nation, Baliol ceded Berwick, Dunbar,
Roxburgh, Edinburgh, and all the south-east counties of Scotland, which
were declared to be forever annexed to the English monarchy.[**]

* Rymer vol. v. p. 590.

** Rymer, vol. iv. p. 614.

{1334.} If Baliol on his first appearance was dreaded by the Scots, as
an instrument employed by England for the subjection of the kingdom,
this deed confirmed all their suspicions, and rendered him the object
of universal hatred. Whatever submissions they might be obliged to
make, they considered him not as their prince, but as the delegate and
confederate of their determined enemy: and neither the manners of the
age, nor the state of Edward's revenue, permitting him to maintain a
standing army in Scotland, the English forces were no sooner withdrawn,
than the Scots revolted from Baliol, and returned to their former
allegiance under Bruce. Sir Andrew Murray, appointed regent by the party
of this latter prince, employed with success his valor and activity in
many small but decisive actions against Baliol; and in a short time had
almost wholly expelled him the kingdom.

{1335.} Edward was obliged again to assemble an army, and to march into
Scotland: the Scots, taught by experience, withdrew into their hills
and fastnesses: he destroyed the houses and ravaged the estates of those
whom he called rebels: but this confirmed them still further in their
obstinate antipathy to England and to Baliol; and being now rendered
desperate, they were ready to take advantage, on the first opportunity,
of the retreat of their enemy, and they soon reconquered their country
from the English.

{1336.} Edward made anew his appearance in Scotland with like success:
he found every thing hostile in the kingdom, except the spot on which he
was encamped: and though he marched uncontrolled over the low countries,
the nation itself was farther than ever from being broken and subdued.
Besides being supported by their pride and anger, passions difficult
to tame, they were encouraged, amidst all their calamities, by daily
promises of relief from France; and as war was now likely to break out
between that kingdom and England, they had reason to expect, from this
incident, a great diversion of that force which had so long oppressed
and overwhelmed them.

{1337.} We now come to a transaction on which depended the most
memorable events, not only of this long and active reign, but of the
whole English and French