The Great Scot by Duncan A. Bruce

Author:Duncan A. Bruce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Published: 2011-06-06T00:00:00+00:00

It was not two months later that our spy, Cuthbert, brought back to us the news that the English were gathering and training a huge army. King Edward II had already informed his knights that their military service would be required the following June. The news of this activity spread rapidly to all parts of Scotland, from the northern isles to the southern Lowland villages. The response was immediate. The newly free Scots began to enlist in the struggle that would determine whether they would live as slaves or as free men. Recruits began to pour into central Scotland from all parts of the country and from all ranks of society.

In the meantime, the king ordered us to try to take the castles of Roxburgh and Edinburgh, both of which are in the southeastern part of the country. These were still in enemy hands. One night in February 1314, James Douglas and his retinue, having left their horses at some distance, crawled on hands and knees toward Roxburgh, concealed in the darkness, their armour covered with black cloth. The guards, seeing this movement, thought someone had loosed the cattle in the night. But within a few minutes, the Scottish rope ladders were slung over the walls and swiftly climbed. The guards were killed. It was Shrove Tuesday, and a great celebration was taking place inside. But this turned from merrymaking to chaos when the frightening cry of “Douglas! Douglas!” rang out. The occupants of the castle were unprepared and the place was soon conquered. Most of the English soldiers were killed, but a few were able to flee. Some held out in the tower, but by the next day the Scots were in complete control. Douglas provided escorts for those who were English civilians back to their own country. Then he demolished the walls and the tower.

I did not participate in the Roxburgh campaign, because I was assigned to the unit that was to take Edinburgh Castle under Thomas Randolph—who, as I have said, had been made Earl of Moray by King Robert. Young Moray had acquitted himself very well in our campaigns after having submitted to his uncle. He was, however, eager for glory and for these reasons the king chose him to capture Edinburgh, a task many thought to be impossible. If you have ever seen this fortress, perched high on solid rock, straight and sheer on the sides, you might well agree. I know that when we began our siege and I first got a good view of the place, I thought there was no way we could win, or even reach the top of the walls. The locals told us that the castle was well provisioned and that many soldiers were inside. Not seeing any way to mount an assault, Moray let it be known that he would well reward any of the locals who could show us a way. Some days later an old man named William France came to see the earl and offered his services.

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