The Winter King Read online

  THE WINTER KING

  By

  H A Culley

  Part Two of the Robert the Bruce Trilogy

  Published by Orchard House Publishing

  First Kindle Edition 2014

  Text copyright © 2014 H A Culley

  The author asserts the moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

  All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without written permission from the author.

  Cover image by kind permission of Kim Blair ©

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Author’s Note: The Origins of the Wars of Scottish Independence

  List of Principal Characters

  Chapter One – The Fugitive King

  Chapter Two – The Douglas Larder

  Chapter Three – Excommunication

  Chapter Four – The Battle of Louden Hill

  Chapter Five – A Fugitive Once More

  Chapter Six – The King is Dead, Long Live the King

  Chapter Seven – The Lowlands Aflame

  Chapter Eight – Campaign in the North

  Chapter Nine – The Pass of Brander

  Chapter Ten – The Broken Truce

  Chapter Eleven – Recognition and Invasion

  Chapter Twelve – Piers Gaveston

  Chapter Thirteen – The Invasion of England

  Chapter Fourteen – The Tide Turns

  Chapter Fifteen – The Road to Bannockburn

  Chapter Sixteen – The Decisive Victory

  Author’s Note

  The Origins of the Wars of Scottish Independence

  This is the second of three novels about the life and times of Robert de Brus, more commonly known as Robert the Bruce, and his key role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. The wars between England and Scotland ran sporadically from 1296 to 1328 and from 1332 to 1357. King Robert died in 1329 and this trilogy covers the background to the conflict and the first war of Scottish independence up to the Treaty of Edinburgh/Northampton and Bruce’s death the following year.

  The Path to the Throne covers Robert’s initial ambivalence to the Scottish cause, his decision to fight for Scottish independence and the reasons behind it, his coronation at Scone on 25 March 1306 and the disastrous aftermath.

  The second book, The Winter King, covers the eight years between his flight into hiding after his coronation up to his victory over King Edward II of England at Bannockburn on 24 June 1314. This is a period of small victories, severe defeats and guerrilla warfare when King Robert struggled to keep the flame of Scottish independence alight.

  The final book in the trilogy, After Bannockburn, is set in the last fifteen years of Robert’s reign when he strove to unite Scotland under his rule in the face of continued opposition from Edward II.

  The Bruce family are thought to have originated in Brix near Cherbourg in Normandy and to have come to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. Robert de Brix was granted manors in Yorkshire and County Durham. His son was granted land in Annandale by David I, King of Scots, and this was inherited by his second son, Robert de Brus; the first son, Alan, inheriting his English lands. Robert also inherited some manors in England. His grandson, another Robert, married a daughter of David, Earl of Huntingdon. She was a niece of William the Lyon, King of Scots, thus establishing his descendants’ claim to the throne of Scotland.

  With the death of Alexander III of Scotland in 1286 without a male heir, the throne went to the three-year old Margaret, Maid of Norway, the granddaughter of the Scottish king. In 1290 the Guardians of Scotland, who had been appointed to govern the realm during the young Queen's minority, drew up a marriage contract between Margaret and the then five-year old Edward of Caernarvon, the heir to the English throne. Although any offspring of this marriage would be heir to the crowns of both England and Scotland, the latter should remain separate and not be subject to the English Kingdom.

  In September 1290 the young Queen Margaret died in Orkney on her way to Scotland in mysterious circumstances, leaving Scotland without an undisputed successor to the kingdom. Edward I of England was asked to decide between various competitors for the Scottish throne in a process known as the Great Cause. One of the strongest claimants was John Balliol, lord of Galloway, who forged an alliance with the powerful Bishop of Durham, the representative of Edward I in Scotland, and began styling himself 'heir of Scotland’, while another, Robert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale, cited his appointment as heir by Alexander II before his son, Alexander III, was born. There were twelve other claimants, all descended from various Kings of Scots but there were only four serious contenders:

  · Floris, Count of Holland – descended from David I through his great-granddaughter, Ada.

