Continuing Hostilities, 1314-28

Question 1

Roberts Scotland

Answer 1

• King Robert cemented his control over Scotland at his parliament held at Cambuskenneth Abbey in November 1314
• Here he passed new legislation forbidding Scottish lords to hold land in England
• If they chose their Scottish lands the lords could keep their titles and estates; if they chose to side with England they would lose their lands in Scotland
  -Robert decided not to hold Hereford for ransom but rather exchange him for fifteen Scottish prisoners, included among these was his Queen, his daughter and his sister, held in captivity since 1307
• By 1315 Robert was unquestionably the King of Scots and few in Scotland would think about standing against him

Question 2

The Irish Campaign

Answer 2

• In 1315, Robert embarked on possibly his most ambitious plan yet
• He sent his brother Edward to Ireland to establish a second front against Edward II
• Edward and the Scottish army landed in Ulster in the summer of 1315 and at first the campaign showed signs of success
• He defeated several English forces and managed to avoid larger armies sent against him
• The Scots captured the town of Dundalk, a port used to send troops and supplies against Scotland
• Although the Scottish army marched across Ireland, devastating the local population, the Scots failed to capture Dublin or many other castles
• After Robert returned to Scotland, Edwards only successes were the recapture of the Isle of Man in 1317 and retaining control over Ulster
• However, disaster struck in October 1318, the Scots were ambushed by an English army at Dundalk in the battle of Fochart; the Scottish army was utterly destroyed and Edward Bruce was killed by a common soldier

Question 3

War in Northern England

Answer 3

• Edward II refused to recognise King Robert or the independence of Scotland.
• the fighting was renewed in 1315 with an ambitious move by the Scots to take over Cumbria and Robert led a significant attempt to capture the important city of Carlisle
• However, Scottish siege tactics were not well developed and despite establishing earthworks and siege engines around the defenders the Scottish king was forced to abandon the siege
• In 1318 the war turned further in Robert Bruces favour with the capture of Berwick
• King Robert led a force into Northumbria, capturing the castles at Wark-On-Tweed, Harbottle and Mitford whilst also capturing lands as far as Newcastle
• By late August the English army mustered at Newcastle, and numbered 1500 knights and men-at-arms and in excess of 8000 English and Welsh footmen
• However, the Scots slept back home because they had too much loot, once again King Edward II was humiliated by King Robert
• At the Battle of Old Bland the Scots drove the English army off the hill and they scattered, Edward II was once again forced to flee the Scots and was forced to leave behind his baggage train along with his personal equipment and treasury
• The year ended with the English reluctantly entering into a 13 year truce with Robert, although crucially still refusing to acknowledge his status and the independence of Scotland

Question 4

The Declaration of Arbroath

Answer 4

• Bruce was still excommunicated for the murder of Comyn and had been forced to ignore several orders from the Pope commanded him to reach a truce with England
• The matter came to a head in 1319 when the Pope summoned four Scottish Bishops to Rome, presumably to explain why they had refused to carry out the ex-communication of Bruce
• Bruce sent three letters to the Pope, one from himself, one from the clergy of Scotland and one from the nobles and freeholders of the country, the third letter is what we call the Declaration of Arbroath
• The letter is a justification of Roberts usurpation (theft) of the thorne of Scotland, the letter goes as far as saying that if King Robert was to fail in his duties to defend the freedom of Scotland he would be replaced
• Some believe the letter signifies the level of commitment and support King Robert 1320, it has also been seen as the birth of Scottish nationalism and the freedom of its people.
• The Declaration of Arbroath was in fact a spectacular piece of royal propaganda aimed at gaining the Popes recognition of King Robert as the true king of Scotland