24 THE niSTOHY of king R0BF>KT BRUCE. 
 
 two kin2;doms, on the following conditions :— 1. Theistoneon 
 wliich the kings of Scotland were wont to sit at tho time of 
 their coronation, shall be restored to the Scots. 2. The kin? 
 of England engages to employ his good offices at the Papal 
 court for obtaining a revocation of all spiritual processes de- 
 pending before the Holy See against the king of Scots, or 
 against his kingdom or sulrjects. 3. For these causes, and to 
 make reparation for the ravages committed in England by the 
 Scots, shall pay 30,000 merks^ to the king of England. 4. 
 Restitution shall be made of the possessions belonging to 
 ecclesiastics in either kingdom, whereof they may have been 
 deprived during the war. 5." But there shall not be any resti- 
 tution made of inheritances which have fallen into the hands 
 of the king of England, or of the king of Scots, by reason of 
 the war between the two nations, or through the forfeitm-e 
 of former possessions. G. Johanna, sister of the king of Eng- 
 land, shall be given in marriage to David, son and heir to 
 the king of Scots. '7. The king of Scots shall provide the 
 Princess Johanna in ajointure of .£-2000 yearly, secured on 
 lands and rents, according to a reasonable estimation. B. If 
 cither of the parties shall fail in performing these conditions, 
 he shall pay 2000 pounds of silver to the Papal treasury. 
 
 But good King Robert did not long survive this joyful event. 
 Finding that he was dying, he requested to see his counsellors 
 and friends whom he most trusted. He told them that he 
 sorely repented of all his misdeeds, especially of having slain 
 the Red Gomyn before the holy altar ", and that, if he had 
 lived, it wis "his intention, in expiation of this offence, to 
 have gone to the Holy Land, and made war against the ene- 
 mies of the Cross; He requested his dearest friend and 
 greatest warrior, good Lord James Douglas, that hes should 
 carry his heart to Jerusalem, to be deposited in the Saviour's 
 sepulchre. On -the 7th of June 1 329 King Robert died, aged 
 55, unquestionably the greatest of all the Scottish monarchs. 
 His death seems to have beten occasioned by the excessive 
 fatigues of military service ; and his disease, called by his- 
 torians of those times a leprosy, was probably an inveterate 
 scm^i/, occasioned by his way of living. His heart was taken 
 tilt, embalmed, and put into a silver case. - 
 
 Douglas set out with his precious charge, but he never got 
 to the end of his journey, having been slain in a battle with 
 the Moors in Spain. His body, which was found lying on 
 the field of battle, with Bruce's heart under him, were 
 brought home ; the former was buried in thq church of 
 Douglas, and th.e latter deposited in Melrose Abbey. 
 
 James lirydone, Triater, 17 South Hanover Street, Ediuburgh. 
 
 [Ko. 16. 
 
 THE HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 KING [ 
 
 ROBT. BRUCE, 
 
 CONTAIN 1>'Q' the memorable 
 
 BATTLE OF MwiyocKByRrii,^ 
 
 &c kc. Arc. 
 
 ^omyn/' " Do you l^ave sueb a matter to doubt I " |c3ried 
 .Kirkp^trick fiercely j. ",i|e ina^\ ^i^Qx.'^^Seb'pag'eX ' 
 
 PRINTED & PUBLLSHED BY J. BRYDONB, 
 
 SOUTH IIA^OTEB STREET. 
 
"TW HISTORY OP 
 
 placed in a hazardous situation — three against one but so 
 lieroicaliy did lie wield his trusty sword, that- ho slew the.' 
 t)i'ree vilmirlSj bfie after' the other. The day being far spent, 
 he proceeded towards a iarm-house, where he had arranged 
 to meet men after their dispej'sion. Arriving at the house, 
 he-entered, and found the hostess, an old, true-hearted Scots- 
 wOrAan, alone.. Seeing' a stranger enter, she intiuired who 
 and what he>. was. lirWce replied "that ho was a traveller, 
 w ho was passing through the country. " All travellers/' said; 
 th<3 old dame, ^ are welcoiiie here for' the sake of one." 
 " And who is that one," inquired Bruce, "for whom -you 
 make' all travellers welcome T' " It is Robert Druce, our 
 lawful king," replied the "good old woman ; "and although 
 h'e is noAV pursued and hAmted after with hounds and horns, 
 I trust I shall be spared to see him king over all Scotland.^'" 
 " Since you love R-oberfc Bruce go trcn,good woman," replied 
 the kinJ,', " know that I am Robert' Bruce." " You !" ex- 
 claimed the brave old lady ; " and wherefu're are you thus 
 alone 1 — where are all your men V - " I have none with mo 
 just now," answered Bruce, " and- therefore I nmst travel 
 alone," " That shall not be," said his brave hostess, " for I 
 h^ve two stout and gallant sons, who shall be your servants 
 for life or death."' The loyal olddatoe, having made her sons 
 swear fidelity to their king, was preparing his supper, when 
 suddenly a great trampling of horses was heard, which they 
 at first took to be some of the enemy ; but when they heard 
 the voicd of Douglas and Edward Bruce, 'Tvho had come with . 
 150 horsemen, they' rejoiced- exceedingly. Bruce, being in-^ 
 formed by Douglas" that there were 200 English in a village 
 that he passed, who kept no watch, rode oif'^at the head of 
 his little arm^, and put the greater part of them to the sword 
 that very night. Pembroke shortly afterwards retired with 
 his whole forces towards 'England, and, after another disaster 
 siiuilar to that just mentioned, retreated to Carlisle. 
 
 Encouraged by success; Bruce ventured down upon the 
 low countl'y, and reduced the districts of Kyle, Carricky and 
 Cuninghame to his obedience. Pembrcke detei mined again 
 to take the field, ai*id, putting himself at the head of a strong 
 body of cavalry, he advanced into Ayrshire, and came up 
 with the army of Bruce, 'when encamped on Louden Hill. 
 AlthouHih Bruce^s army was greatly inferior, and consisted 
 Avholly of infantry, he gave Pembroke battle ; and so well did 
 he conduut the conflict, that while tire loss of the Scots was 
 extremely small, Pembroke's whole forces were put to flight, 
 a considerable number being slain, and niany made prisoners. 
 Three days after this, Bruce encountewd Monthermer, atthe 
 head of a cbflsiuerablo bwly of English', whom he also de-' 
 
 KlNtt ROBERT URUCE. J0 
 
 feated with great slaughter. These successes prove(l of the 
 greatest consequence to the cause of Bruce, which was 
 strengthened still further by the death of Edward I., who 
 died at Burgh-on-the-Sands, in Cumbferland, July 7, 1307, 
 in full sight of Scotland, and within three miles from its fron- 
 tier. With his last breath he commanded that his body 
 should accompany the army, untib Scotland was entirely sub- 
 dued ; but his son, disregarding his injunction, buried his re- 
 mains in- Westminster Abbey. 
 
