History Scotland. by Patrick Praser Tytler, Esq
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HISTORY SCOTLAND. BY PATRICK PRASER TYTLER, ESQ. F.R. S. E. AND F. A. S. EDINBURGH : WILLIAM TAIT, 78, PRINCE'S STREET. MDCCCXXIX. PREFACE. ITmay not be improper to state, that the greater part of this Second Volume is founded upon documents which have not been exa- mined by any writer of Scottish History. Of these, some have been published considerably qubsequent to the date of the composition of any other history. Other most valuable re- cords have been consulted, which, although transcribed and partly printed, are not yet communicated to the public. To the first class belongs the great national work printed, in the years 1814 and 1819, at the expense of Government, by command of his late Ma- jesty, entitled " Rotuli Scoti3" the publica- tion of which was originally suggested by the present learned Deputy-Clerk-Register, Mr Thompson, and committed to the superintend- v j PREFACE. ence of Mr David Macpherson, the able Edi- tor of Winton's Chronicle. It consists of two very large folio volumes, embracing a collec- tion of historical records, relative to the poli- tical transactions between England and Scot- land, from the nineteenth year of the reign of Edward the First to the eighth of Henry the Eighth. These records consist of rolls, which are preserved in the Tower and the Chapter- House at Westminster ; and, although the se- ries is not quite complete, and, owing to their being exclusively written in Latin or in Nor- man French, the work is uninviting to the ge- neral reader, it is not too much to say, that, considered as materials for authentic history, the Rotuli Scotiae" is one of the most valua,- ble presents which could have been made to the country. To the second class sf docu- ments, those printed but iaot published, be- longs the folio volume which has been quoted in this work, under the title of " Robertson's Parliamentary Records," also printed by di- rection of Government in 1804, but cancelled and withdrawn, owing to some defects in the arrangement ; and the voluminous and valu- able work, the " Accounts of tlie Great Cham- berlains of Scotland," of which a more full no- tice is given in the Appendix. From the materials furnished by these re- cords, as well as from other sources, to which it is unnecessary here to allude, I have endea- voured to give clearness and consistency to a portion of history hitherto in many places ob- scure-the reign of David the Second, which immediately preceded the accession of the House of Stewart to the throne. It was during this period that Edward the Third attempted to make himself master of Scotland, both by force of arms and by political intrigue; and that the country, although four times invaded by this able and victorious prince in person, deserted by a part of its nobility, and betrayed by its king, contrived successfully to maintain its liberty. I have been accused of injustice in delineating the character of Edward the First, and of being actuated by a national bias ; viii PREFACE. and, although anxious to weigh with scrupulous impartiality the characters of the principal ac- tors in the scenes which I have described, it is possible I may have been unable wholly to di- vest myself of individual feelings. Yet, in wri- ting the history of a brave people, resolutely struggling for their independence under cir- cumstances of peculiar discouragement, it is difficult to be a friend of freedom and not to sympathize with their surerings,-not to feel indignation at unjust aggression, and satisfac- tion when the attempt is met with disappoint- ment and defeat. ~ndsurely, if the circum- stance, that it was an English Monarch who was misled, by the spirit of ambition and con- quest, into a glaring disregard of the most sacred rights and sanctions, had induced the historian to dilute his censure, or to assume a tone of palliation and apology, there would have been room for a severer, because a more merited, impeachment, in which every man who has tasted the sweetness of freedom, or felt the insolence of conquest, would hnvc risen in witness against him. I am far from be- ing blind to the great qualities of Edward the First; but it is with this king in his transac- tions with Scotland that a historian of Scotland has to do, and not with his character as an English King. In the Enquiry into the State of Ancient Scotland," it was my object to communicate authentic information upon the general ap- pearance of the country; its ancient feudal constitution ; the manners and amusements, the superstitions and character, of its people ; its progress in agriculture, commerce, and ma- nufactures ; and its advancement in the arts which add comfort or ornament to life. I have attempted to direct the spirit of antiqua. rian research, which is too often applied in the investigation of questions of inferior moment, to the elucidation of subjects of general inte- rest and importance : But the task has not been one of easy execution ; and I have only to hope, that all who are acquainted with the difficulty af procuring information where the b X PREFACE. period is so remote, and the materials are to be derived from such various and scattered sources, will, on this ground, make allowance for the errors into which I may have fallen, and the imperfections which accompany such an investigation. CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. CHAP. I. DAVID THE SECOND. PAGE& SITUATIONof Scotland on the death of King Robert Biuce, 1 Character of Eilward the Third, .......... ib. Dangers from the ambition of Edward Baliol, ..... 