spent three months in each circuit to dispense justice, and redress the wrongs of the poor; made himself accessible to the humblest of his subjects; spurned all sycophants and flatterers from his presence; frowned upon the idle and the profligate; encouraged economy and moderation in the style and mode of living; improved trade and commerce; confined all traffic with foreigners to merchants; made himself familiar with all his nobles, and sought to reform the rude and licentious manners of his people, by the example of a purer and a sterner virtue. He was devoted to the interests of his country; manfully stood forward in her defence in the hour of peril; with a strong hand and an uplifted arm, drove the invader from her coasts; refused to sacrifice the independence of his crown to either friend or foe; restrained the ambition of the priesthood; maintained the independence of the Scottish church against the pretensions and the claims of Rome; and to the glory of his arms, added the higher glory of a righteous and benevolent reign. Neither rank nor office exempting from the ills of life, his majesty was called to pass through a series of most painful dispensations. His royal consort, who had been present with him at the coronation of the first Edward of England, was no more. Within a single year, he lost two beloved children-Alexander, the prince of Scotland, and his sister Margaret, who had been married to Eric, king of Norway. In these deeply afflictive circumstances, he convened parliament, in order to settle the question of succession. His daughter had left one child-Margaret, the maiden of Norway-and her the nobles solemnly bound themselves to acknowledge as their sovereign, failing any issue that his majesty might have in time coming. Bereaved and afflicted, this was a partial solace to his mind; but he was alone in his dominion and in life. He therefore contracted a second matrimonial alliance with Joleta, daughter of the Count de Dreux; but scarcely had the nuptials been consummated, before he was thrown from his horse and killed. 66 His death was a greater misfortune than that of any other king who had ever reigned in Scotland, not because it had deprived the country of a prince, more distinguished by martial powers, or bodily accomplishments, than those who had preceded him, but because every one foresaw what calamities would by his death be brought upon the kingdom."* Dark was the cloud which obscured An elegy is preserved, in which his virtues, and the misfortunes that followed his death, are recorded. It is the oldest specimen of the Scottish language which is known to remain in existence: "Quhen Alysandyr, our Kyng, was dede, Of Wyne and Wax, of Gamyn and Gle, There is a legend, to the effect, that a man, called Thomas the Rhymer, predicted to one of the nobles, that the sixteenth day of March, would be the stormiest that a period of nearly two hundred years had rolled away since Malcolm, the son of Duncan, had recovered the kingdom from Macbeth; it is true that the throne had been filled, with one or two exceptions, by wise, able, and devoted princes; it is true that many good and practical laws were enacted, and that the sun of the nation's prosperity shone out more clearly and hopefully than ever; but it was not to be expected that a child, and that child a female, could so quickly discern those fawning, flattering spirits that surrounded her throne, or deal with the same determination and courage in conducting her government. She had neither the years, nor the maturity of judgment, which qualified her to choose for her councillors, men of unbending principle, and of patriotic heart. It was a crisis in the national history, and how the crisis might end no one could foresee or foretel. It could not be that Scotland, which up to that moment had proved itself to be a powerful and victorious nation, was to become the prey of usurpers, or be passed like a tennis-ball from hand to hand, to be thrown like a plaything into the air. God meant her to be a nation, and her children to be men of soul! SECTION 1.MARGARET, THE MAID OF NORWAY. We have seen that Alexander's own daughter was espoused to Eric, king of Norway, and that the issue of the marriage was one female child, to whom, in the presence of Alexander, and shortly before his death, the nobles of Scotland had sworn allegiance. This young princess, known as the maid of Norway, was residing at her father's court, when her grandsire departed this life. In consequence of her absence and her infancy, the parliament appointed a regency of six, of whom one was murdered, another soon afterwards died, and among the others, serious dissensions arose, which threatened to involve the kingdom in anarchy. His majesty of Norway interposed, and sent ambassadors to England, to treat with Edward concerning the affairs of the infant queen, and her distracted kingdom. Nothing could have pleased Edward more. His ambition was to unite the crown of Scotland with his own. He had been busy consulting the chapter of accidents, and only waited for the favourable moment when circumstances would decide his course. At length he proposed a marriage between the