 - Edward II., receiving intelligence that his dominions be- 
 yond seas were in a disturbed state, made a few domestic 
 arrangements, and went over to France. Bruce, in his ab- 
 sence, resolved upon retahation, twice invaded England, and 
 returned with immense booty, without coming to any engage- 
 ment. During the two following years, 1311 and 1312, he- 
 recovered almost all :the fortified places which remained in* 
 possession of the English. Pn taking the town of Perth, 
 which was carried by escalade, Bruce himself carried a lad- 
 der, and was the first to enter the ditch, the water of which 
 stood to his throat. A French gentleman, who happened to 
 be present, when he saw the king pass on, exclaimed, " What 
 shall we say of our French lords, who spend their days 
 in good cheer and jollity, while so worthy a knight hazards 
 his life to win a miserable hamlet?" Saying this, with tlie 
 gay valour which has always distinguished the French nobi- 
 lity, he threw himself into the water, followed the king, and 
 shared his danger. Bruce, having put all the garrison, 
 both Scotch and English, to the sword, levelled the walls, 
 and tilled up the ditch. The terror of this example conr; 
 strained Dumfries, Lanark, Ayr, and Bute, besides many 
 other places, to surrender. In the beginning of the spring, 
 on l^astings-even, the night before Lent, usually celebrated 
 byi Bacchanalian rites, James Douglas surprised the castle of 
 Roxbiirgli while the garrison were engaged in their revels ; 
 and, shortly after, the almost impregnable castle of Edinburgh 
 was recovered by Thomas liandolph. The Isle of ,J\Ian like- 
 wise surrendered, and the fortresses were everywhere de- 
 stroyed, lest they should afterwards prove receptacles for the 
 English. .'fjiov: 
 ■ Edward, hearing of the great success which attended Bruce's 
 career, resolved to raise a great army to extirpate a nation so 
 often rebellious, and always unquiet, hostile, and troublesome. 
 In this army, which consisted of 100,000 fighting men, wero 
 English, Welsh, Irish, and those of the Scotch who -still ad- 
 hered to the English faction, besides the crowd of servants, 
 attendants, and sutlers, who brought provisions by sea and 
 land to support them in a country not very fertile in itself, 
 
20 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 thing being in readiness, the English army approached Ber- 
 wick, wliich was coninmnded by Walter, grand Steward ot 
 Scotland. This nobleman had long apprehended an attack 
 from the English, and had taken every means of defence in 
 his power. The enemy, however, conliding in their numbers, 
 made a general assault, but were repulsed on the 7th of Sep- 
 tember after a most obstinate contest. Their next attempt 
 was on the side towards the river. At that time the walls of 
 Berwick were of an inconsiderable height, and it was pro- 
 posed to bring a vessel close to them, from whence the troops 
 might enter by a drawbridge let down from the mast ; but 
 the Scots annoyed the assailants so much that they could not 
 bring the vessel within the proper distance ; and at the ebb 
 of the tide it grounded, and was burnt by the besieged. The 
 Jilnglish had then recourse ta a newly invented engine, which 
 they called a sow. It was a lai^e fabric composed of timber^ 
 and well roofed, having stages within it, and in height sur- 
 passing the wall of the town. . It -moved on wheels, and 
 served for the double. purpose of conducting the miners to the 
 foot of the wall, and armed men to the storm. The great 
 engine moved on to the walls, and, at length, a huge stone 
 struck it with such- force that the beams gave way,' and the 
 Scots pouring down combustibles upon it, it was burnt. The 
 English, however, still continued the attack. The Steward, 
 with the reserve of 100 men, went from post to post, re- 
 lieving those who were wounded or unfit for combat. One 
 soldier of the reserve only remained with Inm when an alarm 
 was given that the English had burnt a barrier at the port 
 called St Mary's, possessed themselves of the drawbridge, and 
 tired the gate. The Steward hastened thither, called down 
 the guard from the rampart, ordered the gate to be set open, 
 and rushed out upon the. enemy. A, desperate combat en^ 
 sued, and continued till the close of the day, when the Eng- 
 lish commanders withdj'ew their troops. Notwithstanding 
 this brave defence, it wag .evident that the town could noj; 
 hold out long without a speedy relief; and Robert could not, 
 with any probability of success, attack the fortified camp of 
 thev English, He, therefore, determined to make a ppwerftd 
 diversion in England, to oblige Edward to abandon theunder^ 
 taking. By order of the king, 15,000 men entered England 
 by the western marches, and laid waste Yorkshire. The 
 Archbishop of York hastily collected a numerous body of 
 commons and ^clesiastics, with whom he encountered the 
 Scots at Mitton, near Boroughbridge, in.theKorth Riding of 
 Yorkshire. The English were instantly routed, 3000 were left 
 dead on the field, and a great part of those who fled perished 
 in tlie Swale, In this action 300 ecclesiastics lost their lives. 
 
 KING ROBERT BKITCE. 5; 
 
 dertakingi? was most disastrwa. Two months after he was 
 crowned, the Pope excommunicated him, which deprived 
 him of all religious benefits, and authorized any one to kill 
 liim. On June 1 9, the new king was completely defeated at 
 Methven, near Perth, by the English Earl of Pembroke, 
 Bruce's horse was killed under him in the action, and he was 
 for a moment made prisoner by a Scottish knight, who, 
 though'he served in the English army, did not wish any harm 
 to Bruce, and allowed him to escape. The victorious English 
 executed tiieir prisoners with their usual cruelty. 
 
 After the defeat at jMethven, Bruce, with. a few adherents, 
 retired to the lligliland mountains, where they were pursued 
 from one place t)f refuge to another, ])laced in great danger, 
 and endured many hardships.. Bruce's wife, now Queen of 
 the Scots, with several ladies, accompanied her consort and 
 his little band during their wanderings. The only method 
 they had of providing for them was by fishing and hunting. 
 Douglas, who was afterwards called the Good Lord James, 
 was tlie most active and successful in procuring for the un- 
 fortunate ladies such supplies as his dexterity in killing deer 
 or in fishing could furnish to theni,, jBrace, driven from one 
 place in the liighlands tp another, attempted to force his 
 way into Lorn, but everywhere , ho found enemies. The 
 M'Dougals, then called Lords of Lorn, were fi-iendly to Ed- 
 ward, and, putting their men in arms, attacked Bruce and his 
 wandering adherents as soon as they attempted to enter 
 their country. John of Lorn, the chief of those J\l'.])ougals, 
 was closely connected by marriage with the family of the 
 murdered Comyn, and therefore he hated Bruce. This chief, 
 through force of numbers, again defeated liruce at a place 
 called Dairy, that is, the royal field ; but, amidst all ]iis jgais- 
 fbrtunes, he shewed the greatness of his strength and courage. 
 Having directed his men to retreat through a narrow. pass, 
 he placed himself last of the ])arty, andibught with and t;lew 
 such of the enemy as pressed -hard on them. Three followers 
 of M'Dougal, a father and two sons, called M'Androper, all 
 strong men, beholding Bailee protecting the retreat of his 
 men, vowed that they^would either kill or make him prisoner, 
 and the whole three rushed on the king at once. lie was op. 
 horseback hi the strait p^ss already noticed, betwixt a steep 
 hill and a deep, hilce.. Tiie first man that;seized-,his. reiiK 
 Bruce struck such a blow with his sword as cut oil;" his hand, 
 and freed the bridle ; the other brothex, in the mean time, 
 liad seized him by the leg, and Avas atteinptuig to unhorse 
 liim, when the king, setting spurs to his steed, made the 
 animal suddenly spring forward, so that the Highlander feU 
 under the hoi:6.q;S feet, and, as he was eude^ivouring to rise. 
 
4 
 
 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 KING ROBERT DRUCE. 
 
