The Bruce
(_Le Bel_). Froissart does not have the closing phrase. “That I would
fight with my body against the enemies of Christ” (_Baker_, p. 105).
183-5 _the body may on na wis, etc._ “Since my body is not able to go
or accomplish that which the heart has so long desired, I wish to send
the heart for the body to make satisfaction for me and my wish” (_pour
moy et pour mon vueil acquittier._ _Le Bel_, 1904, I., chap. xv.); “to
fulfil my vow” (_pour mon voeu achever._ _Froissart_); “Because alive I
shall not be able”--_i.e._, to go (_Baker_, 105).
188 _cheis me ane._ Le Bel and Baker represent Bruce as himself
choosing Douglas for the mission; so, too, does Bower (_Scotichr._,
ii., p. 300).
191-2 _On Goddis fayis, etc._ _Cf._ above on line 181. Le Bel gives
the commission differently and in fuller detail: “That you take my
heart and have it embalmed, and take as much of my treasure as will
seem good to you for performing the journey, for yourself and all
those whom you will wish to bring with you; and that you will carry my
heart to the Holy Sepulchre, where our Lord was buried, since the body
is not able to go thither; and that you do it as magnificently (_si
grandement_) and as well provided with all things and with attendance
sufficient, as belongs to your estate; and wherever you come let it be
known that you carry as a commission (_comme message_) the heart of
the King of Scotland for the reason that his body cannot go thither.”
In Johnes it is, from _Froissart_, “you will deposit your charge at
the Holy Sepulchre”; in Berners, “present my heart to the H.S.” The
Vatican (final) MS. of _Froissart_, however, has “that you carry (the
heart) beyond the sea against the heathen (_mescreans_) _and as far as
to the Holy Sepulchre and leave it there, if you have the fortune to
go so far_” (_si l’aventure poes avoir d’aler si avant_, Lettenhove,
I., chap. xxxviii., p. 119). Bain summarizes a Protection “for seven
years,” given by Edward III. on September 1, 1329, for James Douglas,
“on his way to the Holy Land with the heart of the late Robert K. of
Scotland, in aid of the Christians against the Saracens” (No. 991);
who also, on the same date, commends Douglas, on this mission, to
Alfonso K. of Castile, Leon, etc. (990). In the Pope’s absolution
for the ecclesiastical offence of mutilating a dead body, dated at
Avignon, August 6, 1331, which, of course, proceeds on a narrative
furnished from Scotland, it is explained that King Robert had expressly
commanded that “his heart should be carried in battle against the
Saracens” (_in bello contra Saracenos portaretur_), and that, in
accordance with the wish of the King himself, it was carried by Douglas
into Spain in battle against the said Saracens (Theiner, _Vetera
Monumenta_, No. 498). Baker has it, “that you carry my heart against
the enemies of the name of Christ to Gardiavia on the frontier” (_ad
fronterii Gardiaviam_, p. 105). Later chroniclers distort the details
somewhat, Bower alleging that the heart was to be buried in Jerusalem,
and sending both Alfonso and Douglas to the Holy Land; referring the
reader, nevertheless, to “Barbour’s Bruce” (“Barbarii Broisacus,”
_Scotichr._, ii., p. 301); while the _Book of Pluscarden_ simply
paraphrases Bower, expanding the reference to the Bruce (_legendam
dicti excellentissimi principis in nostro vulgari compositam_). _Cf._
also note in Brown’s _Wallace and Bruce_, pp. 136-7, where, however,
Mr. Brown’s hand is being forced by his theory. Doubtless Bruce’s words
might be alternatively interpreted; but, from what we know of Douglas,
we may conclude that he fulfilled his commission to the letter, and
that Barbour is, so far, right. The Vatican _Froissart_ shows us how,
also, the confusion arose. Scott, in his final note on _The Abbot_,
prints a commendation (May 19, 1329) of Melrose Abbey by Bruce to his
son David and his successors, in which he says that he has arranged
that his heart should be buried there, but makes no mention of a prior
destination. Edward I. also had “bequeathed” his heart to the Holy
Sepulchre (_Trivet_, p. 413; Wright’s _Political Songs_, p. 247).
