Late Medieval Books, Scalaronica

Scalaronica. The Reigns of Edward I, Edward II and Edward III as recorded by Sir Thomas Gray. And now translated by the Right Hon. Sir Herbert Maxwell (age 61) Baronet. Glasgow. James Maclehose & Sons. Publishers to the University. 1907.

At this same time Robert de Brus (age 31), Earl of Carrick, who retained a strong following through kinsmanship and alliance, always hoping for the establishment of his claim of succession to the realm of Scotland, on the 4th of the kalends of February [29 Jan 1306] in the year of grace 1306 sent his two brothers, Thomas and Neil, from Lochmaben to Dalswinton to John Comyn, begging that he would meet him [Robert] at Dumfries [Map] at the [church of the] Minorite Friars, so that they might have a conversation. Now he had plotted with his two brothers aforesaid that they should kill the said John Comyn on the way. But they were received in such a friendly manner by the said John Comyn that they could not bring themselves to do him any harm, but agreed between themselves that their brother himself might do his best. The said John Comyn, suspecting no ill, set out with the two brothers of the said Robert de Brus in order to speak with him [Robert] at Dumfries, went to the Friars [Church] where he found the said Robert, who came to meet him and led him to the high altar. The two brothers of the said Robert told him secretly — 'Sir,' they said, 'he gave us such a fair reception, and with such generous gifts, and won upon us so much by his frankness, that we could by no means do him an injury.' — 'See!' quoth he, 'you are right lazy: let me settle with him.'

The said Robert caused himself to be crowned as King of Scotland at Scone on the feast of the Annunciation of Our Lady¹ by the Countess of Buchan, because of the absence of her son, who at that time was living at his manor of Whitwick near Leicester, to whom the duty of crowning the Kings of Scotland belonged by inheritance, in the absence of the Earl of Fife², who at that time was in ward of the King in England. The said Countess this same year was captured by the English and taken to Berwick, and by command of King Edward of England was placed in a little wooden chamber³ in a tower of the castle of Berwick with sparred sides, that all might look in from curiosity.

Note 1. 25th March, whereas the coronation actually took place on 29th March, 1306.

Note 2. It was the hereditary office of the Earls of Fife. The Countess of Buchan was sister to the Earl of Fife, who at that time, like her husband, was in the English interest.

Note 3. Mesounceaux de fust.

[07 Nov 1306]. The Earl of Athol (age 40), forasmuch as he was cousin of the King of England, [being] the son of Maud of Dover [great grand-daughter of King John] his [Edward's] aunt, was sent to London, and, because he was of the blood royal, was hanged on a gallows thirty feet higher than the others.

In the same year¹ the King made his son Edward, Prince of Wales, a knight at Westminster, with a great number of other noble young men of his realm, and sent him with a great force to Scotland with all these new knights. Thomas Earl of Lancaster and Humfrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford, passing through the mountains of Scotland, invested the castle of Kildrummie and gained it, in which castle were found Christopher de Seton with his wife, the sister of Robert de Brus, who, as an English renegade, was sent to Dumfries and there hanged, drawn and decapitated, where he had before this caused to be slain a knight, appointed sheriff of a district for the King of England.² The Bishops of Glasgow and St. Andrews and the Abbot of Scone were taken in the same season and sent to ward in England.

Note 1. A.D. 1306.

Note 2. There seems to be some confusion here between Sir Christopher de Seton, who certainly was hanged at Dumfries, as his brother Sir Alexander was at Newcastle, and John de Seton, also hanged at Newcastle, for having captured Tibbers Castle in Dumfriesshire, and making captive Sir Richard de Siward, Sheriff of that county.

Piers de Gaveston was accused before the King of divers crimes and vices, which rendered him unfit company for the King's son, wherefore he was exiled and outlawed.

In the year of Grace 1306 King Edward having come to Dunfermline, his son Edward Prince of Wales returned from beyond the mountains, and lay with a great army at the town of Perth. Meanwhile, Robert de Brus having landed from the Isles and collected round him a mob in the defiles of Athol, sent a messenger having a safe conduct to come and treat, to arrange for a treaty of peace with the said son of the king. He came to the bridge of the town of Perth, and began negociation in order to ascertain whether he could not find grace, which parley was reported to the King at Dunfermline on the morrow.¹

Note 1. his is an error. King Edward did not cross the Border in 1306, but remained ill in the North of England. Bruce landed at Turnberry in February or March, 1306-7, but there is no evidence to confirm Gray's statement that he attempted to open negociations.

He was almost mad when he heard of the negociation and demanded:

"Who has been so bold as to attempt treating with our traitors without our knowledge?" and would not hear speak of it.

Him also he [Brus] pursued to the castle of Ayr, and there besieged him until the English army came to his rescue, which [army] reduced the said Robert de Brus to such distress¹ that he went afoot through the mountains, and from isle to isle, and at the same time in such plight as that occasionally he had nobody with him. For, as the chronicles of his actions testify, he came at this time to a passage between two islands all alone, and when he was in the boat with two seamen they asked him for news — whether he had heard nothing about what had become of Robert de Brus. 'Nothing whatever' quoth he. 'Sure,' said they, 'would that we had hold of him at this moment, so that he might die by our hands!' 'And why?' enquired he. 'Because he murdered our lord John Comyn,' [said they]. They put him ashore where they had agreed to do, when he said to them: 'Good sirs, you were wishing that you had hold of Robert de Brus — behold me here if that pleases you; and were it not that you had done me the courtesy to set me across this narrow passage, you should have had your wish.' So he went on his way, exposed to perils such as these.²

Note 1. Enboterent le dlt Robert de Bruys a tlel meschef i.e. They would bring him, said Robert de Bruys, to such a mischief.

Note 2. All this was antecedent to the Battle of Loudoun Hill.