For this purpose, a parliament assembled at Ayr, and unanimously resolved that the king's legitimate male issue should succeed to the crown agreeably to the laws of succession; that, in the event of that issue becoming extinct, the succession should devolve on his brother Edward, and descend to his legitimate male issue; and failing these, to the king's daughter Marjory.
The Irish of Ulster, dissatisfied with the English go vernment, implored the aid of the king of the Scots, and offered to acknowledge his brother as their sove reign. But the arms of Edward Bruce were attended with little success in Ireland, and the king of Scots resolved to conduct in person a reinforcement to his aid; but their expedition was fruitless, and Robert returned home at the expense of the lives of many of his subjects. The earl of Arundel invaded the forest of Jedburgh, but was defeated by Douglas. An En glish fleet in the Frith of Forth, disembarked a body of troops. The earl of Fife, with five hundred men, aided by Sinclair, Bishop of Dunkeld, charged the enemy, and pursued them to their ships.
Berwick was soon after taken after a short siege, and the Scots made successive incursions into Eng land. With the view of intimidating them, the Pope ordered his legates in England to excommunicate Bruce and his adherents, hut the latter treated the pontiff's mandate with contumacy.
Edward Bruce was slain near Dundalk, and it be came necessary to make new regulations with respect to the royal succession. For this purpose, a parlia ment assembled at Scone, and promised to assist the king in the defence of the rights and liberties of Scot land, against all persons, however eminent in power, authority, and dignity. In the event of Bruce's death without male issue, they enacted, that the right of succession should descend to Robert Stewart, the king's grandson, by his daughter Marjory.
Edward of England, havhig secured domestic peace, determined to regain Berwick. As the Scots could not with any probability of success attack the English camp, they determined to make a diversion in Eng land. Randolph and Douglas entered it by the west marches, wasted Yorkshire, and defeated the arch bishop of York. The news of this defeat induced the English to discontinue the siege of Berwick. Ran dolph and Douglas returned home, and commissioners were appointed by both nations, who concluded a
.treaty for two years.
A conspiracy, of which little is known, was disco vered about this time, and the English monarch, hav ing crushed his rebellious subjects, prepared to in vade Scotland. The Scots meanwhile penetrated into Lancashire, and returned home loaded with booty.
Upon the approach of the English, Robert ordered all effects of value to be removed from Merse and Lo thian, and retired with his army to Culross. The English advanced as far as Edinburgh without seeing an enemy; and, in their retreat, they plundered the abbeys of Holyrood and Melrose, burnt the abbey of Dryburgh, and slew many monks. The Scots in their turn invaded the enemy's country, and nearly surpris ed Edward at the abbey of Biland; but a treaty of peace for thirteen years, suspended the calamities of war.
Edward the Second was deposed by the English parliament. Ills son, Edward the Third, succeeded him, and ratified the truce which his father had made. Hostilities recommenced before the expiration of the treaty, and Randolph and Douglas invaded England with an army of 20,000 cavalry. Edward, at the head of 50,000 men, advanced to meet the enemy. After harassing his army for some time in a fruitless chase, he crossed the Tyne, but was compelled to return southwards, as the country could yield no subsistence to his troops. After being nearly surprised in his camp by the Scots, the English government was in duced to think seriously of peace. As the basis of a treaty, it was proposed that the Princess Joan of Eng land should marry David, the young prince of Scot land. The plenipotentiaries met at Newcastle, and drew up articles, which were ratified by a parliament at Northampton. In this treaty, Edward renounced all claims of superiority over Scotland, acknowledged Bruce as the king of Scots, and promised to employ his good offices at the papal court for obtaining a re vocation of the spiritual censures, and Robert agreed to pay 30,000 merks to the king of England. He had at length emancipated his country, and secured its in dependence, when he died in the fifty-fifth year of his age, and was buried at Dunfermline. He left one son, David the Second, and two daughters.