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jucundiffima lectionis voluptate." The life of Robert I. feems even to be an excellent fubject for an Epic poem. Such a work might be intitled, "The Independency of Scotland reftored." The poem might open at the time when all Scotland had acknowledged Edward I. as their fovereign. The death of Comyn might then be defcribed, and the coronation of Robert I. The difafters and viciffitudes of fortune which attended this Prince might next engage the attention of the poet. He might then dwell on the battle of Bannockburn †, detail the continuation of the war, and mark the different methods which were taken, on the one hand, for overturning and, on the other, for fupporting the Scottish government. At length he would arrive at the peace of Northampton, and at the death of Robert I. who died in the full poffeffion of a kingdom united and independent, which, in the beginning of his reign, was torn by factions, and fubject to England.

Another remark prefents itfelf to us with regard to Robert I. Scotsmen, while they extol this illuftrious man as the deliverer of their nation, and overleap all the boundaries of panegyric, seem to think that the fine things they utter are applied to a native of Scotland. It is true, notwithstanding, that this distinguished warrior and statesman was an ENGLISHMAN. The evidence of this fact is to be found in different places of the work now before us. The progenitors of Robert I. were Anglo-Norman lords who had fettled in Yorkshire. There they lived and died; and the connexion which this Prince had with Scotland was chiefly by his mother, the Countess of Carrick.

Amidft the praise which this performance is intitled to from our juftice and candour, we cannot but remark, to its advantage, the perfpicuity and precifion with which the Hiftorian has every where expreffed himself. To deep inquiry, and to real learning, he adds the greatest diftinctnefs of ideas, and the graces of language. He admits his readers into the knowledge of characters rather by the art of his narrative, and the felection of circumftances, than by laboured and fplendid portraits. We catch as we read the manners of the times; and that the current of his ftory may not be difagreeably interrupted, he has given many notes, in which he corrects the errors of preceding authors, and displays a lettered labour, and an engaging ingenuity.

For the entertainment of our Readers, we fhall here felect the Author's fhort and interefting account of the negociations

*Cic. Epift. ad diverfos, lib. v. ep. 12.

+ Of this famous battle, fee a circumftantial account in our Review for July latt, p. 49.

REV. Mar. 1779.

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of Randolph Earl of Moray with the Papal Court, to engage it to bestow the title of King on Robert Bruce.

The King of Scots, on his fide, refolved to fend ambaffadors for foliciting a reconciliation with the church. Previous, however, to this embaffy, he judged it expedient that his nephew Randolph fhould endeavour to found the difpofitions of the Papal court.

The Pope fent a narrative to the King of England of the converfation which paffed between him and Randolph. narrative is exceedingly curious and characteristical.

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Randolph having been admitted to an audience, informed the Pope, that he had made a vow to repair to the Holy-land, but that he could not accomplish it without the permiffion of the Papal fee; and that the main purpofe of his journey to Avignon was to feek the indulgences ufually bestowed on those who undertook that religious expedition.

The Pope made anfwer, that it was not fit to grant fuch permiffion and indulgences to one who, as a fimple individual, could not perform any effectual fervices; and, as an excommunicated perfon, could not further his own falvation in Paleftine but, he added, that he would hereafter lend a favourable ear to this petition, if Randolph did his utmost endeavours for procuring the establishment of peace between the two

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Randolph then faid, that ambaffadors were fpeedily to be fent from Scotland, to folicit a reconciliation with the church, and he requested the Pope to grant them his own passport in ample form.

The Pope, although he could not grant this, offered to iffue letters requifitorial for their fafe conduct, addressed to all the Princes through whofe territories they might have occafion to journey.

Randolph next produced a commiffion from his uncle of the following tenor The King of Scots makes offer to the Pope, that he will accompany the French King in his intended expedition to the Holy-land; and, if that expedition fhould not take place, that he himself will repair in perfon to the Holy-land, or fend his nephew, Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, in his ftead.”

To this propofal the Pope made anfwer, "that, until Bruce concluded a peace with England, and was reconciled to the church, it would not be decent to receive him as a crufader, either in fociety with the French King, or by himself."

6 Then the fhrewd ambassador obferved, that his own wishes were most ardent for peace with England, and for a perfect reconciliation with the Catholic church: that to this end he would fincerely labour, were he affifted by the good offices of

his Holiness; but that, for rendering fuch interpofition effectual, it would be expedient, and indeed abfolutely neceffary, that a bull fhould be addreffed to Bruce, under the appellation of King. He was confident that a bull, with that conciliating title, would be reverently received; but he greatly feared, that if the name of King was with-held, that which had happened formerly would again happen *, and the bull would remain unopened.

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This refers to the following tranfa&tions, in 1317 (fix years before the negociation now mentioned) viz. After the return of the -King of Scots from his expedition into Ireland,' [in which, as our Author remarks, he had the glory of over-running that kingdom, at the expence of the lives of many of his moft faithful fubjects] • Pope John XXII. iffued a bull commanding a truce for two years between England and Scotland, under pain of excommunication. He difpatched two Cardinals into Britain to make known his commands, and he privately impowered them to inflict the higheft fpiritual cenfures on Robert Bruce, and on whomever else they thought fit.

There is extant an authentic account of the negociations of the Cardinals: it may be faid to exhibit the beft original portrait of Robert Bruce which has been preferved to our times.

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About the beginning of September 1317, the Cardinals fent two meffengers to the King of Scots. The King graciously received the meffengers, and heard them with patient attention. After having confulted with his Barons, he made anfwer, "That he mightily defired to procure a good and perpetual peace, either by the mediation of the Cardinals, or by any other means. He allowed the open letters from the Pope, which recommended peace, to be read in his prefence, and he liftened to them with all due refpe&t; but he would not receive the fealed letters addreffed to Robert Bruce governing in Scotland." Among my Barons, faid he, there are many of the name of Robert Bruce, who fhare in the government of Scotland; these letters may poffibly be addreffed to fome one of them, but they are not addreffed to me, who am King of Scotland; I can receive no letters which are not addreffed under that title, unlefs with the advice and approbation of my parliament. I will forthwith affemble my parliament, and with their advice return my anfwer."

