EXAMPLE ‘HOW FULLY’ QUESTIONS
Example ‘How fully’ questions
Source B: The Scots Guardians’ reply to Edward I’s demands to be made
overlord of Scotland at Norham
Sir, to this statement the good people who have sent us here answer that they
do not believe that you would ask such an imp ortant question if you did not
consider that you had a genuine right to it. But they know nothing of this
right of yours [overlordship of Scotland]…Therefore they answer to you as
far as in them lies they have no power to reply to your statement, lacking a
king to whom the demand ought to be addressed and will have the power to
answer you.
Question: How far does Source B give evidence of the weak position of the
Scottish Guardians in 1291? (10 marks)
Use the following marking scheme and suggested answers to give a mark out
of 10.
Feature of marking
Mark allocation
Information from the source – It is not enough to
simply select four points from the source: you must
use your recall to develop and explain the
importance of each point.
Up to 4 marks
Relevant information from recall – This is used to
show that there are other important points not
mentioned in the source.
Up to 7 marks
Sample answer
The source partly demonstrates the weak position of the Guardians in 1291:
the source says that they do not doubt that Edward thinks that he has a
genuine right to the over lordship. However, it is unlikely that the Guardians
would have thought this. They had made it clear in the Treaty of Birgham that
they believed that Scotland was an independent kingdom.
The source points out that they knew nothing of his claim about the
overlordship of Scotland. This was the first time that Edward had demanded
the title. The Guardians arrived at Norham and were horrified to find an
English army encamped waiting for them. They were equally horrified to be
presented with Edward’s demands. However, it appeared that Edward had the
upper hand and was prepared to use force.
WARS OF INDEPENDENCE (H, HISTORY)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2009
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EXAMPLE ‘HOW FULLY’ QUESTIONS
The Guardians claim that they have no power to answer Edward. This is a
delaying tactic by the Guardians because they fear simply refusing to give
into Edward’s desires, but they don’t want to have him as their overlord.
Finally the Guardians claim that there is no king of Scots and he is the only
person who can grant overlordship of the kingdom. This they hope will be
enough to put Edward off. He must first choose a king before he can demand
overlordship. However, this doesn’t deter the English king and instead he
demands an oath of overlordship from each of the claimants.
The source demonstrates that the Guardians were in a very weak position at
Norham. However, there are other indications of their weak position that are
not shown in the source.
Edward’s military might was something that the Guardians could not easily
counter. Edward had demanded the keys of most of the royal castles in
Scotland. He said that this was to ensure the peace in the kingdom while he
chose the new Scottish king. However there is little or no evidence that
Scotland was in any trouble.
Edward’s forces also captured the Isle of M an from the Scots and he ordered
his fleet to be put to sea, in case he decided to invade and wanted to blockade
the Scottish ports. He also ordered levies of troops to be drafted in the
northern counties ready to form an army. The Guardians were aware of all of
this but were unable to do anything about it.
The Guardians were also unable to command the support of all of the
important Scottish nobles. Many nobles had more land in England than they
did in Scotland, and had therefore much more to lose in any war with
England. The Earls of Dunbar and Carrick, for example, were quick to
indicate that their support lay with Edward.
Finally the Guardians were faced with Edward’s fear that his plans for war in
France would inevitably involve Scotland. Edward feare d a Scottish alliance
with France, and he hoped to counter that potential problem by becoming
Scotland’s overlord. The Guardians were unable to deal with the growing
international problems.
Overall the source gives a good idea of the weak position of the Guardians in
1291, but doesn’t give all the factors.
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WARS OF INDEPENDENCE (H, HISTORY)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2009
EXAMPLE ‘HOW FULLY’ QUESTIONS
Source C: Edward’s judgment on the Great Cause
The king, the lord superior of the realm of Scotland, declares as a matter of
law and by way of judgement that the realm of Scotland is not partible
(divisible)…therefore the king declares by way of judgement to you John
Hastings and to you Robert Bruce that by this judgement you shall receive
nothing of the shares in which you demand within the bounds of the realm of
Scotland. But to you John Balliol as the nearest of Margaret daughter of the
king of Norway, lady of Scotland and the granddaughter of the late
Alexander…the king gives you the realm as your due and puts you in
possession of it, with everything belonging to it within the realm.
Question: How fully does Source C demonstrate the different arguments over
who should be king of Scots? (10 marks)
 Now it is your turn. Try to answer this question in the same way as the one
above
 This is a practice question for you to attempt. It may be helpful to a ttempt
to construct your own marking scheme for this, which you can compare to
those of fellow students.
WARS OF INDEPENDENCE (H, HISTORY)
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2009
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