Stuart dynasty

10 The Stuart Dynasty.
How Scotland could have benefited by the almost certain
loss of its remaining armed force, together with the death or
captivity of its chosen alternative ruler, it would be difficult
to show. But it is not to be wondered at that the Steward
should have been judged harshly by David II., who had
suffered the disgrace of being paraded through London as a
set-off against the English humiliation at Bannockburn.
It is said that David II. never forgave this assumed
desertion, and his subsequent desire to place the English
Duke of Clarence next in the Scotch Succession has been
thus accounted for ; but we know on the other hand, as the
rt suit of later research, that Robert Stuart honourably pre-
served the kingdom for his uncle until he returned from
captivity in 1357, although the general unsettlement which
then prevailed might have furnished excuse for a more
ambitious course.* This fidelity was maintained even
when David's marriage with Margaret Logie rendered the
Stuart prospects more uncertain ; although, as David II.
manifested distrust and dislike of his heir-presumptive, due
security was taken to provide that the Succession, as deter-
mined by Eobert Bruce, should not be disturbed. However,
in 1363, the King cherished the design of setting the Stuarts
aside, with the result that the country came into imminent
danger of civil war.
A bond was entered into between the Steward, the Earls
of March and Douglas, the Stewart's sons, and others, who
warned David II. that he must stand by the legitimate
Succession or himself abandon the throne. The controversy,
however, ended amicably, as the Steward renewed his vow to
the King, who in turn recognised that the royal title was to
descend from Bruce through the female line to the Stuarts,
and conferred the Earldom of Carrick on the prince who
afterwards became Robert Hl.f
Divorced mysteriously from Margaret Logie, and still
childless, David II. reigned until February 1370, but, during
the last seven years of his life, nothing happened which is
worthy of note.
* Burton's ' History of Scotland,' new edition, vol. ii. p. 330.
t Tytler's ' History of Scotland,' edition 1841, vol. ii. p. 120.