sight of that comfortable and compact quality
which is one of his leading characteristics, and
greatest attractions.

DRIFT.

LETTERS ON EDWARD THE FIRST'S SCOTCH WAR.

TOWARDS the close of the thirteenth century
no less than thirteen persons laid claim to
the throne of Scotland on the death of Queen
Margaret, "the maid of Norway." Gradually
the number of competitors was reduced to two
—John Baliol, Lord of Galloway, and Robert
Bruce, Earl of Annandale, both descended from
a younger brother of King Malcolm the Fourth
of Scotland; and of these two, the King of
England, Edward the First, delivered his
judgment in favour of John Baliol, after a report
from a commission of investigation into the
rights of the claimants. As the year 1293
waned, Baliol, disgusted with the arrogance of
his patron Edward, takes advantage of the
rupture between England and France to perfect
an alliance with Philip the Fourth of France,
and declares war against England. Confiding
in the assistance of the French monarch, Baliol,
formally renouncing his allegiance, sends King
Edward a letter by the Superior of the Cordeliers,
the contents of which so exasperated the
English king that he swore to reduce the whole of
Scotland, and his efforts to keep his oath sowed
the seeds of that animosity which existed for
centuries between the people of England and
Scotland. King Edward, on his way to besiege
Berwick, having suffered losses both by sea and
land sufficient to make him glad of any assistance,
gains over Bruce by the promise of that
crown to which the English king had so lately
ignored the earl's claim. Subsequently the
king wins Berwick, after feigning to raise the
siege, and here seven thousand Scotch are
reputed to have been slain.

The Letters (among the miscellaneous letters
in the Public Record Office) which follow this
brief précis of events of the year 1295, were
certainly written after the king's great victory
at Dunbar, on the 27th April, 1296; they are
translated from the Latin original, and their
manly, simple character smack to me very much
of a great captain. John de Warenne, Earl of
Surrey and Sussex, also called John Earl of
Warenne, the writer, was one of King Edward's
principal commanders, who was left in the
control and lieutenancy of Scotland when his
master had completed the temporary subjugation
of the country.

Macduff, it will be observed, was here, as in
our earliest memories, a valiant thane fighting
on the right side and against the usurper.

To the noble and honourable prince and his most
dear lord, if it pleases him, my lord Edward by the
grace of God King of England, Lord of Ireland, and
Duke of Aquitaine, his servant John, Earl of
Warenne, greeting, reverence, and all honour. Sire,
the Bishop of Glasgow and the Earl of Carrick
(Robert Bruce), and the Steward of Scotland, are to
come to us on this Thursday before the feast of St.
Lawrence, to ratify the agreements about which a
parley had taken place between Sir Henry de Percy
(an ancestor of Hotspur, and a commissioner with
Robert de Clifford to take the oaths of fealty), and
themselves. Sire, as soon as these things shall be
done and settled, we will march onward through the
country to quiet it and establish its condition in the
best manner that we can. Sire, know ye that the
Earl of Strathern has taken Mak Dof and his two
sons, and we have sent for them in order that we
may have them at Berwick on the Eve of St.
Lawrence, and when Macdof shall be come, men will deal
with him as men ought to deal with false traitors.

We have sent to take my Lord Henry de Lazom
who is in your castle of Aberdeen, and plays there
the "grand seigneur;" but whether he is taken or
not we cannot yet well tell you, for at the departure
of this letter we have yet no answer from those who
have gone to take him, but if he be taken he shall
be honoured according to his deserts.

My lord, William de Douglas is in your castle of
Berwick in good irons and in good hold, because he
did not bring his hostages on the day appointed as
the others have done. Sire, when we shall know
other news we will send it to you. Written at
Berwick, 1st day of August.

Sire, Sir William Douglas is a prisoner in your
castle of Berwick in irons and close prison, thanks
be to God, and for good cause, as one who has met
with his deserts. And I pray you, Sire, if it please
you, that you in no wise set him free, either for
ransom or entreaty, until you know all the causes of
complaints against his person. Upon yr ancient
enemies may God avenge you.

A Scotch writer, Mr. William Stewart, who
towards the middle of the sixteenth century
produced a metrical translation of the history of
Scotland of Hector Boece, which he called "The
Buik of the Chroniclis of Scotland," defines
Bruce's reasons for leaguing himself with King
Edward against his native country, in vernacular
language which may be a curiosity to those of
our readers south of the Tweed:

For-quhy King Edward, as it is eith to wit,
To Robert Bruce befoir had made promit,
Sud that he wald him help and mak supple
Of Johnne the Balliol to revengit be,
That he alway sould tak the Brucis part
Agane the Balliol glaidlie with his hart;
And all his richt agane to him restoir,
That he had gevin King Johnne of befoir.
Or ellis doutles, as ye sall understand,
This King Edward had nocht camd in Scotland,
For all the power with him that he led,
War nocht he knew the Bruce sic friendis hed
Into Scotland, quhilk, glaidlie with thair hart,
That ay war reddie for to tak his part.
And alss that tyme his querrell foundit he,
Nocht for his richt bot for the Brucis supple
Or than he had nocht tane sic thing on hand,
For all his pomp for to invaid Scotland.
The Bruce also as ye ma weill advert,
With this Edward wald nevir tak sic part
War nocht he traistit, as I trow wes trew
Be his supple agane for to reskew
Fra Johnne the Balliole, ye ma understand,
The crown fra him that he held of Scotland.
And mairattouir richt eith is to considder,
Quhen all ressonis collectit ar togidder,
The Scottis lordis had nocht tane sic part
That da with Bruce so glaidlie with thair hart,
War nocht tha put thair hoip into sic thing,
That all wes done to mak the Bruce thair king;