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King Robert in the Isles
WHEN the Irish within the
town saw their men thus slain and chased home again, they were all
downcast, and in great haste called loudly to arms. All armed themselves
and made ready for the battle, and they marched forth all in fair array,
with banners displayed, ready in their best fashion to attack their
enemies.
And when Sir Philip the
Mowbray saw them come forth in such brave array, he went to Sir Edward
the Bruce, and said, "Sir, it is good that we devise some stratagem
which may avail to help us in this great battle. Our men are few, but
their will is greater than their power. Therefore, I counsel that our
baggage, without man or page, be arrayed by itself, and it shall seem a
host far more in number than we. Set we our banners in its front, and
yonder folk who come out of Connor, when they see them, shall believe
that we for certain are there, and shall charge thither. Let us then
come on their flank, and we shall have the advantage, for if they be
entered among our baggage they shall be entangled, and then we with all
our strength may lay on and do all we can."
They did as he proposed,
and the host that came out of Connor made at the banners, and, spurring
their steeds, dashed at full speed amongst the baggage. The water carts
there greatly cumbered the riders. Then the Earl came upon them with his
battle, and made grievous attack. Sir Edward also, a little way off,
joined battle right boldly, and many foes fell under foot. The field
soon grew all wet with blood. Both sides fought with great fierceness,
and dealt mighty blows and thrusts, dashing forward and drawing back, as
either side beat the other. It was dreadful to see how they kept up that
great struggle in knightly fashion upon either side, giving and taking
wide wounds. It was past prime before it could be seen which were to be
uppermost. But soon after prime the Scots drove on so desperately, and
charged so recklessly, each man like a champion, that all their foes
took flight. None was able to stand by his comrade, but each fled his
different way, most making for the town.
The Earl Thomas and his
host so eagerly chased them with naked swords, that, being all mingled
among them, they came together with them into the place. There the
slaughter was so fierce that all the streets ran with blood. Those the
Scots took they put all to death, so that well nigh as many were slain
in the town as in the field of battle. Fitz-Warenne was taken; but so
affrighted was Richard of Clare that he made for the south country. All
that month, trow, he was to have no great stomach for fighting. Sir John
Stewart, a noble knight, was wounded with a spear that pierced him
sharply right through the body. He went to Montpelier, and lay there
long in healing, and at last recovered.
Then Sir Edward, with his
host, took quarters in the town. That night they were blithe and jolly
over the victory they had got. And forthwith, on the morrow, Sir Edward
set men to discover what provisions were in the city. And they found in
it such abundance of corn and flour, wax and wine, that they marvelled
greatly. Sir Edward caused the whole to be carted to Carrickfergus. And
be went thither with his men, and set close and vigorous siege to the
castle till Palm Sunday was past. Then a truce was made on either side
till the Tuesday in Easter week, [i.e., till April 13th, 1316.] so that
they might spend that holy time in penance and prayer.
But upon Easter Eve,
during the night, there arrived safely at the castle fifteen ships from
Dublin loaded with armed men. Four thousand all told, I trow, they were,
and they all privily entered the castle. Old Sir Thomas the Mandeville
was captain of that host.
They had espied that many
of Sir Edward's men were scattered over the country, and they planned to
sally forth in the morning, without waiting longer, and suddenly
surprise the Scots, who, they believed, would be lying trustfully
because of the truce. But I trow falseness shall ever have foul and evil
result.
Sir Edward knew nothing
of this, for he had no thought of treason; but he ceased not because of
the truce to set watches upon the castle. Each night he caused men to
watch it well, and that night Neil Fleming kept guard with sixty valiant
and active men.
As soon as the day became
clear those within the castle, having armed themselves and made ready,
let down the draw-bridge, and sallied forth in great number. And when
Neil Fleming saw them he sent a messenger to the king [Barbour here
forestalls the fact. Edward Bruce was crowned King May 2nd, 1310, three
weeks later.] in haste, and said to those beside him, "Now I warrant
shall men see who dares to die for his lord's sake! Bear ye yourselves
well, for of a surety I will fight with all this host. We shall hold
them in battle till our master be armed."
