cassock for the steel coat, he led all his own followers into the field against his lord. Bruce's fortunes appearing to decline, the bishop saw his errors, and bewailed his wicked conduct, and a third time took the solemn oath of fealty. His remorse, however, had accumulated rather on his memory than his conscience. Within a month he broke his faith-instigated a new rebellion-and upon a new change of fortune, he repaired to Roxburgh and surrendered himself a hostage. Being enlarged by the king, he repaired to Holm Coltram in England, and for the fourth time took every oath that was set before him, with all the most solemn sanctions that have ever surrounded this appeal to heaven between man and man. Scarce had the words ceased to echo in his ears, when temptation was again thrown in his way, and summoning his followers around him, he marched against the Prince of Wales, who had been despatched to Galloway by his father to act against Bruce and Wallace. Defeat having followed the rising of the Scottish chiefs, the instantaneous repentance of the bishop followed, and with wo-begone looks of misery, and a heart torn with remorse, he rushed into the royal presence at Cambus

kenneth, loudly proclaimed his wickedness, swallowed for the fifth time all the oaths-which he could now repeat without book—and received, from the royal clemency, the pardon earned by his repentance. As his memory was treacherous, the good bishop kept up the lively recollection of his duty, by saying the oaths for the sixth time, at a parliament shortly afterwards held in St. Andrews, in presence of the lords of both realms.

No sooner had the reverend father thus testified his abhorrence of his conduct, than he began forthwith to stir up more rebellion, as a practical commentary on his allegiance. He first gave plenary absolution to Bruce for the murder of Comyn, and so rendered nugatory the bull of excommunication, afterwards hurled from the Vatican, which, like a bomb falling amid water, crackled, and whizzed, and died out, without injury to those it was intended to destroy. He then, out of his own wardrobe, provided Bruce with the royal robes, in which he was arrayed when anointed king; and with amazing activity went about the country, preaching a crusade against the English oppressors, which he declared to be as holy a work

as fighting against the Saracen in the Holy Land. Even the very timber which Edward had given him to build the steeple at Glasgow, the bishop converted into engines of artillery, wherewith he stormed the castle of Cupar, and maintained it against the English arms, till the accidents of war placed it and its valiant defender at the mercy of the conqueror.*

The Vicar of Bray is a tame parody on the immortal bishop. He could change shapes with Proteus for advantages, and he did it to purpose. There must have been something in his character that restrained the avenging hand of Edward, when oaths were so often broken, confidence so frequently abused. It was not the fear of Papal excommunication, for Edward and his parliament rebuked the Pope himself, when he set up his claim to the lordship of Scotland.† But there can be no doubt, that the redoubtable bishop contributed a large share to the animation of the country, when Bruce raised the standard of revolt. For his tergiversation let

For these facts connected with the bishop, see the volume containing Documents and Records as to Scottish History, issued by the Record Commission in 1837.

+ Palgrave, p. 130.

us therefore find a palliation in the necessity which has no law, and in the patriotism which sacrificed peace, rank, and security, to perpetual hazards, captivity, and degradation. His latter years were consecrated to posterity, in furnishing Fordun with the materials for his history, and thus we owe him a debt of gratitude, which might well temper the sharpness of moral censure, for conduct which, if it was patriotic, was at least the ultimum non esse of vice.

The second volume contains the history of the weak-minded son of Bruce, together with a disquisition on the condition of the country, and its laws and customs from the time of Alexander the Third. The whole account of the reign of David the Second possesses a melancholy interest, from the contrast with the brilliant history of his father. The elevation was not greater than the fall; and the feeble monarch only affords another instance of the truth, that genius is not a family inheritance. Over this period Mr. Tytler has cast no additional illumination, and seems indeed too much disposed, in many particulars, "to tell the tale, sir, as 'twas told to him." Thus we have the old story, that Sir

William Douglas, the knight of Liddesdale, known in history as the "flower of chivalry," was the natural son of the good Sir James, the associate of Bruce, instead of being of another family of Douglasses, and enjoying all the honours and privileges of legitimacy. The error was corrected a century ago by Ruddiman, in his edition of Hume's History of the House of Douglas and Angus, and in modern publications the origin of the fable has been clearly explained.* The history of the unscrupulous queen, Margaret Logie, her intrigues in Scotland, and her adventures in foreign lands in support of her queenly privileges, has also been composed without much industry in the investigation of facts, and with the addition of some inaccuracies, to those generated by the indolence of preceding historians.†

It would far outreach our limits to enter upon the inviting duty of examining the concluding portion of this volume, on the manners, laws, and customs of ancient Scotland. While Mr. Tytler's fluent writing will induce many to read

*Stewartiana, p. 82.

† See Riddell on Peerages, p. 981, where this lady's history is very carefully elucidated.