 21 
 
 His uncle, Sir Robert Corayn, hearing the scufile, entered; 
 and shared a similar fate. The murder of Comyn was a cruel 
 action, and Heaven's displeasure seemed to have followed it, 
 for no man ever went through more misfortunes than Robert 
 Bruce, who was the •bravest and best warrior in Scotland 
 now that his countiy had been deprived of Sir William Wal- 
 lace, and was also famed for his prudence and skill as a com- 
 mander in the field. ■ >,> 
 
 Bruce had committed ati action which was sure to bring 
 upon him the vengeance of all Oomyn's relations, the resent- 
 ment of the King of England, and the' displeasure of the 
 church, for slaying his enemy within consecrated ground. 
 He therefore determined at once to bid defiance to them all, 
 and assert his right to the Scottish throne. For this purpose^^ 
 ho summoned his own followers, together with such barons 
 who still entertained hopes of their country's freedom, and 
 was crowned king at Scone, the usual place where the Scot- 
 tish kings were inaugurated, on March 27, 1306. The regalia 
 had been carried by Edward to Westminster, but their'place 
 was speedily supplied. The Bishop of Glasgow furnished from 
 his own stores the robes in wliich Bruce was arrayed, and a 
 slight eirelet of gold, to represent the- ancient crown of Scot- 
 land, being procured from the nearest artist, the Bishop of St 
 Andrews set it on his head. The Bishop of Glasgow also pre- 
 sented to the new king a banner wrought with the arms of 
 Baliol, which he had concealed in his'treasury, and under it 
 Robert received the homage of those who devoted themselves 
 to his service. The Earls of Fife had from a remote antiquity 
 enjoyed the privilege of crowning the kings of Scotland ; but 
 Duncan, the representative of the family, favouring at that 
 time the English interest, his sister, the Countess of Buchan, 
 with a boldness and enthusiasm which must have added to 
 the popular interest felt for tlio young king^ repaired to Scone, 
 and, asserting the privilege of her ancestors, placed the crown 
 a second time on Bruce 's head. The eyes of all Scotland 
 were now directed towards him. He was without a rival 
 ^his p:\st conduct had given ample earnest at once of his 
 intrepidity and prudence, and his countrymen regiu-ded him 
 as their last remaining hope. 
 
 The King of England was dreadfully incensed when he 
 was informed that,- after all the pains he had taken, and all 
 the blood which had been sued, the Scots were making this 
 new attempt to shake olfhis authority. At a great festival, 
 though now old and sickly, he made a solemn vow, in presenco 
 of all his court, that he would take ample vengeance on Bruce 
 and his followers, and accordiudy. marched j^ainst him at 
 the .head of a powerful army. . The beginning of Brace mi- 
 
 The news of this successful inroad alarmed, the besiegers of 
 Berwick, The barons, whose estates lay to the southward, 
 remote from the Scottish depredations, were eager for con- 
 tinuing the siege. But they were opposed by those of the 
 north, who were no less eager to abandon the enterprise, and 
 return to the defence of their own country. With them the 
 Earl of Lancaster concurred in opinion; who, understanding 
 that his favourite manor of Pontefract was exposed to the 
 ravages of the Scots, departed with all his adherents. Upon 
 this, Edward drew off the remainder of his army, and at- 
 tempted to intercept Randolph and Douglas, but they eluded 
 him, and returned in safety to Scotland. The failure of this 
 last attempt induced Edward seriously to think of peace; 
 and, accordingly, a truce was concluded, December 31, 1319 ; 
 which interval of tranquillity the Scots made use of to ad- 
 dress a manifesto to the Pope in justification, of their cause. 
 This was drawn up in a spirited manner, and made a very 
 considerable alteration in the councils of Rome. The Pope, 
 seeing that Bruce would not be terrified into submission, or- 
 dered J^dward to make peace with him in the best manner 
 he could. A negociation was, accordingly, set on foot, which 
 soon terminated ineffectually ; the truce was not renewed; 
 and in 1322 a mutual invasion took, place. The Scots pene- 
 trated ijito Lancashire by the western marches, and, after 
 plundering the country, returned home with an extraordinary 
 booty ; while Edward made great preparations for an expedir 
 tion into Scotland, which took place in August. In this, 
 however, he was unsuccessful. Bruce had caused all the 
 cattle to be driven off, and all the effects of value removed 
 from Lothian and the Merse, fixing his camp at Culross, on 
 the north of the river Forth, Edward, however, penetrated 
 as far as Edinburgh, but without hopes of subduing the king- 
 dom. For want of provisions many of his soldiers perished, 
 and he was at last constrained. to retire without having seen 
 the enemy. ri;;Oi 
 
 On their return to England, Edward's soldiers burnt the 
 abbeys of Holyrood, Melrose, Dryburgh, (fee, a?nd killed many 
 of the monks. As soon as they retired, they were pursued 
 by the Scots, who laid siege to the castle of Norham. i Ed- 
 ward lay at the abbey of Biland, in Yorkshire, with a body of 
 troops advantageously posted near it. The Scots attemi)ted 
 to surprise tjjte king, and it was with tiae utmost difficulty 
 that he escaped to York, leaving all his baggage and treasure 
 to the enemy. The English camp was supposed to be acces- 
 sible only by a narrow pass, but Douglas undertook to force 
 it, and liaudolph presented himself as a volunteer in this 
 dangerous service, under his friend Douglas. . .Tfio,. 11 igUr 
 
16 
 
 TH:P IIISTOIIY OF 
 
 The fine Euglbh cavalry rushed forward to support tlieir- 
 archers ; but, coming over the ground ^vhich was dug full of 
 pits, the horses and riders fell into them, and a general dis- 
 order ensued. Bruce now advanced with all his "forces, and 
 pressed them more closely. The young and gallant Earl of 
 Gloucester attempted to rally the fugitives, but was thrown 
 from his horse and cut in pieces, which increased the general 
 confusion. At this critical moment, an event happened 
 which helped to decide the victory : — In a valley to the rear, 
 west of a rising ground^ now called Gillies' Hill, Braco had 
 stationed his baggage, under the charge of the gillies or ser-r 
 vants. and followers of the camp. At the critical moment 
 when the English , line was wavering and confusion reigned 
 on the left, flank, these gillies, either from curiosity to be- 
 hold the battle, or with the design of assisting tlteif. country- 
 men, advanced to the summit of the hill, where, iiceing their 
 companions likely to gain the day, they began to descend thu 
 hill with loud re-echoing shouts, and, being taken for a re- 
 inforcement of the Scottish army, caused the English to givo 
 way in the greatest confusion, who fled in every direction. 
 Many sought refuge among the rocks in the neighbourhood 
 of Stirling Castle, and many .were drowned in the rivers. 
 Pembroke and Sir Giles d'Argentino had never quitted Ed- 
 ward during the action ; but now seeing the battle irre- 
 trievably lost, Pembroke constrained the king to quit tlie 
 Held. D'Argentine refused to fly. . He was a man of great 
 valour, and had a high reputation in Scotland. He is said to 
 have thrice encountered two Saracen warriors at once in Pa- 
 lestine, and to have killed them both each time. His valour 
 now availed him but little, for, rushing into the midst of the 
 Scottish army, he was instantly cut in pieces. Edward, in his 
 flight, was closely pursued by Douglas with a party of sixty 
 horsemen. At the Torwood he mpt Sir Lawrence Abernethy, 
 who was hastening to the English rendezvous with twenty 
 horsemen. The latter soon aband.qned the cause of the van- 
 quished, and joined Douglas in the pursuit of Edward, who 
 fled to Linlithgow. He had scarcely arrived there when 
 he was alarmed by the approach of the Scots, and again ha 
 was, obliged to fly, Douglas and Abernethy followed him 
 with the greatest assiduity, but, notwithstanding their ut- 
 most eftbrts, Edward got safe to Dunbar, fifty nnles from the 
 field of battle, where he was received by the Earl of March, 
 who protected him till he could be conveyed by sea to Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Such was the decisive and glorious victory of Bannock- 
 bum, the greatest defeat the English ever sustained from the 
 ^ts. On the side of the latter no persons of note were slaiu • 
 
 KING ROBERT BRUCE. 
 
