Immediately after this, he renewed his oath of fealty to Edward, in presence of the guardian." Under pretence of urgent business, he obtained leave to return home. He then assembled a considerable body of his vassals and dependants, and sent them to the aid of Bruce.*

noster Seygneur le Roi d'Engleterre, que nous enosterons en tottes les manieres que nous deverons selom ceo que nostre Seygneur le Roi e soun counseil ordonera que faire devoms, que nous ny avons nule manere de coupe de la morte Monsire John Comyn, ne mon Sire Robert soun oncle, ne de la commencement de ceste guerre e a ce nous nous enobligoms de nous oster aussi bien devers le linage cum devers la pees nostre Seygneur le Roi. E si ceo faire ne povins, demoryons a la volonté nostre Seygneur le Roi com ataint. E de tottes autres choses que nostre Seygneur le Roi savera dire vers nous, nous nous mettoms a sa volonté de haut e de bas, e a cestes choses faire e performer al avaunt dit monsieur Aymar avoms doné nos lettres overtes ensealés de nostre seal. Doné a la Fountaine d'Escoce le 9 jour de Juyn, l'an du regne le Roi Edward 34." This is, in substance, as follows: "Be it known, that we have voluntarily agreed to clear ourselves, in whatever manner our Lord the King and his council shall appoint, of any accession to the death of John Comyn Lord of Badenoch, and Robert his uncle, or of having had any share in the rise of the present war, and we will clear ourselves thereof, both with respect to the kindred of the deceased, and to public justice; and if we fail herein, we consent to be at the will of the King as a person convicted. And as to whatever else our Lord the King may have to allege concerning us, we submit ourselves wholly to his pleasure. And, in testimony of our willingness to perform all these things to Aymer de Valence, Lord of Montignac, the King's lieutenant in Scotland, we have granted these our letterspatent, sealed with our seal. Given at Scotland-well, this 9th June, and of King Edward the 34th year."

The Bishop of St Andrews was at first confined in the castle of Nottingham, but was afterwards removed to the tower of the castle of Winchester; Foedera, T. ii. p. 1015-16. There will be occasion hereafter to relate the other incidents of the life of this singular person.

* In a memorandum for drawing up a charge against the Bishop of St Andrews, to be presented to the Pope, are these

22

Robert Wisheart, Bishop of Glasgow, held the castle of Cupar in Fife against the English. He was made prisoner there,* arrayed in armour; and, in that uncanonical garb, was conducted to the castle of Nottingham.+23.

The castle of Kildrummie was besieged by the Earls of Lancaster and Hereford.24 One Osburn treacherously burnt the magazine. The garrison,

words: "Idem Episcopus Sancti Andreae, per modicum tempus ante diem Dominicum, quo Robertus de Brus, cum toto posse suo, cum Domino Adomaro de Valencia, et suis secum ibidem ex parte Domini nostri Regis existentibus, praeliabat, ad praefatum Dominum Adomarum venit, et ad fidem et pacem Domini Regis rediens, ipsius gratiae et voluntati se submisit, et admissus fuit ab eodem, et juramentum praestitit corporale dicto Domino Adomaro, nomine Domini Regis, de fideliter se tenendo; et subsequenter causam fingens, per tres vel quatuor dies proximò praecedentes diem belli ad disponendum super quibusdam suis agendis, petitâ ab eodem Domino Adomaro licentiâ et obtentâ, sub manucaptione tum competente recessit, et per illos dies quotquot potuit de suis adunare equitum armatorum, et aliorum dicto Roberto de Brus, ad juvandum eum dicto die belli contra dictum Dominum Adomarum et suos, destinavit, sicut evidentiâ facti ipso die evidenter apparebat, tam per eorum aliquos ibidem captos, quam ipsorum alios quorum cadavera testimonium perhibent veritati;" Records, London.

* " Le chastel de Coupre en Fiff en Escoce, lequel meisme l'Evesque, come hom de guerre, tynt puis contre les gentz nostre Seigneur le Roi, jusqes à tant qu'aucuns de gentz nostre Seigneur le Roi, qui feurent de la compagne Monsieur Aymer de Vallence vindrent au dit chastel e le pristrent par force, sur le dit Evesque et illoques feust mesme l'Evesque pris;" Records, London.

+

"Exercitus tamen regius discurrens per totum regnum Scotorum, coepit persequi fugitivos, et plures perimerunt, et aliquos vivos comprehenderunt, utpote Episcopos et Abbatem praedictos (the Bishops of St Andrews and Glasgow, and the Abbot of Scone), loricatos et armatos subtus exterius tegumentum;" M. Westm. p. 455.

deprived of provisions, surrendered at discretion. Nigel, the brother of Bruce, a youth of singular comeliness, was among the captives. He was tried by a special commission at Berwick, condemned, hanged, and afterwards beheaded.*

A like sentence was executed against Christopher Seaton at Dumfries.+25 He had married the sister of Bruce, and had assisted at the slaughter of Comyn. His brother Alexander suffered a similar death at Newcastle.

The Earl of Athole, attempting to escape by sea, was discovered and conducted to London.26 He there underwent the complicated punishment which, in those times, the law of England inflicted on traitors, (7th November).

