Page:Public School History of England and Canada (1892).djvu/48

 Scotch prophecy, there would a Scotch king reign; and, so it happened in England, about three hundred years after.

For a time the Scotch submitted to Edward’s rule; and then William Wallace, a brave knight, gathered a few faithful and true men together and defeated the English at Lanark, Scone, and other points. His forces having greatly increased, he met the English army at Stirling Bridge, and there won a famous victory. Once more the Scots were free, and Balliol was king, although a prisoner in England.

While these events were taking place in Scotland, Edward was in Flanders, helping the Flemings against the French king. He had troubles on every side: from Ireland, Wales, France, and Scotland; and he was much in need of money. He asked for a large sum from the clergy, but at first they would not give it, until he refused them justice and protection. He laid heavy taxes on his people, and in other ways ruled harshly and unjustly, until Parliament complained and resisted, and then Edward acknowledged he was wrong, and promised he would never more levy money without the consent of Parliament, and that he would always right the grievances of his people before a fresh grant of money was made. This new charter was given in 1297, and is very important. The next year, having heard what the Scots were doing, he marched north, and defeated Wallace at Falkirk (1298), although the Scots fought bravely against overwhelming numbers. Wallace escaped for the time, but in 1305 was betrayed by his servant into the hands of the English, and was hanged on Tower Hill, in London.

It was not till near the end of Edward’s reign that the Scotch again seriously attempted to recover their lost independence. Then Robert Bruce, the grandson of Balliol’s rival, escaped from the English court, and going to Scotland, met and killed in a church at Dumfries, his rival and enemy Comyn. Soon Bruce had a band of desperate Scotch nobles around him, and a little later he was crowned at Scone. When Edward, now aged and ill, heard of this new revolt, he hastened to chastise Bruce and the Scotch. Swearing to have his revenge on Comyn’s murderer, he travelled slowly northwards. When near. the border he sent an army ahead which drove Bruce back to the Grampian Hills. He was busy taking