Death of Robert Bruce,

KING OF SCOTLAND.

DURING the truce for three years with which King Edward's first invasion of Scotland was concluded, Robert Bruce, the king of that country, who was now becoming an old man, was attacked by so severe an illness that he plainly saw his end was approaching. The good monarch, therefore, summoned together all the chiefs

and barons in whom he most confided, and after having told them that he should never get the better of this sickness, commanded them, upon their honour and loyalty, to preserve faithfully and entire the kingdom of Scotland for his son David, to crown him king when he should be of proper age, and marry him with a lady suitable to his station. After this he called to him the gallant Lord James Douglas, and in the

presence of the others addressed him thus: "My dear friend Lord James Douglas, you know that I have had much to do during life to support the rights of my crown; at the times I was most occupied, I made a vow, the non-accomplishment of which gives me great uneasiness. I vowed, that if I could finish my wars in such a manner that I might have quiet to govern peaceably, I would go and make war against the enemies of our LORD JESUS CHRIST: to this point my heart has always leaned; but I have had so much to do, and this late expedition has lasted so long, followed by this heavy sickness, that since my body cannot accomplish what my heart wishes, I will send my heart in the stead of my body to fulfil my vow. Now, as I know no knight so gallant and enterprising as yourself, or better suited to complete my intentions, I beg and entreat you, my dear and especial friend, to undertake the expedition for me, and to acquit my soul to our LORD and SAVIOUR. I have that opinion of your nobleness and loyalty, that if you undertake it, it cannot fail of success, and I shall die contented: it must be executed, however, in the following manner : As soon as I am dead you will take my heart from my body and have it well embalmed: you will also take from my treasury as much money as shall appear necessary to enable you to perform your journey : you will then deposit your charge at the Holy Sepulchre, where our LORD was buried. You will not be sparing of expense, but provide yourself with such company, and such things as may be suitable to your rank; and

wherever you pass you will let it be known that you bear the heart of King Robert of Scotland, which at his command you are carrying beyond seas, since his body cannot go thither."

All who were present wept bitterly, and when the Lord James could speak, he said, “ Gallant and noble King, I return you a thousand thanks for the honour you do me, and for the valuable and dear treasure with which you would entrust me. Most willingly will I do all you command me, however I may feel myself unworthy of such high distinction."

The King replied, "Gallant knight, I thank you, you promise it me then.”

"Certainly, Sir, most willingly," answered the knight, who then gave his promise upon his knighthood.

The King said, "Thanks be to GOD, for I shall now die in peace, since I am assured that the most valiant and accomplished knight of my kingdom will perform that for me which I am unable to do for myself.”

Soon after this, on the 7th of November, 1337, the valiant Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, departed this life. His heart was embalmed, and his body buried in the Monastery of Dunfermline.

Early in the spring, the Lord James Douglas, having made all the necessary preparations for his expedition, embarked at the port of Montrose, and sailed directly for Sluys in Flanders, in order to learn if any were going beyond the sea to Jerusalem, that he might join them. His company consisted of one knight banneret,

and seven others of the most valiant knights of Scotland, without counting the rest of his household, he had likewise twenty-six young and gallant squires of the best families in Scotland to wait on him. Moreover, he took with him immense quantities of gold and silver plate, and kept on board as magnificent a table, with music of trumpets and drums, as if he had been King of Scotland.

After staying off Sluys for twelve days, for he did not land there, he heard that Alphonso, King of Spain, was waging war against the Saracen king of Grenada, and he considered that to go thither, would be employing his time and journey according to the late king's wishes : after that he would proceed to com plete the object with which he was charged. Accordingly he made sail towards Spain, and landed at Valentia: thence he went straight to the King of Spain, who was with his army on the frontiers, very near to the Saracen king of Grenada. It happened soon after the arrival of the Lord James Douglas, that the King of Spain took the field against his enemy, and the Lord James placed himself and his company on the side of the Spanish army. When the battalions on each side were fully arranged, and that of the King of Spain was in motion, the Lord James imagined that they were about to begin the onset; and as he always wished to be among the first on such occasions, he and all his company stuck their spurs into their horses, rushed into the midst of the King of Grenada's battalion, and made a furious attack on the Saracens ;

he thought of course that he should be supported by the Spaniards, but in this he was mistaken, for not one of them that day followed his example. The valiant knight and all his companions were surrounded by the enemy: they performed prodigies of valour; but these were of no avail; they were all killed. The body* of the Lord James Douglas was found after the battle lying above the silver case which contained the Bruce's heart. In the heat of the engagement he had taken the casket from his neck, and as he rushed to the assistance of one of his companions he threw it before him, crying out, "Now pass thou onward as thou wast wont, and Douglas will follow thee or die." It was a great misfortune that these valiant Scots were not assisted by the King of Spain.

*This circumstance is not recorded in Froissart; it is here added on the authority of Lord Hailes' Annals of Scotland.

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