First Essay 69Q5

Due: 4 p.m. THURSDAY 24th OCTOBER

- Student Registration No.- Class Code- Question in full- M. Penman

Provisional Exam Slot:-Thursday 12th December9 am - 12 noonPathfoot C1/C2.

Great Seal of Robert IChancellor - Bernard de Linton, Abbot of Arbroath

St Andrews, c. 1309.

Bruce’s first Parliament, St Andrews 16-17 March 1309

- Declaration of the Clergy of Scotland - John Balliol had been imposed

as King of Scots by Edward I by force; “the faithful people always

believed without hesitation, as they had understood from their ancestors

and elders, that Robert the grandfather, was the true heir, and was to be

preferred to all others as ruler of the realm after the death of King

Alexander.” Fealty sworn to Lord Robert as King.

Parliament 16-17 March 1309, St Andrews

- Declaration of Nobility - “the inhabitants of the whole realm of

Scotland” acknowledge allegiance to Robert as King - sealed by earls of

Ross, Lennox, Sutherland, Fife, Menteith, Mar, Caithness; key magnates

like Edward Bruce, Thomas Randolph, Robert Keith, James Douglas,

Robert Boyd, Campbells and Argyll men…

- reply to letter of King of France - promising to take part in crusade

once Scotland recovered.

Restored Diplomatic relations:-

- French King writes to Robert seeking support for crusade 1309.

- Edward II complains about Flemish and German merchantssupplying Scots.

- 29 October 1312 - renewal of Treaty of Perth with Norwegians overWestern isles.

But…

- papacy refuses to recognise Robert as King of Scots (general councilof Church, Templar dissolution)

Parliament 16-17 March 1309, St Andrews

- Declaration of Nobility - “the inhabitants of the whole realm of

Scotland” acknowledge allegiance to Robert as King - sealed by earls of

Ross, Lennox, Sutherland, Fife, Menteith, Mar, Caithness; key magnates

like Edward Bruce, Thomas Randolph, Robert Keith, James Douglas,

Robert Boyd, Campbells and Argyll men…

- reply to letter of King of France - promising to take part in crusade

once Scotland recovered.

ScotlandCommunity of the Realm

substantial and responsiblesubjects upholding dignityof crown during absence of adult king…

chosen from Earls, bishops, prelates and barons in royalcouncil/parliaments…traditional counsel of King.

But lesser member of community could also for crown - Wallace?

EnglandCommunity of the Realm

Baronial opposition to Kings unpopular policiesin second half 13th C.

But by early 14th C…came to mean Commons in parliament - shire knights and burgesses, whilst baronial oppositionnow ‘peers of the land’

Instances where faction claims to act for community of Realm?

1286 - Guardianships keep Comyns in and Bruces out?

1290 - Maid dead, Bruce seeking community backing?

1291-92 - Bruces accuse Comyn/Balliol of setting selves up as Community’s Guardians [Appeal of the Seven Earls]

- Principles of community of realm compromised in reply toEdward I’s demand of overlordship?

- Baldred Bisset (1301) spoke of Edward seeking a deal in 1291 with “one group of [Scottish] magnates belonging to a party which had no right in the kingdom at that time.”

1297 - Wishart, Steward and Bruce speak for ‘whole community…’

1299-1300 - Comyn/Umfraville/Soules as Community exclude Bruce?

Inauguration at Scone 25/27 March 1306

St Andrews Parliament March 1309

…Bruce seeking approval/impression of community support.

October 1309 - appeal to Edward II from ‘certain people to whom

the name ‘the community of the realm of Scotland’ is given’

seeking promise he would uphold father’s promises of 1304…

…Comyns, Umfravilles [earl of Angus], Mowbrays,

Brechin, Macdougalls, MacDowalls, Abernethy, etc….