Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 03.djvu/71

 Baliol made an ineffectual attempt to take Stirling, but succeeded in reducing the more northern forts after Edward's departure. In the spring of the following year, 1337, he took Falkland, Leuchars, and St. Andrews in Fife, Cupar alone holding out under the command of Bullock, Baliol's chamberlain. By a sudden diversion to the west he surprised and took Bothwell Castle, and, having thus secured the passage of the Clyde, made a raid into Cumberland, and on his return invested but did not take Edinburgh. In 1338 this gallant commander, who had upheld the cause of Scottish independence for forty years, since he was associated with Wallace against Edward I, died. Robert, the steward of Scotland, succeeded him as regent, and prepared for the siege of Perth, where Baliol still was, and Edward, having no confidence in his military talents, required him to entrust its custody to Sir Thomas Ughtred, an English commander. Before the end of the year Baliol, who had borne no part of any moment in the war nominally conducted on his behalf, but really for that of Edward, retired to England. There he appears to have remained until the defeat and capture of David II at Neville's Cross, 17 Oct. 1346, encouraged him again to return to Scotland. Taking up his residence at Caerlaverock Castle, on the Solway, and aided by English men-at-arms under Percy and Neville, he made a raid as far as Glasgow, wasting Nithsdale and Cunningham. The title, but not the contents, of a treaty in this year between Lionel, duke of Clarence, son of Edward III, and Percy and Neville, has been preserved, which makes it probable that the ambitious prince had set on foot the intrigue for his succession to the Scottish crown with Baliol which was afterwards renewed with David II. Meanwhile the Scots had accepted Robert the Steward, grandson of Robert the Bruce on the mother's side, as regent; and though the English king in official documents continues to style Baliol 'our dear cousin Edward, king of Scotland,' he negotiated at the same time with his captive, David II, and finally, in 1354, released him for the large ransom of 90,000 marks, by annual instalments of 10,000, on non-payment of which he was to return to prison at Berwick or Norham. The Scotch preferring the French alliance and failing to pay the instalment due in 1355, David honourably surrendered himself, and in 1356 Edward mustered a large force for the subjugation of Scotland. Before he set out Baliol at Roxburgh, on 21 Jan., made an absolute surrender of the whole kingdom of Scotland to Edward by delivery of a portion of its soil along with his golden crown, in return for an obligation of payment of 5,000 marks and a pension of 2,000l. which Edward granted on the previous day at Bamborough. This was the last of Baliol's acts as king; but his ignoble life lasted till 1367, when he died without issue at Wheatley, near Doncaster, where, during his last years, 'reft of the crown, he still might share the chase,' as is proved by the writs granting him a license to sport in the royal forests and pardon to some of the neighbouring gentry who joined in his amusement. Except for the brief period of his success at the head of the disinherited barons at Dupplin Moor, he showed no qualities worthy of respect in a warlike age. His character was similar to that of his father, unequal to the honour and peril of a crown, and content to survive the disgrace of doing what lay in his power to sacrifice the independence of his country.

 BALIOL, HENRY (d. 1246), chamberlain of Scotland, was the son of Ingelram and grandson of Bernard de Baliol, of Barnard Castle. His mother was daughter and heiress of William de Berkeley, lord of Reidcastle in Forfarshire, and chamberlain of Scotland under William the Lion in 1165. William de Berkeley was succeeded in this high office, not yet divided into those of the treasurer and comptroller, and entrusted with the superintendence of the whole royal revenues, by Philip de Valoines and his son William de Valoines, lords of Panmure. The latter died in 1219, leaving only a daughter, and Henry de Baliol, who had married his sister Lora, obtained the chamberlainship which had been held by the father both of his mother and his wife. Although invited by King John to take his side shortly before Magna Charta, it is probable that, like his sovereign, Alexander II, he joined the party of the barons. He is mentioned in the Scottish records in various years between 1223 and 1244, and the appointment of Sir John Maxwell, of Caerlaverock, who appears as chamberlain in 1231, must either have been temporary, or Baliol must have retained the title after demitting the office, which Crawford (Officers of State, p. 261) supposes him to have done in 1231. In 1234 he succeeded, in right of his wife as Rh