With that they joined
battle. They were, of a truth, altogether too few to fight with such a
great host. Nevertheless, they drove at them boldly with all their
might, and their foes marvelled greatly that they were of such manhood,
and had no dread of death. But their fierce enemies attacked in such
number that no valour could avail them, and they were every man slain,
and none at all escaped.
Meanwhile the man who
went to the king to warn him of the Irish coming out, apprised him in
the greatest haste. Sir Edward, then commonly called the King of
Ireland, when he heard of such pressing business on hand, in right great
haste got his gear. Twelve active men were in his chamber, and they
armed themselves with the greatest speed. Then boldly, with his banners,
he took the middle of the town.
With that his enemies
were drawing near. They had divided their whole host in three parts. The
Mandeville, with a great following, held his way right through the town.
The rest went on either side of the place to intercept those that should
flee. They planned that all whom they found there should die without
ransom.
But otherwise went the
game; for Sir Edward, with his banner and the men of whom I have spoken,
made such bold attack on that host as was a marvel to see. In front of
him went Gib Harper, the doughtiest of deed then living in his degree,
and with an axe made room before him. He felled the foremost to the
ground, and afterwards, in a little space, he knew the Mandeville by his
armour, and dealt him such a swinging blow that he went headlong to the
earth. Sir Edward, who was near by, turned him over, and with a dagger
took his life on the spot.
With that Fergus of
Ardrossan, who was a right courageous knight, joined the battle with
sixty men and more. Then they pressed their foes right hard, and they,
seeing their lord slain, lost heart, and would have drawn back. But ever
as fast as the Scots could arm they came to the melee, and they drove so
at their foes that these altogether turned their backs. The Scots chased
them to the gate, and a hard fight and great struggle took place there.
There, with his own hand, Sir Edward slew a knight who was called the
best and most valorous in all Ireland. His surname was Mandeville, his
proper name I cannot tell. The assault then waxed so hard that those in
the donjon durst neither open gate nor let down bridge. Sir Edward so
fiercely pursued those that fled there for refuge that, for certain, of
all who sallied forth against him on that day never a one escaped. They
were all either taken or slain. MacNicol then joined the fight with two
hundred good spearmen, who slew all they could reach. This same
MacNicol, by stratagem, took four or five of the English ships, and
slew the whole crews.
When an end was made of
this fighting, Neil Fleming was still alive, and Sir Edward went to see
him. About him, all in a heap on either hand, lay his followers slain,
and he himself was in the throes of death. Sir Edward pitied him and
mourned him greatly, and lamented his great manhood and his valour and
doughty deeds. So greatly did he make lament that his men marvelled, for
he was not wont to lament for anything, nor would he hear men make
lament. He stood by till Fleming was dead, then had him to a holy place,
and caused him to be buried with honour and great solemnity.
In this wise Mandeville
sallied forth. But of a surety, as was well seen by his sallying,
falsehood and guile shall ever have an evil end. The English made their
attack in time of truce, and on Easter day, the day on which God rose to
save mankind from the stain of old Adam's sin. For this reason this
great misfortune befell them, each and all, as I have said, being taken
or slain. Those in the castle were thrown into such affright, forthwith,
seeing not where any succour could come to them, that they presently
made treaty, and, to save their lives, yielded the stronghold freely to
Sir Edward. He kept his covenant with them to the utmost. He took the
castle and victualled it well, and set in it a good warden to keep it,
and rested there for a time.
Of him we shall relate no
more at present, but go to King Robert, whom we have left long unspoken
of.
When he had convoyed to
the sea his brother Edward and his host, the king made ready with his
ships to fare into the Isles. He took with him Walter Stewart, his
kinsman, and a great host, with other men of great nobleness. They made
their way to Tarbert in galleys prepared for their voyage. There they
had to draw their ships. Between the seas lay a mile of land sheltered
all with trees. There the king caused his ships to be drawn across, and
since the wind blew strong behind them as they went, he had ropes and
masts set up in the ships, and sails fastened to the tops, and caused
men to go drawing alongside. The wind that was blowing helped them, so
that in a little space the whole fleet was safely drawn across. [Fifty
years earlier the same feat was done at Tarbert by Hakon of Norway, and
two centuries earlier still, Magnus Barefoot drew his galleys across the
isthmus.]
