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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4792-h.zip b/4792-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..88c15cb --- /dev/null +++ b/4792-h.zip diff --git a/4792-h/4792-h.htm b/4792-h/4792-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3da9d1b --- /dev/null +++ b/4792-h/4792-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15486 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of In Freedom's Cause, by G. A. Henty +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.footnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.transnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.intro {font-size: medium ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of In Freedom's Cause, by G. A. Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: In Freedom's Cause + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Posting Date: September 11, 2009 [EBook #4792] +Release Date: December, 2003 +First Posted: March 21, 2002 +Last Updated: August 12, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb and Ted Robb. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +In Freedom's Cause +</H1> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +G. A. Henty +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H3> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">Glen Cairn</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">Leaving Home</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">Sir William Wallace</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">The Capture of Lanark</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">A Treacherous Plot</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">The Barns of Ayr</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">The Cave in the Pentlands</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">The Council at Stirling</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">The Battle of Stirling Bridge</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">The Battle of Falkirk</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">Robert The Bruce</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">The Battle of Methven</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">The Castle of Dunstaffnage</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">Colonsay</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">A Mission to Ireland</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">An Irish Rising</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">The King's Blood Hound</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">The Hound Restored</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">The Convent of St. Kenneth</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">The Heiress of the Kerrs</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">The Siege of Aberfilly</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">A Prisoner</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">The Escape from Berwick</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">The Progress of the War</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">The Capture of a Stronghold</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap26">Edinburgh</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap27">Bannockburn</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PREFACE. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +MY DEAR LADS, +</P> + +<P> +There are few figures in history who have individually exercised +so great an influence upon events as William Wallace and Robert +Bruce. It was to the extraordinary personal courage, indomitable +perseverance, and immense energy of these two men that Scotland +owed her freedom from English domination. So surprising were the +traditions of these feats performed by these heroes that it was at +one time the fashion to treat them as belonging as purely to legend +as the feats of St. George or King Arthur. Careful investigation, +however, has shown that so far from this being the case, almost +every deed reported to have been performed by them is verified by +contemporary historians. Sir William Wallace had the especial bad +fortune of having come down to us principally by the writings of +his bitter enemies, and even modern historians, who should have +taken a fairer view of his life, repeated the cry of the old English +writers that he was a bloodthirsty robber. Mr. W. Burns, however, +in his masterly and exhaustive work, The Scottish War of Independence, +has torn these calumnies to shreds, and has displayed Wallace as +he was, a high minded and noble patriot. While consulting other +writers, especially those who wrote at the time of or but shortly +after the events they record, I have for the most part followed +Burns in all the historical portions of the narrative. Throughout +the story, therefore, wherein it at all relates to Wallace, Bruce, +and the other historical characters, the circumstances and events +can be relied upon as strictly accurate, save only in the earlier +events of the career of Wallace, of which the details that have +come down to us are somewhat conflicting, although the main features +are now settled past question. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Yours sincerely,<BR> + G.A. HENTY.<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Glen Cairn +</H3> + +<P> +The village of Glen Cairn was situated in a valley in the broken +country lying to the west of the Pentland Hills, some fifteen miles +north of the town of Lanark, and the country around it was wild +and picturesque. The villagers for the most part knew little of +the world beyond their own valley, although a few had occasionally +paid visits to Glasgow, which lay as far to the west as Lanark was +distant to the south. On a spur jutting out from the side of the +hill stood Glen Cairn Castle, whose master the villagers had for +generations regarded as their lord. +</P> + +<P> +The glory of the little fortalice had now departed. Sir William +Forbes had been killed on his own hearthstone, and the castle had +been sacked in a raid by the Kerrs, whose hold lay to the southwest, +and who had long been at feud with the Forbeses. The royal power +was feeble, and the Kerrs had many friends, and were accordingly +granted the lands they had seized; only it was specified that Dame +Forbes, the widow of Sir William, should be allowed to reside in +the fortalice free from all let or hindrance, so long as she meddled +not, nor sought to stir up enmity among the late vassals of her +lord against their new masters. +</P> + +<P> +The castle, although a small one, was strongly situated. The spur +of the hill ran some 200 yards into the valley, rising sharply +some 30 or 40 feet above it. The little river which meandered down +the valley swept completely round the foot of the spur, forming a +natural moat to it, and had in some time past been dammed back, so +that, whereas in other parts it ran brightly over a pebbly bottom, +here it was deep and still. The fortalice itself stood at the +extremity of the spur, and a strong wall with a fortified gateway +extended across the other end of the neck, touching the water on +both sides. From the gateway extended two walls inclosing a road +straight to the gateway of the hold itself, and between these walls +and the water every level foot of ground was cultivated; this garden +was now the sole remains of the lands of the Forbeses. +</P> + +<P> +It was a narrow patrimony for Archie, the only son of Dame Forbes, +and his lady mother had hard work to keep up a respectable state, +and to make ends meet. Sandy Grahame, who had fought under her +husband's banner and was now her sole retainer, made the most of the +garden patches. Here he grew vegetables on the best bits of ground +and oats on the remainder; these, crushed between flat stones, +furnished a coarse bread. From the stream an abundance of fish could +always be obtained, and the traps and nets therefore furnished a +meal when all else failed. In the stream, too, swam a score and more +of ducks, while as many chickens walked about the castle yard, or +scratched for insects among the vegetables. A dozen goats browsed +on the hillside, for this was common ground to the village, and +Dame Forbes had not therefore to ask for leave from her enemies, +the Kerrs. The goats furnished milk and cheese, which was deftly +made by Elspie, Sandy's wife, who did all the work indoors, as her +husband did without. Meat they seldom touched. Occasionally the +resources of the hold were eked out by the present of a little +hill sheep, or a joint of prime meat, from one or other of her old +vassals, for these, in spite of the mastership of the Kerrs, still +at heart regarded Dame Mary Forbes as their lawful mistress, and +her son Archie as their future chief. Dame Mary Forbes was careful +in no way to encourage this feeling, for she feared above all things +to draw the attention of the Kerrs to her son. She was sure that +did Sir John Kerr entertain but a suspicion that trouble might ever +come from the rivalry of this boy, he would not hesitate a moment +in encompassing his death; for Sir John was a rough and violent +man who was known to hesitate at nothing which might lead to his +aggrandizement. Therefore she seldom moved beyond the outer wall +of the hold, except to go down to visit the sick in the village. +She herself had been a Seaton, and had been educated at the nunnery +of Dunfermline, and she now taught Archie to read and write, +accomplishments by no means common even among the better class in +those days. Archie loved not books; but as it pleased his mother, +and time often hung heavy on his hands, he did not mind devoting +two or three hours a day to the tasks she set him. At other times +he fished in the stream, wandered over the hills, and brought in +the herbs from which Dame Forbes distilled the potions which she +distributed to the villagers when sick. +</P> + +<P> +Often he joined the lads of the village in their games. They +all regarded him as their leader; but his mother had pressed upon +him over and over again that on no account was he to assume any +superiority over the others, but to treat them strictly as equals. +Doubtless the Kerrs would from time to time have news of what was +doing in Glen Cairn; and while they would be content to see him +joining in the sports of the village lads, with seemingly no wish +beyond that station, they would at once resent it did they see +any sign on his part of his regarding himself as a chief among the +others. +</P> + +<P> +No inconsiderable portion of Archie's time was occupied in acquiring +the use of arms from Sandy Grahame. His mother, quiet and seemingly +resigned as she was, yet burned with the ambition that he should +some day avenge his father's death, and win back his father's lands. +She said little to him of her hopes; but she roused his spirit by +telling him stories of the brave deeds of the Forbeses and Seatons, +and she encouraged him from his childhood to practise in arms with +Sandy Grahame. +</P> + +<P> +In this respect, indeed, Archie needed no stimulant. From Sandy +even more than from his mother he had heard of his brave father's +deeds in arms; and although, from the way in which she repressed any +such utterances, he said but little to his mother, he was resolved +as much as she could wish him to be, that he would some day win +back his patrimony, and avenge his father upon his slayers. +</P> + +<P> +Consequently, upon every opportunity when Sandy Grahame could spare +time from his multifarious work, Archie practised with him, with +sword and pike. At first he had but a wooden sword. Then, as his +limbs grew stronger, he practised with a blunted sword; and now +at the age of fifteen Sandy Grahame had as much as he could do to +hold his own with his pupil. +</P> + +<P> +At the time the story opens, in the springtime of the year 1293, +he was playing at ball with some of the village lads on the green, +when a party of horsemen was seen approaching. +</P> + +<P> +At their head rode two men perhaps forty years old, while a lad of +some eighteen years of age rode beside them. In one of the elder +men Archie recognized Sir John Kerr. The lad beside him was his +son Allan. The other leader was Sir John Hazelrig, governor of +Lanark; behind them rode a troop of armed men, twenty in number. +Some of the lads would have ceased from their play; but Archie +exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Heed them not; make as if you did not notice them. You need not +be in such a hurry to vail your bonnets to the Kerr." +</P> + +<P> +"Look at the young dogs," Sir John Kerr said to his companion. +"They know that their chief is passing, and yet they pretend that +they see us not." +</P> + +<P> +"It would do them good," his son exclaimed, "did you give your +troopers orders to tie them all up and give them a taste of their +stirrup leathers." +</P> + +<P> +"It would not be worth while, Allan," his father said. "They will +all make stout men-at-arms some day, and will have to fight under +my banner. I care as little as any man what my vassals think of +me, seeing that whatsoever they think they have to do mine orders. +But it needs not to set them against one needlessly; so let the +varlets go on with their play undisturbed." +</P> + +<P> +That evening Archie said to his mother, "How is it, mother, that +the English knight whom I today saw ride past with the Kerr is +governor of our Scottish town of Lanark?" +</P> + +<P> +"You may well wonder, Archie, for there are many in Scotland +of older years than you who marvel that Scotsmen, who have always +been free, should tolerate so strange a thing. It is a long story, +and a tangled one; but tomorrow morning I will draw out for you +a genealogy of the various claimants to the Scottish throne, and +you will see how the thing has come about, and under what pretence +Edward of England has planted his garrisons in this free Scotland +of ours." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning Archie did not forget to remind his mother of her +promise. +</P> + +<P> +"You must know," she began, "that our good King Alexander had three +children—David, who died when a boy; Alexander, who married a +daughter of the Count of Flanders, and died childless; and a daughter, +Margaret, who married Eric, the young King of Norway. Three years +ago the Queen of Norway died, leaving an only daughter, also named +Margaret, who was called among us the 'Maid of Norway,' and who, +at her mother's death, became heir presumptive to the throne, and +as such was recognized by an assembly of the estates at Scone. But +we all hoped that the king would have male heirs, for early last +year, while still in the prime of life, he married Joleta, daughter +of the Count of Drew. Unhappily, on the 19th of March, he attended +a council in the castle of Edinburgh, and on his way back to his +wife at Kinghorn, on a stormy night, he fell over a precipice and +was killed. +</P> + +<P> +"The hopes of the country now rested on the 'Maid of Norway,' who +alone stood between the throne and a number of claimants, most of +whom would be prepared to support their claims by arms, and thus +bring unnumbered woes upon Scotland. Most unhappily for the country, +the maid died on her voyage to Scotland, and the succession therefore +became open. +</P> + +<P> +"You will see on this chart, which I have drawn out, the lines by +which the principal competitors—for there were nigh upon a score +of them—claimed the throne. +</P> + +<P> +"Before the death of the maid, King Edward had proposed a marriage +between her and his young son, and his ambassadors met the Scottish +commissioners at Brigham, near Kelso, and on the 18th of July, 1290, +the treaty was concluded. It contained, besides the provisions of +the marriage, clauses for the personal freedom of Margaret should +she survive her husband; for the reversion of the crown failing +her issue; for protection of the rights, laws, and liberties of +Scotland; the freedom of the church; the privileges of crown vassals; +the independence of the courts; the preservation of all charters +and natural muniments; and the holding of parliaments only within +Scotland; and specially provided that no vassal should be compelled +to go forth of Scotland for the purpose of performing homage or +fealty; and that no native of Scotland should for any cause whatever +be compelled to answer, for any breach of covenant or from crime +committed, out of the kingdom. +</P> + +<P> +"Thus you see, my boy, that King Edward at this time fully recognized +the perfect independence of Scotland, and raised no claim to any +suzerainty over it. Indeed, by Article I it was stipulated that +the rights, laws, liberties, and customs of Scotland should remain +for ever entire and inviolable throughout the whole realm and its +marches; and by Article V that the Kingdom of Scotland shall remain +separate and divided from England, free in itself, and without +subjection, according to its right boundaries and marches, as +heretofore. +</P> + +<P> +"King Edward, however, artfully inserted a salvo, 'saving the rights +of the King of England and of all others which before the date of +this treaty belong to him or any of them in the marches or elsewhere.' +The Scottish lords raised no objection to the insertion of this +salvo, seeing that it was of general purport, and that Edward +possessed no rights in Scotland, nor had any ever been asserted +by his predecessors—Scotland being a kingdom in itself equal to +its neighbour—and that neither William the Norman nor any of his +successors attempted to set forward any claims to authority beyond +the Border. +</P> + +<P> +"No sooner was the treaty signed than Edward, without warrant +or excuse, appointed Anthony Beck, the warlike Bishop of Durham, +Lieutenant of Scotland, in the name of the yet unmarried pair; and +finding that this was not resented, he demanded that all the places +of strength in the kingdom should be delivered to him. This demand +was not, however, complied with, and the matter was still pending +when the Maid of Norway died. The three principal competitors—Bruce, +Baliol, and Comyn—and their friends, at once began to arm; but +William Fraser, Bishop of St. Andrews, a friend of Baliol, wrote to +King Edward suggesting that he should act as arbitrator, and more +than hinting that if he chose Baliol he would find him submissive +in all things to his wishes. Edward jumped at the proposal, and +thereupon issued summonses to the barons of the northern counties +to meet him at Norham on the 3d of June; and a mandate was issued +to the sheriffs of Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, York, +and Lancaster, to assemble the feudal array at the same rendezvous. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, you know, my son, that, owing to the marriages between royal +families of England and Scotland, there has been a close connection +between the countries. Many Scotch barons have married English +heiresses, and hold lands in both countries, while Scottish maidens +have married English knights. Thus it happens that a great number +of the Scotch nobility are as much Englishmen as Scotchmen, and are +vassals to England for lands held there. Four of the competitors, +John Baliol, Robert Bruce, John Comyn, and William Ross, are all +barons of England as well as of Scotland, and their lands lying +in the north they were, of course, included in the invitation. In +May, Edward issued an invitation to the Bishops of St. Andrews, +Glasgow, and other Scotch nobles to come to Norham, remain there, +and return, specially saying that their presence there was not to +be regarded as a custom through which the laws of Scotland might +in any future time be prejudiced. Hither then came the whole power +of the north of England, and many of the Scotch nobles. +</P> + +<P> +"When the court opened, Roger Brabazon, the king's justiciary, +delivered an address, in which he stated that Edward, as lord +paramount of Scotland, had come there to administer justice between +the competitors for the crown, and concluded with the request that +all present should acknowledge his claim as lord paramount. The +Scottish nobles present, with the exception of those who were +privy to Edward's designs, were filled with astonishment and dismay +at this pretension, and declared their ignorance of any claim of +superiority of the King of England over Scotland. The king, in a +passion, exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"'By holy Edward, whose crown I wear, I will vindicate my just +rights, or perish in the attempt.' +</P> + +<P> +"However, he saw that nothing could be done on the instant, and +adjourned the meeting for three weeks, at the end of which time the +prelates, nobles, and community of Scotland were invited to bring +forward whatever they could in opposition to his claim to supremacy. +</P> + +<P> +"At the time fixed the Scotch nobles again met, but this time on +the Scottish side of the Border, for Edward had gathered together +the whole of the force of the northern counties. +</P> + +<P> +"Besides the four claimants, whose names I have told you, were Sir +John Hastings, Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March, William de Vesci, +Robert de Pinkeny, Nicholas de Soulis, Patrick Galythly, Roger de +Mandeville, Florence, Count of Holland, and Eric, King of Norway. +With the exception of Eric, the Count of Holland, Dunbar, and +Galythly, all of these were of Norman extraction, and held possessions +in England. When the meeting was opened the prelates and nobles +present advanced nothing to disprove Edward's claim to supremacy. +The representatives of the commons, however, did show reason against +the claim, for which, indeed, my son, as every man in Scotland +knows, there was not a shadow of foundation. +</P> + +<P> +"The king's chancellor declared that there was nothing in these +objections to Edward's claim, and therefore he resolved, as lord +paramount, to determine the question of succession. The various +competitors were asked whether they acknowledged Edward as lord +paramount, and were willing to receive his judgment as such; and +the whole of these wretched traitors proceeded to barter their +country for their hopes of a crown, acknowledged Edward as lord +paramount, and left the judgment in his hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Bruce and Baliol received handsome presents for thus tamely +yielding the rights of Scotland. All present at once agreed that +the castles and strongholds of Scotland should be surrendered into +the hands of English commanders and garrisons. This was immediately +done; and thus it is, Archie, that you see an English officer +lording it over the Scotch town of Lanark. +</P> + +<P> +"Then every Scotchman was called upon to do homage to the English +king as his lord paramount, and all who refused to do so were +seized and arrested. Finally, on the 17th of November last, 1292—the +date will long be remembered in Scotland—Edward's judgment +was given at Berwick, and by it John Baliol was declared King of +Scotland. +</P> + +<P> +"Thus for eighteen months Scotland was kept in doubt; and this was +done, no doubt, to enable the English to rivet their yoke upon our +shoulders, and to intimidate and coerce all who might oppose it." +</P> + +<P> +"There were some that did oppose it, mother, were there not?—some +true Scotchmen who refused to own the supremacy of the King of +England?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very few, Archie. One Sir Malcolm Wallace, a knight of but small +estate, refused to do so, and was, together with his eldest son, +slain in an encounter with an English detachment under a leader +named Fenwick at Loudon Hill." +</P> + +<P> +"And was he the father of that William Wallace of whom the talk was +lately that he had slain young Selbye, son of the English governor +of Dundee?" +</P> + +<P> +"The same, Archie." +</P> + +<P> +"Men say, mother, that although but eighteen years of age he is of +great stature and strength, of very handsome presence, and courteous +and gentle; and that he was going quietly through the streets when +insulted by young Selbye, and that he and his companions being set +upon by the English soldiers, slew several and made their escape." +</P> + +<P> +"So they say, Archie. He appears from all description of him +to be a remarkable young man, and I trust that he will escape the +vengeance of the English, and that some day he may again strike +some blows for our poor Scotland, which, though nominally under +the rule of Baliol, is now but a province of England." +</P> + +<P> +"But surely, mother, Scotchmen will never remain in such a state +of shameful servitude!" +</P> + +<P> +"I trust not, my son; but I fear that it will be long before we +shake off the English yoke. Our nobles are for the most part of +Norman blood; very many are barons of England; and so great are the +jealousies among them that no general effort against England will +be possible. No, if Scotland is ever to be freed, it will be by +a mighty rising of the common people, and even then the struggle +between the commons of Scotland and the whole force of England aided +by the feudal power of all the great Scotch nobles, would be well +nigh hopeless." +</P> + +<P> +This conversation sank deeply into Archie's mind; day and night +he thought of nothing but the lost freedom of Scotland, and vowed +that even the hope of regaining his father's lands should be +secondary to that of freeing his country. All sorts of wild dreams +did the boy turn over in his mind; he was no longer gay and light +hearted, but walked about moody and thoughtful. He redoubled his +assiduity in the practice of arms; and sometimes when fighting with +Sandy, he would think that he had an English man-at-arms before him, +and would strike so hotly and fiercely that Sandy had the greatest +difficulty in parrying his blows, and was forced to shout lustily +to recall him from the clouds. He no longer played at ball with the +village lads; but, taking the elder of them aside, he swore them +to secrecy, and then formed them into a band, which he called the +Scottish Avengers. With them he would retire into valleys far away +from the village, where none would mark what they were doing, and +there they practised with club and stake instead of broadsword +and pike, defended narrow passes against an imaginary enemy, and, +divided into two parties, did battle with each other. +</P> + +<P> +The lads entered into the new diversion with spirit. Among the +lower class throughout Scotland the feeling of indignation at the +manner in which their nobles had sold their country to England was +deep and passionate. They knew the woes which English domination +had brought upon Wales and Ireland; and though as yet without a +leader, and at present hopeless of a successful rising, every true +Scotchman was looking forward to the time when an attempt might be +made to throw off the English yoke. +</P> + +<P> +Therefore the lads of Glen Cairn entered heart and soul into +the projects of their "young chief," for so they regarded Archie, +and strove their best to acquire some of the knowledge of the use +of sword and pike which he possessed. The younger lads were not +permitted to know what was going on—none younger than Archie +himself being admitted into the band, while some of the elders were +youths approaching man's estate. Even to his mother Archie did not +breathe a word of what he was doing, for he feared that she might +forbid his proceedings. The good lady was often surprised at the +cuts and bruises with which he returned home; but he always turned +off her questions by muttering something about rough play or a +heavy fall, and so for some months the existence of the Scottish +Avengers remained unsuspected. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Leaving Home +</H3> + +<P> +One day when "the Avengers" were engaged in mimic battle in a glen +some two miles from the village they were startled with a loud +shout of "How now, what is this uproar?" Bows were lowered and +hedge stakes dropped; on the hillside stood Red Roy, the henchman +of Sir John Kerr, with another of the retainers. They had been +crossing the hills, and had been attracted by the sound of shouting. +All the lads were aware of the necessity for Archie's avoiding the +notice of the Kerrs, and Andrew Macpherson, one of the eldest of +the lads, at once stepped forward: "We are playing," he said, "at +fighting Picts against Scots." +</P> + +<P> +This was the case, for the English were so hated that Archie had +found that none would even in sport take that name, and the sides +were accordingly dubbed Scots and Picts, the latter title not being +so repugnant, and the companies changing sides each day. +</P> + +<P> +"It looks as if you were fighting in earnest," Roy said grimly, +"for the blood is streaming down your face." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we don't mind a hard knock now and again," Andrew said +carelessly. "I suppose, one of these days, we shall have to go out +under Sir John's banner, and the more hard knocks we have now, the +less we shall care for them then." +</P> + +<P> +"That is so," Roy said; "and some of you will soon be able to handle +arms in earnest. Who are your leaders?" he asked sharply, as his +eye fixed on Archie, who had seated himself carelessly upon a rock +at some little distance. +</P> + +<P> +"William Orr generally heads one side, and I the other." +</P> + +<P> +"And what does that young Forbes do?" Red Roy asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he generally looks on," Andrew replied in a confidential +tone; "he is not much good with the bow, and his lady mother does +not like it if he goes home with a crack across the face, and I +don't think he likes it himself; he is but a poor creature when it +comes to a tussle." +</P> + +<P> +"And it is well for him that he is," Red Roy muttered to himself; +"for if he had been likely to turn out a lad of spirit, Sir John +would have said the word to me before now; but, seeing what he is, +he may as well be left alone for the present. He will never cause +trouble." So saying, Red Roy strolled away with his companion, and +left the lads to continue their mimic fight. +</P> + +<P> +News travelled slowly to Glen Cairn; indeed, it was only when +a travelling chapman or pedlar passed through, or when one of the +villagers went over to Lanark or Glasgow, carrying the fowls and +other produce of the community to market, that the news came from +without. +</P> + +<P> +Baliol was not long before he discovered that his monarchy was but +a nominal one. The first quarrel which arose between him and his +imperious master was concerning the action of the courts. King Edward +directed that there should be an appeal to the courts at Westminster +from all judgments in the Scottish courts. Baliol protested that it +was specifically agreed by the Treaty of Brigham that no Scotchman +was liable to be called upon to plead outside the kingdom; but +Edward openly declared, "Notwithstanding any concessions made before +Baliol became king, he considered himself at liberty to judge in +any case brought before him from Scotland, and would, if necessary, +summon the King of Scots himself to appear in his presence." He +then compelled Baliol formally to renounce and cancel not only the +Treaty of Brigham, but every stipulation of the kind "known to +exist, or which might be thereafter discovered." Another appeal +followed, and Baliol was cited to appear personally, but refused; +he was thereupon declared contumacious by the English parliament, +and a resolution was passed that three of the principal towns of +Scotland should be "seized," until he gave satisfaction. All this +was a manifest usurpation, even allowing Edward's claims to supremacy +to be well founded. +</P> + +<P> +At this moment Edward became involved in a quarrel with his own +lord superior Phillip, king of France, by whom he was in turned +summoned to appear under the pain of contumacy. Edward met this +demand by a renunciation of allegiance to Phillip and a declaration +of war, and called upon Baliol for aid as his vassal; but Baliol +was also a vassal of the French king, and had estates in France +liable to seizure. He therefore hesitated. Edward further ordered +him to lay an embargo upon all vessels in the ports of Scotland, +and required the attendance of many of the Scottish barons in his +expedition to France. Finding his orders disobeyed, on the 16th +of October Edward issued a writ to the sheriff of Northampton, +"to seize all lands, goods, and chattels of John Baliol and other +Scots." +</P> + +<P> +The Scotch held a parliament at Scone. All Englishmen holding office +were summarily dismissed. A committee of the estates was appointed +to act as guardian of the kingdom, and Baliol himself was deprived +of all active power; but an instrument was prepared in his name, +reciting the injuries that he and his subjects had sustained at the +hands of the English king, and renouncing all further allegiance. +Following this up, a league was concluded, offensive and defensive, +between the French king and Scotland, represented by the prelates, +nobles, and community. Edward Baliol, the king's son, was contracted +to marry the French king's niece. Phillip bound himself to assist +Scotland against any invasion of England, and the Scotch agreed to +cross the Border in case Edward invaded France. +</P> + +<P> +In making this alliance the Scots took the only step possible; for +they had no choice between fighting England with France as their +ally, or fighting France as the subjects of King Edward. The contest +which was approaching seemed all but hopeless. The population +of England was six times as large as that of Scotland, and Edward +could draw from Ireland and Wales great numbers of troops. The +English were trained to war by constant fighting in France, Ireland, +and Wales; while the Scots had, for a very long period, enjoyed +a profound peace, and were for the most part wholly ignorant of +warfare. +</P> + +<P> +Edward at once prepared to invade Scotland; in January he seized +the lands owned by Comyn in Northumberland and sold them, directing +the money to be applied to the raising and maintenance of 1000 +men-at-arms and 60,000 foot soldiers, and in February issued a writ +for the preparation of a fleet of 100 vessels. +</P> + +<P> +On the 25th of March he crossed the Tweed with 5000 horse and 30,000 +foot. The Scotch leaders were, of course, aware of the gathering +storm, and, collecting their forces, attempted a diversion by +crossing the Border to the west and making a raid into Cumberland. +King Edward, however, marched north and besieged Berwick, the richest +and most flourishing of the towns of Scotland. With the exception +of the castle, it was weakly fortified. The attack was commenced +by the fleet, who were, however, repulsed and driven off. A land +assault, led by the king in person, was then made; the walls were +captured, and the town completely sacked. The inhabitants were +butchered without distinction of age, sex, or condition, and even +those who fled to the churches were slain within the sanctuary. +Contemporary accounts differ as to the numbers who perished on this +occasion. Langtoff says 4000; Hemingford, 8000; Knighton, another +English writer, says 17,000; and Matthew of Westminster, 60,000. +Whichever of these writers is correct, it is certain that almost +the whole of the men, women, and children of the largest and most +populous Scottish town were butchered by the orders of the English +king, who issued direct orders that none should be spared. From +this terrible visitation Berwick, which was before called the +Alexandria of the West, never recovered. The castle, which was held +by Sir William Douglas, surrendered immediately; and Sir William, +having sworn fealty to the English king, was permitted to depart. +</P> + +<P> +The English army now marched north. Patrick, Earl of Dunbar, +was with King Edward; but his wife, a noble and patriotic woman, +surrendered the castle to the Scots. The Earl of Surrey, with +a powerful army, sat down before it. The Scotch nobles and people +marched in great numbers, but with little order and discipline, +to raise the siege. They were met by Surrey, whose force, inured +to arms, easily routed the Scotch gathering, no fewer than 10,000 +being killed in the conflict and retreat. The English army was +joined by 15,000 Welsh and 30,000 from Ireland, and marched through +Scotland, the castles and towns opening their gates to Edward as +he came, and the nobles, headed by James the Stewart, coming in and +doing homage to him. Baliol was forced to appear in the churchyard +of Strath-Cathro, near Montrose, arrayed in regal robes, and to +resign his kingdom to the Bishop of Durham as Edward's representative, +and to repeat the act a few days afterwards at Brechin in presence +of the king himself. He was then, with his son, sent a prisoner to +London, where they were confined in the Tower for several years. +From Brechin Edward marched through the whole of Scotland, visiting +all the principal towns. He had now dropped the title of Lord +Paramount of Scotland, the country being considered as virtually +part of England. Garrisons were placed in every stronghold in the +country, and many new castles were raised to dominate the people. +The public documents were all carried away to England, the great +seal broken in pieces, and the stone of Scone—upon which, for +five hundred years, every Scotch monarch had been crowned—was +carried away to Westminster, where it has ever since formed the +seat of the thrones upon which English monarchs have been crowned. +</P> + +<P> +The tide of war had not passed near Glen Cairn; but the excitement, +as from time to time the news came of stirring events, was very +great. The tidings of the massacre of Berwick filled all with +consternation and grief. Some of the men quitted their homes and +fought at Dunbar, and fully half of these never returned; but great +as was the humiliation and grief at the reverses which had befallen +the Scotch arms, the feeling was even deeper and more bitter at the +readiness with which the whole of the Scotch nobles flocked in to +make their peace with King Edward. +</P> + +<P> +It seemed so incredible that Scotland, which had so long successfully +resisted all invaders, should now tamely yield without a struggle, +that the people could scarce believe it possible that their boasted +freedom was gone, that the kingdom of Scotland was no more, and the +country become a mere portion of England. Thus, while the nobles +with their Norman blood and connections accepted the new state of +things contentedly enough, well satisfied to have retained rank and +land, a deep and sullen discontent reigned among the people; they +had been betrayed rather than conquered, and were determined that +some day there should be an uprising, and that Scotland would make +a great effort yet for freedom. But for this a leader was needed, +and until such a one appeared the people rested quiet and bided +their time. +</P> + +<P> +From time to time there came to Glen Cairn tales of the doings of +that William Wallace who had, when the English first garrisoned the +Scottish castles, while Edward was choosing between the competitors +for her throne, killed young Selbye at Dundee, and had been outlawed +for the deed. After that he went and resided with his uncle, Sir +Ronald Crawford, and then with another uncle, Sir Richard Wallace +of Riccarton. Here he gathered a party of young men, eager spirits +like himself, and swore perpetual hostility to the English. +</P> + +<P> +One day Wallace was fishing in the Irvine when Earl Percy, the +governor of Ayr, rode past with a numerous train. Five of them +remained behind and asked Wallace for the fish he had taken. He +replied that they were welcome to half of them. Not satisfied with +this, they seized the basket and prepared to carry it off. Wallace +resisted, and one of them drew his sword. Wallace seized the staff +of his net and struck his opponent's sword from his hand; this he +snatched up and stood on guard, while the other four rushed upon +him. Wallace smote the first so terrible a blow that his head was +cloven from skull to collarbone; with the next blow he severed the +right arm of another, and then disabled a third. The other two +fled, and overtaking the earl, called on him for help; "for," they +said, "three of our number who stayed behind with us to take some +fish from the Scot who was fishing are killed or disabled." +</P> + +<P> +"How many were your assailants?" asked the earl. +</P> + +<P> +"But the man himself," they answered; "a desperate fellow whom we +could not withstand." +</P> + +<P> +"I have a brave company of followers!" the earl said with scorn. +"You allow one Scot to overmatch five of you! I shall not return +to seek for your adversary; for were I to find him I should respect +him too much to do him harm." +</P> + +<P> +Fearing that after this adventure he could no longer remain in +safety with his uncle, Wallace left him and took up his abode in +Lag Lane Wood, where his friends joining him, they lived a wild +life together, hunting game and making many expeditions through the +country. On one occasion he entered Ayr in disguise; in the middle +of a crowd he saw some English soldiers, who were boasting that they +were superior to the Scots in strength and feats of arms. One of +them, a strong fellow, was declaring that he could lift a greater +weight than any two Scots. He carried a pole, with which he offered, +for a groat, to let any Scotchman strike him on the back as hard +as he pleased, saying that no Scotchman could strike hard enough +to hurt him. +</P> + +<P> +Wallace offered him three groats for a blow. The soldier eagerly +accepted the money, and Wallace struck him so mighty a blow that +his back was broken and he fell dead on the ground. His comrades +drew their swords and rushed at Wallace, who slew two with the +pole, and when it broke drew the long sword which was hidden in +his garments, and cut his way through them. +</P> + +<P> +On another occasion he again had a fracas with the English in Ayr, +and after killing many was taken prisoner. Earl Percy was away, +and his lieutenant did not venture to execute him until his return. +A messenger was sent to the Earl, but returned with strict orders +that nothing should be done to the prisoner until he came back. +The bad diet and foul air of the dungeon suited him so ill, after +his free life in the woods, that he fell ill, and was reduced +to so weak a state that he lay like one dead—the jailer indeed +thought that he was so, and he was carried out to be cast into the +prison burial ground, when a woman, who had been his nurse, begged +his body. She had it carried to her house, and then discovered that +life yet remained, and by great care and good nursing succeeded +in restoring him. In order to prevent suspicion that he was still +alive a fictitious funeral was performed. On recovering, Wallace +had other frays with the English, all of which greatly increased +his reputation throughout that part of the country, so that more +adherents came to him, and his band began to be formidable. He +gradually introduced an organization among those who were found to +be friendly to the cause, and by bugle notes taken up and repeated +from spot to spot orders could be despatched over a wide extent of +country, by which the members of his band knew whether to assemble +or disperse, to prepare to attack an enemy, or to retire to their +fastnesses. +</P> + +<P> +The first enterprise of real importance performed by the band was +an attack by Wallace and fifty of his associates on a party of +soldiers, 200 strong, conveying provisions from Carlisle to the +garrison of Ayr. They were under the command of John Fenwick, +the same officer who had been at the head of the troop by which +Wallace's father had been killed. Fenwick left twenty of his men +to defend the wagons, and with the rest rode forward against the +Scots. A stone wall checked their progress, and the Scotch, taking +advantage of the momentary confusion, made a furious charge upon +them with their spears, cutting their way into the midst of them +and making a great slaughter of men and horses. The English rode +round and round them, but the Scots, defending themselves with spear +and sword, stood so staunchly together that the English could not +break through. +</P> + +<P> +The battle was long and desperate, but Wallace killed Fenwick with +his own hand, and after losing nigh a hundred of their number the +English fled in confusion. The whole convoy fell into the hands of +the victors, who became possessed of several wagons, 200 carriage +horses, flour, wine, and other stores in great abundance; with +these they retired into the forest of Clydesdale. +</P> + +<P> +The fame of this exploit greatly increased the number of Wallace's +followers. So formidable did the gathering become that convoys by +land to Ayr were entirely interrupted, and Earl Percy held a council +of the nobility at Glasgow, and consulted them as to what had best +be done. Finally, Sir Ronald Crawford was summoned and told that +unless he induced his nephew to desist from hostilities they should +hold him responsible and waste his lands. Sir Ronald visited the +band in Clydesdale forest, and rather than harm should come upon +him, Wallace and his friends agreed to a truce for two months. Their +plunder was stowed away in places of safety, and a portion of the +band being left to guard it the rest dispersed to their homes. +</P> + +<P> +Wallace returned to his uncle's, but was unable long to remain +inactive, and taking fifteen followers he went with them in disguise +to Ayr. Wallace, as usual, was not long before he got into a +quarrel. An English fencing master, armed with sword and buckler, +was in an open place in the city, challenging any one to encounter +him. Several Scots tried their fortune and were defeated, and then +seeing Wallace towering above the crowd he challenged him. Wallace +at once accepted, and after guarding himself for some time, with +a mighty sweep of his sword cleft through buckler, arm, headpiece, +and skull. The English soldiers around at once attacked him; his +friends rallied round him, and after hard fighting they made their +way to the spot where they had left their horses and rode to Lag +Lane Wood. +</P> + +<P> +When Earl Percy heard that Wallace had been the leader in this +fray, and found on inquiry that he had slain the sword player in +fair fight after having been challenged by him, he refused to regard +him as having broken the truce, for he said the soldiers had done +wrong in attacking him. Earl Percy was himself a most gallant +soldier, and the extraordinary personal prowess of Wallace excited +in him the warmest admiration, and he would fain, if it had been +possible, have attached him to the service of England. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the truce was over Wallace again attacked the English. +For a time he abode with the Earl of Lennox, who was one of the +few who had refused to take the oath of allegiance, and having +recruited his force, he stormed the stronghold called the Peel +of Gargunnock, near Stirling. Then he entered Perth, leaving his +followers in Methven Wood, and hearing that an English reinforcement +was upon the march, formed an ambush, fell upon them, and defeated +them; and pressing hotly upon them entered so close on their heels +into Kincleven Castle, that the garrison had no time to close the +gate, and the place was captured. Great stores and booty were found +here; these were carried to the woods, and the castle was burned +to the ground, as that of Gargunnock had been, as Wallace's force +was too small to enable him to hold these strongholds. Indignant +at this enterprise so close to their walls the English moved out +the whole garrison, 1000 strong, against Wallace, who had with him +but fifty men in all. After a desperate defence, in which Sir John +Butler and Sir William de Loraine, the two officers in command, +were killed by Wallace himself, the latter succeeded in drawing off +his men; 120 of the English were killed in the struggle, of whom +more than twenty are said to have fallen at the hands of Wallace +alone. Many other similar deeds did Wallace perform; his fame grew +more and more, as did the feeling among the Scotch peasantry that +in him they had found their champion and leader. +</P> + +<P> +Archie eagerly drank in the tale of Wallace's exploits, and his soul +was fired by the desire to follow so valiant a leader. He was now +sixteen, his frame was set and vigorous, and exercise and constant +practice with arms had hardened his muscles. He became restless +with his life of inactivity; and his mother, seeing that her quiet +and secluded existence was no longer suitable for him, resolved +to send him to her sister's husband, Sir Robert Gordon, who dwelt +near Lanark. Upon the night before he started she had a long talk +with him. +</P> + +<P> +"I have long observed, my boy," she said, "the eagerness with +which you constantly practise at arms; and Sandy tells me that he +can no longer defend himself against you. Sandy, indeed is not a +young man, but he is still hale and stout, and has lost but little +of his strength. Therefore it seems that, though but a boy, you may +be considered to have a man's strength, for your father regarded +Sandy as one of the stoutest and most skilful of his men-at-arms. +I know what is in your thoughts; that you long to follow in +your father's footsteps, and to win back the possessions of which +you have been despoiled by the Kerrs. But beware, my boy; you are +yet but young; you have no friends or protectors, save Sir Robert +Gordon, who is a peaceable man, and goes with the times; while +the Kerrs are a powerful family, able to put a strong body in the +field, and having many powerful friends and connections throughout +the country. It is our obscurity which has so far saved you, for +Sir John Kerr would crush you without mercy did he dream that you +could ever become formidable; and he is surrounded by ruthless +retainers, who would at a word from him take your life; therefore +think not for years to come to match yourself against the Kerrs. +You must gain a name and a following and powerful friends before +you move a step in that direction; but I firmly believe that the +time will come when you will become lord of Glencairn and the hills +around it. Next, my boy, I see that your thoughts are ever running +upon the state of servitude to which Scotland is reduced, and have +marked how eagerly you listen to the deeds of that gallant young +champion, Sir William Wallace. When the time comes I would hold +you back from no enterprise in the cause of our country; but at +present this is hopeless. Valiant as may be the deeds which Wallace +and his band perform, they are as vain as the strokes of reeds upon +armour against the power of England." +</P> + +<P> +"But, mother, his following may swell to an army." +</P> + +<P> +"Even so, Archie; but even as an army it would be but as chaff before +the wind against an English array. What can a crowd of peasants, +however valiant, do against the trained and disciplined battle of +England. You saw how at Dunbar the Earl of Surrey scattered them +like sheep, and then many of the Scotch nobles were present. So +far there is no sign of any of the Scottish nobles giving aid or +countenance to Wallace, and even should he gather an army, fear +for the loss of their estates, a jealousy of this young leader, +and the Norman blood in their veins, will bind them to England, +and the Scotch would have to face not only the army of the invader, +but the feudal forces of our own nobles. I say not that enterprises +like those of Wallace do not aid the cause, for they do so greatly +by exciting the spirit and enthusiasm of the people at large, as +they have done in your case. They show them that the English are +not invincible, and that even when in greatly superior numbers +they may be defeated by Scotchmen who love their country. They keep +alive the spirit of resistance and of hope, and prepare the time +when the country shall make a general effort. Until that time +comes, my son, resistance against the English power is vain. Even +were it not so, you are too young to take part in such strife, but +when you attain the age of manhood, if you should still wish to +join the bands of Wallace—that is, if he be still able to make +head against the English—I will not say nay. Here, my son, +is your father's sword. Sandy picked it up as he lay slain on the +hearthstone, and hid it away; but now I can trust it with you. May +it be drawn some day in the cause of Scotland! And now, my boy, +the hour is late, and you had best to bed, for it were well that +you made an early start for Lanark." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning Archie started soon after daybreak. On his back +he carried a wallet, in which was a new suit of clothes suitable +for one of the rank of a gentleman, which his mother had with great +stint and difficulty procured for him. He strode briskly along, +proud of the possession of a sword for the first time. It was in +itself a badge of manhood, for at that time all men went armed. +</P> + +<P> +As he neared the gates of Lanark he saw a party issue out and ride +towards him, and recognized in their leader Sir John Kerr. Pulling +his cap down over his eyes, he strode forward, keeping by the side +of the road that the horsemen might pass freely, but paying no heed +to them otherwise. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo, sirrah!" Sir John exclaimed, reining in his horse, "who +are you who pass a knight and a gentleman on the highway without +vailing his bonnet in respect?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am a gentleman and the son of a knight," Archie said, looking +fearlessly up into the face of his questioner. "I am Archie Forbes, +and I vail my bonnet to no man living save those whom I respect +and honour." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, without another word he strode forward to the town. Sir +John looked darkly after him. +</P> + +<P> +"Red Roy," he said sternly, turning to one who rode behind him, +"you have failed in your trust. I told you to watch the boy, and +from time to time you brought me news that he was growing up but +a village churl. He is no churl, and unless I mistake me, he will +some day be dangerous. Let me know when he next returns to the +village; we must then take speedy steps for preventing him from +becoming troublesome." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Sir William Wallace +</H3> + +<P> +Archie's coming had been expected by Sir Robert Gordon, and he was +warmly welcomed. He had once or twice a year paid short visits to +the house, but his mother could not bring herself to part with him +for more than a few days at a time; and so long as he needed only +such rudiments of learning as were deemed useful at the time, she +herself was fully able to teach them; but now that the time had come +when it was needful that he should be perfected in the exercises +of arms, she felt it necessary to relinquish him. +</P> + +<P> +Sir Robert Gordon had no children of his own, and regarded his +nephew as his heir, and had readily undertaken to provide him with +the best instruction which could be obtained in Lanark. There was +resident in the town a man who had served for many years in the +army of the King of France, and had been master of arms in his +regiment. His skill with his sword was considered marvellous by +his countrymen at Lanark, for the scientific use of weapons was as +yet but little known in Scotland, and he had also in several trials +of skill easily worsted the best swordsmen in the English garrison. +</P> + +<P> +Sir Robert Gordon at once engaged this man as instructor to Archie. +As his residence was three miles from the town, and the lad urged +that two or three hours a day of practice would by no means satisfy +him, a room was provided, and his instructor took up his abode in +the castle. Here, from early morning until night, Archie practised, +with only such intervals for rest as were demanded by his master +himself. The latter, pleased with so eager a pupil, astonished at +first at the skill and strength which he already possessed, and +seeing in him one who would do more than justice to all pains that +he could bestow upon him, grudged no labour in bringing him forward +and in teaching him all he knew. +</P> + +<P> +"He is already an excellent swordsman," he said at the end of +the first week's work to Sir Robert Gordon; "he is well nigh as +strong as a man, with all the quickness and activity of a boy. In +straightforward fighting he needs but little teaching. Of the finer +strokes he as yet knows nothing; but such a pupil will learn as +much in a week as the ordinary slow blooded learner will acquire +in a year. In three months I warrant I will teach him all I know, +and will engage that he shall be a match for any Englishman north +of the Tweed, save in the matter of downright strength; that he will +get in time, for he promises to grow out into a tall and stalwart +man, and it will need a goodly champion to hold his own against +him when he comes to his full growth." +</P> + +<P> +In the intervals of pike and sword play Sir Robert Gordon himself +instructed him in equitation; but the lad did not take to this so +kindly as he did to his other exercises, saying that he hoped he +should always have to fight on foot. Still, as his uncle pointed +out that assuredly this would not be the case, since in battle +knights and squires always fought on horseback, he strove hard to +acquire a firm and steady seat. Of an evening Archie sat with his +uncle and aunt, the latter reading, the former relating stories of +Scotch history and of the goings and genealogies of great families. +Sometimes there were friends staying in the castle; for Sir Robert +Gordon, although by no means a wealthy knight, was greatly liked, +and, being of an hospitable nature, was glad to have guests in the +house. +</P> + +<P> +Their nearest neighbour was Mistress Marion Bradfute of Lamington, +near Ellerslie. She was a young lady of great beauty. Her father had +been for some time dead, and she had but lately lost her mother, +who had been a great friend of Lady Gordon. With her lived as +companion and guardian an aunt, the sister of her mother. +</P> + +<P> +Mistress Bradfute, besides her estate of Lamington, possessed +a house in Lanark; and she was frequently at Sir Robert's castle, +he having been named one of her guardians under her father's will. +Often in the evening the conversation turned upon the situation +of Scotland, the cruelty and oppression of the English, and the +chances of Scotland some day ridding herself of the domination. +</P> + +<P> +Sir Robert ever spoke guardedly, for he was one who loved not strife, +and the enthusiasm of Archie caused him much anxiety; he often, +therefore, pointed out to him the madness of efforts of isolated +parties like those of Wallace, which, he maintained, advanced in +no way the freedom of the country, while they enraged the English +and caused them to redouble the harshness and oppression of their +rule. Wallace's name was frequently mentioned, and Archie always +spoke with enthusiasm of his hero; and he could see that, although +Mistress Bradfute said but little, she fully shared his views. It +was but natural that Wallace's name should come so often forward, +for his deeds, his hairbreadth escapes, his marvellous personal +strength and courage, were the theme of talk in every Scotch home; +but at Lanark at present it was specially prominent, for with his +band he had taken up his abode in a wild and broken country known +as Cart Lane Craigs, and more than once he had entered Lanark and +had had frays with the English soldiers there. +</P> + +<P> +It was near a year since the defeat of Dunbar; and although the +feats of Wallace in storming small fortalices and cutting off English +convoys had excited at once hope amongst the Scotch and anger in the +English, the hold of the latter on the conquered country appeared +more settled than ever. Wallace's adherents had indeed gained in +strength; but they were still regarded as a mere band of outlaws +who might be troublesome, but were in no degree formidable. +</P> + +<P> +Every great town and hold throughout Scotland was garrisoned by +English in force deemed amply sufficient to repress any trouble +which might arise, while behind them was the whole power of England +ready to march north in case it should be needed. It seemed, indeed, +that Scotland was completely and for ever subjugated. +</P> + +<P> +One afternoon, when Archie had escorted Mistress Bradfute to +Lamington, she said to him as he bade her farewell: +</P> + +<P> +"I think you can keep a secret, Master Forbes." +</P> + +<P> +"I trust so," Archie replied. +</P> + +<P> +"I know how much you admire and reverence Sir William Wallace. If +you will come hither this evening, at eight o'clock, you shall see +him." +</P> + +<P> +Archie uttered an exclamation of delight and surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Mind, Archie, I am telling you a secret which is known only to +Sir William himself and a few of his chosen followers; but I have +obtained his permission to divulge it to you, assuring him that +you can be fully trusted." +</P> + +<P> +"I would lay down my life for him," the lad said. +</P> + +<P> +"I think you would, Archie; and so would I, for Sir William Wallace +is my husband!" +</P> + +<P> +Archie gave a gasp of astonishment and surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she repeated, "he is my husband. And now ride back to your +uncle's. I left the piece of embroidery upon which I was working on +your aunt's table. It will be a good excuse for you to ride over +with it this evening." So saying, she sprang lightly from the +pillion on which she had been riding behind Archie. The lad rode +back in wild excitement at the thought that before night he was +to see his hero whose deeds had, for the last three years, excited +his admiration and wonder. +</P> + +<P> +At eight o'clock exactly he drew rein again at Lamington. He was +at once admitted, and was conducted to a room where the mistress +of the house was sitting, and where beside her stood a very tall +and powerfully built young man, with a singularly handsome face +and a courteous and gentle manner which seemed altogether out of +character with the desperate adventures in which he was constantly +engaged. +</P> + +<P> +In Scotland the laws of chivalry, as they were strictly observed +in the courts of England and France, did not prevail. Sir William +Wallace had not received the order of knighthood; but in Scotch +families the prefix of Sir descended from father to eldest son, as +it does in the present day with the title of Baronet. Thus William +Wallace, when his father and elder brother were killed, succeeded +to the title. Knighthoods, or, as we should call them, baronetcies, +were bestowed in Scotland, as in England, for bravery in the field +and distinguished services. The English, with their stricter laws +of chivalry, did not recognize these hereditary titles; and Sir +William Wallace and many of his adherents who bear the prefix of +Sir in all Scotch histories, are spoken of without that title in +contemporary English documents. Archie himself had inherited the +title from his father; and the prefix was, indeed, applied to the +heads of almost all families of gentle blood in Scotland. +</P> + +<P> +"This, Sir William," Marion said, "is Sir Archibald Forbes, of whom +I have often spoken to you as one of your most fervent admirers. +He is a true Scotsman, and he yearns for the time when he may draw +his sword in the cause of his country." +</P> + +<P> +"He is over young yet," Sir William said smiling; "but time will +cure that defect. It is upon the young blood of Scotland that our +hopes rest. The elders are for the most part but half Scotchmen, and +do not feel shame for their country lying at the feet of England; +but from their sons I hope for better things. The example of my +dear friend, Sir John Grahame, is being followed; and I trust that +many young men of good family will soon join them." +</P> + +<P> +"I would that the time had come when I too could do so, sir," Archie +said warmly. "I hope that it will not be long before you may think +me capable of being admitted to the honour of fighting beside you. +Do you not remember that you yourself were but eighteen when you +slew young Selbye?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am a bad example to be followed," Sir William replied with a +smile; "besides, nature made an exception in my case and brought +me to my full strength and stature full four years before the time. +Mistress Marion tells me, however, that you too are strong beyond +your years." +</P> + +<P> +"I have practised unceasingly, sir, with my weapons for the last +two years; and deem me not boastful when I say that my instructor, +Duncan Macleod of Lanark, who is a famous swordsman, says that +I could hold my own and more against any English soldier in the +garrison." +</P> + +<P> +"I know Duncan by report," Sir William replied, "and that he is a +famous swordsman, having learned the art in France, where they are +more skilled by far than we are in Scotland. As for myself, I must +own that it is my strength rather than my skill which gives me an +advantage in a conflict; for I put my trust in a downright blow, +and find that the skill of an antagonist matters but little, seeing +that my blow will always cleave through sword as well as helm. +Nevertheless I do not decry skill, seeing that between two who +are in any ways equally matched in strength and courage the most +skilful swordsman must assuredly conquer. Well, since that be the +report of you by Master Duncan, I should think you might even take +to arms at the age that I did myself and when that time comes, +should your intentions hold the same, and the English not have made +an end of me, I shall be right glad to have you by my side. Should +you, in any of your visits to Lanark—whither, Marion tells me, you +ride frequently with Sir Robert Gordon—hear ought of intended +movements of English troops, or gather any news which it may concern +me to know, I pray you to ride hither at once. Marion has always +messengers whom she may despatch to me, seeing that I need great +care in visiting her here, lest I might be surprised by the English, +who are ever upon the lookout for me. And now farewell! Remember +that you have always a friend in William Wallace." +</P> + +<P> +Winter was now at hand, and a week or two later Mistress Marion +moved into her house in Lanark, where Archie, when he rode in, +often visited her. In one of her conversations she told him that +she had been married to Sir William nigh upon two years, and that +a daughter had been born to her who was at present kept by an old +nurse of her own in a cottage hard by Lamington. "I tell you this, +Archie," she said, "for there is no saying at what time calamity +may fall upon us. Sir William is so daring and careless that I +live in constant dread of his death or capture; and did it become +known that I am his wife, doubtless my estate would be forfeited +and myself taken prisoner; and in that case it were well that my +little daughter should find friends." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder that you do not stay at Lamington," Archie said; "for +Sir William's visits to you here may well be discovered, and both +he and you be put in peril." +</P> + +<P> +"I would gladly do so," she said; "but as you may have heard, Young +Hazelrig, the governor's son, persecutes me with his attentions; +he is moved thereto methinks rather by a desire for my possessions +than any love for myself. He frequently rode over to Lamington +to see me, and as there are necessarily many there who suspect, if +they do not know, my secret, my husband would be more likely to be +surprised in a lonely house there, than he would be in the city, +where he can always leave or enter our abode by the passage into +a back street unseen by any." +</P> + +<P> +A few days later Archie had ridden into Lanark bearing a message +from his uncle; he had put up his horse, and was walking along the +principal street when he heard a tumult and the clashing of swords; +he naturally hurried up to see what was the cause of the fray, and +he saw Sir William Wallace and a young companion defending themselves +with difficulty against a number of English soldiers led by young +Hazelrig, the son of the governor, and Sir Robert Thorne, one of +his officers. Archie stood for a few moments irresolute; but as +the number of the assailants increased, as fresh soldiers hearing +the sound of the fray came running down the street, and Sir William +and his friend, although they had slain several, were greatly +overmatched, he hesitated no longer, but, drawing his sword, rushed +through the soldiers, and placing himself by the side of Wallace, +joined in the fray. Wallace recognized him with a nod. +</P> + +<P> +"It is sooner than I bargained for, Sir Archie; but you are very +welcome. Ah! that was well smitten, and Duncan did not overpraise +your skill," he exclaimed, as Archie cut down one soldier, and +wounded another who pressed upon him. +</P> + +<P> +"They are gathering in force, Sir William," the knight's companion +said, "and if we do not cut our way through them we shall assuredly +be taken." Keeping near the wall they retreated down the street, +Archie and Sir John Grahame, for it was he, clearing the way, and +Wallace defending the rear. So terrific were the blows he dealt +that the English soldiers shrank back from attacking him. +</P> + +<P> +At this moment two horsemen rode up and reined in their horses to +witness the fray. They were father and son, and the instant the +eyes of the elder fell upon Archie he exclaimed to his son: +</P> + +<P> +"This is good fortune. That is young Forbes fighting by the side +of the outlaw Wallace. I will finish our dispute at once." +</P> + +<P> +So saying he drew his sword, and urged his horse through the +soldiers towards Archie; the latter equally recognized the enemy of +his family. Sir John aimed a sweeping blow at him. The lad parried +it, and, leaping back, struck at the horse's leg. The animal fell +instantly, and as he did so Archie struck full on the helm of Sir +John Kerr, stretching him on the ground beside his horse. +</P> + +<P> +By this time the little party had retreated down the street until +they were passing the house of Marion Bradfute. The door opened, +and Marion herself cried to them to enter. So hemmed in were they, +indeed, that further retreat was now impossible, and there being +no time for hesitation, Wallace and his companions sprang in before +their assailants could hinder them, and shut the door behind them. +</P> + +<P> +"Marion," Wallace exclaimed, "why did you do this? It mattered +not were I killed or taken; but now you have brought danger upon +yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"But it mattered much to me. What would life be worth were you +killed? Think not of danger to me. Angry as they may be, they will +hardly touch a woman. But waste no time in talking, for the door +will soon yield to their blows. Fly by the back entrance, while +there is time." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, she hurried them to the back of the house, and without +allowing them to pause for another word almost pushed them out, and +closed the door behind them. The lane was deserted; but the shouts +and clamour of the English soldiers beyond the houses rose loud in +the air. "Quick, Sir William," Sir John Grahame said, "or we shall +be cut off! They will bethink them of the back way, and send +soldiers down to intercept us." +</P> + +<P> +Such, indeed, was the case, for as they ran they heard shouts behind, +and saw some English soldiers entering the other end of the lane. +In front, however, all was clear, and running on they turned into +another street, and then down to the gate. The guard, hearing the +tumult, had turned out, and seeing them running, strove to bar +their way. Wallace, however, cleared a path by sweeping blows with +his sword, and dashing through the gates into the open country +they were safe. For some distance they ran without checking their +speed, and then as they neared a wood, where they no longer feared +pursuit, they broke into a walk. +</P> + +<P> +"My best thanks to you," Wallace said to Archie. "You have indeed +proved yourself a staunch and skilful swordsman, and Duncan's opinion +is well founded. Indeed I could wish for no stouter sword beside +me in a fight; but what will you do now? If you think that you were +not recognized you can return to your uncle; but if any there knew +you, you must even then take to the woods with me." +</P> + +<P> +"I was recognized," Archie said in a tone of satisfaction. "The +armed knight whom you saw attack me was Sir John Kerr, the slayer +of my father and the enemy of my house. Assuredly he will bring +the news of my share in the fray to the ears of the governor." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not think that he will carry any news for some time," Sir +William replied; "for that blow you gave him on the head must have +well nigh brought your quarrel to an end. It is a pity your arm +had not a little more weight, for then, assuredly you would have +slain him." +</P> + +<P> +"But the one with him was his son," Archie said, "and would know +me too; so that I shall not be safe for an hour at my uncle's." +</P> + +<P> +"In that case, Sir Archie, you must needs go with me, there being +no other way for it, and truly, now that it is proved a matter of +necessity, I am glad that it has so chanced, since I see that your +youth is indeed no drawback; and Sir John Grahame will agree with +me that there is no better sword in my company." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed," the young knight said. "I could scarce believe my +eyes when I saw one so young bear himself so stoutly. Without his +aid I could assuredly have made no way through the soldiers who +barred our retreat; and truly his sword did more execution than +mine, although I fought my best. If you will accept my friendship, +young sir, henceforth we will be brothers in arms." Colouring with +pleasure, Archie grasped the hand which the young knight held out +to him. +</P> + +<P> +"That is well said, Sir John," Wallace assented. "Hitherto you and +I have been like brothers; henceforth there will be three of us, +and I foresee that the only difficulty we shall have with this +our youngest relation will be to curb his courage and ardour. Who +knows," he went on sadly, "but that save you two I am now alone in +the world! My heart misgives me sorely as to the fate of Marion; and +were it not for the sake of Scotland, to whom my life is sworn, I +would that I had stopped and died outside her door before I entered +and brought danger upon her head. Had I had time to reflect, methinks +I would have done so; but I heard her call, I saw the open door, +and without time for thought or reflection I leapt in." +</P> + +<P> +"You must not blame yourself, Sir William," Grahame said, "for, +indeed, there was no time for thought; nor will I that it should +have been otherwise, even should harm, which I cannot believe, +befall Mistress Marion. It is on you that the hopes of Scotland +now rest. You have awakened her spirit and taught the lesson of +resistance. Soon I hope that the fire now smouldering in the breast +of every true Scotsman will burst into flame, and that Scotland +will make a great effort for freedom; but were you to fall now, +despair would seize on all and all hope of a general rising be at +an end." +</P> + +<P> +Wallace made no reply, but strode silently forward. A short distance +farther they came to the spot where three of Wallace's followers +were holding horses, for he had on his entry into Lanark, been +accompanied by another of his party, who had been slain at the +commencement of the fray. Wallace bade Archie mount the spare horse, +and they then rode to Cart Lane Craigs, scarce a word being spoken +on their journey. +</P> + +<P> +Wallace's headquarters were upon a narrow shelf of rock on the face +of a steep and craggy hill. It was well chosen against surprise, +and could be held against sudden attack even by a large force, +since both behind and in front the face of the hill was too steep +to be climbed, and the only approach was by a steep and winding +path which two men could hold against a host. The ledge was some +50 feet long by 12 wide. At the back a natural depression in the +crags had been deepened so as to form a shallow cave just deep +enough to afford a defense against the weather; here a pile of +heather served as a bed for Wallace, Grahame, and one or two others +of the leaders of his company, and here Wallace told Archie that +his place was to be. On the ledge without were some low arbours of +heather in which lay ten of Wallace's bravest companions; the rest +of his band were scattered among the surrounding hills, or in the +woods, and a bugle note repeated from place to place would call +all together in a short space of time. +</P> + +<P> +Of stores and provisions there was no lack, these having been +obtained in very large quantities from the convoys of supplies and +the castles that had been captured. Money, too, was not wanting, +considerable amounts having fallen into their hands, and the +peasantry through all the country round were glad in every way to +assist the band, whom they regarded as their champions. +</P> + +<P> +Archie sat down by Sir John Grahame, who gave him particulars +regarding the strength of the various bands, their position, the +rules which had been laid down by Wallace for their order, the system +of signals and other particulars; while Wallace paced restlessly up +and down the narrow shelf, a prey to the keenest anxiety. Towards +nightfall two of the men were despatched towards Lanark to endeavour +to find out what had taken place there; but in an hour they returned +with a woman, whom both Sir William and Archie recognized as one of +the female attendants of Marion. A single glance sufficed to tell +her tale. Her face was swollen with crying, and wore a look of +horror as well as of grief. +</P> + +<P> +"She is dead!" Wallace exclaimed in a low voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas!" the woman sobbed, "that I should have to tell it. Yes, my +dear mistress is dead; she was slain by the orders of the governor +himself, for having aided your escape." +</P> + +<P> +A groan burst from Wallace, a cry of horror and indignation from +his followers. The former turned, and without a word strode away +and threw himself upon the heather. The others, heart struck at +the cruel blow which had befallen their chief, and burning with +indignation and rage, could only utter oaths of vengeance and curses +on the English tyrants. +</P> + +<P> +After a time Grahame went to the cave, and putting his hand on +Wallace's shoulder strove to address a few words of consolation to +him. +</P> + +<P> +Sir William rose: "I have done with weeping, Grahame, or rather I +will put off my weeping until I have time for it. The first thing +to think of is vengeance, and vengeance I swear that I will have. +This night I will strike the first blow in earnest towards freeing +Scotland. It may be that God has willed it that this cruel blow, +which has been struck at me, shall be the means of bringing this +about. Hitherto, although I have hated the English and have fought +against them, it has been but fitfully and without order or method, +seeing that other things were in my heart. Henceforth I will live +but for vengeance and Scotland. Hitherto the English have regarded +me as an outlaw and a brigand. Henceforth they shall view me as an +enemy to be dreaded. Sound the signal of assembly at once. Signify +that as many as are within reach shall gather below in two hours. +There will be but few, for, not dreaming of this, the bands but +two days since dispersed. But even were there none but ourselves +it would suffice. Tonight we will take Lanark." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Capture of Lanark +</H3> + +<P> +A low shout of enthusiasm rose from Wallace's followers, and they +repeated his words as though it had been a vow: "Tonight we will +take Lanark." The notes of a bugle rang through the air, and Archie +could hear them repeated as by an echo by others far away in the +woods. +</P> + +<P> +The next two hours were spent in cooking and eating a meal; then +the party on the ledge descended the narrow path, several of their +number bearing torches. At a short distance from its foot some other +torches were seen, and fifteen men were found gathered together. +</P> + +<P> +In a few words the sad news of what had taken place at Lanark was +related to them and the determination which had been arrived at, +and then the whole party marched away to the west. Archie's heart +beat with excitement as he felt himself engaged in one of the adventures +which had so filled his thoughts and excited his admiration. An +adventure, too, far surpassing in magnitude and importance any in +which Wallace had hitherto been engaged. +</P> + +<P> +It seemed almost like an act of madness for twenty-five men to +attack a city garrisoned by over 500 English troops, defended by +strong walls; but Archie never doubted for a moment that success +would attend the enterprise, so implicit was his confidence in his +leader. When at some little distance from the town they halted, +and Wallace ordered a tree to be felled and lopped of its branches. +It was some eight inches in diameter at the butt and thirty feet +long. A rope had been brought, and this was now cut into lengths +of some four feet. Wallace placed ten of his men on each side of +the tree, and the cords being placed under it, it was lifted and +carried along with them. +</P> + +<P> +Before they started Wallace briefly gave them his orders, so that +no word need be spoken when near the town. The band were, when +they entered, to divide in three. Sir John Grahame, with a party, +was to make for the dwelling of Sir Robert Thorne. Auchinleck, who +had arrived with the party summoned by the bugle, was to arouse +the town and attack any parties of soldiers in the street, while +Wallace himself was to assault the house of Hazelrig. He bade Archie +accompany him. +</P> + +<P> +Knowing the town well Wallace led the party to the moat at a spot +facing a sally port. They moved without a word being spoken. The +men bearing the tree laid it noiselessly to the ground. Wallace +himself sprang into the moat and swam across. The splash in the +water attracted the attention of a sentry over the gate, who at +once challenged. There was no answer, and the man again shouted, +peering over the wall to endeavour to discover what had caused +the splash. In a few vigorous strokes Wallace was across, hauled +himself up to the sill of the door, and with his heavy battleaxe +smote on the chains which held up the drawbridge. Two mighty blows +and the chains yielded, and the drawbridge fell with a crash across +the moat. +</P> + +<P> +Instantly the men lifted the tree, and dashing across swung it +like a battering ram against the door—half a dozen blows, and +the oak and iron yielded before it. The door was burst in and the +party entered Lanark. The sentry on the wall had fled at once to +arouse the garrison. Instantly the three leaders started to perform +the tasks assigned to them. As yet the town lay in profound sleep, +although near the gate windows were opening and heads were being +put out to ascertain the cause of the din. As the Scots ran forward +they shouted "Death to the English, death to the bloody Hazelrig!" +The governor had long been odious for his cruelty and tyranny, and +the murder of Marion Bradfute had that day roused the indignation +of the people to the utmost. Not knowing how small was the force +that had entered the town, but hoping only that deliverers had +arrived, numbers of the burghers rose and armed themselves, and +issued forth into the streets to aid their countrymen. Wallace soon +arrived at the governor's house, and with a few blows with his axe +broke in the door; then he and his followers rushed into the house, +cutting down the frightened men as they started up with sudden +alarm, until he met Sir John Hazelrig, who had snatched up his arms +and hurried from his chamber. +</P> + +<P> +"Villain!" Wallace exclaimed, seizing him by his throat; "your time +has come to make atonement for the murder of my wife." +</P> + +<P> +Then dragging him into the street he called upon the burghers, +who were running up, to witness the execution of their tyrant, +and stepping back a pace smote off his head with his sword. Young +Hazelrig was also killed, as were all soldiers found in the house. +The alarm bells were ringing now, and in a few minutes the armed +burghers swarmed in the street. As the English soldiers, as yet +but scarce awake, and bewildered by this sudden attack, hurried +from their houses, they were fallen upon and slain by Wallace and +the townspeople. Some of those in the larger houses issuing forth +together were able to cut their way through and to make their +escape by the gates; many made for the walls, and dropping in the +moat swam across and escaped; but two hundred and fifty of their +number were left dead in the streets. The town, once cleared of the +English, gave itself up to wild rejoicings; bonfires were lighted +in the streets, the bells were rung, and the wives and daughters +of the citizens issued out to join in their rejoicing and applaud +their liberators. +</P> + +<P> +Wallace held council at once with the chief burghers. Their talk +was a grave one, for though rejoicing in the liberation of the city, +they could not but perceive that the situation was a serious one. +By the defeat and destruction of the garrison, and the slaying of +the governor, the town would bring upon itself the terrible wrath +of King Edward, and of what he was capable the murdered thousands +at Berwick sufficiently attested. However, the die was cast and there +was no drawing back, and the burghers undertook to put their town +in a state of full defence, to furnish a contingent of men-at-arms to +Wallace, and to raise a considerable sum of money to aid him in the +carrying on of the war; while he on his part undertook to endeavour, +as fast as possible, to prevent the English from concentrating their +forces for a siege of the town, by so harassing their garrisons +elsewhere that none would be able to spare troops for any general +purposes. +</P> + +<P> +Proclamations were immediately made out in the name of Wallace, +and were sent off by mounted messengers throughout the country. +In these he announced to the people of Scotland that he had raised +the national banner and had commenced a war for the freeing of the +country from the English, and that as a first step he had captured +Lanark. He called upon all true Scotchmen to rally round him. +</P> + +<P> +While the council was being held, the wives of the burghers had +taken the body of Marion from the place where it had been cast, +and where hitherto none had dared to touch it, and had prepared it +for burial, placing it in a stone coffin, such as were in use in +those days, upon a car which was covered with trappings of white and +green boughs. Soon after daybreak a great procession was formed, +and accompanied by all the matrons and maids of Lanark the body +was conveyed to the church at Ellerslie, and there buried with +the rites of the church. This sad duty ended, Wallace mounted his +horse and rode for Cart Lane Craigs, which he had named as the +rendezvous where all who loved Scotland and would follow him, were +to assemble. Archie rode first to Sir Robert Gordon's. His uncle +received him kindly. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! my boy," he said, "I feared that your wilful disposition would +have its way. You have embarked young on a stormy course, and none +can say where it will end. I myself have no hope that it can be +successful. Did the English rule depend solely on the troops which +garrison our towns and fortresses, I should believe that Wallace +might possibly expel them; but this is as nothing. Edward can march +a hundred and fifty thousand trained soldiers hither, and how will +it be possible for any gathering of Scotchmen to resist these? +However, you have chosen your course, and as it is too late to +draw back now, I would not dispirit you. Take the best of my horses +from the stable, and such arms and armour as you may choose from +the walls. Here is a purse for your own private needs, and in this +other are a hundred pounds, which I pray you hand to Sir William +Wallace. Fighting never was in my way, and I am too old to begin +now. Tell him, however, that my best wishes are with him. I have +already sent word to all my tenants that they are free, if they +choose, to follow his banner." +</P> + +<P> +"You have plenty of pikes and swords in the armoury, uncle; weapons +will be very useful; can I take some of them?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, Archie, as many as you like. But your aunt wants you +to ride at once to Glen Cairn, to ask your mother to come over here +and take up her abode till the stormy times are over. The news of +last night's doings in Lanark will travel fast, and she will be +terribly anxious. Besides, as the Kerrs are heart and soul with the +English faction, like enough they will take the opportunity of the +disturbed times, and of your being involved in the rising, to destroy +the hold altogether, seeing that so long as it stands there it is +a sort of symbol that their lordship over the lands is disputed." +</P> + +<P> +"The very thing that I was going to ask you, uncle. My mother's +position at Glen Cairn would always be on my mind. As to the +Kerrs, let them burn the castle if they will. If the rising fail, +and I am killed, the line will be extinct, and it matters little +about our hold. If we succeed, then I shall regain my own, and shall +turn the tables on the Kerrs, and will rebuild Glen Cairn twice as +strong as before. And now can I take a cart to convey the arms?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, Archie; and may they be of service in the cause. You +will, I suppose, conduct your mother hither?" +</P> + +<P> +Archie replied that he should do so, and then at once made his +preparations for the start. His uncle's armoury was well supplied, +and Archie had no difficulty in suiting himself. For work like +that which he would have to do he did not care to encumber himself +with heavy armour, but chose a light but strong steel cap, with a +curtain of mail falling so as to guard the neck and ears, leaving +only the face exposed, and a shirt of the same material. It was +of fine workmanship and of no great weight, and did not hamper +his movements. He also chose some leg pieces for wearing when on +horseback. He had already his father's sword, and needed only a +light battleaxe and a dagger to complete his offensive equipment. +Then he took down from the racks twenty swords and as many short +pikes, and bonnets strengthened with iron hoops, which, although +light, were sufficient to give much protection to the head. These +were all placed in a light cart, and with one of his uncle's +followers to drive, he took his seat in the cart, and started for +Cart Lane Craigs. +</P> + +<P> +Here he concealed the arms in a thicket, and then went up to speak +to his leader. +</P> + +<P> +"May I take ten men with me to Glen Cairn, Sir William? I am going +to fetch my mother to reside with my uncle until the storm is +over. He has sent you a hundred pounds towards the expenses of the +struggle. I want the guard because it is possible that the Kerrs +may be down there. I hear Sir John was carried away, three hours +after the fight, in a litter; it was well for him that he was not +in Lanark when we took it. But like enough this morning, if well +enough to give orders, he may be sending down to Glen Cairn to see +if I have returned, and may burn the hold over my mother's head." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly," Sir William replied. "Henceforth I will put twenty +men under your special orders, but for today Sir John Grahame shall +tell off some of his own party. Of course they will go well armed." +</P> + +<P> +Half riding in the cart and half walking by turns, the party reached +Glen Cairn late in the afternoon. The news of the fall of Lanark +had already penetrated even to that quiet village, and there was +great excitement as Archie and his party came in. One of Wallace's +messengers had passed through, and many of the men were preparing +to join him. Dame Forbes was at once proud and grieved when Archie +told her of the share which he had had in the street fray at Lanark, +and in the capture of the town. She was proud that her son should +so distinguish himself, grieved that he should, at so young an +age, have become committed to a movement of whose success she had +but little hope. However, she could not blame him, as it seemed as +if his course had been forced upon him. She agreed to start early +the next morning. +</P> + +<P> +It was well for Archie that he had brought a guard with him, +for before he had been an hour in the hold a boy ran in from the +village saying that a party of the Kerrs was close at hand, and +would be there in a few minutes. Archie set his men at once to pile +up a barricade of stones breast high at the outer gate, and took +his position there with his men. He had scarcely completed his +preparations when the trampling of horses was heard and a party +of ten men, two of whom bore torches, headed by young Allan Kerr, +rode up. They drew rein abruptly as they saw the barricade with +the line of pikes behind it. +</P> + +<P> +"What want you here, Allan Kerr?" Archie said. +</P> + +<P> +"I came in search of you, little traitor," young Kerr replied +angrily. +</P> + +<P> +"Here I am," Archie said; "why don't you come and take me?" +</P> + +<P> +Allan saw that the number of the defenders of the gate exceeded +that of his own party, and there might, for aught he knew, be more +within. +</P> + +<P> +"I will take you tomorrow," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Tomorrow never comes," Archie replied with a laugh. "Your father +thought to take me yesterday. How is the good knight? Not suffering, +I trust, greatly either in body or temper?" +</P> + +<P> +"You shall repent this, Archibald Forbes," Allan Kerr exclaimed +furiously. "It will be my turn next time." +</P> + +<P> +And turning his horse he rode off at full speed, attended by his +followers. +</P> + +<P> +"We had best start at once, Master Archie," Sandy Graham said: +"it is eight miles to the Kerrs' hold, and when Allan Kerr returns +there you may be sure they will call out their vassals and will be +here betimes in the morning. Best get another cart from the village, +for your men are weary and footsore, seeing that since yesterday +even they have been marching without ceasing. Elspie will by this +time have got supper ready. There was a row of ducks and chickens +on the spit when I came away." +</P> + +<P> +"That were best, Sandy. Do you see to their comforts, and aid my +mother pack up such things as she most values, and I will go myself +down to the village for the cart, for I wish to speak with some +there." +</P> + +<P> +Archie had no difficulty in engaging two carts, as he thought that +one would be needed for his mother and what possessions she might +take. Then he went from house to house and saw his old companions, +and told them of his plans, which filled them with delight. Having +done this he returned to the hold, hastily ate the supper which +had been put aside for him, and then saw that his mother's chests, +which contained all her possessions save a few articles of heavy +furniture, were placed in one of the carts. A bed was then laid +on its floor upon which she could sit comfortably. Elspie mounted +with her. Archie, Sandy, and the men took their places in the other +carts, and the party drove off. They had no fear of interruption, +for the Kerrs, ignorant of the number who had arrived with Archie +at Glen Cairn, would not venture to attack until they had gathered +a considerable force, and would not be likely to set out till +morning, and long before that time Dame Forbes would have arrived +at her sister's. +</P> + +<P> +The journey was indeed performed without incident, the escort +leaving them when within two or three miles of Lanark, and making +their way direct to the craigs, whither Archie, the moment he had +seen his mother safely at Sir Robert Gordon's, returned. He did +not mount the craig, but wrapping himself in his cloak lay down at +its foot. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as it was daylight he walked out a mile on the road towards +Glen Cairn. He soon saw a party approaching in military order. They +halted when they reached him. They were twenty in number, and were +the lads of his band at Glen Cairn, ranging between the ages of +sixteen and eighteen. They had originally been stronger, but some +of the elders had already joined Wallace's followers. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," Archie said, "I can explain matters farther than I did last +night. I have procured arms for you all, and I hope that you will +have opportunities of using them. But though some of you are old +enough to join Wallace's band, there are others whom he might not +deem fit to take part in such desperate enterprises. Therefore +at first make but little show of your arms. I shall present you to +Sir William, telling him that I have brought you hither to serve +as messengers, and to enter towns held by the English and gather +news, seeing that lads would be less suspected than men. But I +propose farther, what I shall not tell him, that you shall form a +sort of bodyguard to him. He takes not sufficient care of himself, +and is ever getting into perils. I propose that without his +knowing it, you shall be ever at hand when he goes into danger of +this sort, and may thus prevent his falling into the hands of his +enemies. Now, mind, lads, this is a great and honourable mission. +You must be discreet as well as brave, and ready all of you to give +your lives, if need be, for that of Scotland's champion. Your work +as messengers and scouts will be arduous and wearisome. You must +be quiet and well behaved—remember that boys' tricks and play +are out of place among men engaged in a desperate enterprise. Mingle +not much with the others. Be active and prompt in obeying orders, +and be assured that you will have opportunities of winning great +honour and credit, and of having your full share of hard knocks. +You will, as before, be divided into two companies, William Orr and +Andrew Macpherson being your lieutenants in my absence. You will +obey their orders as implicitly as mine. Cluny, you have, I suppose, +brought, as I bade you last night, some of your sister's garments?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Sir Archie," the boy, who was fair and slight, said, with a +smile on his face. +</P> + +<P> +"That is right. I know you are as hearty and strong as the rest; +but seeing that your face is the smoothest and softest of any, +you will do best should we need one in disguise as a girl. And now +come with me. I will show you where your arms are placed; but at +present you must not take them. If I led you as an armed band to +Wallace he might deem you too young. I must present you merely as +lads whom I know to be faithful and trustworthy, and who are willing +to act as messengers and scouts to his force." +</P> + +<P> +So saying Archie led the band to the thicket where he had placed +their arms, and the lads were pleased when they saw the pikes, +swords, and head pieces. Then he led them up the craig to Wallace. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, whom have you here?" Sir William exclaimed in surprise. "This +will not do, Sir Archie. All lads are not like yourself, and were +I to take such boys into my ranks I should have all the mothers in +Scotland calling out against me." +</P> + +<P> +"I have not brought them to join your ranks, Sir William, although +many of them are stout fellows who might do good service at a +pinch. I have brought them to act as messengers and scouts. They +can carry orders whithersoever you may have occasion to send. They +can act as scouts to warn you of the approach of an enemy; or if +you need news of the state of any of the enemy's garrisons, they +can go thither and enter without being suspected, when a man might +be questioned and stopped. They are all sons of my father's vassals +at Glen Cairn, and I can answer for their fidelity. I will take +them specially under my own charge, and you will ever have a fleet +and active messenger at hand when you desire to send an order." +</P> + +<P> +"The idea is not a bad one," Sir William replied; "and in such a +way a lad may well do the work of a man. Very well, Sir Archie, +since you seem to have set your mind upon it I will not say nay. +At any rate we can give the matter a trial, understanding that you +take the charge of them and are responsible for them in all ways. +Now, lads," he said turning, "you have heard that your lord, for +he is your rightful lord, and will, if Scotland gains the day, be +your real lord again, has answered for you. It is no boys' play +in which you have taken service, for the English, if they conquer +us, will show no further mercy to you than to others of my band. I +understand then that you are all prepared, if need be, to die for +Scotland. Is this so?" +</P> + +<P> +"We are, sir," the lads exclaimed together. +</P> + +<P> +"Then so be it," Sir William said. "Now, Sir Archie, do you fix +a place for their encampment, and make such other arrangements +as you may think fit. You will, of course, draw rations and other +necessaries for them as regular members of the band." +</P> + +<P> +Archie descended with his troop from the craigs, and chose a spot +where they would be apart from the others. It was a small piece of +ground cut off by the stream which wound at the foot of the craigs, +so that to reach it it was necessary to wade knee deep through the +water. This was no inconvenience to the lads, all of whom, as was +common with their class at the time, were accustomed to go barefoot, +although they sometimes wore a sort of sandal. Bushes were cut +down, and arbours made capable of containing them. The spot was +but a little distance from the foot of the path up the craigs, and +any one descending the path could be seen from it. +</P> + +<P> +Archie gave orders that one was always to be above in readiness to +start instantly with a message; that a sentry was to be placed at +the camp, who was to keep his eyes upon the path, and the moment +the one on duty above was seen to leave, the next upon the list was +to go up and take his place. None were to wander about the wood, +but all were to remain in readiness for any duty which might be +required. The two lieutenants were charged to drill them constantly +at their exercises so as to accustom them to the weight and handle +of their arms. Two were to be sent off every morning to the depot +where the provisions were issued, to draw food for the whole for +the day, and four were to be posted five miles away on the roads +leading towards the craigs to give warning of the approach of any +enemies. These were to be relieved every six hours. They were to +be entirely unarmed, and none were to issue from the camp with arms +except when specially ordered. +</P> + +<P> +Having made these arrangements, and taking with him one of the band +as the first on duty above, he rejoined Wallace at his post on the +craigs. +</P> + +<P> +Wallace's numbers now increased fast. On hearing of the fall of +Lanark, and on the receipt of the proclamation calling upon all +true Scotchmen to join him in his effort to deliver their country +from its yoke, the people began to flock in in great numbers. Richard +Wallace of Riccarton and Robert Boyd came in with such force as +they could collect from Kyle and Cunningham, among whom were not +less than 1000 horsemen. Sir John Grahame, Sir John of Tinto, and +Auchinleck assembled about 3000 mounted troops and a large number +of foot, many of whom, however, were imperfectly armed. Sir Ronald +Crawford, Wallace's uncle, being so close to Ayr, could not openly +join him, but secretly sent reinforcements and money. Many other +gentlemen joined with their followers. +</P> + +<P> +The news of the fall of Lanark and of the numbers who were flocking +to join Wallace paralysed the commanders of the English garrisons, +and for a time no steps were taken against him; but news of the +rising was instantly sent to King Edward, who, furious at this +fresh trouble in Scotland, which he had deemed finally conquered, +instantly commenced preparations for another invasion. A body of +troops was at once sent forward from England, and, being strengthened +by bodies drawn from all the garrisons, assembled at Biggar. The +army was commanded by the Earl of Kent. Heralds were sent to Wallace +offering him not only pardon but an honourable post if he would +submit, but warning him that if he refused this offer he should, +when taken, be treated as a rebel and hung. +</P> + +<P> +Wallace briefly refused submission, and said that he should be +ready to give battle on the following morning. +</P> + +<P> +At daybreak the army set forth, divided into three parts. Wallace, +with Boyd and Auchinleck, commanded one; Sir John Grahame, with +Wallace of Riccarton, the second; Sir Walter of Newbigging, with his +son David and Sir John Clinto, the third. The cavalry were placed +in front. The footmen, being imperfectly armed and disciplined, +and therefore unable to withstand the first charge of the English, +followed the cavalry. +</P> + +<P> +Before marching forward Wallace called the commanders round him +and charged them earnestly to restrain their men from plunder until +the contest was decided, pointing out that many a battle had been +lost owing to the propensity of those who gained the first advantage +to scatter for plunder. Just as the Scotch were moving, a body of +300 horsemen, well armed and equipped, from Annandale and Eskdale, +led by Halliday, Kirkpatrick, and Jardine, joined them; and with +this accession of strength they marched forward confidently against +the enemy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Treacherous Plot +</H3> + +<P> +So rapid was the advance of Wallace's army that the English had +scarce time to form when they were upon them. The Scotch charged +with extreme impetuosity among the English ranks, directing the +onslaught principally against the centre, commanded by the Earl of +Kent. +</P> + +<P> +The English resisted stoutly; but the Earl of Kent was struck down +by Wallace himself, and was with difficulty borne off the field; +and after severe fighting, the whole English army was thrown into +disorder and took to flight. Some hundreds were killed in action, +and many more in the pursuit which followed; this, however, Wallace +would not allow to be pushed too far lest the fugitives should +rally and turn. Then the victorious Scots returned to the English +camp. In this was found a great abundance of provisions, arms, +and other valuable booty. Many of the cattle were killed, and a +sumptuous feast prepared. Then Wallace had the whole of the spoil +carried off into a place of safety in the heart of a neighbouring +bog, and he himself fell back to that shelter. +</P> + +<P> +In the morning the English, who had rallied when the pursuit had +ceased, again advanced, hoping to find Wallace unprepared. They +were now commanded by the Earl of Lancaster, and had received some +reinforcements in the night. They passed over the scene of the +previous day's battle, and at last came in sight of the Scotch +army. Wallace at first advanced, and then, as if dismayed at their +superior strength, retired to the point where, in order to reach +them, the English would have to cross a portion of the bog. The +surface was covered with moss and long grass, and the treacherous +nature of the ground was unperceived by the English, who, filled +with desire to wipe out their defeat of the preceding day, charged +impetuously against the Scotch line. The movement was fatal, for +as soon as they reached the treacherous ground their horses sunk +to the saddle girths. The Scotch had dismounted on firmer ground +behind, and now advanced to the attack, some working round the +flanks of the morass, others crossing on tufts of grass, and so +fell upon the struggling mass of English. The Earl of Westmoreland +and many others of note were killed, and the Earl of Lancaster, +with the remains of his force, at once retreated south and recrossed +the Border. +</P> + +<P> +Archie had taken no part in the first battle. Wallace had asked +him whether he would fight by his side or take command of a body +of infantry; and he chose the latter alternative. Almost all the +knights and gentlemen were fighting on horse with their followers, +and Archie thought that if these were repulsed the brunt of the fray +would fall upon the infantry. On this occasion, then, he gathered +with his band of lads a hundred or so pikemen, and formed them in +order, exhorting them, whatever happened, to keep together and to +stand stoutly, even against a charge of horse. As the victory was +won entirely by the cavalry he had no opportunity of distinguishing +himself. Upon the second day, however, he did good service, +as he and his lightly armed footmen were able to cross the bog in +places impracticable to the dismounted men-at-arms in their heavy +accoutrements. +</P> + +<P> +The victory of Biggar still further swelled Wallace's forces. Sir +William Douglas joined him, and other gentlemen. A great meeting +was held at Forest Kirk, when all the leaders of Wallace's force +were present; and these agreed to acknowledge him as general of +the Scottish forces against England, with the title of Warden of +Scotland. +</P> + +<P> +King Edward was at this time busied with his wars in France, and +was unable to despatch an army capable of effecting the reconquest +of that portion of Scotland now held by Wallace; and as the English +forces in the various garrisons were insufficient for such purpose, +the Earl of Percy and the other leaders proposed a truce. This +was agreed to. Although Wallace was at the head of a considerable +force, Sir William Douglas was the only one among the Scottish +nobles of importance who had joined him; and although the successes +which he had gained were considerable, but little had been really +done towards freeing Scotland, all of whose strong places were +still in the hands of the English, and King Edward had not as yet +really put out his strength. +</P> + +<P> +The greater portion of the army of Wallace was now dispersed. +</P> + +<P> +Shortly afterwards the governor of Ayr issued a notice that a great +council would be held at that town, and all the Scotch gentlemen +of importance in the district were desired to attend. Wallace was +one of those invited; and deeming that the governor might have +some proposition of Edward to lay before them, he agreed to do so. +Although a truce had been arranged, he himself with a band of his +most devoted followers still remained under arms in the forest, +strictly keeping the truce, but holding communications with his friends +throughout the country, urging them to make every preparation, by +collecting arms and exercising their vassals, to take the field with +a better appointed force at the conclusion of the truce. Provisions +and money were in abundance, so large had been the captures effected; +but Wallace was so accustomed to the free life of the woods that he +preferred to remain there to taking up his abode in a town. Moreover, +here he was safe from treachery; for he felt sure that although the +English nobles and leaders would be incapable of breaking a truce, +yet that there were many of lower degree who would not hesitate at +any deed of treachery by which they might gain reward and credit +from their king. Archie's band were found of the greatest service +as messengers; and although he sometimes spent a few days at Sir +Robert Gordon's with his mother, he generally remained by the side +of Wallace. The spot where the Scottish leader was now staying lay +about halfway between Lanark and Ayr. +</P> + +<P> +Archie heard with uneasiness the news of the approaching council, +and Wallace's acceptance of the invitation. The fact that the Earl +of Percy, a very noble knight and gentleman, had been but lately +recalled from the governorship of Ayr and had been replaced by +one of somewhat low degree, Arlouf of Southampton, still further +increased his doubts. It seemed strange that the governorship of so +important a town—a post deemed fitting for Earl Percy—should +be bestowed on such a man, were it not that one was desired who +would not hesitate to perform an action from which any honourable +English gentleman would shrink. +</P> + +<P> +Two days before the day fixed for the council he called Cluny +Campbell and another lad named Jock Farrel to him. +</P> + +<P> +"I have a most important mission for you," he said. "You have heard +of the coming council at Ayr. I wish to find out if any evil is +intended by the governor. For this purpose you two will proceed +thither. You Cluny will put on the garments which you brought with +you; while you Jock had best go as his brother. Here is money. On +your way procure baskets and buy chickens and eggs, and take them +in with you to sell. Go hither and thither among the soldiers +and hear what they say. Gather whether among the townspeople there +is any thought that foul play may be intended by the English. Two +of the band will accompany you to within a mile of Ayr, and will +remain there in order that you may from time to time send news by +them of aught that you have gathered. Remember that the safety of +Wallace, and with it the future of Scotland, may depend upon your +care and vigilance. I would myself have undertaken the task; but +the Kerrs are now, I hear, in Ayr, and a chance meeting might ruin +all; for whatever the truce between English and Scotch, they would +assuredly keep no truce with me did they meet me. Mind, it is a +great honour that I have done you in choosing you, and is a proof +that I regard you as two of the shrewdest of my band, although the +youngest among them." +</P> + +<P> +Greatly impressed with the importance of their mission, the lads +promised to use their utmost vigilance to discover the intentions +of the governor; and a few minutes later, Cluny being attired in +his sister's clothes, and looking, as Archie laughingly said, "a +better looking girl than she was herself," they started for Ayr, +accompanied by two of their companions. They were to remain there +until the conclusion of the council, but their companions would be +relieved every six hours. Upon their way they procured two baskets, +which they filled with eggs and chickens; and then, leaving their +comrades a mile outside Ayr, fearlessly entered the town. +</P> + +<P> +The council was to take place in a large wooden building some short +distance outside the town, which was principally chosen because it +was thought by the governor that the Scotch gentlemen would have +less reluctance to meet him there than if they were asked to enter +a city with a strong garrison of English. +</P> + +<P> +The first day the lads succeeded in finding out nothing which could +give any countenance to suspicion that treachery was intended. They +had agreed to work separately, and each mingled among the groups +of citizens and soldiers, where the council was the general topic +of conversation. There was much wonder and speculation as to the +object for which the governor had summoned it, and as to the terms +which he might be expected to propound, but to none did the idea +of treachery or foul play in any way occur; and when at night they +left the town and sent off their message to Archie, the lads could +only say that all seemed fair and honest, and that none either of +the townspeople or soldiers appeared to have the least expectation +of trouble arising at the council. The following morning they +agreed that Jock should hang round the building in which the council +was to be held, and where preparations for the meeting and for a +banquet which was afterwards to take place were being made, while +Cluny should continue his inquiries within the walls. Jock hid away +his basket and joined those looking on at the preparations. Green +boughs were being carried in for decorating the walls, tables, and +benches for the banquet. These were brought from the town in country +carts, and a party of soldiers under the command of an officer +carried them in and arranged them. Several of the rustics looking +on gave their aid in carrying in the tables, in order that they +might take home to their wives an account of the appearance of the +place where the grand council was to be held. Jock thrust himself +forward, and seizing a bundle of green boughs, entered the barn. +Certainly there was nothing here to justify any suspicions. The +soldiers were laughing and joking as they made the arrangements; +clean rushes lay piled against a wall in readiness to strew over +the floor at the last moment; boughs had been nailed against the +walls, and the tables and benches were sufficient to accommodate +a considerable number. Several times Jock passed in and out, but +still without gathering a word to excite his suspicions. Presently +Arlouf himself, a powerful man with a forbidding countenance, rode +up and entered the barn. He approached the officer in command of +the preparations; and Jock, pretending to be busy in carrying his +boughs, managed to keep near so as to catch something of their +conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"Is everything prepared, Harris?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir; another half hour's work will complete everything." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think that is strong enough?" the governor asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Ay; strong enough for half a dozen of these half starved Scots." +</P> + +<P> +"One at a time will do," the governor said; and then, after a few +more words, left the barn and rode off to Ayr. +</P> + +<P> +Jock puzzled his head in vain over the meaning of the words he had +heard. The governor had while speaking been facing the door; but +to what he alluded, or what it was that the officer had declared +strong enough to hold half a dozen Scots, Jock could not in the +slightest degree make out. Still the words were strange and might +be important; and he resolved, directly the preparations were +finished and the place closed, so that there could be no chance of +his learning more, to return himself to Archie instead of sending +a message, as much might depend upon his repeating, word for word, +what he had heard, as there was somehow, he felt, a significance in +the manner in which the question had been asked and answered more +than in the words themselves. +</P> + +<P> +Cluny had all day endeavoured in vain to gather any news. He had +the day before sold some of his eggs and chickens at the governor's +house, and towards evening he determined again to go thither and +to make an attempt to enter the house, where he had heard that the +officers of the garrison were to be entertained that evening at a +banquet. "If I could but overhear what is said there, my mind would +be at rest. Certainly nothing is known to the soldiers; but it may +well be that if treachery is intended tomorrow, the governor will +this evening explain his plans to his officers." +</P> + +<P> +He had, before entering the town, again filled up his basket with +the unsold portion of Jock's stock, for which the latter had no +further occasion. The cook at the governor's, when he had purchased +the eggs on the previous day, had bade him call again, as Cluny's +prices were considerably below those in the market. It was late +in the afternoon when he again approached the house. The sentry at +the gate asked no question, seeing a girl with a basket, and Cluny +went round again to the door of the kitchen. +</P> + +<P> +"How late you are, girl!" the cook said angrily. "You told me you +would come again today, and I relied upon you, and when you did +not come it was too late, for the market was closed." +</P> + +<P> +"I was detained, sir," Cluny said, dropping a curtsey; "my mother +is ill, and I had to look after the children and get the dinner +before they went away." +</P> + +<P> +"There, don't waste time talking," the cook said, snatching the +basket from him. "I have no time to count the eggs now; let me know +the tale of them and the chickens at the same price as you charged +yesterday, and come for your money tomorrow; I have no time to pay +now. Here," he called to one of the scullions, "take out these eggs +and chickens quickly, but don't break any, and give the basket to +the girl here." +</P> + +<P> +So saying he hurried off to attend to his cooking. +</P> + +<P> +Cluny looked round. But three paces away a half open door led into +the interior of the house. His resolution was taken in a moment. +Seeing that none were looking at him he stole through the door, +his bare feet falling noiselessly on the stones. He was now in +a spacious hall. On one side was an open door, and within was a +large room with tables spread for a banquet. Cluny entered at once +and looked round for a place of concealment; none was to be seen. +Tablecloths in those days were almost unknown luxuries. The tables +were supported by trestles, and were so narrow that there was +no possibility of hiding beneath them; nor were there hangings or +other furniture behind which he could be concealed. With a beating +heart he turned the handle of a door leading into another apartment, +and found himself in a long and narrow room, used apparently as +the private office of the governor. There were many heavy chairs +in the room, ranged along the wall, and Cluny crouched in a corner +by the window beside a chair standing there. The concealment was a +poor one, and one searching would instantly detect him; but he had +no fear of a search, for he doubted not that the cook, on missing +him, would suppose that he had left at once, intending to call +for his money and basket together the next morning. It was already +growing dusk, and should no one enter the room for another half +hour he would be hidden in the shadow in the corner of the room; +but it was more probable still that no one would enter. +</P> + +<P> +The time passed slowly on, and the darkness rapidly increased. Through +the door, which Cluny had drawn to but had not tightly closed on +entering, he could hear the voices of the servants as they moved +about and completed the preparations in the banquet hall. Presently +all was quiet, but a faint light gleaming in through the crack +of the door showed that the lights were lit and that all was in +readiness for the banquet. Half an hour later and there was a heavy +trampling of feet and the sound of many voices. The door was suddenly +closed, and Cluny had no doubt that the dinner was beginning. Rising +to his feet he made to the door and listened attentively. +</P> + +<P> +A confused din met his ears, but no distinct words were audible. +He could occasionally faintly hear the clattering of plates and +the clinking of glasses. All this continued for nigh two hours, and +then a sudden quiet seemed to fall upon the assembly. Cluny heard +the door close, and guessed that the banquet was at an end and the +servitors dismissed. Now, if ever, would something of importance +be said within, and Cluny would have given his life to be able to +hear it. Many times he thought of turning the handle and opening +the door an inch or two. Locks in those days were but roughly made; +the slightest sound might attract attention, and in that case not +only would his own life be forfeited, but no news of the governor's +intentions—no matter what they might be—could reach Wallace; +so, almost holding his breath, he lay on the ground and listened +with his ear to the sill of the door. The silence was succeeded by +a steady monotonous sound as of one addressing the others. Cluny +groaned in spirit, for no word could he hear. After some minutes +the murmur ceased, and then many voices were raised together; then +one rose above the rest, and then, distinct and clear, came a voice +evidently raised in anger. +</P> + +<P> +"As you please, Master Hawkins; but if you disobey my orders, +as King Edward's governor here, you will take the consequences. I +shall at once place you in durance, and shall send report to the +king of your mutinous conduct." +</P> + +<P> +"Be that as it may," another voice replied; "whatever befall me, I +tell you, sir, that Thomas Hawkins will take no part in an act of +such foul and dastardly treachery. I am a soldier of King Edward. +I am paid to draw my sword against his enemies, and not to do the +bloody work of a murderer." +</P> + +<P> +"Seize him!" the governor shouted. "Give him in charge to the guard, +to lay in the castle dungeon." +</P> + +<P> +There was a movement of feet now heard, but Cluny waited no +longer. The angry utterances had reached his ear, and knowing that +his mission was accomplished he thought only now of escape before +detection might take place. He had noticed when he entered the room +that the windows were, as was usually the case with rooms on the +lower floors, barred; but he saw also that the bars were wide enough +apart for a lad of his slimness to crawl through. The banqueting +room was raised three steps above the hall, and the room that he +was in was upon the same level; the window was four feet from the +floor, and would therefore be probably seven or eight above the +ground without, which would account for its not being more closely +barred. He speedily climbed up to it and thrust himself through the +bars, but not without immense difficulty and great destruction to +his feminine garments. +</P> + +<P> +"Poor Janet!" Cluny laughed to himself as he dropped from the +window to the ground. "Whatever would she say were she to see the +state of her kirtle and petticoats!" +</P> + +<P> +The moon was young, but the light was sufficient to enable Cluny +to see where he was. The window opened into a lane which ran down +by the side of the governor's house, and he was soon in the principal +street. Already most of the citizens were within their houses. A +few, provided with lanterns, were picking their way along the uneven +pavement. Cluny knew that it was impossible for him to leave the +town that night; he would have given anything for a rope by which +he might lower himself from the walls, but there was no possibility +of his obtaining one. The appearance of a young girl wandering in +the streets alone at night would at once have attracted attention +and remarks. So Cluny withdrew into a dark archway, and then sat +down until the general silence told him that all had retired to +rest. Then he made his way along the street until he neared the +gateway, and there lying down by the wall he went to sleep. +</P> + +<P> +When the gate was opened in the morning Cluny waited until a few +persons had passed in and out and then approached it. "Hallo! lass," +the sergeant of the guard, who was standing there, said. "You are +a pretty figure with your torn clothes! Why, what has happened to +you?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, sir," Cluny said timidly, "I was selling my eggs +to the governor's cook, and he kept me waiting, and I did not know +that it was so late, and when I got to the gates they were shut, +and I had nowhere to go; and then, please sir, as I was wandering +about a rough soldier seized me and wanted to kiss me, and of +course I would not let him, and in the struggle he tore my clothes +dreadfully; and some burghers, who heard me scream, came up and the +man left me, and one of the burghers let me sleep in his kitchen, +and I don't know what mother will say to my clothes;" and Cluny +lifted the hem of his petticoat to his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a shame, lass," the sergeant said good temperedly; "an I +had been there I would have broke the fellow's sconce for him; but +another time, lass, you should not overstay the hour; it is not good +for young girls to be roaming at night in a town full of soldiers. +There, I hope your mother won't beat you, for, after all, it was +the fault of the governor's cook rather than yours." +</P> + +<P> +Cluny pursued his way with a quiet and depressed mien until he was +fairly out of sight of the gates. Then he lifted his petticoats to +a height which would have shocked his sister Janet, to give free +play to his limbs, and at the top of his speed dashed down the road +toward Lanark. He found his two companions waiting at the appointed +spot, but he did not pause a moment. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you mad, Cluny?" they shouted. +</P> + +<P> +And indeed the wild figure, with its tucked up garments, tearing +at full speed along the road, would have been deemed that of a mad +girl by any who had met it. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" he shouted. "Come on, it is for life or death!" and +without further word he kept on at full speed. It was some time +before his companions overtook him, for they were at first too +convulsed by laughter at Cluny's extraordinary appearance to be able +to run. But presently, sobered by the conviction that something of +extreme importance must have happened, they too started at their +best speed, and presently came up with Cluny, upon whose pace the +mile he had already run told heavily. +</P> + +<P> +"For the sake of goodness, Cluny, go slower," one of them panted +out as they came to him. "We have nine miles yet to run, and if we +go on like this we shall break down in another half mile, and have +to walk the rest." +</P> + +<P> +Cluny himself, with all his anxiety to get on, was beginning to +feel the same, and he slackened his pace to a slinging trot, which +in little over an hour brought them to the wood. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Barns of Ayr +</H3> + +<P> +Archie was anxiously awaiting the arrival of his messenger, for the +three lads were met two miles out by another who had been placed on +watch, and had come on ahead at full speed with the news of their +approach. The report brought in by Jock Farrell of the words that +he had overheard in the barn prepared for the meeting, had been +reported by Archie to Wallace. Sir John Grahame and the other +gentlemen with him all agreed that they were strange, and his friends +had strongly urged their leader not to proceed to the meeting. +Wallace, however, persisted in his resolution to do so, unless +he received stronger proofs than those afforded by the few words +dropped by the governor and his officer, which might really have +no evil meaning whatever. He could not throw doubt upon the fair +intentions of King Edward's representative, for it might well be +said that it was the grossest insult to the English to judge them +as guilty of the intention of a foul act of treachery upon such +slight foundation as this. "It would be a shame indeed," he said, +"were I, the Warden of Scotland, to shrink from appearing at +a council upon such excuse as this." The utmost that Archie could +obtain from him was that he would delay his departure in the morning +until the latest moment, in order to see if any further news came +from Ayr. +</P> + +<P> +The meeting was to be held at ten o'clock, and until a little before +nine he would not set out. He was in the act of mounting his horse +when Cluny Campbell arrived. +</P> + +<P> +"What are your news, Cluny?" Archie exclaimed, as the lads, panting +and exhausted, ran up. +</P> + +<P> +"There is treachery intended. I overheard the governor say so." +</P> + +<P> +"Come along with me," Archie exclaimed; "you are just in time, +and shall yourself tell the news. Draw your bridle, Sir William," +he exclaimed as he ran up to the spot where Sir William Wallace, +Grahame, and several other gentlemen were in the act of mounting. +"Treachery is intended—my messenger has overheard it. I know +not his tale, but question him yourself." +</P> + +<P> +Important as was the occasion, the Scottish chiefs could not resist +a smile at the wild appearance of Archie's messenger. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it a boy or a girl?" Wallace asked Archie, "for it might be +either." +</P> + +<P> +"He is one of my band, sir. I sent him dressed in this disguise as +it would be the least suspected. Now, Cluny, tell your own story." +</P> + +<P> +Cluny told his story briefly, but giving word for word the sentences +that he had heard spoken in anger by the governor and his officer. +</P> + +<P> +"I fear there can be no doubt," Wallace said gravely when the +lad had finished—"that foul play of some kind is intended, and +that it would be madness to trust ourselves in the hands of this +treacherous governor. Would that we had had the news twenty-four +hours earlier; but even now some may be saved. Sir John, will you +gallop, with all your mounted men, at full speed towards Ayr. Send +men on all the roads leading to the council, and warn any who may +not yet have arrived against entering." +</P> + +<P> +Sir John Grahame instantly gave orders to all those who had horses, +to mount and follow him at the top of their speed; and he himself, +with the other gentlemen whose horses were prepared, started at +once at full gallop. +</P> + +<P> +"Sir Archie, do you cause the 'assembly' to be sounded, and send +off your runners in all directions to bid every man who can be +collected to gather here this afternoon at three o clock. If foul +play has been done we can avenge, although we are too late to save, +and, by Heavens, a full and bloody revenge will I take." +</P> + +<P> +It was not until two in the afternoon that Sir John Grahame returned. +</P> + +<P> +"The worst has happened; I can read it in your face," Wallace +exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"It is but too true," Sir John replied. "For a time we could obtain +no information. One of my men rode forward until close to the Barns, +and reported that all seemed quiet there. A guard of soldiers were +standing round the gates, and he saw one of those invited, who had +arrived a minute before him, dismount and enter quietly. Fortunately +I was in time to stop many gentlemen who were proceeding to the +council, but more had entered before I reached there. From time +to time I sent forward men on foot who talked with those who were +standing without to watch the arrivals. Presently a terrible rumour +began to spread among them—whether the truth was known from some +coarse jest by one of the soldiers, or how it came out, I know not. +But as time went on, and the hour was long past when any fresh +arrivals could be expected, there was no longer motive for secrecy, +and the truth was openly told. Each man as he entered was stopped +just inside the door. A noose was dropped over his neck, and he +was hauled up to a hook over the door. All who entered are dead." +</P> + +<P> +A cry of indignation and rage broke from Wallace and those standing +round him, and the Scottish leader again repeated his oath to take +a bloody vengeance for the deed. +</P> + +<P> +"And who are among the murdered?" he asked, after a pause. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! Sir William," Grahame said, "your good uncle, Sir Ronald +Crawford, the Sheriff of Ayr, is one; and also Sir Richard Wallace +of Riccartoun; Sir Bryce Blair, and Sir Neil Montgomery, Boyd, +Barclay, Steuart, Kennedy, and many others." +</P> + +<P> +Wallace was overwhelmed with grief at the news that both his uncles, +to whom he was greatly attached, had perished. Most of those around +had also lost relatives and friends, and none could contain their +grief and indignation. +</P> + +<P> +"Was my uncle, Sir Robert Gordon, among the victims?" Archie +inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"No," Sir John replied; "happily he was one of the last who came +along the road." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank God for that!" Archie said earnestly; "my uncle's slowness +has saved his life. He was ever late for business or pleasure, and +my aunt was always rating him for his unpunctuality. She will not +do so again, for assuredly it has saved his life." +</P> + +<P> +The men came in but slowly, for the bands had all dispersed to +their homes, and it was only those who lived within a few miles +who could arrive in time. Little over fifty men had come in by the +hour named. With these Wallace started at once towards Ayr. Archie's +band fell in with their arms, for they too burned to revenge the +massacre, and Wallace did not refuse Archie's request that they +might join. +</P> + +<P> +"Let them come," he said; "we shall want every sword and pike +tonight." +</P> + +<P> +This was the first time that Wallace had seen the band under arms, +for at the battle of Biggar, Archie had kept them from his sight, +fearing that he might order them from the field. +</P> + +<P> +"They look well, Sir Archie, and in good military order. Hitherto +I have regarded them but as messengers, and as such they have done +good service indeed; but I see now that you have them in good order, +and that they can do other service on a pinch." +</P> + +<P> +One member of Wallace's band was left behind, with orders to wait +until seven o'clock, and then to bring on as fast as they could +march all who might arrive before that hour. The band marched to +within a mile of the barns. They then halted at a stack of straw, +and sat down while one of Archie's band went forward to see what was +being done. He reported that a great feast, at which the governor +and all the officers of the garrison, with other English dwelling +in town, were present, was just beginning in the great barn where +the massacre had taken place. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after nine o'clock the man who had been left behind, with ten +others, who had come in after Wallace had marched, came up. Each +man, by Wallace's directions, drew a great truss of straw from the +stack, and then the party, now eighty in all, marched toward the +barn. Wallace's instructions were that so soon as the work had +fairly begun, Grahame, with Archie and half the band, was to hurry +off to seize the gate of Ayr, feigning to be a portion of the guard +at the barn. +</P> + +<P> +When they approached the spot they saw that the wooden building was +brightly lit up with lights within, and the English guard, some +fifty in number, were standing carelessly without, or, seated +round fires, were carousing on wine which had been sent out by the +revellers within. +</P> + +<P> +The Scotch stole up quietly. Wallace's party, composed of half the +strength, handed their bundles of straw to the men of Grahame's +company; then with a sudden shout they fell upon the English +soldiers, while Grahame's men, running straight to the door of the +barn, threw down their trusses of straw against it, and Sir John, +snatching down a torch which burned beside the entrance, applied +fire to the mass, and then, without a moment's delay, started at a +run towards the town. Taken wholly by surprise the English soldiers +were slain by Wallace and his men almost before they had time +to seize their arms. Then the Scots gathered round the barn. The +flames were already leaping up high, and a terrible din of shouts +and cries issued from within. The doors had been opened now, but +those within were unable to force their way across the blazing mass +of straw. Many appeared at the windows and screamed for mercy, and +some leapt out, preferring to fall by the Scottish swords rather +than to await death by fire within. +</P> + +<P> +The flames rose higher and higher, and soon the whole building +was enveloped, and ere many minutes all those who had carried out, +if not planned, the massacre of Ayr had perished. In the meantime +Grahame and his party had reached the gate of Ayr. Bidding others +follow him at a distance of about a hundred yards, he himself, with +Archie and ten of his followers, ran up at full speed. +</P> + +<P> +"Quick!" he shouted to the sentry on the gate. "Lower the bridge +and let us in. We have been attacked by Wallace and the Scots, and +they will speedily be here." +</P> + +<P> +The attention of the guard had already been attracted by the sudden +burst of light by the barns. They had heard distant shouts, and +deemed that a conflagration had broken out in the banqueting hall. +Not doubting for an instant the truth of Grahame's story, they +lowered the drawbridge instantly, and Sir John and his companions +rushed across. +</P> + +<P> +The guard were only undeceived when Grahame and his followers fell +upon them with their heavy broadswords. They had left their arms +behind when they had assembled on the walls to look at the distant +flames, and were cut down to a man by the Scots. By this time the +rest of Grahame's band had arrived. +</P> + +<P> +So short and speedy had been the struggle that no alarm had been +given in the town. The inmates of a few houses near opened their +windows and looked out. +</P> + +<P> +"Come down as quickly as you may," Sir John said to them; "we have +taken Ayr." +</P> + +<P> +Several of the burghers were soon in the street. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," Sir John said, "do two of you who know the town well go +with me and point out the houses in which the English troops are +quartered; let the others go from house to house, and bid every +man come quickly with his sword to strike a blow for freedom." +</P> + +<P> +Sir John now went round the town with the guides and posted two or +more men at the door of each house occupied by the English. Soon +the armed citizens flocked into the streets, and when sufficient +were assembled the blowing of a horn gave the signal. The doors of +the houses were beaten in with axes, and, pouring in, the Scotch +slew the soldiers before they had scarce awakened from sleep. Very +few of the English in the town escaped to tell of the terrible +retaliation which had been taken for the massacre of Ayr. +</P> + +<P> +One of the few who were saved was Captain Thomas Hawkins. Archie, +mindful of the part which he had taken, and to which, indeed, the +discovery of the governor's intention was due, had hurried direct to +the prison, and when this was, with the rest of the town, taken, +discovered the English officer in chains in a dungeon, and protected +him from all molestation. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning he was brought before Wallace, who expressed to +him his admiration of the honourable course which he had adopted, +gave him a rich present out of the booty which had been captured, +and placed him on a ship bound for England. +</P> + +<P> +A week after the capture of Ayr one of Archie's band came into his +hut. Tears were running down his cheeks, and his face was swollen +with weeping. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, Jock?" Archie asked kindly. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! Sir Archie! we have bad news from Glen Cairn. One has come +hither who says that a few days since the Kerrs, with a following +of their own retainers, came down to the village. Having heard +that some of us had followed you to the wars, they took a list of +all that were missing, and Sir John called our fathers up before +him. They all swore, truly enough, that they knew nought of our +intentions, and that we had left without saying a word to them. +Sir John refused to believe them, and at first threatened to hang +them all. Then after a time he said they might draw lots, and +that two should die. My father and Allan Cunninghame drew the evil +numbers, and Kerr hung them up to the old tree on the green and put +fire to the rooftrees of all the others. Ah! but there is weeping +and wailing in Glen Cairn!" +</P> + +<P> +Archie was for a while speechless with indignation. He knew well +that this wholesale vengeance had not been taken by the Kerrs because +the sons of the cottagers of Glen Cairn had gone to join the army +of Wallace, but because he deemed them to be still attached to their +old lord; and it was to their fidelity to the Forbeses rather than +to Scotland that they owed the ruin which had befallen them. +</P> + +<P> +"My poor Jock!" he said, "I am grieved, indeed, at this misfortune. +I cannot restore your father's life, but I can from the spoils of +Ayr send a sufficient sum to Glen Cairn to rebuild the cottages +which the Kerrs have destroyed. But this will not be enough—we +will have vengeance for the foul deed. Order the band to assemble +at dusk this evening, and tell Orr and Macpherson to come here to +me at once." +</P> + +<P> +Archie had a long consultation with his two young lieutenants, +whose fathers' cottages had with the others been destroyed. +</P> + +<P> +"What we have to do," Archie said, "we must do alone. Sir William +has ample employment for his men, and I cannot ask him to weaken +his force to aid me in a private broil; nor, indeed, would any aid +short of his whole band be of use, seeing that the Kerrs can put +three hundred retainers in the field. It is not by open force that +we must fight them, but by fire and harassment. Fighting is out +of the question; but we can do him some damage without giving him +a chance of striking a blow at us. As he has lighted Glen Cairn, +so shall he see fires blazing round his own castle of Aberfilly. +We will not retaliate by hanging his crofters and vassals; but if +he or any of his men-at-arms falls into our hands, we will have +blood for blood." +</P> + +<P> +In the course of the afternoon Archie saw his chief and begged +leave to take his troop away for some time, telling Sir William of +the cruel treatment which the Kerrs had dealt at Glen Cairn, and +his determination to retaliate for the deed. +</P> + +<P> +"Aberfilly is a strong castle, Archie," Wallace said; "at least so +people say, for I have never seen it, so far does it lie removed +from the main roads. But unless by stratagem, I doubt if my force +is strong enough to capture it; nor would I attack were I sure of +capturing it without the loss of a man. The nobles and landowners +stand aloof from me; but it may be that after I have wrested some +more strong places from the English, they may join me. But I would +not on any account war against one of them now. Half the great +families are united by ties of blood or marriage. The Kerrs, we +know, are related to the Comyns and other powerful families; and +did I lift a hand against them, adieu to my chance of being joined +by the great nobles. No; openly hostile as many of them are, I must +let them go their way, and confine my efforts to attacking their +friends the English. Then they will have no excuse of personal +feud for taking side against the cause of Scotland. But this does +not apply to you. Everyone knows that there has long been a blood +feud between the Forbeses and the Kerrs, and any damage you may +do them will be counted as a private feud. I think it is a rash +adventure that you are undertaking with but a handful of boys, +although it is true that a boy can fire a roof or drive off a +bullock as well as a man. However, this I will promise you, that +if you should get into any scrape I will come with what speed I +can to your rescue, even if it embroil me with half the nobles of +Scotland. You embroiled yourself with all the power of England in +my behalf, and you will not find me slack in the hour of need. But +if I join in the fray it is to rescue my friend Archie Forbes, and +not to war against John Kerr, the ally of the English, and my own +enemy." +</P> + +<P> +Archie warmly thanked his leader, but assured him that he had no +thought of placing himself in any great peril. +</P> + +<P> +"I am not going to fight," he said, "for the Kerr and his retainers +could eat us up; we shall trust to our legs and our knowledge of +the mountains." +</P> + +<P> +After dark Archie and his band started, and arrived within ten miles +of Aberfilly on the following morning. They rested till noon, and +then again set out. When they approached one of the outlying farms +of the Kerrs, Archie halted his band, and, accompanied by four of +the stoutest and tallest of their number, went on to the crofter's +house. The man came to the door. +</P> + +<P> +"What would you, young sir?" he said to Archie. +</P> + +<P> +"I would," Archie said, "that you bear a message from me to your +lord." +</P> + +<P> +"I know not what your message may be; but frankly, I would rather +that you bore it yourself, especially if it be of a nature to anger +Sir John." +</P> + +<P> +"The message is this," Archie said quietly: "tell him that Archibald +Forbes bids him defiance, and that he will retort upon him and his +the cruelties which he has wrought in Glen Cairn, and that he will +rest not night nor day until he has revenge for the innocent blood +shed and rooftrees ruthlessly burned." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," the crofter said bluntly, "if you be Archibald Forbes, you +may even take your message yourself. Sir John cares not much upon +whose head his wrath lights, and I care not to appear before him +as a willing messenger on such an errand." +</P> + +<P> +"You may tell him," Archie said quietly, "that you are no willing +messenger; for that I told you that unless you did my errand your +house should, before morning, be a heap of smoking ashes. I have +a following hard by, and will keep my word." +</P> + +<P> +The crofter hesitated. +</P> + +<P> +"Do my bidding; and I promise you that whatever may befall the +other vassals of the Kerrs, you shall go free and unharmed." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if needs must, it must," the crofter said; "and I will +do your bidding, young sir—partly because I care not to see my +house in ruins, but more because I have heard of you as a valiant +youth who fought stoutly by the side of Wallace at Lanark and +Ayr—though, seeing that you are but a lad, I marvel much that you +should be able to hold your own in such wild company. Although +as a vassal of the Kerrs I must needs follow their banner, I need +not tell you, since you have lived so long at Glen Cairn, that the +Kerrs are feared rather than loved, and that there is many a man +among us who would lief that our lord fought not by the side of the +English. However, we must needs dance as he plays; and now I will +put on my bonnet and do your errand. Sir John can hardly blame me +greatly for doing what I needs must." +</P> + +<P> +Great was the wrath of Sir John Kerr when his vassal reported to +him the message with which he had been charged, and in his savage +fury he was with difficulty dissuaded from ordering him to be hung +for bringing such a message. His principal retainers ventured, +however, to point out that the man had acted upon compulsion, and +that the present was not the time, when he might at any moment +have to call upon them to take the field, to anger his vassals, who +would assuredly resent the undeserved death of one of their number. +</P> + +<P> +"It is past all bearing," the knight said furiously, "that an insolent +boy like this should first wound me in the streets of Lanark, and +should then cast his defiance in my teeth—a landless rascal, +whose father I killed, and whose den of a castle I but a month ago +gave to the flames. He must be mad to dare to set his power against +mine. I was a fool that I did not stamp him out long ago; but woe +betide him when we next meet! Had it not been that I was served +by a fool"—and here the angry knight turned to his henchman, Red +Roy—"this would not have happened. Who could have thought that +a man of your years could have suffered himself to be fooled by a +boy, and to bring me tales that this insolent upstart was a poor +stupid lout! By Heavens! to be thus badly served is enough to make +one mad!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Sir John," the man grumbled, "the best man will be sometimes +in error. I have done good service for you and yours, and yet ever +since we met this boy outside the gates of Lanark you have never +ceased to twit me concerning him. Rest secure that no such error +shall occur again, and that the next time I meet him I will pay him +alike for the wound he gave you and for the anger he has brought +upon my head. If you will give orders I will start at daybreak +with twenty men. I will take up his trail at the cottage of John +Frazer, and will not give up the search until I have overtaken and +slain him." +</P> + +<P> +"Do so," the knight replied, "and I will forgive your having +been so easily fooled. But this fellow may have some of Wallace's +followers with him, and contemptible as the rabble are, we had best +be on our guard. Send round to all my vassals, and tell them to +keep good watch and ward, and keep a party of retainers under arms +all night in readiness to sally out in case of alarm." +</P> + +<P> +The night, however, passed quietly. The next day the knight sallied +out with a strong party of retainers, and searched the woods and +lower slopes of the hill, but could find no signs of Archie and +his followers, and at nightfall returned to the castle in a rage, +declaring that the defiance sent him was a mere piece of insolent +bravado. Nevertheless, he kept the horses again saddled all night +ready to issue out at the slightest alarm. Soon after midnight +flames suddenly burst out at a dozen of the homesteads. At the +warder's shout of alarm Sir John Kerr and his men-at-arms instantly +mounted. The gate was thrown open and the drawbridge lowered, and +Sir John rode out at the head of his following. He was within a +few feet of the outer end of the drawbridge when the chains which +supported this suddenly snapped. The drawbridge fell into the moat, +plunging all those upon it into the water. +</P> + +<P> +Archie, with his band, after detaching some of their number to fire +the homesteads, had crept up unperceived in the darkness to the +end of the drawbridge, and had noiselessly cut the two projecting +beams upon which its end rested when it was lowered. He had intended +to carry out this plan on the previous night, but when darkness set +in not a breath of wind was stirring, and the night was so still +that he deemed that the operation of sawing through the beams could +not be effected without attracting the attention of the warders +on the wall, and had therefore retreated far up in the recesses of +the hills. The next night, however, was windy, and well suited to +his purpose, and the work had been carried out without attracting +the attention of the warders. When Kerr and his men-at-arms rode +out, the whole weight of the drawbridge and of the horsemen crossing +it was thrown entirely upon the chains, and these yielded to a +strain far greater than they were calculated to support. +</P> + +<P> +The instant the men-at-arms were precipitated into the moat, Archie +and his companions, who had been lying down near its edge, leapt to +their feet, and opened fire with their bows and arrows upon them. +It was well for Sir John and his retainers that they had not stopped to +buckle on their defensive armour. Had they done so every man must +have been drowned in the deep waters. As it was, several were killed +with the arrows, and two or three by the hoofs of the struggling +horses. Sir John himself, with six of the eighteen men who had +fallen into the moat, succeeded in climbing up the drawbridge and +regaining the castle. A fire of arrows was at once opened from the +walls, but Archie and his followers were already out of bowshot; +and knowing that the fires would call in a few minutes to the spot +a number of the Kerr's vassals more than sufficient to crush them +without the assistance of those in the castle, they again made for +the hills, well satisfied with the first blow they had struck at +their enemies. +</P> + +<P> +The rage of Sir John Kerr was beyond all expression. He had himself +been twice struck by arrows, and the smart of his wounds added to +his fury. By the light of the burning barns the garrison were enabled +to see how small was the party which had made this audacious attack +upon them; and this increased their wrath. Men were instantly set +at work to raise the drawbridge from the moat, to repair the chains, +and to replace the timbers upon which it rested; and a summons was +despatched to the whole of the vassals to be at the castle in arms +by daybreak. +</P> + +<P> +Again the woods were searched without success, and the band then +divided into five parties, each forty strong. They proceeded to +explore the hills; but the Pentlands afforded numerous hiding places +to those, like Archie and most of his band, well acquainted with +the country; and after searching till nightfall the parties retired, +worn out and disheartened, to the castle. That night three of the +outlying farms were in flames, and the cattle were slaughtered in +their byres, but no attack was made upon the dwelling houses. The +following night Sir John distributed the whole of his vassals among +the farms lying farthest from the castle, putting twenty men in +each; but to his fury this time it was five homesteads nearer at +hand which were fired. The instant the first outburst of flame was +discovered the retainers hurried to the spot; but by the time they +reached it no sign of the assailants was visible; the flames had +however taken too good a hold of the various barns and outbuildings +to be extinguished. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Cave in the Pentlands +</H3> + +<P> +John Kerr was well nigh beside himself with fury. +</P> + +<P> +If this was to go on, the whole of his estate would be harried, +his vassals ruined, and his revenues stopped, and this by a mere +handful of foes. Again he started with his vassals to explore the +hills, this time in parties of ten only, so as to explore thoroughly +a larger space of ground. When at evening the men returned, it was +found that but two men of one of the parties, composed entirely of +men-at-arms from the castle, came back. They reported that when +in a narrow ravine showers of rocks were hurled down upon them from +both sides. Four of their number were killed at once, and four +others had fallen pierced by arrows from an unseen foe as they fled +back down the ravine. +</P> + +<P> +"Methinks, Sir John," Red Roy said, "that I know the place where +the Forbeses may have taken up their abode. When I was a boy I +was tending a herd of goats far up in the hills, and near the pass +where this mischance has today befallen us I found a cave in the +mountain's side. Its entrance was hidden by bushes, and I should +not have found it had not one of the goats entered the bush and +remained there so long that I went to see what he was doing. There +I found a cave. The entrance was but three feet high, but inside +it widened out into a great cavern, where fifty men could shelter. +Perchance Archie Forbes or some of his band may also have discovered +it; and if so, they might well think that no better place of +concealment could be found." +</P> + +<P> +"We will search it tomorrow," the knight said. "Tell the vassals +to gather here three hours before daybreak. We will start so as +to be there soon after sunrise. If they are on foot again tonight +they will then be asleep. Did you follow the cave and discover +whether it had any other entrances beyond that by which you entered?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know not," the henchman replied; "it goes a long way into the +hills, and there are several inner passages; but these I did not +explore, for I was alone and feared being lost in them." +</P> + +<P> +The next night some more homesteads were burnt, but this time the +vassals did not turn out, as they had been told to rest until the +appointed hour whatever might befall. +</P> + +<P> +Three hours before daybreak a party of fifty picked men assembled +at the castle, for this force was deemed to be ample. The two men +who had escaped from the attack on the previous day led the way +to the ravine, and there Red Roy became the guide and led the band +far up the hillside. Had it been possible they would have surrounded +the cave before daylight, but Roy said that it was so long since +he had first found the cave, that he could not lead them there +in the dark, but would need daylight to enable him to recognize +the surroundings. Even when daylight came he was for some time at +fault, but he at last pointed to a clump of bushes, growing on a +broken and precipitous face of rock, as the place where the cave +was situated. +</P> + +<P> +Red Roy was right in his conjecture. Archie had once, when wandering +among the hills, shot at a wild cat and wounded it, and had followed +it to the cave to which it had fled, and seeing it an advantageous +place of concealment had, when he determined to harry the district +of the Kerrs, fixed upon it as the hiding place for his band. Deeming +it possible, however, that its existence might be known to others, +he always placed a sentry on watch; and on the approach of the Kerrs, +Cluny Campbell, who happened to be on guard, ran in and roused the +band with the news that the Kerrs were below. Archie immediately +crept out and reconnoitred them; from the bushes he could see that +his foes were for the present at fault. Sir John himself was standing +apart from the rest, with Red Roy, who was narrowly scrutinizing +the face of the cliff, and Archie guessed at once that they were +aware of the existence of the cavern, though at present they could +not determine the exact spot where it was situated. It was too late +to retreat now, for the face of the hill was too steep to climb +to its crest, and their retreat below was cut off by the Kerrs. He +therefore returned to the cave, leaving Cluny on guard. +</P> + +<P> +"They are not sure as to the situation of the cave yet," he said, +"but they will find it. We can hold the mouth against them for any +time, but they might smoke us out, that is our real danger; or if +they fail in that, they may try starvation. Do half a dozen of you +take brands at once from the embers and explore all the windings +behind us; they are so narrow and low that hitherto we have not +deemed it worth while to examine them, but now they are really our +only hope; some of them may lead round to the face of the hill, +and in that case we may find some way by which we may circumvent +the Kerrs." +</P> + +<P> +Six of the lads at once started with flaming pine knots, while +Archie returned to the entrance. Just as he took his place there +he saw Red Roy pointing towards the bushes. A minute or two later +Sir John and his followers began to advance. Archie now called out +the rest of his band, who silently took their places in the bushes +beside him. Led by Sir John and his personal retainers, the assailants +approached the foot of the rocks and began to make their way up, +using the utmost precaution to avoid any noise. There was no longer +any need for concealment, and as the foremost of the assailants +began to climb the great boulders at the foot of the precipice, +a dozen arrows from the bush above alighted among them; killing +three and wounding several others. Sir John Kerr shouted to his +men to follow him, and began to clamber up the hill. Several arrows +struck him, but he was sheathed in mail, as were his men-at-arms, +and although several were wounded in the face and two slain they +succeeded in reaching the bushes, but they could not penetrate +further, for as they strove to tear the bushes aside and force an +entry, those behind pierced them with their spears, and as but four +or five assailants at a time could gain a footing and use their +arms they were outnumbered and finally driven back by the defenders. +When Sir John, furious at his discomfiture, rejoined his vassals +below, he found that the assault had already cost him eight of his +best men. He would, however, have again led them to the attack, +but Red Roy said: +</P> + +<P> +"It were best, my lord, to send back and bid fifty of the vassals +to come up hither at once, with bows and arrows. They can so riddle +those bushes that the defenders will be unable to occupy them to +resist our advance." +</P> + +<P> +"That were a good step," Sir John said; "but even when we gain +the ledge I know not how we shall force our way through the hole, +which you say is but three feet high." +</P> + +<P> +"There is no need to force our way in," Red Roy replied; "each +man who climbs shall carry with him a faggot of wood, and we will +smoke them in their holes like wolves." +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis well thought of, Roy; that assuredly is the best plan. Send +off at once one of the most fleet footed of the party." +</P> + +<P> +Archie, watching from above, saw the assailants draw back out of +bowshot, and while one of their number started at full speed down +the hillside, the others sat down, evidently prepared to pass some +time before they renewed the attack. Leaving two of the party on +guard, Archie, with the rest, re-entered the cavern. The searchers +had just returned and reported that all the various passages came +to nothing, save one, which ascended rapidly and terminated in a +hole which looked as if it had been made by rabbits, and through +which the light of day could be seen. +</P> + +<P> +"Then it is there we must work," Archie said. "I will myself go +and examine it." +</P> + +<P> +The passage, after ascending to a point which Archie judged to +be nigh a hundred feet above the floor of the cave, narrowed to a +mere hole, but two feet high and as much wide. Up this he crawled +for a distance of four or five yards, then it narrowed suddenly +to a hole three or four inches in diameter, and through this, some +three feet farther, Archie could see the daylight through a clump +of heather. He backed himself down the narrow passage again until +he joined his comrades. "Now," he said, "do four of you stay here, +and take it by turns, one after the other, to enlarge the hole +forward to the entrance. As you scrape the earth down you must past +it back handful by handful. Do not enlarge the outer entrance or +disturb the roots of the heather growing there. Any movement might +be noticed by those below. It is lucky, indeed, that the rock ends +just when it gets to its narrowest, and that it is but sandy soil +through which we have to scrape our way. It will be hard work, +for you have scarce room to move your arms, but you have plenty of +time since we cannot sally out till nightfall." +</P> + +<P> +The hours passed slowly, and about noon the lookout reported that +a number of bowmen were approaching. +</P> + +<P> +"They are going to attack this time under cover of their fire," +Archie said, "and as I do not wish to hazard the loss of any lives, +we will keep within the cave and let them gain the ledge. They can +never force their way through the narrow entrance. The only thing +I fear is smoke. I purpose that if they light a fire at the mouth +of the cave, we shall retire at once up the passage where we are +working, and block it up at a narrow place a short distance after +it leaves this cavern, with our clothes. You had best take off some +of your things, scrape up the earth from the floor of the cavern, +and each make a stout bundle, so that we can fill up the hole +solidly." +</P> + +<P> +This was soon done, and the bundles of earth were laid in readiness +at the point upon which their leader had fixed. In the meantime +Archie had rejoined the lookout. +</P> + +<P> +"They have been scattered for some time," the guard said, "and have +been cutting down bushes and making them into faggots." +</P> + +<P> +"Just what I expected," Archie exclaimed. "The bowmen are joining +them now. We shall soon see them at work." +</P> + +<P> +Sir John Kerr now marshalled his retainers. He and his men-at-arms +drew their swords, and the rest, putting the bundles of faggots on +their shoulders, prepared to follow, while the bowmen fitted their +arrows to the string. +</P> + +<P> +"Fall back inside the cave," Archie said; "it is of no use risking +our lives." +</P> + +<P> +The band now gathered in a half circle, with level spears, round +the entrance. Soon they heard a sharp tapping sound as the arrows +struck upon the rock, then there was a crashing among the bushes. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" Sir John Kerr shouted to the vassals. "The foxes have +slunk into their hole." Then came low thuds as the faggots were +cast down. The light which had streamed in through the entrance +gradually became obscure, and the voices of those without muffled. +The darkness grew more intense as the faggots were piled thicker +and thicker; then suddenly a slight odour of smoke was perceived. +</P> + +<P> +"Come along now," Archie said; "they have fired the pile, and there +is no fear of their entrance." +</P> + +<P> +Two of their number, with blazing pine knots, led the way. When +they reached the narrow spot all passed through, Archie and Andrew +Macpherson last; these took the bundles of earth, as the others +passed them along from behind, and built them up like a wall across +the entrance, beating them down as they piled them, so as to make +them set close and fill up every crevice. Several remained over +after the wall was completed; these were opened and the earth crammed +into the crevices between the bags. The smell of smoke had grown +strong before the wall was completed, but it was not too oppressive +to breathe. Holding the torch close to the wall, Archie and his +comrade stopped closely the few places through which they saw that +the smoke was making its way, and soon had the satisfaction of +seeing that the barrier was completely smoke tight. +</P> + +<P> +There was plenty of air in the passage to support life for some +time, but Archie called back to those who were labouring to enlarge +the exit, in order to allow as much fresh air as possible to enter. +A strong guard, with spears, was placed at the barrier, although +Archie deemed that some hours at least would elapse before the Kerrs +could attempt to penetrate the cave. The fire would doubtless be +kept up for some time, and after it had expired it would be long +before the smoke cleared out sufficiently from the cave to allow +of any one entering it. After a time, finding that there was no +difficulty in breathing, although the air was certainly close and +heavy, Archie again set the lads at work widening the entrance, +going up himself to superintend the operation. Each in turn crept +forward, loosened a portion of the earth with his knife, and then +filling his cap with it, crawled backward to the point where the +passage widened. It was not yet dark when the work was so far done +that there now remained only a slight thickness of earth, through +which the roots of the heath protruded, at the mouth of the passage, +and a vigorous push would make an exit into the air. The guard at +the barrier had heard no movement within. Archie withdrew one of +the bags; but the smoke streamed through so densely that he hastily +replaced it, satisfied that some hours must still elapse before +the assailants would enter the cave. They watched impatiently +the failing light through the hole, and at last, when night was +completely fallen, Archie pushed aside the earth and heather, and +looked around. They were, it seemed to him, on the side of the hill +a few yards from the point where it fell steeply away. The ground +was thickly covered with heather. He soon made his way out and +ordered Andrew Macpherson, who followed him, to remain lying at +the entrance, and to enjoin each, as he passed out, to crawl low +among the heather, so that they might not show against the skyline, +where, dark as it was, they might attract the attention of those +below. Archie himself led the way until so far back from the edge +as to be well out of sight of those in the valley. Then he gained +his feet, and was soon joined by the whole of his band. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," he said, "we will make for Aberfilly; they think us all +cooped up here, and will be rejoicing in our supposed deaths. We +will strike one more blow, and then, driving before us a couple of +score of oxen for the use of the army, rejoin Wallace. Methinks we +shall have taken a fair vengeance for Kerr's doings at Glen Cairn." +</P> + +<P> +The consternation of the few men left in the castle was great when, +three hours after sunset, eight homesteads burst suddenly into +flames. They dared not sally out, and remained under arms until +morning, when Sir John and his band returned more furious than ever, +as they had penetrated the cavern, discovered the barrier which +had cut off the smoke, and the hole by which the foe had escaped; +and their fury was brought to a climax when they found the damage +which had been inflicted in their absence. Many a week passed before +the garrison of Aberfilly and the vassals of the Kerrs were able +to sleep in peace, so great was the scare which Archie's raid had +inflicted upon them. +</P> + +<P> +The truce was now at an end. The indignation excited by the +treachery of the English spread widely through Scotland, and the +people flocked to Wallace's standard in far greater numbers than +before, and he was now able to undertake operations on a greater +scale. Perth, Aberdeen, Brechin, and other towns fell into his +hands, and the castle of Dundee was invested. In the south Sir +William Douglas captured the castles of Sanquhar, Desdeir, and +others, and the rapid successes of the Scots induced a few of the +greater nobles to take the field, such as the Steward of Scotland, +Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell, Sir Richard Lundin, and Wishart, +Bishop of Glasgow. +</P> + +<P> +Wallace was one day lamenting to Archie and his friend Grahame +that the greater nobles still held aloof. "Above all," he said, "I +would fain see on our side either Comyn or the young Bruce. Baliol +is a captive in London, and it is to Comyn or Bruce that Scotland +must look for her king. So long as only I, a poor knight, am at the +head of this rising, it is but a rebellion against Edward, and its +chances are still so weak that but few men, who have aught to lose, +join us; but if Bruce or Comyn should raise his banner all would +receive him as our future king. Both are lords of wide territories, +and besides the forces they could bring into the field, they would +be joined by many of the principal nobles, although it is true that +the adherents of the other would probably arm for Edward. Still +the thought of a king of their own would inflame the popular mind, +and vast numbers who now hesitate to join a movement supported by +so little authority, would then take up arms." +</P> + +<P> +"Which of the two would you rather?" Archie asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I would rather the Bruce," Wallace said. "His father is an inert +man and a mere cypher, and the death of his grandfather, the +competitor, has now brought him prominently forward. It is true +that he is said to be a strong adherent of England and a personal +favourite of Edward; that he spends much of his time in London; and +is even at the present moment the king's lieutenant in Carrick and +Annandale, and is waging war for him against Sir William Douglas. +Still Comyn is equally devoted to England; he is older, and less +can be hoped from him. Bruce is young; he is said to be of great +strength and skill in arms, and to be one of the foremost knights +in Edward's court. He is, I hear, of noble presence, and is much +loved by those with whom he comes in contact. Did such a man +determine to break with Edward, and to strive to win the crown +of Scotland as a free gift of her people, instead of as a nominee +of Edward, and to rule over an independent kingdom instead of an +English province, he would attract all hearts to him, and may well +succeed where I, as I foresee, must sooner or later fail." +</P> + +<P> +"But why should you fail when you have succeeded so far?" Archie +asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Because I have with me but a small portion of the people of +Scotland. The whole of the northern lords hold aloof, and in the +south Carrick and Annandale and Galloway are hostile. Against me +I have all the power of England, Wales, and Ireland; and although +I may for a time win victories and capture towns I am certain, +Archie, in the end to be crushed." +</P> + +<P> +"And will all our efforts have been in vain?" Archie said, with +tears in his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"By no means, my brave lad; we shall have lighted the fire of a +national resistance; we shall have shown the people that if Scotland, +divided against herself, and with all her great nobles and their +vassals standing sullenly aloof, can yet for a long time make head +against the English, assuredly when the time shall come, and she +shall rise as one man from the Solway to Caithness, her freedom +will be won. Our lives will not have been thrown away, Archie, if +they have taught this lesson." +</P> + +<P> +Wallace had by this time returned from his expedition farther +north, and his force was in camp near Lanark, which town, when not +engaged in distant enterprises, was regarded as the centre of the +movement. That evening Archie said, that as his leader purposed to +give his troops rest for a week or two, he should go to his uncle's +for a short time. +</P> + +<P> +"And if you can spare them, Sir William, I would fain let my band +go away for the same time. They have now been six months from home." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly," Wallace said, "they need a rest after their hard work. +They are ever afoot, and have been of immense service." +</P> + +<P> +Having obtained this permission, Archie went to the spot where his +band were encamped. "I have another expedition for you," he said, +"this time all together; when that is over you will be able to go +home for a few days for a rest. They will all be glad to see you, +and may well be proud of you, and I doubt not that the spoil which +you gathered at Ayr and elsewhere will create quite a sensation at +Glen Cairn. There are some of you who are, as I remember in the old +days, good shots with the bow and arrow. Do ten of you who were +the best at home get bows and arrows from the store. Here is an +order for you to receive them, and be all in readiness to march at +daylight." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning the band set out in a southwesterly direction, +and after a long day's march halted near Cumnock. In the morning +they started at the same time, observing more caution as they went, +for by the afternoon they had crossed the stream and were within the +boundaries of Carrick. They halted for the night near Crossraguel +Abbey. Here for the first time Archie confided to his followers +the object of their march. +</P> + +<P> +"We are now," he said, "within a few miles of Turnberry Castle, the +residence of Bruce. Sir William has a great desire to speak with +him; but, seeing that Bruce is at present fighting for King Edward +against Douglas, there is little chance of such a meeting coming +about with his goodwill. He has recently returned from Douglasdale. +Here, in the heart of his own country, it is like enough that he +may ride near his castle with but a few horsemen. In that case we +will seize him, without, I trust, having to do him hurt, and will +bear him with us to Lanark. We may have to wait some time before +we find an opportunity; but even if the ten days for which I have +asked, lengthen to as many weeks, Sir William will not grudge the +time we have spent if we succeed. Tomorrow morning let those who +have bows go out in the forest and see if they can shoot a deer; +or failing that, bring in a sheep or two from some of the folds. +As each of you has brought with you meal for ten days, we shall be +able to keep an eye on Turnberry for some time." +</P> + +<P> +The next day Archie, with Andrew Macpherson and Cluny Campbell, +made their way through the woods until within sight of the castle, +which was but a mile distant. The strongholds of the lords of +Carrick stood on a bold promontory washed by the sea. +</P> + +<P> +"It would be a hard nut to crack, Sir Archie," his lieutenant said. +"Unless by famine, the place could scarce be taken." +</P> + +<P> +"No," Archie replied, "I am glad that our mission is rather to +capture the earl than his castle. It is a grand fortalice. Would +that its owner were but a true Scotchman! This is a good place on +which we are standing, Andrew, to place a scout. Among the trees +here he can watch the road all the way from the castle to the point +where it enters the forest. Do you, Cluny, take post here at once. +Mark well all that passes, and what is doing, and all bodies of men +who enter or leave the castle. There is no occasion to bring news +to me, for it would be unlikely that we should meet in the forest; +you have therefore only to watch. Tomorrow I shall return with the +band, and encamp in the woods farther back. Directly we arrive, +you will be relieved of your guard." +</P> + +<P> +The following day the band moved up to a spot within half a mile +of the seaward edge of the forest, and a few hundred yards from the +road to Crossraguel Abbey. It was only on this road that Archie +could hope to effect a capture; for the country near the coast was +free of trees, and no ambush could be set. The lords of Carrick +were, moreover, patrons of the abbey; and Bruce might ride over +thither with but a small party, whereas, if journeying south, or +southeast towards Douglasdale, he would probably be marching with +a strong force. For several days they watched the castle; bodies of +mounted men entered and departed. Twice parties, among whom ladies +could be seen, came out with their hawks; but none came within +reach of their lurking foes. +</P> + +<P> +On the fifth morning, however, the lad on watch ran into the glade +in which they were encamped and reported that a small body of +seemingly two or three knights, with some ladies, followed by four +mounted men, had left the castle and were approaching by the route +towards the abbey. +</P> + +<P> +Not a moment was lost. Archie placed six of his company, with pike +and sword, close to the road, to form across it when he gave the +order, and to bar the retreat of any party who had passed. Another +party of equal strength he placed 100 yards further on, and with +them himself took post; while he placed four, armed with bows and +arrows, on either side, near the party which he commanded. Scarcely +had his preparations been made when a trampling of horses was heard, +and the party were seen approaching. They consisted of Robert Bruce, +his brother Nigel, and three of his sisters—Isabel, Mary, and +Christina. Behind rode four men-at-arms. From the description which +he had heard of him Archie had no doubt that the elder of the two +knights was Robert Bruce himself, and when they approached within +thirty yards he gave a shout, and, with his band, with levelled +spears, drew up across the road. At the same moment the other party +closed in behind the horsemen; and the eight archers, with bent +bows and arrows drawn to the head, rose among the trees. The party +reined in their horses suddenly. +</P> + +<P> +"Hah! what have we here?" Bruce exclaimed. "An ambush—and on +all sides too!" he added as he looked round. "What means this? +Are you robbers who thus dare attack the Bruce within a mile of +Turnberry? Why, they are but lads," he added scornfully. "Rein +back, girls; we and the men-at-arms will soon clear a way for you +through these varlets. Nay, I can do it single handed myself." +</P> + +<P> +"Halt! Sir Robert Bruce," Archie exclaimed in a loud clear voice. +"If you move I must perforce give the word, and it may well be that +some of the ladies with you may be struck with the arrows; nor, +young though my followers may be, would you find them so easy a +conquest as you imagine. They have stood up before the English ere +now; and you and your men-at-arms will find it hard work to get +through their pikes; and we outnumber you threefold. We are no +robbers. I myself am Sir Archibald Forbes." +</P> + +<P> +"You!" exclaimed Robert Bruce, lowering his sword, which he +had drawn at the first alarm and held uplifted in readiness for a +charge; "you Sir Archibald Forbes! I have heard the name often as +that of one of Wallace's companions, who, with Sir John Grahame, +fought with him bravely at the captures of Lanark, Ayr, and other +places, but surely you cannot be he!" +</P> + +<P> +"I am Sir Archibald Forbes, I pledge you my word," Archie said +quietly; "and, Sir Robert Bruce, methinks that if I, who am, as +you see, but yet a lad—not yet having reached my seventeenth +year—can have done good service for Scotland, how great the +shame that you, a valiant knight and a great noble, should be in +the ranks of her oppressors, and not of her champions! My name will +tell you that I have come hither for no purpose of robbery. I have +come on a mission from Wallace—not sent thereon by him, but +acting myself in consequences of words which dropped from him. He +said how sad it was that you, who might be King of a Scotland free +and independent, by the choice of her people, should prefer the +chance of reigning, a mere puppet of Edward, over an enslaved land. +He spoke in the highest terms of your person, and held that, did +you place yourself at its head, the movement which he commands +would be a successful one. Then I determined, unknown to him, to +set out and bring you to him face to face—honourably and with +courtesy if you would, by force if you would not. I would fain it +shall be the former; but believe me, you would not find it easy to +break away through the hedge of pikes now around you." +</P> + +<P> +By this time the whole party had gathered round the horsemen. Bruce +hesitated; his mind was not yet made up as to his future course. +Hitherto he had been with England, since upon Edward only his chances +seemed to depend; but latterly he had begun to doubt whether even +Edward could place him on the throne in despite of the wishes of +his countrymen. His sisters, who, taking after their mother, were +all true Scotchwomen, now urged upon him to comply with Archie's +request and accompany him to Lanark. Their hearts and wishes were +entirely with the champion of their country. +</P> + +<P> +"Go with him, Robert," Isabel, the eldest, exclaimed. "Neither +I nor my sisters fear being struck with the arrows, although such +might well be the case should a conflict begin; but, for your own +sake and Scotland's, go and see Wallace. No harm can arise from +such a journey, and much good may come of it. Even should the +news of your having had an interview with him come to the ears of +Edward, you can truly say that you were taken thither a captive, +and that we being with you, you were unable to make an effort to +free yourself. This young knight, of whose deeds of gallantry we +have all heard"—and she smiled approvingly at Archie—"will +doubtless give you a safeguard, on his honour, to return hither +free and unpledged when you have seen Wallace." +</P> + +<P> +"Willingly, lady," Archie replied. "One hour's interview with my +honoured chief is all I ask for. That over, I pledge myself that +the Earl of Carrick shall be free at once to return hither, and +that an escort shall be provided for him to protect him from all +dangers on the way." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Council at Stirling +</H3> + +<P> +Archie had been mounted on the march from the camp, and his horse +being now brought, he started with Bruce, young Nigel and the ladies +saluting him cordially. +</P> + +<P> +"I trust," the former said, "that Wallace will succeed in converting +my brother. I am envious of you, Sir Archie. Here are you, many +years younger than I am, and yet you have won a name throughout +Scotland as one of her champions; while I am eating my heart out, +with my brother, at the court of Edward." +</P> + +<P> +"I trust it may be so, Sir Nigel," Archie answered. "If Sir Robert +will but join our cause, heart and soul, the battle is as good as +won." +</P> + +<P> +The journey passed without adventure until they arrived within two +miles of Lanark, where Archie found Wallace was now staying. On +the road Bruce had had much conversation with Archie, and learned +the details of many adventures of which before he had only heard +vaguely by report. He was much struck by the lad's modesty and +loyal patriotism. +</P> + +<P> +"If ever I come to my kingdom, Sir Archie," he said, "you shall +be one of my most trusted knights and counsellors; and I am well +assured that any advice you may give will be ever what you think +to be right and for the good of the country, without self seeking +or in the interest of any; and that is more than I could look for +in most counsellors. And now methinks that as we are drawing near +to Lanark, it will be well that I waited here in this wood, under +the guard of your followers, while you ride forward and inform +Wallace that I am here. I care not to show myself in Lanark, for +busy tongues would soon take the news to Edward; and as I know not +what may come of our interview, it were well that it should not be +known to all men." +</P> + +<P> +Archie agreed, and rode into the town. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, where have you been, truant?" Sir William exclaimed as Archie +entered the room in the governor's house which had been set apart +for the use of Wallace since the expulsion of the English. "Sir +Robert Gordon has been here several times, and tells me that they +have seen nought of you; and although I have made many inquiries I +have been able to obtain no news, save that you and your band have +disappeared. I even sent to Glen Cairn, thinking that you might +have been repairing the damages which the fire, lighted by the +Kerrs, did to your hold; but I found not only that you were not +there yourself, but that none of your band had returned thither. +This made it more mysterious; for had you alone disappeared I should +have supposed that you had been following up some love adventure, +though, indeed, you have never told me that your heart was in any +way touched." +</P> + +<P> +Archie laughed. "There will be time enough for that, Sir William, +ten years hence; but in truth I have been on an adventure on my +own account." +</P> + +<P> +"So, in sober earnest, I expected, Archie, and feared that your +enterprise might lead you into some serious scrape since I deemed +that it must have been well nigh a desperate one or you would not +have hidden it from my knowledge." +</P> + +<P> +"It might have led to some blows, Sir William, but happily it did +not turn out so. Knowing the importance you attached to the adhesion +of the cause of Scotland of Robert the Bruce, I determined to fetch +him hither to see you; and he is now waiting with my band for your +coming, in a wood some two miles from the town." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you jesting with me?" Wallace exclaimed. "Is the Bruce really +waiting to see me? Why, this would be well nigh a miracle." +</P> + +<P> +"It is a fact, Sir William; and if you will cause your horse to +be brought to the door I will tell you on the road how it has come +about." +</P> + +<P> +In another five minutes Sir William and his young follower were +on their way, and the former heard how Archie had entrapped Robert +Bruce while riding to Crossraguel Abbey. +</P> + +<P> +"It was well done, indeed," the Scottish leader exclaimed; "and +it may well prove, Archie, that you have done more towards freeing +Scotland by this adventure of yours than we have by all our months +of marching and fighting." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! Sir William, but had it not been for our marching and fighting +Bruce would never have wavered in his allegiance to Edward. It was +only because he begins to think that our cause may be a winning +one that he decides to join it." +</P> + +<P> +The meeting between Wallace and Bruce was a cordial one. Each +admired the splendid proportions and great strength of the other, +for it is probable that in all Europe there were no two more +doughty champions; although, indeed, Wallace was far the superior +in personal strength while Bruce was famous through Europe for his +skill in knightly exercise. +</P> + +<P> +Archie withdrew to a distance while the leaders conversed. He +could see that their talk was animated as they strode together up +and down among the trees, Wallace being the principal speaker. At +the end of half an hour they stopped, and Wallace ordered the horses +to be brought, and then called Archie to them. +</P> + +<P> +"Sir Robert has decided to throw in his lot with us," he said, "and +will at once call out his father's vassals of Carrick and Annandale. +Seeing that his father is at Edward's court, it may be that many +will not obey the summons. Still we must hope that, for the love +of Scotland and their young lord, many will follow him. He will +write to the pope to ask him to absolve him for the breach of his +oath of homage to Edward; but as such oaths lie but lightly on men's +minds in our days, and have been taken and broken by King Edward +himself, as well as by Sir William Douglas and other knights who are +now in the field with me, he will not wait for the pope's reply, +but will at once take the field. And, indeed, there is need for +haste, seeing that Percy and Clifford have already crossed the +Border with an English army and are marching north through Annandale +towards Ayr." +</P> + +<P> +"Goodbye, my captor," Bruce said to Archie as he mounted his horse; +"whatever may come of this strife, remember that you will always +find a faithful friend in Robert Bruce." +</P> + +<P> +Wallace had, at Archie's request, brought six mounted men-at-arms +with him from Lanark, and these now rode behind Bruce as his escort +back to his castle of Turnberry. There was no time now for Archie +and his band to take the rest they had looked for, for messengers +were sent out to gather the bands together again, and as soon as +a certain portion had arrived Wallace marched for the south. The +English army was now in Annandale, near Lochmaben. They were far +too strong to be openly attacked, but on the night following his +arrival in their neighbourhood Wallace broke in upon them in the +night. Surprised by this sudden and unexpected attack, the English +fell into great confusion. Percy at once ordered the camp to be +set on fire. By its light the English were able to see how small +was the force of their assailants, and gathering together soon +showed so formidable a front that Wallace called off his men, but +not before a large number of the English had been killed. Many of +their stores, as well as the tents, were destroyed by the conflagration. +The English army now proceeded with slow marches towards Ayr. At +Irvine the Scotch leaders had assembled their army—Douglas, +Bruce, The Steward, Sir Richard Loudon, Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, +and others. Their forces were about equal to those of the English +marching against them. Wallace was collecting troops further north, +and Archie was of course with him. +</P> + +<P> +"I fear," the lad said one day, "that we shall not be able to reach +Irvine before the armies join battle." +</P> + +<P> +"Sir William Douglas and Bruce are there, and as it lies in their +country it were better to let them win the day without my meddling. +But, Archie, I fear there will be no battle. News has reached +me that messengers are riding to and fro between Percy's army and +the Scots, and I fear me that these half hearted barons will make +peace." +</P> + +<P> +"Surely that cannot be! It were shame indeed to have taken up the +sword, and to lay it down after scarce striking a blow." +</P> + +<P> +"Methinks, Archie, that the word shame is not to be found in the +vocabulary of the nobles of this unhappy land. But let us hope for +the best; a few days will bring us the news." +</P> + +<P> +The news when it came was of the worst. All the nobles, headed by +Wishart, Douglas, and Bruce, with the exception only of Sir Andrew +Moray of Bothwell, had made their submission, acknowledging their +guilt of rebellion, and promising to make every reparation required +by their sovereign lord. Percy, on his part, guaranteed their lives, +lands, goods, and chattels, and that they should not be imprisoned +or punished for what had taken place. +</P> + +<P> +Sir William Douglas and Bruce were ordered to find guarantees for +their good conduct; but Sir William Douglas, finding himself unable +to fulfil his engagements, surrendered, and was thrown into prison +in Berwick Castle, and there kept in irons until he died, his death +being attributed, by contemporary historians, to poison. +</P> + +<P> +The surrender of the leaders had little result upon the situation. +The people had won their successes without their aid, and beyond +the indignation excited by their conduct, the treaty of Irvine did +nothing towards ensuring peace, and indeed heightened the confidence +of the people in Wallace. The movement spread over the whole +of Scotland. Skirmishes and unimportant actions took place in +all quarters. The English were powerless outside the walls of the +fortresses, and in Berwick and Roxburgh alone was the English power +paramount. Most of the great nobles, including Comyn of Buchan, +Comyn of Badenoch, and twenty-six other powerful Scottish lords, +were at Edward's court, but many of their vassals and dependants +were in the field with Wallace. +</P> + +<P> +About this time it came to the ears of the Scotch leader that Sir +Robert Cunninghame, a Scotch knight of good family, who had hitherto +held aloof from any part in the war, had invited some twelve others +resident in the counties round Stirling, to meet at his house in +that city that they might talk over the circumstances of the times. +All these had, like himself, been neutral, and as the object of +the gathering was principally to discover whether some means could +not be hit upon for calming down the disorders which prevailed, +the English governor had willingly granted safe conducts to all. +</P> + +<P> +"Archie," Sir William said, "I mean to be present at the interview. +They are all Scotch gentlemen, and though but lukewarm in the cause +of their country, there is no fear that any will be base enough +to betray me; and surely if I can get speech with them I may rouse +them to cast in their lot with us." +</P> + +<P> +"It were a dangerous undertaking, Sir William, to trust yourself +within the walls of Stirling," Archie said gravely. "Remember how +many are the desperate passes into which your adventurous spirit +has brought you, and your life is of too great a consequence to +Scotland to be rashly hazarded." +</P> + +<P> +"I would not do it for a less cause," Sir William said; "but the +gain may be greater than the risk. So I shall go, Archie, your wise +counsel notwithstanding, and you shall journey with me to see that +I get not into scrapes, and to help me out of them should I, in +spite of your care, fall into them." +</P> + +<P> +"When is the day for the meeting?" Archie asked. +</P> + +<P> +"In three days' time. The day after tomorrow we will move in that +direction, and enter the town early the next day." +</P> + +<P> +No sooner had he left Wallace than Archie called his band together. +They still numbered twenty, for although three or four had fallen, +Archie had always filled up their places with fresh recruits, as +there were numbers of boys who deemed it the highest honour to be +enrolled in their ranks. Archie drew aside his two lieutenants, +Andrew Macpherson and William Orr. +</P> + +<P> +"I have an enterprise on hand," he said, "which will need all your +care, and may call for your bravery. Sir William Wallace purposes +to enter Stirling in disguise, to attend a meeting of nobles to be +held at the residence of Sir Robert Cunninghame. I am to accompany +him thither. I intend that the band shall watch over his safety, +and this without his having knowledge of it, so that if nought comes +of it he may not chide me for being over careful of his person. You +will both, with sixteen of the band, accompany me. You will choose +two of your most trusty men to carry out the important matter of +securing our retreat. They will procure a boat capable of carrying +us all, and will take their place in the bend of the links of +Forth nearest to the castle, and will hoist, when the time comes, +a garment on an oar, so that we may make straight for the boat. The +ground is low and swampy, and if we get a fair start even mounted +men would scarce overtake us across it. I think, William, that the +last recruit who joined was from Stirling?" +</P> + +<P> +"He was, Sir Archie. His parents reside there. They are vendors of +wood, as I have heard him say." +</P> + +<P> +"It could not be better," Archie replied; "and seeing that they +have allowed their son to join us, they must surely be patriots. My +purpose is, that on the morning of the interview you shall appear +before the gates with a cart laden with firewood, and this you shall +take to the house of Campbell's father. There you will unload the +firewood, and store the arms hidden beneath it, placing them so +that they may be readily caught up in case of necessity. In twos +and threes, carrying eggs, fowls, firewood, and other articles, +as for sale, the rest of the band will come into the town, joining +themselves with parties of country people, so that the arrival of +so many lads unaccompanied will not attract notice. James Campbell +will go with you, and will show you the way to his father's house. +He will remain near the gate, and as the others enter will guide +them there, so that they will know where to run for their arms should +there be need. You must start tomorrow, so as to enter Stirling on +the next day and arrange with his father for the keeping of the +arms. His mother had best leave the town that evening. Should +nought occur she can return unsuspected; but should a tumult arise, +and the arms have to be used, his father must leave the town with +us. He shall be handsomely rewarded, and provision made for him +in the future. When you see me enter with Sir William, bid Jock +Farrell follow me at a little distance; he will keep me always in +sight, and if he see me lift my hand above my head he will run with +all speed to give you the news. On his arrival, you, Andrew, with +the half you command, will hurry up to my assistance; while you, +William, with the others, will fall suddenly upon the guard at the +gate, and will at all hazards prevent them from closing it, and so +cutting off our retreat, until we arrive. Seize, if you can, the +moment when a cart is passing in or out, and slay the horse in the +shafts, so that as he falls the cart will prevent the gate from +being closed, and so keep the way open, even should you not be able +to resist the English until we come up. Have all the band outside +Stirling on the night before, so that you will be able to make every +arrangement and obtain a cart in readiness for taking in the wood +and arms in the morning. Let all bring their bows and arrows, in +addition to pike and sword, for the missiles may aid us to keep the +soldiers at bay. Now, Andrew, repeat all my instructions, so that +I may be sure that you thoroughly understand my wishes, for any +small error in the plan might ruin the whole adventure." +</P> + +<P> +On the morning of the day fixed for the meeting Sir William Wallace, +accompanied by Archie, entered the gates of Stirling. Both were +attired as young farmers, and they attracted no special attention +from the guards. For a time they strolled about the streets. They +saw the gentlemen who had been invited by Sir Robert Cunninghame +arrive one by one. Others, too, known as being specially attached +to the English party, rode in, for the governor had invited those +who assembled at Cunninghame's to meet him afterwards in the castle +in order that he might hear the result of their deliberations; and +he had asked several others attached to the English party to be +present. +</P> + +<P> +When most of the gentlemen invited had entered Sir Robert Cunninghame's +Wallace boldly followed them; and Archie sat down on a doorstep +nearly opposite. Presently he saw two figures which he recognized +riding up the street, followed, as the others had been by four +armed retainers. They were Sir John Kerr and his son. Archie rose +at once, and turned down at a side street before they came up, as +a recognition of him would be fatal to all their plans. When they +had passed up the street to the castle he returned and resumed +his seat, feeling more uneasy than before, for the Kerrs had seen +Wallace in the affray at Lanark, and a chance meeting now would +betray him. An hour and a half passed, and then Archie saw the +Kerrs riding down the street from the castle. Again he withdrew +from sight, this time down an archway, whence he could still see +the door on the opposite side. Hitherto he had been wishing to see +it open and for Wallace to appear; and now he dreaded this above +all things. His worst fears were realized, for just as the horsemen +reached the spot the door opened, and Wallace stepped out. His +figure was too remarkable to avoid notice; and no sooner did Sir John +Kerr's eye fall upon him than he exclaimed, "The traitor Wallace! +Seize him, men; there is a high reward offered for him; and King +Edward will give honour and wealth to all who capture him." +</P> + +<P> +As Sir John spoke Archie darted across the street and placed himself +by Wallace's side, holding his hand high above his head as he did +so; and at the instant he saw Jock Farrell, who had been lounging +at a corner a few yards away, dart off down the street at the top +of his speed. +</P> + +<P> +Sir John and his retainers drew their swords and spurred forward; +but the horses recoiled from the flashing swords of Wallace and +his companion. +</P> + +<P> +"Dismount," Sir John shouted, setting the example; "cut them both +down; one is as bad as the other. Ten pounds to the man who slays +the young Forbes." +</P> + +<P> +Wallace cut down two of the retainers as they advanced against +them, and Archie badly wounded a third. Then they began to retreat +down the street; but by this time the sound of the fray had called +together many soldiers who were wandering in the streets; and these, +informed by Sir John's shouts of "Down with Wallace! Slay! Slay!" +that the dreaded Scotch leader was before them, also drew and joined +in the fight. As they came running up from both sides, Wallace +and Archie could retreat no further, but with their backs against +the wall kept their foes at bay in a semicircle by the sweep of +their swords. +</P> + +<P> +The fight continued by two or three minutes, when a sudden shout +was heard, and William Orr, with eight young fellows, fell upon the +English soldiers with their pikes. The latter, astonished at this +sudden onslaught, and several of their number being killed before +they had time to turn and defend themselves, fell back for a moment, +and Wallace and Archie joined their allies, and began to retreat, +forming a line of pikes across the narrow street. Wallace, Archie, +William Orr, and three of the stoutest of the band were sufficient +for the line, and the other five shot between them. So hard and +fast flew their arrows that several of the English soldiers were +slain, and the others drew back from the assault. +</P> + +<P> +Andrew Macpherson's sudden attack at the gate overpowered the guard, +and for a while he held possession of it, and following Archie's +instructions, slew a horse drawing a cart laden with flour in the +act of entering. Then the guard rallied, and, joined by other +soldiers who had run up, made a fierce attack upon him; but his +line of pikes drawn up across the gate defied their efforts to break +through. Wallace and his party were within fifty yards of the gate +when reinforcements from the castle arrived. Sir John Kerr, furious +at the prospect of his enemies again escaping him, headed them in +their furious rush. Wallace stepped forward beyond the line and +met him. With a great sweep of his mighty sword he beat down Sir +John's guard, and the blade descending clove helmet and skull, and +the knight fell dead in his tracks. +</P> + +<P> +"That is one for you, Archie," Wallace said, as he cut down a +man-at-arms. +</P> + +<P> +In vain did the English try to break through the line of pikes. +When they arrived within twenty yards of the gate, Wallace gave +the order, and the party turning burst through the English who were +attacking its defenders and united with them. +</P> + +<P> +"Fall back!" Wallace shouted, "and form without the gates. Your +leader and I will cover the retreat." +</P> + +<P> +Passing between the cart and the posts of the gates, the whole +party fell back. Once through, Wallace and Archie made a stand, and +even the bravest of the English did not venture to pass the narrow +portals, where but one could issue at a time. +</P> + +<P> +The band formed in good order and retreated at a rapid step. When +they reached a distance of about 300 yards, Wallace and Archie, +deeming that sufficient start had been gained, sprang away, and +running at the top of their speed soon rejoined them. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Archie, what next?" Sir William asked; "since it is you who +have conjured up this army, doubtless your plans are laid as to what +shall next be done. They will have horsemen in pursuit as soon as +they remove the cart." +</P> + +<P> +"I have a boat in readiness on the river bank, Sir William. Once +across and we shall be safe. They will hardly overtake us ere we +get there, seeing how swampy is the ground below." +</P> + +<P> +At a slinging trot the party ran forward, and soon gained the +lower ground. They were halfway across when they saw a large body +of horsemen following in pursuit. +</P> + +<P> +"A little to the right, Sir William," Archie said; "you see that +coat flying from an oar; there is the boat." +</P> + +<P> +As Archie had expected, the swampy ground impeded the speed of +the horsemen. In vain the riders spurred and shouted, the horses, +fetlock deep, could make but slow advance, and before they reached +the bank the fugitives had gained the boat and were already halfway +across the stream. Then the English had the mortification of seeing +them land and march away quietly on the other side. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Battle of Stirling Bridge +</H3> + +<P> +Upon rejoining his force Sir William Wallace called the few knights +and gentlemen who were with him together, and said to them: +</P> + +<P> +"Methinks, gentlemen, that the woes of this contest should not fall +upon one side only. Every one of you here are outlawed, and if you +are taken by the English will be executed or thrown in prison for +life, and your lands and all belonging to you forfeited. It is time +that those who fight upon the other side should learn that they +too run some risk. Besides leading his vassals in the field against +us, Sir John Kerr twice in arms has attacked me, and done his best +to slay me or deliver me over to the English. He fell yesterday by +my hand at Stirling, and I hereby declare forfeit the land which +he held in the county of Lanark, part of which he wrongfully took +from Sir William Forbes, and his own fief adjoining. Other broad +lands he owns in Ayrshire, but these I will not now touch; but the +lands in Lanark, both his own fief and that of the Forbeses, I, +as Warden of Scotland, hereby declare forfeit and confiscated, and +bestow them upon my good friend, Sir Archie Forbes. Sir John Grahame, +do you proceed tomorrow with five hundred men and take possession +of the hold of the Kerrs. Sir Allan Kerr is still at Stirling, and +will not be there to defend it. Like enough the vassals will make +no resistance, but will gladly accept the change of masters. The +Kerrs have the reputation of being hard lords, and their vassals +cannot like being forced to fight against the cause of their country. +The hired men-at-arms may resist, but you will know how to make +short work of these. I ask you to go rather than Sir Archibald +Forbes, because I would not that it were said that he took the +Kerr's hold on his private quarrel. When you have captured it he +shall take a hundred picked men as a garrison. The place is strong. +</P> + +<P> +"Your new possessions, Archie, will, as you know, be held on +doubtful tenure. If we conquer, and Scotland is freed, I doubt in +no way that the king, whoever he may be, will confirm my grant. +If the English win, your land is lost, be it an acre or a county. +And now let me be the first to congratulate you on having won by +your sword and your patriotism the lands of your father, and on +having repaid upon your family's enemies the measure which they +meted to you. But you will still have to beware of the Kerrs. They +are a powerful family, being connected by marriage with the Comyns +of Badenoch, and other noble houses. Their lands in Ayr are as +extensive as those in Lanark, even with your father's lands added +to their own. However, if Scotland win the day the good work that +you have done should well outweigh all the influence which they +might bring to bear against you. +</P> + +<P> +"And now, Archie, I can, for a time, release you. Ere long Edward's +army will be pouring across the Border, and then I shall need every +good Scotchman's sword. Till then you had best retire to your new +estates, and spend the time in preparing your vassals to follow +you in the field, and in putting one or other of your castles in +the best state of defence you may. Methinks that the Kerr's hold +may more easily be made to withstand a lengthened siege than Glen +Cairn, seeing that the latter is commanded by the hill beside it. +Kerr's castle, too, is much larger and more strongly fortified. I +need no thanks," he continued, as Archie was about to express his +warm gratitude; "it is the Warden of Scotland who rewards your +services to the country; but Sir William Wallace will not forget +how you have twice stood beside him against overwhelming odds, and +how yesterday, in Stirling, it was your watchful care and thoughtful +precaution which alone saved his life." +</P> + +<P> +Archie's friends all congratulated him warmly, and the next morning, +with his own band, he started for Glen Cairn. Here the news that +he was once more their lawful chief caused the greatest delight. +It was evening when he reached the village, and soon great bonfires +blazed in the street, and as the news spread burned up from many +an outlying farm. Before night all the vassals of the estate came +in, and Glen Cairn and the village was a scene of great enthusiasm. +</P> + +<P> +Much as Archie regretted that he could not establish himself in +the hold of his father, he felt that Wallace's suggestion was the +right one. Glen Cairn was a mere shell, and could in no case be +made capable of a prolonged resistance by a powerful force. Whereas, +the castle of the Kerrs was very strong. It was a disappointment +to his retainers when they heard that he could not at once return +among them; but they saw the force of his reasons, and he promised +that if Scotland was freed and peace restored, he would again make +Glen Cairn habitable, and pass some of his time there. +</P> + +<P> +"In the meantime," he said, "I shall be but eight miles from you, +and the estate will be all one. But now I hope that for the next +three months every man among you will aid me—some by personal +labour, some by sending horses and carts—in the work of +strengthening to the utmost my new castle of Aberfilly, which I +wish to make so strong that it will long resist an attack. Should +Scotland be permanently conquered, which may God forfend, it could +not, of course, be held; but should we have temporary reverses we +might well hold out until our party again gather head." +</P> + +<P> +Every man on the estate promised his aid to an extent far beyond +that which Archie, as their feudal superior, had a right to demand +from them. They had had a hard time under the Kerrs, who had raised +all rents, and greatly increased their feudal services. They were +sure of good treatment should the Forbeses make good their position +as their lords, and were ready to make any sacrifices to aid them +to do so. +</P> + +<P> +Next morning a messenger arrived from Sir John Grahame, saying that +he had, during the night, stormed Aberfilly, and that with scarce +an exception all the vassals of the Kerrs—when upon his arrival +on the previous day they had learned of his purpose in coming, +and of the disposition which Wallace had made of the estate—had +accepted the change with delight, and had joined him in the assault +upon the castle, which was defended only by thirty men-at-arms. +These had all been killed, and Sir John invited Archie to ride +over at once and take possession. This he did, and found that the +vassals of the estate were all gathered at the castle to welcome +him. He was introduced to them by Sir John Grahame, and they +received Archie with shouts of enthusiasm, and all swore obedience +to him as their feudal lord. Archie promised them to be a kind +and lenient chief, to abate any unfair burdens which had been laid +upon them, and to respect all their rights. +</P> + +<P> +"But," he said, "just at first I must ask for sacrifices from you. +This castle is strong, but it must be made much stronger, and must +be capable of standing a continued siege in case temporary reverses +should enable the English to endeavour to retake it for their +friend, Sir Allan Kerr. My vassals at Glen Cairn have promised an +aid far beyond that which I can command, and I trust that you also +will extend your time of feudal service, and promise you a relaxation +in future years equivalent to the time you may now give." +</P> + +<P> +The demand was readily assented to, for the tenants of Aberfilly +were no less delighted than those of Glen Cairn to escape from the +rule of the Kerrs. Archie, accompanied by Sir John Grahame, now +made an inspection of the walls of his new hold. It stood just where +the counties of Linlithgow and Edinburgh join that of Lanark. It +was built on an island on a tributary of the Clyde. The stream was +but a small one, and the island had been artificially made, so that +the stream formed a moat on either side of it, the castle occupying +a knoll of ground which rose somewhat abruptly from the surrounding +country. The moat was but twelve feet wide, and Archie and Sir John +decided that this should be widened to fifty feet and deepened to +ten, and that a dam should be built just below the castle to keep +back the stream and fill the moat. The walls should everywhere be +raised ten feet, several strong additional flanking towers added, +and a work built beyond the moat to guard the head of the drawbridge. +With such additions Aberfilly would be able to stand a long siege +by any force which might assail it. +</P> + +<P> +Timber, stones, and rough labour there were in abundance, and +Wallace had insisted upon Archie's taking from the treasures which +had been captured from the enemy, a sum of money which would be +ample to hire skilled masons from Lanark, and to pay for the cement, +iron, and other necessaries which would be beyond the resources +of the estate. These matters in train, Archie rode to Lanark and +fetched his proud and rejoicing mother from Sir Robert Gordon's +to Aberfilly. She was accompanied by Sandy Graham and Elspie: the +former Archie appointed majordomo, and to be in command of the +garrison whenever he should be absent. +</P> + +<P> +The vassals were as good as their word. For three months the work +of digging, quarrying, cutting, and squaring timber and building +went on without intermission. There were upon the estates fully +three hundred ablebodied men, and the work progressed rapidly. When, +therefore, Archie received a message from Wallace to join him near +Stirling, he felt that he could leave Aberfilly without any fear +of a successful attack being made upon it in his absence. +</P> + +<P> +There was need, indeed, for all the Scotch, capable of bearing +arms, to gather round Wallace. Under the Earl of Surrey, the high +treasurer Cressingham, and other leaders, an army of 50,000 foot +and 1000 horse were advancing from Berwick, while 8000 foot and +300 horse under Earl Percy advanced from Carlisle. Wallace was +besieging the castle of Dundee when he heard of their approach, +and leaving the people of Dundee to carry on the siege under the +command of Sir Alexander Scrymgeour, he himself marched to defend +the only bridge by which Edward could cross the Forth, near Stirling. +</P> + +<P> +Thus far Surrey had experienced no resistance, and at the head +of so large and well appointed a force he might well feel sure +of success. A large proportion of his army consisted of veterans +inured to service in wars at home, in Wales, and with the French, +while the mail clad knights and men-at-arms looked with absolute +contempt upon the gathering which was opposed to them. This consisted +solely of popular levies of men who had left their homes and taken +up arms for the freedom of their country. They were rudely armed and +hastily trained. Of all the feudal nobles of Scotland who should have +led them, but one, Sir Andrew Moray, was present. Their commander +was still little more than a youth, who, great as was his individual +valour and prowess, had had no experience in the art of war on +a large scale; while the English were led by a general whose fame +was known throughout Europe. +</P> + +<P> +The Scots took up their station upon the high ground north of the +Forth, protected from observation by the precipitous hill immediately +behind Cambuskenneth Abbey and known as the Abbey Craig. In a bend +of the river, opposite the Abbey Craig, stood the bridge by which +the English army were preparing to cross. Archie stood beside +Wallace on the top of the craig, looking at the English array. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a fair sight," he said; "the great camp, with its pavilions, +its banners, and pennons, lying there in the valley, with the old +castle rising on the lofty rock behind them. It is a pity that such +a sight should bode evil to Scotland." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," Wallace said; "I would that the camp lay where it is, but +that the pennons and banners were those of Scotland's nobles, and +that the royal lions floated over Surrey's tent. Truly that were +a sight which would glad a Scot's heart. When shall we see ought +like it? However, Archie," he went on in a lighter tone, "methinks +that that will be a rare camp to plunder." +</P> + +<P> +Archie laughed. "One must kill the lion before one talks of dividing +his skin," he said; "and truly it seems well nigh impossible that +such a following as yours, true Scots and brave men though they +be, yet altogether undisciplined and new to war, should be able to +bear the brunt of such a battle." +</P> + +<P> +"You are thinking of Dunbar," Wallace said; "and did we fight in +such a field our chances would be poor; but with that broad river +in front and but a narrow bridge for access, methinks that we can +render an account of them." +</P> + +<P> +"God grant it be so!" Archie replied; "but I shall be right glad +when the day is over." +</P> + +<P> +Three days before the battle the Steward of Scotland, the Earl of +Lennox, and others of the Scotch magnates entered Surrey's camp +and begged that he would not attack until they tried to induce the +people to lay down their arms. They returned, however, on the third +day saying that they would not listen to them, but that the next +day they would, themselves, join his army with their men-at-arms. +On leaving the camp that evening the Scotch nobles, riding homeward, +had a broil with some English soldiers, of whom one was wounded by +the Earl of Lennox. News being brought to Surrey, he resolved to +wait no longer, but gave orders that the assault should take place +on the following morning. At daybreak of the 11th of September, +1297, one of the outposts woke Wallace with the news that the English +were crossing the bridge. The troops were at once got under arms, +and were eager to rush down to commence the battle, but Wallace +restrained them. Five thousand Welsh foot soldiers crossed the +bridge, then there was a pause, and none were seen following them. +"Were we to charge down now, Sir William," Archie said, "surely we +might destroy that body before aid could come to them." +</P> + +<P> +"We could do, Archie, as you say," Wallace replied, "but such +a success would be of little worth, nay, would harm rather than +benefit us, for Surrey, learning that we are not altogether to be +despised, as he now believes, would be more prudent in future and +would keep his army in the flat country, where we could do nought +against it. No, to win much one must risk much, and we must wait +until half Surrey's army is across before we venture down against +them." +</P> + +<P> +Presently the Welsh were seen to retire again. Their movement had +been premature. Surrey was still asleep, and nothing could be done +until he awoke; when he did so the army armed leisurely, after which +Surrey bestowed the honour of knighthood upon many young aspirants. +The number of the Scots under Wallace is not certainly known; the +majority of the estimates place it below twenty thousand, and as +the English historian, who best describes the battle, speaks of it +as the defeat of the many by the few, it can certainly be assumed +that it did not exceed this number. +</P> + +<P> +Only on the ground of his utter contempt for the enemy can the +conduct of the Earl of Surrey, in attempting to engage in such a +position, be understood. The bridge was wide enough for but two, +or at most three, horsemen to cross abreast, and when those who had +crossed were attacked assistance could reach them but slowly from +the rear. +</P> + +<P> +The English knights and men-at-arms, with the Royal Standard and +the banner of the Earl of Surrey, crossed first. The men-at-arms +were followed by the infantry, who, as they passed, formed up on +the tongue of land formed by the winding of the river. +</P> + +<P> +When half the English army had passed Wallace gave the order to +advance. First Sir Andrew Moray, with two thousand men, descended +the hills farther to the right, and on seeing these the English +cavalry charged at once against them. The instant they did so +Wallace, with his main army, poured down from the craig impetuously +and swept away the English near the head of the bridge, taking +possession of the end, and by showers of arrows and darts preventing +any more from crossing. By this maneuver the whole of the English +infantry who had crossed were cut off from their friends and inclosed +in the narrow promontory. +</P> + +<P> +The English men-at-arms had succeeded in overthrowing the Scots, +against whom they had charged, and had pursued them some distance; +but upon drawing rein and turning to rejoin the army, they found +the aspect of affairs changed indeed. The troops left at the head +of the bridge were overthrown and destroyed. The royal banner and +that of Surrey were down, and the bridge in the possession of the +enemy. The men-at-arms charged back and strove in vain to recover +the head of the bridge. The Scots fought stubbornly; those in front +made a hedge of pikes, while those behind hurled darts and poured +showers of arrows into the English ranks. The greater proportion +of the men-at-arms were killed. One valiant knight alone, Sir +Marmaduke de Twenge, with his nephew and a squire, cut their way +through the Scots, and crossed the bridge. Many were drowned in +attempting to swim the river, one only succeeding in so gaining +the opposite side. +</P> + +<P> +The men-at-arms defeated, Wallace and the chosen band under him, +who had been engaged with them, joined those who were attacking the +English and Welsh, now cooped up in the promontory. Flushed with +the success already gained the Scots were irresistible, and almost +every man who had crossed was either killed or drowned in attempting +to swim the river. No sooner had he seen that the success in this +quarter was secure than Wallace led a large number of his followers +across the bridge. Here the English, who still outnumbered his army, +and who had now all the advantage of position which had previously +been on the side of the Scots, might have defended the bridge, or +in good order have given him battle on the other side. The sight, +however, of the terrible disaster which had befallen nearly half +their number before their eyes, without their being able to render +them the slightest assistance, had completely demoralized them, +and as soon as the Scotch were seen to be crossing the bridge they +fled in terror. A hot pursuit was kept up by the fleet footed and +lightly armed Scots, and great numbers of fugitives were slain. +</P> + +<P> +More than 20,000 English perished in the battle or flight, and the +remainder crossed the Border a mere herd of broken fugitives. +</P> + +<P> +The Earl of Surrey, before riding off the field, committed the charge +of the Castle of Stirling to Sir Marmaduke de Twenge, promising him +that he would return to his relief within ten weeks at the utmost. +All the tents, wagons, horses, provisions, and stores of the English +fell into the hands of their enemies, and every Scotch soldier +obtained rich booty. +</P> + +<P> +Cressingham was among the number killed. It was said by one +English historian, and his account has been copied by many others, +that Cressingham's body was flayed and his skin divided among the +Scots; but there appears no good foundation for the story, although +probably Cressingham, who had rendered himself peculiarly obnoxious +and hateful to the Scots, was hewn in pieces. But even were it +proved that the ill story is a true one, it need excite no surprise, +seeing the wholesale slaying, plundering, and burning which had +been carried on by the English, and that the Scottish prisoners +falling into their hands were often mutilated and tortured before +being executed and quartered. The English historians were fond of +crying out that the Scotch were a cruel and barbarous people whenever +they retaliated for the treatment which they suffered; but so far +from this being the case, it is probable that the Scotch, before +the first invasion of Edward, were a more enlightened and, for +their numbers, a more well-to-do people than the English. They had +for many years enjoyed peace and tranquillity, and under the long +and prosperous reign of Alexander had made great advances, while +England had been harassed by continuous wars and troubles at home +and abroad. Its warlike barons, when not engaged under its monarchs +in wars in Wales, Ireland, and France, occupied themselves in quarrels +with each other, or in struggles against the royal supremacy; and +although the higher nobles, with their mailclad followers, could +show an amount of chivalrous pomp unknown in Scotland, yet the +condition of the middle classes and of the agricultural population +was higher in Scotland than in England. +</P> + +<P> +Archie, as one of the principal leaders of the victorious army, +received a share of the treasure captured in the camp sufficient to +repay the money which he had had for the strengthening of the Castle +of Aberfilly, and on the day following the battle he received +permission from Sir William to return at once, with the 250 retainers +which he had brought into the field, to complete the rebuilding of +the castle. In another three months this was completed, and stores +of arms and munition of all kinds collected. +</P> + +<P> +Immediately after the defeat at Stirling Bridge, King Edward summoned +the Scottish nobles to join Brian Fitzallan, whom he appointed +governor of Scotland, with their whole forces, for the purpose of +putting down the rebellion. Among those addressed as his allies were +the Earls Comyn of Badenoch, Comyn of Buchan, Patrick of Dunbar, +Umfraville of Angus, Alexander of Menteith, Malise of Strathearn, +Malcolm of Lennox, and William of Sutherland, together with James +the Steward, Nicholas de la Haye, Ingelram de Umfraville, Richard +Fraser, and Alexander de Lindsay of Crawford. From this enumeration +it is clear that Wallace had still many enemies to contend with at +home as well as the force of England. Patrick of Dunbar, assisted +by Robert Bruce and Bishop Anthony Beck, took the field, but was +defeated. Wallace captured all the castles of the earl save Dunbar +itself, and forced him to fly to England; then the Scotch army +poured across the Border and retaliated upon the northern counties +for the deeds which the English had been performing in Scotland +for the last eight years. The country was ravaged to the very walls +of Durham and Carlisle, and only those districts which bought off +the invaders were spared. The title which had been bestowed upon +Wallace by a comparatively small number was now ratified by the +commonalty of the whole of Scotland; and associated with him was +the young Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell, whose father had been the +only Scotch noble who had fought at Stirling, and it is notable +that in some of the documents of the time Wallace gives precedence +to Andrew Moray. +</P> + +<P> +They proceeded to effect a military organization of the country, +dividing it up into districts, each with commanders and lieutenants. +Order was established and negotiations entered into for the mutual +safeguard of traders with the Hanse towns. +</P> + +<P> +The nobles who ventured to oppose the authority of Wallace and his +colleague were punished in some cases by the confiscation of lands, +which were bestowed upon Sir Alexander Scrymgeour and other loyal +gentlemen, and these grants were recognized by Bruce when he became +king. In these deeds of grant Wallace and Moray, although acting as +governors of Scotland, state that they do so in the name of Baliol +as king, although a helpless captive in England. For a short time +Scotland enjoyed peace, save that Earl Percy responded to the raids +made by the Scots across the Border, by carrying fire and sword +through Annandale; and the English writers who complain of the +conduct of the Scots, have no word of reprobation for the proclamation +issued to the soldiers on crossing the Border, that they were free +to plunder where they chose, nor as to the men and women slain, +nor the villages and churches committed to the flames. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Battle of Falkirk +</H3> + +<P> +While Wallace was endeavouring to restore order in Scotland, Edward +was straining every nerve to renew his invasion. He himself was +upon the Continent, but he made various concessions to his barons +and great towns to induce them to aid him heartily, and issued writs +calling upon the whole nobility remaining at home, as they valued +his honour and that of England, to meet at York on January 20th, +"and proceed under the Earl of Surrey to repress and chastise the +audacity of the Scots." At the same time he despatched special +letters to those of the Scottish nobles who were not already in +England, commanding them to attend at the rendezvous. +</P> + +<P> +The call upon the Scotch nobles was not generally responded to. +They had lost much of their power over their vassals, many of whom +had fought under Wallace in spite of the abstention of their lords. +It was clear, too, that if they joined the English, and another +defeat of the latter took place, their countrymen might no longer +condone their treachery, but their titles and estates might be +confiscated. Consequently but few of them presented themselves at +York. There, however, the English nobles gathered in force. The +Earls of Surrey, Gloucester, and Arundel; the Earl Mareschal and +the great Constable were there; Guido, son of the Earl of Warwick, +represented his father. Percy was there, John de Wathe, John de +Seagrave, and very many other barons, the great array consisting +of 2000 horsemen heavily armed, 1200 light horsemen, and 100,000 +foot soldiers. +</P> + +<P> +Sir Aymer de Vallance, Earl of Pembroke, and Sir John Sieward, son +of the Earl of March, landed with an army in Fife, and proceeded +to burn and waste. They were met by a Scotch force under Wallace +in the forest of Black Ironside, and were totally defeated. +</P> + +<P> +Surrey's army crossed the Border, raised the siege of Roxburgh, +and advanced as far as Kelso. Wallace did not venture to oppose +so enormous a force, but wasted the country on every side so that +they could draw no provisions from it, and Surrey was forced to +fall back to Berwick; this town was being besieged by a Scottish +force, which retired at his approach. Here the English army halted +upon receipt of orders from Edward to wait his coming. He had hastily +patched up a peace with France, and, having landed at Sandwich, +summoned the parliament, and on the 27th of May issued writs to +as many as 154 of his great barons to meet him at Roxburgh on the +24th of June. Here 3000 cavalry, men and horses clothed in complete +armour; 4000 lighter cavalry, the riders being armed in steel but +the horses being uncovered; 500 splendidly mounted knights and +men-at-arms from Gascony; and at least 80,000 infantry assembled +together, with abundance of materials and munition of war of all +kinds. This huge army marched from Roxburgh, keeping near the coast, +receiving provisions from a fleet which sailed along beside them. +But in spite of this precaution it was grievously straitened, and +was delayed for a month near Edinburgh, as Wallace so wasted the +country that the army were almost famished, and by no efforts were +they able to bring on a battle with the Scots, whose rapid marches +and intimate acquaintance with the country baffled all the efforts +of the English leaders to force on an action. +</P> + +<P> +Edward was about to retreat, being unable any longer to subsist his +army, when the two Scottish Earls of Dunbar and Angus sent news to +the king that Wallace with his army was in Falkirk forest, about +six miles away, and had arranged to attack the camp on the following +morning. The English at once advanced and that evening encamped at +Linlithgow, and the next morning moved on against the Scots. +</P> + +<P> +Late in the evening Archie's scouts brought in the news to Wallace +that the English army was within three miles, and a consultation +was at once held between the leaders. Most of them were in favour +of a retreat; but Comyn of Badenoch, who had lately joined Wallace, +and had been from his rank appointed to the command of the cavalry, +with some of his associates, urged strongly the necessity for +fighting, saying that the men would be utterly dispirited at such +continual retreats, and that with such immensely superior cavalry +the English would follow them up and destroy them. To these arguments +Wallace, Sir John Grahame, and Sir John Stewart, yielded their own +opinions, and prepared to fight. They took up their position so +that their front was protected by a morass, and a fence of stakes +and ropes was also fixed across so as to impede the advance or +retreat of the English cavalry. The Scotch army consisted almost +entirely of infantry. These were about a third the number of those +of the English, while Comyn's cavalry were a thousand strong. +</P> + +<P> +The infantry were formed in three great squares or circles, the +front rank kneeling and the spears all pointing outwards. In the +space between these squares were placed the archers, under Sir John +Stewart. +</P> + +<P> +The English army was drawn up in three divisions, the first commanded +by the Earl Marechal, the Earl of Lincoln and Hereford; the second +by Beck, the warlike Bishop of Durham, and Sir Ralph Basset; +the third by the king himself. The first two divisions consisted +almost entirely of knights and men-at-arms; the third, of archers +and slingers. +</P> + +<P> +Wallace's plan of battle was that the Scottish squares should first +receive the brunt of the onslaught of the enemy, and that while +the English were endeavouring to break these the Scotch cavalry, +which were drawn up some distance in the rear, should fall upon +them when in a confused mass, and drive them against the fence or +into the morass. +</P> + +<P> +The first division of the English on arriving at the bog made a +circuit to the west. The second division, seeing the obstacle which +the first had encountered, moved round to the east, and both fell +upon the Scottish squares. The instant they were seen rounding +the ends of the morass, the traitor Comyn, with the whole of the +cavalry, turned rein and fled from the field, leaving the infantry +alone to support the whole brunt of the attack of the English. So +impetuous was the charge of the latter that Sir John Stewart and +his archers were unable to gain the shelter of the squares, and +he was, with almost all his men, slain by the English men-at-arms. +Thus the spearmen were left entirely to their own resources. +</P> + +<P> +Encouraged by Wallace, Grahame, Archie Forbes, and their other +leaders, the Scottish squares stood firmly, and the English cavalry +in vain strove to break the hedge of spears. Again and again the +bravest of the chivalry of England tried to hew a way through. The +Scots stood firm and undismayed, and had the battle lain between +them and the English cavalry, the day would have been theirs. But +presently the king, with his enormous body of infantry, arrived on +the ground, and the English archers and slingers poured clouds of +missiles into the ranks of the Scots; while the English spearmen, +picking up the great stones with which the ground was strewn, +hurled them at the front ranks of their foes. Against this storm +of missiles the Scottish squares could do nothing. Such armour +as they had was useless against the English clothyard arrows, and +thousands fell as they stood. +</P> + +<P> +Again and again they closed up the gaps in their ranks, but at last +they could no longer withstand the hail of arrows and stones, to +which they could offer no return. Some of them wavered. The gaps +in the squares were no longer filled up, and the English cavalry, +who had been waiting for their opportunity, charged into the midst +of them. No longer was there any thought of resistance. The Scots +fled in all directions. Numbers were drowned by trying to swim the +river Carron, which ran close by. Multitudes were cut down by the +host of English cavalry. +</P> + +<P> +Sir Archie Forbes was in the same square with Wallace, with a few +other mounted men. They dashed forward against the English as they +broke through the ranks of the spearmen, but the force opposed them +was overwhelming. +</P> + +<P> +"It is of no use, Archie; we must retire. Better that than throw +away our lives uselessly. All is lost now." +</P> + +<P> +Wallace shouted to the spearmen, who gallantly rallied round him, +and, keeping together in spite of the efforts of the English cavalry, +succeeded in withdrawing from the field. The other squares were +entirely broken and dispersed, and scarce a man of them escaped. +</P> + +<P> +Accounts vary as to the amount of the slaughter, some English +writers placing it as double that of the army which Wallace could +possibly have brought into the field, seeing that the whole of the +great nobles stood aloof, and that Grahame, Stewart, and Macduff of +Fife were the only three men of noble family with him. All these +were slain, together with some 25,000 infantry. +</P> + +<P> +Wallace with about 5000 men succeeded in crossing a ford of the +Carron, and the English spread themselves over the country. The +districts of Fife, Clackmannan, Lanark, Ayr, and all the surrounding +country were wasted and burnt, and every man found put to the sword. +The Scotch themselves in retreating destroyed Stirling and Perth, +and the English found the town of St. Andrew's deserted, and burnt +it to the ground. +</P> + +<P> +No sooner had Wallace retreated than he divided his force into +small bands, which proceeded in separate directions, driving off the +cattle and destroying all stores of grain, so that in a fortnight +after the battle of Falkirk the English army were again brought +to a stand by shortness of provisions, and were compelled to fall +back again with all speed to the mouth of the Forth, there to obtain +provisions from their ships. As they did so Wallace reunited his +bands, and pressed hard upon them. At Linlithgow he fell upon their +rear and inflicted heavy loss, and so hotly did he press them that +the great army was obliged to retreat rapidly across the Border, +and made no halt until it reached the fortress of Carlisle. +</P> + +<P> +That it was compulsion alone which forced Edward to make his +speedy retreat we may be sure from the fact that after the victory +of Dunbar he was contented with nothing less than a clean sweep +of Scotland to its northern coast, and that he repeated the same +process when, in the year following the battle of Falkirk, he again +returned with a mighty army. Thus decisive as was the battle of +Falkirk it was entirely abortive in results. +</P> + +<P> +When the English had crossed the Border, Wallace assembled the few +gentlemen who were still with him, and announced his intention of +resigning the guardianship of Scotland, and of leaving the country. +The announcement was received with exclamations of surprise and +regret. +</P> + +<P> +"Surely, Sir William," Archie exclaimed, "you cannot mean it. You +are our only leader; in you we have unbounded confidence, and in +none else. Had it not been for the treachery of Comyn the field of +Falkirk would have been ours, for had the horse charged when the +English were in confusion round our squares they had assuredly been +defeated. Moreover, your efforts have retrieved that disastrous +field, and have driven the English across the Border." