84
avowed his purpose to claim the crown, which he supposed belonged to him by
legitimate right. He was twice crowned in 1306, and after many a conflict
throughout many a disastrous year, he at length obtained over Edward II.
the decisive victory of Bannockburn in 1314. After the most magnanimous
struggles against treachery and force during hostile years, Robert de Bras
restored the monarchy and transmitted his sceptre to the feeble hand of his
infant son by the treaty of Northampton in 1228, an agreement this which
was confirmed by the parliaments of the two kingdoms.
One of the most lasting effects of the succession wars was the resolutions
which they produced in persons, in property, and in power. In Dumfries-
shire most of the lands seem to have changed their proprietors, owing
chiefly to the numerous forfeitures of civil war. In Nithsdale the ancient
family of the Edgars appears to have been confirmed in their original
possessions (h); and Thomas Randolph, the earl of Moray, obtained a
confirmation of the barony of Morton, in Nithsdale, the old possession of
Duvenel, the progenitor of that eminent statesman and soldier (i). The
old estates in Annandale of the Bruses appear to have been transferred by
the king to the same celebrated person, to whose success Randolph had
greatly contributed (j). The active services of Sir James Douglas were
rewarded by Brus's gratitude with the greater part of Eskdale, and with
other lands in Dumfriesshire (k). It was on that occasion the Douglases
were introduced into Dumfriesshire as land-holders by the worth and valour
of Sir James Douglas.
The spirit of Brus had scarcely flown from the land which it had restored
to independence, when foreign war and domestic dissension began, owing
to the infancy of his son, the death of Randolph, to the claims of the
English barons who had lost estates in Scotland, and to the low ambition
of Edward III. (l). The Scottish government was distracted and over-
powered, the infant king was obliged to seek shelter in France, and
Edward Baliol was crowned as a dependent king in 1332 A.D. (m). Thus
(h) Robertson's Index, 12.                       (i) Ib., 23.                       (j) Ib. 9.
(k) Ib., 10. See Robertson's Index throughout for the many changes in the landholders of
Dumfriesshire, and indeed in every other within Scotland, owing to the great length and
inveteracy of the succession war, and the consequent tergiversation of ill-fated men.
(l) The independence of Scotland was recognised by an Act of the English Parliament ;
and while that Act remained in force, all proceedings which questioned the independence of
Scotland were contrary to the statute law of England. The supporting and retaining Edward
Baliol as a pretender to the crown, which Ms father had cast behind him, was thus illegal and
ungenerous.                                      (m) Fordon., L. xiii. 24 ; Avesbury, 20, 21, 22.