Page:Robert the Bruce and the struggle for Scottish independence - 1909.djvu/327

1322 A.D.] Keith, Sir Roger de Kirkpatrick, Sir Alexander de Seton, and Sir William de Montfichet. Terms of truce were agreed to between the commissioners on December 21, 1319, and ratified by King Robert at Berwick on the following day. It was to endure for two years from St. Thomas's Day, King Robert undertaking on his part, to erect no new fortresses within the shires of Berwick, Roxburgh, and Dumfries; while King Edward consented to deliver Harbottle Castle to the Scots, or else to destroy it.

Meanwhile the Pope continued to act vigorously in Edward's interest, probably not having foreseen the speedy collapse of the latest invasion of Scotland. In October, 1319, he issued fresh instructions for the excommunication of the much-execrated King of Scots, unmindful, apparently, of the fact that the more curses had been heaped on the Bruce, the more constantly fortune had smiled on his arms. This new sentence was not put into immediate execution, for, on January 8, 1320, the Pope summoned "the noble man Robert de Brus, governing the Kingdom of Scotland," to appear, with the prelates of Scotland, at his court at Avignon.

To this summons King Robert paid no attention, because, although it was accompanied by a safe conduct, it was not addressed to him as King. Therefore the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of