 9 
 
 and infdmi the brave Douglas and my brother to revenge my 
 death." ; The traitors advanced upon Bnice, tiiat they might 
 dispatch him at once. "Come no nearer^" cried Brucej 
 " upon the peril of your lives." Eut the old conspirator an- 
 swered him with smooth- woTds, pretending gi'eat kindness, 
 and still continuing to approach him. "Traitors!" cried 
 Bruce, ";you have sold my life for English gold ; but advance 
 one step nearer, and you ;perish." As the old villain con- 
 tinued to advancej Bruce, who was an excellent archer, let 
 fly the -arrow, which penetrated his brain, and he imme- 
 diately died. The two sons now, rushed upon Bruce, one of 
 whom aimeii a blow at him with his axe, but, missing his 
 stroke, he stumbled, and the king cut him down ere he 
 could recover his feet. The other son fan on Bruce with hia 
 long spear, but, with a dash of his sword, the king cut ofl' 
 the steel head of the villain's weapon, and laid him prostrate 
 on the ground. " These might have been ieputed three gal- 
 lant men," said BrUee to his page, " had they resisted the 
 sin of covetousness." 
 
 Bruce, having slain these three ti-aitors, continued to wan- 
 der among the fastnesses of Carrick and in the neighbour- 
 ing country of Galloway witli his hardy band, which did not 
 amount to more than 60 men. The people of Galloway, liv- 
 ing, under>the government of one M'Dougal, related to the 
 Lord of Lorn, who defeated Bruce at Dairy, and very nearly 
 killed or made him prisoner, hearing that he was in their 
 country, collected 200 men, with bloodhounds to trace the 
 fugitives through the forests and morasses. Notwithstanding 
 the secrecy of their preparations, Bruce received intelligence 
 of his danger, and toAvards night withdrew his men to a posi- 
 tion where there was on the one side a morass, and on the 
 other a rivulet which had only one narrow ford, over which 
 the enemy nmst necessarily pass. Leaving his followers 
 about half a mile distant fro^m the river to take a little sleep, 
 Bruce proceeded with two attendants to the ford, where the 
 appfoacliing yell of the bloodhounds soon fell upon his ears, 
 followed by the voioes of men urging it forward; The blood- 
 hounds, ever true to their nature, led the Galloway men 
 directly to the ford where the king stood, who, fearing the 
 destruction of his whole party should the enemy gain the 
 ford, boldly resolved to defend it alone. The Gallovideans 
 finding on their arrival but one individual posted on the 
 opposite side to dispute their way, the foremost of their party 
 rode boldly forward ; but, in attempting to reach the other 
 side of the stream, Bruce, with a thrust of his spear, laid him 
 dead on the spbt. The same fate was shared by four of his 
 companions, whose bodies became a sort of rampart against 
 
8 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 of his men, and were iiowamnf?in2; tbemselves with hunting iu 
 the island. Bruce, having caused himself to be guided to the 
 woods where they most frequented, blew his horn and was 
 instantly surrounded by James Douglas and his companions, 
 who well knew the king's manner of blowing. Being now 
 within sight of his family possessions, he immediately began 
 to form plans with Douglas how they might best renew 
 their enterprise against the English. The king now opened 
 a communication with the opposite coast of Carrick, by mearts 
 of one of his followers of the name of Cuthbert, whom he 
 sent over to ascertain how his countrymen were feeling to- 
 wards him. It was agreed that, if they were favourable t() 
 him, he was to make a fire on a headland, called Trirnberry, 
 facing the island of Arran. Bruce and his companions 
 eagerly watched for the signal, but for some time in vain. 
 A fire on Turn])ciTy-head at length became visible, and the 
 king and his men, about 300 in number, betook themselves 
 to their galleys, and hastened over to Carrick coast, conclud 
 ing that their friends were favourable.' Landing on the 
 beach about midnight, they found Cuthbert waiting their 
 arrival, who informed Bruce that there was little chance of 
 help from his subjects. " Traitor !" cried Bruce, " why did 
 you make the signal then ?" " The fire was not made by me,*" 
 replied Cuthbert ; " but as soon as I perceived it, I has- 
 tened to inform you how the matter stood, knowing that you 
 would take it for my signal." Bruce determined, after some 
 hesitation, to take such fortune as Heaven should be pleased 
 to send him. He succeeded in taking the castle of Turn- 
 berry from Lord Percy, and in disinissing the English from 
 Carrick ; he also took the castle of Inverness from the 
 English, which was strongly situated on a high rock by the 
 river Ness. Many interesting incidents are related of Bruce 
 about this time. Among others we relate the following : — 
 A near relation of Bruce's, in whom he confided, was, by 
 English bribes, induced to attempt his death. This traitor, 
 along with his two sons, watched Bruce one morning, till he 
 observed him separated from all his companions, excepting a 
 little boy, who waited on him as a page. The villain had a 
 sword in his hand, one of his sons had a sword and a spear, 
 and the other had a sword and a battle-axe. Wlien Bruce 
 perceived them so well armed, and no English near, lie re- 
 called some hints which had been given him, that these men 
 intended to slay him. Bruce had only his sWord, and his 
 page had a bow and arrow. Taking the bow and arro'\v from 
 the boy, he desired' him to stand at a distance ; "^for," said 
 Bruce, " if I overcome these villains, you shall have plenty 
 of weapons ; but if I am murderexl by them, you may escape, 
 
 KINO ROBERT BRUCE. J 7 
 
 excepting Sir William Vipont,.ahd Sir Walter Ross, the fa- 
 vourite of ]*!dward Bruce ; and so grievously was Edward af- 
 flicted by the death ol' this man, that he exclaimed, " Oh 
 that this day's work U'ere undone, so Ross had not died ! " 
 On the English side were slain 27 barons and bannerets, and 
 22 taken prisoners ; of kniglits there were killed 42, and GO 
 tak<^n prisoners ; of esquires there fell 700 ; but the number 
 of the common men who wore killed or taken was never 
 known with certainty. The English, who had taken refuge 
 among' the rocks in the neighbourhood of Stirling, surrendered 
 at discretion : the castle was surrendered, und the privy seal 
 of England fell into the hands of the Scottish monarch. 
 The spoils of the English camp were immense, and enriched 
 the conquerors, along with the ransom of many noble prison- 
 ers who fell into their hands. Bruce shewed much generosity 
 in his treatment of the prisoners who fell to his share.- He 
 set at liberty Ralph de Mqnthermer and Sir i\Iarmaduke 
 Twerge, two officers of high rank, without ransom ; and by 
 humane and generous' offices alleviated the misfor,tunes of the 
 rest. The dead bodies of the I'^arl of Gloucester and Lord 
 Cliiford were sent to England, that they might be interred 
 with the usual solemnity. There- was one Baston, a Carmelite 
 friar and poet, whom Edward is said to have brought with 
 him in his train to be spectator of his achievements, and to 
 record his triumphs. Baston was made prisoner, and obliged 
 to celebrate the victory of Bruce over the English. This he 
 did in wretched Latin rhymes, which, however, procured his 
 freedom. 
 
 ' * After the battle of Bannockbum, the Earl of Hereford re- 
 treated to the castle of Bothwell, where he was besieged by 
 Edward Bruce, and soon obliged to surrender. He was ex- 
 changed for the wife, sister, and daughter of the king, the 
 young Earl of Mar, and the Bishop of Glasgow. The terror 
 of the English was now almost incredible. Walsingham as- 
 serts, that many of them revolted to the Scots, and assisted 
 them in plundering their own country. " The English," he 
 pays, " were so bereaved of their wonted intrepidity, that 
 ] 00 of that nation would have fled from two or three Scots- 
 men !" 
 
 Edward Bruce and Douglas entered ]']ngland on the cast 
 side, ravaged Northumberland, and laid the bishopric of Dur- 
 ham under contribution. Thence they proceeded to Rich- 
 mond, laid Appleby and some other towns in ashes, and re- 
 turned home laden with plunder. I-^dward summoned a Par- 
 liara'ont at York, to concert means for the public security ; 
 and appointed the Earl of Pembroke to be guardian of tho 
 X'ountry between tbe Tr-ent and the Tweed. Bruce, howeven, 
 
6 
 
 THK HTSTORY OF 
 
 KING ROBi-nT liUUCE. 
 
