Page:Life of King Robert Bruce.pdf/7

Rh close to his body that he had not room to wield his sword; but he dashed his brains out with a hammer that hung at his saddle-bow. The Highlander still kept his dying grasp on the king's mantle, and to extricate himself from the dead body, he was obliged to undo the clasp by which it was fastened, and leave that and the mantle behind him. The clasp is still in the possession of the family of Lorn, who retain it as a memorial that the celebrated Robert Bruce once narrowly escaped falling into the hands of one of their forefathers.

Bruce met with many such encounters during his wanderings; but kept up his spirits and those of his companions with the hope of better times—recounting to them adventures of princes who had been placed in similar circumstances. Dangers at last increased so much around the brave king Robert, that he found it necessary to part from his queen, whom he left, with the Countess of Buchan and others, at Kildrummie Castle, in Aberdeenshire, Nigel Bruce, his youngest brother, remaining to defend the Castle against the English. The king, with his remaining followers, amounting to nearly 200, determined to force a passage into Kintyre; from whence, after recruiting their strength and spirits, they passed over to the north coast of Ireland, where they remained during the winter of 1306. In the meantime, ill luck seemed to pursue his friends in Scotland. The English took Kildrummie Castle, and cruelly murdered Nigel Bruce, a brave and beautiful youth; while the queen and her attendants were thrown into prison, and treated with the greatest cruelty. One morning, after receiving those unpleasant news from Scotland, he was lying on his bed deliberating whether he had not better resign all thoughts of the Scottish crown, and proceed