Of alms and iron kings

August 1301. While his father trundled towards Glasgow, the Prince of Wales set about reducing Scottish castles in the west. He had already captured Ayr, and shortly afterwards seized Dalswinton. This was a Comyn castle - literally known as Comyn’s Castle - and lay six miles northwest of Dumfries. The castle was demolished in the late 18th century, though the ruin of a tower (pictured) stands on the site.

Prince Edward sent a tiny garrison of four men-at-arms, led by Sir John Botetourt, to hold Dalswinton. They were paid for their stay at the castle between 5-25 September. Botetourt was fresh from convalescence in Gascony, where he had been severely wounded defending two Franciscan brothers from the French. For centuries he was thought to be a bastard son of Edward I, until closer inspection revealed this was the result of some spilled ink on a genealogy roll. Perhaps bear that in mind, the next time someone claims to be the 27th great-great-grandson of Julius Caesar.

The prince marched on down the coast from Ayr to attack Robert de Bruce’s castle at Turnberry. Bruce was still fighting for the Scots at this point, even though the Guardians had sacked him the previous summer. To begin with, he may have watched events unfold with a certain detached amusement: his successor in office, Ingram d’Umfraville, had distinguished himself by running away from King Edward in Galloway.

Bruce would have been far less amused at the loss of Turnberry. The castle had fallen by 2 September when Edward senior, at Glasgow, received “good rumours” from his son. Sir Montasini de Novelliano, the Gascon knight recently installed as constable of Ayr, was gifted new robes at Turnberry on the same date. With an unusual touch of sensitivity, King Edward gave alms in thanks to Saint Kentigern, otherwise known as Mungo, the reputed founder and patron saint of Glasgow.

Some ghastly news - for Bruce and Edward both - then arrived from France. Over the summer, the papacy handed over custody of John Balliol to Philip le Bel, who allowed Balliol to reside in his ancestral of Bailleul in Picardy. Balliol might well have been kidnapped - just as Philip had previously kidnapped the daughter of Count Guy of Flanders - but the sequence of events is unclear.

Everyone now looked to Philip, to see which way the Iron King would jump. It was commonly believed that he would send Balliol to reclaim his throne in Scotland “with a great force” of French soldiers at his back. But Philip had a more subtle ploy in mind.