Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, page 29
A few days later on 7 June 1329, a little short of his fifty-fifth birthday, Robert Bruce, King of Scots, died. When he had been embalmed his heart was taken out* and given to Sir James Douglas, and his body carried in a funeral procession of great splendour to Dunfermline Abbey and buried in the choir near to his Queen Elizabeth and among the former kings and queens of Scotland. ‘And when his people knew that King Robert was dead, the sound of sorrow went from place to place.’39
NOTES - CHAPTER 17
1 Lanercost, 248, 249
2 ibid., 250, 251
3 Dickinson, 135–6
4 Walsingham, 184, 185
5 Lanercost, 256
6 ibid., 257
7 Walsingham, 189
8 Barbour, 332
9 Cal. Doc. Scots, iii, 907
10 ibid., iii, 914
11 ibid., iii, 922
12 Barbour, 334
13 ibid., 339
14 Le Bel, 34–40
15 ibid., 47
16 ibid., 52–8
17 Cal. Doc. Scots, iii, 936
18 Le Bel, 59–63
19 Froissart, 65
20 Barbour, 341
21 ibid., 343, 344
22 ibid., 345–8
23 Lanercost, 258
24 Nicholson, 119
25 Barbour, 350
26 Nicholson, 119
27 Stones, 317–21
28 ibid., 323–5; Lanercost, 261, 262
29 ibid., S.H.R., xxix, 48
30 ibid., S.H.R., xxviii, 125
31 Dunbar, 139
32 Stones, 329–41
33 Nicholson, S.H.R., xlii, 34–8
34 Barbour, 353
35 Barrow, 438, 439
36 Barbour, 355
37 ibid., 356
38 ibid., 357
39 ibid., 357, 358
* cf note XI
* cf note XII
EPILOGUE
Douglas had a casket made of silver and enamel and in it he placed the heart of Robert Bruce and carried it always on a chain about his neck.1
Early in the spring of 1330, he set sail from Berwick in a ship fitted out in royal state so that all might know he was the bearer of the heart of Robert, King of Scotland, and on his way to lay it in the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. He had on board six knights, linked in friendship, neighbouring landowners from the Stewart domains: Sir William Sinclair of Roslyn, Sir Robert and Sir Walter Logan, Sir William Keith, Sir Alan Cathcart and Sir Seymour Loccard of Lee, and one other knight unnamed. Twenty-six squires and gentlemen were there to serve them.2
Their first port of call was Sluys in Flanders. Here Douglas remained twelve days, entertaining liberally on gold and silver plate and letting it be known that any who wished to fight in the Holy Land were welcome to join his company. He then sailed in rough seas around the coast of Spain and up the Guadalquiver River to drop anchor in the city of Seville.
When Alfonso XI, King of Castile and Leon, heard that he had arrived he came to greet him and offer him hospitality, and many foreign and especially English knights who had flocked to Spain to war against the Moors called at his lodgings to give him welcome, for his military prowess was acknowledged above all others throughout the camps of Europe.3
Douglas and his company rested for a while at Seville after the hardships of their stormy voyage, but in March the Moorish King of Granada advanced against the city and the King of Castile and Leon marshalled his forces to meet him. He asked Douglas to lead the vanguard and placed under his command all the foreign knights.4 On 25 March, at Zebas de Ardales, the armies came face to face.
Douglas gave the order to charge and both sides became locked in battle. But the Saracens employed a ruse with which Douglas was not acquainted. Suddenly they turned their horses and fled, pursued by the Christians. Douglas and ten of his followers had drawn far ahead of the vanguard when the Saracens sharply checked and swung round to encircle them. Douglas turned too and might have escaped through the gap, but saw that Sir William Sinclair had been overtaken. With the two knights who were beside him – Sir Robert and Sir Walter Logan – Douglas turned yet again to rescue his comrade. In a moment they were surrounded by a multitude of Moors and, fighting desperately, were all cut down.5
The rest of the vanguard were now approaching, and the Saracens once more wheeled round their horses and galloped from the field, leaving the four knights dead upon the ground. The heart of Robert Bruce within its casket was found still chained about the neck of Douglas and, according to the tradition of the Cathcart family, was taken up by Sir Alan Cathcart.
