Robert II: Translation

1371, 26 March, Scone, Coronation Assembly†

Additional Records

26 March 1371

Non-parliamentary record: account of the coronation of Robert II and the homage given to him by the prelates and magnates

In the year 1371 after the incarnation of the Lord, on 26 March at Scone, Robert the Steward of Scotland, earl of Strathearn, nephew of the lord David [II] de Bruce of glorious memory, the illustrious king of Scots who recently died, was crowned and anointed as king by the reverend father in Christ the lord William de Landels, bishop of St Andrews. At which coronation and anointing, the lords prelates, earls and barons and all the nobles written below were present, with a great assembled multitude of people from all parts of the kingdom of Scotland.

  1. This assembly was described in the 15th century as a parliament (see note on 1371/4), but is not anywhere described overtly as such in the text. At one point it sat in the king's 'camera ... parliamenti', no doubt owing to the large numbers of people assembled. The scribe who created the section of Liber Niger in which 1371/1-3 are found did not differentiate between the proceedings of subsequent parliaments and the coronation, and it is likely that the lost rolls which recorded the proceedings of the coronation and parliament formed part of the same record. Note: APS, i, 549-50, includes two documents from 29 and 31 March 1371 under the heading 'In Parliamento apud Sconam'. The documents are commissions to certain persons to travel to France for negotiations. They do not mention parliament, nor is there any evidence they were associated with the coronation assembly, albeit they were issued only shortly after the coronation. They are therefore not included here. Back
  2. NAS, Liber Niger, PA5/4, f. 58r-v. Acts 1371/1 to 1371/3 were copied from a lost register of acts of 'permanent' importance. 1371/3 refers to 'another register' of ordinances and deeds which were not permanent. The 'permanent' register will have included acts of parliament and also other proceedings, such as the coronation. Back