NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS CURRICULUM SUPPORT
History
Wallace and Bruce
Booklet 4
Robert Bruce, 1286–1309
[ACCESS 3]
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© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2007
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WALLACE AND BRUCE (ACCESS 3, HISTORY)
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Contents
Introduction
4
Topic 1:
Robert Bruce
(a) Why Robert Bruce thought he should be king
(b) Can Robert Bruce be trusted?
5
5
7
Topic 2:
John Comyn
(a) Robert Bruce and John Comyn
(b) The murder of Comyn
11
11
13
Topic 3:
Bruce makes himself King of Scots
18
Topic 4:
‘King Hob’
20
Topic 5:
Bruce’s recovery
23
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INTRODUCTION
Introduction
What am I going to find out about?

why Robert Bruce thought he should be king

the murder of Comyn

Bruce becomes King

‘King Hob’

Bruce’s recovery
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ROBERT BRUCE, 1286–1309
Topic 1: Robert Bruce, 1286–1309
1(a): Why Robert Bruce thought he should be king
The Bruces thought they were royal
because their family was descended
from King David 1.
The Bruce Family Tree
King David 1
After the death of the Maid of
Norway, Robert Bruce ‘the
Competitor’ thought he should be
King of Scots.
Henry of Northumberland
David, Earl of Huntingdon
He was disappointed because King
Edward I decided that John Balliol
was the king and not him.
Isabella
Robert Bruce
(the Competitor)
Robert Bruce ‘the Competitor’ died in
1295. His son Robert Bruce was not
interested in Scotland. He died in
1304.
Robert Bruce
Robert Bruce
(Robert 1)
His son, the grandson of Robert Bruce
‘the Competitor’ was very interested in his family’s claim to rule
Scotland.
Robert Bruce had to think carefully.
If his plans worked, he would become King of Scots. If his plans went
wrong he would lose everything – even his life!
Robert Bruce had two problems.
1.
He had to stop King Edward making Scotland part of his kingdom.
2.
He had to take the Scottish crown away from John Balliol.
WALLACE AND BRUCE (ACCESS 3, HISTORY)
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ROBERT BRUCE, 1286–1309
To do that, he had to encourage the Scots to
fight King Edward. At the same time he had
to be careful not to help John Balliol.
This was a bit like walking on a tightrope!
Activities
1.
Why did Robert Bruce think he should be King of Scots?
2.
There were three men called Robert Bruce?
(a)
What was the nickname given to the man who wanted to be King
of Scots in 1292?
(b)
What relation was Robert Bruce who was living in 1305 to Robert
Bruce ‘the Competitor’?
3.
What were Robert Bruce’s two main problems if he wanted to
become king?


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ROBERT BRUCE, 1286–1309
1(b): Can Robert Bruce be trusted?
Between 1286 and 1305 Robert Bruce kept changing sides to suit
himself.
Scottish side
1297
King Edward annoyed the
Scots so much they revolted
under William Wallace.
Robert Bruce supported
Wallace.
King Edward’s side
1296
John Balliol revolted against King
Edward.
King John was defeated. King Edward
took away his crown and ran Scotland
himself.
Robert Bruce supported King
Edward.
1298
After Wallace’s defeat at
Falkirk, Robert Bruce took his
job and became a Guardian of
Scotland.
The Scots were very
successful at taking back most
of Scotland. However, they
wanted to bring back King
John.
1305
1302
John Balliol was freed and there was
talk of him coming back to Scotland.
Robert Bruce was worried that
King Edward would make
Scotland part of England.
Robert Bruce made his peace with
King Edward and returned to his
side.
Bruce started to plot against
King Edward.
King Edward came to Scotland and
took complete control of the kingdom.
once more.
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ROBERT BRUCE, 1286–1309
Activities
1296
(a) In 1296 which side did Robert Bruce support?
(b)
Why do you think he chose this side?
1297
(a) What happened in 1297 to make Robert Bruce think about
changing sides?
(b)
Which side did Robert Bruce decide to support?
(c)
Why do you think he chose this side?
1298
(a) What happened in 1298 to make Robert Bruce think about
changing sides?
(b)
Which side did Robert Bruce decide to support?
(c)
Why do you think he chose this side?
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ROBERT BRUCE, 1286–1309
1302
(a) What happened in 1302 to make Robert Bruce think about
changing sides?
(b)
Which side did Robert Bruce decide to support?
(c)
Why do you think he chose this side?
1305
(a) What happened in 1305 to make Robert Bruce think about
changing sides?
(b)
Which side did Robert Bruce decide to support?
(c)
Why do you think he chose this side?
WALLACE AND BRUCE (ACCESS 3, HISTORY)
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ROBERT BRUCE, 1286–1309
2.
Was Robert Bruce a person who you could trust?
Look at your answers on pages 8 and 9, and answer these
questions to help you to make a decision.
(a)
Did Robert Bruce change sides in 1297?
Yes
No
(b)
Did Robert Bruce change sides in 1298?
Yes
No
(c)
Did Robert Bruce change sides in 1302?
Yes
No
(d)
Did Robert Bruce change sides in 1305?
Yes
No
(e)
How many times did Robert Bruce change sides? _____
(f)
How many times did Robert Bruce not change
sides?
_____
(g)
Would you have trusted Robert Bruce?
Yes
(h)
Give two reasons for your decision.


