East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-12-07
WHEN KNIGRTHODD
WAS IN FLOWER
HOW LORD DOUGLAS
SERVED HIS DEAD KING
Faithful TO His Vow, Scottish Noble
man Attempted 10 Convey Heart of
Robert Bruce TO Holy Land--Stop-
ped to Fight Moors on Way and
Met His Death.

Earl James Douglas was born in
Lanard, Scotland on December 81,
1888, and was slain by the 4Saracens
in Spain in 1890. He it was who
started for the Holy Land with the
heart OF Robert Bruce-one of the
most romantic and foolhardy adven-
lures recorded in history.
Within the pictures ruins of Mel
rose lies buried the heart of Robert
Bruce.
This valiant king of Scotland was
attacked by leprosy, and when he
found that he was to die he called
to him the chiefs and barons who had
been faithful to him, and asked them
to pledge themselves to keep the en-
tire kingdom together for his son
David.
He also asked them to crown him
king as soon as he reached the prop
er age, to obey and serve him well,
and marry him to some lady suitable
to his station.
The king then asked Sir James
Douglas to step forward, and in the
presence of all the knights he asked
OF him his last service Addressing
him as MY Dear Friend Lord James
Douglas" he recalled to this faith
ful follower that he had suffered
many troubles in order to hold the
rights of his crown; and then he add
ed. that he had made a vow to go on
n crusade and fight for the Holy
Sepulchre.
My heart has always leaned to
this point" he said, but our Lord
was not willing, and gave me so
much to do in my lifetime that my
body cannot accomplish what my
heart wishes. will, therefore. send
my heart in the stead of my body,
to fulfill my VOW"
81 do not know any one knight so
gallant or enterprising or better form
ed to accomplish my intentions than
yourself. And l beg and entreat you.
dear and special friend, that you will
undertake this expedition for the love
OF me so that | shall die more con-
tented"
According to the expressed wishes
of the king, the heart was taken from
his body and carefully embalmed.
Then II was enclosed in a small cas-
ket which Sir James attached to a
chain and wore about his neck. He
left Scotland for the port of Mont
rose and went to Sluys, in Flanders to
see II any company was then starting
for Jerusalem.
At Sluys, he waited IL days, never
going on shore, but receiving visitors
in kngly style. serving superb ban
quets and telling all who came the
story Of his expedition-as King
Robert had asked him to do wher-
ever ne stopped.
No one was then going on q cru
SADIE. and hearing that Alphonso OF
Spain was waCing war against the
Saracen king Of Granada he decided
that King Robert would wish him to
employ his time OF waiting in the
good cause Of fighting the Moors,
Near Teba. in Spain, in the midst
Of great battle when defeat seemed
imminent. Sir James pulled the cas-
kot from his neck and hurled it into
thethick of the fight dashine
after it and calling on all to follow
this noble heart.
while trying to save one of the
knights in his train, Sir william st
clare Of Roslin, he fell His com
panions found his body and the cas-
ket and took them back to Scotland
The body Of Robert Bruce was
buried at Duufermllne Scotland, and
some years ago this was taken from
the tomb and It was found by the
position of the bones that the heart
had been removed.