 19 
 
 tlie king cleft his head in two with his swoni. The father, 
 seeing the melancholy fate of his two sons, tiew at the king, 
 and grasped him by the mantle so close to his body that he had 
 not room to wield his sword ; but he dashed his brains out 
 with an iron hammer that hung at his saddle-bow. The 
 Highlander still kept his dying grasp on the king's mantle, 
 so that, to extricate himself from the dead body, he was com- 
 pelled to undo the clasp by which it was fastened, and leave 
 that and the mantle behind him. The clasp is still in the 
 possession of the family of Lorn, who still retain it as a me- 
 morial that the celebrated Robert Bruce once narrowly 
 escaped falling into the hands of one of their forefathers. 
 
 Bruce met with many such encounters amidst his danger- 
 ous and dismal wanderings ; but still he kept up his spirits 
 and those of his companions with the hope of better times ; 
 and often recounted to his friends tales and adventures of 
 princes who had been placed in similar situations. Dangers 
 at last increased so much around the brave King Robert, 
 that he found it necessary to part from his Queen ; for winter 
 was rapidly approaching, and it would be impossible for the 
 ladies to endure this wandering sort of life when the keen 
 blasts of winter should come on. He left his Queen with the 
 Countess of Buchan and others at Kildrummie Castle, near 
 the head of the river Don, in Aberdeenshire, Nigel Bruce, 
 his youngest brother, remaining to defend the castle against 
 the English. The king, with his remaining followers, amount- 
 ing to nearly 200, determined to force a passage into Kintyre, 
 and thence cross over to the north of Ireland. On arriving 
 at the banks of Lochlomond, there appeared no mode of con- 
 veyance across the loch ; but after much search. Sir James 
 Douglas discovered a small crazy boat, by means of which 
 they effected a passage. This heroic party were a night and 
 a day in getting over, the boat being only able to carry three 
 persons at a time. The king soon after fell in with the Earl 
 of Lennox, ignorant till then of the fate of his sovereign, of 
 whom he had received no intelligence since the defeat at 
 Methven ; and by his exertions the royal party were amply 
 supplied with provisions, and enabled to reach Dunaverty, in 
 Kintyre, in safety, whence, after recruiting the strength and 
 spirits of his followers, the king and a few of his adherents 
 passed over to the small island of Rathlin, on the north coast 
 of Ireland, where they remained during the winter of 1306. 
 Ill luck, in the mean time, seemed to pursue his friends in 
 Scotland, The English took Kildrummie Castle, and cruelly 
 murdered Nigel Bruce, a brave and beautiful youth. The 
 ladies who had attended Bruce's (jueen, as well as the Queen 
 herself, were put into strict confinement, and treated with 
 
 charge, and drove the English to their ships with consider- 
 able loss. For this exploit, Robert conferred the title of the 
 King's Bislioj? on Sinclair ; and he was long venerated by 
 his countrymen on this account. 
 
 In 1318, King Robert proceeded in his enterprise against 
 Berwick. A citizen of that town, named Spalding, having 
 been ill used by the governor, resolved to revenge himself, 
 and, therefore, wrote a letter to a Scottish lord, whose rela- 
 tion he had married, offering, on a certain night, to betray 
 the post when he kept guard. The nobleman communicated 
 this important intelligence to the king, who commanded him 
 to repair to a certain place with a body of troops, to which 
 place he also gave separate orders to Douglas and Randolph 
 to repair at the same hour, each with a body of troops under 
 his command. The forces thus cautiously assembled marched 
 to Berwick, and, assisted by Spalding, scaled the walls, mak- 
 ing themselves mastei-s of the town in a few hours. The 
 garrison of the castle, perceiving that the number of Scots 
 was but small, made a desperate sally with the men who had 
 fled into the castle from the town ; but, after an obstinate 
 conflict, they were defeated and driven back, chiefly by the 
 extraordinary valour of a young knight, named Sir William 
 Keith of Galston, March 28, 1318. King Robert no sooner 
 heard of the success of his forces against the town than he 
 hastened to lay siege to the castle of Berwick, which was 
 soon obliged to capitulate ; after which the Scots entered 
 Northumberland, and took the castles of Wark, Harbottle, 
 and Mitford. 
 
 In Mav 1318, they again invaded England, and penetrated 
 into Yorkshire. In their progress, they burnt the towns of 
 Northallerton, Boroughbridge, Scarborough, and Skipton in 
 Graven, forcing the inhabitants of Ripon to redeem them- 
 selves bv paying 1000 merks : after which they returned to 
 Scotland with much booty ; and, as an English historian ex- 
 presses it, " driving their prisoners before them like flocks 
 of sheep." 
 
 ' In 1319, Edward, having obtained the interposition of the 
 Pope, made similar attempts with other powers to the pre- 
 judice of the Scottish nation. Accordingly, he requested the 
 Earl of Flanders to prohibit the Scots from entering his 
 country ; but to this request he received the following re- 
 markable reply: " Flanders is the common country of ;a 11 
 men : I cannot prohibit any merchants from trafficking 
 thither, for such proliibition would prove the ruin of my 
 people." On this, Edward once more determined to have 
 recourse to war ; and with this view commanded his army to 
 assemble at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, July 24, 1319. Every 
 
14 
 
 THE HISTORY OP 
 
 KING ROBERT BRUCE. 
 
 and which had for so many years been the theatre of war: 
 an immense multitude followed all, to be distributed in 
 colonies, and receive lands, who had brought their wives and 
 children along with them. England's whole strength pre- 
 sented thus to view, produced such confidence in every breast, 
 that the topic of conversation with this vast assemblage was 
 more about the division of the spoil than about carrying on 
 the war. 
 
 Bruce, being informed of the enemy's great preparations, 
 likewise arrayed his forces — a small number, indeed, against 
 such a multitude — only 30,000 men, but they were accustomed 
 to war, were hardened by domestic sufferings, and carried in 
 their right hands their lives, their fortunes, and every hope 
 that is dear to man. With this little army he encamped on 
 the left side of the river Bannock, which has steep banks, 
 few and narrow fords, and which is only two miles distant 
 from Stirling. Below the hills, before it reaches the Forth, 
 it passes through a country somewhat level, but impeded by 
 marshes in various places. For the most part in winter it 
 rushes with a rapid torrent, but at the then season of the 
 year, in consequence of the heats of midsummer, the waters 
 were low and ibrdable in many places. Bruce being inferior 
 in men was just the more anxious, by every possible art and 
 stratagem, to render the passage of the river difficult to the 
 English, who occupied the right bank. He caused deep 
 ditches' to be dug in the level places, in which he fixed 
 sharp stakes in such a manner, that when covered over with 
 slight turf the deceit was concealed. He ordered iron cal- 
 trops — consisting of sharp spikes, which, however thrown, 
 always, when l\nng, presents one or two of their points up- 
 wards—to be sciittered wherever it appeared they would he- 
 serviceable.. 
 
 The two armies having now pitched near each other on 
 opposite hills, with only a small river between, Edward sent 
 from his camp, by rather a circuitous route, 800 cavalry to 
 relieve Stirling. Bruco, supposing theiie sent to plunder the 
 adjoining fields, gave Thomas Randolph 500 horse to check 
 the marauders and protect the country, and not to decline 
 fighting if he saw a favourable opportunity. The enemy, 
 observing this detachment, desisted from their intended 
 marchj and wheeled upon Randolph's party. The com- 
 bat was keenly conto-te I, victory inclining to neither side, 
 when James Douiilasi, alarmed for his countrymen, en- 
 treated "Bruce to allow him to .go to their assistance. As 
 Brucx? had given strict orders to Ra]i;lolph not to allow any 
 succours to be thrown into Stirling, he refused him assist- 
 ance. " Let him," said lie,, redeem his own fault : I cm-^. 
 
 durst not sit down to take a moment's rest, for they still 
 heard the cry. of the bloodhound behind them . They at lerigth 
 arrived at a wood, through which ran a small rivulet, into 
 Avhich they plunged, and walked a considerable way down 
 the stream — destroying in this manner the strong scent on 
 which the dog had proceeded — and did not halt to take any 
 rest until they had gone fur into the wood. Lorn, having 
 lost the track of the king, now returned and joined Pem- 
 broke. 
 
