row pass, having a high mountain on the one side, and a precipice washed by the sea on the other.* There the troops of Lorn lay in ambush. Bruce ordered Douglas to make a circuit, and gain the summit of the mountain. He himself, with the rest of his army, entered the pass: they were instantly assaulted. Douglas, from the superior ground, discharged a shower of arrows, rushed down sword in hand, and overthrew the enemy. John, the son of Alexander de Argyle, Lord of Lorn, who had conducted this unsuccessful ambush, from his galley was spectator of the discomfiture of his people,† (about 23d August).

Robert spoiled the country, and took the castle of Dunstaffnage, the chief residence of this too independent Lord. Lorn and his son were permitted to depart with their ships.‡o°

While Bruce and his associates thus exerted themselves in wresting Scotland from the English, * Barbour, p. 195. calls the mountain Crethinben.

+ At this place, Barbour has introduced a generous senti

ment:

"To John of Lorn it should displease
I trow, when he his men might see
Be slain and chased in the hill
That he might set no help theretill.
But it angers as greatumly
To good hearts that are worthy,
To see their foes fulfill their will

As to themselves to tholl the ill."

‡ Barbour, p. 48. says, That Alexander of Argyle, Lord of Lorn, submitted himself to Bruce; but that his son John retreated to his ships. I follow the narrative of Fordun, L. xii. c. 18. who says, That Alexander of Argyle retired into England, where he soon after died.

every thing was feeble and fluctuating in the councils of their enemies.

61

Edward II. fondly imagined that he might reconcile the Scots to the English government by the mediation of William de Lambyrton, Bishop of St Andrews. This turbulent, though timid ecclesiastic, after having been conveyed from prison to prison, at length made submissions which procured his enlargement, then his full liberty, and presently the confidence of Edward.

William de Lambyrton took a most solemn oath to be the faithful liege-man of England; and, with the zeal of a new convert, engaged to publish the sentence of excommunication against Bruce and all his adherents, *6* (11th August).

The measures of Edward varied from day to day.63 This is visible from the frequent changes which he made in the government of Scotland. The Earl of Richmond was removed from the

office of guardian, and Robert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus, and William de Ros de Hamelake, were appointed joint guardians. To them Henry de Beaumont was added; but, within four days, a commission was issued, appointing Robert de Clifford sole guardian, and another appointing Robert de Umfraville sole guardian, because the King knew not which of the two would accept of the office. It appears that Clifford accepted, and was constituted sole guardian. After an interval of about three weeks, Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, was named captain-general in Scotland; Clifford was again named guardian, and soon after was succeeded by John de Segrave.*

Philip King of France endeavoured to promote a reconciliation between Edward II. and Bruce.64 With the permission of Edward, he sent a special

* Robert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus, and William de Ros de Hamelake, were appointed joint guardians, 21st June 1308; Foedera, T. iii. p. 94. Henry de Beaumont was added to the commission, 16th August 1309; Foedera, T. iii. p. 160. Robert de Umfraville, Earl of Angus, and Robert de Clifford, had each of them a commission to be sole guardian, 20th August 1309; Foedera, T. iii. p. 161. because the King knew not " quis eorum custodiam illam admittere debeat." Gilbert de Clare Earl of Gloucester was appointed captain-general in Scotland, 14th September 1309; Foedera, T. iii. p. 175. Robert de Clifford was again appointed guardian, 15th December 1309; Foedera, T. iii. p. 195. John de Segrave succeeded him, 10th March 1309-10; Foedera, T. iii. p. 203.

messenger, Oliver des Roches, to treat with Bruce and the Bishop of St Andrews. The situation of that prelate was singular : After having renewed his fealty to Edward, he appears to have returned to Scotland, and to have had confidential intercourse with Bruce, (4th March 1308-9).

1309.

Through the mediation of the King of France, Edward consented to a truce with the Scots. 65 Edward charged the Scots as guilty of a violation of the truce,* and summoned his barons to meet him in arms at Newcastle, on the 29th September, in order to march against the enemy.

Still, however, inclining to pacific measures, he authorized Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, to treat with Bruce, (2d and 21st August). The commissioners appointed by Bruce for conducting this treaty, were Sir John de Menteth, and Sir Nigel Campbell.

The Sieur de Varennes, the French ambassador at the English court, acted a treacherous part.67 He openly sent a letter to Bruce, under the title of Earl of Carrick; but, in secret, he entrusted the bearer with other despatches, addressed to the King of Scots. Edward having intercepted the despatches, transmitted them to Philip King of France; for he either believed, or affected to be

lieve, that Philip had not authorized the duplicity of his ambassador, (2d August).

Philip sent his brother Lewis, Count de Evreux, and Peter Guy, Bishop of Soissons, ambassadors to the English King, and again solicited a truce with Scotland.68 Edward empowered Robert de Umfraville, and three others, to negociate and conclude the truce; but, at the same time, he declared that he did this " at the request of Philip, as his dearest father and friend, but who was in no sort to be considered as the ally of the people of Scotland,"* (29th November).

69

This negociation was soon interrupted. Bruce laid siege to the castle of Rutherglen in Clydesdale: Edward sent his nephew, the young Earl of Gloucester, to raise the siege,† (3d December).

The treaty was renewed.7o Edward appointed commissioners for that purpose. The Bishop of St Andrews was one of the number, (16th Feb. 1309-10). It appears that the truce was conclud

* " Come de nostre tres chere pere (father-in-law) et ami, et come a celui que de riens ne se tient d'estre alyes as gentz d'Escosse." The other commissioners for concluding the truce were, John de Crombewell (Cromwell), John Wogan, and John de Benstede. It was specially provided that nothing done should be valid, unless consented to by Wogan and Benstede; Foedera, T. iii. p. 192.

† Historians are silent as to this event; but it is probable that the siege was raised; for, according to our writers, Edward II. in the following year, penetrated to Renfrew. Had Rutherglen been in the possession of the Scots, it is not to be supposed that Renfrew would have remained under the English dominion, or that Edward would have directed his march thither. Rutherglen appears to have been won from the English in 1313. See Barbour, p. 120.