From Belt and Spur, Stories of the Knights of the Middle Ages from the Old Chronicles, by E. L. S. (Emma L. Seeley), New York: Scribner and Welford, 1883; pp. 145-151.
CHAPTER VII.
THE SIEGE OF CAERLAVEROCK.
In the year of grace one thousand three hundred, on St. John’s Day, King Edward was at Carlisle, holding a great court, and he gave command that in short space all his men should array themselves and go with him against their enemies the Scots. Before the day set came, all the host that had been summoned was ready, and the King, with a great train, set out immediately against the Scots. They were mounted on horses of great value, and, to guard against surprise, well and heavily armed. There was unfurled many a banner and bright pennon set on a lance, and there was many a richly embroidered caparison of silk or satin. A long way off might be heard the neighing of the horses, and hills and valleys were covered with sumpter-horses and waggons bearing the victuals and the tents and pavilions. The days were fine and long, and the army marched by easy stages in four divisions. The first was led by the good Earl of Lincoln, and his banner was of saffron silk with a purple lion rampant. He was followed by many brave knights and barons, and with him rode the 146 Constable, the Earl of Hereford, a young man rich and personable. They led the van with caution, and rested not at night until they had searched well all dangerous passes. With them rode the marshals and the harbingers, to assign the places for lodging and encamping.
The second squadron was under the command of the Earl of Warren, who knew well how to lead noble and honourable men. His banner was of gold and azure chequered.
At a little distance came the third body, led by King Edward himself, king of England and Scotland, Lord of Ireland, Prince of Wales, and Duke of Aquitaine; and on his banner were three leopards of gold on red courant, proud and fierce, signifying how the King showed himself to his enemies, for his bite was not to be scorned, yet to those who sought his mercy and favour he was ever douce and debonair. His men were well ordered and arrayed, and by him rode his nephew, John of Brittany, who had left his father’s house and served King Edward faithfully from his childhood. There rode many a baron and knight of noble birth and renowned for famous deeds, and their banners waving in the wind showed their name and degree.
Then followed the fourth squadron, with Prince Edward, the King’s son at its head. He was young in arms, for he was but seventeen years of age, but handsome in person, and well grown, and desirous to try his strength. He rode marvellously well, and he bore the arms of the King with a blue label. And 147 the King had given to him as guides and instructors the noble Roger de Mortimer, and John de St. John, and William le Latimer, who were well experienced in war and very valiant men. With him rode also his cousins, Thomas and Henry of Lancaster. There also were the followers of the noble Bishop of Durham, the most valiant of the clergy of the kingdom, and, in truth, in Christendom. He was a wise man and could speak well, temperate and just, without pride or covetousness. Yet he knew well how to maintain his rights, and rode in the King’s wars with a noble following, well and costly arrayed. But, I know not why, he could not himself ride to Scotland, but sent of his men to help the King one hundred and sixty men-at-arms. His banner he entrusted to John de Hastings, whom he trusted and loved well.
The highroads to the castle of Caerlaverock were all in the hands of the English, but it will not be taken by check with a rook, for it was so strong that it never feared a siege, and it was furnished with men, engines, and victuals. In shape it was like a shield, for it had only three sides in circuit, and in each angle there was a tower. One was double, very high, very long, and very wide; and below was the gate, with a drawbridge, well made, and strong, and well defended. There were good walls and good ditches full of water, and I think I never saw any castle more fairly situated, for on the west could be seen the Irish Sea, and on the north a fair plain surrounded by an arm of the sea, so that no one can approach it on two sides without danger from the 148 sea. On the south also the danger is not slight, for there are many places — woods, morasses, and ditches — into which the sea has entered, where it meets the river. It was necessary, therefore, for the army to reach it from the east, where the hills are.
Then the King summoned his troops to take up their quarters in three companies. The valley was gay with gold and silver and every bright and pleasant colour. As soon as we were drawn up, and the marshals had allotted to us our places, there rose at once, without aid of carpenters or masons, houses of white or coloured cloth; the pins were driven into the ground, the cords were stretched. Many a great tree was felled to build huts, and leaves, grass, and flowers were gathered to strew inside. Thus our people took up their position, and those within the castle began to guess that they had never been in such peril before.