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear Archie," Wallace said, "it is because I am the only leader +in whom you have confidence that I must needs go. I had vainly hoped +that when the Scottish nobles saw what great things the commonalty +were able to do, and how far, alone and unaided, they had cleared +Scotland of her tyrants, they would have joined us with their +vassals; but you see it is not so. The successes that I have gained +have but excited their envy against me. Of them all only Grahame, +Stewart, and Macduff stood by my side, while all the great earls +and barons either held aloof or were, like Bruce, in the ranks of +Edward's army, or like Comyn and his friends, joined me solely to +betray me. I am convinced now that it is only a united Scotland can +resist the power of England, and it is certain that so long as I +remain here Scotland never can be united. Of Bruce I have no longer +any hope; but if I retire Comyn may take the lead, and many at +least of the Scottish nobles will follow him. Had we but horsemen +and archers to support our spearmen, I would not fear the issue; +but it is the nobles alone who can place mounted men-at-arms in +the field. Of bowmen we must always be deficient, seeing that our +people take not naturally to this arm as do the English; but with +spearmen to break the first shock of English chivalry, and with +horsemen to charge them when in confusion, we may yet succeed, but +horsemen we shall never get so long as the nobles hold aloof. It +is useless to try and change my decision, my friends. Sore grief +though it will be to me to sheathe my sword and to stand aloof +when Scotland struggles for freedom, I am convinced that only by my +doing so has Scotland a chance of ultimate success in the struggle. +Do not make it harder for me by your pleadings. I have thought long +over this, and my mind is made up. My heart is well nigh broken by +the death of my dear friend and brother in arms, Sir John Grahame, +and I feel able to struggle no longer against the jealousy and +hostility of the Scottish nobles." +</P> + +<P> +Wallace's hearers were all in tears at his decision, but they felt +that there was truth in his words, that the Scottish nobles were +far more influenced by feelings of personal jealousy and pique than +by patriotism, and that so long as Wallace remained the guardian +of Scotland they would to a man side with the English. The next day +Wallace assembled all his followers, and in a few words announced +his determination, and the reasons which had driven him to take +it. He urged them to let no feelings of resentment at the treatment +he had experienced, or any wrath at the lukewarmness and treachery +which had hitherto marked the Scottish nobles, overcome their feeling +of patriotism, but to follow these leaders should they raise the +banner of Scotland, as bravely and devotedly as they had followed +him. +</P> + +<P> +Then he bade them farewell, and mounting his horse rode to the +seacoast and passed over to France. +</P> + +<P> +Although he had retired from Scotland, Wallace did not cease from +war against the English; but being warmly received by the French +king fought against them both by sea and land, and won much renown +among the French. +</P> + +<P> +After returning to England, Edward, finding that the Scottish leaders +still professed to recognize Baliol as king, sent him to the pope +at Rome, having first confiscated all his great possessions in +England and bestowed them upon his own nephew, John of Brittany; +and during the rest of his life Baliol lived in obscurity in Rome. +A portion of the Scotch nobles assembled and chose John Comyn of +Badenoch and John de Soulis as guardians of the kingdom. In the +autumn of the following year Edward again assembled a great army +and moved north, but it was late; and in the face of the approaching +winter, and the difficulty of forage, many of the barons refused +to advance. Edward himself marched across the Border; but seeing +that the Scots had assembled in force, and that at such a season +of the year he could not hope to carry his designs fully into +execution, he retired without striking a blow. Thereupon the castle +of Stirling, which was invested by the Scots, seeing no hope of +relief, surrendered, and Sir William Oliphant was appointed governor. +</P> + +<P> +The next spring Edward again advanced with an army even greater +than that with which he had before entered Scotland. With him were +Alexander of Baliol, son of the late king, who was devoted to the +English; Dunbar, Fraser, Ross, and other Scottish nobles. The vast +army first laid siege to the little castle of Carlaverock, which, +although defended by but sixty men, resisted for some time the +assaults of the whole army, but was at last captured. The Scots +fell back as Edward advanced, renewing Wallace's tactics of wasting +the country, and Edward could get no further than Dumfries. Here, +finding the enormous difficulties which beset him, he made a pretence +of yielding with a good grace to the entreaties of the pope and the +King of France that he would spare Scotland; he retired to England +and disbanded his army, having accomplished nothing in the campaign +save the capture of Carlaverock. +</P> + +<P> +The following summer he again advanced with the army, this time +supported by a fleet of seventy ships. The Scots resorted to their +usual strategy, and, when winter came, the invaders had penetrated +no further than the Forth. Edward remained at Linlithgow for a +time, and then returned to England. Sir Simon Fraser, who had been +one of the leaders of the English army at Carlaverock, now imitated +Comyn's example, and, deserting the English cause, joined his +countrymen. +</P> + +<P> +The greater part of the English army recrossed the Border, and the +Scots captured many of the garrisons left in the towns. Sir John +Seagrave next invaded Scotland with from 20,000 to 30,000 men, mostly +cavalry. They reached the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, when Comyn +and Fraser advanced against them with 8000 men, chiefly infantry. +The English army were advancing in three divisions, in order +better to obtain provisions and forage. After a rapid night march +the Scotch came upon one of them, commanded by Seagrave in person; +and conceiving himself sufficiently strong to defeat the Scots unaided +by any of the other divisions, Sir John Seagrave immediately gave +battle. +</P> + +<P> +As at Falkirk, the English cavalry were unable to break through +the Scottish pikes. Great numbers were killed or taken prisoners, +Seagrave himself being severely wounded and captured, with +twenty distinguished knights, thirty esquires, and many soldiers. +Scarcely was the battle over when the second English division, even +stronger than the first, arrived on the field. Encumbered by their +prisoners, the Scots were at a disadvantage; and fearing to be attacked +by these in the rear while engaged in front, they slaughtered the +greater portion of the prisoners, and arming the camp followers, +prepared to resist the English onslaught. This failed as the first +had done; the cavalry were defeated with great loss by the spearmen, +and many prisoners taken—among them Sir Ralph Manton. +</P> + +<P> +The third English division now appeared; and the Scots, worn out +by their long march and the two severe conflicts they had endured, +were about to fly from the field when their leaders exhorted them +to one more effort. The second batch of prisoners were slaughtered, +and the pikemen again formed line to resist the English charge. +Again were the cavalry defeated, Sir Robert Neville, their leader, +slain, with many others, and the whole dispersed and scattered. +Sir Robert Manton, who was the king's treasurer, had had a quarrel +with Fraser, when the latter was in Edward's service, regarding +his pay; and Fraser is said by some historians to have now revenged +himself by slaying his prisoner. Other accounts, however, represent +Manton as having escaped. +</P> + +<P> +The slaughter of the prisoners appears, although cruel, to have +been unavoidable; as the Scots, having before them a well appointed +force fully equal to their own in number, could not have risked +engaging, with so large a body of prisoners in their rear. None of +the knights or other leaders were slain, these being subsequently +exchanged or ransomed, as we afterwards find them fighting in the +English ranks. +</P> + +<P> +Seeing by this defeat that a vast effort was necessary to conquer +Scotland, King Edward advanced in the spring of 1303 with an army +of such numbers that the historians of the time content themselves +with saying that "it was great beyond measure." It consisted of +English, Welsh, Irish, Gascons, and Savoyards. One division, under +the Prince of Wales, advanced by the west coast; that of the king, +by the east; and the two united at the Forth. Without meeting any +serious resistance the great host marched north through Perth and +Dundee to Brechin, where the castle, under the charge of Sir Thomas +Maille, resisted for twenty days; and it was only after the death +of the governor that it surrendered. +</P> + +<P> +The English then marched north through Aberdeen, Banff, and Moray +into Caithness, carrying utter destruction everywhere; towns and +hamlets, villages and farmhouses were alike destroyed; crops were +burned, forests and orchards cut down. Thus was the whole of Scotland +wasted; and even the rich abbeys of Abberbredok and Dunfermline, +the richest and most famous in Scotland, were destroyed, and the +whole levelled to the ground. The very fields were as far as possible +injured—the intention of Edward being, as Fordun says, to blot +out the people, and to reduce the land to a condition of irrecoverable +devastation, and thus to stamp out for ever any further resistance +in Scotland. +</P> + +<P> +During the three years which had elapsed since the departure +of Wallace, Archie had for the most part remained quietly in his +castle, occupying himself with the comfort and wellbeing of his +vassals. He had, each time the English entered Scotland, taken the +field with a portion of his retainers, in obedience to the summons +of Comyn. The latter was little disposed to hold valid the grants +made by Wallace, especially in the case of Archie Forbes, the Kerrs +being connections of his house; but the feeling of the people in +general was too strongly in favour of the companion of Wallace for +him to venture to set it aside, especially as the castle could not +be captured without a long continued siege. Archie and many of the +nobles hostile to the claims of Comyn obeyed his orders, he being +the sole possible leader, at present, of Scotland. Edward, however, +had left them no alternative, since he had, in order to induce +the English nobles to follow him, formally divided among them the +lands of the whole of the Scotch nobles, save those actually fighting +in his ranks. +</P> + +<P> +Archie was now nearly three-and-twenty, and his frame had fully +borne out the promise of his youth. He was over the average height, +but appeared shorter from the extreme breadth of his shoulders; +his arms were long and sinewy, and his personal strength immense. +</P> + +<P> +From the time of his first taking possession of Aberfilly he had +kept a party of men steadily engaged in excavating a passage from +the castle towards a wood a mile distant. The ground was soft and +offered but few obstacles, but the tunnel throughout its whole +length had to be supported by massive timbers. Wood, however, was +abundant, and the passage had by this time been completed. Whenever, +from the length of the tunnel, the workmen began to suffer from +want of air, ventilation was obtained by running a small shaft +up to the surface; in this was placed a square wooden tube of six +inches in diameter, round which the earth was again filled in—a +few rapidly growing plants and bushes being planted round the +orifice to prevent its being noticed by any passerby. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Robert The Bruce +</H3> + +<P> +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 not +call out the levies. Upon the approach of the English army under +the Prince of Wales he called the whole of his tenants into the +castle. Great stores of provisions had already been collected. The +women and children were sent away up into the hills, where provisions +had also been garnered, and the old men and boys accompanied them. +As the Prince of Wales passed north, bands from his army spreading +over the country destroyed every house in the district. Archie was +summoned to surrender, but refused to do so; and the prince, being +on his way to join his father on the Forth, after himself surveying +the hold, and judging it far too strong to be carried without +a prolonged siege, marched forward, promising on his return to +destroy it. Soon afterwards Archie received a message that Wallace +had returned. He at once took with him fifty men, and leaving the +castle in charge of Sandy Graham, with the rest of his vassals, two +hundred and fifty in number, he rejoined his former leader. Many +others gathered round Wallace's standard; and throughout Edward's +march to the north and his return to the Forth Wallace hung upon +his flanks, cutting off and slaying great numbers of the marauders, +and striking blows at detached bands wherever these were in numbers +not too formidable to be coped with. +</P> + +<P> +Stirling was now the only great castle which remained in the hands +of the Scotch, and King Edward prepared to lay siege to this. Save +for the band of Wallace there was no longer any open resistance in +the field. A few holds like those of Archie Forbes still remained +in the hands of their owners, their insignificance, or the time +which would be wasted in subduing them, having protected them from +siege. None of the nobles now remained in arms. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce had for a short time taken the field; but had, as usual, +hastened to make his peace with Edward. Comyn and all his adherents +surrendered upon promise of their lives and freedom, and that they +should retain their estates, subject to a pecuniary fine. All the +nobles of Scotland were included in this capitulation, save a few +who were condemned to suffer temporary banishment. Sir William +Wallace alone was by name specially exempted from the surrender. +</P> + +<P> +Stirling Castle was invested on the 20th of April, 1304, and for +seventy days held out against all the efforts of Edward's army. +Warlike engines of all kinds had been brought from England for +the siege. The religious houses of St. Andrews, Brechin, and other +churches were stripped of lead for the engines. The sheriffs of +London, Lincoln, York, and the governor of the Tower were ordered +to collect and forward all the mangonels, quarrels, and bows and +arrows they could gather; and for seventy days missiles of all +kinds, immense stones, leaden balls, and javelins were rained upon +the castle; and Greek fire—a new and terrible mode of destruction—was +also used in the siege. But it was only when their provisions +and other resources were exhausted that the garrison capitulated; +and it was found that the survivors of the garrison which had +defended Stirling Castle for upwards of three months against the +whole force of England numbered, including its governor, Sir William +Oliphant, and twenty-four knights and gentlemen, but a hundred and +twenty soldiers, two monks, and thirteen females. +</P> + +<P> +During the siege Wallace had kept the field, but Archie had, at +his request, returned to his castle, which being but a day's march +from Stirling, might at any moment be besieged. Several times, +indeed, parties appeared before it, but Edward's hands were too +full, and he could spare none of the necessary engines to undertake +such a siege; and when Stirling at length fell he and his army +were in too great haste to return to England to undertake another +prolonged siege, especially as Aberfilly, standing in a retired +position, and commanding none of the principal roads, was a hold +of no political importance. +</P> + +<P> +A short time afterwards, to Archie's immense grief, Sir William +Wallace was betrayed into the hands of the English. Several +Scotchmen took part in this base act, the principal being Sir John +Menteith. Late historians, in their ardour to whitewash those who +have for ages been held up to infamy, have endeavoured to show that +Sir John Menteith was not concerned in the matter; but the evidence +is overwhelming the other way. Scotch opinion at the time, and +for 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, and +their account is confirmed by contemporary English writings. The +Chronicle of Lanercost, the Arundel MSS., written about the year +1320, and the Scala Chronica, all distinctly say that Wallace was +seized by Sir John Menteith; and finally, Sir Francis Palgrave has +discovered in the memoranda of the business of the privy council +that forty marks were bestowed upon the young man who spied out +Wallace, sixty marks were divided among some others who assisted +in his capture, and that to Sir John Menteith was given land of +the annual value of one hundred pounds—a very large amount in +those days. +</P> + +<P> +The manner in which Wallace was seized is uncertain; but he was at +once handed by Sir John Menteith to Sir John Seagrave, and carried +by him to London. He was taken on horseback to Westminster, the +mayor, sheriffs, and aldermen, with a great number of horse and +foot, accompanying him. There the mockery of a trial was held, +and he was in one day tried, condemned, and executed. He defended +himself nobly, urging truly that, as a native born Scotsman, he +had never sworn fealty or allegiance to England, and that he was +perfectly justified in fighting for the freedom of his country. +</P> + +<P> +Every cruelty attended his execution. He was drawn through the +streets at the tails of horses; he was hung for some time by a +halter, but was taken down while yet alive; he was mutilated and +disembowelled, his head then cut off, his body divided in four, +his head impaled over London Bridge, and his quarters distributed +to four principal towns in Scotland. Such barbarities were common +at executions in the days of the Norman kings, who have been +described by modern writers as chivalrous monarchs. +</P> + +<P> +A nobler character than Wallace is not to be found in history. Alone, +a poor and landless knight, by his personal valour and energy he +aroused the spirit of his countrymen, and in spite of the opposition +of the whole of the nobles of his country banded the people in +resistance against England, and for a time wrested all Scotland from +the hands of Edward. His bitter enemies the English were unable to +adduce any proofs that the epithets of ferocious and bloodthirsty, +with which they were so fond of endowing him, had even a shadow +of foundation, and we may rather believe the Scotch accounts that +his gentleness and nobility of soul were equal to his valour. Of +his moderation and wisdom when acting as governor of Scotland there +can be no doubt, while the brilliant strategy which first won the +battle of Stirling, and would have gained that of Falkirk had not +the treachery and cowardice of the cavalry ruined his plans, show +that under other circumstances he would have taken rank as one of +the greatest commanders of his own or any age. +</P> + +<P> +He first taught his countrymen, and indeed Europe in general, that +steady infantry can repel the assaults even of mailclad cavalry. +The lesson was followed at Bannockburn by Bruce, who won under +precisely the same circumstances as those under which Wallace had +been defeated, simply because at the critical moment he had 500 +horse at hand to charge the disordered mass of the English, while +at Falkirk Wallace's horse, who should have struck the blow, were +galloping far away from the battlefield. Nor upon his English +conquerors was the lesson lost, for at Cressy, when attacked by +vastly superior numbers, Edward III dismounted his army, and ordered +them to fight on foot, and the result gave a death blow to that +mailed chivalry which had come to be regarded as the only force +worth reckoning in a battle. The conduct of Edward to Wallace, +and later to many other distinguished Scotchmen who fell into his +hands, is a foul blot upon the memory of one of the greatest of +the kings of England. +</P> + +<P> +Edward might now well have believed that Scotland was crushed for +ever. In ten years no less than twelve great armies had marched +across the Border, and twice the whole country had been ravaged +from sea to sea, the last time so effectually, that Edward had +good ground for his belief that the land would never again raise +its head from beneath his foot. +</P> + +<P> +He now proceeded, as William of Normandy after Hastings had done, +to settle his conquest, and appointed thirty-one commissioners, of +whom twenty-one were English and ten so called Scotch, among them +Sir John Menteith, to carry out his ordinances. All the places of +strength were occupied by English garrisons. The high officers and +a large proportion of the justiciaries and sheriffs were English, +and Edward ruled Scotland from Westminster as he did England. +</P> + +<P> +Among the commissioners was Robert Bruce, now through the death +of his father, Lord of Annandale and Carrick; and Edward addressed +a proclamation to him, headed, "To our faithful and loyal Robert +de Bruce, Earl of Carrick, and all others who are in his company, +greeting;" and went on to say that he possessed the king's fullest +confidence. But though Scotland lay prostrate, the spirit of +resistance yet lingered in the hearts of the commonalty. Although +conquered now the memory of their past success still inspired them, +but until some leader presented himself none could stir. It was in +August that Wallace had been executed. Archie had received several +summonses from the English governors of Stirling and Lanark to +come in and do homage to Edward, but he had resolutely declined, +and the task of capturing his castle was too heavy a one to +be undertaken by any single garrison; still he saw that the time +must come, sooner or later, when he would have to choose between +surrender and death. When matters settled down it was certain that +a great effort would be made to root out the one recalcitrant south +of the Forth. For some time he remained gloomy and thoughtful, +a mood most unusual to him, and his mother, who was watching him +anxiously, was scarcely surprised when one day he said to her: +</P> + +<P> +"Mother, I must leave you for a time. Matters can no longer continue +as they are. Surrender to the English I will not, and there remains +for me but to defend this castle to the last, and then to escape +to France; or to cross thither at once, and enter the service of +the French king, as did Wallace. Of these courses I would fain take +the latter, seeing that the former would bring ruin and death upon +our vassals, who have ever done faithful service when called upon, +and whom I would not see suffer for my sake. In that case I should +propose that you should return and live quietly with Sir Robert +Gordon until times change." +</P> + +<P> +Dame Forbes agreed with her son, for she had long felt that further +resistance would only bring ruin upon him. +</P> + +<P> +"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 Aberfilly +back again to the Kerrs. Ask me not what it is, for it were best +that if it fail you should not know of it. There is no danger in +the enterprise, but for a month I shall be absent. On my return +you shall hear my final resolve." +</P> + +<P> +Having attired himself as a lowland farmer, Archie proceeded to +Edinburgh, and there took ship for London; here he took lodgings +at an inn, which he had been told in Edinburgh was much frequented +by Scotchmen who had to go to London on business. His first care +was to purchase the garments of an English gentleman of moderate +means, so that he could pass through the streets without attracting +attention. +</P> + +<P> +He was greatly impressed with the bustle and wealth of London. +</P> + +<P> +"It is wonderful," he said to himself, "that we Scots, who were +after all but an army of peasants, could for nigh ten years have +supported a war against such a country as this, and it seems madness +to adventure farther in that way. If my present errand fails I will +assuredly hold firm to my resolve and seek a refuge in France." +</P> + +<P> +Archie ascertained that Robert the Bruce lodged at Westminster, +and that great gaieties were taking place at the court for joy at +the final termination of hostilities with Scotland, now secured by +the execution of Wallace. He despatched a letter to the earl by +a messenger from the inn, saying that one who had formerly known +him in Scotland desired earnestly to speak to him on matters of +great import, and begging him to grant a private interview with him +at 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 the +writer at his lodging at nine o'clock on the following morning. +</P> + +<P> +At the appointed time Archie presented himself at the house inhabited +by Bruce. To the request of the earl's retainer for his name and +business he replied that his name mattered not, but that he had +received a message from the earl appointing him a meeting at that +hour. +</P> + +<P> +Two minutes later he was ushered into the private cabinet of Robert +Bruce. The latter was seated writing, and looked up at his unknown +visitor. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you remember me, Sir Robert Bruce?" Archie asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Methinks I know your face, sir," the earl replied, "but I cannot +recall where I have seen it." +</P> + +<P> +"It is five years since," Archie said, "and as that time has changed +me from a youth into a man I wonder not that my face has escaped +you." +</P> + +<P> +"I know you now!" the earl exclaimed, rising suddenly from his +seat. "You are Sir Archibald Forbes?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am," Archie replied, "and I have come now on the same errand I +came then—the cause of our country. The English think she is +dead, but, though faint and bleeding, Scotland yet lives; but there +is one man only who can revive her, and that man is yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"Your mission is a vain one," Bruce replied. "Though I honour you, +Sir Archibald, for your faith and constancy; though I would give +much, ay all that I have, were my record one of as true patriotism +and sacrifice as yours, yet it were madness to listen to you. Have +I not," he asked bitterly, "earned the hatred of my countrymen? +Have I not three times raised my standard only to lower it again +without striking a blow? Did I not fight by Edward at the field +of Falkirk? Ah!" he said in a changed tone, "never shall I forget +the horror which I felt as I passed over the field strewn with +Scottish corpses. Truly my name must be loathed in Scotland; and +yet, Sir Archibald, irresolute and false as I have hitherto proved +myself, believe me, I love Scotland, the land of my mother." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you, sir," Archie said, "and it is therefore that I +implore 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 courtier +of Edward. Wallace is dead. Comyn proved weak and incapable, and +was unable to rally the people to offer any opposition to Edward's +last march. Scotland needs a leader strong and valiant as Wallace, +capable of uniting around him a large body, at least, of the Scotch +nobles, and having some claim to her crown. You know not, sir, how +deep is the hatred of the English. The last terrible incursion of +Edward has spread that feeling far and wide, and while before it was +but in a few counties of the lowlands that the flame of resistance +really burnt, this time, believe me, that all Scotland, save perhaps +the Comyns and their adherents, would rise at the call. I say not +that success would at once attend you, for, forgive me for saying +so, the commonalty would not at first trust you; but when they saw +that you were fighting for Scotland as well as for your own crown, +that you had, by your action, definitely and for ever broken with +the 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 and +Annandale are a goodly array in themselves and the young Douglas +might be counted on to bring his dalesmen to your banner. There +are all the lords who have favoured your cause, and so stood aloof +from Comyn. You will have a good array to commence with; but above +all, even if unsuccessful at first, all Scotland would come in +time to regard you as her king and champion. Resistance will never +cease, for even Wallace was ever able to assemble bands and make +head against the English, so will it be with you, until at last +freedom is achieved, and you will reign a free king over a free +Scotland, and your name will be honoured to all time as the champion +and deliverer of our country. Think not, sir," he went on earnestly +as Bruce paced up and down the little room, "that it is too late. +Other Scotchmen, Fraser and many others, who have warred in the +English ranks, have been joyfully received when at length they +drew sword for Scotland. Only do you stand forth as our champion, +believe me, that the memory of former weakness will be forgotten +in the admiration of present patriotism." +</P> + +<P> +For two or three minutes Bruce strode up and down the room; then +he paused before Archie. +</P> + +<P> +"By heavens," he said, "I will do it! I am not so sanguine as you, +I do not believe that success can ever finally attend the enterprise, +but, be that as it may, I will attempt it, win or die. The memory +of Robert Bruce shall go down in the hearts of Scotchmen as one +who, whatever his early errors, atoned for them at last by living +and dying in her cause. My sisters and brothers have long urged me +to take such a step, but I could never bring myself to brave the +power 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?" +</P> + +<P> +"The English in Scotland are lulled in security, and a sudden blow +upon them will assuredly at first be wholly successful. You must +withdraw suddenly and quietly from here." +</P> + +<P> +"It is not easy to do so," Bruce replied. "Although high in favour +with Edward, he has yet some suspicions of me—not," he said +bitterly, "without just cause—and would assuredly arrest me did +he know that I were going north. My only plan will be to appear +at court as usual, while I send down relays of horses along the +northern road. You will ride with me, Sir Archie, will you not? +But I must tell you that I have already, in some degree, prepared +for a movement in Scotland. Comyn and I have met and have talked +over the matter. Our mutual claims to the crown stood in the way, +but we have agreed that one shall yield to the other, and that +whoso takes the crown shall give all his lands to be the property +of the other, in consideration of his waiving his claim and giving +his support. This we have agreed to, and have signed a mutual bond +to that effect, and though it is not so writ down we have further +agreed that I shall have the crown and that Comyn shall take Carrick +and Annandale; but this was for the future, and we thought not of +any movement for the present." +</P> + +<P> +"It were a bad bargain, sir," Archie said gravely; "and one that I +trust will never be carried out. The Comyns are even now the most +powerful nobles in Scotland, and with Carrick and Annandale in +addition to their own broad lands, would be masters of Scotland, +let who would be called her king. Did he displease them, they +could, with their vassals and connections, place a stronger army +in the field than that which the king could raise; and could at any +moment, did he anger them, call in the English to his aid, and so +again lay Scotland under the English yoke." +</P> + +<P> +"I will think of it, Sir Archie. There is much in what you say, and +I sorely doubt the Comyns. Henceforth do not fear to give me your +advice freely. You possessed the confidence of Wallace, and have +shown yourself worthy of it. Should I ever free Scotland and win +me a kingdom, believe me you will not find Robert Bruce ungrateful. +I will give orders tomorrow for the horses to be privately +sent forward, so that at any hour we can ride if the moment seem +propitious; meanwhile I pray you to move from the hostelry in the +city, where your messenger told me you were staying, to one close +at hand, in order that I may instantly communicate with you in case +of need. I cannot ask you to take up your abode here, for there +are 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 at +the court throng the inns of the city of Westminster, one figure +more or less would excite neither question nor comment." +</P> + +<P> +That afternoon Archie took up his abode at Westminster. A week +later one of Bruce's retainers came in just as Archie was about to +retire to bed, and said that the Earl of Carrick wished immediately +to see Master Forbes. Sir Archie had retained his own name while +dropping the title. He at once crossed, to Bruce's lodging. +</P> + +<P> +"We must mount at once!" the earl exclaimed as he entered. "What +think you? I have but now received word from a friend, who is +a member of the council, to say that this afternoon a messenger +arrived from the false Comyn with a letter to the king, containing +a copy of the bond between us. Whether the coward feared the +consequences, or whether he has all along acted in treachery with +the view of bringing me into disgrace, and so ridding himself of +a rival, I know not; but the result is the same, he has disclosed +our plans to Edward. A council was hastily called, and it has but +just separated. It is to meet again in the morning, and the king +himself will be present. I am to be summoned before it, being, as +it is supposed, in ignorance of the betrayal of my plans. It was +well for me that Edward himself had pressing engagements, and was +unable to be present at the council. Had he been, prompt steps would +have been taken, and I should by this time be lying a prisoner in +the Tower. Even now I may be arrested at any moment. Have you aught +for which you wish to return to your inn?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," Archie replied. "I have but a change of clothing there, which +is of no importance, and we had best lose not a moment's time. But +there is the reckoning to discharge." +</P> + +<P> +"I will give orders," the earl said, "that it shall be discharged +in the morning. Now let us without a moment's delay make to the +stables and mount there. Here is a cloak and valise." +</P> + +<P> +The earl struck a bell, and a retainer appeared. +</P> + +<P> +"Allan, I am going out to pay a visit. Take these two valises to +the stable at once, and order Roderick to saddle the two bay horses +in the stalls at the end of the stables. Tell him to be speedy, for +I shall be with him anon. He is not bring them round here. I will +mount in the court." +</P> + +<P> +Five minutes later Bruce and Archie, enveloped in thick cloaks +with hoods drawn over their faces, rode north from Westminster. At +first they went slowly, but as soon as they were out in the fields +they set spur to their horses and galloped on in the darkness. +</P> + +<P> +The snow lay thick upon the ground, and the roads were entirely +deserted. +</P> + +<P> +"Farewell to London!" Bruce exclaimed. "Except as a prisoner I +shall 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's +treachery has made my action irrevocable—it is now indeed death +or victory!" +</P> + +<P> +All night they rode without drawing rein, save that they once +changed horses where a relay had been provided. They had little +fear of pursuit, for even when Bruce's absence was discovered none +of his household would be able to say where he had gone, and some +time must elapse before the conviction that he had ridden for +Scotland, in such weather, would occur to the king. Nevertheless, +they travelled fast, and on the 10th of February entered Dumfries. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Battle of Methven +</H3> + +<P> +Bruce had, during the previous week, sent messages saying to several +of his friends in Annandale and Carrick that he might at any time +be among them, and at Dumfries he found many of them prepared to +see him. The English justiciaries for the southern district of the +conquered kingdom were holding an assize, and at this most of the +nobles and principal men of that part were present. Among these +were, of course, many of Bruce's vassals; among them also was John +Comyn of Badenoch, who held large estates in Galloway, in virtue +of which he was now present. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the news that Bruce had arrived in the town spread, his +adherents and vassals there speedily gathered round him, and as, +accompanied by several of them, he went through the town he met +Comyn in the precincts of the Grey Friars. Concerning this memorable +meeting there has been great dispute among historians. Some have +charged Bruce with inviting Comyn to meet him, with the deliberate +intention of slaying him; others have represented the meeting as +accidental, and the slaying of Comyn as the result of an outburst +of passion on the part of Bruce; but no one who weighs the facts, +and considers the circumstances in which Comyn was placed, can feel +the least question that the latter is the true hypothesis. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce, whose whole course shows him to have been a man who acted +with prudence and foresight, would have been nothing short of mad had +he, just at the time when it was necessary to secure the goodwill +of the whole of the Scotch nobles, chosen that moment to slay Comyn, +with whom were connected, by blood or friendship, the larger half +of the Scotch nobles. Still less, had he decided upon so suicidal +a course, would he have selected a sanctuary as the scene of the +deed. To slay his rival in such a place would be to excite against +himself the horror and aversion of the whole people, and to enlist +against him the immense authority and influence of the church. +Therefore, unless we should conclude that Bruce—whose early +career showed him to be a cool and calculating man, and whose future +course was marked throughout with wisdom of the highest character—was +suffering from an absolute aberration of intellect, we must +accept the account by those who represent the meeting as accidental, +and the slaying as the result of an outburst of passion provoked +by Comyn's treachery, as the correct one. +</P> + +<P> +When Bruce saw Comyn approaching he bade his followers stop where +they were and advanced towards Comyn, who was astonished at his +presence. +</P> + +<P> +"I would speak with you aside, John Comyn," Bruce said; and the +two withdrew into the church apart from the observation of others. +</P> + +<P> +Then Bruce broke into a torrent of invective against Comyn for his +gross act of treachery in betraying him by sending to Edward a copy +of their agreement. +</P> + +<P> +"You sought," he said, "to send me to the scaffold, and so clear +the way for yourself to the throne of Scotland." +</P> + +<P> +Comyn, finding that dissimulation was useless, replied as hotly. +Those without could hear the voices of the angry men rise higher +and higher; then there was a silence, and Bruce hurried out alone. +</P> + +<P> +"What has happened?" Archie Forbes exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"I fear that I have slain Comyn," Bruce replied in an agitated +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I will make sure," Kirkpatrick, one of his retainers, said; +and accompanied by Lindsay and another of his companions he ran in +and completed the deed. +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely was this done than Sir Robert Comyn, uncle of the earl, +ran up, and seeing what had taken place, furiously attacked Bruce +and his party. A fierce fray took place, and Robert Comyn and +several of his friends were slain. +</P> + +<P> +"The die is cast now," Bruce said when the fray was over; "but +I would give my right hand had I not slain Comyn in my passion; +however, it is too late to hesitate now. Gather together, my +friends, all your retainers, and let us hurry at once to attack +the justiciaries." +</P> + +<P> +In a few minutes Kirkpatrick brought together those who had +accompanied him and his companions to the town, and they at once +moved against the courthouse. The news of Bruce's arrival and of +the fray with the Comyns had already reached the justiciaries, and +with their retainers and friends they had made hasty preparations +for defence; but seeing that Bruce's followers outnumbered them, +and that a defence might cost them their lives, they held parley +and agreed to surrender upon Bruce promising to allow them to +depart at once for England. Half an hour later the English had left +Dumfries. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce called a council of his companions. +</P> + +<P> +"My friends," he said, "we have been hurried into a terrible strife, +and deeply do I regret that by my own mad passion at the treachery +of Comyn I have begun it by an evil deed; but when I tell you of the +way in which that traitor sought to bring me to an English block, +you will somewhat absolve me for the deed, and will grant that, +unhappy and unfortunate as it was, my passion was in some degree +justified." +</P> + +<P> +He then informed them of the bond into which he and Comyn had +entered, and of its betrayal by Comyn to Edward. +</P> + +<P> +"Thus it is," he said, "that the deed has taken place, and it +is too late to mend it. We have before us a desperate enterprise, +and yet I hope that we may succeed in it. At any rate, this time +there can be no drawing back, and we must conquer or die. It was +certain in any case that Comyn and his party would oppose me, but +now their hostility will go to all lengths, while Edward will never +forgive the attack upon his justiciaries. Still we shall have some +breathing time. The king will not hear for ten days of events here, +and it will take him two months at least before he can assemble +an army on the Border, and Comyn's friends will probably do nought +till the English approach. However, let us hurry to Lochmaben +Castle; there we shall be safe from any sudden attack by Comyn's +friends in Galloway. First let us draw out papers setting forth +the cause of my enmity to Comyn, and of the quarrel which led to +his death, and telling all Scotchmen that I have now cut myself +loose for ever from England, and that I have come to free Scotland +and to win the crown which belongs to me by right, or to die in +the attempt." +</P> + +<P> +Many of these documents being drawn out, messengers were despatched +with them to Bruce's friends throughout the country, and he and +his followers rode to Lochmaben. +</P> + +<P> +Archie Forbes went north to his own estate, and at once gave +notice to his retainers to prepare to take the field, and to march +to Glasgow, which Bruce had named as the rendezvous for all well +disposed towards him. From time to time messages came from Bruce, +telling him that he was receiving many promises of support; the +whole of the vassals of Annandale and Carrick had assembled at +Lochmaben, where many small landowners with their retainers also +joined him. As soon as his force had grown to a point when he +need fear no interruption on his march toward Glasgow, Bruce left +Lochmaben. On his way he was joined by the first influential +nobleman who had espoused his cause; this was Sir James Douglas, +whose father, Sir William, had died in an English prison. At the +time of his capture his estates had been bestowed by Edward upon +Lord Clifford, and the young Douglas, then but a lad, had sought +refuge in France. After a while he had returned, and was living +with Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews, who had been one of Wallace's +most active supporters. +</P> + +<P> +The young Douglas, on receiving the news that Bruce was marching +north, at once mounted, rode off, and joined him. He was joyfully +received by Bruce, as not only would his own influence be great +among his father's vassals of Douglasdale, but his adhesion would +induce many others to join. Receiving news of Bruce's march, +Archie moved to Glasgow with his retainers. The English garrison +and adherents in Glasgow fled at his approach. Upon arriving there +Bruce solemnly proclaimed the independence of Scotland, and sent +out notices to all the nobles and gentry, calling upon them to join +him. +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately the Bishop of St. Andrews, and Wishart, Bishop of +Glasgow, another of Wallace's friends, at once declared strongly +for him, as did the Bishop of Moray and the Abbot of Scone. The +adhesion of these prelates was of immense importance to Bruce, as +to some extent the fact of their joining him showed that the church +felt no overwhelming indignation at the act of sacrilege which he +had committed, and enabled the minor clergy to advocate his cause +with their flocks. +</P> + +<P> +Many of the great nobles hostile to the Comyn faction also joined +him; among these were the Earls of Athole, Lennox, Errol, and +Menteith; Christopher Seaton, Sir Simon Fraser, David Inchmartin, +Hugh de la Haye, Walter de Somerville, Robert Boyd, Robert Fleming, +David Barclay, Alexander Fraser, Sir Thomas Randolph, and Sir +Neil Campbell. Bruce's four brothers, Edward, Nigel, Thomas, and +Alexander, were, of course, with him. Bruce now moved from Glasgow +to Scone, and was there crowned King of Scotland on the 27th of +March, 1306, six weeks after his arrival at Dumfries. Since the +days of Malcolm Canmore the ceremony of placing the crown on the +head of the monarch had been performed by the representative of +the family of Macduff, the earls of Fife; the present earl was in +the service of the English; but his sister Isobel, wife of Comyn, +Earl of Buchan, rode into Scone with a train of followers upon the +day after the coronation, and demanded to perform the office which +was the privilege of the family. To this Bruce gladly assented, +seeing that many Scotchmen would hold the coronation to be irregular +from its not having been performed by the hereditary functionary, and +that as Isabel was the wife of Comyn of Buchan, her open adhesion +to him might influence some of that faction. Accordingly on the +following day the ceremony was again performed, Isobel of Buchan +placing the crown on Bruce's head, an act of patriotism for which +the unfortunate lady was afterwards to pay dearly. Thus, although +the great majority of the Scotch nobles still held aloof, Bruce was +now at the head of a considerable force, and he at once proceeded +to overrun the country. The numerous English who had come across +the Border, under the belief that Scotland was finally conquered, +or to take possession of lands granted them by Edward, were all +compelled either to take refuge in the fortified towns and castles +held by English garrisons, or to return hastily to England. +</P> + +<P> +When the news of the proceedings at Dumfries and the general +rising in the south of Scotland reached Edward he was at the city +of Winchester. He had been lately making a sort of triumphant +passage through the country, and the unexpected news that Scotland +which he had believed crushed beyond all possibility of further +resistance was again in arms, is said for a time to have driven +him almost out of his mind with rage. +</P> + +<P> +Not a moment was lost. Aylmer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, was at +once commissioned to proceed to Scotland, to "put down rebellion +and punish the rebels," the whole military array of the northern +counties was placed under his orders, and Clifford and Percy were +associated with him in the commission. Edward also applied to the +pope to aid him in punishing the sacrilegious rebels who had violated +the sanctuary of Dumfries. As Clement V was a native of Guienne, +and kept his court at Bordeaux within Edward's dominions, his +request was, of course, promptly complied with, and a bull issued, +instructing the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Carlisle to +excommunicate Bruce and his friends, and to place them and their +possessions under an interdict. It was now that the adhesion of +the Scottish prelates was of such vital consequence to Bruce. Had +the interdict been obeyed, the churches would have been closed, +all religious ceremonies suspended, the rites of the church would +have been refused even to dying men, and the dead would have been +buried without service in unconsecrated ground. So terrible a weapon +as this was almost always found irresistible, and its terrors had +compelled even the most powerful monarchs to yield obedience to +the pope's orders; but the Scotch prelates set the needs of their +country above the commands of the pope, and in spite of repeated bulls +the native clergy continued to perform their functions throughout +the whole struggle, and thus nullified the effect of the popish +anathema. +</P> + +<P> +King Edward was unable himself to lead his army against the Scots, +for he was now sixty-seven years old, and the vast fatigues and +exertions which he had undergone in the course of a life spent almost +continually in war had told upon him. He had partially lost the +use of his limbs, and was forced to travel in a carriage or litter; +but when he reached London from Winchester a grand ceremony was +held, at which the order of knighthood was conferred by the king +upon the Prince of Wales, and three hundred aspirants belonging to +the principal families of the country, and orders were given that +the whole military array of the kingdom should, in the following +spring, gather at Carlisle, where Edward himself would meet them +and accompany them to Scotland. The Earl of Pembroke, with Clifford +and Percy, lost no time in following the orders of Edward, and with +the military power of the northern counties marched into Scotland. +They advanced unopposed to the Forth, and crossing this river proceeded +towards Perth, near which town the Scottish army were gathered. +Archie Forbes, who stood very high in favour with Bruce, had urged +upon him the advantage of carrying out the tactics formerly adopted +by Wallace, and of compelling the enemy to fall back by cutting +off all food supplies, but Bruce would not, in this instance, be +guided by his counsel. +</P> + +<P> +"When the king advances next spring with his great army, Sir Archie, +I will assuredly adopt the course which you point out, seeing +that we could not hope to withstand so great an array in a pitched +battle; but the case is different now. In the first place all the +castles and towns are in the hands of the English, and from them +Pembroke can draw such provision as he needs. In the second place +his force is not so superior to our own but that we may fight him +with a fair hope of victory; and whereas Wallace had never any +cavalry with him, save at Falkirk when they deserted him at the +beginning of the battle, we have a strong body of mounted men-at-arms, +the retainers of the nobles with me, therefore I do not fear to +give them battle in the open field." +</P> + +<P> +In pursuance of this determination Bruce sent a challenge to Pembroke +to meet him with his army in the open field next day. Pembroke +accepted the challenge, and promised to meet his opponent on the +following morning, and the Scotch retired for the night to the +wood of Methven, near Perth. Here many of them set out on foraging +excursions, the knights laid aside their armour, and the army +prepared for sleep. +</P> + +<P> +Archie Forbes was much dissatisfied at the manner in which Bruce had +hazarded all the fortunes of Scotland on a pitched battle, thereby +throwing away the great advantage which their superior mobility and +knowledge of the country gave to the Scots. He had disarmed like +the rest, and was sitting by a fire chatting with William Orr and +Andrew Macpherson, who, as they had been his lieutenants in the +band of lads he had raised seven years before, now occupied the +same position among his retainers, each having the command of a +hundred men. Suddenly one who had been wandering outside the lines +in search of food among the farmhouses ran hastily in, shouting +that the whole English army was upon them. +</P> + +<P> +A scene of the utmost confusion took place. Bruce and his knights +hastily armed, and mounting their horses rode to meet the enemy. +There was no time to form ranks or to make any order of battle. +Archie sprang to his horse. He bade his lieutenants form the men +into a compact body and move forward, keeping the king's banner +ever in sight, and to cut their way to it whenever they saw it was +in danger. Then, followed by his two mounted squires, he rode after +the king. The contest of Methven can scarce be called a battle, for +the Scots were defeated before it began. Many, as has been said, +were away; great numbers of footmen instantly took flight and +dispersed in all directions. Here and there small bodies stood and +fought desperately, but being unsupported were overcome and slain. +The king with his knights fought with desperate bravery, spurring +hither and thither and charging furiously among the English +men-at-arms. Three times Bruce was unhorsed and as often remounted +by Sir Simon Fraser. Once he was so entirely cut off from his +companions by the desperation with which he had charged into the +midst of the English, that he was surrounded, struck from his horse, +and taken prisoner. +</P> + +<P> +"The king is taken!" Archie Forbes shouted; "ride in, my lords, +and rescue him." +</P> + +<P> +Most of the Scotch knights were so hardly pressed that they could +do nothing to aid the king; but Christopher Seaton joined Archie, +and the two knights charged into the midst of the throng of English +and cut their way to Bruce. Sir Philip Mowbray, who was beside +the captured monarch, was overthrown, and several others cut down. +Bruce leapt into his saddle again and the three for a time kept at +bay the circle of foemen; but such a conflict could have but one +end. Archie Forbes vied with the king in the strength and power of +his blows, and many of his opponents went down before him. There +was, however, no possibility of extricating themselves from the +mass of their foes, and Bruce, finding the conflict hopeless, was +again about to surrender when a great shout was heard, and a close +body of Scottish spearmen threw themselves into the ranks of the +English horse. Nothing could withstand the impetuosity of the +assault. The horsemen recoiled before the levelled spears, and the +pikemen, sweeping onward, surrounded the king and his companions. +</P> + +<P> +"Well done, my brave fellows!" Archie cried; "now keep together in +a close body and draw off the field." +</P> + +<P> +The darkness which had at first proved so disastrous to the Scots +was now favourable to them. The English infantry knew not what was +going on. The cavalry tried in vain to break through the ranks of +the spearmen, and these, keeping closely together, regained the +shelter of the wood, and drew off by way of Dunkeld and Killiecrankie +to the mountains of Athole. On their way they were joined by Edward +Bruce, the Earl of Athole, Sir Neil Campbell, Gilbert de la Haye, +and Douglas, and by many scattered footmen. +</P> + +<P> +To his grief Bruce learned that Randolph, Inchmartin, Somerville, +Alexander Fraser, Hugh de la Haye, and others had been captured, +but the number killed had been small. When once safe from pursuit +a council was held. It was agreed at once that it was impossible +that so large a body could find subsistence in the mountains of +Athole, cooped up as they were by their foes. The lowlands swarmed +with the English; to the north was Badenoch, the district of their +bitter enemies the Comyns; while westward lay the territory of +the MacDougalls of Lorne, whose chieftain, Alexander, was a nephew +by marriage of the Comyn killed by Bruce, and an adherent of the +English. +</P> + +<P> +Beyond an occasional deer, and the fish in the lochs and streams, +the country afforded no means of subsistence, it was therefore +decided to disband the greater portion of the force, the knights +and nobles, with a few of their immediate retainers, alone remaining +with the king, while the main body dispersed and regained their +homes. This was done; but a few days later a messenger came saying +that the queen, with the wives of many of the gentlemen, had arrived +at Aberdeen and sought to join the king. Although an accession +of numbers was by no means desirable, and the hardships of such +a life immense for ladies to support, there was no other resource +but for them to join the party, as they would otherwise have speedily +fallen into the hands of the English. Therefore Bruce, accompanied +by some of his followers, rode to Aberdeen and escorted the queen +and ladies to his mountain retreat. +</P> + +<P> +It was a strange life that Bruce, his queen, and his little court +led. Sleeping in rough arbours formed of boughs, the party supported +themselves by hunting and fishing. +</P> + +<P> +Gins and traps were set in the streams, and Douglas and Archie +were specially active in this pursuit; Archie's boyish experience +at Glen Cairn serving him in good stead. Between him and Sir James +Douglas a warm friendship had sprung up. Douglas was four years +his junior. As a young boy he had heard much of Archie's feats with +Wallace, and his father had often named him to him as conspicuous +for his bravery, as well as his youth. The young Douglas therefore +entertained the highest admiration for him, and had from the time +of his joining Bruce become his constant companion. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce himself was the life and soul of the party. He was ever +hopeful and in high spirits, cheering his followers by his gaiety, +and wiling away the long evenings by tales of adventure and chivalry, +told when they were gathered round the fire. +</P> + +<P> +Gradually the party made their way westward along Loch Tay and +Glen Dochart until they reached the head of Strathfillan; here, as +they were riding along a narrow pass, they were suddenly attacked +by Alexander MacDougall with a large gathering of his clansmen. +Several of the royal party were cut down at once, but Bruce with +his knights fought desperately. Archie Forbes with a few of the +others rallied round the queen with her ladies, and repelled every +effort of the wild clansmen to break through, and continued to draw +off gradually down the glen. Bruce, with Douglas, De la Haye, and +some others, formed the rearguard and kept back the mass of their +opponents. De la Haye and Douglas were both wounded, but the little +party continued to show a face to their foes until they reached +a spot where the path lay between a steep hill on one side and +the lake on the other. Then Bruce sent his followers ahead, and +himself covered the rear. Suddenly three of the MacDougalls, who +had climbed the hillside, made a spring upon him from above. One +leapt on to the horse behind the king, and attempted to hold his +arms, another seized his bridle rein, while the third thrust his +hand between Bruce's leg and the saddle to hurl him from his horse. +The path was too narrow for Bruce to turn his horse, and spurring +forward he pressed his leg so close to the saddle that he imprisoned +the arm of the assailant beneath it and dragged him along with +him, while with a blow of his sword he smote off the arm of him +who grasped the rein. Then, turning in his saddle, he seized his +assailant who was behind him and by main strength wrenched him round +to the pommel of the saddle and there slew him. Then he turned and +having cut down the man whose arm he held beneath his leg, he rode +on and joined his friends. +</P> + +<P> +In the course of the struggle the brooch which fastened his cloak +was lost. This was found by the MacDougalls and carried home as +a trophy, and has been preserved by the family ever since, with +apparently as much pride as if it had been proof of the fidelity +and patriotism of their ancestors, instead of being a memento of +the time when, as false and disloyal Scotchmen, they fought with +England against Scotland's king and deliverer. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Castle of Dunstaffnage +</H3> + +<P> +Bruce's party were now more than ever straitened for provisions, +since they had to depend almost entirely upon such fish as they +might catch, as it was dangerous to stray far away in pursuit of +deer. Archie, however, with his bow and arrows ventured several +times to go hunting in order to relieve the sad condition of the +ladies, and succeeded two or three times in bringing a deer home +with him. +</P> + +<P> +He had one day ventured much further away than usual. He had not +succeeded in finding a stag, and the ladies had for more than a +week subsisted entirely on fish. He therefore determined to continue +the search, however long, until he found one. He had crossed several +wooded hills, and was, he knew, leagues away from the point where +he had left his party, when, suddenly emerging from a wood, he came +upon a road just at the moment when a party some twenty strong of +wild clansmen were traversing it. On a palfrey in their centre was +a young lady whom they were apparently escorting. They were but +twenty yards away when he emerged from the wood, and on seeing him +they drew their claymores and rushed upon him. Perceiving that +flight from these swift footed mountaineers would be impossible, +Archie threw down his bow and arrows, and, drawing his sword, placed +his back against a tree, and prepared to defend himself until the +last. +</P> + +<P> +Parrying the blows of the first two who arrived he stretched them +dead upon the ground, and was then at once attacked by the whole of +the party together. Two more of his assailants fell by his sword; +but he must have been soon overpowered and slain, when the young +lady, whose cries to her followers to cease had been unheeded in +the din of the conflict, spurred her palfrey forward and broke into +the ring gathered round Archie. +</P> + +<P> +The clansmen drew back a pace, and Archie lowered his sword. +</P> + +<P> +"Desist," she cried to the former in a tone of command, "or my uncle +Alexander will make you rue the day when you disobeyed my orders. +I will answer for this young knight. And now, sir," she said, +turning to Archie, "do you surrender your sword to me, and yield +yourself up a prisoner. Further resistance would be madness; you +have done too much harm already. I promise you your life if you +will make no further resistance." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, lady," Archie replied, handing his sword to her, "I willingly +yield myself your prisoner, and thank you for saving my life from +the hands of your savage followers." +</P> + +<P> +The young lady touched the hilt of his sword, and motioned him to +replace it in its scabbard. +</P> + +<P> +"You must accompany me," she said, "to the abode of my uncle Alexander +MacDougall. I would," she continued, as, with Archie walking beside +her palfrey, while the Highlanders, with sullen looks, kept close +behind, muttering angrily to themselves at having been cheated by +the young lady of their vengeance upon the man who had slain four +of their number, "that I could set you at liberty, but my authority +over my uncle's clansmen does not extend so far; and did I bid them +let you go free they would assuredly disobey me. You are, as I +can see by your attire, one of the Bruce's followers, for no other +knight could be found wandering alone through these woods." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, lady," Archie said, "I am Sir Archibald Forbes, one of the +few followers of the King of Scotland." +</P> + +<P> +The lady gave a sudden start when Archie mentioned his name, and +for some little time did not speak again. +</P> + +<P> +"I would," she said at last in a low voice, "that you had been +any other, seeing that Alexander MacDougall has a double cause of +enmity against you—firstly, as being a follower of Bruce, who +slew his kinsman Comyn, and who has done but lately great harm to +himself and his clansmen; secondly, as having dispossessed Allan +Kerr, who is also his relative, of his lands and castle. My uncle +is a man of violent passions, and"—she hesitated. +</P> + +<P> +"And he may not, you think," Archie went on, "respect your promise +for my life. If that be so, lady—and from what I have heard of +Alexander MacDougall it is like enough—I beg you to give me back +my surrender, for I would rather die here, sword in hand, than be +put to death in cold blood in the castle of Dunstaffnage." +</P> + +<P> +"No," the lady said, "that cannot be. Think you I could see you +butchered before mine eyes after having once surrendered yourself +to me? No, sir. I beseech you act not so rashly—that were certain +death; and I trust that my uncle, hostile as he may be against you, +will not inflict such dishonour upon me as to break the pledge I +have given for your safety." +</P> + +<P> +Archie thought from what he had heard of the MacDougall that his +chance was a very slight one. Still, as the young ever cling to hope, +and as he would assuredly be slain by the clansmen, he thought it +better to take the chance, small as it was, and so continued his +march by the side of his captor's palfrey. +</P> + +<P> +After two hours' journey they neared the castle of Alexander +of Lorne. Archie could not repress a thrill of apprehension as he +looked at the grim fortress and thought of the character of its +lord; but his bearing showed no fear, as, conversing with the young +lady, he approached the entrance. The gate was thrown open, and +Alexander of Lorne himself issued out with a number of retainers. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! Marjory!" he said, "I am glad to see your bonny face at +Dunstaffnage. It is three months since you left us, and the time +has gone slowly; the very dogs have been pining for your voice. +But who have we here?" he exclaimed, as his eye fell upon Archie. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a wandering knight, uncle," Marjory said lightly, "whom +I captured in the forest on my way hither. He fought valiantly +against Murdoch and your followers, but at last he surrendered to +me on my giving him my pledge that his life should be safe, and +that he should be treated honourably. Such a pledge I am sure, +uncle," she spoke earnestly now, "you will respect." +</P> + +<P> +Alexander MacDougall's brow was as black as night, and he spoke in +Gaelic with his followers. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" he said angrily to the girl; "he has killed four of my +men, and is doubtless one of Bruce's party who slipped through my +fingers the other day and killed so many of my kinsmen and vassals. +You have taken too much upon yourself, Marjory. It is not by you +that he has been made captive, but by my men, and you had no power +to give such promise as you have made. Who is this young springall?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am Sir Archibald Forbes," Archie said proudly—"a name which +may have reached you even here." +</P> + +<P> +"Archibald Forbes!" exclaimed MacDougall furiously. "What! the +enemy and despoiler of the Kerrs! Had you a hundred lives you +should die. Didst know this, Marjory?" he said furiously to the +girl. "Didst know who this young adventurer was when you asked his +life of me?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did, uncle," the girl said fearlessly. "I did not know his name +when he surrendered to me, and afterwards, when he told me, what +could I do? I had given my promise, and I renewed it; and I trust, +dear uncle, that you will respect and not bring dishonour upon it." +</P> + +<P> +"Dishonour!" MacDougall said savagely; "the girl has lost her senses. +I tell you he should die if every woman in Scotland had given her +promise for his life. Away with him!" he said to his retainers; +"take him to the chamber at the top of the tower; I will give him +till tomorrow to prepare for death, for by all the saints I swear +he shall hang at daybreak. As to you, girl, go to your chamber, +and let me not see your face again till this matter is concluded. +Methinks a madness must have fallen upon you that you should thus +venture to lift your voice for a Forbes." +</P> + +<P> +The girl burst into tears as Archie was led away. His guards took +him to the upper chamber in a turret, a little room of some seven +feet in diameter, and there, having deprived him of his arms, they +left him, barring and bolting the massive oaken door behind them. +</P> + +<P> +Archie had no hope whatever that Alexander MacDougall would change +his mind, and felt certain that the following dawn would be his +last. Of escape there was no possibility; the door was solid and +massive, the window a mere narrow loophole for archers, two or +three inches wide; and even had he time to enlarge the opening he +would be no nearer freedom, for the moat lay full eighty feet below. +</P> + +<P> +"I would I had died sword in hand!" he said bitterly; "then it +would have been over in a moment." +</P> + +<P> +Then he thought of the girl to whom he had surrendered his sword. +</P> + +<P> +"It was a sweet face and a bright one," he said; "a fairer and +brighter I never saw. It is strange that I should meet her now +only when I am about to die." Then he thought of the agony which +his mother would feel at the news of his death and at the extinction +of their race. Sadly he paced up and down his narrow cell till +night fell. None took the trouble to bring him food—considering, +doubtless, that he might well fast till morning. When it became +dark he lay down on the hard stone, and, with his arm under his head +was soon asleep—his last determination being that if possible +he would snatch a sword or dagger from the hand of those who came +to take him to execution, and so die fighting; or if that were +impossible, he would try to burst from them and to end his life by +a leap from the turret. +</P> + +<P> +He was awakened by a slight noise at the door, and sprang to his +feet instantly, believing that day was at hand and his hour had +come. To his surprise a voice, speaking scarcely above a whisper, +said: +</P> + +<P> +"Hush! my son, make no noise; I am here as a friend." Then the +door closed, and Archie's visitor produced a lighted lantern from +the folds of his garments, and Archie saw that a priest stood before +him. +</P> + +<P> +"I thank you, father," he said gratefully; "you have doubtless come +to shrive me, and I would gladly listen to your ministrations. I +would fain intrust you, too, with a message to my mother if you +will take it for me; and I would fain also that you told the Lady +Marjory that she must not grieve for my death, or feel that she is +in any way dishonoured by it, seeing that she strove to her utmost +to keep her promise, and is in no way to blame that her uncle has +overriden her." +</P> + +<P> +"You can even give her your message yourself, sir knight," the +priest said, "seeing that the wilful girl has herself accompanied +me hither." +</P> + +<P> +Thus saying, he stepped aside, and Archie perceived, standing +behind the priest, a figure who, being in deep shadow, he had not +hitherto seen. She came timidly forward, and Archie, bending on +one knee, took the hand she held out and kissed it. +</P> + +<P> +"Lady," he said, "you have heard my message; blame not yourself, +I beseech you, for my death. Remember that after all you have +lengthened my life and not shortened it, seeing that but for your +interference I must have been slain as I stood, by your followers. +It was kind and good of you thus to come to bid me farewell." +</P> + +<P> +"But I have not come to bid you farewell. Tell him, good Father +Anselm, our purpose here." +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis a mad brain business," the priest said, shrugging his shoulders; +"and, priest though I am, I shall not care to meet MacDougall in +the morning. However, since this wilful girl wills it, what can I +do? I have been her instructor since she was a child; and instead +of being a docile and obedient pupil, she has been a tyrannical +master to me; and I have been so accustomed to do her will in all +things that I cannot say her nay now. I held out as long as I could; +but what can a poor priest do against sobs and tears? So at last +I have given in and consented to risk the MacDougall's anger, to +bring smiles into her face again. I have tried in vain to persuade +her that since it is the chief's doing, your death will bring no +dishonour upon her. I have offered to absolve her from the promise, +and if she has not faith in my power to do so, to write to the +pope himself and ask for his absolution for any breach that there +may be; but I might as well have spoken to the wind. When a young +lady makes up her mind, stone walls are less difficult to move; so +you see here we are. Wound round my waist are a hundred feet of +stout rope, with knots tied three feet apart. We have only now to +ascend the stairs to the platform above and fix the rope, and in +an hour you will be far away among the woods." +</P> + +<P> +Archie's heart bounded with joy with the hope of life and freedom; +but he said quietly, "I thank you, dear lady, with all my heart for +your goodness; but I could not accept life at the cost of bringing +your uncle's anger upon you." +</P> + +<P> +"You need not fear for that," the girl replied. "My uncle is +passionate and headstrong—unforgiving to his foes or those he +deems so, but affectionate to those he loves. I have always been his +pet; and though, doubtless, his anger will be hot just at first, +it will pass away after a time. Let no scruple trouble you on that +score; and I would rather put up with a hundred beatings than live +with the knowledge that one of Scotland's bravest knights came to +his end by a breach of my promise. Though my uncle and all my people +side with the English, yet do not I; and I think the good father +here, though from prudence he says but little, is a true Scotsman +also. I have heard of your name from childhood as the companion +and friend of Wallace, and as one of the champions of our country; +and though by blood I ought to hate you, my feelings have been very +different. But now stand talking no longer; the castle is sound +asleep, but I tremble lest some mischance should mar our plans." +</P> + +<P> +"That is good sense," Father Anselm said; "and remember, not a +word must be spoken when we have once left this chamber. There is +a sentry at the gate; and although the night is dark, and I deem +not that he can see us, yet must we observe every precaution." +</P> + +<P> +"Holy father," Archie said, "no words of mine can thank you for +the part which you are playing tonight. Believe me, Archie Forbes +will ever feel grateful for your kindness and aid; and should you +ever quit Dunstaffnage you will be welcomed at Aberfilly Castle. As +to you, lady, henceforth Archie Forbes is your knight and servant. +You have given me my life, and henceforth I regard it as yours. Will +you take this ring as my token? Should you ever send it to me, in +whatever peril or difficulty you may be, I will come to your aid +instantly, even should it reach me in a stricken battle. Think not +that I speak the language of idle gallantry. Hitherto my thoughts +have been only on Scotland, and no maiden has ever for an instant +drawn them from her. Henceforth, though I fight for Scotland, yet +will my country have a rival in my heart; and even while I charge +into the ranks of the English, the fair image of Marjory MacDougall +will be in my thoughts." +</P> + +<P> +Father Anselm gave a slight start of surprise as Archie concluded, +and would have spoken had not the girl touched him lightly. She +took the pledge from Archie and said, "I will keep your ring, Sir +Archibald Forbes; and should I ever have occasion for help I will +not forget your promise. As to your other words, I doubt not that +you mean them now; but it is unlikely, though I may dwell in your +thoughts, that you will ever in the flesh see Marjory MacDougall, +between whose house and yours there is, as you know, bitter enmity." +</P> + +<P> +"There! there!" Father Anselm said impatiently; "enough, and more +than enough talk. Go to the door, Sir Archibald, and prepare to +open it directly I have blown out the light. The way up the stairs +lies on your right hand as you go out." +</P> + +<P> +Not another word was spoken. Noiselessly the little party made their +way to the roof; there one end of the rope was quickly knotted round +the battlement. Archie grasped the good priest's hand, and kissed +that of the girl; and then, swinging himself off the battlement, +disappeared at once in the darkness. Not a sound was heard for +some time, then the listening pair above heard a faint splash in +the water. The priest laid his hands on the rope and found that it +swung slack in the air; he hauled it up and twisted it again round +his waist. As he passed the door of the cell he pushed it to and +replaced the bars and bolts, and then with his charge regained the +portion of the castle inhabited by the family. +</P> + +<P> +A few vigorous strokes took Archie across the moat, and an hour +later he was deep in the heart of the forest. Before morning broke +he was far beyond the risk of pursuit; and, taking the bearings of +the surrounding hills, he found himself, after some walking, at the +spot where he had left the royal party. As he had expected, it was +deserted; he, however, set out on the traces of the party, and that +night overtook them at their next encampment. +</P> + +<P> +With the reticence natural to young lovers Archie felt a disinclination +to speak of what had happened, or of the services which Marjory +MacDougall had rendered him. As it was naturally supposed that he +had lost his way in the woods on the previous day, and had not reached +the encampment in the morning, until after they had started, few +questions were asked, and indeed the thoughts of the whole party +were occupied with the approaching separation which the night +before they had agreed was absolutely necessary. The ladies were +worn out with their fatigues and hardships, and the Earl of Athole, +and some of the other elder men, were also unable longer to support +it. Winter was close at hand, and the hardships would increase ten +fold in severity. Therefore it was concluded that the time had come +when they must separate, and that the queen and her companions, +accompanied by those who could still be mounted, should seek shelter +in Bruce's strong castle of Kildrummy. The Earl of Athole and the +king's brother Nigel were in charge of the party. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce with his remaining companions determined to proceed into +Kintyre, the country of Sir Neil Campbell, and thence to cross for +a time to the north of Ireland. Sir Neil accordingly started to +obtain the necessary vessels, and the king and his company followed +slowly. To reach the Firth of Clyde it was necessary to cross Loch +Lomond. This was a difficult undertaking; but after great search +Sir James Douglas discovered a small boat sunk beneath the surface +of the lake. On being pulled out it was found to be old and leaky, +and would hold at best but three. With strips torn from their garments +they stopped the leaks as best they could, and then started across +the lake. There were two hundred to cross, and the passage occupied +a night and a day; those who could not swim being taken over in the +boat, while the swimmers kept alongside and when fatigued rested +their hands on her gunwales. They were now in the Lennox country, +and while Bruce and his friends were hunting, they were delighted +to come across the Earl of Lennox and some of his companions, +who had found refuge there after the battle of Methven. Although +himself an exile and a fugitive the earl was in his own country, +and was therefore able to entertain the king and his companions +hospitably, and the rest and feeling of security were welcome indeed +after the past labours and dangers. +</P> + +<P> +After a time Sir Neil Campbell arrived with the vessels, and, +accompanied by the Earl of Lennox, Bruce and his companions embarked +at a point near Cardross. They sailed down the Clyde and round +the south end of Arran, until, after many adventures and dangers, +they reached the Castle of Dunaverty, on the south point of the Mull +of Kintyre, belonging to Angus, chief of Islay. Here they waited +for some time, but not feeling secure even in this secluded spot +from the vengeance of their English and Scottish foes, they again +set sail and landed at the Isle of Rathlin, almost midway between +Ireland and Scotland. Hitherto Robert Bruce had received but little +of that support which was so freely given to Wallace by the Scotch +people at large; nor is this a matter for surprise. Baliol and +Comyn had in turn betrayed the country to the English, and Bruce +had hitherto been regarded as even more strongly devoted to the +English cause than they had been. Thus the people viewed his attempt +rather as an effort to win a throne for himself than as one to free +Scotland from English domination. They had naturally no confidence +in the nobles who had so often betrayed them, and Bruce especially +had, three or four times already, after taking up arms, made his +peace with England and fought against the Scots. Therefore, at first +the people looked on at the conflict with comparative indifference. +They were ready enough to strike for freedom, as they had proved +when they had rallied round Wallace, but it was necessary before +they did so that they should possess confidence in their leaders. +Such confidence they had certainly no cause whatever to feel in +Bruce. The time was yet to come when they should recognize in him a +leader as bold, as persevering, and as determined as Wallace himself. +</P> + +<P> +The people of Rathlin were rude and ignorant, but simple and +hospitable. The island contained nothing to attract either adventurers +or traders, and it was seldom, therefore, that ships touched there, +consequently there was little fear that the news of the sojourn of +the Scotch king and his companions would reach the mainland, and +indeed the English remained in profound ignorance as to what had +become of the fugitives, and deemed them to be still in hiding +somewhere among the western hills. +</P> + +<P> +Edward had in council issued a proclamation commanding "all the +people of the country to pursue and search for all who had been in +arms and had not surrendered, also all who had been guilty of other +crimes, and to deliver them up dead or alive, and that whosoever +were negligent in the discharge of his duty should forfeit their +castles and be imprisoned." +</P> + +<P> +Pembroke, the guardian, was to punish at his discretion all who +harboured offenders. Those who abetted the slayers of Comyn, or who +knowingly harboured them or their accomplices, were to be "drawn +and hanged," while all who surrendered were to be imprisoned during +the king's pleasure. The edict was carried out to the letter, and +the English soldiery, with the aid of the Scotch of their party, +scoured the whole country, putting to the sword all who were found +in arms or under circumstances of suspicion. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Colonsay +</H3> + +<P> +Archie, having little else to do, spent much of his time in fishing. +As a boy he had learned to be fond of the sport in the stream of +Glen Cairn; but the sea was new to him, and whenever the weather +permitting he used to go out with the natives in their boats. The +Irish coast was but a few miles away, but there was little traffic +between Rathlin and the mainland. The coast there is wild and +forbidding, and extremely dangerous in case of a northerly gale +blowing up suddenly. The natives were a wild and savage race, and +many of those who had fought to the last against the English refused +to submit when their chiefs laid down their arms, and took refuge +in the many caves and hiding places afforded in the wild and broken +country on the north coast. +</P> + +<P> +Thus no profitable trade was to be carried on with the Irish +mainland. The people of Rathlin were themselves primitive in their +ways. Their wants were few and easily satisfied. The wool of their +flocks furnished them with clothing, and they raised sufficient grain +in sheltered spots to supply them with meal, while an abundance of +food could be always obtained from the sea. In fine weather they +took more than sufficient for their needs, and dried the overplus +to serve them when the winter winds kept their boats from putting +out. Once or twice in the year their largest craft, laden with dried +fish, would make across to Ayr, and there disposing of its cargo +would bring back such articles as were needed, and more precious +still, the news of what was passing in the world, of which the +simple islanders knew so little. Even more than fishing, Archie +loved when the wind blew wildly to go down to the shore and watch +the great waves rolling in and dashing themselves into foam on +the rocky coast. This to him was an entirely new pleasure, and he +enjoyed it intensely. Perched on some projecting rock out of reach +of the waves, he would sit for hours watching the grand scene, +sometimes alone, sometimes with one or two of his comrades. The +influx of a hundred visitors had somewhat straitened the islanders, +and the fishermen were forced to put to sea in weather when they +would not ordinarily have launched their boats, for in the winter +they seldom ventured out unless the previous season had been +unusually bad, and the stores of food laid by insufficient for winter +consumption. Archie generally went out with an old man, who with +two grownup sons owned a boat. They were bold and skilful fishermen, +and often put to sea when no other boat cared to go out. +</P> + +<P> +One evening the old man, as usual before going to sea, came into +the hut which Archie and Sir James Douglas inhabited, and told him +that he was going out early the next morning. "Fish are scarce," +he said, "and it would be a disgrace on us islanders if our guests +were to run short of food." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be ready, Donald," Archie replied, "and I hope we shall +have good sport." +</P> + +<P> +"I can't see what pleasure you take, Sir Archie," the young Douglas +said, when the fisherman had left, "in being tossed up and down on +the sea in a dirty boat, especially when the wind is high and the +sea rough." +</P> + +<P> +"I like it best then," Archie replied; "when the men are rowing +against the wind, and the waves dash against the boat and the spray +comes over in blinding showers, I feel very much the same sort of +excitement as I do in a battle. It is a strife with the elements +instead of with men, but the feeling in both cases is akin, and +I feel the blood dancing fast through my veins and my lips set +tightly together, just as when I stand shoulder to shoulder with +my retainers, and breast the wave of English horsemen." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, each to his taste, I suppose," Douglas said, laughing; "I +have not seen much of war yet, and I envy you with all my heart the +fights which you have gone through; but I can see no amusement in +getting drenched to the skin by the sea. I think I can understand +your feeling, though, for it is near akin to my own when I sit on +the back of a fiery young horse, who has not yet been broken, and +feel him battle with his will against mine, and bound, and rear, +and curvet in his endeavours to throw me, until at last he is +conquered and obeys the slightest touch of the rein." +</P> + +<P> +"No doubt it is the same feeling," Archie replied; "it is the joy +of strife in another form. For myself, I own I would rather fight +on foot than on horseback; I can trust myself better than I can +trust my steed, can wheel thrice while he is turning once, can defend +both sides equally well; whereas on horseback, not only have I to +defend myself but my horse, which is far more difficult, and if he +is wounded and falls I may be entangled under him and be helpless +at the mercy of an opponent." +</P> + +<P> +"But none acquitted them better on horseback at Methven than you +did, Sir Archie," the young fellow said, admiringly. "Did you not +save the king, and keep at bay his foes till your retainers came +up with their pikes and carried him off from the centre of the +English chivalry?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did my best," Archie said, "as one should always do; but I felt +even then that I would rather have been fighting on foot." +</P> + +<P> +"That is because you have so much skill with your weapon, Sir +Archie," Douglas said. "On horseback with mace or battleaxe it is +mainly a question of sheer strength, and though you are very strong +there are others who are as strong as you. Now, it is allowed that +none of the king's knights and followers are as skilful as you +with the sword, and even the king himself, who is regarded as the +second best knight in Europe, owns that on foot and with a sword +he has no chance against you. That we all saw when you practiced +for the amusement of the queen and her ladies in the mountains of +Lennox. None other could even touch you, while you dented all our +helmets and armour finely with that sword of yours. Had we continued +the sport there would not have been a whole piece of armour among +us save your own harness." +</P> + +<P> +Archie laughed. "I suppose, Douglas, we all like best that in which +we most excel. There are many knights in the English army who would +assuredly overthrow me either in the tilting ring or in the field, +for I had not the training on horseback when quite young which is +needed to make a perfect knight, while I had every advantage in the +learning of sword playing, and I stick to my own trade. The world +is beginning to learn that a man on foot is a match for a +horseman—Wallace taught Europe that lesson. They are slow to believe it, +for hitherto armed knights have deemed themselves invincible, and +have held in contempt all foot soldiers. Stirling, and Falkirk, +and Loudon Hill have taught them the difference, but it will be a +long time before they fairly own a fact so mortifying to chivalry; +but the time will come, be well assured, when battles will be +fought almost with infantry alone. Upon them the brunt of the day +will fall, and by them will victory be decided, while horsemen +will be used principally for pursuing the foe when he is broken, +for covering the retreat of infantry by desperate charges, or by +charging into the midst of a fray when the infantry are broken." +</P> + +<P> +"All the better for Scotland," James Douglas said, cheerfully. +"We are not a nation of horsemen, and our mountains and hills, our +forests and morasses, are better adapted for infantry than cavalry; +so if ever the change you predict come to pass we shall be gainers +by it." +</P> + +<P> +At daybreak next morning Archie went down to the cove where his +friend the fisherman kept his boat. The old man and his two sons +were already there, but had not launched their craft. +</P> + +<P> +"I like not the look of the weather," the fisherman said when +Archie joined him. "The sky is dull and heavy, the sea is black +and sullen, but there is a sound in the waves as they break against +the rocks which seems to tell of a coming storm. I think, however, +it will be some hours before it breaks, and if we have luck we may +get a haul or two before it comes on." +</P> + +<P> +"I am ready to go or stay," Archie said; "I have no experience in +your weather here, and would not urge you against your own judgment, +whatever it be; but if you put out I am ready to go with you." +</P> + +<P> +"We will try it," the fisherman said, "for food is running short; +but we will not go far from the shore, so that we can pull back if +the weather gets worse." +</P> + +<P> +The boat was soon launched, the nets and oars were already on +board, and they quickly put out from the shore. The boat carried +a small square sail, which was used when running before the wind. +In those days the art of navigation was in its infancy, and the art +of tacking against the wind had scarcely begun to be understood; +indeed, so high were the ships out of water, with their lofty poops +and forecastles, that it was scarce possible to sail them on a +wind, so great was the leeway they made. Thus when contrary winds +came mariners anchored and waited as patiently as they might for +a change, and voyage to a port but two days' sail with a favouring +wind was a matter of weeks when it was foul. +</P> + +<P> +After rowing a mile from land the nets were put out, and for some +time they drifted near these. From time to time the old fisherman +cast an anxious eye at the sky. +</P> + +<P> +"We must get in our nets," he said at last decidedly; "the wind is +rising fast, and is backing from the west round to the south. Be +quick, lads, for ere long the gale will be on us in its strength, +and if 'tis from the south we may well be blown out to sea." +</P> + +<P> +Without a moment's delay the fishermen set to work to get in the nets, +Archie lending a hand to assist them. The younger men thoroughly +agreed in their father's opinion of the weather, but they knew too +well the respect due to age to venture upon expressing an opinion +until he had first spoken. The haul was a better one than they had +expected, considering that the net had been down but two hours. +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis not so bad," the fisherman said, "and the catch will be right +welcome—that is," he added, as he looked toward the land, "if +we get it safely on shore." +</P> + +<P> +The wind was now blowing strongly, but if it did not rise the boat +would assuredly make the land. Archie took the helm, having learned +somewhat of the steering on previous excursions, and the three +fishermen tugged at the oars. It was a cross sea, for although the +wind now blew nearly in their teeth, it had until the last half +hour been from the west, and the waves were rolling in from the +Atlantic. The boat, however, made fair progress, and Archie began +to think that the doubts of the fishermen as to their making the +shore were in no wise justified, when suddenly a gust, far stronger +than those they had hitherto met, struck the boat. "Keep her head +straight!" the fisherman shouted. "Don't let the wind take it one +side or the other. Stick to it, boys; row your hardest; it is on +us now and in earnest, I fear." +</P> + +<P> +The three men bent to their oars, but Archie felt that they were +no longer making headway. The boat was wide and high out of the +water; a good sea boat, but very hard to row against the wind. +Although the men strained at the oars, till Archie expected to see +the tough staves crack under their efforts, the boat did not seem +to move. Indeed it appeared to Archie that in the brief space when +the oars were out of the water the wind drove her further back than +the distance she had gained in the last stroke. He hoped, however, +that the squall was merely temporary, and that when it subsided +there would still be no difficulty in gaining the land. His hope +was not realized. Instead of abating, the wind appeared each moment +to increase in force. Clouds of spray were blown on the top of +the waves, so that at times Archie could not see the shore before +him. For nearly half an hour the fishermen struggled on, but +Archie saw with dismay that the boat was receding from the shore, +and that they had already lost the distance they had gained before +the squall struck them. The old fisherman looked several times over +his shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"It is of no use," he said at last; "we shall never make Rathlin, +and must even run before the gale. Put up the helm, young sir, and +take her round. Wait a moment till the next wave has passed under +us—now!" In another minute the boat's head was turned from land, +and she was speeding before the gale. +</P> + +<P> +"In with your oars, lads, and rig the mast, reef down the sail to +the last point; we must show a little to keep her dead before the +wind; we shall have a tremendous sea when we are once fairly away +from the shelter of the island. This gale will soon knock up the +sea, and with the cross swell from the Atlantic it will be as much +as we can do to carry through it." +</P> + +<P> +The mast was stepped and a mere rag of sail hoisted, but this was +sufficient to drive the boat through the water at a great speed. +The old fisherman was steering now, and when the sail was hoisted +the four men all gathered in the stern of the boat. +</P> + +<P> +"You will go between Islay and Jura, I suppose," one of the younger +men said. +</P> + +<P> +"Ay," his father said briefly; "the sea will be too high to windward +of Islay." +</P> + +<P> +"Could we not keep inside Jura?" Archie suggested; "and shelter in +some of the harbours on the coast of Argyle?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ay," the old man said; "could we be sure of doing that it would +be right enough, but, strong as the wind is blowing her, it will +be stronger still when we get in the narrow waters between the +islands and the mainland, and it would be impossible to keep her +even a point off the wind; then if we missed making a harbour we +should be driven up through the Strait of Corrievrekan, and the +biggest ship which sails from a Scottish port would not live in the +sea which will be running there. No, it will be bad enough passing +between Islay and Jura; if we get safely through that I shall try +to run into the narrow strait between Colonsay and Oronsay; there +we should have good and safe shelter. If we miss that, we must +run inside Mull—for there will be no getting without it—and +either shelter behind Lismore island far up the strait, or behind +Kerara, or into the passage to Loch Etive." +</P> + +<P> +"It will not be the last, I hope," Archie said, "for there stands +Dunstaffnage Castle, and the lands all belong to the MacDougalls. +It is but two months back I was a prisoner there, and though I then +escaped, assuredly if I again get within its walls I shall never +go out again. As well be drowned here." +</P> + +<P> +"Then we will hope," the fisherman said, "that 'tis into some other +harbour that this evil wind may blow us; but as you see, young sir, +the gale is the master and not we, and we must needs go where it +chooses to take us." +</P> + +<P> +Fiercer and fiercer blew the gale; a tremendous cross sea was now +running, and the boat, stout and buoyant as she was, seemed every +moment as if she would be engulfed in the chaos of water. Small as +the sail had been it had been taken down and lashed with ropes to +the yard, so that now only about three square feet of canvas was +set. +</P> + +<P> +"We can show a little more," the fisherman shouted in Archie's ear, +"when we get abreast of Islay, for we shall then be sheltered from +the sea from the west, and can run more boldly with only a following +sea; but till we get out of this cross tumble we must not carry +on, we only want steerage way to keep her head straight." +</P> + +<P> +Never before had Archie Forbes seen a great gale in all its strength +at sea, for those which had occurred while at Rathlin were as nothing +to the present; and although on the hillside round Glen Cairn the +wind sometimes blew with a force which there was no withstanding, +there was nothing to impress the senses as did this wild confusion +and turmoil of water. Buoyant as was the boat, heavy seas often broke +on board her, and two hands were constantly employed in bailing; +still Archie judged from the countenance of the men that they did +not deem the position desperate, and that they believed the craft +would weather the gale. Towards midday, although the wind blew +as strongly as ever, there was a sensible change in the motion of +the boat. She no longer was tossed up and down with jerky and sudden +motion, as the waves seemed to rise directly under her, but rose +and fell on the following waves with a steady and regular motion. +</P> + +<P> +"We are well abreast of Islay," the old fisherman said when Archie +remarked on the change to him. "There! do you not see that dark +bank through the mist; that is Islay. We have no longer a cross sea, +and can show a little more sail to keep her from being pooped. We +will bear a little off toward the land—we must keep it in sight, +and not too far on our left, otherwise we may miss the straits and +run on to Jura." +</P> + +<P> +A little more sail was accordingly shown to the gale, and the boat +scudded along at increased speed. +</P> + +<P> +"How far is it to Colonsay?" Archie asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Between fifty and sixty miles from Rathlin," the fisherman said. +"It was eight o'clock when we started, ten when the squall struck +us, it will be dark by four, and fast as we are running we shall +scarcely be in time to catch the last gleam of day. Come, boys," +he said to his sons, "give her a little more canvas still, for it +is life and death to reach Colonsay before nightfall, for if we +miss it we shall be dashed on to the Mull long before morning." +</P> + +<P> +A little more sail was accordingly shown, and the boat tore through +the water at what seemed to Archie to be tremendous speed; but she +was shipping but little water now, for though the great waves as +they neared her stern seemed over and over again to Archie as if +they would break upon her and send her instantly to the bottom, +the stout boat always lifted lightly upon them until he at length +felt free from apprehension on that score. Presently the fisherman +pointed out a dark mass over their other bow. +</P> + +<P> +"That is Jura," he said; "we are fair for the channel, lads, but +you must take in the sail again to the smallest rag, for the wind +will blow through the gap between the islands with a force fit to +tear the mast out of her." +</P> + +<P> +Through the rest of his life Archie Forbes regarded that passage +between Islay and Jura as the most tremendous peril he had ever +encountered. Strong as the wind had been before, it was as nothing +to the force with which it swept down the strait—the height of +the waves was prodigious, and the boat, as it passed over the crest +of a wave, seemed to plunge down a very abyss. The old fisherman +crouched low in the boat, holding the helm, while the other three +lay on the planks in the bottom. Speech was impossible, for the +loudest shouts would have been drowned in the fury of the storm. In +half an hour the worst was over. They were through the straits and +out in the open sea again, but Islay now made a lee for them, and +the sea, high as it was, was yet calm in comparison to the tremendous +waves in the Strait of Jura. More sail was hoisted again, and in +an hour the fisherman said, "Thank God, there are the islands." +The day was already fading, and Archie could with difficulty make +out the slightly dark mass to which the helm pointed. +</P> + +<P> +"Is that Colonsay?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"It is Oronsay," the fisherman said. "The islands are close together +and seem as if they had once been one, but have been cleft asunder +by the arm of a giant. The strait between them is very narrow, and +once within it we shall be perfectly sheltered. We must make as +close to the point of the island as we can well go, so as not to +touch the rocks, and then turn and enter the strait. If we keep +out any distance we shall be blown past the entrance, and then our +only remaining chance is to try and run her on to Colonsay, and +take the risk of being drowned as she is dashed upon the rocks." +</P> + +<P> +The light had almost faded when they ran along at the end of Oronsay. +Archie shuddered as he saw the waves break upon the rocks and fly +high up into the air, and felt how small was the chance of their +escape should they be driven on a coast like that. They were but +fifty yards from the point when they came abreast of its extremity; +then the fisherman put down the helm and turned her head towards +the strait, which opened on their left. +</P> + +<P> +"Down with the sail and mast, lads, and out with your oars; we must +row her in." +</P> + +<P> +Not a moment was lost, the sail was lowered, the mast unstepped, +and the oars got out, with a speed which showed how urgent was +the occasion. Archie, who did not feel confidence in his power +to manager her now in such a sea, took his seat by the man on the +stroke thwart, and double banked his oar. Five minutes desperate +rowing and they were under shelter of Oronsay, and were rowing more +quickly up the narrow strait and towards the shore of Colonsay, +where they intended to land. A quarter of an hour more and they +stepped ashore. +</P> + +<P> +The old fisherman raised his hat reverently. "Let us thank God +and all the saints," he said, "who have preserved us through such +great danger. I have been nigh fifty years at sea, and never was +out in so wild a gale." +</P> + +<P> +For a few minutes all stood silent and bare headed, returning +fervent thanks for their escape. +</P> + +<P> +"It is well," the old man said, as they moved inland, "that I have +been so far north before; there are but few in Rathlin who have +even been north of Islay, but sometimes when fish have been very +plentiful in the island, and the boat for Ayr had already gone, +I have taken up a boatload of fish to the good monks of Colonsay, +who, although fairly supplied by their own fishermen, were yet +always ready to pay a good price for them. Had you been in a boat +with one who knew not the waters, assuredly we must have perished, +for neither skill nor courage could have availed us. There! do you +see that light ahead? That is the priory, and you may be sure of +a welcome there." +</P> + +<P> +The priory door was opened at their ring, and the monk who unclosed +it, greatly surprised at visitors on such a night, at once bade +them enter when he heard that they were fishermen whom the storm +had driven to shelter on the island. The fishermen had to lend +their aid to the monk to reclose the door, so great was the power +of the wind. The monk shot the bolts, saying, "We need expect no +further visitors tonight;" and led them into the kitchen, where a +huge fire was blazing. +</P> + +<P> +"Quick, brother Austin," he said to the monk, who acted as cook, +"warm up a hot drink for these poor souls, for they must assuredly +be well nigh perished with cold, seeing that they have been wet +for many hours and exposed to all the violence of this wintry gale." +</P> + +<P> +Archie and his companions were, indeed, stiff with cold and exposure, +and could scarce answer the questions which the monks asked them. +</P> + +<P> +"Have patience, brother! have patience!" brother Austin said. "When +their tongues are unfrozen doubtless they will tell you all that +you want to know. Only wait, I pray you, till they have drunk this +posset which I am preparing." +</P> + +<P> +The monk's curiosity was not, however, destined to be so speedily +satisfied, for just as the voyagers were finishing their hot drinks +a monk entered with a message that the prior, having heard that +some strangers had arrived, would fain welcome and speak with them +in his apartment. They rose at once. +</P> + +<P> +"When the prior has done questioning you," brother Austin said, +"return hither at once. I will set about preparing supper for you, +for I warrant me you must need food as well as drink. Fear not but, +however great your appetite may be, I will have enough to satisfy +it ready by the time you return." +</P> + +<P> +"Welcome to Colonsay!" the prior said, as the four men entered his +apartment; "but stay—I see you are drenched to the skin; and it +were poor hospitality, indeed, to keep you standing thus even to +assure you of your welcome. Take them," he said to the monk, "to +the guest chamber at once, and furnish them with changes of attire. +When they are warm and comfortable return with them hither." +</P> + +<P> +In ten minutes Archie and his companions re-entered the prior's +room. The prior looked with some astonishment at Archie; for in +the previous short interview he had not noticed the difference in +their attire, and had supposed them to be four fishermen. The monk, +however, had marked the difference; and on inquiry, finding that +Archie was a knight, had furnished him with appropriate attire. +The good monks kept a wardrobe to suit guests of all ranks, seeing +that many visitors came to the holy priory, and that sometimes the +wind and waves brought them to shore in such sorry plight that a +change of garments was necessary. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah!" the prior said, in surprise; "I crave your pardon sir knight, +that I noticed not your rank when you first entered. The light is +somewhat dim, and as you stood there together at the door way I +noticed not that you were of superior condition to the others." +</P> + +<P> +"That might well be, holy prior," Archie said, "seeing that we +were more like drowned beasts than Christian men. We have had a +marvellous escape from the tempest—thanks to God and his saints!—seeing +that we were blown off Rathlin, and have run before the +gale down past Islay and through the Straits of Jura. Next to the +protection of God and His saints, our escape is due to the skill +and courage of my brave companions here, who were as cool and calm +in the tempest as if they had been sitting by the ingle fires at +home." +</P> + +<P> +"From Rathlin!" the prior said in surprise, "and through the strait +'twixt Islay and Jura! Truly that was a marvellous voyage in such +a gale—and as I suppose, in an open boat. But how comes it, +sir knight—if I may ask the question without prying into your +private affairs—that you, a knight, were at Rathlin? In so wild +and lonely an island men of your rank are seldom to be found." +</P> + +<P> +"There are many there now, holy prior, far higher in rank than +myself," Archie replied, "seeing that Robert the Bruce, crowned King +of Scotland, James Douglas, and others of his nobles and knights, +are sheltering there with him from the English bloodhounds." +</P> + +<P> +"The Bruce at Rathlin!" the prior exclaimed, in surprise. "The +last ship which came hither from the mainland told us that he was +a hunted fugitive in Lennox; and we deemed that seeing the MacDougalls +of Lorne and all the surrounding chiefs were hostile to him, and +the English scattered thickly over all the low country, he must +long ere this have fallen into the hands of his enemies." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks to Heaven's protection," Archie said devoutly, "the king +with a few followers escaped and safely reached Rathlin!" +</P> + +<P> +"Thou shouldst not speak of Heaven's protection," the prior said, +sternly, "seeing that Bruce has violated the sanctuary of the +church, has slain his enemy within her walls, has drawn down upon +himself the anathema of the pope, and has been declared excommunicated +and accursed." +</P> + +<P> +"The pope, holy father," Archie replied, "although supreme in +all holy things, is but little qualified to judge of the matter, +seeing that he draws his information from King Edward, under whose +protection he lives. The good Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow, +with the Abbot of Scone, and many other dignitaries of the Scottish +church, have condoned his offense, seeing that it was committed +in hot blood and without prior intent. The king himself bitterly +regrets the deed, which preys sorely upon his mind; but I can answer +for it that Bruce had no thought of meeting Comyn at Dumfries." +</P> + +<P> +"You speak boldly, young sir," the prior said, sternly, "for one +over whose head scarce two-and-twenty years can have rolled; but +enough now. You are storm staid and wearied; you are the guests of +the convent. I will not keep you further now, for you have need +of food and sleep. Tomorrow I will speak with you again." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, the prior sharply touched a bell which stood on a table +near him. The monk re-entered. The prior waved his hand: "Take these +guests to the refectory and see that they have all they stand in +need of, and that the bed chambers are prepared. In the morning I +would speak to them again." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Mission to Ireland +</H3> + +<P> +Father Austin was as good as his word, and it was long indeed +since Archie had sat down to such a meal as that which was spread +for him. Hungry as he was, however, he could scarce keep his eyes +open to its conclusion, so great was the fatigue of mind and body; +and on retiring to the chamber which the monks had prepared for +him, he threw himself on a couch and instantly fell asleep. In +the morning the gale still blew violently, but with somewhat less +fury than on the preceding evening. He joined the monks at their +morning meal in the refectory, and after their repast they gathered +round him to listen to his news of what was doing in Scotland; for +although at ordinary times pilgrims came not unfrequently to visit +the holy isle of Colonsay, in the present stormy times men stirred +but little from home, and it was seldom that the monks obtained news +of what was passing on the mainland. Presently a servitor brought +word that the prior would see Archie. +</P> + +<P> +"It was ill talking last night," the prior said, "with a man hungry +and worn out; but I gathered from what you said that you are not +only a follower of Bruce, but that you were with him at that fatal +day at Dumfries when he drew his dagger upon Comyn in the sanctuary." +</P> + +<P> +"I was there, holy father," Archie replied, "and can testify that +the occurrence was wholly unpremeditated; but Bruce had received +sufficient provocation from the Comyn to afford him fair reason for +slaying him wheresoever they might meet. But none can regret more +than he does that that place of meeting was in a sanctuary. The +Comyn and Bruce had made an agreement together whereby the former +relinquished his own claims to the throne of Scotland on condition +that Bruce, on attaining the throne, would hand over to him all +his lordships in Carrick and Annandale." +</P> + +<P> +"It were a bad bargain," the prior said, "seeing that Comyn would +then be more powerful than his king." +</P> + +<P> +"So I ventured to tell the Bruce," Archie replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Thou?" the prior said; "you are young, sir, to be in a position +to offer counsel to Robert Bruce." +</P> + +<P> +"I am young, holy prior," Archie said modestly; "but the king is +good enough to overlook my youth in consideration of my fidelity +to the cause of Scotland. My name is Archibald Forbes." +</P> + +<P> +"Sir Archibald Forbes!" the prior repeated, rising; "and are you +really that loyal and faithful Scottish knight who fought ever by +the side of Wallace, and have almost alone refused ever to bow the +knee to the English? Even to this lonely isle tales have come of +your valour, how you fought side by side with Wallace, and were, +with Sir John Grahame, his most trusty friend and confidant. Many +of the highest and noblest of Scotland have for centuries made +their way to the shrine of Colonsay, but none more worthy to be +our guest. Often have I longed to see so brave a champion of our +country, little thinking that you would one day come a storm driven +guest. Truly am I glad to see you, and I say it even though you may +have shared in the deed at Dumfries, for which I would fain hope +from your words there is fairer excuse to be made than I had hitherto +deemed. I have thought that the Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow +were wrong in giving their countenance to a man whom the holy +father had condemned—a man whose prior history gives no ground +for faith in his patriotism, who has taken up arms, now for, now +against, the English, but has ever been ready to make terms with +the oppressor, and to parade as his courtier at Westminster. In +such a man I can have no faith, and deem that, while he pretends +to fight for Scotland, he is in truth but warring for his +own aggrandizement. But since you, the follower and friend of the +disinterested and intrepid champion of Scotland, speak for the +Bruce, it maybe that my judgement has been too severe upon him." +</P> + +<P> +Archie now related the incident of his journey to London to urge +Bruce to break with Edward and to head the national movement. He +told how, even before the discovery of his agreement with Comyn, +brought about by the treachery of the latter, Bruce had determined +definitely to throw in his cause with that of Scotland; how upon +that discovery he had fled north, and, happening to meet Comyn at +Dumfries, within the limits of the sanctuary, had, in his indignation +and ire at his treachery, drawn and slain him. Then he told the +tale of what had taken place after the rout of Methven, how bravely +Bruce had borne himself, and had ever striven to keep up the hearts +of his companions; how cheerfully he had supported the hardships, +and how valiantly he had borne himself both at Methven and when +attacked by the MacDougalls of Lorne. +</P> + +<P> +"Whatever his past may have been," Archie concluded, "I hold that +now the Bruce is as earnest in the cause of Scotland as was even +my dear leader Wallace. In strength and in courage he rivals that +valiant knight, for though I hold that Wallace was far more than +a match for any man of his time, yet Bruce is a worthy second to +him, for assuredly no one in Scotland could cross swords with him +on equal chances. That he will succeed in his enterprise it were +rash to say, for mighty indeed are the odds against him; but if +courage, perseverance, and endurance can wrest Scotland from the +hands of the English, Robert Bruce will, if he lives, accomplish +the task." +</P> + +<P> +"Right glad am I," the prior replied, "to hear what you have told +me. Hitherto, owing to my memory of his past and my horror at his +crime—for though from what you tell me there was much to excuse +it, still it was a grievous crime—I have had but little interest +in the struggle, but henceforth this will be changed. You may +tell the king that from this day, until death or victory crown his +efforts, prayers will be said to heaven night and day at Colonsay +for his success." +</P> + +<P> +It was four days before the storm was over and the sea sufficiently +calmed to admit of Archie's departure. During that time he remained +as the honoured guest of the priory, and the good monks vied with +the prior in their attentions to the young knight, the tales of +whose doings, as one of Scotland's foremost champions, had so often +reached their lonely island. At the end of that time, the sea being +now calm and smooth, with a light wind from the north, Archie bade +adieu to his hosts and sailed from Colonsay. +</P> + +<P> +Light as the wind was, it sufficed to fill the sail; and as the boat +glided over the scarce rippled water Archie could not but contrast +the quiet sleepy motion with the wild speed at which the boat had +torn through the water on her northern way. It was not until the +following morning that Rathlin again came in sight. +</P> + +<P> +As the boat was seen approaching, and was declared by the islanders +to be that which they had regarded as lost in the storm a week +previously, the king, Douglas, and the rest of his followers made +their way down to the shore; and loud was the shout of welcome +which arose when Archie stood up and waved his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Verily, Archie Forbes," the king said as he warmly embraced the +young knight, "I shall begin to think that the fairies presided +at your birth and gave you some charm to preserve your life alike +against the wrath of men and of the elements. Never assuredly did +anyone pass through so many dangers unscathed as you have done." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope to pass through as many more, sire, in your service," Archie +said smiling. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so, indeed," Bruce replied; "for it were an evil day for +me and for Scotland that saw you fall; but henceforth I will fret +no more concerning you. You alone of Wallace's early companions +have survived. You got free from Dunstaffnage by some miracle +which you have never fully explained to me, and now it would seem +that even the sea refuses to swallow you." +</P> + +<P> +"I trust," Archie said more gravely, "that the old saying is not +true in my case, and that hanging is not to be my fate. Assuredly +it will be if I ever fall into the hands of Edward, and I shall +think it a cruel fate indeed if fortune, which has spared me so +often in battle, leads me to that cruel end at last." +</P> + +<P> +"I trust not indeed, Sir Archie," the king said, "though hanging now +has ceased to be a dishonourable death when so many of Scotland's +best and bravest have suffered it at the English hands. However, I +cannot but think that your fairy godmother must have reserved for +you the fate of the heroes of most of the stories of my old nurse, +which always wound up with 'and so he married, and lived happily +ever after.' And now, Archie, tell me all that has befallen you, +where you have been, and how you fared, and by what miraculous chance +you escaped the tempest. All our eyes were fixed on the boat when +you laboured to reach the shore, and had you heard the groans +we uttered when we saw you give up the effort as hopeless and fly +away to sea before the wind you would have known how truly all +your comrades love you. We gave you up as assuredly lost, for the +islanders here agreed that you had no chance of weathering the +gale, and that the boat would, ere many hours, be dashed to pieces +either on Islay or Jura, should it even reach so far; but the most +thought that you would founder long ere you came in sight of the +land." +</P> + +<P> +Accompanying the king with his principal companions to the hut +which he occupied, Archie related the incidents of the voyage and +of their final refuge at Colonsay. +</P> + +<P> +"It was a wonderful escape," the king said when he finished, "and +the holy Virgin and the saints must assuredly have had you in their +especial care. You have cost us well nigh a fortune, for not one +of us but vowed offerings for your safety, which were, perchance, +the more liberal, since we deemed the chances of paying them so +small. However, they shall be redeemed, for assuredly they have +been well earned, and for my share I am bound, when I come to my +own, to give a piece of land of the value of one hundred marks a +year to the good monks of St. Killian's to be spent in masses for +the souls of those drowned at sea." +</P> + +<P> +Some days later the king said to Archie, "I have a mission for you; +'tis one of danger, but I know that that is no drawback in your +eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"I am ready," Archie said modestly, "to carry out to the best of +my power any errand with which your majesty may intrust me." +</P> + +<P> +"I have been thinking, Sir Archie, that I might well make some sort +of alliance with the Irish chieftains. Many of these are, like +most of our Scotch nobles, on terms of friendship with England; +still there are others who hold aloof from the conquerors. It would +be well to open negotiations with these, so that they by rising +might distract Edward's attention from Scotland, while we, by our +efforts, would hinder the English from sending all their force +thither, and we might thus mutually be of aid to each other. At +present I am, certes, in no position to promise aid in men or money; +but I will bind myself by an oath that if my affairs in Scotland +prosper I will from my treasury furnish money to aid them in carrying +on the struggle, and that if I clear Scotland of her oppressors +I will either go myself or send one of my brothers with a strong +force to aid the Irish to follow our example. The mission is, as +you will see, Sir Archie, a dangerous one; for should any of the +English, or their Irish allies, lay hands on you, your doom would +be sealed. Still you may do me and Scotland great service should +you succeed in your mission. Even minor risings would be of much +utility, seeing that they would at any rate prevent Edward from +bringing over troops from Ireland to assist in our conquest. I have +thought the matter over deeply, and conclude that, young as you are, +I can intrust it to you with confidence, and that you are indeed +the best fitted among those with me to undertake it. Douglas is +but a boy; my brother Edward is too hot and rash; Boyd is impatient +and headstrong, trusty and devoted to me though he is; but I am +sure that in you there is no lack either of prudence or courage. +Hence, Sir Archie, if you will undertake it I will intrust it to +you." +</P> + +<P> +"I will willingly undertake it, sire, since you think me fitting +for it, and deem it a high honour indeed that you have chosen me. +When will you that I start?" +</P> + +<P> +"It were best to lose no time," the king replied, "and if you have +no reason for delay I would that you should embark tonight, so that +before daybreak you may have gained the Irish shore. They tell me +that there are many desperate men in refuge among the caves on the +coast, and among these you might choose a few who might be useful +to you in your project; but it is not in this part that a rising +can be effected, for the country inland is comparatively flat and +wholly in the hands of the English. It is on the west coast that +the resistance to the English was continued to the last, and here +from time to time it blazes out again. In those parts, as they tell +me, not only are there wild mountains and fastnesses such as we +have in Scotland, but there are great morasses and swamps, extending +over wide tracts, where heavy armed soldiers cannot penetrate, +and where many people still maintain a sort of wild independence, +defying all the efforts of the English to subdue them. The people +are wild and savage, and ever ready to rise against the English. +Here, then, is the country where you are most likely to find chiefs +who may enter into our plans, and agree to second our efforts for +independence. Here are some rings and gold chains, which are all +that remain to me of my possessions. Money I have none; but with +these you may succeed in winning the hearts of some of these savage +chieftains. Take, too, my royal signet, which will be a guarantee +that you have power to treat in my name. I need not tell you to be +brave, Sir Archie; but be prudent—remember that your life is of +the utmost value to me. I want you not to fight, but simply to act +as my envoy. If you succeed in raising a great fire in the west +of Ireland, remain there and act as councillor to the chiefs, +remembering that you are just as much fighting for Scotland there +as if you were drawing sword against her foes at home. If you find +that the English arm is too strong, and the people too cowed and +disheartened to rise against it, then make your way back here by +the end of three months, by which time I hope to sail hence and to +raise my standard in Scotland again." +</P> + +<P> +On leaving the king Archie at once conferred with Duncan the fisherman, +who willingly agreed that night to set him ashore in Ireland. +</P> + +<P> +"I will land you," he said, "at a place where you need not fear +that any English will meet you. It is true that they have a castle +but three miles away perched on a rock on the coast. It is called +Dunluce, and commands a wide seaward view, and for this reason it +were well that our boat were far out at sea again before morning +dawned, so that if they mark us they will not suppose that we have +touched on the coast; else they might send a party to search if +any have landed—not even then that you need fear discovery, for +the coast abounds in caves and hiding places. My sons have often +landed there, for we do a certain trade in the summer from the island +in fish and other matters with the natives there. If it pleases +you my son Ronald, who is hardy and intelligent, shall land with +you and accompany you as your retainer while you remain in Ireland. +The people there speak a language quite different to that which you +use in the lowlands of Scotland and in England, but the language +we speak among ourselves closely resembles it, and we can be easily +understood by the people of the mainland. You would be lost did +you go among the native Irish without an interpreter." +</P> + +<P> +Archie thankfully accepted the offer, and that night, after bidding +adieu to the friends and his comrades, started in Duncan's boat. +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis a strange place where I am going to land you," the fisherman +said; "such a place as nowhere else have my eyes beheld, though they +say that at the Isle of Staffa, far north of Colonsay, a similar +sight is to be seen. The rocks, instead of being rugged or square, +rise in close columns like the trunks of trees, or like the columns +in the church of the priory of Colonsay. Truly they seem as if +wrought by the hands of men, or rather of giants, seeing that no +men could carry out so vast a work. The natives have legends that +they are the work of giants of old times. How this may be I know +not, though why giants should have engaged in so useless a work +passes my understanding. However, there are the pillars, whosoever +placed them there. Some of them are down by the level of the sea. +Here their heads seem to be cut off so as to form a landing place, +to which the natives give the name of the Giant's Causeway. Others +in low rows stand on the face of the cliff itself, though how any +could have stood there to work them, seeing that no human foot can +reach the base, is more than I can say. 'Tis a strange and wonderful +sight, as you will say when the morning light suffers you to see +it." +</P> + +<P> +It was fortunate that Duncan knew the coast so well, and was able +by the light of the stars to find a landing place, for quiet as the +sea appeared a swell rose as they neared the shore, and the waves +beat heavily on the wild and rocky coast. Duncan, however, steered +his boat to the very foot of the Causeway, and then, watching his +opportunity, Archie sprang ashore followed by Ronald. A few words +of adieu were spoken, and then the boat rowed out to sea again, +while Archie and Ronald turned away from the landing place. +</P> + +<P> +"It were best," the young fisherman said, "to find a seat among the +rocks, and there to await the dawn, when I can guide you to some +caves hard by; but in the darkness we might well fall and break a +limb did we try and make our way across the coast." +</P> + +<P> +A niche was soon found, and Archie and his companion sat down for +a while. Archie, however, soon discovered that the sides and back +of his seat were formed of the strange columns of which Duncan had +spoken, and that he was sitting upon the tops of others which had +broken off. Eagerly he passed his hands over the surface of these +strange pillars, and questioned his companion as to what he knew +about them; but Ronald could tell him no more than his father +had done, and Archie was forced to await the dawn to examine more +closely the strange columns. Daylight only added to his wonder. +On all sides of him stretched the columns, packed in a dense mass +together, while range above range they stood on the face of the +great cliffs above him. The more he examined them the more his +wonder grew. +</P> + +<P> +"They can neither be the work of men nor giants," he said, "but +must have been called up by the fantastic freak of some powerful +enchanter. Hitherto I have not believed the tales of these mysterious +beings of old times; but after seeing these wonderful pillars I +can no longer doubt, for assuredly no mortal hand could have done +this work." +</P> + +<P> +Ronald now urged that they had better be moving, as it was possible, +although unlikely enough, that one passing along the top of the +cliffs might get sight of them. They accordingly moved along the +shore, and in a quarter of a mile reached the mouth of a great +cave. The bottom was covered with rocks, which had fallen from the +roof, thickly clustered over with wet seaweed, which, indeed, hung +from the sides far up, showing that at high tide the sea penetrated +far into the cave. +</P> + +<P> +"The ground rises beyond," Ronald said, "and you will find recesses +there which the tide never reaches." They moved slowly at first +until their eyes became accustomed to the darkness; then they kept +on, the ground getting more even as they ascended, until they stood +on a dry and level floor. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I will strike a light," Ronald said, "and light the torch +which I brought with me. We are sure to find plenty of driftwood +cast up at the highest point the tide reaches. Then we can make a +fire, and while you remain here I will go out and find some of the +natives, and engage a guide to take us forward tonight." +</P> + +<P> +Taking out his flint and steel, Ronald proceeded to strike a light, +and after several efforts succeeded in doing so and in igniting +some dried moss which he had brought with him, carefully shielded +from damp in the folds of his garment. As a light flame rose +he applied his torch to it; but as he did so, came an exclamation +of astonishment, for gathered in a circle round them were a dozen +wild figures. All were armed and stood in readiness to strike down +the intruders into their hiding place. They were barefooted, and +had doubtless been asleep in the cave until, when awakened by the +approaching footsteps and voices, they had silently arisen and +prepared to fall upon the intruders. +</P> + +<P> +"We are friends," Ronald said in the native language when he +recovered from his start of surprise. "I am Ronald, a fisherman +from Rathlin, and was over here in the summer exchanging fish for +sheep." +</P> + +<P> +"I recollect you," one of the men said; "but what do you here so +strangely and secretly? Are the English hunting you too from your +island as they have done us?" +</P> + +<P> +"They have not come to Rathlin yet," Ronald said. +</P> + +<P> +"Doubtless they would do so, but 'tis too poor to offer any +temptation for their greed. But they are our enemies as they are +yours. I am here to guide this Scottish knight, who is staying at +Rathlin, a fugitive from their vengeance like yourself, and who is +charged with a mission from the King of Scotland to your chiefs, +whom he would fain induce to join in a rising against the power of +the English." +</P> + +<P> +"He is welcome," the man who appeared to be the leader of the party +replied, "and may he succeed in his object; but," he continued +bitterly, "I fear that the chance is a small one. The Norman foot +is on our necks, and most of those who should be our leaders have +basely accepted the position of vassals to the English king. Still +there are brave hearts yet in Ireland who would gladly rise did they +see even a faint chance of success. Hundreds are there who, like +us, prefer to live the lives of hunted dogs in caves, in mountain +fastnesses, or in the bogs, rather than yield to the English yoke. +Tell me your plans and whither you would go; and I will give you +guides who know every foot of the country, and who can lead you to +the western hills, where, though no open resistance is made, the +English have scarce set foot. There we generally find refuge; +and 'tis only at times, when the longing to see the homes of our +childhood becomes too strong for us, that I and those you see—all +of whom were born and reared between this and Coleraine—come +hither for a time, when at night we can issue out and prowl round +the ruins of the homes of our fathers." +</P> + +<P> +While this conversation had been going on, the others, seeing that +the visit was a friendly one, had set to work, and bringing up +driftwood from below, piled it round the little blaze which Ronald +had commenced, and soon had a great fire lighted. They then produced +the carcass of a sheep which they had the evening before carried +off. Ronald had brought with him a large pile of oaten cakes, and +a meal was speedily prepared. +</P> + +<P> +Archie could not but look with surprise at the wild figures around +him, lit up by the dancing glare of the fire. Their hair lay in +tangled masses on their necks; their attire was of the most primitive +description, consisting but of one garment secured round the waist +by a strap of untanned leather; their feet and legs were bare. +Their hair was almost black; their eyes small and glittering, with +heavy overhanging brows; and they differed altogether in appearance +even from the wildest and poorest of the Scottish peasantry. In +their belts all bore long knives of rough manufacture, and most of +them carried slings hanging from the belt, in readiness for instant +use. In spite of the wildness of their demeanour they seemed kindly +and hospitable; and many were the questions which they asked Ronald +concerning the King of Scotland and his knights who were in refuge +at Rathlin. +</P> + +<P> +When the meal was over all stretched themselves on the sand like so +many animals, and without further preparation went off to sleep. +Archie, knowing that nothing could be done until nightfall, +followed their example. The fire had by this time burned low, and +soon perfect stillness reigned in the great cavern, save that far +away at its mouth the low thunder of the waves upon the rocks came +up in a confused roar. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +An Irish Rising +</H3> + +<P> +When night came on Archie started for the west, accompanied by +Ronald and two of the Irish as guides. They crossed the country +without question or interference, and reached the wild mountains +of Donegal in safety. Archie had asked that his conductors should +lead him to the abode of the principal chieftain of the district. +The miserable appearance of the sparsely scattered villages through +which they had passed had prepared him to find that the superiors +of such a people would be in a very different position from the +feudal lords of the Highlands of Scotland. He was not surprised, +therefore, when his attendants pointed out a small hold, such as +would appertain to a small landowner on the Scottish Border, as the +residence of the chief. Around it were scattered a number of low +huts composed of turf, roofed with reeds. From these, when the +approach of strangers was reported, a number of wild looking figures +poured out, armed with weapons of the most primitive description. +A shout from Archie's guides assured these people that the newcomer +was not, as his appearance betokened him, a Norman knight, but +a visitor from Scotland who sought a friendly interview with the +chief. +</P> + +<P> +Insignificant as was the hold, it was evident that something like +feudal discipline was kept up. Two men, armed with pikes, were +stationed on the wall, while two others leant in careless fashion +against the posts of the open gate. On the approach of Archie an +elderly man, with a long white beard, came out to meet them. Ronald +explained to him that Archie was a knight who had come as an emissary +from the King of Scotland to the Irish chieftains, and desired to +speak with the great Fergus of Killeen. The old man bowed deeply +to Archie, and then escorted him into the house. +</P> + +<P> +The room which they entered occupied the whole of the ground +floor of the hold, and was some thirty feet wide by forty long. As +apparently trees of sufficient length to form the beams of so wide +an apartment could not be obtained, the floor above was supported +by two rows of roughly squared posts extending down from end to +end. The walls were perfectly bare. The beams and planks of the +ceiling were stained black by the smoke of a fire which burned in +one corner; the floor was of clay beaten hard. A strip some ten +feet wide, at the further end, was raised eighteen inches above the +general level, forming a sort of dais. Here, in a carved settle of +black wood, sat the chief. Some females, evidently the ladies of +his family, were seated on piles of sheepskins, and were plying +their distaffs; while an aged man was seated on the end of the dais +with a harp of quaint form on his knee; his fingers touched a last +chord as Archie entered, and he had evidently been playing while +the ladies worked. Near him on the dais was a fire composed of +wood embers, which were replenished from time to time with fresh +glowing pieces of charcoal taken from the fire at the other end of +the room, so that the occupants of the dais should not be annoyed +by the smoke arising close to them. +</P> + +<P> +The chief was a fine looking man about fifty years old. He was +clad in a loose fitting tunic of soft dark green cloth, confined at +the waist by a broad leathern band with silver clasp and ornaments, +and reaching to his knees. His arms were bare; on his feet he wore +sandals, and a heavy sword rested against the wall near his hand. +The ladies wore dresses of similar material and of somewhat similar +fashion, but reaching to the feet. They wore gold armlets; and the +chief's wife had a light band of gold round her head. The chief +rose when Archie entered; and upon the seneschal informing him of +the rank and mission of his visitor he stepped from the dais, and +advancing, greeted him warmly. Then he led him back to the dais, +where he presented to him the ladies of his family, ordering the +retainers, of whom about a score were gathered in the hall, to +place two piles of sheepskins near the fire. On one of these he sat +down, and motioned to Archie to take his place on the other—his +own chair being removed to a corner. Then, through the medium of +Ronald, the conversation began. +</P> + +<P> +Archie related to the chief the efforts which the Scotch were +making to win their freedom from England, and urged in the king's +name that a similar effort should be made by the Irish; as the +forces of the English, being thereby divided and distracted, there +might be better hope of success. The chief heard the communication +in grave silence. The ladies of the family stood behind the chief +with deeply interested faces; and as the narrative of the long +continued struggle which the Scots were making for freedom continued +it was clear, by their glowing cheeks and their animated faces, +how deeply they sympathized in the struggle. +</P> + +<P> +The wife of the chief, a tall and stately lady, stood immediately +behind him with her two daughters, girls of some seventeen or +eighteen years of age, beside her. As Ronald was translating his +words Archie glanced frequently at the group, and thought he had +never seen one fairer or more picturesque. There was a striking +likeness between mother and daughters; but the expression of staid +dignity in the one was in the others replaced by a bright expression +of youth and happiness. Their beauty was of a kind new to Archie. +Their dark glossy hair was kept smoothly in place by the fillet +of gold in the mother's case, and by purple ribbons in that of the +daughters. Their eyebrows and long eyelashes were black, but their +eyes were gray, and as light as those to which Archie was accustomed +under the fair tresses of his countrywomen. The thing that struck +him most in the faces of the girls was their mobility, the expression +changing as it seemed in an instant from grave to gay—flushing +at one moment with interest at the tale of deeds of valour, paling +at the next at the recital of cruel oppression and wrong. When Archie +had finished his narrative he presented to the chief a beautifully +wrought chain of gold as a token from the King of Scotland. +</P> + +<P> +The chief was silent for some time after the interpreter concluded +Archie's narrative; then he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Sir knight, it almost seems to me as if I had been listening to +the tale of the wrongs of Ireland, save that it appears that the +mastery of the English here has been more firmly established than +with you. This may be from the nature of the country; our hills +are, for the most part, bare, while yours, you say, are covered +with forest. Thus the Normans could more easily, when they had once +gained the upper hand, crush out the last vestiges of opposition +than they could with you. As I judge from what you say, the English +in Scotland hold all the fortresses, and when the people rise they +remain sheltered in them until assistance comes from England. With +us it is different. First they conquer all the country; then from +a wide tract, a third perhaps of the island, they drive out the whole +of the people, and establish themselves firmly there, portioning the +land among the soldiery and repeopling the country with an English +race. Outside this district the Irish chieftains, like myself, +retain something of independence; we pay a tribute, and are in the +position of feudatories, being bound to furnish so many men for +the King of England's wars if called upon to do so. The English +seldom come beyond their pale so long as the tribute is paid, and +the yoke, therefore, weighs not so heavy upon us; but were we to +rise, the English army would pour out from its pale and carry fire +and sword throughout the country. +</P> + +<P> +"We, like you, have been without one who would unite us against the +common enemy. Our great chiefs have, for the most part, accepted +English titles, and since their power over the minor chiefs is +extended, rather than decreased by the changed circumstances, they +are well content, for they rule now over their districts, not only +as Irish chieftains, but as English lieutenants. You have seen, +as you journeyed here, how sparse is the population of our hills, +and how slight would be the opposition which we could offer, did +the Earl of Ulster sweep down upon us with trained English soldiers. +</P> + +<P> +"Were there a chance of success, Fergus of Killeen would gladly +draw the sword again; but I will not bring ruin upon my family +and people by engaging in a hopeless enterprise. Did I raise +my standard, all Donegal would take up arms; but Donegal alone is +powerless against England. I know my people—they are ready for +the fray, they would rush to battle and perish in thousands to win +victory, but one great defeat would crush them. The story of the +long fight which your Wallace, with a small following, made against +the power of England, will never be told of an Irish leader. We +have bravery and reckless courage, but we have none of the stubborn +obstinacy of your Scottish folk. Were the flag raised the people +would flock to it, and would fight desperately; but if they lost, +there would be utter and complete collapse. The fortitude to support +repeated defeats, to struggle on when the prospect seems darkest, +does not belong to my people. +</P> + +<P> +"It is for this reason that I have no hope that Ireland will ever +regain its independence. She may struggle against the yoke, she +may blaze out again and again in bloody risings, our sons may die +in tens of thousands for her; but never, I believe, as long as the +men of the two countries remain what they are, will Ireland recover +her independence, for, in the long run, English perseverance and +determination will overcome the fitful courage of the Irish. I +grieve that I should say it. I mourn that I feel it my duty to +repress rather than to encourage the eager desire of my people to +draw the sword and strike for freedom; but such is my conviction. +</P> + +<P> +"But understand, sir knight, that whatever I may think, I shall +not be backward in doing my part. If Ireland again rises, should +the other native chieftains determine to make one more effort to +drive the English across the channel, be sure that Fergus of Killeen +and the men of Donegal will be in the front of the battle. No heart +beats more warmly for freedom than mine; and did I stand alone I +would take to the bogs and join those who shelter there, defying +the might of England. But I have my people to think of. I have seen +how the English turn a land to desolation as they sweep across it, +and I will not bring fire and sword into these mountain valleys +unless all Ireland is banded in a common effort. You have seen +Scotland wasted from sea to sea, her cities burned, her people +slain by thousands, her dales and valleys wasted; and can you tell +me that after these years of struggle you have gained any such +advantage as would warrant your advising me to rise against England?" +</P> + +<P> +Archie was silent. Thinking over the struggle in which he had +taken part for so many years, and remembering the woes that it had +brought on Scotland, and that, after fighting so long, Bruce and +the handful of fugitives at Rathlin were the sole survivors of the +patriotic party, he could not but acknowledge at heart the justice +of the chiefs words. His sole hope for Scotland now rested in the +perseverance and personal valour of the king, and the stubborn +character of the people, which he felt assured would lead them +to rise again and again, in spite of disaster and defeat, until +freedom was won. The Irish possessed no Bruce; their country was +less defendible than Scotland; and if, as Fergus said, they had none +of that indomitable perseverance which enabled the Scotch people +again and again to rise against the yoke, what hope could there +be of final success, how could he be justified in urging upon the +chieftain a step which would bring fire and sword into those quiet +valleys! For some time, therefore, after Ronald had translated the +chief's speech he remained silent. +</P> + +<P> +"I will not urge you further, sir," he said, "for you are surely +the best judge of what is good for your people, and I have seen +such ruin and desolation in Scotland, so many scores of ruined +towns and villages, so many thousands of levelled homesteads, that +I will not say a single word to urge you to alter your resolution. +It is enough for me that you have said that if Ireland rises you +will also draw the sword. I must carry out my instructions, and +hence shall travel south and visit other chiefs; they may view +matters differently, and may see that what Ireland cannot do alone +she may do in conjunction with Scotland." +</P> + +<P> +"So be it!" Fergus said. "Believe me, if you raise a flame through +the west the north will not hang back. And now I trust that you +will remain here for a few days as my guest. All that I have is +yours, and my wife and daughters will do their best to make the +time pass pleasantly for you." +</P> + +<P> +Archie remained three days at the chiefs hold, where the primitive +life interested him greatly. A lavish hospitality was exercised. +Several sheep were killed and roasted each day, and all comers were +free to join the repast. The chief's more immediate retainers, some +twenty in number, ate, lived, and slept in the great hall; while +tables were spread outside, at which all who came sat down without +question. The upper rooms of the hold were occupied by the chief, +the ladies of his family, and the female domestics. Here they retired +when they felt disposed, but their meals were served on the dais. +In the evening the harper played and sang legends of deeds of bravery +in the day of Ireland's independence; and as Ronald translated the +songs to him Archie could not but conclude privately that civil war, +rapine, strife, and massacre must have characterized the country +in those days. +</P> + +<P> +At the conclusion of his stay Fergus appointed two of the retainers +to accompany Archie south, and to give assurance to the various +wild people through whom he might pass, that Archie's mission was +a friendly one to Ireland, and that he was an honoured friend and +guest of the chief of Killeen. +</P> + +<P> +On his arrival in Mayo Archie found matters more favourable to his +mission. An insurrection had already broken out, headed by some of +the local chieftains, originating in a broil between the English +soldiers of a garrison and the natives. The garrison had been +surprised and massacred, and the wild Irish were flocking to arms. +By the chieftains here Archie, on explaining his mission, was warmly +welcomed. As they were already in arms no urging on his part was +needed, and they despatched messengers throughout the country, +saying that an emissary from Scotland had arrived, and calling upon +all to rise and to join with the Scotch in shaking off the yoke of +England. +</P> + +<P> +Archie had therefore to travel no farther, and decided that he +could best carry out his mission by assisting to organize and lead +the Irish forces. These he speedily discovered were beyond all +comparison inferior, both in arms, in discipline, and in methods +of fighting, to the Scots. For a dashing foray they would be +excellent. Hardy, agile, and full of impetuosity, they would bear +down all resistance instantly, were that resistance not too strong; +but against stubborn and well armed troops they would break like +a wave against a rock. Archie saw that with such troops anything +like regular war would be impossible, and that the struggle must +be one of constant surprises, attacks, and forays, and that they +could succeed only by wearing out and not by defeating the enemy. +With such tactics as these they might by long perseverance succeed; +but this was just what Fergus had warned him they would not practise, +and that their courage was rather of a kind which would lead them +to dash desperately against the line of levelled spears, rather +than continue a long and weary struggle under apparently hopeless +circumstances. +</P> + +<P> +The chiefs, hearing from Archie that he had acted as one of Wallace's +lieutenants in battles where the English had been heavily defeated, +willingly consented that he should endeavour to instil the tactics +by which those battles had been won into their own followers; but +when they found that he proposed that the men should remain stationary +to withstand the English charges, they shook their heads. +</P> + +<P> +"That will never do for our people," they said. "They must attack +sword in hand. They will rush fearlessly down against any odds, but +you will never get them steadily to withstand a charge of men-at-arms." +</P> + +<P> +Archie, however, persuaded them to allow him to organize a band of +two hundred men under his immediate orders. These were armed with +long pikes, and were to form a sort of reserve, in order that if +the wild charge of the main body failed in its object these could +cover a retreat, or serve as a nucleus around which they could +rally. The army swelled rapidly; every day fresh chiefs arrived +with scores of wild tribesmen. Presently the news came that an +English force was advancing from the Pale against them. A council +was held at which Archie was present. Very strongly he urged his +views upon the chieftains, namely: that they should altogether +decline a pitched battle; but that, divided into numerous parties, +they should enter the Pale, destroying weak garrisons and ravaging +the country, trying to wear out the English by constant skirmishes +and night attacks, but refusing always to allow themselves to be +tempted into an engagement. +</P> + +<P> +"The English cannot be everywhere at once," he urged. "Let them +hold only the ground on which their feet stand. As they advance +or retire, close ever in on their rear, drive off their cattle and +destroy their crops and granaries in the Pale; force them to live +wholly in their walled towns, and as you gain in strength capture +these one by one, as did we in Scotland. So, and so only, can you +hope for ultimate success." +</P> + +<P> +His advice was received with a silence which he at once saw betokened +disapproval. One after another of the Irish chieftains rose and +declared that such a war could not be sustained. +</P> + +<P> +"Our retainers," they said, "are ready to fight, but after fighting +they will want to return to their homes; besides, we are fifteen +thousand strong, and the English men-at-arms marching against us +are but eight hundred; it would be shameful and cowardly to avoid a +battle, and were we willing to do so our followers would not obey +us. Let us first destroy this body of English, then we shall be +joined by others, and can soon march straight upon Dublin." +</P> + +<P> +Archie saw that it was hopeless to persevere, and set out the +following day with the wild rabble, for they could not be termed +an army, to meet the English. The leaders yielded so far to his +advice as to take up a position where they would fight with the best +chance of success. The spot lay between a swamp extending a vast +distance, and a river, and they were thus open only to an attack +in front, and could, if defeated, take refuge in the bog, where +horsemen could not follow them. +</P> + +<P> +On the following morning the English were seen approaching. In +addition to the 800 men-at-arms were 1000 lightly equipped footmen, +for experience had taught the English commanders that in such a +country lightly armed men were necessary to operate where the wide +extending morasses prevented the employment of cavalry. The English +advanced in solid array: 300 archers led the way; these were +followed by 700 spearmen, and the men-at-arms brought up the rear. +The Irish were formed in disordered masses, each under its own +chieftain. The English archers commenced the fight with a shower +of arrows. Scarcely had these began to fall when the Irish with a +tremendous yell rushed forward to the assault. The English archers +were swept like chaff before them. With reckless bravery they threw +themselves next upon the spearmen. The solid array was broken by +the onslaught, and in a moment both parties were mixed up in wild +confusion. +</P> + +<P> +The sight was too much for Archie's band to view unmoved, and these, +in spite of his shouts, left their ground and rushed at full speed +after their companions and threw themselves into the fight. +</P> + +<P> +Archie was mounted, having been presented with a horse by one of +the chiefs, and he now, although hopeless of the final result, rode +forward. Just as he joined the confused and struggling mass the +English men-at-arms burst down upon them. As a torrent would cleave +its way through a mass of loose sand, so the English men-at-arms +burst through the mass of Irish, trampling and cutting down all in +their path. Not unharmed, however, for the Irish fought desperately +with axe and knife, hewing at the men-at-arms, stabbing at the +horses, and even trying by sheer strength to throw the riders to +the ground. After passing through the mass the men-at-arms turned +and again burst down upon them. It was a repetition of the first +charge. The Irish fought desperately, but it was each for himself; +there was neither order nor cohesion, and each man strove only to +kill a foe before being himself slain. Archie and the chiefs, with +the few mounted men among the retainers, strove in vain to stem +the torrent. Under the orders of their leaders the English kept +in a compact mass, and the weight of the horses and armour bore +down all opposition. Four times did the men-at-arms burst through +the struggling mass of Irish. As they formed to charge the fifth +time the latter lost heart, and as if acting under a simultaneous +influence they turned and fled. +</P> + +<P> +The English horse burst down on the rear of the mass of fugitives, +hewing them down in hundreds. Those nearest to the river dashed in, +and numbers were drowned in striving to cross it. The main body, +however, made for the swamp, and though in the crush many sank in +and perished miserably here, the great majority, leaping lightly +from tuft to tuft, gained the heart of the morass, the pursuing +horse reining up on its edge. +</P> + +<P> +Ronald had kept near Archie in the fight, and when all was lost +ran along by the side of his horse, holding fast to the stirrup +leather. The horsemen still pressed along between the river and +the morass, and Archie, following the example of several of the +chiefs, alighted from his saddle, and with his companion entered +the swamp. It was with the greatest difficulty that he made his +way across it, and his lightly armed companion did him good service +in assisting several times to drag him from the treacherous mire +when he began to sink in it. At last they reached firmer ground in +the heart of the swamp, and here some 5000 or 6000 fugitives were +gathered. At least 4000 had fallen on the field. Many had escaped +across the river, although numbers had lost their lives in the +attempt. Others scattered and fled in various directions. A few +of the chiefs were gathered in council when Archie arrived. They +agreed that all was lost and there was nothing to do but scatter +to their homes. Archie took no part in the discussion. That day's +experience had convinced him that nothing like a permanent and +determined insurrection was possible, and only by such a movement +could the Scottish cause be aided, by forcing the English to send +reinforcements across St. George's Channel. After seeing the +slaughter which had taken place, he was rejoiced at heart that the +rising had commenced before he joined it, and was in no way the +result of his mission, but was one of the sporadic insurrections +which frequently broke out in Ireland, only to be instantly and +sternly repressed. +</P> + +<P> +"We have failed, Sir Knight," one of the chiefs said to him, "but +it was not for want of courage on the part of our men." +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed," Archie replied through his interpreter; "never did I +see men fight more fiercely, but without discipline and organization +victory is well nigh impossible for lightly armed footmen against +heavy mailclad cavalry." +</P> + +<P> +"The tactics you advised were doubtless good," the chief said; "I +see their wisdom, but they are well nigh impossible to carry out +with such following as ours. They are ever impatient for the fray, +but quickly wearied by effort; ready to die, but not to wait; to +them prudence means cowardice, and their only idea of fighting is +to rush full at a foe. See how they broke the English spearmen!" +</P> + +<P> +"It was right well done," Archie replied, "and some day, when well +trained and disciplined, Irish soldiers will be second to none in +the world; but unless they will submit to training and discipline +they can never hope to conquer the English." +</P> + +<P> +"And now, Sir Knight, what do you propose doing?" the chief said. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall make my way north," Archie replied, "and shall rejoin my +king at Rathlin." +</P> + +<P> +"I will send two of my men with you. They know every foot of the +morasses of this neighbourhood, and when they get beyond the point +familiar to them will procure you two others to take their places. +It will need all your prudence and courage to get through, for +the English men-at-arms will be scouring the country in groups of +four, hunting all those they come across like wolves. See, already!" +and he pointed to the horizon; "they are scattering round the edge +of the morass to inclose us here; but it is many miles round, and +before tomorrow is gone not a man will be left here." +</P> + +<P> +When darkness fell, Archie, accompanied by Ronald and his guides, +set out on his journey. Alone he could never have found his way +through the swamps, but even in the darkness his guides moved along +quickly, following tracks known to them with the instinct of hounds; +Archie kept close on their heels, as a step only a few inches from +the track might plunge him in a deep morass, in which in a few +seconds he would sink out of sight. On nearing the edge of the +bog the guides slackened their pace. Motioning to Archie to remain +where he was, they crept forward noiselessly into the darkness. +Not far off he could hear the calls of the English horsemen. The +sounds were repeated again and again until they died away in the +distance, showing that a cordon had been drawn round the morass so +as to inclose the fugitives from the battle of the previous day. +</P> + +<P> +In a quarter of an hour the guides returned as noiselessly as they +had departed, and Archie continued the march at their heels. Even +greater caution than before was now necessary in walking, for the +English, before darkness had set in, had narrowly examined the edge +of the morass, and had placed three or four men wherever they could +discover the slightest signs of a track. Thus Archie's guides were +obliged to leave the path by which they had previously travelled. +Their progress was slow now, the party only moving for a few yards +at a time, and then halting while the guides searched for ground +solid enough to carry their weight. At last Archie felt the ground +grow firmer under his foot, and a reconnaissance by the guides +having shown them that none of the English were stationed opposite +to them, they left the morass, and noiselessly made their way across +the country until far beyond the English line. +</P> + +<P> +All night they walked, and at daybreak entered another swamp, and +lay down for the day in the long coarse grass growing on a piece of +firm ground deep in its recesses. In the evening one of the guides +stole out and returned with a native of the neighbourhood, who +undertook to show Archie the way on his further journey. +</P> + +<P> +Ten days, or rather nights, of steady journeying brought Archie +again to the rocky shore where he had landed. Throughout he had +found faithful guides, whom he had rewarded by giving, as was often +the custom of the time, in lieu of money, a link or two of one of +his gold chains. He and Ronald again took refuge in the cave where +they had passed the first night of their landing. It was untenanted +now. +</P> + +<P> +Here they abode for a fortnight, Ronald going up every two or three +days to purchase provisions at the scattered cottages. On Saturday +night they lit a great fire just inside the mouth of the cave, so +that while the flames could be seen far out at sea the light would +be unobserved by the garrison of Dunluce or any straggler on the +cliff above. It had been arranged with Duncan that every Saturday +night, weather permitting, he should sail across and look for +a signal fire. The first Saturday night was wild and stormy, and +although they lit the fire they had but slight idea that Duncan +would put out. The following week, however, the night was calm and +bright, and after piling up the fire high they proceeded to the +causeway, and two hours later saw to their joy a boat approaching. +In a few minutes they were on board, and by the following morning +reached Rathlin. +</P> + +<P> +The king and his companions welcomed Archie's return warmly, +although the report which he made showed that there was no hope of +obtaining any serious diversion of the English attack by a permanent +rising in Ireland; and the king, on hearing Archie's account of +all that had passed, assured him that he felt that, although he had +failed, no one, under the circumstances, could have done otherwise. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The King's Blood Hound +</H3> + +<P> +The only other event which occurred throughout the winter was the +arrival of a fishing boat with a messenger from one of the king's +adherents, and the news which he brought filled them with sorrow +and dismay. Kildrummy had been threatened with a siege, and the +queen, Bruce's sisters Christine and Mary, his daughter Marjory, +and the other ladies accompanying them, deemed it prudent to leave +the castle and take refuge in the sanctuary of St. Duthoc, in Ross +shire. +</P> + +<P> +The sanctuary was violated by the Earl of Ross and his followers, +and the ladies and their escort delivered up to Edward's lieutenants +and sent to England. The knights and squires who formed the escort +were all executed, and the ladies committed to various places +of confinement, where most of them remained in captivity of the +strictest and most rigorous kind until after the battle of Bannockburn, +eight years later. The Countess of Buchan, who had crowned Bruce +at Scone, and who was one of the party captured at St. Duthoc, +received even fouler treatment, by Edward's especial orders, +being placed in a cage on one of the turrets of Berwick Castle so +constructed that she could be seen by all who passed; and in this +cruel imprisonment she was kept like a wild beast for seven long +years by a Christian king whom his admirers love to hold up as a +model of chivalry. +</P> + +<P> +Kildrummy had been besieged and taken by treachery. The king's +brother, Nigel Bruce, was carried to Berwick, and was there hanged +and beheaded. Christopher Seaton and his brother Alexander, the +Earl of Athole, Sir Simon Fraser, Sir Herbert de Moreham, Sir David +Inchmartin, Sir John Somerville, Sir Walter Logan, and many other +Scotchmen of noble degree, had also been captured and executed, +their only offence being that they had fought for their country. +</P> + +<P> +In all the annals of England there is no more disgraceful page than +that which chronicles the savage ferocity with which King Edward +behaved to the Scottish nobles and ladies who fell into his hands. +The news of these murders excited the utmost fury as well as grief +among the party at Rathlin, and only increased their determination +to fight till the death against the power of England. +</P> + +<P> +The spring was now at hand, and Douglas, with Archie Forbes and +a few followers, left in a boat, and landed on the Isle of Arran. +In the bay of Brodick was a castle occupied by Sir John Hastings +and an English garrison. The Scots concealed themselves near the +castle, awaiting an opportunity for an attack. A day or two after +their arrival several vessels arrived with provisions and arms for +the garrison. As these were being landed Douglas and his followers +sallied out and captured the vessels and stores. The garrison of +the castle made a sortie to assist their friends, but were driven +in with slaughter, and the whole of the supplies remained in the +hands of the Scots, causing great rejoicing to the king and the +rest of the party when a few days later they arrived from Rathlin. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce now proposed an immediate descent upon Carrick, there, in the +midst of his family possessions, to set up his banner in Scotland. +The lands had been forfeited by Edward and bestowed upon some of +his own nobles. Annandale had been given to the Earl of Hereford, +Carrick to Earl Percy, Selkirk to Aymer de Valence. The castle of +Turnberry was occupied by Percy with three hundred men. Bruce sent +on his cousin Cuthbert to reconnoitre and see whether the people +would be ready to rise, but Cuthbert found the Scots sunk in +despair. All who had taken up arms had perished in the field or +on the scaffold. The country swarmed with the English, and further +resistance seemed hopeless. Cuthbert had arranged to light a beacon +on a point at Turnberry visible at Lamlash Bay in Arran, where the +king, with his two hundred men and eighty-three boats, awaited the +sight of the smoke which should tell them that circumstances were +favourable for their landing. +</P> + +<P> +Cuthbert, finding that there was no chance of a rising, did not +light the bonfire; but as if fortune was determined that Bruce +should continue a struggle which was to end finally in the freedom +of Scotland, some other person lit a fire on the very spot where +Cuthbert had arranged to show the signal. On seeing the smoke the +king and his party at once got into their boats and rowed across +to the mainland, a distance of seventeen miles. On reaching land +they were met by Cuthbert, who reported that the fire was not of his +kindling, and that the circumstances were altogether unfavourable. +Bruce consulted with his brother Edward, Douglas, Archie, and his +principal friends as to what course had better be pursued. Edward +declared at once that he for one would not take to sea again; and +this decision settled the matter. +</P> + +<P> +The king without delay led his followers against the village +outside the castle, where a considerable portion of the garrison +were housed. These were assailed so suddenly that all save one +were slain. Those in the castle heard the sounds of the conflict, +but being unaware of the smallness of the assailant's force, did +not venture to sally out to their assistance. +</P> + +<P> +Percy, with his followers, remained shut up in the castle, while +Bruce overran the neighbouring country; but an English force under +Sir Roger St. John, far too powerful to be resisted, advanced to +Turnberry, and Bruce and his followers were obliged to seek refuge +in the hills. Thomas and Alexander, the king's brothers, with Sir +Reginald Crawford, had gone to the islands to beat up recruits, and +returning in a vessel with a party who had joined them, landed at +Loch Ryan. They were attacked at once by Macdowall, a chieftain +of Galloway, and routed. The king's brothers, with Sir Reginald +Crawford, were carried to Carlisle severely wounded, and delivered +over to King Edward, who at once sent them to the scaffold. +</P> + +<P> +These wholesale and barbarous executions saddened the Scots, and, +as might be expected, soon roused them to severe reprisals. Bruce +himself, however, although deeply stirred by the murder of his +three brothers and many dear friends, and by the captivity and +harsh treatment of his wife and female relatives, never attempted +to take vengeance for them upon those who fell into his hands, +and during the whole of the war in no single instance did he put a +prisoner to death. He carried magnanimity, indeed, almost to the +extent of impolicy; for had the nobles of England found that those +of their number who fell into Bruce's hands suffered the penalty +of death, which Edward inflicted upon the Scotch prisoners, they +would probably have remonstrated with the king and insisted upon +his conducting the war in a less barbarous and ferocious fashion. +</P> + +<P> +Sir James Douglas was so stirred by the murder of the three Bruces and +so many of his friends and companions, that he resolved henceforth +to wage an exterminating war against the English, and by the recapture +of his own stronghold, known as Castle Douglas, began the series +of desperate deeds which won for him the name of the Black Douglas, +and rendered his name for generations a terror among the English on +the Border. The castle had been conferred by Edward on Sir Robert +de Clifford, and was occupied by an English garrison. Douglas +revealed his intention only to Archie Forbes, who at once agreed +to accompany him. He asked leave from the king to quit their hiding +place for a time, accompanied by Archie, in order to revisit Douglas +Hall, and see how it fared with his tenants and friends. The king +acquiesced with difficulty, as he thought the expedition a dangerous +one, and feared that the youth and impetuosity of Douglas might lead +him into danger; before consenting he strongly urged on Archie to +keep a strict watch over the doings of the young noble. +</P> + +<P> +Accompanied by but one retainer, the friends set out for Douglasdale. +When they arrived there Douglas went to the cottage of an old and +faithful servant named Thomas Dickson, by whom he was joyfully +received. Dickson went out among the retainers and revealed to such +as could be most surely depended upon the secret of their lord's +presence, and one by one took them in to see him. The friends +had already determined upon their course, and the retainers all +promised to take part in the scheme. They were not numerous enough +to assault the castle openly, but they chose the following Sunday +for the assault. This was Palm Sunday and a festival, and most of +the garrison would come to the Church of St. Bride, in the village +of the same name, a short distance from the castle. +</P> + +<P> +Dickson with some of his friends went at the appointed time, with +arms concealed under their clothes, to the church; and after the +service had commenced Douglas and some of his followers gathered +outside. Unfortunately for the plan, some of those outside set +up the shout, "A Douglas!" prematurely before the whole party had +arrived and were ready to rush into the church. Dickson with his +friends at once drew out their arms and attacked the English; but +being greatly outnumbered and for a time unsupported, most of them, +including their leader, were slain. Sir James and his followers then +fought their way in, and after a desperate fight all the garrison +save ten were killed. +</P> + +<P> +The party then proceeded to the castle, which they captured without +resistance. Douglas and his companions partook of the dinner which +had been prepared for the garrison; then as much money, weapons, +armour, and clothing as they could carry away was taken from the +castle. The whole of the vast stores of provisions were carried +into the cellar, the heads struck out of the ale and wine casks, +the prisoners were slain and their bodies thrown down into the mass, +and the castle was then set on fire. Archie Forbes in vain begged +Douglas to spare the lives of the prisoners, but the latter would +not listen to him. "No, Sir Archie," he exclaimed; "the King of +England held my good father a prisoner in chains until he died; +he has struck off the heads of every one of our friends who have +fallen into his hands; he has wasted Scotland from end to end with +fire and sword, and has slain our people in tens of thousands. So +long as this war continues, so long will I slay every prisoner who +falls into my hands, as King Edward would slay me did I fall into +his; and I will not desist unless this cruel king agrees to show +quarter to such of us as he may capture. I see not why all the +massacreing and bloodshed should be upon one side." +</P> + +<P> +Archie did not urge him further, for he too was half beside himself +with indignation and grief at the murder of the king's brothers +and friends, and at the cruel captivity which, by a violation of +the laws of sanctuary, had fallen upon the ladies with whom he had +spent so many happy hours in the mountains and forests of Athole. +</P> + +<P> +Douglas and Archie now rejoined the king. For months Bruce led +the life of a hunted fugitive. His little following dwindled away +until but sixty men remained in arms. Of these a portion were +with the king's brother in Galloway, and with but a handful of men +Bruce was lying among the fastnesses of Carrick when Sir Ingram +de Umfraville, with a large number of troops sent by the Earl of +Pembroke from Edinburgh, approached. Wholly unable to resist so +large a force, Bruce's little party scattered, and the king himself, +attended only by a page, lay hidden in the cottage of a peasant. +The English in vain searched for him, until a traitorous Scot went +to Umfraville and offered, for a reward of a grant of land to the +value of 40 pounds annually, to slay Bruce. +</P> + +<P> +The offer was accepted, and the traitor and his two sons made their +way to Bruce's place of concealment. As they approached, Bruce +snatched his bow from his page and shot the traitor through the +eye. One son attacked him with an axe, but was slain with a blow +from the king's sword. The remaining assailant rushed at him with +a spear; but the king with one blow cut off the spearhead, and +before the assailant had time to draw his sword, stretched him +dead at his feet. After this the king with his adherents eluded +the search of the English and made their way into Galloway. The +people here who were devoted to the English cause determined to hunt +him down, and two hundred men, accompanied by some blood hounds, +set off towards the king's retreat; but Bruce's scouts were on +the watch and brought him news of their coming. The king with his +party retired until they reached a morass, through which flowed a +running stream, while beyond a narrow passage led through a deep +quagmire. +</P> + +<P> +Beyond this point the hunted party lay down to rest, while the +king with two followers returned to the river to keep watch. After +listening for some time they heard the baying of the hounds coming +nearer and nearer, and then, by the light of a bright moon, saw +their enemies approaching. +</P> + +<P> +The king sent his two followers to rouse the band. The enemy, +seeing Bruce alone, pressed forward with all haste; and the king, +knowing that if he retired his followers would be attacked unprepared, +determined alone to defend the narrow path. He retired from the +river bank to the spot where the path was narrowest and the morass +most impassable, and then drew his sword. His pursuers, crossing +the river, rode forward against him; Bruce charged the first, and +with his lance slew him; then with a blow with his mace he stretched +his horse beside him, blocking the narrow passage. One by one his +foes advanced, and five fell beneath his blows, before his companions +ran up from behind. The Galloway men then took to flight, but nine +more were slain before they could cross the ford. +</P> + +<P> +The admiration and confidence of Bruce's followers were greatly +aroused by this new proof of his courage and prowess. Sir James +Douglas, his brother Edward, and others soon afterwards returned +from the expeditions on which they had been sent, and the king +had now 400 men assembled. This force, however, was powerless to +resist an army of English and Lowland Scots who marched against +him, led by Pembroke in person. This force was accompanied by John, +son of Alexander MacDougall of Lorne, with 800 of his mountaineers. +While the heavy armed troops occupied all the Lowlands, Lorne and +his followers made a circuit in the mountains so as to inclose the +royal fugitive between them. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce, seeing that resistance was impossible, caused his party to +separate into three divisions, and Douglas, Edward Bruce, and Sir +Archibald Forbes were charged to lead their bands, if possible, +through the enemy without fighting. The king tried to escape by a +different route with a handful of men. John of Lorne had obtained +from Turnberry a favourite blood hound belonging to Bruce, and +the hound being put upon the trace persistently followed the king's +party. Seeing this, Bruce ordered them all to disperse, and, +accompanied only by his foster brother, attempted to escape by +speed. +</P> + +<P> +As they sped along the mountain side they were seen by Lorne, who +directed his henchman, with four of his bravest and swiftest men, +to follow him. After a long chase the MacDougalls came up with +Bruce and his foster brother, who drew their swords and stood on the +defence. The henchman, with two of his followers, attacked Bruce, +while the other two fell on his foster brother. The combat was a +desperate one, but one by one the king cut down his three assailants, +and then turned to the assistance of his foster brother, who +was hardly pressed. The king's sword soon rid him of one of his +assailants, and he slew the other. Having thus disembarrassed +themselves of the whole of their immediate assailants, Bruce and his +companion continued their flight. The main body of their hunters, +with the hound, were but a short distance away, but in a wood the +fugitives came upon a stream, and, marching for some distance down +this, again landed, and continued their flight. +</P> + +<P> +The hound lost their scent at the spot where they had entered the +water, and being unable to recover it, Lorne and his followers +abandoned the chase. Among the king's pursuers on this occasion +was his nephew Randolph, who had been captured at the battle of +Methven, and having again taken the oath of allegiance to Edward +had been restored to that monarch's favour, and was now fighting +among the English ranks. +</P> + +<P> +The search was actively kept up after Bruce, and a party of three +men-at-arms came upon him and his foster brother. Being afraid to +attack the king, whom they recognized, openly, they pretended they +had come to join him. +</P> + +<P> +The king suspected treachery; and when the five lay down for the +night in a cottage which they came upon he and his companion agreed +to watch alternately. Overcome by fatigue, however, both fell asleep, +and when they were suddenly attacked by the three strangers, the +foster brother was killed before he could offer any resistance. +The king himself, although wounded, managed to struggle to his +feet, and then proved more than a match for his three treacherous +assailants, all of whom, after a desperate struggle, he slew. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning he continued his way, and by nightfall succeeded +in joining the three bands, who had safely reached the rendezvous +he had appointed. +</P> + +<P> +A few hours after this exploit of Bruce, Archie with two or three +of his followers joined him. +</P> + +<P> +"This is indeed a serious matter of the hound," Archie said when +Bruce told him how nearly he had fallen a victim to the affection +of his favourite. "Methinks, sire, so long as he remains in the +English hands your life will never be safe, for the dog will always +lead the searchers to your hiding places; if one could get near +enough to shoot him, the danger would be at an end." +</P> + +<P> +"I would not have him shot, Archie, for a large sum. I have had him +since he was a little pup; he has for years slept across my door, +and would give his life for mine. 'Tis but his affection now that +brings danger upon me." +</P> + +<P> +"I should be sorry to see the dog killed myself," Archie said, "for +he is a fine fellow, and he quite admitted me to his friendship +during the time we were together. Still, sire, if it were a question +between their lives and yours, I would not hesitate to kill any +number of dogs. The whole future of Scotland is wrapped up in you; +and as there is not one of your followers but would gladly give +his life for yours, it were no great thing that a hound should do +the same." +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot withstand you in argument, Archie," the king said smiling; +"yet I would fain that my favourite should, if possible, be spared. +But I grant you, should there be no other way, and the hound should +continue to follow me, he must be put to death. But it would grieve +me sorely. I have lost so many and so dear friends in the last +year, that I can ill spare one of the few that are left me." +</P> + +<P> +Archie was himself fond of dogs, and knowing how attached Bruce +was to his faithful hound he could quite understand how reluctant +he was that harm should come to him. Still, he felt it was necessary +that the dog should, at all hazards, be either killed or taken +from the English, for if he remained in their hands he was almost +certain sooner or later to lead to Bruce's capture. He determined +then to endeavour to avert the danger by abstracting the dog from +the hands of the English, or, failing that, by killing him. To do +this it would be absolutely necessary to enter the English camp. +There was no possibility of carrying out his purpose without running +this risk, for when in pursuit of the king the hound would be held +by a leash, and there would be many men-at-arms close by, so that +the difficulty of shooting him would be extremely great, and Archie +could see no plan save that of boldly entering the camp. +</P> + +<P> +He said nothing of his project to Bruce, who would probably have +refused to allow him to undertake it; but the next morning when +he parted from him—for it was considered advisable that the +fugitives should be divided into the smallest groups, and that only +one or two of his retainers should remain with Bruce—he started +with his own followers in the direction of Pembroke's camp. He +presently changed clothes with one of these, and they then collected +a quantity of firewood and made it into a great faggot. Archie gave +them orders where they should await him, and lifting the faggot on +his shoulders boldly entered the camp. He passed with it near the +pavilion of Pembroke. The earl was standing with some knights at +the entrance. +</P> + +<P> +"Come hither, Scot," he said as Archie passed. +</P> + +<P> +Archie laid his bundle on the ground, and doffing his bonnet strode +with an awkward and abashed air toward the earl. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you are one of Bruce's men?" the earl said. +</P> + +<P> +"My father," Archie replied, "as well as all who dwell in these +dales, were his vassals; but seeing that, as they say, his lands +have been forfeit and given to others, I know not whose man I am +at present." +</P> + +<P> +"Dost know Bruce by figure?" +</P> + +<P> +"Surely," Archie said simply, "seeing that I was employed in the +stables at Turnberry, and used to wash that big hound of his, who +was treated as a Christian rather than a dog." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you used to tend the hound!" Pembroke said. "Then perhaps +you could manage him now. He is here in camp, and the brute is so +savage and fierce he has already well nigh killed two or three men; +and I would have had him shot but that he may be useful to us. If +he knows you he may be quieter with you than others." +</P> + +<P> +"Doubtless he would know me," Archie said; "but seeing that I have +the croft to look after, as my father is old and infirm, I trust +that you will excuse me the service of looking after the hound." +</P> + +<P> +"Answer me not," Pembroke said angrily. "You may think yourself +lucky, seeing that you are one of Bruce's retainers, that I do not +have you hung from a tree. +</P> + +<P> +"Take the fellow to the hound," he said to one of his retainers, +"and see if the brute recognizes him; if so, put him in charge of +him for the future. And see you Scot, that you attempt no tricks, +for if you try to escape I will hang you without shrift." +</P> + +<P> +Archie followed the earl's retainer to where, behind his pavilion, +the great dog was chained up. He leapt to his feet with a savage +growl on hearing footsteps approaching. His hair bristled and he +tugged at his chain. +</P> + +<P> +"What a savage beast it is!" the man said; "I would sooner face +a whole company of you Scots than get within reach of his jaws. +Dickon," he went on as another soldier, on hearing the growl, issued +from one of the smaller tents which stood in rear of the pavilion, +"the earl has sent this Scot to relieve you of your charge of the +dog; he is to have the care of him in future." +</P> + +<P> +"That is the best turn the earl has done me for a long time," the +man replied. "Never did I have a job I fancied less than the tending +of that evil tempered brute." +</P> + +<P> +"He did not use to be evil tempered," Archie said; "but was a quiet +beast when I had to do with him before. I suppose the strangeness +of the place and so many strange faces have driven him half wild. +Beside, he is not used to being chained up. Hector, old fellow," +he said approaching the dog quietly, "don't you know me?" +</P> + +<P> +The great hound recognized the voice and his aspect changed +at once. The bristling hair lay flat on his back; the threatening +jaws closed. He gave a short deep bark of pleasure, and then began +leaping and tugging at his chain to reach his acquaintance. Archie +came close to him now. Hector reared on his hind legs, and placed +his great paws on his shoulders, and licked his face with whines +of joy. +</P> + +<P> +"He knows you, sure enough," the man said; "and maybe we shall get +on better now. At any rate there may be some chance of sleep, for +the brute's howls every night since he has been brought here have +kept the whole camp awake." +</P> + +<P> +"No wonder!" Archie said, "when he has been accustomed to be petted +and cared for; he resents being chained up." +</P> + +<P> +"Would you unchain him?" the man asked. +</P> + +<P> +"That would I," Archie replied; "and I doubt not that he will stay +with me." +</P> + +<P> +"It may be so," the man replied; "but you had best not unchain him +without leave from the earl, for were he to take it into his head +to run away, I would not give a groat for your life. But I will go +and acquaint the earl that the dog knows you, and ask his orders +as to his being unchained." +</P> + +<P> +In two or three minutes he returned. +</P> + +<P> +"The earl says that on no account is he to be let free. He has told +me to have a small tent pitched here for you. The hound is to be +chained to the post, and to share the tent with you. You may, if +you will, walk about the camp with him, but always keeping him in +a chain; but if you do so it will be at your peril, for if he gets +away your life will answer for it." +</P> + +<P> +In a short time two or three soldiers brought a small tent and +erected it close by where the dog was chained up. Archie unloosed +the chain from the post round which it was fastened, and led +Hector to the tent, the dog keeping close by his side and wagging +his tail gravely, as if to show his appreciation of the change, to +the satisfaction of the men to whom hitherto he had been a terror. +Some heather was brought for a bed, and a supply of food, both +for the dog and his keeper, and the men then left the two friends +alone. Hector was sitting up on his haunches gazing affectionately +at Archie, his tail beating the ground with slow and regular strokes. +</P> + +<P> +"I know what you want to ask, old fellow," Archie said to him; "why +I don't lead you at once to your master? Don't you be impatient, +old fellow, and you shall see him ere long;" and he patted the +hound's head. +</P> + +<P> +Hector, with a great sigh expressive of content and satisfaction, +lay down on the ground by the side of the couch of heather on which +Archie threw himself—his nose between his forepaws, clearly +expressing that he considered his troubles were over, and could now +afford to wait until in due time he should be taken to his master. +That night the camp slept quietly, for Hector was silent. For the +next two days Archie did not go more than a few yards from his tent, +for he feared that he might meet some one who would recognize him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Hound Restored +</H3> + +<P> +On the third day after his arrival at the camp Archie received +orders to prepare to start with the hound, with the earl and a large +party of men-at-arms, in search of Bruce. A traitor had just come +in and told them where Bruce had slept the night before. Reluctantly +Archie unfastened the chain from the pole, and holding the end in +his hand went round with Hector to the front of the pavilion. He +was resolved that if under the dog's guidance the party came close +up with Bruce, he would kill the dog and then try to escape by +fleetness of foot, though of this, as there were so many mounted +men in the party, he had but slight hope. Led by the peasant they +proceeded to the hut, which was five miles away in the hills. On +reaching it Hector at once became greatly excited. He sniffed +here and there, eagerly hunted up and down the cottage, then made +a circuit round it, and at last, with a loud deep bay he started +off with his nose to the ground, pulling so hard at the chain that +Archie had difficulty in keeping up with him. Pembroke and his +knights rode a little behind, followed by their men-at-arms. +</P> + +<P> +"I pray you, Sir Earl," Archie said, "keep not too close to my +traces, for the sound of the horse's hoofs and the jingling of the +equipments make him all the more impatient to get forward, and even +now it taxes all my strength to hold him in." +</P> + +<P> +The earl reined back his horse and followed at a distance of some +fifty yards. He had no suspicion whatever of any hidden design +on Archie's part. The fact that the hound had recognized him had +appeared to him a sure proof of the truth of his tale, and Archie +had put on an air of such stupid simplicity that the earl deemed +him to have but imperfect possession of his wits. Moreover, in any +case he could overtake him in case he attempted flight. +</P> + +<P> +Archie proceeded at a trot behind the hound, who was with +difficulty restrained at that pace, straining eagerly on the chain +and occasionally sending out his deep bay. Archie anxiously regarded +the country through which he was passing. He was waiting for an +opportunity, and was determined, whenever they passed near a steep +hillside unscaleable by horsemen, he would stab Hector to the heart +and take to flight. Presently he saw a man, whose attire showed +him to be a Highlander, approaching at a run; he passed close by +Archie, and as he did so stopped suddenly, exclaiming, "Archibald +Forbes!" and drawing his broadsword sprang at him. Archie, who was +unarmed save by a long knife, leapt back. In the man he recognized +the leader of the MacDougall's party, who had captured him near +Dunstaffnage. The conflict would have terminated in an instant had +not Hector intervened. Turning round with a deep growl the great +hound sprang full at the throat of the Highlander as with uplifted +sword he rushed at Archie. The impetus of the spring threw the +MacDougall on his back, with the fangs of the hound fixed in his +throat. Archie's first impulse was to pull the dog off, the second +thought showed him that, were the man to survive he would at once +denounce him. Accordingly, though he appeared to tug hard at Hector's +chain, he in reality allowed him to have his way. Pembroke and his +knights instantly galloped up. As they arrived Hector loosed his +hold, and with his hair bristly with rage prepared to attack those +whom he regarded as fresh enemies. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold in that hound," Pembroke shouted, "or he will do more damage. +What means all this?" For a minute Archie did not answer, being +engaged in pacifying Hector, who, on seeing that no harm was +intended, strove to return to his first foe. +</P> + +<P> +"It means," Archie said, when Hector was at last pacified, "that +that Highlander came the other day to our cottage and wanted to +carry off a cow without making payment for it. I withstood him, +he drew his sword, but as I had a stout cudgel in my hand I hit him +on the wrist ere he could use it, and well nigh broke his arm. So +he made off, cursing and swearing, and vowing that the next time +he met me he would have my life." +</P> + +<P> +"And that he would have done," Pembroke said, "had it not been +for Bruce's dog, who has turned matters the other way. He is dead +assuredly. It is John of Lorne's henchman, who was doubtless on +his way with a message from his lord to me. Could not the fool have +postponed his grudge till he had delivered it? I tell you, Scot, +you had best keep out of the MacDougalls' way, for assuredly they +will revenge the death of their clansman upon you if they have +the chance, though I can testify that the affair was none of your +seeking. Now let us continue our way." +</P> + +<P> +"I doubt me, Sir Earl, whether our journey ends not here," Archie +said, "seeing that these hounds, when they taste blood, seem for +a time to lose their fineness of scent; but we shall see." +</P> + +<P> +Archie's opinion turned out correct. Do what they would they could +not induce Hector again to take up his master's trail, the hound +again and again returning to the spot where the dead Highlander +still lay. Pembroke had the body carried off but the hound tugged +at his chain in the direction in which it had gone, and seemed to +have lost all remembrance of the track upon which he was going. +At last Pembroke was obliged to acknowledge that it was useless to +pursue longer, and, full of disappointment at their failure, the +party returned to camp, Pembroke saying: "Our chase is but postponed. +We are sure to get tidings of Bruce's hiding place in a day or two, +and next time we will have the hound muzzled, lest any hotheaded +Highlander should again interfere to mar the sport." +</P> + +<P> +It was some days before further tidings were obtained of Bruce. +Archie did not leave his tent during this time, giving as a reason +that he was afraid if he went out he should meet some of Lorne's +men, who might take up the quarrel of the man who had been killed. +At length, however, another traitor came in, and Pembroke and his +party set out as before, Hector being this time muzzled by a strap +round his jaw, which would not interfere with his scent, but would +prevent him from widely opening his jaws. +</P> + +<P> +The scent of Bruce was again taken up at a lonely hut in the hills. +The country was far more broken and rough than that through which +they had followed Bruce's trail on the preceding occasion. Again +Archie determined, but most reluctantly, that he would slay the +noble dog; but he determined to postpone the deed to the latest +moment. Several places were passed where he might have succeeded +in effecting his escape after stabbing the hound, but each time his +determination failed him. It would have been of no use to release +the dog and make himself up the hillside, for a blood hound's pace +when on the track is not rapid, and the horsemen could have kept +up with Hector, who would of course have continued his way upon +the trail of the king. Presently two men were seen in the distance; +they had evidently been alarmed by the bay of the hound, and were +going at full speed. A shout of triumph broke from the pursuers, +and some of the more eager would have set spurs to their horses +and passed the hound. +</P> + +<P> +"Rein back, rein back," Pembroke said, "the country is wild and +hilly here, and Bruce may hide himself long before you can overtake +him. Keep steadily in his track till he gains flatter country, where +we can keep him in sight, then we shall have no more occasion for +the hound and can gallop on at full speed." +</P> + +<P> +Archie observed, with satisfaction, that Bruce was making up an +extremely steep hillside, deeming probably that horsemen would be +unable to follow him here, and that he would be able to distance +pursuers on foot. Ten minutes later his pursuers had reached the +foot of the hill. Pembroke at once ordered four knights and ten +men-at-arms to dismount. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you," he said, "with the dog, follow hard upon the traces of +Bruce. When you reach the top signal to us the direction in which +he has gone. Follow ever on his track without stopping; he must at +last take to the low country again. Some of my men shall remain +here, others a mile further on, and so on round the whole foot of +the hills. Do you, when you see that, thinking he has distanced +you, which he may well do being more lightly armed and flying for +his life, he makes for the low country again, send men in different +directions to give me warning. The baying of the dog will act as +a signal to us." +</P> + +<P> +While the men had been dismounting and Pembroke was giving his +orders Archie had proceeded up the hill with the hound. The path +was exceedingly steep and difficult. +</P> + +<P> +"Do not hurry, sirrah," Pembroke called; "hold in your hound till +the others join you." But Archie paid no attention to the shout, +but kept up the steep path at the top of his speed. Shouts and +threats followed him, but he paused not till he reached the top +of the ascent; then he unfastened Hector's collar, and the dog, +relieved from the chain which had so long restrained him, bounded +away with a deep bay in pursuit of his master, whose scent was now +strong before him. As Archie looked back, the four knights and +their followers, in single file, were, as yet, scarce halfway up +the ascent. Lying round were numbers of loose boulders, and Archie +at once began to roll these down the hillside. They went but slowly +at first, but as they reached the steeper portion they gathered +speed, and taking great bounds crashed down the hillside. As these +formidable missiles burst down from above the knights paused. +</P> + +<P> +"On!" Pembroke shouted from below; "the Scot is a traitor, and he +and the hound will escape if you seize him not." Again the party +hurried up the hill. Three of them were struck down by the rocks, +and the speed of all was impeded by the pauses made to avoid the +great boulders which bounded down toward them. When they were +within a few yards of the top Archie turned and bounded off at full +speed. He had no fear of being himself overtaken. Lightly clad and +unarmed, the knights and men-at-arms, who were all in full armour, +and who were already breathed with the exertions they had made, +would have no chance of overtaking him; indeed he could safely have +fled at once when he loosed Hector, but he had stopped to delay the +ascent of his pursuers solely to give the hound as long a start +as possible. He himself could have kept up with the hound; the +men-at-arms could assuredly not do so, but they might for a long +time keep him in sight, and his baying would afterwards indicate +the line the king was taking, and Bruce might yet be cut off by +the mounted men. The delay which his bombardment had caused had +given a long start to the hound, for it was more than five minutes +from the time when it had been loosed before the pursuers gained +the crest of the hill. Archie, in his flight, took a different +line to that which the dog had followed. Hector was already out +of sight, and although his deep baying might for a time afford an +index to his direction this would soon cease to act as a guide, as +the animal would rapidly increase his distance from his pursuers, +and would, when he had overtaken the king, cease to emit his warning +note. The pursuers, after a moment's pause for consultation on the +crest of the hill, followed the line taken by the hound. +</P> + +<P> +The men-at-arms paused to throw aside their defensive armour, +breast, back, and leg pieces, and the knights relieved themselves +of some of their iron gear; but the delay, short as it was, caused +by the unbuckling of straps and unlacing of helms, increased the +distance which already existed between them and the hound, whose +deep notes, occasionally raised, grew fainter and fainter. In a +few minutes it ceased altogether, and Archie judged that the hound +had overtaken his master, who, on seeing the animal approaching +alone, would naturally have checked his flight. Archie himself +was now far away from the men-at-arms, and after proceeding until +beyond all reach of pursuit, slackened his pace, and breaking into +a walk continued his course some miles across the hills until he +reached a lonely cottage where he was kindly received, and remained +until next day. +</P> + +<P> +The following morning he set out and journeyed to the spot, where, +on leaving his retainers more than a week before, he had ordered +them to await his coming. It was another week before he obtained +such news as enabled him again to join the king, who was staying at +a woodcutter's hut in Selkirk Forest. Hector came out with a deep +bark of welcome. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Sir Archie," the king said, following his dog to the door, +"and how has it fared with you since we last parted a fortnight +since? I have been hotly chased, and thought I should have been +taken; but, thanks to the carelessness of the fellow who led my +hound, Hector somehow slipped his collar and joined me, and I was +able to shake off my pursuers, so that danger is over, and without +sacrificing the life of my good dog." +</P> + +<P> +Archie smiled. "Perchance, sir, it was not from any clumsiness that +the hound got free, but that he was loosed by some friendly hand." +</P> + +<P> +"It may be so," the king replied; "but they would scarcely have +intrusted him to a hand friendly to me. Nor would his leader, even +if so disposed, have ventured to slip the hound, seeing that the +horsemen must have been close by at the time, and that such a deed +would cost him his life. It was only because Hector got away, when +the horsemen were unable to follow him, that he escaped, seeing +that, good dog as he is, speed is not his strong point, and that +horsemen could easily gallop alongside of him even were he free. +What are you smiling at, Sir Archie? The hound and you seem on +wondrous friendly terms;" for Hector was now standing up with his +great paws on Archie's shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"So we should be, sire, seeing that for eight days we have shared +bed and board." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! is it so?" Bruce exclaimed. "Was it you, then, that loosed +the hound?" +</P> + +<P> +"It was, sir," Archie replied; "and this is the history of it; +and you will see that if I have done you and Hector a service in +bringing you together again the hound has repaid it by saving my +life." +</P> + +<P> +Entering the hut, Archie sat down and related all that had happened, +to the king. +</P> + +<P> +"You have done me great service, Sir Archie," Bruce said when he +concluded his tale, "for assuredly the hound would have wrought my +ruin had he remained in the hands of the English. This is another +of the long list of services you have rendered me. Some day, when +I come to my own, you will find that I am not ungrateful." +</P> + +<P> +The feats which have been related of Bruce, and other personal +adventures in which he distinguished himself, won the hearts of +great numbers of the Scotch people. They recognized now that they +had in him a champion as doughty and as valiant as Wallace himself. +The exploits of the king filled their imaginations, and the way in +which he continued the struggle after the capture of the ladies of +his family and the cruel execution of his brothers and so many of +his adherents, convinced them that he would never desist until he +was dead or a conqueror. Once persuaded of this, larger numbers +gathered round his banner, and his fortunes henceforth began steadily +to rise. +</P> + +<P> +Lord Clifford had rebuilt Douglas Castle, making it larger and +much stronger than before, and had committed it to the charge of +Captain Thirlwall, with a strong garrison. Douglas took a number +of his retainers, who had now joined him in the field, and some +of these, dressing themselves as drovers and concealing their +arms, drove a herd of cattle within sight of the castle toward an +ambuscade in which Douglas and the others were laying in ambush. +The garrison, seeing what they believed a valuable prize within +their grasp, sallied out to seize the cattle. When they reached the +ambuscade the Scots sprang out upon them, and Thirlwall and the +greater portion of his men were slain. Douglas then took and destroyed +the castle and marched away. Clifford again rebuilt it more strongly +than before, and placed it in charge of Sir John Walton. It might +have been thought that after the disasters which had befallen +the garrison they would not have suffered themselves to be again +entrapped. Douglas, however, ordered a number of his men to ride +past within sight of the castle with sacks upon their horses, +apparently filled with grain, but in reality with grass, as if +they were countrymen on their way to the neighbouring market town, +while once more he and his followers placed themselves in ambush. +Headed by their captain, the garrison poured out from the castle, +and followed the apparent countrymen until they had passed the +ambush where Douglas was lying. Then the drovers threw off their +disguises and attacked them, while Douglas fell upon their rear, +and Walton and his companions were all slain. The castle was then +attacked, and the remainder of the garrison being cowed by the +fate which had befallen their leader and comrades, made but a poor +defence. The castle was taken, and was again destroyed by its +lord, the walls being, as far as possible, overthrown. +</P> + +<P> +Shortly after the daring adventures of Bruce had begun to rouse +the spirit of the country Archie Forbes found himself at the head +of a larger following than before. Foreseeing that the war must be +a long one he had called upon his tenants and retainers to furnish +him only with a force one third of that of their total strength. +Thus he was able to maintain sixty men always in the field—all +the older men on the estate being exempted from service unless +summoned to defend the castle. +</P> + +<P> +One day when he was in the forest of Selkirk with the king a body +of fifty men were seen approaching. Their leader inquired for Sir +Archibald Forbes, and presently approached him as he was talking +to the king. +</P> + +<P> +"Sir Archibald Forbes," he said, "I am bidden by my mistress, the +lady Mary Kerr, to bring these, a portion of the retainers of her +estates in Ayrshire, and to place them in your hands to lead and +govern." +</P> + +<P> +"In my hands!" Archie exclaimed in astonishment. "The Kerrs are all +on the English side, and I am their greatest enemy. It were strange, +indeed, were one of them to choose me to lead their retainers in +the cause of Scotland." +</P> + +<P> +"Our young lord Sir Allan was slain at Methven," the man said, "and +the lady Mary is now our lady and mistress. She sent to us months +ago to say that she willed not that any of her retainers should any +longer take part in the struggle, and all who were in the field +were summoned home. Then we heard that no hindrance would be offered +by her should any wish to join the Bruce; and now she has sent by +a messenger a letter under her hand ordering that a troop of fifty +men shall be raised to join the king, and that it shall fight under +the leading and order of Sir Archibald Forbes." +</P> + +<P> +"I had not heard that Sir Allan had fallen," Archie said to the +king as they walked apart from the place where the man was standing; +"and in truth I had forgotten that he even had a sister. She must +have been a child when I was a boy at Glen Cairn, and could have +been but seldom at the castle—which, indeed, was no fit abode +for so young a girl, seeing that Sir John's wife had died some +years before I left Glen Cairn. Perhaps she was with her mother's +relations. I have heard that Sir John Kerr married a relation of +the Comyns of Badenoch. 'Tis strange if, being of such bad blood +on both sides, she should have grown up a true Scotchwoman—still +more strange she should send her vassals to fight under the banner +of one whom she must regard as the unlawful holder of her father's +lands of Aberfilly." +</P> + +<P> +"Think you, Sir Archie," the king said, "that this is a stratagem, +and that these men have really come with a design to seize upon +you and slay you, or to turn traitors in the first battle?" +</P> + +<P> +Archie was silent. "Treachery has been so much at work," he said +after a pause, "that it were rash to say that this may not be a +traitorous device; but it were hard to think that a girl—even +a Kerr—would lend herself to it." +</P> + +<P> +"There are bad women as well as bad men," the king said: "and if +a woman thinks she has grievances she will often stick at nothing +to obtain revenge." +</P> + +<P> +"It is a well appointed troop," Archie said looking at the men, +who were drawn up in order, "and not to be despised. Their leader +looks an honest fellow; and if the lady means honestly it were +churlish indeed, to refuse her aid when she ventures to break with +her family and to declare for Scotland. No; methinks that, with +your permission, I will run the risk, such as it may be, and will +join this band with my own. I will keep a sharp watch over them at +the first fight, and will see that they are so placed that, should +they mean treachery, they shall have but small opportunity of doing +harm." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Convent of St. Kenneth +</H3> + +<P> +Bruce, as the result of his successes, was now able to leave +his fastnesses and establish himself in the districts of Carrick, +Kyle, and Cunningham. Pembroke had established himself at Bothwell +Castle, and sent a challenge to Bruce to meet him with his force at +Loudon Hill. Although his previous experience of such challenges +was unfortunate, Bruce accepted the offer. He had learned much +since the battle of Methven, and was not likely again to be caught +asleep; on the 9th of May he assembled his forces at Loudon Hill. +</P> + +<P> +It was but a small following. Douglas had brought 100 men +from Douglasdale, and Archie Forbes had as many under his banner. +Bruce's own vassals had gathered 200 strong, and as many more of +the country people had joined; but in all, the Scotch force did +not exceed 600 men, almost entirely on foot and armed with spears. +Bruce at once reconnoitred the ground to discover a spot where his +little force might best withstand the shock of Pembroke's chivalry. +He found that at one place near the hill the road crossed a level +meadow with deep morasses on either side. He strengthened the position +with trenches, and calmly awaited the approach of his enemy. Upon +the following day Pembroke's army was seen approaching, numbering +3000 knights and mounted men-at-arms, all in complete armour. They +were formed in two divisions. The battle was almost a repetition +of that which had been fought by Wallace near the same spot. The +English chivalry levelled their spears and charged with proud +confidence of their ability to sweep away the rabble of spearmen +in front of them. Their flanks became entangled in the morasses; +their centre tried in vain to break through the hedge of Scottish +spears, and when they were in confusion, the king, his brother +Edward, Douglas, Archie Forbes, and some twenty other mounted men +dashed through a gap in the spearmen and fell upon them. The second +division, seeing the first broken and in confusion, turned and took +to flight at once, and Pembroke and his attendants rode, without +drawing rein, to Bothwell Castle. +</P> + +<P> +A few days later Bruce encountered and defeated Ralph de Monthermer, +Earl of Gloucester, and compelled him to shut himself up in the +Castle of Ayr. +</P> + +<P> +Archie Forbes was not present at the second battle, for upon the +morning after the fight at Loudon Hill he was aroused by his servant +entering his tent. +</P> + +<P> +"A messenger has just brought this," he said, handing him a small +packet. "He bids me tell you that the sender is a prisoner in the +convent of St. Kenneth, on Loch Leven, and prays your aid." +</P> + +<P> +Archie opened the packet and found within it the ring he had given +to Marjory at Dunstaffnage. Without a moment's delay he hurried +to the king and begged permission to leave him for a short time on +urgent business, taking with him twenty of his retainers. +</P> + +<P> +"What is your urgent business, Sir Archie?" the king asked. "A lady +is in the case, I warrant me. Whenever a young knight has urgent +business, be sure that a lady is in question. Now mind, Sir Archie, +I have, as I have told you, set my heart upon marrying you to +Mistress Mary Kerr, and so at once putting an end to a long feud +and doubling your possessions. Her retainers fought well yesterday, +and the least I can do to reward so splendid a damsel is to bestow +upon her the hand of my bravest knight." +</P> + +<P> +"I fear, sire," Archie said laughing, "that she must be content +with another. There are plenty who will deem themselves well paid +for their services in your cause by the gift of the hand of so rich +an heiress. But I must fain be excused; for as I told you, sire, +when we were together in Rathlin Island, my heart was otherwise +bestowed." +</P> + +<P> +"What! to the niece of that malignant enemy of mine, Alexander of +Lorne?" the king said laughing. "Her friends would rather see you +on the gibbet than at the altar." +</P> + +<P> +"I care nought for her friends," Archie said, "if I can get herself. +My own lands are wide enough, and I need no dowry with my wife." +</P> + +<P> +"I see you are hopeless," the king replied. "Well, go, Archie; but +whatever be your errand, beware of the Lornes. Remember I have +scarce begun to win Scotland yet, and cannot spare you." +</P> + +<P> +A quarter of an hour later Archie, with twenty picked men, took +his way northward. Avoiding all towns and frequented roads, Archie +marched rapidly north to the point of Renfrew and crossed the Firth +of Clyde by boat; then he kept north round the head of Loch Fyne, +and avoiding Dalmally skirted the head of Loch Etive and the slopes +of Ben Nevis, and so came down on Loch Leven. +</P> + +<P> +The convent stood at the extremity of a promontory jutting into the +lake. The neck was very narrow, and across it were strong walls, +with a gate and flanking towers. Between this wall and the convent +was the garden where the inmates walked and enjoyed the air free +from the sight of men, save, indeed, of fishers who might be passing +in their boats. +</P> + +<P> +Outside the wall, on the shore of the lake, stood a large village; +and here a strong body of the retainers of the convent were always +on guard, for at St. Kenneth were many of the daughters of Scotch +nobles, sent there either to be out of the way during the troubles +or to be educated by the nuns. Although the terrors of sacrilege +and the ban of the church might well deter any from laying hands +upon the convent, yet even in those days of superstition some were +found so fierce and irreverent as to dare even the anger of the +church to carry out their wishes; and the possession of some of these +heiresses might well enable them to make good terms for themselves +both with the church and the relations of their captives. Therefore a +number of the retainers were always under arms, a guard was placed +on the gate, and lookouts on the flanking towers—their duty +being not only to watch the land side, but to shout orders to keep +at a distance to any fisherman who might approach too closely to +the promontory. +</P> + +<P> +Archie left his party in the forest under the command of William +Orr. He dressed himself as a mountaineer, and, accompanied by Cluny +Campbell, and carrying a buck which they had shot in the forest, +went boldly down into the village. He soon got into conversation +with an old fisherman, and offered to exchange the deer for dried +fish. The bargain was quickly struck, and then Archie said: +</P> + +<P> +"I have never been out on the lake, and would fain have a view of +the convent from the water. Will you take me and my brother out +for a row?" +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman, who had made a good bargain, at once assented, and +rowed Archie and Cluny far out into the lake. +</P> + +<P> +As they passed along at some distance Archie saw that the shore was +in several places smooth and shelving, and that there would be no +difficulty in effecting a landing. He saw also that there were many +clumps of trees and shrubs in the garden. +</P> + +<P> +"And do the nuns and the ladies at the convent often walk there?" +he asked the fisherman. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes," he answered; "of an evening as I come back from fishing +I can see numbers of them walking there. When the vesper bell rings +they all go in. That is the chapel adjoining the convent on this +side." +</P> + +<P> +"It is a strong building," Archie said as when past the end of +the promontory they obtained a full view of it. "It is more like +a castle than a convent." +</P> + +<P> +"It had need be strong," the old man said; "for some of the +richest heiresses in Scotland are shut up there. On the land side +I believe there are no windows on the lower storey, and the door +is said to be of solid iron. The windows on that side are all +strongly barred; and he would have hard work, indeed, who wanted +by force or stratagem to steal one of the pretty birds out of that +cage." +</P> + +<P> +Archie had no idea of using force; and although he had been to some +extent concerned in the breach of sanctuary at Dumfries, he would +have shrunk from the idea of violating the sanctuary of St. Kenneth. +But to his mind there was no breach whatever of that sanctuary in +aiding one kept there against her will to make her escape. Having +ascertained all that he wished to know, he bade the boatman return +to shore. +</P> + +<P> +"Keep a lookout for me," he said, "for I may return in a few days +with another buck, and may bring a comrade or two with me who would +like an afternoon's fishing on the lake. I suppose you could lend +me your boat and nets?" +</P> + +<P> +"Assuredly," the fisherman replied. "You will not mind taking into +consideration the hire of the boat in agreeing for the weight of +fish to be given for the stag?" +</P> + +<P> +Archie nodded, secretly amused at the old man's covetousness, for +he knew that the weight of fish he had given him for the stag which +he had brought down was not one fourth the value of the meat. +</P> + +<P> +He then returned with Cluny to the band. Some time before daybreak +he came down to the place again, and, entering the water quietly, +at a distance from the promontory, swam noiselessly out, and landed +at the garden, and there concealed himself in a clump of bushes. +Daylight came. An hour later some of the nuns of the second order, +who belonged to poor families and acted as servants in the convent, +came out into the garden, and busied themselves with the cultivation +of the flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Not till the afternoon did +any of the other inmates appear; but at about four o'clock the +great door of the convent opened, and a number of women and girls +streamed out. The former were all in nuns' attire, as were a few +of the latter, but their garb was somewhat different from that of +the elder sisters; these were the novices. The greater number, +however, of the girls were dressed in ordinary attire, and were the +pupils of the convent. While the nuns walked quietly up and down +or sat on benches and read, the pupils scattered in groups laughing +and talking merrily together. Among these Archie looked eagerly +for Marjory. He felt sure that her imprisonment could be detention +only, and not rigorous seclusion. Presently he espied her. She +was walking with two of the nuns and three or four of the elder +residents at the convent, for many of these were past the age of +pupildom; and were there simply as a safe place of refuge during +troublous times. The conversation appeared to be an animated one. +It was not for some time that the group passed within hearing of +Archie's place of concealment. Then Archie heard the voice of one +of the nuns raised in anger: +</P> + +<P> +"It is monstrous what you say, and it is presumptuous and wicked +for a young girl of eighteen to form opinions for herself. What +should we come to if every young woman were to venture to think and +judge for herself? Discord and disorder would be wrought in every +family. All your relations and friends are opposed to this sacrilegious +murderer, Robert Bruce. The church has solemnly banned him, and +yet you venture to uphold his cause." +</P> + +<P> +"But the Bishop of Glasgow," Marjory said, "and many other good +prelates of our church side with him, and surely they must be good +judges whether his sins are unpardonable." +</P> + +<P> +"Do not argue with me," the sister said angrily. "I tell you this +obstinacy will be permitted no longer. Had it not been that Alexander +of Lorne begged that we would not be harsh with you, steps would +long since have been taken to bring you to reason; but we can no +longer permit this advocacy of rebellion, and the last unmaidenly +step which you took of setting at defiance your friends and relatives, +and even of sending messages hence, must be punished. The abbess +bade me reason with you and try and turn your obstinate will. Your +cousins of Badenoch here have appealed to you in vain. This can no +longer be tolerated. The lady abbess bids me tell you that she gives +you three days to renounce the rebel opinions you have so frowardly +held, and to accept the husband whom your uncle and guardian has +chosen for you, your cousin John of Lorne, his son. During that +time none will speak to you. If at the end of three days you are +still contumacious you will be confined to your cell on bread and +water until better thoughts come to you." +</P> + +<P> +While the conversation had been going on, the little group had +halted near the bushes, and they now turned away, leaving Marjory +standing by herself. The girl sat down on a bench close to where +she had been standing, exclaiming to herself as she did so, "They +may shut me up as a prisoner for life, but I will never consent to +take sides against the cause of Scotland or to marry John of Lorne. +Oh! who is there?" she exclaimed, starting suddenly to her feet as +a man's voice behind her said: +</P> + +<P> +"Quite right, Mistress Marjory, well and bravely resolved; but pray +sit down again, and assume an attitude of indifference." +</P> + +<P> +"Who is it that speaks?" the girl asked in a tremulous voice, +resuming her seat. +</P> + +<P> +"It is your true knight, lady, Archibald Forbes, who has come to +rescue you from this captivity." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"But how can you rescue me?" the girl asked after a long pause. "Do +you know the consequences if you are found here within the bounds +of the convent?" +</P> + +<P> +"I care nothing for the consequences," Archie said. "I have in the +woods twenty stout followers. I propose tomorrow to be with three +of them on the lake afishing. If you, when the bell rings for your +return in the evening, will enter that little copse by the side of +the lake, and will show yourself at the water's edge, we will row +straight in and take you off long ere the guards can come hither +to hinder us. The lake is narrow, and we can reach the other side +before any boat can overtake us. There my followers will be awaiting +us, and we can escort you to a place of safety. It is fortunate +that you are ordered to be apart from the rest; none therefore will +mark you as you linger behind when the bell rings for vespers." +</P> + +<P> +Marjory was silent for some time. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Sir Knight," she said, "whither am I to go? for of all my +friends not one, save the good priest, but is leagued against me." +</P> + +<P> +"I can take you either to the Bishop of Glasgow, who is a friend of +the Bruce and whom I know well—he will, I am sure, take charge +of you—or, if you will, lady, I can place you with my mother, +who will receive you as a daughter." +</P> + +<P> +"But what," the girl said hesitatingly, "will people say at my +running away from a convent with a young knight?" +</P> + +<P> +"Let them say what they will," Archie said. "All good Scots, when +they know that you have been in prison here solely from the love +of your country, will applaud the deed; and should you prefer it, +the king will, I know, place you in charge of the wife of one of +the nobles who adheres to him, and will give you his protection +and countenance. Think, lady, if you do not take this opportunity +of gaining your freedom, it may never occur again, for if you are +once shut up in your cell, as I heard threatened, nothing save an +attack by force of arms, which would be sheer sacrilege, can rescue +you from it. Surely," he urged, as the girl still remained silent, +"you can trust yourself with me. Do I not owe my life to you? and +I swear that so long as you remain in my charge I will treat you +as my sister in all honour and respect." +</P> + +<P> +For some minutes the girl made no answer. At length she said, +standing up, and half turning toward the bushes: +</P> + +<P> +"I will trust you, Sir Archie. I know you to be a brave and honourable +knight, and I will trust you. I know 'tis a strange step to take, +and the world will blame me; but what can I do? If I refuse your +offer I shall be kept a prisoner here until I consent to marry John +of Lorne, whom I hate, for he is as rough and cruel as his father, +without the kindness of heart, which, save in his angry moments, +the latter has ever had toward me. All my relations are against +me, and struggle against my fate as I may, I must in the end bend +to their will if I remain here. 'Tis a hard choice to make; but +what can I do? Yes, I will trust to your honour; and may God and +all the saints punish you if you are false to the trust! Tomorrow +evening, as the vespers are chiming, I will be at the water's edge, +behind yonder clump of bushes." +</P> + +<P> +Then, with head bent down and slow steps, Marjory returned to +the convent, none addressing her as she passed through the groups +of her companions, the order that she was to be shut out from the +rest having been already issued. Archie remained in his place of +concealment until the gardens were deserted and night had fallen. +Then he left his hiding place, and, entering the lake, swam quietly +away, and landed far beyond the village. An hour's walk brought +him to the encampment of his comrades. +</P> + +<P> +At daybreak next morning the band, under the command of William +Orr, started for their long march round the head of the lake to +the position which they were to take up on the opposite side facing +the convent, Archie choosing three of the number most accustomed +to the handling of oars to remain with him. With these he set out +on a hunt as soon as the main body had left, and by midday had +succeeded in killing a stag. With this swung on a pole carried by +his followers Archie proceeded to the village. He speedily found +the fisherman with whom he had before bargained. +</P> + +<P> +"I did not expect you back again so soon," the old man said. +</P> + +<P> +"We killed a buck this morning," Archie said carelessly, "and my +friends thought that the afternoon would be fine for fishing." +</P> + +<P> +"You can try if you like," the fisherman said, "but I fear that +you will have but little sport. The day is too bright and clear, +and the fish will be sulking at the bottom of the lake." +</P> + +<P> +"We will try," Archie said, "nevertheless. Even if the sport is +bad it will be pleasant out on the lake, and if we catch nothing we +will get you to give us some fresh fish instead of dry. The folks +in the hills will be no wiser, and it will not do for us to return +empty handed." +</P> + +<P> +The fisherman assented, and placed the oars and nets in the boat, +and Archie and his companions entering rowed out into the middle +of the lake, and then throwing over the nets busied themselves with +fishing. +</P> + +<P> +As the old man had predicted, their sport was but small, but this +concerned them little. Thinking that they might be watched, they +continued steadily all the afternoon casting and drawing in the +nets, until the sun neared the horizon. Then they gathered the +nets into the boat and rowed quietly towards the shore. Just as +they were abreast the end of the promontory the bell of the chapel +began to ring the vespers. A few more strokes and Archie could +see the clump of bushes. +</P> + +<P> +"Row quietly now," he said, still steering toward the village. +</P> + +<P> +He was about a hundred yards distant from the shore of the convent +garden. Just as he came abreast of the bushes the foliage was parted +and Marjory appeared at the edge of the water. In an instant the +boat's head was turned toward shore, and the three rowers bent to +the oars. +</P> + +<P> +A shout from the watchman on the turret showed that he had been +watching the boat and that this sudden change of its course had +excited his alarm. The shout was repeated again and again as the +boat neared the shore, and just as the keel grated on the sand the +outer gate was opened and some armed men were seen running into the +garden, but they were still two hundred yards away. Marjory leapt +lightly into the boat; the men pushed off, and before the retainers +of the convent reached the spot the boat was speeding away over the +lake. Archie gave up to Marjory his seat in the stern, and himself +took an oar. +</P> + +<P> +Loch Leven, though of considerable length, is narrow, and the boat +was nearly a third of the way across it before two or three craft +were seen putting out from the village in pursuit, and although +these gained somewhat, the fugitives reached the other shore a long +distance in advance. William Orr and his men were at the landing +place, and soon the whole party were hurrying through the wood. +They had no fear of instant pursuit, for even in the fast gathering +gloom those in the boats would have perceived the accession of +force which they had received on landing, and would not venture +to follow. But before morning the news of the evasion would spread +far and wide, and there would be a hot pursuit among the mountains. +</P> + +<P> +Scarce a word had been spoken in the boat. Marjory was pale and +agitated, and Archie thought it best to leave her to herself. On +the way through the wood he kept beside her, assisting her over +rough places, and occasionally saying a few encouraging words. When +darkness had completely set in three or four torches were lit, and +they continued their way until midnight. Several times Archie had +proposed a halt, but Marjory insisted that she was perfectly able +to continue her way for some time longer. +</P> + +<P> +At midnight, however, he halted. +</P> + +<P> +"We will stop here," he said. "My men have been marching ever since +daybreak, and tomorrow we must journey fast and far. I propose that +we keep due east for some time and then along by Loch Rannoch, then +across the Grampians by the pass of Killiecrankie, when we can make +down to Perth, and so to Stirling. The news of your escape will +fly fast to the south, and the tracks to Tarbert and the Clyde +will all be watched; but if we start at daybreak we shall be far on +our way east before they begin to search the hills here; and even +if they think of our making in this direction, we shall be at +Killiecrankie before they can cut us off." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Heiress of the Kerrs +</H3> + +<P> +While Archie was speaking Marjory had sat down on a fallen tree. She +had not slept the night before, and had been anxious and agitated +the whole day. The excitement had kept her up; but she now felt +completely worn out, and accepted without protest Archie's decision +that a halt must be made. +</P> + +<P> +The men were already gathering sticks, and a bright fire soon blazed +near the spot where she had seated herself. Ere long some venison +steaks were broiled in the flames. At Archie's earnest request +Marjory tried to eat, but could with difficulty swallow a few +morsels. A bower of green boughs was quickly made for her, and the +ground thickly piled with fresh bracken, and Marjory was in a very +few minutes sound asleep after the fatigue and excitement of the +day. +</P> + +<P> +With the first dawn of morning the men were on their feet. Fresh +sticks were thrown on the fire and breakfast prepared, for the +march would be a long and wearisome one. +</P> + +<P> +"Breakfast is ready, Mistress Marjory," Archie said, approaching +the bower. +</P> + +<P> +"And I am ready too," the girl said blithely as she appeared at +the entrance. "The sleep has done wonders for me, and I feel brave +and fresh again. I fear you must have thought me a terrible coward +yesterday; but it all seemed so dreadful, such a wild and wicked +thing to do, that I felt quite overwhelmed. Today you will find me +ready for anything." +</P> + +<P> +"I could never think you a coward," Archie said, "after you faced +the anger of that terrible uncle of yours for my sake; or rather," +he added, "for the sake of your word. And now I hope you will eat +something, for we have a long march through the forest and hills +before us." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't fear that I shall tire," she said. "I am half a mountaineer +myself, and, methinks, can keep on my feet as long as any man." +</P> + +<P> +The meal was hastily eaten, and then the party started on their +way. +</P> + +<P> +"I have been wondering," the girl said, as with light steps she +kept pace with Archie's longer strides, "how you came to know that +I was in the convent." +</P> + +<P> +Archie looked surprised. +</P> + +<P> +"How should I know, Mistress Marjory, but through your own messenger?" +</P> + +<P> +"My own messenger!" Marjory exclaimed. "You are jesting, Sir Archie." +</P> + +<P> +"I am not so, fair lady," he said. "Surely you must remember that +you sent a messenger to me, with word that you were captive at St. +Kenneth and needed my aid?" +</P> + +<P> +The girl stopped for a moment in her walk and gazed at her companion +as if to assure herself that he was in earnest. "You must be surely +dreaming, Sir Archie," she said, as she continued the walk, "for +assuredly I sent you no such message." +</P> + +<P> +"But, lady," Archie said, holding out his hand, "the messenger +brought me as token that he had come from you this ring which I +had given you, vowing that should you call me to your aid I would +come immediately, even from a stricken field." +</P> + +<P> +The blood had rushed into the girl's face as she saw the ring. +Then she turned very pale. "Sir Archibald Forbes," she said in +a low tone, after walking for a minute or two in silence, "I feel +disgraced in your eyes. How forward and unmaidenly must you have +thought me thus to take advantage of a vow made from the impulse +of sudden gratitude." +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed, lady," Archie said hotly. "No such thought ever entered +my mind. I should as soon doubt the holy Virgin herself as to deem +you capable of aught but what was sweet and womanly. The matter +seemed to me simple enough. You had saved my life at great peril +to yourself, and it seemed but natural to me that in your trouble, +having none others to befriend you, your thoughts should turn to +one who had sworn to be to the end of his life your faithful knight +and servant. But," he went on more lightly, "since you yourself +did not send me the ring and message, what good fairy can have +brought them to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"The good fairy was a very bad one," the girl said shortly, "and I +will rate him soundly when I see him for thus adventuring without +my consent. It is none other than Father Anselm; and yet," she +added, "he has suffered so much on my behalf that I shall have to +forgive him. After your escape my uncle in his passion was well +nigh hanging the good priest in spite of his holy office, and drove +him from the castle. He kept me shut up in my room for many weeks, +and then urged upon me the marriage with his son. When he found +that I would not listen to it he sent me to St. Kenneth, and there +I have remained ever since. Three weeks ago Father Anselm came to +see me. He had been sent for by Alexander of Lorne, who, knowing +the influence he had with me, begged him to undertake the mission +of inducing me to bend to his will. As he knew how much I hated +John of Lorne, the good priest wasted not much time in entreaties; +but he warned me that it had been resolved that unless I gave way +my captivity, which had hitherto been easy and pleasant, would be +made hard and rigorous, and that I would be forced into accepting +John of Lorne as a husband. When he saw that I was determined not +to give in, the good priest certainly hinted" (and here she coloured +again hotly) "that you would, if sent for, do your best to carry +me off. Of course I refused to listen to the idea, and chided him +for suggesting so unmaidenly a course. He urged it no further, and +I thought no more of the matter. The next day I missed my ring, +which, to avoid notice, I had worn on a little ribbon round my +neck. I thought at the time the ribbon must have broken and the +ring been lost, and for a time I made diligent search in the garden +for it; but I doubt not now that the traitor priest, as I knelt +before him to receive his blessing on parting, must have severed +the ribbon and stolen it." +</P> + +<P> +"God bless him!" Archie said fervently. "Should he ever come to +Aberfilly the warmest corner by the fire, the fattest capon, and +the best stoop of wine from the cellar shall be his so long as +he lives. Why, but for him, Lady Marjory, you might have worn out +months of your life in prison, and have been compelled at last to +wed your cousin. I should have been a miserable man for life." +</P> + +<P> +The girl laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"I would have given you a week, Sir Archie, and no more; that +is the extreme time which a knight in our days can be expected to +mourn for the fairest lady; and now," she went on, changing the +subject, "think you we shall reach the pass across the Grampians +before night?" +</P> + +<P> +"If all goes well, lady, and your feet will carry you so far, +we shall be there by eventide. Unless by some chance encounter we +need have no fear whatever of pursuit. It will have been daylight +before the news of your flight fairly spread through the country, +though, doubtless, messengers were sent off at once in all directions; +but it would need an army to scour these woods, and as they know +not whether we have gone east, west, north, or south, the chance is +faint indeed of any party meeting us, especially as we have taken +so straight a line that they must march without a pause in exactly +the right direction to come up with us." +</P> + +<P> +At nightfall the party camped again on the slope of the Grampians, +and the following morning crossed by the pass of Killiecrankie and +made toward Perth. +</P> + +<P> +The next night Marjory slept in a peasant's cottage, Archie and his +companions lying down without. Wishing to avoid attention, Archie +purchased from the peasant the Sunday clothes of his daughter, who +was about the same age and size as Marjory. +</P> + +<P> +When they reached Perth he bought a strong horse, with saddle and +pillion; and with Marjory behind him, and his band accompanying +him on foot, he rode for Stirling. When he neared the town he heard +that the king was in the forest of Falkirk, and having consulted +Marjory as to her wishes rode directly thither. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce, with his followers, had arrived but the day before, and +had taken up his abode at the principal house of a village in the +forest. He came to the door when he heard the trampling of a horse. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! Sir Archie, is it you safely returned, and, as I half expected, +a lady?" +</P> + +<P> +"This, sire," Archie said, dismounting, "is Mistress Marjory +MacDougall, of whom, as you have heard me say, I am the devoted +knight and servant. She has been put in duress by Alexander of Lorne +because in the first place she was a true Scots woman and favoured +your cause, and because in the second place she refused to espouse his +son John. I have borne her away from the convent of St. Kenneth, +and as I used no force in doing so no sacrilege has been committed. +I have brought her to you in all honour and courtesy, as I might a +dear sister, and I now pray you to place her under the protection +of the wife of one of your knights, seeing that she has no friends +and natural protectors here. Then, when she has time to think, she +must herself decide upon her future." +</P> + +<P> +The king assisted Marjory to dismount. +</P> + +<P> +"Fair mistress," he said, "Sir Archibald Forbes is one of the bravest +and truest of my knights, and in the hands of none might you more +confidently place your honour. Assuredly I will do as he asks me, +and will place you under the protection of Dame Elizabeth Graham, +who is now within, having ridden hither to see her husband but this +morning. But I trust," he added, with a meaning smile, "that you +will not long require her protection." +</P> + +<P> +The king entered the house with Marjory, while Archie, with his +band, rejoined the rest of his party, who were still with the king. +After having seen that the wants of those who had accompanied him +had been supplied he returned to the royal quarters. The king met +him at the door, and said, with a merry smile on his face: +</P> + +<P> +"I fear me, Sir Archie, that all my good advice with regard to +Mistress Mary Kerr has been wasted, and that you are resolved to +make this Highland damsel, the niece of my arch enemy Alexander of +Lorne, your wife." +</P> + +<P> +"If she will have me," Archie said stoutly, "such assuredly, is +my intent; but of that I know nothing, seeing that, while she was +under my protection, it would have been dishonourable to have spoken +of love; and I know nought of her sentiments toward me, especially +seeing that she herself did not, as I had hoped, send for me to come +to her aid, and was indeed mightily indignant that another should +have done so in her name." +</P> + +<P> +"Poor Sir Archie!" the king laughed. "Though a man, and a valorous +one in stature and in years, you are truly but a boy yet in these +matters. It needed but half an eye to see by the way she turned +pale and red when you spoke to her that she loves you. Now look +you, Sir Archie," he went on more seriously; "these are troubled +days, and one knows not what a day may bring forth. Graham's tower +is neither strong nor safe, and the sooner this Mistress Marjory +of yours is safely in your stronghold of Aberfilly the better for +both of you, and for me also, for I know that you will be of no +more good to me so long as your brain is running on her. Look you +now, she is no longer under your protection, and your scruples on +that head are therefore removed; best go in at once and ask her +if she will have you. If she says, 'Yes,' we will ride to Glasgow +tomorrow or next day. The bishop shall marry you, and I myself will +give you your bonny bride. This is no time for wasting weeks with +milliners and mantua makers. What say you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing would more surely suit my wishes, sire," Archie said; "but +I fear she will think me presumptuous." +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it," the king laughed. "Highland lassies are accustomed +to sudden wooing, and I doubt not that when she freed you last +autumn from Dunstaffnage her mind was just as much made up as yours +is as to the state of her heart. Come along, sir." