=18. Edward's proposed Revenge.=--Edward determined this time to put down the Scots with rigour. _Aymer of Valence, Earl of Pembroke_, succeeded John of Bretayne as Governor. All who had taken any part in the murder of the Red Comyn were denounced as traitors, and death was to be the fate of all persons taken in arms. Bruce was excommunicated by a special bull from the Pope. The _Countess of Buchan_ was confined in a room, made like a cage, in one of the towers of _Berwick Castle_. One of King Robert's sisters was condemned to a like punishment. His brother _Nigel_, his brother-in-law _Christopher Seton_, and three other nobles were taken prisoners, and were put to death as traitors. This, the first noble blood that had been shed in the popular cause, did much to unite the sympathy of the nobles with the commons, who had hitherto been the only sufferers from the oppression of the conquerors. Edward this time made greater preparations than ever. All classes of his subjects from all parts of his dominions were invited to join the army, and he exhorted his son, _Edward Prince of Wales_, and 300 newly-created knights, to win their spurs worthily in the reduction of contumacious Scotland. It was well for Scotland that he did not live to carry out his vows of vengeance. He died at _Burgh-on-the-Sands_, July 30th. His death proved a turning-point in the history of Scotland, for, though the English still remained in possession of the strongholds, Edward the Second took no effective steps to crush the rebels. He only brought the army raised by his father as far as _Cumnock_ in _Ayrshire_, and retreated without doing anything.