An opportunity now presented itself for Edward to assert his power in
Scotland. Two claimants, both of Norman descent, had come forward
demanding the crown.[1] One was John Baliol; the other, Robert Bruce,
an ancestor of the famous Scottish King and general of that name, who
will come prominently forward in the next reign. He decided in
Baliol's favor, but insisted, before doing so, that the latter should
acknowledge the overlordship of England, as the King of Scotland had
done to William I.
[1] Scotland: At the time of the Roman conquest of Britain, Scotland
was inhabited by a Celtic race nearly akin to the primitive Irish, and
more distantly so to the Britons. In time, the Saxons from the
Continent invaded the country, and settled on the lowlands of the
east, driving back the Celts to the western highlands. Later, many
English emigrated to Scotland, especially at the time of the Norman
Conquest, where they found a hearty welcome.
In 1072 William the Conqueror compelled the Scottish King to
acknowledge him as Overlord, and eventually so many Norman nobles
established themselves in Scotland that they constituted the chief
landed aristocracy of the country. The modern Scottish nation, though
it keeps its Celtic name (Scotland), is made up in great measure of
inhabitants of English descent, the pure Scotch being confined mostly
to the Highlands, and ranking in population only as about one to three
of the former.
Baliol made a virtue of necessity, and agreed to the terms; but
shortly after formed a secret alliance with France against Edward,
which was renewed from time to time, and kept up between the two
countries for three hundred years. It is the key to most of the wars
in which England was involved during that period. Having made this
treaty, Baliol now openly renounced his allegiance to the English
King. Edward at once organized a force, attacked Baliol, and at the
battle of Dunbar (1296) compelled the Scottish nobleman to acknowledge
him as ruler.
At the Abbey of Scone, near Perth, the English seized the famous
"Stone of Destiny," the palladium of Scotland, on which her Kings were
crowned. (See map facing p. 120.) Carrying the trophy to Westminster
Abbey, Edward enclosed it in that ancient coronation chair which has
been used by every sovereign since, from his son's accession (1307)
down to the present day.