All Scotland south of the Firth of Forth was ceded to England, and Balliol did homage as vassal-king for the rest.
[Sidenote: Scotland freed] It was at the moment of this submission that the young king reached the climax of his success.

A king at fourteen, a father at seventeen, he had carried out at eighteen a political revolution in the overthrow of Mortimer, and restored at twenty-two the ruined work of his grandfather.
The northern frontier was carried to its old line under the Northumbrian kings.

His kingdom within was peaceful and orderly; and the strife with France seemed at an end.

During the next three years Edward persisted in the line of policy he had adopted, retaining his hold over Southern Scotland, aiding his sub-king Balliol in campaign after campaign against the despairing efforts of the nobles who still adhered to the house of Bruce, a party who were now headed by Robert the Steward of Scotland and by Earl Randolph of Moray.

His perseverance was all but crowned with success, when Scotland was again saved by the intervention of France.