The Great Cause At Norham the competitors agreed that Edward.. has shown us by good reason that the sovereign lordship of the kingdom of Scotland and the right to try out claims belong to him. We, by our own force will, without any kind of constraint, do desire and grant that we should receive justice before him as Lord Superior of the realm

David, Earl of Huntingdon The Great Cause There were 14 competitors, even the King of Norway tried his luck! Only 3 had serious claims to the throne Malcolm IV 1153-1165 William the Lion 1165-1214 David, Earl of Huntingdon died 1219 Alexander II 1214-1249 Margaret m Lord of Galloway Isabella m Lord of Annandale Ada m Henry Hastings Alexander III 1249-1286 Henry Devorgilla Robert Bruce Robert Bruce Margaret m Eric II of Norway John of Hastings John of Hastings John Balliol John Balliol Margaret ‘The Maid of Norway’ 1286-1290

The Main Competitors Robert Bruce John of Hastings John Balliol

August 1291 Edward established a court at Berwick to judge the claims to the throne ?

David, Earl of Huntingdon Wanted Scotland to be divided up between descendants of David, Earl of Huntingdon’s daughters John of Hastings Robert Bruce John Balliol John of Hastings David, Earl of Huntingdon died 1219 Margaret m Lord of Galloway Isabella m Lord of Annandale Ada m Henry Hastings Devorgilla Robert Bruce Henry Robert Bruce John Balliol John Balliol John of Hastings John of Hastings

David, Earl of Huntingdon Lord of Galloway Descended from eldest daughter of David, Earl of Huntingdon Related to powerful Comyn family Bishop Fraser supported his claim Had lands in Northern France and England Had always been loyal to Edward I John Balliol David, Earl of Huntingdon died 1219 Margaret m Lord of Galloway Isabella m Lord of Annandale Ada m Henry Hastings Devorgilla Robert Bruce Henry Robert Bruce John Balliol John Balliol John of Hastings John of Hastings

David, Earl of Huntingdon Lord of Annandale Came from a powerful family who dominated a vast part of south west Scotland along with other estates in Scotland and England Grandson of David, Earl of Huntingdon Generation closer to David, Earl of Huntingdon than John Balliol Robert Bruce David, Earl of Huntingdon died 1219 Margaret m Lord of Galloway Isabella m Lord of Annandale Ada m Henry Hastings Devorgilla Robert Bruce Henry Robert Bruce John Balliol John Balliol John of Hastings John of Hastings

How was the decision made? Balliol and Bruce were each asked to appoint 40 ‘auditors’ The auditors would listen to the arguments of each competitor and his lawyers Edward I appointed 24 auditors For 18 months there was discussion, argument, gathering and presenting of evidence

17 November 1292 After 18 months King Edward I announced his judgement….. ?