The body of Douglas was brought to his cousin, Sir William Keith, who had been prevented from taking part in the battle by a broken arm.6 After having the body boiled so that the flesh parted from the bones, the flesh was buried in holy ground and the bones placed on shipboard.7 Then Sir William Keith, in command of the remaining Scotsmen, sailed for home, and when they had made landfall, the heart of Bruce was carried to the Abbey of Melrose and interred with great reverence, and the bones of Douglas were buried in the Kirk of Douglas.8
Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, the last of the great captains, had taken over the government of Scotland on the death of Bruce, as regent for the young King, David II. Three years later he, too, was dead.
Within two years of Randolph’s death Edward III disavowed the Treaty of Edinburgh on the grounds that he had been under age when he signed it. Warfare between England and Scotland began again and continued intermittently for the next four hundred years. The Scots suffered many defeats since their bravery was seldom equalled by their generalship. But never again was there the possibility of their becoming a subject race. Robert Bruce had forged a nation and his victory at Bannockburn had given to his people a self-confidence which never deserted them however serious their reverses.
Scots wha hae with Wallace bled
Scots wham Bruce has aften led
Welcome to your gory bed
Or to victorie.9
NOTES - EPILOGUE
1 Barbour, 359
2 Cathcart MSS
3 Barbour, 360
4 ibid., 361
5 ibid., 362, 363
6 ibid., 364
7 ibid., 366
8 ibid., 366, 367
9 Robert Burns
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary
RECORDS
A.P.S. Acts of Parliament of Scotland, ed. T. Thomson and C. Innes (1814–1875)
Cal. Doc. Scots Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, ed. J. Bain (1881–8)
Dickinson A Source Book of Scottish History, Vol. I, ed. W.C. Dickinson, G. Donaldson, Isabella A. Milne
Foedera Foedera, Conventiones, Literae, ed. T. Rymer, 3rd edn (The Hague, 1739–45)
Palgrave Documents and Records illustrating the History of Scotland, ed. F. Palgrave (1837)
Rotuli Scotiae Rotuli Scotiae, ed. D. Macpherson and others (1814-1819)
Stevenson Documents illustrative of the History of Scotland, ed. J. Stevenson (1870)
Stones Anglo-Scottish Relations 1174–1328, ed. E. L. G. Stones (Nelson, 1964)
CHRONICLES
Barbour The Brus, J. Barbour, ed. and tr. G. Eyre Todd (1907)
Flores Historiarum Flores Historiarum by Mathew of Westminster, tr. C. D. Yonge (1853)
Fordun Scotichronicon, John of Fordun, tr. F. S. H. Skene, ed. W. F. Skene (1872)
Froissart Chroniques de Froissart, Vol I., ed. Simeon Luce (Paris, 1869)
Guisborough The Chronicle of Walter Guisborough, ed. H. Rothwell (1957)
Lanercost The Chronicle of Lanercost, tr. Sir Herbert Maxwell Bt (1913)
Langtoft English Historical Documents, Vol. III, Pierre Langtoft, pp. 230–265
Le Bel Les Vraies Chroniques de Messire Jehan Le Bel, ed. L. Poulain (Brussels, 1863)
Mathew Paris Chronica Majora, ed. Luard. Rolls Series
Pluscarden Liber Pluscardiensis, ed. F. H. Skene (1880)
Rishanger Chronica Willelmi Rishanger, ed. Η. Τ. Riley (1865)
Scalaronica Scalaronica, Sir Thomas Gray, tr. Sir Herbert Maxwell Bt (1907)
Song of Lewes Song of Lewes, ed. and tr. C. A. Kingsford (1890)
Vita Edwardii Vita Edwardii Secundi Monachi by the Monk of Malmesbury, tr. N. Denholm-Young
Walsingham Historia Anglicana, Thomas Walsingham, Vol. I, ed. Η. Τ. Riley (1863).
