the Feast of the blessed Queen Maigaret, 
whose festival was at that time yearly kept at Dunfermline 
with great honours, that the aforesaid knight John Stirling 
travelled to Dunfermline to see the festivities, leaving but few 
to look after the works. When the garrison heard of this, seeing 
the conflux of waters which, without some wise measures,they 
could not escape, and bearing in mind that, as above stated, a 
trifling opening at the beginning paves the way for a larger 
outlet in the end^ at night, when the watch were asleep, they sent 
over to the said place at the ouUet of the water some bold and 
skilful men in a boat, with tools to open up the outlet of the 
water ; and these dug through the dam of the walled-up outlet 
at break of day, malmig at first a small passage for the water, 
which afterwajxls increased and widened the said outlet of the 
water and overflowed in such quantities that they scarcely 
managed to escape with their lives because of the flow of water 
against them when they made for the castle. So that channel 
got laiger and laiger, and the water washed down the whole 
wall of the dam and straightway burst out with such a rush 
that all the dwellings, barracks and tents of the English and 
all their inmates and their goods were swept away to the sea 
by the rush of waters, and went to the bottom; and the 
violence of this flood gladdened the city of God. But so sad 
was the destruction of the English there that few of those who 
guarded that outlet of the waters were lefb alive. 



CHAPTEE XXX L 

Same continued. 

Kow, when the English and their supporters saw this^ they 
were almost bewildered with fury, and crossed over the water 
to the stronghold in a fleet with implements and engines in 
readiness to attack the castle ; and the garrison of the castle, 
seeing this, manfiilly made ready against their assaults ; and 
they speedUy came to blows with one another, and many were 
wounded by axrows and other engines. The English, however, 
were at length forced to give way before the garrison, and the 
latter pursued them and broke into their stronghold and 
divided their spoils. So they retumed safe to the castle, 
covered with gkiy and briu^g witli them piovisions and 
arms. But, when the said kmght heard of this, he uttered a 
great vow and declared with the great oath that he would never 
retum from that siege imtil he had taken the castle and leveUed 
it to the ground and put aU who were in it to a most igno- 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 207 

inmious death. Wheiiy however, he came to the place and saw 
what was done, he broke his oa£b. and ingloriously retumed to 
England. The same y ear the king of England came to Glasgow 
with Edward Balliol and a large army, appointed the earl 
of Athol as his lieutenant-general and govemor and guardian, 
and commanded a large fleet of ships to enter the Firth of Forth ; 
and here a very large ship, which was called the Admiral of the 
aforesaid fleet, was wrecked on the rocks called the Wolves^ and 
all her crew were drowned. When, however, these arrangements 
had been completed, they went back to England. But David 
earl of Athol without delay summoned the freeholders of the 
Stewartlands, received their homage and oaths of fealty, and 
msuxshed off with a strong army into the highlands, where he 
took seizin in his own hands of all and sundry the lands and 
domains belonging to the Cumyns, and received the homage of 
the vassals; and no one, in whatever position he might be, 
divrst gainsay him, neither was there at that time any one 
in those parts who durst publicly own himself King David 
Bruce's man, save innocent babes, who with one accord used to 
tell those who asked them that they were King David's men — 
which was a foreboding of coming freedom. At this period 
Bobert Stewart remained at Dumbarton Castle, and could iU 
brook that the said Earl David should so deal with his vassals 
of the Stewartlands, which by law belonged to him, and shoidd 
thus lay claim to his patrunony. So he sent for a certain 
baron, his supposed friend, the lord of Argyll and Lochawe, 
whom his father trusted above all others, caUed Dougall Camp- 
bell, who gladly joined him with his whole forces. A few days 
afterwards they assembled their forces, to the number of four 
himdred men-af-arms, and with some engines straightway took 
the castle of Dunoon in CowelL Now when the natives of the 
country heard that their lord Bobert Stewart had thus entered 
the countiy, there flocked to him some fellow-countiymen of 
his from Bute, a people called the Brandans, who came to his 
assistance of their own accord. They were, however, cut off by 
Alan lile, the sheriff of the countiy, who hemmed them in on 
aU sides in a nairow pass and, unamed as they were, endea- 
voured to kill them without mercy. But these Brandans, see- 
ing themselves thus unarmed and surrounded by armed men on 
every side, and seeing there was nothing for it but to defend 
themselves manfully, posted themselves in a stony place and 
defended themselves by throwing stones with their hands ; and 
they there slew the aforesaid sheriff and many of the nobles of 
his army by showering stones upon them like hail, and forced 
the rest of his army to tum and flee in haste. Then they came 



208 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOE DC 

to their lord and presented to him the head of the said sheriff, 
and with the spoils of the slain they anned their comrades; but 
they asked of their lord nothing else as their reward bnt to be- 
come freed for ever from the slavish service and duty of multura 
This was gladly granted them, and they still enjoy this privi- 
lege. In this fight with stones John Gibson, the captain of 
Bute, was taken, and straightway surrendered to him the castle 
of Bute and did him homage as his natural lord. But^ as it 
became noised abroad that fortune was smiling upon him, one 
of his partisans of the name of William Garrathers, who 
had long been hiding in concealment with his brothers in 
Annandcde and had never allowed himself to be won over to 
allegiance to the king of England, on leaming this, gathered 
his friends and partisans together and betook himself to the 
said Bobert Stewart, who welcomed them gladly and was 
rejoiced beyond measure. In like manner also Thomas Bruce 
joined him with his best men, natives of Kyle. Thus his 
friends and wellwishers came to him daily from all parts, and 
his army waxed stronger day by day at their own expense. 
But the youth^ developing in age and character and virtue and 
strength, became comely in appearance beyond the children of 
men. He was large and tall in"stature, very merry and amiable, 
afifable to aU, kind and modest and honourable and bountiful ; 
and nature endowed him with so much inborn grace that he 
was cordially bdoved by aU his Ueges. 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

His siLCcesseSy and other Evewta. 

Meanwhile John Bandolph earl of Murray came from across 
the sea from Eing David, who was still Uving in France at a 
castle caUed Chaieau Galliart, and landed at Dumbarton ; and 
sir Robert Stewart received him gladly and with the greatest 
joy and pleasure. And thus the said lord's foUowing got 
larger, so that it did not suit him to remain stOL Therefore 
by toilsome enterprises daUy he within a short time subdued 
almost the whole countiy of Clydesdale, Eyle, Conyngham and 
Benfrew ; and he enticed and drew to him Ood&ey de Boss, 
sheriff of Ayr, and likewise attached to himself his own future 
earldom of Carrick. Thereupon it pleased the lords and the 
community of Scotland who sided with Eing David to appoint 
the said Bobert Stewart and the eairl of Murray guardians of 
the kingdom, promising to give them their personal services and 
aU manner of assistance. But the earl of Munay^ hearing of 



TH£ BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 209 

ihe foul cruelties and tyTanny of the earl of Athol, and how he 
had thrust himself by f orce into his lands and into the lands of 
the said Stewart, grieved for the calamities of the coontry and, 
assembling his fhends and partisans, went to the north country. 
Being joined by those of his own earldom and other nobles of 
the country, he surrounded the fugitive earl of Athol in a 
narrow place at Lochaber, and compelled him by force and fear 
to take the oath of fealty to him in King Dayid's name ; and 
he made him lieutenant and ruler of the whole countiy afber 
himself, so that^ being himself converted, he might the more 
easily reconcile others to owning allegiance to the king. While 
this guardian of Scotland^ John Bandolph earl of Murray, was 
on his way to Lothian, in order to bring over the men of the 
south to fealty to the king, there met him the noble William 
Douslas who had been leleased from captivity among the 
Engbsh ; and it would be impossible to recount and tedious to 
tell all the valiant and warlike deeds he achieved against the 
men of England. In those days the knight Alexander Kam* 
say, called the ilower of Chivaky, together with the lords 
Lawrence Preston and John Herring and the lord Haliburton» 
warmly embraced the cause of the suardians of the kini?- 
dom, id atruggled zoanMly against trEnglish power. T?e 
same year, 1335 to wit, the said Sobert Stewart held a parlia- 
ment at Dervesy (Dairsie) in Fife, together with John earl of 
Murray and other ms partisans ; and together with these there 
appeared there sir Ancbrew Murray likewise — who had been one 
of the guardians of ScoUand and had been taken while mw- 
fully defending himself on Boxburgh bridge^ and who had 
been released on payment of a laige lansom — Patrick earl of 
the Marches, Alexander Mowbiay and William Douglas, who 
behaved sensibly and quietly, and on the other hand David 
earl of Athol with a laige f orce ; and^ on account of the latter^s 
overbearing conduct» no good was done worth mentioning save 
in scorn ; for, though he stood by the Stewart with love and 
support, yet he held the earl of Murray and William Douglas 
in contempt, so that he became hateful to all who were there. 
By the waiy tact of the aforesaid men, however, they skilfully 
parried his utmost violence. And they came to a wise conclu- 
sion in the said matter : for while they were there, it was found 
that the king of England had arrived in Scotland with a great 
force both by sea and by land, and had brought Edward Balliol 
with him. 



I 210 THE BOOE OF PLUSCA.EDEN. BOOK IX. 

CHAPTEE XXXIII. 

SaToe cmtirmed. 

In the year 1335 aforesaid, on the 6th of July, the fleet of 
the king of England airiyed in the Firth of Forth ; and Edward 
of Windsor, the king of England, had with him a latge force of 
men-at-arms, fifty thousand, who came by land, and two hun- 
dred armed vessels.^ So this king advanced as far as Perth 
and pitched his tents and tarried there awaiting the arrival of 
the earl of Athol; and he plundered and laid waste all the 
lands in the surrounding neighbourhood. But one ship of the 
pirate fleet of England wiought much damage and foul rapine 
at the island of Inchcolm: and for this a public and cruel 
vengeance was taken before the 'departure of the fleet The 
sailors were driven to such straits by a storm, that at the 
island of Inchkeith they unloaded all the spoils and lelics and 
images which they had purloined and carried off firom the said 
place, and departed after making proper satisf action and obla- 
tion and asking forgiveness of the blessed Columba. So, after 
if they had made amends and sent over their spoils and offerings 

to that place, a strong wind filled their sails, and they reached 
a place called Saint Abb's Head in one run, and got back to 
their own country safe and sound. In these days John of the 
Isles kept up friendly relations with the English paity, and 
John earl of Murray, who was at Tarbert CasUe, used to have 
many discussions and disputes with him. When, however, the 
count of Guelderland airived in the south of Scotland with a 
strong army to help the king of England, the aforesaid earl 
quitted the north and moved thence and marched southwaids ; 
and, being joined by the earl of the marches, William Douglas, 
Alexander Bamsay and many other nobles of the kingdom, 
he f ought an engagement with the said count of Guelderland 
at Boroughmuir near Edinbuigh. Here many were slain on 
either side, and a certain wairior maiden of Guelderland, 
arrayed in knightly armour, had a bout with a noble Scot 
of the name of Bichard Schaw. On being killed by this 
Bichard Schaw, she was found to be a woman, to the great 
astonishment of aU. But, just as they of Gudderland were 
getting the upper hand, William Dougks and some nobles 
&om Pentland came up and put them to fltight as far as the 
^ town of Edinbuigh and into the street which is called Mair 
Winde (Saint Maiy^s Wynd) ; and they fled as far as the hill 
of the Castle of Maidens (Edinbuigh CasUe), which was then 



THE BOOE OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 211 

in Tuina, and established and fortified themselves on the said 
hill as best they could, making theniselves, as some asseit, an 
onter rampart out of the carcasses of the horses killed. Being, 
however, overwhelmed with himger, cold and faintness, they 
sorrendered to the said warden, their lives and property being 
spared; and, after paying a reasonable ransom, they shortly 
went home again. But, out of regard for the king of France, 
their ransom and spoilis were retumed to them by the said 
guardian^ and they departed &ee to their own countiy ; and 
moreoyer, their ships having been eent away. he in person ^th 
some of his noblea escorted the said coimt of Guelderland by 
land as fiEur as within the borders of the English marches. Here, 
on his way back, he suddenly came upon one Feter Peissy 
(WillUtm de Pressen), who with a strong aimy had been pillag- 
ing and was cariying off some booty from Scottish tenitory, and 
f ought with him ; but, as they were unaimed, the said guardian 
was taken prisoner by the English plunderers who were aimed, 
and was brought to the king in England. The brother of 
William Doudas,'^ James by name, was killed at that place. 
Thereupon, when the earl of Athol heard of the capture of the 
said guardian Muiray.he exulted with very great joy ; forhe 
hated him» as also sir WiUiam Douglas. Therefore, whereas 
he durst not publicly display his villainy while the guardian was 
at liberty» after his capture he set at naught all the supporters 
of King David, broke his oath of fealty and allegiance, and 
went straightway to Perth, where he perjured himself by 
swearing fealty and homage both to the king of England and 
to Edward Balliol, disr^arding all former engagements; 
and he promised to reduce all the magnates of the reeJm to 
obedience and fealty to them in a little. Thereupon he was 
made guardian of Scodand on their behalf. After this the 
refugeea who were disloyal to King David came back, the dis- 
mantled castles were repaired and fortified, and it would take 
long to go through all the tyranny and foul cruelties he prac- 
tised upon those loyal^ to the crown. Some he flogged» some 
he dispossessed, some he consigned to prison» some, finally, he 
put to the sword ; and, in a word, he ordered all freeholders 
who were loyal partisans of Eong David to be dispossessed and 
cast out of the langdom altogether. And first he would besi^ 
Eildrummie castle. Now there were at that time three mag- 
nates of ScoUand, sir Andrew Muiray, the lord earl of the 
Marches and sir William Douglas, who could in no wise be 
won over to all^[iance to the English or to Edward Balliol ; 
but they were allowed on sufferance as it were, to lurk in hiding 
and live in weariness, awaiting the coming of better days. 



212 THE BOpK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 

CHAPTEE XXXIV. 

Kilblein. 

BuT when sir Andrew MniTay heard that his eastle of 
Kildrommie and his wife and children were besieged, he 
gathered together the forces of his Mends the said earl of the 
Marches and sir William Douglas, to the number of eight 
hondred tiied men, and prepared to hasten to the aforesaid 
place; and they had an encoonter in Ejlblein forest on the 
30th of November, and there slew the earl of Athol himself and 
over five thonsand men. Among these there fell sir Bobert 
Brady and sir Walter Cumyn and his brother sir Thomas 
Cumyn, who was first taken piisoner and then beheaded. The 
rest, together with sir Bobert Menzies, were put to fiight; 
and he found shelter in the tower of Kenmore, where he was 
besieged and retumed to his allegiance to King David. But 
many of the lords of the countiy came to the said sir Andrew, 
as did also his friends and retainers from the said castle of 
Kildrummie and a certain noble knight^ sir John Craig, by whose 
wholesome advice all the nobles of the country who escaped 
from the confiict and who were with the earl, having been 
forced into allegiance to the English, renewed their oath of 
aU^:iance to King David and loade theii* submission to him 
through the aforesaid sir Andrew. No sooner, however^ had 
the said sir Andrew reached the castle of Cupar in Fife with 
the intention of laying siege thereto, than there suddenly came 
letters from the king of France ; so he put off the aforesaid 
siege for a time, and they held a council at Dunfermline, where 
all the lords and prelates of Eang David'8 party were unani- 
mous in electing hun guaidian of Scotland. Then he stiaight- 
way advanced beyond the highlands and brought the whole 
country into steadfast all^iance to King David; and he set 
himself to besiege the castle of Dunda^, Heniy Beaumont 
having shortly before fortified it and subdued the whole of 
Buchan. But the said Heniy made proposiAB for peace, his 
life and property being spared, and abandoned and destroyed 
the castle wd went away to England, taking the great oath he 
would never retum. In the year 1336 the said guardian of 
Scotland received the submission of all the lands and people 
of the highlands to King David, and made preparations against 
the castle of Lochindorb, where the wife of the earl of Athol, 
now deceased» was residing. She, however, sent letters to 
Edwaid Balliol and the lang of England for succour, and 



THE BOOK OF PLU8CABDEK. BOOK IX. 213 

the king of England at once raised an anny with the yiew of 
eiitering the land of Scotland^ both by sea and by land, to 
rescue the said coontess of Athol and subdue the whole northem 
tiact of Scotland to his sway. So, when the said king of 
England reached Lochindorb^ he brought away with him the 
aforesaid countess and her ladies ; and, on his way through the 
country as f ar as Elgin in Moray> he consumed it all with fire^ 
and he also laid waste the town of Aberdeen and levelled it to 
the ground. Moreover the English who remained on board the 
fieet in the Firth of Forth overran the whole land of Fife and 
Forres» and laid it utterly waste as far as the Ochil mountains. 
Coming to the church of DoUar, which is acknowledged to 
belong directly to Saint Columba, they found there the church 
just b^nning to be rebuilt, with carpenters at work upon it 
with choice and marvellous woodwork ; and these limbs of the 
devil canied away with them in their carts to the fieet the 
whole of the logs so fashioned, and stowed them in the afore- 
said shipe, in order to take them over to England for the sake 
of the wonderful and curious workmanship thereof. So every- 
thing prospered with these sailors until they came near the 
place of the said Saint Columba, which is called the Island of 
Emonia (Inchcolm), when suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, 
they sank in the raging waters at a very deep spot in front of 
the said monastery, so that nothing was ever afterwards seen 
of any of those who were in that boat in which these beams 
and logs from the church had been put This was noised 
abroad throughout England by the preachers as being a mira- 
culous retributioiL But, after the ^oresaid king of England 
had thus subdued all beyond the highlands by fire and sword, 
and had strengthened the strongholds of Dunnottar, Kinneff and 
Laurieston^ he at length came to Perth, which he ordered to be 
repaired, commanding six abbots to rebuild and fortify it. 
These, namely the abbot of Dunfeimline, the prior of Saint 
Andrews and the abbots of lindores, Balmerino, Cupar and 
Arbroath, he ordered to wall in the aforesaid town again very 
strongly with squared stones and mortar, and to a suitable 
height, with towers and gates and comices, at the expense of 
their monasteiies :^ and this was accordingly done. Now the 
building of this town entailed much hardship upon the afore- 
said places : for the prior of Saint Andrews paid two hundred 
and eighty marks of good money in cash for the building of one 
tower and gate. In like manner the abbot of lindores built 
the Spey gate and the tower wldch stands at the bend of the 
water, as a token whereof that tower is commonly called The 
Monk Tower to this day« Meanwhile the king of England 



214 TH£ BOOE OF PLUSCiHDEK. BOOK IX. 

ordered the castles of Leuchars and Saint Andrews to be 
quickly rebuilt by Henry Beaumont and his brother ; like- 
wise Stirling Castle by one William de Monte Acuto, com- 
monly called Montagu, who appointed there in his own stead 
Thomas Bokeby, knight, whose arms still remain on the walls 
of a certain tower; and Edinburgh Castle by John Stirling, 
knight, and Boxbuigh Castle by William Felton, knight. 
Moreover, when these things had been thus accomplished^ he ap* 
pointed one Thomas Urthred (Ughtred) captain in the said city 
of Perth; and so he retumed to England, thinking himself secure 
about Scotland. When therefore these matters had been thus 
settled as aforesaid, there met him at Perth a brother of hia, 
John of Eltham by name, who had, on his way through the 
westem parts of Scotland, consumed with fire the lands which 
his brother had lately brought back to his allegiance. He 
had bumt down the church of Lesmahago and slain with the 
sword all who had fled thither for succour; and he had also 
set fire to all the other churches in the neighbourhood and 
sufFocated and put to death all who had fled thither for safety ; 
and he had utterly destroyed the people. But when the king 
of England took his brother to task for this and rebuked him, 
on his brother answering haughtily^ he pulled out his dagger 
and stabbed him. And thus, in his anger, he left Edward 
Balliol in the said town and hastened home with all speed. 



CHAPTEE XXXV. 

Becovery ofthe casUes hy m/r Andrew Mwrray. 

The following year Henry Beaumont, to avenge his son- 
in-law the earl of Athol, who was slaiti at Eilblein, either cast 
into prison or put to a cmel death all who had taken part in 
the engi^ement in which he was slain ; whereby much inno- 
cent blood was shed. But the guardian Andrew Murray, as 
aforesaid, hearing of the departure of the king of England» 
captured the strongholds of Dunnottar, Kinneff and Laurieston, 
and levelled them with the ground ; and throughout the whole 
of the foUowing wiuter he lived in the forest of Platane and in 
other hidden places within the sheriffdom of Angus and 
Meams ; and, what with the attacks of the EngUsh aud what 
with his beating them back, the whole land of the Meams» 
Angus and Qovrry was laid waste. He then began again in 
the month of Febmary, and took and dismantled the stronghold 
of Einclevin. After this he took with him the earls of March 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 215 

and of Fife and William Douglas, and took and demoUshed 
the tower of FalUand and the castle of Saint Andrews, as well 
as the castle of Leuchais; and he marched on thence to Both- 
well Castle, which he likewise pulled down. For he had one 
engine,in the shape of a wooden tower, which was csLHedBoustour, 
from which, when it was set np, he would sap nndemeath 
while fighting and attacking from above, and no stronghold ever 
built in those days could withstand hLm* But, owing to its 
extraordinaiy strength, he had hitherto beea unwiUing to 
attack Cupar Castle, whose warden was that sir William 
Bullock, the chamberlain of the king of England, a valiant 
man. This guardian, sir Andrew Murray^ however^ in conjunc- 
tion with the forces of the aforesaid earls, repeatedly in the 
same year entered the territoiy of England and laid everything 
waste with fire and sword; and he carried off much plunder 
and riches^ and enriched his army beyond measure. Now by 
reason of the war there was a great dearth in the country that 
same year^ and great mortality from the exceeding dearth and 
famine ; and on that account many of both sexes took to flight 
and repaired to England and elsewhere. In the year 1337, 
on the 13th day of the month of Januaiy, Dunbar Castle was 
besieged by sir William Montagu earl of Salisbury and the 
earl of Anmdel, the leaders of the English king^s army ; and> 
though they were there half a year and assailed that castle 
with divers engines, they could in no wise prevail against it. 
Nor was there any other captain in command therein but the 
countess of the Marches, commonly called Black Annes o/ 
Du/nbar, who defended the besieged castle admirably ; for she 
was a veiy wise and clever and waiy woman. She indeed 
laughed at the English, and would, in the sight of all, wipe 
with a most beautiful doth the spot wheie the stone from the 
engine hit the castle walL The king of England, however, 
hearing that they had no success whatever there, sent a large 
army to reinforce them ; but their column was broken, put to 
flight and destroyed by sir Laurence Preston, who, however, 
was himself wounded in the mouth with a spear, and died on 
the field of battle, without the knowledge of his men ; and, 
through anger at his death, all the prisoners were straightway 
put to the swoid. The noble William Keith of Gkiston, 
also, with his army overthrew another troop which was coming 
to their assistance with sir Bichaid Talbot; and many of 
them were slain, and he took prisoner the aforesaid Bichard 
who afterwards ransomed himself for a very large sum. In 
short, thenceforth the English were so unfortunate, that within 
a short time almost aU those» of the nobles espedally, who had 



216 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 

been with Edward Balliol in the fight at Duplin were, by 
the judgment of the divine Majesty, adjudged in bonds into 
the hands of the lords of Scotland, their life and death being 
at their pleasure and in their power. The earl of Stafford and 
Edward Balliol himself had alreadj been put to flight ingloii- 
ously at Annand. 

, CHAPTEE XXXVL 

Same anUinued — Black Annes, countess of the Marchee, 

After this the earl of Salisbury, being annoyed at the severe 
defeats inflicted bj the Scottish nobles on the Englishmen who 
were cominff to his rescue, and wishinfif to assault the said 
castle more shaiply with moi« aerious ^tacks. had an engine 
constructed which in the vulgar tongue is called a sow, and 
brought it up to the walls of Dunbar Gastle. But when Black 
Annes saw this, she said to the said earl, '' Montagu, Montagu, 
f or all the power that thou may, or long time by pass, I sal gar 
thy 80W ferty again her wilL" And with this she made a very 
large engine in the castle, with a sling, shooting out enonnous 
stones which kept flying outside the castle walls night and day 
and shattered his aforesaid engine and almost all who were 
inside, dashed to pieces the heads of many, and compelled 
them to abandon the siege altogether ; and she captured and 
brought into the castle cdl their gear, engines and provisions, 
and slew many. Now the earl of Salisbury had two armed 
palleys guarding the harbour of the castle, to the end that no 
nelp or supplies might reach those within by sea. So a noble 
and valiant man, Aiexander Bamsay, ventured out to the strong- 
hold of the Bass one dark night, unperceived by the galleys, 
and brought back a supply of provisions from that place. For 
this he was deservedly praised and rewarded ; for on his way 
back, before he entered tbe castle, he overpowered and killed 
many of the foreigners who were watching and listening. On 
the following day Black Annes ordered a great quantity of her 
provisions, namely, wheaten bread of fine com flour and ex- 
cellent wine, to be presented to the said earl, who was himself 
in great want of provisions. When the earl saw this, he 
despaired of recovering the castle ; so, negociating through a 
go-between, he arranged with a certain gatekeeper of the 
castle to make over to him a large sum of gold in consideration 
of his opening to him, under cover of night, one of the secret 
postems of the castle for him and his army to come in. This 
was agreed with the consent of the countess, she pretending to 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGABDEN. BOOK IX. 217 

know notliiiig about it ; and one night, when part of the sum 
of gold had been received, the aforesaid door of the postem 
was opened, as was promised. But when the earl began to 
pass in, one of his men, Coupland by name, suspecting foul 
play, suddenly drew back his lord the earl from die entrance. 
From the rush he made at him, however, Coupland himself 
went headlong inside the gates of the postem ; and the gate 
was quicklj closed bj a faUing door, which is ealled Portmllis 
in French. And thus the ec^l escaped and Coupland was 
caught ; and Black Annes, standing on the wall, said to him 
mockingly, '' Adieu, adieu my lord Montagu." After these things, 
lo ! news came from the king of England that the deadly war 
between him and the king of France had been revived ; and 
this was lucky for the kingdom of Scotland : for, if the king of 
England had gone on with that war which he had undertaken, 
he woiild doubtless have brought the whole kingdom of Scot- 
land under his sway. So, on the 16th of June, when he saw 
the letter directing him to leave all without delay and retum 
to England, he suddenly retired iugloriously> without taking 
leave of his host. The same year also sir Andrew Murray, 
guardian of Scotland, besieged Stirling Castle ; but for certain 
reasons, both for fear of the English and because of the death of 
sir WiUiam Keith, who killed himself strangely with his own 
lance, he lefb Stirling Castle and besieged Edinburgh Castle. 
While he was busied there with the siege of the said castle of 
Edinbuxgh, the whole community of Lothian made their submis- 
sion to him in the king^s name, and for this, through the false- 
ness and deceit of traitors, both En^Iish and Scotch, there 
foUowed a woful destraction of the wfaole district of Lothian. 
At this same time one Bobert Prendergast, being insulted 
by the English in the castle of Edinburgh, IdUed one of the 
nobles, govmiors of the castle, and betook himself to William 
Douglas, whom he brought back secretly, in the stillness of 
night, to the town, where the English wpre lodged in great 
force ; and there he overthrew and slew the greater part of the 
English garrison of the said castle, to the oumber of eighty or 
more. A sailor of Donibristle also, wishing to bring across 
the water from Fife some of the gairison of the castle of 
Cupar in Fife, left them on a sandy hillock amid the rising 
tide, and so they remained there and were drowned. And 
thtts little by little the numbers of the English kept always 
diminishing, until tbey ,came to m ^nd altogetheT;. 



218 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK IX. 



CHAPTEE XXXVII. 

Death of the most valiant and most Tioble Andrew ifurraff, 

the guardian,s 

In the year 13S8 died the most noble sir Andrew Murray, 
guardian of Scotland, after he had retreated to the highlands 
from the siege of Edinburgh Castle. He departed this life 
on his own land, at a place called Davach, and was interred 
at Bosemarkie. He was a man of great valour and self- 
control, and much given to justice and blessed in works of 
mercy and the service of God; and he secured to King 
Dayid's sovereignty all the castles and strongholds north 
of the Krth of Forth but Perth and Cupar-Fife, After his 
decease King David's nephew, Sobert Stewart, the fiiture 
king, was made guardian of Scotland. Though a young man, 
he bore himself like an old man against the English nation, 
and ruled the kingdom most vigorously and nobly until King 
David's arrival &om France. At this time sir William Douglas, 
though not without much toil and trouble, drove out the Englisfa 
and restored the whole of Teviotdale to the .king^s sovereignty ; 
and, on account of his prowess, Henry of Derby and Lancaster 
commended him highly and desired to see him^ and longed to 
have an encounter with him hand t-o hand. This indeed did 
take place; but Douglas was wounded in the hand by the 
breaking of his own spear, and eould not complete the stated 
number of tilts. Afterwards, however, they appointed a time 
and place at Berwick, against sir Alexander Bamsay, then a 
most famous knight, twenty a side. There each chose a 
partner, and they went through three knightly tilts ; and there 
fell dead two knights of England and one of Scotland, whose 
name was John Hay, a most noble squire. But one Scottish 
knight, William Bamsay by name, ran an Englishman through 
the head and braii^ and pierced through both sides of Us 
helmet; and, when the latter had confessed himself and the 
lance was pulled out, he gave up the ghost in hamess. At 
that moment an Englishman called upon sir Patrick Graham 
for three knightly tilts ; and the said Patrick, in reply, said to 
him in jest and pleasantry, " My brother, if you want to have 
a bout with me, prepare to sup with Christ to-morrow." And 
it came about as was spoken in jest but prophetically ; for at 
the first thrust the Englishman was run through the body and 
died. Now sir William Douglas in his time suffered much at 
the hands of those villainous English and Anglicised Scots for 
the sake of the independence of Scotland. In the year 1339, 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCAKDEN. BOOK IX. 219 

the town of Perth was besieged by Bobert Stewart, then 
guardian of Scotland, who had with him the earls of Boss, of 
March, Mnrray, lord of Clydesdale,*^ and William Keith of 
Gfiston, with many others. Thomas XJther (XJghtred) was 
the warden of that town, and he had with him a good many 
Scottish adherents of Edward Balliol. At the same time came 
William Donglas from France, having been sent over by Eling 
David with certain armed vessels ; and they entered the month 
of the Tay, and blockaded the entrance to the river, thns 
rendering great assistance. He also bronght with him two 
able knights, to wit Giles Hay and John Brace. Meanwhile 
able envoys were sent to William Bnllock, warden of Cupar 
Castle and chamberlain and treasurer of Scotland on behalf of 
Edward Balliol; and, on money being given him and an estate 
promised him, the castle was surrendered, and he and his men 
became the liege men of the said lord Eing David; and he 
even joined Bobert, the guardian of Scotland, in the si^e of 
Perth with all his forces. In the end, after many hazards, 
they gained possession of the town by a friendly treaty, and 
the Engliflh were sent ofT to their own country. The following 
year there was great dearth and scarcity of provisions in 
Scotland ; and it is said that some took up their quarters in 
caves and fed on forbidden beasts, like dogs; — and even on 
children and women, as for instance in the case of one, Criste 
Cleik by name, who, with his beldame, killed and ate many 
children and women« But in the end they died, being publicly 
handed over to justice and put to an ignominious death. 



CHAPTEB XXXVIII. 

Siege of Stirling. 

BoBKBT Stewabt, therefore, after he had recovered the town 
of Perth, besieged and took Stirling Castle, in which, as already 
stated, was Bokeby, who, despairing of succour, seeing that such 
a war had broken out in France, made an arrangement as to his 
life and property being spared, and withdrew into England. The 
wardenship of this castle he bestowed upon a certain Maurice 
Murray, the lord of Clydesdale. Thus he marched through all 
parts of the kingdom, bringing back in a short time the whole 
of the country to Eing David'8 aUegiance and sovereignty, but 
merdfully forgiving those Anglicised Scots who had been 
forced into allegiance to Edwaxd BallioL He entirely pre- 
vented the poor from being oppressed by the powerfol, he 
fostered the peasants and made it his business to recommend 



220 THE BOOK OF PLUSGARDEN. BOOK VL 

and practise peace, justice and charity aiuong all men: 8o 
that within a short time the kingdom began to improve and 
prosper, and the church of God and divine service to flouriBh 
and recover its prosperity in religious and other orders of 
divine worship. Thus, through the prowess of Andrew Muiray 
and the energy and diligence of Sobert Stewart, the kingdom 
was, in a little while, advanced in eveiy excellence of justice 
and husbandry, and freed from the yoke of the English, except 
only Edinbuigh, Soxbuigh, Berwick, Jedburgh, Lochmaben 
and some little towers of moderate powers of resiBtance. In 
the year 1341 Edinburgh Castle was cleverly taken by William 
Douglas and William Bullock, by means of a maiiner named 
Walter Curry, with whom the lords William Douglas and 
William BuUock, together with William Fresail and Joachim 
Kinbuck, agreed that he should take with lum a number of 
tried men and post himself at Inchkeith in his vesseL Then 
he was to betsdke himself in person to the commandant of 
Edinburgh and say he was a merchant and had come firom 
England, in the interest of Edward Balliol and the king of 
Englaad, to his assistance with supplies of very good wine and 
com. Accordingly he there and then showed him a sample of 
the wine and com to see and tiy, and vowed he would freely 
give one cask of wine and another of com for his favour and 
protection, that no one should do him violence or wrong. The 
commandant gratefolly accepted them and retumed thanksy 
and eamestly besought the said mercha^t Curry to come at 
daybreak to the castle gates with the wine and com. Gurry, 
however, filled two casks, one with sand and another with 
water, and placed them in a cart, ready to start for the castle 
gate at daybreak; and in the dead of night he posted sir 
William Douglas and two hundred men-at-arms in ambush 
near the gates, while he arranged that he himself should be 
with two men weaiing concealed aimour, and twelve otheis 
were to follow him at a distance, as if they were marineis 
coming in like manner &om the ship. When these were seen^ 
the principal gate of the castle was opened without delay, Ihe 
cart passed in, and the gatekeei>ers were put to the sword 
on the spot Thereupon the twelve others hastened up and 
gave the alann to WiUiam Douglas and his army with the 
sound of a hom ; and until he came up they hotly defended 
the gates^ keeping them open, and slaying many. Then they 
marched right in, stabbed and killed many, and thrust otheis 
as priso^ers into the dungeons of that place. Whereat the 
townsfolk of tbat town rejoiced greatly, for they had long been 
kept in s^ibjection. go he entmsted the castle to the custody 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK IX. 221 

of William Douglas, his illegitimate brother, and went off to 
deliver other places. In this day flourished the noble knight 
Alezander Bcmisay who, with others, his dependents, per- 
formed manj brilliant exploits this side of the Forth on behalf 
of King David. The same year the earl of Salisbury was 
token prisoner in France and, bj the favour of the king of 
France, freely given in exchange for the earl of Murray, who 
had been captured while escorting the count of Guelderland to 
England. After his ransom, he and William Douglas and 
Alexander Ramsay peacefully governed the three borders of 
the marches with honour and great distinction, until the 
arrival of Eing David from France. 

CHAPTEE XXXIX. 

King DavvdHs Tetumfrom FraTice — His acts in the beginning of 

his rtUe. 

In the year 1342, peace and peaceful prosperity having been 
restored in the kingdom of Scotland, the guardians of the 
kingdom determined to send over an embassy to France for 
their king; and the king of France sent him over to his own 
country in fitting state, with two barges admirably armed and 
equipped. So Eing David and his wife Joan, sister of the 
king of England, landed safe and sound at Inverbervy, on the 
2d of June ; and all were gladdened by his arrival, and rejoiced 
with exceeding great joy, lighting bonfires and holding ban- 
quets in his honour with joy. The same year, on the 30th of 
March, sir Alexander Samsay took Boxburgh Castle by scaling 
it stealthily by night ; and for this reason King David conferred 
upon him the wardenship thereof, and put the whole of Teviot- 
dale under his rule, and made him sheriff. On account of this 
office, however, William Douglas held the said Alexander 
Bamsay in deadly hatred. But Eing David, now growing into 
manhood and waxing strong, on his first arrival in Scotland 
three times made a hostile raid into England, and wrought 
much mischiel The first time he laid it waste as far as the 
town of Penrith. Entering a second time, he girded some 
knights with the belt of knighthood, namely Stewart, EgUnton, 
Boyd, Craigie and Foularton ; and these were afterwards taken 
prisoners, and ransomed for large sums of gold. Again a third 
time he entered England, in like manner doing much 
damage/^ and got off safely. Wherefore, encouraged by these 
three raids, he thought he would subdue unto himself by 
force the whole countiy up to the river Humber. The same 
year^ on the 20th of June, while sir Alexander Bamsay, 



222 THE BOOE OF PLtrSGABDEN. BOOK IX. 

wishing to hold a court of the sheriffdom of Teviotdale, was 
awaiting at Hawick the coming of those snmmoned, there came 
upon him that imp of envy, William Donglas, with no small 
force of men-at-arms, and woimded him, who thought no evil 
of him ; and he carried him off with him and threw h\m into 
prison till he died. On account of this the king was very 
angry with the said William Douglas, both because he had 
done this sacrilege in a church^ violating and defiling it, 
and also because he had thus put to death an officer and 
councillor of his, in contempt of his majestj. Nevertheless in 
this the wise did much blame the k]ng's fickleness and change- 
ableness, as also his thoughtlessness and carelesaness ; for he 
had given the said office of the sherifBship first to the said 
William Douglas, and afberwards to the aforesaid Alexander 
Bamsay, without any cause of forfeiture of the said William 
Douglas; — ^whereby wise and prudent men were very much 
afraid of evil consequences befaUing the said kingdom, even to 
the length of such flagraut cases as the above ; for few were 
the things he did with mature deliberationy with the advice of 
the wise; but his proceedings were ofben headstrong and on 
his own opinion, without advice, as afterwards appeared. For 
the death of this Alexander gave rise to deadly warfare and 
endless feuds and lU-feeling among the lords of the kingdom ; 
so that, from the highest to the lowest, the whole country was 
disturbed by daily slaughter on either side, and the fiiends of 
either party would, like enemies, in tum murder each other 
and fall by cruel deaths by the sword. Sir William Bullock, 
again, who had done much good in the country, was, out of 
jealousy because he was wealthy, arrested through the injurious 
repoits of envious men and the king^s easy credulity, and im- 
prisoned at Lochindorb. After having been made Eing David'8 
confidential counsellor and chamberlain, he died of hunger like 
Alexander Bamsay; and from that moment the kmgdom» 
which was then in the highest prosperity, gradually sank from 
bad to worse, and fell into wretched poverty and want For 
in those days there was a very great pestilence among cocks 
and hens, so that no one dared eat domestic poultry, for they 
were looked upon as leprous throughout almost the whole 
kingdom. 

CHAPTER XL. 

Cressy — BaMle ofDurham in Scotland.^ 

In the year 1346 Philip of Valois, king of France, wrote to 
King David in Scotland beseeching him^ as his dear and alUed 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 223 

brother and friend, to make war with all his forces against the 
king of England on the marches of Scotland ; for he would find 
him, as it were his own man, ready to help him in like manner 
in all his difficnlties. So King David assembled his forces 
and held a council at Perth; and he gathered together a large 
aimy from all parts of the kingdonL Now the earl of £(X3S 
was lodged in Elcho monastery, while Banald lord of the Isles 
was likewise near thereabonts; and there existed an ancient 
fend between them. So the said earl of Soss sent some 
retainers of his in the dead of night, and cansed the aforesaid 
Banald and seven nobles, fiiends of his, who were in bed over- 
come bj drowsiness, to be pnt to death; and he at once 
retumed to his own countiy, and would not pass on with the 
king any fnrther. Whereupon the king was veiy angry, and 
his wratii was kindled to revenge the misdeed ; yet, neverthe- 
less, he was so warmly bent upon the enteiprise he had imder- 
taken, that he would not retreat, though he was advised to the 
contrary by his Mends; but he pressed on to the English 
marches with no small force, and took the stronghold of liddel 
and the warden thereof, and levelled the stronghold itself with 
the groxmd. Notwithstanding this, however, the king was still 
counselled by the advice of William Douglas, in view of the 
unfortunate murder of the said lord of the Isles, to retum and 
exact repaiation for the said wrong bef ore he penetrated any 
further into England. But this he briefly refnsed utterly to 
do ; andy contrary to eveiy opinion of the wise and prudent 
and of men experienced in war, he rashly deteimined to enter 
England, being actuated rather by thoughtlessness than by 
pmdence, and egged on and inflamed by the advice of some 
inexperienced youths who said, " The king of England and all 
his trusty men are now in France, and there is no one left 
in England but monks and priests, workmen and peasants; 
therefore we shall easily be able to pass through the whole 
countiy as &r as London." For it was the tmth that 
Eing Edward of Windsor and his son Edward Prince of 
Wales, with their whole force, were engaged in war in lYance, 
being opposed bv the king of France, likewise with his whole 
force, and with tne ki^gs of Bohemia and Maill^re (Majoica), 
who had come to his assistance with a good many of their 
friends. Now these had an encounter in a certain level 
place near the foiest of Cressy in Normandy, where these 
two kings and many nobles of France were taken prisoners, 
and many weie slam, while Philip king of France was put 
to flight The king of Scotland, therefore, unwiUing to fall 
in with the advioe of trusty men, but, as already said, inflamed 



224 THE BOOK OF PLUSCAEDEN. BOOK I3C. 

by youthf ul counsels, entered the territory of England and laid 
it waste as £ar as the city of Durham» destroying everything 
with fire and sword. It is said that Saint Cuthbert appeared 
to him in the spirit, asking and waming him not to enter his 
lands with his army, lest he should chance to rue it. He> 
however, heeded not the vision^ nor gave up the enteiprise; 
but he went on in his wickedness for a fortnight and more, 
thinking the kingdom of England was quite drained of men-at- 
arms. But he found out his mistake^ through ill-luck and his 
youthful counsels. For, while thus entering, invading and 
destroying church lands, no sooner had he come as far as the 
park of Beaurepair, near Durham, and posted his army there, 
than he came upon the bishop of Durham, on the 16th of 
October, with many other nobles and prelates of the district 
who had flocked to him in veiy great numbers, such as Henry 
Percy,** John Mowbray.Balph Neville, the lords Ferrers,Bokeby, 
Lucy, Coupland and Ogle, with a good many other knights, 
newly marshalled and ready for him. These were shortly to 
have gone ofT to France to reinforce the king of England ; but, 
on hearing the news of his coming, they put off their expedi- 
tion, and had, when requested, at once tumed back to help the 
said lords. So they were posted with the aforesaid chieCs in 
Auckland Park, about six miles distant firom the other park 
of Beaurepair, where Eing David was with his army. But 
the king in person lodged the whole of that night in the 
manor of the said place of Beaurepair, and next moi^iing, at 
break of day, he sent off sir William Douglas, who waa 
imaware of their gathering, to plunder the whole country with 
a certain force of men-at-arms, and bring in the booty to his 
army. The English chiefs, however, straining every nerve in 
preparation for the firay, chose as the field of battle a moor near 
Durham, called Beaurepair Moor; while the others appointed 
no guard of sentries that night, sleeping unconcemedly through 
all that night in the aforesaid park, and thinking to lay waste 
the whole land on the morrow, without any misgiving that 
they might come upon any fighting force. The English chiefs, 
on the other hand, had marshalled their men in tluee lines of 
battle ovemight, so that in the moming they were drawn up 
for battle without any confusion. William Douglas, however, 
being unaware of the approach of the EngUsh, hastened early 
in the morning with his band, as had been arranged ovemight, 
to phmder and ravage the country, and suddenly found himself 
unawares almost in the middle of the English army; and when 
the leading horsemen perceived the enemy drawn up in three 
lines of battle and ready f or the fray, they hastily retumed to 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDBK. «300K IX. 225 

KiDg David and Bhowed him how it waa So he quickly 
deployed in order of battle in like manner, dividing his men 
into three bodies, and at once marched on to the field without 
delaj. In the first line was the king in person ; in the second 
the earl of Murray and William Douglas ; and in the third the 
earl of the Marches with the Steward of Scotland. The Eng- 
lish, however, first attacked the earl of Murray and, not without 
immense slaughter, defeated and slew him; and there fell there 
with him many noble and gallant men. Then a very large 
body of fighting men, among whom were ten thousand aichers 
of the chosen bowmen of England, attacked the king, who was 
among hedges and ditched land ; and here many were taken, 
killed and put to death on both sides, and King David was 
taken by the same before-mentioned Coupland, who lost two of 
his front teeth from a blow the king dealt him; while the king 
was severely wounded by two arrows, the heads of which could 
not be extracted until he promised to go on a pilgrimage to 
Saint Monan. So, after many had been slain, taken and put 
to the swordy and others put to flight, the king was taken 
prisoner. But the earl of the Marches and the Steward of Scot- 
land, the king^s nephew, seeing what had happened, and having 
no hope of doing any good by waiting, retumed home in safety 
with many men. All men with one accord laid the blame of 
this victoiy on the plundering of churches. Now together 
with him there were taken the earls of Fife, Sutherland, 
Wigtown and Menteith; which earl of Menteith was afber- 
wards drawn by horses and put to a cruel death. And there 
were taken also William Douglas, Walter Haliburton and 
many other nobles and barons of Scotland, whose lansoms 
brought great poverty and scarcity of money on Scotland. And 
'there were slain John Eandolph earl of Murray, the earl of 
Strathem, Gilbert de la Hay, Gonstable of Scotland, as weU as 
the Marshal of Scotland, the Chamberlain of Scotland, the 
Chancellor of Scotland, the lord lindsay, Boger Cameron, 6il- 
bert lord of Inchmartin, William Fresail, Andrew Buttergask, 
John Bonneville, Michael Scot, all the foregoing beiog vidiant 
knights, together with many others whose names I do not know. 
Therefore kings and princes should follow the soundest and 
ripest counsels in their kingdom, and not yield to the advice 
of young men, lest haply they repent in the end, when they 
cannot mend matters. Soon after, in the year 1349, there 
broke out a universal pestilence almost throughout the whole 
world, which lasted a great many years in Scotland, such as is 
never recorded in histoiy to have happened since the world 
was made. Nearly a third of the population peiished in it. It 

p 



226 THE BOOK OF PLUSOABDEK. BOOK IX. 

attacked the common people chiefly, not the great. They were 
attacked with inflammation, and lingered barely four-and-twenty 
hours. The sovereign remedy is to paj vows to Saint Sebastian, 
as appears more clearly in the Legend of his lif e. 

CHAPTER XLL 

WUliam Douglas dain. 

