Fleeing from shadows! Edward scoffed.
I would have driven on. Chit my own way back and through, when I was ready. If Moray was so fearful, and must retire. But Douglas, on the east, played his game and turned back. I could not go on …
And by the Rude-why should you, man? At Beverley you were near 200 miles deep into England. More than halfway to London! Eighty miles further than ever before. That is magnificent, I say. Not a cause for quarrel! That you got so far was a wonder. And I thank you all.
I would have reached the other Richmond. On the Thames!
Edward declared.
Even without this fine nephew of ours! Scared the Plantagenet out of his catamites bed! But when Douglas deserted me…
My lord-you will take that word back! Sir James cried.
On my oath, you will! I desert none. His Grace told me, before we started-told you that we were to be guided by Randolph, in our rear.
I was given the authority in this … Moray asserted.
Not over me, Carrick, by God! You were not…
Silence! the King cried, suddenly furious.
All of you. Not another word of this. It is unseemly. In my royal presence, and before all these. My lord Constable. And Sir Robert the Marischal.
See that all are marshalled. Ready to move. The two hosts as one.
Sir Neil Campbell to command the rearward. See you to it.
Where go we now, Sire? Edward demanded, unabashed, Down Redesdale to the North Tyne. And we burn Redesdale as we going the hope that we need not burn Tynedale.
You make for Tynedale? With all this company? And intend to spare it? We spared nothing that we had time to burn!
Perhaps. But Tynedale is an ancient fief of the Scots crown. I go to resume suzerainty over it. He shrugged.
You were not pursued?
No? Then, since you are good at burning, brother, will you aid with this business? Redesdale to be a bale fire to warn Northumbria that the King of Scots approaches!
As you will…
So, as the royal cavalcade slowly made its colourful way southwards towards the great valley of the North Tyne, it did so down a corridor of fire and billowing smoke, a new and unwelcome experience for the ladies present-save perhaps for the Countess of Buchan who would fain have used a torch herself-however used to it were most of the men. In a belt some two miles wide, every manor and farm, every cot-house and barn and mill, went up in flames; all stacked grain and hay likewise, all cattle, horses and sheep driven off and sent herded back on the road to Scotland, with such booty as was readily transportable. All less mobile stock pigs, poultry and the like, was slaughtered and added to the flames.
The unfortunate inhabitants themselves were not physically maltreated, unless they made actual resistancewhich few indeed were unwise enough to attempt. Pathetic parties, groups of families, either fled apace into the hills, left and right, or stood afar off and watched their homes and livelihood devoured. Only churches were spared, and to these many of the refugees flocked, amid lamentations.
The Queen and her ladies had been brought up in a hard school, and did not complain. Indeed, they knew that they would have to put up with this, before they left Stirling. But they did not enjoy it, and were notably silent throughout. Fortunately the wind, from the southwest blew up the valley, largely carrying the smoke away from them.
Unhappy Redesdale, Elizabeth said, that it should lie north of Tynedale, and so be used as warning and example. When any other might have served.
Aye, it is hard. But there is more than that to it, her husband told her.
Redesdale was paying its tribute. These last two years.
To be spared our raiding. Like so many others. But at this last
collection, they refused to pay. They fall to be taught another
lesson.
No doubt. But still, I say, poor Redesdale She glanced over her
shoulder.
Robert-have pity on James Douglas, she urged, low-voiced.
He rides behind, there, a picture of woe, Edward, even Thomas Randolph, can take your strictures and be none the worse. But Sir James is otherwise. And surely he deserves well of you?
To be sure. But Jamie ought to know me better. We have been close for ten testing years. I could not berate my brother alone, before all. So I needs must seem to blame Douglas and Moray equally with him. They know that But likewise, Jamie should have known not to persist with that bicker, as he did.
He was so anxious to tell you all. How well they had done, how far they had won. And then, this!
Aye, Well … Bruce half-turned in his saddle.
My Lord of Douglas to ride with the Queen and myself, he called clearly.
Eagerly the younger man spurred up.
I am sorry, Sire, he burst out.
It was ill done. I forgot myself. Your pardon, of a mercy! I
shamefully forgot myself.
The fault was scarcely yours, Jamie. But you know, better than most, that I cannot too openly chastise the second man in the kingdom, seem to take sides against my own brother. Even when it is clear that he is in the wrong. As here. Think no more of it. My sorrow that I had to speak as I did. When I so greatly esteem what you all achieved. You did very well. Better than I could have hoped. At what cost? In men, Jamie?
Very little, praise be. Scarce any, indeed. We fought no single battle, nor even a major skirmish. The English seem to have lost all spirit, since Bannockburn. A hundred will flee from two or three Scots. The terror of us went before us, melting the sinews of men.
We burned so many towns that we lost all count. Their castles we could not spare time to assail; but manors we laid waste by the hundred. Most left abandoned before us. Surely we taught the English a sufficient lesson.
Let us hope so. If it will but persuade King Edward to sign a peace treaty. Somehow he must be forced to it, if we are ever to build the Scotland we should have, the Scotland we have bought so dearly. The King shook his head.
That is why I make this progress to the Tyne. Something more that Edward Plantagenet cannot ignore. I go to assert my ancient over lordship over Tynedale.
No King of England could accept that, I think, and still face his
people: Either he must fight on again, or come to terms.
And he is in no state to resume the war. Not for some time. Bruce paused.
These Yorkshire lords that Moray feared? How great a force did they assemble? And do they follow on, northwards?
They mustered a great host, yes. Many thousands. But of no great quality, and lacking in spirit. They did not attack us, either before or after we turned back-although our scouts told us that we passed within a few miles of their camp. They followed on after, but at a careful distance. How far, we could not tell, for our rearward lost touch with them. They are no danger, Sire-that I am certain.
Good. I would prefer no battle with the ladies present…
Lower Redesdale converged on the wider vale of the North Tyne near Bellingham, some ten miles down. Here, that evening, opposite the hamlet of Redesmouth, the Scots halted for the night, leaving a wide trail of complete devastation behind them. But no burning and ravage went on into Tynedale. Instead, many splendidly attired heralds and couriers, well escorted, were sent out, east and west, to make summons and proclamations.
The tented camp Bruce set up was deliberately magnificent, rivalling the tourney-ground cantonments of Stirling, with multihued pavilions, silken awnings, heraldic banners, and colours everywhere. In contrast to the grim business of burning and spoliation, a picnic and holiday atmosphere now prevailed, with feasting, music, even dancing on the greensward. Nevertheless pickets maintained a sharp watch around a wide perimeter-to the occasional discomfiture of sundry highly-placed love-makers and philanderers.