Page:Robert the Bruce and the struggle for Scottish independence - 1909.djvu/366

306 repeating all that his father, who personally knew the King well, had told him in his favour: "he was prudent, gentle and amiable in conversation, but maladroit in action."

The immediate effect of the revolution in England on the prospects of peace between that country and Scotland was disastrous, though there is hopeless discrepancy in the accounts given by different historians regarding the circumstances which brought about a renewal of hostilities.

On the one hand, there is the unimpeachable testimony of authentic documents to the fact that on February 15th, three weeks after his accession, Edward III. appointed Henry de Percy, Ralph de Neville, Roger Heron, William Riddel, and Gilbert de Boroughdon, to maintain the truce made by the late King with Robert de Brus and his "fautours"; at the same time empowering Percy to receive to his peace all Scotsmen who should desire to come. Further, on March 4th, the Abbot de Rievaulx and Ivo de Aldburgh were empowered to treat for peace with Robert de Brus, and to swear that their King would keep the truce meanwhile. Lastly, on March 6th, King Edward formally confirmed the truce made by his father.

On the other hand, the chronicler of Lanercost, usually veracious though greatly prejudiced against the Scots, circumstantially declares that Norham Castle was besieged on the very day of Edward's coronation, but that the assailants were repulsed by