BRITAIN UP TO HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR 135 
money, renounced’ the English claim to overlordship 
over Scotland. 
In the reign of Edward I. the opportunity arose for RELA- 
the union of the crowns of England and Scotland, by UNE Ep- 
the marriage of the Prince of Wales to the infant Queen wARrD 1. 
of Scotland ; but the union was prevented by the death 
of the child-queen. Edward then attempted to enforce 
his claims to overlordship over Scotland. Balliol at 
first ruled as a vassal of Edward and then. revolted. 
Edward defeated him, conquered Scotland, and. deter- 
mined to rule it directly. The Scotch revolted under 
Sir William Wallace, and Edward conquered the 
country for the second time. Then Robert Bruce 
claimed the throne, and although he was beaten by 
Edward I., was victorious over Edward’s unworthy son, 
and at the battle of Bannockburn (1314) secured the BarTLE 
independence of Scotland, which was acknowledged by N BANNOCH: 
England in 1328. One important result of the struggle zurn 
between England and Scotland was the formation of !314 
the alliance between France and Scotland, which Jasted 
for centuries and‘ was a source of great danger to 
England.