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, the king passed his arm through that of Archie, and +drew him into the house. In the room which they entered Marjory +was sitting with Lady Graham. Both rose as the king entered. +</P> + +<P> +"My Lady Graham," the king said, "this my good and faithful knight +Sir Archie Forbes, whose person as well as repute is favourably +known to you, desires to speak alone with the young lady under +your protection. I may say he does so at my special begging, seeing +that at times like these the sooner matters are put in a straight +course the better. Will you let me lead you to the next room while +we leave the young people together?" +</P> + +<P> +"Marjory," Archie said, when he and the girl were alone, "I fear +that you will think my wooing rude and hasty, but the times must +excuse it. I would fain have waited that you might have seen more +of me before I tried my fate; but in these troubled days who can +say where I may be a week hence, or when I can see you again were +I once separated from you! Therefore, dear, I speak at once. I +love you, Marjory, and since the day when you came like an angel +into my cell at Dunstaffnage I have known that I loved you, and +should I never see you again could love none other. Will you wed +me, love?" +</P> + +<P> +"But the king tells me, Sir Archie," the girl said, looking up with +a half smile, "that he wishes you to wed the Lady Mary Kerr." +</P> + +<P> +"It is a dream of the good king," Archie said, laughing, "and he +is not in earnest about it. He knows that I have never set eyes on +the lady or she on me, and he was but jesting when he said so to +you, having known from me long ago that my heart was wholly yours." +</P> + +<P> +"Besides," the girl said hesitating, "you might have objected to +wed Mistress Kerr because her father was an enemy of yours." +</P> + +<P> +"Why dwell upon it?" Archie said a little impatiently. "Mistress +Kerr is nothing in the world to me, and I had clean forgotten her +very existence, when by some freak or other she sent her retainers +to fight under my command. She may be a sweet and good lady for what +I know; she may be the reverse. To me she is absolutely nothing; +and now, Marjory, give me my answer. I love you, dear, deeply and +truly; and should you say, 'Yes,' will strive all my life to make +you happy." +</P> + +<P> +"One more question, Archie, and then I will answer yours. Tell me +frankly, had I been Mary Kerr instead of Marjory MacDougall, could +you so far forget the ancient feud between the families as to say +to me, 'I love you.'" +</P> + +<P> +Archie laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"The question is easily answered. Were you your own dear self it +would matter nought to me were your name Kerr, or MacDougall, or +Comyn, or aught else. It is you I love, and your ancestors or your +relations matter to me not one single jot." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I will answer you," the girl said, putting her hand in his. +"Archie Forbes, I love you with my whole heart, and have done +so since I first met you; but," she said, drawing back, as Archie +would have clasped her in his arms, "I must tell you that you have +been mistaken, and that it is not Marjory MacDougall whom you would +wed, but Mary, whom her uncle Alexander always called Marjory, +Kerr." +</P> + +<P> +"Marjory Kerr!" Archie repeated, in astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Archie, Marjory or Mary Kerr. The mistake was none of my +making; it was you called me MacDougall; and knowing that you had +reason to hate my race I did not undeceive you, thinking you might +even refuse the boon of life at the hands of a Kerr. But I believed +that when you thought it over afterwards you would suspect the +truth, seeing that it must assuredly come to your ears if you spoke +of your adventure, even if you did not already know it, that Sir +John Kerr and Alexander of Lorne married twin sisters of the house +of Comyn. You are not angry, I hope, Archie?" +</P> + +<P> +"Angry!" Archie said, taking the girl, who now yielded unresistingly, +in his arms. "It matters nothing to me who you were; and truly I +am glad that the long feud between our houses will come to an end. +My conscience, too, pricked me somewhat when I heard that by the +death of your brother you had succeeded to the estates, and that +it was in despite of a woman, and she a loyal and true hearted +Scotswoman, that I was holding Aberfilly. So it was you sent the +retainers from Ayr to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," Marjory replied. "Father Anselm carried my orders to them. +I longed to know that they were fighting for Scotland, and was sure +that under none could they be better led." +</P> + +<P> +"And you have told the king who you are?" Archie asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," the girl said, "directly we entered." +</P> + +<P> +"And you agree that we shall be married at once at Glasgow, as the +king has suggested to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"The king said as much to me," Marjory said, colouring; "but oh! +Archie, it seems dreadful, such an unseemly bustle and haste, to +be betrothed one day and married the next! Whoever heard of such +a thing?" +</P> + +<P> +"But the circumstances, Marjory, are exceptional. We all carry our +lives in our hands, and things must be done which at another time +would seem strange. Besides, what advantage would there be in +waiting? I should be away fighting the English, and you would see +no more of me. You would not get to know me better than you do +now." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! it is not that, Archie." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor is it anything else," Archie said smiling, "but just surprise. +With the King of Scotland to give you away and the Bishop of Glasgow +to marry you, none can venture to hint that there is anything that +is not in the highest degree orthodox in your marriage. Of course +I shall have to be a great deal away until the war is over and +Scotland freed of her tyrants. But I shall know that you are safe +at Aberfilly, which is quite secure from any sudden attack. You will +have my mother there to pet you and look after you in my absence, +and I hope that good Father Anselm will soon find his way there and +take up his abode. It is the least he can do, seeing that, after +all, he is responsible for our marriage, and having, as it were, +delivered you into my hands, ought to do his best to make you happy +in your captivity." +</P> + +<P> +Marjory raised no further objection. She saw, in truth, that, +having once accepted Archie Forbes as her husband, it was in every +way the best plan for her to marry him without delay, since she had +no natural protectors to go to, and her powerful relations might +stir up the church to view her evasion from the convent as a defiance +of its authority. +</P> + +<P> +Upon the following day the king moved with his force to Glasgow, +which had already been evacuated by the English garrison, and +the next morning Marjory—for Archie through life insisted upon +calling her by the pet name under which he had first known her—was +married to Sir Archibald Forbes. The Bruce gave her away, and +presented her with a splendid necklet of pearls. His brother Edward, +Sir James Douglas, and other companions of Archie in the field also +made the bride handsome presents. Archie's followers from Aberfilly +and the contingent from Marjory's estates in Ayr were also present, +together with a crowd of the townspeople, for Archie Forbes, the +companion of Wallace, was one of the most popular characters in +Scotland, and the good city of Glasgow made a fete of his marriage. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly as it was arranged, a number of the daughters of the wealthiest +citizens attired in white attended the bride in procession to the +altar. Flowers were strewn and the bride and bridegroom were heartily +cheered by a concourse of people as they left the cathedral. +</P> + +<P> +The party then mounted, and the king, his brother, Sir James Douglas, +and some other knights, together with a strong escort, rode with +them to Aberfilly. Archie had despatched a messenger to his mother +with the news directly the arrangements had been made; and all +was prepared for their coming. The tenants had assembled to give a +hearty welcome to their lord and new mistress. Dame Forbes received +her as she alighted from the pillion on which she had ridden behind +Archie, and embraced her tenderly. +</P> + +<P> +It was the dearest wish of her life that Archie should marry; and +although, when she first heard the news, she regretted in her heart +that he should have chosen a Kerr, still she saw that the union +would put an end to the long feud, and might even, in the event +of the final defeat of Bruce, be the means of safety for Archie +himself and security for his possessions. +</P> + +<P> +She soon, however, learned to love Marjory for herself, and to be +contented every way with her son's choice. There was high feasting +and revelry at Aberfilly that evening. Bonfires were burned in the +castle yard, and the tenants feasted there, while the king and his +knights were entertained in the hall of the castle. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning the king and his companions again mounted and +rode off. Sir James Douglas was going south to harry Galloway and +to revenge the assaults which the people had made upon the king. +There was a strong English force there under Sir Ingram Umfraville +and Sir John de St. John. +</P> + +<P> +"I will give you a week, Sir Archie, to take holiday, but can spare +you no longer. We have as yet scarce begun our work, for well nigh +every fortress in Scotland is in English hands, and we must take as +many of them as we can before Edward moves across the Border again." +</P> + +<P> +"I will not outstay the time," Sir Archie said. "As we arranged +last night, I will march this day week with my retainers to join +Sir James Douglas in Galloway." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Siege of Aberfilly +</H3> + +<P> +Punctual to his agreement, Archie Forbes marched south with his +retainers. He was loath, indeed, to leave Marjory, but he knew well +that a long time indeed must elapse before he could hope to settle +down quietly at home, and that it was urgent to hurry on the work +at once before the English made another great effort to stamp out +the movement. Marjory did not attempt to induce him to overstay +his time. She was too proud of his position as one of the foremost +knights of Scotland to say a word to detain him from the field. +So she bade him adieu with a brave face, reserving her tears until +after he had ridden away. +</P> + +<P> +It had been arranged that Archie should operate independently +of Douglas, the two joining their forces only when threatened +by overwhelming numbers or when any great enterprise was to be +undertaken. Archie took with him a hundred and fifty men from his +estates in Lanark and Ayr. He marched first to Loudon Hill, then +down through Cumnock and the border of Carrick into Galloway. Contrary +to the usual custom, he enjoined his retainers on no account to +burn or harry the villages and granges. +</P> + +<P> +"The people," he said, "are not responsible for the conduct of +their lords, and as I would not see the English harrying the country +round Aberfilly, so I am loath to carry fire and sword among these +poor people. We have come hither to punish their lords and to capture +their castles. If the country people oppose us we must needs fight +them; but beyond what is necessary for our provisions let us take +nothing from them, and show them, by our conduct, that we hold +them to be Scotchmen like ourselves, and that we pity rather than +blame them, inasmuch as by the orders of their lords they are forced +to fight against us." +</P> + +<P> +Archie had not advanced more than a day's march into Galloway when +he heard that Sir John de St. John was marching with four hundred +men-at-arms to meet him. +</P> + +<P> +There were no better soldiers in the following of Bruce than the +retainers of Aberfilly and Glen Cairn. They had now for many years +been frequently under arms, and were thoroughly trained to fight +together. They had the greatest confidence in themselves and their +leader, and having often with their spears withstood the shock +of the English chivalry, Archie knew that he could rely upon them +to the fullest. He therefore took up a position on the banks of +a river where a ford would enable the enemy to cross. Had he been +less confident as to the result he would have defended the ford, +which could be only crossed by two horsemen abreast. He determined, +however, to repeat the maneuver which had proved so successful at +Stirling Bridge, and to let half of the enemy cross before he fell +upon them. +</P> + +<P> +The ground near the river was stony and rough. Great boulders, +which had rolled from the hillside, were thickly scattered about +it, and it would be difficult for cavalry to charge up the somewhat +steeply sloping ground in anything like unbroken order. +</P> + +<P> +With eighty of his men Archie took up a position one hundred yards +back from the stream. With great exertions some of the smaller +boulders were removed, and rocks and stones were piled to make a +wall on either flank of the ground, which, standing two deep, he +occupied. The remaining seventy men he divided equally, placing one +company under the command of each of his two faithful lieutenants, +Andrew Macpherson and William Orr. These took post near the river, +one on each side of the ford, and at a distance of about one hundred +yards therefrom. Orr's company were hidden among some bushes growing +by the river. Macpherson's lay down among the stones and boulders, +and were scarce likely to attract the attention of the English, +which would naturally be fixed upon the little body drawn up to +oppose them in front. The preparations were scarcely completed +when the English were seen approaching. They made no halt at the +river, but at once commenced crossing at the ford, confident in +their power to overwhelm the little body of Scots, whose number +had, it seemed to them, been exaggerated by the fears of the country +people. As soon as a hundred of the men-at-arms had passed, their +leader marshalled them in line, and with level spears charged up +the slopes against Archie's force. The great boulders broke their +ranks, and it was but in straggling order that they reached the +narrow line of Scottish spears. These they in vain endeavoured to +break through. Their numbers were of no avail to them, as, being +on horseback, but twenty men at a time could attack the double row +of spearmen. While the conflict was at its height Archie's trumpet +was sounded, for he saw that another hundred men had now crossed +the ford. +</P> + +<P> +At the signal the two hidden parties leapt to their feet, and with +levelled pikes rushed towards the ford. The English had no force +there to resist the attack, for as the men-at-arms had passed, each +had ridden on to join the fray in front. The head of the ford was +therefore seized with but little difficulty. Orr, with twenty men, +remained here to hold it and prevent others from crossing, while +Macpherson, with fifty, ran up the hill and fell upon the rear of +the confused masses of cavalry, who were striving in vain to break +the lines of Archie's spears. +</P> + +<P> +The attack was decisive; the English, surprised and confused by +the sudden attack, were unable to offer any effectual resistance to +Macpherson's pikemen, and at the same moment that these fell upon +the rear, Archie gave the word and his men rushed forward upon the +struggling mass of cavalry. The shock was irresistible; men and +horses fell in numbers under the Scottish spears, and in a few +minutes those who could manage to extricate themselves from the +struggling mass rode off in various directions. These, however, were +few in number, for ninety were killed and seventy taken prisoners. +St. John himself succeeded in cutting his way through the spearmen, +and, swimming the river below the ford, rejoined his followers, +who had in vain endeavoured to force the passage of the ford. With +these he rapidly retired. +</P> + +<P> +A detachment of fifty men were sent off with the prisoners to +Bruce, and Archie, with the main body of his followers, two days +later joined the force under Sir James Douglas. +</P> + +<P> +Upon the following morning a messenger from Aberfilly reached +Archie. +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," he said, "I bring you a message from the Lady Marjory. +I have spent five days in searching for you, and have never but +once laid down during that time, therefore do not blame me if my +message is long in coming." +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, Evan? nought is wrong there, I trust?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Lady Marjory bade me tell you that news has reached her, that +from each of the garrisons of Ayr, Lanark, Stirling and Bothwell, +a force is marching toward your hold, which the governor of Bothwell +has sworn to destroy. When I left they were expected hourly in +sight, and this is full a week since." +</P> + +<P> +"Aberfilly can hold out for longer than that," Archie said, "against +aught but surprise, and the vassals would have had time to gather." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," the man replied, "they were flocking in when I came away; the +men of Glen Cairn had already arrived; all the women and children +were taking to the hills, according to the orders which you gave." +</P> + +<P> +"And now, good Evan, do you eat some supper, and then rest. No +wonder you have been so long in finding me, for I have been wandering +without ceasing. I will start at once with my followers here for +Aberfilly; by tomorrow evening we will be there." +</P> + +<P> +Archie hurried to the hut occupied by Douglas, told him the news, +and said he must hurry away to the defence of his castle. +</P> + +<P> +"Go, by all means, Archie," Douglas replied. "If I can gather a +force sufficient to relieve you I will myself march thither; but +at present I fear that the chances of my doing so are small, for +the four garrisons you have named would be able to spare a force +vastly larger than any with which I could meet them in the field, +and the king is no better able to help you." +</P> + +<P> +"I will do my best," Archie said. "The castle can stand a stout +siege; and fortunately I have a secret passage by which we can +escape." +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind the castle," Douglas replied. "When better days come +we will rebuild it again for you." +</P> + +<P> +A few notes on a horn brought Archie's little band of followers +together. Telling them the danger which threatened Glen Cairn, +Archie placed himself at their head, and at a rapid step they +marched away. It was five-and-forty miles across the hills, but +before morning they approached it, and made their way to the wood in +which was the entrance to the subterranean passage leading to the +castle. Archie had feared that they might find the massive doors +which closed it, a short distance from the entrance, securely +fastened as usual. They were shut, indeed, but as they approached +them they heard a challenge from within. +</P> + +<P> +"It is I, Sir Archie Forbes." +</P> + +<P> +The door was opened at once. "Welcome, Sir Archie!" the guard said. +"The Lady Marjory has been expecting you for the last five days, +and a watch has been kept here constantly, to open the doors should +you come." +</P> + +<P> +"The messenger could not find me," Archie said. "Is all well at +the castle?" +</P> + +<P> +"All is well," the man replied. "The English have made two attacks, +but have been beaten back with loss. This morning some great +machines have arrived from Stirling and have begun battering the +walls. Is it your will that I remain here on guard, now that you +have come?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," Archie answered. "It were best that one should be always +stationed here, seeing that the entrance might perchance be +discovered by one wandering in the wood, or they might obtain the +secret of its existence from a prisoner. If footsteps are heard +approaching retire at once with the news. There is no danger if +we are warned in time, for we can turn the water from the moat into +it." +</P> + +<P> +Archie and his followers now made their way along the passage until +they entered the castle. As they issued out from the entrance a +shout of joy rose from those near, and the news rapidly flew through +the castle that Archie had arrived. In a moment Marjory ran down +and threw herself into his arms. +</P> + +<P> +"Welcome back, Archie, a thousand times! I have been grievously +anxious as the days went on and you did not return, and had feared +that some evil must have befallen you. It has been a greater anxiety +to me than the defence of the castle; but I have done my best to +be hopeful and bright, to keep up the spirits of our followers." +</P> + +<P> +"It was no easy task for your messenger to find me, Marjory, for +we are ever on the move. Is my mother here?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Archie, she went a fortnight since on a visit to Lady Gordon." +</P> + +<P> +"It is well," Archie said, "for if in the end we have to leave the +castle, you, who have proved yourself so strong and brave, can, +if needs be, take to the hills with me; but she could not support +the fatigues of such a life. And now, dear, we have marched all +night and shall be glad of food; while it is preparing I will to +the walls and see what is going on." +</P> + +<P> +As Archie reached the battlement a loud cheer broke from the +defenders gathered there, and Sandy Grahame hurried up to him. +</P> + +<P> +"Welcome back, Sir Archie; glad am I to give up the responsibility +of this post, although, indeed, it is not I who have been in command, +but Lady Marjory. She has been always on the walls, cheering the +men with her words and urging them to deeds of bravery; and, indeed, +she has frightened me sorely by the way in which she exposed herself +where the arrows were flying most thickly, for as I told her over +and over again, if the castle were taken I knew that you would be +sure that I had done my best, but what excuse should I be able to +make to you if I had to bear you the news that she had been killed?" +</P> + +<P> +"And what did she say to that, Sandy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Truth, Sir Archie, she's a woman and wilful, and she just laughed +and said that you would know you could not keep her in order +yourself, and could not therefore expect me to rule her." +</P> + +<P> +"That is so, Sandy," Archie laughed; "but now that I am back I +will for once exert my authority, and will see that she runs into +no further danger. And now, how goes the siege?" +</P> + +<P> +"So far they have done but little damage, Sir Archie; but the +machines which they brought up yesterday will, I fear, play havock +with our walls. They have not yet begun their work, for when they +brought them up yesterday afternoon our men shot so hotly that they +had to fall back again; but in the night they have thrown up high +banks of earth, and have planted the engines under their shelter, +and will, ere long, begin to send their messengers against our +walls. Thrice they assaulted the works beyond the drawbridge and +twice we beat them back; but last night they came on with all their +force. I was myself there, and after fighting for a while and seeing +they were too strong for us, I thought it best to withdraw before +they gained footing in the work, and so had time to draw off the +men and raise the drawbridge." +</P> + +<P> +"Quite right, Sandy! The defenders of the post would only have +been slaughtered, and the assailants might have rushed across the +drawbridge before it could have been raised. The post is of little +importance save to defend the castle against a sudden surprise, and +would only have been a source of constant anxiety and loss. How +many do you reckon them? Judging by their tents there must be +three or four thousand." +</P> + +<P> +"About three thousand, Sir Archie, I make it; and as we had no time +to get the tenants in from my lady's Ayrshire estate, we have but +two hundred men in the castle, and many of these are scarce more +than boys." +</P> + +<P> +"I have brought a hundred and fifty with me, Sandy, so we have as +many as we can use on the walls, though I could wish I had another +hundred or two for sorties." +</P> + +<P> +Half an hour later the great machines began to work, hurling vast +stones with tremendous force against the castle wall. Strongly +as this was built, Archie saw that it would ere many days crumble +before the blows. +</P> + +<P> +"I did not reckon on such machines as these," he said to Sandy. +"Doubtless they are some of the huge machines which King Edward +had constructed for the siege of Stirling, and which have remained +there since the castle was taken. Fortunately we have still the +moat when a breach is made, and it will be hard work to cross that." +</P> + +<P> +All day the great stones thundered against the wall. The defenders +were not idle, but kept up a shower of arrows at the edge of the +mound behind which the machines were hidden; but although many of +those working there were killed, fresh relays came constantly up, +and the machines never ceased their work. By nightfall the face +of the wall was bruised and battered. Many of the stones in front +had fallen from their places. +</P> + +<P> +"Another twenty-four hours," Archie said to Marjory, as he joined +her in the great hall, "and the breach will be begun, forty-eight +and it will be completed. They will go on all night, and we may +expect no rest until the work is done. In an hour's time I shall +sally out from the passage into the wood and beat up their camp. +Expecting no attack from the rear, we shall do them rare damage +ere they can gather to oppose us. As soon as they do so we shall +be off again, and, scattering in various directions, gather again +in the wood and return here." +</P> + +<P> +An hour later Archie, with two hundred men, started. No sooner had +he left than Marjory called Sandy Grahame and Andrew Macpherson, +whom he had left in joint command during his absence. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," she said, "I am not going to remain quiet here while +Sir Archie does all the fighting, therefore do you gather all the +garrison together, leaving only twenty to hold the gate. See that +the wheels of the drawbridge are well oiled, and the hinges of the +gate. Directly we see that the attack has begun upon the camp we +will lower the drawbridge quietly, open the gates, and sally out. +There is no great force in the outer work. When we have cleared +that—which, if we are quick, we can do without alarming the +camp, seeing what a confusion and uproar will be going on there—we +will make straight along to the point where the machines are +placed. Let some of the men take axes and cut the ropes, and let +others carry faggots well steeped in oil, we will pile them round +the machines and light them, and thus having ensured their destruction, +we will fall back again." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Lady Marjory—" Sandy began. +</P> + +<P> +"I will have no buts, Sandy; you must just do as I order you, and +I will answer to Sir Archie. I shall myself go forth with you and +see that the work is properly done." +</P> + +<P> +The two men looked doubtfully at each other. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Andrew," Marjory said briskly, "let us have no hesitation or +talk, the plan is a good one." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not say that it is not a good one," Sandy replied cautiously, +"or that it is not one that Sir Archie might have carried out if +he had been here." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, Andrew, then that is quite enough. I give you the +orders and I am responsible, and if you and Sandy do not choose to +obey me, I shall call the men together myself and lead them without +you." +</P> + +<P> +As Sandy and Andrew were quite conscious that their lady would be +as good as her word, they at once proceeded to carry her orders into +effect. The wheels of the portcullis and drawbridge were oiled, as +were the bolts and hinges of the gate. The men were formed up in +the courtyard, where presently they were joined by Marjory who had +put on a light steel cap and a shirt of mail, and who had armed herself +with a light sword. The men gathered round her enthusiastically, +and would have burst into cheers had she not held up her hand to +command silence. +</P> + +<P> +"I will to the wall now," she said, "to watch for the signal. The +instant the attack begins and the attention of those in the outwork +is called that way, draw up the portcullis noiselessly and open +the gate, oil the hinges of the drawbridge and have everything +in readiness; then I will join you. Let the drawbridge be lowered +swiftly, and as it falls we will rush across. You have, I suppose, +told off the men who are to remain behind. Tell them that when +the last of us have crossed they are to raise the drawbridge a few +feet, so that none can cross it until we return." +</P> + +<P> +Then, accompanied by Macpherson, she ascended the walls. All was +quiet in the hostile camp, which was about a quarter of a mile +distant, and only the creaking of the wheels of the machines, the +orders of those directing them, and the dull crash as the great +stones struck the wall, broke the stillness of the night. For half +an hour they watched, and then a sudden uproar was heard in the +camp. The Scottish war cry pealed out, followed by shouts and +yells, and almost instantly flames were seen to mount up. +</P> + +<P> +"My lord is at work," Marjory said, "it is time for us to be doing +also." So saying she ran down to the courtyard. Sandy Grahame, +Macpherson, and a few picked men took their place around her, then +the drawbridge was suddenly run down, and the Scots dashed across +it. As Marjory had anticipated, the English in the outwork had +gathered on the farther side and were watching the sudden outbreak +in the camp. Alarmed at the prospect of an attack, perhaps by the +Bruce, in that quarter, they were suddenly startled by the rush +of feet across the drawbridge, and before they had time to recover +from their surprise the Scots were upon them. The latter were +superior in numbers, and the English, already alarmed by the attack +upon their camp, offered but a feeble resistance. Many were cut +down, but the greater part leapt from the wall and fled towards +the camp. The moment resistance ceased the outer gate was thrown +open, and at full speed the Scotch made for the machines. The party +here had suspended their work and were gazing towards the camp, +where the uproar was now great. The wind was blowing briskly and +the fire had spread with immense rapidity, and already half the +camp was in flames. Suddenly from the bank above the Scots poured +down upon them like a torrent. There was scarcely a thought of +resistance. Stricken with dismay and astonishment at this unexpected +attack, the soldiers working the machines fled hastily, only a few +falling beneath the swords of the Scots. The men with axes at once +fell upon the machines, cutting the ropes and smashing the wheels +and levers which worked them, while those with the faggots piled +them round. In less than two minutes the work was done, lighted +torches were applied to the faggots, and the flames soon shot up +hotly. +</P> + +<P> +The Scots waited but a minute or two to see that the work was +thoroughly done and that the flames had got fair hold, and then, +keeping in a close body, they retired to the castle. Not a soul +was met with by the way, and leaving Andrew Macpherson with fifty +men to hold the outwork until Archie should return and decide +whether it should be occupied, Marjory, with the rest, re-entered +the castle. +</P> + +<P> +She at once ascended to the walls again, where Sandy also posted +the men to be in readiness to open fire with their arrows should +the English return and endeavour to extinguish the flames round +the machines. The sound of fighting had ceased at the camp. By the +light of the flames numbers of the English could be seen pulling +down the tents which the fire had not yet reached and endeavouring +to check the conflagration, while a large body of horse and foot +were rapidly advancing toward the castle. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as they came within bowshot range the archers opened fire, +and the English leaders, seeing that it was already too late to +save the machines, which were by this time completely enveloped in +flames, and that men would only be sacrificed to no good purpose, +halted the troops. They then moved towards the outwork, but finding +this in possession of the Scots, they fell back again to the camp +to take council as to the next steps to be adopted. Archie's attack +had been crowned with complete success. Apprehending no danger +from behind, the English had neglected to place sentries there, +and the Scots were already among the tents before their presence +was discovered. Numbers of the English were cut down and the tents +fired, and as soon as the English recovered from their first surprise +and began to form, Archie gave the word for a retreat. This was +effected without molestation, for the first thought of the English +was to save the camp from total destruction. The reports of the +men who escaped from the castle outwork and the outburst of flames +around the machines added to the confusion which reigned, and the +leaders, who had by the light of the flames ascertained that the +assault upon the camp had been made by a small body of the enemy, +deemed it of the first importance to move at once to save the +machines if it were still possible. +</P> + +<P> +The Scots regained the entrance to the passage without the loss +of a single man, and passing through, soon re-entered the castle. +Marjory had laid aside her warlike trappings and awaited her +husband's return at the inner entrance of the passage. +</P> + +<P> +"We have had good success, Marjory," Archie said as he greeted +her, "as you will have seen from the walls. The greater part of +the English camp is destroyed; we have killed great numbers, and +have not lost a man." +</P> + +<P> +"That is good news indeed, Archie. We, too, have not been quite +idle while you have been away." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what have you been doing, Marjory?" Archie asked in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Come up to the walls and I will show you." +</P> + +<P> +Archie mounted with her, and gave a start of surprise as he looked +towards the machines. The great body of fire had died down now, but +the beams of the machines stood up red and glowing, while a light +flickering flame played round them. +</P> + +<P> +"You see we have not been idle, Archie. We have destroyed the +machines, and retaken the outwork, which is now held by Andrew +Macpherson with fifty men." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what magic is this, wife?" +</P> + +<P> +"No magic at all, Sir Knight. We have been carrying out the work +which you, as a wise and skilful commander, should have ordered +before you left. We have taken advantage of the confusion of the +enemy by the fire in their camp, and have made a sortie, and a +successful one, as you see." +</P> + +<P> +"I am delighted, indeed," Archie said; "and the destruction of +those machines is indeed a great work. Still Sandy and Macpherson +should not have undertaken it without orders from me; they might +have been cut off and the castle stormed before I came back." +</P> + +<P> +"They had orders from me, sir, and that was quite sufficient. To +do them justice, they hesitated about obeying me, and I was well +nigh ordering them to the dungeon for disobedience; and they only +gave way at last when I said they could stop at home if they liked, +but that I should lead out the retainers. Of course I went in your +place with armour and sword; but perhaps it was as well that I had +no fighting to do." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean, Marjory, that you really led the sortie?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think I led it, Archie; but I certainly went out with it, +and very exciting it was. There, dear, don't look troubled. Of +course, as chatelaine of the castle, I was bound to animate my +men." +</P> + +<P> +"You have done bravely and well, indeed, Marjory, and I am proud +of my wife. Still, dear, I tremble at the thought of the risk you +ran." +</P> + +<P> +"No more risk than you are constantly running, Archie; and I am +rather glad you tremble, because in future you will understand my +feelings better, left here all alone while you are risking your +life perpetually with the king." +</P> + +<P> +The success of the sally and the courage and energy shown by Marjory +raised the spirits of the garrison to the highest pitch; and had +Archie given the word they would have sallied out and fallen upon +the besiegers. Two days later fresh machines arrived from Stirling, +and the attack again commenced, the besiegers keeping a large body +of men near the gate to prevent a repetition of the last sally. +Archie now despatched two or three fleet footed runners through +the passage to find the king, and tell him that the besiegers were +making progress, and to pray him to come to his assistance. Two +days passed, and the breach was now fairly practicable, but the +moat, fifty feet wide, still barred the way to the besiegers. Archie +had noticed that for two or three days no water had come down from +above, and had no doubt that they had diverted the course of the +river. Upon the day after the breach was completed the besiegers +advanced in great force up the stream from below. +</P> + +<P> +"They are going to try to cut the dam," Archie said to Sandy; "place +every man who can draw a bow on that side of the castle." +</P> + +<P> +As the English approached a rain of arrows was poured into them, +but covering themselves with their shields and with large mantlets +formed of hurdles covered with hides they pressed forward to the +dam. Here those who had brought with them picks and mattocks set +to work upon the dam, the men with mantlets shielding them from +the storm of arrows, while numbers of archers opened fire upon the +defenders. Very many were killed by the Scottish arrows, but the +work went on. A gap was made through the dam. The water, as it rushed +through, aided the efforts of those at work; and after three hours' +labour and fighting the gap was so far deepened that the water in +the moat had fallen eight feet. Then, finding that this could now +be waded, the assailants desisted, and drew off to their camp. +</P> + +<P> +A council was held that evening in the castle as to whether +the hold should be abandoned at once or whether one attack on the +breach should be withstood. It was finally determined that the +breach should be held. The steep sides of the moat, exposed by the +subsidence of the water, were slippery and difficult. The force in +the castle was amply sufficient at once to man the breach and to +furnish archers for the walls on either side, while in the event +of the worst, were the breach carried by the English, the defenders +might fall back to the central keep, and thence make their way +through the passage. Had it not been for the possibility of an +early arrival of the king to their relief all agreed that it would +be as well to evacuate the castle at once, as this in the end must +fall, and every life spent in its defence would thus be a useless +sacrifice. As, however, troops might at any moment appear, it was +determined to hold the castle until the last. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning a party of knights in full defensive armour +came down to the edge of the moat to see whether passage could be +effected. They were not molested while making their examination, +as the Scottish arrows would only have dropped harmless off their +steel harness. Archie was on the walls. +</P> + +<P> +"How like you the prospect, Sir Knights?" he called out merrily. +"I fear that the sludge and slime will sully your bright armour and +smirch your plumes, for it will be difficult to hold a footing on +those muddy banks." +</P> + +<P> +"It were best for you to yield, Sir Archibald Forbes, without giving +us the trouble of making our way across your moat. You have made +a stout resistance, and have done enough for honour, and you must +see that sooner or later we must win our way in." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I would rather it should be later," Archie replied. "I +may have done enough for honour, but it is not for honour that I +am fighting, but for Scotland. Your work is but begun yet, I can +assure you. We are far from being at the end of our resources yet. +It will be time enough to talk about surrendering when you have +won the breach and the outer walls." +</P> + +<P> +The knights retired; and as some hours passed without the besiegers +seeing any preparation for an assault they judged that the report +carried back to camp was not an encouraging one. Large numbers of +men were, however, seen leaving the camp, and these toward sunset +came back staggering under immense loads of brushwood which they +had cut in the forest. +</P> + +<P> +"They intend to fill up the moat," Archie said; "it is their wisest +course." +</P> + +<P> +He at once directed his men to make up large trusses of straw, over +which he poured considerable quantities of oil. Early the next +morning the English drew out of their camp, and advanced in martial +array. Each man carried a great faggot, and, covering themselves +with these as they came within bowshot, they marched down to the +moat. Each in turn threw in his faggot, and when he had done so +returned to the camp and brought back another. Rapidly the process +of filling up the moat opposite to the breach continued. The besiegers +kept up a rain of arrows and darts, and many of the English were +killed. But the work was continued without intermission until well +nigh across the moat a broad crossway was formed level with the +outer bank, but a narrow gap remained to be filled, and the English +leaders advanced to the front to prevent the Scots on the breach +rushing down to assault those placing the faggots. +</P> + +<P> +Somewhat to the surprise of the English the defenders remained +stationary, contenting themselves with hurling great stones at their +busy enemy. Suddenly there was a movement. Archie and a party of +his best men dashed down the breach, and, climbing on the causeway, +for a moment drove the workers and their guards back. They were +followed by twenty men carrying great trusses of straw. These were +piled against the faggots forming the end of the causeway. Archie +and his band leapt back as a torch was applied to the straw. In a +moment the hot flames leapt up, causing the knights who had pressed +after the retreating Scots to fall back hastily. A shout of triumph +rose from the garrison and one of dismay from the besiegers. +Saturated with oil, the trusses burnt with fury, and the faggots +were soon alight. A fresh wind was blowing, and the flames crept +rapidly along the causeway. In a few minutes this was in a blaze +from end to end, and in half an hour nothing remained of the great +pile save charred ashes and the saturated faggots which had been +below the water in the moat, and which now floated upon it. +</P> + +<P> +The besiegers had drawn off when they saw that the flames had +gained a fair hold of the causeway. The smoke had scarcely ceased +to rise when a great outcry arose from the English camp, and the +lookout from the top of the keep perceived a strong force marching +toward it. By the bustle and confusion which reigned in the camp +Archie doubted not that the newcomers were Scots. The garrison were +instantly called to arms. The gates were thrown open, and leaving +a small body only to hold the gates, he sallied out at the head of +his men and marched toward the English camp. At the approach of +the Scottish force the English leaders had marched out with their +men to oppose them. Bruce had been able to collect but three hundred +and fifty men, and the English, seeing how small was the number +advancing against them, prepared to receive them boldly. Scarcely +had the combat begun when Archie with his band entered the English +camp, which was almost deserted. They at once fired the tents, and +then advanced in a solid mass with level spears against the rear +of the English. These, dismayed at the destruction of their camp, +and at finding themselves attacked both front and rear, lost heart +and fell into confusion. Their leaders strove to rally them, +and dashed with their men-at-arms against the spearmen, but their +efforts to break through were in vain, and their defeat increased +the panic of the footmen. Archie's party broke a way through their +disordered line and joined the body commanded by the king, and the +whole rushed so fiercely upon the English that these broke and fled +in all directions, pursued by the triumphant Scots. +</P> + +<P> +"I am but just in time I see, Sir Archie," Bruce said, pointing +to the breach in the wall; "a few hours more and methinks that I +should have been too late." +</P> + +<P> +"We could have held out longer than that, sire," Archie replied. +"We have repulsed an attack this morning and burnt a causeway of +faggots upon which they attempted to cross the moat; still, I am +truly glad that you have arrived, and thank you with all my heart +for coming so speedily to my rescue, for sooner or later the hold +must have fallen; the great machines which they brought with them +from Stirling proved too strong for the wall." +</P> + +<P> +"And how has the Lady Marjory borne her during the siege?" the king +inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Right nobly," Archie replied; "ever in good spirits and showing a +brave face to the men; and one night when I made a sortie through +my secret passage, and fell upon the English camp from the other +side, having left the castle in her charge, she headed the garrison +and issuing out, recaptured the outworks, and destroyed the machines +by fire." +</P> + +<P> +"Bravely done," the king said, "and just what I should expect from +your wife. You did well to take my advice in that matter." +</P> + +<P> +"We shall never agree there, sire, for as you know I followed my +own will and wed the bride I had fixed upon for myself." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well, Sir Archie, as we are both satisfied we will e'en let +it be; and now, I trust that you have still some supplies left, +for to tell you the truth I am hungry as well as weary, and my men +have marched fast and far." +</P> + +<P> +"There is an abundance," Archie replied; "to last them all for a +month, and right willingly is it at their service." +</P> + +<P> +The king remained a week at Aberfilly, his men aiding Archie's +retainers in repairing the gap in the dam and in rebuilding the +wall; and as five hundred men working willingly and well can effect +wonders, by the time Bruce rode away the castle was restored to +its former appearance. Archie marched on the following day, and +rejoined Douglas in Galloway. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Prisoner +</H3> + +<P> +After some consultation between the leaders, it was agreed to make +an attempt to capture the castle of Knockbawn. It was known to +possess a garrison of some sixty men only, and although strong, +Archie and Sir James believed that it could be captured by assault. +It was arranged that Archie should ride to reconnoitre it, and +taking two mounted retainers he started, the force remaining in the +forest some eight miles distant. The castle of Knockbawn stood on +a rocky promontory, jutting a hundred and fifty yards into the sea. +When he neared the neck of the point, which was but some twenty +yards wide, Archie bade his followers fall back a short distance. +</P> + +<P> +"I will ride," he said, "close up to the castle walls. My armour +is good, and I care not for arrow or crossbow bolt. It were best +you fell back a little, for they may have horses and may sally out +in pursuit. I am well mounted and fear not being overtaken, but it +were best that you should have a good start." +</P> + +<P> +Archie then rode forward toward the castle. Seeing a knight +approaching alone the garrison judged that he was friendly, and it +was not until it was seen that instead of approaching the drawbridge +he turned aside and rode to the edge of the fosse, that they +suspected that he was a foe. Running to the walls they opened fire +with arrows upon him, but by this time Archie had seen all that +he required. Across the promontory ran a sort of fissure, some ten +yards wide and as many deep. From the opposite edge of this the +wall rose abruptly. Here assault would be difficult, and it was +upon the gateway that an attack must be made. Several arrows had +struck his armour and glanced off, and Archie now turned and quietly +rode away, his horse being protected by mail like himself. Scarce +had he turned when he saw a sight which caused him for a moment +to draw rein. Coming at full gallop toward the promontory was a +strong body of English horse, flying the banner of Sir Ingram de +Umfraville. They were already nearer to the end of the neck than +he was. There was no mode of escape, and drawing his sword he +galloped at full speed to meet them. As he neared them Sir Ingram +himself, one of the doughtiest of Edward's knights, rode out with +levelled lance to meet him. At full gallop the knights charged +each other. Sir Ingram's spear was pointed at the bars of Archie's +helmet, but as the horses met each other Archie with a blow of his +sword cut off the head of the lance and dealt a tremendous backhanded +blow upon Sir Ingram's helmet as the latter passed him, striking +the knight forward on to his horse's neck; then without pausing a +moment he dashed into the midst of the English ranks. +</P> + +<P> +The horsemen closed around him, and although he cut down several +with his sweeping blows he was unable to break his way through them. +Such a conflict could not last long. Archie received a blow from +behind which struck him from his horse. Regaining his feet he +continued the fight, but the blows rained thick upon him, and he +was soon struck senseless to the ground. +</P> + +<P> +When he recovered he was in a room in the keep of the castle. Two +knights were sitting at a table near the couch on which he was lying. +"Ah!" exclaimed one, on seeing Archie open his eyes and move, "I +am glad to see your senses coming back to you, sir prisoner. Truly, +sir, I regret that so brave a knight should have fallen into my +hands, seeing that in this war we must needs send our prisoners +to King Edward, whose treatment of them is not, I must e'en own, +gentle; for indeed you fought like any paladin. I deemed not that +there was a knight in Scotland, save the Bruce himself, who could +have so borne himself; and never did I, Ingram de Umfraville, come +nearer to losing my seat than I did from that backhanded blow you +dealt me. My head rings with it still. My helmet will never be +fit to wear again, and as the leech said when plastering my head, +'had not my skull been of the thickest, you had assuredly cut +through it.' May I crave the name of so brave an antagonist?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am Sir Archibald Forbes," Archie replied. +</P> + +<P> +"By St. Jago!" the knight said, "but I am sorry for it, seeing that, +save Bruce himself, there is none in the Scottish ranks against +whom King Edward is so bitter. In the days of Wallace there was no +one whose name was more often on our lips than that of Sir Archibald +Forbes, and now, under Bruce, it is ever coming to the front. I had +thought to have asked Edward as a boon that I should have kept you +as my prisoner until exchanged for one on our side, but being Sir +Archibald Forbes I know that it were useless indeed; nevertheless, +sir knight, I will send to King Edward, begging him to look mercifully +upon your case, seeing how bravely and honourably you have fought." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks for your good offices, Sir Ingram," Archie replied, "but +I shall ask for no mercy for myself. I have never owed or paid him +allegiance, but, as a true Scot, have fought for my country against +a foreign enemy." +</P> + +<P> +"But King Edward does not hold himself to be a foreign enemy," the +knight said, "seeing that Baliol, your king, with Comyn and all +your great nobles, did homage to him as Lord Paramount of Scotland." +</P> + +<P> +"It were an easy way," Archie rejoined, "to gain a possession to +nominate a puppet from among the nobles already your vassals, and +then to get him to do homage. No, sir knight, neither Comyn nor +Baliol, nor any other of the Anglo-Norman nobles who hold estate +in Scotland, have a right to speak for her, or to barter away her +freedom. That is what Wallace and thousands of Scotchmen have fought +and died to protest against, and what Scotchmen will do until their +country is free." +</P> + +<P> +"It is not a question for me to argue upon," Sir Ingram said +surlily. "King Edward bids me fight in Scotland, and as his knight +and vassal I put on my harness without question. But I own to +you that seeing I have fought beside him in Gascony, when he, as +a feudal vassal of the King of France, made war upon his lord, I +cannot see that the offence is an unpardonable one when you Scotchmen +do the same here. Concerning the lawfulness of his claim to be +your lord paramount, I own that I neither know nor care one jot. +However, sir, I regret much that you have fallen into my hands, +for to Carlisle, where the king has long been lying, as you have +doubtless heard, grievously ill, I must forthwith send you. I must +leave you here with the governor, for in half an hour I mount and +ride away with my troop. He will do his best to make your sojourn +here easy until such time as I may have an opportunity of sending +you by ship to Carlisle; and now farewell, sir," he said, giving +Archie his hand, "I regret that an unkind chance has thrown so +gallant a knight into my hands, and that my duty to the king forbids +me from letting you go free." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks, Sir Ingram," Archie replied. "I have ever heard of you +as a brave knight, and if this misfortune must fall upon me, would +sooner that I should have been captured by you than by one of less +fame and honour." +</P> + +<P> +The governor now had a meal with some wine set before Archie, and +then left him alone. +</P> + +<P> +"I am not at Carlisle yet," Archie said to himself. "Unless +I mistake, we shall have Sir James thundering at the gate before +morning. Cluny will assuredly have ridden off at full speed to carry +the news when he saw that I was cut off, and e'en now he will be +marching towards the castle." As he expected, Archie was roused +before morning by a tremendous outburst of noise. Heavy blows were +given, followed by a crash, which Archie judged to be the fall of +the drawbridge across the fosse. He guessed that some of Douglas's +men had crept forward noiselessly, had descended the fosse, and +managed to climb up to the gate, and had then suddenly attacked +with their axes the chains of the drawbridge. +</P> + +<P> +A prodigious uproar raged in the castle. Orders were shouted, and +the garrison, aroused from their sleep, snatched up their arms +and hastened to the walls. Outside rose the war cry, "A Douglas! A +Douglas!" mingled with others of, "Glen Cairn to the rescue!" For +a few minutes all was confusion, then a light suddenly burst up +and grew every instant more and more bright. +</P> + +<P> +"Douglas has piled faggots against the gates," Archie said to +himself. "Another quarter of an hour and the castle will be his." +</P> + +<P> +Three or four minutes later the governor with six soldiers, two +of whom bore torches, entered the room. "You must come along at +once, sir knight," the governor said. "The attack is of the fiercest, +and I know not whether we shall make head against it, but at any +rate I must not risk your being recaptured, and must therefore +place you in a boat and send you off without delay to the castle +at Port Patrick." +</P> + +<P> +It was in vain for Archie to think of resistance, he was unarmed +and helpless. Two of the soldiers laid hands on him and hurried +him along until they reached the lower chambers of the castle. The +governor unlocked a door, and with one of the torch bearers led +the way down some narrow steps. These were some fifty in number, +and then a level passage ran along for some distance. Another door +was opened, and the fresh breeze blew upon them as they issued +forth. They stood on some rocks at the foot of the promontory on +which the castle stood. A large boat lay close at hand, drawn to +the shore. Archie and the six soldiers entered her; four of the +latter took the oars, and the others seated themselves by their +prisoner, and then the boat rowed away, while the governor returned +to aid in the defence of the castle. +</P> + +<P> +The boat was but a quarter of a mile away when on the night air +came the sound of a wild outburst of triumphant shouts which told +that the Scots had won their way into the castle. With muttered +curses the men bent to their oars and every minute took them further +away from Knockbawn. +</P> + +<P> +Archie was bitterly disappointed. He had reckoned confidently on +the efforts of Douglas to deliver him, and the possibility of his +being sent off by sea had not entered his mind. It seemed to him +now that his fate was sealed. He had noticed on embarking that +there were no other boats lying at the foot of the promontory, and +pursuit would therefore be impossible. +</P> + +<P> +After rowing eight hours the party reached Port Patrick, where Archie +was delivered by the soldiers to the governor with a message from +their commander saying that the prisoner, Sir Archibald Forbes, +was a captive of great importance, and was, by the orders of Sir +Ingram de Umfraville who had captured him, to be sent on to Carlisle +to the king when a ship should be going thither. A fortnight passed +before a vessel sailed. Archie was placed in irons and so securely +guarded in his dungeon that escape was altogether impossible. So +harsh was his confinement that he longed for the time when a vessel +would sail for Carlisle, even though he was sure that the same fate +which had attended so many of Scotland's best and bravest knights +awaited him there. +</P> + +<P> +The winds were contrary, and the vessel was ten days upon the +voyage. Upon reaching Carlisle Archie was handed to the governor +of the castle, and the next morning was conducted to the presence +of the king himself. The aged monarch, in the last extremity of +sickness, lay upon a couch. Several of his nobles stood around him. +</P> + +<P> +"So," he said as the prisoner was brought before him, "this is +Archibald Forbes, the one companion of the traitor Wallace who has +hitherto escaped my vengeance. So, young sir, you have ventured +to brave my anger and to think yourself capable of coping with the +Lion of England." +</P> + +<P> +"I have done my utmost, sir king," Archie said firmly, "such as +it was, for the freedom of my country. No traitor am I, nor was my +leader Wallace. Nor he, nor I, ever took vow of allegiance to you, +maintaining ever that the kings of England had neither claim nor +right over Scotland. He has been murdered, foully and dishonourably, +as you will doubtless murder me, and as you have killed many nobler +knights and gentlemen; but others will take our places, and so the +fight will go on until Scotland is free." +</P> + +<P> +"Scotland will never be free," the king said with angry vehemence. +"Rather than that, she shall cease to exist, and I will slay till +there is not one of Scottish blood, man, woman, or child, to bear +the name. Let him be taken to Berwick," he said; "there let him be +exposed for a week in a cage outside the castle, that the people +may see what sort of a man this is who matches himself against the +might of England. Then let him be hung, drawn, and quartered, his +head sent to London, and his limbs distributed between four Scotch +cities." +</P> + +<P> +"I go, sir king," Archie said, as the attendants advanced to seize +him, "and at the end of the week I will meet you before the throne +of God, for you, methinks, will have gone thither before me, and +there will I tax you with all your crimes, with the slaughter of +tens of thousands of Scottish men, women, and children, with cities +destroyed and countries wasted, and with the murder in cold blood +of a score of noble knights whose sole offence was that they fought +for their native country." +</P> + +<P> +With these words Archie turned and walked proudly from the king's +presence. An involuntary murmur of admiration at his fearless bearing +escaped from the knights and nobles assembled round the couch of +the dying monarch. +</P> + +<P> +When, two days later, Archie entered the gates of Berwick Castle +the bells of the city were tolling, for a horseman had just ridden +in with the news that Edward had expired on the evening before, +being the 6th day of July, 1307, just at the moment when he was +on the point of starting with the great army he had assembled to +crush out the insurrection in Scotland. +</P> + +<P> +So deep was his hate for the people who had dared to oppose his will +that when dying he called before him his eldest son, and in the +presence of his barons caused him to swear upon the saints that so +soon as he should be dead his body should be boiled in a cauldron +until the flesh should be separated from the bones, after which the +flesh should be committed to the earth, but the bones preserved, +and that, as often as the people of Scotland rebelled, the military +array of the kingdom should be summoned and the bones carried at +the head of the army into Scotland. His heart he directed should +be conveyed to and deposited in the Holy Land. +</P> + +<P> +So died Edward I, a champion of the Holy Sepulchre, King of England, +Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine, conqueror of Wales, and would +be conqueror of Scotland. In many respects his reign was a great +and glorious one, for he was more than a great conqueror, he was, +to England, a wise and noble king; and taken altogether he was +perhaps the greatest of the Plantagenets. +</P> + +<P> +Historians have striven to excuse and palliate his conduct toward +Scotland. They have glossed over his crimes and tried to explain +away the records of his deeds of savage atrocity, and to show that +his claims to that kingdom, which had not a shadow of foundation +save from the submission of her Anglo-Norman nobles, almost all of +whom were his own vassals and owned estates in England, were just +and righteous. Such is not the true function of history. Edward's +sole claim to Scotland was that he was determined to unite under his +rule England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, and he failed because +the people of Scotland, deserted as they were by all their natural +leaders, preferred death to such a slavery as that under which +Ireland and Wales helplessly groaned. His dying wishes were not +observed. His body was laid in rest in Westminster Abbey, and on +the tomb was inscribed, "Edward I the mallet of the Scots." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Escape from Berwick +</H3> + +<P> +On entering the castle Archie was at once conducted to a sort of +cage which had been constructed for a previous prisoner. On the +outside of a small cell a framework of stout beams had been erected. +It was seven feet in height, six feet wide, and three feet deep. +The bars were four inches round, and six inches apart. There was +a door leading into the cell behind. This was closed in the daytime, +so that the prisoner remained in the cage in sight of passersby, +but at night the governor, who was a humane man, allowed the door +to remain unlocked, so that the prisoner could enter the inner cell +and lie down there. +</P> + +<P> +The position of the cage was about twenty-five feet above the +moat. The moat itself was some forty feet wide, and a public path +ran along the other side, and people passing here had a full view +of the prisoner. There were still many of Scottish birth in the +town in spite of the efforts which Edward had made to convert it +into a complete English colony, and although the English were in +the majority, Archie was subject to but little insult or annoyance. +Although for the present in English possession, Berwick had always +been a Scotch town, and might yet again from the fortune of war +fall into Scottish hands. Therefore even those most hostile to them +felt that it would be prudent to restrain from any demonstrations +against the Scottish prisoners, since in the event of the city +again changing hands a bloody retaliation might be dealt them. +Occasionally a passing boy would shout out an epithet of contempt +or hatred or throw a stone at the prisoner, but such trifles were +unheeded by him. More often men or women passing would stop and +gaze up at him with pitying looks, and would go away wiping their +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Archie, after the first careful examination of his cell, at once +abandoned any idea of escape from it. The massive bars would have +defied the strength of twenty men, and he had no instrument of any +sort with which he could cut them. There was, he felt, nothing +before him but death; and although he feared this little for +himself, he felt sad indeed as he thought of the grief of Marjory +and his mother. +</P> + +<P> +The days passed slowly. Five had gone without an incident, and but +two remained, for he knew that there was no chance of any change +in the sentence which Edward had passed, even were his son more +disposed than he toward merciful measures to the Scots, which Archie +had no warrant for supposing. The new king's time would be too +closely engaged in the affairs entailed by his accession to rank, +the arrangement of his father's funeral, and the details of the +army advancing against Scotland, to give a thought to the prisoner +whose fate had been determined by his father. +</P> + +<P> +Absorbed in his own thoughts Archie seldom looked across the moat, +and paid no heed to those who passed or who paused to look at him. +</P> + +<P> +On the afternoon of the fifth day, however, his eye was caught by +two women who were gazing up at the cage. It was the immobility of +their attitude and the length of time which they continued to gaze +at him, which attracted his attention. +</P> + +<P> +In a moment he started violently and almost gave a cry, for in +one of them he recognized his wife, Marjory. The instant that the +women saw that he had observed them they turned away and walked +carelessly and slowly along the road. Archie could hardly believe +that his eyesight had not deceived him. It seemed impossible that +Marjory, whom he deemed a hundred miles away, in his castle at +Aberfilly, should be here in the town of Berwick, and yet when he +thought it over he saw that it might well be so. There was indeed +ample time for her to have made the journey two or three times while +he had been lying in prison at Port Patrick awaiting a ship. She +would be sure, when the news reached her of his capture, that he +would be taken to Edward at Carlisle, and that he would be either +executed there or at Berwick. It was then by no means impossible, +strange and wondrous as it appeared to him, that Marjory should be +in Berwick. +</P> + +<P> +She was attired in the garment of a peasant woman of the better +class, such as the wife of a small crofter or farmer, and remembering +how she had saved his life before at Dunstaffnage, Archie felt that +she had come hither to try to rescue him. +</P> + +<P> +Archie's heart beat with delight and his eyes filled with tears at +the devotion and courage of Marjory, and for the first time since +he had been hurried into the boat on the night of his capture a +feeling of hope entered his breast. Momentary as the glance had +been which he had obtained of the face of Marjory's companion, +Archie had perceived that it was in some way familiar to him. In +vain he recalled the features of the various servants at Aberfilly, +and those of the wives and daughters of the retainers of the estate; +he could not recognize the face of the woman accompanying Marjory +as belonging to any of them. His wife might, indeed, have brought +with her some one from the estates at Ayr whom she had known from +a child, but in that case Archie could not account for his knowledge +of her. This, however, did not occupy his mind many minutes; it +was assuredly one whom Marjory trusted, and that was sufficient +for him. Then his thoughts turned wholly to his wife. +</P> + +<P> +Any one who had noticed the prisoner's demeanor for the last few +days would have been struck with the change which had come over +it. Hitherto he had stood often for hours leaning motionless, with +his arms crossed, in the corner of his cage, with head bent down and +listless air, his thoughts only being busy; now he paced restlessly +up and down his narrow limits, two steps each way and then a turn, +like a caged beast; his hands were clenched, his breast heaved, +his breath came fast, his head was thrown back, often he brushed +his hand across his eyes, and rapid words came from his lips. +</P> + +<P> +The sun sank. An hour later a jailer brought his jug of water and +piece of bread, and then, without a word, retired, leaving, as usual, +the door into the cell open, but carefully locking and barring the +inner door. Archie had a longer walk now, from the front of the +cage to the back of the cell, and for three hours he paced up and +down. Sometimes he paused and listened attentively. The sounds in +the town gradually died away and all became still, save that he +could hear the calls of the warder on the battlement above him. +The night was a very dark one and he could scarcely make out the +gleam of water in the moat below. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly something struck him a sharp blow on the face and fell at +his feet. He stooped and picked it up, it was an arrow with a wad +of wool fastened round its point to prevent it from making a noise +should it strike the wall or cage; to the other end was attached a +piece of string. Archie drew it in until he felt that it was held +firmly, then after a moment the hold relaxed somewhat, and the +string again yielded as he drew it. It was now, he felt, taut from +the other side of the moat. Presently a stout rope, amply sufficient +to bear his weight, came into his hands. At the point of junction +was attached some object done up in flannel. This he opened, and +found that it was a fine saw and a small bottle containing oil. He +fastened the rope securely to one of the bars and at once commenced +to saw asunder one of the others. In five minutes two cuts had +been noiselessly made, and a portion of the bar five feet long came +away. He now tried the rope and found that it was tightly stretched, +and evidently fixed to some object on the other side of the moat. +He grasped it firmly with his arms and legs and slid rapidly down +it. +</P> + +<P> +In another minute he was grasped by some strong arms which checked +his rapid progress and enabled him to gain his feet without the +slightest noise. As he did so a woman threw her arms round him, +and he exchanged a passionate but silent embrace with Marjory. Then +she took his hand and with noiseless steps they proceeded down the +road. He had before starting removed his shoes and put them in his +pockets. Marjory and her companion had also removed their shoes, +and even the keenest ears upon the battlements would have heard +no sound as they proceeded along the road. Fifty yards farther and +they were among the houses. Here they stopped a minute and put on +their shoes, and then continued their way. Not a word was spoken +until they had traversed several streets and stopped at the door +of a house in a quiet lane; it yielded to Marjory's touch, she and +Archie entered, and their follower closed and fastened it after +them. +</P> + +<P> +The moment this was done Marjory threw her arms round Archie's neck +with a burst of tears of joy and relief. While Archie was soothing +her the third person stirred up the embers on the hearth and threw +on a handful of dry wood. +</P> + +<P> +"And who is your companion?" Archie asked, after the first transports +of joy and thankfulness were past. +</P> + +<P> +"What! don't you recognize Cluny?" Marjory asked, laughing through +her tears. +</P> + +<P> +"Cluny! of course," Archie exclaimed, grasping his follower's hand +in his. "I only caught a glimpse of your face and knew that it was +familiar to me, but in vain tried to recall its owner. Why, Cluny, +it is a long time since you went dressed as a girl into Ayr! And +so it is my good friend who had shared my wife's dangers." +</P> + +<P> +"He has done more than that, Archie," Marjory said, "for it was +to him that I owe my first idea of coming here. The moment after +the castle was taken and it was found that you had been carried +off in a boat by the English, Cluny started to tell me the news. +Your mother and I were beside ourselves with grief, and Cluny, to +comfort us, said, 'Do not despair yet, my lady; my lord shall not +be killed by the English if I can prevent it. The master and I +have been in a good many dangers, and have always come out of them +safe; it shall not be my fault if he does not slip through their +hands yet.' 'Why, what can you do, Cluny?' I said. 'I don't know +what I can do yet,' he replied; 'that must depend upon circumstances. +My lord is sure to be taken to Carlisle, and I shall go south to +see if I cannot get him out of prison. I have often gone among the +English garrisons disguised as a woman, and no one in Carlisle is +likely to ask me my business there.' It was plain to me at once that +if Cluny could go to your aid, so could I, and I at once told him +that I should accompany him. Cluny raised all sorts of objections, +but to these I would not listen, but brought him to my will by saying, +that if he thought my being with him would add to his difficulties +I would go alone, but that go I certainly would. So without more +ado we got these dresses and made south. We had a few narrow +escapes of falling into the hands of parties of English, but at last +we crossed the frontier and made to Carlisle. Three days later we +heard of your arrival, and the next morning all men were talking +about your defiance of the king, and that you had been sent to Berwick +for execution at the end of the week. So we journeyed hither and +got here the day after you arrived. The first step was to find +a Scotchwoman whom we might trust. This, by great luck, we did, +and Mary Martin, who lives in this house, is a true Scotchwoman, +and will help us to the extent of her power; she is poor, for her +husband, who is an Englishman, had for some time been ill, and died +but yesterday. He was, by what she says, a hard man and cruel, and +his death is no grief to her, and Mary will, if she can, return +with her daughter to Roxburgh, where her relations live, and where +she married her husband, who was a soldier in the English garrison +there." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Marjory," Archie said, "have you thought how we are to escape +hence; though I am free from the castle I am still within the walls +of Berwick, and when, tomorrow, they find that I have escaped, they +will search every nook and corner of the town. I had best without +delay try and make my way over the walls." +</P> + +<P> +"That was the plan Cluny and I first thought of," Marjory replied; +"but owing to the raids of the Douglas on the border, so strict +a watch is kept on the walls that it would be difficult indeed to +pass. Cluny has tried a dozen times each night, but the watch is +so vigilant that he has each time failed to make his way past them, +but has been challenged and has had several arrows discharged at +him. The guard at the gates is extremely strict, and all carts that +pass in and out are searched. Could you have tried to pass before +your escape was known you might no doubt have done so in disguise, +but the alarm will be given before the gates are open in the morning, +and your chance of passing through undetected then would be small +indeed. The death of the man Martin suggested a plan to me. I +have proposed it to his wife, and she has fallen in with it. I +have promised her a pension for her life should we succeed, but I +believe she would have done it even without reward, for she is a +true Scotchwoman. When she heard who it was that I was trying to +rescue, she said at once she would risk anything to save the life +of one of Scotland's best and bravest champions; while, on the other +hand, she cares not enough for her husband to offer any objection +to my plans for the disposal of his body." +</P> + +<P> +"But what are your plans, Marjory?" +</P> + +<P> +"All the neighbours know that Martin is dead; they believe that Cluny +is Mary's sister and I her niece, and she has told them that she +shall return with us to Roxburgh. Martin was a native of a village +four miles hence, and she is going to bury him with his fathers +there. Now I have proposed to her that Martin shall be buried +beneath the wood store here, and that you shall take his place in +the coffin." +</P> + +<P> +"It is a capital idea, Marjory," Archie said, "and will assuredly +succeed if any plan can do so. The only fear is that the search +will be so hot in the morning that the soldiers may even insist +upon looking into the coffin." +</P> + +<P> +"We have thought of that," Marjory said, "and dare not risk it. +We must expect every house to be searched in the morning, and have +removed some tiles in the attic. At daybreak you must creep out +on the roof, replace the tiles, and remain hidden there until the +search is over. Martin will be laid in the coffin. Thus, even +should they lift the lid, no harm will come of it. Directly they +have gone, Cluny will bring you down, and you and he dig the grave +in the floor of the woodshed and place Martin there, then you +will take his place in the coffin, which will be placed in a cart +already hired, and Cluny, I, Mrs. Martin, and her daughter will +then set out with it." +</P> + +<P> +Soon after daybreak the quick strokes of the alarm bell at the +castle told the inhabitants of Berwick that a prisoner had escaped. +Archie at once betook himself to his place of concealment on the +roof. He replaced the tiles, and Cluny carefully obliterated all +signs of the place of exit from within. A great hubbub had by +this time arisen in the street. Trumpets were blowing, and parties +of soldiers moving about in all directions. The gates remained +unopened, orders being given that none should pass through without +a special order from the governor. +</P> + +<P> +The sentries on the wall were doubled, and then a house to house +search was commenced, every possible place of concealment being +rummaged from basement to attic. Presently the searchers entered the +lane in which Mrs. Martin lived. The latch was ere long lifted, +and a sergeant and six soldiers burst into the room. The sight +which they beheld quieted their first noisy exclamations. Four +women in deep mourning were kneeling by a rough coffin placed on +trestles. One of them gave a faint scream as they entered, and Mary +Martin, rising to her feet, said: +</P> + +<P> +"What means this rough intrusion?" +</P> + +<P> +"It means," the sergeant said, "that a prisoner has escaped from +the castle, one Archibald Forbes, a pestilent Scotch traitor. He +has been aided by friends from without, and as the sentries were +watchful all night, he must be hidden somewhere in the town, and +every house is to be searched." +</P> + +<P> +"You can search if you will," the woman said, resuming the position +on her knees. "As you see, this is a house of mourning, seeing +that my husband is dead, and is today to be buried in his native +village, three miles away." +</P> + +<P> +"He won't be buried today," the sergeant said; "for the gates are +not to be opened save by a special order from the governor. Now, +lads," he went on, turning to the men, "search the place from top +to bottom, examine all the cupboards and sound the floors, turn over +all the wood in the shed, and leave not a single place unsearched +where a mouse could be hid." +</P> + +<P> +The soldiers scattered through the house, and were soon heard +knocking the scanty furniture about and sounding the floors and +walls. At last they returned saying that nothing was to be found. +</P> + +<P> +"And now," the sergeant said, "I must have a look in that coffin. +Who knows but what the traitor Scot may be hid in there!" +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Martin leaped to her feet. +</P> + +<P> +"You shall not touch the coffin," she said; "I will not have the +remains of my husband disturbed." The sergeant pushed her roughly +aside, and with the end of his pike prised up the lid of the coffin, +while Mrs. Martin and the other three mourners screamed lustily +and wrung their hands in the greatest grief at this desecration of +the dead. +</P> + +<P> +Just as the sergeant opened the coffin and satisfied himself that +a dead man really lay within, an officer, attracted by the screams, +entered the room. +</P> + +<P> +"What is this, sergeant?" he asked angrily. "The orders were to +search the house, but none were given you to trouble the inmates." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Martin began volubly to complain of the conduct of the soldiers +in wrenching open the coffin. +</P> + +<P> +"It was a necessary duty, my good woman," the officer said, "seeing +that a living man might have been carried away instead of a dead +one; however, I see all is right." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, kind sir!" Mrs. Martin said, sobbing, "is it true what this +man tells me, that there is no passage through the gates today? I +have hired a cart to take away my husband's body; the grave is dug, +and the priest will be waiting. Kind sir, I pray of you to get me +a pass to sally out with it, together with my daughter, sister, +and niece." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," the officer said kindly, "I will do as you wish. I +shall be seeing the governor presently to make my report to him; +and as I have myself seen the dead body can vouch that no ruse +is intended. But assuredly no pass will be given for any man to +accompany you; and the Scot, who is a head and shoulders taller +than any of you, would scarcely slip out in a woman's garment. When +will the cart be here?" +</P> + +<P> +"At noon," the woman replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well; an hour before that time a soldier will bring out the +pass. Now, sergeant, have you searched the rest of the house?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir; thoroughly, and nothing suspicious has been found." +</P> + +<P> +"Draw off your men, then, and proceed, with your search elsewhere." +</P> + +<P> +No sooner had the officer and men departed than Cluny ran upstairs, +and removing two of the tiles, whispered to Archie that all was +clear. The hole was soon enlarged, and Archie re-entering, the pair +descended to the woodshed which adjoined the kitchen, and there, +with a spade and mattock which Cluny had purchased on the preceding +day, they set to work to dig a grave. In two hours it was completed. +The body of John Martin was lowered into it, the earth replaced +and trodden down hard, and the wood again piled on to it. +</P> + +<P> +At eleven o'clock a soldier entered with the governor's pass +ordering the soldier at the gate to allow a cart with the body of +John Martin, accompanied by four women, to pass out from the town. +</P> + +<P> +At the appointed time the cart arrived. Archie now took his place +in the coffin. His face was whitened, and a winding sheet wrapped +round him, lest by an evil chance any should insist on again +looking into the coffin. Then some neighbours came in and assisted +in placing the coffin in the cart. The driver took his place beside +it, and the four women, with their hoods drawn over their heads, +fell in behind it weeping bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +When they arrived at the gate the officer in charge carefully read +the order, and then gave the order for the gate to be opened. "But +stop," he said, "this pass says nothing about a driver, and though +this man in no way resembles the description of the doughty Scot, +yet as he is not named in the pass I cannot let him pass." There +was a moment's pause of consternation, and then Cluny said: +</P> + +<P> +"Sister Mary, I will lead the horse. When all is in readiness, and +the priest waits, we cannot turn back on such a slight cause." As +the driver of the cart knew Mary Martin, he offered no objection, +and descended from his seat. Cluny took the reins, and, walking by +the side of the horse's head, led him through the gates as these +were opened, the others following behind. As soon as they were +through, the gate closed behind them, and they were safely out of +the town of Berwick. +</P> + +<P> +So long as they were within sight of the walls they proceeded at +a slow pace without change of position, and although Cluny then +quickened the steps of his horse, no other change was made until two +miles further they reached a wood. Then Cluny leapt into the cart +and wrenched off the lid of the coffin. It had been but lightly +nailed down, and being but roughly made there were plenty of crevices +through which the air could pass. +</P> + +<P> +"Quick, Sir Archie!" he said, "let us get this thing out of the +cart before any person happen to come along." +</P> + +<P> +The coffin was lifted from the cart, and carried some short +distance into the wood. A few vigorous kicks separated the planks +which composed it. These were taken and thrust separately among +bushes at some little distance from each other. Cluny then unrolled +the bundle which he had brought from the cart, and handed to Archie +a suit of clothes fitted for a farmer. These Archie quickly put +on, then he returned to the cart, which he mounted, and took the +reins. The others got up behind him and seated themselves on the +straw in the bottom of the cart. Then Archie gave the horse a smart +cut with his whip, and the cart proceeded at a steady trot along +the road to the west. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Progress of the War +</H3> + +<P> +A mile or two after leaving Berwick the cart had left the main road +running by the coast through Dunbar to Edinburgh, and had struck +west by a country track. But few houses were met with, as the +whole of the country within many miles of the sea had been harried +and devastated by the various English armies which had advanced +from Berwick. After proceeding for some miles they came to a point +where the track they had been following terminated at a little hamlet +among the hills. Here they left the cart, making an arrangement with +one of the villagers to drive it back on the morrow into Berwick. +They were now beyond all risk of pursuit, and need fear nothing +further until they reached the great north roads running from +Carlisle to Edinburgh and Stirling. Cluny therefore resumed male +attire. They had no difficulty in purchasing a couple of swords +from the peasants of the village, and armed with these they started +with Marjory and the two women over the hills. It was early autumn +now; the weather was magnificent, and they made the distance in +quiet stages, and crossing the Pentlands came down upon Aberfilly +without meeting with a single danger or obstacle. +</P> + +<P> +It needs not to describe the joy of Archie's mother at his return. +The news spread like lightning among the tenantry, and in an hour +after the wayfarers reached the castle men and women could be seen +flocking over the hills at the top of their speed to express their +delight and enthusiasm at their lord's return. By nightfall every +tenant on the estate, save those prevented by age or illness, had +assembled at the castle, and the rejoicings which had taken place +at the marriage of their lord were but tame and quiet beside the +boisterous enthusiasm which was now exhibited. +</P> + +<P> +Although Marjory had at first been welcomed for the sake of her +husband, the fact that she was a Kerr had excited a deep though +hidden hostility to her in the minds both of those who had been +her father's vassals at Aberfilly, and the old retainers of the +Forbeses at Glen Cairn. The devotion and courage which she had shown +in the defence of the castle and in the enterprise for the rescue +of their lord swept away every vestige of this feeling, and henceforth +Marjory ranked in their affections with Archie himself, and there +was not a man upon the estate but felt that he could die for her +if needs be. +</P> + +<P> +After a week's stay at home Archie rode away and joined the king, +taking, however, but four or five retainers with him. Bruce received +him with extreme warmth. He had heard of his capture, and the news +that he was condemned to die at Berwick had also reached him, and +he had no doubt but Archie had shared the fate which had befallen +his own brothers and so many of his bravest friends. His pleasure, +therefore, equalled his surprise when his brave follower rode into +his camp. Many of Archie's friends assembled as soon as it was +known that he had arrived; and after the first greetings the king +asked him for a recital of the means by which he had escaped from +the fate decreed him by Edward. Archie related the whole story, +and at its conclusion the king called to his attendants to bring +goblets and wine. +</P> + +<P> +"Sirs," he said, "let us drink to the health of Mistress Marjory +Forbes, one of the bravest and truest of Scotch women. Would to +Heaven that all the men of our country were animated by as noble and +courageous feelings! Our friend, Sir Archibald Forbes, has indeed +won a jewel, and I take no small credit to myself that I was the +first who advised him to make Mistress Kerr his wife." +</P> + +<P> +The toast was given with enthusiasm; but Archie afterwards protested +against the king assuming any credit to himself in the matter, since, +although it was true that he had advised him to marry Mistress Mary +Kerr, he had wished him to abandon, for her sake, Mistress Marjory, +the niece of Alexander MacDougall, who had set him free from her +uncle's hold of Dunstaffnage. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Archie," the king said, when they were again alone together, +"I suppose, seeing that you have come hither without your following, +that you wish for a time to remain quiet at home, and seeing that +you have suffered severe imprisonment and a grievous risk of death +in my cause, methinks you have well earned the right to rest quiet +for a while with your brave lady. At present I can dispense with +the services of your retainers. Most of the low country is now in +my hands, and the English garrisons dare not venture out of their +strong places. The army that the King of England collected to crush +us has been, I hear, much disorganized by his death, and the barons +will doubtless wring concessions and privileges from his son before +they spread their banners to the wind again. From all reports the +new king has but little of his father's ability and energy, and +months may elapse before any serious effort is made against us. +I am despatching my brother Edward to join Douglas in subduing +Galloway, and during his absence I shall be content to remain here +in the field with a small following, for the English governors +of the towns will, methinks, stand only on the defensive, until a +strong army marches north from England. When Galloway is subdued +the lowlands will be all in my hands save for the English garrisons, +and I shall on Edward's return set myself to punish the Comyns and +the other traitor nobles of the north, who are well nigh all hand +and glove with the English. So long as Scotland has such powerful +enemies in her midst she cannot hope to cope with the forces which +England can send against her. Alone and united the task is one +which will tax her strength to the utmost, seeing that England is +in wealth and population so far her superior, and Edward disposes +of the force of Ireland, of Wales, and of Gascony; therefore my +first task must be to root out these traitor nobles from among us. +When I move north I shall need your company and your strength; but +until Edward has cleared the English out of Galloway, captured the +strongholds, and reduced it to obedience, you can stop in Aberfilly, +and there at times, when I have no enterprise on hand and can take +a few days, I will come and rest if you will give me hospitality." +</P> + +<P> +So until the following spring Archie Forbes remained quietly and +most happily at home. Several times the king came and stayed a few +days at Aberfilly, where he was safe against surprise and treachery. +Not long after Archie's return home, Father Anselm arrived, to +Archie's satisfaction and the great joy of Marjory, and took up +his abode there. +</P> + +<P> +In the spring Archie, with his retainers, joined the king, who was +gathering his army for his march into the north. During the winter +Galloway had been subdued, and Douglas being left in the south as +commander there, Edward Bruce joined his brother, around whom also +gathered the Earl of Lennox, Sir Gilbert de la Haye, and others. +The position in Scotland was now singular: the whole of the +country south of the Forth was favourable to Bruce, but the English +held Roxburgh, Jedburgh, Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Bothwell, +Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Stirling, and Dumbarton. North of the Forth +nearly the whole of the country was hostile to the king, and the +fortresses of Perth, Dundee, Forfar, Brechin, Aberdeen, Inverness, +and many smaller holds, were occupied by English garrisons. +</P> + +<P> +The centre of hostility to Bruce, north of the Forth, lay in the two +great earls, the Comyns of Badenoch and Buchan, and their allies. +Between them and Bruce a hatred existed beyond that caused by +their taking opposite sides. Comyn of Badenoch was the son of the +man Bruce had slain at Dumfries, while Buchan hated him even more, +since his wife, the countess, had espoused the cause of Bruce and +had crowned him at Scone, and was now shamefully imprisoned in the +cage at Berwick. It must be supposed that Buchan's anger against +his countess was as deep and implacable as that of Edward himself, +for, as the English king's most powerful ally in Scotland, he could +surely have obtained the pardon and release of his wife had he +desired it. On the other hand, Bruce had a private grudge against +Comyn, for upon him had been conferred Bruce's lordship of Annandale, +and he had entered into possession and even occupied the family +castle of Lochmaben. +</P> + +<P> +The king and his army marched north, and were joined by Alexander +and Simon Frazer, with their followers. They marched to Inverness, +which, with various other castles in the north, they captured. All of +these castles were, when taken, destroyed, as Bruce had determined +to leave no strongholds in the land for the occupation of his +enemies. He himself could not spare men to hold them, and their +capture was useless if upon his retirement they could again be +occupied by the enemy. Returning southward they were encountered +by an army under Buchan, composed of his own retainers and a party +of English. This force was completely defeated. +</P> + +<P> +To the consternation of his followers Bruce was now attacked by a +wasting illness, which so enfeebled him that he was unable to sit +on his horse; it was the result of the many privations and hardships +which he had undergone since the fight at Methven. His brother, +Lennox, the Frazers, and Archie Forbes held a council and agreed +that rest for some time was absolutely necessary for the king, and +that sea air might be beneficial to him. They therefore resolved +to move eastward to the Castle of Slaines, on the sea coast +near Peterhead. That such a step was attended by great peril they +well knew, for the Comyns would gather the whole strength of the +Highlands, with accessions from the English garrisons, and besiege +them there. The king's health, however, was a paramount consideration; +were he to die, the blow might be fatal to Scotland, accordingly +the little force marched eastward. They reached Slaines without +interruption, and as they expected the castle was soon surrounded and +besieged by the forces of Buchan, who had been joined by Sir John +Mowbray and Sir David de Brechin, nephew of the King of England. For +some time the siege went on, but the assailants gained but little +advantage, and indeed trusted rather to famine than force to reduce +the castle. +</P> + +<P> +Weeks passed on, and although his followers thought that he was +somewhat better, the king's health improved but slowly. Provisions +now began to run very short. When they had come nearly to an end +the Scots determined to sally out and cut their way through the +vastly superior strength of the enemy. The king was placed in a +litter, his mounted knights and followers surrounded him, and round +these the footmen formed a close clump of pikes; the hundred men +from Aberfilly formed the front rank, as these could be best relied +upon to withstand the charge of the English horse. The gates were +thrown open, and in close ranks the garrison sallied out, forming, +as soon as they passed through, in the order arranged. So close +and serried was the hedge of spears, so quiet and determined the +attitude of the men, that, numerous as they were, the men of Buchan +and the English lords shrank from an encounter with such adversaries, +and with the banner of the king and his knights flying in their +centre the little band marched on through the lines of the besiegers +without the latter striking a blow to hinder their way. +</P> + +<P> +Without interruption the royalists proceeded to Strathbogie. The +satisfaction of the king at the daring exploit by which he had been +rescued from such imminent peril did more for him than medicine or +change of air, and to the joy of his followers he began to recover +his strength. He was then moved down to the river Don. Here Buchan +and his English allies made a sudden attack upon his quarters, +killing some of the outposts. This attack roused the spirit and +energy of the king, and he immediately called for his war horse +and armour and ordered his men to prepare for action. His followers +remonstrated with him, but he declared that this attack by his +enemies had cured him more speedily than medicine could have done, +and heading his troops he issued forth and came upon the enemy +near Old Meldrum, where, after a desperate fight, Buchan and his +confederates were defeated with great slaughter on Christmas day, +1307. Buchan and Mowbray fled into England. Brechin took refuge +in his own castle of Brechin, where he was afterwards besieged and +forced to surrender. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce now marched into the territory of Comyn, where he took a terrible +vengeance for the long adhesion of his hated enemy to England. The +whole country was wasted with fire and sword, the people well nigh +exterminated, and the very forests destroyed. So terrible was the +devastation that for generations afterwards men spoke of the harrying +of Buchan as a terrible and exceptional act of vengeance. +</P> + +<P> +The castle of Aberdeen was next invested. The English made great +efforts for its succour, but the citizens joined Bruce, and a +united attack being made upon the castle it was taken by assault +and razed to the ground. The king and his forces then moved into +Angus. Here the English strongholds were all taken, the castle +of Forfar being assaulted and carried by a leader who was called +Phillip, a forester of Platane. With the exception of Perth, the +most important fortress north of the Forth, and a few minor holds, +the whole of the north of Scotland, was now in the king's hands. +In the meantime Sir James Douglas, in the south, had again taken +his paternal castle and had razed it to the ground. The forests of +Selkirk and Jedburgh, with the numerous fortresses of the district, +were brought under the king's authority, and the English were several +times defeated. In the course of these adventures Sir James came +across Alexander Stewart, Thomas Randolph, the king's nephew, +who, after being taken prisoner at Methven, had joined the English +party, and Adam O'Gordon. They advanced with a much superior force +to capture him, but were signally defeated. O'Gordon escaped into +England, but Stewart and Randolph were taken. +</P> + +<P> +This was a fortunate capture, for Randolph afterwards became one of +the king's most valiant knights and the wisest of his counsellors. +After this action Douglas marched north and joined the king. The +latter sternly reproached Randolph for having forsworn his allegiance +and joined the English. Randolph answered hotly and was committed +by his uncle to solitary confinement, where he presently came to +a determination to renew his allegiance to Bruce, and henceforward +fought faithfully and gallantly under him. +</P> + +<P> +Galloway had risen again, and Edward Bruce, with Sir Archie Forbes, +was detached to reduce it. It was a hard task, for the local +chiefs were supported by Sir Ingram de Umfraville and Sir John de +St. John; these knights, with 1200 followers, met the Scots on the +banks of the Cree, which separates the countries of Kirkcudbright +and Wigton, and although greatly superior in numbers, were completely +defeated by the Scottish pikemen, and compelled to take refuge in +the castle of Butele. Edward Bruce and Archie continued the task +of subjugating the country; but St. John having retired to England, +returned with fifteen hundred men-at-arms, and with this strong force +set out in pursuit of the small body of Scots, of whom he thought +to make an easy capture. Then occurred one of the most singular and +brilliant feats of arms that took place in a war in which deeds of +daring abounded. Edward Bruce having heard from the country people +of the approach of his adversaries, placed his infantry in a strong +position, and then, with Archie Forbes and the fifty men-at-arms +who constituted his cavalry, went out to reconnoitre the approach +of the English. The morning was thick and misty. Ignorant of each +other's position, the two forces were in close vicinity, when the +fog suddenly lifted, and Edward Bruce and Archie beheld close to +them the overwhelming force of St. John, within bowshot distance. +It was too late to fly. Edward Bruce exclaimed to Archie: +</P> + +<P> +"There is nothing for it but to charge them." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us charge them," Archie replied. +</P> + +<P> +The two leaders, setting spurs to their horses, and closely followed +by their fifty retainers, dashed like a thunderbolt upon the mass +of the English men-at-arms, before these, taken equally by surprise, +had time to form, and burst clean through them, overthrowing and +slaying many, and causing the greatest confusion and surprise. +Riding but a short distance on, the Scots turned, and again burst +through the English lines. Numbers of the English were slain, +and many others turned rein. A third time the Scots charged, with +equally fatal effect. The English were completely routed. Many +were killed and many taken prisoners, and the rest rode for England +at their best speed. History scarcely recalls another instance of +50 men routing in fair fight 1500. This extraordinary success was +followed by a victory over Sir Roland of Galloway and Donald of +the Isles on the banks of the Dee, the Lord of the Isles being made +prisoner; and eventually the whole country was reduced to obedience, +with the exception of one or two garrisons, no less than thirteen +castles being captured, in addition to the victories gained in the +field. +</P> + +<P> +Galloway being restored to order, Archie Forbes returned home, and +remained for two or three months with his wife and mother. He was +then summoned by the king to join him again, as he was about to +march to reduce the region over which his deadly foes Alexander +and John of Lorne held sway. The country into which the royal army +now penetrated was extremely mountainous and difficult, but they +made their way as far as the head of Loch Awe, where Alexander and +John of Lorne, with 2000 men, were gathered to dispute the passage. +The position was an extremely strong one, and the Lornes were +confident that it could not be forced. Immediately to the north +of the head of the lake rises the steep and lofty mountain Ben +Gruachan. From the head of the lake flows the river Awe connecting +it with Loch Etive, and the level space between the foot of the +mountain and the river is only wide enough for two to ride abreast. +This passage was known as the Pass of Brander, and the Lornes might +well believe that their position was unassailable. +</P> + +<P> +Before advancing into the pass Bruce detached Douglas, with Sir +Alexander Frazer, Sir William Wiseman, and Sir Andrew Grey, with +a body of lightly armed infantry and archers. These, unnoticed by +the enemy, climbed the side of the mountain, and going far up it, +passed along until they got behind and above the enemy. The king +ordered his main body to lay aside all defensive armour so that +they could more easily climb the hill and come to a hand to hand +conflict with the enemy. Then he moved along towards the narrow +pass. As they approached it the men of Lorne hurled down a torrent +of rocks from the hillside above. +</P> + +<P> +With a few heavy armed men Bruce pushed forward by the water side, +while Archie Forbes led the main body up the hillside. The climb was +stiff and difficult, and many were swept down by the rocks hurled +by the enemy; but at last they came to close quarters with the foe, +and a desperate struggle ensued. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime Douglas and his party had attacked the defenders +from the other side, at first showering arrows among them, and +then falling upon them with sword and battleaxe. Thus attacked in +front and rear, the men of Lorne lost heart and gave way. On both +sides the royalists pressed them hotly, and at last they broke +from the hillside and fled down to the river, intending to cross +by a wooden bridge and destroy it behind them, but before many had +passed Douglas with his followers arrived upon the spot and seized +the bridge, cutting off their retreat. Great numbers of the men of +Lorne were slain, and the survivors made their escape up the mountain +side again. The Lornes themselves were on board some galleys on +Loch Awe, their intention having been to land in Bruce's rear when +he was fairly entangled in the narrow pass. On witnessing the utter +discomfiture of their followers they rowed rapidly away, and landed +far down the lake. Alexander fled to England, where he ended his +life. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce now advanced through the country of Lorne, which, having +never suffered from the English raids that had over and over again +devastated the rest of Scotland, was rich and flourishing, and large +quantities of booty were obtained. Dunstaffnage was besieged and +captured, and having received hostages from all the minor chiefs +for their good behaviour the king and his army returned to Glasgow. +</P> + +<P> +In the following spring a truce was negotiated by the intervention +of the King of France between the belligerents; but its duration was +but short, for so long as English nobles held estates and occupied +castles in Scotland breaches of the peace would be constantly +occurring. Bruce besieged the castle of Rutherglen, near Glasgow; +but Edward despatched the Earl of Gloucester to raise the siege, +and as Bruce's army was still small he was forced to retire at his +approach. +</P> + +<P> +In February, 1309, the clergy of Scotland assembled in a provincial +council at Dundee, and issued a declaration in favour of Bruce +as lawful king of Scotland. In this document they set forth that +although Baliol was made king of Scotland by the King of England, +Bruce, the grandfather of the king, was always recognized by the +people as being nearest in right; and they said: "If any one, on +the contrary, claim right to the aforesaid kingdom in virtue of +letters in time passed sealed, and containing the consent of the +people and the commons, know ye that all this took place in fact +by force and violence, which could not at the time be resisted, +and through multiplied fears, bodily tortures, and various terrors." +</P> + +<P> +This document was sealed by all the bishops, as representing the +clergy. A similar document was drawn up and signed by the estates +of Scotland. Therefore, henceforth Bruce could claim to be the king +not only as crowned and by right, but by the approval and consent +of the clergy and people of Scotland. A few months afterwards James, +the Steward of Scotland, whose course had ever been vacillating, died, +and his son Walter, a loyal Scotsman, succeeded him. He afterwards +married the king's daughter Marjory, and became the founder of the +royal line of Stuart. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Capture of a Stronghold +</H3> + +<P> +While Bruce had by his energy and courage been wresting Scotland, +step by step, from the English, no serious effort had been made by +the latter to check his progress. Small bodies of troops had from +time to time been sent from the north; but the king had made no +great efforts, like those of his father, to reduce the country to +obedience by the exercise of the whole strength of England. Edward +II differed widely from his father in disposition. At times he was +roused to fits of spasmodic energy, but for the most part he was +sunk in sloth and supineness. He angered and irritated his barons +by his fondness for unworthy favourites, and was engaged in constant +broils with them. +</P> + +<P> +So called governors of Scotland were frequently appointed and as +often superseded, but no effectual aid was given them to enable +them to check the ever spreading insurrection. But Perth was now +threatened by Bruce; and the danger of this, the strongest and most +important northern fortress, roused Edward from his lethargy. A +fleet was fitted out for the Tay. Troops, under the Earl of Ulster, +were engaged to be transported by an English fleet of forty ships, +supplied by the seaports, and intended to cooperate with John of +Lorne in the west. Edward himself, with a powerful army, accompanied +by the Lords Gloucester, Warrenne, Percy, Clifford, and others, +advanced into Scotland as far as Renfrew. Bruce could oppose no +effectual resistance in the field to so large a force, but he used +the tactics which Wallace had adopted with such success. The country +through which the English were advancing was wasted. Flocks and +herds were driven off, and all stores of grain burned and destroyed. +His adherents, each with their own retainers, hung upon the skirts +of the English army, cutting off small parties, driving back bodies +going out in search of provisions or forage, making sudden night +attacks, and keeping the English in a state of constant watchfulness +and alarm, but always retiring on the approach of any strong force, +and avoiding every effort of the English to bring on an engagement. +</P> + +<P> +The invaders were soon pressed by want of provisions, and horses +died from lack of forage. The great army was therefore obliged to +fall back to Berwick without having struck a single effective blow. +After this Edward remained inactive at Berwick for eight months, +save that he once again crossed the Border and advanced as far as +Roxburgh, but only to retreat without having accomplished anything. +The Earls of Gloucester and Warrenne reduced the forest of Selkirk +and the district, and restored the English power there; while the +king's favourite, Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, went by sea to +Perth and tried to reduce the surrounding country, but the Scotch, +as usual, retired before him, and he, too, after a time, returned +to Berwick. The efforts of the defenders to starve out the invading +armies of England were greatly aided by the fact that at this time +a great famine raged both in England and Scotland, and the people +of both countries were reduced to a condition of want and suffering. +Not only did the harvest fail, but disease swept away vast numbers +of cattle and sheep, and in many places the people were forced to +subsist upon the flesh of horses, dogs, and other animals. +</P> + +<P> +During the years which had elapsed since the battle of Methven, +Bruce had never been enabled to collect a force in any way worthy +of the name of an army. His enterprises had been a succession of +daring feats performed by small bodies of men. Even now, when the +nobles dared no longer openly oppose him, they remained sullenly +aloof, and the captures of the English strongholds were performed +either by the king or his brother Edward, with their retainers from +Annandale and Carrick; by Douglas with the men of Douglasdale; or +by some simple knights like Archie Forbes, the Frazers, Boyle, and +a few others, each leading their own retainers in the field. The +great mass of the people still held aloof, and neither town nor +country sent their contingents to his aid. This was not to be wondered +at, so fearfully had all suffered from the wholesale vengeance of +Edward after the battle of Falkirk. +</P> + +<P> +Great successes had certainly attended Bruce, but these had been +rendered possible only by the absence of any great effort on the +part of England, and all believed that sooner or later Edward would +arouse himself, and with the whole strength of England, Ireland, +and Wales again crush out the movement, and carry fire and sword +through Scotland. Still the national spirit was rising. +</P> + +<P> +Archie Forbes divided his time pretty equally between the field and +home, never taking with him, when he joined the king, more than a +third of the entire strength of his retainers; thus all had time +to attend to their farms and the wants of their families, and +cheerfully yielded obedience to the call to arms when the time +came. +</P> + +<P> +One day while the king was stopping for a few days' rest at Aberfilly, +a horseman rode in. +</P> + +<P> +"I have great news, sire," he said. "Linlithgow has been captured +from the English." +</P> + +<P> +"That were good news indeed," the king said; "but it can scarce be +possible, seeing that we have no men-at-arms in the neighbourhood." +</P> + +<P> +"It has been done by no men-at-arms, my liege," the messenger said; +"but as Forfar was taken by Phillip the Forester and his mates, +so has Linlithgow been captured by a farmer and his comrades, one +William Bunnock." +</P> + +<P> +It was indeed true. The castle of Linlithgow, forming as it did +a link between the two strongholds of Edinburgh and Stirling, was +a place of great importance and was strongly garrisoned by the +English. Naturally the whole country round suffered severely from +the oppressions of the garrison, who supplied themselves by force +with such provisions and stores as were needful for them. Payment +was of course made to some extent, as the country otherwise would +speedily have been deserted and the land left untilled; but there +was almost necessarily much oppression and high handedness. Bunnock, +hearing of the numerous castles which had been captured by the +king and his friends with mere handfuls of followers, determined at +last upon an attempt to expel the garrison of Linlithgow. He went +about among his friends and neighbours, and found many ready to +join his enterprise. These one night placed themselves in ambush +among some bushes hard by the castle gate. Bunnock himself concealed +eight chosen men with arms in a wagon of hay. The horses were +driven by a stout peasant with a short hatchet under his belt, +while Bunnock walked carelessly beside the wagon. As he was in the +habit of supplying the garrison with corn and forage, the gate was +readily opened on his approach. As soon as the wagon was exactly +between the gate posts Bunnock gave the signal and struck down the +warder at the gate; the driver with his hatchet cut the traces, the +men leapt up from their concealment in the hay, and the main body +lying in ambush close by rushed up, and, taken wholly by surprise, +unarmed and unprepared, the garrison was speedily overpowered and +the castle taken. +</P> + +<P> +It was in the spring of 1311 that this important capture took place. +Bruce, as usual, had the castle levelled to the ground. Bunnock was +rewarded by a grant of land which still bears his name, softened +into Binney. Again the English made preparations for a renewed +invasion, but the barons were too much occupied by their private +broils and their quarrels with the king to assemble at his order, +and nothing came of it. Bruce's position at home was so established +that he resolved upon a counter invasion, and accordingly, having +assembled a larger force than had hitherto gathered under his +banner, crossed the Border near the Solway, burnt and plundered the +district round Gilsland, ravaged Tynedale, and after eight days' +havock returned with much booty to Scotland. In the following +month he again entered England, carried fire and sword through the +country as far as Corbridge, swept Tynedale, ravaged Durham, and +after levying contributions for fifteen days returned with much +booty to Scotland. +</P> + +<P> +Although the English made much outcry at this invasion, the English +author of the Chronicle of Lanercost, whose monastery was occupied +by the king during the raid, distinctly states that he slew none +save in actual conflict; and again, that though "all the goods of +the country were carried away, they did not burn houses or slay +men." Thus, though Bruce's wife and daughter were still prisoners +in England, though his brothers had been executed in cold blood, +he conducted his warfare in England in a manner which contrasts +strongly indeed with the conduct of the English in Scotland. +</P> + +<P> +After this Bruce marched north again and laid siege to Perth. For +six weeks he invested the town, but without making any impression. +Then he retired his forces as if abandoning the attempt. At night, +however, he returned, ladders were placed in the ditches against +the walls, and with his knights he led his followers on to the +assault. The garrison were carousing in honour of their successful +defence and the defeat of the enemy, and taken wholly by surprise +were unable to oppose a vigorous resistance, and all were killed +or captured. Some accounts say that the English soldiers were made +prisoners, and the renegade Scots fighting with them were put to +the sword; while others affirm that all who were taken prisoners +were spared. +</P> + +<P> +Another incursion into England followed the fall of Perth. Hexham, +Corbridge, and Durham were destroyed. Douglas penetrated as far as +Hartlepool and an immense spoil was carried off, until the people +of the bishopric purchased a truce for the sum of 2000 pounds, and +those of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland bought off +the invaders at a like price. +</P> + +<P> +Carlisle was assaulted by Douglas, but unsuccessfully. He also +attempted to surprise Berwick by a night attack, and had placed his +scaling ladders against the wall, when the garrison was alarmed by +the barking of a dog, and the assailants were repulsed. The Scots +recrossed the frontier laden with an enormous booty. +</P> + +<P> +The king himself now entered Galloway and reduced the four remaining +strongholds held by the English there—the castles of Butele, +Dalswinton, Lochmaben, and Tibbers. He then proceeded to Dumfries, +which he forced to surrender, and entered it as the victorious King +of Scotland, just seven years after the time when he had commenced +the war by expelling the English justiciary. +</P> + +<P> +Archie Forbes did not accompany the king in this campaign. He +had indeed been summoned, but just before the army started on its +raid into England Bruce was lamenting, in Archie's hearing, that +the continued possession of the strong castle of Dunottar on the +east coast still afforded the English an opportunity for creating +diversions in the north, by landing troops there. +</P> + +<P> +"If you will permit me, sire," Archie said, "I will undertake its +capture with my retainers. It is doubtless too strong to be captured +by open assault with such a strength, but as Douglas has thrice +taken Castle Douglas by stratagem, 'tis hard if I cannot find some +way for capturing Dunottar." +</P> + +<P> +"Be it so, Sir Archie," the king said. "If you succeed you will have +done good service indeed; and as I know that though ever ready to +buckle on your armour when I need you, you would yet rather live +quiet at Aberfilly with your fair wife, I promise you that if you +capture Dunottar, for a year and a day you and your retainers shall +have rest, except if the English cross the Border in such force +that the arm of every Scotchman able to wield a sword is needed in +its defence." +</P> + +<P> +Having chosen a hundred of his most active and experienced men +Archie set out for the north. Crossing the Forth above Stirling, +he marched through Perth and across the Carse of Gowrie through +Forfar on to Montrose. Here he left his band, and taking with him +only William Orr, both being attired in peasants' dress, followed +the coast till he reached Dunottar. +</P> + +<P> +The castle, which was of great strength, stood in a little bay +with a fishing village nestled beside it. "'Tis a strong place, +William, and, if well provisioned, might hold out against an army +for months, and as supplies could be thrown in by sea it could only +be captured by battering down its solid walls by machines." +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis indeed a strong place, Sir Archie," William Orr replied, "and +it were assuredly better to slip in by the gates than to climb over +the walls; but after the captures of so many of their strongholds +by sudden surprise, we may be sure that a careful watch will be +kept." +</P> + +<P> +"Doubtless they are shrewdly on guard against surprise," Archie +said; "but as they know that the king and his host are just now +crossing the Border into Cumberland, they may well think that for +a time they are safe from disturbance. 'Tis in that that our best +chance lies." +</P> + +<P> +Entering the village they purchased some fish from the fishermen, +and asking a few careless questions about the garrison, found +that it was composed of 150 men, and that extreme precautions were +taken against surprise. The gates were never opened save to allow +parties to pass in and out, when they were instantly closed and the +drawbridge raised. Only ten of the garrison at a time were ever +allowed to leave the castle, and these must go out and come in +together, so that the gates should not be opened more than twice a +day. "They generally come out," the man said, "at eleven o'clock +and go in at four; at eleven o'clock all with corn, wood, and +other stores for the castle must present themselves, so that the +drawbridge need only be lowered at those times. The governor, +Sir John Morris, swears that he will not be caught asleep as were +those of Linlithgow and Castle Douglas. I fear," he concluded, +"that we of Dunottar will be the last in Scotland to be free from +the English yoke." +</P> + +<P> +"That is as it may be. Other castles have been captured, and maybe +the lion of Scotland may float on those walls ere long." +</P> + +<P> +The man looked keenly at him. +</P> + +<P> +"Methinks there is meaning in your words," he said, "and your +language does not accord with your attire. I ask no questions; but +be sure that should an attempt be made, there are a score of strong +fellows among us who will be ready to strike a blow for freedom." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that so?" Archie replied; "then, man, taking you to be a true +Scot, I will tell you that the attempt will be made, and that +soon, and that, if you will, you can aid the enterprise. I am Sir +Archibald Forbes, of whom, perhaps, you have heard." +</P> + +<P> +"Assuredly," the man said in a tone of deep respect, "every Scotsman +knows the name as that of one of the king's truest and bravest +knights." +</P> + +<P> +"My purpose is this," Archie said. "On a dark night some ninety-five +of my men will march hither; I need a faithful friend to meet them +outside the village to lead them in, and to hide them away in the +cottages, having already arranged beforehand with their owners to +receive them. I, myself, with four of my men will come hither in a +fishing boat well laden with fish; we will choose a time when the +wind is blowing, and will seem to have been driven here by stress +of weather and disabled. Then I shall try to sell our cargo for the +use of the garrison. As we carry it in we shall attack the guard, +and at the signal those hidden will rush out and cross the drawbridge." +</P> + +<P> +"The plan is a good one," the fisherman said; "its difficulty mainly +lies in the fact that the drawbridge will be raised the moment you +have crossed it, and long before your followers could arrive it +would be high in the air, and you would be cut off from all aid. It +never remains down for an instant after men have passed over it." +</P> + +<P> +"That adds to the difficulty," Archie said thoughtfully; "but +I must think of some plan to overcome it. Do you quietly go about +among those you can surely trust and arrange for them to be ready +to open their doors and take my men in without the slightest noise +which might attract the sentries on the walls. So long as the wind +is quiet and the sea smooth we shall not come, but the first day +that the wind blows hard you may expect us. Then do you go out on +the south road and wait for my party half a mile from the village. +If they come not by midnight, return home and watch the following +night." +</P> + +<P> +"I understand," the fisherman said, "and will do as you bid me; and +when the time comes you can rely upon twenty stout fellows here in +addition to your own force." +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis nigh eleven," Archie said, looking at the sun, "and we will +be off at once, as the soldiers will soon be coming out, and it +were best the governor did not hear that two strangers were in the +village. Vigilant as he is, a small thing might excite his suspicion +and add to his watchfulness." +</P> + +<P> +Archie and William Orr returned to Montrose, and there the former +made an arrangement with the master of a large fishing boat to keep +his vessel ready to put to sea at any moment. +</P> + +<P> +Three weeks passed without any change in the weather; then the wind +began to rise and the aspect of the sky betokened a storm. William +Orr at once set out with ninety-five men for Dunottar. Archie went +down to the port and purchased a large quantity of fish which had +been brought in that morning in various boats, and had it placed +on board the craft that he had hired. Then he with four of his +followers, the strongest and most determined of his retainers, +dressed as fishermen, went on board and the boat at once put to sea, +having, besides Archie and his men, the master and his two hands. +The main body had started on foot at ten in the morning, but it was +late in the afternoon before the boat put out, as Archie wished to +arrive in broad daylight next morning. +</P> + +<P> +The wind was on the shore, and the boat was sorely tossed and +buffeted. Ere next morning, showing but a rag of sail, she ran into +Dunottar harbour. They had had great difficulty in keeping off the +coast all night, and the play had nigh turned into a tragedy, so +narrow had been their escape of being cast ashore. The bulwarks +were washed away, and the boat was in a sore plight as it drew +alongside the little quay. Assuredly no suspicion would occur to +any who saw her enter that aught save stress of weather had driven +her in. +</P> + +<P> +It was twelve o'clock in the day when they reached the port. Most +of the inhabitants had come down to the water side to see the +storm beaten craft enter, and among them were some soldiers of the +garrison. Archie bade four of his men remain below, so that the +unusual number of hands should attract no attention. One of the first +to come on board was the fisherman with whom Archie had spoken. +</P> + +<P> +"Your men are all here," he said in a low tone to Archie, "and are +stowed away in the cottages. Everything went well, and there was +not the slightest noise." +</P> + +<P> +Archie now went on shore and entered into conversation with one of +the soldiers. +</P> + +<P> +"Think you," he said, "that the governor would buy my cargo of +fish. I have a great store on board, for I had good luck before +the storm suddenly broke upon me just as I was leaving the fishing +grounds for Montrose. The gale may last for some days, and my boat +will need repairs before I put to sea, therefore my fish will be +spoiled before I can get them to market, and I will make a good +bargain with the governor if he will take them from me." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think that he will do so gladly," the soldier said, "for +he can salt them down, and they make a pleasant change. How much +have you got?" +</P> + +<P> +"About ten baskets full," Archie replied, "of some hundred pounds +each." +</P> + +<P> +"I will go with you to the castle," the soldier said. "The governor +will lower the drawbridge for no man, but you can speak with the +warder across the moat and he will bear your message to the governor, +and should he agree, you must present yourself with your men with +the fish at four o'clock, at which time the drawbridge will be +lowered for us to return to the castle." +</P> + +<P> +Archie accompanied the soldier to the end of the drawbridge, and +parleyed with the warder. The latter acquainted the governor that +the master of the fishing boat which had been driven in by stress +of weather would fain dispose of his cargo of fish on cheap terms, +and returned for answer that the governor would give sixpence for +each basket of a hundred pounds. Archie grumbled that he should +receive thrice that sum at Montrose; still that as he must sell +them or let them spoil, he accepted the offer, and would be there +with the fish at four o'clock. +</P> + +<P> +He then returned to the boat, his ally, the fisherman, taking word +round to the cottages that at four o'clock all must be in readiness +to sally out on the signal, and that William Orr was to dress half +a dozen of his men in fishermen's clothes and saunter up carelessly +close to the castle, so as to be able to rush forward on the instant. +</P> + +<P> +At the appointed hour Archie, accompanied by his four followers, +each of whom carried on his shoulder a great basket filled with +fish, stepped on to the quay and made their way to the castle. By +the side of the moat facing the drawbridge the ten English soldiers +who had been out on leave for the day were already assembled. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you all there?" the warder asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," Archie said, "but I shall have to make another two trips +down to the boat, seeing that I have ten baskets full and but four +men to carry them." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you must bring another load," the warder said, "when the +drawbridge is lowered tomorrow. You will have to stop in the castle +tonight, and issue out at eleven tomorrow, for the governor will +not have the drawbridge lowered more than twice a day." +</P> + +<P> +"I would fain return to my boat," Archie said, "as I want to be at +work on the repairs; but if that be the rule I must needs submit +to it." +</P> + +<P> +The drawbridge was now lowered. The soldiers at once stepped on to +it. The four pretended fishermen had set down their baskets, and +now raised them on their shoulders again. One of them apparently +found it a difficult task, for it was not until Archie and his +comrades were half across the drawbridge that he raised it from +the ground. As he did so he stumbled and fell, the basket and its +contents rolling on to the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"You must wait until the morning," the warder called; "you are too +late to enter now." +</P> + +<P> +The man lay for a moment where he had fallen, which was half on the +drawbridge, half on the ground beyond it. "Now, then," the warder +called sharply, "make haste; I am going to raise the drawbridge." +</P> + +<P> +The man rose to his feet with a shout just as the drawbridge began +to rise. He had not been idle as he lay. As he fell he had drawn +from underneath his fisherman's frock a stout chain with a hook +at one end and a large ring at the other. This he had passed round +one of the chains by which the drawbridge was raised, then under +the beam on which it rested when down, and had fastened the hook +in the ring. +</P> + +<P> +Surprised at the shout, the warder worked the windlass with extra +speed, but he had scarcely given a turn when he found a sudden +resistance. The chain which the fisherman had fixed round the end +prevented the bridge from rising. As the man had shouted, Archie +and his three comrades were entering the gate. Simultaneously they +emptied their baskets before them. Concealed among the fish were +four logs of wood; two were three feet long, the full depth of the +baskets, two were short wedge shaped pieces. Before the soldiers +in front had time even to turn round, the two long pieces were +placed upright in the grooves down which the portcullis would fall, +while the two wedge shaped pieces were thrust into the jamb of the +gate so as to prevent it from closing. Then the four men drew long +swords hidden beneath their garments and fell upon the soldiers. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap26"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Edinburgh +</H3> + +<P> +So vigilant was the watch in the castle of Dunottar that the instant +the cry of alarm rose almost simultaneously from the warder above +and the soldiers at the gate, the portcullis came thundering down. +It was caught, however, by the two upright blocks of wood, and +remained suspended three feet above the sill. The armed guards +at the gate instantly fell upon Archie and his companions, while +others endeavoured in vain to close the gates. Scarcely had the +swords clashed when the man who had chained down the drawbridge +joined Archie, and the five with their heavy broadswords kept at +bay the soldiers who pressed upon them; but for only a minute or +two did they have to bear the brunt of the attack unsupported, for +William Orr and the five men who had been loitering near the moat +dashed across the bridge, and passing under the portcullis joined +the little band. +</P> + +<P> +The alarm had now spread through the castle, and the governor +himself, followed by many of his men, came rushing down to the +spot, shouting furious orders to the warder to raise the drawbridge, +being in ignorance that it was firmly fixed at the outer end. +</P> + +<P> +Archie and his followers were now hotly pressed, but soon a thunder +of steps was heard on the drawbridge, and the whole of the band, +together with some twenty or thirty of the fishermen, passed under +the portcullis and joined them. Archie now took the offensive, and +bearing down all opposition burst with his men into the courtyard. +</P> + +<P> +The combat was desperate but short. The governor with some of his +soldiers fought stoutly, but the suddenness of the surprise and +the fury and vigour with which they were attacked shook the courage +of many of the soldiers. Some, instead of joining in the fray, at +once threw away their arms and tried to conceal themselves, others +fought feebly and half heartedly, and the cries of "A Forbes! A +Forbes! Scotland! Scotland!" rose louder and louder as the +assailants gradually beat down all resistance. In ten minutes from +the falling of the portcullis all resistance was virtually over. +The governor himself fell by the hand of Archie Forbes, and at +his death those who had hitherto resisted threw down their arms +and called for quarter. This was given, and the following day the +prisoners were marched under a strong guard down to Montrose, there +to be confined until orders for their disposal were received from +the king. For the next fortnight Archie and his retainers, aided by +the whole of the villagers, laboured to dismantle the castle. The +battlements were thrown down into the moat, several wide breaches +were made in the walls, and large quantities of straw and wood piled +up in the keep and turrets. These were then fired, and the Castle +of Dunottar was soon reduced to an empty and gaping shell. Then +Archie marched south, and remained quietly at home until the term +of rest granted him by the king had expired. +</P> + +<P> +Two girls and a son had by this time been born to him, and the +months passed quietly and happily away until Bruce summoned him to +join, with his retainers, the force with which Randolph had sat down +before Edinburgh Castle. Randolph was delighted at this accession +of strength. Between him and Douglas a generous rivalry in gallant +actions continually went on, and Douglas had scored the last +triumph. The castle of Roxburgh had long been a source of trouble +to the Scots. Standing on a rocky eminence on the margin of the +Teviot, just at its junction with the Tweed and within eight miles +of the Border, it had constituted an open door into Scotland, and +either through it or through Berwick the tides of invasion had ever +flowed. The castle was very strongly fortified, so much so that +the garrison, deeming themselves perfectly safe from assault, had +grown careless. The commandant was a Burgundian knight, Gillemin +de Fienne. Douglas chose Shrove Tuesday for his attack. Being a +feast day of the church before the long lenten fast the garrison +would be sure to indulge in conviviality and the watch would be +less strict than usual. Douglas and his followers, supplied with +scaling ladders, crept on all fours towards the walls. The night +was still and they could hear the sentries' conversation. They had +noticed the objects advancing, but in the darkness mistook them for +the cattle of a neighbouring farmer. Silently the ladders were +fixed and mounted, and with the dreaded war cry, "A Douglas! A +Douglas!" the assailants burst into the castle, slaying the sentries +and pouring down upon the startled revellers. Fienne and his men +fought gallantly for a time, but at length all surrendered, with +the exception of the governor himself and a few of his immediate +followers, who retired into a tower, where they defended themselves +until the following day; then Fienne being seriously wounded, the +little party also surrendered. As Douglas had no personal quarrel +with the garrison of Roxburgh such as he bore with those who occupied +his ancestral castle, he abstained from any unnecessary cruelties, +and allowed the garrison to withdraw to England, where Fienne soon +afterwards died of his wounds. +</P> + +<P> +The castle was as usual levelled to the ground, and as the stronghold +of Carlaverock soon afterwards surrendered, the districts of Tweeddale +and Galloway were now completely cleared of the English, with the +exception of the Castle of Jedburgh, which they still held. +</P> + +<P> +Randolph had been created Earl of Moray, and after establishing +himself in his new earldom he had returned with his feudal followers +and laid siege to Edinburgh, whose castle was considered all but +impregnable. It had been in the possession of the English ever since +it was captured by Edward I in 1296, and was strongly garrisoned +and well provisioned. +</P> + +<P> +Even when joined by Archie Forbes and his retainers Randolph felt +that the castle could not be captured by force. The various attempts +which he made were signally foiled, and it was by stratagem only +that he could hope to carry it. The news of the capture of Roxburgh +by Douglas increased his anxiety to succeed. Accompanied by Archie +he rode round the foot of the steep rock on which the castle stands, +eagerly scanning its irregularities to see if by any possibility +it could be scaled. +</P> + +<P> +"I would give a brave reward," he said to Archie, "to any who could +show us a way of climbing those rocks, which, methinks, even a goat +could scarcely manage to ascend." +</P> + +<P> +"I can tell you of a way," a Scotch soldier who was standing a few +paces off when he made the remark, said, saluting the earl. "It +needs a sure foot and a stout heart, but I can lead a score of +men with such qualifications to the foot of yonder walls;" and he +pointed to the castle rising abruptly from the edge of the rocks. +</P> + +<P> +"If you can make good your word, my brave fellow," Randolph said, +"you may ask your own reward, and I pledge you my word, that if it +be aught in reason it shall be granted. But who are you, and how +did it come that you know of a way where none is supposed to exist?" +</P> + +<P> +"My name is William Francus," the soldier said. "I was at one time, +before the king took up arms, a soldier in the castle there. I had +a sweetheart in the town, and as my turn to go out from the castle +came but slowly I used at night to steal away to visit her. I found +after a great search that on the face of yonder wall where it looks +the steepest, and where in consequence but slight watch is kept, +a man with steady foot and head could make shift to climb up and +down, and thus, if you please, will I guide a party to the top of +the rock." +</P> + +<P> +"It looks impossible," Randolph said, gazing at the precipice; +"but as you tell me that you have done it others can do the same. +I will myself follow your guidance." +</P> + +<P> +"And I," Archie said. +</P> + +<P> +"What, Sir Archie, think you is the smallest number of men with +whom, having once gained footing on the wall, we may fight our way +to the gates and let in our friends." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think," Archie replied, "that with thirty men we might +manage to do so. The confusion in the garrison will be extreme +at so unexpected a surprise, and if we divide in two parties and +press forward by different ways they will think rather of holding +together and defending themselves than of checking our course, and +one or other of the parties should surely be able to make its way +to the gates." +</P> + +<P> +"Thirty let it be then," Randolph said. "Do you choose fifteen +active and vigilant men from among your retainers; I will pick as +many from mine, and as there is no use in delaying let us carry +out the enterprise this very night; of course the rest of our men +must gather near the gates in readiness to rush in when we throw +them open." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as it was dark the little party of adventurers set out +on their way. Francus acted as guide, and under his leading they +climbed with vast difficulty and no little danger up the face of +the precipice until they reached a comparatively easy spot, where +they sat down to recover their breath before they prepared for the +final effort. +</P> + +<P> +They could hear the sentries above speaking to each other, and +they held their breath when one of them, exclaiming suddenly, "I +can see you!" threw down a stone from the battlement, which leapt, +crashing down the face of the rock close beside them. Great was +their relief when a loud laugh from above told them that the sentry +had been in jest, and had but tried to startle his comrade; then +the two sentries, conversing as they went, moved away to another +part of the walls. +</P> + +<P> +The ascent was now continued, and proved even more difficult than +that which they had passed. They were forced continually to halt, +while those in front helped those following them, or were themselves +hoisted up by the men behind. At last, panting and breathless, they +stood on the summit of the rock, on a narrow ledge, with the castle +wall rising in front of them. They had, with enormous difficulty, +brought up a light ladder with them. This was placed against the +wall. Francus was the first to mount, and was followed by Sir Andrew +Grey, whom Randolph had invited to be of the party, by Archie Forbes, +and by the earl. Just as the latter stepped on to the battlements +the sentries caught sight of them and shouted: +</P> + +<P> +"Treason! treason! to arms!" An instant stir was heard in the +castle. Rapidly the thirty men followed each other up the ladder, +and so soon as the last had gained the battlements they divided in +three bodies, each headed by one of the leaders. One party descended +straight into the castle and there attacked the soldiers who were +hurrying to arms, while the others ran along the wall in opposite +directions, cutting down the sentries and brushing aside all +opposition until together they met at the gate. This was thrown +open, and the Scots outside running up at the top of their speed +poured into the castle. At first Randolph's party, which had +descended into the courtyard, had been hotly pressed, and had with +difficulty defended themselves; but the attention of the startled +garrison was distracted by the shouts upon the walls, which told +that other parties of their assailants had gained footing there. +All sorts of contradictory orders were issued. One commanded them +to cut down the little party opposed to them, another ordered them +to hurry to the walls, a third to seize the gate and see that it +was not opened. The confusion reached its height as the Scots poured +in through the open gate. The garrison, surprised and confounded +as they were at this, to them, almost magical seizure of the castle +by their foes, fought bravely until the governor and many of the +officers were killed. Some of the men threw down their arms, and +others, taking advantage of their knowledge of the castle, made +their way to the gate and escaped into the open country. +</P> + +<P> +The news of the capture was immediately sent to the king, by whose +orders the castle and walls were razed to the ground, and thus +another of the strongholds, by whose possession the English were +enabled to domineer over the whole of the surrounding country, was +destroyed. +</P> + +<P> +While Douglas and Randolph were thus distinguishing themselves +Edward Bruce captured the castle of Rutherglen, and afterwards the +town of Dundee; and now, save Stirling Castle, scarcely a hold in +all Scotland remained in English hands. Thus was Scotland almost +cleared of the invader, not by the efforts of the people at large, +but by a series of the most daring and hazardous adventures by the +king himself and three or four of his knights, aided only by their +personal retainers. For nine years they had continued their career +unchecked, capturing castle by castle and town by town, defeating +such small bodies of troops as took the field against them, England, +under a supine and inactive king, giving itself up to private +broils and quarrels, while Scotland was being torn piecemeal from +her grasp. +</P> + +<P> +After Edward Bruce had captured Dundee he laid siege to Stirling. +As this castle had for many months resisted Edward I backed by the +whole power of England, Bruce could make little impression upon +it with the limited appliances at his disposal. From February till +the 24th of June the investment continued, when the governor, Sir +Philip Mowbray, becoming apprehensive that his provisions would +not much longer hold out, induced Edward Bruce to agree to raise +the siege on condition that if by the 24th of June next, 1314, the +castle was not effectually relieved by an English force, it should +then be surrendered. +</P> + +<P> +No satisfactory explanation has ever been given of the reasons which +induced Edward Bruce to agree to so one sided a bargain. He had +already invested the place for four months, there was no possibility of +an army being collected in England for its relief for many months +to come, and long ere this could arrive the garrison would have +been starved into surrender. By giving England a year to relieve +the place he virtually challenged that country to put forth all +its strength and held out an inducement to it to make that effort, +which internal dissension had hitherto prevented. The only feasible +explanation is that Edward Bruce was weary of being kept inactive +so long a time before the walls of the fortress which he was unable +to capture, and that he made the arrangement from sheer impatience +and thoughtlessness and without consideration of the storm which he +was bringing upon Scotland. Had it been otherwise he would surely +have consulted the king before entering upon an agreement of such +extreme importance. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce, when he heard of this rash treaty, was highly displeased, +but he nevertheless accepted the terms, and both parties began at +once their preparations for the crowning struggle of the war. The +English saw that now or never must they crush out the movement +which, step by step, had wrested from them all the conquests which +had been won with such vast effort under Edward I; while Bruce saw +that a defeat would entail the loss of all that he had struggled +for and won during so many years. +</P> + +<P> +King Edward issued summonses to the whole of the barons of England +and Wales to meet him at Berwick by the 11th of June with all their +feudal following, while the sheriffs of the various counties and +towns were called upon to supply 27,000 foot soldiers. The English +of the settlements in Ireland were also summoned, besides O'Connor, +Prince of Connaught, and twenty-five other native Irish chiefs, +with their following, all of whom were to be under the command of +Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster. +</P> + +<P> +The Prince Bishop of Constance was requested to furnish a body +of mounted crossbowmen. A royal fleet of twenty-three vessels was +appointed to assemble for the purpose of operating on the east +coast, while the seaports were commanded to fit out another fleet +of thirty vessels. A third fleet was ordered to assemble in the +west, which John of Lorne was appointed to command under the title +of High Admiral of the Western Fleet of England. From Aquitaine +and the French possessions the vassals were called upon to attend +with their men-at-arms, and many knights from France, Gascony, and +Germany took part in the enterprise. +</P> + +<P> +Thus, at the appointed time over 100,000 men assembled at Berwick, +of whom 40,000 were men-at-arms, and the rest archers and pikemen. +For the great armament the most ample arrangements were made in the +way of warlike stores, provisions, tents, and means of transport, +together with the necessary workmen, artificers, and attendants. +</P> + +<P> +This army surpassed both in numbers and equipments any that Edward +I had ever led into Scotland, and is considered to have been the most +numerous and best equipped that ever before or since has gathered +on English ground. Of the whole of the great nobles of England only +four were absent—the Earls of Warrenne, Lancaster, Arundel, and +Warwick—who, however, sent their feudal arrays under the charge +of relations. +</P> + +<P> +Among the leaders of this great army were the Earls of Gloucester, +Pembroke, Hereford, and Angus, Lord Clifford, Sir John Comyn, Sir +Henry Beaumont, Sir John Seagrave, Sir Edmund Morley, Sir Ingram +de Umfraville, Sir Marmaduke de Twenge, and Sir Giles de Argentine, +one of the most famous of the Continental knights. +</P> + +<P> +While this vast army had been preparing, Bruce had made every +effort to meet the storm, and all who were loyal and who were able +to carry weapons were summoned to meet at Torwood, near Stirling, +previous to the 24th of June. Here Edward Bruce, Sir James Douglas, +Randolph, Earl of Moray, Walter the Steward, Angus of Isla, Sir +Archibald Forbes, and a few other knights and barons assembled with +30,000 fighting men, besides camp followers and servants. It was +a small force indeed to meet the great army which was advancing +against it, and in cavalry in particular it was extremely weak. +The English army crossed the Border, and marched by Linlithgow and +Falkirk toward the Torwood. +</P> + +<P> +Each army had stirring memories to inspire it, for the English in +their march crossed over the field of Falkirk, where sixteen years +before they had crushed the stubborn squares of Wallace; while from +the spot which Bruce selected as his battleground could be seen +the Abbey Craig, overlooking the scene of the Scottish victory of +Stirling Bridge. On the approach of the English the Scotch fell +back from the Torwood to some high ground near Stirling now called +the New Park. The lower ground, now rich agricultural land called +the Carse, was then wholly swamp. Had it not been so, the position +now taken up by Bruce would have laid the road to Stirling open to +the English. +</P> + +<P> +The Scotch army was divided into four divisions. The centre was +commanded by Randolph. Edward Bruce commanded the second, which +formed the right wing. Walter the Steward commanded the left wing, +under the guidance of Douglas, while the king himself took command +of the fourth division, which formed the reserve, and was stationed +in rear of the centre in readiness to move to the assistance of +either of the other divisions which might be hard pressed. The camp +followers, with the baggage and provisions, were stationed behind +the Gillies Hill. +</P> + +<P> +The road by which the English would advance was the old Roman +causeway running nearly north and south. The Bannock Burn was fordable +from a spot near the Park Mill down to the village of Bannockburn. +Above, the banks were too high and steep to be passed; while below, +where ran the Bannock through the carse, the swamps prevented +passage. The army was therefore drawn up, with its left resting +on the sharp angle of the burn above the Park Mill, and extended +where the villages of Easterton, Borestine, and Braehead now stand +to the spot where the road crosses the river at the village of +Bannockburn. In its front, between it and the river, were two bogs, +known as Halberts Bog and Milton Bog, while, where unprotected by +these bogs, the whole ground was studded with deep pits; in these +stakes were inserted, and they were then covered with branches and +grass. Randolph's centre was at Borestine, Bruce's reserve a little +behind, and the rock in which his flagstaff was placed during the +battle is still to be seen. To Randolph, in addition to his command +of the centre division, was committed the trust of preventing any +body of English from passing along at the edge of the carse, and +so making round to the relief of Stirling. +</P> + +<P> +On the morning of Sunday, the 23d of June, immediately after +sunrise, the Scotch attended mass, and confessed as men who had +devoted themselves to death. The king, having surveyed the field, +caused a proclamation to be made that whosoever felt himself unequal +to take part in the battle was at liberty to withdraw. Then, knowing +from his scouts that the enemy had passed the night at Falkirk, six +or seven miles off, he sent out Sir James Douglas and Sir Robert +Keith with a party of horsemen to reconnoitre the advance. +</P> + +<P> +The knights had not gone far when they saw the great army advancing, +with the sun shining bright on innumerable standards and pennons, +and glistening from lance head, spear, and armour. So grand and +terrible was the appearance of the army that upon receiving the +report of Douglas and Keith the king thought it prudent to conceal +its full extent, and caused it to be bruited abroad that the enemy, +although numerous, was approaching in a disorderly manner. +</P> + +<P> +The experienced generals of King Edward now determined upon making +an attempt to relieve Stirling Castle without fighting a pitched +battle upon ground chosen by the enemy. Had this attempt been +successful, the great army, instead of being obliged to cross +a rapid stream and attack an enemy posted behind morasses, would +have been free to operate as it chose, to have advanced against +the strongholds which had been captured by the Scots, and to force +Bruce to give battle upon ground of their choosing. Lord Clifford +was therefore despatched with 800 picked men-at-arms to cross the +Bannock beyond the left wing of the Scottish army, to make their +way across the carse, and so to reach Stirling. The ground was, +indeed, impassable for a large army; but the troops took with +them faggots and beams, by which they could make a passage across +the deeper parts of the swamp and bridge the little streams which +meandered through it. +</P> + +<P> +As there was no prospect of an immediate engagement, Randolph, +Douglas, and the king had left their respective divisions, and had +taken up their positions at the village of St. Ninians, on high +ground behind the army, whence they could have a clear view of the +approaching English army. Archie Forbes had accompanied Randolph, +to whose division he, with his retainers, was attached. Randolph +had with him 500 pikemen, whom he had withdrawn from his division +in order to carry out his appointed task of seeing that the English +did not pass along the low ground at the edge of the carse behind +St. Ninians to the relief of Stirling; but so absorbed were knights +and men-at-arms in watching the magnificent array advancing against +the Scottish position that they forgot to keep a watch over the +low ground. Suddenly one of the men, who had straggled away into +the village, ran up with the startling news that a large party of +English horse had crossed the corner of the carse, and had already +reached the low ground beyond the church. +</P> + +<P> +"A rose has fallen from your chaplet, Randolph," the king said +angrily. +</P> + +<P> +Without a moment's loss of time Randolph and Archie Forbes set off +with the spearmen at a run, and succeeded in heading the horsemen +at the hamlet of Newhouse. The mail clad horsemen, confident in +their numbers, their armour, and horses, laid their lances in rest, +struck spurs into their steeds, and, led by Sir William Daynecourt, +charged down upon the Scotch spearmen. Two hundred of these consisted +of Archie Forbes' retainers, all veterans in war, and who had more +than once, shoulder to shoulder, repelled the onslaught of the +mailed chivalry of England. Animated by the voices of their lord +and Randolph, these, with Moray's own pikemen, threw themselves +into a solid square, and, surrounded by a hedge of spears, steadily +received the furious onslaught of the cavalry. Daynecourt and many +of his men were at the first onslaught unhorsed and slain, and those +who followed were repulsed. Again and again they charged down upon +the pikemen, but the dense array of spears was more than a match +for the lances of the cavalry, and as the horses were wounded and +fell, or their riders were unhorsed, men rushed out from the square, +and with axe and dagger completed the work. Still the English +pressed them hard, and Douglas, from the distance, seeing how hotly +the pikemen were pressed by the cavalry, begged the king to allow +him to go to Randolph's assistance. Bruce, however, would suffer no +change in his position, and said that Randolph must stand or fall +by himself. Douglas, however, urged that he should be allowed to +go forward with the small body of retainers which he had with him. +The king consented, and Douglas set off with his men. +</P> + +<P> +When the English saw him approach they recoiled somewhat from the +square, and Douglas, being now better able to see what was going +on, commanded his followers to halt, saying that Randolph would +speedily prove victorious without their help, and were they now +to take part in the struggle they would only lessen the credit of +those who had already all but won the victory. Seeing the enemy in +some confusion from the appearance of the reinforcement, Randolph +and Archie now gave the word for their men to charge, and these, +rushing on with spear and axe, completed the discomfiture of the +enemy, killed many, and forced the rest to take flight. Numbers, +however, were taken. Randolph is said to have had but two men killed +in the struggle. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap27"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Bannockburn +</H3> + +<P> +After the complete defeat of the party under Lord Clifford, and the +failure of their attempt to relieve Stirling, Randolph and Douglas +returned together to the king. The news of their success spread +rapidly, and when Randolph rode down from St. Ninians to his +division, loud cheers broke from the whole Scottish army, who were +vastly encouraged at so fair a commencement of their struggle with +the English. +</P> + +<P> +The English army was still advancing slowly, and Bruce and his +leaders rode down to the front of the Scottish line, seeing that +all was in order and encouraging the men with cheering words. When +the English army approached the stream King Edward ordered a halt +to be sounded for the purpose of holding a council, whether it was +best to encamp for the night or at once to advance against the +enemy. The Earls of Gloucester and Hereford, who commanded the +first division, were so far ahead that they did not hear the sound +of the trumpet, and continuing their onward march crossed the Bannock +Burn and moved on toward the Scotch array. In front of the ranks +of the defenders the king was riding upon a small palfrey, not +having as yet put on his armour for the battle. On his helmet he +wore a purple cap surmounted by a crown. Seeing him thus within +easy reach, Sir Henry de Bohun, cousin of the Earl of Hereford, +laid his lance in rest and spurred down upon the king. Bruce could +have retired within the lines of his soldiers; but confident in his +own prowess, and judging how great an effect a success under such +circumstances would have upon the spirits of his troops, he spurred +forward to meet his assailant armed only with his axe. As the +English knight came thundering down, the king touched his palfrey +with his spur, and the horse, carrying but a light weight, swerved +quickly aside; De Bohun's lance missed his stroke, and before he had +time to draw rein or sword, the king, standing up in his stirrups, +dealt him so tremendous a blow with his axe as he passed, that it +cleft through helmet and brain, and the knight fell dead to the +ground. +</P> + +<P> +With a shout of triumph the Scotch rushed forward and drove +the English advance guard back across the stream; then the Scotch +leaders led their men back again to the position which they had +quitted, and reformed their array. Douglas, Edward Bruce, Randolph, +and Archie Forbes now gathered round the king and remonstrated with +him on the rashness of an act which might have proved fatal to the +whole army. The king smiled at such remonstrances from four men +who had, above all others, distinguished themselves for their rash +and daring exploits, and shrugging his shoulders observed only that +it was a pity he had broken the shaft of his favourite axe. The +English array now withdrew to a short distance, and it became evident +that the great battle would be delayed till the morrow. The Scotch +army therefore broke its ranks and prepared to pass the night +on the spot where it stood. The king assembled all his principal +leaders round him, and after thanking God for so fair a beginning +of the fight as had that day been made, he pointed out to them how +great an effect the two preliminary skirmishes would have upon the +spirits of both armies, and expressed his confidence in the final +result. He urged upon them the necessity for keeping their followers +well in hand, and meeting the charges of the enemy's horse steadily +with their spears; and especially warned them, after repulsing +a charge, against allowing their men to break their array, either +to plunder or take prisoners, so long as the battle lasted, as the +whole riches of the English camp would fall into their hands if +successful. He pledged himself that the heirs of all who fell should +have the succession of their estates free from the usual feudal +burdens on such occasions. +</P> + +<P> +The night passed quietly, and in the morning both armies formed +their array for battle. Bruce, as was customary, conferred the +honour of knighthood upon several of his leaders. Then all proceeded +to their allotted places and awaited the onset. Beyond the stream +and extending far away towards the rising ground were the English +squadrons in their glittering arms, the first division in line, +the others in heavy masses behind them. Now that the Scotch were +fairly drawn up in order of battle, the English could see how +small was their number in comparison with their own, and the king +in surprise exclaimed to Sir Ingram de Umfraville: +</P> + +<P> +"What! will yonder Scots fight us?" +</P> + +<P> +"That verily will they," the knight replied, for he had many a +time been engaged in stout conflict with them, and knew how hard +it was even for mail clad knights to break through the close lines +of Scottish spears. So high a respect had he for their valour, that +he urged the king to pretend to retire suddenly beyond the camp, +when the Scots, in spite of their leaders, would be sure to leave +their ranks and flock into the camp to plunder, when they might be +easily dispersed and cut to pieces. The king, however, refused to +adopt the suggestion, saying, that no one must be able to accuse +him of avoiding a battle or of withdrawing his army before such +a rabble. As the armies stood confronting each other in battle +array a priest passed along the Scottish front, crucifix in hand, +exhorting all to fight to the death for the liberty of their country. +As he passed along the line each company knelt in an attitude of +prayer. King Edward, seeing this, exclaimed to Sir Ingram: +</P> + +<P> +"See yonder folk kneel to ask for mercy!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ay, sire," the knight said, looking earnestly at the Scots, "they +kneel and ask for mercy, but not of you; it is for their sins they +ask mercy of God. I know these men, and have met and fought them, +and I tell you that assuredly they will win or die, and not even +when death looks them in the face will they turn to fly." +</P> + +<P> +"Then if it must be so," said the king, "let us charge." +</P> + +<P> +The trumpet sounded along the line. First the immense body of +English archers crossed the burn and opened the battle by pouring +clouds of arrows into the Scottish ranks. The Scotch archers, who +were in advance of their spearmen, were speedily driven back to +shelter beyond their line, for not only were the English vastly more +numerous, but they shot much further and more accurately. And now +the knights and men-at-arms, on their steel clad horses, crossed +the burn. They were aware of the existence of Milton Bog, which +covered the Scottish centre, and they directed their charge upon +the division of Edward Bruce on the Scottish right. The crash as +the mailed horses burst down upon the wood of Scottish spears was +tremendous. Bruce's men held firm, and the English in vain strove +to break through their serried line of spears. It was a repetition +of the fight of the previous day, but on a greater scale. With +lance and battleaxe the chivalry of England strove to break the +ranks of the Scotch, while with serried lines of spears, four deep, +the Scotch held their own. Every horse which, wounded or riderless, +turned and dashed through the ranks of the English, added to the +confusion. This was much further increased by the deep holes into +which the horses were continually falling, and breaking up all order +in their ranks. Those behind pressed forward to reach the front, +and their very numbers added to their difficulty. +</P> + +<P> +The English were divided into ten divisions or "battles," and +these one by one crossed the stream with banners flying, and still +avoiding the centre, followed the line taken by the first, and +pressed forward to take part in the fray. +</P> + +<P> +Randolph now moved with the centre to the support of the hardly +pressed right, and his division, as well as that of Edward Bruce, +seemed to be lost among the multitude of their opponents. Stewart +and Douglas moved their division to the right and threw themselves +into the fray, and the three Scottish divisions were now fighting +side by side, but with a much smaller front than that which they +had originally occupied. For a time the battle raged furiously +without superiority on either side. The Scotch possessed the great +advantage that, standing close together in ranks four deep, every +man was engaged, while of the mounted knights and men-at-arms who +pressed upon them, only the front line was doing efficient service. +Not only, therefore, was the vast numerical superiority of the +English useless to them, but actually a far larger number of the +Scottish than of themselves were using their weapons in the front +rank, while the great proportion of the English remained helplessly +behind their fighting line, unable to take any part whatever in +the fight. But now the English archers came into play again, and +firing high into the air rained their arrows almost perpendicularly +down upon the Scottish ranks. Had this continued it would have +been as fatal to the Scots at Bannockburn as it was at Falkirk; but +happily the Scottish horse told off for this special service were +here commanded by no traitors, and at the critical moment the king +launched Sir Robert Keith, the mareschal of Scotland, against the +archers with 500 horsemen. These burst suddenly down upon the flank +of the archers and literally swept them before them. Great numbers +were killed, others fell back upon the lines of horsemen who were +ranged behind, impatient to take their share in the battle; these +tried to drive them back again, but the archers were disheartened, +and retreating across the stream took no further part in the battle. +The charge of the Scottish horses should have been foreseen and +provided against by placing strong bodies of men-at-arms on the +flanks of the archers, as these lightly armed troops were wholly +unable to withstand a charge by cavalry. +</P> + +<P> +The Scottish archers, now that their formidable opponents had +left the field, opened a heavy fire over the heads of the pikemen +upon the horsemen surrounding the squares, and when they had shot +away their arrows sallied out and mingled in the confused mass of +the enemy, doing tremendous execution with their axes and knives. +Hitherto the king had kept his reserve in hand; but now that the +English archers were defeated and their horsemen in inextricable +confusion, he moved his division down and joined in the melee, his +men shouting his well known battle cry. +</P> + +<P> +Every Scotch soldier on the field was now engaged. No longer did the +battle cries of the various parties rise in the air. Men had no +breath to waste in shouting, but each fought silently and desperately +with spear or axe, and the sound of clanging blows of weapons, of +mighty crash of sword or battleaxe on steel armour, with the cries +and groans of wounded men were alone heard. Over and over again the +English knights drew back a little so as to gain speed and impetus, +and flung themselves on the Scottish spears, but ever without effect, +while little by little the close ranks of the Scotch pressed forward +until, as the space between their front and the brook narrowed, the +whole of the English divisions became pent up together, more and +more incapable of using their strength to advantage. The slaughter +in their front divisions had already been terrible. Again and +again fresh troops had taken the places of those who had formed the +front ranks, but many of their best and bravest had fallen. The +confusion was too great for their leaders to be able to direct them +with advantage, and seeing the failure of every effort to break +the Scottish ranks, borne back by the slow advance of the hedge of +spears, harassed by the archers who dived below the horses, stabbing +them in their bellies, or rising suddenly between them to smite +down the riders with their keen, heavy, short handled axes, the +English began to lose heart, and as they wavered the Scotch pressed +forward more eagerly, shouting, "On them! on them! They give way! +they give way!" +</P> + +<P> +At this critical moment the servants, teamsters, and camp followers +who had been left behind Gillies Hill, showed themselves. Some of +their number from the eminence had watched the desperate struggle, +and on hearing how their soldiers were pressed by the surrounding +host of English men-at-arms they could no longer remain inactive. +All men carried arms in those days. They hastily chose one of their +own number as leader, and fastening some sheets to tent poles as +banners, they advanced over the hill in battle array, and moved +down to join their comrades. The sight of what they deemed a fresh +division advancing to the assistance of the Scotch brought to +a climax the hesitation which had begun to shake the English, and +ensured their discomfiture. Those in rear turned bridle hastily, +and crossing the Bannock Burn, galloped away. The movement so begun +spread rapidly, and although those in front still continued their +desperate efforts to break the line of Scottish spears, the day was +now hopelessly lost. Seeing that this was so, the Earl of Pembroke +seized the king's rein and constrained him to leave the field with +a bodyguard of 500 horse. Sir Giles de Argentine, who had hitherto +remained by the king's side, and who was esteemed the third best +knight in Europe—the Emperor Henry of Luxemberg and Robert +Bruce being reckoned the two best—bade farewell to the king as +he rode off. +</P> + +<P> +"Farewell, sire," he said, "since you must go, but I at least must +return; I have never yet fled from an enemy, and will remain and +die rather than fly and live in disgrace." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, the knight spurred down to the conflict, and charged +against the array of Edward Bruce, and there fell fighting valiantly. +The flight of the king and his attendants was the signal for a +general rout. Great numbers were slain, many men were drowned in +the Forth, and the channel of the Bannock was so choked with the +bodies of dead men and horses that one could pass over dry shod. The +scattered parties of English were still so numerous that Bruce held +his men well in hand until these had yielded themselves prisoners. +Douglas was charged to pursue the king, but he could only muster +sixty horsemen. A short distance from the field he met a Scottish +baron, Sir Laurence Abernethy, with twenty-four men-at-arms, +on his way to join the English, for even as yet but few of the +Scottish nobles were on the side of the king. Upon hearing what had +happened, Sir Laurence, with the easy facility which distinguished +the Scottish nobles of the period, at once changed sides, swore +fealty to Bruce, and joined Douglas in the pursuit of his late +friends. They overtook the king's party at Linlithgow, but Pembroke +kept his men well together, and while still retiring, showed so +bold an appearance that Douglas did not venture to charge. Finally +the English reached the Castle of Dunbar, where the king and his +immediate attendants were received by his ally, Earl Patrick of +Dunbar. So cowed were the fugitives that they left their horses +outside the castle gate, and these were captured by their pursuers. +The main body of the king's bodyguard continued their way in good +order, and reached Berwick in safety. Edward gained England in +a fishing boat from Dunbar. Eighteen years had elapsed since his +father had entered Scotland with an army deemed sufficient for its +entire subjugation; had sacked and destroyed the rich and prosperous +town of Berwick, routed the army of Baliol, marched through Scotland, +and, as he believed, permanently settled his conquest. Now the +son had lost all that his father had won. +</P> + +<P> +Among the fugitive remains of the English army were a considerable +body of Welsh, who, being lightly armed, fled at full speed toward +the Border, but being easily distinguished by their white dresses +and the absence of defensive armour, almost all were slain by +the peasantry. The Earl of Hereford, the Earl of Angus, Sir John +Seagrave, Sir Anthony Lucy, Sir Ingram de Umfraville, with a great +number of knights, 600 men-at-arms, and 1000 infantry, keeping +together, marched south toward Carlisle. +</P> + +<P> +As they passed Bothwell Castle, which was held by the governor for +England, the earls and knights entered the castle, their followers +remaining without; but the governor, on hearing the result of the +battle, closed the gates and took all who had entered prisoners, +and, changing sides, handed them over to Bruce. Their followers +continued their march south, but were for the most part slain or +taken prisoners before they reached the Border. +</P> + +<P> +When all resistance had ceased on the field the victors collected +the spoil. This consisted of the vast camp, the treasures intended +for the payment of the army, the herds of cattle, and stores of +provisions, wine, and forage; the rich wearing apparel and arms +of the knights and nobles killed or made prisoners, many valuable +horses, and the prisoners who would have to be ransomed, among whom +were twenty-two barons and sixty knights. +</P> + +<P> +The spoil was estimated at 200,000 pounds, equal to 3,000,000 +pounds of money in these days. The king refused to take any share +in this plunder, dividing it wholly among his troops. 30,000 English +lay dead on the field, including 200 knights and 700 esquires, and +among the most distinguished of the dead were the Earl of Gloucester, +Sir Giles de Argentine, Lord Robert Clifford, Sir Edmund Manley, +seneschal of England, Sir William de Mareschal, Sir Payne Tybtot, +and Sir John Comyn. Sir Marmaduke de Twenge was among the prisoners. +</P> + +<P> +Bruce's conduct to his prisoners was even more honourable to himself +than was the great victory that he had won. In spite of his three +brothers, his brother in law Seaton, his friends Athole and Frazer, +having been executed by the English, and the knowledge that their +mangled remains were still exposed over London Bridge and the +gates of Carlisle and Newcastle—in spite of the barbarous and +lengthened captivity of his wife, his sister and daughter, and his +friend the Countess of Buchan—in spite of the conviction that +had he himself been made prisoner he would at once have been sent +to the scaffold—Bruce behaved with a magnanimity and generosity +of the highest kind. Every honour was paid to the English dead, and +the bodies of the chief among these were sent to their relatives in +England, and the prisoners were all either ransomed or exchanged. +Sir Marmaduke de Twenge was dismissed free of ransom and loaded +with gifts, and even the Scotch nobles, such as Sir Philip Mowbray, +who were taken fighting in the ranks of their country's enemy, were +forgiven. This noble example exercised but little influence upon +the English. When Edward Bruce was killed four years afterwards +at Dundalk in Ireland, his body was quartered and distributed, and +his head presented to the English king, who bestowed upon Birmingham—who +commanded the English and sent the gift to him—the dignity +of Earl of Louth. +</P> + +<P> +Among the prisoners was Edward's poet laureate, Baston, a Carmelite +friar, who had accompanied the army for the purpose of writing +a poem on the English victory. His ransom was fixed at a poem on +the Scotch victory at Bannockburn, which the friar was forced to +supply. +</P> + +<P> +With Bannockburn ended all hope on the part of the English of +subjugating Scotland; but the war continued fitfully for fourteen +years, the Scotch frequently invading England and levying heavy +contributions from the northern counties and towns, and the English +occasionally retaliating by the same process; but at length peace +was signed at Northampton. +</P> + +<P> +In 1315 a parliament assembled at Ayr for the purpose of regulating +the succession to the throne. It was then agreed that in case of the +king's death without male issue his brother Edward should succeed +to it, and that if Edward left no heirs, the children of Marjory, +the king's daughter, should succeed. Shortly afterwards Marjory was +married to Walter the Steward. Edward Bruce was killed unmarried. +A son was afterwards born to the king, who reigned as David II, +but having died without issue, the son of Marjory and the Steward +became king. The hereditary title of Steward was used as the surname +for the family, and thus from them descended the royal line of +Stewart or Stuart, through which Queen Victoria at present reigns +over Great Britain, Ireland, and their vast dependencies. +</P> + +<P> +After Bannockburn Archie Forbes went no more to the wars. He was +raised to the dignity of Baron Forbes by the king, and was ever +rewarded by him as one of his most trusty councillors, and his +descendants played a prominent part in the changing and eventful +history of Scotland; but the proudest tradition of the family was +that their ancestor had fought as a patriot by the side of Bruce +and Wallace when scarce a noble of Scotland but was leagued with +the English oppressors of their country. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +THE END +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In Freedom's Cause, by G. A. Henty + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE *** + +***** This file should be named 4792-h.htm or 4792-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/4/7/9/4792/ + +Produced by Martin Robb and Ted Robb. 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Henty + +Posting Date: September 11, 2009 [EBook #4792] +Release Date: December, 2003 +First Posted: March 21, 2002 +Last Updated: August 12, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb and Ted Robb. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + +In Freedom's Cause + +G. A. Henty + + + + +CONTENTS + + I Glen Cairn + II Leaving Home + III Sir William Wallace + IV The Capture of Lanark + V A Treacherous Plot + VI The Barns of Ayr + VII The Cave in the Pentlands + VIII The Council at Stirling + IX The Battle of Stirling Bridge + X The Battle of Falkirk + XI Robert The Bruce + XII The Battle of Methven + XIII The Castle of Dunstaffnage + XIV Colonsay + XV A Mission to Ireland + XVI An Irish Rising + XVII The King's Blood Hound + XVIII The Hound Restored + XIX The Convent of St. Kenneth + XX The Heiress of the Kerrs + XXI The Siege of Aberfilly + XXII A Prisoner + XXIII The Escape from Berwick + XXIV The Progress of the War + XXV The Capture of a Stronghold + XXVI Edinburgh + XXVII Bannockburn + + + + +PREFACE. + + +MY DEAR LADS, + +There are few figures in history who have individually exercised +so great an influence upon events as William Wallace and Robert +Bruce. It was to the extraordinary personal courage, indomitable +perseverance, and immense energy of these two men that Scotland +owed her freedom from English domination. So surprising were the +traditions of these feats performed by these heroes that it was at +one time the fashion to treat them as belonging as purely to legend +as the feats of St. George or King Arthur. Careful investigation, +however, has shown that so far from this being the case, almost +every deed reported to have been performed by them is verified by +contemporary historians. Sir William Wallace had the especial bad +fortune of having come down to us principally by the writings of +his bitter enemies, and even modern historians, who should have +taken a fairer view of his life, repeated the cry of the old English +writers that he was a bloodthirsty robber. Mr. W. Burns, however, +in his masterly and exhaustive work, The Scottish War of Independence, +has torn these calumnies to shreds, and has displayed Wallace as +he was, a high minded and noble patriot. While consulting other +writers, especially those who wrote at the time of or but shortly +after the events they record, I have for the most part followed +Burns in all the historical portions of the narrative. Throughout +the story, therefore, wherein it at all relates to Wallace, Bruce, +and the other historical characters, the circumstances and events +can be relied upon as strictly accurate, save only in the earlier +events of the career of Wallace, of which the details that have +come down to us are somewhat conflicting, although the main features +are now settled past question. + +Yours sincerely, + G.A. HENTY. + + + + +Chapter I + +Glen Cairn + + +The village of Glen Cairn was situated in a valley in the broken +country lying to the west of the Pentland Hills, some fifteen miles +north of the town of Lanark, and the country around it was wild +and picturesque. The villagers for the most part knew little of +the world beyond their own valley, although a few had occasionally +paid visits to Glasgow, which lay as far to the west as Lanark was +distant to the south. On a spur jutting out from the side of the +hill stood Glen Cairn Castle, whose master the villagers had for +generations regarded as their lord. + +The glory of the little fortalice had now departed. Sir William +Forbes had been killed on his own hearthstone, and the castle had +been sacked in a raid by the Kerrs, whose hold lay to the southwest, +and who had long been at feud with the Forbeses. The royal power +was feeble, and the Kerrs had many friends, and were accordingly +granted the lands they had seized; only it was specified that Dame +Forbes, the widow of Sir William, should be allowed to reside in +the fortalice free from all let or hindrance, so long as she meddled +not, nor sought to stir up enmity among the late vassals of her +lord against their new masters. + +The castle, although a small one, was strongly situated. The spur +of the hill ran some 200 yards into the valley, rising sharply +some 30 or 40 feet above it. The little river which meandered down +the valley swept completely round the foot of the spur, forming a +natural moat to it, and had in some time past been dammed back, so +that, whereas in other parts it ran brightly over a pebbly bottom, +here it was deep and still. The fortalice itself stood at the +extremity of the spur, and a strong wall with a fortified gateway +extended across the other end of the neck, touching the water on +both sides. From the gateway extended two walls inclosing a road +straight to the gateway of the hold itself, and between these walls +and the water every level foot of ground was cultivated; this garden +was now the sole remains of the lands of the Forbeses. + +It was a narrow patrimony for Archie, the only son of Dame Forbes, +and his lady mother had hard work to keep up a respectable state, +and to make ends meet. Sandy Grahame, who had fought under her +husband's banner and was now her sole retainer, made the most of the +garden patches. Here he grew vegetables on the best bits of ground +and oats on the remainder; these, crushed between flat stones, +furnished a coarse bread. From the stream an abundance of fish could +always be obtained, and the traps and nets therefore furnished a +meal when all else failed. In the stream, too, swam a score and more +of ducks, while as many chickens walked about the castle yard, or +scratched for insects among the vegetables. A dozen goats browsed +on the hillside, for this was common ground to the village, and +Dame Forbes had not therefore to ask for leave from her enemies, +the Kerrs. The goats furnished milk and cheese, which was deftly +made by Elspie, Sandy's wife, who did all the work indoors, as her +husband did without. Meat they seldom touched. Occasionally the +resources of the hold were eked out by the present of a little +hill sheep, or a joint of prime meat, from one or other of her old +vassals, for these, in spite of the mastership of the Kerrs, still +at heart regarded Dame Mary Forbes as their lawful mistress, and +her son Archie as their future chief. Dame Mary Forbes was careful +in no way to encourage this feeling, for she feared above all things +to draw the attention of the Kerrs to her son. She was sure that +did Sir John Kerr entertain but a suspicion that trouble might ever +come from the rivalry of this boy, he would not hesitate a moment +in encompassing his death; for Sir John was a rough and violent +man who was known to hesitate at nothing which might lead to his +aggrandizement. Therefore she seldom moved beyond the outer wall +of the hold, except to go down to visit the sick in the village. +She herself had been a Seaton, and had been educated at the nunnery +of Dunfermline, and she now taught Archie to read and write, +accomplishments by no means common even among the better class in +those days. Archie loved not books; but as it pleased his mother, +and time often hung heavy on his hands, he did not mind devoting +two or three hours a day to the tasks she set him. At other times +he fished in the stream, wandered over the hills, and brought in +the herbs from which Dame Forbes distilled the potions which she +distributed to the villagers when sick. + +Often he joined the lads of the village in their games. They +all regarded him as their leader; but his mother had pressed upon +him over and over again that on no account was he to assume any +superiority over the others, but to treat them strictly as equals. +Doubtless the Kerrs would from time to time have news of what was +doing in Glen Cairn; and while they would be content to see him +joining in the sports of the village lads, with seemingly no wish +beyond that station, they would at once resent it did they see +any sign on his part of his regarding himself as a chief among the +others. + +No inconsiderable portion of Archie's time was occupied in acquiring +the use of arms from Sandy Grahame. His mother, quiet and seemingly +resigned as she was, yet burned with the ambition that he should +some day avenge his father's death, and win back his father's lands. +She said little to him of her hopes; but she roused his spirit by +telling him stories of the brave deeds of the Forbeses and Seatons, +and she encouraged him from his childhood to practise in arms with +Sandy Grahame. + +In this respect, indeed, Archie needed no stimulant. From Sandy +even more than from his mother he had heard of his brave father's +deeds in arms; and although, from the way in which she repressed any +such utterances, he said but little to his mother, he was resolved +as much as she could wish him to be, that he would some day win +back his patrimony, and avenge his father upon his slayers. + +Consequently, upon every opportunity when Sandy Grahame could spare +time from his multifarious work, Archie practised with him, with +sword and pike. At first he had but a wooden sword. Then, as his +limbs grew stronger, he practised with a blunted sword; and now +at the age of fifteen Sandy Grahame had as much as he could do to +hold his own with his pupil. + +At the time the story opens, in the springtime of the year 1293, +he was playing at ball with some of the village lads on the green, +when a party of horsemen was seen approaching. + +At their head rode two men perhaps forty years old, while a lad of +some eighteen years of age rode beside them. In one of the elder +men Archie recognized Sir John Kerr. The lad beside him was his +son Allan. The other leader was Sir John Hazelrig, governor of +Lanark; behind them rode a troop of armed men, twenty in number. +Some of the lads would have ceased from their play; but Archie +exclaimed: + +"Heed them not; make as if you did not notice them. You need not +be in such a hurry to vail your bonnets to the Kerr." + +"Look at the young dogs," Sir John Kerr said to his companion. +"They know that their chief is passing, and yet they pretend that +they see us not." + +"It would do them good," his son exclaimed, "did you give your +troopers orders to tie them all up and give them a taste of their +stirrup leathers." + +"It would not be worth while, Allan," his father said. "They will +all make stout men-at-arms some day, and will have to fight under +my banner. I care as little as any man what my vassals think of +me, seeing that whatsoever they think they have to do mine orders. +But it needs not to set them against one needlessly; so let the +varlets go on with their play undisturbed." + +That evening Archie said to his mother, "How is it, mother, that +the English knight whom I today saw ride past with the Kerr is +governor of our Scottish town of Lanark?" + +"You may well wonder, Archie, for there are many in Scotland +of older years than you who marvel that Scotsmen, who have always +been free, should tolerate so strange a thing. It is a long story, +and a tangled one; but tomorrow morning I will draw out for you +a genealogy of the various claimants to the Scottish throne, and +you will see how the thing has come about, and under what pretence +Edward of England has planted his garrisons in this free Scotland +of ours." + +The next morning Archie did not forget to remind his mother of her +promise. + +"You must know," she began, "that our good King Alexander had three +children--David, who died when a boy; Alexander, who married a +daughter of the Count of Flanders, and died childless; and a daughter, +Margaret, who married Eric, the young King of Norway. Three years +ago the Queen of Norway died, leaving an only daughter, also named +Margaret, who was called among us the 'Maid of Norway,' and who, +at her mother's death, became heir presumptive to the throne, and +as such was recognized by an assembly of the estates at Scone. But +we all hoped that the king would have male heirs, for early last +year, while still in the prime of life, he married Joleta, daughter +of the Count of Drew. Unhappily, on the 19th of March, he attended +a council in the castle of Edinburgh, and on his way back to his +wife at Kinghorn, on a stormy night, he fell over a precipice and +was killed. + +"The hopes of the country now rested on the 'Maid of Norway,' who +alone stood between the throne and a number of claimants, most of +whom would be prepared to support their claims by arms, and thus +bring unnumbered woes upon Scotland. Most unhappily for the country, +the maid died on her voyage to Scotland, and the succession therefore +became open. + +"You will see on this chart, which I have drawn out, the lines by +which the principal competitors--for there were nigh upon a score +of them--claimed the throne. + +"Before the death of the maid, King Edward had proposed a marriage +between her and his young son, and his ambassadors met the Scottish +commissioners at Brigham, near Kelso, and on the 18th of July, 1290, +the treaty was concluded. It contained, besides the provisions of +the marriage, clauses for the personal freedom of Margaret should +she survive her husband; for the reversion of the crown failing +her issue; for protection of the rights, laws, and liberties of +Scotland; the freedom of the church; the privileges of crown vassals; +the independence of the courts; the preservation of all charters +and natural muniments; and the holding of parliaments only within +Scotland; and specially provided that no vassal should be compelled +to go forth of Scotland for the purpose of performing homage or +fealty; and that no native of Scotland should for any cause whatever +be compelled to answer, for any breach of covenant or from crime +committed, out of the kingdom. + +"Thus you see, my boy, that King Edward at this time fully recognized +the perfect independence of Scotland, and raised no claim to any +suzerainty over it. Indeed, by Article I it was stipulated that +the rights, laws, liberties, and customs of Scotland should remain +for ever entire and inviolable throughout the whole realm and its +marches; and by Article V that the Kingdom of Scotland shall remain +separate and divided from England, free in itself, and without +subjection, according to its right boundaries and marches, as +heretofore. + +"King Edward, however, artfully inserted a salvo, 'saving the rights +of the King of England and of all others which before the date of +this treaty belong to him or any of them in the marches or elsewhere.' +The Scottish lords raised no objection to the insertion of this +salvo, seeing that it was of general purport, and that Edward +possessed no rights in Scotland, nor had any ever been asserted +by his predecessors--Scotland being a kingdom in itself equal to +its neighbour--and that neither William the Norman nor any of his +successors attempted to set forward any claims to authority beyond +the Border. + +"No sooner was the treaty signed than Edward, without warrant +or excuse, appointed Anthony Beck, the warlike Bishop of Durham, +Lieutenant of Scotland, in the name of the yet unmarried pair; and +finding that this was not resented, he demanded that all the places +of strength in the kingdom should be delivered to him. This demand +was not, however, complied with, and the matter was still pending +when the Maid of Norway died. The three principal competitors--Bruce, +Baliol, and Comyn--and their friends, at once began to arm; but +William Fraser, Bishop of St. Andrews, a friend of Baliol, wrote to +King Edward suggesting that he should act as arbitrator, and more +than hinting that if he chose Baliol he would find him submissive +in all things to his wishes. Edward jumped at the proposal, and +thereupon issued summonses to the barons of the northern counties +to meet him at Norham on the 3d of June; and a mandate was issued +to the sheriffs of Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, York, +and Lancaster, to assemble the feudal array at the same rendezvous. + +"Now, you know, my son, that, owing to the marriages between royal +families of England and Scotland, there has been a close connection +between the countries. Many Scotch barons have married English +heiresses, and hold lands in both countries, while Scottish maidens +have married English knights. Thus it happens that a great number +of the Scotch nobility are as much Englishmen as Scotchmen, and are +vassals to England for lands held there. Four of the competitors, +John Baliol, Robert Bruce, John Comyn, and William Ross, are all +barons of England as well as of Scotland, and their lands lying +in the north they were, of course, included in the invitation. In +May, Edward issued an invitation to the Bishops of St. Andrews, +Glasgow, and other Scotch nobles to come to Norham, remain there, +and return, specially saying that their presence there was not to +be regarded as a custom through which the laws of Scotland might +in any future time be prejudiced. Hither then came the whole power +of the north of England, and many of the Scotch nobles. + +"When the court opened, Roger Brabazon, the king's justiciary, +delivered an address, in which he stated that Edward, as lord +paramount of Scotland, had come there to administer justice between +the competitors for the crown, and concluded with the request that +all present should acknowledge his claim as lord paramount. The +Scottish nobles present, with the exception of those who were +privy to Edward's designs, were filled with astonishment and dismay +at this pretension, and declared their ignorance of any claim of +superiority of the King of England over Scotland. The king, in a +passion, exclaimed: + +"'By holy Edward, whose crown I wear, I will vindicate my just +rights, or perish in the attempt.' + +"However, he saw that nothing could be done on the instant, and +adjourned the meeting for three weeks, at the end of which time the +prelates, nobles, and community of Scotland were invited to bring +forward whatever they could in opposition to his claim to supremacy. + +"At the time fixed the Scotch nobles again met, but this time on +the Scottish side of the Border, for Edward had gathered together +the whole of the force of the northern counties. + +"Besides the four claimants, whose names I have told you, were Sir +John Hastings, Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March, William de Vesci, +Robert de Pinkeny, Nicholas de Soulis, Patrick Galythly, Roger de +Mandeville, Florence, Count of Holland, and Eric, King of Norway. +With the exception of Eric, the Count of Holland, Dunbar, and +Galythly, all of these were of Norman extraction, and held possessions +in England. When the meeting was opened the prelates and nobles +present advanced nothing to disprove Edward's claim to supremacy. +The representatives of the commons, however, did show reason against +the claim, for which, indeed, my son, as every man in Scotland +knows, there was not a shadow of foundation. + +"The king's chancellor declared that there was nothing in these +objections to Edward's claim, and therefore he resolved, as lord +paramount, to determine the question of succession. The various +competitors were asked whether they acknowledged Edward as lord +paramount, and were willing to receive his judgment as such; and +the whole of these wretched traitors proceeded to barter their +country for their hopes of a crown, acknowledged Edward as lord +paramount, and left the judgment in his hands. + +"Bruce and Baliol received handsome presents for thus tamely +yielding the rights of Scotland. All present at once agreed that +the castles and strongholds of Scotland should be surrendered into +the hands of English commanders and garrisons. This was immediately +done; and thus it is, Archie, that you see an English officer +lording it over the Scotch town of Lanark. + +"Then every Scotchman was called upon to do homage to the English +king as his lord paramount, and all who refused to do so were +seized and arrested. Finally, on the 17th of November last, 1292--the +date will long be remembered in Scotland--Edward's judgment +was given at Berwick, and by it John Baliol was declared King of +Scotland. + +"Thus for eighteen months Scotland was kept in doubt; and this was +done, no doubt, to enable the English to rivet their yoke upon our +shoulders, and to intimidate and coerce all who might oppose it." + +"There were some that did oppose it, mother, were there not?--some +true Scotchmen who refused to own the supremacy of the King of +England?" + +"Very few, Archie. One Sir Malcolm Wallace, a knight of but small +estate, refused to do so, and was, together with his eldest son, +slain in an encounter with an English detachment under a leader +named Fenwick at Loudon Hill." + +"And was he the father of that William Wallace of whom the talk was +lately that he had slain young Selbye, son of the English governor +of Dundee?" + +"The same, Archie." + +"Men say, mother, that although but eighteen years of age he is of +great stature and strength, of very handsome presence, and courteous +and gentle; and that he was going quietly through the streets when +insulted by young Selbye, and that he and his companions being set +upon by the English soldiers, slew several and made their escape." + +"So they say, Archie. He appears from all description of him +to be a remarkable young man, and I trust that he will escape the +vengeance of the English, and that some day he may again strike +some blows for our poor Scotland, which, though nominally under +the rule of Baliol, is now but a province of England." + +"But surely, mother, Scotchmen will never remain in such a state +of shameful servitude!" + +"I trust not, my son; but I fear that it will be long before we +shake off the English yoke. Our nobles are for the most part of +Norman blood; very many are barons of England; and so great are the +jealousies among them that no general effort against England will +be possible. No, if Scotland is ever to be freed, it will be by +a mighty rising of the common people, and even then the struggle +between the commons of Scotland and the whole force of England aided +by the feudal power of all the great Scotch nobles, would be well +nigh hopeless." + +This conversation sank deeply into Archie's mind; day and night +he thought of nothing but the lost freedom of Scotland, and vowed +that even the hope of regaining his father's lands should be +secondary to that of freeing his country. All sorts of wild dreams +did the boy turn over in his mind; he was no longer gay and light +hearted, but walked about moody and thoughtful. He redoubled his +assiduity in the practice of arms; and sometimes when fighting with +Sandy, he would think that he had an English man-at-arms before him, +and would strike so hotly and fiercely that Sandy had the greatest +difficulty in parrying his blows, and was forced to shout lustily +to recall him from the clouds. He no longer played at ball with the +village lads; but, taking the elder of them aside, he swore them +to secrecy, and then formed them into a band, which he called the +Scottish Avengers. With them he would retire into valleys far away +from the village, where none would mark what they were doing, and +there they practised with club and stake instead of broadsword +and pike, defended narrow passes against an imaginary enemy, and, +divided into two parties, did battle with each other. + +The lads entered into the new diversion with spirit. Among the +lower class throughout Scotland the feeling of indignation at the +manner in which their nobles had sold their country to England was +deep and passionate. They knew the woes which English domination +had brought upon Wales and Ireland; and though as yet without a +leader, and at present hopeless of a successful rising, every true +Scotchman was looking forward to the time when an attempt might be +made to throw off the English yoke. + +Therefore the lads of Glen Cairn entered heart and soul into +the projects of their "young chief," for so they regarded Archie, +and strove their best to acquire some of the knowledge of the use +of sword and pike which he possessed. The younger lads were not +permitted to know what was going on--none younger than Archie +himself being admitted into the band, while some of the elders were +youths approaching man's estate. Even to his mother Archie did not +breathe a word of what he was doing, for he feared that she might +forbid his proceedings. The good lady was often surprised at the +cuts and bruises with which he returned home; but he always turned +off her questions by muttering something about rough play or a +heavy fall, and so for some months the existence of the Scottish +Avengers remained unsuspected. + + + +Chapter II + +Leaving Home + + +One day when "the Avengers" were engaged in mimic battle in a glen +some two miles from the village they were startled with a loud +shout of "How now, what is this uproar?" Bows were lowered and +hedge stakes dropped; on the hillside stood Red Roy, the henchman +of Sir John Kerr, with another of the retainers. They had been +crossing the hills, and had been attracted by the sound of shouting. +All the lads were aware of the necessity for Archie's avoiding the +notice of the Kerrs, and Andrew Macpherson, one of the eldest of +the lads, at once stepped forward: "We are playing," he said, "at +fighting Picts against Scots." + +This was the case, for the English were so hated that Archie had +found that none would even in sport take that name, and the sides +were accordingly dubbed Scots and Picts, the latter title not being +so repugnant, and the companies changing sides each day. + +"It looks as if you were fighting in earnest," Roy said grimly, +"for the blood is streaming down your face." + +"Oh, we don't mind a hard knock now and again," Andrew said +carelessly. "I suppose, one of these days, we shall have to go out +under Sir John's banner, and the more hard knocks we have now, the +less we shall care for them then." + +"That is so," Roy said; "and some of you will soon be able to handle +arms in earnest. Who are your leaders?" he asked sharply, as his +eye fixed on Archie, who had seated himself carelessly upon a rock +at some little distance. + +"William Orr generally heads one side, and I the other." + +"And what does that young Forbes do?" Red Roy asked. + +"Well, he generally looks on," Andrew replied in a confidential +tone; "he is not much good with the bow, and his lady mother does +not like it if he goes home with a crack across the face, and I +don't think he likes it himself; he is but a poor creature when it +comes to a tussle." + +"And it is well for him that he is," Red Roy muttered to himself; +"for if he had been likely to turn out a lad of spirit, Sir John +would have said the word to me before now; but, seeing what he is, +he may as well be left alone for the present. He will never cause +trouble." So saying, Red Roy strolled away with his companion, and +left the lads to continue their mimic fight. + +News travelled slowly to Glen Cairn; indeed, it was only when +a travelling chapman or pedlar passed through, or when one of the +villagers went over to Lanark or Glasgow, carrying the fowls and +other produce of the community to market, that the news came from +without. + +Baliol was not long before he discovered that his monarchy was but +a nominal one. The first quarrel which arose between him and his +imperious master was concerning the action of the courts. King Edward +directed that there should be an appeal to the courts at Westminster +from all judgments in the Scottish courts. Baliol protested that it +was specifically agreed by the Treaty of Brigham that no Scotchman +was liable to be called upon to plead outside the kingdom; but +Edward openly declared, "Notwithstanding any concessions made before +Baliol became king, he considered himself at liberty to judge in +any case brought before him from Scotland, and would, if necessary, +summon the King of Scots himself to appear in his presence." He +then compelled Baliol formally to renounce and cancel not only the +Treaty of Brigham, but every stipulation of the kind "known to +exist, or which might be thereafter discovered." Another appeal +followed, and Baliol was cited to appear personally, but refused; +he was thereupon declared contumacious by the English parliament, +and a resolution was passed that three of the principal towns of +Scotland should be "seized," until he gave satisfaction. All this +was a manifest usurpation, even allowing Edward's claims to supremacy +to be well founded. + +At this moment Edward became involved in a quarrel with his own +lord superior Phillip, king of France, by whom he was in turned +summoned to appear under the pain of contumacy. Edward met this +demand by a renunciation of allegiance to Phillip and a declaration +of war, and called upon Baliol for aid as his vassal; but Baliol +was also a vassal of the French king, and had estates in France +liable to seizure. He therefore hesitated. Edward further ordered +him to lay an embargo upon all vessels in the ports of Scotland, +and required the attendance of many of the Scottish barons in his +expedition to France. Finding his orders disobeyed, on the 16th +of October Edward issued a writ to the sheriff of Northampton, +"to seize all lands, goods, and chattels of John Baliol and other +Scots." + +The Scotch held a parliament at Scone. All Englishmen holding office +were summarily dismissed. A committee of the estates was appointed +to act as guardian of the kingdom, and Baliol himself was deprived +of all active power; but an instrument was prepared in his name, +reciting the injuries that he and his subjects had sustained at the +hands of the English king, and renouncing all further allegiance. +Following this up, a league was concluded, offensive and defensive, +between the French king and Scotland, represented by the prelates, +nobles, and community. Edward Baliol, the king's son, was contracted +to marry the French king's niece. Phillip bound himself to assist +Scotland against any invasion of England, and the Scotch agreed to +cross the Border in case Edward invaded France. + +In making this alliance the Scots took the only step possible; for +they had no choice between fighting England with France as their +ally, or fighting France as the subjects of King Edward. The contest +which was approaching seemed all but hopeless. The population +of England was six times as large as that of Scotland, and Edward +could draw from Ireland and Wales great numbers of troops. The +English were trained to war by constant fighting in France, Ireland, +and Wales; while the Scots had, for a very long period, enjoyed +a profound peace, and were for the most part wholly ignorant of +warfare. + +Edward at once prepared to invade Scotland; in January he seized +the lands owned by Comyn in Northumberland and sold them, directing +the money to be applied to the raising and maintenance of 1000 +men-at-arms and 60,000 foot soldiers, and in February issued a writ +for the preparation of a fleet of 100 vessels. + +On the 25th of March he crossed the Tweed with 5000 horse and 30,000 +foot. The Scotch leaders were, of course, aware of the gathering +storm, and, collecting their forces, attempted a diversion by +crossing the Border to the west and making a raid into Cumberland. +King Edward, however, marched north and besieged Berwick, the richest +and most flourishing of the towns of Scotland. With the exception +of the castle, it was weakly fortified. The attack was commenced +by the fleet, who were, however, repulsed and driven off. A land +assault, led by the king in person, was then made; the walls were +captured, and the town completely sacked. The inhabitants were +butchered without distinction of age, sex, or condition, and even +those who fled to the churches were slain within the sanctuary. +Contemporary accounts differ as to the numbers who perished on this +occasion. Langtoff says 4000; Hemingford, 8000; Knighton, another +English writer, says 17,000; and Matthew of Westminster, 60,000. +Whichever of these writers is correct, it is certain that almost +the whole of the men, women, and children of the largest and most +populous Scottish town were butchered by the orders of the English +king, who issued direct orders that none should be spared. From +this terrible visitation Berwick, which was before called the +Alexandria of the West, never recovered. The castle, which was held +by Sir William Douglas, surrendered immediately; and Sir William, +having sworn fealty to the English king, was permitted to depart. + +The English army now marched north. Patrick, Earl of Dunbar, +was with King Edward; but his wife, a noble and patriotic woman, +surrendered the castle to the Scots. The Earl of Surrey, with +a powerful army, sat down before it. The Scotch nobles and people +marched in great numbers, but with little order and discipline, +to raise the siege. They were met by Surrey, whose force, inured +to arms, easily routed the Scotch gathering, no fewer than 10,000 +being killed in the conflict and retreat. The English army was +joined by 15,000 Welsh and 30,000 from Ireland, and marched through +Scotland, the castles and towns opening their gates to Edward as +he came, and the nobles, headed by James the Stewart, coming in and +doing homage to him. Baliol was forced to appear in the churchyard +of Strath-Cathro, near Montrose, arrayed in regal robes, and to +resign his kingdom to the Bishop of Durham as Edward's representative, +and to repeat the act a few days afterwards at Brechin in presence +of the king himself. He was then, with his son, sent a prisoner to +London, where they were confined in the Tower for several years. +From Brechin Edward marched through the whole of Scotland, visiting +all the principal towns. He had now dropped the title of Lord +Paramount of Scotland, the country being considered as virtually +part of England. Garrisons were placed in every stronghold in the +country, and many new castles were raised to dominate the people. +The public documents were all carried away to England, the great +seal broken in pieces, and the stone of Scone--upon which, for +five hundred years, every Scotch monarch had been crowned--was +carried away to Westminster, where it has ever since formed the +seat of the thrones upon which English monarchs have been crowned. + +The tide of war had not passed near Glen Cairn; but the excitement, +as from time to time the news came of stirring events, was very +great. The tidings of the massacre of Berwick filled all with +consternation and grief. Some of the men quitted their homes and +fought at Dunbar, and fully half of these never returned; but great +as was the humiliation and grief at the reverses which had befallen +the Scotch arms, the feeling was even deeper and more bitter at the +readiness with which the whole of the Scotch nobles flocked in to +make their peace with King Edward. + +It seemed so incredible that Scotland, which had so long successfully +resisted all invaders, should now tamely yield without a struggle, +that the people could scarce believe it possible that their boasted +freedom was gone, that the kingdom of Scotland was no more, and the +country become a mere portion of England. Thus, while the nobles +with their Norman blood and connections accepted the new state of +things contentedly enough, well satisfied to have retained rank and +land, a deep and sullen discontent reigned among the people; they +had been betrayed rather than conquered, and were determined that +some day there should be an uprising, and that Scotland would make +a great effort yet for freedom. But for this a leader was needed, +and until such a one appeared the people rested quiet and bided +their time. + +From time to time there came to Glen Cairn tales of the doings of +that William Wallace who had, when the English first garrisoned the +Scottish castles, while Edward was choosing between the competitors +for her throne, killed young Selbye at Dundee, and had been outlawed +for the deed. After that he went and resided with his uncle, Sir +Ronald Crawford, and then with another uncle, Sir Richard Wallace +of Riccarton. Here he gathered a party of young men, eager spirits +like himself, and swore perpetual hostility to the English. + +One day Wallace was fishing in the Irvine when Earl Percy, the +governor of Ayr, rode past with a numerous train. Five of them +remained behind and asked Wallace for the fish he had taken. He +replied that they were welcome to half of them. Not satisfied with +this, they seized the basket and prepared to carry it off. Wallace +resisted, and one of them drew his sword. Wallace seized the staff +of his net and struck his opponent's sword from his hand; this he +snatched up and stood on guard, while the other four rushed upon +him. Wallace smote the first so terrible a blow that his head was +cloven from skull to collarbone; with the next blow he severed the +right arm of another, and then disabled a third. The other two +fled, and overtaking the earl, called on him for help; "for," they +said, "three of our number who stayed behind with us to take some +fish from the Scot who was fishing are killed or disabled." + +"How many were your assailants?" asked the earl. + +"But the man himself," they answered; "a desperate fellow whom we +could not withstand." + +"I have a brave company of followers!" the earl said with scorn. +"You allow one Scot to overmatch five of you! I shall not return +to seek for your adversary; for were I to find him I should respect +him too much to do him harm." + +Fearing that after this adventure he could no longer remain in +safety with his uncle, Wallace left him and took up his abode in +Lag Lane Wood, where his friends joining him, they lived a wild +life together, hunting game and making many expeditions through the +country. On one occasion he entered Ayr in disguise; in the middle +of a crowd he saw some English soldiers, who were boasting that they +were superior to the Scots in strength and feats of arms. One of +them, a strong fellow, was declaring that he could lift a greater +weight than any two Scots. He carried a pole, with which he offered, +for a groat, to let any Scotchman strike him on the back as hard +as he pleased, saying that no Scotchman could strike hard enough +to hurt him. + +Wallace offered him three groats for a blow. The soldier eagerly +accepted the money, and Wallace struck him so mighty a blow that +his back was broken and he fell dead on the ground. His comrades +drew their swords and rushed at Wallace, who slew two with the +pole, and when it broke drew the long sword which was hidden in +his garments, and cut his way through them. + +On another occasion he again had a fracas with the English in Ayr, +and after killing many was taken prisoner. Earl Percy was away, +and his lieutenant did not venture to execute him until his return. +A messenger was sent to the Earl, but returned with strict orders +that nothing should be done to the prisoner until he came back. +The bad diet and foul air of the dungeon suited him so ill, after +his free life in the woods, that he fell ill, and was reduced +to so weak a state that he lay like one dead--the jailer indeed +thought that he was so, and he was carried out to be cast into the +prison burial ground, when a woman, who had been his nurse, begged +his body. She had it carried to her house, and then discovered that +life yet remained, and by great care and good nursing succeeded +in restoring him. In order to prevent suspicion that he was still +alive a fictitious funeral was performed. On recovering, Wallace +had other frays with the English, all of which greatly increased +his reputation throughout that part of the country, so that more +adherents came to him, and his band began to be formidable. He +gradually introduced an organization among those who were found to +be friendly to the cause, and by bugle notes taken up and repeated +from spot to spot orders could be despatched over a wide extent of +country, by which the members of his band knew whether to assemble +or disperse, to prepare to attack an enemy, or to retire to their +fastnesses. + +The first enterprise of real importance performed by the band was +an attack by Wallace and fifty of his associates on a party of +soldiers, 200 strong, conveying provisions from Carlisle to the +garrison of Ayr. They were under the command of John Fenwick, +the same officer who had been at the head of the troop by which +Wallace's father had been killed. Fenwick left twenty of his men +to defend the wagons, and with the rest rode forward against the +Scots. A stone wall checked their progress, and the Scotch, taking +advantage of the momentary confusion, made a furious charge upon +them with their spears, cutting their way into the midst of them +and making a great slaughter of men and horses. The English rode +round and round them, but the Scots, defending themselves with spear +and sword, stood so staunchly together that the English could not +break through. + +The battle was long and desperate, but Wallace killed Fenwick with +his own hand, and after losing nigh a hundred of their number the +English fled in confusion. The whole convoy fell into the hands of +the victors, who became possessed of several wagons, 200 carriage +horses, flour, wine, and other stores in great abundance; with +these they retired into the forest of Clydesdale. + +The fame of this exploit greatly increased the number of Wallace's +followers. So formidable did the gathering become that convoys by +land to Ayr were entirely interrupted, and Earl Percy held a council +of the nobility at Glasgow, and consulted them as to what had best +be done. Finally, Sir Ronald Crawford was summoned and told that +unless he induced his nephew to desist from hostilities they should +hold him responsible and waste his lands. Sir Ronald visited the +band in Clydesdale forest, and rather than harm should come upon +him, Wallace and his friends agreed to a truce for two months. Their +plunder was stowed away in places of safety, and a portion of the +band being left to guard it the rest dispersed to their homes. + +Wallace returned to his uncle's, but was unable long to remain +inactive, and taking fifteen followers he went with them in disguise +to Ayr. Wallace, as usual, was not long before he got into a +quarrel. An English fencing master, armed with sword and buckler, +was in an open place in the city, challenging any one to encounter +him. Several Scots tried their fortune and were defeated, and then +seeing Wallace towering above the crowd he challenged him. Wallace +at once accepted, and after guarding himself for some time, with +a mighty sweep of his sword cleft through buckler, arm, headpiece, +and skull. The English soldiers around at once attacked him; his +friends rallied round him, and after hard fighting they made their +way to the spot where they had left their horses and rode to Lag +Lane Wood. + +When Earl Percy heard that Wallace had been the leader in this +fray, and found on inquiry that he had slain the sword player in +fair fight after having been challenged by him, he refused to regard +him as having broken the truce, for he said the soldiers had done +wrong in attacking him. Earl Percy was himself a most gallant +soldier, and the extraordinary personal prowess of Wallace excited +in him the warmest admiration, and he would fain, if it had been +possible, have attached him to the service of England. + +As soon as the truce was over Wallace again attacked the English. +For a time he abode with the Earl of Lennox, who was one of the +few who had refused to take the oath of allegiance, and having +recruited his force, he stormed the stronghold called the Peel +of Gargunnock, near Stirling. Then he entered Perth, leaving his +followers in Methven Wood, and hearing that an English reinforcement +was upon the march, formed an ambush, fell upon them, and defeated +them; and pressing hotly upon them entered so close on their heels +into Kincleven Castle, that the garrison had no time to close the +gate, and the place was captured. Great stores and booty were found +here; these were carried to the woods, and the castle was burned +to the ground, as that of Gargunnock had been, as Wallace's force +was too small to enable him to hold these strongholds. Indignant +at this enterprise so close to their walls the English moved out +the whole garrison, 1000 strong, against Wallace, who had with him +but fifty men in all. After a desperate defence, in which Sir John +Butler and Sir William de Loraine, the two officers in command, +were killed by Wallace himself, the latter succeeded in drawing off +his men; 120 of the English were killed in the struggle, of whom +more than twenty are said to have fallen at the hands of Wallace +alone. Many other similar deeds did Wallace perform; his fame grew +more and more, as did the feeling among the Scotch peasantry that +in him they had found their champion and leader. + +Archie eagerly drank in the tale of Wallace's exploits, and his soul +was fired by the desire to follow so valiant a leader. He was now +sixteen, his frame was set and vigorous, and exercise and constant +practice with arms had hardened his muscles. He became restless +with his life of inactivity; and his mother, seeing that her quiet +and secluded existence was no longer suitable for him, resolved +to send him to her sister's husband, Sir Robert Gordon, who dwelt +near Lanark. Upon the night before he started she had a long talk +with him. + +"I have long observed, my boy," she said, "the eagerness with +which you constantly practise at arms; and Sandy tells me that he +can no longer defend himself against you. Sandy, indeed is not a +young man, but he is still hale and stout, and has lost but little +of his strength. Therefore it seems that, though but a boy, you may +be considered to have a man's strength, for your father regarded +Sandy as one of the stoutest and most skilful of his men-at-arms. +I know what is in your thoughts; that you long to follow in +your father's footsteps, and to win back the possessions of which +you have been despoiled by the Kerrs. But beware, my boy; you are +yet but young; you have no friends or protectors, save Sir Robert +Gordon, who is a peaceable man, and goes with the times; while +the Kerrs are a powerful family, able to put a strong body in the +field, and having many powerful friends and connections throughout +the country. It is our obscurity which has so far saved you, for +Sir John Kerr would crush you without mercy did he dream that you +could ever become formidable; and he is surrounded by ruthless +retainers, who would at a word from him take your life; therefore +think not for years to come to match yourself against the Kerrs. +You must gain a name and a following and powerful friends before +you move a step in that direction; but I firmly believe that the +time will come when you will become lord of Glencairn and the hills +around it. Next, my boy, I see that your thoughts are ever running +upon the state of servitude to which Scotland is reduced, and have +marked how eagerly you listen to the deeds of that gallant young +champion, Sir William Wallace. When the time comes I would hold +you back from no enterprise in the cause of our country; but at +present this is hopeless. Valiant as may be the deeds which Wallace +and his band perform, they are as vain as the strokes of reeds upon +armour against the power of England." + +"But, mother, his following may swell to an army." + +"Even so, Archie; but even as an army it would be but as chaff before +the wind against an English array. What can a crowd of peasants, +however valiant, do against the trained and disciplined battle of +England. You saw how at Dunbar the Earl of Surrey scattered them +like sheep, and then many of the Scotch nobles were present. So +far there is no sign of any of the Scottish nobles giving aid or +countenance to Wallace, and even should he gather an army, fear +for the loss of their estates, a jealousy of this young leader, +and the Norman blood in their veins, will bind them to England, +and the Scotch would have to face not only the army of the invader, +but the feudal forces of our own nobles. I say not that enterprises +like those of Wallace do not aid the cause, for they do so greatly +by exciting the spirit and enthusiasm of the people at large, as +they have done in your case. They show them that the English are +not invincible, and that even when in greatly superior numbers +they may be defeated by Scotchmen who love their country. They keep +alive the spirit of resistance and of hope, and prepare the time +when the country shall make a general effort. Until that time +comes, my son, resistance against the English power is vain. Even +were it not so, you are too young to take part in such strife, but +when you attain the age of manhood, if you should still wish to +join the bands of Wallace--that is, if he be still able to make +head against the English--I will not say nay. Here, my son, +is your father's sword. Sandy picked it up as he lay slain on the +hearthstone, and hid it away; but now I can trust it with you. May +it be drawn some day in the cause of Scotland! And now, my boy, +the hour is late, and you had best to bed, for it were well that +you made an early start for Lanark." + +The next morning Archie started soon after daybreak. On his back +he carried a wallet, in which was a new suit of clothes suitable +for one of the rank of a gentleman, which his mother had with great +stint and difficulty procured for him. He strode briskly along, +proud of the possession of a sword for the first time. It was in +itself a badge of manhood, for at that time all men went armed. + +As he neared the gates of Lanark he saw a party issue out and ride +towards him, and recognized in their leader Sir John Kerr. Pulling +his cap down over his eyes, he strode forward, keeping by the side +of the road that the horsemen might pass freely, but paying no heed +to them otherwise. + +"Hallo, sirrah!" Sir John exclaimed, reining in his horse, "who +are you who pass a knight and a gentleman on the highway without +vailing his bonnet in respect?" + +"I am a gentleman and the son of a knight," Archie said, looking +fearlessly up into the face of his questioner. "I am Archie Forbes, +and I vail my bonnet to no man living save those whom I respect +and honour." + +So saying, without another word he strode forward to the town. Sir +John looked darkly after him. + +"Red Roy," he said sternly, turning to one who rode behind him, +"you have failed in your trust. I told you to watch the boy, and +from time to time you brought me news that he was growing up but +a village churl. He is no churl, and unless I mistake me, he will +some day be dangerous. Let me know when he next returns to the +village; we must then take speedy steps for preventing him from +becoming troublesome." + + + + +Chapter III + +Sir William Wallace + + +Archie's coming had been expected by Sir Robert Gordon, and he was +warmly welcomed. He had once or twice a year paid short visits to +the house, but his mother could not bring herself to part with him +for more than a few days at a time; and so long as he needed only +such rudiments of learning as were deemed useful at the time, she +herself was fully able to teach them; but now that the time had come +when it was needful that he should be perfected in the exercises +of arms, she felt it necessary to relinquish him. + +Sir Robert Gordon had no children of his own, and regarded his +nephew as his heir, and had readily undertaken to provide him with +the best instruction which could be obtained in Lanark. There was +resident in the town a man who had served for many years in the +army of the King of France, and had been master of arms in his +regiment. His skill with his sword was considered marvellous by +his countrymen at Lanark, for the scientific use of weapons was as +yet but little known in Scotland, and he had also in several trials +of skill easily worsted the best swordsmen in the English garrison. + +Sir Robert Gordon at once engaged this man as instructor to Archie. +As his residence was three miles from the town, and the lad urged +that two or three hours a day of practice would by no means satisfy +him, a room was provided, and his instructor took up his abode in +the castle. Here, from early morning until night, Archie practised, +with only such intervals for rest as were demanded by his master +himself. The latter, pleased with so eager a pupil, astonished at +first at the skill and strength which he already possessed, and +seeing in him one who would do more than justice to all pains that +he could bestow upon him, grudged no labour in bringing him forward +and in teaching him all he knew. + +"He is already an excellent swordsman," he said at the end of +the first week's work to Sir Robert Gordon; "he is well nigh as +strong as a man, with all the quickness and activity of a boy. In +straightforward fighting he needs but little teaching. Of the finer +strokes he as yet knows nothing; but such a pupil will learn as +much in a week as the ordinary slow blooded learner will acquire +in a year. In three months I warrant I will teach him all I know, +and will engage that he shall be a match for any Englishman north +of the Tweed, save in the matter of downright strength; that he will +get in time, for he promises to grow out into a tall and stalwart +man, and it will need a goodly champion to hold his own against +him when he comes to his full growth." + +In the intervals of pike and sword play Sir Robert Gordon himself +instructed him in equitation; but the lad did not take to this so +kindly as he did to his other exercises, saying that he hoped he +should always have to fight on foot. Still, as his uncle pointed +out that assuredly this would not be the case, since in battle +knights and squires always fought on horseback, he strove hard to +acquire a firm and steady seat. Of an evening Archie sat with his +uncle and aunt, the latter reading, the former relating stories of +Scotch history and of the goings and genealogies of great families. +Sometimes there were friends staying in the castle; for Sir Robert +Gordon, although by no means a wealthy knight, was greatly liked, +and, being of an hospitable nature, was glad to have guests in the +house. + +Their nearest neighbour was Mistress Marion Bradfute of Lamington, +near Ellerslie. She was a young lady of great beauty. Her father had +been for some time dead, and she had but lately lost her mother, +who had been a great friend of Lady Gordon. With her lived as +companion and guardian an aunt, the sister of her mother. + +Mistress Bradfute, besides her estate of Lamington, possessed +a house in Lanark; and she was frequently at Sir Robert's castle, +he having been named one of her guardians under her father's will. +Often in the evening the conversation turned upon the situation +of Scotland, the cruelty and oppression of the English, and the +chances of Scotland some day ridding herself of the domination. + +Sir Robert ever spoke guardedly, for he was one who loved not strife, +and the enthusiasm of Archie caused him much anxiety; he often, +therefore, pointed out to him the madness of efforts of isolated +parties like those of Wallace, which, he maintained, advanced in +no way the freedom of the country, while they enraged the English +and caused them to redouble the harshness and oppression of their +rule. Wallace's name was frequently mentioned, and Archie always +spoke with enthusiasm of his hero; and he could see that, although +Mistress Bradfute said but little, she fully shared his views. It +was but natural that Wallace's name should come so often forward, +for his deeds, his hairbreadth escapes, his marvellous personal +strength and courage, were the theme of talk in every Scotch home; +but at Lanark at present it was specially prominent, for with his +band he had taken up his abode in a wild and broken country known +as Cart Lane Craigs, and more than once he had entered Lanark and +had had frays with the English soldiers there. + +It was near a year since the defeat of Dunbar; and although the +feats of Wallace in storming small fortalices and cutting off English +convoys had excited at once hope amongst the Scotch and anger in the +English, the hold of the latter on the conquered country appeared +more settled than ever. Wallace's adherents had indeed gained in +strength; but they were still regarded as a mere band of outlaws +who might be troublesome, but were in no degree formidable. + +Every great town and hold throughout Scotland was garrisoned by +English in force deemed amply sufficient to repress any trouble +which might arise, while behind them was the whole power of England +ready to march north in case it should be needed. It seemed, indeed, +that Scotland was completely and for ever subjugated. + +One afternoon, when Archie had escorted Mistress Bradfute to +Lamington, she said to him as he bade her farewell: + +"I think you can keep a secret, Master Forbes." + +"I trust so," Archie replied. + +"I know how much you admire and reverence Sir William Wallace. If +you will come hither this evening, at eight o'clock, you shall see +him." + +Archie uttered an exclamation of delight and surprise. + +"Mind, Archie, I am telling you a secret which is known only to +Sir William himself and a few of his chosen followers; but I have +obtained his permission to divulge it to you, assuring him that +you can be fully trusted." + +"I would lay down my life for him," the lad said. + +"I think you would, Archie; and so would I, for Sir William Wallace +is my husband!" + +Archie gave a gasp of astonishment and surprise. + +"Yes," she repeated, "he is my husband. And now ride back to your +uncle's. I left the piece of embroidery upon which I was working on +your aunt's table. It will be a good excuse for you to ride over +with it this evening." So saying, she sprang lightly from the +pillion on which she had been riding behind Archie. The lad rode +back in wild excitement at the thought that before night he was +to see his hero whose deeds had, for the last three years, excited +his admiration and wonder. + +At eight o'clock exactly he drew rein again at Lamington. He was +at once admitted, and was conducted to a room where the mistress +of the house was sitting, and where beside her stood a very tall +and powerfully built young man, with a singularly handsome face +and a courteous and gentle manner which seemed altogether out of +character with the desperate adventures in which he was constantly +engaged. + +In Scotland the laws of chivalry, as they were strictly observed +in the courts of England and France, did not prevail. Sir William +Wallace had not received the order of knighthood; but in Scotch +families the prefix of Sir descended from father to eldest son, as +it does in the present day with the title of Baronet. Thus William +Wallace, when his father and elder brother were killed, succeeded +to the title. Knighthoods, or, as we should call them, baronetcies, +were bestowed in Scotland, as in England, for bravery in the field +and distinguished services. The English, with their stricter laws +of chivalry, did not recognize these hereditary titles; and Sir +William Wallace and many of his adherents who bear the prefix of +Sir in all Scotch histories, are spoken of without that title in +contemporary English documents. Archie himself had inherited the +title from his father; and the prefix was, indeed, applied to the +heads of almost all families of gentle blood in Scotland. + +"This, Sir William," Marion said, "is Sir Archibald Forbes, of whom +I have often spoken to you as one of your most fervent admirers. +He is a true Scotsman, and he yearns for the time when he may draw +his sword in the cause of his country." + +"He is over young yet," Sir William said smiling; "but time will +cure that defect. It is upon the young blood of Scotland that our +hopes rest. The elders are for the most part but half Scotchmen, and +do not feel shame for their country lying at the feet of England; +but from their sons I hope for better things. The example of my +dear friend, Sir John Grahame, is being followed; and I trust that +many young men of good family will soon join them." + +"I would that the time had come when I too could do so, sir," Archie +said warmly. "I hope that it will not be long before you may think +me capable of being admitted to the honour of fighting beside you. +Do you not remember that you yourself were but eighteen when you +slew young Selbye?" + +"I am a bad example to be followed," Sir William replied with a +smile; "besides, nature made an exception in my case and brought +me to my full strength and stature full four years before the time. +Mistress Marion tells me, however, that you too are strong beyond +your years." + +"I have practised unceasingly, sir, with my weapons for the last +two years; and deem me not boastful when I say that my instructor, +Duncan Macleod of Lanark, who is a famous swordsman, says that +I could hold my own and more against any English soldier in the +garrison." + +"I know Duncan by report," Sir William replied, "and that he is a +famous swordsman, having learned the art in France, where they are +more skilled by far than we are in Scotland. As for myself, I must +own that it is my strength rather than my skill which gives me an +advantage in a conflict; for I put my trust in a downright blow, +and find that the skill of an antagonist matters but little, seeing +that my blow will always cleave through sword as well as helm. +Nevertheless I do not decry skill, seeing that between two who +are in any ways equally matched in strength and courage the most +skilful swordsman must assuredly conquer. Well, since that be the +report of you by Master Duncan, I should think you might even take +to arms at the age that I did myself and when that time comes, +should your intentions hold the same, and the English not have made +an end of me, I shall be right glad to have you by my side. Should +you, in any of your visits to Lanark--whither, Marion tells me, you +ride frequently with Sir Robert Gordon--hear ought of intended +movements of English troops, or gather any news which it may concern +me to know, I pray you to ride hither at once. Marion has always +messengers whom she may despatch to me, seeing that I need great +care in visiting her here, lest I might be surprised by the English, +who are ever upon the lookout for me. And now farewell! Remember +that you have always a friend in William Wallace." + +Winter was now at hand, and a week or two later Mistress Marion +moved into her house in Lanark, where Archie, when he rode in, +often visited her. In one of her conversations she told him that +she had been married to Sir William nigh upon two years, and that +a daughter had been born to her who was at present kept by an old +nurse of her own in a cottage hard by Lamington. "I tell you this, +Archie," she said, "for there is no saying at what time calamity +may fall upon us. Sir William is so daring and careless that I +live in constant dread of his death or capture; and did it become +known that I am his wife, doubtless my estate would be forfeited +and myself taken prisoner; and in that case it were well that my +little daughter should find friends." + +"I wonder that you do not stay at Lamington," Archie said; "for +Sir William's visits to you here may well be discovered, and both +he and you be put in peril." + +"I would gladly do so," she said; "but as you may have heard, Young +Hazelrig, the governor's son, persecutes me with his attentions; +he is moved thereto methinks rather by a desire for my possessions +than any love for myself. He frequently rode over to Lamington +to see me, and as there are necessarily many there who suspect, if +they do not know, my secret, my husband would be more likely to be +surprised in a lonely house there, than he would be in the city, +where he can always leave or enter our abode by the passage into +a back street unseen by any." + +A few days later Archie had ridden into Lanark bearing a message +from his uncle; he had put up his horse, and was walking along the +principal street when he heard a tumult and the clashing of swords; +he naturally hurried up to see what was the cause of the fray, and +he saw Sir William Wallace and a young companion defending themselves +with difficulty against a number of English soldiers led by young +Hazelrig, the son of the governor, and Sir Robert Thorne, one of +his officers. Archie stood for a few moments irresolute; but as +the number of the assailants increased, as fresh soldiers hearing +the sound of the fray came running down the street, and Sir William +and his friend, although they had slain several, were greatly +overmatched, he hesitated no longer, but, drawing his sword, rushed +through the soldiers, and placing himself by the side of Wallace, +joined in the fray. Wallace recognized him with a nod. + +"It is sooner than I bargained for, Sir Archie; but you are very +welcome. Ah! that was well smitten, and Duncan did not overpraise +your skill," he exclaimed, as Archie cut down one soldier, and +wounded another who pressed upon him. + +"They are gathering in force, Sir William," the knight's companion +said, "and if we do not cut our way through them we shall assuredly +be taken." Keeping near the wall they retreated down the street, +Archie and Sir John Grahame, for it was he, clearing the way, and +Wallace defending the rear. So terrific were the blows he dealt +that the English soldiers shrank back from attacking him. + +At this moment two horsemen rode up and reined in their horses to +witness the fray. They were father and son, and the instant the +eyes of the elder fell upon Archie he exclaimed to his son: + +"This is good fortune. That is young Forbes fighting by the side +of the outlaw Wallace. I will finish