[438] Ben. Ab. 1186.
[439] Ben. Ab. 1186. Fordun, l. 8, c. 40. Chron. Mel. 1186.
[440] Fordun, l. 8, c. 40, 50.
[441] Ben. Ab. 1186. Chron. Mel. 1186.
[442] Fordun, l. 8, c. 28, 43.
[443] “Et multa incommoda faciebat sæpe Willelmo Regi Scotiæ per consensum et concilium Comitum et Baronum Regni Scotiæ,” are the words of Ben. Ab.
[444] Ad cujus nutum omnium pendebat sententia, Ben. Ab. Roland was not yet Constable of Scotland, so that he was not acting in an official capacity. He succeeded to the hereditary dignity of his wife’s family on the death of his brother-in-law, William de Moreville in 1196. (Chron. Mel.)
[445] Ben. Ab. 1187. Fordun, l. 8, c. 28. Chron. Mel. 1187. I have followed the account of Benedict, which is very full and interesting. The whole of Galloway was made over to Roland immediately after the death of Henry; and as William made this grant at the expense of creating the earldom of Carrick for Duncan, it may well be inferred that the donation of the whole principality to Roland was a reward for his invaluable services. At this period of Scottish history the historian has much cause to regret the loss of “the Roll, in eleven parts, of recognitions and old charters, of the time of William and his son Alexander, and of those to whom the said kings formerly gave their peace, and of those who stood with Mac William.”—(Robertson’s Index, p. xvi.)
[446] Et propter mala quæ fecerat neque luctus neque clamor, sed nec ullus dolor de morte ejus factus est—Ben. Ab. The words of the historian display the indifference with which many at that time looked upon the success or ill fortune of either party.
[447] Ben. Ab. 1188. Hoveden 1188, p. 366. Such, I think, is the purport of what may be gathered from the accounts of these two authorities, who at first sight appear to contradict each other. Hoveden appears to have confined his account to the actual meeting between William and the bishop of Durham; whilst the narrative of Benedict refers rather to the preceding negotiations.