Edward travels north for the last time!

‘Oh Robert Bruce, you clearly feel incredibly confident and spruce!

But the smart money says that you have definitely cooked your goose!’

Robert Bruce with his wife from a 16th century source.

At first, this opinion indeed appeared to be the case. Bruce was defeated in battle at Methven by Aymer de Valence in June 1306.

Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke.

The newly crowned king of Scotland suffered another military setback at Dalry in Perthshire. In the autumn King Edward, resolute as always, and confident of victory decided to take the bull by the horns. He was, however, debilitated by sickness as he made his way slowly towards Scotland. For Robert Bruce, the prospects for the longevity of his reign did not bode well. Ironically, Bruce was defeated in battle by Prince Edward whom he had initially dismissed as having little potential for leadership.

Old King Edward was incandescent with rage at Bruce, and venom spat from his aged lips as he sallied north. Edward was determined to exact the utmost revenge on Robert Bruce for his actions and indeed the Bruce family were to pay a high price for his ambitions.

‘To destroy Bruce and his followers was Edward’s solemn vow!

To ensure that thereafter, all of Scotland to the English crown, would forever bow!’

Prince Edward besieged Kildrummy castle  which was being held by Bruce’s younger brother, Niall in the summer of 1306.  The young prince took the castle along with many prisoners who would suffer a horrible fate. Bruce’s wife, Elizabeth, along with other female relatives initially escaped young Edward’s clutches. They were later captured and endured a long period of captivity in appalling conditions. Bruce’s sister, Mary and another female ally were imprisoned in wooden cages suspended from a castle in full public view.

‘Such was the extent of Edward’s furious rage!

That he had two of the women held in an open wooden cage!

Quartered way up on high!

amidst the elements offered by the wide open sky!

The two women were adequately fed, but nevertheless it must have been a traumatic and highly humiliating experience for them to endure. Young Prince Edward, however, probably on account of their gender, gallantly accorded them access to a toilet.

The male clan members were somewhat less fortunate. Niall was sentenced to being hanged, drawn and quartered and suffered the terrible penalty in its entirety at Berwick on Tweed in September 1306. Two other brothers of Bruce also died in the rebellion against King Edward. Debilitated as he was, this news must have been a great consolation to Edward in his dreadful, final discomfort. How he must have rejoiced upon learning of what had happened to the Bruce clan, and this would have surely eased his pain. Tears of agony would have been replaced by those of exuberant joy as he was told of the fate of Bruce’s wife and his siblings. The king’s faithful retainers could only have hoped that these events would enable a recovery in the elderly monarch. After all, as they knew, laughter is the greatest of all medicines. Goodness knows, King Edward must have laughed with every fibre of his enormous, powerful frame.

Bruce was on the run and Edward felt confident of final victory in Scotland. However, he had not yet managed to snare Bruce, who evaded capture and remained at large. Indeed the wily Scot defeated Aymer de Valence in battle at Loudon Hill in May of 1307.

Robert Bruce with his followers.

Nevertheless, Bruce’s bid for independence from the English crown appeared to have faltered in the face of the English military onslaught. The old king did not see these victories at first hand because his illness allowed him to travel only a couple of miles a day.

‘King Edward, old as he was, did not intend to retire!

He was of a mind to savage Scotland with sword and fire!’

King Edward was now sixty eight years old, an incredible age for the medieval period. However, retirement did not appear to be high on his list of priorities, if it figured at all. Bruce calculated that the formidable old king would soon be dead and the principal obstacle to his continuing status King of Scotland would thus be removed. It was an enormous gamble but would it pay off?