197 _greting._ “All those who were there began to weep with much
compassion” (_Le Bel_).
212 _his bounty._ “I shall now die in peace, when I know that the most
suitable man in my kingdom and the most worthy will perform that which
I have not been able to perform” (_Le Bel_).
223-231 “Noble sire, a hundred thousand thanks for the great honour you
do me, when you charge and entrust to me so noble and so great a thing
and such a treasure; and I shall do very willingly what you command
concerning your heart, doubt it not, to the best of my power” (_Le
Bel_). In Baker, “I swear by the heart of Jesus Christ that I shall
carry your heart as you have asked me and die fighting with the cursed
enemies” (_contra prædamnatos hostes moriturum_, p. 105).
253 _he wes ded._ June 7, 1339, aged fifty-four years and eleven months.
276 _all for his persoune._ This, as may be gathered from all that here
precedes, was fully the case. Le Bel, in his earliest reference (ch.
i.), refers to him as “the noble King Robert the Bruce, who was King
of Scots, and had given often so much trouble to the good King Edward,
spoken of above” (Edward I.); and later says that from their exploits
these two Kings were reputed “the two most worthy in the world” (p.
107). On the English side: “Indeed, I would speak of Lord Robert the
Bruce with the greatest praise, did not the guilt of his homicide and
the knowledge of his treason compel me to be silent,” and the writer
drops into a couplet to the same effect (_Vita Edw. Sec._, p. 166).
Baker is of the same mind; Bruce was “every inch a soldier” (_per omnia
militarem_), save that he was disloyal to his natural lord, which no
knight should be (p. 101).
286 _bawlmyt syne._ According to Le Bel, the heart was taken out and
embalmed (p. 81).
292 _solempnly erdit syne._ “He was buried in the honourable manner
that became him, according to the usage of the country” (_Le Bel_,
_ibid._). Froissart adds that “he lies in Dunfermline Abbey.” His
skeleton was brought to light in digging in the Abbey in 1819, showing
the breastbone sawn up to get at the heart. It is that of a man about
six feet high. The mass of the wide, capacious head is to the rear,
and the forehead is rather low; the marks of the muscles on the head
and neck are very pronounced, and the cheekbones particularly strong
and prominent. Four front teeth in the upper jaw are missing, three,
apparently, as the result of a blow, the socket being much fractured.
The lower jaw is exceptionally strong and deep. For full details see
_Archæol. Scot._, vol. ii., pp. 435-453. The _fair toume_ was brought
from Paris to Bruges, and thence, by England, to Dunfermline; the
expense of this conveyance and of many other items in connection with
the interment are to be found in the _Exchequer Rolls_, vol. i.
318 _To schip till Berwik._ “En Escoce” (_Le Bel_, i., p. 83);
“Montrose,” adds Froissart (_Lettenhove_, I., chap. xxxix.)
324 _the Grunye of Spanyhe._ Bain makes this comment, reading _Grunye_
from E. “The ‘Grunye’ is probably Coruna, called by sailors the
‘Groyne.’ Mr. Skeat’s text makes the word ‘grund,’ taking no notice of
the other reading” (iii., p. xxxvii, note). Le Bel takes Douglas first
to Sluys in Flanders, making him hear in that port of the operations in
Spain (p. 84). In Sluys, he says, he hoped to meet with some going to
Jerusalem (p. 83).
326 _Sebell the Graunt._ Seville the Grand, on the Guadalquiver. “First
at the port of Valence (Valentia) la Grande” (_Le Bel_, 84). Seville
was then the base of operations against the Moors.
336-7 _a fair company, And gold eneuch._ According to Le Bel,
Douglas had with him the knight-banneret and six others of the most
distinguished men of his country. His plate was of silver (and gold,
adds Froissart), and all of his own rank who visited him at Sluys
were treated to two kinds of wine and two kinds of spices (ch. xvi.;
_Johnes_, i., ch. xx.).
