Peace with England was not concluded until 14 years after Bannockburn. By 1318, when his men recaptured Berwick, Bruce had regained his whole Kingdom; but Edward refused to recognise his position as King of Scots or to renounce the claim to the feudal overlordship of Scotland made by his father in 1290. Without agreement on these fundamental points the Scots would not consider a peace treaty. Bruce and his leaders, Douglas and Moray, carried raids deep into the enemy's northern counties, but ineffectively, as the real wealth of England lay beyond their reach. Edward unsuccessfully beseiged Berwick, and in 1322 he marched through Lothian to the Forth. This was his last expedition into Scotland, for troubles in his own Kingdom thereafter kept him occupied ast home. A truce failed to produce the recognition demanded by Bruce.

In 1327 Edward II was deposed, and, on the day of his young son's coronation, the Scots made a raid across the border. After one brief campaign, Edward III and his advisors sent envoys north to discuss peace terms. In parliament at York in 1328 Edward conceded Scotland's freedom from "subjection, servitude, claim or demand" and declared Robert Bruce "by God's grace illustrious King of Scots". A peace treaty was signed at Edinburgh and ratified at Northampton on the 4^th May.  The war was over and Bruce had just over one year to live.  He had fought for and won sovereign independence for Scotland and, despite war conditions, still had time to observe the rule of Scottish law.  Although the official peace treaty with the English was concluded only a year before his death, Bruce had held at least 16 Parliaments during his reign.

 On the 7^th June 1329, the 55 year old King died at his home in Cardross village on the west side of the river Leven.  At the time of his death in Cardross, Pope John XXII was preparing a bill that gave complete papal recognition to Robert I  and his successors as kings of an independent Scotland.