Sunday, June 19, 2011

Battle of Methven

The Battle of Methven was more of a slaughter, by Aymer de Valence's English backed men, on Robert Bruce's unprepared forces.   The fighting took place on June 19, 1306, just a few months after Bruce slayed John Comyn (February 1306).  Walter Scott refers to people from this battle in his "Lord of the Isles":

XIII.
Song Continued.
"Vain was then the Douglas brand,
Vain the Campbell's vaunted hand,
Vain Kirkpatrick's bloody dirk,
Making sure of murder's work;


Barendown fled fast away,
Fled the fiery De la Haye,1

When this broach, triumphant borne,
Beam'd upon the breast of Lorn.
"Farthest fled its former Lord,
Left his men to brand and cord,
Bloody brand of Highland steel,
English gibbet, axe, and wheel.
Let him fly from coast to coast,
Dogg'd by Comyn's vengeful ghost,
While his spoils, in triumph worn,
Long shall grace victorious Lorn!" 


1 These knights are enumerated by Barbour among the small number of Bruce's adherents, who remained in arms with him after the battle of Methven. 

"With him was a bold baron,
Schyr William the Baroundoun, 

Schyr Gilbert de la Haye alsua."

There were more than one of the noble family of Hay engaged in Bruce's cause; but the principal was Gilbert de la Haye, Lord of Errol, a stanch adherent to King Robert's interest, and whom he rewarded by creating him hereditary Lord High Constable of Scotland, a title which he used 16th March, 1308, where, in a letter from the peers of Scotland to Philip the Fair of France, he is designed Gilbertus de Hay Constabularius Scotice. He was slain at the battle of Halidoun-hill. Hugh de la Haye, his brother, was made prisoner at the battle of Methven.

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