Nigel Tranter - The Path of the Hero King

“My lords,” he said at length, “if this is indeed so, then the danger is great and we must take steps to meet it, somehow. Yet my lord of Carrick is right also, about the Comyns. As is the good Provost of this Aberdeen about the danger to his city. And I have scores to settle with the Earl of Ross!” He paused.

“See you, in this letter I spoke of, sent me by my lord Bishop of St. Andrews, he says that the King of England has betrothed himself. To the twelve-year-old Isabella of France. He is even now gone to France for the nuptials-you might think in some haste considering the years of his bride! He has planned a great coronation for the new Queen, when he returns. In May. He is much fond of such celebrations, is this Edward of Carnarvon.

Moreover, he has much offended his lords by raising up his pretty favourite, the Gascon named Piers Gaveston, and creating him Earl of Cornwall. Now he has left all England in his charge, while he is abroad, a puppet of no stature, hated by all the nobility of his realm. So there will be trouble, my friends-that I warrant.

What with Edward’s absence in France, the coronation when he returns, and the offence of his lords. Bishop Lamberton believes, and I agree with him, that there is like to be no large invasion of Scotland this summer. So, at the least, we need not be ever looking over our shoulders to the south.”

Satisfaction was voiced by all at this news.

“So now, my lords-here is my proposal. My brother, the Earl of Carrick, will take our main force and proceed forthwith to deal with the Comyns. Wait you-wait! I myself, with the Lord of the Isles, the Earl of Lennox and Sir Neil Campbell of Lochawe with a lesser force, will cross to the West, to join the Islesmen already there, collecting what more we may from the Lennox, the Campbells and other leal chiefs. We will be there, not to come to grips with MacDougall, but only to threaten him, at this juncture-since we have not the might to challenge him and the Comyns both. But if we do this, and I am there in person. I do not believe that MacDougall will risk marching north to join up with Ross, leaving me on his border. Moreover, I will seek to prevail on the Lady Christina of Garmoran to have her people make a similar sally along the eastern shores of Ross, to distract the Earl. And my lord of Moray, your men to feint at Easter Ross and the Black Isle.

Then, my friends, when the Earl of Carrick has harried the Comyn country into submission, we will march north to meet him at Invernessin three months’ time, may be. To face Ross united again.

And when we are finished with Ross, turn back to deal with MacDougall in earnest! How say you? We must use this campaigning season to bring all the North to heel, if we can, whilst the English are otherwise occupied.”

There was a great storm of acclaim and approval, round that table, men almost unanimous in their enthusiasm and their recognition of the breadth and sweep of this comprehensive programme, this proposed solution of the deadlock. Even Angus Og was impressed;

and Edward was of course highly delighted. His abilities were being

recognised, at last. Bruce let the exclamation and comment continue

for a little, and then brought the Council to order again.

“This is no light task,” he said.

“Let us make no mistake about what this course will demand of us. Of us all. Patience, discretion, the holding of our hands. For any major defeat, at either side of the country, would spell disaster for both. We must all fully recognise what are our objectives, and hold to them strictly. Going no step further, to endanger all. In the West we are there only as a gesture. We will fight no great battles. And this is equally so with you, my lord of Carrick. Your business is not to hazard my main force in battle-mind it! Your task is to subdue the Comyn country so that never again will that house threaten mine. Heed not their castles, unless they are easy. It is their lands, these vast lands from which they draw their men, the great masses of their men these are your objective. So long as the Comyn threat, of mighty armed intervention, remains, the English have us by the throat. My throne remains insecure. And many in this realm, God knows, take their lead from Comyn. So-an example must be made. For the good of the kingdom. The whole province of Buchan must be taught its lesson, who is King in Scotland. You understand, Edward?” That was rapped out, Bruce’s features graven grim, his eyes hard.

“Your task is to harry Buchan, not to fight battles. For that purpose and that only, you shall have my main host. And with it the Bishop of Moray, Sir Robert Boyd, Sir Robert Fleming and Sir Alexander Fraser, to aid and advise you. I shall expect them all, and the host no less in numbers, at Inverness in three months’ time. And Buchan laid low so that no Comyn shall raise voice or sword against me, ever again! You have it? All of you-you have it? Answer me!”

It was not often that Robert Bruce played the imperious autocrat He did so now advisedly, deliberately, and with good reason.

No man failed to be affected, and Edward Bruce for once was positively subdued.

There was some little remaining business, mainly concerned with the containing of the English in Aberdeen Castle, and defensive works to prevent any invasion by sea. Also the implications of Lamberton’s letter that he had been now given a sort of limited freedom, on the payment to King Edward of 6,000 mer ks fine, and on the strict injunction that he did not return to Scotland, Edward indeed apparently believing that he could use him to help bring the Scots to heel. The Council agreed that, in the circumstances, Lamberton should seem to go along with the English in this, and at the same time, if possible, both serve as spy and encourage that King in his follies.

But the pressure had gone out of the conference, and all were eager to be away from the table, and at ease to talk, discuss and argue freely. The King drew the proceedings to a close, therefore -and rising, beckoned Gilbert Hay to his side.

“Gibbie,” he said quietly, “you did not hear your name spoken in all that. Because I have an especial task for you. I think you used to be friendly with Thomas Randolph, my nephew?”

“Used to be, Sire-but not since he turned traitor!”

‘”There are traitors and traitors, Gibbie.”

This one the greater, in that he is your own kin. All should be dead! I heard that he had been brought here. What is Your Grace’s will for him?”

“What would you do with Thomas Randolph, once your friend?”

“I would hang him. As his friends have hanged so many of us.”

“If I was to hang all those who take part against me, I fear I would be hanging half of my subjects! No-I still have hopes for my sister’s son. He conceives himself to be a man of honour-and myself otherwise! I want you to take him in hand, Gibbie. He is in close ward, yes. But we will take him with us, into the West. Get his parole-and, an honourable man, he will keep it! He will be in your charge. Entreat him kindly, but firmly. Work on him-as the English have already done. He is surprisingly innocent, I am convinced.

He has much to learn. You are the best man to show him his error. Show him that I am not the brigand he takes me for.

Show him that the knightly code will not win a war against ten times our numbers. Show him how the English really fight, behind their glitter of chivalry.”

“If so you command, Sire. But I think you are too nice, too soft of heart. I’d take rope to him, and be done!”

* “It is my head, not my heart, that commands in this, my lord of Erroll! Any fool can hang his prisoners. But there may be many who think like Randolph, many of my subjects. I may serve my cause a deal better by showing mercy and persuading that young man to be my living friend than my dead enemy! He is a man of parts, with great lands. And of the old race. I have not so many of these that I should hang them, when I might convert them. And Thomas Randolph converted would sound loud in Scotland. See you to it, my friend.”