The Story of Robert Bruce – Task Sheets
Who were the Bruces?
Read through this section carefully and following discussion with a partner, suggest
as many reasons as you can as to why the younger Robert Bruce may have felt he
had a justified claim on the Scottish throne.
Bruce’s Changing Allegiances
Using the info on p2, complete the table identifying when Bruce supported or
opposed English rule in Scotland. Use the third column for noting events or
reasons for his decisions.
Did he support Scottish
independence or English
control?
Events / Explanations for his
decisions
1296
1297-1302
1302-1304
1304-1306
Can you suggest why Bruce changed sides so frequently? What impact may this
have had on his support and reputation?
A Killing and a Crown
1. From paragraph one, suggest three reasons why Bruce was moving closer to
asserting his claim to the throne after 1304.
2. Why was it important that Bruce won Lamberton’s support?
3. What arrangement do we think Bruce had come to with Comyn in the early
months of 1306?
4. In what way was it suggested that Comyn double-crossed Bruce?
5. Paste your image of Bruce and Comyn’s second meeting at Dumfries into your
jotter. Beside it write a brief description of what may have happened that
day. Include:
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Where it took place
Who was present
What discussions may have happened
Details surrounding the murders
6. Give two explanations as to why these events might have damaged Bruce’s
attempts to be crowned king.
7. Why and where did Bruce first proclaim himself king?
The Coronation of Robert Bruce
1. What two measures did Bruce take to establish more control before heading
to Perth and Scone?
2. Paste your picture of Bruce’s coronation into your jotter and note the date,
those in attendance and how the ceremony was carried out.
Early Defeats
1. Identify three significant problems facing Bruce as he tried to exert his
authority over Scotland.
2. What was Edward I’s first reaction to Bruce proclaiming himself King?
3. Bullet point at least seven examples of how Bruce and his supporters
struggled against the English over the next few months.
Question Practice – The ‘How fully…’ Question
Another type of source question you
will face in the exam is called the
‘How fully…’ question. You will be
given a source which partially
describes or explains an event. You
are expected to lift out some of the
answers from the source before
adding in some of your own knowledge to describe or explain the event further e.g.
How fully does Source A describe..?
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This type of question will be worth 5 or 6 marks.
Up to 3 marks are available for what the source does say.
Up to 4 marks are available for what the source does not say.
Each point must be separately explained in its own sentence.
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How to set out your answer
1. Start with an introductory sentence which responds to the question.
Although you do not get a mark for doing this, failing to do so will mean you
cannot score more than 2 overall.
Source A describes … fairly fully / to some extent. (This will always be a
suitable opening sentence as the source will have been carefully selected to
provide at least a few good points. As a short source, however, it can’t
possibly tell you everything!)
2. Start to work your way through the source selecting out the points that
do help to answer the question. You will get a mark for each correct point
selected. Try not to copy word for word what the source says. Change the
wording of the point, even if only slightly e.g.
The source mentions that …
The source also suggests that …
Finally the source shows that …
3. Include a sentence to show that you are now moving on to your own
knowledge.
However, the source does not fully describe …
4. Now start to introduce your recall. Again put each point in its own
sentence, 3-4 times e.g.
The source does not mention …
It also fails to say that …
It also doesn’t mention …
Consider the following source and ‘How fully’ question.
Source A
Edward I was understandably outraged at the challenge to his authority issued by Bruce. He
quickly put in place plans to have this latest rebellion crushed. A new commander, de
Valence was promoted to coordinate the attack on Bruce’s men. Prominent Scottish figures
who had granted their support to Bruce’s cause were targeted. In particular Bishops Wishart
and Lamberton were arrested and imprisoned for their treachery. Members of Bruce’s
family were also made to pay the penalty for his disloyalty, his sister Mary for example
facing the punishment of imprisonment in a cage hanging outside Roxburgh Castle.
How fully does Source A describe Edward I’s reaction to Bruce’s coronation in
1306?
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6
Following discussion with your teacher and a partner, have a go at writing a top
quality 6-mark answer.
Bruce fights back
1. When and where did Bruce and his men return to the Scottish mainland?
2. What setback met his forces in Galloway at this time?
3. Where and why did he achieve unexpected success against the English in May
1307?
4. From the opening two paragraphs on p7, explain why the death of Edward I
was such a significant moment in Bruce’s campaign.
Bruce’s Recovery Continues 1308-1314
Using the info on p7-8, construct a basic timeline outlining the key events from
1308-1314. Hints for points to include are suggested below.
1308 – Scottish enemies, Buchan, north-east Scotland
1308 – Battle of the Pass at Brander
1309 – Parliament at St Andrews
1310 – English forces pushed back, invasion of northern England
1310 – Control north of the Tay
1311-14 – Taking of key castles
March 1314 – Taking of Edinburgh Castle
1. Why was control of Stirling Castle so important to establishing authority in
Scotland?
2. Explain the agreement made between Edward Bruce and the English castle
governor in 1314.
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