by G. A. Henty
Chapter XI
Robert The Bruce
At the last great invasion by Edward, Archie did not take the field,seeing that Comyn, in despair of opposing so vast a host, did notcall out the levies. Upon the approach of the English army underthe Prince of Wales he called the whole of his tenants into thecastle. Great stores of provisions had already been collected. Thewomen and children were sent away up into the hills, where provisionshad also been garnered, and the old men and boys accompanied them.As the Prince of Wales passed north, bands from his army spreadingover the country destroyed every house in the district. Archie wassummoned to surrender, but refused to do so; and the prince, beingon his way to join his father on the Forth, after himself surveyingthe hold, and judging it far too strong to be carried withouta prolonged siege, marched forward, promising on his return todestroy it. Soon afterwards Archie received a message that Wallacehad returned. He at once took with him fifty men, and leaving thecastle in charge of Sandy Graham, with the rest of his vassals, twohundred and fifty in number, he rejoined his former leader. Manyothers gathered round Wallace's standard; and throughout Edward'smarch to the north and his return to the Forth Wallace hung uponhis flanks, cutting off and slaying great numbers of the marauders,and striking blows at detached bands wherever these were in numbersnot too formidable to be coped with.
Stirling was now the only great castle which remained in the handsof the Scotch, and King Edward prepared to lay siege to this. Savefor the band of Wallace there was no longer any open resistance inthe field. A few holds like those of Archie Forbes still remainedin the hands of their owners, their insignificance, or the timewhich would be wasted in subduing them, having protected them fromsiege. None of the nobles now remained in arms.
Bruce had for a short time taken the field; but had, as usual,hastened to make his peace with Edward. Comyn and all his adherentssurrendered upon promise of their lives and freedom, and that theyshould retain their estates, subject to a pecuniary fine. All thenobles of Scotland were included in this capitulation, save a fewwho were condemned to suffer temporary banishment. Sir WilliamWallace alone was by name specially exempted from the surrender.
Stirling Castle was invested on the 20th of April, 1304, and forseventy days held out against all the efforts of Edward's army.Warlike engines of all kinds had been brought from England forthe siege. The religious houses of St. Andrews, Brechin, and otherchurches were stripped of lead for the engines. The sheriffs ofLondon, Lincoln, York, and the governor of the Tower were orderedto collect and forward all the mangonels, quarrels, and bows andarrows they could gather; and for seventy days missiles of allkinds, immense stones, leaden balls, and javelins were rained uponthe castle; and Greek fire--a new and terrible mode of destruction--wasalso used in the siege. But it was only when their provisionsand other resources were exhausted that the garrison capitulated;and it was found that the survivors of the garrison which haddefended Stirling Castle for upwards of three months against thewhole force of England numbered, including its governor, Sir WilliamOliphant, and twenty-four knights and gentlemen, but a hundred andtwenty soldiers, two monks, and thirteen females.
During the siege Wallace had kept the field, but Archie had, athis request, returned to his castle, which being but a day's marchfrom Stirling, might at any moment be besieged. Several times,indeed, parties appeared before it, but Edward's hands were toofull, and he could spare none of the necessary engines to undertakesuch a siege; and when Stirling at length fell he and his armywere in too great haste to return to England to undertake anotherprolonged siege, especially as Aberfilly, standing in a retiredposition, and commanding none of the principal roads, was a holdof no political importance.
A short time afterwards, to Archie's immense grief, Sir WilliamWallace was betrayed into the hands of the English. SeveralScotchmen took part in this base act, the principal being Sir JohnMenteith. Late historians, in their ardour to whitewash those whohave for ages been held up to infamy, have endeavoured to show thatSir John Menteith was not concerned in the matter; but the evidenceis overwhelming the other way. Scotch opinion at the time, andfor generations afterwards, universally imputed the crime to him.Fordun, who wrote in the reign of Robert Bruce, Bowyer, and Langtoft,all Scotch historians, say that it was he who betrayed Wallace, andtheir account is confirmed by contemporary English writings. TheChronicle of Lanercost, the Arundel MSS., written about the year1320, and the Scala Chronica, all distinctly say that Wallace wasseized by Sir John Menteith; and finally, Sir Francis Palgrave hasdiscovered in the memoranda of the business of the privy councilthat forty marks were bestowed upon the young man who spied outWallace, sixty marks were divided among some others who assistedin his capture, and that to Sir John Menteith was given land ofthe annual value of one hundred pounds--a very large amount inthose days.
