Scottish Resistance, 1297-98

Question 1

Scottish resistance 1297-98 - background - replacement of Scots

Answer 1

• With most of the Scottish nobility now held prisoner in England, Edward brought his own men to manage Scotland.
• De Warenne was named Lieutenant of Scotland and given charge of maintaining peace in the kingdom but he struggled with the job mainly because he decided to return to his lands in the south, claiming the foul weather in the north would damage his health (hated living in Scotland).
• English judges were brought in to replace the Scottish justiciars (basically replacing Scots law).
• Sheriffs were replaced with English lords.
• The Scottish nobility were likewise isolated from the community thy had until recently represented and administered.
• As a result the new English administration in Scotland had poor reputation and little or no connection with the native population.
• By far the most hated of Edwards officials was Hugh Cressingham, the Treasurer of Scotland.
• He was given the nickname ‘treachurer’.

Question 2

Scottish resistance 1297-98 - Early rebellion against Edwards rule

Answer 2

• Cressingham’s job was to establish an English-style taxation system, however he was soon met with resistance and difficulties, he wrote to Edward in 1297: ‘not a penny could be raised in your realm of Scotland’. They wanted to use the army to force Scot’s to obey to this new taxation system.
• In the Western Isles, the powerful McDougal family resented the rival MacDonald family being named as Edwards men in the region. In April 1297, the dispute became open warfare, and what it looked like a local conflict threatened Edwards administration of the faraway provinces.
• More serious was the open revolt of Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, and the young Earl of Carrick, the future King Robert, in the South West of Scotland.
• Young Robert Bruce and James Steward had not supported King John in his defiance of Edward and had probably expected to be rewarded, however, Edward relieved them of their roles and handed control over to the English lord, Henry Percy, they were snubbed by Edward.

Question 3

Scottish resistance 1297-98 - Early rebellion against Edwards rule - battle of Irvine

Answer 3

Bruce and Steward raised an armed revolt against Edward at Irvine, under the guidance of Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, the nobles gathered their men; however, the response from Percy caught the Scots completely by surprise.
- Percy and Robert Clifford rushed north and confronted Steward, Bruce and Wishart at Irvine (stand off at Irvine). In early July the disorganised nobles decided to surrender without a fight.
- Irvine had been portrayed as a humiliating climb down for the Scottish nobles, especially for Robert Bruce, some say that Irvine was little more than political posturing and that Robert Bruce capitulated (surrendered) because he had discovered that Wallaces revolt was in the name of King John and had the intention of a Balliol restoration (so they were fighting for different things).
- The events at Irvine did have two significant consequences.
- Firstly, the negotiations between the nobles and the English forces dragged on for several weeks, it has been suggested by some historians such as Fiona Watson that this may have been beneficial to Wallaces rebellion because it tied down a significant English force that could have been hunting for Wallace. Wallace was so angry at the capitulation of the nobles and Bishop Wishart that he raided the Bishops home and seized his treasury. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, it left William Wallace in sole control of the resistance in the South (not Bruce but Wallace!)