General Notes

REFN: 2700AN
REFN: P2701
The legacies of the Stewart’s are well documented in Scottish hist ory.
Walter FitzAllan was the First High Steward of Scotland assigned by King
David.  The Stewart family went on to inherit the thrown of Scotland by
th e marriage of Walter Stewart the son of James 5th High Steward, to
Marjory Br uce the daughter of Robert the Bruce and Isabella of Mar.
The Stewart’s have b een over-looked for their loyalty to the people of
Scotland.   Today’s histor y teaches that the Stewart’s were only barons
that were greedy and married in to the Royal Lines in order to obtain
their power.
James the 5th High Stewar d was a fantastic example of his patronage to
his beloved country, Scotland. He was one of the seven guardians of
Scotland that had the right to appoint a King.  The fight was on between
John Balliol and Robert Bruce the Competito r for the thrown.  Robert was
the closest in line for the thrown because he w as a grandson of Alexander
where Balliol was a great grandson.
The Guardians of Scotland knew Robert by all rights should be crowned
King.  King Edward c hose John Balliol due to the alliance established
between him and Balliol. Sir William Wallace fought under the banner of
Balliol.  Balliol was forced t o abdicate his thrown due to the great
pressure the Scots were putting on him as a traitor.   He did abdicate
and was killed.  Wallace continued to fight for the Balliol claim.
Silently, many men were flocking to Robert Bruce’s defe nse.  One of these
men was James 5th High Steward.  James had all the genealo gies sent to
attorneys in Europe to be examined by impartial parties.  The at torneys
concluded based on an example from the Bible that Robert Bruce the
Competitor should inherit the Thrown of Scotland.  When James had
received th e letters from the attorneys, he took a firm stand.  His
judgement was the sa me as the attorneys.
James swore allegiance to Robert the Competitor on Septem ber 20, 1286.
Turbulence surrounded Scotland for the next 30 years.  Edward b ecame
obsessed with Scotland.   After his wife died, Edward became a tyrant a nd
barbarian.  He poured out great cruelty upon the Scots.  For thirteen
ye ars Scotland had suffered greatly so the leaders of Scotland agreed to
surren der to Edward on July 9th, 1297.  Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick,
grandson of the Competitor and James Stewart refused to surrender or
produce hostages.
T he battle at Stirling Bridge was a win for the Scots.  They had
slaughtered t he English when they tried to cross to get to Berwick. The
Earl of Surrey cam e upon the English’s defeat and retreated back to
Falkirk.  James Stewart and Lennox along with their troops remained in
the woods watching Surrey.  On Se ptember 11, 1297 after watching Surrey’s
group for three days, Stewart and Le nnox attacked them.  The two Scotsmen
and their troops beat Surrey and seized the laden wagons of booty.
James Stewart participated in the first full-scale raid in Roxburgh in
July of 1299.   Once the Scots arrived at Roxburgh, the fortress was so
heavily guarded that the Scots knew they would loose many men if they
attempted to siege it.  Stewart and the other leaders told their men to
retreat.  This caused the Scots to become very discouraged and ill
temp ered.
The Constable of Roxburgh placed a spy in the camp of the Scots.  The
spy’s accounting is still in existence and kept in the Public Record
Office i n London.
At the council, Sir David Graham demanded the land and goods of Sir
William Wallace because he was leaving the Kingdom without the leave or
app roval of the Guardians.   And Sir Malcolm, Sir William’s brother,
answered th at neither his lands nor his goods should be given away, for
they were protec ted by the peace in which Wallace had left the Kingdom.
At this the two knigh ts gave the lie to each other and drew their
daggers.  And since Sir David Gr aham was of Sir John Comyn’s following,
it was