The manner in which Wallace was seized is uncertain; but he was atonce handed by Sir John Menteith to Sir John Seagrave, and carriedby him to London. He was taken on horseback to Westminster, themayor, sheriffs, and aldermen, with a great number of horse andfoot, accompanying him. There the mockery of a trial was held,and he was in one day tried, condemned, and executed. He defendedhimself nobly, urging truly that, as a native born Scotsman, hehad never sworn fealty or allegiance to England, and that he wasperfectly justified in fighting for the freedom of his country.
Every cruelty attended his execution. He was drawn through thestreets at the tails of horses; he was hung for some time by ahalter, but was taken down while yet alive; he was mutilated anddisembowelled, his head then cut off, his body divided in four,his head impaled over London Bridge, and his quarters distributedto four principal towns in Scotland. Such barbarities were commonat executions in the days of the Norman kings, who have beendescribed by modern writers as chivalrous monarchs.
A nobler character than Wallace is not to be found in history. Alone,a poor and landless knight, by his personal valour and energy hearoused the spirit of his countrymen, and in spite of the oppositionof the whole of the nobles of his country banded the people inresistance against England, and for a time wrested all Scotland fromthe hands of Edward. His bitter enemies the English were unable toadduce any proofs that the epithets of ferocious and bloodthirsty,with which they were so fond of endowing him, had even a shadowof foundation, and we may rather believe the Scotch accounts thathis gentleness and nobility of soul were equal to his valour. Ofhis moderation and wisdom when acting as governor of Scotland therecan be no doubt, while the brilliant strategy which first won thebattle of Stirling, and would have gained that of Falkirk had notthe treachery and cowardice of the cavalry ruined his plans, showthat under other circumstances he would have taken rank as one ofthe greatest commanders of his own or any age.
He first taught his countrymen, and indeed Europe in general, thatsteady infantry can repel the assaults even of mailclad cavalry.The lesson was followed at Bannockburn by Bruce, who won underprecisely the same circumstances as those under which Wallace hadbeen defeated, simply because at the critical moment he had 500horse at hand to charge the disordered mass of the English, whileat Falkirk Wallace's horse, who should have struck the blow, weregalloping far away from the battlefield. Nor upon his Englishconquerors was the lesson lost, for at Cressy, when attacked byvastly superior numbers, Edward III dismounted his army, and orderedthem to fight on foot, and the result gave a death blow to thatmailed chivalry which had come to be regarded as the only forceworth reckoning in a battle. The conduct of Edward to Wallace,and later to many other distinguished Scotchmen who fell into hishands, is a foul blot upon the memory of one of the greatest ofthe kings of England.
Edward might now well have believed that Scotland was crushed forever. In ten years no less than twelve great armies had marchedacross the Border, and twice the whole country had been ravagedfrom sea to sea, the last time so effectually, that Edward hadgood ground for his belief that the land would never again raiseits head from beneath his foot.
He now proceeded, as William of Normandy after
Hastings had done,to settle his conquest, and appointed thirty-one commissioners, ofwhom twenty-one were English and ten so called Scotch, among themSir John Menteith, to carry out his ordinances. All the places ofstrength were occupied by English garrisons. The high officers anda large proportion of the justiciaries and sheriffs were English,and Edward ruled Scotland from Westminster as he did England.
