Page 114 of Bound By Honor
I would have gladly fought with Wallace for Scotland’s freedom. Now, I must take up the torch and proceed without him. At the time of his capture, Wallace had in his possession letters from me. It is too late now to worry what the king might make of them.
Meantime, word of my pact with Bishop Lamberton became the subject of suspicion while I was still in London. As winter approached and Edward’s health seemed to fail, in the hope of uniting Scotland, I met with John Comyn.
I proposed that he and I should enter into an understanding by which he would support my claim to the throne and receive my lands as compensation or, conversely, I his. He agreed and decided in favor of supporting my kingship and receiving my lands. The agreement was reduced to writing by Lamberton and his clerics. Two copies were made, signed and sealed.
I should never have trusted Comyn. I thought he would put Scotland above his own ambition. I was wrong. Despite his choice of my lands, I now believe he covets the crown for himself and was willing to betray me to get it.
Apparently, he revealed the sense of our agreement to Edward. At the time, I was at the English court. Unbeknownst to me, Edward gave orders to arrest me for treason. I was saved by Sir Ralph Monthermer, Earl of Gloucester, who sent me a warning. With thoughts of Wallace’s fate in my mind, I fled into the night with my squire.
Riding north to Lochmaben, we encountered Comyn’s servant on his way to London with the written evidence of my agreement with Comyn and instructions to present the writing to the king. It was damning because, by its terms, I was to be king. Needless to say, that document will never be delivered.
I have arranged to meet Comyn in Dumfries where I intend to confront him with his betrayal. The time is coming, Angus, when I will need that support you offered.
Angus was shocked to see how badly things had deteriorated and how quickly. But, as he thought about it, he decided it was inevitable. His friend could not remain in Edward’s service and fight for Scotland’s freedom. Angus could have told him Comyn would never have served a Bruce king. There was one advantage to what had happened. There was no longer any reason for Rob to hide his true intention.
A month went by and Angus had no word from Rob, yet he knew instinctively his friend was preparing to take the crown, winning Scots to his side and recruiting Scottish nobles to the cause of Scotland’s freedom.
Dunaverty Castle, Kintyre Peninsula, February 1306
“HE DID WHAT?” Angus blurted out when Duncan brought news of John Comyn’s murder at the hands of Robert Bruce. Knowing his friend had planned to confront Comyn with his betrayal, Angus was unsurprised the two had come to blows.But murder?
“Murder is what they are calling it,” Duncan repeated, as they gathered around the fire against the cold. “And not just the Red Comyn but his uncle who attacked Bruce and was slain by Bruce’s brother-in-law, Sir Christopher Seaton.”
Angus’ cousin had received the news at Saddell where it had traveled like wildfire from Dumfries.
“Worse than the murder was the place it occurred,” said Duncan. “On sacred ground, at the altar of the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries.”
“If that is where they met and the deed was done,” said Angus, “it could not have been murder. Nor could Comyn’s death in a church have been planned. Rob is deeply religious and would never intentionally defile the house of God.”
Angus believed there was no way to contact Rob for he had become an outlaw and would be on the run. But a few days later, as he and Áine were breaking their fast, a message came telling Angus that Bishop Wishart in Glasgow had granted Robert Bruce absolution and was planning on installing him as King of Scots. Apparently, the bishop had hidden from King Edward the royal robes when he pillaged Scotland. Angus wondered if Abbot Henry of Scone had hidden the true Stone of Destiny as well. The stone seat at Scone Abbey had long been the place where Kings of Scots were enthroned.
“My God,” said Angus, a lump forming in his throat as he looked up from the page to meet Áine’s expectant gaze. “It has finally begun.” Emotion welled up inside him. “He has taken the only path left open to him, though circumstances have forced a change in timing.” At Áine’s confused look, he said, “Rob is to be King of Scots.”
She was silent for a moment, her expression pensive. Then she said, “Another war…” Her voice trailed off.
“Aye. Edward will never accept this. But then, one could have guessed this would happen when Edward ignored Rob’s rightful claim to the throne.”
“Will all of Scotland support him?”
“Half the nobles will, but the other half and the common people will distrust one who, like me, has served the English king. The Comyns and the MacDougalls, allied together, will fight against him. They have already turned to Edward’s side. Rob will have to earn the country’s loyalty. It will not be easy.”
News of Rob and his followers continued to reach Angus. They were taking castles on the western seaboard, likely to preserve access to supplies from the Firth of Clyde. Ayr, Inverkip and Rothesay had fallen into their hands, the latter castle in what was described to Angus as a daring attack from the sea.
He and Áine were standing on the castle’s battlement gazing east toward Turnberry when the news reached them. With anxious eyes, Áine asked, “Will you go?”
“Aye. And not only me. Our chiefs and our Islesmen, including your Irish army, will all fight for Robert Bruce. This is what we have wanted for a very long time, what I have been preparing for, and what my father agreed to at Turnberry long ago. We will support The Bruce and stand by him until his enemies and ours are vanquished. Our honor, having been pledged, demands nothing less.” He took her in his arms and, seeing her pained expression, said, “Ah, love, do not fret. Only pray we succeed. Our cause is noble and just.”
“I know,” she said, “it is just—”
“Do you recall the prophecy I told you about, that a new chief would rise with a new king, and then Scotland would know peace?”
“I remember.”
“I believe I am that chief, Áine, and Rob is that king.”
Looking up at him, she said, “I will pray that you and our new king succeed. And I will do whatever I can to help, for peace is what all mothers want.”
On the 25thof March, six weeks after Comyn’s death, Angus’ friend was created Robert I, King of Scots. In the same ceremony, Elizabeth de Burgh was crowned Queen of Scots.