And when the men of the
Isles heard tell how the good king had caused ships with sails to go
between the two Tarberts, they were all utterly dismayed. For they knew
by ancient prophecy that whoever should thus make ships go with sails
between the seas should have the dominion of the Isles, and that no
man's strength should stand against him. Therefore they all came to the
king. None refused him obedience except only John of Lorne. But very
soon afterwards be was taken and brought to the Bruce; and those of his
men who had broken faith with the king were all slain and destroyed.
The king took this John
of Lorne, and presently sent him to Dunbarton, where he was kept in
prison for a time. Afterwards he was sent to Loch Leven, and was long
there in captivity, and there I trow he died. The king, when all the
Isles, greater and less, were brought to his pleasure, spent the rest of
that season in hunting and games and sport.
While the Bruce in this
fashion subdued the Isles, the good Sir James of Douglas was living in
the Forest, valiantly defending the country. At that time there dwelt in
Berwick Sir Eumond de Caillou, a Gascon knight of great renown. In his
own land of Gascony he was lord of a great domain. [There is some
uncertainty about this name. Skeat suggests a connection with a place
called Caloy, on the Adour, in Gascony. The name resembles the Scottish
Colquhoun, but the Colquhoun family claim an earlier native origin.] He
had the keeping of Berwick, and he made a secret gathering, and got him
a great company of men active and bravely armed. He ravaged all the
lower end of Teviotdale, and a great part of the Merse, then hastened
towards Berwick.
Sir Adam of Gordon, who
was then become a Scotsman, saw the English driving away the cattle, and
supposed they must be few, for he saw only the fleeing skirmishers, and
them that seized the prey. He sped in hot haste to Sir James of Douglas,
and told how the English had seized spoil and gone towards Berwick with
the cattle. He said they were few, and that if Douglas would make speed
he should full easily overcome them, and rescue all the herds. Sir James
immediately agreed to follow them, and went forth with only the men he
had in that place and those that met him by the way.
They followed the English
at the utmost speed, and quickly came up with them. Before they could
fully see them they came close up to their host. Then the foragers and
the skirmishers gathered into a close squadron, and made a right fair
company. The cattle they caused to be driven before them by boys and
countrymen, who had no strength to stand in a field of fight. The rest
kept behind in scattered order. The Douglas saw their whole intent, and
their good tactics, and saw besides that their number was twice that of
his own men.
"Sirs," he said, "seeing
we have thus made chase, and are now come so near that we cannot eschew
the fight except we foully flee, let each man think on his love, and how
many a time he has been in great peril, and come safe away. Believe that
we shall do the same this day. Let us take advantage of the ford at
hand, for forthwith they shall come on us to fight. And let us set will
and strength and force to the matter, and encounter them right boldly."
At that word full
speedily he displayed his banner, for his enemies were drawing near. And
when they saw his company so few they deemed they should soon make an
end of it, and attacked the Scots vigorously. Then began a dire fight
and most fierce melee, with many strokes given and taken.
Douglas was right sore
bested; but his great hardihood so encouraged his men that none thought
on cowardice. They fought so stoutly with all their might that they slew
many of their foes; and though these foes were more by far than
themselves, yet fortune so guided them that Sir Eumond de Calion was
slain on the spot. When he was down all the rest were soon openly
discomfited. Thereupon the Scots made chase, and slew some, and turned
back the whole of the prey.
Of a truth this was the
hardest fight that ever the good Lord of Douglas was in, by reason of
his small following. Had it not been for his great valour, and his
slaying of the English captain in the fight, his men had been all done
to death. It was his custom ever, when he found himself hard pressed, to
strive to slay the leader of his enemies. And many a time it happened
that the doing of this got him the victory.
When Sir Eumond in this
wise was slain, the good Lord of Douglas took his way to the Forest. His
foes feared him greatly. Word of this exploit spread far and wide, and
in England near thereby men still speak commonly of it.
