| Notes |
- Nigel Bruce was known to his contemporaries as a "young knight of
exceeding beauty." He fought beside his brother Robert Bruce for the
independence of Scotland until he was captured at Kildrummy castle in
northwestern Scotland. The castle was one of the most formidable in
Scotland, well provisioned and manned and capable in oridnary
circumstances of withstanding a long siege. Day after day, Nigel Bruce
and his men beat off every attack of the English forces with such
losses that the enemy considered abandoning the siege. However, the
treachery of the blacksmith of the castle led to the loss of the
battle. Bribed by the promise of gold, Osborne the blacksmith threw a
red-hot plow point into the store of corn. The flames spread rapidly,
burning the castle gate and allowing the English to enter. Attacked
from all sides, the garrison surrendered. The English fulfilled their
bargain with the blacksmith by allowing him all the gold he could
carry, then melting it and pouring it down his throat. Nigel and all
the other prisoners were made to pay dearly for joining Robert Bruce
against Edward I. They were dragged through the streets of Berwick and
hanged and then beheaded.
(Source: Billy Polk)
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Aft 1274 - 1306 (< 30 years)