our dispute at once." + +So saying he drew his sword, and urged his horse through the +soldiers towards Archie; the latter equally recognized the enemy of +his family. Sir John aimed a sweeping blow at him. The lad parried +it, and, leaping back, struck at the horse's leg. The animal fell +instantly, and as he did so Archie struck full on the helm of Sir +John Kerr, stretching him on the ground beside his horse. + +By this time the little party had retreated down the street until +they were passing the house of Marion Bradfute. The door opened, +and Marion herself cried to them to enter. So hemmed in were they, +indeed, that further retreat was now impossible, and there being +no time for hesitation, Wallace and his companions sprang in before +their assailants could hinder them, and shut the door behind them. + +"Marion," Wallace exclaimed, "why did you do this? It mattered +not were I killed or taken; but now you have brought danger upon +yourself." + +"But it mattered much to me. What would life be worth were you +killed? Think not of danger to me. Angry as they may be, they will +hardly touch a woman. But waste no time in talking, for the door +will soon yield to their blows. Fly by the back entrance, while +there is time." + +So saying, she hurried them to the back of the house, and without +allowing them to pause for another word almost pushed them out, and +closed the door behind them. The lane was deserted; but the shouts +and clamour of the English soldiers beyond the houses rose loud in +the air. "Quick, Sir William," Sir John Grahame said, "or we shall +be cut off! They will bethink them of the back way, and send +soldiers down to intercept us." + +Such, indeed, was the case, for as they ran they heard shouts behind, +and saw some English soldiers entering the other end of the lane. +In front, however, all was clear, and running on they turned into +another street, and then down to the gate. The guard, hearing the +tumult, had turned out, and seeing them running, strove to bar +their way. Wallace, however, cleared a path by sweeping blows with +his sword, and dashing through the gates into the open country +they were safe. For some distance they ran without checking their +speed, and then as they neared a wood, where they no longer feared +pursuit, they broke into a walk. + +"My best thanks to you," Wallace said to Archie. "You have indeed +proved yourself a staunch and skilful swordsman, and Duncan's opinion +is well founded. Indeed I could wish for no stouter sword beside +me in a fight; but what will you do now? If you think that you were +not recognized you can return to your uncle; but if any there knew +you, you must even then take to the woods with me." + +"I was recognized," Archie said in a tone of satisfaction. "The +armed knight whom you saw attack me was Sir John Kerr, the slayer +of my father and the enemy of my house. Assuredly he will bring +the news of my share in the fray to the ears of the governor." + +"I do not think that he will carry any news for some time," Sir +William replied; "for that blow you gave him on the head must have +well nigh brought your quarrel to an end. It is a pity your arm +had not a little more weight, for then, assuredly you would have +slain him." + +"But the one with him was his son," Archie said, "and would know +me too; so that I shall not be safe for an hour at my uncle's." + +"In that case, Sir Archie, you must needs go with me, there being +no other way for it, and truly, now that it is proved a matter of +necessity, I am glad that it has so chanced, since I see that your +youth is indeed no drawback; and Sir John Grahame will agree with +me that there is no better sword in my company." + +"Yes, indeed," the young knight said. "I could scarce believe my +eyes when I saw one so young bear himself so stoutly. Without his +aid I could assuredly have made no way through the soldiers who +barred our retreat; and truly his sword did more execution than +mine, although I fought my best. If you will accept my friendship, +young sir, henceforth we will be brothers in arms." Colouring with +pleasure, Archie grasped the hand which the young knight held out +to him. + +"That is well said, Sir John," Wallace assented. "Hitherto you and +I have been like brothers; henceforth there will be three of us, +and I foresee that the only difficulty we shall have with this +our youngest relation will be to curb his courage and ardour. Who +knows," he went on sadly, "but that save you two I am now alone in +the world! My heart misgives me sorely as to the fate of Marion; and +were it not for the sake of Scotland, to whom my life is sworn, I +would that I had stopped and died outside her door before I entered +and brought danger upon her head. Had I had time to reflect, methinks +I would have done so; but I heard her call, I saw the open door, +and without time for thought or reflection I leapt in." + +"You must not blame yourself, Sir William," Grahame said, "for, +indeed, there was no time for thought; nor will I that it should +have been otherwise, even should harm, which I cannot believe, +befall Mistress Marion. It is on you that the hopes of Scotland +now rest. You have awakened her spirit and taught the lesson of +resistance. Soon I hope that the fire now smouldering in the breast +of every true Scotsman will burst into flame, and that Scotland +will make a great effort for freedom; but were you to fall now, +despair would seize on all and all hope of a general rising be at +an end." + +Wallace made no reply, but strode silently forward. A short distance +farther they came to the spot where three of Wallace's followers +were holding horses, for he had on his entry into Lanark, been +accompanied by another of his party, who had been slain at the +commencement of the fray. Wallace bade Archie mount the spare horse, +and they then rode to Cart Lane Craigs, scarce a word being spoken +on their journey. + +Wallace's headquarters were upon a narrow shelf of rock on the face +of a steep and craggy hill. It was well chosen against surprise, +and could be held against sudden attack even by a large force, +since both behind and in front the face of the hill was too steep +to be climbed, and the only approach was by a steep and winding +path which two men could hold against a host. The ledge was some +50 feet long by 12 wide. At the back a natural depression in the +crags had been deepened so as to form a shallow cave just deep +enough to afford a defense against the weather; here a pile of +heather served as a bed for Wallace, Grahame, and one or two others +of the leaders of his company, and here Wallace told Archie that +his place was to be. On the ledge without were some low arbours of +heather in which lay ten of Wallace's bravest companions; the rest +of his band were scattered among the surrounding hills, or in the +woods, and a bugle note repeated from place to place would call +all together in a short space of time. + +Of stores and provisions there was no lack, these having been +obtained in very large quantities from the convoys of supplies and +the castles that had been captured. Money, too, was not wanting, +considerable amounts having fallen into their hands, and the +peasantry through all the country round were glad in every way to +assist the band, whom they regarded as their champions. + +Archie sat down by Sir John Grahame, who gave him particulars +regarding the strength of the various bands, their position, the +rules which had been laid down by Wallace for their order, the system +of signals and other particulars; while Wallace paced restlessly up +and down the narrow shelf, a prey to the keenest anxiety. Towards +nightfall two of the men were despatched towards Lanark to endeavour +to find out what had taken place there; but in an hour they returned +with a woman, whom both Sir William and Archie recognized as one of +the female attendants of Marion. A single glance sufficed to tell +her tale. Her face was swollen with crying, and wore a look of +horror as well as of grief. + +"She is dead!" Wallace exclaimed in a low voice. + +"Alas!" the woman sobbed, "that I should have to tell it. Yes, my +dear mistress is dead; she was slain by the orders of the governor +himself, for having aided your escape." + +A groan burst from Wallace, a cry of horror and indignation from +his followers. The former turned, and without a word strode away +and threw himself upon the heather. The others, heart struck at +the cruel blow which had befallen their chief, and burning with +indignation and rage, could only utter oaths of vengeance and curses +on the English tyrants. + +After a time Grahame went to the cave, and putting his hand on +Wallace's shoulder strove to address a few words of consolation to +him. + +Sir William rose: "I have done with weeping, Grahame, or rather I +will put off my weeping until I have time for it. The first thing +to think of is vengeance, and vengeance I swear that I will have. +This night I will strike the first blow in earnest towards freeing +Scotland. It may be that God has willed it that this cruel blow, +which has been struck at me, shall be the means of bringing this +about. Hitherto, although I have hated the English and have fought +against them, it has been but fitfully and without order or method, +seeing that other things were in my heart. Henceforth I will live +but for vengeance and Scotland. Hitherto the English have regarded +me as an outlaw and a brigand. Henceforth they shall view me as an +enemy to be dreaded. Sound the signal of assembly at once. Signify +that as many as are within reach shall gather below in two hours. +There will be but few, for, not dreaming of this, the bands but +two days since dispersed. But even were there none but ourselves +it would suffice. Tonight we will take Lanark." + + + + +Chapter IV + +The Capture of Lanark + + +A low shout of enthusiasm rose from Wallace's followers, and they +repeated his words as though it had been a vow: "Tonight we will +take Lanark." The notes of a bugle rang through the air, and Archie +could hear them repeated as by an echo by others far away in the +woods. + +The next two hours were spent in cooking and eating a meal; then +the party on the ledge descended the narrow path, several of their +number bearing torches. At a short distance from its foot some other +torches were seen, and fifteen men were found gathered together. + +In a few words the sad news of what had taken place at Lanark was +related to them and the determination which had been arrived at, +and then the whole party marched away to the west. Archie's heart +beat with excitement as he felt himself engaged in one of the adventures +which had so filled his thoughts and excited his admiration. An +adventure, too, far surpassing in magnitude and importance any in +which Wallace had hitherto been engaged. + +It seemed almost like an act of madness for twenty-five men to +attack a city garrisoned by over 500 English troops, defended by +strong walls; but Archie never doubted for a moment that success +would attend the enterprise, so implicit was his confidence in his +leader. When at some little distance from the town they halted, +and Wallace ordered a tree to be felled and lopped of its branches. +It was some eight inches in diameter at the butt and thirty feet +long. A rope had been brought, and this was now cut into lengths +of some four feet. Wallace placed ten of his men on each side of +the tree, and the cords being placed under it, it was lifted and +carried along with them. + +Before they started Wallace briefly gave them his orders, so that +no word need be spoken when near the town. The band were, when +they entered, to divide in three. Sir John Grahame, with a party, +was to make for the dwelling of Sir Robert Thorne. Auchinleck, who +had arrived with the party summoned by the bugle, was to arouse +the town and attack any parties of soldiers in the street, while +Wallace himself was to assault the house of Hazelrig. He bade Archie +accompany him. + +Knowing the town well Wallace led the party to the moat at a spot +facing a sally port. They moved without a word being spoken. The +men bearing the tree laid it noiselessly to the ground. Wallace +himself sprang into the moat and swam across. The splash in the +water attracted the attention of a sentry over the gate, who at +once challenged. There was no answer, and the man again shouted, +peering over the wall to endeavour to discover what had caused +the splash. In a few vigorous strokes Wallace was across, hauled +himself up to the sill of the door, and with his heavy battleaxe +smote on the chains which held up the drawbridge. Two mighty blows +and the chains yielded, and the drawbridge fell with a crash across +the moat. + +Instantly the men lifted the tree, and dashing across swung it +like a battering ram against the door--half a dozen blows, and +the oak and iron yielded before it. The door was burst in and the +party entered Lanark. The sentry on the wall had fled at once to +arouse the garrison. Instantly the three leaders started to perform +the tasks assigned to them. As yet the town lay in profound sleep, +although near the gate windows were opening and heads were being +put out to ascertain the cause of the din. As the Scots ran forward +they shouted "Death to the English, death to the bloody Hazelrig!" +The governor had long been odious for his cruelty and tyranny, and +the murder of Marion Bradfute had that day roused the indignation +of the people to the utmost. Not knowing how small was the force +that had entered the town, but hoping only that deliverers had +arrived, numbers of the burghers rose and armed themselves, and +issued forth into the streets to aid their countrymen. Wallace soon +arrived at the governor's house, and with a few blows with his axe +broke in the door; then he and his followers rushed into the house, +cutting down the frightened men as they started up with sudden +alarm, until he met Sir John Hazelrig, who had snatched up his arms +and hurried from his chamber. + +"Villain!" Wallace exclaimed, seizing him by his throat; "your time +has come to make atonement for the murder of my wife." + +Then dragging him into the street he called upon the burghers, +who were running up, to witness the execution of their tyrant, +and stepping back a pace smote off his head with his sword. Young +Hazelrig was also killed, as were all soldiers found in the house. +The alarm bells were ringing now, and in a few minutes the armed +burghers swarmed in the street. As the English soldiers, as yet +but scarce awake, and bewildered by this sudden attack, hurried +from their houses, they were fallen upon and slain by Wallace and +the townspeople. Some of those in the larger houses issuing forth +together were able to cut their way through and to make their +escape by the gates; many made for the walls, and dropping in the +moat swam across and escaped; but two hundred and fifty of their +number were left dead in the streets. The town, once cleared of the +English, gave itself up to wild rejoicings; bonfires were lighted +in the streets, the bells were rung, and the wives and daughters +of the citizens issued out to join in their rejoicing and applaud +their liberators. + +Wallace held council at once with the chief burghers. Their talk +was a grave one, for though rejoicing in the liberation of the city, +they could not but perceive that the situation was a serious one. +By the defeat and destruction of the garrison, and the slaying of +the governor, the town would bring upon itself the terrible wrath +of King Edward, and of what he was capable the murdered thousands +at Berwick sufficiently attested. However, the die was cast and there +was no drawing back, and the burghers undertook to put their town +in a state of full defence, to furnish a contingent of men-at-arms to +Wallace, and to raise a considerable sum of money to aid him in the +carrying on of the war; while he on his part undertook to endeavour, +as fast as possible, to prevent the English from concentrating their +forces for a siege of the town, by so harassing their garrisons +elsewhere that none would be able to spare troops for any general +purposes. + +Proclamations were immediately made out in the name of Wallace, +and were sent off by mounted messengers throughout the country. +In these he announced to the people of Scotland that he had raised +the national banner and had commenced a war for the freeing of the +country from the English, and that as a first step he had captured +Lanark. He called upon all true Scotchmen to rally round him. + +While the council was being held, the wives of the burghers had +taken the body of Marion from the place where it had been cast, +and where hitherto none had dared to touch it, and had prepared it +for burial, placing it in a stone coffin, such as were in use in +those days, upon a car which was covered with trappings of white and +green boughs. Soon after daybreak a great procession was formed, +and accompanied by all the matrons and maids of Lanark the body +was conveyed to the church at Ellerslie, and there buried with +the rites of the church. This sad duty ended, Wallace mounted his +horse and rode for Cart Lane Craigs, which he had named as the +rendezvous where all who loved Scotland and would follow him, were +to assemble. Archie rode first to Sir Robert Gordon's. His uncle +received him kindly. + +"Ah! my boy," he said, "I feared that your wilful disposition would +have its way. You have embarked young on a stormy course, and none +can say where it will end. I myself have no hope that it can be +successful. Did the English rule depend solely on the troops which +garrison our towns and fortresses, I should believe that Wallace +might possibly expel them; but this is as nothing. Edward can march +a hundred and fifty thousand trained soldiers hither, and how will +it be possible for any gathering of Scotchmen to resist these? +However, you have chosen your course, and as it is too late to +draw back now, I would not dispirit you. Take the best of my horses +from the stable, and such arms and armour as you may choose from +the walls. Here is a purse for your own private needs, and in this +other are a hundred pounds, which I pray you hand to Sir William +Wallace. Fighting never was in my way, and I am too old to begin +now. Tell him, however, that my best wishes are with him. I have +already sent word to all my tenants that they are free, if they +choose, to follow his banner." + +"You have plenty of pikes and swords in the armoury, uncle; weapons +will be very useful; can I take some of them?" + +"Certainly, Archie, as many as you like. But your aunt wants you +to ride at once to Glen Cairn, to ask your mother to come over here +and take up her abode till the stormy times are over. The news of +last night's doings in Lanark will travel fast, and she will be +terribly anxious. Besides, as the Kerrs are heart and soul with the +English faction, like enough they will take the opportunity of the +disturbed times, and of your being involved in the rising, to destroy +the hold altogether, seeing that so long as it stands there it is +a sort of symbol that their lordship over the lands is disputed." + +"The very thing that I was going to ask you, uncle. My mother's +position at Glen Cairn would always be on my mind. As to the +Kerrs, let them burn the castle if they will. If the rising fail, +and I am killed, the line will be extinct, and it matters little +about our hold. If we succeed, then I shall regain my own, and shall +turn the tables on the Kerrs, and will rebuild Glen Cairn twice as +strong as before. And now can I take a cart to convey the arms?" + +"Certainly, Archie; and may they be of service in the cause. You +will, I suppose, conduct your mother hither?" + +Archie replied that he should do so, and then at once made his +preparations for the start. His uncle's armoury was well supplied, +and Archie had no difficulty in suiting himself. For work like +that which he would have to do he did not care to encumber himself +with heavy armour, but chose a light but strong steel cap, with a +curtain of mail falling so as to guard the neck and ears, leaving +only the face exposed, and a shirt of the same material. It was +of fine workmanship and of no great weight, and did not hamper +his movements. He also chose some leg pieces for wearing when on +horseback. He had already his father's sword, and needed only a +light battleaxe and a dagger to complete his offensive equipment. +Then he took down from the racks twenty swords and as many short +pikes, and bonnets strengthened with iron hoops, which, although +light, were sufficient to give much protection to the head. These +were all placed in a light cart, and with one of his uncle's +followers to drive, he took his seat in the cart, and started for +Cart Lane Craigs. + +Here he concealed the arms in a thicket, and then went up to speak +to his leader. + +"May I take ten men with me to Glen Cairn, Sir William? I am going +to fetch my mother to reside with my uncle until the storm is +over. He has sent you a hundred pounds towards the expenses of the +struggle. I want the guard because it is possible that the Kerrs +may be down there. I hear Sir John was carried away, three hours +after the fight, in a litter; it was well for him that he was not +in Lanark when we took it. But like enough this morning, if well +enough to give orders, he may be sending down to Glen Cairn to see +if I have returned, and may burn the hold over my mother's head." + +"Certainly," Sir William replied. "Henceforth I will put twenty +men under your special orders, but for today Sir John Grahame shall +tell off some of his own party. Of course they will go well armed." + +Half riding in the cart and half walking by turns, the party reached +Glen Cairn late in the afternoon. The news of the fall of Lanark +had already penetrated even to that quiet village, and there was +great excitement as Archie and his party came in. One of Wallace's +messengers had passed through, and many of the men were preparing +to join him. Dame Forbes was at once proud and grieved when Archie +told her of the share which he had had in the street fray at Lanark, +and in the capture of the town. She was proud that her son should +so distinguish himself, grieved that he should, at so young an +age, have become committed to a movement of whose success she had +but little hope. However, she could not blame him, as it seemed as +if his course had been forced upon him. She agreed to start early +the next morning. + +It was well for Archie that he had brought a guard with him, +for before he had been an hour in the hold a boy ran in from the +village saying that a party of the Kerrs was close at hand, and +would be there in a few minutes. Archie set his men at once to pile +up a barricade of stones breast high at the outer gate, and took +his position there with his men. He had scarcely completed his +preparations when the trampling of horses was heard and a party +of ten men, two of whom bore torches, headed by young Allan Kerr, +rode up. They drew rein abruptly as they saw the barricade with +the line of pikes behind it. + +"What want you here, Allan Kerr?" Archie said. + +"I came in search of you, little traitor," young Kerr replied +angrily. + +"Here I am," Archie said; "why don't you come and take me?" + +Allan saw that the number of the defenders of the gate exceeded +that of his own party, and there might, for aught he knew, be more +within. + +"I will take you tomorrow," he said. + +"Tomorrow never comes," Archie replied with a laugh. "Your father +thought to take me yesterday. How is the good knight? Not suffering, +I trust, greatly either in body or temper?" + +"You shall repent this, Archibald Forbes," Allan Kerr exclaimed +furiously. "It will be my turn next time." + +And turning his horse he rode off at full speed, attended by his +followers. + +"We had best start at once, Master Archie," Sandy Graham said: +"it is eight miles to the Kerrs' hold, and when Allan Kerr returns +there you may be sure they will call out their vassals and will be +here betimes in the morning. Best get another cart from the village, +for your men are weary and footsore, seeing that since yesterday +even they have been marching without ceasing. Elspie will by this +time have got supper ready. There was a row of ducks and chickens +on the spit when I came away." + +"That were best, Sandy. Do you see to their comforts, and aid my +mother pack up such things as she most values, and I will go myself +down to the village for the cart, for I wish to speak with some +there." + +Archie had no difficulty in engaging two carts, as he thought that +one would be needed for his mother and what possessions she might +take. Then he went from house to house and saw his old companions, +and told them of his plans, which filled them with delight. Having +done this he returned to the hold, hastily ate the supper which +had been put aside for him, and then saw that his mother's chests, +which contained all her possessions save a few articles of heavy +furniture, were placed in one of the carts. A bed was then laid +on its floor upon which she could sit comfortably. Elspie mounted +with her. Archie, Sandy, and the men took their places in the other +carts, and the party drove off. They had no fear of interruption, +for the Kerrs, ignorant of the number who had arrived with Archie +at Glen Cairn, would not venture to attack until they had gathered +a considerable force, and would not be likely to set out till +morning, and long before that time Dame Forbes would have arrived +at her sister's. + +The journey was indeed performed without incident, the escort +leaving them when within two or three miles of Lanark, and making +their way direct to the craigs, whither Archie, the moment he had +seen his mother safely at Sir Robert Gordon's, returned. He did +not mount the craig, but wrapping himself in his cloak lay down at +its foot. + +As soon as it was daylight he walked out a mile on the road towards +Glen Cairn. He soon saw a party approaching in military order. They +halted when they reached him. They were twenty in number, and were +the lads of his band at Glen Cairn, ranging between the ages of +sixteen and eighteen. They had originally been stronger, but some +of the elders had already joined Wallace's followers. + +"Now," Archie said, "I can explain matters farther than I did last +night. I have procured arms for you all, and I hope that you will +have opportunities of using them. But though some of you are old +enough to join Wallace's band, there are others whom he might not +deem fit to take part in such desperate enterprises. Therefore +at first make but little show of your arms. I shall present you to +Sir William, telling him that I have brought you hither to serve +as messengers, and to enter towns held by the English and gather +news, seeing that lads would be less suspected than men. But I +propose farther, what I shall not tell him, that you shall form a +sort of bodyguard to him. He takes not sufficient care of himself, +and is ever getting into perils. I propose that without his +knowing it, you shall be ever at hand when he goes into danger of +this sort, and may thus prevent his falling into the hands of his +enemies. Now, mind, lads, this is a great and honourable mission. +You must be discreet as well as brave, and ready all of you to give +your lives, if need be, for that of Scotland's champion. Your work +as messengers and scouts will be arduous and wearisome. You must +be quiet and well behaved--remember that boys' tricks and play +are out of place among men engaged in a desperate enterprise. Mingle +not much with the others. Be active and prompt in obeying orders, +and be assured that you will have opportunities of winning great +honour and credit, and of having your full share of hard knocks. +You will, as before, be divided into two companies, William Orr and +Andrew Macpherson being your lieutenants in my absence. You will +obey their orders as implicitly as mine. Cluny, you have, I suppose, +brought, as I bade you last night, some of your sister's garments?" + +"Yes, Sir Archie," the boy, who was fair and slight, said, with a +smile on his face. + +"That is right. I know you are as hearty and strong as the rest; +but seeing that your face is the smoothest and softest of any, +you will do best should we need one in disguise as a girl. And now +come with me. I will show you where your arms are placed; but at +present you must not take them. If I led you as an armed band to +Wallace he might deem you too young. I must present you merely as +lads whom I know to be faithful and trustworthy, and who are willing +to act as messengers and scouts to his force." + +So saying Archie led the band to the thicket where he had placed +their arms, and the lads were pleased when they saw the pikes, +swords, and head pieces. Then he led them up the craig to Wallace. + +"Why, whom have you here?" Sir William exclaimed in surprise. "This +will not do, Sir Archie. All lads are not like yourself, and were +I to take such boys into my ranks I should have all the mothers in +Scotland calling out against me." + +"I have not brought them to join your ranks, Sir William, although +many of them are stout fellows who might do good service at a +pinch. I have brought them to act as messengers and scouts. They +can carry orders whithersoever you may have occasion to send. They +can act as scouts to warn you of the approach of an enemy; or if +you need news of the state of any of the enemy's garrisons, they +can go thither and enter without being suspected, when a man might +be questioned and stopped. They are all sons of my father's vassals +at Glen Cairn, and I can answer for their fidelity. I will take +them specially under my own charge, and you will ever have a fleet +and active messenger at hand when you desire to send an order." + +"The idea is not a bad one," Sir William replied; "and in such a +way a lad may well do the work of a man. Very well, Sir Archie, +since you seem to have set your mind upon it I will not say nay. +At any rate we can give the matter a trial, understanding that you +take the charge of them and are responsible for them in all ways. +Now, lads," he said turning, "you have heard that your lord, for +he is your rightful lord, and will, if Scotland gains the day, be +your real lord again, has answered for you. It is no boys' play +in which you have taken service, for the English, if they conquer +us, will show no further mercy to you than to others of my band. I +understand then that you are all prepared, if need be, to die for +Scotland. Is this so?" + +"We are, sir," the lads exclaimed together. + +"Then so be it," Sir William said. "Now, Sir Archie, do you fix +a place for their encampment, and make such other arrangements +as you may think fit. You will, of course, draw rations and other +necessaries for them as regular members of the band." + +Archie descended with his troop from the craigs, and chose a spot +where they would be apart from the others. It was a small piece of +ground cut off by the stream which wound at the foot of the craigs, +so that to reach it it was necessary to wade knee deep through the +water. This was no inconvenience to the lads, all of whom, as was +common with their class at the time, were accustomed to go barefoot, +although they sometimes wore a sort of sandal. Bushes were cut +down, and arbours made capable of containing them. The spot was +but a little distance from the foot of the path up the craigs, and +any one descending the path could be seen from it. + +Archie gave orders that one was always to be above in readiness to +start instantly with a message; that a sentry was to be placed at +the camp, who was to keep his eyes upon the path, and the moment +the one on duty above was seen to leave, the next upon the list was +to go up and take his place. None were to wander about the wood, +but all were to remain in readiness for any duty which might be +required. The two lieutenants were charged to drill them constantly +at their exercises so as to accustom them to the weight and handle +of their arms. Two were to be sent off every morning to the depot +where the provisions were issued, to draw food for the whole for +the day, and four were to be posted five miles away on the roads +leading towards the craigs to give warning of the approach of any +enemies. These were to be relieved every six hours. They were to +be entirely unarmed, and none were to issue from the camp with arms +except when specially ordered. + +Having made these arrangements, and taking with him one of the band +as the first on duty above, he rejoined Wallace at his post on the +craigs. + +Wallace's numbers now increased fast. On hearing of the fall of +Lanark, and on the receipt of the proclamation calling upon all +true Scotchmen to join him in his effort to deliver their country +from its yoke, the people began to flock in in great numbers. Richard +Wallace of Riccarton and Robert Boyd came in with such force as +they could collect from Kyle and Cunningham, among whom were not +less than 1000 horsemen. Sir John Grahame, Sir John of Tinto, and +Auchinleck assembled about 3000 mounted troops and a large number +of foot, many of whom, however, were imperfectly armed. Sir Ronald +Crawford, Wallace's uncle, being so close to Ayr, could not openly +join him, but secretly sent reinforcements and money. Many other +gentlemen joined with their followers. + +The news of the fall of Lanark and of the numbers who were flocking +to join Wallace paralysed the commanders of the English garrisons, +and for a time no steps were taken against him; but news of the +rising was instantly sent to King Edward, who, furious at this +fresh trouble in Scotland, which he had deemed finally conquered, +instantly commenced preparations for another invasion. A body of +troops was at once sent forward from England, and, being strengthened +by bodies drawn from all the garrisons, assembled at Biggar. The +army was commanded by the Earl of Kent. Heralds were sent to Wallace +offering him not only pardon but an honourable post if he would +submit, but warning him that if he refused this offer he should, +when taken, be treated as a rebel and hung. + +Wallace briefly refused submission, and said that he should be +ready to give battle on the following morning. + +At daybreak the army set forth, divided into three parts. Wallace, +with Boyd and Auchinleck, commanded one; Sir John Grahame, with +Wallace of Riccarton, the second; Sir Walter of Newbigging, with his +son David and Sir John Clinto, the third. The cavalry were placed +in front. The footmen, being imperfectly armed and disciplined, +and therefore unable to withstand the first charge of the English, +followed the cavalry. + +Before marching forward Wallace called the commanders round him +and charged them earnestly to restrain their men from plunder until +the contest was decided, pointing out that many a battle had been +lost owing to the propensity of those who gained the first advantage +to scatter for plunder. Just as the Scotch were moving, a body of +300 horsemen, well armed and equipped, from Annandale and Eskdale, +led by Halliday, Kirkpatrick, and Jardine, joined them; and with +this accession of strength they marched forward confidently against +the enemy. + + + + +Chapter V + +A Treacherous Plot + + +So rapid was the advance of Wallace's army that the English had +scarce time to form when they were upon them. The Scotch charged +with extreme impetuosity among the English ranks, directing the +onslaught principally against the centre, commanded by the Earl of +Kent. + +The English resisted stoutly; but the Earl of Kent was struck down +by Wallace himself, and was with difficulty borne off the field; +and after severe fighting, the whole English army was thrown into +disorder and took to flight. Some hundreds were killed in action, +and many more in the pursuit which followed; this, however, Wallace +would not allow to be pushed too far lest the fugitives should +rally and turn. Then the victorious Scots returned to the English +camp. In this was found a great abundance of provisions, arms, +and other valuable booty. Many of the cattle were killed, and a +sumptuous feast prepared. Then Wallace had the whole of the spoil +carried off into a place of safety in the heart of a neighbouring +bog, and he himself fell back to that shelter. + +In the morning the English, who had rallied when the pursuit had +ceased, again advanced, hoping to find Wallace unprepared. They +were now commanded by the Earl of Lancaster, and had received some +reinforcements in the night. They passed over the scene of the +previous day's battle, and at last came in sight of the Scotch +army. Wallace at first advanced, and then, as if dismayed at their +superior strength, retired to the point where, in order to reach +them, the English would have to cross a portion of the bog. The +surface was covered with moss and long grass, and the treacherous +nature of the ground was unperceived by the English, who, filled +with desire to wipe out their defeat of the preceding day, charged +impetuously against the Scotch line. The movement was fatal, for +as soon as they reached the treacherous ground their horses sunk +to the saddle girths. The Scotch had dismounted on firmer ground +behind, and now advanced to the attack, some working round the +flanks of the morass, others crossing on tufts of grass, and so +fell upon the struggling mass of English. The Earl of Westmoreland +and many others of note were killed, and the Earl of Lancaster, +with the remains of his force, at once retreated south and recrossed +the Border. + +Archie had taken no part in the first battle. Wallace had asked +him whether he would fight by his side or take command of a body +of infantry; and he chose the latter alternative. Almost all the +knights and gentlemen were fighting on horse with their followers, +and Archie thought that if these were repulsed the brunt of the fray +would fall upon the infantry. On this occasion, then, he gathered +with his band of lads a hundred or so pikemen, and formed them in +order, exhorting them, whatever happened, to keep together and to +stand stoutly, even against a charge of horse. As the victory was +won entirely by the cavalry he had no opportunity of distinguishing +himself. Upon the second day, however, he did good service, +as he and his lightly armed footmen were able to cross the bog in +places impracticable to the dismounted men-at-arms in their heavy +accoutrements. + +The victory of Biggar still further swelled Wallace's forces. Sir +William Douglas joined him, and other gentlemen. A great meeting +was held at Forest Kirk, when all the leaders of Wallace's force +were present; and these agreed to acknowledge him as general of +the Scottish forces against England, with the title of Warden of +Scotland. + +King Edward was at this time busied with his wars in France, and +was unable to despatch an army capable of effecting the reconquest +of that portion of Scotland now held by Wallace; and as the English +forces in the various garrisons were insufficient for such purpose, +the Earl of Percy and the other leaders proposed a truce. This +was agreed to. Although Wallace was at the head of a considerable +force, Sir William Douglas was the only one among the Scottish +nobles of importance who had joined him; and although the successes +which he had gained were considerable, but little had been really +done towards freeing Scotland, all of whose strong places were +still in the hands of the English, and King Edward had not as yet +really put out his strength. + +The greater portion of the army of Wallace was now dispersed. + +Shortly afterwards the governor of Ayr issued a notice that a great +council would be held at that town, and all the Scotch gentlemen +of importance in the district were desired to attend. Wallace was +one of those invited; and deeming that the governor might have +some proposition of Edward to lay before them, he agreed to do so. +Although a truce had been arranged, he himself with a band of his +most devoted followers still remained under arms in the forest, +strictly keeping the truce, but holding communications with his friends +throughout the country, urging them to make every preparation, by +collecting arms and exercising their vassals, to take the field with +a better appointed force at the conclusion of the truce. Provisions +and money were in abundance, so large had been the captures effected; +but Wallace was so accustomed to the free life of the woods that he +preferred to remain there to taking up his abode in a town. Moreover, +here he was safe from treachery; for he felt sure that although the +English nobles and leaders would be incapable of breaking a truce, +yet that there were many of lower degree who would not hesitate at +any deed of treachery by which they might gain reward and credit +from their king. Archie's band were found of the greatest service +as messengers; and although he sometimes spent a few days at Sir +Robert Gordon's with his mother, he generally remained by the side +of Wallace. The spot where the Scottish leader was now staying lay +about halfway between Lanark and Ayr. + +Archie heard with uneasiness the news of the approaching council, +and Wallace's acceptance of the invitation. The fact that the Earl +of Percy, a very noble knight and gentleman, had been but lately +recalled from the governorship of Ayr and had been replaced by +one of somewhat low degree, Arlouf of Southampton, still further +increased his doubts. It seemed strange that the governorship of so +important a town--a post deemed fitting for Earl Percy--should +be bestowed on such a man, were it not that one was desired who +would not hesitate to perform an action from which any honourable +English gentleman would shrink. + +Two days before the day fixed for the council he called Cluny +Campbell and another lad named Jock Farrel to him. + +"I have a most important mission for you," he said. "You have heard +of the coming council at Ayr. I wish to find out if any evil is +intended by the governor. For this purpose you two will proceed +thither. You Cluny will put on the garments which you brought with +you; while you Jock had best go as his brother. Here is money. On +your way procure baskets and buy chickens and eggs, and take them +in with you to sell. Go hither and thither among the soldiers +and hear what they say. Gather whether among the townspeople there +is any thought that foul play may be intended by the English. Two +of the band will accompany you to within a mile of Ayr, and will +remain there in order that you may from time to time send news by +them of aught that you have gathered. Remember that the safety of +Wallace, and with it the future of Scotland, may depend upon your +care and vigilance. I would myself have undertaken the task; but +the Kerrs are now, I hear, in Ayr, and a chance meeting might ruin +all; for whatever the truce between English and Scotch, they would +assuredly keep no truce with me did they meet me. Mind, it is a +great honour that I have done you in choosing you, and is a proof +that I regard you as two of the shrewdest of my band, although the +youngest among them." + +Greatly impressed with the importance of their mission, the lads +promised to use their utmost vigilance to discover the intentions +of the governor; and a few minutes later, Cluny being attired in +his sister's clothes, and looking, as Archie laughingly said, "a +better looking girl than she was herself," they started for Ayr, +accompanied by two of their companions. They were to remain there +until the conclusion of the council, but their companions would be +relieved every six hours. Upon their way they procured two baskets, +which they filled with eggs and chickens; and then, leaving their +comrades a mile outside Ayr, fearlessly entered the town. + +The council was to take place in a large wooden building some short +distance outside the town, which was principally chosen because it +was thought by the governor that the Scotch gentlemen would have +less reluctance to meet him there than if they were asked to enter +a city with a strong garrison of English. + +The first day the lads succeeded in finding out nothing which could +give any countenance to suspicion that treachery was intended. They +had agreed to work separately, and each mingled among the groups +of citizens and soldiers, where the council was the general topic +of conversation. There was much wonder and speculation as to the +object for which the governor had summoned it, and as to the terms +which he might be expected to propound, but to none did the idea +of treachery or foul play in any way occur; and when at night they +left the town and sent off their message to Archie, the lads could +only say that all seemed fair and honest, and that none either of +the townspeople or soldiers appeared to have the least expectation +of trouble arising at the council. The following morning they +agreed that Jock should hang round the building in which the council +was to be held, and where preparations for the meeting and for a +banquet which was afterwards to take place were being made, while +Cluny should continue his inquiries within the walls. Jock hid away +his basket and joined those looking on at the preparations. Green +boughs were being carried in for decorating the walls, tables, and +benches for the banquet. These were brought from the town in country +carts, and a party of soldiers under the command of an officer +carried them in and arranged them. Several of the rustics looking +on gave their aid in carrying in the tables, in order that they +might take home to their wives an account of the appearance of the +place where the grand council was to be held. Jock thrust himself +forward, and seizing a bundle of green boughs, entered the barn. +Certainly there was nothing here to justify any suspicions. The +soldiers were laughing and joking as they made the arrangements; +clean rushes lay piled against a wall in readiness to strew over +the floor at the last moment; boughs had been nailed against the +walls, and the tables and benches were sufficient to accommodate +a considerable number. Several times Jock passed in and out, but +still without gathering a word to excite his suspicions. Presently +Arlouf himself, a powerful man with a forbidding countenance, rode +up and entered the barn. He approached the officer in command of +the preparations; and Jock, pretending to be busy in carrying his +boughs, managed to keep near so as to catch something of their +conversation. + +"Is everything prepared, Harris?" + +"Yes, sir; another half hour's work will complete everything." + +"Do you think that is strong enough?" the governor asked. + +"Ay; strong enough for half a dozen of these half starved Scots." + +"One at a time will do," the governor said; and then, after a few +more words, left the barn and rode off to Ayr. + +Jock puzzled his head in vain over the meaning of the words he had +heard. The governor had while speaking been facing the door; but +to what he alluded, or what it was that the officer had declared +strong enough to hold half a dozen Scots, Jock could not in the +slightest degree make out. Still the words were strange and might +be important; and he resolved, directly the preparations were +finished and the place closed, so that there could be no chance of +his learning more, to return himself to Archie instead of sending +a message, as much might depend upon his repeating, word for word, +what he had heard, as there was somehow, he felt, a significance in +the manner in which the question had been asked and answered more +than in the words themselves. + +Cluny had all day endeavoured in vain to gather any news. He had +the day before sold some of his eggs and chickens at the governor's +house, and towards evening he determined again to go thither and +to make an attempt to enter the house, where he had heard that the +officers of the garrison were to be entertained that evening at a +banquet. "If I could but overhear what is said there, my mind would +be at rest. Certainly nothing is known to the soldiers; but it may +well be that if treachery is intended tomorrow, the governor will +this evening explain his plans to his officers." + +He had, before entering the town, again filled up his basket with +the unsold portion of Jock's stock, for which the latter had no +further occasion. The cook at the governor's, when he had purchased +the eggs on the previous day, had bade him call again, as Cluny's +prices were considerably below those in the market. It was late +in the afternoon when he again approached the house. The sentry at +the gate asked no question, seeing a girl with a basket, and Cluny +went round again to the door of the kitchen. + +"How late you are, girl!" the cook said angrily. "You told me you +would come again today, and I relied upon you, and when you did +not come it was too late, for the market was closed." + +"I was detained, sir," Cluny said, dropping a curtsey; "my mother +is ill, and I had to look after the children and get the dinner +before they went away." + +"There, don't waste time talking," the cook said, snatching the +basket from him. "I have no time to count the eggs now; let me know +the tale of them and the chickens at the same price as you charged +yesterday, and come for your money tomorrow; I have no time to pay +now. Here," he called to one of the scullions, "take out these eggs +and chickens quickly, but don't break any, and give the basket to +the girl here." + +So saying he hurried off to attend to his cooking. + +Cluny looked round. But three paces away a half open door led into +the interior of the house. His resolution was taken in a moment. +Seeing that none were looking at him he stole through the door, +his bare feet falling noiselessly on the stones. He was now in +a spacious hall. On one side was an open door, and within was a +large room with tables spread for a banquet. Cluny entered at once +and looked round for a place of concealment; none was to be seen. +Tablecloths in those days were almost unknown luxuries. The tables +were supported by trestles, and were so narrow that there was +no possibility of hiding beneath them; nor were there hangings or +other furniture behind which he could be concealed. With a beating +heart he turned the handle of a door leading into another apartment, +and found himself in a long and narrow room, used apparently as +the private office of the governor. There were many heavy chairs +in the room, ranged along the wall, and Cluny crouched in a corner +by the window beside a chair standing there. The concealment was a +poor one, and one searching would instantly detect him; but he had +no fear of a search, for he doubted not that the cook, on missing +him, would suppose that he had left at once, intending to call +for his money and basket together the next morning. It was already +growing dusk, and should no one enter the room for another half +hour he would be hidden in the shadow in the corner of the room; +but it was more probable still that no one would enter. + +The time passed slowly on, and the darkness rapidly increased. Through +the door, which Cluny had drawn to but had not tightly closed on +entering, he could hear the voices of the servants as they moved +about and completed the preparations in the banquet hall. Presently +all was quiet, but a faint light gleaming in through the crack +of the door showed that the lights were lit and that all was in +readiness for the banquet. Half an hour later and there was a heavy +trampling of feet and the sound of many voices. The door was suddenly +closed, and Cluny had no doubt that the dinner was beginning. Rising +to his feet he made to the door and listened attentively. + +A confused din met his ears, but no distinct words were audible. +He could occasionally faintly hear the clattering of plates and +the clinking of glasses. All this continued for nigh two hours, and +then a sudden quiet seemed to fall upon the assembly. Cluny heard +the door close, and guessed that the banquet was at an end and the +servitors dismissed. Now, if ever, would something of importance +be said within, and Cluny would have given his life to be able to +hear it. Many times he thought of turning the handle and opening +the door an inch or two. Locks in those days were but roughly made; +the slightest sound might attract attention, and in that case not +only would his own life be forfeited, but no news of the governor's +intentions--no matter what they might be--could reach Wallace; +so, almost holding his breath, he lay on the ground and listened +with his ear to the sill of the door. The silence was succeeded by +a steady monotonous sound as of one addressing the others. Cluny +groaned in spirit, for no word could he hear. After some minutes +the murmur ceased, and then many voices were raised together; then +one rose above the rest, and then, distinct and clear, came a voice +evidently raised in anger. + +"As you please, Master Hawkins; but if you disobey my orders, +as King Edward's governor here, you will take the consequences. I +shall at once place you in durance, and shall send report to the +king of your mutinous conduct." + +"Be that as it may," another voice replied; "whatever befall me, I +tell you, sir, that Thomas Hawkins will take no part in an act of +such foul and dastardly treachery. I am a soldier of King Edward. +I am paid to draw my sword against his enemies, and not to do the +bloody work of a murderer." + +"Seize him!" the governor shouted. "Give him in charge to the guard, +to lay in the castle dungeon." + +There was a movement of feet now heard, but Cluny waited no +longer. The angry utterances had reached his ear, and knowing that +his mission was accomplished he thought only now of escape before +detection might take place. He had noticed when he entered the room +that the windows were, as was usually the case with rooms on the +lower floors, barred; but he saw also that the bars were wide enough +apart for a lad of his slimness to crawl through. The banqueting +room was raised three steps above the hall, and the room that he +was in was upon the same level; the window was four feet from the +floor, and would therefore be probably seven or eight above the +ground without, which would account for its not being more closely +barred. He speedily climbed up to it and thrust himself through the +bars, but not without immense difficulty and great destruction to +his feminine garments. + +"Poor Janet!" Cluny laughed to himself as he dropped from the +window to the ground. "Whatever would she say were she to see the +state of her kirtle and petticoats!" + +The moon was young, but the light was sufficient to enable Cluny +to see where he was. The window opened into a lane which ran down +by the side of the governor's house, and he was soon in the principal +street. Already most of the citizens were within their houses. A +few, provided with lanterns, were picking their way along the uneven +pavement. Cluny knew that it was impossible for him to leave the +town that night; he would have given anything for a rope by which +he might lower himself from the walls, but there was no possibility +of his obtaining one. The appearance of a young girl wandering in +the streets alone at night would at once have attracted attention +and remarks. So Cluny withdrew into a dark archway, and then sat +down until the general silence told him that all had retired to +rest. Then he made his way along the street until he neared the +gateway, and there lying down by the wall he went to sleep. + +When the gate was opened in the morning Cluny waited until a few +persons had passed in and out and then approached it. "Hallo! lass," +the sergeant of the guard, who was standing there, said. "You are +a pretty figure with your torn clothes! Why, what has happened to +you?" + +"If you please, sir," Cluny said timidly, "I was selling my eggs +to the governor's cook, and he kept me waiting, and I did not know +that it was so late, and when I got to the gates they were shut, +and I had nowhere to go; and then, please sir, as I was wandering +about a rough soldier seized me and wanted to kiss me, and of +course I would not let him, and in the struggle he tore my clothes +dreadfully; and some burghers, who heard me scream, came up and the +man left me, and one of the burghers let me sleep in his kitchen, +and I don't know what mother will say to my clothes;" and Cluny +lifted the hem of his petticoat to his eyes. + +"It is a shame, lass," the sergeant said good temperedly; "an I +had been there I would have broke the fellow's sconce for him; but +another time, lass, you should not overstay the hour; it is not good +for young girls to be roaming at night in a town full of soldiers. +There, I hope your mother won't beat you, for, after all, it was +the fault of the governor's cook rather than yours." + +Cluny pursued his way with a quiet and depressed mien until he was +fairly out of sight of the gates. Then he lifted his petticoats to +a height which would have shocked his sister Janet, to give free +play to his limbs, and at the top of his speed dashed down the road +toward Lanark. He found his two companions waiting at the appointed +spot, but he did not pause a moment. + +"Are you mad, Cluny?" they shouted. + +And indeed the wild figure, with its tucked up garments, tearing +at full speed along the road, would have been deemed that of a mad +girl by any who had met it. + +"Come on!" he shouted. "Come on, it is for life or death!" and +without further word he kept on at full speed. It was some time +before his companions overtook him, for they were at first too +convulsed by laughter at Cluny's extraordinary appearance to be able +to run. But presently, sobered by the conviction that something of +extreme importance must have happened, they too started at their +best speed, and presently came up with Cluny, upon whose pace the +mile he had already run told heavily. + +"For the sake of goodness, Cluny, go slower," one of them panted +out as they came to him. "We have nine miles yet to run, and if we +go on like this we shall break down in another half mile, and have +to walk the rest." + +Cluny himself, with all his anxiety to get on, was beginning to +feel the same, and he slackened his pace to a slinging trot, which +in little over an hour brought them to the wood. + + + + +Chapter VI + +The Barns of Ayr + + +Archie was anxiously awaiting the arrival of his messenger, for the +three lads were met two miles out by another who had been placed on +watch, and had come on ahead at full speed with the news of their +approach. The report brought in by Jock Farrell of the words that +he had overheard in the barn prepared for the meeting, had been +reported by Archie to Wallace. Sir John Grahame and the other +gentlemen with him all agreed that they were strange, and his friends +had strongly urged their leader not to proceed to the meeting. +Wallace, however, persisted in his resolution to do so, unless +he received stronger proofs than those afforded by the few words +dropped by the governor and his officer, which might really have +no evil meaning whatever. He could not throw doubt upon the fair +intentions of King Edward's representative, for it might well be +said that it was the grossest insult to the English to judge them +as guilty of the intention of a foul act of treachery upon such +slight foundation as this. "It would be a shame indeed," he said, +"were I, the Warden of Scotland, to shrink from appearing at +a council upon such excuse as this." The utmost that Archie could +obtain from him was that he would delay his departure in the morning +until the latest moment, in order to see if any further news came +from Ayr. + +The meeting was to be held at ten o'clock, and until a little before +nine he would not set out. He was in the act of mounting his horse +when Cluny Campbell arrived. + +"What are your news, Cluny?" Archie exclaimed, as the lads, panting +and exhausted, ran up. + +"There is treachery intended. I overheard the governor say so." + +"Come along with me," Archie exclaimed; "you are just in time, +and shall yourself tell the news. Draw your bridle, Sir William," +he exclaimed as he ran up to the spot where Sir William Wallace, +Grahame, and several other gentlemen were in the act of mounting. +"Treachery is intended--my messenger has overheard it. I know +not his tale, but question him yourself." + +Important as was the occasion, the Scottish chiefs could not resist +a smile at the wild appearance of Archie's messenger. + +"Is it a boy or a girl?" Wallace asked Archie, "for it might be +either." + +"He is one of my band, sir. I sent him dressed in this disguise as +it would be the least suspected. Now, Cluny, tell your own story." + +Cluny told his story briefly, but giving word for word the sentences +that he had heard spoken in anger by the governor and his officer. + +"I fear there can be no doubt," Wallace said gravely when the +lad had finished--"that foul play of some kind is intended, and +that it would be madness to trust ourselves in the hands of this +treacherous governor. Would that we had had the news twenty-four +hours earlier; but even now some may be saved. Sir John, will you +gallop, with all your mounted men, at full speed towards Ayr. Send +men on all the roads leading to the council, and warn any who may +not yet have arrived against entering." + +Sir John Grahame instantly gave orders to all those who had horses, +to mount and follow him at the top of their speed; and he himself, +with the other gentlemen whose horses were prepared, started at +once at full gallop. + +"Sir Archie, do you cause the 'assembly' to be sounded, and send +off your runners in all directions to bid every man who can be +collected to gather here this afternoon at three o clock. If foul +play has been done we can avenge, although we are too late to save, +and, by Heavens, a full and bloody revenge will I take." + +It was not until two in the afternoon that Sir John Grahame returned. + +"The worst has happened; I can read it in your face," Wallace +exclaimed. + +"It is but too true," Sir John replied. "For a time we could obtain +no information. One of my men rode forward until close to the Barns, +and reported that all seemed quiet there. A guard of soldiers were +standing round the gates, and he saw one of those invited, who had +arrived a minute before him, dismount and enter quietly. Fortunately +I was in time to stop many gentlemen who were proceeding to the +council, but more had entered before I reached there. From time +to time I sent forward men on foot who talked with those who were +standing without to watch the arrivals. Presently a terrible rumour +began to spread among them--whether the truth was known from some +coarse jest by one of the soldiers, or how it came out, I know not. +But as time went on, and the hour was long past when any fresh +arrivals could be expected, there was no longer motive for secrecy, +and the truth was openly told. Each man as he entered was stopped +just inside the door. A noose was dropped over his neck, and he +was hauled up to a hook over the door. All who entered are dead." + +A cry of indignation and rage broke from Wallace and those standing +round him, and the Scottish leader again repeated his oath to take +a bloody vengeance for the deed. + +"And who are among the murdered?" he asked, after a pause. + +"Alas! Sir William," Grahame said, "your good uncle, Sir Ronald +Crawford, the Sheriff of Ayr, is one; and also Sir Richard Wallace +of Riccartoun; Sir Bryce Blair, and Sir Neil Montgomery, Boyd, +Barclay, Steuart, Kennedy, and many others." + +Wallace was overwhelmed with grief at the news that both his uncles, +to whom he was greatly attached, had perished. Most of those around +had also lost relatives and friends, and none could contain their +grief and indignation. + +"Was my uncle, Sir Robert Gordon, among the victims?" Archie +inquired. + +"No," Sir John replied; "happily he was one of the last who came +along the road." + +"Thank God for that!" Archie said earnestly; "my uncle's slowness +has saved his life. He was ever late for business or pleasure, and +my aunt was always rating him for his unpunctuality. She will not +do so again, for assuredly it has saved his life." + +The men came in but slowly, for the bands had all dispersed to +their homes, and it was only those who lived within a few miles +who could arrive in time. Little over fifty men had come in by the +hour named. With these Wallace started at once towards Ayr. Archie's +band fell in with their arms, for they too burned to revenge the +massacre, and Wallace did not refuse Archie's request that they +might join. + +"Let them come," he said; "we shall want every sword and pike +tonight." + +This was the first time that Wallace had seen the band under arms, +for at the battle of Biggar, Archie had kept them from his sight, +fearing that he might order them from the field. + +"They look well, Sir Archie, and in good military order. Hitherto +I have regarded them but as messengers, and as such they have done +good service indeed; but I see now that you have them in good order, +and that they can do other service on a pinch." + +One member of Wallace's band was left behind, with orders to wait +until seven o'clock, and then to bring on as fast as they could +march all who might arrive before that hour. The band marched to +within a mile of the barns. They then halted at a stack of straw, +and sat down while one of Archie's band went forward to see what was +being done. He reported that a great feast, at which the governor +and all the officers of the garrison, with other English dwelling +in town, were present, was just beginning in the great barn where +the massacre had taken place. + +Soon after nine o'clock the man who had been left behind, with ten +others, who had come in after Wallace had marched, came up. Each +man, by Wallace's directions, drew a great truss of straw from the +stack, and then the party, now eighty in all, marched toward the +barn. Wallace's instructions were that so soon as the work had +fairly begun, Grahame, with Archie and half the band, was to hurry +off to seize the gate of Ayr, feigning to be a portion of the guard +at the barn. + +When they approached the spot they saw that the wooden building was +brightly lit up with lights within, and the English guard, some +fifty in number, were standing carelessly without, or, seated +round fires, were carousing on wine which had been sent out by the +revellers within. + +The Scotch stole up quietly. Wallace's party, composed of half the +strength, handed their bundles of straw to the men of Grahame's +company; then with a sudden shout they fell upon the English +soldiers, while Grahame's men, running straight to the door of the +barn, threw down their trusses of straw against it, and Sir John, +snatching down a torch which burned beside the entrance, applied +fire to the mass, and then, without a moment's delay, started at a +run towards the town. Taken wholly by surprise the English soldiers +were slain by Wallace and his men almost before they had time +to seize their arms. Then the Scots gathered round the barn. The +flames were already leaping up high, and a terrible din of shouts +and cries issued from within. The doors had been opened now, but +those within were unable to force their way across the blazing mass +of straw. Many appeared at the windows and screamed for mercy, and +some leapt out, preferring to fall by the Scottish swords rather +than to await death by fire within. + +The flames rose higher and higher, and soon the whole building +was enveloped, and ere many minutes all those who had carried out, +if not planned, the massacre of Ayr had perished. In the meantime +Grahame and his party had reached the gate of Ayr. Bidding others +follow him at a distance of about a hundred yards, he himself, with +Archie and ten of his followers, ran up at full speed. + +"Quick!" he shouted to the sentry on the gate. "Lower the bridge +and let us in. We have been attacked by Wallace and the Scots, and +they will speedily be here." + +The attention of the guard had already been attracted by the sudden +burst of light by the barns. They had heard distant shouts, and +deemed that a conflagration had broken out in the banqueting hall. +Not doubting for an instant the truth of Grahame's story, they +lowered the drawbridge instantly, and Sir John and his companions +rushed across. + +The guard were only undeceived when Grahame and his followers fell +upon them with their heavy broadswords. They had left their arms +behind when they had assembled on the walls to look at the distant +flames, and were cut down to a man by the Scots. By this time the +rest of Grahame's band had arrived. + +So short and speedy had been the struggle that no alarm had been +given in the town. The inmates of a few houses near opened their +windows and looked out. + +"Come down as quickly as you may," Sir John said to them; "we have +taken Ayr." + +Several of the burghers were soon in the street. + +"Now," Sir John said, "do two of you who know the town well go +with me and point out the houses in which the English troops are +quartered; let the others go from house to house, and bid every +man come quickly with his sword to strike a blow for freedom." + +Sir John now went round the town with the guides and posted two or +more men at the door of each house occupied by the English. Soon +the armed citizens flocked into the streets, and when sufficient +were assembled the blowing of a horn gave the signal. The doors of +the houses were beaten in with axes, and, pouring in, the Scotch +slew the soldiers before they had scarce awakened from sleep. Very +few of the English in the town escaped to tell of the terrible +retaliation which had been taken for the massacre of Ayr. + +One of the few who were saved was Captain Thomas Hawkins. Archie, +mindful of the part which he had taken, and to which, indeed, the +discovery of the governor's intention was due, had hurried direct to +the prison, and when this was, with the rest of the town, taken, +discovered the English officer in chains in a dungeon, and protected +him from all molestation. + +The next morning he was brought before Wallace, who expressed to +him his admiration of the honourable course which he had adopted, +gave him a rich present out of the booty which had been captured, +and placed him on a ship bound for England. + +A week after the capture of Ayr one of Archie's band came into his +hut. Tears were running down his cheeks, and his face was swollen +with weeping. + +"What is it, Jock?" Archie asked kindly. + +"Ah! Sir Archie! we have bad news from Glen Cairn. One has come +hither who says that a few days since the Kerrs, with a following +of their own retainers, came down to the village. Having heard +that some of us had followed you to the wars, they took a list of +all that were missing, and Sir John called our fathers up before +him. They all swore, truly enough, that they knew nought of our +intentions, and that we had left without saying a word to them. +Sir John refused to believe them, and at first threatened to hang +them all. Then after a time he said they might draw lots, and +that two should die. My father and Allan Cunninghame drew the evil +numbers, and Kerr hung them up to the old tree on the green and put +fire to the rooftrees of all the others. Ah! but there is weeping +and wailing in Glen Cairn!" + +Archie was for a while speechless with indignation. He knew well +that this wholesale vengeance had not been taken by the Kerrs because +the sons of the cottagers of Glen Cairn had gone to join the army +of Wallace, but because he deemed them to be still attached to their +old lord; and it was to their fidelity to the Forbeses rather than +to Scotland that they owed the ruin which had befallen them. + +"My poor Jock!" he said, "I am grieved, indeed, at this misfortune. +I cannot restore your father's life, but I can from the spoils of +Ayr send a sufficient sum to Glen Cairn to rebuild the cottages +which the Kerrs have destroyed. But this will not be enough--we +will have vengeance for the foul deed. Order the band to assemble +at dusk this evening, and tell Orr and Macpherson to come here to +me at once." + +Archie had a long consultation with his two young lieutenants, +whose fathers' cottages had with the others been destroyed. + +"What we have to do," Archie said, "we must do alone. Sir William +has ample employment for his men, and I cannot ask him to weaken +his force to aid me in a private broil; nor, indeed, would any aid +short of his whole band be of use, seeing that the Kerrs can put +three hundred retainers in the field. It is not by open force that +we must fight them, but by fire and harassment. Fighting is out +of the question; but we can do him some damage without giving him +a chance of striking a blow at us. As he has lighted Glen Cairn, +so shall he see fires blazing round his own castle of Aberfilly. +We will not retaliate by hanging his crofters and vassals; but if +he or any of his men-at-arms falls into our hands, we will have +blood for blood." + +In the course of the afternoon Archie saw his chief and begged +leave to take his troop away for some time, telling Sir William of +the cruel treatment which the Kerrs had dealt at Glen Cairn, and +his determination to retaliate for the deed. + +"Aberfilly is a strong castle, Archie," Wallace said; "at least so +people say, for I have never seen it, so far does it lie removed +from the main roads. But unless by stratagem, I doubt if my force +is strong enough to capture it; nor would I attack were I sure of +capturing it without the loss of a man. The nobles and landowners +stand aloof from me; but it may be that after I have wrested some +more strong places from the English, they may join me. But I would +not on any account war against one of them now. Half the great +families are united by ties of blood or marriage. The Kerrs, we +know, are related to the Comyns and other powerful families; and +did I lift a hand against them, adieu to my chance of being joined +by the great nobles. No; openly hostile as many of them are, I must +let them go their way, and confine my efforts to attacking their +friends the English. Then they will have no excuse of personal +feud for taking side against the cause of Scotland. But this does +not apply to you. Everyone knows that there has long been a blood +feud between the Forbeses and the Kerrs, and any damage you may +do them will be counted as a private feud. I think it is a rash +adventure that you are undertaking with but a handful of boys, +although it is true that a boy can fire a roof or drive off a +bullock as well as a man. However, this I will promise you, that +if you should get into any scrape I will come with what speed I +can to your rescue, even if it embroil me with half the nobles of +Scotland. You embroiled yourself with all the power of England in +my behalf, and you will not find me slack in the hour of need. But +if I join in the fray it is to rescue my friend Archie Forbes, and +not to war against John Kerr, the ally of the English, and my own +enemy." + +Archie warmly thanked his leader, but assured him that he had no +thought of placing himself in any great peril. + +"I am not going to fight," he said, "for the Kerr and his retainers +could eat us up; we shall trust to our legs and our knowledge of +the mountains." + +After dark Archie and his band started, and arrived within ten miles +of Aberfilly on the following morning. They rested till noon, and +then again set out. When they approached one of the outlying farms +of the Kerrs, Archie halted his band, and, accompanied by four of +the stoutest and tallest of their number, went on to the crofter's +house. The man came to the door. + +"What would you, young sir?" he said to Archie. + +"I would," Archie said, "that you bear a message from me to your +lord." + +"I know not what your message may be; but frankly, I would rather +that you bore it yourself, especially if it be of a nature to anger +Sir John." + +"The message is this," Archie said quietly: "tell him that Archibald +Forbes bids him defiance, and that he will retort upon him and his +the cruelties which he has wrought in Glen Cairn, and that he will +rest not night nor day until he has revenge for the innocent blood +shed and rooftrees ruthlessly burned." + +"Then," the crofter said bluntly, "if you be Archibald Forbes, you +may even take your message yourself. Sir John cares not much upon +whose head his wrath lights, and I care not to appear before him +as a willing messenger on such an errand." + +"You may tell him," Archie said quietly, "that you are no willing +messenger; for that I told you that unless you did my errand your +house should, before morning, be a heap of smoking ashes. I have +a following hard by, and will keep my word." + +The crofter hesitated. + +"Do my bidding; and I promise you that whatever may befall the +other vassals of the Kerrs, you shall go free and unharmed." + +"Well, if needs must, it must," the crofter said; "and I will +do your bidding, young sir--partly because I care not to see my +house in ruins, but more because I have heard of you as a valiant +youth who fought stoutly by the side of Wallace at Lanark and +Ayr--though, seeing that you are but a lad, I marvel much that you +should be able to hold your own in such wild company. Although +as a vassal of the Kerrs I must needs follow their banner, I need +not tell you, since you have lived so long at Glen Cairn, that the +Kerrs are feared rather than loved, and that there is many a man +among us who would lief that our lord fought not by the side of the +English. However, we must needs dance as he plays; and now I will +put on my bonnet and do your errand. Sir John can hardly blame me +greatly for doing what I needs must." + +Great was the wrath of Sir John Kerr when his vassal reported to +him the message with which he had been charged, and in his savage +fury he was with difficulty dissuaded from ordering him to be hung +for bringing such a message. His principal retainers ventured, +however, to point out that the man had acted upon compulsion, and +that the present was not the time, when he might at any moment +have to call upon them to take the field, to anger his vassals, who +would assuredly resent the undeserved death of one of their number. + +"It is past all bearing," the knight said furiously, "that an insolent +boy like this should first wound me in the streets of Lanark, and +should then cast his defiance in my teeth--a landless rascal, +whose father I killed, and whose den of a castle I but a month ago +gave to the flames. He must be mad to dare to set his power against +mine. I was a fool that I did not stamp him out long ago; but woe +betide him when we next meet! Had it not been that I was served +by a fool"--and here the angry knight turned to his henchman, Red +Roy--"this would not have happened. Who could have thought that +a man of your years could have suffered himself to be fooled by a +boy, and to bring me tales that this insolent upstart was a poor +stupid lout! By Heavens! to be thus badly served is enough to make +one mad!" + +"Well, Sir John," the man grumbled, "the best man will be sometimes +in error. I have done good service for you and yours, and yet ever +since we met this boy outside the gates of Lanark you have never +ceased to twit me concerning him. Rest secure that no such error +shall occur again, and that the next time I meet him I will pay him +alike for the wound he gave you and for the anger he has brought +upon my head. If you will give orders I will start at daybreak +with twenty men. I will take up his trail at the cottage of John +Frazer, and will not give up the search until I have overtaken and +slain him." + +"Do so," the knight replied, "and I will forgive your having +been so easily fooled. But this fellow may have some of Wallace's +followers with him, and contemptible as the rabble are, we had best +be on our guard. Send round to all my vassals, and tell them to +keep good watch and ward, and keep a party of retainers under arms +all night in readiness to sally out in case of alarm." + +The night, however, passed quietly. The next day the knight sallied +out with a strong party of retainers, and searched the woods and +lower slopes of the hill, but could find no signs of Archie and +his followers, and at nightfall returned to the castle in a rage, +declaring that the defiance sent him was a mere piece of insolent +bravado. Nevertheless, he kept the horses again saddled all night +ready to issue out at the slightest alarm. Soon after midnight +flames suddenly burst out at a dozen of the homesteads. At the +warder's shout of alarm Sir John Kerr and his men-at-arms instantly +mounted. The gate was thrown open and the drawbridge lowered, and +Sir John rode out at the head of his following. He was within a +few feet of the outer end of the drawbridge when the chains which +supported this suddenly snapped. The drawbridge fell into the moat, +plunging all those upon it into the water. + +Archie, with his band, after detaching some of their number to fire +the homesteads, had crept up unperceived in the darkness to the +end of the drawbridge, and had noiselessly cut the two projecting +beams upon which its end rested when it was lowered. He had intended +to carry out this plan on the previous night, but when darkness set +in not a breath of wind was stirring, and the night was so still +that he deemed that the operation of sawing through the beams could +not be effected without attracting the attention of the warders +on the wall, and had therefore retreated far up in the recesses of +the hills. The next night, however, was windy, and well suited to +his purpose, and the work had been carried out without attracting +the attention of the warders. When Kerr and his men-at-arms rode +out, the whole weight of the drawbridge and of the horsemen crossing +it was thrown entirely upon the chains, and these yielded to a +strain far greater than they were calculated to support. + +The instant the men-at-arms were precipitated into the moat, Archie +and his companions, who had been lying down near its edge, leapt to +their feet, and opened fire with their bows and arrows upon them. +It was well for Sir John and his retainers that they had not stopped to +buckle on their defensive armour. Had they done so every man must +have been drowned in the deep waters. As it was, several were killed +with the arrows, and two or three by the hoofs of the struggling +horses. Sir John himself, with six of the eighteen men who had +fallen into the moat, succeeded in climbing up the drawbridge and +regaining the castle. A fire of arrows was at once opened from the +walls, but Archie and his followers were already out of bowshot; +and knowing that the fires would call in a few minutes to the spot +a number of the Kerr's vassals more than sufficient to crush them +without the assistance of those in the castle, they again made for +the hills, well satisfied with the first blow they had struck at +their enemies. + +The rage of Sir John Kerr was beyond all expression. He had himself +been twice struck by arrows, and the smart of his wounds added to +his fury. By the light of the burning barns the garrison were enabled +to see how small was the party which had made this audacious attack +upon them; and this increased their wrath. Men were instantly set +at work to raise the drawbridge from the moat, to repair the chains, +and to replace the timbers upon which it rested; and a summons was +despatched to the whole of the vassals to be at the castle in arms +by daybreak. + +Again the woods were searched without success, and the band then +divided into five parties, each forty strong. They proceeded to +explore the hills; but the Pentlands afforded numerous hiding places +to those, like Archie and most of his band, well acquainted with +the country; and after searching till nightfall the parties retired, +worn out and disheartened, to the castle. That night three of the +outlying farms were in flames, and the cattle were slaughtered in +their byres, but no attack was made upon the dwelling houses. The +following night Sir John distributed the whole of his vassals among +the farms lying farthest from the castle, putting twenty men in +each; but to his fury this time it was five homesteads nearer at +hand which were fired. The instant the first outburst of flame was +discovered the retainers hurried to the spot; but by the time they +reached it no sign of the assailants was visible; the flames had +however taken too good a hold of the various barns and outbuildings +to be extinguished. + + + + +Chapter VII + +The Cave in the Pentlands + + +John Kerr was well nigh beside himself with fury. + +If this was to go on, the whole of his estate would be harried, +his vassals ruined, and his revenues stopped, and this by a mere +handful of foes. Again he started with his vassals to explore the +hills, this time in parties of ten only, so as to explore thoroughly +a larger space of ground. When at evening the men returned, it was +found that but two men of one of the parties, composed entirely of +men-at-arms from the castle, came back. They reported that when +in a narrow ravine showers of rocks were hurled down upon them from +both sides. Four of their number were killed at once, and four +others had fallen pierced by arrows from an unseen foe as they fled +back down the ravine. + +"Methinks, Sir John," Red Roy said, "that I know the place where +the Forbeses may have taken up their abode. When I was a boy I +was tending a herd of goats far up in the hills, and near the pass +where this mischance has today befallen us I found a cave in the +mountain's side. Its entrance was hidden by bushes, and I should +not have found it had not one of the goats entered the bush and +remained there so long that I went to see what he was doing. There +I found a cave. The entrance was but three feet high, but inside +it widened out into a great cavern, where fifty men could shelter. +Perchance Archie Forbes or some of his band may also have discovered +it; and if so, they might well think that no better place of +concealment could be found." + +"We will search it tomorrow," the knight said. "Tell the vassals +to gather here three hours before daybreak. We will start so as +to be there soon after sunrise. If they are on foot again tonight +they will then be asleep. Did you follow the cave and discover +whether it had any other entrances beyond that by which you entered?" + +"I know not," the henchman replied; "it goes a long way into the +hills, and there are several inner passages; but these I did not +explore, for I was alone and feared being lost in them." + +The next night some more homesteads were burnt, but this time the +vassals did not turn out, as they had been told to rest until the +appointed hour whatever might befall. + +Three hours before daybreak a party of fifty picked men assembled +at the castle, for this force was deemed to be ample. The two men +who had escaped from the attack on the previous day led the way +to the ravine, and there Red Roy became the guide and led the band +far up the hillside. Had it been possible they would have surrounded +the cave before daylight, but Roy said that it was so long since +he had first found the cave, that he could not lead them there +in the dark, but would need daylight to enable him to recognize +the surroundings. Even when daylight came he was for some time at +fault, but he at last pointed to a clump of bushes, growing on a +broken and precipitous face of rock, as the place where the cave +was situated. + +Red Roy was right in his conjecture. Archie had once, when wandering +among the hills, shot at a wild cat and wounded it, and had followed +it to the cave to which it had fled, and seeing it an advantageous +place of concealment had, when he determined to harry the district +of the Kerrs, fixed upon it as the hiding place for his band. Deeming +it possible, however, that its existence might be known to others, +he always placed a sentry on watch; and on the approach of the Kerrs, +Cluny Campbell, who happened to be on guard, ran in and roused the +band with the news that the Kerrs were below. Archie immediately +crept out and reconnoitred them; from the bushes he could see that +his foes were for the present at fault. Sir John himself was standing +apart from the rest, with Red Roy, who was narrowly scrutinizing +the face of the cliff, and Archie guessed at once that they were +aware of the existence of the cavern, though at present they could +not determine the exact spot where it was situated. It was too late +to retreat now, for the face of the hill was too steep to climb +to its crest, and their retreat below was cut off by the Kerrs. He +therefore returned to the cave, leaving Cluny on guard. + +"They are not sure as to the situation of the cave yet," he said, +"but they will find it. We can hold the mouth against them for any +time, but they might smoke us out, that is our real danger; or if +they fail in that, they may try starvation. Do half a dozen of you +take brands at once from the embers and explore all the windings +behind us; they are so narrow and low that hitherto we have not +deemed it worth while to examine them, but now they are really our +only hope; some of them may lead round to the face of the hill, +and in that case we may find some way by which we may circumvent +the Kerrs." + +Six of the lads at once started with flaming pine knots, while +Archie returned to the entrance. Just as he took his place there +he saw Red Roy pointing towards the bushes. A minute or two later +Sir John and his followers began to advance. Archie now called out +the rest of his band, who silently took their places in the bushes +beside him. Led by Sir John and his personal retainers, the assailants +approached the foot of the rocks and began to make their way up, +using the utmost precaution to avoid any noise. There was no longer +any need for concealment, and as the foremost of the assailants +began to climb the great boulders at the foot of the precipice, +a dozen arrows from the bush above alighted among them; killing +three and wounding several others. Sir John Kerr shouted to his +men to follow him, and began to clamber up the hill. Several arrows +struck him, but he was sheathed in mail, as were his men-at-arms, +and although several were wounded in the face and two slain they +succeeded in reaching the bushes, but they could not penetrate +further, for as they strove to tear the bushes aside and force an +entry, those behind pierced them with their spears, and as but four +or five assailants at a time could gain a footing and use their +arms they were outnumbered and finally driven back by the defenders. +When Sir John, furious at his discomfiture, rejoined his vassals +below, he found that the assault had already cost him eight of his +best men. He would, however, have again led them to the attack, +but Red Roy said: + +"It were best, my lord, to send back and bid fifty of the vassals +to come up hither at once, with bows and arrows. They can so riddle +those bushes that the defenders will be unable to occupy them to +resist our advance." + +"That were a good step," Sir John said; "but even when we gain +the ledge I know not how we shall force our way through the hole, +which you say is but three feet high." + +"There is no need to force our way in," Red Roy replied; "each +man who climbs shall carry with him a faggot of wood, and we will +smoke them in their holes like wolves." + +"'Tis well thought of, Roy; that assuredly is the best plan. Send +off at once one of the most fleet footed of the party." + +Archie, watching from above, saw the assailants draw back out of +bowshot, and while one of their number started at full speed down +the hillside, the others sat down, evidently prepared to pass some +time before they renewed the attack. Leaving two of the party on +guard, Archie, with the rest, re-entered the cavern. The searchers +had just returned and reported that all the various passages came +to nothing, save one, which ascended rapidly and terminated in a +hole which looked as if it had been made by rabbits, and through +which the light of day could be seen. + +"Then it is there we must work," Archie said. "I will myself go +and examine it." + +The passage, after ascending to a point which Archie judged to +be nigh a hundred feet above the floor of the cave, narrowed to a +mere hole, but two feet high and as much wide. Up this he crawled +for a distance of four or five yards, then it narrowed suddenly +to a hole three or four inches in diameter, and through this, some +three feet farther, Archie could see the daylight through a clump +of heather. He backed himself down the narrow passage again until +he joined his comrades. "Now," he said, "do four of you stay here, +and take it by turns, one after the other, to enlarge the hole +forward to the entrance. As you scrape the earth down you must past +it back handful by handful. Do not enlarge the outer entrance or +disturb the roots of the heather growing there. Any movement might +be noticed by those below. It is lucky, indeed, that the rock ends +just when it gets to its narrowest, and that it is but sandy soil +through which we have to scrape our way. It will be hard work, +for you have scarce room to move your arms, but you have plenty of +time since we cannot sally out till nightfall." + +The hours passed slowly, and about noon the lookout reported that +a number of bowmen were approaching. + +"They are going to attack this time under cover of their fire," +Archie said, "and as I do not wish to hazard the loss of any lives, +we will keep within the cave and let them gain the ledge. They can +never force their way through the narrow entrance. The only thing +I fear is smoke. I purpose that if they light a fire at the mouth +of the cave, we shall retire at once up the passage where we are +working, and block it up at a narrow place a short distance after +it leaves this cavern, with our clothes. You had best take off some +of your things, scrape up the earth from the floor of the cavern, +and each make a stout bundle, so that we can fill up the hole +solidly." + +This was soon done, and the bundles of earth were laid in readiness +at the point upon which their leader had fixed. In the meantime +Archie had rejoined the lookout. + +"They have been scattered for some time," the guard said, "and have +been cutting down bushes and making them into faggots." + +"Just what I expected," Archie exclaimed. "The bowmen are joining +them now. We shall soon see them at work." + +Sir John Kerr now marshalled his retainers. He and his men-at-arms +drew their swords, and the rest, putting the bundles of faggots on +their shoulders, prepared to follow, while the bowmen fitted their +arrows to the string. + +"Fall back inside the cave," Archie said; "it is of no use risking +our lives." + +The band now gathered in a half circle, with level spears, round +the entrance. Soon they heard a sharp tapping sound as the arrows +struck upon the rock, then there was a crashing among the bushes. + +"Come on!" Sir John Kerr shouted to the vassals. "The foxes have +slunk into their hole." Then came low thuds as the faggots were +cast down. The light which had streamed in through the entrance +gradually became obscure, and the voices of those without muffled. +The darkness grew more intense as the faggots were piled thicker +and thicker; then suddenly a slight odour of smoke was perceived. + +"Come along now," Archie said; "they have fired the pile, and there +is no fear of their entrance." + +Two of their number, with blazing pine knots, led the way. When +they reached the narrow spot all passed through, Archie and Andrew +Macpherson last; these took the bundles of earth, as the others +passed them along from behind, and built them up like a wall across +the entrance, beating them down as they piled them, so as to make +them set close and fill up every crevice. Several remained over +after the wall was completed; these were opened and the earth crammed +into the crevices between the bags. The smell of smoke had grown +strong before the wall was completed, but it was not too oppressive +to breathe. Holding the torch close to the wall, Archie and his +comrade stopped closely the few places through which they saw that +the smoke was making its way, and soon had the satisfaction of +seeing that the barrier was completely smoke tight. + +There was plenty of air in the passage to support life for some +time, but Archie called back to those who were labouring to enlarge +the exit, in order to allow as much fresh air as possible to enter. +A strong guard, with spears, was placed at the barrier, although +Archie deemed that some hours at least would elapse before the Kerrs +could attempt to penetrate the cave. The fire would doubtless be +kept up for some time, and after it had expired it would be long +before the smoke cleared out sufficiently from the cave to allow +of any one entering it. After a time, finding that there was no +difficulty in breathing, although the air was certainly close and +heavy, Archie again set the lads at work widening the entrance, +going up himself to superintend the operation. Each in turn crept +forward, loosened a portion of the earth with his knife, and then +filling his cap with it, crawled backward to the point where the +passage widened. It was not yet dark when the work was so far done +that there now remained only a slight thickness of earth, through +which the roots of the heath protruded, at the mouth of the passage, +and a vigorous push would make an exit into the air. The guard at +the barrier had heard no movement within. Archie withdrew one of +the bags; but the smoke streamed through so densely that he hastily +replaced it, satisfied that some hours must still elapse before +the assailants would enter the cave. They watched impatiently +the failing light through the hole, and at last, when night was +completely fallen, Archie pushed aside the earth and heather, and +looked around. They were, it seemed to him, on the side of the hill +a few yards from the point where it fell steeply away. The ground +was thickly covered with heather. He soon made his way out and +ordered Andrew Macpherson, who followed him, to remain lying at +the entrance, and to enjoin each, as he passed out, to crawl low +among the heather, so that they might not show against the skyline, +where, dark as it was, they might attract the attention of those +below. Archie himself led the way until so far back from the edge +as to be well out of sight of those in the valley. Then he gained +his feet, and was soon joined by the whole of his band. + +"Now," he said, "we will make for Aberfilly; they think us all +cooped up here, and will be rejoicing in our supposed deaths. We +will strike one more blow, and then, driving before us a couple of +score of oxen for the use of the army, rejoin Wallace. Methinks we +shall have taken a fair vengeance for Kerr's doings at Glen Cairn." + +The consternation of the few men left in the castle was great when, +three hours after sunset, eight homesteads burst suddenly into +flames. They dared not sally out, and remained under arms until +morning, when Sir John and his band returned more furious than ever, +as they had penetrated the cavern, discovered the barrier which +had cut off the smoke, and the hole by which the foe had escaped; +and their fury was brought to a climax when they found the damage +which had been inflicted in their absence. Many a week passed before +the garrison of Aberfilly and the vassals of the Kerrs were able +to sleep in peace, so great was the scare which Archie's raid had +inflicted upon them. + +The truce was now at an end. The indignation excited by the +treachery of the English spread widely through Scotland, and the +people flocked to Wallace's standard in far greater numbers than +before, and he was now able to undertake operations on a greater +scale. Perth, Aberdeen, Brechin, and other towns fell into his +hands, and the castle of Dundee was invested. In the south Sir +William Douglas captured the castles of Sanquhar, Desdeir, and +others, and the rapid successes of the Scots induced a few of the +greater nobles to take the field, such as the Steward of Scotland, +Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell, Sir Richard Lundin, and Wishart, +Bishop of Glasgow. + +Wallace was one day lamenting to Archie and his friend Grahame +that the greater nobles still held aloof. "Above all," he said, "I +would fain see on our side either Comyn or the young Bruce. Baliol +is a captive in London, and it is to Comyn or Bruce that Scotland +must look for her king. So long as only I, a poor knight, am at the +head of this rising, it is but a rebellion against Edward, and its +chances are still so weak that but few men, who have aught to lose, +join us; but if Bruce or Comyn should raise his banner all would +receive him as our future king. Both are lords of wide territories, +and besides the forces they could bring into the field, they would +be joined by many of the principal nobles, although it is true that +the adherents of the other would probably arm for Edward. Still +the thought of a king of their own would inflame the popular mind, +and vast numbers who now hesitate to join a movement supported by +so little authority, would then take up arms." + +"Which of the two would you rather?" Archie asked. + +"I would rather the Bruce," Wallace said. "His father is an inert +man and a mere cypher, and the death of his grandfather, the +competitor, has now brought him prominently forward. It is true +that he is said to be a strong adherent of England and a personal +favourite of Edward; that he spends much of his time in London; and +is even at the present moment the king's lieutenant in Carrick and +Annandale, and is waging war for him against Sir William Douglas. +Still Comyn is equally devoted to England; he is older, and less +can be hoped from him. Bruce is young; he is said to be of great +strength and skill in arms, and to be one of the foremost knights +in Edward's court. He is, I hear, of noble presence, and is much +loved by those with whom he comes in contact. Did such a man +determine to break with Edward, and to strive to win the crown +of Scotland as a free gift of her people, instead of as a nominee +of Edward, and to rule over an independent kingdom instead of an +English province, he would attract all hearts to him, and may well +succeed where I, as I foresee, must sooner or later fail." + +"But why should you fail when you have succeeded so far?" Archie +asked. + +"Because I have with me but a small portion of the people of +Scotland. The whole of the northern lords hold aloof, and in the +south Carrick and Annandale and Galloway are hostile. Against me +I have all the power of England, Wales, and Ireland; and although +I may for a time win victories and capture towns I am certain, +Archie, in the end to be crushed." + +"And will all our efforts have been in vain?" Archie said, with +tears in his eyes. + +"By no means, my brave lad; we shall have lighted the fire of a +national resistance; we shall have shown the people that if Scotland, +divided against herself, and with all her great nobles and their +vassals standing sullenly aloof, can yet for a long time make head +against the English, assuredly when the time shall come, and she +shall rise as one man from the Solway to Caithness, her freedom +will be won. Our lives will not have been thrown away, Archie, if +they have taught this lesson." + +Wallace had by this time returned from his expedition farther +north, and his force was in camp near Lanark, which town, when not +engaged in distant enterprises, was regarded as the centre of the +movement. That evening Archie said, that as his leader purposed to +give his troops rest for a week or two, he should go to his uncle's +for a short time. + +"And if you can spare them, Sir William, I would fain let my band +go away for the same time. They have now been six months from home." + +"Certainly," Wallace said, "they need a rest after their hard work. +They are ever afoot, and have been of immense service." + +Having obtained this permission, Archie went to the spot where his +band were encamped. "I have another expedition for you," he said, +"this time all together; when that is over you will be able to go +home for a few days for a rest. They will all be glad to see you, +and may well be proud of you, and I doubt not that the spoil which +you gathered at Ayr and elsewhere will create quite a sensation at +Glen Cairn. There are some of you who are, as I remember in the old +days, good shots with the bow and arrow. Do ten of you who were +the best at home get bows and arrows from the store. Here is an +order for you to receive them, and be all in readiness to march at +daylight." + +The next morning the band set out in a southwesterly direction, +and after a long day's march halted near Cumnock. In the morning +they started at the same time, observing more caution as they went, +for by the afternoon they had crossed the stream and were within the +boundaries of Carrick. They halted for the night near Crossraguel +Abbey. Here for the first time Archie confided to his followers +the object of their march. + +"We are now," he said, "within a few miles of Turnberry Castle, the +residence of Bruce. Sir William has a great desire to speak with +him; but, seeing that Bruce is at present fighting for King Edward +against Douglas, there is little chance of such a meeting coming +about with his goodwill. He has recently returned from Douglasdale. +Here, in the heart of his own country, it is like enough that he +may ride near his castle with but a few horsemen. In that case we +will seize him, without, I trust, having to do him hurt, and will +bear him with us to Lanark. We may have to wait some time before +we find an opportunity; but even if the ten days for which I have +asked, lengthen to as many weeks, Sir William will not grudge the +time we have spent if we succeed. Tomorrow morning let those who +have bows go out in the forest and see if they can shoot a deer; +or failing that, bring in a sheep or two from some of the folds. +As each of you has brought with you meal for ten days, we shall be +able to keep an eye on Turnberry for some time." + +The next day Archie, with Andrew Macpherson and Cluny Campbell, +made their way through the woods until within sight of the castle, +which was but a mile distant. The strongholds of the lords of +Carrick stood on a bold promontory washed by the sea. + +"It would be a hard nut to crack, Sir Archie," his lieutenant said. +"Unless by famine, the place could scarce be taken." + +"No," Archie replied, "I am glad that our mission is rather to +capture the earl than his castle. It is a grand fortalice. Would +that its owner were but a true Scotchman! This is a good place on +which we are standing, Andrew, to place a scout. Among the trees +here he can watch the road all the way from the castle to the point +where it enters the forest. Do you, Cluny, take post here at once. +Mark well all that passes, and what is doing, and all bodies of men +who enter or leave the castle. There is no occasion to bring news +to me, for it would be unlikely that we should meet in the forest; +you have therefore only to watch. Tomorrow I shall return with the +band, and encamp in the woods farther back. Directly we arrive, +you will be relieved of your guard." + +The following day the band moved up to a spot within half a mile +of the seaward edge of the forest, and a few hundred yards from the +road to Crossraguel Abbey. It was only on this road that Archie +could hope to effect a capture; for the country near the coast was +free of trees, and no ambush could be set. The lords of Carrick +were, moreover, patrons of the abbey; and Bruce might ride over +thither with but a small party, whereas, if journeying south, or +southeast towards Douglasdale, he would probably be marching with +a strong force. For several days they watched the castle; bodies of +mounted men entered and departed. Twice parties, among whom ladies +could be seen, came out with their hawks; but none came within +reach of their lurking foes. + +On the fifth morning, however, the lad on watch ran into the glade +in which they were encamped and reported that a small body of +seemingly two or three knights, with some ladies, followed by four +mounted men, had left the castle and were approaching by the route +towards the abbey. + +Not a moment was lost. Archie placed six of his company, with pike +and sword, close to the road, to form across it when he gave the +order, and to bar the retreat of any party who had passed. Another +party of equal strength he placed 100 yards further on, and with +them himself took post; while he placed four, armed with bows and +arrows, on either side, near the party which he commanded. Scarcely +had his preparations been made when a trampling of horses was heard, +and the party were seen approaching. They consisted of Robert Bruce, +his brother Nigel, and three of his sisters--Isabel, Mary, and +Christina. Behind rode four men-at-arms. From the description which +he had heard of him Archie had no doubt that the elder of the two +knights was Robert Bruce himself, and when they approached within +thirty yards he gave a shout, and, with his band, with levelled +spears, drew up across the road. At the same moment the other party +closed in behind the horsemen; and the eight archers, with bent +bows and arrows drawn to the head, rose among the trees. The party +reined in their horses suddenly. + +"Hah! what have we here?" Bruce exclaimed. "An ambush--and on +all sides too!" he added as he looked round. "What means this? +Are you robbers who thus dare attack the Bruce within a mile of +Turnberry? Why, they are but lads," he added scornfully. "Rein +back, girls; we and the men-at-arms will soon clear a way for you +through these varlets. Nay, I can do it single handed myself." + +"Halt! Sir Robert Bruce," Archie exclaimed in a loud clear voice. +"If you move I must perforce give the word, and it may well be that +some of the ladies with you may be struck with the arrows; nor, +young though my followers may be, would you find them so easy a +conquest as you imagine. They have stood up before the English ere +now; and you and your men-at-arms will find it hard work to get +through their pikes; and we outnumber you threefold. We are no +robbers. I myself am Sir Archibald Forbes." + +"You!" exclaimed Robert Bruce, lowering his sword, which he +had drawn at the first alarm and held uplifted in readiness for a +charge; "you Sir Archibald Forbes! I have heard the name often as +that of one of Wallace's companions, who, with Sir John Grahame, +fought with him bravely at the captures of Lanark, Ayr, and other +places, but surely you cannot be he!" + +"I am Sir Archibald Forbes, I pledge you my word," Archie said +quietly; "and, Sir Robert Bruce, methinks that if I, who am, as +you see, but yet a lad--not yet having reached my seventeenth +year--can have done good service for Scotland, how great the +shame that you, a valiant knight and a great noble, should be in +the ranks of her oppressors, and not of her champions! My name will +tell you that I have come hither for no purpose of robbery. I have +come on a mission from Wallace--not sent thereon by him, but +acting myself in consequences of words which dropped from him. He +said how sad it was that you, who might be King of a Scotland free +and independent, by the choice of her people, should prefer the +chance of reigning, a mere puppet of Edward, over an enslaved land. +He spoke in the highest terms of your person, and held that, did +you place yourself at its head, the movement which he commands +would be a successful one. Then I determined, unknown to him, to +set out and bring you to him face to face--honourably and with +courtesy if you would, by force if you would not. I would fain it +shall be the former; but believe me, you would not find it easy to +break away through the hedge of pikes now around you." + +By this time the whole party had gathered round the horsemen. Bruce +hesitated; his mind was not yet made up as to his future course. +Hitherto he had been with England, since upon Edward only his chances +seemed to depend; but latterly he had begun to doubt whether even +Edward could place him on the throne in despite of the wishes of +his countrymen. His sisters, who, taking after their mother, were +all true Scotchwomen, now urged upon him to comply with Archie's +request and accompany him to Lanark. Their hearts and wishes were +entirely with the champion of their country. + +"Go with him, Robert," Isabel, the eldest, exclaimed. "Neither +I nor my sisters fear being struck with the arrows, although such +might well be the case should a conflict begin; but, for your own +sake and Scotland's, go and see Wallace. No harm can arise from +such a journey, and much good may come of it. Even should the +news of your having had an interview with him come to the ears of +Edward, you can truly say that you were taken thither a captive, +and that we being with you, you were unable to make an effort to +free yourself. This young knight, of whose deeds of gallantry we +have all heard"--and she smiled approvingly at Archie--"will +doubtless give you a safeguard, on his honour, to return hither +free and unpledged when you have seen Wallace." + +"Willingly, lady," Archie replied. "One hour's interview with my +honoured chief is all I ask for. That over, I pledge myself that +the Earl of Carrick shall be free at once to return hither, and +that an escort shall be provided for him to protect him from all +dangers on the way." + + + + +Chapter VIII + +The Council at Stirling + + +Archie had been mounted on the march from the camp, and his horse +being now brought, he started with Bruce, young Nigel and the ladies +saluting him cordially. + +"I trust," the former said, "that Wallace will succeed in converting +my brother. I am envious of you, Sir Archie. Here are you, many +years younger than I am, and yet you have won a name throughout +Scotland as one of her champions; while I am eating my heart out, +with my brother, at the court of Edward." + +"I trust it may be so, Sir Nigel," Archie answered. "If Sir Robert +will but join our cause, heart and soul, the battle is as good as +won." + +The journey passed without adventure until they arrived within two +miles of Lanark, where Archie found Wallace was now staying. On +the road Bruce had had much conversation with Archie, and learned +the details of many adventures of which before he had only heard +vaguely by report. He was much struck by the lad's modesty and +loyal patriotism. + +"If ever I come to my kingdom, Sir Archie," he said, "you shall +be one of my most trusted knights and counsellors; and I am well +assured that any advice you may give will be ever what you think +to be right and for the good of the country, without self seeking +or in the interest of any; and that is more than I could look for +in most counsellors. And now methinks that as we are drawing near +to Lanark, it will be well that I waited here in this wood, under +the guard of your followers, while you ride forward and inform +Wallace that I am here. I care not to show myself in Lanark, for +busy tongues would soon take the news to Edward; and as I know not +what may come of our interview, it were well that it should not be +known to all men." + +Archie agreed, and rode into the town. + +"Why, where have you been, truant?" Sir William exclaimed as Archie +entered the room in the governor's house which had been set apart +for the use of Wallace since the expulsion of the English. "Sir +Robert Gordon has been here several times, and tells me that they +have seen nought of you; and although I have made many inquiries I +have been able to obtain no news, save that you and your band have +disappeared. I even sent to Glen Cairn, thinking that you might +have been repairing the damages which the fire, lighted by the +Kerrs, did to your hold; but I found not only that you were not +there yourself, but that none of your band had returned thither. +This made it more mysterious; for had you alone disappeared I should +have supposed that you had been following up some love adventure, +though, indeed, you have never told me that your heart was in any +way touched." + +Archie laughed. "There will be time enough for that, Sir William, +ten years hence; but in truth I have been on an adventure on my +own account." + +"So, in sober earnest, I expected, Archie, and feared that your +enterprise might lead you into some serious scrape since I deemed +that it must have been well nigh a desperate one or you would not +have hidden it from my knowledge." + +"It might have led to some blows, Sir William, but happily it did +not turn out so. Knowing the importance you attached to the adhesion +of the cause of Scotland of Robert the Bruce, I determined to fetch +him hither to see you; and he is now waiting with my band for your +coming, in a wood some two miles from the town." + +"Are you jesting with me?" Wallace exclaimed. "Is the Bruce really +waiting to see me? Why, this would be well nigh a miracle." + +"It is a fact, Sir William; and if you will cause your horse to +be brought to the door I will tell you on the road how it has come +about." + +In another five minutes Sir William and his young follower were +on their way, and the former heard how Archie had entrapped Robert +Bruce while riding to Crossraguel Abbey. + +"It was well done, indeed," the Scottish leader exclaimed; "and +it may well prove, Archie, that you have done more towards freeing +Scotland by this adventure of yours than we have by all our months +of marching and fighting." + +"Ah! Sir William, but had it not been for our marching and fighting +Bruce would never have wavered in his allegiance to Edward. It was +only because he begins to think that our cause may be a winning +one that he decides to join it." + +The meeting between Wallace and Bruce was a cordial one. Each +admired the splendid proportions and great strength of the other, +for it is probable that in all Europe there were no two more +doughty champions; although, indeed, Wallace was far the superior +in personal strength while Bruce was famous through Europe for his +skill in knightly exercise. + +Archie withdrew to a distance while the leaders conversed. He +could see that their talk was animated as they strode together up +and down among the trees, Wallace being the principal speaker. At +the end of half an hour they stopped, and Wallace ordered the horses +to be brought, and then called Archie to them. + +"Sir Robert has decided to throw in his lot with us," he said, "and +will at once call out his father's vassals of Carrick and Annandale. +Seeing that his father is at Edward's court, it may be that many +will not obey the summons. Still we must hope that, for the love +of Scotland and their young lord, many will follow him. He will +write to the pope to ask him to absolve him for the breach of his +oath of homage to Edward; but as such oaths lie but lightly on men's +minds in our days, and have been taken and broken by King Edward +himself, as well as by Sir William Douglas and other knights who are +now in the field with me, he will not wait for the pope's reply, +but will at once take the field. And, indeed, there is need for +haste, seeing that Percy and Clifford have already crossed the +Border with an English army and are marching north through Annandale +towards Ayr." + +"Goodbye, my captor," Bruce said to Archie as he mounted his horse; +"whatever may come of this strife, remember that you will always +find a faithful friend in Robert Bruce." + +Wallace had, at Archie's request, brought six mounted men-at-arms +with him from Lanark, and these now rode behind Bruce as his escort +back to his castle of Turnberry. There was no time now for Archie +and his band to take the rest they had looked for, for messengers +were sent out to gather the bands together again, and as soon as +a certain portion had arrived Wallace marched for the south. The +English army was now in Annandale, near Lochmaben. They were far +too strong to be openly attacked, but on the night following his +arrival in their neighbourhood Wallace broke in upon them in the +night. Surprised by this sudden and unexpected attack, the English +fell into great confusion. Percy at once ordered the camp to be +set on fire. By its light the English were able to see how small +was the force of their assailants, and gathering together soon +showed so formidable a front that Wallace called off his men, but +not before a large number of the English had been killed. Many of +their stores, as well as the tents, were destroyed by the conflagration. +The English army now proceeded with slow marches towards Ayr. At +Irvine the Scotch leaders had assembled their army--Douglas, +Bruce, The Steward, Sir Richard Loudon, Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, +and others. Their forces were about equal to those of the English +marching against them. Wallace was collecting troops further north, +and Archie was of course with him. + +"I fear," the lad said one day, "that we shall not be able to reach +Irvine before the armies join battle." + +"Sir William Douglas and Bruce are there, and as it lies in their +country it were better to let them win the day without my meddling. +But, Archie, I fear there will be no battle. News has reached +me that messengers are riding to and fro between Percy's army and +the Scots, and I fear me that these half hearted barons will make +peace." + +"Surely that cannot be! It were shame indeed to have taken up the +sword, and to lay it down after scarce striking a blow." + +"Methinks, Archie, that the word shame is not to be found in the +vocabulary of the nobles of this unhappy land. But let us hope for +the best; a few days will bring us the news." + +The news when it came was of the worst. All the nobles, headed by +Wishart, Douglas, and Bruce, with the exception only of Sir Andrew +Moray of Bothwell, had made their submission, acknowledging their +guilt of rebellion, and promising to make every reparation required +by their sovereign lord. Percy, on his part, guaranteed their lives, +lands, goods, and chattels, and that they should not be imprisoned +or punished for what had taken place. + +Sir William Douglas and Bruce were ordered to find guarantees for +their good conduct; but Sir William Douglas, finding himself unable +to fulfil his engagements, surrendered, and was thrown into prison +in Berwick Castle, and there kept in irons until he died, his death +being attributed, by contemporary historians, to poison. + +The surrender of the leaders had little result upon the situation. +The people had won their successes without their aid, and beyond +the indignation excited by their conduct, the treaty of Irvine did +nothing towards ensuring peace, and indeed heightened the confidence +of the people in Wallace. The movement spread over the whole +of Scotland. Skirmishes and unimportant actions took place in +all quarters. The English were powerless outside the walls of the +fortresses, and in Berwick and Roxburgh alone was the English power +paramount. Most of the great nobles, including Comyn of Buchan, +Comyn of Badenoch, and twenty-six other powerful Scottish lords, +were at Edward's court, but many of their vassals and dependants +were in the field with Wallace. + +About this time it came to the ears of the Scotch leader that Sir +Robert Cunninghame, a Scotch knight of good family, who had hitherto +held aloof from any part in the war, had invited some twelve others +resident in the counties round Stirling, to meet at his house in +that city that they might talk over the circumstances of the times. +All these had, like himself, been neutral, and as the object of +the gathering was principally to discover whether some means could +not be hit upon for calming down the disorders which prevailed, +the English governor had willingly granted safe conducts to all. + +"Archie," Sir William said, "I mean to be present at the interview. +They are all Scotch gentlemen, and though but lukewarm in the cause +of their country, there is no fear that any will be base enough +to betray me; and surely if I can get speech with them I may rouse +them to cast in their lot with us." + +"It were a dangerous undertaking, Sir William, to trust yourself +within the walls of Stirling," Archie said gravely. "Remember how +many are the desperate passes into which your adventurous spirit +has brought you, and your life is of too great a consequence to +Scotland to be rashly hazarded." + +"I would not do it for a less cause," Sir William said; "but the +gain may be greater than the risk. So I shall go, Archie, your wise +counsel notwithstanding, and you shall journey with me to see that +I get not into scrapes, and to help me out of them should I, in +spite of your care, fall into them." + +"When is the day for the meeting?" Archie asked. + +"In three days' time. The day after tomorrow we will move in that +direction, and enter the town early the next day." + +No sooner had he left Wallace than Archie called his band together. +They still numbered twenty, for although three or four had fallen, +Archie had always filled up their places with fresh recruits, as +there were numbers of boys who deemed it the highest honour to be +enrolled in their ranks. Archie drew aside his two lieutenants, +Andrew Macpherson and William Orr. + +"I have an enterprise on hand," he said, "which will need all your +care, and may call for your bravery. Sir William Wallace purposes +to enter Stirling in disguise, to attend a meeting of nobles to be +held at the residence of Sir Robert Cunninghame. I am to accompany +him thither. I intend that the band shall watch over his safety, +and this without his having knowledge of it, so that if nought comes +of it he may not chide me for being over careful of his person. You +will both, with sixteen of the band, accompany me. You will choose +two of your most trusty men to carry out the important matter of +securing our retreat. They will procure a boat capable of carrying +us all, and will take their place in the bend of the links of +Forth nearest to the castle, and will hoist, when the time comes, +a garment on an oar, so that we may make straight for the boat. The +ground is low and swampy, and if we get a fair start even mounted +men would scarce overtake us across it. I think, William, that the +last recruit who joined was from Stirling?" + +"He was, Sir Archie. His parents reside there. They are vendors of +wood, as I have heard him say." + +"It could not be better," Archie replied; "and seeing that they +have allowed their son to join us, they must surely be patriots. My +purpose is, that on the morning of the interview you shall appear +before the gates with a cart laden with firewood, and this you shall +take to the house of Campbell's father. There you will unload the +firewood, and store the arms hidden beneath it, placing them so +that they may be readily caught up in case of necessity. In twos +and threes, carrying eggs, fowls, firewood, and other articles, +as for sale, the rest of the band will come into the town, joining +themselves with parties of country people, so that the arrival of +so many lads unaccompanied will not attract notice. James Campbell +will go with you, and will show you the way to his father's house. +He will remain near the gate, and as the others enter will guide +them there, so that they will know where to run for their arms should +there be need. You must start tomorrow, so as to enter Stirling on +the next day and arrange with his father for the keeping of the +arms. His mother had best leave the town that evening. Should +nought occur she can return unsuspected; but should a tumult arise, +and the arms have to be used, his father must leave the town with +us. He shall be handsomely rewarded, and provision made for him +in the future. When you see me enter with Sir William, bid Jock +Farrell follow me at a little distance; he will keep me always in +sight, and if he see me lift my hand above my head he will run with +all speed to give you the news. On his arrival, you, Andrew, with +the half you command, will hurry up to my assistance; while you, +William, with the others, will fall suddenly upon the guard at the +gate, and will at all hazards prevent them from closing it, and so +cutting off our retreat, until we arrive. Seize, if you can, the +moment when a cart is passing in or out, and slay the horse in the +shafts, so that as he falls the cart will prevent the gate from +being closed, and so keep the way open, even should you not be able +to resist the English until we come up. Have all the band outside +Stirling on the night before, so that you will be able to make every +arrangement and obtain a cart in readiness for taking in the wood +and arms in the morning. Let all bring their bows and arrows, in +addition to pike and sword, for the missiles may aid us to keep the +soldiers at bay. Now, Andrew, repeat all my instructions, so that +I may be sure that you thoroughly understand my wishes, for any +small error in the plan might ruin the whole adventure." + +On the morning of the day fixed for the meeting Sir William Wallace, +accompanied by Archie, entered the gates of Stirling. Both were +attired as young farmers, and they attracted no special attention +from the guards. For a time they strolled about the streets. They +saw the gentlemen who had been invited by Sir Robert Cunninghame +arrive one by one. Others, too, known as being specially attached +to the English party, rode in, for the governor had invited those +who assembled at Cunninghame's to meet him afterwards in the castle +in order that he might hear the result of their deliberations; and +he had asked several others attached to the English party to be +present. + +When most of the gentlemen invited had entered Sir Robert Cunninghame's +Wallace boldly followed them; and Archie sat down on a doorstep +nearly opposite. Presently he saw two figures which he recognized +riding up the street, followed, as the others had been by four +armed retainers. They were Sir John Kerr and his son. Archie rose +at once, and turned down at a side street before they came up, as +a recognition of him would be fatal to all their plans. When they +had passed up the street to the castle he returned and resumed +his seat, feeling more uneasy than before, for the Kerrs had seen +Wallace in the affray at Lanark, and a chance meeting now would +betray him. An hour and a half passed, and then Archie saw the +Kerrs riding down the street from the castle. Again he withdrew +from sight, this time down an archway, whence he could still see +the door on the opposite side. Hitherto he had been wishing to see +it open and for Wallace to appear; and now he dreaded this above +all things. His worst fears were realized, for just as the horsemen +reached the spot the door opened, and Wallace stepped out. His +figure was too remarkable to avoid notice; and no sooner did Sir John +Kerr's eye fall upon him than he exclaimed, "The traitor Wallace! +Seize him, men; there is a high reward offered for him; and King +Edward will give honour and wealth to all who capture him." + +As Sir John spoke Archie darted across the street and placed himself +by Wallace's side, holding his hand high above his head as he did +so; and at the instant he saw Jock Farrell, who had been lounging +at a corner a few yards away, dart off down the street at the top +of his speed. + +Sir John and his retainers drew their swords and spurred forward; +but the horses recoiled from the flashing swords of Wallace and +his companion. + +"Dismount," Sir John shouted, setting the example; "cut them both +down; one is as bad as the other. Ten pounds to the man who slays +the young Forbes." + +Wallace cut down two of the retainers as they advanced against +them, and Archie badly wounded a third. Then they began to retreat +down the street; but by this time the sound of the fray had called +together many soldiers who were wandering in the streets; and these, +informed by Sir John's shouts of "Down with Wallace! Slay! Slay!" +that the dreaded Scotch leader was before them, also drew and joined +in the fight. As they came running up from both sides, Wallace +and Archie could retreat no further, but with their backs against +the wall kept their foes at bay in a semicircle by the sweep of +their swords. + +The fight continued by two or three minutes, when a sudden shout +was heard, and William Orr, with eight young fellows, fell upon the +English soldiers with their pikes. The latter, astonished at this +sudden onslaught, and several of their number being killed before +they had time to turn and defend themselves, fell back for a moment, +and Wallace and Archie joined their allies, and began to retreat, +forming a line of pikes across the narrow street. Wallace, Archie, +William Orr, and three of the stoutest of the band were sufficient +for the line, and the other five shot between them. So hard and +fast flew their arrows that several of the English soldiers were +slain, and the others drew back from the assault. + +Andrew Macpherson's sudden attack at the gate overpowered the guard, +and for a while he held possession of it, and following Archie's +instructions, slew a horse drawing a cart laden with flour in the +act of entering. Then the guard rallied, and, joined by other +soldiers who had run up, made a fierce attack upon him; but his +line of pikes drawn up across the gate defied their efforts to break +through. Wallace and his party were within fifty yards of the gate +when reinforcements from the castle arrived. Sir John Kerr, furious +at the prospect of his enemies again escaping him, headed them in +their furious rush. Wallace stepped forward beyond the line and +met him. With a great sweep of his mighty sword he beat down Sir +John's guard, and the blade descending clove helmet and skull, and +the knight fell dead in his tracks. + +"That is one for you, Archie," Wallace said, as he cut down a +man-at-arms. + +In vain did the English try to break through the line of pikes. +When they arrived within twenty yards of the gate, Wallace gave +the order, and the party turning burst through the English who were +attacking its defenders and united with them. + +"Fall back!" Wallace shouted, "and form without the gates. Your +leader and I will cover the retreat." + +Passing between the cart and the posts of the gates, the whole +party fell back. Once through, Wallace and Archie made a stand, and +even the bravest of the English did not venture to pass the narrow +portals, where but one could issue at a time. + +The band formed in good order and retreated at a rapid step. When +they reached a distance of about 300 yards, Wallace and Archie, +deeming that sufficient start had been gained, sprang away, and +running at the top of their speed soon rejoined them. + +"Now, Archie, what next?" Sir William asked; "since it is you who +have conjured up this army, doubtless your plans are laid as to what +shall next be done. They will have horsemen in pursuit as soon as +they remove the cart." + +"I have a boat in readiness on the river bank, Sir William. Once +across and we shall be safe. They will hardly overtake us ere we +get there, seeing how swampy is the ground below." + +At a slinging trot the party ran forward, and soon gained the +lower ground. They were halfway across when they saw a large body +of horsemen following in pursuit. + +"A little to the right, Sir William," Archie said; "you see that +coat flying from an oar; there is the boat." + +As Archie had expected, the swampy ground impeded the speed of +the horsemen. In vain the riders spurred and shouted, the horses, +fetlock deep, could make but slow advance, and before they reached +the bank the fugitives had gained the boat and were already halfway +across the stream. Then the English had the mortification of seeing +them land and march away quietly on the other side. + + + + +Chapter IX + +The Battle of Stirling Bridge + + +Upon rejoining his force Sir William Wallace called the few knights +and gentlemen who were with him together, and said to them: + +"Methinks, gentlemen, that the woes of this contest should not fall +upon one side only. Every one of you here are outlawed, and if you +are taken by the English will be executed or thrown in prison for +life, and your lands and all belonging to you forfeited. It is time +that those who fight upon the other side should learn that they +too run some risk. Besides leading his vassals in the field against +us, Sir John Kerr twice in arms has attacked me, and done his best +to slay me or deliver me over to the English. He fell yesterday by +my hand at Stirling, and I hereby declare forfeit the land which +he held in the county of Lanark, part of which he wrongfully took +from Sir William Forbes, and his own fief adjoining. Other broad +lands he owns in Ayrshire, but these I will not now touch; but the +lands in Lanark, both his own fief and that of the Forbeses, I, +as Warden of Scotland, hereby declare forfeit and confiscated, and +bestow them upon my good friend, Sir Archie Forbes. Sir John Grahame, +do you proceed tomorrow with five hundred men and take possession +of the hold of the Kerrs. Sir Allan Kerr is still at Stirling, and +will not be there to defend it. Like enough the vassals will make +no resistance, but will gladly accept the change of masters. The +Kerrs have the reputation of being hard lords, and their vassals +cannot like being forced to fight against the cause of their country. +The hired men-at-arms may resist, but you will know how to make +short work of these. I ask you to go rather than Sir Archibald +Forbes, because I would not that it were said that he took the +Kerr's hold on his private quarrel. When you have captured it he +shall take a hundred picked men as a garrison. The place is strong. + +"Your new possessions, Archie, will, as you know, be held on +doubtful tenure. If we conquer, and Scotland is freed, I doubt in +no way that the king, whoever he may be, will confirm my grant. +If the English win, your land is lost, be it an acre or a county. +And now let me be the first to congratulate you on having won by +your sword and your patriotism the lands of your father, and on +having repaid upon your family's enemies the measure which they +meted to you. But you will still have to beware of the Kerrs. They +are a powerful family, being connected by marriage with the Comyns +of Badenoch, and other noble houses. Their lands in Ayr are as +extensive as those in Lanark, even with your father's lands added +to their own. However, if Scotland win the day the good work that +you have done should well outweigh all the influence which they +might bring to bear against you. + +"And now, Archie, I can, for a time, release you. Ere long Edward's +army will be pouring across the Border, and then I shall need every +good Scotchman's sword. Till then you had best retire to your new +estates, and spend the time in preparing your vassals to follow +you in the field, and in putting one or other of your castles in +the best state of defence you may. Methinks that the Kerr's hold +may more easily be made to withstand a lengthened siege than Glen +Cairn, seeing that the latter is commanded by the hill beside it. +Kerr's castle, too, is much larger and more strongly fortified. I +need no thanks," he continued, as Archie was about to express his +warm gratitude; "it is the Warden of Scotland who rewards your +services to the country; but Sir William Wallace will not forget +how you have twice stood beside him against overwhelming odds, and +how yesterday, in Stirling, it was your watchful care and thoughtful +precaution which alone saved his life." + +Archie's friends all congratulated him warmly, and the next morning, +with his own band, he started for Glen Cairn. Here the news that +he was once more their lawful chief caused the greatest delight. +It was evening when he reached the village, and soon great bonfires +blazed in the street, and as the news spread burned up from many +an outlying farm. Before night all the vassals of the estate came +in, and Glen Cairn and the village was a scene of great enthusiasm. + +Much as Archie regretted that he could not establish himself in +the hold of his father, he felt that Wallace's suggestion was the +right one. Glen Cairn was a mere shell, and could in no case be +made capable of a prolonged resistance by a powerful force. Whereas, +the castle of the Kerrs was very strong. It was a disappointment +to his retainers when they heard that he could not at once return +among them; but they saw the force of his reasons, and he promised +that if Scotland was freed and peace restored, he would again make +Glen Cairn habitable, and pass some of his time there. + +"In the meantime," he said, "I shall be but eight miles from you, +and the estate will be all one. But now I hope that for the next +three months every man among you will aid me--some by personal +labour, some by sending horses and carts--in the work of +strengthening to the utmost my new castle of Aberfilly, which I +wish to make so strong that it will long resist an attack. Should +Scotland be permanently conquered, which may God forfend, it could +not, of course, be held; but should we have temporary reverses we +might well hold out until our party again gather head." + +Every man on the estate promised his aid to an extent far beyond +that which Archie, as their feudal superior, had a right to demand +from them. They had had a hard time under the Kerrs, who had raised +all rents, and greatly increased their feudal services. They were +sure of good treatment should the Forbeses make good their position +as their lords, and were ready to make any sacrifices to aid them +to do so. + +Next morning a messenger arrived from Sir John Grahame, saying that +he had, during the night, stormed Aberfilly, and that with scarce +an exception all the vassals of the Kerrs--when upon his arrival +on the previous day they had learned of his purpose in coming, +and of the disposition which Wallace had made of the estate--had +accepted the change with delight, and had joined him in the assault +upon the castle, which was defended only by thirty men-at-arms. +These had all been killed, and Sir John invited Archie to ride +over at once and take possession. This he did, and found that the +vassals of the estate were all gathered at the castle to welcome +him. He was introduced to them by Sir John Grahame, and they +received Archie with shouts of enthusiasm, and all swore obedience +to him as their feudal lord. Archie promised them to be a kind +and lenient chief, to abate any unfair burdens which had been laid +upon them, and to respect all their rights. + +"But," he said, "just at first I must ask for sacrifices from you. +This castle is strong, but it must be made much stronger, and must +be capable of standing a continued siege in case temporary reverses +should enable the English to endeavour to retake it for their +friend, Sir Allan Kerr. My vassals at Glen Cairn have promised an +aid far beyond that which I can command, and I trust that you also +will extend your time of feudal service, and promise you a relaxation +in future years equivalent to the time you may now give." + +The demand was readily assented to, for the tenants of Aberfilly +were no less delighted than those of Glen Cairn to escape from the +rule of the Kerrs. Archie, accompanied by Sir John Grahame, now +made an inspection of the walls of his new hold. It stood just where +the counties of Linlithgow and Edinburgh join that of Lanark. It +was built on an island on a tributary of the Clyde. The stream was +but a small one, and the island had been artificially made, so that +the stream formed a moat on either side of it, the castle occupying +a knoll of ground which rose somewhat abruptly from the surrounding +country. The moat was but twelve feet wide, and Archie and Sir John +decided that this should be widened to fifty feet and deepened to +ten, and that a dam should be built just below the castle to keep +back the stream and fill the moat. The walls should everywhere be +raised ten feet, several strong additional flanking towers added, +and a work built beyond the moat to guard the head of the drawbridge. +With such additions Aberfilly would be able to stand a long siege +by any force which might assail it. + +Timber, stones, and rough labour there were in abundance, and +Wallace had insisted upon Archie's taking from the treasures which +had been captured from the enemy, a sum of money which would be +ample to hire skilled masons from Lanark, and to pay for the cement, +iron, and other necessaries which would be beyond the resources +of the estate. These matters in train, Archie rode to Lanark and +fetched his proud and rejoicing mother from Sir Robert Gordon's +to Aberfilly. She was accompanied by Sandy Graham and Elspie: the +former Archie appointed majordomo, and to be in command of the +garrison whenever he should be absent. + +The vassals were as good as their word. For three months the work +of digging, quarrying, cutting, and squaring timber and building +went on without intermission. There were upon the estates fully +three hundred ablebodied men, and the work progressed rapidly. When, +therefore, Archie received a message from Wallace to join him near +Stirling, he felt that he could leave Aberfilly without any fear +of a successful attack being made upon it in his absence. + +There was need, indeed, for all the Scotch, capable of bearing +arms, to gather round Wallace. Under the Earl of Surrey, the high +treasurer Cressingham, and other leaders, an army of 50,000 foot +and 1000 horse were advancing from Berwick, while 8000 foot and +300 horse under Earl Percy advanced from Carlisle. Wallace was +besieging the castle of Dundee when he heard of their approach, +and leaving the people of Dundee to carry on the siege under the +command of Sir Alexander Scrymgeour, he himself marched to defend +the only bridge by which Edward could cross the Forth, near Stirling. + +Thus far Surrey had experienced no resistance, and at the head +of so large and well appointed a force he might well feel sure +of success. A large proportion of his army consisted of veterans +inured to service in wars at home, in Wales, and with the French, +while the mail clad knights and men-at-arms looked with absolute +contempt upon the gathering which was opposed to them. This consisted +solely of popular levies of men who had left their homes and taken +up arms for the freedom of their country. They were rudely armed and +hastily trained. Of all the feudal nobles of Scotland who should have +led them, but one, Sir Andrew Moray, was present. Their commander +was still little more than a youth, who, great as was his individual +valour and prowess, had had no experience in the art of war on +a large scale; while the English were led by a general whose fame +was known throughout Europe. + +The Scots took up their station upon the high ground north of the +Forth, protected from observation by the precipitous hill immediately +behind Cambuskenneth Abbey and known as the Abbey Craig. In a bend +of the river, opposite the Abbey Craig, stood the bridge by which +the English army were preparing to cross. Archie stood beside +Wallace on the top of the craig, looking at the English array. + +"It is a fair sight," he said; "the great camp, with its pavilions, +its banners, and pennons, lying there in the valley, with the old +castle rising on the lofty rock behind them. It is a pity that such +a sight should bode evil to Scotland." + +"Yes," Wallace said; "I would that the camp lay where it is, but +that the pennons and banners were those of Scotland's nobles, and +that the royal lions floated over Surrey's tent. Truly that were +a sight which would glad a Scot's heart. When shall we see ought +like it? However, Archie," he went on in a lighter tone, "methinks +that that will be a rare camp to plunder." + +Archie laughed. "One must kill the lion before one talks of dividing +his skin," he said; "and truly it seems well nigh impossible that +such a following as yours, true Scots and brave men though they +be, yet altogether undisciplined and new to war, should be able to +bear the brunt of such a battle." + +"You are thinking of Dunbar," Wallace said; "and did we fight in +such a field our chances would be poor; but with that broad river +in front and but a narrow bridge for access, methinks that we can +render an account of them." + +"God grant it be so!" Archie replied; "but I shall be right glad +when the day is over." + +Three days before the battle the Steward of Scotland, the Earl of +Lennox, and others of the Scotch magnates entered Surrey's camp +and begged that he would not attack until they tried to induce the +people to lay down their arms. They returned, however, on the third +day saying that they would not listen to them, but that the next +day they would, themselves, join his army with their men-at-arms. +On leaving the camp that evening the Scotch nobles, riding homeward, +had a broil with some English soldiers, of whom one was wounded by +the Earl of Lennox. News being brought to Surrey, he resolved to +wait no longer, but gave orders that the assault should take place +on the following morning. At daybreak of the 11th of September, +1297, one of the outposts woke Wallace with the news that the English +were crossing the bridge. The troops were at once got under arms, +and were eager to rush down to commence the battle, but Wallace +restrained them. Five thousand Welsh foot soldiers crossed the +bridge, then there was a pause, and none were seen following them. +"Were we to charge down now, Sir William," Archie said, "surely we +might destroy that body before aid could come to them." + +"We could do, Archie, as you say," Wallace replied, "but such +a success would be of little worth, nay, would harm rather than +benefit us, for Surrey, learning that we are not altogether to be +despised, as he now believes, would be more prudent in future and +would keep his army in the flat country, where we could do nought +against it. No, to win much one must risk much, and we must wait +until half Surrey's army is across before we venture down against +them." + +Presently the Welsh were seen to retire again. Their movement had +been premature. Surrey was still asleep, and nothing could be done +until he awoke; when he did so the army armed leisurely, after which +Surrey bestowed the honour of knighthood upon many young aspirants. +The number of the Scots under Wallace is not certainly known; the +majority of the estimates place it below twenty thousand, and as +the English historian, who best describes the battle, speaks of it +as the defeat of the many by the few, it can certainly be assumed +that it did not exceed this number. + +Only on the ground of his utter contempt for the enemy can the +conduct of the Earl of Surrey, in attempting to engage in such a +position, be understood. The bridge was wide enough for but two, +or at most three, horsemen to cross abreast, and when those who had +crossed were attacked assistance could reach them but slowly from +the rear. + +The English knights and men-at-arms, with the Royal Standard and +the banner of the Earl of Surrey, crossed first. The men-at-arms +were followed by the infantry, who, as they passed, formed up on +the tongue of land formed by the winding of the river. + +When half the English army had passed Wallace gave the order to +advance. First Sir Andrew Moray, with two thousand men, descended +the hills farther to the right, and on seeing these the English +cavalry charged at once against them. The instant they did so +Wallace, with his main army, poured down from the craig impetuously +and swept away the English near the head of the bridge, taking +possession of the end, and by showers of arrows and darts preventing +any more from crossing. By this maneuver the whole of the English +infantry who had crossed were cut off from their friends and inclosed +in the narrow promontory. + +The English men-at-arms had succeeded in overthrowing the Scots, +against whom they had charged, and had pursued them some distance; +but upon drawing rein and turning to rejoin the army, they found +the aspect of affairs changed indeed. The troops left at the head +of the bridge were overthrown and destroyed. The royal banner and +that of Surrey were down, and the bridge in the possession of the +enemy. The men-at-arms charged back and strove in vain to recover +the head of the bridge. The Scots fought stubbornly; those in front +made a hedge of pikes, while those behind hurled darts and poured +showers of arrows into the English ranks. The greater proportion +of the men-at-arms were killed. One valiant knight alone, Sir +Marmaduke de Twenge, with his nephew and a squire, cut their way +through the Scots, and crossed the bridge. Many were drowned in +attempting to swim the river, one only succeeding in so gaining +the opposite side. + +The men-at-arms defeated, Wallace and the chosen band under him, +who had been engaged with them, joined those who were attacking the +English and Welsh, now cooped up in the promontory. Flushed with +the success already gained the Scots were irresistible, and almost +every man who had crossed was either killed or drowned in attempting +to swim the river. No sooner had he seen that the success in this +quarter was secure than Wallace led a large number of his followers +across the bridge. Here the English, who still outnumbered his army, +and who had now all the advantage of position which had previously +been on the side of the Scots, might have defended the bridge, or +in good order have given him battle on the other side. The sight, +however, of the terrible disaster which had befallen nearly half +their number before their eyes, without their being able to render +them the slightest assistance, had completely demoralized them, +and as soon as the Scotch were seen to be crossing the bridge they +fled in terror. A hot pursuit was kept up by the fleet footed and +lightly armed Scots, and great numbers of fugitives were slain. + +More than 20,000 English perished in the battle or flight, and the +remainder crossed the Border a mere herd of broken fugitives. + +The Earl of Surrey, before riding off the field, committed the charge +of the Castle of Stirling to Sir Marmaduke de Twenge, promising him +that he would return to his relief within ten weeks at the utmost. +All the tents, wagons, horses, provisions, and stores of the English +fell into the hands of their enemies, and every Scotch soldier +obtained rich booty. + +Cressingham was among the number killed. It was said by one +English historian, and his account has been copied by many others, +that Cressingham's body was flayed and his skin divided among the +Scots; but there appears no good foundation for the story, although +probably Cressingham, who had rendered himself peculiarly obnoxious +and hateful to the Scots, was hewn in pieces. But even were it +proved that the ill story is a true one, it need excite no surprise, +seeing the wholesale slaying, plundering, and burning which had +been carried on by the English, and that the Scottish prisoners +falling into their hands were often mutilated and tortured before +being executed and quartered. The English historians were fond of +crying out that the Scotch were a cruel and barbarous people whenever +they retaliated for the treatment which they suffered; but so far +from this being the case, it is probable that the Scotch, before +the first invasion of Edward, were a more enlightened and, for +their numbers, a more well-to-do people than the English. They had +for many years enjoyed peace and tranquillity, and under the long +and prosperous reign of Alexander had made great advances, while +England had been harassed by continuous wars and troubles at home +and abroad. Its warlike barons, when not engaged under its monarchs +in wars in Wales, Ireland, and France, occupied themselves in quarrels +with each other, or in struggles against the royal supremacy; and +although the higher nobles, with their mailclad followers, could +show an amount of chivalrous pomp unknown in Scotland, yet the +condition of the middle classes and of the agricultural population +was higher in Scotland than in England. + +Archie, as one of the principal leaders of the victorious army, +received a share of the treasure captured in the camp sufficient to +repay the money which he had had for the strengthening of the Castle +of Aberfilly, and on the day following the battle he received +permission from Sir William to return at once, with the 250 retainers +which he had brought into the field, to complete the rebuilding of +the castle. In another three months this was completed, and stores +of arms and munition of all kinds collected. + +Immediately after the defeat at Stirling Bridge, King Edward summoned +the Scottish nobles to join Brian Fitzallan, whom he appointed +governor of Scotland, with their whole forces, for the purpose of +putting down the rebellion. Among those addressed as his allies were +the Earls Comyn of Badenoch, Comyn of Buchan, Patrick of Dunbar, +Umfraville of Angus, Alexander of Menteith, Malise of Strathearn, +Malcolm of Lennox, and William of Sutherland, together with James +the Steward, Nicholas de la Haye, Ingelram de Umfraville, Richard +Fraser, and Alexander de Lindsay of Crawford. From this enumeration +it is clear that Wallace had still many enemies to contend with at +home as well as the force of England. Patrick of Dunbar, assisted +by Robert Bruce and Bishop Anthony Beck, took the field, but was +defeated. Wallace captured all the castles of the earl save Dunbar +itself, and forced him to fly to England; then the Scotch army +poured across the Border and retaliated upon the northern counties +for the deeds which the English had been performing in Scotland +for the last eight years. The country was ravaged to the very walls +of Durham and Carlisle, and only those districts which bought off +the invaders were spared. The title which had been bestowed upon +Wallace by a comparatively small number was now ratified by the +commonalty of the whole of Scotland; and associated with him was +the young Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell, whose father had been the +only Scotch noble who had fought at Stirling, and it is notable +that in some of the documents of the time Wallace gives precedence +to Andrew Moray. + +They proceeded to effect a military organization of the country, +dividing it up into districts, each with commanders and lieutenants. +Order was established and negotiations entered into for the mutual +safeguard of traders with the Hanse towns. + +The nobles who ventured to oppose the authority of Wallace and his +colleague were punished in some cases by the confiscation of lands, +which were bestowed upon Sir Alexander Scrymgeour and other loyal +gentlemen, and these grants were recognized by Bruce when he became +king. In these deeds of grant Wallace and Moray, although acting as +governors of Scotland, state that they do so in the name of Baliol +as king, although a helpless captive in England. For a short time +Scotland enjoyed peace, save that Earl Percy responded to the raids +made by the Scots across the Border, by carrying fire and sword +through Annandale; and the English writers who complain of the +conduct of the Scots, have no word of reprobation for the proclamation +issued to the soldiers on crossing the Border, that they were free +to plunder where they chose, nor as to the men and women slain, +nor the villages and churches committed to the flames. + + + + +Chapter X + +The Battle of Falkirk + + +While Wallace was endeavouring to restore order in Scotland, Edward +was straining every nerve to renew his invasion. He himself was +upon the Continent, but he made various concessions to his barons +and great towns to induce them to aid him heartily, and issued writs +calling upon the whole nobility remaining at home, as they valued +his honour and that of England, to meet at York on January 20th, +"and proceed under the Earl of Surrey to repress and chastise the +audacity of the Scots." At the same time he despatched special +letters to those of the Scottish nobles who were not already in +England, commanding them to attend at the rendezvous. + +The call upon the Scotch nobles was not generally responded to. +They had lost much of their power over their vassals, many of whom +had fought under Wallace in spite of the abstention of their lords. +It was clear, too, that if they joined the English, and another +defeat of the latter took place, their countrymen might no longer +condone their treachery, but their titles and estates might be +confiscated. Consequently but few of them presented themselves at +York. There, however, the English nobles gathered in force. The +Earls of Surrey, Gloucester, and Arundel; the Earl Mareschal and +the great Constable were there; Guido, son of the Earl of Warwick, +represented his father. Percy was there, John de Wathe, John de +Seagrave, and very many other barons, the great array consisting +of 2000 horsemen heavily armed, 1200 light horsemen, and 100,000 +foot soldiers. + +Sir Aymer de Vallance, Earl of Pembroke, and Sir John Sieward, son +of the Earl of March, landed with an army in Fife, and proceeded +to burn and waste. They were met by a Scotch force under Wallace +in the forest of Black Ironside, and were totally defeated. + +Surrey's army crossed the Border, raised the siege of Roxburgh, +and advanced as far as Kelso. Wallace did not venture to oppose +so enormous a force, but wasted the country on every side so that +they could draw no provisions from it, and Surrey was forced to +fall back to Berwick; this town was being besieged by a Scottish +force, which retired at his approach. Here the English army halted +upon receipt of orders from Edward to wait his coming. He had hastily +patched up a peace with France, and, having landed at Sandwich, +summoned the parliament, and on the 27th of May issued writs to +as many as 154 of his great barons to meet him at Roxburgh on the +24th of June. Here 3000 cavalry, men and horses clothed in complete +armour; 4000 lighter cavalry, the riders being armed in steel but +the horses being uncovered; 500 splendidly mounted knights and +men-at-arms from Gascony; and at least 80,000 infantry assembled +together, with abundance of materials and munition of war of all +kinds. This huge army marched from Roxburgh, keeping near the coast, +receiving provisions from a fleet which sailed along beside them. +But in spite of this precaution it was grievously straitened, and +was delayed for a month near Edinburgh, as Wallace so wasted the +country that the army were almost famished, and by no efforts were +they able to bring on a battle with the Scots, whose rapid marches +and intimate acquaintance with the country baffled all the efforts +of the English leaders to force on an action. + +Edward was about to retreat, being unable any longer to subsist his +army, when the two Scottish Earls of Dunbar and Angus sent news to +the king that Wallace with his army was in Falkirk forest, about +six miles away, and had arranged to attack the camp on the following +morning. The English at once advanced and that evening encamped at +Linlithgow, and the next morning moved on against the Scots. + +Late in the evening Archie's scouts brought in the news to Wallace +that the English army was within three miles, and a consultation +was at once held between the leaders. Most of them were in favour +of a retreat; but Comyn of Badenoch, who had lately joined Wallace, +and had been from his rank appointed to the command of the cavalry, +with some of his associates, urged strongly the necessity for +fighting, saying that the men would be utterly dispirited at such +continual retreats, and that with such immensely superior cavalry +the English would follow them up and destroy them. To these arguments +Wallace, Sir John Grahame, and Sir John Stewart, yielded their own +opinions, and prepared to fight. They took up their position so +that their front was protected by a morass, and a fence of stakes +and ropes was also fixed across so as to impede the advance or +retreat of the English cavalry. The Scotch army consisted almost +entirely of infantry. These were about a third the number of those +of the English, while Comyn's cavalry were a thousand strong. + +The infantry were formed in three great squares or circles, the +front rank kneeling and the spears all pointing outwards. In the +space between these squares were placed the archers, under Sir John +Stewart. + +The English army was drawn up in three divisions, the first commanded +by the Earl Marechal, the Earl of Lincoln and Hereford; the second +by Beck, the warlike Bishop of Durham, and Sir Ralph Basset; +the third by the king himself. The first two divisions consisted +almost entirely of knights and men-at-arms; the third, of archers +and slingers. + +Wallace's plan of battle was that the Scottish squares should first +receive the brunt of the onslaught of the enemy, and that while +the English were endeavouring to break these the Scotch cavalry, +which were drawn up some distance in the rear, should fall upon +them when in a confused mass, and drive them against the fence or +into the morass. + +The first division of the English on arriving at the bog made a +circuit to the west. The second division, seeing the obstacle which +the first had encountered, moved round to the east, and both fell +upon the Scottish squares. The instant they were seen rounding +the ends of the morass, the traitor Comyn, with the whole of the +cavalry, turned rein and fled from the field, leaving the infantry +alone to support the whole brunt of the attack of the English. So +impetuous was the charge of the latter that Sir John Stewart and +his archers were unable to gain the shelter of the squares, and +he was, with almost all his men, slain by the English men-at-arms. +Thus the spearmen were left entirely to their own resources. + +Encouraged by Wallace, Grahame, Archie Forbes, and their other +leaders, the Scottish squares stood firmly, and the English cavalry +in vain strove to break the hedge of spears. Again and again the +bravest of the chivalry of England tried to hew a way through. The +Scots stood firm and undismayed, and had the battle lain between +them and the English cavalry, the day would have been theirs. But +presently the king, with his enormous body of infantry, arrived on +the ground, and the English archers and slingers poured clouds of +missiles into the ranks of the Scots; while the English spearmen, +picking up the great stones with which the ground was strewn, +hurled them at the front ranks of their foes. Against this storm +of missiles the Scottish squares could do nothing. Such armour +as they had was useless against the English clothyard arrows, and +thousands fell as they stood. + +Again and again they closed up the gaps in their ranks, but at last +they could no longer withstand the hail of arrows and stones, to +which they could offer no return. Some of them wavered. The gaps +in the squares were no longer filled up, and the English cavalry, +who had been waiting for their opportunity, charged into the midst +of them. No longer was there any thought of resistance. The Scots +fled in all directions. Numbers were drowned by trying to swim the +river Carron, which ran close by. Multitudes were cut down by the +host of English cavalry. + +Sir Archie Forbes was in the same square with Wallace, with a few +other mounted men. They dashed forward against the English as they +broke through the ranks of the spearmen, but the force opposed them +was overwhelming. + +"It is of no use, Archie; we must retire. Better that than throw +away our lives uselessly. All is lost now." + +Wallace shouted to the spearmen, who gallantly rallied round him, +and, keeping together in spite of the efforts of the English cavalry, +succeeded in withdrawing from the field. The other squares were +entirely broken and dispersed, and scarce a man of them escaped. + +Accounts vary as to the amount of the slaughter, some English +writers placing it as double that of the army which Wallace could +possibly have brought into the field, seeing that the whole of the +great nobles stood aloof, and that Grahame, Stewart, and Macduff of +Fife were the only three men of noble family with him. All these +were slain, together with some 25,000 infantry. + +Wallace with about 5000 men succeeded in crossing a ford of the +Carron, and the English spread themselves over the country. The +districts of Fife, Clackmannan, Lanark, Ayr, and all the surrounding +country were wasted and burnt, and every man found put to the sword. +The Scotch themselves in retreating destroyed Stirling and Perth, +and the English found the town of St. Andrew's deserted, and burnt +it to the ground. + +No sooner had Wallace retreated than he divided his force into +small bands, which proceeded in separate directions, driving off the +cattle and destroying all stores of grain, so that in a fortnight +after the battle of Falkirk the English army were again brought +to a stand by shortness of provisions, and were compelled to fall +back again with all speed to the mouth of the Forth, there to obtain +provisions from their ships. As they did so Wallace reunited his +bands, and pressed hard upon them. At Linlithgow he fell upon their +rear and inflicted heavy loss, and so hotly did he press them that +the great army was obliged to retreat rapidly across the Border, +and made no halt until it reached the fortress of Carlisle. + +That it was compulsion alone which forced Edward to make his +speedy retreat we may be sure from the fact that after the victory +of Dunbar he was contented with nothing less than a clean sweep +of Scotland to its northern coast, and that he repeated the same +process when, in the year following the battle of Falkirk, he again +returned with a mighty army. Thus decisive as was the battle of +Falkirk it was entirely abortive in results. + +When the English had crossed the Border, Wallace assembled the few +gentlemen who were still with him, and announced his intention of +resigning the guardianship of Scotland, and of leaving the country. +The announcement was received with exclamations of surprise and +regret. + +"Surely, Sir William," Archie exclaimed, "you cannot mean it. You +are our only leader; in you we have unbounded confidence, and in +none else. Had it not been for the treachery of Comyn the field of +Falkirk would have been ours, for had the horse charged when the +English were in confusion round our squares they had assuredly been +defeated. Moreover, your efforts have retrieved that disastrous +field, and have driven the English across the Border." + +"My dear Archie," Wallace said, "it is because I am the only leader +in whom you have confidence that I must needs go. I had vainly hoped +that when the Scottish nobles saw what great things the commonalty +were able to do, and how far, alone and unaided, they had cleared +Scotland of her tyrants, they would have joined us with their +vassals; but you see it is not so. The successes that I have gained +have but excited their envy against me. Of them all only Grahame, +Stewart, and Macduff stood by my side, while all the great earls +and barons either held aloof or were, like Bruce, in the ranks of +Edward's army, or like Comyn and his friends, joined me solely to +betray me. I am convinced now that it is only a united Scotland can +resist the power of England, and it is certain that so long as I +remain here Scotland never can be united. Of Bruce I have no longer +any hope; but if I retire Comyn may take the lead, and many at +least of the Scottish nobles will follow him. Had we but horsemen +and archers to support our spearmen, I would not fear the issue; +but it is the nobles alone who can place mounted men-at-arms in +the field. Of bowmen we must always be deficient, seeing that our +people take not naturally to this arm as do the English; but with +spearmen to break the first shock of English chivalry, and with +horsemen to charge them when in confusion, we may yet succeed, but +horsemen we shall never get so long as the nobles hold aloof. It +is useless to try and change my decision, my friends. Sore grief +though it will be to me to sheathe my sword and to stand aloof +when Scotland struggles for freedom, I am convinced that only by my +doing so has Scotland a chance of ultimate success in the struggle. +Do not make it harder for me by your pleadings. I have thought long +over this, and my mind is made up. My heart is well nigh broken by +the death of my dear friend and brother in arms, Sir John Grahame, +and I feel able to struggle no longer against the jealousy and +hostility of the Scottish nobles." + +Wallace's hearers were all in tears at his decision, but they felt +that there was truth in his words, that the Scottish nobles were +far more influenced by feelings of personal jealousy and pique than +by patriotism, and that so long as Wallace remained the guardian +of Scotland they would to a man side with the English. The next day +Wallace assembled all his followers, and in a few words announced +his determination, and the reasons which had driven him to take +it. He urged them to let no feelings of resentment at the treatment +he had experienced, or any wrath at the lukewarmness and treachery +which had hitherto marked the Scottish nobles, overcome their feeling +of patriotism, but to follow these leaders should they raise the +banner of Scotland, as bravely and devotedly as they had followed +him. + +Then he bade them farewell, and mounting his horse rode to the +seacoast and passed over to France. + +Although he had retired from Scotland, Wallace did not cease from +war against the English; but being warmly received by the French +king fought against them both by sea and land, and won much renown +among the French. + +After returning to England, Edward, finding that the Scottish leaders +still professed to recognize Baliol as king, sent him to the pope +at Rome, having first confiscated all his great possessions in +England and bestowed them upon his own nephew, John of Brittany; +and during the rest of his life Baliol lived in obscurity in Rome. +A portion of the Scotch nobles assembled and chose John Comyn of +Badenoch and John de Soulis as guardians of the kingdom. In the +autumn of the following year Edward again assembled a great army +and moved north, but it was late; and in the face of the approaching +winter, and the difficulty of forage, many of the barons refused +to advance. Edward himself marched across the Border; but seeing +that the Scots had assembled in force, and that at such a season +of the year he could not hope to carry his designs fully into +execution, he retired without striking a blow. Thereupon the castle +of Stirling, which was invested by the Scots, seeing no hope of +relief, surrendered, and Sir William Oliphant was appointed governor. + +The next spring Edward again advanced with an army even greater +than that with which he had before entered Scotland. With him were +Alexander of Baliol, son of the late king, who was devoted to the +English; Dunbar, Fraser, Ross, and other Scottish nobles. The vast +army first laid siege to the little castle of Carlaverock, which, +although defended by but sixty men, resisted for some time the +assaults of the whole army, but was at last captured. The Scots +fell back as Edward advanced, renewing Wallace's tactics of wasting +the country, and Edward could get no further than Dumfries. Here, +finding the enormous difficulties which beset him, he made a pretence +of yielding with a good grace to the entreaties of the pope and the +King of France that he would spare Scotland; he retired to England +and disbanded his army, having accomplished nothing in the campaign +save the capture of Carlaverock. + +The following summer he again advanced with the army, this time +supported by a fleet of seventy ships. The Scots resorted to their +usual strategy, and, when winter came, the invaders had penetrated +no further than the Forth. Edward remained at Linlithgow for a +time, and then returned to England. Sir Simon Fraser, who had been +one of the leaders of the English army at Carlaverock, now imitated +Comyn's example, and, deserting the English cause, joined his +countrymen. + +The greater part of the English army recrossed the Border, and the +Scots captured many of the garrisons left in the towns. Sir John +Seagrave next invaded Scotland with from 20,000 to 30,000 men, mostly +cavalry. They reached the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, when Comyn +and Fraser advanced against them with 8000 men, chiefly infantry. +The English army were advancing in three divisions, in order +better to obtain provisions and forage. After a rapid night march +the Scotch came upon one of them, commanded by Seagrave in person; +and conceiving himself sufficiently strong to defeat the Scots unaided +by any of the other divisions, Sir John Seagrave immediately gave +battle. + +As at Falkirk, the English cavalry were unable to break through +the Scottish pikes. Great numbers were killed or taken prisoners, +Seagrave himself being severely wounded and captured, with +twenty distinguished knights, thirty esquires, and many soldiers. +Scarcely was the battle over when the second English division, even +stronger than the first, arrived on the field. Encumbered by their +prisoners, the Scots were at a disadvantage; and fearing to be attacked +by these in the rear while engaged in front, they slaughtered the +greater portion of the prisoners, and arming the camp followers, +prepared to resist the English onslaught. This failed as the first +had done; the cavalry were defeated with great loss by the spearmen, +and many prisoners taken--among them Sir Ralph Manton. + +The third English division now appeared; and the Scots, worn out +by their long march and the two severe conflicts they had endured, +were about to fly from the field when their leaders exhorted them +to one more effort. The second batch of prisoners were slaughtered, +and the pikemen again formed line to resist the English charge. +Again were the cavalry defeated, Sir Robert Neville, their leader, +slain, with many others, and the whole dispersed and scattered. +Sir Robert Manton, who was the king's treasurer, had had a quarrel +with Fraser, when the latter was in Edward's service, regarding +his pay; and Fraser is said by some historians to have now revenged +himself by slaying his prisoner. Other accounts, however, represent +Manton as having escaped. + +The slaughter of the prisoners appears, although cruel, to have +been unavoidable; as the Scots, having before them a well appointed +force fully equal to their own in number, could not have risked +engaging, with so large a body of prisoners in their rear. None of +the knights or other leaders were slain, these being subsequently +exchanged or ransomed, as we afterwards find them fighting in the +English ranks. + +Seeing by this defeat that a vast effort was necessary to conquer +Scotland, King Edward advanced in the spring of 1303 with an army +of such numbers that the historians of the time content themselves +with saying that "it was great beyond measure." It consisted of +English, Welsh, Irish, Gascons, and Savoyards. One division, under +the Prince of Wales, advanced by the west coast; that of the king, +by the east; and the two united at the Forth. Without meeting any +serious resistance the great host marched north through Perth and +Dundee to Brechin, where the castle, under the charge of Sir Thomas +Maille, resisted for twenty days; and it was only after the death +of the governor that it surrendered. + +The English then marched north through Aberdeen, Banff, and Moray +into Caithness, carrying utter destruction everywhere; towns and +hamlets, villages and farmhouses were alike destroyed; crops were +burned, forests and orchards cut down. Thus was the whole of Scotland +wasted; and even the rich abbeys of Abberbredok and Dunfermline, +the richest and most famous in Scotland, were destroyed, and the +whole levelled to the ground. The very fields were as far as possible +injured--the intention of Edward being, as Fordun says, to blot +out the people, and to reduce the land to a condition of irrecoverable +devastation, and thus to stamp out for ever any further resistance +in Scotland. + +During the three years which had elapsed since the departure +of Wallace, Archie had for the most part remained quietly in his +castle, occupying himself with the comfort and wellbeing of his +vassals. He had, each time the English entered Scotland, taken the +field with a portion of his retainers, in obedience to the summons +of Comyn. The latter was little disposed to hold valid the grants +made by Wallace, especially in the case of Archie Forbes, the Kerrs +being connections of his house; but the feeling of the people in +general was too strongly in favour of the companion of Wallace for +him to venture to set it aside, especially as the castle could not +be captured without a long continued siege. Archie and many of the +nobles hostile to the claims of Comyn obeyed his orders, he being +the sole possible leader, at present, of Scotland. Edward, however, +had left them no alternative, since he had, in order to induce +the English nobles to follow him, formally divided among them the +lands of the whole of the Scotch nobles, save those actually fighting +in his ranks. + +Archie was now nearly three-and-twenty, and his frame had fully +borne out the promise of his youth. He was over the average height, +but appeared shorter from the extreme breadth of his shoulders; +his arms were long and sinewy, and his personal strength immense. + +From the time of his first taking possession of Aberfilly he had +kept a party of men steadily engaged in excavating a passage from +the castle towards a wood a mile distant. The ground was soft and +offered but few obstacles, but the tunnel throughout its whole +length had to be supported by massive timbers. Wood, however, was +abundant, and the passage had by this time been completed. Whenever, +from the length of the tunnel, the workmen began to suffer from +want of air, ventilation was obtained by running a small shaft +up to the surface; in this was placed a square wooden tube of six +inches in diameter, round which the earth was again filled in--a +few rapidly growing plants and bushes being planted round the +orifice to prevent its being noticed by any passerby. + + + + +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 not +call out the levies. Upon the approach of the English army under +the Prince of Wales he called the whole of his tenants into the +castle. Great stores of provisions had already been collected. The +women and children were sent away up into the hills, where provisions +had also been garnered, and the old men and boys accompanied them. +As the Prince of Wales passed north, bands from his army spreading +over the country destroyed every house in the district. Archie was +summoned to surrender, but refused to do so; and the prince, being +on his way to join his father on the Forth, after himself surveying +the hold, and judging it far too strong to be carried without +a prolonged siege, marched forward, promising on his return to +destroy it. Soon afterwards Archie received a message that Wallace +had returned. He at once took with him fifty men, and leaving the +castle in charge of Sandy Graham, with the rest of his vassals, two +hundred and fifty in number, he rejoined his former leader. Many +others gathered round Wallace's standard; and throughout Edward's +march to the north and his return to the Forth Wallace hung upon +his flanks, cutting off and slaying great numbers of the marauders, +and striking blows at detached bands wherever these were in numbers +not too formidable to be coped with. + +Stirling was now the only great castle which remained in the hands +of the Scotch, and King Edward prepared to lay siege to this. Save +for the band of Wallace there was no longer any open resistance in +the field. A few holds like those of Archie Forbes still remained +in the hands of their owners, their insignificance, or the time +which would be wasted in subduing them, having protected them from +siege. 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 adherents +surrendered upon promise of their lives and freedom, and that they +should retain their estates, subject to a pecuniary fine. All the +nobles of Scotland were included in this capitulation, save a few +who were condemned to suffer temporary banishment. Sir William +Wallace alone was by name specially exempted from the surrender. + +Stirling Castle was invested on the 20th of April, 1304, and for +seventy days held out against all the efforts of Edward's army. +Warlike engines of all kinds had been brought from England for +the siege. The religious houses of St. Andrews, Brechin, and other +churches were stripped of lead for the engines. The sheriffs of +London, Lincoln, York, and the governor of the Tower were ordered +to collect and forward all the mangonels, quarrels, and bows and +arrows they could gather; and for seventy days missiles of all +kinds, immense stones, leaden balls, and javelins were rained upon +the castle; and Greek fire--a new and terrible mode of destruction--was +also used in the siege. But it was only when their provisions +and other resources were exhausted that the garrison capitulated; +and it was found that the survivors of the garrison which had +defended Stirling Castle for upwards of three months against the +whole force of England numbered, including its governor, Sir William +Oliphant, and twenty-four knights and gentlemen, but a hundred and +twenty soldiers, two monks, and thirteen females. + +During the siege Wallace had kept the field, but Archie had, at +his request, returned to his castle, which being but a day's march +from Stirling, might at any moment be besieged. Several times, +indeed, parties appeared before it, but Edward's hands were too +full, and he could spare none of the necessary engines to undertake +such a siege; and when Stirling at length fell he and his army +were in too great haste to return to England to undertake another +prolonged siege, especially as Aberfilly, standing in a retired +position, and commanding none of the principal roads, was a hold +of no political importance. + +A short time afterwards, to Archie's immense grief, Sir William +Wallace was betrayed into the hands of the English. Several +Scotchmen took part in this base act, the principal being Sir John +Menteith. Late historians, in their ardour to whitewash those who +have for ages been held up to infamy, have endeavoured to show that +Sir John Menteith was not concerned in the matter; but the evidence +is overwhelming the other way. Scotch opinion at the time, and +for 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, and +their account is confirmed by contemporary English writings. The +Chronicle of Lanercost, the Arundel MSS., written about the year +1320, and the Scala Chronica, all distinctly say that Wallace was +seized by Sir John Menteith; and finally, Sir Francis Palgrave has +discovered in the memoranda of the business of the privy council +that forty marks were bestowed upon the young man who spied out +Wallace, sixty marks were divided among some others who assisted +in his capture, and that to Sir John Menteith was given land of +the annual value of one hundred pounds--a very large amount in +those days. + +The manner in which Wallace was seized is uncertain; but he was at +once handed by Sir John Menteith to Sir John Seagrave, and carried +by him to London. He was taken on horseback to Westminster, the +mayor, sheriffs, and aldermen, with a great number of horse and +foot, accompanying him. There the mockery of a trial was held, +and he was in one day tried, condemned, and executed. He defended +himself nobly, urging truly that, as a native born Scotsman, he +had never sworn fealty or allegiance to England, and that he was +perfectly justified in fighting for the freedom of his country. + +Every cruelty attended his execution. He was drawn through the +streets at the tails of horses; he was hung for some time by a +halter, but was taken down while yet alive; he was mutilated and +disembowelled, his head then cut off, his body divided in four, +his head impaled over London Bridge, and his quarters distributed +to four principal towns in Scotland. Such barbarities were common +at executions in the days of the Norman kings, who have been +described 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 he +aroused the spirit of his countrymen, and in spite of the opposition +of the whole of the nobles of his country banded the people in +resistance against England, and for a time wrested all Scotland from +the hands of Edward. His bitter enemies the English were unable to +adduce any proofs that the epithets of ferocious and bloodthirsty, +with which they were so fond of endowing him, had even a shadow +of foundation, and we may rather believe the Scotch accounts that +his gentleness and nobility of soul were equal to his valour. Of +his moderation and wisdom when acting as governor of Scotland there +can be no doubt, while the brilliant strategy which first won the +battle of Stirling, and would have gained that of Falkirk had not +the treachery and cowardice of the cavalry ruined his plans, show +that under other circumstances he would have taken rank as one of +the greatest commanders of his own or any age. + +He first taught his countrymen, and indeed Europe in general, that +steady infantry can repel the assaults even of mailclad cavalry. +The lesson was followed at Bannockburn by Bruce, who won under +precisely the same circumstances as those under which Wallace had +been defeated, simply because at the critical moment he had 500 +horse at hand to charge the disordered mass of the English, while +at Falkirk Wallace's horse, who should have struck the blow, were +galloping far away from the battlefield. Nor upon his English +conquerors was the lesson lost, for at Cressy, when attacked by +vastly superior numbers, Edward III dismounted his army, and ordered +them to fight on foot, and the result gave a death blow to that +mailed chivalry which had come to be regarded as the only force +worth reckoning in a battle. The conduct of Edward to Wallace, +and later to many other distinguished Scotchmen who fell into his +hands, is a foul blot upon the memory of one of the greatest of +the kings of England. + +Edward might now well have believed that Scotland was crushed for +ever. In ten years no less than twelve great armies had marched +across the Border, and twice the whole country had been ravaged +from sea to sea, the last time so effectually, that Edward had +good ground for his belief that the land would never again raise +its 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, of +whom twenty-one were English and ten so called Scotch, among them +Sir John Menteith, to carry out his ordinances. All the places of +strength were occupied by English garrisons. The high officers and +a 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 death +of his father, Lord of Annandale and Carrick; and Edward addressed +a proclamation to him, headed, "To our faithful and loyal Robert +de Bruce, Earl of Carrick, and all others who are in his company, +greeting;" and went on to say that he possessed the king's fullest +confidence. But though Scotland lay prostrate, the spirit of +resistance yet lingered in the hearts of the commonalty. Although +conquered now the memory of their past success still inspired them, +but until some leader presented himself none could stir. It was in +August that Wallace had been executed. Archie had received several +summonses from the English governors of Stirling and Lanark to +come in and do homage to Edward, but he had resolutely declined, +and the task of capturing his castle was too heavy a one to +be undertaken by any single garrison; still he saw that the time +must come, sooner or later, when he would have to choose between +surrender and death. When matters settled down it was certain that +a great effort would be made to root out the one recalcitrant south +of the Forth. For some time he remained gloomy and thoughtful, +a mood most unusual to him, and his mother, who was watching him +anxiously, was scarcely surprised when one day he said to her: + +"Mother, I must leave you for a time. Matters can no longer continue +as they are. Surrender to the English I will not, and there remains +for me but to defend this castle to the last, and then to escape +to France; or to cross thither at once, and enter the service of +the French king, as did Wallace. Of these courses I would fain take +the latter, seeing that the former would bring ruin and death upon +our vassals, who have ever done faithful service when called upon, +and whom I would not see suffer for my sake. In that case I should +propose that you should return and live quietly with Sir Robert +Gordon until times change." + +Dame Forbes agreed with her son, for she had long felt that further +resistance 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 Aberfilly +back again to the Kerrs. Ask me not what it is, for it were best +that if it fail you should not know of it. There is no danger in +the enterprise, but for a month I shall be absent. On my return +you shall hear my final resolve." + +Having attired himself as a lowland farmer, Archie proceeded to +Edinburgh, and there took ship for London; here he took lodgings +at an inn, which he had been told in Edinburgh was much frequented +by Scotchmen who had to go to London on business. His first care +was to purchase the garments of an English gentleman of moderate +means, so that he could pass through the streets without attracting +attention. + +He was greatly impressed with the bustle and wealth of London. + +"It is wonderful," he said to himself, "that we Scots, who were +after all but an army of peasants, could for nigh ten years have +supported a war against such a country as this, and it seems madness +to adventure farther in that way. If my present errand fails I will +assuredly 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 at +the final termination of hostilities with Scotland, now secured by +the execution of Wallace. He despatched a letter to the earl by +a messenger from the inn, saying that one who had formerly known +him in Scotland desired earnestly to speak to him on matters of +great import, and begging him to grant a private interview with him +at 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 the +writer at his lodging at nine o'clock on the following morning. + +At the appointed time Archie presented himself at the house inhabited +by Bruce. To the request of the earl's retainer for his name and +business he replied that his name mattered not, but that he had +received a message from the earl appointing him a meeting at that +hour. + +Two minutes later he was ushered into the private cabinet of Robert +Bruce. The latter was seated writing, and looked up at his unknown +visitor. + +"Do you remember me, Sir Robert Bruce?" Archie asked. + +"Methinks I know your face, sir," the earl replied, "but I cannot +recall where I have seen it." + +"It is five years since," Archie said, "and as that time has changed +me from a youth into a man I wonder not that my face has escaped +you." + +"I know you now!" the earl exclaimed, rising suddenly from his +seat. "You are Sir Archibald Forbes?" + +"I am," Archie replied, "and I have come now on the same errand I +came then--the cause of our country. The English think she is +dead, but, though faint and bleeding, Scotland yet lives; but there +is 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 give +much, ay all that I have, were my record one of as true patriotism +and sacrifice as yours, yet it were madness to listen to you. Have +I not," he asked bitterly, "earned the hatred of my countrymen? +Have I not three times raised my standard only to lower it again +without striking a blow? Did I not fight by Edward at the field +of Falkirk? Ah!" he said in a changed tone, "never shall I forget +the horror which I felt as I passed over the field strewn with +Scottish corpses. Truly my name must be loathed in Scotland; and +yet, Sir Archibald, irresolute and false as I have hitherto proved +myself, believe me, I love Scotland, the land of my mother." + +"I believe you, sir," Archie said, "and it is therefore that I +implore 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 courtier +of Edward. Wallace is dead. Comyn proved weak and incapable, and +was unable to rally the people to offer any opposition to Edward's +last march. Scotland needs a leader strong and valiant as Wallace, +capable of uniting around him a large body, at least, of the Scotch +nobles, and having some claim to her crown. You know not, sir, how +deep is the hatred of the English. The last terrible incursion of +Edward has spread that feeling far and wide, and while before it was +but in a few counties of the lowlands that the flame of resistance +really burnt, this time, believe me, that all Scotland, save perhaps +the Comyns and their adherents, would rise at the call. I say not +that success would at once attend you, for, forgive me for saying +so, the commonalty would not at first trust you; but when they saw +that you were fighting for Scotland as well as for your own crown, +that you had, by your action, definitely and for ever broken with +the 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 and +Annandale are a goodly array in themselves and the young Douglas +might be counted on to bring his dalesmen to your banner. There +are all the lords who have favoured your cause, and so stood aloof +from Comyn. You will have a good array to commence with; but above +all, even if unsuccessful at first, all Scotland would come in +time to regard you as her king and champion. Resistance will never +cease, for even Wallace was ever able to assemble bands and make +head against the English, so will it be with you, until at last +freedom is achieved, and you will reign a free king over a free +Scotland, and your name will be honoured to all time as the champion +and deliverer of our country. Think not, sir," he went on earnestly +as Bruce paced up and down the little room, "that it is too late. +Other Scotchmen, Fraser and many others, who have warred in the +English ranks, have been joyfully received when at length they +drew sword for Scotland. Only do you stand forth as our champion, +believe me, that the memory of former weakness will be forgotten +in the admiration of present patriotism." + +For two or three minutes Bruce strode up and down the room; then +he 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 attend the enterprise, +but, be that as it may, I will attempt it, win or die. The memory +of Robert Bruce shall go down in the hearts of Scotchmen as one +who, whatever his early errors, atoned for them at last by living +and dying in her cause. My sisters and brothers have long urged me +to take such a step, but I could never bring myself to brave the +power 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 blow +upon them will assuredly at first be wholly successful. You must +withdraw suddenly and quietly from here." + +"It is not easy to do so," Bruce replied. "Although high in favour +with Edward, he has yet some suspicions of me--not," he said +bitterly, "without just cause--and would assuredly arrest me did +he know that I were going north. My only plan will be to appear +at court as usual, while I send down relays of horses along the +northern road. You will ride with me, Sir Archie, will you not? +But I must tell you that I have already, in some degree, prepared +for a movement in Scotland. Comyn and I have met and have talked +over the matter. Our mutual claims to the crown stood in the way, +but we have agreed that one shall yield to the other, and that +whoso takes the crown shall give all his lands to be the property +of the other, in consideration of his waiving his claim and giving +his support. This we have agreed to, and have signed a mutual bond +to that effect, and though it is not so writ down we have further +agreed that I shall have the crown and that Comyn shall take Carrick +and Annandale; but this was for the future, and we thought not of +any movement for the present." + +"It were a bad bargain, sir," Archie said gravely; "and one that I +trust will never be carried out. The Comyns are even now the most +powerful nobles in Scotland, and with Carrick and Annandale in +addition to their own broad lands, would be masters of Scotland, +let who would be called her king. Did he displease them, they +could, with their vassals and connections, place a stronger army +in the field than that which the king could raise; and could at any +moment, did he anger them, call in the English to his aid, and so +again lay Scotland under the English yoke." + +"I will think of it, Sir Archie. There is much in what you say, and +I sorely doubt the Comyns. Henceforth do not fear to give me your +advice freely. You possessed the confidence of Wallace, and have +shown yourself worthy of it. Should I ever free Scotland and win +me a kingdom, believe me you will not find Robert Bruce ungrateful. +I will give orders tomorrow for the horses to be privately +sent forward, so that at any hour we can ride if the moment seem +propitious; meanwhile I pray you to move from the hostelry in the +city, where your messenger told me you were staying, to one close +at hand, in order that I may instantly communicate with you in case +of need. I cannot ask you to take up your abode here, for there +are 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 at +the court throng the inns of the city of Westminster, one figure +more or less would excite neither question nor comment." + +That afternoon Archie took up his abode at Westminster. A week +later one of Bruce's retainers came in just as Archie was about to +retire to bed, and said that the Earl of Carrick wished immediately +to see Master Forbes. Sir Archie had retained his own name while +dropping the title. He at once crossed, to Bruce's lodging. + +"We must mount at once!" the earl exclaimed as he entered. "What +think you? I have but now received word from a friend, who is +a member of the council, to say that this afternoon a messenger +arrived from the false Comyn with a letter to the king, containing +a copy of the bond between us. Whether the coward feared the +consequences, or whether he has all along acted in treachery with +the view of bringing me into disgrace, and so ridding himself of +a rival, I know not; but the result is the same, he has disclosed +our plans to Edward. A council was hastily called, and it has but +just separated. It is to meet again in the morning, and the king +himself will be present. I am to be summoned before it, being, as +it is supposed, in ignorance of the betrayal of my plans. It was +well for me that Edward himself had pressing engagements, and was +unable to be present at the council. Had he been, prompt steps would +have been taken, and I should by this time be lying a prisoner in +the Tower. Even now I may be arrested at any moment. Have you aught +for which you wish to return to your inn?" + +"No," Archie replied. "I have but a change of clothing there, which +is of no importance, and we had best lose not a moment's time. But +there is the reckoning to discharge." + +"I will give orders," the earl said, "that it shall be discharged +in the morning. Now let us without a moment's delay make to the +stables 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 to +the stable at once, and order Roderick to saddle the two bay horses +in the stalls at the end of the stables. Tell him to be speedy, for +I shall be with him anon. He is not bring them round here. I will +mount in the court." + +Five minutes later Bruce and Archie, enveloped in thick cloaks +with hoods drawn over their faces, rode north from Westminster. At +first they went slowly, but as soon as they were out in the fields +they set spur to their horses and galloped on in the darkness. + +The snow lay thick upon the ground, and the roads were entirely +deserted. + +"Farewell to London!" Bruce exclaimed. "Except as a prisoner I +shall 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's +treachery has made my action irrevocable--it is now indeed death +or victory!" + +All night they rode without drawing rein, save that they once +changed horses where a relay had been provided. They had little +fear of pursuit, for even when Bruce's absence was discovered none +of his household would be able to say where he had gone, and some +time must elapse before the conviction that he had ridden for +Scotland, in such weather, would occur to the king. Nevertheless, +they travelled fast, and on the 10th of February entered Dumfries. + + + + +Chapter XII + +The Battle of Methven + + +Bruce had, during the previous week, sent messages saying to several +of his friends in Annandale and Carrick that he might at any time +be among them, and at Dumfries he found many of them prepared to +see him. The English justiciaries for the southern district of the +conquered kingdom were holding an assize, and at this most of the +nobles and principal men of that part were present. Among these +were, of course, many of Bruce's vassals; among them also was John +Comyn of Badenoch, who held large estates in Galloway, in virtue +of which he was now present. + +As soon as the news that Bruce had arrived in the town spread, his +adherents and vassals there speedily gathered round him, and as, +accompanied by several of them, he went through the town he met +Comyn in the precincts of the Grey Friars. Concerning this memorable +meeting there has been great dispute among historians. Some have +charged Bruce with inviting Comyn to meet him, with the deliberate +intention of slaying him; others have represented the meeting as +accidental, and the slaying of Comyn as the result of an outburst +of passion on the part of Bruce; but no one who weighs the facts, +and considers the circumstances in which Comyn was placed, can feel +the least question that the latter is the true hypothesis. + +Bruce, whose whole course shows him to have been a man who acted +with prudence and foresight, would have been nothing short of mad had +he, just at the time when it was necessary to secure the goodwill +of the whole of the Scotch nobles, chosen that moment to slay Comyn, +with whom were connected, by blood or friendship, the larger half +of the Scotch nobles. Still less, had he decided upon so suicidal +a course, would he have selected a sanctuary as the scene of the +deed. To slay his rival in such a place would be to excite against +himself the horror and aversion of the whole people, and to enlist +against him the immense authority and influence of the church. +Therefore, unless we should conclude that Bruce--whose early +career showed him to be a cool and calculating man, and whose future +course was marked throughout with wisdom of the highest character--was +suffering from an absolute aberration of intellect, we must +accept the account by those who represent the meeting as accidental, +and the slaying as the result of an outburst of passion provoked +by Comyn's treachery, as the correct one. + +When Bruce saw Comyn approaching he bade his followers stop where +they were and advanced towards Comyn, who was astonished at his +presence. + +"I would speak with you aside, John Comyn," Bruce said; and the +two withdrew into the church apart from the observation of others. + +Then Bruce broke into a torrent of invective against Comyn for his +gross act of treachery in betraying him by sending to Edward a copy +of their agreement. + +"You sought," he said, "to send me to the scaffold, and so clear +the way for yourself to the throne of Scotland." + +Comyn, finding that dissimulation was useless, replied as hotly. +Those without could hear the voices of the angry men rise higher +and higher; then there was a silence, and Bruce hurried out alone. + +"What has happened?" Archie Forbes exclaimed. + +"I fear that I have slain Comyn," Bruce replied in an agitated +voice. + +"Then I will make sure," Kirkpatrick, one of his retainers, said; +and accompanied by Lindsay and another of his companions he ran in +and completed the deed. + +Scarcely was this done than Sir Robert Comyn, uncle of the earl, +ran up, and seeing what had taken place, furiously attacked Bruce +and his party. A fierce fray took place, and Robert Comyn and +several of his friends were slain. + +"The die is cast now," Bruce said when the fray was over; "but +I would give my right hand had I not slain Comyn in my passion; +however, it is too late to hesitate now. Gather together, my +friends, all your retainers, and let us hurry at once to attack +the justiciaries." + +In a few minutes Kirkpatrick brought together those who had +accompanied him and his companions to the town, and they at once +moved against the courthouse. The news of Bruce's arrival and of +the fray with the Comyns had already reached the justiciaries, and +with their retainers and friends they had made hasty preparations +for defence; but seeing that Bruce's followers outnumbered them, +and that a defence might cost them their lives, they held parley +and agreed to surrender upon Bruce promising to allow them to +depart at once for England. Half an hour later the English had left +Dumfries. + +Bruce called a council of his companions. + +"My friends," he said, "we have been hurried into a terrible strife, +and deeply do I regret that by my own mad passion at the treachery +of Comyn I have begun it by an evil deed; but when I tell you of the +way in which that traitor sought to bring me to an English block, +you will somewhat absolve me for the deed, and will grant that, +unhappy and unfortunate as it was, my passion was in some degree +justified." + +He then informed them of the bond into which he and Comyn had +entered, and of its betrayal by Comyn to Edward. + +"Thus it is," he said, "that the deed has taken place, and it +is too late to mend it. We have before us a desperate enterprise, +and yet I hope that we may succeed in it. At any rate, this time +there can be no drawing back, and we must conquer or die. It was +certain in any case that Comyn and his party would oppose me, but +now their hostility will go to all lengths, while Edward will never +forgive the attack upon his justiciaries. Still we shall have some +breathing time. The king will not hear for ten days of events here, +and it will take him two months at least before he can assemble +an army on the Border, and Comyn's friends will probably do nought +till the English approach. However, let us hurry to Lochmaben +Castle; there we shall be safe from any sudden attack by Comyn's +friends in Galloway. First let us draw out papers setting forth +the cause of my enmity to Comyn, and of the quarrel which led to +his death, and telling all Scotchmen that I have now cut myself +loose for ever from England, and that I have come to free Scotland +and to win the crown which belongs to me by right, or to die in +the attempt." + +Many of these documents being drawn out, messengers were despatched +with them to Bruce's friends throughout the country, and he and +his followers rode to Lochmaben. + +Archie Forbes went north to his own estate, and at once gave +notice to his retainers to prepare to take the field, and to march +to Glasgow, which Bruce had named as the rendezvous for all well +disposed towards him. From time to time messages came from Bruce, +telling him that he was receiving many promises of support; the +whole of the vassals of Annandale and Carrick had assembled at +Lochmaben, where many small landowners with their retainers also +joined him. As soon as his force had grown to a point when he +need fear no interruption on his march toward Glasgow, Bruce left +Lochmaben. On his way he was joined by the first influential +nobleman who had espoused his cause; this was Sir James Douglas, +whose father, Sir William, had died in an English prison. At the +time of his capture his estates had been bestowed by Edward upon +Lord Clifford, and the young Douglas, then but a lad, had sought +refuge in France. After a while he had returned, and was living +with Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews, who had been one of Wallace's +most active supporters. + +The young Douglas, on receiving the news that Bruce was marching +north, at once mounted, rode off, and joined him. He was joyfully +received by Bruce, as not only would his own influence be great +among his father's vassals of Douglasdale, but his adhesion would +induce many others to join. Receiving news of Bruce's march, +Archie moved to Glasgow with his retainers. The English garrison +and adherents in Glasgow fled at his approach. Upon arriving there +Bruce solemnly proclaimed the independence of Scotland, and sent +out notices to all the nobles and gentry, calling upon them to join +him. + +Fortunately the Bishop of St. Andrews, and Wishart, Bishop of +Glasgow, another of Wallace's friends, at once declared strongly +for him, as did the Bishop of Moray and the Abbot of Scone. The +adhesion of these prelates was of immense importance to Bruce, as +to some extent the fact of their joining him showed that the church +felt no overwhelming indignation at the act of sacrilege which he +had committed, and enabled the minor clergy to advocate his cause +with their flocks. + +Many of the great nobles hostile to the Comyn faction also joined +him; among these were the Earls of Athole, Lennox, Errol, and +Menteith; Christopher Seaton, Sir Simon Fraser, David Inchmartin, +Hugh de la Haye, Walter de Somerville, Robert Boyd, Robert Fleming, +David Barclay, Alexander Fraser, Sir Thomas Randolph, and Sir +Neil Campbell. Bruce's four brothers, Edward, Nigel, Thomas, and +Alexander, were, of course, with him. Bruce now moved from Glasgow +to Scone, and was there crowned King of Scotland on the 27th of +March, 1306, six weeks after his arrival at Dumfries. Since the +days of Malcolm Canmore the ceremony of placing the crown on the +head of the monarch had been performed by the representative of +the family of Macduff, the earls of Fife; the present earl was in +the service of the English; but his sister Isobel, wife of Comyn, +Earl of Buchan, rode into Scone with a train of followers upon the +day after the coronation, and demanded to perform the office which +was the privilege of the family. To this Bruce gladly assented, +seeing that many Scotchmen would hold the coronation to be irregular +from its not having been performed by the hereditary functionary, and +that as Isabel was the wife of Comyn of Buchan, her open adhesion +to him might influence some of that faction. Accordingly on the +following day the ceremony was again performed, Isobel of Buchan +placing the crown on Bruce's head, an act of patriotism for which +the unfortunate lady was afterwards to pay dearly. Thus, although +the great majority of the Scotch nobles still held aloof, Bruce was +now at the head of a considerable force, and he at once proceeded +to overrun the country. The numerous English who had come across +the Border, under the belief that Scotland was finally conquered, +or to take possession of lands granted them by Edward, were all +compelled either to take refuge in the fortified towns and castles +held by English garrisons, or to return hastily to England. + +When the news of the proceedings at Dumfries and the general +rising in the south of Scotland reached Edward he was at the city +of Winchester. He had been lately making a sort of triumphant +passage through the country, and the unexpected news that Scotland +which he had believed crushed beyond all possibility of further +resistance was again in arms, is said for a time to have driven +him almost out of his mind with rage. + +Not a moment was lost. Aylmer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, was at +once commissioned to proceed to Scotland, to "put down rebellion +and punish the rebels," the whole military array of the northern +counties was placed under his orders, and Clifford and Percy were +associated with him in the commission. Edward also applied to the +pope to aid him in punishing the sacrilegious rebels who had violated +the sanctuary of Dumfries. As Clement V was a native of Guienne, +and kept his court at Bordeaux within Edward's dominions, his +request was, of course, promptly complied with, and a bull issued, +instructing the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Carlisle to +excommunicate Bruce and his friends, and to place them and their +possessions under an interdict. It was now that the adhesion of +the Scottish prelates was of such vital consequence to Bruce. Had +the interdict been obeyed, the churches would have been closed, +all religious ceremonies suspended, the rites of the church would +have been refused even to dying men, and the dead would have been +buried without service in unconsecrated ground. So terrible a weapon +as this was almost always found irresistible, and its terrors had +compelled even the most powerful monarchs to yield obedience to +the pope's orders; but the Scotch prelates set the needs of their +country above the commands of the pope, and in spite of repeated bulls +the native clergy continued to perform their functions throughout +the whole struggle, and thus nullified the effect of the popish +anathema. + +King Edward was unable himself to lead his army against the Scots, +for he was now sixty-seven years old, and the vast fatigues and +exertions which he had undergone in the course of a life spent almost +continually in war had told upon him. He had partially lost the +use of his limbs, and was forced to travel in a carriage or litter; +but when he reached London from Winchester a grand ceremony was +held, at which the order of knighthood was conferred by the king +upon the Prince of Wales, and three hundred aspirants belonging to +the principal families of the country, and orders were given that +the whole military array of the kingdom should, in the following +spring, gather at Carlisle, where Edward himself would meet them +and accompany them to Scotland. The Earl of Pembroke, with Clifford +and Percy, lost no time in following the orders of Edward, and with +the military power of the northern counties marched into Scotland. +They advanced unopposed to the Forth, and crossing this river proceeded +towards Perth, near which town the Scottish army were gathered. +Archie Forbes, who stood very high in favour with Bruce, had urged +upon him the advantage of carrying out the tactics formerly adopted +by Wallace, and of compelling the enemy to fall back by cutting +off all food supplies, but Bruce would not, in this instance, be +guided by his counsel. + +"When the king advances next spring with his great army, Sir Archie, +I will assuredly adopt the course which you point out, seeing +that we could not hope to withstand so great an array in a pitched +battle; but the case is different now. In the first place all the +castles and towns are in the hands of the English, and from them +Pembroke can draw such provision as he needs. In the second place +his force is not so superior to our own but that we may fight him +with a fair hope of victory; and whereas Wallace had never any +cavalry with him, save at Falkirk when they deserted him at the +beginning of the battle, we have a strong body of mounted men-at-arms, +the retainers of the nobles with me, therefore I do not fear to +give them battle in the open field." + +In pursuance of this determination Bruce sent a challenge to Pembroke +to meet him with his army in the open field next day. Pembroke +accepted the challenge, and promised to meet his opponent on the +following morning, and the Scotch retired for the night to the +wood of Methven, near Perth. Here many of them set out on foraging +excursions, the knights laid aside their armour, and the army +prepared for sleep. + +Archie Forbes was much dissatisfied at the manner in which Bruce had +hazarded all the fortunes of Scotland on a pitched battle, thereby +throwing away the great advantage which their superior mobility and +knowledge of the country gave to the Scots. He had disarmed like +the rest, and was sitting by a fire chatting with William Orr and +Andrew Macpherson, who, as they had been his lieutenants in the +band of lads he had raised seven years before, now occupied the +same position among his retainers, each having the command of a +hundred men. Suddenly one who had been wandering outside the lines +in search of food among the farmhouses ran hastily in, shouting +that the whole English army was upon them. + +A scene of the utmost confusion took place. Bruce and his knights +hastily armed, and mounting their horses rode to meet the enemy. +There was no time to form ranks or to make any order of battle. +Archie sprang to his horse. He bade his lieutenants form the men +into a compact body and move forward, keeping the king's banner +ever in sight, and to cut their way to it whenever they saw it was +in danger. Then, followed by his two mounted squires, he rode after +the king. The contest of Methven can scarce be called a battle, for +the Scots were defeated before it began. Many, as has been said, +were away; great numbers of footmen instantly took flight and +dispersed in all directions. Here and there small bodies stood and +fought desperately, but being unsupported were overcome and slain. +The king with his knights fought with desperate bravery, spurring +hither and thither and charging furiously among the English +men-at-arms. Three times Bruce was unhorsed and as often remounted +by Sir Simon Fraser. Once he was so entirely cut off from his +companions by the desperation with which he had charged into the +midst of the English, that he was surrounded, struck from his horse, +and taken prisoner. + +"The king is taken!" Archie Forbes shouted; "ride in, my lords, +and rescue him." + +Most of the Scotch knights were so hardly pressed that they could +do nothing to aid the king; but Christopher Seaton joined Archie, +and the two knights charged into the midst of the throng of English +and cut their way to Bruce. Sir Philip Mowbray, who was beside +the captured monarch, was overthrown, and several others cut down. +Bruce leapt into his saddle again and the three for a time kept at +bay the circle of foemen; but such a conflict could have but one +end. Archie Forbes vied with the king in the strength and power of +his blows, and many of his opponents went down before him. There +was, however, no possibility of extricating themselves from the +mass of their foes, and Bruce, finding the conflict hopeless, was +again about to surrender when a great shout was heard, and a close +body of Scottish spearmen threw themselves into the ranks of the +English horse. Nothing could withstand the impetuosity of the +assault. The horsemen recoiled before the levelled spears, and the +pikemen, sweeping onward, surrounded the king and his companions. + +"Well done, my brave fellows!" Archie cried; "now keep together in +a close body and draw off the field." + +The darkness which had at first proved so disastrous to the Scots +was now favourable to them. The English infantry knew not what was +going on. The cavalry tried in vain to break through the ranks of +the spearmen, and these, keeping closely together, regained the +shelter of the wood, and drew off by way of Dunkeld and Killiecrankie +to the mountains of Athole. On their way they were joined by Edward +Bruce, the Earl of Athole, Sir Neil Campbell, Gilbert de la Haye, +and Douglas, and by many scattered footmen. + +To his grief Bruce learned that Randolph, Inchmartin, Somerville, +Alexander Fraser, Hugh de la Haye, and others had been captured, +but the number killed had been small. When once safe from pursuit +a council was held. It was agreed at once that it was impossible +that so large a body could find subsistence in the mountains of +Athole, cooped up as they were by their foes. The lowlands swarmed +with the English; to the north was Badenoch, the district of their +bitter enemies the Comyns; while westward lay the territory of +the MacDougalls of Lorne, whose chieftain, Alexander, was a nephew +by marriage of the Comyn killed by Bruce, and an adherent of the +English. + +Beyond an occasional deer, and the fish in the lochs and streams, +the country afforded no means of subsistence, it was therefore +decided to disband the greater portion of the force, the knights +and nobles, with a few of their immediate retainers, alone remaining +with the king, while the main body dispersed and regained their +homes. This was done; but a few days later a messenger came saying +that the queen, with the wives of many of the gentlemen, had arrived +at Aberdeen and sought to join the king. Although an accession +of numbers was by no means desirable, and the hardships of such +a life immense for ladies to support, there was no other resource +but for them to join the party, as they would otherwise have speedily +fallen into the hands of the English. Therefore Bruce, accompanied +by some of his followers, rode to Aberdeen and escorted the queen +and ladies to his mountain retreat. + +It was a strange life that Bruce, his queen, and his little court +led. Sleeping in rough arbours formed of boughs, the party supported +themselves by hunting and fishing. + +Gins and traps were set in the streams, and Douglas and Archie +were specially active in this pursuit; Archie's boyish experience +at Glen Cairn serving him in good stead. Between him and Sir James +Douglas a warm friendship had sprung up. Douglas was four years +his junior. As a young boy he had heard much of Archie's feats with +Wallace, and his father had often named him to him as conspicuous +for his bravery, as well as his youth. The young Douglas therefore +entertained the highest admiration for him, and had from the time +of his joining Bruce become his constant companion. + +Bruce himself was the life and soul of the party. He was ever +hopeful and in high spirits, cheering his followers by his gaiety, +and wiling away the long evenings by tales of adventure and chivalry, +told when they were gathered round the fire. + +Gradually the party made their way westward along Loch Tay and +Glen Dochart until they reached the head of Strathfillan; here, as +they were riding along a narrow pass, they were suddenly attacked +by Alexander MacDougall with a large gathering of his clansmen. +Several of the royal party were cut down at once, but Bruce with +his knights fought desperately. Archie Forbes with a few of the +others rallied round the queen with her ladies, and repelled every +effort of the wild clansmen to break through, and continued to draw +off gradually down the glen. Bruce, with Douglas, De la Haye, and +some others, formed the rearguard and kept back the mass of their +opponents. De la Haye and Douglas were both wounded, but the little +party continued to show a face to their foes until they reached +a spot where the path lay between a steep hill on one side and +the lake on the other. Then Bruce sent his followers ahead, and +himself covered the rear. Suddenly three of the MacDougalls, who +had climbed the hillside, made a spring upon him from above. One +leapt on to the horse behind the king, and attempted to hold his +arms, another seized his bridle rein, while the third thrust his +hand between Bruce's leg and the saddle to hurl him from his horse. +The path was too narrow for Bruce to turn his horse, and spurring +forward he pressed his leg so close to the saddle that he imprisoned +the arm of the assailant beneath it and dragged him along with +him, while with a blow of his sword he smote off the arm of him +who grasped the rein. Then, turning in his saddle, he seized his +assailant who was behind him and by main strength wrenched him round +to the pommel of the saddle and there slew him. Then he turned and +having cut down the man whose arm he held beneath his leg, he rode +on and joined his friends. + +In the course of the struggle the brooch which fastened his cloak +was lost. This was found by the MacDougalls and carried home as +a trophy, and has been preserved by the family ever since, with +apparently as much pride as if it had been proof of the fidelity +and patriotism of their ancestors, instead of being a memento of +the time when, as false and disloyal Scotchmen, they fought with +England against Scotland's king and deliverer. + + + + +Chapter XIII + +The Castle of Dunstaffnage + + +Bruce's party were now more than ever straitened for provisions, +since they had to depend almost entirely upon such fish as they +might catch, as it was dangerous to stray far away in pursuit of +deer. Archie, however, with his bow and arrows ventured several +times to go hunting in order to relieve the sad condition of the +ladies, and succeeded two or three times in bringing a deer home +with him. + +He had one day ventured much further away than usual. He had not +succeeded in finding a stag, and the ladies had for more than a +week subsisted entirely on fish. He therefore determined to continue +the search, however long, until he found one. He had crossed several +wooded hills, and was, he knew, leagues away from the point where +he had left his party, when, suddenly emerging from a wood, he came +upon a road just at the moment when a party some twenty strong of +wild clansmen were traversing it. On a palfrey in their centre was +a young lady whom they were apparently escorting. They were but +twenty yards away when he emerged from the wood, and on seeing him +they drew their claymores and rushed upon him. Perceiving that +flight from these swift footed mountaineers would be impossible, +Archie threw down his bow and arrows, and, drawing his sword, placed +his back against a tree, and prepared to defend himself until the +last. + +Parrying the blows of the first two who arrived he stretched them +dead upon the ground, and was then at once attacked by the whole of +the party together. Two more of his assailants fell by his sword; +but he must have been soon overpowered and slain, when the young +lady, whose cries to her followers to cease had been unheeded in +the din of the conflict, spurred her palfrey forward and broke into +the ring gathered round Archie. + +The clansmen drew back a pace, and Archie lowered his sword. + +"Desist," she cried to the former in a tone of command, "or my uncle +Alexander will make you rue the day when you disobeyed my orders. +I will answer for this young knight. And now, sir," she said, +turning to Archie, "do you surrender your sword to me, and yield +yourself up a prisoner. Further resistance would be madness; you +have done too much harm already. I promise you your life if you +will make no further resistance." + +"Then, lady," Archie replied, handing his sword to her, "I willingly +yield myself your prisoner, and thank you for saving my life from +the hands of your savage followers." + +The young lady touched the hilt of his sword, and motioned him to +replace it in its scabbard. + +"You must accompany me," she said, "to the abode of my uncle Alexander +MacDougall. I would," she continued, as, with Archie walking beside +her palfrey, while the Highlanders, with sullen looks, kept close +behind, muttering angrily to themselves at having been cheated by +the young lady of their vengeance upon the man who had slain four +of their number, "that I could set you at liberty, but my authority +over my uncle's clansmen does not extend so far; and did I bid them +let you go free they would assuredly disobey me. You are, as I +can see by your attire, one of the Bruce's followers, for no other +knight could be found wandering alone through these woods." + +"Yes, lady," Archie said, "I am Sir Archibald Forbes, one of the +few followers of the King of Scotland." + +The lady gave a sudden start when Archie mentioned his name, and +for some little time did not speak again. + +"I would," she said at last in a low voice, "that you had been +any other, seeing that Alexander MacDougall has a double cause of +enmity against you--firstly, as being a follower of Bruce, who +slew his kinsman Comyn, and who has done but lately great harm to +himself and his clansmen; secondly, as having dispossessed Allan +Kerr, who is also his relative, of his lands and castle. My uncle +is a man of violent passions, and"--she hesitated. + +"And he may not, you think," Archie went on, "respect your promise +for my life. If that be so, lady--and from what I have heard of +Alexander MacDougall it is like enough--I beg you to give me back +my surrender, for I would rather die here, sword in hand, than be +put to death in cold blood in the castle of Dunstaffnage." + +"No," the lady said, "that cannot be. Think you I could see you +butchered before mine eyes after having once surrendered yourself +to me? No, sir. I beseech you act not so rashly--that were certain +death; and I trust that my uncle, hostile as he may be against you, +will not inflict such dishonour upon me as to break the pledge I +have given for your safety." + +Archie thought from what he had heard of the MacDougall that his +chance was a very slight one. Still, as the young ever cling to hope, +and as he would assuredly be slain by the clansmen, he thought it +better to take the chance, small as it was, and so continued his +march by the side of his captor's palfrey. + +After two hours' journey they neared the castle of Alexander +of Lorne. Archie could not repress a thrill of apprehension as he +looked at the grim fortress and thought of the character of its +lord; but his bearing showed no fear, as, conversing with the young +lady, he approached the entrance. The gate was thrown open, and +Alexander of Lorne himself issued out with a number of retainers. + +"Ah! Marjory!" he said, "I am glad to see your bonny face at +Dunstaffnage. It is three months since you left us, and the time +has gone slowly; the very dogs have been pining for your voice. +But who have we here?" he exclaimed, as his eye fell upon Archie. + +"It is a wandering knight, uncle," Marjory said lightly, "whom +I captured in the forest on my way hither. He fought valiantly +against Murdoch and your followers, but at last he surrendered to +me on my giving him my pledge that his life should be safe, and +that he should be treated honourably. Such a pledge I am sure, +uncle," she spoke earnestly now, "you will respect." + +Alexander MacDougall's brow was as black as night, and he spoke in +Gaelic with his followers. + +"What!" he said angrily to the girl; "he has killed four of my +men, and is doubtless one of Bruce's party who slipped through my +fingers the other day and killed so many of my kinsmen and vassals. +You have taken too much upon yourself, Marjory. It is not by you +that he has been made captive, but by my men, and you had no power +to give such promise as you have made. Who is this young springall?" + +"I am Sir Archibald Forbes," Archie said proudly--"a name which +may have reached you even here." + +"Archibald Forbes!" exclaimed MacDougall furiously. "What! the +enemy and despoiler of the Kerrs! Had you a hundred lives you +should die. Didst know this, Marjory?" he said furiously to the +girl. "Didst know who this young adventurer was when you asked his +life of me?" + +"I did, uncle," the girl said fearlessly. "I did not know his name +when he surrendered to me, and afterwards, when he told me, what +could I do? I had given my promise, and I renewed it; and I trust, +dear uncle, that you will respect and not bring dishonour upon it." + +"Dishonour!" MacDougall said savagely; "the girl has lost her senses. +I tell you he should die if every woman in Scotland had given her +promise for his life. Away with him!" he said to his retainers; +"take him to the chamber at the top of the tower; I will give him +till tomorrow to prepare for death, for by all the saints I swear +he shall hang at daybreak. As to you, girl, go to your chamber, +and let me not see your face again till this matter is concluded. +Methinks a madness must have fallen upon you that you should thus +venture to lift your voice for a Forbes." + +The girl burst into tears as Archie was led away. His guards took +him to the upper chamber in a turret, a little room of some seven +feet in diameter, and there, having deprived him of his arms, they +left him, barring and bolting the massive oaken door behind them. + +Archie had no hope whatever that Alexander MacDougall would change +his mind, and felt certain that the following dawn would be his +last. Of escape there was no possibility; the door was solid and +massive, the window a mere narrow loophole for archers, two or +three inches wide; and even had he time to enlarge the opening he +would be no nearer freedom, for the moat lay full eighty feet below. + +"I would I had died sword in hand!" he said bitterly; "then it +would have been over in a moment." + +Then he thought of the girl to whom he had surrendered his sword. + +"It was a sweet face and a bright one," he said; "a fairer and +brighter I never saw. It is strange that I should meet her now +only when I am about to die." Then he thought of the agony which +his mother would feel at the news of his death and at the extinction +of their race. Sadly he paced up and down his narrow cell till +night fell. None took the trouble to bring him food--considering, +doubtless, that he might well fast till morning. When it became +dark he lay down on the hard stone, and, with his arm under his head +was soon asleep--his last determination being that if possible +he would snatch a sword or dagger from the hand of those who came +to take him to execution, and so die fighting; or if that were +impossible, he would try to burst from them and to end his life by +a leap from the turret. + +He was awakened by a slight noise at the door, and sprang to his +feet instantly, believing that day was at hand and his hour had +come. To his surprise a voice, speaking scarcely above a whisper, +said: + +"Hush! my son, make no noise; I am here as a friend." Then the +door closed, and Archie's visitor produced a lighted lantern from +the folds of his garments, and Archie saw that a priest stood before +him. + +"I thank you, father," he said gratefully; "you have doubtless come +to shrive me, and I would gladly listen to your ministrations. I +would fain intrust you, too, with a message to my mother if you +will take it for me; and I would fain also that you told the Lady +Marjory that she must not grieve for my death, or feel that she is +in any way dishonoured by it, seeing that she strove to her utmost +to keep her promise, and is in no way to blame that her uncle has +overriden her." + +"You can even give her your message yourself, sir knight," the +priest said, "seeing that the wilful girl has herself accompanied +me hither." + +Thus saying, he stepped aside, and Archie perceived, standing +behind the priest, a figure who, being in deep shadow, he had not +hitherto seen. She came timidly forward, and Archie, bending on +one knee, took the hand she held out and kissed it. + +"Lady," he said, "you have heard my message; blame not yourself, +I beseech you, for my death. Remember that after all you have +lengthened my life and not shortened it, seeing that but for your +interference I must have been slain as I stood, by your followers. +It was kind and good of you thus to come to bid me farewell." + +"But I have not come to bid you farewell. Tell him, good Father +Anselm, our purpose here." + +"'Tis a mad brain business," the priest said, shrugging his shoulders; +"and, priest though I am, I shall not care to meet MacDougall in +the morning. However, since this wilful girl wills it, what can I +do? I have been her instructor since she was a child; and instead +of being a docile and obedient pupil, she has been a tyrannical +master to me; and I have been so accustomed to do her will in all +things that I cannot say her nay now. I held out as long as I could; +but what can a poor priest do against sobs and tears? So at last +I have given in and consented to risk the MacDougall's anger, to +bring smiles into her face again. I have tried in vain to persuade +her that since it is the chief's doing, your death will bring no +dishonour upon her. I have offered to absolve her from the promise, +and if she has not faith in my power to do so, to write to the +pope himself and ask for his absolution for any breach that there +may be; but I might as well have spoken to the wind. When a young +lady makes up her mind, stone walls are less difficult to move; so +you see here we are. Wound round my waist are a hundred feet of +stout rope, with knots tied three feet apart. We have only now to +ascend the stairs to the platform above and fix the rope, and in +an hour you will be far away among the woods." + +Archie's heart bounded with joy with the hope of life and freedom; +but he said quietly, "I thank you, dear lady, with all my heart for +your goodness; but I could not accept life at the cost of bringing +your uncle's anger upon you." + +"You need not fear for that," the girl replied. "My uncle is +passionate and headstrong--unforgiving to his foes or those he +deems so, but affectionate to those he loves. I have always been his +pet; and though, doubtless, his anger will be hot just at first, +it will pass away after a time. Let no scruple trouble you on that +score; and I would rather put up with a hundred beatings than live +with the knowledge that one of Scotland's bravest knights came to +his end by a breach of my promise. Though my uncle and all my people +side with the English, yet do not I; and I think the good father +here, though from prudence he says but little, is a true Scotsman +also. I have heard of your name from childhood as the companion +and friend of Wallace, and as one of the champions of our country; +and though by blood I ought to hate you, my feelings have been very +different. But now stand talking no longer; the castle is sound +asleep, but I tremble lest some mischance should mar our plans." + +"That is good sense," Father Anselm said; "and remember, not a +word must be spoken when we have once left this chamber. There is +a sentry at the gate; and although the night is dark, and I deem +not that he can see us, yet must we observe every precaution." + +"Holy father," Archie said, "no words of mine can thank you for +the part which you are playing tonight. Believe me, Archie Forbes +will ever feel grateful for your kindness and aid; and should you +ever quit Dunstaffnage you will be welcomed at Aberfilly Castle. As +to you, lady, henceforth Archie Forbes is your knight and servant. +You have given me my life, and henceforth I regard it as yours. Will +you take this ring as my token? Should you ever send it to me, in +whatever peril or difficulty you may be, I will come to your aid +instantly, even should it reach me in a stricken battle. Think not +that I speak the language of idle gallantry. Hitherto my thoughts +have been only on Scotland, and no maiden has ever for an instant +drawn them from her. Henceforth, though I fight for Scotland, yet +will my country have a rival in my heart; and even while I charge +into the ranks of the English, the fair image of Marjory MacDougall +will be in my thoughts." + +Father Anselm gave a slight start of surprise as Archie concluded, +and would have spoken had not the girl touched him lightly. She +took the pledge from Archie and said, "I will keep your ring, Sir +Archibald Forbes; and should I ever have occasion for help I will +not forget your promise. As to your other words, I doubt not that +you mean them now; but it is unlikely, though I may dwell in your +thoughts, that you will ever in the flesh see Marjory MacDougall, +between whose house and yours there is, as you know, bitter enmity." + +"There! there!" Father Anselm said impatiently; "enough, and more +than enough talk. Go to the door, Sir Archibald, and prepare to +open it directly I have blown out the light. The way up the stairs +lies on your right hand as you go out." + +Not another word was spoken. Noiselessly the little party made their +way to the roof; there one end of the rope was quickly knotted round +the battlement. Archie grasped the good priest's hand, and kissed +that of the girl; and then, swinging himself off the battlement, +disappeared at once in the darkness. Not a sound was heard for +some time, then the listening pair above heard a faint splash in +the water. The priest laid his hands on the rope and found that it +swung slack in the air; he hauled it up and twisted it again round +his waist. As he passed the door of the cell he pushed it to and +replaced the bars and bolts, and then with his charge regained the +portion of the castle inhabited by the family. + +A few vigorous strokes took Archie across the moat, and an hour +later he was deep in the heart of the forest. Before morning broke +he was far beyond the risk of pursuit; and, taking the bearings of +the surrounding hills, he found himself, after some walking, at the +spot where he had left the royal party. As he had expected, it was +deserted; he, however, set out on the traces of the party, and that +night overtook them at their next encampment. + +With the reticence natural to young lovers Archie felt a disinclination +to speak of what had happened, or of the services which Marjory +MacDougall had rendered him. As it was naturally supposed that he +had lost his way in the woods on the previous day, and had not reached +the encampment in the morning, until after they had started, few +questions were asked, and indeed the thoughts of the whole party +were occupied with the approaching separation which the night +before they had agreed was absolutely necessary. The ladies were +worn out with their fatigues and hardships, and the Earl of Athole, +and some of the other elder men, were also unable longer to support +it. Winter was close at hand, and the hardships would increase ten +fold in severity. Therefore it was concluded that the time had come +when they must separate, and that the queen and her companions, +accompanied by those who could still be mounted, should seek shelter +in Bruce's strong castle of Kildrummy. The Earl of Athole and the +king's brother Nigel were in charge of the party. + +Bruce with his remaining companions determined to proceed into +Kintyre, the country of Sir Neil Campbell, and thence to cross for +a time to the north of Ireland. Sir Neil accordingly started to +obtain the necessary vessels, and the king and his company followed +slowly. To reach the Firth of Clyde it was necessary to cross Loch +Lomond. This was a difficult undertaking; but after great search +Sir James Douglas discovered a small boat sunk beneath the surface +of the lake. On being pulled out it was found to be old and leaky, +and would hold at best but three. With strips torn from their garments +they stopped the leaks as best they could, and then started across +the lake. There were two hundred to cross, and the passage occupied +a night and a day; those who could not swim being taken over in the +boat, while the swimmers kept alongside and when fatigued rested +their hands on her gunwales. They were now in the Lennox country, +and while Bruce and his friends were hunting, they were delighted +to come across the Earl of Lennox and some of his companions, +who had found refuge there after the battle of Methven. Although +himself an exile and a fugitive the earl was in his own country, +and was therefore able to entertain the king and his companions +hospitably, and the rest and feeling of security were welcome indeed +after the past labours and dangers. + +After a time Sir Neil Campbell arrived with the vessels, and, +accompanied by the Earl of Lennox, Bruce and his companions embarked +at a point near Cardross. They sailed down the Clyde and round +the south end of Arran, until, after many adventures and dangers, +they reached the Castle of Dunaverty, on the south point of the Mull +of Kintyre, belonging to Angus, chief of Islay. Here they waited +for some time, but not feeling secure even in this secluded spot +from the vengeance of their English and Scottish foes, they again +set sail and landed at the Isle of Rathlin, almost midway between +Ireland and Scotland. Hitherto Robert Bruce had received but little +of that support which was so freely given to Wallace by the Scotch +people at large; nor is this a matter for surprise. Baliol and +Comyn had in turn betrayed the country to the English, and Bruce +had hitherto been regarded as even more strongly devoted to the +English cause than they had been. Thus the people viewed his attempt +rather as an effort to win a throne for himself than as one to free +Scotland from English domination. They had naturally no confidence +in the nobles who had so often betrayed them, and Bruce especially +had, three or four times already, after taking up arms, made his +peace with England and fought against the Scots. Therefore, at first +the people looked on at the conflict with comparative indifference. +They were ready enough to strike for freedom, as they had proved +when they had rallied round Wallace, but it was necessary before +they did so that they should possess confidence in their leaders. +Such confidence they had certainly no cause whatever to feel in +Bruce. The time was yet to come when they should recognize in him a +leader as bold, as persevering, and as determined as Wallace himself. + +The people of Rathlin were rude and ignorant, but simple and +hospitable. The island contained nothing to attract either adventurers +or traders, and it was seldom, therefore, that ships touched there, +consequently there was little fear that the news of the sojourn of +the Scotch king and his companions would reach the mainland, and +indeed the English remained in profound ignorance as to what had +become of the fugitives, and deemed them to be still in hiding +somewhere among the western hills. + +Edward had in council issued a proclamation commanding "all the +people of the country to pursue and search for all who had been in +arms and had not surrendered, also all who had been guilty of other +crimes, and to deliver them up dead or alive, and that whosoever +were negligent in the discharge of his duty should forfeit their +castles and be imprisoned." + +Pembroke, the guardian, was to punish at his discretion all who +harboured offenders. Those who abetted the slayers of Comyn, or who +knowingly harboured them or their accomplices, were to be "drawn +and hanged," while all who surrendered were to be imprisoned during +the king's pleasure. The edict was carried out to the letter, and +the English soldiery, with the aid of the Scotch of their party, +scoured the whole country, putting to the sword all who were found +in arms or under circumstances of suspicion. + + + + +Chapter XIV + +Colonsay + + +Archie, having little else to do, spent much of his time in fishing. +As a boy he had learned to be fond of the sport in the stream of +Glen Cairn; but the sea was new to him, and whenever the weather +permitting he used to go out with the natives in their boats. The +Irish coast was but a few miles away, but there was little traffic +between Rathlin and the mainland. The coast there is wild and +forbidding, and extremely dangerous in case of a northerly gale +blowing up suddenly. The natives were a wild and savage race, and +many of those who had fought to the last against the English refused +to submit when their chiefs laid down their arms, and took refuge +in the many caves and hiding places afforded in the wild and broken +country on the north coast. + +Thus no profitable trade was to be carried on with the Irish +mainland. The people of Rathlin were themselves primitive in their +ways. Their wants were few and easily satisfied. The wool of their +flocks furnished them with clothing, and they raised sufficient grain +in sheltered spots to supply them with meal, while an abundance of +food could be always obtained from the sea. In fine weather they +took more than sufficient for their needs, and dried the overplus +to serve them when the winter winds kept their boats from putting +out. Once or twice in the year their largest craft, laden with dried +fish, would make across to Ayr, and there disposing of its cargo +would bring back such articles as were needed, and more precious +still, the news of what was passing in the world, of which the +simple islanders knew so little. Even more than fishing, Archie +loved when the wind blew wildly to go down to the shore and watch +the great waves rolling in and dashing themselves into foam on +the rocky coast. This to him was an entirely new pleasure, and he +enjoyed it intensely. Perched on some projecting rock out of reach +of the waves, he would sit for hours watching the grand scene, +sometimes alone, sometimes with one or two of his comrades. The +influx of a hundred visitors had somewhat straitened the islanders, +and the fishermen were forced to put to sea in weather when they +would not ordinarily have launched their boats, for in the winter +they seldom ventured out unless the previous season had been +unusually bad, and the stores of food laid by insufficient for winter +consumption. Archie generally went out with an old man, who with +two grownup sons owned a boat. They were bold and skilful fishermen, +and often put to sea when no other boat cared to go out. + +One evening the old man, as usual before going to sea, came into +the hut which Archie and Sir James Douglas inhabited, and told him +that he was going out early the next morning. "Fish are scarce," +he said, "and it would be a disgrace on us islanders if our guests +were to run short of food." + +"I shall be ready, Donald," Archie replied, "and I hope we shall +have good sport." + +"I can't see what pleasure you take, Sir Archie," the young Douglas +said, when the fisherman had left, "in being tossed up and down on +the sea in a dirty boat, especially when the wind is high and the +sea rough." + +"I like it best then," Archie replied; "when the men are rowing +against the wind, and the waves dash against the boat and the spray +comes over in blinding showers, I feel very much the same sort of +excitement as I do in a battle. It is a strife with the elements +instead of with men, but the feeling in both cases is akin, and +I feel the blood dancing fast through my veins and my lips set +tightly together, just as when I stand shoulder to shoulder with +my retainers, and breast the wave of English horsemen." + +"Well, each to his taste, I suppose," Douglas said, laughing; "I +have not seen much of war yet, and I envy you with all my heart the +fights which you have gone through; but I can see no amusement in +getting drenched to the skin by the sea. I think I can understand +your feeling, though, for it is near akin to my own when I sit on +the back of a fiery young horse, who has not yet been broken, and +feel him battle with his will against mine, and bound, and rear, +and curvet in his endeavours to throw me, until at last he is +conquered and obeys the slightest touch of the rein." + +"No doubt it is the same feeling," Archie replied; "it is the joy +of strife in another form. For myself, I own I would rather fight +on foot than on horseback; I can trust myself better than I can +trust my steed, can wheel thrice while he is turning once, can defend +both sides equally well; whereas on horseback, not only have I to +defend myself but my horse, which is far more difficult, and if he +is wounded and falls I may be entangled under him and be helpless +at the mercy of an opponent." + +"But none acquitted them better on horseback at Methven than you +did, Sir Archie," the young fellow said, admiringly. "Did you not +save the king, and keep at bay his foes till your retainers came +up with their pikes and carried him off from the centre of the +English chivalry?" + +"I did my best," Archie said, "as one should always do; but I felt +even then that I would rather have been fighting on foot." + +"That is because you have so much skill with your weapon, Sir +Archie," Douglas said. "On horseback with mace or battleaxe it is +mainly a question of sheer strength, and though you are very strong +there are others who are as strong as you. Now, it is allowed that +none of the king's knights and followers are as skilful as you +with the sword, and even the king himself, who is regarded as the +second best knight in Europe, owns that on foot and with a sword +he has no chance against you. That we all saw when you practiced +for the amusement of the queen and her ladies in the mountains of +Lennox. None other could even touch you, while you dented all our +helmets and armour finely with that sword of yours. Had we continued +the sport there would not have been a whole piece of armour among +us save your own harness." + +Archie laughed. "I suppose, Douglas, we all like best that in which +we most excel. There are many knights in the English army who would +assuredly overthrow me either in the tilting ring or in the field, +for I had not the training on horseback when quite young which is +needed to make a perfect knight, while I had every advantage in the +learning of sword playing, and I stick to my own trade. The world +is beginning to learn that a man on foot is a match for a +horseman--Wallace taught Europe that lesson. They are slow to believe it, +for hitherto armed knights have deemed themselves invincible, and +have held in contempt all foot soldiers. Stirling, and Falkirk, +and Loudon Hill have taught them the difference, but it will be a +long time before they fairly own a fact so mortifying to chivalry; +but the time will come, be well assured, when battles will be +fought almost with infantry alone. Upon them the brunt of the day +will fall, and by them will victory be decided, while horsemen +will be used principally for pursuing the foe when he is broken, +for covering the retreat of infantry by desperate charges, or by +charging into the midst of a fray when the infantry are broken." + +"All the better for Scotland," James Douglas said, cheerfully. +"We are not a nation of horsemen, and our mountains and hills, our +forests and morasses, are better adapted for infantry than cavalry; +so if ever the change you predict come to pass we shall be gainers +by it." + +At daybreak next morning Archie went down to the cove where his +friend the fisherman kept his boat. The old man and his two sons +were already there, but had not launched their craft. + +"I like not the look of the weather," the fisherman said when +Archie joined him. "The sky is dull and heavy, the sea is black +and sullen, but there is a sound in the waves as they break against +the rocks which seems to tell of a coming storm. I think, however, +it will be some hours before it breaks, and if we have luck we may +get a haul or two before it comes on." + +"I am ready to go or stay," Archie said; "I have no experience in +your weather here, and would not urge you against your own judgment, +whatever it be; but if you put out I am ready to go with you." + +"We will try it," the fisherman said, "for food is running short; +but we will not go far from the shore, so that we can pull back if +the weather gets worse." + +The boat was soon launched, the nets and oars were already on +board, and they quickly put out from the shore. The boat carried +a small square sail, which was used when running before the wind. +In those days the art of navigation was in its infancy, and the art +of tacking against the wind had scarcely begun to be understood; +indeed, so high were the ships out of water, with their lofty poops +and forecastles, that it was scarce possible to sail them on a +wind, so great was the leeway they made. Thus when contrary winds +came mariners anchored and waited as patiently as they might for +a change, and voyage to a port but two days' sail with a favouring +wind was a matter of weeks when it was foul. + +After rowing a mile from land the nets were put out, and for some +time they drifted near these. From time to time the old fisherman +cast an anxious eye at the sky. + +"We must get in our nets," he said at last decidedly; "the wind is +rising fast, and is backing from the west round to the south. Be +quick, lads, for ere long the gale will be on us in its strength, +and if 'tis from the south we may well be blown out to sea." + +Without a moment's delay the fishermen set to work to get in the nets, +Archie lending a hand to assist them. The younger men thoroughly +agreed in their father's opinion of the weather, but they knew too +well the respect due to age to venture upon expressing an opinion +until he had first spoken. The haul was a better one than they had +expected, considering that the net had been down but two hours. + +"'Tis not so bad," the fisherman said, "and the catch will be right +welcome--that is," he added, as he looked toward the land, "if +we get it safely on shore." + +The wind was now blowing strongly, but if it did not rise the boat +would assuredly make the land. Archie took the helm, having learned +somewhat of the steering on previous excursions, and the three +fishermen tugged at the oars. It was a cross sea, for although the +wind now blew nearly in their teeth, it had until the last half +hour been from the west, and the waves were rolling in from the +Atlantic. The boat, however, made fair progress, and Archie began +to think that the doubts of the fishermen as to their making the +shore were in no wise justified, when suddenly a gust, far stronger +than those they had hitherto met, struck the boat. "Keep her head +straight!" the fisherman shouted. "Don't let the wind take it one +side or the other. Stick to it, boys; row your hardest; it is on +us now and in earnest, I fear." + +The three men bent to their oars, but Archie felt that they were +no longer making headway. The boat was wide and high out of the +water; a good sea boat, but very hard to row against the wind. +Although the men strained at the oars, till Archie expected to see +the tough staves crack under their efforts, the boat did not seem +to move. Indeed it appeared to Archie that in the brief space when +the oars were out of the water the wind drove her further back than +the distance she had gained in the last stroke. He hoped, however, +that the squall was merely temporary, and that when it subsided +there would still be no difficulty in gaining the land. His hope +was not realized. Instead of abating, the wind appeared each moment +to increase in force. Clouds of spray were blown on the top of +the waves, so that at times Archie could not see the shore before +him. For nearly half an hour the fishermen struggled on, but +Archie saw with dismay that the boat was receding from the shore, +and that they had already lost the distance they had gained before +the squall struck them. The old fisherman looked several times over +his shoulder. + +"It is of no use," he said at last; "we shall never make Rathlin, +and must even run before the gale. Put up the helm, young sir, and +take her round. Wait a moment till the next wave has passed under +us--now!" In another minute the boat's head was turned from land, +and she was speeding before the gale. + +"In with your oars, lads, and rig the mast, reef down the sail to +the last point; we must show a little to keep her dead before the +wind; we shall have a tremendous sea when we are once fairly away +from the shelter of the island. This gale will soon knock up the +sea, and with the cross swell from the Atlantic it will be as much +as we can do to carry through it." + +The mast was stepped and a mere rag of sail hoisted, but this was +sufficient to drive the boat through the water at a great speed. +The old fisherman was steering now, and when the sail was hoisted +the four men all gathered in the stern of the boat. + +"You will go between Islay and Jura, I suppose," one of the younger +men said. + +"Ay," his father said briefly; "the sea will be too high to windward +of Islay." + +"Could we not keep inside Jura?" Archie suggested; "and shelter in +some of the harbours on the coast of Argyle?" + +"Ay," the old man said; "could we be sure of doing that it would +be right enough, but, strong as the wind is blowing her, it will +be stronger still when we get in the narrow waters between the +islands and the mainland, and it would be impossible to keep her +even a point off the wind; then if we missed making a harbour we +should be driven up through the Strait of Corrievrekan, and the +biggest ship which sails from a Scottish port would not live in the +sea which will be running there. No, it will be bad enough passing +between Islay and Jura; if we get safely through that I shall try +to run into the narrow strait between Colonsay and Oronsay; there +we should have good and safe shelter. If we miss that, we must +run inside Mull--for there will be no getting without it--and +either shelter behind Lismore island far up the strait, or behind +Kerara, or into the passage to Loch Etive." + +"It will not be the last, I hope," Archie said, "for there stands +Dunstaffnage Castle, and the lands all belong to the MacDougalls. +It is but two months back I was a prisoner there, and though I then +escaped, assuredly if I again get within its walls I shall never +go out again. As well be drowned here." + +"Then we will hope," the fisherman said, "that 'tis into some other +harbour that this evil wind may blow us; but as you see, young sir, +the gale is the master and not we, and we must needs go where it +chooses to take us." + +Fiercer and fiercer blew the gale; a tremendous cross sea was now +running, and the boat, stout and buoyant as she was, seemed every +moment as if she would be engulfed in the chaos of water. Small as +the sail had been it had been taken down and lashed with ropes to +the yard, so that now only about three square feet of canvas was +set. + +"We can show a little more," the fisherman shouted in Archie's ear, +"when we get abreast of Islay, for we shall then be sheltered from +the sea from the west, and can run more boldly with only a following +sea; but till we get out of this cross tumble we must not carry +on, we only want steerage way to keep her head straight." + +Never before had Archie Forbes seen a great gale in all its strength +at sea, for those which had occurred while at Rathlin were as nothing +to the present; and although on the hillside round Glen Cairn the +wind sometimes blew with a force which there was no withstanding, +there was nothing to impress the senses as did this wild confusion +and turmoil of water. Buoyant as was the boat, heavy seas often broke +on board her, and two hands were constantly employed in bailing; +still Archie judged from the countenance of the men that they did +not deem the position desperate, and that they believed the craft +would weather the gale. Towards midday, although the wind blew +as strongly as ever, there was a sensible change in the motion of +the boat. She no longer was tossed up and down with jerky and sudden +motion, as the waves seemed to rise directly under her, but rose +and fell on the following waves with a steady and regular motion. + +"We are well abreast of Islay," the old fisherman said when Archie +remarked on the change to him. "There! do you not see that dark +bank through the mist; that is Islay. We have no longer a cross sea, +and can show a little more sail to keep her from being pooped. We +will bear a little off toward the land--we must keep it in sight, +and not too far on our left, otherwise we may miss the straits and +run on to Jura." + +A little more sail was accordingly shown to the gale, and the boat +scudded along at increased speed. + +"How far is it to Colonsay?" Archie asked. + +"Between fifty and sixty miles from Rathlin," the fisherman said. +"It was eight o'clock when we started, ten when the squall struck +us, it will be dark by four, and fast as we are running we shall +scarcely be in time to catch the last gleam of day. Come, boys," +he said to his sons, "give her a little more canvas still, for it +is life and death to reach Colonsay before nightfall, for if we +miss it we shall be dashed on to the Mull long before morning." + +A little more sail was accordingly shown, and the boat tore through +the water at what seemed to Archie to be tremendous speed; but she +was shipping but little water now, for though the great waves as +they neared her stern seemed over and over again to Archie as if +they would break upon her and send her instantly to the bottom, +the stout boat always lifted lightly upon them until he at length +felt free from apprehension on that score. Presently the fisherman +pointed out a dark mass over their other bow. + +"That is Jura," he said; "we are fair for the channel, lads, but +you must take in the sail again to the smallest rag, for the wind +will blow through the gap between the islands with a force fit to +tear the mast out of her." + +Through the rest of his life Archie Forbes regarded that passage +between Islay and Jura as the most tremendous peril he had ever +encountered. Strong as the wind had been before, it was as nothing +to the force with which it swept down the strait--the height of +the waves was prodigious, and the boat, as it passed over the crest +of a wave, seemed to plunge down a very abyss. The old fisherman +crouched low in the boat, holding the helm, while the other three +lay on the planks in the bottom. Speech was impossible, for the +loudest shouts would have been drowned in the fury of the storm. In +half an hour the worst was over. They were through the straits and +out in the open sea again, but Islay now made a lee for them, and +the sea, high as it was, was yet calm in comparison to the tremendous +waves in the Strait of Jura. More sail was hoisted again, and in +an hour the fisherman said, "Thank God, there are the islands." +The day was already fading, and Archie could with difficulty make +out the slightly dark mass to which the helm pointed. + +"Is that Colonsay?" he asked. + +"It is Oronsay," the fisherman said. "The islands are close together +and seem as if they had once been one, but have been cleft asunder +by the arm of a giant. The strait between them is very narrow, and +once within it we shall be perfectly sheltered. We must make as +close to the point of the island as we can well go, so as not to +touch the rocks, and then turn and enter the strait. If we keep +out any distance we shall be blown past the entrance, and then our +only remaining chance is to try and run her on to Colonsay, and +take the risk of being drowned as she is dashed upon the rocks." + +The light had almost faded when they ran along at the end of Oronsay. +Archie shuddered as he saw the waves break upon the rocks and fly +high up into the air, and felt how small was the chance of their +escape should they be driven on a coast like that. They were but +fifty yards from the point when they came abreast of its extremity; +then the fisherman put down the helm and turned her head towards +the strait, which opened on their left. + +"Down with the sail and mast, lads, and out with your oars; we must +row her in." + +Not a moment was lost, the sail was lowered, the mast unstepped, +and the oars got out, with a speed which showed how urgent was +the occasion. Archie, who did not feel confidence in his power +to manager her now in such a sea, took his seat by the man on the +stroke thwart, and double banked his oar. Five minutes desperate +rowing and they were under shelter of Oronsay, and were rowing more +quickly up the narrow strait and towards the shore of Colonsay, +where they intended to land. A quarter of an hour more and they +stepped ashore. + +The old fisherman raised his hat reverently. "Let us thank God +and all the saints," he said, "who have preserved us through such +great danger. I have been nigh fifty years at sea, and never was +out in so wild a gale." + +For a few minutes all stood silent and bare headed, returning +fervent thanks for their escape. + +"It is well," the old man said, as they moved inland, "that I have +been so far north before; there are but few in Rathlin who have +even been north of Islay, but sometimes when fish have been very +plentiful in the island, and the boat for Ayr had already gone, +I have taken up a boatload of fish to the good monks of Colonsay, +who, although fairly supplied by their own fishermen, were yet +always ready to pay a good price for them. Had you been in a boat +with one who knew not the waters, assuredly we must have perished, +for neither skill nor courage could have availed us. There! do you +see that light ahead? That is the priory, and you may be sure of +a welcome there." + +The priory door was opened at their ring, and the monk who unclosed +it, greatly surprised at visitors on such a night, at once bade +them enter when he heard that they were fishermen whom the storm +had driven to shelter on the island. The fishermen had to lend +their aid to the monk to reclose the door, so great was the power +of the wind. The monk shot the bolts, saying, "We need expect no +further visitors tonight;" and led them into the kitchen, where a +huge fire was blazing. + +"Quick, brother Austin," he said to the monk, who acted as cook, +"warm up a hot drink for these poor souls, for they must assuredly +be well nigh perished with cold, seeing that they have been wet +for many hours and exposed to all the violence of this wintry gale." + +Archie and his companions were, indeed, stiff with cold and exposure, +and could scarce answer the questions which the monks asked them. + +"Have patience, brother! have patience!" brother Austin said. "When +their tongues are unfrozen doubtless they will tell you all that +you want to know. Only wait, I pray you, till they have drunk this +posset which I am preparing." + +The monk's curiosity was not, however, destined to be so speedily +satisfied, for just as the voyagers were finishing their hot drinks +a monk entered with a message that the prior, having heard that +some strangers had arrived, would fain welcome and speak with them +in his apartment. They rose at once. + +"When the prior has done questioning you," brother Austin said, +"return hither at once. I will set about preparing supper for you, +for I warrant me you must need food as well as drink. Fear not but, +however great your appetite may be, I will have enough to satisfy +it ready by the time you return." + +"Welcome to Colonsay!" the prior said, as the four men entered his +apartment; "but stay--I see you are drenched to the skin; and it +were poor hospitality, indeed, to keep you standing thus even to +assure you of your welcome. Take them," he said to the monk, "to +the guest chamber at once, and furnish them with changes of attire. +When they are warm and comfortable return with them hither." + +In ten minutes Archie and his companions re-entered the prior's +room. The prior looked with some astonishment at Archie; for in +the previous short interview he had not noticed the difference in +their attire, and had supposed them to be four fishermen. The monk, +however, had marked the difference; and on inquiry, finding that +Archie was a knight, had furnished him with appropriate attire. +The good monks kept a wardrobe to suit guests of all ranks, seeing +that many visitors came to the holy priory, and that sometimes the +wind and waves brought them to shore in such sorry plight that a +change of garments was necessary. + +"Ah!" the prior said, in surprise; "I crave your pardon sir knight, +that I noticed not your rank when you first entered. The light is +somewhat dim, and as you stood there together at the door way I +noticed not that you were of superior condition to the others." + +"That might well be, holy prior," Archie said, "seeing that we +were more like drowned beasts than Christian men. We have had a +marvellous escape from the tempest--thanks to God and his saints!