Page:Life of King Robert Bruce.pdf/16

 16       LIFE OF KING ROBERT BRUCE.

The Irish of Ulster, oppressed by the English governmeut, implored the assistance of Robert, and offered to acknowledge his brother Edward as their sovereign, who accordingly landed at Carrickfergus, May, 25, 1315, with 6000 men; but the issue proved unfortunate. While the king himself was in Ireland assisting his brother in attempting the subjeetion of that country, the English had made several attempts to disturb the tranquility of Seot- land. The Earl of Arundel invaded the forest of Jed- burgh with a numerous army; but being drawn in- to an ambuseade by Douglas, he was defeated with great loss. Edmund de Cailland, a knight of Gas- cony, and governor of Berwiek, invaded and wasted Teviotdale; but while he was returning home, la- den with spoil, he was attacked, defeated, and killed by Douglas. The English now invaded Scotland by sea, and anchored off Inverkeithing, in the Frith of Forth, where they soon after landed. 500 men, under the Earl of Fife, attempted to oppose their landing, but were intimidated by the number of their enemies. William Sinclair, Bishop of Dunkeld, happened to meet the fugitives, and, having obliged them to rally, he led them on again to the charge, and drove the English to their ships with consider- able loss. For this the title of "the King's Bishop" was eonferred on Sinclair, who was long venerated by his countrymen on account of this exploit. In 1318, king Robert proeeeded in his enterprise against Berwick. A citizen of that town, named Spalding, having been ill used by the governor, re- solved to revenge himself, and offered, on a certain night, to betray the post when he kept guard. This important intelligence was communicated to the king, who commanded him to repair to a place, where