Wyntoun Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland, Andrew Wyntoun, ed. D. Laing (1872–9)Secondary
Secondary
Balfour Paul The Scots Peerage, Sir J. Balfour Paul (1904–14)
Barron The Scottish War of Independence, 2nd edn, Ε. Μ. Barron (1934)
Barrow Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland, 2nd edn, Professor G. W. S. Barrow (Edinburgh University Press, 1976)
Bingham Edward II, Caroline Bingham (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1973)
Burton History of Scotland, Vol. II, J. H. Burton, 2nd edn (1873)
Christison Bannockbum. The Story of the Battle, General Sir Philip Christison Bt G.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., M.C., D.L., B.A., F.S.A. Scot. and I. Cameron Taylor (Scottish National Trust, 1962)
Dunbar Scottish Kings: a revised Chronology of Scottish History, A. H. Dunbar (1906)
Duncan The Nation of Scots and the Declaration of Arbroath, Professor Α. Α. Μ. Duncan (Historical Association, 1970)
E.H.R. English Historical Review
Frame Irish Historical Studies, Vol. XIX, 4–36, Robin Frame
Hailes Annals of Scotland from Accession of Malcolm III to the Restoration of James I, Lord Hailes (1819)
Hay Europe in the 14th and 15th Centuries, Denys Hay (Longman, 1970)
Howard War in European History, Michael Howard (Oxford University Press, 1976)
Jenkins The Mystery of King Arthur, Elizabeth Jenkins (New York, 1977)
Lucas The Great European Famine 1315–1317, H. S. Lucas (Speculum 30, 1930)
Lydon The Bruce Invasion of Ireland, J. F. Lydon Historical Studies, Vol. IV, 115–119
MacKay Robert Bruce, King of Scots, James A. MacKay (Robert Hale, 1974)
Mackenzie Robert Bruce, King of Scots, A.M. MacKenzie (1934)
Nicholson Scotland. The Later Middle Ages, Ranald Nicholson (Edinburgh University Press, 1974)
Powicke The Thirteenth Century 1216–1307, F. M. Powicke (1953)
Ramsay Dawn of the Constitution 1216–1307, Sir James Ramsay (1908)
Scott Tales of a Grandfather, Vol. I, Sir Walter Scott (1828)
S.H.R. Scottish Historical Review
Tout Edward I, T. F. Tout (1872)
Tytler The History of Scotland, Vol. I, P. F. Tytler (1887)
REFERENCES
Part One
CHAPTER 1
1 Dunbar,98
2 ibid., 99
3 Lanercost, 40
4 Guisborough, 275
5 Fordun, 295
6 Lanercost, 156
7 Mathew Paris, 93
8 Howard, 2–4
9 Wyntoun, 266
CHAPTER 2
1 Barrow,37
2 Balfour Paul, 433–4
3 ibid., 428–30
4 Palgrave, 29
5 Stones, 79
6 Lanercost, 111-12
7 ibid., 112–13
8 MacKay, 19
9 Barrow, 38
10 Pluscarden, 194
11 Jenkins, 105
12 ibid., 98
CHAPTER 3
1 Lanercost, 40–42
2 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 292; Stevenson, i, 4
3 Palgrave, 42
4 Fordun, 305
5 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 305; Stevenson, i,21
6 Song of Lewes, 42
7 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 293; Stevenson, i, 22
8 ibid., ii, 298; ibid., i, 35
9 Palgrave, 42
10 Stevenson, i, 22
11 Lanercost, 59
12 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 386, 388
13 Dickinson, 105–7
14 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 392; Stevenson, i, in
15 ibid., ii, 416
16 ibid., ii, 464
17 Dickinson, 107–9
18 Stevenson, i, 162
19 ibid., i, 172
20 Dunbar, 416
CHAPTER 4
1 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 459; Dickinson, 109–10
2 ibid., ii, 465; Stones, 89
3 Lanercost, 77
4 Rishanger, 121
5 Pluscarden, 88
6 Cal. Doc Scots, ii, 473, 474
7 ibid., ii, 480; Stevenson, i, 228
8 Rishanger, 241
9 ibid., 242
10 Stones, 107
11 Rishanger, 245
12 Stones, 113
13 Cal. Doc Scots, ii, 485
14 ibid., ii, 516
15 Pluscarden, 95
16 ibid., 97
17 Fordun, 308
18 A.P.S., i, 449
19 Rishanger, 274–80
20 ibid., 309–16
21 Stones, 110–25
22 Fordun, 309
23 Rishanger, 363
24 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 650
25 Rotuli Scotiae, i, 12a
26 Stones, 127–9
27 Rishanger, 371
28 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 660
