A Bruce in flight

For much of the year 1298, Robert de Bruce dips out of sight. His father, Robert senior, was being kept on a tight leash by Edward I, and made to serve in the English army that came north in the summer.

Bruce junior had surrendered to the English at Irvine the previous July, and agreed to give up his daughter Marjory as a hostage. The girl was never handed over, and it appears Bruce had nailed his colours to the Scottish mast. However, he kept Wallace and the Comyns at arm's length: Bruce certainly took no part in the disaster at Falkirk on 22 July 1298.

After the battle, Edward I split his army. While one mounted division, led by the king, went to Stirling to recapture the vital castle on the Forth, another band of men-at-arms went off to pillage Perth and St Andrews. After the surrender of Stirling in early August, Edward turned about and headed south for Berwick.

Suddenly the king changed his plans and dashed west, towards Ayr. He arrived to find that Bruce had fired the castle and town and retreated into the hills, a strategy that would stand him in good stead in the future. Edward had obviously been alerted to Bruce's presence and wanted to kill or capture the young man.

The king wished to press on into Galloway, but was hampered by a lack of supplies. After fifteen days of severe famine, the army turned back through Annandale and captured the Bruce castle at Lochmaben. 

En route through the south-west, Edward also paid a visit to Tibbers, north-west of Dumfries. Here the king inspected a stone house being constructed by Sir Richard Siward, the Scottish knight who had betrayed the Balliol Scots at the battle of Dunbar. Siward had since done time in the Tower, was released to fight in Flanders, and was now at liberty again. 

Edward was sufficiently impressed to involve Siward in the new stone works at Lochmaben the following year. When Bruce emerged from hiding to try and retake Lochmaben, Siward was employed by the king to strengthen the pele tower.