The Complete Kingdom Trilogy

by Robert Low

  BUCHAN, Earl of

  A powerful Comyn magnate, (the Red Comyn Lord of Badenoch was his cousin) he was the bitterest opponent of the Bruces. Robert Bruce finally overcame the Comyn, following the death of Edward I and a slackening of English pressure, in a campaign that viciously scorched the lands of Buchan and Badenoch in a virtual Scottish ethnic cleansing of Bruce’s rivals. Defeated and demoralised, the earl fled south and died in 1308.

  CLIFFORD, Sir Robert

  One of Edward I’s trusted commanders, he and Sir Henry Percy were given the task of subduing the initial Scottish revolt and negotiated Bruce and other rebel Scots nobles back into the ‘king’s peace’ in 1297, but could not overcome Wallace. Clifford also brought a retinue to fight at Falkirk which included knights from Cumbria and Scotland – one of the latter being a certain Sir Roger Kirkpatrick of Auchen Castle, Annandale, and the ‘real’ Kirkpatrick who murdered the Red Comyn.

  CRAW, Sim

  A semi-fictional character – Sim of Leadhouse is mentioned only once in history, as the inventor of the cunning scaling ladders with which James Douglas took Roxburgh by stealth in 1314. Here, he is Hal of Herdmanston’s right-hand man, older than Hal, powerfully built and favouring a big latchbow, a crossbow usually spanned (cocked) using a hook attached to a belt. He is strong enough to do it without the hook.

  CRESSINGHAM, Sir Hugh

  Appointed by Edward I as Lord Treasurer of Scotland, he was disliked by his English colleagues as an upstart and universally detested by the Scots, whom he taxed. His attempts to curtail the expense of the campaign of 1297 fatally compromised the English army at Stirling Bridge, where Cressingham himself was killed leading the Van. Famously, legend has it that he was flayed and strips of his skin were sent all over Scotland, one being made into a baldric for Wallace.

  DE FAUCIGNY, Manon

  Fictional character, a stone-carver from Savoy brought into a conspiracy from which he has subsequently fled. Now all factions are hunting him out for what they believe he knows.

  DE JAY, Sir Brian

  Master of the English Templars, he brought a force to Falkirk in the service of Edward I, thus pitting the Templar knights against fellow-Christians, to general odium. With Brother John de Sawtrey, commander of the Scottish Templars, he pursued Wallace into a thicket, where both Templar commanders were killed – the only ‘notable deaths’ in the entire affair according to the chroniclers.

  DE WARENNE, Sir John, Earl of Surrey

  Long-time friend and supporter of King Edward, De Warenne was already in his sixties when Edward appointed him ‘warden of the land of Scots’ and had served in the Welsh campaigns of 1277, 1282 and 1283. He hated Scotland, complaining that the climate did not suit him, and attempted to run the place from his estates in England. Finally forced to do something about the rebels, he brought an army to Stirling Bridge and was famously defeated. Fought again at Falkirk, commanding one of the four ‘hosts’ of heavy horse. He died, peacefully, in 1304.

  DOG BOY

  Fictional character, the lowest of the low, a houndsman in Douglas and of ages with the young James Douglas. Given to Hal as a gift by Eleanor Douglas to spite her stepson, the Dog Boy finds that service at a Herdmanston at war brings him to rub shoulders with the great and the good and invests him with a new stature he would not otherwise have enjoyed.

  DOUGLAS, James

  Son of The Hardy by his first wife, a Stewart, whom he simply sent off to a convent in order to marry his second, Eleanor de Lovaigne. After the death of ‘Le Hardi’, Eleanor and her two sons, James’s stepbrothers, were packed off south to a convent and the Douglas lands given to Clifford. James went to Paris under the auspices of Lamberton, Bishop of St Andrews. He returned as a young man just as Bruce became king and joined him, rising to become one of Robert the Bruce’s most trusted commanders.

