Bruce called a council of his companions.

“My friends,” he said, “we have been hurried into a terrible strife, and deeply do I regret that by my own mad passion at the treachery of Comyn I have begun it by an evil deed; but when I tell you of the way in which that traitor sought to bring me to an English block, you will somewhat absolve me for the deed, and will grant that, unhappy and unfortunate as it was, my passion was in some degree justified.”

He then informed them of the bond into which he and Comyn had entered, and of its betrayal by Comyn to Edward.

“Thus it is,” he said, “that the deed has taken place, and it is too late to mend it.  We have before us a desperate enterprise, and yet I hope that we may succeed in it.  At any rate, this time there can be no drawing back, and we must conquer or die.  It was certain in any case that Comyn and his party would oppose me, but now their hostility will go to all lengths, while Edward will never forgive the attack upon his justiciaries.  Still we shall have some breathing time.  The king will not hear for ten days of events here, and it will take him two months at least before he can assemble an army on the Border, and Comyn’s friends will probably do nought till the English approach.  However, let us hurry to Lochmaben Castle; there we shall be safe from any sudden attack by Comyn’s friends in Galloway.  First let us draw out papers setting forth the cause of my enmity to Comyn, and of the quarrel which led to his death, and telling all Scotchmen that I have now cut myself loose for ever from England, and that I have come to free Scotland and to win the crown which belongs to me by right, or to die in the attempt.”

Many of these documents being drawn out, messengers were despatched with them to Bruce’s friends throughout the country, and he and his followers rode to Lochmaben.

Archie Forbes went north to his own estate, and at once gave notice to his retainers to prepare to take the field, and to march to Glasgow, which Bruce had named as the rendezvous for all well disposed towards him.  From time to time messages came from Bruce, telling him that he was receiving many promises of support; the whole of the vassals of Annandale and Carrick had assembled at Lochmaben, where many small landowners with their retainers also joined him.  As soon as his force had grown to a point when he need fear no interruption on his march toward Glasgow, Bruce left Lochmaben.  On his way he was joined by the first influential nobleman who had espoused his cause; this was Sir James Douglas, whose father, Sir William, had died in an English prison.  At the time of his capture his estates had been bestowed by Edward upon Lord Clifford, and the young Douglas, then but a lad, had sought refuge in France.  After a while he had returned, and was living with Lamberton, Bishop of St. Andrews, who had been one of Wallace’s most active supporters.