Blog – The Breaking of Britain

This week – 30 August 1303

abeamfrazier — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 18:37:00 +0000

From Inverkip, Aymer de Valence, captain of the army and lieutenant of the king south of the Forth, and Robert fitz Pagan, wrote to the constable and marshal of the army, and keeper of the wardrobe. They certify that Sir John de Maundeville performed his service for 2 knights’ fees in person.

This week – 20 August 1299

abeamfrazier — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 18:29:07 +0000

Robert Hastang, sheriff of Roxburgh, sends a report to Edward I on the Scots’ activities in the area. He reports the inroad by the Scots under Ingram de Umfraville and William Balliol on Selkirk forest, which was held by Simon Fraser, and the meeting there of the bishop of St Andrews, the earls of Carrick, Buchan and Menteith, John Comyn the son, and James Stewart. Hastang had a spy in the camp who recounted the dissensions among them cause by David Graham’s demand for William Wallace’s lands and goods, as he was going abroad without leave, and his brother Malcolm Wallace’s objections, ‘when these two knights gave each other the lie, and drew their knives – Sir John Comyn’s taking the Earl of Carrick by the throat, and the Earl of Buchan seizing the Bishop of St Andrews.’ After this quarrel the nobles agreed that the Bishop Lamberton, Robert Bruce (earl of Carrick) and John Comyn would be Guardians.

This week – 17 August 1294

abeamfrazier — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 18:21:55 +0000

Edward I, overlord of Scotland, issued a writ addressed to John Balliol, king of Scots. He says that he postponed the muster which was to have been at London on 1 September and now orders John to send men to … Continue reading →

This week – 8 August 1299

abeamfrazier — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 18:15:33 +0000

Edward I wrote to the guardian of the monastery of Kelso noting the request by ‘Friar’ Thomas of Durham, their fellow monk, that as their church is destitute through the continued and voluntary absence of ‘friar’ Richard, late abbot, a rebel and enemy, he would grant a conge d’elire. The king granted their request and permitted them to elect a new abbot. Thomas of Durham was chosen as abbot.

This week – 1 August 1298

abeamfrazier — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 18:12:56 +0000

On this date, Walter of ‘Bedewynde’ was granted royal letters of presentation to the church of Kilpatrick on the Clyde (DNB). See the document in the database here.

This week – 21 July 1222

abeamfrazier — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 20:33:41 +0000

A charter to Coldingham Priory is issued by Alexander II. Though not necessarily an important document for the priory, the charter marked a watershed in his kingship. From this point forward, the plural of majesty was adopted and used systematically in his charters, giving historians a firmer idea of the dates of those charters in which a year (or even a month and day) may not have been specified. [See Dauvit Broun, ‘The Absence of Regnal Years from the Dating Clause of Charters of Kings of Scots, 1195-1222’, Anglo-Norman Studies XXV, ed. John Gillingham (Woodbridge, 2002), 47-63, at 57-8; ibid., Scottish Independence and the Idea of Britain (Edinburgh, 2007), 200.]

This week – 15 July 1235

abeamfrazier — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 20:32:41 +0000

Thomas, illegitimate son of the late Alan, lord of Galloway, was defeated by Alexander II and Fearchar, earl of Ross. Thomas had gained the support of the Galwegians following Alan’s death without a legitimate male heir.

This week – 8 July 1249

abeamfrazier — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 20:30:34 +0000

King Alexander II died of fever on the island of Kerrera, in Oban Bay, during an expedition against King Haakon IV of Norway. He was buried at Melrose Abbey.

This week – 6 July 1295

abeamfrazier — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 20:26:05 +0000

On this date, a parliament was held by John Balliol at Stirling. This was King John’s penultimate parliament, and the main order of business would likely have been the Franco-Scottish treaty which was concluded that October and ratified in February … Continue reading →

This week – 28 June 1291

abeamfrazier — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 20:15:20 +0000

Edward I, as overlord of Scotland, writes to Alan, bishop of Caithness, chancellor of Scotland, noting that it is illegal in Scotland for a baron or anyone else to have a prison in which he detains a felon accused of a crime committed outwith his barony. As such, henotes that William Douglas detains in his prison, Hugh of Abernethy, accused of the death of Duncan, earl of Fife, who was slain outwith William’s barony. Edward commands that the bishop should cause Douglas to deliver Abernethy to William Sinclair to be confined in the king’s prison. Read the full document and explore these persons in the database here.