  · John Hastings – also descended from David I through his great-granddaughter, Ada.

  · John Baliol - descended from David I through his great-granddaughter, Margaret.

  · Robert de Brus - descended from David I through his great-granddaughter, Isabella.

  Of these, John Balliol had the best claim on the basis of primogeniture as Margaret was of the senior line. Robert de Brus, grandfather of King Robert I, whose claim was based on tanistry - the Gaelic system for passing on titles and lands - was the closest in kinship as he was Isabella’s son. Balliol was Margaret’s grandson.

  When Edward announced his decision as arbiter of the Great Cause and John Baliol was pronounced as king at Berwick upon Tweed in November 1292, it looked as if the struggle for the throne might be over. However, Edward demanded that Baliol recognise him as his feudal superior, describing himself as Lord Paramount of Scotland. He repeatedly undermined Baliol, insisting that all important decisions be referred to him.

  The Scots soon revolted against the situation and King John Baliol was forced to abdicate by Edward. John was exiled and lived out his days on his family manor at Hélicourt in France. A new panel of Guardians was appointed by the Scots nobles at Stirling in July 1295 and they went on to conclude a treaty of mutual assistance with France - known in later years as the Auld Alliance.

  In retaliation, Edward I invaded. The Wars of Scottish Independence had begun.

  There are certain words and names which might be unfamiliar to the reader. I list a few of these below:

  Ague - A medieval term for a febrile condition in which there are alternating periods of chills, fever, and sweating.

  Braies - a type of trousers generally reaching to the knees or mid-calf. They could be made of leather, wool, cotton or linen. Later they became briefer and were worn as undergarments beneath hose.

  Buckler - a small round shield, 15 to 45 cm (6 in to 18 in) in diameter with a single handhold which was gripped in the left fist.

  Caparison - A cloth covering for a war horse. It was divided in two at the saddle and usually covered the horse from neck to rear, reaching down to the fetlock. It usually displayed the knight’s heraldic achievement (often misnamed coat of arms) but not always. Later caparisons covered the horse’s head as well.

  Chausses - chain mail leggings covering the legs exposed below the hauberk.

  Coif – The chain mail hood that was worn under the helmet or helm, and lined in leather or quilted cotton to protect the head.

  Conroi - a troop of cavalry, usually knights.

  Constable - person in charge of a castle in the absence of its lord. In particular, he was responsible for its defence.

  Courser – a type of war horse, more common and less expensive than the destrier and preferred by some as they were lighter and faster whilst still being quite strong.

  Crenulation – the top portion of a fortified wall which is composed of merlons and embrasures. Also called battlements.

 
Destrier - the finest and strongest type of warhorse. These horses were usually stallions, bred and raised from a foal specifically for use in war. They were comparatively expensive.

  Embrasure - the lower part of the top of a wall between two merlons that, together, form part of a crenulation.

  Gambeson - a heavily quilted coat worn under the outer defence of chain mail to prevent it from chafing, or else worn on its own where it gave some protection from cuts and arrows.

  Fealty - the loyalty owed by a vassal (see below) to his feudal lord.

  Galloglass - armoured foot soldiers who served primarily as bodyguards to Celtic chieftains. They were hand-picked for their strength and massive size, and they would usually carry a battle axe or a halberd. Bands of Galloglasses were also available for hire as mercenaries.

  Gallovidian - A person from Galloway; can also termed Galwegian.

  Garron - a type of horse or pony. The term was used in Scotland and Ireland and referred to an undersized beast. In Scotland a Garron was also one of the types of Highland pony

  Halberd - an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft between 5 and 6 feet long. It usually had a hook or thorn on the back side of the axe blade for grappling mounted combatants and yanking them from their horse.

  Hebrides – Divided into the Inner and Outer Hebrides, a chain of islands running down the west coast of Scotland, from Lewis and Harris in the north to Islay in the south.

  Hobelars- a type of light cavalry, or mounted infantry, used in Western Europe during the Middle Ages for skirmishing. They originated in 13th century Ireland, and generally rode light and agile horses or ponies.

