when the Maid of Norway died. The three principal competitors
-- Bruce, Baliol, and Comyn -- and their friends, at once began to
arm; but William Fraser, Bishop of St. Andrews, a friend of Baliol,
wrote to King Edward suggesting that he should act as arbitrator,
and more than hinting that if he chose Baliol he would find
him submissive in all things to his wishes. Edward jumped at
the proposal, and thereupon issued summonses to the barons of the
northern counties to meet him at Norham on the 3d of June; and a
mandate was issued to the sheriffs of Northumberland, Cumberland,
Westmoreland, York, and Lancaster, to assemble the feudal array at
the same rendezvous.

"Now, you know, my son, that, owing to the marriages between royal
families of England and Scotland, there has been a close connection
between the countries. Many Scotch barons have married English
heiresses, and hold lands in both countries, while Scottish maidens
have married English knights. Thus it happens that a great number
of the Scotch nobility are as much Englishmen as Scotchmen, and are
vassals to England for lands held there. Four of the competitors,
John Baliol, Robert Bruce, John Comyn, and William Ross, are all
barons of England as well as of Scotland, and their lands lying
in the north they were, of course, included in the invitation. In
May, Edward issued an invitation to the Bishops of St. Andrews,
Glasgow, and other Scotch nobles to come to Norham, remain there,
and return, specially saying that their presence there was not to
be regarded as a custom through which the laws of Scotland might
in any future time be prejudiced. Hither then came the whole power
of the north of England, and many of the Scotch nobles.

"When the court opened, Roger Brabazon, the king's justiciary,