6 - The Use of Anglo-Norman in Day-to-Day Communication during the Anglo-Scottish Wars (1295–1314)

Summary

Jocelyn Wogan-Browne's outstanding contributions to research into the Middle Ages have highlighted the importance of women and female religious institutions in sponsoring and furthering Anglo-Norman literature, geographically as well as intellectually. Many members of abbeys and priories came from aristocratic families where Anglo-Norman was cultivated as a second language, and the scattering of religious houses widely throughout the country coincidentally aided the geographical spread of the language. In this tribute to our friend and colleague I would like to show how noble and administrative circles also contributed to the diffusion of French in the north of England, and more specifically in Scotland, far from the royal centers of French usage in London and surrounding areas. The documents collected under the title Chancery Miscellanea Scotland, most of them in connection with the events of the Scottish–English wars between 1296 and 1315, constitute a precious resource for illustrating the deep-rootedness of Anglo- Norman among the Scottish nobility, who, from the perspective of language use, turn out to have been indistinguishable from their English counterparts, leading us to recognize the very significant extension of Anglo-Norman.

I will begin with a brief introduction to the troubled history of those times, known as the Scottish War of Independence. Conflict was triggered by the death of King Alexander III of Scotland in 1286, followed by that of the king's threeyear- old granddaughter and only heiress, Princess Margaret of Norway, who died on her way back to Scotland. Her death marked the beginning of a struggle between three representatives of the leading Scottish noble families who laid claim to the throne, namely, John Balliol, John Comyn and Robert de Bruce. Balliol eventually took control of the situation and was crowned king of Scotland in 1292. Edward I had been following Scottish affairs very closely, trying to influence their evolution in his favor, since, as king of England, he claimed a right of suzerainty over Scotland. In this context, Balliol's overly conciliatory policy toward the English became the cause of growing discontent among the Scots, and in 1295 the discontented Scottish barons created a tutorship council whose members were designated as guardians of Scotland. All the while, Scotland and France were tightening their alliance, which was reason enough for England to engage in war with Scotland in the spring of 1296.