himself, and how the King of England followed the example of his father in employing his best officers in the task of quelling the movement.
But how great is the contrast between the document in which these appointments are notified[1] and the imperious missives of the first Edward! An army had been ordered to assemble at Carlisle on August 23, 1308, to carry on the Scottish war, "nevertheless the King for divers reasons delays the said aid of men-at-arms at that date, for he does not mean to go to Scotland so soon as he thought. Also, the foot to be warned not to come to Carlisle yet. So also the carriages to be countermanded."
Nor was this all. Edward, indeed, declared that he would make no truce with Robert de Brus, "but the Wardens of Scotland there may take such [truce] as long as possible, provided that the King [Edward] may continue to furnish his castles with men and victuals." The endorsement of this memorandum is still more explicit, and marks a remarkable change in the relative positions of the two Kings. The following is a translation of the original French:
"Letters of credence in Sir John le fuiz Marmeduk's name, to be written to the Earl of Angus and Sir William de Ros of Hamelake, the Guardians of Scotland, that it is the King's pleasure they take truce from Robert de Bruys, as from themselves, as long as they can, but not beyond the month of Pasques (Easter, 1309), so that if on one side or other people are taken or misprision made, it may be redressed; and the King [Edward] to victual and garrison his castles during the truce; and that he may break the truce at pleasure, if the others will yield this point; but if they will not, the truce is to be made without it."
- ↑ Bain, iii., 9.