Sir Robert de Neville at
that time dwelt at Berwick, near beside the marches where the Lord
Douglas had his abode in the Forest, and he had a mighty envy of him
because he saw him ever more and more widen his bounds. He heard the
people round him speak of the might of the Lord Douglas, of his force in
battle, and the good fortune that oft befell him. At this he presently
became enraged, and said, "Think ye there is none valiant but him alone?
Judge ye him to be without a peer? I vow here before you that if ever he
come into this land he shall find me at his throat. If ever I see his
banner displayed for war, I shall set on him, never fear, although ye
deem him never so stout."
News of this boast was
soon brought to Sir James of Douglas, and he said, "If he will keep his
promise I shall look to it that ere very long he shall yet have sight of
me and my company near enough."
He then gathered his
retinue, good men of valour, and on a night set out in brave array for
the marches. In the morning early he and all his company were before
Berwick. There he displayed his broad banner, and sent some of his
following to burn two or three towns. He bade them speed to him soon
again, so that, if need were, they should be at hand ready for the
fight.
The Neville had a great
host there, for all the best of that country were then with him, and in
number they were many more than the Scots. Now perceiving that of a
certainty Douglas was come near, and seeing his banner stand displayed,
he made his way to a hill, and said, "Sirs, I could wish to make an end
of the great hurt that Douglas does us day by day. But methinks it
expedient that we wait till his men be scattered throughout the country
to plunder. Then may we fiercely dash upon him, and we shall have him at
our pleasure." All present agreed, and lay waiting on the hill, and the
men of the land gathered, and drew to him with the greatest speed.
The valiant Douglas then,
deeming it folly to wait longer, rode towards the hill. And when the
Neville saw that the Scots would not scatter to the plundering, but made
to attack him with all their might, he knew well that they meant battle.
To his host he said, "Sirs, now launch we forth. Here with us we have
the flower of this country, and we are, besides, more in number than
they. Let us therefore join battle boldly, for, by my faith, Douglas,
with yonder yeomanry, shall have no strength against us."
At that they charged, and
joined battle.
Then could be heard the
crashing of spears, as men drove fast at each other, and blood burst out
at wide wounds. They fought with ardour on either side, each party
striving hard to drive the enemy back.
In the heart of the
struggle, when the fighting was at its fiercest, the Lords of Neville
and Douglas met. Then between them a great combat took place. They
fought fiercely with all their might, dealing great strokes one upon the
other. But Douglas, I promise, was the starker man, and was besides more
used to fighting; and be set heart and will to deliver himself of his
enemy, till at last by sheer main strength Neville was slain.
Then Douglas shouted
aloud his battle-cry, and with all his company charged so boldly on the
rest, that shortly his enemies could be seen taking flight. The Scots
gave chase with all their might, and in the pursuit Sir Ralph the
Neville and the Baron of Hilton were taken, while other men of might,
who had been of honour in their time, were slain in the field.
And when the field was
wholly cleared, and their foes were every one slain or taken or chased
away, Douglas ravaged the whole land, and seized all he found, and burnt
all the towns, and afterwards came home whole and well. Forthwith he
dealt the spoil among his followers after their deserts, keeping nothing
for his own behoof.
Deeds like these cause
men to love their lord, and of a surety this was done by Douglas's men.
He ever treated them so wisely and with so great affection, and set such
countenance on their exploits, that he made the most fearful of them
stronger than a leopard. Thus with his kindliness. he made his men
strong and of great valour.
When Neville thus and Sir
Eumond of Calion were brought to the ground, the terror and renown of
the Lord Douglas spread throughout the English border, so that all who
dwelt there feared him like the Devil. Often to this day have I heard
tell how greatly he was feared, and how women when they wished to
threaten their children would, with a right angry face, commit them to
the Black Douglas. By their account he was more fierce than any devil in
hell. His great bravery and valour made him so dreaded by his foes that
they shuddered to hear his name. He could now dwell in ease at home for
a time, for I trow he was not likely for long to be sought out by his
enemies. Now we shall leave him in the Forest, and speak of him no more
for a space, but take up the tale of the brave Sir Edward, who, with all
his valiant chivalry, was still lying at Carrickfergus. |