29 ibid., ii, 658
30 Stones, 131–3
31 Rishanger, 372
32 Cal. Doc. Scots, 720
33 Lanercost, 77
34 Stevenson, ii, 23
35 Barrow, 92
36 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 635
37 ibid., ii, 716
38 ibid., ii, 675
39 Dunbar, 127
40 Fordun, 317
41 Guisborough, 270
42 ibid., 271–2; Lanercost, 134
43 Lanercost, 115
44 Palgrave, 149
45 Stevenson, ii, 25
46 Rishanger, 375
47 Stevenson, ii, 37
48 Stones, 141
49 Fordun, 317
50 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 742; Stevenson, ii, 26
51 Stevenson, ii, 26–8
52 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 840
53 ibid., ii, 823
54 Fordun, 319
55 Stevenson, ii, 31
CHAPTER 5
1 Scalaronica, 17
2 Guisborough, 294
3 Cal. Doc Scots, ii, 742
4 ibid., ii, 922, 931
5 Scalaronica, 18
6 Guisborough, 295
7 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 357
8 Lanercost, 163
9 Stevenson, ii, 114, Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 852
10 Guisborough, 297–8
11 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 887
12 ibid., ii, 909; Stevenson, ii 192
13 ibid., ii, 910
14 Stevenson, ii, 205
15 Barrow, 120
16 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 917
17 Rishanger, 379
18 Guisborough, 297
19 ibid., 299
20 Barron, 33–57
21 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 972
22 Guisborough, 300
23 ibid., 300
24 Scalaronica, 19
25 ibid., 19
26 Rishanger, 180
27 Guisborough, 303
28 ibid., 307–8
29 Dickinson, 118
30 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1178
31 Guisborough, 299
32 Rishanger, 384
33 Guisborough, 303–7
34 Fordun, 323
35 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 984
36 Flores Historiarum, ii, 578
37 Guisborough, 324
38 ibid., 325
39 Rishanger, 386
40 Guisborough, 324
41 ibid., 326
42 ibid., 326–7
43 ibid., 327
44 Rishanger, 385
45 Guisborough, 327
46 ibid., 328, Fordun, 323
47 ibid., 328
48 Rishanger, 388
49 ibid., 388
CHAPTER 6
1 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1184
2 Barrow 147
3 ibid., 150
4 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1071
5 ibid., ii, 1978
6 ibid., ii, 1092, 1111
7 Rishanger, 402
8 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1109
9 Barrow, 158
10 Rishanger, 395
11 ibid., 440
12 Langtoft, 247
13 Rishanger, 440
14 ibid., 442; Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1147
15 ibid., 445
16 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1069
17 Stones, 163–75
18 Rishanger, 447
19 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1163
20 ibid., ii, 1193
21 Barrow, 161
22 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1191
23 ibid., ii, 1236, 1239
24 ibid., ii, 1235
25 ibid., ii, 1250
26 ibid., ii, 1269, 1282
27 S.H.R., xxxiv, 130–31
28 Barrow, 169
29 Stones, 237–9
30 Dunbar, 128
31 Pluscarden, ii, 169
32 Rishanger, 211
33 ibid., 211
34 ibid., 211
35 ibid., 213
36 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1375
37 Flores Historiarum, ii, 564
38 Palgrave, 279
39 ibid., 286–7
40 ibid., 287
41 Flores Historiarum, ii, 570
42 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1599
43 Palgrave, 276
44 Barrow, 193
45 ibid., 193
CHAPTER 7
1 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1691
2 ibid., ii, 1745
3 Barrow, 175
4 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1510; Stevenson, ii, 482
5 ibid., ii, 1495
6 ibid., ii, 1465
7 Barrow, 203; Langtoft, 262
8 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1708, 1736
9 ibid., ii, 1657
10 Barron, 176
11 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1493
12 ibid., ii, 1546
13 Flores Historiarum, ii, 572, 573
14 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1817
15 Fordun, 330; Barbour, 13
16 Cal. Doc. Scots, ii, 1691
17 ibid., ii, 1696
18 Pluscarden, 174; Fordun 331
19 ibid., 175
20 ibid., 175
