Page "Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall" Paragraph 18

While the Ordainers were at work drafting their reform document, Edward decided to address one of the main causes behind the discontent: the Scottish situation.

Edward II had, almost immediately after his accession, abandoned the relentless Scottish campaigns of his father.

As a result, Robert the Bruce had been able to regain the initiative in the war, reconquer lost territory, and stage destructive raids into the north of England.

To aggravate matters, Edward had continued to raise extortionate taxes, ostensibly for the war in Scotland, but without showing any result.

If the king could produce victory against the Scots, this would go a long way towards undermining the work of the Ordainers.

In June, the king summoned the magnates for a military campaign, but most of the Ordainers refused on the basis of the work they were performing.

When the king departed for Scotland in September, only Gloucester, Warenne and Gaveston among the earls accompanied him.

The campaign proved frustrating for Edward, when Bruce refused to engage in open battle, or even get involved in negotiations.

In February, Gaveston was sent with an army north from Roxburgh to Perth, but he failed to track down the Scottish army.