The next morning Archie did not forget to remind his mother of her promise.
"You must know," she began, "that our good King Alexander had three children-David, who died when a boy; Alexander who married a daughter of the Count of Flanders, and died childless; and a daughter, Margaret, who married Eric, the young King of Norway. Three years ago the Queen of Norway died, leaving an only daughter, also named Margaret, who was called among us the 'Maid of Norway' who, at her mother's death, became heir-presumptive to the throne, and as such was recognized by an assembly of the estates at scone. But we all hoped that the king would have male heirs, for early last year, while still in the prime of life, he married Joleta, daughter of the Count of Drew. Unhappily, on the 19th of March, he attended a council in the castle of Edinburgh, and on his way back to his wife at Kinghorn, on a stormy night, he fell over a precipice and was killed.
"The hopes of the country now rested on the 'Maid of Norway,' who alone stood between the throne and a number of claimants, most of whom would be prepared to support thier claims by arms, and thus bring unnumbered woes upon Scotland. Most unhappily for the country, the maid died on her voyage to Scotland, and the succession therefore became open...
The three principal competitors-Bruce, Baliol, and Comyn-and their friends, at once began to arm; but William Fraser, Bishop of St. Andrews, a friend of Baliol, wrote King Edward suggesting that he should act as arbitrator, and more hinting that if he chose Baliol he would find him submissive in all things to his wishes. Edward jumped at the proposal, and thereupon issued summonses to the barons of the northern counties to meet him at Norham on the 3rd of June; and a mandate was issued to the sheriffs of Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, York, and Lancaster to assemble the feudal array at the same rendezvous.
"When the court opened, Roger Brabazon, the king's justiciary, delivered an address, in which he stated that Edward, as lord-paramount of Scotland, had come there to administer justice between the compettitore for the crown, and concluded with the request that all present should acknowledge his claim as lord-paramount. Th Scottish nobles present, with the exception of those who were privy to Edward's designs, were filled with astonishment and dismay at this pretension, and declared their ignorance of any claim of superiority of the king of England over Scotland. The king, in a passion, exclaimed: " 'By holy Edward, whose crown I wear, I will vindicate my just rights, or perish in the attempt!'
"However, he saw that nothing could be done on the instant, and adjourned the meeting for three weeks, at the end of which time the prelates, nobles, and community of Scotland were invited to bring forward whatever they could in opposition to his claim of supremacy...