maid of Norway, now queen of Scotland, and his eldest son. A dispensation was obtained from the pope to sanction their union, and a treaty was drawn up by the parliaments of both kingdoms, in which the conditions were most favourable to the liberty and the honour of Scotland. But the king of Norway hesitated to give up his only child, whether from affection or from feeling we are not prepared to affirm. Meanwhile Edward was not idle in laying his plans so as to get possession of the kingdom. He endeavoured to possess himself of the fortresses, and failed only through the manly resolution of the Scots not to sacrifice their national independence, divided as they now were. regency waited the arrival of the queen, and made every possible preparation for her reception. She sailed from Norway to take The possession of her kingdom, but sickened on her passage, landed at Orkney, and there died. The hopes of Edward were frustrated, and again the union of the two nations was deferred by the inscrutable dispensations of Infinite wisdom and love. SECTION II.-COMPETITORS FOR THE CROWN. Had the marriage between the maid of Norway and the heir apparent to the throne of England been consummated, and the two kingdoms united, treasures of wealth and of life would have been saved. But the progeny of Alexander was now extinct. The regency was superseded by the death of the queen. The treaty of union was a dead letter. The question of succession was revived. Families connected by blood with royalty began to secretly prefer their rights; the nobles became divided into factions; the classes beneath them were discontented and restless, and a civil war seemed inevitable. With the death of the princess Margaret the succession reverted to David, earl of Huntingdon, and brother of William the Lion. The male line being extinct, the crown devolved on the posterity of his three daughters-Margaret, Isabella, and Adama. Margaret left one daughter, who was married to John Baliol, the founder of Baliol College, Oxford. The issue of this marriage was one son, who bore the paternal name; and if the principle of representation was to decide the question of succession, he was entitled to the preference as having sprung from the eldest branch of the family. Isabella gave birth to Robert Bruce; and if priority of claim was to be determined by the fact of propinquity, then it belonged to Bruce, as being one degree nearer the original stock. Adama was the mother of Hastings, who contended that the kingdom was divisible, and that in right of his mother he had a title to one-third of it. Baliol and Bruce united against Hastings in maintaining that the kingdom was indivisible. There were not fewer than twelve or thirteen competitors for the crown; but all having withdrawn their pretensions except the three just named, and Hastings being unable to defend his position, the contest was confined to Baliol and Bruce. Each of these rivals was supported by a powerful faction; and if the question of right was to be settled by the sword, it was clear as the sun that the whole country would be deluged with blood from one sea to the other. To avert this evil the Scottish nobility resolved to submit the question of succession to the sovereign of England, who was esteemed for his wisdom and prudence. One hundred and four commissioners were chosen to examine the claims of both parties, and Edward was to act as umpire. He undertook the office, and the rivals agreed to abide by his decision. The spring of 1291 was fixed for the judicial deliverance. The nobility and clergy of Scotland were summoned to meet Edward at Norham castle, south of the Tweed. They met on the 10th day of May, and were received in great state. They were then informed by the justiciary of England that before Edward could pronounce his decision it was necessary that they should acknowledge him as lord paramount, or sovereign of both kingdoms. Startled by this announce did at the cost of fines, and confiscations, and bonds, and imprisonments. The people were laid under heavier taxation, and subjected to manifold privations. If to a few he extended his royal favour, the many he treated with the stern authority of a master. Those to whom he had committed the government of the kingdom were proud, imperious, and arbitrary. The very soldiers who held in garrison the castles and fortresses of the country were insolent in the extreme, and treated the people as nothing better than so many field-slaves. Society became disorganised. Contempt of government every where prevailed. The country was on the brink of ruin. At such a crisis a saviour was needed-a man of true heart and of strong arm, who, for the liberty and the independence of his father-land, was prepared to pour out his very blood as a willing sacrifice. Engaged in a most unequal contest, and abandoned by Philip, the only ally in whom they reposed their final confidence, the Scots" were looking out for some hero to lead them on to battle and to conquest. His star arose. The name, the genius, the heroism of Sir William Wallace, of Ellerslie, in Renfrewshire, and who is so famous in Scottish history, will ever be fresh in the memory of every man who loves the independence of his country. His mighty spirit prompted him to attempt the deliverance of his native land from the dominion of foreigners. 