  Jarl – Scandinavian leader; roughly equivalent to an earl.

  Jennet - a smooth-gaited type of horse known for its presence, style and smooth ride.

  Kern - Irish or Scottish light-armed foot soldiers. A kern would carry a small round shield of wood called a targe and either a sword or bow and arrow.

  Knight’s Fee - an estate or manor held by a tenant in exchange for which he provides one knight, usually himself, to serve his lord for (normally) forty days per year and to serve under him in time of war.

  Mangonel – A type of large catapult, smaller that a trebuchet. Mangonels threw projectiles on a lower trajectory and at a higher velocity than the trebuchet. When loaded with a number of small rocks it could be devastating when used against troops in the open.

  Mark – A unit of currency in common use in the Middle Ages. It was equivalent to two thirds of a pound Stirling.

  Merlon – the upright portion of wall between two embrasures that together form a portion of a crenulation.

  Mesnie - the knights forming the regular military component of a noble’s household.

  Mormaer - regional or provincial ruler in the early medieval Kingdom of the Scots. In theory, although not always in practice, a Mormaer was second only to the King of Scots. The title was gradually replaced by the Anglo-Norman title of Earl.

  Page – A young boy, usually of noble birth, who served as messengers and personal servants in a household and who also started their military training. They were aged between eight and thirteen.

  Palfrey - the most expensive and highly-bred type of riding horse during the Middle Ages, sometimes equalling the knight's destrier in price. Consequently it was popular with nobles, ladies and wealthy knights for riding, hunting and ceremonial use.

  Picquet – a group of sentries posted between a camp and the enemy to give warning of an attack, especially at night.

  Quintain – Tilting at the quintain on horseback was a test of skill with a lance and of agility. The rider aimed to ride at a round target fixed to one end of a rotating horizontal pole as fast as possible, hit the centre of the target with his lance as hard he could, and then avoid the bag of sand which swung round as the target rotated away. Missing the target, or not striking it cleanly, was treated with loud peals of derision, as did being knocked from your horse by the bag of sand.

  Rouncey - an ordinary, all-purpose horse. They were used for riding but could also be trained for war. It was not unknown for them to be used as pack horses.

  Scutage - the payment under the feudal system which allowed a knight to "buy out" of the military service which was due to his overlord in return for his tenure of land, known as a knight’s fee (see above).

  Serjeant - a professional soldier who ranked between a knight and a man-at-arms. Most were mounted though the term was also used for an armoured spearman on foot.

  Sheriff - a senior royal official responsible for keeping the peace throughout a shire or county and to collect taxes on behalf of the king.

  Schiltron – a compact infantry formation, often circular, of pikemen usually arranged three rows deep so that it resembled a hedgehog.

  Spence – Scottish term for larder.

  Spencer – The official in charge of the spence in a medieval castle. The spencer doled out what was required to the cook and had to account to the butler for everything used.

  Squire – the personal servant of a knight who also undertook military training. Most were knighted on becoming adults at twenty-one though some became serjeants.

  Targe - a concave circular shield similar to a buckler but larger. They were fitted with enarmes on the inside, one adjustable by a buckle, to be attached to the forearm, and the other fixed as a grip for the left hand. These shields were mostly made of iron or iron-plated wood.

  Tenant-in-Chief – a noble or churchman who holds his lands directly from the king in return for military service when required.

  Trebuchet - a type of large catapult which was used to hurl large rocks over a significant distance.

  Varlet – a menial servant.

  Vassal - A person who holds land from a feudal lord and receives protection in return for homage and allegiance.

  Villein - a peasant personally bound to his lord, to whom he paid dues and services, sometimes commuted to rents, in return for his land.

  List of Principal Characters

  In Alphabetical order

  Historical characters are shown in bold type

  Alexander Bruce – Dean of Glasgow. Youngest brother of King Robert.