  DOUGLAS, Sir William

  Lord of Douglas Castle in south-west Scotland, father of young James Douglas, later to be known both as The Black Douglas (if you were his enemy and demonising him with foul deeds) and The Good Sir James (if you were a Scot lauding the Kingdom’s darling hero). It is clear nicknames ran in the family – William was known as The Hardy (which simply means Bold) and was a typical warlord noble of Scotland. Sent to defend Berwick against Edward I in the campaign that brought John Balliol to his knees, William Douglas was finally forced to surrender and watch as Edward ravaged the town in a slaughter which became a watchword for the Scots and their later revenge. Douglas agreed to serve Edward I in his French wars, but absconded as soon as possible and joined Wallace’s rebellion. Taken into custody – in chains – after the convention of Irvine, he was imprisoned in the Tower and died of ‘mistreatment’ there not long after.

  DUNBAR, Earl Patrick

  The most powerful Baron of the Lothians, Dunbar was a staunch supporter of the Plantagenets right up until 1314, when it was clear he had to submit to Bruce or suffer. He is, technically, the lord to whom the Sientclers owe their fealty – and the one they continually defy by joining with the cause of the Scots. Together with Gilbert D’Umfraville, another lord with extensive holdings in Scotland, he brought the news of Wallace’s Falkirk location to Edward just when it seemed that the English would have to give up and retreat.

  EDWARD I

  King of England. At the time of this novel he has only recently conquered the Welsh and has a vision to become ruler of a united Britain before returning to his first love, a Crusade to free the Holy Land. He sees his chance to take over Scotland when the nobles come to him, as a respected monarch of Christendom, to adjudicate in their attempts to elect a new king of Scots from the many factions in the realm. His subsequent attempts to impose what he sees as his rights inveigle both realms in a long, vicious, expensive and bloody war that lasts for decades. Much maligned by Scots, for obvious reasons, he was beloved by the English, who were mournful about what would happen to their realm under his son, Edward II – and with good reason.

  GAVESTON, Piers

  Seen here briefly as a young squire at Falkirk, Gaveston was actually picked by Edward I as a suitable companion for his son, in an attempt to give the Prince some sort of benchmark for how to conduct himself with the dignity and honour of his station. This fatal error resulted in an unhealthy relationship between the two men which eventually brought both Edward II and his kingdom to ruin.

  KIRKPATRICK, Roger

  Fictional character, but based on the real Sir Roger Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, whom I have as kin to the fictional one. This is because my Kirkpatrick is a staunch Bruce supporter from the outset and the real Sir Roger was not – he even fought for Clifford in the English retinue at Falkirk. My Kirkpatrick assumes the mantle of Bruce’s henchman, prepared for any dirty work on behalf of his master’s advancement, including murder.

  LAMPRECHT

  Fictional character, a pardoner and seller of relics from Cologne, a sometime spy and agent of those who pay most, he becomes involved in the Buchan plot against Hal of Herdmanston.

  MALENFAUNT, Sir Robert

  Real family, fictional character – a knight of dubious renown who captures Isabel at Stirling Bridge and is then duped into handing her over to what he believes is her husband, the Earl of Buchan, by Bruce and Hal.

  MORAY, Sir Andrew

  He raised the standard of rebellion in the north of Scotland in 1297, then joined forces with Wallace and, arguably, provided an acceptable commander for the nobility to rally to rather than the ‘brigand’ Wallace. Arguably, too, he provided the military skill of handling an army – but was badly wounded at Stirling Bridge and later died, leaving Wallace to organise subsequent events with disastrous results.

  SIENTCLER, Sir Henry of Herdmanston

  Known as Hal, he is the son and heir to Herdmanston, a lowly tower owing fealty to their kin, the Sientclers of Roslin. He is typical of the many poor nobles of Lothian who became embroiled in the wars on both sides of the divide – but Hal has fallen in love with Isabel, Countess of Buch
an, and their ill-fated affair is shredded by war and her husband’s hatred. Hal himself is torn by doubts as to whom he can trust, even between Wallace and Bruce, in a kingdom riven by family rivalries and betrayals. The Sientclers of Herdmanston are a little-known branch of that family, appearing prominently for one brief moment in fifteenth-century history. Herdmanston is now an anonymous pile of stones in a corner of a ploughed field and any descriptions of it are pure conjecture on my part.

