the Bruce 1274-1329 Robert I

The last part of Bruce's life, from 1315 to 1329, began with the rising of the whole Celtic race against the English. Robert Bruce declined the offer of the Irish crown, but in 1315, Edward Bruce crossed to Ireland at the invitation of the natives, and in 1317 he was joined by Robert, who defeated the English at Slane in Louth. But although they enjoyed a temporary success, Edward was finally killed at Dundalk in Oct. 1318, having previously been proclaimed king of Ireland. In 1317, Robert Bruce had been obliged to return to protect his own borders, and in 1318 he laid siege to Berwick. Refusing all offers of mediation on the part of the pope, unless his title were recognized, Bruce continued his struggle and after the capitulation of Berwick, laid waste to the English border. In Dec. 1318, he held a parliament at Scone, where the succession was settled, and legislation for the defence and administration of the kingdom was initiated.

The king's position was now so strong that foreign countries began to recognize him, and in 1323 his title was confirmed by the pope. Hostilities against England continued, however, and on May 3o, 1323, Edward was forced to make a truce of 13 years. On the accession of Edward III., 1327, the treaty of York was signed, whereby "Scotland according to its ancient bounds in the days of Alexander III., should remain to Robert, king of Scots, and his heirs free and divided from England, without any sub jection, servitude, claim or demand whatsoever." This was rati

fied by the marriage of Edward's sister, Joanna, to David, Bruce's infant son (July 12, 1328).

The chief author of Scottish independence barely survived his work. In 1327 he conducted an expedition into Ireland, but on his return, he spent his remaining years at Cardross, on the Clyde, where he died from leprosy on June 7, 1329. His body was buried at Dunfermline, his heart at Melrose.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.-The

chief contemporary authorities for the life of Bruce are coloured to some extent by the nationality of the writers. On the Scottish side, The Brus, a poem by John Barbour, ed. by W. W. Skeat (Edinburgh, 1894), and the Chronica gentis Scotorum of John of Fordun, ed. by W. F. Skene (Edinburgh, 1871-72), are perhaps the most valuable. The Chronicon de Lanercost, ed. by J. Stevenson (Edinburgh, 1839) , is also very important. The English chronicles which may be consulted with advantage are those of Walter of Hemingford, ed. by H. C. Hamilton (1848-49) and of Peter Langtoft, ed. by T. Wright (1866-68), and the Scalacronica of Thomas Gray, ed. by J. Stevenson (Edinburgh, 1836). For the documents of the time reference should be made to the Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, ed. by J. Bain (Edinburgh, 1881-88), Documents and Records Illustrating the History of Scotland, vol. i., ed. by F. Palgrave (1837) ; the Rotuli Scotiae (1814-19), and the Foedera of T. Rymer, vol. i. (1704). See also Sir H. Maxwell, Robert the Bruce (1897).