'He was endowed with gigantic force of body, with heroic courage of mind, with disinterested magnanimity, with incredible patience, and ability to bear hunger, fatigue, and all the severities of the storms.' Like most patriotic heroes, he began to harass the conqueror by petty attacks. The number of his followers gradually swelled till they grew into an army. His great actions daily increased his fame. His adherents became inspired with his valour. Many of the principal towns were in his favour, and sought to promote his cause. At length the Scots prepared themselves to defend, by united effort, their liberties. Warenne marched into Scotland with an army of forty thousand Englishmen. Then followed the battle of Stirling, in which Wallace gained a complete victory. The castles of Roxburgh and Berwick, being both ill fortified and feebly defended, soon after fell into the hands of the Scots. Wallace marched his army into the northern counties of England, that they might subsist during the winter months at the expense of the enemy. He laid every place waste with fire and sword, and after extending his ravages as far as Durham, he returned loaded with spoils and crowned with glory. "Edward, having received in Flanders intelligence of these events, hastened over to England in the hope of recovering Scotland, whose conquest he deemed the chief glory of his reign. By many doubtful professions he regained the confidence of his English subjects. But, unhappily for Scotland, the elevation and merit of Wallace became the objects of envy among the nobility. With true magnanimity, Wallace resigned the regency of the kingdom, with which he had been invested, and, in his military capacity, was willing to act under command. The chief power devolved on the Steward of Scotland, and Comyn, or Cummin, of Badenoch, of eminent birth both, and not without reputation. Having collected their forces from every quarter, they fixed their station at Falkirk, and then followed the memorable battle in which the Scottish army was broken, and chased off the field with great slaughter. Never did the Scots in any action suffer greater loss, nor was their country ever in more peril. "After this engagement, Wallace had an interview with young Bruce, and represented to him that, with such a head and leader, the Scots, by their unanimity and concord, might, even now, notwithstanding all their losses, successfully oppose the forces of the English, and that Heaven itself could not set a more glorious prize before the eyes of either virtue or ambition than to join in one object the acquisition of royalty with the defence of national independence.' These noble sentiments affected Bruce. He caught the spirit of the hero, and resolved to devote his life to the salvation of his country. "The Scots still maintained the contest for liberty, and applied to the court of Rome for help. The pope wrote a letter to Edward, exhorting him to put a stop to his oppression in Scotland. Edward repudiated the pontifical authority, and violated without scruple or reserve his most solemn engagements with Scotland. The Scots again revolted. Comyn, the regent, was a man of noble intrepidity; and by his command forces were raised and sent into the southern counties, which Edward imagined he had left wholly subdued. He also attacked the invaders at Roslyn, near Edinburgh. The victory was long undecided, but at last declared itself entirely in favour of the Scots, who broke the English, and chased them off the field. These victories were gained in one day. The regent was master of all the fortresses in the south, and Edward had anew to attempt the conquest of the kingdom. He entered the frontiers of Scotland with a force which it was impossible to resist. He ravaged the country, and demanded universal submission. His only serious obstacle was the brave Wallace, who scorned to submit. But the patriot was basely betrayed by his fellow-countryman, Sir John de Monteith, into the hands of Edward. The monarch sent him in chains to London. When he was arraigned at Westminster, he said-'I never was a traitor to the king of England;' yet he scorned to deny that he fought for the independence of his country. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered, with the most brutal ferocity. But, though Edward commanded the outward show of disgrace, he had no power over the heart and conscience of men. Wallace's death was the more glorious from the ignominy which the impotent rage of the conqueror heaped on a lifeless corse. His name stands brightly forward among the foremost of men-with Vasa, with the two Williams of Orange, with Washington, with Kosciusko, with his own more fortunate but less pure successor, Robert Bruce. His spirit survived him in Scotland. The nation, shaken to its deepest foundations by a hero who came into contact with them, and who, conquered by them alone, retained the impulse which his mighty arm had communicated.'"* * See New and Popular History of England, Vol. i. pp. 89-91. |