+Source.+--_Chronicle of Lanercost_ (translated by Sir Herbert Maxwell
in the _Scottish Historical Review_, vol. vii., pp. 283-284).
In like manner, as we know that it is truly written, that evil priests
are the cause of the people's ruin, so the ruin of the realm of Scotland
had its source within the bosom of her own Church, because, whereas they
who ought to have led them (the Scots) misled them, they became a snare
and stumbling-block of iniquity to them, and brought them all to ruin.
For with one consent both those who discharged the office of prelate and
those who were preachers, corrupted the ears and minds of nobles and
commons, by advice and exhortation, both publicly and secretly, stirring
them to enmity against that King and nation who had so effectually
delivered them; declaring falsely that it was far more justifiable to
attack them than the Saracens. Certain mercenary priests also, not
really pastors, pretending to be dealers in wool, had crossed over to
the country of the French at the preceding Feast of S. Lawrence (10th
August, 1294), commissioned by their people to disclose this nefarious
plot to the King (of France). These were the Bishops of St. Andrews and
Dunkeld, who, according to the prophetic saying, "delighted the King by
their wickedness and Princes by their fraud." For, not long afterwards,
they succeeded in making them believe their falsehoods, and sent letters
by their servants announcing that the King of France was most favourably
inclined towards them, and that a huge fleet was setting sail with a
large force of men, and with arms, horses, and provender. In
corroboration whereof the Bishop of St. Andrews sent in advance to
Berwick many new and valuable arms, and also most sumptuous pontifical
vestments, all of which we know were seized and taken by the Bishop of
Durham's sailors in the very mouth of that port.
Also, to confirm what was said by the Holy Job--"the vain man is puffed
up by pride, and thinketh himself to be born as free as a wild ass's
colt"--this foolish people, yielding credence to these rumours, turned
fiercely upon all the English found within their borders, without regard
to age or sex, station or order. For the authority of the Church, which
was very oppressive, decreed that those rectors and vicars of churches
who were of English origin should be ousted and expelled from the
country by a given date; also the stipendiary priests were suspended and
were sentenced to expulsion with their clerical compatriots. Moreover,
the royal authority ejected monks from their monasteries, and unseated
those who were in high office; it even forced laymen out of their own
houses, confiscating under royal sasine[32] or taxing the goods found
therein. Also the biting tongues of certain evil men, who either could
not or dared not do injury by force, composed ballads stuffed with
insults and filth, to the blasphemy of our illustrious Prince and the
dishonour of his race; which, though they be not recorded here, yet will
they never be blotted from the memory of posterity.
[32] A deed giving legal possession of land.