Hese we observe in passing that afterwards, in the year 
1353, died Matilda Bruce, wife of Thomas Isaac and sister of 
Eing David. She had two daughters, the elder of whom 
married John of Lorn, lord of that ilk, who of her b^t sons 
and daughters; while the younger daughter died at Stirling 
without issue. The others have been spoken of above. But 
William Douglas, while out hunting in Ettrick forest, was 
killed by his own cousin William Douglas, out of revenge, 
it Lb said, for the muider both of Alexander Bamsay and of 
David Berclay, and also out of thirst for power, for he was 
the lord afterwards. In the year 1355 the king of France sent 
over to the guardians of Scotland forty thousand moutons d'or, 
that they might make no peace or truce in any wise with the 
English without consulting him. This was agreed to, and the 
gold was divided among the great men of the kingdom; whence 
there afberwards ensued great havoc in Lothian hy the English. 
In the same year, 1 355, Patrick earl of Dunbar and Sir WiUiam 
Douglas, lord of that ilk, and William Bamsay of Dalhousie, 
wishing to take vengeance on England for the aforesaid mis- 
chiefs, arranged that the said earl and the said William Bamsay 
should seize some booty in England and carry it off to Scotland, 
up to a certain spot where the said William Douglas would * 
Ue hidden in ambush awaiting their arrivaL This was accord- 
ingly done ; and the English, pursuing the booty in great num- 
bers, and knowing nothmg of the said William Douglas, came 
as fsir as a certain spot which is called Nesbit, where they were 
defeated by the aforesaid lords of Scotland, and were captnred, 
slain and massacred and beaten back and most hopelessly 
routed. Moreover a Frenchman who had bought some of the 
English, and paid their ransom, had them publicly beheaded in 
revenge for a brother of his who had been killed in France. 
Of the English many nobles were captured, and were ransomed 
for large sums of money ; while, of the Scots, John Haliburton, 
a valiant man, was slaln. The same year, about Hallowmas, 
Thomas Stewart earl of Angus with a mighty arm and with a 
atrong hand went by sea in some vessels at night and took the 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCAfiDEN. BOOK IX. 227 

town of Berwick by escalade, after kiUing the watclimen and 
sentries ; and he found and recovered great riches there. But 
the English who were there and the townspeople and merchants 
leapt out off the walls and escaped, while some of them ran to 
the castle through the Douglas Tower and were saved This 
successfol attack on the town was made near the Cowzet (Cow- 
gate). The first who mounted the scaling ladders was William 
Towers, with some other brave men; and it was with the 
utmost difficulty and after a great struggle that they gained 
the victoiy. In the encounter were slain the son of Bobert 
Ogle and many others on the side of the English. John Coup-^ 
land indeed assembled the f orces of the marches, and thought 
to reinforce the castle &nd recover the town from thence. But 
he prevailed not against them. The Scots, with some of 
the Frenchmen who had erewhile brought the gold, manfully 
defended the castle ;^ and they held the Douglas Tower and 
remained undisputed masters of the town. Sir Oiles de Garan- 
ciires was the commander of the French ; and Bobert Stewart, 
after garrisoning the town, took him away with him and 
rewarded him splendidly and treated him with honour. 

CHAPTEE XLII. 

The hing of England arrives in Scotland afier the taking of 
Berwich — Tht Bdllioh resign to ihe hing of England their 
pretended right. 

In the year 1355, on the Ist of Februaiy, Edward of 
Windsor, chafing at the capture of Berwick, assembled an army 
and prepared to besiege the said town. But, when the garrison 
of the town saw this, they feared they could not defend the town, 
for many reasons; — first, because there were few able-bodied 
men supplied with arms ; secondly, because they had no pro- 
visions ; thirdly, because they feared the said king^s ungovem- 
able ferocity; fourthly, because they had no hope of any 
succour reaching them from their own chiefs. They therefore 
took the wisest course, and treated for an agreement for the 
surrender of the town, their lives and property being spared, 
and with a free pass to retum to their own country ; and they 
surrendered the town to the king of England, and went home 
again, enriched with the wealth of the English. After this 
Edward Balliol broke out in the foUowing words before the 
king of England, then at Boxburgh, and said, ** Most excellent 
prince, and most mighty above all mortals of the present day, I 
do here before aU your chivalry, entirely, fully, idtogether and 



228 THE BOOK OF PLUSCAIDEK. BOOK IX. 

absolately resign, yield, give and relinquish to you all my right 
which I have, cMm, or may hereafter have to the throne of 
Scotland, to the end that you may avenge me of mine enemies, 
those infamous Scots, who ruthlessly cast me off that I should 
not reign over them. In proof whereof I will here with my 
own hand, in token of the said resignation and gift, hand oyer 
to you, in the presence of all, the royal crown, the sceptre, 
together with some earth and a stone of the said land of Scot- 
land, in token of possession and investiture, that you may 
acquire in perpetuity the kingdom formerly my due.*' Upon 
this it should be remarked, first, that he had no right to it 
originally, as was seen above; and, if he had any right» he 
there publicly renounced and resigned that right, which, even 
though he had been the true king, he oould by no means 
renounce or resign without the consent of the three estates, 
and that into the hands of him who should have the power of 
instituting another, which the king of England could not have, 
as he had formerly entu^ly, purely and simply resigned and 
quitclaimed all his right, pretended or true, as was seen above ; 
nor, even if he had been the true king, coidd he have resigned 
without the superior's consent Also, as was shown abore, 
several kings of England had resigned into the hands of the 
king of Scotland, following upon discussion and a bond, all 
their pretended right, as aforesaid. The king of England, 
however, burning with fury, entered the land of Scotland in 
hostile wise, thanking the said Edward Balliol without measure 
for so magnificent a gift ; and he arrived as f ar as the town of 
Haddington with a multitude of men-at-arms, ruthlessly harry-. 
ing the land of Lothian, and bumed down the town of Had- 
dington and the friars' monastery, and destroyed the surrounding 
country, wasting it with fire and sword. But, as he did not 
see his fleet, which was tossed about and blown away and dis- 
tressed by a gale, come to him with proyisions in his time bf 
need, he went his way through the heart of Lothian, wasting 
and destroying everything with fire and sword. He came as 
far as Edinburgh ; but seeing that he profited nothing by his 
said march, he retumed thence ingloriously to his own country, 
for he lost many of his men both by land and by sea, and 
gained nothing. It was said of this in Lothian that all these 
troubles came upon him in revenge for the plunder of the 
White Church of Our Lady (Whitkirk). After the retreat of 
the king of England, WiUiam Douglas assembled an army and 
in a short time reduced to fealty and submission to David, 
the lord king of Scotland, all the provinces devastated by the 
king of England in Scotland and brought under his sway by 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOE IX. 229 

force ond fear. He took away from the English by force 
Donald Macdowell, with the whole province of Oalloway and 
Cumnock and Kyle, and Boger Ellpatrick and the whole 
land of Nithsdale, and the castles of Dalswinton and Carlave- 
rock ; and he always showed himself pleasant and wellbeloved 
with the king. At this time Eing David was sent home to 
negotiate for his ransom, and eamestly exhorted and besought 
all the lords of the realm to send certain hostages for him to 
England, as security f or his ransom ; and this was accordingly 
done.^ After this John Stewart, son and heir of Sobert 
Stewart the king, the second of that name, called Lord of 
Kyle, afterwards Lord of Carrick, and lastly King Bobert m. 
bj a change of name, assembled an army and reduced the 
whole country of Annandale to fealty and submission to the 
king. 

CHAPTEE XLIII. 
JBattle ofPoitiers. 

In the year 1356 King John of France, hearing that the 
fourth Edward, called Prince of Wales, had entered the king- 
dom of France in hostile wise with a very large f orce, assembled 
f rom all parts the forces at his command and prepared to meet 
him. He was joined, without payment, by the noble William 
Douglas, afberwards lord of that ilk and first earl, who came 
with many of his friends and nobles to help him to the best of 
his power ; and the king knighted him while the troops were 
drawn up in battle array. . . . 

But WiUiam Douglas was carried away by his own men 
against his will. Archibald, however, called Black Archtbaid, 
son of the noble James Douglas who carried the king^s heart to 
the Holy Land, was there taken prisoner, though imknown ; and 
he was cleverly rescued out of their hands, as will be told pre- 
sently. This battle of Poitiers was fought in the month of Sep- 
tember, and was lost through the pride and vainglory of the 
French, who underrated the enemy . For through their arrogance, 
in that they were such a host of young lor£i in armour, ihey 
neglected to keep their formation and order of battle, and the 
Lord delivered them into the hands of their enemies, just as in 
a battle which will be spoken of later, that of Agincourt. But 
Archibald Douglas, young and well-armed, was taken prisoner 
by some who, from his armour^ thought he was a great lord, 
though his friends thought litde of him, as he was a bastard. 
Now when the prisoners came in the evening to their lodging 
at the town of Poitiers, a noble knight, sir William Bamsay of 



230 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK IX. 

CoUuthy, was brought to the place where the said Aichibald 
Douglas was, with his splendid annour, as part of the spoil, and 
those whose prisoners they were said unto him, " See, here we 
have the son of some powerful loid, most nobly armed." But 
the sald knight, looking at him, said, "Thou ribald traitor, 
why hast thou stolen the arms of thy lord, my cousin ? Guised 
be the hour thou wast bom. For he caused thee to be sought 
for the whole daj long ; and not finding thee in the field, he 
went out unarmed, and was pierced by a fiying shaft, as I 
saw with my own eyes.'' Now this Archibald was dark, and 
not comely to look upon, but more like a cook than a nohle; 
and the said knight, as if in anger, and feigning to fiy into a 
rage, addressed hun, s&ying, " Come here and first puU ofif my 
bootis, and then go over tibe field to such a place, among the 
slain, and look for thy lord's body, that wemay to-morrow 
commit it to a hallowed grave.*' But the other, perceiving the 
knighfs artifice, in like manner pretended to tremble» and 
went over and waited upon him, taking off one of his boots ; 
and the knight suddenly took hold of it, and beat Archibald 
severely about the mouth. But the English rushed up to him 
and said, '^Why dost thou insult a gentleman thus, beating 
him so shamefidly ? " The knight answered and said, '' He is 
no gentleman; he is only a sculUon in his lord's kitchen." 
And the others who stooid by beUeved this, and let him go 
for a ransom of forty shiUings. Thus did the said knight 
craftily get him out of their hands ; whereas, had they known 
who he was, they would certaiuly not have set him free for 
his weight in gold. 

CHAPTER XLIV. 

King David ransomed, 

In these days Eing David of Scotland was kept a prisoner 
in England, though he was the son-^in-law of the king of Eng- 
land; and with him were the kings of France, Bohemia and 
MaiUogria (Majorca),^ whom, for their sins and shortcomings, 
the Lord deUvered into the hands of the enemy, so that they 
that hated them had dominion over them. At length the king 
of England took counsel and sent him over, appointing NorUi- 
ampton to accompany him.^^ They treated long on this matter, 
but could come to no agreement Afterwards, however^ in the 
year foUowing the one mentioned above^ a covenant was made : 
they agreed upon a hundred thousand marks sterling, at terms 
oi fourteen^ years immediately foUowing^ and that during that 
time a truce should be strictly observed between the kingdoms ; 



THE BOOE OF PLUSCAfiDEN. BOOE IX. 231 

and, as security for the said.payinent, manifold nobles, earls 
and barons were given as hostages for the king, and remained 
captive eleven^^ years in the custody of the English. The 
same year died the lady Christiana Bruce, late wife of the 
famous sir Andrew Murray, guardian of Scotland, while he 
lived ; and both are buried in the chapel of Our Lady of Dun- 
fermline. She was buried there in the year 1357 ; but he pre- 
viously, as already said. Now the queen of Scotland asked 
leave of her husl^nd, "King David, to go on a pilgrimage to 
St. Thomas of Canterbury and to visit her brother Edward 
king of Englandy called of Windsor. So she went away to 
England, and remained there some time, and died. In the 
latter part of the same year James lindsay^ after he had 
supped with Soger Kilpatrick and gone to bed in his house, 
cheerfuUy taking leave of the latter^ who had nS thought of 
evfl, and bidding him farewell in the evening, came into his 
room at night with lighted candles, and without waming slew 
and murdered the said Boger. But James fled by night, and 
rode through the whole night, thinking he woidd be forty 
leagues away from the spot before day ; but he went out of the 
straight road, and was captured the nezt moming by the 
friends of the said noble person, Bbger, near the said spot, about 
two miles off, and brought before King David; and he was 
without delay condemned by a select assize, and suffered 
capital punishment. At this time there were such floods of 
rainwater in the Lothians as had never been seen since Noah's 
deluge, and they did much damage. At that time also King 
David sent ambassadors to the apostolic see> in order to get a 
tithe fix>m the churches of the kingdom in aid of his ransom ; 
and the lord pope graciously granted him this tithe for the 
three years immediately ensuing^ on condition that he should 
on no account again ask anything more of the church for his 
ransom. 

CHAPTER XLV. 

Bdum of the hing of EngUmd tnto France. 

In the year 1361, at the Feast of the Purification of Our 
Lady> b^;an the second plague, and it raged until the next 
ensuing Ghristmas, wherein Imewise nearly a third of mankind 
paid the debt of nature, as was the case in the first plague. 
Kinff David, however, for f ear of that plague, remained in the 
northem parts of the kingdom until the end thereof, and kept 
the Christmas festival at Kinloss, where a disagreement arose 
between him and Thomas earl of Mar, and he took into his hands 



232 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK IX. 

the castle of Eildrummie, outlawed the earl out of the king* 
dom, and banished him to England. On their being afberwards 
reconciled, he ordered everything to be restored to him. The 
same year also died Thomas earl of Angus, not onlythrough 
his own foUy in following the advice of young men, but also 
because, through his retainers, he contrived and plotted the 
death of the king'8 mistress, Katherine Mortimer ; for, though 
through the keeping of that mistress the queen was neglected 
aiid many other evils ensued, yet the manner of committing 
the crime of killing her was too outrageous, seeing that she was 
murdered by the said earVs retainers while she was coming 
south, riding in the king^s compauy and train. By this may 
be seen what evils are brought on by that sin of adulteiy, as 
saith the Lord by the prophet, The sword shall not depart &om 
thy house for ever, seeing thou hast despised me in violating 
thy neighbour's bed. Now this plague also, like the first, was 
general over almost the whole of Christendom. It made great 
ravages in England also, among both high and low ; and many 
of the chief men of Scotland, who were there as hostages for 
King David, died there, such as the king^s nephew, John of 
Sutherland, earl of that ilk,^ the only son of his mother, and 
Thomas earl of Murray, with great numbers of other nobles 
who were there. See then how adultery displeases the Divine 
Majesty. King David, who was an open fomicator, never 
could have peace or happiness or prosperity or favour during 
his life, or secure the throne in the lineal succession of his 
body, or have fruitfukiess or plenty in his time. 



CHAPTER XLVL 

KiTig David, on being instructed to do so, urges upon the three 
estates that Lionel, son o/ the king of England, shauld 
succeed him on the throne o/ Scotland, 

The foUowing year King David held a parUament at Scone, 
where he suggested to the three estates tlmt they should con- 
sent to the son of the king of England, his wife's brother, 
Lionel by name, as his successor on the throne, whereby he 
became very unpopular among the people. To this they 
shortly and without delay or consultation answered that they 
would not have this man reign over them ; and not him only, 
but that they would never in aU time consent that an EngUsh- 
man, whatever his rank or condition, should be their future 
king. But perhaps, though the king proposed this on the 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDSN. BOOK IX. 233 

strength of a promise given during his captivity, he yet would 
never in his heart have wiUingly assented unto it, seeing what 
they had done of old; and he was highly pleased with the 
answer of the three estates, although he made believe other- 
wise in the presence of the English. Nevertheless much dis- 
affection was thereby caused in the country and laid hold of 
the magnates, so that the magnates of the kingdom adopted a 
secret resolution either to turn the king from views of that 
kind or banish him for ever from the throne ; and this was 
made bindins between them by oath and seal. Accordincly 
the chiefs mlt together. assembled an artny and. if any oni 
would not side with them, they consigned him to prison ; and 
then they sent ambassadors to the king to leam his final inten- 
tions. But the king was angry; and, lest others should in 
future take example from this, he on the other hand assembled* 
his partisans, and had a general edict proclaimed ; and he went 
in pursuit of them, intending to put them all to death or to 
punish them with perpetual bamshment and dispossession. 
On thinking over the matter, however, because of the destruc- 
tion of the country and many other disadvantages and losses 
which would ensue, the king, who was kindly and merciful, 
dealt more mildly with them.mercifully forgiving them this time, 
bethinking him that it is very noble in a king to have mercy 
when he might revenge. And so he was kindly indulgent to 
them, they having renewed the oath of fealty, lest they should 
do such things in future. But afber this the king called the 
great men of the kingdom together at Inchmurthow (Inchmur- 
doch), and had the oaths of fealty renewed by all on the I4th 
of January of that same year. When therefore this was 
settled, King David set about espousing Margaret Logie, 
daughter of sir Malcolm Drummond,^^ a noble and most 
beautiful lady, at Inchmurthow; and he raised her to the 
throne with great magnificence as queen. He did not, how- 
ever, stay very long with her bcfore again getting a divorce, 
because she pretended to be with child and was not. This 
was about the Feast of Fasten's Even, in the year 1369. But 
the queen did not consent to getting this divorce, but secretly 
embarked in a little vessel and went to the Boman Curia. 
As, however, the papal court was at that time at Avignon, she 
appeared there to state her case and complain, and troubled 
the whole kingdom of Scotland with her suit. For the queen's 
case commended itself so much.to the supreme pontiff and the 
cardinals that, had she lived, the whole kingdom would have 
been put under an interdict, and a marriage would have been 
celebrated between her and the king of £ngland, who had 



234 THE BOOE OF PLUSCABDSN. BOOK IX. 

then no wife.^' On her acconnt Eing David had had the 
three sons of his nephew Bobert Stewart arrested, together 
with their father, and placed singly in close imprisonment. 
But, when he heard of her death at the court of the snpreme 
pontiff, they were set at liberty and restored to the king^s 
favour. After this Eing David ruled his kingdom admirably, 
amended the laws, chastised the rebels, and lived in peace and 
tranqnillity ; and towards the close of his life he vowed to go 
to the Holy Land. Nevertheless, before he had folfilled his 
promised undertaking, the Supreme Artificer and Almighty 
Lord, who directs and orders aU things by His nod, made that 
king pay the debt of nature at the will of his Creator, in the 
forty-seventh year of his age and the thirty-ninth of his reign, 
at Edinburgh Castle ; and he lies honourably buried in Uie 
choir of the monastery of Holyrood 



Efid of Book IX, 



TUE BOOK OF PLUSCARDSK. BOOK X. 235 



BOOK X. 

CHAPTER I. 

Coronation of Hdbert Stewart 

Afteb the death of that great prince King David Brace, the 
magnates of Scotland met together at linlithgow in order to 
deliberate on the right of succession to the throne of Scotland ; 
and they unanimously agreed with one accord upon this right 
of succession, and resolved that sir Bobert Stewart, King 
David's nephew, was their lawful future king, according to the 
tailzie made in open parliament by the common consent of the 
magnates of the reabn in the presence of sir Robert Brnce of 
famous memory, and afterwards confirmed and approved by 
the common consent of all the great men of the kingdom. On 
the other hand, however, William Douglas opposed it with all 
his might, saying that the right of succession to the throne of 
Scotland should come to himself through Edward BallioL He 
was indeed a great man in the southem parts of Scotland, being 
earl of Douglc^. Nevertheless there rose up against him and 
his opinion the earls of March and of Murray and the lord 
Erskine, who were at that time wardens of the castles of Stir- 
ling, Edinburgh and Dumbarton, together with the greater part 
of the lordSy prelates and maffnates of Scotland. Seeing that 
he could not weU succeed in uus, as he had unadvisedly thrust 
himself into it against the feeling of the magnates and lords of 
the realm, the said earl of Douglas, by the advice of prelates 
and others of his friends, held his peace, and it was agreed that 
James Douglas, his eldest son and heir, should ally himself by 
maniage with the said Boberfs daughter in lawfol bed b^tten ; 
and that he should obey the aforesaid Bobert, the future Idng» 
in all things, and give lus fdll consent to his succession to the 
throne ; and so the affair was settled. At the foUowing Feast of 



236 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK X. 

the Annunciation of Our Lady they crowned the aforesaid Bobert 
Stewart king with the greatest solemnity at Scone. He was 
right nohle, handsome, and had a fine figure, and was amiable 
and popular with every one. In his time there was great fniit- 
fulness and plenteousness of wealth, peace and prosperity, and 
friendly unity among the magnates of the realm. He b^at 
many sons and daughters ; and he delighted in the chase and in 
fowling. But because he begat many children outside the 
bands of wedlock, therefore tiiey did not tum out so well in 
the end, as will be seen later. Whoever would ask or know 
more of the begetting of bastards, let him look in the books of 
Solomon what he says. Hence a certain poet, speaking of 
bastards, has the following lines : — 

In bastards, character three stamps receives : 
They 're always pompous, lecherous, or thieves. 

After these things the English, who are ever yenomous and 
deadly and f oes to peace, during a truce killed a certain famous 
and renowned squire, Dunbar by name, cousin of the earl of 
March, in the public market-place at Soxburgh. But, because 
the English wardens of the marches would not do justice at 
the request and instance of the earl, but answered jeeringly, 
the earl of March himself, after long pretending he did not 
wish to resent this in any way, assembled an army and came 
very craftily one market-day, when the English were flocking 
to that place in immense crowds and bringing untold goods 
and merchandise to the f air. He then surrounded and hemmed 
in the town of Eoxburgh when the crowd of people was 
thickest, and made such slaughter and pillage of the EngHsh 
at the said fair, that not a single one of those who were there 
escaped out of his hands; nor did he give quarter to any 
male, but massacred them all and delivered them to the edge 
of the sword ; and even such as retreated into the houses and 
defended themselves he burnt to death. Thus he repaid the 
English ; and he wrested from them untold wealth, and mar- 
vellously enriched his men. Thus he taught them a lesson in 
observing truces. fiut from that day the truce was broken, 
and on all sides of the marches there were daily forays, ravages, 
massacres and bumings ; so that on both sides they wofully 
wasted the country by mutual slaughter without respite ; and 
especially the land of the lord of Gordon they everywhere 
tumed into a wilderness, f or he was the ringleader at Boxburgh 
at the holding of the Bloody Fair. He, on the other hand, (Ud 
not let those English fool him or go unpunished. Nay, he 
returned the compUment by attackmg them with Bven more 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGAfiDEN. BOOK X. 237 

fierceness, and camed off all their property within the limits 
of the eastem marches. A certain knight, however, John de 
libum (lilbom) by name, to whom the alarm had been given, 
came upon him nnawares with a strong force of men-at-arms 
and, blocking the path of the Scots, challenged them to fight. 
But this lord of Gordon gained the victory, thongh with great 
difficulty and much slaughter, and divided their spoil after 
making great slaughter ; and he went home again to his own 
country with glory and great riches. The said lord of Gordon 
was, however, wounded in various places. 



CHAPTER 11. 

Base Jlight of Henry Percy earl qf Northwmberland. 

SiR Henrt Pebct, earl of Northumberland, unable to brook 
the disasters and grievous hanying of the English, assembled 
his forces to the number of seven thousand men-at-arms, 
penetrated into Scotland^ and overran the whole land of the 
earl of Dunbar, wasting it with fire and sword. Marching on 
thence the first night as far as Dunse Park, he encamped there. 
Hither came some cunning lads, varlets and youths of the 
country with some of their dependents, about midnight, with a 
fearful noise from a certain instrument which in Scotland is 
called ClochJbolg, and with hom tmmpets ; and they went up to 
the troop of horses and made such a fearful noise that the 
horses were exceedingly terrified and bewildered, broke their 
fastenings, bits, bridles and reins, as seized with a panic, and, 
leaving their masters on foot in the said park of Dunse, at 
once bolted off bodily to English ground, and never came 
back again. But the lord Percy [and his men],^ dazed with 
f ear and thinking the Scottish army was close upon them, were 
awake and on their f eet the whole night imder arms and ready 
to do battle. In the moming, however, seeing that their horses 
had been stampeded off to ij^gland beyond recall, while some 
had been captured on the way, they shouldered their lances 
and hastened back again ingloriously on foot in their armour. 
Thus was the earl Percy compelled shamefully to take to flight 
home to England. Now these youths' stratagem is very highly 
spoken of ; so it is a eood thing in warfare to act not always 
with valour and mi^t, but sometimes with shrewdness and 
ingenuity. In the year 1372 a wind called that of St Nicholas 
burst upon Scotland, and overtumed and blew down houses 
and churches and everything else fixed in the ground, such as 



238 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK X. 

trees, towerB, the pinnacles of the temple, causing inestim» 
able damage. The same year Queen Euphemia was crowned 
at Scona She was the mother of the traitor earl of Athol who 
was privy to the death of Eing James l, and daughter of the 
earl of Koss. We shall speak in due time of this earFs end. 
Of her the king begat Earl David of Strathem, who was the 
fiftther of the countess of that ilk who was afterwards the 
spouse of sir William Qraham's brother, which brother of sir 
William Oraham was earl in right of his wife, and begat of her 
sons and daughters; and he was afterwards betrayed into 
confidence and murdered by some brothers of the name of 
Oliphant, who also afterwards were punished with the penaliy 
of death. In the year 1378 a very great schism arose in the 
Boman Curia, and lasted until the election of Pope Martin v., 
that is to say sixty-eight years. In the year of the said schism 
the great church of Saint Andrews, which was built entirely of 
lead, was bumed down at the Feast of the Yirgin Thekla» at 
the hour of high mass, by the lightning, or by the birds' nests 
under the leaden roof and rafters catclung fire from the heat of 
the blazing sun, as is conjectured.' The same year the towtf of 
Berwick was retaken by the Scots. The same year, in 1379,* 
was bom David duke of Rothesay, who was afterwards starved 
to death by his uncle Bobert duke of Albany. The following 
year William earl of Douglas assembled an army at the festlYal 
of the fair of the town of Penrith and, without waming to the 
townsfolk, surrounded the town, plundered it and bumt it 
down, and slew, captured and carried off many of the towns- 
folk, peasantry and merchants. Some of the Scots, however, 
perished through their own fault, having been left behind in the 
town through covetousness or drunkenness or otherwise. Let 
men in future therefore be wamed against such things by the 
example of others. The same year also began the third pli^e, 
wherein likewise a great part of the inhabitants of the kmgdom 
were swept away by pestilence. At the b^inning of the fol- 
lowing year the English entered the westem districts of Soot- 
land with a great host of men-at-arms, and did much harm ; 
but the countrymen of that province assembled their foroea 
and fell upon them suddenly.in a certain strong place, making 
great havoc of them, taking some and slaying others, and 
retumed safely, bringing with them their booty and prisoners. 



THB BOOK OF PLUSCABDEK. BOOK X. 239 

CHAPTEB III. 
Ambassadars ofthe hing of Franu smt into ScoUand^ 

In the year 1381 King Bobert sent Walter Wardlaw bishop 
of Olasgow and caidinal, together with others, to Charles king 
of France, to renew the ancient treaties between the kingdoms, 
in the foUowing words :— 

We Charles, by the grace of Gk)d king of the French, make 
known to all and singular who shall see or hear these letters 
that, whereas, among other means whereby kings reign and king- 
doms are govemed, it is expedient and necessaiy that treaties 
and ties of firm Mendship shonld be knit between princes, 
whereby those who would bring trouble npon their subjects 
may be the more stoutly withstood and their mischievous 
attempts the more easily met, and so peace and tranquillity 
among Chrisfs people may be preserved and may ensue there- 
from, We therefore, looking to the hearty friendship and alli- 
ance contracted and established from times long past between 
Our predecessorSy Mngs of France and Sootland, as well as 
between the reakns, inhabitants and communities of the said 
kingdomSf and wishing theref ore most eamestly that the said 
friendship and alliance should be renewed, held to, kept, con- 
tinued and firmly and amicably consolidated with the venerable 
father in Christ the bishop of GlasgoWy Our particular friend, 
and Archibald Douglas, knight, cousin to the said king of Scot- 
land, master Adam Tyningham, dean of the church of Aberdeen, 
procuiators specially deputed therefor and ambassadors of Our 
said dearest brother and ally and beloved cousin, the renowned 
king of Scots, and having therein his authority and special 
mandate and powers, as is contained in the words f ollowing : 
We» Bobert, by the grace of God king of Scots, make known to 
all by these pr&ents that, whereas from times long past a 
friendship and alliance has been contracted and faithfully pre- 
served between Us and the illustrious prince, the king of the 
French, and between Our grandfather and the said king's grand- 
fiEither and the kingdom and people of those realms, and We 
wish that it should in f uture be inviolably preserved and con- 
tinued in time to come as it has been preserved and continued 
in time past, therefore We give and grant and by these pre- 
sents appoint Our beloved, etc., Our tme and lawful procurators, 
agents, f actors and managers of Our affairs and special ambas- 
sadors and envoys to accomplish and negotiate all the af oresaid 
matters which have to be done, negotiated and accomplished 



240 7HE BOOK OF PLUSGARDEN. BOOE X. 

in the aforesaid business ; bestowing upon them Our f ree, fuU 
and general powers and special mandate for Us, the prelates, 
lords and community of Our kingdom of Scotland, and parti- 
cularly for renewing, continuiug, enlarging and improving 
the aforesaid alliance and adding whatever should be added, 
according to the tenour of the articles exhibited unto them by 
Us and Our council, giving and granting, etc., according to the 
tenour of the mandate, etc., and for the preservation and 
renewal thereof, and, according to the tenour of the mandate^ 
for taking an oath, upon Our soul and that of the others of Our 
realm whom it concems, scrupulously to observe all and 
singular; therefore We, Charles king of France, have treated 
with the aforesaid envoys, and have agreed to the foUowing 
effect, to wit that We, Our heirs and successors, kings of France, 
Our kingdom and Our communities, as weU as Our said cousin, 
his heirs and successors, and the kingdom and the communities 
of the same, are in good faith held and bound to one another, 
by a bond of union and friendship, to do, give and procure 
assistance, counsel and encouragement by everything in our 
power, as we are faithfuUy bound one to another. And foras- 
much as the king of England and his predecessors have very 
often attempted and made every effort to harass and injure the 
said kingdoms of France and Scotland^ in order to check and 
hinder the said attempts and outrages aforesaid, we are mutuaUy 
tied and bound, so that whenever Our said cousin^ the king of 
Scots, his heirs and successors» kings of Scotland, the kingdom 
and the communities of the same are in need of help or advice, 
in time of peace or war, against the said king of England or 
his heirSy successors or subjects, We shaU help and advise him 
so far as We are able, even as We are faithfuUy held and bound 
as aUies to Our said cousin, his heirs and successors, kings of 
Scotland, and Ukewise to the kingdom and the communities of 
the same. Also, if war should break out between Us or Our 
successors, kings of France, or Our kingdom and the kdng of 
England or his successors, Our said cousin the king of Scotland, 
his heirs or successors, being kings, shaU be held bound to 
wage war with their whole forces upon the said king of 
England and his heirs and successors on the throne of England, 
so soon as he can bc certified of the outbreak of such war by a 
sufficient writing, truthful inf ormation, or common report ; the 
truce between the kingdoms of Scotland and England now 
presently made being, however, altogether voided and ended, 
or otherwise annuUed or broken by any fault of the English* 
And in like manner We and Our successors, kings of France^ 
shall be held to make war with our whole forces against the 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK X. 241 

said king of England, his heirs and successors, and the king- 
dom of England» so soon as we shall be tndy certified or 
can be certified, as stated aboye, war, however^ having first 
broken out between the said kings of Scotland and England, 
and, (18 he/ore, the truce being ended, as aicve, or otherwise 
howsoever broken or annulled. Also that We and Our suc- 
cessors, kings of France, shall not sufier nor in any way tolerate 
that any of our subjects should do or give any assistance, 
advice or countenance to the aforesaid king of England and his 
heirs and successors, auxiliaries or allies, or go with him or 
assist him for pay, or in any other way without pay, which 
might benefit hun, the king of England, and injure the said king 
of Scotland ; or even to any other persons wliatever, enemies, 
adversaries or rebels to him, Our said cousin, or his heirs and 
successors, who shall inflict any outrage upon the kingdom of 
the same or the conmiunities of the same, or any wrong or 
damage whatever, or otherwise howsoever. And if, after the 
general prohibition and interdict decreed in the premises] any 
one of Ours shall be f oimd guilty, he who has acted or does act 
to the contrary shall be taken and punished as a traitor and 
rebel against his prince and country, and shall never after find 
grace, f avour or forgiveness for this manner of treachery. 



CHAPTEE IV. 

Same continued, 

Also that adversaries and notorious rebels to Us or Our suc- 
cessors, kings of France, or to Our said cousin, the king of 
Scotland, or his kingdom, shall neither openly nor privately be 
received within the kingdom or dominions of the other, so soon 
as one of the kings shall be required by the other ; but We shall 
keep and win, to the best of Our abUity, all Our friends and 
allies and all Our adherents to the love and assistance of Our 
said cousin, the king of Scots, and his successors and the com- 
munity of his realm ; and We shall no less prevent, as best We 
may, any abuse, slight, afiront or insult towards them. Also, 
tliat We shall not be able to have a truce with the said king of 
England, his heirs or successors, without the consent of the 
said king of Scotland, Our cousin, and of his heirs and suc- 
cessors, until that king and the kingdom and the communities 
of the same be included in the said truce, or themselves refase 
to be included in the said truce. AIso, that We shall not be 
able to make peace with the said king of England or his 

Q 



243 THE BOOK OF FLU8CABDSN. BOOC X. 

heiis or succeasors without the express consent of Onr said 
cousin, as aforesaid, untU the king of Scotland himself and 
the communities of the same and his heirs and succesaors be 
plenarily included in the af oresaid peace. Also, in case Our said 
coosin depart this life without an heir procreated of his body, 
and there arise a dispute among any persons as to the heredi- 
tary right of succession to the throne, in that case We shall 
not espouse the cause of any one of them, nor shall We suffer 
any one or more of them to be assisted by Our subjects, until 
their right have been fully discussed by the prelates and great 
men of Scotlandy according to the laws, jurisprudence and 
statutes of the kingdom ; and him whom they or the major and 
sounder part of them shall have voted for as their king^ We 
likewise shall hold, have and accept as Our allied king and 
fiiend. And if any of his adyersaiies, through the might of the 
king of Englandy his heirs or successors, wage war against him 
or his kingdom, We ahall, to the best of our ability, support 
this king against such, and help and def end him against all his 
adversaries, enemies and their adherente, in accordance with 
the text of the aforenamed alliance and the ciicumstances of 
the said alliances. Also, We shall moreover take care that t^ 
alliance be approved, ratified and confirmed in the for^ing 
form by the apostolic authority ; and We shall take care that 
neither We nor Our successors, either opeiily or piivately, 
either of ourselves or through others, cause or induce Ourselves 
or Our successors, Our kii^om or Our subjects, to be in any 
wise absolved from the oath hereunto swom or to be swom, or 
from the observance or continuance of the same between the 
said kmgs and their kingdoms and communities, as aforesaid. 
But if the most holy apostolic father, whether of his own 
accord or moved or induced thereunto by any other persons, 
should wish to absolve Us or Our successors, or Our kingdom or 
subjects from the aforesaid oath, or in any wise annul that 
oath, yet We, Our successors or subjects shaU not be at libeity, 
nor ought We» in any manner to avail ourselves of the benefit 
of such absolution ; but We shall faithfuUy keep and observe 
these alliances and oaths» so contracted, in their every point 
and article, without fraud, falsehood or ill-will whatsoever, to 
endure for all time^ and shall never of Ourselves or by others 
say, do or speak an^rthing to the contraiy, any more than if the 
said absolution had never been spoken of, or that such absolu- 
tion and cancellation had never bcen obtained or given. And 
furthermore We promise in good faith to keep, observe and 
f ulfil all the aforesaid and eadi of them, in so far as it conc^s 
or may concem Us or Our part ; and alao, in the pi^nce of Ua 



TH£ BOOK OF PLUSCAJEtDSK. BOOK X. 243 

and the pTOcarators of Our said cousin, tbe king of Scotland, by 
Our beloved liege, knight and councillor, Simon count de Braine, 
We have caused an oath to bc swom upon Our soul, on God's holy 
gospels, to faithfully and steadfastly fulfil and observe the fore- 
going; and, that all this should become firm and stable for the 
future, We have caused Our seal to be affixed to these presents. 
These were given and done in Our castle of Bois de Yincennes, 
near Our town of Paris, on the last day of June in the year of 
grace 1381.* 

During this time a truce was made between Scotland and 
England at the town of Berwick^ at the instance of the English, 
for a term of three years next to come, by the duke of Lan- 
caster, to whom came news from England which did not please 
him much. 

CHAPTEK V. 

An Hnglish peasarU cUiacks and daya nobles and magnates. 

In ihe above year, before the aforenamed envoys were sent^ 
an English peasant, named Jack Straw, together with great 
crowds of other peasants^ rose against the new king Bichard, the 
second of this name, arrested him by force of arms, and placed 
him under arrest.in their own custody in London: and they 
cruelly murdered the archbishop of Canterbury and many 
noble knights and squires and barons> and levelled his manor 
to the ground; for they hated him beyond all mortal men. 
Their leader was Jack Straw, a man ready for incredible 
mischief of all kinds. But the duke of Lancaster, on hearing 
this — ^that the peasants had sworn his death — tumed his steps 
Scotlandwards and entered Scotland on the faith of a safe 
conduct; and they received him with all honour and lodged 
him at the monastery of Holyrood. About the same time sir 
John Lyon, lord of Olammis, was foully murdered by sir 
James And^j, at nigH when naked in b^ and unsnspe^ing. 
But Bichard kLng of England sent envoys to Scotland to the 
duke of Lancaster, directing him to retum to England; for 
that force of peasants had been dispersed by a certain knight, 
the mayor of London, who slew the said peasant and his 
accompUces. In the year 1384, the term of the tmce being 
at an end, Archibald Douglas, lord of Gkdloway, seeing the 
wrongs and massacres inflicted upon his men by the English, 
assembled an army of his Mends and besieged and took Loch- 
maben Castle, which he straightway razed to the ground. 
Seeing this, the English sent a knight, the baron of 6ray- 
stock, fearing the Scots would likewise take by force the castle 



244 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK X. 

of Roxburgh. But, when he was thus coming with chariot* 
and horsemen, together with all his house and hoosehold 
ntensils, the earl of March came with an armed force sud- 
denly upon him of set purpose, and carried him off with 
him ; and, killing and breaking up all his party, taking some 
prisoners, slaying others and putting some to flight, he annihi- 
lated them at a place which is called Benrig, and brought their 
spoil with him to Dunbar. This roused the king of England 
and the whole of the great men of the kingdom, who, seeing 
how unbearable were the doings of the Scots, and seeing and 
reflecting that Eing Bichard n. was a young man, by common 
consent of the king and barons ordained and appointed Henry 
duke of Lancaster, King Bichard's uncle, protector and defender 
of England agaiust the attacks of the Scots until the king 
should be of age ;^ and, in retaliation for the aforesaid disasters, 
they ordered him to harry with fire and sword, without any 
mercy, the whole land of Scotland as f ar as the Scottish sea 
(Krth of Forth), with an immense force of men-at-arms, which 
he accordingly did. But, while he was in Scotland, he did them 
as little harm as he could, on account of the great courtesy and 
kindness he himself had formerly received in Scotland It was 
the Passion Week of Onr Lord Jesus Christ^ in the year 1385 
of Our Lord's aforesaid Passion, when he came in. 



CHAPTEE VL 

Arrival of Henry diike of Lancaster, uncle of tke king of 

England, 

In th<e above year, namely 1385, Henry duke of Lancaster, 
afterwards king of England, entered Scotland with .a very large 
force of men-at-arms, both by land and by sea, and came as far as 
Edinburgh, bringing his war fleet with his provisions to Leith. 
The English indeed, with their wonted malignity, intended 
ihat the aforesaid town of Edinburgh should be bumt down. 
Duke Henry, however, would not have this, and did all he 
could to prevent it So the burgesses, seeing his noble courtesy, 
appointed that a certain sum of money should be given to the 
said duke, that he might r^ale his men therewith ; and on all 
sides they presented these, namely, the said lord duke and the 
chiefs of his army, with many choice things to boot. But it 
came to pass that a gi*eat bark out of his war fleet committed 
many outrageous ravages on Saint Columba^s island of Eumonia 
(Inchcolm), and entirely stripped the said place both of the 
omaments of the church and of the fumiture of the place; 



U 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK X. 245 

and, when the ruffians would have bumt down the church and 
had set fire to a house adjoining the church^ a strong wind blew 
the flames back upon them, and burnt and suffocated them 
almost all; and thus Saint Columba by a miracle saved his 
church from being bumt down by them. Nevertheless, when 
these same mffians went on board again and landed at Queens- 
ferry, where they committed great cmelties and barbaritieSy 
they were, some of them, driven back to their ships by some 
nobles of the country, to wit^ the lords Erskine and Kilmaurs, 
while nearly fifty remained on the field. Afterwards a strong 
gale burst upon their sails, the ship was wrecked on the rocks, 
and all but the skipper, who escaped in the boat with two men 
with him, were swallowed up in the depths of the sea; and 
these too, being again cast ashore in the boat, were brought 
back to the said monasteiy of Saint Golumba, and the chief 
actor and plunderer of the church went out of his mind and 
made known his wickedness, showing forth a miracle in the 
face of all, and put an end to his life in a strange fit of mad- 
ness. It was he who with his own hands had set fire to the 
church.^ The same year Berwick Castle was taken by the 
Scots at night in the month of September. The same year also 
Pope Gregory launched a sentence of excommunication against 
Scotland, against all who appropriated to themselves the pro> 
perty of bishops after their death, calHng themselves their heiis 
and usurping to themselves and snatching their goods, under 
the pretext of a certain custom or contribution which will be 
explained f urther on. This custom was abolished in modem 
times by King James n., who^ by a divine inspiration, granted 
the bishops &ee and full power to make wills, and approved, 
ratified and confirmed it unto them for all time to come. The 
same year also sir Walter Wardlaw, bishop of Glasgow and 
cardinal, was made legate a UUere f or Scotland, which has rarely 
been seen : he was specially deputed to the kingdoms of both 
Scotland and Ireland with f ull powers. About the same time 
also, Wiiliam earl of Douglas brought back to fealty and alle- 
giance to the king of Scotlaud the whole country of Teviotdale, 
which had been renderiDg fealty to the English from the time 
of the battle of Durham until this hour. This earl was after- 
wards seized with a sudden sickness and died at Douglas 
Castle ; and he lies buried at Melrose. He was succeeded by 
his son James, who was always most bitterly hostile to the 
English, and who, immediately after his father'8 death, twice 
raided in force into England as f ar as Newcastle and wasted 
and destroyed everything. 



246 THE BOOK OV PLX7BCABDEN. BOOK X. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Arrival of the French inio Scotland in aid of the Seots 

against the Englieh. 

'In the year 1385 tbe king of France, beyond measure 
rejoiced at the success of the Scots, sent a certain knight of 
Burgundian origin, named John de Yienne, count of Yalentinois 
and admiral of France, with a considerable train of men-at- 
arms, belted chivalry, eighty® knights with their foUowers, 
admirably equipped, as was meet, and ready to battle. They 
landed at Dunbar and Leith, and presented the king, who was at 
Edinburgh with his magnates, with fifty^complete suits of armour 
from the king of Erance, with as many lances and targes ; and 
they also handed over to the king of Scotland from the king of 
France, as a free gift from him, fifty thousand francs in gold in 
ready money, as well as the said Frenchmen, with their pay fully 
and entirely paid up for six months to come, and the sailors ; and 
there were royal letters addressed to the king, telling him to send 
them on service in his war against the English. These French- 
men, together with Archibald Douglas and the border chief- 
tains, took by force three castles on the borders, namely Wark, 
Ford and Comuale, and after taklng them razed them to the 
ground. After this, this same admiral, together with Archibald 
Douglas, lord of Galloway, and with a very large force of men- 
at-arms, seeing that he was guardian of Wester-March, raided 
into England two or three times and wrought much mischief . 
On their return^ they first proposed to b^^ the castle of 
CarUsle; but, assembling a larger army, they laid siege to 
Boxburgh. Here the general and commander was Hobert 
Stewart, the king^s son, earl of 'Fife and afterward duke of 
Albany ; and he had with him the earls of Douglas and March^ 
Archibcdd Douglas, lord of GaUoway, and a great knightly rout 
of nobles. But there arose a dispute among them whether, if 
the castle happened to be taken, it should remain for ever with 
the king of iiance, or be converted to the uses of the king of 
Scotland. Some indeed said the French offered that tihey 
themselves should recover the castle entirely, assigning to them 
either the honour or the profit. And thus, because they could 
not agree, they retumed without doing anything ; and not many 
dajrs af ter this the Frenchmen embarked about the Feast of AU 
Saints and retumed safely to France. The foUowing year 
Bichard king of England, the second of this name, being nine- 
teen years of age, entered Scotland about the Feast of Saint 



THE BOOK OV PLUBCASDBN. BOOK X. 247 

Lowiehce, and attacked, OTerthrew and lavaged everythiDg in 
his pride, sparing nothing, saving nothing, sparing neither age, 
nor order, nor religions eonimunity. He piUaged and bumt 
down many chnrcheB and monasteries and other sacred placea, 
snch as Melrose, Dryburgh, Newbottle ; he alao destroyed the 
noble town of Edinburgh, with the church thereof erected in 
honour of Saint Giles, and the whole of Lothian; and he 
retumed home to his own kingdom without loss, having, how- 
eiver, before his departure, in Uke manner pilla^d and bumt 
the monaateiy of Holyrood.^* Wherefore, and by the vengeance 
of God alone^ this Kmg Richard wandered about the Scottish 
Isles as a poor b^gar, and was found living most wretchedly 
for a while in a certain lord's kitchen ; and, being afterwards 
recognised by some oue, he was brought to the king of ScoUand, 
and there ended his days in idiocy. And thus, as is presumed, 
by the hidden judgment of Ood and in revenge for the fore- 
going, his uncle, who had been most shamefoUy exiled and 
cast out from the kingdom by the wickedness and power of the 

Ciants, put an end to his lif e in great wretchedness among 
enemies, aecording to the word of the prophet, saying, The 
Lord delivered them into the hand of the enemy, and they who 
hated them had dominion over thenu 



CHAPTER VIIL 

Acts of Bdbert Stewart earl o/Fife, 

ArrER the English king Itichard's retum into England, sir 
Sobert Stewart of Fife, the king^s second son, gathared unto 
him fiom aU parts of the country a strong body of men-at-arms, 
to the number of 30,000, with whom were Archibald Douglas 
of GaUoway, JSlaek Arehibald, and also his father James Dougks, 
earl of that Uk. They entered at Solway, between the seaboard 
and the hiUy parts of England, and advanced unperceived 
through a fertile and inhabited country, overflowing with 
wealth of aU kinds, as far as Cockermouth, where they fiUed 
their coffers with spoU beyond measure. There a charter was 
found in the words foUowing : / king AtMlttane giffis heir to 
Fa/ttlyn Hbdan and Sodan^ als weil and alefair a» evir thai 
myn war; and thairto witnes Mauld my wif and thairto my 
ede I gif, etc. Whence afterwards when, through the tric^. 
and devices of the world, there was invented another fashion 
of drawing up long-winded charters, which would be read in 
eourt bef ore him at the time when he was govemor of Scotland, 



248 THE BOOK OF PLUSCiLKDEN. BOOK X. 

he was wont to say that one shonld a^^h more faith and truth 
to the short charters than to the long-winded ones; for the 
greater the multitude of terms, the greater the difficultj and 
confusion. In a multitude of terms, indeed, frivolous objec- 
tions may be taken, which are excluded by a paucity of terms. 
Now this Archibald Douglas had one son named William, who 
was a very celebrated and gallant warriory and harassed the 
English greatly ; and, on account of his prowess, the lord king 
Bobert of Scotland gave him his daughter in marriage, and 
freely bestowed upon them the lordship of Nithsdale as a heri- 
tage for ever. She was called Egidia the Fair; and the king 
of France, hearing of the fame of her name, virtues and beauty, 
sent a certain most subtle painter to paint her portrait and 
portray her charms, with the view of taking her to wife; 
but she was already secured by her former lover. So she 
married the aforesaid William Douglas, who of her begat an 
only daughter whom the lord earl of Orkney, called Heniy 
Sinclair, took to wife, and of whom he begat William earl of 
Orkney and a great many other sons and daughters. And 
because the said land of Nithsdale was in some way diverted 
by foul means from the proper heirs, King James, tiie second 
of this name, made over the earldom of Caithness to the afore- 
said sir William Sinclair earl of Orkney, as compensation for 
the said lordship of Nithsdale. This lady was called The 
fair Maiden of Nithsdale. But this lady's fEither, being very 
high spiiited. served in repeated campaigns with the chivalry 
of Prussia on the borders of the heathen enemies of Ohrist. At 
length one day he was by chance found by the English taking 
a walk on the bridge of Dansekyn (Danzig), and killed. He 
indeed, in company with the earl of Fife, bore himself most 
bravely at Carlingford in Ireland, where they gained a most 
brilliant victory ; and they brought back safely to ScoUand much 
wealth, with ships filled with riches. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Baitle of Otterbum, 

Aftbb this they came to Scotland, and landed at Lochryan, 
pillaging and plundering the Isle of Man on their way. Then 
they moimted their horses, taking with them some of the most 
valiant and able men of the whole country, together with tiie 
lord earl of Douglas^^ and also the earl of Fif e, then in England ; 
and he proposed to go the west country for the purpose of 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARBEN. BOOK X. 249 

laying all waste with fire and sword. The lord earl of Douglas 
also had promised, it is asserted, that he and his should at the 
same time enter the district of Wester March in the army of 
the said earl of Fife and also of the said William Douglas. 
Led, however, by no one knows what impnlse or advice, he 
assembled his forces to the number of seven thousand stout 
men-at-arms and, being too high spirited and relying ou their 
assistance, it seemed to him that he was by himself, without 
other help, strong enough to overrun and totally subjugate the 
northem parts of England. So he led his armj southwards as 
far as Newcastle, shattering and buming and slaying every- 
thing; and at the said town of Newcastle, in attacking the 
citizens and assaulting the town and fighting hand to hand 
with the townsfolk, they bore themselves most stoudy. But 
within the aforesaid town, though they knew nothing of it, was 
the whole chivalry of Northumberland with sir Heniy Percy 
the son, who was named Henry Hotspnr^ and who was waiting 
to seize a fit opportunity to fall upon the Scottish army. Thus, 
when the earl of Douglas was making his way home and had 
encamped at Otterbum in Bedesdale, this Henry Hotspur fol- 
lowed, and first prudently caused the army of the earl of Fife to 
be reconnoitred; but, as he was too strong for him, he tumed upon 
the earl of Douglas. The latter, having no foreboding of evil 
frora his enemies, proposed to go to the festival of Saint Cuthbert 
of Tork,^' and wished to bring with him all his nobles, namely, 
the earls of * March and Murray and many others who accom- 
panied them. So^ while they were seated at supper in holiday 
attire, in flowing robes and gowns with collars, and were sitting 
joyously like peaceful men, lo! suddenly the voice of one 
crying in great haste, " Fools and dolts, who have no scouts or 
sentries outside your army, nse now and haste to arms. Lo ! 
ye aie surrounded on all sides by your enemies." They rose at 
once and mshed to arms, but scarcely could a bare half of 
them arm themselves. The earl of Douglas also rose, and 
in his haste could hardly lace on his armour or fasten it with 
the buckles, owing to the confusion of the sudden onslaught 
of the enemy; so he mshed forward with uncovered face 
to maishal the line of battle, and was mortally wounded in 
the face in the dark, by whom is not known^ whether by the 
Scots or by the English. Accordingly in the moming he was 
found dead, not leaving after him any heir of his body. He 
was succeeded in his aforesaid earldom by Black Archibald^ 
the bastaid or natuial son, who was at that time loid of 
Oalloway. The earl of Murray also, John Dunbar, who, 
throogh overmuch haste, was without a helmet, was lost. 



