Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/77

 ( 77 ) Robert Bruce, the first male branch of the family of David, yet, influenced by partiality towards his own family he caused the nobles, both spiritual and temporal, to swear that they would acknowledge Margaret his grand-child, as queen of Scotland at his death' which was accordingly. done. In this manner' was the sceptre, for the first time, not only given to a woman, but to an infant of two years old. To such extremes many nations revert in the moments of inadvertency, or when no one appears to vindicate their just claim. But the illegal policy of Alexander III. was ren- dered abortive, by the death of Margaret, called the Maid of Norway, about three year's after; and with her perished the family of King William, and left the throne vacant to the family of David. Earl of Huntiugton, King William's brother.. "That Earl had thro daughters: Margaret, who was married to Allan, Lord of Galloway; Isabel, to Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale; and Ada, to Henry Hastings, an English lord, from whom the carls of Huntington are de- scended. Margaret left two daughters, Dever- guild and Marjory. Isabel, one son, named Robert; and Ada, a son, called John. If Margaret, the oldest, had left : son, he would have been the unquestionable heir; as she herself would have been, unless excluded by the law which fixed the succession in the male line. By this same law, Robert Bruce, the son of Isabel, the second daughter, became pre- G3