Introduction: Families at War

Abstract

A sample chapter from this book. First paragraph: In August 1299, an English spy reported news of a Scottish council-of-war to his king, Edward I. It was just over a year since the Scots’ inspiring if unexpected leader, William Wallace, the second son of a minor knight, had been defeated by Edward at the battle of Falkirk. But the Scots had continued to rebel. In the intervening twelve months two major noblemen had emerged to act as ‘Guardians of the realm’ to lead the fight in the name of their absent king, John I (or John Balliol), then a prisoner in the Tower of London. However, these new generals - Robert Bruce, earl of Carrick, and John Comyn, son of the lord of Badenoch - were ill-matched allies.