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No
JOHN COMYN
Topic 2: John Comyn
2(a): Robert Bruce and John Comyn
In 1306, people realised that King Edward was in poor health. He might
die.
There was talk of John Balliol coming back to Scotland as king.
A number of people in Scotland were thinking about what might
happen.
At that time John ‘the Red’ Comyn was the most important person in
Scotland.
(a)
He was the head of Scotland’s
most powerful family, the
Comyns. They had far more land
and power than the Bruces.
(b)
The Comyn family controlled the
government of Scotland.
(c)
John Comyn was married to King
John Balliol’s sister. Comyn
wanted John Balliol to come back
to Scotland as king.
Robert Bruce was thinking about his chances of becoming king. He
arranged to meet John ‘the Red’ Comyn at Greyfriars Kirk in Dumfries.
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JOHN COMYN
Activities
1.
Why were people interested in King Edward’s health in 1305?
2.
Why were supporters of John Balliol happy in 1305?
3.
Why were the Comyn family so important in Scotland at that time?



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JOHN COMYN
2(b): The murder of Comyn
There is no evidence about why the two men met or exactly what
happened. There are two different stories about it.
The English story is that Robert
Bruce planned to murder the Red
Comyn.
Bruce tricked Comyn into meeting
him in a church. Comyn thought that
he would be safe there because a
church was a holy place.
Instead, Bruce planned to murder
Comyn in the church.
The English version says that Bruce stabbed Comyn but then he ordered
his men to kill him in the church.
The Scottish story is that the two men
agreed to meet in a church in Dumfries
because they were both plotting
against Edward.
During the meeting both men lost their
tempers and started to fight. It was
during this fight that Bruce stabbed
Comyn.
The Scottish story says that Bruce
stabbed Comyn but then he ran out of
the church.
It says that some of Bruce’s supporters went into the church and killed
him afterwards.
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JOHN COMYN
Activities
Similarity and difference
The Scottish and English stories are similar in some ways and different
in other ways.
1.
Write down three things that are similar in both stories.
2.
Write down three things that are different in each story.
English
Scottish
3.
Why you think why the stories are different?
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JOHN COMYN
Consequences of the murder
Because the murder took place in a church, Bruce was in serious trouble
with a number of people:

religious leaders would be angry because the murder took place in a
church

King Edward would be angry because Bruce was plotting against
him

the Comyns and friends of John Balliol would be angry because
Bruce had murdered their leader.
Robert Bruce had made a lot of powerful enemies!
Activities
4.
Who would now be enemies of Robert Bruce and try to stop him
becoming king?


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JOHN COMYN
Source A was written by an Englishman at the time of the murder of
Comyn.
Source A
In this year, Robert Bruce wanted to make himself King of Scots. He
was frightened of John Comyn because he was a powerful man and
could stop his plans. Comyn did not trust Robert Bruce but Bruce sent
two of his brothers to see John Comyn and ask him to come to
Dumfries to ‘discuss a certain business’. But, this was just a trick.
While they were speaking, Bruce suddenly accused Comyn of
betraying him to King Edward.
Comyn said he did not want to hear such talk, but Bruce stabbed him.
5.
Use evidence from Source A to describe two things that happened
when Bruce met Comyn.


6.
Give two reasons why Source A is useful evidence about what
happened when Bruce met Comyn. (Remember to use more than
source content in your answer.)


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JOHN COMYN
Intermediate 1 Extension
7.
Write down another two things that happened when Bruce met
Comyn (Use evidence that is not in Source A).


8.
Give another two reasons why Source A is useful evidence about
what happened when Bruce met Comyn. (Do not repeat the reasons
you gave to Question 3: think about other reasons, such as who
wrote it, why it was written, when it was written, what the source
fails to mention.)