--seeing +that we were blown off Rathlin, and have run before the +gale down past Islay and through the Straits of Jura. Next to the +protection of God and His saints, our escape is due to the skill +and courage of my brave companions here, who were as cool and calm +in the tempest as if they had been sitting by the ingle fires at +home." + +"From Rathlin!" the prior said in surprise, "and through the strait +'twixt Islay and Jura! Truly that was a marvellous voyage in such +a gale--and as I suppose, in an open boat. But how comes it, +sir knight--if I may ask the question without prying into your +private affairs--that you, a knight, were at Rathlin? In so wild +and lonely an island men of your rank are seldom to be found." + +"There are many there now, holy prior, far higher in rank than +myself," Archie replied, "seeing that Robert the Bruce, crowned King +of Scotland, James Douglas, and others of his nobles and knights, +are sheltering there with him from the English bloodhounds." + +"The Bruce at Rathlin!" the prior exclaimed, in surprise. "The +last ship which came hither from the mainland told us that he was +a hunted fugitive in Lennox; and we deemed that seeing the MacDougalls +of Lorne and all the surrounding chiefs were hostile to him, and +the English scattered thickly over all the low country, he must +long ere this have fallen into the hands of his enemies." + +"Thanks to Heaven's protection," Archie said devoutly, "the king +with a few followers escaped and safely reached Rathlin!" + +"Thou shouldst not speak of Heaven's protection," the prior said, +sternly, "seeing that Bruce has violated the sanctuary of the +church, has slain his enemy within her walls, has drawn down upon +himself the anathema of the pope, and has been declared excommunicated +and accursed." + +"The pope, holy father," Archie replied, "although supreme in +all holy things, is but little qualified to judge of the matter, +seeing that he draws his information from King Edward, under whose +protection he lives. The good Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow, +with the Abbot of Scone, and many other dignitaries of the Scottish +church, have condoned his offense, seeing that it was committed +in hot blood and without prior intent. The king himself bitterly +regrets the deed, which preys sorely upon his mind; but I can answer +for it that Bruce had no thought of meeting Comyn at Dumfries." + +"You speak boldly, young sir," the prior said, sternly, "for one +over whose head scarce two-and-twenty years can have rolled; but +enough now. You are storm staid and wearied; you are the guests of +the convent. I will not keep you further now, for you have need +of food and sleep. Tomorrow I will speak with you again." + +So saying, the prior sharply touched a bell which stood on a table +near him. The monk re-entered. The prior waved his hand: "Take these +guests to the refectory and see that they have all they stand in +need of, and that the bed chambers are prepared. In the morning I +would speak to them again." + + + + +Chapter XV + +A Mission to Ireland + + +Father Austin was as good as his word, and it was long indeed +since Archie had sat down to such a meal as that which was spread +for him. Hungry as he was, however, he could scarce keep his eyes +open to its conclusion, so great was the fatigue of mind and body; +and on retiring to the chamber which the monks had prepared for +him, he threw himself on a couch and instantly fell asleep. In +the morning the gale still blew violently, but with somewhat less +fury than on the preceding evening. He joined the monks at their +morning meal in the refectory, and after their repast they gathered +round him to listen to his news of what was doing in Scotland; for +although at ordinary times pilgrims came not unfrequently to visit +the holy isle of Colonsay, in the present stormy times men stirred +but little from home, and it was seldom that the monks obtained news +of what was passing on the mainland. Presently a servitor brought +word that the prior would see Archie. + +"It was ill talking last night," the prior said, "with a man hungry +and worn out; but I gathered from what you said that you are not +only a follower of Bruce, but that you were with him at that fatal +day at Dumfries when he drew his dagger upon Comyn in the sanctuary." + +"I was there, holy father," Archie replied, "and can testify that +the occurrence was wholly unpremeditated; but Bruce had received +sufficient provocation from the Comyn to afford him fair reason for +slaying him wheresoever they might meet. But none can regret more +than he does that that place of meeting was in a sanctuary. The +Comyn and Bruce had made an agreement together whereby the former +relinquished his own claims to the throne of Scotland on condition +that Bruce, on attaining the throne, would hand over to him all +his lordships in Carrick and Annandale." + +"It were a bad bargain," the prior said, "seeing that Comyn would +then be more powerful than his king." + +"So I ventured to tell the Bruce," Archie replied. + +"Thou?" the prior said; "you are young, sir, to be in a position +to offer counsel to Robert Bruce." + +"I am young, holy prior," Archie said modestly; "but the king is +good enough to overlook my youth in consideration of my fidelity +to the cause of Scotland. My name is Archibald Forbes." + +"Sir Archibald Forbes!" the prior repeated, rising; "and are you +really that loyal and faithful Scottish knight who fought ever by +the side of Wallace, and have almost alone refused ever to bow the +knee to the English? Even to this lonely isle tales have come of +your valour, how you fought side by side with Wallace, and were, +with Sir John Grahame, his most trusty friend and confidant. Many +of the highest and noblest of Scotland have for centuries made +their way to the shrine of Colonsay, but none more worthy to be +our guest. Often have I longed to see so brave a champion of our +country, little thinking that you would one day come a storm driven +guest. Truly am I glad to see you, and I say it even though you may +have shared in the deed at Dumfries, for which I would fain hope +from your words there is fairer excuse to be made than I had hitherto +deemed. I have thought that the Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow +were wrong in giving their countenance to a man whom the holy +father had condemned--a man whose prior history gives no ground +for faith in his patriotism, who has taken up arms, now for, now +against, the English, but has ever been ready to make terms with +the oppressor, and to parade as his courtier at Westminster. In +such a man I can have no faith, and deem that, while he pretends +to fight for Scotland, he is in truth but warring for his +own aggrandizement. But since you, the follower and friend of the +disinterested and intrepid champion of Scotland, speak for the +Bruce, it maybe that my judgement has been too severe upon him." + +Archie now related the incident of his journey to London to urge +Bruce to break with Edward and to head the national movement. He +told how, even before the discovery of his agreement with Comyn, +brought about by the treachery of the latter, Bruce had determined +definitely to throw in his cause with that of Scotland; how upon +that discovery he had fled north, and, happening to meet Comyn at +Dumfries, within the limits of the sanctuary, had, in his indignation +and ire at his treachery, drawn and slain him. Then he told the +tale of what had taken place after the rout of Methven, how bravely +Bruce had borne himself, and had ever striven to keep up the hearts +of his companions; how cheerfully he had supported the hardships, +and how valiantly he had borne himself both at Methven and when +attacked by the MacDougalls of Lorne. + +"Whatever his past may have been," Archie concluded, "I hold that +now the Bruce is as earnest in the cause of Scotland as was even +my dear leader Wallace. In strength and in courage he rivals that +valiant knight, for though I hold that Wallace was far more than +a match for any man of his time, yet Bruce is a worthy second to +him, for assuredly no one in Scotland could cross swords with him +on equal chances. That he will succeed in his enterprise it were +rash to say, for mighty indeed are the odds against him; but if +courage, perseverance, and endurance can wrest Scotland from the +hands of the English, Robert Bruce will, if he lives, accomplish +the task." + +"Right glad am I," the prior replied, "to hear what you have told +me. Hitherto, owing to my memory of his past and my horror at his +crime--for though from what you tell me there was much to excuse +it, still it was a grievous crime--I have had but little interest +in the struggle, but henceforth this will be changed. You may +tell the king that from this day, until death or victory crown his +efforts, prayers will be said to heaven night and day at Colonsay +for his success." + +It was four days before the storm was over and the sea sufficiently +calmed to admit of Archie's departure. During that time he remained +as the honoured guest of the priory, and the good monks vied with +the prior in their attentions to the young knight, the tales of +whose doings, as one of Scotland's foremost champions, had so often +reached their lonely island. At the end of that time, the sea being +now calm and smooth, with a light wind from the north, Archie bade +adieu to his hosts and sailed from Colonsay. + +Light as the wind was, it sufficed to fill the sail; and as the boat +glided over the scarce rippled water Archie could not but contrast +the quiet sleepy motion with the wild speed at which the boat had +torn through the water on her northern way. It was not until the +following morning that Rathlin again came in sight. + +As the boat was seen approaching, and was declared by the islanders +to be that which they had regarded as lost in the storm a week +previously, the king, Douglas, and the rest of his followers made +their way down to the shore; and loud was the shout of welcome +which arose when Archie stood up and waved his hand. + +"Verily, Archie Forbes," the king said as he warmly embraced the +young knight, "I shall begin to think that the fairies presided +at your birth and gave you some charm to preserve your life alike +against the wrath of men and of the elements. Never assuredly did +anyone pass through so many dangers unscathed as you have done." + +"I hope to pass through as many more, sire, in your service," Archie +said smiling. + +"I hope so, indeed," Bruce replied; "for it were an evil day for +me and for Scotland that saw you fall; but henceforth I will fret +no more concerning you. You alone of Wallace's early companions +have survived. You got free from Dunstaffnage by some miracle +which you have never fully explained to me, and now it would seem +that even the sea refuses to swallow you." + +"I trust," Archie said more gravely, "that the old saying is not +true in my case, and that hanging is not to be my fate. Assuredly +it will be if I ever fall into the hands of Edward, and I shall +think it a cruel fate indeed if fortune, which has spared me so +often in battle, leads me to that cruel end at last." + +"I trust not indeed, Sir Archie," the king said, "though hanging now +has ceased to be a dishonourable death when so many of Scotland's +best and bravest have suffered it at the English hands. However, I +cannot but think that your fairy godmother must have reserved for +you the fate of the heroes of most of the stories of my old nurse, +which always wound up with 'and so he married, and lived happily +ever after.' And now, Archie, tell me all that has befallen you, +where you have been, and how you fared, and by what miraculous chance +you escaped the tempest. All our eyes were fixed on the boat when +you laboured to reach the shore, and had you heard the groans +we uttered when we saw you give up the effort as hopeless and fly +away to sea before the wind you would have known how truly all +your comrades love you. We gave you up as assuredly lost, for the +islanders here agreed that you had no chance of weathering the +gale, and that the boat would, ere many hours, be dashed to pieces +either on Islay or Jura, should it even reach so far; but the most +thought that you would founder long ere you came in sight of the +land." + +Accompanying the king with his principal companions to the hut +which he occupied, Archie related the incidents of the voyage and +of their final refuge at Colonsay. + +"It was a wonderful escape," the king said when he finished, "and +the holy Virgin and the saints must assuredly have had you in their +especial care. You have cost us well nigh a fortune, for not one +of us but vowed offerings for your safety, which were, perchance, +the more liberal, since we deemed the chances of paying them so +small. However, they shall be redeemed, for assuredly they have +been well earned, and for my share I am bound, when I come to my +own, to give a piece of land of the value of one hundred marks a +year to the good monks of St. Killian's to be spent in masses for +the souls of those drowned at sea." + +Some days later the king said to Archie, "I have a mission for you; +'tis one of danger, but I know that that is no drawback in your +eyes." + +"I am ready," Archie said modestly, "to carry out to the best of +my power any errand with which your majesty may intrust me." + +"I have been thinking, Sir Archie, that I might well make some sort +of alliance with the Irish chieftains. Many of these are, like +most of our Scotch nobles, on terms of friendship with England; +still there are others who hold aloof from the conquerors. It would +be well to open negotiations with these, so that they by rising +might distract Edward's attention from Scotland, while we, by our +efforts, would hinder the English from sending all their force +thither, and we might thus mutually be of aid to each other. At +present I am, certes, in no position to promise aid in men or money; +but I will bind myself by an oath that if my affairs in Scotland +prosper I will from my treasury furnish money to aid them in carrying +on the struggle, and that if I clear Scotland of her oppressors +I will either go myself or send one of my brothers with a strong +force to aid the Irish to follow our example. The mission is, as +you will see, Sir Archie, a dangerous one; for should any of the +English, or their Irish allies, lay hands on you, your doom would +be sealed. Still you may do me and Scotland great service should +you succeed in your mission. Even minor risings would be of much +utility, seeing that they would at any rate prevent Edward from +bringing over troops from Ireland to assist in our conquest. I have +thought the matter over deeply, and conclude that, young as you are, +I can intrust it to you with confidence, and that you are indeed +the best fitted among those with me to undertake it. Douglas is +but a boy; my brother Edward is too hot and rash; Boyd is impatient +and headstrong, trusty and devoted to me though he is; but I am +sure that in you there is no lack either of prudence or courage. +Hence, Sir Archie, if you will undertake it I will intrust it to +you." + +"I will willingly undertake it, sire, since you think me fitting +for it, and deem it a high honour indeed that you have chosen me. +When will you that I start?" + +"It were best to lose no time," the king replied, "and if you have +no reason for delay I would that you should embark tonight, so that +before daybreak you may have gained the Irish shore. They tell me +that there are many desperate men in refuge among the caves on the +coast, and among these you might choose a few who might be useful +to you in your project; but it is not in this part that a rising +can be effected, for the country inland is comparatively flat and +wholly in the hands of the English. It is on the west coast that +the resistance to the English was continued to the last, and here +from time to time it blazes out again. In those parts, as they tell +me, not only are there wild mountains and fastnesses such as we +have in Scotland, but there are great morasses and swamps, extending +over wide tracts, where heavy armed soldiers cannot penetrate, +and where many people still maintain a sort of wild independence, +defying all the efforts of the English to subdue them. The people +are wild and savage, and ever ready to rise against the English. +Here, then, is the country where you are most likely to find chiefs +who may enter into our plans, and agree to second our efforts for +independence. Here are some rings and gold chains, which are all +that remain to me of my possessions. Money I have none; but with +these you may succeed in winning the hearts of some of these savage +chieftains. Take, too, my royal signet, which will be a guarantee +that you have power to treat in my name. I need not tell you to be +brave, Sir Archie; but be prudent--remember that your life is of +the utmost value to me. I want you not to fight, but simply to act +as my envoy. If you succeed in raising a great fire in the west +of Ireland, remain there and act as councillor to the chiefs, +remembering that you are just as much fighting for Scotland there +as if you were drawing sword against her foes at home. If you find +that the English arm is too strong, and the people too cowed and +disheartened to rise against it, then make your way back here by +the end of three months, by which time I hope to sail hence and to +raise my standard in Scotland again." + +On leaving the king Archie at once conferred with Duncan the fisherman, +who willingly agreed that night to set him ashore in Ireland. + +"I will land you," he said, "at a place where you need not fear +that any English will meet you. It is true that they have a castle +but three miles away perched on a rock on the coast. It is called +Dunluce, and commands a wide seaward view, and for this reason it +were well that our boat were far out at sea again before morning +dawned, so that if they mark us they will not suppose that we have +touched on the coast; else they might send a party to search if +any have landed--not even then that you need fear discovery, for +the coast abounds in caves and hiding places. My sons have often +landed there, for we do a certain trade in the summer from the island +in fish and other matters with the natives there. If it pleases +you my son Ronald, who is hardy and intelligent, shall land with +you and accompany you as your retainer while you remain in Ireland. +The people there speak a language quite different to that which you +use in the lowlands of Scotland and in England, but the language +we speak among ourselves closely resembles it, and we can be easily +understood by the people of the mainland. You would be lost did +you go among the native Irish without an interpreter." + +Archie thankfully accepted the offer, and that night, after bidding +adieu to the friends and his comrades, started in Duncan's boat. + +"'Tis a strange place where I am going to land you," the fisherman +said; "such a place as nowhere else have my eyes beheld, though they +say that at the Isle of Staffa, far north of Colonsay, a similar +sight is to be seen. The rocks, instead of being rugged or square, +rise in close columns like the trunks of trees, or like the columns +in the church of the priory of Colonsay. Truly they seem as if +wrought by the hands of men, or rather of giants, seeing that no +men could carry out so vast a work. The natives have legends that +they are the work of giants of old times. How this may be I know +not, though why giants should have engaged in so useless a work +passes my understanding. However, there are the pillars, whosoever +placed them there. Some of them are down by the level of the sea. +Here their heads seem to be cut off so as to form a landing place, +to which the natives give the name of the Giant's Causeway. Others +in low rows stand on the face of the cliff itself, though how any +could have stood there to work them, seeing that no human foot can +reach the base, is more than I can say. 'Tis a strange and wonderful +sight, as you will say when the morning light suffers you to see +it." + +It was fortunate that Duncan knew the coast so well, and was able +by the light of the stars to find a landing place, for quiet as the +sea appeared a swell rose as they neared the shore, and the waves +beat heavily on the wild and rocky coast. Duncan, however, steered +his boat to the very foot of the Causeway, and then, watching his +opportunity, Archie sprang ashore followed by Ronald. A few words +of adieu were spoken, and then the boat rowed out to sea again, +while Archie and Ronald turned away from the landing place. + +"It were best," the young fisherman said, "to find a seat among the +rocks, and there to await the dawn, when I can guide you to some +caves hard by; but in the darkness we might well fall and break a +limb did we try and make our way across the coast." + +A niche was soon found, and Archie and his companion sat down for +a while. Archie, however, soon discovered that the sides and back +of his seat were formed of the strange columns of which Duncan had +spoken, and that he was sitting upon the tops of others which had +broken off. Eagerly he passed his hands over the surface of these +strange pillars, and questioned his companion as to what he knew +about them; but Ronald could tell him no more than his father +had done, and Archie was forced to await the dawn to examine more +closely the strange columns. Daylight only added to his wonder. +On all sides of him stretched the columns, packed in a dense mass +together, while range above range they stood on the face of the +great cliffs above him. The more he examined them the more his +wonder grew. + +"They can neither be the work of men nor giants," he said, "but +must have been called up by the fantastic freak of some powerful +enchanter. Hitherto I have not believed the tales of these mysterious +beings of old times; but after seeing these wonderful pillars I +can no longer doubt, for assuredly no mortal hand could have done +this work." + +Ronald now urged that they had better be moving, as it was possible, +although unlikely enough, that one passing along the top of the +cliffs might get sight of them. They accordingly moved along the +shore, and in a quarter of a mile reached the mouth of a great +cave. The bottom was covered with rocks, which had fallen from the +roof, thickly clustered over with wet seaweed, which, indeed, hung +from the sides far up, showing that at high tide the sea penetrated +far into the cave. + +"The ground rises beyond," Ronald said, "and you will find recesses +there which the tide never reaches." They moved slowly at first +until their eyes became accustomed to the darkness; then they kept +on, the ground getting more even as they ascended, until they stood +on a dry and level floor. + +"Now I will strike a light," Ronald said, "and light the torch +which I brought with me. We are sure to find plenty of driftwood +cast up at the highest point the tide reaches. Then we can make a +fire, and while you remain here I will go out and find some of the +natives, and engage a guide to take us forward tonight." + +Taking out his flint and steel, Ronald proceeded to strike a light, +and after several efforts succeeded in doing so and in igniting +some dried moss which he had brought with him, carefully shielded +from damp in the folds of his garment. As a light flame rose +he applied his torch to it; but as he did so, came an exclamation +of astonishment, for gathered in a circle round them were a dozen +wild figures. All were armed and stood in readiness to strike down +the intruders into their hiding place. They were barefooted, and +had doubtless been asleep in the cave until, when awakened by the +approaching footsteps and voices, they had silently arisen and +prepared to fall upon the intruders. + +"We are friends," Ronald said in the native language when he +recovered from his start of surprise. "I am Ronald, a fisherman +from Rathlin, and was over here in the summer exchanging fish for +sheep." + +"I recollect you," one of the men said; "but what do you here so +strangely and secretly? Are the English hunting you too from your +island as they have done us?" + +"They have not come to Rathlin yet," Ronald said. + +"Doubtless they would do so, but 'tis too poor to offer any +temptation for their greed. But they are our enemies as they are +yours. I am here to guide this Scottish knight, who is staying at +Rathlin, a fugitive from their vengeance like yourself, and who is +charged with a mission from the King of Scotland to your chiefs, +whom he would fain induce to join in a rising against the power of +the English." + +"He is welcome," the man who appeared to be the leader of the party +replied, "and may he succeed in his object; but," he continued +bitterly, "I fear that the chance is a small one. The Norman foot +is on our necks, and most of those who should be our leaders have +basely accepted the position of vassals to the English king. Still +there are brave hearts yet in Ireland who would gladly rise did they +see even a faint chance of success. Hundreds are there who, like +us, prefer to live the lives of hunted dogs in caves, in mountain +fastnesses, or in the bogs, rather than yield to the English yoke. +Tell me your plans and whither you would go; and I will give you +guides who know every foot of the country, and who can lead you to +the western hills, where, though no open resistance is made, the +English have scarce set foot. There we generally find refuge; +and 'tis only at times, when the longing to see the homes of our +childhood becomes too strong for us, that I and those you see--all +of whom were born and reared between this and Coleraine--come +hither for a time, when at night we can issue out and prowl round +the ruins of the homes of our fathers." + +While this conversation had been going on, the others, seeing that +the visit was a friendly one, had set to work, and bringing up +driftwood from below, piled it round the little blaze which Ronald +had commenced, and soon had a great fire lighted. They then produced +the carcass of a sheep which they had the evening before carried +off. Ronald had brought with him a large pile of oaten cakes, and +a meal was speedily prepared. + +Archie could not but look with surprise at the wild figures around +him, lit up by the dancing glare of the fire. Their hair lay in +tangled masses on their necks; their attire was of the most primitive +description, consisting but of one garment secured round the waist +by a strap of untanned leather; their feet and legs were bare. +Their hair was almost black; their eyes small and glittering, with +heavy overhanging brows; and they differed altogether in appearance +even from the wildest and poorest of the Scottish peasantry. In +their belts all bore long knives of rough manufacture, and most of +them carried slings hanging from the belt, in readiness for instant +use. In spite of the wildness of their demeanour they seemed kindly +and hospitable; and many were the questions which they asked Ronald +concerning the King of Scotland and his knights who were in refuge +at Rathlin. + +When the meal was over all stretched themselves on the sand like so +many animals, and without further preparation went off to sleep. +Archie, knowing that nothing could be done until nightfall, +followed their example. The fire had by this time burned low, and +soon perfect stillness reigned in the great cavern, save that far +away at its mouth the low thunder of the waves upon the rocks came +up in a confused roar. + + + + +Chapter XVI + +An Irish Rising + + +When night came on Archie started for the west, accompanied by +Ronald and two of the Irish as guides. They crossed the country +without question or interference, and reached the wild mountains +of Donegal in safety. Archie had asked that his conductors should +lead him to the abode of the principal chieftain of the district. +The miserable appearance of the sparsely scattered villages through +which they had passed had prepared him to find that the superiors +of such a people would be in a very different position from the +feudal lords of the Highlands of Scotland. He was not surprised, +therefore, when his attendants pointed out a small hold, such as +would appertain to a small landowner on the Scottish Border, as the +residence of the chief. Around it were scattered a number of low +huts composed of turf, roofed with reeds. From these, when the +approach of strangers was reported, a number of wild looking figures +poured out, armed with weapons of the most primitive description. +A shout from Archie's guides assured these people that the newcomer +was not, as his appearance betokened him, a Norman knight, but +a visitor from Scotland who sought a friendly interview with the +chief. + +Insignificant as was the hold, it was evident that something like +feudal discipline was kept up. Two men, armed with pikes, were +stationed on the wall, while two others leant in careless fashion +against the posts of the open gate. On the approach of Archie an +elderly man, with a long white beard, came out to meet them. Ronald +explained to him that Archie was a knight who had come as an emissary +from the King of Scotland to the Irish chieftains, and desired to +speak with the great Fergus of Killeen. The old man bowed deeply +to Archie, and then escorted him into the house. + +The room which they entered occupied the whole of the ground +floor of the hold, and was some thirty feet wide by forty long. As +apparently trees of sufficient length to form the beams of so wide +an apartment could not be obtained, the floor above was supported +by two rows of roughly squared posts extending down from end to +end. The walls were perfectly bare. The beams and planks of the +ceiling were stained black by the smoke of a fire which burned in +one corner; the floor was of clay beaten hard. A strip some ten +feet wide, at the further end, was raised eighteen inches above the +general level, forming a sort of dais. Here, in a carved settle of +black wood, sat the chief. Some females, evidently the ladies of +his family, were seated on piles of sheepskins, and were plying +their distaffs; while an aged man was seated on the end of the dais +with a harp of quaint form on his knee; his fingers touched a last +chord as Archie entered, and he had evidently been playing while +the ladies worked. Near him on the dais was a fire composed of +wood embers, which were replenished from time to time with fresh +glowing pieces of charcoal taken from the fire at the other end of +the room, so that the occupants of the dais should not be annoyed +by the smoke arising close to them. + +The chief was a fine looking man about fifty years old. He was +clad in a loose fitting tunic of soft dark green cloth, confined at +the waist by a broad leathern band with silver clasp and ornaments, +and reaching to his knees. His arms were bare; on his feet he wore +sandals, and a heavy sword rested against the wall near his hand. +The ladies wore dresses of similar material and of somewhat similar +fashion, but reaching to the feet. They wore gold armlets; and the +chief's wife had a light band of gold round her head. The chief +rose when Archie entered; and upon the seneschal informing him of +the rank and mission of his visitor he stepped from the dais, and +advancing, greeted him warmly. Then he led him back to the dais, +where he presented to him the ladies of his family, ordering the +retainers, of whom about a score were gathered in the hall, to +place two piles of sheepskins near the fire. On one of these he sat +down, and motioned to Archie to take his place on the other--his +own chair being removed to a corner. Then, through the medium of +Ronald, the conversation began. + +Archie related to the chief the efforts which the Scotch were +making to win their freedom from England, and urged in the king's +name that a similar effort should be made by the Irish; as the +forces of the English, being thereby divided and distracted, there +might be better hope of success. The chief heard the communication +in grave silence. The ladies of the family stood behind the chief +with deeply interested faces; and as the narrative of the long +continued struggle which the Scots were making for freedom continued +it was clear, by their glowing cheeks and their animated faces, +how deeply they sympathized in the struggle. + +The wife of the chief, a tall and stately lady, stood immediately +behind him with her two daughters, girls of some seventeen or +eighteen years of age, beside her. As Ronald was translating his +words Archie glanced frequently at the group, and thought he had +never seen one fairer or more picturesque. There was a striking +likeness between mother and daughters; but the expression of staid +dignity in the one was in the others replaced by a bright expression +of youth and happiness. Their beauty was of a kind new to Archie. +Their dark glossy hair was kept smoothly in place by the fillet +of gold in the mother's case, and by purple ribbons in that of the +daughters. Their eyebrows and long eyelashes were black, but their +eyes were gray, and as light as those to which Archie was accustomed +under the fair tresses of his countrywomen. The thing that struck +him most in the faces of the girls was their mobility, the expression +changing as it seemed in an instant from grave to gay--flushing +at one moment with interest at the tale of deeds of valour, paling +at the next at the recital of cruel oppression and wrong. When Archie +had finished his narrative he presented to the chief a beautifully +wrought chain of gold as a token from the King of Scotland. + +The chief was silent for some time after the interpreter concluded +Archie's narrative; then he said: + +"Sir knight, it almost seems to me as if I had been listening to +the tale of the wrongs of Ireland, save that it appears that the +mastery of the English here has been more firmly established than +with you. This may be from the nature of the country; our hills +are, for the most part, bare, while yours, you say, are covered +with forest. Thus the Normans could more easily, when they had once +gained the upper hand, crush out the last vestiges of opposition +than they could with you. As I judge from what you say, the English +in Scotland hold all the fortresses, and when the people rise they +remain sheltered in them until assistance comes from England. With +us it is different. First they conquer all the country; then from +a wide tract, a third perhaps of the island, they drive out the whole +of the people, and establish themselves firmly there, portioning the +land among the soldiery and repeopling the country with an English +race. Outside this district the Irish chieftains, like myself, +retain something of independence; we pay a tribute, and are in the +position of feudatories, being bound to furnish so many men for +the King of England's wars if called upon to do so. The English +seldom come beyond their pale so long as the tribute is paid, and +the yoke, therefore, weighs not so heavy upon us; but were we to +rise, the English army would pour out from its pale and carry fire +and sword throughout the country. + +"We, like you, have been without one who would unite us against the +common enemy. Our great chiefs have, for the most part, accepted +English titles, and since their power over the minor chiefs is +extended, rather than decreased by the changed circumstances, they +are well content, for they rule now over their districts, not only +as Irish chieftains, but as English lieutenants. You have seen, +as you journeyed here, how sparse is the population of our hills, +and how slight would be the opposition which we could offer, did +the Earl of Ulster sweep down upon us with trained English soldiers. + +"Were there a chance of success, Fergus of Killeen would gladly +draw the sword again; but I will not bring ruin upon my family +and people by engaging in a hopeless enterprise. Did I raise +my standard, all Donegal would take up arms; but Donegal alone is +powerless against England. I know my people--they are ready for +the fray, they would rush to battle and perish in thousands to win +victory, but one great defeat would crush them. The story of the +long fight which your Wallace, with a small following, made against +the power of England, will never be told of an Irish leader. We +have bravery and reckless courage, but we have none of the stubborn +obstinacy of your Scottish folk. Were the flag raised the people +would flock to it, and would fight desperately; but if they lost, +there would be utter and complete collapse. The fortitude to support +repeated defeats, to struggle on when the prospect seems darkest, +does not belong to my people. + +"It is for this reason that I have no hope that Ireland will ever +regain its independence. She may struggle against the yoke, she +may blaze out again and again in bloody risings, our sons may die +in tens of thousands for her; but never, I believe, as long as the +men of the two countries remain what they are, will Ireland recover +her independence, for, in the long run, English perseverance and +determination will overcome the fitful courage of the Irish. I +grieve that I should say it. I mourn that I feel it my duty to +repress rather than to encourage the eager desire of my people to +draw the sword and strike for freedom; but such is my conviction. + +"But understand, sir knight, that whatever I may think, I shall +not be backward in doing my part. If Ireland again rises, should +the other native chieftains determine to make one more effort to +drive the English across the channel, be sure that Fergus of Killeen +and the men of Donegal will be in the front of the battle. No heart +beats more warmly for freedom than mine; and did I stand alone I +would take to the bogs and join those who shelter there, defying +the might of England. But I have my people to think of. I have seen +how the English turn a land to desolation as they sweep across it, +and I will not bring fire and sword into these mountain valleys +unless all Ireland is banded in a common effort. You have seen +Scotland wasted from sea to sea, her cities burned, her people +slain by thousands, her dales and valleys wasted; and can you tell +me that after these years of struggle you have gained any such +advantage as would warrant your advising me to rise against England?" + +Archie was silent. Thinking over the struggle in which he had +taken part for so many years, and remembering the woes that it had +brought on Scotland, and that, after fighting so long, Bruce and +the handful of fugitives at Rathlin were the sole survivors of the +patriotic party, he could not but acknowledge at heart the justice +of the chiefs words. His sole hope for Scotland now rested in the +perseverance and personal valour of the king, and the stubborn +character of the people, which he felt assured would lead them +to rise again and again, in spite of disaster and defeat, until +freedom was won. The Irish possessed no Bruce; their country was +less defendible than Scotland; and if, as Fergus said, they had none +of that indomitable perseverance which enabled the Scotch people +again and again to rise against the yoke, what hope could there +be of final success, how could he be justified in urging upon the +chieftain a step which would bring fire and sword into those quiet +valleys! For some time, therefore, after Ronald had translated the +chief's speech he remained silent. + +"I will not urge you further, sir," he said, "for you are surely +the best judge of what is good for your people, and I have seen +such ruin and desolation in Scotland, so many scores of ruined +towns and villages, so many thousands of levelled homesteads, that +I will not say a single word to urge you to alter your resolution. +It is enough for me that you have said that if Ireland rises you +will also draw the sword. I must carry out my instructions, and +hence shall travel south and visit other chiefs; they may view +matters differently, and may see that what Ireland cannot do alone +she may do in conjunction with Scotland." + +"So be it!" Fergus said. "Believe me, if you raise a flame through +the west the north will not hang back. And now I trust that you +will remain here for a few days as my guest. All that I have is +yours, and my wife and daughters will do their best to make the +time pass pleasantly for you." + +Archie remained three days at the chiefs hold, where the primitive +life interested him greatly. A lavish hospitality was exercised. +Several sheep were killed and roasted each day, and all comers were +free to join the repast. The chief's more immediate retainers, some +twenty in number, ate, lived, and slept in the great hall; while +tables were spread outside, at which all who came sat down without +question. The upper rooms of the hold were occupied by the chief, +the ladies of his family, and the female domestics. Here they retired +when they felt disposed, but their meals were served on the dais. +In the evening the harper played and sang legends of deeds of bravery +in the day of Ireland's independence; and as Ronald translated the +songs to him Archie could not but conclude privately that civil war, +rapine, strife, and massacre must have characterized the country +in those days. + +At the conclusion of his stay Fergus appointed two of the retainers +to accompany Archie south, and to give assurance to the various +wild people through whom he might pass, that Archie's mission was +a friendly one to Ireland, and that he was an honoured friend and +guest of the chief of Killeen. + +On his arrival in Mayo Archie found matters more favourable to his +mission. An insurrection had already broken out, headed by some of +the local chieftains, originating in a broil between the English +soldiers of a garrison and the natives. The garrison had been +surprised and massacred, and the wild Irish were flocking to arms. +By the chieftains here Archie, on explaining his mission, was warmly +welcomed. As they were already in arms no urging on his part was +needed, and they despatched messengers throughout the country, +saying that an emissary from Scotland had arrived, and calling upon +all to rise and to join with the Scotch in shaking off the yoke of +England. + +Archie had therefore to travel no farther, and decided that he +could best carry out his mission by assisting to organize and lead +the Irish forces. These he speedily discovered were beyond all +comparison inferior, both in arms, in discipline, and in methods +of fighting, to the Scots. For a dashing foray they would be +excellent. Hardy, agile, and full of impetuosity, they would bear +down all resistance instantly, were that resistance not too strong; +but against stubborn and well armed troops they would break like +a wave against a rock. Archie saw that with such troops anything +like regular war would be impossible, and that the struggle must +be one of constant surprises, attacks, and forays, and that they +could succeed only by wearing out and not by defeating the enemy. +With such tactics as these they might by long perseverance succeed; +but this was just what Fergus had warned him they would not practise, +and that their courage was rather of a kind which would lead them +to dash desperately against the line of levelled spears, rather +than continue a long and weary struggle under apparently hopeless +circumstances. + +The chiefs, hearing from Archie that he had acted as one of Wallace's +lieutenants in battles where the English had been heavily defeated, +willingly consented that he should endeavour to instil the tactics +by which those battles had been won into their own followers; but +when they found that he proposed that the men should remain stationary +to withstand the English charges, they shook their heads. + +"That will never do for our people," they said. "They must attack +sword in hand. They will rush fearlessly down against any odds, but +you will never get them steadily to withstand a charge of men-at-arms." + +Archie, however, persuaded them to allow him to organize a band of +two hundred men under his immediate orders. These were armed with +long pikes, and were to form a sort of reserve, in order that if +the wild charge of the main body failed in its object these could +cover a retreat, or serve as a nucleus around which they could +rally. The army swelled rapidly; every day fresh chiefs arrived +with scores of wild tribesmen. Presently the news came that an +English force was advancing from the Pale against them. A council +was held at which Archie was present. Very strongly he urged his +views upon the chieftains, namely: that they should altogether +decline a pitched battle; but that, divided into numerous parties, +they should enter the Pale, destroying weak garrisons and ravaging +the country, trying to wear out the English by constant skirmishes +and night attacks, but refusing always to allow themselves to be +tempted into an engagement. + +"The English cannot be everywhere at once," he urged. "Let them +hold only the ground on which their feet stand. As they advance +or retire, close ever in on their rear, drive off their cattle and +destroy their crops and granaries in the Pale; force them to live +wholly in their walled towns, and as you gain in strength capture +these one by one, as did we in Scotland. So, and so only, can you +hope for ultimate success." + +His advice was received with a silence which he at once saw betokened +disapproval. One after another of the Irish chieftains rose and +declared that such a war could not be sustained. + +"Our retainers," they said, "are ready to fight, but after fighting +they will want to return to their homes; besides, we are fifteen +thousand strong, and the English men-at-arms marching against us +are but eight hundred; it would be shameful and cowardly to avoid a +battle, and were we willing to do so our followers would not obey +us. Let us first destroy this body of English, then we shall be +joined by others, and can soon march straight upon Dublin." + +Archie saw that it was hopeless to persevere, and set out the +following day with the wild rabble, for they could not be termed +an army, to meet the English. The leaders yielded so far to his +advice as to take up a position where they would fight with the best +chance of success. The spot lay between a swamp extending a vast +distance, and a river, and they were thus open only to an attack +in front, and could, if defeated, take refuge in the bog, where +horsemen could not follow them. + +On the following morning the English were seen approaching. In +addition to the 800 men-at-arms were 1000 lightly equipped footmen, +for experience had taught the English commanders that in such a +country lightly armed men were necessary to operate where the wide +extending morasses prevented the employment of cavalry. The English +advanced in solid array: 300 archers led the way; these were +followed by 700 spearmen, and the men-at-arms brought up the rear. +The Irish were formed in disordered masses, each under its own +chieftain. The English archers commenced the fight with a shower +of arrows. Scarcely had these began to fall when the Irish with a +tremendous yell rushed forward to the assault. The English archers +were swept like chaff before them. With reckless bravery they threw +themselves next upon the spearmen. The solid array was broken by +the onslaught, and in a moment both parties were mixed up in wild +confusion. + +The sight was too much for Archie's band to view unmoved, and these, +in spite of his shouts, left their ground and rushed at full speed +after their companions and threw themselves into the fight. + +Archie was mounted, having been presented with a horse by one of +the chiefs, and he now, although hopeless of the final result, rode +forward. Just as he joined the confused and struggling mass the +English men-at-arms burst down upon them. As a torrent would cleave +its way through a mass of loose sand, so the English men-at-arms +burst through the mass of Irish, trampling and cutting down all in +their path. Not unharmed, however, for the Irish fought desperately +with axe and knife, hewing at the men-at-arms, stabbing at the +horses, and even trying by sheer strength to throw the riders to +the ground. After passing through the mass the men-at-arms turned +and again burst down upon them. It was a repetition of the first +charge. The Irish fought desperately, but it was each for himself; +there was neither order nor cohesion, and each man strove only to +kill a foe before being himself slain. Archie and the chiefs, with +the few mounted men among the retainers, strove in vain to stem +the torrent. Under the orders of their leaders the English kept +in a compact mass, and the weight of the horses and armour bore +down all opposition. Four times did the men-at-arms burst through +the struggling mass of Irish. As they formed to charge the fifth +time the latter lost heart, and as if acting under a simultaneous +influence they turned and fled. + +The English horse burst down on the rear of the mass of fugitives, +hewing them down in hundreds. Those nearest to the river dashed in, +and numbers were drowned in striving to cross it. The main body, +however, made for the swamp, and though in the crush many sank in +and perished miserably here, the great majority, leaping lightly +from tuft to tuft, gained the heart of the morass, the pursuing +horse reining up on its edge. + +Ronald had kept near Archie in the fight, and when all was lost +ran along by the side of his horse, holding fast to the stirrup +leather. The horsemen still pressed along between the river and +the morass, and Archie, following the example of several of the +chiefs, alighted from his saddle, and with his companion entered +the swamp. It was with the greatest difficulty that he made his +way across it, and his lightly armed companion did him good service +in assisting several times to drag him from the treacherous mire +when he began to sink in it. At last they reached firmer ground in +the heart of the swamp, and here some 5000 or 6000 fugitives were +gathered. At least 4000 had fallen on the field. Many had escaped +across the river, although numbers had lost their lives in the +attempt. Others scattered and fled in various directions. A few +of the chiefs were gathered in council when Archie arrived. They +agreed that all was lost and there was nothing to do but scatter +to their homes. Archie took no part in the discussion. That day's +experience had convinced him that nothing like a permanent and +determined insurrection was possible, and only by such a movement +could the Scottish cause be aided, by forcing the English to send +reinforcements across St. George's Channel. After seeing the +slaughter which had taken place, he was rejoiced at heart that the +rising had commenced before he joined it, and was in no way the +result of his mission, but was one of the sporadic insurrections +which frequently broke out in Ireland, only to be instantly and +sternly repressed. + +"We have failed, Sir Knight," one of the chiefs said to him, "but +it was not for want of courage on the part of our men." + +"No, indeed," Archie replied through his interpreter; "never did I +see men fight more fiercely, but without discipline and organization +victory is well nigh impossible for lightly armed footmen against +heavy mailclad cavalry." + +"The tactics you advised were doubtless good," the chief said; "I +see their wisdom, but they are well nigh impossible to carry out +with such following as ours. They are ever impatient for the fray, +but quickly wearied by effort; ready to die, but not to wait; to +them prudence means cowardice, and their only idea of fighting is +to rush full at a foe. See how they broke the English spearmen!" + +"It was right well done," Archie replied, "and some day, when well +trained and disciplined, Irish soldiers will be second to none in +the world; but unless they will submit to training and discipline +they can never hope to conquer the English." + +"And now, Sir Knight, what do you propose doing?" the chief said. + +"I shall make my way north," Archie replied, "and shall rejoin my +king at Rathlin." + +"I will send two of my men with you. They know every foot of the +morasses of this neighbourhood, and when they get beyond the point +familiar to them will procure you two others to take their places. +It will need all your prudence and courage to get through, for +the English men-at-arms will be scouring the country in groups of +four, hunting all those they come across like wolves. See, already!" +and he pointed to the horizon; "they are scattering round the edge +of the morass to inclose us here; but it is many miles round, and +before tomorrow is gone not a man will be left here." + +When darkness fell, Archie, accompanied by Ronald and his guides, +set out on his journey. Alone he could never have found his way +through the swamps, but even in the darkness his guides moved along +quickly, following tracks known to them with the instinct of hounds; +Archie kept close on their heels, as a step only a few inches from +the track might plunge him in a deep morass, in which in a few +seconds he would sink out of sight. On nearing the edge of the +bog the guides slackened their pace. Motioning to Archie to remain +where he was, they crept forward noiselessly into the darkness. +Not far off he could hear the calls of the English horsemen. The +sounds were repeated again and again until they died away in the +distance, showing that a cordon had been drawn round the morass so +as to inclose the fugitives from the battle of the previous day. + +In a quarter of an hour the guides returned as noiselessly as they +had departed, and Archie continued the march at their heels. Even +greater caution than before was now necessary in walking, for the +English, before darkness had set in, had narrowly examined the edge +of the morass, and had placed three or four men wherever they could +discover the slightest signs of a track. Thus Archie's guides were +obliged to leave the path by which they had previously travelled. +Their progress was slow now, the party only moving for a few yards +at a time, and then halting while the guides searched for ground +solid enough to carry their weight. At last Archie felt the ground +grow firmer under his foot, and a reconnaissance by the guides +having shown them that none of the English were stationed opposite +to them, they left the morass, and noiselessly made their way across +the country until far beyond the English line. + +All night they walked, and at daybreak entered another swamp, and +lay down for the day in the long coarse grass growing on a piece of +firm ground deep in its recesses. In the evening one of the guides +stole out and returned with a native of the neighbourhood, who +undertook to show Archie the way on his further journey. + +Ten days, or rather nights, of steady journeying brought Archie +again to the rocky shore where he had landed. Throughout he had +found faithful guides, whom he had rewarded by giving, as was often +the custom of the time, in lieu of money, a link or two of one of +his gold chains. He and Ronald again took refuge in the cave where +they had passed the first night of their landing. It was untenanted +now. + +Here they abode for a fortnight, Ronald going up every two or three +days to purchase provisions at the scattered cottages. On Saturday +night they lit a great fire just inside the mouth of the cave, so +that while the flames could be seen far out at sea the light would +be unobserved by the garrison of Dunluce or any straggler on the +cliff above. It had been arranged with Duncan that every Saturday +night, weather permitting, he should sail across and look for +a signal fire. The first Saturday night was wild and stormy, and +although they lit the fire they had but slight idea that Duncan +would put out. The following week, however, the night was calm and +bright, and after piling up the fire high they proceeded to the +causeway, and two hours later saw to their joy a boat approaching. +In a few minutes they were on board, and by the following morning +reached Rathlin. + +The king and his companions welcomed Archie's return warmly, +although the report which he made showed that there was no hope of +obtaining any serious diversion of the English attack by a permanent +rising in Ireland; and the king, on hearing Archie's account of +all that had passed, assured him that he felt that, although he had +failed, no one, under the circumstances, could have done otherwise. + + + + +Chapter XVII + +The King's Blood Hound + + +The only other event which occurred throughout the winter was the +arrival of a fishing boat with a messenger from one of the king's +adherents, and the news which he brought filled them with sorrow +and dismay. Kildrummy had been threatened with a siege, and the +queen, Bruce's sisters Christine and Mary, his daughter Marjory, +and the other ladies accompanying them, deemed it prudent to leave +the castle and take refuge in the sanctuary of St. Duthoc, in Ross +shire. + +The sanctuary was violated by the Earl of Ross and his followers, +and the ladies and their escort delivered up to Edward's lieutenants +and sent to England. The knights and squires who formed the escort +were all executed, and the ladies committed to various places +of confinement, where most of them remained in captivity of the +strictest and most rigorous kind until after the battle of Bannockburn, +eight years later. The Countess of Buchan, who had crowned Bruce +at Scone, and who was one of the party captured at St. Duthoc, +received even fouler treatment, by Edward's especial orders, +being placed in a cage on one of the turrets of Berwick Castle so +constructed that she could be seen by all who passed; and in this +cruel imprisonment she was kept like a wild beast for seven long +years by a Christian king whom his admirers love to hold up as a +model of chivalry. + +Kildrummy had been besieged and taken by treachery. The king's +brother, Nigel Bruce, was carried to Berwick, and was there hanged +and beheaded. Christopher Seaton and his brother Alexander, the +Earl of Athole, Sir Simon Fraser, Sir Herbert de Moreham, Sir David +Inchmartin, Sir John Somerville, Sir Walter Logan, and many other +Scotchmen of noble degree, had also been captured and executed, +their only offence being that they had fought for their country. + +In all the annals of England there is no more disgraceful page than +that which chronicles the savage ferocity with which King Edward +behaved to the Scottish nobles and ladies who fell into his hands. +The news of these murders excited the utmost fury as well as grief +among the party at Rathlin, and only increased their determination +to fight till the death against the power of England. + +The spring was now at hand, and Douglas, with Archie Forbes and +a few followers, left in a boat, and landed on the Isle of Arran. +In the bay of Brodick was a castle occupied by Sir John Hastings +and an English garrison. The Scots concealed themselves near the +castle, awaiting an opportunity for an attack. A day or two after +their arrival several vessels arrived with provisions and arms for +the garrison. As these were being landed Douglas and his followers +sallied out and captured the vessels and stores. The garrison of +the castle made a sortie to assist their friends, but were driven +in with slaughter, and the whole of the supplies remained in the +hands of the Scots, causing great rejoicing to the king and the +rest of the party when a few days later they arrived from Rathlin. + +Bruce now proposed an immediate descent upon Carrick, there, in the +midst of his family possessions, to set up his banner in Scotland. +The lands had been forfeited by Edward and bestowed upon some of +his own nobles. Annandale had been given to the Earl of Hereford, +Carrick to Earl Percy, Selkirk to Aymer de Valence. The castle of +Turnberry was occupied by Percy with three hundred men. Bruce sent +on his cousin Cuthbert to reconnoitre and see whether the people +would be ready to rise, but Cuthbert found the Scots sunk in +despair. All who had taken up arms had perished in the field or +on the scaffold. The country swarmed with the English, and further +resistance seemed hopeless. Cuthbert had arranged to light a beacon +on a point at Turnberry visible at Lamlash Bay in Arran, where the +king, with his two hundred men and eighty-three boats, awaited the +sight of the smoke which should tell them that circumstances were +favourable for their landing. + +Cuthbert, finding that there was no chance of a rising, did not +light the bonfire; but as if fortune was determined that Bruce +should continue a struggle which was to end finally in the freedom +of Scotland, some other person lit a fire on the very spot where +Cuthbert had arranged to show the signal. On seeing the smoke the +king and his party at once got into their boats and rowed across +to the mainland, a distance of seventeen miles. On reaching land +they were met by Cuthbert, who reported that the fire was not of his +kindling, and that the circumstances were altogether unfavourable. +Bruce consulted with his brother Edward, Douglas, Archie, and his +principal friends as to what course had better be pursued. Edward +declared at once that he for one would not take to sea again; and +this decision settled the matter. + +The king without delay led his followers against the village +outside the castle, where a considerable portion of the garrison +were housed. These were assailed so suddenly that all save one +were slain. Those in the castle heard the sounds of the conflict, +but being unaware of the smallness of the assailant's force, did +not venture to sally out to their assistance. + +Percy, with his followers, remained shut up in the castle, while +Bruce overran the neighbouring country; but an English force under +Sir Roger St. John, far too powerful to be resisted, advanced to +Turnberry, and Bruce and his followers were obliged to seek refuge +in the hills. Thomas and Alexander, the king's brothers, with Sir +Reginald Crawford, had gone to the islands to beat up recruits, and +returning in a vessel with a party who had joined them, landed at +Loch Ryan. They were attacked at once by Macdowall, a chieftain +of Galloway, and routed. The king's brothers, with Sir Reginald +Crawford, were carried to Carlisle severely wounded, and delivered +over to King Edward, who at once sent them to the scaffold. + +These wholesale and barbarous executions saddened the Scots, and, +as might be expected, soon roused them to severe reprisals. Bruce +himself, however, although deeply stirred by the murder of his +three brothers and many dear friends, and by the captivity and +harsh treatment of his wife and female relatives, never attempted +to take vengeance for them upon those who fell into his hands, +and during the whole of the war in no single instance did he put a +prisoner to death. He carried magnanimity, indeed, almost to the +extent of impolicy; for had the nobles of England found that those +of their number who fell into Bruce's hands suffered the penalty +of death, which Edward inflicted upon the Scotch prisoners, they +would probably have remonstrated with the king and insisted upon +his conducting the war in a less barbarous and ferocious fashion. + +Sir James Douglas was so stirred by the murder of the three Bruces and +so many of his friends and companions, that he resolved henceforth +to wage an exterminating war against the English, and by the recapture +of his own stronghold, known as Castle Douglas, began the series +of desperate deeds which won for him the name of the Black Douglas, +and rendered his name for generations a terror among the English on +the Border. The castle had been conferred by Edward on Sir Robert +de Clifford, and was occupied by an English garrison. Douglas +revealed his intention only to Archie Forbes, who at once agreed +to accompany him. He asked leave from the king to quit their hiding +place for a time, accompanied by Archie, in order to revisit Douglas +Hall, and see how it fared with his tenants and friends. The king +acquiesced with difficulty, as he thought the expedition a dangerous +one, and feared that the youth and impetuosity of Douglas might lead +him into danger; before consenting he strongly urged on Archie to +keep a strict watch over the doings of the young noble. + +Accompanied by but one retainer, the friends set out for Douglasdale. +When they arrived there Douglas went to the cottage of an old and +faithful servant named Thomas Dickson, by whom he was joyfully +received. Dickson went out among the retainers and revealed to such +as could be most surely depended upon the secret of their lord's +presence, and one by one took them in to see him. The friends +had already determined upon their course, and the retainers all +promised to take part in the scheme. They were not numerous enough +to assault the castle openly, but they chose the following Sunday +for the assault. This was Palm Sunday and a festival, and most of +the garrison would come to the Church of St. Bride, in the village +of the same name, a short distance from the castle. + +Dickson with some of his friends went at the appointed time, with +arms concealed under their clothes, to the church; and after the +service had commenced Douglas and some of his followers gathered +outside. Unfortunately for the plan, some of those outside set +up the shout, "A Douglas!" prematurely before the whole party had +arrived and were ready to rush into the church. Dickson with his +friends at once drew out their arms and attacked the English; but +being greatly outnumbered and for a time unsupported, most of them, +including their leader, were slain. Sir James and his followers then +fought their way in, and after a desperate fight all the garrison +save ten were killed. + +The party then proceeded to the castle, which they captured without +resistance. Douglas and his companions partook of the dinner which +had been prepared for the garrison; then as much money, weapons, +armour, and clothing as they could carry away was taken from the +castle. The whole of the vast stores of provisions were carried +into the cellar, the heads struck out of the ale and wine casks, +the prisoners were slain and their bodies thrown down into the mass, +and the castle was then set on fire. Archie Forbes in vain begged +Douglas to spare the lives of the prisoners, but the latter would +not listen to him. "No, Sir Archie," he exclaimed; "the King of +England held my good father a prisoner in chains until he died; +he has struck off the heads of every one of our friends who have +fallen into his hands; he has wasted Scotland from end to end with +fire and sword, and has slain our people in tens of thousands. So +long as this war continues, so long will I slay every prisoner who +falls into my hands, as King Edward would slay me did I fall into +his; and I will not desist unless this cruel king agrees to show +quarter to such of us as he may capture. I see not why all the +massacreing and bloodshed should be upon one side." + +Archie did not urge him further, for he too was half beside himself +with indignation and grief at the murder of the king's brothers +and friends, and at the cruel captivity which, by a violation of +the laws of sanctuary, had fallen upon the ladies with whom he had +spent so many happy hours in the mountains and forests of Athole. + +Douglas and Archie now rejoined the king. For months Bruce led +the life of a hunted fugitive. His little following dwindled away +until but sixty men remained in arms. Of these a portion were +with the king's brother in Galloway, and with but a handful of men +Bruce was lying among the fastnesses of Carrick when Sir Ingram +de Umfraville, with a large number of troops sent by the Earl of +Pembroke from Edinburgh, approached. Wholly unable to resist so +large a force, Bruce's little party scattered, and the king himself, +attended only by a page, lay hidden in the cottage of a peasant. +The English in vain searched for him, until a traitorous Scot went +to Umfraville and offered, for a reward of a grant of land to the +value of 40 pounds annually, to slay Bruce. + +The offer was accepted, and the traitor and his two sons made their +way to Bruce's place of concealment. As they approached, Bruce +snatched his bow from his page and shot the traitor through the +eye. One son attacked him with an axe, but was slain with a blow +from the king's sword. The remaining assailant rushed at him with +a spear; but the king with one blow cut off the spearhead, and +before the assailant had time to draw his sword, stretched him +dead at his feet. After this the king with his adherents eluded +the search of the English and made their way into Galloway. The +people here who were devoted to the English cause determined to hunt +him down, and two hundred men, accompanied by some blood hounds, +set off towards the king's retreat; but Bruce's scouts were on +the watch and brought him news of their coming. The king with his +party retired until they reached a morass, through which flowed a +running stream, while beyond a narrow passage led through a deep +quagmire. + +Beyond this point the hunted party lay down to rest, while the +king with two followers returned to the river to keep watch. After +listening for some time they heard the baying of the hounds coming +nearer and nearer, and then, by the light of a bright moon, saw +their enemies approaching. + +The king sent his two followers to rouse the band. The enemy, +seeing Bruce alone, pressed forward with all haste; and the king, +knowing that if he retired his followers would be attacked unprepared, +determined alone to defend the narrow path. He retired from the +river bank to the spot where the path was narrowest and the morass +most impassable, and then drew his sword. His pursuers, crossing +the river, rode forward against him; Bruce charged the first, and +with his lance slew him; then with a blow with his mace he stretched +his horse beside him, blocking the narrow passage. One by one his +foes advanced, and five fell beneath his blows, before his companions +ran up from behind. The Galloway men then took to flight, but nine +more were slain before they could cross the ford. + +The admiration and confidence of Bruce's followers were greatly +aroused by this new proof of his courage and prowess. Sir James +Douglas, his brother Edward, and others soon afterwards returned +from the expeditions on which they had been sent, and the king +had now 400 men assembled. This force, however, was powerless to +resist an army of English and Lowland Scots who marched against +him, led by Pembroke in person. This force was accompanied by John, +son of Alexander MacDougall of Lorne, with 800 of his mountaineers. +While the heavy armed troops occupied all the Lowlands, Lorne and +his followers made a circuit in the mountains so as to inclose the +royal fugitive between them. + +Bruce, seeing that resistance was impossible, caused his party to +separate into three divisions, and Douglas, Edward Bruce, and Sir +Archibald Forbes were charged to lead their bands, if possible, +through the enemy without fighting. The king tried to escape by a +different route with a handful of men. John of Lorne had obtained +from Turnberry a favourite blood hound belonging to Bruce, and +the hound being put upon the trace persistently followed the king's +party. Seeing this, Bruce ordered them all to disperse, and, +accompanied only by his foster brother, attempted to escape by +speed. + +As they sped along the mountain side they were seen by Lorne, who +directed his henchman, with four of his bravest and swiftest men, +to follow him. After a long chase the MacDougalls came up with +Bruce and his foster brother, who drew their swords and stood on the +defence. The henchman, with two of his followers, attacked Bruce, +while the other two fell on his foster brother. The combat was a +desperate one, but one by one the king cut down his three assailants, +and then turned to the assistance of his foster brother, who +was hardly pressed. The king's sword soon rid him of one of his +assailants, and he slew the other. Having thus disembarrassed +themselves of the whole of their immediate assailants, Bruce and his +companion continued their flight. The main body of their hunters, +with the hound, were but a short distance away, but in a wood the +fugitives came upon a stream, and, marching for some distance down +this, again landed, and continued their flight. + +The hound lost their scent at the spot where they had entered the +water, and being unable to recover it, Lorne and his followers +abandoned the chase. Among the king's pursuers on this occasion +was his nephew Randolph, who had been captured at the battle of +Methven, and having again taken the oath of allegiance to Edward +had been restored to that monarch's favour, and was now fighting +among the English ranks. + +The search was actively kept up after Bruce, and a party of three +men-at-arms came upon him and his foster brother. Being afraid to +attack the king, whom they recognized, openly, they pretended they +had come to join him. + +The king suspected treachery; and when the five lay down for the +night in a cottage which they came upon he and his companion agreed +to watch alternately. Overcome by fatigue, however, both fell asleep, +and when they were suddenly attacked by the three strangers, the +foster brother was killed before he could offer any resistance. +The king himself, although wounded, managed to struggle to his +feet, and then proved more than a match for his three treacherous +assailants, all of whom, after a desperate struggle, he slew. + +The next morning he continued his way, and by nightfall succeeded +in joining the three bands, who had safely reached the rendezvous +he had appointed. + +A few hours after this exploit of Bruce, Archie with two or three +of his followers joined him. + +"This is indeed a serious matter of the hound," Archie said when +Bruce told him how nearly he had fallen a victim to the affection +of his favourite. "Methinks, sire, so long as he remains in the +English hands your life will never be safe, for the dog will always +lead the searchers to your hiding places; if one could get near +enough to shoot him, the danger would be at an end." + +"I would not have him shot, Archie, for a large sum. I have had him +since he was a little pup; he has for years slept across my door, +and would give his life for mine. 'Tis but his affection now that +brings danger upon me." + +"I should be sorry to see the dog killed myself," Archie said, "for +he is a fine fellow, and he quite admitted me to his friendship +during the time we were together. Still, sire, if it were a question +between their lives and yours, I would not hesitate to kill any +number of dogs. The whole future of Scotland is wrapped up in you; +and as there is not one of your followers but would gladly give +his life for yours, it were no great thing that a hound should do +the same." + +"I cannot withstand you in argument, Archie," the king said smiling; +"yet I would fain that my favourite should, if possible, be spared. +But I grant you, should there be no other way, and the hound should +continue to follow me, he must be put to death. But it would grieve +me sorely. I have lost so many and so dear friends in the last +year, that I can ill spare one of the few that are left me." + +Archie was himself fond of dogs, and knowing how attached Bruce +was to his faithful hound he could quite understand how reluctant +he was that harm should come to him. Still, he felt it was necessary +that the dog should, at all hazards, be either killed or taken +from the English, for if he remained in their hands he was almost +certain sooner or later to lead to Bruce's capture. He determined +then to endeavour to avert the danger by abstracting the dog from +the hands of the English, or, failing that, by killing him. To do +this it would be absolutely necessary to enter the English camp. +There was no possibility of carrying out his purpose without running +this risk, for when in pursuit of the king the hound would be held +by a leash, and there would be many men-at-arms close by, so that +the difficulty of shooting him would be extremely great, and Archie +could see no plan save that of boldly entering the camp. + +He said nothing of his project to Bruce, who would probably have +refused to allow him to undertake it; but the next morning when +he parted from him--for it was considered advisable that the +fugitives should be divided into the smallest groups, and that only +one or two of his retainers should remain with Bruce--he started +with his own followers in the direction of Pembroke's camp. He +presently changed clothes with one of these, and they then collected +a quantity of firewood and made it into a great faggot. Archie gave +them orders where they should await him, and lifting the faggot on +his shoulders boldly entered the camp. He passed with it near the +pavilion of Pembroke. The earl was standing with some knights at +the entrance. + +"Come hither, Scot," he said as Archie passed. + +Archie laid his bundle on the ground, and doffing his bonnet strode +with an awkward and abashed air toward the earl. + +"I suppose you are one of Bruce's men?" the earl said. + +"My father," Archie replied, "as well as all who dwell in these +dales, were his vassals; but seeing that, as they say, his lands +have been forfeit and given to others, I know not whose man I am +at present." + +"Dost know Bruce by figure?" + +"Surely," Archie said simply, "seeing that I was employed in the +stables at Turnberry, and used to wash that big hound of his, who +was treated as a Christian rather than a dog." + +"Oh, you used to tend the hound!" Pembroke said. "Then perhaps +you could manage him now. He is here in camp, and the brute is so +savage and fierce he has already well nigh killed two or three men; +and I would have had him shot but that he may be useful to us. If +he knows you he may be quieter with you than others." + +"Doubtless he would know me," Archie said; "but seeing that I have +the croft to look after, as my father is old and infirm, I trust +that you will excuse me the service of looking after the hound." + +"Answer me not," Pembroke said angrily. "You may think yourself +lucky, seeing that you are one of Bruce's retainers, that I do not +have you hung from a tree. + +"Take the fellow to the hound," he said to one of his retainers, +"and see if the brute recognizes him; if so, put him in charge of +him for the future. And see you Scot, that you attempt no tricks, +for if you try to escape I will hang you without shrift." + +Archie followed the earl's retainer to where, behind his pavilion, +the great dog was chained up. He leapt to his feet with a savage +growl on hearing footsteps approaching. His hair bristled and he +tugged at his chain. + +"What a savage beast it is!" the man said; "I would sooner face +a whole company of you Scots than get within reach of his jaws. +Dickon," he went on as another soldier, on hearing the growl, issued +from one of the smaller tents which stood in rear of the pavilion, +"the earl has sent this Scot to relieve you of your charge of the +dog; he is to have the care of him in future." + +"That is the best turn the earl has done me for a long time," the +man replied. "Never did I have a job I fancied less than the tending +of that evil tempered brute." + +"He did not use to be evil tempered," Archie said; "but was a quiet +beast when I had to do with him before. I suppose the strangeness +of the place and so many strange faces have driven him half wild. +Beside, he is not used to being chained up. Hector, old fellow," +he said approaching the dog quietly, "don't you know me?" + +The great hound recognized the voice and his aspect changed +at once. The bristling hair lay flat on his back; the threatening +jaws closed. He gave a short deep bark of pleasure, and then began +leaping and tugging at his chain to reach his acquaintance. Archie +came close to him now. Hector reared on his hind legs, and placed +his great paws on his shoulders, and licked his face with whines +of joy. + +"He knows you, sure enough," the man said; "and maybe we shall get +on better now. At any rate there may be some chance of sleep, for +the brute's howls every night since he has been brought here have +kept the whole camp awake." + +"No wonder!" Archie said, "when he has been accustomed to be petted +and cared for; he resents being chained up." + +"Would you unchain him?" the man asked. + +"That would I," Archie replied; "and I doubt not that he will stay +with me." + +"It may be so," the man replied; "but you had best not unchain him +without leave from the earl, for were he to take it into his head +to run away, I would not give a groat for your life. But I will go +and acquaint the earl that the dog knows you, and ask his orders +as to his being unchained." + +In two or three minutes he returned. + +"The earl says that on no account is he to be let free. He has told +me to have a small tent pitched here for you. The hound is to be +chained to the post, and to share the tent with you. You may, if +you will, walk about the camp with him, but always keeping him in +a chain; but if you do so it will be at your peril, for if he gets +away your life will answer for it." + +In a short time two or three soldiers brought a small tent and +erected it close by where the dog was chained up. Archie unloosed +the chain from the post round which it was fastened, and led +Hector to the tent, the dog keeping close by his side and wagging +his tail gravely, as if to show his appreciation of the change, to +the satisfaction of the men to whom hitherto he had been a terror. +Some heather was brought for a bed, and a supply of food, both +for the dog and his keeper, and the men then left the two friends +alone. Hector was sitting up on his haunches gazing affectionately +at Archie, his tail beating the ground with slow and regular strokes. + +"I know what you want to ask, old fellow," Archie said to him; "why +I don't lead you at once to your master? Don't you be impatient, +old fellow, and you shall see him ere long;" and he patted the +hound's head. + +Hector, with a great sigh expressive of content and satisfaction, +lay down on the ground by the side of the couch of heather on which +Archie threw himself--his nose between his forepaws, clearly +expressing that he considered his troubles were over, and could now +afford to wait until in due time he should be taken to his master. +That night the camp slept quietly, for Hector was silent. For the +next two days Archie did not go more than a few yards from his tent, +for he feared that he might meet some one who would recognize him. + + + + +Chapter XVIII + +The Hound Restored + + +On the third day after his arrival at the camp Archie received +orders to prepare to start with the hound, with the earl and a large +party of men-at-arms, in search of Bruce. A traitor had just come +in and told them where Bruce had slept the night before. Reluctantly +Archie unfastened the chain from the pole, and holding the end in +his hand went round with Hector to the front of the pavilion. He +was resolved that if under the dog's guidance the party came close +up with Bruce, he would kill the dog and then try to escape by +fleetness of foot, though of this, as there were so many mounted +men in the party, he had but slight hope. Led by the peasant they +proceeded to the hut, which was five miles away in the hills. On +reaching it Hector at once became greatly excited. He sniffed +here and there, eagerly hunted up and down the cottage, then made +a circuit round it, and at last, with a loud deep bay he started +off with his nose to the ground, pulling so hard at the chain that +Archie had difficulty in keeping up with him. Pembroke and his +knights rode a little behind, followed by their men-at-arms. + +"I pray you, Sir Earl," Archie said, "keep not too close to my +traces, for the sound of the horse's hoofs and the jingling of the +equipments make him all the more impatient to get forward, and even +now it taxes all my strength to hold him in." + +The earl reined back his horse and followed at a distance of some +fifty yards. He had no suspicion whatever of any hidden design +on Archie's part. The fact that the hound had recognized him had +appeared to him a sure proof of the truth of his tale, and Archie +had put on an air of such stupid simplicity that the earl deemed +him to have but imperfect possession of his wits. Moreover, in any +case he could overtake him in case he attempted flight. + +Archie proceeded at a trot behind the hound, who was with +difficulty restrained at that pace, straining eagerly on the chain +and occasionally sending out his deep bay. Archie anxiously regarded +the country through which he was passing. He was waiting for an +opportunity, and was determined, whenever they passed near a steep +hillside unscaleable by horsemen, he would stab Hector to the heart +and take to flight. Presently he saw a man, whose attire showed +him to be a Highlander, approaching at a run; he passed close by +Archie, and as he did so stopped suddenly, exclaiming, "Archibald +Forbes!" and drawing his broadsword sprang at him. Archie, who was +unarmed save by a long knife, leapt back. In the man he recognized +the leader of the MacDougall's party, who had captured him near +Dunstaffnage. The conflict would have terminated in an instant had +not Hector intervened. Turning round with a deep growl the great +hound sprang full at the throat of the Highlander as with uplifted +sword he rushed at Archie. The impetus of the spring threw the +MacDougall on his back, with the fangs of the hound fixed in his +throat. Archie's first impulse was to pull the dog off, the second +thought showed him that, were the man to survive he would at once +denounce him. Accordingly, though he appeared to tug hard at Hector's +chain, he in reality allowed him to have his way. Pembroke and his +knights instantly galloped up. As they arrived Hector loosed his +hold, and with his hair bristly with rage prepared to attack those +whom he regarded as fresh enemies. + +"Hold in that hound," Pembroke shouted, "or he will do more damage. +What means all this?" For a minute Archie did not answer, being +engaged in pacifying Hector, who, on seeing that no harm was +intended, strove to return to his first foe. + +"It means," Archie said, when Hector was at last pacified, "that +that Highlander came the other day to our cottage and wanted to +carry off a cow without making payment for it. I withstood him, +he drew his sword, but as I had a stout cudgel in my hand I hit him +on the wrist ere he could use it, and well nigh broke his arm. So +he made off, cursing and swearing, and vowing that the next time +he met me he would have my life." + +"And that he would have done," Pembroke said, "had it not been +for Bruce's dog, who has turned matters the other way. He is dead +assuredly. It is John of Lorne's henchman, who was doubtless on +his way with a message from his lord to me. Could not the fool have +postponed his grudge till he had delivered it? I tell you, Scot, +you had best keep out of the MacDougalls' way, for assuredly they +will revenge the death of their clansman upon you if they have +the chance, though I can testify that the affair was none of your +seeking. Now let us continue our way." + +"I doubt me, Sir Earl, whether our journey ends not here," Archie +said, "seeing that these hounds, when they taste blood, seem for +a time to lose their fineness of scent; but we shall see." + +Archie's opinion turned out correct. Do what they would they could +not induce Hector again to take up his master's trail, the hound +again and again returning to the spot where the dead Highlander +still lay. Pembroke had the body carried off but the hound tugged +at his chain in the direction in which it had gone, and seemed to +have lost all remembrance of the track upon which he was going. +At last Pembroke was obliged to acknowledge that it was useless to +pursue longer, and, full of disappointment at their failure, the +party returned to camp, Pembroke saying: "Our chase is but postponed. +We are sure to get tidings of Bruce's hiding place in a day or two, +and next time we will have the hound muzzled, lest any hotheaded +Highlander should again interfere to mar the sport." + +It was some days before further tidings were obtained of Bruce. +Archie did not leave his tent during this time, giving as a reason +that he was afraid if he went out he should meet some of Lorne's +men, who might take up the quarrel of the man who had been killed. +At length, however, another traitor came in, and Pembroke and his +party set out as before, Hector being this time muzzled by a strap +round his jaw, which would not interfere with his scent, but would +prevent him from widely opening his jaws. + +The scent of Bruce was again taken up at a lonely hut in the hills. +The country was far more broken and rough than that through which +they had followed Bruce's trail on the preceding occasion. Again +Archie determined, but most reluctantly, that he would slay the +noble dog; but he determined to postpone the deed to the latest +moment. Several places were passed where he might have succeeded +in effecting his escape after stabbing the hound, but each time his +determination failed him. It would have been of no use to release +the dog and make himself up the hillside, for a blood hound's pace +when on the track is not rapid, and the horsemen could have kept +up with Hector, who would of course have continued his way upon +the trail of the king. Presently two men were seen in the distance; +they had evidently been alarmed by the bay of the hound, and were +going at full speed. A shout of triumph broke from the pursuers, +and some of the more eager would have set spurs to their horses +and passed the hound. + +"Rein back, rein back," Pembroke said, "the country is wild and +hilly here, and Bruce may hide himself long before you can overtake +him. Keep steadily in his track till he gains flatter country, where +we can keep him in sight, then we shall have no more occasion for +the hound and can gallop on at full speed." + +Archie observed, with satisfaction, that Bruce was making up an +extremely steep hillside, deeming probably that horsemen would be +unable to follow him here, and that he would be able to distance +pursuers on foot. Ten minutes later his pursuers had reached the +foot of the hill. Pembroke at once ordered four knights and ten +men-at-arms to dismount. + +"Do you," he said, "with the dog, follow hard upon the traces of +Bruce. When you reach the top signal to us the direction in which +he has gone. Follow ever on his track without stopping; he must at +last take to the low country again. Some of my men shall remain +here, others a mile further on, and so on round the whole foot of +the hills. Do you, when you see that, thinking he has distanced +you, which he may well do being more lightly armed and flying for +his life, he makes for the low country again, send men in different +directions to give me warning. The baying of the dog will act as +a signal to us." + +While the men had been dismounting and Pembroke was giving his +orders Archie had proceeded up the hill with the hound. The path +was exceedingly steep and difficult. + +"Do not hurry, sirrah," Pembroke called; "hold in your hound till +the others join you." But Archie paid no attention to the shout, +but kept up the steep path at the top of his speed. Shouts and +threats followed him, but he paused not till he reached the top +of the ascent; then he unfastened Hector's collar, and the dog, +relieved from the chain which had so long restrained him, bounded +away with a deep bay in pursuit of his master, whose scent was now +strong before him. As Archie looked back, the four knights and +their followers, in single file, were, as yet, scarce halfway up +the ascent. Lying round were numbers of loose boulders, and Archie +at once began to roll these down the hillside. They went but slowly +at first, but as they reached the steeper portion they gathered +speed, and taking great bounds crashed down the hillside. As these +formidable missiles burst down from above the knights paused. + +"On!" Pembroke shouted from below; "the Scot is a traitor, and he +and the hound will escape if you seize him not." Again the party +hurried up the hill. Three of them were struck down by the rocks, +and the speed of all was impeded by the pauses made to avoid the +great boulders which bounded down toward them. When they were +within a few yards of the top Archie turned and bounded off at full +speed. He had no fear of being himself overtaken. Lightly clad and +unarmed, the knights and men-at-arms, who were all in full armour, +and who were already breathed with the exertions they had made, +would have no chance of overtaking him; indeed he could safely have +fled at once when he loosed Hector, but he had stopped to delay the +ascent of his pursuers solely to give the hound as long a start +as possible. He himself could have kept up with the hound; the +men-at-arms could assuredly not do so, but they might for a long +time keep him in sight, and his baying would afterwards indicate +the line the king was taking, and Bruce might yet be cut off by +the mounted men. The delay which his bombardment had caused had +given a long start to the hound, for it was more than five minutes +from the time when it had been loosed before the pursuers gained +the crest of the hill. Archie, in his flight, took a different +line to that which the dog had followed. Hector was already out +of sight, and although his deep baying might for a time afford an +index to his direction this would soon cease to act as a guide, as +the animal would rapidly increase his distance from his pursuers, +and would, when he had overtaken the king, cease to emit his warning +note. The pursuers, after a moment's pause for consultation on the +crest of the hill, followed the line taken by the hound. + +The men-at-arms paused to throw aside their defensive armour, +breast, back, and leg pieces, and the knights relieved themselves +of some of their iron gear; but the delay, short as it was, caused +by the unbuckling of straps and unlacing of helms, increased the +distance which already existed between them and the hound, whose +deep notes, occasionally raised, grew fainter and fainter. In a +few minutes it ceased altogether, and Archie judged that the hound +had overtaken his master, who, on seeing the animal approaching +alone, would naturally have checked his flight. Archie himself +was now far away from the men-at-arms, and after proceeding until +beyond all reach of pursuit, slackened his pace, and breaking into +a walk continued his course some miles across the hills until he +reached a lonely cottage where he was kindly received, and remained +until next day. + +The following morning he set out and journeyed to the spot, where, +on leaving his retainers more than a week before, he had ordered +them to await his coming. It was another week before he obtained +such news as enabled him again to join the king, who was staying at +a woodcutter's hut in Selkirk Forest. Hector came out with a deep +bark of welcome. + +"Well, Sir Archie," the king said, following his dog to the door, +"and how has it fared with you since we last parted a fortnight +since? I have been hotly chased, and thought I should have been +taken; but, thanks to the carelessness of the fellow who led my +hound, Hector somehow slipped his collar and joined me, and I was +able to shake off my pursuers, so that danger is over, and without +sacrificing the life of my good dog." + +Archie smiled. "Perchance, sir, it was not from any clumsiness that +the hound got free, but that he was loosed by some friendly hand." + +"It may be so," the king replied; "but they would scarcely have +intrusted him to a hand friendly to me. Nor would his leader, even +if so disposed, have ventured to slip the hound, seeing that the +horsemen must have been close by at the time, and that such a deed +would cost him his life. It was only because Hector got away, when +the horsemen were unable to follow him, that he escaped, seeing +that, good dog as he is, speed is not his strong point, and that +horsemen could easily gallop alongside of him even were he free. +What are you smiling at, Sir Archie? The hound and you seem on +wondrous friendly terms;" for Hector was now standing up with his +great paws on Archie's shoulder. + +"So we should be, sire, seeing that for eight days we have shared +bed and board." + +"Ah! is it so?" Bruce exclaimed. "Was it you, then, that loosed +the hound?" + +"It was, sir," Archie replied; "and this is the history of it; +and you will see that if I have done you and Hector a service in +bringing you together again the hound has repaid it by saving my +life." + +Entering the hut, Archie sat down and related all that had happened, +to the king. + +"You have done me great service, Sir Archie," Bruce said when he +concluded his tale, "for assuredly the hound would have wrought my +ruin had he remained in the hands of the English. This is another +of the long list of services you have rendered me. Some day, when +I come to my own, you will find that I am not ungrateful." + +The feats which have been related of Bruce, and other personal +adventures in which he distinguished himself, won the hearts of +great numbers of the Scotch people. They recognized now that they +had in him a champion as doughty and as valiant as Wallace himself. +The exploits of the king filled their imaginations, and the way in +which he continued the struggle after the capture of the ladies of +his family and the cruel execution of his brothers and so many of +his adherents, convinced them that he would never desist until he +was dead or a conqueror. Once persuaded of this, larger numbers +gathered round his banner, and his fortunes henceforth began steadily +to rise. + +Lord Clifford had rebuilt Douglas Castle, making it larger and +much stronger than before, and had committed it to the charge of +Captain Thirlwall, with a strong garrison. Douglas took a number +of his retainers, who had now joined him in the field, and some +of these, dressing themselves as drovers and concealing their +arms, drove a herd of cattle within sight of the castle toward an +ambuscade in which Douglas and the others were laying in ambush. +The garrison, seeing what they believed a valuable prize within +their grasp, sallied out to seize the cattle. When they reached the +ambuscade the Scots sprang out upon them, and Thirlwall and the +greater portion of his men were slain. Douglas then took and destroyed +the castle and marched away. Clifford again rebuilt it more strongly +than before, and placed it in charge of Sir John Walton. It might +have been thought that after the disasters which had befallen +the garrison they would not have suffered themselves to be again +entrapped. Douglas, however, ordered a number of his men to ride +past within sight of the castle with sacks upon their horses, +apparently filled with grain, but in reality with grass, as if +they were countrymen on their way to the neighbouring market town, +while once more he and his followers placed themselves in ambush. +Headed by their captain, the garrison poured out from the castle, +and followed the apparent countrymen until they had passed the +ambush where Douglas was lying. Then the drovers threw off their +disguises and attacked them, while Douglas fell upon their rear, +and Walton and his companions were all slain. The castle was then +attacked, and the remainder of the garrison being cowed by the +fate which had befallen their leader and comrades, made but a poor +defence. The castle was taken, and was again destroyed by its +lord, the walls being, as far as possible, overthrown. + +Shortly after the daring adventures of Bruce had begun to rouse +the spirit of the country Archie Forbes found himself at the head +of a larger following than before. Foreseeing that the war must be +a long one he had called upon his tenants and retainers to furnish +him only with a force one third of that of their total strength. +Thus he was able to maintain sixty men always in the field--all +the older men on the estate being exempted from service unless +summoned to defend the castle. + +One day when he was in the forest of Selkirk with the king a body +of fifty men were seen approaching. Their leader inquired for Sir +Archibald Forbes, and presently approached him as he was talking +to the king. + +"Sir Archibald Forbes," he said, "I am bidden by my mistress, the +lady Mary Kerr, to bring these, a portion of the retainers of her +estates in Ayrshire, and to place them in your hands to lead and +govern." + +"In my hands!" Archie exclaimed in astonishment. "The Kerrs are all +on the English side, and I am their greatest enemy. It were strange, +indeed, were one of them to choose me to lead their retainers in +the cause of Scotland." + +"Our young lord Sir Allan was slain at Methven," the man said, "and +the lady Mary is now our lady and mistress. She sent to us months +ago to say that she willed not that any of her retainers should any +longer take part in the struggle, and all who were in the field +were summoned home. Then we heard that no hindrance would be offered +by her should any wish to join the Bruce; and now she has sent by +a messenger a letter under her hand ordering that a troop of fifty +men shall be raised to join the king, and that it shall fight under +the leading and order of Sir Archibald Forbes." + +"I had not heard that Sir Allan had fallen," Archie said to the +king as they walked apart from the place where the man was standing; +"and in truth I had forgotten that he even had a sister. She must +have been a child when I was a boy at Glen Cairn, and could have +been but seldom at the castle--which, indeed, was no fit abode +for so young a girl, seeing that Sir John's wife had died some +years before I left Glen Cairn. Perhaps she was with her mother's +relations. I have heard that Sir John Kerr married a relation of +the Comyns of Badenoch. 'Tis strange if, being of such bad blood +on both sides, she should have grown up a true Scotchwoman--still +more strange she should send her vassals to fight under the banner +of one whom she must regard as the unlawful holder of her father's +lands of Aberfilly." + +"Think you, Sir Archie," the king said, "that this is a stratagem, +and that these men have really come with a design to seize upon +you and slay you, or to turn traitors in the first battle?" + +Archie was silent. "Treachery has been so much at work," he said +after a pause, "that it were rash to say that this may not be a +traitorous device; but it were hard to think that a girl--even +a Kerr--would lend herself to it." + +"There are bad women as well as bad men," the king said: "and if +a woman thinks she has grievances she will often stick at nothing +to obtain revenge." + +"It is a well appointed troop," Archie said looking at the men, +who were drawn up in order, "and not to be despised. Their leader +looks an honest fellow; and if the lady means honestly it were +churlish indeed, to refuse her aid when she ventures to break with +her family and to declare for Scotland. No; methinks that, with +your permission, I will run the risk, such as it may be, and will +join this band with my own. I will keep a sharp watch over them at +the first fight, and will see that they are so placed that, should +they mean treachery, they shall have but small opportunity of doing +harm." + + + + +Chapter XIX + +The Convent of St. Kenneth + + +Bruce, as the result of his successes, was now able to leave +his fastnesses and establish himself in the districts of Carrick, +Kyle, and Cunningham. Pembroke had established himself at Bothwell +Castle, and sent a challenge to Bruce to meet him with his force at +Loudon Hill. Although his previous experience of such challenges +was unfortunate, Bruce accepted the offer. He had learned much +since the battle of Methven, and was not likely again to be caught +asleep; on the 9th of May he assembled his forces at Loudon Hill. + +It was but a small following. Douglas had brought 100 men +from Douglasdale, and Archie Forbes had as many under his banner. +Bruce's own vassals had gathered 200 strong, and as many more of +the country people had joined; but in all, the Scotch force did +not exceed 600 men, almost entirely on foot and armed with spears. +Bruce at once reconnoitred the ground to discover a spot where his +little force might best withstand the shock of Pembroke's chivalry. +He found that at one place near the hill the road crossed a level +meadow with deep morasses on either side. He strengthened the position +with trenches, and calmly awaited the approach of his enemy. Upon +the following day Pembroke's army was seen approaching, numbering +3000 knights and mounted men-at-arms, all in complete armour. They +were formed in two divisions. The battle was almost a repetition +of that which had been fought by Wallace near the same spot. The +English chivalry levelled their spears and charged with proud +confidence of their ability to sweep away the rabble of spearmen +in front of them. Their flanks became entangled in the morasses; +their centre tried in vain to break through the hedge of Scottish +spears, and when they were in confusion, the king, his brother +Edward, Douglas, Archie Forbes, and some twenty other mounted men +dashed through a gap in the spearmen and fell upon them. The second +division, seeing the first broken and in confusion, turned and took +to flight at once, and Pembroke and his attendants rode, without +drawing rein, to Bothwell Castle. + +A few days later Bruce encountered and defeated Ralph de Monthermer, +Earl of Gloucester, and compelled him to shut himself up in the +Castle of Ayr. + +Archie Forbes was not present at the second battle, for upon the +morning after the fight at Loudon Hill he was aroused by his servant +entering his tent. + +"A messenger has just brought this," he said, handing him a small +packet. "He bids me tell you that the sender is a prisoner in the +convent of St. Kenneth, on Loch Leven, and prays your aid." + +Archie opened the packet and found within it the ring he had given +to Marjory at Dunstaffnage. Without a moment's delay he hurried +to the king and begged permission to leave him for a short time on +urgent business, taking with him twenty of his retainers. + +"What is your urgent business, Sir Archie?" the king asked. "A lady +is in the case, I warrant me. Whenever a young knight has urgent +business, be sure that a lady is in question. Now mind, Sir Archie, +I have, as I have told you, set my heart upon marrying you to +Mistress Mary Kerr, and so at once putting an end to a long feud +and doubling your possessions. Her retainers fought well yesterday, +and the least I can do to reward so splendid a damsel is to bestow +upon her the hand of my bravest knight." + +"I fear, sire," Archie said laughing, "that she must be content +with another. There are plenty who will deem themselves well paid +for their services in your cause by the gift of the hand of so rich +an heiress. But I must fain be excused; for as I told you, sire, +when we were together in Rathlin Island, my heart was otherwise +bestowed." + +"What! to the niece of that malignant enemy of mine, Alexander of +Lorne?" the king said laughing. "Her friends would rather see you +on the gibbet than at the altar." + +"I care nought for her friends," Archie said, "if I can get herself. +My own lands are wide enough, and I need no dowry with my wife." + +"I see you are hopeless," the king replied. "Well, go, Archie; but +whatever be your errand, beware of the Lornes. Remember I have +scarce begun to win Scotland yet, and cannot spare you." + +A quarter of an hour later Archie, with twenty picked men, took +his way northward. Avoiding all towns and frequented roads, Archie +marched rapidly north to the point of Renfrew and crossed the Firth +of Clyde by boat; then he kept north round the head of Loch Fyne, +and avoiding Dalmally skirted the head of Loch Etive and the slopes +of Ben Nevis, and so came down on Loch Leven. + +The convent stood at the extremity of a promontory jutting into the +lake. The neck was very narrow, and across it were strong walls, +with a gate and flanking towers. Between this wall and the convent +was the garden where the inmates walked and enjoyed the air free +from the sight of men, save, indeed, of fishers who might be passing +in their boats. + +Outside the wall, on the shore of the lake, stood a large village; +and here a strong body of the retainers of the convent were always +on guard, for at St. Kenneth were many of the daughters of Scotch +nobles, sent there either to be out of the way during the troubles +or to be educated by the nuns. Although the terrors of sacrilege +and the ban of the church might well deter any from laying hands +upon the convent, yet even in those days of superstition some were +found so fierce and irreverent as to dare even the anger of the +church to carry out their wishes; and the possession of some of these +heiresses might well enable them to make good terms for themselves +both with the church and the relations of their captives. Therefore a +number of the retainers were always under arms, a guard was placed +on the gate, and lookouts on the flanking towers--their duty +being not only to watch the land side, but to shout orders to keep +at a distance to any fisherman who might approach too closely to +the promontory. + +Archie left his party in the forest under the command of William +Orr. He dressed himself as a mountaineer, and, accompanied by Cluny +Campbell, and carrying a buck which they had shot in the forest, +went boldly down into the village. He soon got into conversation +with an old fisherman, and offered to exchange the deer for dried +fish. The bargain was quickly struck, and then Archie said: + +"I have never been out on the lake, and would fain have a view of +the convent from the water. Will you take me and my brother out +for a row?" + +The fisherman, who had made a good bargain, at once assented, and +rowed Archie and Cluny far out into the lake. + +As they passed along at some distance Archie saw that the shore was +in several places smooth and shelving, and that there would be no +difficulty in effecting a landing. He saw also that there were many +clumps of trees and shrubs in the garden. + +"And do the nuns and the ladies at the convent often walk there?" +he asked the fisherman. + +"Oh yes," he answered; "of an evening as I come back from fishing +I can see numbers of them walking there. When the vesper bell rings +they all go in. That is the chapel adjoining the convent on this +side." + +"It is a strong building," Archie said as when past the end of +the promontory they obtained a full view of it. "It is more like +a castle than a convent." + +"It had need be strong," the old man said; "for some of the +richest heiresses in Scotland are shut up there. On the land side +I believe there are no windows on the lower storey, and the door +is said to be of solid iron. The windows on that side are all +strongly barred; and he would have hard work, indeed, who wanted +by force or stratagem to steal one of the pretty birds out of that +cage." + +Archie had no idea of using force; and although he had been to some +extent concerned in the breach of sanctuary at Dumfries, he would +have shrunk from the idea of violating the sanctuary of St. Kenneth. +But to his mind there was no breach whatever of that sanctuary in +aiding one kept there against her will to make her escape. Having +ascertained all that he wished to know, he bade the boatman return +to shore. + +"Keep a lookout for me," he said, "for I may return in a few days +with another buck, and may bring a comrade or two with me who would +like an afternoon's fishing on the lake. I suppose you could lend +me your boat and nets?" + +"Assuredly," the fisherman replied. "You will not mind taking into +consideration the hire of the boat in agreeing for the weight of +fish to be given for the stag?" + +Archie nodded, secretly amused at the old man's covetousness, for +he knew that the weight of fish he had given him for the stag which +he had brought down was not one fourth the value of the meat. + +He then returned with Cluny to the band. Some time before daybreak +he came down to the place again, and, entering the water quietly, +at a distance from the promontory, swam noiselessly out, and landed +at the garden, and there concealed himself in a clump of bushes. +Daylight came. An hour later some of the nuns of the second order, +who belonged to poor families and acted as servants in the convent, +came out into the garden, and busied themselves with the cultivation +of the flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Not till the afternoon did +any of the other inmates appear; but at about four o'clock the +great door of the convent opened, and a number of women and girls +streamed out. The former were all in nuns' attire, as were a few +of the latter, but their garb was somewhat different from that of +the elder sisters; these were the novices. The greater number, +however, of the girls were dressed in ordinary attire, and were the +pupils of the convent. While the nuns walked quietly up and down +or sat on benches and read, the pupils scattered in groups laughing +and talking merrily together. Among these Archie looked eagerly +for Marjory. He felt sure that her imprisonment could be detention +only, and not rigorous seclusion. Presently he espied her. She +was walking with two of the nuns and three or four of the elder +residents at the convent, for many of these were past the age of +pupildom; and were there simply as a safe place of refuge during +troublous times. The conversation appeared to be an animated one. +It was not for some time that the group passed within hearing of +Archie's place of concealment. Then Archie heard the voice of one +of the nuns raised in anger: + +"It is monstrous what you say, and it is presumptuous and wicked +for a young girl of eighteen to form opinions for herself. What +should we come to if every young woman were to venture to think and +judge for herself? Discord and disorder would be wrought in every +family. All your relations and friends are opposed to this sacrilegious +murderer, Robert Bruce. The church has solemnly banned him, and +yet you venture to uphold his cause." + +"But the Bishop of Glasgow," Marjory said, "and many other good +prelates of our church side with him, and surely they must be good +judges whether his sins are unpardonable." + +"Do not argue with me," the sister said angrily. "I tell you this +obstinacy will be permitted no longer. Had it not been that Alexander +of Lorne begged that we would not be harsh with you, steps would +long since have been taken to bring you to reason; but we can no +longer permit this advocacy of rebellion, and the last unmaidenly +step which you took of setting at defiance your friends and relatives, +and even of sending messages hence, must be punished. The abbess +bade me reason with you and try and turn your obstinate will. Your +cousins of Badenoch here have appealed to you in vain. This can no +longer be tolerated. The lady abbess bids me tell you that she gives +you three days to renounce the rebel opinions you have so frowardly +held, and to accept the husband whom your uncle and guardian has +chosen for you, your cousin John of Lorne, his son. During that +time none will speak to you. If at the end of three days you are +still contumacious you will be confined to your cell on bread and +water until better thoughts come to you." + +While the conversation had been going on, the little group had +halted near the bushes, and they now turned away, leaving Marjory +standing by herself. The girl sat down on a bench close to where +she had been standing, exclaiming to herself as she did so, "They +may shut me up as a prisoner for life, but I will never consent to +take sides against the cause of Scotland or to marry John of Lorne. +Oh! who is there?" she exclaimed, starting suddenly to her feet as +a man's voice behind her said: + +"Quite right, Mistress Marjory, well and bravely resolved; but pray +sit down again, and assume an attitude of indifference." + +"Who is it that speaks?" the girl asked in a tremulous voice, +resuming her seat. + +"It is your true knight, lady, Archibald Forbes, who has come to +rescue you from this captivity." + + +"But how can you rescue me?" the girl asked after a long pause. "Do +you know the consequences if you are found here within the bounds +of the convent?" + +"I care nothing for the consequences," Archie said. "I have in the +woods twenty stout followers. I propose tomorrow to be with three +of them on the lake afishing. If you, when the bell rings for your +return in the evening, will enter that little copse by the side of +the lake, and will show yourself at the water's edge, we will row +straight in and take you off long ere the guards can come hither +to hinder us. The lake is narrow, and we can reach the other side +before any boat can overtake us. There my followers will be awaiting +us, and we can escort you to a place of safety. It is fortunate +that you are ordered to be apart from the rest; none therefore will +mark you as you linger behind when the bell rings for vespers." + +Marjory was silent for some time. + +"But, Sir Knight," she said, "whither am I to go? for of all my +friends not one, save the good priest, but is leagued against me." + +"I can take you either to the Bishop of Glasgow, who is a friend of +the Bruce and whom I know well--he will, I am sure, take charge +of you--or, if you will, lady, I can place you with my mother, +who will receive you as a daughter." + +"But what," the girl said hesitatingly, "will people say at my +running away from a convent with a young knight?" + +"Let them say what they will," Archie said. "All good Scots, when +they know that you have been in prison here solely from the love +of your country, will applaud the deed; and should you prefer it, +the king will, I know, place you in charge of the wife of one of +the nobles who adheres to him, and will give you his protection +and countenance. Think, lady, if you do not take this opportunity +of gaining your freedom, it may never occur again, for if you are +once shut up in your cell, as I heard threatened, nothing save an +attack by force of arms, which would be sheer sacrilege, can rescue +you from it. Surely," he urged, as the girl still remained silent, +"you can trust yourself with me. Do I not owe my life to you? and +I swear that so long as you remain in my charge I will treat you +as my sister in all honour and respect." + +For some minutes the girl made no answer. At length she said, +standing up, and half turning toward the bushes: + +"I will trust you, Sir Archie. I know you to be a brave and honourable +knight, and I will trust you. I know 'tis a strange step to take, +and the world will blame me; but what can I do? If I refuse your +offer I shall be kept a prisoner here until I consent to marry John +of Lorne, whom I hate, for he is as rough and cruel as his father, +without the kindness of heart, which, save in his angry moments, +the latter has ever had toward me. All my relations are against +me, and struggle against my fate as I may, I must in the end bend +to their will if I remain here. 'Tis a hard choice to make; but +what can I do? Yes, I will trust to your honour; and may God and +all the saints punish you if you are false to the trust! Tomorrow +evening, as the vespers are chiming, I will be at the water's edge, +behind yonder clump of bushes." + +Then, with head bent down and slow steps, Marjory returned to +the convent, none addressing her as she passed through the groups +of her companions, the order that she was to be shut out from the +rest having been already issued. Archie remained in his place of +concealment until the gardens were deserted and night had fallen. +Then he left his hiding place, and, entering the lake, swam quietly +away, and landed far beyond the village. An hour's walk brought +him to the encampment of his comrades. + +At daybreak next morning the band, under the command of William +Orr, started for their long march round the head of the lake to +the position which they were to take up on the opposite side facing +the convent, Archie choosing three of the number most accustomed +to the handling of oars to remain with him. With these he set out +on a hunt as soon as the main body had left, and by midday had +succeeded in killing a stag. With this swung on a pole carried by +his followers Archie proceeded to the village. He speedily found +the fisherman with whom he had before bargained. + +"I did not expect you back again so soon," the old man said. + +"We killed a buck this morning," Archie said carelessly, "and my +friends thought that the afternoon would be fine for fishing." + +"You can try if you like," the fisherman said, "but I fear that +you will have but little sport. The day is too bright and clear, +and the fish will be sulking at the bottom of the lake." + +"We will try," Archie said, "nevertheless. Even if the sport is +bad it will be pleasant out on the lake, and if we catch nothing we +will get you to give us some fresh fish instead of dry. The folks +in the hills will be no wiser, and it will not do for us to return +empty handed." + +The fisherman assented, and placed the oars and nets in the boat, +and Archie and his companions entering rowed out into the middle +of the lake, and then throwing over the nets busied themselves with +fishing. + +As the old man had predicted, their sport was but small, but this +concerned them little. Thinking that they might be watched, they +continued steadily all the afternoon casting and drawing in the +nets, until the sun neared the horizon. Then they gathered the +nets into the boat and rowed quietly towards the shore. Just as +they were abreast the end of the promontory the bell of the chapel +began to ring the vespers. A few more strokes and Archie could +see the clump of bushes. + +"Row quietly now," he said, still steering toward the village. + +He was about a hundred yards distant from the shore of the convent +garden. Just as he came abreast of the bushes the foliage was parted +and Marjory appeared at the edge of the water. In an instant the +boat's head was turned toward shore, and the three rowers bent to +the oars. + +A shout from the watchman on the turret showed that he had been +watching the boat and that this sudden change of its course had +excited his alarm. The shout was repeated again and again as the +boat neared the shore, and just as the keel grated on the sand the +outer gate was opened and some armed men were seen running into the +garden, but they were still two hundred yards away. Marjory leapt +lightly into the boat; the men pushed off, and before the retainers +of the convent reached the spot the boat was speeding away over the +lake. Archie gave up to Marjory his seat in the stern, and himself +took an oar. + +Loch Leven, though of considerable length, is narrow, and the boat +was nearly a third of the way across it before two or three craft +were seen putting out from the village in pursuit, and although +these gained somewhat, the fugitives reached the other shore a long +distance in advance. William Orr and his men were at the landing +place, and soon the whole party were hurrying through the wood. +They had no fear of instant pursuit, for even in the fast gathering +gloom those in the boats would have perceived the accession of +force which they had received on landing, and would not venture +to follow. But before morning the news of the evasion would spread +far and wide, and there would be a hot pursuit among the mountains. + +Scarce a word had been spoken in the boat. Marjory was pale and +agitated, and Archie thought it best to leave her to herself. On +the way through the wood he kept beside her, assisting her over +rough places, and occasionally saying a few encouraging words. When +darkness had completely set in three or four torches were lit, and +they continued their way until midnight. Several times Archie had +proposed a halt, but Marjory insisted that she was perfectly able +to continue her way for some time longer. + +At midnight, however, he halted. + +"We will stop here," he said. "My men have been marching ever since +daybreak, and tomorrow we must journey fast and far. I propose that +we keep due east for some time and then along by Loch Rannoch, then +across the Grampians by the pass of Killiecrankie, when we can make +down to Perth, and so to Stirling. The news of your escape will +fly fast to the south, and the tracks to Tarbert and the Clyde +will all be watched; but if we start at daybreak we shall be far on +our way east before they begin to search the hills here; and even +if they think of our making in this direction, we shall be at +Killiecrankie before they can cut us off." + + + + +Chapter XX + +The Heiress of the Kerrs + + +While Archie was speaking Marjory had sat down on a fallen tree. She +had not slept the night before, and had been anxious and agitated +the whole day. The excitement had kept her up; but she now felt +completely worn out, and accepted without protest Archie's decision +that a halt must be made. + +The men were already gathering sticks, and a bright fire soon blazed +near the spot where she had seated herself. Ere long some venison +steaks were broiled in the flames. At Archie's earnest request +Marjory tried to eat, but could with difficulty swallow a few +morsels. A bower of green boughs was quickly made for her, and the +ground thickly piled with fresh bracken, and Marjory was in a very +few minutes sound asleep after the fatigue and excitement of the +day. + +With the first dawn of morning the men were on their feet. Fresh +sticks were thrown on the fire and breakfast prepared, for the +march would be a long and wearisome one. + +"Breakfast is ready, Mistress Marjory," Archie said, approaching +the bower. + +"And I am ready too," the girl said blithely as she appeared at +the entrance. "The sleep has done wonders for me, and I feel brave +and fresh again. I fear you must have thought me a terrible coward +yesterday; but it all seemed so dreadful, such a wild and wicked +thing to do, that I felt quite overwhelmed. Today you will find me +ready for anything." + +"I could never think you a coward," Archie said, "after you faced +the anger of that terrible uncle of yours for my sake; or rather," +he added, "for the sake of your word. And now I hope you will eat +something, for we have a long march through the forest and hills +before us." + +"Don't fear that I shall tire," she said. "I am half a mountaineer +myself, and, methinks, can keep on my feet as long as any man." + +The meal was hastily eaten, and then the party started on their +way. + +"I have been wondering," the girl said, as with light steps she +kept pace with Archie's longer strides, "how you came to know that +I was in the convent." + +Archie looked surprised. + +"How should I know, Mistress Marjory, but through your own messenger?" + +"My own messenger!" Marjory exclaimed. "You are jesting, Sir Archie." + +"I am not so, fair lady," he said. "Surely you must remember that +you sent a messenger to me, with word that you were captive at St. +Kenneth and needed my aid?" + +The girl stopped for a moment in her walk and gazed at her companion +as if to assure herself that he was in earnest. "You must be surely +dreaming, Sir Archie," she said, as she continued the walk, "for +assuredly I sent you no such message." + +"But, lady," Archie said, holding out his hand, "the messenger +brought me as token that he had come from you this ring which I +had given you, vowing that should you call me to your aid I would +come immediately, even from a stricken field." + +The blood had rushed into the girl's face as she saw the ring. +Then she turned very pale. "Sir Archibald Forbes," she said in +a low tone, after walking for a minute or two in silence, "I feel +disgraced in your eyes. How forward and unmaidenly must you have +thought me thus to take advantage of a vow made from the impulse +of sudden gratitude." + +"No, indeed, lady," Archie said hotly. "No such thought ever entered +my mind. I should as soon doubt the holy Virgin herself as to deem +you capable of aught but what was sweet and womanly. The matter +seemed to me simple enough. You had saved my life at great peril +to yourself, and it seemed but natural to me that in your trouble, +having none others to befriend you, your thoughts should turn to +one who had sworn to be to the end of his life your faithful knight +and servant. But," he went on more lightly, "since you yourself +did not send me the ring and message, what good fairy can have +brought them to me?" + +"The good fairy was a very bad one," the girl said shortly, "and I +will rate him soundly when I see him for thus adventuring without +my consent. It is none other than Father Anselm; and yet," she +added, "he has suffered so much on my behalf that I shall have to +forgive him. After your escape my uncle in his passion was well +nigh hanging the good priest in spite of his holy office, and drove +him from the castle. He kept me shut up in my room for many weeks, +and then urged upon me the marriage with his son. When he found +that I would not listen to it he sent me to St. Kenneth, and there +I have remained ever since. Three weeks ago Father Anselm came to +see me. He had been sent for by Alexander of Lorne, who, knowing +the influence he had with me, begged him to undertake the mission +of inducing me to bend to his will. As he knew how much I hated +John of Lorne, the good priest wasted not much time in entreaties; +but he warned me that it had been resolved that unless I gave way +my captivity, which had hitherto been easy and pleasant, would be +made hard and rigorous, and that I would be forced into accepting +John of Lorne as a husband. When he saw that I was determined not +to give in, the good priest certainly hinted" (and here she coloured +again hotly) "that you would, if sent for, do your best to carry +me off. Of course I refused to listen to the idea, and chided him +for suggesting so unmaidenly a course. He urged it no further, and +I thought no more of the matter. The next day I missed my ring, +which, to avoid notice, I had worn on a little ribbon round my +neck. I thought at the time the ribbon must have broken and the +ring been lost, and for a time I made diligent search in the garden +for it; but I doubt not now that the traitor priest, as I knelt +before him to receive his blessing on parting, must have severed +the ribbon and stolen it." + +"God bless him!" Archie said fervently. "Should he ever come to +Aberfilly the warmest corner by the fire, the fattest capon, and +the best stoop of wine from the cellar shall be his so long as +he lives. Why, but for him, Lady Marjory, you might have worn out +months of your life in prison, and have been compelled at last to +wed your cousin. I should have been a miserable man for life." + +The girl laughed. + +"I would have given you a week, Sir Archie, and no more; that +is the extreme time which a knight in our days can be expected to +mourn for the fairest lady; and now," she went on, changing the +subject, "think you we shall reach the pass across the Grampians +before night?" + +"If all goes well, lady, and your feet will carry you so far, +we shall be there by eventide. Unless by some chance encounter we +need have no fear whatever of pursuit. It will have been daylight +before the news of your flight fairly spread through the country, +though, doubtless, messengers were sent off at once in all directions; +but it would need an army to scour these woods, and as they know +not whether we have gone east, west, north, or south, the chance is +faint indeed of any party meeting us, especially as we have taken +so straight a line that they must march without a pause in exactly +the right direction to come up with us." + +At nightfall the party camped again on the slope of the Grampians, +and the following morning crossed by the pass of Killiecrankie and +made toward Perth. + +The next night Marjory slept in a peasant's cottage, Archie and his +companions lying down without. Wishing to avoid attention, Archie +purchased from the peasant the Sunday clothes of his daughter, who +was about the same age and size as Marjory. + +When they reached Perth he bought a strong horse, with saddle and +pillion; and with Marjory behind him, and his band accompanying +him on foot, he rode for Stirling. When he neared the town he heard +that the king was in the forest of Falkirk, and having consulted +Marjory as to her wishes rode directly thither. + +Bruce, with his followers, had arrived but the day before, and +had taken up his abode at the principal house of a village in the +forest. He came to the door when he heard the trampling of a horse. + +"Ah! Sir Archie, is it you safely returned, and, as I half expected, +a lady?" + +"This, sire," Archie said, dismounting, "is Mistress Marjory +MacDougall, of whom, as you have heard me say, I am the devoted +knight and servant. She has been put in duress by Alexander of Lorne +because in the first place she was a true Scots woman and favoured +your cause, and because in the second place she refused to espouse his +son John. I have borne her away from the convent of St. Kenneth, +and as I used no force in doing so no sacrilege has been committed. +I have brought her to you in all honour and courtesy, as I might a +dear sister, and I now pray you to place her under the protection +of the wife of one of your knights, seeing that she has no friends +and natural protectors here. Then, when she has time to think, she +must herself decide upon her future." + +The king assisted Marjory to dismount. + +"Fair mistress," he said, "Sir Archibald Forbes is one of the bravest +and truest of my knights, and in the hands of none might you more +confidently place your honour. Assuredly I will do as he asks me, +and will place you under the protection of Dame Elizabeth Graham, +who is now within, having ridden hither to see her husband but this +morning. But I trust," he added, with a meaning smile, "that you +will not long require her protection." + +The king entered the house with Marjory, while Archie, with his +band, rejoined the rest of his party, who were still with the king. +After having seen that the wants of those who had accompanied him +had been supplied he returned to the royal quarters. The king met +him at the door, and said, with a merry smile on his face: + +"I fear me, Sir Archie, that all my good advice with regard to +Mistress Mary Kerr has been wasted, and that you are resolved to +make this Highland damsel, the niece of my arch enemy Alexander of +Lorne, your wife." + +"If she will have me," Archie said stoutly, "such assuredly, is +my intent; but of that I know nothing, seeing that, while she was +under my protection, it would have been dishonourable to have spoken +of love; and I know nought of her sentiments toward me, especially +seeing that she herself did not, as I had hoped, send for me to come +to her aid, and was indeed mightily indignant that another should +have done so in her name." + +"Poor Sir Archie!" the king laughed. "Though a man, and a valorous +one in stature and in years, you are truly but a boy yet in these +matters. It needed but half an eye to see by the way she turned +pale and red when you spoke to her that she loves you. Now look +you, Sir Archie," he went on more seriously; "these are troubled +days, and one knows not what a day may bring forth. Graham's tower +is neither strong nor safe, and the sooner this Mistress Marjory +of yours is safely in your stronghold of Aberfilly the better for +both of you, and for me also, for I know that you will be of no +more good to me so long as your brain is running on her. Look you +now, she is no longer under your protection, and your scruples on +that head are therefore removed; best go in at once and ask her +if she will have you. If she says, 'Yes,' we will ride to Glasgow +tomorrow or next day. The bishop shall marry you, and I myself will +give you your bonny bride. This is no time for wasting weeks with +milliners and mantua makers. What say you?" + +"Nothing would more surely suit my wishes, sire," Archie said; "but +I fear she will think me presumptuous." + +"Not a bit of it," the king laughed. "Highland lassies are accustomed +to sudden wooing, and I doubt not that when she freed you last +autumn from Dunstaffnage her mind was just as much made up as yours +is as to the state of her heart. Come along, sir." + +So saying, the king passed his arm through that of Archie, and +drew him into the house. In the room which they entered Marjory +was sitting with Lady Graham. Both rose as the king entered. + +"My Lady Graham," the king said, "this my good and faithful knight +Sir Archie Forbes, whose person as well as repute is favourably +known to you, desires to speak alone with the young lady under +your protection. I may say he does so at my special begging, seeing +that at times like these the sooner matters are put in a straight +course the better. Will you let me lead you to the next room while +we leave the young people together?" + +"Marjory," Archie said, when he and the girl were alone, "I fear +that you will think my wooing rude and hasty, but the times must +excuse it. I would fain have waited that you might have seen more +of me before I tried my fate; but in these troubled days who can +say where I may be a week hence, or when I can see you again were +I once separated from you! Therefore, dear, I speak at once. I +love you, Marjory, and since the day when you came like an angel +into my cell at Dunstaffnage I have known that I loved you, and +should I never see you again could love none other. Will you wed +me, love?" + +"But the king tells me, Sir Archie," the girl said, looking up with +a half smile, "that he wishes you to wed the Lady Mary Kerr." + +"It is a dream of the good king," Archie said, laughing, "and he +is not in earnest about it. He knows that I have never set eyes on +the lady or she on me, and he was but jesting when he said so to +you, having known from me long ago that my heart was wholly yours." + +"Besides," the girl said hesitating, "you might have objected to +wed Mistress Kerr because her father was an enemy of yours." + +"Why dwell upon it?" Archie said a little impatiently. "Mistress +Kerr is nothing in the world to me, and I had clean forgotten her +very existence, when by some freak or other she sent her retainers +to fight under my command. She may be a sweet and good lady for what +I know; she may be the reverse. To me she is absolutely nothing; +and now, Marjory, give me my answer. I love you, dear, deeply and +truly; and should you say, 'Yes,' will strive all my life to make +you happy." + +"One more question, Archie, and then I will answer yours. Tell me +frankly, had I been Mary Kerr instead of Marjory MacDougall, could +you so far forget the ancient feud between the families as to say +to me, 'I love you.'" + +Archie laughed. + +"The question is easily answered. Were you your own dear self it +would matter nought to me were your name Kerr, or MacDougall, or +Comyn, or aught else. It is you I love, and your ancestors or your +relations matter to me not one single jot." + +"Then I will answer you," the girl said, putting her hand in his. +"Archie Forbes, I love you with my whole heart, and have done +so since I first met you; but," she said, drawing back, as Archie +would have clasped her in his arms, "I must tell you that you have +been mistaken, and that it is not Marjory MacDougall whom you would +wed, but Mary, whom her uncle Alexander always called Marjory, +Kerr." + +"Marjory Kerr!" Archie repeated, in astonishment. + +"Yes, Archie, Marjory or Mary Kerr. The mistake was none of my +making; it was you called me MacDougall; and knowing that you had +reason to hate my race I did not undeceive you, thinking you might +even refuse the boon of life at the hands of a Kerr. But I believed +that when you thought it over afterwards you would suspect the +truth, seeing that it must assuredly come to your ears if you spoke +of your adventure, even if you did not already know it, that Sir +John Kerr and Alexander of Lorne married twin sisters of the house +of Comyn. You are not angry, I hope, Archie?" + +"Angry!" Archie said, taking the girl, who now yielded unresistingly, +in his arms. "It matters nothing to me who you were; and truly I +am glad that the long feud between our houses will come to an end. +My conscience, too, pricked me somewhat when I heard that by the +death of your brother you had succeeded to the estates, and that +it was in despite of a woman, and she a loyal and true hearted +Scotswoman, that I was holding Aberfilly. So it was you sent the +retainers from Ayr to me?" + +"Yes," Marjory replied. "Father Anselm carried my orders to them. +I longed to know that they were fighting for Scotland, and was sure +that under none could they be better led." + +"And you have told the king who you are?" Archie asked. + +"Yes," the girl said, "directly we entered." + +"And you agree that we shall be married at once at Glasgow, as the +king has suggested to me?" + +"The king said as much to me," Marjory said, colouring; "but oh! +Archie, it seems dreadful, such an unseemly bustle and haste, to +be betrothed one day and married the next! Whoever heard of such +a thing?" + +"But the circumstances, Marjory, are exceptional. We all carry our +lives in our hands, and things must be done which at another time +would seem strange. Besides, what advantage would there be in +waiting? I should be away fighting the English, and you would see +no more of me. You would not get to know me better than you do +now." + +"Oh! it is not that, Archie." + +"Nor is it anything else," Archie said smiling, "but just surprise. +With the King of Scotland to give you away and the Bishop of Glasgow +to marry you, none can venture to hint that there is anything that +is not in the highest degree orthodox in your marriage. Of course +I shall have to be a great deal away until the war is over and +Scotland freed of her tyrants. But I shall know that you are safe +at Aberfilly, which is quite secure from any sudden attack. You will +have my mother there to pet you and look after you in my absence, +and I hope that good Father Anselm will soon find his way there and +take up his abode. It is the least he can do, seeing that, after +all, he is responsible for our marriage, and having, as it were, +delivered you into my hands, ought to do his best to make you happy +in your captivity." + +Marjory raised no further objection. She saw, in truth, that, +having once accepted Archie Forbes as her husband, it was in every +way the best plan for her to marry him without delay, since she had +no natural protectors to go to, and her powerful relations might +stir up the church to view her evasion from the convent as a defiance +of its authority. + +Upon the following day the king moved with his force to Glasgow, +which had already been evacuated by the English garrison, and +the next morning Marjory--for Archie through life insisted upon +calling her by the pet name under which he had first known her--was +married to Sir Archibald Forbes. The Bruce gave her away, and +presented her with a splendid necklet of pearls. His brother Edward, +Sir James Douglas, and other companions of Archie in the field also +made the bride handsome presents. Archie's followers from Aberfilly +and the contingent from Marjory's estates in Ayr were also present, +together with a crowd of the townspeople, for Archie Forbes, the +companion of Wallace, was one of the most popular characters in +Scotland, and the good city of Glasgow made a fete of his marriage. + +Suddenly as it was arranged, a number of the daughters of the wealthiest +citizens attired in white attended the bride in procession to the +altar. Flowers were strewn and the bride and bridegroom were heartily +cheered by a concourse of people as they left the cathedral. + +The party then mounted, and the king, his brother, Sir James Douglas, +and some other knights, together with a strong escort, rode with +them to Aberfilly. Archie had despatched a messenger to his mother +with the news directly the arrangements had been made; and all +was prepared for their coming. The tenants had assembled to give a +hearty welcome to their lord and new mistress. Dame Forbes received +her as she alighted from the pillion on which she had ridden behind +Archie, and embraced her tenderly. + +It was the dearest wish of her life that Archie should marry; and +although, when she first heard the news, she regretted in her heart +that he should have chosen a Kerr, still she saw that the union +would put an end to the long feud, and might even, in the event +of the final defeat of Bruce, be the means of safety for Archie +himself and security for his possessions. + +She soon, however, learned to love Marjory for herself, and to be +contented every way with her son's choice. There was high feasting +and revelry at Aberfilly that evening. Bonfires were burned in the +castle yard, and the tenants feasted there, while the king and his +knights were entertained in the hall of the castle. + +The next morning the king and his companions again mounted and +rode off. Sir James Douglas was going south to harry Galloway and +to revenge the assaults which the people had made upon the king. +There was a strong English force there under Sir Ingram Umfraville +and Sir John de St. John. + +"I will give you a week, Sir Archie, to take holiday, but can spare +you no longer. We have as yet scarce begun our work, for well nigh +every fortress in Scotland is in English hands, and we must take as +many of them as we can before Edward moves across the Border again." + +"I will not outstay the time," Sir Archie said. "As we arranged +last night, I will march this day week with my retainers to join +Sir James Douglas in Galloway." + + + + +Chapter XXI + +The Siege of Aberfilly + + +Punctual to his agreement, Archie Forbes marched south with his +retainers. He was loath, indeed, to leave Marjory, but he knew well +that a long time indeed must elapse before he could hope to settle +down quietly at home, and that it was urgent to hurry on the work +at once before the English made another great effort to stamp out +the movement. Marjory did not attempt to induce him to overstay +his time. She was too proud of his position as one of the foremost +knights of Scotland to say a word to detain him from the field. +So she bade him adieu with a brave face, reserving her tears until +after he had ridden away. + +It had been arranged that Archie should operate independently +of Douglas, the two joining their forces only when threatened +by overwhelming numbers or when any great enterprise was to be +undertaken. Archie took with him a hundred and fifty men from his +estates in Lanark and Ayr. He marched first to Loudon Hill, then +down through Cumnock and the border of Carrick into Galloway. Contrary +to the usual custom, he enjoined his retainers on no account to +burn or harry the villages and granges. + +"The people," he said, "are not responsible for the conduct of +their lords, and as I would not see the English harrying the country +round Aberfilly, so I am loath to carry fire and sword among these +poor people. We have come hither to punish their lords and to capture +their castles. If the country people oppose us we must needs fight +them; but beyond what is necessary for our provisions let us take +nothing from them, and show them, by our conduct, that we hold +them to be Scotchmen like ourselves, and that we pity rather than +blame them, inasmuch as by the orders of their lords they are forced +to fight against us." + +Archie had not advanced more than a day's march into Galloway when +he heard that Sir John de St. John was marching with four hundred +men-at-arms to meet him. + +There were no better soldiers in the following of Bruce than the +retainers of Aberfilly and Glen Cairn. They had now for many years +been frequently under arms, and were thoroughly trained to fight +together. They had the greatest confidence in themselves and their +leader, and having often with their spears withstood the shock +of the English chivalry, Archie knew that he could rely upon them +to the fullest. He therefore took up a position on the banks of +a river where a ford would enable the enemy to cross. Had he been +less confident as to the result he would have defended the ford, +which could be only crossed by two horsemen abreast. He determined, +however, to repeat the maneuver which had proved so successful at +Stirling Bridge, and to let half of the enemy cross before he fell +upon them. + +The ground near the river was stony and rough. Great boulders, +which had rolled from the hillside, were thickly scattered about +it, and it would be difficult for cavalry to charge up the somewhat +steeply sloping ground in anything like unbroken order. + +With eighty of his men Archie took up a position one hundred yards +back from the stream. With great exertions some of the smaller +boulders were removed, and rocks and stones were piled to make a +wall on either flank of the ground, which, standing two deep, he +occupied. The remaining seventy men he divided equally, placing one +company under the command of each of his two faithful lieutenants, +Andrew Macpherson and William Orr. These took post near the river, +one on each side of the ford, and at a distance of about one hundred +yards therefrom. Orr's company were hidden among some bushes growing +by the river. Macpherson's lay down among the stones and boulders, +and were scarce likely to attract the attention of the English, +which would naturally be fixed upon the little body drawn up to +oppose them in front. The preparations were scarcely completed +when the English were seen approaching. They made no halt at the +river, but at once commenced crossing at the ford, confident in +their power to overwhelm the little body of Scots, whose number +had, it seemed to them, been exaggerated by the fears of the country +people. As soon as a hundred of the men-at-arms had passed, their +leader marshalled them in line, and with level spears charged up +the slopes against Archie's force. The great boulders broke their +ranks, and it was but in straggling order that they reached the +narrow line of Scottish spears. These they in vain endeavoured to +break through. Their numbers were of no avail to them, as, being +on horseback, but twenty men at a time could attack the double row +of spearmen. While the conflict was at its height Archie's trumpet +was sounded, for he saw that another hundred men had now crossed +the ford. + +At the signal the two hidden parties leapt to their feet, and with +levelled pikes rushed towards the ford. The English had no force +there to resist the attack, for as the men-at-arms had passed, each +had ridden on to join the fray in front. The head of the ford was +therefore seized with but little difficulty. Orr, with twenty men, +remained here to hold it and prevent others from crossing, while +Macpherson, with fifty, ran up the hill and fell upon the rear of +the confused masses of cavalry, who were striving in vain to break +the lines of Archie's spears. + +The attack was decisive; the English, surprised and confused by +the sudden attack, were unable to offer any effectual resistance to +Macpherson's pikemen, and at the same moment that these fell upon +the rear, Archie gave the word and his men rushed forward upon the +struggling mass of cavalry. The shock was irresistible; men and +horses fell in numbers under the Scottish spears, and in a few +minutes those who could manage to extricate themselves from the +struggling mass rode off in various directions. These, however, were +few in number, for ninety were killed and seventy taken prisoners. +St. John himself succeeded in cutting his way through the spearmen, +and, swimming the river below the ford, rejoined his followers, +who had in vain endeavoured to force the passage of the ford. With +these he rapidly retired. + +A detachment of fifty men were sent off with the prisoners to +Bruce, and Archie, with the main body of his followers, two days +later joined the force under Sir James Douglas. + +Upon the following morning a messenger from Aberfilly reached +Archie. + +"My lord," he said, "I bring you a message from the Lady Marjory. +I have spent five days in searching for you, and have never but +once laid down during that time, therefore do not blame me if my +message is long in coming." + +"What is it, Evan? nought is wrong there, I trust?" + +"The Lady Marjory bade me tell you that news has reached her, that +from each of the garrisons of Ayr, Lanark, Stirling and Bothwell, +a force is marching toward your hold, which the governor of Bothwell +has sworn to destroy. When I left they were expected hourly in +sight, and this is full a week since." + +"Aberfilly can hold out for longer than that," Archie said, "against +aught but surprise, and the vassals would have had time to gather." + +"Yes," the man replied, "they were flocking in when I came away; the +men of Glen Cairn had already arrived; all the women and children +were taking to the hills, according to the orders which you gave." + +"And now, good Evan, do you eat some supper, and then rest. No +wonder you have been so long in finding me, for I have been wandering +without ceasing. I will start at once with my followers here for +Aberfilly; by tomorrow evening we will be there." + +Archie hurried to the hut occupied by Douglas, told him the news, +and said he must hurry away to the defence of his castle. + +"Go, by all means, Archie," Douglas replied. "If I can gather a +force sufficient to relieve you I will myself march thither; but +at present I fear that the chances of my doing so are small, for +the four garrisons you have named would be able to spare a force +vastly larger than any with which I could meet them in the field, +and the king is no better able to help you." + +"I will do my best," Archie said. "The castle can stand a stout +siege; and fortunately I have a secret passage by which we can +escape." + +"Never mind the castle," Douglas replied. "When better days come +we will rebuild it again for you." + +A few notes on a horn brought Archie's little band of followers +together. Telling them the danger which threatened Glen Cairn, +Archie placed himself at their head, and at a rapid step they +marched away. It was five-and-forty miles across the hills, but +before morning they approached it, and made their way to the wood in +which was the entrance to the subterranean passage leading to the +castle. Archie had feared that they might find the massive doors +which closed it, a short distance from the entrance, securely +fastened as usual. They were shut, indeed, but as they approached +them they heard a challenge from within. + +"It is I, Sir Archie Forbes." + +The door was opened at once. "Welcome, Sir Archie!" the guard said. +"The Lady Marjory has been expecting you for the last five days, +and a watch has been kept here constantly, to open the doors should +you come." + +"The messenger could not find me," Archie said. "Is all well at +the castle?" + +"All is well," the man replied. "The English have made two attacks, +but have been beaten back with loss. This morning some great +machines have arrived from Stirling and have begun battering the +walls. Is it your will that I remain here on guard, now that you +have come?" + +"Yes," Archie answered. "It were best that one should be always +stationed here, seeing that the entrance might perchance be +discovered by one wandering in the wood, or they might obtain the +secret of its existence from a prisoner. If footsteps are heard +approaching retire at once with the news. There is no danger if +we are warned in time, for we can turn the water from the moat into +it." + +Archie and his followers now made their way along the passage until +they entered the castle. As they issued out from the entrance a +shout of joy rose from those near, and the news rapidly flew through +the castle that Archie had arrived. In a moment Marjory ran down +and threw herself into his arms. + +"Welcome back, Archie, a thousand times! I have been grievously +anxious as the days went on and you did not return, and had feared +that some evil must have befallen you. It has been a greater anxiety +to me than the defence of the castle; but I have done my best to +be hopeful and bright, to keep up the spirits of our followers." + +"It was no easy task for your messenger to find me, Marjory, for +we are ever on the move. Is my mother here?" + +"No, Archie, she went a fortnight since on a visit to Lady Gordon." + +"It is well," Archie said, "for if in the end we have to leave the +castle, you, who have proved yourself so strong and brave, can, +if needs be, take to the hills with me; but she could not support +the fatigues of such a life. And now, dear, we have marched all +night and shall be glad of food; while it is preparing I will to +the walls and see what is going on." + +As Archie reached the battlement a loud cheer broke from the +defenders gathered there, and Sandy Grahame hurried up to him. + +"Welcome back, Sir Archie; glad am I to give up the responsibility +of this post, although, indeed, it is not I who have been in command, +but Lady Marjory. She has been always on the walls, cheering the +men with her words and urging them to deeds of bravery; and, indeed, +she has frightened me sorely by the way in which she exposed herself +where the arrows were flying most thickly, for as I told her over +and over again, if the castle were taken I knew that you would be +sure that I had done my best, but what excuse should I be able to +make to you if I had to bear you the news that she had been killed?" + +"And what did she say to that, Sandy?" + +"Truth, Sir Archie, she's a woman and wilful, and she just laughed +and said that you would know you could not keep her in order +yourself, and could not therefore expect me to rule her." + +"That is so, Sandy," Archie laughed; "but now that I am back I +will for once exert my authority, and will see that she runs into +no further danger. And now, how goes the siege?" + +"So far they have done but little damage, Sir Archie; but the +machines which they brought up yesterday will, I fear, play havock +with our walls. They have not yet begun their work, for when they +brought them up yesterday afternoon our men shot so hotly that they +had to fall back again; but in the night they have thrown up high +banks of earth, and have planted the engines under their shelter, +and will, ere long, begin to send their messengers against our +walls. Thrice they assaulted the works beyond the drawbridge and +twice we beat them back; but last night they came on with all their +force. I was myself there, and after fighting for a while and seeing +they were too strong for us, I thought it best to withdraw before +they gained footing in the work, and so had time to draw off the +men and raise the drawbridge." + +"Quite right, Sandy! The defenders of the post would only have +been slaughtered, and the assailants might have rushed across the +drawbridge before it could have been raised. The post is of little +importance save to defend the castle against a sudden surprise, and +would only have been a source of constant anxiety and loss. How +many do you reckon them? Judging by their tents there must be +three or four thousand." + +"About three thousand, Sir Archie, I make it; and as we had no time +to get the tenants in from my lady's Ayrshire estate, we have but +two hundred men in the castle, and many of these are scarce more +than boys." + +"I have brought a hundred and fifty with me, Sandy, so we have as +many as we can use on the walls, though I could wish I had another +hundred or two for sorties." + +Half an hour later the great machines began to work, hurling vast +stones with tremendous force against the castle wall. Strongly +as this was built, Archie saw that it would ere many days crumble +before the blows. + +"I did not reckon on such machines as these," he said to Sandy. +"Doubtless they are some of the huge machines which King Edward +had constructed for the siege of Stirling, and which have remained +there since the castle was taken. Fortunately we have still the +moat when a breach is made, and it will be hard work to cross that." + +All day the great stones thundered against the wall. The defenders +were not idle, but kept up a shower of arrows at the edge of the +mound behind which the machines were hidden; but although many of +those working there were killed, fresh relays came constantly up, +and the machines never ceased their work. By nightfall the face +of the wall was bruised and battered. Many of the stones in front +had fallen from their places. + +"Another twenty-four hours," Archie said to Marjory, as he joined +her in the great hall, "and the breach will be begun, forty-eight +and it will be completed. They will go on all night, and we may +expect no rest until the work is done. In an hour's time I shall +sally out from the passage into the wood and beat up their camp. +Expecting no attack from the rear, we shall do them rare damage +ere they can gather to oppose us. As soon as they do so we shall +be off again, and, scattering in various directions, gather again +in the wood and return here." + +An hour later Archie, with two hundred men, started. No sooner had +he left than Marjory called Sandy Grahame and Andrew Macpherson, +whom he had left in joint command during his absence. + +"Now," she said, "I am not going to remain quiet here while +Sir Archie does all the fighting, therefore do you gather all the +garrison together, leaving only twenty to hold the gate. See that +the wheels of the drawbridge are well oiled, and the hinges of the +gate. Directly we see that the attack has begun upon the camp we +will lower the drawbridge quietly, open the gates, and sally out. +There is no great force in the outer work. When we have cleared +that--which, if we are quick, we can do without alarming the +camp, seeing what a confusion and uproar will be going on there--we +will make straight along to the point where the machines are +placed. Let some of the men take axes and cut the ropes, and let +others carry faggots well steeped in oil, we will pile them round +the machines and light them, and thus having ensured their destruction, +we will fall back again." + +"But, Lady Marjory--" Sandy began. + +"I will have no buts, Sandy; you must just do as I order you, and +I will answer to Sir Archie. I shall myself go forth with you and +see that the work is properly done." + +The two men looked doubtfully at each other. + +"Now, Andrew," Marjory said briskly, "let us have no hesitation or +talk, the plan is a good one." + +"I do not say that it is not a good one," Sandy replied cautiously, +"or that it is not one that Sir Archie might have carried out if +he had been here." + +"Very well, Andrew, then that is quite enough. I give you the +orders and I am responsible, and if you and Sandy do not choose to +obey me, I shall call the men together myself and lead them without +you." + +As Sandy and Andrew were quite conscious that their lady would be +as good as her word, they at once proceeded to carry her orders into +effect. The wheels of the portcullis and drawbridge were oiled, as +were the bolts and hinges of the gate. The men were formed up in +the courtyard, where presently they were joined by Marjory who had +put on a light steel cap and a shirt of mail, and who had armed herself +with a light sword. The men gathered round her enthusiastically, +and would have burst into cheers had she not held up her hand to +command silence. + +"I will to the wall now," she said, "to watch for the signal. The +instant the attack begins and the attention of those in the outwork +is called that way, draw up the portcullis noiselessly and open +the gate, oil the hinges of the drawbridge and have everything +in readiness; then I will join you. Let the drawbridge be lowered +swiftly, and as it falls we will rush across. You have, I suppose, +told off the men who are to remain behind. Tell them that when +the last of us have crossed they are to raise the drawbridge a few +feet, so that none can cross it until we return." + +Then, accompanied by Macpherson, she ascended the walls. All was +quiet in the hostile camp, which was about a quarter of a mile +distant, and only the creaking of the wheels of the machines, the +orders of those directing them, and the dull crash as the great +stones struck the wall, broke the stillness of the night. For half +an hour they watched, and then a sudden uproar was heard in the +camp. The Scottish war cry pealed out, followed by shouts and +yells, and almost instantly flames were seen to mount up. + +"My lord is at work," Marjory said, "it is time for us to be doing +also." So saying she ran down to the courtyard. Sandy Grahame, +Macpherson, and a few picked men took their place around her, then +the drawbridge was suddenly run down, and the Scots dashed across +it. As Marjory had anticipated, the English in the outwork had +gathered on the farther side and were watching the sudden outbreak +in the camp. Alarmed at the prospect of an attack, perhaps by the +Bruce, in that quarter, they were suddenly startled by the rush +of feet across the drawbridge, and before they had time to recover +from their surprise the Scots were upon them. The latter were +superior in numbers, and the English, already alarmed by the attack +upon their camp, offered but a feeble resistance. Many were cut +down, but the greater part leapt from the wall and fled towards +the camp. The moment resistance ceased the outer gate was thrown +open, and at full speed the Scotch made for the machines. The party +here had suspended their work and were gazing towards the camp, +where the uproar was now great. The wind was blowing briskly and +the fire had spread with immense rapidity, and already half the +camp was in flames. Suddenly from the bank above the Scots poured +down upon them like a torrent. There was scarcely a thought of +resistance. Stricken with dismay and astonishment at this unexpected +attack, the soldiers working the machines fled hastily, only a few +falling beneath the swords of the Scots. The men with axes at once +fell upon the machines, cutting the ropes and smashing the wheels +and levers which worked them, while those with the faggots piled +them round. In less than two minutes the work was done, lighted +torches were applied to the faggots, and the flames soon shot up +hotly. + +The Scots waited but a minute or two to see that the work was +thoroughly done and that the flames had got fair hold, and then, +keeping in a close body, they retired to the castle. Not a soul +was met with by the way, and leaving Andrew Macpherson with fifty +men to hold the outwork until Archie should return and decide +whether it should be occupied, Marjory, with the rest, re-entered +the castle. + +She at once ascended to the walls again, where Sandy also posted +the men to be in readiness to open fire with their arrows should +the English return and endeavour to extinguish the flames round +the machines. The sound of fighting had ceased at the camp. By the +light of the flames numbers of the English could be seen pulling +down the tents which the fire had not yet reached and endeavouring +to check the conflagration, while a large body of horse and foot +were rapidly advancing toward the castle. + +As soon as they came within bowshot range the archers opened fire, +and the English leaders, seeing that it was already too late to +save the machines, which were by this time completely enveloped in +flames, and that men would only be sacrificed to no good purpose, +halted the troops. They then moved towards the outwork, but finding +this in possession of the Scots, they fell back again to the camp +to take council as to the next steps to be adopted. Archie's attack +had been crowned with complete success. Apprehending no danger +from behind, the English had neglected to place sentries there, +and the Scots were already among the tents before their presence +was discovered. Numbers of the English were cut down and the tents +fired, and as soon as the English recovered from their first surprise +and began to form, Archie gave the word for a retreat. This was +effected without molestation, for the first thought of the English +was to save the camp from total destruction. The reports of the +men who escaped from the castle outwork and the outburst of flames +around the machines added to the confusion which reigned, and the +leaders, who had by the light of the flames ascertained that the +assault upon the camp had been made by a small body of the enemy, +deemed it of the first importance to move at once to save the +machines if it were still possible. + +The Scots regained the entrance to the passage without the loss +of a single man, and passing through, soon re-entered the castle. +Marjory had laid aside her warlike trappings and awaited her +husband's return at the inner entrance of the passage. + +"We have had good success, Marjory," Archie said as he greeted +her, "as you will have seen from the walls. The greater part of +the English camp is destroyed; we have killed great numbers, and +have not lost a man." + +"That is good news indeed, Archie. We, too, have not been quite +idle while you have been away." + +"Why, what have you been doing, Marjory?" Archie asked in surprise. + +"Come up to the walls and I will show you." + +Archie mounted with her, and gave a start of surprise as he looked +towards the machines. The great body of fire had died down now, but +the beams of the machines stood up red and glowing, while a light +flickering flame played round them. + +"You see we have not been idle, Archie. We have destroyed the +machines, and retaken the outwork, which is now held by Andrew +Macpherson with fifty men." + +"Why, what magic is this, wife?" + +"No magic at all, Sir Knight. We have been carrying out the work +which you, as a wise and skilful commander, should have ordered +before you left. We have taken advantage of the confusion of the +enemy by the fire in their camp, and have made a sortie, and a +successful one, as you see." + +"I am delighted, indeed," Archie said; "and the destruction of +those machines is indeed a great work. Still Sandy and Macpherson +should not have undertaken it without orders from me; they might +have been cut off and the castle stormed before I came back." + +"They had orders from me, sir, and that was quite sufficient. To +do them justice, they hesitated about obeying me, and I was well +nigh ordering them to the dungeon for disobedience; and they only +gave way at last when I said they could stop at home if they liked, +but that I should lead out the retainers. Of course I went in your +place with armour and sword; but perhaps it was as well that I had +no fighting to do." + +"Do you mean, Marjory, that you really led the sortie?" + +"I don't think I led it, Archie; but I certainly went out with it, +and very exciting it was. There, dear, don't look troubled. Of +course, as chatelaine of the castle, I was bound to animate my +men." + +"You have done bravely and well, indeed, Marjory, and I am proud +of my wife. Still, dear, I tremble at the thought of the risk you +ran." + +"No more risk than you are constantly running, Archie; and I am +rather glad you tremble, because in future you will understand my +feelings better, left here all alone while you are risking your +life perpetually with the king." + +The success of the sally and the courage and energy shown by Marjory +raised the spirits of the garrison to the highest pitch; and had +Archie given the word they would have sallied out and fallen upon +the besiegers. Two days later fresh machines arrived from Stirling, +and the attack again commenced, the besiegers keeping a large body +of men near the gate to prevent a repetition of the last sally. +Archie now despatched two or three fleet footed runners through +the passage to find the king, and tell him that the besiegers were +making progress, and to pray him to come to his assistance. Two +days passed, and the breach was now fairly practicable, but the +moat, fifty feet wide, still barred the way to the besiegers. Archie +had noticed that for two or three days no water had come down from +above, and had no doubt that they had diverted the course of the +river. Upon the day after the breach was completed the besiegers +advanced in great force up the stream from below. + +"They are going to try to cut the dam," Archie said to Sandy; "place +every man who can draw a bow on that side of the castle." + +As the English approached a rain of arrows was poured into them, +but covering themselves with their shields and with large mantlets +formed of hurdles covered with hides they pressed forward to the +dam. Here those who had brought with them picks and mattocks set +to work upon the dam, the men with mantlets shielding them from +the storm of arrows, while numbers of archers opened fire upon the +defenders. Very many were killed by the Scottish arrows, but the +work went on. A gap was made through the dam. The water, as it rushed +through, aided the efforts of those at work; and after three hours' +labour and fighting the gap was so far deepened that the water in +the moat had fallen eight feet. Then, finding that this could now +be waded, the assailants desisted, and drew off to their camp. + +A council was held that evening in the castle as to whether +the hold should be abandoned at once or whether one attack on the +breach should be withstood. It was finally determined that the +breach should be held. The steep sides of the moat, exposed by the +subsidence of the water, were slippery and difficult. The force in +the castle was amply sufficient at once to man the breach and to +furnish archers for the walls on either side, while in the event +of the worst, were the breach carried by the English, the defenders +might fall back to the central keep, and thence make their way +through the passage. Had it not been for the possibility of an +early arrival of the king to their relief all agreed that it would +be as well to evacuate the castle at once, as this in the end must +fall, and every life spent in its defence would thus be a useless +sacrifice. As, however, troops might at any moment appear, it was +determined to hold the castle until the last. + +The next morning a party of knights in full defensive armour +came down to the edge of the moat to see whether passage could be +effected. They were not molested while making their examination, +as the Scottish arrows would only have dropped harmless off their +steel harness. Archie was on the walls. + +"How like you the prospect, Sir Knights?" he called out merrily. +"I fear that the sludge and slime will sully your bright armour and +smirch your plumes, for it will be difficult to hold a footing on +those muddy banks." + +"It were best for you to yield, Sir Archibald Forbes, without giving +us the trouble of making our way across your moat. You have made +a stout resistance, and have done enough for honour, and you must +see that sooner or later we must win our way in." + +"Then I would rather it should be later," Archie replied. "I +may have done enough for honour, but it is not for honour that I +am fighting, but for Scotland. Your work is but begun yet, I can +assure you. We are far from being at the end of our resources yet. +It will be time enough to talk about surrendering when you have +won the breach and the outer walls." + +The knights retired; and as some hours passed without the besiegers +seeing any preparation for an assault they judged that the report +carried back to camp was not an encouraging one. Large numbers of +men were, however, seen leaving the camp, and these toward sunset +came back staggering under immense loads of brushwood which they +had cut in the forest. + +"They intend to fill up the moat," Archie said; "it is their wisest +course." + +He at once directed his men to make up large trusses of straw, over +which he poured considerable quantities of oil. Early the next +morning the English drew out of their camp, and advanced in martial +array. Each man carried a great faggot, and, covering themselves +with these as they came within bowshot, they marched down to the +moat. Each in turn threw in his faggot, and when he had done so +returned to the camp and brought back another. Rapidly the process +of filling up the moat opposite to the breach continued. The besiegers +kept up a rain of arrows and darts, and many of the English were +killed. But the work was continued without intermission until well +nigh across the moat a broad crossway was formed level with the +outer bank, but a narrow gap remained to be filled, and the English +leaders advanced to the front to prevent the Scots on the breach +rushing down to assault those placing the faggots. + +Somewhat to the surprise of the English the defenders remained +stationary, contenting themselves with hurling great stones at their +busy enemy. Suddenly there was a movement. Archie and a party of +his best men dashed down the breach, and, climbing on the causeway, +for a moment drove the workers and their guards back. They were +followed by twenty men carrying great trusses of straw. These were +piled against the faggots forming the end of the causeway. Archie +and his band leapt back as a torch was applied to the straw. In a +moment the hot flames leapt up, causing the knights who had pressed +after the retreating Scots to fall back hastily. A shout of triumph +rose from the garrison and one of dismay from the besiegers. +Saturated with oil, the trusses burnt with fury, and the faggots +were soon alight. A fresh wind was blowing, and the flames crept +rapidly along the causeway. In a few minutes this was in a blaze +from end to end, and in half an hour nothing remained of the great +pile save charred ashes and the saturated faggots which had been +below the water in the moat, and which now floated upon it. + +The besiegers had drawn off when they saw that the flames had +gained a fair hold of the causeway. The smoke had scarcely ceased +to rise when a great outcry arose from the English camp, and the +lookout from the top of the keep perceived a strong force marching +toward it. By the bustle and confusion which reigned in the camp +Archie doubted not that the newcomers were Scots. The garrison were +instantly called to arms. The gates were thrown open, and leaving +a small body only to hold the gates, he sallied out at the head of +his men and marched toward the English camp. At the approach of +the Scottish force the English leaders had marched out with their +men to oppose them. Bruce had been able to collect but three hundred +and fifty men, and the English, seeing how small was the number +advancing against them, prepared to receive them boldly. Scarcely +had the combat begun when Archie with his band entered the English +camp, which was almost deserted. They at once fired the tents, and +then advanced in a solid mass with level spears against the rear +of the English. These, dismayed at the destruction of their camp, +and at finding themselves attacked both front and rear, lost heart +and fell into confusion. Their leaders strove to rally them, +and dashed with their men-at-arms against the spearmen, but their +efforts to break through were in vain, and their defeat increased +the panic of the footmen. Archie's party broke a way through their +disordered line and joined the body commanded by the king, and the +whole rushed so fiercely upon the English that these broke and fled +in all directions, pursued by the triumphant Scots. + +"I am but just in time I see, Sir Archie," Bruce said, pointing +to the breach in the wall; "a few hours more and methinks that I +should have been too late." + +"We could have held out longer than that, sire," Archie replied. +"We have repulsed an attack this morning and burnt a causeway of +faggots upon which they attempted to cross the moat; still, I am +truly glad that you have arrived, and thank you with all my heart +for coming so speedily to my rescue, for sooner or later the hold +must have fallen; the great machines which they brought with them +from Stirling proved too strong for the wall." + +"And how has the Lady Marjory borne her during the siege?" the king +inquired. + +"Right nobly," Archie replied; "ever in good spirits and showing a +brave face to the men; and one night when I made a sortie through +my secret passage, and fell upon the English camp from the other +side, having left the castle in her charge, she headed the garrison +and issuing out, recaptured the outworks, and destroyed the machines +by fire." + +"Bravely done," the king said, "and just what I should expect from +your wife. You did well to take my advice in that matter." + +"We shall never agree there, sire, for as you know I followed my +own will and wed the bride I had fixed upon for myself." + +"Well, well, Sir Archie, as we are both satisfied we will e'en let +it be; and now, I trust that you have still some supplies left, +for to tell you the truth I am hungry as well as weary, and my men +have marched fast and far." + +"There is an abundance," Archie replied; "to last them all for a +month, and right willingly is it at their service." + +The king remained a week at Aberfilly, his men aiding Archie's +retainers in repairing the gap in the dam and in rebuilding the +wall; and as five hundred men working willingly and well can effect +wonders, by the time Bruce rode away the castle was restored to +its former appearance. Archie marched on the following day, and +rejoined Douglas in Galloway. + + + + +Chapter XXII + +A Prisoner + + +After some consultation between the leaders, it was agreed to make +an attempt to capture the castle of Knockbawn. It was known to +possess a garrison of some sixty men only, and although strong, +Archie and Sir James believed that it could be captured by assault. +It was arranged that Archie should ride to reconnoitre it, and +taking two mounted retainers he started, the force remaining in the +forest some eight miles distant. The castle of Knockbawn stood on +a rocky promontory, jutting a hundred and fifty yards into the sea. +When he neared the neck of the point, which was but some twenty +yards wide, Archie bade his followers fall back a short distance. + +"I will ride," he said, "close up to the castle walls. My armour +is good, and I care not for arrow or crossbow bolt. It were best +you fell back a little, for they may have horses and may sally out +in pursuit. I am well mounted and fear not being overtaken, but it +were best that you should have a good start." + +Archie then rode forward toward the castle. Seeing a knight +approaching alone the garrison judged that he was friendly, and it +was not until it was seen that instead of approaching the drawbridge +he turned aside and rode to the edge of the fosse, that they +suspected that he was a foe. Running to the walls they opened fire +with arrows upon him, but by this time Archie had seen all that +he required. Across the promontory ran a sort of fissure, some ten +yards wide and as many deep. From the opposite edge of this the +wall rose abruptly. Here assault would be difficult, and it was +upon the gateway that an attack must be made. Several arrows had +struck his armour and glanced off, and Archie now turned and quietly +rode away, his horse being protected by mail like himself. Scarce +had he turned when he saw a sight which caused him for a moment +to draw rein. Coming at full gallop toward the promontory was a +strong body of English horse, flying the banner of Sir Ingram de +Umfraville. They were already nearer to the end of the neck than +he was. There was no mode of escape, and drawing his sword he +galloped at full speed to meet them. As he neared them Sir Ingram +himself, one of the doughtiest of Edward's knights, rode out with +levelled lance to meet him. At full gallop the knights charged +each other. Sir Ingram's spear was pointed at the bars of Archie's +helmet, but as the horses met each other Archie with a blow of his +sword cut off the head of the lance and dealt a tremendous backhanded +blow upon Sir Ingram's helmet as the latter passed him, striking +the knight forward on to his horse's neck; then without pausing a +moment he dashed into the midst of the English ranks. + +The horsemen closed around him, and although he cut down several +with his sweeping blows he was unable to break his way through them. +Such a conflict could not last long. Archie received a blow from +behind which struck him from his horse. Regaining his feet he +continued the fight, but the blows rained thick upon him, and he +was soon struck senseless to the ground. + +When he recovered he was in a room in the keep of the castle. Two +knights were sitting at a table near the couch on which he was lying. +"Ah!" exclaimed one, on seeing Archie open his eyes and move, "I +am glad to see your senses coming back to you, sir prisoner. Truly, +sir, I regret that so brave a knight should have fallen into my +hands, seeing that in this war we must needs send our prisoners +to King Edward, whose treatment of them is not, I must e'en own, +gentle; for indeed you fought like any paladin. I deemed not that +there was a knight in Scotland, save the Bruce himself, who could +have so borne himself; and never did I, Ingram de Umfraville, come +nearer to losing my seat than I did from that backhanded blow you +dealt me. My head rings with it still. My helmet will never be +fit to wear again, and as the leech said when plastering my head, +'had not my skull been of the thickest, you had assuredly cut +through it.' May I crave the name of so brave an antagonist?" + +"I am Sir Archibald Forbes," Archie replied. + +"By St. Jago!" the knight said, "but I am sorry for it, seeing that, +save Bruce himself, there is none in the Scottish ranks against +whom King Edward is so bitter. In the days of Wallace there was no +one whose name was more often on our lips than that of Sir Archibald +Forbes, and now, under Bruce, it is ever coming to the front. I had +thought to have asked Edward as a boon that I should have kept you +as my prisoner until exchanged for one on our side, but being Sir +Archibald Forbes I know that it were useless indeed; nevertheless, +sir knight, I will send to King Edward, begging him to look mercifully +upon your case, seeing how bravely and honourably you have fought." + +"Thanks for your good offices, Sir Ingram," Archie replied, "but +I shall ask for no mercy for myself. I have never owed or paid him +allegiance, but, as a true Scot, have fought for my country against +a foreign enemy." + +"But King Edward does not hold himself to be a foreign enemy," the +knight said, "seeing that Baliol, your king, with Comyn and all +your great nobles, did homage to him as Lord Paramount of Scotland." + +"It were an easy way," Archie rejoined, "to gain a possession to +nominate a puppet from among the nobles already your vassals, and +then to get him to do homage. No, sir knight, neither Comyn nor +Baliol, nor any other of the Anglo-Norman nobles who hold estate +in Scotland, have a right to speak for her, or to barter away her +freedom. That is what Wallace and thousands of Scotchmen have fought +and died to protest against, and what Scotchmen will do until their +country is free." + +"It is not a question for me to argue upon," Sir Ingram said +surlily. "King Edward bids me fight in Scotland, and as his knight +and vassal I put on my harness without question. But I own to +you that seeing I have fought beside him in Gascony, when he, as +a feudal vassal of the King of France, made war upon his lord, I +cannot see that the offence is an unpardonable one when you Scotchmen +do the same here. Concerning the lawfulness of his claim to be +your lord paramount, I own that I neither know nor care one jot. +However, sir, I regret much that you have fallen into my hands, +for to Carlisle, where the king has long been lying, as you have +doubtless heard, grievously ill, I must forthwith send you. I must +leave you here with the governor, for in half an hour I mount and +ride away with my troop. He will do his best to make your sojourn +here easy until such time as I may have an opportunity of sending +you by ship to Carlisle; and now farewell, sir," he said, giving +Archie his hand, "I regret that an unkind chance has thrown so +gallant a knight into my hands, and that my duty to the king forbids +me from letting you go free." + +"Thanks, Sir Ingram," Archie replied. "I have ever heard of you +as a brave knight, and if this misfortune must fall upon me, would +sooner that I should have been captured by you than by one of less +fame and honour." + +The governor now had a meal with some wine set before Archie, and +then left him alone. + +"I am not at Carlisle yet," Archie said to himself. "Unless +I mistake, we shall have Sir James thundering at the gate before +morning. Cluny will assuredly have ridden off at full speed to carry +the news when he saw that I was cut off, and e'en now he will be +marching towards the castle." As he expected, Archie was roused +before morning by a tremendous outburst of noise. Heavy blows were +given, followed by a crash, which Archie judged to be the fall of +the drawbridge across the fosse. He guessed that some of Douglas's +men had crept forward noiselessly, had descended the fosse, and +managed to climb up to the gate, and had then suddenly attacked +with their axes the chains of the drawbridge. + +A prodigious uproar raged in the castle. Orders were shouted, and +the garrison, aroused from their sleep, snatched up their arms +and hastened to the walls. Outside rose the war cry, "A Douglas! A +Douglas!" mingled with others of, "Glen Cairn to the rescue!" For +a few minutes all was confusion, then a light suddenly burst up +and grew every instant more and more bright. + +"Douglas has piled faggots against the gates," Archie said to +himself. "Another quarter of an hour and the castle will be his." + +Three or four minutes later the governor with six soldiers, two +of whom bore torches, entered the room. "You must come along at +once, sir knight," the governor said. "The attack is of the fiercest, +and I know not whether we shall make head against it, but at any +rate I must not risk your being recaptured, and must therefore +place you in a boat and send you off without delay to the castle +at Port Patrick." + +It was in vain for Archie to think of resistance, he was unarmed +and helpless. Two of the soldiers laid hands on him and hurried +him along until they reached the lower chambers of the castle. The +governor unlocked a door, and with one of the torch bearers led +the way down some narrow steps. These were some fifty in number, +and then a level passage ran along for some distance. Another door +was opened, and the fresh breeze blew upon them as they issued +forth. They stood on some rocks at the foot of the promontory on +which the castle stood. A large boat lay close at hand, drawn to +the shore. Archie and the six soldiers entered her; four of the +latter took the oars, and the others seated themselves by their +prisoner, and then the boat rowed away, while the governor returned +to aid in the defence of the castle. + +The boat was but a quarter of a mile away when on the night air +came the sound of a wild outburst of triumphant shouts which told +that the Scots had won their way into the castle. With muttered +curses the men bent to their oars and every minute took them further +away from Knockbawn. + +Archie was bitterly disappointed. He had reckoned confidently on +the efforts of Douglas to deliver him, and the possibility of his +being sent off by sea had not entered his mind. It seemed to him +now that his fate was sealed. He had noticed on embarking that +there were no other boats lying at the foot of the promontory, and +pursuit would therefore be impossible. + +After rowing eight hours the party reached Port Patrick, where Archie +was delivered by the soldiers to the governor with a message from +their commander saying that the prisoner, Sir Archibald Forbes, +was a captive of great importance, and was, by the orders of Sir +Ingram de Umfraville who had captured him, to be sent on to Carlisle +to the king when a ship should be going thither. A fortnight passed +before a vessel sailed. Archie was placed in irons and so securely +guarded in his dungeon that escape was altogether impossible. So +harsh was his confinement that he longed for the time when a vessel +would sail for Carlisle, even though he was sure that the same fate +which had attended so many of Scotland's best and bravest knights +awaited him there. + +The winds were contrary, and the vessel was ten days upon the +voyage. Upon reaching Carlisle Archie was handed to the governor +of the castle, and the next morning was conducted to the presence +of the king himself. The aged monarch, in the last extremity of +sickness, lay upon a couch. Several of his nobles stood around him. + +"So," he said as the prisoner was brought before him, "this is +Archibald Forbes, the one companion of the traitor Wallace who has +hitherto escaped my vengeance. So, young sir, you have ventured +to brave my anger and to think yourself capable of coping with the +Lion of England." + +"I have done my utmost, sir king," Archie said firmly, "such as +it was, for the freedom of my country. No traitor am I, nor was my +leader Wallace. Nor he, nor I, ever took vow of allegiance to you, +maintaining ever that the kings of England had neither claim nor +right over Scotland. He has been murdered, foully and dishonourably, +as you will doubtless murder me, and as you have killed many nobler +knights and gentlemen; but others will take our places, and so the +fight will go on until Scotland is free." + +"Scotland will never be free," the king said with angry vehemence. +"Rather than that, she shall cease to exist, and I will slay till +there is not one of Scottish blood, man, woman, or child, to bear +the name. Let him be taken to Berwick," he said; "there let him be +exposed for a week in a cage outside the castle, that the people +may see what sort of a man this is who matches himself against the +might of England. Then let him be hung, drawn, and quartered, his +head sent to London, and his limbs distributed between four Scotch +cities." + +"I go, sir king," Archie said, as the attendants advanced to seize +him, "and at the end of the week I will meet you before the throne +of God, for you, methinks, will have gone thither before me, and +there will I tax you with all your crimes, with the slaughter of +tens of thousands of Scottish men, women, and children, with cities +destroyed and countries wasted, and with the murder in cold blood +of a score of noble knights whose sole offence was that they fought +for their native country." + +With these words Archie turned and walked proudly from the king's +presence. An involuntary murmur of admiration at his fearless bearing +escaped from the knights and nobles assembled round the couch of +the dying monarch. + +When, two days later, Archie entered the gates of Berwick Castle +the bells of the city were tolling, for a horseman had just ridden +in with the news that Edward had expired on the evening before, +being the 6th day of July, 1307, just at the moment when he was +on the point of starting with the great army he had assembled to +crush out the insurrection in Scotland. + +So deep was his hate for the people who had dared to oppose his will +that when dying he called before him his eldest son, and in the +presence of his barons caused him to swear upon the saints that so +soon as he should be dead his body should be boiled in a cauldron +until the flesh should be separated from the bones, after which the +flesh should be committed to the earth, but the bones preserved, +and that, as often as the people of Scotland rebelled, the military +array of the kingdom should be summoned and the bones carried at +the head of the army into Scotland. His heart he directed should +be conveyed to and deposited in the Holy Land. + +So died Edward I, a champion of the Holy Sepulchre, King of England, +Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine, conqueror of Wales, and would +be conqueror of Scotland. In many respects his reign was a great +and glorious one, for he was more than a great conqueror, he was, +to England, a wise and noble king; and taken altogether he was +perhaps the greatest of the Plantagenets. + +Historians have striven to excuse and palliate his conduct toward +Scotland. They have glossed over his crimes and tried to explain +away the records of his deeds of savage atrocity, and to show that +his claims to that kingdom, which had not a shadow of foundation +save from the submission of her Anglo-Norman nobles, almost all of +whom were his own vassals and owned estates in England, were just +and righteous. Such is not the true function of history. Edward's +sole claim to Scotland was that he was determined to unite under his +rule England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, and he failed because +the people of Scotland, deserted as they were by all their natural +leaders, preferred death to such a slavery as that under which +Ireland and Wales helplessly groaned. His dying wishes were not +observed. His body was laid in rest in Westminster Abbey, and on +the tomb was inscribed, "Edward I the mallet of the Scots." + + + + +Chapter XXIII + +The Escape from Berwick + + +On entering the castle Archie was at once conducted to a sort of +cage which had been constructed for a previous prisoner. On the +outside of a small cell a framework of stout beams had been erected. +It was seven feet in height, six feet wide, and three feet deep. +The bars were four inches round, and six inches apart. There was +a door leading into the cell behind. This was closed in the daytime, +so that the prisoner remained in the cage in sight of passersby, +but at night the governor, who was a humane man, allowed the door +to remain unlocked, so that the prisoner could enter the inner cell +and lie down there. + +The position of the cage was about twenty-five feet above the +moat. The moat itself was some forty feet wide, and a public path +ran along the other side, and people passing here had a full view +of the prisoner. There were still many of Scottish birth in the +town in spite of the efforts which Edward had made to convert it +into a complete English colony, and although the English were in +the majority, Archie was subject to but little insult or annoyance. +Although for the present in English possession, Berwick had always +been a Scotch town, and might yet again from the fortune of war +fall into Scottish hands. Therefore even those most hostile to them +felt that it would be prudent to restrain from any demonstrations +against the Scottish prisoners, since in the event of the city +again changing hands a bloody retaliation might be dealt them. +Occasionally a passing boy would shout out an epithet of contempt +or hatred or throw a stone at the prisoner, but such trifles were +unheeded by him. More often men or women passing would stop and +gaze up at him with pitying looks, and would go away wiping their +eyes. + +Archie, after the first careful examination of his cell, at once +abandoned any idea of escape from it. The massive bars would have +defied the strength of twenty men, and he had no instrument of any +sort with which he could cut them. There was, he felt, nothing +before him but death; and although he feared this little for +himself, he felt sad indeed as he thought of the grief of Marjory +and his mother. + +The days passed slowly. Five had gone without an incident, and but +two remained, for he knew that there was no chance of any change +in the sentence which Edward had passed, even were his son more +disposed than he toward merciful measures to the Scots, which Archie +had no warrant for supposing. The new king's time would be too +closely engaged in the affairs entailed by his accession to rank, +the arrangement of his father's funeral, and the details of the +army advancing against Scotland, to give a thought to the prisoner +whose fate had been determined by his father. + +Absorbed in his own thoughts Archie seldom looked across the moat, +and paid no heed to those who passed or who paused to look at him. + +On the afternoon of the fifth day, however, his eye was caught by +two women who were gazing up at the cage. It was the immobility of +their attitude and the length of time which they continued to gaze +at him, which attracted his attention. + +In a moment he started violently and almost gave a cry, for in +one of them he recognized his wife, Marjory. The instant that the +women saw that he had observed them they turned away and walked +carelessly and slowly along the road. Archie could hardly believe +that his eyesight had not deceived him. It seemed impossible that +Marjory, whom he deemed a hundred miles away, in his castle at +Aberfilly, should be here in the town of Berwick, and yet when he +thought it over he saw that it might well be so. There was indeed +ample time for her to have made the journey two or three times while +he had been lying in prison at Port Patrick awaiting a ship. She +would be sure, when the news reached her of his capture, that he +would be taken to Edward at Carlisle, and that he would be either +executed there or at Berwick. It was then by no means impossible, +strange and wondrous as it appeared to him, that Marjory should be +in Berwick. + +She was attired in the garment of a peasant woman of the better +class, such as the wife of a small crofter or farmer, and remembering +how she had saved his life before at Dunstaffnage, Archie felt that +she had come hither to try to rescue him. + +Archie's heart beat with delight and his eyes filled with tears at +the devotion and courage of Marjory, and for the first time since +he had been hurried into the boat on the night of his capture a +feeling of hope entered his breast. Momentary as the glance had +been which he had obtained of the face of Marjory's companion, +Archie had perceived that it was in some way familiar to him. In +vain he recalled the features of the various servants at Aberfilly, +and those of the wives and daughters of the retainers of the estate; +he could not recognize the face of the woman accompanying Marjory +as belonging to any of them. His wife might, indeed, have brought +with her some one from the estates at Ayr whom she had known from +a child, but in that case Archie could not account for his knowledge +of her. This, however, did not occupy his mind many minutes; it +was assuredly one whom Marjory trusted, and that was sufficient +for him. Then his thoughts turned wholly to his wife. + +Any one who had noticed the prisoner's demeanor for the last few +days would have been struck with the change which had come over +it. Hitherto he had stood often for hours leaning motionless, with +his arms crossed, in the corner of his cage, with head bent down and +listless air, his thoughts only being busy; now he paced restlessly +up and down his narrow limits, two steps each way and then a turn, +like a caged beast; his hands were clenched, his breast heaved, +his breath came fast, his head was thrown back, often he brushed +his hand across his eyes, and rapid words came from his lips. + +The sun sank. An hour later a jailer brought his jug of water and +piece of bread, and then, without a word, retired, leaving, as usual, +the door into the cell open, but carefully locking and barring the +inner door. Archie had a longer walk now, from the front of the +cage to the back of the cell, and for three hours he paced up and +down. Sometimes he paused and listened attentively. The sounds in +the town gradually died away and all became still, save that he +could hear the calls of the warder on the battlement above him. +The night was a very dark one and he could scarcely make out the +gleam of water in the moat below. + +Suddenly something struck him a sharp blow on the face and fell at +his feet. He stooped and picked it up, it was an arrow with a wad +of wool fastened round its point to prevent it from making a noise +should it strike the wall or cage; to the other end was attached a +piece of string. Archie drew it in until he felt that it was held +firmly, then after a moment the hold relaxed somewhat, and the +string again yielded as he drew it. It was now, he felt, taut from +the other side of the moat. Presently a stout rope, amply sufficient +to bear his weight, came into his hands. At the point of junction +was attached some object done up in flannel. This he opened, and +found that it was a fine saw and a small bottle containing oil. He +fastened the rope securely to one of the bars and at once commenced +to saw asunder one of the others. In five minutes two cuts had +been noiselessly made, and a portion of the bar five feet long came +away. He now tried the rope and found that it was tightly stretched, +and evidently fixed to some object on the other side of the moat. +He grasped it firmly with his arms and legs and slid rapidly down +it. + +In another minute he was grasped by some strong arms which checked +his rapid progress and enabled him to gain his feet without the +slightest noise. As he did so a woman threw her arms round him, +and he exchanged a passionate but silent embrace with Marjory. Then +she took his hand and with noiseless steps they proceeded down the +road. He had before starting removed his shoes and put them in his +pockets. Marjory and her companion had also removed their shoes, +and even the keenest ears upon the battlements would have heard +no sound as they proceeded along the road. Fifty yards farther and +they were among the houses. Here they stopped a minute and put on +their shoes, and then continued their way. Not a word was spoken +until they had traversed several streets and stopped at the door +of a house in a quiet lane; it yielded to Marjory's touch, she and +Archie entered, and their follower closed and fastened it after +them. + +The moment this was done Marjory threw her arms round Archie's neck +with a burst of tears of joy and relief. While Archie was soothing +her the third person stirred up the embers on the hearth and threw +on a handful of dry wood. + +"And who is your companion?" Archie asked, after the first transports +of joy and thankfulness were past. + +"What! don't you recognize Cluny?" Marjory asked, laughing through +her tears. + +"Cluny! of course," Archie exclaimed, grasping his follower's hand +in his. "I only caught a glimpse of your face and knew that it was +familiar to me, but in vain tried to recall its owner. Why, Cluny, +it is a long time since you went dressed as a girl into Ayr! And +so it is my good friend who had shared my wife's dangers." + +"He has done more than that, Archie," Marjory said, "for it was +to him that I owe my first idea of coming here. The moment after +the castle was taken and it was found that you had been carried +off in a boat by the English, Cluny started to tell me the news. +Your mother and I were beside ourselves with grief, and Cluny, to +comfort us, said, 'Do not despair yet, my lady; my lord shall not +be killed by the English if I can prevent it. The master and I +have been in a good many dangers, and have always come out of them +safe; it shall not be my fault if he does not slip through their +hands yet.' 'Why, what can you do, Cluny?' I said. 