fife-kinross-clackmannan-1933/03-042

Transcription

HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION.

ii.

The Wars of Independence in the 14th century did not involve, as they did
elsewhere, any considerable change in the ownership of land in the district, except,
indeed, at Leuchars (cf. p. xlii). During the earlier stages of the struggle at least, the
population was nationalist in its activities. ¹ In May and June 1306 Edward I was
pressing for the arrest of William Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews who had "done
him all the mischief in his power ... and joined his enemies". ² The castle of Cupar
had been occupied by Bishop Wishart of Glasgow on behalf of Bruce, but the place
was captured by the English before June 8, and to the delight of the English king,
Wishart in it. ³ Sir John de "Cambhou" or Cambo, near Kingsbarns, was among the
prisoners taken at Methven on June 10 and was duly hanged. ⁴ At this time, too, the
English king was instructing Sir Aymer de Valence to "burn, destroy, and strip the
lands of Sir Michael de Wymes's (Weymss's) manor . . . and all his other manors. " ⁵
Other Fife magnates among the "rebels" against Edward were Thomas de Balcaskie ⁶
and Walter de Bickerton, who was the leader in a Scottish attempt to recapture the
castle of Cupar in 1308. ⁷
When war was renewed in support of Edward Balliol's claim to the crown, the
peninsula was more directly involved than before, but the landowners now acted
chiefly in the English interest. This was mainly a result of of its geographical position.
The invaders, operating not only with an army, but with a fleet in the firths, could
force the inhabitants to support them as a matter of self-interest. In August 1332
Edward Balliol landed with a small force at Kinghorn and in a successful engagement
at Dupplin or Dalry, near Perth, Duncan, Earl of Fife, was taken prisoner and there-
after discharged his hereditary office in placing the crown upon the head of Balliol at
Scone. Fighting, however, soon shifted to other quarters, and in April 1335 the
supporters of King David held a parliament at Dairsie, Fife. ⁸ In the same year the
castle of Lochleven (No. 567) was besieged unsuccessfully by the English and
"Anglicised Scots," the latter including the Fife lords Michael de Arnot, Michael and
David de Wemyss, and Richard de Melville, while the keeper of the castle was Alan
de Vipont, with whom was James Lamby, a citizen of St Andrews. ⁹ Other Anglicised
Scots, held the castle of Cupar which was besieged by Sir Andrew de Moray, the
new Guardian of the realm, whose appointment was confirmed at Dunfermline. ¹° In
1336 two Anglo-Scottish knights, Henry de Beaumont and Henry de Ferrers, rebuilt
the castles of St. Andrews and Leuchars, but in the following February, Sir Andrew
de Moray, with whom the Earl of Fife was now associated on the national side, entered
Fife, threw down the tower of Falkland, and captured and destroyed the "peel" of
Leuchars, the castle of St. Andrews, and all the other fortresses of Fife, except Cupar,
which, however, was surrendered two years later. ¹¹
Cupar owed its importance to its commanding position between St Andrews,

1. Cf. Scotichr., lib. XI, cap. xx-xxi; Scalacronica, p. 122; Fordun's Gesta Annalia, cvii.
2. Bain's Calendar of Docts., ii, Nos. 1777, 1780.
3 Palgrave's Documents and Records, etc., i. p. 349; Bain's Calendar of Docts., etc., ii, No. 1780.
4 Bain's Calendar, as cited No. 1811.
5 Ibid., No. 1787.
6 Palgrave's Documents and Records, etc., I, p. 307.
7 Scalacronica, p. 138.
8 Fordun, Gesta Annalia, clii.
9 Wyntoun, Orygynale Cronykil, bk. VIII, ch. xxix.
10 Gesta Annalia, cliv.
11 Gesta Annalia, clvi; Orygynale Cronykil, bk. VIII, ch. xxxiv.

-- xxxviii