arms. the chapel to cast off his helmet, and lay aside his Edward I. But during this short absence, the fury of his A.D. 1299. soldiers broke out, and on his return he found the monk in terror and dismay. He took him under his protection, but dared not to punish the offenders.19 Shortly after this the Scots marched homeward with their booty. elected of Scot governs Soon after his return from this expedition, Wallace Wallace was elected Governor of Scotland, at an assembly, Governor "attended by the Earl of Lennox, William Douglas and and others of the principal nobility, and with consent of the community of Scotland." 20 He adopted wise measures for the government of the kingdom, and, "in a short time, such were the effects of his and firm and courageous management, that the most wisely. powerful of the nobility were compelled, by the fears of imprisonment, to submit to his authority, although they envied him, and whenever there was an opportunity, took part with the King of England." But although few of the earls had joined him, the "lesser barons and gentry repaired in great numbers to the banners of the Governor, and willingly supported him with all their forces." 21 of the nobles. Still, the jealousy of the nobles crippled him greatly, Jealousy and he was unable to muster a force powerful enough Scotch to meet the English in the open field. He prepared therefore to resist Edward by stratagem rather than by force. He resolved to avoid any general engagement, and retreated before the English, laying waste the country on his way. Edward's army therefore suffered much from want of provisions. The country through which he advanced was desolate, and he could find no enemy to fight with. At length the treachery of two Scottish nobles Treachery Y 2 of Scotch nobles. A. D. 1298. Edward I. gave him an opportunity of meeting with a foe. When the King was at Kirkliston, a small town between Edinburgh and Linlithgow, the Earls of Dunbar and Angus informed him that Wallace, with his army, was encamped in the Forest of Falkirk, and that he intended to attack the English at night. Battle of Falkirk. Without a moment's delay, Edward ordered the soldiers to arm, and to hold themselves in readiness to march. The King was the first to put on his armour, and, mounting his horse, he hurried forward the preparations of his soldiers. In the afternoon they set out, and it was late before they reached a heath near Linlithgow, on which they encamped for the night. To use the words of an old chronicler, " Each soldier slept on the ground, using his shield for his pillow; each horseman had his horse beside him, and the horses themselves tasted nothing but cold iron, champing their bridles." 22 The King shared the lot of the commonest soldier, and had a narrow escape from severe injury, his horse treading on him while he slept. Before sunrise, they were again under march, and it was not long before the Scots were discovered, drawn up in order of battle. The English vastly Lost by the outnumbered them. The Scots fought bravely, but, treachery of the Scotch nobles. no sooner had the battle begun, than they were deserted by their cavalry, consisting of about 1000 heavy-armed soldiers. They were commanded by Scotch nobles, jealous of Wallace. The English therefore gained a complete victory, and Wallace was obliged to retreat to the neighbouring woods, on July leaving, it is said, 15,000 men dead on the field. Great defeat of the Scotch 22nd. Wallace retreats, laying waste the country Wallace still continued the tactics he had practised so successfully before the disastrous defeat at Falkirk. He laid waste the country, burning cities and castles, which might give food and shelter to the English Edward I. army. Edward pursued him to Stirling, but found A.D.1298. the town a heap of ruins. Distressed for provisions, the English advanced to Perth, and found it in ashes. At length, these desperate measures of defence Edward compelled Edward to retreat to England, leaving quently Scotland ready to rise again the moment he had obliged to quitted it. conse return to England. resigns the office of Governor. victim of Soon after the defeat at Falkirk, Wallace resigned Wallace the office of Governor of Scotland. It is difficult to assign a sufficient reason for his doing so. He had resisted the mighty force, brought against him by the King of England, with great success, and, by his skilful tactics, he had even prevented Edward from reaping any benefits from his overthrow of the Scots at Falkirk. It can only be that the jealousy of the Scottish nobles wearied him and worried him, and took away from him any hope of saving his country. He fell a He is a victim to their want of patriotism. The two great the factions of the Comyns and the Bruces forgot, for the jealousy of moment, their own quarrels, and united to put down Wallace. They had never been friends since the Scottish Parliament took away the lordship of Annandale from Bruce and gave it to John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, because of Bruce's leaning to England; and the rivalry between John Comyn, Earl of Badenoch, called the Black Comyn, and Bruce for the throne of Scotland had increased their antagonism. But yet they united against Wallace. In Wallace's stead, four Governors of Scotland were appointed, and two them were Comyn and Bruce. the nobles. Four of in his Governors stead. Edward Edward kept his Christmas in Yorkshire, and early A.D. 1299. in the following year he returned to London. A Parliament was held soon after Easter, when the King returns to London. A.D. 1299. tion of Charter of Forests is demanded. Edward I. was called on to redeem his promise of confirming the Charters. He was very unwilling to confirm the Confirma- Charter of the Forests, and to grant a new perambulation of them. The object of this perambulation or survey, was, to settle which should be kept up, and which destroyed. These forests must have been grievous burdens to the nation and sources of great profit or pleasure to the King. Otherwise they could not have been the cause of such violent opposition on the one side, and obstinate resistance on the other. The King was obliged to yield; he at last confirmed the Charters, but still managed to evade the survey of the forests. The King yields, but evades perform ance. Peace with Baliol released. Third invasion of Scotland. Peace was now concluded between England and France, and Edward took, for his second wife, Margaret, the sister of the King of France. They were married at Canterbury in the autumn. One of the conditions of peace, required by the King of France, was the release of Baliol, who had, when King of Scotland, entered into an alliance with France. Edward refused; but, at length, at the earnest request of the Pope, he yielded. Baliol was set free, and passed the rest of his life quietly in France. Edward still persevered in his designs on Scotland, and prepared for his third invasion of that country. Late in the year, he marched with his army to Berwick-on-Tweed, where he had appointed the barons to meet him, with their whole military strength. So intent was he on gathering together the bravest knights, and best soldiers, to go with him, that, by public proclamation, he forbade all tourna ments, and plays of arms so long as the war lasted. The barons met the King at Berwick; but, so deeply assembles dissatisfied were they, at the King's faithless evasion of The army at Berwick. dissatisfied. the Forest Charters, that they refused to go any further, Edward I. making the lateness of the season their excuse. They A.D. 1299. cared but little for the conquest of Scotland; the Scots The barons were willing to make peace, but Edward wanted, not peace, but conquest. In In consequence of the barons' Edward opposition, he was unable to proceed with the in- England. vasion; and, carly in the following year, he was A.D. 1300. obliged to return to England. The barons persevered, and, in the spring, the King was compelled solemnly to ratify the Charters, and to allow sentence of excommunication to be passed against any who should infringe them. By and bye, he managed to slip through this noose, but, for the present, all was settled amicably, the barons and nobles were satisfied, and the King therefore summoned them and his military tenants to meet him at York on Midsummer-day. At this meeting a fourth expedition into Scotland was agreed on, and he again invaded that country. returns to The King solemnly ratifies the Charters. The fourth invasion of After some success again returns to Truce England land. The Pope Edward obtained considerable advantages over the Scots, but was again obliged to return to England by want of provisions, and complaints of the barons. A truce between England and Scotland was brought England. about, before his departure, by the interference of between the Pope, who had been persuaded by ambassadors and Scotfrom Scotland to take part with the Scots. The Pope sent over a Nuncio, as his ambassador was called, claims with a letter to the King of England, claiming for Sovereignty himself the sovereignty of the kingdom of Scotland, land. ordering him to dismiss all those whom he had appointed as Governors, and summoning him to show his right to the kingdom, if he supposed he had such right. The King answered, that he must consult the great men of his kingdom, and on his arrival in over Scot |