'I don't know +what I can do yet,' he replied; 'that must depend upon circumstances. +My lord is sure to be taken to Carlisle, and I shall go south to +see if I cannot get him out of prison. I have often gone among the +English garrisons disguised as a woman, and no one in Carlisle is +likely to ask me my business there.' It was plain to me at once that +if Cluny could go to your aid, so could I, and I at once told him +that I should accompany him. Cluny raised all sorts of objections, +but to these I would not listen, but brought him to my will by saying, +that if he thought my being with him would add to his difficulties +I would go alone, but that go I certainly would. So without more +ado we got these dresses and made south. We had a few narrow +escapes of falling into the hands of parties of English, but at last +we crossed the frontier and made to Carlisle. Three days later we +heard of your arrival, and the next morning all men were talking +about your defiance of the king, and that you had been sent to Berwick +for execution at the end of the week. So we journeyed hither and +got here the day after you arrived. The first step was to find +a Scotchwoman whom we might trust. This, by great luck, we did, +and Mary Martin, who lives in this house, is a true Scotchwoman, +and will help us to the extent of her power; she is poor, for her +husband, who is an Englishman, had for some time been ill, and died +but yesterday. He was, by what she says, a hard man and cruel, and +his death is no grief to her, and Mary will, if she can, return +with her daughter to Roxburgh, where her relations live, and where +she married her husband, who was a soldier in the English garrison +there." + +"But, Marjory," Archie said, "have you thought how we are to escape +hence; though I am free from the castle I am still within the walls +of Berwick, and when, tomorrow, they find that I have escaped, they +will search every nook and corner of the town. I had best without +delay try and make my way over the walls." + +"That was the plan Cluny and I first thought of," Marjory replied; +"but owing to the raids of the Douglas on the border, so strict +a watch is kept on the walls that it would be difficult indeed to +pass. Cluny has tried a dozen times each night, but the watch is +so vigilant that he has each time failed to make his way past them, +but has been challenged and has had several arrows discharged at +him. The guard at the gates is extremely strict, and all carts that +pass in and out are searched. Could you have tried to pass before +your escape was known you might no doubt have done so in disguise, +but the alarm will be given before the gates are open in the morning, +and your chance of passing through undetected then would be small +indeed. The death of the man Martin suggested a plan to me. I +have proposed it to his wife, and she has fallen in with it. I +have promised her a pension for her life should we succeed, but I +believe she would have done it even without reward, for she is a +true Scotchwoman. When she heard who it was that I was trying to +rescue, she said at once she would risk anything to save the life +of one of Scotland's best and bravest champions; while, on the other +hand, she cares not enough for her husband to offer any objection +to my plans for the disposal of his body." + +"But what are your plans, Marjory?" + +"All the neighbours know that Martin is dead; they believe that Cluny +is Mary's sister and I her niece, and she has told them that she +shall return with us to Roxburgh. Martin was a native of a village +four miles hence, and she is going to bury him with his fathers +there. Now I have proposed to her that Martin shall be buried +beneath the wood store here, and that you shall take his place in +the coffin." + +"It is a capital idea, Marjory," Archie said, "and will assuredly +succeed if any plan can do so. The only fear is that the search +will be so hot in the morning that the soldiers may even insist +upon looking into the coffin." + +"We have thought of that," Marjory said, "and dare not risk it. +We must expect every house to be searched in the morning, and have +removed some tiles in the attic. At daybreak you must creep out +on the roof, replace the tiles, and remain hidden there until the +search is over. Martin will be laid in the coffin. Thus, even +should they lift the lid, no harm will come of it. Directly they +have gone, Cluny will bring you down, and you and he dig the grave +in the floor of the woodshed and place Martin there, then you +will take his place in the coffin, which will be placed in a cart +already hired, and Cluny, I, Mrs. Martin, and her daughter will +then set out with it." + +Soon after daybreak the quick strokes of the alarm bell at the +castle told the inhabitants of Berwick that a prisoner had escaped. +Archie at once betook himself to his place of concealment on the +roof. He replaced the tiles, and Cluny carefully obliterated all +signs of the place of exit from within. A great hubbub had by +this time arisen in the street. Trumpets were blowing, and parties +of soldiers moving about in all directions. The gates remained +unopened, orders being given that none should pass through without +a special order from the governor. + +The sentries on the wall were doubled, and then a house to house +search was commenced, every possible place of concealment being +rummaged from basement to attic. Presently the searchers entered the +lane in which Mrs. Martin lived. The latch was ere long lifted, +and a sergeant and six soldiers burst into the room. The sight +which they beheld quieted their first noisy exclamations. Four +women in deep mourning were kneeling by a rough coffin placed on +trestles. One of them gave a faint scream as they entered, and Mary +Martin, rising to her feet, said: + +"What means this rough intrusion?" + +"It means," the sergeant said, "that a prisoner has escaped from +the castle, one Archibald Forbes, a pestilent Scotch traitor. He +has been aided by friends from without, and as the sentries were +watchful all night, he must be hidden somewhere in the town, and +every house is to be searched." + +"You can search if you will," the woman said, resuming the position +on her knees. "As you see, this is a house of mourning, seeing +that my husband is dead, and is today to be buried in his native +village, three miles away." + +"He won't be buried today," the sergeant said; "for the gates are +not to be opened save by a special order from the governor. Now, +lads," he went on, turning to the men, "search the place from top +to bottom, examine all the cupboards and sound the floors, turn over +all the wood in the shed, and leave not a single place unsearched +where a mouse could be hid." + +The soldiers scattered through the house, and were soon heard +knocking the scanty furniture about and sounding the floors and +walls. At last they returned saying that nothing was to be found. + +"And now," the sergeant said, "I must have a look in that coffin. +Who knows but what the traitor Scot may be hid in there!" + +Mrs. Martin leaped to her feet. + +"You shall not touch the coffin," she said; "I will not have the +remains of my husband disturbed." The sergeant pushed her roughly +aside, and with the end of his pike prised up the lid of the coffin, +while Mrs. Martin and the other three mourners screamed lustily +and wrung their hands in the greatest grief at this desecration of +the dead. + +Just as the sergeant opened the coffin and satisfied himself that +a dead man really lay within, an officer, attracted by the screams, +entered the room. + +"What is this, sergeant?" he asked angrily. "The orders were to +search the house, but none were given you to trouble the inmates." + +Mrs. Martin began volubly to complain of the conduct of the soldiers +in wrenching open the coffin. + +"It was a necessary duty, my good woman," the officer said, "seeing +that a living man might have been carried away instead of a dead +one; however, I see all is right." + +"Oh, kind sir!" Mrs. Martin said, sobbing, "is it true what this +man tells me, that there is no passage through the gates today? I +have hired a cart to take away my husband's body; the grave is dug, +and the priest will be waiting. Kind sir, I pray of you to get me +a pass to sally out with it, together with my daughter, sister, +and niece." + +"Very well," the officer said kindly, "I will do as you wish. I +shall be seeing the governor presently to make my report to him; +and as I have myself seen the dead body can vouch that no ruse +is intended. But assuredly no pass will be given for any man to +accompany you; and the Scot, who is a head and shoulders taller +than any of you, would scarcely slip out in a woman's garment. When +will the cart be here?" + +"At noon," the woman replied. + +"Very well; an hour before that time a soldier will bring out the +pass. Now, sergeant, have you searched the rest of the house?" + +"Yes, sir; thoroughly, and nothing suspicious has been found." + +"Draw off your men, then, and proceed, with your search elsewhere." + +No sooner had the officer and men departed than Cluny ran upstairs, +and removing two of the tiles, whispered to Archie that all was +clear. The hole was soon enlarged, and Archie re-entering, the pair +descended to the woodshed which adjoined the kitchen, and there, +with a spade and mattock which Cluny had purchased on the preceding +day, they set to work to dig a grave. In two hours it was completed. +The body of John Martin was lowered into it, the earth replaced +and trodden down hard, and the wood again piled on to it. + +At eleven o'clock a soldier entered with the governor's pass +ordering the soldier at the gate to allow a cart with the body of +John Martin, accompanied by four women, to pass out from the town. + +At the appointed time the cart arrived. Archie now took his place +in the coffin. His face was whitened, and a winding sheet wrapped +round him, lest by an evil chance any should insist on again +looking into the coffin. Then some neighbours came in and assisted +in placing the coffin in the cart. The driver took his place beside +it, and the four women, with their hoods drawn over their heads, +fell in behind it weeping bitterly. + +When they arrived at the gate the officer in charge carefully read +the order, and then gave the order for the gate to be opened. "But +stop," he said, "this pass says nothing about a driver, and though +this man in no way resembles the description of the doughty Scot, +yet as he is not named in the pass I cannot let him pass." There +was a moment's pause of consternation, and then Cluny said: + +"Sister Mary, I will lead the horse. When all is in readiness, and +the priest waits, we cannot turn back on such a slight cause." As +the driver of the cart knew Mary Martin, he offered no objection, +and descended from his seat. Cluny took the reins, and, walking by +the side of the horse's head, led him through the gates as these +were opened, the others following behind. As soon as they were +through, the gate closed behind them, and they were safely out of +the town of Berwick. + +So long as they were within sight of the walls they proceeded at +a slow pace without change of position, and although Cluny then +quickened the steps of his horse, no other change was made until two +miles further they reached a wood. Then Cluny leapt into the cart +and wrenched off the lid of the coffin. It had been but lightly +nailed down, and being but roughly made there were plenty of crevices +through which the air could pass. + +"Quick, Sir Archie!" he said, "let us get this thing out of the +cart before any person happen to come along." + +The coffin was lifted from the cart, and carried some short +distance into the wood. A few vigorous kicks separated the planks +which composed it. These were taken and thrust separately among +bushes at some little distance from each other. Cluny then unrolled +the bundle which he had brought from the cart, and handed to Archie +a suit of clothes fitted for a farmer. These Archie quickly put +on, then he returned to the cart, which he mounted, and took the +reins. The others got up behind him and seated themselves on the +straw in the bottom of the cart. Then Archie gave the horse a smart +cut with his whip, and the cart proceeded at a steady trot along +the road to the west. + + + + +Chapter XXIV + +The Progress of the War + + +A mile or two after leaving Berwick the cart had left the main road +running by the coast through Dunbar to Edinburgh, and had struck +west by a country track. But few houses were met with, as the +whole of the country within many miles of the sea had been harried +and devastated by the various English armies which had advanced +from Berwick. After proceeding for some miles they came to a point +where the track they had been following terminated at a little hamlet +among the hills. Here they left the cart, making an arrangement with +one of the villagers to drive it back on the morrow into Berwick. +They were now beyond all risk of pursuit, and need fear nothing +further until they reached the great north roads running from +Carlisle to Edinburgh and Stirling. Cluny therefore resumed male +attire. They had no difficulty in purchasing a couple of swords +from the peasants of the village, and armed with these they started +with Marjory and the two women over the hills. It was early autumn +now; the weather was magnificent, and they made the distance in +quiet stages, and crossing the Pentlands came down upon Aberfilly +without meeting with a single danger or obstacle. + +It needs not to describe the joy of Archie's mother at his return. +The news spread like lightning among the tenantry, and in an hour +after the wayfarers reached the castle men and women could be seen +flocking over the hills at the top of their speed to express their +delight and enthusiasm at their lord's return. By nightfall every +tenant on the estate, save those prevented by age or illness, had +assembled at the castle, and the rejoicings which had taken place +at the marriage of their lord were but tame and quiet beside the +boisterous enthusiasm which was now exhibited. + +Although Marjory had at first been welcomed for the sake of her +husband, the fact that she was a Kerr had excited a deep though +hidden hostility to her in the minds both of those who had been +her father's vassals at Aberfilly, and the old retainers of the +Forbeses at Glen Cairn. The devotion and courage which she had shown +in the defence of the castle and in the enterprise for the rescue +of their lord swept away every vestige of this feeling, and henceforth +Marjory ranked in their affections with Archie himself, and there +was not a man upon the estate but felt that he could die for her +if needs be. + +After a week's stay at home Archie rode away and joined the king, +taking, however, but four or five retainers with him. Bruce received +him with extreme warmth. He had heard of his capture, and the news +that he was condemned to die at Berwick had also reached him, and +he had no doubt but Archie had shared the fate which had befallen +his own brothers and so many of his bravest friends. His pleasure, +therefore, equalled his surprise when his brave follower rode into +his camp. Many of Archie's friends assembled as soon as it was +known that he had arrived; and after the first greetings the king +asked him for a recital of the means by which he had escaped from +the fate decreed him by Edward. Archie related the whole story, +and at its conclusion the king called to his attendants to bring +goblets and wine. + +"Sirs," he said, "let us drink to the health of Mistress Marjory +Forbes, one of the bravest and truest of Scotch women. Would to +Heaven that all the men of our country were animated by as noble and +courageous feelings! Our friend, Sir Archibald Forbes, has indeed +won a jewel, and I take no small credit to myself that I was the +first who advised him to make Mistress Kerr his wife." + +The toast was given with enthusiasm; but Archie afterwards protested +against the king assuming any credit to himself in the matter, since, +although it was true that he had advised him to marry Mistress Mary +Kerr, he had wished him to abandon, for her sake, Mistress Marjory, +the niece of Alexander MacDougall, who had set him free from her +uncle's hold of Dunstaffnage. + +"Now, Archie," the king said, when they were again alone together, +"I suppose, seeing that you have come hither without your following, +that you wish for a time to remain quiet at home, and seeing that +you have suffered severe imprisonment and a grievous risk of death +in my cause, methinks you have well earned the right to rest quiet +for a while with your brave lady. At present I can dispense with +the services of your retainers. Most of the low country is now in +my hands, and the English garrisons dare not venture out of their +strong places. The army that the King of England collected to crush +us has been, I hear, much disorganized by his death, and the barons +will doubtless wring concessions and privileges from his son before +they spread their banners to the wind again. From all reports the +new king has but little of his father's ability and energy, and +months may elapse before any serious effort is made against us. +I am despatching my brother Edward to join Douglas in subduing +Galloway, and during his absence I shall be content to remain here +in the field with a small following, for the English governors +of the towns will, methinks, stand only on the defensive, until a +strong army marches north from England. When Galloway is subdued +the lowlands will be all in my hands save for the English garrisons, +and I shall on Edward's return set myself to punish the Comyns and +the other traitor nobles of the north, who are well nigh all hand +and glove with the English. So long as Scotland has such powerful +enemies in her midst she cannot hope to cope with the forces which +England can send against her. Alone and united the task is one +which will tax her strength to the utmost, seeing that England is +in wealth and population so far her superior, and Edward disposes +of the force of Ireland, of Wales, and of Gascony; therefore my +first task must be to root out these traitor nobles from among us. +When I move north I shall need your company and your strength; but +until Edward has cleared the English out of Galloway, captured the +strongholds, and reduced it to obedience, you can stop in Aberfilly, +and there at times, when I have no enterprise on hand and can take +a few days, I will come and rest if you will give me hospitality." + +So until the following spring Archie Forbes remained quietly and +most happily at home. Several times the king came and stayed a few +days at Aberfilly, where he was safe against surprise and treachery. +Not long after Archie's return home, Father Anselm arrived, to +Archie's satisfaction and the great joy of Marjory, and took up +his abode there. + +In the spring Archie, with his retainers, joined the king, who was +gathering his army for his march into the north. During the winter +Galloway had been subdued, and Douglas being left in the south as +commander there, Edward Bruce joined his brother, around whom also +gathered the Earl of Lennox, Sir Gilbert de la Haye, and others. +The position in Scotland was now singular: the whole of the +country south of the Forth was favourable to Bruce, but the English +held Roxburgh, Jedburgh, Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Bothwell, +Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Stirling, and Dumbarton. North of the Forth +nearly the whole of the country was hostile to the king, and the +fortresses of Perth, Dundee, Forfar, Brechin, Aberdeen, Inverness, +and many smaller holds, were occupied by English garrisons. + +The centre of hostility to Bruce, north of the Forth, lay in the two +great earls, the Comyns of Badenoch and Buchan, and their allies. +Between them and Bruce a hatred existed beyond that caused by +their taking opposite sides. Comyn of Badenoch was the son of the +man Bruce had slain at Dumfries, while Buchan hated him even more, +since his wife, the countess, had espoused the cause of Bruce and +had crowned him at Scone, and was now shamefully imprisoned in the +cage at Berwick. It must be supposed that Buchan's anger against +his countess was as deep and implacable as that of Edward himself, +for, as the English king's most powerful ally in Scotland, he could +surely have obtained the pardon and release of his wife had he +desired it. On the other hand, Bruce had a private grudge against +Comyn, for upon him had been conferred Bruce's lordship of Annandale, +and he had entered into possession and even occupied the family +castle of Lochmaben. + +The king and his army marched north, and were joined by Alexander +and Simon Frazer, with their followers. They marched to Inverness, +which, with various other castles in the north, they captured. All of +these castles were, when taken, destroyed, as Bruce had determined +to leave no strongholds in the land for the occupation of his +enemies. He himself could not spare men to hold them, and their +capture was useless if upon his retirement they could again be +occupied by the enemy. Returning southward they were encountered +by an army under Buchan, composed of his own retainers and a party +of English. This force was completely defeated. + +To the consternation of his followers Bruce was now attacked by a +wasting illness, which so enfeebled him that he was unable to sit +on his horse; it was the result of the many privations and hardships +which he had undergone since the fight at Methven. His brother, +Lennox, the Frazers, and Archie Forbes held a council and agreed +that rest for some time was absolutely necessary for the king, and +that sea air might be beneficial to him. They therefore resolved +to move eastward to the Castle of Slaines, on the sea coast +near Peterhead. That such a step was attended by great peril they +well knew, for the Comyns would gather the whole strength of the +Highlands, with accessions from the English garrisons, and besiege +them there. The king's health, however, was a paramount consideration; +were he to die, the blow might be fatal to Scotland, accordingly +the little force marched eastward. They reached Slaines without +interruption, and as they expected the castle was soon surrounded and +besieged by the forces of Buchan, who had been joined by Sir John +Mowbray and Sir David de Brechin, nephew of the King of England. For +some time the siege went on, but the assailants gained but little +advantage, and indeed trusted rather to famine than force to reduce +the castle. + +Weeks passed on, and although his followers thought that he was +somewhat better, the king's health improved but slowly. Provisions +now began to run very short. When they had come nearly to an end +the Scots determined to sally out and cut their way through the +vastly superior strength of the enemy. The king was placed in a +litter, his mounted knights and followers surrounded him, and round +these the footmen formed a close clump of pikes; the hundred men +from Aberfilly formed the front rank, as these could be best relied +upon to withstand the charge of the English horse. The gates were +thrown open, and in close ranks the garrison sallied out, forming, +as soon as they passed through, in the order arranged. So close +and serried was the hedge of spears, so quiet and determined the +attitude of the men, that, numerous as they were, the men of Buchan +and the English lords shrank from an encounter with such adversaries, +and with the banner of the king and his knights flying in their +centre the little band marched on through the lines of the besiegers +without the latter striking a blow to hinder their way. + +Without interruption the royalists proceeded to Strathbogie. The +satisfaction of the king at the daring exploit by which he had been +rescued from such imminent peril did more for him than medicine or +change of air, and to the joy of his followers he began to recover +his strength. He was then moved down to the river Don. Here Buchan +and his English allies made a sudden attack upon his quarters, +killing some of the outposts. This attack roused the spirit and +energy of the king, and he immediately called for his war horse +and armour and ordered his men to prepare for action. His followers +remonstrated with him, but he declared that this attack by his +enemies had cured him more speedily than medicine could have done, +and heading his troops he issued forth and came upon the enemy +near Old Meldrum, where, after a desperate fight, Buchan and his +confederates were defeated with great slaughter on Christmas day, +1307. Buchan and Mowbray fled into England. Brechin took refuge +in his own castle of Brechin, where he was afterwards besieged and +forced to surrender. + +Bruce now marched into the territory of Comyn, where he took a terrible +vengeance for the long adhesion of his hated enemy to England. The +whole country was wasted with fire and sword, the people well nigh +exterminated, and the very forests destroyed. So terrible was the +devastation that for generations afterwards men spoke of the harrying +of Buchan as a terrible and exceptional act of vengeance. + +The castle of Aberdeen was next invested. The English made great +efforts for its succour, but the citizens joined Bruce, and a +united attack being made upon the castle it was taken by assault +and razed to the ground. The king and his forces then moved into +Angus. Here the English strongholds were all taken, the castle +of Forfar being assaulted and carried by a leader who was called +Phillip, a forester of Platane. With the exception of Perth, the +most important fortress north of the Forth, and a few minor holds, +the whole of the north of Scotland, was now in the king's hands. +In the meantime Sir James Douglas, in the south, had again taken +his paternal castle and had razed it to the ground. The forests of +Selkirk and Jedburgh, with the numerous fortresses of the district, +were brought under the king's authority, and the English were several +times defeated. In the course of these adventures Sir James came +across Alexander Stewart, Thomas Randolph, the king's nephew, +who, after being taken prisoner at Methven, had joined the English +party, and Adam O'Gordon. They advanced with a much superior force +to capture him, but were signally defeated. O'Gordon escaped into +England, but Stewart and Randolph were taken. + +This was a fortunate capture, for Randolph afterwards became one of +the king's most valiant knights and the wisest of his counsellors. +After this action Douglas marched north and joined the king. The +latter sternly reproached Randolph for having forsworn his allegiance +and joined the English. Randolph answered hotly and was committed +by his uncle to solitary confinement, where he presently came to +a determination to renew his allegiance to Bruce, and henceforward +fought faithfully and gallantly under him. + +Galloway had risen again, and Edward Bruce, with Sir Archie Forbes, +was detached to reduce it. It was a hard task, for the local +chiefs were supported by Sir Ingram de Umfraville and Sir John de +St. John; these knights, with 1200 followers, met the Scots on the +banks of the Cree, which separates the countries of Kirkcudbright +and Wigton, and although greatly superior in numbers, were completely +defeated by the Scottish pikemen, and compelled to take refuge in +the castle of Butele. Edward Bruce and Archie continued the task +of subjugating the country; but St. John having retired to England, +returned with fifteen hundred men-at-arms, and with this strong force +set out in pursuit of the small body of Scots, of whom he thought +to make an easy capture. Then occurred one of the most singular and +brilliant feats of arms that took place in a war in which deeds of +daring abounded. Edward Bruce having heard from the country people +of the approach of his adversaries, placed his infantry in a strong +position, and then, with Archie Forbes and the fifty men-at-arms +who constituted his cavalry, went out to reconnoitre the approach +of the English. The morning was thick and misty. Ignorant of each +other's position, the two forces were in close vicinity, when the +fog suddenly lifted, and Edward Bruce and Archie beheld close to +them the overwhelming force of St. John, within bowshot distance. +It was too late to fly. Edward Bruce exclaimed to Archie: + +"There is nothing for it but to charge them." + +"Let us charge them," Archie replied. + +The two leaders, setting spurs to their horses, and closely followed +by their fifty retainers, dashed like a thunderbolt upon the mass +of the English men-at-arms, before these, taken equally by surprise, +had time to form, and burst clean through them, overthrowing and +slaying many, and causing the greatest confusion and surprise. +Riding but a short distance on, the Scots turned, and again burst +through the English lines. Numbers of the English were slain, +and many others turned rein. A third time the Scots charged, with +equally fatal effect. The English were completely routed. Many +were killed and many taken prisoners, and the rest rode for England +at their best speed. History scarcely recalls another instance of +50 men routing in fair fight 1500. This extraordinary success was +followed by a victory over Sir Roland of Galloway and Donald of +the Isles on the banks of the Dee, the Lord of the Isles being made +prisoner; and eventually the whole country was reduced to obedience, +with the exception of one or two garrisons, no less than thirteen +castles being captured, in addition to the victories gained in the +field. + +Galloway being restored to order, Archie Forbes returned home, and +remained for two or three months with his wife and mother. He was +then summoned by the king to join him again, as he was about to +march to reduce the region over which his deadly foes Alexander +and John of Lorne held sway. The country into which the royal army +now penetrated was extremely mountainous and difficult, but they +made their way as far as the head of Loch Awe, where Alexander and +John of Lorne, with 2000 men, were gathered to dispute the passage. +The position was an extremely strong one, and the Lornes were +confident that it could not be forced. Immediately to the north +of the head of the lake rises the steep and lofty mountain Ben +Gruachan. From the head of the lake flows the river Awe connecting +it with Loch Etive, and the level space between the foot of the +mountain and the river is only wide enough for two to ride abreast. +This passage was known as the Pass of Brander, and the Lornes might +well believe that their position was unassailable. + +Before advancing into the pass Bruce detached Douglas, with Sir +Alexander Frazer, Sir William Wiseman, and Sir Andrew Grey, with +a body of lightly armed infantry and archers. These, unnoticed by +the enemy, climbed the side of the mountain, and going far up it, +passed along until they got behind and above the enemy. The king +ordered his main body to lay aside all defensive armour so that +they could more easily climb the hill and come to a hand to hand +conflict with the enemy. Then he moved along towards the narrow +pass. As they approached it the men of Lorne hurled down a torrent +of rocks from the hillside above. + +With a few heavy armed men Bruce pushed forward by the water side, +while Archie Forbes led the main body up the hillside. The climb was +stiff and difficult, and many were swept down by the rocks hurled +by the enemy; but at last they came to close quarters with the foe, +and a desperate struggle ensued. + +In the meantime Douglas and his party had attacked the defenders +from the other side, at first showering arrows among them, and +then falling upon them with sword and battleaxe. Thus attacked in +front and rear, the men of Lorne lost heart and gave way. On both +sides the royalists pressed them hotly, and at last they broke +from the hillside and fled down to the river, intending to cross +by a wooden bridge and destroy it behind them, but before many had +passed Douglas with his followers arrived upon the spot and seized +the bridge, cutting off their retreat. Great numbers of the men of +Lorne were slain, and the survivors made their escape up the mountain +side again. The Lornes themselves were on board some galleys on +Loch Awe, their intention having been to land in Bruce's rear when +he was fairly entangled in the narrow pass. On witnessing the utter +discomfiture of their followers they rowed rapidly away, and landed +far down the lake. Alexander fled to England, where he ended his +life. + +Bruce now advanced through the country of Lorne, which, having +never suffered from the English raids that had over and over again +devastated the rest of Scotland, was rich and flourishing, and large +quantities of booty were obtained. Dunstaffnage was besieged and +captured, and having received hostages from all the minor chiefs +for their good behaviour the king and his army returned to Glasgow. + +In the following spring a truce was negotiated by the intervention +of the King of France between the belligerents; but its duration was +but short, for so long as English nobles held estates and occupied +castles in Scotland breaches of the peace would be constantly +occurring. Bruce besieged the castle of Rutherglen, near Glasgow; +but Edward despatched the Earl of Gloucester to raise the siege, +and as Bruce's army was still small he was forced to retire at his +approach. + +In February, 1309, the clergy of Scotland assembled in a provincial +council at Dundee, and issued a declaration in favour of Bruce +as lawful king of Scotland. In this document they set forth that +although Baliol was made king of Scotland by the King of England, +Bruce, the grandfather of the king, was always recognized by the +people as being nearest in right; and they said: "If any one, on +the contrary, claim right to the aforesaid kingdom in virtue of +letters in time passed sealed, and containing the consent of the +people and the commons, know ye that all this took place in fact +by force and violence, which could not at the time be resisted, +and through multiplied fears, bodily tortures, and various terrors." + +This document was sealed by all the bishops, as representing the +clergy. A similar document was drawn up and signed by the estates +of Scotland. Therefore, henceforth Bruce could claim to be the king +not only as crowned and by right, but by the approval and consent +of the clergy and people of Scotland. A few months afterwards James, +the Steward of Scotland, whose course had ever been vacillating, died, +and his son Walter, a loyal Scotsman, succeeded him. He afterwards +married the king's daughter Marjory, and became the founder of the +royal line of Stuart. + + + + +Chapter XXV + +The Capture of a Stronghold + + +While Bruce had by his energy and courage been wresting Scotland, +step by step, from the English, no serious effort had been made by +the latter to check his progress. Small bodies of troops had from +time to time been sent from the north; but the king had made no +great efforts, like those of his father, to reduce the country to +obedience by the exercise of the whole strength of England. Edward +II differed widely from his father in disposition. At times he was +roused to fits of spasmodic energy, but for the most part he was +sunk in sloth and supineness. He angered and irritated his barons +by his fondness for unworthy favourites, and was engaged in constant +broils with them. + +So called governors of Scotland were frequently appointed and as +often superseded, but no effectual aid was given them to enable +them to check the ever spreading insurrection. But Perth was now +threatened by Bruce; and the danger of this, the strongest and most +important northern fortress, roused Edward from his lethargy. A +fleet was fitted out for the Tay. Troops, under the Earl of Ulster, +were engaged to be transported by an English fleet of forty ships, +supplied by the seaports, and intended to cooperate with John of +Lorne in the west. Edward himself, with a powerful army, accompanied +by the Lords Gloucester, Warrenne, Percy, Clifford, and others, +advanced into Scotland as far as Renfrew. Bruce could oppose no +effectual resistance in the field to so large a force, but he used +the tactics which Wallace had adopted with such success. The country +through which the English were advancing was wasted. Flocks and +herds were driven off, and all stores of grain burned and destroyed. +His adherents, each with their own retainers, hung upon the skirts +of the English army, cutting off small parties, driving back bodies +going out in search of provisions or forage, making sudden night +attacks, and keeping the English in a state of constant watchfulness +and alarm, but always retiring on the approach of any strong force, +and avoiding every effort of the English to bring on an engagement. + +The invaders were soon pressed by want of provisions, and horses +died from lack of forage. The great army was therefore obliged to +fall back to Berwick without having struck a single effective blow. +After this Edward remained inactive at Berwick for eight months, +save that he once again crossed the Border and advanced as far as +Roxburgh, but only to retreat without having accomplished anything. +The Earls of Gloucester and Warrenne reduced the forest of Selkirk +and the district, and restored the English power there; while the +king's favourite, Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, went by sea to +Perth and tried to reduce the surrounding country, but the Scotch, +as usual, retired before him, and he, too, after a time, returned +to Berwick. The efforts of the defenders to starve out the invading +armies of England were greatly aided by the fact that at this time +a great famine raged both in England and Scotland, and the people +of both countries were reduced to a condition of want and suffering. +Not only did the harvest fail, but disease swept away vast numbers +of cattle and sheep, and in many places the people were forced to +subsist upon the flesh of horses, dogs, and other animals. + +During the years which had elapsed since the battle of Methven, +Bruce had never been enabled to collect a force in any way worthy +of the name of an army. His enterprises had been a succession of +daring feats performed by small bodies of men. Even now, when the +nobles dared no longer openly oppose him, they remained sullenly +aloof, and the captures of the English strongholds were performed +either by the king or his brother Edward, with their retainers from +Annandale and Carrick; by Douglas with the men of Douglasdale; or +by some simple knights like Archie Forbes, the Frazers, Boyle, and +a few others, each leading their own retainers in the field. The +great mass of the people still held aloof, and neither town nor +country sent their contingents to his aid. This was not to be wondered +at, so fearfully had all suffered from the wholesale vengeance of +Edward after the battle of Falkirk. + +Great successes had certainly attended Bruce, but these had been +rendered possible only by the absence of any great effort on the +part of England, and all believed that sooner or later Edward would +arouse himself, and with the whole strength of England, Ireland, +and Wales again crush out the movement, and carry fire and sword +through Scotland. Still the national spirit was rising. + +Archie Forbes divided his time pretty equally between the field and +home, never taking with him, when he joined the king, more than a +third of the entire strength of his retainers; thus all had time +to attend to their farms and the wants of their families, and +cheerfully yielded obedience to the call to arms when the time +came. + +One day while the king was stopping for a few days' rest at Aberfilly, +a horseman rode in. + +"I have great news, sire," he said. "Linlithgow has been captured +from the English." + +"That were good news indeed," the king said; "but it can scarce be +possible, seeing that we have no men-at-arms in the neighbourhood." + +"It has been done by no men-at-arms, my liege," the messenger said; +"but as Forfar was taken by Phillip the Forester and his mates, +so has Linlithgow been captured by a farmer and his comrades, one +William Bunnock." + +It was indeed true. The castle of Linlithgow, forming as it did +a link between the two strongholds of Edinburgh and Stirling, was +a place of great importance and was strongly garrisoned by the +English. Naturally the whole country round suffered severely from +the oppressions of the garrison, who supplied themselves by force +with such provisions and stores as were needful for them. Payment +was of course made to some extent, as the country otherwise would +speedily have been deserted and the land left untilled; but there +was almost necessarily much oppression and high handedness. Bunnock, +hearing of the numerous castles which had been captured by the +king and his friends with mere handfuls of followers, determined at +last upon an attempt to expel the garrison of Linlithgow. He went +about among his friends and neighbours, and found many ready to +join his enterprise. These one night placed themselves in ambush +among some bushes hard by the castle gate. Bunnock himself concealed +eight chosen men with arms in a wagon of hay. The horses were +driven by a stout peasant with a short hatchet under his belt, +while Bunnock walked carelessly beside the wagon. As he was in the +habit of supplying the garrison with corn and forage, the gate was +readily opened on his approach. As soon as the wagon was exactly +between the gate posts Bunnock gave the signal and struck down the +warder at the gate; the driver with his hatchet cut the traces, the +men leapt up from their concealment in the hay, and the main body +lying in ambush close by rushed up, and, taken wholly by surprise, +unarmed and unprepared, the garrison was speedily overpowered and +the castle taken. + +It was in the spring of 1311 that this important capture took place. +Bruce, as usual, had the castle levelled to the ground. Bunnock was +rewarded by a grant of land which still bears his name, softened +into Binney. Again the English made preparations for a renewed +invasion, but the barons were too much occupied by their private +broils and their quarrels with the king to assemble at his order, +and nothing came of it. Bruce's position at home was so established +that he resolved upon a counter invasion, and accordingly, having +assembled a larger force than had hitherto gathered under his +banner, crossed the Border near the Solway, burnt and plundered the +district round Gilsland, ravaged Tynedale, and after eight days' +havock returned with much booty to Scotland. In the following +month he again entered England, carried fire and sword through the +country as far as Corbridge, swept Tynedale, ravaged Durham, and +after levying contributions for fifteen days returned with much +booty to Scotland. + +Although the English made much outcry at this invasion, the English +author of the Chronicle of Lanercost, whose monastery was occupied +by the king during the raid, distinctly states that he slew none +save in actual conflict; and again, that though "all the goods of +the country were carried away, they did not burn houses or slay +men." Thus, though Bruce's wife and daughter were still prisoners +in England, though his brothers had been executed in cold blood, +he conducted his warfare in England in a manner which contrasts +strongly indeed with the conduct of the English in Scotland. + +After this Bruce marched north again and laid siege to Perth. For +six weeks he invested the town, but without making any impression. +Then he retired his forces as if abandoning the attempt. At night, +however, he returned, ladders were placed in the ditches against +the walls, and with his knights he led his followers on to the +assault. The garrison were carousing in honour of their successful +defence and the defeat of the enemy, and taken wholly by surprise +were unable to oppose a vigorous resistance, and all were killed +or captured. Some accounts say that the English soldiers were made +prisoners, and the renegade Scots fighting with them were put to +the sword; while others affirm that all who were taken prisoners +were spared. + +Another incursion into England followed the fall of Perth. Hexham, +Corbridge, and Durham were destroyed. Douglas penetrated as far as +Hartlepool and an immense spoil was carried off, until the people +of the bishopric purchased a truce for the sum of 2000 pounds, and +those of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland bought off +the invaders at a like price. + +Carlisle was assaulted by Douglas, but unsuccessfully. He also +attempted to surprise Berwick by a night attack, and had placed his +scaling ladders against the wall, when the garrison was alarmed by +the barking of a dog, and the assailants were repulsed. The Scots +recrossed the frontier laden with an enormous booty. + +The king himself now entered Galloway and reduced the four remaining +strongholds held by the English there--the castles of Butele, +Dalswinton, Lochmaben, and Tibbers. He then proceeded to Dumfries, +which he forced to surrender, and entered it as the victorious King +of Scotland, just seven years after the time when he had commenced +the war by expelling the English justiciary. + +Archie Forbes did not accompany the king in this campaign. He +had indeed been summoned, but just before the army started on its +raid into England Bruce was lamenting, in Archie's hearing, that +the continued possession of the strong castle of Dunottar on the +east coast still afforded the English an opportunity for creating +diversions in the north, by landing troops there. + +"If you will permit me, sire," Archie said, "I will undertake its +capture with my retainers. It is doubtless too strong to be captured +by open assault with such a strength, but as Douglas has thrice +taken Castle Douglas by stratagem, 'tis hard if I cannot find some +way for capturing Dunottar." + +"Be it so, Sir Archie," the king said. "If you succeed you will have +done good service indeed; and as I know that though ever ready to +buckle on your armour when I need you, you would yet rather live +quiet at Aberfilly with your fair wife, I promise you that if you +capture Dunottar, for a year and a day you and your retainers shall +have rest, except if the English cross the Border in such force +that the arm of every Scotchman able to wield a sword is needed in +its defence." + +Having chosen a hundred of his most active and experienced men +Archie set out for the north. Crossing the Forth above Stirling, +he marched through Perth and across the Carse of Gowrie through +Forfar on to Montrose. Here he left his band, and taking with him +only William Orr, both being attired in peasants' dress, followed +the coast till he reached Dunottar. + +The castle, which was of great strength, stood in a little bay +with a fishing village nestled beside it. "'Tis a strong place, +William, and, if well provisioned, might hold out against an army +for months, and as supplies could be thrown in by sea it could only +be captured by battering down its solid walls by machines." + +"'Tis indeed a strong place, Sir Archie," William Orr replied, "and +it were assuredly better to slip in by the gates than to climb over +the walls; but after the captures of so many of their strongholds +by sudden surprise, we may be sure that a careful watch will be +kept." + +"Doubtless they are shrewdly on guard against surprise," Archie +said; "but as they know that the king and his host are just now +crossing the Border into Cumberland, they may well think that for +a time they are safe from disturbance. 'Tis in that that our best +chance lies." + +Entering the village they purchased some fish from the fishermen, +and asking a few careless questions about the garrison, found +that it was composed of 150 men, and that extreme precautions were +taken against surprise. The gates were never opened save to allow +parties to pass in and out, when they were instantly closed and the +drawbridge raised. Only ten of the garrison at a time were ever +allowed to leave the castle, and these must go out and come in +together, so that the gates should not be opened more than twice a +day. "They generally come out," the man said, "at eleven o'clock +and go in at four; at eleven o'clock all with corn, wood, and +other stores for the castle must present themselves, so that the +drawbridge need only be lowered at those times. The governor, +Sir John Morris, swears that he will not be caught asleep as were +those of Linlithgow and Castle Douglas. I fear," he concluded, +"that we of Dunottar will be the last in Scotland to be free from +the English yoke." + +"That is as it may be. Other castles have been captured, and maybe +the lion of Scotland may float on those walls ere long." + +The man looked keenly at him. + +"Methinks there is meaning in your words," he said, "and your +language does not accord with your attire. I ask no questions; but +be sure that should an attempt be made, there are a score of strong +fellows among us who will be ready to strike a blow for freedom." + +"Is that so?" Archie replied; "then, man, taking you to be a true +Scot, I will tell you that the attempt will be made, and that +soon, and that, if you will, you can aid the enterprise. I am Sir +Archibald Forbes, of whom, perhaps, you have heard." + +"Assuredly," the man said in a tone of deep respect, "every Scotsman +knows the name as that of one of the king's truest and bravest +knights." + +"My purpose is this," Archie said. "On a dark night some ninety-five +of my men will march hither; I need a faithful friend to meet them +outside the village to lead them in, and to hide them away in the +cottages, having already arranged beforehand with their owners to +receive them. I, myself, with four of my men will come hither in a +fishing boat well laden with fish; we will choose a time when the +wind is blowing, and will seem to have been driven here by stress +of weather and disabled. Then I shall try to sell our cargo for the +use of the garrison. As we carry it in we shall attack the guard, +and at the signal those hidden will rush out and cross the drawbridge." + +"The plan is a good one," the fisherman said; "its difficulty mainly +lies in the fact that the drawbridge will be raised the moment you +have crossed it, and long before your followers could arrive it +would be high in the air, and you would be cut off from all aid. It +never remains down for an instant after men have passed over it." + +"That adds to the difficulty," Archie said thoughtfully; "but +I must think of some plan to overcome it. Do you quietly go about +among those you can surely trust and arrange for them to be ready +to open their doors and take my men in without the slightest noise +which might attract the sentries on the walls. So long as the wind +is quiet and the sea smooth we shall not come, but the first day +that the wind blows hard you may expect us. Then do you go out on +the south road and wait for my party half a mile from the village. +If they come not by midnight, return home and watch the following +night." + +"I understand," the fisherman said, "and will do as you bid me; and +when the time comes you can rely upon twenty stout fellows here in +addition to your own force." + +"'Tis nigh eleven," Archie said, looking at the sun, "and we will +be off at once, as the soldiers will soon be coming out, and it +were best the governor did not hear that two strangers were in the +village. Vigilant as he is, a small thing might excite his suspicion +and add to his watchfulness." + +Archie and William Orr returned to Montrose, and there the former +made an arrangement with the master of a large fishing boat to keep +his vessel ready to put to sea at any moment. + +Three weeks passed without any change in the weather; then the wind +began to rise and the aspect of the sky betokened a storm. William +Orr at once set out with ninety-five men for Dunottar. Archie went +down to the port and purchased a large quantity of fish which had +been brought in that morning in various boats, and had it placed +on board the craft that he had hired. Then he with four of his +followers, the strongest and most determined of his retainers, +dressed as fishermen, went on board and the boat at once put to sea, +having, besides Archie and his men, the master and his two hands. +The main body had started on foot at ten in the morning, but it was +late in the afternoon before the boat put out, as Archie wished to +arrive in broad daylight next morning. + +The wind was on the shore, and the boat was sorely tossed and +buffeted. Ere next morning, showing but a rag of sail, she ran into +Dunottar harbour. They had had great difficulty in keeping off the +coast all night, and the play had nigh turned into a tragedy, so +narrow had been their escape of being cast ashore. The bulwarks +were washed away, and the boat was in a sore plight as it drew +alongside the little quay. Assuredly no suspicion would occur to +any who saw her enter that aught save stress of weather had driven +her in. + +It was twelve o'clock in the day when they reached the port. Most +of the inhabitants had come down to the water side to see the +storm beaten craft enter, and among them were some soldiers of the +garrison. Archie bade four of his men remain below, so that the +unusual number of hands should attract no attention. One of the first +to come on board was the fisherman with whom Archie had spoken. + +"Your men are all here," he said in a low tone to Archie, "and are +stowed away in the cottages. Everything went well, and there was +not the slightest noise." + +Archie now went on shore and entered into conversation with one of +the soldiers. + +"Think you," he said, "that the governor would buy my cargo of +fish. I have a great store on board, for I had good luck before +the storm suddenly broke upon me just as I was leaving the fishing +grounds for Montrose. The gale may last for some days, and my boat +will need repairs before I put to sea, therefore my fish will be +spoiled before I can get them to market, and I will make a good +bargain with the governor if he will take them from me." + +"I should think that he will do so gladly," the soldier said, "for +he can salt them down, and they make a pleasant change. How much +have you got?" + +"About ten baskets full," Archie replied, "of some hundred pounds +each." + +"I will go with you to the castle," the soldier said. "The governor +will lower the drawbridge for no man, but you can speak with the +warder across the moat and he will bear your message to the governor, +and should he agree, you must present yourself with your men with +the fish at four o'clock, at which time the drawbridge will be +lowered for us to return to the castle." + +Archie accompanied the soldier to the end of the drawbridge, and +parleyed with the warder. The latter acquainted the governor that +the master of the fishing boat which had been driven in by stress +of weather would fain dispose of his cargo of fish on cheap terms, +and returned for answer that the governor would give sixpence for +each basket of a hundred pounds. Archie grumbled that he should +receive thrice that sum at Montrose; still that as he must sell +them or let them spoil, he accepted the offer, and would be there +with the fish at four o'clock. + +He then returned to the boat, his ally, the fisherman, taking word +round to the cottages that at four o'clock all must be in readiness +to sally out on the signal, and that William Orr was to dress half +a dozen of his men in fishermen's clothes and saunter up carelessly +close to the castle, so as to be able to rush forward on the instant. + +At the appointed hour Archie, accompanied by his four followers, +each of whom carried on his shoulder a great basket filled with +fish, stepped on to the quay and made their way to the castle. By +the side of the moat facing the drawbridge the ten English soldiers +who had been out on leave for the day were already assembled. + +"Are you all there?" the warder asked. + +"Yes," Archie said, "but I shall have to make another two trips +down to the boat, seeing that I have ten baskets full and but four +men to carry them." + +"Then you must bring another load," the warder said, "when the +drawbridge is lowered tomorrow. You will have to stop in the castle +tonight, and issue out at eleven tomorrow, for the governor will +not have the drawbridge lowered more than twice a day." + +"I would fain return to my boat," Archie said, "as I want to be at +work on the repairs; but if that be the rule I must needs submit +to it." + +The drawbridge was now lowered. The soldiers at once stepped on to +it. The four pretended fishermen had set down their baskets, and +now raised them on their shoulders again. One of them apparently +found it a difficult task, for it was not until Archie and his +comrades were half across the drawbridge that he raised it from +the ground. As he did so he stumbled and fell, the basket and its +contents rolling on to the ground. + +"You must wait until the morning," the warder called; "you are too +late to enter now." + +The man lay for a moment where he had fallen, which was half on the +drawbridge, half on the ground beyond it. "Now, then," the warder +called sharply, "make haste; I am going to raise the drawbridge." + +The man rose to his feet with a shout just as the drawbridge began +to rise. He had not been idle as he lay. As he fell he had drawn +from underneath his fisherman's frock a stout chain with a hook +at one end and a large ring at the other. This he had passed round +one of the chains by which the drawbridge was raised, then under +the beam on which it rested when down, and had fastened the hook +in the ring. + +Surprised at the shout, the warder worked the windlass with extra +speed, but he had scarcely given a turn when he found a sudden +resistance. The chain which the fisherman had fixed round the end +prevented the bridge from rising. As the man had shouted, Archie +and his three comrades were entering the gate. Simultaneously they +emptied their baskets before them. Concealed among the fish were +four logs of wood; two were three feet long, the full depth of the +baskets, two were short wedge shaped pieces. Before the soldiers +in front had time even to turn round, the two long pieces were +placed upright in the grooves down which the portcullis would fall, +while the two wedge shaped pieces were thrust into the jamb of the +gate so as to prevent it from closing. Then the four men drew long +swords hidden beneath their garments and fell upon the soldiers. + + + + +Chapter XXVI + +Edinburgh + + +So vigilant was the watch in the castle of Dunottar that the instant +the cry of alarm rose almost simultaneously from the warder above +and the soldiers at the gate, the portcullis came thundering down. +It was caught, however, by the two upright blocks of wood, and +remained suspended three feet above the sill. The armed guards +at the gate instantly fell upon Archie and his companions, while +others endeavoured in vain to close the gates. Scarcely had the +swords clashed when the man who had chained down the drawbridge +joined Archie, and the five with their heavy broadswords kept at +bay the soldiers who pressed upon them; but for only a minute or +two did they have to bear the brunt of the attack unsupported, for +William Orr and the five men who had been loitering near the moat +dashed across the bridge, and passing under the portcullis joined +the little band. + +The alarm had now spread through the castle, and the governor +himself, followed by many of his men, came rushing down to the +spot, shouting furious orders to the warder to raise the drawbridge, +being in ignorance that it was firmly fixed at the outer end. + +Archie and his followers were now hotly pressed, but soon a thunder +of steps was heard on the drawbridge, and the whole of the band, +together with some twenty or thirty of the fishermen, passed under +the portcullis and joined them. Archie now took the offensive, and +bearing down all opposition burst with his men into the courtyard. + +The combat was desperate but short. The governor with some of his +soldiers fought stoutly, but the suddenness of the surprise and +the fury and vigour with which they were attacked shook the courage +of many of the soldiers. Some, instead of joining in the fray, at +once threw away their arms and tried to conceal themselves, others +fought feebly and half heartedly, and the cries of "A Forbes! A +Forbes! Scotland! Scotland!" rose louder and louder as the +assailants gradually beat down all resistance. In ten minutes from +the falling of the portcullis all resistance was virtually over. +The governor himself fell by the hand of Archie Forbes, and at +his death those who had hitherto resisted threw down their arms +and called for quarter. This was given, and the following day the +prisoners were marched under a strong guard down to Montrose, there +to be confined until orders for their disposal were received from +the king. For the next fortnight Archie and his retainers, aided by +the whole of the villagers, laboured to dismantle the castle. The +battlements were thrown down into the moat, several wide breaches +were made in the walls, and large quantities of straw and wood piled +up in the keep and turrets. These were then fired, and the Castle +of Dunottar was soon reduced to an empty and gaping shell. Then +Archie marched south, and remained quietly at home until the term +of rest granted him by the king had expired. + +Two girls and a son had by this time been born to him, and the +months passed quietly and happily away until Bruce summoned him to +join, with his retainers, the force with which Randolph had sat down +before Edinburgh Castle. Randolph was delighted at this accession +of strength. Between him and Douglas a generous rivalry in gallant +actions continually went on, and Douglas had scored the last +triumph. The castle of Roxburgh had long been a source of trouble +to the Scots. Standing on a rocky eminence on the margin of the +Teviot, just at its junction with the Tweed and within eight miles +of the Border, it had constituted an open door into Scotland, and +either through it or through Berwick the tides of invasion had ever +flowed. The castle was very strongly fortified, so much so that +the garrison, deeming themselves perfectly safe from assault, had +grown careless. The commandant was a Burgundian knight, Gillemin +de Fienne. Douglas chose Shrove Tuesday for his attack. Being a +feast day of the church before the long lenten fast the garrison +would be sure to indulge in conviviality and the watch would be +less strict than usual. Douglas and his followers, supplied with +scaling ladders, crept on all fours towards the walls. The night +was still and they could hear the sentries' conversation. They had +noticed the objects advancing, but in the darkness mistook them for +the cattle of a neighbouring farmer. Silently the ladders were +fixed and mounted, and with the dreaded war cry, "A Douglas! A +Douglas!" the assailants burst into the castle, slaying the sentries +and pouring down upon the startled revellers. Fienne and his men +fought gallantly for a time, but at length all surrendered, with +the exception of the governor himself and a few of his immediate +followers, who retired into a tower, where they defended themselves +until the following day; then Fienne being seriously wounded, the +little party also surrendered. As Douglas had no personal quarrel +with the garrison of Roxburgh such as he bore with those who occupied +his ancestral castle, he abstained from any unnecessary cruelties, +and allowed the garrison to withdraw to England, where Fienne soon +afterwards died of his wounds. + +The castle was as usual levelled to the ground, and as the stronghold +of Carlaverock soon afterwards surrendered, the districts of Tweeddale +and Galloway were now completely cleared of the English, with the +exception of the Castle of Jedburgh, which they still held. + +Randolph had been created Earl of Moray, and after establishing +himself in his new earldom he had returned with his feudal followers +and laid siege to Edinburgh, whose castle was considered all but +impregnable. It had been in the possession of the English ever since +it was captured by Edward I in 1296, and was strongly garrisoned +and well provisioned. + +Even when joined by Archie Forbes and his retainers Randolph felt +that the castle could not be captured by force. The various attempts +which he made were signally foiled, and it was by stratagem only +that he could hope to carry it. The news of the capture of Roxburgh +by Douglas increased his anxiety to succeed. Accompanied by Archie +he rode round the foot of the steep rock on which the castle stands, +eagerly scanning its irregularities to see if by any possibility +it could be scaled. + +"I would give a brave reward," he said to Archie, "to any who could +show us a way of climbing those rocks, which, methinks, even a goat +could scarcely manage to ascend." + +"I can tell you of a way," a Scotch soldier who was standing a few +paces off when he made the remark, said, saluting the earl. "It +needs a sure foot and a stout heart, but I can lead a score of +men with such qualifications to the foot of yonder walls;" and he +pointed to the castle rising abruptly from the edge of the rocks. + +"If you can make good your word, my brave fellow," Randolph said, +"you may ask your own reward, and I pledge you my word, that if it +be aught in reason it shall be granted. But who are you, and how +did it come that you know of a way where none is supposed to exist?" + +"My name is William Francus," the soldier said. "I was at one time, +before the king took up arms, a soldier in the castle there. I had +a sweetheart in the town, and as my turn to go out from the castle +came but slowly I used at night to steal away to visit her. I found +after a great search that on the face of yonder wall where it looks +the steepest, and where in consequence but slight watch is kept, +a man with steady foot and head could make shift to climb up and +down, and thus, if you please, will I guide a party to the top of +the rock." + +"It looks impossible," Randolph said, gazing at the precipice; +"but as you tell me that you have done it others can do the same. +I will myself follow your guidance." + +"And I," Archie said. + +"What, Sir Archie, think you is the smallest number of men with +whom, having once gained footing on the wall, we may fight our way +to the gates and let in our friends." + +"I should think," Archie replied, "that with thirty men we might +manage to do so. The confusion in the garrison will be extreme +at so unexpected a surprise, and if we divide in two parties and +press forward by different ways they will think rather of holding +together and defending themselves than of checking our course, and +one or other of the parties should surely be able to make its way +to the gates." + +"Thirty let it be then," Randolph said. "Do you choose fifteen +active and vigilant men from among your retainers; I will pick as +many from mine, and as there is no use in delaying let us carry +out the enterprise this very night; of course the rest of our men +must gather near the gates in readiness to rush in when we throw +them open." + +As soon as it was dark the little party of adventurers set out +on their way. Francus acted as guide, and under his leading they +climbed with vast difficulty and no little danger up the face of +the precipice until they reached a comparatively easy spot, where +they sat down to recover their breath before they prepared for the +final effort. + +They could hear the sentries above speaking to each other, and +they held their breath when one of them, exclaiming suddenly, "I +can see you!" threw down a stone from the battlement, which leapt, +crashing down the face of the rock close beside them. Great was +their relief when a loud laugh from above told them that the sentry +had been in jest, and had but tried to startle his comrade; then +the two sentries, conversing as they went, moved away to another +part of the walls. + +The ascent was now continued, and proved even more difficult than +that which they had passed. They were forced continually to halt, +while those in front helped those following them, or were themselves +hoisted up by the men behind. At last, panting and breathless, they +stood on the summit of the rock, on a narrow ledge, with the castle +wall rising in front of them. They had, with enormous difficulty, +brought up a light ladder with them. This was placed against the +wall. Francus was the first to mount, and was followed by Sir Andrew +Grey, whom Randolph had invited to be of the party, by Archie Forbes, +and by the earl. Just as the latter stepped on to the battlements +the sentries caught sight of them and shouted: + +"Treason! treason! to arms!" An instant stir was heard in the +castle. Rapidly the thirty men followed each other up the ladder, +and so soon as the last had gained the battlements they divided in +three bodies, each headed by one of the leaders. One party descended +straight into the castle and there attacked the soldiers who were +hurrying to arms, while the others ran along the wall in opposite +directions, cutting down the sentries and brushing aside all +opposition until together they met at the gate. This was thrown +open, and the Scots outside running up at the top of their speed +poured into the castle. At first Randolph's party, which had +descended into the courtyard, had been hotly pressed, and had with +difficulty defended themselves; but the attention of the startled +garrison was distracted by the shouts upon the walls, which told +that other parties of their assailants had gained footing there. +All sorts of contradictory orders were issued. One commanded them +to cut down the little party opposed to them, another ordered them +to hurry to the walls, a third to seize the gate and see that it +was not opened. The confusion reached its height as the Scots poured +in through the open gate. The garrison, surprised and confounded +as they were at this, to them, almost magical seizure of the castle +by their foes, fought bravely until the governor and many of the +officers were killed. Some of the men threw down their arms, and +others, taking advantage of their knowledge of the castle, made +their way to the gate and escaped into the open country. + +The news of the capture was immediately sent to the king, by whose +orders the castle and walls were razed to the ground, and thus +another of the strongholds, by whose possession the English were +enabled to domineer over the whole of the surrounding country, was +destroyed. + +While Douglas and Randolph were thus distinguishing themselves +Edward Bruce captured the castle of Rutherglen, and afterwards the +town of Dundee; and now, save Stirling Castle, scarcely a hold in +all Scotland remained in English hands. Thus was Scotland almost +cleared of the invader, not by the efforts of the people at large, +but by a series of the most daring and hazardous adventures by the +king himself and three or four of his knights, aided only by their +personal retainers. For nine years they had continued their career +unchecked, capturing castle by castle and town by town, defeating +such small bodies of troops as took the field against them, England, +under a supine and inactive king, giving itself up to private +broils and quarrels, while Scotland was being torn piecemeal from +her grasp. + +After Edward Bruce had captured Dundee he laid siege to Stirling. +As this castle had for many months resisted Edward I backed by the +whole power of England, Bruce could make little impression upon +it with the limited appliances at his disposal. From February till +the 24th of June the investment continued, when the governor, Sir +Philip Mowbray, becoming apprehensive that his provisions would +not much longer hold out, induced Edward Bruce to agree to raise +the siege on condition that if by the 24th of June next, 1314, the +castle was not effectually relieved by an English force, it should +then be surrendered. + +No satisfactory explanation has ever been given of the reasons which +induced Edward Bruce to agree to so one sided a bargain. He had +already invested the place for four months, there was no possibility of +an army being collected in England for its relief for many months +to come, and long ere this could arrive the garrison would have +been starved into surrender. By giving England a year to relieve +the place he virtually challenged that country to put forth all +its strength and held out an inducement to it to make that effort, +which internal dissension had hitherto prevented. The only feasible +explanation is that Edward Bruce was weary of being kept inactive +so long a time before the walls of the fortress which he was unable +to capture, and that he made the arrangement from sheer impatience +and thoughtlessness and without consideration of the storm which he +was bringing upon Scotland. Had it been otherwise he would surely +have consulted the king before entering upon an agreement of such +extreme importance. + +Bruce, when he heard of this rash treaty, was highly displeased, +but he nevertheless accepted the terms, and both parties began at +once their preparations for the crowning struggle of the war. The +English saw that now or never must they crush out the movement +which, step by step, had wrested from them all the conquests which +had been won with such vast effort under Edward I; while Bruce saw +that a defeat would entail the loss of all that he had struggled +for and won during so many years. + +King Edward issued summonses to the whole of the barons of England +and Wales to meet him at Berwick by the 11th of June with all their +feudal following, while the sheriffs of the various counties and +towns were called upon to supply 27,000 foot soldiers. The English +of the settlements in Ireland were also summoned, besides O'Connor, +Prince of Connaught, and twenty-five other native Irish chiefs, +with their following, all of whom were to be under the command of +Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster. + +The Prince Bishop of Constance was requested to furnish a body +of mounted crossbowmen. A royal fleet of twenty-three vessels was +appointed to assemble for the purpose of operating on the east +coast, while the seaports were commanded to fit out another fleet +of thirty vessels. A third fleet was ordered to assemble in the +west, which John of Lorne was appointed to command under the title +of High Admiral of the Western Fleet of England. From Aquitaine +and the French possessions the vassals were called upon to attend +with their men-at-arms, and many knights from France, Gascony, and +Germany took part in the enterprise. + +Thus, at the appointed time over 100,000 men assembled at Berwick, +of whom 40,000 were men-at-arms, and the rest archers and pikemen. +For the great armament the most ample arrangements were made in the +way of warlike stores, provisions, tents, and means of transport, +together with the necessary workmen, artificers, and attendants. + +This army surpassed both in numbers and equipments any that Edward +I had ever led into Scotland, and is considered to have been the most +numerous and best equipped that ever before or since has gathered +on English ground. Of the whole of the great nobles of England only +four were absent--the Earls of Warrenne, Lancaster, Arundel, and +Warwick--who, however, sent their feudal arrays under the charge +of relations. + +Among the leaders of this great army were the Earls of Gloucester, +Pembroke, Hereford, and Angus, Lord Clifford, Sir John Comyn, Sir +Henry Beaumont, Sir John Seagrave, Sir Edmund Morley, Sir Ingram +de Umfraville, Sir Marmaduke de Twenge, and Sir Giles de Argentine, +one of the most famous of the Continental knights. + +While this vast army had been preparing, Bruce had made every +effort to meet the storm, and all who were loyal and who were able +to carry weapons were summoned to meet at Torwood, near Stirling, +previous to the 24th of June. Here Edward Bruce, Sir James Douglas, +Randolph, Earl of Moray, Walter the Steward, Angus of Isla, Sir +Archibald Forbes, and a few other knights and barons assembled with +30,000 fighting men, besides camp followers and servants. It was +a small force indeed to meet the great army which was advancing +against it, and in cavalry in particular it was extremely weak. +The English army crossed the Border, and marched by Linlithgow and +Falkirk toward the Torwood. + +Each army had stirring memories to inspire it, for the English in +their march crossed over the field of Falkirk, where sixteen years +before they had crushed the stubborn squares of Wallace; while from +the spot which Bruce selected as his battleground could be seen +the Abbey Craig, overlooking the scene of the Scottish victory of +Stirling Bridge. On the approach of the English the Scotch fell +back from the Torwood to some high ground near Stirling now called +the New Park. The lower ground, now rich agricultural land called +the Carse, was then wholly swamp. Had it not been so, the position +now taken up by Bruce would have laid the road to Stirling open to +the English. + +The Scotch army was divided into four divisions. The centre was +commanded by Randolph. Edward Bruce commanded the second, which +formed the right wing. Walter the Steward commanded the left wing, +under the guidance of Douglas, while the king himself took command +of the fourth division, which formed the reserve, and was stationed +in rear of the centre in readiness to move to the assistance of +either of the other divisions which might be hard pressed. The camp +followers, with the baggage and provisions, were stationed behind +the Gillies Hill. + +The road by which the English would advance was the old Roman +causeway running nearly north and south. The Bannock Burn was fordable +from a spot near the Park Mill down to the village of Bannockburn. +Above, the banks were too high and steep to be passed; while below, +where ran the Bannock through the carse, the swamps prevented +passage. The army was therefore drawn up, with its left resting +on the sharp angle of the burn above the Park Mill, and extended +where the villages of Easterton, Borestine, and Braehead now stand +to the spot where the road crosses the river at the village of +Bannockburn. In its front, between it and the river, were two bogs, +known as Halberts Bog and Milton Bog, while, where unprotected by +these bogs, the whole ground was studded with deep pits; in these +stakes were inserted, and they were then covered with branches and +grass. Randolph's centre was at Borestine, Bruce's reserve a little +behind, and the rock in which his flagstaff was placed during the +battle is still to be seen. To Randolph, in addition to his command +of the centre division, was committed the trust of preventing any +body of English from passing along at the edge of the carse, and +so making round to the relief of Stirling. + +On the morning of Sunday, the 23d of June, immediately after +sunrise, the Scotch attended mass, and confessed as men who had +devoted themselves to death. The king, having surveyed the field, +caused a proclamation to be made that whosoever felt himself unequal +to take part in the battle was at liberty to withdraw. Then, knowing +from his scouts that the enemy had passed the night at Falkirk, six +or seven miles off, he sent out Sir James Douglas and Sir Robert +Keith with a party of horsemen to reconnoitre the advance. + +The knights had not gone far when they saw the great army advancing, +with the sun shining bright on innumerable standards and pennons, +and glistening from lance head, spear, and armour. So grand and +terrible was the appearance of the army that upon receiving the +report of Douglas and Keith the king thought it prudent to conceal +its full extent, and caused it to be bruited abroad that the enemy, +although numerous, was approaching in a disorderly manner. + +The experienced generals of King Edward now determined upon making +an attempt to relieve Stirling Castle without fighting a pitched +battle upon ground chosen by the enemy. Had this attempt been +successful, the great army, instead of being obliged to cross +a rapid stream and attack an enemy posted behind morasses, would +have been free to operate as it chose, to have advanced against +the strongholds which had been captured by the Scots, and to force +Bruce to give battle upon ground of their choosing. Lord Clifford +was therefore despatched with 800 picked men-at-arms to cross the +Bannock beyond the left wing of the Scottish army, to make their +way across the carse, and so to reach Stirling. The ground was, +indeed, impassable for a large army; but the troops took with +them faggots and beams, by which they could make a passage across +the deeper parts of the swamp and bridge the little streams which +meandered through it. + +As there was no prospect of an immediate engagement, Randolph, +Douglas, and the king had left their respective divisions, and had +taken up their positions at the village of St. Ninians, on high +ground behind the army, whence they could have a clear view of the +approaching English army. Archie Forbes had accompanied Randolph, +to whose division he, with his retainers, was attached. Randolph +had with him 500 pikemen, whom he had withdrawn from his division +in order to carry out his appointed task of seeing that the English +did not pass along the low ground at the edge of the carse behind +St. Ninians to the relief of Stirling; but so absorbed were knights +and men-at-arms in watching the magnificent array advancing against +the Scottish position that they forgot to keep a watch over the +low ground. Suddenly one of the men, who had straggled away into +the village, ran up with the startling news that a large party of +English horse had crossed the corner of the carse, and had already +reached the low ground beyond the church. + +"A rose has fallen from your chaplet, Randolph," the king said +angrily. + +Without a moment's loss of time Randolph and Archie Forbes set off +with the spearmen at a run, and succeeded in heading the horsemen +at the hamlet of Newhouse. The mail clad horsemen, confident in +their numbers, their armour, and horses, laid their lances in rest, +struck spurs into their steeds, and, led by Sir William Daynecourt, +charged down upon the Scotch spearmen. Two hundred of these consisted +of Archie Forbes' retainers, all veterans in war, and who had more +than once, shoulder to shoulder, repelled the onslaught of the +mailed chivalry of England. Animated by the voices of their lord +and Randolph, these, with Moray's own pikemen, threw themselves +into a solid square, and, surrounded by a hedge of spears, steadily +received the furious onslaught of the cavalry. Daynecourt and many +of his men were at the first onslaught unhorsed and slain, and those +who followed were repulsed. Again and again they charged down upon +the pikemen, but the dense array of spears was more than a match +for the lances of the cavalry, and as the horses were wounded and +fell, or their riders were unhorsed, men rushed out from the square, +and with axe and dagger completed the work. Still the English +pressed them hard, and Douglas, from the distance, seeing how hotly +the pikemen were pressed by the cavalry, begged the king to allow +him to go to Randolph's assistance. Bruce, however, would suffer no +change in his position, and said that Randolph must stand or fall +by himself. Douglas, however, urged that he should be allowed to +go forward with the small body of retainers which he had with him. +The king consented, and Douglas set off with his men. + +When the English saw him approach they recoiled somewhat from the +square, and Douglas, being now better able to see what was going +on, commanded his followers to halt, saying that Randolph would +speedily prove victorious without their help, and were they now +to take part in the struggle they would only lessen the credit of +those who had already all but won the victory. Seeing the enemy in +some confusion from the appearance of the reinforcement, Randolph +and Archie now gave the word for their men to charge, and these, +rushing on with spear and axe, completed the discomfiture of the +enemy, killed many, and forced the rest to take flight. Numbers, +however, were taken. Randolph is said to have had but two men killed +in the struggle. + + + + +Chapter XXVII + +Bannockburn + + +After the complete defeat of the party under Lord Clifford, and the +failure of their attempt to relieve Stirling, Randolph and Douglas +returned together to the king. The news of their success spread +rapidly, and when Randolph rode down from St. Ninians to his +division, loud cheers broke from the whole Scottish army, who were +vastly encouraged at so fair a commencement of their struggle with +the English. + +The English army was still advancing slowly, and Bruce and his +leaders rode down to the front of the Scottish line, seeing that +all was in order and encouraging the men with cheering words. When +the English army approached the stream King Edward ordered a halt +to be sounded for the purpose of holding a council, whether it was +best to encamp for the night or at once to advance against the +enemy. The Earls of Gloucester and Hereford, who commanded the +first division, were so far ahead that they did not hear the sound +of the trumpet, and continuing their onward march crossed the Bannock +Burn and moved on toward the Scotch array. In front of the ranks +of the defenders the king was riding upon a small palfrey, not +having as yet put on his armour for the battle. On his helmet he +wore a purple cap surmounted by a crown. Seeing him thus within +easy reach, Sir Henry de Bohun, cousin of the Earl of Hereford, +laid his lance in rest and spurred down upon the king. Bruce could +have retired within the lines of his soldiers; but confident in his +own prowess, and judging how great an effect a success under such +circumstances would have upon the spirits of his troops, he spurred +forward to meet his assailant armed only with his axe. As the +English knight came thundering down, the king touched his palfrey +with his spur, and the horse, carrying but a light weight, swerved +quickly aside; De Bohun's lance missed his stroke, and before he had +time to draw rein or sword, the king, standing up in his stirrups, +dealt him so tremendous a blow with his axe as he passed, that it +cleft through helmet and brain, and the knight fell dead to the +ground. + +With a shout of triumph the Scotch rushed forward and drove +the English advance guard back across the stream; then the Scotch +leaders led their men back again to the position which they had +quitted, and reformed their array. Douglas, Edward Bruce, Randolph, +and Archie Forbes now gathered round the king and remonstrated with +him on the rashness of an act which might have proved fatal to the +whole army. The king smiled at such remonstrances from four men +who had, above all others, distinguished themselves for their rash +and daring exploits, and shrugging his shoulders observed only that +it was a pity he had broken the shaft of his favourite axe. The +English array now withdrew to a short distance, and it became evident +that the great battle would be delayed till the morrow. The Scotch +army therefore broke its ranks and prepared to pass the night +on the spot where it stood. The king assembled all his principal +leaders round him, and after thanking God for so fair a beginning +of the fight as had that day been made, he pointed out to them how +great an effect the two preliminary skirmishes would have upon the +spirits of both armies, and expressed his confidence in the final +result. He urged upon them the necessity for keeping their followers +well in hand, and meeting the charges of the enemy's horse steadily +with their spears; and especially warned them, after repulsing +a charge, against allowing their men to break their array, either +to plunder or take prisoners, so long as the battle lasted, as the +whole riches of the English camp would fall into their hands if +successful. He pledged himself that the heirs of all who fell should +have the succession of their estates free from the usual feudal +burdens on such occasions. + +The night passed quietly, and in the morning both armies formed +their array for battle. Bruce, as was customary, conferred the +honour of knighthood upon several of his leaders. Then all proceeded +to their allotted places and awaited the onset. Beyond the stream +and extending far away towards the rising ground were the English +squadrons in their glittering arms, the first division in line, +the others in heavy masses behind them. Now that the Scotch were +fairly drawn up in order of battle, the English could see how +small was their number in comparison with their own, and the king +in surprise exclaimed to Sir Ingram de Umfraville: + +"What! will yonder Scots fight us?" + +"That verily will they," the knight replied, for he had many a +time been engaged in stout conflict with them, and knew how hard +it was even for mail clad knights to break through the close lines +of Scottish spears. So high a respect had he for their valour, that +he urged the king to pretend to retire suddenly beyond the camp, +when the Scots, in spite of their leaders, would be sure to leave +their ranks and flock into the camp to plunder, when they might be +easily dispersed and cut to pieces. The king, however, refused to +adopt the suggestion, saying, that no one must be able to accuse +him of avoiding a battle or of withdrawing his army before such +a rabble. As the armies stood confronting each other in battle +array a priest passed along the Scottish front, crucifix in hand, +exhorting all to fight to the death for the liberty of their country. +As he passed along the line each company knelt in an attitude of +prayer. King Edward, seeing this, exclaimed to Sir Ingram: + +"See yonder folk kneel to ask for mercy!" + +"Ay, sire," the knight said, looking earnestly at the Scots, "they +kneel and ask for mercy, but not of you; it is for their sins they +ask mercy of God. I know these men, and have met and fought them, +and I tell you that assuredly they will win or die, and not even +when death looks them in the face will they turn to fly." + +"Then if it must be so," said the king, "let us charge." + +The trumpet sounded along the line. First the immense body of +English archers crossed the burn and opened the battle by pouring +clouds of arrows into the Scottish ranks. The Scotch archers, who +were in advance of their spearmen, were speedily driven back to +shelter beyond their line, for not only were the English vastly more +numerous, but they shot much further and more accurately. And now +the knights and men-at-arms, on their steel clad horses, crossed +the burn. They were aware of the existence of Milton Bog, which +covered the Scottish centre, and they directed their charge upon +the division of Edward Bruce on the Scottish right. The crash as +the mailed horses burst down upon the wood of Scottish spears was +tremendous. Bruce's men held firm, and the English in vain strove +to break through their serried line of spears. It was a repetition +of the fight of the previous day, but on a greater scale. With +lance and battleaxe the chivalry of England strove to break the +ranks of the Scotch, while with serried lines of spears, four deep, +the Scotch held their own. Every horse which, wounded or riderless, +turned and dashed through the ranks of the English, added to the +confusion. This was much further increased by the deep holes into +which the horses were continually falling, and breaking up all order +in their ranks. Those behind pressed forward to reach the front, +and their very numbers added to their difficulty. + +The English were divided into ten divisions or "battles," and +these one by one crossed the stream with banners flying, and still +avoiding the centre, followed the line taken by the first, and +pressed forward to take part in the fray. + +Randolph now moved with the centre to the support of the hardly +pressed right, and his division, as well as that of Edward Bruce, +seemed to be lost among the multitude of their opponents. Stewart +and Douglas moved their division to the right and threw themselves +into the fray, and the three Scottish divisions were now fighting +side by side, but with a much smaller front than that which they +had originally occupied. For a time the battle raged furiously +without superiority on either side. The Scotch possessed the great +advantage that, standing close together in ranks four deep, every +man was engaged, while of the mounted knights and men-at-arms who +pressed upon them, only the front line was doing efficient service. +Not only, therefore, was the vast numerical superiority of the +English useless to them, but actually a far larger number of the +Scottish than of themselves were using their weapons in the front +rank, while the great proportion of the English remained helplessly +behind their fighting line, unable to take any part whatever in +the fight. But now the English archers came into play again, and +firing high into the air rained their arrows almost perpendicularly +down upon the Scottish ranks. Had this continued it would have +been as fatal to the Scots at Bannockburn as it was at Falkirk; but +happily the Scottish horse told off for this special service were +here commanded by no traitors, and at the critical moment the king +launched Sir Robert Keith, the mareschal of Scotland, against the +archers with 500 horsemen. These burst suddenly down upon the flank +of the archers and literally swept them before them. Great numbers +were killed, others fell back upon the lines of horsemen who were +ranged behind, impatient to take their share in the battle; these +tried to drive them back again, but the archers were disheartened, +and retreating across the stream took no further part in the battle. +The charge of the Scottish horses should have been foreseen and +provided against by placing strong bodies of men-at-arms on the +flanks of the archers, as these lightly armed troops were wholly +unable to withstand a charge by cavalry. + +The Scottish archers, now that their formidable opponents had +left the field, opened a heavy fire over the heads of the pikemen +upon the horsemen surrounding the squares, and when they had shot +away their arrows sallied out and mingled in the confused mass of +the enemy, doing tremendous execution with their axes and knives. +Hitherto the king had kept his reserve in hand; but now that the +English archers were defeated and their horsemen in inextricable +confusion, he moved his division down and joined in the melee, his +men shouting his well known battle cry. + +Every Scotch soldier on the field was now engaged. No longer did the +battle cries of the various parties rise in the air. Men had no +breath to waste in shouting, but each fought silently and desperately +with spear or axe, and the sound of clanging blows of weapons, of +mighty crash of sword or battleaxe on steel armour, with the cries +and groans of wounded men were alone heard. Over and over again the +English knights drew back a little so as to gain speed and impetus, +and flung themselves on the Scottish spears, but ever without effect, +while little by little the close ranks of the Scotch pressed forward +until, as the space between their front and the brook narrowed, the +whole of the English divisions became pent up together, more and +more incapable of using their strength to advantage. The slaughter +in their front divisions had already been terrible. Again and +again fresh troops had taken the places of those who had formed the +front ranks, but many of their best and bravest had fallen. The +confusion was too great for their leaders to be able to direct them +with advantage, and seeing the failure of every effort to break +the Scottish ranks, borne back by the slow advance of the hedge of +spears, harassed by the archers who dived below the horses, stabbing +them in their bellies, or rising suddenly between them to smite +down the riders with their keen, heavy, short handled axes, the +English began to lose heart, and as they wavered the Scotch pressed +forward more eagerly, shouting, "On them! on them! They give way! +they give way!" + +At this critical moment the servants, teamsters, and camp followers +who had been left behind Gillies Hill, showed themselves. Some of +their number from the eminence had watched the desperate struggle, +and on hearing how their soldiers were pressed by the surrounding +host of English men-at-arms they could no longer remain inactive. +All men carried arms in those days. They hastily chose one of their +own number as leader, and fastening some sheets to tent poles as +banners, they advanced over the hill in battle array, and moved +down to join their comrades. The sight of what they deemed a fresh +division advancing to the assistance of the Scotch brought to +a climax the hesitation which had begun to shake the English, and +ensured their discomfiture. Those in rear turned bridle hastily, +and crossing the Bannock Burn, galloped away. The movement so begun +spread rapidly, and although those in front still continued their +desperate efforts to break the line of Scottish spears, the day was +now hopelessly lost. Seeing that this was so, the Earl of Pembroke +seized the king's rein and constrained him to leave the field with +a bodyguard of 500 horse. Sir Giles de Argentine, who had hitherto +remained by the king's side, and who was esteemed the third best +knight in Europe--the Emperor Henry of Luxemberg and Robert +Bruce being reckoned the two best--bade farewell to the king as +he rode off. + +"Farewell, sire," he said, "since you must go, but I at least must +return; I have never yet fled from an enemy, and will remain and +die rather than fly and live in disgrace." + +So saying, the knight spurred down to the conflict, and charged +against the array of Edward Bruce, and there fell fighting valiantly. +The flight of the king and his attendants was the signal for a +general rout. Great numbers were slain, many men were drowned in +the Forth, and the channel of the Bannock was so choked with the +bodies of dead men and horses that one could pass over dry shod. The +scattered parties of English were still so numerous that Bruce held +his men well in hand until these had yielded themselves prisoners. +Douglas was charged to pursue the king, but he could only muster +sixty horsemen. A short distance from the field he met a Scottish +baron, Sir Laurence Abernethy, with twenty-four men-at-arms, +on his way to join the English, for even as yet but few of the +Scottish nobles were on the side of the king. Upon hearing what had +happened, Sir Laurence, with the easy facility which distinguished +the Scottish nobles of the period, at once changed sides, swore +fealty to Bruce, and joined Douglas in the pursuit of his late +friends. They overtook the king's party at Linlithgow, but Pembroke +kept his men well together, and while still retiring, showed so +bold an appearance that Douglas did not venture to charge. Finally +the English reached the Castle of Dunbar, where the king and his +immediate attendants were received by his ally, Earl Patrick of +Dunbar. So cowed were the fugitives that they left their horses +outside the castle gate, and these were captured by their pursuers. +The main body of the king's bodyguard continued their way in good +order, and reached Berwick in safety. Edward gained England in +a fishing boat from Dunbar. Eighteen years had elapsed since his +father had entered Scotland with an army deemed sufficient for its +entire subjugation; had sacked and destroyed the rich and prosperous +town of Berwick, routed the army of Baliol, marched through Scotland, +and, as he believed, permanently settled his conquest. Now the +son had lost all that his father had won. + +Among the fugitive remains of the English army were a considerable +body of Welsh, who, being lightly armed, fled at full speed toward +the Border, but being easily distinguished by their white dresses +and the absence of defensive armour, almost all were slain by +the peasantry. The Earl of Hereford, the Earl of Angus, Sir John +Seagrave, Sir Anthony Lucy, Sir Ingram de Umfraville, with a great +number of knights, 600 men-at-arms, and 1000 infantry, keeping +together, marched south toward Carlisle. + +As they passed Bothwell Castle, which was held by the governor for +England, the earls and knights entered the castle, their followers +remaining without; but the governor, on hearing the result of the +battle, closed the gates and took all who had entered prisoners, +and, changing sides, handed them over to Bruce. Their followers +continued their march south, but were for the most part slain or +taken prisoners before they reached the Border. + +When all resistance had ceased on the field the victors collected +the spoil. This consisted of the vast camp, the treasures intended +for the payment of the army, the herds of cattle, and stores of +provisions, wine, and forage; the rich wearing apparel and arms +of the knights and nobles killed or made prisoners, many valuable +horses, and the prisoners who would have to be ransomed, among whom +were twenty-two barons and sixty knights. + +The spoil was estimated at 200,000 pounds, equal to 3,000,000 +pounds of money in these days. The king refused to take any share +in this plunder, dividing it wholly among his troops. 30,000 English +lay dead on the field, including 200 knights and 700 esquires, and +among the most distinguished of the dead were the Earl of Gloucester, +Sir Giles de Argentine, Lord Robert Clifford, Sir Edmund Manley, +seneschal of England, Sir William de Mareschal, Sir Payne Tybtot, +and Sir John Comyn. Sir Marmaduke de Twenge was among the prisoners. + +Bruce's conduct to his prisoners was even more honourable to himself +than was the great victory that he had won. In spite of his three +brothers, his brother in law Seaton, his friends Athole and Frazer, +having been executed by the English, and the knowledge that their +mangled remains were still exposed over London Bridge and the +gates of Carlisle and Newcastle--in spite of the barbarous and +lengthened captivity of his wife, his sister and daughter, and his +friend the Countess of Buchan--in spite of the conviction that +had he himself been made prisoner he would at once have been sent +to the scaffold--Bruce behaved with a magnanimity and generosity +of the highest kind. Every honour was paid to the English dead, and +the bodies of the chief among these were sent to their relatives in +England, and the prisoners were all either ransomed or exchanged. +Sir Marmaduke de Twenge was dismissed free of ransom and loaded +with gifts, and even the Scotch nobles, such as Sir Philip Mowbray, +who were taken fighting in the ranks of their country's enemy, were +forgiven. This noble example exercised but little influence upon +the English. When Edward Bruce was killed four years afterwards +at Dundalk in Ireland, his body was quartered and distributed, and +his head presented to the English king, who bestowed upon Birmingham--who +commanded the English and sent the gift to him--the dignity +of Earl of Louth. + +Among the prisoners was Edward's poet laureate, Baston, a Carmelite +friar, who had accompanied the army for the purpose of writing +a poem on the English victory. His ransom was fixed at a poem on +the Scotch victory at Bannockburn, which the friar was forced to +supply. + +With Bannockburn ended all hope on the part of the English of +subjugating Scotland; but the war continued fitfully for fourteen +years, the Scotch frequently invading England and levying heavy +contributions from the northern counties and towns, and the English +occasionally retaliating by the same process; but at length peace +was signed at Northampton. + +In 1315 a parliament assembled at Ayr for the purpose of regulating +the succession to the throne. It was then agreed that in case of the +king's death without male issue his brother Edward should succeed +to it, and that if Edward left no heirs, the children of Marjory, +the king's daughter, should succeed. Shortly afterwards Marjory was +married to Walter the Steward. Edward Bruce was killed unmarried. +A son was afterwards born to the king, who reigned as David II, +but having died without issue, the son of Marjory and the Steward +became king. The hereditary title of Steward was used as the surname +for the family, and thus from them descended the royal line of +Stewart or Stuart, through which Queen Victoria at present reigns +over Great Britain, Ireland, and their vast dependencies. + +After Bannockburn Archie Forbes went no more to the wars. He was +raised to the dignity of Baron Forbes by the king, and was ever +rewarded by him as one of his most trusty councillors, and his +descendants played a prominent part in the changing and eventful +history of Scotland; but the proudest tradition of the family was +that their ancestor had fought as a patriot by the side of Bruce +and Wallace when scarce a noble of Scotland but was leagued with +the English oppressors of their country. + + + + +THE END + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In Freedom's Cause, by G. A. Henty + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE *** + +***** This file should be named 4792.txt or 4792.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/4/7/9/4792/ + +Produced by Martin Robb and Ted Robb. 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In Freedom's Cause + +G. A. Henty + + + +PREFACE. + + +MY DEAR LADS, + +There are few figures in history who have individually exercised +so great an influence upon events as William Wallace and Robert +Bruce. It was to the extraordinary personal courage, indomitable +perseverance, and immense energy of these two men that Scotland +owed her freedom from English domination. So surprising were the +traditions of these feats performed by these heroes that it was at +one time the fashion to treat them as belonging as purely to legend +as the feats of St. George or King Arthur. Careful investigation, +however, has shown that so far from this being the case, almost +every deed reported to have been performed by them is verified by +contemporary historians. Sir William Wallace had the especial bad +fortune of having come down to us principally by the writings of +his bitter enemies, and even modern historians, who should have +taken a fairer view of his life, repeated the cry of the old English +writers that he was a bloodthirsty robber. Mr. W. Burns, however, +in his masterly and exhaustive work, The Scottish War of Independence, +has torn these calumnies to shreds, and has displayed Wallace as +he was, a high minded and noble patriot. While consulting other +writers, especially those who wrote at the time of or but shortly +after the events they record, I have for the most part followed +Burns in all the historical portions of the narrative. Throughout +the story, therefore, wherein it at all relates to Wallace, Bruce, +and the other historical characters, the circumstances and events +can be relied upon as strictly accurate, save only in the earlier +events of the career of Wallace, of which the details that have +come down to us are somewhat conflicting, although the main features +are now settled past question. + +Yours sincerely, G.A. HENTY. + + + +Chapter I GLEN CAIRN + + + +The village of Glen Cairn was situated in a valley in the broken +country lying to the west of the Pentland Hills, some fifteen miles +north of the town of Lanark, and the country around it was wild +and picturesque. The villagers for the most part knew little of +the world beyond their own valley, although a few had occasionally +paid visits to Glasgow, which lay as far to the west as Lanark was +distant to the south. On a spur jutting out from the side of the +hill stood Glen Cairn Castle, whose master the villagers had for +generations regarded as their lord. + +The glory of the little fortalice had now departed. Sir William +Forbes had been killed on his own hearthstone, and the castle had +been sacked in a raid by the Kerrs, whose hold lay to the southwest, +and who had long been at feud with the Forbeses. The royal power +was feeble, and the Kerrs had many friends, and were accordingly +granted the lands they had seized; only it was specified that Dame +Forbes, the widow of Sir William, should be allowed to reside in +the fortalice free from all let or hindrance, so long as she meddled +not, nor sought to stir up enmity among the late vassals of her +lord against their new masters. + +The castle, although a small one, was strongly situated. The spur +of the hill ran some 200 yards into the valley, rising sharply +some 30 or 40 feet above it. The little river which meandered down +the valley swept completely round the foot of the spur, forming a +natural moat to it, and had in some time past been dammed back, so +that, whereas in other parts it ran brightly over a pebbly bottom, +here it was deep and still. The fortalice itself stood at the +extremity of the spur, and a strong wall with a fortified gateway +extended across the other end of the neck, touching the water on +both sides. From the gateway extended two walls inclosing a road +straight to the gateway of the hold itself, and between these walls +and the water every level foot of ground was cultivated; this garden +was now the sole remains of the lands of the Forbeses. + +It was a narrow patrimony for Archie, the only son of Dame Forbes, +and his lady mother had hard work to keep up a respectable state, +and to make ends meet. Sandy Grahame, who had fought under her +husband's banner and was now her sole retainer, made the most of the +garden patches. Here he grew vegetables on the best bits of ground +and oats on the remainder; these, crushed between flat stones, +furnished a coarse bread. From the stream an abundance of fish could +always be obtained, and the traps and nets therefore furnished a +meal when all else failed. In the stream, too, swam a score and more +of ducks, while as many chickens walked about the castle yard, or +scratched for insects among the vegetables. A dozen goats browsed +on the hillside, for this was common ground to the village, and +Dame Forbes had not therefore to ask for leave from her enemies, +the Kerrs. The goats furnished milk and cheese, which was deftly +made by Elspie, Sandy's wife, who did all the work indoors, as her +husband did without. Meat they seldom touched. Occasionally the +resources of the hold were eked out by the present of a little +hill sheep, or a joint of prime meat, from one or other of her old +vassals, for these, in spite of the mastership of the Kerrs, still +at heart regarded Dame Mary Forbes as their lawful mistress, and +her son Archie as their future chief. Dame Mary Forbes was careful +in no way to encourage this feeling, for she feared above all things +to draw the attention of the Kerrs to her son. She was sure that +did Sir John Kerr entertain but a suspicion that trouble might ever +come from the rivalry of this boy, he would not hesitate a moment +in encompassing his death; for Sir John was a rough and violent +man who was known to hesitate at nothing which might lead to his +aggrandizement. Therefore she seldom moved beyond the outer wall +of the hold, except to go down to visit the sick in the village. +She herself had been a Seaton, and had been educated at the nunnery +of Dunfermline, and she now taught Archie to read and write, +accomplishments by no means common even among the better class in +those days. Archie loved not books; but as it pleased his mother, +and time often hung heavy on his hands, he did not mind devoting +two or three hours a day to the tasks she set him. At other times +he fished in the stream, wandered over the hills, and brought in +the herbs from which Dame Forbes distilled the potions which she +distributed to the villagers when sick. + +Often he joined the lads of the village in their games. They +all regarded him as their leader; but his mother had pressed upon +him over and over again that on no account was he to assume any +superiority over the others, but to treat them strictly as equals. +Doubtless the Kerrs would from time to time have news of what was +doing in Glen Cairn; and while they would be content to see him +joining in the sports of the village lads, with seemingly no wish +beyond that station, they would at once resent it did they see +any sign on his part of his regarding himself as a chief among the +others. + +No inconsiderable portion of Archie's time was occupied in acquiring +the use of arms from Sandy Grahame. His mother, quiet and seemingly +resigned as she was, yet burned with the ambition that he should +some day avenge his father's death, and win back his father's lands. +She said little to him of her hopes; but she roused his spirit by +telling him stories of the brave deeds of the Forbeses and Seatons, +and she encouraged him from his childhood to practise in arms with +Sandy Grahame. + +In this respect, indeed, Archie needed no stimulant. From Sandy +even more than from his mother he had heard of his brave father's +deeds in arms; and although, from the way in which she repressed any +such utterances, he said but little to his mother, he was resolved +as much as she could wish him to be, that he would some day win +back his patrimony, and avenge his father upon his slayers. + +Consequently, upon every opportunity when Sandy Grahame could spare +time from his multifarious work, Archie practised with him, with +sword and pike. At first he had but a wooden sword. Then, as his +limbs grew stronger, he practised with a blunted sword; and now +at the age of fifteen Sandy Grahame had as much as he could do to +hold his own with his pupil. + +At the time the story opens, in the springtime of the year 1293, +he was playing at ball with some of the village lads on the green, +when a party of horsemen was seen approaching. + +At their head rode two men perhaps forty years old, while a lad of +some eighteen years of age rode beside them. In one of the elder +men Archie recognized Sir John Kerr. The lad beside him was his +son Allan. The other leader was Sir John Hazelrig, governor of +Lanark; behind them rode a troop of armed men, twenty in number. +Some of the lads would have ceased from their play; but Archie +exclaimed: + +"Heed them not; make as if you did not notice them. You need not +be in such a hurry to vail your bonnets to the Kerr." + +"Look at the young dogs," Sir John Kerr said to his companion. +"They know that their chief is passing, and yet they pretend that +they see us not." + +"It would do them good," his son exclaimed, "did you give your +troopers orders to tie them all up and give them a taste of their +stirrup leathers." + +"It would not be worth while, Allan," his father said. "They will +all make stout men-at-arms some day, and will have to fight under +my banner. I care as little as any man what my vassals think of +me, seeing that whatsoever they think they have to do mine orders. +But it needs not to set them against one needlessly; so let the +varlets go on with their play undisturbed." + +That evening Archie said to his mother, "How is it, mother, that +the English knight whom I today saw ride past with the Kerr is +governor of our Scottish town of Lanark?" + +"You may well wonder, Archie, for there are many in Scotland +of older years than you who marvel that Scotsmen, who have always +been free, should tolerate so strange a thing. It is a long story, +and a tangled one; but tomorrow morning I will draw out for you +a genealogy of the various claimants to the Scottish throne, and +you will see how the thing has come about, and under what pretence +Edward of England has planted his garrisons in this free Scotland +of ours." + +The next morning Archie did not forget to remind his mother of her +promise. + +"You must know," she began, "that our good King Alexander had three +children -- David, who died when a boy; Alexander, who married a +daughter of the Count of Flanders, and died childless; and a daughter, +Margaret, who married Eric, the young King of Norway. Three years +ago the Queen of Norway died, leaving an only daughter, also named +Margaret, who was called among us the `Maid of Norway,' and who, +at her mother's death, became heir presumptive to the throne, and +as such was recognized by an assembly of the estates at Scone. But +we all hoped that the king would have male heirs, for early last +year, while still in the prime of life, he married Joleta, daughter +of the Count of Drew. Unhappily, on the 19th of March, he attended +a council in the castle of Edinburgh, and on his way back to his +wife at Kinghorn, on a stormy night, he fell over a precipice and +was killed. + +"The hopes of the country now rested on the `Maid of Norway,' who +alone stood between the throne and a number of claimants, most of +whom would be prepared to support their claims by arms, and thus +bring unnumbered woes upon Scotland. Most unhappily for the country, +the maid died on her voyage to Scotland, and the succession therefore +became open. + +"You will see on this chart, which I have drawn out, the lines by +which the principal competitors -- for there were nigh upon a score +of them -- claimed the throne. + +"Before the death of the maid, King Edward had proposed a marriage +between her and his young son, and his ambassadors met the Scottish +commissioners at Brigham, near Kelso, and on the 18th of July, 1290, +the treaty was concluded. It contained, besides the provisions of +the marriage, clauses for the personal freedom of Margaret should +she survive her husband; for the reversion of the crown failing +her issue; for protection of the rights, laws, and liberties of +Scotland; the freedom of the church; the privileges of crown vassals; +the independence of the courts; the preservation of all charters +and natural muniments; and the holding of parliaments only within +Scotland; and specially provided that no vassal should be compelled +to go forth of Scotland for the purpose of performing homage or +fealty; and that no native of Scotland should for any cause whatever +be compelled to answer, for any breach of covenant or from crime +committed, out of the kingdom. + +"Thus you see, my boy, that King Edward at this time fully recognized +the perfect independence of Scotland, and raised no claim to any +suzerainty over it. Indeed, by Article I it was stipulated that +the rights, laws, liberties, and customs of Scotland should remain +for ever entire and inviolable throughout the whole realm and its +marches; and by Article V that the Kingdom of Scotland shall remain +separate and divided from England, free in itself, and without +subjection, according to its right boundaries and marches, as +heretofore. + +"King Edward, however, artfully inserted a salvo, `saving the rights +of the King of England and of all others which before the date of +this treaty belong to him or any of them in the marches or elsewhere.' +The Scottish lords raised no objection to the insertion of this +salvo, seeing that it was of general purport, and that Edward +possessed no rights in Scotland, nor had any ever been asserted +by his predecessors -- Scotland being a kingdom in itself equal to +its neighbour -- and that neither William the Norman nor any of his +successors attempted to set forward any claims to authority beyond +the Border. + +"No sooner was the treaty signed than Edward, without warrant +or excuse, appointed Anthony Beck, the warlike Bishop of Durham, +Lieutenant of Scotland, in the name of the yet unmarried pair; and +finding that this was not resented, he demanded that all the places +of strength in the kingdom should be delivered to him. This demand +was not, however, complied with, and the matter was still pending +when the Maid of Norway died. The three principal competitors +-- Bruce, Baliol, and Comyn -- and their friends, at once began to +arm; but William Fraser, Bishop of St. Andrews, a friend of Baliol, +wrote to King Edward suggesting that he should act as arbitrator, +and more than hinting that if he chose Baliol he would find +him submissive in all things to his wishes. Edward jumped at +the proposal, and thereupon issued summonses to the barons of the +northern counties to meet him at Norham on the 3d of June; and a +mandate was issued to the sheriffs of Northumberland, Cumberland, +Westmoreland, York, and Lancaster, to assemble the feudal array at +the same rendezvous. + +"Now, you know, my son, that, owing to the marriages between royal +families of England and Scotland, there has been a close connection +between the countries. Many Scotch barons have married English +heiresses, and hold lands in both countries, while Scottish maidens +have married English knights. Thus it happens that a great number +of the Scotch nobility are as much Englishmen as Scotchmen, and are +vassals to England for lands held there. Four of the competitors, +John Baliol, Robert Bruce, John Comyn, and William Ross, are all +barons of England as well as of Scotland, and their lands lying +in the north they were, of course, included in the invitation. In +May, Edward issued an invitation to the Bishops of St. Andrews, +Glasgow, and other Scotch nobles to come to Norham, remain there, +and return, specially saying that their presence there was not to +be regarded as a custom through which the laws of Scotland might +in any future time be prejudiced. Hither then came the whole power +of the north of England, and many of the Scotch nobles. + +"When the court opened, Roger Brabazon, the king's justiciary, +delivered an address, in which he stated that Edward, as lord +paramount of Scotland, had come there to administer justice between +the competitors for the crown, and concluded with the request that +all present should acknowledge his claim as lord paramount. The +Scottish nobles present, with the exception of those who were +privy to Edward's designs, were filled with astonishment and dismay +at this pretension, and declared their ignorance of any claim of +superiority of the King of England over Scotland. The king, in a +passion, exclaimed: + +"'By holy Edward, whose crown I wear, I will vindicate my just +rights, or perish in the attempt.' + +"However, he saw that nothing could be done on the instant, and +adjourned the meeting for three weeks, at the end of which time the +prelates, nobles, and community of Scotland were invited to bring +forward whatever they could in opposition to his claim to supremacy. + +"At the time fixed the Scotch nobles again met, but this time on +the Scottish side of the Border, for Edward had gathered together +the whole of the force of the northern counties. + +"Besides the four claimants, whose names I have told you, were Sir +John Hastings, Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March, William de Vesci, +Robert de Pinkeny, Nicholas de Soulis, Patrick Galythly, Roger de +Mandeville, Florence, Count of Holland, and Eric, King of Norway. +With the exception of Eric, the Count of Holland, Dunbar, and +Galythly, all of these were of Norman extraction, and held possessions +in England. When the meeting was opened the prelates and nobles +present advanced nothing to disprove Edward's claim to supremacy. +The representatives of the commons, however, did show reason against +the claim, for which, indeed, my son, as every man in Scotland +knows, there was not a shadow of foundation. + +"The king's chancellor declared that there was nothing in these +objections to Edward's claim, and therefore he resolved, as lord +paramount, to determine the question of succession. The various +competitors were asked whether they acknowledged Edward as lord +paramount, and were willing to receive his judgment as such; and +the whole of these wretched traitors proceeded to barter their +country for their hopes of a crown, acknowledged Edward as lord +paramount, and left the judgment in his hands. + +"Bruce and Baliol received handsome presents for thus tamely +yielding the rights of Scotland. All present at once agreed that +the castles and strongholds of Scotland should be surrendered into +the hands of English commanders and garrisons. This was immediately +done; and thus it is, Archie, that you see an English officer +lording it over the Scotch town of Lanark. + +"Then every Scotchman was called upon to do homage to the English +king as his lord paramount, and all who refused to do so were +seized and arrested. Finally, on the 17th of November last, 1292 +-- the date will long be remembered in Scotland -- Edward's judgment +was given at Berwick, and by it John Baliol was declared King of +Scotland. + +"Thus for eighteen months Scotland was kept in doubt; and this was +done, no doubt, to enable the English to rivet their yoke upon our +shoulders, and to intimidate and coerce all who might oppose it." + +"There were some that did oppose it, mother, were there not? -- some +true Scotchmen who refused to own the supremacy of the King of +England?" + +"Very few, Archie. One Sir Malcolm Wallace, a knight of but small +estate, refused to do so, and was, together with his eldest son, +slain in an encounter with an English detachment under a leader +named Fenwick at Loudon Hill." + +"And was he the father of that William Wallace of whom the talk was +lately that he had slain young Selbye, son of the English governor +of Dundee?" + +"The same, Archie." + +"Men say, mother, that although but eighteen years of age he is of +great stature and strength, of very handsome presence, and courteous +and gentle; and that he was going quietly through the streets when +insulted by young Selbye, and that he and his companions being set +upon by the English soldiers, slew several and made their escape." + +"So they say, Archie. He appears from all description of him +to be a remarkable young man, and I trust that he will escape the +vengeance of the English, and that some day he may again strike +some blows for our poor Scotland, which, though nominally under +the rule of Baliol, is now but a province of England." + +"But surely, mother, Scotchmen will never remain in such a state +of shameful servitude!" + +"I trust not, my son; but I fear that it will be long before we +shake off the English yoke. Our nobles are for the most part of +Norman blood; very many are barons of England; and so great are the +jealousies among them that no general effort against England will +be possible. No, if Scotland is ever to be freed, it will be by +a mighty rising of the common people, and even then the struggle +between the commons of Scotland and the whole force of England aided +by the feudal power of all the great Scotch nobles, would be well +nigh hopeless." + +This conversation sank deeply into Archie's mind; day and night +he thought of nothing but the lost freedom of Scotland, and vowed +that even the hope of regaining his father's lands should be +secondary to that of freeing his country. All sorts of wild dreams +did the boy turn over in his mind; he was no longer gay and light +hearted, but walked about moody and thoughtful. He redoubled his +assiduity in the practice of arms; and sometimes when fighting with +Sandy, he would think that he had an English man-at-arms before him, +and would strike so hotly and fiercely that Sandy had the greatest +difficulty in parrying his blows, and was forced to shout lustily +to recall him from the clouds. He no longer played at ball with the +village lads; but, taking the elder of them aside, he swore them +to secrecy, and then formed them into a band, which he called the +Scottish Avengers. With them he would retire into valleys far away +from the village, where none would mark what they were doing, and +there they practised with club and stake instead of broadsword +and pike, defended narrow passes against an imaginary enemy, and, +divided into two parties, did battle with each other. + +The lads entered into the new diversion with spirit. Among the +lower class throughout Scotland the feeling of indignation at the +manner in which their nobles had sold their country to England was +deep and passionate. They knew the woes which English domination +had brought upon Wales and Ireland; and though as yet without a +leader, and at present hopeless of a successful rising, every true +Scotchman was looking forward to the time when an attempt might be +made to throw off the English yoke. + +Therefore the lads of Glen Cairn entered heart and soul into +the projects of their "young chief," for so they regarded Archie, +and strove their best to acquire some of the knowledge of the use +of sword and pike which he possessed. The younger lads were not +permitted to know what was going on -- none younger than Archie +himself being admitted into the band, while some of the elders were +youths approaching man's estate. Even to his mother Archie did not +breathe a word of what he was doing, for he feared that she might +forbid his proceedings. The good lady was often surprised at the +cuts and bruises with which he returned home; but he always turned +off her questions by muttering something about rough play or a +heavy fall, and so for some months the existence of the Scottish +Avengers remained unsuspected. + + + +Chapter II Leaving Home + + +One day when "the Avengers" were engaged in mimic battle in a glen +some two miles from the village they were startled with a loud +shout of "How now, what is this uproar?" Bows were lowered and +hedge stakes dropped; on the hillside stood Red Roy, the henchman +of Sir John Kerr, with another of the retainers. They had been +crossing the hills, and had been attracted by the sound of shouting. +All the lads were aware of the necessity for Archie's avoiding the +notice of the Kerrs, and Andrew Macpherson, one of the eldest of +the lads, at once stepped forward: "We are playing," he said, "at +fighting Picts against Scots." + +This was the case, for the English were so hated that Archie had +found that none would even in sport take that name, and the sides +were accordingly dubbed Scots and Picts, the latter title not being +so repugnant, and the companies changing sides each day. + +"It looks as if you were fighting in earnest," Roy said grimly, +"for the blood is streaming down your face." + +"Oh, we don't mind a hard knock now and again," Andrew said +carelessly. "I suppose, one of these days, we shall have to go out +under Sir John's banner, and the more hard knocks we have now, the +less we shall care for them then." + +"That is so," Roy said; "and some of you will soon be able to handle +arms in earnest. Who are your leaders?" he asked sharply, as his +eye fixed on Archie, who had seated himself carelessly upon a rock +at some little distance. + +"William Orr generally heads one side, and I the other." + +"And what does that young Forbes do?" Red Roy asked. + +"Well, he generally looks on," Andrew replied in a confidential +tone; "he is not much good with the bow, and his lady mother does +not like it if he goes home with a crack across the face, and I +don't think he likes it himself; he is but a poor creature when it +comes to a tussle." + +"And it is well for him that he is," Red Roy muttered to himself; +"for if he had been likely to turn out a lad of spirit, Sir John +would have said the word to me before now; but, seeing what he is, +he may as well be left alone for the present. He will never cause +trouble." So saying, Red Roy strolled away with his companion, and +left the lads to continue their mimic fight. + +News travelled slowly to Glen Cairn; indeed, it was only when +a travelling chapman or pedlar passed through, or when one of the +villagers went over to Lanark or Glasgow, carrying the fowls and +other produce of the community to market, that the news came from +without. + +Baliol was not long before he discovered that his monarchy was but +a nominal one. The first quarrel which arose between him and his +imperious master was concerning the action of the courts. King Edward +directed that there should be an appeal to the courts at Westminster +from all judgments in the Scottish courts. Baliol protested that it +was specifically agreed by the Treaty of Brigham that no Scotchman +was liable to be called upon to plead outside the kingdom; but +Edward openly declared, "Notwithstanding any concessions made before +Baliol became king, he considered himself at liberty to judge in +any case brought before him from Scotland, and would, if necessary, +summon the King of Scots himself to appear in his presence." He +then compelled Baliol formally to renounce and cancel not only the +Treaty of Brigham, but every stipulation of the kind "known to +exist, or which might be thereafter discovered." Another appeal +followed, and Baliol was cited to appear personally, but refused; +he was thereupon declared contumacious by the English parliament, +and a resolution was passed that three of the principal towns of +Scotland should be "seized," until he gave satisfaction. All this +was a manifest usurpation, even allowing Edward's claims to supremacy +to be well founded. + +At this moment Edward became involved in a quarrel with his own +lord superior Phillip, king of France, by whom he was in turned +summoned to appear under the pain of contumacy. Edward met this +demand by a renunciation of allegiance to Phillip and a declaration +of war, and called upon Baliol for aid as his vassal; but Baliol +was also a vassal of the French king, and had estates in France +liable to seizure. He therefore hesitated. Edward further ordered +him to lay an embargo upon all vessels in the ports of Scotland, +and required the attendance of many of the Scottish barons in his +expedition to France. Finding his orders disobeyed, on the 16th +of October Edward issued a writ to the sheriff of Northampton, +"to seize all lands, goods, and chattels of John Baliol and other +Scots." + +The Scotch held a parliament at Scone. All Englishmen holding office +were summarily dismissed. A committee of the estates was appointed +to act as guardian of the kingdom, and Baliol himself was deprived +of all active power; but an instrument was prepared in his name, +reciting the injuries that he and his subjects had sustained at the +hands of the English king, and renouncing all further allegiance. +Following this up, a league was concluded, offensive and defensive, +between the French king and Scotland, represented by the prelates, +nobles, and community. Edward Baliol, the king's son, was contracted +to marry the French king's niece. Phillip bound himself to assist +Scotland against any invasion of England, and the Scotch agreed to +cross the Border in case Edward invaded France. + +In making this alliance the Scots took the only step possible; for +they had no choice between fighting England with France as their +ally, or fighting France as the subjects of King Edward. The contest +which was approaching seemed all but hopeless. The population +of England was six times as large as that of Scotland, and Edward +could draw from Ireland and Wales great numbers of troops. The +English were trained to war by constant fighting in France, Ireland, +and Wales; while the Scots had, for a very long period, enjoyed +a profound peace, and were for the most part wholly ignorant of +warfare. + +Edward at once prepared to invade Scotland; in January he seized +the lands owned by Comyn in Northumberland and sold them, directing +the money to be applied to the raising and maintenance of 1000 +men-at-arms and 60,000 foot soldiers, and in February issued a writ +for the preparation of a fleet of 100 vessels. + +On the 25th of March he crossed the Tweed with 5000 horse and 30,000 +foot. The Scotch leaders were, of course, aware of the gathering +storm, and, collecting their forces, attempted a diversion by +crossing the Border to the west and making a raid into Cumberland. +King Edward, however, marched north and besieged Berwick, the richest +and most flourishing of the towns of Scotland. With the exception +of the castle, it was weakly fortified. The attack was commenced +by the fleet, who were, however, repulsed and driven off. A land +assault, led by the king in person, was then made; the walls were +captured, and the town completely sacked. The inhabitants were +butchered without distinction of age, sex, or condition, and even +those who fled to the churches were slain within the sanctuary. +Contemporary accounts differ as to the numbers who perished on this +occasion. Langtoff says 4000; Hemingford, 8000; Knighton, another +English writer, says 17,000; and Matthew of Westminster, 60,000. +Whichever of these writers is correct, it is certain that almost +the whole of the men, women, and children of the largest and most +populous Scottish town were butchered by the orders of the English +king, who issued direct orders that none should be spared. From +this terrible visitation Berwick, which was before called the +Alexandria of the West, never recovered. The castle, which was held +by Sir William Douglas, surrendered immediately; and Sir William, +having sworn fealty to the English king, was permitted to depart. + +The English army now marched north. Patrick, Earl of Dunbar, +was with King Edward; but his wife, a noble and patriotic woman, +surrendered the castle to the Scots. The Earl of Surrey, with +a powerful army, sat down before it. The Scotch nobles and people +marched in great numbers, but with little order and discipline, +to raise the siege. They were met by Surrey, whose force, inured +to arms, easily routed the Scotch gathering, no fewer than 10,000 +being killed in the conflict and retreat. The English army was +joined by 15,000 Welsh and 30,000 from Ireland, and marched through +Scotland, the castles and towns opening their gates to Edward as +he came, and the nobles, headed by James the Stewart, coming in and +doing homage to him. Baliol was forced to appear in the churchyard +of Strath-Cathro, near Montrose, arrayed in regal robes, and to +resign his kingdom to the Bishop of Durham as Edward's representative, +and to repeat the act a few days afterwards at Brechin in presence +of the king himself. He was then, with his son, sent a prisoner to +London, where they were confined in the Tower for several years. +From Brechin Edward marched through the whole of Scotland, visiting +all the principal towns. He had now dropped the title of Lord +Paramount of Scotland, the country being considered as virtually +part of England. Garrisons were placed in every stronghold in the +country, and many new castles were raised to dominate the people. +The public documents were all carried away to England, the great +seal broken in pieces, and the stone of Scone - upon which, for +five hundred years, every Scotch monarch had been crowned -- was +carried away to Westminster, where it has ever since formed the +seat of the thrones upon which English monarchs have been crowned. + +The tide of war had not passed near Glen Cairn; but the excitement, +as from time to time the news came of stirring events, was very +great. The tidings of the massacre of Berwick filled all with +consternation and grief. Some of the men quitted their homes and +fought at Dunbar, and fully half of these never returned; but great +as was the humiliation and grief at the reverses which had befallen +the Scotch arms, the feeling was even deeper and more bitter at the +readiness with which the whole of the Scotch nobles flocked in to +make their peace with King Edward. + +It seemed so incredible that Scotland, which had so long successfully +resisted all invaders, should now tamely yield without a struggle, +that the people could scarce believe it possible that their boasted +freedom was gone, that the kingdom of Scotland was no more, and the +country become a mere portion of England. Thus, while the nobles +with their Norman blood and connections accepted the new state of +things contentedly enough, well satisfied to have retained rank and +land, a deep and sullen discontent reigned among the people; they +had been betrayed rather than conquered, and were determined that +some day there should be an uprising, and that Scotland would make +a great effort yet for freedom. But for this a leader was needed, +and until such a one appeared the people rested quiet and bided +their time. + +From time to time there came to Glen Cairn tales of the doings of +that William Wallace who had, when the English first garrisoned the +Scottish castles, while Edward was choosing between the competitors +for her throne, killed young Selbye at Dundee, and had been outlawed +for the deed. After that he went and resided with his uncle, Sir +Ronald Crawford, and then with another uncle, Sir Richard Wallace +of Riccarton. Here he gathered a party of young men, eager spirits +like himself, and swore perpetual hostility to the English. + +One day Wallace was fishing in the Irvine when Earl Percy, the +governor of Ayr, rode past with a numerous train. Five of them +remained behind and asked Wallace for the fish he had taken. He +replied that they were welcome to half of them. Not satisfied with +this, they seized the basket and prepared to carry it off. Wallace +resisted, and one of them drew his sword. Wallace seized the staff +of his net and struck his opponent's sword from his hand; this he +snatched up and stood on guard, while the other four rushed upon +him. Wallace smote the first so terrible a blow that his head was +cloven from skull to collarbone; with the next blow he severed the +right arm of another, and then disabled a third. The other two +fled, and overtaking the earl, called on him for help; "for," they +said, "three of our number who stayed behind with us to take some +fish from the Scot who was fishing are killed or disabled." + +"How many were your assailants?" asked the earl. + +"But the man himself," they answered; "a desperate fellow whom we +could not withstand." + +"I have a brave company of followers!" the earl said with scorn. +"You allow one Scot to overmatch five of you! I shall not return +to seek for your adversary; for were I to find him I should respect +him too much to do him harm.'' + +Fearing that after this adventure he could no longer remain in +safety with his uncle, Wallace left him and took up his abode in +Lag Lane Wood, where his friends joining him, they lived a wild +life together, hunting game and making many expeditions through the +country. On one occasion he entered Ayr in disguise; in the middle +of a crowd he saw some English soldiers, who were boasting that they +were superior to the Scots in strength and feats of arms. One of +them, a strong fellow, was declaring that he could lift a greater +weight than any two Scots. He carried a pole, with which he offered, +for a groat, to let any Scotchman strike him on the back as hard +as he pleased, saying that no Scotchman could strike hard enough +to hurt him. + +Wallace offered him three groats for a blow. The soldier eagerly +accepted the money, and Wallace struck him so mighty a blow that +his back was broken and he fell dead on the ground. His comrades +drew their swords and rushed at Wallace, who slew two with the +pole, and when it broke drew the long sword which was hidden in +his garments, and cut his way through them. + +On another occasion he again had a fracas with the English in Ayr, +and after killing many was taken prisoner. Earl Percy was away, +and his lieutenant did not venture to execute him until his return. +A messenger was sent to the Earl, but returned with strict orders +that nothing should be done to the prisoner until he came back. +The bad diet and foul air of the dungeon suited him so ill, after +his free life in the woods, that he fell ill, and was reduced +to so weak a state that he lay like one dead -- the jailer indeed +thought that he was so, and he was carried out to be cast into the +prison burial ground, when a woman, who had been his nurse, begged +his body. She had it carried to her house, and then discovered that +life yet remained, and by great care and good nursing succeeded +in restoring him. In order to prevent suspicion that he was still +alive a fictitious funeral was performed. On recovering, Wallace +had other frays with the English, all of which greatly increased +his reputation throughout that part of the country, so that more +adherents came to him, and his band began to be formidable. He +gradually introduced an organization among those who were found to +be friendly to the cause, and by bugle notes taken up and repeated +from spot to spot orders could be despatched over a wide extent of +country, by which the members of his band knew whether to assemble +or disperse, to prepare to attack an enemy, or to retire to their +fastnesses. + +The first enterprise of real importance performed by the band was +an attack by Wallace and fifty of his associates on a party of +soldiers, 200 strong, conveying provisions from Carlisle to the +garrison of Ayr. They were under the command of John Fenwick, +the same officer who had been at the head of the troop by which +Wallace's father had been killed. Fenwick left twenty of his men +to defend the wagons, and with the rest rode forward against the +Scots. A stone wall checked their progress, and the Scotch, taking +advantage of the momentary confusion, made a furious charge upon +them with their spears, cutting their way into the midst of them +and making a great slaughter of men and horses. The English rode +round and round them, but the Scots, defending themselves with spear +and sword, stood so staunchly together that the English could not +break through. + +The battle was long and desperate, but Wallace killed Fenwick with +his own hand, and after losing nigh a hundred of their number the +English fled in confusion. The whole convoy fell into the hands of +the victors, who became possessed of several wagons, 200 carriage +horses, flour, wine, and other stores in great abundance; with +these they retired into the forest of Clydesdale. + +The fame of this exploit greatly increased the number of Wallace's +followers. So formidable did the gathering become that convoys by +land to Ayr were entirely interrupted, and Earl Percy held a council +of the nobility at Glasgow, and consulted them as to what had best +be done. Finally, Sir Ronald Crawford was summoned and told that +unless he induced his nephew to desist from hostilities they should +hold him responsible and waste his lands. Sir Ronald visited the +band in Clydesdale forest, and rather than harm should come upon +him, Wallace and his friends agreed to a truce for two months. Their +plunder was stowed away in places of safety, and a portion of the +band being left to guard it the rest dispersed to their homes. + +Wallace returned to his uncle's, but was unable long to remain +inactive, and taking fifteen followers he went with them in disguise +to Ayr. Wallace, as usual, was not long before he got into a +quarrel. An English fencing master, armed with sword and buckler, +was in an open place in the city, challenging any one to encounter +him. Several Scots tried their fortune and were defeated, and then +seeing Wallace towering above the crowd he challenged him. Wallace +at once accepted, and after guarding himself for some time, with +a mighty sweep of his sword cleft through buckler, arm, headpiece, +and skull. The English soldiers around at once attacked him; his +friends rallied round him, and after hard fighting they made their +way to the spot where they had left their horses and rode to Lag +Lane Wood. + +When Earl Percy heard that Wallace had been the leader in this +fray, and found on inquiry that he had slain the sword player in +fair fight after having been challenged by him, he refused to regard +him as having broken the truce, for he said the soldiers had done +wrong in attacking him. Earl Percy was himself a most gallant +soldier, and the extraordinary personal prowess of Wallace excited +in him the warmest admiration, and he would fain, if it had been +possible, have attached him to the service of England. + +As soon as the truce was over Wallace again attacked the English. +For a time he abode with the Earl of Lennox, who was one of the +few who had refused to take the oath of allegiance, and having +recruited his force, he stormed the stronghold called the Peel +of Gargunnock, near Stirling. Then he entered Perth, leaving his +followers in Methven Wood, and hearing that an English reinforcement +was upon the march, formed an ambush, fell upon them, and defeated +them; and pressing hotly upon them entered so close on their heels +into Kincleven Castle, that the garrison had no time to close the +gate, and the place was captured. Great stores and booty were found +here; these were carried to the woods, and the castle was burned +to the ground, as that of Gargunnock had been, as Wallace's force +was too small to enable him to hold these strongholds. Indignant +at this enterprise so close to their walls the English moved out +the whole garrison, 1000 strong, against Wallace, who had with him +but fifty men in all. After a desperate defence, in which Sir John +Butler and Sir William de Loraine, the two officers in command, +were killed by Wallace himself, the latter succeeded in drawing off +his men; 120 of the English were killed in the struggle, of whom +more than twenty are said to have fallen at the hands of Wallace +alone. Many other similar deeds did Wallace perform; his fame grew +more and more, as did the feeling among the Scotch peasantry that +in him they had found their champion and leader. + +Archie eagerly drank in the tale of Wallace's exploits, and his soul +was fired by the desire to follow so valiant a leader. He was now +sixteen, his frame was set and vigorous, and exercise and constant +practice with arms had hardened his muscles. He became restless +with his life of inactivity; and his mother, seeing that her quiet +and secluded existence was no longer suitable for him, resolved +to send him to her sister's husband, Sir Robert Gordon, who dwelt +near Lanark. Upon the night before he started she had a long talk +with him. + +"I have long observed, my boy," she said, "the eagerness with +which you constantly practise at arms; and Sandy tells me that he +can no longer defend himself against you. Sandy, indeed is not a +young man, but he is still hale and stout, and has lost but little +of his strength. Therefore it seems that, though but a boy, you may +be considered to have a man's strength, for your father regarded +Sandy as one of the stoutest and most skilful of his men-at-arms. +I know what is in your thoughts; that you long to follow in +your father's footsteps, and to win back the possessions of which +you have been despoiled by the Kerrs. But beware, my boy; you are +yet but young; you have no friends or protectors, save Sir Robert +Gordon, who is a peaceable man, and goes with the times; while +the Kerrs are a powerful family, able to put a strong body in the +field, and having many powerful friends and connections throughout +the country. It is our obscurity which has so far saved you, for +Sir John Kerr would crush you without mercy did he dream that you +could ever become formidable; and he is surrounded by ruthless +retainers, who would at a word from him take your life; therefore +think not for years to come to match yourself against the Kerrs. +You must gain a name and a following and powerful friends before +you move a step in that direction; but I firmly believe that the +time will come when you will become lord of Glencairn and the hills +around it. Next, my boy, I see that your thoughts are ever running +upon the state of servitude to which Scotland is reduced, and have +marked how eagerly you listen to the deeds of that gallant young +champion, Sir William Wallace. When the time comes I would hold +you back from no enterprise in the cause of our country; but at +present this is hopeless. Valiant as may be the deeds which Wallace +and his band perform, they are as vain as the strokes of reeds upon +armour against the power of England." + +"But, mother, his following may swell to an army." + +"Even so, Archie; but even as an army it would be but as chaff before +the wind against an English array. What can a crowd of peasants, +however valiant, do against the trained and disciplined battle of +England. You saw how at Dunbar the Earl of Surrey scattered them +like sheep, and then many of the Scotch nobles were present. So +far there is no sign of any of the Scottish nobles giving aid or +countenance to Wallace, and even should he gather an army, fear +for the loss of their estates, a jealousy of this young leader, +and the Norman blood in their veins, will bind them to England, +and the Scotch would have to face not only the army of the invader, +but the feudal forces of our own nobles. I say not that enterprises +like those of Wallace do not aid the cause, for they do so greatly +by exciting the spirit and enthusiasm of the people at large, as +they have done in your case. They show them that the English are +not invincible, and that even when in greatly superior numbers +they may be defeated by Scotchmen who love their country. They keep +alive the spirit of resistance and of hope, and prepare the time +when the country shall make a general effort. Until that time +comes, my son, resistance against the English power is vain. Even +were it not so, you are too young to take part in such strife, but +when you attain the age of manhood, if you should still wish to +join the bands of Wallace -- that is, if he be still able to make +head against the English -- I will not say nay. Here, my son, +is your father's sword. Sandy picked it up as he lay slain on the +hearthstone, and hid it away; but now I can trust it with you. May +it be drawn some day in the cause of Scotland! And now, my boy, +the hour is late, and you had best to bed, for it were well that +you made an early start for Lanark." + +The next morning Archie started soon after daybreak. On his back +he carried a wallet, in which was a new suit of clothes suitable +for one of the rank of a gentleman, which his mother had with great +stint and difficulty procured for him. He strode briskly along, +proud of the possession of a sword for the first time. It was in +itself a badge of manhood, for at that time all men went armed. + +As he neared the gates of Lanark he saw a party issue out and ride +towards him, and recognized in their leader Sir John Kerr. Pulling +his cap down over his eyes, he strode forward, keeping by the side +of the road that the horsemen might pass freely, but paying no heed +to them otherwise. + +"Hallo, sirrah!" Sir John exclaimed, reining in his horse, "who +are you who pass a knight and a gentleman on the highway without +vailing his bonnet in respect?" + +"I am a gentleman and the son of a knight," Archie said, looking +fearlessly up into the face of his questioner. "I am Archie Forbes, +and I vail my bonnet to no man living save those whom I respect +and honour." + +So saying, without another word he strode forward to the town. Sir +John looked darkly after him. + +"Red Roy," he said sternly, turning to one who rode behind him, +"you have failed in your trust. I told you to watch the boy, and +from time to time you brought me news that he was growing up but +a village churl. He is no churl, and unless I mistake me, he will +some day be dangerous. Let me know when he next returns to the +village; we must then take speedy steps for preventing him from +becoming troublesome." + + + +Chapter III Sir William Wallace + + +Archie's coming had been expected by Sir Robert Gordon, and he was +warmly welcomed. He had once or twice a year paid short visits to +the house, but his mother could not bring herself to part with him +for more than a few days at a time; and so long as he needed only +such rudiments of learning as were deemed useful at the time, she +herself was fully able to teach them; but now that the time had come +when it was needful that he should be perfected in the exercises +of arms, she felt it necessary to relinquish him. + +Sir Robert Gordon had no children of his own, and regarded his +nephew as his heir, and had readily undertaken to provide him with +the best instruction which could be obtained in Lanark. There was +resident in the town a man who had served for many years in the +army of the King of France, and had been master of arms in his +regiment. His skill with his sword was considered marvellous by +his countrymen at Lanark, for the scientific use of weapons was as +yet but little known in Scotland, and he had also in several trials +of skill easily worsted the best swordsmen in the English garrison. + +Sir Robert Gordon at once engaged this man as instructor to Archie. +As his residence was three miles from the town, and the lad urged +that two or three hours a day of practice would by no means satisfy +him, a room was provided, and his instructor took up his abode in +the castle. Here, from early morning until night, Archie practised, +with only such intervals for rest as were demanded by his master +himself. The latter, pleased with so eager a pupil, astonished at +first at the skill and strength which he already possessed, and +seeing in him one who would do more than justice to all pains that +he could bestow upon him, grudged no labour in bringing him forward +and in teaching him all he knew. + +"He is already an excellent swordsman," he said at the end of +the first week's work to Sir Robert Gordon; "he is well nigh as +strong as a man, with all the quickness and activity of a boy. In +straightforward fighting he needs but little teaching. Of the finer +strokes he as yet knows nothing; but such a pupil will learn as +much in a week as the ordinary slow blooded learner will acquire +in a year. In three months I warrant I will teach him all I know, +and will engage that he shall be a match for any Englishman north +of the Tweed, save in the matter of downright strength; that he will +get in time, for he promises to grow out into a tall and stalwart +man, and it will need a goodly champion to hold his own against +him when he comes to his full growth." + +In the intervals of pike and sword play Sir Robert Gordon himself +instructed him in equitation; but the lad did not take to this so +kindly as he did to his other exercises, saying that he hoped he +should always have to fight on foot. Still, as his uncle pointed +out that assuredly this would not be the case, since in battle +knights and squires always fought on horseback, he strove hard to +acquire a firm and steady seat. Of an evening Archie sat with his +uncle and aunt, the latter reading, the former relating stories of +Scotch history and of the goings and genealogies of great families. +Sometimes there were friends staying in the castle; for Sir Robert +Gordon, although by no means a wealthy knight, was greatly liked, +and, being of an hospitable nature, was glad to have guests in the +house. + +Their nearest neighbour was Mistress Marion Bradfute of Lamington, +near Ellerslie. She was a young lady of great beauty. Her father had +been for some time dead, and she had but lately lost her mother, +who had been a great friend of Lady Gordon. With her lived as +companion and guardian an aunt, the sister of her mother. + +Mistress Bradfute, besides her estate of Lamington, possessed +a house in Lanark; and she was frequently at Sir Robert's castle, +he having been named one of her guardians under her father's will. +Often in the evening the conversation turned upon the situation +of Scotland, the cruelty and oppression of the English, and the +chances of Scotland some day ridding herself of the domination. + +Sir Robert ever spoke guardedly, for he was one who loved not strife, +and the enthusiasm of Archie caused him much anxiety; he often, +therefore, pointed out to him the madness of efforts of isolated +parties like those of Wallace, which, he maintained, advanced in +no way the freedom of the country, while they enraged the English +and caused them to redouble the harshness and oppression of their +rule. Wallace's name was frequently mentioned, and Archie always +spoke with enthusiasm of his hero; and he could see that, although +Mistress Bradfute said but little, she fully shared his views. It +was but natural that Wallace's name should come so often forward, +for his deeds, his hairbreadth escapes, his marvellous personal +strength and courage, were the theme of talk in every Scotch home; +but at Lanark at present it was specially prominent, for with his +band he had taken up his abode in a wild and broken country known +as Cart Lane Craigs, and more than once he had entered Lanark and +had had frays with the English soldiers there. + +It was near a year since the defeat of Dunbar; and although the +feats of Wallace in storming small fortalices and cutting off English +convoys had excited at once hope amongst the Scotch and anger in the +English, the hold of the latter on the conquered country appeared +more settled than ever. Wallace's adherents had indeed gained in +strength; but they were still regarded as a mere band of outlaws +who might be troublesome, but were in no degree formidable. + +Every great town and hold throughout Scotland was garrisoned by +English in force deemed amply sufficient to repress any trouble +which might arise, while behind them was the whole power of England +ready to march north in case it should be needed. It seemed, indeed, +that Scotland was completely and for ever subjugated. + +One afternoon, when Archie had escorted Mistress Bradfute to +Lamington, she said to him as he bade her farewell: + +"I think you can keep a secret, Master Forbes." + +"I trust so," Archie replied. + +"I know how much you admire and reverence Sir William Wallace. If +you will come hither this evening, at eight o'clock, you shall see +him." + +Archie uttered an exclamation of delight and surprise. + +"Mind, Archie, I am telling you a secret which is known only to +Sir William himself and a few of his chosen followers; but I have +obtained his permission to divulge it to you, assuring him that +you can be fully trusted." + +"I would lay down my life for him," the lad said. + +"I think you would, Archie; and so would I, for Sir William Wallace +is my husband!" + +Archie gave a gasp of astonishment and surprise. + +"Yes," she repeated, "he is my husband. And now ride back to your +uncle's. I left the piece of embroidery upon which I was working on +your aunt's table. It will be a good excuse for you to ride over +with it this evening." So saying, she sprang lightly from the +pillion on which she had been riding behind Archie. The lad rode +back in wild excitement at the thought that before night he was +to see his hero whose deeds had, for the last three years, excited +his admiration and wonder. + +At eight o'clock exactly he drew rein again at Lamington. He was +at once admitted, and was conducted to a room where the mistress +of the house was sitting, and where beside her stood a very tall +and powerfully built young man, with a singularly handsome face +and a courteous and gentle manner which seemed altogether out of +character with the desperate adventures in which he was constantly +engaged. + +In Scotland the laws of chivalry, as they were strictly observed +in the courts of England and France, did not prevail. Sir William +Wallace had not received the order of knighthood; but in Scotch +families the prefix of Sir descended from father to eldest son, as +it does in the present day with the title of Baronet. Thus William +Wallace, when his father and elder brother were killed, succeeded +to the title. Knighthoods, or, as we should call them, baronetcies, +were bestowed in Scotland, as in England, for bravery in the field +and distinguished services. The English, with their stricter laws +of chivalry, did not recognize these hereditary titles; and Sir +William Wallace and many of his adherents who bear the prefix of +Sir in all Scotch histories, are spoken of without that title in +contemporary English documents. Archie himself had inherited the +title from his father; and the prefix was, indeed, applied to the +heads of almost all families of gentle blood in Scotland. + +"This, Sir William," Marion said, "is Sir Archibald Forbes, of whom +I have often spoken to you as one of your most fervent admirers. +He is a true Scotsman, and he yearns for the time when he may draw +his sword in the cause of his country." + +"He is over young yet," Sir William said smiling; "but time will +cure that defect. It is upon the young blood of Scotland that our +hopes rest. The elders are for the most part but half Scotchmen, and +do not feel shame for their country lying at the feet of England; +but from their sons I hope for better things. The example of my +dear friend, Sir John Grahame, is being followed; and I trust that +many young men of good family will soon join them." + +"I would that the time had come when I too could do so, sir," Archie +said warmly. "I hope that it will not be long before you may think +me capable of being admitted to the honour of fighting beside you. +Do you not remember that you yourself were but eighteen when you +slew young Selbye?" + +"I am a bad example to be followed," Sir William replied with a +smile; "besides, nature made an exception in my case and brought +me to my full strength and stature full four years before the time. +Mistress Marion tells me, however, that you too are strong beyond +your years." + +"I have practised unceasingly, sir, with my weapons for the last +two years; and deem me not boastful when I say that my instructor, +Duncan Macleod of Lanark, who is a famous swordsman, says that +I could hold my own and more against any English soldier in the +garrison." + +"I know Duncan by report," Sir William replied, "and that he is a +famous swordsman, having learned the art in France, where they are +more skilled by far than we are in Scotland. As for myself, I must +own that it is my strength rather than my skill which gives me an +advantage in a conflict; for I put my trust in a downright blow, +and find that the skill of an antagonist matters but little, seeing +that my blow will always cleave through sword as well as helm. +Nevertheless I do not decry skill, seeing that between two who +are in any ways equally matched in strength and courage the most +skilful swordsman must assuredly conquer. Well, since that be the +report of you by Master Duncan, I should think you might even take +to arms at the age that I did myself and when that time comes, +should your intentions hold the same, and the English not have made +an end of me, I shall be right glad to have you by my side. Should +you, in any of your visits to Lanark -- whither, Marion tells me, you +ride frequently with Sir Robert Gordon -- hear ought of intended +movements of English troops, or gather any news which it may concern +me to know, I pray you to ride hither at once. Marion has always +messengers whom she may despatch to me, seeing that I need great +care in visiting her here, lest I might be surprised by the English, +who are ever upon the lookout for me. And now farewell! Remember +that you have always a friend in William Wallace." + +Winter was now at hand, and a week or two later Mistress Marion +moved into her house in Lanark, where Archie, when he rode in, +often visited her. In one of her conversations she told him that +she had been married to Sir William nigh upon two years, and that +a daughter had been born to her who was at present kept by an old +nurse of her own in a cottage hard by Lamington. "I tell you this, +Archie," she said, "for there is no saying at what time calamity +may fall upon us. Sir William is so daring and careless that I +live in constant dread of his death or capture; and did it become +known that I am his wife, doubtless my estate would be forfeited +and myself taken prisoner; and in that case it were well that my +little daughter should find friends." + +"I wonder that you do not stay at Lamington," Archie said; "for +Sir William's visits to you here may well be discovered, and both +he and you be put in peril." + +"I would gladly do so," she said; "but as you may have heard, Young +Hazelrig, the governor's son, persecutes me with his attentions; +he is moved thereto methinks rather by a desire for my possessions +than any love for myself. He frequently rode over to Lamington +to see me, and as there are necessarily many there who suspect, if +they do not know, my secret, my husband would be more likely to be +surprised in a lonely house there, than he would be in the city, +where he can always leave or enter our abode by the passage into +a back street unseen by any." + +A few days later Archie had ridden into Lanark bearing a message +from his uncle; he had put up his horse, and was walking along the +principal street when he heard a tumult and the clashing of swords; +he naturally hurried up to see what was the cause of the fray, and +he saw Sir William Wallace and a young companion defending themselves +with difficulty against a number of English soldiers led by young +Hazelrig, the son of the governor, and Sir Robert Thorne, one of +his officers. Archie stood for a few moments irresolute; but as +the number of the assailants increased, as fresh soldiers hearing +the sound of the fray came running down the street, and Sir William +and his friend, although they had slain several, were greatly +overmatched, he hesitated no longer, but, drawing his sword, rushed +through the soldiers, and placing himself by the side of Wallace, +joined in the fray. Wallace recognized him with a nod. + +"It is sooner than I bargained for, Sir Archie; but you are very +welcome. Ah! that was well smitten, and Duncan did not overpraise +your skill," he exclaimed, as Archie cut down one soldier, and +wounded another who pressed upon him. + +"They are gathering in force, Sir William," the knight's companion +said, "and if we do not cut our way through them we shall assuredly +be taken." Keeping near the wall they retreated down the street, +Archie and Sir John Grahame, for it was he, clearing the way, and +Wallace defending the rear. So terrific were the blows he dealt +that the English soldiers shrank back from attacking him. + +At this moment two horsemen rode up and reined in their horses to +witness the fray. They were father and son, and the instant the +eyes of the elder fell upon Archie he exclaimed to his son: + +"This is good fortune. That is young Forbes fighting by the side +of the outlaw Wallace. I will finish our dispute at once." + +So saying he drew his sword, and urged his horse through the +soldiers towards Archie; the latter equally recognized the enemy of +his family. Sir John aimed a sweeping blow at him. The lad parried +it, and, leaping back, struck at the horse's leg. The animal fell +instantly, and as he did so Archie struck full on the helm of Sir +John Kerr, stretching him on the ground beside his horse. + +By this time the little party had retreated down the street until +they were passing the house of Marion Bradfute. The door opened, +and Marion herself cried to them to enter. So hemmed in were they, +indeed, that further retreat was now impossible, and there being +no time for hesitation, Wallace and his companions sprang in before +their assailants could hinder them, and shut the door behind them. + +"Marion," Wallace exclaimed, "why did you do this? It mattered +not were I killed or taken; but now you have brought danger upon +yourself." + +"But it mattered much to me. What would life be worth were you +killed? Think not of danger to me. Angry as they may be, they will +hardly touch a woman. But waste no time in talking, for the door +will soon yield to their blows. Fly by the back entrance, while +there is time." + +So saying, she hurried them to the back of the house, and without +allowing them to pause for another word almost pushed them out, and +closed the door behind them. The lane was deserted; but the shouts +and clamour of the English soldiers beyond the houses rose loud in +the air. "Quick, Sir William," Sir John Grahame said, "or we shall +be cut off! They will bethink them of the back way, and send +soldiers down to intercept us." + +Such, indeed, was the case, for as they ran they heard shouts behind, +and saw some English soldiers entering the other end of the lane. +In front, however, all was clear, and running on they turned into +another street, and then down to the gate. The guard, hearing the +tumult, had turned out, and seeing them running, strove to bar +their way. Wallace, however, cleared a path by sweeping blows with +his sword, and dashing through the gates into the open country +they were safe. For some distance they ran without checking their +speed, and then as they neared a wood, where they no longer feared +pursuit, they broke into a walk. + +"My best thanks to you," Wallace said to Archie. "You have indeed +proved yourself a staunch and skilful swordsman, and Duncan's opinion +is well founded. Indeed I could wish for no stouter sword beside +me in a fight; but what will you do now? If you think that you were +not recognized you can return to your uncle; but if any there knew +you, you must even then take to the woods with me." + +"I was recognized," Archie said in a tone of satisfaction. "The +armed knight whom you saw attack me was Sir John Kerr, the slayer +of my father and the enemy of my house. Assuredly he will bring +the news of my share in the fray to the ears of the governor." + +"I do not think that he will carry any news for some time," Sir +William replied; "for that blow you gave him on the head must have +well nigh brought your quarrel to an end. It is a pity your arm +had not a little more weight, for then, assuredly you would have +slain him." + +"But the one with him was his son," Archie said, "and would know +me too; so that I shall not be safe for an hour at my uncle's." + +"In that case, Sir Archie, you must needs go with me, there being +no other way for it, and truly, now that it is proved a matter of +necessity, I am glad that it has so chanced, since I see that your +youth is indeed no drawback; and Sir John Grahame will agree with +me that there is no better sword in my company." + +"Yes, indeed," the young knight said. "I could scarce believe my +eyes when I saw one so young bear himself so stoutly. Without his +aid I could assuredly have made no way through the soldiers who +barred our retreat; and truly his sword did more execution than +mine, although I fought my best. If you will accept my friendship, +young sir, henceforth we will be brothers in arms." Colouring with +pleasure, Archie grasped the hand which the young knight held out +to him. + +"That is well said, Sir John," Wallace assented. "Hitherto you and +I have been like brothers; henceforth there will be three of us, +and I foresee that the only difficulty we shall have with this +our youngest relation will be to curb his courage and ardour. Who +knows," he went on sadly, "but that save you two I am now alone in +the world! My heart misgives me sorely as to the fate of Marion; and +were it not for the sake of Scotland, to whom my life is sworn, I +would that I had stopped and died outside her door before I entered +and brought danger upon her head. Had I had time to reflect, methinks +I would have done so; but I heard her call, I saw the open door, +and without time for thought or reflection I leapt in." + +"You must not blame yourself, Sir William," Grahame said, "for, +indeed, there was no time for thought; nor will I that it should +have been otherwise, even should harm, which I cannot believe, +befall Mistress Marion. It is on you that the hopes of Scotland +now rest. You have awakened her spirit and taught the lesson of +resistance. Soon I hope that the fire now smouldering in the breast +of every true Scotsman will burst into flame, and that Scotland +will make a great effort for freedom; but were you to fall now, +despair would seize on all and all hope of a general rising be at +an end." + +Wallace made no reply, but strode silently forward. A short distance +farther they came to the spot where three of Wallace's followers +were holding horses, for he had on his entry into Lanark, been +accompanied by another of his party, who had been slain at the +commencement of the fray. Wallace bade Archie mount the spare horse, +and they then rode to Cart Lane Craigs, scarce a word being spoken +on their journey. + +Wallace's headquarters were upon a narrow shelf of rock on the face +of a steep and craggy hill. It was well chosen against surprise, +and could be held against sudden attack even by a large force, +since both behind and in front the face of the hill was too steep +to be climbed, and the only approach was by a steep and winding +path which two men could hold against a host. The ledge was some +50 feet long by 12 wide. At the back a natural depression in the +crags had been deepened so as to form a shallow cave just deep +enough to afford a defense against the weather; here a pile of +heather served as a bed for Wallace, Grahame, and one or two others +of the leaders of his company, and here Wallace told Archie that +his place was to be. On the ledge without were some low arbours of +heather in which lay ten of Wallace's bravest companions; the rest +of his band were scattered among the surrounding hills, or in the +woods, and a bugle note repeated from place to place would call +all together in a short space of time. + +Of stores and provisions there was no lack, these having been +obtained in very large quantities from the convoys of supplies and +the castles that had been captured. Money, too, was not wanting, +considerable amounts having fallen into their hands, and the +peasantry through all the country round were glad in every way to +assist the band, whom they regarded as their champions. + +Archie sat down by Sir John Grahame, who gave him particulars +regarding the strength of the various bands, their position, the +rules which had been laid down by Wallace for their order, the system +of signals and other particulars; while Wallace paced restlessly up +and down the narrow shelf, a prey to the keenest anxiety. Towards +nightfall two of the men were despatched towards Lanark to endeavour +to find out what had taken place there; but in an hour they returned +with a woman, whom both Sir William and Archie recognized as one of +the female attendants of Marion. A single glance sufficed to tell +her tale. Her face was swollen with crying, and wore a look of +horror as well as of grief. + +"She is dead!" Wallace exclaimed in a low voice. + +"Alas!" the woman sobbed, "that I should have to tell it. Yes, my +dear mistress is dead; she was slain by the orders of the governor +himself, for having aided your escape." + +A groan burst from Wallace, a cry of horror and indignation from +his followers. The former turned, and without a word strode away +and threw himself upon the heather. The others, heart struck at +the cruel blow which had befallen their chief, and burning with +indignation and rage, could only utter oaths of vengeance and curses +on the English tyrants. + +After a time Grahame went to the cave, and putting his hand on +Wallace's shoulder strove to address a few words of consolation to +him. + +Sir William rose: "I have done with weeping, Grahame, or rather I +will put off my weeping until I have time for it. The first thing +to think of is vengeance, and vengeance I swear that I will have. +This night I will strike the first blow in earnest towards freeing +Scotland. It may be that God has willed it that this cruel blow, +which has been struck at me, shall be the means of bringing this +about. Hitherto, although I have hated the English and have fought +against them, it has been but fitfully and without order or method, +seeing that other things were in my heart. Henceforth I will live +but for vengeance and Scotland. Hitherto the English have regarded +me as an outlaw and a brigand. Henceforth they shall view me as an +enemy to be dreaded. Sound the signal of assembly at once. Signify +that as many as are within reach shall gather below in two hours. +There will be but few, for, not dreaming of this, the bands but +two days since dispersed. But even were there none but ourselves +it would suffice. Tonight we will take Lanark." + + + +Chapter IV The Capture of Lanark + + +A low shout of enthusiasm rose from Wallace's followers, and they +repeated his words as though it had been a vow: "Tonight we will +take Lanark." The notes of a bugle rang through the air, and Archie +could hear them repeated as by an echo by others far away in the +woods. + +The next two hours were spent in cooking and eating a meal; then +the party on the ledge descended the narrow path, several of their +number bearing torches. At a short distance from its foot some other +torches were seen, and fifteen men were found gathered together. + +In a few words the sad news of what had taken place at Lanark was +related to them and the determination which had been arrived at, +and then the whole party marched away to the west. Archie's heart +beat with excitement as he felt himself engaged in one of the adventures +which had so filled his thoughts and excited his admiration. An +adventure, too, far surpassing in magnitude and importance any in +which Wallace had hitherto been engaged. + +It seemed almost like an act of madness for twenty-five men to +attack a city garrisoned by over 500 English troops, defended by +strong walls; but Archie never doubted for a moment that success +would attend the enterprise, so implicit was his confidence in his +leader. When at some little distance from the town they halted, +and Wallace ordered a tree to be felled and lopped of its branches. +It was some eight inches in diameter at the butt and thirty feet +long. A rope had been brought, and this was now cut into lengths +of some four feet. Wallace placed ten of his men on each side of +the tree, and the cords being placed under it, it was lifted and +carried along with them. + +Before they started Wallace briefly gave them his orders, so that +no word need be spoken when near the town. The band were, when +they entered, to divide in three. Sir John Grahame, with a party, +was to make for the dwelling of Sir Robert Thorne. Auchinleck, who +had arrived with the party summoned by the bugle, was to arouse +the town and attack any parties of soldiers in the street, while +Wallace himself was to assault the house of Hazelrig. He bade Archie +accompany him. + +Knowing the town well Wallace led the party to the moat at a spot +facing a sally port. They moved without a word being spoken. The +men bearing the tree laid it noiselessly to the ground. Wallace +himself sprang into the moat and swam across. The splash in the +water attracted the attention of a sentry over the gate, who at +once challenged. There was no answer, and the man again shouted, +peering over the wall to endeavour to discover what had caused +the splash. In a few vigorous strokes Wallace was across, hauled +himself up to the sill of the door, and with his heavy battleaxe +smote on the chains which held up the drawbridge. Two mighty blows +and the chains yielded, and the drawbridge fell with a crash across +the moat. + +Instantly the men lifted the tree, and dashing across swung it +like a battering ram against the door -- half a dozen blows, and +the oak and iron yielded before it. The door was burst in and the +party entered Lanark. The sentry on the wall had fled at once to +arouse the garrison. Instantly the three leaders started to perform +the tasks assigned to them. As yet the town lay in profound sleep, +although near the gate windows were opening and heads were being +put out to ascertain the cause of the din. As the Scots ran forward +they shouted "Death to the English, death to the bloody Hazelrig!" +The governor had long been odious for his cruelty and tyranny, and +the murder of Marion Bradfute had that day roused the indignation +of the people to the utmost. Not knowing how small was the force +that had entered the town, but hoping only that deliverers had +arrived, numbers of the burghers rose and armed themselves, and +issued forth into the streets to aid their countrymen. Wallace soon +arrived at the governor s house, and with a few blows with his axe +broke in the door; then he and his followers rushed into the house, +cutting down the frightened men as they started up with sudden +alarm, until he met Sir John Hazelrig, who had snatched up his arms +and hurried from his chamber. + +"Villain!" Wallace exclaimed, seizing him by his throat; your time +has come to make atonement for the murder of my wife." + +Then dragging him into the street he called upon the burghers, +who were running up, to witness the execution of their tyrant, +and stepping back a pace smote off his head with his sword. Young +Hazelrig was also killed, as were all soldiers found in the house. +The alarm bells were ringing now, and in a few minutes the armed +burghers swarmed in the street. As the English soldiers, as yet +but scarce awake, and bewildered by this sudden attack, hurried +from their houses, they were fallen upon and slain by Wallace and +the townspeople. Some of those in the larger houses issuing forth +together were able to cut their way through and to make their +escape by the gates; many made for the walls, and dropping in the +moat swam across and escaped; but two hundred and fifty of their +number were left dead in the streets. The town, once cleared of the +English, gave itself up to wild rejoicings; bonfires were lighted +in the streets, the bells were rung, and the wives and daughters +of the citizens issued out to join in their rejoicing and applaud +their liberators. + +Wallace held council at once with the chief burghers. Their talk +was a grave one, for though rejoicing in the liberation of the city, +they could not but perceive that the situation was a serious one. +By the defeat and destruction of the garrison, and the slaying of +the governor, the town would bring upon itself the terrible wrath +of King Edward, and of what he was capable the murdered thousands +at Berwick sufficiently attested. However, the die was cast and there +was no drawing back, and the burghers undertook to put their town +in a state of full defence, to furnish a contingent of men-at-arms to +Wallace, and to raise a considerable sum of money to aid him in the +carrying on of the war; while he on his part undertook to endeavour, +as fast as possible, to prevent the English from concentrating their +forces for a siege of the town, by so harassing their garrisons +elsewhere that none would be able to spare troops for any general +purposes. + +Proclamations were immediately made out in the name of Wallace, +and were sent off by mounted messengers throughout the country. +In these he announced to the people of Scotland that he had raised +the national banner and had commenced a war for the freeing of the +country from the English, and that as a first step he had captured +Lanark. He called upon all true Scotchmen to rally round him. + +While the council was being held, the wives of the burghers had +taken the body of Marion from the place where it had been cast, +and where hitherto none had dared to touch it, and had prepared it +for burial, placing it in a stone coffin, such as were in use in +those days, upon a car which was covered with trappings of white and +green boughs. Soon after daybreak a great procession was formed, +and accompanied by all the matrons and maids of Lanark the body +was conveyed to the church at Ellerslie, and there buried with +the rites of the church. This sad duty ended, Wallace mounted his +horse and rode for Cart Lane Craigs, which he had named as the +rendezvous where all who loved Scotland and would follow him, were +to assemble. Archie rode first to Sir Robert Gordon's. His uncle +received him kindly. + +"Ah! my boy," he said, "I feared that your wilful disposition would +have its way. You have embarked young on a stormy course, and none +can say where it will end. I myself have no hope that it can be +successful. Did the English rule depend solely on the troops which +garrison our towns and fortresses, I should believe that Wallace +might possibly expel them; but this is as nothing. Edward can march +a hundred and fifty thousand trained soldiers hither, and how will +it be possible for any gathering of Scotchmen to resist these? +However, you have chosen your course, and as it is too late to +draw back now, I would not dispirit you. Take the best of my horses +from the stable, and such arms and armour as you may choose from +the walls. Here is a purse for your own private needs, and in this +other are a hundred pounds, which I pray you hand to Sir William +Wallace. Fighting never was in my way, and I am too old to begin +now. Tell him, however, that my best wishes are with him. I have +already sent word to all my tenants that they are free, if they +choose, to follow his banner." + +"You have plenty of pikes and swords in the armoury, uncle; weapons +will be very useful; can I take some of them?" + +"Certainly, Archie, as many as you like. But your aunt wants you +to ride at once to Glen Cairn, to ask your mother to come over here +and take up her abode till the stormy times are over. The news of +last night's doings in Lanark will travel fast, and she will be +terribly anxious. Besides, as the Kerrs are heart and soul with the +English faction, like enough they will take the opportunity of the +disturbed times, and of your being involved in the rising, to destroy +the hold altogether, seeing that so long as it stands there it is +a sort of symbol that their lordship over the lands is disputed." + +"The very thing that I was going to ask you, uncle. My mother's +position at Glen Cairn would always be on my mind. As to the +Kerrs, let them burn the castle if they will. If the rising fail, +and I am killed, the line will be extinct, and it matters little +about our hold. If we succeed, then I shall regain my own, and shall +turn the tables on the Kerrs, and will rebuild Glen Cairn twice as +strong as before. And now can I take a cart to convey the arms?" + +"Certainly, Archie; and may they be of service in the cause. You +will, I suppose, conduct your mother hither?" + +Archie replied that he should do so, and then at once made his +preparations for the start. His uncle's armoury was well supplied, +and Archie had no difficulty in suiting himself. For work like +that which he would have to do he did not care to encumber himself +with heavy armour, but chose a light but strong steel cap, with a +curtain of mail falling so as to guard the neck and ears, leaving +only the face exposed, and a shirt of the same material. It was +of fine workmanship and of no great weight, and did not hamper +his movements. He also chose some leg pieces for wearing when on +horseback. He had already his father's sword, and needed only a +light battleaxe and a dagger to complete his offensive equipment. +Then he took down from the racks twenty swords and as many short +pikes, and bonnets strengthened with iron hoops, which, although +light, were sufficient to give much protection to the head. These +were all placed in a light cart, and with one of his uncle's +followers to drive, he took his seat in the cart, and started for +Cart Lane Craigs. + +Here he concealed the arms in a thicket, and then went up to speak +to his leader. + +"May I take ten men with me to Glen Cairn, Sir William? I am going +to fetch my mother to reside with my uncle until the storm is +over. He has sent you a hundred pounds towards the expenses of the +struggle. I want the guard because it is possible that the Kerrs +may be down there. I hear Sir John was carried away, three hours +after the fight, in a litter; it was well for him that he was not +in Lanark when we took it. But like enough this morning, if well +enough to give orders, he may be sending down to Glen Cairn to see +if I have returned, and may burn the hold over my mother's head." + +"Certainly," Sir William replied. "Henceforth I will put twenty +men under your special orders, but for today Sir John Grahame shall +tell off some of his own party. Of course they will go well armed." + +Half riding in the cart and half walking by turns, the party reached +Glen Cairn late in the afternoon. The news of the fall of Lanark +had already penetrated even to that quiet village, and there was +great excitement as Archie and his party came in. One of Wallace's +messengers had passed through, and many of the men were preparing +to join him. Dame Forbes was at once proud and grieved when Archie +told her of the share which he had had in the street fray at Lanark, +and in the capture of the town. She was proud that her son should +so distinguish himself, grieved that he should, at so young an +age, have become committed to a movement of whose success she had +but little hope. However, she could not blame him, as it seemed as +if his course had been forced upon him. She agreed to start early +the next morning. + +It was well for Archie that he had brought a guard with him, +for before he had been an hour in the hold a boy ran in from the +village saying that a party of the Kerrs was close at hand, and +would be there in a few minutes. Archie set his men at once to pile +up a barricade of stones breast high at the outer gate, and took +his position there with his men. He had scarcely completed his +preparations when the trampling of horses was heard and a party +of ten men, two of whom bore torches, headed by young Allan Kerr, +rode up. They drew rein abruptly as they saw the barricade with +the line of pikes behind it. + +"What want you here, Allan Kerr?" Archie said. + +"I came in search of you, little traitor," young Kerr replied +angrily. + +"Here I am," Archie said; "why don't you come and take me?" + +Allan saw that the number of the defenders of the gate exceeded +that of his own party, and there might, for aught he knew, be more +within. + +"I will take you tomorrow," he said. + +"Tomorrow never comes," Archie replied with a laugh. "Your father +thought to take me yesterday. How is the good knight? Not suffering, +I trust, greatly either in body or temper?" + +"You shall repent this, Archibald Forbes," Allan Kerr exclaimed +furiously. "It will be my turn next time." + +And turning his horse he rode off at full speed, attended by his +followers. + +"We had best start at once, Master Archie," Sandy Graham said: +"it is eight miles to the Kerrs' hold, and when Allan Kerr returns +there you may be sure they will call out their vassals and will be +here betimes in the morning. Best get another cart from the village, +for your men are weary and footsore, seeing that since yesterday +even they have been marching without ceasing. Elspie will by this +time have got supper ready. There was a row of ducks and chickens +on the spit when I came away." + +"That were best, Sandy. Do you see to their comforts, and aid my +mother pack up such things as she most values, and I will go myself +down to the village for the cart, for I wish to speak with some +there." + +Archie had no difficulty in engaging two carts, as he thought that +one would be needed for his mother and what possessions she might +take. Then he went from house to house and saw his old companions, +and told them of his plans, which filled them with delight. Having +done this he returned to the hold, hastily ate the supper which +had been put aside for him, and then saw that his mother's chests, +which contained all her possessions save a few articles of heavy +furniture, were placed in one of the carts. A bed was then laid +on its floor upon which she could sit comfortably. Elspie mounted +with her. Archie, Sandy, and the men took their places in the other +carts, and the party drove off. They had no fear of interruption, +for the Kerrs, ignorant of the number who had arrived with Archie +at Glen Cairn, would not venture to attack until they had gathered +a considerable force, and would not be likely to set out till +morning, and long before that time Dame Forbes would have arrived +at her sister's. + +The journey was indeed performed without incident, the escort +leaving them when within two or three miles of Lanark, and making +their way direct to the craigs, whither Archie, the moment he had +seen his mother safely at Sir Robert Gordon's, returned. He did +not mount the craig, but wrapping himself in his cloak lay down at +its foot. + +As soon as it was daylight he walked out a mile on the road towards +Glen Cairn. He soon saw a party approaching in military order. They +halted when they reached him. They were twenty in number, and were +the lads of his band at Glen Cairn, ranging between the ages of +sixteen and eighteen. They had originally been stronger, but some +of the elders had already joined Wallace's followers. + +"Now," Archie said, "I can explain matters farther than I did last +night. I have procured arms for you all, and I hope that you will +have opportunities of using them. But though some of you are old +enough to join Wallace's band, there are others whom he might not +deem fit to take part in such desperate enterprises. Therefore +at first make but little show of your arms. I shall present you to +Sir William, telling him that I have brought you hither to serve +as messengers, and to enter towns held by the English and gather +news, seeing that lads would be less suspected than men. But I +propose farther, what I shall not tell him, that you shall form a +sort of bodyguard to him. He takes not sufficient care of himself, +and is ever getting into perils. I propose that without his +knowing it, you shall be ever at hand when he goes into danger of +this sort, and may thus prevent his falling into the hands of his +enemies. Now, mind, lads, this is a great and honourable mission. +You must be discreet as well as brave, and ready all of you to give +your lives, if need be, for that of Scotland's champion. Your work +as messengers and scouts will be arduous and wearisome. You must +be quiet and well behaved -- remember that boys' tricks and play +are out of place among men engaged in a desperate enterprise. Mingle +not much with the others. Be active and prompt in obeying orders, +and be assured that you will have opportunities of winning great +honour and credit, and of having your full share of hard knocks. +You will, as before, be divided into two companies, William Orr and +Andrew Macpherson being your lieutenants in my absence. You will +obey their orders as implicitly as mine. Cluny, you have, I suppose, +brought, as I bade you last night, some of your sister's garments?" + +"Yes, Sir Archie," the boy, who was fair and slight, said, with a +smile on his face. + +"That is right. I know you are as hearty and strong as the rest; +but seeing that your face is the smoothest and softest of any, +you will do best should we need one in disguise as a girl. And now +come with me. I will show you where your arms are placed; but at +present you must not take them. If I led you as an armed band to +Wallace he might deem you too young. I must present you merely as +lads whom I know to be faithful and trustworthy, and who are willing +to act as messengers and scouts to his force." + +So saying Archie led the band to the thicket where he had placed +their arms, and the lads were pleased when they saw the pikes, +swords, and head pieces. Then he led them up the craig to Wallace. + +"Why, whom have you here?" Sir William exclaimed in surprise. "This +will not do, Sir Archie. All lads are not like yourself, and were +I to take such boys into my ranks I should have all the mothers in +Scotland calling out against me." + +"I have not brought them to join your ranks, Sir William, although +many of them are stout fellows who might do good service at a +pinch. I have brought them to act as messengers and scouts. They +can carry orders whithersoever you may have occasion to send. They +can act as scouts to warn you of the approach of an enemy; or if +you need news of the state of any of the enemy's garrisons, they +can go thither and enter without being suspected, when a man might +be questioned and stopped. They are all sons of my father's vassals +at Glen Cairn, and I can answer for their fidelity. I will take +them specially under my own charge, and you will ever have a fleet +and active messenger at hand when you desire to send an order." + +"The idea is not a bad one," Sir William replied; "and in such a +way a lad may well do the work of a man. Very well, Sir Archie, +since you seem to have set your mind upon it I will not say nay. +At any rate we can give the matter a trial, understanding that you +take the charge of them and are responsible for them in all ways. +Now, lads," he said turning, "you have heard that your lord, for +he is your rightful lord, and will, if Scotland gains the day, be +your real lord again, has answered for you. It is no boys' play +in which you have taken service, for the English, if they conquer +us, will show no further mercy to you than to others of my band. I +understand then that you are all prepared, if need be, to die for +Scotland. Is this so?" + +"We are, sir," the lads exclaimed together. + +"Then so be it," Sir William said. "Now, Sir Archie, do you fix +a place for their encampment, and make such other arrangements +as you may think fit. You will, of course, draw rations and other +necessaries for them as regular members of the band." + +Archie descended with his troop from the craigs, and chose a spot +where they would be apart from the others. It was a small piece of +ground cut off by the stream which wound at the foot of the craigs, +so that to reach it it was necessary to wade knee deep through the +water. This was no inconvenience to the lads, all of whom, as was +common with their class at the time, were accustomed to go barefoot, +although they sometimes wore a sort of sandal. Bushes were cut +down, and arbours made capable of containing them. The spot was +but a little distance from the foot of the path up the craigs, and +any one descending the path could be seen from it. + +Archie gave orders that one was always to be above in readiness to +start instantly with a message; that a sentry was to be placed at +the camp, who was to keep his eyes upon the path, and the moment +the one on duty above was seen to leave, the next upon the list was +to go up and take his place. None were to wander about the wood, +but all were to remain in readiness for any duty which might be +required. The two lieutenants were charged to drill them constantly +at their exercises so as to accustom them to the weight and handle +of their arms. Two were to be sent off every morning to the depot +where the provisions were issued, to draw food for the whole for +the day, and four were to be posted five miles away on the roads +leading towards the craigs to give warning of the approach of any +enemies. These were to be relieved every six hours. They were to +be entirely unarmed, and none were to issue from the camp with arms +except when specially ordered. + +Having made these arrangements, and taking with him one of the band +as the first on duty above, he rejoined Wallace at his post on the +craigs. + +Wallace's numbers now increased fast. On hearing of the fall of +Lanark, and on the receipt of the proclamation calling upon all +true Scotchmen to join him in his effort to deliver their country +from its yoke, the people began to flock in in great numbers. Richard +Wallace of Riccarton and Robert Boyd came in with such force as +they could collect from Kyle and Cunningham, among whom were not +less than 1000 horsemen. Sir John Grahame, Sir John of Tinto, and +Auchinleck assembled about 3000 mounted troops and a large number +of foot, many of whom, however, were imperfectly armed. Sir Ronald +Crawford, Wallace's uncle, being so close to Ayr, could not openly +join him, but secretly sent reinforcements and money. Many other +gentlemen joined with their followers. + +The news of the fall of Lanark and of the numbers who were flocking +to join Wallace paralysed the commanders of the English garrisons, +and for a time no steps were taken against him; but news of the +rising was instantly sent to King Edward, who, furious at this +fresh trouble in Scotland, which he had deemed finally conquered, +instantly commenced preparations for another invasion. A body of +troops was at once sent forward from England, and, being strengthened +by bodies drawn from all the garrisons, assembled at Biggar. The +army was commanded by the Earl of Kent. Heralds were sent to Wallace +offering him not only pardon but an honourable post if he would +submit, but warning him that if he refused this offer he should, +when taken, be treated as a rebel and hung. + +Wallace briefly refused submission, and said that he should be +ready to give battle on the following morning. + +At daybreak the army set forth, divided into three parts. Wallace, +with Boyd and Auchinleck, commanded one; Sir John Grahame, with +Wallace of Riccarton, the second; Sir Walter of Newbigging, with his +son David and Sir John Clinto, the third. The cavalry were placed +in front. The footmen, being imperfectly armed and disciplined, +and therefore unable to withstand the first charge of the English, +followed the cavalry. + +Before marching forward Wallace called the commanders round him +and charged them earnestly to restrain their men from plunder until +the contest was decided, pointing out that many a battle had been +lost owing to the propensity of those who gained the first advantage +to scatter for plunder. Just as the Scotch were moving, a body of +300 horsemen, well armed and equipped, from Annandale and Eskdale, +led by Halliday, Kirkpatrick, and Jardine, joined them; and with +this accession of strength they marched forward confidently against +the enemy. + + + +Chapter V A Treacherous Plot + + +So rapid was the advance of Wallace's army that the English had +scarce time to form when they were upon them. The Scotch charged +with extreme impetuosity among the English ranks, directing the +onslaught principally against the centre, commanded by the Earl of +Kent. + +The English resisted stoutly; but the Earl of Kent was struck down +by Wallace himself, and was with difficulty borne off the field; +and after severe fighting, the whole English army was thrown into +disorder and took to flight. Some hundreds were killed in action, +and many more in the pursuit which followed; this, however, Wallace +would not allow to be pushed too far lest the fugitives should +rally and turn. Then the victorious Scots returned to the English +camp. In this was found a great abundance of provisions, arms, +and other valuable booty. Many of the cattle were killed, and a +sumptuous feast prepared. Then Wallace had the whole of the spoil +carried off into a place of safety in the heart of a neighbouring +bog, and he himself fell back to that shelter. + +In the morning the English, who had rallied when the pursuit had +ceased, again advanced, hoping to find Wallace unprepared. They +were now commanded by the Earl of Lancaster, and had received some +reinforcements in the night. They passed over the scene of the +previous day's battle, and at last came in sight of the Scotch +army. Wallace at first advanced, and then, as if dismayed at their +superior strength, retired to the point where, in order to reach +them, the English would have to cross a portion of the bog. The +surface was covered with moss and long grass, and the treacherous +nature of the ground was unperceived by the English, who, filled +with desire to wipe out their defeat of the preceding day, charged +impetuously against the Scotch line. The movement was fatal, for +as soon as they reached the treacherous ground their horses sunk +to the saddle girths. The Scotch had dismounted on firmer ground +behind, and now advanced to the attack, some working round the +flanks of the morass, others crossing on tufts of grass, and so +fell upon the struggling mass of English. The Earl of Westmoreland +and many others of note were killed, and the Earl of Lancaster, +with the remains of his force, at once retreated south and recrossed +the Border. + +Archie had taken no part in the first battle. Wallace had asked +him whether he would fight by his side or take command of a body +of infantry; and he chose the latter alternative. Almost all the +knights and gentlemen were fighting on horse with their followers, +and Archie thought that if these were repulsed the brunt of the fray +would fall upon the infantry. On this occasion, then, he gathered +with his band of lads a hundred or so pikemen, and formed them in +order, exhorting them, whatever happened, to keep together and to +stand stoutly, even against a charge of horse. As the victory was +won entirely by the cavalry he had no opportunity of distinguishing +himself. Upon the second day, however, he did good service, +as he and his lightly armed footmen were able to cross the bog in +places impracticable to the dismounted men-at-arms in their heavy +accoutrements. + +The victory of Biggar still further swelled Wallace's forces. Sir +William Douglas joined him, and other gentlemen. A great meeting +was held at Forest Kirk, when all the leaders of Wallace's force +were present; and these agreed to acknowledge him as general of +the Scottish forces against England, with the title of Warden of +Scotland. + +King Edward was at this time busied with his wars in France, and +was unable to despatch an army capable of effecting the reconquest +of that portion of Scotland now held by Wallace; and as the English +forces in the various garrisons were insufficient for such purpose, +the Earl of Percy and the other leaders proposed a truce. This +was agreed to. Although Wallace was at the head of a considerable +force, Sir William Douglas was the only one among the Scottish +nobles of importance who had joined him; and although the successes +which he had gained were considerable, but little had been really +done towards freeing Scotland, all of whose strong places were +still in the hands of the English, and King Edward had not as yet +really put out his strength. + +The greater portion of the army of Wallace was now dispersed. + +Shortly afterwards the governor of Ayr issued a notice that a great +council would be held at that town, and all the Scotch gentlemen +of importance in the district were desired to attend. Wallace was +one of those invited; and deeming that the governor might have +some proposition of Edward to lay before them, he agreed to do so. +Although a truce had been arranged, he himself with a band of his +most devoted followers still remained under arms in the forest, +strictly keeping the truce, but holding communications with his friends +throughout the country, urging them to make every preparation, by +collecting arms and exercising their vassals, to take the field with +a better appointed force at the conclusion of the truce. Provisions +and money were in abundance, so large had been the captures effected; +but Wallace was so accustomed to the free life of the woods that he +preferred to remain there to taking up his abode in a town. Moreover, +here he was safe from treachery; for he felt sure that although the +English nobles and leaders would be incapable of breaking a truce, +yet that there were many of lower degree who would not hesitate at +any deed of treachery by which they might gain reward and credit +from their king. Archie's band were found of the greatest service +as messengers; and although he sometimes spent a few days at Sir +Robert Gordon's with his mother, he generally remained by the side +of Wallace. The spot where the Scottish leader was now staying lay +about halfway between Lanark and Ayr. + +Archie heard with uneasiness the news of the approaching council, +and Wallace's acceptance of the invitation. The fact that the Earl +of Percy, a very noble knight and gentleman, had been but lately +recalled from the governorship of Ayr and had been replaced by +one of somewhat low degree, Arlouf of Southampton, still further +increased his doubts. It seemed strange that the governorship of so +important a town -- a post deemed fitting for Earl Percy -- should +be bestowed on such a man, were it not that one was desired who +would not hesitate to perform an action from which any honourable +English gentleman would shrink. + +Two days before the day fixed for the council he called Cluny +Campbell and another lad named Jock Farrel to him. + +"I have a most important mission for you," he said. "You have heard +of the coming council at Ayr. I wish to find out if any evil is +intended by the governor. For this purpose you two will proceed +thither. You Cluny will put on the garments which you brought with +you; while you Jock had best go as his brother. Here is money. On +your way procure baskets and buy chickens and eggs, and take them +in with you to sell. Go hither and thither among the soldiers +and hear what they say. Gather whether among the townspeople there +is any thought that foul play may be intended by the English. Two +of the band will accompany you to within a mile of Ayr, and will +remain there in order that you may from time to time send news by +them of aught that you have gathered. Remember that the safety of +Wallace, and with it the future of Scotland, may depend upon your +care and vigilance. I would myself have undertaken the task; but +the Kerrs are now, I hear, in Ayr, and a chance meeting might ruin +all; for whatever the truce between English and Scotch, they would +assuredly keep no truce with me did they meet me. Mind, it is a +great honour that I have done you in choosing you, and is a proof +that I regard you as two of the shrewdest of my band, although the +youngest among them." + +Greatly impressed with the importance of their mission, the lads +promised to use their utmost vigilance to discover the intentions +of the governor; and a few minutes later, Cluny being attired in +his sister's clothes, and looking, as Archie laughingly said, "a +better looking girl than she was herself," they started for Ayr, +accompanied by two of their companions. They were to remain there +until the conclusion of the council, but their companions would be +relieved every six hours. Upon their way they procured two baskets, +which they filled with eggs and chickens; and then, leaving their +comrades a mile outside Ayr, fearlessly entered the town. + +The council was to take place in a large wooden building some short +distance outside the town, which was principally chosen because it +was thought by the governor that the Scotch gentlemen would have +less reluctance to meet him there than if they were asked to enter +a city with a strong garrison of English. + +The first day the lads succeeded in finding out nothing which could +give any countenance to suspicion that treachery was intended. They +had agreed to work separately, and each mingled among the groups +of citizens and soldiers, where the council was the general topic +of conversation. There was much wonder and speculation as to the +object for which the governor had summoned it, and as to the terms +which he might be expected to propound, but to none did the idea +of treachery or foul play in any way occur; and when at night they +left the town and sent off their message to Archie, the lads could +only say that all seemed fair and honest, and that none either of +the townspeople or soldiers appeared to have the least expectation +of trouble arising at the council. The following morning they +agreed that Jock should hang round the building in which the council +was to be held, and where preparations for the meeting and for a +banquet which was afterwards to take place were being made, while +Cluny should continue his inquiries within the walls. Jock hid away +his basket and joined those looking on at the preparations. Green +boughs were being carried in for decorating the walls, tables, and +benches for the banquet. These were brought from the town in country +carts, and a party of soldiers under the command of an officer +carried them in and arranged them. Several of the rustics looking +on gave their aid in carrying in the tables, in order that they +might take home to their wives an account of the appearance of the +place where the grand council was to be held. Jock thrust himself +forward, and seizing a bundle of green boughs, entered the barn. +Certainly there was nothing here to justify any suspicions. The +soldiers were laughing and joking as they made the arrangements; +clean rushes lay piled against a wall in readiness to strew over +the floor at the last moment; boughs had been nailed against the +walls, and the tables and benches were sufficient to accommodate +a considerable number. Several times Jock passed in and out, but +still without gathering a word to excite his suspicions. Presently +Arlouf himself, a powerful man with a forbidding countenance, rode +up and entered the barn. He approached the officer in command of +the preparations; and Jock, pretending to be busy in carrying his +boughs, managed to keep near so as to catch something of their +conversation. + +"Is everything prepared, Harris?" + +"Yes, sir; another half hour's work will complete everything." + +"Do you think that is strong enough?" the governor asked. + +"Ay; strong enough for half a dozen of these half starved Scots." + +"One at a time will do," the governor said; and then, after a few +more words, left the barn and rode off to Ayr. + +Jock puzzled his head in vain over the meaning of the words he had +heard. The governor had while speaking been facing the door; but +to what he alluded, or what it was that the officer had declared +strong enough to hold half a dozen Scots, Jock could not in the +slightest degree make out. Still the words were strange and might +be important; and he resolved, directly the preparations were +finished and the place closed, so that there could be no chance of +his learning more, to return himself to Archie instead of sending +a message, as much might depend upon his repeating, word for word, +what he had heard, as there was somehow, he felt, a significance in +the manner in which the question had been asked and answered more +than in the words themselves. + +Cluny had all day endeavoured in vain to gather any news. He had +the day before sold some of his eggs and chickens at the governor's +house, and towards evening he determined again to go thither and +to make an attempt to enter the house, where he had heard that the +officers of the garrison were to be entertained that evening at a +banquet. "If I could but overhear what is said there, my mind would +be at rest. Certainly nothing is known to the soldiers; but it may +well be that if treachery is intended tomorrow, the governor will +this evening explain his plans to his officers." + +He had, before entering the town, again filled up his basket with +the unsold portion of Jock's stock, for which the latter had no +further occasion. The cook at the governor's, when he had purchased +the eggs on the previous day, had bade him call again, as Cluny's +prices were considerably below those in the market. It was late +in the afternoon when he again approached the house. The sentry at +the gate asked no question, seeing a girl with a basket, and Cluny +went round again to the door of the kitchen. + +"How late you are, girl!" the cook said angrily. "You told me you +would come again today, and I relied upon you, and when you did +not come it was too late, for the market was closed." + +"I was detained, sir," Cluny said, dropping a curtsey; "my mother +is ill, and I had to look after the children and get the dinner +before they went away." + +"There, don't waste time talking," the cook said, snatching the +basket from him. "I have no time to count the eggs now; let me know +the tale of them and the chickens at the same price as you charged +yesterday, and come for your money tomorrow; I have no time to pay +now. Here," he called to one of the scullions, "take out these eggs +and chickens quickly, but don't break any, and give the basket to +the girl here." + +So saying he hurried off to attend to his cooking. + +Cluny looked round. But three paces away a half open door led into +the interior of the house. His resolution was taken in a moment. +Seeing that none were looking at him he stole through the door, +his bare feet falling noiselessly on the stones. He was now in +a spacious hall. On one side was an open door, and within was a +large room with tables spread for a banquet. Cluny entered at once +and looked round for a place of concealment; none was to be seen. +Tablecloths in those days were almost unknown luxuries. The tables +were supported by trestles, and were so narrow that there was +no possibility of hiding beneath them; nor were there hangings or +other furniture behind which he could be concealed. With a beating +heart he turned the handle of a door leading into another apartment, +and found himself in a long and narrow room, used apparently as +the private office of the governor. There were many heavy chairs +in the room, ranged along the wall, and Cluny crouched in a corner +by the window beside a chair standing there. The concealment was a +poor one, and one searching would instantly detect him; but he had +no fear of a search, for he doubted not that the cook, on missing +him, would suppose that he had left at once, intending to call +for his money and basket together the next morning. It was already +growing dusk, and should no one enter the room for another half +hour he would be hidden in the shadow in the corner of the room; +but it was more probable still that no one would enter. + +The time passed slowly on, and the darkness rapidly increased. Through +the door, which Cluny had drawn to but had not tightly closed on +entering, he could hear the voices of the servants as they moved +about and completed the preparations in the banquet hall. Presently +all was quiet, but a faint light gleaming in through the crack +of the door showed that the lights were lit and that all was in +readiness for the banquet. Half an hour later and there was a heavy +trampling of feet and the sound of many voices. The door was suddenly +closed, and Cluny had no doubt that the dinner was beginning. Rising +to his feet he made to the door and listened attentively. + +A confused din met his ears, but no distinct words were audible. +He could occasionally faintly hear the clattering of plates and +the clinking of glasses. All this continued for nigh two hours, and +then a sudden quiet seemed to fall upon the assembly. Cluny heard +the door close, and guessed that the banquet was at an end and the +servitors dismissed. Now, if ever, would something of importance +be said within, and Cluny would have given his life to be able to +hear it. Many times he thought of turning the handle and opening +the door an inch or two. Locks in those days were but roughly made; +the slightest sound might attract attention, and in that case not +only would his own life be forfeited, but no news of the governor's +intentions -- no matter what they might be -- could reach Wallace; +so, almost holding his breath, he lay on the ground and listened +with his ear to the sill of the door. The silence was succeeded by +a steady monotonous sound as of one addressing the others. Cluny +groaned in spirit, for no word could he hear. After some minutes +the murmur ceased, and then many voices were raised together; then +one rose above the rest, and then, distinct and clear, came a voice +evidently raised in anger. + +"As you please, Master Hawkins; but if you disobey my orders, +as King Edward's governor here, you will take the consequences. I +shall at once place you in durance, and shall send report to the +king of your mutinous conduct." + +"Be that as it may," another voice replied; "whatever befall me, I +tell you, sir, that Thomas Hawkins will take no part in an act of +such foul and dastardly treachery. I am a soldier of King Edward. +I am paid to draw my sword against his enemies, and not to do the +bloody work of a murderer." + +"Seize him!" the governor shouted. "Give him in charge to the guard, +to lay in the castle dungeon." + +There was a movement of feet now heard, but Cluny waited no +longer. The angry utterances had reached his ear, and knowing that +his mission was accomplished he thought only now of escape before +detection might take place. He had noticed when he entered the room +that the windows were, as was usually the case with rooms on the +lower floors, barred; but he saw also that the bars were wide enough +apart for a lad of his slimness to crawl through. The banqueting +room was raised three steps above the hall, and the room that he +was in was upon the same level; the window was four feet from the +floor, and would therefore be probably seven or eight above the +ground without, which would account for its not being more closely +barred. He speedily climbed up to it and thrust himself through the +bars, but not without immense difficulty and great destruction to +his feminine garments. + +"Poor Janet!" Cluny laughed to himself as he dropped from the +window to the ground. "Whatever would she say were she to see the +state of her kirtle and petticoats!" + +The moon was young, but the light was sufficient to enable Cluny +to see where he was. The window opened into a lane which ran down +by the side of the governor's house, and he was soon in the principal +street. Already most of the citizens were within their houses. A +few, provided with lanterns, were picking their way along the uneven +pavement. Cluny knew that it was impossible for him to leave the +town that night; he would have given anything for a rope by which +he might lower himself from the walls, but there was no possibility +of his obtaining one. The appearance of a young girl wandering in +the streets alone at night would at once have attracted attention +and remarks. So Cluny withdrew into a dark archway, and then sat +down until the general silence told him that all had retired to +rest. Then he made his way along the street until he neared the +gateway, and there lying down by the wall he went to sleep. + +When the gate was opened in the morning Cluny waited until a few +persons had passed in and out and then approached it. "Hallo! lass," +the sergeant of the guard, who was standing there, said. "You are +a pretty figure with your torn clothes! Why, what has happened to +you?" + +"If you please, sir," Cluny said timidly, "I was selling my eggs +to the governor's cook, and he kept me waiting, and I did not know +that it was so late, and when I got to the gates they were shut, +and I had nowhere to go; and then, please sir, as I was wandering +about a rough soldier seized me and wanted to kiss me, and of +course I would not let him, and in the struggle he tore my clothes +dreadfully; and some burghers, who heard me scream, came up and the +man left me, and one of the burghers let me sleep in his kitchen, +and I don't know what mother will say to my clothes;" and Cluny +lifted the hem of his petticoat to his eyes. + +"It is a shame, lass," the sergeant said good temperedly; "an I +had been there I would have broke the fellow's sconce for him; but +another time, lass, you should not overstay the hour; it is not good +for young girls to be roaming at night in a town full of soldiers. +There, I hope your mother won't beat you, for, after all, it was +the fault of the governor's cook rather than yours." + +Cluny pursued his way with a quiet and depressed mien until he was +fairly out of sight of the gates. Then he lifted his petticoats to +a height which would have shocked his sister Janet, to give free +play to his limbs, and at the top of his speed dashed down the road +toward Lanark. He found his two companions waiting at the appointed +spot, but he did not pause a moment. + +"Are you mad, Cluny?" they shouted. + +And indeed the wild figure, with its tucked up garments, tearing +at full speed along the road, would have been deemed that of a mad +girl by any who had met it. + +"Come on!" he shouted. "Come on, it is for life or death!" and +without further word he kept on at full speed. It was some time +before his companions overtook him, for they were at first too +convulsed by laughter at Cluny's extraordinary appearance to be able +to run. But presently, sobered by the conviction that something of +extreme importance must have happened, they too started at their +best speed, and presently came up with Cluny, upon whose pace the +mile he had already run told heavily. + +"For the sake of goodness, Cluny, go slower," one of them panted +out as they came to him. "We have nine miles yet to run, and if we +go on like this we shall break down in another half mile, and have +to walk the rest." + +Cluny himself, with all his anxiety to get on, was beginning to +feel the same, and he slackened his pace to a slinging trot, which +in little over an hour brought them to the wood. + + + +Chapter VI The Barns of Ayr + + +Archie was anxiously awaiting the arrival of his messenger, for the +three lads were met two miles out by another who had been placed on +watch, and had come on ahead at full speed with the news of their +approach. The report brought in by Jock Farrell of the words that +he had overheard in the barn prepared for the meeting, had been +reported by Archie to Wallace. Sir John Grahame and the other +gentlemen with him all agreed that they were strange, and his friends +had strongly urged their leader not to proceed to the meeting. +Wallace, however, persisted in his resolution to do so, unless +he received stronger proofs than those afforded by the few words +dropped by the governor and his officer, which might really have +no evil meaning whatever. He could not throw doubt upon the fair +intentions of King Edward's representative, for it might well be +said that it was the grossest insult to the English to judge them +as guilty of the intention of a foul act of treachery upon such +slight foundation as this. "It would be a shame indeed," he said, +"were I, the Warden of Scotland, to shrink from appearing at +a council upon such excuse as this." The utmost that Archie could +obtain from him was that he would delay his departure in the morning +until the latest moment, in order to see if any further news came +from Ayr. + +The meeting was to be held at ten o'clock, and until a little before +nine he would not set out. He was in the act of mounting his horse +when Cluny Campbell arrived. + +"What are your news, Cluny?" Archie exclaimed, as the lads, panting +and exhausted, ran up. + +"There is treachery intended. I overheard the governor say so." + +"Come along with me," Archie exclaimed; "you are just in time, +and shall yourself tell the news. Draw your bridle, Sir William," +he exclaimed as he ran up to the spot where Sir William Wallace, +Grahame, and several other gentlemen were in the act of mounting. +"Treachery is intended -- my messenger has overheard it. I know +not his tale, but question him yourself." + +Important as was the occasion, the Scottish chiefs could not resist +a smile at the wild appearance of Archie's messenger. + +"Is it a boy or a girl?" Wallace asked Archie, "for it might be +either." + +"He is one of my band, sir. I sent him dressed in this disguise as +it would be the least suspected. Now, Cluny, tell your own story." + +Cluny told his story briefly, but giving word for word the sentences +that he had heard spoken in anger by the governor and his officer. + +"I fear there can be no doubt," Wallace said gravely when the +lad had finished -- "that foul play of some kind is intended, and +that it would be madness to trust ourselves in the hands of this +treacherous governor. Would that we had had the news twenty-four +hours earlier; but even now some may be saved. Sir John, will you +gallop, with all your mounted men, at full speed towards Ayr. Send +men on all the roads leading to the council, and warn any who may +not yet have arrived against entering." + +Sir John Grahame instantly gave orders to all those who had horses, +to mount and follow him at the top of their speed; and he himself, +with the other gentlemen whose horses were prepared, started at +once at full gallop. + +"Sir Archie, do you cause the `assembly' to be sounded, and send +off your runners in all directions to bid every man who can be +collected to gather here this afternoon at three o clock. If foul +play has been done we can avenge, although we are too late to save, +and, by Heavens, a full and bloody revenge will I take." + +It was not until two in the afternoon that Sir John Grahame returned. + +"The worst has happened; I can read it in your face," Wallace +exclaimed. + +"It is but too true," Sir John replied. "For a time we could obtain +no information. One of my men rode forward until close to the Barns, +and reported that all seemed quiet there. A guard of soldiers were +standing round the gates, and he saw one of those invited, who had +arrived a minute before him, dismount and enter quietly. Fortunately +I was in time to stop many gentlemen who were proceeding to the +council, but more had entered before I reached there. From time +to time I sent forward men on foot who talked with those who were +standing without to watch the arrivals. Presently a terrible rumour +began to spread among them -- whether the truth was known from some +coarse jest by one of the soldiers, or how it came out, I know not. +But as time went on, and the hour was long past when any fresh +arrivals could be expected, there was no longer motive for secrecy, +and the truth was openly told. Each man as he entered was stopped +just inside the door. A noose was dropped over his neck, and he +was hauled up to a hook over the door. All who entered are dead." + +A cry of indignation and rage broke from Wallace and those standing +round him, and the Scottish leader again repeated his oath to take +a bloody vengeance for the deed. + +"And who are among the murdered?" he asked, after a pause. + +"Alas! Sir William," Grahame said, "your good uncle, Sir Ronald +Crawford, the Sheriff of Ayr, is one; and also Sir Richard Wallace +of Riccartoun; Sir Bryce Blair, and Sir Neil Montgomery, Boyd, +Barclay, Steuart, Kennedy, and many others." + +Wallace was overwhelmed with grief at the news that both his uncles, +to whom he was greatly attached, had perished. Most of those around +had also lost relatives and friends, and none could contain their +grief and indignation. + +"Was my uncle, Sir Robert Gordon, among the victims?" Archie +inquired. + +"No," Sir John replied; "happily he was one of the last who came +along the road." + +"Thank God for that!" Archie said earnestly; "my uncle's slowness +has saved his life. He was ever late for business or pleasure, and +my aunt was always rating him for his unpunctuality. She will not +do so again, for assuredly it has saved his life." + +The men came in but slowly, for the bands had all dispersed to +their homes, and it was only those who lived within a few miles +who could arrive in time. Little over fifty men had come in by the +hour named. With these Wallace started at once towards Ayr. Archie's +band fell in with their arms, for they too burned to revenge the +massacre, and Wallace did not refuse Archie's request that they +might join. + +"Let them come," he said; "we shall want every sword and pike +tonight." + +This was the first time that Wallace had seen the band under arms, +for at the battle of Biggar, Archie had kept them from his sight, +fearing that he might order them from the field. + +"They look well, Sir Archie, and in good military order. Hitherto +I have regarded them but as messengers, and as such they have done +good service indeed; but I see now that you have them in good order, +and that they can do other service on a pinch." + +One member of Wallace's band was left behind, with orders to wait +until seven o'clock, and then to bring on as fast as they could +march all who might arrive before that hour. The band marched to +within a mile of the barns. They then halted at a stack of straw, +and sat down while one of Archie's band went forward to see what was +being done. He reported that a great feast, at which the governor +and all the officers of the garrison, with other English dwelling +in town, were present, was just beginning in the great barn where +the massacre had taken place. + +Soon after nine o'clock the man who had been left behind, with ten +others, who had come in after Wallace had marched, came up. Each +man, by Wallace's directions, drew a great truss of straw from the +stack, and then the party, now eighty in all, marched toward the +barn. Wallace's instructions were that so soon as the work had +fairly begun, Grahame, with Archie and half the band, was to hurry +off to seize the gate of Ayr, feigning to be a portion of the guard +at the barn. + +When they approached the spot they saw that the wooden building was +brightly lit up with lights within, and the English guard, some +fifty in number, were standing carelessly without, or, seated +round fires, were carousing on wine which had been sent out by the +revellers within. + +The Scotch stole up quietly. Wallace's party, composed of half the +strength, handed their bundles of straw to the men of Grahame's +company; then with a sudden shout they fell upon the English +soldiers, while Grahame's men, running straight to the door of the +barn, threw down their trusses of straw against it, and Sir John, +snatching down a torch which burned beside the entrance, applied +fire to the mass, and then, without a moment's delay, started at a +run towards the town. Taken wholly by surprise the English soldiers +were slain by Wallace and his men almost before they had time +to seize their arms. Then the Scots gathered round the barn. The +flames were already leaping up high, and a terrible din of shouts +and cries issued from within. The doors had been opened now, but +those within were unable to force their way across the blazing mass +of straw. Many appeared at the windows and screamed for mercy, and +some leapt out, preferring to fall by the Scottish swords rather +than to await death by fire within. + +The flames rose higher and higher, and soon the whole building +was enveloped, and ere many minutes all those who had carried out, +if not planned, the massacre of Ayr had perished. In the meantime +Grahame and his party had reached the gate of Ayr. Bidding others +follow him at a distance of about a hundred yards, he himself, with +Archie and ten of his followers, ran up at full speed. + +"Quick!" he shouted to the sentry on the gate. "Lower the bridge +and let us in. We have been attacked by Wallace and the Scots, and +they will speedily be here." + +The attention of the guard had already been attracted by the sudden +burst of light by the barns. They had heard distant shouts, and +deemed that a conflagration had broken out in the banqueting hall. +Not doubting for an instant the truth of Grahame's story, they +lowered the drawbridge instantly, and Sir John and his companions +rushed across. + +The guard were only undeceived when Grahame and his followers fell +upon them with their heavy broadswords. They had left their arms +behind when they had assembled on the walls to look at the distant +flames, and were cut down to a man by the Scots. By this time the +rest of Grahame's band had arrived. + +So short and speedy had been the struggle that no alarm had been +given in the town. The inmates of a few houses near opened their +windows and looked out. + +"Come down as quickly as you may," Sir John said to them; "we have +taken Ayr." + +Several of the burghers were soon in the street. + +"Now," Sir John said, "do two of you who know the town well go +with me and point out the houses in which the English troops are +quartered; let the others go from house to house, and bid every +man come quickly with his sword to strike a blow for freedom." + +Sir John now went round the town with the guides and posted two or +more men at the door of each house occupied by the English. Soon +the armed citizens flocked into the streets, and when sufficient +were assembled the blowing of a horn gave the signal. The doors of +the houses were beaten in with axes, and, pouring in, the Scotch +slew the soldiers before they had scarce awakened from sleep. Very +few of the English in the town escaped to tell of the terrible +retaliation which had been taken for the massacre of Ayr. + +One of the few who were saved was Captain Thomas Hawkins. Archie, +mindful of the part which he had taken, and to which, indeed, the +discovery of the governor s intention was due, had hurried direct to +the prison, and when this was, with the rest of the town, taken, +discovered the English officer in chains in a dungeon, and protected +him from all molestation. + +The next morning he was brought before Wallace, who expressed to +him his admiration of the honourable course which he had adopted, +gave him a rich present out of the booty which had been captured, +and placed him on a ship bound for England. + +A week after the capture of Ayr one of Archie's band came into his +hut. Tears were running down his cheeks, and his face was swollen +with weeping. + +"What is it, Jock?" Archie asked kindly. + +"Ah! Sir Archie! we have bad news from Glen Cairn. One has come +hither who says that a few days since the Kerrs, with a following +of their own retainers, came down to the village. Having heard +that some of us had followed you to the wars, they took a list of +all that were missing, and Sir John called our fathers up before +him. They all swore, truly enough, that they knew nought of our +intentions, and that we had left without saying a word to them. +Sir John refused to believe them, and at first threatened to hang +them all. Then after a time he said they might draw lots, and +that two should die. My father and Allan Cunninghame drew the evil +numbers, and Kerr hung them up to the old tree on the green and put +fire to the rooftrees of all the others. Ah! but there is weeping +and wailing in Glen Cairn!" + +Archie was for a while speechless with indignation. He knew well +that this wholesale vengeance had not been taken by the Kerrs because +the sons of the cottagers of Glen Cairn had gone to join the army +of Wallace, but because he deemed them to be still attached to their +old lord; and it was to their fidelity to the Forbeses rather than +to Scotland that they owed the ruin which had befallen them. + +"My poor Jock!" he said, "I am grieved, indeed, at this misfortune. +I cannot restore your father's life, but I can from the spoils of +Ayr send a sufficient sum to Glen Cairn to rebuild the cottages +which the Kerrs have destroyed. But this will not be enough -- we +will have vengeance for the foul deed. Order the band to assemble +at dusk this evening, and tell Orr and Macpherson to come here to +me at once." + +Archie had a long consultation with his two young lieutenants, +whose fathers' cottages had with the others been destroyed. + +"What we have to do," Archie said, "we must do alone. Sir William +has ample employment for his men, and I cannot ask him to weaken +his force to aid me in a private broil; nor, indeed, would any aid +short of his whole band be of use, seeing that the Kerrs can put +three hundred retainers in the field. It is not by open force that +we must fight them, but by fire and harassment. Fighting is out +of the question; but we can do him some damage without giving him +a chance of striking a blow at us. As he has lighted Glen Cairn, +so shall he see fires blazing round his own castle of Aberfilly. +We will not retaliate by hanging his crofters and vassals; but if +he or any of his men-at-arms falls into our hands, we will have +blood for blood." + +In the course of the afternoon Archie saw his chief and begged +leave to take his troop away for some time, telling Sir William of +the cruel treatment which the Kerrs had dealt at Glen Cairn, and +his determination to retaliate for the deed. + +"Aberfilly is a strong castle, Archie," Wallace said; "at least so +people say, for I have never seen it, so far does it lie removed +from the main roads. But unless by stratagem, I doubt if my force +is strong enough to capture it; nor would I attack were I sure of +capturing it without the loss of a man. The nobles and landowners +stand aloof from me; but it may be that after I have wrested some +more strong places from the English, they may join me. But I would +not on any account war against one of them now. Half the great +families are united by ties of blood or marriage. The Kerrs, we +know, are related to the Comyns and other powerful families; and +did I lift a hand against them, adieu to my chance of being joined +by the great nobles. No; openly hostile as many of them are, I must +let them go their way, and confine my efforts to attacking their +friends the English. Then they will have no excuse of personal +feud for taking side against the cause of Scotland. But this does +not apply to you. Everyone knows that there has long been a blood +feud between the Forbeses and the Kerrs, and any damage you may +do them will be counted as a private feud. I think it is a rash +adventure that you are undertaking with but a handful of boys, +although it is true that a boy can fire a roof or drive off a +bullock as well as a man. However, this I will promise you, that +if you should get into any scrape I will come with what speed I +can to your rescue, even if it embroil me with half the nobles of +Scotland. You embroiled yourself with all the power of England in +my behalf, and you will not find me slack in the hour of need. But +if I join in the fray it is to rescue my friend Archie Forbes, and +not to war against John Kerr, the ally of the English, and my own +enemy." + +Archie warmly thanked his leader, but assured him that he had no +thought of placing himself in any great peril. + +"I am not going to fight," he said, "for the Kerr and his retainers +could eat us up; we shall trust to our legs and our knowledge of +the mountains." + +After dark Archie and his band started, and arrived within ten miles +of Aberfilly on the following morning. They rested till noon, and +then again set out. When they approached one of the outlying farms +of the Kerrs, Archie halted his band, and, accompanied by four of +the stoutest and tallest of their number, went on to the crofter's +house. The man came to the door. + +"What would you, young sir?" he said to Archie. + +"I would," Archie said, "that you bear a message from me to your +lord." + +"I know not what your message may be; but frankly, I would rather +that you bore it yourself, especially if it be of a nature to anger +Sir John." + +"The message is this," Archie said quietly: "tell him that Archibald +Forbes bids him defiance, and that he will retort upon him and his +the cruelties which he has wrought in Glen Cairn, and that he will +rest not night nor day until he has revenge for the innocent blood +shed and rooftrees ruthlessly burned." + +"Then," the crofter said bluntly, "if you be Archibald Forbes, you +may even take your message yourself. Sir John cares not much upon +whose head his wrath lights, and I care not to appear before him +as a willing messenger on such an errand." + +"You may tell him," Archie said quietly, "that you are no willing +messenger; for that I told you that unless you did my errand your +house should, before morning, be a heap of smoking ashes. I have +a following hard by, and will keep my word." + +The crofter hesitated. + +"Do my bidding; and I promise you that whatever may befall the +other vassals of the Kerrs, you shall go free and unharmed." + +"Well, if needs must, it must," the crofter said; "and I will +do your bidding, young sir -- partly because I care not to see my +house in ruins, but more because I have heard of you as a valiant +youth who fought stoutly by the side of Wallace at Lanark and Ayr +-- though, seeing that you are but a lad, I marvel much that you +should be able to hold your own in such wild company. Although +as a vassal of the Kerrs I must needs follow their banner, I need +not tell you, since you have lived so long at Glen Cairn, that the +Kerrs are feared rather than loved, and that there is many a man +among us who would lief that our lord fought not by the side of the +English. However, we must needs dance as he plays; and now I will +put on my bonnet and do your errand. Sir John can hardly blame me +greatly for doing what I needs must." + +Great was the wrath of Sir John Kerr when his vassal reported to +him the message with which he had been charged, and in his savage +fury he was with difficulty dissuaded from ordering him to be hung +for bringing such a message. His principal retainers ventured, +however, to point out that the man had acted upon compulsion, and +that the present was not the time, when he might at any moment +have to call upon them to take the field, to anger his vassals, who +would assuredly resent the undeserved death of one of their number. + +"It is past all bearing," the knight said furiously, "that an insolent +boy like this should first wound me in the streets of Lanark, and +should then cast his defiance in my teeth -- a landless rascal, +whose father I killed, and whose den of a castle I but a month ago +gave to the flames. He must be mad to dare to set his power against +mine. I was a fool that I did not stamp him out long ago; but woe +betide him when we next meet! Had it not been that I was served +by a fool" -- and here the angry knight turned to his henchman, Red +Roy -- "this would not have happened. Who could have thought that +a man of your years could have suffered himself to be fooled by a +boy, and to bring me tales that this insolent upstart was a poor +stupid lout! By Heavens! to be thus badly served is enough to make +one mad!" + +"Well, Sir John," the man grumbled, "the best man will be sometimes +in error. I have done good service for you and yours, and yet ever +since we met this boy outside the gates of Lanark you have never +ceased to twit me concerning him. Rest secure that no such error +shall occur again, and that the next time I meet him I will pay him +alike for the wound he gave you and for the anger he has brought +upon my head. If you will give orders I will start at daybreak +with twenty men. I will take up his trail at the cottage of John +Frazer, and will not give up the search until I have overtaken and +slain him." + +"Do so," the knight replied, "and I will forgive your having +been so easily fooled. But this fellow may have some of Wallace's +followers with him, and contemptible as the rabble are, we had best +be on our guard. Send round to all my vassals, and tell them to +keep good watch and ward, and keep a party of retainers under arms +all night in readiness to sally out in case of alarm." + +The night, however, passed quietly. The next day the knight sallied +out with a strong party of retainers, and searched the woods and +lower slopes of the hill, but could find no signs of Archie and +his followers, and at nightfall returned to the castle in a rage, +declaring that the defiance sent him was a mere piece of insolent +bravado. Nevertheless, he kept the horses again saddled all night +ready to issue out at the slightest alarm. Soon after midnight +flames suddenly burst out at a dozen of the homesteads. At the +warder's shout of alarm Sir John Kerr and his men-at-arms instantly +mounted. The gate was thrown open and the drawbridge lowered, and +Sir John rode out at the head of his following. He was within a +few feet of the outer end of the drawbridge when the chains which +supported this suddenly snapped. The drawbridge fell into the moat, +plunging all those upon it into the water. + +Archie, with his band, after detaching some of their number to fire +the homesteads, had crept up unperceived in the darkness to the +end of the drawbridge, and had noiselessly cut the two projecting +beams upon which its end rested when it was lowered. He had intended +to carry out this plan on the previous night, but when darkness set +in not a breath of wind was stirring, and the night was so still +that he deemed that the operation of sawing through the beams could +not be effected without attracting the attention of the warders +on the wall, and had therefore retreated far up in the recesses of +the hills. The next night, however, was windy, and well suited to +his purpose, and the work had been carried out without attracting +the attention of the warders. When Kerr and his men-at-arms rode +out, the whole weight of the drawbridge and of the horsemen crossing +it was thrown entirely upon the chains, and these yielded to a +strain far greater than they were calculated to support. + +The instant the men-at-arms were precipitated into the moat, Archie +and his companions, who had been lying down near its edge, leapt to +their feet, and opened fire with their bows and arrows upon them. +It was well for Sir John and his retainers that they had not stopped to +buckle on their defensive armour. Had they done so every man must +have been drowned in the deep waters. As it was, several were killed +with the arrows, and two or three by the hoofs of the struggling +horses. Sir John himself, with six of the eighteen men who had +fallen into the moat, succeeded in climbing up the drawbridge and +regaining the castle. A fire of arrows was at once opened from the +walls, but Archie and his followers were already out of bowshot; +and knowing that the fires would call in a few minutes to the spot +a number of the Kerr s vassals more than sufficient to crush them +without the assistance of those in the castle, they again made for +the hills, well satisfied with the first blow they had struck at +their enemies. + +The rage of Sir John Kerr was beyond all expression. He had himself +been twice struck by arrows, and the smart of his wounds added to +his fury. By the light of the burning barns the garrison were enabled +to see how small was the party which had made this audacious attack +upon them; and this increased their wrath. Men were instantly set +at work to raise the drawbridge from the moat, to repair the chains, +and to replace the timbers upon which it rested; and a summons was +despatched to the whole of the vassals to be at the castle in arms +by daybreak. + +Again the woods were searched without success, and the band then +divided into five parties, each forty strong. They proceeded to +explore the hills; but the Pentlands afforded numerous hiding places +to those, like Archie and most of his band, well acquainted with +the country; and after searching till nightfall the parties retired, +worn out and disheartened, to the castle. That night three of the +outlying farms were in flames, and the cattle were slaughtered in +their byres, but no attack was made upon the dwelling houses. The +following night Sir John distributed the whole of his vassals among +the farms lying farthest from the castle, putting twenty men in +each; but to his fury this time it was five homesteads nearer at +hand which were fired. The instant the first outburst of flame was +discovered the retainers hurried to the spot; but by the time they +reached it no sign of the assailants was visible; the flames had +however taken too good a hold of the various barns and outbuildings +to be extinguished. + + + +Chapter VII The Cave in the Pentlands + + +John Kerr was well nigh beside himself with fury. + +If this was to go on, the whole of his estate would be harried, +his vassals ruined, and his revenues stopped, and this by a mere +handful of foes. Again he started with his vassals to explore the +hills, this time in parties of ten only, so as to explore thoroughly +a larger space of ground. When at evening the men returned, it was +found that but two men of one of the parties, composed entirely of +men-at-arms from the castle, came back. They reported that when +in a narrow ravine showers of rocks were hurled down upon them from +both sides. Four of their number were killed at once, and four +others had fallen pierced by arrows from an unseen foe as they fled +back down the ravine. + +"Methinks, Sir John," Red Roy said, "that I know the place where +the Forbeses may have taken up their abode. When I was a boy I +was tending a herd of goats far up in the hills, and near the pass +where this mischance has today befallen us I found a cave in the +mountain's side. Its entrance was hidden by bushes, and I should +not have found it had not one of the goats entered the bush and +remained there so long that I went to see what he was doing. There +I found a cave. The entrance was but three feet high, but inside +it widened out into a great cavern, where fifty men could shelter. +Perchance Archie Forbes or some of his band may also have discovered +it; and if so, they might well think that no better place of +concealment could be found." + +"We will search it tomorrow," the knight said. "Tell the vassals +to gather here three hours before daybreak. We will start so as +to be there soon after sunrise. If they are on foot again tonight +they will then be asleep. Did you follow the cave and discover +whether it had any other entrances beyond that by which you entered?" + +"I know not," the henchman replied; "it goes a long way into the +hills, and there are several inner passages; but these I did not +explore, for I was alone and feared being lost in them." + +The next night some more homesteads were burnt, but this time the +vassals did not turn out, as they had been told to rest until the +appointed hour whatever might befall. + +Three hours before daybreak a party of fifty picked men assembled +at the castle, for this force was deemed to be ample. The two men +who had escaped from the attack on the previous day led the way +to the ravine, and there Red Roy became the guide and led the band +far up the hillside. Had it been possible they would have surrounded +the cave before daylight, but Roy said that it was so long since +he had first found the cave, that he could not lead them there +in the dark, but would need daylight to enable him to recognize +the surroundings. Even when daylight came he was for some time at +fault, but he at last pointed to a clump of bushes, growing on a +broken and precipitous face of rock, as the place where the cave +was situated. + +Red Roy was right in his conjecture. Archie had once, when wandering +among the hills, shot at a wild cat and wounded it, and had followed +it to the cave to which it had fled, and seeing it an advantageous +place of concealment had, when he determined to harry the district +of the Kerrs, fixed upon it as the hiding place for his band. Deeming +it possible, however, that its existence might be known to others, +he always placed a sentry on watch; and on the approach of the Kerrs, +Cluny Campbell, who happened to be on guard, ran in and roused the +band with the news that the Kerrs were below. Archie immediately +crept out and reconnoitred them; from the bushes he could see that +his foes were for the present at fault. Sir John himself was standing +apart from the rest, with Red Roy, who was narrowly scrutinizing +the face of the cliff, and Archie guessed at once that they were +aware of the existence of the cavern, though at present they could +not determine the exact spot where it was situated. It was too late +to retreat now, for the face of the hill was too steep to climb +to its crest, and their retreat below was cut off by the Kerrs. He +therefore returned to the cave, leaving Cluny on guard. + +"They are not sure as to the situation of the cave yet," he said, +"but they will find it. We can hold the mouth against them for any +time, but they might smoke us out, that is our real danger; or if +they fail in that, they may try starvation. Do half a dozen of you +take brands at once from the embers and explore all the windings +behind us; they are so narrow and low that hitherto we have not +deemed it worth while to examine them, but now they are really our +only hope; some of them may lead round to the face of the hill, +and in that case we may find some way by which we may circumvent +the Kerrs." + +Six of the lads at once started with flaming pine knots, while +Archie returned to the entrance. Just as he took his place there +he saw Red Roy pointing towards the bushes. A minute or two later +Sir John and his followers began to advance. Archie now called out +the rest of his band, who silently took their places in the bushes +beside him. Led by Sir John and his personal retainers, the assailants +approached the foot of the rocks and began to make their way up, +using the utmost precaution to avoid any noise. There was no longer +any need for concealment, and as the foremost of the assailants +began to climb the great boulders at the foot of the precipice, +a dozen arrows from the bush above alighted among them; killing +three and wounding several others. Sir John Kerr shouted to his +men to follow him, and began to clamber up the hill. Several arrows +struck him, but he was sheathed in mail, as were his men-at-arms, +and although several were wounded in the face and two slain they +succeeded in reaching the bushes, but they could not penetrate +further, for as they strove to tear the bushes aside and force an +entry, those behind pierced them with their spears, and as but four +or five assailants at a time could gain a footing and use their +arms they were outnumbered and finally driven back by the defenders. +When Sir John, furious at his discomfiture, rejoined his vassals +below, he found that the assault had already cost him eight of his +best men. He would, however, have again led them to the attack, +but Red Roy said: + +"It were best, my lord, to send back and bid fifty of the vassals +to come up hither at once, with bows and arrows. They can so riddle +those bushes that the defenders will be unable to occupy them to +resist our advance." + +"That were a good step," Sir John said; "but even when we gain +the ledge I know not how we shall force our way through the hole, +which you say is but three feet high." + +"There is no need to force our way in," Red Roy replied; "each +man who climbs shall carry with him a faggot of wood, and we will +smoke them in their holes like wolves." + +"`Tis well thought of, Roy; that assuredly is the best plan. Send +off at once one of the most fleet footed of the party." + +Archie, watching from above, saw the assailants draw back out of +bowshot, and while one of their number started at full speed down +the hillside, the others sat down, evidently prepared to pass some +time before they renewed the attack. Leaving two of the party on +guard, Archie, with the rest, re-entered the cavern. The