A.D. 1301. LETTERS OE THE NOBLES TO THE POPE. 557 peace, subsequently did homage and swore fealty to us, as the immediate lord and master of the same kingdom of Scotland. And likewise, when they had surrendered to us the cities, towns, castles, fortresses; and all other places belonging to the said kingdom, we, of our own right, appointed our own officers and ministers to govern the said kingdom of Scotland. " And as we are known to have possession of the said kingdom by the right of full and entire dominion, we cannot, and ought not, to delay repressing the insolence of our rebel subjects, if we find any, by our royal pre-eminence as we shall see fit. But, because, from the above-mentioned considerations and others, it is evidently plain and notorious that the aforesaid kingdom of Scotland belongs to us, in full right both of occupation and ownership, and as we have never done or allowed anything by either writing, or deed, as, in fact, we could not, which could in any way derogate from our rights over, or possession of, the aforesaid kingdom, we humbly entreat your holiness, that you, weighing these arguments above stated in your wise deliberation, will deign to decide upon them according to the promptings of your own mind, in no way giving credit to the contrary suggestions of those who are jealous of us in this respect ; but preserving and approving of our state and our aforesaid royal rights, if it so please your paternal affection. May your fatherly goodness be preserved for the government of your holy church, for many and prosperous years. ·' Given at Kynordesey, on the fifteenth of May, in the year thirteen hundred and one, and the twenty-ninth year of our reign." But as to the demand made by the pope, that if the king of England claimed any right over the kingdom of Scotland, or any part of it, he should send procurators instructed as to that point to the church of Rome, and full justice should be done him ; to this demand the king did not choose to give an answer himself, but committed the affair to the earls and other nobles of the country, who on this point wrote letters to the lord the pope, of the following tenor. The Letters which the earh and barons of JEnghnd sent to the lord thepope, about the affairs of Scotland. " To the most holy father in Christ, the lord Boniface, by Divine Providence, supreme pontiff of the holy Roman uni