 The king and his companion, having rested themselves in 
 the wood, began to pursue their journey, in hopes of soon 
 reaching a habitation where they might get some refreshment. 
 In the midst of the forest, however, they met with three 
 men, who had the appearance of ruflians or thieves, and were 
 all well armed. One of them had a sheep on his back, which 
 they had just stolen from a neighbouring field. Having 
 civilly saluted the king, he replied to their salutation, and 
 inquired whither they were going. " We are seeking for 
 King Ptobert," answered tlie rufliiins, for we intend joining 
 his standard." " If you will go with me," said Bruce, " I will 
 conduct you to the Scottish king." Bruce observing the 
 man who had spoken change colour, looked sharply at him, 
 thought that he guessed who he was, and that he and his 
 companions had a design against him, for the purpose of re- 
 ceiving the reward which had been offered for his life. " My 
 good friends," said Bruce, "as we are strangers to each other, 
 you will go first, and we will follow." " You have no occa- 
 sion to dread any harm from us," replied the man. "I do 
 not suspect any," said Bruce, " but this is the way in which 
 I choose to travel." They walked on till they reached a 
 ruinous cottage, where the nifnans proposed dressing part of 
 the sheep. Having kindled two fires, one at each end of the 
 house, they broiled part of the sheep, which proved very ac- 
 ceptable to the king and his foster-brother. After partaking 
 of the sheep, a heavy drowsiness came upon the king, and, 
 having desired his companion to keep a strict look-out on 
 their new acquaintances, fell asleep ; but his foster-brother, 
 having undergone as much fatigue as the king, soon a^so 
 fell into a deep slumber. The three villains, observing the 
 king and his companion asleep, made signs to each other, 
 and, starting all at once, drew their swords, intending to kill 
 them both. Although the ruffians made little noise in rising, 
 yet it was sufficient to awaken the king, who slept but 
 iightly, and, starting to his feet, at the same time awaken- 
 ing his friend mih a push of his foot, prepared to meet 
 his dastardly companions. Ere the king's foster-brother was 
 fully awake, one of the villains slew him, Bruce was now 
 
THE HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 KING ROBERT BRUCE. 
 
 Edward I. of England, having constrained John Baliol to 
 abdicate the throne of Scotland, and succeeded, by treachery, 
 in securing the renowned Sir William Wallace, whom he 
 cruelly put to death at London on the 23d of August 1305, 
 took possession of the country as his by right of conquest. 
 The people everywhere rose against the usurper, who were 
 determined to fight for the freedom of their country, and re- 
 lieve themselves from the galling yoke of the English ; and, 
 therefore, such great nobles as thought they had a right to 
 the vacant throne began to stand forward to claim it. Among 
 the competitors for the regal honour were two powetful 
 noblemen. The first was Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, 
 grandson of that Robert Bruce who had disputed the throne 
 with John Baliol ; the other was John Comyn of Badenoch, 
 generally styled the Red Comyn^ to distinguish him from his 
 kinsman, the Black Comyn, so called from his swarthy com- 
 plexion. These two powerful barons had both assisted the 
 immortal Wallace in the wars against England ; but after 
 the defeat at Falkirk, being afraid of losing their great estates, 
 and desponding of ever regaining the independence of their 
 country, they not only acknowledged Edward as King of 
 Scotland, but even bore arms along with the English against 
 their patriotic countrymen, who resolved rather to die in de- 
 fence of their rights than submit to the tyrant's sway for a 
 moment. 
 
 Brace's feelings concerning the baseness of his conduct 
 are believed to have been roused by the following incident: — 
 In one of the numerous battles which took place between the 
 English and their adherents on the one side and the Scottish 
 patriots on the other, Bruce had assisted the English in gain- 
 ing the victory. When th^' battle was over, he sat down to 
 dinner without washing his hands, on which were spots of 
 blood which he had shed during the action. " Look at that 
 Scotchman," whispered some of the English lords to their 
 messmates, " who is eating his own blood." Bruce felt the 
 cutting remark, and, beginning to reflect that the blood upon 
 his hands might well be styled his own blood, seeing it was 
 
 KINO ROBERT URUCK. 
 
 23 
 
 days, when they came in sight of the enemy, Tlie Scots 
 were advantageously posted on a rising ground, having the 
 river Wear in front, and their flanks secured by rocks and 
 precipices. The English dismounted and advanced, hoping 
 to allure the Scots from their strong pfjst, but in vain. _ Ed- 
 ward then sent a herald to Randolph and Douglas, with a 
 message in the style of chivalry : " Either," said he, " suffer 
 me to pass the river, and leave me room for ranging my forces ; 
 or do you pass the river, and I will leave you room to range 
 yours ; and thus shall we fight on equal terms." To this the 
 Scottish commanders replied, " We will do neither. On our 
 road hither we have burnt and spoiled the country, and here 
 we are fixed while to us it seems good ; and if the king of 
 England is offended, let him come over and chastise us." 
 
 The armies continued in the sight of each other for two 
 days ; after which, the English, understanding that their ene- 
 mies were distressed for provisions, resolved to maintain a 
 close blockade, and to reduce them by famine. Kext day, 
 however, they were surprised to find that the Scots had se- 
 cretly decamped, and taken up their post two miles up the 
 river in ground still stronger, and of more difficult access, 
 amidst a great wood. The English encamped opposite to 
 them near Stanhope Park. At midnight, Douglas undertook 
 a most desperate enterprise, resembling those of ancient 
 heroes. With 200 horsemen he approached the English 
 camp, and entered it under the guise of a chief commandei 
 calling the rounds. Having thus eluded the sentinels, he 
 passed on to the royal quarters, overthrew everything that op- 
 posed him, and furiously assaulted the king's tent. The 
 domestics of Edward desperately defended their master ; and 
 his chaplain, with many others of his household, were slain. 
 However, the king himself escaped ; and Douglas, disappoint- 
 ed of his prey, rushed through the enemy, and effiscted a re^ 
 treat with inconsiderable loss. Two days after, the Scots re- 
 tired to their own country, which, when Edward was as- 
 sured of, he burst into tears ; for the enterprise, which thus 
 terminated in disappointment and dishonour, had cost an im- 
 mense sum. Every preparation had been made, and auxi- 
 liaries had even been procured, at a most enormous expense, 
 from Hainault. These consisted of heavy-armed cavalry ; 
 and they were now so much, worn out that they could 
 scarcely move. The few living horses were become unser- 
 viceable, in a campaign of three weeks ; so that they were 
 obliged to procure horses to confey them to the south of 
 England. 
 
 In 1328, Edward, wearied out with continual losses and 
 disappointments, consented to a perpetual peace between the 
 
22 THE nrsTORV of 
 
 landers and men of the Isles climbed the precipice on which 
 the English camp stood, and the enemy were driven out with 
 gi-eat loss. The Scots pursued them to the gates of York, 
 wasted the country without control, and returned home un- 
 molested. 
 
 Edward, disheartened by repeated losses, agreed to a cessa- 
 tion of arms, from March 30, 1323, to June 12, 1336. The 
 treaty was ratified by Robert, as King of iicotland, June 7, 
 1323. Robert's next care w^as to reconcile himself to the 
 church, and to obtain from the Pope the title of King, which 
 had been so long denied him ; which at last, with difficulty, 
 was obtained. 
 