338 _The Kyng._ Alphonso XI. of Castile and Leon, to whom Douglas had
been commended by Edward III.; see note on 190. There was another
Alphonso, IV. of Arragon, but he gave no assistance on this occasion
(_Mariana_, _Bk._ xv., ch. x., p. 255).
361 _The Inglis knychtis._ Prussia and Spain were the favourite resorts
of English knights anxious to war against the infidels. Chaucer’s
knight had been in both countries on this errand (_Prologue_, 53-56).
393 _Balmeryne._ A Moorish kingdom in Africa; or, more correctly, of
the reigning dynasty, the Banu-Marin. In Chaucer’s _Prologue_ it is
“Belmarye” (line 57); in _Froissart_ the name appears more correctly as
Bellemarie (_Johnes_, ii., p. 484; _Letten._, I., p. 121, chap. xxxix.).
401 _The vaward._ In Le Bel (_Froissart_) Douglas betakes himself to
one of the wings “the better to do his business and display his power”
(_son effort_, p. 84).
402 _the strangeris with him weir._ So we gather also from Baker, whose
informant served under Douglas. _Cf._ note on 167.
403 _mastir of Saint Jak._ The Master, or head, of the Order of St.
James.
407 _To mete their fayis._ On March 25, 1330, at _Tebas de Hardales_, a
strong town in Granada (_Mariana_, _Bk._ xv., ch. x., p. 255). Fordun,
however, dates the battle August 25 (cxliv.).
*421-32 _Bot ere they joyned, etc._ See on these lines _Appendix_ D.
431 _So fer chassit._ The account in _Le Bel_ is to the effect that
Douglas attacked prematurely, thinking that Alphonso was about to
do so, and that he was being followed up. But Alphonso did not move
for the reason, we learn from _Mariana_, that the frontal attack of
Moorish cavalry was but a feint, and that the real attack, as the King
said, was to be in the rear on the Christian camp (_Le Bel_, p. 84;
_Mariana_, as cited). Alphonso was better acquainted than Douglas with
the Moorish methods of fighting. Fordun’s narrative is that Douglas
and his company were cut off by an ambuscade which, though superior in
numbers, they readily attacked (_Gesta Annalia_, cxliv.).
440 _That relyit._ _I.e._, the Moors rallied. It was their usual
tactics to attempt to draw after them a body of the enemy in pursuit,
and then surround the pursuers.
467 _ilkane war slayn thar._ “Not a single one of them escaped, but
they were all slain” (_Le Bel_, p. 84).
521 _the leill Fabricius._ Roman consul, 278 B.C. A traitor offered
to poison Pyrrhus, but the Roman refused the proposal, and sent
information to Pyrrhus (_Plutarch_).
585 _the kirk of Dowglas._ St. Brides, Douglas.
587 _Schir Archibald his sone._ Skeat, in his note on this passage, is
all astray. He says that Douglas was never married, that he left only a
natural son William, and that this Archibald was his third or youngest
brother. But Sir William Fraser is of opinion that Sir James was
married, though Sir Herbert Maxwell doubts, and certainly no record of
it survives; but he was succeeded in the estates by William, while his
brother Archibald “Tineman” (Loser) was killed at Halidon Hill in 1333.
He, however, had another son, certainly illegitimate, the Archibald
referred to here, who succeeded in 1388 as third Earl of Douglas, and
died, after a varied career, in 1400 (Fraser’s _Douglas Book_, I.,
188-9; _Scalacronica_; Maxwell’s _History of the House of Douglas_, i.,
p. 67 and 114-124; _Acts Parl._, i. 193-4; _Reg. Mag. Sig._, i., p.
177). Archibald was known as “the Grim.” Mr. Brown cites Fraser to the
effect that Archibald erected the tomb “probably about the year 1390,
after his succession as third Earl of Douglas” (_Douglas Book_, I., p.
181); and adds the proposition that he could not have done so before
his succession, because, according to the _Book of Pluscarden_ (1462),