250 TH£ BOOK OF PLU8CABDEN. BOOK X. 

When therefoie the outcry was raised, the Scots, as it were, 
tamed to flee ; and sir Maurice, called Sir Mmo with the Sed 
Mane, and sir Bobert Ogle were to have pursued them. But, 
jost as the English thought thej had gained a complete victoiy 
over the whole army, the earl of I>ougla8 and many of the most 
valiant nobles, keeping out of sight of the English, charged 
them in Vbe glare of the sun, a Uttle before sunset, engaged 
them fearlessly and compelled them to fall back. So, vhen 
they had fought thus a little while, the Scots, who had been on 
the point of Sight^ kept coming back little by littley growing in 
stiength and numbers and attacking the English army, nntil at 
last &ey compelled the army of Henry Hotspur to retreat in 
flight For he had divided his army into two parts, thinkiiig 
the Scots would turn and fiee at once : one part was to chase 
the fugitives,^' and the other part he kept with him — ^five 
thousand men-at-arms in each division. While therefore sir 
Maurice with the Red Mane and sir Sobert Ogle, who had been 
told ofT to chase the aforesaid fugitives, stopped to puU down 
the tents and pavilions and to divide the spoil, and sir Henry 
Percy and his men were making merry over the fugitives and 
spoils and thinking they would overcome all without resistance^ 
all at once the lord Douglas with two other earls and the 
fiower of noble men-at-arms quickly broke and defeated his 
whole company. For, while these were obstinately fighting 
with their lances in the height of the struggle, all at once a 
certain most noble and gallant knight, sir John Swinton, lord 
of that ilk, came pn the fiank with a thick and strong lance, 
and beat to the ground sideways all the lances of the Englisb, 
as many as he came across ; and, as he thus kept on stnking 
down to the ground the iron spearheads of the English^ they 
could not therefore hurt our Scots in the least. So, when they 
had fought thus a little while, the English were forced to give 
way, and showed their backs to the Scots. Aa night was 
approaching, however, the pursuing Scots, after taking some 

Srisoners, overthrowing some, and leaving others dead on the 
eld, rested not from their pursuit of them all that night^ but 
kept on dividing the spoil or sending prisoners acioss into 
Scotland; so that, according to some accounts, the priaoners 
exceeded the captors in number. On the side of the Scots 
many indeed fell, but not a tenth part of the EngUsh. Never- 
theless the noble earl of Douglas, as related abovey was wounded 
in the night, and was found dead in the moming ; while also 
the earl of March and the earl of Murray were mortally 
wounded. Bobert Hart and John Towers, knights, died in the 
battle. In the book of the Great Chronicle (Scotichionicon) 
there are some remarkable lines on the subject. 



THS BOOK OV PLUSCABDEK. BOOK X. 251 



CHAPTEE X. 

Kvng Sdbert ofSeotland, being ofgreat age, appoinis his yownger 
8on, Bdbert dvke of Alhany, govemor of Seotland» 

In the year 1389 King Bobert ii., being of great age, con- 
sented that hlB second son, Bobert earl of l^e, should be 
govemor of the kingdoin. For John earl of Carridc, his eldest 
son, had been seriously injored on the leg by a kick from the 
horse of James Douglas, so that he was so to speak imequal to 
the daily task of goveming the kingdom, and had become laine. 
At the outset of his governorship he summoned the great men 
of the three estates of the realm» and held a coimcil at Edin- 
buigh ; and all the prelates and lords of the realm tendered an 
oath of fealty to him for the govemment of the kingdom. 
Now in the aforesaid battle of Otterbum Henry Percy, called 
Hotspur, was taken prisoner by the earl of March, whereat the 
Engliish were beyond measure indignant, and especially a 
certain arrogant knight, named ihe Earl Marshal, who reviled 
his own nation, seeing that they were so many and the Scotch- 
men so few ; and then he would boastfully say he wished he 
himself could have a brush with the Scots. So when the new 
govemor heard this, he straightway assembled an army, and 
made his way into England up to near the place where the said 
Earl Marshal dwelt» and encamped ; and he sent over messen- 
gers to him^ offering his battle. Tke other, however, declined, 
saying that he had received injunctions from his king not to 
expose his men to danger without his orders. So the earl, the 
govemor of Scotland, on hearing this, retumed home, destroyiug 
with fire and sword eveiything he came across on his march. 
AU brave men of either nation, however, made a jest of this 
answer. But the govemor of Scotland loaded his army with the 
spoil and plunder of the English and repaired home safely. The 
same year the king of the French sent envoys into ScoUand to 
bring about a tmce both by sea and by land between Scotland 
and England. For a truce for three years had been agreed 
upon at BouIogne-sur-Mer between the king of France himself 
and the king of England ; and, according to the terms of the 
alliance, the kingdom of ScoUand was included in it, if the 
parties pleased. Whereupon envoys were sent to the king 
of England, in order that he might consent and swear the 
tmce; and in like manner the king of England sent envoys to 
Uie king of Scotland, earnestly beseeching him to hold to the 
tmce. The king, therefore, after persistent entreaties addressed 



252 THE BOOK OF FLUSCABDEN. BOOK X. 

both to the chiefs of ScotLand and also to the king, agreed to 
the tnice, and likewise swore to keep it, out of regard for the 
king of France, his ally. Thus was the kingdom pacified after 
much tribulation, and abode in the most blissful prosperitj for 
years and years. Meanwhile the lord king Bobert ii. was 
seized with a brief illness at Dundonald Castle and gave up 
the ghost, paying the debt of nature ; and he lies honourably 
entombed at Scone. He passed away on the 20th ^^ of April, 
in the year of our Lord 1390. He reigned nineteen years and 
twenty-three^ days, leaving the kingdom in quiet, freedom, 
fruitfulness and peace. May his soul rest with the Etemal 
Eing ! He was seventy-four years of age. The same year sir 
Alexander Stewart, the king's son and earl of Buchan, bumt 
down that most beautiful church of Elgin in Moray, to wit 
the cathedraL Be it observed that the said King Eobert li. 
begat three sons of his spouse Elizabeth, daughter of sir Adam 
Mure, namely John, who afterwards changed his name and 
was king, Sobert duke of Albany, and the aforesaid Alexander 
earl of Buchan, who was commonly called Ths Wolf of 
Badenoch, and by the savage Scots was called Alister More 
MaMn Se, and who also begat three bastard sons, namely, Alex- 
ander earl of ,Mar, Eobert Stewart of Athol, and Duncan 
Stewart, who were all said to be of a bad disposition ; neverthe- 
less Alexander earl of Mar was the wisest of them. Then, 
af ter the birth of those three sons of King Sobert n., he was 
joined in wedlock to Euphemia, daughter of the earl of Boss, 
and of her begat Walter earl of Athol> who was afterwards 
found guilty of treacheiy to Eing James l., and put to death ; 
and David earl of Strathem. After the death of tlus Queen 
Euphemia, again, the king married his first mistress, EUzabeth 
Mure, for love of the children and to legitimize them. So his 
sons were legitimized, and the first succeeded to the throne ; 
for the said earl of Athol, the traitor, was suspected by some 
of not being the king's son, but gotten by adultery. And thua 
these three sons were legitimized by a subsequent marriage, 
and succeeded to the throne. 



CHAPTER XL 

Caronation ofKing Bobert iii. and Qucen AnabeUa. 

In the year 1390, King Bobert m. was crowned at Scone in 
royal faahion the same year» afber changing his name ; and on 
the morrow Anabella Dmmtnond was in like manner graced 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK X. 253 

^ith the royal diadem at the same place. The followiiig year 
there broke out such a struggle among the savage Scots that 
they troubled the whole country with their struggles. Where- 
fore the kiug^ unable to restore them to peace and harmony, by 
the advice of the magnates of the realm appointed as foUows : 
that the two principal chieftains among them should each take 
thirty of their chiefest and most valiant friends» and should 
fight in closed lists, without armour, after the manner of a 
duel, with swords only and pole-axes and bows, and with only 
three arrows ; and this was to be in the king's presence, at an 
appointed time and place, on the North Inch at Perth. For 
throughout the whole county of Angus they could have no 
peace because of their marauding; and even not many days 
before, they, namely the savages, had cruelly slain the son of the 
earl of Buchan ^^ and many other nobles, the sheriff of Angus 
among others, who were defending the property of the country 
in the field. Wherefore, through the good offices of the earl of 
Crawford and other nobles of the country, it was agreed as 
aforesaid, and carried into effect, so that in the end all on both 
sides but seven were killed : five indeed on one side, and two 
on the other, escaping with their lives. Of these two on the 
side of the losers, one was chased as far as the river Tay and 
beyond, and saved himself by swimming ; while the other was 
taken prisoner and received quarter, with the consent of the 
party. Others say he was hanged. At the outset of the fight, 
one of the number of one side was missing, and those who 
looked for him could not find him ; but by chance there came 
one who was of their kin and had no love for the other adverse 
party» and he was brought into the battleground for forty shil- 
lings, and went in and did valiantly, escaping safe and sound 
with his life afber the battle.^^ The following year a certain 
knight, called fiobert Morlay, challenged a gold cup of the 
king of Scotland, and made a vow that he would bring the afore- 
said gold cup with him unless it were defended by battle. Sir 
James Douglas offered himself to him ; but, from the decided 
manner in which the affair was cut short, nothing came of it. 
On his departure, however, he did battle with two knights of 
Scotland separately, at so many hits, at Berwick, and bore him- 
self creditably with both. But on the morrow he did battle 
with sir Thomas 'jTrail, nephew of the bishop of Saint Andrews, 
and was then altogether defeated; and from the sadness he 
felt and the increasing melancholy he consequently fell into 
therefrom, he was laid upon a bed of sickness and ended his 
days. For he had gained many honourable victories in divers 
kingdoms, and had Jiad enormous expenses; and in that way. 



254 THE BOOK OF PLUSGABDEK. BOOE X. 

throagh sadness and want, he fell into hopeless despair. The 
same year a certain coiner was boiled to death at Perth.^ In 
the year of oor Lord 1398 King Eobert m. created his eldest 
son David earl of Carrick duke of Bothesay, and he made his 
brother Bobert earl of Fife and Menteith duke of Albany, and 
continued him as govemor of the kingdom. Before this time 
no one either in Scotland or in England was ever named duke 
of Bothesay or of Albany, nor do we read in writings of such 
a thing. The same year also, at the same time and place, sir 
David lindsay was made first earl of Crawford. The king also 
wished to create sir Archibald the Black earl of Douglas a 
duke ; but he himself would not have it, saying the domain 
was not worth taking the nome of duke for;^^ and when the 
heralds called out to him, " Sir duke, sir duke," he answered and 
said» *' Sir drake, sir drake ;" and thus he would only accept the 
name of earl. But this earl of Crawford performed remarkable 
feats of arms in England before King Bichard, and against the 
lord of Wells, who was called and proved to be the most 
eminent knight in the kingdom of England at the time ; and 
many nobles of Scotland gained distinction there. This cere- 
mony, the creation of the dukes and earl, took place at Scone, 
and lasted fifteen days with great splendour. 

Then follows the murder of the sheriff of Angus by the high- 
land Scots, and other incidents ; but, as it was touched upon in 
the last chapter, it is passed over, together with other anecdotes 
contained there in the Oreat Chronicle. 

In the year of our Lord 1391 the noble knight sir Walter 
Ogilvy, sherifif of Angus, was killed by the savage Scots in the 
forest of Platane, together with his brother Walter of lichton, 
at Olenbreth, and together with many other nobles of Angus ; 
and there Duncan Stewart, brother of Alexander earl of Mar» 
fell in resisting their plunder being carried off out of Angos.** 
About the same time also William Inglis, knight, fought in 
single combat with one of England, Struthers by name, and 
slew him, Black Archibald earl of Douglas and sir Henry 
Percy earl of Northumberland being the judges. 

CHAPTER XII. 
Treachery of the Engliah and dqMmtian of King Sichard. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Treachery of King Bidiard himedf mder the eloak of 

pretended friendlinsse. 



THE BOOK OV ^LDSCABDEN. BOOK X. 255 

CHAPTER XIV. 
CoroTuUian ofKing Henry IV, 

And thus in this manner was Eling Bichard bereft and 
divested of his kingdom, and straightway thrust into perpetual 
impriBonment, and about to be despatched. But he was, how- 
ever, soon cleverly exchanged by some of his well-wishers, and 
snatched away from thence, another like him being put in 
his place; and he was dexterously taken away and carried 
across to the Scottish Isles, where he remained for some time 
unrecognised in the kitchen of the Lord of the Isles. He was 
afterwards, however, detected by a fool in the house of the Lord 
of the Isles, who knew him formerly in England, and the said 
liOrd of the Isles sent him into Scotland to Eling Robert m. 
by the lord of Montgomery. The king, while he lived, main- 
tained this King Richard with becoming honour ; and, after 
him, the Duke of Albany did Iikewise, and fed, clothed and 
honoured him with due reverence until his death^ and buried 
him after his death in the friaiy of Stirling, at the north comer 
of the altar. 

CHAPTER XV. 
Marriage of the duke of Rothesay- 

Ik the year 1399 the duke of Rothesay, Prince David, the 
eldest son of Eing Robert m., contracted a marriaffe with the 
Lady Elizabeth, daughter of sir George Dunbar earl of March, 
on payment of a lai^ sum of money to the king in considera- 
tion thereof. But, because these espousals were not celebrated 
with the consent of the three estates, Archibald Douglas, on 
payment of a larger sum to the king, solemnly^ in the face of 
the chuTch» joined his own daught-er, Mary^ by name» in wed- 
lock with the aforesaid prince at Bothwell, after sending away 
the other. The earl of March, however, made his appearance 
before the marriage was consummated, and went up to the 
king, saying and b^seeching him that he should either have the 
marriage with his own daughter, which had been promised to 
him, folfilled, or restore to him entirely the sum of ready 
money paid by him. But, as the said earl was not satisfiea 
with the king's answer, he sent a guard into the castle of 
Dunbar, namely, sir Robert Maitland and some other friends of 
his, and withdbrew into Englandy wh^:e he had an interview 
with the king of England under a safe^nducb Aiter 



256 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEK. BOOK X: 

departure, the said knight, Bobert Maidand, urged by I know 
not what motive or fear, handed over the aforesaid castle in the 
year 1400 to sir Archibald Douglas, son of Black Archibald 
earl of that ilk, to keep. But when the earl of March heard of 
this in England, he wrote a letter and sent over messengers 
of his own asking them to give him up his castle^ seeing Qiat 
he had not incurred forfeiture, but had come to the courtof the 
king of England, under his safe-conduct, for some other busi- 
ness of his. This, however, was not granted him. So the earl 
was exceedingly wroth, assembled a force of his friends, sons, 
cdlies and others who sided with him in England, and waged a 
dreadfiil war on the border of the marches of ScoUand, throughout 
all the borders of Scotland, wherever he could, bringing away 
into England spoils and prisoners. And withal he himself and 
the younger Percy, called Henry Hotspur, penetrated into 
Lothian as far as Haddington with a lai^e army, to the 
number of two or three thousand, thinking to spend the night 
there ; and they besieged and stormed the castle of Hailes and 
bumt down the town. thereof. But while they thought to 
spend the night there or thereabouts, and supper was prepared 
with quantities of roast meat cooking at the fire, Arclubald 
Douglas, the son, came upon them with a considerable force of 
men-at-arms, and put them to flight, driving them back as far 
as near Berwick and almost to the gates thereof. Many were 
taken on the way in Colbranspath Park and elsewhere, and he 
pursued them and made great havoc of them ; and they brought 
back with them the banner of sir Thomas Talbot 



CHAPTER XVI. 

DecUh of Black Archibald Douglas, 

Th£ same year as above died Archibald Douglas earl of that 
ilk, who was said to be an upright, true and famous knight in 
his time, and wise and faithful to the king and kiDgdom. 
After driving out the nuns at Lincluden, he caused secular 
canons to be established there, and created a coUege. He also 
founded the coUege of Bothwell. The same year came Henry 
king of England into Scotland with large numbers of men-at- 
arms, both by sea and by land, before the Feast of the Assump- 
tion of Our Lady. He came to Haddington in Lothian, and 
then to Leith, to meet his ships, and there he tarried three 
days. Meanwhile his men besieged and stormed the castle of 
Edinburgh, where was at that time the prince of Scotland, the 



THK BOOK OF PLU8CARDBN. BOOK X. 257 

duke of Bothesay, and with him Archibald earl of Douglas, the 
second of that naiae, with many nobles. So when the governor 
of Scotland, the duke of Albany, saw this, he assembled the 
nobles from northem parts, and came as far as to Oaldermoir 
with a fine army of men-at-arms. But the king of England, 
for want of provisions, some say, went back again to England 
afber doing some trifling damage to the country ; and as nothing 
worth remembering was done there we pass on. Now this 
Henry king of England in his said march did little damage to 
Scotland^ and to aU who would seek immunity for their houses, 
goods^ persons, or strongholds he would kindly and graciously 
grant it, nor would he even inflict any annoyance on the 
monasteries or others the rectors of churches ; and this he did 
because of the kindness his father the duke of Lancaster, when 
an exile and outlaw, had experienced in Scotland at the 
hands of the chiefs, lords and churchmen ; and especially on 
this account would he not allow any harm to be done to the 
monastery of Holyrood, saying, " For I am half a Scot by blood 
and in heart, as being of the stock of the noble Oumyns, earls 
of Buchan. And though I now come hither as an enemy, I do 
so against my will, as it were, and after provocation, as witness 
the Most High^ because of some letters sent by the great men 
of the kingdom of Scotland to the king of the French, which^ 
t(^ether with the bearers thereof, were taken at sea on their 
way by some of my men, and are still preserved in my posses- 
sion : in which letters they asserted that I was in the last 
degree a traitor. Therefore have I now come hither to see 
whether he in his innocence durst have an encounter with such a 
traitor as he has said I am. I came not to cause any annoyance 
or hurt to any one, so far as is possible." Moreover the aforesaid 
King Henry, out of respect for Queen Anabella of Scotland, 
who was at Dunfermline, behaved the more kindly in all ho 
did in the kingdom of Scotland. 



OHAPTER XVII. 

Betrayai and death of the dvke of Bothesay. 

In the year 1401 died Walter Trail, bishop of Saint Andrews. 
Also the same year died the said Anabella, the pride and 
omament of the kingdom while she lived. The same year 
there was a great plague> which was called the Fourth Pli^^e. 
Now, after the death of the said Queen Anabella, the prince 
of Scotland, duke 6f Bothesay, who was wanton in life and 

R 



258 TUB BOOK OF PLUSGABDEN. BOOK X. 

behaviour, but had been kept in check and led by soimder adTice, 
after his mothei^s death went back to his foimer wantonneas, 
altogether rejected the advice of the lords who had been 
assigned him by his father and mother to mle, advise and 
govem him and guide him away from his wantonness to 
uprightness of conduct, and went back to his former wanton- 
ness, leading a most wanton life^ as his end showed. King 
Kobert m. his father, being powerless and decrepit, wrote to 
his brother the duke of Albany, then govemor, that he should 
be entmsted to the guidance of discreet persons, and be placed 
and kept in custody for a while, imtil, being ohastened by the 
rod of discipUne, he should know himself better and mend: 
according to the words of the prophet, Whom God loyeth he 
ohideth and chasteneth. But the messengers who boie the 
letter were sir William lindsay and sir John BamomiCy who 
put it into the said duke's head to betake himself to the castle 
of Saint Andrews, take up his quarters there, and await the 
new bishop^s arrival, guarding himself against all danger &om 
his enemies ; for they hinted that there was danger ahead 
being plotted against him The prince thoughtlessly beHeved 
them and, proposing to go to the bishop's castle, was arrested 
on his way by the duke of Albany, govemor of Scotland, 
the unde of the said duke of Bothesay, between Nydie and 
Stmther, near the great cross ; and he was taken to Falkland, 
.cmelly thmst into prison, and there starved to death. But^ 
before he was taken to Falkland, they brought him first to 
the said castle of Saint Andrews, and there kept him imder 
arrest by force of arms until they decided about his death at a 
council held at Culross by the duke of Albany and Archibald 
earl of Douglas. Afterwards the aforesaid duke of Albany 
and the said Archibald Douglas, earl of that ilk, brought thia 
duke of Eothesay by force to the said tower of Falkland upon 
a small packhorse and clad in a grey jerkin, afber the manner of 
a varlet, so that he might not be noticed on the way ; and he 
was put under the charge of John Wright and John Selkirk, 
who kept him shut up in a little vault in the said tower to 
the end of his life. He died in the year 1402, on the seventh 
day of April, and was buried at lindores. Some, however, say 
that, because the duke of Sothesay himself would not yield to 
their advice when they would have had him arrest his uncle the 
duke, those two knights, William Lindsay and John Bamomie, 
fathering their own suggestion on him, persuaded the said duke 
of Albany that, if he himaelf did not arrest the duke of Bothe- 
say, he would make him die a violent death. And this they 
did fearing the said suggestion would be revealed, seeing that 



TH£ BOOK OP PLUSCABDEN. BOOK X. 259 

the duke of Rothesay had utterly refused to plot his uncle's 
death. But others say otherwise, that the said William Lind- 
say, knight, plotted this mischief against the duke of Bothesay 
because the latter, foUowing I know not what ill advice^ had 
plighted his troth to the said knight^s sister Euphemia, a most 
beautif ul lady, and after knowing her had cast her ofif because 
of the above betrothal; wherefore he had conceived a deep 
grudge and enmity against that prince. In the previous 
autumn there appeared in the west a star which is called a 
comet, and which portends the death of a prince, as the astro- 
nomers tell us. It shot out large and long rays stretching 
northwards. The prince himself deemed tlukt the death of a 
prince was at hand. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Fight of NiAet. 

In the year 1402 there was that engagement on Nisbet Muir 
between the earl of March, then a fugitive in England, who 
had with him the forces of the earl of Northumberland, ai;d 
Patrick Hepbum of Hailes, a noble knight, who distinguished 
himself in Eugland. But as he remained there too long, longer 
than had been decided and agreed among his advisers, there 
came upon him a fresh force of men-at-arms with Patrick,^ 
son of the said earl, whereby the said earl of March and his 
supporters gained the victoiy. Here fell many nobles of 
Lothian;*the said Patrick Hepbum was slain, and the three^ 
brothers Haliburton were taken prisoners, together with Bobert 
Lauder, knight, lord of the Bass, and many others. In the same 
year Archibald, the new earl of Douglas, came to the duke of 
Albany, govemor of Scotland, and asked leave and assistance 
from him to avenge the engagement at Nisbet This he wiU- 
i^gly granted him, and he sent his son Murdach Stewart with a 
strong force of men-at-aims. So the earl assembled his friends 
and supporters on the southem side of the Forth, and marched 
into England as fiar as Newcastle, harrying everything with 
fire and sword. He had with him, of the northemers, the said 
Murdach, eldest son of the duke of Albany, and the earls of 
Angus and Murray and many other nobles. So, as they were 
coming down towards NewcasUe with numberless spoils and 
piisoners, they were met by sir Heniy Hotspur, with whom 
were the earl of the Marches of Scotland and his supporters, to 
the number of ten thousand men-at-arms, at a place which is 



260 THE BOOK OF PLUSCAEDEN. BOOK X. 

called Millfield. Here the earl of Douglas, on seeing the 
English, betook himself with his whole army to some rising 
ground called Homildon. The said Henry Percy would have 
attacked them at once ; but the said earl would not allow this 
Henrj to stir from his place, but advised and urged him only 
to send his archers against them, so that by harassing and 
wounding them they should in course of time so exhaust them 
that he would afterwards easily overcome them and take them 
prisoners without a struggle. This was done accordingly. The 
arrows of the English flew like hail, and thej slew many, and 
wounded many, and many they led away captive. There fell 
in the battle John lord of Swinton, Adam lord of Gordon, John 
livingstone of Callander, Bamsay lord of Dalhousie, Walter 
Sinclair, Roger Gordon, Walter Scot; and there were taken 
there sir Murdach Stewart, sir Archibald earl of Douglas, sir 
Thomas earl of Murray, the lord earl of Angus, and many lesser 
nobles, who are no longer remembered. The said earl of Douglas 
indeed lost one eye and one of his genitals there.^ 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Siege of Cocldaw CasUe. 

After this, however, sir Henry Percy, trusting in the advice 
of sir George Dunbar, and thinking he would easily subdue 
to his sway the whole country of Lothian up to the Scottish 
sea, as he had, as stated above, already overcome the most 
valiant and chiefest army leaders both at Nisbet and at Homil- 
don, therefore assembled and took with him a vast number of 
men-at-arms, and laid siege to the tower of Cocklaw, together 
with the earl of the marches of Scotland with him, and bravely 
assaulted the aforesaid tower of Cocklaw. So the commandant 
of the said place, Gledstanes by name, a discreet squire, seeing 
no succours for him forthcoming, appointed and agreed with 
them and promised by a covenant he made that, failing suc- 
cours, he would surrender the castle to them within a certain 
time. But within that time the Lord, strong. and mighty in 
battle, who is not wroth day after day and whose wrath diall 
not continue f or ever, but who sometimes softens the scourge 
of His anger, tumed the sword of the English against their own 
breast and gave them into the hands of the enemy on the 
borders of Wales; and they that hated them had dominion over 
them. For there a wonderful battle was fought at Shrews- 
bury, where many English nobles fell on both sides. Never- 



"s — r-= — -"-x.-.' - — : — -Lr"_ ., — i" 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGARDEN. BOOK X. 261 

theless the govemor of Scotlancly unaware of that quarrel 
among the English, with the assistance of 6od, who this time 
tumea away the scourge of His anger from the Scots nation, 
assembled a considerable army of the nobles of Scotland, to the 
number of sixty thousand men-at-arms, and went off to Ix)thian 
before the appointed day ; and, as many strong places within 
the borders of the marches had been taken and kept by the 
devices of the English at the time of the fights at Nisbet and 
Homildon, this govemor besieged these places and recovered 
them, subduing them to the kin^s sway — and notably the 
castle of Innerwick, which he levelled to the ground ; and then 
he presented himself at Cocklaw with the aforesaid army on 
the day appointed. As, however, a deadly war had broken out 
between the said Henry Percy and King Henry of England, 
the said Henry did not take care to make his appearance at 
Cocklaw on the appointed day, but treacherously rebelled 
against the Lord anTagainst rfi Christ, b«aldng L oath of 
fealty and allegiance, and presenting hunself with his whole 
force against the aforesaid king at Shrewsbury aforesaid in a 
pitched batde. But when the duke of Albany, the govemor, 
heard of this, on the news being made public every one 
returoed home in peace magnifying 6od. 



CHAPTER XX. 
Battle of Shrewsbury. 



Earl Archibald, who was taken prisoner at Homildon, was 
there (at the battle of Shrewsbuiy) again seized a second 
time, and given up to the king. There also was slain Bobert 
Stewart of Hartshaw, a veiy noble knight, who above all others 
had given the advice that the English and Scots should come 
to blows. 

CHAPTEE XXI. 

DecUh of King Bdbert III. wnd captwre of his eldest san 

King James /. 

In the year 1404 James L prince of Scotland, for fear of 
traitorous treachery, was given into the charge of the bishop 
Heniy Wardlaw, who had just been made bishop, in the castle 
of Saint Andrews. He was fourteen years of age. With him 



262 TUE BOOK OF PLUSGAHDSN. BOOK X. 

was the fourth Henry Percy, of the same age, who had taken 

reftige in Scotland, having been sent thither by his kinsfolk 

for personal saf ety after his father^B death. But the aforesaid 

prince James did not remain there long, but was secretly sent 

by sea with the lord Sinclair to France, to the king of the 

French, in order that he might there be instructed in manners 

and virtue and be the more safely kept. So this sir Henry 

Sinclair earl of Orkney undertook the task with all due dili- 

gence, and embarked at the Bass rock ; and they put to sea 

with a suitable equipment and adequate retinue. At Flam- 

borough, however, they happened to be caught in a storm, and 

the prince and all his suite were taken by their enemies the 

English and brought to Henry king of England, notwithstand- 

ing that a truce had shortly before been concluded between the 

aforesaid kingdoms of England and Scotland. Some indeed 

say that the persons of princes are not included in a truce. 

This prince, however, was kept a prisoner there for eighteen 

years ; and, though the said Henry king of England in his last 

will directed his son Henry, who made a hostile invasion of 

France, that the said king of Scotland should be freely sent over 

to his own country without any ransom whatsoever, yet his son 

did not take care to fulfil this ; but hostages were given and he 

was ransomed for a large sum of money, and arrived in Scotland 

in the year 1423, about Easter, in pursuance of a contract of 

marriage between that king and the sister of the earl of Somer- 

set, now duke of the same. But sir David Fleming of Cumber- 

nauld, who had escorted the said prince as far as the ship, was, 

on his way back, slain near Langhirdmanston (Hermandston) 

by sir James Douglas, warden of the marches and brother of 

Archibald earl of Douglas, the reason given being that he faad 

been one of the chief actors in the seizure of Eling Bobert n.** 

No sooner had Eing Bobert iii. heard his son had been taken a 

prisoner to England, than he b^n to heave piteous s^hs from 

his heart, inwardly giving way to the most bitter grief ; and by 

reason of the fierce anguish of his heart he was as it were half 

dead, and his spirits drooped, so that after this day, namely 

the 4th of April, he never took his food with a good heart, 

until he gave up the ghost to the Most High at the said place, 

namely the castle of Bute ; and he lies honourably buried at 

Paisley, in front of the high altar. It should be noted that 

Eing James, the first of this name, was taken to France by 

Heury king of Eugland, to the end that, by his means, the 

earl of Buchan and other Scots sent by the govemor, by virtne 

of the alliance, to defend the noble kingdom of France, should 

eome over to him at his command ; but this they would by no 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK X. 263 

means do while he was a prisoner, notwithstanding they were 
again and again required and summoned under his seal, on pain 
of treason and rebellion. After the death of Eing Bobert m., 
his brother Bobert duke of Albanj, earl of Fife and Menteith, 
was again elected and confirmed as govemor of Scotland. The 
same year the town of Stirling was accidentally bumt down. 
At that time there were seeking refage in Scotland, for fear of 
Eing Henry iv., to wit King Bichard, Henry Percy the younger, 
the lord of Bardolph, a Welsh bishop, the bishop of Bangor, 
the bishop of St. Asaph, the abbot of Welbeck. The earl of 
Northumberland indeed^ deceived by a certain knight^ a confi- 
dential friend of his, came into England and was taken prisoner 
by the king, and with him the lord Bardolph. Both were 
beheaded, and their heads were publicly fixed on stakes ; and 
many others who took that side suffered death on account of 
the said Henry Percy. 



CHAPTEB XXII. 

Certain everUa at thia time. 

In the year 1405 the battle of li^ge was fought by the duke of 
Burgundy, and many fell in the battle. There was with him 
the duke of Bavaria, father of the queen of France, who was 
the mother of Charles vn., now reigning^ and who triumphantly 
delivered France from all subjection to the English. This duke 
of Bavaria was brother to the duke of HoUand. With these 
also was Alexander earl of Mar, with a large company of 
Scottish nobles; and he knighted many there, and gained a 
great and glorious victory not only through his prowess but 
also through his advice. About this time the abbot of Pontigny 
was sent into Scotland for the sake of the unity of the church, 
and to bring about a secession from Pope Benedict This object 
was attained, and Martin became sole pope.^ In the year 1409 
Jedburgh castle was taken and levelled to the ground. The 
same year the lord earl of March was restored to the possession 
of the castle of Dunbar and of the earldom ; but, before he 
could recover his domain, he gave Archibald earl of Douglas the 
domain of Lochmaben with Annandale; and to others of the 
king^s councillors he distributed other lands. The same year was 
the great gale of Saint Eentigem, which tore up by the roots 
trees in the forests, and produced many extraordinary effects. 
The following year the castle of Fastcastle was taken by the 
eldest son of the earl of Marcb. AIbO) in the year 1411 was 



264 THE BOOK OF PLUSOARDEN. BOOK X. 

the fight of Harlaw in Garioch — Donald of the Isles against 
Alexander earl of Mar and the sheriff of Angos — ^where many 
nobles fell in battle. The same year the town of Cupar was 
accidentally bumt down. In the year 1413 came the bnlls of 
the privileges of Saint Andrews University, the day after the 
Furification of the Blessed Yirgin ; and it was kept as a great 
holiday in the city, with very great rejoicings. In the sarae 
year 1411 the town of linlithgow was accidentally bumt down. 
The town of Boxburgh also was bumt down, and the bridge 
was broken down by the Scots, to wit the lord of Douglas and 
the earl of March. In the jear 1413 George^ Graham earl 
of Strathem was killed by two brothers, lords of Oliphant, 
who after this fled into England; but they were recaptured 
and brought to justice at Perth, where they were drawn, be- 
headed and hanged. In the year 1415 the town of Penrith 
was bumt down by the Scots and the town of Dumfries by 
the English. In the year '15 above mentioned there was a 
free exchange of sir Murdach Stewart, the eldest son of the 
duke of Albany, a prisoner in England since the battle of 
Homildon, against the younger Henry Percy e€irl of Northum- 
berland. A(so in the year 1414 was held the Council of 
Constance by the apostolic lord and the prelates of the uni- 
versal church. 



CHAPTER XXIIL 

OtUbreaJc ofwar hetwem Hngland and the kingdam of Scotland, 

through Henry V, hmg of England, 

In the year of Our Lord 1415 Henry v. king of England 
called together the prelates and lords of his kingdom, and asked 
their advice, on peril of their souls, whether he had a better 
grieyance against the kingdom of Scotland or against the king* 
dom of France to go to war about It is said that with one 
accord they said that he had no just pretext for conquest 
against the kingdom of Scotland, though he had one against the 
kmgdom of France. So he fitted out a fleet with a great host 
of men-at-arms, and landed in Normandy, and took many cities 
and towns on first arriving. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

The WeUh suhdued. 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK X. 265 



CHAPTER XXV. 

The earl of Bv/ihan croms into France, hamng been eent hy the 
govemor to the assistanee of the French. 

In the jear 1419 the castle of Waxk was taken by William 
Haliburton of Fastcastle, who was afterwards treacheroitsly 
betrayed by sir Bobert Ogle and killed, and with him twenty- 
three noble Scotsmen. While they were unsuspectingly treat- 
ing for a friendly peace they placed ladders — ^rope-ladders — at 
the back of the castle, unnoticed by the others ; and, after the 
castle had been taken, all who were therein were beheaded, and 
their bodies were cruelly and contemptuously thrown without 
the walls. In the year 1420*® envoys were sent by Charles vn. 
king of France to the govemor of Scotland, the duke of Albany, 
for succour against Henry v., who was then invading the king- 
dom of France with a great host of men-at-arms, seizing and 
ravaging everything. So the govemor called together the 
three estates of the realm, and despatched his son John eorl of 
Buchan, with whom was Archibald Douglas, eldest son of the 
earl of that ilk and nephew of the said duke, with ten thousand^ 
men-at-arms splendidly equipped at the expense of the said 
king of France; and ships were sent both from France and 
&om Spain to the said kingdom of Scotland to bring the 
said nobles to the said kingdom of France. They were wel- 
comed with the greatest rejoicings, and the chief leaders of 
the army were given fine places to Uve in, to wit the castle 
of Chatollon to the earl of Buchan, the castle of Dunleroi 
to Archibald Douglas earl of Wigtown, the castle of Langeais 
to sir Thomas Seton, and the castle of Concoursault to sir John 
Stewart of Damley, together with their respective lands and 
domains and most wealthy towns and fortresses. Now these, 
until the battle of Baug^, were not thought much of, but were 
called by the French only mutton-eaters and wine-bibbers and 
consumers, and of no use to the king and kingdom of France, 
until and up to the time that the battle of Baug^ was fought 
chiefly by the Scots, where the whole nobility and the flower 
of the English chivalry fell in battle, on Easter Eve, during 
an eight days' tmce and armistice agreed upon by the chiefs, 
namely the said lords of Scotland and the duke of Clarence of 
England, out of reverence for Chrisfs passion and the taking 
of the sacrament Tet on the eve of the said Easter Festival, 
while the Scots thought no evil, nay, were utterly free from 
falseness and deceit, and were playing at ball and amusing them- 



266 tHS BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK X. 

selves with other pleasant or devout occupations, all of a sudden 
the English chiefs treacherously roshed upon them from an 
ambush while they were aJmost unarmed. But by 6od'8 
mercy some men of note were plajring at a passage over a cer- 
tain river, and they caught sight of their banners comiug 
stealthily in ambush through the groves and woods. So they 
hastily gaye the alarm at the top of their voices, and defended 
the passage for a while with bow and spear ; else all the chiefe 
of Scotland, thinking no evil, would have been taken unawares 
and destroyed with the edge of the sword. Bnt the English 
chiefs, fuUy armed cap-^irpie, presumptnously thinking they 
would utterly bear down and defiBat the Scots in the twinkling 
of an eye, left tiieir archers behind in their too great haste ; and 
thus tfaey were routed by the Scots, who were lightly ormed 
and almost without armour. For the latter are most mighty 
men at a sudden charge and very good with the spear ; and 
they came pouring in at the word with great shouting, roused 
and emboldened by iiie bad faith of the English and stxong in 
their own good faith, and thereby rendered braver; and with 
80 impetuous an onset did .they assail and bear down the 
English chiefs with spears and maces of iron and lead and 
keen-edged swords, that they bore down and felled to the earth 
both the chiefe and their comrades, as well as their standard- 
bearers, banners, attendants, pennons, fiags and standards, and 
at the first shock slew the flower of the chivaliy of the English 
army, the duke of darence, brother of the king of England, and 
other generals and earls and magnates, knights and baronSy 
with many other lords ; and, when they had despatched their 
foUowers who were present, the others behind them, who were 
coming to the fight, were quickly put to flight This was at 
the hour of Vespers. Furthermore the chiefs of Scotland and 
their army pursued the fugitives as f ar as the bridge of a certain 
town which is called Le Mans, eight leagues ofT, killing some, 
capturing some and smiting down others, until intermpted by 
the night, when they escaped in the woods and groves. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

^ijerUs leadmg up to the above^merUiafud hattk of Ba^agi. 

Ik the year 1421 Henry v. king of Engiand, the invader of 
France, affcer conqueriug Normandy, retumed to England to 
raise a fresh army for the purpose of subduing the .whole of 
France to his sway, and left Thomas diike of Clarence to govem 



THB BOOK OF PLU8CABDBN: BOOK X. 267 

nnd defend the said country of Normandy ; and the latter was 
minded to lay siege to the castle of Baug^ in the duchy of 
Anjou during Passion Week. But the earl of Buchan and some 
of the French commanders, who longed to encounter tiie said 
duke of Clarence, marched to the town of le Lude, four leagues off, 
on Good Friday, to the number of 7000 men ;^ while the duke 
of Clarence had 10,000 in his army. Then the earl of Buchan 
sent a reconnoitring party to spy out and reconnoitre the army 
of the said duka ^d they sent bearers of flags from one to 
the other ; for, though both sides were longing to have a brush, 
yet, out of reverence for Passion Week, they wished to put oflT 
the encounter until after Easter, by sending messengers from 
one to the other, as stated above ; and accordingly, on the faith 
of that, the said duke treacherously and secretly formed the 
plan of throwing the said earrs army into confusion, surprising 
them unarmed and utterly destroying theoL So these English^ 
coming thus stealthily as already described, were attacked first 
at the passage by Hugh Kennedy, Bobert Stewart of Bailston 
and John Smale of Aberdeen, with their foUowers. But seeing 
that, as already said in the chapter before, the duke of Clarence, 
coming secretly, had lefb the archers behind, all the nobles who 
were with him were attacked as they came to the passage, as has 
been stated ; so that the horses, wounded by the archers, re- 
fused to cross, and chiefs and magnates were forced to dismount, 
and thus won their way across by force of arms. Meanwhile 
the chiefs and nobles of Scotland collected together and took 
the field in such strength as they could, small though it was as 
compared with the enemy's; and they bravely charged the 
leading ranks and b^an to bear them down. As the battle 
went on, the force of the Scots waxed stronger, and they pre* 
vailed over the fierceness of their enemies, so that they gained 
an undisputed and decisive victory with glory and honour, bear- 
ing down, taking and slaying those present in the field, and 
obliging those who followed them to take to flight ; and they 
chased and pursued them through the groves and woods until 
the shades of night. There was the king^s brother the duke 
of Clarence slain, as stated, and the earl of K]rme, the earl of 
Biddesdale and the lord de Boos, together with the lord Grey of 
Codnor and many other barons, to the numb^ of twenty-six 
territorial lords; and there were taken the earl of Somerset, 
brother of the queen of Scotland, the wife of King James L, 
and the earl of Huntingdon. Somerset was taken by Lawrence 
VemoT, a Scot, and by sir John Sibbald knight of Scotland ;'^ 
and also the brother of the said earl of Somerset The lord of 
Fewant was also taken there, as well as many pther lordlings 



268 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK X. 

of whom there is no mentioiL Nor do I find any positive 
account of who killed whom in such a general m^l^ ; but the 
common report was that a highland Scot named Alexander 
Macausland, a native of Lennox, of the household of the lord 
of Buchan, killed the said duke of Clarence; for, in token 
thereof, the aforesaid Macausland brought with him to camp a 
golden coronet of the finest gold and adomed with precious 
stones, which was found on his helmet upon his head in the 
field ; and he sold it for a thousand nobles to the lord Damley, 
who afterwards left that coronet to Bobert Houston in pledge 
for five thousand nobles he owed him. Note that few Scots- 
men and Frenchmen died, not more than eighteen, of whom 
two were Frenchmen, men of quality, namely Charies BoutiUier 
and the brother of the lord des Fontaines. On the day foUow- 
ing Easter Sunday news reached the king of the Frenoh that 
all the Scots ran away^ and that the French gained the field 
and the victory and the honour ; whereat the king of France, 
who was at Tours, marvelled greatly. But on the fourth day 
after the battle tfae Scottish chiefs presented themselves with 
their prisoners, two earls of England and five or six great 
barons, before the king of the French at the said city, while 
the French had no prisoners. Then the king publicly broke 
forth in these words, saying, " Te who were wont to say that 
my Scots were of no use to me and the kingdom, and were 
worth nothing save as mutton-eaters and wine-bibb^, see now 
who has deserved to have the honour and the victory and the 
glory of the battle." 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Madness of King Henry V., and leginning of his mcrtal pavn. 

AccoBDiKGLT, after the death of the duke of Clarencey on 
hearing of his brother'8 death and the loss of his men and 
lords, the king of England straightway raised a strong army, 
retumed to Normandy, landed at Honfleur, and at once be- 
sieged the town of Dreux; and he could not contain himseif 
for the great fory and frenzy which was kindled within him, 
nor could he rest day or night. At length he took the castle ; 
and then he marched off«to Orleans and to Melun, taking with 
him James, afterwards king of SScots, who had long been kept 
a prisoner in the hands of the English, though taken, as already 
said, in time of peace ; and laying siege to the said place of 
Melun, he took it, and made the commandant thereof, the lord 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEK. BOOK X. 269 

de Barbazan, prisoner. Here also were taken twenty or more 
Scots, who were kept to garrison the said town ; and all these 
he caused to be hanged without ransom, saying they were 
rebels and traitors against their king, whom he had brought 
with him against his wilL Then, after posting a guard there, 
he advanced to Meaulx en Brie, where there was an impreg- 
nable castle. He took it, however, with the strong hand and 
with the mighty arm, although not without great slaughter 
of his men. It should be observed also that, when the king 
of England had come near Orleans, he besieged Beaugency, 
and the king of Scotland with him; but with no success. 
Afterwards however he laid siege to Melun, and took it ; 
and then to Meaulx, and took it. Now there was great 
scarcity of provisions among them; so some were sent — a 
certain number from each band — to forage and to ravage the 
country. And thus, among other praiseworthy doings of theirs, 
they entered the territory of Saint Fiacre de Brie, and ravaged 
and wasted everything; and in particular some limbs of the 
devil made their way into the church where lie the sacred 
relics of the said saint, as was stated in an earlier chapter, and 
carried off some silver shoes gilt and studded all over with 
precious stones. The king, though repeatedly requested, would 
give no satisfaction for this and other offences of theirs ; so he 
was smitten with the disease of Saint Fiacre aforesaid, buming 
inwardly in his stomach and intemal organs, and died at Saint 
Maur les Foss^s on the river Mame, seven leagues from Paris. 
He was embowelled at Saint Denis, near Paris, and his 
entrails were buried there, while they brought his body to 
London in a leaden cofBoL^ Now the said Saint Fiacre, as 
ah^eady said, is held to be the son of a king of Scots, witness 
his legend; and so also is the said Saint Maur. There are 
there two fine monasteries founded in their honour; and the 
miracles and virtues of these saints are the boast of the whole 
country. And so, af ter he had been smitten with the disease, 
he asked the physicians what kind of malady his was; and 
they answered that it was the malady of Saint Fiacre, brought 
on out of revenge ; that it is incurable, and ends in a fiery 
death ; and that he was the son of a king of Scotland. Then 
the king answered, '' That is a cursed nation. Wherever I go, 
I find &em under my nose. No wonder," said he, " they are 
savage and revengeful in life, when they wreak such cmel ven<- 
geance after death," — as was related before. And thus do the 
aforesaid saints maintain the immunity of their churches and 
lands, for no one dares commit any flagrant nusdeed on their 
territory, After this the earl of Buchan was made constable 



270 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEK. BOOK X. 

of the kingdom of Franee ; and be assembled his forces and 
laid siege to Gallardon, near Chartres. The lord Charles, the 
Danphin of France, eame to his assistance with a large force, 
and they assaulted and took the castle, slew manj Btugnn- 
dians, but took the English prisoners and admitted them to 
ransom. Then they captured divers other strongholds on 
their vrsj, and posted guards therein — such as the town of 
Avranches, near the borders between Normandy and Brittany, 
fonr leagues from Mont St. Michel in Mons Tumba, sending 
home the English who were there. 