searchers +had just returned and reported that all the various passages came +to nothing, save one, which ascended rapidly and terminated in a +hole which looked as if it had been made by rabbits, and through +which the light of day could be seen. + +"Then it is there we must work," Archie said. "I will myself go +and examine it." + +The passage, after ascending to a point which Archie judged to +be nigh a hundred feet above the floor of the cave, narrowed to a +mere hole, but two feet high and as much wide. Up this he crawled +for a distance of four or five yards, then it narrowed suddenly +to a hole three or four inches in diameter, and through this, some +three feet farther, Archie could see the daylight through a clump +of heather. He backed himself down the narrow passage again until +he joined his comrades. "Now," he said, "do four of you stay here, +and take it by turns, one after the other, to enlarge the hole +forward to the entrance. As you scrape the earth down you must past +it back handful by handful. Do not enlarge the outer entrance or +disturb the roots of the heather growing there. Any movement might +be noticed by those below. It is lucky, indeed, that the rock ends +just when it gets to its narrowest, and that it is but sandy soil +through which we have to scrape our way. It will be hard work, +for you have scarce room to move your arms, but you have plenty of +time since we cannot sally out till nightfall." + +The hours passed slowly, and about noon the lookout reported that +a number of bowmen were approaching. + +"They are going to attack this time under cover of their fire," +Archie said, "and as I do not wish to hazard the loss of any lives, +we will keep within the cave and let them gain the ledge. They can +never force their way through the narrow entrance. The only thing +I fear is smoke. I purpose that if they light a fire at the mouth +of the cave, we shall retire at once up the passage where we are +working, and block it up at a narrow place a short distance after +it leaves this cavern, with our clothes. You had best take off some +of your things, scrape up the earth from the floor of the cavern, +and each make a stout bundle, so that we can fill up the hole +solidly." + +This was soon done, and the bundles of earth were laid in readiness +at the point upon which their leader had fixed. In the meantime +Archie had rejoined the lookout. + +"They have been scattered for some time," the guard said, "and have +been cutting down bushes and making them into faggots." + +"Just what I expected," Archie exclaimed. "The bowmen are joining +them now. We shall soon see them at work." + +Sir John Kerr now marshalled his retainers. He and his men-at-arms +drew their swords, and the rest, putting the bundles of faggots on +their shoulders, prepared to follow, while the bowmen fitted their +arrows to the string. + +"Fall back inside the cave," Archie said; "it is of no use risking +our lives." + +The band now gathered in a half circle, with level spears, round +the entrance. Soon they heard a sharp tapping sound as the arrows +struck upon the rock, then there was a crashing among the bushes." + +"Come on!" Sir John Kerr shouted to the vassals. "The foxes have +slunk into their hole." Then came low thuds as the faggots were +cast down. The light which had streamed in through the entrance +gradually became obscure, and the voices of those without muffled. +The darkness grew more intense as the faggots were piled thicker +and thicker; then suddenly a slight odour of smoke was perceived. + +"Come along now," Archie said; "they have fired the pile, and there +is no fear of their entrance." + +Two of their number, with blazing pine knots, led the way. When +they reached the narrow spot all passed through, Archie and Andrew +Macpherson last; these took the bundles of earth, as the others +passed them along from behind, and built them up like a wall across +the entrance, beating them down as they piled them, so as to make +them set close and fill up every crevice. Several remained over +after the wall was completed; these were opened and the earth crammed +into the crevices between the bags. The smell of smoke had grown +strong before the wall was completed, but it was not too oppressive +to breathe. Holding the torch close to the wall, Archie and his +comrade stopped closely the few places through which they saw that +the smoke was making its way, and soon had the satisfaction of +seeing that the barrier was completely smoke tight. + +There was plenty of air in the passage to support life for some +time, but Archie called back to those who were labouring to enlarge +the exit, in order to allow as much fresh air as possible to enter. +A strong guard, with spears, was placed at the barrier, although +Archie deemed that some hours at least would elapse before the Kerrs +could attempt to penetrate the cave. The fire would doubtless be +kept up for some time, and after it had expired it would be long +before the smoke cleared out sufficiently from the cave to allow +of any one entering it. After a time, finding that there was no +difficulty in breathing, although the air was certainly close and +heavy, Archie again set the lads at work widening the entrance, +going up himself to superintend the operation. Each in turn crept +forward, loosened a portion of the earth with his knife, and then +filling his cap with it, crawled backward to the point where the +passage widened. It was not yet dark when the work was so far done +that there now remained only a slight thickness of earth, through +which the roots of the heath protruded, at the mouth of the passage, +and a vigorous push would make an exit into the air. The guard at +the barrier had heard no movement within. Archie withdrew one of +the bags; but the smoke streamed through so densely that he hastily +replaced it, satisfied that some hours must still elapse before +the assailants would enter the cave. They watched impatiently +the failing light through the hole, and at last, when night was +completely fallen, Archie pushed aside the earth and heather, and +looked around. They were, it seemed to him, on the side of the hill +a few yards from the point where it fell steeply away. The ground +was thickly covered with heather. He soon made his way out and +ordered Andrew Macpherson, who followed him, to remain lying at +the entrance, and to enjoin each, as he passed out, to crawl low +among the heather, so that they might not show against the skyline, +where, dark as it was, they might attract the attention of those +below. Archie himself led the way until so far back from the edge +as to be well out of sight of those in the valley. Then he gained +his feet, and was soon joined by the whole of his band. + +"Now," he said, "we will make for Aberfilly; they think us all +cooped up here, and will be rejoicing in our supposed deaths. We +will strike one more blow, and then, driving before us a couple of +score of oxen for the use of the army, rejoin Wallace. Methinks we +shall have taken a fair vengeance for Kerr's doings at Glen Cairn." + +The consternation of the few men left in the castle was great when, +three hours after sunset, eight homesteads burst suddenly into +flames. They dared not sally out, and remained under arms until +morning, when Sir John and his band returned more furious than ever, +as they had penetrated the cavern, discovered the barrier which +had cut off the smoke, and the hole by which the foe had escaped; +and their fury was brought to a climax when they found the damage +which had been inflicted in their absence. Many a week passed before +the garrison of Aberfilly and the vassals of the Kerrs were able +to sleep in peace, so great was the scare which Archie's raid had +inflicted upon them. + +The truce was now at an end. The indignation excited by the +treachery of the English spread widely through Scotland, and the +people flocked to Wallace's standard in far greater numbers than +before, and he was now able to undertake operations on a greater +scale. Perth, Aberdeen, Brechin, and other towns fell into his +hands, and the castle of Dundee was invested. In the south Sir +William Douglas captured the castles of Sanquhar, Desdeir, and +others, and the rapid successes of the Scots induced a few of the +greater nobles to take the field, such as the Steward of Scotland, +Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell, Sir Richard Lundin, and Wishart, +Bishop of Glasgow. + +Wallace was one day lamenting to Archie and his friend Grahame +that the greater nobles still held aloof. "Above all," he said, "I +would fain see on our side either Comyn or the young Bruce. Baliol +is a captive in London, and it is to Comyn or Bruce that Scotland +must look for her king. So long as only I, a poor knight, am at the +head of this rising, it is but a rebellion against Edward, and its +chances are still so weak that but few men, who have aught to lose, +join us; but if Bruce or Comyn should raise his banner all would +receive him as our future king. Both are lords of wide territories, +and besides the forces they could bring into the field, they would +be joined by many of the principal nobles, although it is true that +the adherents of the other would probably arm for Edward. Still +the thought of a king of their own would inflame the popular mind, +and vast numbers who now hesitate to join a movement supported by +so little authority, would then take up arms." + +"Which of the two would you rather?" Archie asked. + +"I would rather the Bruce," Wallace said. "His father is an inert +man and a mere cypher, and the death of his grandfather, the +competitor, has now brought him prominently forward. It is true +that he is said to be a strong adherent of England and a personal +favourite of Edward; that he spends much of his time in London; and +is even at the present moment the king's lieutenant in Carrick and +Annandale, and is waging war for him against Sir William Douglas. +Still Comyn is equally devoted to England; he is older, and less +can be hoped from him. Bruce is young; he is said to be of great +strength and skill in arms, and to be one of the foremost knights +in Edward's court. He is, I hear, of noble presence, and is much +loved by those with whom he comes in contact. Did such a man +determine to break with Edward, and to strive to win the crown +of Scotland as a free gift of her people, instead of as a nominee +of Edward, and to rule over an independent kingdom instead of an +English province, he would attract all hearts to him, and may well +succeed where I, as I foresee, must sooner or later fail." + +"But why should you fail when you have succeeded so far?" Archie +asked. + +"Because I have with me but a small portion of the people of +Scotland. The whole of the northern lords hold aloof, and in the +south Carrick and Annandale and Galloway are hostile. Against me +I have all the power of England, Wales, and Ireland; and although +I may for a time win victories and capture towns I am certain, +Archie, in the end to be crushed." + +"And will all our efforts have been in vain?" Archie said, with +tears in his eyes. + +"By no means, my brave lad; we shall have lighted the fire of a +national resistance; we shall have shown the people that if Scotland, +divided against herself, and with all her great nobles and their +vassals standing sullenly aloof, can yet for a long time make head +against the English, assuredly when the time shall come, and she +shall rise as one man from the Solway to Caithness, her freedom +will be won. Our lives will not have been thrown away, Archie, if +they have taught this lesson." + +Wallace had by this time returned from his expedition farther +north, and his force was in camp near Lanark, which town, when not +engaged in distant enterprises, was regarded as the centre of the +movement. That evening Archie said, that as his leader purposed to +give his troops rest for a week or two, he should go to his uncle's +for a short time. + +"And if you can spare them, Sir William, I would fain let my band +go away for the same time. They have now been six months from home." + +"Certainly," Wallace said, "they need a rest after their hard work. +They are ever afoot, and have been of immense service." + +Having obtained this permission, Archie went to the spot where his +band were encamped. "I have another expedition for you," he said, +"this time all together; when that is over you will be able to go +home for a few days for a rest. They will all be glad to see you, +and may well be proud of you, and I doubt not that the spoil which +you gathered at Ayr and elsewhere will create quite a sensation at +Glen Cairn. There are some of you who are, as I remember in the old +days, good shots with the bow and arrow. Do ten of you who were +the best at home get bows and arrows from the store. Here is an +order for you to receive them, and be all in readiness to march at +daylight." + +The next morning the band set out in a southwesterly direction, +and after a long day's march halted near Cumnock. In the morning +they started at the same time, observing more caution as they went, +for by the afternoon they had crossed the stream and were within the +boundaries of Carrick. They halted for the night near Crossraguel +Abbey. Here for the first time Archie confided to his followers +the object of their march. + +"We are now," he said, "within a few miles of Turnberry Castle, the +residence of Bruce. Sir William has a great desire to speak with +him; but, seeing that Bruce is at present fighting for King Edward +against Douglas, there is little chance of such a meeting coming +about with his goodwill. He has recently returned from Douglasdale. +Here, in the heart of his own country, it is like enough that he +may ride near his castle with but a few horsemen. In that case we +will seize him, without, I trust, having to do him hurt, and will +bear him with us to Lanark. We may have to wait some time before +we find an opportunity; but even if the ten days for which I have +asked, lengthen to as many weeks, Sir William will not grudge the +time we have spent if we succeed. Tomorrow morning let those who +have bows go out in the forest and see if they can shoot a deer; +or failing that, bring in a sheep or two from some of the folds. +As each of you has brought with you meal for ten days, we shall be +able to keep an eye on Turnberry for some time." + +The next day Archie, with Andrew Macpherson and Cluny Campbell, +made their way through the woods until within sight of the castle, +which was but a mile distant. The strongholds of the lords of +Carrick stood on a bold promontory washed by the sea. + +"It would be a hard nut to crack, Sir Archie," his lieutenant said. +"Unless by famine, the place could scarce be taken." + +"No," Archie replied, "I am glad that our mission is rather to +capture the earl than his castle. It is a grand fortalice. Would +that its owner were but a true Scotchman! This is a good place on +which we are standing, Andrew, to place a scout. Among the trees +here he can watch the road all the way from the castle to the point +where it enters the forest. Do you, Cluny, take post here at once. +Mark well all that passes, and what is doing, and all bodies of men +who enter or leave the castle. There is no occasion to bring news +to me, for it would be unlikely that we should meet in the forest; +you have therefore only to watch. Tomorrow I shall return with the +band, and encamp in the woods farther back. Directly we arrive, +you will be relieved of your guard." + +The following day the band moved up to a spot within half a mile +of the seaward edge of the forest, and a few hundred yards from the +road to Crossraguel Abbey. It was only on this road that Archie +could hope to effect a capture; for the country near the coast was +free of trees, and no ambush could be set. The lords of Carrick +were, moreover, patrons of the abbey; and Bruce might ride over +thither with but a small party, whereas, if journeying south, or +southeast towards Douglasdale, he would probably be marching with +a strong force. For several days they watched the castle; bodies of +mounted men entered and departed. Twice parties, among whom ladies +could be seen, came out with their hawks; but none came within +reach of their lurking foes. + +On the fifth morning, however, the lad on watch ran into the glade +in which they were encamped and reported that a small body of +seemingly two or three knights, with some ladies, followed by four +mounted men, had left the castle and were approaching by the route +towards the abbey. + +Not a moment was lost. Archie placed six of his company, with pike +and sword, close to the road, to form across it when he gave the +order, and to bar the retreat of any party who had passed. Another +party of equal strength he placed 100 yards further on, and with +them himself took post; while he placed four, armed with bows and +arrows, on either side, near the party which he commanded. Scarcely +had his preparations been made when a trampling of horses was heard, +and the party were seen approaching. They consisted of Robert Bruce, +his brother Nigel, and three of his sisters -- Isabel, Mary, and +Christina. Behind rode four men-at-arms. From the description which +he had heard of him Archie had no doubt that the elder of the two +knights was Robert Bruce himself, and when they approached within +thirty yards he gave a shout, and, with his band, with levelled +spears, drew up across the road. At the same moment the other party +closed in behind the horsemen; and the eight archers, with bent +bows and arrows drawn to the head, rose among the trees. The party +reined in their horses suddenly. + +"Hah! what have we here?" Bruce exclaimed. "An ambush -- and on +all sides too!" he added as he looked round. "What means this? +Are you robbers who thus dare attack the Bruce within a mile of +Turnberry? Why, they are but lads," he added scornfully. "Rein +back, girls; we and the men-at-arms will soon clear a way for you +through these varlets. Nay, I can do it single handed myself." + +"Halt! Sir Robert Bruce," Archie exclaimed in a loud clear voice. +"If you move I must perforce give the word, and it may well be that +some of the ladies with you may be struck with the arrows; nor, +young though my followers may be, would you find them so easy a +conquest as you imagine. They have stood up before the English ere +now; and you and your men-at-arms will find it hard work to get +through their pikes; and we outnumber you threefold. We are no +robbers. I myself am Sir Archibald Forbes." + +"You!" exclaimed Robert Bruce, lowering his sword, which he +had drawn at the first alarm and held uplifted in readiness for a +charge; "you Sir Archibald Forbes! I have heard the name often as +that of one of Wallace's companions, who, with Sir John Grahame, +fought with him bravely at the captures of Lanark, Ayr, and other +places, but surely you cannot be he!" + +"I am Sir Archibald Forbes, I pledge you my word," Archie said +quietly; "and, Sir Robert Bruce, methinks that if I, who am, as +you see, but yet a lad -- not yet having reached my seventeenth +year -- can have done good service for Scotland, how great the +shame that you, a valiant knight and a great noble, should be in +the ranks of her oppressors, and not of her champions! My name will +tell you that I have come hither for no purpose of robbery. I have +come on a mission from Wallace -- not sent thereon by him, but +acting myself in consequences of words which dropped from him. He +said how sad it was that you, who might be King of a Scotland free +and independent, by the choice of her people, should prefer the +chance of reigning, a mere puppet of Edward, over an enslaved land. +He spoke in the highest terms of your person, and held that, did +you place yourself at its head, the movement which he commands +would be a successful one. Then I determined, unknown to him, to +set out and bring you to him face to face -- honourably and with +courtesy if you would, by force if you would not. I would fain it +shall be the former; but believe me, you would not find it easy to +break away through the hedge of pikes now around you." + +By this time the whole party had gathered round the horsemen. Bruce +hesitated; his mind was not yet made up as to his future course. +Hitherto he had been with England, since upon Edward only his chances +seemed to depend; but latterly he had begun to doubt whether even +Edward could place him on the throne in despite of the wishes of +his countrymen. His sisters, who, taking after their mother, were +all true Scotchwomen, now urged upon him to comply with Archie's +request and accompany him to Lanark. Their hearts and wishes were +entirely with the champion of their country. + +"Go with him, Robert," Isabel, the eldest, exclaimed. "Neither +I nor my sisters fear being struck with the arrows, although such +might well be the case should a conflict begin; but, for your own +sake and Scotland's, go and see Wallace. No harm can arise from +such a journey, and much good may come of it. Even should the +news of your having had an interview with him come to the ears of +Edward, you can truly say that you were taken thither a captive, +and that we being with you, you were unable to make an effort to +free yourself. This young knight, of whose deeds of gallantry we +have all heard" -- and she smiled approvingly at Archie -- "will +doubtless give you a safeguard, on his honour, to return hither +free and unpledged when you have seen Wallace." + +"Willingly, lady," Archie replied. "One hour's interview with my +honoured chief is all I ask for. That over, I pledge myself that +the Earl of Carrick shall be free at once to return hither, and +that an escort shall be provided for him to protect him from all +dangers on the way." + + + +Chapter VIII The Council at Stirling + + +Archie had been mounted on the march from the camp, and his horse +being now brought, he started with Bruce, young Nigel and the ladies +saluting him cordially. + +"I trust," the former said, "that Wallace will succeed in converting +my brother. I am envious of you, Sir Archie. Here are you, many +years younger than I am, and yet you have won a name throughout +Scotland as one of her champions; while I am eating my heart out, +with my brother, at the court of Edward." + +"I trust it may be so, Sir Nigel," Archie answered. "If Sir Robert +will but join our cause, heart and soul, the battle is as good as +won." + +The journey passed without adventure until they arrived within two +miles of Lanark, where Archie found Wallace was now staying. On +the road Bruce had had much conversation with Archie, and learned +the details of many adventures of which before he had only heard +vaguely by report. He was much struck by the lad's modesty and +loyal patriotism. + +"If ever I come to my kingdom, Sir Archie," he said, "you shall +be one of my most trusted knights and counsellors; and I am well +assured that any advice you may give will be ever what you think +to be right and for the good of the country, without self seeking +or in the interest of any; and that is more than I could look for +in most counsellors. And now methinks that as we are drawing near +to Lanark, it will be well that I waited here in this wood, under +the guard of your followers, while you ride forward and inform +Wallace that I am here. I care not to show myself in Lanark, for +busy tongues would soon take the news to Edward; and as I know not +what may come of our interview, it were well that it should not be +known to all men." + +Archie agreed, and rode into the town. + +"Why, where have you been, truant?" Sir William exclaimed as Archie +entered the room in the governor's house which had been set apart +for the use of Wallace since the expulsion of the English. "Sir +Robert Gordon has been here several times, and tells me that they +have seen nought of you; and although I have made many inquiries I +have been able to obtain no news, save that you and your band have +disappeared. I even sent to Glen Cairn, thinking that you might +have been repairing the damages which the fire, lighted by the +Kerrs, did to your hold; but I found not only that you were not +there yourself, but that none of your band had returned thither. +This made it more mysterious; for had you alone disappeared I should +have supposed that you had been following up some love adventure, +though, indeed, you have never told me that your heart was in any +way touched." + +Archie laughed. "There will be time enough for that, Sir William, +ten years hence; but in truth I have been on an adventure on my +own account." + +"So, in sober earnest, I expected, Archie, and feared that your +enterprise might lead you into some serious scrape since I deemed +that it must have been well nigh a desperate one or you would not +have hidden it from my knowledge." + +"It might have led to some blows, Sir William, but happily it did +not turn out so. Knowing the importance you attached to the adhesion +of the cause of Scotland of Robert the Bruce, I determined to fetch +him hither to see you; and he is now waiting with my band for your +coming, in a wood some two miles from the town." + +"Are you jesting with me?" Wallace exclaimed. "Is the Bruce really +waiting to see me? Why, this would be well nigh a miracle." + +"It is a fact, Sir William; and if you will cause your horse to +be brought to the door I will tell you on the road how it has come +about." + +In another five minutes Sir William and his young follower were +on their way, and the former heard how Archie had entrapped Robert +Bruce while riding to Crossraguel Abbey. + +"It was well done, indeed," the Scottish leader exclaimed; "and +it may well prove, Archie, that you have done more towards freeing +Scotland by this adventure of yours than we have by all our months +of marching and fighting." + +"Ah! Sir William, but had it not been for our marching and fighting +Bruce would never have wavered in his allegiance to Edward. It was +only because he begins to think that our cause may be a winning +one that he decides to join it." + +The meeting between Wallace and Bruce was a cordial one. Each +admired the splendid proportions and great strength of the other, +for it is probable that in all Europe there were no two more +doughty champions; although, indeed, Wallace was far the superior +in personal strength while Bruce was famous through Europe for his +skill in knightly exercise. + +Archie withdrew to a distance while the leaders conversed. He +could see that their talk was animated as they strode together up +and down among the trees, Wallace being the principal speaker. At +the end of half an hour they stopped, and Wallace ordered the horses +to be brought, and then called Archie to them. + +"Sir Robert has decided to throw in his lot with us," he said, "and +will at once call out his father's vassals of Carrick and Annandale. +Seeing that his father is at Edward's court, it may be that many +will not obey the summons. Still we must hope that, for the love +of Scotland and their young lord, many will follow him. He will +write to the pope to ask him to absolve him for the breach of his +oath of homage to Edward; but as such oaths lie but lightly on men's +minds in our days, and have been taken and broken by King Edward +himself, as well as by Sir William Douglas and other knights who are +now in the field with me, he will not wait for the pope's reply, +but will at once take the field. And, indeed, there is need for +haste, seeing that Percy and Clifford have already crossed the +Border with an English army and are marching north through Annandale +towards Ayr." + +"Goodbye, my captor," Bruce said to Archie as he mounted his horse; +"whatever may come of this strife, remember that you will always +find a faithful friend in Robert Bruce." + +Wallace had, at Archie's request, brought six mounted men-at-arms +with him from Lanark, and these now rode behind Bruce as his escort +back to his castle of Turnberry. There was no time now for Archie +and his band to take the rest they had looked for, for messengers +were sent out to gather the bands together again, and as soon as +a certain portion had arrived Wallace marched for the south. The +English army was now in Annandale, near Lochmaben. They were far +too strong to be openly attacked, but on the night following his +arrival in their neighbourhood Wallace broke in upon them in the +night. Surprised by this sudden and unexpected attack, the English +fell into great confusion. Percy at once ordered the camp to be +set on fire. By its light the English were able to see how small +was the force of their assailants, and gathering together soon +showed so formidable a front that Wallace called off his men, but +not before a large number of the English had been killed. Many of +their stores, as well as the tents, were destroyed by the conflagration. +The English army now proceeded with slow marches towards Ayr. At +Irvine the Scotch leaders had assembled their army -- Douglas, +Bruce, The Steward, Sir Richard Loudon, Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, +and others. Their forces were about equal to those of the English +marching against them. Wallace was collecting troops further north, +and Archie was of course with him. + +"I fear," the lad said one day, "that we shall not be able to reach +Irvine before the armies join battle." + +"Sir William Douglas and Bruce are there, and as it lies in their +country it were better to let them win the day without my meddling. +But, Archie, I fear there will be no battle. News has reached +me that messengers are riding to and fro between Percy's army and +the Scots, and I fear me that these half hearted barons will make +peace." + +"Surely that cannot be! It were shame indeed to have taken up the +sword, and to lay it down after scarce striking a blow." + +"Methinks, Archie, that the word shame is not to be found in the +vocabulary of the nobles of this unhappy land. But let us hope for +the best; a few days will bring us the news." + +The news when it came was of the worst. All the nobles, headed by +Wishart, Douglas, and Bruce, with the exception only of Sir Andrew +Moray of Bothwell, had made their submission, acknowledging their +guilt of rebellion, and promising to make every reparation required +by their sovereign lord. Percy, on his part, guaranteed their lives, +lands, goods, and chattels, and that they should not be imprisoned +or punished for what had taken place. + +Sir William Douglas and Bruce were ordered to find guarantees for +their good conduct; but Sir William Douglas, finding himself unable +to fulfil his engagements, surrendered, and was thrown into prison +in Berwick Castle, and there kept in irons until he died, his death +being attributed, by contemporary historians, to poison. + +The surrender of the leaders had little result upon the situation. +The people had won their successes without their aid, and beyond +the indignation excited by their conduct, the treaty of Irvine did +nothing towards ensuring peace, and indeed heightened the confidence +of the people in Wallace. The movement spread over the whole +of Scotland. Skirmishes and unimportant actions took place in +all quarters. The English were powerless outside the walls of the +fortresses, and in Berwick and Roxburgh alone was the English power +paramount. Most of the great nobles, including Comyn of Buchan, +Comyn of Badenoch, and twenty-six other powerful Scottish lords, +were at Edward's court, but many of their vassals and dependants +were in the field with Wallace. + +About this time it came to the ears of the Scotch leader that Sir +Robert Cunninghame, a Scotch knight of good family, who had hitherto +held aloof from any part in the war, had invited some twelve others +resident in the counties round Stirling, to meet at his house in +that city that they might talk over the circumstances of the times. +All these had, like himself, been neutral, and as the object of +the gathering was principally to discover whether some means could +not be hit upon for calming down the disorders which prevailed, +the English governor had willingly granted safe conducts to all. + +"Archie," Sir William said, "I mean to be present at the interview. +They are all Scotch gentlemen, and though but lukewarm in the cause +of their country, there is no fear that any will be base enough +to betray me; and surely if I can get speech with them I may rouse +them to cast in their lot with us." + +"It were a dangerous undertaking, Sir William, to trust yourself +within the walls of Stirling," Archie said gravely. "Remember how +many are the desperate passes into which your adventurous spirit +has brought you, and your life is of too great a consequence to +Scotland to be rashly hazarded." + +"I would not do it for a less cause," Sir William said; "but the +gain may be greater than the risk. So I shall go, Archie, your wise +counsel notwithstanding, and you shall journey with me to see that +I get not into scrapes, and to help me out of them should I, in +spite of your care, fall into them." + +"When is the day for the meeting?" Archie asked. + +"In three days' time. The day after tomorrow we will move in that +direction, and enter the town early the next day." + +No sooner had he left Wallace than Archie called his band together. +They still numbered twenty, for although three or four had fallen, +Archie had always filled up their places with fresh recruits, as +there were numbers of boys who deemed it the highest honour to be +enrolled in their ranks. Archie drew aside his two lieutenants, +Andrew Macpherson and William Orr. + +"I have an enterprise on hand," he said, "which will need all your +care, and may call for your bravery. Sir William Wallace purposes +to enter Stirling in disguise, to attend a meeting of nobles to be +held at the residence of Sir Robert Cunninghame. I am to accompany +him thither. I intend that the band shall watch over his safety, +and this without his having knowledge of it, so that if nought comes +of it he may not chide me for being over careful of his person. You +will both, with sixteen of the band, accompany me. You will choose +two of your most trusty men to carry out the important matter of +securing our retreat. They will procure a boat capable of carrying +us all, and will take their place in the bend of the links of +Forth nearest to the castle, and will hoist, when the time comes, +a garment on an oar, so that we may make straight for the boat. The +ground is low and swampy, and if we get a fair start even mounted +men would scarce overtake us across it. I think, William, that the +last recruit who joined was from Stirling?" + +"He was, Sir Archie. His parents reside there. They are vendors of +wood, as I have heard him say." + +"It could not be better," Archie replied; "and seeing that they +have allowed their son to join us, they must surely be patriots. My +purpose is, that on the morning of the interview you shall appear +before the gates with a cart laden with firewood, and this you shall +take to the house of Campbell's father. There you will unload the +firewood, and store the arms hidden beneath it, placing them so +that they may be readily caught up in case of necessity. In twos +and threes, carrying eggs, fowls, firewood, and other articles, +as for sale, the rest of the band will come into the town, joining +themselves with parties of country people, so that the arrival of +so many lads unaccompanied will not attract notice. James Campbell +will go with you, and will show you the way to his father's house. +He will remain near the gate, and as the others enter will guide +them there, so that they will know where to run for their arms should +there be need. You must start tomorrow, so as to enter Stirling on +the next day and arrange with his father for the keeping of the +arms. His mother had best leave the town that evening. Should +nought occur she can return unsuspected; but should a tumult arise, +and the arms have to be used, his father must leave the town with +us. He shall be handsomely rewarded, and provision made for him +in the future. When you see me enter with Sir William, bid Jock +Farrell follow me at a little distance; he will keep me always in +sight, and if he see me lift my hand above my head he will run with +all speed to give you the news. On his arrival, you, Andrew, with +the half you command, will hurry up to my assistance; while you, +William, with the others, will fall suddenly upon the guard at the +gate, and will at all hazards prevent them from closing it, and so +cutting off our retreat, until we arrive. Seize, if you can, the +moment when a cart is passing in or out, and slay the horse in the +shafts, so that as he falls the cart will prevent the gate from +being closed, and so keep the way open, even should you not be able +to resist the English until we come up. Have all the band outside +Stirling on the night before, so that you will be able to make every +arrangement and obtain a cart in readiness for taking in the wood +and arms in the morning. Let all bring their bows and arrows, in +addition to pike and sword, for the missiles may aid us to keep the +soldiers at bay. Now, Andrew, repeat all my instructions, so that +I may be sure that you thoroughly understand my wishes, for any +small error in the plan might ruin the whole adventure." + +On the morning of the day fixed for the meeting Sir William Wallace, +accompanied by Archie, entered the gates of Stirling. Both were +attired as young farmers, and they attracted no special attention +from the guards. For a time they strolled about the streets. They +saw the gentlemen who had been invited by Sir Robert Cunninghame +arrive one by one. Others, too, known as being specially attached +to the English party, rode in, for the governor had invited those +who assembled at Cunninghame's to meet him afterwards in the castle +in order that he might hear the result of their deliberations; and +he had asked several others attached to the English party to be +present. + +When most of the gentlemen invited had entered Sir Robert Cunninghame's +Wallace boldly followed them; and Archie sat down on a doorstep +nearly opposite. Presently he saw two figures which he recognized +riding up the street, followed, as the others had been by four +armed retainers. They were Sir John Kerr and his son. Archie rose +at once, and turned down at a side street before they came up, as +a recognition of him would be fatal to all their plans. When they +had passed up the street to the castle he returned and resumed +his seat, feeling more uneasy than before, for the Kerrs had seen +Wallace in the affray at Lanark, and a chance meeting now would +betray him. An hour and a half passed, and then Archie saw the +Kerrs riding down the street from the castle. Again he withdrew +from sight, this time down an archway, whence he could still see +the door on the opposite side. Hitherto he had been wishing to see +it open and for Wallace to appear; and now he dreaded this above +all things. His worst fears were realized, for just as the horsemen +reached the spot the door opened, and Wallace stepped out. His +figure was too remarkable to avoid notice; and no sooner did Sir John +Kerr's eye fall upon him than he exclaimed, "The traitor Wallace! +Seize him, men; there is a high reward offered for him; and King +Edward will give honour and wealth to all who capture him." + +As Sir John spoke Archie darted across the street and placed himself +by Wallace's side, holding his hand high above his head as he did +so; and at the instant he saw Jock Farrell, who had been lounging +at a corner a few yards away, dart off down the street at the top +of his speed. + +Sir John and his retainers drew their swords and spurred forward; +but the horses recoiled from the flashing swords of Wallace and +his companion. + +"Dismount," Sir John shouted, setting the example; "cut them both +down; one is as bad as the other. Ten pounds to the man who slays +the young Forbes." + +Wallace cut down two of the retainers as they advanced against +them, and Archie badly wounded a third. Then they began to retreat +down the street; but by this time the sound of the fray had called +together many soldiers who were wandering in the streets; and these, +informed by Sir John's shouts of "Down with Wallace! Slay! Slay!" +that the dreaded Scotch leader was before them, also drew and joined +in the fight. As they came running up from both sides, Wallace +and Archie could retreat no further, but with their backs against +the wall kept their foes at bay in a semicircle by the sweep of +their swords. + +The fight continued by two or three minutes, when a sudden shout +was heard, and William Orr, with eight young fellows, fell upon the +English soldiers with their pikes. The latter, astonished at this +sudden onslaught, and several of their number being killed before +they had time to turn and defend themselves, fell back for a moment, +and Wallace and Archie joined their allies, and began to retreat, +forming a line of pikes across the narrow street. Wallace, Archie, +William Orr, and three of the stoutest of the band were sufficient +for the line, and the other five shot between them. So hard and +fast flew their arrows that several of the English soldiers were +slain, and the others drew back from the assault. + +Andrew Macpherson's sudden attack at the gate overpowered the guard, +and for a while he held possession of it, and following Archie's +instructions, slew a horse drawing a cart laden with flour in the +act of entering. Then the guard rallied, and, joined by other +soldiers who had run up, made a fierce attack upon him; but his +line of pikes drawn up across the gate defied their efforts to break +through. Wallace and his party were within fifty yards of the gate +when reinforcements from the castle arrived. Sir John Kerr, furious +at the prospect of his enemies again escaping him, headed them in +their furious rush. Wallace stepped forward beyond the line and +met him. With a great sweep of his mighty sword he beat down Sir +John's guard, and the blade descending clove helmet and skull, and +the knight fell dead in his tracks. + +"That is one for you, Archie," Wallace said, as he cut down a +man-at-arms. + +In vain did the English try to break through the line of pikes. +When they arrived within twenty yards of the gate, Wallace gave +the order, and the party turning burst through the English who were +attacking its defenders and united with them. + +"Fall back!" Wallace shouted, "and form without the gates. Your +leader and I will cover the retreat." + +Passing between the cart and the posts of the gates, the whole +party fell back. Once through, Wallace and Archie made a stand, and +even the bravest of the English did not venture to pass the narrow +portals, where but one could issue at a time. + +The band formed in good order and retreated at a rapid step. When +they reached a distance of about 300 yards, Wallace and Archie, +deeming that sufficient start had been gained, sprang away, and +running at the top of their speed soon rejoined them. + +"Now, Archie, what next?" Sir William asked; "since it is you who +have conjured up this army, doubtless your plans are laid as to what +shall next be done. They will have horsemen in pursuit as soon as +they remove the cart." + +"I have a boat in readiness on the river bank, Sir William. Once +across and we shall be safe. They will hardly overtake us ere we +get there, seeing how swampy is the ground below." + +At a slinging trot the party ran forward, and soon gained the +lower ground. They were halfway across when they saw a large body +of horsemen following in pursuit. + +"A little to the right, Sir William," Archie said; "you see that +coat flying from an oar; there is the boat." + +As Archie had expected, the swampy ground impeded the speed of +the horsemen. In vain the riders spurred and shouted, the horses, +fetlock deep, could make but slow advance, and before they reached +the bank the fugitives had gained the boat and were already halfway +across the stream. Then the English had the mortification of seeing +them land and march away quietly on the other side. + + + +Chapter IX The Battle of Stirling Bridge + + +Upon rejoining his force Sir William Wallace called the few knights +and gentlemen who were with him together, and said to them: + +"Methinks, gentlemen, that the woes of this contest should not fall +upon one side only. Every one of you here are outlawed, and if you +are taken by the English will be executed or thrown in prison for +life, and your lands and all belonging to you forfeited. It is time +that those who fight upon the other side should learn that they +too run some risk. Besides leading his vassals in the field against +us, Sir John Kerr twice in arms has attacked me, and done his best +to slay me or deliver me over to the English. He fell yesterday by +my hand at Stirling, and I hereby declare forfeit the land which +he held in the county of Lanark, part of which he wrongfully took +from Sir William Forbes, and his own fief adjoining. Other broad +lands he owns in Ayrshire, but these I will not now touch; but the +lands in Lanark, both his own fief and that of the Forbeses, I, +as Warden of Scotland, hereby declare forfeit and confiscated, and +bestow them upon my good friend, Sir Archie Forbes. Sir John Grahame, +do you proceed tomorrow with five hundred men and take possession +of the hold of the Kerrs. Sir Allan Kerr is still at Stirling, and +will not be there to defend it. Like enough the vassals will make +no resistance, but will gladly accept the change of masters. The +Kerrs have the reputation of being hard lords, and their vassals +cannot like being forced to fight against the cause of their country. +The hired men-at-arms may resist, but you will know how to make +short work of these. I ask you to go rather than Sir Archibald +Forbes, because I would not that it were said that he took the +Kerr's hold on his private quarrel. When you have captured it he +shall take a hundred picked men as a garrison. The place is strong. + +"Your new possessions, Archie, will, as you know, be held on +doubtful tenure. If we conquer, and Scotland is freed, I doubt in +no way that the king, whoever he may be, will confirm my grant. +If the English win, your land is lost, be it an acre or a county. +And now let me be the first to congratulate you on having won by +your sword and your patriotism the lands of your father, and on +having repaid upon your family's enemies the measure which they +meted to you. But you will still have to beware of the Kerrs. They +are a powerful family, being connected by marriage with the Comyns +of Badenoch, and other noble houses. Their lands in Ayr are as +extensive as those in Lanark, even with your father's lands added +to their own. However, if Scotland win the day the good work that +you have done should well outweigh all the influence which they +might bring to bear against you. + +"And now, Archie, I can, for a time, release you. Ere long Edward's +army will be pouring across the Border, and then I shall need every +good Scotchman's sword. Till then you had best retire to your new +estates, and spend the time in preparing your vassals to follow +you in the field, and in putting one or other of your castles in +the best state of defence you may. Methinks that the Kerr's hold +may more easily be made to withstand a lengthened siege than Glen +Cairn, seeing that the latter is commanded by the hill beside it. +Kerr's castle, too, is much larger and more strongly fortified. I +need no thanks," he continued, as Archie was about to express his +warm gratitude; "it is the Warden of Scotland who rewards your +services to the country; but Sir William Wallace will not forget +how you have twice stood beside him against overwhelming odds, and +how yesterday, in Stirling, it was your watchful care and thoughtful +precaution which alone saved his life." + +Archie's friends all congratulated him warmly, and the next morning, +with his own band, he started for Glen Cairn. Here the news that +he was once more their lawful chief caused the greatest delight. +It was evening when he reached the village, and soon great bonfires +blazed in the street, and as the news spread burned up from many +an outlying farm. Before night all the vassals of the estate came +in, and Glen Cairn and the village was a scene of great enthusiasm. + +Much as Archie regretted that he could not establish himself in +the hold of his father, he felt that Wallace's suggestion was the +right one. Glen Cairn was a mere shell, and could in no case be +made capable of a prolonged resistance by a powerful force. Whereas, +the castle of the Kerrs was very strong. It was a disappointment +to his retainers when they heard that he could not at once return +among them; but they saw the force of his reasons, and he promised +that if Scotland was freed and peace restored, he would again make +Glen Cairn habitable, and pass some of his time there. + +"In the meantime," he said, "I shall be but eight miles from you, +and the estate will be all one. But now I hope that for the next +three months every man among you will aid me -- some by personal +labour, some by sending horses and carts -- in the work of +strengthening to the utmost my new castle of Aberfilly, which I +wish to make so strong that it will long resist an attack. Should +Scotland be permanently conquered, which may God forfend, it could +not, of course, be held; but should we have temporary reverses we +might well hold out until our party again gather head." + +Every man on the estate promised his aid to an extent far beyond +that which Archie, as their feudal superior, had a right to demand +from them. They had had a hard time under the Kerrs, who had raised +all rents, and greatly increased their feudal services. They were +sure of good treatment should the Forbeses make good their position +as their lords, and were ready to make any sacrifices to aid them +to do so. + +Next morning a messenger arrived from Sir John Grahame, saying that +he had, during the night, stormed Aberfilly, and that with scarce +an exception all the vassals of the Kerrs -- when upon his arrival +on the previous day they had learned of his purpose in coming, +and of the disposition which Wallace had made of the estate -- had +accepted the change with delight, and had joined him in the assault +upon the castle, which was defended only by thirty men-at-arms. +These had all been killed, and Sir John invited Archie to ride +over at once and take possession. This he did, and found that the +vassals of the estate were all gathered at the castle to welcome +him. He was introduced to them by Sir John Grahame, and they +received Archie with shouts of enthusiasm, and all swore obedience +to him as their feudal lord. Archie promised them to be a kind +and lenient chief, to abate any unfair burdens which had been laid +upon them, and to respect all their rights. + +"But," he said, "just at first I must ask for sacrifices from you. +This castle is strong, but it must be made much stronger, and must +be capable of standing a continued siege in case temporary reverses +should enable the English to endeavour to retake it for their +friend, Sir Allan Kerr. My vassals at Glen Cairn have promised an +aid far beyond that which I can command, and I trust that you also +will extend your time of feudal service, and promise you a relaxation +in future years equivalent to the time you may now give." + +The demand was readily assented to, for the tenants of Aberfilly +were no less delighted than those of Glen Cairn to escape from the +rule of the Kerrs. Archie, accompanied by Sir John Grahame, now +made an inspection of the walls of his new hold. It stood just where +the counties of Linlithgow and Edinburgh join that of Lanark. It +was built on an island on a tributary of the Clyde. The stream was +but a small one, and the island had been artificially made, so that +the stream formed a moat on either side of it, the castle occupying +a knoll of ground which rose somewhat abruptly from the surrounding +country. The moat was but twelve feet wide, and Archie and Sir John +decided that this should be widened to fifty feet and deepened to +ten, and that a dam should be built just below the castle to keep +back the stream and fill the moat. The walls should everywhere be +raised ten feet, several strong additional flanking towers added, +and a work built beyond the moat to guard the head of the drawbridge. +With such additions Aberfilly would be able to stand a long siege +by any force which might assail it. + +Timber, stones, and rough labour there were in abundance, and +Wallace had insisted upon Archie's taking from the treasures which +had been captured from the enemy, a sum of money which would be +ample to hire skilled masons from Lanark, and to pay for the cement, +iron, and other necessaries which would be beyond the resources +of the estate. These matters in train, Archie rode to Lanark and +fetched his proud and rejoicing mother from Sir Robert Gordon's +to Aberfilly. She was accompanied by Sandy Graham and Elspie: the +former Archie appointed majordomo, and to be in command of the +garrison whenever he should be absent. + +The vassals were as good as their word. For three months the work +of digging, quarrying, cutting, and squaring timber and building +went on without intermission. There were upon the estates fully +three hundred ablebodied men, and the work progressed rapidly. When, +therefore, Archie received a message from Wallace to join him near +Stirling, he felt that he could leave Aberfilly without any fear +of a successful attack being made upon it in his absence. + +There was need, indeed, for all the Scotch, capable of bearing +arms, to gather round Wallace. Under the Earl of Surrey, the high +treasurer Cressingham, and other leaders, an army of 50,000 foot +and 1000 horse were advancing from Berwick, while 8000 foot and +300 horse under Earl Percy advanced from Carlisle. Wallace was +besieging the castle of Dundee when he heard of their approach, +and leaving the people of Dundee to carry on the siege under the +command of Sir Alexander Scrymgeour, he himself marched to defend +the only bridge by which Edward could cross the Forth, near Stirling. + +Thus far Surrey had experienced no resistance, and at the head +of so large and well appointed a force he might well feel sure +of success. A large proportion of his army consisted of veterans +inured to service in wars at home, in Wales, and with the French, +while the mail clad knights and men-at-arms looked with absolute +contempt upon the gathering which was opposed to them. This consisted +solely of popular levies of men who had left their homes and taken +up arms for the freedom of their country. They were rudely armed and +hastily trained. Of all the feudal nobles of Scotland who should have +led them, but one, Sir Andrew Moray, was present. Their commander +was still little more than a youth, who, great as was his individual +valour and prowess, had had no experience in the art of war on +a large scale; while the English were led by a general whose fame +was known throughout Europe. + +The Scots took up their station upon the high ground north of the +Forth, protected from observation by the precipitous hill immediately +behind Cambuskenneth Abbey and known as the Abbey Craig. In a bend +of the river, opposite the Abbey Craig, stood the bridge by which +the English army were preparing to cross. Archie stood beside +Wallace on the top of the craig, looking at the English array. + +"It is a fair sight," he said; "the great camp, with its pavilions, +its banners, and pennons, lying there in the valley, with the old +castle rising on the lofty rock behind them. It is a pity that such +a sight should bode evil to Scotland." + +"Yes," Wallace said; "I would that the camp lay where it is, but +that the pennons and banners were those of Scotland's nobles, and +that the royal lions floated over Surrey's tent. Truly that were +a sight which would glad a Scot's heart. When shall we see ought +like it? However, Archie," he went on in a lighter tone, "methinks +that that will be a rare camp to plunder." + +Archie laughed. "One must kill the lion before one talks of dividing +his skin," he said; "and truly it seems well nigh impossible that +such a following as yours, true Scots and brave men though they +be, yet altogether undisciplined and new to war, should be able to +bear the brunt of such a battle." + +"You are thinking of Dunbar," Wallace said; "and did we fight in +such a field our chances would be poor; but with that broad river +in front and but a narrow bridge for access, methinks that we can +render an account of them." + +"God grant it be so!" Archie replied; "but I shall be right glad +when the day is over." + +Three days before the battle the Steward of Scotland, the Earl of +Lennox, and others of the Scotch magnates entered Surrey's camp +and begged that he would not attack until they tried to induce the +people to lay down their arms. They returned, however, on the third +day saying that they would not listen to them, but that the next +day they would, themselves, join his army with their men-at-arms. +On leaving the camp that evening the Scotch nobles, riding homeward, +had a broil with some English soldiers, of whom one was wounded by +the Earl of Lennox. News being brought to Surrey, he resolved to +wait no longer, but gave orders that the assault should take place +on the following morning. At daybreak of the 11th of September, +1297, one of the outposts woke Wallace with the news that the English +were crossing the bridge. The troops were at once got under arms, +and were eager to rush down to commence the battle, but Wallace +restrained them. Five thousand Welsh foot soldiers crossed the +bridge, then there was a pause, and none were seen following them. +"Were we to charge down now, Sir William," Archie said, "surely we +might destroy that body before aid could come to them." + +"We could do, Archie, as you say," Wallace replied, "but such +a success would be of little worth, nay, would harm rather than +benefit us, for Surrey, learning that we are not altogether to be +despised, as he now believes, would be more prudent in future and +would keep his army in the flat country, where we could do nought +against it. No, to win much one must risk much, and we must wait +until half Surrey's army is across before we venture down against +them." + +Presently the Welsh were seen to retire again. Their movement had +been premature. Surrey was still asleep, and nothing could be done +until he awoke; when he did so the army armed leisurely, after which +Surrey bestowed the honour of knighthood upon many young aspirants. +The number of the Scots under Wallace is not certainly known; the +majority of the estimates place it below twenty thousand, and as +the English historian, who best describes the battle, speaks of it +as the defeat of the many by the few, it can certainly be assumed +that it did not exceed this number. + +Only on the ground of his utter contempt for the enemy can the +conduct of the Earl of Surrey, in attempting to engage in such a +position, be understood. The bridge was wide enough for but two, +or at most three, horsemen to cross abreast, and when those who had +crossed were attacked assistance could reach them but slowly from +the rear. + +The English knights and men-at-arms, with the Royal Standard and +the banner of the Earl of Surrey, crossed first. The men-at-arms +were followed by the infantry, who, as they passed, formed up on +the tongue of land formed by the winding of the river. + +When half the English army had passed Wallace gave the order to +advance. First Sir Andrew Moray, with two thousand men, descended +the hills farther to the right, and on seeing these the English +cavalry charged at once against them. The instant they did so +Wallace, with his main army, poured down from the craig impetuously +and swept away the English near the head of the bridge, taking +possession of the end, and by showers of arrows and darts preventing +any more from crossing. By this maneuver the whole of the English +infantry who had crossed were cut off from their friends and inclosed +in the narrow promontory. + +The English men-at-arms had succeeded in overthrowing the Scots, +against whom they had charged, and had pursued them some distance; +but upon drawing rein and turning to rejoin the army, they found +the aspect of affairs changed indeed. The troops left at the head +of the bridge were overthrown and destroyed. The royal banner and +that of Surrey were down, and the bridge in the possession of the +enemy. The men-at-arms charged back and strove in vain to recover +the head of the bridge. The Scots fought stubbornly; those in front +made a hedge of pikes, while those behind hurled darts and poured +showers of arrows into the English ranks. The greater proportion +of the men-at-arms were killed. One valiant knight alone, Sir +Marmaduke de Twenge, with his nephew and a squire, cut their way +through the Scots, and crossed the bridge. Many were drowned in +attempting to swim the river, one only succeeding in so gaining +the opposite side. + +The men-at-arms defeated, Wallace and the chosen band under him, +who had been engaged with them, joined those who were attacking the +English and Welsh, now cooped up in the promontory. Flushed with +the success already gained the Scots were irresistible, and almost +every man who had crossed was either killed or drowned in attempting +to swim the river. No sooner had he seen that the success in this +quarter was secure than Wallace led a large number of his followers +across the bridge. Here the English, who still outnumbered his army, +and who had now all the advantage of position which had previously +been on the side of the Scots, might have defended the bridge, or +in good order have given him battle on the other side. The sight, +however, of the terrible disaster which had befallen nearly half +their number before their eyes, without their being able to render +them the slightest assistance, had completely demoralized them, +and as soon as the Scotch were seen to be crossing the bridge they +fled in terror. A hot pursuit was kept up by the fleet footed and +lightly armed Scots, and great numbers of fugitives were slain. + +More than 20,000 English perished in the battle or flight, and the +remainder crossed the Border a mere herd of broken fugitives. + +The Earl of Surrey, before riding off the field, committed the charge +of the Castle of Stirling to Sir Marmaduke de Twenge, promising him +that he would return to his relief within ten weeks at the utmost. +All the tents, wagons, horses, provisions, and stores of the English +fell into the hands of their enemies, and every Scotch soldier +obtained rich booty. + +Cressingham was among the number killed. It was said by one +English historian, and his account has been copied by many others, +that Cressingham's body was flayed and his skin divided among the +Scots; but there appears no good foundation for the story, although +probably Cressingham, who had rendered himself peculiarly obnoxious +and hateful to the Scots, was hewn in pieces. But even were it +proved that the ill story is a true one, it need excite no surprise, +seeing the wholesale slaying, plundering, and burning which had +been carried on by the English, and that the Scottish prisoners +falling into their hands were often mutilated and tortured before +being executed and quartered. The English historians were fond of +crying out that the Scotch were a cruel and barbarous people whenever +they retaliated for the treatment which they suffered; but so far +from this being the case, it is probable that the Scotch, before +the first invasion of Edward, were a more enlightened and, for +their numbers, a more well-to-do people than the English. They had +for many years enjoyed peace and tranquillity, and under the long +and prosperous reign of Alexander had made great advances, while +England had been harassed by continuous wars and troubles at home +and abroad. Its warlike barons, when not engaged under its monarchs +in wars in Wales, Ireland, and France, occupied themselves in quarrels +with each other, or in struggles against the royal supremacy; and +although the higher nobles, with their mailclad followers, could +show an amount of chivalrous pomp unknown in Scotland, yet the +condition of the middle classes and of the agricultural population +was higher in Scotland than in England. + +Archie, as one of the principal leaders of the victorious army, +received a share of the treasure captured in the camp sufficient to +repay the money which he had had for the strengthening of the Castle +of Aberfilly, and on the day following the battle he received +permission from Sir William to return at once, with the 250 retainers +which he had brought into the field, to complete the rebuilding of +the castle. In another three months this was completed, and stores +of arms and munition of all kinds collected. + +Immediately after the defeat at Stirling Bridge, King Edward summoned +the Scottish nobles to join Brian Fitzallan, whom he appointed +governor of Scotland, with their whole forces, for the purpose of +putting down the rebellion. Among those addressed as his allies were +the Earls Comyn of Badenoch, Comyn of Buchan, Patrick of Dunbar, +Umfraville of Angus, Alexander of Menteith, Malise of Strathearn, +Malcolm of Lennox, and William of Sutherland, together with James +the Steward, Nicholas de la Haye, Ingelram de Umfraville, Richard +Fraser, and Alexander de Lindsay of Crawford. From this enumeration +it is clear that Wallace had still many enemies to contend with at +home as well as the force of England. Patrick of Dunbar, assisted +by Robert Bruce and Bishop Anthony Beck, took the field, but was +defeated. Wallace captured all the castles of the earl save Dunbar +itself, and forced him to fly to England; then the Scotch army +poured across the Border and retaliated upon the northern counties +for the deeds which the English had been performing in Scotland +for the last eight years. The country was ravaged to the very walls +of Durham and Carlisle, and only those districts which bought off +the invaders were spared. The title which had been bestowed upon +Wallace by a comparatively small number was now ratified by the +commonalty of the whole of Scotland; and associated with him was +the young Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell, whose father had been the +only Scotch noble who had fought at Stirling, and it is notable +that in some of the documents of the time Wallace gives precedence +to Andrew Moray. + +They proceeded to effect a military organization of the country, +dividing it up into districts, each with commanders and lieutenants. +Order was established and negotiations entered into for the mutual +safeguard of traders with the Hanse towns. + +The nobles who ventured to oppose the authority of Wallace and his +colleague were punished in some cases by the confiscation of lands, +which were bestowed upon Sir Alexander Scrymgeour and other loyal +gentlemen, and these grants were recognized by Bruce when he became +king. In these deeds of grant Wallace and Moray, although acting as +governors of Scotland, state that they do so in the name of Baliol +as king, although a helpless captive in England. For a short time +Scotland enjoyed peace, save that Earl Percy responded to the raids +made by the Scots across the Border, by carrying fire and sword +through Annandale; and the English writers who complain of the +conduct of the Scots, have no word of reprobation for the proclamation +issued to the soldiers on crossing the Border, that they were free +to plunder where they chose, nor as to the men and women slain, +nor the villages and churches committed to the flames. + + + +Chapter X The Battle of Falkirk + + +While Wallace was endeavouring to restore order in Scotland, Edward +was straining every nerve to renew his invasion. He himself was +upon the Continent, but he made various concessions to his barons +and great towns to induce them to aid him heartily, and issued writs +calling upon the whole nobility remaining at home, as they valued +his honour and that of England, to meet at York on January 20th, +"and proceed under the Earl of Surrey to repress and chastise the +audacity of the Scots." At the same time he despatched special +letters to those of the Scottish nobles who were not already in +England, commanding them to attend at the rendezvous. + +The call upon the Scotch nobles was not generally responded to. +They had lost much of their power over their vassals, many of whom +had fought under Wallace in spite of the abstention of their lords. +It was clear, too, that if they joined the English, and another +defeat of the latter took place, their countrymen might no longer +condone their treachery, but their titles and estates might be +confiscated. Consequently but few of them presented themselves at +York. There, however, the English nobles gathered in force. The +Earls of Surrey, Gloucester, and Arundel; the Earl Mareschal and +the great Constable were there; Guido, son of the Earl of Warwick, +represented his father. Percy was there, John de Wathe, John de +Seagrave, and very many other barons, the great array consisting +of 2000 horsemen heavily armed, 1200 light horsemen, and 100,000 +foot soldiers. + +Sir Aymer de Vallance, Earl of Pembroke, and Sir John Sieward, son +of the Earl of March, landed with an army in Fife, and proceeded +to burn and waste. They were met by a Scotch force under Wallace +in the forest of Black Ironside, and were totally defeated. + +Surrey's army crossed the Border, raised the siege of Roxburgh, +and advanced as far as Kelso. Wallace did not venture to oppose +so enormous a force, but wasted the country on every side so that +they could draw no provisions from it, and Surrey was forced to +fall back to Berwick; this town was being besieged by a Scottish +force, which retired at his approach. Here the English army halted +upon receipt of orders from Edward to wait his coming. He had hastily +patched up a peace with France, and, having landed at Sandwich, +summoned the parliament, and on the 27th of May issued writs to +as many as 154 of his great barons to meet him at Roxburgh on the +24th of June. Here 3000 cavalry, men and horses clothed in complete +armour; 4000 lighter cavalry, the riders being armed in steel but +the horses being uncovered; 500 splendidly mounted knights and +men-at-arms from Gascony; and at least 80,000 infantry assembled +together, with abundance of materials and munition of war of all +kinds. This huge army marched from Roxburgh, keeping near the coast, +receiving provisions from a fleet which sailed along beside them. +But in spite of this precaution it was grievously straitened, and +was delayed for a month near Edinburgh, as Wallace so wasted the +country that the army were almost famished, and by no efforts were +they able to bring on a battle with the Scots, whose rapid marches +and intimate acquaintance with the country baffled all the efforts +of the English leaders to force on an action. + +Edward was about to retreat, being unable any longer to subsist his +army, when the two Scottish Earls of Dunbar and Angus sent news to +the king that Wallace with his army was in Falkirk forest, about +six miles away, and had arranged to attack the camp on the following +morning. The English at once advanced and that evening encamped at +Linlithgow, and the next morning moved on against the Scots. + +Late in the evening Archie's scouts brought in the news to Wallace +that the English army was within three miles, and a consultation +was at once held between the leaders. Most of them were in favour +of a retreat; but Comyn of Badenoch, who had lately joined Wallace, +and had been from his rank appointed to the command of the cavalry, +with some of his associates, urged strongly the necessity for +fighting, saying that the men would be utterly dispirited at such +continual retreats, and that with such immensely superior cavalry +the English would follow them up and destroy them. To these arguments +Wallace, Sir John Grahame, and Sir John Stewart, yielded their own +opinions, and prepared to fight. They took up their position so +that their front was protected by a morass, and a fence of stakes +and ropes was also fixed across so as to impede the advance or +retreat of the English cavalry. The Scotch army consisted almost +entirely of infantry. These were about a third the number of those +of the English, while Comyn's cavalry were a thousand strong. + +The infantry were formed in three great squares or circles, the +front rank kneeling and the spears all pointing outwards. In the +space between these squares were placed the archers, under Sir John +Stewart. + +The English army was drawn up in three divisions, the first commanded +by the EarI Marechal, the Earl of Lincoln and Hereford; the second +by Beck, the warlike Bishop of Durham, and Sir Ralph Basset; +the third by the king himself. The first two divisions consisted +almost entirely of knights and men-at-arms; the third, of archers +and slingers. + +Wallace's plan of battle was that the Scottish squares should first +receive the brunt of the onslaught of the enemy, and that while +the English were endeavouring to break these the Scotch cavalry, +which were drawn up some distance in the rear, should fall upon +them when in a confused mass, and drive them against the fence or +into the morass. + +The first division of the English on arriving at the bog made a +circuit to the west. The second division, seeing the obstacle which +the first had encountered, moved round to the east, and both fell +upon the Scottish squares. The instant they were seen rounding +the ends of the morass, the traitor Comyn, with the whole of the +cavalry, turned rein and fled from the field, leaving the infantry +alone to support the whole brunt of the attack of the English. So +impetuous was the charge of the latter that Sir John Stewart and +his archers were unable to gain the shelter of the squares, and +he was, with almost all his men, slain by the English men-at-arms. +Thus the spearmen were left entirely to their own resources. + +Encouraged by Wallace, Grahame, Archie Forbes, and their other +leaders, the Scottish squares stood firmly, and the English cavalry +in vain strove to break the hedge of spears. Again and again the +bravest of the chivalry of England tried to hew a way through. The +Scots stood firm and undismayed, and had the battle lain between +them and the English cavalry, the day would have been theirs. But +presently the king, with his enormous body of infantry, arrived on +the ground, and the English archers and slingers poured clouds of +missiles into the ranks of the Scots; while the English spearmen, +picking up the great stones with which the ground was strewn, +hurled them at the front ranks of their foes. Against this storm +of missiles the Scottish squares could do nothing. Such armour +as they had was useless against the English clothyard arrows, and +thousands fell as they stood. + +Again and again they closed up the gaps in their ranks, but at last +they could no longer withstand the hail of arrows and stones, to +which they could offer no return. Some of them wavered. The gaps +in the squares were no longer filled up, and the English cavalry, +who had been waiting for their opportunity, charged into the midst +of them. No longer was there any thought of resistance. The Scots +fled in all directions. Numbers were drowned by trying to swim the +river Carron, which ran close by. Multitudes were cut down by the +host of English cavalry. + +Sir Archie Forbes was in the same square with Wallace, with a few +other mounted men. They dashed forward against the English as they +broke through the ranks of the spearmen, but the force opposed them +was overwhelming. + +"It is of no use, Archie; we must retire. Better that than throw +away our lives uselessly. All is lost now." + +Wallace shouted to the spearmen, who gallantly rallied round him, +and, keeping together in spite of the efforts of the English cavalry, +succeeded in withdrawing from the field. The other squares were +entirely broken and dispersed, and scarce a man of them escaped. + +Accounts vary as to the amount of the slaughter, some English +writers placing it as double that of the army which Wallace could +possibly have brought into the field, seeing that the whole of the +great nobles stood aloof, and that Grahame, Stewart, and Macduff of +Fife were the only three men of noble family with him. All these +were slain, together with some 25,000 infantry. + +Wallace with about 5000 men succeeded in crossing a ford of the +Carron, and the English spread themselves over the country. The +districts of Fife, Clackmannan, Lanark, Ayr, and all the surrounding +country were wasted and burnt, and every man found put to the sword. +The Scotch themselves in retreating destroyed Stirling and Perth, +and the English found the town of St. Andrew's deserted, and burnt +it to the ground. + +No sooner had Wallace retreated than he divided his force into +small bands, which proceeded in separate directions, driving off the +cattle and destroying all stores of grain, so that in a fortnight +after the battle of Falkirk the English army were again brought +to a stand by shortness of provisions, and were compelled to fall +back again with all speed to the mouth of the Forth, there to obtain +provisions from their ships. As they did so Wallace reunited his +bands, and pressed hard upon them. At Linlithgow he fell upon their +rear and inflicted heavy loss, and so hotly did he press them that +the great army was obliged to retreat rapidly across the Border, +and made no halt until it reached the fortress of Carlisle. + +That it was compulsion alone which forced Edward to make his +speedy retreat we may be sure from the fact that after the victory +of Dunbar he was contented with nothing less than a clean sweep +of Scotland to its northern coast, and that he repeated the same +process when, in the year following the battle of Falkirk, he again +returned with a mighty army. Thus decisive as was the battle of +Falkirk it was entirely abortive in results. + +When the English had crossed the Border, Wallace assembled the few +gentlemen who were still with him, and announced his intention of +resigning the guardianship of Scotland, and of leaving the country. +The announcement was received with exclamations of surprise and +regret. + +"Surely, Sir William," Archie exclaimed, "you cannot mean it. You +are our only leader; in you we have unbounded confidence, and in +none else. Had it not been for the treachery of Comyn the field of +Falkirk would have been ours, for had the horse charged when the +English were in confusion round our squares they had assuredly been +defeated. Moreover, your efforts have retrieved that disastrous +field, and have driven the English across the Border." + +"My dear Archie," Wallace said, "it is because I am the only leader +in whom you have confidence that I must needs go. I had vainly hoped +that when the Scottish nobles saw what great things the commonalty +were able to do, and how far, alone and unaided, they had cleared +Scotland of her tyrants, they would have joined us with their +vassals; but you see it is not so. The successes that I have gained +have but excited their envy against me. Of them all only Grahame, +Stewart, and Macduff stood by my side, while all the great earls +and barons either held aloof or were, like Bruce, in the ranks of +Edward's army, or like Comyn and his friends, joined me solely to +betray me. I am convinced now that it is only a united Scotland can +resist the power of England, and it is certain that so long as I +remain here Scotland never can be united. Of Bruce I have no longer +any hope; but if I retire Comyn may take the lead, and many at +least of the Scottish nobles will follow him. Had we but horsemen +and archers to support our spearmen, I would not fear the issue; +but it is the nobles alone who can place mounted men-at-arms in +the field. Of bowmen we must always be deficient, seeing that our +people take not naturally to this arm as do the English; but with +spearmen to break the first shock of English chivalry, and with +horsemen to charge them when in confusion, we may yet succeed, but +horsemen we shall never get so long as the nobles hold aloof. It +is useless to try and change my decision, my friends. Sore grief +though it will be to me to sheathe my sword and to stand aloof +when Scotland struggles for freedom, I am convinced that only by my +doing so has Scotland a chance of ultimate success in the struggle. +Do not make it harder for me by your pleadings. I have thought long +over this, and my mind is made up. My heart is well nigh broken by +the death of my dear friend and brother in arms, Sir John Grahame, +and I feel able to struggle no longer against the jealousy and +hostility of the Scottish nobles." + +Wallace's hearers were all in tears at his decision, but they felt +that there was truth in his words, that the Scottish nobles were +far more influenced by feelings of personal jealousy and pique than +by patriotism, and that so long as Wallace remained the guardian +of Scotland they would to a man side with the English. The next day +Wallace assembled all his followers, and in a few words announced +his determination, and the reasons which had driven him to take +it. He urged them to let no feelings of resentment at the treatment +he had experienced, or any wrath at the lukewarmness and treachery +which had hitherto marked the Scottish nobles, overcome their feeling +of patriotism, but to follow these leaders should they raise the +banner of Scotland, as bravely and devotedly as they had followed +him. + +Then he bade them farewell, and mounting his horse rode to the +seacoast and passed over to France. + +Although he had retired from Scotland, Wallace did not cease from +war against the English; but being warmly received by the French +king fought against them both by sea and land, and won much renown +among the French. + +After returning to England, Edward, finding that the Scottish leaders +still professed to recognize Baliol as king, sent him to the pope +at Rome, having first confiscated all his great possessions in +England and bestowed them upon his own nephew, John of Brittany; +and during the rest of his life Baliol lived in obscurity in Rome. +A portion of the Scotch nobles assembled and chose John Comyn of +Badenoch and John de Soulis as guardians of the kingdom. In the +autumn of the following year Edward again assembled a great army +and moved north, but it was late; and in the face of the approaching +winter, and the difficulty of forage, many of the barons refused +to advance. Edward himself marched across the Border; but seeing +that the Scots had assembled in force, and that at such a season +of the year he could not hope to carry his designs fully into +execution, he retired without striking a blow. Thereupon the castle +of Stirling, which was invested by the Scots, seeing no hope of +relief, surrendered, and Sir William Oliphant was appointed governor. + +The next spring Edward again advanced with an army even greater +than that with which he had before entered Scotland. With him were +Alexander of Baliol, son of the late king, who was devoted to the +English; Dunbar, Fraser, Ross, and other Scottish nobles. The vast +army first laid siege to the little castle of Carlaverock, which, +although defended by but sixty men, resisted for some time the +assaults of the whole army, but was at last captured. The Scots +fell back as Edward advanced, renewing Wallace's tactics of wasting +the country, and Edward could get no further than Dumfries. Here, +finding the enormous difficulties which beset him, he made a pretence +of yielding with a good grace to the entreaties of the pope and the +King of France that he would spare Scotland; he retired to England +and disbanded his army, having accomplished nothing in the campaign +save the capture of Carlaverock. + +The following summer he again advanced with the army, this time +supported by a fleet of seventy ships. The Scots resorted to their +usual strategy, and, when winter came, the invaders had penetrated +no further than the Forth. Edward remained at Linlithgow for a +time, and then returned to England. Sir Simon Fraser, who had been +one of the leaders of the English army at Carlaverock, now imitated +Comyn's example, and, deserting the English cause, joined his +countrymen. + +The greater part of the English army recrossed the Border, and the +Scots captured many of the garrisons left in the towns. Sir John +Seagrave next invaded Scotland with from 20,000 to 30,000 men, mostly +cavalry. They reached the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, when Comyn +and Fraser advanced against them with 8000 men, chiefly infantry. +The English army were advancing in three divisions, in order +better to obtain provisions and forage. After a rapid night march +the Scotch came upon one of them, commanded by Seagrave in person; +and conceiving himself sufficiently strong to defeat the Scots unaided +by any of the other divisions, Sir John Seagrave immediately gave +battle. + +As at Falkirk, the English cavalry were unable to break through +the Scottish pikes. Great numbers were killed or taken prisoners, +Seagrave himself being severely wounded and captured, with +twenty distinguished knights, thirty esquires, and many soldiers. +Scarcely was the battle over when the second English division, even +stronger than the first, arrived on the field. Encumbered by their +prisoners, the Scots were at a disadvantage; and fearing to be attacked +by these in the rear while engaged in front, they slaughtered the +greater portion of the prisoners, and arming the camp followers, +prepared to resist the English onslaught. This failed as the first +had done; the cavalry were defeated with great loss by the spearmen, +and many prisoners taken -- among them Sir Ralph Manton. + +The third English division now appeared; and the Scots, worn out +by their long march and the two severe conflicts they had endured, +were about to fly from the field when their leaders exhorted them +to one more effort. The second batch of prisoners were slaughtered, +and the pikemen again formed line to resist the English charge. +Again were the cavalry defeated, Sir Robert Neville, their leader, +slain, with many others, and the whole dispersed and scattered. +Sir Robert Manton, who was the king's treasurer, had had a quarrel +with Fraser, when the latter was in Edward's service, regarding +his pay; and Fraser is said by some historians to have now revenged +himself by slaying his prisoner. Other accounts, however, represent +Manton as having escaped. + +The slaughter of the prisoners appears, although cruel, to have +been unavoidable; as the Scots, having before them a well appointed +force fully equal to their own in number, could not have risked +engaging, with so large a body of prisoners in their rear. None of +the knights or other leaders were slain, these being subsequently +exchanged or ransomed, as we afterwards find them fighting in the +English ranks. + +Seeing by this defeat that a vast effort was necessary to conquer +Scotland, King Edward advanced in the spring of 1303 with an army +of such numbers that the historians of the time content themselves +with saying that "it was great beyond measure." It consisted of +English, Welsh, Irish, Gascons, and Savoyards. One division, under +the Prince of Wales, advanced by the west coast; that of the king, +by the east; and the two united at the Forth. Without meeting any +serious resistance the great host marched north through Perth and +Dundee to Brechin, where the castle, under the charge of Sir Thomas +Maille, resisted for twenty days; and it was only after the death +of the governor that it surrendered. + +The English then marched north through Aberdeen, Banff, and Moray +into Caithness, carrying utter destruction everywhere; towns and +hamlets, villages and farmhouses were alike destroyed; crops were +burned, forests and orchards cut down. Thus was the whole of Scotland +wasted; and even the rich abbeys of Abberbredok and Dunfermline, +the richest and most famous in Scotland, were destroyed, and the +whole levelled to the ground. The very fields were as far as possible +injured -- the intention of Edward being, as Fordun says, to blot +out the people, and to reduce the land to a condition of irrecoverable +devastation, and thus to stamp out for ever any further resistance +in Scotland. + +During the three years which had elapsed since the departure +of Wallace, Archie had for the most part remained quietly in his +castle, occupying himself with the comfort and wellbeing of his +vassals. He had, each time the English entered Scotland, taken the +field with a portion of his retainers, in obedience to the summons +of Comyn. The latter was little disposed to hold valid the grants +made by Wallace, especially in the case of Archie Forbes, the Kerrs +being connections of his house; but the feeling of the people in +general was too strongly in favour of the companion of Wallace for +him to venture to set it aside, especially as the castle could not +be captured without a long continued siege. Archie and many of the +nobles hostile to the claims of Comyn obeyed his orders, he being +the sole possible leader, at present, of Scotland. Edward, however, +had left them no alternative, since he had, in order to induce +the English nobles to follow him, formally divided among them the +lands of the whole of the Scotch nobles, save those actually fighting +in his ranks. + +Archie was now nearly three-and-twenty, and his frame had fully +borne out the promise of his youth. He was over the average height, +but appeared shorter from the extreme breadth of his shoulders; +his arms were long and sinewy, and his personal strength immense. + +From the time of his first taking possession of Aberfilly he had +kept a party of men steadily engaged in excavating a passage from +the castle towards a wood a mile distant. The ground was soft and +offered but few obstacles, but the tunnel throughout its whole +length had to be supported by massive timbers. Wood, however, was +abundant, and the passage had by this time been completed. Whenever, +from the length of the tunnel, the workmen began to suffer from +want of air, ventilation was obtained by running a small shaft +up to the surface; in this was placed a square wooden tube of six +inches in diameter, round which the earth was again filled in -- a +few rapidly growing plants and bushes being planted round the +orifice to prevent its being noticed by any passerby. + + + +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 not +call out the levies. Upon the approach of the English army under +the Prince of Wales he called the whole of his tenants into the +castle. Great stores of provisions had already been collected. The +women and children were sent away up into the hills, where provisions +had also been garnered, and the old men and boys accompanied them. +As the Prince of Wales passed north, bands from his army spreading +over the country destroyed every house in the district. Archie was +summoned to surrender, but refused to do so; and the prince, being +on his way to join his father on the Forth, after himself surveying +the hold, and judging it far too strong to be carried without +a prolonged siege, marched forward, promising on his return to +destroy it. Soon afterwards Archie received a message that Wallace +had returned. He at once took with him fifty men, and leaving the +castle in charge of Sandy Graham, with the rest of his vassals, two +hundred and fifty in number, he rejoined his former leader. Many +others gathered round Wallace's standard; and throughout Edward's +march to the north and his return to the Forth Wallace hung upon +his flanks, cutting off and slaying great numbers of the marauders, +and striking blows at detached bands wherever these were in numbers +not too formidable to be coped with. + +Stirling was now the only great castle which remained in the hands +of the Scotch, and King Edward prepared to lay siege to this. Save +for the band of Wallace there was no longer any open resistance in +the field. A few holds like those of Archie Forbes still remained +in the hands of their owners, their insignificance, or the time +which would be wasted in subduing them, having protected them from +siege. 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 adherents +surrendered upon promise of their lives and freedom, and that they +should retain their estates, subject to a pecuniary fine. All the +nobles of Scotland were included in this capitulation, save a few +who were condemned to suffer temporary banishment. Sir William +Wallace alone was by name specially exempted from the surrender. + +Stirling Castle was invested on the 20th of April, 1304, and for +seventy days held out against all the efforts of Edward's army. +Warlike engines of all kinds had been brought from England for +the siege. The religious houses of St. Andrews, Brechin, and other +churches were stripped of lead for the engines. The sheriffs of +London, Lincoln, York, and the governor of the Tower were ordered +to collect and forward all the mangonels, quarrels, and bows and +arrows they could gather; and for seventy days missiles of all +kinds, immense stones, leaden balls, and javelins were rained upon +the castle; and Greek fire -- a new and terrible mode of destruction +-- was also used in the siege. But it was only when their provisions +and other resources were exhausted that the garrison capitulated; +and it was found that the survivors of the garrison which had +defended Stirling Castle for upwards of three months against the +whole force of England numbered, including its governor, Sir William +Oliphant, and twenty-four knights and gentlemen, but a hundred and +twenty soldiers, two monks, and thirteen females. + +During the siege Wallace had kept the field, but Archie had, at +his request, returned to his castle, which being but a day's march +from Stirling, might at any moment be besieged. Several times, +indeed, parties appeared before it, but Edward's hands were too +full, and he could spare none of the necessary engines to undertake +such a siege; and when Stirling at length fell he and his army +were in too great haste to return to England to undertake another +prolonged siege, especially as Aberfilly, standing in a retired +position, and commanding none of the principal roads, was a hold +of no political importance. + +A short time afterwards, to Archie's immense grief, Sir William +Wallace was betrayed into the hands of the English. Several +Scotchmen took part in this base act, the principal being Sir John +Menteith. Late historians, in their ardour to whitewash those who +have for ages been held up to infamy, have endeavoured to show that +Sir John Menteith was not concerned in the matter; but the evidence +is overwhelming the other way. Scotch opinion at the time, and +for 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, and +their account is confirmed by contemporary English writings. The +Chronicle of Lanercost, the Arundel MSS., written about the year +1320, and the Scala Chronica, all distinctly say that Wallace was +seized by Sir John Menteith; and finally, Sir Francis Palgrave has +discovered in the memoranda of the business of the privy council +that forty marks were bestowed upon the young man who spied out +Wallace, sixty marks were divided among some others who assisted +in his capture, and that to Sir John Menteith was given land of +the annual value of one hundred pounds -- a very large amount in +those days. + +The manner in which Wallace was seized is uncertain; but he was at +once handed by Sir John Menteith to Sir John Seagrave, and carried +by him to London. He was taken on horseback to Westminster, the +mayor, sheriffs, and aldermen, with a great number of horse and +foot, accompanying him. There the mockery of a trial was held, +and he was in one day tried, condemned, and executed. He defended +himself nobly, urging truly that, as a native born Scotsman, he +had never sworn fealty or allegiance to England, and that he was +perfectly justified in fighting for the freedom of his country. + +Every cruelty attended his execution. He was drawn through the +streets at the tails of horses; he was hung for some time by a +halter, but was taken down while yet alive; he was mutilated and +disembowelled, his head then cut off, his body divided in four, +his head impaled over London Bridge, and his quarters distributed +to four principal towns in Scotland. Such barbarities were common +at executions in the days of the Norman kings, who have been +described 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 he +aroused the spirit of his countrymen, and in spite of the opposition +of the whole of the nobles of his country banded the people in +resistance against England, and for a time wrested all Scotland from +the hands of Edward. His bitter enemies the English were unable to +adduce any proofs that the epithets of ferocious and bloodthirsty, +with which they were so fond of endowing him, had even a shadow +of foundation, and we may rather believe the Scotch accounts that +his gentleness and nobility of soul were equal to his valour. Of +his moderation and wisdom when acting as governor of Scotland there +can be no doubt, while the brilliant strategy which first won the +battle of Stirling, and would have gained that of Falkirk had not +the treachery and cowardice of the cavalry ruined his plans, show +that under other circumstances he would have taken rank as one of +the greatest commanders of his own or any age. + +He first taught his countrymen, and indeed Europe in general, that +steady infantry can repel the assaults even of mailclad cavalry. +The lesson was followed at Bannockburn by Bruce, who won under +precisely the same circumstances as those under which Wallace had +been defeated, simply because at the critical moment he had 500 +horse at hand to charge the disordered mass of the English, while +at Falkirk Wallace's horse, who should have struck the blow, were +galloping far away from the battlefield. Nor upon his English +conquerors was the lesson lost, for at Cressy, when attacked by +vastly superior numbers, Edward III dismounted his army, and ordered +them to fight on foot, and the result gave a death blow to that +mailed chivalry which had come to be regarded as the only force +worth reckoning in a battle. The conduct of Edward to Wallace, +and later to many other distinguished Scotchmen who fell into his +hands, is a foul blot upon the memory of one of the greatest of +the kings of England. + +Edward might now well have believed that Scotland was crushed for +ever. In ten years no less than twelve great armies had marched +across the Border, and twice the whole country had been ravaged +from sea to sea, the last time so effectually, that Edward had +good ground for his belief that the land would never again raise +its 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, of +whom twenty-one were English and ten so called Scotch, among them +Sir John Menteith, to carry out his ordinances. All the places of +strength were occupied by English garrisons. The high officers and +a 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 death +of his father, Lord of Annandale and Carrick; and Edward addressed +a proclamation to him, headed, "To our faithful and loyal Robert +de Bruce, Earl of Carrick, and all others who are in his company, +greeting;" and went on to say that he possessed the king's fullest +confidence. But though Scotland lay prostrate, the spirit of +resistance yet lingered in the hearts of the commonalty. Although +conquered now the memory of their past success still inspired them, +but until some leader presented himself none could stir. It was in +August that Wallace had been executed. Archie had received several +summonses from the English governors of Stirling and Lanark to +come in and do homage to Edward, but he had resolutely declined, +and the task of capturing his castle was too heavy a one to +be undertaken by any single garrison; still he saw that the time +must come, sooner or later, when he would have to choose between +surrender and death. When matters settled down it was certain that +a great effort would be made to root out the one recalcitrant south +of the Forth. For some time he remained gloomy and thoughtful, +a mood most unusual to him, and his mother, who was watching him +anxiously, was scarcely surprised when one day he said to her: + +"Mother, I must leave you for a time. Matters can no longer continue +as they are. Surrender to the English I will not, and there remains +for me but to defend this castle to the last, and then to escape +to France; or to cross thither at once, and enter the service of +the French king, as did Wallace. Of these courses I would fain take +the latter, seeing that the former would bring ruin and death upon +our vassals, who have ever done faithful service when called upon, +and whom I would not see suffer for my sake. In that case I should +propose that you should return and live quietly with Sir Robert +Gordon until times change." + +Dame Forbes agreed with her son, for she had long felt that further +resistance 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 Aberfilly +back again to the Kerrs. Ask me not what it is, for it were best +that if it fail you should not know of it. There is no danger in +the enterprise, but for a month I shall be absent. On my return +you shall hear my final resolve." + +Having attired himself as a lowland farmer, Archie proceeded to +Edinburgh, and there took ship for London; here he took lodgings +at an inn, which he had been told in Edinburgh was much frequented +by Scotchmen who had to go to London on business. His first care +was to purchase the garments of an English gentleman of moderate +means, so that he could pass through the streets without attracting +attention. + +He was greatly impressed with the bustle and wealth of London. + +"It is wonderful," he said to himself, "that we Scots, who were +after all but an army of peasants, could for nigh ten years have +supported a war against such a country as this, and it seems madness +to adventure farther in that way. If my present errand fails I will +assuredly 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 at +the final termination of hostilities with Scotland, now secured by +the execution of Wallace. He despatched a letter to the earl by +a messenger from the inn, saying that one who had formerly known +him in Scotland desired earnestly to speak to him on matters of +great import, and begging him to grant a private interview with him +at 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 the +writer at his lodging at nine o'clock on the following morning. + +At the appointed time Archie presented himself at the house inhabited +by Bruce. To the request of the earl's retainer for his name and +business he replied that his name mattered not, but that he had +received a message from the earl appointing him a meeting at that +hour. + +Two minutes later he was ushered into the private cabinet of Robert +Bruce. The latter was seated writing, and looked up at his unknown +visitor. + +"Do you remember me, Sir Robert Bruce?" Archie asked. + +"Methinks I know your face, sir," the earl replied, "but I cannot +recall where I have seen it." + +"It is five years since," Archie said, "and as that time has changed +me from a youth into a man I wonder not that my face has escaped +you." + +"I know you now!" the earl exclaimed, rising suddenly from his +seat. "You are Sir Archibald Forbes?" + +"I am," Archie replied, "and I have come now on the same errand I +came then -- the cause of our country. The English think she is +dead, but, though faint and bleeding, Scotland yet lives; but there +is 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 give +much, ay all that I have, were my record one of as true patriotism +and sacrifice as yours, yet it were madness to listen to you. Have +I not," he asked bitterly, "earned the hatred of my countrymen? +Have I not three times raised my standard only to lower it again +without striking a blow? Did I not fight by Edward at the field +of Falkirk? Ah!" he said in a changed tone, "never shall I forget +the horror which I felt as I passed over the field strewn with +Scottish corpses. Truly my name must be loathed in Scotland; and +yet, Sir Archibald, irresolute and false as I have hitherto proved +myself, believe me, I love Scotland, the land of my mother." + +"I believe you, sir," Archie said, "and it is therefore that I +implore 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 courtier +of Edward. Wallace is dead. Comyn proved weak and incapable, and +was unable to rally the people to offer any opposition to Edward's +last march. Scotland needs a leader strong and valiant as Wallace, +capable of uniting around him a large body, at least, of the Scotch +nobles, and having some claim to her crown. You know not, sir, how +deep is the hatred of the English. The last terrible incursion of +Edward has spread that feeling far and wide, and while before it was +but in a few counties of the lowlands that the flame of resistance +really burnt, this time, believe me, that all Scotland, save perhaps +the Comyns and their adherents, would rise at the call. I say not +that success would at once attend you, for, forgive me for saying +so, the commonalty would not at first trust you; but when they saw +that you were fighting for Scotland as well as for your own crown, +that you had, by your action, definitely and for ever broken with +the 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 and +Annandale are a goodly array in themselves and the young Douglas +might be counted on to bring his dalesmen to your banner. There +are all the lords who have favoured your cause, and so stood aloof +from Comyn. You will have a good array to commence with; but above +all, even if unsuccessful at first, all Scotland would come in +time to regard you as her king and champion. Resistance will never +cease, for even Wallace was ever able to assemble bands and make +head against the English, so will it be with you, until at last +freedom is achieved, and you will reign a free king over a free +Scotland, and your name will be honoured to all time as the champion +and deliverer of our country. Think not, sir," he went on earnestly +as Bruce paced up and down the little room, "that it is too late. +Other Scotchmen, Fraser and many others, who have warred in the +English ranks, have been joyfully received when at length they +drew sword for Scotland. Only do you stand forth as our champion, +believe me, that the memory of former weakness will be forgotten +in the admiration of present patriotism." + +For two or three minutes Bruce strode up and down the room; then +he 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 attend the enterprise, +but, be that as it may, I will attempt it, win or die. The memory +of Robert Bruce shall go down in the hearts of Scotchmen as one +who, whatever his early errors, atoned for them at last by living +and dying in her cause. My sisters and brothers have long urged me +to take such a step, but I could never bring myself to brave the +power 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 blow +upon them will assuredly at first be wholly successful. You must +withdraw suddenly and quietly from here." + +"It is not easy to do so," Bruce replied. "Although high in favour +with Edward, he has yet some suspicions of me -- not," he said +bitterly, "without just cause -- and would assuredly arrest me did +he know that I were going north. My only plan will be to appear +at court as usual, while I send down relays of horses along the +northern road. You will ride with me, Sir Archie, will you not? +But I must tell you that I have already, in some degree, prepared +for a movement in Scotland. Comyn and I have met and have talked +over the matter. Our mutual claims to the crown stood in the way, +but we have agreed that one shall yield to the other, and that +whoso takes the crown shall give all his lands to be the property +of the other, in consideration of his waiving his claim and giving +his support. This we have agreed to, and have signed a mutual bond +to that effect, and though it is not so writ down we have further +agreed that I shall have the crown and that Comyn shall take Carrick +and Annandale; but this was for the future, and we thought not of +any movement for the present.'' + +"It were a bad bargain, sir," Archie said gravely; "and one that I +trust will never be carried out. The Comyns are even now the most +powerful nobles in Scotland, and with Carrick and Annandale in +addition to their own broad lands, would be masters of Scotland, +let who would be called her king. Did he displease them, they +could, with their vassals and connections, place a stronger army +in the field than that which the king could raise; and could at any +moment, did he anger them, call in the English to his aid, and so +again lay Scotland under the English yoke." + +"I will think of it, Sir Archie. There is much in what you say, and +I sorely doubt the Comyns. Henceforth do not fear to give me your +advice freely. You possessed the confidence of Wallace, and have +shown yourself worthy of it. Should I ever free Scotland and win +me a kingdom, believe me you will not find Robert Bruce ungrateful. +I will give orders tomorrow for the horses to be privately +sent forward, so that at any hour we can ride if the moment seem +propitious; meanwhile I pray you to move from the hostelry in the +city, where your messenger told me you were staying, to one close +at hand, in order that I may instantly communicate with you in case +of need. I cannot ask you to take up your abode here, for there +are 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 at +the court throng the inns of the city of Westminster, one figure +more or less would excite neither question nor comment." + +That afternoon Archie took up his abode at Westminster. A week +later one of Bruce's retainers came in just as Archie was about to +retire to bed, and said that the Earl of Carrick wished immediately +to see Master Forbes. Sir Archie had retained his own name while +dropping the title. He at once crossed, to Bruce's lodging. + +"We must mount at once!" the earl exclaimed as he entered. "What +think you? I have but now received word from a friend, who is +a member of the council, to say that this afternoon a messenger +arrived from the false Comyn with a letter to the king, containing +a copy of the bond between us. Whether the coward feared the +consequences, or whether he has all along acted in treachery with +the view of bringing me into disgrace, and so ridding himself of +a rival, I know not; but the result is the same, he has disclosed +our plans to Edward. A council was hastily called, and it has but +just separated. It is to meet again in the morning, and the king +himself will be present. I am to be summoned before it, being, as +it is supposed, in ignorance of the betrayal of my plans. It was +well for me that Edward himself had pressing engagements, and was +unable to be present at the council. Had he been, prompt steps would +have been taken, and I should by this time be lying a prisoner in +the Tower. Even now I may be arrested at any moment. Have you aught +for which you wish to return to your inn?" + +"No," Archie replied. "I have but a change of clothing there, which +is of no importance, and we had best lose not a moment's time. But +there is the reckoning to discharge." + +"I will give orders," the earl said, "that it shall be discharged +in the morning. Now let us without a moment's delay make to the +stables 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 to +the stable at once, and order Roderick to saddle the two bay horses +in the stalls at the end of the stables. Tell him to be speedy, for +I shall be with him anon. He is not bring them round here. I will +mount in the court." + +Five minutes later Bruce and Archie, enveloped in thick cloaks +with hoods drawn over their faces, rode north from Westminster. At +first they went slowly, but as soon as they were out in the fields +they set spur to their horses and galloped on in the darkness. + +The snow lay thick upon the ground, and the roads were entirely +deserted. + +"Farewell to London!" Bruce exclaimed. "Except as a prisoner I +shall 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's +treachery has made my action irrevocable -- it is now indeed death +or victory!" + +All night they rode without drawing rein, save that they once +changed horses where a relay had been provided. They had little +fear of pursuit, for even when Bruce's absence was discovered none +of his household would be able to say where he had gone, and some +time must elapse before the conviction that he had ridden for +Scotland, in such weather, would occur to the king. Nevertheless, +they travelled fast, and on the 10th of February entered Dumfries. + + + +Chapter XII The Battle of Methven + + +Bruce had, during the previous week, sent messages saying to several +of his friends in Annandale and Carrick that he might at any time +be among them, and at Dumfries he found many of them prepared to +see him. The English justiciaries for the southern district of the +conquered kingdom were holding an assize, and at this most of the +nobles and principal men of that part were present. Among these +were, of course, many of Bruce's vassals; among them also was John +Comyn of Badenoch, who held large estates in Galloway, in virtue +of which he was now present. + +As soon as the news that Bruce had arrived in the town spread, his +adherents and vassals there speedily gathered round him, and as, +accompanied by several of them, he went through the town he met +Comyn in the precincts of the Grey Friars. Concerning this memorable +meeting there has been great dispute among historians. Some have +charged Bruce with inviting Comyn to meet him, with the deliberate +intention of slaying him; others have represented the meeting as +accidental, and the slaying of Comyn as the result of an outburst +of passion on the part of Bruce; but no one who weighs the facts, +and considers the circumstances in which Comyn was placed, can feel +the least question that the latter is the true hypothesis. + +Bruce, whose whole course shows him to have been a man who acted +with prudence and foresight, would have been nothing short of mad had +he, just at the time when it was necessary to secure the goodwill +of the whole of the Scotch nobles, chosen that moment to slay Comyn, +with whom were connected, by blood or friendship, the larger half +of the Scotch nobles. Still less, had he decided upon so suicidal +a course, would he have selected a sanctuary as the scene of the +deed. To slay his rival in such a place would be to excite against +himself the horror and aversion of the whole people, and to enlist +against him the immense authority and influence of the church. +Therefore, unless we should conclude that Bruce -- whose early +career showed him to be a cool and calculating man, and whose future +course was marked throughout with wisdom of the highest character +-- was suffering from an absolute aberration of intellect, we must +accept the account by those who represent the meeting as accidental, +and the slaying as the result of an outburst of passion provoked +by Comyn's treachery, as the correct one. + +When Bruce saw Comyn approaching he bade his followers stop where +they were and advanced towards Comyn, who was astonished at his +presence. + +"I would speak with you aside, John Comyn," Bruce said; and the +two withdrew into the church apart from the observation of others. + +Then Bruce broke into a torrent of invective against Comyn for his +gross act of treachery in betraying him by sending to Edward a copy +of their agreement. + +"You sought," he said, "to send me to the scaffold, and so clear +the way for yourself to the throne of Scotland." + +Comyn, finding that dissimulation was useless, replied as hotly. +Those without could hear the voices of the angry men rise higher +and higher; then there was a silence, and Bruce hurried out alone. + +"What has happened?" Archie Forbes exclaimed. + +"I fear that I have slain Comyn," Bruce replied in an agitated +voice. + +"Then I will make sure," Kirkpatrick, one of his retainers, said; +and accompanied by Lindsay and another of his companions he ran in +and completed the deed. + +Scarcely was this done than Sir Robert Comyn, uncle of the earl, +ran up, and seeing what had taken place, furiously attacked Bruce +and his party. A fierce fray took place, and Robert Comyn and +several of his friends were slain. + +"The die is cast now," Bruce said when the fray was over; "but +I would give my right hand had I not slain Comyn in my passion; +however, it is too late to hesitate now. Gather together, my +friends, all your retainers, and let us hurry at once to attack +the justiciaries." + +In a few minutes Kirkpatrick brought together those who had +accompanied him and his companions to the town, and they at once +moved against the courthouse. The news of Bruce's arrival and of +the fray with the Comyns had already reached the justiciaries, and +with their retainers and friends they had made hasty preparations +for defence; but seeing that Bruce's followers outnumbered them, +and that a defence might cost them their lives, they held parley +and agreed to surrender upon Bruce promising to allow them to +depart at once for England. Half an hour later the English had left +Dumfries. + +Bruce called a council of his companions. + +"My friends," he said, "we have been hurried into a terrible strife, +and deeply do I regret that by my own mad passion at the treachery +of Comyn I have begun it by an evil deed; but when I tell you of the +way in which that traitor sought to bring me to an English block, +you will somewhat absolve me for the deed, and will grant that, +unhappy and unfortunate as it was, my passion was in some degree +justified." + +He then informed them of the bond into which he and Comyn had +entered, and of its betrayal by Comyn to Edward. + +"Thus it is," he said, "that the deed has taken place, and it +is too late to mend it. We have before us a desperate enterprise, +and yet I hope that we may succeed in it. At any rate, this time +there can be no drawing back, and we must conquer or die. It was +certain in any case that Comyn and his party would oppose me, but +now their hostility will go to all lengths, while Edward will never +forgive the attack upon his justiciaries. Still we shall have some +breathing time. The king will not hear for ten days of events here, +and it will take him two months at least before he can assemble +an army on the Border, and Comyn's friends will probably do nought +till the English approach. However, let us hurry to Lochmaben +Castle; there we shall be safe from any sudden attack by Comyn's +friends in Galloway. First let us draw out papers setting forth +the cause of my enmity to Comyn, and of the quarrel which led to +his death, and telling all Scotchmen that I have now cut myself +loose for ever from England, and that I have come to free Scotland +and to win the crown which belongs to me by right, or to die in +the attempt." + +Many of these documents being drawn out, messengers were despatched +with them to Bruce's friends throughout the country, and he and +his followers rode to Lochmaben. + +Archie Forbes went north to his own estate, and at once gave +notice to his retainers to prepare to take the field, and to march +to Glasgow, which Bruce had named as the rendezvous for all well +disposed towards him. From time to time messages came from Bruce, +telling him that he was receiving many promises of support; the +whole of the vassals of Annandale and Carrick had assembled at +Lochmaben, where many small landowners with their retainers also +joined him. As soon as his force had grown to a point when he +need fear no interruption on his march toward Glasgow, Bruce left +Lochmaben. On his way he was joined by the first influential +nobleman who had espoused his cause; this was Sir James Douglas, +whose father, Sir William, had died in an English prison. At the +time of his capture his estates had been bestowed by Edward upon +Lord Clifford, and the young Douglas, then but a lad, had sought +refuge in France. After a while he had returned, and was living +with Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews, who had been one of Wallace's +most active supporters. + +The young Douglas, on receiving the news that Bruce was marching +north, at once mounted, rode off, and joined him. He was joyfully +received by Bruce, as not only would his own influence be great +among his father's vassals of Douglasdale, but his adhesion would +induce many others to join. Receiving news of Bruce's march, +Archie moved to Glasgow with his retainers. The English garrison +and adherents in Glasgow fled at his approach. Upon arriving there +Bruce solemnly proclaimed the independence of Scotland, and sent +out notices to all the nobles and gentry, calling upon them to join +him. + +Fortunately the Bishop of St. Andrews, and Wishart, Bishop of +Glasgow, another of Wallace's friends, at once declared strongly +for him, as did the Bishop of Moray and the Abbot of Scone. The +adhesion of these prelates was of immense importance to Bruce, as +to some extent the fact of their joining him showed that the church +felt no overwhelming indignation at the act of sacrilege which he +had committed, and enabled the minor clergy to advocate his cause +with their flocks. + +Many of the great nobles hostile to the Comyn faction also joined +him; among these were the Earls of Athole, Lennox, Errol, and +Menteith; Christopher Seaton, Sir Simon Fraser, David Inchmartin, +Hugh de la Haye, Walter de Somerville, Robert Boyd, Robert Fleming, +David Barclay, Alexander Fraser, Sir Thomas Randolph, and Sir +Neil Campbell. Bruce's four brothers, Edward, Nigel, Thomas, and +Alexander, were, of course, with him. Bruce now moved from Glasgow +to Scone, and was there crowned King of Scotland on the 27th of +March, 1306, six weeks after his arrival at Dumfries. Since the +days of Malcolm Canmore the ceremony of placing the crown on the +head of the monarch had been performed by the representative of +the family of Macduff, the earls of Fife; the present earl was in +the service of the English; but his sister Isobel, wife of Comyn, +Earl of Buchan, rode into Scone with a train of followers upon the +day after the coronation, and demanded to perform the office which +was the privilege of the family. To this Bruce gladly assented, +seeing that many Scotchmen would hold the coronation to be irregular +from its not having been performed by the hereditary functionary, and +that as Isabel was the wife of Comyn of Buchan, her open adhesion +to him might influence some of that faction. Accordingly on the +following day the ceremony was again performed, Isobel of Buchan +placing the crown on Bruce's head, an act of patriotism for which +the unfortunate lady was afterwards to pay dearly. Thus, although +the great majority of the Scotch nobles still held aloof, Bruce was +now at the head of a considerable force, and he at once proceeded +to overrun the country. The numerous English who had come across +the Border, under the belief that Scotland was finally conquered, +or to take possession of lands granted them by Edward, were all +compelled either to take refuge in the fortified towns and castles +held by English garrisons, or to return hastily to England. + +When the news of the proceedings at Dumfries and the general +rising in the south of Scotland reached Edward he was at the city +of Winchester. He had been lately making a sort of triumphant +passage through the country, and the unexpected news that Scotland +which he had believed crushed beyond all possibility of further +resistance was again in arms, is said for a time to have driven +him almost out of his mind with rage. + +Not a moment was lost. Aylmer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, was at +once commissioned to proceed to Scotland, to "put down rebellion +and punish the rebels," the whole military array of the northern +counties was placed under his orders, and Clifford and Percy were +associated with him in the commission. Edward also applied to the +pope to aid him in punishing the sacrilegious rebels who had violated +the sanctuary of Dumfries. As Clement V was a native of Guienne, +and kept his court at Bordeaux within Edward's dominions, his +request was, of course, promptly complied with, and a bull issued, +instructing the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Carlisle to +excommunicate Bruce and his friends, and to place them and their +possessions under an interdict. It was now that the adhesion of +the Scottish prelates was of such vital consequence to Bruce. Had +the interdict been obeyed, the churches would have been closed, +all religious ceremonies suspended, the rites of the church would +have been refused even to dying men, and the dead would have been +buried without service in unconsecrated ground. So terrible a weapon +as this was almost always found irresistible, and its terrors had +compelled even the most powerful monarchs to yield obedience to +the pope's orders; but the Scotch prelates set the needs of their +country above the commands of the pope, and in spite of repeated bulls +the native clergy continued to perform their functions throughout +the whole struggle, and thus nullified the effect of the popish +anathema. + +King Edward was unable himself to lead his army against the Scots, +for he was now sixty-seven years old, and the vast fatigues and +exertions which he had undergone in the course of a life spent almost +continually in war had told upon him. He had partially lost the +use of his limbs, and was forced to travel in a carriage or litter; +but when he reached London from Winchester a grand ceremony was +held, at which the order of knighthood was conferred by the king +upon the Prince of Wales, and three hundred aspirants belonging to +the principal families of the country, and orders were given that +the whole military array of the kingdom should, in the following +spring, gather at Carlisle, where Edward himself would meet them +and accompany them to Scotland. The Earl of Pembroke, with Clifford +and Percy, lost no time in following the orders of Edward, and with +the military power of the northern counties marched into Scotland. +They advanced unopposed to the Forth, and crossing this river proceeded +towards Perth, near which town the Scottish army were gathered. +Archie Forbes, who stood very high in favour with Bruce, had urged +upon him the advantage of carrying out the tactics formerly adopted +by Wallace, and of compelling the enemy to fall back by cutting +off all food supplies, but Bruce would not, in this instance, be +guided by his counsel. + +"When the king advances next spring with his great army, Sir Archie, +I will assuredly adopt the course which you point out, seeing +that we could not hope to withstand so great an array in a pitched +battle; but the case is different now. In the first place all the +castles and towns are in the hands of the English, and from them +Pembroke can draw such provision as he needs. In the second place +his force is not so superior to our own but that we may fight him +with a fair hope of victory; and whereas Wallace had never any +cavalry with him, save at Falkirk when they deserted him at the +beginning of the battle, we have a strong body of mounted men-at-arms, +the retainers of the nobles with me, therefore I do not fear to +give them battle in the open field." + +In pursuance of this determination Bruce sent a challenge to Pembroke +to meet him with his army in the open field next day. Pembroke +accepted the challenge, and promised to meet his opponent on the +following morning, and the Scotch retired for the night to the +wood of Methven, near Perth. Here many of them set out on foraging +excursions, the knights laid aside their armour, and the army +prepared for sleep. + +Archie Forbes was much dissatisfied at the manner in which Bruce had +hazarded all the fortunes of Scotland on a pitched battle, thereby +throwing away the great advantage which their superior mobility and +knowledge of the country gave to the Scots. He had disarmed like +the rest, and was sitting by a fire chatting with William Orr and +Andrew Macpherson, who, as they had been his lieutenants in the +band of lads he had raised seven years before, now occupied the +same position among his retainers, each having the command of a +hundred men. Suddenly one who had been wandering outside the lines +in search of food among the farmhouses ran hastily in, shouting +that the whole English army was upon them. + +A scene of the utmost confusion took place. Bruce and his knights +hastily armed, and mounting their horses rode to meet the enemy. +There was no time to form ranks or to make any order of battle. +Archie sprang to his horse. He bade his lieutenants form the men +into a compact body and move forward, keeping the king's banner +ever in sight, and to cut their way to it whenever they saw it was +in danger. Then, followed by his two mounted squires, he rode after +the king. The contest of Methven can scarce be called a battle, for +the Scots were defeated before it began. Many, as has been said, +were away; great numbers of footmen instantly took flight and +dispersed in all directions. Here and there small bodies stood and +fought desperately, but being unsupported were overcome and slain. +The king with his knights fought with desperate bravery, spurring +hither and thither and charging furiously among the English +men-at-arms. Three times Bruce was unhorsed and as often remounted +by Sir Simon Fraser. Once he was so entirely cut off from his +companions by the desperation with which he had charged into the +midst of the English, that he was surrounded, struck from his horse, +and taken prisoner. + +"The king is taken!" Archie Forbes shouted; "ride in, my lords, +and rescue him." + +Most of the Scotch knights were so hardly pressed that they could +do nothing to aid the king; but Christopher Seaton joined Archie, +and the two knights charged into the midst of the throng of English +and cut their way to Bruce. Sir Philip Mowbray, who was beside +the captured monarch, was overthrown, and several others cut down. +Bruce leapt into his saddle again and the three for a time kept at +bay the circle of foemen; but such a conflict could have but one +end. Archie Forbes vied with the king in the strength and power of +his blows, and many of his opponents went down before him. There +was, however, no possibility of extricating themselves from the +mass of their foes, and Bruce, finding the conflict hopeless, was +again about to surrender when a great shout was heard, and a close +body of Scottish spearmen threw themselves into the ranks of the +English horse. Nothing could withstand the impetuosity of the +assault. The horsemen recoiled before the levelled spears, and the +pikemen, sweeping onward, surrounded the king and his companions. + +"Well done, my brave fellows!" Archie cried; "now keep together in +a close body and draw off the field." + +The darkness which had at first proved so disastrous to the Scots +was now favourable to them. The English infantry knew not what was +going on. The cavalry tried in vain to break through the ranks of +the spearmen, and these, keeping closely together, regained the +shelter of the wood, and drew off by way of Dunkeld and Killiecrankie +to the mountains of Athole. On their way they were joined by Edward +Bruce, the Earl of Athole, Sir Neil Campbell, Gilbert de la Haye, +and Douglas, and by many scattered footmen. + +To his grief Bruce learned that Randolph, Inchmartin, Somerville, +Alexander Fraser, Hugh de la Haye, and others had been captured, +but the number killed had been small. When once safe from pursuit +a council was held. It was agreed at once that it was impossible +that so large a body could find subsistence in the mountains of +Athole, cooped up as they were by their foes. The lowlands swarmed +with the English; to the north was Badenoch, the district of their +bitter enemies the Comyns; while westward lay the territory of +the MacDougalls of Lorne, whose chieftain, Alexander, was a nephew +by marriage of the Comyn killed by Bruce, and an adherent of the +English. + +Beyond an occasional deer, and the fish in the lochs and streams, +the country afforded no means of subsistence, it was therefore +decided to disband the greater portion of the force, the knights +and nobles, with a few of their immediate retainers, alone remaining +with the king, while the main body dispersed and regained their +homes. This was done; but a few days later a messenger came saying +that the queen, with the wives of many of the gentlemen, had arrived +at Aberdeen and sought to join the king. Although an accession +of numbers was by no means desirable, and the hardships of such +a life immense for ladies to support, there was no other resource +but for them to join the party, as they would otherwise have speedily +fallen into the hands of the English. Therefore Bruce, accompanied +by some of his followers, rode to Aberdeen and escorted the queen +and ladies to his mountain retreat. + +It was a strange life that Bruce, his queen, and his little court +led. Sleeping in rough arbours formed of boughs, the party supported +themselves by hunting and fishing. + +Gins and traps were set in the streams, and Douglas and Archie +were specially active in this pursuit; Archie's boyish experience +at Glen Cairn serving him in good stead. Between him and Sir James +Douglas a warm friendship had sprung up. Douglas was four years +his junior. As a young boy he had heard much of Archie's feats with +Wallace, and his father had often named him to him as conspicuous +for his bravery, as well as his youth. The young Douglas therefore +entertained the highest admiration for him, and had from the time +of his joining Bruce become his constant companion. + +Bruce himself was the life and soul of the party. He was ever +hopeful and in high spirits, cheering his followers by his gaiety, +and wiling away the long evenings by tales of adventure and chivalry, +told when they were gathered round the fire. + +Gradually the party made their way westward along Loch Tay and +Glen Dochart until they reached the head of Strathfillan; here, as +they were riding along a narrow pass, they were suddenly attacked +by Alexander MacDougall with a large gathering of his clansmen. +Several of the royal party were cut down at once, but Bruce with +his knights fought desperately. Archie Forbes with a few of the +others rallied round the queen with her ladies, and repelled every +effort of the wild clansmen to break through, and continued to draw +off gradually down the glen. Bruce, with Douglas, De la Haye, and +some others, formed the rearguard and kept back the mass of their +opponents. De la Haye and Douglas were both wounded, but the little +party continued to show a face to their foes until they reached +a spot where the path lay between a steep hill on one side and +the lake on the other. Then Bruce sent his followers ahead, and +himself covered the rear. Suddenly three of the MacDougalls, who +had climbed the hillside, made a spring upon him from above. One +leapt on to the horse behind the king, and attempted to hold his +arms, another seized his bridle rein, while the third thrust his +hand between Bruce's leg and the saddle to hurl him from his horse. +The path was too narrow for Bruce to turn his horse, and spurring +forward he pressed his leg so close to the saddle that he imprisoned +the arm of the assailant beneath it and dragged him along with +him, while with a blow of his sword he smote off the arm of him +who grasped the rein. Then, turning in his saddle, he seized his +assailant who was behind him and by main strength wrenched him round +to the pommel of the saddle and there slew him. Then he turned and +having cut down the man whose arm he held beneath his leg, he rode +on and joined his friends. + +In the course of the struggle the brooch which fastened his cloak +was lost. This was found by the MacDougalls and carried home as +a trophy, and has been preserved by the family ever since, with +apparently as much pride as if it had been proof of the fidelity +and patriotism of their ancestors, instead of being a memento of +the time when, as false and disloyal Scotchmen, they fought with +England against Scotland's king and deliverer. + + + +Chapter XIII The Castle of Dunstaffnage + + +Bruce's party were now more than ever straitened for provisions, +since they had to depend almost entirely upon such fish as they +might catch, as it was dangerous to stray far away in pursuit of +deer. Archie, however, with his bow and arrows ventured several +times to go hunting in order to relieve the sad condition of the +ladies, and succeeded two or three times in bringing a deer home +with him. + +He had one day ventured much further away than usual. He had not +succeeded in finding a stag, and the ladies had for more than a +week subsisted entirely on fish. He therefore determined to continue +the search, however long, until he found one. He had crossed several +wooded hills, and was, he knew, leagues away from the point where +he had left his party, when, suddenly emerging from a wood, he came +upon a road just at the moment when a party some twenty strong of +wild clansmen were traversing it. On a palfrey in their centre was +a young lady whom they were apparently escorting. They were but +twenty yards away when he emerged from the wood, and on seeing him +they drew their claymores and rushed upon him. Perceiving that +flight from these swift footed mountaineers would be impossible, +Archie threw down his bow and arrows, and, drawing his sword, placed +his back against a tree, and prepared to defend himself until the +last. + +Parrying the blows of the first two who arrived he stretched them +dead upon the ground, and was then at once attacked by the whole of +the party together. Two more of his assailants fell by his sword; +but he must have been soon overpowered and slain, when the young +lady, whose cries to her followers to cease had been unheeded in +the din of the conflict, spurred her palfrey forward and broke into +the ring gathered round Archie. + +The clansmen drew back a pace, and Archie lowered his sword. + +"Desist," she cried to the former in a tone of command, "or my uncle +Alexander will make you rue the day when you disobeyed my orders. +I will answer for this young knight. And now, sir," she said, +turning to Archie, "do you surrender your sword to me, and yield +yourself up a prisoner. Further resistance would be madness; you +have done too much harm already. I promise you your life if you +will make no further resistance." + +"Then, lady," Archie replied, handing his sword to her, "I willingly +yield myself your prisoner, and thank you for saving my life from +the hands of your savage followers." + +The young lady touched the hilt of his sword, and motioned him to +replace it in its scabbard. + +"You must accompany me," she said, "to the abode of my uncle Alexander +MacDougall. I would," she continued, as, with Archie walking beside +her palfrey, while the Highlanders, with sullen looks, kept close +behind, muttering angrily to themselves at having been cheated by +the young lady of their vengeance upon the man who had slain four +of their number, "that I could set you at liberty, but my authority +over my uncle's clansmen does not extend so far; and did I bid them +let you go free they would assuredly disobey me. You are, as I +can see by your attire, one of the Bruce's followers, for no other +knight could be found wandering alone through these woods." + +"Yes, lady," Archie said, "I am Sir Archibald Forbes, one of the +few followers of the King of Scotland." + +The lady gave a sudden start when Archie mentioned his name, and +for some little time did not speak again. + +"I would," she said at last in a low voice, "that you had been +any other, seeing that Alexander MacDougall has a double cause of +enmity against you -- firstly, as being a follower of Bruce, who +slew his kinsman Comyn, and who has done but lately great harm to +himself and his clansmen; secondly, as having dispossessed Allan +Kerr, who is also his relative, of his lands and castle. My uncle +is a man of violent passions, and" -- she hesitated. + +"And he may not, you think," Archie went on, "respect your promise +for my life. If that be so, lady -- and from what I have heard of +Alexander MacDougall it is like enough -- I beg you to give me back +my surrender, for I would rather die here, sword in hand, than be +put to death in cold blood in the castle of Dunstaffnage." + +"No," the lady said, "that cannot be. Think you I could see you +butchered before mine eyes after having once surrendered yourself +to me? No, sir. I beseech you act not so rashly -- that were certain +death; and I trust that my uncle, hostile as he may be against you, +will not inflict such dishonour upon me as to break the pledge I +have given for your safety." + +Archie thought from what he had heard of the MacDougall that his +chance was a very slight one. Still, as the young ever cling to hope, +and as he would assuredly be slain by the clansmen, he thought it +better to take the chance, small as it was, and so continued his +march by the side of his captor's palfrey. + +After two hours' journey they neared the castle of Alexander +of Lorne. Archie could not repress a thrill of apprehension as he +looked at the grim fortress and thought of the character of its +lord; but his bearing showed no fear, as, conversing with the young +lady, he approached the entrance. The gate was thrown open, and +Alexander of Lorne himself issued out with a number of retainers. + +"Ah! Marjory!" he said, "I am glad to see your bonny face at +Dunstaffnage. It is three months since you left us, and the time +has gone slowly; the very dogs have been pining for your voice. +But who have we here?" he exclaimed, as his eye fell upon Archie. + +"It is a wandering knight, uncle," Marjory said lightly, "whom +I captured in the forest on my way hither. He fought valiantly +against Murdoch and your followers, but at last he surrendered to +me on my giving him my pledge that his life should be safe, and +that he should be treated honourably. Such a pledge I am sure, +uncle," she spoke earnestly now, "you will respect." + +Alexander MacDougall's brow was as black as night, and he spoke in +Gaelic with his followers. + +"What!" he said angrily to the girl; "he has killed four of my +men, and is doubtless one of Bruce's party who slipped through my +fingers the other day and killed so many of my kinsmen and vassals. +You have taken too much upon yourself, Marjory. It is not by you +that he has been made captive, but by my men, and you had no power +to give such promise as you have made. Who is this young springall?" + +"I am Sir Archibald Forbes," Archie said proudly -- "a name which +may have reached you even here." + +"Archibald Forbes!" exclaimed MacDougall furiously. "What! the +enemy and despoiler of the Kerrs! Had you a hundred lives you +should die. Didst know this, Marjory?" he said furiously to the +girl. "Didst know who this young adventurer was when you asked his +life of me?" + +"I did, uncle," the girl said fearlessly. "I did not know his name +when he surrendered to me, and afterwards, when he told me, what +could I do? I had given my promise, and I renewed it; and I trust, +dear uncle, that you will respect and not bring dishonour upon it." + +"Dishonour!" MacDougall said savagely; "the girl has lost her senses. +I tell you he should die if every woman in Scotland had given her +promise for his life. Away with him!" he said to his retainers; +"take him to the chamber at the top of the tower; I will give him +till tomorrow to prepare for death, for by all the saints I swear +he shall hang at daybreak. As to you, girl, go to your chamber, +and let me not see your face again till this matter is concluded. +Methinks a madness must have fallen upon you that you should thus +venture to lift your voice for a Forbes." + +The girl burst into tears as Archie was led away. His guards took +him to the upper chamber in a turret, a little room of some seven +feet in diameter, and there, having deprived him of his arms, they +left him, barring and bolting the massive oaken door behind them. + +Archie had no hope whatever that Alexander MacDougall would change +his mind, and felt certain that the following dawn would be his +last. Of escape there was no possibility; the door was solid and +massive, the window a mere narrow loophole for archers, two or +three inches wide; and even had he time to enlarge the opening he +would be no nearer freedom, for the moat lay full eighty feet below. + +"I would I had died sword in hand!" he said bitterly; "then it +would have been over in a moment." + +Then he thought of the girl to whom he had surrendered his sword. + +"It was a sweet face and a bright one," he said; "a fairer and +brighter I never saw. It is strange that I should meet her now +only when I am about to die." Then he thought of the agony which +his mother would feel at the news of his death and at the extinction +of their race. Sadly he paced up and down his narrow cell till +night fell. None took the trouble to bring him food -- considering, +doubtless, that he might well fast till morning. When it became +dark he lay down on the hard stone, and, with his arm under his head +was soon asleep -- his last determination being that if possible +he would snatch a sword or dagger from the hand of those who came +to take him to execution, and so die fighting; or if that were +impossible, he would try to burst from them and to end his life by +a leap from the turret. + +He was awakened by a slight noise at the door, and sprang to his +feet instantly, believing that day was at hand and his hour had +come. To his surprise a voice, speaking scarcely above a whisper, +said: + +"Hush! my son, make no noise; I am here as a friend." Then the +door closed, and Archie's visitor produced a lighted lantern from +the folds of his garments, and Archie saw that a priest stood before +him. + +"I thank you, father," he said gratefully; "you have doubtless come +to shrive me, and I would gladly listen to your ministrations. I +would fain intrust you, too, with a message to my mother if you +will take it for me; and I would fain also that you told the Lady +Marjory that she must not grieve for my death, or feel that she is +in any way dishonoured by it, seeing that she strove to her utmost +to keep her promise, and is in no way to blame that her uncle has +overriden her." + +"You can even give her your message yourself, sir knight," the +priest said, "seeing that the wilful girl has herself accompanied +me hither." + +Thus saying, he stepped aside, and Archie perceived, standing +behind the priest, a figure who, being in deep shadow, he had not +hitherto seen. She came timidly forward, and Archie, bending on +one knee, took the hand she held out and kissed it. + +"Lady," he said, "you have heard my message; blame not yourself, +I beseech you, for my death. Remember that after all you have +lengthened my life and not shortened it, seeing that but for your +interference I must have been slain as I stood, by your followers. +It was kind and good of you thus to come to bid me farewell." + +"But I have not come to bid you farewell. Tell him, good Father +Anselm, our purpose here." + +"`Tis a mad brain business," the priest said, shrugging his shoulders; +"and, priest though I am, I shall not care to meet MacDougall in +the morning. However, since this wilful girl wills it, what can I +do? I have been her instructor since she was a child; and instead +of being a docile and obedient pupil, she has been a tyrannical +master to me; and I have been so accustomed to do her will in all +things that I cannot say her nay now. I held out as long as I could; +but what can a poor priest do against sobs and tears? So at last +I have given in and consented to risk the MacDougall's anger, to +bring smiles into her face again. I have tried in vain to persuade +her that since it is the chief's doing, your death will bring no +dishonour upon her. I have offered to absolve her from the promise, +and if she has not faith in my power to do so, to write to the +pope himself and ask for his absolution for any breach that there +may be; but I might as well have spoken to the wind. When a young +lady makes up her mind, stone walls are less difficult to move; so +you see here we are. Wound round my waist are a hundred feet of +stout rope, with knots tied three feet apart. We have only now to +ascend the stairs to the platform above and fix the rope, and in +an hour you will be far away among the woods." + +Archie's heart bounded with joy with the hope of life and freedom; +but he said quietly, "I thank you, dear lady, with all my heart for +your goodness; but I could not accept life at the cost of bringing +your uncle's anger upon you." + +"You need not fear for that," the girl replied. "My uncle is +passionate and headstrong -- unforgiving to his foes or those he +deems so, but affectionate to those he loves. I have always been his +pet; and though, doubtless, his anger will be hot just at first, +it will pass away after a time. Let no scruple trouble you on that +score; and I would rather put up with a hundred beatings than live +with the knowledge that one of Scotland's bravest knights came to +his end by a breach of my promise. Though my uncle and all my people +side with the English, yet do not I; and I think the good father +here, though from prudence he says but little, is a true Scotsman +also. I have heard of your name from childhood as the companion +and friend of Wallace, and as one of the champions of our country; +and though by blood I ought to hate you, my feelings have been very +different. But now stand talking no longer; the castle is sound +asleep, but I tremble lest some mischance should mar our plans." + +"That is good sense," Father Anselm said; "and remember, not a +word must be spoken when we have once left this chamber. There is +a sentry at the gate; and although the night is dark, and I deem +not that he can see us, yet must we observe every precaution." + +"Holy father," Archie said, "no words of mine can thank you for +the part which you are playing tonight. Believe me, Archie Forbes +will ever feel grateful for your kindness and aid; and should you +ever quit Dunstaffnage you will be welcomed at Aberfilly Castle. As +to you, lady, henceforth Archie Forbes is your knight and servant. +You have given me my life, and henceforth I regard it as yours. Will +you take this ring as my token? Should you ever send it to me, in +whatever peril or difficulty you may be, I will come to your aid +instantly, even should it reach me in a stricken battle. Think not +that I speak the language of idle gallantry. Hitherto my thoughts +have been only on Scotland, and no maiden has ever for an instant +drawn them from her. Henceforth, though I fight for Scotland, yet +will my country have a rival in my heart; and even while I charge +into the ranks of the English, the fair image of Marjory MacDougall +will be in my thoughts." + +Father Anselm gave a slight start of surprise as Archie concluded, +and would have spoken had not the girl touched him lightly. She +took the pledge from Archie and said, "I will keep your ring, Sir +Archibald Forbes; and should I ever have occasion for help I will +not forget your promise. As to your other words, I doubt not that +you mean them now; but it is unlikely, though I may dwell in your +thoughts, that you will ever in the flesh see Marjory MacDougall, +between whose house and yours there is, as you know, bitter enmity." + +"There! there!" Father Anselm said impatiently; "enough, and more +than enough talk. Go to the door, Sir Archibald, and prepare to +open it directly I have blown out the light. The way up the stairs +lies on your right hand as you go out." + +Not another word was spoken. Noiselessly the little party made their +way to the roof; there one end of the rope was quickly knotted round +the battlement. Archie grasped the good priest's hand, and kissed +that of the girl; and then, swinging himself off the battlement, +disappeared at once in the darkness. Not a sound was heard for +some time, then the listening pair above heard a faint splash in +the water. The priest laid his hands on the rope and found that it +swung slack in the air; he hauled it up and twisted it again round +his waist. As he passed the door of the cell he pushed it to and +replaced the bars and bolts, and then with his charge regained the +portion of the castle inhabited by the family. + +A few vigorous strokes took Archie across the moat, and an hour +later he was deep in the heart of the forest. Before morning broke +he was far beyond the risk of pursuit; and, taking the bearings of +the surrounding hills, he found himself, after some walking, at the +spot where he had left the royal party. As he had expected, it was +deserted; he, however, set out on the traces of the party, and that +night overtook them at their next encampment. + +With the reticence natural to young lovers Archie felt a disinclination +to speak of what had happened, or of the services which Marjory +MacDougall had rendered him. As it was naturally supposed that he +had lost his way in the woods on the previous day, and had not reached +the encampment in the morning, until after they had started, few +questions were asked, and indeed the thoughts of the whole party +were occupied with the approaching separation which the night +before they had agreed was absolutely necessary. The ladies were +worn out with their fatigues and hardships, and the Earl of Athole, +and some of the other elder men, were also unable longer to support +it. Winter was close at hand, and the hardships would increase ten +fold in severity. Therefore it was concluded that the time had come +when they must separate, and that the queen and her companions, +accompanied by those who could still be mounted, should seek shelter +in Bruce's strong castle of Kildrummy. The Earl of Athole and the +king's brother Nigel were in charge of the party. + +Bruce with his remaining companions determined to proceed into +Kintyre, the country of Sir Neil Campbell, and thence to cross for +a time to the north of Ireland. Sir Neil accordingly started to +obtain the necessary vessels, and the king and his company followed +slowly. To reach the Firth of Clyde it was necessary to cross Loch +Lomond. This was a difficult undertaking; but after great search +Sir James Douglas discovered a small boat sunk beneath the surface +of the lake. On being pulled out it was found to be old and leaky, +and would hold at best but three. With strips torn from their garments +they stopped the leaks as best they could, and then started across +the lake. There were two hundred to cross, and the passage occupied +a night and a day; those who could not swim being taken over in the +boat, while the swimmers kept alongside and when fatigued rested +their hands on her gunwales. They were now in the Lennox country, +and while Bruce and his friends were hunting, they were delighted +to come across the Earl of Lennox and some of his companions, +who had found refuge there after the battle of Methven. Although +himself an exile and a fugitive the earl was in his own country, +and was therefore able to entertain the king and his companions +hospitably, and the rest and feeling of security were welcome indeed +after the past labours and dangers. + +After a time Sir Neil Campbell arrived with the vessels, and, +accompanied by the Earl of Lennox, Bruce and his companions embarked +at a point near Cardross. They sailed down the Clyde and round +the south end of Arran, until, after many adventures and dangers, +they reached the Castle of Dunaverty, on the south point of the Mull +of Kintyre, belonging to Angus, chief of Islay. Here they waited +for some time, but not feeling secure even in this secluded spot +from the vengeance of their English and Scottish foes, they again +set sail and landed at the Isle of Rathlin, almost midway between +Ireland and Scotland. Hitherto Robert Bruce had received but little +of that support which was so freely given to Wallace by the Scotch +people at large; nor is this a matter for surprise. Baliol and +Comyn had in turn betrayed the country to the English, and Bruce +had hitherto been regarded as even more strongly devoted to the +English cause than they had been. Thus the people viewed his attempt +rather as an effort to win a throne for himself than as one to free +Scotland from English domination. They had naturally no confidence +in the nobles who had so often betrayed them, and Bruce especially +had, three or four times already, after taking up arms, made his +peace with England and fought against the Scots. Therefore, at first +the people looked on at the conflict with comparative indifference. +They were ready enough to strike for freedom, as they had proved +when they had rallied round Wallace, but it was necessary before +they did so that they should possess confidence in their leaders. +Such confidence they had certainly no cause whatever to feel in +Bruce. The time was yet to come when they should recognize in him a +leader as bold, as persevering, and as determined as Wallace himself. + +The people of Rathlin were rude and ignorant, but simple and +hospitable. The island contained nothing to attract either adventurers +or traders, and it was seldom, therefore, that ships touched there, +consequently there was little fear that the news of the sojourn of +the Scotch king and his companions would reach the mainland, and +indeed the English remained in profound ignorance as to what had +become of the fugitives, and deemed them to be still in hiding +somewhere among the western hills. + +Edward had in council issued a proclamation commanding "all the +people of the country to pursue and search for all who had been in +arms and had not surrendered, also all who had been guilty of other +crimes, and to deliver them up dead or alive, and that whosoever +were negligent in the discharge of his duty should forfeit their +castles and be imprisoned." + +Pembroke, the guardian, was to punish at his discretion all who +harboured offenders. Those who abetted the slayers of Comyn, or who +knowingly harboured them or their accomplices, were to be "drawn +and hanged," while all who surrendered were to be imprisoned during +the king's pleasure. The edict was carried out to the letter, and +the English soldiery, with the aid of the Scotch of their party, +scoured the whole country, putting to the sword all who were found +in arms or under circumstances of suspicion. + + + +Chapter XIV Colonsay + + +Archie, having little else to do, spent much of his time in fishing. +As a boy he had learned to be fond of the sport in the stream of +Glen Cairn; but the sea was new to him, and whenever the weather +permitting he used to go out with the natives in their boats. The +Irish coast was but a few miles away, but there was little traffic +between Rathlin and the mainland. The coast there is wild and +forbidding, and extremely dangerous in case of a northerly gale +blowing up suddenly. The natives were a wild and savage race, and +many of those who had fought to the last against the English refused +to submit when their chiefs laid down their arms, and took refuge +in the many caves and hiding places afforded in the wild and broken +country on the north coast. + +Thus no profitable trade was to be carried on with the Irish +mainland. The people of Rathlin were themselves primitive in their +ways. Their wants were few and easily satisfied. The wool of their +flocks furnished them with clothing, and they raised sufficient grain +in sheltered spots to supply them with meal, while an abundance of +food could be always obtained from the sea. In fine weather they +took more than sufficient for their needs, and dried the overplus +to serve them when the winter winds kept their boats from putting +out. Once or twice in the year their largest craft, laden with dried +fish, would make across to Ayr, and there disposing of its cargo +would bring back such articles as were needed, and more precious +still, the news of what was passing in the world, of which the +simple islanders knew so little. Even more than fishing, Archie +loved when the wind blew wildly to go down to the shore and watch +the great waves rolling in and dashing themselves into foam on +the rocky coast. This to him was an entirely new pleasure, and he +enjoyed it intensely. Perched on some projecting rock out of reach +of the waves, he would sit for hours watching the grand scene, +sometimes alone, sometimes with one or two of his comrades. The +influx of a hundred visitors had somewhat straitened the islanders, +and the fishermen were forced to put to sea in weather when they +would not ordinarily have launched their boats, for in the winter +they seldom ventured out unless the previous season had been +unusually bad, and the stores of food laid by insufficient for winter +consumption. Archie generally went out with an old man, who with +two grownup sons owned a boat. They were bold and skilful fishermen, +and often put to sea when no other boat cared to go out. + +One evening the old man, as usual before going to sea, came into +the hut which Archie and Sir James Douglas inhabited, and told him +that he was going out early the next morning. "Fish are scarce," +he said, "and it would be a disgrace on us islanders if our guests +were to run short of food." + +"I shall be ready, Donald," Archie replied, "and I hope we shall +have good sport." + +"I can't see what pleasure you take, Sir Archie," the young Douglas +said, when the fisherman had left, "in being tossed up and down on +the sea in a dirty boat, especially when the wind is high and the +sea rough." + +"I like it best then," Archie replied; "when the men are rowing +against the wind, and the waves dash against the boat and the spray +comes over in blinding showers, I feel very much the same sort of +excitement as I do in a battle. It is a strife with the elements +instead of with men, but the feeling in both cases is akin, and +I feel the blood dancing fast through my veins and my lips set +tightly together, just as when I stand shoulder to shoulder with +my retainers, and breast the wave of English horsemen." + +"Well, each to his taste, I suppose," Douglas said, laughing; "I +have not seen much of war yet, and I envy you with all my heart the +fights which you have gone through; but I can see no amusement in +getting drenched to the skin by the sea. I think I can understand +your feeling, though, for it is near akin to my own when I sit on +the back of a fiery young horse, who has not yet been broken, and +feel him battle with his will against mine, and bound, and rear, +and curvet in his endeavours to throw me, until at last he is +conquered and obeys the slightest touch of the rein." + +"No doubt it is the same feeling," Archie replied; "it is the joy +of strife in another form. For myself, I own I would rather fight +on foot than on horseback; I can trust myself better than I can +trust my steed, can wheel thrice while he is turning once, can defend +both sides equally well; whereas on horseback, not only have I to +defend myself but my horse, which is far more difficult, and if he +is wounded and falls I may be entangled under him and be helpless +at the mercy of an opponent." + +"But none acquitted them better on horseback at Methven than you +did, Sir Archie," the young fellow said, admiringly. "Did you not +save the king, and keep at bay his foes till your retainers came +up with their pikes and carried him off from the centre of the +English chivalry?" + +"I did my best," Archie said, "as one should always do; but I felt +even then that I would rather have been fighting on foot." + +"That is because you have so much skill with your weapon, Sir +Archie," Douglas said. "On horseback with mace or battleaxe it is +mainly a question of sheer strength, and though you are very strong +there are others who are as strong as you. Now, it is allowed that +none of the king's knights and followers are as skilful as you +with the sword, and even the king himself, who is regarded as the +second best knight in Europe, owns that on foot and with a sword +he has no chance against you. That we all saw when you practiced +for the amusement of the queen and her ladies in the mountains of +Lennox. None other could even touch you, while you dented all our +helmets and armour finely with that sword of yours. Had we continued +the sport there would not have been a whole piece of armour among +us save your own harness." + +Archie laughed. "I suppose, Douglas, we all like best that in which +we most excel. There are many knights in the English army who would +assuredly overthrow me either in the tilting ring or in the field, +for I had not the training on horseback when quite young which is +needed to make a perfect knight, while I had every advantage in the +learning of sword playing, and I stick to my own trade. The world +is beginning to learn that a man on foot is a match for a horseman +-- Wallace taught Europe that lesson. They are slow to believe it, +for hitherto armed knights have deemed themselves invincible, and +have held in contempt all foot soldiers. Stirling, and Falkirk, +and Loudon Hill have taught them the difference, but it will be a +long time before they fairly own a fact so mortifying to chivalry; +but the time will come, be well assured, when battles will be +fought almost with infantry alone. Upon them the brunt of the day +will fall, and by them will victory be decided, while horsemen +will be used principally for pursuing the foe when he is broken, +for covering the retreat of infantry by desperate charges, or by +charging into the midst of a fray when the infantry are broken." + +"All the better for Scotland," James Douglas said, cheerfully. +"We are not a nation of horsemen, and our mountains and hills, our +forests and morasses, are better adapted for infantry than cavalry; +so if ever the change you predict come to pass we shall be gainers +by it." + +At daybreak next morning Archie went down to the cove where his +friend the fisherman kept his boat. The old man and his two sons +were already there, but had not launched their craft. + +"I like not the look of the weather," the fisherman said when +Archie joined him. "The sky is dull and heavy, the sea is black +and sullen, but there is a sound in the waves as they break against +the rocks which seems to tell of a coming storm. I think, however, +it will be some hours before it breaks, and if we have luck we may +get a haul or two before it comes on." + +"I am ready to go or stay," Archie said; "I have no experience in +your weather here, and would not urge you against your own judgment, +whatever it be; but if you put out I am ready to go with you." + +"We will try it," the fisherman said, "for food is running short; +but we will not go far from the shore, so that we can pull back if +the weather gets worse." + +The boat was soon launched, the nets and oars were already on +board, and they quickly put out from the shore. The boat carried +a small square sail, which was used when running before the wind. +In those days the art of navigation was in its infancy, and the art +of tacking against the wind had scarcely begun to be understood; +indeed, so high were the ships out of water, with their lofty poops +and forecastles, that it was scarce possible to sail them on a +wind, so great was the leeway they made. Thus when contrary winds +came mariners anchored and waited as patiently as they might for +a change, and voyage to a port but two days' sail with a favouring +wind was a matter of weeks when it was foul. + +After rowing a mile from land the nets were put out, and for some +time they drifted near these. From time to time the old fisherman +cast an anxious eye at the sky. + +"We must get in our nets," he said at last decidedly; "the wind is +rising fast, and is backing from the west round to the south. Be +quick, lads, for ere long the gale will be on us in its strength, +and if `tis from the south we may well be blown out to sea." + +Without a moment's delay the fishermen set to work to get in the nets, +Archie lending a hand to assist them. The younger men thoroughly +agreed in their father's opinion of the weather, but they knew too +well the respect due to age to venture upon expressing an opinion +until he had first spoken. The haul was a better one than they had +expected, considering that the net had been down but two hours. + +"`Tis not so bad," the fisherman said, "and the catch will be right +welcome -- that is," he added, as he looked toward the land, "if +we get it safely on shore." + +The wind was now blowing strongly, but if it did not rise the boat +would assuredly make the land. Archie took the helm, having learned +somewhat of the steering on previous excursions, and the three +fishermen tugged at the oars. It was a cross sea, for although the +wind now blew nearly in their teeth, it had until the last half +hour been from the west, and the waves were rolling in from the +Atlantic. The boat, however, made fair progress, and Archie began +to think that the doubts of the fishermen as to their making the +shore were in no wise justified, when suddenly a gust, far stronger +than those they had hitherto met, struck the boat. "Keep her head +straight!" the fisherman shouted. "Don't let the wind take it one +side or the other. Stick to it, boys; row your hardest; it is on +us now and in earnest, I fear." + +The three men bent to their oars, but Archie felt that they were +no longer making headway. The boat was wide and high out of the +water; a good sea boat, but very hard to row against the wind. +Although the men strained at the oars, till Archie expected to see +the tough staves crack under their efforts, the boat did not seem +to move. Indeed it appeared to Archie that in the brief space when +the oars were out of the water the wind drove her further back than +the distance she had gained in the last stroke. He hoped, however, +that the squall was merely temporary, and that when it subsided +there would still be no difficulty in gaining the land. His hope +was not realized. Instead of abating, the wind appeared each moment +to increase in force. Clouds of spray were blown on the top of +the waves, so that at times Archie could not see the shore before +him. For nearly half an hour the fishermen struggled on, but +Archie saw with dismay that the boat was receding from the shore, +and that they had already lost the distance they had gained before +the squall struck them. The old fisherman looked several times over +his shoulder. + +"It is of no use," he said at last; "we shall never make Rathlin, +and must even run before the gale. Put up the helm, young sir, and +take her round. Wait a moment till the next wave has passed under +us -- now!" In another minute the boat's head was turned from land, +and she was speeding before the gale. + +"In with your oars, lads, and rig the mast, reef down the sail to +the last point; we must show a little to keep her dead before the +wind; we shall have a tremendous sea when we are once fairly away +from the shelter of the island. This gale will soon knock up the +sea, and with the cross swell from the Atlantic it will be as much +as we can do to carry through it." + +The mast was stepped and a mere rag of sail hoisted, but this was +sufficient to drive the boat through the water at a great speed. +The old fisherman was steering now, and when the sail was hoisted +the four men all gathered in the stern of the boat. + +"You will go between Islay and Jura, I suppose," one of the younger +men said. + +"Ay," his father said briefly; "the sea will be too high to windward +of Islay." + +"Could we not keep inside Jura?" Archie suggested; "and shelter in +some of the harbours on the coast of Argyle?" + +"Ay," the old man said; "could we be sure of doing that it would +be right enough, but, strong as the wind is blowing her, it will +be stronger still when we get in the narrow waters between the +islands and the mainland, and it would be impossible to keep her +even a point off the wind; then if we missed making a harbour we +should be driven up through the Strait of Corrievrekan, and the +biggest ship which sails from a Scottish port would not live in the +sea which will be running there. No, it will be bad enough passing +between Islay and Jura; if we get safely through that I shall try +to run into the narrow strait between Colonsay and Oronsay; there +we should have good and safe shelter. If we miss that, we must +run inside Mull -- for there will be no getting without it -- and +either shelter behind Lismore island far up the strait, or behind +Kerara, or into the passage to Loch Etive." + +"It will not be the last, I hope," Archie said, "for there stands +Dunstaffnage Castle, and the lands all belong to the MacDougalls. +It is but two months back I was a prisoner there, and though I then +escaped, assuredly if I again get within its walls I shall never +go out again. As well be drowned here." + +"Then we will hope," the fisherman said, "that `tis into some other +harbour that this evil wind may blow us; but as you see, young sir, +the gale is the master and not we, and we must needs go where it +chooses to take us." + +Fiercer and fiercer blew the gale; a tremendous cross sea was now +running, and the boat, stout and buoyant as she was, seemed every +moment as if she would be engulfed in the chaos of water. Small as +the sail had been it had been taken down and lashed with ropes to +the yard, so that now only about three square feet of canvas was +set. + +"We can show a little more," the fisherman shouted in Archie's ear, +"when we get abreast of Islay, for we shall then be sheltered from +the sea from the west, and can run more boldly with only a following +sea; but till we get out of this cross tumble we must not carry +on, we only want steerage way to keep her head straight." + +Never before had Archie Forbes seen a great gale in all its strength +at sea, for those which had occurred while at Rathlin were as nothing +to the present; and although on the hillside round Glen Cairn the +wind sometimes blew with a force which there was no withstanding, +there was nothing to impress the senses as did this wild confusion +and turmoil of water. Buoyant as was the boat, heavy seas often broke +on board her, and two hands were constantly employed in bailing; +still Archie judged from the countenance of the men that they did +not deem the position desperate, and that they believed the craft +would weather the gale. Towards midday, although the wind blew +as strongly as ever, there was a sensible change in the motion of +the boat. She no longer was tossed up and down with jerky and sudden +motion, as the waves seemed to rise directly under her, but rose +and fell on the following waves with a steady and regular motion. + +"We are well abreast of Islay," the old fisherman said when Archie +remarked on the change to him. "There! do you not see that dark +bank through the mist; that is Islay. We have no longer a cross sea, +and can show a little more sail to keep her from being pooped. We +will bear a little off toward the land -- we must keep it in sight, +and not too far on our left, otherwise we may miss the straits and +run on to Jura." + +A little more sail was accordingly shown to the gale, and the boat +scudded along at increased speed. + +"How far is it to Colonsay?" Archie asked. + +"Between fifty and sixty miles from Rathlin," the fisherman said. +"It was eight o'clock when we started, ten when the squall struck +us, it will be dark by four, and fast as we are running we shall +scarcely be in time to catch the last gleam of day. Come, boys," +he said to his sons, "give her a little more canvas still, for it +is life and death to reach Colonsay before nightfall, for if we +miss it we shall be dashed on to the Mull long before morning." + +A little more sail was accordingly shown, and the boat tore through +the water at what seemed to Archie to be tremendous speed; but she +was shipping but little water now, for though the great waves as +they neared her stern seemed over and over again to Archie as if +they would break upon her and send her instantly to the bottom, +the stout boat always lifted lightly upon them until he at length +felt free from apprehension on that score. Presently the fisherman +pointed out a dark mass over their other bow. + +"That is Jura," he said; "we are fair for the channel, lads, but +you must take in the sail again to the smallest rag, for the wind +will blow through the gap between the islands with a force fit to +tear the mast out of her." + +Through the rest of his life Archie Forbes regarded that passage +between Islay and Jura as the most tremendous peril he had ever +encountered. Strong as the wind had been before, it was as nothing +to the force with which it swept down the strait -- the height of +the waves was prodigious, and the boat, as it passed over the crest +of a wave, seemed to plunge down a very abyss. The old fisherman +crouched low in the boat, holding the helm, while the other three +lay on the planks in the bottom. Speech was impossible, for the +loudest shouts would have been drowned in the fury of the storm. In +half an hour the worst was over. They were through the straits and +out in the open sea again, but Islay now made a lee for them, and +the sea, high as it was, was yet calm in comparison to the tremendous +waves in the Strait of Jura. More sail was hoisted again, and in +an hour the fisherman said, "Thank God, there are the islands." +The day was already fading, and Archie could with difficulty make +out the slightly dark mass to which the helm pointed. + +"Is that Colonsay?" he asked. + +"It is Oronsay," the fisherman said. "The islands are close together +and seem as if they had once been one, but have been cleft asunder +by the arm of a giant. The strait between them is very narrow, and +once within it we shall be perfectly sheltered. We must make as +close to the point of the island as we can well go, so as not to +touch the rocks, and then turn and enter the strait. If we keep +out any distance we shall be blown past the entrance, and then our +only remaining chance is to try and run her on to Colonsay, and +take the risk of being drowned as she is dashed upon the rocks." + +The light had almost faded when they ran along at the end of Oronsay. +Archie shuddered as he saw the waves break upon the rocks and fly +high up into the air, and felt how small was the chance of their +escape should they be driven on a coast like that. They were but +fifty yards from the point when they came abreast of its extremity; +then the fisherman put down the helm and turned her head towards +the strait, which opened on their left. + +"Down with the sail and mast, lads, and out with your oars; we must +row her in." + +Not a moment was lost, the sail was lowered, the mast unstepped, +and the oars got out, with a speed which showed how urgent was +the occasion. Archie, who did not feel confidence in his power +to manager her now in such a sea, took his seat by the man on the +stroke thwart, and double banked his oar. Five minutes desperate +rowing and they were under shelter of Oronsay, and were rowing more +quickly up the narrow strait and towards the shore of Colonsay, +where they intended to land. A quarter of an hour more and they +stepped ashore. + +The old fisherman raised his hat reverently. "Let us thank God +and all the saints," he said, "who have preserved us through such +great danger. I have been nigh fifty years at sea, and never was +out in so wild a gale." + +For a few minutes all stood silent and bare headed, returning +fervent thanks for their escape. + +"It is well," the old man said, as they moved inland, "that I have +been so far north before; there are but few in Rathlin who have +even been north of Islay, but sometimes when fish have been very +plentiful in the island, and the boat for Ayr had already gone, +I have taken up a boatload of fish to the good monks of Colonsay, +who, although fairly supplied by their own fishermen, were yet +always ready to pay a good price for them. Had you been in a boat +with one who knew not the waters, assuredly we must have perished, +for neither skill nor courage could have availed us. There! do you +see that light ahead? That is the priory, and you may be sure of +a welcome there." + +The priory door was opened at their ring, and the monk who unclosed +it, greatly surprised at visitors on such a night, at once bade +them enter when he heard that they were fishermen whom the storm +had driven to shelter on the island. The fishermen had to lend +their aid to the monk to reclose the door, so great was the power +of the wind. The monk shot the bolts, saying, "We need expect no +further visitors tonight;" and led them into the kitchen, where a +huge fire was blazing. + +"Quick, brother Austin," he said to the monk, who acted as cook, +"warm up a hot drink for these poor souls, for they must assuredly +be well nigh perished with cold, seeing that they have been wet +for many hours and exposed to all the violence of this wintry gale." + +Archie and his companions were, indeed, stiff with cold and exposure, +and could scarce answer the questions which the monks asked them. + +"Have patience, brother! have patience!" brother Austin said. "When +their tongues are unfrozen doubtless they will tell you all that +you want to know. Only wait, I pray you, till they have drunk this +posset which I am preparing." + +The monk's curiosity was not, however, destined to be so speedily +satisfied, for just as the voyagers were finishing their hot drinks +a monk entered with a message that the prior, having heard that +some strangers had arrived, would fain welcome and speak with them +in his apartment. They rose at once. + +"When the prior has done questioning you," brother Austin said, +"return hither at once. I will set about preparing supper for you, +for I warrant me you must need food as well as drink. Fear not but, +however great your appetite may be, I will have enough to satisfy +it ready by the time you return." + +"Welcome to Colonsay!" the prior said, as the four men entered his +apartment; "but stay -- I see you are drenched to the skin; and it +were poor hospitality, indeed, to keep you standing thus even to +assure you of your welcome. Take them," he said to the monk, "to +the guest chamber at once, and furnish them with changes of attire. +When they are warm and comfortable return with them hither." + +In ten minutes Archie and his companions re-entered the prior's +room. The prior looked with some astonishment at Archie; for in +the previous short interview he had not noticed the difference in +their attire, and had supposed them to be four fishermen. The monk, +however, had marked the difference; and on inquiry, finding that +Archie was a knight, had furnished him with appropriate attire. +The good monks kept a wardrobe to suit guests of all ranks, seeing +that many visitors came to the holy priory, and that sometimes the +wind and waves brought them to shore in such sorry plight that a +change of garments was necessary. + +"Ah!" the prior said, in surprise; "I crave your pardon sir knight, +that I noticed not your rank when you first entered. The light is +somewhat dim, and as you stood there together at the door way I +noticed not that you were of superior condition to the others." + +"That might well be, holy prior," Archie said, "seeing that we +were more like drowned beasts than Christian men. We have had a +marvellous escape from the tempest -- thanks to God and his saints! +-- seeing that we were blown off Rathlin, and have run before the +gale down past Islay and through the Straits of Jura. Next to the +protection of God and His saints, our escape is due to the skill +and courage of my brave companions here, who were as cool and calm +in the tempest as if they had been sitting by the ingle fires at +home." + +"From Rathlin!" the prior said in surprise, "and through the strait +`twixt Islay and Jura! Truly that was a marvellous voyage in such +a gale - and as I suppose, in an open boat. But how comes it, +sir knight -- if I may ask the question without prying into your +private affairs -- that you, a knight, were at Rathlin? In so wild +and lonely an island men of your rank are seldom to be found." + +"There are many there now, holy prior, far higher in rank than +myself," Archie replied, "seeing that Robert the Bruce, crowned King +of Scotland, James Douglas, and others of his nobles and knights, +are sheltering there with him from the English bloodhounds." + +"The Bruce at Rathlin!" the prior exclaimed, in surprise. "The +last ship which came hither from the mainland told us that he was +a hunted fugitive in Lennox; and we deemed that seeing the MacDougalls +of Lorne and all the surrounding chiefs were hostile to him, and +the English scattered thickly over all the low country, he must +long ere this have fallen into the hands of his enemies." + +"Thanks to Heaven's protection," Archie said devoutly, "the king +with a few followers escaped and safely reached Rathlin!" + +"Thou shouldst not speak of Heaven's protection," the prior said, +sternly, "seeing that Bruce has violated the sanctuary of the +church, has slain his enemy within her walls, has drawn down upon +himself the anathema of the pope, and has been declared excommunicated +and accursed." + +"The pope, holy father," Archie replied, "although supreme in +all holy things, is but little qualified to judge of the matter, +seeing that he draws his information from King Edward, under whose +protection he lives. The good Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow, +with the Abbot of Scone, and many other dignitaries of the Scottish +church, have condoned his offense, seeing that it was committed +in hot blood and without prior intent. The king himself bitterly +regrets the deed, which preys sorely upon his mind; but I can answer +for it that Bruce had no thought of meeting Comyn at Dumfries." + +"You speak boldly, young sir," the prior said, sternly, "for one +over whose head scarce two-and-twenty years can have rolled; but +enough now. You are storm staid and wearied; you are the guests of +the convent. I will not keep you further now, for you have need +of food and sleep. Tomorrow I will speak with you again." + +So saying, the prior sharply touched a bell which stood on a table +near him. The monk re-entered. The prior waved his hand: "Take these +guests to the refectory and see that they have all they stand in +need of, and that the bed chambers are prepared. In the morning I +would speak to them again. + + + +Chapter XV A Mission to Ireland + + +Father Austin was as good as his word, and it was long indeed +since Archie had sat down to such a meal as that which was spread +for him. Hungry as he was, however, he could scarce keep his eyes +open to its conclusion, so great was the fatigue of mind and body; +and on retiring to the chamber which the monks had prepared for +him, he threw himself on a couch and instantly fell asleep. In +the morning the gale still blew violently, but with somewhat less +fury than on the preceding evening. He joined the monks at their +morning meal in the refectory, and after their repast they gathered +round him to listen to his news of what was doing in Scotland; for +although at ordinary times pilgrims came not unfrequently to visit +the holy isle of Colonsay, in the present stormy times men stirred +but little from home, and it was seldom that the monks obtained news +of what was passing on the mainland. Presently a servitor brought +word that the prior would see Archie. + +"It was ill talking last night," the prior said, "with a man hungry +and worn out; but I gathered from what you said that you are not +only a follower of Bruce, but that you were with him at that fatal +day at Dumfries when he drew his dagger upon Comyn in the sanctuary." + +"I was there, holy father," Archie replied, "and can testify that +the occurrence was wholly unpremeditated; but Bruce had received +sufficient provocation from the Comyn to afford him fair reason for +slaying him wheresoever they might meet. But none can regret more +than he does that that place of meeting was in a sanctuary. The +Comyn and Bruce had made an agreement together whereby the former +relinquished his own claims to the throne of Scotland on condition +that Bruce, on attaining the throne, would hand over to him all +his lordships in Carrick and Annandale." + +"It were a bad bargain," the prior said, "seeing that Comyn would +then be more powerful than his king." + +"So I ventured to tell the Bruce," Archie replied. + +"Thou?" the prior said; "you are young, sir, to be in a position +to offer counsel to Robert Bruce." + +"I am young, holy prior," Archie said modestly; "but the king is +good enough to overlook my youth in consideration of my fidelity +to the cause of Scotland. My name is Archibald Forbes." + +"Sir Archibald Forbes!" the prior repeated, rising; "and are you +really that loyal and faithful Scottish knight who fought ever by +the side of Wallace, and have almost alone refused ever to bow the +knee to the English? Even to this lonely isle tales have come of +your valour, how you fought side by side with Wallace, and were, +with Sir John Grahame, his most trusty friend and confidant. Many +of the highest and noblest of Scotland have for centuries made +their way to the shrine of Colonsay, but none more worthy to be +our guest. Often have I longed to see so brave a champion of our +country, little thinking that you would one day come a storm driven +guest. Truly am I glad to see you, and I say it even though you may +have shared in the deed at Dumfries, for which I would fain hope +from your words there is fairer excuse to be made than I had hitherto +deemed. I have thought that the Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow +were wrong in giving their countenance to a man whom the holy +father had condemned -- a man whose prior history gives no ground +for faith in his patriotism, who has taken up arms, now for, now +against, the English, but has ever been ready to make terms with +the oppressor, and to parade as his courtier at Westminster. In +such a man I can have no faith, and deem that, while he pretends +to fight for Scotland, he is in truth but warring for his +own aggrandizement. But since you, the follower and friend of the +disinterested and intrepid champion of Scotland, speak for the +Bruce, it maybe that my judgement has been too severe upon him." + +Archie now related the incident of his journey to London to urge +Bruce to break with Edward and to head the national movement. He +told how, even before the discovery of his agreement with Comyn, +brought about by the treachery of the latter, Bruce had determined +definitely to throw in his cause with that of Scotland; how upon +that discovery he had fled north, and, happening to meet Comyn at +Dumfries, within the limits of the sanctuary, had, in his indignation +and ire at his treachery, drawn and slain him. Then he told the +tale of what had taken place after the rout of Methven, how bravely +Bruce had borne himself, and had ever striven to keep up the hearts +of his companions; how cheerfully he had supported the hardships, +and how valiantly he had borne himself both at Methven and when +attacked by the MacDougalls of Lorne. + +"Whatever his past may have been," Archie concluded, "I hold that +now the Bruce is as earnest in the cause of Scotland as was even +my dear leader Wallace. In strength and in courage he rivals that +valiant knight, for though I hold that Wallace was far more than +a match for any man of his time, yet Bruce is a worthy second to +him, for assuredly no one in Scotland could cross swords with him +on equal chances. That he will succeed in his enterprise it were +rash to say, for mighty indeed are the odds against him; but if +courage, perseverance, and endurance can wrest Scotland from the +hands of the English, Robert Bruce will, if he lives, accomplish +the task." + +"Right glad am I," the prior replied, "to hear what you have told +me. Hitherto, owing to my memory of his past and my horror at his +crime -- for though from what you tell me there was much to excuse +it, still it was a grievous crime -- I have had but little interest +in the struggle, but henceforth this will be changed. You may +tell the king that from this day, until death or victory crown his +efforts, prayers will be said to heaven night and day at Colonsay +for his success." + +It was four days before the storm was over and the sea sufficiently +calmed to admit of Archie's departure. During that time he remained +as the honoured guest of the priory, and the good monks vied with +the prior in their attentions to the young knight, the tales of +whose doings, as one of Scotland's foremost champions, had so often +reached their lonely island. At the end of that time, the sea being +now calm and smooth, with a light wind from the north, Archie bade +adieu to his hosts and sailed from Colonsay. + +Light as the wind was, it sufficed to fill the sail; and as the boat +glided over the scarce rippled water Archie could not but contrast +the quiet sleepy motion with the wild speed at which the boat had +torn through the water on her northern way. It was not until the +following morning that Rathlin again came in sight. + +As the boat was seen approaching, and was declared by the islanders +to be that which they had regarded as lost in the storm a week +previously, the king, Douglas, and the rest of his followers made +their way down to the shore; and loud was the shout of welcome +which arose when Archie stood up and waved his hand. + +"Verily, Archie Forbes," the king said as he warmly embraced the +young knight, "I shall begin to think that the fairies presided +at your birth and gave you some charm to preserve your life alike +against the wrath of men and of the elements. Never assuredly did +anyone pass through so many dangers unscathed as you have done." + +"I hope to pass through as many more, sire, in your service," Archie +said smiling. + +"I hope so, indeed," Bruce replied; "for it were an evil day for +me and for Scotland that saw you fall; but henceforth I will fret +no more concerning you. You alone of Wallace's early companions +have survived. You got free from Dunstaffnage by some miracle +which you have never fully explained to me, and now it would seem +that even the sea refuses to swallow you." + +"I trust," Archie said more gravely, "that the old saying is not +true in my case, and that hanging is not to be my fate. Assuredly +it will be if I ever fall into the hands of Edward, and I shall +think it a cruel fate indeed if fortune, which has spared me so +often in battle, leads me to that cruel end at last." + +"I trust not indeed, Sir Archie," the king said, "though hanging now +has ceased to be a dishonourable death when so many of Scotland's +best and bravest have suffered it at the English hands. However, I +cannot but think that your fairy godmother must have reserved for +you the fate of the heroes of most of the stories of my old nurse, +which always wound up with `and so he married, and lived happily +ever after.' And now, Archie, tell me all that has befallen you, +where you have been, and how you fared, and by what miraculous chance +you escaped the tempest. All our eyes were fixed on the boat when +you laboured to reach the shore, and had you heard the groans +we uttered when we saw you give up the effort as hopeless and fly +away to sea before the wind you would have known how truly all +your comrades love you. We gave you up as assuredly lost, for the +islanders here agreed that you had no chance of weathering the +gale, and that the boat would, ere many hours, be dashed to pieces +either on Islay or Jura, should it even reach so far; but the most +thought that you would founder long ere you came in sight of the +land." + +Accompanying the king with his principal companions to the hut +which he occupied, Archie related the incidents of the voyage and +of their final refuge at Colonsay. + +"It was a wonderful escape," the king said when be finished, "and +the holy Virgin and the saints must assuredly have had you in their +especial care. You have cost us well nigh a fortune, for not one +of us but vowed offerings for your safety, which were, perchance, +the more liberal, since we deemed the chances of paying them so +small. However, they shall be redeemed, for assuredly they have +been well earned, and for my share I am bound, when I come to my +own, to give a piece of land of the value of one hundred marks a +year to the good monks of St. Killian's to be spent in masses for +the souls of those drowned at sea." + +Some days later the king said to Archie, "I have a mission for you; +`tis one of danger, but I know that that is no drawback in your +eyes." + +"I am ready," Archie said modestly, "to carry out to the best of +my power any errand with which your majesty may intrust me." + +"I have been thinking, Sir Archie, that I might well make some sort +of alliance with the Irish chieftains. Many of these are, like +most of our Scotch nobles, on terms of friendship with England; +still there are others who hold aloof from the conquerors. It would +be well to open negotiations with these, so that they by rising +might distract Edward's attention from Scotland, while we, by our +efforts, would hinder the English from sending all their force +thither, and we might thus mutually be of aid to each other. At +present I am, certes, in no position to promise aid in men or money; +but I will bind myself by an oath that if my affairs in Scotland +prosper I will from my treasury furnish money to aid them in carrying +on the struggle, and that if I clear Scotland of her oppressors +I will either go myself or send one of my brothers with a strong +force to aid the Irish to follow our example. The mission is, as +you will see, Sir Archie, a dangerous one; for should any of the +English, or their Irish allies, lay hands on you, your doom would +be sealed. Still you may do me and Scotland great service should +you succeed in your mission. Even minor risings would be of much +utility, seeing that they would at any rate prevent Edward from +bringing over troops from Ireland to assist in our conquest. I have +thought the matter over deeply, and conclude that, young as you are, +I can intrust it to you with confidence, and that you are indeed +the best fitted among those with me to undertake it. Douglas is +but a boy; my brother Edward is too hot and rash; Boyd is impatient +and headstrong, trusty and devoted to me though he is; but I am +sure that in you there is no lack either of prudence or courage. +Hence, Sir Archie, if you will undertake it I will intrust it to +you." + +"I will willingly undertake it, sire, since you think me fitting +for it, and deem it a high honour indeed that you have chosen me. +When will you that I start?" + +"It were best to lose no time," the king replied, "and if you have +no reason for delay I would that you should embark tonight, so that +before daybreak you may have gained the Irish shore. They tell me +that there are many desperate men in refuge among the caves on the +coast, and among these you might choose a few who might be useful +to you in your project; but it is not in this part that a rising +can be effected, for the country inland is comparatively flat and +wholly in the hands of the English. It is on the west coast that +the resistance to the English was continued to the last, and here +from time to time it blazes out again. In those parts, as they tell +me, not only are there wild mountains and fastnesses such as we +have in Scotland, but there are great morasses and swamps, extending +over wide tracts, where heavy armed soldiers cannot penetrate, +and where many people still maintain a sort of wild independence, +defying all the efforts of the English to subdue them. The people +are wild and savage, and ever ready to rise against the English. +Here, then, is the country where you are most likely to find chiefs +who may enter into our plans, and agree to second our efforts for +independence. Here are some rings and gold chains, which are all +that remain to me of my possessions. Money I have none; but with +these you may succeed in winning the hearts of some of these savage +chieftains. Take, too, my royal signet, which will be a guarantee +that you have power to treat in my name. I need not tell you to be +brave, Sir Archie; but be prudent -- remember that your life is of +the utmost value to me. I want you not to fight, but simply to act +as my envoy. If you succeed in raising a great fire in the west +of Ireland, remain there and act as councillor to the chiefs, +remembering that you are just as much fighting for Scotland there +as if you were drawing sword against her foes at home. If you find +that the English arm is too strong, and the people too cowed and +disheartened to rise against it, then make your way back here by +the end of three months, by which time I hope to sail hence and to +raise my standard in Scotland again." + +On leaving the king Archie at once conferred with Duncan the fisherman, +who willingly agreed that night to set him ashore in Ireland. + +"I will land you," he said, "at a place where you need not fear +that any English will meet you. It is true that they have a castle +but three miles away perched on a rock on the coast. It is called +Dunluce, and commands a wide seaward view, and for this reason it +were well that our boat were far out at sea again before morning +dawned, so that if they mark us they will not suppose that we have +touched on the coast; else they might send a party to search if +any have landed -- not even then that you need fear discovery, for +the coast abounds in caves and hiding places. My sons have often +landed there, for we do a certain trade in the summer from the island +in fish and other matters with the natives there. If it pleases +you my son Ronald, who is hardy and intelligent, shall land with +you and accompany you as your retainer while you remain in Ireland. +The people there speak a language quite different to that which you +use in the lowlands of Scotland and in England, but the language +we speak among ourselves closely resembles it, and we can be easily +understood by the people of the mainland. You would be lost did +you go among the native Irish without an interpreter." + +Archie thankfully accepted the offer, and that night, after bidding +adieu to the friends and his comrades, started in Duncan's boat. + +"`Tis a strange place where I am going to land you," the fisherman +said; "such a place as nowhere else have my eyes beheld, though they +say that at the Isle of Staffa, far north of Colonsay, a similar +sight is to be seen. The rocks, instead of being rugged or square, +rise in close columns like the trunks of trees, or like the columns +in the church of the priory of Colonsay. Truly they seem as if +wrought by the hands of men, or rather of giants, seeing that no +men could carry out so vast a work. The natives have legends that +they are the work of giants of old times. How this may be I know +not, though why giants should have engaged in so useless a work +passes my understanding. However, there are the pillars, whosoever +placed them there. Some of them are down by the level of the sea. +Here their heads seem to be cut off so as to form a landing place, +to which the natives give the name of the Giant's Causeway. Others +in low rows stand on the face of the cliff itself, though how any +could have stood there to work them, seeing that no human foot can +reach the base, is more than I can say. `Tis a strange and wonderful +sight, as you will say when the morning light suffers you to see +it." + +It was fortunate that Duncan knew the coast so well, and was able +by the light of the stars to find a landing place, for quiet as the +sea appeared a swell rose as they neared the shore, and the waves +beat heavily on the wild and rocky coast. Duncan, however, steered +his boat to the very foot of the Causeway, and then, watching his +opportunity, Archie sprang ashore followed by Ronald. A few words +of adieu were spoken, and then the boat rowed out to sea again, +while Archie and Ronald turned away from the landing place. + +"It were best," the young fisherman said, "to find a seat among the +rocks, and there to await the dawn, when I can guide you to some +caves hard by; but in the darkness we might well fall and break a +limb did we try and make our way across the coast.'' + +A niche was soon found, and Archie and his companion sat down for +a while. Archie, however, soon discovered that the sides and back +of his seat were formed of the strange columns of which Duncan had +spoken, and that he was sitting upon the tops of others which had +broken off. Eagerly he passed his hands over the surface of these +strange pillars, and questioned his companion as to what he knew +about them; but Ronald could tell him no more than his father +had done, and Archie was forced to await the dawn to examine more +closely the strange columns. Daylight only added to his wonder. +On all sides of him stretched the columns, packed in a dense mass +together, while range above range they stood on the face of the +great cliffs above him. The more he examined them the more his +wonder grew. + +"They can neither be the work of men nor giants," he said, "but +must have been called up by the fantastic freak of some powerful +enchanter. Hitherto I have not believed the tales of these mysterious +beings of old times; but after seeing these wonderful pillars I +can no longer doubt, for assuredly no mortal hand could have done +this work." + +Ronald now urged that they had better be moving, as it was possible, +although unlikely enough, that one passing along the top of the +cliffs might get sight of them. They accordingly moved along the +shore, and in a quarter of a mile reached the mouth of a great +cave. The bottom was covered with rocks, which had fallen from the +roof, thickly clustered over with wet seaweed, which, indeed, hung +from the sides far up, showing that at high tide the sea penetrated +far into the cave. + +"The ground rises beyond," Ronald said, "and you will find recesses +there which the tide never reaches." They moved slowly at first +until their eyes became accustomed to the darkness; then they kept +on, the ground getting more even as they ascended, until they stood +on a dry and level floor. + +"Now I will strike a light," Ronald said, "and light the torch +which I brought with me. We are sure to find plenty of driftwood +cast up at the highest point the tide reaches. Then we can make a +fire, and while you remain here I will go out and find some of the +natives, and engage a guide to take us forward tonight." + +Taking out his flint and steel, Ronald proceeded to strike a light, +and after several efforts succeeded in doing so and in igniting +some dried moss which he had brought with him, carefully shielded +from damp in the folds of his garment. As a light flame rose +he applied his torch to it; but as he did so, came an exclamation +of astonishment, for gathered in a circle round them were a dozen +wild figures. All were armed and stood in readiness to strike down +the intruders into their hiding place. They were barefooted, and +had doubtless been asleep in the cave until, when awakened by the +approaching footsteps and voices, they had silently arisen and +prepared to fall upon the intruders. + +"We are friends," Ronald said in the native language when he +recovered from his start of surprise. "I am Ronald, a fisherman +from Rathlin, and was over here in the summer exchanging fish for +sheep." + +"I recollect you," one of the men said; "but what do you here so +strangely and secretly? Are the English hunting you too from your +island as they have done us?" + +"They have not come to Rathlin yet," Ronald said. + +"Doubtless they would do so, but `tis too poor to offer any +temptation for their greed. But they are our enemies as they are +yours. I am here to guide this Scottish knight, who is staying at +Rathlin, a fugitive from their vengeance like yourself, and who is +charged with a mission from the King of Scotland to your chiefs, +whom he would fain induce to join in a rising against the power of +the English." + +"He is welcome," the man who appeared to be the leader of the party +replied, "and may he succeed in his object; but," he continued +bitterly, "I fear that the chance is a small one. The Norman foot +is on our necks, and most of those who should be our leaders have +basely accepted the position of vassals to the English king. Still +there are brave hearts yet in Ireland who would gladly rise did they +see even a faint chance of success. Hundreds are there who, like +us, prefer to live the lives of hunted dogs in caves, in mountain +fastnesses, or in the bogs, rather than yield to the English yoke. +Tell me your plans and whither you would go; and I will give you +guides who know every foot of the country, and who can lead you to +the western hills, where, though no open resistance is made, the +English have scarce set foot. There we generally find refuge; +and `tis only at times, when the longing to see the homes of our +childhood becomes too strong for us, that I and those you see -- all +of whom were born and reared between this and Coleraine -- come +hither for a time, when at night we can issue out and prowl round +the ruins of the homes of our fathers." + +While this conversation had been going on, the others, seeing that +the visit was a friendly one, had set to work, and bringing up +driftwood from below, piled it round the little blaze which Ronald +had commenced, and soon had a great fire lighted. They then produced +the carcass of a sheep which they had the evening before carried +off. Ronald had brought with him a large pile of oaten cakes, and +a meal was speedily prepared. + +Archie could not but look with surprise at the wild figures around +him, lit up by the dancing glare of the fire. Their hair lay in +tangled masses on their necks; their attire was of the most primitive +description, consisting but of one garment secured round the waist +by a strap of untanned leather; their feet and legs were bare. +Their hair was almost black; their eyes small and glittering, with +heavy overhanging brows; and they differed altogether in appearance +even from the wildest and poorest of the Scottish peasantry. In +their belts all bore long knives of rough manufacture, and most of +them carried slings hanging from the belt, in readiness for instant +use. In spite of the wildness of their demeanour they seemed kindly +and hospitable; and many were the questions which they asked Ronald +concerning the King of Scotland and his knights who were in refuge +at Rathlin. + +When the meal was over all stretched themselves on the sand like so +many animals, and without further preparation went off to sleep. +Archie, knowing that nothing could be done until nightfall, +followed their example. The fire had by this time burned low, and +soon perfect stillness reigned in the great cavern, save that far +away at its mouth the low thunder of the waves upon the rocks came +up in a confused roar. + + + +Chapter XVI An Irish Rising + + +When night came on Archie started for the west, accompanied by +Ronald and two of the Irish as guides. They crossed the country +without question or interference, and reached the wild mountains +of Donegal in safety. Archie had asked that his conductors should +lead him to the abode of the principal chieftain of the district. +The miserable appearance of the sparsely scattered villages through +which they had passed had prepared him to find that the superiors +of such a people would be in a very different position from the +feudal lords of the Highlands of Scotland. He was not surprised, +therefore, when his attendants pointed out a small hold, such as +would appertain to a small landowner on the Scottish Border, as the +residence of the chief. Around it were scattered a number of low +huts composed of turf, roofed with reeds. From these, when the +approach of strangers was reported, a number of wild looking figures +poured out, armed with weapons of the most primitive description. +A shout from Archie's guides assured these people that the newcomer +was not, as his appearance betokened him, a Norman knight, but +a visitor from Scotland who sought a friendly interview with the +chief. + +Insignificant as was the hold, it was evident that something like +feudal discipline was kept up. Two men, armed with pikes, were +stationed on the wall, while two others leant in careless fashion +against the posts of the open gate. On the approach of Archie an +elderly man, with a long white beard, came out to meet them. Ronald +explained to him that Archie was a knight who had come as an emissary +from the King of Scotland to the Irish chieftains, and desired to +speak with the great Fergus of Killeen. The old man bowed deeply +to Archie, and then escorted him into the house. + +The room which they entered occupied the whole of the ground +floor of the hold, and was some thirty feet wide by forty long. As +apparently trees of sufficient length to form the beams of so wide +an apartment could not be obtained, the floor above was supported +by two rows of roughly squared posts extending down from end to +end. The walls were perfectly bare. The beams and planks of the +ceiling were stained black by the smoke of a fire which burned in +one corner; the floor was of clay beaten hard. A strip some ten +feet wide, at the further end, was raised eighteen inches above the +general level, forming a sort of dais. Here, in a carved settle of +black wood, sat the chief. Some females, evidently the ladies of +his family, were seated on piles of sheepskins, and were plying +their distaffs; while an aged man was seated on the end of the dais +with a harp of quaint form on his knee; his fingers touched a last +chord as Archie entered, and he had evidently been playing while +the ladies worked. Near him on the dais was a fire composed of +wood embers, which were replenished from time to time with fresh +glowing pieces of charcoal taken from the fire at the other end of +the room, so that the occupants of the dais should not be annoyed +by the smoke arising close to them. + +The chief was a fine looking man about fifty years old. He was +clad in a loose fitting tunic of soft dark green cloth, confined at +the waist by a broad leathern band with silver clasp and ornaments, +and reaching to his knees. His arms were bare; on his feet he wore +sandals, and a heavy sword rested against the wall near his hand. +The ladies wore dresses of similar material and of somewhat similar +fashion, but reaching to the feet. They wore gold armlets; and the +chief's wife had a light band of gold round her head. The chief +rose when Archie entered; and upon the seneschal informing him of +the rank and mission of his visitor he stepped from the dais, and +advancing, greeted him warmly. Then he led him back to the dais, +where he presented to him the ladies of his family, ordering the +retainers, of whom about a score were gathered in the hall, to +place two piles of sheepskins near the fire. On one of these he sat +down, and motioned to Archie to take his place on the other -- his +own chair being removed to a corner. Then, through the medium of +Ronald, the conversation began. + +Archie related to the chief the efforts which the Scotch were +making to win their freedom from England, and urged in the king's +name that a similar effort should be made by the Irish; as the +forces of the English, being thereby divided and distracted, there +might be better hope of success. The chief heard the communication +in grave silence. The ladies of the family stood behind the chief +with deeply interested faces; and as the narrative of the long +continued struggle which the Scots were making for freedom continued +it was clear, by their glowing cheeks and their animated faces, +how deeply they sympathized in the struggle. + +The wife of the chief, a tall and stately lady, stood immediately +behind him with her two daughters, girls of some seventeen or +eighteen years of age, beside her. As Ronald was translating his +words Archie glanced frequently at the group, and thought he had +never seen one fairer or more picturesque. There was a striking +likeness between mother and daughters; but the expression of staid +dignity in the one was in the others replaced by a bright expression +of youth and happiness. Their beauty was of a kind new to Archie. +Their dark glossy hair was kept smoothly in place by the fillet +of gold in the mother's case, and by purple ribbons in that of the +daughters. Their eyebrows and long eyelashes were black, but their +eyes were gray, and as light as those to which Archie was accustomed +under the fair tresses of his countrywomen. The thing that struck +him most in the faces of the girls was their mobility, the expression +changing as it seemed in an instant from grave to gay -- flushing +at one moment with interest at the tale of deeds of valour, paling +at the next at the recital of cruel oppression and wrong. When Archie +had finished his narrative he presented to the chief a beautifully +wrought chain of gold as a token from the King of Scotland. + +The chief was silent for some time after the interpreter concluded +Archie's narrative; then he said: + +"Sir knight, it almost seems to me as if I had been listening to +the tale of the wrongs of Ireland, save that it appears that the +mastery of the English here has been more firmly established than +with you. This may be from the nature of the country; our hills +are, for the most part, bare, while yours, you say, are covered +with forest. Thus the Normans could more easily, when they had once +gained the upper hand, crush out the last vestiges of opposition +than they could with you. As I judge from what you say, the English +in Scotland hold all the fortresses, and when the people rise they +remain sheltered in them until assistance comes from England. With +us it is different. First they conquer all the country; then from +a wide tract, a third perhaps of the island, they drive out the whole +of the people, and establish themselves firmly there, portioning the +land among the soldiery and repeopling the country with an English +race. Outside this district the Irish chieftains, like myself, +retain something of independence; we pay a tribute, and are in the +position of feudatories, being bound to furnish so many men for +the King of England's wars if called upon to do so. The English +seldom come beyond their pale so long as the tribute is paid, and +the yoke, therefore, weighs not so heavy upon us; but were we to +rise, the English army would pour out from its pale and carry fire +and sword throughout the country. + +"We, like you, have been without one who would unite us against the +common enemy. Our great chiefs have, for the most part, accepted +English titles, and since their power over the minor chiefs is +extended, rather than decreased by the changed circumstances, they +are well content, for they rule now over their districts, not only +as Irish chieftains, but as English lieutenants. You have seen, +as you journeyed here, how sparse is the population of our hills, +and how slight would be the opposition which we could offer, did +the Earl of Ulster sweep down upon us with trained English soldiers. + +"Were there a chance of success, Fergus of Killeen would gladly +draw the sword again; but I will not bring ruin upon my family +and people by engaging in a hopeless enterprise. Did I raise +my standard, all Donegal would take up arms; but Donegal alone is +powerless against England. I know my people -- they are ready for +the fray, they would rush to battle and perish in thousands to win +victory, but one great defeat would crush them. The story of the +long fight which your Wallace, with a small following, made against +the power of England, will never be told of an Irish leader. We +have bravery and reckless courage, but we have none of the stubborn +obstinacy of your Scottish folk. Were the flag raised the people +would flock to it, and would fight desperately; but if they lost, +there would be utter and complete collapse. The fortitude to support +repeated defeats, to struggle on when the prospect seems darkest, +does not belong to my people. + +"It is for this reason that I have no hope that Ireland will ever +regain its independence. She may struggle against the yoke, she +may blaze out again and again in bloody risings, our sons may die +in tens of thousands for her; but never, I believe, as long as the +men of the two countries remain what they are, will Ireland recover +her independence, for, in the long run, English perseverance and +determination will overcome the fitful courage of the Irish. I +grieve that I should say it.I mourn that I feel it my duty to +repress rather than to encourage the eager desire of my people to +draw the sword and strike for freedom; but such is my conviction. + +"But understand, sir knight, that whatever I may think, I shall +not be backward in doing my part. If Ireland again rises, should +the other native chieftains determine to make one more effort to +drive the English across the channel, be sure that Fergus of Killeen +and the men of Donegal will be in the front of the battle. No heart +beats more warmly for freedom than mine; and did I stand alone I +would take to the bogs and join those who shelter there, defying +the might of England. But I have my people to think of. I have seen +how the English turn a land to desolation as they sweep across it, +and I will not bring fire and sword into these mountain valleys +unless all Ireland is banded in a common effort. You have seen +Scotland wasted from sea to sea, her cities burned, her people +slain by thousands, her dales and valleys wasted; and can you tell +me that after these years of struggle you have gained any such +advantage as would warrant your advising me to rise against England?" + +Archie was silent. Thinking over the struggle in which he had +taken part for so many years, and remembering the woes that it had +brought on Scotland, and that, after fighting so long, Bruce and +the handful of fugitives at Rathlin were the sole survivors of the +patriotic party, he could not but acknowledge at heart the justice +of the chiefs words. His sole hope for Scotland now rested in the +perseverance and personal valour of the king, and the stubborn +character of the people, which he felt assured would lead them +to rise again and again, in spite of disaster and defeat, until +freedom was won. The Irish possessed no Bruce; their country was +less defendible than Scotland; and if, as Fergus said, they had none +of that indomitable perseverance which enabled the Scotch people +again and again to rise against the yoke, what hope could there +be of final success, how could he be justified in urging upon the +chieftain a step which would bring fire and sword into those quiet +valleys! For some time, therefore, after Ronald had translated the +chief's speech he remained silent. + +"I will not urge you further, sir," he said, "for you are surely +the best judge of what is good for your people, and I have seen +such ruin and desolation in Scotland, so many scores of ruined +towns and villages, so many thousands of levelled homesteads, that +I will not say a single word to urge you to alter your resolution. +It is enough for me that you have said that if Ireland rises you +will also draw the sword. I must carry out my instructions, and +hence shall travel south and visit other chiefs; they may view +matters differently, and may see that what Ireland cannot do alone +she may do in conjunction with Scotland." + +"So be it!" Fergus said. "Believe me, if you raise a flame through +the west the north will not hang back. And now I trust that you +will remain here for a few days as my guest. All that I have is +yours, and my wife and daughters will do their best to make the +time pass pleasantly for you." + +Archie remained three days at the chiefs hold, where the primitive +life interested him greatly. A lavish hospitality was exercised. +Several sheep were killed and roasted each day, and all comers were +free to join the repast. The chief's more immediate retainers, some +twenty in number, ate, lived, and slept in the great hall; while +tables were spread outside, at which all who came sat down without +question. The upper rooms of the hold were occupied by the chief, +the ladies of his family, and the female domestics. Here they retired +when they felt disposed, but their meals were served on the dais. +In the evening the harper played and sang legends of deeds of bravery +in the day of Ireland's independence; and as Ronald translated the +songs to him Archie could not but conclude privately that civil war, +rapine, strife, and massacre must have characterized the country +in those days. + +At the conclusion of his stay Fergus appointed two of the retainers +to accompany Archie south, and to give assurance to the various +wild people through whom he might pass, that Archie's mission was +a friendly one to Ireland, and that he was an honoured friend and +guest of the chief of Killeen. + +On his arrival in Mayo Archie found matters more favourable to his +mission. An insurrection had already broken out, headed by some of +the local chieftains, originating in a broil between the English +soldiers of a garrison and the natives. The garrison had been +surprised and massacred, and the wild Irish were flocking to arms. +By the chieftains here Archie, on explaining his mission, was warmly +welcomed. As they were already in arms no urging on his part was +needed, and they despatched messengers throughout the country, +saying that an emissary from Scotland had arrived, and calling upon +all to rise and to join with the Scotch in shaking off the yoke of +England. + +Archie had therefore to travel no farther, and decided that he +could best carry out his mission by assisting to organize and lead +the Irish forces. These he speedily discovered were beyond all +comparison inferior, both in arms, in discipline, and in methods +of fighting, to the Scots. For a dashing foray they would be +excellent. Hardy, agile, and full of impetuosity, they would bear +down all resistance instantly, were that resistance not too strong; +but against stubborn and well armed troops they would break like +a wave against a rock. Archie saw that with such troops anything +like regular war would be impossible, and that the struggle must +be one of constant surprises, attacks, and forays, and that they +could succeed only by wearing out and not by defeating the enemy. +With such tactics as these they might by long perseverance succeed; +but this was just what Fergus had warned him they would not practise, +and that their courage was rather of a kind which would lead them +to dash desperately against the line of levelled spears, rather +than continue a long and weary struggle under apparently hopeless +circumstances. + +The chiefs, hearing from Archie that he had acted as one of Wallace's +lieutenants in battles where the English had been heavily defeated, +willingly consented that he should endeavour to instil the tactics +by which those battles had been won into their own followers; but +when they found that he proposed that the men should remain stationary +to withstand the English charges, they shook their heads. + +"That will never do for our people," they said. "They must attack +sword in hand. They will rush fearlessly down against any odds, but +you will never get them steadily to withstand a charge of men-at-arms." + +Archie, however, persuaded them to allow him to organize a band of +two hundred men under his immediate orders. These were armed with +long pikes, and were to form a sort of reserve, in order that if +the wild charge of the main body failed in its object these could +cover a retreat, or serve as a nucleus around which they could +rally. The army swelled rapidly; every day fresh chiefs arrived +with scores of wild tribesmen. Presently the news came that an +English force was advancing from the Pale against them. A council +was held at which Archie was present. Very strongly he urged his +views upon the chieftains, namely: that they should altogether +decline a pitched battle; but that, divided into numerous parties, +they should enter the Pale, destroying weak garrisons and ravaging +the country, trying to wear out the English by constant skirmishes +and night attacks, but refusing always to allow themselves to be +tempted into an engagement. + +"The English cannot be everywhere at once," he urged. "Let them +hold only the ground on which their feet stand. As they advance +or retire, close ever in on their rear, drive off their cattle and +destroy their crops and granaries in the Pale; force them to live +wholly in their walled towns, and as you gain in strength capture +these one by one, as did we in Scotland. So, and so only, can you +hope for ultimate success." + +His advice was received with a silence which he at once saw betokened +disapproval. One after another of the Irish chieftains rose and +declared that such a war could not be sustained. + +"Our retainers," they said, "are ready to fight, but after fighting +they will want to return to their homes; besides, we are fifteen +thousand strong, and the English men-at-arms marching against us +are but eight hundred; it would be shameful and cowardly to avoid a +battle, and were we willing to do so our followers would not obey +us. Let us first destroy this body of English, then we shall be +joined by others, and can soon march straight upon Dublin." + +Archie saw that it was hopeless to persevere, and set out the +following day with the wild rabble, for they could not be termed +an army, to meet the English. The leaders yielded so far to his +advice as to take up a position where they would fight with the best +chance of success. The spot lay between a swamp extending a vast +distance, and a river, and they were thus open only to an attack +in front, and could, if defeated, take refuge in the bog, where +horsemen could not follow them. + +On the following morning the English were seen approaching. In +addition to the 800 men-at-arms were 1000 lightly equipped footmen, +for experience had taught the English commanders that in such a +country lightly armed men were necessary to operate where the wide +extending morasses prevented the employment of cavalry. The English +advanced in solid array: 300 archers led the way; these were +followed by 700 spearmen, and the men-at-arms brought up the rear. +The Irish were formed in disordered masses, each under its own +chieftain. The English archers commenced the fight with a shower +of arrows. Scarcely had these began to fall when the Irish with a +tremendous yell rushed forward to the assault. The English archers +were swept like chaff before them. With reckless bravery they threw +themselves next upon the spearmen. The solid array was broken by +the onslaught, and in a moment both parties were mixed up in wild +confusion. + +The sight was too much for Archie's band to view unmoved, and these, +in spite of his shouts, left their ground and rushed at full speed +after their companions and threw themselves into the fight. + +Archie was mounted, having been presented with a horse by one of +the chiefs, and he now, although hopeless of the final result, rode +forward. Just as he joined the confused and struggling mass the +English men-at-arms burst down upon them. As a torrent would cleave +its way through a mass of loose sand, so the English men-at-arms +burst through the mass of Irish, trampling and cutting down all in +their path. Not unharmed, however, for the Irish fought desperately +with axe and knife, hewing at the men-at-arms, stabbing at the +horses, and even trying by sheer strength to throw the riders to +the ground. After passing through the mass the men-at-arms turned +and again burst down upon them. It was a repetition of the first +charge. The Irish fought desperately, but it was each for himself; +there was neither order nor cohesion, and each man strove only to +kill a foe before being himself slain. Archie and the chiefs, with +the few mounted men among the retainers, strove in vain to stem +the torrent. Under the orders of their leaders the English kept +in a compact mass, and the weight of the horses and armour bore +down all opposition. Four times did the men-at-arms burst through +the struggling mass of Irish. As they formed to charge the fifth +time the latter lost heart, and as if acting under a simultaneous +influence they turned and fled. + +The English horse burst down on the rear of the mass of fugitives, +hewing them down in hundreds. Those nearest to the river dashed in, +and numbers were drowned in striving to cross it. The main body, +however, made for the swamp, and though in the crush many sank in +and perished miserably here, the great majority, leaping lightly +from tuft to tuft, gained the heart of the morass, the pursuing +horse reining up on its edge. + +Ronald had kept near Archie in the fight, and when all was lost +ran along by the side of his horse, holding fast to the stirrup +leather. The horsemen still pressed along between the river and +the morass, and Archie, following the example of several of the +chiefs, alighted from his saddle, and with his companion entered +the swamp. It was with the greatest difficulty that he made his +way across it, and his lightly armed companion did him good service +in assisting several times to drag him from the treacherous mire +when he began to sink in it. At last they reached firmer ground in +the heart of the swamp, and here some 5000 or 6000 fugitives were +gathered. At least 4000 had fallen on the field. Many had escaped +across the river, although numbers had lost their lives in the +attempt. Others scattered and fled in various directions. A few +of the chiefs were gathered in council when Archie arrived. They +agreed that all was lost and there was nothing to do but scatter +to their homes. Archie took no part in the discussion. That day's +experience had convinced him that nothing like a permanent and +determined insurrection was possible, and only by such a movement +could the Scottish cause be aided, by forcing the English to send +reinforcements across St. George's Channel. After seeing the +slaughter which had taken place, he was rejoiced at heart that the +rising had commenced before he joined it, and was in no way the +result of his mission, but was one of the sporadic insurrections +which frequently broke out in Ireland, only to be instantly and +sternly repressed. + +"We have failed, Sir Knight," one of the chiefs said to him, "but +it was not for want of courage on the part of our men." + +"No, indeed," Archie replied through his interpreter; "never did I +see men fight more fiercely, but without discipline and organization +victory is well nigh impossible for lightly armed footmen against +heavy mailclad cavalry." + +"The tactics you advised were doubtless good," the chief said; "I +see their wisdom, but they are well nigh impossible to carry out +with such following as ours. They are ever impatient for the fray, +but quickly wearied by effort; ready to die, but not to wait; to +them prudence means cowardice, and their only idea of fighting is +to rush full at a foe. See how they broke the English spearmen!" + +"It was right well done," Archie replied, "and some day, when well +trained and disciplined, Irish soldiers will be second to none in +the world; but unless they will submit to training and discipline +they can never hope to conquer the English." + +"And now, Sir Knight, what do you propose doing?" the chief said. + +"I shall make my way north," Archie replied, "and shall rejoin my +king at Rathlin." + +"I will send two of my men with you. They know every foot of the +morasses of this neighbourhood, and when they get beyond the point +familiar to them will procure you two others to take their places. +It will need all your prudence and courage to get through, for +the English men-at-arms will be scouring the country in groups of +four, hunting all those they come across like wolves. See, already!" +and he pointed to the horizon; "they are scattering round the edge +of the morass to inclose us here; but it is many miles round, and +before tomorrow is gone not a man will be left here." + +When darkness fell, Archie, accompanied by Ronald and his guides, +set out on his journey. Alone he could never have found his way +through the swamps, but even in the darkness his guides moved along +quickly, following tracks known to them with the instinct of hounds; +Archie kept close on their heels, as a step only a few inches from +the track might plunge him in a deep morass, in which in a few +seconds he would sink out of sight. On nearing the edge of the +bog the guides slackened their pace. Motioning to Archie to remain +where he was, they crept forward noiselessly into the darkness. +Not far off he could hear the calls of the English horsemen. The +sounds were repeated again and again until they died away in the +distance, showing that a cordon had been drawn round the morass so +as to inclose the fugitives from the battle of the previous day. + +In a quarter of an hour the guides returned as noiselessly as they +had departed, and Archie continued the march at their heels. Even +greater caution than before was now necessary in walking, for the +English, before darkness had set in, had narrowly examined the edge +of the morass, and had placed three or four men wherever they could +discover the slightest signs of a track. Thus Archie's guides were +obliged to leave the path by which they had previously travelled. +Their progress was slow now, the party only moving for a few yards +at a time, and then halting while the guides searched for ground +solid enough to carry their weight. At last Archie felt the ground +grow firmer under his foot, and a reconnaissance by the guides +having shown them that none of the English were stationed opposite +to them, they left the morass, and noiselessly made their way across +the country until far beyond the English line. + +All night they walked, and at daybreak entered another swamp, and +lay down for the day in the long coarse grass growing on a piece of +firm ground deep in its recesses. In the evening one of the guides +stole out and returned with a native of the neighbourhood, who +undertook to show Archie the way on his further journey. + +Ten days, or rather nights, of steady journeying brought Archie +again to the rocky shore where he had landed. Throughout he had +found faithful guides, whom he had rewarded by giving, as was often +the custom of the time, in lieu of money, a link or two of one of +his gold chains. He and Ronald again took refuge in the cave where +they had passed the first night of their landing. It was untenanted +now. + +Here they abode for a fortnight, Ronald going up every two or three +days to purchase provisions at the scattered cottages. On Saturday +night they lit a great fire just inside the mouth of the cave, so +that while the flames could be seen far out at sea the light would +be unobserved by the garrison of Dunluce or any straggler on the +cliff above. It had been arranged with Duncan that every Saturday +night, weather permitting, he should sail across and look for +a signal fire. The first Saturday night was wild and stormy, and +although they lit the fire they had but slight idea that Duncan +would put out. The following week, however, the night was calm and +bright, and after piling up the fire high they proceeded to the +causeway, and two hours later saw to their joy a boat approaching. +In a few minutes they were on board, and by the following morning +reached Rathlin. + +The king and his companions welcomed Archie's return warmly, +although the report which he made showed that there was no hope of +obtaining any serious diversion of the English attack by a permanent +rising in Ireland; and the king, on hearing Archie's account of +all that had passed, assured him that he felt that, although he had +failed, no one, under the circumstances, could have done otherwise. + + + +Chapter XVII The King's Blood Hound + + +The only other event which occurred throughout the winter was the +arrival of a fishing boat with a messenger from one of the king's +adherents, and the news which he brought filled them with sorrow +and dismay. Kildrummy had been threatened with a siege, and the +queen, Bruce's sisters Christine and Mary, his daughter Marjory, +and the other ladies accompanying them, deemed it prudent to leave +the castle and take refuge in the sanctuary of St. Duthoc, in Ross +shire. + +The sanctuary was violated by the Earl of Ross and his followers, +and the ladies and their escort delivered up to Edward's lieutenants +and sent to England. The knights and squires who formed the escort +were all executed, and the ladies committed to various places +of confinement, where most of them remained in captivity of the +strictest and most rigorous kind until after the battle of Bannockburn, +eight years later. The Countess of Buchan, who had crowned Bruce +at Scone, and who was one of the party captured at St. Duthoc, +received even fouler treatment, by Edward's especial orders, +being placed in a cage on one of the turrets of Berwick Castle so +constructed that she could be seen by all who passed; and in this +cruel imprisonment she was kept like a wild beast for seven long +years by a Christian king whom his admirers love to hold up as a +model of chivalry. + +Kildrummy had been besieged and taken by treachery. The king's +brother, Nigel Bruce, was carried to Berwick, and was there hanged +and beheaded. Christopher Seaton and his brother Alexander, the +Earl of Athole, Sir Simon Fraser, Sir Herbert de Moreham, Sir David +Inchmartin, Sir John Somerville, Sir Walter Logan, and many other +Scotchmen of noble degree, had also been captured and executed, +their only offence being that they had fought for their country. + +In all the annals of England there is no more disgraceful page than +that which chronicles the savage ferocity with which King Edward +behaved to the Scottish nobles and ladies who fell into his hands. +The news of these murders excited the utmost fury as well as grief +among the party at Rathlin, and only increased their determination +to fight till the death against the power of England. + +The spring was now at hand, and Douglas, with Archie Forbes and +a few followers, left in a boat, and landed on the Isle of Arran. +In the bay of Brodick was a castle occupied by Sir John Hastings +and an English garrison. The Scots concealed themselves near the +castle, awaiting an opportunity for an attack. A day or two after +their arrival several vessels arrived with provisions and arms for +the garrison. As these were being landed Douglas and his followers +sallied out and captured the vessels and stores. The garrison of +the castle made a sortie to assist their friends, but were driven +in with slaughter, and the whole of the supplies remained in the +hands of the Scots, causing great rejoicing to the king and the +rest of the party when a few days later they arrived from Rathlin. + +Bruce now proposed an immediate descent upon Carrick, there, in the +midst of his family possessions, to set up his banner in Scotland. +The lands had been forfeited by Edward and bestowed upon some of +his own nobles. Annandale had been given to the Earl of Hereford, +Carrick to Earl Percy, Selkirk to Aymer de Valence. The castle of +Turnberry was occupied by Percy with three hundred men. Bruce sent +on his cousin Cuthbert to reconnoitre and see whether the people +would be ready to rise, but Cuthbert found the Scots sunk in +despair. All who had taken up arms had perished in the field or +on the scaffold. The country swarmed with the English, and further +resistance seemed hopeless. Cuthbert had arranged to light a beacon +on a point at Turnberry visible at Lamlash Bay in Arran, where the +king, with his two hundred men and eighty-three boats, awaited the +sight of the smoke which should tell them that circumstances were +favourable for their landing. + +Cuthbert, finding that there was no chance of a rising, did not +light the bonfire; but as if fortune was determined that Bruce +should continue a struggle which was to end finally in the freedom +of Scotland, some other person lit a fire on the very spot where +Cuthbert had arranged to show the signal. On seeing the smoke the +king and his party at once got into their boats and rowed across +to the mainland, a distance of seventeen miles. On reaching land +they were met by Cuthbert, who reported that the fire was not of his +kindling, and that the circumstances were altogether unfavourable. +Bruce consulted with his brother Edward, Douglas, Archie, and his +principal friends as to what course had better be pursued. Edward +declared at once that he for one would not take to sea again; and +this decision settled the matter. + +The king without delay led his followers against the village +outside the castle, where a considerable portion of the garrison +were housed. These were assailed so suddenly that all save one +were slain. Those in the castle heard the sounds of the conflict, +but being unaware of the smallness of the assailant's force, did +not venture to sally out to their assistance. + +Percy, with his followers, remained shut up in the castle, while +Bruce overran the neighbouring country; but an English force under +Sir Roger St. John, far too powerful to be resisted, advanced to +Turnberry, and Bruce and his followers were obliged to seek refuge +in the hills. Thomas and Alexander, the king's brothers, with Sir +Reginald Crawford, had gone to the islands to beat up recruits, and +returning in a vessel with a party who had joined them, landed at +Loch Ryan. They were attacked at once by Macdowall, a chieftain +of Galloway, and routed. The king's brothers, with Sir Reginald +Crawford, were carried to Carlisle severely wounded, and delivered +over to King Edward, who at once sent them to the scaffold. + +These wholesale and barbarous executions saddened the Scots, and, +as might be expected, soon roused them to severe reprisals. Bruce +himself, however, although deeply stirred by the murder of his +three brothers and many dear friends, and by the captivity and +harsh treatment of his wife and female relatives, never attempted +to take vengeance for them upon those who fell into his hands, +and during the whole of the war in no single instance did he put a +prisoner to death. He carried magnanimity, indeed, almost to the +extent of impolicy; for had the nobles of England found that those +of their number who fell into Bruce's hands suffered the penalty +of death, which Edward inflicted upon the Scotch prisoners, they +would probably have remonstrated with the king and insisted upon +his conducting the war in a less barbarous and ferocious fashion. + +Sir James Douglas was so stirred by the murder of the three Bruces and +so many of his friends and companions, that he resolved henceforth +to wage an exterminating war against the English, and by the recapture +of his own stronghold, known as Castle Douglas, began the series +of desperate deeds which won for him the name of the Black Douglas, +and rendered his name for generations a terror among the English on +the Border. The castle had been conferred by Edward on Sir Robert +de Clifford, and was occupied by an English garrison. Douglas +revealed his intention only to Archie Forbes, who at once agreed +to accompany him. He asked leave from the king to quit their hiding +place for a time, accompanied by Archie, in order to revisit Douglas +Hall, and see how it fared with his tenants and friends. The king +acquiesced with difficulty, as he thought the expedition a dangerous +one, and feared that the youth and impetuosity of Douglas might lead +him into danger; before consenting he strongly urged on Archie to +keep a strict watch over the doings of the young noble. + +Accompanied by but one retainer, the friends set out for Douglasdale. +When they arrived there Douglas went to the cottage of an old and +faithful servant named Thomas Dickson, by whom he was joyfully +received. Dickson went out among the retainers and revealed