settlers in Ireland. He returned twice to Scotland during the war to obtain reinforcements and to get Robert's personal presence in Ireland. Border incursions Moray and Douglas were closely allied and the two were associated in a series of exploits. In 1318 they seized the town of Berwick by escalade; with help from one of the burgesses, Simon of Spalding, and reinforced by Bruce, they soon became masters of the castle. In the next spring, they made a raid on the northern English counties, laying waste the country as far as York, where they hoped to seize the English queen Isabella. They defeated the militia hastily raised by William de Melton, archbishop of York, in a fight known as the Battle of Myton but also the "Chapter of Myton", because of the number of clerics who fell in the battle. Edward II, who was laying siege to Berwick, sought in vain to intercept them on their return journey. Later in the year the two Scottish nobles again raided England, and at length Edward signed a truce for two years. In 1322, Moray shared in Douglas's exploit in the Battle of Old Byland. Diplomatic career Moray's name appears directly after Robert's on the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath, which was sent to Pope John XXII by the nobles of Scotland to persuade him to recognise Scotland as an independent nation. In 1323, along with Bishop William Lamberton he was a principal negotiator in the talks that resulted in a thirteen-year truce between Scotland and England. Later, in 1324, he was sent to meet the Pope in person at his court in Avignon. At this meeting, Randoph successfully persuaded Pope John to recognise Robert as King of Scots, a major diplomatic coup. The next year the Pope wrote to Moray declaring his hope and trust in his efforts to make peace between England and Scotland and gave permission for him to visit the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Moray was again sent to France in 1325, this time to persuade King Charles IV to sign the Treaty of Corbeil renewing the Franco-Scottish alliance, which he did successfully. After his return to Scotland, he had a commanding role in the Battle of Stanhope Park against the English. The English suffered a humiliating defeat and were forced to sign the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton, by which Scotland's independence was finally acknowledged. Regent During the King's final years,