CHAPTEE XXVIII. 

Battle o/ Vemeuil. 

The Dauphin of Franoe, seeing the summer was passing 
away and winter approaching, and looking to the good luck of the 
Scots and relying on their help, after mature deliberation sent 
the aforesaid earl of Buchan, Constable of France, into Scotland 
to bring back a larger army of Scots. He brought back with 
him Aichibald earl of Douglas, second of that name, together 
with ten thousand men-at-arms and many other nobles, kmghts, 
barons, lords and others, splendidly appointed, some of whom 
landed in Brittany, some at La Bochelle, at the Feast of Fasten's 
Even in the year 1423. The king of France was defunct, and 
his son the Dauphin Charles not as yet crowned, as divers cities 
stood in his way between him and the place of his coronation, 
the city of Sheims. He was indeed king, although not crowned ; 
but he had few supporters in the kingdom, owing to the differ- 
ence between him and the duke of Burgundy on account of 
the murder of the duke of Orleans ; and therefore he was in 
great want of money. StiU the king bestowed upon the said 
earl of Douglas the duchy of Touraine, and the other lords he 
gratified according to their rank, so that, what with gifts and 
with promises, they were content to live and die in the cause of 
the king against the English. At length the brother of the 
defunct king of England, the duke of Bedford, then regent in 
France, and with him the earl of Salisbury and the duke of 
Gloucester with a large train of men-at-arms, laid siege to the 
castle of Ivry in Perche, and it was arranged with tbem that, 
failing succour within forty days, the aforesaid castle was to be 
surrendered to them. So the chiefs of the Scots, seeing this^ 
prepared with all alacrity and speed to have an encounter with 
them. And it came to pass thus. When this earl of Douglas 
and duke of Touraine had been made lieutenant-general of tbe 



THS BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK X. 271 

king of France, and inyeBted witb the ducal coronet at Bourges 
in Berri vith the utmost magnificence, and had afterwards 
posted guards in his castles and towns, he got ready on the 
appointed day ; and with him were the saki earl of Buchan^ 
constable of France and son-in-law of the said lord duke, as 
well as the whole nobility of Scotland who were tbere at the 
time;.and of Frenchmen there were the counts de Harcourt, 
d'Aumale, de Tonnerre, de Karbonne, and many French nobles ; 
and these all fell in the battle, so that hardly any noble either 
of Scotland or of France escaped from the aforesaid, but was 
either taken prisoner or slain. There, on some level ground 
near the town of Yemeuil, between the said castle of Ivry and 
the aforesaid town, died the said duke of Touraine, together with 
the constable of France, his son-in-Iaw, and James Douglas, his 
second son, a most gallant knight^ and the nephew of the king 
of Scotland and other barons and knights, to the number of fifty 
lords of distinction, and a great host of others, both nobles and 
bowmen, whose numbers it is impossible to fix with certainty, 
though they are set down at seven thousand Scots and five 
thousand Frenchmen.^ Now the manner and cause of the loss 
of the battle were as follows. The French army did not come 
quite in time on the appointed day for the recovery of the 
castle> but on the foUowing day; and thus the castle was 
surrendered to the English, and the French army at Vemeuil 
in Perche, which was held f or the king of England, made ready 
and gave the assault and took the town. Then they poeted 
their army all round and encamped, thinking the English army 
would retum to Normandy. At length French soouts came in 
great haste, saying that the whole chiyaLry of the English were 
approaching quickly in three separate lines of battle, and were 
about to charge them. On hearing this the Scottish chiefis fell 
to wrangling among themselyes as to which of them should take 
precedence, and much jealousy was stirred up; and thus 
disunited, diyided, not thoroughly one in heart, they marched 
upon the field of battle. The Frenchmen, howeyer,'Who were 
at one among themselyes, fonned another line, while the Lom- 
bards and Qermans were in reserye in a third line. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

BmryptiM of the baUle. 

Ths French troops being thus drawn up, the English in like 
manner were drawn up in three lines of battle, in the first of 



272 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK X. 

which was the earl of Salifibury, in the second John duke 
of Bedfoid, and in the third Frenchmen, Burgundians, and 
strangers. The Scots first charged the vanguard of the English, 
where was the earl of Salisbury, and made the greatest hEiyoc 
of them. Bringing some of them to the ground, killing some 
and putting others to flight, they drove them back splendidly, 
forcing them to retreat upon the second column or line of 
battle. On seeing this, the Lombards and Geimans and 
Gascons, who had armour on their horses as well as on their 
bodies and were all mounted, being unwilling to dismoimt, and 
thinking the victorj declared for the French, began to fall upon 
the ba^age behind the rearguard ; for they were as it were 
a flying column appointed to succour the others in time of 
need. And in fact at the first onset they charged the English 
archera and bcoke their ranks ; and, on others coming up, they 
made a gap through them and passed on to the booty, while 
the others, in their terror, took to flight and joined the column 
of the duke of Bedford, where they rallied. And thus the 
English loids, inspirited by their arrival, renewed their battle 
cries and, massing themselves in one body, retumed and 
charged the ranks of the French and Scots who, as already 
stated, were foolishly divided among themselves and allowed 
gaps in their line. Wherefore the English, caught between the 
lines of the Lombards and the French, so that they had either 
to defend themselves or die in battle, made an effort, pushed 
between their lines, and finally gained the victory, cruelly 
and mercilessly killiiig all the loids aud nobles. The Lombards, 
however, after they and their foUowers had taken the spoil, 
seeing the result of the battle, the cruel slaughter and the itight 
of the French, retreated in a body without retuming, and did 
not draw rein until they reached the river Loire, where they 
divided the spoiL And thus their plundering occasioued th& 
loss of the battla After the victory, however, the field was 
pillaged, and heralds sought out the bodies of the lords, to wit 
of the duke of Touraine, of the earl of Buchau, who was also the 
constable, and of James Douglas, t]^e said duke's son ; and their 
bodies were taken to Tours in a wagon, and were buried in 
one and the same grave in the cathedral church of the said 
city, in the middle of the choir. But the duke of Bedfoid, 
afber gaining this victory, amid his pomp and vainglory was 
smitten with most loathsome leprosy on his retum to Bouen, 
and expired, leaving the govemment to the earl of Salisbury, 
who began to exercise the office of regent in the most over- 
bearing manner. For he longed so ardently to possess himself 
of the domain of the duke of Orleans, who had remained a 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK X. 273 

prisoner in England ever since the battle of Agincourt, that he 

prepared to beisiege the said city of Orleans with his whole 

forees. This took place in the year 1427, and he brought with 

him the lord earl of Suffolk, sir Launcelot lisle^ the lord 

Talboty the lord Scales, the lord Willoughby and many others, 

to the number of thirty thousand men-at-arms, with their 

chariots and horsemen, and with their formidable warlike 

engines and cannon and other necessaiies required for a si^e* 

He laid the si^ in the year 1428, after first taking the sur- 

rounding strongholds and villages and fortresses, such as l;he 

towns of Beaugency, Mehun sur Loire, Janville en Beauce, 

Lafert^ Ymbaud, Lafert^ Newart, Lafert^ Galis, Saint Memmyn» 

Saint Benoit, and Jaigeau; and he also took the monasteiy 

churches in tiie siiburbs of the city, and these were altered and 

converted and made into bastille forts on all sides of the city^ 

both on ihe islands of the river Loire as well below as above 

the said city, and also in the monasteiy churches in the sur- 

rounding suburbs, as already stated, to the number of seven 

bastilles most strongly fortified. The strongest of these forts 

was at the end of the bridge of Orleans, where there waa a 

tower veiy strong in plan, and almost impregnable, suirounded 

by deep water on all sides, and carefully fashioned with well 

fortified ramparts ; and in it was a commandant puffed up with 

the utmost arrogance and conceit, Glasinden by name. All 

round the town were the bulk of the besiegers, in places under« 

ground and mines dug in the earth for fear of the missiles shot 

from the city, together with merchants and handicraftsmen in 

all the ciafts in the world pertaining to war, and all kinds of 

merchandise, as in a fine towiL In tibese undeiground trenches 

and mines, indeed, there were undeiground buildings with 

chimneys for fires, with underground ways and quarters, divided 

and girt about like the quarters of a city, to the end that the mer- 

chants and other workmen might go round the city and find a 

sale for their merchandise unharmed and without danger ; and 

there were even tavems and all kinds of eatables and other 

commodities, as well as all sorts of other wares necessaiy for 

the use of man, for tiiie space of about a mile towardi Paria> 

whence their provisions came to theuu 

CHAPTER XXX. 

Same carUinned, 

To pass on, after these things the earl of Salisbuiy, who went 
the round of all the forts eveiy day to visit and cheer up his 

8 



274 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK X. 

men^ was one day killed in the aforesaid tower at the bridge 
by a small cannon ball. Sir Lancelot de lisle was like- 
wise killed by a ball in the island bastille, as also manj 
others. Moreover the English ran short of provisions, and 
sent the lord Talbot with two thousand men-at-arms to the 
city of Paris to fetch provisions, leaving the condnct of 
the siege to the earl of Safifolk, whom the earl of Salisbuij 
had left as govemor of the kingdom in his stead on behalf 
of the king of Engknd. But when the Frenchmen heard of 
this, they did their best to devise some obstacle to throw in 
their way. Now it so happened that the king of France had 
delivered lord Damley, who had been taken prisoner at the 
battle of Cravant through his own fault, from the hands of 
his enemies; so he sent him with twenty thousand men-at- 
arms to cut ofif the said convoy of provisions. But Talbot came 
from Paris during Lent with fifteen hundred men-at-aims and 
with two hundred wagons loaded with fish and wine> and 
hastened through the country of Beauce to the si^e; and, 
when they found the Frencli and Scots in their way, the 
English got down and, making themselves a wall with the 
wagons, ofiTered them battla As, however, the duke of Bour- 
bon was present with the French troops as commander, as 
were also many other nobles of the kingdom, the French would 
not attack them, but wanted to surround them at a distance 
and hem them in until they should be wom out with hunger 
and cold and surrender without a blow; for, being withont 
hope of rescue, they were already half conquered, and would 
willingly save themselves by then stirrendering to them. The 
said lord Damley was of a contrary opinion, however, and said 
he would dismount ; and those who would dismount witfa him, 
let them do so in Gk)d'8 name ; and those who would not, let 
them remain behind. Then he straightway dismounted with a 
thousand Scots and advanced upon the English who were within 
their stronghold. He could do nothing with them, however, 
but was diiven back by the aforesaid lord Talbot, who sallied out 
from the stronghold ; and he was slain, and many* nobles with 
him. Among these died the lord of Orval and many other lords 
of France, and princes and lords who waited on horseback and 
would not stir until they were, while on their horses, pierced 
with arrows by the English, and aU put to flight. So, leaving 
there the Scote and Frenchmen who had been killed or taken 
prisoners, the English, afber their glorious victory, departed in 
peace to their siege; and as they were bringing with them 
great quantities of herrings in barrels, they therefore dubbed 
the aforesaid the Battle of the Herrings to this day. But the 



m^ 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDSN. BOOK X. 275 

said loid Damley was brought to Orleans by his herald, and 
boried there in one of the chapels of the cathedral church, 
where dnring his life he had foimded in perpetuity a daily 
mass snng idoud by the children of the choir of the aforesaid 
church of the Holy Cross, giving the canons two thousand 
gold crowns, publicly paid in the chapter, for the building of 
the church, which had not yet been completed. But the duke 
of Burgundy, on hearing this news, took counsel and, without 
the knowledge of the English chiefs, sent his messengers to the 
town of Bourges in Berry and to the towns of Angers, Tours 
and Lyons on the Bhone, that all these towns should surrender 
themselves into his hands, lest haply af ter the loss of the city 
of Orleans, which all held to be lost beyond recovery^ the 
English chiefs should subdue to their sway the whole countryy 
together with the aforesaid cities and towns, and so the whole 
kingdom ; and thus the kingdom might perhaps never at all be 
recovei^ed from their grasp by the kings of the French» but 
remain for ever in slavish subjection to the English after the 
expulsion of its native princes, whereof he himself was the 
cause. For, with the loss of these four or five cities, without 
any doubt whatever all the other cities that owned allegi- 
ance to the king would have been lost, so that he would not 
have in the kingdom a place where he could lay his head. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

Same continued, 

The duke of Buigundv indeed may be thought to have been 
sincere in proposing this to the whole of the citizens of the 
aforesaid cities, r^tetting he had given such countenance and 
help to these EngUsh, and fearing lest the evils which through 
his fault and agency had come upon the kingdom of Franoe 
might in time to come be the cause of his condemnation and the 
disinheritance of his heirs. So the rulers and govemors of the 
cities thankfully accepted the offer, provided he promised them, 
by taking his great oath on the Gospels and sending it to 
them ratified by his seal, that he would never aHow them to be 
brought under subjection to the English. And this was ac- 
corduigly done, and it was aunoitoced to the king of France by 
the aforesaid citizens, who said they would rather die than be 
brought under the English yoke. When the king of France, 
however, saw this, he was exceedingly fiightened, and made 
every effort to get ready to go to King James of Scotland, the 
first of this name. For he wa^ surrouuded by deadly enemies» 



276 THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK X. 

the duke of Brittany on the west, the duke of Buigondy and 
the English on the north, the dnke of Bourbon and tiie duke of 
Savoy on the east, and the prince of Orange and the king of 
Arragon on the south ; and he was a young man and had little 
money, without which no effective good can be done in war. 
And so, without hope of aid^ despaiiing of any help, counsel or 
sympathy, penniless, without servants, without %hting meziy 
grieving in heart, lef t desolate and in great straits, desiring to 
die rather than live, he would lifb up Ms voice and weep, saying 
in tearful accents, " Unto Thee have I lifibed up mine eyes, who 
dwellest in the Heavens/' and *' I have lifbed up mine unto the 
hills from whence cometh my help f and again, " I called upon 
the Lord in my trouble." For his confessor, the bishop of 
Ghartres, was a devout man, and he confessed to him daily 
every day ; and on festivals he took the sacrament of the body 
of Ohrist, heard three maases devoutly kneeling, and never 
failed to say matins and the commemoration of souls ; and 
these and other orisons he performed every week day. And 
thus, on his way to La BocheUe, where he was going to embark» 
he transferred himself to the strongest city in the whole of 
France, called Foitiers, and shut himself up there. There 
were there at the time the lords of the Parliament of Paris, who 
had been driven out of the said city of Paris; and these 
advised him by all means to adhere to the plan he had formed. 
But the merciful and pitiful Lord, patient, long-suffering and 
very merciftd, who hath His eyes upon the righteous and His 
ears ever open to their prayers, and who tumetii His face upon 
evildoers that he may wipe out the memory of them &om the 
-earth, h^ard his prayers, and sent him help from His holy 
place ; sending him over a maid, a virgin girl, before this the 
most f aint-hearted and poor-spirited of all «creatures, tiny and 
petty in stature, yet taught and instructed from heaven, and 
animated, advised and guided by the Holy Spirit, by whom, 
as her deeds prove, she was inspired. And she delivered him 
from all the snares of all his enemies, and gave them into the 
hands of the enemy, and they that hated them had dominion 
over them. Her arrival and marvellous works shall be told at 
length below. Nevertheless a noble and generoua heart must 
not let the noble valour and bravery of the said city of Orleans 
f all into oblivion. For, in view of their lord the duke of Orleans 
being a prisoner and captive in the hands of the English ever 
since the battle of Agincourt, they with one accord caused it to 
be publicly proclaimed that they had gold and silver in the 
greatest abundance, and plenty of provisions and arms, both 
pffensive and defensive^ for two jears to come f or two tliousand 



THE BOOK OF PLUSGABDEN. BOOK X. 277 

men-at-arms ; and whatever nobles and brave leaders might 
wiflh to take part with them in defending their city, they would 
defend the aforesaid dty with their lives; and straightway 
they pnbUcly, in the dght of all, opened the storehouses, 
granaries and tavems of the town, and poured ont flasks and 
pnlled out stores, so that wine, grain, meat and fish and all 
other kinds of provisions were free to the men-at-arms without 
payment. On hearing this, there came such a crowd of distin- 
guished men-at-arms> that they made the good ones their chosen 
vessels and tumed out the bad. Then they sallied out daily 
and made such cruel havoc of their enemies, routing and killing 
them and leading them captive into the town, that the king, on 
hearing of it, was so comf orted and consoled within himself » 
that from that hour every day his spirits rallied greatly firom 
day to day^ and he ennobled them and granted them fireedom 
in perpetuity. And thus in these days the aforesaid girl, 
stirred up by the Holy Spirit^ was commanded to come to the 
king. 

CHAPTEE XXXIL 

AceaufU of the wonderfid girl who was sevU hy Ghd^s providence 

to mccov/r France — Her eaploits, 

Ik those days the Lord stirred up the spirit of a certain 
wonderfnl girl^ a native of the borders of Frauce, in the duchy 
of Lorraine, near the royal castle of Yaucouleurs, in the bishopric 
of Toul, towards the !E^pire. This girl was kept by her father 
and mother to the task of tending a flock of sheep, daily holding 
a distaff in her fingers ; and she had not known man, and was 
void of all offence, as was asserted, and of good report among 
her neighbours.'* . . . 

Endo/BookX. 



BOOK XL 

CHAPTER I. 

King James L 

After the renowned princes King Sobert ii. and King Bobert 
in. and his eldest son David duke of Bothesay had gone the way 
of all flesh and the kingdom had been left to the governanee of 
the duke of Albany, brother of the said King Bobert m., and aiter 
the afore-named cluefs, namely John earl of Buchan, Archibald 
earl of Douglas and his son James, and divers other lords and 
lordlings, who had been sent into France at the instance of 
the king thereof, had been left on the field of battle, the said 
Bobert duke of Albany died and was buried at Dunfermline. 
In his time, it is said, great fruitfulness prevailed in the king- 
dom. But on his death the prelates and lords of the kingdom 
took counsel and delivered their King James, the first of this 
name, out of the hands of his enemies^ giving hostages f or a 
hundred thousand marks and contraoting a marriage with the 
niece of the king of England and daughter of the earl of 
Somerset, now duke thereof^ and broughit him back to the 
kingdom ; and all the chief men of the kingdom assembled in 
a body at Scone and crowned him with glory and honour, after 
the manner of his predecessors. As security for his liberation 
and the foregoing sum, many magnates of the kingdom were 
sent as hostages into Englajid in the year 1424. Now this 
queen Joan was the daughter of John Beaufort marquess of 
Dorset and earl of Somerset, who was the son of the lord John 
of Gaunt, the son^ of Henry duke of Lancaster and fourth 
king of England of that name. The queen'8 mother was the 
daughter of the earl of Kent, brother of Sing Bichard u. who 
was driven out into Scotland, and his name was Thomas of 
Holland. Because of the marriage, however, and as the said 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK XI. 279 

queen'8 dowiy, the king was let o£F half the said sum. So they 
were both ciowned by the bishop of Saint Andrews on the 
twenty-first day of May in the year 1424. But Murdach 
Stewart, by a special privilege granted to him as duke of 
Albany and earl of Fife, set the said king upon the royal seat ; 
and many aspirants were giided and decorated with the belt 
of knighthood by the king, as will be shown later, togeUier 
with the names of the hosti^es given and the king^s expenses 
in England. For the Eaglish^ in their cunning, would not say 
that ti^e sum of a hundred thousand marks which they asked 
for his liberation was given as his ransom, but rather for his 
expenses incurred while in their chaige for the safe keeping of 
his person; and for phia sum were the said hostages given. 
Some of these remained there until their death, otheis freed 
themselves, others escaped, others lansomed themselves with 
their own money ; so that some of them remained there fally 
thirty-five years, and their expendes and damages cost the 
kingdom of Scotknd a hundred thousand pouncS. Now the 
names of the knights made at the king^s coronation are these : 
first, Archibald, third earl of Douglas of that name; William 
earl of Angus ; Geoige earl of March ; the lord Hailes ; Thomas 
Hay lord of Yester ; Walter,* and Walter Haliburton ; Patrick 
OgUvy; David Stewart of Bosyth; the lord Seton; the lord 
Gh>rdon; the lord Kinnoul; the earl of Crawford; John Bed 
Stewart ; David Murray ; John Stewart of Cardenen ; William 
de la Hay, constable of Scotland ; John Scrimgeour ; Alexander 
Irvine ; Herbert Maxwell ; Herbert Herries of Terreagles ; 
Andrew Gray of Foulis; the lord Kilmaurs; the lord Dal- 
housie; the lord Crichton. 



CHAPTEE 11. 
Arrest o/lordsfor ihe crime qfhigh treason. 

4 

In the year of Our Lord 1424 Walter Stewart, eldest son of 
Murdach Stewart duke of Albany, Malcolm Fleming lord of 
Cumbemauld and Thomas Boyd of Eihnamock were arrested in 
Edinburgh Castle by the king's command. Walter was placed 
in confinement at the castle of Bass, and Malcolm at Dalkeith ; 
while the said Thomas Boyd was discharged and set at liberty. 
Immediately after their arrest the king was crowned, as afore- 
said, on the 22d' day of the month of May. TheQ, on the 
sixth day after lus coionation, he held his parliament at Perth, 
where he proposed many things to be enacted for the good of 



280 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK XI. 

the kingdom and the common weal. Afterwards, as he per- 
ceived that the revennes of the crown of the realm had greatly 
dwindled down, and that there was left to him little of the 
royal possessiohs besides ward and reiief and customs to keep 
up his position, with consent of the three estates of the realm 
a certain tax, namely twelve pence in the pound out of all 
farms, yearly rents, grain and cattle and other produce of the 
lords spiritual and temporal, was granted to him for the two 
years following, that he might free his hostages. But, because 
this total sum pressed too heavily upon the kingdom, the 
whole was not levied, but fourteen thousand marks the first 
year ; and afterwards^ until the contract of marriage between 
his daughter Margeo^et and the Dauphin.of France, which was 
in the year 1433, no taxes were levied in the kingdom. More- 
over, after one tax had been paid for the embassy about this 
contract, as the communities grumbled abOut their poverty, 
the king caused all that had been received to be restored, and 
levied no more taxes. In that same year '33 Duncan earl of 
Lennox was arrested in Edinburgh Castle, as also Bobert 
Graham, afterwards his betrayer, who was placed in confine- 
ment at Dunbar. At this time also the town of Linlithgow 
was burnt down, together with the church,thereof. The same 
year, on the 13th day of March, the king held his second 
parliament at Perth, and there he had Murdaoh Stewart duke 
of Albany arrested, as well as his son Alexander, whom he 
himself had knighted with twenty-six others. He also arrested 
the lord Montgomery and Alan of Otterbum, the secretary of 
the duke of Albany ; and he at once had the castles of Falk- 
land and Doune in Menteith captured. Afterwards the duke 
was transferred to Caerlaverock and his duchess to Tantallon ; 
and, of the said duke's sons, James alone escaped, who bumt 
down Dumbarton and kUIed sir John Bed Stewart, to wit the 
lord of Burley. He afterwards was put to flight and fled to 
Ireland, while five of his accomplices were indicted at Stirling, 
condemned, drawn and hanged after being beheaded^ The 
bishop of ArgyU or lismore likewise fled across to Ireland to 
retum no more, for he knew he was a culpable abettor against 
the king^s majesty. He was of the order of Preaching Friars. 

CHAPTEB IIL 

Exemtion of the duke of Alhany and his sons. 

On the 18th day of the month of May in the year 1424 the 
king continued his parliament at Stirling, and by an assize of 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK KI. 281 

earls and barons from among the great men of the kingdom 
despatched Murdach duke of Albany and his two sons, Walter 
Stewart and his brother Alexander, and also Donald earl of 
Lennox, an old man of great age ; and all fonr were beheaded 
on a moond in front of the castle, and buried in the chnrch of 
the Pteaching Friars. The names of the lords composing the 
said assize were these : the lord Walter Stewart earl of Atholl, 
the king^s nncle ; the third Archibald earl of Donglas ; Alex- 
ander Stewart earl of Mcur; William Douglas earl of Angus ; Alex- 
ander earl of Boss and Lord of the Isles ; George Dunbar earl 
of March ; Wiliiam Sinclair earl of Orkney ; James Douglas of 
Balvany and Abercom, afberwards earl of Avandale ; Gilbert 
Hay, constable of Scotland; sir John Montgomery; the lord 
Lome; the lord Somerville; the lord Teireagles; the lord 
Dalkeith; the lord Eilmaurs; the lord Calendar; Thomas 
Hay of Yester ; Patrick Ogilvy, sherifif of Angus ; John Forester 
of Gorstorphine ; Walter Ogilvy of Luntrethan.^ These lords, 
earls and great barons were peers of the realm and greater lords; 
and they were swom as an assize upon them, and adjudged them 
worthy of death and guilty of high treason — ^for a peer must be 
tried by his peers. And so they suffered capital punishment, 
and their bo€Ues and property were confiscated to the king. 

Here follows about the ambassadors of the king of France 
sent to Scotland to contract a marriage between Margaret, the 
eldest daughter of the king of Scotland, and Louis, the Dauphin 
of France, who were both still minors, imder marriageable age. 

In the year 1425, after the battle of Yemeuil, the king of the 
French sent on an embassy to the king of Scotland the arch- 
bishop of Eheims, duke and principal peer of the ecclesiastical 
peers of France, together with sir John Stewart of Damley, 
constable of the Scots army in Franoe, to contract a marriage 
between Margaret, the eldest daughter of the said king of 
Scotland [and the Dauphin]. They were received with great 
respect, magnificence and honour, and succeeded in despatching 
their business. But because they were under marriageable age, 
charters were drawn up and sealed with the seals of the chiefs 
and promises were given on either side that the marriage should 
be consummated between the aforesaid Margaret and Louis of 
France when of fuU age, when the time should come : for the 
aforesaid bishop was chanceUor of France, ancL had with him 
the great seal of France, And thus far the matter went for the 
time, and the ambassadors retumed to Franoe, and made a full 
report But the king of Scotland was most highly pleased 
with what was said and done to him in this matter, and sent 
back distinguished envoys, men of great pmdence and discreet- 



282 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK XI. 

ness, master Heniy Leighton, bishop of Aberdeen, master 
Edward Lawder, archdeacon of Lothian, and sir Patrick Ogilvy 
of Auchterhonse, Justiciary of Scotland, with a certain com- 
mission and instructions conceming the said matter, and to 
render adeqnate thanks to the aforesaid king of the French for 
80 great an honour. When therefore this had been done on 
either side, five or six years afterwards ambassadors were again 
sent to either kingdom, and the aforesaid marriage was com^ 
pleted with the utmost magnificence ; and first the king of 
France sent the chief steward of hiis household, the sieur 
Arnault Girart, govemor of La Bochelle» and with him mastei: 
Aymer Martin, Ucentiate of decrees, commissioned to contract 
a marriage by a pledge for the future with the aforesaid Mar- 
garet, affiancing her on behalf of her husband the Dauphin of 
France. 

CHAPTER IV. 

ConsuTiimaium of the marriage heiween the Dauphin and 

Margaret, 

In the year 1436 the king of ScoUand sent his eldest daugh- 
ter Margaret to France with a distinguished company of lords, 
knights and brave men most admirably appointed, in such 
becoming apparel and so splendidly mai^shalled, that never 
within Uving memory had such and so remarkable an army, so 
proudly arrayed, so skilfully commanded, been sent out from 
the kingdom of Scotland. At the head of this army, for con- 
tracting this marriage between the aforesaid parties, were the 
bishop of Brechin, the lord John Crannock, and the lord Sinclair, 
lord earl of Orlmey and admiral of Scotland, together with 
fifty other worshipful knights and squires and their attendant 
officers, and also with a mighty fleet of men-at-arms to escort 
her safely to the king of France, fbr fear of the English ; and 
in the ssdd fleet there were three thousand well-ordered and 
protected men-at-arms. But she was a girl of ten, clad in 
splendid apparel, most costly and gorgeous, and with a fine 
figure and very lovely face. As for the marriage, it was per- 
formed in the face of the cburch at the royal palace the castle 
of Tours in Touraine by the above-mentioned archbishop of 
Bheims, in the preaence of the kings of France and Sicily^ 
and their queens, and also the old queen of Sicily, mother of 
the said queen of France and mother also of the said king o£ 
Sicily, together with the ambassadors of Scotland and many 
nobles of France, both lords and ladies of France. Neverthe- 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK XI. "283 

less, though they were mairied and joined in matrimony, yet 
they did not seek the nuptial bed until two and a half years 
af ter, af ter the lapse of which they were of full marriageable 
age and were put to bed at Gien sur Loire; and thus the 
marriage was completely consummated in the name of Jesus 
Christ. In the year 1426 the king held his parliament at 
Invemess, and the Lord of the Isles was arrested there, as also 
the countess of Eoss, his mother, daughter and heiress of the 
lord Walter Leslie, last earl of Boss. He also had almost all the 
north country nobles arrested ; and this parliament, they say, 
daunted them greatly and made them fear the king. Angus 
DufT was arrested there, together with his four sons and many 
other evildoers, who were summoned to the gathering, ar- 
rested, indicted, tried and condemned, and some were beheaded, 
some hanged, others outlawed and banished. And thus he 
restored peace iu the country for a long tune, and it remained 
quiet As for the Lord of the Lsles, however, seeing he was a 
young man and led by caprice, he would not inflict capital 
pumshment upon him ; but he chastised some of his advisers, 
and would have him remain with him in his household, as he 
drew.his origin from the blood-royal, to the end that, by being 
accustomed to be among nobles, he might amend lus ways in 
manners and virtue; so that» being reformed by habits of 
virtue, he might more fully win the king^s liking and the 
favour of the nobles. He, however, could not bear the mockery 
of certain persons, so in a little while he departed secretly and, 
following the advice of evil men, bumt down the royal town 
of Invemess out of revenge for his arrest. The king, wroth 
beyond measure tbereat, assembled an army and marched 
northwards in pursuit of him ; and many of his army left him 
and went over to the king, to wit the Clan Gillequhatan and 
the Clan Cameron. But, on seeing this, the Lord of the Isles, 
by the advice of some of his friends, went back to the king 
unconditionally, purely and simply, and threw himself upon 
his mercy ; and the nmd and mercifiil king forgave him at the 
request of the lords, and sent him off to be imprisoned in Tan- 
tallon Castle in the custody of the earl of Angus, the king's 
nephew. Afterwards, by the king^s desire, he came to Holy- 
rood House and, stripped of all biis garments but his shirt and 
breeches and kneeling bef ore the high altar, implored the king^s 
mercy and, holding his drawn sword by the point, tendered 
and presented it into the king^s hands ; and therewith all the 
great men of the kingdom and the queen interceded for him, 
But he sent his mother the countess over to Inchcolm and 
she remained in confinemeut tbere for a year and more. 



284 THE BOOK OF PLUSGAKDEN. BOOK XL 

CHAPTEE V. 

Issv^ of the king and quem, 

Ik the year 1430 theTe were bom unto the king two male 
twins, the sons of the king and queen, whereat all the world 
exulted with yeiy great joy all over the kingdom ; and in the 
town of Edinburgh, seeing that thej were bom in the monas- 
teiy of Holyroody bonfires were lighted, flagons of wine were 
free to all and victuals publicly to all comers, with the sweetest 
harmony of all kinds of musical instruments all night long 
proclaiming the praise and glory of 6od for all his gifts and 
benefits. They were bom on the 16th day of the month of 
October. The first was called Alexander, and he died in youth. 
The second was James, the second of this name, who died at 
Boxburgh, most deeply revered, on the third day of August in 
the year 1460, and was interred in the church of Holyrood, 
where he was bom. But King James l., their father, created a 
great many knights on the occasion of their birth, to wit these 
two sons of his over the baptismal font, and in the second 
place be created many others in their honour, the first of whom 
was the son of a lord of the city of Some who happened to be 
there, and who was called a prince, together with many youths, 
sons of lords of the realm, such as William, eldest son of the 
earl of Douglas, a young man who was afterwaids beheaded ; 
also William, son and heir of James Douglas of Abercom, after- 
wards killed in Stirling Castle ; also John Logan, lord of Bestal- 
rig after his Mher ; also James, heir of the lord Crichton, also 
James Edmonston ; also the son and heir of the lord Borth- 
wick. The same year the king had a mortar brought over 
from Flanders, called The Lion, now in England. In the year '3 1 
was opened the council of Basle, where a very gieat schism 
arose thiough the duke of Savoy, in the first year of Pope 
Eugenius, the fourth of this nama The same year were 
arrested Archibald Douglas, earl of that Uk, the king^s nephew» 
and also sir John Kennedy, who also was the king^s nephew, 
for certain reasons. But the king in his parliament at PerUi f or- 
gave the Lord of the Isles and the earl of Douglas, while John 
Kennedy, having been imprisoned, escaped and exiled himself 
irretrievably. There were also bom unto the king six daughters, 
the first of whom was married to the Dauphin of France, and 
died childless in the year '45. The same year, shortly before 
the parliament, an Islander named Dolny (Donald) Balloch 
killed Alan Stewart.earl of Caithness, son of the earl of Athol, and 



THE BOOK OF PLUSCABDEN. BOOK XI. 285 

twelve nobles and their foUowers in a warlike encounter at In- 
verlochy ; while Alexander Stewart earl of Mar withdrew in time 
and saved himsell The saine year Angus Macdufif and Angus 
Murraj, both of whom had shortly before escaped from impri- 
sonment by the king, had an encounter together; and of three 
thousand fighting men barely thirty escaped on either side. 
In the year 1429 was founded the Garthusian monastery called 
the Yalley of Yirtues, namely the Gharterhouse, in the South 
Inch of Perth, and its first prior was called Oswald, a monk of 
great distinction and wisdom. In the year 1433 there was 
bumt at Saint Andrews a certain heretic called Paul Craw,^ 
one of the Prague sect, sent hither to sow the seeds of his 
heretical perverseness. These sects do not believe in purga- 
tory, detest all monasticism, sneer at pilgrimages, abhor tibe 
orders and despise the keys of the church ; and they even do 
not belieye the article of faith about the resunection of the 
dead — ^and many other erroneous conclusions« 



CHAPTER VI. 

The English eraftily vnsh to break the leoffue between Franee 

and ScotlancL 

Aboxjt this time there came from England a certain knight 
who was sent by the king of England to the king of Scotlioid 
and his council with a certain comihission and instructions ; 
and the king, being infonned thereof by certain persons, assem- 
bled a general council at Perth in the month of October, where 
the business proposed was the making a lasting peace with the 
Enplish, the restoration of all castles, towns and possessions 
which were known to have belonged to the realm of Scotland 
for a certain time past, and especially Boxbuigh and Berwick, 
and all other places and possessions which they had foimerly 
wrongf ully wrested from the realm of Scotland ; and that they 
should make a lasting peace with them. And this they pro- 
posed in die king^s presence before the high altar in the church 
of the Preaching Enars at Pertb. They were briefly answered 
that the Scots woidd willingly have peace with freedom, but 
not otherwise; and this they longed for heartily with one 
accord. At length^ when the votes and opinions of each were 
askedy the abbotis of Scone and Inchcolm answered that the 
king could not by any means decide as to a lasting peace with 
the king of England without the consent of the kug and king- 
dom of Fiance^ seeing that by provision^ oonsent and deciee of 



286 THE BOOE OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOE XI. 

the general councils of the kingdoms both of France and of 
Scotland, as confirmed by the apostolic see^ a perpetoal peace 
and alliance agreed npon, ratified, approved and confirmed 
existed between the kingdoms, so that the aforesaid alliance 
could by no means be infiringed without consolting the king of 
France and his parliament and the supreme pontiif. And all 
the kings of France and of Scotland, from tiie time of Eing 
Charlemagne until now, have swom by the great oath on the 
Body to keep and sacredly observe this alUance. But what 
affects all ought to be approved by all; therefore etc. More- 
over the king of Scotland, then present, and the other leading 
men of the realm lately took a bodily oath, as akeady said, to 
keep and observe this. On this subject there was much wrang- 
ling and debate, with divers aiguments ui*ged on either side, 
between the aforesaid abbots on the one hand and the abbot of 
Mebose on the other, about making an alliance and perpetual 
peace with the English without the consent and good will of 
the king of the French; and that it would be more advantageous 
to have a peace with the English, who were near neighbdurs, 
than with Frenchmen who were far away. Master John Fogo, 
master in the sacred page, supported this view with all his 
might, while others, on the contrary, maintained the opposite. 
In the end it was decided that the inveterate grudge of the 
English against Scotland does not die out, and that this offer 
of alliance is nothing but a way of contriving to sow schism 
and divisions in the kingdom and between us and our friends 
and allies of France, and to stir up strife where unwavering 
trust, true love and brotherly concord are firmly rooted ; and 
that these English, though they promised much, would actually 
for all that perform nothing. For, when they seek occasion to 
withdraw from their fnends, they always know how to find it, 
as is proved in their doings of old by the evidence of the 
wickedness they have wrought, and by experience, which 
teaches practical wisdom. Joid thus finally the matter was 
left undecided, so that nothing was done to impair the alliance 
between France and Scotland. In the year 1433 the king took 
Dunbar Castle and entrusted the custody thereof to the lord of 
Hailes ; and in the next, at his parliament held at Perth, he 
dispossessed the lord George Dunbar, earl of the Marches, on 
account of his father^s shortcomings, though he readily proved 
the king^s forgiveness for his own acts. Nevertheless the king 
invested him as earl of Buchan, and gave him forty pounds a 
year for his life ; and their lordships the councillors of parlia- 
ment allowed the same to him and his heir after the death of 
Eing James i., at least until £ing James IL came of age.^ In 



THE BOOK OF FLU6CARDEK. BOOK XI. 287 

the year 1435 died Alexander Stewart earl of Mar, who bore 
himself stoutly in the battles of li^ge and Harlaw and in niany 
other engagements. As he was a bastard, his snccession actoally 
went to the king ; though legally, according to some, the lords 
of Erskine and of Lyle ought to have succeeded by hereditary 
right. 

CHAPTER VII. 

How King Jamu L besieged Boxburgh CastU. 

In the above year, namely '35, King James i. raised a very 
strong army and besieged Boxbui*gh Gastle about the beginning 
of the month of August There were in number more than 
two hundred thousand men-at-arms. But they waited there a 
fortnight doing nothing worth recording because of a detestable 
^plit and most unworthy difference arising from jealousy ; so, 
after losing all their fine large guns, both cannon and mortars, 
and gunpowder and carriages and wagons and many other 
things utterly indispensable for a siege, they retumed home 
most ingloriously without effecting their object. The same 
year also the legate of the lord pope Engenius, namely the 
bishop of Urbino, came into Scotland a little before Christmas, 
and was admitted by the king and clergy to obtain a hearing 
in parliament at Perth, beginning on the 4th day of February. 
But owing to the mishap of the unexpected death by which 
the king was overtaken, he did not dischaige the duties of 
a legate, but departed sorrowing beyond measure. The same 
year died the bishop of Dunkeld, called De Cardine, and the 
lord James Kennedy, the king^s nephew, was elected, and 
remained as bishop there for two years, being promoted in 
the third year to the bishopric of Saint Andrews; and after 
his lordship the lord Alexander Lauder, a distinguished 
man, was, by apostolic provision, promoted to the bishopric of 
Dunkeld, and lived only a year, dying at Edinburgh in the 
year *40. He was succeeded by master James Bruce, who did 
not remain long there, but was by the pope^s authoiity trans- 
lated to the bishopric of Glasgow ; and within two or three 
years after his promotion he died at Edinburgh and was buried 
at Dunfermline, in Saint Maiy^s chapel, in the year 1447 ; and 
thus he was only seven years or so bishop in the two places. 
He was succeeded in the bi^hopric of Dui^eld by master John 
Bailston, the king^s secretary, who also did not Uve long ; and 
in the bishopric of Glasgow he was succeeded by master William 
TumbuII, keeper of the privy seal, who in like manner did not 



288 THE BOOK OF PLU8CARDEN. BOOK XI. 

last long.^ And thuB in these two bisboprics within ten yeaiB 
ten bishops presided— or thereabouts, to be correct — as the facts 
show. About the same time, in the year 1445, Maigaret, the 
Dauphiness of France, most deeply beloved by the king and 
queen of France and by her own husband, and while in the 
bloom of youth, almost ruled the king and kingdom at will by 
her advice, with consummate tact and wisdom ; whereby she 
was most thoroughly beloved and trusted by the king and 
queen of France, and her words were listened to. But woe is 
me that I should have to write what I sorrowfuUy relate about 
her death ! For Death, who snatches all living things equally, 
without distinction of persons, snatched away that lady after a 
short illness to pay the debt of nature in the bloom of youth, 
without issue of the royal house of France ; and her unlooked 
for death at Chalons in the county of Chajnpagne, where she 
lies interred, cast the gloom of overwhelming grief over the 
hearts of many in both France and Scotland. I, who write 
this, saw her every day alive, playing with the king and queea 
of France, and going on thus f or nine years. But afterwards, 
at the time of the contracting of the marriage between King 
Heniy of England and the daughter of the king of Sicily, 
brother of the queen of Franoe, within eight days I saw her in 
good health and dead and embowelled and laid in a tomb at 
the comer of the high altar, on the north side, in the cathe-> 
dral church of the said city of Chalons, in a leaden coi!in ; and 
the king said that after a Jittle while he would have her taken 
up and placed in Saint Denis, among all the kings and queens 
there. Here follows her epitaph, which was placed upon her 
tomb after her death, in the French tongue ; only it is here 
translated into the Scottish tongue, by command of that lady'a 
brother, Eing James u. of famous memoiy» 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Lament ofthe lord Daupkin ofFrance/ar (he death ofhis vnfe 

the rnid Margaret}^ 



CHAPTER IX. 

Deaih of Kimg Jamus L — Meaemekse griefofaU Chmtendom 

{hereoL 

In the year of Grace 1436, after the king had retumed from 
the sioge of Eoxburgh and had constituted his parliament at 



THE BOOK OT PLUSCARDEN. BOOK XI. 289 

Perth to give a hearing to the legate of the supreme pontiff, 
Satan entered into the hearts of some traitors who had from 
times long past been plotting his death with the spite of an old 
and inveterate grudge, whereby they had formerly oftentimes 
treacherously sought him in many places, tiying to kill him ; 
but they could have no power over him unless it were given 
them from above, seeing that his hour was not yet come. At 
length they seized a fjBivourable opportunity, and one Bobert 
Graham and his accomplices Chnstopher Chambers and his 
brother Thomas, both sons of John Chambers, a burgess of the 
said city of Perth, with whom were two brothers sumamed 
Hall and many others associated with them, such as Bobert 
Stewart, son of David Stewart, son and heir of Walter Stewart 
earl of Athol, the uncle of King James of whom we are speaking 
— ^which David was then in England as a hostage f or the afore- 
said king and his liberation — ^murdered him at the dead of 
night in his own room in the Minorite monasteiy of Perth, in 
the first week of Lent. This was the work of that old serpent 
and ancient of evil days, the above-mentioned earl of Athol, 
who had for a long while been craftily aspiring to the crown, 
and who was the chief adviser in the destro}ring of Murdach 
duke of Albany and his sons, as well as of the duke of Bothe- 
say, to the end that he, a seeming innocent lamb, having got 
them out of the way by the crime of others, might the more 
readily reach the topmost pinnacle of power. He indeed was 
the fosterer of the whole of the treacherous betrayal of that 
king, whereby death came into the kingdom of Scodand, an 
irreparable loss which shall never be wiped out in the time of 
living men : for the fame of his name went out through all the 
countries of Christendom. Such were his virtue, gallantry and 
sound sense that we shall never be able to find in any record 
his like among tfae princes in these parts on this side of the 
channel. For if the whole world could properly be included 
under the rule of one person, he, on the strength of his sound 
sense, his wisdom and the claims of his virtues and his prowess, 
fuUy deserved to be promoted to the govemment of the whole. 
All the dwellers in this kingdom, indeed, drank of the cup of 
the bittemess of his death, which the mffians concemed in this 
bitter death, who took part in his murder, gave them to drink ; 
whereby aU the meaner sort were poisoned as if with draughts 
of gall. He himself, however, had confessed himself and been 
absolved £rom guilt and punishment by the apostolic legate 
eight days before this. But this Bobert Graham and his 
accomplices, most wicked traitors, gained access to the said 
most ^dlant prince's chamber through the means of the afore- 

T 



290 THE BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOK XL 

said Bobert Stewart, after getting rid of the guards and sur* 
rounding and encompassing it with bands of traitors, and 
about ten o'clock at night ruthlessly and mercilessly slew and 
murdered that prince, who was unarmed and undressed. He 
made a marvellous defence before he died, knocking down on 
all sides with the force of his aim the first who rushed upon 
him, even until so great a crowd closed round him that he could 
no longer defend himself from them all. And thus, like an 
innocent lamb led to the slaughter, he expired giving thanks 
and imploring mercy from tbe Most High, with his hands 
raised to heaven ; and, after his wounds were washed, eight-and- 
twenty deep stabs were found on his breast, above the naveL 
This persecution he suffered for righteousness' sake. On seeing 
this, ihe pope's legate, who within eight days before had absolved 
him from guilt and punishment, uttered a great cry with tearful 
sighSy and kissed hjs piteous wounds ; and he said before all 
the bystanders that he would stake his soul on his having died 
in a state of grace, like a martyr, f or his defence of the common 
weal and his administration of justice. He left behind him his 
son James n., siz years old, and six daughters, Margaret the 
Dauphiness of France, IsabeUa duchess of Brittany, Maiy coun- 
tess of Buchan, married in Zealand, and Eleanor duchess of 
Austria. These four daughters married abroad; but the other two 
in Scotland, to wit Joan countess of Morton and Maiy couhtess 
of Himtly : to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. 



CHAPTEB X. 

