Page:Robert the Bruce and the struggle for Scottish independence - 1909.djvu/92

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Comyn, Earl of Buchan. Sir Aymer de Valence.


CHAPTER III.

THE REIGN OF JOHN DE BALLIOL.

A.D. 1291-1296.

THE commissioners appointed in June to decide the merits of the respective claims of de Brus and de Balliol, adjourned till August 2d, when they re-assembled at Berwick. Their proceedings have been so minutely examined and reported on by previous writers, that there is no occasion here to do more than briefly recapitulate the grounds on which they gave their verdict. Pleadings on behalf of the two competitors were opened at Berwick on June 2, 1292, and continued till June 25th.

John de Balliol claimed as the son of Devorguila, daughter of Margaret, eldest daughter of the Earl of Huntingdon, the youngest brother of Malcolm IV. and William the Lion. He was, therefore, great-grandson of the Earl, and great-grand-nephew of two Kings of Scotland.

Robert de Brus claimed as the son of Isabella,

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