by J. R. Tomlin
A voice behind him called Jamie, I’m waiting.
At the top of a rise, silhouetted by the sunlight, Robert de Bruce motioned to him. You’ve made me wait.
James began to run toward the king. "Lead on, Braveheart!" James shouted. "And Douglas will follow as ever he was wont."
The End
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Historical Notes
I have tried as much as possible to weave my fiction into the known facts of this immensely complex period of history. Much information has been lost to time and the destruction of wars. Often even the dates of some events such as the details of James Douglas’s last are unknown or in dispute.
The members of James Douglas's army to whom I refer to by name are fictional although I am careful to use names which records show were used during that time period in lowland Scotland. Nothing is known of the woman who James Douglas married; it was thought at one time that he hadn't married. However, in recent years evidence has come to light which indicates that he did marry and his son, William, was his legitimate heir. He also had a bastard son born after his death who eventually became earl of Douglas.
None of the battles are fictional, and the techniques used in battle are as close as I can portray of what they used. The ladder I describe in Countenance of War and Not for Glory was invented by a Scot and used in sneak attacks including the one on Berwick Castle. When the English captured one after the unsuccessful attack on Berwick Castle, it was described with astonishment in the Chronicle of Lanercost.
My description of the Scottish policy of not attacking the English who didn't resist Scottish raids is not fiction; that was, in fact, the Scottish policy. Even the English Chronicle of Lanercost states that those who did not resist were left unharmed. It would have taken amazing control over an angry medieval army to achieve that.
This did not mean that the English of northern England didn't suffer under those raids. By the end of the period, much of the area was depopulated because of the loss of crops and herds. This combined with severe weather during the period meant a great deal of suffering whilst the King and nobles refused to make peace with the Scots and admit that it was an independent nation.
As for my historical references, the major ones are The Brus by John Barbour, Chronicle of Lanercost translated by Sir Herbert Maxwell, Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland by Geoffrey W. S. Barrow, Robert the Bruce, King of Scots by Ronald McNair Scott, James the Good, The Black Douglas by David R. Ross, and The Scottish War of Independence by Evan M. Barron, The Chronicles of England, France and Spain by Sir John Froissart, The Scottichronicon by Walter Bower, The True Chronicles of Jean le Bel, and The Chronicle of Lanercost.
List of Historical Characters
Sir James Douglas, Lord of Douglas – known as the Sir James the Good to the Scots and the Black Douglas to the English, Scottish soldier and knight, lieutenant and friend to King Robert de Bruce, Baron of Douglas, Lord Warden of the Marches of Scotland
William de Lamberton, – Bishop of St Andrews who campaigned for cause of Scottish freedom under Andrew de Moray, William Wallace and Robert de Bruce
Robert de Bruce – King of the Scots
David de Moray – Bishop of Moray and supporter of Scottish freedom and of King Robert de Bruce
Sir Thomas Randolph – Earl of Moray, nephew of King Robert de Bruce
Maol Choluim II – Earl of Lennox and loyal follower of Robert de Bruce
Sir Niall Campbell – brother-in-law of King Robert de Bruce and husband of Mary de Bruce
Sir Robert Boyd – Scottish nobleman and loyal follower of King Robert de Bruce
Sir Robert de Keith – Lord Marischal of Scotland
Sir Gilbert de la Haye – supporter of King Robert de Bruce, Baron of Errol and Lord High Constable of Scotland
Angus Óg MacDonald, Lord of the Isles – Scottish nobleman and supporter of King Robert de Bruce
Walter Stewart – Hereditary High Stewart of Scotland
Bernard de Linton – Chancellor of Scotland
Edward II of England – King of England
Aymer de Valence – Earl of Pembroke, one of the commanders of the English forces during the invasion of Scotland
Robert de Clifford – Baron of Clifford, Lord of Skipton, English commander during the war with Scotland also first Lord Warden of the Marches of England.
Author's Notes / Scottish and Archaic Words
In writing historical fiction, an author sometimes has to choose between making language understandable and making it authentic. While I use modern English in this novel, the people of 14th century Scotland, of course, spoke mainly Scots, and Gaelic and French. To give at least a feel of their language and because some concepts can only be expressed using terms we no longer use, there are Scottish and archaic English words in this work. Many are close to or even identical to current English although used in a medieval context. The following is a list of terms in which I explain some of the words and usages that might be unfamiliar. I hope you will find the list interesting and useful."
Aright, In a proper manner; correctly.
Aye, Yes.
Bailey, An enclosed courtyard within the walls of a castle.