Fearfui penalty exactedfor the Mn^z deaih, 

After this, however, the aforesaid traitors and their retaiuers 
were taken, imprisoned, condemned to the most cruel tortures, 
and put to a most painful death, taken about the towns naked 
on wagons, and pierced and stabbed by the executioners with 
red-hot irons. Then they were strung up to the top of a ship's 
mast as traitors, beheaded, tom limb from limb and quartered 
by the hangman, and their limbs were thereafber hung up at 
the gates of towns and buighs as a waming to other traitors, 
while their heads were set up on high on iron spikes on the 
most conspicuous high places of towns and cities. Except, 
however, two of the said traitors' accomplices, brothers-german 
of the name of Barclay of Tyntis Muir, who secretly escaped 
into France and, being recogmsed in Brittany, were taken and 
brought to the most noble duke John ; and the duke, informed 



TH£ BOOK OF PLUSCARDEN. BOOE XI. 291 

of the crime, put them to death in such wise as described 
above. And thus not a single one escaped After his death, I 
verily believe, he did not leave his equal in all Christendom 
for benefiting a kingdom and goveming a state. He was so 
intelligent that he knew all things, understood all things, 
honoured the church, befriended artizans and farmers, protected 
husbandmen and wished to champion the poor, children, widows, 
orphans and all wretched persons. Oh moumful, strange and 
pitifal and woful Death, which spareth no excellence, nay, 
snatcheth all things without distinction ! The judgments of 6od 
are, many of them, unfathomable. For, as the heaven is higher 
thfui the earth, so are His ways than the ways of men and His 
thoughts than their thoughts. But alas that our kings should 
so often be yoimg men in whose time justice is often halting ; 
and the reason of this is that they are not wise nor skilful to 
recognise the way of equity and justice. As holy men say, A 
prince unlettered is a crowned ass ; because unlettered princes 
are blind. Again the prophet saith through the trumpet of the 
Lord, My people is led captive because they had no under- 
standing, and their princes have perished. Princes who are 
ignorant appoint ignorant men as their officers of justice, and 
blind men who know nothing of wisdom^ knowledge or common 
sense. The reason is that the nobles of Scotland will not stoop 
to acquire knowledge. But how can any one know letters imless 
he has first leamt them ? Therefore justice ia weak and luke- 
warm in the kingdom of Scotland, through the defect of youth- 
ful kings and imwise barons, I am sorry to say. As, howeter, 
for want of justice many perish with hunger, a certain hungerer 
and thirster after justice has compiled in our vernacular a 
lesson for ignorant judges, as follows. 



CHAPTER XI. 

A Tnorality represerUing the staie of a kingdam by the figme of a 

harp}^ 



THS ENB. 



NOTES. 

(Ab thia Chionicle purporte to be an abridgment of Bower's ScaU- 
chronicouy the Editor haa thonght it best to confine himeelf to pointing 
out in the Notea where it differs from, or adds something to, Bower^s 
tezt, and to oorrecting corrapt paBsages. The references to Bower are 
to Walter GoodaU*8 edition <^ the Scciichrcmeon, dated 1759.) 



BOOK VI. 

Page 2y note 1. — Namely, Bower*8 Scotichrmiam, of which this work 

\b an abridgment 
Page 3, n. 2.— In text, vol. L p. 5, L l, " deinde" should be << dictom." 
Page 4, n. 3 — In tezt, yoL L p. 6, L 17, << ante Ohristi" should be 

" AntichristL'* 
Page 5, n. 4. — In tezt, voL L p. 7, L 27, << cum" ahoold be.<'contra.*' 
Page 6, n. 5. — In tezt, vol. L p. 7, last line bnt one, " quem" should 

be "quum." 
Page 6, n. 6.— Bower, L 328, haa "Edredus." 
Page 6, n. 7.— Bower, L 447, makes him his grandson. 
Page 6, n. 8. — Bower, L 448, says " Malcolm was the son of Mac- 

heth, but lyingly caJled himself the son of Angus, earl of Moray." 
Page 7, n. 9. — In tezt, yoL L p. 8, line 3 from bottom, " trucidatur" 

should be <« truditur." 
Page 7, n. 10. — Bower, i. 448, says "by some of Eing Malcolm's 



»9 



Page 7, n. 11 — In tezt, voL L p. 9, L 6, «Moliiii" should be 

"MdiiiL" 
Page 8, n. 12. — Bower, L 449, says '<grandfather." 
Page 9, n. 13. — ^Bower, L 450, says " as a hoetage.'' 
Page 9, n. 14. — Bower (i&.) says " by the advice of his friends." 
Page 10, n. 15. — Oompare Bower, L 452. 
Page 10, n. 16. — ^Bower, L 452, says " by a few countrymen." 



294 NOTES. 

Page 11, n. 17. — ArtiiTir is evidently oonfoimded with Wiliiam, son 

of Heniy i., who ia rtated in a former psnage (aee Bower, L 384) 

to have so periahed Arthur'8 death Ib mentioned in Bower, L 453, 

517, and iL 11. In tcxt, voL L p. 13, L 26, "qnia" ia 

rednndant 
Page 11, n. 18. — See Bower, iL 514-5. 

Page 13, n. 19. — Bower, L 457, giyes a coirect Yerrion of these lines. 
Page 17, n. 20.— Bower, L 470, haa " montanos." 
Page 17, n. 21. — In tezt, yoL L p. 19, line 6 firom bottom, ** ezpng- 

naYit" shonld be << oppngnayit," and p. 21, L 14, '< expngnayent " 

should be '' oppugnayerat" 
Page 17, n. 22.— In tezt, voL L p. 21, L 1, «Mncidif shoald be 

« incedit" 
Page 18, n. 23. — Oompare Bower, L 471. 
Page 20, n. 24. — Oompare Bower, L 473. 
Page 20, n. 25. — ^ln tezt, toL i p. 24, L 2, after '< Oronicis " add 

« reperi." 
Page 23, n. 26. — In tezt, voL L p. 27, L 5, after <' aliennm ** snpply 

" debitunL" 
Page 24, n. 27. — In tezt, yoL L p. 27, last line, " intentor " shonld 

be "incentor." The letters "c" and "t" are freqnentiy sub- 

Btituted one for the other in the hss. 
Page 24, n. 28.— See Bower, L 475, 478. 
Page 24, n. 29. — Bower, L 479, says Macwil]iam's real name waa 

Donald Bane. 
Page 25, n. 30. — ^ln tezt, yoL L p. 29, L 23, after " Flandrenses " 

supply "opem." 
Page 25, n. 31. — Bower, L 490, has << Oumberland, that is the earl- 

dom of Oarlisle.'* 
Page 25, n. 32. — Bower, t6., does not say Gilbert was the cause of 

these troubles. 
Page 26, n. 33. — In tezt, yoL L p. 30, L 19, afier << ezigentibus " 

supply " propter." 
Page 26, n. 34. — That is to say, the brother of Rotholand's father, 

Othred. 
Page 26, n. 35. — In tezt, yoL L p. 30, L 21, the words «paoem et 

amorem" belong to the nezt sentenoe.. 
Page 26, n. 36.— Bower, L 492, calls him only " comes." 
P&ge 26, n. 37. — Bower, t6., says " daughter." 
Page 26, n. 38. — Bower, i6., says it was another daughter who was 

married to Bobert Bnice. 
Page 26, n. 39. — Bower, i6., has <*comite Laodensi," to whom 

Margaret was married. In tezt, voL L p. 31, L 9, " magnum " 

should be " magiuL" 
Page 27, n. 40. — Bower, L 500, says only for the liberation of his body. 



^ 



KOTES. 295 

Page 28, n. 41. — Bower, i. 502, adds " et procereB." 

Page 29, n. 42. — Namely, Mb capture on hia way back from the Holy 

Land. In tezt, yoL L p. 37, last line but one, *' puerorum" ahould 

be " pravorunL" 
Page 29, n. 43. — Bower, i. 512, does not Btate that Roderick had been 

left to guard the country, but m^rely mentioDS that he was killed. 
Page 29, n. 44. — Bower, ^., sajB Sutherland, Gaithness, and Bobs. In 

tezt, YoL L p. 40, L 16, '' Eboracensem " should be " Ebroicenaem.'* 
Page 30, n. 45. — The text, voL L p. 41, L 4, adds << Beeundum," a 

niiBtake for Bower^s '^feria secunda" (L 514). In line 11, 

" BerriannenBem" should be " Berriam.'* 
Page 31, n. 46. — Bower, L 516, Bays '' duo millia librarum argentL*' 
Page 32, n. 47. — ^Bower, L 524, does not mention prelates. Compare 

hiB acoount, which differs slightly. 
Page 33, n. 48. — Bower, L 525y states that the bishop of Saint 

AndrewB formed part of only this second embassy. 
Page 33, n. 49. — Bower, tb., mentions only one bishop. 
Page 33, n. 50. — Bower, i&., Bays "that bishop." 
Page 33, n. 51. — ^There is here a break in the sense. Bower, L 526, 

Bays that the Scots king yielded to the suggestion of his own people, 

and aYoided a battle by endeaYouring to comply with the request 

and wishes of the king of England. 
Page 35, n. 52. — Bower, L 527, says it was two yeais after. 
Page 35, n. 53.— Dukes are not mentioned by Bower. In tezt, yoL L 

p. 47, bst line but two, ^' annotando** should be *^ connectenda" 
Page 36, n. 54. — Bower, i. 531, calls him Oothred Miicwilliam. 
Page 38, n. 55. — ^This passage is oorrupt in the tezt C!ompare 

Bower, L 534. 
Page 38, n. 56. — Bower, L 535, says in 1183. 
Page 39, n. 57. — See p. 26, where, howcYer, the marriage wiih 

Robert de Ross is not mentioned. * 

Page 40, n. 58. — Compare Bower, L 522. 



BOOK VII. 

Page 42, n. 1. — ^Bower, iL 4, says Alezander was crowned on Friday, 

and his hiher buried on the foUowing Monday. 
Page 43, n. 2. — In tezt, yoL L p. 63, L 8, the firBt '<et" is 

redundant. 
Page 43, n. 3.— In tezt, t6., L 22, " pulsati" should be '< pulsatos." 

See Bower, L 35. 
Page 44, n. 4. — Bower, iL 33, does not mention Inchmartin and 

Lindores. 
Page 44, n. 5. — Oompare Bower, ii. 33-4. 



296 NOTES. 

Page 44, n. 6. — Compare Bower, iL 33-4. 

Page 45, n. 7. — In text, voL L p. 65, L 4, '' r^li" 18 written in tbe 

Mss. by mistake for <' regis in." 
Page 45, n. 8. — In tezt, i5., 1. 14, ^^ comitatos" sboold be ''comi- 

tatum." See Bower, ii. 36. 
Page 45, n. 9. — Bower, ib., says ''drca nonas AngustL" 
Page 45, n. 10. — Bower, tb., attributes tbese lines to tbe monk who is 

said to have poisoned Eling John. 
Page 46, n. 1 1. — It was evidently intended to say that this Gount was 

killed, as in Bower, ii. 38. 
Page 46, n. 12. — ^TbiB is related as a second ezpedition, whereas in 

Bower, iL 38, it is simply a recapitulation. 
Page 46, n. 1 3. — This is a misunderstanding of Bower's account, whose 

one arrival of LouLb is thus made into two. 
Page 47, n. 14. — This probably refers to Henry iy. when duke of 

Lancaster, to Percy earl of Northumberland, etc. See page 263. 
Page 49, n. 15. — Bower, iL 43, says nothing about an expedition to 

Galioway. 
Page 50, n. 16. — Bower, ii. 47, does not say he was imprisoned. 
Page 50, n. 17. — Bower, iL 58, note, says Beauly was founded by 

John Bisset 
Page 54, n. 18. — Bower, iL 82, says nothing about anointing. The 

statement that Alezander m. was his father's natural son is pro- 

bably a garbling of a passage in Bower, ii. 81, where the word 

'< naturalem " occurs. 
Page 55 f n. 19. — This prediction is not in Bower. It has been 

curiously fulfiUed in the accession of the Stuart dynasty to the 

English throne. 
Page 56y n. 20. — Bqwer, iL 83, says a deal shrine. 
Page 58, n. 21. — Bower, iL 84, says the Scottish envoys were sent 

back accompanied by English envoys. 
Page 5Sy n. 22. — In tezt, voL L p. 84, L 18, «generis" should be 

" generL" 
Page 59, n. 23. — Bower, ii. 84, does not mention this meeting, or 

the process by which the new councillors were chosen. 
Page 59, n. 24. — Bower, iL 85, has these words with reference to the 

second set of counciUors. 
Page 62, n. 25. — Compare Bower, ii. 87-8. 
Page 66, n. 26. — Bower, iL 91, does not state the relationship. 
Page 72, n. 27. — Bower, iL 101, says twenty-four. 
Page 72, n. 28. — In tezt, voL L p. 99, last line, ^* inscriptis " should 

be " infrascriptis." 
Page 72, n.' 29. — Namely, thpse mentioned in the nezt sentence. 
Pago 74, n. 30.— In tex^ voL L p. 102, L 7, "Heuwix" should be 

" Leuwiz." 



NOTES. 297 

Pa^e 74, n. 31.— Bower, ii. 103, says it waa in 1265. 

Page 75, n. 32. — In text, vol. i. p. 102, L 25, " Heuwishauxe " 
shoald be " Eyeehame." 

Page 76, n. 33. — Bower, il 109, adds, "and a great many other 
nobles and knighta." 

Page 76, n. 34. — ^lt should be "third." Bower, iL 114, speaks of 
him aa " the son of Robert Bruce, sumamed The Noble, lord of 
Annandale in Scotland and Cleyeland in England." In the fifth 
line from the bottom, " third " should be " fourth." 

Page 77, n. 35. — Namely, the lord of Annandale and Gleveland. 

Page 77, n. 36. — It should be " fourth." 

Page 78, n. 37.— In text, voL L p. 107, L 4, " Eodem" should be 
omitted. 

Page 78, n. 38.— Bower, ii. 122, says 50,000. 

Page 78, n. 39. — Bower, iL 123-4, does not mention this embassy. 

Page 78, n. 40. — Bower, iL 124, says the bishops of Norwich and 
Durham, the sheriff of Newcastle, and a great many knights and 
clergy, on behalf of the king of England, were at Tweedmouth. He 
does not say the king was there. 



BOOK VIII. 

Page 86, n. 1. — Bower, iL 137, says 104, 80 from Scotland and 24 

from England. 
Page 87, n. 2.— Bower, iL 138, has rightly "the daughter of the 

elder sister of the daughters of David.'* 
Page 89, n. 3. — Bower, iL 139, has, "one, say Titiu8,from theeldest 

daughter of the said brother." 
Page 90, n. 4 In text, voL L p. 124, L 7, "potentes" should be 

"petentes." 
Page 90, n. 5.—Ijb., L 20, "votum" should be "locum." 
Page 91, n. 6. — Ib., p. 125, L 9, "baronis" should be "baroniis." 
Page 91, n. 7. — Oompare Bower, ii. 140-1, who has "paribus" in- 

stead of " partibus,'* in lines 16 and hist but two of text, voL i. p. 

125. 
Page 93, n. 8. — In text, voL L p. 127, L 25, " et sic hoc" should be 

" adhuc non." See Bower, ii. 142. 
Page 94, n. 9. — In text, voL L p. 128, L 20, "parte" should be omitted. 
Page 94, n. 10. — Ib., p. 129, L 5, after "quie," "si" should be 

added. See Bower, iL 143. 
P&ge96, n. 11. — /6., p. 130, L 6, the second "et" should be 

omitted. See Bower, iL 144. 
Page 96, n. 12. — /6., L 28, "sic reformatum " should be "fit re- 

sortum." See Bower, iL 144. 



298 NOTKS. 

Page 97, n. 13. — ^A line is here dropped out in the text, vol. L p. 131, 

L 25, but is supplied from Bower, ii. 1 45. 
Page 98, n. H. — Bower, iL 146, omits "France." 
Page 98, n. 15. — Supply the words "habebant, ut" afler "sui" in 

the text, voL L p. 133, L 3. 
Page 99, n. 16. — Bower, ii. 146, has " repulsos " for "Romanos.'* 
Page 100, n. 17. — Bower, iL 147, only says King Edward oonsulted 

with some of his Privy Council on the subject. 
Page 100, n. 18. — This speech is a comiption of that given by Bower, 

iL 147. 
Page 101, n. 19. — Bower, iL 147, only says he gave judgment in 

BalUors favour. 
Page 101, n. 20. — Bower, iL 148, has « fifty." 
Page 102, n. 21. — ** Henricus " in the text, voL L p. 136, L 16, is a 

mistaka for " Ericius," as Bower, iL 1 49, has it. 
Page 103, n. 22.— Bupply from Bower, iL 149, '* Who was the father 

of John, earl of the same, whose eldest daughter," etc 
Page 104, n. 23. — Namely, DorvorgiHa. Bower, iL 150, has <' ipsa " 

instead of " mater." 
Page 104, n. 24. — " Mans," in first line of foUowing page, is 

evidently a mistake for "Mortagne." With this alteration the 

statement in the tezt is more oorrect than Bower^s (iL 151), who 

impUes that Maud had two husbanda. King Stephen was count of 

Mortagne before he was king. 
Page 105, n. 25, — It is mentioned above, in the part of this chapter 

omitted in this volume, that Heniy v. died of the malady of Saint 

Fiacre. 
Page 105, n. 26. — Bower, iL 151, does not say " crowned." 
Page 106, n. 27. — The tezt, voL L p. 141, L 23, speaks of thia as 

being in " parUamento Londonii " or " Laudonensi." This is evi- 

dently a mistake. Neither Fordun nor Bower mentions where this 

parliament was held. It was, no doubt, the one at Scone in 1294. 
Page 106, n. 28. — Bower, U. 152, has rightly 787. 
Page 106, n. 29. — The Ghronicler first compUed his work in 1461. 

The Hs. selected as the tezt represents a later recension. 
Page 106, n. 30. — Bower, U. 152, gives Duncan as the name of the 

murdered earl of Fife, and Macdu£f as that of the brother. 
Page 107, n. 31. — The word <<sedens'' in the tezt, voL L p. 142, 

L 29, should be '^sedente," to agree with Bower's account, iL 153. 
Page 107, n. 32.— The tezt, voL L p. 143, L 21, has "FouUs" for 

«' Soulis." See Bower, iL 153. 
Page 109, n. 33. — See Bower, iL 154, for a fuUer and slightly 

difierent version of the settlement. 
Page 110, n. 34. — See Bower, iL 155, for correct version of this 

passage. 



NOTES. 299 

Page 110, n. 35. — VoL i p. 146, L 5, for " communiter " read 

« commimitates," with Bower, iL 155. 
Page 110, n. 36. — See Bower, iL 155, for correct version of this 

corrupt pafisage. 
Page 111, n. 37.— Bower, iL 159, says 1295. 
Page 113, n. 38. — Bower, iL 161, says '^these lands and others.'' 
Page 113, n. 39. — ^Bower, iL 165, says Graham fell wounded in the 

battle. 
Page 115, n. 40. — ^ln tezt, voL L p. 152, L 4, '< prBemissis " is pro- 

bably for '' prsetermissis." 
P^ 116, n. 41. — Bower, iL 169, does not mention this ezception. 
Page 118, n. 42. — In text, voL L p. 154, L 17, "possidet" is for 

'^possidetur." Bower, ii. 170, does not state this fact 
Page 118, n. 43. — Bowefs account (ii. 171) differs from this. 
Page 119, n. 44. — ^Bower, iL 171, says he was wounded. 
Page 119, n. 45. — Bower, iL 172, says nothing about this distribution. 
Page 122, n. 46. — ^Tezt, toL L p. 159, L 4, read probably "ad 

amarum licorem bellorum se propinando disposuit" 
Page 123, n. 47. — ^This passage is not in Bower (iL 177), and is evi- 

dently a blunder. 
Page 123, n. 48. — Bower, iL 177, does not say it was sent by the 

procuratoiB. 
P^ 125, n. 49. — In tezt, toL L p. 162, L 17, omit <'a." Gompare 

Bower, iL 178. 
Page 126, n. 50.— Tezt, voL L p. 163, L 22, is corrupt Bower, ii. 

179, gives this passage more correctly. 
Page 128, n. 51.— Bower, iL 180, calls him " Marcus." 
Page 129, n. 52. — ^Bower, iL 181, says "kingdom." 
Page 129, n. 53 ^ln tezt, voL L p. 166, L 25, " pr»ciperat " should 

be ** receperat" See Bower, iL 182. 
Page 130, n. 54. — In tezt, voL L p. 167, L 24, " promittimus," 

" promittemus," and "promittere" should be << pennittimus," 

" permittemus," and " permittere." See Bower, iL 182. 
Page 132, n. 55.— Bower, iL 184, has "Iricio." 
Rige 133, n. 56. — In tezt, voL L p. 170, L 26, « imperatrids " 

should be '* imperatricL" 
Page 133, n. 57. — Namely, the promise of the bishops, eta, of Scot- 

land to rise against their king if he broke his oath (see previous 

chapter). Oompare Bower, iL 185. 
Page 134, n. 58. — In tezt, voL L p. 171, L 26, " Northumbriam " is 

for " Northampton." See Bower, iL 186. 
Page 134, n. 59.— In tezt, voL L p. 172, L 20, "curatos" should be 

" certos." See Bower, iL 187. 
Page 136, n. 60. — ^ln tezt, voL L p. 174, L 7, lead "nostri sunt, 

per leges se justificare," etc. See Bower, iL 188. 



I> 



9> 



300 NOTES. 

Page 137, n. 61. — In text, voL L p. 175, L 1, "nostri" should be 

"veatri." Bower, iL 189. 
Page 137, n. 62. — In same page of tezt, L 4, " statutum " Bhould be 

« BtatUUL" 

Page 139, n. 63. — In tezt, voL L p. 176, L 4 from bottom, <<eciam" 

Bhould be " etc." 
Page 139, n. 64.— In nezt line of text <<favet" should be «fam».'* 

MS. R haa " favore." 
Page 139, n. 65. — In next page of tezt, L 7, " ecdesiiB " should be 

"aetatem." Bower, ii. 190. 
Page 139, n. 66. — In same page of tezt, L 17, after ^' vobis " supply 

" auzilium." 
Page 142, n. 67.— In page 180 of tezt, L 27, "mendacia" Bhouldbe 

'< mendicata." Bower, iL 193. Throughout this lengthy document 

the veraion of Bower, iL pp. 192-210, has been appealed to when 

the tezt has been too corrupt to admit of being literally translated. 
Page 143, n. 68.— In page 181 of tezt, L 10, << Bibi " Bhonld be <<ait. 

Bower, iL 194. 
Page 143, n. 69. — In same page of tezt, L 21, after '< prs^udicium 

Bupply "credi non debeat alienum, quantacunque rez ipse pra&- 

emineat dignitate ; sed prascipue in absencia." See Bower, iL 194. 
Page 144, n. 70. — ^ln same page of tezt, L 2 from bottom, after 

" judicem " supply " improbitas.*' 
Page 145, n. 71. — In page 182 of tezt, L 28, after <<integram" 

supply " nnllatenus obtineret" Bower, iL 195. 
Page 145, n. 72. — lu nezt page of tezt, L 4, read '^pro suo coad- 

juvando proposito, oolorata et" 
Page 147, n. 73. — ^This passage is corrupt in tezt, p. 185. Compare 

Bower, ii. 197. 
Page 151, n. 74.— In page 189 of tezt, L 26, "diu" should be 

" domim." See Bower, ii. 200. 
Page 153, n. 75. — Bower, iL 202, says " by his own authority alone." 
Page 156, n. 76. — Bower, iL 205, does not say it was by the king^a 

advice. 
Page 163, n. 77. — Compare Bower^s title, iL 275. 
Page 163, n. 78. — Bower adds, *< Rogerus de Moubray." 
Page 163, n. 79.— Bower adds, " WiUelmus Oliphaunt." 
Page 163, n. 80.— Bower adds, <« Willelmus de Monte-Alta" 
Page 165, n. 81. — In tezt, voL L p. 203, L 24, read ''sanat^ liberati 

eaipuB per,'' etc. 
Page 166, n. 82. — This case is a mere repetition, and is therefore 

omitted in this volume. 



NOTES. 301 



BOOK IX. 



Page 168, n. 1. — Bower, iL 221, does not mention the son. 

Ptige 170, n. 2. — ^Bower, u. 223, says fourpence. 

P^ 175, n. 3. — Bower, ii 228, has '* James Lindsay, together with 

Gilpatrick of Kirkpatrick." 
Pftge 176, n. 4. — ^The tezt, yoL L p. 230, L 12, has <<8exto Idus 

Aprilis'^ evidently by mistake, for the '^Aezto Kal. Aprilis" of 

Fordun and Bower, ii. 230. 
Page 180, n. 5. — Bower, iL 241, does not mention William. 
Page 184, n. 6. — Bower, ii. 247, doea not mention thia. 
Page 185, n. 7. — ^Namely, Thomaa Randolph earl of Munay. Compare 

Bower, iL 257. 
Page 185, n. 8. — Bower, iL 255, inatead of "octies," saya "r^^ sui 

yill." — ^that he defeated him at Bannockbum in the eighth year of 

hifl reign, and at Biland in the aizteenth. 
Page 186, n. 9. — Bower, iL 259, says nothing of this. 
Page 188, n. 10. — Bower, iL 272, says Fordun. 
Page 188, n. 11. — Bower, iL 272, only says ^'The same year." 
Page 188, n. 12.— Bower, iL 272, calls him Malerb. 
Page 189, n. 13. — This letter has been already givon on p. 163. 
Page 189, n. 14. — Bower, iL 278, only says " a large army." 
Page 190, n. 15. — Bower, iL 278, puts the remark into the mouth of 

the earl of Warenne, and statee, not that he was killed, but that he 

was taken prisoner and ransomed. 
Page 192, n. 16.— Bower, iL 288, says in 1327. 
Page 193, n. 17. — Bower, ii. 289, dates this document from Tork. 
Page 198, n. 18.— Bower, iL 304, has VIIlo. Idus. 
Page 199, n. 19. — Bower, iL 305, does not say this. 
Pftge 199, n. 20. — Bower, iL 305-6, does not mention Errol or 

Graham. 
Page 199, n. 21. — This account differs slightly from Bower'8. 
Page 200, n. 22.— Bower, iL 307, says " Radulphus baro de Stafford." 
Page 200, n. 23. — ^Bower, iL 307, says 600. 
Page 200, n. 24. — Bower, iL 307-8, caUs him John Bandolph. 
Page 200, n. 25, — Bower, iL 308, only says " D. Alexandrum de Bruce 

comitem de Carrick et D. Galwidi»." 
P^ 200, n. 26.— Bower, iL 308, says " Henry de Balliol, John Mow- 

bray, Walter Cnmyn and Richard Kirby." 
Page 201, n. 27. — Bower, »6., says "delivered fix)m death.'' 
Page 201, n. 28. — Bower, iL 310, as well aa some tezts of Fordun, 

say ^'pridie Idus Aprilis.'* 
Page 201, n. 29. — Bower, iL 310, says '^usque ad decimum quartum 

Kal. AagustL" 



302 NOTES. 

Page 201, n. 30. — Bower saya "the day before the Feast of Mar- 

garet.'* 
Page 202, n. 31.— In text, toL L p. 269, L 12, «aut" ahould probably 

be "ut" 
Page 202, n. 32. — That is, the Scots. 
Page 203, n. 33. — In text, yoL L p. 270, L 18, «ezpulsus" should be 

<< oompulsus.'* Ck)m{>are Bower, iL 31 1. 
Page 203, n. 34. — This should be "hj the lord pope and the king of 

France to ihe king of England,'* as in Bower, ii. 312. 
Page 204, n. 35. — Bower, iL 313, says << sir Alan de Lile, aheriff of 

Bute and CowelL" 
Pftge 205, n. 36. — ^Bower, iL 313, calls him "Lambyn." 
Page 210, n. 37. — Bower, ii. 318, says 90,000 horsemen and 180 

shipe. 
Page 211, n. 38.— In tezt, yoL L p. 279, L 18, MS. K has << WiUelmi 

de Douglas firater Jacobus," which agrees with Bower, iL 320, and 

is evidently right William was not killed. 
Page 211, n. 39.— In text, yoL L p. 279, L 32, «infidelibus" is for 

« in fidelibus." 
Page 213, n. 40. — ^Bower, ii. 323, says they were ordered to do a part 

only of the work. In text, yoL L p. 2S5y L 29, "prsemissum" is 

for " promissum." 
Page 2 1 9, n. 40 a. — ^The Latin text here is corrupt ; comp. Bower, ii. 230. 
Page 221, n. 41. — Bower, iL 334, says "non multum ibi nocuit" 
Page 222, n. 42. — ^The words ''in Scotland" are of course a mistaka 

Compare Bower, iL 339. 
Page 224, n. 43. — Bower, iL 341, adds the Archbishop of York. 
Page 227, n. 44. — That is to say, "^^fended the approaches to the 

castle." Bower, iL 351, says they were unable to take the castle. 
Page 229, n. 45. — Compare Cap. XV. in Bower, iL 356. Bower only 

mentions Cumnock as the church where Macdowell swore fealty, and 

does not mention Eyle. He also says that King DaYid fuled to get 

his ransom, and went back to England. 
Page 230, n. 46. — Taken at the battle of Cressy. See aboYe, p. 223, 

and Bower, iL 340. 
Page 230, n. 47. — This passage is CYidently corrupt in the text. Com- 

pare Bower, iL 359. 
Page 230, n. 48. — Bower, iL 359, says "ten years." 
Page 230, n. 49. — Bower only says "diu." 
Page 232, n. 50. — ^Bower, ii. 366, calls him the earFs son. 
Page 233, n. 51. — Bower, iL 370, calls her the daughter of John 

Logie. 
Page 234, n. 52. — Bower, iL 380, says nothing of this proposed 

marriage. 



NOTES. 303 



BOOK X. 



F^ 237, iL 1. — ^These words must be sapplied, as the text is corrupt. 
Page 238, n. 2. — Bower, iL 391, attributes the fire to the carelessneBs 

of a plamber. 
Page 238, n. 3. — ^Bower, ii 391, says he waa bom on the 24th 

October 1378. 
Pftge 239, n. 4. — This title should evidently be, << Ambassadors sent to 

the king of Franoe from Scotland." See Bower, iL 392. 
Page 243, n. 5. — Bower, iL 392-5, gives a different version of this 

document. 
Pftge 244, n. 6. — ^Bower, iL 398, does not nse this ezpresaion. 
Page 245, n. 7 Bower, ii. 399, gives a somewhat different account 

of this incident 
Page 246, n. 8.— Bower, iL 400, says 800. 
Page 246, n. 9. — Bower, iL 400, says 400. 
Page 247, n. 10. — Bower, iL 402, says he would have done this had 

he not been difisuaded by the Duke of Lancaster. 
Page 248, n. 11. — Bower, ii. 404, speaks of hlB father Archibald 

Dooghis, not of the earl of Douglas. 
Page 249, n. 12. — ^Bower, iL 405, says it was St Oswald's Day. 
Page 250, n. 13. — ^Bower, iL 405, says they were ordered to destroy 

the camp. 
Page 252, n. 14. — Bower, iL 415, says he died on the 19th ApriL 
Psge 252, n. 15. — Bower, t&., says he reigned nineteen years and 

twenty-four days. 
Page 253, n. 16. — Bower, iL 420, says Duncan Stewart, son of sir 

Alexander, earl of Buchan, was the leader of the Caterans, not slain 

by them. 
Page 253, n. 17. — Bower, iL 420, gives a different account of this 

combat. 
Page 254, n. 18. — Bower, iL 422, oonnects Perth with the following 

sentence, not with the death of the coiner. 
Page 254, n. 19. — This offer of a dukedom to Archibald Douglas is 

not mentioned by Bower. 
Page 254, n. 20. — See note 16. 
Page 255, n. 21. — ^Bower, iL 428, calls her Marjoiy. 
Page 259, n. 22. — Bower, iL 433, calls him Qeorge. 
Page 259, n. 23. — Bower, tb,, mentions only two. 
Page 260, n. 24. — Bower, iL 438, says this second iiyury was received 

at the battle of Shrewsbury. 
Page 262, n. 25. — Bower, iL 439, says nothing of this alleged reason. 
Page 263, n. 26. — ^Bower, iL 449, places this mission in 1417. 
Page 264, n. 27. — Bower, ii. 447, calls him PfttricL 



304 NOTES. 

Page 265, n. 28. — From thia point onwarda this account, as being given 

by one who could get direct information from eye-witneaaeB, adds 

many particulars to that of Bower. 
Page 265, n. 29. — Bower, 11 459, says 7000. 
Page 267, n. 30. — Bower, ii. 461, says 6000. Bower*s wholeacconnt 

of the battle is somewhat different. 
Page 267, n. 31 Compare Bower, ii. 461. He says Sibbald took 

the earl of Huntingdon. 
Page 269, n. 32. — Compare the account in Bower, ii. 462. 
Fftge 271, n. 33.— Bower, ii. 463, says 6000 in alL 
Page 277, n. 34. — ^All the mss. break off here. 



BOOK XI. 

Page 278, n. l.— " Pilii," in text, voL L p. 369, L 24, should of 

course be " patris.*' 
Page 279, n. 2. — Compare the list of names in Bower, ii. 482. 
Page 279, n. 3.— It should be " 2lst," as above, at the top of the 

page. 
Page 280, n. 4. — Bower, iL 483, does not say they were beheaded. 
Page 281, n. 5. — Compare list in Bower, iL 483-4. 
Page 282, n. "6. — Bower, iL 485, does not mention the king and queen 

of Sicily. 
Page 285, n. 7. — Bower, iL 495, has "Crawar." 
Page 286, n. 8. — Bower, iL 500, says parliament, after the death of 

Eing James i., granted him and his son 400 marks a year. 
Page 288, n. 9. — Compare Bower, IL 502. In text, voL L p. 381, 

L 24, "inopina ea" is for "inopinata." 
Page 288, n. 10. — For this metrical lament, see voL L p. 382. As it 

is in Scotch it \b not repeated in this volume. 
Page 291, n. 11. — For this poem, which also is in the Scotch vema- 

cular, see voL L p. 392. 



INDEX 



INDEX. 



Aberoobn. See ATandale^ eftrl of. 
Abercrombie, i. 251 ; ii 188. 
Aberdeen, i. 76, 251, 281 ; ii. 53, 188, 

213. 
Henry Leighton, biehop of, i. 373 ; 

ii 282. 

Adam Tyningbam, dean of, i. 315 ; 



ii. 239. 
— ^ see of, i. 51 ; ii 39. 
Abemetby, i. 142 ; ii. 107* 

Hugb, i. 93 ; ii. 66. 

William, i. 202 ; ii. 163. 

Acho. See Haco. 

Ada, sister of king Malcolm, i. 11 ; ii. 9. 

daughter of David earl of Hnn- 

tingdon, i 64, 138 ; ii 44, 104. 

Alan (Stewart) of Galloway, Steward of 
Scotlaud, i 17, 48, 53, 64, 73 ; ii 15, 
36, 41, 44, 51. 

— Durward. 8ee Durward. 

— Steward. 8ee Stewart. 

Albany, Robert Stewart» duke of, earl of 
Fife and Menteith, son of Robert ii., 
besieges Roxburgh, i 323 ; ii. 246 ; 
inyades England, i 324-5 ; ii 247-8 ; 
fights at Carlingford, i 325 ; ii. 248 ; 
appointed goyemor of Scotland, i 328 ; 
ii. 251 ; chaUenges the earl Marshal of 
England, i&. ; created a duke, i 331 ; 
ii 254 ; maintains Richard il, i. 337; 
ii. 255 ; relieyes Edinburgh, i 341 ; 
ii 257 ; puts the dnke of Rothesay to 
death, i 314, 342 ; ii 238, 258 ; re- 
covers castles, i 345 ; ii. 261 ; con- 
firmed in his office, i 348 ; ii 263 ; 



sends the earl of Buchan to Franoe, 
i 353 ; ii 265 ; his death, i. 369 ; 
ii278. 

Albany, Muidach Stewart, duke of, earl 
of Fife, son of preceding, ia taken at 
ihe batUe of Homildon, i 343-4 
ii 259, 260; is exchanged, i 350 
ii 264; crowns James i., i. 370 
ii 279 ; is arrested, i. 371 ; ii 280 
executed, i 372 ; ii 281. 

Albemarle, earl of, i. 73 ; ii. 51. 

Alexander il, his birth, i 39 ; ii 30 ; 
fealty swom to him, i 42 ; ii. 31 ; 
knighted, i 47 ; ii 35 ; crowned, 
i 56, 64 ; ii 42, 44 ; invades North- 
umberland, i 63-4 ; ii 43-4 ; invades 
England, i. 65-6 ; ii 45-6 ; meets 
Louis at Doyer, ift. ; defeats the 
English, t6. ; retums to Scotland, i 
68 ; ii 47 ; is excommunicated, t5. ; 
abaolyed, i 69 ; ii. 48 ; does homage 
to the king of England, {&. ; his mar- 
riage, i. 71 ; ii. 49 ; sends his sisteni 
to the king of England, %b. ; inyades 
Galloway and Argyll, i6. ; pnnishes 
the earl of Caithness, i. 71 ; ii 50 ; 
imposes a snbsidy, i 72 ; ii 50 ; 
founds monasteries, t&. ; awes Gallo- 
way, i 73 ; ii. 51 ; his friendship 
with the king of England, i 74; ii 
52 ; death of his qneen, xb. ; his second 
roarriage, ih, ; punishes Besat, i 75 ; 
ii 52-3 ; quarrels with Henry iii., ih. ; 
negotiations about John Besat, i 76 ; 
ii. 53 ; his death, i 77 ; ii 54. 



308 



INDEX. 



Alexander iii., his birth ; i. 74 ; iL 62 ; 
coronation, L 77 ; ii 54 ^ enthrone- 
ment» i. 80 ; iL 54 ; marriage, L 83 ; 
iL 57-8 ; friendahip with England, L 
84 ; ii. 58 ; is knighted, ib. ; his 
connsellorB dismigsed, L 84, 92 ; ii. 
58, 65 ; is seized by the earl of Men- 
teith, L 93 ; ii. 66 ; birth of hia son 
Alexander, L 99 ; iL 72 ; snbdnes the 
Isle of Man, ib. ; conf en knighthood, 
L 100 ; iL 73 ; negotiations with Nor- 
way, ib. ; asaiBts Henry n., L 102 ; 
iL 74-5 ; his counsellora ezcommuni- 
cated, L 103 ; iL 75 ; refuBes to contri- 
bate to Grusade, L 104 ; ii. 76 ; con- 
fiscates Garrick, L 105 ; ii. 76 ; takes 
part in coronation of Edward L, L 
106-7 ; ii. 77 ; does him homage, 
L 107 ; ii* 78 ; qnarrels with him, ib, ; 
embassies from Flanders and Korway, 
L 109; ii. 79, 80; marries Yolanda, 
L 111 ; iL 80 ; his death, L 111-2 ; iL 
80-1 ; his character and mle, L 112 ; 
ii. 81 ; lament for him, L 114; iL 83. 

Bon of Alexander hl, L 99^ 108 ; 

iL 72, 78-9. 

■ son of James i., L 376 ; ii. 284. 

of Argyll, L 235 ; iL 181. 

pope, i. 25 ; iL 21. 

Alice, danghter of Gonan dnke of firit- 

tany, L 13 ; ii. 11. 
Almond river, i. 96 ; iL 69. 
Alnwick, L 20, 47, 64, 257 ; iL 17, 36, 

43, 191. 
Anabella Drammond, qneen of Robert 

HL, L 330, 341 ; u. 252-3, 267. 
Angns, L 283, 330, 332 ; iL 214, 253-4. 

(}eorge Douglas, earl of, L 343 ; 

iL 259. 

William 'Donglas, earl of, L 370, 



372, 376 ; iL 279, 281, 283. 

Thomas Stewart, earl of, l 296, 



304 ; ii. 226, 232. 
— Patrick (Alexander) Ogilvy, sheriff 
of, and Justiciary of Sootland, L 370, 
373-4 ; iL 279, 281-2. 



Angus, Walter Ogilvy, sheriff of, L 330-2» 

349 ; iL 253-4, 264. 
Annand, L 267, 284 ; ii. 200, 216. 
Annandale, L 105, 276, 299, 349 ; ii. 76» 

208, 229, 263. 
Appleby, L 20 ; ii. 17. 
Arbroath, abbot of, L 282 ; iL 213. 
monastery, i. 28, 56, 73, 105 ; ii. 

24, 42, 51, 77. 
Ardrossan, Fergus, L 202 ; ii. 163. 
Argyll, L 12, 71, 77, 104, 231 ; ii. 10, 

49, 64, 76, 177. 
bishop of, L 372 ; ii. 280. 

and Lochawe, Dougall Gampbell, 

lord of, L 275 ; iL 207. 

Axnot, Michael, L 272 ; ii. 205. 
Arran, L 94, 100 ; iL 68, 73. 
Arundel, earl of, L 284 ; iL 215. 
Athol,L231; iL 177. 

Bobert Stewart of, L 329, 389; 

ii. 252, 289. 

countess of, L 281 ; iL 212-3. 

— David de Hastings, earl of, L 100, 
104 ; iL 73, 76. 

David earl of, L 137 ; iL 102. 

David earl of, accompanies Edward 

fiaUiol to Scotland, L 264, 266 ; ii. 

198, 200; quarrelB with him, L 271; 

iL 204; takes the Stewartlands and 

the lands of the Gumyns, L 274 ; ii. 

207; attends parliament at Dairsie, 

L 277 ; iL 209 ; is to join Edward ni. 

at Perth, L 278; iL 210 ; Bwears fealty 

to him there, L 279; iL 211 ; his death, 

i. 280 ; iL 212. 

John earl of, L 150 ; iL 114. 

Patrick earl of, L 75 ; iL 52. 

Thomas of Galloway, earl of, L 73, 

76 ; iL 51, 63. 

— Walter Stewart, earl of, son of 



Queen Euphemia, L 313, 329 ; iL 238, 
252 ; sits in judgment on the duke of 
Albany, L 372 ; iL 281 ; is privy to the 
death of James L, L 389 ; ii. 289. 

Auchterarder, L 265 ; iL 198. 

Auchterhottse. 8ee Ogilvy, Patrick. 



mDEX 



309 



Aacklaiid Park, l 293 ; ii 224. 
Anmale, count d*, L 360; iL 271* 
Anstria, Eleaoor dncheas of, danghter of 

James l., i. 390 ; ii. 290. 
Ayandale, James Dovglas of Balvany and 

Abercorn, earl of, L 372; ii 281. 
Avignon, L 307 ; iL 233. 
Avranches, L 359 ; iL 270. 
Ayr castle, L 94 ; iL 67. 
Bberiff of, L 276 ; ii. 208. 

Badbnogh, Wolf of. 8ee Bnchan, earl of. 
Bagimand, legate, i. 107 ; iL 78. 
Baldred, abbot of Rivaalx, L 17 ; ii. 15. 
BallioL See Edward Balliol and John 

BallioL 
John, hasband of Dorvorgilla, L 73, 

138 ; iL 51, 104. 
BaUoch, Dolny (Donald), i. 377 ; iL 284. 
Balmerino, abbot of, L 108, 282; iL 79, 

213. 

charch of, L 72 ; iL 60. 

Balvany. 8ee Avandale, earl of. 
Bamborough, L 45 ; iL 33. 
Bangor, bishop of, L 348 ; ii. 263. 
Banlister (Banniater), William, L 234; 

u. 180. 
Bannockbum, battle of, L 237-8; iL 

183-4. 
Barbazan, sieur de, i. 357 ; iL 269. 
Barbon, Keginald, L 129 ; iL 95. 
Barclay, brothen, of Tyntia Muir, L 391; 

iL 290. 

David, L 295 ; u. 226. 

Hugh, L 93 ; ii. 66. 

Walter, L 251 ; ii. 188. 

Bardolph, lord, L 348 ; iL 263. 
Baroune, Ralph, L 267 ; ii. 200. 
Barres, Jean de, L 159 ; iL 122. 
Baas, the, L 285, 343, 347, 371 ; iL 216, 

259, 262, 279. 
-~« lord of the. 8ee Lauder, Robert. 
Baug^ battle of, L 354-7 ; ii. 265-8. 
Beaugency, L 357, 262 ; iL 269, 273. 
Beaomont, earl of, L 30 ; ii. 26. 
lord of, L 137 ; u. 102. 



Beaumont, Henry, L 137, 264,266-7, 271, 
280, 282-3 ; ii. 103, 198, 200, 204, 212, 
214. 

Beaurepair, battle at, L 293-4 ; U. 224. 

Beck, Anthony, L 134 ; iL 100. 

Bedford, duke of, L 359, 362 ; ii. 270, 
272. 

Benedict, pope, L 349 ; iL 263. 

Benrig, L 320 ; iL 244. 

Bemour. 8ee Vemor. 

Berwick, i. 23, 33, 43, 64, 107, 133, 147-8, 
153, 231, 241-2, 250-2, 257, 268, 
270-1, 287, 289, 296, 313-4, 319, 321, 
331, 340, 378 ; u. 19, 27, 31, 44, 78, 
99, 111-2, 116, 177, 186-9, 191, 201, 
203-4, 218, 220, 227, 238, 243, 245, 
253, 256, 285. 

Besat, John, L 76 ; iL 53. 

William, i. 75 ; ii. 52. 

Biggar, L223; iL 169. 

BUand, battle of, L 240 ; iL 185. 

Bisaet, Baldred, L 160, 205, 218; u. 123, 
166-7. 

Walter, L 73 ; iL 51. 

Blaok Parliament, L 251; ii. 188. 

Bloody Fair of Roxburgh, L 311; iL 236. 

Bonet, William, L 129 ; ii. 95. 

Boniface yni., Pope, L 160-7 ; iL 123-30. 

Bonneville, John, L 295 ; ii. 225. 

BoTough-under-Moor, i. 20; ii. 17. 

Boroughmuir, battle of, L 278 ; iL 210. 

Borthwick, aon of lord, L 376 ; iL 284. 

BothweU, L 283, 339, 340 ; ii. 215, 255-6. 

Boulogne, count of, i. 51; iL 38. 

Bourbon, duke of, L 363 ; ii. 274. 

BouBtour, L 283 ; u. 215. 

BoutilUer, Charlea, L 356 ; ii. 268. 

Bower, Walter, L 5 ; iL 3. 

Boyd, L 290 ; iL 221. 

Thomaa, of KUmamock, L 371; iL 

279. 

Brady, Robert, L 280; ii. 212. 

Brandans, the, L 275 ; iL 207. 

Brechin, bishop of, L 122 ; ii. 88. 

J^in Crannock, biahop of, L 374 ; 

iL 282. 



310 



INDEX. 



Brechm, aee of, L 51; ii. 39. 

Bavid, L 201, 251; iL 163, 188. 

Brittany, Arthor duke (count) of, L 13; 

ii. 11. 

Conan dnke of, L 11, 13 ; iL 9. 

■ Francifl dake of, L 13 ; iL 11. 

John doke of, L 13; iL 11. 

John doke of, L 238 ; iL 184. 

John dake of , L 391 ; iL 290. 

Isabella (Elizabeth) dacheas of, 

daaghter of James L, L 13, 390; iL 

11,290. 
Broun, Richard, L 251 ; iL 188. 
Braoe, Alexander, brother of King Robert 

Brace, L 231 ; ii. 177. 

Alexander. 8ee Garrick, earl of. 

Christma, L 256, 270, 302; iL 190, 

203, 231. 

— David. Set David xi. 

Edward, brother of King Eobert 

Bmoe, L 137, 229, 235, 238-41, 250; 
iL 103, 175, 181» 184-7. 

— James. See Dankeld, biihop of, 
a/nd Glaagow, buihop of. 

John, L 288 ; iL 219. 

Margaret. iS(e«Satheriand,ooanteM 

of. 

Marjory. 8e$ Marjory Brace. 

