“In the following year, he was a party to the Barons’ letter to the Pope, in which, though his name occurs immediately after that of the Earl of Arundel, and before Henry de Lancaster’s, he is only styled ‘Lord of Montiniac.’ Shortly afterwards, he was appointed to treat with the ambassadors of the King of France on the subject of peace. In the 31st Edward I., he was again in the wars of Scotland; and, in the same year, received permission to leave the realm upon his own affairs. He obtained a grant, in 1305, of the Castles of Selkirk and Traquair, and of the borough of Peebles in Scotland, to hold by the service of one knight’s fee, together with other possessions in that kingdom; and, in the 34th Edward I., was constituted Guardian of the Marches of Scotland towards Berwick, when he was intrusted with the sole command of the English forces which had been levied against Robert Bruce. In the instrument by which he was appointed to that important duty, as well as in most others, he is styled “Dilectum consanguineum et fidelum nostrum.” The appellation of “Cousin” was not then a mere title of honour, when addressed to a peer, but was used in its most literal sense; and Aymer de Valence’s claim to it is shown by the following slight pedigree. Hugh le Brun, == Isabel, daughter, and heiress == King John, Count of the | of Aymer, Count of | ob. 1216, Marches of the | Angouleme. | 1st husband. Aquitaine, 2d | | husband. | | | | +--------+ +------------+ | | William de Valence, created == K. Henry III. ob. 1272. == Earl of Pembroke, ob. 1296. | | | | +----------------------+ +---------------+ | | AYMER DE VALENCE, Earl == KING EDWARD I. ob. 1307 == of Pembroke, ob. 1323. | +-----------------+ | KING EDWARD II.