to such +as could be most surely depended upon the secret of their lord's +presence, and one by one took them in to see him. The friends +had already determined upon their course, and the retainers all +promised to take part in the scheme. They were not numerous enough +to assault the castle openly, but they chose the following Sunday +for the assault. This was Palm Sunday and a festival, and most of +the garrison would come to the Church of St. Bride, in the village +of the same name, a short distance from the castle. + +Dickson with some of his friends went at the appointed time, with +arms concealed under their clothes, to the church; and after the +service had commenced Douglas and some of his followers gathered +outside. Unfortunately for the plan, some of those outside set +up the shout, "A Douglas!" prematurely before the whole party had +arrived and were ready to rush into the church. Dickson with his +friends at once drew out their arms and attacked the English; but +being greatly outnumbered and for a time unsupported, most of them, +including their leader, were slain. Sir James and his followers then +fought their way in, and after a desperate fight all the garrison +save ten were killed. + +The party then proceeded to the castle, which they captured without +resistance. Douglas and his companions partook of the dinner which +had been prepared for the garrison; then as much money, weapons, +armour, and clothing as they could carry away was taken from the +castle. The whole of the vast stores of provisions were carried +into the cellar, the heads struck out of the ale and wine casks, +the prisoners were slain and their bodies thrown down into the mass, +and the castle was then set on fire. Archie Forbes in vain begged +Douglas to spare the lives of the prisoners, but the latter would +not listen to him. "No, Sir Archie," he exclaimed; "the King of +England held my good father a prisoner in chains until he died; +he has struck off the heads of every one of our friends who have +fallen into his hands; he has wasted Scotland from end to end with +fire and sword, and has slain our people in tens of thousands. So +long as this war continues, so long will I slay every prisoner who +falls into my hands, as King Edward would slay me did I fall into +his; and I will not desist unless this cruel king agrees to show +quarter to such of us as he may capture. I see not why all the +massacreing and bloodshed should be upon one side." + +Archie did not urge him further, for he too was half beside himself +with indignation and grief at the murder of the king's brothers +and friends, and at the cruel captivity which, by a violation of +the laws of sanctuary, had fallen upon the ladies with whom he had +spent so many happy hours in the mountains and forests of Athole. + +Douglas and Archie now rejoined the king. For months Bruce led +the life of a hunted fugitive. His little following dwindled away +until but sixty men remained in arms. Of these a portion were +with the king's brother in Galloway, and with but a handful of men +Bruce was lying among the fastnesses of Carrick when Sir Ingram +de Umfraville, with a large number of troops sent by the Earl of +Pembroke from Edinburgh, approached. Wholly unable to resist so +large a force, Bruce's little party scattered, and the king himself, +attended only by a page, lay hidden in the cottage of a peasant. +The English in vain searched for him, until a traitorous Scot went +to Umfraville and offered, for a reward of a grant of land to the +value of 40 pounds annually, to slay Bruce. + +The offer was accepted, and the traitor and his two sons made their +way to Bruce's place of concealment. As they approached, Bruce +snatched his bow from his page and shot the traitor through the +eye. One son attacked him with an axe, but was slain with a blow +from the king's sword. The remaining assailant rushed at him with +a spear; but the king with one blow cut off the spearhead, and +before the assailant had time to draw his sword, stretched him +dead at his feet. After this the king with his adherents eluded +the search of the English and made their way into Galloway. The +people here who were devoted to the English cause determined to hunt +him down, and two hundred men, accompanied by some blood hounds, +set off towards the king's retreat; but Bruce's scouts were on +the watch and brought him news of their coming. The king with his +party retired until they reached a morass, through which flowed a +running stream, while beyond a narrow passage led through a deep +quagmire. + +Beyond this point the hunted party lay down to rest, while the +king with two followers returned to the river to keep watch. After +listening for some time they heard the baying of the hounds coming +nearer and nearer, and then, by the light of a bright moon, saw +their enemies approaching. + +The king sent his two followers to rouse the band. The enemy, +seeing Bruce alone, pressed forward with all haste; and the king, +knowing that if he retired his followers would be attacked unprepared, +determined alone to defend the narrow path. He retired from the +river bank to the spot where the path was narrowest and the morass +most impassable, and then drew his sword. His pursuers, crossing +the river, rode forward against him; Bruce charged the first, and +with his lance slew him; then with a blow with his mace he stretched +his horse beside him, blocking the narrow passage. One by one his +foes advanced, and five fell beneath his blows, before his companions +ran up from behind. The Galloway men then took to flight, but nine +more were slain before they could cross the ford. + +The admiration and confidence of Bruce's followers were greatly +aroused by this new proof of his courage and prowess. Sir James +Douglas, his brother Edward, and others soon afterwards returned +from the expeditions on which they had been sent, and the king +had now 400 men assembled. This force, however, was powerless to +resist an army of English and Lowland Scots who marched against +him, led by Pembroke in person. This force was accompanied by John, +son of Alexander MacDougall of Lorne, with 800 of his mountaineers. +While the heavy armed troops occupied all the Lowlands, Lorne and +his followers made a circuit in the mountains so as to inclose the +royal fugitive between them. + +Bruce, seeing that resistance was impossible, caused his party to +separate into three divisions, and Douglas, Edward Bruce, and Sir +Archibald Forbes were charged to lead their bands, if possible, +through the enemy without fighting. The king tried to escape by a +different route with a handful of men. John of Lorne had obtained +from Turnberry a favourite blood hound belonging to Bruce, and +the hound being put upon the trace persistently followed the king's +party. Seeing this, Bruce ordered them all to disperse, and, +accompanied only by his foster brother, attempted to escape by +speed. + +As they sped along the mountain side they were seen by Lorne, who +directed his henchman, with four of his bravest and swiftest men, +to follow him. After a long chase the MacDougalls came up with +Bruce and his foster brother, who drew their swords and stood on the +defence. The henchman, with two of his followers, attacked Bruce, +while the other two fell on his foster brother. The combat was a +desperate one, but one by one the king cut down his three assailants, +and then turned to the assistance of his foster brother, who +was hardly pressed. The king's sword soon rid him of one of his +assailants, and he slew the other. Having thus disembarrassed +themselves of the whole of their immediate assailants, Bruce and his +companion continued their flight. The main body of their hunters, +with the hound, were but a short distance away, but in a wood the +fugitives came upon a stream, and, marching for some distance down +this, again landed, and continued their flight. + +The hound lost their scent at the spot where they had entered the +water, and being unable to recover it, Lorne and his followers +abandoned the chase. Among the king's pursuers on this occasion +was his nephew Randolph, who had been captured at the battle of +Methven, and having again taken the oath of allegiance to Edward +had been restored to that monarch's favour, and was now fighting +among the English ranks. + +The search was actively kept up after Bruce, and a party of three +men-at-arms came upon him and his foster brother. Being afraid to +attack the king, whom they recognized, openly, they pretended they +had come to join him. + +The king suspected treachery; and when the five lay down for the +night in a cottage which they came upon he and his companion agreed +to watch alternately. Overcome by fatigue, however, both fell asleep, +and when they were suddenly attacked by the three strangers, the +foster brother was killed before he could offer any resistance. +The king himself, although wounded, managed to struggle to his +feet, and then proved more than a match for his three treacherous +assailants, all of whom, after a desperate struggle, he slew. + +The next morning he continued his way, and by nightfall succeeded +in joining the three bands, who had safely reached the rendezvous +he had appointed. + +A few hours after this exploit of Bruce, Archie with two or three +of his followers joined him. + +"This is indeed a serious matter of the hound," Archie said when +Bruce told him how nearly he had fallen a victim to the affection +of his favourite. "Methinks, sire, so long as he remains in the +English hands your life will never be safe, for the dog will always +lead the searchers to your hiding places; if one could get near +enough to shoot him, the danger would be at an end." + +"I would not have him shot, Archie, for a large sum. I have had him +since he was a little pup; he has for years slept across my door, +and would give his life for mine. `Tis but his affection now that +brings danger upon me." + +"I should be sorry to see the dog killed myself," Archie said, "for +he is a fine fellow, and he quite admitted me to his friendship +during the time we were together. Still, sire, if it were a question +between their lives and yours, I would not hesitate to kill any +number of dogs. The whole future of Scotland is wrapped up in you; +and as there is not one of your followers but would gladly give +his life for yours, it were no great thing that a hound should do +the same." + +"I cannot withstand you in argument, Archie," the king said smiling; +"yet I would fain that my favourite should, if possible, be spared. +But I grant you, should there be no other way, and the hound should +continue to follow me, he must be put to death. But it would grieve +me sorely. I have lost so many and so dear friends in the last +year, that I can ill spare one of the few that are left me." + +Archie was himself fond of dogs, and knowing how attached Bruce +was to his faithful hound he could quite understand how reluctant +he was that harm should come to him. Still, he felt it was necessary +that the dog should, at all hazards, be either killed or taken +from the English, for if he remained in their hands he was almost +certain sooner or later to lead to Bruce's capture. He determined +then to endeavour to avert the danger by abstracting the dog from +the hands of the English, or, failing that, by killing him. To do +this it would be absolutely necessary to enter the English camp. +There was no possibility of carrying out his purpose without running +this risk, for when in pursuit of the king the hound would be held +by a leash, and there would be many men-at-arms close by, so that +the difficulty of shooting him would be extremely great, and Archie +could see no plan save that of boldly entering the camp. + +He said nothing of his project to Bruce, who would probably have +refused to allow him to undertake it; but the next morning when +he parted from him -- for it was considered advisable that the +fugitives should be divided into the smallest groups, and that only +one or two of his retainers should remain with Bruce -- he started +with his own followers in the direction of Pembroke's camp. He +presently changed clothes with one of these, and they then collected +a quantity of firewood and made it into a great faggot. Archie gave +them orders where they should await him, and lifting the faggot on +his shoulders boldly entered the camp. He passed with it near the +pavilion of Pembroke. The earl was standing with some knights at +the entrance. + +"Come hither, Scot," he said as Archie passed. + +Archie laid his bundle on the ground, and doffing his bonnet strode +with an awkward and abashed air toward the earl. + +"I suppose you are one of Bruce's men?" the earl said. + +"My father," Archie replied, "as well as all who dwell in these +dales, were his vassals; but seeing that, as they say, his lands +have been forfeit and given to others, I know not whose man I am +at present." + +"Dost know Bruce by figure?" + +"Surely," Archie said simply, "seeing that I was employed in the +stables at Turnberry, and used to wash that big hound of his, who +was treated as a Christian rather than a dog." + +"Oh, you used to tend the hound!" Pembroke said. "Then perhaps +you could manage him now. He is here in camp, and the brute is so +savage and fierce he has already well nigh killed two or three men; +and I would have had him shot but that he may be useful to us. If +he knows you he may be quieter with you than others." + +"Doubtless he would know me," Archie said; "but seeing that I have +the croft to look after, as my father is old and infirm, I trust +that you will excuse me the service of looking after the hound." + +"Answer me not," Pembroke said angrily. "You may think yourself +lucky, seeing that you are one of Bruce's retainers, that I do not +have you hung from a tree. + +"Take the fellow to the hound," he said to one of his retainers, +"and see if the brute recognizes him; if so, put him in charge of +him for the future. And see you Scot, that you attempt no tricks, +for if you try to escape I will hang you without shrift." + +Archie followed the earl's retainer to where, behind his pavilion, +the great dog was chained up. He leapt to his feet with a savage +growl on hearing footsteps approaching. His hair bristled and he +tugged at his chain. + +"What a savage beast it is!" the man said; "I would sooner face +a whole company of you Scots than get within reach of his jaws. +Dickon," he went on as another soldier, on hearing the growl, issued +from one of the smaller tents which stood in rear of the pavilion, +"the earl has sent this Scot to relieve you of your charge of the +dog; he is to have the care of him in future." + +"That is the best turn the earl has done me for a long time," the +man replied. "Never did I have a job I fancied less than the tending +of that evil tempered brute." + +"He did not use to be evil tempered," Archie said; "but was a quiet +beast when I had to do with him before. I suppose the strangeness +of the place and so many strange faces have driven him half wild. +Beside, he is not used to being chained up. Hector, old fellow," +he said approaching the dog quietly, "don't you know me?" + +The great hound recognized the voice and his aspect changed +at once. The bristling hair lay flat on his back; the threatening +jaws closed. He gave a short deep bark of pleasure, and then began +leaping and tugging at his chain to reach his acquaintance. Archie +came close to him now. Hector reared on his hind legs, and placed +his great paws on his shoulders, and licked his face with whines +of joy. + +"He knows you, sure enough," the man said; "and maybe we shall get +on better now. At any rate there may be some chance of sleep, for +the brute's howls every night since he has been brought here have +kept the whole camp awake." + +"No wonder!" Archie said, "when he has been accustomed to be petted +and cared for; he resents being chained up." + +"Would you unchain him?" the man asked. + +"That would I," Archie replied; "and I doubt not that he will stay +with me." + +"It may be so," the man replied; "but you had best not unchain him +without leave from the earl, for were he to take it into his head +to run away, I would not give a groat for your life. But I will go +and acquaint the earl that the dog knows you, and ask his orders +as to his being unchained." + +In two or three minutes he returned. + +"The earl says that on no account is he to be let free. He has told +me to have a small tent pitched here for you. The hound is to be +chained to the post, and to share the tent with you. You may, if +you will, walk about the camp with him, but always keeping him in +a chain; but if you do so it will be at your peril, for if he gets +away your life will answer for it." + +In a short time two or three soldiers brought a small tent and +erected it close by where the dog was chained up. Archie unloosed +the chain from the post round which it was fastened, and led +Hector to the tent, the dog keeping close by his side and wagging +his tail gravely, as if to show his appreciation of the change, to +the satisfaction of the men to whom hitherto he had been a terror. +Some heather was brought for a bed, and a supply of food, both +for the dog and his keeper, and the men then left the two friends +alone. Hector was sitting up on his haunches gazing affectionately +at Archie, his tail beating the ground with slow and regular strokes. + +"I know what you want to ask, old fellow," Archie said to him; "why +I don't lead you at once to your master? Don't you be impatient, +old fellow, and you shall see him ere long;" and he patted the +hound's head. + +Hector, with a great sigh expressive of content and satisfaction, +lay down on the ground by the side of the couch of heather on which +Archie threw himself -- his nose between his forepaws, clearly +expressing that he considered his troubles were over, and could now +afford to wait until in due time he should be taken to his master. +That night the camp slept quietly, for Hector was silent. For the +next two days Archie did not go more than a few yards from his tent, +for he feared that he might meet some one who would recognize him. + + + +Chapter XVIII The Hound Restored + + +On the third day after his arrival at the camp Archie received +orders to prepare to start with the hound, with the earl and a large +party of men-at-arms, in search of Bruce. A traitor had just come +in and told them where Bruce had slept the night before. Reluctantly +Archie unfastened the chain from the pole, and holding the end in +his hand went round with Hector to the front of the pavilion. He +was resolved that if under the dog's guidance the party came close +up with Bruce, he would kill the dog and then try to escape by +fleetness of foot, though of this, as there were so many mounted +men in the party, he had but slight hope. Led by the peasant they +proceeded to the hut, which was five miles away in the hills. On +reaching it Hector at once became greatly excited. He sniffed +here and there, eagerly hunted up and down the cottage, then made +a circuit round it, and at last, with a loud deep bay he started +off with his nose to the ground, pulling so hard at the chain that +Archie had difficulty in keeping up with him. Pembroke and his +knights rode a little behind, followed by their men-at-arms. + +"I pray you, Sir Earl," Archie said, "keep not too close to my +traces, for the sound of the horse's hoofs and the jingling of the +equipments make him all the more impatient to get forward, and even +now it taxes all my strength to hold him in." + +The earl reined back his horse and followed at a distance of some +fifty yards. He had no suspicion whatever of any hidden design +on Archie's part. The fact that the hound had recognized him had +appeared to him a sure proof of the truth of his tale, and Archie +had put on an air of such stupid simplicity that the earl deemed +him to have but imperfect possession of his wits. Moreover, in any +case he could overtake him in case he attempted flight. + +Archie proceeded at a trot behind the hound, who was with +difficulty restrained at that pace, straining eagerly on the chain +and occasionally sending out his deep bay. Archie anxiously regarded +the country through which he was passing. He was waiting for an +opportunity, and was determined, whenever they passed near a steep +hillside unscaleable by horsemen, he would stab Hector to the heart +and take to flight. Presently he saw a man, whose attire showed +him to be a Highlander, approaching at a run; he passed close by +Archie, and as he did so stopped suddenly, exclaiming, "Archibald +Forbes!" and drawing his broadsword sprang at him. Archie, who was +unarmed save by a long knife, leapt back. In the man he recognized +the leader of the MacDougall's party, who had captured him near +Dunstaffnage. The conflict would have terminated in an instant had +not Hector intervened. Turning round with a deep growl the great +hound sprang full at the throat of the Highlander as with uplifted +sword he rushed at Archie. The impetus of the spring threw the +MacDougall on his back, with the fangs of the hound fixed in his +throat. Archie's first impulse was to pull the dog off, the second +thought showed him that, were the man to survive he would at once +denounce him. Accordingly, though he appeared to tug hard at Hector's +chain, he in reality allowed him to have his way. Pembroke and his +knights instantly galloped up. As they arrived Hector loosed his +hold, and with his hair bristly with rage prepared to attack those +whom he regarded as fresh enemies. + +"Hold in that hound," Pembroke shouted, "or he will do more damage. +What means all this?" For a minute Archie did not answer, being +engaged in pacifying Hector, who, on seeing that no harm was +intended, strove to return to his first foe. + +"It means," Archie said, when Hector was at last pacified, "that +that Highlander came the other day to our cottage and wanted to +carry off a cow without making payment for it. I withstood him, +he drew his sword, but as I had a stout cudgel in my hand I hit him +on the wrist ere he could use it, and well nigh broke his arm. So +he made off, cursing and swearing, and vowing that the next time +he met me he would have my life." + +"And that he would have done," Pembroke said, "had it not been +for Bruce's dog, who has turned matters the other way. He is dead +assuredly. It is John of Lorne's henchman, who was doubtless on +his way with a message from his lord to me. Could not the fool have +postponed his grudge till he had delivered it? I tell you, Scot, +you had best keep out of the MacDougalls' way, for assuredly they +will revenge the death of their clansman upon you if they have +the chance, though I can testify that the affair was none of your +seeking. Now let us continue our way." + +"I doubt me, Sir Earl, whether our journey ends not here," Archie +said, "seeing that these hounds, when they taste blood, seem for +a time to lose their fineness of scent; but we shall see." + +Archie's opinion turned out correct. Do what they would they could +not induce Hector again to take up his master's trail, the hound +again and again returning to the spot where the dead Highlander +still lay. Pembroke had the body carried off but the hound tugged +at his chain in the direction in which it had gone, and seemed to +have lost all remembrance of the track upon which he was going. +At last Pembroke was obliged to acknowledge that it was useless to +pursue longer, and, full of disappointment at their failure, the +party returned to camp, Pembroke saying: "Our chase is but postponed. +We are sure to get tidings of Bruce's hiding place in a day or two, +and next time we will have the hound muzzled, lest any hotheaded +Highlander should again interfere to mar the sport." + +It was some days before further tidings were obtained of Bruce. +Archie did not leave his tent during this time, giving as a reason +that he was afraid if he went out he should meet some of Lorne's +men, who might take up the quarrel of the man who had been killed. +At length, however, another traitor came in, and Pembroke and his +party set out as before, Hector being this time muzzled by a strap +round his jaw, which would not interfere with his scent, but would +prevent him from widely opening his jaws. + +The scent of Bruce was again taken up at a lonely hut in the hills. +The country was far more broken and rough than that through which +they had followed Bruce's trail on the preceding occasion. Again +Archie determined, but most reluctantly, that he would slay the +noble dog; but he determined to postpone the deed to the latest +moment. Several places were passed where he might have succeeded +in effecting his escape after stabbing the hound, but each time his +determination failed him. It would have been of no use to release +the dog and make himself up the hillside, for a blood hound's pace +when on the track is not rapid, and the horsemen could have kept +up with Hector, who would of course have continued his way upon +the trail of the king. Presently two men were seen in the distance; +they had evidently been alarmed by the bay of the hound, and were +going at full speed. A shout of triumph broke from the pursuers, +and some of the more eager would have set spurs to their horses +and passed the hound. + +"Rein back, rein back," Pembroke said, "the country is wild and +hilly here, and Bruce may hide himself long before you can overtake +him. Keep steadily in his track till he gains flatter country, where +we can keep him in sight, then we shall have no more occasion for +the hound and can gallop on at full speed." + +Archie observed, with satisfaction, that Bruce was making up an +extremely steep hillside, deeming probably that horsemen would be +unable to follow him here, and that he would be able to distance +pursuers on foot. Ten minutes later his pursuers had reached the +foot of the hill. Pembroke at once ordered four knights and ten +men-at-arms to dismount. + +"Do you," he said, "with the dog, follow hard upon the traces of +Bruce. When you reach the top signal to us the direction in which +he has gone. Follow ever on his track without stopping; he must at +last take to the low country again. Some of my men shall remain +here, others a mile further on, and so on round the whole foot of +the hills. Do you, when you see that, thinking he has distanced +you, which he may well do being more lightly armed and flying for +his life, he makes for the low country again, send men in different +directions to give me warning. The baying of the dog will act as +a signal to us." + +While the men had been dismounting and Pembroke was giving his +orders Archie had proceeded up the hill with the hound. The path +was exceedingly steep and difficult. + +"Do not hurry, sirrah," Pembroke called; "hold in your hound till +the others join you." But Archie paid no attention to the shout, +but kept up the steep path at the top of his speed. Shouts and +threats followed him, but he paused not till he reached the top +of the ascent; then he unfastened Hector's collar, and the dog, +relieved from the chain which had so long restrained him, bounded +away with a deep bay in pursuit of his master, whose scent was now +strong before him. As Archie looked back, the four knights and +their followers, in single file, were, as yet, scarce halfway up +the ascent. Lying round were numbers of loose boulders, and Archie +at once began to roll these down the hillside. They went but slowly +at first, but as they reached the steeper portion they gathered +speed, and taking great bounds crashed down the hillside. As these +formidable missiles burst down from above the knights paused. + +"On!" Pembroke shouted from below; "the Scot is a traitor, and he +and the hound will escape if you seize him not." Again the party +hurried up the hill. Three of them were struck down by the rocks, +and the speed of all was impeded by the pauses made to avoid the +great boulders which bounded down toward them. When they were +within a few yards of the top Archie turned and bounded off at full +speed. He had no fear of being himself overtaken. Lightly clad and +unarmed, the knights and men-at-arms, who were all in full armour, +and who were already breathed with the exertions they had made, +would have no chance of overtaking him; indeed he could safely have +fled at once when he loosed Hector, but he had stopped to delay the +ascent of his pursuers solely to give the hound as long a start +as possible. He himself could have kept up with the hound; the +men-at-arms could assuredly not do so, but they might for a long +time keep him in sight, and his baying would afterwards indicate +the line the king was taking, and Bruce might yet be cut off by +the mounted men. The delay which his bombardment had caused had +given a long start to the hound, for it was more than five minutes +from the time when it had been loosed before the pursuers gained +the crest of the hill. Archie, in his flight, took a different +line to that which the dog had followed. Hector was already out +of sight, and although his deep baying might for a time afford an +index to his direction this would soon cease to act as a guide, as +the animal would rapidly increase his distance from his pursuers, +and would, when he had overtaken the king, cease to emit his warning +note. The pursuers, after a moment's pause for consultation on the +crest of the hill, followed the line taken by the hound. + +The men-at-arms paused to throw aside their defensive armour, +breast, back, and leg pieces, and the knights relieved themselves +of some of their iron gear; but the delay, short as it was, caused +by the unbuckling of straps and unlacing of helms, increased the +distance which already existed between them and the hound, whose +deep notes, occasionally raised, grew fainter and fainter. In a +few minutes it ceased altogether, and Archie judged that the hound +had overtaken his master, who, on seeing the animal approaching +alone, would naturally have checked his flight. Archie himself +was now far away from the men-at-arms, and after proceeding until +beyond all reach of pursuit, slackened his pace, and breaking into +a walk continued his course some miles across the hills until he +reached a lonely cottage where he was kindly received, and remained +until next day. + +The following morning he set out and journeyed to the spot, where, +on leaving his retainers more than a week before, he had ordered +them to await his coming. It was another week before he obtained +such news as enabled him again to join the king, who was staying at +a woodcutter's hut in Selkirk Forest. Hector came out with a deep +bark of welcome. + +"Well, Sir Archie," the king said, following his dog to the door, +"and how has it fared with you since we last parted a fortnight +since? I have been hotly chased, and thought I should have been +taken; but, thanks to the carelessness of the fellow who led my +hound, Hector somehow slipped his collar and joined me, and I was +able to shake off my pursuers, so that danger is over, and without +sacrificing the life of my good dog." + +Archie smiled. "Perchance, sir, it was not from any clumsiness that +the hound got free, but that he was loosed by some friendly hand." + +"It may be so," the king replied; "but they would scarcely have +intrusted him to a hand friendly to me. Nor would his leader, even +if so disposed, have ventured to slip the hound, seeing that the +horsemen must have been close by at the time, and that such a deed +would cost him his life. It was only because Hector got away, when +the horsemen were unable to follow him, that he escaped, seeing +that, good dog as he is, speed is not his strong point, and that +horsemen could easily gallop alongside of him even were he free. +What are you smiling at, Sir Archie? The hound and you seem on +wondrous friendly terms;" for Hector was now standing up with his +great paws on Archie's shoulder. + +"So we should be, sire, seeing that for eight days we have shared +bed and board." + +"Ah! is it so?" Bruce exclaimed. "Was it you, then, that loosed +the hound?" + +"It was, sir," Archie replied; "and this is the history of it; +and you will see that if I have done you and Hector a service in +bringing you together again the hound has repaid it by saving my +life." + +Entering the hut, Archie sat down and related all that had happened, +to the king. + +"You have done me great service, Sir Archie," Bruce said when he +concluded his tale, "for assuredly the hound would have wrought my +ruin had he remained in the hands of the English. This is another +of the long list of services you have rendered me. Some day, when +I come to my own, you will find that I am not ungrateful." + +The feats which have been related of Bruce, and other personal +adventures in which he distinguished himself, won the hearts of +great numbers of the Scotch people. They recognized now that they +had in him a champion as doughty and as valiant as Wallace himself. +The exploits of the king filled their imaginations, and the way in +which he continued the struggle after the capture of the ladies of +his family and the cruel execution of his brothers and so many of +his adherents, convinced them that he would never desist until he +was dead or a conqueror. Once persuaded of this, larger numbers +gathered round his banner, and his fortunes henceforth began steadily +to rise. + +Lord Clifford had rebuilt Douglas Castle, making it larger and +much stronger than before, and had committed it to the charge of +Captain Thirlwall, with a strong garrison. Douglas took a number +of his retainers, who had now joined him in the field, and some +of these, dressing themselves as drovers and concealing their +arms, drove a herd of cattle within sight of the castle toward an +ambuscade in which Douglas and the others were laying in ambush. +The garrison, seeing what they believed a valuable prize within +their grasp, sallied out to seize the cattle. When they reached the +ambuscade the Scots sprang out upon them, and Thirlwall and the +greater portion of his men were slain. Douglas then took and destroyed +the castle and marched away. Clifford again rebuilt it more strongly +than before, and placed it in charge of Sir John Walton. It might +have been thought that after the disasters which had befallen +the garrison they would not have suffered themselves to be again +entrapped. Douglas, however, ordered a number of his men to ride +past within sight of the castle with sacks upon their horses, +apparently filled with grain, but in reality with grass, as if +they were countrymen on their way to the neighbouring market town, +while once more he and his followers placed themselves in ambush. +Headed by their captain, the garrison poured out from the castle, +and followed the apparent countrymen until they had passed the +ambush where Douglas was lying. Then the drovers threw off their +disguises and attacked them, while Douglas fell upon their rear, +and Walton and his companions were all slain. The castle was then +attacked, and the remainder of the garrison being cowed by the +fate which had befallen their leader and comrades, made but a poor +defence. The castle was taken, and was again destroyed by its +lord, the walls being, as far as possible, overthrown. + +Shortly after the daring adventures of Bruce had begun to rouse +the spirit of the country Archie Forbes found himself at the head +of a larger following than before. Foreseeing that the war must be +a long one he had called upon his tenants and retainers to furnish +him only with a force one third of that of their total strength. +Thus he was able to maintain sixty men always in the field -- all +the older men on the estate being exempted from service unless +summoned to defend the castle. + +One day when he was in the forest of Selkirk with the king a body +of fifty men were seen approaching. Their leader inquired for Sir +Archibald Forbes, and presently approached him as he was talking +to the king. + +"Sir Archibald Forbes," he said, "I am bidden by my mistress, the +lady Mary Kerr, to bring these, a portion of the retainers of her +estates in Ayrshire, and to place them in your hands to lead and +govern." + +"In my hands!" Archie exclaimed in astonishment. "The Kerrs are all +on the English side, and I am their greatest enemy. It were strange, +indeed, were one of them to choose me to lead their retainers in +the cause of Scotland." + +"Our young lord Sir Allan was slain at Methven," the man said, "and +the lady Mary is now our lady and mistress. She sent to us months +ago to say that she willed not that any of her retainers should any +longer take part in the struggle, and all who were in the field +were summoned home. Then we heard that no hindrance would be offered +by her should any wish to join the Bruce; and now she has sent by +a messenger a letter under her hand ordering that a troop of fifty +men shall be raised to join the king, and that it shall fight under +the leading and order of Sir Archibald Forbes." + +"I had not heard that Sir Allan had fallen," Archie said to the +king as they walked apart from the place where the man was standing; +"and in truth I had forgotten that he even had a sister. She must +have been a child when I was a boy at Glen Cairn, and could have +been but seldom at the castle -- which, indeed, was no fit abode +for so young a girl, seeing that Sir John's wife had died some +years before I left Glen Cairn. Perhaps she was with her mother's +relations. I have heard that Sir John Kerr married a relation of +the Comyns of Badenoch. `Tis strange if, being of such bad blood +on both sides, she should have grown up a true Scotchwoman -- still +more strange she should send her vassals to fight under the banner +of one whom she must regard as the unlawful holder of her father's +lands of Aberfilly." + +"Think you, Sir Archie," the king said, "that this is a stratagem, +and that these men have really come with a design to seize upon +you and slay you, or to turn traitors in the first battle?" + +Archie was silent. "Treachery has been so much at work," he said +after a pause, "that it were rash to say that this may not be a +traitorous device; but it were hard to think that a girl -- even +a Kerr -- would lend herself to it." + +"There are bad women as well as bad men," the king said: "and if +a woman thinks she has grievances she will often stick at nothing +to obtain revenge." + +"It is a well appointed troop," Archie said looking at the men, +who were drawn up in order, "and not to be despised. Their leader +looks an honest fellow; and if the lady means honestly it were +churlish indeed, to refuse her aid when she ventures to break with +her family and to declare for Scotland. No; methinks that, with +your permission, I will run the risk, such as it may be, and will +join this band with my own. I will keep a sharp watch over them at +the first fight, and will see that they are so placed that, should +they mean treachery, they shall have but small opportunity of doing +harm." + + + +Chapter XIX The Convent of St. Kenneth + + +Bruce, as the result of his successes, was now able to leave +his fastnesses and establish himself in the districts of Carrick, +Kyle, and Cunningham. Pembroke had established himself at Bothwell +Castle, and sent a challenge to Bruce to meet him with his force at +Loudon Hill. Although his previous experience of such challenges +was unfortunate, Bruce accepted the offer. He had learned much +since the battle of Methven, and was not likely again to be caught +asleep; on the 9th of May he assembled his forces at Loudon Hill. + +It was but a small following. Douglas had brought 100 men +from Douglasdale, and Archie Forbes had as many under his banner. +Bruce's own vassals had gathered 200 strong, and as many more of +the country people had joined; but in all, the Scotch force did +not exceed 600 men, almost entirely on foot and armed with spears. +Bruce at once reconnoitred the ground to discover a spot where his +little force might best withstand the shock of Pembroke's chivalry. +He found that at one place near the hill the road crossed a level +meadow with deep morasses on either side. He strengthened the position +with trenches, and calmly awaited the approach of his enemy. Upon +the following day Pembroke's army was seen approaching, numbering +3000 knights and mounted men-at-arms, all in complete armour. They +were formed in two divisions. The battle was almost a repetition +of that which had been fought by Wallace near the same spot. The +English chivalry levelled their spears and charged with proud +confidence of their ability to sweep away the rabble of spearmen +in front of them. Their flanks became entangled in the morasses; +their centre tried in vain to break through the hedge of Scottish +spears, and when they were in confusion, the king, his brother +Edward, Douglas, Archie Forbes, and some twenty other mounted men +dashed through a gap in the spearmen and fell upon them. The second +division, seeing the first broken and in confusion, turned and took +to flight at once, and Pembroke and his attendants rode, without +drawing rein, to Bothwell Castle. + +A few days later Bruce encountered and defeated Ralph de Monthermer, +Earl of Gloucester, and compelled him to shut himself up in the +Castle of Ayr. + +Archie Forbes was not present at the second battle, for upon the +morning after the fight at Loudon Hill he was aroused by his servant +entering his tent. + +"A messenger has just brought this," he said, handing him a small +packet. "He bids me tell you that the sender is a prisoner in the +convent of St. Kenneth, on Loch Leven, and prays your aid." + +Archie opened the packet and found within it the ring he had given +to Marjory at Dunstaffnage. Without a moment's delay he hurried +to the king and begged permission to leave him for a short time on +urgent business, taking with him twenty of his retainers. + +"What is your urgent business, Sir Archie?" the king asked. "A lady +is in the case, I warrant me. Whenever a young knight has urgent +business, be sure that a lady is in question. Now mind, Sir Archie, +I have, as I have told you, set my heart upon marrying you to +Mistress Mary Kerr, and so at once putting an end to a long feud +and doubling your possessions. Her retainers fought well yesterday, +and the least I can do to reward so splendid a damsel is to bestow +upon her the hand of my bravest knight." + +"I fear, sire," Archie said laughing, "that she must be content +with another. There are plenty who will deem themselves well paid +for their services in your cause by the gift of the hand of so rich +an heiress. But I must fain be excused; for as I told you, sire, +when we were together in Rathlin Island, my heart was otherwise +bestowed." + +"What! to the niece of that malignant enemy of mine, Alexander of +Lorne?" the king said laughing. "Her friends would rather see you +on the gibbet than at the altar." + +"I care nought for her friends," Archie said, "if I can get herself. +My own lands are wide enough, and I need no dowry with my wife." + +"I see you are hopeless," the king replied. "Well, go, Archie; but +whatever be your errand, beware of the Lornes. Remember I have +scarce begun to win Scotland yet, and cannot spare you." + +"A quarter of an hour later Archie, with twenty picked men, took +his way northward. Avoiding all towns and frequented roads, Archie +marched rapidly north to the point of Renfrew and crossed the Firth +of Clyde by boat; then he kept north round the head of Loch Fyne, +and avoiding Dalmally skirted the head of Loch Etive and the slopes +of Ben Nevis, and so came down on Loch Leven. + +The convent stood at the extremity of a promontory jutting into the +lake. The neck was very narrow, and across it were strong walls, +with a gate and flanking towers. Between this wall and the convent +was the garden where the inmates walked and enjoyed the air free +from the sight of men, save, indeed, of fishers who might be passing +in their boats. + +Outside the wall, on the shore of the lake, stood a large village; +and here a strong body of the retainers of the convent were always +on guard, for at St. Kenneth were many of the daughters of Scotch +nobles, sent there either to be out of the way during the troubles +or to be educated by the nuns. Although the terrors of sacrilege +and the ban of the church might well deter any from laying hands +upon the convent, yet even in those days of superstition some were +found so fierce and irreverent as to dare even the anger of the +church to carry out their wishes; and the possession of some of these +heiresses might well enable them to make good terms for themselves +both with the church and the relations of their captives. Therefore a +number of the retainers were always under arms, a guard was placed +on the gate, and lookouts on the flanking towers -- their duty +being not only to watch the land side, but to shout orders to keep +at a distance to any fisherman who might approach too closely to +the promontory. + +Archie left his party in the forest under the command of William +Orr. He dressed himself as a mountaineer, and, accompanied by Cluny +Campbell, and carrying a buck which they had shot in the forest, +went boldly down into the village. He soon got into conversation +with an old fisherman, and offered to exchange the deer for dried +fish. The bargain was quickly struck, and then Archie said: + +"I have never been out on the lake, and would fain have a view of +the convent from the water. Will you take me and my brother out +for a row?" + +The fisherman, who had made a good bargain, at once assented, and +rowed Archie and Cluny far out into the lake. + +As they passed along at some distance Archie saw that the shore was +in several places smooth and shelving, and that there would be no +difficulty in effecting a landing. He saw also that there were many +clumps of trees and shrubs in the garden. + +"And do the nuns and the ladies at the convent often walk there?" +he asked the fisherman. + +"Oh yes," he answered; "of an evening as I come back from fishing +I can see numbers of them walking there. When the vesper bell rings +they all go in. That is the chapel adjoining the convent on this +side." + +"It is a strong building," Archie said as when past the end of +the promontory they obtained a full view of it. "It is more like +a castle than a convent." + +"It had need be strong," the old man said; "for some of the +richest heiresses in Scotland are shut up there. On the land side +I believe there are no windows on the lower storey, and the door +is said to be of solid iron. The windows on that side are all +strongly barred; and he would have hard work, indeed, who wanted +by force or stratagem to steal one of the pretty birds out of that +cage." + +Archie had no idea of using force; and although he had been to some +extent concerned in the breach of sanctuary at Dumfries, he would +have shrunk from the idea of violating the sanctuary of St. Kenneth. +But to his mind there was no breach whatever of that sanctuary in +aiding one kept there against her will to make her escape. Having +ascertained all that he wished to know, he bade the boatman return +to shore. + +"Keep a lookout for me," he said, "for I may return in a few days +with another buck, and may bring a comrade or two with me who would +like an afternoon's fishing on the lake. I suppose you could lend +me your boat and nets?" + +"Assuredly," the fisherman replied. "You will not mind taking into +consideration the hire of the boat in agreeing for the weight of +fish to be given for the stag?" + +Archie nodded, secretly amused at the old man's covetousness, for +he knew that the weight of fish he had given him for the stag which +he had brought down was not one fourth the value of the meat. + +He then returned with Cluny to the band. Some time before daybreak +he came down to the place again, and, entering the water quietly, +at a distance from the promontory, swam noiselessly out, and landed +at the garden, and there concealed himself in a clump of bushes. +Daylight came. An hour later some of the nuns of the second order, +who belonged to poor families and acted as servants in the convent, +came out into the garden, and busied themselves with the cultivation +of the flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Not till the afternoon did +any of the other inmates appear; but at about four o'clock the +great door of the convent opened, and a number of women and girls +streamed out. The former were all in nuns' attire, as were a few +of the latter, but their garb was somewhat different from that of +the elder sisters; these were the novices. The greater number, +however, of the girls were dressed in ordinary attire, and were the +pupils of the convent. While the nuns walked quietly up and down +or sat on benches and read, the pupils scattered in groups laughing +and talking merrily together. Among these Archie looked eagerly +for Marjory. He felt sure that her imprisonment could be detention +only, and not rigorous seclusion. Presently he espied her. She +was walking with two of the nuns and three or four of the elder +residents at the convent, for many of these were past the age of +pupildom; and were there simply as a safe place of refuge during +troublous times. The conversation appeared to be an animated one. +It was not for some time that the group passed within hearing of +Archie's place of concealment. Then Archie heard the voice of one +of the nuns raised in anger: + +"It is monstrous what you say, and it is presumptuous and wicked +for a young girl of eighteen to form opinions for herself. What +should we come to if every young woman were to venture to think and +judge for herself? Discord and disorder would be wrought in every +family. All your relations and friends are opposed to this sacrilegious +murderer, Robert Bruce. The church has solemnly banned him, and +yet you venture to uphold his cause." + +"But the Bishop of Glasgow," Marjory said, "and many other good +prelates of our church side with him, and surely they must be good +judges whether his sins are unpardonable." + +"Do not argue with me," the sister said angrily. "I tell you this +obstinacy will be permitted no longer. Had it not been that Alexander +of Lorne begged that we would not be harsh with you, steps would +long since have been taken to bring you to reason; but we can no +longer permit this advocacy of rebellion, and the last unmaidenly +step which you took of setting at defiance your friends and relatives, +and even of sending messages hence, must be punished. The abbess +bade me reason with you and try and turn your obstinate will. Your +cousins of Badenoch here have appealed to you in vain. This can no +longer be tolerated. The lady abbess bids me tell you that she gives +you three days to renounce the rebel opinions you have so frowardly +held, and to accept the husband whom your uncle and guardian has +chosen for you, your cousin John of Lorne, his son. During that +time none will speak to you. If at the end of three days you are +still contumacious you will be confined to your cell on bread and +water until better thoughts come to you." + +While the conversation had been going on, the little group had +halted near the bushes, and they now turned away, leaving Marjory +standing by herself. The girl sat down on a bench close to where +she had been standing, exclaiming to herself as she did so, "They +may shut me up as a prisoner for life, but I will never consent to +take sides against the cause of Scotland or to marry John of Lorne. +Oh! who is there?" she exclaimed, starting suddenly to her feet as +a man's voice behind her said: + +"Quite right, Mistress Marjory, well and bravely resolved; but pray +sit down again, and assume an attitude of indifference." + +"Who is it that speaks?" the girl asked in a tremulous voice, +resuming her seat. + +"It is your true knight, lady, Archibald Forbes, who has come to +rescue you from this captivity." + + +"But how can you rescue me?" the girl asked after a long pause. "Do +you know the consequences if you are found here within the bounds +of the convent?" + +"I care nothing for the consequences," Archie said. "I have in the +woods twenty stout followers. I propose tomorrow to be with three +of them on the lake afishing. If you, when the bell rings for your +return in the evening, will enter that little copse by the side of +the lake, and will show yourself at the water's edge, we will row +straight in and take you off long ere the guards can come hither +to hinder us. The lake is narrow, and we can reach the other side +before any boat can overtake us. There my followers will be awaiting +us, and we can escort you to a place of safety. It is fortunate +that you are ordered to be apart from the rest; none therefore will +mark you as you linger behind when the bell rings for vespers." + +Marjory was silent for some time. + +"But, Sir Knight," she said, "whither am I to go? for of all my +friends not one, save the good priest, but is leagued against me." + +"I can take you either to the Bishop of Glasgow, who is a friend of +the Bruce and whom I know well -- he will, I am sure, take charge +of you -- or, if you will, lady, I can place you with my mother, +who will receive you as a daughter." + +"But what," the girl said hesitatingly, "will people say at my +running away from a convent with a young knight?" + +"Let them say what they will," Archie said. "All good Scots, when +they know that you have been in prison here solely from the love +of your country, will applaud the deed; and should you prefer it, +the king will, I know, place you in charge of the wife of one of +the nobles who adheres to him, and will give you his protection +and countenance. Think, lady, if you do not take this opportunity +of gaining your freedom, it may never occur again, for if you are +once shut up in your cell, as I heard threatened, nothing save an +attack by force of arms, which would be sheer sacrilege, can rescue +you from it. Surely," he urged, as the girl still remained silent, +"you can trust yourself with me. Do I not owe my life to you? and +I swear that so long as you remain in my charge I will treat you +as my sister in all honour and respect." + +For some minutes the girl made no answer. At length she said, +standing up, and half turning toward the bushes: + +"I will trust you, Sir Archie. I know you to be a brave and honourable +knight, and I will trust you. I know `tis a strange step to take, +and the world will blame me; but what can I do? If I refuse your +offer I shall be kept a prisoner here until I consent to marry John +of Lorne, whom I hate, for he is as rough and cruel as his father, +without the kindness of heart, which, save in his angry moments, +the latter has ever had toward me. All my relations are against +me, and struggle against my fate as I may, I must in the end bend +to their will if I remain here. `Tis a hard choice to make; but +what can I do? Yes, I will trust to your honour; and may God and +all the saints punish you if you are false to the trust! Tomorrow +evening, as the vespers are chiming, I will be at the water's edge, +behind yonder clump of bushes." + +Then, with head bent down and slow steps, Marjory returned to +the convent, none addressing her as she passed through the groups +of her companions, the order that she was to be shut out from the +rest having been already issued. Archie remained in his place of +concealment until the gardens were deserted and night had fallen. +Then he left his hiding place, and, entering the lake, swam quietly +away, and landed far beyond the village. An hour's walk brought +him to the encampment of his comrades. + +At daybreak next morning the band, under the command of William +Orr, started for their long march round the head of the lake to +the position which they were to take up on the opposite side facing +the convent, Archie choosing three of the number most accustomed +to the handling of oars to remain with him. With these he set out +on a hunt as soon as the main body had left, and by midday had +succeeded in killing a stag. With this swung on a pole carried by +his followers Archie proceeded to the village. He speedily found +the fisherman with whom he had before bargained. + +"I did not expect you back again so soon," the old man said. + +"We killed a buck this morning," Archie said carelessly, "and my +friends thought that the afternoon would be fine for fishing." + +"You can try if you like," the fisherman said, "but I fear that +you will have but little sport. The day is too bright and clear, +and the fish will be sulking at the bottom of the lake." + +"We will try," Archie said, "nevertheless. Even if the sport is +bad it will be pleasant out on the lake, and if we catch nothing we +will get you to give us some fresh fish instead of dry. The folks +in the hills will be no wiser, and it will not do for us to return +empty handed." + +The fisherman assented, and placed the oars and nets in the boat, +and Archie and his companions entering rowed out into the middle +of the lake, and then throwing over the nets busied themselves with +fishing. + +As the old man had predicted, their sport was but small, but this +concerned them little. Thinking that they might be watched, they +continued steadily all the afternoon casting and drawing in the +nets, until the sun neared the horizon. Then they gathered the +nets into the boat and rowed quietly towards the shore. Just as +they were abreast the end of the promontory the bell of the chapel +began to ring the vespers. A few more strokes and Archie could +see the clump of bushes. + +"Row quietly now," he said, still steering toward the village. + +He was about a hundred yards distant from the shore of the convent +garden. Just as he came abreast of the bushes the foliage was parted +and Marjory appeared at the edge of the water. In an instant the +boat's head was turned toward shore, and the three rowers bent to +the oars. + +A shout from the watchman on the turret showed that he had been +watching the boat and that this sudden change of its course had +excited his alarm. The shout was repeated again and again as the +boat neared the shore, and just as the keel grated on the sand the +outer gate was opened and some armed men were seen running into the +garden, but they were still two hundred yards away. Marjory leapt +lightly into the boat; the men pushed off, and before the retainers +of the convent reached the spot the boat was speeding away over the +lake. Archie gave up to Marjory his seat in the stern, and himself +took an oar. + +Loch Leven, though of considerable length, is narrow, and the boat +was nearly a third of the way across it before two or three craft +were seen putting out from the village in pursuit, and although +these gained somewhat, the fugitives reached the other shore a long +distance in advance. William Orr and his men were at the landing +place, and soon the whole party were hurrying through the wood. +They had no fear of instant pursuit, for even in the fast gathering +gloom those in the boats would have perceived the accession of +force which they had received on landing, and would not venture +to follow. But before morning the news of the evasion would spread +far and wide, and there would be a hot pursuit among the mountains. + +Scarce a word had been spoken in the boat. Marjory was pale and +agitated, and Archie thought it best to leave her to herself. On +the way through the wood he kept beside her, assisting her over +rough places, and occasionally saying a few encouraging words. When +darkness had completely set in three or four torches were lit, and +they continued their way until midnight. Several times Archie had +proposed a halt, but Marjory insisted that she was perfectly able +to continue her way for some time longer. + +At midnight, however, he halted. + +"We will stop here," he said. "My men have been marching ever since +daybreak, and tomorrow we must journey fast and far. I propose that +we keep due east for some time and then along by Loch Rannoch, then +across the Grampians by the pass of Killiecrankie, when we can make +down to Perth, and so to Stirling. The news of your escape will +fly fast to the south, and the tracks to Tarbert and the Clyde +will all be watched; but if we start at daybreak we shall be far on +our way east before they begin to search the hills here; and even +if they think of our making in this direction, we shall be at +Killiecrankie before they can cut us off." + + + +Chapter XX The Heiress of the Kerrs + + +While Archie was speaking Marjory had sat down on a fallen tree. She +had not slept the night before, and had been anxious and agitated +the whole day. The excitement had kept her up; but she now felt +completely worn out, and accepted without protest Archie's decision +that a halt must be made. + +The men were already gathering sticks, and a bright fire soon blazed +near the spot where she had seated herself. Ere long some venison +steaks were broiled in the flames. At Archie's earnest request +Marjory tried to eat, but could with difficulty swallow a few +morsels. A bower of green boughs was quickly made for her, and the +ground thickly piled with fresh bracken, and Marjory was in a very +few minutes sound asleep after the fatigue and excitement of the +day. + +With the first dawn of morning the men were on their feet. Fresh +sticks were thrown on the fire and breakfast prepared, for the +march would be a long and wearisome one. + +"Breakfast is ready, Mistress Marjory," Archie said, approaching +the bower. + +"And I am ready too," the girl said blithely as she appeared at +the entrance. "The sleep has done wonders for me, and I feel brave +and fresh again. I fear you must have thought me a terrible coward +yesterday; but it all seemed so dreadful, such a wild and wicked +thing to do, that I felt quite overwhelmed. Today you will find me +ready for anything." + +"I could never think you a coward," Archie said, "after you faced +the anger of that terrible uncle of yours for my sake; or rather," +he added, "for the sake of your word. And now I hope you will eat +something, for we have a long march through the forest and hills +before us." + +"Don't fear that I shall tire," she said. "I am half a mountaineer +myself, and, methinks, can keep on my feet as long as any man." + +The meal was hastily eaten, and then the party started on their +way. + +"I have been wondering," the girl said, as with light steps she +kept pace with Archie's longer strides, "how you came to know that +I was in the convent." + +Archie looked surprised. + +"How should I know, Mistress Marjory, but through your own messenger?" + +"My own messenger!" Marjory exclaimed. "You are jesting, Sir Archie." + +"I am not so, fair lady," he said. "Surely you must remember that +you sent a messenger to me, with word that you were captive at St. +Kenneth and needed my aid?" + +The girl stopped for a moment in her walk and gazed at her companion +as if to assure herself that he was in earnest. "You must be surely +dreaming, Sir Archie," she said, as she continued the walk, "for +assuredly I sent you no such message." + +"But, lady," Archie said, holding out his hand, "the messenger +brought me as token that he had come from you this ring which I +had given you, vowing that should you call me to your aid I would +come immediately, even from a stricken field." + +The blood had rushed into the girl's face as she saw the ring. +Then she turned very pale. "Sir Archibald Forbes," she said in +a low tone, after walking for a minute or two in silence, "I feel +disgraced in your eyes. How forward and unmaidenly must you have +thought me thus to take advantage of a vow made from the impulse +of sudden gratitude." + +"No, indeed, lady," Archie said hotly. "No such thought ever entered +my mind. I should as soon doubt the holy Virgin herself as to deem +you capable of aught but what was sweet and womanly. The matter +seemed to me simple enough. You had saved my life at great peril +to yourself, and it seemed but natural to me that in your trouble, +having none others to befriend you, your thoughts should turn to +one who had sworn to be to the end of his life your faithful knight +and servant. But," he went on more lightly, "since you yourself +did not send me the ring and message, what good fairy can have +brought them to me?" + +"The good fairy was a very bad one," the girl said shortly, "and I +will rate him soundly when I see him for thus adventuring without +my consent. It is none other than Father Anselm; and yet," she +added, "he has suffered so much on my behalf that I shall have to +forgive him. After your escape my uncle in his passion was well +nigh hanging the good priest in spite of his holy office, and drove +him from the castle. He kept me shut up in my room for many weeks, +and then urged upon me the marriage with his son. When he found +that I would not listen to it he sent me to St. Kenneth, and there +I have remained ever since. Three weeks ago Father Anselm came to +see me. He had been sent for by Alexander of Lorne, who, knowing +the influence he had with me, begged him to undertake the mission +of inducing me to bend to his will. As he knew how much I hated +John of Lorne, the good priest wasted not much time in entreaties; +but he warned me that it had been resolved that unless I gave way +my captivity, which had hitherto been easy and pleasant, would be +made hard and rigorous, and that I would be forced into accepting +John of Lorne as a husband. When he saw that I was determined not +to give in, the good priest certainly hinted" (and here she coloured +again hotly) "that you would, if sent for, do your best to carry +me off. Of course I refused to listen to the idea, and chided him +for suggesting so unmaidenly a course. He urged it no further, and +I thought no more of the matter. The next day I missed my ring, +which, to avoid notice, I had worn on a little ribbon round my +neck. I thought at the time the ribbon must have broken and the +ring been lost, and for a time I made diligent search in the garden +for it; but I doubt not now that the traitor priest, as I knelt +before him to receive his blessing on parting, must have severed +the ribbon and stolen it." + +"God bless him!" Archie said fervently. "Should he ever come to +Aberfilly the warmest corner by the fire, the fattest capon, and +the best stoop of wine from the cellar shall be his so long as +he lives. Why, but for him, Lady Marjory, you might have worn out +months of your life in prison, and have been compelled at last to +wed your cousin. I should have been a miserable man for life." + +The girl laughed. + +"I would have given you a week, Sir Archie, and no more; that +is the extreme time which a knight in our days can be expected to +mourn for the fairest lady; and now," she went on, changing the +subject, "think you we shall reach the pass across the Grampians +before night?" + +"If all goes well, lady, and your feet will carry you so far, +we shall be there by eventide. Unless by some chance encounter we +need have no fear whatever of pursuit. It will have been daylight +before the news of your flight fairly spread through the country, +though, doubtless, messengers were sent off at once in all directions; +but it would need an army to scour these woods, and as they know +not whether we have gone east, west, north, or south, the chance is +faint indeed of any party meeting us, especially as we have taken +so straight a line that they must march without a pause in exactly +the right direction to come up with us." + +At nightfall the party camped again on the slope of the Grampians, +and the following morning crossed by the pass of Killiecrankie and +made toward Perth. + +The next night Marjory slept in a peasant's cottage, Archie and his +companions lying down without. Wishing to avoid attention, Archie +purchased from the peasant the Sunday clothes of his daughter, who +was about the same age and size as Marjory. + +When they reached Perth he bought a strong horse, with saddle and +pillion; and with Marjory behind him, and his band accompanying +him on foot, he rode for Stirling. When he neared the town he heard +that the king was in the forest of Falkirk, and having consulted +Marjory as to her wishes rode directly thither. + +Bruce, with his followers, had arrived but the day before, and +had taken up his abode at the principal house of a village in the +forest. He came to the door when he heard the trampling of a horse. + +"Ah! Sir Archie, is it you safely returned, and, as I half expected, +a lady?" + +"This, sire," Archie said, dismounting, "is Mistress Marjory +MacDougall, of whom, as you have heard me say, I am the devoted +knight and servant. She has been put in duress by Alexander of Lorne +because in the first place she was a true Scots woman and favoured +your cause, and because in the second place she refused to espouse his +son John. I have borne her away from the convent of St. Kenneth, +and as I used no force in doing so no sacrilege has been committed. +I have brought her to you in all honour and courtesy, as I might a +dear sister, and I now pray you to place her under the protection +of the wife of one of your knights, seeing that she has no friends +and natural protectors here. Then, when she has time to think, she +must herself decide upon her future." + +The king assisted Marjory to dismount. + +"Fair mistress," he said, "Sir Archibald Forbes is one of the bravest +and truest of my knights, and in the hands of none might you more +confidently place your honour. Assuredly I will do as he asks me, +and will place you under the protection of Dame Elizabeth Graham, +who is now within, having ridden hither to see her husband but this +morning. But I trust," he added, with a meaning smile, "that you +will not long require her protection." + +The king entered the house with Marjory, while Archie, with his +band, rejoined the rest of his party, who were still with the king. +After having seen that the wants of those who had accompanied him +had been supplied he returned to the royal quarters. The king met +him at the door, and said, with a merry smile on his face: + +"I fear me, Sir Archie, that all my good advice with regard to +Mistress Mary Kerr has been wasted, and that you are resolved to +make this Highland damsel, the niece of my arch enemy Alexander of +Lorne, your wife." + +"If she will have me," Archie said stoutly, "such assuredly, is +my intent; but of that I know nothing, seeing that, while she was +under my protection, it would have been dishonourable to have spoken +of love; and I know nought of her sentiments toward me, especially +seeing that she herself did not, as I had hoped, send for me to come +to her aid, and was indeed mightily indignant that another should +have done so in her name." + +"Poor Sir Archie!" the king laughed. "Though a man, and a valorous +one in stature and in years, you are truly but a boy yet in these +matters. It needed but half an eye to see by the way she turned +pale and red when you spoke to her that she loves you. Now look +you, Sir Archie," he went on more seriously; "these are troubled +days, and one knows not what a day may bring forth. Graham's tower +is neither strong nor safe, and the sooner this Mistress Marjory +of yours is safely in your stronghold of Aberfilly the better for +both of you, and for me also, for I know that you will be of no +more good to me so long as your brain is running on her. Look you +now, she is no longer under your protection, and your scruples on +that head are therefore removed; best go in at once and ask her +if she will have you. If she says, 'Yes,' we will ride to Glasgow +tomorrow or next day. The bishop shall marry you, and I myself will +give you your bonny bride. This is no time for wasting weeks with +milliners and mantua makers. What say you?" + +"Nothing would more surely suit my wishes, sire," Archie said; "but +I fear she will think me presumptuous." + +"Not a bit of it," the king laughed. "Highland lassies are accustomed +to sudden wooing, and I doubt not that when she freed you last +autumn from Dunstaffnage her mind was just as much made up as yours +is as to the state of her heart. Come along, sir." + +So saying, the king passed his arm through that of Archie, and +drew him into the house. In the room which they entered Marjory +was sitting with Lady Graham. Both rose as the king entered. + +"My Lady Graham," the king said, "this my good and faithful knight +Sir Archie Forbes, whose person as well as repute is favourably +known to you, desires to speak alone with the young lady under +your protection. I may say he does so at my special begging, seeing +that at times like these the sooner matters are put in a straight +course the better. Will you let me lead you to the next room while +we leave the young people together?" + +"Marjory," Archie said, when he and the girl were alone, "I fear +that you will think my wooing rude and hasty, but the times must +excuse it. I would fain have waited that you might have seen more +of me before I tried my fate; but in these troubled days who can +say where I may be a week hence, or when I can see you again were +I once separated from you! Therefore, dear, I speak at once. I +love you, Marjory, and since the day when you came like an angel +into my cell at Dunstaffnage I have known that I loved you, and +should I never see you again could love none other. Will you wed +me, love?" + +"But the king tells me, Sir Archie," the girl said, looking up with +a half smile, "that he wishes you to wed the Lady Mary Kerr." + +"It is a dream of the good king," Archie said, laughing, "and he +is not in earnest about it. He knows that I have never set eyes on +the lady or she on me, and he was but jesting when he said so to +you, having known from me long ago that my heart was wholly yours." + +"Besides," the girl said hesitating, "you might have objected to +wed Mistress Kerr because her father was an enemy of yours." + +"Why dwell upon it?" Archie said a little impatiently. "Mistress +Kerr is nothing in the world to me, and I had clean forgotten her +very existence, when by some freak or other she sent her retainers +to fight under my command. She may be a sweet and good lady for what +I know; she may be the reverse. To me she is absolutely nothing; +and now, Marjory, give me my answer. I love you, dear, deeply and +truly; and should you say, 'Yes,' will strive all my life to make +you happy." + +"One more question, Archie, and then I will answer yours. Tell me +frankly, had I been Mary Kerr instead of Marjory MacDougall, could +you so far forget the ancient feud between the families as to say +to me, 'I love you.'" + +Archie laughed. + +"The question is easily answered. Were you your own dear self it +would matter nought to me were your name Kerr, or MacDougall, or +Comyn, or aught else. It is you I love, and your ancestors or your +relations matter to me not one single jot." + +"Then I will answer you," the girl said, putting her hand in his. +"Archie Forbes, I love you with my whole heart, and have done +so since I first met you; but," she said, drawing back, as Archie +would have clasped her in his arms, "I must tell you that you have +been mistaken, and that it is not Marjory MacDougall whom you would +wed, but Mary, whom her uncle Alexander always called Marjory, +Kerr." + +"Marjory Kerr!" Archie repeated, in astonishment. + +"Yes, Archie, Marjory or Mary Kerr. The mistake was none of my +making; it was you called me MacDougall; and knowing that you had +reason to hate my race I did not undeceive you, thinking you might +even refuse the boon of life at the hands of a Kerr. But I believed +that when you thought it over afterwards you would suspect the +truth, seeing that it must assuredly come to your ears if you spoke +of your adventure, even if you did not already know it, that Sir +John Kerr and Alexander of Lorne married twin sisters of the house +of Comyn. You are not angry, I hope, Archie?" + +"Angry!" Archie said, taking the girl, who now yielded unresistingly, +in his arms. "It matters nothing to me who you were; and truly I +am glad that the long feud between our houses will come to an end. +My conscience, too, pricked me somewhat when I heard that by the +death of your brother you had succeeded to the estates, and that +it was in despite of a woman, and she a loyal and true hearted +Scotswoman, that I was holding Aberfilly. So it was you sent the +retainers from Ayr to me?" + +"Yes," Marjory replied. "Father Anselm carried my orders to them. +I longed to know that they were fighting for Scotland, and was sure +that under none could they be better led." + +"And you have told the king who you are?" Archie asked. + +"Yes," the girl said, "directly we entered." + +"And you agree that we shall be married at once at Glasgow, as the +king has suggested to me?" + +"The king said as much to me," Marjory said, colouring; "but oh! +Archie, it seems dreadful, such an unseemly bustle and haste, to +be betrothed one day and married the next! Whoever heard of such +a thing?" + +"But the circumstances, Marjory, are exceptional. We all carry our +lives in our hands, and things must be done which at another time +would seem strange. Besides, what advantage would there be in +waiting? I should be away fighting the English, and you would see +no more of me. You would not get to know me better than you do +now." + +"Oh! it is not that, Archie." + +"Nor is it anything else," Archie said smiling, "but just surprise. +With the King of Scotland to give you away and the Bishop of Glasgow +to marry you, none can venture to hint that there is anything that +is not in the highest degree orthodox in your marriage. Of course +I shall have to be a great deal away until the war is over and +Scotland freed of her tyrants. But I shall know that you are safe +at Aberfilly, which is quite secure from any sudden attack. You will +have my mother there to pet you and look after you in my absence, +and I hope that good Father Anselm will soon find his way there and +take up his abode. It is the least he can do, seeing that, after +all, he is responsible for our marriage, and having, as it were, +delivered you into my hands, ought to do his best to make you happy +in your captivity." + +Marjory raised no further objection. She saw, in truth, that, +having once accepted Archie Forbes as her husband, it was in every +way the best plan for her to marry him without delay, since she had +no natural protectors to go to, and her powerful relations might +stir up the church to view her evasion from the convent as a defiance +of its authority. + +Upon the following day the king moved with his force to Glasgow, +which had already been evacuated by the English garrison, and +the next morning Marjory -- for Archie through life insisted upon +calling her by the pet name under which he had first known her -- was +married to Sir Archibald Forbes. The Bruce gave her away, and +presented her with a splendid necklet of pearls. His brother Edward, +Sir James Douglas, and other companions of Archie in the field also +made the bride handsome presents. Archie's followers from Aberfilly +and the contingent from Marjory's estates in Ayr were also present, +together with a crowd of the townspeople, for Archie Forbes, the +companion of Wallace, was one of the most popular characters in +Scotland, and the good city of Glasgow made a fete of his marriage. + +Suddenly as it was arranged, a number of the daughters of the wealthiest +citizens attired in white attended the bride in procession to the +altar. Flowers were strewn and the bride and bridegroom were heartily +cheered by a concourse of people as they left the cathedral. + +The party then mounted, and the king, his brother, Sir James Douglas, +and some other knights, together with a strong escort, rode with +them to Aberfilly. Archie had despatched a messenger to his mother +with the news directly the arrangements had been made; and all +was prepared for their coming. The tenants had assembled to give a +hearty welcome to their lord and new mistress. Dame Forbes received +her as she alighted from the pillion on which she had ridden behind +Archie, and embraced her tenderly. + +It was the dearest wish of her life that Archie should marry; and +although, when she first heard the news, she regretted in her heart +that he should have chosen a Kerr, still she saw that the union +would put an end to the long feud, and might even, in the event +of the final defeat of Bruce, be the means of safety for Archie +himself and security for his possessions. + +She soon, however, learned to love Marjory for herself, and to be +contented every way with her son's choice. There was high feasting +and revelry at Aberfilly that evening. Bonfires were burned in the +castle yard, and the tenants feasted there, while the king and his +knights were entertained in the hall of the castle. + +The next morning the king and his companions again mounted and +rode off. Sir James Douglas was going south to harry Galloway and +to revenge the assaults which the people had made upon the king. +There was a strong English force there under Sir Ingram Umfraville +and Sir John de St. John. + +"I will give you a week, Sir Archie, to take holiday, but can spare +you no longer. We have as yet scarce begun our work, for well nigh +every fortress in Scotland is in English hands, and we must take as +many of them as we can before Edward moves across the Border again." + +"I will not outstay the time," Sir Archie said. "As we arranged +last night, I will march this day week with my retainers to join +Sir James Douglas in Galloway." + + + +Chapter XXI The Siege of Aberfilly + + +Punctual to his agreement, Archie Forbes marched south with his +retainers. He was loath, indeed, to leave Marjory, but he knew well +that a long time indeed must elapse before he could hope to settle +down quietly at home, and that it was urgent to hurry on the work +at once before the English made another great effort to stamp out +the movement. Marjory did not attempt to induce him to overstay +his time. She was too proud of his position as one of the foremost +knights of Scotland to say a word to detain him from the field. +So she bade him adieu with a brave face, reserving her tears until +after he had ridden away. + +It had been arranged that Archie should operate independently +of Douglas, the two joining their forces only when threatened +by overwhelming numbers or when any great enterprise was to be +undertaken. Archie took with him a hundred and fifty men from his +estates in Lanark and Ayr. He marched first to Loudon Hill, then +down through Cumnock and the border of Carrick into Galloway. Contrary +to the usual custom, he enjoined his retainers on no account to +burn or harry the villages and granges. + +"The people," he said, "are not responsible for the conduct of +their lords, and as I would not see the English harrying the country +round Aberfilly, so I am loath to carry fire and sword among these +poor people. We have come hither to punish their lords and to capture +their castles. If the country people oppose us we must needs fight +them; but beyond what is necessary for our provisions let us take +nothing from them, and show them, by our conduct, that we hold +them to be Scotchmen like ourselves, and that we pity rather than +blame them, inasmuch as by the orders of their lords they are forced +to fight against us." + +Archie had not advanced more than a day's march into Galloway when +he heard that Sir John de St. John was marching with four hundred +men-at-arms to meet him. + +There were no better soldiers in the following of Bruce than the +retainers of Aberfilly and Glen Cairn. They had now for many years +been frequently under arms, and were thoroughly trained to fight +together. They had the greatest confidence in themselves and their +leader, and having often with their spears withstood the shock +of the English chivalry, Archie knew that he could rely upon them +to the fullest. He therefore took up a position on the banks of +a river where a ford would enable the enemy to cross. Had he been +less confident as to the result he would have defended the ford, +which could be only crossed by two horsemen abreast. He determined, +however, to repeat the maneuver which had proved so successful at +Stirling Bridge, and to let half of the enemy cross before he fell +upon them. + +The ground near the river was stony and rough. Great boulders, +which had rolled from the hillside, were thickly scattered about +it, and it would be difficult for cavalry to charge up the somewhat +steeply sloping ground in anything like unbroken order. + +With eighty of his men Archie took up a position one hundred yards +back from the stream. With great exertions some of the smaller +boulders were removed, and rocks and stones were piled to make a +wall on either flank of the ground, which, standing two deep, he +occupied. The remaining seventy men he divided equally, placing one +company under the command of each of his two faithful lieutenants, +Andrew Macpherson and William Orr. These took post near the river, +one on each side of the ford, and at a distance of about one hundred +yards therefrom. Orr's company were hidden among some bushes growing +by the river. Macpherson's lay down among the stones and boulders, +and were scarce likely to attract the attention of the English, +which would naturally be fixed upon the little body drawn up to +oppose them in front. The preparations were scarcely completed +when the English were seen approaching. They made no halt at the +river, but at once commenced crossing at the ford, confident in +their power to overwhelm the little body of Scots, whose number +had, it seemed to them, been exaggerated by the fears of the country +people. As soon as a hundred of the men-at-arms had passed, their +leader marshalled them in line, and with level spears charged up +the slopes against Archie's force. The great boulders broke their +ranks, and it was but in straggling order that they reached the +narrow line of Scottish spears. These they in vain endeavoured to +break through. Their numbers were of no avail to them, as, being +on horseback, but twenty men at a time could attack the double row +of spearmen. While the conflict was at its height Archie's trumpet +was sounded, for he saw that another hundred men had now crossed +the ford. + +At the signal the two hidden parties leapt to their feet, and with +levelled pikes rushed towards the ford. The English had no force +there to resist the attack, for as the men-at-arms had passed, each +had ridden on to join the fray in front. The head of the ford was +therefore seized with but little difficulty. Orr, with twenty men, +remained here to hold it and prevent others from crossing, while +Macpherson, with fifty, ran up the hill and fell upon the rear of +the confused masses of cavalry, who were striving in vain to break +the lines of Archie's spears. + +The attack was decisive; the English, surprised and confused by +the sudden attack, were unable to offer any effectual resistance to +Macpherson's pikemen, and at the same moment that these fell upon +the rear, Archie gave the word and his men rushed forward upon the +struggling mass of cavalry. The shock was irresistible; men and +horses fell in numbers under the Scottish spears, and in a few +minutes those who could manage to extricate themselves from the +struggling mass rode off in various directions. These, however, were +few in number, for ninety were killed and seventy taken prisoners. +St. John himself succeeded in cutting his way through the spearmen, +and, swimming the river below the ford, rejoined his followers, +who had in vain endeavoured to force the passage of the ford. With +these he rapidly retired. + +A detachment of fifty men were sent off with the prisoners to +Bruce, and Archie, with the main body of his followers, two days +later joined the force under Sir James Douglas. + +Upon the following morning a messenger from Aberfilly reached +Archie. + +"My lord," he said, "I bring you a message from the Lady Marjory. +I have spent five days in searching for you, and have never but +once laid down during that time, therefore do not blame me if my +message is long in coming." + +"What is it, Evan? nought is wrong there, I trust?" + +"The Lady Marjory bade me tell you that news has reached her, that +from each of the garrisons of Ayr, Lanark, Stirling and Bothwell, +a force is marching toward your hold, which the governor of Bothwell +has sworn to destroy. When I left they were expected hourly in +sight, and this is full a week since." + +"Aberfilly can hold out for longer than that," Archie said, "against +aught but surprise, and the vassals would have had time to gather." + +"Yes," the man replied, "they were flocking in when I came away; the +men of Glen Cairn had already arrived; all the women and children +were taking to the hills, according to the orders which you gave." + +"And now, good Evan, do you eat some supper, and then rest. No +wonder you have been so long in finding me, for I have been wandering +without ceasing. I will start at once with my followers here for +Aberfilly; by tomorrow evening we will be there." + +Archie hurried to the hut occupied by Douglas, told him the news, +and said he must hurry away to the defence of his castle. + +"Go, by all means, Archie," Douglas replied. "If I can gather a +force sufficient to relieve you I will myself march thither; but +at present I fear that the chances of my doing so are small, for +the four garrisons you have named would be able to spare a force +vastly larger than any with which I could meet them in the field, +and the king is no better able to help you." + +"I will do my best," Archie said. "The castle can stand a stout +siege; and fortunately I have a secret passage by which we can +escape." + +"Never mind the castle," Douglas replied. "When better days come +we will rebuild it again for you." + +A few notes on a horn brought Archie's little band of followers +together. Telling them the danger which threatened Glen Cairn, +Archie placed himself at their head, and at a rapid step they +marched away. It was five-and-forty miles across the hills, but +before morning they approached it, and made their way to the wood in +which was the entrance to the subterranean passage leading to the +castle. Archie had feared that they might find the massive doors +which closed it, a short distance from the entrance, securely +fastened as usual. They were shut, indeed, but as they approached +them they heard a challenge from within. + +"It is I, Sir Archie Forbes." + +The door was opened at once. "Welcome, Sir Archie!" the guard said. +"The Lady Marjory has been expecting you for the last five days, +and a watch has been kept here constantly, to open the doors should +you come." + +"The messenger could not find me," Archie said. "Is all well at +the castle?" + +"All is well," the man replied. "The English have made two attacks, +but have been beaten back with loss. This morning some great +machines have arrived from Stirling and have begun battering the +walls. Is it your will that I remain here on guard, now that you +have come?" + +"Yes," Archie answered. "It were best that one should be always +stationed here, seeing that the entrance might perchance be +discovered by one wandering in the wood, or they might obtain the +secret of its existence from a prisoner. If footsteps are heard +approaching retire at once with the news. There is no danger if +we are warned in time, for we can turn the water from the moat into +it." + +Archie and his followers now made their way along the passage until +they entered the castle. As they issued out from the entrance a +shout of joy rose from those near, and the news rapidly flew through +the castle that Archie had arrived. In a moment Marjory ran down +and threw herself into his arms. + +"Welcome back, Archie, a thousand times! I have been grievously +anxious as the days went on and you did not return, and had feared +that some evil must have befallen you. It has been a greater anxiety +to me than the defence of the castle; but I have done my best to +be hopeful and bright, to keep up the spirits of our followers." + +"It was no easy task for your messenger to find me, Marjory, for +we are ever on the move. Is my mother here?" + +"No, Archie, she went a fortnight since on a visit to Lady Gordon." + +"It is well," Archie said, "for if in the end we have to leave the +castle, you, who have proved yourself so strong and brave, can, +if needs be, take to the hills with me; but she could not support +the fatigues of such a life. And now, dear, we have marched all +night and shall be glad of food; while it is preparing I will to +the walls and see what is going on." + +As Archie reached the battlement a loud cheer broke from the +defenders gathered there, and Sandy Grahame hurried up to him. + +"Welcome back, Sir Archie; glad am I to give up the responsibility +of this post, although, indeed, it is not I who have been in command, +but Lady Marjory. She has been always on the walls, cheering the +men with her words and urging them to deeds of bravery; and, indeed, +she has frightened me sorely by the way in which she exposed herself +where the arrows were flying most thickly, for as I told her over +and over again, if the castle were taken I knew that you would be +sure that I had done my best, but what excuse should I be able to +make to you if I had to bear you the news that she had been killed?" + +"And what did she say to that, Sandy?" + +"Truth, Sir Archie, she's a woman and wilful, and she just laughed +and said that you would know you could not keep her in order +yourself, and could not therefore expect me to rule her." + +"That is so, Sandy," Archie laughed; "but now that I am back I +will for once exert my authority, and will see that she runs into +no further danger. And now, how goes the siege?" + +"So far they have done but little damage, Sir Archie; but the +machines which they brought up yesterday will, I fear, play havock +with our walls. They have not yet begun their work, for when they +brought them up yesterday afternoon our men shot so hotly that they +had to fall back again; but in the night they have thrown up high +banks of earth, and have planted the engines under their shelter, +and will, ere long, begin to send their messengers against our +walls. Thrice they assaulted the works beyond the drawbridge and +twice we beat them back; but last night they came on with all their +force. I was myself there, and after fighting for a while and seeing +they were too strong for us, I thought it best to withdraw before +they gained footing in the work, and so had time to draw off the +men and raise the drawbridge." + +"Quite right, Sandy! The defenders of the post would only have +been slaughtered, and the assailants might have rushed across the +drawbridge before it could have been raised. The post is of little +importance save to defend the castle against a sudden surprise, and +would only have been a source of constant anxiety and loss. How +many do you reckon them? Judging by their tents there must be +three or four thousand." + +"About three thousand, Sir Archie, I make it; and as we had no time +to get the tenants in from my lady's Ayrshire estate, we have but +two hundred men in the castle, and many of these are scarce more +than boys." + +"I have brought a hundred and fifty with me, Sandy, so we have as +many as we can use on the walls, though I could wish I had another +hundred or two for sorties." + +Half an hour later the great machines began to work, hurling vast +stones with tremendous force against the castle wall. Strongly +as this was built, Archie saw that it would ere many days crumble +before the blows. + +"I did not reckon on such machines as these," he said to Sandy. +"Doubtless they are some of the huge machines which King Edward +had constructed for the siege of Stirling, and which have remained +there since the castle was taken. Fortunately we have still the +moat when a breach is made, and it will be hard work to cross that." + +All day the great stones thundered against the wall. The defenders +were not idle, but kept up a shower of arrows at the edge of the +mound behind which the machines were hidden; but although many of +those working there were killed, fresh relays came constantly up, +and the machines never ceased their work. By nightfall the face +of the wall was bruised and battered. Many of the stones in front +had fallen from their places. + +"Another twenty-four hours," Archie said to Marjory, as he joined +her in the great hall, "and the breach will be begun, forty-eight +and it will be completed. They will go on all night, and we may +expect no rest until the work is done. In an hour's time I shall +sally out from the passage into the wood and beat up their camp. +Expecting no attack from the rear, we shall do them rare damage +ere they can gather to oppose us. As soon as they do so we shall +be off again, and, scattering in various directions, gather again +in the wood and return here." + +An hour later Archie, with two hundred men, started. No sooner had +he left than Marjory called Sandy Grahame and Andrew Macpherson, +whom he had left in joint command during his absence. + +"Now," she said, "I am not going to remain quiet here while +Sir Archie does all the fighting, therefore do you gather all the +garrison together, leaving only twenty to hold the gate. See that +the wheels of the drawbridge are well oiled, and the hinges of the +gate. Directly we see that the attack has begun upon the camp we +will lower the drawbridge quietly, open the gates, and sally out. +There is no great force in the outer work. When we have cleared +that -- which, if we are quick, we can do without alarming the +camp, seeing what a confusion and uproar will be going on there +-- we will make straight along to the point where the machines are +placed. Let some of the men take axes and cut the ropes, and let +others carry faggots well steeped in oil, we will pile them round +the machines and light them, and thus having ensured their destruction, +we will fall back again." + +"But, Lady Marjory -- " Sandy began. + +"I will have no buts, Sandy; you must just do as I order you, and +I will answer to Sir Archie. I shall myself go forth with you and +see that the work is properly done." + +The two men looked doubtfully at each other. + +"Now, Andrew," Marjory said briskly, "let us have no hesitation or +talk, the plan is a good one." + +"I do not say that it is not a good one," Sandy replied cautiously, +"or that it is not one that Sir Archie might have carried out if +he had been here." + +"Very well, Andrew, then that is quite enough. I give you the +orders and I am responsible, and if you and Sandy do not choose to +obey me, I shall call the men together myself and lead them without +you." + +As Sandy and Andrew were quite conscious that their lady would be +as good as her word, they at once proceeded to carry her orders into +effect. The wheels of the portcullis and drawbridge were oiled, as +were the bolts and hinges of the gate. The men were formed up in +the courtyard, where presently they were joined by Marjory who had +put on a light steel cap and a shirt of mail, and who had armed herself +with a light sword. The men gathered round her enthusiastically, +and would have burst into cheers had she not held up her hand to +command silence. + +"I will to the wall now," she said, "to watch for the signal. The +instant the attack begins and the attention of those in the outwork +is called that way, draw up the portcullis noiselessly and open +the gate, oil the hinges of the drawbridge and have everything +in readiness; then I will join you. Let the drawbridge be lowered +swiftly, and as it falls we will rush across. You have, I suppose, +told off the men who are to remain behind. Tell them that when +the last of us have crossed they are to raise the drawbridge a few +feet, so that none can cross it until we return." + +Then, accompanied by Macpherson, she ascended the walls. All was +quiet in the hostile camp, which was about a quarter of a mile +distant, and only the creaking of the wheels of the machines, the +orders of those directing them, and the dull crash as the great +stones struck the wall, broke the stillness of the night. For half +an hour they watched, and then a sudden uproar was heard in the +camp. The Scottish war cry pealed out, followed by shouts and +yells, and almost instantly flames were seen to mount up. + +"My lord is at work," Marjory said, "it is time for us to be doing +also." So saying she ran down to the courtyard. Sandy Grahame, +Macpherson, and a few picked men took their place around her, then +the drawbridge was suddenly run down, and the Scots dashed across +it. As Marjory had anticipated, the English in the outwork had +gathered on the farther side and were watching the sudden outbreak +in the camp. Alarmed at the prospect of an attack, perhaps by the +Bruce, in that quarter, they were suddenly startled by the rush +of feet across the drawbridge, and before they had time to recover +from their surprise the Scots were upon them. The latter were +superior in numbers, and the English, already alarmed by the attack +upon their camp, offered but a feeble resistance. Many were cut +down, but the greater part leapt from the wall and fled towards +the camp. The moment resistance ceased the outer gate was thrown +open, and at full speed the Scotch made for the machines. The party +here had suspended their work and were gazing towards the camp, +where the uproar was now great. The wind was blowing briskly and +the fire had spread with immense rapidity, and already half the +camp was in flames. Suddenly from the bank above the Scots poured +down upon them like a torrent. There was scarcely a thought of +resistance. Stricken with dismay and astonishment at this unexpected +attack, the soldiers working the machines fled hastily, only a few +falling beneath the swords of the Scots. The men with axes at once +fell upon the machines, cutting the ropes and smashing the wheels +and levers which worked them, while those with the faggots piled +them round. In less than two minutes the work was done, lighted +torches were applied to the faggots, and the flames soon shot up +hotly. + +The Scots waited but a minute or two to see that the work was +thoroughly done and that the flames had got fair hold, and then, +keeping in a close body, they retired to the castle. Not a soul +was met with by the way, and leaving Andrew Macpherson with fifty +men to hold the outwork until Archie should return and decide +whether it should be occupied, Marjory, with the rest, re-entered +the castle. + +She at once ascended to the walls again, where Sandy also posted +the men to be in readiness to open fire with their arrows should +the English return and endeavour to extinguish the flames round +the machines. The sound of fighting had ceased at the camp. By the +light of the flames numbers of the English could be seen pulling +down the tents which the fire had not yet reached and endeavouring +to check the conflagration, while a large body of horse and foot +were rapidly advancing toward the castle. + +As soon as they came within bowshot range the archers opened fire, +and the English leaders, seeing that it was already too late to +save the machines, which were by this time completely enveloped in +flames, and that men would only be sacrificed to no good purpose, +halted the troops. They then moved towards the outwork, but finding +this in possession of the Scots, they fell back again to the camp +to take council as to the next steps to be adopted. Archie's attack +had been crowned with complete success. Apprehending no danger +from behind, the English had neglected to place sentries there, +and the Scots were already among the tents before their presence +was discovered. Numbers of the English were cut down and the tents +fired, and as soon as the English recovered from their first surprise +and began to form, Archie gave the word for a retreat. This was +effected without molestation, for the first thought of the English +was to save the camp from total destruction. The reports of the +men who escaped from the castle outwork and the outburst of flames +around the machines added to the confusion which reigned, and the +leaders, who had by the light of the flames ascertained that the +assault upon the camp had been made by a small body of the enemy, +deemed it of the first importance to move at once to save the +machines if it were still possible. + +The Scots regained the entrance to the passage without the loss +of a single man, and passing through, soon re-entered the castle. +Marjory had laid aside her warlike trappings and awaited her +husband's return at the inner entrance of the passage. + +"We have had good success, Marjory," Archie said as he greeted +her, "as you will have seen from the walls. The greater part of +the English camp is destroyed; we have killed great numbers, and +have not lost a man." + +"That is good news indeed, Archie. We, too, have not been quite +idle while you have been away." + +"Why, what have you been doing, Marjory?" Archie asked in surprise. + +"Come up to the walls and I will show you." + +Archie mounted with her, and gave a start of surprise as he looked +towards the machines. The great body of fire had died down now, but +the beams of the machines stood up red and glowing, while a light +flickering flame played round them. + +"You see we have not been idle, Archie. We have destroyed the +machines, and retaken the outwork, which is now held by Andrew +Macpherson with fifty men." + +"Why, what magic is this, wife?" + +"No magic at all, Sir Knight. We have been carrying out the work +which you, as a wise and skilful commander, should have ordered +before you left. We have taken advantage of the confusion of the +enemy by the fire in their camp, and have made a sortie, and a +successful one, as you see." + +"I am delighted, indeed," Archie said; "and the destruction of +those machines is indeed a great work. Still Sandy and Macpherson +should not have undertaken it without orders from me; they might +have been cut off and the castle stormed before I came back." + +"They had orders from me, sir, and that was quite sufficient. To +do them justice, they hesitated about obeying me, and I was well +nigh ordering them to the dungeon for disobedience; and they only +gave way at last when I said they could stop at home if they liked, +but that I should lead out the retainers. Of course I went in your +place with armour and sword; but perhaps it was as well that I had +no fighting to do." + +"Do you mean, Marjory, that you really led the sortie?" + +"I don't think I led it, Archie; but I certainly went out with it, +and very exciting it was. There, dear, don't look troubled. Of +course, as chatelaine of the castle, I was bound to animate my +men." + +"You have done bravely and well, indeed, Marjory, and I am proud +of my wife. Still, dear, I tremble at the thought of the risk you +ran." + +"No more risk than you are constantly running, Archie; and I am +rather glad you tremble, because in future you will understand my +feelings better, left here all alone while you are risking your +life perpetually with the king." + +The success of the sally and the courage and energy shown by Marjory +raised the spirits of the garrison to the highest pitch; and had +Archie given the word they would have sallied out and fallen upon +the besiegers. Two days later fresh machines arrived from Stirling, +and the attack again commenced, the besiegers keeping a large body +of men near the gate to prevent a repetition of the last sally. +Archie now despatched two or three fleet footed runners through +the passage to find the king, and tell him that the besiegers were +making progress, and to pray him to come to his assistance. Two +days passed, and the breach was now fairly practicable, but the +moat, fifty feet wide, still barred the way to the besiegers. Archie +had noticed that for two or three days no water had come down from +above, and had no doubt that they had diverted the course of the +river. Upon the day after the breach was completed the besiegers +advanced in great force up the stream from below. + +"They are going to try to cut the dam," Archie said to Sandy; "place +every man who can draw a bow on that side of the castle." + +As the English approached a rain of arrows was poured into them, +but covering themselves with their shields and with large mantlets +formed of hurdles covered with hides they pressed forward to the +dam. Here those who had brought with them picks and mattocks set +to work upon the dam, the men with mantlets shielding them from +the storm of arrows, while numbers of archers opened fire upon the +defenders. Very many were killed by the Scottish arrows, but the +work went on. A gap was made through the dam. The water, as it rushed +through, aided the efforts of those at work; and after three hours' +labour and fighting the gap was so far deepened that the water in +the moat had fallen eight feet. Then, finding that this could now +be waded, the assailants desisted, and drew off to their camp. + +A council was held that evening in the castle as to whether +the hold should be abandoned at once or whether one attack on the +breach should be withstood. It was finally determined that the +breach should be held. The steep sides of the moat, exposed by the +subsidence of the water, were slippery and difficult. The force in +the castle was amply sufficient at once to man the breach and to +furnish archers for the walls on either side, while in the event +of the worst, were the breach carried by the English, the defenders +might fall back to the central keep, and thence make their way +through the passage. Had it not been for the possibility of an +early arrival of the king to their relief all agreed that it would +be as well to evacuate the castle at once, as this in the end must +fall, and every life spent in its defence would thus be a useless +sacrifice. As, however, troops might at any moment appear, it was +determined to hold the castle until the last. + +The next morning a party of knights in full defensive armour +came down to the edge of the moat to see whether passage could be +effected. They were not molested while making their examination, +as the Scottish arrows would only have dropped harmless off their +steel harness. Archie was on the walls. + +"How like you the prospect, Sir Knights?" he called out merrily. +"I fear that the sludge and slime will sully your bright armour and +smirch your plumes, for it will be difficult to hold a footing on +those muddy banks." + +"It were best for you to yield, Sir Archibald Forbes, without giving +us the trouble of making our way across your moat. You have made +a stout resistance, and have done enough for honour, and you must +see that sooner or later we must win our way in." + +"Then I would rather it should be later," Archie replied. "I +may have done enough for honour, but it is not for honour that I +am fighting, but for Scotland. Your work is but begun yet, I can +assure you. We are far from being at the end of our resources yet. +It will be time enough to talk about surrendering when you have +won the breach and the outer walls." + +The knights retired; and as some hours passed without the besiegers +seeing any preparation for an assault they judged that the report +carried back to camp was not an encouraging one. Large numbers of +men were, however, seen leaving the camp, and these toward sunset +came back staggering under immense loads of brushwood which they +had cut in the forest. + +"They intend to fill up the moat," Archie said; "it is their wisest +course." + +He at once directed his men to make up large trusses of straw, over +which he poured considerable quantities of oil. Early the next +morning the English drew out of their camp, and advanced in martial +array. Each man carried a great faggot, and, covering themselves +with these as they came within bowshot, they marched down to the +moat. Each in turn threw in his faggot, and when he had done so +returned to the camp and brought back another. Rapidly the process +of filling up the moat opposite to the breach continued. The besiegers +kept up a rain of arrows and darts, and many of the English were +killed. But the work was continued without intermission until well +nigh across the moat a broad crossway was formed level with the +outer bank, but a narrow gap remained to be filled, and the English +leaders advanced to the front to prevent the Scots on the breach +rushing down to assault those placing the faggots. + +Somewhat to the surprise of the English the defenders remained +stationary, contenting themselves with hurling great stones at their +busy enemy. Suddenly there was a movement. Archie and a party of +his best men dashed down the breach, and, climbing on the causeway, +for a moment drove the workers and their guards back. They were +followed by twenty men carrying great trusses of straw. These were +piled against the faggots forming the end of the causeway. Archie +and his band leapt back as a torch was applied to the straw. In a +moment the hot flames leapt up, causing the knights who had pressed +after the retreating Scots to fall back hastily. A shout of triumph +rose from the garrison and one of dismay from the besiegers. +Saturated with oil, the trusses burnt with fury, and the faggots +were soon alight. A fresh wind was blowing, and the flames crept +rapidly along the causeway. In a few minutes this was in a blaze +from end to end, and in half an hour nothing remained of the great +pile save charred ashes and the saturated faggots which had been +below the water in the moat, and which now floated upon it. + +The besiegers had drawn off when they saw that the flames had +gained a fair hold of the causeway. The smoke had scarcely ceased +to rise when a great outcry arose from the English camp, and the +lookout from the top of the keep perceived a strong force marching +toward it. By the bustle and confusion which reigned in the camp +Archie doubted not that the newcomers were Scots. The garrison were +instantly called to arms. The gates were thrown open, and leaving +a small body only to hold the gates, he sallied out at the head of +his men and marched toward the English camp. At the approach of +the Scottish force the English leaders had marched out with their +men to oppose them. Bruce had been able to collect but three hundred +and fifty men, and the English, seeing how small was the number +advancing against them, prepared to receive them boldly. Scarcely +had the combat begun when Archie with his band entered the English +camp, which was almost deserted. They at once fired the tents, and +then advanced in a solid mass with level spears against the rear +of the English. These, dismayed at the destruction of their camp, +and at finding themselves attacked both front and rear, lost heart +and fell into confusion. Their leaders strove to rally them, +and dashed with their men-at-arms against the spearmen, but their +efforts to break through were in vain, and their defeat increased +the panic of the footmen. Archie's party broke a way through their +disordered line and joined the body commanded by the king, and the +whole rushed so fiercely upon the English that these broke and fled +in all directions, pursued by the triumphant Scots. + +"I am but just in time I see, Sir Archie," Bruce said, pointing +to the breach in the wall; "a few hours more and methinks that I +should have been too late." + +"We could have held out longer than that, sire," Archie replied. +"We have repulsed an attack this morning and burnt a causeway of +faggots upon which they attempted to cross the moat; still, I am +truly glad that you have arrived, and thank you with all my heart +for coming so speedily to my rescue, for sooner or later the hold +must have fallen; the great machines which they brought with them +from Stirling proved too strong for the wall." + +"And how has the Lady Marjory borne her during the siege?" the king +inquired. + +"Right nobly," Archie replied; "ever in good spirits and showing a +brave face to the men; and one night when I made a sortie through +my secret passage, and fell upon the English camp from the other +side, having left the castle in her charge, she headed the garrison +and issuing out, recaptured the outworks, and destroyed the machines +by fire." + +"Bravely done," the king said, "and just what I should expect from +your wife. You did well to take my advice in that matter." + +"We shall never agree there, sire, for as you know I followed my +own will and wed the bride I had fixed upon for myself." + +"Well, well, Sir Archie, as we are both satisfied we will e'en let +it be; and now, I trust that you have still some supplies left, +for to tell you the truth I am hungry as well as weary, and my men +have marched fast and far." + +"There is an abundance," Archie replied; "to last them all for a +month, and right willingly is it at their service." + +The king remained a week at Aberfilly, his men aiding Archie's +retainers in repairing the gap in the dam and in rebuilding the +wall; and as five hundred men working willingly and well can effect +wonders, by the time Bruce rode away the castle was restored to +its former appearance. Archie marched on the following day, and +rejoined Douglas in Galloway. + + + +Chapter XXII A Prisoner + + +After some consultation between the leaders, it was agreed to make +an attempt to capture the castle of Knockbawn. It was known to +possess a garrison of some sixty men only, and although strong, +Archie and Sir James believed that it could be captured by assault. +It was arranged that Archie should ride to reconnoitre it, and +taking two mounted retainers he started, the force remaining in the +forest some eight miles distant. The castle of Knockbawn stood on +a rocky promontory, jutting a hundred and fifty yards into the sea. +When he neared the neck of the point, which was but some twenty +yards wide, Archie bade his followers fall back a short distance. + +"I will ride," he said, "close up to the castle walls. My armour +is good, and I care not for arrow or crossbow bolt. It were best +you fell back a little, for they may have horses and may sally out +in pursuit. I am well mounted and fear not being overtaken, but it +were best that you should have a good start." + +Archie then rode forward toward the castle. Seeing a knight +approaching alone the garrison judged that he was friendly, and it +was not until it was seen that instead of approaching the drawbridge +he turned aside and rode to the edge of the fosse, that they +suspected that he was a foe. Running to the walls they opened fire +with arrows upon him, but by this time Archie had seen all that +he required. Across the promontory ran a sort of fissure, some ten +yards wide and as many deep. From the opposite edge of this the +wall rose abruptly. Here assault would be difficult, and it was +upon the gateway that an attack must be made. Several arrows had +struck his armour and glanced off, and Archie now turned and quietly +rode away, his horse being protected by mail like himself. Scarce +had he turned when he saw a sight which caused him for a moment +to draw rein. Coming at full gallop toward the promontory was a +strong body of English horse, flying the banner of Sir Ingram de +Umfraville. They were already nearer to the end of the neck than +he was. There was no mode of escape, and drawing his sword he +galloped at full speed to meet them. As he neared them Sir Ingram +himself, one of the doughtiest of Edward's knights, rode out with +levelled lance to meet him. At full gallop the knights charged +each other. Sir Ingram's spear was pointed at the bars of Archie's +helmet, but as the horses met each other Archie with a blow of his +sword cut off the head of the lance and dealt a tremendous backhanded +blow upon Sir Ingram's helmet as the latter passed him, striking +the knight forward on to his horse's neck; then without pausing a +moment he dashed into the midst of the English ranks. + +The horsemen closed around him, and although he cut down several +with his sweeping blows he was unable to break his way through them. +Such a conflict could not last long. Archie received a blow from +behind which struck him from his horse. Regaining his feet he +continued the fight, but the blows rained thick upon him, and he +was soon struck senseless to the ground. + +When he recovered he was in a room in the keep of the castle. Two +knights were sitting at a table near the couch on which he was lying. +"Ah!" exclaimed one, on seeing Archie open his eyes and move, "I +am glad to see your senses coming back to you, sir prisoner. Truly, +sir, I regret that so brave a knight should have fallen into my +hands, seeing that in this war we must needs send our prisoners +to King Edward, whose treatment of them is not, I must e'en own, +gentle; for indeed you fought like any paladin. I deemed not that +there was a knight in Scotland, save the Bruce himself, who could +have so borne himself; and never did I, Ingram de Umfraville, come +nearer to losing my seat than I did from that backhanded blow you +dealt me. My head rings with it still. My helmet will never be +fit to wear again, and as the leech said when plastering my head, +`had not my skull been of the thickest, you had assuredly cut +through it.' May I crave the name of so brave an antagonist?" + +"I am Sir Archibald Forbes," Archie replied. + +"By St. Jago!" the knight said, "but I am sorry for it, seeing that, +save Bruce himself, there is none in the Scottish ranks against +whom King Edward is so bitter. In the days of Wallace there was no +one whose name was more often on our lips than that of Sir Archibald +Forbes, and now, under Bruce, it is ever coming to the front. I had +thought to have asked Edward as a boon that I should have kept you +as my prisoner until exchanged for one on our side, but being Sir +Archibald Forbes I know that it were useless indeed; nevertheless, +sir knight, I will send to King Edward, begging him to look mercifully +upon your case, seeing how bravely and honourably you have fought." + +"Thanks for your good offices, Sir Ingram," Archie replied, "but +I shall ask for no mercy for myself. I have never owed or paid him +allegiance, but, as a true Scot, have fought for my country against +a foreign enemy." + +"But King Edward does not hold himself to be a foreign enemy," the +knight said, "seeing that Baliol, your king, with Comyn and all +your great nobles, did homage to him as Lord Paramount of Scotland." + +"It were an easy way," Archie rejoined, "to gain a possession to +nominate a puppet from among the nobles already your vassals, and +then to get him to do homage. No, sir knight, neither Comyn nor +Baliol, nor any other of the Anglo-Norman nobles who hold estate +in Scotland, have a right to speak for her, or to barter away her +freedom. That is what Wallace and thousands of Scotchmen have fought +and died to protest against, and what Scotchmen will do until their +country is free." + +"It is not a question for me to argue upon," Sir Ingram said +surlily. "King Edward bids me fight in Scotland, and as his knight +and vassal I put on my harness without question. But I own to +you that seeing I have fought beside him in Gascony, when he, as +a feudal vassal of the King of France, made war upon his lord, I +cannot see that the offence is an unpardonable one when you Scotchmen +do the same here. Concerning the lawfulness of his claim to be +your lord paramount, I own that I neither know nor care one jot. +However, sir, I regret much that you have fallen into my hands, +for to Carlisle, where the king has long been lying, as you have +doubtless heard, grievously ill, I must forthwith send you. I must +leave you here with the governor, for in half an hour I mount and +ride away with my troop. He will do his best to make your sojourn +here easy until such time as I may have an opportunity of sending +you by ship to Carlisle; and now farewell, sir," he said, giving +Archie his hand, "I regret that an unkind chance has thrown so +gallant a knight into my hands, and that my duty to the king forbids +me from letting you go free." + +"Thanks, Sir Ingram," Archie replied. "I have ever heard of you +as a brave knight, and if this misfortune must fall upon me, would +sooner that I should have been captured by you than by one of less +fame and honour." + +The governor now had a meal with some wine set before Archie, and +then left him alone. + +"I am not at Carlisle yet," Archie said to himself. "Unless +I mistake, we shall have Sir James thundering at the gate before +morning. Cluny will assuredly have ridden off at full speed to carry +the news when he saw that I was cut off, and e'en now he will be +marching towards the castle." As he expected, Archie was roused +before morning by a tremendous outburst of noise. Heavy blows were +given, followed by a crash, which Archie judged to be the fall of +the drawbridge across the fosse. He guessed that some of Douglas's +men had crept forward noiselessly, had descended the fosse, and +managed to climb up to the gate, and had then suddenly attacked +with their axes the chains of the drawbridge. + +A prodigious uproar raged in the castle. Orders were shouted, and +the garrison, aroused from their sleep, snatched up their arms +and hastened to the walls. Outside rose the war cry, "A Douglas! A +Douglas!" mingled with others of, "Glen Cairn to the rescue!" For +a few minutes all was confusion, then a light suddenly burst up +and grew every instant more and more bright. + +"Douglas has piled faggots against the gates," Archie said to +himself. "Another quarter of an hour and the castle will be his." + +Three or four minutes later the governor with six soldiers, two +of whom bore torches, entered the room. "You must come along at +once, sir knight," the governor said. "The attack is of the fiercest, +and I know not whether we shall make head against it, but at any +rate I must not risk your being recaptured, and must therefore +place you in a boat and send you off without delay to the castle +at Port Patrick." + +It was in vain for Archie to think of resistance, he was unarmed +and helpless. Two of the soldiers laid hands on him and hurried +him along until they reached the lower chambers of the castle. The +governor unlocked a door, and with one of the torch bearers led +the way down some narrow steps. These were some fifty in number, +and then a level passage ran along for some distance. Another door +was opened, and the fresh breeze blew upon them as they issued +forth. They stood on some rocks at the foot of the promontory on +which the castle stood. A large boat lay close at hand, drawn to +the shore. Archie and the six soldiers entered her; four of the +latter took the oars, and the others seated themselves by their +prisoner, and then the boat rowed away, while the governor returned +to aid in the defence of the castle. + +The boat was but a quarter of a mile away when on the night air +came the sound of a wild outburst of triumphant shouts which told +that the Scots had won their way into the castle. With muttered +curses the men bent to their oars and every minute took them further +away from Knockbawn. + +Archie was bitterly disappointed. He had reckoned confidently on +the efforts of Douglas to deliver him, and the possibility of his +being sent off by sea had not entered his mind. It seemed to him +now that his fate was sealed. He had noticed on embarking that +there were no other boats lying at the foot of the promontory, and +pursuit would therefore be impossible. + +After rowing eight hours the party reached Port Patrick, where Archie +was delivered by the soldiers to the governor with a message from +their commander saying that the prisoner, Sir Archibald Forbes, +was a captive of great importance, and was, by the orders of Sir +Ingram de Umfraville who had captured him, to be sent on to Carlisle +to the king when a ship should be going thither. A fortnight passed +before a vessel sailed. Archie was placed in irons and so securely +guarded in his dungeon that escape was altogether impossible. So +harsh was his confinement that he longed for the time when a vessel +would sail for Carlisle, even though he was sure that the same fate +which had attended so many of Scotland's best and bravest knights +awaited him there. + +The winds were contrary, and the vessel was ten days upon the +voyage. Upon reaching Carlisle Archie was handed to the governor +of the castle, and the next morning was conducted to the presence +of the king himself. The aged monarch, in the last extremity of +sickness, lay upon a couch. Several of his nobles stood around him. + +"So," he said as the prisoner was brought before him, "this is +Archibald Forbes, the one companion of the traitor Wallace who has +hitherto escaped my vengeance. So, young sir, you have ventured +to brave my anger and to think yourself capable of coping with the +Lion of England." + +"I have done my utmost, sir king," Archie said firmly, "such as +it was, for the freedom of my country. No traitor am I, nor was my +leader Wallace. Nor he, nor I, ever took vow of allegiance to you, +maintaining ever that the kings of England had neither claim nor +right over Scotland. He has been murdered, foully and dishonourably, +as you will doubtless murder me, and as you have killed many nobler +knights and gentlemen; but others will take our places, and so the +fight will go on until Scotland is free." + +"Scotland will never be free," the king said with angry vehemence. +"Rather than that, she shall cease to exist, and I will slay till +there is not one of Scottish blood, man, woman, or child, to bear +the name. Let him be taken to Berwick," he said; "there let him be +exposed for a week in a cage outside the castle, that the people +may see what sort of a man this is who matches himself against the +might of England. Then let him be hung, drawn, and quartered, his +head sent to London, and his limbs distributed between four Scotch +cities." + +"I go, sir king," Archie said, as the attendants advanced to seize +him, "and at the end of the week I will meet you before the throne +of God, for you, methinks, will have gone thither before me, and +there will I tax you with all your crimes, with the slaughter of +tens of thousands of Scottish men, women, and children, with cities +destroyed and countries wasted, and with the murder in cold blood +of a score of noble knights whose sole offence was that they fought +for their native country." + +With these words Archie turned and walked proudly from the king's +presence. An involuntary murmur of admiration at his fearless bearing +escaped from the knights and nobles assembled round the couch of +the dying monarch. + +When, two days later, Archie entered the gates of Berwick Castle +the bells of the city were tolling, for a horseman had just ridden +in with the news that Edward had expired on the evening before, +being the 6th day of July, 1307, just at the moment when he was +on the point of starting with the great army he had assembled to +crush out the insurrection in Scotland. + +So deep was his hate for the people who had dared to oppose his will +that when dying he called before him his eldest son, and in the +presence of his barons caused him to swear upon the saints that so +soon as he should be dead his body should be boiled in a cauldron +until the flesh should be separated from the bones, after which the +flesh should be committed to the earth, but the bones preserved, +and that, as often as the people of Scotland rebelled, the military +array of the kingdom should be summoned and the bones carried at +the head of the army into Scotland. His heart he directed should +be conveyed to and deposited in the Holy Land. + +So died Edward I, a champion of the Holy Sepulchre, King of England, +Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine, conqueror of Wales, and would +be conqueror of Scotland. In many respects his reign was a great +and glorious one, for he was more than a great conqueror, he was, +to England, a wise and noble king; and taken altogether he was +perhaps the greatest of the Plantagenets. + +Historians have striven to excuse and palliate his conduct toward +Scotland. They have glossed over his crimes and tried to explain +away the records of his deeds of savage atrocity, and to show that +his claims to that kingdom, which had not a shadow of foundation +save from the submission of her Anglo-Norman nobles, almost all of +whom were his own vassals and owned estates in England, were just +and righteous. Such is not the true function of history. Edward's +sole claim to Scotland was that he was determined to unite under his +rule England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, and he failed because +the people of Scotland, deserted as they were by all their natural +leaders, preferred death to such a slavery as that under which +Ireland and Wales helplessly groaned. His dying wishes were not +observed. His body was laid in rest in Westminster Abbey, and on +the tomb was inscribed, "Edward I the mallet of the Scots." + + + +Chapter XXIII The Escape from Berwick + + +On entering the castle Archie was at once conducted to a sort of +cage which had been constructed for a previous prisoner. On the +outside of a small cell a framework of stout beams had been erected. +It was seven feet in height, six feet wide, and three feet deep. +The bars were four inches round, and six inches apart. There was +a door leading into the cell behind. This was closed in the daytime, +so that the prisoner remained in the cage in sight of passersby, +but at night the governor, who was a humane man, allowed the door +to remain unlocked, so that the prisoner could enter the inner cell +and lie down there. + +The position of the cage was about twenty-five feet above the +moat. The moat itself was some forty feet wide, and a public path +ran along the other side, and people passing here had a full view +of the prisoner. There were still many of Scottish birth in the +town in spite of the efforts which Edward had made to convert it +into a complete English colony, and although the English were in +the majority, Archie was subject to but little insult or annoyance. +Although for the present in English possession, Berwick had always +been a Scotch town, and might yet again from the fortune of war +fall into Scottish hands. Therefore even those most hostile to them +felt that it would be prudent to restrain from any demonstrations +against the Scottish prisoners, since in the event of the city +again changing hands a bloody retaliation might be dealt them. +Occasionally a passing boy would shout out an epithet of contempt +or hatred or throw a stone at the prisoner, but such trifles were +unheeded by him. More often men or women passing would stop and +gaze up at him with pitying looks, and would go away wiping their +eyes. + +Archie, after the first careful examination of his cell, at once +abandoned any idea of escape from it. The massive bars would have +defied the strength of twenty men, and he had no instrument of any +sort with which he could cut them. There was, he felt, nothing +before him but death; and although he feared this little for +himself, he felt sad indeed as he thought of the grief of Marjory +and his mother. + +The days passed slowly. Five had gone without an incident, and but +two remained, for he knew that there was no chance of any change +in the sentence which Edward had passed, even were his son more +disposed than he toward merciful measures to the Scots, which Archie +had no warrant for supposing. The new king's time would be too +closely engaged in the affairs entailed by his accession to rank, +the arrangement of his father's funeral, and the details of the +army advancing against Scotland, to give a thought to the prisoner +whose fate had been determined by his father. + +Absorbed in his own thoughts Archie seldom looked across the moat, +and paid no heed to those who passed or who paused to look at him. + +On the afternoon of the fifth day, however, his eye was caught by +two women who were gazing up at the cage. It was the immobility of +their attitude and the length of time which they continued to gaze +at him, which attracted his attention. + +In a moment he started violently and almost gave a cry, for in +one of them he recognized his wife, Marjory. The instant that the +women saw that he had observed them they turned away and walked +carelessly and slowly along the road. Archie could hardly believe +that his eyesight had not deceived him. It seemed impossible that +Marjory, whom he deemed a hundred miles away, in his castle at +Aberfilly, should be here in the town of Berwick, and yet when he +thought it over he saw that it might well be so. There was indeed +ample time for her to have made the journey two or three times while +he had been lying in prison at Port Patrick awaiting a ship. She +would be sure, when the news reached her of his capture, that he +would be taken to Edward at Carlisle, and that he would be either +executed there or at Berwick. It was then by no means impossible, +strange and wondrous as it appeared to him, that Marjory should be +in Berwick. + +She was attired in the garment of a peasant woman of the better +class, such as the wife of a small crofter or farmer, and remembering +how she had saved his life before at Dunstaffnage, Archie felt that +she had come hither to try to rescue him. + +Archie's heart beat with delight and his eyes filled with tears at +the devotion and courage of Marjory, and for the first time since +he had been hurried into the boat on the night of his capture a +feeling of hope entered his breast. Momentary as the glance had +been which he had obtained of the face of Marjory's companion, +Archie had perceived that it was in some way familiar to him. In +vain he recalled the features of the various servants at Aberfilly, +and those of the wives and daughters of the retainers of the estate; +he could not recognize the face of the woman accompanying Marjory +as belonging to any of them. His wife might, indeed, have brought +with her some one from the estates at Ayr whom she had known from +a child, but in that case Archie could not account for his knowledge +of her. This, however, did not occupy his mind many minutes; it +was assuredly one whom Marjory trusted, and that was sufficient +for him. Then his thoughts turned wholly to his wife. + +Any one who had noticed the prisoner's demeanor for the last few +days would have been struck with the change which had come over +it. Hitherto he had stood often for hours leaning motionless, with +his arms crossed, in the corner of his cage, with head bent down and +listless air, his thoughts only being busy; now he paced restlessly +up and down his narrow limits, two steps each way and then a turn, +like a caged beast; his hands were clenched, his breast heaved, +his breath came fast, his head was thrown back, often he brushed +his hand across his eyes, and rapid words came from his lips. + +The sun sank. An hour later a jailer brought his jug of water and +piece of bread, and then, without a word, retired, leaving, as usual, +the door into the cell open, but carefully locking and barring the +inner door. Archie had a longer walk now, from the front of the +cage to the back of the cell, and for three hours he paced up and +down. Sometimes he paused and listened attentively. The sounds in +the town gradually died away and all became still, save that he +could hear the calls of the warder on the battlement above him. +The night was a very dark one and he could scarcely make out the +gleam of water in the moat below. + +Suddenly something struck him a sharp blow on the face and fell at +his feet. He stooped and picked it up, it was an arrow with a wad +of wool fastened round its point to prevent it from making a noise +should it strike the wall or cage; to the other end was attached a +piece of string. Archie drew it in until he felt that it was held +firmly, then after a moment the hold relaxed somewhat, and the +string again yielded as he drew it. It was now, he felt, taut from +the other side of the moat. Presently a stout rope, amply sufficient +to bear his weight, came into his hands. At the point of junction +was attached some object done up in flannel. This he opened, and +found that it was a fine saw and a small bottle containing oil. He +fastened the rope securely to one of the bars and at once commenced +to saw asunder one of the others. In five minutes two cuts had +been noiselessly made, and a portion of the bar five feet long came +away. He now tried the rope and found that it was tightly stretched, +and evidently fixed to some object on the other side of the moat. +He grasped it firmly with his arms and legs and slid rapidly down +it. + +In another minute he was grasped by some strong arms which checked +his rapid progress and enabled him to gain his feet without the +slightest noise. As he did so a woman threw her arms round him, +and he exchanged a passionate but silent embrace with Marjory. Then +she took his hand and with noiseless steps they proceeded down the +road. He had before starting removed his shoes and put them in his +pockets. Marjory and her companion had also removed their shoes, +and even the keenest ears upon the battlements would have heard +no sound as they proceeded along the road. Fifty yards farther and +they were among the houses. Here they stopped a minute and put on +their shoes, and then continued their way. Not a word was spoken +until they had traversed several streets and stopped at the door +of a house in a quiet lane; it yielded to Marjory's touch, she and +Archie entered, and their follower closed and fastened it after +them. + +The moment this was done Marjory threw her arms round Archie's neck +with a burst of tears of joy and relief. While Archie was soothing +her the third person stirred up the embers on the hearth and threw +on a handful of dry wood. + +"And who is your companion?" Archie asked, after the first transports +of joy and thankfulness were past. + +"What! don't you recognize Cluny?" Marjory asked, laughing through +her tears. + +"Cluny! of course," Archie exclaimed, grasping his follower's hand +in his. "I only caught a glimpse of your face and knew that it was +familiar to me, but in vain tried to recall its owner. Why, Cluny, +it is a long time since you went dressed as a girl into Ayr! And +so it is my good friend who had shared my wife's dangers." + +"He has done more than that, Archie," Marjory said, "for it was +to him that I owe my first idea of coming here. The moment after +the castle was taken and it was found that you had been carried +off in a boat by the English, Cluny started to tell me the news. +Your mother and I were beside ourselves with grief, and Cluny, to +comfort us, said, `Do not despair yet, my lady; my lord shall not +be killed by the English if I can prevent it. The master and I +have been in a good many dangers, and have always come out of them +safe; it shall not be my fault if he does not slip through their +hands yet.' `Why, what can you do, Cluny?' I said. `I don't know +what I can do yet,' he replied; `that must depend upon circumstances. +My lord is sure to be taken to Carlisle, and I shall go south to +see if I cannot get him out of prison. I have often gone among the +English garrisons disguised as a woman, and no one in Carlisle is +likely to ask me my business there.' It was plain to me at once that +if Cluny could go to your aid, so could I, and I at once told him +that I should accompany him. Cluny raised all sorts of objections, +but to these I would not listen, but brought him to my will by saying, +that if he thought my being with him would add to his difficulties +I would go alone, but that go I certainly would. So without more +ado we got these dresses and made south. We had a few narrow +escapes of falling into the hands of parties of English, but at last +we crossed the frontier and made to Carlisle. Three days later we +heard of your arrival, and the next morning all men were talking +about your defiance of the king, and that you had been sent to Berwick +for execution at the end of the week. So we journeyed hither and +got here the day after you arrived. The first step was to find +a Scotchwoman whom we might trust. This, by great luck, we did, +and Mary Martin, who lives in this house, is a true Scotchwoman, +and will help us to the extent of her power; she is poor, for her +husband, who is an Englishman, had for some time been ill, and died +but yesterday. He was, by what she says, a hard man and cruel, and +his death is no grief to her, and Mary will, if she can, return +with her daughter to Roxburgh, where her relations live, and where +she married her husband, who was a soldier in the English garrison +there." + +"But, Marjory," Archie said, "have you thought how we are to escape +hence; though I am free from the castle I am still within the walls +of Berwick, and when, tomorrow, they find that I have escaped, they +will search every nook and corner of the town. I had best without +delay try and make my way over the walls." + +"That was the plan Cluny and I first thought of," Marjory replied; +"but owing to the raids of the Douglas on the border, so strict +a watch is kept on the walls that it would be difficult indeed to +pass. Cluny has tried a dozen times each night, but the watch is +so vigilant that he has each time failed to make his way past them, +but has been challenged and has had several arrows discharged at +him. The guard at the gates is extremely strict, and all carts that +pass in and out are searched. Could you have tried to pass before +your escape was known you might no doubt have done so in disguise, +but the alarm will be given before the gates are open in the morning, +and your chance of passing through undetected then would be small +indeed. The death of the man Martin suggested a plan to me. I +have proposed it to his wife, and she has fallen in with it. I +have promised her a pension for her life should we succeed, but I +believe she would have done it even without reward, for she is a +true Scotchwoman. When she heard who it was that I was trying to +rescue, she said at once she would risk anything to save the life +of one of Scotland's best and bravest champions; while, on the other +hand, she cares not enough for her husband to offer any objection +to my plans for the disposal of his body." + +"But what are your plans, Marjory?" + +"All the neighbours know that Martin is dead; they believe that Cluny +is Mary's sister and I her niece, and she has told them that she +shall return with us to Roxburgh. Martin was a native of a village +four miles hence, and she is going to bury him with his fathers +there. Now I have proposed to her that Martin shall be buried +beneath the wood store here, and that you shall take his place in +the coffin." + +"It is a capital idea, Marjory," Archie said, "and will assuredly +succeed if any plan can do so. The only fear is that the search +will be so hot in the morning that the soldiers may even insist +upon looking into the coffin." + +"We have thought of that," Marjory said, "and dare not risk it. +We must expect every house to be searched in the morning, and have +removed some tiles in the attic. At daybreak you must creep out +on the roof, replace the tiles, and remain hidden there until the +search is over. Martin will be laid in the coffin. Thus, even +should they lift the lid, no harm will come of it. Directly they +have gone, Cluny will bring you down, and you and he dig the grave +in the floor of the woodshed and place Martin there, then you +will take his place in the coffin, which will be placed in a cart +already hired, and Cluny, I, Mrs. Martin, and her daughter will +then set out with it. + +Soon after daybreak the quick strokes of the alarm bell at the +castle told the inhabitants of Berwick that a prisoner had escaped. +Archie at once betook himself to his place of concealment on the +roof. He replaced the tiles, and Cluny carefully obliterated all +signs of the place of exit from within. A great hubbub had by +this time arisen in the street. Trumpets were blowing, and parties +of soldiers moving about in all directions. The gates remained +unopened, orders being given that none should pass through without +a special order from the governor. + +The sentries on the wall were doubled, and then a house to house +search was commenced, every possible place of concealment being +rummaged from basement to attic. Presently the searchers entered the +lane in which Mrs. Martin lived. The latch was ere long lifted, +and a sergeant and six soldiers burst into the room. The sight +which they beheld quieted their first noisy exclamations. Four +women in deep mourning were kneeling by a rough coffin placed on +trestles. One of them gave a faint scream as they entered, and Mary +Martin, rising to her feet, said: + +"What means this rough intrusion?" + +"It means," the sergeant said, "that a prisoner has escaped from +the castle, one Archibald Forbes, a pestilent Scotch traitor. He +has been aided by friends from without, and as the sentries were +watchful all night, he must be hidden somewhere in the town, and +every house is to be searched." + +"You can search if you will," the woman said, resuming the position +on her knees. "As you see, this is a house of mourning, seeing +that my husband is dead, and is today to be buried in his native +village, three miles away." + +"He won't be buried today," the sergeant said; "for the gates are +not to be opened save by a special order from the governor. Now, +lads," he went on, turning to the men, "search the place from top +to bottom, examine all the cupboards and sound the floors, turn over +all the wood in the shed, and leave not a single place unsearched +where a mouse could be hid." + +The soldiers scattered through the house, and were soon heard +knocking the scanty furniture about and sounding the floors and +walls. At last they returned saying that nothing was to be found. + +"And now," the sergeant said, "I must have a look in that coffin. +Who knows but what the traitor Scot may be hid in there!" + +Mrs. Martin leaped to her feet. + +"You shall not touch the coffin," she said; "I will not have the +remains of my husband disturbed." The sergeant pushed her roughly +aside, and with the end of his pike prised up the lid of the coffin, +while Mrs. Martin and the other three mourners screamed lustily +and wrung their hands in the greatest grief at this desecration of +the dead. + +Just as the sergeant opened the coffin and satisfied himself that +a dead man really lay within, an officer, attracted by the screams, +entered the room. + +"What is this, sergeant?" he asked angrily. "The orders were to +search the house, but none were given you to trouble the inmates." + +Mrs. Martin began volubly to complain of the conduct of the soldiers +in wrenching open the coffin. + +"It was a necessary duty, my good woman," the officer said, "seeing +that a living man might have been carried away instead of a dead +one; however, I see all is right." + +"Oh, kind sir!" Mrs. Martin said, sobbing, "is it true what this +man tells me, that there is no passage through the gates today? I +have hired a cart to take away my husband's body; the grave is dug, +and the priest will be waiting. Kind sir, I pray of you to get me +a pass to sally out with it, together with my daughter, sister, +and niece." + +"Very well," the officer said kindly, "I will do as you wish. I +shall be seeing the governor presently to make my report to him; +and as I have myself seen the dead body can vouch that no ruse +is intended. But assuredly no pass will be given for any man to +accompany you; and the Scot, who is a head and shoulders taller +than any of you, would scarcely slip out in a woman's garment. When +will the cart be here?" + +"At noon," the woman replied. + +"Very well; an hour before that time a soldier will bring out the +pass. Now, sergeant, have you searched the rest of the house?" + +"Yes, sir; thoroughly, and nothing suspicious has been found." + +"Draw off your men, then, and proceed, with your search elsewhere." + +No sooner had the officer and men departed than Cluny ran upstairs, +and removing two of the tiles, whispered to Archie that all was +clear. The hole was soon enlarged, and Archie re-entering, the pair +descended to the woodshed which adjoined the kitchen, and there, +with a spade and mattock which Cluny had purchased on the preceding +day, they set to work to dig a grave. In two hours it was completed. +The body of John Martin was lowered into it, the earth replaced +and trodden down hard, and the wood again piled on to it. + +At eleven o'clock a soldier entered with the governor's pass +ordering the soldier at the gate to allow a cart with the body of +John Martin, accompanied by four women, to pass out from the town. + +At the appointed time the cart arrived. Archie now took his place +in the coffin. His face was whitened, and a winding sheet wrapped +round him, lest by an evil chance any should insist on again +looking into the coffin. Then some neighbours came in and assisted +in placing the coffin in the cart. The driver took his place beside +it, and the four women, with their hoods drawn over their heads, +fell in behind it weeping bitterly. + +When they arrived at the gate the officer in charge carefully read +the order, and then gave the order for the gate to be opened. "But +stop," he said, "this pass says nothing about a driver, and though +this man in no way resembles the description of the doughty Scot, +yet as he is not named in the pass I cannot let him pass." There +was a moment's pause of consternation, and then Cluny said: + +"Sister Mary, I will lead the horse. When all is in readiness, and +the priest waits, we cannot turn back on such a slight cause." As +the driver of the cart knew Mary Martin, he offered no objection, +and descended from his seat. Cluny took the reins, and, walking by +the side of the horse's head, led him through the gates as these +were opened, the others following behind. As soon as they were +through, the gate closed behind them, and they were safely out of +the town of Berwick. + +So long as they were within sight of the walls they proceeded at +a slow pace without change of position, and although Cluny then +quickened the steps of his horse, no other change was made until two +miles further they reached a wood. Then Cluny leapt into the cart +and wrenched off the lid of the coffin. It had been but lightly +nailed down, and being but roughly made there were plenty of crevices +through which the air could pass. + +"Quick, Sir Archie!" he said, "let us get this thing out of the +cart before any person happen to come along." + +The coffin was lifted from the cart, and carried some short +distance into the wood. A few vigorous kicks separated the planks +which composed it. These were taken and thrust separately among +bushes at some little distance from each other. Cluny then unrolled +the bundle which he had brought from the cart, and handed to Archie +a suit of clothes fitted for a farmer. These Archie quickly put +on, then he returned to the cart, which he mounted, and took the +reins. The others got up behind him and seated themselves on the +straw in the bottom of the cart. Then Archie gave the horse a smart +cut with his whip, and the cart proceeded at a steady trot along +the road to the west. + + + +Chapter XXIV The Progress of the War + + +A mile or two after leaving Berwick the cart had left the main road +running by the coast through Dunbar to Edinburgh, and had struck +west by a country track. But few houses were met with, as the +whole of the country within many miles of the sea had been harried +and devastated by the various English armies which had advanced +from Berwick. After proceeding for some miles they came to a point +where the track they had been following terminated at a little hamlet +among the hills. Here they left the cart, making an arrangement with +one of the villagers to drive it back on the morrow into Berwick. +They were now beyond all risk of pursuit, and need fear nothing +further until they reached the great north roads running from +Carlisle to Edinburgh and Stirling. Cluny therefore resumed male +attire. They had no difficulty in purchasing a couple of swords +from the peasants of the village, and armed with these they started +with Marjory and the two women over the hills. It was early autumn +now; the weather was magnificent, and they made the distance in +quiet stages, and crossing the Pentlands came down upon Aberfilly +without meeting with a single danger or obstacle. + +It needs not to describe the joy of Archie's mother at his return. +The news spread like lightning among the tenantry, and in an hour +after the wayfarers reached the castle men and women could be seen +flocking over the hills at the top of their speed to express their +delight and enthusiasm at their lord's return. By nightfall every +tenant on the estate, save those prevented by age or illness, had +assembled at the castle, and the rejoicings which had taken place +at the marriage of their lord were but tame and quiet beside the +boisterous enthusiasm which was now exhibited. + +Although Marjory had at first been welcomed for the sake of her +husband, the fact that she was a Kerr had excited a deep though +hidden hostility to her in the minds both of those who had been +her father's vassals at Aberfilly, and the old retainers of the +Forbeses at Glen Cairn. The devotion and courage which she had shown +in the defence of the castle and in the enterprise for the rescue +of their lord swept away every vestige of this feeling, and henceforth +Marjory ranked in their affections with Archie himself, and there +was not a man upon the estate but felt that he could die for her +if needs be. + +After a week's stay at home Archie rode away and joined the king, +taking, however, but four or five retainers with him. Bruce received +him with extreme warmth. He had heard of his capture, and the news +that he was condemned to die at Berwick had also reached him, and +he had no doubt but Archie had shared the fate which had befallen +his own brothers and so many of his bravest friends. His pleasure, +therefore, equalled his surprise when his brave follower rode into +his camp. Many of Archie's friends assembled as soon as it was +known that he had arrived; and after the first greetings the king +asked him for a recital of the means by which he had escaped from +the fate decreed him by Edward. Archie related the whole story, +and at its conclusion the king called to his attendants to bring +goblets and wine. + +"Sirs," he said, "let us drink to the health of Mistress Marjory +Forbes, one of the bravest and truest of Scotch women. Would to +Heaven that all the men of our country were animated by as noble and +courageous feelings! Our friend, Sir Archibald Forbes, has indeed +won a jewel, and I take no small credit to myself that I was the +first who advised him to make Mistress Kerr his wife." + +The toast was given with enthusiasm; but Archie afterwards protested +against the king assuming any credit to himself in the matter, since, +although it was true that he had advised him to marry Mistress Mary +Kerr, he had wished him to abandon, for her sake, Mistress Marjory, +the niece of Alexander MacDougall, who had set him free from her +uncle's hold of Dunstaffnage. + +"Now, Archie," the king said, when they were again alone together, +"I suppose, seeing that you have come hither without your following, +that you wish for a time to remain quiet at home, and seeing that +you have suffered severe imprisonment and a grievous risk of death +in my cause, methinks you have well earned the right to rest quiet +for a while with your brave lady. At present I can dispense with +the services of your retainers. Most of the low country is now in +my hands, and the English garrisons dare not venture out of their +strong places. The army that the King of England collected to crush +us has been, I hear, much disorganized by his death, and the barons +will doubtless wring concessions and privileges from his son before +they spread their banners to the wind again. From all reports the +new king has but little of his father's ability and energy, and +months may elapse before any serious effort is made against us. +I am despatching my brother Edward to join Douglas in subduing +Galloway, and during his absence I shall be content to remain here +in the field with a small following, for the English governors +of the towns will, methinks, stand only on the defensive, until a +strong army marches north from England. When Galloway is subdued +the lowlands will be all in my hands save for the English garrisons, +and I shall on Edward's return set myself to punish the Comyns and +the other traitor nobles of the north, who are well nigh all hand +and glove with the English. So long as Scotland has such powerful +enemies in her midst she cannot hope to cope with the forces which +England can send against her. Alone and united the task is one +which will tax her strength to the utmost, seeing that England is +in wealth and population so far her superior, and Edward disposes +of the force of Ireland, of Wales, and of Gascony; therefore my +first task must be to root out these traitor nobles from among us. +When I move north I shall need your company and your strength; but +until Edward has cleared the English out of Galloway, captured the +strongholds, and reduced it to obedience, you can stop in Aberfilly, +and there at times, when I have no enterprise on hand and can take +a few days, I will come and rest if you will give me hospitality." + +So until the following spring Archie Forbes remained quietly and +most happily at home. Several times the king came and stayed a few +days at Aberfilly, where he was safe against surprise and treachery. +Not long after Archie's return home, Father Anselm arrived, to +Archie's satisfaction and the great joy of Marjory, and took up +his abode there. + +In the spring Archie, with his retainers,joined the king, who was +gathering his army for his march into the north. During the winter +Galloway had been subdued, and Douglas being left in the south as +commander there, Edward Bruce joined his brother, around whom also +gathered the Earl of Lennox, Sir Gilbert de la Haye, and others. +The position in Scotland was now singular: the whole of the +country south of the Forth was favourable to Bruce, but the English +held Roxburgh, Jedburgh, Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Bothwell, +Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Stirling, and Dumbarton. North of the Forth +nearly the whole of the country was hostile to the king, and the +fortresses of Perth, Dundee, Forfar, Brechin, Aberdeen, Inverness, +and many smaller holds, were occupied by English garrisons. + +The centre of hostility to Bruce, north of the Forth, lay in the two +great earls, the Comyns of Badenoch and Buchan, and their allies. +Between them and Bruce a hatred existed beyond that caused by +their taking opposite sides. Comyn of Badenoch was the son of the +man Bruce had slain at Dumfries, while Buchan hated him even more, +since his wife, the countess, had espoused the cause of Bruce and +had crowned him at Scone, and was now shamefully imprisoned in the +cage at Berwick. It must be supposed that Buchan's anger against +his countess was as deep and implacable as that of Edward himself, +for, as the English king's most powerful ally in Scotland, he could +surely have obtained the pardon and release of his wife had he +desired it. On the other hand, Bruce had a private grudge against +Comyn, for upon him had been conferred Bruce's lordship of Annandale, +and he had entered into possession and even occupied the family +castle of Lochmaben. + +The king and his army marched north, and were joined by Alexander +and Simon Frazer, with their followers. They marched to Inverness, +which, with various other castles in the north, they captured. All of +these castles were, when taken, destroyed, as Bruce had determined +to leave no strongholds in the land for the occupation of his +enemies. He himself could not spare men to hold them, and their +capture was useless if upon his retirement they could again be +occupied by the enemy. Returning southward they were encountered +by an army under Buchan, composed of his own retainers and a party +of English. This force was completely defeated. + +To the consternation of his followers Bruce was now attacked by a +wasting illness, which so enfeebled him that he was unable to sit +on his horse; it was the result of the many privations and hardships +which he had undergone since the fight at Methven. His brother, +Lennox, the Frazers, and Archie Forbes held a council and agreed +that rest for some time was absolutely necessary for the king, and +that sea air might be beneficial to him. They therefore resolved +to move eastward to the Castle of Slaines, on the sea coast +near Peterhead. That such a step was attended by great peril they +well knew, for the Comyns would gather the whole strength of the +Highlands, with accessions from the English garrisons, and besiege +them there. The king's health, however, was a paramount consideration; +were he to die, the blow might be fatal to Scotland, accordingly +the little force marched eastward. They reached Slaines without +interruption, and as they expected the castle was soon surrounded and +besieged by the forces of Buchan, who had been joined by Sir John +Mowbray and Sir David de Brechin, nephew of the King of England. For +some time the siege went on, but the assailants gained but little +advantage, and indeed trusted rather to famine than force to reduce +the castle. + +Weeks passed on, and although his followers thought that he was +somewhat better, the king's health improved but slowly. Provisions +now began to run very short. When they had come nearly to an end +the Scots determined to sally out and cut their way through the +vastly superior strength of the enemy. The king was placed in a +litter, his mounted knights and followers surrounded him, and round +these the footmen formed a close clump of pikes; the hundred men +from Aberfilly formed the front rank, as these could be best relied +upon to withstand the charge of the English horse. The gates were +thrown open, and in close ranks the garrison sallied out, forming, +as soon as they passed through, in the order arranged. So close +and serried was the hedge of spears, so quiet and determined the +attitude of the men, that, numerous as they were, the men of Buchan +and the English lords shrank from an encounter with such adversaries, +and with the banner of the king and his knights flying in their +centre the little band marched on through the lines of the besiegers +without the latter striking a blow to hinder their way. + +Without interruption the royalists proceeded to Strathbogie. The +satisfaction of the king at the daring exploit by which he had been +rescued from such imminent peril did more for him than medicine or +change of air, and to the joy of his followers he began to recover +his strength. He was then moved down to the river Don. Here Buchan +and his English allies made a sudden attack upon his quarters, +killing some of the outposts. This attack roused the spirit and +energy of the king, and he immediately called for his war horse +and armour and ordered his men to prepare for action. His followers +remonstrated with him, but he declared that this attack by his +enemies had cured him more speedily than medicine could have done, +and heading his troops he issued forth and came upon the enemy +near Old Meldrum, where, after a desperate fight, Buchan and his +confederates were defeated with great slaughter on Christmas day, +1307. Buchan and Mowbray fled into England. Brechin took refuge +in his own castle of Brechin, where he was afterwards besieged and +forced to surrender. + +Bruce now marched into the territory of Comyn, where he took a terrible +vengeance for the long adhesion of his hated enemy to England. The +whole country was wasted with fire and sword, the people well nigh +exterminated, and the very forests destroyed. So terrible was the +devastation that for generations afterwards men spoke of the harrying +of Buchan as a terrible and exceptional act of vengeance. + +The castle of Aberdeen was next invested. The English made great +efforts for its succour, but the citizens joined Bruce, and a +united attack being made upon the castle it was taken by assault +and razed to the ground. The king and his forces then moved into +Angus. Here the English strongholds were all taken, the castle +of Forfar being assaulted and carried by a leader who was called +Phillip, a forester of Platane. With the exception of Perth, the +most important fortress north of the Forth, and a few minor holds, +the whole of the north of Scotland, was now in the king's hands. +In the meantime Sir James Douglas, in the south, had again taken +his paternal castle and had razed it to the ground. The forests of +Selkirk and Jedburgh, with the numerous fortresses of the district, +were brought under the king's authority, and the English were several +times defeated. In the course of these adventures Sir James came +across Alexander Stewart, Thomas Randolph, the king's nephew, +who, after being taken prisoner at Methven, had joined the English +party, and Adam O'Gordon. They advanced with a much superior force +to capture him, but were signally defeated. O'Gordon escaped into +England, but Stewart and Randolph were taken. + +This was a fortunate capture, for Randolph afterwards became one of +the king's most valiant knights and the wisest of his counsellors. +After this action Douglas marched north and joined the king. The +latter sternly reproached Randolph for having forsworn his allegiance +and joined the English. Randolph answered hotly and was committed +by his uncle to solitary confinement, where he presently came to +a determination to renew his allegiance to Bruce, and henceforward +fought faithfully and gallantly under him. + +Galloway had risen again, and Edward Bruce, with Sir Archie Forbes, +was detached to reduce it. It was a hard task, for the local +chiefs were supported by Sir Ingram de Umfraville and Sir John de +St. John; these knights, with 1200 followers, met the Scots on the +banks of the Cree, which separates the countries of Kirkcudbright +and Wigton, and although greatly superior in numbers, were completely +defeated by the Scottish pikemen, and compelled to take refuge in +the castle of Butele. Edward Bruce and Archie continued the task +of subjugating the country; but St. John having retired to England, +returned with fifteen hundred men-at-arms, and with this strong force +set out in pursuit of the small body of Scots, of whom he thought +to make an easy capture. Then occurred one of the most singular and +brilliant feats of arms that took place in a war in which deeds of +daring abounded. Edward Bruce having heard from the country people +of the approach of his adversaries, placed his infantry in a strong +position, and then, with Archie Forbes and the fifty men-at-arms +who constituted his cavalry, went out to reconnoitre the approach +of the English. The morning was thick and misty. Ignorant of each +other's position, the two forces were in close vicinity, when the +fog suddenly lifted, and Edward Bruce and Archie beheld close to +them the overwhelming force of St. John, within bowshot distance. +It was too late to fly. Edward Bruce exclaimed to Archie: + +"There is nothing for it but to charge them." + +"Let us charge them," Archie replied. + +The two leaders, setting spurs to their horses, and closely followed +by their fifty retainers, dashed like a thunderbolt upon the mass +of the English men-at-arms, before these, taken equally by surprise, +had time to form, and burst clean through them, overthrowing and +slaying many, and causing the greatest confusion and surprise. +Riding but a short distance on, the Scots turned, and again burst +through the English lines. Numbers of the English were slain, +and many others turned rein. A third time the Scots charged, with +equally fatal effect. The English were completely routed. Many +were killed and many taken prisoners, and the rest rode for England +at their best speed. History scarcely recalls another instance of +50 men routing in fair fight 1500. This extraordinary success was +followed by a victory over Sir Roland of Galloway and Donald of +the Isles on the banks of the Dee, the Lord of the Isles being made +prisoner; and eventually the whole country was reduced to obedience, +with the exception of one or two garrisons, no less than thirteen +castles being captured, in addition to the victories gained in the +field. + +Galloway being restored to order, Archie Forbes returned home, and +remained for two or three months with his wife and mother. He was +then summoned by the king to join him again, as he was about to +march to reduce the region over which his deadly foes Alexander +and John of Lorne held sway. The country into which the royal army +now penetrated was extremely mountainous and difficult, but they +made their way as far as the head of Loch Awe, where Alexander and +John of Lorne, with 2000 men, were gathered to dispute the passage. +The position was an extremely strong one, and the Lornes were +confident that it could not be forced. Immediately to the north +of the head of the lake rises the steep and lofty mountain Ben +Gruachan. From the head of the lake flows the river Awe connecting +it with Loch Etive, and the level space between the foot of the +mountain and the river is only wide enough for two to ride abreast. +This passage was known as the Pass of Brander, and the Lornes might +well believe that their position was unassailable. + +Before advancing into the pass Bruce detached Douglas, with Sir +Alexander Frazer, Sir William Wiseman, and Sir Andrew Grey, with +a body of lightly armed infantry and archers. These, unnoticed by +the enemy, climbed the side of the mountain, and going far up it, +passed along until they got behind and above the enemy. The king +ordered his main body to lay aside all defensive armour so that +they could more easily climb the hill and come to a hand to hand +conflict with the enemy. Then he moved along towards the narrow +pass. As they approached it the men of Lorne hurled down a torrent +of rocks from the hillside above. + +With a few heavy armed men Bruce pushed forward by the water side, +while Archie Forbes led the main body up the hillside. The climb was +stiff and difficult, and many were swept down by the rocks hurled +by the enemy; but at last they came to close quarters with the foe, +and a desperate struggle ensued. + +In the meantime Douglas and his party had attacked the defenders +from the other side, at first showering arrows among them, and +then falling upon them with sword and battleaxe. Thus attacked in +front and rear, the men of Lorne lost heart and gave way. On both +sides the royalists pressed them hotly, and at last they broke +from the hillside and fled down to the river, intending to cross +by a wooden bridge and destroy it behind them, but before many had +passed Douglas with his followers arrived upon the spot and seized +the bridge, cutting off their retreat. Great numbers of the men of +Lorne were slain, and the survivors made their escape up the mountain +side again. The Lornes themselves were on board some galleys on +Loch Awe, their intention having been to land in Bruce's rear when +he was fairly entangled in the narrow pass. On witnessing the utter +discomfiture of their followers they rowed rapidly away, and landed +far down the lake. Alexander fled to England, where he ended his +life. + +Bruce now advanced through the country of Lorne, which, having +never suffered from the English raids that had over and over again +devastated the rest of Scotland, was rich and flourishing, and large +quantities of booty were obtained. Dunstaffnage was besieged and +captured, and having received hostages from all the minor chiefs +for their good behaviour the king and his army returned to Glasgow. + +In the following spring a truce was negotiated by the intervention +of the King of France between the belligerents; but its duration was +but short, for so long as English nobles held estates and occupied +castles in Scotland breaches of the peace would be constantly +occurring. Bruce besieged the castle of Rutherglen, near Glasgow; +but Edward despatched the Earl of Gloucester to raise the siege, +and as Bruce's army was still small he was forced to retire at his +approach. + +In February, 1309, the clergy of Scotland assembled in a provincial +council at Dundee, and issued a declaration in favour of Bruce +as lawful king of Scotland. In this document they set forth that +although Baliol was made king of Scotland by the King of England, +Bruce, the grandfather of the king, was always recognized by the +people as being nearest in right; and they said: "If any one, on +the contrary, claim right to the aforesaid kingdom in virtue of +letters in time passed sealed, and containing the consent of the +people and the commons, know ye that all this took place in fact +by force and violence, which could not at the time be resisted, +and through multiplied fears, bodily tortures, and various terrors." + +This document was sealed by all the bishops, as representing the +clergy. A similar document was drawn up and signed by the estates +of Scotland. Therefore, henceforth Bruce could claim to be the king +not only as crowned and by right, but by the approval and consent +of the clergy and people of Scotland. A few months afterwards James, +the Steward of Scotland, whose course had ever been vacillating, died, +and his son Walter, a loyal Scotsman, succeeded him. He afterwards +married the king's daughter Marjory, and became the founder of the +royal line of Stuart. + + + +Chapter XXV The Capture of a Stronghold + + +While Bruce had by his energy and courage been wresting Scotland, +step by step, from the English, no serious effort had been made by +the latter to check his progress. Small bodies of troops had from +time to time been sent from the north; but the king had made no +great efforts, like those of his father, to reduce the country to +obedience by the exercise of the whole strength of England. Edward +II differed widely from his father in disposition. At times he was +roused to fits of spasmodic energy, but for the most part he was +sunk in sloth and supineness. He angered and irritated his barons +by his fondness for unworthy favourites, and was engaged in constant +broils with them. + +So called governors of Scotland were frequently appointed and as +often superseded, but no effectual aid was given them to enable +them to check the ever spreading insurrection. But Perth was now +threatened by Bruce; and the danger of this, the strongest and most +important northern fortress, roused Edward from his lethargy. A +fleet was fitted out for the Tay. Troops, under the Earl of Ulster, +were engaged to be transported by an English fleet of forty ships, +supplied by the seaports, and intended to cooperate with John of +Lorne in the west. Edward himself, with a powerful army, accompanied +by the Lords Gloucester, Warrenne, Percy, Clifford, and others, +advanced into Scotland as far as Renfrew. Bruce could oppose no +effectual resistance in the field to so large a force, but he used +the tactics which Wallace had adopted with such success. The country +through which the English were advancing was wasted. Flocks and +herds were driven off, and all stores of grain burned and destroyed. +His adherents, each with their own retainers, hung upon the skirts +of the English army, cutting off small parties, driving back bodies +going out in search of provisions or forage, making sudden night +attacks, and keeping the English in a state of constant watchfulness +and alarm, but always retiring on the approach of any strong force, +and avoiding every effort of the English to bring on an engagement. + +The invaders were soon pressed by want of provisions, and horses +died from lack of forage. The great army was therefore obliged to +fall back to Berwick without having struck a single effective blow. +After this Edward remained inactive at Berwick for eight months, +save that he once again crossed the Border and advanced as far as +Roxburgh, but only to retreat without having accomplished anything. +The Earls of Gloucester and Warrenne reduced the forest of Selkirk +and the district, and restored the English power there; while the +king's favourite, Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, went by sea to +Perth and tried to reduce the surrounding country, but the Scotch, +as usual, retired before him, and he, too, after a time, returned +to Berwick. The efforts of the defenders to starve out the invading +armies of England were greatly aided by the fact that at this time +a great famine raged both in England and Scotland, and the people +of both countries were reduced to a condition of want and suffering. +Not only did the harvest fail, but disease swept away vast numbers +of cattle and sheep, and in many places the people were forced to +subsist upon the flesh of horses, dogs, and other animals. + +During the years which had elapsed since the battle of Methven, +Bruce had never been enabled to collect a force in any way worthy +of the name of an army. His enterprises had been a succession of +daring feats performed by small bodies of men. Even now, when the +nobles dared no longer openly oppose him, they remained sullenly +aloof, and the captures of the English strongholds were performed +either by the king or his brother Edward, with their retainers from +Annandale and Carrick; by Douglas with the men of Douglasdale; or +by some simple knights like Archie Forbes, the Frazers, Boyle, and +a few others, each leading their own retainers in the field. The +great mass of the people still held aloof, and neither town nor +country sent their contingents to his aid. This was not to be wondered +at, so fearfully had all suffered from the wholesale vengeance of +Edward after the battle of Falkirk. + +Great successes had certainly attended Bruce, but these had been +rendered possible only by the absence of any great effort on the +part of England, and all believed that sooner or later Edward would +arouse himself, and with the whole strength of England, Ireland, +and Wales again crush out the movement, and carry fire and sword +through Scotland. Still the national spirit was rising. + +Archie Forbes divided his time pretty equally between the field and +home, never taking with him, when he joined the king, more than a +third of the entire strength of his retainers; thus all had time +to attend to their farms and the wants of their families, and +cheerfully yielded obedience to the call to arms when the time +came. + +One day while the king was stopping for a few days' rest at Aberfilly, +a horseman rode in. + +"I have great news, sire," he said. "Linlithgow has been captured +from the English." + +"That were good news indeed," the king said; "but it can scarce be +possible, seeing that we have no men-at-arms in the neighbourhood." + +"It has been done by no men-at-arms, my liege," the messenger said; +"but as Forfar was taken by Phillip the Forester and his mates, +so has Linlithgow been captured by a farmer and his comrades, one +William Bunnock." + +It was indeed true. The castle of Linlithgow, forming as it did +a link between the two strongholds of Edinburgh and Stirling, was +a place of great importance and was strongly garrisoned by the +English. Naturally the whole country round suffered severely from +the oppressions of the garrison, who supplied themselves by force +with such provisions and stores as were needful for them. Payment +was of course made to some extent, as the country otherwise would +speedily have been deserted and the land left untilled; but there +was almost necessarily much oppression and high handedness. Bunnock, +hearing of the numerous castles which had been captured by the +king and his friends with mere handfuls of followers, determined at +last upon an attempt to expel the garrison of Linlithgow. He went +about among his friends and neighbours, and found many ready to +join his enterprise. These one night placed themselves in ambush +among some bushes hard by the castle gate. Bunnock himself concealed +eight chosen men with arms in a wagon of hay. The horses were +driven by a stout peasant with a short hatchet under his belt, +while Bunnock walked carelessly beside the wagon. As he was in the +habit of supplying the garrison with corn and forage, the gate was +readily opened on his approach. As soon as the wagon was exactly +between the gate posts Bunnock gave the signal and struck down the +warder at the gate; the driver with his hatchet cut the traces, the +men leapt up from their concealment in the hay, and the main body +lying in ambush close by rushed up, and, taken wholly by surprise, +unarmed and unprepared, the garrison was speedily overpowered and +the castle taken. + +It was in the spring of 1311 that this important capture took place. +Bruce, as usual, had the castle levelled to the ground. Bunnock was +rewarded by a grant of land which still bears his name, softened +into Binney. Again the English made preparations for a renewed +invasion, but the barons were too much occupied by their private +broils and their quarrels with the king to assemble at his order, +and nothing came of it. Bruce's position at home was so established +that he resolved upon a counter invasion, and accordingly, having +assembled a larger force than had hitherto gathered under his +banner, crossed the Border near the Solway, burnt and plundered the +district round Gilsland, ravaged Tynedale, and after eight days' +havock returned with much booty to Scotland. In the following +month he again entered England, carried fire and sword through the +country as far as Corbridge, swept Tynedale, ravaged Durham, and +after levying contributions for fifteen days returned with much +booty to Scotland. + +Although the English made much outcry at this invasion, the English +author of the Chronicle of Lanercost, whose monastery was occupied +by the king during the raid, distinctly states that he slew none +save in actual conflict; and again, that though "all the goods of +the country were carried away, they did not burn houses or slay +men." Thus, though Bruce's wife and daughter were still prisoners +in England, though his brothers had been executed in cold blood, +he conducted his warfare in England in a manner which contrasts +strongly indeed with the conduct of the English in Scotland. + +After this Bruce marched north again and laid siege to Perth. For +six weeks he invested the town, but without making any impression. +Then he retired his forces as if abandoning the attempt. At night, +however, he returned, ladders were placed in the ditches against +the walls, and with his knights he led his followers on to the +assault. The garrison were carousing in honour of their successful +defence and the defeat of the enemy, and taken wholly by surprise +were unable to oppose a vigorous resistance, and all were killed +or captured. Some accounts say that the English soldiers were made +prisoners, and the renegade Scots fighting with them were put to +the sword; while others affirm that all who were taken prisoners +were spared. + +Another incursion into England followed the fall of Perth. Hexham, +Corbridge, and Durham were destroyed. Douglas penetrated as far as +Hartlepool and an immense spoil was carried off, until the people +of the bishopric purchased a truce for the sum of 2000 pounds, and +those of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland bought off +the invaders at a like price. + +Carlisle was assaulted by Douglas, but unsuccessfully. He also +attempted to surprise Berwick by a night attack, and had placed his +scaling ladders against the wall, when the garrison was alarmed by +the barking of a dog, and the assailants were repulsed. The Scots +recrossed the frontier laden with an enormous booty. + +The king himself now entered Galloway and reduced the four remaining +strongholds held by the English there -- the castles of Butele, +Dalswinton, Lochmaben, and Tibbers. He then proceeded to Dumfries, +which he forced to surrender, and entered it as the victorious King +of Scotland, just seven years after the time when he had commenced +the war by expelling the English justiciary. + +Archie Forbes did not accompany the king in this campaign. He +had indeed been summoned, but just before the army started on its +raid into England Bruce was lamenting, in Archie's hearing, that +the continued possession of the strong castle of Dunottar on the +east coast still afforded the English an opportunity for creating +diversions in the north, by landing troops there. + +"If you will permit me, sire," Archie said, "I will undertake its +capture with my retainers. It is doubtless too strong to be captured +by open assault with such a strength, but as Douglas has thrice +taken Castle Douglas by stratagem, `tis hard if I cannot find some +way for capturing Dunottar." + +"Be it so, Sir Archie," the king said. "If you succeed you will have +done good service indeed; and as I know that though ever ready to +buckle on your armour when I need you, you would yet rather live +quiet at Aberfilly with your fair wife, I promise you that if you +capture Dunottar, for a year and a day you and your retainers shall +have rest, except if the English cross the Border in such force +that the arm of every Scotchman able to wield a sword is needed in +its defence." + +Having chosen a hundred of his most active and experienced men +Archie set out for the north. Crossing the Forth above Stirling, +he marched through Perth and across the Carse of Gowrie through +Forfar on to Montrose. Here he left his band, and taking with him +only William Orr, both being attired in peasants' dress, followed +the coast till he reached Dunottar. + +The castle, which was of great strength, stood in a little bay +with a fishing village nestled beside it. "'Tis a strong place, +William, and, if well provisioned, might hold out against an army +for months, and as supplies could be thrown in by sea it could only +be captured by battering down its solid walls by machines." + +"'Tis indeed a strong place, Sir Archie," William Orr replied, "and +it were assuredly better to slip in by the gates than to climb over +the walls; but after the captures of so many of their strongholds +by sudden surprise, we may be sure that a careful watch will be +kept." + +"Doubtless they are shrewdly on guard against surprise," Archie +said; "but as they know that the king and his host are just now +crossing the Border into Cumberland, they may well think that for +a time they are safe from disturbance. `Tis in that that our best +chance lies." + +Entering the village they purchased some fish from the fishermen, +and asking a few careless questions about the garrison, found +that it was composed of 150 men, and that extreme precautions were +taken against surprise. The gates were never opened save to allow +parties to pass in and out, when they were instantly closed and the +drawbridge raised. Only ten of the garrison at a time were ever +allowed to leave the castle, and these must go out and come in +together, so that the gates should not be opened more than twice a +day. "They generally come out," the man said, "at eleven o'clock +and go in at four; at eleven o'clock all with corn, wood, and +other stores for the castle must present themselves, so that the +drawbridge need only be lowered at those times. The governor, +Sir John Morris, swears that he will not be caught asleep as were +those of Linlithgow and Castle Douglas. I fear," he concluded, +"that we of Dunottar will be the last in Scotland to be free from +the English yoke." + +"That is as it may be. Other castles have been captured, and maybe +the lion of Scotland may float on those walls ere long." + +The man looked keenly at him. + +"Methinks there is meaning in your words," he said, "and your +language does not accord with your attire. I ask no questions; but +be sure that should an attempt be made, there are a score of strong +fellows among us who will be ready to strike a blow for freedom." + +"Is that so?" Archie replied; "then, man, taking you to be a true +Scot, I will tell you that the attempt will be made, and that +soon, and that, if you will, you can aid the enterprise. I am Sir +Archibald Forbes, of whom, perhaps, you have heard." + +"Assuredly," the man said in a tone of deep respect, "every Scotsman +knows the name as that of one of the king's truest and bravest +knights." + +"My purpose is this," Archie said. "On a dark night some ninety-five +of my men will march hither; I need a faithful friend to meet them +outside the village to lead them in, and to hide them away in the +cottages, having already arranged beforehand with their owners to +receive them. I, myself, with four of my men will come hither in a +fishing boat well laden with fish; we will choose a time when the +wind is blowing, and will seem to have been driven here by stress +of weather and disabled. Then I shall try to sell our cargo for the +use of the garrison. As we carry it in we shall attack the guard, +and at the signal those hidden will rush out and cross the drawbridge." + +"The plan is a good one," the fisherman said; "its difficulty mainly +lies in the fact that the drawbridge will be raised the moment you +have crossed it, and long before your followers could arrive it +would be high in the air, and you would be cut off from all aid. It +never remains down for an instant after men have passed over it." + +"That adds to the difficulty," Archie said thoughtfully; "but +I must think of some plan to overcome it. Do you quietly go about +among those you can surely trust and arrange for them to be ready +to open their doors and take my men in without the slightest noise +which might attract the sentries on the walls. So long as the wind +is quiet and the sea smooth we shall not come, but the first day +that the wind blows hard you may expect us. Then do you go out on +the south road and wait for my party half a mile from the village. +If they come not by midnight, return home and watch the following +night." + +"I understand," the fisherman said, "and will do as you bid me; and +when the time comes you can rely upon twenty stout fellows here in +addition to your own force." + +"`Tis nigh eleven," Archie said, looking at the sun, "and we will +be off at once, as the soldiers will soon be coming out, and it +were best the governor did not hear that two strangers were in the +village. Vigilant as he is, a small thing might excite his suspicion +and add to his watchfulness." + +Archie and William Orr returned to Montrose, and there the former +made an arrangement with the master of a large fishing boat to keep +his vessel ready to put to sea at any moment. + +Three weeks passed without any change in the weather; then the wind +began to rise and the aspect of the sky betokened a storm. William +Orr at once set out with ninety-five men for Dunottar. Archie went +down to the port and purchased a large quantity of fish which had +been brought in that morning in various boats, and had it placed +on board the craft that he had hired. Then he with four of his +followers, the strongest and most determined of his retainers, +dressed as fishermen, went on board and the boat at once put to sea, +having, besides Archie and his men, the master and his two hands. +The main body had started on foot at ten in the morning, but it was +late in the afternoon before the boat put out, as Archie wished to +arrive in broad daylight next morning. + +The wind was on the shore, and the boat was sorely tossed and +buffeted. Ere next morning, showing but a rag of sail, she ran into +Dunottar harbour. They had had great difficulty in keeping off the +coast all night, and the play had nigh turned into a tragedy, so +narrow had been their escape of being cast ashore. The bulwarks +were washed away, and the boat was in a sore plight as it drew +alongside the little quay. Assuredly no suspicion would occur to +any who saw her enter that aught save stress of weather had driven +her in. + +It was twelve o'clock in the day when they reached the port. Most +of the inhabitants had come down to the water side to see the +storm beaten craft enter, and among them were some soldiers of the +garrison. Archie bade four of his men remain below, so that the +unusual number of hands should attract no attention. One of the first +to come on board was the fisherman with whom Archie had spoken. + +"Your men are all here," he said in a low tone to Archie, "and are +stowed away in the cottages. Everything went well, and there was +not the slightest noise." + +Archie now went on shore and entered into conversation with one of +the soldiers. + +"Think you," he said, "that the governor would buy my cargo of +fish. I have a great store on board, for I had good luck before +the storm suddenly broke upon me just as I was leaving the fishing +grounds for Montrose. The gale may last for some days, and my boat +will need repairs before I put to sea, therefore my fish will be +spoiled before I can get them to market, and I will make a good +bargain with the governor if he will take them from me." + +"I should think that he will do so gladly," the soldier said, "for +he can salt them down, and they make a pleasant change. How much +have you got?" + +"About ten baskets full," Archie replied, "of some hundred pounds +each." + +"I will go with you to the castle," the soldier said. "The governor +will lower the drawbridge for no man, but you can speak with the +warder across the moat and he will bear your message to the governor, +and should he agree, you must present yourself with your men with +the fish at four o'clock, at which time the drawbridge will be +lowered for us to return to the castle." + +Archie accompanied the soldier to the end of the drawbridge, and +parleyed with the warder. The latter acquainted the governor that +the master of the fishing boat which had been driven in by stress +of weather would fain dispose of his cargo of fish on cheap terms, +and returned for answer that the governor would give sixpence for +each basket of a hundred pounds. Archie grumbled that he should +receive thrice that sum at Montrose; still that as he must sell +them or let them spoil, he accepted the offer, and would be there +with the fish at four o'clock. + +He then returned to the boat, his ally, the fisherman, taking word +round to the cottages that at four o'clock all must be in readiness +to sally out on the signal, and that William Orr was to dress half +a dozen of his men in fishermen's clothes and saunter up carelessly +close to the castle, so as to be able to rush forward on the instant. + +At the appointed hour Archie, accompanied by his four followers, +each of whom carried on his shoulder a great basket filled with +fish, stepped on to the quay and made their way to the castle. By +the side of the moat facing the drawbridge the ten English soldiers +who had been out on leave for the day were already assembled. + +"Are you all there?" the warder asked. + +"Yes," Archie said, "but I shall have to make another two trips +down to the boat, seeing that I have ten baskets full and but four +men to carry them." + +"Then you must bring another load," the warder said, "when the +drawbridge is lowered tomorrow. You will have to stop in the castle +tonight, and issue out at eleven tomorrow, for the governor will +not have the drawbridge lowered more than twice a day." + +"I would fain return to my boat," Archie said, "as I want to be at +work on the repairs; but if that be the rule I must needs submit +to it." + +The drawbridge was now lowered. The soldiers at once stepped on to +it. The four pretended fishermen had set down their baskets, and +now raised them on their shoulders again. One of them apparently +found it a difficult task, for it was not until Archie and his +comrades were half across the drawbridge that he raised it from +the ground. As he did so he stumbled and fell, the basket and its +contents rolling on to the ground. + +"You must wait until the morning," the warder called; "you are too +late to enter now." + +The man lay for a moment where he had fallen, which was half on the +drawbridge, half on the ground beyond it. "Now, then," the warder +called sharply, "make haste; I am going to raise the drawbridge." + +The man rose to his feet with a shout just as the drawbridge began +to rise. He had not been idle as he lay. As he fell he had drawn +from underneath his fisherman's frock a stout chain with a hook +at one end and a large ring at the other. This he had passed round +one of the chains by which the drawbridge was raised, then under +the beam on which it rested when down, and had fastened the hook +in the ring. + +Surprised at the shout, the warder worked the windlass with extra +speed, but he had scarcely given a turn when he found a sudden +resistance. The chain which the fisherman had fixed round the end +prevented the bridge from rising. As the man had shouted, Archie +and his three comrades were entering the gate. Simultaneously they +emptied their baskets before them. Concealed among the fish were +four logs of wood; two were three feet long, the full depth of the +baskets, two were short wedge shaped pieces. Before the soldiers +in front had time even to turn round, the two long pieces were +placed upright in the grooves down which the portcullis would fall, +while the two wedge shaped pieces were thrust into the jamb of the +gate so as to prevent it from closing. Then the four men drew long +swords hidden beneath their garments and fell upon the soldiers. + + + +Chapter XXVI Edinburgh + + +So vigilant was the watch in the castle of Dunottar that the instant +the cry of alarm rose almost simultaneously from the warder above +and the soldiers at the gate, the portcullis came thundering down. +It was caught, however, by the two upright blocks of wood, and +remained suspended three feet above the sill. The armed guards +at the gate instantly fell upon Archie and his companions, while +others endeavoured in vain to close the gates. Scarcely had the +swords clashed when the man who had chained down the drawbridge +joined Archie, and the five with their heavy broadswords kept at +bay the soldiers who pressed upon them; but for only a minute or +two did they have to bear the brunt of the attack unsupported, for +William Orr and the five men who had been loitering near the moat +dashed across the bridge, and passing under the portcullis joined +the little band. + +The alarm had now spread through the castle, and the governor +himself, followed by many of his men, came rushing down to the +spot, shouting furious orders to the warder to raise the drawbridge, +being in ignorance that it was firmly fixed at the outer end. + +Archie and his followers were now hotly pressed, but soon a thunder +of steps was heard on the drawbridge, and the whole of the band, +together with some twenty or thirty of the fishermen, passed under +the portcullis and joined them. Archie now took the offensive, and +bearing down all opposition burst with his men into the courtyard. + +The combat was desperate but short. The governor with some of his +soldiers fought stoutly, but the suddenness of the surprise and +the fury and vigour with which they were attacked shook the courage +of many of the soldiers. Some, instead of joining in the fray, at +once threw away their arms and tried to conceal themselves, others +fought feebly and half heartedly, and the cries of "A Forbes! A +Forbes! Scotland! Scotland!" rose louder and louder as the +assailants gradually beat down all resistance. In ten minutes from +the falling of the portcullis all resistance was virtually over. +The governor himself fell by the hand of Archie Forbes, and at +his death those who had hitherto resisted threw down their arms +and called for quarter. This was given, and the following day the +prisoners were marched under a strong guard down to Montrose, there +to be confined until orders for their disposal were received from +the king. For the next fortnight Archie and his retainers, aided by +the whole of the villagers, laboured to dismantle the castle. The +battlements were thrown down into the moat, several wide breaches +were made in the walls, and large quantities of straw and wood piled +up in the keep and turrets. These were then fired, and the Castle +of Dunottar was soon reduced to an empty and gaping shell. Then +Archie marched south, and remained quietly at home until the term +of rest granted him by the king had expired. + +Two girls and a son had by this time been born to him, and the +months passed quietly and happily away until Bruce summoned him to +join, with his retainers, the force with which Randolph had sat down +before Edinburgh Castle. Randolph was delighted at this accession +of strength. Between him and Douglas a generous rivalry in gallant +actions continually went on, and Douglas had scored the last +triumph. The castle of Roxburgh had long been a source of trouble +to the Scots. Standing on a rocky eminence on the margin of the +Teviot, just at its junction with the Tweed and within eight miles +of the Border, it had constituted an open door into Scotland, and +either through it or through Berwick the tides of invasion had ever +flowed. The castle was very strongly fortified, so much so that +the garrison, deeming themselves perfectly safe from assault, had +grown careless. The commandant was a Burgundian knight, Gillemin +de Fienne. Douglas chose Shrove Tuesday for his attack. Being a +feast day of the church before the long lenten fast the garrison +would be sure to indulge in conviviality and the watch would be +less strict than usual. Douglas and his followers, supplied with +scaling ladders, crept on all fours towards the walls. The night +was still and they could hear the sentries' conversation. They had +noticed the objects advancing, but in the darkness mistook them for +the cattle of a neighbouring farmer. Silently the ladders were +fixed and mounted, and with the dreaded war cry, "A Douglas! A +Douglas!" the assailants burst into the castle, slaying the sentries +and pouring down upon the startled revellers. Fienne and his men +fought gallantly for a time, but at length all surrendered, with +the exception of the governor himself and a few of his immediate +followers, who retired into a tower, where they defended themselves +until the following day; then Fienne being seriously wounded, the +little party also surrendered. As Douglas had no personal quarrel +with the garrison of Roxburgh such as he bore with those who occupied +his ancestral castle, he abstained from any unnecessary cruelties, +and allowed the garrison to withdraw to England, where Fienne soon +afterwards died of his wounds. + +The castle was as usual levelled to the ground, and as the stronghold +of Carlaverock soon afterwards surrendered, the districts of Tweeddale +and Galloway were now completely cleared of the English, with the +exception of the Castle of Jedburgh, which they still held. + +Randolph had been created Earl of Moray, and after establishing +himself in his new earldom he had returned with his feudal followers +and laid siege to Edinburgh, whose castle was considered all but +impregnable. It had been in the possession of the English ever since +it was captured by Edward I in 1296, and was strongly garrisoned +and well provisioned. + +Even when joined by Archie Forbes and his retainers Randolph felt +that the castle could not be captured by force. The various attempts +which he made were signally foiled, and it was by stratagem only +that he could hope to carry it. The news of the capture of Roxburgh +by Douglas increased his anxiety to succeed. Accompanied by Archie +he rode round the foot of the steep rock on which the castle stands, +eagerly scanning its irregularities to see if by any possibility +it could be scaled. + +"I would give a brave reward," he said to Archie, "to any who could +show us a way of climbing those rocks, which, methinks, even a goat +could scarcely manage to ascend." + +"I can tell you of a way," a Scotch soldier who was standing a few +paces off when he made the remark, said, saluting the earl. "It +needs a sure foot and a stout heart, but I can lead a score of +men with such qualifications to the foot of yonder walls;" and he +pointed to the castle rising abruptly from the edge of the rocks. + +"If you can make good your word, my brave fellow," Randolph said, +"you may ask your own reward, and I pledge you my word, that if it +be aught in reason it shall be granted. But who are you, and how +did it come that you know of a way where none is supposed to exist?" + +"My name is William Francus," the soldier said. "I was at one time, +before the king took up arms, a soldier in the castle there. I had +a sweetheart in the town, and as my turn to go out from the castle +came but slowly I used at night to steal away to visit her. I found +after a great search that on the face of yonder wall where it looks +the steepest, and where in consequence but slight watch is kept, +a man with steady foot and head could make shift to climb up and +down, and thus, if you please, will I guide a party to the top of +the rock." + +"It looks impossible," Randolph said, gazing at the precipice; +"but as you tell me that you have done it others can do the same. +I will myself follow your guidance." + +"And I," Archie said. + +"What, Sir Archie, think you is the smallest number of men with +whom, having once gained footing on the wall, we may fight our way +to the gates and let in our friends." + +"I should think," Archie replied, "that with thirty men we might +manage to do so. The confusion in the garrison will be extreme +at so unexpected a surprise, and if we divide in two parties and +press forward by different ways they will think rather of holding +together and defending themselves than of checking our course, and +one or other of the parties should surely be able to make its way +to the gates." + +"Thirty let it be then," Randolph said. "Do you choose fifteen +active and vigilant men from among your retainers; I will pick as +many from mine, and as there is no use in delaying let us carry +out the enterprise this very night; of course the rest of our men +must gather near the gates in readiness to rush in when we throw +them open." + +As soon as it was dark the little party of adventurers set out +on their way. Francus acted as guide, and under his leading they +climbed with vast difficulty and no little danger up the face of +the precipice until they reached a comparatively easy spot, where +they sat down to recover their breath before they prepared for the +final effort. + +They could hear the sentries above speaking to each other, and +they held their breath when one of them, exclaiming suddenly, "I +can see you!" threw down a stone from the battlement, which leapt, +crashing down the face of the rock close beside them. Great was +their relief when a loud laugh from above told them that the sentry +had been in jest, and had but tried to startle his comrade; then +the two sentries, conversing as they went, moved away to another +part of the walls. + +The ascent was now continued, and proved even more difficult than +that which they had passed. They were forced continually to halt, +while those in front helped those following them, or were themselves +hoisted up by the men behind. At last, panting and breathless, they +stood on the summit of the rock, on a narrow ledge, with the castle +wall rising in front of them. They had, with enormous difficulty, +brought up a light ladder with them. This was placed against the +wall. Francus was the first to mount, and was followed by Sir Andrew +Grey, whom Randolph had invited to be of the party, by Archie Forbes, +and by the earl. Just as the latter stepped on to the battlements +the sentries caught sight of them and shouted: + +"Treason! treason! to arms!" An instant stir was heard in the +castle. Rapidly the thirty men followed each other up the ladder, +and so soon as the last had gained the battlements they divided in +three bodies, each headed by one of the leaders. One party descended +straight into the castle and there attacked the soldiers who were +hurrying to arms, while the others ran along the wall in opposite +directions, cutting down the sentries and brushing aside all +opposition until together they met at the gate. This was thrown +open, and the Scots outside running up at the top of their speed +poured into the castle. At first Randolph's party, which had +descended into the courtyard, had been hotly pressed, and had with +difficulty defended themselves; but the attention of the startled +garrison was distracted by the shouts upon the walls, which told +that other parties of their assailants had gained footing there. +All sorts of contradictory orders were issued. One commanded them +to cut down the little party opposed to them, another ordered them +to hurry to the walls, a third to seize the gate and see that it +was not opened. The confusion reached its height as the Scots poured +in through the open gate. The garrison, surprised and confounded +as they were at this, to them, almost magical seizure of the castle +by their foes, fought bravely until the governor and many of the +officers were killed. Some of the men threw down their arms, and +others, taking advantage of their knowledge of the castle, made +their way to the gate and escaped into the open country. + +The news of the capture was immediately sent to the king, by whose +orders the castle and walls were razed to the ground, and thus +another of the strongholds, by whose possession the English were +enabled to domineer over the whole of the surrounding country, was +destroyed. + +While Douglas and Randolph were thus distinguishing themselves +Edward Bruce captured the castle of Rutherglen, and afterwards the +town of Dundee; and now, save Stirling Castle, scarcely a hold in +all Scotland remained in English hands. Thus was Scotland almost +cleared of the invader, not by the efforts of the people at large, +but by a series of the most daring and hazardous adventures by the +king himself and three or four of his knights, aided only by their +personal retainers. For nine years they had continued their career +unchecked, capturing castle by castle and town by town, defeating +such small bodies of troops as took the field against them, England, +under a supine and inactive king, giving itself up to private +broils and quarrels, while Scotland was being torn piecemeal from +her grasp. + +After Edward Bruce had captured Dundee he laid siege to Stirling. +As this castle had for many months resisted Edward I backed by the +whole power of England, Bruce could make little impression upon +it with the limited appliances at his disposal. From February till +the 24th of June the investment continued, when the governor, Sir +Philip Mowbray, becoming apprehensive that his provisions would +not much longer hold out, induced Edward Bruce to agree to raise +the siege on condition that if by the 24th of June next, 1314, the +castle was not effectually relieved by an English force, it should +then be surrendered. + +No satisfactory explanation has ever been given of the reasons which +induced Edward Bruce to agree to so one sided a bargain. He had +already invested the place for four months, there was no possibility of +an army being collected in England for its relief for many months +to come, and long ere this could arrive the garrison would have +been starved into surrender. By giving England a year to relieve +the place he virtually challenged that country to put forth all +its strength and held out an inducement to it to make that effort, +which internal dissension had hitherto prevented. The only feasible +explanation is that Edward Bruce was weary of being kept inactive +so long a time before the walls of the fortress which he was unable +to capture, and that he made the arrangement from sheer impatience +and thoughtlessness and without consideration of the storm which he +was bringing upon Scotland. Had it been otherwise he would surely +have consulted the king before entering upon an agreement of such +extreme importance. + +Bruce, when he heard of this rash treaty, was highly displeased, +but he nevertheless accepted the terms, and both parties began at +once their preparations for the crowning struggle of the war. The +English saw that now or never must they crush out the movement +which, step by step, had wrested from them all the conquests which +had been won with such vast effort under Edward I; while Bruce saw +that a defeat would entail the loss of all that he had struggled +for and won during so many years. + +King Edward issued summonses to the whole of the barons of England +and Wales to meet him at Berwick by the 11th of June with all their +feudal following, while the sheriffs of the various counties and +towns were called upon to supply 27,000 foot soldiers. The English +of the settlements in Ireland were also summoned, besides O'Connor, +Prince of Connaught, and twenty-five other native Irish chiefs, +with their following, all of whom were to be under the command of +Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster. + +The Prince Bishop of Constance was requested to furnish a body +of mounted crossbowmen. A royal fleet of twenty-three vessels was +appointed to assemble for the purpose of operating on the east +coast, while the seaports were commanded to fit out another fleet +of thirty vessels. A third fleet was ordered to assemble in the +west, which John of Lorne was appointed to command under the title +of High Admiral of the Western Fleet of England. From Aquitaine +and the French possessions the vassals were called upon to attend +with their men-at-arms, and many knights from France, Gascony, and +Germany took part in the enterprise. + +Thus, at the appointed time over 100,000 men assembled at Berwick, +of whom 40,000 were men-at-arms, and the rest archers and pikemen. +For the great armament the most ample arrangements were made in the +way of warlike stores, provisions, tents, and means of transport, +together with the necessary workmen, artificers, and attendants. + +This army surpassed both in numbers and equipments any that Edward +I had ever led into Scotland, and is considered to have been the most +numerous and best equipped that ever before or since has gathered +on English ground. Of the whole of the great nobles of England only +four were absent -- the Earls of Warrenne, Lancaster, Arundel, and +Warwick -- who, however, sent their feudal arrays under the charge +of relations. + +Among the leaders of this great army were the Earls of Gloucester, +Pembroke, Hereford, and Angus, Lord Clifford, Sir John Comyn, Sir +Henry Beaumont, Sir John Seagrave, Sir Edmund Morley, Sir Ingram +de Umfraville, Sir Marmaduke de Twenge, and Sir Giles de Argentine, +one of the most famous of the Continental knights. + +While this vast army had been preparing, Bruce had made every +effort to meet the storm, and all who were loyal and who were able +to carry weapons were summoned to meet at Torwood, near Stirling, +previous to the 24th of June. Here Edward Bruce, Sir James Douglas, +Randolph, Earl of Moray, Walter the Steward, Angus of Isla, Sir +Archibald Forbes, and a few other knights and barons assembled with +30,000 fighting men, besides camp followers and servants. It was +a small force indeed to meet the great army which was advancing +against it, and in cavalry in particular it was extremely weak. +The English army crossed the Border, and marched by Linlithgow and +Falkirk toward the Torwood. + +Each army had stirring memories to inspire it, for the English in +their march crossed over the field of Falkirk, where sixteen years +before they had crushed the stubborn squares of Wallace; while from +the spot which Bruce selected as his battleground could be seen +the Abbey Craig, overlooking the scene of the Scottish victory of +Stirling Bridge. On the approach of the English the Scotch fell +back from the Torwood to some high ground near Stirling now called +the New Park. The lower ground, now rich agricultural land called +the Carse, was then wholly swamp. Had it not been so, the position +now taken up by Bruce would have laid the road to Stirling open to +the English. + +The Scotch army was divided into four divisions. The centre was +commanded by Randolph. Edward Bruce commanded the second, which +formed the right wing. Walter the Steward commanded the left wing, +under the guidance of Douglas, while the king himself took command +of the fourth division, which formed the reserve, and was stationed +in rear of the centre in readiness to move to the assistance of +either of the other divisions which might be hard pressed. The camp +followers, with the baggage and provisions, were stationed behind +the Gillies Hill. + +The road by which the English would advance was the old Roman +causeway running nearly north and south. The Bannock Burn was fordable +from a spot near the Park Mill down to the village of Bannockburn. +Above, the banks were too high and steep to be passed; while below, +where ran the Bannock through the carse, the swamps prevented +passage. The army was therefore drawn up, with its left resting +on the sharp angle of the burn above the Park Mill, and extended +where the villages of Easterton, Borestine, and Braehead now stand +to the spot where the road crosses the river at the village of +Bannockburn. In its front, between it and the river, were two bogs, +known as Halberts Bog and Milton Bog, while, where unprotected by +these bogs, the whole ground was studded with deep pits; in these +stakes were inserted, and they were then covered with branches and +grass. Randolph's centre was at Borestine, Bruce's reserve a little +behind, and the rock in which his flagstaff was placed during the +battle is still to be seen. To Randolph, in addition to his command +of the centre division, was committed the trust of preventing any +body of English from passing along at the edge of the carse, and +so making round to the relief of Stirling. + +On the morning of Sunday, the 23d of June, immediately after +sunrise, the Scotch attended mass, and confessed as men who had +devoted themselves to death. The king, having surveyed the field, +caused a proclamation to be made that whosoever felt himself unequal +to take part in the battle was at liberty to withdraw. Then, knowing +from his scouts that the enemy had passed the night at Falkirk, six +or seven miles off, he sent out Sir James Douglas and Sir Robert +Keith with a party of horsemen to reconnoitre the advance. + +The knights had not gone far when they saw the great army advancing, +with the sun shining bright on innumerable standards and pennons, +and glistening from lance head, spear, and armour. So grand and +terrible was the appearance of the army that upon receiving the +report of Douglas and Keith the king thought it prudent to conceal +its full extent, and caused it to be bruited abroad that the enemy, +although numerous, was approaching in a disorderly manner. + +The experienced generals of King Edward now determined upon making +an attempt to relieve Stirling Castle without fighting a pitched +battle upon ground chosen by the enemy. Had this attempt been +successful, the great army, instead of being obliged to cross +a rapid stream and attack an enemy posted behind morasses, would +have been free to operate as it chose, to have advanced against +the strongholds which had been captured by the Scots, and to force +Bruce to give battle upon ground of their choosing. Lord Clifford +was therefore despatched with 800 picked men-at-arms to cross the +Bannock beyond the left wing of the Scottish army, to make their +way across the carse, and so to reach Stirling. The ground was, +indeed, impassable for a large army; but the troops took with +them faggots and beams, by which they could make a passage across +the deeper parts of the swamp and bridge the little streams which +meandered through it. + +As there was no prospect of an immediate engagement, Randolph, +Douglas, and the king had left their respective divisions, and had +taken up their positions at the village of St. Ninians, on high +ground behind the army, whence they could have a clear view of the +approaching English army. Archie Forbes had accompanied Randolph, +to whose division he, with his retainers, was attached. Randolph +had with him 500 pikemen, whom he had withdrawn from his division +in order to carry out his appointed task of seeing that the English +did not pass along the low ground at the edge of the carse behind +St. Ninians to the relief of Stirling; but so absorbed were knights +and men-at-arms in watching the magnificent array advancing against +the Scottish position that they forgot to keep a watch over the +low ground. Suddenly one of the men, who had straggled away into +the village, ran up with the startling news that a large party of +English horse had crossed the corner of the carse, and had already +reached the low ground beyond the church. + +"A rose has fallen from your chaplet, Randolph," the king said +angrily. + +Without a moment's loss of time Randolph and Archie Forbes set off +with the spearmen at a run, and succeeded in heading the horsemen +at the hamlet of Newhouse. The mail clad horsemen, confident in +their numbers, their armour, and horses, laid their lances in rest, +struck spurs into their steeds, and, led by Sir William Daynecourt, +charged down upon the Scotch spearmen. Two hundred of these consisted +of Archie Forbes' retainers, all veterans in war, and who had more +than once, shoulder to shoulder, repelled the onslaught of the +mailed chivalry of England. Animated by the voices of their lord +and Randolph, these, with Moray's own pikemen, threw themselves +into a solid square, and, surrounded by a hedge of spears, steadily +received the furious onslaught of the cavalry. Daynecourt and many +of his men were at the first onslaught unhorsed and slain, and those +who followed were repulsed. Again and again they charged down upon +the pikemen, but the dense array of spears was more than a match +for the lances of the cavalry, and as the horses were wounded and +fell, or their riders were unhorsed, men rushed out from the square, +and with axe and dagger completed the work. Still the English +pressed them hard, and Douglas, from the distance, seeing how hotly +the pikemen were pressed by the cavalry, begged the king to allow +him to go to Randolph's assistance. Bruce, however, would suffer no +change in his position, and said that Randolph must stand or fall +by himself. Douglas, however, urged that he should be allowed to +go forward with the small body of retainers which he had with him. +The king consented, and Douglas set off with his men. + +When the English saw him approach they recoiled somewhat from the +square, and Douglas, being now better able to see what was going +on, commanded his followers to halt, saying that Randolph would +speedily prove victorious without their help, and were they now +to take part in the struggle they would only lessen the credit of +those who had already all but won the victory. Seeing the enemy in +some confusion from the appearance of the reinforcement, Randolph +and Archie now gave the word for their men to charge, and these, +rushing on with spear and axe, completed the discomfiture of the +enemy, killed many, and forced the rest to take flight. Numbers, +however, were taken. Randolph is said to have had but two men killed +in the struggle. + + + +Chapter XXVII Bannockburn + + +After the complete defeat of the party under Lord Clifford, and the +failure of their attempt to relieve Stirling, Randolph and Douglas +returned together to the king. The news of their success spread +rapidly, and when Randolph rode down from St. Ninians to his +division, loud cheers broke from the whole Scottish army, who were +vastly encouraged at so fair a commencement of their struggle with +the English. + +The English army was still advancing slowly, and Bruce and his +leaders rode down to the front of the Scottish line, seeing that +all was in order and encouraging the men with cheering words. When +the English army approached the stream King Edward ordered a halt +to be sounded for the purpose of holding a council, whether it was +best to encamp for the night or at once to advance against the +enemy. The Earls of Gloucester and Hereford, who commanded the +first division, were so far ahead that they did not hear the sound +of the trumpet, and continuing their onward march crossed the Bannock +Burn and moved on toward the Scotch array. In front of the ranks +of the defenders the king was riding upon a small palfrey, not +having as yet put on his armour for the battle. On his helmet he +wore a purple cap surmounted by a crown. Seeing him thus within +easy reach, Sir Henry de Bohun, cousin of the Earl of Hereford, +laid his lance in rest and spurred down upon the king. Bruce could +have retired within the lines of his soldiers; but confident in his +own prowess, and judging how great an effect a success under such +circumstances would have upon the spirits of his troops, he spurred +forward to meet his assailant armed only with his axe. As the +English knight came thundering down, the king touched his palfrey +with his spur, and the horse, carrying but a light weight, swerved +quickly aside; De Bohun's lance missed his stroke, and before he had +time to draw rein or sword, the king, standing up in his stirrups, +dealt him so tremendous a blow with his axe as he passed, that it +cleft through helmet and brain, and the knight fell dead to the +ground. + +With a shout of triumph the Scotch rushed forward and drove +the English advance guard back across the stream; then the Scotch +leaders led their men back again to the position which they had +quitted, and reformed their array. Douglas, Edward Bruce, Randolph, +and Archie Forbes now gathered round the king and remonstrated with +him on the rashness of an act which might have proved fatal to the +whole army. The king smiled at such remonstrances from four men +who had, above all others, distinguished themselves for their rash +and daring exploits, and shrugging his shoulders observed only that +it was a pity he had broken the shaft of his favourite axe. The +English array now withdrew to a short distance, and it became evident +that the great battle would be delayed till the morrow. The Scotch +army therefore broke its ranks and prepared to pass the night +on the spot where it stood. The king assembled all his principal +leaders round him, and after thanking God for so fair a beginning +of the fight as had that day been made, he pointed out to them how +great an effect the two preliminary skirmishes would have upon the +spirits of both armies, and expressed his confidence in the final +result. He urged upon them the necessity for keeping their followers +well in hand, and meeting the charges of the enemy's horse steadily +with their spears; and especially warned them, after repulsing +a charge, against allowing their men to break their array, either +to plunder or take prisoners, so long as the battle lasted, as the +whole riches of the English camp would fall into their hands if +successful. He pledged himself that the heirs of all who fell should +have the succession of their estates free from the usual feudal +burdens on such occasions. + +The night passed quietly, and in the morning both armies formed +their array for battle. Bruce, as was customary, conferred the +honour of knighthood upon several of his leaders. Then all proceeded +to their allotted places and awaited the onset. Beyond the stream +and extending far away towards the rising ground were the English +squadrons in their glittering arms, the first division in line, +the others in heavy masses behind them. Now that the Scotch were +fairly drawn up in order of battle, the English could see how +small was their number in comparison with their own, and the king +in surprise exclaimed to Sir Ingram de Umfraville: + +"What! will yonder Scots fight us?" + +"That verily will they," the knight replied, for he had many a +time been engaged in stout conflict with them, and knew how hard +it was even for mail clad knights to break through the close lines +of Scottish spears. So high a respect had he for their valour, that +he urged the king to pretend to retire suddenly beyond the camp, +when the Scots, in spite of their leaders, would be sure to leave +their ranks and flock into the camp to plunder, when they might be +easily dispersed and cut to pieces. The king, however, refused to +adopt the suggestion, saying, that no one must be able to accuse +him of avoiding a battle or of withdrawing his army before such +a rabble. As the armies stood confronting each other in battle +array a priest passed along the Scottish front, crucifix in hand, +exhorting all to fight to the death for the liberty of their country. +As he passed along the line each company knelt in an attitude of +prayer. King Edward, seeing this, exclaimed to Sir Ingram: + +"See yonder folk kneel to ask for mercy!" + +"Ay, sire," the knight said, looking earnestly at the Scots, "they +kneel and ask for mercy, but not of you; it is for their sins they +ask mercy of God. I know these men, and have met and fought them, +and I tell you that assuredly they will win or die, and not even +when death looks them in the face will they turn to fly." + +"Then if it must be so," said the king, "let us charge." + +The trumpet sounded along the line. First the immense body of +English archers crossed the burn and opened the battle by pouring +clouds of arrows into the Scottish ranks. The Scotch archers, who +were in advance of their spearmen, were speedily driven back to +shelter beyond their line, for not only were the English vastly more +numerous, but they shot much further and more accurately. And now +the knights and men-at-arms, on their steel clad horses, crossed +the burn. They were aware of the existence of Milton Bog, which +covered the Scottish centre, and they directed their charge upon +the division of Edward Bruce on the Scottish right. The crash as +the mailed horses burst down upon the wood of Scottish spears was +tremendous. Bruce's men held firm, and the English in vain strove +to break through their serried line of spears. It was a repetition +of the fight of the previous day, but on a greater scale. With +lance and battleaxe the chivalry of England strove to break the +ranks of the Scotch, while with serried lines of spears, four deep, +the Scotch held their own. Every horse which, wounded or riderless, +turned and dashed through the ranks of the English, added to the +confusion. This was much further increased by the deep holes into +which the horses were continually falling, and breaking up all order +in their ranks. Those behind pressed forward to reach the front, +and their very numbers added to their difficulty. + +The English were divided into ten divisions or "battles," and +these one by one crossed the stream with banners flying, and still +avoiding the centre, followed the line taken by the first, and +pressed forward to take part in the fray. + +Randolph now moved with the centre to the support of the hardly +pressed right, and his division, as well as that of Edward Bruce, +seemed to be lost among the multitude of their opponents. Stewart +and Douglas moved their division to the right and threw themselves +into the fray, and the three Scottish divisions were now fighting +side by side, but with a much smaller front than that which they +had originally occupied. For a time the battle raged furiously +without superiority on either side. The Scotch possessed the great +advantage that, standing close together in ranks four deep, every +man was engaged, while of the mounted knights and men-at-arms who +pressed upon them, only the front line was doing efficient service. +Not only, therefore, was the vast numerical superiority of the +English useless to them, but actually a far larger number of the +Scottish than of themselves were using their weapons in the front +rank, while the great proportion of the English remained helplessly +behind their fighting line, unable to take any part whatever in +the fight. But now the English archers came into play again, and +firing high into the air rained their arrows almost perpendicularly +down upon the Scottish ranks. Had this continued it would have +been as fatal to the Scots at Bannockburn as it was at Falkirk; but +happily the Scottish horse told off for this special service were +here commanded by no traitors, and at the critical moment the king +launched Sir Robert Keith, the mareschal of Scotland, against the +archers with 500 horsemen. These burst suddenly down upon the flank +of the archers and literally swept them before them. Great numbers +were killed, others fell back upon the lines of horsemen who were +ranged behind, impatient to take their share in the battle; these +tried to drive them back again, but the archers were disheartened, +and retreating across the stream took no further part in the battle. +The charge of the Scottish horses should have been foreseen and +provided against by placing strong bodies of men-at-arms on the +flanks of the archers, as these lightly armed troops were wholly +unable to withstand a charge by cavalry. + +The Scottish archers, now that their formidable opponents had +left the field, opened a heavy fire over the heads of the pikemen +upon the horsemen surrounding the squares, and when they had shot +away their arrows sallied out and mingled in the confused mass of +the enemy, doing tremendous execution with their axes and knives. +Hitherto the king had kept his reserve in hand; but now that the +English archers were defeated and their horsemen in inextricable +confusion, he moved his division down and joined in the melee, his +men shouting his well known battle cry. + +Every Scotch soldier on the field was now engaged. No longer did the +battle cries of the various parties rise in the air. Men had no +breath to waste in shouting, but each fought silently and desperately +with spear or axe, and the sound of clanging blows of weapons, of +mighty crash of sword or battleaxe on steel armour, with the cries +and groans of wounded men were alone heard. Over and over again the +English knights drew back a little so as to gain speed and impetus, +and flung themselves on the Scottish spears, but ever without effect, +while little by little the close ranks of the Scotch pressed forward +until, as the space between their front and the brook narrowed, the +whole of the English divisions became pent up together, more and +more incapable of using their strength to advantage. The slaughter +in their front divisions had already been terrible. Again and +again fresh troops had taken the places of those who had formed the +front ranks, but many of their best and bravest had fallen. The +confusion was too great for their leaders to be able to direct them +with advantage, and seeing the failure of every effort to break +the Scottish ranks, borne back by the slow advance of the hedge of +spears, harassed by the archers who dived below the horses, stabbing +them in their bellies, or rising suddenly between them to smite +down the riders with their keen, heavy, short handled axes, the +English began to lose heart, and as they wavered the Scotch pressed +forward more eagerly, shouting, "On them! on them! They give way! +they give way!" + +At this critical moment the servants, teamsters, and camp followers +who had been left behind Gillies Hill, showed themselves. Some of +their number from the eminence had watched the desperate struggle, +and on hearing how their soldiers were pressed by the surrounding +host of English men-at-arms they could no longer remain inactive. +All men carried arms in those days. They hastily chose one of their +own number as leader, and fastening some sheets to tent poles as +banners, they advanced over the hill in battle array, and moved +down to join their comrades. The sight of what theydeemed a fresh +division advancing to the assistance of the Scotch brought to +a climax the hesitation which had begun to shake the English, and +ensured their discomfiture. Those in rear turned bridle hastily, +and crossing the Bannock Burn, galloped away. The movement so begun +spread rapidly, and although those in front still continued their +desperate efforts to break the line of Scottish spears, the day was +now hopelessly lost. Seeing that this was so, the Earl of Pembroke +seized the king's rein and constrained him to leave the field with +a bodyguard of 500 horse. Sir Giles de Argentine, who had hitherto +remained by the king's side, and who was esteemed the third best +knight in Europe -- the Emperor Henry of Luxemberg and Robert +Bruce being reckoned the two best -- bade farewell to the king as +he rode off. + +"Farewell, sire," he said, "since you must go, but I at least must +return; I have never yet fled from an enemy, and will remain and +die rather than fly and live in disgrace." + +So saying, the knight spurred down to the conflict, and charged +against the array of Edward Bruce, and there fell fighting valiantly. +The flight of the king and his attendants was the signal for a +general rout. Great numbers were slain, many men were drowned in +the Forth, and the channel of the Bannock was so choked with the +bodies of dead men and horses that one could pass over dry shod. The +scattered parties of English were still so numerous that Bruce held +his men well in hand until these had yielded themselves prisoners. +Douglas was charged to pursue the king, but he could only muster +sixty horsemen. A short distance from the field he met a Scottish +baron, Sir Laurence Abernethy, with twenty-four men-at-arms, +on his way to join the English, for even as yet but few of the +Scottish nobles were on the side of the king. Upon hearing what had +happened, Sir Laurence, with the easy facility which distinguished +the Scottish nobles of the period, at once changed sides, swore +fealty to Bruce, and joined Douglas in the pursuit of his late +friends. They overtook the king's party at Linlithgow, but Pembroke +kept his men well together, and while still retiring, showed so +bold an appearance that Douglas did not venture to charge. Finally +the English reached the Castle of Dunbar, where the king and his +immediate attendants were received by his ally, Earl Patrick of +Dunbar. So cowed were the fugitives that they left their horses +outside the castle gate, and these were captured by their pursuers. +The main body of the king's bodyguard continued their way in good +order, and reached Berwick in safety. Edward gained England in +a fishing boat from Dunbar. Eighteen years had elapsed since his +father had entered Scotland with an army deemed sufficient for its +entire subjugation; had sacked and destroyed the rich and prosperous +town of Berwick, routed the army of Baliol, marched through Scotland, +and, as he believed, permanently settled his conquest. Now the +son had lost all that his father had won. + +Among the fugitive remains of the English army were a considerable +body of Welsh, who, being lightly armed, fled at full speed toward +the Border, but being easily distinguished by their white dresses +and the absence of defensive armour, almost all were slain by +the peasantry. The Earl of Hereford, the Earl of Angus, Sir John +Seagrave, Sir Anthony Lucy, Sir Ingram de Umfraville, with a great +number of knights, 600 men-at-arms, and 1000 infantry, keeping +together, marched south toward Carlisle. + +As they passed Bothwell Castle, which was held by the governor for +England, the earls and knights entered the castle, their followers +remaining without; but the governor, on hearing the result of the +battle, closed the gates and took all who had entered prisoners, +and, changing sides, handed them over to Bruce. Their followers +continued their march south, but were for the most part slain or +taken prisoners before they reached the Border. + +When all resistance had ceased on the field the victors collected +the spoil. This consisted of the vast camp, the treasures intended +for the payment of the army, the herds of cattle, and stores of +provisions, wine, and forage; the rich wearing apparel and arms +of the knights and nobles killed or made prisoners, many valuable +horses, and the prisoners who would have to be ransomed, among whom +were twenty-two barons and sixty knights. + +The spoil was estimated at 200,000 pounds, equal to 3,000,000 +pounds of money in these days. The king refused to take any share +in this plunder, dividing it wholly among his troops. 30,000 English +lay dead on the field, including 200 knights and 700 esquires, and +among the most distinguished of the dead were the Earl of Gloucester, +Sir Giles de Argentine, Lord Robert Clifford, Sir Edmund Manley, +seneschal of England, Sir William de Mareschal, Sir Payne Tybtot, +and Sir John Comyn. Sir Marmaduke de Twenge was among the prisoners. + +Bruce's conduct to his prisoners was even more honourable to himself +than was the great victory that he had won. In spite of his three +brothers, his brother in law Seaton, his friends Athole and Frazer, +having been executed by the English, and the knowledge that their +mangled remains were still exposed over London Bridge and the +gates of Carlisle and Newcastle -- in spite of the barbarous and +lengthened captivity of his wife, his sister and daughter, and his +friend the Countess of Buchan -- in spite of the conviction that +had he himself been made prisoner he would at once have been sent +to the scaffold -- Bruce behaved with a magnanimity and generosity +of the highest kind. Every honour was paid to the English dead, and +the bodies of the chief among these were sent to their relatives in +England, and the prisoners were all either ransomed or exchanged. +Sir Marmaduke de Twenge was dismissed free of ransom and loaded +with gifts, and even the Scotch nobles, such as Sir Philip Mowbray, +who were taken fighting in the ranks of their country's enemy, were +forgiven. This noble example exercised but little influence upon +the English. When Edward Bruce was killed four years afterwards +at Dundalk in Ireland, his body was quartered and distributed, and +his head presented to the English king, who bestowed upon Birmingham +-- who commanded the English and sent the gift to him -- the dignity +of Earl of Louth. + +Among the prisoners was Edward's poet laureate, Baston, a Carmelite +friar, who had accompanied the army for the purpose of writing +a poem on the English victory. His ransom was fixed at a poem on +the Scotch victory at Bannockburn, which the friar was forced to +supply. + +With Bannockburn ended all hope on the part of the English of +subjugating Scotland; but the war continued fitfully for fourteen +years, the Scotch frequently invading England and levying heavy +contributions from the northern counties and towns, and the English +occasionally retaliating by the same process; but at length peace +was signed at Northampton. + +In 1315 a parliament assembled at Ayr for the purpose of regulating +the succession to the throne. It was then agreed that in case of the +king's death without male issue his brother Edward should succeed +to it, and that if Edward left no heirs, the children of Marjory, +the king's daughter, should succeed. Shortly afterwards Marjory was +married to Walter the Steward. Edward Bruce was killed unmarried. +A son was afterwards born to the king, who reigned as David II, +but having died without issue, the son of Marjory and the Steward +became king. The hereditary title of Steward was used as the surname +for the family, and thus from them descended the royal line of +Stewart or Stuart, through which Queen Victoria at present reigns +over Great Britain, Ireland, and their vast dependencies. + +After Bannockburn Archie Forbes went no more to the wars. He was +raised to the dignity of Baron Forbes by the king, and was ever +rewarded by him as one of his most trusty councillors, and his +descendants played a prominent part in the changing and eventful +history of Scotland; but the proudest tradition of the family was +that their ancestor had fought as a patriot by the side of Bruce +and Wallace when scarce a noble of Scotland but was leagued with +the English oppressors of their country. + + + + +THE END + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE *** + +This file should be named infrc10.txt or infrc10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, infrc11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, infrc10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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