Among the commissioners was Robert Bruce, now through the deathof his father, Lord of Annandale and Carrick; and Edward addresseda proclamation to him, headed, "To our faithful and loyal Robertde Bruce, Earl of Carrick, and all others who are in his company,greeting;" and went on to say that he possessed the king's fullestconfidence. But though Scotland lay prostrate, the spirit ofresistance yet lingered in the hearts of the commonalty. Althoughconquered now the memory of their past success still inspired them,but until some leader presented himself none could stir. It was inAugust that Wallace had been executed. Archie had received severalsummonses from the English governors of Stirling and Lanark tocome in and do homage to Edward, but he had resolutely declined,and the task of capturing his castle was too heavy a one tobe undertaken by any single garrison; still he saw that the timemust come, sooner or later, when he would have to choose betweensurrender and death. When matters settled down it was certain thata great effort would be made to root out the one recalcitrant southof the Forth. For some time he remained gloomy and thoughtful,a mood most unusual to him, and his mother, who was watching himanxiously, was scarcely surprised when one day he said to her:
"Mother, I must leave you for a time. Matters can no longer continueas they are. Surrender to the English I will not, and there remainsfor me but to defend this castle to the last, and then to escapeto France; or to cross thither at once, and enter the service ofthe French king, as did Wallace. Of these courses I would fain takethe latter, seeing that the former would bring ruin and death uponour vassals, who have ever done faithful service when called upon,and whom I would not see suffer for my sake. In that case I shouldpropose that you should return and live quietly with Sir RobertGordon until times change."
Dame Forbes agreed with her son, for she had long felt that furtherresistance would only bring ruin upon him.
"There is yet one other course, mother, and that I am about to take;it is well nigh a desperate one, and my hopes of success are small,yet would I attempt it before I leave Scotland and give Aberfillyback again to the Kerrs. Ask me not what it is, for it were bestthat if it fail you should not know of it. There is no danger inthe enterprise, but for a month I shall be absent. On my returnyou shall hear my final resolve."
Having attired himself as a lowland farmer, Archie proceeded toEdinburgh, and there took ship for London; here he took lodgingsat an inn, which he had been told in Edinburgh was much frequentedby Scotchmen who had to go to London on business. His first carewas to purchase the garments of an English gentleman of moderatemeans, so that he could pass through the streets without attractingattention.
He was greatly impressed with the bustle and wealth of London.
"It is wonderful," he said to himself, "that we Scots, who wereafter all but an army of peasants, could for nigh ten years havesupported a war against such a country as this, and it seems madnessto adventure farther in that way. If my present errand fails I willassuredly hold firm to my resolve and seek a refuge in France."
Archie ascertained that Robert the Bruce lodged at Westminster,and that great gaieties were taking place at the court for joy atthe final termination of hostilities with Scotland, now secured bythe execution of Wallace. He despatched a letter to the earl bya messenger from the inn, saying that one who had formerly knownhim in Scotland desired earnestly to speak to him on matters ofgreat import, and begging him to grant a private interview with himat his lodging at as early an hour as might be convenient to him.The man returned with a verbal reply, that the earl would see thewriter at his lodging at nine o'clock on the following morning.
At the appointed time Archie presented himself at the house inhabitedby Bruce. To the request of the earl's retainer for his name andbusiness he replied that his name mattered not, but that he hadreceived a message from the earl appointing him a meeting at thathour.
Two minutes later he was ushered into the private cabinet of RobertBruce. The latter was seated writing, and looked up at his unknownvisitor.
"Do you remember me, Sir Robert Bruce?" Archie asked.
"Methinks I know your face, sir," the earl replied, "but I cannotrecall where I have seen it."
"It is five years since," Archie said, "and as that time has changedme from a youth into a man I wonder not that my face has escapedyou."
"I know you now!" the earl exclaimed, rising suddenly from hisseat. "You are Sir Archibald Forbes?"
"I am," Archie replied, "and I have come now on the same errand Icame then--the cause of our country. The English think she isdead, but, though faint and bleeding, Scotland yet lives; but thereis one man only who can revive her, and that man is yourself."