Matilda, daaghter of King Kobert 

Brace, L 138, 295 ; iL 104, 226. 
Nigel, brother of king Bobert 



Brnoe, L 231 ; iL 177. 
— Bobert» the elder, hasband of 
Isabel, yoanger daaghter of David earl 
of Hantiogdon, L 64, 105, 137 ; u. 44, 
77, 103. 

Robert, the competitor, aon of pre- 



oeding, L 105, 119, 121, 123-137; iL 
77, 85, 87, 89-103; he refases ihe 
throne on King Edward'8 conditions, i. 
134; ii. 100 ; hie party, L 150 ; iL 114 ; 
is ref oaed help by King Edward, i6. 

— Robert. 8ee Oarrick, earl of . 

— Robert. 8et Robert i. 

— Robert, son of preceding, i. 266 ; 
hl 199. 



Brooe, Robert, 8on-in-law of King WiUiam 

the laon, L 30, 38, 51 ; iL 26, 29, 38. 
Thomas, brother of King Robert 

Braoe, L 231, 276 ; ii. 177, 208. 
Bachan, L 232, 235, 271, 280 ; iL 178, 

181, 204, 212. 
Mary coantees of, daoghter of 

James i., L 390 ; ii. 290. 
Alexander Cnmyn, earl of, i. 93, 

137; iL 66, 103. 

JohnCamyn, earl of, L 118 ; ii. 84. 

— John Camyn, earl of, L 137, 150, 

153, 232-5; iL 102, 114, 117, 178-80. 
William Camyn, earl of, L 46, 73 ; 



iL 34, 51. 

— William Camyn, earl of, L 100; iL 



72. 



George Danbar, earl of . iSfeeMaich, 

earl of. 
— »~ Alexander Stewart, earl of (The 

Wolf of Badenoch), son of Robert n., 

L 329 ; iL 252. 
John Stewart» earl of, son of Robert 

dnke of Albany, L 348, 353, 355 ; iL 

262, 265, 267 ; is made oonstable of 
Fraace, L 358; iL 269-70; goee to 
Sootland for reinforcements, L 359 ; iL 
270 ; 18 kiUed at Vemeail, L 360 ; iL 
271. 

Ballock, Walter, L 94 ; iL 67. 

William, L 272, 283, 288-9, 291 ; 

iL 204, 215, 219, 220, 222. 
Bargh, Haymer de, earl of Ulster, L 138; 

iL 103. 
Bargh-apon-Sanda, L 233; iL 179. 
Bargandy, dake of, L 348, 364-5 ; iL 

263, 275. 

Barley, lord of . Set Red Stewart 
Bate, L 94, 100, 236, 272, 275-6, 347 ; 

iL 68, 73, 182, 204, 207-8, 262. 
Battergask, Andrew, L 296 ; iL 225. 



Cakrlayerock,L 299, 372; iL 229, 280. 
CaithnesB, L 39, 42, 71, 325; iL 29, 30, 
50, 248. 



INDEX. 



311 



Caifhness, biahop of, L 2S, 42, 71; iL 24, 

30, 5a 
Alan Stewart, earl of, son of the 

earl of Athol, i 377; ii. 284. 
Hftnld earl of, i. 39, 60; iL 29, 

38. 

John earl of, i 71, 73 ; iL 60-1. 

•> Magnus earl of, L 201 ; iL 163. 

— r— see of, L 62 ; ii 39. 

Galdermnir, L 340 ; iL 267. 

Galendar, John liYingstone, lord of , L 

344, 372 ; iL 260> 281. 
(Alexander Ltvingstone), lord of, i. 

372 ; iL 281. 
Gambaskenneih, L 256 ; ii. 190. 
Gameron, dan, i. 375 ; iL 283. 

John, L 202 ; iL 163. 

Koger, L 295 ; iL 226. 

GampbeU, Donald, L 202 ; iL 163. 
DongalL 8ee Axgyll and Loohawe, 

lordol 
Gaumor. See Kenmore. 
Garbery (Karrera), L 77; iL 64. 
Garcaasonne, bishop of, L 124 ; iL 00. 
Cardenen. See Stewart, John. 
Gardine, De. 8te Dunkdd, bishop oi 
Cardroet, L 268 ; iL 192. 
Garlingford, L 326; iL 248. 
Garliale, L 10, 19, 30, 47, 64, 66, 69, 

153, 231, 323; iL 8, 17, 26, 34^ 44, 46, 

48, 117, 177, 246. 
Garmelite Friars, L 100 ; ii. 73. 
Garrick, L 30, 231-2, 276; iL 26, 177-8, 

208. 
Martha connteae o^ L 104-6 ; iL 

76-7. 

Adam earl of, L 104 ; iL 76. 

Alexander Brace, earl of, L 267, 

270 ; iL 200-1, 203. 

David earl of, son of Robert in. 



See Rotheeay, doke of. 
— Robert Bruoe, earl of , f ather of 
King Bobert Bruce, L 106, 137; iL 76, 
103. 
John lord of. 8ee Bobert lu. 



Garmthen, William, L 276 ; iL 208. 



Gelestine, Pope, L 62 ; iL 42. 

GhaknB, L 381 ; ii. 288. 

Ghambers, Ghristopher, L 389; iL 289. 

John, L 389; iL 289. 

Thomaa, L 389 ; iL 289. 

Gharlee vn., king of France, L 13, 368, 

366-6, 373-4; iL 11, 270, 275-6, 281-2. 
Charter of King Athelstan, L 324 ; u. 247. 
Charterhouae of Perth. Set Yalley of 

Virtuea. 
Chateau Galliard, L 276; iL 208. 
ChatiUon,L354; iL 265. 
Chein, Reginald de, L 202; iL 163. 
Cheater, L 10 ; iL 8. 

Hugh earl of, L 35, 64; ii. 28, 44. 

ChriBtiana of the lales. 8ee iBles. 
Clackmannan, L 38, 122 ; iL 29, 88. 
Clarence, Thomaa duke of, L 354-6 ; iL 

265-6. 
Clazston, L 149; iL 113. 
doTeland, L 105; iL 76. 
aochbolg, L 312 ; ii. 237. 
aydesdale, L 276 ; ii. 208. 
Maurice Murray, lord of, L 287-8 ; 

iL219. 
Cockermouih, L 324 ; iL 247. 
Cocklaw, L 344 ; ii. 260. 
Codnor. 8ee Grey of Codnor. 
Colban, son of Malcolm earl of Fife, i. 

100 ; ii. 73. 
Colbranspeth (CoIbumiBpeth), L 262, 

340; iL 195,256. 
Coldingham, L 64, 70, 149; iL 44, 49, 

113. 
CoUutfay. 8ee Ramsay. 
Concoursault, L 354 ; iL 265. 
Confrcy, Ralph (the Cofferer), L 222; ii. 

169. 
Conyngham, L 94, 97, 276 ; ii. 68, 70, 

208. 
Comuale Castle, L 323 ; ii. 246. 
Corstorphine, 8ee Forester. 
Coucy, sieur de, i. 74 ; iL 52. 
Coupland, John, L 285, 293-4, 296 ; iL 

217, 2246, 227. 
Cowell, L 272, 275; ii. 204, 207. 



313 



INDEX. 



Cowgftte of Berwick, i 296; iL 227. 
Gnig, John, L 280 ; ii. 212. 
Graigie, i 290 ; ii. 221. 
Gramond, i 113 ; ii 82. 
Grannock, John. 8ee Brechin, bishop of. 
Oaw, Paol, i. «377 ; ii 285. 
Grawford, David Lindsay, earl of, i 
330-1 ; ii. 253-4. 

— earl of, i 370 ; ii 279. 
Grawf ard. 8ee lindaay, David. 
Grwwiingham, Hogh, i 155 ; ii 1 19. 
Grerant, battle of, i 363 ; ii 274. 
Grichton, lord, i 370; ii. 279. 

James, son of lord, i. 376 ; ii 284. 

GriBte Gleik, i 288 ; ii. 219. 

GulroBS, i 61, 72, 342 ; ii 47, 50, 258. 

Gumherland, i 9-10 ; ii 7-8. 

Gumbemaald. 8ee Fleming. 

Gnmnock, i 298 ; ii 229. 

Gnmyn, family of, i 93, 150, 158, 264, 

275, 341; ii 67, 114, 121, 198,207, 

257. 8ee aho Buchan, earl of, and 

Menteith, earl of. 
■ ■■ Alexnnder. 8ee Buchan, earl ot 
-»— Johu, brother of the earl of Buchan, 

i 93, 102; ii. 66, 74. 

John, one of the six guardians, 

i 118 ; ii 84 ; his pedigree, i 137 ; 
ii 102. 

John (Bed John Gumyn), son of 



preceding, his pedigree, i 137; ii 102; 
made guardian, i. 159 ; ii 122 ; de- 
feats the English at Boslyn, i 222-3 ; 
ii 168-9 ; submits to Edward, i 224 ; 
ii 170 ; makes a compaot with Bobert 
Bruce, i. 226-7 ; ii. 172-3; betrays him, 
«6. ; is killed by Bruce, i 229 ; ii 175. 

— Johu. 8ee Buchan, earl of. 

— Johu. 8ee Strathbolgy. 

— Thomas, i 280 ; ii 212. 

— Walter, brother of preoeding, i 267, 
280 ; ii. 200, 212. 

— Walter. 8ee Menteith, earl ol 

— William. 8ee Buchan, earl oL 
William, brother of John carl of 



BuchAD, i 234-5 ; ii 180. 



Gupar, i 74, 272, 280, 283, 286-7, 349 ; 
ii 52, 204, 212„215, 217-8, 264. 

abbot of, i 282; ii 213. 

monastery, i 13, 73 ; ii. 11, 51. 

Gurry, Walter, i 289; ii 220. 

DaiiHOUSiv (Dalwolsy). 8ee Bamsay. 
Dalkeith, i 371 ; ii. 279. 

(JanMS Donglas), lord oi^ i 372; 

ii281. 

Dahy, batae of, i 231 ; ii. 177. 
Dalswinton, i 236, 298 ; ii 182, 229. 
Dansig, i 325 ; ii 248. 
Darnley. 8ee Stewart, John. 
Davach, i 286 ; ii 218. 
David I., i 8 ; ii. 6. 

II. (Bruce), i 138, 240; ii 104, 

185 ; his birth, i 256 ; ii 190; hom- 
age done to him, ib. ; manies Joany 
i 257 ; ii 191 ; withdraws to FFanoe» 
i 267 ; ii. 200 ; remains at Ghateau 
Galliaid, i 276 ; ii 208 ; retums to 
BcotUnd, i 290 ; ii 221 ; invades 
£ngland, t(. ; his capricions character, 
i 291; ii 222; invades England, 
i 292 ; ii 223 ; is taken prisoner at 
Durham, i 294 ; ii 225 ; negotiates 
for his ransom, i 299 ; ii. 229 ; is 
ransomed, i 301 ; ii 230 ; sends em- 
bassy to the Pope, i 303 ; ii 231 ; 
quarrelB with the earl of Mar, i 304 ; 
ii. 231 ; his incontinenoe, i 305 ; ii 
232 ; proposes lionel as his sncoessor, 
ib, ; quells insnrrection, i. 306 ; ii 233 ; 
marries Margaret Logie, i 307 ; ii 
233 ; diyorces her, ib. ; imprisons the 
Stewarts, i. 307 ; ii 234 ; his death, t6. 

earl of Huntingdon. 8ee Hiint- 



ingdon. 

son of Alexander ni., i 108 ; ii 78. 



Dee, river, i 235 ; ii 181. 

Deer, ohurch of, i 73 ; ii 51. 

Dervesy (Daizsie), i 251, 277 ; ii 188, 

209. 
DoUar, i 281 ; ii 213. 
Donald of the Isles. 8ee Isles. 



mDEX. 



313 



DoiuJd Bane, L 29 ; ii 24. 

BonamiB, parca de, i 269 ; iL 202. 

Dombristle, i. 241, 286; u. 186, 217. 

Dorrorgilla, L 121, 136-7 ; iL 87, 102-3. 

Doaglas oastle, i. 322 ; iL 245. 

tower, at Berwick, L 296 ; iL 227. 

— ~ Archibald, the Tyneman, attacka 
Edward Balliol at Annand, L 267 
iL 200 ; made gnardian, i. 269 ; ii. 201 
kiUed at Halidon Hill, L 269-70 
ii. 202-3. 

Ardubald, the Black (Grim), earl 

o^ lord of Gallowax, taken prisoner 
at Poitiers, L 300; iL 229; goes on 
an embaasy to France, L 315; iL 239; 
takea Lochmaben, L 320 ; ii. 243 ; takes 
Wark, L 323; iL 246; present at 
the siege of Boxbnrgh, L 323; iL 
246; invadee England, L 324; iL 
247 ; sacceeds as earl of Douglaa, 
L 326 ; ii. 249 ; refnsea a dukedom, 
i. 331 ; iL 254 ; is jndge at a dngle 
oombat, L 332 ; iL 254 ; marries hiB 
daaghter to the dnke of Rothesay, 
L 339 ; iL 255 ; his death, i. 340 ; 
iL257. 

Archibald earl of, and dnke of 

Tonraine^ son of preceding, receives 
posaeflsion of Danbar castle, L 339; 
iL 256 ; defeats the earl of March and 
Henry Percy at Oolbranspeth, L 340 ; 
iL 256 ; is beaieged in Edinburgh, 
L 340 ; iL 257 ; concemed in death of 
Duke of Bothesay, L 342 ; a 258 ; 
taken priaoner at Homildon, L 343-4 ; 
iL 259-60 ; ia given Lochmaben and 
Annaadale, L 349 ; iL 263 ; goes to 
France and ia made Dnke of Touraine, 
L 359 ; u. 270 ; kiUed at Vemeua, 
L360; iL271. 

Archibald earl of (earl of Wigtown), 

Bon of preceding, goes to France, and 
ia given Trimgeaia, L 353 ; iL 265 ; ia 
knighted, L 370 ; iL 279 ; sita on the 
trial of the Duke of Albany, L 372 ; 
iL 281 ; ia arrested, L 377 ; iL 284. 



Douglas, George. See AnguB, earl of . 

—^ Jamea (the Good Sir Jamee), i. 201 ; 
iL 163 ; takes Rozburgh Castle, L 236 ; 
iL 182 ; defeats the English, i. 241 ; 
iL 186 ; retreats from Weardale, L 257 ; 
ii. 191 ; mentioned in King Robert 
Brace*s tailzie ; L 260 ; iL 193; is to 
take the king^s heart to the Holy 
Land, L 263; iL 196; his deaththere, 
L 264 ; iL 197. 

James, brother of William Douglas 

of Liddesdale, L 279; iL 211. 

James earl of , and earl of Mar, to 



marry daughter of Robert n., L 310 ; 
iL 235 ; succeeds to the earldom and 
invades England, L 322; ii. 245; 
present at the siege of Roxburgh, 
L 323 ; iL 246 ; invades Eogland, 
L 324; iL 247; is killed at Otterbura, 
L 326 ; iL 249. 
— James, L 331 ; ii. 253. 

James (of Balvany and Abercora) 



earl of, and earl of Avandale, kills 
David Fleming of Cumberaaald, L 347; 
iL 262 ; sits on Duke of Albany^s trial, 
L 372 ; ii. 281. 
— James, second son of Archibald 



earl of Douglas and duke of Touraine, 
L 360 ; iL 271. 

Mary, daughter of Archibald the 



Grim, earl of Douglas, married to the 
duke of Rothesay, L 339 ; ii. 255. 
— William, of Liddesdale, taken at 



Lochmaben, L 268 ; iL 201 ; released, 
i. 277 ; iL 209 ; attends parliament at 
Dairsie, ib, ; fights at Boroughmuir, 
L 278 ; ii. 210 ; escorts the connt of 
Guelderland to England, L 279; ii. 
211 ; is faithful to Brace, L 280 ; iL 
211-2; reoovers castles, L 283; ii. 
215 ; slaughters garrison of Edinburgh 
Castle, i. 286 ; iL 217 ; recovers 
Teviotdale, L 287 ; iL 218 ; tilts with 
Henry of Derby and Lancaster, ib. ; 
Uockadee the Tay, L 288; iL 219; 
takes Edinbuigh Oastie, L 289 ; ii. 



314 



INDEX. 



220 ; protecte the Borden, i. 290 ; ii. 
221 ; hiB haired of Bamflay» t&. ; puts 
liim to deatii, i. 291 ; ii. 222 ; dis- 
connteiianoee invasion of England, i 
292 ; iL 223; goes foraging, l 293 ; 
ii 224 ; ia taken at the battle of Ihir. 
ham, L 294 ; ii 225 ; is killed by 
Wmiam earl of Donglaa, i 295; 
ii. 226. 
Douglas, William, iUegitimate brother of 
preoeding, and commandant of Edin- 
borgh Caetle, i 290 ; ii 221. 

— WiUiam earl of , son of Archibald 
Donglaa, the Tyneman, pats William 
Donghia of Liddeadale to death, i 295 ; 
ii 226 ; defeats the English at Niabet, 
i 296; ii 226; recoyem territory, 
i 298; ii 228; fights at Poitiers, 
i 299-300; ii 229; opposea Bobert ii.'b 
acceedon, i 310; ii. 235; destroys 
Penrith, i 314; ii 238; subdnee 
Teviotdale, i 322 ; ii. 245 ; hia death, 
ib, 

William, lord of Kithadale, aon of 

Archibald the Grim, earl of Donglas, 
marriea Robert ii.'8 daaghter, Egidia, 
i 324 ; u. 248 ; ia kiUed at Danzig, 
i 325 ; ii 248 ; fights at Garlingford, 
ib. ; inyades England, i 325 ; ii 
248-9. 

William, eldest aon of Archibald 



earl of DouglaB, i. 376 ; ii 284. 

William, aon and heir of James 



Douglas of Abercom, i 376 ; ii 284. 
— »~ William. 8ee Angus, earl of . 
Doune, i 372 ; ii. 280. 
Doyer, i 65, 68 ; ii 45, 47. 
Down, bishop of, i. 43 ; ii. 31. 
Draz, i 149 ; u. 1 13. 
Dreux, i 357 ; ii 268. 

count of, i 111 ; ii 80. 

Drumlay, i 98 ; ii 71. 

Drummond, Malcolm, i 307 ; ii 233. 

Anabella. See Anabella. 

Dryburgh, i 255, 323; ii. 190, 247. 
Duff, Angup, i. 375 ; ii. 283. 



Dombarton, i 270, 272, 275-6, 310, 372 ; 

ii 203, 205, 207-8, 235, 280. 
Dumfries, i 99, 229, 234, 236, 350 ; ii. 

72, 175, 180, 182, 264. 
Dnnbar,i 63, 320, 322, 339, 349, 371, 

379 ; ii 43, 244, 246, 255, 263, 2SO, 

286. 

battie of, i 150; ii 114. 

Castie, i 149, 150, 270, 283 ; ii. 

113-4,203, 215. 
cousin of the earl of March, i 31 1 ; 



a236. 

(Patrick), eldest son of Greoige earl 



of March, i349; ii 263. 
-^ Black Annes of. 8ee March, 
coantess of. 

— Elizabeth, duchess of Rotheaay. 
See Rothesay. 

— John. See Murray, earl of . 

— Patrick, son of George earl of 
March, i 343 ; ii 259. 

lord (earl) of. See March, eari of. 



Dunblane, bishop of, i 48, 148 ; ii 36, 112. 

see of, i 51 ; ii 39. 

Dundalk, battle of, i 241, 250 ; ii 187. 

Dundarg, i 271, 280 ; a 204, 212. 

Dundee, i. 64 ; ii 44. 

Castle, i 165; ii. 119. 

Dnndouald. See Stewart, Alexander, 
<md Red Stewart 

Dundonald Castle, i 329 ; ii 252. 

Dundrennan, i 73 ; ii 51. 

Silyanus, abbot of, i 17 ; ii 16. 

Dunfermline, i. 82, 97, 108, 112, 224, 
256, 258, 264-5, 273, 280, 302, 341, 
369, 381 ; ii 56, 70, 78-9, 80, 170, 
190, 192, 197-8, 206^ 212, 231, 257, 
278, 287. 

Abbey, i 15, 74, 149, 240 ; ii. 13, 

52, 113, 185. 

abbot of, i 282 ; ii. 213. 



Dunkeld, bishop of, i 92, 143, 241, 266; 

ii 66, 107, 186, 199. 
Alexander Lauder, bishop of, i. 

380 ; ii 287. 
De Cardine, bishop of, i 380; ii 287. 



INDEX. 



315 



Bunkeld, Gregory, biahop of, L 17, 23 ; 

ii. 15, 19. 

Jamei Braoe, biflhop ol, L 881 ; iL 287. 

James Kennedy, biahop of, i 380 ; 

iL 287. 
John Railston, biahop of, L 381 ; 



ii. 287. 

Bee of, L 61 ; iL 39. 



Donleroi, L 354 ; iL 265. 
Donmore, John de, i. 103 ; iL 75. 
Dunoon, L 272, 275 ; iL 204, 207. 
Dunottar, L 281, 283 ; iL 213-4. 
Dunechath, i. 29 ; ii. 24. 
Dunse, L 312 ; iL 237. 
Dunstaflbuige, L 236 ; iL 181. 
Duplin, battle of, L 265 ; ii. 198. 
Dnrham, L 236, 255 ; iL 182, 189. 

battie of, L 293, 322 ; iL 224, 245. 

bishop of, L 69, 293 ; iL 48, 224. 

monastery, L 149 ; ii. 113, 

prior of, L 70 ; iL 49. 

Durward, Alan, u 92, 100 ; iL 65-6, 72. 



Bdxrtoumb, L 29 ; iL 24. 

Edinbuigh, L 25^ 45, 74, 92, 255, 257, 
278, 298, 323, 328, 376, 381 ; ii. 21, 
33, 52, 66, 189, 191, 210, 228, 247, 
251, 284, 287. 

Castie, L 23, 30, 74, 151, 237, 282, 

286, 289, 307, 310, 321-2, 340, 371; 
iL 19, 26, 51, 114, 182, 214, 217-8, 
220, 234-5, 244, 246, 256, 279, 280. 

Edmonston, James, L 376 ; iL 284. 

Edwald, bishop, L 9 ; iL 7. 

Edward i., king of England, his corona- 
tion, L 106-7 ; ii. 77 ; is called jn to 
decide the sucoeasion to the Scottish 
throne, L 118-34; iL 85-100; offers 
it to Bruoe, then to Balliol, L 134; 
ii. 100; receiyee Balliore homage, L 
141 ; iL 105 ; summons him before 
Parliament^ L 142 ; iL 107 ; takes 
Berwick, L 148 ; iL 112 ; refuaee 
Bruce help, L 150; iL 114; receivea 
BaUiora lubmiaaion, L 151 ; iL 115; 



receivea homage of Scottiah magnates, 
L 153 ; ii. 116 ; retroata before Wal- 
laoe, L 156 ; iL 120 ; defeata him at 
FaUdrk, L 158 ; iL 121 ; anawer to 
Papal Bull, 1. 167 ; ii. 131 ; reaaons 
in aupport of hia caae, L 168 ; iL 131 ; 
anawer of Scota, L 178 ; ii. 141 ; re- 
fuaea to appear beforo the Pope, L 
218 ; iL 166 ; builda the Peel of Lin- 
lithgow, L 219 ; iL 167 ; rayages Fife 
and Perth, L 222 ; ii. 168 ; invadea 
Scotiand, L 223 ; iL 170 ; holda Par- 
liament at St. Andrewa, L 225; ii. 
171 ; takea Stirling, t6. ; auapecta 
Bruce, L 227 ; iL 173 ; hia death, i. 
233-4; u. 179, 180. 
£dwardii.(of Oamarvon),king of England, 

negotiation for hia marriage, L 118 ; 
iL 85 ; takea Stirling Caatie, L 160 ; 
iL 123 ; remaina at Perth, L 224 ; iL 
170; auooeeda hia father, L 234; ii. 
179, 180; hia marriage, t6.; invadea 
Scotiand, t&.; marchea to Renfrew, i. 
236 ; ii. 182 ; ii defeated at Bannock- 
bnm, L 237-8; iL 183-4; invadea 
Scotland and ia defeated, L 241 ; iL 
186 ; beaiegea Berwick, L 251 ; iL 
188 ; invadea Sootland, L 255 ; iL 189 ; 
ia defeated by Robert Bruce, i. 255 ; 
iL 190 ; hia death, L 256 ; iL 190. 
Edward m. (of Windaor), king of England, 
hia birth, L 237 ; iL 182 ; beaieges 
Berwick, i. 242 ; iL 187 ; ia crowned, 
L 256 ; iL 190 ; makea peace with 
Scotland, L 257 ; iL 191 ; invadea 
Scotland, L 262; ii. 195; beaiegea 
Berwick, i. 268 ; iL 201 ; gaina the 
Vattie of Halidon Hill, L 269 ; ii. 202 ; 
takea Berwick, L 270 ; ii. 203 ; re- 
fuaea peace, L 271 ; ii. 203 ; comea to 
Glaagow, L 274 ; ii. 207 ; invadea 
Scotiand, L 277-9 ; iL 209-11; re- 
lievea Lochindorb^ i. 281 ; iL 213 ; 
rebnilda towns and castiea, L 281-2 ; 
iL 213-4 ; atabs lus brother, ib.; re- 
covera Berwick, L 297 ; iL 227 ; in- 



316 



1ND£X. 



vades SootlAnd, i. 298 ; ii. 228 ; his 
propoaed marriage with Margaret 
Logie, i 307 ; ii 233. 

Edward Balliol, king of Scotland, u^otia- 
tioDB for hJB marriage, L 143 ; ii. 107 ; 
h impriBoned in London, L 153 ; iL 
116 ; comea ^ England, L 263-4 ; ii. 
197-8 ; inyades Scotland, ib, ; is 
crowned, i. 266 ; ii. 199 ; esoapes 
from Annand, L 267 ; ii. 200 ; obtains 
help from England, L 267-8 ; iL 201 ; 
overrans Sootland, L 270 ; iL 203 ; 
quarrels with Beanmont and others, 
L 271 ; iL 204 ; is reconciled, ib. ; 
distribntes lands, L 272 ; ii. 204 ; 
comes to Qlasgow, L 274j ii. 207; 
invades Scotland, L 277-9; iL 209- 
1 1 ; remains at Perth, i. 282 ; iL 
214 ; surrenders his crown to Edward 
ra., L 297 ; ii. 227. 

Egidia the Fair, daaghter of Robert n., 
L 324 ; ii. 248. 

Eglesham, WiUiam, L 160; ii. 123. 

B^glinton, L 290 ; u. 221. 

Elcho, L 292 ; iL 223. 

Eleanor, daughter of James i. 8ee 
Auatria, duchess of. 

Elgin, i. 104, 281, 329 ; iL 76, 213, 252. 

jdllizabeth, danghter of Haymer de Burgh, 
and wife of King Robert Bruce, L 240, 
258 ; ii. 185, 192. 

(Isabella), wife of King Bobert 

Bmce. See IsabeUa. 

(Isabel), wife of Edward n., L 234, 



257 ; iL 179, 191. 

(laabella) daughter of Jamea i. 



See Brittany, duchess of. 

— Mure, wife of Bobert n. See 



Mure. 
Eltham, John of, brother of Edward m., 

L 282 ; ii. 214. 
Emonia, Eumonia. See Inchcolm. 
Errol, lord of, L 266 ; iL 199. 
Erakine, lord, L 310, 321, 380 ; iL 236, 

245, 287. 
Ettrick Forest, L 296 ; iL 226. 



Euphemia, wife of Kobert n., L 313, 

329 ; ii. 238, 252. 
Eymergarde (Ermeiigarde) wife of Wil- 

liam the Lion, L 30, 39, 72 ; iL 26, 

30, 50. 

Falaisb, L 21 ; ii. 18. 

Falkirk, battle of, L 158 ; iL 121. 

Falkland, L 251, 283, 342, 372 ; ii. 188, 

215, 258, 280. 
FastcaaUe, L 349 ; ii. 263. 

lord of . See Haliburton, William. 

Felton, William, L 282 ; iL 214. 

Fenton, John, L 202 ; iL 163. 

Feigua, petty king of Galloway, L 11 ; 

iL8. 

— See Ardroeaan. 
Feritate, John de, L 124 ; iL 90. 
Ferren, Henry, L 267 ; ii. 200. 

John,L 137; iL 103. 

lord, L 293 ; iL 224. 

Fewant (Fuwater), L 366 ; iL 267. 
Fiacre, Saint, L 140, 358 ; ii. 105, 269. 
Fife, L 266, 277, 281 ; ii. 199, 209, 213. 
Duncan earl of, L 118, 201, 266-7, 

283, 294 ; iL 84, 163, 199, 200, 215, 
225. 

Maoduflf earl of, L 142, 159 ; iL 

106, 122. 

Malcolm earl of, L 64, 72, 100; 



iL 47, 50, 72-3. 

Robert Stewart, earl ol ^S^ 



Albany, duke of . 

aheriff of, i. 241 ; iL 186. 



Fivy, L235; ii. 181. 
Flamborough, i. 347 ; iL 262. 
Flanders, count of, L 108-9 ; ii. 79. 
Fleming, David, of Oumbernauld, L 347 ; 

iL262. 

Maloolm, L 270, 272 ; iL 203, 206. 

Maloohn, of Cumbemauld, L 371 ; 

iL279. 
Florenoe, Beyeriua of, i. 129; iL 95. 
Fogo, John, i. 379 ; ii. 286. 
Fontainea, aienr dea, L 356 ; ii. 268. 
Forcalcarta, John de, L 129 ; iL 95. 



INDEX. 



317 



Fotd Gastle, i. 323 ; iL 246. 

Fordan, John, i 5 ; ii. 3. 

Forester, John, of Coratorphine, i. 373 ; 

ii. 281. 
Forfar, i 44, 76 ; ii. 32, 53. 
Forgounde, L 251 ; ii. 188. 
Forteviot, L 265 ; iL 198. 
Forth, Firth of, L 241, 264-5, 274, 278, 

281, 320; iL 186, 198, 207, 210, 213, 

244. 
Fothryk (Forrea), L 266, 281 ; iL 199, 

213. 
Foolarton, L 290 ; ii. 221. 
Foulis. 8ee Gray of Fonlis. 
Fraser, Fresale, Alexander, L 202, 266 ; 

iL 163, 199. 

Andrew, L 270; iL 203. 

James, L 267, 270 ; ii. 200, 203. 

Simon, L 222, 267, 270 ; iL 168, 

200, 203. 

WaUam, L 118 ; iL 84. 

William, L 289, 295 ; iL 220, 225. 



Gallabdon, i. 858 ; iL 270. 

Galloway, L 11, 21, 24, 30, 48, 71, 73, 

235, 267, 298 ; iL 9, 18, 20, 25, 36, 

49, 51, 181, 200, 229. 
loid of . See Alan ; Bongla^ Archi- 

bald; Fergas; Eotholand. 
Gaienciires, Gilea de, L 296 ; iL 227. 
Garioch, earldom of , L 64^ 349 ; iL 44, 

264. 
Ga8k,L266; iL 199. 

lord of, i. 266 ; iL 199. 

Qaston. Sm Keith. 

Germana at the battle of Venieuil, L 

360 ; iL 271. 
Gibflon, John, L 272, 276 ; iL 205, 208. 
Gien snr Loire, L 376 ; iL 283. 
Gilbert, clerio, L 25, 28 ; u. 21, 24. 
Bon of Fergna of GaUoway, L 24, 

30 ; iL 20, 25-6. 
Gillecolam, aon of Snmerled of ArgyU, L 

12 ; iL 10. 
of Lothian, L 30 ; ii 25. 



Gilleqnhatan, clan, L 375 ; u. 283. 
Gilpatrick of Galloway, L 30 ; iL 25. 
Girart, Amanlt, L 374 ; iL 282. 
Glammis, John Lyon, lord of, i. 320 ; iL 

243. 
GhiBgow, L 74, 230, 274 ; iL 61, 176, 

207. 
bishop of, i. 45, 94, 150, 160, 238; 

iL 33, 67, 114, 123, 184. 
Jamee Bmce, bishop of, L 381 ; iL 

287. 

John bishop of, L 9 ; ii. 7. 

Bobert biahop of, L 118, 133; iL 

84,99. 

Walter Waidlaw, biahop of, L 314, 



322 ; iL 239, 245. 
— William Tumbnll, bishop of, L 
381 ; ii. 287. 

aee of, L 51 ; iL 39. 



Glasinden, an "RngTiat^ commander at 
the si^ of Orleans, L 362 ; iL 273. 

Gledatanes, conmiandant of Cocklaw, i. 
344 ; ii. 260. 

Glenbreth, L 332 ; ii. 254. 

Glenluce monastery, L 74 ; iL 51. 

Gloucester, earl of, i. 135 ; iL 101. 

earl of, L 227, 238 ; ii. 174, 183. 

duke of, L 359 ; iL 270. 

Gordon, lord of, L 312; iL 236-7. 

Adam, lord of, L 344 ; iL 260. 

lord, L 370 ; iL 279. 

Roger, L 344; IL 260. 

Goepatrick, earl, L 17; iL 15. 

Gowry, L 266, 282 ; u. 199, 214. 

Graham, lord of, L 266 ; iL 199. 

David, L 202 ; u. 163. 

John, L 202 ; iL 163. 

Patrick, L 202, 251, 287 ; iL 163, 

188, 218. 

Bobert, L 371, 389 ; iL 280, 289. 

William, L 313 ; iL 238. 

Gray of Fonlis, Andrew, L 370 ; ii. 279. 

Graystock, baron o^ L 320 ; iL 243. 

Gregory nc., pope, L 176 ; ii 188. 

pope, i 322 ; ii 245. 

Grey of Codnor, lord, i 856 ; ii 267. 



318 



INDEX. 



GiuJo, legate, L 68 ; ii. 47. 
Guardians of Sootland. See Wardens. 
GuelderlaDd, count of, L 278 ; iL 210.* 



Haco, king of Norway, i 94, 97, 99, 

100; IL 67, 70, 72-3. 
Haddington, L 38-9, 49, 63, 75-6, 298, 

339, 340 ; iL 29, 30, 37, 43, 52-3, 228, 

256. 
HaUes, L 340 ; iL 256. 
Patrick Hepbam of, L 343; ii. 

259. 

lord, L 370, 380 ; iL 279, 286. 



Hakle8,L 149; iL 113. 
Halibnrton, brothers ( John and Thomaa), 
L 343 ; ii. 259. 

lord, L 277 ; ii. 209. 

John, L 296 ; iL 226. 

Walter, L 295 ; iL 226. 

Walter, L 370 ; iL 279. 

William, of EaBtcastle, L 863; iL 

265. 

Halidon HiU, battle of, L 268 ; iL 201. 
Hall, the brothen, marderera of James l., 

L 389 ; iL 271. 
Hamer, Gilbert biahop of, L 100; iL 

73. 
Hanigow, king of Norway, L 108-9 ; ii. 

79. 
Harald. 8et Orkney, earl of. 
Harcoort, coant d*, L 360 ; iL 271. 
Harlaw, battle of, L 349, 380; iL 264, 

287. 
Hart, Robert, L 328 ; ii. 250. 
Hartshaw. See Stewart, Bobert. 
Hawick, L 291 ; iL 222. 
HastingB, Henry, i. 64, 138 ; ii. 44^ 104. 

John, L 130 ; ii. 96, 

Hay, Gilbert de la, constable of Scot- 

land, L 202, 232, 295 ; iL 163, 177-8, 

225. 

Gilbert (of Errol), constable of 

Scotiand, L 372 ; iL 281. 

■ William de la, constable of Soot- 
land, L 370 ; ii. 279. 



Hay, Giles, L 288 ; iL 219. 

John, L 287 ; iL 218. 

Thomas. 8ee Tester. 

Henry n., king of England, i. 9 ; iL 7 ; 
receives King Malcolm^s hooiage, L 
10 ; ii. 8 ; meets him at Carlisle, tft. ; 
alliance with King William the Lion, 
i. 15-6 ; iL 13-4 ; takes him with hiin 
as a priaoner, L 21 ; iL 18 ; releaaes 
him, i. 23 ; iL 19 ; marchea against 
Rotholand, L 30 ; iL 26 ; aanenderB 
Edinbnrgl^ L 30 ; ii. 26. 

aon of preoeding, L 18-9 ; iL 16. 

m., king of En^and, L 46, 75-6, 

92 ; iL 33, 53» 65. 

IV., king of England (doke of 

Lancaater), makea a trnce with Scot- 
land, i. 319 ; iL 243 ; takea refoge 
there, tft. ; ia made Protector and in- 
yadea Scotiand, L 320-1 ; iL 244 ; in- 
▼adea Sootland, L 340 ; iL 256 ; hia 
moderation, L 341 ; iL 257 ; ciq[itarea 
Jamea l, L 347 ; iL 262 ; directa hia 
releaae, tft. 

y., king of England, L 350, 357-8 ; 



iL 264, 268-9. 
Hepbom, Patrick. See Hailea. 
Heriot, WilHam, L 272 ; iL 205. 
Hermandaton. 8ee Langhirdmandaton. 
Herriea, Herbert 8ee Terreaglea. 
Herring, John, L 277 ; iL 209. 
Hexringa, battle of the, L 363-4; iL 

274. 
Hitnaan, Adam de, L 38 ; iL 29. 
Holland, Florence coant of, L 11; iL 9. 
— ^ ooont of, L 128 ; iL 94. 
Holme,L 149; iL 113. 
Holyrood Hoaae, i. 376 ; iL 283. 
monaatery, L 11, 255, 307, 319, 

323, 376; iL 9, 190, 234, 243, 247, 

284. 
Homildon, bsttle of, L 344; iL 260. 
Honfleor, L 357; ii. 268. 
HonorioB m., pope, L 176; iL 139. 
Honaton, Bobert, i. 356 ; iL 268. 
Hambald, prior of Wenlock, i. 17; iL 15. 



INDEX. 



319 



HTintingdon, David earl of, i. 13, 21, 
28-9, 35, 53, 56, 64, 105, 121, 128 ; ii 
11, 18, 24-5, 28, 41-2, 44, 77, 87, 94. 

earl of, i. 366 ; ii. 267. 

earldom of, i. 9, 10, 29, 64, 107 ; 

ii. 7, 8, 25, 44, 78. 

Hantly, Mary oounteas of, daughter of 
James L, i 390 ; ii 290. 



Inchavtrat monastery, i 48 ; ii 35. 
Inchcolm, i 278, 281, 321, 376 ; ii 210, 

213, 244, 283. 

abbot of, i 379 ; ii 285. 

Inchkeith, i 278, 289 ; ii 210, 220. 
Inchmartin, i 64 ; ii 44. 

Qilbert lord of, i 295 ; ii 225. 

Inohmnrthow (Inchmnrdooh), i 307 ; ii. 

233. 
Inglis, WiUiam, i 332 ; ii 254. 
Innerwick, i 345 ; ii. 261. 
Innocent, pope, i 51; ii 39. 
Inrerbervie, i 64, 290 ; ii 44, 221. 
Inyerkeithing, i 241 ; ii 186. 
Inverlochy, i. 377 ; ii. 285. 
Invemess, i 29, 233, 375; ii 25, 179, 

283. 
Invenxry, battle of, i 235 ; ii 180. 
Irvine, Alexander, i 870 ; ii 279. 
Isaac, Thomas, i. 240, 295; ii 185, 

226. 
Isabella, danghter of WiUiam the lion, 

i 38, 46, 71-2 ; ii 29, 33, 49, 50. 
danghter of David earl of Hnnt- 

ingdon, and wife of Robert Bmoe the 

elder, i 64, 105, 137 ; ii 44, 77, 103. 

(Elizabeth), danghter of Oartenay 

earl of Mar, and wife of Kiag Bobert 
Bmce, i 138, 231, 238, 240; ii 103, 
177, 183, 185. 

(Elixabeth), daughter of 'James i. 

8ee Brittany, dnohefls of. 

Isles, Ghristiana ot the, i. 232 ; ii 178. 

lord of the, i. 337 ; ii 255. 

Alexander earl of Boes, lord of the, 

i 372, 375, 377 : ii 281, 283^ 



Islea, Ranald lord of the, i 292 ; ii. 
223. 

Donald of the, i 235 ; ii 181. 

Donald of the, i 349 ; ii. 264. 

John of the, i 278 ; ii 210. 

Ivry, i 359 ; ii 270. 



Jaues l, taken by the English, i. 346-7 ; 
ii. 261-2; accompaniea Henry v. to 
France, i 357 ; ii 268 ; ia ranaomed, 
i 369 ; ii 278 ; his marriage, ib, ; hia 
ooronation, i 369-71; ii 279; holds 
parliament at Perth, i 371; ii 279, 
280 ; makes arrests, i 371-2; ii 279, 
280; holds parUament at Stirling, i. 
372; ii. 280; arranges marriage be- 
tween his danghter Margaret and the 
Dauphin, i 373-4 ; ii 281-2; sends her 
to France, i&. ; makes further arrests, 
i 375 ; ii 283 ; his twin sons aze bom, 
i 376 ; ii 284 ; oonfers knighthood, Hk; 
makes fnrther arrests, i 377 ; ii 284; 
his daughters, ib,; holds council at 
Perth, i 378 ; ii 284 ; rejects proposal 
for peace with England, ib.; takes 
Dunbar castle, i 379 ; ii 286 ; dis- 
poesesses the earl of March, i 380 ; 
ii. 286; besieges Bozburgh castle, i 
380; ii 287; hisdeath, i 389; ii 289; 
his murderers pnnished, i 390 ; ii 290 ; 
his character, i 391; ii 291. 

n., i 322, 376, 382, 390 ; ii. 245, 

284» 288, 290. 

JanviUe, i 362 ; ii. 273. 

Jargeau, i 362 ; ii 273. 

Jedburgh, Jedwort, i 10, 15, 289, 349 ; 
ii 8, 13, 220, 263. 

abbot of, i 122 ; ii 88. 

Jerdelay, i 64 ; ii. 44. 

Joan, queen of King David Brace, i 257, 
290, 302 ; ii 191, 221, 231. 

queen of James L, i 369 ; ii 278. 

daughter of James i. Ste Morton, 

conntess of . 

pf Aro, i 5, 366-7 ; ii. 3, 276-7. 



320 



INDEX. 



John Balliol, king, his claim to the 
throne of Scotland, i. 119, 121, 123, 
€t seq,; ii. 85, 87, 89, et »eq,; adjndged 
king, i 135 ; iL 101; his pedigree, »6.; 
coronation, i. 140 ; ii. 105 ; does hom- 
age to Edward i., i 141; ii. 105 ; re- 
fuses to help him, L 141; ii. 106 ; ap- 
peara before him, i 142 ; ii. 107 ; has 
to recall his homage, and again ref uses 
help, L 143 ; ii. 107 ; his party, L 150 ; 
iL 114 ; submits to Edward i., L 151; 
iL 115 ; is impriaoned in London, i. 
152; iL 116; his death, i&. 

John, abbot of KelBO, L 25 ; ii. 21. 

^—-' cardinal of St. Stephen'8, legate, L 
42 ; iL 31. 

XII., pope, L 201; ii. 163. 

king of England, receiyes Eing 

William^s homage, i. 41 ; iL 30 ; de- 
cUires war against him, L 43 ; iL 31 ; 
makes peace, L 45 ; iL 33 ; promiaeB a 
wife to Alezander m., i. 49 ; iL 36 ; 
tries to get possesaion of Alezander, 
i. 49 ; ii. 37 ; rebellion of the barons, 
L 63; ii. 43 ; invades Scotland, i&.; his 

' death, L 65 ; iL 45» 

— of Eltham, brother of Edward m. 
8ee Eltham. 

— of the lales. 8ee lales. 

Kbitk, Robert, L 202 ; ii. 163. 

of Gaaton, William, L 284, 286-7 ; 

iL 215, 217, 219. 
Kelso monastery, L 25 ; iL 21. 

abbot of. 8ee John. 

Kened, L 30 ; ii. 25. 

Kenmore (Ganmor), L 280; iL 212. 

Kennedy, Hugh, L 355 ; li. 267. 

Jamea. 8ee Dunkeld, bishop of, 

and Saant Andrews, bishop of . 

John, L 377 ; iL 284. 

Kentigem, gale of Saint, L 349 ; ii. 263. 
Kerrera. See Garbery. 
Kilblein, battle of, L 280 ; iL 212. 
Kildmmmy, L 231, 270, 279, 280, 304 ; 

iL 177, 203, 211-2, 232. 



KUgonr, L 251; iL 188. 
Kilmamock. 8ee Boyd, Thomas. 
Kilmaurs, loid, L 321, 370, 372; ii. 245» 

279, 281. 
Kilpatrick. 8ee Lindsay, Jamea. 

Roger, L 298, 302 ; iL 229, 231. 

Kinbuck, Joachim, L 289 ; iL 220. 
Kindevin, L 283 ; iL 214. 
Kinghom, L 111, 264 ; u. 80, 198. 
Kinloss, L 304; ii. 23L 
Kinnoul, lord, i. 370 ; ii. 279. 
KinroBS, L 93, 272 ; iL 66, 205. 
Kyle, L 276, 298 ; iL 208, 229. 

lord of . 8ee Robert ra. 

Kyme, earl of, L 356 ; iL 267. 
Kynnef, L 281, 283 ; ii. 213-4. 

Latebtb Galis (de Gaulles), L 362 ; 

iL273. 

Newart, L 362 ; iL 273. 

Ymbaud, L 362 ; u. 273. 

Lamberti, Egidius, L 126 ; ii. 92. 
Lamberton, William. ^Siee Saint Andre ws, 

bishop of . 
Lamkyn, James, L 273 ; iL 205. 
Lanark, L 76 ; iL 53. 

sheriff of, L 154 ; ii. 117. 

Lancaster, L 255 ; iL 189. 
Lanforgonde, L 64 ; iL 44. 
Langeais, L 354 ; iL 265. 
Langhirdmanston (Heraumdston), L 347; 

ii. 262. 
Largs, batUe of, L 94, 97 ; ii. 68, 70. 
Lateran Gouncil, L 68 ; iL 47. 
Lauder, Alezander. 8ee Dnnkeld, bishop 

of. 
Edward. 8ee Lothian, arohdeacon 

of. 
Bobert, loid of the Bass, L 343; 

iL 259. 
Thomas, the Good, L 270 ; iL 203. 



Laurison, Twynam, L 263 ; ii. 197. 
Lauriston, i. 281, 283 ; iL 213-4. 
Leicester, L 21; iL 18. 
Leighton (Lyohtoun), Henry. See Aber- 
deen, bishop of . 



INDEX. 



321 



Leighton, Walter. 8e( LiditoD. 
Leith, i 321-2, 340 ; ii. 244, 246, 256. 
Lennox, i 356 ; ii. 268. 

Donald earl of, i 372 ; ii 281. 

Dnncan earl of, i 371; ii 280. 

Malcolm earl of, i 201, 232 ; ii 

163, 177. 
Leodulas (Loadonn), earl of. 8ee March, 

Patriok earl of . 
Lealie, Andrew, i 202 ; ii 163. 
-^— Walter. 8ee Boss, earl of . 
Lesmahago, i 282 ; ii. 214. 
Lenchara, i 282-3 ; ii 214-5. 
Libum (lilbarn), John, i 312 ; ii 237. 
Lichton (Leighton), Walter of, i 332 ; 

ii254. 
Liddel, i 292 ; ii 223. 
Liege, battle of, i 348, 380; ii 263, 

287. 
LUe (Lyle), Alan lord of, i. 272, 275 ; 

ii. 204, 207. 

lord, i 380 ; ii. 287. 

Linclnden, i. 340; ii. 256. 

Lincoln, i 41 ; ii 30. 