  SIENTCLER, Sir Henry of Roslin

  In reality, held as a hostage for ransom by the English, with his father, William, also held in the Tower. Here he is grandson of the Auld Templar and eventually ransomed by Hal and Bruce. In reality, he was also ransomed and later fought in the Battle of Roslin Glen alongside Red John Comyn and Sir Simon Fraser and against the English of Segrave and others, a famous victory for the Scots in 1303, when victories were scarce.

  SIENTCLER, Sir John of Herdmanston

  Fictional character, father of Hal, the Auld Sire of Herdmanston is captured by Sir Marmaduke Thweng fighting at Stirling Bridge and dies before he can be ransomed.

  SIENTCLER, Sir William of Roslin (the Auld Templar)

  Fictional character – the ‘Auld Templar of Roslin’ has been allowed back to Roslin by his commanderie because both his son and grandson are prisoners of the English. The real Sir William Sientcler (here described as the Auld Templar’s son) is already in the Tower by the opening of this story and destined to die there.

  THWENG, Sir Marmaduke

  Lord of Kilton in Yorkshire, a noted knight and married to a Lucia de Brus, distant kin to Bruce himself, Sir Marmaduke is the accepted, sensible face of English knighthood. A noted thief-taker – bounty hunter – in his own realm, he was also part of the tourney circuit with the young Robert Bruce. Fought at Stirling Bridge and was one of few to battle their way back to Stirling Castle, where he was eventually taken prisoner. Took part in subsequent campaigns against the Scots including Bannockburn, where, in his sixties, he fought until he could surrender personally to Bruce and was subsequently released without ransom.

  WALLACE, William

  The legend who led Scottish forces to victory at Stirling Bridge and defeat at Falkirk, was forced to relinquish his Guardianship and eventually betrayed to the English. That at least is the myth, but the man behind it is more elusive – described as a ‘chief of brigands’ at the time of the rebellion, he was barely of the nobility of Scotland and accepted by them unwillingly and only while he was winning. He was, however, the only one of them all who never gave in, or changed sides.

  WISHART, Robert, Bishop of Glasgow

  One of the original Guardians of Scotland following the death of King Alexander III – and partly responsible for inviting Edward I to preside over subsequent proceedings – Bishop Wishart became the engine of rebellion and a staunch supporter of first Wallace, then Bruce. He and Lamberton, Bishop of St Andrews, were instrumental in bringing support to Bruce even after he murdered his rival, the Red Comyn – Wishart went so far as to absolve Bruce for the affair. The Bishops’ reasons for rebelling were simple – the Scottish church was responsible only to the Pope, who appointed all their senior prelates; they did not want the English version, where the King performed that function, and could maintain that difference only if Scotland remained a distinct and separate realm.

  Glossary

  ALAUNT

  Large, short-coated hunting dog of the mastiff type, used for bringing down large game.

  AVENTAIL

  Neck guard on a helmet, usually made from MAILLE.

  BABERY

  Term for any ape, but applied to the carvings on the eaves of churches – which were wonderful confections of people, beasts and mythology – apes featured prominently, frequently wearing the garb of bishops and priests as a sly joke by masons.

  BACHLE

  Untidy, shabby or clumsy. Can be used to describe bad workmanship, a slouching walk, or simply to insult someone as useless and more. Still in use, though more usually spelled bauchle.

  BARBETTE

  Women’s clothing – a cloth chin strap to hide the neck and chin, to which was attached a variety of headgear, most commonly the little round hat known then as a turret and nowadays as a pillbox. Compulsory for married women in public and still seen on nuns today.

  BASCINET

  Open-faced steel helm, sometimes covering down to the ears. The medieval knight or man-at-arms usually wore, in order from inside out – a padded arming cap, a COIF of MAILLE, a bascinet and, finally, the full-faced metal helmet, or HEAUME.

  BATTUE

  A hunt organised as if it was a melee at a TOURNEY, usually involving indiscriminate slaughter of beasts driven into an ambush.

  BLACK-AFFRONTED

  Ashamed. A Scots term still in use today and probably derived from the act of covering your heraldic shield (affronty is a heraldic term) in order not to be recognised. Scots knights did this as they fled from Methven, in order not to be subsequently accused of being supporters of Bruce.

  BLIAUT

  An overtunic worn by noble women and men from the 11th to the 13th century, notable for the excessively long drape of sleeve from the elbow in women, from mid forearm on the male version.