"Your mission is a vain one," Bruce replied. "Though I honour you,Sir Archibald, for your faith and constancy; though I would givemuch, ay all that I have, were my record one of as true patriotismand sacrifice as yours, yet it were madness to listen to you. HaveI not," he asked bitterly, "earned the hatred of my countrymen?Have I not three times raised my standard only to lower it againwithout striking a blow? Did I not fight by Edward at the fieldof Falkirk? Ah!" he said in a changed tone, "never shall I forgetthe horror which I felt as I passed over the field strewn withScottish corpses. Truly my name must be loathed in Scotland; andyet, Sir Archibald, irresolute and false as I have hitherto provedmyself, believe me, I love Scotland, the land of my mother."
"I believe you, sir," Archie said, "and it is therefore that Iimplore you to listen to me. You are now our only possible leader,our only possible king. Baliol is a captive at Rome, his son a courtierof Edward. Wallace is dead. Comyn proved weak and incapable, andwas unable to rally the people to offer any opposition to Edward'slast march. Scotland needs a leader strong and valiant as Wallace,capable of uniting around him a large body, at least, of the Scotchnobles, and having some claim to her crown. You know not, sir, howdeep is the hatred of the English. The last terrible incursion ofEdward has spread that feeling far and wide, and while before it wasbut in a few counties of the lowlands that the flame of resistancereally burnt, this time, believe me, that all Scotland, save perhapsthe Comyns and their adherents, would rise at the call. I say notthat success would at once attend you, for, forgive me for sayingso, the commonalty would not at first trust you; but when they sawthat you were fighting for Scotland as well as for your own crown,that you had, by your action, definitely and for ever broken withthe English, and had this time entered heart and soul into the cause,I am sure they would not hold back. Your own vassals of Carrick andAnnandale are a goodly array in themselves and the young Douglasmight be counted on to bring his dalesmen to your banner. Thereare all the lords who have favoured your cause, and so stood alooffrom Comyn. You will have a good array to commence with; but aboveall, even if unsuccessful at first, all Scotland would come intime to regard you as her king and champion. Resistance will nevercease, for even Wallace was ever able to assemble bands and makehead against the English, so will it be with you, until at lastfreedom is achieved, and you will reign a free king over a freeScotland, and your name will be honoured to all time as the championand deliverer of our country. Think not, sir," he went on earnestlyas Bruce paced up and down the little room, "that it is too late.Other Scotchmen, Fraser and many others, who have warred in theEnglish ranks, have been joyfully received when at length theydrew sword for Scotland. Only do you stand forth as our champion,believe me, that the memory of former weakness will be forgottenin the admiration of present patriotism."
For two or three minutes Bruce strode up and down the room; thenhe paused before Archie.
"By heavens," he said, "I will do it! I am not so sanguine as you,I do not believe that success can ever finally a
ttend the enterprise,but, be that as it may, I will attempt it, win or die. The memoryof Robert Bruce shall go down in the hearts of Scotchmen as onewho, whatever his early errors, atoned for them at last by livingand dying in her cause. My sisters and brothers have long urged meto take such a step, but I could never bring myself to brave thepower of England. Your words have decided me. The die is cast.Henceforward Robert Bruce is a Scotchman. And now, Sir Archibald,what think you my first step should be?"
"The English in Scotland are lulled in security, and a sudden blowupon them will assuredly at first be wholly successful. You mustwithdraw suddenly and quietly from here."
"It is not easy to do so," Bruce replied. "Although high in favourwith Edward, he has yet some suspicions of me--not," he saidbitterly, "without just cause--and would assuredly arrest me didhe know that I were going north. My only plan will be to appearat court as usual, while I send down relays of horses along thenorthern road. You will ride with me, Sir Archie, will you not?But I must tell you that I have already, in some degree, preparedfor a movement in Scotland. Comyn and I have met and have talkedover the matter. Our mutual claims to the crown stood in the way,but we have agreed that one shall yield to the other, and thatwhoso takes the crown shall give all his lands to be the propertyof the other, in consideration of his waiving his claim and givinghis support. This we have agreed to, and have signed a mutual bondto that effect, and though it is not so writ down we have furtheragreed that I shall have the crown and that Comyn shall take Carrickand Annandale; but this was for the future, and we thought not ofany movement for the present."