Lindores, i 28, 64, 70, 108, 342 ; ii 24, 

44, 49, 79, 258. 

abbot of, i 282 ; ii 213. 

Lindaay, Dayid, of Oawford, i 92 ; ii. 

66. 

David, i 202 ; ii 163. 

(David), i. 295 ; ii 225. 

James, of Kilpatrick, i. 229; ii 

175. 

James, i 302 ; ii 231. 

James, i 320 ; ii. 243. 

William, i 342 ; ii 258. 

Enpbemia, sister of preceding, i 



342 ; ii 259. 
Linlithgow, i 310, 349, 371 ; ii 235, 

264, 280. 

Peel, i 219 ; ii. 167. 

Lion, the, a mortar so called, i 376 ; 

ii284. 
Liale, Lancelot, i. 362-3 ; ii 273-4. 
Lismore, biahop of, i 372 ; ii 280. 
Liyingstone, John. Bee Calendar, lord of . 



Lochaber, i 277 ; ii. 209. 

Lochawe, lord of. 8e€ Argyll and Loch- 

awe. 
Lochdonn, i. 270 ; ii 203. 
Lochindorb, i 224, 271, 281, 291 ; ii 

170, 204, 212, 222. 
Lochleven, i 270, 272 ; ii 203, 205. 
Lochmaben, i 229, 268, 289, 320, 349 ; 

ii. 175, 201, 220, 243, 263. 
Lochiyan, i 231, 325 ; ii 177, 248. 
Logan, John. 8ee Bestalrig, lord of. 
Logie, John, i 251 ; ii. 188. 

Margaret, wife of King David 

Bmce, i. 307 ; ii 233. 

LombardB, i 113, 360; ii 82, 271. 
Longcarly, battle of, i 96, 98 ; ii 69, 

7L 
Lom, lord of, i. 240 ; ii 185. 
John lord of, i 295 ; ii 226. 

(Robert Stewart), lord of, i 372 ; 

ii 281. 

Lothian, i 30, 271, 277, 286, 298, 303, 
323, 342 ; ii 25, 204, 209, 217, 228, 
231, 247, 259. 

William archdeacon of, i 160 ; 

ii 123. 

Edward Landto, archdeacon of, i. 



372; ii 282. 
Louchonr, David, i. 98 ; ii 66. 
Londonn, earl of. 8ee March, Patrick 

earl of . 
Louis, Bon of Philip AngufituB, i 65-6 ; 

ii 45-6. 
the Dauphin, son of CharleB vii., 

i 373 ; ii 281. 
LuciuB, x)ope, i. 51 ; ii 38. 
Lucy, lord, i 293 ; ii 224. 
Lude, le, i 355 ; ii 267. 
Luntrethan. 8ee Ogilvy, Walter. 
Lyon, JohiL 8ee GlammiB, lord of. 



Macaxtslakd, Alexander, i. 356 ; ii. 268. 
Maodowell, Donald, i 298 ; ii 229. 
Maodnff. 8ee Fife, earl of. 
Macdnff, Angus, i 377 ; ii. 285. 



322 



INDEX. 



Magnos, king of Xorway, i. 96, 100 ; IL 

69, 73. 
Mair Winde. 8ee Saint Mary'8 Wynd. 
Maitland, Bobert» i 339 ; ii 255-6. 
Makheth, Dovenald, i 8 ; ii. 7. 

Malcohn, i 8 ; ii. 6. 

MakwiUiam, i 29, 48 ; ii 24, 36. 
Malar, Gilbert, i 251 ; il 188. 
Malcolm,king,the Maiden(Keanwonrth), 

i 8-9 ; ii. 6-7 ; does homage to 

Henry ti., i 10 ; ii. 8 ; meetB.him at 

CarllBle, ib, ; is knighted by him, ib. ; 

disaffection in Sootland, i 11 ; ii 9 ; 

marches into Gallbway, ib. ; conqners 

Moray and Ai^U, i 12 ; ii 10 ; 

does not marry, t6. ; his death, i 14 ; 

ii 11. 

Canmore, king, i, 82-3 ; ii. 56-7. 

Man, Lde of, i 99, 237, 325 ; ii 72, 

183, 248. 

king of, i 99, 104 ; ii 72, 76. 

Mans, le, i 355 ; ii. 266. 

Mar, Alezander earl of, i 100 ; ii 72. 

Alezander earl of , son of Alezander 

Stewart, earl of Buchan, son of Ring 

Robert n., i 329, 349, 372, 377, 380 ; 

u. 252, 263-4, 281, 285, 287. 

Domdd Bane, earl of, son of Gar- 

tenay earl of Mar, i 137 ; ii 103 ; is 
made guardiao, i 264 ; ii. 197 ; ia 
kiUed at Duplin Muir, i 265 ; ii 198. 

Gartenay earl of, father of pre- 



ceding, and brother-in-law of King 
Bobert Bmce, i 137, 150, 240; ii. 
103, 114, 185. 

— Thomaa earl of, aon of Donald 
Bane, earl of Mar, i. 137, 304 ; ii. 103, 
231. 

WilUam earl of, i. 93 ; ii 66. 



March (the Marches), Patrick earl of, 
and earl of Londoun and lord of 
Dunbar, i 31, 51, 73 ; ii 26, 38, 51. 

Patrick of Dnnbar, earl of, i 92, 

114 ; ii 65, 83. 

Patrick Dunbar, earl of, i 201 ; 

ii. 163 ; commands at Duplin Muir, 



i 265; ii 198; defends fierwick, 
i 268 ; ii 201 ; surrenders to the king 
of England, i 270 ; ii 203 ; is present 
at the parUament at Dairaie, i 277 ; 
u. 209 ; remains faithful to Iiis 
conntry, i 280 ; ii. 211 ; fights at 
Kilblein, i 280 ; u. 212 ; assistB Sir 
Andrew Murray, i 283 ; u. 214 ; 
beriegeB Perth, i 287; ii 219; 
escapes from the battle of Durham, 
i 294 ; ii 225 ; defeats the Engliah at 
Neebit, i 296 ; ii 226 ; supporte the 
Buccession of Bobert u., i 310 ; ii 235 ; 
massacrea the EngUah at Boxbui^gh, 
i 311 ; u. 236 ; defeats Graystock 
at Benrig, i 320 ; u. 244 ; besieges 
Bozburgh, i. 323 ; ii. 246 ; ia mor- 
taUy wounded at Otterbum, i 326-8 ; 
ii. 249, 250 ; takee Hotspnr prisoner, 
i 328 ; ii 251. 

March, George earl of, marries his dangh- 
ter to the Dnke of Bothesay, i 339 
ii 255 ; withdraws to England, ib. 
invades the Scottiah Marches, i 339 
ii, 256 ; is defeated by DongUia, i. 
340 ; ii 256 ; gains the battle of 
Kisbet Mnir, i 343 ; u. 259 ; aids 
Hotspur at HomUdon, i6. ; at Cock- 
law, i 344 ; ii 260 ; r^ina hia 
earldom, i 349 ; ii 263 ; destroya 
Bozbni^h bridge, i 349 ; u. 264. 

George earl of, aon of prebeding, is 

knighted at Jamea l'b coronation, i 
370 ; ii 279 ; sitB in judgment on the 
duke of Albany, i 372 ; u. 281 ; ia 
made earl of Buchan, i 380 ; ii 
286. 

Black Annes of Dunbar, oonnteBs 



of, i. 284-6 ; ii 215-7. 
Marchmont Castle. 8ee Boxburgh. 
Margaret, Bister of king Malcokn the 

Maiden,i 11, 13; u. 9, 11. 
daughter of king WiUiam the Lion, 

i. 30, 38, 46 ; ii 26, 29, 33. 
daughter of David earl of Hun- 



tingdon, i 53, 64 ; u. 41, 44. 



INDEX. 



323 



Margaret, queen of Norway, i. 108, 118 ; 
il 79, 84. 

Maid of Norway, L 108-9, 118; 

ii. 79, 80, 85. 

wife of AlexaDder iii., i. 84, 107 ; 



ii. 58, 78. 

Saint, remoYal of her ashes, i 82 ; 



ii. 56 ; mirade, L 97 ; ii 70. 

— conntess of Sntherland, daaghter 

of King Robert Bnice, L 138 ; iL 104. 

the Danphiness, danghter of James 



I., L 371, 3734» 377, 381 ; iL 280-2, 

284, 288. 
Marjory, wife of Walter the Steward, 

and danghter of King Robert Bmoe, L 

138, 239, 240, 251 ; ii. 103, 184-5, 188. 
MarseilleR, provost of, i. 124 ; ii. 90. 
Marshal, earl, of England, L 328; iL 251. 
Martin, Aymer, L 374 ; iL 282. 

pope, L 349 ; ii 263. 

Mary, dangbter of St. Margaret, i. 139 ; 

iL 104. 

second wife of Alexander n., L 

74 ; iL 52. 

daughter of James i. See Buchan, 



Melun, L 357 ; iL 268. 

MelviUe, Riohard, L 272 ; ii. 205. 

Menteith, Walter Cumyn, earl of, L 92-3 ;• 

iL 65-7. 
Walter BuUock, earl of, L 94, 108 ; 

iL 67, 79. 

(Alexander) eatl of, i. 149 ; iL 113. 

Murdach earl of^ L 266 ; iL 



countess of. 
daughter of Jafnes i. 8ee Huntly, 

conntess of. 
' Matifas, Simon, i. 124 ; iL 00. 
Matilda. 8ee Bruce. 
daugbter of St. Margaret^ L 139 ; 

u. 104 
Mauclerk. See Peter. 
Maud, the Good, Qneen of Eugland, 

L 78, 80 ; ii. 54. 
Manrice with the Red Mane, L 327; 

ii. 250. 
Maxwel],£u8taoe, L 202, 251; iL 163, 18a 

Herbert, L 370 ; ii. 279. 

Meams, L 283 ; iL 214. 
Meaulx en Brie, L 357 ; ii. 269. 
Mehun sur Loire, L 362 ; ii. 273. 
Melroae, L 45, 73, 77, 255, 322-3 ; iL 33, 

51, 54, 190, 245, 247. 

abbot of, L 43, 45, 71, 379 ; iL 81, 

33, 50, 286. 



199. 

— (John Graham), e4rl of, L 294 ; ii. 
225. 

— RobertSteTt^lirijearlof. ^eeAlbany, 
duke of. 

— oountesB of , wif e of Walter Cumyn, 
L 93-4 ; u. 67. 

John, L 202, 230 ; iL 163, 176. 



Memdea, Robert, L 280 ; iL 212. 
Methven, battle of, L 231 ; ii. 177. 
MiUfield, L 343 ; iL 260. 
Minorites, master-general of, i. 131 ; 

iL 97. 
Mitford, L 64, 68 j iL 43, 47. 
Moffat, i. 267 ; iL 200. 
Monk Tower at Perth, i. 282 ; iL 213. 
Monsy, Pierre de, L 159 ; ii. 122. 
Montagu, WilUam, L 282 ; ii. 214. 
Montfort, count de, L 13 ; iL 11. 
Montgomery, lord of, i. 337 ; iL 255. 
(of Ardroesan), Sir John (lord of), 

L 372 ; ii. 280-1. 
Montifex, William, L 202 ; iL 163. 
Montrose, L 76, 151 ; ii. 53, 115. 
Moray. See Murray. 
Morlay, Robert» L 331 ; iL 253. 
Morpeth, L 64 ; ii. 43. 
Mortimer, Katherine, L 305 ; ii. 232. 
Morton, Joan countess of, daughter of 

James L, L 390 ; ii. 290. 
Mowbray, Alexander, L 267, 271, 277 ; 

iL 200, 204, 209. 

Geoflrey, L 122 ; ii. 88. 

John, L 234-5, 267 ; ii. 180, 200. 

John, L 293 ; iL 224. 

Philip,L238; iL 184. 

Roger, L 251 ; iL 189. 

Mowbrays, the, L 264 ; ii. 198. 



324 



INDEX. 



Mure, Adam, i 138 ; ii. 103. 

EUstbeth, wife of King Bobert IL, 

i. 138, 329 ; ii. 103, 252. 
Marray, i. 12, 39, 48, 50, 104, 281 ; 

ii. 10, 29, 36, 38, 76, 213. 

see of, i. 61 ; ii. 39. 

Angos earl of, i 8, 12 ; ii 6, 10. 

John Dnnbar, earl of, i. 310, 326-8 ; 

ii. 235, 249, 250. 

John Randolph, earl of, is made 



gnardian, i. 276 ; ii 208 ; Bubdnes the 
earl of Athol, i 277 ; ii 209 ; dis- 
pntes with John of the iBlea, i 278 ; 
ii 210 ; fights the battle of Borongh- 
mnir, «6. ; is taken priaoner, i 279 ; 
ii 211 ; ezchanged for the earl of 
SalUbuiy, i 290 ; ii. 221 ; alain at the 
battle of Durham, i. 294-5 ; ii 225. 
Thomas Kandolph, earl of, i 201 ; 



ii 163; takes Edinburgh Castle, 
i 237 ; ii 183 ; is named in King 
Robert Bruce'8 settlement, i. 238, 259 ; 
u. 185, 193 ; invades England, i 241-2, 
250-1, 255; ii. 186-9; eludee the 
EngUsh at Weardale, i 257 ; ii 191 ; 
i8 appointed guardian, i 261 ; ii 195 ; 
foila Edward ni., i 262 ; ii. 195 ; hia 
death, i 263-4 ; ii 196-7. 

Thomaa Bandolph the younger, 



earl of, is preBent at the battle of 
Dnplin Muir, i. 266 ; ii. 199 ; 8urpri8e8 
Edward Balliol at Aimand, i 267; 
ii 200-1. 

— Thoma8 earl of, i 305 ; ii 232. 

— Thonuu earl of, i 343-4 ; ii 259, 
260. 

— Alan, i 202 ; ii 163. 

— Andrew, i 155 ; ii 119. 
Andrew, le Biche, 8on of preceding. 



marriee Christina Bruce, i. 256 ; ii 
190 ; is made guardiau, i. 267-8 ; ii. 
200-1 ; i8 captured, «6. ; is ranBomed, 
i. 271, 277 ; ii 204, 209 ; is faithtul 
to Bruce, i 280; ii 211; defeats 
Athol at Kilbeio, i 280 ; ii 212 ; i8 
again made gnardian, ib, ; 8ub<lue8 the 



Highlandi, ib, ; beaiegM Dnndarg, t6. 

reoovera tenitory, i 283 ; ii 214 

invadea England, i 283 ; ii 215 

receivea the submiaBion of T^rtthiAn^ i. 

286; u. 217; hia death, i 286; ii 

218. 
Murray, Andrew, of Tulibardiue, i 267 ; 

ii 200. 

Angus, i 377 ; ii 285. 

David, i. 370 ; ii 279. 

Maurioe. 8ee Glydesdale, lord oL 

Mtt88elburgh, i 42, 263 ; ii 31, 196. 



Nabboknie, count de, i 360 ; ii. 271. 
Neville, Kalph, i 293 ; ii 224. 
NewbotUe, i 49, 73, 323; ii 37, 51, 

247. 
NewcaBtie, i 75, 156, 322, 326 ; ii. 53, 

119, 245, 249. 
Niabet, i 296, 343 ; ii. 226, 259. 
Nithadale, i. 298, 324 ; ii 229, 248. 
Fair Maiden of. See Orkney and 

Caithne88, couoteBB of. 
Norham, i 44-8, 131-2, 257 ; ii 31-6, 

97-8, 191. 
North-Berwrck nunneiy, i 68 ; ii 47. 
North Inoh of Perth, battie of clana, i. 

330 ; ii. 253. 
Northampton, i 24-5, 69 ; ii. 20, 21, 48. 

earl of, i 302; ii 230. 

Northumberland, i. 9, 10, 18, 63 ; ii. 7, 

8, 15, 43. 
William earl of , afterwarda king of 

Scotland. 8ee William the Lion. 
Henry Percy, earl of, invadea Soot- 

land, i 312; ii 237; retreats in 

panic, ib. 
Henry Percy (Hotepur), earl of, ia 

defeated at Otterbnm, i 326 ; ii 249 ; 

i8 taken priaoner there, i 328 ; ii. 251 ; 

i8 jndge at a 8ingle combat, i 332 ; ii 

254 ; invadcB Scotiand, i 339, 343 ; 

ii. 256, 259 ; victorioua at Homildon, 

i 344 ; ii 260 ; boBiegea Cooklaw, 

ib. 



INDEX. 



325 



Noiiliiimberland, Heniy Percy, aon of 
pnoeding, L 346, 348, 350; ii 262^ 
Nydie, L 342 ; IL 258. 



OoHiL mouDtainB» L 281 ; iL 213. 
Odomar of Valenoe, L 231 ; IL 177. 
Ogilvy, Patrick (of Auchterlioase), Jas- 

ticiary of Scotland. 8ee Angus, 

sheriff of . 
— ^ Walter. 8ee Angiis, sheriff of. 
Walter, of Lnntrethao, L 373; 

iL281. 
Ogle, Robert, i. 293, 296, 327, 363 ; iL 

224, 227, 250, 265. 
OHphaDt, William, L 160, 225 ; u. 123, 

171. 
Oliphants, the (William and Arthnr), 

L 313, 350 ; ii. 238, 264. 
Orkney Islee, L 95, 99 ; iL 69, 72. 

Haraid earl of, L 39, 42; iL 29, 30. 

Henry Sinclair, earl of, L 325, 

347 ; ii. 248, 262. 
and Caithness, WiUiam Sinclair, earl 



of, L 325, 372, 374 ; ii. 248, 281-2. 
— and CaithneBa, The Fair Maiden of 



Nithsdale, conntees of, L 325 ; iL 248. 
Orleans, L 357, 362-4, ef m^. ; iL 268, 

273-5, et 9eq. 

bishop of, L 123 ; iL 89. 

duke of, L 362 ; iL 272, 

Orval, Bienr d*, L 364 ; iL 274. 
Oswald, prior of the Valley of Virtnee, 

L 377 ; iL 285. 
Othied, aon of Fergns of Galloway, 

i. 24 ; iL 20. 
Otterbnm, Alan of, L 372 ; iL 280. 

battU of, L 326 ; iL 249. 

Ottobonns, l^te, L 103 ; iL 75. 



Paoii, Syrardns, L 129 ; iL 95. . 
Paialey monastezy, L 17, 347; iL 15, 262. 
Pandttlph, legate, L 71 ; iL 49. 
Paria, bishop of, i. 124 ; iL 90. 
Peebles, L 94 ; ii. 67. 



Penrith,L 107, 290, 350; iL 78, 221, 264. 
PentUDd, L 63, 76, 278 ; iL 43, 53, 210. 
Percy, Henry, L 293 ; ii. 224. 
Henry. Set Northumberland, earl 

of. 
Persy, Peter (WiUiam de Preesen), L 

279 ; iL 21 1. 
Perth, L 11, 42, 48, 71, 76, 96, 100, 231, 

236, 265-7, 271, 278-9, 281-2, 287, 

292, 330-1, 350, 371, 377-8, 380, 389; 

iL 9, 31, 35, 50, 53, 69, 73, 177, 182, 

198-200, 203, 210-1,213-4,218-9, 223, 

253^, 264, 279, 284-7, 289. 
Peter Mauderk, i< 13; iL 11. 
Platane, foreet of, L 283, 332 ; iL 214, 

254. 
Plnecarden monaetery, L 72 ; iL 50. 
Poitiere, battle of, L 299 ; ii. 229. 
Pontigny, abbot of, L 349 ; iL 263. 
Prendergast, Bobert, i. 286 ; iL 217. 
Pressen. 8ee Persy. 
Preeton, Lawrence, L 277, 284 ; ii. 209, 

215. 

QniCEHSTZBRT, L 111, 113 ; iL 80, 82. 
Qnincy, de, L 45 ; ii. 33. 

Roger de, earl of Winchester, i. 73, 

100, 137 ; iL 51, 73, 103. 

Baii^toh, John. /S^ee Dunkeld, biahop oL 

Railston. 8ee Stewart, Robert. 

Ramomie, John, L 842 ; iL 258. 

Ramaay, Alexander (The Flower of 
ChiTahry), withstands the English, 
L 277 ; iL 209 ; Aghte at Borongh- 
muir, i. 278 ; iL 210 ; proviaionB 
Dunbar Castle, L 285 ; iL 216 ; fights 
at a toomament at Berwick, L 287 ; 
iL 218 ; beoomee a warden of the 
marchee, L 290 ; iL 221 ; raipriees 
Roxbuigh Castle, t&. ; ia made sheriff 
of Teviotdale, i6. ; ia put to death by 
William Douglaa, i. 291 ; iL 222. 

(Alexander), of Dalhouaie (Dal- 

woUy), i. 344, 370 ; ii. 260, 279. 



3^6 



INDEX. 



Ramsay, William, i. 202 ; ii 163 ; fights 
at a toamament at Berwick, L 287 ; 
ii. 218. 

William, of Dalhonsie (Dalwoky), 

i. 296 ; ii 226. 

William, of Colluthy, i. 300 ; ii. 



229, 230. 

Banald, lord of the Isles. 8ee Isles. 

Bandolph, Thomas. 8ee Murray, earl of. 

— ^— Joha. 8ee Marray/ earl of . 

Bed Stewart, Joha, of Dandonald, loid 
of Burley, i. 370, 372 ; u. 279, 280. 

Redesdale, i 326 ; ii. 249. 

Renfrew, i. 12, 236, 272, 276 ; u. lOy 
182, 204, 208. 

Restalrig, John Logan, lord of, i. 376 } 
ii. 284. 

Rheims, archbishop of, i. 373-4 ; iL 
281-2. 

Riccarton, L 149 ; IL 113. 

Richard i., L 33 ; iL 27. 

II., sends for duke of Lancaster 

from Scotland, L 320; ii. 243; in- 
vades Sootland, L 323 ; iL 246 ; his 
end, L 323-4 ; iL 247 ; is deposed and 
takes refuge in Scotland, i. 337, 348 ; 
ii. 255, 263. 

' younger son of ]£ing John, i. 46 ; 
iL34. 

Richmond, L 21 ; iL 18. 

Riddesdale, earl of, L 356 ; ii. 267. 

Robert i. (Bruce), L 95, 106-6; ii. 68/ 
76-7 ; his pedigree, L 135-7 ; iL 101-3 ; 
is upbraided by Wallace, L 158; iL 
121 ; ifl Scotland'8 deliverer, L 226 ; ii. 
172; his compact with Camyn, %b, ; 
is accnsed by him, L 227 ; ii. 173 ; 
escapes from Edward i., L 227-8 ; iL 
174 ; kiUs Gumyn, L 229 ; ii. 175 ; is 
crowned, L 230 ; ii. 176 ; is absolved, 
i6. ; is defeated at Methven, i. 231 ; 
iL 177 ; at Dalry, %b. ; regains Carrick, 
L 232 ; ii. 178 ; takes Invemess, L 
233 ; iL 179 ; Cumyn retreats before 
him, t6. ; Robert falls sick, (6. ; gains 
ground, L 235; ii. 180; gains battle 



of Invemry, i6. ; subdues Argyll, L 
235; iL 181; invades England, i. 
236 ; iL 182 ; takes Perth and other 
places, ib, ; subdues the Isle of Man, 
i. 237 ; iL 183 ; gains battle of Ban- 
nockbum, L 237-8 ; iL 183-4 ; his 
succession settled, L 239; iL 184; 
goes to Ireland to help his brother, L 
240 ; iL 186 ; endows Saint Andrewa, 
i. 251 ; ii. 188 ; holds the Black Par- 
liament, iib, ; legates sent to him, i. 
252; iL 189; invades EngUuid, L 
255; iL 189, 190; alliance with 
France, L 256 ; ii. 190 ; besiegeis 
Norham and Alnwick, L 257 ; ii. 191 ; 
makes peace with England, %b. ; his 
death, L 258 ; iL 192 ; renunciation 
of English claims over Scotland, t&. ; 
entail of the Scottish throne, L 259 ; 
iL 193; Roberfs prowess, i. 261 ; iL 
195 ; his heart taken to the Holy 
Land, L 263 ; iL 196. 

^obert II. (Stewart), L 138 ; iL 103 ; hia 
birth, L 241 ; ii. 186 ; homage done 
to him, L 256 ; ii. 190 ; in hiding at 
Rothesay, L 272; ii. 204-5; goea to 
Dumbarton, ib. ; takes Danoon, L 275 ; 
ii. 207 ; gathers foUowers, i. 276 ; iL 
208 ; Bubdnes westem Scotland, t6. ; 
made guardian, i. 276, 287 ; iL 208, 
218 ; holds Parliament at Dairsie, L 
277 ; ii. 209 ; takes Perth, i. 287 ; 
ii. 219 ; and Stirling, i. 288 ; ii. 219 ; 
recovers the whole country, ib. ; his 
sons imprisoned, i. 307 ; ii. 2.34 ; his 
ooronation, i. 310 ; iL 235 ; his cha- 
racter, L 311 ; iL 236; renews treaty 
with France, L 314; ii. 239; makes 
trace witb England, L 319 ; iL 243 ; 
appoints Robert earl of Fife goveraor 
of Scotland, i. 328; iL 251; makes 
trace with England, i. 329 ; iL 251-2 ; 
his death, t6. ; his sons, ib. 

III. (John Stewart, lord of Kyle, 

lord of Carrick), reduces Annandale, 
i. 299 ; ii. 229 ; is lamed, L 328 ; iL 



INDEX. 



327 



251 ; hifl coronation, i 330 ; ii 252 ; 

oonfers title«» i. 331 ; ii. 254 ; nudn- 

tains Biohard n., L 337; il 255; 

pnniBhes the Duke of Bothesay, L 341 ; 

iL 258 ; hiB deatb, i. 347 ; u. 262. 
RocheUe, la, L 359, 374 ; ii. 270, 232. 
Roderick, L 39 ; ii. 29. 
Roger, archbishop of York. See York. 
Bokeby, Thomas, L 232, 288, 293; iL 

214, 219, 224. 
RooB, lord de, L 356 ; iL 267. 
Rosemarky, L 287 ; iL 218. 
Roslyn, battle of, L 222 ; iL 169. 
RoBS, L 231 ; ii. 177. 

see of, L 52 ; iL 39. 

Alexander earl of . See iBles, lord 

of the. 
Hugh earl of, L 137, 270, 313 ; ii, 



103, 203, 238. 

William earl of, L 149, 201, 231 ; 



iL 113, 163, 177. 

William earl of, L 137, 287, 292 ; 



ii. 103, 219, 223. 

Walter Leslie, last earl of, i. 375 ; 



ii. 283. 

counteBB of, i. 375-6 ; ii. 283. 

Godfrey, L 276 ; iL 208. 

Robert, L 38, 51 ; ii. 29, 39. 

William, i. 128 ; iL 94. 

de, L 45 ; ii. 33. 

RoByth. See Stewart, David. 

Rothesay, L 272 ; u. 204. 

David duke of (earl of Carrick), 

his birth, L 314 ; ii. 238 ; created 
duke, L 331 ; ii. 254 ; his marriage, 
i. 339; iL 255 ; besieged in £dinburgh, 
L 340 ; iL 257 ; his death, i. 341-2 ; 
ii. 257-8. 

Elizabeth Dunbar, dnchess of, L 

339 ; iL 255. 

Rotholand of GaUoway, L 30; iL 
25-6. 

L 235 ; iL 181. 

Roxburgh, L 8, 23, 33, 39, 44, 64, 74, 
76, 108, 237, 268, 282, 289, 290, 311, 
320, 322, 349, 376, 378, 380 ; ii. 7, 



19, 27, 29, 31, 43-4, 52-3. 79, 182, 
201, 214, 220-1, 236, 244, 246, 264, 
284-5, 287. 
Ruthirwyne, Eustace, L 251 ; iL 189. 

Saint Abb'8 Head, L 278 ; iL 210. 
Saint Andrews, L 225, 272-3, 282-3, 342, 

346, 377 ; iL 171, 204-5, 214-5, 258, 

261, 285. 

bishop of, L 118, 143, 369 ; ii. 84, 

107,279. 

James Bane, bishop of, i. 267 ; iL 

200. 

William Fresale, bishop of, i. 148 ; 

ii. 112. 

WiUiam Lamberton, bishop of, L 

251 ; ii. 188. 

= Gamelin bishop of, i. 103 ; ii. 75. 

— — James jtlennedy, bishop of, i. 380 ; 

iL 287. 
Richard bishop of, L 15, 23, 25, 

45, 69 ; iL 13, 19, 21, 33, 48. 
Walter Trail, bishop of, L 341 ; iL 

257. 
Henry W^zdlaw, bishop of, L 346 ; 

ii. 261. 
r church of, L 261, 313 ; ii. 188, 

238. 



monastery of, L 225. 251 ; iL 171, 



188. 

— priorof, L 282; iL 213. 

— see of, L 51 ; iL 39. 
aniversity of, L 349 ; iL 264. 



Si Asaph, bishop of, i. 348 ; iL 263. 
Saint Benoit, L 362 ; ii. 273. 
Saint Duthao, L 231 ; iL 177. 
Saint Gely Grange, L 149 ; ii. 1 13. 
Saint GUes' Church, Edinburgh, L 323 ; 

ii. 247. 
Saint Mary's Wynd (Mair Winde), L 279; 

iL210. 
Saint Memmyn, L 362 ; iL 273. 
Salinus, L 127 ; a 93. 
Samuel, of GaUoway, i. 30 ; iL 25. 
Sawtrey monastery, L 65 ; ii. 44. 



328 



INDEX. 



Salisbnzy, WUliam Montagn, earl of, 
i 283-6, 290 ; ii. 215-7, 221. 

earl of, i. 359, 362-3 ; U. 270, 

272-4. 

Scales, lord, i. 362 ; ii. 273. 

Soone, L 56, 64, 80, 121, 153, 230, 251, 
265-6, 305, 310, 313, 329, 330, 369; 
n. 42, 44, 54, 87, 117, 176, 188, 198-9, 
232, 236, 238, 252, 278. 

Scot, Michael, L 295 ; ii 225. 

Walter, L 344 ; ii. 260. 

Sootland : Prelates to appear before 
Heniy ii., L 23 ; iL 20 ; attend oooncil 
at Nortbampton, L 24; iL 21 ; at 
Lyons, L 106; iL 77. Chnrch of, L 24 ; 
iL 20; its privilegee, L 51-2 ; iL 39-40 ; 
its remifwneas, L 70 ; ii. 49 ; is tazed 
by OttobonnB, i. 103 ; iL 75 ; by 
Bagimnnd, L 107 ; iL 78. Sootland 
oppressed by Vivian the legate, L 
25 ; iL 21 ; harbonrs English bishopa, 
L 53 ; iL 40 ; pnt nnder an interdict 
and abBolved, L 68-9 ; ii. 47-8 ; origin 
of the Soots, L 81 ; ii. 55 ; inter- 
regnum, L 118; iL 84; wardens, L 118, 
153; iL 84, 117 ; embaasy to Nor- 
way, L 119 ; iL 85 ; to France, L 143 ; 
u. 107 ; to the Pope, L 159, 178 ; 
ii. 123, 140 ; instructions sent to the 
ambaasadors, L 178 ; ii. 141 ; they 
argue against Edward L, i. 218 ; iL 
167 ; parliament held, L 141, 143 ; 
iL 106, 107 ; treaty with Franoe for 
Tnarriage of Edward Balliol, L 143 ; 
iL 108; genealogy of kings from St. 
Margaret to Bmce, L 135 ; ii. 101 ; 
Engliah clergy expelled, L 148 ; ii. 
112 ; truce with England, L 159 ; 
ii. 122 ; complaint to Pope John xn., 
L 201 ; iL 163 ; Scota do homage to 
Edward n., L 234 ; iL 180 ; negotia- 
tiona with England, i. 256 ; iL 190-1 ; 
Scota invade England, ib, ; negotia- 
tiona renewed, L 271 ; iL 203 ; Engliah 
invaaion of Weatem Scotland, L 314 ; 
ii. 238 ; ezcommunication of deapoilera 



of biahops, L 322 ; iL 245 ; negotia- 
tiona to reoondle Sootland and Eng- 
land, L 328 ; iL 251 ; dearth, L 156; 
^ii. 119; plenty, L 224 ; iL 170 ; peati- 
'lenoe, L 291, 295, 304, 314, 341 ; 
ii. 222, 225, 231, 238, 257 ; atorai, 
L 313 ; ii. 237 ; drought, i. 74, 105, 
236, 283, 288 ; iL 52, 77, 181, 215, 
219. 

Scotland, chamberlain of, L 295; iL 
225. 

ohancellor of, L 295 ; iL 225. 

marshal of, L 295 ; iL 225. 

ateward of. See Steward, Stewart. 

Scrimgeour,'John, L 370; ii. 279. 

Selkirk, John, L 342 ; iL 258. 

Senia, Beveriua de, L 127 ; iL 93. 

Servanna, Saint, L 72, 273; u. 50, 

205. 
Seton, Alezander, L 202, 268, 270; ii. 

163, 201, 203. 

Alezander, i. 265 ; ii. 198. 

(Alezander) lord, L 370 ; iL 279. 

Thomaa, L 269 ; iL 201-2. 

Thomaa, L 354 ; iL 265. 

Willian^ L 268 ; ii. 201. 

Shaw, Richard, L 278 ; iL 210. 
Shrewabnry, battle of, L 345 ; iL 260-1. 
Sibbald, John, L 356 ; iL 267. 
Sindair, Henry, L 202 ; iL 163. 

Henry. See Orkney, earl of. 

Walter, L 334 ; iL 260. 

William. 8ee Orkney, earl of. 

Slenaoh, L 233 ; iL 179. 

Smale, John, of Aberdeen, i. 355 ; iL 267. 

Sodor, biahop of, L 160 ; iL 123. 

Solway, L 324 ; ii. 247. 

Someraet, earl (duke) of, L 347, 356, 

369 ; iL 262, 267, 278. 
Somerville, lord, L 372 ; iL 281. 
Sonlia, (John), i. 143 ; iL 107. 
William, butler of Sootland^ L 201, 

251 ; iL 163, 188. 
Spey gate of Perth, L 282 ; iL 213. 
Spitalton, L 149; iL 113. 
Spot, battle of, L 149 ; iL 113. 



INDEX« 



329 



Stanmnre (Stanemore), L 166, 255; iL 

120, 189. 
Stafford, William earl of, i. 267, 284 ; 

ii. 200, 216. 
Steward of Scotland, James, L 118; iL 84. 
nephew of Eing David Bnice, L 

294 ; iL 225. 

See Stewart, Walter. 

Stewart (Steward of Scotland), Alan of 

Galloway. 8ee Alan. 
Stewart, Alan, brother of King Robert ii., 

L 270; iL 202. 

Alan. See Caithneas, earl of . 

Alexander, of Dnndonald, i. 95, 97; 

iL 68, 70. 
Alezander, son of ELing Robert IL 

See Buchan, earl of. 
Alexander, son of prectiding. 8ee 

Mar, earl of. 
Alezander, son of Murdach dnke 

of Albany, L 371-2 ; iL 280-1. 

David, of Roayth, L 370 ; u. 279. 

David, 8on of Walter earl of Athol, 



L 389 ; iL 289. 

— Duncan, son of Alexander earl of 
Bachan, son of Eing Robert n., L 329, 
330, 332 ; iL 252-4. 

— Jamea, brother of King Robert n.. 



L 270 ; iL 202. 

James, aon of Mnrdach doke of 



Albany, L 372 ; iL 280. 
— John, L 159 ; u. 122. 

John, brother of King Robert n., 



L 270 ; iL 202. 

— John. See Robert m. 

John, of Damley, L 354, 356, 363-4, 



373 ; u. 265, 268, 274.5, 281. 

— John, of Gardenen, L 370 ; iL 279. 

— Mnrdach. See Albany, duke ol 

— Red. See Red Stewart 

— Robert,L296; u. 227. 

— Robert. See Robert n. 

— Robert. See Albany, duke ol 

— Robert, of Athol, son of Alexander 
earl of Buchany son of King Robert IL 
i9eeAthoL 



Stewart, Robert, of HartdiAw, L 346; iL 

261. 
Robert, grandson of Walter earl of 

Athol, L 389 ; iL 289, 290. 

Robert, of Railston, L 355 ; ii. 26?« 

Walter, son of Alan of OaUoway^ 



L 17, 73, 95 ; iL 15, 50- 1« 68. 

Walter (Steward of Scotland), son^ 



in-Iaw of King Robert Bruce, i. 138j 
201, 240, 258 ; iL 103, 163, 185, 192. 

— Walter, son of Murdach duke of 
Albany, L 371-2; iL 279| 281. 

— Walter. See Athol, earl ol 
L 290 ; iL 221. 



Stewartlands, L 272^ ; iL 205^7. 
Stirling, L 44, 50, 76, 108, 238, 295, 337| 

348, 372 ; ii. 32, 38, 53, 78, 184, 226, 

255, 263, 280. 

bridge, battle of, L 155 ; ii. 119. 

castle, L 24, 93, 151, 160, 224, 288, 

310, 376 ; iL 20, 66, 114, 123, 170, 

219, 235, 284. 

John, L 272-3, 282 ; iL 205-6, 214. 



Strathbogie, L 64 ; iL 44. 

Strathbolgy (Strathbogie), John Cnmyn, 

lord of, i. 151 ; iL 114j 
Strathem, L 266; ii. 199. 

water (river Eam), L 265 ; iL 198. 

countess of, L 251 ; iL 188. 

countess of , wife of Sir W. Graham's 

brother, L 313 ; iL 238. 
Datid earl of , son of King 

Robert n. and Queen Euphemia, L 

313,330; ii. 238, 252. 

Ferchard earl of, L 11 ; iL 9. 

George Graham, earl of, L 349 ; iL 



264. 

Gilbert earl of, L 349 ; iL 264. 

Malise earl of, L 104 ; iL 76. 

Malise earl of, L 201 ; iL 163. 

(Maurioe Muxray), earl of (and lord 

of Clydesdale), L 295 ; iL 225. 
Straton, Alezi)nder, L 202 ; iL 163. 
Strickathrow, L 8 ; iL 6. 
Stmther, L 342 ; iL 258. 
Strathen, L 332 ; a 254. 



330 



IND£X. 



Suard, Ricliard, L 149; ii 113. 
Snffolk, earl of, i. 362-3 ; ii 278-4. 
Sumerled, i 8, 12 ; ii. 6, 10. 
Sutherbnd, i. 39 ; ii 29. 
■■ Mai^aret Bruoe, counteaa of , dangh- 

ter of King Robert Bruce, i 138 ; ii. 

104. 

Eenneth earl of, i. 270 ; ii 203. 

William earl of, i 201 ; ii 163. 

WilHam earl of, i 138, 240, 294 ; 

ii 104, 185, 225. 
■ John of, 8on of preceding, one of 

the hostages for Eing Bayid Bruce, 

i 138, 240, 305 ; ii 104, 185, 232. 
Swinton, John lord of, i 327, 344; 

ii 250, 260. 
Sylomonte, John de, i 124 ; ii. 90. 



Talbot, Richard, i 267, 271, 284; ii 

200, 204^ 215. 

Thomas, i 340 ; ii. 256. 

lord, i. 362-8 ; ii. 273-4. 

Talbots, the, i 264 ; ii 198. 

TancretuB, i 127 ; ii 93. 

TantaUon, i. 372, 376 ; ii 280, 283. 

Tarbert, i 278 ; ii 210. 

Tay, river, i 96, 98, 265, 288, 330; ii 

69, 71, 198, 219, 253. 
Terreagles, Herbert Herriefl, lord of, i 

370, 372 ; u. 279, 281. 
Teviotdale, i 290, 322 ; ii 221, 245. 
Tharent, i 74 ; ii 52. 
Thomas, natural son of Alan of Gallo- 

way, i 73 ; ii. 51. 
— — the Rhymer, i 114 ; ii 88. 
Thomson, John, i 270 ; ii. 203. 
Tiron, monastery of, i 9, 25 ; ii. 8, 21. 
Tongneland, monastery of, i 74 ; ii 51. 
Tonnerre, oount de, i 360 ; ii. 271. 
Torfin, 8on of Harald earl of Orkney, 

i 39 ; ii. 29. 
Touraine, duke of. 8ee Douglas, Archi- 

bald earl of . 
Tonrs, i 10, 362, 374; ii 8, 272, 

282, 



Toum, dean of, i 126, 129 ; ii 92, 95. 
TowerB, John, i '328 ; u. 250. 

William, i 296 ; ii 227. 

Trail, Thomas, i. 331 ; ii 253. 
Troup, Hamelin, i 251 ; ii 189. 
TuUbardine. 8ee Murray, Andrew. 
Tumberry Castle, i 105 ; ii 77. 
Tumbull, William. 8ee Glasgow, bishop 

of. 
Tweedmouth, i 43, 46, 69, 108 ; ii 31, 

84, 48, 78. 
Tyningham, Adam. 8ee Aberdeen, deaa 

of. 
TyntiB Muir. 8ee Barclay. 

TJlstsb, Haymer de Burgh, earl of, i 

138, 240 ; ii 103, 185. 
UmfraYille, Ingram, i 143, 202 ; ii 107, 

163. 
Upsetlington, i, 132 ; ii. 98. 
Urbino, bialiop of, i. 380, 390 ; ii 287, 

290. 
Urquhart CaBtle, i 270 ; ii 203. 
Urthred (Uther, Ughtred), Thomas, i 

282, 287 ; ii, 214, 219. 

YAUurTiirois, Jean de Vienne, count of, 

i 322 ; ii. 246. 
VaUey of Virtues, monasteTy of, i 377 ; 

ii. 285. 
VemeuH, battle of, i. 360-1 ; ii 271-2. 
Vemor (Bemour), Lawrenoe, i 356 ; ii 

267. 
Vienne, Jean de, ^e Valentinois. 
Vieupont (Vypont), Alan, i 270, 273 ; 

ii. 203, 205. 

Robert, i 46 ; ii, 34. 

Vivian, pope'8 legate, i 25 ; ii 21. 

Wallaok, Andrew, i 154; ii 117. 

William, ezpelA the English dergy, 

i 149; ii 113 ; his hiatory, i 154 ; 
ii 117 ; defeats Creesingham at Stir- 
ling Bridge, i 155 ; ii 119 ; invades 
England, i 156 ; ii 119 ; mardhes to 



INDEX. 



331 



Stanmiire, L 166 ; ii 120 ; jealoiiiy of 
him, L 157 ; ii. 120 ; is defeated at 
Falkirk, l 158 ; ii 121 ; resignB the 
gaardiaDship, i. 159 ; ii 122 ; holdB 
oQt, L 224^ ; ii. 170-1 ; his death, 
L 229 ; u. 175. 

WaUor, Thomaa, L 272 ; iL 204. 

Walter, abbot of Tiron, L 25 ; iL 21. 

of lichtoD. 8ee Liohton. 

Bon of Alan of Oalloway. 8ee 

Stewart, Walter. 

8on of earl QoBpatrick, L 17 ; ii. 

15. 
Wardena (gnardiaaa) of Scotland, L 118, 

159, 295 ; iL 84, 123, 226. 
Wardlaw, Walter. See Gla^gow, biehop 

oi 
Wark, L 19, 64, 92, 323, 353; ii. 17, 

43, 65, 246, 265. 
Warrenne, earl of, L 255 ; iL 190. 
Weardale, L 257 ; iL 191. 
Welbeck, abbot of, L 348*; iL 263. 
WeUand, Thomaa, L 130 ; iL 96. 
Wells, lord of, L 332 ; ii. 254. 
Wemys, DaTid, L 202, 272; ii 163, 

205. 

John, L 97 ; iL 70. 

Westem Islea, L 100 ; iL 72. 
Weetmorland, L 20; iL 17. 
Wetherby, L 251 ; ii. 188. 
Whithem, IS; iL 7. 
Whitkirk, L 298 ; iL 228. 
Wigtown, earl of, L 294 ; ii. 225. 

Archibald Donglas, earl of. See 

Douglaa. 

William, kdng (the laon), appointed 
warden, L 13 ; iL 11 ; made king, L 
15 ; ii. 13 ; aUianoe with Henry n., 
ib. ; aocompanies him to Franoe, i. 
16 ; iL 14 ; goee to Windaor, L 17 ; 
iL 15 ; qaarrela with Henry, L 18 ; 
iL 16; beaiegee Wark Gastle and 
Garliale, L 19 ; iL 17 ; raida into 
England and is captnred, L 20; ii. 
17; 18 taken abont by King Henry, 
L21; iL 18; rdeaaed, L 23; iL 19; 



retams to Scotland, L 24 ; ii. 20 ; 
invades GaUoway, ib, ; attends coancil 
at Northampton, ib. ; f oanda Arbroath, 
L 28; iL 24 ; invades Ross, L 29 ; iL 
24 ; goes to Normaudy, L 29 ; iL 25 ; 
reoeivee the earldom of HontiDgdon, 
»&. ; marriee Ermergarde, L 30; iL 
26 ; is released from f ealty by Richaid 
L, L 33 ; iL 27 ; his ransom paid, L 
35; ii. 28; friendship with Eing 
Kichard, L 37; iL 29; faUs sick, L 
38 ; iL 29 ; invades Gaithness, L 39 ; 
ii. 29 ; does homage to' king John, i. 
41 ; ii. 30 ; has fealty swom to Alexan- 
der n., L 42; ii 31 ; destroys fortalice 
of Tweedmoath, L 43 ; ii. 31 ; makes 
peace with king John, L 44; iL 32; 
agaiD treats for peace, ib, ; makes 
peace, i. 45 ; iL 33 ; terms of peace, i. 
46 ; ii. 34 ; invades Moray, i. 48 ; iL 
36 ; makee peace with England, i6. ; 
falls siqk, L 49 ; iL 37 ; his death, 
eta, i. 50 ; ii. 38 ; harboars EngUsh 
bishopp, i. 53; iL 41 ; his borial, L 
56 ; iL 42. 

WiUonghby, lord. L 362 ; iL 273. 

Winchester, earl of . 8ee Qaincy, Roger 
de. 

L 45 ; ii. 33. 

Windsor, L 29 ; iL 25. 

Wolvee, the, L 274 ; iL 207. 

Wright, John, L 342 ; iL 258. 

Tktxb, Thomas Hay, lord o( L 370, 

372 ; iL 279, 281. 
Yolanda, wife of Alezander ni., L 111 ; 

iL80. 
York, L 23, 74» 83, 255, 326 ; iL 20, 52, 

58, 190, 249. 

« archblBhop of, L 69 ; iL 48. 

Roger ardibiahop of, L 24^ 27 ; iL 

21,24. 
Trastin archbishop of, L 9 ; iL 7. 

ZxALANi), L 390 ; iL 290. 
Zoache, lord, L 137 ; iL 103. 



EREATA. 

VOL. I. 

Paob 33, 1. 15,/or tempori read tempore. 

33, L 31, /or regemaque read regemque. 

33, 1. 34, /or aoceptit read acoeptis. 

39, L Slyfor Lemonicas read Lemovicaai 

56, 1. 24, for latee read late. 
145, 1. 30, /or oportanum read opportunum. 
153, 1. l3,/or eegem read regem. 
231, footnote 15,/or per read omit per. 

VoL. II. 

38, last line, /or Lotbian read Loudoun. 
44, L 38, /or Sawtreia read Sawtrey. 
75, L 9,/or LewiBham read EveBham. 



CATALOGUE OF BOOKS 



PUBLISUED BY 



WILLIAM PATERSON, 



EDINBURGH. 



3C!JC3PC3CC3BC!33CJC3nC51^S3CCJ 



AS^.O|f:r\-: 



;;,c.,^'V' BMiX. 



Wi^ii^- v?^^~ 



^ ■■ ■ 1 I I ■■ ■ ■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■E aCi 



CATALOGUE. 