  BRAIES

  Linen, knee-length drawers, as worn by every male in the Middle Ages. Women had no true undergarments, though ‘small clothes’ were sometimes worn by gentlewomen.

  CAMILIS

  The, usually white, flowing overtunic worn by some knights. Despite military sense dictating the use of tight-fitting clothing in close-combat, the urge for display frequently led to extravagant and impractical garments and headgear.

  CATERAN

  Originally a term to denote any fighting man from the Highlands, it became synonymous with any marauders or cattle thieves. See also KERN.

  CHARE

  A narrow, twisting medieval alleyway. See also VENNEL.

  CHAUSSE

  Legging, originally made like stockings until eventually joined in the middle to become trousers. MAILLE chausse were ring-metal leggings including the foot and with a leather sole.

  CHIEL

  Scottish term for a man. See also QUINE.

  CHIRMYNG

  Charming – most commonly used (as here) as the collective noun for finches or goldfinches.

  CHITTERING

  Scots for chattering.

  CLOOTS

  Scots word for clothing and still used today for any old rags. The term ‘auld cloots and gruel’ used in the story means ‘of no account’ or ‘everyday’.

  COIF

  Any hood which covered the head and shoulders. Usually refers to one made of ring-metal and worn like a modern balaclava.

  COMMUNITY OF THE REALM

  Medieval Scotland being enlightened – this referred to the rule of law by all the kingdom, not just the king. However, it was the Middle Ages, so the Community referred to was one either with land and title, or rich merchant burghers from the towns. The commonality – peasants – of the realm still had no say.

  COTE/SURCOTE

  Old English and French for men’s and women’s outergarment. The male cote was a tunic varying in length half-way between waist and knee, sometimes slit for riding if the wearer was noble and almost always ‘deviced’ (ie bearing the wearer’s heraldry) if you’re someone of account. The TABARD was a sleeveless version. King John Balliol, whose ceremonial tabard was ritually stripped of the heraldic device, became known as ‘Toom Tabard’ (Empty Cote) forever after.

  COWPED

  Scots word for tumbled.

  COZEN

  To trick or deceive.

  CROCKARD

  The stability of Edward I’s coinage had the unfortunate side-effect of allowing merchants to take the silver penny abroad as currency. This enabled unscrupulous Low Country lords to mint a debased version, which became known as a crockard. See also POLLARD.

  CROTEY

  The dung of hare or coney (rabbit). See FIA
NTS.

  DESTRIER

  Not a breed, but a type of horse – the warhorse of the Middle Ages was powerful, trained and cosseted to the point where it was to be used, at which point, depending on the importance of the affray, it was considered expendable. Destrier is from the Vulgar Latin dextarius, meaning right-handed, either from the horse’s gait, or that it was mounted from the right side. Not as large, or heavy-footed as usually portrayed they were about the size of a good riding horse of today, though more muscled in the rear. They were all stallions and each one, in 1297, cost as much as seven ordinary riding horses.

  DRIECH

  Scots term to describe a dull, grey day where it never actually rains but you still get wet from an unseen drizzle.

  EECHIE-OCHIE

  Neither one thing nor another.

  FASH

  To worry. The phrase never fash means don’t worry.

  FIANTS

  The dung of the fox, wolf, boar or badger.

  FOOTERING

  Fumbling.

  GAMBESON

  Knee-length tunic, sewn with quilted flutes stuffed with wool if you could afford it or straw if you could not. Designed to be worn over or under MAILLE to negate blunt trauma but frequently worn as the sole armour protection of the less well-off. A lighter version, brought back from the Crusades, was known as an aketon, from the Arabic al qutn, or cotton, with which it was stuffed.

  GARDECORPS

  A cape-like overtunic with a slit under the armpit so that you could wear it sleeveless, its shapelessness appealed to those of a larger size. As if to compensate, many such garments were given BLIAUT style sleeves, sometimes with long tippets, or dagged hems, while the collar and cuffs were trimmed with expensive fur.

  GARRON

  Small, hardy Highland pony used widely by the HOBILARS of both sides, though more favoured by Scottish foot. It enabled them to move fast, raid like cavalry and yet dismount to fight on foot if faced by the knight on his heavy horse – and no archers to hand.