AFTER BANNOCKBURN Part 2
David was eventually released in 1357 for a ransom of 100,000 merks (1 merk was 2/3 of a Scottish pound) payable in ten years. The country was in a sorry state when David began levying new taxes (a reassessment of all lands and moveables was also made). She had been ravaged by war and also the Black Death. This actually produced a bit of theological difficulty as its onslaught in England had been regarded as just Heavenly punishment. The first instalment of the ransom was paid punctually. The second was late and after that no more could be paid. There was no money from France and David wasted what was collected.
In 1363, he went to London and agreed that should he die childless, the crown would pass to Edward (his brother-in- law) with the Stone of Destiny being returned for Edward's coronation as King of Scots. The Scot rejected this arrangement and instead offered to continue paying the ransom (now increased to 100,000 pounds). In 1366, a new assessment was made of both lay and clerical lands, and it was discovered that the value had shrunk to a half and two thirds respectively of their value in 1286.
A twenty five year truce had been included in the new ransom terms, and in 1369, the treaty of 1365 was cancelled and a new one set up to the Scots benefit (the influence of the war with France again). The new terms saw the 44,000 marks already paid deducted from the original 100,000 with the balance due in instalments of 4,000 for the next fourteen years. When Edward died in 1377, there were still 24,000 marks owed which was never paid. David himself had lost his popularity and lost the respect of his nobles when he married the widow of a minor laird after the death of his English wife. He himself died in February 1371.
David's reign saw several new features develop in Scottish society. The growing devolution of parliamentary authority to committees and commissions. The overhaul of the tax system resulted in a great increase in the revenue available to the king (customs duties quadrupled), and the entry of the royal burghs into politics. Legal reform also took place during David's reign. The greatest feature however was that despite the travails, Scotland had maintained and assured her independence.
David's successor Robert II was 55 when he took the throne. He been married twice (the first was possibly invalid) and had thirteen legitimate children, plus a great deal of illegitimate ones beside. All of whom had to be found positions or land. When he died in 1390, he was succeeded by his son John, who owing to the bad omens associated with the name took the title Robert III. Robert III was 53 on his succession and was to all intents and purposes not fit to be king. He had been kicked in the head by a horse in his youth which left him mentally disabled. When he died in 1406, he left one son and four daughters. James I succeeded aged 11 years old, and was actually captured at sea (during a truce) on his succession. He would not return to Scotland until 1424. During his absence, Robert Duke of Albany reigned as regent. He was interested only in the power of his new position and took full advantage of it. During his regime, the barons grew more powerful and there was corruption galore. When his son was captured by the English, Robert ransomed him, however, he paid little attention to ransoming the king. When Robert died, his son Murdoch took over, but he lacked his father's ability and a push was made to bring James home. On his return, James was a very angry young man. During his short active reign, he restored most of the crown's powers, revenged himself on anyone who he felt had not done enough to get him released and generally worked hard to put the realm back on an even keel. There were difficulties with the great nobles and he was murdered because of them in 1437. (Interestingly enough, had he not been losing his tennis balls between cracks in the floorboards, James would have escaped. As he fled his murderers, he hid in the drain under the floor of the tennis court, however, he had ordered it blocked up and so could not escape.) More >>
Original content provided by the Gazetteer for Scotland at http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/ and used with their permission.