* Trivet, p. 344. and M. Westm. p. 455. relate, that he was taken at a castle in Kintyre, which the English besieged, in hope of finding Bruce there; but I follow Barbour, p. 65. M. Westm. calls him miles pulcherrimae juventutis. The only time that that historian seems to feel compassion in describing the varied punishments inflicted on the partisans of Bruce, is when he speaks of this young man; indeed, his only offence appears to have been, that he followed the fortunes of his brother.

† Barbour says, that he was betrayed by his confident and familiar friend, one M'Nab, p. 63. Trivet, p. 365. says, that he was taken at the castle of Lochore (in Fife); he adds, " quem, cum non Scotus sed Anglicus esset, jussit Rex deduci usque Dumfries, ubi quendam militem de parte Regis occiderat, ibique judicium subire coactus, tractus, suspensusque est, ac ultimò decollatus." I suppose the meaning of this to be, that as Seaton was an English baron, Edward honoured him with a trial by jury, while he inflicted capital punishment on the others, without any such formalities.

‡ "In equuleo 30 pedum suspensus est: Postea semivivus demissus, ut majores cruciatus sentiret, crudelissimè decollatur. Truncus vero illius, praeaccenso in conspectu ejus vehementi igne,

25 Barbour, 65. Trivet, 345.

VOL. II.

26 M. Westm. 456.

B

Simon Fraser, a renowned warrior, was executed at London, and his head was placed on the point of a lance, near the head of Wallace.*27 With him Herbert de Norham suffered. Both had repeatedly sworn fealty to Edward.

Many other Scotsmen of inferior degree were punished capitally.+28

Edward bestowed the lordship of Annandale, the paternal estate of Bruce, on the Earl of Here

unà cum carne et ossibus, in favillas et cineres funditus conflagrantur;" M. Westm. p. 456. Langtoft, vol. ii. p. 335. says, That the Earl " was not drawen, that poynt was forgyvyn." He was in some sort allied to the royal family of England, his mother being a daughter of Richard the natural son of King John. Scalae Chron. ap. Leland, vol. ii. p. 543. says, "The Earl of Atheles, by cause he was cosin to the King of England, and sonne to Maude of Dour his aunte, was sent to London, and there was hanged upon a pair of galows 30 foote hyer then the other." Tante, here translated aunt, means the father's cousingerman. M. Westm. p. 456. relates, That Edward, at that time, was grievously sick; but hearing that the Earl of Athole was taken, he endured the pains of his disease with more patience: "Quo audito, Rex Angliae, etsi gravissimo morbo tunc langueret, levius tamen tulit dolorem."

* " What pity," cries Langtoft, "that a person of such prowess, and endued with so many virtues, should have incurred the guilt and the punishment of treason!" vol. ii. p. 335.

"Allas, it was to mene, his vertus and his pruesse

So fele in him were sene, that perist for falsnesse."

† There is a strange witticism to be found in M. Westm. p. 455. "Hugo Capellanus patibulo ante caeteros primitus est affixus, quasi diceret, Ego presbyter vobis praebeo iter." The author, himself an ecclesiastic, might have recollected, that, to hang a churchman by civil authority, was no jesting matter. Barbour relates, p. 74. That, when the pleasure of Edward was demanded concerning those who had been made captive in the Scottish war, he answered, after his abrupt manner, " Hang them all." This anecdote is, perhaps, not true; yet it is characteristical.

ford; the earldom of Carrick, his maternal estate, on Henry Percy; and the earldom of Athole, on Ralph de Monthermer, commonly styled Earl of Gloucester; * but he soon after repurchased the grant of Athole, at the price of 5000 merks. 3°

Thus did Edward chastise the Scots for their breach of faith. It is remarkable, that, in the preceding year, he himself procured a papal bull, absolving him from the oath which he had taken for maintaining the privileges of his people.+31 But the Scots, without papal authority, violated their oaths, and were punished as perjured men. It is a truth not to be disguised, that, in those times, the common notions of right and wrong were, in some sort, obliterated. Conscience, intoxicated with indulgences, or stupified by frequent absolution, was no longer a faithful monitor, amidst the

* Joan the daughter of Edward I. and widow of Gilbert de Clare Earl of Gloucester, married Ralph de Monthermer, a person nowise distinguished either for rank or for military prowess. Heming ford calls him miles simplex et segnis; T. i. p. 224. E. Bisse, not. in N. Upton de studio militari, says, That he had the title of Earl of Gloucester, until his stepson became of age, and that he then divested himself of it: "Dum adolesceret privignus ejus Gilbertus de Clare, Comitis Glocestriae titulo est ornatus, cumque Gilbertus annum aetatis 21 explesset, eum exuit, et inter barones accensebatur." Bisse has given an engraving of the seal of Ralph de Monthermer, with this inscription, "S. Radulfi de Monte Hermerii, Com. Gloverniae et Hertford." Yet it seems, that, in public instruments, he was constantly styled Ralph de Monthermer, without any addition.

+ The title of this memorable instrument in Foedera, T. ii. p. 978. is, "Bulla de Rege absolvendo et juramentis et excomтиnicationibus super observatione Magnae Chartae et Forestae adnullandis."