The Scalacronica. 83 



John Comyn's conditions, but he claimed to hold it of the Lion. 

 King Edward, who had the allegiance of all the men of Scotland 

 and possession of their estates, presented himself before the 

 Castle of Stryvelin and besieged it, assailing it with divers engines. 

 He took it by force after a siege of 19 weeks. At this siege 

 Thomas de Gray, knight, was struck on the head below the eyes 

 by a bolt from a cross-bow. He was laid upon the ground as 

 dead under the barriers of the castle. He had rescued his 

 master, Henry de Beaumont, w^ho had been taken at the said 

 barriers by an ambuscade, and was being carried within the 

 barriers when the said Thomas rescued him from the danger. 

 The said Thomas was being carried off, the soldiers being drawn 

 up to celebrate his funeral, but at this point he began to stir and 

 look at them. He afterwards recovered. The King sent William 

 Olyfart, the warden of the castle, to prison in London, and at 

 the conclusion of the siege he gave the knights in his army a 

 joust before their departure. He placed his officers all over 

 Scotland, and then marched into England, leaving Eymer de 

 Valoyns, Earl of Pembroke, to be Warden of Scotland. The 

 said Eymer fortified a peel at Selkirk and placed a large garrison 

 in it. 



Robert de Bruys, Earl of Carrick, who had strengthened 

 ■himself with men of blood and trust, and had confident hope in 

 the success of his claim of right to the succession to the realm of 

 Scotland, in the year of grace 1306, January 29th, sent his two 

 brothers, Thomas and Neil, from Loghmaben to John Comyn at 

 Dalswentoun, begging him to meet him in Dromfres at the Minor 

 Friars, so that they might be able to hold a conference. He 

 made an arrangement with his two aforesaid brothers that they 

 should kill the said John Comyn on the journey. They were re- 

 ceived by John Comyn in such a friendly manner that they could 

 not assent to do him any injury ; but they agreed that their brother 

 himself might do his best. John Comyn, thinking no ill, pre- 

 sented himself w'ith the two brothers of Robert de Bruvs at Drom- 

 fres to speak with him. He came to the Friars, where he found 

 the said Robert, who came to meet him and led him to the High 

 Altar. The two brothers of the said Robert .said to him 

 privately : — " Sir, he gave us so handsome a reception and such 

 great gifts, and by his open countenance he was so sure of us 