  Angus Og MacDonald - Lord of the Isles and chief of Clan Donald. Ally of Robert Bruce. Later Lord of Lochaber.

  Aymer de Valence – Earl of Pembroke, English commander and sometime Lieutenant of Scotland.

  Bertram Keith – second son of Sir Robert Keith, the Marischal of Scotland. Squire to Sir Edward Bruce.

  Catriona Douglas – Sometime mistress of King Robert.

  Christian MacRuarie – Heiress of Garmoran. Mistress of Robert Bruce. Later his sister-in-law.

  Coira – Elizabeth be Burgh’s maid.

  Duncan MacDonald – Highland chieftain and Lord of Ranoch. Ally of Robert Bruce.

  Edgar de Powburn – Simon’s younger brother; body servant to Sir John Keith.

  Edward Bruce – Brother of King Robert, third son of Robert de Brus; later Earl of Carrick and High king of Ireland.

  Edward Longshanks – King of England, son of Henry III.

  Elizabeth de Burgh – Daughter of the Earl of Ulster, second wife of Robert Bruce and his queen.

  Gavin Stewart – Former squire of King Robert and son of Sir Andrew Stewart.

  Gilbert de Clare - Earl of Gloucester.

  Hugh Ross – The Earl of Ross’s eldest son and heir.

  Humphrey de Bohun – Earl of Hereford.

  Iain Ross – Son of the Earl of Ross; second squire to King Robert.

  James Douglas – Called the Black Douglas. Lord of Douglas and one of Robert Bruce’s closest friends.

  John Comyn – Earl of Buchan.

  John Keith – eldest son and heir to the Marischal of Scotland.

  John MacDougall of Lorne – Highland chieftain and Lord of Argyll. Supporter of the Comyns.

  Malcolm Douglas – One of King Robert’s companions.

  Marjorie Bruce – King Robert’s daughter by his f
irst wife. Later wife of Walter Stewart, High Steward of Scotland.

  Matilda Bruce – Robert’s youngest sister who married Sir Hugh Ross, thus cementing Ross’s support for Robert.

  Piers Gaveston – Edward of Caernarvon’s friend and lover, later Earl of Cornwall

  Richard Keith – John Keith’s eldest son; later Marischal of Scotland.

  Robert Bruce – King of Scots.

  Robert Clifford – English baron who had been given Douglasdale by Edward the First.

  Roger Comyn – Nephew of the Lord of Badenoch.

  Simon de Powburn – the son of a Northumberland bailiff. Later squire to Sir John Keith.

  Thomas Bruce – King Robert’s brother and fourth son of Robert de Brus.

  Thomas Randolph - Earl of Moray, supporter of Robert Bruce.

  Thomas, Earl of Lancaster- Edward of Caernarvon’s cousin and England’s most powerful magnate.

  William Keith – Sir Richard Keith’s younger brother.

  William Lamberton – Bishop of St. Andrews, Primate of Scotland.

  William, Earl of Ross – Comyn supporter and lord of much of Northern Scotland who changed allegiance to Robert Bruce.

  Xavier – A Spanish youth; servant of the papal legate, later squire to King Robert.

  Chapter One – The Fugitive King

  Autumn 1306/Spring 1307

  ‘What happens when he dies?’ Gilbert d’Umfraville, Earl of Angus, wanted to know, referring to Edward Longshanks, King of England.

  His cousin, Ingram d’Umfraville, who had been awarded the lands formerly held by Robert Bruce as Earl of Carrick, merely shrugged. He had initially supported Robert when he became King of Scots but had done a rapid volte face when Robert lost the Battle of Methven and Ingram had then joined the English faction.

  Angus had been constant in his support of the Comyns - his wife was the sister of John Comyn, Earl of Buchan – and therefore an enemy of the Bruces. This enmity had been reinforced when the latter had killed the Red Comyn in Dumfries Abbey the previous year. He was sixty two himself and was in robustly good health, as King Edward - who was called Longshanks because of his long legs - had been at his age; but the king was five years older than Gilbert and was now getting increasingly frail.