Scotland having being subjected in this manner, King Edward did away with all the old laws and constitutions of Scotland; trusting, thereby, to cause the Scots and Englishmen to increase together in blood, friendship, and faith. He burned all the Chronicles of Scotland, with all manner of books, as well of divine service as of other matters; so that the memory of the Scots should perish. Great punishment was made on them who resisted these commands. He made the Scots write books after the Use of Sarum,<109> and constrained them to say Mass in that way. Also, he banished all Scots who had any singular erudition, and put them in Oxford; fearing that the nobles of Scotland, by their erudition, would increase in virtue, and deliver their realm from servitude. Also, this tyrant had such vain arrogance, that he destroyed all the antiquities of Scotland: and after he had gone through several parts thereof, he commanded the round temple beside Camelon to be cast down, which was built, as we have said, in the honour of Emperor Claudius and the goddess Victory; not suffering, in his envy, so much of the antiquities of our elders to remain in memory. Yet the inhabitants saved them from utter destruction, and took the Roman standard and superstitions out of the walls thereof; and engraved the arms of King Arthur, and commanded it to be called Arthur's Hoif. Also, King Edward, before his return to England, so that no memory should remain of Scotland, their books being universally burned; sent the chair of marble out of Scotland to London, and put it in Westminster, where it remains yet;<110> then called all the lords of Scotland to a convention at Saint Andrew's, and took a new oath from them, to be loyal and true subjects to him, without any rebellion, in times coming. All the lords of Scotland were bound to him that day, except Wallace, whom no lands nor riches might break from defence of the liberty of Scotland. King Edward, to keep the Scots in his support, left behind him a valiant knight, Odomer Vallance, to be Governor of Scotland; then returned, with great triumph, to London.

            In the meantime, Robert Bruce and John Comyn convened together; and first Comyn said to Bruce: "You see how King Edward slays our people without any occasion, and occupies our kingdom without reason. Be of good courage, therefore, and take your armour and weapons. Suffer me to have your lands, and I shall make you king. If you will not do that, suffer me to be king, and you shall not only have all my lands and heritage, but you shall always be next to me in honour and dignity." Thus Bruce and Comyn were allied together, with indentures subscribed with each one's hand, and interchanged by their seals. Such things done, Bruce returned to England. This rebellion of Robert Bruce proceeded, because he was held always in suspicion by King Edward, because of the right that he had to the crown of the Scots; and therefore he dared not remain long in Scotland: for King Edward might have slain him before, if he could have got him and all his brothers together.

            After this confederation, Comyn thought his power and authority would be of little effect in Scotland if Bruce were king; and, therefore, he sent a confidential servant to King Edward, and told him about the writings lately made between him and Robert Bruce; desiring King Edward, if he intended to rule Scotland without trouble, to put Bruce quickly to death. King Edward gave little faith to these writings at the first sight; for he believed that they came only by envy of Comyn, who feared that he should be of little strength in Scotland, if Robert Bruce got any authority. At last, King Edward asked Bruce about these indentures, and demanded of him if he recognised his own words. Bruce denied the letters with great constancy, saying that it only came from Comyn's envy: and therefore desired to be allowed keep the letters for one night; and if he could not prove not the letters false and forged, he should lose all his lands within England. King Edward gave little faith to these letters; for it was the will of God that Bruce should be saved, to recover the realm of Scotland out of servitude and tyranny of Englishmen. The Earl of Gloucester, soon after the departure of Robert Bruce from the king's presence, sent to him 12 sterling pennies, with 9 sharp spurs: through which, Bruce conjectured that nothing would help him but to spur his horse. And because the season was then winter, and the earth covered over with snow, he had a smith shoe his horse backwards, so that no-one could follow him by his footprints; and departed out of London, with two trusty servants, with all the diligence that he could; and came, the 7th day after, to Lochmaben: where he met his brother Edward, who marvelled greatly at his hasty coming; and immediately he said how he came into great trouble by Comyn, and narrowly escaped with his life. In the meantime, as they went forward, they met a footman by the way; and because he avoided the road, they took him, and found new writings with him, directed from Comyn to King Edward; which said, if Bruce were not slain, nothing but conspiracy and trouble would follow in all parts of Scotland against King Edward. As soon as Bruce had read their writings, he inquired diligently where Comyn was. This servant, suspecting no evil, said that he was in the friary of Dumfries. Bruce immediately slew this man for bearing of these writings, and came quickly to the friary of Dumfries, where he found Comyn; and after he had accused him, and showed his own indentures, he struck him with a sword in the belly; then fled quickly out of the church, and met James Lindsay and Roger Kirkpatrick, his dear friends; and said to them, "I think Comyn is slain." To whom they answered, "Have you attempted so great a matter, and left it uncertain?" Immediately, they went to Comyn, and inquired of him if he had any deadly wounds; or if he hoped to recover, if he had a good surgeon. And because he said he might recover, they struck him 3 or 4 other strokes, more cruelly; and soon after he gave up the ghost, the year of God, 1305 years.

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