King Robert Bruce was born on July 11, 1274; 738 years ago. Much has been written about Bruce, and Scott
had much to say, in “Tales of a Grandfather”, some of which is below.
‘The Rise of Robert the Bruce.
[1305—1310]
[1305—1310]
I Hope, my dear child, that you have not
forgotten that all the cruel wars in Scotland arose out of the debate between
the great lords who claimed the throne after King Alexander the Third's death,
which induced the Scottish nobility rashly to submit the decision of that matter
to King Edward of England, and thus opened the way to his endeavouring to seize
the kingdom of Scotland to himself. You recollect also, that Edward had
dethroned John Baliol, on account of his attempting to restore the independence
of Scotland, and that Baliol had resigned the crown of Scotland into the hands
of Edward as lord paramount. This John Baliol, therefore, was very little
respected in Scotland ; he had renounced the kingdom, and had been absent from
it for fifteen years, during the greater part of which time he remained a
prisoner in the hands of the King of England.
It was therefore natural
that such of the people of Scotland as were still determined to fight for the
deliverance of their country from the English yoke, should look around for some
other king, under whom they might unite themselves, to combat the power of
England. The feeling was universal in Scotland, that they would not any longer
endure the English government; and therefore such great Scottish nobles as
believed they had right to the crown, began to think of standing forward to
claim it.
Amongst these, the principal
candidates (supposing John Baliol, by his renunciation and captivity, to have
lost all right to the kingdom) were two powerful noblemen. The first was Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, the
grandson of that elder Robert Bruce, who, as you have heard, disputed the
throne with John Baliol….
Now,
this Robert the Bruce was a remarkably brave and strong man: there was no man
in Scotland that was thought a match for him except Sir William Wallace ;and
now that Wallace was dead, Bruce was held the best warrior in Scotland. He was
very wise and prudent, and an excellent general ; that is, he knew how to
conduct an army, and place them in order for battle, as well, or better than
any great man of his time. He was generous, too, and courteous by nature; but
he had some faults, which perhaps belonged as much to the fierce period in
which he lived as to his own character. He was rash and passionate, and in his
passion, he was sometimes relentless and cruel…’
