Nigel Tranter - The Price of the King's Peace

David de Brechin, around whom most interest centred, as the King’s nephew and because of the esteem in which he was held for gallantry on Crusade as on games-field and tourney-ground, contended briefly that he had taken no part in the conspiracy;

but admitted that he had known of it and had taken no steps to

controvert it. There was some sympathy for a fine and handsome young man led astray-until it was revealed that he had in fact been in English pay for years, whereupon all turned against him and his fate was sealed. Maxwell, Barclay and Graham all strenuously denied any involvement in the plot. All they admitted was that they were friends of de Soulis, and had been approached, in some fashion, to take part in a protest against the King’s policy on the assize of lands; but none knew of any plan to kill or replace the monarch. De Logic, and a Liddesdale esquire named Richard Broun, who was said to have acted as principal go-between, maintained only a rigid silence.

So, much more quickly than might have been expected, the thing was over. Maxwell, Barclay and Graham were acquitted.

The rest, including the absent Moubray, were found guilty, and worthy of death, the accepted penalty for high treason, and turned over formally to the King, for sentence at his pleasure. Then, relievedly, the parliament moved to the next business.

This was an announcement by the Chancellor of the reported comparatively favourable reaction of the Pope to the Declaration of Arbroath, and the proposed truce with England. Men heard the first with satisfaction, but the second with doubts. Truces were of little interest to the Scots, since they were so regularly and wantonly broken. But the withdrawal of the papal anathema was something different, a major success and an augury for the future.

They passed on to the vexed and prolonged business of land titles and tenures. Many had come prepared to fight the entire policy; but the conspiracy against the King, shaking all, had the effect of deflating the opposition. The difficult and controversial business went through with the minimum of trouble and delay. By such extraneous influence did a major land reform go through.

Later, with time unexpectedly to spare, Bruce called a Privy Council, to aid him decide on the sentences to be imposed. The decision had to be his own, however.

By common consent, all waited for William Lamberton, the senior of the Lords Spiritual, to answer the King’s question first.

He shook his head.

“In sorrow I must say it, Sire. But for the weal of the realm, and the

security of our nation, there can be but one due decision. All should

the. Mercy is godly-but for a people embattled, treachery, the

hazarding of all that we have fought for and gained by infinite

bloodshed and pain, is too great a danger for mercy. Here is evil, which must be stamped upon before it poisons the realm.”

Most present nodded agreement.

“My lord Earl of life?”

The thin-faced, uneasy-eyed Duncan Mac Duff premier noble of the land, who had consistently taken the English side in all the troubles, and not even lifted a hand to save his sister when she hung for years in her cage on Berwick Castle’s walls, shrugged stooping shoulders.

“Who am I to disagree?” he said.

Men noted that answer.

“Does any say otherwise?”

Sir Ingram de Umfraville, onetime Guardian of the realm, uncle of the absent Earl of Angus, English by birth and always anti-Bruce and pro-Comyn -but an honest man enough-spoke.

“Mercy may be too costly, Sire-but discretion should not be.

Must all these be treated alike? De Soulis should die. De Malherbe and de Logic likewise. And the man Broun. But David de Brechin, your kinsman and my friend-he is in different case. A younger man, and an ornament to your kingdom. Beloved of many, honoured by the Holy See for his crusading zeal. He was in grievous error in not making report of this wicked plot. But he refused to take part in it. He might well, in the end, have used his guilty knowledge to save Your Grace. He is not to be judged as the others. Banish him your realm for a time, Sire. But do not hang him.”

“I hold with Sir Ingram,” Patrick, Earl of Dunbar and March said.

“As I do not!” Douglas asserted.

“He has been receiving English gold. A paid traitor.”

“It was not for that he was tried, Sir James.”

“Hang all, and be done,” the Lord of the Isles advised briefly.

Bruce turned to his other nephew, Thomas Randolph.

“My lord of Moray-your guidance in this? You are of like kinship to me as is Sir David. And you also once embraced other cause to mine.

This man is your cousin. What say you?”

Moray took long seconds to answer. When he looked up his noble features were drawn. He spoke almost in a whisper.

“What he did is unforgivable. He contemplated the murder of his liege lord, of his own blood, the man who had forgiven him his error. He it was who, by every law of God and man should have come and made known this wickedness to Your Grace-not that woman in her bitterness. Those nearest the throne bear the greater responsibility to support it. I cannot say other than that my cousin should die.”

There was silence for a little.

The King broke it.

“Very well, my lords. I thank you for your counsel. But the decision

remains mine. Mine only. If I decide ill, Itake the blame-not you.I speak, must speak-and think-for the realm. Not myself. I have decided. Sir William de Soulis should die. But because he is of the royal descent, one of the few who are, for the realm’s sake it should not be said that the King took the life of a rival to his throne. Many would so claim. I sentence him therefore to perpetual imprisonment. I can do no other.

In this I do him no kindness. He will not thank me. Nor would any here. Better a quick death than to rot in a cell in Dumbarton Castle. That proud man will suffer the more. This, for the realm’s sake.”

Gravely men nodded. None questioned.

“His paramour, the Countess of Stratheam, was content that I should be slain so long as she was to be de Soulis’ Queen. Only when supplanted did she turn. Not for my sake, or the realm’s, but to spite her betrayer. It is not suitable to execute a woman. Or to cast her in a cell. She shall be banished, the kingdom. For the rest of her life.”

All approved.

“De Malherbe, de Logic, and this Richard Broun, have nothing in their favour. They are proven traitors who plotted my death only for gain. De Soulis at least believed he had a right to my throne. These would have plunged Scotland into war, internal war-and English domination thereafter, to be sure-for their own gain. They die. They shall be hanged. As for Roger de Moubray, I will not hang a dying manas they say he is. Let him be.”

Again there was no dissentient voice.

Then Bruce leaned forward and spoke differently.

“David de Brechin, my sister’s son. Here is a stab at the heart! He chose to support Comyn, not me. He refused to attend my coronation. He fought against me at Inverurie. But these could be forgiven. Others did as much, and more. But… he signed your letter at Arbroath, a solemn declaration. While yet he was in receipt of English gold.

Now, within weeks, this! He is the fruit of my mother’s tree, a fair and goodly fruit to be seem-but rotten at the core. When I condemn others to the gallows, should I spare him?”

There was not a word spoken, although Umfraville nodded head.

“I cannot, my lords. I will not. David de Brechin hangs with the others. It is my royal decision.” The King’s jaw was set, his lined and craggy face like granite.

Umfraville leapt to his feet.

“It is not right! Unfair!” he cried.

“You must not do it, Sire! Stain your honour so. Will you, the First Knight of Christendom, hang the Flower of Chivalry? And let de Soulis live! Here is shame …!”