Page:Robert the Bruce and the struggle for Scottish independence - 1909.djvu/108

78 latter he enclosed in a little purse under his privy seal, and delivered to the Bishop of Durham on behalf of the King of England.

Thus closed the reign of King John of Scotland, which had lasted three years and seven months, and a second interregnum began, though successive Regents continued to act in the name of the late King. The subsequent movements of the luckless ex-King may be traced in the Public Records of England. His first place of captivity was Hertford, where he remained till August, 1297. He was allowed to amuse himself in hunting, was provided with a suitable retinue, and received seventeen shillings a day for sustenance. From Hertford he was transferred to the greater security of the Tower. Even there he was not debarred from reasonable pleasure. His household contained two esquires, one huntsman and his page, a barber, a chaplain, a steward, a butler, two chamberlains, a clerk of the chapel, a washerwoman, and three lads. He had horses, no doubt, and mention is made of two greyhounds and ten hounds.

He remained an inmate of the Tower till August, 1299, when King Edward summoned him to his presence at Canterbury. Edward was then negotiating a treaty of peace with the King of France, and Rinaldo, Bishop of Vincenza, was the Pope's delegate for furthering the accomplishment thereof Balliol was committed to the custody of this prelate the result being that he was taken to France, and