EDWARD AGAIN INVADES SCOTLAND.--SIR SIMON FRAZER DESERTS THE ENGLISH,
AND JOINS HIS COUNTRYMEN.--WALLACE RETURNS TO SCOTLAND.--BATTLE OF
ROSLIN.
The truce which circumstances had extorted from Edward, was no sooner
expired, than the campaign was opened by a fresh invasion of Scotland.
The English army again advanced as far as Linlithgow, where, fixing
their head-quarters, they commenced building a fortress for the same
object as had induced them to rear similar structures in the south. The
treaty of peace had not yet been concluded with the King of France; and
Edward anxiously endeavoured to detach him from the interests of the
Scots. In this he was successful; for, by giving up his allies, the
Flemings, to the chastisement of Philip, and sacrificing a lucrative
branch of trade, in order to gratify his enmity against the Scots, he
obtained the King of France’s consent to a separate peace, stipulating
only for a truce with Scotland, to endure till St Andrew’s day,
1302,--after which period, Edward was left at liberty to prosecute his
views against that country.
In the meantime, the cause of independence acquired a valuable
accession in the person of Sir Simon Frazer, who at last--awakened
to the injuries of his country, and a just sense of his own unnatural
conduct--deserted the standard of Edward, and enrolled himself among
the asserters of the liberty of Scotland.[52] The talents and bravery
of this leader more than counterbalanced the loss which the patriots
had sustained in the defection of the Bishop of Glasgow; who, on
the 7th October 1300, at Holmcoltrum, had renewed his former fealty
to Edward, swearing upon the consecrated host, and upon the _Croyz
Gneytz_[53] and _Black Rood_ of Scotland; in consequence, as is
supposed, of a remonstrance from Boniface, who now thought proper to
espouse the interest of Edward.
On hearing of the situation of Scotland, Wallace withdrew from the
French court, and returned home. What services he was enabled to render
his country during his absence, do not appear in any of our records.
1302. After the expiry of the truce, Edward sent John de Segrave with
an army of 20,000 men into Scotland, who, having advanced to the
neighbourhood of Roslin, divided his troops into three divisions,
for the purpose of procuring forage. In the meantime, John Cumyn
and Simon Frazer, having collected a body of eight thousand Scots,
suddenly fell upon the first division, which they defeated with great
slaughter. While engaged in collecting the spoil, the second division
came in sight, on which the Scots, elated with the success they had
already obtained, stood resolutely to their arms, charged, and, after
a desperate conflict, again drove their enemies from the field. After
this double victory, the Scots, exhausted with the fatigues of the
day, were preparing to refresh themselves, when their scouts brought
notice that the third division of their enemies was at hand. Their
leaders flew from rank to rank, beseeching them to make one effort
more to preserve the glory they had acquired; and having equipped the
followers of the camp in the arms of their slain enemies, they again
commenced the bloody strife, with that enthusiasm which the remembrance
of their former victories inspired. The fury of the Scottish charge
decided the third battle: the English were once more thrown into
confusion, and fled in the greatest terror, leaving behind them all
their camp-equipage a prey to the conquerors. The advantages resulting
from this day’s successes were not thrown away: the Scots every where
flocked to the assistance of their countrymen; and the fortresses which
Edward possessed in the south of Scotland, were quickly recovered, and
garrisoned by their lawful masters.
Respecting the events of this day of triumph for the Scottish arms,
the historians of the two countries are not exactly agreed. According
to Langtoft, Sir John de Segrave, with his son and brother, were
surprised in their beds by the Scots, who captured sixteen knights,
among whom were Sir Thomas Neville and Sir Ralf de Cofferer, the
treasurer of Edward, who, on interceding with Sir Simon Frazer for his
life, was sternly reminded by him of the defalcations he had committed
in his office, by defrauding himself and others of their wages. Having
upbraided him with his unpriestly conduct, he struck off his hands, as
being polluted with the wages of iniquity, and afterwards severed his
head from his body, by a blow with his sword.