III. CHAP. and executed, among whom the most distinguished were the earl of Athol, Nigel the brother of Bruce, Christopher Seaton, with his brother Alexander, both Englishmen, Simon Fraser, and Herbert de Norham. If we consider these unfortunate men as the champions of freedom, they may demand our pity; but their execution cannot substantiate the charge of cruelty against Edward. Some were murderers: all had repeatedly broken their oaths of fealty, and had been repeatedly admitted to pardon.150 Among the prisoners were three ecclesiastics, the abbot of Scone, and the bishops of St. Andrew's and Glasgow, and most of the females, who had so heroically joined the outlaws in the highlands. The former had been taken in complete armour, and were confined in separate castles in England. The latter fell into the hands of the king, by the surrender of Kildrummy, or the violation of the sanctuary at Tain in Ross-shire. To the wife of Bruce Edward assigned his manor of Brustwick for her residence, with an establishment suitable to her rank as countess of Carrick.151 Many were dis West. 455, 456. 150 Ryley, 510. Trivet, 344, 345. 151 The king's directions are curious. Her establishment was to consist of-1. Two females of the country, of a good age, very sedate, and of approved conduct, one as a companion, the other as a waiting maid. 2. Two valets of good age and sedate, one belonging to her father the earl of Ulster, the other of the country to carve for her. 3. A footman" to stay in her chamber, a sober man and not "riotous, to make her bed, and do other things fitting for the cham III. persed in different convents, and placed under CHAP. the custody of the nuns. Two, the countess of Buchan, who in right of her family had placed the crown on the head of Bruce, and his sister Mary, who by her conduct must have merited the distinction, were treated with greater severity. They were sent to the two fortresses of Berwick and Roxburgh, where each was shut up in a strong cage of latticed work. Four years passed 'before the latter, seven before the former, was released from her confinement.152 Feb. 9. About the end of winter the exiles issued from their retreat. Thomas and Alexander Bruce landed with a body of Irish at Lochrain; were opposed by Duncan Macdowal, made prisoners, and executed at Carlisle. The king was more fortunate than his brothers. He sailed to the coast of Carrick, surprised the English in the vicinity of Turnberry, and hastened for security to the hills and forests. By degrees he was May 10. ber." 4. A house steward to take care of her keys, pantry, and butlery. Also a cook.-She was moreover to have three greyhounds to hunt in the warren and park, when she wished; as much venison and fish as she wanted; the house she liked best, and liberty to ride to any part of the manor. Rym. ii. 1013, 1014. 152 Some of our writers say they were exposed in these cages to the gaze of the people. The contrary is evident from the king's orders. The cage was to be built within one of the turrets of the castle and no one was to come near it but the woman servant. In each cage was to be the "convenience of a decent chamber." Rym. ii. 1014. I suspect that a large room was divided by a strong partition of lattice work, and that one of these divisions was called a cage, and allotted for the use of the prisoner. CHAP. joined by his former vassals, defeated Pembroke, and drove Ralph de Monthermer to the castle of Ayr. He even laid siege to the place, but had the wisdom, at the approach of the English forces, to retire once more to the mountains.153 To Edward the success of his antagonist, trifling as it was, became a continued source of vexation. In July he felt a marked improvement in his health, and ordered the army to advance into Scotland. But the very exertion of 130 mounting on horseback threw him back into his former state of weakness: his progress in four days was confined to six miles: and the next July 7. evening he expired at Burgh on the Sands, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, and the thirtyfifth of his reign.15 154 Edward was twice married. His first wife was Eleanor of Castile, daughter of Ferdinand III, and, after the death of her mother, heiress of Ponthieu. Eleanor deserved and possessed the affections of her husband. She is described as elegant in her person, and gentle in her manners; pious, prudent, and charitable; abstaining from all interference in matters of state; and employing her authority to relieve the oppressed, and reconcile those who were at variance. She bore Edward four sons, and eleven daughters, of whom several died in their in 153 Barbour, 92—157. West. 45, 458. Hem. 225. 134 III. fancy, and not more than three are known to CHAP. have survived their father. Her death happened near Lincoln in 1290. The king suspended his expedition to Scotland, that he might follow the funeral to Westminster; and wherever the corpse rested for the night, ordered a magnificent cross to be erected to her memory.155 His second wife was Margaret of France, by whom he had a daughter who died in her infancy, and two sons who survived him. 155 Some of these crosses still remain, and are of considerable elegance. His object in these erections was not merely to preserve her memory, but to induce passengers to stop and offer up their prayers for her soul. Wals. 54. In the circular letter which he sent on the occasion to different prelates and abbots, he describes the object of these prayers to be, ut si quid maculæ non purgatæ in ipsa, forsan oblivionis defectu vel alio modo, remansit, per utilia orationum suffragia, juxta divinæ misericordiæ plenitudinem abstergatur. Rym. ii. 498. IV. Accession of Edward II. 1306 CORONATION OF EDWARD-ELEVATION, EXILE, AND DEATH OF CHAP. Of the six sons of the late king three had preceded him to the grave. The eldest of the survivors, three-and-twenty years of age, bore the name, but inherited little of the character, of his father. From his childhood he had lived in habits of intimacy with Piers de Gaveston, the son of a gentleman of Guienne, whom Edward had selected for his companion. The two boys grew up together: they partook of the same amusements, and applied to the same exercises: and a similar taste for dissipation and pleasure, cemented, as they advanced in age, the attach |