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BRUCE MAKES HIMSELF KING OF SCOTS
Topic 3: Bruce makes himself King of Scots
Bruce had to act quickly after the murder.
He ordered his men to capture castles
from the Comyns and the English. This
gave Bruce more power.
He went to see Bishop Wishart in
Glasgow and told him all about the
murder.
Wishart listened to what he had to say and
pardoned him. Wishart also gave Bruce
his full support.
Bruce then went to Scone to be made King of Scots.
Bruce could not have the usual ceremony
because King Edward had taken the Stone of
Destiny to England.
Instead, Robert Bruce was crowned King of
Scots.
The ceremony was attended by Bruce’s relations
and by people who lived on his land.
This shows us that, in 1306, Bruce did not have
a lot of support in the rest of Scotland.
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WALLACE AND BRUCE (ACCESS 3, HISTORY)
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BRUCE MAKES HIMSELF KING OF SCOTS
Activities
1.
Who attended the coronation of Robert Bruce?
2.
How much support does that tell you that Bruce had in 1306?
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‘KING HOB’
Topic 4: ‘King Hob’
Everything went wrong for Robert
Bruce in his first year as King.
King Edward’s men defeated his army
at Methven Woods, just outside Perth.
Then he was defeated again at Dalry
by friends of the Red Comyn.
Robert Bruce had lost all his soldiers
and ordinary people lost confidence in
him.
King Edward’s men captured Bruce’s
wife and several other ladies at
Kildrummy. They also captured
Bruce’s brother, Nigel.
King Edward put Bruce’s sister in a cage at Roxburgh Castle.
He put her friend, the Countess of Buchan, in a cage
at Berwick Castle.
Bruce’s brother, Nigel, was executed.
When two of Bruce’s brothers tried to gather support
in Carrick, they were captured and executed by King
Edward’s men.
King Edward gave all of Robert Bruce’s lands to
nobles he could trust.
Robert Bruce had to go into hiding. He had lost everything!
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‘KING HOB’
His enemies made jokes about him and called him ‘King Hob’ instead
of ‘King Rob’. Hob was an English word which meant ‘nobody’ or
‘nothing’. This is what they thought of Robert Bruce.
Activities
1.
What happened to the soldiers who supported Robert Bruce?
2.
What happened to Robert Bruce’s family?
 Bruce’s womenfolk
 Bruce’s brothers
WALLACE AND BRUCE (ACCESS 3, HISTORY)
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‘KING HOB’
3.
What happened to Robert Bruce’s lands?
4.
What did Robert Bruce have to do for safety?
5.
Why did Robert Bruce’s enemies call him ‘King Hob’?
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WALLACE AND BRUCE (ACCESS 3, HISTORY)
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BRUCE’S RECOVERY
Topic 5: Bruce’s recovery
In the following year, things got better for Robert Bruce.
Firstly, he decided not to fight proper
battles, but to ambush his enemies and to
spread fear and panic among them.
He ambushed and defeated small groups of
English at Glen Trool and at Loudon Hill.
News of these successes soon spread and
people began to change their minds about
Robert Bruce.
King Edward died in July 1307. He had
been on his way to Scotland to fight
Bruce.
His son, King Edward II, was not as interested in the war as his father.
He did not pay it much attention. English soldiers in Scotland were left
without proper leadership.
Bruce was able to concentrate on his Scottish
enemies.
Instead of fighting battles, Bruce sent his men
to destroy the Comyn’s lands in Galloway and
Buchan. They burned houses, killed animals
and trampled crops.
After this, the Comyns could not fight Bruce
any longer.
Other Scottish nobles decided to support
Bruce in case his men destroyed their lands as
well!
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BRUCE’S RECOVERY
By 1309, Robert Bruce had enough support in Scotland to call his first
Parliament. Most of the important nobles and churchmen went to it.
They joined King Robert to make new laws for his country.
It looked as if Robert Bruce was now really King Robert!
Activities
1.
How did Robert Bruce’s way of attacking his enemies change at
this time?
before
after
2.
Write down two ways this made Bruce more successful and more
popular


3.
How did the death of King Edward help Robert Bruce?
4.
What did King Robert do to his Scottish enemies?
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BRUCE’S RECOVERY
5.
How did this bring more support to Robert Bruce?
6.
What evidence is there that Robert Bruce had a lot of support in
Scotland in 1309?
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BRUCE’S RECOVERY
The fall and rise of Robert Bruce
Between 1306 and 1309 Robert Bruce lost a lot and then he recovered.
Complete this table showing



where things went wrong
what happened there
whether it was a negative point (-) or a positive point (+)
Place
What happened there
Dumfries
Scone
Methven Woods
Dalry
Kildrummy
Carrick
Glen Trool
Loudon Hill
Galloway
Carrick
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- or +