replied the Lord of Annandale. ‘I thought about this long on our journey here. There is only one thing Comyn men understand and that is force.’ He looked at the others. ‘We must put a ring of steel around Galloway. With a series of attacks we will seize key strongholds held by the justiciar, John Comyn, and by the Balliols. With one stroke we can nullify Comyn presence in Galloway and discredit Balliol as a weak man who cannot even defend his own borders, let alone be king.’
Robert knew his grandfather’s hatred of the Comyn men, who controlled vast areas of Scotland and had been influential in royal circles for generations. When the first Comyns crossed the English Sea with William the Conqueror they had done so not as lords of rich estates in Normandy, as Robert’s ancestors had been, but as humble clerks. It was in this role that they thrived in England under the succession of kings that followed the Conquest, later coming north to Scotland. Through patronage and cunning their fortunes reached such magnitude that it was a Comyn, not a Bruce, who became the first Norman earl in Scotland and even secured a minor claim to the throne through marriage. The sons of clerks had no place in the nobility, Robert’s grandfather had always maintained. Yet, still, the old man’s hatred had always seemed to run far deeper than mere disdain. Robert had never fully understood it and, until now, had never thought to ask.
‘We should contact Richard de Burgh,’ said Robert’s father. ‘The Earl of Ulster will be only too willing to provide arms and soldiers. The men of Galloway have long been a thorn in his side with their attacks on Ireland. Also, we should inform King Edward. As Alexander’s brother-in-law he will want to be involved in the succession as soon as he learns of his death.’
‘The King of England was the first to be informed outside Scotland,’ responded the steward. ‘The Bishop of St Andrews sent a message to Edward in France the day Alexander’s body was discovered.’
‘All the more reason we should contact him ourselves,’ said the earl, fixing on his father. ‘If Margaret is brought here to rule she will need a regent to govern in her stead until she comes of age and an heir presumptive will have to be chosen. By seizing Comyn strongholds we prove our worthiness to be named in such a capacity. We also prove our strength. And strength,’ he added firmly, ‘is something King Edward appreciates.’
‘We will petition Sir Richard de Burgh should the need arise,’ agreed the Lord of Annandale. ‘But there is no need to involve the king in our affairs.’
‘I disagree,’ countered the earl. ‘With Edward’s support we will be best placed to establish ourselves at the head of the new government.’
‘King Edward is a good friend and ally, and our family owes much of our fortune to him, but he is his own man and will do what is in the best interests of his kingdom, and none other.’ The old man’s tone was implacable.
The earl continued to stare at his father for a moment longer, then nodded. ‘I will raise the men of Carrick.’
‘I too can spare some men,’ said the Lord of Islay.
‘We cannot all support you openly,’ said James Stewart, ‘not with arms. This kingdom has been divided enough over the years. I cannot let a blood feud become a civil war.’ He paused. ‘But I agree. The throne must go to Margaret.’
The Lord of Annandale sat back and took up his goblet. ‘Then God grant us strength.’
4
Robert sank to his knees in the grass, gasping for air. Sweat trickled down his cheeks as he hung there, the blood thumping in his head. As the black spots in his vision cleared, he collapsed on to his back. He could hear breathless voices getting closer, muffled footsteps pounding the earth. Propping himself up on his elbows, he squinted into the sunlight and watched his three brothers come panting up the hill towards him.
Thomas came first, head down, concentrating on
Robert knew his grandfather’s hatred of the Comyn men, who controlled vast areas of Scotland and had been influential in royal circles for generations. When the first Comyns crossed the English Sea with William the Conqueror they had done so not as lords of rich estates in Normandy, as Robert’s ancestors had been, but as humble clerks. It was in this role that they thrived in England under the succession of kings that followed the Conquest, later coming north to Scotland. Through patronage and cunning their fortunes reached such magnitude that it was a Comyn, not a Bruce, who became the first Norman earl in Scotland and even secured a minor claim to the throne through marriage. The sons of clerks had no place in the nobility, Robert’s grandfather had always maintained. Yet, still, the old man’s hatred had always seemed to run far deeper than mere disdain. Robert had never fully understood it and, until now, had never thought to ask.
‘We should contact Richard de Burgh,’ said Robert’s father. ‘The Earl of Ulster will be only too willing to provide arms and soldiers. The men of Galloway have long been a thorn in his side with their attacks on Ireland. Also, we should inform King Edward. As Alexander’s brother-in-law he will want to be involved in the succession as soon as he learns of his death.’
‘The King of England was the first to be informed outside Scotland,’ responded the steward. ‘The Bishop of St Andrews sent a message to Edward in France the day Alexander’s body was discovered.’
‘All the more reason we should contact him ourselves,’ said the earl, fixing on his father. ‘If Margaret is brought here to rule she will need a regent to govern in her stead until she comes of age and an heir presumptive will have to be chosen. By seizing Comyn strongholds we prove our worthiness to be named in such a capacity. We also prove our strength. And strength,’ he added firmly, ‘is something King Edward appreciates.’
‘We will petition Sir Richard de Burgh should the need arise,’ agreed the Lord of Annandale. ‘But there is no need to involve the king in our affairs.’
‘I disagree,’ countered the earl. ‘With Edward’s support we will be best placed to establish ourselves at the head of the new government.’
‘King Edward is a good friend and ally, and our family owes much of our fortune to him, but he is his own man and will do what is in the best interests of his kingdom, and none other.’ The old man’s tone was implacable.
The earl continued to stare at his father for a moment longer, then nodded. ‘I will raise the men of Carrick.’
‘I too can spare some men,’ said the Lord of Islay.
‘We cannot all support you openly,’ said James Stewart, ‘not with arms. This kingdom has been divided enough over the years. I cannot let a blood feud become a civil war.’ He paused. ‘But I agree. The throne must go to Margaret.’
The Lord of Annandale sat back and took up his goblet. ‘Then God grant us strength.’
4
Robert sank to his knees in the grass, gasping for air. Sweat trickled down his cheeks as he hung there, the blood thumping in his head. As the black spots in his vision cleared, he collapsed on to his back. He could hear breathless voices getting closer, muffled footsteps pounding the earth. Propping himself up on his elbows, he squinted into the sunlight and watched his three brothers come panting up the hill towards him.
Thomas came first, head down, concentrating on
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