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The meffengers attempted to apologize for the omiffion of the title of King They faid, That the holy church was not wont, during the dependence of a controverfy, to write or fay ought which might be interpreted as prejudicial to the claims of either of the contending parties." "Since then, anfwered the King, my fpiritual father and my holy mother would not prejudice the caufe of my adversary, by bestowing on me the appellation of King during the dependence of the controverfy, they ought not to have prejudiced my caufe by withdrawing that appeilation from me. I am in poffef fion of the kingdom of Scotland; all my people call me King; and foreign Princes addrefs me under that title; but it feems that my parents are partial to their Engiifh fon. Had you prefumed to pre

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The Pope haftily confented to a propofal made with fo much appearance of candour; but recollecting the confequences of what he had done, he endeavoured to apologize for it to the King of England. I remember to have told you, faid he, that my beftowing the title of King on Robert Bruce, would neither ftrengthen his claim, nor impair yours. My earnest defires are for a reconciliation and peace; and you well know, that my bull, iffued for attaining thofe falutary purposes, will never be received in Scotland, if I addrefs it to Bruce under any other appellation but that of King. I therefore exhort you,

fent letters with fuch an addrefs to any other fovereign Prince, you might, perhaps, have been answered in a harsher ftyle; but I reverence you as the meffengers of the holy fee." He delivered this farcaftical and refolute anfwer with a mild and pleasant countenance.

The meffenger next requested the King to command a temporary ceffation of hoftilities." To that, replied the King, I can never confent, without the approbation of my parliament, especially while the Englifh daily invade and spoil my people."

The King's counfellors told the meffengers, that if the letters had been addreffed to the King of Scots, the negociations for peace would have instantly commenced. They imputed the flighting omiffion of the title of King to the intrigues of the English at the papal court, and they unguardedly hinted, that they had this intelligence from Avignon.

"While the title of King is with held, faid the meffengers to their conftituents, there can be no hopes of a treaty."

On receiving this intelligence, the Cardinals refolved to proclaim the papal truce in Scotland. In this hazardous office they em ployed Adam Newton, guardian of the monastery of Minorites at Berwick he was charged with letters to the Scottish clergy, and particularly to the Bishop of St, Andrews. He found the King of Scots with his army in a wood near Old Cambus, making preparations for the affault of Berwick. Although perfonal access to the King was denied, the obedient Monk proclaimed the truce by authority of the Pope. When the King of Scots was informed that the papal inftruments ftill denied him his titles, he returned them back, faying, "I will liften to no bulls, until I am treated as King of Scotland, and have made myself master of Berwick."

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The Monk, terrified at this anfwer, requested either a fafe conduct to Berwick, or permiffion to pafs into Scotland, and deliver letters to fome of the Scottish clergy. But both his requests were de nied, and he was commanded forthwith to leave the country. ` In his return to Berwick he was way-laid, ftripped, and robbed of all his parchments, together with his letters and inftructions. The robbers, it is faid, tore the Pope's bull.

In the whole tranfaction concerning the truce, the Pope appears to have been the fervile tool of England. Edward fubmitted to an ordinance which, probably, he himself had projected, and which he faw to be neceffary in the prefent exigencies of his affairs; but Bruce defpifed and derided it."

in your royal wisdom, that you would be pleased, patiently to fuffer me to give him that appellation. I hear that reports have reached you, as if Randolph had made other propofals, prejudicial to you, and your kingdom; but you may affure yourself, that I would not have permitted any proposals of that nature to have been fo much as mentioned in the abfence of those to whom you have committed the fuperintendency of your affairs. Befides, Henry de Sully, a perfon of known zeal for your honour and intereft, was prefent at the audience which I gave to Randolph; he heard all that paffed, and he would not have fuffered me, even if I had been fo inclined, to receive any propofals prejudicial to you, or your kingdom," 13th January 1323-4]

This narrative displays Randolph in the character of a confummate politician.

His first requeft to the Pope was merely perfonal, expreffing his own zeal in the fervice of the church, and the estimation in which he held her indulgences; this he reprefented as the chief business of his journey to Avignon. Although the Pope could not grant the first and principal request of Randolph, yet he declared himfelf willing to liften to it whenever a proper opportunity fhould offer; and he made his future favour to depend on Randolph's fincerity in promoting the establishment of peace!

• Randolph then talked of a reconciliation with the church, an effential preliminary of peace; he mentioned an embaffy from Scotland, having that object in view; and he demanded a paffport for the amballadors in a form which would have persuaded the world that the Pope himself had invited a reconciliation. The Pope perceived the tendency of the request, and eluded it.

Randolph next produced his commiffion from the King of Scots, offering to perform a fervice meritorious in itself, and connected with the glory of the French King, which could not fail of being interefting to a Pope born a Frenchman, and refiding at Avignon. The Pope eluded this offer alfo, but without fhewing any marks of displeasure at the extraordinary propofal, that a perfon lying under the curfe of the church, fhould engage in a crufade by authority of the Pope.

After Randolph had foothed the paffions, and conciliated the favour of the Pontiff, he opened the true bufinefs of his embaffy; and that, not as from the King of Scots, but merely as the amicable fuggeftion of his own zeal for peace, and the honour of the church; and he fo judiciously enforced the topics of perfuafion, that the Pope confented to give the title of King to one excommunicated perfon, by the advice of another.

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