his best chance of success was to inspire his son with something of his spirit.  The Prince of Wales accordingly received a grant of Gascony, and on Whitsunday, May 22, was dubbed knight at Westminster along with over two hundred other aspirants to arms.  A magnificent feast in Westminster Hall succeeded the ceremony.  Two swans, adorned with golden chains, were brought in, and the old king set to all the revellers the example of vowing on the swans to revenge the murder of Comyn.  Edward swore that when he had expiated this wrong to Holy Church, he would never more bear arms against Christian man, but would immediately turn his steps towards the Holy Land to redeem the Holy Sepulchre.  The Prince of Wales’ vow was never to rest two nights in the same spot until he had reached Scotland to assist his father in his purpose.  Then all the young knights were despatched northwards to overthrow the Scottish pretender.

A liberal grant from the estates facilitated the military preparations.  But since the beginning of the year, Edward’s strength had rapidly broken.  He was no longer able to ride, and his movements were consequently very tedious.  His army gathered together with more than the usual slowness, and Aymer of Valence, Earl of Pembroke, the king’s cousin, was sent forward as warden of Scotland to meet Bruce with such forces as were ready.  On June 26 Aymer fell upon Bruce at Methven, near Perth, and inflicted a severe defeat upon him.  The power of the pretender died away as rapidly as it had arisen.  The Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow were made prisoners, and Bruce’s brothers, wife, and daughter fell into the enemy’s hands.  The brothers were promptly beheaded, though one of them was an ecclesiastic, and the ladies were confined in English nunneries.  Bruce himself fled to Kintyre, and thence to Rathlin island, off the coast of Antrim.

Edward went north in July, and, after a long stay in Northumberland, took up his quarters early in October with the Austin canons of Lanercost, near Carlisle.  There he remained for above five months.  In January, 1307, the parliament, whose anti-clerical policy has already been recounted, assembled at Carlisle, and remained in session until March.  With the spring, Brace crossed over from Ireland, and re-appeared in his own lands in the south-west.  In May he revenged the rout of Methven by inflicting a bloody check on Aymer of Valence near Ayr, and within three days gained another victory over Edward’s son-in-law, Earl Ralph of Gloucester.  These blows only spurred on Edward to increased efforts.  The levies were summoned to meet at Carlisle and, regardless of his infirmities, the old king resolved to lead his troops in person.  On July 3 he once more mounted his horse and started for the border.  But his constitution could not respond to the demands made on it by his unbroken spirit.  After a journey of two miles he was forced to rest for the night.  Next day he could only traverse a similar distance, and his exertions so fatigued him that he was compelled to remain at his lodgings all the following day.  This repose enabled him to make his way, on July 6, to Burgh-on-Sands, less than seven miles from Carlisle, where he spent the night.  On July 7, as he was being raised in his bed by his attendants to take his morning meal, he fell back in their arms and expired.