 In the beginning of 1327, Edward II. was deposed, and 
 barbarously murdered in Berkeley Castle by Gournay and 
 Mautravers. He was succeeded by his son, Edward III., 
 then in the 15th year of his age. He renewed the negocia- 
 tions for peace, and ratified the truce which his father had 
 made ; but hearing that the Scots had resolved to invade 
 England if a peace was not immediately concluded, he sum- 
 moned his barons to meet him in arms at Newcastle ; and 
 fortified York. On June 15, 1.327, Douglas and Randolph 
 invaded England by the w'estern marches, with an army 
 of 20,000 horsemen. Against them Edward led an army of 
 at least .30,000 men, who assembled at Durham on the 13th 
 of July. The Scots proceeded with the utmost cruelty, burn- 
 ing and destroying everything as they went along ; and on 
 the 18th of the same month, the English discovei-ed them by 
 the smoke and flames which marked their progress. They 
 marched forward in order of battle towards the quarter where 
 the smoke was perceived, but, meeting with no enemy tor 
 two days, they concluded that the Scots had retired. Dis- 
 encumbering themselves there of their heavy baggage, they 
 resolved, by a forced march, to reach the river Tyrie, and, by 
 posting themselves on the north bank of that river, to inter- 
 cept the Scots on their return. On the 20th of July, the 
 cavalry, having left the infantry behind, crossed the river at 
 11 all don ; but before the rest of the army could come up, the 
 river was so swollen by sudden rains, that it could no longer 
 be forded ; and thus the English troops remained divided for 
 several days, without any accommodation for quarters, and in 
 the greatest want of provisions and forage. The soldiers now 
 began to murmur, and it wag resolved again to proceed south- 
 wards. The king proclaimed a reward of lands, to the value 
 of £100 yearly for life, to the person who should first discover 
 the enemy " on dry ground, where they might be attacked ;" 
 and many knights and esquires swam across the river on this 
 strange errand. The army continued its march for three 
 
 THE HISTORY OF KING ROBERT BRUCE. 3 
 
 that of his valorous countrymen who weite struggling for 
 their national independence, he rose from table, entered a 
 neighbouring chapel, where he shed many tears, implored 
 God"s forgiveness for the great sin he had been guilty of, and 
 made a solemn vow that he would atone for it by using his 
 utmost exertion to deliver his bleeding country from the iron 
 yoke of Edward. Accordingly, he entered into a secret bond 
 of association with the Bishop of St Andrews, as head of the 
 Scottish Church, whereby the parties bound themselves 
 mutually to assist each other against all persons whatsoever, 
 and neither to undertake any business of importance with- 
 out the other. He had also a conference with Comyn, at 
 which he proposed that they should thenceforward entertain 
 feelings of friendship towards each other. " Support," said 
 Bruce, " my title to the crown, and I will give you all my 
 lands ; or, bestow on me your lands, and I will support your 
 claim." Comyn accepted the former of these proposals, and 
 an agreement being drawn up, it was sealed by both parties, 
 and confirmed by their oaths of fidelity and secrecy. Comyn, 
 however, revealed the secret to Edward, who resolved on re- 
 venge ; and, having drank freely one evening, discovered his 
 intention to some of the nobles of his court. Th€ Earl of 
 Gloucester, a kinsman of Bruce, had notice of his friend's 
 danger, and, anxious to save him, yet afraid in so serious a 
 matter too rashly to compromise his own safety, sent him a 
 purse of gold and a pair of spurs. Bruce, understanding the 
 hint, had his horses shod Avith their shoes 'inverted, that the 
 traces on the snow might baffle his pursuers, and instantly 
 set out for Scotland,- accompanied by his secretary and a 
 single attendant. Arriving at Dumfries, he immediately as- 
 sembled his friends and all the nobles, who encouraged his 
 resolution, and promised their aid, Comyn excepted. Comyn 
 endeavoured to dissuade them from so desperate an undertak- 
 ing ; and, after the assembly was dismissed, Bruce sought a 
 private interview with him. From some inward misgiving, 
 no doubt, on the part of Comyn, the nreeting took pkce in 
 the churchyard of Dumfries, "before the high altar. Here 
 Bruce passionately reproached Comyn for his treachery in 
 having revealed the secret to Edward, and, after some alter- 
 cation, Bruce drew his dagger and stabbed him to the heart. 
 Immediately' hastening from the spot, he called for his at- 
 tendants, who, seeing him pale and agitated, inquired the 
 cause. " I doubt," said Bruce, " that I have slain the Red 
 Comyn," " Do you leave such a matt-er to doubt ]" cried 
 Kirkpatrick fiercely ; " If^e mak' sicker," — that is, I will make 
 certain ; and, accordingly, he and Lindsay rushed towards the 
 wounded Comyn, and dispatched him with their daggers. 
 
10 
 
 TnE HISTORY OP 
 
 the others. Being dismayed at so unexpected and fatal a 
 reception, they fell back for a moment in some confusion • 
 but ashamed that so many should be baffled by the prowess 
 of one man, furiously returned to the attack. They were 
 however, so valiantly repulsed by Bruce that the post was 
 still mam tamed ; and at length the loud shout of the king's 
 party, advancmg to his rescue, warned the enemy to retire, 
 after sustammg in this unexampled conflict the loss of 14 
 men. The danger to which Bruce had been exposed, and 
 the bravery which he had shewn on this occasion, inflamed 
 the spirits of his party, and gained many to his standard of 
 liberty. 
 
 Bruce required all the aid he could receive ; for Sir Aymer 
 de Valence, who was Earl of Pembroke, the English guardian, 
 was already advancing upon him with a large body of men, 
 haying also obtained the assistance of John of Lorn, whose 
 followers were well acquainted with that species of irregular 
 warfare to which the king was obliged to have recourse. 
 John of Lorn liad with him a bloodhound, which was said 
 once to have belonged to Bruce, and was so familiar with his 
 scent, that if once it got upon his track, nothing could divert 
 it from its purpose. By means of this hound, John of Lorn 
 thought he would certainly accomplish the destruction of the 
 Scottish king. When these two armies advanced upon 
 Bruce, he at first determined to fight the Earl of Pembroke ; 
 but, understanding that Lorn was with a numerous party 
 moving round to attack him in the rear, he resolved to re- 
 treat, fearing to engage with such unequal numbers. He 
 therefore divided his adherents into three divisions, com- 
 manding them to retreat by as many ways, imagining the 
 enemy _would be bafiied which to pursue ; appointing at the 
 same time where they were to meet again. When John of 
 Lorn arrived at the spot where the king had divided his 
 men, the bloodhound pursued Bruce's division, which con- 
 vinced Lorn which to follow, neglecting the other two parties 
 of the Scots. Bruce, observing he was still pursued by a 
 large body, desired all his party to take different ways, 
 u t"-^ by this means to stagger his pursuers, he taking 
 with him one companion, who was his own foster-brother. 
 Arriving at the place where Bruce's men had dispersed them- 
 selves, the bloodhound followed Bruce and his foster-brother. 
 Lorn accordingly commanded five of his men, who were 
 swift of foot,, to pursue the king, and either slay or take him 
 prisoner. They ran so fast that they were soon in sight of 
 Bruce, wlio, when he observed, along with his foster-brother, 
 turned upon them, and slew them all. Bruce and his 
 companion were very much fatigued by this time, yet they 
 
 KING ROBERT BRUCE. 
 
 15 
 
 not break the order of battle for his sake." " In truth," re- 
 plied Douglas, " I cannot stand by and see Randolph perish, 
 and, therefore, with your leave, I must aid him." J3ruce un- 
 willingly consented, and Douglas flew to his friend's assist- 
 ance. While approaching, he perceived the English were 
 falling into disorder, and that the perseverance of Randolph 
 had prevailed over their impetuous courage. " Halt !" cried 
 Douglas, those brave men have repulsed the enemy ; let us 
 not diminish their glory by sharing it." 
 
