Mar-1297 – 2 July 1298
Margaret gives birth to Bernard. Fayette questions why she bled so much giving birth to Bernard. Chased by a rabid wolf that William kills. Margaret is struggling to feed the growing horse herd of which many are too young to train/sell. Margaret realizes she realizes she is pregnant again, much to her horror.
William – After suffering a serious injury during the attack on Saint-Sever, William must face the fact that it impacts his ability to be Captain of the Saint-Sever military forces. He sends Jacques after GADN, to Sault. He writes an angry petition to King Edward describing how his parents and sister were killed in an attack by the King’s enemies.
Arnald, having been allowed temporary reprieve from his military duties, is able to help Margaret with the horses. He is haunted by the fact that he was gone when his family was attacked. His PTSD struggles worsen, causing Margaret much worry.
News from England: First truce between Edward I and Philip the Fair which gives William hope once again that the war is almost over.
Lord of Navailles? Wolves?
when he killed Sir William Haselrig, the English sheriff of Lanark, and members of his garrison at Lanark. It is possible Sir Richard Lundie helped in the attack.[5] When news of Wallace’s attack on the English rippled throughout Scotland, men rallied to him. The rebels were supported by Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, who longed for the defeat of the English. The blessing of Wishart gave Wallace and his soldiers a degree of respectability. Previously, Scottish nobles had considered them mere outlaws. He was soon joined by Sir William Douglas and others.[2][3] On hearing about the start of an aristocratic uprising, Edward I, although engaged in events in France, sent a force of foot soldiers and horsemen under Sir Henry Percy and Sir Robert Clifford to resolve the “Scottish problem”. On receiving reports that Sir William Douglas had defected to the rebels, Edward dispatched Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, together with his father’s vassals of Annandale, to attack Douglas’s stronghold in Lanarkshire. Whilst traveling north to face Douglas, Bruce began to think about where his loyalties truly lay. He decided to follow the Scottish cause, being quoted as saying, “No man holds his flesh and blood in hatred, and I am no exception. I must join my own people and the nation in whom I was born.”
Mostly from GTK:
- John de Warrenne has been appointed Scotland’s new royal governor, an office he doesn’t want. He hates it, says the weather is bad for his health. He spent most of his time in northern England. The Scots were being asked to supply money and materials to support war in France.
- in England wool could not be sold and grain was being siezed (tax and for army).
- March 1 1297: After being deserted by his earls, Edward ordered seizure of all the country’s wool and ordered investigation into all the debts to the crown. This was to break his earls.
- May 1297: troops assembled in Gascony (Bayonne?). Arnald would have been called.
- Scotland asked to supply troops for France, this was the final straw. Scotland revolts. Rise of Robert Bruce, who submits to terms at Irvine. England thinks the matter is done.
- 28 July 1297, he was desperate and and sent out writs, inviting men to serve in return for wages.
- By August 1297 Wallace and his popular army had moved into northern Scotland and joined with Murray’s forces. By then John de Warrenne had arrived at Berwick and realized there was an emergency. They set out to crush the rebels, tried to cross the River Forth at Stirling Bridge. 11 Sept 1297.
- Wallace and Murray were waiting for him on the other side of the bridge. Wallace “Go back and tell your people that we have not come for the benefit of peace, but are ready to fight, to avenge ourselves, and to free our kingdom.”
- Cressingham insisted they cross, Warren agreed.
- The Scots attacked, separated the ones who had crossed including Cressingham. Warrenne could only watch the slaughter and ordered the bridge destroyed. They rode hard for Berwick, almost 100 miles, and the “old man” didn’t rest until he reached the border. Murray died from wounds at Stirling so Wallace was now in sole command.
- 9 Oct 1297 French agree to a two-month truce.
- “News could travel between London and Flanders in under a week” p 307
- Only one week after this document was signed (announcing Scotland had been recovered by war from the English), Wallace picked up the sword to mount an invasion of England. Crossing into Northumberland, the Scots followed the English army fleeing south in disarray. Caught between two armies, hundreds of refugees fled to safety behind the walls of Newcastle. The Scots laid waste a swathe of countryside before wheeling west into Cumberland and pillaging all the way to Cockermouth, before Wallace led his men back into Northumberland and fired 700 villages, churches, and monasteries. On his return from England, laden with booty, Wallace found himself at the pinnacle of his power.
- By early October only a few outposts like Berwick and Roxborough remained in English hands. By end of November Wallace returned to Scotland laden with spoils.
- The first whispers of William Wallace surface, as John de Warren’s forces were wiped out at Stirling Bridge. William de Brocas insists he can’t be taken seriously, as in his mind England is always winning everything. The English disaster at the battle of Stirling Bridge makes him think he may have misjudged Wallace. He assures other Gascon nobles that their land will be restored by Edward.
- 20 March 1298 Edward reimburses them for loss of lands, 8000 s. 20,000 s total, remainder to be dispersed to William’s friends.
- 29 Jan 1298 – two-year truce with France was signed, agreed to put the quarrel to the pope.
- Edward immediately sent word to England to halt their attack on Scotland until he arrived. This also would have meant the soldiers from Gascony were transferred to Scotland.
- Arnald is ordered to Scotland as part of Edward’s summer invasion. Brings another crop of warhorses to London with him. Etienne, too old for war, returns to Saint-Sever.
- Edward invades 3 July 1298.