1286-1296

When Alexander III was killed, on the 19th March, 1285-86, the relations between England and Scotland were such that Edward I was amply justified in looking forward to a permanent union.  Since the ill-fated invasion of William the Lion in 1174, there had been no serious warfare between the two countries, and in recent years they had become more and more friendly in their dealings with each other.  The late king had married Edward’s sister, Margaret, and the child-queen was her grand-daughter; Alexander and Margaret had been present at the English King’s coronation in 1274; and, in addition to these personal connections, Scotland had found England a friend in its great final struggle with the Danes.  The misfortunes which had overtaken Scotland in the premature deaths[41] of Alexander and his three children might yet prove a very real blessing, if they prepared the way for the creation of a great island kingdom, which should be at once free and united.  The little Margaret, the Maid of Norway, Edward’s grand-niece, had been acknowledged heir to the throne of her grandfather, in February, 1283-84, and on his death her succession was admitted.  The Great Council met at Scone in April, 1286, and appointed six Guardians of the Kingdom.  It was no easy task which was entrusted to them, for the claim of a child and a foreigner could not but be disputed by the barons who stood nearest to the throne.  The only rival who attempted to rebel was Robert Bruce of Annandale, who had been promised the succession by Alexander II, and had been disappointed of the fulfilment of his hopes by the birth of the late king in 1241.  The deaths of two of the guardians added to the difficulties of the situation, and it was with something like relief that the Scots heard that Eric of Norway, the father of their queen, wished to come to an arrangement with Edward of England, in whose power he lay.  The result of Eric’s negotiations with Edward was that a conference met at Salisbury in 1289, and was attended, on Edward’s invitation, by four Scottish representatives, who included Robert Bruce and three of the guardians.  Such were the troubles of the country that the Scots willingly acceded to Edward’s proposals, which gave him an interest in the government of Scotland, and they heard with delight that he contemplated the marriage of their little queen to his son Edward, then two years of age.  The English king was assured of the satisfaction which such a marriage would give to Scotland, and the result was that, by the Treaty of Brigham, in 1290, the marriage was duly arranged.  Edward had previously obtained the necessary dispensation from the pope.