2 Regency of Randolph, ............. 3 Expedition of Sir James Douglas to the Holy Land, with the heart of Bmce, .............. 4 Coronation of David the Second, ........a 7 Threatening aspect of affairs in Scotland, ....... 8 Conspiracy of Henry Beaumont, and the disinherited barons, against the Government, ........... 10 They combine with Edward Baliol, ......... ib. Death of the Regent Randolph, .......... 11 The Earl of Mar chosen Regent, ......... ib. Invasion of Scotland by the disinherited barons, ..... 12 They land at Kinghorn, and advance to Perth, ..... 13 Perilous situation of Bdiol and Beaumont, ...... ib. Treacherous conduct of Murray of Tullibardin, ..... 14 Surprise of the Scots at Dupplin Muir, .......ib. Brave conduct and death of young Randolph, Earl of Moray; military incapacity of the Earl of Mar; and great loss of the Scots, ......; ........15 VOL. 11. a . 11 CONTESTS. PAGE. Baliol occupies Perth, . 17 Treacherous conduct of the Earl of March, and accession of this baron to the English party, . 18 Coronation of Baliol, . 19 Causes of this revolution, . 20 The friends of David Bruce resume hostilities, and storm Perth, 21 Baliol acknowledges Edward as his feudal lord, and resigns the liberties of the kingdom, . 22 The Earl of Moray suddenly attacks him at Annan, anddrives him out of tbe kingdom, . 23 The English King accuses the Scots of having broken the treaty of Northampton, . 24 The Border inroads recommence with great fury, . 25 Capture of the Knight of Liddisdale, and of the Regent, Sir Andrew Moray, , . 26 Election of Archibald Douglas to the Regency, . 27 Edward the Third invades Scotland in person, and commences the siege of Berwick, . ib. Its brave defence by Sir Alexander Seton, . , . 28 Thomas Seton, the son of the Scottish governor, is hanged, . 29 The citizens compel Seton to negotiate with the English King, 30 Sir William Keith chosen governor, and Seton deposed, . ib. Interview between Keith and Archibald Douglas, the Scottish regent, . 3 1 He persuades him to hazard a battle for the relief of Berwick, ib. Imprudence of this resolution, . 32 The Scots cross the Tweed, and encamp at Dunse Park; the English occupy the eminence of Halidon Hill ; order of battle, . ib. Battle of Halidon Hill, . 33 Great defeat sustained by the Scots, . ib. Conduct of Edward the Third, . 36 Impolicy of his measures, . 37 Baliol dismembers the kingdom of Scotland, . 38 Surrenders its liberties, and swears homage to Edward, . 39 Disputes break out between Baliol and the disinherited barons, ib. Sir Andrew Moray returns from captivity; he is joined by ... COXTENTS. 111 PAGF. Alexander de Mowbray, and resumes warlike operations against Baliol; Talbot is taken prisoner, ......40 Henry de Beaumont besieged in Dundarg Castle by Moray and Mowbray, ...............41 Capitulates, and retires to England, ........ib. Robert, the Steward of Scotland, escapes from Bute, where he had concealed himself, to Dumbarton, ......42 He is joined by Colin Campbell of Lochow, and storms the castle of Dunoon, ............. ib. The castle of Bute is taken by the Brandans of Bute, ...ib. William de Carruthers, who had taken refuge in Annandale, joins the Steward, ............. 43 Randolph, Earl of Moray, returns from France, and begins to act against the English, ........... ib. The Steward and the Earl of Moray are chosen regents, . 44 They attack the Earl of Athole, and compel him to surrender, 45 Edward the Third invades Scotland in the middle of winter, ib. Baliol again accompanies him, .......... ib. Siege of Lochleven Castle by the English, .... - . 46 Parliament held at Dairsey by the friends of David Bruce, . 47 Breaks up in confusion, owing to the ambition of the Earl of Athole, ................ ib. The English king invades Scotland at the head of alarge army, 48 His fleet anchors in the Firth of Forth, .......ib. Encounter between the Earls of Rloray and March and the Earl of Namur, ............. 49 Capture of the Earl of Moray, ...........50 The English king and Edward Baliol march from Perth through the northern provinces, ........ib. The Earl of Athole joins the English, ........ 61 Is made governor, ..............62 Attacked by Sir Andrew Moray, and slain at Kilblene, .