2. Bruce the patriot; his conflict with and victory over Scottish opponents.
Was Bruce a patriot? (Someone who is proud of and prepared to fight for their country.) Let’s look at the evidence …
Until 1297, Bruce supported King Edward. Then he joined the revolt against him. When other nobles gave in to Edward, Bruce supported Wallace. After Falkirk, Bruce became joint Guardian of Scotland along with John Comyn. In 1302, Bruce submitted to Edward along with most of Scotland’s powerful nobles.
So Bruce was no Wallace then! He was prepared to compromise and do deals but he did support the Scottish cause against Edward when it was sensible to do so. Of course, the best answer is simply this: for Bruce, the interests of the Bruce family were the same thing as the interests of Scotland!
Bruce’s Scottish opponents were mostly the Balliol / Comyn clan. Bruce showed that he was able to work with John Comyn as joint Guardian even although this was very difficult for him because the Balliols / Comyns
competed with the Bruce family for the throne of Scotland.
This rivalry came to a head in February 1306. Bruce had arranged to meet with John Comyn at Grayfriars church Dumfries. The meeting was probably to arrange a deal between the two families: Edward I was dying and Bruce had been given the support of the Scottish church in a bid to become King. A deal with the Comyn clan made sense.
The two nobles argued and Bruce stabbed Comyn. He later heard that the wound was not fatal so he sent a follower back to the church to “mak siccar” (make sure). Bruce then had himself crowned King at Scone and was supported by the Scottish church.
Over the next few years, Bruce gradually built up his strength but his main priority was to kill off the threat from the Comn / Balliol clan. Two key events show how determined he was …
The Herschip of Galloway
Galloway in SW Scotland was a Comyn stronghold. In 1307, Bruce laid waste to the crops and animals and killed any peasants who did not run away.
The Herschip of Buchan
Buchan is in NE Scotland and was another Comyn stronghold. Bruce defeated the Comyns in battle at Inverurie and then destroyed the countryside for miles around.
By 1309 the nobles who opposed English rule took the hint: they accepted that only Bruce could lead the fight against Edward II. Bruce encouraged them by taking hostages from their families and warning them that what happened in Galloway and Buchan could also happen in their lands!
Revision Task D1: How far do Sources A and B agree about what happened when Bruce and the Red Comyn (John Comyn) met at Greyfriars Kirk in 1306?
Source A
While they were speaking, Bruce suddenly accused Comyn of betraying him. Comyn denied this. Just as he had planned, Bruce hit Comyn with a sword and left. When some evil folk told Bruce that Comyn would live, he ordered them to kill him beside the high altar.
Source B
When Bruce accused Comyn of telling King Edward about him, Comyn said this was a lie. This evil speaker was then stabbed and wounded. Later, the monks laid Comyn beside the altar but, when he said that he thought he would live, his enemies hit him again. Thus he was taken away from this world.
Revision Task D2: Was Bruce a “Patriot?”. Write your answer in 2 columns. In one column, write evidence that Bruce was fighting for Scottish freedom. In the second column, write evidence that Bruce was fighting for other reasons.