Bairn, (Scots), Child.
Baldric, Leather belt worn over the right shoulder to the left hip for carrying a sword.
Banneret, A feudal knight ranking between a knight bachelor and a baron, who was entitled to lead men into battle under his own standard.
Bannock, (Scots), A flat, unleavened bread made of oatmeal or barley flour, generally cooked on a flat metal sheet.
Barbican, A tower or other fortification on the approach to a castle or town, Especially one at a gate or drawbridge.
Battlement, A parapet in which rectangular gaps occur at intervals to allow for firing arrows.
Bedecked, To adorn or ornament in a showy fashion.
Bend, A band passing from the upper dexter corner of an escutcheon to the lower sinister corner.
Berlinn, Ship used in the medieval Highlands, Hebrides and Ireland having a single mast and from 18 to 40 oars.
Betime, On occasion.
Bracken, Weedy fern.
Brae, (Scots), Hill or slope.
Braeside, (Scots), Hillside.
Barmy, Daft.
Braw, (Scots), Fine or excellent.
Brigandines, Body armor of leather, lined with small steel plates riveted to the fabric.
Brogans, Ankle high work shoes.
Buffet, A blow or cuff with or as if with the hand.
Burgher, A citizen of a borough or town, especially one belonging to middle class.
Burn, (Scots), a name for watercourses from large streams to small rivers.
Caltrop, A metal device with four projecting spikes so arranged that when three of the spikes are on the ground, the fourth points upward.
Carillon, Music on chromatically tuned bells esp. in a bell tower.
Cateran, Member of a Scottish Highland band of fighters.
Ceilidh, A Scottish social gathering at which there is music, singing, dancing, and storytelling.
Chancel, The space around the altar at the liturgical east end.
Checky banner, In heraldry, having squares of alternating tinctures or furs.
Chief, The upper section of a shield.
Chivalry, As a military term, a group of mounted knights.
Chivvied, Harassed.
Cloying, To cause distaste or disgust by supplying with too much of something originally
pleasant.
Cot, Small building.
Couched, To lower (a lance, for example) to a horizontal position.
Courser, A swift, strong horse, often used as a warhorse.
Crenel, An open space or notch between two merlons in the battlement of a castle or city wall.
Crook, Tool, such as a bishop's crosier or a shepherd's staff.
Curtain wall, The defensive outer wall of a medieval castle.
Curst, A past tense and a past participle of curse.
Dagged, A series of decorative scallops along the edge of a garment such as a hanging sleeve.
Defile, A narrow gorge or pass.
Destrier, the heaviest class of warhorse.
Din, A jumble of loud, usually discordant sounds.
Dirk, A long, straight-bladed dagger.
Dower, The part or interest of a deceased man's real estate allotted by law to his widow for her lifetime, often applied to property brought to the marriage by the bride.
Draughty, Drafty.
Empurple, To make or become purple.
Erstwhile, In the past, at a former time, formerly.
Ewer, A pitcher, especially a decorative one with a base, an oval body, and a flaring spout.
Faggot, A bundle of sticks or twigs, esp. when bound together and used as fuel.
Falchion, A short, broad sword with a convex cutting edge and a sharp point.
Farrier, One who shoes horses.
Fash, Worry.
Fetlock, A ‘bump’ and joint above and behind a horse’s hoof.
Forbye, Besides.
Ford, A shallow crossing in a body of water, such as a river.
Gambeson, Quilted and padded or stuffed leather or cloth garment worn under chain mail.
Garron, A small, sturdy horse bred and used chiefly in Scotland and Ireland.
Gilded, Cover with a thin layer of gold.
Girth, Band around a horse's belly.
Glen, A small, secluded valley.
Gorse, A spiny yellow-flowered European shrub.
Groat, An English silver coin worth four pence.
Hallo, A variant of Hello.
Hart, A male deer.
Hauberk, A long armor tunic made of chain mail.
Haugh, (Scots) A low-lying meadow in a river valley.
Hen, A term of address (often affectionate), used to women and girls.
Hied, To go quickly; hasten.
Hock, The joint at the tarsus of a horse or similar animal, pointing backwards and corresponding to the human ankle.
Holy Rude, (Scots), The Holy Cross
Hoyden, High-spirited; boisterous.
Jape, Joke or quip.
Jesu, Vocative form of Jesus.
Ken, To know (a person or thing).
Kirk, A church.
Kirtle, A woman's dress typically worn over a chemise or smock.
Laying, To engage energetically in an action.
Loch, Lake.
Louring, Lowering.