 Bruce was in front of the line when the English appeared. 
 He was meanly dressed, with a crowii above his helmet, and 
 a battle-axe in his hand. Sir Henry de Bohun, an English 
 knight, armed cap-a-pie, rode forward to encounter him. 
 Robert struck his antagonist so violently with his battle-axe 
 that he cleft him to the chin, after which the English van- 
 guard retreated in confusion. The Scottish generals blamed 
 their king for his rashness in thus encountering Bohun ; but 
 he, conscious of the justice of their charge, only replied, " I 
 have broke my good battle-axe." 
 
 On Monday, June 24, 1314, the whole English army 
 moved on to the attack. The van, consisting of archers and 
 lancemen, was commanded by Gilbert de Clare, Earl of 
 Gloucester, nephew to the English king, and Humphry de 
 Bohun, constable of England ; but the ground was so nar- 
 row that the rest of the army had not sufl^icient room to ex- 
 pand itself, so that it appeared to the Scotch as consisting 
 of one great compact body. The main body was brought up 
 by Edward in person, attended by Amyer de Valence, Earl 
 of Pembroke, and Sir Giles d'Argentine, two experienced 
 commanders. Maurice, Abbot of Inchaffray, placing himself 
 on an eminence, celebrated mass in the siglit of the Scottish 
 army. He then passed along the front, barefooted, with a 
 crucifix in his hands, and, in few words, exhorted the Scots 
 to fight for their king and country. The Scots fell down on 
 their knees as he passed, which being perceived by Edward, 
 he ^ cried out, "They yield ! See, they implore mercy ! " 
 " They do," answered Ingelram de Umphraville, one of his 
 commanders ; '* they do implore mercy, but not from us. 
 On that field they will be victorious or die." As both par- 
 ties were violently exasperated against each other, the en- 
 gagement began with great fury. ]5ruce, perceiving that his 
 troops were grievously annoyed by the English archers, whose 
 arrows were flying like flukes of snow, ordered Sir Robert 
 Keith, the marischal, with a few armed horsemen, to make.a 
 circuit, and attack the archers in flank. This was instantly 
 accomplished, and as the weapons of the archers were useless 
 in a close encounter, they could niak(3 very little resistance. 
 
18 
 
 THE m-TORY OF 
 
 sent ambassadors to treat of peace ; but the Scots were too. 
 much elated with their good fortune to make concessions, 
 and the English were not yet sufiiciently humbled to yield to 
 all their demands. The ravages of war were renewed. The 
 Scots continued their incursions into England, and levied 
 contributions in different places. In 1315, the English af- 
 ftiirs seemed to revive. The Scots, indeed, plundered Dur- 
 ham and Hartlepool, but thoy were repulsed from Carlisle, 
 and failed in an attempt on Berwick. 
 
 The Irish of Ulster, oppressed by the English Covernment, 
 implored the assistance of Hobert, and oflered to acknowledge 
 his brother Edward as their sovereign, who,, accordingly, hmd- 
 ed at Can-ickfergus, May 25, 1 315, with 6000 men. This was 
 an enterprise evidently beyond the power of Scotland to ac- 
 complish. However, there were motives which induced Eo- 
 bert to consent. The offer of a crown inflamed the ambition 
 of Edward Bruce, whose impetuous valour made no account 
 of difficulties however great. It might have been deemed 
 ungenerous, and perhaps impolitic, to have rejected the pro- 
 posals of the Irish for the advancement of his brother, to 
 whom the king owed more than he could repay. Besides, 
 the invasion of Ireland seemed a proper expedient for divid- 
 ing the English forces. But the issue proved unfortunate. 
 The king himself had gone over into Ireland to assist his 
 brother in attempting the subjection of that country ; and, 
 during his absence, the English had made several attempts 
 to disturb the tranquillity of Scotland. 
 
 The Earl of Arundel invaded the forest of Jedburgh with 
 a numerous army ; but being drawn into an ambuscade by 
 Douglas, he was defeated with great loss. Edmund de Cail- 
 laud, a knight of Gascony and governor of Berwick, invaded 
 and wasted Teviotdale ; but while he was returning home, 
 laden with spoil, he was attacked, defeated, and killed by 
 Douglas. Soon after this, intelligence was conveyed to 
 Douglas, that one Robert Keville had boasted that he" would 
 encounter him whenever he saw his banner displayed. Dou- 
 glas soon gave him an opportunity. He advanced toAvards 
 Berwick, displayed his banner, and burnt some villages. 
 Neville, provoked at these ravages, took the held, encountered 
 Douglas, but Avas defeated and slain. 
 
 By sea the English invaded Scotland, and anchored off In- 
 verkeithing, in the Frith of Forth, where they soon after 
 landed : 500 men, under the Earl and Sheriff of Fife, at- 
 tempted to oppose their landiug, but were intimidated by the 
 number of their enemies. William Sinclair, Bishop of Dun- 
 keld, happened to meet the fugitives, and having, by his re- 
 proaches, obliged them to rally, he led them on again to the 
 
 KING ROBERT BRUCE. J 
 
 the greatest cnu;lty. This news reached Bruce at Rathlin, 
 and reduced him almost to despair. But an incident took 
 place about this time )vhich greatly encouraged the king to 
 persevere in endeavouring to free his beloved country from 
 English oppression. Having received the last unpleasant 
 news from Scotland, he was lying on his wretched bed one 
 morning, and deliberating with himself whether he had not 
 better resign all thoughts of the Scottish crown, and trans- 
 port himself and brothers to the Holy Land to light against 
 the Saracens, by ivhich lie might in some measure atone for 
 the murder of Comyu. But, on the other hand, he thought 
 it would ])oth be criminal and cowardly to relinquish the 
 cause of his country and his right to the crown. While he 
 was in this state of mind, and doubting what path he should 
 pui;sue, he happened to look up to the roof of the cabin iu 
 which he lay, and perceived a large spider, which, hanging at 
 the end of a long thread of its own spinning, was endeavour- 
 ing, as is its custom, to swing itself from one l)eam in the 
 roof to another, for the purpose of fixing the line on which 
 it meant to stretch its web. It made the attempt again and 
 again without success ; and at length Bruce counted that it 
 had endeavoured six times to carry its point, and had as often 
 failed in the attempt. He thought that he had fought six 
 battles against the English and their allies, and that the poor 
 persevering spider was exactly in the same situation Avith 
 himself, having as often attempted, and still disappointed at 
 what it aimed at. " Is^'ow," thought Bruce, " as 1 have no 
 means of knoAving what is best to be done, I Avill be guided 
 by the luck which shall attend this spider. If it shall make 
 another effort to fix its thread, and shall be successful, I will 
 venture a seventh time to try my fortune in my native land ; 
 but if it shall fail, I will go to the Avars in Palestine, and 
 never return to my native land again." ^T[n]e forming this 
 resolution, the spider made another exertion with all the 
 strength it could muster, and succeeded in fastening its 
 thread on the beam which it had so often in \'ain attempted 
 to reach. Beholding the spider's success, Bruce resolved to 
 try his own fortune ; and as he never gained a victory before, 
 so he never sustained any considerable defeat afterAvards, 
 
 On the approach of spring, Sir James Douglas and Sir 
 Robert Boyd left tlie king and passed oA^er to Arran, which 
 lies at the mouth of the Clyde. A fcAv days afterwards, 
 Bruce arrived from Rathlin Avith a fleet of 33 small galleys, 
 and, having landed, inquired at a Avoman Avhom he met, what 
 armed men were in the island ? She said there had lately 
 arrived a body of armed strangers, who had defeated the 
 governor of the castle of Brathwick, had slain him and most