It was not easy for Isabella and Mortimer to restore the waning fortunes of England at home and abroad.  We shall see that it was only by an almost complete surrender that they procured peace with France and a partial restoration of Gascony.  In Scotland they were even less fortunate.  Robert Bruce, though broken in health and spirits, took up an aggressive attitude, and it was found necessary to summon the feudal levies to meet on the border in the summer of 1327 in order to repel his attack.  While the troops were mustering at York, a fierce fight broke out in the streets, between the Hainault mercenaries, under John of Hainault, and the citizens.  So threatening was the outlook that it was thought wise to send the Hainaulters back home.  From this accident it happened that the young king went forth to his first campaign, attended only by his native-born subjects.  The Scots began operations by breaking the truce and overrunning the borders.  The campaign directed against them was as futile as any of the last reign, and the English, though three times more numerous than the enemy, dared not provoke battle.  This inglorious failure may well have convinced Mortimer that the best chance of maintaining his power was to make peace at any price.  Early in 1328, the negotiations for a treaty were concluded at York.  During their progress, Edward, who was at York to meet his parliament, was married to Philippa of Hainault.

The Scots treaty was confirmed in April by a parliament that met at Northampton.  All claim to feudal superiority over Scotland was withdrawn; Robert Bruce was recognised as King of Scots, and his young son David was married to Joan of the Tower, Edward III.’s infant sister.  This surrender provoked the liveliest indignation, and men called the treaty of Northampton the “shameful peace,” and ascribed it to the treachery or timorousness of the queen and her paramour.  But it is hard to see what other solution of the Scottish problem was practicable.  For many years Bruce had been de facto King of Scots, and any longer hesitation to withhold the recognition which he coveted would have been sure to involve the north of England in the same desolation as that which he had inflicted before the truce of 1322.  But the founder of Scottish independence was drawing near to the end of his career.  His health had long been undermined by a terrible disease which the chroniclers thought to be leprosy.  He died in 1329, and on his death-bed he bethought him of how he, who had shed so much Christian blood, had never been able to fulfil his vow of crusade.  Accordingly he entreated James Douglas, his faithful companion-in-arms, to go on crusade against the Moors of Granada, taking with him the heart of his dead master.  Douglas fulfilled the request, and perished in Spain, whither he had carried the heart of the Scottish liberator.  With the accession of the little David Bruce, new troubles began for Scotland, though danger from England was for the moment averted by the English marriage and the treaty of Northampton.