Edward’s Overlordship

Question 1

Edwards’ Overlordship

Answer 1

• King John previously swore an oath of allegiance to Edward
  -At the end of the Great Cause, when Edward finally gave his verdict to John, he reminded King John Balliol to be a fair and just King, or he would face interference from Edward.

Question 2

Edwards’ Overlordship - Berwick Burgess Case

Answer 2

• Only a week into King Johns reign, a Berwick burgess had a legal complaint dating from the Guardians.
  -King John upheld the Guardians decision but when the burgess took his complaint to Edwards Parliament at Newcastle in 1292.
  -the English King found himself in favour, therefore, Edward demanded King John to change his decision.
  -this was humiliating for the Scottish King t be forced to change his decision as Edward had officially overturned a Scottish legal decision
  -this now showed that Scotland was inferior to England.

Question 3

Edwards Overlordship

Answer 3

-Edward treated the new king more like a feudal regional lord than a fellow king.
-for example, Edward forced John to accept a Yorkshire man, master Thomas of Hunsingore, to be his new chancellor and Johns Chamberlain was described as a treasurer, forcing John to follow English practise rather than traditional Scottish customs.

Question 4

Edwards overlordship - Macduff case

Answer 4

• Macduff had been disinherited from his lands and had appealed to Edward in 1291 during the Great Cause however, Macduff was arrested for a brief period of time, when King John took over Macduff was released and once again complained to Edward and in response Edward demanded King John to Westminster in September 1293 to explain his judgement on this issue.
• King John was forced to agree to follow Edward to appeal a the case of Macduff which was yet another humiliating climb down for the Scottish King as he had no power to express objection
  -When King John arrived at Westminster he tried to argue that Edward had no right to hear the case, Edward was in no mood to argue and threatened to charge John with contempt of curt and confiscate important castles in Scotland.
• The case dragged on well into 1295 with no clear resolution.

Question 5

Edwards Overlordship - War with France

Answer 5

• In 1294, Edward was preparing to make war in France in order to pursue his ambitions there.
• As usual, the English King summoned his feudal lords and King John was ordered to fight for Edward, in much the same way as were the great Earls of England.
  -The assumption that Scotland was to be treated the same as the great estates of England was bad enough, but the assumption that the Scots were to fight against France, Scotlands largest trading partner was worse.