It’s likewise observ’d, that _England_ itself (having been four times conquer’d by the _Romans_, _Saxons_, _Danes_, and _Normans_) has little ground for such a challenge; and ought to remember how frequently she has miscarry’d in her adventures of that kind. In conclusion, _Robert_ proposes the deciding this controversie by sixty against sixty (of the Royal blood of both kingdoms), forty against forty, or twenty against twenty: Or, if _Henry_ approves it, that the two Kings themselves may end it in a single combat. In which last offer, are these remarkable lines. “_I proffer me to prief on the_ _At we and_ Scotland _yit are free_, _And of the_ Paip _nothing we hauld_, _But of the Kirk our Faith of auld_.” See _Nicholson’s Scottish Historical Library_, p. 154, 155, 8vo. ed. and 43 of 4to. [39] Hailes, p. 243, 244. [40] Baliol, who, on the death of the Scottish Queen, assumed the title of “_Hæres regni Scotiæ_,” had engaged the powerful interest of the Bishop of Durham, by a grant of all the manors possessed by Alexander III. in Cumberland;--or, in the event of Edward refusing to sanction the grant, fifty manors in Scotland, in lieu of them. Had any of the other competitors been preferred, this grant must have fallen to the ground.--_Original Charter in possession of Mr Astle, and published in his Account of the Seals of the Kings of Scotland, p. 22._ It is more than probable that the influence and services of the Bishop of St Andrew’s had been secured by prospects perhaps equally advantageous. [41] In support of this claim, Dr Lingard has, with great industry, collected the evidence afforded by the ancient chronicles of England from Brutus downward. These fabrications of the cloisters, however, are contradicted by events, respecting the truth of which the historians of both countries are agreed. It is rather singular, that when John became the _liegeman_ of the See of Rome, and, with the consent of his barons, surrendered THE “KINGDOMS OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND TO BE HELD OF THE POPE IN FEE, FOR A THOUSAND MERKS,” that he should have _tricked_ his Holiness out of THE KINGDOM OF SCOTLAND. Surely the example of Ananias was lost on the English monarch, when he thus trifled with the church, and kept back a _third_ of _his_ kingdoms. Dr Lingard does not inform his readers how the watchful guardian of “the Patrimony of St Peter” came to wink at so gross an imposition. After all that the learned Doctor has advanced on the subject, it is pretty plain, that the homage of England over Scotland is something like that which was extorted by St Dunstan from a certain potentate who shall be nameless. Though the saint compelled him to cry _peccavi_, in a manner that made a great noise in the world at the time, yet when he became relieved from the scrape, and had got his nose in order, his _saintship_ found his _vassal_ as troublesome and evil disposed as ever. [42] Hailes, p. 245, 246. [43] Langtoft, vol. ii. p. 248.