ANDERSON (John). 

HiSTORT OF Edinburgh, from the Earliest Period to the 
Gompletion of the Half Century 1850, with Brief Notices of 
Eminent or Bemarkable IndividuaLs. Map, 8to, cloth, 
78. 6d. 

ANGLING. 

By the Looh and River Sidb. Forty Graphic Hlostra- 
tions, exhibiting the humoroos ezperiences of an angler and 
his friends. Oblong folio, handsomely bound half morocco« 
gilt edges, £1, 5s. for 12s. 6d. 

ARMSTRONG (Archie). 

Archie Armstrong's Banqubt of Jests, printed from 
the original editions of 1632 and 1640, together with Archj^s 
Dream, with Life, by T. H. Jamieson, late Keeper of the 
Advocates' Library, Woodcut title and frontispiece, crown 
8vo, cloth, 36s 

BARCLAY (Alexander). 

The Shtp of Fooles, a Faithful Beprint of the Pynson Edi- 
tion of 1509, edited, with account of his Life and Writings, 
Introduction, Notes, and Glossary, by T. H. Jamieson, late 
Keeper of the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. IUusircUed 
with One Emdred and TwerUy guaini and intereding facsmUe 
wood engravings. 2 vols, crown 4to, cloth, £3, 3s. 

A few Copies on Large Paper, 2 vols, 4to, doth, £5, 58. 

BEAULY PRIORY. 

The Charters of the Priort of Beault, with Notices of 
the Priories of Pluscardine and Ardchattan and of the 
Family of the Founder, John Byset, by Edmund Chibholm 
Batten, with Appendix: and Tndez. 8vo, clotb, 21s. 



Catalogue of Books published by William Paterson. 3 

BERWICKSHIRE. 

PoFULAR Bhtmes, Sayings, and Proverbs of the County 
OF Berwick, with Hltifitrative Notes by Gborgb Hender- 
SON. Small 8vo, cloth, 3& 6cL 

BIRTHDAY PRAYER AND ANSWER RE- 

lOaCBBANCEB. 

The volame is veiy tastefully printed. The Qnestion in 
red and the Answer in black, roled throughout, with red 
border linee; opposite the printed tezt there is a blank 
page for Autographs and Becords of Birthdays. 

StTLES AKD PRICBS OF BINDIN6. 

No. s. D. 

I. Cloth gilt, bevelled boards, eilt edges, 

II. French morocco limp, gilt edges, 
ni. Calf limp, gilt edges, 
IV. Morocco limp, edges gilt on red, 

y. Bussia limp, edges gilt on red, 



2 6 

3 6 

4 6 
8 6 
8 6 



BOSWELLIANA. 

The Commonflace Book of James Boswell, with a 
Memoir and Annotations by the Bev. Dr BoGERS, and 
Introductory Bemarku by the Bight Hon. Lord Hoitghton. 
With an Indez and Portodt. 8vo, cloth, 16s. 

BUCHAN (Peter). 

Angibnt Ballads and Sonos of the North of Scot- 
LAND, with Explanatory Notes, reprifUed from the crigmal 
edUion of 1828. 2 vols, fcap. 8vo, doth, 15s. 
The same on Large Paper, 2 vols, 8vo, cloth, 21s. 

BURGHS OF SCOTLAND. 

Becords of thb Convention of the Botal Burghs of 
ScoTLAND, with Extracts from other Becords relating to the 
Affairs of the Burghs of Scotland, A.D. 1295 to A.D. 1676, 
edited by Dr J. D. Marwick. 4 vols, 4to, cloth, vol L, 21 s. ; 
vol ii, 218. ; vol iii, 25s. ; vol iv., 25s. 

BURN (R. Scott). 

Thb PRAoncAL DiRBcrroRT for the Improvement of 
Landkd Profertt, Bural and Suburban, with the 
Economic Management of its Farms, Profusely Hlustrated 
with Woodcuts, and 78 fiill i>age Plates, comprising several 
hundred Drawings to scale. 1 vol, thick 4to, clotL 

Newrly ready. 



^^ 



4 Catalogiie of Books 

BURNS (Robert). 

CoBfPLETB WoRKS IN Pbosb and Verse. The Library 
Edition, edited by W. SooTT DoTTOLAS, with Ezplanatoiy 
NoteB and Glossary, Hlostrated with Portraits, Vignettes, 
and Frontispieces, Engraved by W. Forrest, H.B.S.A., and 
R Anderson, A.RS.X, from the Original Drawings by 
Alez. Nasmyth, RS.A., Sam Bough, RS.A., W. E. Lodkhart» 
RS.A., and A. Clark Stanton, A.RS.A. Woodcuts, Fac- 
similes, Maps, and Music. 6 vols, 
No. L Demy 8vo, ordinary impression, . 15s. per voL 
„ IL Eoyal 8vo, Large Paper edition, India 

proofs of the ^^aies, . . 28s. „ 

„ in. Imperial 8vo, Whatman's Paper, wUh 

proofs of the plates in three states, . 45s. „ 

{AU sold.) 

BURNS (Robert). 

CoMMONPLACB BoOK OP. Priiited from the original MS. 
in the possession of John Adam, Esq., Greenock, with an 
Introduction. 8vo, boards, uncut edges, 6s. 
Privately printed, Tke impression limited ^150 cqpies, 

BURNS (ROBERT). 

Gbnbalogigal Memoibs op the Familt op, and of the 
Scottish House of Bumes, by the Bev. Dr BoGERS. With 
an Index of Names. 8vo, doth, 6s. 6d. 

BURT (Captain). 

Lettebs prom the North op Scotland (1754), with an 
Introduction by R Jamieson, F.S.A., and the Histoiy of 
Donald the Hammerer, from an Authentic Account of the 
Family of Invemahyle, a MS. communicated by Sir Walter 
Scxxtt, withfacsimiles of all tlie Original Engravings. 2 vols, 
post 8vo, cloth, 2ls. 

CAMPBELL (Dr Jas.) 

BALBiERiNO AND ITS Abbey, A Parochial History, with an 
Appendix of Hlustrative Documents, Frontispiece and Fac- 
sinula Crown 8vo, cloth, 7s. 6d. 

CHAMBERS (William, of Glenormiston). 

HiSTOBT OP Peeblesshibe : Its Local Antiquities, Greology, 
Natural History, &c., with 100 Engravings, Vignettes, and 
Goloured Map from Ordnance Survey, royal 8vo, cloth gilt, 
31& 6d. for 15s. 
The same on Large Paper, 4to, cloth gilt, £5, 5s. for SSs. 



» 



n 



Publtshed by William Paterson. 5 

CERVANTES. 

Thb Histort of the Inqenious Gentleman Don Quixote 

OF La Mancha, translated from the Spanish by P. A. 

MOTTEUX, illustrated with a portrait and 86 etchii^ done 

specially for this edition by M. Ad. Lalauze, illustrator of 

the Library Edition of Moliere'8 Works. 4 volfi, Svo, cloth. 

Vclume L jnd ready. 
No. L 8vo, impressions of the plates on Holland 

paper, . . . 18& per vol. 

n. Boyal Syo, 150 copies numbered, Large 

Paper Edition, India Proofe of the plates, 42s. „ 

n.* Do. Lai^e Superfine Paper Edition, with 

a set of plates on India paper, and an 

extra set on Holland paper, 50 copies, 

each numbered and signeOy . GOs. „ 

„ lU. Imp. Svo, Whatinan's paper, India Proofs, 

and extra set on Japanese paper {dll sold), 70s. „ 
To ensure the most perfect accuracv in these delineations 

of Spanish Li/e and Scenery, M. AcL Lalauze has visited 

Spain, and made his drawings on the spot. 
The plates in this work h^ve not been previously used in 

any other edition, British or Foreign. 

CHRISTIE. 

Genealogigal Memoirs of the Scottish Housb of 
CHBiSTiEy Compiled from Family Papers and the Public Ee- 
cords, by the Bev. Dr Bogebs, 8vo, cloth, 7s. 6d. 

COLDSTREAM. 

Chartulary of the Cistercian Priory of Coldstream, 
with Relative Documents, edited by the Bev. Dr Bogers, 
8vo, cloth, lOs. 6d. 

COURT OF SESSION GARLAND (The). 

A Collection of Son^ Anecdotes, Squibs, &a, which have 
emanated firom the rarliament House, Edinburgh. New 
edition, with hirge additions, 8vo, cloth, 45s 

CRAIL COLLEGIATE CHURCH. 

Eegister of the Collegiate Church of Crail, with 
Introductory Bemarks, and an Index of Names by the Rev. 
Dr SoGERa 8vo, cloth, 7s 6d. 

CUNNINGHAM (Dr Robert O.). 

NOTES ON THE NaTURAL HiSTORY OF THE STRArrS OF 

Magellan, and West Coast of Patagonia, made during the 
voyage of H.M.S. " Nassau,'' 1866-9, with Map and Illustra- 
tions. 8vo, cloth, 15s. for 7& 6d. 



6 Catalogtie of Books 

CUPAR ABBEY. 

Eeotal Book op the Cistercian Abbey of Cupar-Angus, 
with the Breviary of the Eegister, edited by the Bey. Dr 
BoGERS. Facsimile. 2 Yols. Svo, cloth, 46s. 

DOCUMENTS RELATIVE TO THE RE- 

CEPTION OF THE KlNGS AND QUEENS OP SCOTLAND, A.D. 1561 

to A.D. 1650. Demy 4to, boards, 5& 6d. 

DOUGLAS (Gavin, Bp. of Dunkeld). 

The Poetical Works of, Edited, with Memoir, Notes, and 
fdl Glossaiy, by John Small, M. A., F.S. A. Scot. Specimens 
of Manuscripts, TUle^ges, and Woodcuts of the early ediiions 
in facsimile, 4 vols, post Svo, cloth, £S, 38. 
A limited namber of Copies on Large Paper, jS6, 6s. 

DRAMATISTS OF THE RESTORATION. 

S'he Works of the). Edited by James Maidment and W. 
. LOGAN, Esqs. Large Paper, demy 8vo, cloth, 18s. per 
Volume. 

The series is composed of the Works of the following 

Authors : — 



Sir William D^avenant, 5 vols. 
John Crowne, . 4 vols. 
John Wilson, 1 vol. 

Sir Aston Cokain, . 1 vol. 



Shackerley Marmion, 1 vol 
John Lacy, . 1 voL 
John Tatham, . 1 voL 



In ihis series of the DrarruUists, for ihe most part writers of 
Oomedy, who fhwrished after the extinction of the Commanweaith, 
the works of the mrums Auihors have been given in an unmuti- 
lated form after carefvl collation vnth the earliest and the best 
edUions. 

DUNBAR (William). 

SUPPLEMENT TO THE POBTICAL WORKS OF, Additiomd Poems, 

Notes, Corrections, <&c., to the edition of 1834. Edited by 
David Laing. With fiEtcsimile and other Woodcuts, post 
8vo, sewed, 5s. 

EDGAR. 

Oenealogical Collections concerning the Scottish House 
of Edgar. With a Memoir of James Edsar, Private Secre 
taiy to Hie Chevalier St George. Edited by a Committee of 
the Grampian Club, with an Index of Names and Portrait, 
4to, cloth, lOs. 6d. 



Published by William Paterson. 7 

ENGLISH METRICAL HOMILIES. 

From Manuscripts of the Fourteenth Century, with Intro- 
duction and Notes, by JoHN Small, M. A., Facsimile of MS. 
Small 4to, cloth, 12s. 

ESTIMATE OF THE SCOTTISH NOBILITY. 

Doring the Minority of James the Sixth, with preliminary 
Observations by the Rev. Dr Eogers, 8vo, cloth, 7s. 64 

FORDUN'S (JoHN of). 

Chronicle of the ScomsH Nation. (See " Historians "). 
from original MSS. by W. F. Skenb, and iUostrated with fac- 
similes. 2 vols, 8vo, cloth, 30s. 

GLASGOW. 

LiBER Protocollorum M. Ctjth. Simonis, A.D. 1499-1613 ; 
also Bental Book of Diocese of Glasgow, A.D. 1509-1670, 
edited by Joseph Bain, F.S.A. Scot, and the Eev. Charles 
BoGERS, LL.D., with a copious Index of names, facsimiles, 
2 vols 8vo, cloth, £3, 38. 

GUTHRIE (JamesC.) 

The Yale of Strathmore, its Scenes and Lbgends. 
Crown 8vo, cloth, 7s 6d. 

HERD (David). 

Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads, 
&c., collected and edited by David Herd, a page-for-page 
Eeprint of the edition of 1776, with Memoir and Notes by 
SiDNEY GiLPiN, fine Yignettes. 2 vols post 8vo, cloth, 21s. 
The same on Large Paper, 2 vols, 4to, cloth, 428. 

HISTORIANS OF SCOTLAND (The). 

TMs Grand Naiuynal Serks of the Early Chronicles of Soot- 
LAND, edUed by the mod eminent Scoitish Antiquafian Scholars of 
the present day, is now ampleted^ and as Sets remaining for saie 
are becoming few in number, early application is necessary in 
order to secure (hem at the subscription price of FiVE Guineas. 

1. JOHN OF Fordun^s Chronicle of the Scottish Nation. 
Edited from the original MSS. by W. F. Skene, and illos- 
trated with facsimiles. 2 vols. 

2. Andrew of Wyntoun's Ortgynale Meirical Cronykil 
of Scotland, now printed for the first time from the Boyal 
MS. Edited by David Laing, LL.D., and iUustrated with 
numerons facsimiles. 3 vols. 

Continued. 



8 Catalogue of Books 

CorUifmed — 

3. LiYES OF Saint Ninian and Saint Eentigern, compiled 
in the 12th century, and Edited from the best MSS. by the 
late A- P. FORBES, D.C.L., Bishop of Brechin. 

4. LiFE OF Saint Columba, Founder of Hy, written by Adam- 
nan, ninth Abbot of that Monastery. Edited by Wn 
Beeves, D.D., M.E.LA. Translated by the late A. P. 
FoRBES, D.C.L., Bishop of Brechin, with Notes ananged by 
W. F. Skene. 

5. The Booe of Pluscarden, being unpublished Continuation 
of Fordun'8 Chronicle by M. Buchanan, Treasurer to the 
Dauphiness of France. Edited and translated by Felix 
Skenb. 2 vols. 

6. A Critical Essat on the Ancient Inhabitants of 
SCOTLAND. By Thomas Innes of the Sorbonne, with Memoir 
of the Author by George Grub, LL.D., and Appendix of 
Original Documents, printed by permission of Wm. F. Skene. 
Illustrated with Charts. 

HISTORICAL NOTICES OFST ANTHONVS 

MoNASTERY, Leith, and Rehearsal of Events which occurred 
in the North of Scotland, £rom 1635 to 1645, in relation to 
the National Covenant Edited from a Contemporary MS. by 
the Eev. Dr EoGERS, with an Index, 8vo, cloth, 7s. 6d. 

HUNTER (WiLLiAM, F.S.A. Scot.). 

BiGOAR AND THS HousE OF Fleming, an Accoont of the 
Biggar District, Arch»ologicaI, Historical, and Biographica!, 
with numerous fine engravings, second edition^ 8vo, cloth, 
12s. 6d. 
A few Copies on Large Paper, thick 4to, cloth, 368. 

INNES (COSMO). 

CONCERNING SoME ScOTCH SuRNAMES : A Paper lead at 
" Ulbster Hall," to which is added an Appendix containing 
Lists of Scotch Sumames, with their derivations, and Indices. 
Small 4to, roxburgh, 58. 

INNES (CosMo), 

Professor of History in the University of Edinbuigh, Memoir 
of. Small 4to, cloth, 3s. 6d. 

" A pleasantly written biographioal sketch of thia diatizigiiiBhed archibolo- 
giat ." — Seoteman. 

INNES (CosMo). 

Sketches of Eably Scotgh Histort, and Social Progress 
— Church Organization — the University — Home Life — 
Family History, with an Appendiz, Glossaiy, and Indez. 
8vo, cloth, 24s. 



Published by William Paterson. 9 

INNES (Thomas, of the Sorbonne). 

A Critioal Essay on thb Ancibnt Inhabitants of Soot- 
LAND, wiih Memoir by GsOBGB Grub, LL.D., iUustrated with 
Charts. 8vo, cloth, 24& 

ThiB yaloable work on Scottish History by Father Innes 
has for many years past been scarce. Ite importance as a 
work of reference and authority makes it indispensable to 
every Scottish libraiy. 

IRVING (JosEPH). 

HiSTORT OF Dumbartonshirb, Civil, Ecclesiastical, and 
Territorial, with Genealogical Notices of the Principal Fami- 
lies in the County, basea on authentic records, public and 
private, Illustrated with Maps, Views, Portraits, and Fac- 
similes of Original Documents, second and best edition. 
Thick 4to, cloth, 48s. 

JAMES I. 

Thb Poetigal Bemains of King James the First of 
SCOTLANB, with a Memoir and an Introduction to the Poetry, 
by the Bev. Dr Rogers, F.S.A. Scot 8vo, cloth, lOs. 6d. 

KNOX (JoHN). 

Genbalogioal Mehoibs of, and of the Familt of Knox, 
by the Bev. Dr Bogers. Portndt. 8vo, cloth, lOs. 6d. 

LAING (Henry, Edinburgh). 

DEscRipnvB Catalogue of Angient SooinsH Seals, 
Boyal, Baronial, Ecclesiastical, and Municipal, embracing 
the period from A.D. 1150 to the Eighteenth Centuiy, 
taken from original Charters and other Deeds preserved 
in public and private Archives, forming a snpplemental 
volnme to ^' Ancient Scottish Seals," pubfished for the Ban< 
natyne and Maitland Cluba 4to, cloth, £3, 3s. for 28s. 

LYNDSAY (SiR David, of the Mount). 

A Faosdiile of the Anoient Heraldio Manusoript 
Ebiblazoned bt the celebrated Sir David Lyndsay of 
THB MOUNT, Lyon King at Arms in the reim of James the 
Fifth. Edited bv the late David Laing, LL.D., from the 
original MS. in the possession of the Faculty of Advocates. 
FoBo, cloth, gilt top, uncut edgesy J&IO, lOs. 

LYNDSAY (SiR David, of the Mount), 

The PoEnoAL WoRKS OF. The LiBRARY EDmoN, edited, 
with Life, copious Notea, and Glossary, by the late David 
Laing, LL.D., illustrated with Portraits, Facsimiles, and 
Woodcuts. 3 vols, post 8vo, cloth, uncut edges, £S, 3s. 

Only 485 copies prifUed, 



I o Catalogue o/Books 

LYNDSAY (SiR David, of the Mount). 

The Poetical Works of. Edited, with Life, Notes, and 
Glossary, by the late David Laing, LL.D. 2 yoIs, 12mo, 
doth, 15s. 

MACDONALD (J. H. A.) 

Practical Treatise on thb Criminal Law of Scotland. 
Thick 8vo, cloth, Sls. 6d. 

" An entirely new and carefully revised edition, in which 
the Law has been brought down to date, and the general 
Index much amplified." 

M^KERLIE (P. H., F.S.A. Scot.) 

HlSTORY OF THE LaNDS AND THEIR OwNERS IN GALLOWAY, 

Illustrated by Woodcuts of Notable Places and Objects; 
with a Historical Sketch of the District 5 vols, crown 8vo. 
roxburgh style, £3, 15s. 

The volumes are sold separately, price 15s. each. Yolumes 
L and IL upon Wigtonshire, Vols. IIL to V. upon Kirk- 
cudbrightshire. 

MACLAREN (Charles, F.R.S.E.) 

Sketch of the Geology of Fife and the Lothians, in- 
cluding detailed Descriptions of Arthur^s Seat and Pentland 
Hills. Second EdUion, with Numerous Cuts and Coloured 
Maps. Post 8vo, cloth, 78. 6d. 

MAIDMENT (James). 

BOOK OF ScOTiSH Pasquils, 1568-1715, collected and 
edited by James Maidment, and illustrated with quaint and 
curious facsimile Woodcuts. Crown 8vo, cloth, 18s. 

In ihis colleciion there cure nearly One Hundred and Fifiy 
PasquHsy wiih Introductory Notices to each. 

MAIDMENT (James). 

Packet of Pestilknt Pasquils, forming a supplement to the 
above. Crown 8vo, sewed, 6s. A few copies printed for 
private circtUation. 

MAIDMENT (James). 

SCOTISH Ballads and Songs, Historical and Traditionary, 
Edited, with copious Notes and Introductions, by James 
liCAlDMENT. IUustrated with numerous quaint Woodcuts, 
Yignettes, &c 2 vols, crown 8vo, cloth, 258. 



- -^ 



Published by William Paterson. 1 1 

MARCIANO; or, THE DISCOVERY, 

a Tragi-Comedy, by W. Glark, Advocate, acted at the 
Abbey of Holyrudhouse, on St JoWs Night, by a company 
of Grentlemen, Edinburg^, 1663, reprinted wiUi Introductory 
Notice, by W. H. LooAN. Sm. 4to, half-morocco, lOs. 6d. ; 
a few copies on thick paper, 15s. 

Ordy 75 copies printed, 

MOLIERE, 

COMPLETE DrAMATIG WoRKS OF, ThE iLLtTSTRATED LlBRART 

Edition, translated and edited by Henri Yan Laun, with 
Memoir, Introductions, and Appendices, wherein are given 
the passages borrowed or adapted from Moli^re by English 
Dramatists,withExplanatoryNotes. IllustratedbyaPortrait 
and Thirty-three Etchings, executed specially for this edi- 
tion, by M. Ad. Lalauze of Paris. 6 vols, demy Svo, cloth, 
£5, 8s. 

On Large Papeb, royal 8vo, wHh India Proqfs of the Etch- 
ings, X9, 9& 

MOLIERE, 

CoMPLETE Dramatig Works of, The Library EDmON, 
translated and edited, with Memoir, Introductions, and Ap- 
pendices, wherein are given the passages borrowed or adapted 
from Moli^re by English Dramatists, with ezplanatory Notes, 
by Henri van Laun. Portrait. 6 vols, demy 8vo, cloth, 
£2, lOs. 

MOLIERE. 

Trente - quatrb Eaux-fortbs pour les CEuvres de 
Moliere, dessin^es et grav6es par Adolphe Lalauze. 

India Proofs on large folio mountings, in Portfolio, £5, 5s. 

Proofs on Japanese paper, £7, 7s. 

" EJzoeedinely chAracteristio etchin^ £rom the akilful pendl of M. Lalanze, 
of PariB, whicn are entitled to the praue of being not only admirably exeooted, 
bat really illiutratiYe of Moli^^s text." — Olaagow Newa. 

** Masterly etchings, fnU of dramatio feeling, and rich in sabtle Baggestive- 
neaa of coloar."— 2)at/y Tekgraph, 

MURTHLY CHAPEL. 

Thb Chapel of Saint Anthont the Eremitb, at Murthly, 
Perthshire, the seat of Sir William Drummond Stewart of 
GrandtuUy, Bart A Series of beautifuUy Coloured and 
Hluminated Lithographs of the various parts of the building, 
from the designs of James Gillespie Graham, Architect, 
and Alez. Christib, ARS.A. Folio, illuminated boards, 
£10, lOs. for 18s. 



1 2 Catalogiie of Books 

NAIRNE (Baroness). 

LiFE AND SoNGS OF Baboness Nairnb, with a Memoir and 
Poems of Caroline Oliphant the younger, edited by the Bev. 
Chakles Bogebs, LL.D., portrait and other illustrationsy 
crown Svo, cloth, neat, Ss. 6d. 

PEDLAR'S PACK OF BALLADS AND 

SONGS, edited, with IlluBtrative Notee, by W. H. Logan. 
numerous curious wood engravings, crown Svo, cloth, uncut 
edges, lOs. 6d. 

In thia vohtme there are nearly 100 S<mg» and BaUads, NauUcalf MUUaryf 
Highway, BecUamUe, Bacchanalian, Sporting, dse, 

PLUSCARDEN, THE BOOK OF (j<» ' Historians'), 

> 

being unpublished continuation of Fordun's Chronicle by 
M. fiuOHANAN, Treasurer to tihe Dauphiness of France, 
translated and edited by Felix Skene, 2 yoIs, Syo, cloth, 
30s. 

RAMSAY (Dean). 

Reminisoences of SoomsH Life and Character, Best 
Large Type Libraiy Edition, with a Jine portraU, Svo, cloth, 
lOs. 6d. 

ROGERS (Rev. Dr). 

Leaves from mt Autobiography, with Portrait and other 
Photographic Illustrations, Svo, cloth, 16s. 

SAINT COLUMBA, LIFE OF (^^^"Historians"), 

Founder of Hy, written by Adamnan, ninth Abbot of that 
Monastery. Edited by Wm. Bebves, D.D., M.RLA. Trans- 
lated by the late A. P. Forbes, D.C.L., Bishop of Brechin, 
with Notes, arranged by W. F. Skene. Svo» dioth, 21s. 

SAINT NINIAN AND SAINT KENTIGERN, 

LiVES OF (see "BEstorians"), compiled in the 12th Century, 
and edited from the best MSS. by the late A. P. FoRBBS, 
D.C.L., Bishop of Brechin. Svo, cloth, 158. 

SCOT (SiR JoHN, of Scotstarvet). 

The Staogering State of Scottish Statesmsn, from 
1550 to 1650. With a Memoir of the Author, and Histori- 
cal Blustrations, by Bev. Charles Booers, LL.D. 8vo, 
cloth, lOs. 6d 



Published by Willtam Paterson. 1 3 

SCOTT (Dr Hew). 

Fasti Egolesle SooncANiS, Historical and Biographical 
NoticeB of all the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, from 
the Beformation, A.D. 1560, to the Present Time. Siz vols, 
demy 4t0y cloth, £9. 

The Yolumes may still be had separately, price 30s. each. 
YoL I. embracing Synods of Lothian and Tweeddale. Vol. 
II. Synods of Merse and Teviotdale, Domfries and GaUoway. 
Vol. IIL Synods of Gla^gow and Ayr. VoL IV. Synods of 
Fife, Perth, and Stirling. VoL V. Synods of Argyle, Glenelg, 
Moray, Eoss, Sutherland and Caithness, Orkney and Shet- 
land. VoL VX Synods of Aberdeen and Angus and Meams. 

SCOTT (SiR Walter). 

A Desgriftivb Acoount of the Portraits, Busts, Pub- 
LiSHiED Writinos, and Manusgrifts of Sir Walter 
ScoTT, Bart, coUected and exhibited at Edinburgh on occa- 
sion of the Scott Centenaiy of 1871, prepared for publication 
by Sir Whjjam Stirling Maxwell, Bart, David Laing, 
IJi.D., and James Drummond, RSuA., illustrated with 
thirty-two fine photo-Iithographs of Portndts and fiusts, and 
numerons Facsimiles of Original Manuscripts and Auto- 
graphs. 4to, cloth, gilt^ 25s. 

** ThiB elegant and handsome work famifl a moet deaiTable Yoliune, pecnli- 
arly valiiable to aU who f eel interested xn the Life and WritingB of the great 
Noveliflt and Poet." 

SCOTT (Sir Walter). 

Oenealooical Memoirs of thb Familt of, with a reprint 
of his MemorialB of the Haliburtons, and Index of Names, by 
the Bev. Dr Booers. Frontispiece, Svo, cloth, lOs. 6d. 

SLEZER'S THEATRUM SCOTIiE, containing 

the prospects of their Majesties' Castles and Palaces ; together 
with those of the most condderable Towns and GoUeges, the 
Buins of many Abbeys, Churches, Monasteries, and Gon- 
yents within the said Kingdom. With a description of each 

Slace, by John Slezer, 1693. A new edition wiih JamiesorCs 
fife of SlezeVf and his kUer descripiions, correded^ 68 plates, 
and the coats of arms attached to the dedications, beautifuUy 
and correctly emblazoned in heraldic colours, royal folio, 
half-morocco, £7, 7s. 

TMs worh, aa depiding the Towru, Ccuntry Seats, and Churches^ dCrc, o/ 8cU- 
land, M they were at the efoee ofthe seventeenth century, is exceedmgJy inUres^ng 
andvahtame. 



14 Catalogue of Books 

SCOTTISH ALMANAC, PATERSON'S. 

PubliBhed Annnally, In Ornaineiital Paper Cover, price Is. ; 
Clotb Limp, Ib. 6d. 

Pat£RSOn's ScomsH Aluanac fonns one Tolume crowii 
Svo, of Tvo Hundred and Seventy-two Pages, printed ili 
clear, legible tjre, and contains a vety lai^ amount of valu- 
able in^rmatiion collected irom latest official and other 
sonrcea, and carefiilly digested. 



IT8 LEADiNQ HEADS ARE: - 

A General Calbndab. Thb Law. 

POLITICAL INFORUATION. GOVERNMENT OfFICBS. 

Ths Peerage and Baronbiaoe. The Churcres. 
Arut and Navy Listb. The Universities. 

GOUNTT AND SlTRGH LlSIS. COUUERCE AND AGRICirLTDR£ 

BnrnsH COLONIES and Foreign Tables of Inland Rbven Ul. 
CoDNTRiEs. Stamp and Legact DtmBS, 

PosT Officb Information. &C. &C. &C. 

With an Index of nearly 700 itema. 

SPINK (WlLLIAM, S.S.C.). 

Handbooe of Proceddre and Bedbess at Law, compris- 
ing the Procedure of the Civil Courts of Scotland and in the 
House of Lords, Treatise on Actions and Diligence, and 
Procedure and Bedress under several Statutes, Dictionaty of 
Terms, &c., with Forms and Accounts of Coste for Profes- 
donal and General Use. Crown 8vo, cloth, lOs. 6d. 



Published by William Patersan. 1 5 

SPINK (WlLLIAM, S.S.C). 

NOTES FOR SETTLEB£ENT-MAKERS ANB TRUSTEESy with 

Forms. Crown 8yo, sewed, Is. 

STIRLING AND ALEXANDER. 

MeMORIALS OF THE EARL OF STIRLINa AND OF THE HOUSE 

OF Alexander, by ihe Eev. Dr Boqers, with Portraits and 
Copious Index of Names. 2 vols, 8vo, clothy 42s. 

STRACHAN AND WISE. 

Memorials of the Scottish Families of Straghan and 
WiSE, edited by the Bev. Dr Kogers. Small 4to, cloth, 21s. 

Printed f or private circnlation. 

THREE SCOTTISH REFORMERS— 

Alexander Cunningham, Fifth Earl of Glencaim, Henry 
Balnaves of Halhill, and John Davidson, Minister of Preston- 
pans, with their Poetical Bemains, ahd Mr Davidson's 
"Helps for Young Scholars in Chnstianity," edited, with 
Memoirs, by the Bev. Dr Bogers, portrait^ 8vo, cloth, 
lOs. 6d. 

WYNTOUN'S (Andrew of) 

Orygynale Metrigal Cronykil of Scotland {see " His- 
torians ''), now printed for the first time from the Boyal MS. 
Edited by David Laing, LL.D., and illustrated with numer- 
ous facsimiles. 3 vols 8vo, cloth, 50s. 



PATERSON'S 

TOUBISTS' EANDY GUIDES TO SCOTLAND. 

PATERSON« TOURISrS SHILLING HANDY GUIDE TO 
SCOTLAND. 168 pages, Plan of Edinburgh, 12 Charts, and 
44 Ulustrations. 

PATERSON'S TOURISrS HALF-CROWN GUIDE TO 
ScoTLAND, with Ulustrations and Coloured Charts, and 
large extra Maps of the Land of Scott, Skye, and Cale- 
DONIAN Canal Cloth boards. 

PATERSON'S GUIDE TO EDINBURGH and its ENVIRONS, 

With a New Plan of the City, price 6d. With Coloured DiB- 
trict lilap and New Plan of the City, coloured, Is. 

PATERSON'S GUIDE TO GLASGOW, THE CLYDE, AND 
Land of Burns, with a New Plan of Glaseow, price 6d. 
With the New Plan of Glasgow, Coloured, and la^e Map of 
the West Coast, Coloured, price Is. 



1 6 Catalogue of Books 

PATERSON'S GUIDE TO THE TROSSACHS AND TO THE 
Laees, Olens, and Towns of Ckntral Sootlamd, with a 
DlBtrict Map, price 6d. Fine Paper Edition, with the Map 
Coloured, price Is. 

PATERSON'S GUIDE TO THE LAND OF SCOTT AND 
SoUTHERN CouMTiBS of ScoTLAND, with a District Map, 
price 6d. Fine Paper Edition, with the Map Coloored, 
pricels. 

TBAVELLING KAFS. 

PATERSON'S TOURISrs HANDY PLAN OF THE CITY 

of Edinburgh, Map bf the Environs and Sketch Ma^ of 
Scotland, Index of Streets, and other usefol ihformation. 
On a Scale of 4 Miles to the Inch, in Printed Cover, price 6d.y 
Coloured. 

PATERSON'S TOURISrS HANDY PLAN OF THE CITY 
of Glasgow, with Indez of Streets, and List of the Principal 
Public BuilcQngs. On a Scale of 4 Miles to the Inch, in 
Printed Cover, price 6d., Coloured. In^e^aiwiL 

PATERSON'S TOURISrS MAP OF THE CALEDONIAN 

Canal and Inverness^hirk On a Scale of 4 Miles to the 
Inch, in Printed Coyer, price 6d., Coloured. 

PATERSON'S TOURISrS MAP OF THE LAND OF SCOTT, 
comprising the Southem Counties of Scotland. On a Scale 
of 4 Miles to the Inch, in Printed Coyer, price 6d., 
Coloured. 

PATERSON^S TOURISrS HANDY MAP OF THE ISLE OF 

Skye and adjacent Islands. On a Scale of 4 Miles to the 
Inch, in Printed Coyer, price 6d., Coloured. 

PATERSON'S TOURISTS MAP OF THE CLYDE, ARRAN, 

and the Land of Burns. On a Scale of 4 Miles to the Inch, 
in Printed Cover, price 6d., Colonred. 



Published by William Paterson. 1 7 



SPALDING CLUB PUBLICATI0N8. 

HISTORY OF SCOTS AFFAIRS FROM 1637 to 1644, by 

James GrORDON, Paison of Rothiemay, edited by Josepb 
BoBERTSON and Georqe Grub. Facsiniile& 3 voIb, 4to, 
doth, 168. 1841 

The aathor of thia work was fifth Bon of Robert Gordon of Straloch, the 
well known topographer and geographer, whose surveya and descriptions were 
printed in Bleau'8 Atlas of ScoUand. 

MISCELLANY OF THE SPALDING CLUB, edited by John 
Stuart, LL.D., illustrated by fiEhcsimiles of autograplis. 5 
vols, 4to, cloth, X3, lOs. 1841-52 

The oontentB of thia vainable and important oollection indude 52 separate 
pieces, the moet of which are reprintB of rare publicationa, or hitherto unpub- 
ushed documenta and ancient manuacriptB, and form a body of intererang 
mateiiala iUaBtrative of the dyil and ecdeBiastical historyof the north-eastem 
countieB of Scotland. 

DESCRIPTION OF BOTHE TOUNS OF ABERDEEN, by 
James GrOBDON, Parson of Bothiemay, with facsmXU of 
Gordon'8 Map of New and Old Aberdeen, 1661 j two Yiews 
of the City by Slezer, 1696; and another View by Grejonr 
Sharpe, 1732 ; and facsimiles of Seals of the Burgh. Edited, 
with Introduction, by CosMO Inne& 4to, cloth, 9s. 1842 

EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESBYTERY BOOK OF STRATH- 
BOGEB, A.D. 1631-1654, edited from the original Records, 
with Introduction, by JoHN Stuart, LL.D., lOs. 6d. 1843 

A FRAGMENT OF A MEMOIR OF FIELD - MARSHAL 
James Ejeith, written by Himself, 1714-1734. Presented 
by Thomas Constable, Esq. 4to, cloth, 8s. 6d. 1843 

COLLECTIONS FOR A HISTORY OF THE SHIRES OF 
Abekdeen and Banff, edited by Joseph Bobertson. 4to, 
doth, 30s. 1843 

ThiB Yolume oontaina a map of the shireB of Aberdeen, Banff, and MeamB, 
by Robert Gordon of Straloc^ MD.CUV. — ^PnBfectnrarum AberdoneuBiB et 
BanfienjDB, in Scotia Ultra-Montana, Nova DeBcriptio, Auctore Roberto 
Gordonio MD.CU. — BfD.CLX. — ^Deecription of AberdeenBhire, by Sir Samuel 
ForbeB of Foveran, 1716-17, and A View of the Dioceae of Abeodeen, 1732. 

A SHORT ABRIDGEMENT OF BRITAINFS DISTEMPER 
FROM 1639 to 1649, by Patrick Gordon, edited with In- 
troduction by JoHN Dunn, Esq. 4to, doth, lOs. 6d. 1844 

The author of thia work waa brother of Sir Alexander Gordon of Cluny. 



1 8 Catalogue of Books 

A BRIEFFE NARRATION OF THE SERVICES DONE TO 
Thkee Noble Labies by Oilbert Blakhall, Priest of the 
Scots Mission in France, in the Low Cbuntries, and in Scot- 
land, 1631-1649, edited by JOHN Stuart, LL.D. 4to, cloth, 
7s. 6d. 1844 

EXTRACTS FROM THE COUNCIL REGISTER OF THE 

BUROH OF Aberdeen, 1398-1625, edited with Introduction 
by JOHN Stuart, LL.D. 2 vols, 4to, cloth, 18s. 1844-48 

Theee siiigitlarly interesting and valaable regiflten of the Coancil of the 
city of Abeideen — ^onquestionably at once more ancient and morp oomplete 
than those of any other burgh in Scotland — ^illustrate f orcibly both the ancient 
history and oondition of *the country in general, more particularly the muni- 
cipaJ and commercial arrangementa, and tne habits of domestic Uf e which pre- 
vailed in our Scottish burghs during the eventful period comprised between 
the close of the fourteenth and the earlier part of the seventeentii century. 

REGISTRUM EPISCOPATUS ABERDONENSIS ECCLESIE 
Gathedralis Aberdonensis Eegesta que Extant m 
Unum Collecta, edited with copious Introduction by 
GoSMO Innes, Illuminated Plates and Facsimiles. 2 vols, 
4to, cloth, 15s. 1845 

This very valuable and handsome work may be reffarded as one of the moet 
important additions to the stores of the Ecclesiasticad fiistory and Antiquities 
of Scotland, while, at the same time, its interest and utilify, as iUnstrating 
the ancient condition of our north-eastem provinoes, can scarcely be esti- 
mated too highly. 

SELECTIONS FROM THE RECORDS OF THE KIRK SES- 

siON, Presbytery, and Synod of Aberdeen, 1562-1681, 
edited with Introduction, by JoHN Stuart, LL.D. 4to, 
cloth, 12s. 1846 

This work consiBts of valnable and interesting selections from various 
ecclesiastical records of the district after the Keformation in the sixteenth 
century. 

GENEALOGICAL DEDUCTION OF THE FAMILY OF 
Bose of ELilravock, from the year 1290, written at the 
end of the Seventeenth Century, and now jSrst printed from 
the original manuscript, continued to the year 1847, with 
illuBtrative documents firom the Family Fapers and Notes, 
edited with Introduction by Gosmo Innes. 4to, cloth, 30s. 

1848 

This work, enriched by a valuable Introdnction, and edited by Cosmo Innes 
with all iJie care and erudition for which he was distinguished, will be found 
to afiford matter of much higher and more ffeneral interest than is conveyed 
bv the mere title. It is a most valuable and instructive oontribution to the 
history of manners in the north during an eventfnl period of siz centuries ; 
and its illustrations of the last 200 years are especially copious. The volxmie 
throws muoh light on the genenJ and sociai history of the distriot. 



Published by William Paterson. 1 9 

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE TOPOGRAPHY AND ANTI- 

QUiTiES OF THE Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, edited, 
with Indez and Preface, by JosEPH Eoberxson and George 
Grub, LL.D. 5 vols, 4to, cloth, £3, 15s. 1843-1869 

Theae yolumeB embody a mass of materials gathered from the valaable and 
intereBtmg charters and doenments f oond in the archives of ancient houaes, 
rendering ayailable those areat stores of local knowledge f or which the nortii- 
eastem counties are remarkable. 

MEMORIALLS OF THE TRUBLES IN SCOTLAND AND IN 

England, from tbe year 1624 to tbe year 1645, by John 
Spalding, Clerk of tbe Court of Commissary of Aberdeen. 
Edited, witb Introduction, Notes, and IUustrations, by JoHN 
Stuart, LL.D. 2 vols, 4to, cloth, 21s. 1850-51 

For thiB edition of the ve^ interesting work of the Annaliat, whose name 
was adopted as that of the Clnb, the best mannBcripts were Becnred, inclnd- 
ing one which probably received the author'B own corrections. Many illustra- 
tive unpubliBhed documentB were made ubo of by the leamed editor, whose 
minute and varied acquaintance with the history, genealogy, and antiquities 
of the diBtrict enabled him to make the present edition of this characteristic 
chronide by far the beat that haB appeared. 

INNES (Thomas), The History, Civil and Ecclesiastical, of Scot- 
land, Lxxx. — ^DCCOXViiL Edited from tbe autbor'8 MS. by 
George Orub. 4to, clotb, 21s. 1853 

By the eminent Father Innes, author of the " Critical EsBay on the Andent 
Inhabitants of Scotland." This work waB prepared for tne preBB by the 
author, and oontains hia last corrections f or imsX purpose. 

FASTI ABERDONENSIS— Selections from the Records of the 
XTniverBity and King^s College of Aberdeen, firom A.D. 1494 
to A.D. 1854. Edited, witb Copious PrefEu^e and Historical 
Hlustrations, by CosMO Innes. Portmii of Bisbop Elpbin- 
stone. 4to, cloth, 28s. 1854 

A few copies left, printed on Large Paper, with the portrait beautifnlly 
coloured. 

''Thia work, printed at the ezpense of the Earl of Aberdeen, must be 
regarded with great interest aa a contribution of materialB not merely f or the 
hiBtoiy of one of our venerable academical inatitutionB, but aB fumiBhmg many 
curiouB illuBtrationa of ancient mannero, and giving many aids to the atudent 
of northem genealogy." It indudeB the Life of the Founder, Biahop Elphin- 
Btone, written by hia friend Hector Boeoe, the first Principal of the GoUege. 

SCULPTURED STONES OF SCOTLAND. Edited ,by John 

Stuart, LL.D., containing upwards of 300 fine plates of 

Monuments and Illustrations. 2 vols, folio, £24. 1856-67 

One of the most important benefits conf erred by the Spaldin^ Sodety was 
the isBue of thia great national work, the beauty and value of which have been 
nniverBally acknowledged. TheBe volumeB preBerve and faithfully exhibit re- 
presentationB of monnmentB and venerable remaiuB of ScottiBh art which muBt 
be conflidered aa the earliest recorda of thia ooontry, at a time when faota and 
ideas were comjnemorated by Bymbols. 



20 Catalogue of Books published by William Paterson^ 

TH£ BRUS, writ be Master Johne Barbour, Archdeacon of Aber- 

deeiL Edited from a coUation of the Cambridge and Edin- 

burgh Manoscripts, with Intipductiony by CosMO Innes. 

4to, cloth, 32s. 1857 

The present edition of this great historical poem, from the carefol coUation of 
varionB manuacript copies, fnmiBhes the best text which haa been publiahed. 
The interest and valne of the original work are greatly enhanced by the ample 
literary and histoncal illnBtrationa of the distinguished editor. 

THE BOOK OF THE THANES OF CAWDOR, a Series of 

Papers selected firom the Charter-Boom at Cawdor, A.D. 
'1236-1742. Edited, with Introduction, by CoSMO Innes. 
4to, cloth, 32s. 1854 

PASSAGES FROM THE DIARY OF GENERAL PATRICK 

GoBSON of Auchleuchries, 1635-99, edited, with Introduc- 
tion, by Joseph Robertson, 4to, cloth, lOs. 6d. 1860 

The Diary, from which these Extracts are taken, ia depoeited in the Impe- 
rial Library at St Petersbnrgh. General Gordon, who arew hia origin £rom 
the stock of Anchlenchries, attained a high rank and distingnished hononr in 
the Busaian service abont the middle and latter part of the 17th oentnry. 
These Extracts were niade nnder the supervision of Dr Posaelt, tiie editor of 
the Gennan tranBhition of the " Diaiy.^ They embrace, among other histo* 
rical notes, the record of two yiBits to Rngland and one to Scotland, made by 
General Gordon in 1660 and 1686. 

EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARIES OF ALEXANDER 
Brodie of Brodie, and of his Son James Brodie of firodie, 
1652-85, edited, with Introduction, by David Laino, LL.D. 
4to, clotii, 21s. 1863 

The " Laird of Brodie" was Lord of Session nnder Charles I. and Crom- 
well. He filled no mean place in the history of hia times, and he seems to 
haye aBBiduonslv recordea from day to day the opiniona whidh he formed of 
the events which passed before hia eyes and of the persons with whom he waa 
associated. The Extracts giyen are of yery great interest and valne in illna- 
trating the history and manners of Brodie^s eventfnl tunes. 

THE HISTORY OF THE FAMILIE INNES, with Illustra- 
TIVE DocuBiENTS, edited, with Introduction, by Cosmo 
Innes, 4to, cloth, 30s. 1864 

Indndes a selection from the Charters of the Dnke of Boxbnrghe, illnatra- 
tive of that family, and of the north conntry history generally. 

THE BOOK OF DEER, Edited, with Introduction, by John 

Stuabt, LL.D., illustrated with numerous plates of facsimiles, 
4to, cloth, 50s. 1869 

NOTICES OF THE SPALDING CLUB, with Copies of the 
Annual Reports of the Council, Lists of the Members and of 
the Works of the Club, by JoHN Stuabt, LL.D., 4to, cloth, 
lOs. 6d. 1871 



List of Books in Preparation 

by 

William Patersony Edinburgh. 



BURNS (ROBERT), A Collection of Engravings, Artisfs 

^oofz be/ore leUers, and Etchings of the plates, from two paint- 
mgs by Alex. Nasmyth, eight water-colour drawings by Sam 
Bou^h, B.S.A., three by wT K Lockhart, E.S. A., and others. 
29 plates in all, Columbier folio, with quotations descriptlYe of 
the engravings, in portfolio. The impression limited to 75 
copies, each of which will be numbered, 84s. 

A HISTORY OF THE SCOTTISH GAME OF CURL- 

ING, with Historical Notices of the famous Clubs, by Dr 
James Taylor. niustrated by etchings by W. Forrest, 
H.RS.A., afber water-colour drawings by Kobert Anderson, 
A.R.S. A. ; also, humorous wood engravings after C. A. Doyle. 

A DICTIONARY OF THE ANONYMOUS AND 

PSEUDONYMOUS LlTERATURE OF GkEAT BrITAIN, including 

the works of Foreigners written in or translated into, the 
English Language, by the late Samuel Halkett, Esq., 
Keeper of the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. Edited with 
large additions by Rev. John Laino, Librarian of the New 
Coliege, EdinburgL To form 3 vols, thick royal 8yo, 
cloth. 

Thia important bibliographical work wiU give the nunes of the Authors of 
npwards of Twenty Thoasand books ori^dnaUy pablished anonymously. It 
wiU be invalnable to all book ooUectora and to ul pnbUc Libraries. 

THE ADVENTURES OF GIL BLAS OF SANTIL- 

LANA, newly translated from the French of Le Sage, with a 
Preface to prove who was the author of 6il Blas, a Prefatoty 
Memoir and Notes by Henri van Laun, Ulustrated imth 24 
etchings, done speciaUyfor this toork by M. Ad. Lalauze, 3 vols., 
nniform with the same translator^s lUustrated Library edi- 
tion of Moli Ws Works.