by Robert Low
CRAW, Sim
A real character – though 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 crossbow as a weapon.
DOG BOY
Fictional character, a peasant of age with the young James Douglas, with whom he was brought up in Douglas Castle. It is becoming clear to them both that the lowly Dog Boy is in fact a bastard son of Sir William Douglas and that Jamie is his half-brother. War has brought a sense of his own worth to the Dog Boy – and will elevate him further in the service of the Bruce.
DOUGLAS, James
Son of Sir William ‘The Hardy’ Douglas 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 capture and death of his father, James went to Paris under the auspices of Lamberton, Bishop of St Andrews. He returned as a young man in the retinue of Lamberton, trying to persuade Edward I to restore his lands, now held by Clifford. Impatient, impassioned and angry, he joined Bruce’s rebellion, rising to become one of Robert the Bruce’s most trusted commanders. A slim, dark youth with a lisp, his courtly manner is at odds with the near-psychotic rage that possesses him in battle, fuelled by an undying hatred for the English.
DUNS, John
A Franciscan priest, known as Duns Scotus, he was one of the more important theologians and philosophers of the Middle Ages, nicknamed Doctor Subtilis for his penetrating thought. His involvement with the emergent Bruce and Church-fomented rebellion is pure fiction on my part – but he was expelled from the University of Paris for siding with then Pope Boniface in his feud with Philip the Fair of France over the taxation of church property. He died in 1308; the date of his death is traditionally given as November 8 and the same tradition has it that he was actually buried alive following a lapse into a coma. In the sixteenth century, his teachings were dismissed as ‘sophistry’ and gave rise to the word ‘dunce’, meaning someone incapable of scholarship. The typical dunce’s hat came from his own conical monk’s cap. See Bernard of Kilwinning, below.
EDWARD I
King of England and the oldest ruler with the longest reign so far. At the time of this novel he is facing the prospect of failure: failing to become ruler of a united Britain, and above all failing to achieve his true amibition, a Crusade to free the Holy Land. He is also aware that his son and eventual heir is terribly flawed. Yet there is still power and cunning in the old pard …
EDWARD II
A tragic figure in many ways, overshadowed by his father – whom he seems to have loved and hated in equal measure – and ignored by him save when it mattered. Probably as a direct result of that tortured relationship, his character was deeply flawed, the main fault being a tendency to become obsessively possessive with others, the favourites and promoting them at the expense of others. At this time, the favourite was Piers Gaveston.
KILWINNING, Bernard of
A Tironensian abbot in the time of the Scottish wars, he first appears as Abbot of Kilwinning in 1296, then vanishes for a decade before re-emerging as Bruce’s Chancellor, then Abbot of Arbroath. There is no evidence that he was clerk to John Duns – but he is the one generally credited with drafting the Declaration of Arbroath and later became Bishop of the Isles. He died in 1331.
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. In later years, he adopted the words ‘Mak’ siccar’ (make sure) as a motto and a bloody hand holding a dagger as his heraldic device.
LAMBERTON, Bishop
Bishop of St Andrews and now thought to be one William Cunningham from Kilmaurs, he owed his elevation to Wallace and supported both him and Robert the Bruce. Chosen as the third Guardian, to stand between Bruce and Red John Comyn in 1299, he was used as a diplomat and envoy, while diverting the funds from his vast diocese to help the Cause.
LAMPRECHT
Fictional character, a relic-seller and pardoner from Cologne, who speaks lingua franca, that mix of common Latin, French, Spanish and other Mediterranean languages originally used by crusaders to make themselves understood. Lamprecht pretends to be a pilgrim who has travelled to Jerusalem – but he has only ever been into Moorish Spain and has learned lingua franca while moving around the countries bordering the Mediterranean. 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 is smarting over being duped by Bruce, Hal and others into releasing Isabel MacDuff, captured at Stirling Bridge, to what he assumes is her husband. This makes him a suitable tool for use by the Comyn and Buchan.
MONTAILLIOU, James of
Montailliou is a real place, but this is a fictional character – a physicker of dubious standard, who professes to be a doctor but is probably no better than a barber-surgeon. Nevertheless, he is Bruce’s physician and seemingly loyal because he is a Cathar, a heretical Christian whose sect is being persecuted in Langue D’Oc, and owes his safety to his position. He is also party to the Bruce fears of leprosy, a dangerous secret to hold …
SEGRAVE, Sir John
Black John, appointed Governor of Scotland at one time and, with his son Stephen, much hated English commander who was responsible for taking Wallace back to London in chains.
SIENTCLER, Sir Henry of Herdmanston
Fictional character. 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. Hal himself is torn by doubts as to who 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 15th 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 also held in the Tower. Eventually ransomed he 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.
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 his way back to Stirling Castle, where he was eventually taken prisoner. Took part in subsequent campaigns against the Scots including Bannockburn, where, in his 60s, he fought until he could surrender personally to Bruce and was subsequently released without ransom.
VALENCE, Aymer de
Eventual second Earl of Pembroke, de Valence was related to the French royal house and was one of the Lords Ordainers who attempted to curb the power of Edward II and Gaveston. At this time he was the young, thrusting commander (knighted only in 1297) and trusted by Edward I with control of the English army in Scotland.
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. 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. H
e was, however, the only one of them all who never gave in, or changed sides. The arguments regarding his prowess continue – there is, even allowing for hero-worship, enough evidence to show his personal fighting skills, though historians disagree on his expertise with commanding large bodies of men, claiming Moray was the one with this (being a noble born and so trained to it). They offer as proof of this, the glorious victory of Stirling Bridge with Moray present, and the disaster at Falkirk, organized by Wallace alone. This seems dubious to me – if nothing else, what few documents we have reveal Wallace as a man who, if not skilled in diplomacy and dealing with foreign interests, had the wit to surround himself with those who did. Similarly, he would not be short of experts in the grand tactics of the age – but no battle ever goes to plan. If you look closely at the battle at Falkirk, it becomes clear that even the victor, King Edward 1, greatest warrior general in Christendom, badly mismanaged the affair himself and almost lost control of his knights. Ironically, of course, it was Wallace’s own brigand tactics that became the norm for Scottish armies too small and weak to oppose their neighbour’s forces – hit and run, almost all the way down to Bannockburn. However, the one glaring flaw in the Wallace character is also the one which made him great – the undying obsession with putting John Balliol back on the throne and a refusal to admit when that cause was lost.
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. 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 only maintain that difference 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 organized as if it was a mêlée 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 recognized. 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 FIANTS.
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.
GLAUR
Scots word for sticky mud.
GRALLOCH
The contents of a stag’s stomach which has been ‘unmade’ after a kill. The gralloch, in medieval times, went to the hounds as a reward.
GUDDLE
Scots term which, as a verb, means to grope blindly. As a noun it means mix-up or confusion.
HAAR
One of the many Scots words for rain – this refers to a wet mist.
HEAUME
Another name for the large medieval helmet. More properly, it was given to the later TOURNEY helmet, which reached and was supported on the shoulders.
HERSCHIP
From hardship, a Scots term for vicious raids designed to lay waste and plunder a region to the detriment of the enemy.
HOBILAR
English word for light cavalry, recruited to counter the Scots raiders and so called because they were mounted on large ponies called hobyn. This gives us the modern child’s toy, the hobby horse, as well as the generic name for horses everywhere – Dobbin.
HOOR
Scots pronunciation of whore.