"It were a bad bargain, sir," Archie said gravely; "and one that Itrust will never be carried out. The Comyns are even now the mostpowerful nobles in Scotland, and with Carrick and Annandale inaddition to their own broad lands, would be masters of Scotland,let who would be called her king. Did he displease them, theycould, with their vassals and connections, place a stronger armyin the field than that which the king could raise; and could at anymoment, did he anger them, call in the English to his aid, and soagain lay Scotland under the English yoke."
"I will think of it, Sir Archie. There is much in what you say, andI sorely doubt the Comyns. Henceforth do not fear to give me youradvice freely. You possessed the confidence of Wallace, and haveshown yourself worthy of it. Should I ever free Scotland and winme a kingdom, believe me you will not find Robert Bruce ungrateful.I will give orders tomorrow for the horses to be privatelysent forward, so that at any hour we can ride if the moment seempropitious; meanwhile I pray you to move from the hostelry in thecity, where your messenger told me you were staying, to one closeat hand, in order that I may instantly communicate with you in caseof need. I cannot ask you to take up your abode here, for thereare many Scotchmen among my companions who might know your face,or who, not knowing, might make inquiry of me as to your family;but among the crowd of strangers who on some business or other atthe court throng the inns of the city of Westminster, one figuremore or less would excite neither question nor comment."
That afternoon Archie took up his abode at Westminster. A weeklater one of Bruce's retainers came in just as Archie was about toretire to bed, and said that the Earl of Carrick wished immediatelyto see Master Forbes. Sir Archie had retained his own name whiledropping the title. He at once crossed, to Bruce's lodging.
"We must mount at once!" the earl exclaimed as he entered. "Whatthink you? I have but now received word from a friend, who isa member of the council, to say that this afternoon a messengerarrived from the false Comyn with a letter to the king, containinga copy of the bond between us. Whether the coward feared theconsequences, or whether he has all along acted in treachery withthe view of bringing me into disgrace, and so ridding himself ofa rival, I know not; but the result is the same, he has disclosedour plans to Edward. A council was hastily called, and it has butjust separated. It is to meet again in the morning, and the kinghimself will be present. I am to be summoned before it, being, asit is supposed, in ignorance of the betrayal of my plans. It waswell for me that Edward himself had pressing engagements, and wasunable to be present at the council. Had he been, prompt steps wouldhave been taken, and I should by this time be lying a prisoner inthe Tower. Even now I may be arrested at any moment. Have you aughtfor which you wish to return to your inn?"
"No," Archie replied. "I have but a change of clothing there, whichis of no importance, and we had best lose not a moment's time. Butthere is the reckoning to discharge."
"I will give orders," the earl said, "that it shall be dischargedin the morning. Now let us without a moment's delay make to thestables and mount there. Here is a cloak and valise."
The earl struck a bell, and a retainer appeared.
"Allan, I am going out to pay a visit. Take these two valises tothe stable at once, and order Roderick to saddle the two bay horsesin the stalls at the end of the stables. Tell him to be speedy, forI shall be with him anon. He is not bring them round here. I willmount in the court."
Five minutes later Bruce and Archie, enveloped in thick cloakswith hoods drawn over their faces, rode north from Westminster. Atfirst they went slowly, but as soon as they were out in the fieldsthey set spur to their horses and galloped on in the darkness.
The snow lay thick upon the ground, and the roads were entirelydeserted.
"Farewell to London!" Bruce exclaimed. "Except as a prisoner Ishall never see it again. The die is cast this time, Sir Archie,and for good; even if I would I can never draw back again. Comyn'streachery has made my action irrevocable--it is now indeed deathor victory!"
All night they rode without drawing rein, save that they oncechanged horses where a relay had been provided. They had littlefear of pursuit, for even when Bruce's absence was discovered noneof his household would be able to say where he had gone, and sometime must elapse before the conviction that he had ridden forScotland, in such weather, would occur to the king. Nevertheless,they travelled fast, and on the 10th of February entered Dumfries.