Then came our ships to land with the engines and victuals, and immediately the footmen marched to the attack. Stones, arrows, and quarrels began to fly, and those within did their work so well that in a little space many lay dead before the walls and others wounded and maimed.
When the men-at-arms saw the wounds of the foot-soldiers they rushed to the assault in furious haste. But the defenders threw stones on their heads, crushing helmets, and shields, and targets, and shouting with loud cries when they saw the evil they did them. There first was the good Bertram de Montbouchier and Gerard de Gondronville. The 149 first was a Breton and the second a Lorrainer, and after him came Fitz-Marmaduke, with a choice following of brave men. There were Robert de Willoughby and Robert de Hamsart, Henry de Graham, and Thomas de Richmont, and they came on like men mad with rage and fury, and made their way up to the brink of the ditch. Then Richmont rushed on to the bridge, and demanded entrance, but they replied to him with great sharp stones. Willoughby, who followed him, received one in the breast, the worst of which his shield ought to have borne, but he disdained to use it. Fitz-Marmaduke stood firm as a rock, and Hamsart and Richmont drove back the stones with their shields as if they were at play.
Then came up to their aid a body of the King’s followers, and also some of the Prince’s men, with many a newly-painted shield and burnished helm. There I saw Ralph de Gorges, a new-dubbed knight, thrown to the ground by the force of the stones, but he would not deign to retire. Robert de Tony and Richard de Rokeley wrought much damage to the men on the walls, and made them oft retire; and Adam de la Ford undermined the wall as well as he could while the stones were flying as thick as rain. The Baron of Wigton and Kirkbride received many a heavy stone, but Kirkbride held before him his white shield with a green cross, and assailed the gate with blows like a smith with his hammer. Nevertheless, they were so bruised and weary with the blows of huge stones and the wounds of arrows and quarrels, that they were forced to retire.
150But as soon they were departed, Clifford, purposing that those within should have no repose, displayed his banner, and with him was Bartholomew de Badlesmere and John de Cromwell, who assailed the castle with stones till he was out of breath. Neither did the people of the chastelaine give them any rest; and little was left of the shield of Cromwell for him to carry from the field, so was it battered and crushed with the force of the stones.
After them came La Warde and John de Gray, and renewed the attack, but those within were waiting for them, and bent their bows and crossbows, and let fly upon them their espringales. Then came up the men of my lord of Brittany, fierce as mountain-lions, and made a more furious assault than any who had gone before them, and my lord of Hastings’ men, when John de Creting nearly lost his horse. Knight after knight came and showed his valour, and as one grew weary, another, fresh and stout, took his place.
But though the assault was so fierce and constant, those within made no offer of surrender, but defended themselves all that day, and all the night, and the next day, until tierce. Much mischief did the Brother Robert, who threw stones into the castle from a robinet unceasingly from dawn till night. He set up on the other side three still larger engines, and ceaselessly men bent them, loaded them with stones, and discharged them; and wherever they struck they shivered everything, nothing could resist their blows. Still the defenders yielded not, till one was wounded to death, and the roof was crushed in by the stones, 151 and there was nothing to shelter them from the missiles.
Then they saw they could hold out no longer, and they hung out a flag, but he who held it was shot by an arrow through the hand into his face. So they cried out to cease, for they would yield to the King and came out to him. Then the marshals and the constable stopped the assault, and the defenders came out. And, behold, there were but sixty men, at which we marvelled greatly. And they were taken and brought under guard to the King, and he gave them their lives, and bade them give to each one a new gown.
So the castle was taken, and the King set up his banner, and the banners of St. Edmond, St. George, and St. Edward, and those of Segrave and Hereford, and the lord of Clifford, to whom the castle was given. And the King made his preparations, and went on his way through Galloway.