Lowed, The characteristic sound uttered by cattle; a moo.
Malmsey, A sweet fortified Madeira wine
Malting, A building where malt is made.
Marischal, The hereditary custodian of the Royal Regalia of Scotland and protector of the king's person.
Maudlin, Effusively or tearfully sentimental.
Mawkish, Excessively and objectionably sentimental.
Mercies, Without any protection against; helpless before.
Merk, (Scots), a coin worth 160 pence.
Merlon, A solid portion between two crenels in a battlement or crenellated wall.
Midges, A gnat-like fly found worldwide and frequently occurring in swarms near ponds and lakes, prevalent across Scotland.
Mien, Bearing or manner, especially as it reveals an inner state of mind.
Mount, Mountain or hill.
Murk, An archaic variant of murky.
Nae, No, Not.
Nave, The central approach to a church’s high altar, the main body of the church.
Nock, To fit an arrow to a bowstring.
Nook, Hidden or secluded spot.
Outwith, (Scots) Outside, beyond.
Palfrey, An ordinary saddle horse.
Pap, Material lacking real value or substance.
Parapet, A defensive wall, usually with a walk, above which the wall is chest to head high.
Pate, Head or brain.
Pell-mell, In a jumbled, confused manner, helter-skelter.
Perfidy, The act or an instance of treachery.
Pillion, Pad or cushion for an extra rider behind the saddle or riding on such a cushion.
Piebald, Spotted or patched.
Privily, Privately or secretly.
Quintain, Object mounted on a post, used as a target in tilting exercises
Retiral, The act of retiring or retreating.
Rood, Crucifix.
Runnels, A narrow channel.
Saddlebow, The arched upper front part of a saddle.
Saltire, An ordinary in the shape of a Saint Andrew's cross, when capitalized: the flag of Scotland. (a white saltire on a blue field)
Samite, A heavy silk fabric, often interwoven with gold or silver.
Sassenach, (Scots), An Englishman, derived from the Scots Gaelic Sasunnach meaning, originally, "Saxon."
Schiltron, A formation of soldiers wielding outward-pointing pikes.
Seneschal, A steward or major-domo
Siller, (Scots), Silver.
Sirrah, Mister; fellow. Used as a contemptuous form of address.
Sleekit, (Scots), Unctuous, deceitful, crafty.
Sumpter horse, Pack animal, such as a horse or mule.
Surcoat, An outer tunic often worn over armor.
Tail, A noble’s following of guards.
Thralldom, One, such as a slave or serf, who is held in bondage.
Tiddler, A small fish such as a minnow
Tisane, An herbal infusion drunk as a beverage or for its mildly medicinal effect.
Tooing and froing, Coming and going.
Trailed, To drag (the body, for example) wearily or heavily.
Trebuchet, A medieval catapult-type siege engine for hurling heavy projectiles.
Trencher, A wooden plate or platter for food.
Trestle table, A table made up of two or three trestle supports over which a tabletop is placed.
Trews, Close-fitting trousers, usually of tartan.
Tun, Large cask for liquids, especially wine.
Villein, A medieval peasant or tenant farmer
Wain, Open farm wagon.
Wattles, A fleshy, wrinkled, often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck.
Westering, To move westward.
Wheedling, To use flattery or cajolery to achieve one's ends.
Whey, The watery part of milk separated from the curd.
Whilst, While.
Whist, To be silent—often used as an interjection to urge silence.
Wroth, Angry.
Books by J. R. Tomlin & C . R. Daems
http://clemd.home.comcast.net/~clemd/JC/Index.html
HISTORICAL FICTION
The Stewart Chronicles
— A King Ensnared (Book I)
— A King Uncaged (Book II)
The Black Douglas Series:
— Kingdom's Cost (Book I)
— Countenance of War (Book II)
— Not for Glory (Book III)
Freedom's Sword
SCIENCE FICTION
The Riss Series:
— The Riss Gamble (Book I)
— The Riss Proposal (Book II)
— The Riss Survival (Book III)
— The Riss Accession (Book IV)
— The Riss Challenge (Book V)
The Black Guard
FANTASY EPIC
The Shadow Series:
— The Shadow Ryana (Book I)
— The Shadow Gypsy (Book II)
Women of Power
Talon of the Unnamed Godd
ess
Scales of Justice
Blood Duty
URBAN FANTASY
The Kazak Series:
— The Kazak Guardians: Lynn's Rules (Book I)
— The Kazak Guardians: The Unthinkable (Book II)
The Laughing Hounds
The Seer Renee
